So I can
finally say I’m past that point of feeling like I got hit by a bus after a
November Project (NP) workout… that in itself I feel is a triumph… now it’s beating
those weekly times I keep getting. I've noticed my per mile pace has started to improve and I'm feeling better when I am out on the road running. But everyday I’m reminded
that I’m not quite there yet…
I have a l.o.n.g. road ahead of me in this
training.
And sometimes when I think about it, it can be concerning, but then I
take a deep breath and remember...
The feeling at the finish line is a
feeling comparable to no other feeling.
I haven’t
missed a NP workout since I first started attending.
Have I
had my mornings where I thought my bed was a better place? Sure.
But I still
got out of bed, either put on some reflectors and carried my keys ready to be
used as a weapon on those Monday mornings [hey, I live in Southie, which hasn't had the best crime history as of recently], or hopped in my car and made my way
to Harvard Stadium at 5am [with my fashion statement of glow sticks], or got my ass
over to Summit Avenue to conquer some hills.
Speaking of
Summit Avenue… that’s where I’ll be headed first thing tomorrow morning.
Something about that hill haunts me, but in a good way [if that exists].
My
body hates the uphill and any regular NP go’er probably recognizes how I’m
pretty fast going down the hill [obvious statement I know] but then when it
comes to going uphill, my little waddle and short steps quickly turns into a
speed walk [as much as one can speed walk up a hill].
My ongoing joke with
myself and to some of my friends is that I go at turtle speed, and I have to
keep reminding me that it’s at least a speed.
Last week I was able to run the
entire little “cross country” course set up on the grassy hill at the top of
Summit Avenue, and then down the hill and back up to the second street. But
then I would walk… I’d get the stride back to a run towards the top and try to
continue that pattern.
I’m determined to get to a point where I can:
1) do an
entire loop without walking; and then
2) do it multiple times.
That’s the
thing about this group… I’m surrounded by all levels of fitness.
Where I fit in?
I’m not really sure.
But I watch some of the other female runners, and the
motivation builds up in me [after of course I get some mental bashing from the
devil on my shoulder criticizing me why I’m not there now; I try to say shut up
and keep working].
We all have those little voices in our heads, and I’m working
like hell to shut mine up.
But half the
time I don’t even have to do that, other NP tribe members are right there with
a high five and an encouraging word.
I knew there was more than an ass kicking
that kept me coming every time.
 |
| I mean look how much fun we're having? |
I find lately
I’m glued to pinterest.com for different fitness tricks, and I’ve decided to
attempt one of those month challenges for the month of October and see how it
works out for me [hold me to that please].
(I’m looking for one with abs/arms
for toning/definition without the bulkiness. I’ll most likely resort to getting
back in the Bar Method DVD’s on my off days from NP.)
But when you try on a bridesmaid dress for a wedding that’s in November, that fit you perfectly last winter, and
it’s not quite fitting so perfectly now… clearly something needs to change.
Achem. Me. I know. I’m working on it.
My seventh
half marathon is coming up October 13th, and I’m determined to break
that 2 hour mark… or at least PR.
My best to date is 2:02 and my most recent
one back in May was 2:09. [I ran track in high school so I know shaving time off of these things is not an easy feat... but I am trying]
The course is the B.A.A. and per usual includes one
helluva hill… the last 6 miles is all up in elevation.
This is the third B.A.A.
Half Marathon I have done, and the second time doing this exact route [they use
to do it the opposite way, but clearly they wanted to challenge us more with
ending on an uphill and not a downhill… although I do love finishing the final
200 yards on a track… because it forces me to spring it :) ]
so I know what I’m in
for… I’m only hoping I've got my body on the right track of preparation.
I already started
the PR breaking yesterday at Harvard Stadium by crushing my previous full tour
of 1:02 down to 54 minutes… and I’d love to see that number only go down.
I
know it’s possible because I pretty much finish behind everyone, so I just need
to start passing people and/or keeping up with them.
I need to train my mind to
forget that my body aches and just push through it… because we all know those
aches aren't anything serious… it’s just my body being a wimp, and I’m not a
fan of that scenario…
I’m off this
weekend to cheer on some friends in their half marathon in Providence and I can
only hope my mind gets the racing bug going and helps make the next couple
weeks before my own half that much more motivating!
Good Luck friends and I’ll
be cheering you on from the sidelines!
“you've only got
three choices in life:
give up,
give in,
or give it all you've got”
And I choose
option #3.
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