19 Weeks to 26.2... Training continues.

Beautiful view at Key Largo after a 5 miler.

Two weeks have passed since my last post. In that time, I have not skipped out on a run or cross training workout once. My diet was great and then came a mini week-end getaway. YIKES! The family went to Key Largo and I found myself caving in to soda, burgers, pizza and key lime pie... AND IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

I started to feel guilty and then I realized that once in a while, you just have to live a little and the important part is getting back to the healthy routine which I did as soon as I got home. Another lesson learned, balance. If you go to one end, reel yourself in and find that medium ground. Don't feel guilty but instead do something about it. So no feeling guilty for me (I mentioned how yummy it was right?!), instead I am reacting and getting back to my healthy lifestyle. The training keep going full steam ahead.

What I felt like after this week-end!  :-)

       

  

21 Weeks to 26.2 - Training begins now...

I spoke to one of my besties who is a fitness pro and she tweaked my training plan for my first 26.2 in December. I started training today. There are exactly 21 weeks to go. I'm so excited and anxious!

Our weekly group run was cancelled due to bad weather so I woke up at the crack of dawn because I was going to get my 10 miles in no matter what. It was the first day of training and I was not going to begin with dodging my first run towards 26.2.  

Up at 5:30am and ready to go!

I headed out and found the weather to be ridiculously humid. It was one of those mornings in South Miami where you feel like you're breathing in water. I was all alone and in my thoughts. I thought perhaps it was a sign that our group run had to be cancelled. It made me begin my 26.2 journey on my own two feet. The two feet that were going to carry me throughout the next weeks and across that finish line. It was going to take hours and hours of dedication and hard work. I began to think of everything I need to be for the next 21 weeks.  I will be disciplined and I will take care of myself.  I will remember that rest is just as important as hard work. I will listen to my body. I will not be careless and push if my body tells me it needs to heal. I will be relentless and I will be persistent until I meet with 26.2 on December 8th, 2013. I have a date to keep.

Running alone puts me on a one on one level with myself. There are no children screaming or tv's blasting. The phones are not ringing and there isn't food on a burner threatening to overcook. I love the silence and I love being able to listen to my thoughts. On my runs, my thoughts surround me and it's just Michelle. I feel my most "me" on a run alone. In between my thoughts and visions, I realized I was at 9 miles and barely had another 10 minutes to go to hit my first 10 mile run towards 26.2. I ran that last mile harder, smiling, thinking of what it would feel like to be running from 25.2 to 26.2.

What bad weather huh?!

Nothing like putting your feet up after a run!

I was done and what appeared to be a gloomy morning

had turned into a gorgeous day. It was symbolic to me.

It was a sign. I was like that morning a little over a year ago

and now, it is my turn to shine.

Dear 26.2, I'm still here and still coming after you.

It's Wednesday. Usually, it's a blaaaah day. I got on my treadmill and ran for an hour. It led me to remembering a time when I got on the treadmill a little over a year ago and could not get myself to go for 5 minutes. I remember feeling defeated and then I remember finding anger in my defeat and vowing I would get healthy and strong again.

With time and much hard work and dedication, 5 minutes turned into 10. Then it was 15, or 20. I kept on going and it became 30, 40, 50. Sure enough, it went past 60 and my long long runs up to date have gone over 2 hours. There will be much longer runs in my future because I'm in pursuit of 26.2. Training starts soon.

What seems as a small and insignificant advancement can turn into something great along the way. 5 minutes have turned into a 26.2 journey.