91 Days left! WOW! This is really going to come up fast. 3 months from tomorrow. That scares me. That's not a huge amount of time to keep training. I'm going to have to focus on the small instead. Five weeks until the 1/2 marathon. Ok, so that scares me even more! LOL!
I'm hoping that race day, being with others out on the road, I think that will help. That will make the run that much easier. Well, maybe easier isn't the word for it. But just having others to run with is so much better for me.
In a few weeks, when I build up my distance a little, I want to join FitCorp in Boston for their long runs in Boston. I'm not up to their level yet. I can't do what they do yet. I have to continue to build my distance and my pace to get there.
I know some runs are easier than others. Yesterday was a bad run. I'm just going to move past it. I felt sick all day after the run and I'm still not 100%. I'm better but not 100%. Because of that, I'm taking today off from training, then I'll hop back on track tomorrow.
Tomorrow I'm doing a quick 3 miles on the treadmill, then meeting friends at the pool to swim laps. I'd like to get in a full mile. Then Wednesday night is another treadmill night of 4.5 miles.
After checking the fund raising page, I got 2 more donations. That puts me up to 5% of my goal, with 91 days remaining for fund raising. I started writing letters that I'll mail out next week. And I know so many others will end up donating within the next month or so. 3 months away is a long time.
But I'm feeling good, feeling positive. If I can keep up my end of the training and running, I know my family, friends and contacts can come through for me to make my goal. I feel REALLY good about it.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Third Time Today
When I wrote after just having come inside from my run, I obviously felt like crap. I finally got myself up off the sofa for a nice long hot shower... where I almost passed out. I could feel it coming on and I was rushing to get the last of the conditioner out of my hair. As I was drying off, I was seeing spots and getting more and more lightheaded.
I tossed my wet hair up in a towel and grabbed a second to wrap around me. I had left my water bottle in the living room on the coffee table and managed to collapse on my sofa. It really took me a while to get up. And then my belly was horrible. I really thought I was going to be sick. It took me close to an hour before I finally felt ok enough for a 30 minute drive to my parents house.
I still felt like crap there, almost fell asleep on their sofa (would have been worth it with the horrific Pats loss. No, the Jets did not win that game. The Pats LOST that game!) I feel like I have a fever. I'm hot, I'm cold, my belly is making those funky noises. I'm coughing and my chest sounds weird.
The coughing and chest thing, I am pretty sure that really is from running. I remember when I wasn't regularly exercising, I would get like that. My lungs would react weird. I'd cough for a while after exercise.
But everything else? I really hope this isn't running related. This is NOT fun. I was going to try for a short run tomorrow, but I don't know now. Pretty sure at this point I am going to wait to see how I am feeling when I eventually get up. There will be NO alarm tomorrow and I am very ok with staying in PJ's all day. Good thing this is a 3 day weekend. Too bad I'm spending at least 1 day of it feeling horrible. :(
Hope tomorrow is better and that I am doing better after a good night sleep.
I tossed my wet hair up in a towel and grabbed a second to wrap around me. I had left my water bottle in the living room on the coffee table and managed to collapse on my sofa. It really took me a while to get up. And then my belly was horrible. I really thought I was going to be sick. It took me close to an hour before I finally felt ok enough for a 30 minute drive to my parents house.
I still felt like crap there, almost fell asleep on their sofa (would have been worth it with the horrific Pats loss. No, the Jets did not win that game. The Pats LOST that game!) I feel like I have a fever. I'm hot, I'm cold, my belly is making those funky noises. I'm coughing and my chest sounds weird.
The coughing and chest thing, I am pretty sure that really is from running. I remember when I wasn't regularly exercising, I would get like that. My lungs would react weird. I'd cough for a while after exercise.
But everything else? I really hope this isn't running related. This is NOT fun. I was going to try for a short run tomorrow, but I don't know now. Pretty sure at this point I am going to wait to see how I am feeling when I eventually get up. There will be NO alarm tomorrow and I am very ok with staying in PJ's all day. Good thing this is a 3 day weekend. Too bad I'm spending at least 1 day of it feeling horrible. :(
Hope tomorrow is better and that I am doing better after a good night sleep.
I did it, sort of
Well I made it outside. Let's just say... That kicked my butt! DAMN! That was SO hard today. To the point, I feel sick right now. Including the bit to my house, with the little changes I made, the whole loop was 7.96 miles. That includes everything from my door back to my door. I walked the first bit, about a 1/2 mile to warm up. Then I started jogging.
I probably got about a mile and a half in before I got a HORRIBLE side stitch. I haven't had one of those in months, especially one that bad. It hurt so much! I tried to jog it out, but I was struggling to stand up straight. I thought about turning around, but committed to continue, even if I had to walk the entire loop.
I walked about 3/4 of a mile at that point, until I turned onto Rt 53. Then I started up again. I felt pretty good at that point. I used the water pack thing. I'm sure it works great for some people but I don't think I'll use it for my runs again. It wasn't super comfortable. I didn't like it around my waist and having the weight of the bottle resting on my lower back hurt. I was happy to have water, but I think going forward I will be hiding bottles of water along the route I pick instead of wearing it. I don't think it works for me.
