Sunday, January 2, 2011

His and Her Thongs

The marathon training plans are up. Me: Boston. Him: Colorado

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His and hers for the new year. It used to be his and her beer mugs. His and her thongs. Times have changed. But, we still drink beer and wear thongs.

Mine is the obnoxiously colored one. I created both plans, as well as three others for new clients. Ken’s was relatively easy just taking into account his goal time, current fitness, preferences for speed work, etc. It will be his first marathon with a goal time of 3:43 (based on a 1:44 half marathon time). 3:43 is a good number because it one minute slower than my PR. Got to keep him in his place. He is running the Colorado Marathon on May 1.

Mine, on the other hand, was a challenge. Hard to create a marathon training plan for someone who cannot currently run.

I found myself remembering when I was 11 months old and could not walk. My mom made me a walking training plan with a goal of walking from the living room to my crib in just a few short weeks. pushups

At first I fell and cried. Then I got up and walked a couple of steps. I fell again and bruised my ass. I laid on the floor, had a bottle of warm milk, filled my diaper and tried again. By the next week I was walking, albeit wobbly, from the coffee table to the chair. I gained momentum and pretty soon I made it to the hallway. People clapped and sang my praises. On day 15, I walked all the way to my crib. I looked down at my Garmin to see a pace that any mother would be proud of.

That’s when I knew more walking was in my future. I told my Big Bird stuffed animal that the next week I might walk from the swings to the slide at the park. He shook his head as if to say, “One step at a time, tiger. Don’t get ahead of yourself you might get hurt.” I looked at him, “Screw you Big Bird,” I yelled. “You think you're so cool and wise with your goofy yellow feathers. What kind of bird are you anyway? I’ve got things to do.”

{The above is a fiction story. I am trying to make a very smart correlation between starting from zero and making your way to infinity. My mom didn’t really have a training plan and I didn't have a Garmin. Just a Swatch.}

I was right, even back then. I do have things to do. But, it has to be conservative and slow this time around. Probably good for a Type-A perfectionist freak like me.

Be where you are.

It KILLS me to make a training plan that involves only eight minutes of running per day for the first week. But, it is a baby step. If all goes well, by week four I will be running 20 minutes at a time, then the real stuff kicks in. My first “real” running week (week six) will have me running a total of 14.5 miles. This will seem like a miracle to a girl who was on crutches only eight weeks ago. The plan tops out at 31 miles per week, with my longest run being 16 miles. Not the ideal marathon training plan, but hopefully one that will keep me safe and ready to run on April 18.

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Overall, it’s a plan my doctor would be proud of with lots of cross training and reasonable week to week progressions in mileage. There is no speed work, no marathon pace runs. There is not even a marathon goal time. In all honesty, I won’t know how to gauge that until I am deep into my training cycle and know more of how my hip will respond.

Be where you are.

Most likely, the goal will be to finish with clean drawers and a two hips.

Can you run a marathon with this kind of prep? I don’t know. But, I’m about to find out.

Should I buy our plane tickets? Should I dare to be that confident?

Please vote:

Option A: Buy the damn tickets and stop your whining.
Option B: Don’t spend the money until you’re sure you can get there in one piece
Option C: Screw the tickets. Run to Boston from Colorado. What are you, a pussy?

Going to launder the thongs,

SUAR

54 comments:

  1. Baby steps to start is good. Very good. One of my buddies won her age group at Ironman Canada doing very, very little actual running, and lots of water running. Stay strong.

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  2. LOL! The title of this post certainly got MY attention! I was hoping for some pictures.

    Awesome form you had as a babe doing those pushups!

    And you CAN run a marathon with that plan. And your goal regarding the marathon is an admirable and realistic one.

    I am pulling for you.

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  3. Ken really needs to work on his colorization of his training plan. Boooorrrrinnnnggggg. You'd think I put it together or something. Jeeze!!!!

    Good luck w/ the plan. Hang in there, even if there is a bit of pain and you have a setback. plan on it and it won't destroy you mentally.

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  4. Love reading your blog!! If anyone can run a marathon after being injured its you :)

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  5. Yes! Yes! Yes! Dare to be that confident! You deserve to be there Beth and I think baby steps and your realistic goal are going to get you there. Just continue to be smart about your pain.

    Ken's running his first marathon???? Sweet. Does he read your comments?? If so....Ken, you need to start your own blog. For real. :)

    Happy New Year!

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  6. If anyone can do it, it's you! (not sure sure about the clean drawers)

    I will be rooting for you and hoping this modest plan gets you there strong, healthy anf injury free!

