The Next 24 Hours

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I found this image on Pinterest and it really hit home to me.  So many people focus on the end result that they can't get past all the baby steps it will take to get there.  They look at this seemingly insurmountable task - maybe it's losing a significant amount of weight or training for a marathon - and decide never to start because it seems impossible.

You know that silly question "How do you eat an elephant?"  The answer is the same as the message in this image - One bite at a time.  Focus on what you need to do in the next 24 hours to get yourself that one bite closer to your goal.

I've decided to give the new Weight Watchers SmartPoints plan another chance.  It seems impossible to stay within the tiny number of points I get now but by meal planning and focusing on fruits and vegetables, I'm planning to see another nice loss next weekend.

What will you do in the next 24 hours to get yourself closer to your goals?

Training Tuesday: When is a fail a not fail?

I was having a discussion with a couple of my friends on Twitter this weekend.  We were talking about how many miles we each ran in 2014 and we all had an impressive number of miles.  1500, just shy of 1000 (and she'll hit it by the end of the year) and then my 771.  Now, 771 miles running in the first 11 months of the year is nothing to sneeze at - that's like running from my home in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Atlanta, Georgia.

But when you realize you're so close to hitting 1000 miles and knowing there is no way you can get there, it stings a little.  It doesn't help that I only ran 34 miles in November and 8 miles in January.  Looks like both ends of this year are going to suck because I'm not running 229 miles this month.

They were both quick to point out my killer marathon PR this year - I'm very proud of that - but I also set a goal to run a sub-2 half.  I never even came close and didn't even try.  I only ran 3 half marathons this year and my best was 2:17. It wasn't even close to a PR.

So, was the year a fail?  I only met 1 goal - going sub-5 in the marathon. I crushed that by going 4:52.  Hitting 1000 miles running was never written down as a goal, but that's always a good number to shoot for.  I didn't even come close to my sub-2 goal.  I have friends who believe I have it in me but setting both goals in the same year was probably a really stupid idea.  I didn't do nearly enough speed work because I spent half the year training for distance.

This is supposed to be week 1 of River Bank Run 25k training but since I haven't registered yet and I've been too sick to run, no training to report.

Maybe next week or next year.

Fitness Friday: 2015 Race Calendar

As of right now, my 2015 plans are a big, fat question mark.  I'm trying to keep some running fitness up, but currently I'm sick and haven't run more than 5 miles since the marathon about 4 weeks ago.  I don't know if I want to train for another full next year, focus on halfs again, or work on speed for shorter distances.

I know I have at least a couple longer races on the distant horizon, plus a race I really hope to travel for, but this is looking like a pretty empty calendar so far.

February 15, 2015 - The Donna Breast Cancer (Half) Marathon in Jacksonville, FL (cautiously optimistic I can work this out since so many of my southern friends are running and it falls on the weekend I have a break from school.)

April 19, 2015 - The Gazelle Girl Half Marathon in Grand Rapids, MI.  I worked the expo last year for Another Mother Runner and then decided at the expo to run the half. I hadn't run more than 7 miles since December, so the half was a tad rough. I'm hoping to plan a bit farther ahead and actually register and train this year.

May 9, 2015 - 5/3 River Bank Run 25k.  This is basically a home-town tradition that I wasn't going to participate in again because it never changes, but they revealed a new medal that is freaking AWESOME, so the bling whore won.

August 2015 - The Fred 200 Mile Relay.  Provided I don't have to move kids to college the same weekend, I'll be back as a member of the Screaming Thunderboxes.

So, 4 races I've identified and none I've registered for.  Pretty lame if you ask me.  Any suggestions of races I should consider?

Fitness Friday: what's next?

After coming off my awesome Detroit Marathon PR, it's hard to think about goal to chase next.

Do I work on increasing strength?  I'm notorious for not seeing lifting programs through to the end.

Do I focus on increasing speed at a shorter distance?  Perhaps that elusive sub-2 half?

Do I get back to focusing on getting my weight back down where it should be?  Because losing 10-15 pounds would really help with all these other ideas.

Or do I set my sights on another marathon?

I know I don't have to decide today, but this "not having a plan" plan really isn't working for me.  I've been on the scale more this week than I probably should be in a month.  

I do have one little race on my schedule for 2015 (although I won't register until after the new year).  This year, the Fifth Third River Bank Run 25k FINALLY revealed a new medal!  They put it up to a community vote and my choice won.  Isn't that one of the prettiest medals ever?!?  For a race that is the 25k National Championship and a huge draw for Michigan and the city of Grand Rapids, it was about time they showcased what GR has to offer on it's medal.  This one will definitely be hanging around my neck come May of 2015.  Anyone want to run it with me?

Motivation Monday: YES, YOU can run a marathon!

Spoiler Alert: HUGE PR!

If I can train for and finish 26.2 miles with a nearly 35 min PR and blow my goal time out of the water, so can YOU!  More on this later when I have time to write a real race report.

What's your big, scary goal? Make it a reality.

Fitness Friday: goals

I haven't posted here what my Detroit Marathon goal happens to be.  I don't know if I will.  Maybe that is fear - if I don't hit it, then I have to come back here and tell everyone I failed.  

In any case, the goal is a big one.  At least for me it is.  This race is going way beyond "finish".  I've worked harder for this race than probably any other race.  I'm hoping I put enough money in the bank for it to accrue some serious interest.  I want a big check next week Sunday.

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I set my marathon goal way back on February 1st when I got together with a bunch of girlfriends for the Fellow Flowers Declare It Day.  At the time, I may have posted something about it, so if you really want to know, you can dig :)

I made a plan - 22 weeks of official marathon training, plus rebuilding my miles after the winter.  I did 5 20 mile training runs (I think that's 4 more than for my first marathon). Speed work.  Tempo runs and intervals. When things got in the way, I moved days around.  I rarely missed a run.

I got to work - Since Declare It Day, I've run 670 miles (and I'll run at least another 15-20 before race day).  I've biked over 400 miles.  I've even swam and lifted.  Stretched and Rolled.  I definitely put in the work.

Stick to it?  Yah, see above.

All that's left is to reach the goal on October 19th.  I'm excited and I'm ready to cash my check.

To my friends running the Chicago Marathon this Sunday - have a great race, enjoy the miles and KICK ASSPHALT!

Motivation Monday: a goal reached!

Last month, I missed hitting 100 miles for the month by 3 measly miles.

This month I crushed it.  

Now excuse me while I continue to veg out this holiday weekend because the 20 miler on Saturday to get me there was BRUTAL.

I hope you all have a safe and fun Labor Day!

Training Tuesday: and so it begins

I gave myself a little Mother's Day present on Sunday.

GULP!  Training officially starts on Monday!!

Fitness Friday: Wine and Dine Half Goals

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My next half marathon is a mere 15 days away - SQUEEE!!!!  I'm setting some non-time based goals for this race.  It is Disney, afterall.

1. Finish with a smile on my face :)
2. Have Fun!
3. Remember the words I have tattoo'd on my wrist and ankle and keep them in mind through the whole race
4. Make my friends and family proud - but mostly be proud of myself
5. Come away from the race with double bling - my Wine and Dine Half and Coast to Coast medals
6. Have enough left in my legs to have fun at the afterparty!

Do you set non-time goals for your races?