Cardio Options for when you just can't make it outdoors...

The weather has been very difficult lately. It was snowing in Nashville and now it won't stop raining in San Diego. Plus, the wind is really picking up. I've put together some great options for getting in your cardio indoors.

1. P90X

P90X is a thing of late night cheesy infomercials that really works. Most of the workouts are weightlifting exercises, but if you can get your hands on the Plyometrics, Kenpo, or Core DVDs then you have some great workouts. I have to admit that while they are hard, they are also incredibly fun. Plus, I love Tony Horton.

2. Insanity

 
I did 22 minutes of the Pure Cardio DVD last night; it's 38 minutes long. Um, my calves and lower back are super sore. I am going to try another DVD tonight, but I have a feeling they are all the same: my legs get sore and tired before my lungs. Still, it was tough and quick which is great during when you don't have a lot of time to train. If you're well trained, I would try this one out. Otherwise, you'll end up like me.

3. Zumba

 
It's not fair for me to be rating this system since I haven't tried it. I did watch the infomercial and I've read reviews online. It looks like it's the new workout craze sweeping the nation. From the videos, it looks more like cardio for the beginner. Unfortunately, anything that appeals to housewives doesn't look too hardcore to me. On the other hand, this video will probably give your heart a good workout while not leaving you too sore to walk like the other two.

Training Log

Day 2: I sucked at the gym today. It must have been the fried food, appetizers, and wine I had earlier.

Distance: 1.5 miles
Pace: 12 min/mile

I have a long way to go to be ready for the half marathon in April! Not to mention, I need to start augmenting my schedule to accomodate my run time. Now that it's sunny out, I'll attempt to run in the morning.

Anyone else have preference on morning vs evening running?

150 days until the Nashville Half and 712 days until the Solar Eclipse.

So what is a Solar Eclipse Marathon?

The best place to get the details about the race is at the website here: Solar Eclipse Marathon.

The basic idea is that on Nov 14, 2012 there will be a solar eclipse. In Port Douglas, Australia, they will have a full eclipse which means that they will see the sun be completely blocked out by the moon. The race starts immediately after the sun beings to reappear from behind the moon (about 6:30am). Then it's 26.2 miles around Port Douglas on an adventurous marathon.

An adventure marathon, according to the website, is "characterized by a location of magnificent scenery and/or a unique cultural atmosphere, as well as being more physically demanding than traditional marathons...Various surfaces (rock, ice, gravel, asphalt etc.) must occur on the course. Abrupt ascents must be part of the course; at minimum 5-10% ascents spread over 5 to 10 km. Extreme elements must be part of the course, e.g. high altitude, steep ascents, sand dunes, cold/frost or heat...runners finish 25-75% later than at an average marathon." I'm tired already. In addition to this ultra special solar eclipse marathon, they have Polar Circle Marathon, a Great Wall marathon, and 2 other crazy ones.

Because I have never run a marathon, I will need to train and I will need to run at least 2-3 other marathons before Nov 2012. I have a little less than 2 years so I think my biggest hurdle will be my own bad lazy habits. That is why I started this blog. Maybe this will help me persevere when I just don't feel like it.

The blog will have several main themes:
1. Training for a marathon while in business school with very little time and money
2. Being a vegetarian athelete
3. Running all the races in between now and Nov 2012


Here is my tentative race schedule to help me prepare for 2012:

Nashville Country Music Half Marathon	4/30/2011
San Diego Rock N' Roll Marathon	6/5/2011
San Diego Marine Core Marathon	TBD	Sept 2011
808Hawaii 30K	10/23/2011
Solar Eclipse Marathon	11/14/2012

Finally, at the end of every post I will provide a countdown to the 2012 marathon as well as the upcoming race.

So, 715 days to Solar Eclipse and 153 days to the Nashville Half. Wish me luck!