Training Group Week 1: Why are we passing around potato chips?

The focus of today's first Training Group Run was form. Remember: we are trying to cross that finish line in one piece and injury-free.


While we ran our short run today, as a drill, we had to hold a potato chip in each hand ---hey, they were baked :)---this was to teach us not to clench our hands while running, potato chips are fragile you know. I did not know this but as you clench your fists running you also clench your toes---bad thing---so remember to have a relaxed upper body stance, chest up, arms at a 90 degree angle and LOOSE hands. So I ran this morning for 2 miles with potato chips in hand....oh the irony of it all! Try it, kind of fun ( don't worry about the weird looks from other runners)... and as a built in bonus you have a snack at the end! :)

(* this 2-miles was a little longer than our planned 1-mile...we took a wrong turn at some point...Griffith park is like a matrix of running paths, people all over the place, running in every direction possible*)

Coach Bert said something at today's training that I really liked...."RESPECT the Distance." If you know we me, then you know I am a worrier. A few weeks ago before I started the training, I was like " oh my god, when are we going to start?, there is not enough time to train before June, how will I ever get to 26.2 miles....I always feel like I need to do more. I need to remember there is "enough" time to get me there, to trust the process, and to not over-do it.

After all, slow and steady wins the race...right? :)

~Lauren

First Day of School/Christmas Eve Jitters

The Night Before....

So tomorrow is my first official training group run. Like I mentioned before I am doing the "Start! Training Program" in support of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

We will meet every Saturday and do our "long" runs together as a group ( running on our own during the week, following a specific schedule). Our run tomorrow is only 1-mile...so I am not too worried :) We are training in Griffith Park---can't complain about that, its so nice up there!

I am so excited to get "officially" started! I have been running about 3-4 times a week ( 3-4 miles each time) since mid-December, so I have a good "base" built up to start this training.

In my typical, type-A, over-preparedness I am in the process of laying my outfit out and next to my outfit are my directions, sunglasses, sunscreen (you saw how pasty I am in the previous photos!) and heart rate monitor. Next, time to head downstairs and prep my water bottle and snack/breakfast....YEAH!!!!!!

I will keep you posted on how it goes....I can't wait to meet all the other crazies...I mean..."participants" who signed up for this madness....it's sure to be a motley crew!!!!


News my Fellow Runners Can Use:
Check out this article : "Break Your Bad Running Habits"---I think I have committed all of these deadly sins at some point .... some all in the same day :)

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Break_Your_Bad_Running_Habits.htm?act=AFC-SocialMedia&Property=Active&Sport=Running&PageType=Content_Articles&Emp=SA&PostType=Social_Network_Wall&Site=FacebookPage&Dy=01_24_09&Note=Break_Your_Bad_Running_Habits


~Lauren

Why?

"Why?"

That is the first question people ask you when you tell them you are training for a marathon...usually followed by a look of disgust or a furrowing of the brow which lets you know they are also simultaneously doing a mental evaluation of you to confirm their suspicions that you are certifiably insane... to which they quickly follow-up with...

"Are you crazy?"

So to answer you....WHY am I training for a marathon....

1) Why Not? Seriously...I LOVE being active and pushing myself...

2) I am training with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association "Start! Training" Team to raise money for stroke research. Certainly a worthy cause! Some of you may or may not know, that my "Bema" ( my grandma) passed away a little over three years ago after having a stroke. I miss her SO MUCH and thought this would be a nice, personal dedication to her--from me.

3) Heck, if the people on the Biggest Loser can do it....so can I

4) My life as a "young, successful, career-woman" ( aka: commuting and living in my cubicle for about 12 hours a day) has left me with less energy and less time for exercise....things are getting a little squishy and the jeans are getting a little tight....if you know what I mean...ha ha ha :)

5) In a "bucket list" sort of way, I feel like I have done a triathlon and I have done a half marathon, now its time for the FULL Marathon...something I feeling freakishly compelled to do...

( In the coming weeks, on those not-so-good days, I plan to re-visit this post as a reminder to myself of WHY I am doing this!)

Holler at your girl (aka: post a comment...ha ha): Have you done a marathon? Do you want to? Share your story with me!

~Lauren

About Me ( The extended remix version)

(They don't give you enough space on the profile page...or maybe I just talk a lot...)

In a nut-shell....well....I live, I laugh and I run ( and lift and bike and swim)...you can see why I shortened the title a bit :)

I live in Southern California with my wonderfully brilliant, super handsome and ridiculously funny pilot boyfriend, Kyle. I love all things pineapple and the color green. I am ADDICTED to LipSmackers chapstick ( so what if it is marketed to the 5-11 age group! )

When I am not running...I love yummy Mexican food, cooking, filling my Ipod with booty shaking music and watching Dexter on Netflix! :) I also have the best friends and family a girl could want!

I was always pretty active growing up. I played fast-pitch softball and basketball starting in elementary and on through high school. I only REALLY started running about 4 years ago....its been a journey of hills and valleys, some months of intermission here and there. I have also completed handfuls of local 5k's, 10k's, a half marathon in 2007 and 5 sprint triathlons over the past 4 years.

I am young health professional who -- like everyone else -- struggles to live a healthy lifestyle 24-7, 365 days a year. I am human after all. 2009 was a BUSY and a HARD year for me ( we will not dwell on that )...and after some reflecting, I found that I had lost track of one of my greatest passions (and biggest stress relievers and body image enhancers) my dedication to my personal fitness and physical activity!

So I decided to start a blog to track the experience of training for my FIRST Marathon! Journaling ( or in this case blogging) is a great technique to track the adoption and progress of a new health behavior...look there I go with my health educator and public health speak.....there are bound to be sprinklings of that here and there...I warn you, its just my nature :)

My training and my experiences along the way are the intended focus of my blog, but I am sure there will be extra rantings and ravings about all things health and life. If you have any questions you want me to address....let me know, post your comments!

So, won't you come along and join me in this crazy adventure? It's bound to be a fun and entertaining ride...

~Lauren

A mini-photo montage about me:



Me: being active! And one of my bestie's and my favorite training partner, Miss Cynthia!

That tall snow bunny is my BFF Jen!

The Yin to my Yang....My Kyle!

Magazines....All the reading material that I digest regularly to keep up to date on all things health/exercise....yes, I even read Kyle's Mens Health....and, yes, I have a serious magazine problem...please call "Intervention" (the show) on my behalf :)

Jillian...( and another magazine...ha ha ha)....I LOVE this lady!I totally dig her fitness philosophy. I am still trying to find that "Jillian Michaels is my homegirl" t-shirt....