Back to Basics

December 31, 2012 - January 6, 2013

Total Mileage – 15.5

Not running in nearly a month was driving me crazy.  It’s funny how something that I used to see as a necessary evil is now something that I look forward to doing most days.  I got a run in on 12/31 (much like last year since I did not want to call this a New Year’s resolution).  If I can stay healthy, I want to shoot for 2 marathons and least one half marathon. 

I can say that taking a month off from running can wreak havoc on your weight (especially water weight).  As odd as it sounds, the easiest way to lose water weight is to drink more water.  My issue was that without running, I had no desire to drink the 100-120 oz that I had become accustomed to drinking.  Needless to say I have added additional weight.  Thankfully I’m not back to my starting point of last year, but I’m closer to it than I am to my weight before the marathon.

I have decided to take this go ‘round really serious (who am I kidding…I‘ll live with a little more serious).  I recently joined myfitnesspal.com to track food intake, exercise, caloric burn, etc.  I’ve been doing it for about 2 weeks now and have found it to be very user friendly and an easy way to keep track of the basics (calories in / calories out)

I can also say that getting back into the swing of things leads to soreness, and lots of it.  Oddly enough, it is a good pain. I almost missed not being sore all the time (note, I said almost).  Thankfully I now have a Y roller (thank you Aunt Cathy).  The Y roller hurts so good.  Tons of pain while using it, but when you are done, you feel so much better. 

My pseudo younger brother Justin (canuckaphobia.wordpress.com) is looking to get a half marathon in this year, and my brother Greg is milling around the idea running a full.  Either they figure that I was not so crazy after all, or are just as crazy as I am.  I think that it may be a little of both. 

Here’s to rebuilding my base mileage again, and here’s hoping to an injury free 2013.