It’s nearly one month into my marathon training plan, and I feel like it’s time to recommit myself.
The actual running part has not been an issue for me — mostly because I set up a training plan that I knew I could fulfill. (Life motto: Don’t set yourself up to fail!) I’ve ran 75 miles in the last 3.5 weeks, and my knee problems have almost been none existent.
They say marathon training consumes your life. They’re right! And I know that if I want to cross that finish line strong and injury-free, I need to do more than just run responsibly:
- Strength train
- Eat thoughtfully
- Yoga
So, I’m recommitting to my holistic training plan. 
I find writing our my goals really helps me stick to them.
Breakfast came in two parts. First up was coffee and a Green Monster:
The Green Monster contained almond milk, ice, and spinach. Yum!
I decided to explore the On Demand option on my TV and stumbled upon Fitness TV:
Yay! There is also an entire Jillian Michaels channel! This will make strength training so much more fun in the morning. I was so tempted to do one of The Biggest Loser workouts, but I don’t think that would be very wise today (5K is tomorrow).
Instead, I sampled two yoga classes: Yoga Flow and Yoga Sculpt.
Yoga Flow was very hippie (and you guys know I’m a huge hippie), but it was way too easy. After 5 minutes, I switched to Yoga Sculpt and did 10 more minutes.
I also did 100 bicycle crunches and 20 push-ups.
Part two of breakfast was a Bialy with an egg:
Delicious.
I’m going to take the dogs on a walk, and then it’s time for work. Time time tomorrow, I’ll be racing my first 5K of the season! Wahoo!
Do you write out your goals like I do? Where do you stick them? I put mine near my work desk (on my English Bulldog calendar, obviously!) so I can see it all day.
Twitter
Operation Beautiful
I'm definitely going to write down my goals now. After seeing your post about your bucket fitness list and now this I'm inspired to put into words just where it is I want to go when it comes to my fitness goals! Good luck in your
5K tomorrow!
i love your holistic approach to life.
i think organization and writing things down is key to achieving them – though sometimes i have to remind myself of that!
I'm starting to make a health/fitness goal list as well. I love this idea! First, I need to clean off my desk so I'll be able to see the list, though
haha- I had trouble reading the list because I kept looking at the cute bully! <3 english bulldogs (obviously). I love your list of goals and how you really commit to them! You rock. I think Yoga helps SO much with running. Hope you have a nice weekend
I do believe in writing them down! I have taped my goals to my bedroom mirror, so I see them every morning. I also have them on my blog to easily refer back too! great job w/ the 75 miles in 3.5 weeks!
You are so dedicated to your running, good luck again in the race tomorrow!
on your goals list did you realize you wrote MaraTon?! just thought i would let you know!
jenna
jenna- HAHAH no. apparently i can train for one, but i cannot spell at 6 AM. i fixed it (and reposted the picture). thanks for letting me know before some mean anon commentor ripped me a new one!! LOL
I have a notebook/journal/list keeper that I keep with me at all times. I record my to-do lists, my workout stats, my goals, study schedules and my shopping lists. I like to page back through and see old workouts and goals that I have met!
I can't wait to cross off my 9.11 kilometer run tomorrow!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
I write absolutely everything in my planner. I wish I had directTV! I want all those fitness stations!
I am in the process of writing my goals down for next year myself. Good luck on your 5K tomorrow! I have a half marathon myself!!
Thanks for posting this! I definitely have been trying to recommit to my training plan.
PS I need that Bulldog calendar! I'm obsessed!
I am REALLY bad at over committing myself. Even with my daily to do lists. I write them down, and then can't finish them. I've got to start being more realistic all around.
It's a good idea to write down your goals — makes them seem more tangible when they're right in front o you.
I don't usually write down my goals, but I should start. I think it helps you keep your eye on them – both literally and figuratively.
I'm really glad to hear that you have run 75 miles and your knees feel good. That's amazing!
I write EVERYTHING down. I go through a few to do lists each day…it helps me to remember what to do and I love crossing things off my list
I have a little planner that I keep with me at all times. Every month I write down goals that I would like to accomplish in all areas of my life (mind, relationship, food, exercise, and hygiene).
I have to write down everything or I'll forget…lol.
First, I'm so happy for you that you've been running with almost no pain! That is awesome, and I know such a relief.
I don't write down my goals, but I should.
I've been doing more yoga lately, too, as my cross training in my running training plan and am loving it.
I am going to start writing down my goals like that! Sometimes I do, but I feel like committing to write it down will do wonders for me. It helps to have something physical to hold on to rather and just a note on the computer.
I write mine down often, it helps me when I have no motivation to look at them and think about how I was feeling when I wrote them down.
