Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. -- William Arthur Ward
Happy Post-Thanksgiving, Pre-Christmas extended stretch of over-eating, over-drinking, and under-training...at least that's what it usually is. But this year, I've decided to exercise a different plan. I will follow my training plan (starting tomorrow, because this morning I woke up with my normal snot-nose headache that a friend told me could be seasonal allergies and I'm beginning to believe that's a real possibility). I will eat carefully, except at holiday parties. I will drink less during the week. :) I will make it to Christmas weighing the same, if not less, than I weigh this morning. Because then New Years won't be a shock to my system, but a continuation of positive behaviors.
What's up with this? What kind of idiot makes a pre-Christmas resolution? The kind of idiot that looked at a picture of herself at this year's Turkey Trot and nearly cried. I had a turkey belly BEFORE gorging on turkey and I had a waddle under my chin that would make any turkey jealous. (And if you could see my arms, you'd see the old-lady chicken wing thing I got going on.) All in all, it was a wake-up call that I never wanted. Girl, you're getting too big. This has to stop. And so, the pre-Christmas resolution. I don't think I'm setting myself up to fail, because I'm not being militant. Just sensible. Careful. And I know I have some holiday parties over the next few weeks where I'll want to eat and drink (including tomorrow at lunch). And I will. But on non-holiday party days, which is the bulk of them, I will be careful. No more turkey pictures for me!
Monday, November 30, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Eyes on the Prize
Contentment consists not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some fire. -- Thomas Fuller
Hearing about other people racing used to make me very jealous. It didn't matter if I had just raced or if I was unprepared to race or if I was hurt or anything - I wanted to be the one racing. But this past weekend, the marathon/half marathon/8K was going on in town and, oddly enough, I didn't feel the least bit jealous. And I think it's because I am content. There's no reason to add more fuel; instead I'm taking away some fire and focusing on my goals for 2016. No more, no less.
I have two primary goals: run a marathon PR (and ideally under 5 hours) and finish IM Louisville.
I'm working with my coach to meet these goals, and this week is when the fun starts...speedwork running, back on the bike, and even a 2-a-day workout (bike and run) this weekend. I've started weight training to get stronger. And I joined a "don't gain weight over the holidays" contest at the YMCA. Now is when my 2016 season starts and I will keep my eyes on the prize.
Hearing about other people racing used to make me very jealous. It didn't matter if I had just raced or if I was unprepared to race or if I was hurt or anything - I wanted to be the one racing. But this past weekend, the marathon/half marathon/8K was going on in town and, oddly enough, I didn't feel the least bit jealous. And I think it's because I am content. There's no reason to add more fuel; instead I'm taking away some fire and focusing on my goals for 2016. No more, no less.
I have two primary goals: run a marathon PR (and ideally under 5 hours) and finish IM Louisville.
I'm working with my coach to meet these goals, and this week is when the fun starts...speedwork running, back on the bike, and even a 2-a-day workout (bike and run) this weekend. I've started weight training to get stronger. And I joined a "don't gain weight over the holidays" contest at the YMCA. Now is when my 2016 season starts and I will keep my eyes on the prize.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Sometimes the Finish Line isn't the Best Goal
But for each of us, isn't life about determining your own finish line? -- Diana Nyad
This past weekend I didn't finish the OBX Marathon. I waited for a sag wagon at mile 15. And you know what? I won the marathon. That's not a typo. I won on Sunday.
I signed up to run the OBX Marathon in 2014, thinking that after IM Louisville, I'd have the fitness to get my sub-5 marathon on the mostly flat course. But then IMLOU ended with a stress fracture in my foot so I deferred OBX.
This fall, the question was to run, or not to run...and I wavered about eight million times about what to do. I was going to run it, because I was fit from training for the IMMD-that-wasn't. I wasn't going to run, because I'd taken enough hits (mentally & physically) this year. I was going to run, because it was already paid for. I wasn't going to run, because my coach didn't want me to. I was going to run, because I'd rather do that than go to a soccer tournament with Elder Daughter. (oops - that wasn't supposed to be part of the calculus) I wasn't going to run, because it was going to be rainy. One time, I had made my mind up to definitely not run - only to be talked back into it by Iron Sherpa.
So. Ultimately I decided to run it. But I would stop as soon as anything got painful. As soon as my mind went to a dark place. As soon as anything happened that would otherwise derail 2016 as being my year. I promised Iron Sherpa. I promised my coach. And I promised myself.
It was a crappy day on Saturday as I drove the 3-ish hours to the OBX. Rainy, windy. I hate driving over long bridges, especially in the rain and wind. I hate driving through tunnels. So it was just not a good thing. But I listened to TED talks and got pumped up. (Yeah, I know - it's weird.) When I pulled into the parking lot at the race expo...the sun came out. It turned out to be a really nice afternoon. I enjoyed the race expo -- I mean, who doesn't like shopping for running stuff. (oops - well, I did buy IronSherpa some socks, so he can't be too upset that I shopped) I took some pictures around town. I went to a local restaurant and had a nice lunch and a craft beer. And then I went to the grocery store, bought some breakfast and wine (not for breakfast) and bubbly water and checked into my hotel. And then I hunkered down - I watched college football, did some work, ordered pizza to eat with my wine, and watched crappy TV until I went to bed. It was incredibly relaxing.
