Real David H.

It’s been a mostly uneventful few weeks with my 26 goals to finishing another marathon, so I was due to finally cross off the next one that’s really important to me — running for an hour nonstop. 

As training for the Blue Ridge Marathon kicked off this week, my first long run called for 6 miles — the perfect opportunity to just go ahead and run for an hour to stretch the distance a tiny bit farther. 

As I hit an hour and then another minute, I really wanted to keep going. It’s the first time I’ve felt like that in a while, so I really can’t wait to run MUCH more in the next four months.

Also late last month, I crossed off an important nutrition-related goal of not eating any potato chips for a month. That streak has continued into December.  

I’m really pleased with where things are right now with everything. Running, eating a little better and no pains. LET’S DO THIS! 

1. DONE – OCT. 23: Run 3 miles non stop
2. DONE – NOV. 3: Run 3 miles at a pace under 10 minutes a mile
3. DONE – OCT. 30: Run 4 miles nonstop
4. DONE – DEC. 10: Run for an hour nonstop
5. Run a 5k race under an 8-minute mile pace
6. Run a 10k at under an 8-minute mile pace
7. Run a half marathon
8. Run hill repeats
9. DONE – OCT 8: Run in the rain again
10. Run on a trail that’s new to me (or one I haven’t run in a year+)
11. Sign up/run in a race that’s new to me
12. Do a track workout
13. DONE – NOV. 3: Do a progressive run
14. Run 100 miles in a month (this has changed from my original goal of riding my bike 100+ miles; the running goal is something more important to me right now)
15. DONE in late October/November: Go a month without potato chips 
16. Eat a salad every day at work for 2 straight weeks
17. Lose 5 pounds
18. Lose 10 pounds
19. Lose 15 pounds
20. Lift weights twice a week for 4 straight weeks
21. Hold a plank for 2 minutes straight
22. Hold a plank for 3 minutes
23. Do 25 consecutive push-ups
24. Do 50 consecutive push-ups
25. Blog about my progress at least once a week for 4 straight weeks
26. Run a marathon

Disclaimer: I am receiving a free race entry to the Blue Ridge Marathon as an “official blogger” for the race. Visitblueridgemarathon.com for more information about the race in Roanoke, Virginia, and use code BRMFRIENDS to get 15% off.