January 13, 2008 - Sunday!!! - Total rest day - time to reflect and recharge for the coming week.

Let me just start off this entry by saying that I can't believe that in three weeks, I'll be running 5 miles. 5 MILES, BYTCHES!!! Crazy talk! These next two weeks are still timed runs - between 20 and 40 minutes. I'm going to talke this time to work on speed, stride, and mental imagery. Also, my scale should be arriving on Tuesday, so I can get a base sense of bodyfat, and start weighing myself before runs. I also want to get my Road Runner's membership dues in, and my Buffalo registration. Nisha and I have to think about accomodations. Maybe she can rock some of her Craigslist mojo and get us some great apartment situation, instead of some sorry hotel. She does have the magic.

The great comfort of doing this race training based on a set program, is that I can wake up in the morning and know what I need to do for my training. No lying in bed staring at the ceiling and wondering how far I should run today, or how fast. The only decision I have to make is what time to run, and how to dress most appropriately for the weather. If something happens to put me off that schedule, I can simply get back on it, and all things are well again. An oasis of certainty in an uncertain world. I wonder how I can extend that oasis in the rest of my life?

There are so many new projects coming up that truly excite me, but also tell me that I'm going to have to get a serious handle on my time in order to simultaneously:
1. Pay rent
2. Make steady progress on my new show
3. Dispatch new short and long term projects as they arise
4. Successfully train for and complete a marathon on May 25th, 2008 in Buffalo, New York.

As it gets on into the beginning/middle of May, I'm going to be doing some much longer runs on the weekends. Those bad boys are going to have to be scheduled in order for me to make sure they fit in. The Marathon Rookie guy suggests that I start my long runs - "especially your 20 mile run" - at the same time as the start of my scheduled race. That just so happens to be SEVEN FUCKING A.M.

His mama stank.

And he's probably right.

Dang.

I really do trust this guy's plan, though. Every week, I've been able to progress as scheduled, even when I was unsure that I'd be able to take the next step. This is good, because I'm kind of twitching with concern about the weekly mileage increases on my long runs. I really think I can do it, though. I think the program really prepares you for the ramp up.

I can do this. I know it.

Ok. Time for a shower. Then off to Philly