In Training

What do the words "in training" mean to you?

For me, it's always been an excuse to eat what ever I wanted. I'm burning so many calories that I can pretty much get away with it. When I first started running, I cut out all crap. No fast food, soda, candy, etc. And I was in the best shape that I had been in years. It was priority back then to lose the extra weight but after that, I didn't care because I had created the habit of running and burning calories. In the 1.5 years since losing my 40+ pounds, I haven't gained but only 5lbs here and there but I did get flabby and lost some muscle. I'd word harder and got back to where I was but it was just a cycle of losing and gaining.

I took a week off of training, unintentionally, since my marathon and boy oh boy did I have a poor diet. I'm ready to clean it up A LOT and start feeling better. I'm going to use the terms "in training" as an excuse to not eat crap and only fuel with good nutritious foods. I get told a lot "you probably eat so healthy because you run marathons" and I get pretty embarrassed when I say, "actually, I eat like crap." I have had moments of healthy eating, but it only lasts a short while.

This next marathon, in February, is my big Boston Qualifying race. I want it so badly and so motivated to push hard in training these next 4 months. I'm motivated to push hard in all aspects of training, including my diet. So, from here on out, I will use the excuse of, "I'm in training" as a positive and not an excuse to pig out and eat crap.