What's a Gal to Do?

As most of you know, I've been training for the Disney Marathon for the better part of 3 months now & I'm less than 30 days away from Race Day...but I've HIT THE WALL.  I've realized that I REALLY DON'T LIKE RUNNING LONG DISTANCES.  I've done several half marathons over the past few years and thought those were bad, but training for a marathon doesn't compare at all.  This has been harder mentally and physically than anything I've ever done.  

I think part of it is nutrition - I've been struggling with finding the right breakfast (peanut butter toast w/ a banana has been the best so far) and then the best nutrition/supplements to carry with me on long runs. I'm OK until about mile 8, then no matter how many gels I take in, how much Gatorade I drink or how many lifesavers I eat I just feel wiped out, weak and shaky.  

The other part is motivation - I just don't enjoy the distance.  I never thought I would say "Thank goodness today's run is only 10 miles", but I'm there.  I dread anything longer than that.  And as soon as I start to feel physically weak, my mind crumbles and I totally lose it.  Poor Ryan has been yelled at MANY times on long runs because I get so crabby!  

So now I'm beginning to wonder - Can I do this?  Can I really finish 26.2 miles?  I only have 26 days left to figure it out.  

Part of me wants to back out now and not even bother lacing up my shoes on January 10th.  But I know I would regret that come race day when everyone else is gallivanting around Disney with their Finisher's medals and I'm standing there with a bare neck.    

So now I have some soul searching to do.  Will it take away from the accomplishment if I need to walk several miles in order to get across the finish line?  Should I back out and cheer everyone else on?

What do YOU think I should do?  I've set up a poll on my blog...feel free to cast a vote! 

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Random Facts about T-Pie

So - I'm totally committing blogging-plagiarism and copying Ryan's idea for my "About Me" page...I'm not going to give you my life story - instead, I'm listing some interesting random facts about me that many people don't know. (At least I think they're interesting anyway...you be the judge..)

• I'm absolutely terrified of Linda Blair
  
• I'm one of 29 grandchildren in the Porter Family
• I'm left handed but can only snap with my right hand
• I met my husband on a blind date arranged by my father
• My favorite movie is The Big Blue but I haven't seen it in over 10 years
• I have never broken a bone
• I had to tell my grandfather over the phone that his only child had died
• The only memory I have of my childhood home in Pittsburgh is the red & white checkered floor in the basement
• I have never eaten at Chik-fil-a
• I want to be a prison warden when I grow up
• I picked my college because they had the best marching band in the state
• I can't parallel park
• I completed the Disney Marathon in 2010 and hated almost every minute of it
• I named my dog after my paternal grandmother
• I saw a UFO during the summer of 1991
• I commute 1/2 way to work in the morning with my husband - then go back home and get ready to drive to my office
• I am addicted to chapstick
• I just might have middle child syndrome

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Things I Learned in London

1. Where the game "red light, yellow light, green light STOP" came from
2. I was only a short ferry ride away from Jessie Soliz (Porter) and didn't know it until I got home:(
3. It's all about relationships and loyalty
4. Bike lanes are only about 3 inches wide - and are totally optional
5. There may be 3 phones in your 20 sq ft hotel room, but there certainly won't be an alarm clock

6. A bacon & egg sandwich on white bread just might be the best invention ever
7. You have to have your room key to turn on/keep on your lights
8. Showers are the size of my high school locker
9. It's perfectly reasonable to spend a day and a half travelling for a 1 hour meeting with an underwriter
10. Black Cabs are the only way to go - especially if you're alone
11. Running 15 miles after you get home is going to suck
12. Hotel-provided hair dryers can't be used in the bathroom (and the adaptor you purchased for the one you brought with you won't work...and will cause a small fire)
13. It's not cloudy & rainy all the time - just a lot of the time
14. There's nothing wrong with a glass of wine or three at lunch
15. The office buildings are all like Fort Knox - you have to have a pass key to get in the building, to make the elevator move AND to get out of the building
16. The London Eye never stops moving
17. A 1-hour meetings typically consists of 15 minutes of small talk followed by 20 minutes of business and 25 minutes explaining why your favorite football team is your favorite
18. Breakfast typically includes baked beans
19. The London Bridge is actually a small non-descript bridge (and this is not it)

20. The average height of Swiss and German females just may be 6'2" (and 6'6" for males)
21. The lady in the room always orders first
22. Basement temperature beer is actually pretty good, as long as you drink it quickly
23. No matter how much fun you're having, it's hard to be away from your husband for a week

