DNS

Friday / Saturday

To run better as a non-Olympic elite, you don't need to have some natural genetic ability, hidden talent, or predisposition of any kind.  You just need to commit to  running.  A lot.  The excuses need to be put to the way-side.  Eventually, your efforts are assisted by habit.  Later, maybe even a hint of addiction.  But it is always the same; decide to run much more than you decide to make an excuse not to run.  That is the "secret" formula.  Being almost two years in, I hear women all the time talk about getting started, but blah, blah, blah.  And I think, how do you not see how simple this is?  Of course you can run even if your daughter does hip pop dance.  Of course you have time to train for a 5k in three months.  Of course you can start by run/walking.  No, you don't have to go out to the bar for the fourth night this week.  Really.

Did I sound like this to other people three years ago?

If you're just starting out, this might sound blunt.  Consider it tough love.  I get it; you're not there yet.  But honey, you will be!!  And then you'll see! :)

On the other hand, there are times where Life can not be denied.  Bill and I had a great start to our half-marathon weekend.  We were able to leave work early, avoid traffic, check in, and really make the most of our evening.  Our hotel was a stone's throw away from the river walk, and another from the host running store.  We took a walk to grab my bib and check out the start / finish area, and then had the yummiest steak dinner.  Texts and calls with the girls; both are doing fine.  Lots of down time in the hotel room together, and then an early lights-out.  A-MAZING.

Until .. the call.

A parent's worst nightmare.  Leave your two daughters alone for a first overnight, and be woken up by a call from a policy officer!  I will not bore you with details.  This isn't my therapeutic parenting blog .. so as back burner as running became, lets keep the focus there.  Suffice it to say that my daughter is fine, but my car is totaled.

It was tough to scrap all plans, but the decision was made in the blink of an eye before I even hung up the phone.  Because.. mother. Duh.  Hurry.  pack everything back in its bag, and begin the 2.5 hour manic drive home. The lamenting would not come until all was well again.  Saturday afternoon, I read all of the well-wishes posted on Facebook and in my texts.  I saw a handful of friends post their own pictures.  It was particularly crushing that this would have been the first race Bill had actually come to see.  Later, having to explain to friends why I didn't get to run, too.  What a bummer.  And no second chance to real knock a half-marathon out of the park, either.  Better than a DNF, but a Did Not Start is a serious bummer, too.

Sunday

So ... I don't want to brag but ... when you're given gear to represent a company or a brand, that's like sponsorship, right? I wouldn't call it that, ... but some people might. No worries; it won't change me. Just posting in case anyone wants something signed before before I go pro or whatever. Haha.#theygavemeavisor #soiguessitsgettingprettyserious 

It's official.  In addition to being a training participant for the half-marathon distance, I am volunteering as a run lead for the Women's 5K training group!

Sunday began to creep in the guilt.  Even amidst ALL that was going on, I began to somehow feel like I had missed and "owed" mileage.  I wanted to get up early in the morning to get in a long run, seeing as that afternoon, I'd be at Women's 5K training, and they were only scheduled for a clinic and one mile run/walk. But the stress, and the botched sleep schedule just would not allow it.  I had to be okay with that.  And I slept.  

THANK GOODNESS for running commitments, though.  Make as many as you possibly can!  I did not have a car, but bummed a ride to my first clinic for Women's 5k.  It was AWESOME.  I might have done without some of the information myself, but I know it was helpful to the participants. Enjoyed getting some numbers from the Meals folks.  BMR, fat %, fitness age.  Give me numbers, and I am on it.  Eager to see what the "after" in March looks like.  But THE BEST part was having the CUTEST little pod of women to help get started!  It's funny; you don't really think there is much to learn about putting one foot in front of the other, but in two years, I really DO have a good bit of information to share!  It was so spectacular to see all of these ladies find their confidence, and just ROCK it.  Very excited to see them all the way through to their 1st (or best) 5k! :)

Monday

Pace: 10:15

Distance: 6.2

Total 2016 Miles: 22.1

MM is out this week.  Solid but modest start "out" (10:30), but my pace was negative by more than a minute on the "back" (last ~1.5 at 9:21 pace).  Very cold.  Ran with KK.