I'm so impressed by your goals and commitment. I wish I could have the drive to work for my 1/2 Marathon the same way.
I discovered the On Demand Yoga channel a few months ago. I love the 20 minute yoga sessions to get my blood flowing. I can't wait to read about the day you try a Biggest Loser Workout. I've seen Jillian's channel but I've never tried anything.
M – I actually did the 30 Day Shred last year -
http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/04/my-review-of-30-day-shred.html
I don't write out my goals, but that's a great idea!! I would love to have an all Jillian Michaels channel. I have such a girl crush on her!
I am THE list maker! I carry around a Moleskin journal which is mostly full of my handwritten calendars, training plans, and lists. It helps me to get all of my thoughts on paper and it feels oh so good to check them off as I accomplish them!
i've made lists of goals before, and seeing yours made today, reminds me that i should do another one! lately i feel like my training hasnt been as good as it was in the beginning! I'm going to make a list today!
Thanks Caitlin! Good luck on the 5k
I write down my goals, tasks, assignments, projects, etc. on iGoogle calendar, print it off and then supplement that color-coded beauty with a pink MSU agenda that comes everywhere with me as well as my phone which acts as a backup for reminders. I sync all of them a few times a week so I don't miss anything…I have OCD and like organization and "checking" over and over that I have something written down!
I LOVE Maura Barclay's yogasculpt – I do it every week and it seriously relaxes me and has toned up my arms/abs like woah! Things I am thankful for: Exercise TV!!!
i am in love with exercise tv for the variety of things I can get, just wish sometimes I got the full episode and not just a portion
I wish I had on demand to pull up those channels. Talk about fitness at your fingertips!
I write out my goals and keep them in my planner and refer back to them every few weeks.
I definitely write down my goals. It helps make my goals more real somehow.
I need to write my goals and post them somewhere!
That would be motivating.
I really never write my goals.. Task lists, I'm obsessed with.. And those work great for me. So perhaps I need to take up goal writing… Have a great day!
-Sarah
I'm so proud of you for sticking with your strength training. I've found that as I've increased my miles, I don't really have the energy for weight lifting on my non-running days. Yoga is wonderful for me though!
But in general my non-running workouts have definitely lessened in intensity while I'm training for my half. I don't feel like its a problem though, I'm just trying to listen to my body and not push myself too much. A
nd I'm actually planning to hit the gym for a strength workout today- but this will be my first one in a couple weeks.
I really need to write some stuff down. Maybe that will be part of reorganization weekend for me.
Training for my first half-marathon feels very consuming too! I'm usually thinking about how what I eat will affect my running, working on getting more sleep, planning my weekends around long runs, saying "no" to social activities so I can get a run in, or running beforehand and freshening up in the car/public bathroom. But whatever, I have a goal and am going to accomplish it!
I only make lists of things I need not to forget…such as, "Pay student loan!!!! or Call about insurance question!!!" When I was training for the 15K I just kept a mental tab of how much I was running, but since I was blogging I went back and re-read what I did and how well/bad I felt while I was doing it.
PS–I'm a hippie girl too!! I'm a mix of urban and hippie–urban hippie? Does that make sense?
Have a great day!
75 miles in 3.5 weeks? that's an amazing accomplishment! I get too stressed out if I write out huge goals for myself but I'm definitely a fan of the day-to-day to-do list.
Love your breakfast!
I don't always write down my goals; I often like to use visualization instead. but, lately life has been so busy that I haven't had enough "quiet time" to do it! Note to self: MAKE TIME!!!
I see this On Demand TV that you and Meghann have, is it Comcast? You'd think Dish Network would have something like that! :[
Definitely. I always write out my goals, personal and professional.
I actually also like to have a personal mission statement – just a few sentances that sum up who I am and what I want to be. It's a good reminder, when I need one, of what's really important!
courtney – its brighthouse!
That Egg Sandwich looked so good, I almost got a McDonald's Egg & Cheese on a English Muffin this morning with a Iced Coffee but I try to resist "Fast Food" whenever I can, so I didn't!
I put my goals on my Calendar, which is on my fridge….that way I see them everyday!
=) Laura
http://findingahealthybalance.wordpress.com/
It's so important to take care of yourself during training. People don't realize you have to put so much more into it than just miles! Good for you for being so goal oriented
And yay for your knees!!!
I write my goals out in my journal. But that's a great idea to hang them up – I think I need to keep them in view!
I also like to write goals down, I feel like it makes them so much more concrete and makes me all the more committed to achieving them. Training for my first half marathon has been so much easier to stick to, because I blogged about it and told people about it and found a training plan for it – accountability in any form is an amazing motivator!