Marathon by Hal Higdon

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

Especially in tough economic times, running offers an affordable and positive way to relieve stress and gain a sense of accomplishment. Marathons and—more than ever—half-marathons are the ultimate achievement for runners and have experienced an unprecedented boom in the last several years.

New hunger for reliable information on marathon and half-marathon training, as well as new technologies that have revolutionized ordinary people’s ability to train intelligently, means the time is right for a new edition of longtime Runner’s World contributor Hal Higdon’s classic guide to taking the guesswork out of preparing for a marathon, whether it’s a reader’s first or fiftieth.

Since its original publication in 1993, Higdon’s definitive manual has sold over a quarter of a million copies through all channels. The book is such a consistent seller for many reasons, but above and beyond all the others is this one: It works. At the core of the book remains Higdon’s clear and essential information on training, injury prevention, and nutrition. With more than 25 percent new material, this fourth edition of a running classic will be a must-own for both longtime runners and those new to the sport.

My thoughts:
It is now two months until my first marathon and I have been starting to get worried that my training is not going as well as it should be.  I printed out a plan from Runner's World months ago when I started training and I did well at the beginning with getting in the long runs and shorter runs as well, but as the summer heat has set in and the runs have gotten longer, I've missed some long runs.  The plan called for 5 20 mile runs over the course of the training, but a friend who has run eight marathons suggested that I didn't really need to do that many 20 mile runs which were freaking me out a bit.  Higdon's book suggests the same thing, that it is better to get to marathon day under trained than over trained and to have realistic goals for your first marathon, enjoy it and not feel terrible when you are done.  It gave me a lot of food for thought, but I still feel like I should be getting better at the longer runs than I am.  Coming up to the spring half marathon I ran I remember making sure I got in all the long runs the plan called for and the race went better than I anticipated and I felt okay afterwards.  Yes I was a bit stiff and sore, but it didn't make me miss any activities I had planned to do.  I hope to feel similarly after running my first marathon, especially since I will have to drive home that day as well.  I wish I had picked this book up at the beginning of  my training, not halfway through, because it would have been helpful to have had Higdon's tips and experience right from the beginning.  This is the marathon book I found to be most helpful.

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781609612245
• Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
• Publication date: 9/27/2011
• Edition number: 4
• Pages: 304

The Runner's Rule Book: Everything a Runner Needs to Know--And Then Some by Mark Remy and the Editors of Runner's World

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

Every sport has rules. Running is no exception. If you’re curious, just visit the Web site of USA Track & Field, the sport’s governing body, where you’ll find detailed dictates on everything from disqualification to bib-number placement to the caliber of the starter’s pistol.

But what about the everyday rules of running? The unspoken ones that pertain to the lingo, behavior, and etiquette that every seasoned runner seems to know and every newbie needs to learn? Veteran runner Mark Remy and the editors of Runner’s World magazine provide answers to these very questions and many more in The Runner’s Rule Book.

Inside you’ll find:

Rule 1.18

LEARN, AND LOVE, THE FARMER’S BLOW

Farmer’s Blow \ fär-m?rz blo \ n: a process by which one clears a nostril of mucus by pinching shut the opposing nostril and exhaling forcefully

[syn: Snot Rocket]

Rule 2.32

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FINISH AHEAD OF A COSTUMED RUNNER

Because being outkicked by Elmo is too much to bear.

Rule 3.1

CALL THEM RUNNING SHOES

They aren’t sneakers, or tennis shoes, or kicks, or trainers (sorry, Brits). They are running shoes. So call them that.

…and many, many more. With 100+ rules that cover the basics of running, racing, track etiquette, and apparel and gear, including hilarious running commentary on running culture, The Runner’s Rule Book will be the reference guide you’ll turn to again and again for answers to your burning running questions.

