1 Week. 26.2 Miles.

Hello, readers (are you there?)! I'm afraid I have some bad news.

My very first day of my challenge--to go the equivalent of a marathon in a week--has unsuccessfully come to an end. Monday, my first day to run/row/etc., was very successful: I went 5 miles, like I intended. Unfortunately, I strained my right ankle when using the rowing machine incorrectly. Tuesday I went back to the gym, meaning to "go easy" (i.e. use the elliptical trainer) but it was too much stress on my ankle, which hadn't really been helped by the ice I put on it the night before.

By "ice" I mean a bag of frozen veggies.

I must admit, I was disappointed in my not being able to complete my goal the way I originally wanted, though I know that if I hadn't injured my ankle I would definitely have done it. So it's not my fault, and I shouldn't feel too badly about it.

However! I still plan on completing my goal, once my ankle is completely back to normal, only this time I'll do it my own way: treadmill, elliptical and track, no rowing machine, and alternating running and walking miles.

I may not get the t-shirt, but I will still get my goal!

A Goal for the Month of February

Every year at the sports centre--during the week leading up to Valentine's Day--they host the "Sweatheart Challenge." It's basically this: run, walk, bike, swim, row, or whatever the verb is for the elliptical trainer*, a marathon (26.2 miles) in a week and win a prize. I'm pretty sure it's just a t-shirt, but still, this year I really want to try it. My first and second year of college I wasn't all that into the whole "physical fitness" thing, but for the past 9 months or so I've been working really hard at getting into better shape.

*but no more than 5 miles per machine

So from the 8th to the 14th of February I have to rack up 26.2 miles, which is nearly double the amount I usually go in a week. And the more I think about it the more I lose faith in my ability to do it. Twenty-six-point-two miles. Am I kidding myself?

In a way, I feel like I need to prove to myself that I can do this. I was never an athlete in high school or anything, and think most of the time I psyched myself into thinking I couldn't run as fast or jump as high (whatever the hell athletes do) as the other kids so I didn't even push myself to try.

Last night I mapped out my daily distance goals for this week, so that 26.2 doesn't seem as daunting:

5 miles on Monday
4 miles on Tuesday
5 miles on Wednesday
4 miles on Thursday
(Friday is my birthday and I will be at home)
5 miles on Saturday
3.2 miles on Sunday (which will seem like nothing after the past few days!)


I think if I do this, I'll be winning more than a t-shirt. But it's already after 10:00, and I'm wasting time. Wish me luck!