Running with heart
18 months ago, I started training for my first marathon. I ran my first half marathon 4 months earlier and managed to lose about 10 pounds after that to get under 200 pounds for the first time since I was in college. Having had a cholesterol/lipids test done in 2007 that was just okay, I thought I would have another one done to compare and was pretty surprised to see that my "bad cholesterol" was worse than 2007, which negated the improvement I had in "good cholesterol." That was a bit of a wake-up call.
Three marathons later - and halfway through training for #4 - I had the test done again. My good cholesterol is up 15% and my bad cholesterol is down 15%. Even though the overall number is inexplicably still above that magic "200" number by a couple of points, it is all good news. Between that and being at a healthy weight, it is nice to know that all the miles put in are paying off, regardless of what my time is in any of the marathons or other races.
I still want to kick a** in Boston, though...
Halfway there
As of last Sunday, I am halfway to Boston. More than halfway, really, since the last three weeks are tapering weekly miles. For the next five weeks, I start piling on the miles with long runs on Sundays going from 14 up to 20 (possibly 22). Speedwork on Tuesdays will get speedier. Thursday runs will be tempo runs at marathon pace or faster. Every run other than speedwork will incorporate hills so that those in Boston seem like little bumps instead of potential heartbreak.
The last three weeks have been challenging, though. The work schedule has been demanding, and the weather conditions for weeks 6 and 7 downright sucked. I missed two long runs, although a 6-mile trudge through the snow with the dog might have equaled the 8-mile long run I was supposed to do a couple weeks ago. I bit the bullet and went to the gym to run on the treadmill until the temps got above zero again and all the snow melted.
Last week, the weather was fantastic, though. I had the best week of training I have ever had, which included an 8-mile tempo run just over a 7:00 min/mile pace and culminated in a 12-mile long run on Sunday - uphill and into a 20-30 mph wind for the first 6 miles. It didn't even bother me that the gusts blew me to a stop twice climbing up Standley Lake Dam. In just under 8 weeks, it is all going to be worth it.
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