My thoughts:
I picked this up because I was curious about what the rules might be, have I been inadvertently breaking any rules because I didn't know they existed?  I live very close to the Rodale Institute where the editors at Runner's World work so when they talked about different routes they take I can picture some of the streets and such.  So how am I doing and what rules do I break?  I do sometimes throw my running clothes in the dryer, not the sports bras, but the pants and shirts.  I guess I am making them not last as long, but in doing laundry for six people, two of whom run, I don't always remember to pull things out before they go through the dryer.  I've never broken this one, but I don't know that I wouldn't, apparently you should not wear the t-shirt for a race in the actual race, it should only be worn afterwards.  I understand not wearing a shirt for a race you've never done, but if you are doing the race right then I wouldn't see a problem with wearing the shirt and often see many people doing so.  I've never run in Philadelphia, but where I run isn't that far away and I have never heard the Rocky theme song at any race I have done including the St. Luke's Half Marathon in Allentown in April which had a band at every mile marker.  This was a nice, fast read, which elicited some smiles and a couple of laughs, pointed out some common sense like not running three runners abreast on a road for safety and courtesy.

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781605295800
• Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
• Publication date: 10/13/2009
• Pages: 176

Meet the Author

Mark Remy lives, runs, and writes in eastern Pennsylvania, where he is the executive editor of RunnersWorld.com. He has run 15 marathons, including 5 Bostons, with a personal best time of 2:46. (Note: He ran that 2:46 in 1999; see Rule 1.51, page 54.)

Run!: 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss by Dean Karnazes

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

In his follow-up to the best-selling Ultra-Marathon Man, world-renowned ultra marathoner Dean Karnazes chronicles his unbelievable exploits and explorations in gripping detail; Karnazes runs for days on end without rest, across some of the most exotic and inhospitable places on earth, including the Australian Outback, Antarctica, and the back alleys of New Jersey.

From the downright hilarious to the truly profound, the stories in Run! provide readers with the ultimate escape and offer a rare glimpse into the mindset and motivation of an extreme athlete, one who has, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Not only pushed the envelope but blasted it to bits.”

Karnazes addresses pain and perseverance, and he also charts the emotional as he pushes to the edges of human achievement. The tales of the friendships he’s cultivated on his many adventures around the world warm the heart, and are sure to captivate and inspire readers whether they run great distances, modest distances, or not at all.

The hardcover edition was met with the enthusiastic support of Karnazes’s devoted fan base, and word-of-mouth excitement as well as media coverage from LIVE! with Regis and Kelly brought the book to the attention of scores of new readers. Karnazes’s colorful tales of his extreme running adventures are as entertaining as they are innately human, giving the book potential as a perennial paperback favorite.

My thoughts:
Until recently I don't know how aware I was of ultrarunning, I knew about marathons but I am not sure I was aware people ran even longer races.  Reading about the dedication and training runners go through to run races of 50 miles or more I wonder if I have that in me, but I am suspecting I do not.  I've seen Dean's picture in running magazines, espcially for Road ID ads, but I didn't know about him specifically until I picked this book up at the library.

I liked how Dean tells of not only his successes, but also of his failures to complete races and times he ended up in need of medical care due to some of these races, specifically Badwater which happens during the summer in Death Valley.  Dean had to attempt his one more than once to finish it.  To me this shows that even the best trained athletes are not infallible and that a setback or disappointment is just that, you don;t have to quit a sport or an endeavor just because it didn't work out the first time.

One of the feats Dean attempts is to break the Guinness Book World Record for miles run on a treadmill in a 48 hour period.  He did this for the Live!  With Regis and Kelly show and was on air or online for the 48 hour attempt with a representative nearby to authenticate his performance.  The record holder is a non athlete who goes around breaking records from the book.  After reading about his training and the times he has won the coveted Silver Belt Buckle for completing endurance events in under 24 hours I doubt that the record holder was truthful in the number they submitted.

An analogy that stuck with me is that we are all in cages with the doors open, it is our fear that keeps us from attempting our dreams.  The only thing holding us back is ourselves!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781605292793
• Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
• Publication date: 3/1/2011
• Pages: 272

Meet the Author

Dean Karnazes was named by Time magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World. A New York Times bestselling author, he has written for Runner’s World and Men’s Health. He lives in the San Francisco Bay area.

Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America by Marshall Ulrich

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

A fascinating glimpse into the mind of an ultramarathon runner and the inspirational saga of his run across America.

The ultimate endurance athlete, Marshall Ulrich has run more than one hundred foot races averaging over one hundred miles each, completed twelve expedition-length adventure races, and ascended the seven summits— including Mount Everest. Yet his run from California to New York—the equivalent of running two marathons and a 10k every day for nearly two months straight—proved to be his most challenging effort yet. In Running on Empty he shares the gritty backstory of his run and the excruciating punishments he endured on the road. Ulrich also reaches back nearly thirty years to when the death of his first wife drove him to run from his pain.

Ulrich’s memoir imbues an incredible read with a universal message for athletes and nonathletes alike: face the toughest challenges, overcome debilitating setbacks, and find deep fulfillment in something greater than achievement.

My thoughts:
I cannot see myself ever becoming someone who runs ultramarthons, I am a still feeling intimidated by the marathon I have coming up in October.  My longest run to date is 18 miles, but it is so interesting to find out what runners are thinking about and what drives them to go such long distances.  After reading about this cross country journey I am unsure how he managed to stick with it through it with injury and pain and the stress of running 40 to 70 miles a day!

Marshall started running when his first wife and first love was diagnosed with cancer as a way to bring down his blood pressure since the doctor thought the rise in levels was stress related.  He discovered he enjoyed it and was good at it, so he kept going for longer distances until he ended up doing ultramarathons.  His running and the time he spent training and racing affected his relationships with subsequent wives and his three children.  Marriage two and three ended in divorce.  His current wife Heather came along to support him in his run across the country.  His children came out a different points of the route to lend their support as well, but for the most part he was alone running  for the majority of each day.

Once Marshall started his journey there was an illustration of a runner on the bottom of each page and 53 dots representing each of the days.  The chapter headings told you what days he was on at that point and the runner moved in correspondence to which days were on the page, making its way from left to right as the book progressed.  I loved that idea!  Elevation was also noted and the line for the journey went up and down according to his general elevation for that day.

Marshall did something very few of us would even consider, and even less actually complete, and decided to share in his own words what the journey was like and what it meant to him.  There were highs and lows and a friendship that disintegrated, but it also sounds like he had a lot of time to work through issues from his life and was able to come out at a better place mentally than where he started.

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781583334904
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
• Publication date: 4/3/2012
• Edition description: Reprint
• Pages: 320

Meet the Author

Marshall Ulrich is an extreme-endurance athlete, ultrarunner, mountaineer, and adventure racer. His career has earned him wins, records, and firsts on some of the toughest courses in the world and has taken him to the top of the highest mountains. He lives in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Running is Flying: Aphorisms, Meditations, and Thoughts on a Running Life by Paul E. Richardson

Overview

Running is hard work, yes. But it should also be fun and exhilarating. At its best, it recaptures the joy we experienced before running was recast as punishment or penance, when we would sprint out of the shadows in a darkened cul-de-sac to kick a can, chase someone on the playground, or race our dog along the beach.

While that joy can be easy to find (remember finishing your first 5k?), it can be monumentally difficult to sustain. Humor helps.

The intent of Running is Flying - a collection of over 60 aphorisms, thoughts and meditations on the running life - is to provide encouragement, levity, and perspective to a sport that has a tendency to take itself a bit too seriously.

Wonderfully illustrated by British artist Paul Cox, Running is Flying makes a great gift for the runner in your life, even if that runner happens to be yourself.

