Decided to bail on the gym this morning. Today was already moved from Thursday morning but after running 4 miles late last night and then having to get up early for the gym, It just was not going to happen. To keep on pace with the Marathon training I need to fit in a 3mi run and a 5mi run in the next 3 days and make up that gym day. I am hoping things will get better once I get my running legs back and I am not so beat after every run.

Last week I took as a warm up week to try and get myself up to 5k shape. Not sure if I am 100% there yet but its time to start with the actual training. I Decided to use the book that is listed off to the right under the Amazon links called “The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer” as my guide. I can’t really tell you how the book is so far mainly cause I am only on chapter one. I decided to read just one chapter per week. Chapter one in the book is week one in training. Chapter 2 is week 2, and so on. I am subscribing by the slow and steady one day at a time philosophy. Last thing I need to see right now is that I will have to be running X amount of miles in week _____(fill in the blank).

It was suggested I post my workout routine for others to see. The gym routine is from Stronglifts.  I pretty much follow that to a T. As for my running I decided to create a Google Calendar that I will update with what I have done and/or will do for the week. Nothing special just a quick blurb. If you are interested check out the link at the top of the page called “Workout Calendar“

Headed to the gym this morning to make up for skipping yesterday and heading out for breakfast.  I did manage to get in a 3 miler when I got home from work so any  guilt I have for bailing on the gym is gone.

I decided to start doing a food journal.  Mind you I am not trying to loose weight, I’m just trying to be mindful of what I am putting in my body. I recently got an iPhone and in the Apple app store they have a program just for this.  Down side is its $14.99.  I have have only been using it for 3 days now but I it seem really nice.  If you are interested the app is called “Absolute fitness”

I got up early this morning to meet my brother at the gym, but both of us were WAY tired.  We were shoveling gravel in the heat this past weekend so I don’t feel too guilty that we bailed on they gym and went and grabbed a bite to eat and some coffee.  Plus we are going to the gym tomorrow to make up for it.

I am still running tonight.

January 18th is the day.  I will be running in Arizona Rock-N-Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon.  Being that today is August 17th I have basically 5 months to get marathon ready.  From the articles, websites, and books that I have read, most say you need to run about 4 days a week.  The remaining 3 days you need to rest and/or do some cross training.  This presents me with a problem. I already go to the gym 3 days a week. If I maintain doing that it would leave no days for rest.  Not sure how I am going to work this but I know there is a solution.  Most likely I will have to just run on gym days also.  In the early weeks when the training runs are short it should be fine.  But when the runs get up to 10 miles plus this could cause problems.