For reasons I can't fully explain, I slept terribly. It happens. And then Sunday morning I woke up and got ready for the race. I will say, OBX SE (Outer Banks Sporting Events) puts on a good show. Everything went smoothly from beginning to end - more than I can say for most things I've done. I relaxed at the start line - there was no pressure. I had 7+ hours to finish. I knew I was going to walk. I knew I could stop if I had to. This wasn't my A race or even a B race. It was a long walk on a pretty fall Sunday morning.
I started the race with a very strict run-walk schedule 2:30/1:00. And I did that for 8 miles and it worked awesome. Even with stopping at a portapotty, I was holding about 12 minute miles. Not fast, but perfectly acceptable given that it was a training walk. :) When I hit mile 8, we were at the Wright Brothers National Memorial...and now I know why they picked that spot. The wind was insane! I was nearly blown sideways. So I started walking without the run interval, and that was fine. I was walking ~15-16 minutes/mile and kept that up through the half-marathon mark. And that was challenging, since from about mile 10 to the halfway mark was a walk in the woods...some on a fire road, but a good portion on a path over an enormous sand dune. (Whoever said OBX was flat except for the bridge at the end totally lied. The hills through Jockey Ridge suck.)
After I got out of the woods...appropriately at the half mark, my knee felt a little tweaky. But I had done the half mary in about 3 hours. Not terrible. Hell - I had a very bad standalone half-mary that took me more than 3 hours...but I'm not proud of that one. Anyway - I was worried about the tweaky, but I also had 4+ hours to finish the second half. So I knew I could walk it and be fine. And I am tired of DNFs. But that little tweak was a worrisome.
I called IronSherpa while I was walking - yes, I carried my phone, because I knew stopping was a possibility - and talked through the conundrum with him. To stop or not to stop. Well, I just kept walking past the med station at 13...but I slowed way down. And then I slowed down even more. And then I sat down and waited for the sweep wagon. It took a while, but eventually it came by and I caught a ride to the finish line.
So, I didn't finish. I went 8 good miles. I am happy with 13 miles. I did 2 miles beyond that that I maybe shouldn't have. But I'm OK. I'm actually happy - because I made the right decision. Eyes on the prize...2016 will be my year. I'm hoping for a sub-5 marathon at Tobacco Road in March. I will be happy with a PR (sub-5:12). And I will be an Ironman at Louisville in October. That's the finish line. The finish line at OBX wasn't about crossing the timing mat at 26.2...it was about making a smart decision with the proper goals in mind. That's my finish line...and I crossed it with my hands held high.
This past weekend I didn't finish the OBX Marathon. I waited for a sag wagon at mile 15. And you know what? I won the marathon. That's not a typo. I won on Sunday.
I signed up to run the OBX Marathon in 2014, thinking that after IM Louisville, I'd have the fitness to get my sub-5 marathon on the mostly flat course. But then IMLOU ended with a stress fracture in my foot so I deferred OBX.
This fall, the question was to run, or not to run...and I wavered about eight million times about what to do. I was going to run it, because I was fit from training for the IMMD-that-wasn't. I wasn't going to run, because I'd taken enough hits (mentally & physically) this year. I was going to run, because it was already paid for. I wasn't going to run, because my coach didn't want me to. I was going to run, because I'd rather do that than go to a soccer tournament with Elder Daughter. (oops - that wasn't supposed to be part of the calculus) I wasn't going to run, because it was going to be rainy. One time, I had made my mind up to definitely not run - only to be talked back into it by Iron Sherpa.
So. Ultimately I decided to run it. But I would stop as soon as anything got painful. As soon as my mind went to a dark place. As soon as anything happened that would otherwise derail 2016 as being my year. I promised Iron Sherpa. I promised my coach. And I promised myself.
It was a crappy day on Saturday as I drove the 3-ish hours to the OBX. Rainy, windy. I hate driving over long bridges, especially in the rain and wind. I hate driving through tunnels. So it was just not a good thing. But I listened to TED talks and got pumped up. (Yeah, I know - it's weird.) When I pulled into the parking lot at the race expo...the sun came out. It turned out to be a really nice afternoon. I enjoyed the race expo -- I mean, who doesn't like shopping for running stuff. (oops - well, I did buy IronSherpa some socks, so he can't be too upset that I shopped) I took some pictures around town. I went to a local restaurant and had a nice lunch and a craft beer. And then I went to the grocery store, bought some breakfast and wine (not for breakfast) and bubbly water and checked into my hotel. And then I hunkered down - I watched college football, did some work, ordered pizza to eat with my wine, and watched crappy TV until I went to bed. It was incredibly relaxing.
