Training in full tilt again (and February has become "Treadmill Month")

It has been two weeks since my last post. Sorry about that. February has turned into one BUSY month! By the time I think to post something, it is late and I am either heading for bed (or have fallen asleep on the couch trying to watch TV).

It has been a pretty chilly February. And either because of snow/ice covering the streets or the windchill factor being in the 'teens during my usual 6AM running time, I have been very unmotivated to run outside (which I much prefer). So I have been doing the lion share of my running indoors at LifeTime on the Treadmill. I have tried everything I could think of to avoid boredom: I have watched movies on my iPad; listened to music, podcasts, and audiobooks; run with my buddy Mike for good conversation; and watch the TVs on the walls of the gym. All of these things help greatly, but in the end you are still running in place.

I have run for over 62 miles so far this month, and all but 21 of those miles have been on the Treadmill. That's 41 miles -- the highest amount of TM miles/time I have put in since last summer. My longest TM run -- 10.3 miles -- was done on Feb 12th with Mike. By the end of this month, I will probably add another 12 more TM miles to that number unless the weather improves a bit. I cannot wait until I can return to my regular outdoor running routine.

I did get a few runs done outside, on the Prairie Bike Path this month. One 8.7 mile Long Run with Mike, and just this weekend I was able to run a 4.5 mile run Saturday evening, followed by an 8.5 mile Long Run this afternoon. I really enjoyed those runs, although the run Saturday night was kinda creepy (running on the Path at night with a headlamp was weird with all the noises and did I mention utter DARKNESS!!!!!). Thankfully, the run today at 2:30pm was just the opposite -- sunny and beautiful!!!

From a mileage perspective, the month has been one of my higher ones (and it isn't even over yet).

• Total miles Week 1: 20.3
• Total miles Week 2: 14.9
• Total miles Week 3: 18.3
• Total miles this week: 8.5 (24 anticipated)
• Total miles next week: 10 (partial week)
• Total for February (estimated): 87.5

I have not been doing a lot of Cross Training (XT) this month, and that is something I need to add back into my weekly schedule. Core work and Swimming are going to be my XT of choice for now. As a Trainer told me last week, swimming is a great aerobic activity that can increase your oxygen intake and improve your overall muscle tone, making you a faster runner. It is probably better than strength training alone. Who knows? Maybe getting my swimming form back (I used to swim a lot) might get me interested in participating in a Triathlon one of these days...

My Walk training for the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer started this month. I have been adding a walk day each week for about 4 miles. I plan on adding a Long Walk to my weekly schedule, and I am considering using my new "Instinct" shoes for the long walks. It would serve as a good way to continue my slow ramp-up towards natural running. One thought was to do my Long Run on Saturday for the full distance 'out', and then switch to walking for the 'return trip', Then my Long Run and Long Walk would be the same distance. It would make training a lot longer on that day. And, if I want to do the walk in my "Instinct" shoes, it would require me to bring my Altras in a backpack (not sure I like that idea). I might just have to make Sundays my Long Walk day so I don't have to deal with the shoe change issue.

Speaking of the Altra Running shoes, I have put 7 miles on them so far this month and the results are very promising! I decided to sign up for a 5-session Natural Running class offered by my local running store at the end of March to learn more about adjusting one's running form as a result of wearing Minimalist shoes. I get two Gait Analyses done as part of the class -- one at the beginning and one at the conclusion. It should be very informative! So far, my midfoot strike form seems to be working for me in these shoes, and I haven't experienced any pain or discomfort. So I must be doing something right.

I was talking with the Team Captain for my AVON Walk team yesterday afternoon and she mentioned to me that her husband has a Hydration Pack that he never uses, and would I be interested in using it for our Walk (39.3 miles) in June. I have never used a Camelback or anything like that before, so I said "Sure!". I am hoping to do training runs with it to see how it feels to wear one with a Litre of water. Maybe this will be a new piece of running/walking gear for me. I will let you know.

Last week, my Disney Shadow Box arrived. I was so excited! I ordered it during the Expo at the Disney Marathon Weekend. They get your race information from Disney and then create this very nice commemorative shadow box with your name, your medal (you get a second medal just for the display), your finish time, and a photo that you provide. I figured since this was my first endurance race, I would get something special. I love it! I hope I can get something similar for my first Marathon in October.

Well, I think that is about it for now. I can't allow myself a two-week delay between postings -- I forget too many things! So I promise to be more intentional in the future.

Think about how you can make 2012 'Awesome'!

About a week ago, I posted my goals for 2012 on my other blog "Random Musings". Some of you may not know about that blog, which covers a variety of topics that occasionally cross my mind (technology, spirituality, science fiction, books, family, whatever). So I decided I would highlight the two goals that focused on my staying active and healthy.

Lose another 50 pounds

In 2011, my weight loss efforts continued, bringing my total weight loss since May 2010 to over 110 pounds. This was very rewarding for me, seeing my shirt size go from a 4XL to just XL, my pants size go from a 58 to 44, and now being able to fit into clothes previously too small for me. I have given away tons of clothes to Good Will that are now way too big for me.

But, I am not done yet! My weight target is 190 pounds. I have 50 more pounds to lose and my goal is to lose them in 2012! The past few months have seen my weight loss stabilize -- no gaining but no losing either. I believe part of this is the result of my training for the Half Marathon, but another part of it is that I have become more lax in my tracking of what I eat.

So 2012, I re-dedicate myself to following my Weight Watchers PointsPLUS program more carefully, continue to eat healthy foods, and lose these last pounds and inches!

Maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle

This will be the year of the Half Marathon! I ran my first on January 7th at Disney World in Orlando FL. My second was on January 21st, when I ran the Polar Dash down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago where it was well below freezing and snowing for most of the race. I have three other Half Marathons scheduled between April and September. I also have three 5Ks (one was completed on January 6th) and one 10 Mile race scheduled.

In June, I will be participating in the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer Research. This is a two-day event where the first day is a 26.2 mile walk, followed by a 13.1 mile walk the following day. I will be doing this to raise awareness and funds to help in the fight to find a cure for this terrible disease that affects both men and women alike. More on this soon. I hope I can count on your support to help me in this fight!

My biggest athletic challenge for 2012 will be my first Full Marathon: The Chicago Marathon in October! I am very excited and intimidated by this one. I am putting together my training plan for this race now, so that I will be prepared.

Other than running and walking, I will also be working out at my health club, doing some biking and swimming and strength training. Not only do I want to lose weight, I want to build more lean muscle mass, strengthen my core, and make sure that I am losing fat, not muscle. I want to be a lean mean fighting machine!

So, what are YOU going to be focusing upon this new year? Looking to lose a few pounds or a few inches off your waist, thighs, chest, or butt? Desiring to increase your endurance, speed, agility, or mental toughness? Striving for a new Personal Record in races this year? Hoping to make a job change, get a raise, or perhaps find employment? Develop a deeper relationship with God or your Higher Power? Or maybe just to make more time for family and friends, or engage in a new hobby/activity to relieve stress and just have fun?

Is it one or more of these? Or do you have something that is deep in your heart that needs to be expressed/resolved this year? Whatever it is, make a commitment to yourself now that you will take your first step today -- think about it! Then write your goals down in your planner, your SmartPhone, your Task Manager, the palm of your hand. And for each goal, think of a couple of realistic steps you can take in the next 10 days to start your journey!

There is no time like the present to take a step into your new future! I cannot promise that it will be easy. But I can promise that the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction when you reach your goal will make the effort totally worthwhile!

As Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise would say, "Make it so!"