My thoughts:
I read this one morning after showering and before my children got up, it was one of the few days we didn't need to do anything too early and I decided to relax a bit.  It was published by Runner's World and is a very quick read.  Each two page spread has an illustration and a one or two sentence caption.  Funny things like, "Never trust a runner with clean shoes." or "You know you are running to fast if all butts around you look better than your own."  Some of my other favorites were: "Never wear a shirt for a race you haven't run."  "Yes, Virginia, people did run before BodyGlide.  They did it with blisters."  "Ibuprofen may be more portable than ice, but you can't make a gin and tonic with Advil."  And lastly, "DEDICATION:  Paying to run a  race even when no shirt is involved."  I have run two races that offered a glass instead of a shirt and I took that option, unless we break it the glass should last longer than the shirt.  Some days it is hard to make myself get out of bed to either go outside to run or to get on the treadmill, it is so much nicer just to stay in bed, but there really is a reward for doing it and now I will have some funny sayings going on in my head while I do it!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781609612214
• Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
• Publication date: 2/28/2012
• Pages: 144

Meet the Author

Paul Richardson is the publisher and editor of Russian Life. He runs every other day, which can be rather challenging in Vermont weather. His half-marathon personal record is 1:45:13. He lives in Montpelier, VT.

Marathon Crasher: The Life and Times of MERRY LEPPER, the First American Woman to Run a Marathon by David Davis

Overview

David Davis’s stunning account of how Merry Lepper became the first American woman to complete a marathon

At a time when television was pushing male-dominated sports coverage into living rooms across America, women were struggling just to set foot onto the playing field. Barred from officially registering for long-distance running competitions, some women ran anyway, defying the authorities and the rules. Still, no American woman had ever successfully completed sports' ultimate endurance test: the marathon.

That changed in December of 1963, when Merry Lepper became the first. Leaping out of her hiding place in the bushes at the start of the race, dodging cars and infuriated race officials, Merry Lepper challenged the status quo and defeated it, years before the ban on female competitors would be revoked. This is the story of the arduous journey women distance runners had to endure to reach equality with men, and the story of how one woman overcame tremendous hurdles to fulfill a shared dream, paving the way for generations of female marathon runners to come.

This ebook also includes a 17-page excerpt from Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush, the story of the epic clash at the 1908 Olympic Marathon that jump-started the first marathon mania and heralded the modern age in sports.

My thoughts:
I read this book on NetGalley a couple weekends ago.  The title jumped out at me because I am registered for my first marathon in October, so anything with the word "marathon" in the title grabs me.  In going about our daily lives we often don't think about people who fought to get us the rights we have today. When I was debating whether or not to register for a marathon I never had to factor in if I would be allowed to run in a marathon.  I thought about if I felt I could train and complete that distance, if I would have the time needed to put into training, and how important this goal was for me.  Before 1963 when Merry Lepper ran as a crasher, no woman had completed a marathon.  The reasons given why women were not allowed seem so silly in retrospect, their bodies were too frail to undertake that strain and stress was a leading argument.  So a woman can carry a pregnancy for 9 months and give birth, but is too frail to run 26.2 miles?  Obviously these arguments were put forth by men.

Merry trained with another female friend and they both jumped out of the bushes when the race started and jumped in with the other runners.  Men tried to stop them and tried to get them out of the race, but they kept going.  Unfortunately Merry's friend did not complete the race, a fact that to this day causes her to feel regret, but Merry did.  Her accomplishment barely got her a mention in the news as it was a busy news week.  But today, all the women running can be thankful for her perseverance and dedication to something she felt passionate about.  Merry did not even tell her parents what she planned to do that day, she only said she was going to Hollywood with friends.  The marathon she ran in no longer exists, but the overall number of marathons has increased tremendously.

When I started reading this book I thought it was going to be all about Merry and women's running, but there were long sections about running in general.  One thing I kept thinking as I was reading was that now, in most races I've been in that break down entrants by gender, more women are registering and completing races than men.  Women are making up for lost time and exercising the right they have to use their bodies as they see fit!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781466817104
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 6/5/2012
• Sold by: ST MARTINS / MPS
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 32
• Sales rank: 287,490
• File size: 1 MB

The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training by Dawn Dias

Description from Amazon.com:
Dawn Dais hated running. And it didn't like her much, either. Her fitness routine consisted of avoiding the stairs in her own house, because who really has the energy to climb stairs? It was with this exercise philosophy firmly in place that she set off to complete a marathon.

