Base building during the holidays

I don't know about you all, but the holiday gorging is already in full swing in my household. Family is in town and there have been many delightfully sinful treats surrounding me for the past few days with no near end in sight. I'm a sucker for anything sprinkled with peppermint and decked out in festive colors this time of year.

I'm not opposed to indulging in the holiday treat that surround us all and I have more then my fair share, after all tis but once a year right? As a matter of fact, as I'm typing this round 2 of the Christmas cookie train is rolling full speed ahead through my kitchen. But, I do believe in self control and maintaining nutritional balance 365 days a year.

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To keep myself at bay from eating my weight in sugar this week, I decided that this would be the best time for me to get started with building my base mileage for that spring marathon I'm all jazzed up about. Since the Chicago marathon I've been keeping running to a maximum of 5 days with no more then 45 miles covered per week. Most of those runs have been garminless and extremely easy where I head out the door just to enjoy running in it's most simple form without any concern as to numbers. It has been a nice change of pace for me and has allowed my body to play catch up and have a little time to rest and repair.

Initially when I decided to begin base building this week I had the goal of a mid 50 week with my first 6 day running week in 12 weeks. Then family came into town, I felt rather ill for a few days, mother nature decided to make a little visit into my life, and I somehow committed myself to making more holiday treats then time seems to allow. So goals have now changed in order to accommodate everything while still keeping my sanity.

How I'm getting through the next few days:

Just get out of the house and engage in some type of activity.

Start the day with a nutritional breakfast.

If necessary, shave off a few miles in order to keep in the high intensity strength training sessions.

Resist the urge of late night snacks containing high amounts of carbs, sugars, and fats. Instead fill up at meal times with proteins and veggies.

Family will always come before the incessant need to hit a certain number of miles for the week.

Take runs as a quiet time to recharge and destress from all of the togetherness. Love the family, but my mind has difficultly handling the constant noise if there isn't a moment of silence and reflection in the my day.

And of course,

find time to give thanks and celebrate the birth of Christ with family.

Years from now I most likely won't recall the workouts I did on the holiday or how many miles I covered or didn't cover this week or the fact that my home looks like a tornado ran through it. Instead, hopefully I will look back and remember the smiles and laughter shared with the ones I love.