Derek Martin

Age:   32

Lifestyle:  Business Owner, Husband, Father of one son (20 mths) with another on the way (April).

Goal:   Regain healthy lifestyle focus.

• February 04, 2008
  The Super Bowl is over so my last excuse has gone the way of the Pats perfect season. Today the training starts. The countdown is on with only 101 days to go.
• February 19, 2008
  Okay...the training has really begun now! A special thanks to my motivator Steve Sarty who pushed me for 5.8kms Sunday morning. I found the motivation of knowing I had to get up and run in the freezing cold helped curb my alcohol consumption at the wedding I attended Saturday night. Amazing how getting out for that first long run can motivate you to not waste the pain and challenge you to do just a little bit better the next time
• March 03, 2008
  the last two weeks have been a disaster for training as I have spent the entire time packing, moving, unpacking and generally exhausting myself with things other than training. I did manage to get in a fast paced game of basketball last night so I do feel somewhat on track but the running is beginning again this week in earnest. The countdown is really on now and with only three months left I need to kick it up a notch. I find the diet is really the key so I am going with a new approach starting today that a friend of mine suggested. No carbs after lunch! It seems a little trendy and I know how important balance is but I need something that will force me to think more about what I am eating so hopefully this does the trick.
• March 10, 2008
  Feeling good now...got out twice on the weekend and starting to feel like I can actually pull this half marathon off. Very motivated to get into the gym this week and get out for at least two more runs before another long one next weekend. Also really starting to concentrate on getting the weight down. At 202 as of yesterday so I need to lose 12 lbs to hit the 190 goal. THat is just over 1lb per week so the race is on to make it!
• April 01, 2008
  This is hard! I really thought I would be able to push through the weather and get runs in now that the countdown is really on but I just can't get motivated to run in the sleet and snow. Luckily I have managed to get in the gym and get some miles on my new nice New Balance shoes but I know it is not enough. I'm hoping this week gets better and I can go for a long run this weekend. Need to get in at least 15kms to feel like I can make it through the Marathon. With a baby due on April 17th and work not getting any less busy I am realizing that I may have bit off a little more than I can chew. This is a big week to get me where I need to be so fingers crossed I can turn it up a notch.
• April 25, 2008
  We welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world last Thursday morning. Quinn Martin weighed in at a healthy 9lbs 2 ounces and both he and my beautiful wife are doing well. Needless to say running has been the furthest thing from my mind but luckily the food choices at the IWK allowed me to actually lose a few pounds. I am very worried now about how I am going to perform at the marathon. My training has not gone as I hoped and I know trying to cram it all i nover the next few weeks just isn't going to cut it. My strategy now is simply to try and get in at least three runs of under 10kms a week over the next three weeks so that I at least have some kind of base and then I am just going to need to give 'er as they say and push myself through the half marathon. At least I will have a time that I can then work towards beating next year. In retrospect I probably tried to take on a little too much over the past four months but now it is just time to get it done!
• May 08, 2008
  Well, we are getting awfully close now and I mean 'awfull'y as I just don't have a lot of confidence in how I am going to perform come race day. In the back of my mind I keep thinking I am going to be so motivated by the people and the atmosphere that my lack of training will be outweighed by adrenaline and I will actually do well but I know that is probably not going ot be a reality!!. I hope to get a few more short runs in after the few 10ks I have completed but I have done nothing even close to the full half marathon route so this is going to be interesting!!!
• May 25, 2008
  Well, the race has come and gone and I am so glad I pushed through and did it. Despite all the challenges I had with my trianing I managed to somehow put in a respectable 2:05 in the half marathon. It is amazing how much the great crowd at the start line motivates you as usually I hit a wall after 3kms but this time I was flying through the 6km mark before I even started to feel like I was running. I was at 10km before I needed to take a little break and at that point I knew I could do it!!! I can't wait until next year as now I have a time to beat and I know that with a better commitment to training I can easily break the 2hr mark. Thanks to the Bluenose organizers and volunteers. Having been involved in events across the country I can truly say that we are very lucky to have an event as well done as the Bluenose in our City. A special thanks to Chris Larsen for inviting me to participate on Team Myles and giving me the motivation to get through a very busy time in my life with a focus on my health. I also want to congratulate everyone that participated in the race and particularly the very large number of 50+ runners who flew by me on the route. Nothing is quite as humbling and motivational as having streaks of white hair flying by you as you are struggling up a hill...you are all my inspiration for a lifetime of healthy living. Until next year....