Taking Stock of 2012

At the end of the year, and the entire world if the idiots are right about the Mayans, it seems a good time to look over the last year. I have been thinking about my goals, challenges and resolutions for 2013, but want to see how I did in 2012 first. Not that an unachieved 2012 goal will keep me from setting my sights higher in 2013, though.

I had a goal to lose weight. I believe I weigh exactly the same as I did last year. I didn't gain weight, but I didn't hit my stated goal. I also challenged myself to participate in 2 hours of cardio every week. I am pretty sure that I did that. There were weeks that were much more than that and others that were less, but I will bet I averaged out to 2 hours weekly over the year. Just walking to my work shuttle every day is about 20 minutes, so that's getting me close without any set-aside workout time.

My biggest challenge for 2012 was to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I did finish the marathon in 4:58.21. I wish I had finished in less time, but just happy that I finished my first marathon. I also finished my first half marathon, too. 2:15.10 for the half. Honestly, the half marathon was harder than the full.

Those were the only goals that I declared publicly in 2012. Two out of three goals isn't bad. I will take that and use that for 2013. I won't worry about the one goal that was not accomplished, since it was not nearly as big of a goal as finishing the marathon. I'm ok not being at a smaller weight if I can point to my medal and say that I ran 26.2 miles.

I'm Back!!!!

I have neglected my blog for far too long. Instead of writing, I was running and training. It was all for a very good reason, but it's time that I got back to writing. I will still run and train, but also write. I promise to fill you in on some of the more exciting moments since July 27, but for now, I'll just post this picture.

Marathon Training--Take 2

Just like last year, I am starting marathon training. I weigh about 10 pounds less than I did last year. I didn't really realize that until just now, so that was a pleasant surprise. I also am a bit faster than I was last year, so I should end up in a faster pace group.

In addition to being faster and lighter than I was last year, I'm also mentally better prepared. Last year, I hoped/assumed the group could get me to the race. This year, I know they can, but also understand how important it is for me to listen to my body and put in the effort during the week. I can't rely on the Saturday long runs to get me to my goal. I need to run during the week and do all my cross-training. If you see the training widget on the bottom right side of my blog, you will see those miles increasing much more quickly than it has the last few months. I already rode my bike for 30 minutes yesterday and am ready to tackle my 30-45 minute run tonight. This is in addition to the physical therapy exercises that I do twice a day, every day. With all of that exercise and trying to plan a large fundraiser for the charity training me for the marathon, it feels like my entire day is all about running. I'm ok with that balance.

Why-->How

Source: reasonstobefit.tumblr.com via Taylor on Pinterest

If you're the first in your group of friends or family to start being active, you may meet resistance. You may even endure some scorn and derision. Part of that is deflection. They may not want to deal with their own health or weight issues. I know I was one of those people; pointing out that the first guy to run a marathon died at the end of it.* I was merely deflecting my feelings of laziness outward into mocking.

Eventually, I was convinced that they were probably right and I was just being a jerk. Your family and friends will do the same thing. They will see how good you look and feel and will want to join you. Fitness nuts are like the Borg, except that assimilation takes a bit longer with fitness.

*What I didn't know until just now is that he ran 150 miles over the two days before the marathon. (It's not part of my blog post, just interesting to me.)

Running in Commercials

I saw this commercial at the movie theater yesterday. I don't care about the product, but love that marathon running is being shown as a mainstream event, not something for fringe fitness crazies.

Olympic Trials

I know I mentioned the trials earlier this week, but the excitement is building and many others are starting to talk about it, too. It's good to know that I'm not alone in my frustration over the lack of live coverage and the conflict between the delayed coverage and NFL playoffs. I think that Peter Abraham summed it up brilliantly:

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NBC and the organizers have made a poor decision to offer no live race coverage. With what promises to be potentially one of the greatest Olympic Marathon Trials in US history, the running world, and even the non-running world deserve better.

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Please read his full piece on the coverage.

Olympic Trials

The Summer Olympics are only a few months away and I am already super excited. I have always loved watching the track and field events. I also like the cycling, swimming, diving and most of the other events. I highly recommend that you go to that link and check out the full list. I forgot more than I remembered and now that I've seen the complete list, I'm even more excited.

