Marina James Blog

I can't believe how long it has been since I have written on my website BLOG... Yikes..
I realized tonight that it was time to get a few thoughts done on my blog.
I have been so grateful for the last few months ( starting in January) for joining the Heart & Sole Trail Running Group. I had been discouraged to do any running after coming down with Adrenal Fatigue after my Honolulu Marathon with Team in Training in 2001. I over-trained, gained 14 pounds of FAT, and just didn't feel good about the whole experience. It took me almost ten years to think about adding running back in.
I decided to give it a try again with the Heart & Sole group and have just been amazed at how my body & mind & spirit responded. I first of all know a lot more about the right kind of nutrition that my body needed along with cross-training to balance out my body this time around. My eating for the last few months has been very clean ( lots of organic food/ fruits/ veggies) etc. I even went 100% Vegan for the last six weeks and felt my energy/ endurance/ breathing increase in an amazing way. I am not sure if I will stick with this or occassionally have some wild fish and eggs from my vegetarian friend or go back to a 100% Vegan food plan for awhile longer. I have been able to keep my weight between 120-122 versus 144 when I did my marathon in 2001 and my endurance is so much stronger.
This training group has been incredible. We have about 20+ people in this group but I am so impressed with the connecting we have all been able to obtain through the training. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you are as a runner... the support is there... I have seen my endurance get stronger over the last three months. I am not a fast runner and that isn't necessarily my goal but to be a strong, endurance runner is more what I am looking for. I also feel my body has responded better this time around as I have been cross-training with Yoga, stretching, resistance training, core exercises, balance, power walks with the dogs, getting more sleep, and just taking better care of myself. I have also been working iwth an incredible team of people: Tina Dumbadse as my chiropractor and Linda Marshall for my weekly cranial sacral appts has also really helped.
Do I have the post race blues today? Yes.. I do a bit... What will be my NEXT Challenge?
I look forward to continuing to RUN... I plan on continuing with the Heart & Sole Training Group and meeting a few times per week for some shorter trail runs and then longer runs again on Sunday ( keeping up the cross-training) and seeing how my body responds.
The best part about yesterday during the challenging 15 Mile Race is being able to run along the same trail that my family recently let my grandfather's ashes sprinkle along. My grandfather won the Dipsea Race in 1939 and this was his passion ( to RUN) and he loved this trail. I really felt his spirit with me yesterday to keep me going .
Thank you all for letting me get all of this out. I hope to write more on my BLOG.
What are your own health & fitness goals ?
I am always here to support you ...