An update on Training.

As I have stated before how does one train to run a marathon a day? So my current training is a total experiment. I really don't know what I am doing. I am just a guy with a brain injury. I have no idea how to do this. So what resources have I used?

First and foremost I use a basic marathon training program. Since my injury I have done allot of running. Who knows what part of the left half of my brain was damaged enough to turn me into this "runner" I have become. If you figure it out lets patent it and make a fortune. "want to loose weight and get into shape, we will smack your temporal lobe, act now this is a limited time offer"

I have pretty much every book, magazine, online forum that has to do with running or triathlons. So I take allot of information from there. For me it's not about training to shave a few seconds off my marathon time. It is about finishing. Slow and steady. I am not a sprinter. I just forget to stop running.

You can follow my training online. In the next couple of weeks I will be lowering my "shorter" distance days, hill training, fartleks, and speed runs. Focusing more on long runs. I have heard from a few ultra-marathoners that short distance days are not as important as those long runs. So I will be changing my runs a little bit.

I have been really happy with my workout plan. I have found that adding an extreme core workout to really help not only with limiting of injury. I am prone to my right knee hurting, and a solid, non sexy, workout routine has been fantastic. I have posted my workouts sporadically in this blog.

My diet has completely changed. It is similar to my Ironman diet but it is much more streamlined. My days start with my Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer and my 7Systems Vitamins. The drink I use is the Vega Sports drink. I have avoided the gel shots this time around and I pocket a few Dates and nuts instead. I find eating a Date every 15 minutes and munching on some nuts seems to work just find. I also notice I have less bowel issues. Marathoners and Ironmen, you know what I am talking about.

I have pretty much eliminated processed food. Again not for any real reason other than I just have more energy and faster recovery the next day. I can harder, faster with less effort and not hurt as long after words. It's a no brainier. I focus on as fresh and organic as I can afford (why does it cost so much to eat healthy?)

Massage has been helpful so has this Body Rolling Class. I like the body rolling class as it just teaches you how to massage yourself (that sounds awesome eh? I am going to massage myself). Anyway when I am in the motor home I will be doing the body rolling to help recover from that days marathon.

Still working on getting some sponsorship. The really sad thing is that running across the country just isn't that "news worthy".

Just watched the Terry Fox movie "Into the Wind" done by Steve Nash and Ezro Holland at the Vancouver Film Festival. It was very moving and inspiring. I have so much respect and admiration for Terry. I remember being in school when he was running. I would never even think of doing this if it was not for him taking that challenge on himself.

The scary thing is that running across the country, really isn't news. I mean this has done before. What will make my run different? How can I get the word out that Brain Injury is a support worthy cause? There are so many quality causes, what makes my cause more worthy than another one?

What if no one notices? What if this doesn't matter? Well that doesn't matter. If this run gets one person who just suffered a brain injury to get up and challenge his limits I am good. It is an interesting planet when you have an invisible disability. There are times I wish my disability was more visible. Isn't that sick. To wish for a disability that people would notice. Those are my bad days. Most days I am so amazed and thankfully to be here. To be able to do what I do. I will use every minute of my life to scream to the world. We need to do more, not just for my cause, for all causes.

It's the day after Thanksgiving. I have decided to take a rest day today. Instead I am catching up on my computer order, processing some photo's, fixing what Photoshop did to my laptop, and watching tv.