Week 1 Day 3 (Technically training started on Sunday, I just took my two rest days early)

Run like hell and get the agony over with! ~ Clarence DeMar

That about what I felt like this morning while getting through this first day of training! I guess if it was meant to be easy everyone would be doing it :) Honestly, other than not hitting my times, it didn't really go too bad. Lots of things to work on though that is for sure!

Cardio workout for the day was completed this morning.

2 Mile Warmup - 16:23

Then came all the fun! Three 1 mile intervals with a 1 minute rest in between each interval.

Mile 1 Interval - 6:52 (Goal was 6:12 so plus 40 seconds)

Mile 2 Interval - 6:43 (Goal was 6:12 so plus 31 seconds)

Mile 3 Interval - 6:33 (Goal was 6:12 so plus 22 seconds)

2 Mile Cooldown - 16:51

All in all I was satisfied with my first run under the new training plan. Running sometimes can be a very humbling sport. I finished no where near the times I needed, but I was happy to get this first speed work done and get a baseline for where I need to get too. Total of 7 miles completed!

Nutritionally I had an ok day. My daily caloric need is 2,330 calories. Today I earned and additional 1,118 calories from exercise. I am going to be "zigzagging" my calories all throughout training this summer. Some days I am going to eat a ton...other days I am not going to eat as much, regardless of exercise exertion. Today was a reduction day.

Total Calories Needed - 3,448

Total Calories Consumed - 2,542

Calorie Deficit of 906 calories

Percent of calories from Carbs - 64.36%

Percent of calories from Fats - 21.24%

Percent of calories from Protein - 19.83%

72 Ounces of water consumed.

I believe I basically got it right where I wanted it today. Remember when you are training, enough fuel in and of itself is not enough. It has to be the right kind of fuel. You need to ensure you find the right balance. A good mix of carbs and proteins and fats will go a long way in ensuring that you have success at your training. If your body runs out of energy, well, it is just going to make everything that much harder.

So on to tomorrow....

Tomorrow is a NON running day! Again this is something I am going to have to get used to on this training plan. Only running 3 days per week! Tomorrow however is not an off day.

Cardio

Spinning. 20 to 25 miles on the bike.

Strength

Bench Press - 4 Sets

Hanging Leg Raises - 4 Sets

Push-ups - 4 sets of 26

Ab Rollers - 4 sets of 11

Bicep's - 4 Sets

Tricep's - 4 Sets

That is it for now. Should be a great day tomorrow.

Happy Running!

Let the training begin

Frustration is the first step towards improvement. I have no incentive to improve if I'm content with what I can do and if I'm completely satisfied with my pace, distance and form as a runner. It's only when I face frustration and use it to fuel my dedication that I feel myself moving forwards. ~ John Bingham

So tomorrow is the day! Been thinking about it a lot over the last several days. I went out this past Saturday morning for what is seemingly my last "easy" run for a while. Starting tomorrow, the running becomes hard again and that, is a great thing. I feel that over the past few months I have become complacent. I have begun to find myself stuck int he same old same old. Ya, I was still running but I wasn't running with any clear direction, I was just running to run. There have been times where I wasn't even enjoying it. One of the things I often tell people I help train is that if you don't intend on pushing yourself hard, why bother. Well, honestly I have not pushed myself very hard these last few months. After I PR'd in New Orleans in February, I have basically just taken my running for granted. Well, not anymore.

Training Week 1 Day 1 Starts TOMORROW!!!!! I am going to do my very best to keep a daily journal about how my training is going for anyone who actually cares to read about it lol. Even if I am the only one, at least I will be able to go back and reflect. Wish me luck over the next 18 weeks. We shall see in the fall if this new plan is actually worth anything more than the paper it's written on.

Tomorrow's Plan

Cardio

10 to 20 minute warmup

3 x 1600 meter @ 6:12 with a 1 Minute RI (Rest Interval) between each mile

10 to 20 minute cooldown

Strength

4 sets of 25 Push-ups

4 Sets of 10 Squats

4 sets of 10 Lunges

4 sets of 10 one legged lunges

4 sets of 10 Ab Rollers

Happy Running!