The One Where I Introduce My Lizard Brain

Well, Week 4 Mark II of Pre-Training Complete! And although I did end up with all four walks in the fast walking pace range, I'm not sure my 'Warrior Beast' statement wasn't just a little premature. Week 4 Mark II did a little bit of fighting back in the form of an unpleasant reaction to an overindulgent wedding anniversary dinner on Friday night. So, that was Saturday's scheduled walk out and Week 4 ended up sneaking into Week 5 a tiny bit. Clearly, Week 4 Mark II took exception to my declaration of dominance. I shan't be making such bold statements again.

I now begin the official jogging/walking part of my pre-training plan. Just to refresh your memory, dear Readers, I post the Pre-Training Schedule from The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer that I have been following TO. THE. LETTER. (sort of). I am now entering Week 5.

I did briefly consider switching from this programme to a 'Couch Potato to 5kms' app on my iPhone. The app had the same outcome as the Pre-Training Programme; i.e., being able to jog continuously for 30 minutes. The downside of the app was an extra two weeks of pre-training, the upside a much gentler introduction to the jogging/walking stage. I've been wondering what to do about Week 5 for a while but after a happy bumping in to the lovely Megan, who has run a marathon, and her encouraging words that I could actually do it, I decided to stick with the book and at least try it. If it IS too much, I can always give the app a try.

I've noticed that when things are about to move to a new level I agonise over something (usually) unimportant and procrastinate terribly, and it's always because I am worried I am not actually going to be able to do it. My'lizard brain' (as Seth Godin refers to it) constantly chirps negative stuff, for example, this week ' I won't be able to jog for 5 minutes and then I won't be able to do the marathon and then I'll be shunned by my peers and lose my job and die an alcoholic death in an alley somewhere.  I exaggerate (only slightly) for dramatic effect. 

Sigh... oh, Lizard Brain, I wish I could switch you off. But since I can't, I guess I can commit to a ridiculously long running event for a much loved and respected charity which means I have to get on with training at increasingly harder levels despite you. Week 5 commences Tuesday. Oh yes it does.

On a slightly different note, one of my all-time favourite blogs (and books) to read is 'The Happiness Project' by Gretchen Rubin (See the links under My Blog Lists and Books). I plan to borrow some of my favourite elements from Gretchen's blog over the course of the year, notably Tip Day and also her Happiness interviews, except mine will be, of course, marathon interviews with real live marathon-y type people who have interesting stories to share. I'm getting my probing questions together at the moment but if anyone has any suggestions they would like to add, please feel free to leave a comment.

The One Where I Conquer Week 4 Of Pre-Training Like a Warrior Beast

Well, I am happy to report that Week 4 the second time around is going much better than last week’s slodgy effort. On Sunday I walked with Helen and managed 9minutes 38 seconds a kilometre and this morning I managed my best time ever of 9 minutes and 1 second a kilometre. Both walks were at beautiful South Beach, South Fremantle. Caroline (she of the clever title photo for the New Walker and SpicyJam blog fame) took some great photos today because she just can't help herself.

Here is me powering away (loosely defined) at South Beach.

On Thursday, I plan to walk with Tom and Friday will, of course, be my regular Cottesloe Beach walk. I've worked out that if I am walking/running with someone who is not quite as fit (and oh, that is SUCH a relative term!) I can still keep up my pace by running ahead a bit and then running back. And it keeps the conversational suspense alive, I find, if I jog off mid-sentence and complete it when I return.

And I am back doing pilates again as of this evening. I had been doing it last year but then the fabulous Brazilian physio I had left and it was hard to get into the later time ... and then I got busy ... and I got out of the habit, etc, etc (Hmmm, refer to earlier post about not sticking to things). Since I am hypermobile (I was held together with large industrial grade elastic bands when pregnant with my three children), pilates is a huge help in stabilising the muscles around my lazy, world-weary ligaments. And with this sort of physical challenge ahead, I think pilates is going to be crucial in keeping me as injury-free as possible. Oh, it was so nice to be back. I had forgotten how much I loved it.  

In terms of fundraising, there are several short-term goals before New York. By mid-January I needed to have raised $1000.00. So far, donations have reached almost $3000.00 - which is wonderful and better than I could have hoped for! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has donated so far. The next goal is $5000.00 by May. I know many people are familiar with the work of WorldVision but the SEE project really is something special, focused as it is, as their slogan goes, on giving people a hand-up, rather than a hand-out.

In terms of training, the next step is to get myself a coach. The goal of the pre-training is to be able to run continuously for 30 minutes - but that isn't going to get me very far in New York. Once I've finished the pre-training in about mid-February, I'll still have about 38 weeks until the big day. Most of the books have 16 or 18 week programmes and I don't have a clue how to adapt those. I think a professional is needed here. I have a couple of names but if anyone reading this has a suggestion for someone I could contact in the Perth area, I would love to hear about it. Please feel free to leave a comment here or post on The New Walker page on Facebook. Thanks!