Some Lessons Learned

1) Start keeping a journal - I use a Runner's Day-by-Day Log. A journal tells your story -  your goals, your activity, your statistics, and your accomplishments.  My kids bought my running diary as a Christmas present in 2010.  I have recorded regularly my activities since.  It calls for such things as distance run and your weight but I have used it for a great deal more.  A benchmark for me in on February 20, 2010 was when I ran my first marathon.  My time was 5:38.  Not very notable except two years later I finished the same marathon  at 4:33.  The goal for the 2014 marathon? I am considering writing a time of 4:01.  The journal will tell the story of why or why not I achieve the new goal.

Oh, I record notable health related activity too.

2) You are a starter so associate with starters - those who inspire, those who seek to improve.  Who will miss you for not making a workout?  Be accountable to an individual or a group. I look forward to getting up early on Saturday mornings, not because of my own will but because of the motivation of my running group, Round Rock Fit.  Just $100 for 26 weeks of training is well worth the money.

3) Set benchmark goals - start with a 5k. Work your way up.  These are achievments.  They are tangible.

3) Use a trainer - I wish that I took advantage of a trainer sooner.  A trainer will help you to identify your weaknesses / opportunities.  In my particular situation I had strong upper / lower body muscle groups but weak core muscles.  No joke!  This was why I was developing a IT Band Hip / Knee pain from running too much which resulted in a trip to the Dr.  Easy solution, see a trainer once every few weeks.  My wife and I both go to the trainer who gives us a two week training plan each time we visit.