    Good luck to Ken too! Love that his goal time is one minute slower than your PR. Does he know about this??

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  7. Hey, I hope you can, because I'm doing Disney without a really long run because of my back injury. I'll let you know how it goes. Granted, we're at very different levels of running, but my experience may serve up some interesting tidbits that you can use!

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  8. Of course you can run it, and you will! Also, I think you can modify the plan as you go along, even run a bit more, maybe even do a run/walk 20 miler, so that the jump to running the marathon will not be too much. I think if you add recovery weeks in, you can add a bit more mileage. Well, you know yourself best. But, absolutely you can run Boston and you will!

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  9. BUY THE PLANE TICKETS!!!! I'm laughing because for a short time my PR is one minute faster than my husbands too! Do you have access to an AlterG treadmill or even a weightless running system with PT? I was on the AlterG a few times! Awesome for hip injuries. It allowed me to run at a percentage of my body weight and reduce the impact. Your plan looks very smart, Beth. I think you're going to get there, you're going to finish, and you'll be SO happy it won't even matter if your drawers are clean!!!!

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  10. Be where you are-great mantra. Almost worth stealing, but I will refrain.

    Best of luck with the training plan!

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  11. ummm i'm going to go with option c. and your plan would be the obnoxiously colored one hahah. seriously buy the damn ticket because i want you to make me laugh so hard i need depends in boston. yes i am that selfish for my reasons for your trip.

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  12. Option C. Remember. It's what Dean would do.

    :)

    I think you're awesome, and that to go from only running 8 minutes a day, to a marathon (and the Boston Marathon at that) in 4 months is amazing.

    Good luck.

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  13. Just get it done....me and my buddies will be cheering for you!!!!

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  14. Buy the Tickets! Be where you are...even when you get there. I was just about to post about my plan but you and your husband's charts look so professional! Excited to see you get back Beth....sending some Go Time Vibes your way!

    That is awesome that your hubby is running a marathon too! I wish I could sign up for a marathon in Colorado but I would have to come a few weeks early just to adjust to the altitude...I think that was always such a positive benefit for me in college...training in Colorado altitude and then going back to Iowa to compete...It was so nice for at least the first couple weeks. :)

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  15. Option A. There is no motivation like buying plane tickets to a race. That will motivate you to follow the plan that you laid out for yourself. You are smart enough to put that plan together so you know what you can and can't do. Buy the tickets.

    And please send me the plan so that I can make sure you are sticking to it. Accountability.

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  16. I vote for Option A. I also think it will give you the motivation to follow the plan you made.

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  17. Buy the damn tickets! I have great faith in you - you'll get it done! Cheering you on and wishing for the best!

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  18. either way, I think it would be great to go and race or just see your fellow runners and support. Everyone needs a cheerleader!
    LC

    I like the plan by the way, you can do this!

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  19. I bought my plane tickets before I even registered.

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  20. Hi;-)
    do you have free miles to get the tix? That'd be my vote.

    or just buy the freakin' tickets and just show up and race/walk/crawl the race?

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  21. No one can fault you for being realistic. Go ahead and buy your tickets already!

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  22. Obviously Option A! We all know you will go. There is no way you won't do it. May as well get them now before it is full or before the airlines jack up their prices again - because you know they will!

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  23. Be where you are -- I love it!
    Buy 'em. Just buy 'em.

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  24. Option A! You will go and love every second of it.
    Buy those tickets woman!

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  25. Option A. Period. Heck, even if you are hobbling, you'll be in awesome bloggie company with the crowd that's going.

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  26. You tell Big Bird. I never did like his voice anyway.

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  27. LOVE the pink training plan! I think mine needs a revamp now! I say absolutely buy the damn tickets. Come hell or high water, you will be in Boston. Good luck in your training! :)

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  28. I was injured when I trained for my first marathon. My long runs never topped 16 miles, and I finished the race. And I've still never topped 30 miles in a week, even after taking 27 minutes off in marathon #2. You can do this.

    And I vote option #1. If you don't go to packet pick-up, you can't get the jacket. Right? (or maybe they would mail it)

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  29. Running seems to be in your blood so I think you can run a marathon on that plan. You can do it so I select option A (but would be interested to hear about the results of option C)

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  30. Some how I can't imagine you sitting on your couch at home in April watching Boston go down. Best to you!

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  31. I choose #1 You have to go to Boston. It will kill you if you don't. Think positive.

    Good stories. I like.

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  32. Option C, definitely. I'll join you... I need an excuse to not go back to work after furlough... running to Boston is IT.

    Seriously, though, plan on going. The sooner you buy the tickets, the cheaper it is, because you know you will go to Boston in April.