The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women is a fun training manual for women who don't believe that running is their biological destiny but who dream of crossing the finish line nonetheless. It opens with a realistic training schedule and is chock-full of how-to's, quizzes, and funny observations, which Dais felt were lacking in the guides she had consulted.

The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women also integrates entries from Dias' journal, sharing everything would-be marathoners need to know about the gear, the blisters, the early morning workouts, the late-night carb binges, and — most important of all — the amazing rewards.
Anyone can do a marathon. This book just makes the experience a little more bearable and a lot more fun.

My thoughts:
I bought this book as part of my own Mother's Day gift.  Even though I have been running for nine months, I still have a hard time seeing myself as a runner.  I've done races, most recently a half marathon and registered for a full marathon for fall, but I felt like I needed something to motivate and encourage me.  This book did.  Dawn started running with the goal of running a marathon.  She trained for four or five months and completed her marathon, albeit with some walking.  Her writing is funny and encouraging at the same time.  I do not think that I would aim for a marathon without having some running experience first, but many people do and a lot of it is in your head and in your preparation.  If she could go from the couch to 26.2, there is no reason i can't get from my current long distance of 13.1 to 26.2 in five months.

I did get a little tired of her going on about losing her knee caps, what does that even mean?  I understand aches and pains, I've had those, but I never described it as losing a body part.  One thing that is going to stay in my head is her quote, that I should look up to make sure it is accurate, that Oprah finished a marathon in 4:30.  That was my goal based on my half marathon time.  I feel like if Oprah could do it, then I should too, and I know going into the my first time I should just focus on finishing and feel good.  Any time with be a PR and I can focus on getting faster in the future, but the competitive part of me wants to finish it strong and with a good time for me.

This book was good at putting the journey in perspective in a humorous way and has, for now at least, motivated me to start journaling on my other blog about the experience.  You can check out my latest thoughts on running here.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Seal Press; 1 edition (January 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580052053
• ISBN-13: 978-1580052054

Checkpoint!

This week was a recovery week and I needed it.  I did something to my foot/leg the week before and it needed a chance to rest.  It isn't 100% better, but almost so I am glad I didn't push it.  Since I skipped doing this post last week I guess I'll list both weeks here to keep myself honest.

Last week:
Ran 18 miles (4,5,4,4) which is exactly what was on my Smart plan from Runner's World
Walked at least 6 miles ( I don't always track but those were tracked walks)
No other exercise or videos, just taking it easy to feel better

Two weeks ago:
Ran 29 miles (4,4,5,10,5) All but the last five were on the plan, I threw in an extra run just because it was nice out and I had the time to do it.  The discovery I made was that I need to do something nutrition wise for longer runs, not the 4's and 5's but for runs longer than that.  I never take water because I am afraid I'll need to pee and I had not been using any kind of food gel or chew or whatever.  I bought a bunch of different things to try and then didn't have a long run this week to try them out on.  No so sure about the gels though, I opened one to try for my extra 5 mile run just to see and it was so sweet I couldn't make myself eat it all and I like sweet things.  I'll experiment with flavors and textures and we'll see what happens.

This is hosted by Mari at Bookworm with a View.

Checkpoint!

Last week had my second 10 mile run ever.  This time I did on the treadmill and I wanted to quit more than once, but I figured once I made it to the halfway point I would just have to do all that work again to get the run in and it was better to stick it out.  I also took a few days break from calorie counting.  Valentine's Day and knowing that as of Wednesday I will have given up potato chips and french fries led to the consumption of more sweets and fries than usual.

This week:
Ran 23 miles (4,5,10,3)
Walked 1 mile
No other exercises

I have been following two training plans, kind of putting them together to get ready for my first ever half marathon at the end of April.  I make sure to do the longest run either recommend and tend to also end up over the miles for both plans since they have different length runs and when I meet people to run, we try to go for 4 or 5 miles even if that is not what is written on the plan.  This weeks ten mile run felt hard.  I was super thirsty, maybe because I did it at the end of the day, but I have trouble drinking while running and if I stop I don't want to start again.  Even in races, I love the idea of a water stop, but unless I actually stop I spill the water and choke and always think it might have been better to have skipped it.  How do you manage to drink while still running?  Straw cups help a bit and I bet a water bottle with a closed sort of top might help too.  I've been pondering if I can run the whole half without drinking anything and I am thinking I will end up too thirsty at the end and compromise energy as I get thirstier.  Things to figure out in the next two months!

