Merry Christmas!

From Essence of Running, my wife and I would like to send out the warmest and heartfelt greeting of Merry Christmas to you and your families.  May God bless you and comfort you as we head into the new year. I came down for this day to spend with my family here in coastal North Carolina and I couldnt have asked for a more beautiful day here.  Be safe running out there and wear high vis. 
Thanks also for the support of your readership and loyalty this year. 2013 will bring on something wonderful as I go through some new ways of training.

God Bless!
Kenley and Loredel

121212 TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE

DID YOU DO ANYTHING SPECIAL IN THE RUNNING WORLD TO COMMEMORATE 12/12/12?  I, IN FACT, DID!  I RAN A QUARTER OF A MILE 12 TIMES.  I HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING NEW WITH MY TRAINING.  I HAVE BEING INTRODUCING A SECOND RUN ON MY TRAINING DAYS.  THIS SECOND RUN IS NOTHING OVER 45 MINUTES AND AT A SLOW AND STEADY PACE.  I HAVE NOTICED CONSIDERABLE RECOVERY THE NEXT MORNING WITH THIS SECOND RUN IN THE EVENING.  ANY OF YOU EVER GET IN 2 RUNS A DAY?  I DIDN'T DO ANY RESEARCH INTO DOING THIS BUT THIS IS HOW I WENT ABOUT IT.  INTRODUCE JUST ONE EXTRA RUN TO YOUR ENTIRE WEEK EVERY 2-3 WEEKS.  THATS MY ADVISE.  YOU DONT WANT TO GO COMPLETELY MAD WITH IT.  AND DONT MAKE THOSE EXTRA RUNS WORK OUT RUNS AT FIRST.  I JUST USUALLY DO A 40 -45 MINUTE RECOVERY TYPE RUN, VERY EASY AS STATED EARLIER.  LATER I MAY START MAKING THEM TRAINING RUNS.  MORE CALORIES ADDED TO THE BANK TOO!  TAKE CARE AND THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. 

ALL SYSTEMS GO

THIS CONCLUDES THE 6^TH WEEK ON MY 30 WEEK 2013 SPRING MARATHON CAMPAIGN, ALL SET ASIDE ONE MORE MEDIUM RUN TODAY AND A LONG RUN TOMORROW OF 8 MILES.  I FINALLY WENT OUT FOR A TEST RUN WEDNESDAY EVENING.  IT WAS 3 MILES.  IT WAS THE BEST RUN I HAVE HAD ALL YEAR IN TERMS OF HOW I FELT.  I HAVE NOT RAN IN 15 DAYS SO I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW MUCH FITNESS I MIGHT HAVE LOST, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME ADDED POUNDS FROM THANKSGIVING.  I MEAN, I ONLY HAVE MYSELF TO BLAME IF I GAINED WEIGHT, BUT I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED.  I ONLY GAINED 2 POUNDS FROM NOT RUNNING IN 12 DAYS AND HOLIDAY.  THE NIGHT BEFORE MY FIRST RUN BACK, THIS TUESDAY, I ACTUALLY ATE AT TEXAS ROAD HOUSE.  THEIR ROLLS ARE SOMETHING ELSE.  THAT’S ANOTHER REASON I WAS SURPRISED WITH MY NOT SO MUCH WEIGHT GAIN.  BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO MY DIET WHILE NOT RUNNING.  I HEARD ONCE THAT IT’S NOT WHAT YOU EAT ON A FEW DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR; IT’S THE OTHER DAYS THAT MATTERS.  SO, WEDNESDAY, I WENT OUT TO RUN, AND I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.   FROM THE VERY FIRST STRIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE END, I FELT AMAZING.  MY ENERGY WAS VERY HIGH.  I FELT LIKE A FIRE CRACKER.  MY FUEL CELLS WERE IGNITED.  I STOPPED AT 3 MILES AS TO NOT OVERDO IT.  I COULD BREATHE WITH OUT MY RIBS HURTING.  YEY!  ON THURSDAY MORNING, I DID ANOTHER 3 MILES.  THIS WEEK, I WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, AND NEXT WEEK, I WILL DETERMINE IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY TRAINING PLAN OR KEEP IT THE SAME.  I AM THINKING THAT NOW, I SHOULD BE OKAY WITH HOW IT IS.  WEDNESDAY, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED.  MY WIFE LEFT TO VISIT HER FAMILY IN THE PHILIPPINES.  SHE MADE IT THERE OK.  I WANT TO SURPRISE HER WITH A SKINNIER ME WHEN SHE GETS BACK NEXT YEAR.  HMMMM, WE SHALL SEE.  I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED TO JUST BE ABLE TO RUN NOW.  TO BE ABLE TO RUN IS A GIFT I THINK.  THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON I LEARNED DURING THIS MINOR SET BACK IS TOO STILL WATCH MY INTAKE, AND THE RUNNING WILL STILL BE THERE AFTER THE HEALING PROCESS IS COMPLETE.  I WISH EVERY ONE OUT THERE HAPPY RUNNING DURING THE COLD SEASON AND BE SAFE!!