Training: First 4 Months

Hey again!  I have probably gone at all of this in a strange order, but it is what it is :).

In all of my previous attempts to start running, post Marine Corps, have had the same outcome... shin splints.  I usually push through it for a month until I can no longer stand the pain.  I push through it because I know once I stop I will likely not start back up.  For some strange reason I am programmed this way.  This time around I have made a mental note to be cautious, I am determined to not go down the same path of over training.  This time I held back... a lot.

Instead of running blind, I started reading about the intricasies of what it takes to be a good runner, that might be a good next post.  I established a pretty basic routine and to date it has worked, with a
few tweaks here and there.  Here you go: stretch, half mile walk, 2 to 3 mile run, half mile walk, and one last stretch.  I started out running Monday through Friday, using weekends to recover.  I let ego takeover and began pushing myself a little too soon.  Within the first month I pushed myself to do 5 miles and 6 on occassion.  This provided to be a mistake, I could tell my legs were not ready for the stress and of course I pulled something in between my calf and hamstring.  As luck would have it, this would turn out to be a well timed and fortunate injury.  First it wasn't shin splints, which take forever to heal and second I realized I was doing to much to soon.  I took a week off and re-evaluated everything I was doing and what I wanted to accomplish, so I began twerking, bwahahaha, had to liven it up a bit.  Tweaking is so boring when you can twerk.

Now I have a pretty balanced routine.  I no longer run every single weekday, now I run 4 to 5 days a week, mixing in some core exercises, like yoga, burpees, twerking (okay I will stop) in between runs and a little strength training.  So far this has proven to be a great move, I am a much stronger runner.  Yoga and weights are sad, sad, sad, but my running has improved.  I have to give credit to my wife J aka the core master and my brother for pushing me to incorporate core exercises into my weekly workout, that proved to be a game changer.  Thanks!

Since doing this I have remained injury free and did a 5K race in 26 minutes, which I earned a second place medal for my age group, YAH!  There were only 11 of us in it yah!  A little less exciting but whatever.

A little heads up, if you are scared of moobies you may want to stay away from future postings.  I am scheduling a glamour shots session with me in nothing but running shorts, maybe socks and shoes.  The point I am making, there will be belly and moobs.  However their is a silver lining to all of this.  I have been told that I look like Rob Lowe (pause), (wait for it)..., okay so it's, creepy Rob Lowe from the DirecTV commercials, be nice!  So you have been officially warned, all I ask is, no fat boy jokes; A cup is fine.  I am not doing this to show how wonderfully fit I am, but more as a reminder of where I was and I will try to do a monthly photo to see if there is any progress.  Alright gotta run...literally.

C YA!