Run, Peter, Run
Mind, Body, and Miles: The power of running for mental well being.
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Training for a Marathon – Again

February 15, 2023

I always wanted to run a full marathon. I first attempted it back in 2016. Ambitiously, I signed up for the Disney marathon, which I was supposed  to run on January 8th, 2017. However, 2016 was a crazy year. We had a baby, which turns out to be quite time consuming, and I also decided to start a new job and move back to Colorado. Long story short, I didn’t end up running the marathon (goodbye $180 non-refundable registration fee). Another major flaw in my attempt was that I didn’t really enjoy running. Every run was a chore and I didn’t like any of it. I had great excuses why not to run, so throwing in the towel came easily. I was about half way into the training with my longest run being at 15 miles, which still included a lot of walking. Back then, I followed one of Hal Higdon’s novice plans. 

Fast forward to 2022. I was overweight, was drinking way too much, and only exercised sporadically. I wasn’t happy! I think it was some day in January where I thought “Enough is enough, it’s time to turn this ship around!”.  In my quest to be a better me, a better husband, a better dad, a better everything (insert the “The Six Million Dollar Man” theme here), I had to do some drastic changes to my lifestyle. My first step was signing up Real Appeal, a weight loss program offered by United Healthcare. This was really what kicked things off. I began to eat better, counted calories, and shortly after I started to run more regularly. And something incredible happened. I started to like running! At first I did 3 to 4-milers four times a week and it escalated quickly to 6 miles six times a week. Being obsessed with Strava I joined monthly distance challenges. First 100km per month, then 200km, and I finished the year with my highest monthly total of 196 miles (316km), bringing the total to over 1000 miles in 2022. 

At that point I was kicking the idea around to attempt the Disney marathon again in 2024. But after just having been there this January (a trip to Disney & Universal and visiting family and friends) I didn’t want to do the same thing again next year. I also didn’t want to wait a whole year to get started. I was ready now! After a quick search of local marathon races in the spring and summer I chose the Colfax marathon in Denver. It’s close, it’s flat, it’s big, and it goes through the Broncos stadium! What’s not to like? While I am writing this I am already in week 3 of my marathon training plan. Instead of going with a Hal Higdon plan again, I picked the 16 week plan I found on marathonhandbook.com. I liked that the long runs are on Sundays with a non running day before and after.

Here is my color coded version (Nerd Alert!):

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Anywho, I am super excited and I can’t wait for May 21st!

Cheers,

Peter

 

Why did I start this blog?

February 7, 2023
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Dear readers,

Welcome to my running blog, “Run, Peter, Run.” My name is Peter Kallai, and I am excited to share with you my journey of running and how it has become a big part of my life.

I have always been a pretty active person, but it wasn’t until about a year ago when I made some significant changes to my lifestyle. I quit drinking alcohol, started eating healthier, and I started running more frequently. And I mean more frequently. My total running mileage was over 1000 miles in 2022 and in the process I lost over 30 pounds. It was during this time that I discovered the joy and mental clarity that running brings me. It started as a way to stay in shape, but soon turned into a passion that I couldn’t live without.

I created this blog to document my progress as I train for my first marathon in May, and to share with you the ups and downs of my journey. I believe that running is not just about physical health, but also about mental and emotional well-being. That’s why I want to use this platform to talk about the impact running has had on my life and how it has helped me cope with stress. I also hope to inspire others to make positive changes to their lifestyle, as I have done, and to show that anyone can do it. I will also share my insights on any new gear. And trust me, the more you run, the more shoes you will buy!

So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned runner, I believe that we can all learn and grow from each other’s experiences. I can’t wait to share my journey with you, and I hope you’ll join me as we run together.

Happy running!

Peter

 
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Almost Kansas and back. I had 15miles on the plan Almost Kansas and back. I had 15miles on the plan today and I just started running due east and turned around at mile 7.8.
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