Baby It's Cold Outside!

Throughout this winter I've had the pleasure of witnessing dedication in the form of a South Hill runner. I see him nearly every morning around 7:30 running either up or down High Drive. Because I've biked that hill a few times to and from work, I know that it cannot be "fun" to run. I've always wondered what he was running for? Was he training for something specific or was he just a super-duper insane runner? And then I wondered if it would be weird if I slowed down enough to ask him one morning commute?

Early on he didn't have what I would consider the proper attire for his early morning winter runs...which means dark, cold, and potentially dangerous conditions. Around Christmas time however, I noticed him donning a nice reflective jacket though mostly black with dashes of neon yellow here and there. I silently congratulated him a "good job, dude!" and went on my way assuming a concerned girlfriend or family member bought it for him for Christmas.

This morning was something different. I saw, off in the distance, legs...and only legs. Guess what happens when fresh snow has fallen and you've chosen to wear a white long-sleeved top? You look something like paranormal activity; a man invisible from the waist up. I had just started ranting in my head about his lack of visibility and how I'd hate to see him offed by some careless morning 'I'm-not-fully-awake-til-I've-had-my-coffee' driver when I realized he was running in an odd fashion. Where were his hands?! Tucked nicely under his armpits, of course. Why? Because it was anywhere from 0 to 2 degrees out this morning and my dedicated runner was running with no jacket, hat OR gloves. Hey-just because a person is dedicated, doesn't mean they'll be making the best of choices.

Purpose

"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." -Carl Jung

In conversation with my Bible Study gals last night regarding the purpose of our blogs, I thought maybe I should take a moment to define the purpose of this blog. Assuming anyone else would bother reading it (and if they do, apologies for the dull moments... no, I take that back. No apologies for the dull moments because those are still moments that count...somehow. Ü  )

My purpose for this blog is that it gives an outlet or a venue in regards to my activities in which I can gather my thoughts and energies and maybe make fun of stereotypes and ironies along the way. These 'activities' are mostly made up of the active, running, exploring and learning kind with a little inspiration mixed in. I hope to inform, connect with, reflect and inspire both those that may read along and myself when and if I stray.

Reflection and inspiration are the two biggest reasons for writing though. I want to be able to look back and see what I've accomplished and/or where I stumbled and grown along this journey. I hope to inspire those who choose to follow along...if not for running, at least for finding and working towards a goal. Any goal.

My purpose for running is 1.) health 2.) affordability (minus race entry fees) 3.) it gives me an objective; to conquer something I've never really been 'good' at and making it a part of my daily/weekly life.

The whole idea of consciously having an objective is new to me too... I've never really felt that I was actively pursuing or working towards anything before. I just kind of 'did' things...never with the hope or desire for a certain outcome. How silly is that?! Certainly I cannot just sit back and let things happen around me and just be OK with it, can I? Should I? I think it's about time I sit down and look at the things I have going on in my life and say, "OK, where am I going with this? What would I like to see happen in say, 2 years? Is this something I should be putting my energy into? What is this purpose?" etc. etc. For now, I'll apply this thinkin' to runnin' and see where I go. Next, I'll tackle the rest of my life and all its daunting variables. One thing at a time.
Ü

 

 

Marathon Chatter, #3074, 8 and 3.2

"When you put yourself on the line in a race and expose yourself to the unknown, you learn things about yourself that are very exciting."

This morning's email check greeted me with Kathi's thoughts on a base training schedule as well as my first email sent to me from the friendly folks with the Portland Marathon. It's almost as though I've been accepted into some secret club...a few thousand members strong!

I have 4 weeks of 'pre' base training before the actual base training begins, which is March 27th. I figure if I continue to stare at my training calendar, the butterflies will flutter away...which is why I transfered my schedule to my google calendar. This thought was primarily to keep Bobby in the loop but I also see it as a way to keep me from having a denial calendar; one that offers an escape from the inevitable.

This is a pretty big goal for me... especially since as of now, I have no buddies committing. In the easy, early stages of talking and dreaming, I had at least two gals ready to go. Within one week and one big commitment made by yours truly, I've lost one and the other is teetering. So it is important that I learn early to keep myself in check and keep Bobby in the loop so he's reminded how much of a support I'll need him to be.

I checked my registration information this morning and I had no idea I'd learn my bib# this early! #3074...it feels comfortable...like home. Except for the extra dose of adrenaline that comes after something hits you as being REAL. So very real.