So then I jogged the stretch along rt 53, about 2 miles. I stopped at the gas station, had some water and adjusted. That's when my ear buds to my IPod died, well at least the right one. I had sound in my left, but the right one is dead. :( I knew I wanted new ear buds anyway, but I'm bummed! Those are supposed to be pretty good ones, from Sony and they aren't even a year and a half old! Dead! Oh well.
I started back up, made it past Derby Street Shoppes and the ramps for Rt 3. I walked for a minute over the bridge, but then started back up again and headed back into Weymouth. That was about the 6 mile mark. And that's when I started to really feel it. My back hurt, my feet were wet and sore, my knees were hurting. Did I mention my back? My lower back hurt so much from that water bottle! The belt wasn't comfortable either and I kept trying to adjust it. Wasn't working. I started walking then.
I tried to start up again, a couple of times but never made it that long. I decided to change my route and not head past the HS to Rt 18, but instead to cut back through by Columbian Square again and head home that way. I walked most of mile 6 and 7 back to my house.
So, including the starting 1/2 mile, the last 2 miles of walking, the 3/4 of mile during mile 2, and maybe another 1/4 mile tossed in randomly, I walked 3 1/2 out of the 8 miles. NOT good. I only got in 4 1/2 miles today?
That really kicked my butt!!
But, some good things came out of it. First, I got outside and faced my fear. I did it. It wasn't my best run, but I did it. Second, I know I have to dress differently for this weather. These pants did NOT work out. The are too big and I between the water thing and the pants being too big, I spent too much time adjusting. Third, I learned the water thing isn't for me. Not comfortable. Forth, I know I'll have to get new ear buds this week. I want the over the ear kind. Fifth... I have to find hiding spots for water breaks. Sixth, these are good socks to run in. Didn't move around or bother my feet at all like some of my socks to. I have to get more of these.
I think there are more good things too. I liked the headband, ear cover thing I used too. Works great, keeps me warm and my hair out of my face. The gloves that Team Eye and Ear gave me were really good too.
But, yeah, it kicked my butt. It even started out bad before I left. I eat some energy jelly bean protein things before I left and felt my jaw. Kind of like cracking my knuckles, but my jaw. And REALLY bad, still hurts! I have a headache from it!
And I feel nauseous too! I mean really sick. I thought I was going to throw up more than once while I was out there. I have never had my butt kicked this much fro one run EVER. But I did it... sort of.
I probably got about a mile and a half in before I got a HORRIBLE side stitch. I haven't had one of those in months, especially one that bad. It hurt so much! I tried to jog it out, but I was struggling to stand up straight. I thought about turning around, but committed to continue, even if I had to walk the entire loop.
I walked about 3/4 of a mile at that point, until I turned onto Rt 53. Then I started up again. I felt pretty good at that point. I used the water pack thing. I'm sure it works great for some people but I don't think I'll use it for my runs again. It wasn't super comfortable. I didn't like it around my waist and having the weight of the bottle resting on my lower back hurt. I was happy to have water, but I think going forward I will be hiding bottles of water along the route I pick instead of wearing it. I don't think it works for me.
So then I jogged the stretch along rt 53, about 2 miles. I stopped at the gas station, had some water and adjusted. That's when my ear buds to my IPod died, well at least the right one. I had sound in my left, but the right one is dead. :( I knew I wanted new ear buds anyway, but I'm bummed! Those are supposed to be pretty good ones, from Sony and they aren't even a year and a half old! Dead! Oh well.
I started back up, made it past Derby Street Shoppes and the ramps for Rt 3. I walked for a minute over the bridge, but then started back up again and headed back into Weymouth. That was about the 6 mile mark. And that's when I started to really feel it. My back hurt, my feet were wet and sore, my knees were hurting. Did I mention my back? My lower back hurt so much from that water bottle! The belt wasn't comfortable either and I kept trying to adjust it. Wasn't working. I started walking then.
I tried to start up again, a couple of times but never made it that long. I decided to change my route and not head past the HS to Rt 18, but instead to cut back through by Columbian Square again and head home that way. I walked most of mile 6 and 7 back to my house.
So, including the starting 1/2 mile, the last 2 miles of walking, the 3/4 of mile during mile 2, and maybe another 1/4 mile tossed in randomly, I walked 3 1/2 out of the 8 miles. NOT good. I only got in 4 1/2 miles today?
That really kicked my butt!!
But, some good things came out of it. First, I got outside and faced my fear. I did it. It wasn't my best run, but I did it. Second, I know I have to dress differently for this weather. These pants did NOT work out. The are too big and I between the water thing and the pants being too big, I spent too much time adjusting. Third, I learned the water thing isn't for me. Not comfortable. Forth, I know I'll have to get new ear buds this week. I want the over the ear kind. Fifth... I have to find hiding spots for water breaks. Sixth, these are good socks to run in. Didn't move around or bother my feet at all like some of my socks to. I have to get more of these.
I think there are more good things too. I liked the headband, ear cover thing I used too. Works great, keeps me warm and my hair out of my face. The gloves that Team Eye and Ear gave me were really good too.
But, yeah, it kicked my butt. It even started out bad before I left. I eat some energy jelly bean protein things before I left and felt my jaw. Kind of like cracking my knuckles, but my jaw. And REALLY bad, still hurts! I have a headache from it!
