Inspiration

Many times in life, I have relied on sources of inspiration. Whether it be for music, or for aspirations, or even while I'm running; I have always needed a source of inspiration.

It is completely different, however, when someone tells you that YOU have inspired them. It didn't even register to me that someone told me that I inspired them to do a 5k until about a week later.

"You inspired us..."

Wow, what powerful words. All I could think was "I'm an inspiration?! I just am a big man who is trying to run!"

Maybe that's all we need to be. The "average joe" who goes out, works hard, and has the grit to change their dreams into reality.

I did my "long run" yesterday, again in the rain, stupid rain always happens in my long run. 3 miles in the bag. Slower than I want, but I have to keep telling my self that I have over 240 days till marathon weekend. Gotta stay pumped, and stay positive.

Shining at the end of every day...
D

Exhaustion, but still going forward

Right, well, for those of you that don't know, I work as a hospice nursing aide. We work (regularly) 13 hours shifts, in 2 night blocks, for a total of 26 hours in 2 nights. This week, I had a meeting that added an hour to that, plus I took some time before my first night of work to surprise my girlfriend with birthday flowers, and mow the yard. So 27 hours of work, plus about 5-6 added hours between the two days, I worked probably 32-33 hours out of 48. Needless to say, when I came home I was EXHAUSTED.

I did come home to an amazing birthday decorated house, with balloons, cookies, cupcake, and cards!! My girlfriend did amazingly for me. I'm a very blessed man!

I was too exhausted to do what I wanted to do for cross training today. I wanted to go to the gym, but I am going to attempt yoga. I slept a great amount today, so maybe I'll find the energy to workout!

3 mile run is coming up, which I'm looking forward to! Hopefully it will be a terrific run, and will invigorate me for the week!!

Here's to the terrific start of week 2 of training after this!

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow...
D

Are good and bad just viewpoints?

Well, I just finished a run today (technically, early early this morning) and in my opinion it went horribly. Here's some of the negatives:

• For some reason, my legs just did not want to work.
• It was creepy running that early in the morning, in the dark, and I probably won't do it again. 
• I tried to do a 1min/45sec (run/walk) pace. That sucked. I actually went SLOWER. 
• I picked it up again at the end, only to have picked up the pace for the 2nd mile. More on that in a minute.
• My legs feel shot. Along with my body. My muscles want to cramp. Plus I'm a little upset/disappointed in the slow run time.

Now, time for some positives:

• I did not quit.
• I tried something new, so kudos at least for exploring other options, even if they didn't work out well for me.
• I did have the energy to pick it up in the end to at least bring my 2nd mile in faster than the first mile, which tells me at least on some level, I'm conditioning.
• I did workout today.
• I got to enjoy (well, at least, bittersweetly) my GPS watch!

Okay, so above I mentioned that I tried a 1min/45sec pace. That sucked. It made me go slower, so much so that my average for the 1st mile was 17 MINUTES. Urgh!! Not cool!! So during the 2nd mile, I went back to 30sec/30sec, and even though I ran the last two intervals at 1min/30sec to pick up my pace, I did that 2nd mile in 15 minutes. I think I'm going to keep with the 30/30 until I get a better endurance to my running. It may be that I have to run at Disney with 30/30, and that's fine so long as I get to finish strong! 

That feels like the main idea I've had running in my head, to finish strong at Disney. I don't want to collapse at the finish line, I want to enjoy the experience! That being said, I've designed a t-shirt that I think I want to wear to the event. Here's the front and back:

Overall, I'm still very positive about this race. I'm happy about my progress as a runner, and I know that good days and bad days happen. That being said, I'm going to enjoy the shower that I've earned, and rest up!

Man has a dream, and that's the start...

