So I am a little slower than I would like overall. This is the second post for the month of March. I had hoped to do four. Also I would have liked to be a bit further in my running process, but I have definitely started my splits at 1 minute of running with 4 minutes of walking. I can do more and tomorrow will finish that cycle and start the 2/3 combo on Tuesday.
I just recently finished reading an amazing book called Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis. I don't want to do a pitch here for the book, but for me, it finally explained why I feel so poorly after eating wheat and gluten-free substitutes and why I have found difficulty getting off wheat. I also loosely follow the Eat Right For Your Blood Type diet and I am starting to explore more on the Paleo diet, which I am learning about on Elana's Pantry website. I bring this all up because I am trying to figure out the right fuel combination for this old body.
At near 50 years old, I figure in car terms I am at 100,000 miles. Now things are starting to need ongoing maintenance to keep me humming along. Usually, I think the best time for a car trade in is at 75,000 miles (in my mind that would have been in my early 40's). Things are still running well and smoothly at 75,000 miles. Trade in, get a great price, start with a new car. If only it was that easy. The bodies we get are the bodies we just have to keep. So how to get more miles and really keep things running smoothly in this 100,000 mile body?
When I had my old 1978 Toyota pickup with the camper-shell, I used to change the oil myself like clockwork. I did regular tune ups with the guys at Bill & Jay's in Petaluma and was very diligent, if thrifty about general maintenance. Fuel wasn't just the gas I used, it was also keeping the spark plugs, filters, oil, alternator, brakes and everything else in tiptop shape. I put another 100,000 miles on that truck myself and when I sold it and I told the woman just listen to this baby and keep on top of the maintenance, and you should get another 100,000 miles.
So it is with my body. I am following a variety of "diets" because my personal fuel cocktail is unique to me. My body has told me a variety of things over the years and now I am listening to every little knock and ding. Sleep, food, exercise, emotional well-being all play a part in keeping this body going. Part of the goal of running a marathon is to really have a task that requires me to juggle sleep, food, exercise and emotional well-being into healthy habits.
I would like to log another 100,000 miles on this body, but with a smooth ride, not coughing and sputtering like a car with bad fuel that needs a tune up.
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