This is hosted by Mari at Bookworm with a View.

Checkpoint!

This was week five of my half marathon training.  I put the two plans I have together and came up with my plan for the week and I stuck with it.  This is amazing for me because I am not always the best at sticking with fitness plans.  Maybe since I know there is something I am working towards I am holding myself more accountable, but I have been doing so much better in that regard since starting to run last summer.

This week:
Ran 24 miles (4,5,4,10)
Walked 3 miles
1 workout video (Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred)

This was my first ever 10 mile run and my longest run outside to date.  I had planned to run with a friend on Saturday morning, but the snow caused it to just be me.  It felt like a very slow run, but I stuck with it and made it to 10 miles.  I miscalculated where I would be and ended up having an almost .75 walk home.  Next time I'll have a better idea how  long different loops in town are!

I went over my calories for the week by 305 but I also saw my lowest weight since I started making an effort to lose weight again.  My biggest challenge is stress and going out to eat.  I am not replacing a lot of our snacks as they are consumed, so it is getting harder to find something to just grab which hopefully will help me make better choices or at least force me to grab a piece of fruit or vegetable instead of something salty, sweet and processed.

Checkpoint!

Okay, this is two days late, but I didn't want to skip it even though it was late. Last week I ran my first 10K race for Superbowl Sunday. The weekend before I did a practice run for the course, not emphasizing on speed at all, just enjoying it and making one wrong turn that added .2 to the run. I had fun and was looking forward to the actual race. Going into it my goal was to run it between 1 hour and 1 hour ten minutes. That morning I really started aiming for the one hour mark and was right on track for the first two miles, even the hills especially at mile three didn't get me too off track, and then I started to run out of energy and slow down. I ended up finishing in 1:02:51. Definitely in between the times I set for myself and close, but not quite my ultimate goal for this race. This is the longest I have ever maintained a ten minute per mile pace. I've done it for two or three miles, but never 6.2 so it was a success!


Last week’s training:
Ran 15 miles
Walked 7

Not quite my usual, but it was supposed to be an easy week on my one training plan. This week I have a ten mile run planned with a friend for Saturday. So far all my long runs have been on the treadmill so I am really hoping the weather holds out so I can do this one outside and with someone to talk to.

Checkpoint!

This week I did much better eating wise than in prior weeks.  I stayed under my calories for the week by 464!  I am not sure if I've ever stayed under that much to date!

Exercise wise:
Ran 29 miles
Walked 3 miles
1 Fitness Workout- Latin Cardio Dance from Dancing with the Stars

My long run was 9 miles this week and I have worked on getting a little bit faster.  I got outside with friends once and ran a practice for this weekends 10K on my own doing my best to follow the map of the course.  I  made a wrong turn and added .2 to the run, but I have a good idea what the course looks like and know I've already done it, so that should take some of the anxiety away this weekend.  Now I just need to decide how many days prior to the race to take off, at least one, but maybe two.  Depends how I am feeling.  I have two different training plans that I am alternating between for the half marathon, so this week I don;t have quite as long a run which is good with the current race.  My long run is supposed to be 7 but I may just count the 6.2 as I don't want to do that too close to the race.

Personal Milestone:
This week I reached 100 miles of running for the month, which is my highest monthly running amount since I started running last summer. 

Checkpoint!

This week I feel good about the exercise I did, but calorie wise I went way off track.  I have a couple of ideas why I went so off course, but the most important thing is to refocus and stick to my goals.  I am not sure the scale has moved at all this month, but I'm not going to let myself give up!

