13 Miles...What...are you crazy?

I have been asked so many times...Why are you doing that...are you crazy?...Yes...I guess I am crazy!!!   I don't know why but the vocabulary "marathon" has always drawn me in.  So that's why I'm doing it.  I'm a real person...I'm not your typical runner...I'm overweight, I'm a mom who stresses out and struggles with more things than I can count on two hands...so I am doing this because I want to prove to myself that I can do something like this.  And maybe, just maybe because I'm not your average runner...maybe someone else out there that is struggling with similar things has the courage to start something they are scared of. 

So the lucky number 13 (.1 is extra luck I think ;) ).  It's 2013...so 13 miles is a good distance to run...right?  I was born on the 13th...so was my dad.  I remember being 13 years old, my parents threw me a surprise party. I also went through 13 years of grade school...all of which I remember struggling through the dreaded Physical Fitness tests in gym class.  So these 13 miles are for 13 years of "running" that dreaded "MILE" in gym class.....I can do that now...in fact I think I've actually shave 2 mins off my time that I used to run the "MILE" in gym class.  20 years later at 38 years old no less and a few "ahem" pounds heavier.   And I think it brings it back full circle that this race will take me back to my college stomping grounds running Kelly Drive and Lincold Drive around the course that I used to row for Drexel...when I was in the best shape of my life...(and I STILL hated to run even then).  I do enjoy it so much more now.  I ticked off  six miles today...I felt good and was happy most of the way around the lake....so regardless of what happens on race day....I..can run 6 MILES....seriously...I think that is pretty amazing.  So crazy or not...I'm giving it my best shot!!

Scared, Stuck and Unmotived

So this post is going to be some random thoughts.  I've been struggling lately with motivation...not just in my running but in everything.  I do so well for a little while with eating and keeping the house and training and doing all the duties a person is supposed to and expected to do.  Then it's like I take 9 steps backwards.  I don't know what it is...maybe it's partly because I'm scared of not finishing something or is it not finishing something "good enough"?  Also something I struggle with in all aspects of life.  Am I a good enough wife, mother, daughter, sister etc...you name it I'm always questioning that.   Anyway...this week I tweaked my back picking beans at our crop share farm and for a couple days I wasn't able to move very well.  Today I felt a  little better so at the last possible second I decided to just go run.  I made it 2.4 miles.  I felt like it was the first time I ran in my life...what's up with that?  I ran 6 miles 2 saturdays ago and over 5 miles a week ago.  So my question to you I guess is this....what is it that you do to get over this lack of (whatever you wanna call it)...when you are stuck...unmotivated and frankly scared of both of those things...especially if you have a half marathon staring you in the face roughly 4 weeks from today???  HELP!!!

Let's Get Ready to ROCK AND ROLL!!!

Fourteen weeks from yesterday June 9, 2013 I will be running in the Philadelphia Rock and Roll Half Marathon.  My one and only goal/resolution or whatever you want to call it in 2013 was to run a half marathon.  I don't know why but I've always wanted to accomplish that among a few other things but I'm focusing on that one right now.  If you would have told me in junior high or high school that I would want to run anything I would have looked at you cross eyed.  Not sure where the running thing has come from now that I'm "old" but regardless it's here and in 14 weeks from today....I will have accomplished that goal.  So yesterday was my my first training run.  I did 3.6 miles and it was hot.  I had to walk a bunch as I did not fuel properly and my belly was icky and so on and so on.  So lesson learned...I gotta stop eating like garbage so I don't feel like garbage. 

Yesterday's run was dedicated to Jody...my sweet Rottie Rescue who I had the privilege of running/walking with for a short time before we lost her.  This was my first time out without her and I missed her :(  She was to be my training partner for this race so I will never forget her!!  RIP sweet girl!!!

This is Jody and I on my mothers day run via AMR Virtual 5K

Happy Trails Y'all!!

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Summer is Here

Well the HOT is here.  The last 2 days have been burning, the AC is on, the kids have frequented the neighbors pool.  I've been hibernating in the cool.  A few weeks ago I had surgery and although everything went well I caught a nasty infection on one of the incisions that has just about flattened me.  So here I sit...thinking and wishing I could get back on the wagon again.  I've had some time to read some blogs, find some new ones all of which have been inspiring.  They can all be found on my reading list. 

Ready to Thaw!

So the whole month of January and most of February we have had some sort of sick bug and I and READY to get warm and get well.  Hubby has grounded me from running for a bit until we get some important muscles strengthened so I can run with out being disabled with hip pain for a month.  My last run was the end of  2011 and I'm still having pain.  So..onward we march.  Strength training and some cardio is my game for now.  Having faith in my hubby who is in school for personal training that he can get me in a better place and hopefully...in a couple months I'll be ready to run again.  Until then...I gotta do my best and keep focused. 

Great Spin Class tonight!!!

Our 4th class and it was interval night.  Had fun doing some speed work and hill climbs.  Love mentally going back to the Velodrome race days and the sprints we used to do there. 

I think we are finally on the mend with all the colds and sickness...knocking on wood as I write this!!!  Hope that means more motivation to get back to the gym and back to healthier eating.  Lunch is packed for work and coffee is ready to brew. 

Good night, sleep tight and in the words of Ella...."Don't let the bed bites bite you..."

Sweet Dreams ~~~~~