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The Dog Days of Training

Hard to believe but we're already 1/2 way through our marathon training program! We have of course cheated a little bit with week day workouts, but overall we're on track! Haven't missed a long run yet, and am seeing a bit of progress as far as speed goes in my short runs. One thing that seems to be really helping me is "half commuting" with Ryan in the mornings. He rides his Bianchi to work as many days as he can each week, 12 miles one way. So in the mornings I get up and ride Red Beard (my Felt road bike) 1/2 way to work with him then turn around and ride back home so I can get ready for work. I would ride to my office but it's about 20 miles one way (staying in bike lanes) and I don't have access to a shower. I'm a bit high maintenance, AND it's hot here, so there's no chance I can skip that part! Anyway, the "half commute" is fun and it's nice to spend some time with Ryan in the mornings. Plus it allows me to get in an extra workout without having to tear up my legs by running too many days in a row.

The hardest part of this marathon training program so far was our 13 miler last week. We got a late start and that resulted in running at noon in heat that "felt like" 1pm and boy it was HOT! We all got sunburns and ran out of water by the end (and that's even AFTER a refill half way thru at Robinson Preserve). Was definitely the hardest run I've had in a long time. Honestly though, I sort of went into it with a poor attitude - I had been dreading it since the day before and would have much rather been on the couch watching TV than running in the hot FL sun. So I wasn't off to a good start right from the getgo. Once we were on the road, things felt OK until about 3 miles into the run. I was burning thru gels like it was nobody's business and kept getting shaky when they started to wear off. So I had to really watch my water intake and gel consumption. I think we're getting to the point now that we need to take more than gels with us on our long runs - maybe Clif bars or pretzels - definitely something with a bit of substance.

Luckily, after that horrible 13 miles was over we still felt a sense of accomplishment. Glad it was over, but proud that we didn't give up.

This week is a "step back" week with a 10 miler scheduled. That's lucky for me as I'm traveling to London for work and will not be able to fit in a long run. (I know, everyone says I should do it while I'm there, but my time is pretty much booked with meetings and honestly, I just don't feel very safe running around a strange city....let alone a COLD city!) Never fear though - I did bring running shoes and some running clothes in hopes of getting in a quick jog on a treadmill while I'm across the pond. Then it's right back on track with a 15 miler next Sunday!

Mentally, I'm still in a good place as far as confidence about finishing the race. I'm sure that if I continue to stay on track for the next 9 weeks (only 9 weeks left?!?) I will cross the finish line - maybe not in style, and maybe looking like death warmed over, but I WILL finish.

So here's to no injuries, lots of motivation and cool weather for the next 9 weeks!

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Slow and steady may not win - but it'll get me across the line.

I used to worry a lot about how fast I was running - or how slow for that matter. Always worried what other people thought about me while I was going along - "Man, that girl might as well be walking" or "She calls that running?!?" So I would continually beat myself up and shoot for better times, no matter how much it hurt or how miserable I was. And in the end, I was never happy with my results and resented the whole idea of running and training.

Recently though, I've begun reading Hal Higdon's book "Marathon" and realize now that to get thru this first marathon, I don't need to worry about speed. I just need to worry about getting the miles in during this training period, and crossing the finish line in January.

Yes, it would be a lot easier on my body to run faster & therefore be off of the course in less time. But mentally for me right now, it's hard enough to simply run and control my breathing and posture (thanks to back problems and an ankle injury) - I don't think I could manage to focus on upping the speed too - I'd drive myself crazy.

I know that with time my pace will increase as I get more miles under my feet and get my body and lungs/heart used to the long distances. But right now that's just not my focus - my focus is getting thru all of the training runs, no matter how long as it takes - as long as I get from the start to finish without injury. Now all this doesn't mean that I'm just strolling along - I'm going at a conversational pace for me, but still pushing. Granted, my pace isn't going to be comfortable for other people - Ryan probably can't stand it, but he's nice enough to stay with me! Would probably drive some runners absolutely NUTS to go as slow as I do.

However, in my "old" age, I'm figuring out - it doesn't matter what other runners or other people think. All that matters is that I am happy with my progress and happy with the end result. (Although I will probably have to remind myself of this every now and then!)

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On the Road Again

So yesterday I went for my first run since returning from GA vacation. I've learned two lessons from this...
1. DON'T wait until 8:15am in the summer to head out for a run, regardless of whether or not it's a "short" run.
2. DON'T take a week off from training ever again.