Activity this week:
Ran 23 miles
Level 1 Of Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (26 min)
Level 1 of Jillian Michaels Shed and Shred (45 min)
Crunch-Joy of Yoga (36 min)

I used to do the 30 Day Shred all the time and I was glad to see that it didn't feel anywhere near as hard as it used to.  I think I'll try level 2 next time.  In Shed and Shred I am still up in the air. but the inner thigh exercise made me sore for a few days so I may need to try that move at least again!  Hopefully if it makes you sore it actually doing something too.  Years ago the Crunch video was my favorite at home yoga workout.  I still remembered all the things the instructor was going to say and I was a bit sad at all the flexibility I have lost over the years.  I guess that is just incentive to keep at it!

According to MyFitnessPal I went over my weekly calories by 815, so not as bad as the week before.  I only went over the first four days so hopefully I've gotten back on the right track.  I think i said last week my goal was to stay under or at my calories for the week, well I am going to try that again for this week.

This is hosted by Mari at Bookworm with a View.

Checkpoint!

This past week I did well in some areas and faltered a bit in some others.  I went over my calories by quite a bit, it seemed like I was always hungry or eating because of stress.  So it is something to work harder on this week.  According to My Fitness Pal my goal between food and exercise is 1200 calories a day.  I have a hard time sticking with this and usually try to add in extra exercise so I can still eat.  I averaged between 1300 and 1400 a day overall, but only actually went over my amount on three of the days.

Exercise for the week:
Ran 24 miles
Walked 3.5

I didn't do any strength training or other exercises for the week.  I started walking at lunch two days a week with a coworker, which is good stress relief in the middle of the day.  Also, I took the time to do a long run this week.  Friday I ran 9 miles.  I made the decision to register for the half marathon at the end of April after the run, if I can do 9 now in three months I can do 13.1.

Goals for next week:
Get in more cross training.
Stick better to my calories, stop letting stress and eating just to eat be ways to sabotage myself.

This is hosted by Mari atBookworm with a View.

Checkpoint!

The new year is just days away and, thanks to Shelia at Book Journey , I stumbled upon this meme over at Bookworm with a View.  Every week people post how they are doing in their own fitness goals and what is coming up.  I became a runner in July.  I toyed with the idea in the spring, for a few weeks I ran daily increasing the time little by little, and then I took a break for a day, that turned into a week which turned into a few months.  In July I recommitted myself by signing up for a 5K in August.  Since then I've signed up for a race a month to keep myself from being able to quit.  It took six months, but now I no longer fear quiting quite so much.  My next 5K is on Saturday to celebrate the end of the year.  Then for 2012 my new challenge is a 10K on Super Bowl Sunday.  This week I have been toying with the idea of signing up for a Half Marathon at the end of April.  Last week my long run was 9 miles, my longest ever! The idea both scares and excited me in equal measures, I want to click and sign up but worry that 13.1 will be too much for me.  I'm not a very fast runner either so not only will it be a long distance but it is going to take me awhile.  I want to decide before the end of the week because I know the race is filling up and I don't want to wait too long.  I guess by next week I'll be able to record my choice, which I think is going to be yes, I just need to wrap my mind around the idea a little longer.

Saturday Snapshot- Snowy 5K- December 3, 2011

This was taken at the end of October when my husband and I ran in our third 5K during the snowstorm that shut down our area for days.  Up until then I had never run in the snow or rain.  Even running outside when it was cold was new to me!  I dressed too warmly and got uncomfortable, but it turned out to be a fun experience.  Our next race is on New Year's Eve.  It will be a nice way to say goodbye to the old year in a healthy way.

This is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books.  You can stop by her blog to see who else is participating and follow links to each of the posts.

To Be a Runner: How Racing Up Mountains, Running with the Bulls, or Just Taking On a 5-K Makes You a Better Person (and the World a Better Place) by Martin Dugard

Overview
With an exuberant mix of passion, insight, instruction, and humor, best-selling author—and lifelong runner—Martin Dugard takes a journey through the world of running to illustrate how the sport helps us fulfill that universal desire to be the best possible version of ourselves each and every time we lace up our shoes.


