Week 9 - The Road to 13.1

The weeks are flying by and of all the weeks...this past one might be my favorite.  It started with happy, super charged motivation after an incredible soccer fan dream experience and ended with an even more incredible long distance walk/run  (8 miles with a 1 mile cool down chaser!!).  Yes...that is right...I am now walking and running...which has improved my time exponentially.  After a minor freak out about my slow time and worries over not even finishing the half marathon...my trainer S suggested perhaps I try walking for 3 minutes and running for 2 minutes.  I laughed, thinking it was impossible.  My bestie/big sister friend N (a tri-athlete to boot) had broached the idea with me too.  I shrugged it off...I don't run anymore...I have no stamina.  I can't do it.  On Thursday night, I pushed away all of the negative energy swirling around in my head and went for it.  On the treadmill...for an hour...with loud music pumping through my ears...I alternated with a three minute walk (at 3.7 mph) and then a 2 minute run (from 4.7 - 5.0 mph).  It was glorious...I had forgotten how much I loved that feeling.

Both of my fitness role models were each trying to ease me into the idea of adding running back into my life.   I refused to hear them.  Somewhere along the line, I had convinced myself that I didn't deserve that amazing feeling when you run.  I was holding myself back, thinking that I could only walk.  They believed in me more than I believed in myself.  They could see what I was capable of before I could.  In deciding to trust them, my training has just been amped to a whole new level.  A level that I didn't not even know I was capable of.  What was starting to seem impossible is now coming back into view.

As I was powering through on Thursday night, I started to think about all of my "lessons from soccer"...and how following the beautiful game has changed my perspective on everything.  I never played sports.  I was never on a team.  I have never scored a point in anything.  I have never had a coach.  But now, as a soccer fan, I am exposed to all of these things and more.  I get to see how all of the pieces fit together to create something really special (players, coaches, and staff).  If I could sum up this week with one lesson...it would be this..."Allow Yourself to be Coached".

Vera Relapse...

I had a bit of a Vera Bradley relapse on Friday after work...I popped into Tiara Galleries (one of my main Vera and Brighton dealers) on a recon mission for future gift giving...and well...the pretty pink flowers were too much to resist.  I have been pretty good...but the power of Lilli Belle was just too much...and I caved.  A new shopping tote (for healthy grocery shopping), small cosmetic bag, mirror cosmetic bag (new diabetes bag), sunglasses case, umbrella, key chain, flip flops, and then a free gift (cosmetic trio).  I just found a new purse for Spring/Summer...and well...it will arrive from Juicy Couture on Tuesday (hope hope)...so I needed new accessories.  Yes...I have a problem...but there are much worse addictions.  I have been on my game in terms of my half marathon training, eating healthy, checking/logging my blood sugars, better work/life balance...so a little pink flowery fun reward  is not uncalled for.  They will see me through many amazing things ahead...continued training, my first half marathon, countless soccer games, my first Under Seven Camp weekend, and my first real vacation since I started working.  And then there all of the other fantastic things that I have no idea are coming down the path...  

Week 8 - The Road to 13.1

So I have been at this for 8 weeks...it is suddenly almost the end of April...and I am re-energized...I'm sure it is due in part to the fact that my tree is full bloom.  This is the first week where I really feel like I'm hitting all of my goals...all of them.  Hydration - check.  Blood Sugar Management - check.  Eating Healthy - check.  Sleep - check (except for early AM low blood sugars).  I am really starting to feel better...in better control of things.   I am taking less insulin.  This is called living the dream!!  I am still slow as hell with the walking...but I am really starting to not stress about it.  If I keep at this pace...I will not finish the half marathon in the required time.  When you math it out...the numbers just don't work.  So, my back-up plan is that on June 2, I will just do the 13.1 miles on a different course...and start way earlier.  For me it is about going the distance...it doesn't matter how long it takes me to get there.  I will go the distance.  I will finish.

