Why Run A Marathon?

Day 8 – So here it is...the moment of follow through or moments I should say. Missed my weenie 15 minute task. Wallowed in self-pity for the lacks in my life. Tried to get focused, but stumbled. Didn't write yesterday, blah, blah, blah.

Okay good things to consider: 1.) I have cut out potatoes, dairy, wheat and flours of any kind from my diet. It's amazing how in less than a week I feel better physically. I know that stuff: a.) makes me fat and b.) makes me hurt, but having it in my house, cooking it and feeding it to my family can make it difficult to just say "NO!" When I lived alone, I just never had that stuff in my house.

So why a marathon? Having a goal that requires my body to really work at peak performance means that I feel more empowered to say no to those foods tempting though they may be. The real test will be in a party situation, which will be happening at my home over the weekend.

The other dietary change I have made is to eat a very small dinner meal and a good sized lunch. So far this may be helping me to sleep better at night. I also put a container of almonds in the car in the console and have been happily nibbling at them in a number of instances where I found myself sliding into low blood sugar. Did I mention that I was hypoglycemic? This has been with me for most of my life. I go through phases of not dealing with it so well. Again running a marathon, having a discernible goal that requires me to focus on this old body is quite helpful.

I think the other thing that is compelling about running a marathon is that it is very much like climbing a mountain, something I did in my 20s, though I think I didn't do it so successfully. Dreadfully, I am a very judgmental person. I don't feel successful on any front. I am hoping that I can really expand myself and work on leaving that behind. Frankly, judgmental people are hard to live with. Maybe somehow I can become gentler with myself as I push towards my goal. We'll see.

Awakening Joy quote: ". . . and I'm really blessed."

Avoiding Flameout...

Day 2 – Walked 3.72 miles and drank 3.5 quarts of my special tea drink.
Day 3 – Walked 1.72 miles and drank 2.5 quarts of special tea.
Day 4 – Walked at the Peavine Trail, 3.15 miles and drank 2.5 quarts of water / special tea. Read first  two chapters from Hal Higdon's book, Marathon, The Ultimate Training Guide. And no I am not completely crazy or alone in my desire to run a marathon at my age. I am not even the first. After reading Chapter 2, A Word To The Beginning Runner, realized I had fallen into the first trap of a beginner. In a word: flameout. Too much, too soon. So I decided to follow his sage advice start slow and do a prescribed formula of training then resting. If you are following me, you may want to consider buying his book.  This blog will not be a book report. I started a Pinterest Board: Running a Marathon at 50, where I am posting books and whatever I find that supports my quest.
Day 5 – RESTED (My back was really hurting. So glad to adjust my goal.)
Day 6 – Today's goal: 15 minute walk following Hal's plan. Drink 3.5 quarts of special tea.
Day 7 – Tuesday, tomorrow: more blogging about why I want to do a marathon, which Mr. Higdon captures so beautifully. I am setting up a schedule that has training days and then rest days, when I will blog. The whole endeavor is a major time management issue, which I really like.

Mini Personal Goals

DAY 2 – First Goal: do the walking I planned for myself, but have let slide. For the next 2 weeks I want to walk 3 miles per day, five days a week. November 1st, I'll start mapping out the marathon plan. I looked at all three books yesterday. Skimmed Marathon Training for Dummies. That will be the bible as it breaks everything down very simply. Tonight I want to begin reading Marathon, The Ultimate Training Guide so I can educate myself about this crazy, hugh endeavor.

I have to say that I feel hopeful this morning, which I haven't felt for along time. The other cool thing about running a marathon, it doesn't matter if I get a job, I can still go for it. I have a number of applications out so it's all about waiting on the academic world. Also I feel like I have taken control of my life. I'm not just waiting for something to happen. Regarding work and the application process, it's like the awful feeling of dating—just waiting for some dang guy to call—so much better to be off doing something one enjoys. Finally, I am doing one of the steps from the Awakening Joy course I am taking, which is to move everyday.

Yesterday I also remembered an article I read about skinny people. I looked it up and here is a brief overview from a Dr. Oz video (as picked up by Fashion, Fitness & Frank Talk). I didn't watch the video, but read an article when it first came out. Below is the essence. I love the internet, so many fitness folks out there and many picked up this list. I will Pin blogs, books, articles and general information I find on my Pinterest Board: Running a Marathon at 50.

1. Exercise in the morning [I remember this as exercise then eat a big breakfast, see 4.]

2. Eat smaller meals throughout the day

3.  Eat slower, savor food

4.  Don’t skip breakfast

5.  Better monitors of health (weighing yourself, tracking your food intake)

6.  Fitness hobbies outside of the gym (sports, swimming, yoga)

7.  Drink water

Second Goal: do number 7 on the above list. When I was pregnant I drank a gallon of water almost everyday. I had a thirst that couldn't be tamed. I, of course, stopped because I didn't feel so thirsty once my daughter was born. Anyway I want to up my water intake. I read somewhere that teas and lemon infused water counts. For some reason, I can get down more liquid in the herbal tea form.

Today's gallon concoction is: one raspberry leaf tea bag (good for female parts), four bags of peppermint tea (my favorite flavor), 1/4 cup organic lemon juice, and 1/8 cup raw agave. Mix together with added ice in a gallon container and go: my goal to drink it all today. Go, go, go...

Awakening Joy quote: Share your time and resources

Inspired, maybe...

DAY 1 – Last night I watched Julie/Julia, the movie—based on Julie Powell's cooking and blogging adventure and Julia Child's memoir of her time in France. How many times have I watched it? I can't say, but I own it. Each time I am inspired, but I do nothing. Finally, last night I just decided I have to do something. I watched the featurette and Julie's words about changing her life in a year were a whack to the head, my head.

So this is my challenge: I want to run a marathon before my 50th birthday, which is December 31, 2013. This is not a new desire or goal. Notice the books. I bought them just before my 40th birthday. Poof...ten years flew by. I did a few things like have a baby, but now my daughter is seven. I made a film, but so what I haven't written the script for my feature-length film—a story I have been rewriting in my head for almost 20 years. I finished an MFA, but don't have a published book of poetry. I am floundering, drowning and a trying to gain focus. Gee is 50 the new 30? Scary!

And I want to be a writer. A real writer: as in I want to make a living writing and thinking. So the intersection of midlife crisis, writing and wanting to run a marathon have collided. Did I mention I am unemployed and I have a fabulous tire around my waist, the proverbially love handle. Basically, I don't have the body I had when I was 40 nor the career. Now how did that happen?

So what to do about it? I am going to start the training process for running a marathon and I will write about it everyday. Short posts, nibble, nibble, nibble: one bite at a time toward my goal of creating a writing career and running a marathon in December 2013.

Awakening Joy quote: Imagine that this day is the first and last of your life. How would you treasure it?