Training: Evolution

It has taken me awhile to find the courage to write this particular post, mostly because I have spent the last couple of weeks wrestling with disappointment and frustration. If you weren't already aware, I injured my Achilles tendon during a training run several days ago and have worked diligently to condition it back to the point of being able to handle long runs, and ultimately, the marathon. Both my physical therapist and I thought we were making good progress with the aggressive treatment, but I attempted another long run about a week after the original injury, and only made it about five miles before having to walk again. To make a long story short, I never had another opportunity to get a long run in again before needing to wind down for the marathon, which is this Sunday. It became painfully evident that this particular marathon was not in my future, so I made the difficult decision of bowing out.

As mentioned, the entire chain of events is disappointing as the ultimate goal will not be reached. At least not this time. At first, I stewed and fretted, fretted and stewed over all of the hard work I had put in that was now being flushed down the toilet. Weeks and weeks of running in the bitter cold, snow, wind, and rain just to make sure all of the training miles were achieved. And nothing to show for it. But, once I pulled my head out of my you-know-what, I began to realize just how much I can take away from this entire experience. Here's just the beginning of the list:

• I have kick-started my weight-loss once again, and am down nearly twenty pounds since beginning the training in January. I will see to it that this continues, which will only help my efforts should I decide to run a marathon again.
• I have physically done more than I ever thought possible.
• I have discovered how much the physical body, when pushed, will succumb to the brains mental toughness.
• While it might sound cheesy, I have learned that I can do whatever I want if only I will give myself the proper chance and effort.

What I am most proud of, though, is the inspiration I have provided to others through my efforts. Two of my coworkers followed my lead and began training several weeks ago to run the half-marathon. And, when my brother learned that I had made the decision to tackle the marathon, he chose to train and run with me. While I am saddened that we will not be running together on Sunday, I am incredibly proud of him and I will be at the starting line to cheer him on, and at the finish line to welcome him home.

As you can see, I have chosen to focus on what I have taken from this experience instead of what I haven't. I am a better person for it, I believe, and I will continue to push forward and consider another marathon in the future. Thanks to all who have supported me with their words, thoughts, and prayers! I know I wouldn't have made it as far as I did without you. And finally, to my dear brother Chris: Godspeed on your journey in a few days! I love you, and can't wait to watch you cross the finish line!!

Training: Hope

There is hope for my chances of running the marathon, and thankfully, lots of it. As mentioned in my last post, I headed to the doctor on Tuesday afternoon for an assessment of my injured Achilles tendon. By the time I got there, I wasn't so much worried about the pain, as there was just a lingering dull ache. Nothing excruciating. However, there was definitely an odd feeling to the tendon as it sort of felt like bubble wrap underneath my skin when I flexed it. I know, a terrible description, but I'm not entirely sure how else to describe it.

The doctor said I had definitely tweaked it, and the weird feeling was from fluid buildup around the tendon. He told me I needed to back off the miles I was running, to which I argued that I was training for the marathon and couldn't much afford to back off. And then the doctor pretty much put the fear of God into me by telling me what I had to look forward to should I rupture the tendon by pushing too hard. Surgery, rehab, and out for six-to-twelve months. And even that would not guarantee I would get the tendon back to it's original strength. Okay, backing off.

I was prescribed some anti-inflammatory pills and a couple of weeks of aggressive physical therapy, meaning the doctor wasn't completely ruling out the possibility of still running the marathon. I had my first round of therapy this morning, and am very much encouraged by the prognosis. The therapist indicated he thought I would be able to go through with it, as long as the tendon responds well. He wants to see me again tomorrow morning, and then on Monday and Wednesday of next week. While I do have to back off the mileage, he thought I should be able to get back to a long run my mid-week next week. Again, all of this assuming that I respond well to the therapy.

