Marathon - Of Another Kind

Sorry for the long absence, friends. I've been running here and there, but not as consistent as I'd like to be. My last long run was 10 miles a few weeks ago. Since then, I've been cruising in the 5 mile range for a couple of different reasons...

1) I am a little burned out on running at the moment. I still love it, but I think my body was in need of a break, and is dying for some cross-training.

2) I am working on a major research project, which is like a marathon itself. It is slow-going, time consuming, and makes my body hurt just thinking about it!

I plan to run tomorrow morning, and keep to a new schedule where I am running 2 times/week anywhere from 3-5 miles, with 1 long run on the weekend. My long runs probably won't get over 10 miles, for now. I will definitely run the Las Vegas Half in December, so I will likely sneak in a 14 miler or 2 between now and then. I'd like to get a bit leaner as well, so I'm definitely beginning to focus on my nutrition again.

Sadly, I did not run the Disneyland Half. My good friend was married the night before, and I don't think I saw my pillow until sometime around 5am. I was definitely over-ambitious in my scheduling, but at least signing up for the race kept me on my training schedule!

I am starting to play around with the idea of triathlon training. SO many of my running buddies have made the transition, which I find intriguing...

New Commitments

Last year at the beginning of April I decided to commit myself to getting healthier. I knew I needed to lose weight, start eating better, and reduce my stress levels. I just started a new job, was working on my dissertation, and traveling a lot in the process. I made the decision to revise my eating habits, and start going to classes at Recreate Pilates near my home. I started cooking more with fresh ingredients (something I need to get back to) and was eating out less. With the support of family and friends, I dropped 31 pounds in about 6 months. I made the choice to try and maintain that weight loss for a few months without actively trying to lose more.

It's now been 3 months, and I'm ready for a new challenge. Based on the positive experiences of friends who trained in the past, I made the commitment to join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. I plan to run the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon on May 31, 2009. My first group practice is Saturday, May 7th. I've been casually running for a few weeks now for a bit of a head start. It's been about 12 years since I ran competitively (mostly 5ks and track-related events). A big part of training with TNT is raising money for blood cancer research, education, and awareness.

Please visit my fundraising link at:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/rnr09/jennifershaw

If you choose to donate, I will list your name and donation amount on this site. If you represent a business, I will permanently post your logo and/or website address. Future posts will track my training and new health goals! Thanks for the support, and check back often!