For reasons I can't fully explain, I slept terribly. It happens. And then Sunday morning I woke up and got ready for the race. I will say, OBX SE (Outer Banks Sporting Events) puts on a good show. Everything went smoothly from beginning to end - more than I can say for most things I've done. I relaxed at the start line - there was no pressure. I had 7+ hours to finish. I knew I was going to walk. I knew I could stop if I had to. This wasn't my A race or even a B race. It was a long walk on a pretty fall Sunday morning.
I started the race with a very strict run-walk schedule 2:30/1:00. And I did that for 8 miles and it worked awesome. Even with stopping at a portapotty, I was holding about 12 minute miles. Not fast, but perfectly acceptable given that it was a training walk. :) When I hit mile 8, we were at the Wright Brothers National Memorial...and now I know why they picked that spot. The wind was insane! I was nearly blown sideways. So I started walking without the run interval, and that was fine. I was walking ~15-16 minutes/mile and kept that up through the half-marathon mark. And that was challenging, since from about mile 10 to the halfway mark was a walk in the woods...some on a fire road, but a good portion on a path over an enormous sand dune. (Whoever said OBX was flat except for the bridge at the end totally lied. The hills through Jockey Ridge suck.)
After I got out of the woods...appropriately at the half mark, my knee felt a little tweaky. But I had done the half mary in about 3 hours. Not terrible. Hell - I had a very bad standalone half-mary that took me more than 3 hours...but I'm not proud of that one. Anyway - I was worried about the tweaky, but I also had 4+ hours to finish the second half. So I knew I could walk it and be fine. And I am tired of DNFs. But that little tweak was a worrisome.
I called IronSherpa while I was walking - yes, I carried my phone, because I knew stopping was a possibility - and talked through the conundrum with him. To stop or not to stop. Well, I just kept walking past the med station at 13...but I slowed way down. And then I slowed down even more. And then I sat down and waited for the sweep wagon. It took a while, but eventually it came by and I caught a ride to the finish line.
So, I didn't finish. I went 8 good miles. I am happy with 13 miles. I did 2 miles beyond that that I maybe shouldn't have. But I'm OK. I'm actually happy - because I made the right decision. Eyes on the prize...2016 will be my year. I'm hoping for a sub-5 marathon at Tobacco Road in March. I will be happy with a PR (sub-5:12). And I will be an Ironman at Louisville in October. That's the finish line. The finish line at OBX wasn't about crossing the timing mat at 26.2...it was about making a smart decision with the proper goals in mind. That's my finish line...and I crossed it with my hands held high.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Anxiety Eating
Food is a lot of people's therapy - when we say comfort food, we really mean that. It's releasing dopamine and serotonin in your brain that makes you feel good. -- Brett Hoebel
The only break I ever took was to eat. That's all I did. Work, and then quickly eat something. It became my main pleasure, having access to my comfort food. -- John Prescott
I will admit that I'm a little stressed and overwhelmed right now -- not about training and racing, because oddly that's at a pretty good place right now. No, my to-do lists are too long, my time is too short, and anytime I knock off one or two tasks, three or more grow back in their place. It's like the Hydra. On steroids.
Anyway, in trying to get my work done, I'm always looking for somewhere that I can work without interruption. Sometimes my office will do, but there always seems to be someone around. Sometimes home -- but then I have to be sure not to get bogged down in housework, which is not on my to-do lists but always needs to be done. Sometimes a coffee shop. The real problem with most places is that they allow me to eat food, encourage me even to eat food that is probably not the best stuff. Today, working from home, you would be surprised at how persuasive the kids' Halloween candy was. Insane.
And I know it's because my mind is working so hard to focus on the task at hand that it doesn't have the energy left to make good choices on other fronts. I've read the psychology stuff, I get it. Other than working in a cave with no food (appealing, but no Internet) - I'm not sure how to solve this problem. But I'll keep looking...
The only break I ever took was to eat. That's all I did. Work, and then quickly eat something. It became my main pleasure, having access to my comfort food. -- John Prescott
I will admit that I'm a little stressed and overwhelmed right now -- not about training and racing, because oddly that's at a pretty good place right now. No, my to-do lists are too long, my time is too short, and anytime I knock off one or two tasks, three or more grow back in their place. It's like the Hydra. On steroids.
Anyway, in trying to get my work done, I'm always looking for somewhere that I can work without interruption. Sometimes my office will do, but there always seems to be someone around. Sometimes home -- but then I have to be sure not to get bogged down in housework, which is not on my to-do lists but always needs to be done. Sometimes a coffee shop. The real problem with most places is that they allow me to eat food, encourage me even to eat food that is probably not the best stuff. Today, working from home, you would be surprised at how persuasive the kids' Halloween candy was. Insane.
And I know it's because my mind is working so hard to focus on the task at hand that it doesn't have the energy left to make good choices on other fronts. I've read the psychology stuff, I get it. Other than working in a cave with no food (appealing, but no Internet) - I'm not sure how to solve this problem. But I'll keep looking...
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