I am now 73 days into writing my daily jog log (slash) daily eat sheet. Please don’t say that last one fast, 10 times in a row. It won’t come out well and my writings are all PG-13.

For the first 65 days, I was attempting to run on my own; with my own plan. What I’ve discovered … hard to make a plan for something I’ve never done before. So on Day 66 (Wednesday, 08-14-2013), I signed up for Runkeeper’s “First Marathon Plan” This plan has me running on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and long day Saturday all the way up to the day of the marathon.

Here’s what my first marathon run plan looks like:

• Wednesday, 08-14-2013, easy pace 4-miles
• Friday, 08-16-2013, easy pace 4-miles
• Saturday, 08-17-2013, steady pace 8-miles
• Monday, 08-19-2013, 4 mile plus strides
• Wednesday, 08-21-2013, 3 x 1 miles fast

Combine all 5 days and I’ve already run a little over 26 miles, but I guess that doesn’t count. Apparently, somebody insists on having the miles consecutively earned. It’s like seeing a closed sign on 24-Hour Fitness. Yes, we’re open 24-hours, but not all in the same day.

Since the plan, I’ve also stepped up my nutrition to match my activity. More consistent with taking Herbalife supplements, especially the Herbalife24 Prepare (which I’m falling in love with) and the Herbalife24 Restore.

Herbalife24 Prepare

The Good. I’ve noticed I can finish my runs without exhausting myself. Don’t misunderstand … I’m still pushing hard to improve my negative splits, but before using Prepare, I would burn out around mile 4 1/2 and need to mentally push myself. Now my body has caught up with my mind and it is giving me a great boost in confidence as race day approaches.

The Bad, debatable. I use the bathroom at least once within 15 minutes of drinking Prepare. The directions ask for 16 ounces of water (a water bottle) and 2 scoops. I drink a minimum of 8-10 water bottles daily and haven’t needed Depends, so the Prepare is the only other factor. Is it a problem? Not if you like porta-potties, but for us germaphobes, just plan ahead and avoid the no-soap, no-water, no-towel porta-potty lines.

The decision. I will continue to take this product and I recommend for any cardio-type of exercise, including Crossfit, Insanity, and similar style programs, it will work and makes a difference.

Herbalife24 Restore

The Good. I’ve been taking this daily since Wednesday, 08-14, and feel my recovery is off-the-charts. On my so-called rest days, I’ve even done a P90X variation or floor dumbbell work, and I feel no soreness as a result of running or pushups. I’ve never actually read the full purpose of Restore, but I’m hoping it’s all in the name.

The Bad. For me, none. But if you are a night-time bathroom person, keep in mind you take this capsule at night with water. I haven’t found anything definitive on how much water, but I usually drink about 2-4 ounces. I sleep through the night, but all you bed-wetters have been officially been warned. I am feeling restored and will continue to take this product in my push towards 26.2.

Morning weight 170. Post run weight 168.

Today’s Meals:

• 7:45am – Pre Run Nutrition
  • 1/2 banana
  • Herbalife24 Prepare (2 scoops in 8 ounces of water)
• 8:15am – Herbalife breakfast.
  • Herbalife24 Rebuild Endurance (2 scoops)
  • Herbalife Instant Chocolate (1/2 scoop)
  • Herbalife24 Formula 1 Sport (1 scoop)
  • Silk Almond Milk (10 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup of spinach
  • 1/2 banana
  • Skippy Chunky Peanut Butter
• 12:30pm – (Leftovers) Homemade Tacos — I ate 2
  • 2 fried corn tortillas (small)
  • 1/2 cup Quorn Grounds
  • 1/2 cup of Sargento shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1/2 cup of Spanish rice
  • 1 cup of spicy tomato and cilantro salsa
  • 1/4 cup of sour cream
  • Frito Lay Tostitos Cantina Thin and Crispy (30 chips)
• 5:45pm – Vietnamese All-Vegetarian Food
  • Pho Beef Noodle Soup
  • 1 Veggie Spring Roll
  • 4 Pieces of Veggie Fried Fish
• 6pm – Chocolate Eclair from Cake Castle. Heard a lot about this and with salivating anticipation, this left me dry-mouthed. Not so good and one of those times where good things didn’t come to those that wait. As such, just 2 bites.
• 9:45pm – Handful of leftover popcorn from Regal Theatres
• 10pm – Herbalife24 Restore

 

Today’s Activities:

• Hump Day Run! Up at 6:45 — out by 7:10am to beat the California sun. Runkeeper says, “3 x 1 mile fast” is the soup de jour. In English, that means, first mile slow, 2nd mile fast, 2 minutes slow, 1 mile fast, 2 minutes slow, 1 mile fast, 1 mile slow. Get that?
• Note to self — I pushed the last 1 mile fast because I thought it was the last interval, but when that automated voice said”next interval, 1 mile slow” I was like, “well, okay.” When I was doing my own training, I knew exactly what distance I wanted to go that day so I could push the tail end of the run to maximize endurance. I will need to keep a cheat sheet on me so I know when the finish line is.
• Also had a few walks
  • .40 mile cool down walk back home
  • .47 walk to my local haircut place
  • .47 walk back home. Runkeeper stats say .21, but I just forgot to turn it back on.

Life lesson #73 – Physically seeing a finish line and mentally seeing a finish line are the same thing; they both offer hope. If you don’t know when you have to stop, it can feel a bit overwhelming and undoable.  Florence Chadwick can speak on this ‘The Infinite Atonement”

Wednesday, 08-21-2013