One of the first things you will note is that a picture of my butt is not cleverly displayed on this blog. Something I learned very recently is that it is very difficult to take a self-portrait of your tush, so I'll forgo you the pleasure of gaining insight into how well-formed my butt is becoming from my Jean's Marines marathon training.
I joined Jean's Marines this year as motivation to compete in my very first Marathon – The Marine Corps Marathon (which, with its hardcore name, is probably just enough motivation to get going…not to mention the sweet hug you get from a crisp-uniformed Marine!) Jean's Marines was set up by Dr. Jean Marmoreo, an avid marathon runner who decided that a woman of any age can finish a marathon and started up a group to prove just that. Growing every year, Jean's Marines has a wide mix of women of all ages, and I'm in the group of young ones who liked the atmosphere and joined up. I find the group very motivational and not intimidating at all, as opposed to the Running Room groups I see on the streets who look way too intense for me in matching gear and faces that border on rage (is this the sign of hardcore?) Every time I say a good morning to them as I pass by on my run I get weird grunting sounds in return. When the Jean's Marines group runs you get cheering, laughing, chatty women enjoying themselves as they go for their goals. Sure, a marathon is hard work, but training should be fun, right!? I'm doing this for health, fitness, and PLEASURE!
Last year I quit smoking. If my parents are somehow reading this, smoking is a euphemism for "eating healthy". I don't even know how to light a cigarette. Due to "quitting smoking", I gained some weight in my butt which is where cheesecake likes to go on my bod. So when January rolled around I, like so many others before me, made it a goal to get back to my pre-quitting-smoking weight and my pre-quitting-smoking ass, which was pretty smoking itself. So by Allison and Costin's wedding, I am going to have a sweet ass once more. This is what my training weeks generally look like:
Monday Morning – Run, 5k
Monday Lunch – Arms at the gym
Monday Night – Yoga
Tuesday Morning – Run, 7k
Tuesday Lunch – legs at the gym
Wednesday Morning – SLEEP IN! (until 7)
Wednesday Lunch – Run, 5k
Thursday Morning – Run, 8k
Thursday Lunch – Spinning
Thursday Night – Yoga
Friday Morning – Run 5K
Friday Lunch – legs at the gym
Saturday – 8am – Run with Jean's Marines
Sunday Morning – Run whatever distance my body can handle. This now ranges from 10-12k.
These distances are increasing every week, as is my muscle-mass. I love the feeling of sore muscles because that tells me that my body is slowly changing. No changes to my diet though, but it generally has always consisted of healthy food. I eat very little red meat, tons of fruits and veggies, and no sweets. I've decided to take it further and give up dessert entirely in all situations so this Easter, the bunny won't be visiting and I won't be visiting my Uncle Ken's amazing chocolate shop. Even looking at his website makes me gain 10 pounds. Instead I will be running the Harry Rosen Spring Run-Off, my first run of the year, and then enjoying a diet of baby play-time with Allison's adorable nieces. Sweeter than cheesecake!
