Accountability

So I started running in 2007, one to get in shape (fail) & two raise money for charity (total success). I ran a total of 320.76 miles, which since I had never run before was pretty impressive to me. In 2008 I decided to run a marathon on my own, thus I started my individual training. Got off to a decent start but no weight loss & injuries kept me from being successful. Total mileage was only 227.46 miles. Well 2009 blossomed into a new year. I talked family into walking a half marathon & decided on what marathon to run and hit the training in stride. Off to a blazing start, but of course injuries cropped up, so February had slow down, picked it back up in March, then in April recorded record mileage for me (118.47 for the month), May backed off and June was just about getting through the month and the race. So picked back up on the mileage in July in training for a half and took the leap to do a super sprint tri. I'm loving the training for the tri and already planning on doing 4 in 2010.

The problem I'm having is still little to no weight loss (however I'm not gaining) and I really want to lose close to 40 more pounds so I know I need more accountability. Since some have shown an interest in the training, I'm going to use this blog as a training journal and hope I can keep people interested enough to hold me accountable for my training. To start my diet is atrocious and I know this. So I need quick, easy, healthy ideas for food. Michele & I are going to start grocery shopping together and I'm going to get my training more geared toward my lifestyle than training for an event.

This fall & winter I might do the Seattle Half Marathon in November. I'll gauge based on the weather. My training won't change either way though. I want to do a minimum of 50 miles per month. Cross-training will become more intense as well. I want to throw in some weight work-outs & cardio boxing (since we got the heavy bag & speed bag in the garage). Swimming will be my primary focus. I will never have a full Iron-Man in me, but I think an Olympic distance tri could be in my future if my training is spot-on. I'm going to re-start Total Immersion and take the drills seriously this winter. I'll utilize the pool more and get myself comfortable with the water because ultimately that's my problem. My fear of the water. It can be almost paralyzing at times. So I'm going to tackle the pool with mostly mental exercises to start. I may even do swimming lessons depending on how the mental work goes.

So the buck starts here:

Week of 8/2/09
Michele & Jules will be out of town at the beginning of the week until Thursday, then all of us are going to the coast for a holiday. This will be a good opportunity for trail & beach running.

Sunday: off
Monday: Championship Softball Game
Tuesday: bike to work, yoga, bus home, interval training at the track
Wednesday: off
Thursday: bike to work, bus home, evening run
Friday: off
Saturday: long run (2 hours)