Weathering the Weather, Whether or Not I Want To

I swear, everywhere I run, there is at
least one spot without a sidewalk!

So today's run was really a test of committment. Those who know me can really appreciate this. I really don't like when just parts of me get wet. It is a huge pet peeve of mine. Showers, pools, baths, those kinds of things are fine. But I hate when I get my clothes wet or when I get rained on. It is so annoyong. So when I walked out the door this morning and felt that perpetual mist, let's just say it took a lot of will power to stick it out. I know there are going to be days in training where I'm going to be running in the rain, but I plan to invest in a decent poncho.
Anywho, with the stretching I learned the other day, my legs and

I don't think there is a picture that
could emphasise how much this
viaduct sucks!!!

hips felt pretty good today. I feel I am able to discern between what is the dull ache in my knees due to the stretching and growth of muscles and what is something I should be concerned about. I don't think I'm at the point of concern at this time and I am continuing to work on improving my stride so as to prevent injury. I watched an excellent video on youtube yesterday that described some common mistakes that first time runners make when working on their stride. Check it out, it's only a few minutes long and if you're a first time runner, it could save you from having to miss your first marathon due to injury.



I worked on these techniques this morning and I think that they are going to really help to keep  me from injury.
So, there you have it. I've completed my first 4 days of training, running four miles a day. Tomorrow is my rest day so I will give y'all a break as well. Saturday is my second long run and I will be running with the Capital Striders. I am super stoked to find this group and know that it will help with the long run days!!!

Victory selfie!

Keep in mind when running, your mental state is what will make the run successful or not. Weather cannot control how you feel about a run. I had to push it hard today, especially on the last leg of the run when the wind was whipping that aweful mist in my face as if the sky was just spitting on me continuously. But I completed the trek and feel pretty darn good about today's run. I know it sounds super cheesy, but keeping a positive mindset is really, really important to training. My attempt in this blog is to be as transparent as I can be about the journey, so if this last portion sounds cliche, please know that it's really not, I'm just having a really good day. I'm sure I'll complain about something soon, so be on the look out. :-) Have a great day friends!!!

Energy is a Strange Phenomenon

I always feel like Rocky when passing
this place!

I really had full intention of getting to bed early last night. It was in my game plan. But then Kailan went out with a friend, and my Emery: I'm Only A Man bonus DVD somehow ended up in my DVD player and the play button somehow got pushed. And then, oh my, the reminicsing. Emery is one of my favorite bands and yet everytime they have come to town, I wasn't able to see them...
And I'm getting off track.
So anyway, then my wife called at 11:30pm stating that the van wouldn't start. My heart stopped. I'm glad she was in Altoona as it's a little safer, but still, my baby was stuck in the Village Inn parking lot at 11:30 at night!!! and I was with the kids and she had our only working vehicle and all the carseats. Luckily, my dad lived in town. She called him and woke him up and he came to the rescue (bless his heart) and she made it home by midnight...and then we talked until 1am about her adventures. Then Kailand siad, "Josh, you need to go to sleep. You have to run in the morning." :-D Thanks babe.
So yeah, asleep at 1am and then up at around 2:30am with crying baby. And then back to sleep again.
I really wasn't sure how I'd feel this morning, but I woke up at 6:15am, got my gear on, ate a banana, and headed out the door.
Todays run felt much better than yesterdays. I decided to help me pace myself a little better, I would play my "cool down" playlist instead of my running playlist. And it worked. I gained an extra minute per mile on today's run. I never thought I'd be trying to run slower, but with Marathon training, as my Grandpa always says, "you are running to finish, not to win!" That will stick with me throughout this whole ordeal.
I was intrigued by all the energy chews and gels they had at Hy-Vee, so I decided to try a few out. I bought the Power Bar fruit chews and one of the gels. I decided I wanted to see what the chews were like, so I popped one in on mile 3 and slowly chewed on it. I didn't really notice anything at first but after a few minutes, I began to notice that I had a little more energy. It was subtle, but it was definitely there. I also noticed that at mile 4, I was pleasently surprised that I was already there. I honestly could have kept going! That was a great feeling. I'm going to try the gel this weekend on my long run, but I really think I'm going to enjoy the chews.

Victory selfie on the viaduct!

So anyway, my take away today is that you can't always judge a run by it's start. Some days, you start off strong and end strong. Other days, you start off slow and build your strength. the important factor is that you make it. Even if you are walking by the time you reach your destination, you push yourself to get there. When you keep going every day and make it a habit, you'll find it gets easier to get out and start. I know I have a long way to go, but I'm glad that I've made it where I am. Another huge thing to me is that I'm not sure if I'll ever get to the point where my sides hurt and my lungs burn again. That is just crazy to me how much my lung capacity has improved. I think if anything stops me from finishing this marathon, it will be my knees, but even that, I don't think will be enough to stop me! See ya tomorrow friends!!

Good Days and Bad Days

So I went for a 4 mile run today. It was pretty uneventful. I was still a little sore from Saturday so my countenence was shaken a little. But I did it. I pushed on and made it happen. But it wasn't as fun as I had expected. I thought with a short run like this, it would feel like a breeze, but I think I'm still struggling with my stride. I feel like I'm still pushing too hard. They say that during your runs, you should be able to hold a conversation while running. Since I don't run with anyone, I sing along with my headphones. It is probably the most hilarious thing to see for those who get to witness me in all my glory. Especially since there is a fine amount of metal on my running playlist. (I probably scare some people too!)

I dread running up this cursed viaduct!!!

But this morning, I kind of wanted to quit early. It wasn't my body. I felt good physically. And my
side doesn't even burn anymore when I run, which is awesome!!! Also, my breathing was still a good rate and my heart rate stayed at about 180 or so. It was just, I wasn't in it this morning. Now, after thinking logically, I figure that many runners in training have these days. I can't be the only one. (Please tell me I'm not). But I think that's okay. Anything else that I've ever enjoyed, I know I didn't enjoy EVERY time. And most of the times, if I wasn't enjoying it, I just wouldn't do it. But this is training, so it's different. Perseverance is the key and that is what I plan to put in!
So for all you positive vibe givers out there, feel free to send some my way. Because, I could use something to pump me up on days like today.

Racing the sun!

But on a positive note, I found a running club. One of my coworkers trains and is a part of the Capital Striders. And what's better is, they do their long runs on Saturdays which is right on my schedule!!! I am super stoked. Also, my mom has offered to bike with me some Saturdays as well, which is equally as awesome! Cuz, if ya'll don't know yet, I'm a mama's boy! And my mama has been a great support for me as well.
Well, that's about all I have for today. Oh yeah, also, my friend at work informed me that the pain in my knees is totally normal and is due to the ligaments stretching below the knee cap in result of the muscles growing around my knees. So that's a nice relief. And for all you worriers out there, I took my wife's advice and am going to my doctor next Monday just to check up to see if everything's a-okay for me to train for this. So, DON'T WORRY :-)