Motivation Monday...errr Tuesday
Pain. This is a marathon’s constant companion. At least this marathoner.
Currently I am a “walker”, but am beginning the transition to running for the Nike Women’s half marathon. So Saturday we had a 9 mile route for training. And it was killer, windy, and cold and lots of rolling hills. I have never been so sore and so exhausted in my life. (I fell asleep in the laundry room that afternoon waiting for a machine to open up…twice. yikes) I think this is because I ran. I ran the last half mile (truly amazing for me). My coach mentioned that there was chocolate milk at the finish line…so I ran.
Clearly I may need to change the name of this blog to “Will run for chocolate milk”
So aside from being is great amounts of pain, it was a good training. I learned that I do not want to be in that much pain ever again J that means that there needs to be more stretching, and more training during the week. I accidently missed my mid-week session since I went to the wrong location! Ooops!
Pain is an amazing motivator. I wanted so badly to run on Saturday- and it felt so good to run. And it hurt like hell when I stopped. I was not expecting that. So it made me think- if it hurts to stop, and it feels amazing to run…why in the name if all that is holy am I WALKING???
This coming Saturday is my first ever 10 mile day; and then I am super insanse because I am walking an additional 4 miles next weekend for March for Babies. sweet.
Motivation Monday!
I had such a great weekend. >.<
My guy decided that he will start running with me one day a week this summer while I am training for the Nike Women’s half. yay. It will be so nice to have a running buddy.
So my motivation today is…to be able to wear a bikini this summer! I have this picture in my head of me being able to wear the cute shorts and a bikini this summer. Which I have not been comfortable doing for the better part of the last 10 years or so thanks to an extra 40 pounds on my 4’10” frame.
So I keep this picture in my mind of a much thinner, stronger hotter me…and that got me up at 5:30 this morning to ride the bike in the living room, while watching an episode of my faaaavorite Anime Fruits Basket. That is the way to get through 5 miles in the wee hours of the morning!!
I also got some of the best tunes for training…the playlist is still a work in progress…but the newest additions are…
“Another One Bites the Dust”- Queen
“Bicycle Race” – Queen
“Killer Queen” – Queen
“Check Yes Juliet”- We the Kings
“Sir Duke” - Stevie Wonder
Next on the list to get is…
“Benny & the Jets”, “Crocodile Rock”, and “Your Song” by Elton John.
“The Distance” - Cake
“Don’t Stop me Now” – Queen
“Higher Ground” – Stevie Wonder (or RHCP- I think I like the RHCP version better…more Rock flava)
“Play That Funky Music “- Wild Cherry
“A Little Less Conversation” – Elvis
“Sweet Disposition” - The Temper Trap
Anything by HarMar SuperStar… <3
Music is definitely a strong motivator for me. I love music, and lean on it big time for the energy I need to get through a workout. I love getting lost in it.
Happy Monday everyone!!!
Wildcard Wednesday!
Welcome to the first "Wildcard Wednesday" Today's topic...
Just exactly how long is a mile?
“In contemporary English, a mile most commonly refers to the statute mile of 5,280 feet (1,760 yards, or 1,609.344 meters), the survey mile of 5,280 survey feet (1609.3472 m) (Wikipedia 4/13/11)
5,280 steps per mile. How many steps in my half marathon…69,168. Amazing. Each one of those steps helps bring you closer to a goal. The finish line.
But how long is a mile? It takes me about 20 minutes to walk a mile right now. I would love to get that closer to 15 minutes. I know that running, sadly, it would be the same! At least it was in high school gym class. Granted that was a long time ago, but there has been no improvement in that area. So 20 minutes, eh? That’s 4 hours to walk 13.1 miles. 4 hours of my life to push myself, to go beyond anything I have ever done.
So…I am a history nut, and have recently gotten into Greek mythology. Thanks to an obsession with Battlestar Galactica. Yes, I am a total and complete nerd. I was curious as to the history of what a marathon is… and why such a specific distance, 26 miles and 385 yards.
The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon, in which he had just fought, which took place in late summer, 490 BC. It is said that he ran the entire distance to the assembly without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming “We have won.” before collapsing and dying.
Ok, so I am pretty sure that I won’t collapse and die after my marathon (I might feel that way…). But I won’t have just fought in a battle either. And thanks to my coaches I know to hydrate and fuel to avoid the aforementioned death or collapsing J. Although, it makes me think of the reason that I am doing this. For those who can’t. Each one of these miles will be a victory for me, and for my teammates. Each mile means that I have pushed myself for something bigger than me. I will be proud of each and every single mile that I log in my training and on race day. No matter what happens.
Have a suggestion for a "Wildcard Wednesday" topic? Leave a comment and I will add it to the hat!
Motivation Monday
So I am sure that I have totally lost my mind…because on Saturday I registered for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco!! So that means that my training will overlap by a month, and I just signed away my Saturdays and my life for the next 7 months. Sweet.
So now I have a dead-line…er, finish line to cross J
I am so pumped about this race. Mentally that is. Physically I am a wee bit nervous for the training, since I will be running for this one. I know that I can’t run the entire race; but a nice run/ walk combo would be acceptable. I have faith and confidence in myself that I can do this. A positive attitude is going to be a must for this season- along with a great sports bra and body glide… and maybe some compression sleeves….
