As I begin my fifth week of training, I'm forced to reflect a bit on the past month. So far, my training has been relatively low-key. In fact, for the first several weeks, I lowered my weekly mileage to be more in line with slightly conservative training. Not significantly, but I figured going from about 30 miles per week to 25 would ensure that I'd have enough energy (and no injuries) to tackle those really long runs when the time came.
It seems like it's been a good plan because I have plenty of energy and generally look forward to each run. With that said, right before I started training, I read that one of the big things that most people let slide in their marathon prep is not so much the running itself but the cross-training. And I knew immediately, I too fell into that category. So I made a commitment to myself to actually use my Sunday cross-training day to do just that--cross-training--and not what I usually do, which is generally sitting on the couch and binging on Homeland or Dexter, or some other delectabe serial adventure. (Please note that the cross-training does not prevent or negate the online TV binging. It is now just a complement.)
My activity of choice has been yoga this month, and while I inevitably return home after each session at my gym complaining that it hasn't been as rigorous as I wanted, I did indeed wake up this morning with a long list of muscles that were sore. So I suppose I'm doing something right.
Today, though, I got an extra little fitness surprise. Surprise, is that accurate? More like a dare I goaded myself into. A friend, after completing a 30-day plank challenge in November, told me that her new plan was a 24-day ab challenge. Yup, that's right. Twenty-four days of ab work, starting with a nothing-to-it series of crunches, leg raises, and planks, and increasing in reps and hold times of muscle-trembling proportions. I instantly jumped on the bandwagon, not even thinking about my sad, already sore core. Yet, I'm excited to take on this challenge.
If there's anything I need more of, it's more core work, particularly since I have shoulder and upper back issues that could be easily (at least moderately) alleviated with more core strengthening. And in my line of work, there's no amount of ab and back strength that wouldn't help to combat the repetitive stress I subject myself to on a daily basis. Not to mention that my chiropractor and massage therapist constantly ask me if I'm doing just that, targeted strength-training, and it's embarrassing to answer no. Every. Damn. Time.
So that's the plan. I've missed a day already, considering today is December 2, but I figure I'll start with Day 1 and skip the first rest day to get on schedule. Hey, I might even recruit my husband to join me. A little marital ab bliss is always a plus. Or at the very least, I'll have one more person to commiserate with for the next few weeks. I'm stoked.
And if you're curious, here's a link to the challenge. Just don't laugh at the clearly photoshopped picture. Okay, laugh. I did. It's fucking ridiculous.
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