I Want It Bad.

You know those people that say they want something and stop at nothing to get it? Yea, I'm one of those people. At least right now, I am.

I woke up this morning, and over a cup of coffee, reviewed my calendar for today. Mentally going over 'to-do's', whens and also deciding the best time to get my run in today. I glanced to Sunday, Christmas, to see my scheduled mileage for my long run, and it hit. Nine weeks. Nine weeks until the Cowtown Marathon. Nine weeks of training have already passed. Even as I type this, I get a chill down my spine and goosebumps on my arms...and that taste in my mouth.

I started getting that taste as I finished my long run two weeks ago when I hit the Big 10. I got it again this past weekend. 12.93 miles, knees aching and could barely walk, I had that taste. The taste of accomplishment. The taste of desire for your hard work to pay off. The taste of crossing that finish line. The taste of that damn medal in your hand.  Heck, I will probably kiss, lick and try to take a bite of that damn medal. The Cowtown Medal is one of the most awesome race bling pieces I have drooled over as well.

I think about this race every waking moment. Every piece of clothing or shoes I wear, step I take or anything I put in my mouth is hyper-analyzed on how this will affect my training for Cowtown. I eat, sleep, breathe marathon training right now. I set a goal to run my first marathon before I turned 35. I'm 33, with 35 nowhere in sight, but the timing is perfect and the desire is high. I want this goal accomplished. I want this goal even more than I wanted to graduate college. Every atom of my being wants this.

Here's to setting my goal. Here's to getting halfway to my goal. Here's to nine more weeks of pushing toward my goal. Here's to wanting it bad!

Confession: Too Timid to Train

When it comes to sports and training, I generally have a bold and undaunted approach. A "get it done" outlook; no holds barred and balls to the wall. Yes, I have nerves all the time before games, races, and big runs. Yet, normally nothing holds me back.

Since my race two weeks ago, I turned shy to training. I think I've ran twice and had one soccer game. I am truly terrified of reinjuring my ankle and foot, which in turn terrifies me of making my mileage in training and on my upcoming race. I have a brace, a splint, I tape my toes, and I pay extra TLC, but I really do not want to screw my ankle up.

I know it's all about listening to my body and knowing when to ease up or stop, but I also know if I cannot admit to you that I am more than a bit gun-shy right now, I won't be able to admit it to myself. So, send some courage this way as I return to my training plan with extra ankle strengthening and praying to God I do not put myself on crutches.

And thank for letting me whine like a little scaredy-cat.

Coming up with a plan.

The last couple of weeks I've debated putting one of my loves on hold to train for two dreams. I nearly gave up playing soccer to accomplish half and full marathons. Thanks to my running moms group, they helped me talk through the fear of giving up something I love, yes this is true, as much as my family. Through a discussion with them, these awesome ladies helped show me modification and finding balance (a struggle in everything I do) within my two training schedules to keep playing the field, quite literally, and to train for my goals.

Now I sit and plan through multiple calendars to pull it all into on large calendar for everyone to see! I think I may need something like this.


Here's to the planning stages!

Holiday Routine Buster

I do have to say, the last 10 days has completely kicked my behind. My schedule has been all out of whack with the holiday hustle and bustle...running has been a hit and miss event while I grasp for any activity at all...yoga, DVDs, anything to keep me active. Now that Christmas is over...the routine hits hard and heavy. I'm spending this next week with heavy indoor strength and stretching before I hit the pavement hard on the 5th for the first "official" training run. The past 6 weeks or so have been gearing me up for the heavy training.

Week 3: End Week Update

Training Thursday night went extremely well. I needed to make up my core and weight workout from Wednesday since my youngest child refused to sleep, therefore causing me to miss my workout. Last night, I set out to run my 3.5 miles. Weather was perfect. Not hot, not too chilly. I ended up running 2.5 miles since I was going strong, but my foot was starting to yelp at me, I decided to cut it short to have enough energy and motivation to get home to do my weights and core workouts. Albeit, during part of my run, I ran over fallen pecans and nearly twisted my right ankle. Just a bit tender, but I think next time I’ll avoid them.

My weight workout consists of 3 sets of 20 reps of arm and chest moves combined with leg movements to keep the caloric burn high. I work the triceps, biceps, and shoulders as well as muscles in my legs that might get not quite as much as a workout during my runs as the quads, hamstrings, and calves, mainly the inner thigh muscles, ankles, and whatever muscles that are up at the very top of the back of my leg whatever they may be called.

My core workout, which I found from Runner's World, consists of the “Superman”, a normal plank hold, side planks, the bridge and metronome...all major core strengthening moves.

To me, this is the best workout I’ve had. Afterwards, I felt strong and beautiful. I felt proud of the sweat covering my body, proud of the burn of my muscles, proud at the fact that I’ve been diligent for nearly 6 months now, proud of what I’m working towards.

Last night, I attempted my easy run. I think I overdid it on Thursday because all I could muster was 1.8 miles. Yes, I know that's almost 2, but it's not. The fact that I couldn't make it another .2 miles really irked me. At least lesson learned, eh?

This morning, I finally did morning yoga. I've been looking forward to it all week. I probably should have done some other conditioning/cross-training, but I really needed a full stretch. Also, I'm wanting to do swimming at the Natatorium, but I still need to check into it and buy a sports swimsuit (yuck, I thoroughly despise swimsuit shopping).

Tomorrow ends my soccer season, but not my soccer training schedule. I am attending a soccer clinic with a friend who wants to get started, so my current training schedule will extend through November 22. Then, I shift gears into the full onslaught of marathon training. I'm actually quite excited!

Beginning Training Schedule

I have had many requests for my training schedule for my half marathon. I hope that it is because I am motivating others and looking at my schedule will help them get moving to their own fitness regime. If any of you are interested, feel free to take my schedule and modify it to your own needs. Also, I am happy to help you come up with a regime with you. My beginning schedule was modified from Hal Higdon's Novice Training Schedule. I modified it to my current soccer schedule to incorporate my running averages in games. My schedule through Thanksgiving is as follows:

Monday - yoga/rest
Tuesday - run (3.5 miles)
Wednesday - weights/circuits/cross-training
Thursday - run (3.5 miles) I did have soccer practice, but the time change has prevented that since we use a "no lights" field.
Friday - Run (2 miles)
Saturday - yoga/weights/cross-training
Sunday - Game (average 5 miles running)

Cross-training includes swimming, bike riding, something of that sort.

Each workout last 1-2 hours depending on what I am doing. I usually average an hour of training.