And I feel nauseous too! I mean really sick. I thought I was going to throw up more than once while I was out there. I have never had my butt kicked this much fro one run EVER. But I did it... sort of.
The 8 Mile Run
Yesterday I ended up feeling not great. My belly was NOT happy. Being out for a run like that was not something I wanted to do. I didn't even want to leave my house. So I didn't. I did a little cleaning, laid down and only thought about running. I missed my long run.
Now I am thinking about it. I went to MapMyRun.com and created a route that would fit what I need today, complete with some hills! I got it to 7.78, starting near my house, heading into Hingham and then back by the South Shore Hospital. I have the route down. I know the street and I know exactly where I need to go to get this run in. The roads I picked are wide enough, even with the snow, and all pretty safe.
The weather is showing 32 degrees right now, so much better than yesterday. I have the water bottle thing that clicks on like a messanger bag my cousin gave me for Christmas, so I can have water on this 8 mile jaunt. I'll all prepared. I just need to get dressed and go.
I am absolute and completely terrified. I don't know why. It's a run! That's it. That's all. Just a run. Why am I scared to do this one? Why am I so nervous to head outside alone?
Up through December, all of my runs other than road races were on a track, round and round and round. I'd just keep a count of my laps, saying the lap number and total distance out loud after each one.
I didn't do my long run on Christmas weekend with the chaos of the holidays. Then New Years Day was another road race for the 10K. That was easy. There was a route to follow, people there, and even people I passed!
Last weekend I hit the gym for my run. Since I knew that the treadmills shut off after an hour, I did my warm up walk and then hit stop to get a new mile count. When I restarted and got up to my pace, I ran for 3.85 miles. Then I stopped for a minute, had water and stretched. I hopped back on and restarted the treadmill for another 3.65 to finish my 7 1/2 mile run. I was nervous but I was on the treadmill, in the gym and could stop whenever I wanted to. I thought about it, but I kept going.
But this is my first actual long run, outside, on my own. Maybe that's why my belly wasn't feeling great yesterday. Maybe I made myself sick with the idea of this. I am SO nervous. It's JUST A RUN! I don't know what my problem is! I don't know why I am so scared. I guess I just don't want to fail.
I know running is a mental thing. I know it is all mind over matter. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I just have to keep going. It may hurt, my legs may ache, but I have to keep going and keep reaching for that finish.
The 1/2 Marathon in Hampton, NH is in 5 weeks. I will have to run 13.1 miles outside that day! Outside, in February, at the BEACH! We've gotten snow that weekend before. It can be FRIGID that weekend. I have to get my long runs in outside to practice in the conditions I will be running in. The 1/2 marathon isn't on a treadmill... it is an outside road race.
I need to get my butt in gear, move off of my sofa, get my running clothes on and head outside for this 8 miles. I can't let the idea of an 8 mile run beat me. I knwo I'm stronger than that. But I am still so scared.
I talk a good talk. I did the Couch to 5K. I ran a 10K. I'm training for a 1/2 marathon in 5 weeks, then Boston 8 weeks later. I have 13 weeks left to train for 26.2 miles and I'm afraid of 8! Seriously?
When I had our team meeting for Mass Eye and Ear's Team in Boston last week, I was SO nervous about the meeting. I was more nervous about that than I was about training or fund raising! I was going into this alone, meeting runners. I felt like a fraud. I FEEL like a fraud. These are REAL runners.
But when I got there and found out many were running their first marathon as well, I did feel a little better. I'm still terrified. Absolutely terrified. But if I don't train, I WILL set myself up for failure. I have to get out and go and do it and JUST RUN!
I have my route. Starting by Johnie's Food Master on Rt 18, heading down Pleasant St, past Columbian Square up to Rt 53 where I'll take a right and follow Rt 53 into Hingham. When I come to Prime Gas Station, I'll turn right onto Derby St. I'll pss by the Derby Street Shoppes. It might get a little tricky running past the Rt 3 exit ramps, but I'll keep going straight back into Weymouth, past the High School and to Rt 18, by Dunkin and Mary Lou's. I'll turn left onto Rt 18, up the hill by South Shore Hospital and end by Johnie's Food Master. That's 7.78 miles with a couple of hills.
I am SO nervous. But I have to do it. I know I can do it. Ahhhh... ok time to move off the sofa, get my butt in gear, get dressed and head out the door. Here's to mind over matter!
I'm heading out for my 8 Mile Monster. Wish me luck!!!
Now I am thinking about it. I went to MapMyRun.com and created a route that would fit what I need today, complete with some hills! I got it to 7.78, starting near my house, heading into Hingham and then back by the South Shore Hospital. I have the route down. I know the street and I know exactly where I need to go to get this run in. The roads I picked are wide enough, even with the snow, and all pretty safe.
The weather is showing 32 degrees right now, so much better than yesterday. I have the water bottle thing that clicks on like a messanger bag my cousin gave me for Christmas, so I can have water on this 8 mile jaunt. I'll all prepared. I just need to get dressed and go.
I am absolute and completely terrified. I don't know why. It's a run! That's it. That's all. Just a run. Why am I scared to do this one? Why am I so nervous to head outside alone?
Up through December, all of my runs other than road races were on a track, round and round and round. I'd just keep a count of my laps, saying the lap number and total distance out loud after each one.