I also know it is not just my tree in bloom that has made the difference.  For the first time in a very long time, I'm actually keeping records of my blood sugars.  I'm completely addicted to the My Fitness Pal app...which has completely changed my game in terms of managing my health.  When I see my endocrinologist in another week or so...I am going to have real records to show.  I have so much more energy.  I feel stronger.  I am in control.   I am going to walk 13.1 miles.  And then...I am going to train and walk 26.2 miles.

Put down the clipboard...

I am a planner...type A, list making, organizing, coordinating, and implementing.  I am a get'er-doner.  I call it being the one with the clipboard.  Make note...when there are many things that need to get done...there is usually someone with a clipboard.  The clipboard might be in virtual form (ie Crackberry) or invisible...but there is always someone thinking about all the things that need to happen.  One step ahead (or two or seven).  That is me...the person with the clipboard.

My life used to be work, school, and helping to take care of grandparents.  Then...it was work and helping to take care of my grandparents.  Then...it was work and helping to take care of my grandma.  And then it was just work.  It is very different now...I have lots more time for fun and different kinds of work.  I'm scheduling around soccer fandom...time with friends...time with family (see soccer fandom)...time with my boyfriend Gym...and then there is this whole training to walk 13.1 and then 26.2 miles (see Boyfriend Gym  - many more hours are spent with him).  This training thing is no joke and it is an entirely new experience for me.  It has added more things to my list...long distance walks...sleep...nutrition...better diabetes management (mind you...this should have always been on my list)...and did I mention sleep?  I'm so tired...and sore...most of the time.  But if feels really good...in a strange way.

My weekends are all about the long distance walks...since I am slow...it takes me a few hours...and as the distance increases...those hours increase.  I always think that I can just plan things out...but I have found...stuff happens...plans get jockey'd around...and then even better things happen.  Maybe you don't always need a clipboard?  The fun of the unplanned.  Two weekends ago I had my heart set on getting down to the Tidal Basin to do my long distance walk...and then I was just going to go and write...and then I just didn't get there.  Different fun happened in a different sequence...not at all according to my original plan.  So I ended up going to see the Cherry Blossoms after work the following Tuesday...when the blooms were at perfect peak.  I escaped the office earlier than usual...sat on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial...took in the view...wrote...it was pure bliss.  I know that you can't do everything you want to...when you want to...but that is okay...I just need to remember to put down the clipboard (sometimes).

Week 7 - The Road to 13.1

This was the week where panic really set in.  It was part panic and exhaustion and then the thing that keeps you plugging along and sets you back on course...hope.  I had a really good training week overall...my only change in plan was taking a rest day on Saturday and then clocking my 7 miles on Sunday.  I am slow at the long distance walks.  I am so slow that at this point I don't know that I would even finish the half marathon in 4 hours.  So, I have lots of thinking to do.  I know I can go the distance...I have no doubts .  It is the time required that is going to be an issue.  I was ready to cancel out on the races...and just do 13.1 and 26.2 miles on my own.  No time pressure.  But then I thought...why not give it a bit more time?  Will
I get faster?  I won't know unless I keep trying...

Week 6 - The Road to 13.1

They are going by in a flash!!  8 weeks and counting until the big day!!  It was a pretty good week overall...nutrition was very good.  My reward was my first ever frozen yogurt...wow...have I been missing out.  16 Handles was quite the experience...red velvet cake with some rainbow cookies and a cherry on top.  In terms of training, I missed pilates on Monday (but did my walk at night) and my walk/speed drills on Thursday (but did strength training in the AM).  I was at work later than usual this week...so that was my downfall for Thursday night.  The good news is, I was active on all of the days that I should have been.

I had a great six mile walk yesterday...my time was horrible...my pace was not what it needs to be...but this was my first time out on the open road with
hills...and stop lights...so I am not panicking...well...maybe a little bit.  Yes, I had that moment of "why the hell are you doing this?  you really think you can keep the 4.0 mph pace?  you are not going to finish the half in 4 hours at this pace."  But like with any goal...you have to just tune out the doubt...and remember...who makes it happen...I do!!  What would be the fun of obtaining what it is you are after if it was easy peasy to get there?  There are peaks.  There are valleys.  The key is to keep moving forward.