Goal time is coming!

I've been really wanting to set some training/fitness/race goals for 2007, but have been focusing on life instead of organized training. I've been doing the Body For Life program for 3 weeks now and have lost about 9 pounds of that lard that was in that Disney picture. The focus of the program has been weight training which I had gotten away from for a while. It's all coming back to me........ the muscle soreness is beyond my memory...............I hate muscle soreness, that's why I stopped lifting during the marathon training..........too sore to walk, let alone run! the yucky, smelly, don't -talk -to -you -if -you're- a- girl, grunting, hard-headed men........scratch that..........boys..........in the weight room. come on you're not that great, stop checking yourself out in the mirror after every set!!! Basically I've switched my focus from just pure aerobic training 6 days a week, to weight training 3 days a week, swimming 2 days a week, biking 2 days a week, and running 3 days a week. It's crazy how sore I've been! But my body is slowly warming up to this new idea. I've downloaded and printed a Team In Training Philly Tri schedule from the Wildflower coach last year. I would love to work with him again........he was very motivating, yet sensible. I just can't swing the fund-raising, and the travel to Cleveland for training this year. They are going back to Wildflower next year..........maybe I could do that.........but not without Ceito! So, I plan on following the Philly schedule in order to get ready for....................????? Cleveland 1/2 marathon........May 20 Deer Creek. Tri.........June 3, Sprint Buckey Lake Tri..........July 15, Olympic Ashtabula Tri..............July 22, sprint Steelhead 1/2 Iron Tri.........Aug. 4 All questionable, but I'm hoping to run these by Ceito and see what he thinks. I don't have a gut feeling on any. Just would love to do that 1/2 Ironman!!! It's way expensive though and I don't want to put the money up if I don't think I can hack it. I'm playing the wait and see what my body does game for now, then I'll make a decision. I've already missed the first price jump on the Cleveland 1/2 so, I have until the end of Feb. to register for that if it doesn't close! If it does so what?? I'll still train for it! Hope to do it with one of my Disney partners.........she wants to do one in Cincy at the beginning of May, and I just can't commit to that right now. That's only 12 weeks away! So, that's what's on my "gettin' ready to set some goals list". I'll let you know what happens!!!

It just doesn't matter!

My family has encountered a scary weekend. Winks has been not well for some time, and a doctor's appointment with tests and blood work results were worrisome. 24 hours of worry, but more prayer and tears than worry, climaxed with a visit to Rainbow Children's Hospital in Cleveland. Thank you to all of my close friends and family from Ashtabula, Cleveland, Columbus, Florida and all points between who were diligent to God's word and prayed without ceasing for a good outcome. Our good outcome arrived and although he is still not 100% physically our Winks is home. He had a follow-up today with his pediatrician and we are continuing to pray and believe that he will be well. NOTHING, and I do mean NOT ONE OTHER THING, matters when you see your child laying on the floor, or lying on a table with EKG leads hooked to him, nothing, nothing, nothing!!! It just doesn't matter where the rest of the world is at that point. My work, my life, my desires, my needs............nothing! God's purpose for my life as a mom was quickly put to the test, and my prayers were NEVER over! Continually asking for strength, wisdom and peace as I look at that child who is scared and wondering what is going on! This all sounds confusing to some of you who have no idea what has happened. Just know that prayer is very powerful. Reach out in times of need, and also when your days are bright. Today is bright as the morning sun!

More inspiration!

These are my true inspirations! Ceito, Winks and The Bug! They have seen the best and worst of me! I am so proud of all three of them. Wonderful blessings from a wonderful God!

That's all I have for now! Things are going well. Back to classes today! I'll update you on other stuff later!!

Inspiration!

Okay yep that's me. I'm actually kinda grossed out by the picture. I didn't realize how out of shape I really look! I'm not happy with the image, but I've posted it for inspiration. I finished a marathon looking pretty out of shape! I don't feel the way the picture looks, but the picture is what it is...........yuck! So, I finished and that's about all I can say right now. The time was not stellar, the image is not good, but I'm still proud of what I have done. Miles 0-15 were pretty good. I felt good. My leg was holding out! No signs of pain, so I was happy with my cardio approach to training without running the last 4 weeks of training. We started in the back of the pack, making it difficult to pass since 10,000 people were all pretty much shoulder to shoulder. I was happy with our 1/2 time of 2:20 considering the high traffic. By mile 16 Valerie was feeling pretty lousy. We had decided to finish together so we stuck it out with her run/walk up to mile 19. At mile 19 we saw my family which was awesome! They were very encouraging! We walked miles 20-25, then ran the last mile in. It was fun to cross the line together. We were all very happy to be done. I felt pretty good at the finish, then after walking through huge masses of people through the parking lot to the rental, I just laid down and asked Ceito to come get me. I felt okay, just finished!! My feet have been the worst off through this. My legs felt normal finally yesterday (4 days post race), and my toes.....well they are roached! My big toenails have blood blisters under them. I was able to pop them last night and the relief was huge!!! Blood all over but no more pounding in my toes!! The race overall was great. The characters were all out to cheer us on (even us back of the packers), so that was very motivating. What's next?????????? Getting into triathlon shape! I had no idea how out-of-shape I looked! My body responds better to cross-training than to just running. I didn't lift much during marathon training and it really showed! I'm grossed out! My shoulders are slouched and not toned from swimming and lifting! My legs don't look too bad, just thick! The next 3 months will be to drop some body fat and tone back up. I'll keep you posted on what events will follow..........It will be a tri for sure! I'm hoping to knock out a 1/2 this summer or fall! First, body work!!! Thanks for your support during my training! Keep checking back to see my progress on the body fat front!

