Taylor Keto

Friday Not much to say about this week.  I was fasting for the first three days this week and did a 5K tempo run on the last day and ended up doing my 2nd fastest 5K.  I didn't really think I was pushing it that hard.  So, there is that. Fasting helps you to reestablish a good relationship with food and eating in general.  Often times we find ourselves eating just because it is time to eat even if we are not hungry.  I have found that when fasting I want to eat because my mind is telling me I'm missing something I deserve, instead of because I'm actually hungry. I was scheduled to do a 20 mile run Sat. Morning, but I we have an event we are working for as a fundraiser for my sons project graduation.  This event will require me to be on my feet from 9am to 6pm.  So. I didn't think that would go good  with a 20 mile run before that.  Since this Monday is labor day and I'm networking that day, I decided to do my long run on Monday.

Sunday Besides the pure mental challenge, the other biggest part of training for your first marathon is just building up your physical and aerobic endurance to be able to go the entire marathon distance of 26.2 miles.  I try to keep all of my non-speed building training session well within my aerobic threshold.  To find that threshold I have used the 180 formula.  This formula essentially takes 180 minus your age plus or minus 5 for different things to find your ideal maximum aerobic heart rate.  At the age of 50, that makes my ideal heart rate 130 bpm.  What I have noticed on my long runs is that I have been able to keep my heart rate below 130 at the same pace for longer and longer distances.  The only down side for me, at this point in my training is that to keep my heart rate below 130, I have to run at what seems like a really slow pace of around 11 to 14 minutes per mile depending on whether I believe the numbers from Strava or Samsung Health.  I...

Battle Ground Tuesday This morning the training run was an all out battle.  It was what should of been an easy six mile run.  But, as I think about that statement, just a little over a year ago a six mile run would have been impossible for me.  I guess it really all depends on your perspective.  We all have things in our life that are battles that seem impossible.  This morning, for me, that thing was a six mile run and it is not like I haven't done more six mile runs than I count.   The real battle was part of the war that goes on in our minds all the time.  It was one of those mornings when just stepping outside causes you to sweat, the air was very thick, heavy and muggy.  My muscles were still recovering from the weekends long run and yesterday's seven mile run.  My mind was telling me every step of the way to just stop, to just quit right now, just to give up.  Every step, every movement was painful.  We all deal with nega...

Saturday There are a lot of things as I become a runner I enjoy.  Like for instance, the sense of accomplishment you get when you get up early and go for a run before anyone else even gets up.  It sets your mindset in a goal crushing mode for the rest of the day.  There are also some things that I don't like about running.  The first mile when you feel all those little aches and pains that are saying to stop.  The little pains that you use to listen to that were keeping you from reaching your goals.  Running in the dark after the news just reported a mountain lion sighting in your area and you are running out in the country with no one around for miles.  Another thing that is not too much fun are dogs that like to chase you and act like they want to eat your leg off. Also, I hate the last mile or so of a new long run that is farther than you have run before.  Your body finds all sorts of ways to slow you down, especially with leg cramps.  And...

One Word!!! Chaffle  Go to youtube right now and search for Chaffle.  It's a waffle made with cheese, I used shredder mozzarella, and an egg.  Then if you want a sweet tasting, waffle like creation just add a fourth to half teaspoon of swerve. Or if you want more of a savory bread or bun like creation add salt and/or use cheddar cheese.  I even saw some videos of people making pizza with it and another using cocoa to make a chocolate chaffle.  I know the combination sounds strange, but it is really good.  I added a little sugar free maple syrup and butter to mine and it was gone before I could take a picture of it.

Friday Today was suppose to be an easy three mile run before the long 18 mile run tomorrow.  I don't mind running in the rain or the snow, but I do usually draw the line with lightning storms.  After running about a mile it started lightning all around our neighborhood.  So, I called it quits at that point and just came back home and worked on some weight lifting and stretches.  I really worked on stretching out my hip flexors.  I can't out run the lightning.   For lunch my brother stopped by and brought me a cobb salad from Panera.  Then for dinner we made a Beef Stroganaugh with zucchini noodles (zoodles).  I forgot to take a picture of it but below is the picture from the cook book.