Not only was it really hot, but my legs felt like lead and it felt like I was trying to breathe with a plastic bag over my head. On a happy note, my ankle didn't hurt too bad after that blasted twist in Piedmont Park after Peachtree.

Today my legs feel pretty good - I can tell that I ran after a long break, but they're not really sore. My ankle is a bit sensitive though - which probably means I should start doing my physical therapy again, and pay close attention when I'm running so I don't roll it again.

Now it's time for breakfast and eventually a road trip to see one of Ryan's friends from back in middle school while he's visiting the Sunshine State!

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That's a Wrap

It came and went faster than I could imagine - GA vacation that is.

We started the trip with the 40th running of the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta on the 4th of July (to be clear, it was the 40th year for the race...3rd for me and Ryan). We got into ATL on Friday afternoon after sitting in traffic for a while on I-75 just outside of Macon. After a hearty pasta dinner, me and Aunt Jeanine did our traditional Nail Painting of Stars and Stripes. Then it was off to bed early in anticipation of the early start on the 4th.

After our up & at'em at 6:15 we were ready to head down to grab a light breakfast and head over to the start with the other 55,000 runners. All the gals had in our wonderful 4th of July themed hair bows (thanks Karen Kreiter Popp!). Mom, Ron and Jeanine went to the sub-seeded start area, Tam and Megan went to coral 5 and me & Ryan made our way to the back of the pack in coral 9. The official start of the race was 7:30am with a nice cool temp of 72. Ryan and I crossed the start at 9:00!!!! The sun was warmer, but it wasn't bad.

We were off at a pretty good clip, running our first 3 miles much quicker than normal. (It's amazing how much the "taper" before a race helps!) After mile 3 we both took a gel and kept going - then the hills came! We ran up the first one maintaining a pretty good pace. My pea-brain thought this was the dreaded "Cardiac Hill" so I was feeling rather proud. Then I realized I was WRONG and saw the real Cardiac Hill looming in the distance. This one kicked my butt! I had to walk about 3/4 of the way up, and even that took ever last ounce of energy I had. Ryan was still plugging along and I had trailed several feet behind him. It took me another gel around mile 4.5 to get me going again. Before we knew it, we were cruising across the finish line. Although we still averaged slow miles, we were both glad that we managed to jog the vast majority of the race - afterall, we've been doing the Jeff Galloway method of run/walk intervals. This was our first outing in several months where we jogged the entire time, walking only at aid stations.

Neither one of us had much pain along the course, which was great. But it was too good to be true - I managed to step in a hole on Piedmont Park and twist my left ankle pretty good, nearly falling on my face! But, I managed to limp over and get my finishers shirt and start the hike back to the hotel. (Although we took the MARTA part of the way, I think we managed to still walk about an extra 4 miles after getting lost a couple times!)

Once we were back to the hotel (at 12:30!) we got cleaned up and started our journey into Cleveland for our 4th of July celebration - and the real "start" to our vacation. We had a great day with family which concluded with a great fireworks display put on by Al and some of his friends. We eventually dragged ourselves back to the cabin and went to bed.

The rest of the week was spent tubing down the Chattahoochee, hiking, and eating & drinking! We did the typical tourist things - i.e. visiting all of the junk shops in Helen, and then buying some Pioneer Porrige from Nora Mill and wine from the Habersham Winery.

You can see all of our pictures here. (We're still adding some, so check back in a day or two to see the rest of them!)

All in all, it was a great trip. Great to see Al, Kim and the Kids and the rest of the family that came into town for the 4th. We even got to catch up with Ken and Amanda, whom we haven't seen since they moved to Tallahassee.

We're already starting the plans for a trip up there again - hopefully for Thanksgiving. And then there's always July 4th next year!

Now that we're thru the Peachtree, we just need to stay on track with our training so we're all set for Disney in January which is the next big race we have planned. Wish us luck!

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Better Get Crackin!

Oh how time flies!  In only 6 days I will be starting my first Marathon Training Program.  Well, technically, I guess I should call it the "Mileage Buildup Program" for my first Marathon Training Program.  

This mileage buildup program is 19 weeks long and goes directly into the 18 week marathon training program.  The first several weeks averabe around 15 or 18 miles - then the real building starts and I'll top-out at 35 miles/week in week 18.  

Where I'm struggling now is that these training program focus on only running - with no cross training.  I've been taking Spin and Pilates classes at the YMCA on M/W mornings and I absolutely LOVE them!  The instructor - Flo Entler - is the best.  I'm just not sure how to mesh these classes in with the mileage buildup/marathon training.  