So, I'm keeping my hopes up and my fingers crossed, and continuing to pray about it all. While I will have to do some reconfiguring of my training schedule, I really think I'll be able to get back to proper shape before the marathon, and can be successful at it. To all of you who have supported, encouraged, prayed for, and sent positive thoughts my way - THANK YOU!! It has meant so much to me, and has helped me to keep my head up and continue to press forward. I know I would not be where I am in the training without your help. I will continue to keep you updated as to how things progress from here.

Training: Gulp!

First of all, yes, I am still amongst the living. I know it's been way too long since the last time I posted and honestly, I feel horrible about it. I had intended on journaling via my blog throughout my training, but have been lax about it. I won't make any excuses, not because I don't have them, but rather because I don't want to bore you.

To catch up with training, the last few weeks have been a bit rough. The shorter runs are fantastic, but the long run of the week has proven to be a challenge. I have been continually frustrated by the longer distances, and while I would like to blame it on the weather, if I'm being honest with myself, it's probably more of a lack of mental toughness. And now, fast-forward to yesterday.

Yesterday was my long run of the week, which was 18 miles. That is the longest distance I will run before the marathon itself, I and I'm scheduled to run that distance three times before tapering off and beginning final preparations. After the last few weeks, yesterday's 18 miles intimidated the heck out of me. But I spent some extra moments of silence and quiet reflection before beginning the run. I talked to God, prayed, and really dug down deep in terms of why I had begun this adventure in the first place. In terms of weather yesterday, it was incredibly windy and cold. 30-35 mph gusts of wind greeted me as I began. Nevertheless, as I set out on the run, it was shaping up to be one of the best runs I've had. I felt strong, my legs were churning right along, and my entire body felt more in sync and physically able than ever before. I had a smile on my face as I completed mile after mile with little problem.

And then the unthinkable happened. With about six miles left, I felt an unfamiliar, and undesirable pull in my left Achilles tendon, and then the pain set in. It crippled me enough that I could no longer run, and could walk only with a limp. I cannot describe the discouragement I felt as I was forced to walk the remaining six miles. All the weeks and days of training, and all of the effort I've put into preparing for the marathon ran through my head. The possibility of having to miss the crowning achievement brought me to tears.

So today, I wait. I am scheduled to see the doctor this afternoon and will know more after that appointment. In the meantime, I am praying and hoping for the best, but admittedly fearing the worst.

Training: Half-Way There!

Today marked the end of my eighth week of marathon training, which means I am halfway through the program. I ran a tough 14 miles today to cap the week, and am really feeling it right now. Sore knees, sore ankles, sore feet. Fortunately, my wife blessed me with a massage gift certificate for my birthday. Think I'll be using that this week!

At any rate, the best part of today's run was when I achieved what the book refers to as "flow." The authors go pretty in-depth in explaining flow, but suffice it to say that it's a state of the mind when nearly everything seems effortless. Athletes often experience flow, and according to the book, many have mastered the ability to create it on demand, as opposed to waiting for it to appear by chance. I worked pretty hard on achieving flow today, and for about three miles I believe I found it. It takes some effort, and lots of mental mastery as a person really needs to be able to shut out everything else going on around him/her. Not the easiest thing to accomplish, but when I did get there, those three miles went very fast and were easily the best part of my run.

I will work dutifully this week in achieving flow quicker and using it more as the runs continue to get longer and longer. And as always, at the end of another training week, I am thankful for the aches and pains as they signify that my body is repairing, recovering, and that I have my physical health.

Training: Catching Up

It's been a whirlwind of a couple weeks and I have lagged severely in keeping up-to-date on my marathon training efforts. In fact, I was actually surprised to learn that I hadn't mentioned anything since after week #4 of the training, and here I am beginning week #8 already. I won't bore you too much with all the details, but suffice it to say that I am still in the game, and feeling better about my efforts now than I have since I began. Last week was particularly rough, as the long run was 11 miles and it was very grueling. I felt like I walked more than I ran, and ended up very discouraged. The book I'm using talks a lot about the mental aspect, and includes testimonials from folks who have been through the training in the past. Several of those testimonials seemed to coincide with exactly what I was experiencing after last Sunday. Several mentioned their bodies being worn down, and their inability to finish a run without walking. In so much as I was discouraged after my tough run, I was encouraged to learn I wasn't alone, if that makes any sense.

