Right After This Here Nap....

So I'm constantly thinking of getting back to my routine, the gym, attempting a slow run, and while I'm gearing up for it, there's been another obstacle...SICK. 
This is where I insert a huge, loud, horrible groan, moaning, scream. 
I started coming down with something about 2 weeks ago.  In typical fashion, I fought it hard, and won.  A week later, kiddo came down with some horrendous flu/cold combination.  Between running to the store for more juice and cough syrup, and sanitizing everything in the house for days, working out was not going to happen.  
We had a wonderful four day Christmas weekend, kiddo was getting better, lots to do, people to see, presents to wrap, all of it was amazing.  But my biggest mistake?  Letting my guard down, I went easy on the sanitizing, didnt sleep as much as I needed, and  here I sit, strenuously fighting sick again.  Zicam, Aleve, and Airborne as often as I can get away with.  Right now the overwhelming fatigue and overall run over by a truck feeling I have makes the thought of even getting out to the track feel like a marathon.  I figure a few days of rest, more Zicam, Airborne, apple juice and tylenol and I'll be good to go.  Providing there IS an actual end to this garbage.  Between home, work and the average everyday stranger, I feel like it's everywhere.  I'm truly not a germaphobe, but good Lord could someone label me that now.  It's all I can do to not spray people in the facew with Lysol when they come stand at me and cough. 
So I'm still needing that nap.  And even more so.  Sleep and preventative measures are what takes it away for me, almost always.  Here's to hoping. 

Cross Training Christmas

Between the end of the last running school session I was mentoring and the beginning of half marathon training in January, I decided I was going to focus on my cross training, working on strength training and  general cardio strength and whatnot. 
I can't say it's not happening, it is.  Sorta.  Not nearly as much as I wanted. Not nearly as much as I'd hoped, but it's going.  Ive not had a decent run since the Thanksgiving run and that scares me.  I fear I'll 'lose' my mileage and not be able to get it back.  Ive done that before, accomplished something, not kept it up and then it kinda slipped away, never to become again.  I hate that. 
So I've not been as adamant about the gym, cross training as I'd hoped, but I realized something else.  I'm freaking tired!
For eleven months, I've been exercising, dieting, learning, running, cross training, meeting new people, mentoring, reading, maintaining runner buddy status, mental working in addition to my regular life of working, wife-ing, parenting, daughter-ing, sister-ing, home-ing, dogging, all of it.  While so much of it I love, it takes time, effort and it can take it's toll.  And that's not even mentioning the daily drama that surrounds my life at all times.  Cool. 

While I don't want to give myself too much slack, [ yeah, been there done that.  I call it the 30 pound Oreo: start with one, end up gaining 30 lbs]  I do want to make it real.  Eat real foods, nap on the couch, spend game night with the family without worrying about the gym.  So I'm attempting to kinda do both.  Yeah right.  I know how that sounds and I know how that goes. 

I'm taking a few classes at the gym, meeting for weights, walking, and doing a bit here and there.  Not expecting any weight loss, as I'm eating...well, like Santa Clause.  But I'm hoping at least when January comes, my system won't be in utter and complete total shock.

But at least for right now I'm attempting.  I'm not giving in, not giving up.  I'm doing what feels right, what feels normal for me right now.  I know all too soon I'll be enveloped in training for the half, working my buttocks off in fear of making an ass out of myself, so I'll double up on running and cross training events, I'll train hard and do what needs to be done for the 3 months of training hard.  I'll neglect my family, forget the dog, zone out at work and won't notice the dust and cobwebs in the corners. 
But I'm so excited. 

I'm excited for the toughness, I'm excited for the 'stress' and tight muscles, I'm excited for the drive I'll feel.  I'm excited for the challenge. I'm excited to feel that fatigue of training, I'm excited to push the limits, to feel the electric adrenaline pulsing through my veins. 

But for right now, I'm really kinda wanting a nap. 

The Laughing Leprechaun

I took yet another huge plunge and signed up for the Shamrock'n Half Marathon Training Program. Since I've been mentoring, I get the program for free. A big bonus and yet a potential problem for me. Of course, like everyone else, money is a bit of an 'issue' in our household. So not having to pay the fees is nice, yet it's often times the money issue that gets me motivated to do it. If I have money behind it, fear of wasting spent money is bad, so I forge on to get my money's worth. Not paid for? Nothing lost. That's dangerous thinking. But I want this. My goal is for March 17th, 2013 to run the Shamrock'n Half Marathon. Here goes nothing.

Now I've been getting these images of this nasty, yet adorable little leprechaun who is peering out of bushes waiting for me to run by, meanwhile laughing at me. " ah she thinks she runs a half, tee hee hee" as I go tripping over a blade of grass and having this leprechaun laugh and dance around me. I'll be race roadkill. Leprechauns do that kinda thing, don't they?
Now all these freaky, bizarre and downright stupid images I have, I haven't actually signed up for the race. Why?
Typical me. Fear. A different excuse everyday. We don't have the money. I don't have time. I don't want to run the actual race. I don't have anything to wear. It's selfish. What if I get hurt and waste the money? I might not be home the day of the race. It goes on an on. I know, fear just sucks.

Running Turkey

I admit it, I'm overdue for a post.  Got some catching up to do!

I decided with my running group to run the Run To Feed The Hungry on Thanksgiving Day.  While I wanted to run the race [ of course using the terms 'race' loosely as 27,000 people on a street tend to go rather slow] I was really hesitant.  Knowing that a) I hate crowds.  b) I had one day to sleep in over the Thanksgiving holidays c) My husband would not be with me. d) I was feeling the need to hibernate, eat myself stupid and sleep for weeks.  So I literally forced myself to do it. 
Not only that, I forced myself to do the 10K rather than just the 5K. 
( I'll add here that it still thrills me to death to say 'just a 5K') 

But it scared me.  Reviewing the race map, I realized there was a point I could easily turn off and do the 5k instead.  Would I wimp out at the last moment, make that turn and continue to a 5K and call it a go?  I didn't trust myself.  I did what any responsible athlete would do, I put my money behind it. 
A few days before, I bought myself a 10K Christmas ornament and a giant pink sparkly 10K sticker for my car.
Now I had to do it. I bought the proof that I had done it. 
But just in case, I asked my fellow groupies to make sure I didn't turn off and go the shortcut 5K.  I happened to pair off with my Half Marathon Relay partner and it was wonderful.  While I think she's much faster/stronger than I am, she stuck with me.  It was great to have someone stick with me. 

I was shocked to see how many of the locals came out on their porches, driveways and front lawns, fire pits, chairs, blankets, mimosas and pastries to watch and cheer us on.  That was fabulous and fun to watch.  It also made me jealous as hell to see them so comfortable. 

Overall it was fun. Would I do it again?  Oh, I suppose I would.  It's just the early mornings that kill me.  I'm not much of a morning person, so maybe I'll get lucky and  someone will come up with a race that starts at say 4 pm.  That would be nice. 
The biggest disappointment was that my Favorite 'post race restaurant' was closed for Thanksgiving, so no super fatty post race waffle for me.  But I survived.