Try and stop me...

Off to run my first 1/2 Marathon.

See you at the finish line!

Motivation and Determination

Source

Tomorrow, I run my first 1/2 Marathon.

I have alot of feelings about this right now.  (and I promise to stop with the self assuring/pity posts about running after tomorrow!)

Can I say that I put my best foot forward and hit every run, and prepared my body for what is coming ... honestly, no.  But today, I have to remember that I cannot go back and change any of that, because tomorrow is when it all culminates together and I know in my mind that I can do it.  Someone said you have to take the good with the bad, and I am prepared for both.  I am already taking a great plunge and starting/trying.  It's all I can do at this point.

I've read that I need to have some sort of mantra to help get me through those highs and lows that 13.1 miles that can on the mind and body.  I will keep all of these with me tomorrow.

Never let your fear decide your fate

Slow and Steady

One mile at a time

The only person I am competing with is myself.

Run your OWN race

Push past the fear because behind it, you will find your courage

Running is 90% mental, 10% physical

6 minutes or 16 minutes, a mile is still a mile

It doesn't matter how slow you go, just don't stop.

Just breathe

Have fun!

Wish me luck!

I'm really good at stepping away ... and ordering pizza

211 ... Because I can't bring myself to log it in MFP or Runkeeper I figured I would lead with it here. Accountability, right?! HA! Either way, it is out there and now the only thing that matters is what I do from this moment forward. That is all on that subject for today. 

17 days! in 17 days I will be a half marathoner. Holy shit people. I have many feelings about this. Some good - encouraging, positive, motivational; and some bad - I am so not prepared, what if my body gives out, anything over 72 degrees and I can't function.  I have 17 days to work through these feelings in hopes that they don't all come to a head at the start line on May 19th.*

Fun weekend planned ahead that I am hoping will relieve some of my stress and J's.  With his dad in and out of the hospital for CHF (and his dad's not so positive attitude - your only 64 dad, come on - you DO NOT get to give up!) and the busy busy weekend's we have been putting in - we really need some no worries, stress free, fun with friends and each other.  And come Sunday - we are Kalahari bound!  One of our happy places.  Bathing suits, water rides and giant Kalahari Flames!

I also finally made a hair appointment Saturday AM.  The last time I had a cut/style was probably over a year ago.  Feels good to be able to go and get alittle pampered every once in a while.

I am alive and just trying to get through it all at this point... summer is coming and I want to make the best of it.

What is the first thing you do when you start to feel overwhelmed/frustrated/stressed out/pressured/etc?  
--I normally eat my feelings, but now that I have recognized that, I try to re-direct - eat healthier and get out and get some fresh air/get out and move.  

*which in all reality, they will - I am very aware of this and am comfortable enough with my sensitivity to cry in public.  Just try not to stare...

This...

(Source)

This...

This is what is going to get me through the weekend - through the next couple of weeks, mentally and physically.

I have been thinking of everything that I have cluttered on my path and it can be so overwhelming.

It's time to (wo)man up, and clear off my path.

Time to really focus and put in the work.

All signs I have asked for are pointing to this...

And come on, when you get a note from the universe that pretty much gives you the advise you need to hear, you just don't brush that off as coincidence.

It's going to be bigger than you thought, you're going to be happier than you imagined, and your friends are all going to be like, "No-o-o-o way! That's so cool! How did you do it?"  Because, Melissa, all earthly manifestations appear larger in real life than they do in one's mind. Way.  You are still visualizing, right?      The Universe

Then they're going to ask, "Hey, Melissa, best buddy ol' pal, mind if I borrow your house? The green one."

www.tut.com

Opps I did it again...

Sooo, remember when this happened?

Yeah, I think I might have a problem....

Yes, that might just be my finger in his ear hole

And again, either way... Hope your Friday is filled with all sorts of fun (weird or not)!

Something about time flying...and the use of numerous quotation marks

Holy crap - it is almost March 1st!  Where in the world is the time going?  It is officially less than 3 months to The Cleveland Marathon.  To say that I am feeling confident in my training would be a lie, but knowing I still have 2.75 months/11 weeks/76 days to continue to work hard and dig deep is alittle reassuring that "I got this."  I am looking at 44 workouts before running my first 1/2 marathon.  44 chances to "practice" and train this body to do what it needs to do come May 19th.

I was starting to have a small off the charts freak out after I was too lazy to get out of bed missed my long run this past Saturday.  I began questioning my ability to "pull this off" in addition to my commitment to my training.  I am technically 8 weeks into my training (I started early on January 3rd), and it hit me that most people started at 16 weeks, and therefore, are only 4 weeks into their training.  Somehow this calmed my nerves a bit (maybe it made me feel like I was ahead of the pack in some odd way), and I than broke my remaining training down into blocks of months/weeks and days and suddenly, I don't feel so unprepared.  I have plenty of time.  So long as I am hitting 95% of my workouts per week, I will be heading into the race strong and able bodied.