The conversation........

Crazy Trimama......"wow that was a whole lotta fun", while looking at pics on the camera from the marathon, "look at that big grin on my face!", while looking at pics from mile 19 on the camera Ceito......."yeah it looked like you were having a great time" Crazy Trimama....."I really did have a great time! It's crazy to think that someone can have so much fun while her legs are cramping and her toes are screaming for air, but it was tons of fun!" Ceito......"yeah, not many people in our big world can say they have run a marathon.....I'm really very proud of you, you did something really big and cool!" Crazy Trimama.....almost in tears....."thank you, that makes it all worth it" So I finished!!!! And that conversation really made me realize that I've done something that only about 1.7% of people ever do! Complete a marathon! 2 years ago I said, I'll never even try a marathon, it sounds so boring! Now I've done it and I'd do it again, at least the Disney marathon I'd consider doing again.........it was a hoot.......too fun to be painful!

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I'll give you the full run-down tomorrow, along with pics. Right now I have syllabi that need to be done in the next hour. I've already gotten the which is harder a tri or a marathon questions.......well, the answer to that it that it depends on what tri you are talking about. I think sprint tris are much, much easier than a marathon, but Wildflower Tri is much more difficult to complete than the Disney marathon. My Ironman dreams remain.....but, my marathon has to be much quicker in order to make a 1/2 cut-off time. One of my partners was sick and we stayed with her to the finish, so some walking was done, and I'm not sure that would cut it in Ironman.

So, CrazyTrimama has done the marathon she never thought possible, but don't count on me becoming a full-time marathoner. My body misses the water and my butt screams for a saddle!! Soooooooo, what's next? Tune in tomorrow!!

Hodge, Podge on Day 1, 2007

Happy 2007!! Crazy ain't it......yes mom I just said ain't it!! Thousands of dollars of higher education and many years being filled up by the finest educators, and I said ain't it......aren't you proud?? I remember thinking that the year 2000 seemed so far off, now here we are seven short years beyond that!! So God bless you and yours in 2007. I prayed last night with Winks and The Bug about how blessed 2006 was and how I look forward to what He has in plan for us for 2007!!

Yeah, so I'm a slacker! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Also, I have not yet figured out why my new pictures taken with my new digital camera are not cooperating with blogger. I've messed around with the size and that does not seem to help......don't know......when I have more time I'll work on it more.

Most people who know me know that I do not have computer at home. Yeah, I know it's 2007 now, but it just hasn't been a priority in our budget, so that being said, I only blog at school, which has been out now for about 5 weeks. I know I'm full of excuses! But, I'm harboring my in-laws computer right now, just to put in a few words and to check in with some other bloggers. I've missed checking daily since I'm not a school. Our hope is that we will have a home computer by this spring.......we'll see how good Uncle Sam is to us. By that time, I hope to have this picture thing figured out. IronJenny wants to learn video, that would be cool! Ask Taconite Boy, he posted video of the tattoing post Ironman Florida!!!

On the training front. I am 6 days out from Disney Marathon!!! And, on a good note, I have not had any leg pain whatsoever while walking for the past 6 days. I even jumped on it a few hours ago and no shooting pain, no tendon pain, no yucky aches!! So I'm happy about that. We'll see on Sunday how well my cardio plan held out......the leg will just be along for the ride. I'm approaching this as 26 little 1 mile runs.......no big deal right??????? Hey, they even have a chocolate stop........that's something to run for right???????? I'll be wearing a bumper sticker on my "bumper" that says If you are reading this I'm not last!! We got it from a friend who did the Chicago Marathon this past fall. Cute!!

So, I'll be working at a clinic the 2 days after the race......a good friend needs a break.......I can't say no...........i'm more worried about that than the actual race!!!!! I told him if he didn't mind me whining around all day that I would do it for him........his response?......."what's new!!!" Hah! Whatever!!! You can count on one thing......that medal will be around my neck on Monday and every patient will know what this ol' girl just did!!!

So, Happy New Year! Check on me next week for a post race run-down.