Day one (was yesterday) of Marathon Training

Yesterday I began training for a marathon. It will probably take me a year to train. I found a training program that Nike suggested for running a marathon. I need to do some pre-training just to begin their training program. They say I should be able to run 3-5 miles with ease. I currently run 2 and need to slow down to a walking pace for air.

I am kicking off this journey with the South Beach Diet. I started yesterday. It seemed appropriate since it was the 1st of October. I ate eggs for breakfast. I put some cheese on them. The cheese is supposed to be low fat but I don't have low fat cheese in the house right now so regular cheese will have to suffice. I had chicken and spinach for lunch. I also ate chicken for dinner but I put it on some mixed greens and mixed it with a touch of avocado, salsa, and sour cream. Then I sprinkled cheese on top. It was awesome. I also made sure I drank my 8-10 glasses of water. The only challenge arose when my boyfriend was eating the pumpkin pie he bought. He loves pumpkin pie. I had a bite. Oops....
Looking on the bright side, at least it was only a bite.

I also walked 6 miles. 3 miles to an interview for a tutoring job and then 3 miles back home. Since I am on my feet all day at Pier 1 Imports, by the time I get home I am usually too tired to hit the gym but the walking seems like a step in the right direction at this point! I have been doing a lot of walking since I moved to Chicago last month. I don't need a car here and love not having one! I have been taking the opportunity to walk everywhere I can. This helps me learn the area and provides great exercise throughout the day. When I arrived last month I was used to walking one or two mile intervals. Now I am up to about 6-8 miles in a day. Trust me though, by the time bed time rolls around, I am asleep almost instantly.

I feel excited and challenged about this goal I set. I am slightly nervous because I don't want to fail...but I believe it is going to be a fun journey.

Sincerely,
the marathon-runner wannabe