Settling Back Into Routine Feels So Good!

It's been a good day.  I feel SO MUCH BETTER being back into a regular routine.  We have power.  The coolers of ice are gone.  We have heat in the house.  I have made much healthier choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and went for my first  run today since my 20-mile run on Sunday and first run since the storm.

Funny how I have now settled into a healthy lifestyle, how I get cranky and just don't feel well when I go off course.  I still don't recognize myself, this new me, sometimes.

So tonight I am in the recliner, looking forward to lighting a fire, cozying up with my fuzzy blankie, a cup of hot tea, and my laptop to catch up on reading all my favorite blogs and hopefully, a few new ones too.

Waiting Out the Storm

Wow, it's been a while since I posted!  Been a little crazy in my world lately, training for marathon, trying to catch up on work, and then a surprise trip to Florida to help my Mom out, who was in the hospital.  Missed 9 days of training down there, minus one run that I was able to sneak in.

Jumped back into training this past week as soon as I got home, and accomplished something HUGE this weekend.  I completed my longest run EVER, 20 miles, longest run I'll do now until the marathon.  From this point on, for the next three weeks, I'll taper.

Not crazy over the fact that there is such a big difference between 20 and 26 miles, but I'm told that if I can complete the 20, I can do the 26.  Okay.  I'll listen to those who have gone before me.  :)

So now we're waiting for Hurricane Sandy to pass.  Been raining all day, and winds are picking up now.  I pray that all my family and friends at the Jersey shore.

I am a little unnerved by the threat of high winds and soaking wet ground, combined with the HUGE trees across the street that are leaning in our direction.  I may decide to sleep in the living room tonight, a little further away from the big trees.  Probably won't sleep much anyway.

Detour or Roadblock --- Not Clear Yet

Detour or Roadblock --that is the question.  I am I believe 4 weeks from my first marathon and had been right on track with training.  However, in the past 10 days, my training has been "on pause".  It was necessary that I take a break to head down to Florida and help my Mom out, who is having some health problems.  I did go for one run while away, but that's it.

My plan?  Tomorrow I am going to jump back into training, where I would normally be had I not taken the break.  I will slow my pace down and try to complete the remaining training runs and just see how it goes.  Already paid the registration months ago, so I might as well follow through with it and assess the situation when I get closer to the marathon.

Any tips at this point are appreciated.  Ever have to take a break in training either due to injury, business or personal issues?  How did you handle it?

Facing the Fears

Having basically discovered a side of myself in the past few years that I never knew existed, I have become self-confident, and a little outspoken at times, and I've learned to do things for myself that will help me continue to grow.   This isn't just about finding new hobbies or learning how to cook or bake.  This goes much deeper.   You have to face your fears.  Example, I'm trying to get more comfortable with speaking in front of a group of people.  Being a shy and overweight kid, teenager, and adult, this is a big deal for me.  I'm working on it.


I dealt with one just the other day.  I challenged myself once again to face it.  I have wanted to get out to the area and run where I have not run before, the marathon course, but I had this stupid fear of running alone in an unfamiliar area.  I had to get over this.  So on Tuesday, I went and I just got out on that trail and started to run.  You know, it's funny, those fears immediately began to shrink once I had my feet on the trail and started running.  

And this is not ALL about running, but also branches out into other parts of my life and future.  I am learning to stop being so comfortable with the things "just the way they are", face the fear, embrace it, deal with it, and then let it come crashing down.    


As you probably know if you read my blog, I will be running my first full marathon in November.  I chose to do this in November, knowing that most likely, my running buddy, Aimee, who has run every event with me aside from one 5K last Christmas, will not be at the start line with me for those 26.2 miles, and that I will definitely need to face some of the long training runs on my own.

The thought of running a marathon by myself scares the heck out of me, but it also excites me to know that I am facing yet another milestone, another hurdle, another fear, the fear of being alone.   And I KNOW I can do this!

A few weeks ago, I ran my longest distance ever, 15 miles, and I did it alone.  It was a wonderful feeling to know that I was able to do it, and it gave me hope as I continue to train.  I am terrified at the prospect of running 26.2 miles on my own and certainly would love it if Aimee were crossing that finish line with me, but regardless of what happens, I've made the commitment, and I intend to follow this through, NO MATTER WHAT.

I will face this fear, embrace it, deal with it, and let the fear of those 26.2 miles come crashing down at my feet and then stomp on it as I cross that finish line!