All is right in training land

Ok.. Ok...I blew my stack and got it off my chest on Tuesday but today, it was back to normal. Hector was wonderful today and helped me dramatically. I am still hurting but not nearly as much as I was. We did about 30 min of cardio, some easy agility stuff, a few weight machines and then some SERIOUS stretching and yoga. What a WORLD of difference that made.

I think I learned something in all this: you have to speak up. If you KNOW that something is hurting you, you have to back off and try another path. I know this isn't going to be easy, especially for a plus size woman trying to become an Ironman, but I am determined.

Next weekend is the Miami Half Marathon. I am ready for a victory. Ever since IM Florida, I have been scared of long race. Ive done some 5k's just to get some confidence back but this will be the first test. I don't know if I am truly ready but you really don't know until you make that first step.

Bring it on...

When the coach and trainee just don't agree

After a year of training with Hector, it was bound to happen. I gave Hector a piece of my very tired mind concerning my very sore and tired body. Today I went to workout and had to tell Hector I could hardly walk. The workout that I did on Thursday that included over 50 squat thrusts and 20 jumps over small traffic cones left my knees an absolute wasteland. I got up Friday morning and ran the Disney 5k and you would have thought I ran the marathon. Everything hurts. I know this is going to be harder now...but is the high impact training REALLY necessary?

Feel free to call me a wimp!! The floor is open and the soapbox is available!!

The first workout is always the worst

Welcome back to reality!! Christmas was so much fun. Family, time off, decorating the house and the tree, seeing old friends. Six weeks I took off from Ironman training. The first 3, I didn't miss it. I was so tired. I enjoyed waking up on a Saturday morning and walking my golden retriever down to Starbucks for a coffee and a good read of the Saturday paper. I had a blast exchanging gifts and helping my parents shop for their teenage grandchildren at stores they have NEVER set foot in let alone heard of!! It was all wonderful.

January 1st arrived...and it was like a switch clicked off in my head. Back to reality. Back to the pursuit of a dream. Its time to open up that "Workout Bank Account"!! Its that account I put all the days of training: the long rides, the long runs and those thousands of laps and open water swims. The theory is...you make a BIG withdrawal on race day in the hope that you have enough to get you through the day. The "bank account" showed a zero balance ... until today.

I think I will remember today's run workout as I make my way through the marathon portion of the Ironman. I think the discomfort I felt in those first few minutes of running after so much time away will probably feel similar to some of the run in the Ironman. It was awful. You lose alot of fitness by taking time off. I have lost more than I thought.

But its not all gloom and doom. Its simple. Everything gets better from here. Yes. I know. I am going to have some really bad days and Ill have some amazing days of training, but its all on the upswing from here.

A 1 hour run workout directly followed by a strength and agility workout with Hector made me one sore and tired puppy. Agility!! Yeah right. Not something I have alot of...but again...its all part of the process!!!

It all gets better from here!!!

God Works in Mysterious Ways

So here I am....New Year...New Journey to Ironman...and I am standing in my kitchen preparing dinner on a Monday night. Its just me...hubby is out flying and have the TV switched on to the Dr. Phil Show.

Suddenly, I HEAR Dr. Phil say: Missey...you gotta change you life!!!

GASP!!!

If this isn't totally weird and insanely ironic...They were doing a New Year's Resolution Show. A woman on his show had made the resolution to lose 30lbs. Her name?? Yup!! You guessed it: Missey.

I almost pasted out laughing. Whether you are religious or not, you must find humor in what a Higher Power can slap on your table in a moment's notice. I know for a fact that I am not going to get my Ironman dream unless I do two things:

1. Train hard and smart.

2. Lose at least 30 pounds.

As Dr. Phil talked to "Missey"...I just sat in awe. I took in all his advice. I listened to every word, just like I was the Missey to which he was speaking. The big guy is trying to get my attention. I taped the show. I figure you can get inspiration from many sources...

God works in mysterious ways....