To Be a Runner represents a new way to write about running by bridging the chasm between the two categories of running books: how-to and personal narrative. Spinning colorful yarns of his running and racing adventures on six continents—from competing in the infamous Raid Gauloises to coaching his son's high school cross-country team—Dugard considers what it means to truly integrate the activity into one's life. For example, how the simple act of buying a new pair of running shoes can be a source of meaning and hope. As entertaining as it is provocative, To Be a Runner is about far more than running: It is about life, and how we should live it.

My thoughts:
Over the weekend I completed my third 5K.  Running is still relatively new to me so I've been signing up for a 5K a month to keep myself working towards a goal.  There are two libraries I regularly visit and somehow at the one location I seem to always find running books.  This is the book I read on Sunday night when we were without power.  It was nice to have few distractions, but it would have been nicer to have more light.  I think I  need a better book light!

The book is a collection of essays about running that run in a pretty much chronological order for Martin Dugard from how he first tried running when his parents ran laps in a gym, to being a runner in high school and college, to stopping and getting heavy, returning and then stopping again and getting heavy.  Now he is a writer and a high school coach and the excitement he feels for his runners is so motivating.  One thing I've found in my limited experience with the running community is that so many people are so encouraging.  Very few people criticize if your time is slow or you aren't overly confident, and he seems like he is a very motivated and understanding coach who pushes his runners to do their best and believes in them.  I wish at some point I had tried running as part of a team.

One thing he comes back to over and over again is how running, and he does mostly trail running, helps him put things in perspective and break out of a bad mood.  He runs almost daily as a break in his writing and a lot of it really is getting your shoes on and getting out the door.  Once you start you are so much less likely to stop or quit than if you never get yourself up to do it in the first place (like lots of things in life I guess).
Details
•Pub. Date: May 2011
•Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
•Format: Hardcover , 256pp
•ISBN-13: 9781609611088
•ISBN: 160961108X

Run Your Butt Off!: A Breakthrough Plan to Shed Pounds and Start Running (No Experience Necessary!)by Leslie Bonci , Sarah Butler , Budd Coates

Overview
Shed unwanted pounds and keep them off ONCE AND FOR ALL with Run YourButt Off!, a back-to-basics, test panel-approved weight-loss plan and beginners' running program that yields sustainable, healthy results. The Run Your Butt Off! program is founded on the simple concept that in order to lose weight, calories burned must exceed calories consumed. No gimmicks, no shortcuts, no silver bullets can circumvent that reality. With this program, you'll learn to burn fat from both sides of the weight-loss equation—the calories in and the calories out—at the same time. Run Your Butt Off! will make you fitter, stronger , and leaner .

My thoughts:
I wish I had found this book when I took up running this summer.  I had my own plan and I think having had these ideas to follow through on might have helped make it look more achievable.  The plan takes you for 12 weeks, or longer if you want to spend more than one week at a level and running plan, and you go from walking for 30 minutes to running for 30 minutes.  Each chapter also has some ideas to help you adapt your life to more healthy sustainable approaches like eating more fruits, vegetables and protein and reading food labels. Actual people who participated in the program are featured with achievable goals.  No one lost absurd amounts of weight in the 12 weeks, but everyone made progress toward their own goals.  A mother at my daughter's  Brownie meeting was telling me how this book was written by someone in our area and she has applied to be one of the walkers in the next book, about Walking Your Butt Off!  She encouraged me to apply, but as I have already been running I don't qualify for the the new book and I don't want to give up running to go back to walking anyway.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to get started with running.  I checked it out of the local library, and need to get it returned as it was due today, which would be a great way to see if it what you are looking for before buying it.  I loved the calculator online to find out your BMI and the logs at the back.  Personally I've been using Dailymile for logging my exercise and I like that more than a paper pencil method, but I can see the merits of both.


Details
•Pub. Date: March 2011
•Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
•Format: Paperback , 304pp
•ISBN-13: 9781605294049
•ISBN: 1605294047