Race report (short version)

In a word......DISCOURAGED!

I will write a longer report when I get off the couch...probably tomorrow. I need feedback about where it all went wrong.

Nerves

I'm not sure what it is but boy am I nervous for my half-marathon on Sunday!!!! I think it may be that I have actually set a goal (under 2 hours) and I am not really a person who likes to fail at anything....I mean ANYTHING! Right Cin?! :-) This leaves me with lots of nerves because I know that if I don't get a sub 2 hour time I will be really bummed. Granted last time I finished in 2hr and 2min and it was a WICKED hilly course and I had a short training time frame. However, watching the weather report I am hoping that a flat course will make up for the cold temps and SNOW! Really???? It's almost March! ENOUGH!! I can't complain though at least I don't live in the DC area! So there it is folks! I am a nervous nelly! Any advice for calming the nerves or getting a PR....ANY ADVICE????

Runners World Quote of the Day

"Run into peace."

Meister Eckhart, 14th-Century Philosopher

Enough said!

Fast and Feast

Over at My Life and Running there was a post about what to feast on and what to fast from. Well in honor of Lent I am fasting from sugary sweets. I call it 40 days of CUT THE CRAP! Now this started as an idea to help me begin to lose those last 10lbs that I want gone from my middle but I really reflected on what fasting and Lent is about. True Lenten season means that you literally fast on Fridays (right?) but you should fast from something that impedes your walk. Well I would say that sugary sweets impacts my walk with the Lord because of how I feel after I eat them. I feel so mad at myself and disappointed in my lack of will power. It really has effected my self-esteem and how I view myself. I know that God sees me as a beautiful creation so I am basically telling Him "Thanks for the life but this body you created really sucks." So this is why I am fasting from sugary sweets so that I can feast on positive thoughts on a body that works perfectly and produced a beautiful little girl. This body can run for hours...dance and be silly...and gives great hugs! My desire is that these thoughts will replace the others whether or not those 10lbs disappear!!

Running In RI

Who wouldn't love this as a running route? This was part of my route....love it!

Here are just a few reasons why I absolutely LOVE running in RI:

• ocean views for as far as the eye can see
• quite roads...I mean some I never saw a car!
• open unsettled land
• views, views, and more views
• that feeling of being home again

This past weekend we went to visit my parents in Middletown, RI which shares an island with Newport. My parents rock and they let me go for a nice long run while they played with Emma. I felt like I could have run for days and days! I started running many years ago when I was in high school. Running then for me was to get ready for soccer season and to burn off just about anything I put in my mouth. I think it is safe to say I am much healthier about running now but just running around my old routes gives me that feeling of coming home! I love it!!! Plus it was about 37 degrees and sunny so that was an added bonus! Man would I love to live there again!!!!

What Motivates You?

What motivates me at 8pm to get in my 6 miles?....Well tonight I had to break out the big guns! I plopped Kara right in front of the screen on the dreadmill so that I couldn't see how much time had gone by. On went the Biggest Loser and bonus...they were at the Olympic training camp! 6.75 miles later....mission accomplished!!!

So what motivates you when you want to just curl up on the couch?

Oh and call me what you may but I am doing the dance of joy tonight...school is cancelled for tomorrow!!!!! The first snow day of the year!!! Yahooooo!

Tan Lines....Long Runs....and Motivation

I'm so sorry for being MIA yet again! But I figured you would get a good laugh by this picture! Even though it has been about 10 degrees during each of my long runs, I have still managed to get a wicked tan line on my forehead! If anyone has any suggestions on how to avoid this let me know! It's from my hat and though I love a good tan....it's pretty funky and it looks like I just put a ton of bronzer on since the rest of my body is wicked white!

My long runs have been going well and I can't believe that the half is in 2 weeks or so! I have done 13 miles for two weekends in a row...this week was definitely better since my friend Michelle ran a part of it with me! Things always go by faster when you have someone to talk to! I love running with my buddy Jill but she is recovering from Miami and giving her body a long needed rest!! I miss you Jill!!! I will probably try to do 14 this weekend and then start to taper a little. I am definitely feeling the tired feeling in my legs!

Even though I am getting in my long runs, I will say that my motivation is not what I need it to be! I am doing the 1000 mile challenge and I am not happy with myself when it comes to my mileage totals! After going to the doctor for Emma, I told her that Emma is having trouble eating real people food...she just won't try it! She'll anything that I puree but not too much that we give her off our plate. The doctor said we needed to eat as a family. Well before that I would go to the gym when my hubs was done with work and then be home to put Em to bed. Well after that, as you can imagine, I decided to wait until Emma went to bed to exercise. This equals me and the dreadmill in the basement! It's hard and I'm exhausted but I have to JUST DO IT!!!! I am hoping this week I'll be able to get focused. I know once I am focused I will do just fine! I promise to keep you posted!!