It seems like it was a million years ago. but it was only 3 and a half years ago when I ran the NYC Marathon. It was a bitter-sweet experience. I committed to run the marathon in my 40th year and was able to accomplish it.
However, my initial goal of hitting a specific time goal (less than 4 hours) fell by the wayside. My finishing time was about 6 hours and (to be honest) there were times when I was pretty sure I was going to drop out of the race and call it a day. But I did finish. I'm happy about that.
My other disappointment with the NYC Marathon in 2006 was the fact that although I had intended to lose weight and become fit, I actually gained weight during my training period. Especially during the last 2-3 months before the race. I had heard that that could happen but I would have never guessed that it would happen to me!
Looking back, it was pretty easy to see why that happened. Toward the end of my training when I started doing regular long runs of more than 13 miles on Sundays I would return home wiped out and exhausted. I looked upon the fact that I had done so much work as a license to eat whatever I wanted. (bad idea). I was also so worn out that in addition to eating everything in sight I would regularly be unable to even do a recovery workout for the next 4-5 days. So clearly 1-2 workouts per week plus a caloric excess for 7 out of 7 days per week is *not* a reasonable formula for achieving success in a marathon...
I also pledged that I would *never* run another marathon again.
Well, I was wrong. Over the last 3 years I have tried to stay fit with resistance training. I've attempted to convince myself that I liked lifting weights although I clearly don't.
Fast forward to last year. Surgery in May. No exercise throughout the summer,fall and winter and 30 pounds to show for it. Yipes.
In January, I decided to change my diet and to become a vegan. Principally for health reasons, but after doing extensive reading (see future blog posts) I also became convinced that it was the right thing to do from the standpoint of ecology and animal welfare.
I've lost 20 pounds in 2 months with virtually no exercise; but now, I want more.
My goal is to run another marathon by the end of 2010. I've done it before (the wrong way). And now I intend to do it again. (The right way).
Win, lose or draw, I'm sure the process will be enjoyable.
BTW, I was helped immeasurably in my attempt to become a vegan by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's (PCRM) 21 day Vegan Kickstart in January, and I would recommend it highly to anyone interested in improving their nutrition.
However, my initial goal of hitting a specific time goal (less than 4 hours) fell by the wayside. My finishing time was about 6 hours and (to be honest) there were times when I was pretty sure I was going to drop out of the race and call it a day. But I did finish. I'm happy about that.
My other disappointment with the NYC Marathon in 2006 was the fact that although I had intended to lose weight and become fit, I actually gained weight during my training period. Especially during the last 2-3 months before the race. I had heard that that could happen but I would have never guessed that it would happen to me!
Looking back, it was pretty easy to see why that happened. Toward the end of my training when I started doing regular long runs of more than 13 miles on Sundays I would return home wiped out and exhausted. I looked upon the fact that I had done so much work as a license to eat whatever I wanted. (bad idea). I was also so worn out that in addition to eating everything in sight I would regularly be unable to even do a recovery workout for the next 4-5 days. So clearly 1-2 workouts per week plus a caloric excess for 7 out of 7 days per week is *not* a reasonable formula for achieving success in a marathon...
I also pledged that I would *never* run another marathon again.
Well, I was wrong. Over the last 3 years I have tried to stay fit with resistance training. I've attempted to convince myself that I liked lifting weights although I clearly don't.
Fast forward to last year. Surgery in May. No exercise throughout the summer,fall and winter and 30 pounds to show for it. Yipes.
In January, I decided to change my diet and to become a vegan. Principally for health reasons, but after doing extensive reading (see future blog posts) I also became convinced that it was the right thing to do from the standpoint of ecology and animal welfare.
I've lost 20 pounds in 2 months with virtually no exercise; but now, I want more.
My goal is to run another marathon by the end of 2010. I've done it before (the wrong way). And now I intend to do it again. (The right way).
Win, lose or draw, I'm sure the process will be enjoyable.
BTW, I was helped immeasurably in my attempt to become a vegan by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's (PCRM) 21 day Vegan Kickstart in January, and I would recommend it highly to anyone interested in improving their nutrition.
