It's Saturday and the alarm went off at 5:30am. I turned it off and went back to sleep. It was a seemingly inauspicious start to my attempt at consistency and discipline as I prepare to run the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon. But when my week is spent burning days in a stress-induced and sleep deprived environment, the thought of a little more sleep seemed like a good idea. I figured I'd be back up around 7am, perhaps 7:30. My eyes opened at 8:00am. Late.
Then my head started filling with all that needed to be done and I wandered around doing this and doing that while thoughts flowed about what I should be doing and what needed to be done. Meanwhile, nothing of significance was getting done. The first priority was picking up the dogs before the kennel closed, then there was a bunch of other stuff, so I settled at the kitchen table and wrote it all down. Then I put a time to it. And then the mind cleared and the day opened up in front of me.
The barrier in the past has been consistency, especially during travel. Compared to Chicago, I know so much more about what to do, and how to do it. This time will be significantly different, but only if I practice what I know. The strength isn't in the working out, it's in the discipline to get out there and work out. Simple. Nike said it over and over. Just do it.
It was raining when I arrived home with the dogs. I took them around the block, and the puppy was particularly spastic. I dressed in my workout gear, put on my Garmin and hit the road with the pup. In the past, he fought the leash for the first mile. Today he did much better, and stayed with me the entire time. Today's focus was to log 45 minutes keeping my heart rate around 135 bpm with a focus on form. The Garmin would beep when I hit 136 bpm, and I'd dial back my pace. Once I hit a third beep (consider it a third strike), I'd slow to a walk until my heart rate dropped to 125 bpm, then back to running. I didn't set any land speed records, but it was about wearing out the pup and getting a good base.
April will include a focus on consistency and strength. I'll be on the trail every day if all goes well, and make sure the heart rate doesn't go above 135 bpm. Strength will play a role 3x a week, and let's see how well the month goes.
Today's run I went out for 45 minutes and covered 3.3 miles. No land speed records were set, nor any PRs, but that wasn't the point. The point is to avoid injury and enjoy the journey.
The goal - to be measured 5/1 - will be to run 4.5 miles in 45 minutes by the end of April while building a strong base. For strength, the goals is 20 pull ups, 75 push ups and 100 body weight squats.
Bring it!
Then my head started filling with all that needed to be done and I wandered around doing this and doing that while thoughts flowed about what I should be doing and what needed to be done. Meanwhile, nothing of significance was getting done. The first priority was picking up the dogs before the kennel closed, then there was a bunch of other stuff, so I settled at the kitchen table and wrote it all down. Then I put a time to it. And then the mind cleared and the day opened up in front of me.
The barrier in the past has been consistency, especially during travel. Compared to Chicago, I know so much more about what to do, and how to do it. This time will be significantly different, but only if I practice what I know. The strength isn't in the working out, it's in the discipline to get out there and work out. Simple. Nike said it over and over. Just do it.
It was raining when I arrived home with the dogs. I took them around the block, and the puppy was particularly spastic. I dressed in my workout gear, put on my Garmin and hit the road with the pup. In the past, he fought the leash for the first mile. Today he did much better, and stayed with me the entire time. Today's focus was to log 45 minutes keeping my heart rate around 135 bpm with a focus on form. The Garmin would beep when I hit 136 bpm, and I'd dial back my pace. Once I hit a third beep (consider it a third strike), I'd slow to a walk until my heart rate dropped to 125 bpm, then back to running. I didn't set any land speed records, but it was about wearing out the pup and getting a good base.
April will include a focus on consistency and strength. I'll be on the trail every day if all goes well, and make sure the heart rate doesn't go above 135 bpm. Strength will play a role 3x a week, and let's see how well the month goes.
Today's run I went out for 45 minutes and covered 3.3 miles. No land speed records were set, nor any PRs, but that wasn't the point. The point is to avoid injury and enjoy the journey.
The goal - to be measured 5/1 - will be to run 4.5 miles in 45 minutes by the end of April while building a strong base. For strength, the goals is 20 pull ups, 75 push ups and 100 body weight squats.
Bring it!
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