That was all week #6. Week #7 was much kinder, and I found myself really pushing my pace on the shorter runs of the week, and having some success with it. Finally, this last Sunday was a twelve mile run to end the week. Was I nervous? Absolutely. In fact, I was flat scared. But I'll be darned if I didn't finish that twelve miles feeling the best yet. Sure, my legs were dog tired and felt like rubber, but I still had the mental and physical stamina to finish the run. So, I'm pretty much feeling on top of the world at this point, and as I begin the eighth week of the program. I've racked up a total of 138 miles since I began the training, and will be half-way home at the end of this week with a total of 166 miles.

As I celebrate my 37th birthday today, I am so glad to have made the decision to follow through with this training. I have already said I probably won't do another marathon, as the training takes a lot of time. But, I have definitely found a new appreciation for running and what it has done for my body both mentally and physically. And, I've learned that despite my age, I'm really not too old to continue to challenge myself. Us silly humans really can do anything we decide to put our minds to, of that I am convinced. Heck, I'm proving it!

Post-Plunge Pontification

The marquee on the way to the lake this morning read a balmy 19 degrees outside, but that wasn't so much what I was worried about. I can handle 19 degrees. In fact, for winter in Nebraska, 19 degrees is a pretty decent temp. What concerned me, though, was the 25-30 m.p.h. wind gusting out of the North. I never saw an official reading, but my best guess would have put the wind chill at just above zero, and that's away from the lake. Standing in the wind coming right off of Holmes Lake, the stage for today's Polar Plunge, I would have guessed the wind chill to have dipped below zero. Oh yeah, it was cold. Definitely a perfect stage for a "Polar" Plunge.

Despite the temps, though, Plungers turned out in great numbers this morning to help raise money for Special Olympics. The event seems to be growing every year, with more and more people "taking the plunge." I have no clue as to just how much money was raised overall, but I would have to say several thousands of dollars. It was an incredible sight! In fact, I would venture to say the organizers of the event will have to do some serious planning for next year, as things moved pretty slow and un-methodical this morning due to the unexpected numbers. As much as I complained about the entire process, from registration to the actual plunge itself, in hindsight, it's a good problem to have.

And yes, the plunge itself this morning was everything it promised to be - very, very cold. It's funny how the body reacts when hit with extreme temperatures such as this morning. My brain was moving at breakneck speed to get in and out of the water, but my body just wasn't having it. I felt like I was in a big vat of icy cold, thick mud. I....just....couldn't........move! And then there's the task of trying to change after getting out of said vat of proverbial mud. Fingers are numb, toes are numb. Okay, so, the whole body is pretty much numb. My teeth even hurt.

But hey, it's for a fantastic cause, and it's all over again until next year. My team had another blast pulling this off, and I once again want to give a huge shout out to all the folks who so graciously donated, both monetarily and with words and expressions of encouragement and support. All of you people rock! Until next year.....

Polar Plunge!

It just dawned on me...I don't think I've ever posted anything on my blog about this years' Polar Plunge. Doh! I know I put a note on my Facebook page, but I don't know how many folks read that and I'm sure there are those who read this blog but don't read Facebook. Anyway....

Hey - I am just 7 days away from participating in the Polar Plunge again this year to raise money for Special Olympics. I love this organization and what they stand for, and what they do for those who use their services. It's a wonderful cause, and one in which I am proud to support. I know times are tough right now, and I know not everyone is able to give. I totally understand - my family is pinching serious pennies right now, too. But, if you happen to have an extra dollar or two laying around that needs a home, would you consider throwing it towards Special Olympics, Nebraska? Your efforts help fund the Special Olympics, giving special needs folks wonderful opportunities to compete in athletic events, and more importantly, help raise their self-worth. It is truly fantastic!

