My Journey to Toronto Marathon 2009

I joined MAPMYRUN.COM!!!

2009-04-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's a good sign!

I spent sometime looking at the marathon website. Somehow I want to complete this & follow through for myself.

If I register for this event, then I am DEFINITELY taking part & thriving through the journey!!!

My goal during the next three weeks is to run a total of at least 11 miles. This is just part of my new training program.

I will revisit this issue on July 1st. I have written a letter to myself to open on July 1st to see if I feel ready to sign up for the marathon and begin a 12-16 week training program.

Meanwhile - I may still post my workout progress here. Present focus is calisthenics & reconditioning myself!! I took a few weeks off...

Still here...doubting my goal!

2009-04-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

I am likely to postpone this goal.

Not sure if I really want to run this distance...

Planning a new fitness routine...

2009-02-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

I have two weeks of my present routine to complete then I'm changing it up to...

two days a week of hiit
pullups & pushups three days a week

Those are my mail concerns...

Train your mind & the body will follow!

2009-01-24T23:45:00.000-08:00

I believe that they ways in which I train my mind to try try try again, the way I strengthen my body, the nourishing foods I eat, the good times I spend boxing and doing HIIT, that all this will get me ready for my marathon race.

That three months before my race, I will be doing one long run outside once a week on Saturdays probably. And maybe during the week throw in one or two lunch time jogs.

For me this marathon is not about speed. It's about everything I do presently being a part of what will get me through that long journey. I can get through it and there is so much pleasure in the journey. All the little journeys along the way are getting me there:)

I am learning

2009-01-14T22:12:00.001-08:00

about the importance of program compliance and building flexibility into a program.

Since my current routine is very short and three days a week it makes it easy to adhere to. It feels good to have rest time in between.

Today I accomplished a goal I set last week which was to walk on the treadmill at 15% incline/grade! I successfully did so during my HIT workout today!!!

Perseverance & success is golden!

The sweaty sweet smell of success

HIIT

2009-01-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

I'm experimenting with this. So far I've tried three workouts:

Day One:
Warm up at 2.5-3.5 mph
20 minutes of HIIT run at 7 mph for a minute, walk at 3.5mph for 2 min
The highest sprint was 8.5mph for me!
Cooldown 5 minutes

Quite tiring

Day Two:
Warm up: 5 minutes
20 minutes of HIIT at 3.5mph this time altering the incline/grade on the treadmill. Highest Grade was 9%
Cooldown 5 minutes

Fun variation- the high incline moments were definitely anaerobic

Day Three
Warm up: 5 minutes
20 minutes of HIIT alternating between incline & speed intervals. Highest speed was 9mph, highest incline was 15%
Cooldown 5 minutes

Definitely fun. My body didn't know what to expect. My interval times in all cases can be spontaneous based on my body's needs at any given moment.

I'll see how this goes!

The difference between a warrior and a soldier.

2008-12-30T16:27:00.001-08:00

I'm definitely a warrior.

Sports...

2008-12-30T04:54:00.000-08:00

I miss playing.

Triathlon felt like a sport. It thrilled me because all three aspects were new to me. And I actually wanted to improve my skills.

I am struggling to find this running mojo in me.

Today I am buying a tape measure.

NYE is tommorow. I will definitely go to the gym on NYE and on New Years's Day. I haven't been to the gym since Christmas!!! Oh dear. I think it takes a major holiday to get me to go to the gym. I get a huge thrill out of that for some reason.

Why am I buying a tape measure?
To keep track of my body measurements.
I am embarking on a 3 days a week 30 minutes a day fitness routine for 6 weeks.

This PALES in comparison to what I used to do. I remember last year I would take two or three consecutive intense classes in a row. I would take sword fighting, followed by kickboxing followed by spinning. Or I would swim, strength train, then take a spinning class. I guess I was crazy. Now my philosophy is eat well some of the time, and exercise only 30mins. Maybe the word is burn out. Maybe the word is SAD. I think the word is definitely EXCUSES!

How to go from couch potato to marathon runner in ten months???

2008-12-17T03:20:00.000-08:00

I am definitely going to run the marathon next year. What am I doing to get there???

nothing.

except dreaming.

I'm one of those people who has a hard time imagining something beyond the present day so most of my training is short term. I don't understand how people can train all year for something. I'm slowly learning I guess. I've been a last minute person for the past ten years and to unlearn that is proving to be notsoeasy.

Am I even exercising?

I run once a week with my 5k running group. Otherwise, not really. In April I will start running more with my group - 3 times a week. Till then I'm taking it easy.

I haven't been on a scale since February 2007. I love my body as it is and somehow don't exercise for appearance anymore. It's all about function and form and fun now. Too bad I'm in an industry where looks matter. I just may have to succumb and start stepping up my routines next year so I can get that Halle Berry body.

It's more about training my mind. One step at a time. Gonna get to that finish line. It's not a finish line - it's just the beginning.

I have a dream to run a marathon!!!

2008-10-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

I'm running along the lovely streets of Toronto, running on Yonge Street, pacing my beautiful self so well, barely sweating, staying strong...I'm wearing this sexy tanktop that I have endowed with gorgeous artwork. The shirt says www.marathonrunnerwannabe.blogspot.com and at the back it says, African by birth, radiant by heart. I'm steadily progressing at least 6 miles per hour and running all through the city with folks cheering me on shouting "Go African!"
I feel like I can fly! Wow!!! I'm running along Eastern Avenue and suddenly I see huge lime green posters with flourescent orange lettering "Run, African, Run!" "We all love you!" and my family is right there on the sidewalk cheering for me with these lively signs!! My brother Tariro is pulling faces to try and make me smile! I smile and wave and accelerate to 6.5 mph. Wow!!! This is amazing. I run past my house and all the way on the Martin Goodman trail. I can see Lake Ontario, the weather is mild and the sunshine is peeking slightly through the clouds. A perfect autumn day with carpets of pretty leaves of brown and orange hues decorating my city, Toronto. Suddenly I can see the finish line! Wow- I accelerate - 7mph. I am African girl-goalsetter, goalachiever. Now I am a marathoner. I am blessed and beautiful. I cross the finish line. I'm flying and crying with joy!!! My friends and family are there to hug me and give me lovely Evian spring water...I have arrived to this leg of my journey. I can rest for a moment, but as N.Mandela said- "I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended"

This race is a journey of love. A race to honor those living and gone. For my friend and running partner's father who passed in 2008, for my relatives who have passed on, for the peace I have in my path, for my family, for being true to myself, for strength and vision. For dreams. For shine!

One year from now, I will be a marathon runner. This blog will document my journey from couch potato to marathon runner...Read, encourage, cheer me on!