back in the water...

remember i have been referencing being around someone and the whole thing making me thankful for what i have and the whole positive outlook on things, etc?  well that has kind of taken a turn for the worse...  oh, don't worry i am still positive and thankful...  but really didnt want to see that much of the dark underbelly of others...  so i have walked away from it.. but sadly kind of miss it... go figure...  i guess it comes back to the distraction was entertaining, the individual was entertaining... 

i decided i need to refocus on what is important to me - because staying up until all hours of the night drinking lots of beer and dancing around - as fun as it may sound - is something from my university day and not for my adult life - at least not on a regualr occassion...

so i went back mentally to where i was 7 weeks ago - does anyone remember what my biggest concern at that time was? 
http://vimeo.com/47472070
how in the world did i spend an entire afternoon watching the closing ceremonies and miss this?
that was the biggest thing on my mind... and i so much enjoyed that stress than any other silliness at the moment...

anyways - so i faced my fears yesterday and ran a 5mile race!  yes, a 5 mile foot race!  Spring Lake Five HERE I COME!!!!  Wonder how to even get on the list to register for that? I digress...
I did good.  It didnt feel that bad.  And my time was good.  I averaged 13 minute miles according to the race stats.  My Garmin shows a little slower but I am OK with that.  So now thinking I will do the 8k at Thanksgiving.

And today I got back in the water for a swim.  I did 1000 yards.  I won't complain for that.  For sure.

And I did some gardening in the wee hours of the morning.
AND got myself out of bed crazy early and went to the 7:30Mass.  Guess what, it is the non-singy Mass.  After all these years I finally stumble upon the version I have been looking for.

And that is that... me getting back on track... 

Miami Ironman

a month out - good luck with the remaining training

race day

got my number - 327 - and shirt yesterday
yay - looking forward to pomp and circumstance of it all...

if it dont feel good what are you doing it for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtOV7bp-gys&feature=player_detailpage

lots of different horses by lots of different men...
hurricane in the back of her throat...

i think these two lines surpass the rudebox - dont sweat much for a fat lass

Back to reality

I got a nice 2.5 mile run in last night after checking in to the hotel. I was going to do an out and back loop and the next thing I know I am going around the block. It was a great route except where part of the sidewalk ended.
I wasnt planning on going for such a distance.  Wow, my legs were achy and tired after it all for sure.
I watched a little Criminal Minds... always good to go running in an unfamiliar place in the dark BEFORE watching Criminal Minds.  I fell asleep before it ended - why I dont have a tv in my bedroom at home.
This morning was a little lie in.. now eating one if those mediocre at best compimentary breakfasts.  The coffee is good.
Gonna go put on my new suit.

Alone Time

One pf the perks of travel is anonymity and alone time.  Sitting alone at a restaurant eating some food and coming home to a lone hotel room with no daily distractions.  It may sound unappealing but I think it is good for the soul.  It shakes out all the other noise of a day.
I sit here and dont have to talk to anyone. I can be pleasant to the bartender without the need to be conversant like a regular. I get a dose of Sports Center which I would never turn on at home. 
So I am making the most of it this evening.  And contrary to original plans... I will be home tomorrow night.  So it is not too overwhelming with being away.  And I am happy for it. 
I ramble on the subject as I really was looking forward to being away.  The distance does the heart and mind some good.
So I finish up my dinner of chopped salad and glass of wine.  A light evening.  I will head to the hotel and work a run into the mix.
From there a long hot shower and climb into bed.
I did hit the mall this time around too. Finally got myself a new gray suit.  Now I have to keep the weight off to stay in it
Very excited - it was 40% off as well. 

A good day!  Just in time for the full moon to sneak up on me next week and mess with... but for tonight :)

And after that

Glub! Glub! Glub!
Yes, I am planning on getting back in the water.  I havent done much swimming since mid Summer. I am looking forward to getting back in the water.
The rhythm of the stroke and the breathing. The peacefulness of the noise and the quiet.  Kick. Kick. Kick. 
It will be good.

3 days

To race day!  I have been getting up each morning this week - OK that is only 2... and running.. it feels so great!  I never thought I would be one of those people to really say that.  But here I am.  Loving the feeling as I move along. It clears the head so much.

I will be away the next 3 days which will impact my ability to train. I am packing all I need to train.  There is a nice trail near the hotel. ShOOt maybe I can find my way to the beach and run there!  It will be nice to be away as well.

