Training begins.

After signing up for the Princess Half Marathon, a few friends have joined in and there are now 6 of us that have registered and have begun training together. We meet on Sundays for our long run and we began a 20 week training plan that leads us straight into February. Today was our first run together and we did a total of 4.16 miles at a 17:10 pace. We began with jogging for 1 minute and walking for 2 minutes. This is called doing intervals or a run/walk pace and it is easier for beginners. I am doing it with the group so we can all train together then I go off afterwards and run a bit longer to continue what I started a few months ago. It feels really great to have a goal to works towards to.  

Commit to a goal.

So I was on the phone with a friend of mine. We start talking Disney Princess Half Marathon. Next thing I know, I go online, I check if you can still register. You can. I go to my purse, grab my wallet and click, click, click. I'm registered a few minutes later to run a half marathon on February 24th, 2013. WHAT?!?! Yes, me, half marathon, February 24, 2013. I had originally wanted to do this towards the end of this year but February 2013 is a good month. It's a great month in fact. It's going to be the month that this mommy runs her first half marathon!

 

My first receipt for a half marathon... Let the training begin!

I am a horrible blogger!!!

It's now September 20th. I am the world's worst blogger as it has been over 2 months since my last post. Let me try to catch up as best as I can. The triathlon came and went and just as I suspected, the swimming beat me. It was a rainy day and the ocean was upset and wavy. My nerves got the best of me. I panicked thinking I would not make it and I kept looking up and checking how far off I was instead of just concentrating on making it slow and steady till the end. The JAWS marathon I told you about didn't help. It's funny how the mind succumbs to ridiculous things when you panic. I honestly thought that I was going to be swept away by some sea monster in the midst of drowning and not being able to complete the swim. I laugh now sitting here writing this. But that day, I was not laughing. I was freaking out. I ended up walking out of the water, mid way, defeated and feeling quite the loser. Then I thought, there's nothing keeping me from trying again and preparing for the swim. Next time, the ocean won't beat me. So I stared out at the vast ocean that defeated me this time. I'd be back next year and this time, I'd be ready for waves and I was going to put forth a strong swim. It was okay. Another lesson learned in this long road.

Fast forward to August. The end of summer, a two week vacation and the beginning of school came in a flurry and working out fell low on my list of to do's. I can blame the lack of time but I also have to blame myself for not making the time which is something most moms suffer from. Everything and everyone else goes first. I put in a run here and there but I won't lie, I slacked. I SLACKED!!! There, I said it, I own it. So, let's get over that and move on. Here I am in September and triathlon season is behind me so I need a new goal. The Disney Princess Half Marathon comes to mind. Do I dare?

Triathlon countdown - 5 days!

It occurred to me today that I am only 5 days away from completing (or trying to complete) my first triathlon.  The duathlon last month was a challenge but there was no swimming involved which I am guessing will be quite difficult this coming Sunday. In a funny turn of events, my daughter and I saw the complete JAWS I, II, III and IV movies (IV technically never happened or I like to pretend it didn't) this past month. I am now afraid of being attacked by a massive great white shark that roars like a lion... Lovely... 

On a much more positive note, I've trained and prepared as best as possible and am looking forward to this new experience (minus the swimming and shark panic). Perhaps the fear of JAWS hunting me down will help me get through the swim much faster. I can only hope!

Cycling Group Ride - Awesome!

I was up at 5:15am this morning and out the door by 6am to head on over to an established cycling group ride. I've ridden in groups a few years ago and felt confident that I could hold on to this group. I tried to go on a group ride a few weeks back and was basically stood up - no such ride existed! This group was riding 40+ miles at an average of 18mph. This means you are riding between 17mph to 22mph at any given point.  

I love cycling. It's my strength. Running is my weakness which I have turned into a strength with a lot of hard work and dedication. I love the cycling so putting an effort is easy. That being said, I've been hard at work for weeks now and thought I should go for a challenging group ride. Group rides will make you better at handling your bike and it will help you get faster. That being said, you have to be pretty comfortable riding on someone's wheel (basically riding a few inches from the back wheel of the rider in front of you) and you must know the basics of group riding (hand signals, safety measures, etc.). We began at 7am and it started raining, UGHHHHH. I can't stand riding in the rain because I have fears of sliding off the road to my doom. Luckily, peer pressure to keep up with my fellow riders kicked in and I was handling that bike like a pro and cutting turns on wet roads and feeling strong and capable. A little rain was not going to stop me today.  

We rode forward and on the way back, Mother Nature heard my pleas and she lit up the streets with some sun, dried the wet roads and gave us 20 miles of great weather. When I reached my car, I thought of how several weeks ago, I couldn't have gone anywhere near 40 miles. Then I realized, yesterday was behind me. It wasn't a few weeks ago, it was today, and today, 40 miles were behind my bike wheels and I was looking forward to my next big challenge, the triathlon next Sunday. Wish me luck!

And the winner is...

I'd like to dedicate this to the man that tried to walk away with my jogger stroller this morning as my son and I walked around a bit. After completing my run, I decided to park my jogger on the side of the sidewalk and let my son stretch his legs and run around a bit before going home. We wandered a away a bit as he ran around happily and I followed him. We fed some ducks, laughed, ran some more. As I am walking back towards the jogger, I see a man casually strolling away with it walking towards a car parked on the side of the road. I said "Excuse me!" and he turns around and says "Yes?". I guess he saw my disbelief or perhaps it was the one and a half year old holding my hand that gave it away but he asked "Oh, is this yours?". I felt like screaming "Yes, jackass!" but I chose to say "Um YEAH!". So he says "Oh, here you go, I was hoping someone hadn't forgotten it here". He let go of the jogger and walked quickly back to his car and took off. Real smooth huh? Well, this award goes to you buddy! Congrats!

Running in the early morning - first 6 mile run.

I woke up at 6am for my early run. My wake up times seem to get earlier and earlier as it gets hotter and hotter! I had a motto for today. My purpose was to complete 6 miles. It would be a first. I repeated to myself, 6 at 6. Let's go! My second purpose was to not get eaten alive by mosquitoes which had me for breakfast last week. 17 bites. YES, you read correctly and it's not a typo - 17!!  

I was out the door by 6:05 covered in "OFF Deep Woods" which I highly recommend now! It will be my new perfume for early runs. I returned without any bites and as I rounded the corner to my house, I looked at my watch showing I ran 6.18 miles. I did it! I started my day with a decision to try 6 miles and I accomplished it. You can do so much if you set your mind on a goal and remove all boundaries around it...