I didn't do my long run on Christmas weekend with the chaos of the holidays. Then New Years Day was another road race for the 10K. That was easy. There was a route to follow, people there, and even people I passed!
Last weekend I hit the gym for my run. Since I knew that the treadmills shut off after an hour, I did my warm up walk and then hit stop to get a new mile count. When I restarted and got up to my pace, I ran for 3.85 miles. Then I stopped for a minute, had water and stretched. I hopped back on and restarted the treadmill for another 3.65 to finish my 7 1/2 mile run. I was nervous but I was on the treadmill, in the gym and could stop whenever I wanted to. I thought about it, but I kept going.
But this is my first actual long run, outside, on my own. Maybe that's why my belly wasn't feeling great yesterday. Maybe I made myself sick with the idea of this. I am SO nervous. It's JUST A RUN! I don't know what my problem is! I don't know why I am so scared. I guess I just don't want to fail.
I know running is a mental thing. I know it is all mind over matter. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I just have to keep going. It may hurt, my legs may ache, but I have to keep going and keep reaching for that finish.
The 1/2 Marathon in Hampton, NH is in 5 weeks. I will have to run 13.1 miles outside that day! Outside, in February, at the BEACH! We've gotten snow that weekend before. It can be FRIGID that weekend. I have to get my long runs in outside to practice in the conditions I will be running in. The 1/2 marathon isn't on a treadmill... it is an outside road race.
I need to get my butt in gear, move off of my sofa, get my running clothes on and head outside for this 8 miles. I can't let the idea of an 8 mile run beat me. I knwo I'm stronger than that. But I am still so scared.
I talk a good talk. I did the Couch to 5K. I ran a 10K. I'm training for a 1/2 marathon in 5 weeks, then Boston 8 weeks later. I have 13 weeks left to train for 26.2 miles and I'm afraid of 8! Seriously?
When I had our team meeting for Mass Eye and Ear's Team in Boston last week, I was SO nervous about the meeting. I was more nervous about that than I was about training or fund raising! I was going into this alone, meeting runners. I felt like a fraud. I FEEL like a fraud. These are REAL runners.
But when I got there and found out many were running their first marathon as well, I did feel a little better. I'm still terrified. Absolutely terrified. But if I don't train, I WILL set myself up for failure. I have to get out and go and do it and JUST RUN!
I have my route. Starting by Johnie's Food Master on Rt 18, heading down Pleasant St, past Columbian Square up to Rt 53 where I'll take a right and follow Rt 53 into Hingham. When I come to Prime Gas Station, I'll turn right onto Derby St. I'll pss by the Derby Street Shoppes. It might get a little tricky running past the Rt 3 exit ramps, but I'll keep going straight back into Weymouth, past the High School and to Rt 18, by Dunkin and Mary Lou's. I'll turn left onto Rt 18, up the hill by South Shore Hospital and end by Johnie's Food Master. That's 7.78 miles with a couple of hills.
I am SO nervous. But I have to do it. I know I can do it. Ahhhh... ok time to move off the sofa, get my butt in gear, get dressed and head out the door. Here's to mind over matter!
I'm heading out for my 8 Mile Monster. Wish me luck!!!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Reach Out
Every year, as close to New Year's Day as possible, I sit down and spend some time reflecting on the year past and what intentions I want to set for my upcoming year. I love New Year's. I love that the possibilities are endless for what is available. Dream big!
Having worked with a life coach in a group setting for many years, I follow a set of journaling questions to review the past year and determine what worked and what didn't in a variety of areas of my life. Then I look towards what I would like out of the upcoming year. Generally a theme starts to emerge.
At this point, I give my coming year a name, an intention and I also base my New Years Resolutions off of that intention. The results have been life changing for me.
For some reason I haven't been able to remember my resolutions of 2008, but I do remember the name of that year. It was The Year of Slimming Down. I had a lot going on in my life in 2007. Lots of "stuff", lots of drama and lots I really needed to remove from my life. New Years of 2008 gave me that opportunity.
In 2008, many unhealthy relationships in my life ended. I did get rid of "stuff" that wasn't working. And not only stuff but also thoughts, ideas and stories I created for myself on who I was and how I was living my life. By the end of the year, although not per the scale :) I had slimmed down all other areas of my life. The unhealthy relationships were gone. The drama was gone. Stuff was gone. The excuses I had allowed myself to live by were gone.
Then came New Years going into 2009. Since I had gotten so much out of my life, it was time to build it back up. I named this year, The Year of New Experiences. WOW, what a successful idea that was! And I do remember this resolution, because this truly did change my life and point me into a completely different direction.
My resolution in 2009 was to do two things every month outside of my comfort zone. The rule of thumb I used.. if I got that nervous feeling in my belly, then I needed to go for it! I spoke up in situations where I would have remained silent. I had extremely difficult conversations at work. I went to a meetup group (Meetup.com) and met a group of people I did not know for a movie! I went rock climbing, I went on a ropes course, I asked someone on a date, I went to the movies all by myself for the first time in my life. I became an assistant organizer of a fitness meetup group and several months later when the original organizer no longer wanted to run the group, I stepped up to her role.
One thing I didn't expect with this resolution was as I tried different things, pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, then my comfort zone began to expand. It became harder to figure out new things to do that were still outside of my comfort zone by the end of the year!