Unfortunately, the games are 200 days away. Luckily, I don't have to wait until July to begin watching competition. The US Marathon trials are this Saturday and NBC will be showing them that afternoon. (Sadly, it conflicts with one of the NFL playoff games.) I heard a story on marathon running on NPR this weekend and most of Runner's World's current issue was about the trials. I now feel informed about the participants and won't be blindly watching random runners.

If you want to be inspired to run faster and farther, I highly recommend that you watch the trials. Based on NBC's coverage of similar events, you will be motivated to get out and run and you may be brought to tears more than once.

Social Networks and Obesity

Many studies done on the spread of obesity and smoking through social networks have shown that the health habits of our friends and family are a good indicator of our health habits. If one of your close friends becomes obese, your chances of becoming obese go up at least 50%. The same data source shows that quitting smoking works the same way; if your friends quit, you're more likely to quit.

I'm trying to use this peer pressure to help all of us get healthier in 2012. If you share your health resolution with me, I promise to make it mine, too. I will also share our resolution with everyone else so we can all view it as a challenge to get moving more. So far, the only resolution has come from Desiree. She wants to set some personal records in the marathon and triathlon. She's also going to do more trail running and swimming. I will be doing at least two hours of cardio every week and will be training to run the half and full marathon.

If you're newer to fitness than Desiree, instead of shooting for a great marathon time, why not shoot for improving your time at walking or running a mile? If you currently take 20 minutes to walk a mile, why not work up to a 14 minute mile by the end of the year? Every person is different, but it's still important to get out there and move.

Have any of you decided to join us in these challenges? Do you have challenges of your own?

Second 2012 Challenge

I will again be training with the Team to End AIDS for the marathon and half marathon. This year, I hope that injury will not prevent me from running the actual races. I challenge everyone out there to join me in training with them. They set up the training schedule and have a great success rate. If you make it through the training, you will make it through the race. They do require fundraising, but it's much easier than you'd ever imagine. To join them, you don't have to be able to run 26.2 miles already. You don't even have to be able to run quickly. Their slowest pace group runs/walks every mile in 16 minutes. You just have to be able to walk 3 miles to begin the training. I would love to see all of you out at the training site next summer.

If you want more motivation, please check out their video. It will motivate you and hopefully inspire you to join. Their first sessions for signing up will be in the first months of 2012, so I will remind you of this challenge at that time.

UPDATE: you have until 1/31 to sign up at the reduced rate of $65. It goes to $95 in Feb. Join Team Twitter and you'll have even more built-in support.

Day 18C--Accomplishments

Part of me feels like I've bit off more than I can chew. Trying to raise at least $1,000 for charity and training to run 26.2 miles. Luckily, that's only part of me. Most of me thinks that I'm already making really good progress on these goals. I'm trying to listen to the optimistic parts, not the pessimistic thoughts.
I've already raised $680, so I'm 2/3 of the way to succeeding and I've only been at that for three weeks. I still have three months left to raise another $320. I'd like to raise more than $1,000, but will be happy to just secure my spot in the marathon. If I look at the figures I just laid out, I feel confident that I will have no problems hitting the bare minimum in plenty of time.
I've already increased my maximum run from 3.1 miles to 4 miles and then to 4.8 miles. I've been ignoring the 10% rule, but have been leaving plenty of time for rest between my runs and have been paying attention to every ache. The aches have not been bad at all and usually only occur the day after the long run as some muscle tightness. My official marathon training doesn't start for another three weeks and I'm already enjoying the long, outdoor runs. I feel like I'm already ahead of the point that is expected of me by the coaches. They've even said as much in some online messages.
It's much easier to listen to the negative voices, but it's getting easier to believe the positive ones. I need to remind myself that the negativity is BS and serves no purpose.

Day 10C--extras

I found this a few weeks back. Despite its beauty, it's horrible. Please help me destroy it and help people who are living with it.

Day 1C--Goal

I signed up to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for charity. I will be raising at least $1,000.00 for the Team to End AIDS I don't start official training until April 30th, but need to start doing some running so I'm not totally out of it when I do begin. Tomorrow is my first meeting with my charity, so I should have a better idea of where I need to be, and what the training entails. Thursday is supposed to be warmer, so I'm hoping to get some running in, even if it's only a mile.