Running off yesterday's soreness

Barely had to breath hard, but hard on the legs.

First four miler, got the splits right

I'm not sure why I haven't done four miles since I re-booted my running last year, but today was a first and so a PB for four miles since turning 40.

More pleasing was the almost perfect splits, each slightly faster than the last

These are the splits you're looking for

Four miles is now going to be the new baseline training run for the spring and summer - it felt pretty good.

26.2

Let's face it, one of the ultimate goals of every runner is to complete a marathon. In fact, even for non-runners, getting that 26.2 under their belt is a badge of honor that can't be taken away from you. When I started running last year, it wasn't really something I had in mind as a goal. I really just wanted to get of my ass and start running. But, I decided in January, that this was something I'd like to do too.

Thanks to NYRR, by joining them before the end of January 2013, I'm able to take them up on their 9+1 offer. Basically if I run 9 qualifying races this year and volunteer for at least one, I am eligible for entry into the 2014 marathon. That gives me just a little under two years to prepare for the event itself.

So, in the spirit of getting back on track for some serious road time, I've signed up for a few 5K's between now and the summer, with the aim to get at least two 10K's under my belt in the autumn - a half marathon sometime early next year, either New York or Brooklyn Half and then into gear for some serious training for the actual thing next year. I'm hoping for a sub-four hour time, which means sustaining around 9-min miles for the 26.2 miles.

I read recently in Runner's World that to be able to train properly for a marathon, you need to have been running four times a week on average for at least the last six months (something I cannot claim, but could certainly achieve) and in the last 10 weeks or so, should be clocking 30 miles per week.

If nothing else, writing about it seems to be pretty inspiring. Oh, and the 3 miles I ran today - felt pretty good!

Exercise Vs Alcohol

When I started running regularly back in July last year, after 6 weeks or so of running in 90-degree temperatures, I lost about 5lbs, going from 183 to 177.

It's January 21st, and I am three weeks into 'dry January', my annual attempt to survive a month without booze. I've lost 6lbs in that time. I'm not a weight watcher per se, but thought this was an interesting stat none-the-less.

I can't see myself giving up beer, or wine for that matter, for the long term. But if you're putting on weight and don't know why, check your alcohol consumption.

Mo Men Tum

I'd like to say I have no idea why I cannot get any momentum on some of the things I really enjoy doing (or at least know I should be doing), but that would be a complete lie. I know exactly why I don't come home from work and run, or why I don't write, or why I cannot get more than 35 seconds of music composed, or why I cannot focus on one thing at a time at work for more than a few minutes, or why I am no longer meditating, or even complete a video game like Batman: Arkham Asylum, which I have been working on for 2 years. It's because I am trying to do all of those those things, plus keep up with news, views, website forums, TV shows, not to mention all the time I spend reading crap online that's meaningless drivel. 

The constant need for stimulation actually has the opposite effect to what you'd want. Ideally it'd be motivating and stimulation, but instead it leads to abject inertia. What I need to do is cut things out, not be afraid of committing time to something I'd really like to do (rather than spending that time worrying about all the things I am not doing, and then do none of them).

Why So Serious?

So, that's the easy part... the hard part is choosing those things realistically, and actually executing. This morning I managed a lazy ass run, barely. Let's see if I can waste the rest of the day successfully...

Grande no whip Hot Chocolate

How will a grande no whip hot chocolate at 4:00pm affect my running time this evening? I guess I'll find out soon.

Mobile App

I just downloaded the official Google blogging app in the hope it'll help me keep thing up to date.

Blogged from my iPhone. Lulz...

The Beagle doesn't approve though.