Half Marathon Training - Week 5

Apologies for not keeping y'all updated on my training, but to be honest, there isn't a ton to update you on.

I've been approaching this round of training as, "I need to lose the weight to be able to build up my endurance, but I need to run for long periods of time in order to lose the weight." Kind of a fun, cruel Catch 22. But I just finished up a solid week of running & nutrition, and it showed on the scale. Now the ever-present struggle to have a second, consecutive good week and keep decreasing that horrid number on the scale. Not one of my natural strengths. But I'll address weight loss more later!

As far as running goes, I'm probably taking it way too slow as I step back and take a look at it. I've been trying some interval training in efforts of zapping fat and getting my heart rate up; I've been trying to knock out longer chunks of mileage at a slower pace just to say that I got my miles in; and some days I just jack up the incline on the treadmill and walk up hill on days that my energy is low. And some days it feels like I'll never be able to run long distances at a consistent rate...but I'm used to fighting my defeatist self.

Last night was the first time ever that I thought about giving away a race registration to a runner more prepared than myself. But after taking a minute to contemplate it, I felt I should continue since this registration was given to me - and I was able to give a fellow runner a registration as well. Wouldn't feel right to back out at this point, even if I foresee this race being a rough one...

Weight Loss: I had a good week last week, as you can see by my numbers right under my picture. However, this week hasn't started off the greatest, and I only foresee temptation rearing its ugly head more and more as this week goes on. Some days it just comes down to me knowing what to do yet neglecting to do so - but I've been there and talked about that already.

In other news, an acquaintance of mine (who also just became a trainer at my gym of choice) offered to help train me this summer for what I understand as free. He used the words "I'm not in it for the money" and "I can see you're very committed since I see you here everyday" and even offered to take the sessions to the nearby college campus (which I attended and where he currently coaches soccer). I think I'm going to take him up on his offer hopefully starting the week after the half marathon. Hope the offer still stands in a month!

All in all, this whole journey is just one, big cliche about taking it one day at a time and keeping my eye on the prize. Some days and weeks it comes easily with great reward while other weeks it seems almost impossible to attain and discourages the heck out of me. Hopefully I can turn this week into Door #1 by week's end.

Hope all is well in the Chicago running-verse. Talk at you later!