Please visit my fund-raising page at http://www.firstgiving.com/bigkev. This site is completely safe, and totally secure. That said, if you would feel better about a personal check, feel free to mail one to my address, made out to Special Olympics, Nebraska. You can mail it to the following:

Kevin Campbell
131 Sante Fe Trail
Lincoln, NE. 68521

Thanks so much for your consideration - I am nearing the halfway point of my $1000 goal, so any help you can provide would be most-appreciated. And a big thanks to those who have already donated - THANK YOU!!

Training: Week #4 Recap

So, I'm a month into my training now. Four weeks have gone by since I began, which means I'm exactly 1/4 of the way through the program. By the way, I don't remember if I've mentioned what book I'm using. It's titled The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer, by David Whitsett and Forest Dolgener. It's an easy read, and an easy-to-follow program for getting in shape to run a marathon. And it doesn't matter how much running experience you have, which makes it perfect for someone like me who used to despise running. Also, I'm using several tips from The Complete Idiot's Guide To Running, 2nd Edition. This book was given to me by my dear friend Alex after I first began expressing the idea of running a marathon.

Anyway, back to the training. Week #4 seemed to be a turning point, of sorts. I came through week #3 pretty sore and somewhat discouraged, wondering if my body could handle this intense training. I had begun to question myself, and whether I could really make a go of this thing. I was laying in bed at nights unable to sleep because my feet hurt, my knees hurt, my legs were sore, etc. I tried to stay as positive as possible, and tell myself it was all a part of adjusting to a kind of physical activity the likes of which my body has never been close to attempting. A friend of mine who has some marathon experience, sympathized with me. He made a comment something to the effect of, "Your body is telling you have absolutely no business putting it through this kind of intensity, that you are way too out of shape to even consider something like this. It's rebelling, big time. But your brain is forcing the issue, and your body can't compete with the brain." Thanks, Mr. Tate. You're exactly correct.

So I began week #4 with everything I had left, and things went much better. It seems my body is beginning to accept the fact that it is going to run, and it is going to run a lot. I added another 18 miles to the 49 I had amassed, bringing my total to 67 as of last Sunday. Sunday's eight-mile run wasn't necessarily an easy one, but it did go much better than expected. I have found a curious problem in all of this training, though. The short runs, which are between 3 and 5 miles, seem to be tougher than the long runs of the week. I don't quite get that, other than the possibility that it's a mental thing. I wonder if I'm thinking the short runs will be pieces of cakes compared to the long runs, and am kind of psyching myself out? Not sure, but that will be the next hurdle to overcome. I'd really like ALL the runs to be enjoyable, but right now, I'm having trouble enjoying the shorter ones.

So here I am, already into week #5. Two 3-mile runs, a 5-mile run, and a 10-mile run will be the order of the week, and I've already done one of the 3's and the 5. I have the other 3 on Friday, sandwiched between a couple of off-days, and then the 10-mile trek on Sunday. My brother, who is also training, predicted it would be quite a feeling to have run 10 miles. I fully concur, and look forward to accomplishing the feat. Thanks for all the support, prayers, and ongoing advice!!

Training: Week #3 Recap

My third week of training was, in a word, ugly. And in two words, it was real ugly. After so much success in the second week, I was quite frustrated at the end of last week. It all began shortly after the six-mile run to cap the second week, which went so well. I was preparing to feed the dogs and had to bend kind of awkwardly in order to reach more dog food, and as I did so my back tweaked just right and about dropped me to my knees. Yeah, it hurt. Unfortunately, said tweak left its mark and caused me lots of annoying pain through the week, which in turn made running much more of a chore than it should have been. I tried to press through, and did, but it was sloppy and I never quite felt in sync while running. To say the three and four mile runs on Tuesday and Wednesday were a struggle would be an understatement. It just seemed as though my body was rebelling, as the aches and pains were quite prevalent.

