:blah: Nope I haven't gotten tossed the idea of competing in a figure competition out of the window. The only show that I have even considered entering isn't until November. So what I have decided to do to add a little spice to fitness life is to train for a marathon.

Okay I am not a runner but by time I am finished I will be at least that is the plan. Stay tuned I have a feeling this is going to be a wild ride.

My body is going through an incredible period of change and it has decided to take my mind and spirit along for the ride. I wasn’t too excited when four extra weeks had to be added to my training schedule, but I have some serious flaws in my running technique that needs to be corrected before they become ingrained habits. I keep trying to convince myself that I would be as swift as the wind, if it wasn’t for the drag of my large head.

In actually the real problem has been some of my discombobulated running techniques. My aim is to work with my body and not against it. When I pump iron I can be violent and passionate at the same time. I give until it takes me to that place of blissful pain.
In running, I have to change my attitude, the steel ovaries to the wall approach doesn’t work. I have to hold back, find the rhythm, romance the pace. I have to hunt for that sweet spot and then go with the flow. Granted most running training sessions leave me feeling like a frustrated honeymooner.

Today, we ran a smooth 6 miles, it was the first run I ever accomplished without feeling like road kill. I tell you there is potential in this old body, I wouldn’t complain if the hand of G-d assisted me in pulling it out. The weather was breezy, and slightly chilly but the sun was shining brightly so it felt good. I am indeed blessed to be able to do what I do so I shouldn’t ever complain. I do complain, because I am wonderfully flawed, but I really shouldn’t. The second leg of my training found me under the bar. It was leg and core day so we had a fairly intense session. It was indeed a good training day.


Run toward the dream everyone and be blessed:wave:

Wow, parts of your post reads like a steamy romance novel and other parts read like a disgruntled Sports Illustrated writer. I like the variety :clapping:

Best of success in training for the marathon!

Lift

Lift for Life wrote:
Oh gosh my training sessions are usually a cross between a love affair and a beat down
thanks for the well wishes now take good care of yourself.

Like a wicked temptation, the images are played over and over again in the theater of my mind. I can see myself running competitively in a marathon. I always envision myself panther sleek and cheetah swift. The truth of reality always interrupts my fanciful illusions. The truth is at present I possess the swiftness of a three legged turtle. Everything I desire is within my grasp, there is only one problem it requires an uncomfortable degree of sacrifice, not to mention the struggle and pain.


(peek inside my world early this morning, lets skip the part about funky mornings breath)
I was content to be one with the mattress; it was one of those I don’t care if the buzzards pick my old carcass kind of mornings. Not exactly the mentality I should be feasting upon. It took a few moments for my woman on a mission, get fired up mode to engage.

Today was all about the running of the intervals, this fulfilled my need for speed. It was short, sweet and slightly sweaty session. We started out doing 8 repetitions at 200 meters. We finished with 5 repetitions at 400 meters. I actually finished quite strong thanks to Kid Rock’s song Warrior that somehow got stuck in that crazy ride of a brain that I possess.

I kept vacillating from feeling the pain to feeling no pain. I guess that would make it a wonderfully painful experience. In the iron power department we focused on building a better back. Then center of my universe needs to be hard, tight and strong especially as I get ready to rock the gold years.

So I survived another training day, seriously you people really do need to pray for this old gal. Life can be rough,it is one thing to be buffed but you gotta be tough and in my case I need some spiritual glue to hold it all together. Especially on those days when you feel like quitting but in your heart you know that the best thing to do is press through.

I hope each and every one of you realizes how special, precious and value you really are. Keep loving the wonderful skin you are in, you are so much more than the size of your biceps or the numbers on a scale. It’s all about the love in your heart, now share the love and be good to yourself. "highfive"

More power to you for all the running. Creates to much shin splint pain for me lol

Nice writting skills.:clapping:

buffedstuff wrote:
This is a great read and fantastic advice at the end!