I don't want to stop taking the Spin classes altogether, but I don't want to miss out on the mileage that I should be logging either.  I know that I'll get burnt-out if my workouts only consist of running.  (I'll admit - I don't even really like running - I just know it's one of the only workouts that I see any results from.)  I need to find a good mix of the two - AND I'll need to keep myself motivated throughout the whole ordeal. 

The month of March was quite hard for me.  After Gasparilla I basically slacked off for a whole month.  I ran a handfull of time but struggled with getting back into the groove after being forced to walk for so many months.  When I did run, I struggled with my feet falling asleep after about .25 miles, so I had to stop and take my shoes off several times just so I didn't completely lose the feeling in my feet.  I found this rather frustrating.  I did also find a yoga class at the YMCA that I've taken a few times that really helps my back.  It's amazing how good I feel after just one class, so I know if I stick with this one - even just once a week - I'll see results that will transfer over to my running very well!  

On a positive note though, I could tell that all the spin classes really helped my cardio performance and I was able to run further than I anticipated - so this was encouraging.  And this is why I want  to keep the Spin classes in the mix!  

April was pretty much more of the same,.  I *think* I finally figured out what was causing my feet to fall asleep - inserts in my shoes, which have now been removed.  I ran my first 2-miler last week with absolutey no tingling!  I also continued to notice the benefits of spinning - my cardio was great, my legs felt stronger.  I wanted to go longer than 2 miles but I didn't want to push it too much as it was my first run inseveral weeks.  (Boy were my quads sore the next day too!) 

All in all, I've realized that I really need to keep on top of my workout schedule or I'm never going to be ready for the Marathon in January.  Seems as though everyone is right when they tell you that Marathon training consumes your life for almost a year.  

I need to get committed - and stay committed - to my workout schedule, no matter how tired or unmotivated I may feel.  It's just SO easy to stay in bed in the morning rather than get ready to drive to the gym at 5am, or get up and lace up my shoes.  I'll need to really concentrate on getting to bed early - this is very hard for me - I've alwasy been a "night owl" and a late sleeper.  Seems like I can never keep myself in the routine of daily workouts for more than 1 week at a time.  But I know I need to break this habit and stay on track.  Otherwise I'll end up with a poor performance come January at Disney! 

I want to stick with my M/W morning Spin & Pilates classes - this way my workouts are done by 8am and I'm free for the rest of the day.  I'd like to start running in the mornings - but I'm a bit hesitant to run in the dark all the time.  I'm a big chicken.  But I guess I can tuff it out for a few weeks/months until the sun rises earlier.  If I run in the mornings, I can squeeze in a nice relaxing yoga class which I've found helps my back immensely!  

Anyway, the "mix" of the two programs that I've come up with for this mileage buildup I'm about to start is: 

Mon:  Spin & Pilates

Tues:  Run (& Yoga?)

Wed:  Spin & Pilates

Thurs: Run (& Yoga?)

Fri:  Rest

Sat:  Long Run

Sun:  Rest

This will give me 2 rest and 3 run days each week, AND allow me to keep taking my Spin & Pilates classes with Flo.  The yoga classes will depend on whether I'm doing a morning or afternoon run as the classes are at 7am (not positive I want to do 7am yoga, and then a 6pm run...that would make for a LONG day...).  

Anyway - hopefully this will work for now.  I know I'll have to revisit the schedule when the Mileage Buildup program is over and I am in the full fledged Marathon Training program.  

Til then, wish me luck...and give me any training suggestions you may have!  

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52.8 down the drain!

Well, it's official - I finished 4 half marathons in 99 days. I'm quite proud - but part of me still feels somewhat inadequate because I had to walk the majority of the distance. I've become QUITE the power-walker.


The Sarasota Halfer was on Sunday February 15th. It was a great day! Beautiful weather for getting some miles on the pavement. Not too hot, not too cool - perfect. I was able to stick with Tam for about the first mile or so, but then she needed to pick up the pace to a full jog. I was still nursing a sprained ankle so I had to sport the power-walk most of the time. I was pleasantly surprised when I passed the 4 mile mark about 5 minutes ahead of pace. From there it was a quick walk up the Ringling Bridge (with all the training I did there, I was able to pass several people on the way up!). I was having difficulty holding myself back on the way down, so I decided to jog on the way down. I felt pretty good so I jogged until the turn-around at 6.5 miles. On the way back, I was still feeling pretty good and was way ahead of my goal pace. I think the first 8 miles were the best. Around mile 10 I usually start to peeter out every year. This is where we're on the back roads again & it's just draining - mostly mentally. I managed to drag myself along at a good clip & before I knew it I was rounding the bend onto the Ringling property. I jogged across the finish line at 3:02:50. My only goal was to beat my Disney time, which I did. After the run, we went to First Watch and enjoyed lots of laughs & some great food!