Friday's three mile run was much better, though, and one of the fastest runs I've had since beginning the training. That was encouraging and I felt as though the seven-mile run on Sunday would be just fine. And it probably would have been, except that Mother Nature decided to drop a very nice little mixture of snow and ice on the ground. Just to spite me, I'm sure of it. At any rate, the run was another ugly one, as I spent most of it trying to avoid injury and slipping and sliding my way through the route. Bless my dear wife, who is ever the positive one, as she looked me in the eye when I got home and said, "But you made it, right?" Yes, yes I did make it. Still, I couldn't help but think about how tough the third week was, and I even began to wonder if this marathon idea was really a smart one.

But, I've said it before and I'll say it again: this training is every bit mental as it is physical. Period. I could simply give up, or I could rise to the extra challenge and press forward. Remember the Shield of Faith I spoke about in my last blog? I picked it up, read the verse, and vowed to myself never to give up. First, I've already come to far to stop now. Second, God and my family are with me. And third, I've already paid the registration fee and I'll be damned if I let that go to waste!

After Sunday's run, I had 48 miles of training logged. I ran my three mile route today and am already feeling much better about this week. A bit of a change this week, too, as the four-mile run changes to five miles, and the long run of the week is eight miles. At weeks' end, I'll have 67 miles of training logged. Woah. Crazy. I love it! I'm a marathoner, and here I come!

Training: Day #8

Last Friday evening, I had the pleasure of joining Mandi at the church for an evening of fellowship, dinner, and games with her MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) group. As usual, it was an enjoyable evening and I was blessed to have the opportunity. The group began the evening by giving an appreciation gift to those of us dads whose wives are on the leadership team for the group. The gift was a keychain in the shape of a shield, and called the shield of faith. On the back is printed the Bible verse from Joshua 1:9, which says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." As I read this verse, I was immediately struck by the relevance as I continue my training for the marathon.

Fast forward to last night, and the final day of the second full week of training. Yesterday's long run was a six-mile journey, and one of which I was terrified. I honestly did not believe I had the endurance to run an entire six miles without having to walk at least a small portion. I didn't feel like I was being negative, rather, simply realistic. After dressing for the cold and light falling snow, I went into my room for a few moments of silence. I literally got down on my knees, bowed my head, and thanked God for the blessing of health and the ability to even try this marathon training. I didn't ask for God's assistance during the impending run, I simply offered my thanks. I then stood, read the verse printed on the aforementioned Shield of Faith, placed it in the palm of my hand, and put my glove on over it. Out the door I went.

Trudging through the snow and facing a light, but bitter, North wind, I made my way along the previously mapped six-mile route. As I ran, my thoughts turned to my wife who has been so gracious in her support of this crazy idea. Even as I left, she looked me in the eye and told me she believed in me, and that she knew I could complete this run. I thought of my kids, who have acted as my personal cheerleading squad. And, I continued to clutch the Shield of Faith with every step. As I entered the final leg of the run, it became obvious to me that these last two weeks of training are beginning to pay off. Not once did I walk, even after climbing some pretty decent hills. Not once did I stop. I was feeling the burn, but not enough to force me to quit. As I took the last few steps of the run, I extended my arms in the air to celebrate my personal victory. This training is every bit mental as it is physical, and I had just overcome a mental block. You bet I was celebrating, and I didn't care how many people passing me on 1st Street thought I was nuts or wondered what I was doing. It was a great feeling!

I now have 31 miles under my belt over the last two weeks, and am ready for week #3 beginning tomorrow.

Training, Day #7

Today was another ugly Nebraska winter day, albeit fairly typical. Bitterly cold winds, and an afternoon dose of snow amounting to a couple of inches. And I was due for a three-mile run as part of my training. As I cuddled on the couch with my four-year-old daughter and enjoyed the warmth and protection of the cozy house, I couldn't help but wonder if I would be better off waiting until tomorrow to run. Not that I had any proof that tomorrow's weather would be at all better, but at least there was no snow in the forecast. The notion of waiting was becoming more and more inviting.

