Day 1: The journey of my athletic dreams becoming a reality
6 months from today (October 7th) I will race in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, my "A-Race" for 2012. I am pleased to announce that my adductor, hip and groin are ready to restart stamina development and training after 3 months of rest, recovery and physical therapy (PT). Yet I will continue PT and balance low-impact elliptical, Alter G treadmill and swimming with road running throughout the entire cycle to ensure I stay injury-free while training at a high level. Today, I start a training program that I am confident will get me to the marathon healthy and fit enough to run sub 2:30. My newest challenge is to live animal product free/vegan for the next 6 months with ZERO cheats; no Mix1 and no honey. I'm not doing it because it's popular or because I want to be labelled a vegan. Rather, I am embracing the process. I love the taste, variety and benefits of raw fruits, vegetables and superfoods. Based my past experience, intuition and research MY BODY is most efficient, lightweight, performs at the highest levels and recovers the fastest on a 100% plant-based diet. I have been vegetarian before for periods of my life but now it is time to live it as a lifestyle not a diet for a substantial amount of time so I can get significant and long-term benefits. Hopefully I can gain enough inertia to live this way the rest of my life. So today is Day 1 of my vegan athletic journey and Day 100 of my alcohol free and positive 2012 and beyond. I feel great and am excited to see the changes in my body, mind and performance. I plan to blog about this journey for Sweat Republic's Stride online magazine. As far as my training program, I plan to develop my stamina and aerobic potential over the next 2-3 months using a heart rate monitor and knowledge of my aerobic and anaerobic thresholds determined by a lactate V02 test I am having done this week at the Cleveland Clinic. My program will be based on the methodology of Lydiard, Zapotec, Bumpa, Gomes and the other coaching greats. Phased-based development or periodization: stamina first, then strength, speed, sharpening, taper and finally success. My tune up race will be the Chicago Half Marathon on Sept 9th where I hope to run sub 1:11. My biggest focuses will be: maintain 100% health while getting as much volume as possible, recovery, Chi Running mindfulness, form, positive affirmations and visualizing success. Finally I am still working on the e-book, Superfoods for Endurance Athletes, which I hope to have ready by Dec 1st, 2012. This is the life I will live and love without regret and one day at a time. Stay tuned for all the highlights and findings from this healthy and passionate path to qualification for the Top 100/Elite Development Field of the World Marathon Majors.
