Join me as I travel around the country to fulfill my goal of running a marathon or half marathon in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Good Intentions

I try really hard...

and then this happens...
I need to run 5 miles just to un-do this. Holy crap.
Damn you, Godiva. Umm, it had strawberries in it. Healthy, right??

Maybe signing up for another marathon will help keep me on track? Yup, that's right...never thought I'd say this again but I'll be running 26.2 miles this fall! I'm really excited about the Outer Banks Marathon. My best friend Erin is doing this one with me just like Nashville so I'm pumped about that...everyone say a little prayer to the Boston gods that she qualifies :)

I'm not embarrassed about my first marathon time or anything, but I just have this need to redeem myself. I just know that I can do better. Many bloggers recommend setting three goals so here goes:
a) finish the race
b) finish with a PR (under 5:14)
c) finish under 4:45


I know I said I was following the RLRF plan for a half marathon this September, but I haven't been sticking to it :( I'm switching over to the RLRF plan for a full marathon and I'm definitely sticking to it. I think posting the plan for my weekly work-outs will help keep me accountable. My race schedule is getting ridiculously full. I'm psyched for this fall! :)


1. What keeps you motivated with your training schedule? Do you have to sign up for a ridiculous number of races like me? 
2. Are you good at controlling your cravings? I seem to have no self control. I can't just have a bite, I have to eat the whole chocolate bar! :( Help me.


Happy Running (and healthy eating),

16 comments:

Julia said...

hahaha! yes! I definitely sign up for an insane amount of races. They keep me motivated and I LOVE having something to work toward...I realized I never answered your question...I don't think? I am running the St. George Marathon in October. It was one I did not think I would get into (lottery) but guess I got lucky!?! haha. excited for your next marathon!!!! woo hoo!

i suck at controlling cravings. i crave sugar all the freaking time.

Rachel said...

I find that the more races I do, the more motivated I am! I was seriously lacking motivation since I hadn't raced since May, then I did 3 races in a row and BOOM! it's back! :)

I am not too good at the ctravings either - but I figure you gotta reward yourself once in a while :)

Courtney said...

races keep me motivated! just training all the time gets boring... i love the excitement of races!

and i cannot control cravings either. i try to keep that stuff out of the house because i will kill it.

Richelle said...

I usually schedule two or three big races per year, and then add smaller ones around them to keep me on track with training.

Chocolate is my weakness. One of my co-workers brought brownies today and I had 2 1/2! Good thing I did a speed workout today!

Education: Exploring Online Learning said...

No self control. We have a billion leftover cookies from Ellie's baptism. Big, gooey, Corner Bakery cookies... downfall.

And I'm doing the Wilson Bridge 1/2, too!

Erin said...

So I haven't been seeing any updates from your blog in my dashboard and I just realized I'm not even a follower! Haha, my apologies :)

Anyway... every morning I tell myself that I'm allowed 1 sugary treat everyday... ha! That never happens! I just tell myself that I run 20 more miles a week than most people I know... makes me justify my chocolate binges :)

Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner said...

Races definitely keep me motivated! I'm thinking of using the RLRF plan myself for my first marathon in November.

And yes, the strawberries make that a health bar. Don't worry about it!

Stephanie F said...

STICK TO IT, or I'll send you more chocolate. Then you'll get fat and you'll be sorry you didn't stick to your schedule.

That was mean. But I might send you chocolate anyway.

Alyssa said...

People who can smugly eat one tiny bite of cake and then be done are the devil to me. I'm the one trying to get it together enough not to go around finishing all their pieces of cake. I'd eat the whole candy bar. Then some ice cream. I'm a slave to my training schedule, I get nuts about it and end up doing things like running 15 miles after my coach tells me to go home and then ends up at patient first with bronchitis. If I could title comments this one would be "reasons why Alyssa is a psycho". Congrats on signing up for #2, I love the 3 goals idea!

Fruit Fly said...

I am a freak. I haven't had ANY candy/chocolate in 18 years? I think it is something like that. Or maybe it is 18 at the end of 2011. I'm aiming for 20 years now.

I schedule races non-stop. I'm addicted to registering for races. Plus then I HAVE to keep running all the time to stay ready for them!

Britt @ Chicago Runner Girl said...

Yay for marathon #2! I say give into cravings every now and then, your body was craving it for a reason! Everything in moderation right? Unless you get crazy like me and have midnight raids thru the junk food in your house and before you know it you've eaten an entire bag of salt and vinegar potato chips!

Anonymous said...

Signing up for races is also my #1 way to stay motivated!!

I need to have something in the near(ish) future to think about, so I tell myself, Im going to be screwed if I don't train, etc. I've done races before without training properly, and I had such a miserable time. So.....to avoid that, training plan is key.

Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be Meiri said...

Yay for signing up for another marathon!!!!

ashley said...

woooo for second marathon!!!!! and how great that you have your running buddy along again to support each other. i am dying so badly to be signed up for one.. well for any race actually! i definitely have to sign up for races for motivation.

and i have ZERO self-control, ask my husband. that's why i have to run. :)

Erik Ammon said...

I had signed up for a bunch of races in the Spring, but have tailed off since then. Doing a bunch of 5ks definitely helped motivate me to do interval training. Now that I am training for my first ultra, I haven't been doing intervals, though a friend that does ultras said I need to incorporate long intervals (a mile each...blah).

As for cravings, I used to fill them all the time. I could never do moderation. almost three years ago I weighed over 200 pounds and huffed and puffed walking up the stairs. I had to cut out junk food and deserts completely (and still don't eat them). It worked for me- I lost 60 pounds in a year and got into triathlons and running- though I only run, now. It was hard, but totally worth it!

Erin @ UntilYouTri said...

I wish I could help, but I am not good at controlling my cravings, either. I actually usually always put on a couple pounds when I am training for a marathon or half ironman, and lose weight in the off season...seems backwards, but I find I have a lot more cravings (and pretty much just want to eat all the time) when I'm training for crazy stuff.

I am going to use the RLRF program for my fall marathon, too (assuming my foot ever decides to cooperate)! Congrats on signing up for the OBX marathon, that's awesome!