But, alas! My beautiful, wonderful wife walked through the door at approximately 3:30, and promptly told me that she had seen three different people out running this afternoon, and figured they must be training for a marathon to be dedicated enough to run in this weather.

Sigh.

That did it. I had no choice but to run today. So, I strapped on the new running shoes and all the cold-weather gear, and out the door I went. Make no mistake, it was a tough run. I have actually found the last few three-mile runs to be getting much easier, but as you can probably imagine, today's was difficult. High-stepping through snow-drifts added a much different element, but I didn't quit. Mother Nature didn't defeat me today. Had the run been much longer, I can't say I would have made it without walking, but it wasn't longer, and I did make it. Sunday is the long run of the week, and it's a six-mile jaunt. Snow is in the forecast for Sunday, so I'm going to get an early start and hope things go well. More on how it goes next week.

Training, Recap

Time has escaped me over the course of the last week or so, leaving me with little opportunity to post on the last few days of marathon training. Rather than go into great detail, which would surely make for a long story, I'll simply recap some of what I have learned to this point in the training.

• During the run on day #3 of the training, which was just a three-mile jaunt, I learned a hard lesson. That is, always go to the bathroom right before leaving for the run. Wow, did I have to pee about halfway through the run that day, and all the movement of running wasn't helping my poor bladder. Not good. I had to go so bad that I felt like I needed to run faster, but the faster I ran, the harder it was to control. I was a raging mess by the time I got home. I'll just leave it at that....

• Day #4 was a five-mile run, which was the longest distance I've ever run in my life. I mapped out a run that took me along what had to be the hilliest in town. Dumb. Real dumb. I ended up walking about six blocks in order to make it past some of those monster hills, but I did learn that it is okay to walk now and again. Walking doesn't equal failure. Not finishing the run because I refuse to walk here and there does equal failure.

• Yesterday was day #6, and I learned that I had been starting out my training runs at a pace that was far too fast for me. This was hindering my ability to finish the runs. Yesterday was a 4-mile run, and I started out a bit slower, kept that same pace all the way, and finished with no problems! Lesson learned - slow down!

• I have learned that training for a marathon is every bit mental as it is physical. Staying positive and learning to shut out potential distractions such as weather, aches, exhaustion, etc., is just as grinding as the actual physical aspect of training.

• And finally, I have learned to leave the headphones at home. The book I am following for this training suggested not listening to music while on training runs for a couple of reasons. I wasn't happy about that, because I used the music as motivation to keep going, or even just to get started. After leaving the headphones at home yesterday, I was surprised how little I missed them. I was also surprised at how well it worked to run without them. So, I shall leave them at home from now on.

All in all, training is going very well to this point. I have run a total of 22 miles now, and by the end of this training week, I'll have put in 31 miles. I am feeling stronger all the time, and I feel like my body is getting used to the grind of the longer distances. So far, I've been lucky to avoid any injuries outside of the usual aches and pains of training my body. My confidence continues to grow the further I push forward in this process, and I'm excited for continued results!

Training, Day #2: Windwhipped

As I type this, I am unable to feel my nose, lips, and most of the top layers of skin on the front of my body. Frankly, I'm not even sure if my nipples are still intact 'cause I can't feel them, either. Today's run was difficult, and yes, bitterly cold. It was a four-mile jaunt today, and the first half went very well. I felt great, had a ton of energy, and as I approached the half-way mark, I felt as though I could fairly easily complete the run.

And then I turned around.