By the end of 2009 I was a new person. I was so much more confident. I could speak up when I thought it was necessary. I could organize a 5K training session for a group of 25 people. I realized I could do absolutely anything I put my mind to. It was an incredible experience.
When that year ended and I started to review what I wanted out of 2010, I knew I enjoyed the fitness group I was organizing. I loved that exercise had become a much more important part of my life and I wanted to continue with that. I named 2010 The Year of Fitness. Although I didn't keep my resolution to try 2 new things every month with one fitness related, I did push myself to so many new experiences.
In 2010 I started back with yoga, tried Zumba, worked out an MMA fight gym, took golf lessons, ran in about a dozen 5K, started working out at the gym regularly, started swimming laps 2-3 times a week, ran 3 times a week, went kayaking about 4 times during the summer, went on hikes in Blue Hills just south of Boston. 2010 more than lived up to the intention I set.
November of 2010, I signed up for my first 10K road race for New Years Day and also decided I would run in a 1/2 marathon in mid February. Around Thanksgiving I started my training for that 1/2 marathon.
Then, with less than 2 weeks left in the year, I heard of an opportunity to join Mass Eye and Ear, recognized as one of the top speciality hospitals in the WORLD, as part of their fund raising team to run in the 2011 Boston Marathon. The week of Christmas I was accepted to join their team. I was going to do it! WOW!
Talk about putting a big fat juicy cherry on the top of an amazing fitness themed year! What a way to end 2010! :)
So then comes New Year's weekend. Again, I review the year and realized what worked, what could been a little different. I knew I loved how healthy I had become but there were other ways I could continue to improve on that. That was when I finally decided on my name and intention for 2011. 2011 is The Year of Positive Health.
My resolution for this year is for each month to practice 2 positive and healthy habits every day for the entire month. At the end of each month, I can decide if the habits are ones I want to keep in my life or if it is one that isn't working for me. Then, the next month I will start with 2 new positive and healthy habits.
January I started with what I thought was 2 easier ones. I wanted to do something for my financial health, so I have been keeping a spending journal. I write down every penny I have been spending this month. This has been a little easier than I originally thought, only because I haven't been doing too much spending in general! I used my Christmas gift certificates before New Years (and before the idea!) and just haven't been shopping at all, other than the food store.
My second pick for January was to do the plank pose every day for at least 1 minute and continue to add to it. That hasn't gone so well. I'm not much of a morning person, so remembering to do it before my shower with limited time and limited coffee hasn't been working so well. And for some reason, even the nights I do an ab workout at the gym, I just haven't been remembering it! I'm not happy with that. So I may need to keep this one for February as well.
Around New Years, I was searching for ideas on line of what I could do for other positive healthy habits for months during 2011. What would I want to try? What could I do every single day for a month? I'm horrible with flossing, so that's one. (who really is good at flossing?) Other ideas I had:
mediate for 5 minutes every day
drink at least 64 ounces of water a day
take my vitamins every day
write 3 things daily that I am grateful for
eat 6 servings of fruits and veggies daily
eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking up
spend time in nature every day
stretch or do yoga daily for at least 15 minutes
free write every morning for 5 pages
keep a food journal
compliment someone every day
While I was trying to find more ideas, I stumbled on a great website.
http://healthyhabitsetc.com
I LOVED this website and the positive uplifting ideas I found. It helped me with some ideas and I knew it would be a resource I could use throughout the year to maintain my intention.
I reached out to Lynn on her webpage. I think it is important to reach out and let others know when you appreciate what they do. Everyone is quick to share the bad, to complain and to pass along the negative. I think it is even more important to share the good, to say thank you and to pass along the positive. (write your local coffee shop and let the manager know how much you love their happy and positive counter help! A little positive feedback can go so far!)
I shared with Lynn my story; my naming my year, my resolutions, how I will use her webpage for 2011 and that I am running in the 2011 Boston Marathon. I wasn't expecting anything in return. I just wanted her to know that I appreciated her website and how it was helping me in my journey. But Lynn sent me a great response. She also asked if she could share my email in one of her upcoming newsletters. I responded with a resounding YES and passed along the link to this blog as well.
Lynn did share our emails in her newsletter, including the link to this! WOW! I was not expecting that she would pass along and encourage others to follow my story, my journey. I am so touched by that.
I know this is long, I know this isn't about my running training, but I think it is important for me to share how I got here. My journey from December of 2007 to now shows so much of who I am as a person, where I came from and where I want to go. I have changed so much in the past 3 years. I was a depressed couch potato, overweight, unmotivated with very unhealthy relationships in my life. I had a bad attitude and was just down.
Each year I pushed myself. Each year I grew. Each year I expanded the opportunities that were available to me. I deepened the positive relationships in my life and terminated many that were not working so well. I have become a person I am proud to be.
This has all led to new opportunities coming into my life. I had to clear out the old, the unhealthy and what wasn't working. Just like your closet. When it is full, you have no where to put anything new. You need to clear out the old, outdated, ill fitting items you don't wear or enjoy to make room for the new and exciting. With removing all of what wasn't working, I made room for the new.
I have new experiences, new passions, new friendships. I have met some wonderful people along the way in my journey and I'm sure I will continue to meet even more as I continue. I have an excitement for life I never had.