After a week of recovery, and another week of easy workouts it was time for the Gasparilla Halfer! Man, how time flies! On Saturday afternoon, me, Mom, Tammy, Leah, Megan & Jeanine met in Tampa for our pre-race carb load dinner and our stay at the downtown Tampa Hyatt. (I won't even comment on the Hyatt - well...aside from saying they weren't prepared AT ALL for a sold-out night. Beautiful rooms, but not the best customer service...but I digress). We got all of our race gear ready & were in bed by about 9:30pm so we were ready for our 4:30am wakeup call on race day.

The run started wonderfully - nice weather at about 65 degrees with low humidity (relatively speaking). I knew from the get-go that I would be on my own during this run so I brought my trusty iPod along with me to rock out to some of my favorite music from my days at IUP. I was making good time & was feeling pretty good. I sailed past the 1/2 way point ("and from Bradenton, with a big smile on her face is Theresa Schroder! Keep it up Theresa!" says the announcer as I pass the grandstand")There were no mile markers or timers at mile 6 or 7 (or at least I missed them) so before I knew it I was at mile 8 and was under my SRQ pace. Then all hell broke loose. "They" had been calling for cold temps and rain on race day for about a week, and "they" weren't kidding. The rain came first, then the cold gusts of wind. It seemed like no matter which way I was facing, the wind was blowing straight at us. The head wind made it very difficult to keep the same pace & my motivation quickly wasted away. The final turn-around was just after mile 10 and the finish line was looming on the horizon - a very far 3.2 miles away! I had told myself I would jog after mile 10, so this helped keep me going...a little. I started crying once - in self pitty because I was so miserable - at about mile 11. I came upon Steve from On A Shoestring who jogged with me for about 20 yards & had some kind words of encouragement. Then some kind ladies on the course were offering gummie bears and pretzlels - a great little pick-me-up! (although I did almost choke on the pretzles because my friggin mouth was so dry - definitely a close call!) I somehow managed to keep going and even managed to pick off a couple more people (ok, some of them were pretty old, but it still felt like an accomplishment to me...). Before I knew it, I could hear the announcers at the finish line - then I saw Ryan standing on the side of the road waiting to cheer me on. Yet another tear-jearker for me! My eyes welled up, and just about started to hyper-ventalate. This time the crying was half for self-pitty and the other half was celebration for making it through this race. I kept jogging, feeling pretty good by now - amazing how a cheering crowd will do that for you - waved at Ryan and started the final 100 yards to the chute. I saw & heard my Mom, Tammy, Megan, Jeanine & Leah cheering for me as I sailed across the line. I didn't make my goal of beating my SRQ time but I still did prety well coming in at 3:03:16 (only about 30 seconds off of my SRQ time). Boy was I glad that was over! Quite an accomplishment, but I was still totally miserable - it was absolutely freezing and still really windy! To top it off, they ran out of finishers medals! We were warned ahead of time that this could happen & unfortunately several hundred of us got "temporary" medals, which weren't as good as the real thing, but a nice jesture nonetheless. (We're told the real medal will come in the mail in a few more weeks.) All in all, my gut tells me that I absolutely hated Gasparilla. But in my heart, I know it was a success. Had it not been for the weather, I think I would have had a much better race & would not be as bummed as I am about the whole thing - afterall, I did finish all 4 of the races I set out to take part in!

Now that this string of halfers is over, I'm not sure what I'll take on next. The 2010 Disney Marathon is still looming on the horizon but my next "major" race isn't until the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th of July. Until then my only plan is to keep plugging away & getting myself back on track with running, continue to take classes at the YMCA, and maybe even get back on my mountain bike for some good rides with Ryan and Megan!

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Events / Results

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10 down, 13.1 to go!