You have a lot going on in your brain and in your body,,,, how do you fit it all in there?

Lift

Big Rick, I tell ya they make me do quite a bit of tippy toe exercises ( I don't think that is the correct term for them but ....) in order to avoid those nasty shin splints, so far I have been blessed. Keep pumping my friend.

Lift for Life wrote:
I have a really big head, seriously. Lots of air, but one powerful brain cell fuels the entire operation:eek: now go forth and be good to yourself.

Kevin it is all about love, compassion and mercy all the other stuff is just fancy decoration.

Build those shoulders, strip that core, gosh darn I feel like an old building that is being demolished. This morning started out rather peaceful, I was well rested and ready for action. It was a none running day and I knew I would get to play with the free weights. We did a lot of endurance testing, and body weight stuff. I did push-ups until I was glued to the floor. My arms felt like limp noodles, that had been left in hot water too long. I also got to do weighted sit-ups until failure."pushup"

My first few pull-ups were strong and then I completely lost it and had to go to assisted mode in order to finish the angst whichI had brought upon myself. I gave up trying to avoid the pain long time ago.

Some day’s I kick butt and on other days I get my butt kicked. I guess I should just call it I got my butt kicked Wednesday, and move onward. On the dietary front, we are really scrambling over here to adjust my nutritional protocol, with all this running, I can’t afford to lose any lean body mass. So we have decided to add whey protein back into the menu.

I am in never surrender mode, do I ever wish I could quit? Oh yea, usually when I am on the last set on a weight training session or when I am strapped into weighted vest and told to trek up a hill. Now that I have embraced the running thing ,I have lots of I want to quit moments. I have a new respect and admiration for runners. I just pray that running will not be the death of me.

I always thought the R.I.P. on a tombstone stood for rest in peace. I now know it signifies a hardcore runner…..Running in Place. Okay let me cruise on out of here before I embarrass myself with more corn ball humor. :blah:

Be blessed everyone and value the beauty of who you are. From pain sprouts joy….I can dream

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you looked in the mirror and Yoda of Star Wars fame stares back at you? I think I must have slept on my face or something, but I tell you it was a scary morning and everyone thinks Halloween only comes once a year.

I guzzled down a hot cup of Sumatra coffee, geared up, said a pray for endurance and hit the trails. It was an eight mile journey of mixed emotions. I started out in alpha female warrior mode. I was strong, focused, running at my best pace. The mountains were gorgeous, the air was cool and crisp, I was feeling pretty good. Just when I was feeling comfortable with the entire experience, I hit mile four and boom, struggle time began.

:blah:B.B. King sang it best when he said the “Thrill is Gone”. I felt like I had been stranded on the commode without toilet paper. My body went into this pathetic trot mode, like an old Georgia mule on his last legs. My mind started to taunt me; visions of myself snuggled warmly in my bed flashed before my eyes. I was entering the wuss zone. I began to imagine I was in some sort of warped out runner birth canal, and I couldn’t just stay there waiting for the forceps to clamp around my tired old bod and pull me through.
I had to drag my tired old butt through;

:blah:I had to regain control of my thought patterns. I picked up a little momentum and was in a somewhat restful place until mile seven. Mile seven, I felt the wallop of hunger pains. How in the heck could I be hungry at a time like this? I finished in zombie runner mode, and was able to fuel before my body bonked.( Keep praying for me people) I still label myself as a running failure but thus far it has been a good thing…..

Failure has always been my partner on the road to success. It is like learning to play the piano, you hit a lot of crappy notes before you can play beautiful music that soothes the soul.

:wave:Stay committed, starting is easy, the real pleasure is in finishing strong. Don’t stop now.

8 miles yikes. What is your average time per mile?

BigRick wrote:
Well, I am a still a turtle runner so when we talk long distances....:blah: , so that made it about a 15 minute mile...refrain from laughing in front of my face

hey enjoy your weekend