Aside from seeing this goal through to completion, I'm focused on weight loss. I'm hoping that the former will help with the latter. Thanks to a meal plan given to me by my good friend Cheryl, I've been able to say 'so long' to 3.2 lbs. as of Sunday. Sundays will be Run Days and weigh days...so I'm expecting a lot of emotion and commotion from those days...hopefully for the better!

Concrete dreams...

"If you set a goal for yourself and are able to achieve it, you have won your race." -Dave Scott, Triathlete

For over two years I've found myself dreaming of properly training for and happily finishing a marathon. I even thought that I'd attempt a half marathon on October 8, 2008 just to see if I had it in me. During training for said half, I got myself within 2 weeks of the race and up to 11 miles of distance only for my knees to give up and wave a surrender flag. I sheepishly gave in and approached the race officials the day of the race to explain my situation and thus I was placed in the 5 mile race. Not all was lost, however, I was able to run this race at an average pace of about 9.8 min/mile. This was a huge accomplishment to me and showed me that the training I had already done was still paying off even if I didn't go the whole distance. You might argue that my time is not at all worth bragging about but if you knew that in the beginning of my training I had struggled with completing a mile within 12 minutes...yea, I was proud.

So here I am, over two years later wanting to revive my desire for completion of a marathon. After hours of staring at the registration page for the Portland Marathon (and even filling out the entire registration form only to shut down my computer when it came time to commit), Tuesday, February 15th found me confidently committing. I pushed the 'ok' button and after the biggest entry fee I'd ever paid, I am now registered to participate in the Portland Marathon, October 9, 2011.

I've already taken the appropriate steps needed to start getting ready for this endeavor. I've chatted about it with Bobby to make sure he knows what is in store... I've taken action against my bulging belly and bum and told my flabby arms to take a hike...I've lined up some supporters and even two gals who are ready and willing to physically go through this with me...and I've studied training schedule after training schedule to find what might work best for me. Today, I even started the mental preparation I will need to finish...I visualized myself, my hair, my outfit and even the surroundings at the start of the race. And then, I got a mini adrenaline rush so I decided to go make breakfast.

Training for the marathon will hopefully bring me back to my old 160lb self in 'no time'. I know it has been less than a week since I've signed up but I've been staging a plan of attack on this bulge since I joined the YMCA a few weeks ago. I can work out all I want but until I get my eating under control, all of me will remain.
That said, I am following  a food plan and have done so since Monday, Feb 14 (V-Day, nice) and have lost 3.2 lbs in this one week. This is the first loss I've seen since I joined the gym in January and I am so totally stoked. My favorite part of the plan is that I am convinced it is healthy and it is such a no-brainer! Weight Watchers was great but I was always sooooo confused about when/what/where to eat all the time. When all I wanted in life was to not think about food, WW made food a constant in my mind. But with this new plan made up by a good friend of mine, I simply go shopping for the good-for-you things on the list and when it's time to eat, I check the meal plan and PRESTO I know what to make and when to make it.

I feel good, I feel confident and I've got my husband and some great friends backing me.

I am happy.

Happy 2 Year Anniversary...

...to my blog. Since I haven't actually written anything in TWO WHOLE YEARS.

That date 2 years ago basically marked the end of my initial triathlon loving, weight losing, single living "Imma do what I want" self. Why? Bobby.
Don't get me wrong, I love him to death and I'm so stinkin' happy he's in my life but my desire to get to know him KILLED my drive to be the most healthy and most active 'me' ever.
Daily morning workouts at the gym were replaced by long nights just hanging out with him and his friends while weekend trips, training rides/runs and swims quickly turned into activities that resembled more of the lounging kind. Before I knew it, I had increased my weight bearing capacity to such a degree that it rivaled my pre Weight Watchers self. By the time our 'Big Day' came along however, I was able to drop about 10 lbs to fit nicely into my dress. Unfortunately, that didn't last long and here I sit nearly 6 months later with that extra 10 and maybe a wee bit more.
I'm not going to blame the whole bit on my own self here. There were some sacrifices made to put Bobby and I into a better financial 'place' those first few months. This included omitting both my gym membership and WW membership from our monthly budget. And I quickly found that doing this at the tail end of the fall season was probably not the smartest idea.

Disgruntled....dissatisfied....disappointed....DIS ain't workin' for me!