Marine Corps Marathon and the Semper Fi Fund Charity

I did it!! I signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon. I decided to go through the Semper Fi Fund charity.  http://semperfifund.org

There are so many reasons I decided to go through a charity to sign up for this marathon. It's called the People's Marathon and this charity is for Marines. It's for Marines, about Marines, helping Wounded Warrior Marines…. And why wouldn't I?

I am a Marine. Avery big part of being a Marine is the camaraderie and that you don't leave a man behind. This a very big part for me. I am firm believer of never leaving anyone behind so by being part of this great organization I am doing my part to help other Marines. A marathon takes time and dedication with training. But I can still run and live a normal regular life. These Marines do not have that luxury anymore. Semper Fi Fund helps in so many different ways from housing to cars to even providing K9 for these Wounded Warriors.

I am very strong believer in K9 and wounded warriors. I think that in lots of situations that a dog can help someone more then medication. Dogs bring comfort and safety these Marines who feel very unsafe and anxious living in the regular world.

This isn't what you believe about war or the President or even the Marine Corps, its about helping those who need help. Please donate a few dollars, there is no minimum.

http://www.active.com/donate/semperfifundmcm2014/SFFCGoddar

The minimum donation requirement for this program (MCM2014) is $500 by August 1, 2014. I would like to raise $2,000. So lets go!!

THANK YOU!
USMCdaffy

Back to Running! 10K training has begun!

Today was my first day back on the treadmill. Day 1 of 10K training with Coach Jenny. This program is 8 weeks so I'll be done on March 28 as the plan says. I really like following a program and I really like Coach Jenny.

Once again my HR monitor didn't work so I put it back in my bag. I've emailed the company and their remedy didn't fix it. I broke a nail in the process and I really tired of dealing with this situation so I think I am going to start looking for another heart rate monitor. I could NOT find my Fitbit. I was sure I put it in my gym bag last night after I charged it. I looked when I got back home and it's till MIA. I'm gonna test out Nike+ app to see if that is a good one to use for mileage.

I ran anyway. I've been running the same amount of time for the same amount of miles so I'm guessing 3 miles today. I have my new shoes and I just returned from a week off from running so I did a nice easy pace. My music needs  to be changed up and I'm working on that today. I had to stop a couple times because of the music issues popping up but it was a nice run and I'm glad to back in the gym.

So I guess today was FULL of plot twists….

Ciao

USMCdaffy

Fail?

Today was the last run of the Zero to 5K. A virtual 5K… And it was one of the worst runs since I officially started training for Marine Corps Marathon 2014.

After wanting to rip my headphones off and throw my phone off the second floor from the treadmill, I had to go over my issues today. I have to figure out how to remedy to the issues…..

*My shoes are worn out. And this is the last time I'm using them. I have to say goodbye to my first Brooks running shoes.  I'm budgeted for new shoes in February and I have already been researching shoes.

*I realized my PEAR app (www.pearsports.com) isn't going be able to count my miles because the GPS is off when I use the treadmill vs going outside. So I wasn't able to finish my 'race' because by the time I ran 3.1 miles (according to my FitBit) PEAR said it was only 1.1 miles after 48 MINUTES! 

*My foot hurts. A lot. My shoes didn't help and I was forced to stop a lot due to pain. It's why I was so slow today.

*And I was unable to focus…… I had a very intense emotional discussion with my Battle Buddy. I'm fine and it was a good conversation. It's just not good to have one like that before a race. It makes it very difficult to focus. 

So! New plan. I'm taking a break from running this coming week. I will be focusing on yoga for the week. Im buying my new running shoes at the end of next week. Im going to decide which app I'm going to start up and Im going to work on healing my foot- hot epsom salts, icing it, and massage.

Ciao

USMCdaffy

GOAL!

GOALLLLLLLLLLL!! I am still training for Marine Corps Marathon2014 and I am on week six (5k training) starting Monday . But yesterday (Friday)…. I had my last endurance run. After weeks and weeks I finally ran four miles. I've been working on getting to four miles for awhile now and I finally made it! Goal! I only need to be able to run a 5K (3.1 miles) for the particular program but I set a goal of four miles before I finished. I made it!! Little goals are sometimes more important then the bigger goal. YAY!! 

Ciao

USMCdaffy

How I started running (for reals!) Path to the MCM2014.

Most of you know I was in the Marines. The first thing you do in the Marines is run. Run. Run. And more running. Its what we do. We do it together. All the time. And we sing cadence. Together. Many Marines end up being fantastic runners and enjoy every minute. And there are the others that drag themselves to PT (physical training aka running) each time tolerating it at best. I was the latter.. Until now.

Running was boring. Dumb. Waste of time. Bleh. Something I was required to do with everyone else. Until now. Today I realized that I enjoy it. I can't wait to do it again. I plan ahead about it and it's because I follow a program. 

I started with a Coach to 5k program this summer and my schedule didn't allow me to finish. It was fun but then I got an iPhone and my old program I was using was not meshing with it so I found another and another. I finally settled on the PEAR program (www.Pearsports.com) And I'm NOT endorsed by this company, I just love it for me!

I follow Jenny Hadfield (@jenny on twitter) and her programs. I started with zero to running and it starts with 30 second run with 2 min walks and adds run time (10 weeks @ 3x a week) each week. The last two runs were 10min run/1 min walk (3 intervals). The final run was 30 min straight. NO walking intervals. It was a bit of a challenge. It was good. I passed the final! YAH! YES! Phase I complete!

Friday I started Zero to 5k (w/ Jenny) which is six weeks with three runs a week. They are 30 min straight with 5 min warm up and 5 min cool down. Today I did my second one and I did FANTASTIC!

If you want to start running or restart running a running program/app is a great way to get started! 

Ciao

USMCdaffy 

Running Training. EVEN ON VACATION!

So I've completed week 9 of my program! So I literally have TWO runs left and I will be officially done with this program or as I like to refer to it as… Phase I. Then it will on to Phase II (5k training). Which should be complete before I hit the beach on vacation in February. For my birthday. Where I will continue training EVEN on vacation. I have a specific time frame that cannot be changed. So I think I'll be on Phase III training while in the Dominican Republic.

Phase III I thought was going to be 10k training. However my friend Stacy is doing the Chocolate 15k on March 14, 2014. So I'm now deciding should I do the 10k or 15k training. They actually are almost the same amount of training time frame. Right now I'm undecided but I'll be able to decide once Im finished with 5k training. Its only a three mile difference between 10k and 15k. Im leaning towards 15k and I'm considering doing the Chocolate 15k because its close to the end of my training.

Make it happen for you. Go out and run.

Ciao

USMCdaffy

Runner.

Im no longer calling myself a fake runner. Im officially in training for my marathon. Ive added Ab Challenge on run days and I'm doing cross training/wieghts on alternate days with Yoga on Sundays. And my lone rest day is Saturday.

I've committed myself to this goal. It feels good to make a goal that is totally different and something I have never done…. I do love a good challenge.  It's really scary and my stomach actually hurts every time I go on the MCM website. I can do it because I want to do it and I'm doing it for MYSELF.

And…. I keep getting the same message.

Ciao!

USMCDaffy