As I began the second-half of the trek, I realized why the first-half was easier. I had the 20-30 mph wind at my back! Now, I was forced to take Mother Nature head on for two miles while she struggled to get her temperature to ten degrees. It was a tough one today, folks. I ended up having to walk around six or seven blocks, but what motivated me to get moving again was the fact that my sweat-soaked clothes were beginning to freeze to my skin, and then I tried to spit and sort of slobbered all over myself because my lips were frozen. Not good.

But, I'm darn sure not giving up that easy. I'll keep plugging away, and I may even be more motivated than ever. I did learn that I need to invest in some decent running clothes that will help keep the moisture away from my skin. I hear Under Armour is supposed to be some pretty good stuff, although kind of expensive. Anyone else have suggestions?

I'll be back at it on Friday with day #3. Until then, anyone have any nipple cream?????

Training, Day #1, Take Two

Nope, I didn't make a mistake in the title. Today actually was the first day of the sixteen-week training regimen leading up to the marathon as there has been just a slight change in plans. Originally, I was going to make Sundays the first day of the new training week, thus, last Sunday would have been the first day. In doing so, the longest runs of the week would have fallen on Fridays. That would have been all good for at least awhile, until those long runs started creeping over six, seven, eight, and all the way up to eighteen miles. Since Mandi goes to work on Friday mornings, and doesn't come home until just before I leave for work, long runs on Friday would have meant getting out of my warm, cozy bed at the crack of dawn in order to get the run in before the day begins. Now, mind you, I don't mind running in the early morning, I just don't think I would have had the time to make it happen.

In addition, since the marathon is on a Sunday, making that day the long run of the sixteenth week of training, it only seems logical. Plus, neither Mandi or I work on Sundays, so I have more time to run. Even more logical. You see, logic tends to escape me at first, and sometimes for quite awhile. Had I just turned the whole training schedule creation over to my wife in the first place, I wouldn't be writing this because she would have nailed it on the first try. Someday, I will learn. Someday.

So, my official start to training today was a good, three-mile run. Although it's a mere ten degrees out with a windchill of about zero (the weather channel says it feel like three below, and I believe it!), I still worked up a good sweat and feel great! Tomorrow, I will run four miles, then take a day off. Friday will be another three mile run, and finally the long run of the week on Sunday, which will be five miles. I'll keep you posted!

Training, Day #1

Today launched the first day of the sixteen-week training regimen designed to get me to the point that I can run the Lincoln Marathon in May. Today's run was a three-mile one, and I was able to accomplish it without too many problems. I was slowed a bit by a stiff wind, which I didn't even realize was blowing until I made my way around Oak Lake and was in the wide open. Once I reached the half-way point of my run and turned around, that's when the wind smacked me in the face for quite awhile. I pressed through, though, and made it all the way with no stopping. For those of you reading this who are regular runners, three miles is most-likely nothing. Maybe even laughable. While it presented a bit of a challenge to me, I am looking forward to getting to the point where I, too, can say three miles isn't much. God willing, it'll happen!

I will run again on Tuesday (four miles, I believe) and will post my thoughts again then. I'm excited to have pushed myself to undertake this process, and am looking forward to seeing the ongoing results of my training!

T-minus 4 Days

Including today, I have but four days left of preliminary training before the sixteen-week training regimen leading to the Lincoln Marathon on May 3rd. The goal of the preliminary training was to be able to run for thirty minutes without stopping. I have achieved that goal, and will run twice more this week before beginning the "real" training. At that point, the training will be based on miles rather than time.

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm certainly not looking to set any speed records throughout this entire effort. I am simply setting out to finish the marathon, and I have every confidence that this goal will be achieved. It's going to take lots of effort, lots of patience, and lots of understanding from my family in the way of needed time to train. I am looking forward to the challenges which lie ahead, and will continue to post updates during my progress.

My only request is for continued prayers for strength, endurance, and a little luck. The strength and endurance are obvious, but I need the luck to avoid the injury bug. I will make the commitment to do all of the proper stretching both before and after my runs, but will still need a touch of luck to avoid becoming injured. Thanks in advance for your blessings!!