At the preview party on Saturday night, there were tons of new TNT potentials…the only three people I recognized were the staff of LLS that I already knew…so there were lots of new ladies to chat with. One of the speakers talked about her brother who lost is battle with AML, and she was still very emotional about it. That kind of stuff just breaks my heart. In chatting with some of the ladies the first question everyone asked was “Have you ever done a marathon before?”…well actually I am still training for one! The look of shock on people’s faces when the realized that I would get no break in my training go from one right to another was priceless. They then of course asked “WHY?” Well, my Mom didn’t get a break in her battle with cancer. A few short respites perhaps…but no break. Why should I take a break? But I got some fun swag! And a door prize! One that I fully intend on saving for a silent auction…need the money folks. J
SO there was a cake...in the shape of a Tiffany's box...and it was gooood.
They also had the finisher's shirts for the last few years, with the necklace that was given at the end!
Earlier on Saturday I walked 9 miles, in 3.5 hours…wow. I really had to push through the pain on that one. The first two miles sucked as usual…but when I broke through the wall- I knew it instantly. I felt great, like I could keep going forever! That was right at the 4.5 mile mark. By the time I realized I was at about 7, 7.5 miles I wanted to drop to the ground. Just rest a bit… but we kept on going. 9 miles baby…insane what you can force your body to do against its will. Mind over matter… that might be the new mantra this week. Especially since I am in serious pain. Although- even taking into consideration the pain…I need to shave some time off of my pace. Big time. That is a 23 minute mile. Boo. But that time does include potty break, and water stops… it needs to be closer to 15-17. Lots of work to do.
I did learn some lessons this weekend:
1.) I need to stretch waaaaay more than I have been. And more often too.
2.) Bring extra band-aids for the guys in our group (nipple chaffing is sad, sad, sad…)
3.) Green Apple PowerBar Gu tastes like Playdough smells. EW.
4.) My back on my right side from just under my bra to my waistband is numb…and freezing. With a gross looking bruise. No clue how it got there, but the numb part = bad, and scary. L
5.) Chocolate milk is the BEST recovery fuel!!
6.) And it’s time to start shelling out for massages at least every other week.
Even though I am in pain and crazy…I am really proud of myself. Not even gonna lie. I rawk!
You want to do what now?
Run. I want to run. Running is freedom, and I want that freedom. I have a nasty habit of not following through on things. I am great at starting, but when I find out how much work is involved, I usually gracefully bow out. And that is not who I want to be as I enter my thirties. I want to be a strong, proud, and accomplished woman as I turn the big 3-0.
I am currently halfway through training for my first walking marathon with Team in Training. Two months in and 2 months to go- I have never been more enthusiastic about doing something in my life. I can think of several reasons why I want to do this. They mostly consist of the typical- be more active, lose weight…but the best reason is pride in myself. I want to see something through to the finish line. I don’t care if it’s a 5K, a 10K, or a full blown marathon. I just want to run. I want to feel that sense of completion at the finish line, that I did something huge, something that not everyone in the world can do. I need to do this for me. I need to show myself that I am capable of pushing myself to the edge of what I thought possible- and then take a flying leap over the edge to see what is beyond it.
Obviously a full marathon is not going to be possible for me right now, or even in 6 months. But a half is something I can see happening. For me this is now about goal setting and follow through. I am not going to just get up the day of the race and blow it outta the water. I have to commit to this 100%. My friends, family and boyfriend may think that I have lost my mind- but I don’t care. This is for me.
With that…welcome to Will Run for Wine! A place to vent, share my victories, and defeats (there will be many I am sure), a place to document this journey so that I can look back and think “wow! That is how this all got started!!”
So format wise what you can expect to see is “Motivation Monday”- Where I will share something that motivates me, a song, an article, a fellow runner etc. Something that inspires me to get out of bed and pound the pavement every day. “Wild card Wednesday”- so I have TONS of questions about the “running culture”, and my nerdy solution is to make a list of what I want to know, and draw a topic to research and discuss on Wednesdays. Everything from nutrition, to gear to races. If you have suggestions please comment away!! “Thankful Thursday, A.K.A Friday Eve”- a little recap of the weekly training, and things that I am thankful for in my training (coaches, gear, new lessons- even the painful ones). And…well other stuff to come I am sure! I am just a baby blogger after all! J
I don’t want this to be a one and done sort of situation, this must be a lifestyle change for me. Thus the 100% commitment. Working with TNT, I know that I will be successful in the training. I can make this happen.
Here we go…..
It's official!!
I am oficially registered for the Minneapolis half marathon with Team in Training!!
In 2 months from today, I will be walking this course. I have a long way to go in my training, but I am so ready!!
Motivation Monday
With 2 months & counting to the Minneapolis Marathon with TNT- I am making the next 7 Mondays "Motivation Monday". My Mom told me about this song, "I won't let go" by Rascal Flatts. I first heard it on the radio and half way through; but I could not stop the tears from falling. I dedicate this to all of the people fighting cancer today. You are not alone- and I won't let go!!
"I won't let go" by Rascal Flatts- video on youtube
Mondays are the hardest days for me to get out of bed in the morning; I fight the urge to turn off the alarm and roll over. But as this event gets closer I need to harness all of the energy that I have in my body and get my butt to the gym. This past Saturday I walked 8 miles for…for well… the first time ever I think. Perhaps I may have done an 8 mile walk once when I was younger- but this was different.
I can always tell when I get to the 2 mile mark. My body wants to rebel- my legs ache and that little voice in my head says “you don’t really want to do this anymore…” But I tell that voice to shut it- and I keep going. But around the 5 mile mark, I start to feel good. Like I could keep going forever. But I learned this weekend that at 7 miles I have to make my legs work, will them to keep going. I have to tell myself that I have no other choice but to continue.
The longer I am involved with TNT the more connections that I find to this disease. And that saddens me deeply. I wish it were the other way around. But that is why I am doing this- to make it the other way. To lessen the instances that keep coming up, to fight this disease one mile, one dollar at a time.
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