D

Jeff Galloway Run/Walk method

For those that ever want to know the Jeff Galloway method for run/walk during a race, here it is:


9 min/mi: run 4 minute/walk 1 minute (4/1)
10 min/mi: 3/1
11 min/mi: 2:30/1
12 min/mi: 2/1
13 min/mi: 1/1
14 min/mi: 30 seconds/30 seconds
15 min/mi: run 30 seconds/walk 45 seconds, or run 20 seconds/walk 40 seconds
16 min/mi: run 20 seconds/walk 40 seconds
17 min/mi: run 15 seconds/walk 45 seconds

Shining at the end of every day...
D

The good, the bad, and the so-so

Well, I partially got my financial issue taken care of. People owe me money, and I have to wait on that but at least my credit score will remain where it is. That run last night took some out of me since I was running on pure emotion and adrenaline from being so upset. I ran a 15:25 mile for both miles, which sucks in my mind. Granted, it's not far from a 14 minute mile, but at the same time it is.

The good is that on my scale, I'm in the 260's now! Sure, it's 269, but it's not 270's, which is progress!! Funny how I can be okay with 1 pound difference but not a 1 minute difference, eh?

Since I technically did my 2.5 mile run today (albeit early early in the morning, and it was FREEZING!) I can actually rest just a bit, the next day is 30 minutes of cross training!

There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow...
D

When something upsets you...

Well, to make a long story very short, I received some very frustrating and upsetting news via an email alert about some financial things that after 2 years and many, many phone calls has still not been resolved. I cannot call said people right now, so what did I do? I ran. Ran 2 miles, and walked 0.5. Got the frustrations down from extreme to manageable; however I have many phone calls to make in the morning. Going to try to rest and be as civil as I can to these people.

Yay for 2.5 miles though (even though 0.5 was walked, I didn't plan on running when I did, and needed the walk time)

Just a dream away...
D

Sharing to remember Boston

I noticed a lot of runners posting their race numbers and medals to help support the bombings that occurred at Boston, and I wanted to join in this solidarity. Here is my number and medal from the Ram Run 5K, where I placed 3rd in my age group. In solidarity and memoriam.

There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow...
D

260 days to go!

Well, I figured that since I have taken this great step and actually registered for the races, that I would keep a blog for the days leading up to the 2014 WDW Marathon Weekend! A few things to get us started, especially for those of you that have no clue who I am and what I'm doing.

I am Dustin.
I am a Masters of Music Education Student through Boston University.
I am a CHPNA at a Hospice Inpatient facility, and have been a CNA for nearly 2.5 years.
I am a runner, currently striving to run a 10K and Half-Marathon at Walt Disney World during the runDisney 2014 Marathon Weekend!

First off, let's get down to why I am running. There are a few reasons, primarily because this was a goal of mine back in 2012, and I had a car accident in 2012 that halted me from training for the 2013 marathon weekend. That being said, I was discouraged, and really did not pursue training until I noticed that the registration was opening up this year. I said "I'm doing it, no doubt about it" and I registered on the day it opened! I am very grateful that I did register on that day, because the 10K sold out within 8 hours! I have only run a 5K before, so the 10K is definitely what I wanted to do ESPECIALLY because it is the inaugural Minnie Mouse 10K!!

I have been training using both the Jeff Galloway run-walk-run method, and am trying to stick to the Hal Higdon training schedule. I may have to modify the schedule based on the fact that my work schedule being 13 hour shifts in 2 day groupings for a total of 6 days every 2 weeks (if that sounds confusing, don't worry, it is).

Some things I have done prior to making this blog to help with my training:

I joined my local gym. This is purely for use of their equipment for when I need it (duh!) and when weather forces me to workout inside.

I mentally trained for something that will take over 2 hours by pushing myself to do 2 straight hours on the elliptical at the gym. No distance goal, no pace goal, just the sheer act of doing something for 2 hours straight. In this day and age we have everything at the push of a button, or a click of a mouse. I needed to know the other end of the spectrum.

I have re-ran a 5K in my neighborhood. While it was a bit slower time than my last 5K, it had larger elevation changes, and I had prepared less and took a few more walking breaks. Still, I came in at a 15 minute mile.

I ordered things from Amazon.com and Walmart.com to help with my running, which include a moisture wicking t-shirt, body glide, a GPS watch for spontaneous runs, and some band-aids meant to speed blister healing.

Altogether, I'm thrilled to be running!! Join me on my journey!

Where dreams come true...
D