I enjoy my workout schedule and feel that Brad really has me mixing it up week after week, so boredom is not an problem.  I also went back to yoga, and have added some strength/core work 2x a week.  Starting this week, I have implemented "hill interval Mondays."

Inaugural Hill Interval Monday 2/25/2013

Due to some congestion and tight chest symptoms, I walked my intervals today - but plan to start running them next week.  This will take my running workouts to 4/week.  While I like my 3/week schedule, I really need to start incorporating some hills.  With the cold, I am running on the treadmill or at the flat track - I need to work my legs and brain and start tackling some hills and this is the best way that I can think of to accomplish this.

I am feeling better about my training schedule and really feel like I can kill it if I stop getting in my own way.

I do "got this!"

...My last confession was ... A blog dump

This is the post in which I completely ignore the fact that I have not updated since November 13th.

Not really... here's how the time was spent in a nutshell:

My FL vacation was wonderful, Thanksgiving was spent on the beach and laying out at the pool, it was hard to return to real life after 10 wonderful days, but luckily, we had a fun weekend planned.  OSU beat Michigan and we had one hell of a time celebrating.  The Browns beat the Steelers the next day and we again had one hell of time celebrating.  Back to work Monday where my liver proceeded to fall out of my bellybutton I began the countdown to Christmas.  Insert some more Browns games, some girls nights out, family Christmas parties, and the wonderful snow white rush of the holidays mixed with a fabulous New Year's Eve Party (if I must say so myself) ...aaannnnnddddd we are all caught up.

So now that we got that out of the way, I can start my confession(s) to the church of the internets.

"Bless me google for I have sinned.... "

My running and really any health changes have taken a backseat... this started back in September.  From September through December I ran an average of once a week (while some would argue that atleast I was doing something atleast once - this is not acceptable to me).  Don't even ask me about logging my meals/eating.  I had a "check-in" moment before I left for vacation and realized that I had gained back almost everything I lost (within 10 lbs of my highest weight).  It crushed me... I was working towards losing weight for the vacation (right?!  WTH?!) I reigned myself in on vacation and tried to make "healthier" choices (despite my ten day alcohol sun filled bender) and actually lost almost 5 lbs on vacation (I know, right?!).  I have not weighed myself since - but realize I am going to have to take this step along with some measurements and possibly "before" pics.

It is cold outside.  Normally I enjoy running in the cold - but there are days when I just need to sweat it out on the old treadmill.  I bought a treadmill over the summer (for a great deal) only to realize that it sits on an incline in standard position (probably 1-1.5%), and only increases speeds in intervals of .5 mph.  I put it in my basement with pipe dreams of using it all the time while catching up on episodes of my fave trash TV.  That is so not how it is.  I have used it a handful of times - but the incline really screws with me as I normally run a 0% on the TM at the gym.  I feel like I am working VERY hard to catch my breath (which might also be a result of my musty old basement) and it is just not an enjoyable.  I have the complete opposite experience when I hit the gym and hop on one of the Lifetime Fitness TM's that sync with my HRM and run so smooth on 0% incline.  Bottom line - I strongly dislike running on my treadmill at home.  I might even strongly dislike this particular treadmill itself.*

So, with my activity and eating habits at an all time low - what is my penance?

With the help of a friend, I started my training plan for The Rite Aid Cleveland 1/2 Marathon in May.  To my surprise, my first long run was quite the success!  I feel good about the plan thus far, and am happy to have some guidance along the way.  (He is/has been a great asset for me when it comes to running and training - be sure to check out his website in the next couple of weeks as it will be re-launched and offering his free running program - this is how I got started, and if he can help me run, he can help anyone!)




I committed to 5 by 5th Virtual Race Series which means I am going to be completing a race (organized or virtual) by the 5th of every month.  The series goes until June - and also runs hand in hand with 13 in 2013.  However, I am only concentrating on one month at a time.  You can look for my first virtual race result from Saturday soon.  This is very doable and coincides well with my 1/2 mary training.

Lastly, one of my 2013 goals is to incorporate more cross training/strength/core work and yoga into my training as well as for the everyday benefits.  I purchased a 10 class pass to Nishkama Yoga and can't wait to get back (they closed down the location closer to my house at the end of December - and I have not made it back to the other location as of yet).  In December I also registered for Best Body Bootcamp.  This is 8 weeks of plans delivered to me via email along with check-in's and a support group on FB.  This will help with strength and core work that I desperately need!

I am confident that I have myself set up with a pretty solid plan here.  The key is to plan and execute over the next month.  One day at a time, right?

What are your plans to make 2013 your year?

*Don't tell J.  He made a big deal out of me getting the treadmill (even though it came out of my fun money - not his) and he still teases me about not using it.  At this point, I will still use it just on principal alone... and hey, the incline can only help in the long run, right? (no pun intended).