My fitness group has been such a wonderful experience as well. I love doing the Couch to 5K with that group. I love seeing the excitement and pride when new runners experience new accomplishments. I get so much joy out of seeing them all succeed! I am touched and moved when people tell me that I what I am doing is inspiring. I feel like I get so much more out of it than I could ever give.
So this is my story. This is my journey. This is how I ended up where I am, training for the 2011 Boston Marathon. 2 years ago I was 160 pounds, wearing a size 12 jeans. My BMI put me in the "overweight" group and I agreed! I never exercised.
Now I take Fridays as a rest day for exercise and training, sometimes Sundays too. Every other day I have my running, swimming or yoga (or anything else!) posted on my calendar as a schedule event that I can't miss. I am fighting to maintain 125 pounds, but today was down to 123.8. I am wearing a size 6 petite pants and my new shirts that fit are all X-Small (the small tops I bought are all too big). I am in the best shape of my life and the healthiest I have ever been. I can't remember when I was this size! Even when I graduated HS, ahem, almost 19 years ago, I was wearing a size 9 pants and medium tops. I think I was maybe 14 or 15 when I was this small.
And I had an injury tossed in there too! In 2009 after months of PT, an MRI finally showed a bulging disc in my neck in September that year. I did 3 rounds of cortisone injections into my spine and after PT did 8 months weekly massage therapy to my shoulders, upper back and neck. And I'm still here!
If I can make it this far within 3 years, than anyone can. Anyone can succeed and reach their goals if they focus, set their intentions and do the work necessary to have success. Find your determination. Put in the work. You are worth it.
And reach out to others. You never know where you will find that one magic gem. Open yourself up to the possibilities that life has. You have to take that one first step. See the little picture. Work on the small goals. Then stop and pause to look back, seeing the progress and success you have had. Then hop back on going forward!
Wow, I had a lot to say today! :) And all of this is before I head out for my scheduled 8 mile run today. 8 miles and it is 22 degrees in Boston right now. JOY! Time to bundle up I guess.
Please click on the link to my donation page to learn more about Mass Eye and Ear and the amazing research and treatment that provide to patients who come from around the world. Please consider making a donation of any amount to help me reach my goal while I continue to train for the marathon... even on days where is it 22 degrees outside! :) No amount is too small and even $5 would be so greatly appreciated. If you are not comfortable donating on line, please leave a comment on this page with your contact information. I will contact you with other ways to donate off line.
Happy weekend and thanks for reading.
Having worked with a life coach in a group setting for many years, I follow a set of journaling questions to review the past year and determine what worked and what didn't in a variety of areas of my life. Then I look towards what I would like out of the upcoming year. Generally a theme starts to emerge.
At this point, I give my coming year a name, an intention and I also base my New Years Resolutions off of that intention. The results have been life changing for me.
For some reason I haven't been able to remember my resolutions of 2008, but I do remember the name of that year. It was The Year of Slimming Down. I had a lot going on in my life in 2007. Lots of "stuff", lots of drama and lots I really needed to remove from my life. New Years of 2008 gave me that opportunity.
In 2008, many unhealthy relationships in my life ended. I did get rid of "stuff" that wasn't working. And not only stuff but also thoughts, ideas and stories I created for myself on who I was and how I was living my life. By the end of the year, although not per the scale :) I had slimmed down all other areas of my life. The unhealthy relationships were gone. The drama was gone. Stuff was gone. The excuses I had allowed myself to live by were gone.
Then came New Years going into 2009. Since I had gotten so much out of my life, it was time to build it back up. I named this year, The Year of New Experiences. WOW, what a successful idea that was! And I do remember this resolution, because this truly did change my life and point me into a completely different direction.
My resolution in 2009 was to do two things every month outside of my comfort zone. The rule of thumb I used.. if I got that nervous feeling in my belly, then I needed to go for it! I spoke up in situations where I would have remained silent. I had extremely difficult conversations at work. I went to a meetup group (Meetup.com) and met a group of people I did not know for a movie! I went rock climbing, I went on a ropes course, I asked someone on a date, I went to the movies all by myself for the first time in my life. I became an assistant organizer of a fitness meetup group and several months later when the original organizer no longer wanted to run the group, I stepped up to her role.
One thing I didn't expect with this resolution was as I tried different things, pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, then my comfort zone began to expand. It became harder to figure out new things to do that were still outside of my comfort zone by the end of the year!
By the end of 2009 I was a new person. I was so much more confident. I could speak up when I thought it was necessary. I could organize a 5K training session for a group of 25 people. I realized I could do absolutely anything I put my mind to. It was an incredible experience.
When that year ended and I started to review what I wanted out of 2010, I knew I enjoyed the fitness group I was organizing. I loved that exercise had become a much more important part of my life and I wanted to continue with that. I named 2010 The Year of Fitness. Although I didn't keep my resolution to try 2 new things every month with one fitness related, I did push myself to so many new experiences.
In 2010 I started back with yoga, tried Zumba, worked out an MMA fight gym, took golf lessons, ran in about a dozen 5K, started working out at the gym regularly, started swimming laps 2-3 times a week, ran 3 times a week, went kayaking about 4 times during the summer, went on hikes in Blue Hills just south of Boston. 2010 more than lived up to the intention I set.
