Excuses? We all got em!

Well, my work outs for the last two weeks have been pathetic.  But then again, I had a good reason. I was sick with strep throat.  I FINALLY started feeling better on Thursday of this week.  Then yesterday, a friend facebooked me and asked if I wanted to join her on a 10 mile run this morning.  I said yes immediately.  I got off the phone, and was like "What am I thinking?  I haven't run in 2.5 weeks, I haven't worked out PERIOD in 2, this will kick my butt!"  I figured even if it did, I was going.  What better to put me back in the routine, right?

Then I was really tired last night.  I wasn't feeling it.  I realized the morning temperature was going to be around 18.  I was going to have to go really early, while still dark.  Yada, yada, yada.  I was glad I knew a friend was waiting for me, so I got out of bed at 5:20 on a Saturday to go meet her.  We had a great time!  I was so glad I went, it wasn't bad at all, and the miles FLEW by!

My gloves turned out to be not quite warm enough and my fingers did lose all feeling the last hour.  I had frost forming on my eyelashes.  I got a side stitch towards the end.  BUT  I also felt really good that we got it done!  I was on with my day feeling good about myself, proud of what we had done, and the important thing was  I SHOWED UP!

I have heard that more than half of the battle with running, working out, training, etc, is just SHOWING UP.  I was so glad I did that today. I felt good that after a dismal two weeks I could still crank out 10 miles like it was nothing.  That is something to be proud of, dangit!  Another quote that I love it by Bob Harper and he says, "True motivation comes when excuses cease to exist".  So true. 

Happy training!  Just do it!

Ironman Kona - What is my excuse?

I watched for the first time coverage of an Ironman event, which happened to be the coverage of the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.  AMAZING!  They of course put alot of the coverage on the pros competing, but I was more touched by the non-pro people the covered.  You know, the more every day people that are all completing it for one reason or another.  They had one man that was a double leg amputee from a car accident that finished.  Another woman who had just 3 years earlier been well over 300 pounds.  A 50 year old who had spent the year battling aggressive stage 4 colon cancer.  There were a ton of people 70+ that were doing it!  If you can watch that with completely dry eyes and not be touched you are not human!  It made me think, what the heck is my excuse?  I don't have one.  Mark my words.  I will complete an Ironman someday.  My goal is by the time I am 40, so it gives me a few years.  I still need to get a bike for my first sprint for Pete's sake! 

One thing that it did accomplish for me was to really motivate me to get back to my off season training.  I have been sick this week, pretty sure it is strep throat, and have just felt like crap, so the work outs have been non-existent.  This just gives me extra motivation to shake it off and get back to work!  I am just that much more fired up and ready to get into this whole tri thing.  I can't wait for Women of Steel in May!

So what about you?  What is your goal?  What are you working for?  Even if it is to work out regularly, do your first 5k, or complete  as many push ups as you can in a minute, the key is JUST DO IT! 

Happy training all!

Santa, I have been SOOOO good this year!

I have been thinking about what I really want for Christmas this year, and BOY!  I hope Santa has a big sleigh to bring me the stuff I want!  Yeah, this is the "if money is no object" list.  But a girl can dream right?

Yeah, basic, but I need a bike helmet.  Not necessarily this one, but it might be nice as I enter the cycling world...

And, what good is a bike helmet with no bike?  That would be just silly, right?  Yeah, this is my dream ride below, except in red or pink...LOL

And, I wouldn't mind a new Garmin, since mine has been dead the last few months.  I soooo miss it!

 And I am sure seeing this butt picture is weird, but these are padded bike shorts.  The last bike ride I went on, I remember being quite "saddle sore" for days after.  So, this might help a bit...but I wouldn't mind the butt that they are on either ;)

 I think Ken is getting tired of me hanging all my race medals on the corner of our bedroom mirror.  One of these would be cool!

 Yes, I want this coat in this color.  I would love to be as bright as a Christmas tree when I do my evening/early morning runs, and if all I had to do was put a coat on (minus the reflective vest, the flashing LED light, etc) I would be a happy girl!

Just a fun kinda wish list.  If you have a triathlete on your Christmas buying list, take note!  Whose going to send this to Ken?  LOL