Looking forward to it all!

role model revisited

i got sucked in some to the negative behavior...  wow, that sure can burn you out pretty darned quickly...  it had me all motivated a few weeks back and now it just has me a little down in the dumps...  mostly because i am tired...  plus the realisation that i need to go back to life as i know it and as i like it....  sleep at a normal hour, food that consists of actual meals, hydration, exercise, finances in check, responsibilities in check...

i prefer that lifestyle and getting a glimpse behind the curtain was interesting...
my thought this morning as i was running - who would have thought a year ago when i was out for yet another run that this all would have transpired...  life always throws such curve balls... sometimes they are very unsettling, sometimes they are challenging... and in this instance i would call it eye opening

it felt real good this morning when that alarm went off and i got up and out...  a good night's sleep so helps to clear the head... sure hope it continues...

5 mile race is on saturday

8 more to go

So trying to keep up the motivation. Not much on the workout front this past week. Didnt feel well and then all kind of fell apart. Shooting for 5 miles today. Beautiful weather for it. Now to get my head around the concept.

what to do

so i had a break on friday...  covered 5 miles saturday, 4 on sunday, 1.5 monday...  decided that yesterday was going to be another 4 miles... let me tell you, my body wanted nothing to do with it...  my feet hurt - like they were crammed in uncomfortable shoes all day and the transition to sneaks was just miserable...  i need to look at that today before throwing on my higher heeled black shoes... and then my stomach - you would have thought i ate a bowl of brocoli for breakfast and lunch my stomach was so bloated and nasty...
so instead of 4 miles - i barely WALKED 1 mile...  just miserable
today i have a meeting and since i will be a wee bit closer to home (OK traffic may negate that thought) i was thinking i should get on my bike - use a different muscle group for the evening and potentially not put as much wear and tear on my feet
let's hope that works.
tomorrow is - able to donate blood again day... so i will be trying to do that after work
of course that means no work out after work....  gonna have to get up and out on the pavement in the AM...
and the same for Friday morning...  trying to drop a few more pounds this week

Role model

Can someones unreasonable behavior be viewed as motivational.
I dont think they write about that in self help books but I think it is worth considering.
Sure has motivated me recently.

5miles

i covered 5 miles today on the run...  it was exhausting... it was wonderful...
the footpod said it was 5 miles...  the Garmin map showed that it was longer... it said 5.2 miles
i need to do the math to figure out what that pace actually was

sorry just got totally distracted by an episode of Covert Affairs - dont always like the show but this one totally sucked me in...

so i went for the run - i have to say i am totally becoming one of those people that gets sucked into the endorphins that make you feel good with running.. the music helps, the fresh air, the sun and even the heat...  it does such a great job to clear my head

I am little nervous about this race... but more nervous about all the upcoming travel after the race
i have been doing so well with my eating and exercising and losing weight...  on the road could undermine that...

need to start looking at how to get the exercise in when i travel NOW!
Wilmington, Slidell, Milwaukee, Mississippi.. will take some work

for now, will run again tomorrow

B'tyne - Run - 5miles by delbda at Garmin Connect - Details

B'tyne - Run - 5miles by delbda at Garmin Connect - Details

Positive mental attitude

Last week I felt so good about things.  All sorts of things in my life.  All the accomplishments and challenges.
This morning I still feel the same.  But with a touch of melancholy.  It makes me sad to watch people struggle to find the positive in their own lives. 
Of course my own dimented little mission is to help them try.  Futile efforts at best.

Good thing a run can clear my head.
No bike today.  Gotta prep for this 5 mile thing at the end of the month.

Leslie

I sure hope everyone is OK with the approaching storm.  It seems to have given them sufficient warning to be prepared.  I sure hope so.  I have watched some video so far.  That shoreline sure is a lot rougher than usual.  Mother Nature's little reminder to paradise I suppose.

Run run run run run run run run run run

I realised that I actually covered a good bit of distance on my morning walk/run on my day off.  Yesterday's run was pretty darned great.  I felt real good about it.  I do need to check my stats though and see what I truly accomplished. 
This morning was another walk/run take the morning off approach.  I stayed up too late watching Giants football.  And then they lost so that made the late night even worse.  Oh the beginning of each season does this to me....  That's why I normally don't watch so early on.
I was to run with a friend this evening.  We are not too successfully trying to run together at least one evening each week.  So far it has only happened twice.  The first time it stormed on us lap one.  The second time we did pretty good.
This evening I feared there would be rain - hence the small workout in the morning.  It did rain, however it was out of the system by the time our run time came about.  Unfortunately the run did not happen as family matters popped up at her end.  I guess I could have run more, I just didnt feel like getting in my car to go somewhere and didnt want to stay near by.
Instead I did firm element for work.  I know, how exciting is that.  I completed 3 out of 7 courses.  And then I came across an 8th course. 
I plan to be done with them all by the weekend.

