To survive the rolling hills of the Boston Marathon, Coach Rick Muhr mentioned that we should strengthen our core muscles. Rick works on his abs for 30 minutes each morning. I like the morning schedule because as it works out already, I spend roughly 2 hours dedicated to prep time, eating, stretching, and working out in the evening. Now, clearly I might just be poor with my gym time efficiency, but with all the work I like to relax and enjoy myself. If I attach the ab workout to my normal workout, I'd be at the gym for three hours. Morning push-ups is on the schedule for a few months.
Marathon Training takes over your life! This was part of the reason why I laughed at people when they asked when I'd be running the Boston Marathon back in May 2007. I knew that marathon training would take over my life, but I'm now going to detail how it's taking over mine and ways in which I'm trying to sneak around it.
1. I am watching my favorite hour of television. It's the only hour of TV that I committed to, and at the same time I am strengthening the front of my lower legs - opposite muscle of my calves.
2. Waking up early for 15 minutes of leg lifts and push-ups in an attempt to survive the hills of miles 17-20. Now, today was my first core workout, but it was a struggle and added to taking over my life. Two workouts in one day? It's completely my choice and I'm not complaining about it, merely recording and explaining the full extent of my marathon training commitment. Push-ups. The last time I did Push Ups was a part of my workout was high school track. It's a struggle- a laughable struggle and get this, I only did 3 repeats of 10. It's my own fault for never ever working my arms.
3. Working out Monday through Thursday. I love this part, although, by Thursday I might be looking for better entertainment than the gym. Today was a cross training gym day, I biked for 45 minutes at a rate of 16-17mpm. I don't know if that's good or bad, but it felt like a workout to me! The way that I avoid boredom at the gym is I carry a large bag of books with me. Check out my list, another example of how marathon training is taking over my life.
What I talk about when I talk about Running - Haruki Murakiami ~ Melissa Blanksteen gave me this book earlier during the week. Haruki is her favorite Japanese writer and it's a memoir about his marathon run from Athens to Marathon.
Food Guide for Marathoners - I'm a science project.
The FairTax Book - Neal Boortz. A few weeks ago, a friend gave it to me. It's really interesting and causes me to gasp and laugh out loud at the gym.
The Runner's Day-by Day Log 2009 Calendar. I record my training in the journal, and lots of articles, quotes and advice are available too.
The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide - Whitsett, Dolgener, Kole. This is an actual text book for a college class. Eureka! This afternoon as I contemplated my lunch in relation to my workout and dinner, I sadly thought I need to take a class on how to prepare for the marathon. As I sat at my gym, reading my Japanese running memoir and pedaling my legs, Martin Finn came by and gave me a copy of the above-mentioned book. I read the book for the next half hour of biking.
The point is, the books capture my attention away from the blinking exercise screen for longer than 10 minutes at a time. I am also consumed with marathon training all the time. It's pretty crazy.
At the beginning of this blog, I mentioned that I am avoiding letting the marathon training take over my life. Although, as I reflect through the blog, it's not really true, training has taken over my life! There is something about receiving $340 in two days that carries my motivation. My friends believe in the Bottom Line mission as much as I do, so I'll keep running!
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