So Many Blessings....

This has been a unique Christmas for me. Its not the first Christmas that I have been without my husband as he flies other families to their Christmas celebrations BUT it is the first Christmas that I have worked on Christmas Day. I decided to volunteer for a shift at Disney so some other Divemaster who had family in town could enjoy their holiday. My family and I spent the morning together, had lunch then it was off to work.

I grumbled a little. I grumbled about traffic around the park. I grumbled about how stupid I thought it was that Disney is actually OPEN on Christmas Day (it wasn't until the reign of Michael Eisner as CEO that we opened the park on Christmas). I grumbled about not being able to put my feet up and watch some sports game...be it football or basketball or golf while I digested a huge Christmas meal....grumble grumble grumble.

How stupid and selfish am I?? I got into work and everyone was so upbeat. Sure, they all wanted to get the job done and get home but not a single person was truly negative. Our dive groups were fun, happy people that REALLY appreciated the fact that we worked on Christmas. We wore Santa hats. We wished people in the observation deck Happy Holidays. We worked our butts off but we had a ball.

Its amazing how things can be so different if you just address them with a positive attitude.

So goes it with the rest of my life. Business is a little slower than last year (not surprising with the economy) but we are still blessed with some regular clients who continue to attend. I am not an Ironman but I have been blessed with the experience of being the Ford Everyday Hero and knowing what the start, swim, T1 and some of the bike is like for an Ironman. Christmas was a little lighter all the way around but my friends and I had a ball with a Chinese Christmas exchange...probably more fun than if we had spent alot of gifts for everyone. And my amazing husband ... that incredible man of mine kept me guessing and surprised for the holiday even when he wasn't here.

We are sooooo blessed...and its all a matter of perspective.

As we enter 2009, my goal and my dream is to keep it all in perspective. The beginning of a new year brings such hope...such excitement. I want that hope and excitement and belief to carry on throughout the year. I want to keep in mind that each day is a gift so precious that it should never be wasted.

This is my year...and I know it will be yours too!! To all my friends, to the people that I have never met face to face that pay me the ultimate compliment by reading my words and to all those who I hope to meet and learn from in 2009...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Courage..

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway...."
-John Wayne

I was walking out of a store today (finishing the last of my Christmas Shopping) and had my mind on the upcoming races of the year. I am terrified about doing the Half Marathon at Disney in January (I haven't been training but I just wanna give this a shot) and as I walked out the door...there was that quote..on the back of a guy's pickup truck. It struck me so that I just stood there and read it over three times.

Have you ever thought that the big guy upstairs was trying to get your attention? Today, I felt like I got a good slap in the tush to remind me that anything is possible if you believe. Just gotta keep believing, keep dreaming and keep training!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Christmas came early and I am SOOOO EXCITED!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I can hardly contain myself!!! I LOVE SANTA!! SANTA...YOU'RE THE MAN!! SANTA...You're the man who is going to make my swim a whole lot faster in 2009!!!

Im getting a Fastlane Swim Machine installed in my pool!! I don't know how I truly explain what exactly this is if you have never seen one. If you're a serious triathlete, you have probably seen the ads for this product. If you have been to an Ironman race, you have actually SEEN one demonstrated onsite. The machine creates a current that you swim against to give you one great swim workout without having to do laps upon laps in a pool. I can literally jump out of bed, throw on a suit and hit the pool in the morning for my workout!! YEEEEEEAAAHHH!!

I had seen this demonstrated at the St. Anthony's Triathlon and my husband put a deposit on one for my anniversary gift. With the economy the way it has been, we haven't been able to pay for the rest of the unit. My husband has been stashing money away since April so that he could do this for Christmas. Wow!! Is he amazing or what??? I am so blessed!!

Isn't it weird?? I use to get excited about clothes, makeup and jewelry (ok..I still get excited about jewelry) for christmas...now all I want is workout equipment!! :) **giggle** I can hardly wait for its installation!!!

HO HO HO!!!!