Something's been missing

It's no secret that I'm getting ready to run my first marathon this weekend (see previous post).  Every once in a while, I have mentioned training, but you may have noticed I have not giving "updates" like I did when getting ready for the Flying Pirate half marathon back in April.  It's not that I haven't wanted to share, but there are only so many times you might want to read, "I ran today," because my friends, when you are training for a marathon, your life basically consists of a combination of three things,

• eat
• run/cross train
• sleep

and then, the rest of life's little pleasures like working and such, you fit in around those 3 basic elements.

Now I will recap 16 weeks of marathon training in one swoop .....

And there you have it.

It's been the longest, yet fastest, 16 weeks I've ever experienced.

Let the carb load commence.

Oorah.

Training, Racing and Drumlines

This past Saturday, I went beyond my normal two-exit radius and ventured into the big city of Charlotte, North Carolina.  You see, I was able to talk some of my co-workers into running with me in the Alston+Bird LLP Corporate Cup 5K and Half Marathon.  Now, we work in the fundraising biz, hence the really cool team name and awesome t-shirts.  May I present to you Team Fund Racers!

I'm the one on the left, looking like she has to pee....

We met at 7:30 am on a beautiful, yet windy, morning among 2,333 runners. We had some folks running the 5k and some running the Half.  After our photo op, we all headed to the start line with our racing faces on.....

 We don't put the "Fun" in Fund Racer for nothing, yo!
 
Anyway.  I had 12 miles scheduled for Saturday as part of my training.  Seeing that I'm "saving myself" for the Flying Pirate, I decided to run the 5K and run some miles before and after.  Plus, I was really curious as to what kind of time I could put in since my very first race last April, almost one year ago.

I did a 3 mile warm up with Jyl, (you remember Jyl).  She ran the Half as part of her marathon training.  Then, at 8:00 we all started running the streets of Charlotte.  I have never ran with so many people before!  It's good practice though, as the Pirate will have about 4,000 runners and the Boilermaker I'll be running with my family in July has just SOLD OUT, capped at 14,000.  Also, navigating water stops is new territory for me too!  (oops getting off topic...)  So.  Well, plainly said, I set out way too fast!  I didn't think I'd make it the 3 miles....almost puked at mile 1.75.  Somehow I pulled it together and made it through.  Then, when I looked at my watch it said 26:23....my last 5K was 32 minutes.  That's a sub 9 minute pace per mile.  (p.s.  official chip time came in at 26:24)

Booyah, my friends, Boo. Yah.

Now, if you're doing math with me, you'll remember that I had 12 miles to complete.  So, with 6 miles down and 6 miles to go, I decided to head out backwards down the half marathon course to see if I could meet up with Jyl.  After 3 miles down and a nice chat with a police officer, there she was, looking strong!  After a mile or two of chit chat and me spilling Powerade in my shoe, we come to one of the last hills of the course.  And on this hill was a drumline.  Man I LOVE a drumline!  Sexy. As. Hell!  And it is at this point I must issue a public apology to all that had to witness me doing the run/dance combination.  Sorry y'all, I just couldn't resist it!

Thankfully, Jyl resisted her urge to push me down (no, I wouldn't blame her if she did!), and we made it to the finish, Jyl getting a PR too!  Made for a great day!

And now, I leave you with these parting words of wisdom.

If you hear a drumline, you just gotta dance.... even though cute cops will laugh at you.

My Resolution for 2012?

Is not to make any!  Let's face it, we never keep them.  We have the best of intentions, but it never fails, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month in...KAPLOWEEE!  Our resolutions blow up in our faces.

I've found the promises I make for myself throughout the year tend to last instead of the ones I make on New Year's Eve.  Maybe because they are truly changes that I wanted to make.  I made a commitment to myself without the pressure of a day or a tradition. To make a change, you truly have to WANT to do it, not just say you're going too, know what I'm saying?  So, don't be pressured into coming up with something by the stroke of midnight.  If anything, promise yourself that you'll look back at 2011 and see how far you've come and raise your glass as the clock strikes 12:00.  And then tomorrow, ponder the possibilities of what 2012 may bring.

So, when people ask you what your New Year's resolution will be, you can say "none for me."

....Except for maybe doing food logs.....(wink)

Happy New Year!  Y'all be safe tonight, and I'll see you next year!  (i know, i know, corny joke, but it just never gets old!)

Little Lung's Return

That title sounds like it could be a movie.  I can see it now, the role of Hope "Little Lung" Childress to be played by Mila Kunis....

Anyway.  Instead of a really nifty name like "Dances with Wolves" or "Runs with Horses" or "Speaks in Quotation Marks", I have been given the name "Little Lung."  Maybe it's not as endearing as some, but it is valiant just the same and I absolutely adore my new name!  The last two or three months of 2011 for me have been filled with mucus and two lungs that might as well have been underwater.  I have since made a 99.9% recovery and have resumed my workouts and eating somewhat better, just like I told you I would.  Here was my pledge list and an update in progress:

• food logs will resume (Well, kinda)
• workouts will resume (CHECK!!!)
• lots of water will be drunk  (CHECK!!!!....where's the bathroom?)
• meals will be cooked at home (CHECK!!!!....Food for Thought posts forthcoming!)
• no junk food will enter the threshold  (um....sure?)
• I will forego the Christmas cookie bake-a-thon  (no bake-a-thon, but I did do one batch, and yes, I ate most of them.  crikey.)
• I will remain honest about my progress (See bullet points above)
• I will hold myself accountable (Do Life Movement forums, a whole bunch of AWESOMENESS!!!)
• I will succeed.  (Still in process, but I'm sayin'.....OH HELL YEAH I AM!)

Being it's the holiday season, accountability is going to be KEY to get us all through with only limited collateral damage.  Have a cookie.  Have two, but for heaven's sake don't pull a Hope and eat the whole gosh darn plate!

And with this post, I lead us, and SeriouslyHope, into the holiday season.  I am going to say Merry Christmas, because it is the best way I know how to wish everyone the best of wishes, whatever holiday you celebrate, and a very happy, healthy and active 2012.  It's going to be a great year folks.  I can feel it.

Okay Ma!  It's time to put the coffee on, get out my Vixen mug, put the little piece of chocolate on my pillow that's on the blow up mattress.....
'CAUSE Momma, IMMA COMIN' HOME!!!!