What’s My Motivation?

Such a good question. For the longest time I was motivated by my desire to not be fat. That worked for the first 40 lbs. The next 25 lbs came off because I was motivated to be fit.

Now? I’m motivated to run very, very long distances. I think that’s why I’m not losing weight. I’m certainly in great shape. I’m losing inches, but the scale? Not budging in the way I’d like. I’ve lost my 65 lbs so slowly, it barely seems real. But, I’ve not gained any back. I’m the best maintainer in the world, maybe.

I have a few more pounds to shed (or, more realistically, some more fat to shed, whether the weight drops or not is anyone’s guess). I love tracking my food intake and my activity output and trying to figure out why I’m not losing the 1-2 lbs/week that are recommended. I’m more of a 1 lb/month kinda person. And most of the time I don’t think that should bother me. I’m still losing. I’m in great shape. It’s more about my fitness levels than the number on the scale. Blah blah blah. I can’t let it go, though. I want to see those lower numbers.

But that isn’t enough to motivate me. My motivation? I’m running a marathon in September, and I don’t want to feel suicidal despair at the end. I’m riding 100 miles in May, and other than a general soreness in my *ahem* sitting region, I don’t want it to be so hard I wish I hadn’t started.

So, Saturday I ran 8 miles. In 1:23.12 (that’s averaging a 10:13 minute mile). Yesterday the architect & I rode 25 miles (though the sleet & wind & cold). I’m practicing with my new clip-in pedals. I only fell once. Oh, but I fell hard. And in front of about 30,000 people. Of course. I’m kinda bruised, and a little sore, and I may need to replace my helmet as it is now gouged in places.

At the end of my run, I was pretty knackered, but I think that was due to the fact that I ran the last 1.2 miles about as hard as I could (8:46). Had I kept to my 10-ish pace, I would’ve been able to go a few more. At the end of my ride, I was frozen (see sleet), but not anywhere near the end of my energy. I feel confident that I could do 40-50 miles without needing to die at this point. And if one can do 50 miles comfortably, surely one can do 100 miles with moderate discomfort, right?

One of the things that has helped with the running speed lately is my new music mix. I have about 4 hours of music on my iPod for running, but some of the songs that really help me kick it into high gear are:

1) NIN, just about anything
2) Black-Eyed Peas, “Pump It”
3) Chemical Brothers, “Galvanize”
4) Nelly, “Hot in Here”
5) Rage Against the Machine, “Renegades of Funk”
6) P!nk, “Get the Party Started”
7) Papa Roach, “Last Resort”
8) Billy Idol, “Rebel Yell”
9) Cake, “The Distance” & “Never There”
10) Modest Mouse, “Cowboy Dan”

80s Rock – GnR, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Great White, Warrant (seriously, I love Cherry Pie); Ozzy; Dead Kennedys; Sex Pistols; Blondie.

I’m pretty sure the list goes on, but as I don’t have my iPod with me, I can’t tell you anything else specifically.  What do you listen to that you wouldn’t be able to run without?

March in Review

This month I logged:
13,000 calories burned in exercise
73 miles run
2,000 minutes of exercise (that’s 33.3 hours)
6 weight-training classes

Pounds lost? .8

Now I need to re-read my motivational speech at the top.  *sigh*

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