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  33. I would vote option C but then you might be too tired to win (that is your plan right, to win?) so I'll have to settle for option A.

    It may be a short plan with not too long of mileage but it's not like it's your first marathon or you haven't ever run before. You have the background and the knowledge to do just fine and no matter what you'll do the best you can (which, knowing you will be awesome!). And, if something goes terribly wrong and you can't run in April at least you can be in Boston where you can drown your sorrows with the Wellesley College girls.

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  34. Even as a baby you were goal-oriented.
    What?!! That story wasn't true?!!! It was like a parable!! Oh, gullible me.

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  35. I've only been following for a few months, but I already know that you always have a plan. Your plan is Boston.

    Buy the damn tickets.

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  36. Buy the damn tickets. Who are you kidding? You will finish the race without even flinching haha.

    WOW, That is a great plan. I may steal tid bits as I "re-learn" this running thing too. I have been doing yoga and stretching but have had muscle pull after muscle pull lately. The body is not happy.

    GOOD LUCK, and stick to the plan!

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  37. Yes you should be confident. It's called making a comeback! Besides it's friggen Boston!!!!!!!! I maxed out at 30 miles a week just prior to my gasparilla disastor. But it wasn't Boston and I certainly didn't have this many people backing me up. YOu go!!!!

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  38. Hahaha, I have a similar marathon goal (clean underpants). I truly enjoy your blog! I'd vote for option A - if Southwest Airlines serves where you are, then you could buy tickets with them. They let you cancel or change the tickets without any change fees. And you check bags for free - but you're probably bringing all the underwear in your carryon anyway...

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  39. Option C and bring the Pussy Posse. Start now since you can only run 8 minutes a day.

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  40. BUY THE TICKETS! There's nothing more motivating than the possible loss of money. Plus you're building slowly and it's BOSTON for goodness sake. I'm pretty sure you would crawl across the finish line if you had to. Good luck!

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  41. Be Bold! Take Option A. Buy the tickets and don't look back. Or, you know, take Kovas' advice. Actually, his advice is kinda funny. Do you think the Pussy Posse will go with you?

    Run on.

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  42. Tough dilemma, girlfriend, but I say go for it. You can get through it and make the most of the day. I may even accompany you on a long fun run April 18 if I'm not up and running anytime soon. Then you'll have a great base for launching a fall marathon program, where you'll be healthy and in shape to knock more time off your PR.

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  43. Good luck with your training! I say buy the tickets now. Even if you aren't quite ready to run in April, you can still go and have a fab time. Boston during the marathon is CRAZY!!

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  44. I vote to buy the plane tickets w/insurance...just in case.

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  45. You are a brave and tenatious lady. I say option A for sure. You jumped out of a plane...you can do anything!!

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  46. I say buy 'em!

    What the hell. I would bet on you (and I'm pretty broke- so that says something). :)

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  47. I practical part of me says B! BUT I think if you can go there just to enjoy being in Boston and not race, but to enjoy, go for A!!! Since I have two options...and knowing you...ok..I give up. a it is!!

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  48. That's a tough call, if you can still enjoy Boston even if you can't run then I say go ahead and get the tickets. I personally would probably be a little bitter so I would wait until I was a little more sure of how my hip was holding up, but that's me.
    So, basically, I didn't answer your question.

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  49. Do it. Enjoy the experience. You earned it. You will have a blast and how can you fret about time/pace considering your injury and lack of proper training.

    3:43 for The Mr is impressive - espcially at that elevation. I think he'll nail it with that new forefoot running technique.

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  50. While C is interesting, I say buy those tickets. You will be there! Your training plan is fine. I ran my first 3 marathons on a long runs of between 15 - 17miles. (3:26 - 3:32 finishing times to boot!)

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  51. Hmmm...do you really need the input!? Of course you should buy those tickets!!!! I think everyone above has said it well: go dominate Boston. Look at all the support you have, too...how wonderful.

    PS-new follower...Hullo!

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  52. I was going to say A but then you mentioned pussy. I vote C but only because you mentioned pussy. And lucky for you, I'll have plenty of workouts that will only tax your abs and upper body so there will be no debate there. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I took the picture of you in your underwear and swimsuit. It's now my screen saver.

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  53. buy the tickets you pussy. i know you... well i think i do, and i know you will finish boston even if you have to saw off your leg and use it as a crutch :)

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  54. I suppose it's too late to vote now, huh? Well, if you haven't bought the tickets yet, I say save the money, add it to the bike fund, then RIDE your fancy new bike to Boston. See how logical a man can be??

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