Week 6 Update (Chicago Marathon Training)
Balancing Long Runs with a Passion for Storytelling
In my previous post, I shared my experiences of Week 5 in my Chicago Marathon training journey. This week, I’m excited to share how I balanced my rigorous training with my newfound passion for storytelling. It was a week of pushing physical limits and sharing personal stories.
Storytelling Event Highlight
This week, I had the honor of performing live at a storytelling event with “First Person Live” at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.
It was one of the highlights of my life.
The theme was “Confessions,” and I had a confession to share. Preparing for this event took some time away from my training, but it was a fulfilling experience.
To my 17 amazing friends who showed up, including my incredible wife and our two boys, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support filled me with so much gratitude and truly humbled me. Your kind words about my performance mean the world to me.
Moments like these remind me how lucky I am to have such a supportive community.
And on top of all this, I’m overjoyed to share that this was my first paid gig! It’s incredible to be paid for doing something I’m passionate about, purely out of joy and not because anyone forced me into it.
Running Routine
I completed my planned 14-mile long run in Deer Grove East and Palatine Trail. Starting earlier would have been wiser, as the day got quite hot, reaching 78 degrees. The last four miles were especially tough, but I pushed through.
Balancing Training with Storytelling
Due to my commitment to the storytelling event, I managed to fit in only one additional 4-mile run and one strength training session. However, I also incorporated a 3-mile walk, which allowed me to practice my storytelling while staying active.
Nutrition and Progress
I maintained my plan of eating healthy and nutritious food 80% of the time. This balanced approach is working well for me. This week, I saw a significant drop in my weight by 3 pounds, bringing me down to 260 pounds from my starting weight of 266.
Looking Ahead
Next week is a scaled-back week for my long run, with a planned distance of 10 miles. I’m looking forward to a slightly lighter week before ramping up the intensity again.
Planned Long Runs
Here’s a look at my planned long runs for the upcoming weeks:
Week 1: 6 Miles (Done)
Week 2: 8 Miles (Done)
Week 3: 10 Miles (Done)
Week 4: 12 Miles (Done)
Week 5: 10 Miles (Done)
Week 6: 14 Miles (Done)
Week 7: 10 Miles
Week 8: 16 Miles
Week 9: 10 Miles
Week 10: 18 Miles
Week 11: 10 Miles
Week 12: 13.1 Miles (Hidden Gem Half Marathon)
Week 13: 10 Miles
Week 14: 20 Miles (Fox Valley 20 Miler)
Week 15: 10 Miles
Week 16: 6 Miles
Oct 13, 2024: 26.2 Miles (Chicago Marathon)
Thank you all for your continued love, support, and encouragement. Your positive energy keeps me motivated as I move forward in this journey.
Stay tuned for more updates, and here’s to a successful Week 7!
❤️ Rajneesh