Training, like a boss...

I realized something crazy. Like super, duper crazy.

I am into WEEK 9 of my training!! 9 weeks. 63 days. 1512 hours. 90720 minutes. (If I told you guys that I just knew all that info off the top of my head & that I did NOT have to google it, would you believe me?)

This is crazy! This is madness! This is a miracle! Never, ever have I followed a training plan this long. Not even before I ran a full marathon. I don’t think I’ve ever made it past a week or two without completely throwing the whole plan out the window and just going to beat of my own drum.

With the exception of missing a day or two because of listening to my body I have followed it very closely. Some runs I have even gone a little past the mileage called for in the plan that day.  This past Saturday I did my long run and it was the best run of the year so far. I would even say it might be the best run I have had since I’ve been running again. I couldn’t believe how easily the 8 miles came to me. I didn’t have to struggle for them or through them. I wish every run was like that. Or hell, I wish I could just have some more runs like that period.  And maybe I will. Maybe this whole “sticking with a training plan” thing has its benefits…maybe it really does help.

Post Run in a Wegmans Bathroom...in a complete runners high!

All of this training is really paying off...especially in my speed and my endurance. Just this past Monday I ran 5 miles at a 10:52 pace!! One of those miles was at 10:16!! I haven't seen those #'s in years. Training has is really getting me back to where I was before with running, but even better...slowly but surely, all the hard work is paying off!

There is one thing however that I have not done. Not at all. Not even a teeny tiny bit.

That is Cross-Train. I spend 3 days running, one day with Yoga & the other 3 days are rest days. I have an elliptical at home, and I love it…I just never get on it. I know how vital and beneficial cross training can be but it’s just not something I have not seemed to work into my routine.

Unless going to the grocery store or browsing the internet counts as cross training…cause if that’s the case then I am a cross training maniac!!  

Anyone else have trouble getting cross-training in? Any tips or advice? 

There is still time to donate and help me raise funds for Ophelia's Place while I run the Lake Effect Half! Any amount will help! If you are interested please visit this link here and thank you so much!!

11 Months

This will be the last time I will get post about being sober for a certain # of months that are under a year. 11 months. Wow…11 months sober. It feels huge yet so trivial at the same time. I am always so grateful and I certainly feel celebratory when I hit milestones like this. But honestly it’s never something I work towards. Unlike weight loss where sometimes it’s a good thing to look at a bigger picture, like losing 5% or 10% of your body weight, recovery from alcohol abuse doesn't really work like that. It’s a day by day fight. Shit, it’s even an hour by hour, minute by minute fight on some days.

I know that I am one month away from hitting the 1 year mark. And that’s huge. That’s like really, *really* HUGE. But honestly I can’t focus on that. I have to focus on today…right now…this moment.

I sure the hell hope that I get to celebrate a 1 year sober anniversary. But until that day arrives I will be extremely grateful for the hours and minutes that pass where I do not consume any alcohol. And as always I continue to appreciate and soak in all of the love, support & encouragement that you all give to me and inspire me with. 

Here’s to the next minute! 

Running for a reason...

So this was supposed to be a beautiful post. You know, one of those posts that look like my full time job is to blog, not just something to do when I have time. I had plans with a friend to go to place I am about to refer to and take pictures. I was even going to buy a shirt from them and stage a beautiful setup. Ya know…real pretty blogger shit. I had plans and questions laid out to interview a few of my friends who have had personal experience with this organization. You really would have felt the time and effort I put into this post, because it truly means something great to me.

Yeah…only you are not getting that kind of post because none of that happened. Life happened and things go in the way, plans got cancelled, time slipped by. So instead you are getting on my half-assed, boring run-of-the-mill blogger posts. You are so very welcome.

As many of you know I am running the Lake Effect Half Marathon on February 22^nd. And guess what...I've actually stuck with my training plan!!!!!! This is a total first for me. I've only missed a day here or there and that's mostly because of my knee and trying not to re-injure it. I still have time left so I have to keep this momentum going. This is the 3^rd time I am signed up for this race…but this will be the first time I actually run it (if there is no curse of injury or such between now and then!). So this race is a HUGE “omfg just do it already!” race for me. It’s also filled with all of my Lake Effect Run Club friends as well as friends from outside the club. I’m nervous about the weather…it’s been a cold one here in Syracuse so far and my asthma and lungs just don’t function in weather under 20 degrees. But I’m excited! I’m excited because I am running for a cause!

I’m not only making an effort to run 13.1 miles…I am also trying to raise $ for Ophelia’s Place. What is Ophelia’s Place you ask? Well to quote the origination themselves…

”Ophelia’s Place is a non-profit organization committed to empowering individuals, families, and communities to redefine beauty and health through initiatives that increase self-esteem, improve body image and introduce alternatives to dangerous desires for perfection; and to providing outreach, advocacy and educational services to those impacted by eating disorders, disordered eating and body dissatisfaction.”

I know many people who have been helped by this great organization and what they are doing to educate and provide assistance for the community is outstanding. I fully support ANYTHING that truly helps to educate woman, young or old, on how to love themselves and their body. The issues that they tackle or not just about weight. The really get to the root cause of why we tend to do such horrible things to ourselves.

I am rallying a little late but that’s better than never. I am trying to raise $500 for Ophelia’s Place. I don’t know if I will get there in such a short amount of time but I am certainly going to try! It feels nice to be running for a reason that is bigger than myself.

If you wish to donate to this great charity and help support me while I run the Lake Effect Half Marathon then please visit this link. Your donation, no matter the amount, will go directly to Ophelia’s Place.

I thank you all for taking the time to read this and your support. XO