Neytiri is always welcome to join me in an ultrarun, so long as it is not along tree branches due to my terrible fear of heights.
After reviewing my (pathetic) training for last year, I determined that 2010 would include a lot more mileage and a lot more weight training. January was an amazing month for me. I either ran or walked at least a mile each day, and hit the weights at least three times per week. My total mileage for this month was 185 miles, of which 122 were run, 29 were walked, and 34 were snowshoe runs. Since my entire mileage for last year was 654 miles, I feel that doing 28% of that training in my first month is a very good start. My average mileage per week is 37, as opposed to last year’s average of 12.
I also ran several races this month, and set a nice PR in the Disney marathon. In February, I have a race for each weekend, starting with a 50k and ending with a marathon, with two snowshoe races sandwiched in between. I am starting to get faster, stronger, and perhaps even losing a bit of body fat. Who could have predicted that regular training would effect these kind of changes?
I should also note that I no longer enjoy eating cookies, cakes, ice cream, or other junk food. It came upon me a week or two ago that I would rather eat a big bowl of rice with a bit of butter and some soy sauce, or perhaps some corn chips with Mrs Renfro’s Green Salsa (basically just jalapeno’s with some extras). I still eat a ton, but now I eat more wholesome food. I don’t even like eating cookies when I run. I am thinking about bringing some high calorie fruit like raisins, currants, dates, and maybe even plums for my runs. Actually, some apples and oranges and berries and bananas would be good too. A pity I am allergic to so many of them, but in small doses they should be all right.
All of this talk about food has made me hungry (that, and the 17 miles I ran earlier today). I am going to have a Granny Smith apple. What has become of me? It’ s like I woke up one morning in someone else’s life.
“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!” -Alice, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Steven Latour