06/23/2023
Hello everyone! As promised, I wanted to share with you all the exciting things I've been doing to prepare for the 2023 Chicago Marathon. It's been quite a journey since my first marathon 19 years ago, and I've gained so much knowledge through coaching clients and my own experiences over the past two decades.
So, how am I training? Well, I'm hitting the pavement 4-5 days a week, following a well-structured running program that has shown great results. If you're interested, I'd be happy to share my program with you! One of my key focuses is incorporating speed work into my runs. Breaking up those 3-5 miles into smaller increments with walk breaks in between. It's a fantastic way to improve your pace and endurance.
In addition to running, I'm keeping up with my strength training routine. While I've slightly reduced the volume, I'm still lifting heavy weights to maintain my strength and overall fitness. And guess what? Even with the weight loss and increased running, I'm still making progress in my squats and deadlifts. Talk about feeling stronger than ever!
Now, let's talk nutrition. I've been following a low-carb, higher-fat diet and practicing intermittent fasting for 18-22 hours daily. Trust me, the carb loading craze isn't the secret to peak performance. Instead, focusing on fat loading has been a game-changer. Plus, if more marathoners embraced this approach, we'd have half the lines at those portable toilets during the race. Believe it or not, I only run on an empty stomach!
Speaking of progress, even though I'm only in the third week of my 18-week program, I'm already seeing incredible results. I started running and following a strict diet back in March, and I'm proud to say that I've shed 24lbs! My endurance is improving faster than I anticipated, and I'm feeling stronger both mentally and physically. It's an amazing feeling to surpass my own expectations.
My last marathon time was 4 hours and 11 minutes, and this year, I set my sights on a sub 5-hour marathon. But you know what? I'm feeling so fantastic and making such remarkable progress that I might just aim even higher and try to crush my time from 2004. The excitement is building, and I can't wait to see what I can achieve on race day!
Thank you all for your incredible support and encouragement on this marathon journey. Your words of motivation mean the world to me. Let's keep pushing forward together and inspire each other to reach new heights!