Today I finished my much-dreaded pre-half marathon 10miler. This is the last "long run" before race day (although I'm still walking...haven't yet gotten the "all clear" from the ankle doctor). All in all, it went pretty well - I finished in 2hrs, 26 min & 10 seconds for an average mile of 14:41. The last 2 miles were the hardest for me...I think for 2 reasons. #1 is that I skipped last week's 8miler. So the distance was killing me. #2 is that my iPod died! I never used to walk or run with music (the band geek in me forced me to always stay "in step" with the music, which didn't work very well when it came to keeping a good pace with a variety of music.) Anyway, when I did the Alafia X-country halfer in November, I knew I'd be alone on the course so I took the iPod to keep my mind occupied. I've been hooked since! I find that walking with the music now keeps my mind occupied - and I've finally gotten myself out of the habit of "marching" along with the music. But this is a bad thing for me when I either forget to bring the iPod with me, or if it dies while I'm out on the course. Anyway, I made it through the last 2 miles by singing Kanye West in my head! It was starting to get pretty warm (71) for the last few miles so I really had to push myself. "Shoulders back!" "Head up!" "You can do this" "Arms!" I actually started telling myself this stuff out loud to get through the rest of the course. I probably looked like an idiot, but I got through the 10 miles & now I can relax the rest of the day!

Next week is the Sarasota Half Marathon. I can't believe it's only 1 week away! This week will be my "taper" week in preparation for the race. I'll spin on Monday, 4 miles Tuesday, spin Wednesday, 2 miles Thursday, OFF Friday & Saturday. (I know...I don't quite think 4 days of workouts quite counts as a "taper"...) Then it's race day! My only goal is to get through the Sarasota halfer. I'm not worried about my time for this one - although I'm sure that I'll feel differently on race day - I think anything between 3:15:00 and 3:30:00 will be fine. My goal is not speed in this one - it's just finishing the darn thing! I've got to save some energy & not beat my legs up too much because of what's coming next...

After Sarasota, I'll have a few days of rest, then have two easy training weeks before before the Gasparilla Half Marathon on Sunday March 1!!!! This is the one I'm the most excited about - both for the medal & to say that I finished 4 half marathons in 5 months. That'll be a feat for me! My goald time for Gasparilla is 3:10:00 - to beat my time at Disney. As long as I stay on track between now and then, I'm sure I'll be able to do it. So here's to more self-motivation!

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It's not good enough to just want it...I have to DO it!

The last few weeks have really been a struggle for me. But, I've learned a few things that I need to remember as time goes on:
1. This is not a competition with anyone else.
2. I'm still not a morning person & might never be.
3. I can do this.

Since finishing the Disney 1/2 Marathon, I've been trying to get myself back into a workout routine & I've been trying to get my eating back on track. It has been a struggle for me every single day - every single day. But what I need to keep in mind is that I'm the only one that can do this for me. It's never going to happen for me if I just "want" to lose weight and "want" to have a healthy lifestyle. I have to actually take steps towards a healthy lifestyle, and take steps towards losing weight. It's not going to just happen. I've got to make it happen. I might lose weight, gain it back & then lose it again. The point is that I understand that I'M the one that's responsible for what's happening. No one else is.

I've started taking Spinning classes and Pilates classes at the YMCA. Let me tell you - I absolutely love the spinning classes! And Pilates is a great way to stretch out and strengthen my core at the same time. The only bad part is that Spinning starts at 5:45AM!!! That means I need to leave the house no later than 5:10AM...which means I have to get up no later than 5:00AM. That's no small feat for me! I am absolutely NOT a morning person! But, I've been doing really well! Yes, I've missed a couple classes - but only one was "unscheduled". Otherwise I planned ahead to attend a different class (later in the day) to make up for a little extra shut-eye (Holidays or vacation days are exempt - if I don't drive to work, there's no way I'm driving down to Sarasota right next to my office...so those days are at home workouts.) I absolutely hate getting up early in the morning, but it's got to be done, and I'm slowly getting used to it...not getting happy about it...but getting used to it. On days that I don't go to the YMCA I am still power walking after work...counting down the days until I can run again! Eventually I'd like to get to the point where I wake up early and get my walks/runs in before work so I can just come home in the evenings, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself - 3 early days a week is enough for now! I will admit that I've missed 3 training runs/walks since Disney. I'm trying to stay on track to have only 1 "rest day" each week, but I won't beat myself up if I take 2. I need to listen to my body, but I need to learn NOT to give in too often.

I will probably have "food issues" forever and I need to learn how to work through them. I need to change my mindset about food & understand that it's not there for satisfy my emotions - it's there to fuel my body. (This just might be the hardest part for me.) I'm an emotional eater - I know that. I just need to learn how to control it - learn what works for me. I also need to learn how to still treat myself without overdoing it. I need to work on portion control. I need to not give in to every little crave that I have. And learn that when I do give in, it's not a lost cause and I don't need to beat myself up over it. I just need to get back on track again.