Thursday Today's training run was a seven mile run.  As I was running, I realized my normal training runs are now what I considered my long runs on the weekends.  To that end, this weekends training run will be an 18 mile run.  This will definitely be pushing the limits of my longest runs so far.  But, I feel confident in being able to complete the run, although I'm sure there will be some pain and discomfort along the way.  Earlier this week was a hill sprint work out designed to increase overall speed.  It's kind of like doing high intensity interval training on a Stare Master.  Yesterday's run was a 4 mile run.  As the length of the runs increase, I find my biggest challenge is just finding the time fit the runs into my schedule.  So, this usually means that to fit the longer runs in on the weekdays, I have to adjust my wake up times to be even ealier.  This mornings run started at 4:00am, so I could be back in time to see my son of...

Saturday  When you thought it was over it was actually just beginning.  To achieve something extraordinary, you have to put forth extraordinary effort everyday, pushing yourself beyond your limits everyday.  Like the trains that travel on the railroads from today's picture,  you have to become unstoppable in your daily life, your daily training and your thoughts.  You have to train your mind to become unstoppable, which is really the toughest part to becoming unstoppable in attaining your goals.  You have to train the quit out of you.  Even when those around you doubt your resolve or don't understand your ultimate goal you have to become unstoppable.  Extraordinary goals will most often require you to go it alone day after day, in the dark, in the rain, in the cold, in the heat, in the pain. It will be you versus you, as you make yourself a better you.  But, I am here to tell you... you can do it.  Listen to me.  You! Can! Do! It! T...

Thursday So, this week the mileage jumped up a little.  To be honest. I was a little apprehensive about running five to six miles every morning and also a little excited to start pushing my limits as I build up to my first marathon.   This week essentially doubled what I normally do on my morning runs.  To make that work in my morning schedule it also meant getting up even earlier. My son will start going back to school next week, so that will mean getting up even earlier than this week to make it all work.  After my run I made myself some hot tea with some "Calm", which is a magnesium supplement.  The magnesium helps with the sore and tired muscles. Up in the morning with shinning stars. Going to run, run, run till the day is done. If you are doing some training yourself and need something new to add to your playlist I would like to recommend "Fearless Motivation".  It will give you a lot of positive motivation as you work on making yourself better....

Sunday - Rest Day This week the milage jumps up.  On Monday and Wednesday I'll be running six miles and on Tuesday and Thursday five miles. Then on Saturday it will be 12 miles.  There may be some sweet equity involved this week. In any case today is a rest day.  So, this evening I will just be doing some stretching to get the muscles relaxed for this week. For lunch today I had steak and eggs and then afterwards are a few pecans.  If all goes as planned this should be my only meal for the day. Marathon training does require you to be extreme.  But it does requires daily consistency to slowly building up your endurance to achieve the extreme. Remember to Keep Calm and Keto On!

Saturday - Long Run Today is Sat. and it was my long run day.  Ran 10 miles early this morning.  I didn't go through the devils staircase this morning but instead took a slightly easier route.  It still had several hills, just not as steep or long.  Only had one drink of water after about mile five and no energy gels or snacks.  It was a completely fasted run.  I was able to maintain an easy steady pace for the entire run.  But I think next weekend I will definitely use  water with some electrolytes in it (salt, potassium, and magnesium). Yesterday was a non-running day, so I hit the bike for a quick eight miles.  Unfortunately, I did notice this aggravated my shoulder, so I think the biking is definitely what was/is causing my shoulder pain.  At some point I may look at getting a different bike and get one that fits me a little better.  The bike I currently have is just a little to tall for short me.  It is an older Trek Road ...