If anyone ever tells you that training in the winter is easy or better they are full of crap. This is the second
time that I have trained through the winter for a marathon and you would have thought I learned my lesson
the first time. Although I must say that the first time was not nearly as cold or snowy as this year... it is times like these where you may start to fester up all of those excuses and inner voices telling you to take a day off or that it is too cold or too snowy to get out and run...don't listen. Training for a marathon in more mentality then anything else. I mean sure there is some talent, endurance and strength that truly comes into play but at 22 miles on race day there is nothing that gets you through the last 4 miles but your mind "Mentality is Everything". What do I do in crazy trecherous weather like this??? Well.. for starters during yesterday's storm I walked in my hiking boots, lululemon fleece lined Ambition Crop, my reflective Hustle Jacket and a few other layers and walked 2 miles to BSC just so I could get on a damn treadmill and complete my training for the day. That is what I call NO EXCUSES! The snow and cold weather is not a reason to sit inside and be miserable, training forces you to embrace the cold and realize it's actually not that bad after all.
A key to getting through times like these when you can only stand being on a treadmill for so long is cross training. After my first marathon of primarily running with minimal cross training I found that running less and having high intensity cross training has made me a stronger and faster runner. Thank you to Crossfit and CrossCycle for keeping me sane and continuing my love for running. Cross training has also helped with injury prevention, I feel much less pain then I did 2 years ago when I was running A LOT! Plus I just love other activities too besides running so I can't just run...it doesn't feel right, too much wear and tear too much muscle fatigue.
So when the weather gets tough...the TOUGH KEEPS ON GOING!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sugarloaf Marathon...sure why not??
http://www.sugarloaf.com/eventsactivities/marathon.html
Above you will find the link to the marathon that I am training for in this treacherous weather. Up until this
point I have only thought of Sugarloaf as a great little place to go enjoy the fresh powder and get some ski runs in or hope that you will not be blown off the rickety ski lifts as you travel up the mountain. Never in a million years did I think they actually had a marathon among other activities there. So why did I pick Sugarloaf?? Well, when I was researching marathons I had a few things to consider; 1. I was unable to wait until the summer to run a race or the next fall due to other races already booked 2. I was craving a serious training schedule that had been lacking or I was tired of running for fun 3. I wanted to be training amongst THOUSANDS of others that are training for Boston (where I hope to be next April) So with those options Sugarloaf was it!! Among one of the fastest courses in the nation I thought ABSOLUTELY!! Of course it helps that I love Maine and most of the scenery is pretty damn close to perfect, it was a great fit. So here I go with thousands of others that are pretty much swearing at the snow now and hoping for a cleared sidewalk because that treadmill is getting very old, hopefully everyone has some great music or your gym has a nice little tv to watch some trashy shows like Dash (Kim and Kourtney Kardashians show). I am not one for reality tv especially to this dramatic degree but hey, it makes the time go by that is for sure!
Above you will find the link to the marathon that I am training for in this treacherous weather. Up until this
point I have only thought of Sugarloaf as a great little place to go enjoy the fresh powder and get some ski runs in or hope that you will not be blown off the rickety ski lifts as you travel up the mountain. Never in a million years did I think they actually had a marathon among other activities there. So why did I pick Sugarloaf?? Well, when I was researching marathons I had a few things to consider; 1. I was unable to wait until the summer to run a race or the next fall due to other races already booked 2. I was craving a serious training schedule that had been lacking or I was tired of running for fun 3. I wanted to be training amongst THOUSANDS of others that are training for Boston (where I hope to be next April) So with those options Sugarloaf was it!! Among one of the fastest courses in the nation I thought ABSOLUTELY!! Of course it helps that I love Maine and most of the scenery is pretty damn close to perfect, it was a great fit. So here I go with thousands of others that are pretty much swearing at the snow now and hoping for a cleared sidewalk because that treadmill is getting very old, hopefully everyone has some great music or your gym has a nice little tv to watch some trashy shows like Dash (Kim and Kourtney Kardashians show). I am not one for reality tv especially to this dramatic degree but hey, it makes the time go by that is for sure!
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