endemic adversary

week 3

endemicadversary — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:05:21 +0000

A very tricky week, 2 finals, work, long commutes, oh and a thesis due. I struggled to get my runs in and it didn’t help that my new running team kept stalling out running times until it was too dark to go. i think i realised I need to be slefish with my running and go when i want. If people want to run with me I will be very happy but I can’t rely on them or wait for them when I want to run.

So I made the 2 x 3 miles but didn’t get the 4 mile in. I decided to run the long run today rather than delaying it for another 4 mile. I ran for 7 miles non stop! Was so proud. took me forever but I made it. I felt terrible afterwards, nauseous, exhausted, knackered. My feet are just all blisters and my knees are a little sore but I am so glad I made it. Week 4 is going to be tough because I want to try get in those 4 extra miles somehow. Busy week ahead but I find the runs are balancing things out for me. Gonna keep on keeping on!

hold steady, week 2

endemicadversary — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:30:31 +0000

So, week 2 and I managed to rope some friends in to run with me. People seem to get really excited when they see what a dork I am about getting psyched to run 5km. Getting into running, with a goal in mind, has just made me feel so amazing, I just want to share it with everyone. I ran with some really kind friends on Monday. It was so nice to feel like there were other people who just wanted to feel good about themselves, no ego. I realised though that I actually like running on my own. I think the feeling of only having to beat myself lets no conflict of motivation creep in for me. But it’s so good to have people involved, I think I will definately need company on the longer runs especially.

Anyway, it was 5km on Monday, Thursday 6.5km and today 5km. Tomorrow I have a 6 mile. almost 10 km. Really, I don’t know if I will make it, I’m just promising myself not to fell like a failure if I have to walk a little even though I have no plan to do so.

Here’s my program. My plan is to do up to week 14 then carry on pushing. The Copenhagen Marathon is only in May so I have a little more time than the program allows to work on stronger, faster me.

WEEK	DAY 1	DAY 2	DAY 3	DAY 4	TOTAL FOR WEEK
1	3	4	3	5	15
2	3	4	3	6	16
3	3	4	3	7	17
4	3	5	3	8	19
5	3	5	3	10	21
6	4	5	4	11	24
7	4	6	4	12	26
8	4	6	4	14	28
9	4	7	4	16	31
10	5	8	5	16	34
11	5	8	5	16	34
12	5	8	5	18	36
13	5	8	5	18	36
14	5	8	5	9	27
15	3	5	3	8	19
16	3	3	WALK 3	MARATHON (26.2)	35.2

runners are hot, but my feet are not

endemicadversary — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:52:06 +0000

8 km! I ran 8km. No breaks. (After 2 smokes and a glass of wine last night to boot!) Well I finished week one of my training. Now there is no going back. I feel wonderful, alive, inspired, blisterd!

Days 2 and 3, Week 1

endemicadversary — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:14:05 +0000

On Tuesday I had a terrible day at work. I was just drowing all day long. I spent the day feeling a giant fuzz in my brain, feeling like a failure, a mess. Thank goodness in the evening I had 6.5km on my program to complete. I have NEVER run that far in my life. As I started approaching 5km’s I realised I was actually going to make it. Once I hit the 5km mark, the sensation was just amazing. I wanted to scream out loud. 6.5km is nothing for a lot of people but the realisation that I could do it, made me feel so powerful and like I could actually complete the marathon eventually if every week I hit new barriers like this.

Today I ran 5km. I started feeling lazy these past two days I took off. (Im supposed to run only 4 days a week) and it was a tough run (even for just 5km) because my nutrition has been bad. I really didn’t feel like going but afterwards I felt so great I still did ab exercises, stairmaster for ten minutes and swam for about 20. Feeling good!

Tomorrow (or Sunday, depending on how stiff I am) I have a good 8km run to complete. I am pretty sure I will have to walk some even if just 2 minutes somewhere but I’m feeling like i can do it. I sure am nervous though!

My inspiration for the week

First 3 mile

endemicadversary — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:02:42 +0000

So I ordered ‘The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer’ and have found it encouraging and hopeful so far. I have been following the conditioning part and today I decided to start week one, day one of the actual program. My first 3 mile!

I found a great tool on Mapmyrun.com and started off mapping a 3 mile route (seeing as I think metric to start with)
http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/se/malmo/834125533376152517
Being cold and windy, I did struggle with my asthma. Face: burnt orange. No real aches and pains but it was pretty difficult. The best part is that I didnt feel the runner’s knee in my left leg as I had been struggling with in the conditioning phase. The stretches and slow progress really helped. 3 miles felt really difficult but it’s a start!

out of breath

endemicadversary — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:03:20 +0000

a friday of too much talk, liquor, love, smokes (one day c’mon!) and i’ve had no voice for the rest of the weekend. no runs for me! endemic adversary indeed.

slow starter

endemicadversary — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:24:09 +0000

I only managed to haul myself to the gym three times this week. Pretty poor performance Miss. My goal at the moment is to work myself up to a comfortable 40 minute run, no asthmatic episodes, no slowdowns. I’m getting there. I do at least 60 minutes cardio. I’m trying to elevate ym heart rate with not just running because I keep getting this runner’s knee thing so I guess I need to take it slow with the impact. Hopefully next week I will pick up the pace a little to get to this first level of my plan a little faster. Any ideas on motivation? Blue!

26point2

endemicadversary — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:26:48 +0000

I think this might be helpful – stories of London marathon runners of all sorts.

I want to be a runner

endemicadversary — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:00:43 +0000

I have been threatening to do this for years. I always start out on some strong resolution and then don’t seem to get anywhere, but the dream has always been there. I am not a natural runner. I’m more strength than endurance. I’m asthmatic and allergic to most things carrying the seeds of outdoors. The slightest brush of a grass blade turns me into a wheezing hived hulk. I used to be a serious ballet dancer and gymnast. When i stopped to focus on my studies at 18, I had to give it all up in entirety: losing my first love needed a clean break. I have tried since to fulfill that need for absolutes with studies, self-destruction, people, bursts of dedication at the gym. I shifted my self-image and goals to comfortable new things but have an insatiable longing for a physical objective: the need to conquer myself.

I think this might be it. My sense of self-worth needs to shift, my sense of my body needs to calm, and I need some constructive absolute. Seeing the IAAF championships in Berlin recently, watching the marathon runners loop through the city – like bolting deer, inhumanly dignified – I felt this secret dream confronted in a way I could not ignore. I am collecting ideas on training and am aiming to run a marathon in a year. More details to come!