Well, Folks, play time is over. It’s time to officially get serious and once again begin the arduous road towards a marathon. It’s only my second and I made some serious mistakes the first time around. What’s that you say? You’d love to know what they were? Well, if you insist.

1. I ate whatever I wanted because I was starving ALL THE TIME. To my shock and horror, I actually GAINED weight during my training. And don’t tell me it was muscle – my jeans told me a different story. Turns out, this is a pretty common occurrence. Mostly because many of us believe (and honestly if the world were a just place this would be 100% true) that if you are logging 30 plus miles a week, you ought to be able to eat donuts, veggie burgers from Mooyah burger with fries and ice cream whenever you want. Well, after a 7 pound gain that I just this month finally got off, I will NOT be repeating this mistake. Yes, I’ll still be hungry but I am making a promise right here to make better choices. Being a vegan this time around should help, too, because I think I ate my body weight in cheese most weeks for marathon one.

2. I’m going to have to get up early. It’s TX and it’s hot and humid. The only way to run is to get up and out the door no later than 6am. This might kill me but not nearly as quickly as running with the sun beating down on me will. So I will choose the early morning poison.

3. I will do my speed work. I did virtually none of this last time and I would really like to not only do better in time but feel better the whole time. No matter who I read, the speed work part of the puzzle seems inescapable.  I’ve almost wrapped my brain around what they mean on the schedule when it says 4 X 1mile. And I’ve found a track that’s within 2 miles of my home so there you go.

4. The treadmill will be my buddy. I will not call her “The Dreadmill” but will instead embrace her as a respite from the aforementioned oppressive heat. I will watch fun movies and rejoice that the bathroom is only a few steps away and my slaves (I mean sons) will run and get me ice water whenever I ask nicely (I mean scream at the top of my lungs) for it. I shall love her and keep her and call her Georgette.

And you, Friends, can be along for the ride. Next time I’ll post the details of the training plan and talk more about my nutrition plan (which will be sans pastry of any kind). Woohoo!!!! Let’s do this thing!!

Hope you’re having a healthy week and remembering to put yourself on that long list of those you care for. Lots of people are relying on you to be healthy and strong – don’t let them down by not taking care of you!!

Jen