November of 2010, I signed up for my first 10K road race for New Years Day and also decided I would run in a 1/2 marathon in mid February. Around Thanksgiving I started my training for that 1/2 marathon.
Then, with less than 2 weeks left in the year, I heard of an opportunity to join Mass Eye and Ear, recognized as one of the top speciality hospitals in the WORLD, as part of their fund raising team to run in the 2011 Boston Marathon. The week of Christmas I was accepted to join their team. I was going to do it! WOW!
Talk about putting a big fat juicy cherry on the top of an amazing fitness themed year! What a way to end 2010! :)
So then comes New Year's weekend. Again, I review the year and realized what worked, what could been a little different. I knew I loved how healthy I had become but there were other ways I could continue to improve on that. That was when I finally decided on my name and intention for 2011. 2011 is The Year of Positive Health.
My resolution for this year is for each month to practice 2 positive and healthy habits every day for the entire month. At the end of each month, I can decide if the habits are ones I want to keep in my life or if it is one that isn't working for me. Then, the next month I will start with 2 new positive and healthy habits.
January I started with what I thought was 2 easier ones. I wanted to do something for my financial health, so I have been keeping a spending journal. I write down every penny I have been spending this month. This has been a little easier than I originally thought, only because I haven't been doing too much spending in general! I used my Christmas gift certificates before New Years (and before the idea!) and just haven't been shopping at all, other than the food store.
My second pick for January was to do the plank pose every day for at least 1 minute and continue to add to it. That hasn't gone so well. I'm not much of a morning person, so remembering to do it before my shower with limited time and limited coffee hasn't been working so well. And for some reason, even the nights I do an ab workout at the gym, I just haven't been remembering it! I'm not happy with that. So I may need to keep this one for February as well.
Around New Years, I was searching for ideas on line of what I could do for other positive healthy habits for months during 2011. What would I want to try? What could I do every single day for a month? I'm horrible with flossing, so that's one. (who really is good at flossing?) Other ideas I had:
mediate for 5 minutes every day
drink at least 64 ounces of water a day
take my vitamins every day
write 3 things daily that I am grateful for
eat 6 servings of fruits and veggies daily
eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking up
spend time in nature every day
stretch or do yoga daily for at least 15 minutes
free write every morning for 5 pages
keep a food journal
compliment someone every day
While I was trying to find more ideas, I stumbled on a great website.
http://healthyhabitsetc.com
I LOVED this website and the positive uplifting ideas I found. It helped me with some ideas and I knew it would be a resource I could use throughout the year to maintain my intention.
I reached out to Lynn on her webpage. I think it is important to reach out and let others know when you appreciate what they do. Everyone is quick to share the bad, to complain and to pass along the negative. I think it is even more important to share the good, to say thank you and to pass along the positive. (write your local coffee shop and let the manager know how much you love their happy and positive counter help! A little positive feedback can go so far!)
I shared with Lynn my story; my naming my year, my resolutions, how I will use her webpage for 2011 and that I am running in the 2011 Boston Marathon. I wasn't expecting anything in return. I just wanted her to know that I appreciated her website and how it was helping me in my journey. But Lynn sent me a great response. She also asked if she could share my email in one of her upcoming newsletters. I responded with a resounding YES and passed along the link to this blog as well.
Lynn did share our emails in her newsletter, including the link to this! WOW! I was not expecting that she would pass along and encourage others to follow my story, my journey. I am so touched by that.
I know this is long, I know this isn't about my running training, but I think it is important for me to share how I got here. My journey from December of 2007 to now shows so much of who I am as a person, where I came from and where I want to go. I have changed so much in the past 3 years. I was a depressed couch potato, overweight, unmotivated with very unhealthy relationships in my life. I had a bad attitude and was just down.
Each year I pushed myself. Each year I grew. Each year I expanded the opportunities that were available to me. I deepened the positive relationships in my life and terminated many that were not working so well. I have become a person I am proud to be.
This has all led to new opportunities coming into my life. I had to clear out the old, the unhealthy and what wasn't working. Just like your closet. When it is full, you have no where to put anything new. You need to clear out the old, outdated, ill fitting items you don't wear or enjoy to make room for the new and exciting. With removing all of what wasn't working, I made room for the new.
I have new experiences, new passions, new friendships. I have met some wonderful people along the way in my journey and I'm sure I will continue to meet even more as I continue. I have an excitement for life I never had.
My fitness group has been such a wonderful experience as well. I love doing the Couch to 5K with that group. I love seeing the excitement and pride when new runners experience new accomplishments. I get so much joy out of seeing them all succeed! I am touched and moved when people tell me that I what I am doing is inspiring. I feel like I get so much more out of it than I could ever give.
So this is my story. This is my journey. This is how I ended up where I am, training for the 2011 Boston Marathon. 2 years ago I was 160 pounds, wearing a size 12 jeans. My BMI put me in the "overweight" group and I agreed! I never exercised.
