So You Want to Log All Your Runs

One of the things I’ve recently purchased is the Runner’s World Training Journal. I am not the avid runner I used to be (despite now being an honest-and-for-true marathoner), so I wanted to start keeping track of all the running I did. I didn’t want an online journal since I tend to not update those often (ahem). Because I’ve redefined some running goals, having a readily accessible journal was the key for me. I’ve never been particularly good at keeping track of my running, but the weight training log that I’ve been keeping helps demonstrate that, yes, you can get better and stronger, and yes, it’s quite easy to trace if you’ve even put the minimum amount of effort into it. Since my running isn’t easily traced on my weight training log, I decided to let the pros set a template for me. That and I like paper journals. They’re just so fun.

So, I’ve scrapped my original running plan for the year and have started anew. I’m still going to do the Marine Corps Marathon, but I’m going to have to drop the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler in April due to the wedding IP and I will be attending. I don’t have any other races on tap at the moment because accessing them is quite a pain—unless I enlist IP as my early-morning driver on a Saturday or Sunday, I’m not getting to a race on time thanks to Metro’s late start on weekends. For now, the goal is to run 15 miles per week—the same way I started back in 1999 when I took up running seriously (though my first run was the day after Thanksgiving 1998). I’ll progress if I can, realizing that I’m no longer in college (sob) and cannot spend the majority of my mornings on a track (bigger sob) but must spend them on the Metro. I felt my healthiest between 20 to 25 miles a week—when I hit 30 miles a week, I started gaining weight, and when I’m hitting less than 15 miles a week, I feel like a big running loser. Of course, when I start marathon training, my mileage will increase greatly, but that’s a bit of time away—enough time to build a firm base and continue my so far successful weight training (with the new leg workout I put together yesterday thrown in for stability).

With Lent coming up (Ash Wednesday is tomorrow, people!), I’ve decided to be semi-Catholic and give something up for those 40 days. One of these things will be French fries (yes, I know, the horror) and the other will be maple syrup. I eat a lot of waffles and pancakes, and those babies wouldn’t be half bad if I used another topping. As it is, I think a lot of calories make their way into my system through the joy of syrup, so I’ve decided to cut that out for Lent. The idea is to taper on the syrup and the French fries when I do return from my Lenten excursion. And this last one will upset IP a bit, but . . . sigh, I’m giving up having more than one drink at dinner. I love my Capitol Kolsch, and I can indulge in several mojitos if need be, but Friday nights can get heavy calorie-wise if I’m having three or four beers.

The goal is to get stronger and leaner through the right habits. While I’m far from overweight, it wouldn’t hurt to get rid of the bit that I’ve accumulated since I left college.