Radio Silence

I have to wonder if emails were not yet read or if the silence is the acknowledgement of said emails.  Not even a week later I am trying to agree with my original sentiments.  YUCK!

My Blogger App

Seems to be a bit out of sync with my actual blogger site.

Day off

Walked this morning.  Tried to run but opted to just get out there. Thought I would run after work.  It poured.  So today is an off day.
Harassment training for work instead.  Boring!

Trainer

Not too sure how to use it. Thankfully the weather is holding out so I don't need to figure it out just yet. But I am a proud owner of a bike trainer. I have been contemplating getting one for a few months now. I just haven't wanted to part with the additional $$. I had been considering canceling my gym membership since I haven't been in a while to cover the cost. Instead I bought a used trainer for less than half the original cost. Helps to know people. And I expect that to be my resource as well when I finally need to figure out the set up.
Rode twice this weekend. A fun use of time!

Sunday....

Long weekend kicking in...    Friday night, well that was the final straw of a long week.  Oddly felt like it opened my eyes.  That cathartic moment.  2 days later it might not seem as eye opening but maybe it still is.  The initial rush has worn off.
Yesterday's training was wonderful.  The ride did a great job to clear my head.  I still need to plot the course I rode.  I followed that up with a run.  Quite the exercise of trying to put the two sports together in a brick.  I havent done one of those in ages.
I spent the rest of the day lounging about.  Lunch with friends - Mmmm Jersey Mikes.  I had the tukey and provolone.  The #3 I figured would be too salty after my workout.  Nice long bath.  I dont know why but I love the luxury of a nice long bath. And cocktails on the patio.  Kind of like a rite of passage for the weekend.  The end of summer-- some subs and some rum...  Two of my favorite beach pass times.  Lobsters and clams would be good too but those arent readily available in this part of the country.
I dont know how many hours of sleep I got last night.  It was surely needed.  It felt odd at first to go to bed so early.  But I was so tired.  I was up late the night before.  And then when I woke up in the middle of the night - how nice to be able to roll on over and go back to sleep for a bit.  WONDERFUL!
Today - a bike ride was not in the mix.  It was supposed to be but the morning didnt pan out for a ride of that nature.  I did however do my long distance run/walk.  OK let's call it what it is - it was a walk.  I wasn't ready to try to cover that distance in a run.  I have been covering 3.5 miles in a walk run combo this is just a walk.  It was good to get out for that amount of time.
I thought with the full night's sleep I had last night that I would work through the day getting things done.  Ooops - not the case.  I fell asleep watching the American Le Mans.  Caught up on some silly tv programming.  And now sit here dazed trying to determine what to do with my time and evening.  Laying low sounds so appealing.  
I havent had an evening to myself in a number of weeks.  There has always been something here or there that has caught up to me.  But not tonight.... 
Not sure what to do to make the most of it.  Tomorrow will be another bike run.  Well at least I hope.

Keep trying to embed this with little to no success... so just going to try to paste the link instead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIZ9nYECYuM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

hopefully this will help...
this has me really thinking about what my next dream is... what is that next goal? 
to hear it out of the mouths of the next generation just makes me proud and envious...
what to do next?

what would you do if you weren't afraid!?

Cathartic moment

Had one of those in the overnight.  Perhaps a selfish one but who cares.  I have been feeling rather emotionally exhausted recently.  And I started to figure out what it is...  and decided to try to shake it...  turn over a new leaf or whatever...  hoping it works
It surely got me out of bed and out the door this morning.... hour bike ride... 40 minute run... lunch with friends...
I hope I can keep this memomentum up... we shall see

Busy week

Saturday ended with a bday celebration for a friend. That was nice. Sunday was a long walk. It was to be longer than it turned out but footpod died. It had some stress.
Monday was some more stress. But I managed a morning run to offset it.
Tuesday... another morning run. I AM going to get the hang of this. Dinner with a friend. Much needed girl talk. It was an eye opening evening.
Wednesday was a long work day. I was to go to bed early. It didnt happen.
Thursday. That was a run after work. Have started covering 3.5 miles.  Yay me!  Not sure on pace but need to cover longer distances.  I took a long hot bath and went to bed. It was BRILLIANT!
Friday - yup another run! I plan to keep this up through the long weekend.  Followed by a black and coke - i have all this diet coke to use... enough Goslings offsets the nasty nutrasweet flavoring. Then a short walk to the local italian restaurant for some salad and dessert and prosecco.  Turned out to be another eye opening evening.
It has been quite the cathartic week.