The most important thing I need to remember is that I'm doing this for ME. I don't need to worry about what other prople are doing, or what other people think about what I'm doing. I need to find what works for me & continue on that path. Otherwise this is all going to be a futile journey. The workouts and eating habits that work for me might not work for everyone (or anyone) else. And their workouts and eating habits might not work for me. I need to find what works for me and stick with it. It's not a competition - yeah it can be "fun" to compare notes, but I can't focus on that. I need to focus on me and reaching my goals while I encourage others to reach theirs.

Only I can do this for me. And I can certainly do it. I just need to put my mind to it, keep myself motivated, and get back on track when I do slip up. One missed workout or one bad meal isn't a death sentence. I need to use it as a stepping stone to get back on track and not become totally derailed.

So, here's to keeping myself on track and reaching my goals, one step at a time.

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Across the Line in Record Time!!!!

Well, did it. I finished the Disney Half Marathon on January 10, 2009. Looking back on it, it came and went very quickly – before I knew it, I was at the finish line! But, everyone deserves to hear the full story, so here we go…

Due to the early morning start, we had to get up at 2:45am, which is no small task for me! Once showered and in our race clothes, me, Tammy and Megan began piling on the warm clothes that were going to get us through the long wait before the race began – it was only about 45 degrees that morning. I donned a pair of thick fleece pants, a sweatshirt, a winter hat and even a pair of gloves. It certainly didn’t look like I was on my way to the starting line of a race in Florida! We trudged down to the bus stop that had been set up at the Pop Century at 3:30am and then we were on our way to the start!

As expected, everything at Disney is a show, so even at 4am there was a band playing – they definitely seemed to be more awake than we were! The three of us wandered around a little bit, did our best to keep warm, and made several trips to the porta-potties.

Before we knew it, it was time to head over towards the start corrals. We took the long walk from the “Family Reunion Area” and arrived at the start corrals at around 5:15. There was more pre-race entertainment and the time continued to pass very quickly. Wave 1 – the wheel chair division and then the elite runners – started at 5:45. It was quite emotional, fireworks and all. Wave 2, where we were at started at 6am to even more fireworks. Megan was one corral ahead of us, so it was just me and Tam from there on out – we crossed the start line at 6:02am.

The first few miles took us over the highway system on Disney property, and past several cheer stations and even marching bands! The monorail system was already running and the passing trains each blew their horns as they passed the runners. Finally, right around mile 5, we reached the vehicle entrance to the Magic Kingdom. What a feeling! We knew the park was close, so we managed to speed up a little, even passing several people along the way. Then we came out onto Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom – what a feeling! It was still quite early, but the parks were opened for spectators. They lined the course and cheered for everyone! In true Disney fashion, there were characters galore and plenty of photo opportunities along the way. We breezed through the rest of the Magic Kingdom and were back out on the streets at mile 7. This was by far the most boring part of the course – no characters, no spectators, no marching bands, nothing. Just us, a line of orange cones, and a handful of posters on the roadside. Things started getting really hard for me at this point – I was tired, my feet hurt, and I was quickly losing motivation. Thankfully, Tammy stuck with me and gave me little pep talks to keep me moving. Then I got my second wind – Tammy did too!

We reached mile 10 and knew it was going to be a breeze from there! After a few more exit/on ramps on the Disney highways, we could see Spaceship Earth at Epcot looming on the horizon! We sailed into Epcot and realized we could finish way ahead of our target time, which helped us soar through the rest of the course. We rounded the final corner, heard the cheering crowd – even spotted Ryan, Mom, Ron and Jeanine - and jogged across the finish line in 3hours, 12 minutes and 25 seconds. We smoked our goal of 3:30:00! Looking back on it, I don’t know why I was ever even worried about the dreaded sweeper – we averaged 14:41 minute miles the whole race, which is not bad at all for a power-walker! Once we collected our Donald Duck finishers medal and our mylar blanket, it was time for fun!
We spent the rest of the day visiting Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. The next morning Ryan, Mom, Ron and Jeanine ran the Marathon. After that we spent the afternoon “drinking around the world” at Epcot center. Fun was had by all! Although I was quite proud of my finishers medal for the Half Marathon, I felt a bit inadequate when looking at everyone with the Marathon medals, not to mention the Goofy Challenge medals! So, I’ve given myself the task of training for the Full Marathon in 2010. I’m already signed up! So, here’s to a successful year of training!