Now I take Fridays as a rest day for exercise and training, sometimes Sundays too. Every other day I have my running, swimming or yoga (or anything else!) posted on my calendar as a schedule event that I can't miss. I am fighting to maintain 125 pounds, but today was down to 123.8. I am wearing a size 6 petite pants and my new shirts that fit are all X-Small (the small tops I bought are all too big). I am in the best shape of my life and the healthiest I have ever been. I can't remember when I was this size! Even when I graduated HS, ahem, almost 19 years ago, I was wearing a size 9 pants and medium tops. I think I was maybe 14 or 15 when I was this small.
And I had an injury tossed in there too! In 2009 after months of PT, an MRI finally showed a bulging disc in my neck in September that year. I did 3 rounds of cortisone injections into my spine and after PT did 8 months weekly massage therapy to my shoulders, upper back and neck. And I'm still here!
If I can make it this far within 3 years, than anyone can. Anyone can succeed and reach their goals if they focus, set their intentions and do the work necessary to have success. Find your determination. Put in the work. You are worth it.
And reach out to others. You never know where you will find that one magic gem. Open yourself up to the possibilities that life has. You have to take that one first step. See the little picture. Work on the small goals. Then stop and pause to look back, seeing the progress and success you have had. Then hop back on going forward!
Wow, I had a lot to say today! :) And all of this is before I head out for my scheduled 8 mile run today. 8 miles and it is 22 degrees in Boston right now. JOY! Time to bundle up I guess.
Please click on the link to my donation page to learn more about Mass Eye and Ear and the amazing research and treatment that provide to patients who come from around the world. Please consider making a donation of any amount to help me reach my goal while I continue to train for the marathon... even on days where is it 22 degrees outside! :) No amount is too small and even $5 would be so greatly appreciated. If you are not comfortable donating on line, please leave a comment on this page with your contact information. I will contact you with other ways to donate off line.
Happy weekend and thanks for reading.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Rest Day
SO happy today is rest day. I'm pretty exhausted after this week. Even with the snow and a day off of work, it was a LONG week! And this is a 3 day weekend too which is even better.
So tonight, I'm home & relaxing. No plans other than a night on the sofa and I have never been more excited to do nothing! :)
Tomorrow is long run day for 8 miles. I really want to run outside, but I've been having a hard time figuring out somewhere I can run that would be safe enough with the weather, snow, ice, traffic and overall bad roads. But if the 1/2 marathon is in a month, I really need to be ready to run outside.
So I'm resting, relaxing and enjoying my night of doing NOTHING!
So tonight, I'm home & relaxing. No plans other than a night on the sofa and I have never been more excited to do nothing! :)
Tomorrow is long run day for 8 miles. I really want to run outside, but I've been having a hard time figuring out somewhere I can run that would be safe enough with the weather, snow, ice, traffic and overall bad roads. But if the 1/2 marathon is in a month, I really need to be ready to run outside.
So I'm resting, relaxing and enjoying my night of doing NOTHING!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
95 Days and some news!
After the crazy storm yesterday, for the first time ever I was dying for a run! I've never felt like that before. I didn't do my short recovery run on Tuesday night and yesterday I couldn't get out of my driveway, so I didn't go anywhere. I was dying to get in a run today.
That was hard too. I already had plans to meet a few friends at the pool at 7 and I got out of work after 5. I FLEW to the gym, changed and hopped on a treadmill. After a quick warm up walk, I was up to 5.5 for the pace at a 1% incline. Into the second mile, I wanted to work on speed. I went up to 6.8! That's a BIG jump for me and my short legs! I did that pace for 2 minutes before going back to 5.5.
After another mile I went back up to 6.8 again for another 2 1/2 minutes & closer to 4 miles I did it for 3 minutes. I felt really good when I was done. I finished the 4 miles in 42 minutes! That's REALLY good for me, especially since I have been training at an 11+ minute mile! I'm pretty proud of that time tonight.
After the gym, I headed straight to the pool to meet up with my friends. I swam almost 3/4 of a mile. Officialy 3/4 of a mile is 24 laps. I did 22 laps. Almost! But I was exhausted at that point.
And other GREAT news today!!
My company has donated a pair of Red Sox tickets for my prizes for fund raising donations made over $75. They are AMAZING seats! I'm SO excited!
Here are a few pictures taken at a game in April of 2009 from those seats! GREAT SPOT!!!
That was hard too. I already had plans to meet a few friends at the pool at 7 and I got out of work after 5. I FLEW to the gym, changed and hopped on a treadmill. After a quick warm up walk, I was up to 5.5 for the pace at a 1% incline. Into the second mile, I wanted to work on speed. I went up to 6.8! That's a BIG jump for me and my short legs! I did that pace for 2 minutes before going back to 5.5.
After another mile I went back up to 6.8 again for another 2 1/2 minutes & closer to 4 miles I did it for 3 minutes. I felt really good when I was done. I finished the 4 miles in 42 minutes! That's REALLY good for me, especially since I have been training at an 11+ minute mile! I'm pretty proud of that time tonight.
After the gym, I headed straight to the pool to meet up with my friends. I swam almost 3/4 of a mile. Officialy 3/4 of a mile is 24 laps. I did 22 laps. Almost! But I was exhausted at that point.
And other GREAT news today!!
My company has donated a pair of Red Sox tickets for my prizes for fund raising donations made over $75. They are AMAZING seats! I'm SO excited!
Here are a few pictures taken at a game in April of 2009 from those seats! GREAT SPOT!!!
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