Today I am 30.

I got up this morning at 5:05am. Okay, I set my alarm for 5:05am, and grudgingly slithered out of bed at 5:16am. I didn't actually make it out the door until 5:40am though, after downing a cup of 2% milk and half a banana. I ran a new route this morning, well, half of it was new, and half of it was old. I needed to add an extra mile to my run, so I meandered a little differently today. I really like running through quiet neighborhoods early in the morning. I can hear my footfalls, and it's so relaxing. I ran slower than I anticipated, but that's okay. I kept my heartrate right around 150, until the last half mile or so when I had to get home before my husband left for work(though I got home exactly when he was supposed to leave, just to find him stepping out of the shower, running late). All in all, it was a good way to start the day.

Sh** Happens

And there isn't always anything you can do about it. I've got some non triathlon crap going on in my life, and I have been letting it affect my half ironman training. Okay, not just affect it, but destroy it. I originally blamed it on the wicked nasty cold I got the day after it all went down. Fair enough, I could hardly breathe or get off the couch. The I let it consume me. I stopped getting up in the morning for my workout, and I stopped going for a swim in the evening when my husband got home. Things sucked royally.

My husband kicked me out of bed yesterday so that I would go run. It was the worst run I've done in several weeks, like back to the starting block bad. I cut my 5 mile run to 3.35 miles, and I walked several times. Ouch. I wasn't going to get out of bed this morning either. I told my husband "I just don't care anymore." He replied with "Then I will care enough for the both of us right now." While that may seem super sweet to most people(and admittedly, it is), it just pissed me off. I don't want him to care right now. I want to wallow in my own misery. I want to hide under the covers and cry. Like I've been doing for a few days. I know that I just need to go through the motions though. I don't HAVE to care right now. I don't HAVE to be bright and bubbly. I'm going through some tough sh** right now, it's not supposed to be easy. But, if I go through the motions, I will eventually care again. And I won't screw myself out of this amazing opportunity that I have to to do this half ironman. Which I've already paid for, so I better not waste that kind of money, they aren't cheap!

So, right now, I don't care. But, I am willing to go through the motions until I do care again.

20 weeks and counting!

Today marks the official start of the Boise Ironman 70.3 training. 20 weeks until race day. And I have a nasty cold and can hardly breath. And my husband has to go in to work today, on a Saturday. I feel defeated before it's even begun. That's all I've got. It can only get better from here.

5 miles

I ran 5 miles this morning, woo hoo! I took a new route this morning too. I had been running the same route, every single run. If I needed to add an extra mile, I just doubled back on the same route. BORING!! It was so nice an peaceful. It was very cloudy and windy this morning, but the clouds made the world almost silent. It was absolutely amazing.

I ran with my heartrate monitor, and kept my heartrate at around 150. I felt like i could run forever, and the best part is, I have never been sore after a run when I use this strategy. I had a good think this morning too. I reflected on the difference between this year and last year. I am 25lbs lighter this year, and my body is so much stronger. I remember barely being able to finish a mile this time last year, and now I am running five miles easily, though not very fast, but I'm fine with that. My body is so much stronger this year, and healthier. It's absolutely amazing! I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for me!

Heartrate Monitors, woo hoo!

So, I was talking with my brother the other day(he's done the Boise Ironman 70.3 three times, and a FULL Ironman too!) and he mentioned that he trained with a heartrate monitor this last time, and got his best time yet! So, I did some Googling(I don't know what I ever did without Google). I started running and cycling with a heartrate monitor and loosely following that kind of stuff last week. I've already seen an improvement! Honestly, it's not like I could get much worse, but it's so nice to see an improvement. It makes me happy.

This morning, I got up at 5:05am. Okay, I set my ALARM for 5:05am, and drug my tired butt out of bed at 5:2something. I finally hit the pavement at 5:45. I had been running 4 miles on my running days, but this morning, I set a goal for 5 miles! I did it! I even finished at a decent time too, faster than I thought I would. Granted, my lightning quick pace averaged out to be 12:$4/ mile by the end of my run, BUT that totally beats my time of 13:26/mile I did over 4 miles last week. AND I didn't feel dog tired at the end like I would when I ran without the heartrate monitor. The heartrate monitor helps to keep me from starting out too fast, and using all my energy before I'm done. Another good thing about today's run is that it is now 3:54pm, and I don't feel like I have jello legs! Usually if I go for a longer run, my legs are tired for the rest of the day and all I want to do it sit around. I feel GREAT today though, woo hoo!

I finally feel like I am making progress. I don't feel totally drained after my workouts, and I can workout longer and still feel good. I am losing weight, and losing inches. I went down a pant size, and I am even going to have to start wearing a belt with them soon. My swimming still has a LOT more room for improvement, but I am beginning to think I may just make the swim without being pulled out of the water for taking too long. 148 days laft.....

Running in the cold is....

COLD!! I felt like a polar bear this morning all bundled up in my winter running gear.


This is what I feel like when I run.....








But this is what others see.....
















The thing is, I don't care anymore. I used to be extremely self concious when I ran(and did anything else). I would only run in the dark, so passers by wouldn't see all the jiggle in my wiggle. Or the jaggle in my waggle. I've slowly become more comfortable with who I am though, and I know I am a good person. Who cares if I have an extra 10 pounds(okay, closer to 30) of extra fluff? If looks are that important, then you're not the kind of person I want to spend time with, and therefore your opinion is not allowed to intrude upon my life. Only positive thoughts and positive people are allowed, I have enough of my own negativity to want to add anymore from anyone else!

Now I'm committed.....

As if I wasn't before! Today, with 155 days remaining until the Boise Ironman 70.3, I finally bit the bullet and registered! I almost can't believe it. I am giddy with excitement.



I love the way that I can feel my body changing, becoming stronger, and leaner. I know that I've only been at this for 3 weeks, and that the uber serious training hasn't even started, but at an hour or more a day, it's made a huge difference, and it feels GOOD! Not only is my body improving, but so is my attitude. If you don't believe me, just ask my husband and kids! There is less yelling and sulking in the house, well, at least from me, the kids still have their moments!