How far can I go?

Good afternoon!  It is so hard to believe that is has been several months since I've felt like I had anything really worthy to share with you and to document as far as my journey.  There have been little tidbits here and there but today, I decided I am going to just lay it out there....for me to SEE and to help hold myself accountable for my dreams and goals.

January 1st of 2012 I made a commitment to run more miles in 2012 than I had in 2011, to run at least 1,000 miles for the entire year of 2012.  The thoughts of running more than 2011 should be an easy task as I have only been running since January 25, 2011.  Yes, you read that correctly, so less than a year later, I was already dreaming big dreams as far as running.  I also desired to run more races.  Something so very crazy to me is that every month so far I've been able to run at least 100 miles each month, and last month I ran a whopping 150 miles.  Often times running two LSD's (Long Slow Distance) in a week and 4 of those LSD's being 13 milers, all of the LSD's in August were over 10 miles.  Amazing as last year at this time I was running 6 miles for my longest LSD's.

Another cool thing that has happened was back in July I was blessed to participate in a mini-triathlon as a team member.  I went to my husband and a friend of ours in June asking them to do this event with me, each of us doing what we enjoy doing.  Bill did the 225 meter swim, Tom did the 9 mile road bike portion and myself a 2 mile run.  We had the oldest team members and probably the least experienced and had a blast!  The three of us trained hard those 6 weeks as we are competitive and we had personal goals that we didn't share with one another.  We truly gave 110% effort that morning coming away with 1st in Team out of 6 teams, and out of 50 entries total we were 2nd overall.  In that event my goal was to break an 8:13 mile as that had been my fastest mile to date, and that Saturday morning I ran an 7:52 and 7:36.  I am so thankful that both Bill and Tom said yes and that they were willing to do this with me, thanks guys!  I am very proud of both of you and your efforts. 

 

 

The beginning of September I celebrated two years of  making a major life style change.  It was awesome to reflect back upon where my health was two years ago.  Taking meds for Fibromyalgia and not being able to get the pain under control.  To weight almost 40 pounds more than I do today, and to have absolutely no strength to move my body aside from what I had to do to get things done.    Bill and I enjoyed a picnic at Trinchera to celebrate.

Two weeks ago I participated in a really cool running event called "The Extra Mile".  All runners/walkers start at the same time and you complete how ever many laps you want to in a 2.5 hour time period.  Each lap is 1.65 miles and there is a water station for each lap as well as a porta potty.  Knowing this was only two weeks out from my second half-marathon, I decided to treat it as my last LSD and to go extra slow. To also be able to refine my refueling strategy for the "Run for the Rocks".  If you were still out on the course at 2.5 hours, you lost all the points you had accumulated and were disqualified. I was able to run 8 full laps, 13.1 miles in 2:17:50.  This includes a porta potty break.  Making this my 2nd half-marathon event.  Yee-haw!! 

This week I've been tapering and honestly while I am ready to run less mileage for a few days, I am finding it very hard to follow through with the tapering.  To go run 3 miles when I'm used to 5-8 seems like I'm not accomplishing anything.  Then I think of my gym instructor (coach)'s words of advice this week:  "You want to go SLOW AND EASY to be HUNGRY to run come Sunday."  I am so very thankful for this hands on opportunity that I am blessed with through Kristi.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FRIEND! 

So I end this evening with two desires that are really beginning to bud/burn in my heart for 2013.....

1)  To begin and finish my first Marathon, running (walking if I have to) 26.2 miles

2)  To go beyond 26.2 miles....and then be classified or declared an Ultra Runner.  OH YES I DO!

So....how far can I go?

With love and JOY,
Yolanda