Time To Get Serious

Okay, so last month I signed up for the Spartan Race in Calgary. What is the Spartan Race? This one is 5km (3 miles) with around 12-15 obstacles. Not the "watch out, this spot of ground is uneven" kind either. Watch the video on the home page for a better idea. You watched the video? You're wondering what breed of insanity possessed me to get me to sign up? I blame Jesse, he made it sound like a good idea. 

So far, I'd have to say my training has been sporadic at best. I can't seem to get my sorry butt on the treadmill to get in some running. And let's be clear here... it's not like I was at one point a diligent runner who is now getting back on the horse. Running and I have never really seen eye to eye. If you see me running, there's a good chance there's a sale on ice cream in the immediate vicinity. Of the 3 miles, right now I can do one lap (1/4 mile) before cursing whoever first decided to start running recreationally. Seriously, what was he thinking?? That's also the point where I start to feel like I'm running in Ronald McDonald shoes and I just hope that when someone eventually finds my body I've managed to fall in a somewhat dignified pose. The reality is more along the lines of the CSI team coming in to see the treadmill was set to 2, then trying to look professional as they laugh themselves to tears. We'll see who's laughing as they try to draw the chalk outline on the treadmill while it's still running... 

The strength training part is easier to get behind. I take my kettlebell with me on the road so I can workout in my hotel room. Truth be told, I spend too much time in the mirror amazed that I can actually see my own triceps (it's still a novelty for me, I'm fairly sure I didn't actually have any until just recently).

There are 16 weeks (and 2 days) left until race day (Aug 17), which means I need to consistently put out some miles on the treadmill each week or they'll be carting my sorry carcass off the course while some poor EMT trainee is trying to figure out how to use the field defibrillators. In his defense, that flatline beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep sound has to be distracting. 

So, my plan is to help push myself a bit by reporting in regularly each week on how many miles I've completed while making sure I keep up with the strength training portion. I do 30 minutes on the treadmill and try to get a bit farther than I did last time (which is about 2 miles) with the intent of working my way up to actually running for the whole 30 minutes. 

Okay, let's be honest. When I say "I do 30 minutes", what I mean is "the two times I've actually used the treadmill since January, I did it for 30 minutes." Right now it's called "Run for 1 minute, walking recovery for 9. Repeat." I think that would make for a very successful fitness program, don't you? Not the kind you'd see in the health club. No, this beauty would be reserved for the late-night infomercials. I figure if people buy into the idea that Zumba will give you chiseled abs and pecs that could deflect bullets, then this will be a huge hit. I just need to find some guy with arms the size of my thighs and 2% body fat to endorse it and I'll be rolling in the royalties.