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Ready or not, Disney here I come!

The Disney Half Marathon is this coming Saturday - there's no turning back now. Truthfully, I'm feeling pretty good about race day. I've been averaging roughly 14:30 min miles for several weeks now, and that's not too bad for a walker if you ask me! My last long training session was on New Years Day in middle of the afternoon and I eeked out a total time of 2:23:45 for an average pace of 14:22, well under the 16:00 that's required by the race officials.

What happens if I don't keep the required 16:00 per mile pace? I will get "swept" off of the course - meaning I can't finish the race, will be bussed to the waiting area & won't get coveted Finishers Medal. This is a situation that I'm fully prepared for. I know it is very plausable that I won't maintain the needed pace for the full 13.1 miles - afterall, I'm forced to walk the entire time because of my ankle, and I probably didn't train as hard as I should have since finishing the Alafia 1/2er in November. Regardless, I'm trying to go into it with a positivie attitude telling myself that I WILL finish, and I will maintain at least an average pace of 16:00 per mile - It'll just be icing on the cake if I finish with a better average than that!

Even though it's only Tuesday, I'm barely able to contain my excitement for the race weekend. Ryan and I are taking Friday off in order to get over to Orlando early enough in the day to meet Mom, Ron & Jeanine when they arrive and then attend the Race Expo. After that, it's going to be race prep for Me, Tam & Megan since we need to be up & ready to go by about 3:00am for the 6:00am start! Once we're across the line, the 3 of us will have smooth sailing - we get to play in the parks on Saturday and Drink Around the World while Mom, Ron, Jeanine & Ryan are still prepping for the Full Marathon on Sunday. Then it's another day of fun in the parks after their race on Sunday - provided they can all walk after 26.2 miles!

So - wish me (and everyone else) luck - I'll be posting pictures of the festivities when we get back!

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So I'm a Gimp - Who Cares?

As we all know, I sprained my ankle in the beginning of November. I went to the doctor & got a "not broken" diagnosis and decided it was safe to continue training for the various races I had registered for.

I completed the Alafia X-Country 1/2 marathon just walking and finished in 3:36:30! Not too bad at all for walking the entire time! (Not to mention I was ALL ALONE on the entire course, so it was hard to motivate myself.)

After Alafia, I decided it was time to start putting some jogging back into my routine. I took it easy and only tried jogging for 20-30 yards at a time. Although the pain & swelling weren't going away, they weren't getting any worse either. Then I started kicking it into gear & upping the mileage as final prep for the Disney Half Marathon. During on of my evening workouts, I was jogging down the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota & started feeling a shooting pain in my ankle and shin. I knew immediately this wasn't "normal" and stopped jogging, finishing the training workout by just walking. I decided at that point that it was better to just keep walking rather than injure myself more & put the Disney race in jeopardy.

After talking to Ryan, he convinced me that I should see a specialist since the aching and swelling weren't getting better and espeecially since I was getting that new symptom of shooting pain. I went just over a week ago to Coastal Orthopedics & was seen by a great sports medicine doctor there. He confirmed that my ankle is NOT broken, but said the sprain was definitely more severe than first thought. He also told me that I probably sprained/stretched out the nerve that runs down your shin & ankle onto the top of your foot - this is what was causing the shooting pain.

SO - I'm officially NOT allowed to attempt to jog for at least 2 months. That means no jogging in any of the races I've entered so far in 2009 - looks like I'll be a "Power Walking Half Marathoner" - there's no shame in that, right? I will also have some physical therapy sessions to get the ligaments, tendons and muscles in my ankle re-aligned since they're all out of whack from the sprain.

It's been a lot harder than I thought to just walk. It's just a totally different type of movement than jogging, which is what I've always been used to. But, as time passes, I'm getting more used to it and can maintain a pretty good pace once I'm warmed up. Usually, the first 2 or 3 miles are pretty painful with burning shins and calves. But once I'm through the initial pain, I can really move! In all honesty, I know it's probably better this way. My weight gain has made it hard on my body to try jogging at all, and now being forced to walk may get my joints & muscles used to moving on a regular basis again without all the "pounding" that comes with running. Hopefully I'll start to drop some weight as I continue training for all of these races (and with the new spinning and Pilates classes I'll be taking). Then once I get the "all clear" from the doctor, I can ease myself into jogging again without injuring myself!

So for now, I'm going to be one of those dorky ladies walking down the street with my arms pumping away! ....just don't laugh too hard when you see me!

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