Couch to ATHLETE!

It is very interesting... My friend and I were talking yesterday about my recent illness, and my training regimen for the Cap City Half Marathon. I was telling her that I didn't run while I was sick because I had a cough and learned that you should never run while you have a cough. Now, if that were the case I would not have run today because I STILL have a cough. The interesting thing that transpired during this conversation is that when my friend asked me how I felt about not running while I was sick, I told her I was very anxious. It made me nervous to not run for a little over a week. Her response to me was something along the lines of; You know what that means, you are turning into a runner. Another interesting conversation we had that I am still thinking about is the fact that you can lose running so quickly. It isn't like riding a bicycle where you can just pick it up. You never forget how to ride a bike. The same is true for running, however with running you can't j...

That is the question! I had three good runs Thanksgiving week. I did a Turkey Trot, and then went out with my sister and ran on Sunday. Both were good but unfortunately the Downers race was not chip timed. I was surprised because it was my understanding historically they timed that race. So I ask the dramatic question because I have spent much of this week under the weather. I’ve had a bit of a cough and wonder if running will make me better or worse. I’d hate to go out for a run just to make myself sick again as I’ve spent this entire week on antibiotics and sleeping. On the other hand I've been diligently training for my half marathon and am concerned I am halting some very good progress if I don't run at all this week. Part of the reason I am bummed about the Turkey Trot (although I had great company) I was hoping to get an actual time so I could identify what progress I have made so far on my training. So back to the question to run or not to run??? Tomorrow the race will ...

I made it to the Wheaties Box! After a years of striving to be the best I won the top spot by baking over 150 cupcakes for a great Halloween party. It was a marathon of standing in the kitchen mixing up batches of chocolate, white cake, and pumpkin cupcakes. Then I got some weightlifting points while frosting cupcakes for hours! I then refueled and re-hydrated while sipping on a barley beverage and eating vegetarian chili!!! In a little more seriousness, I found this Halloween costume horribly fitting for my overall goals this past year. Who knows, I might even decide to wear the box while running my half marathon in May. Only spectators will find out, so come my way May 1, 2010 and you may witness it for yourself!!!

When I was in High School I REALLY wanted to play softball but didn’t go out for the team. I still haven’t figured out why I chose not to try out and I refuse to live with regret, I do however think had I played softball I wouldn’t have the same desires as I do now. So as you all know I am embarking on training for a half marathon, and I am going to do this with the support AND in support of Team in Training. Team in Training is a charity sports training program. They train participants in endurance sports; in turn the participants raise funds for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. At first I was skeptical about having the ability to raise the funds but after last night… I went to the kick off event for Team in Training thinking that there was no way I could raise $1,500 AND successfully train for a half marathon. What I found was the greatest inspiration. This gentleman got up and spoke about his young inspiration whom he was introduced to when he initially decided to participate in Team ...

I will be posting a blog shortly with a great picture of my Halloween costume. It is so fitting for this blog! While you all patiently wait for my silly display of "creativity" I thought I'd give you a snapshot of what is to come during my 31st year on this earth. That is right, I will soon be 30 and since I have accomplished some of my most sought after goals I figured I would begin to make a list that I can check off in my 30s. In 2009 I will be participating in the following events: Jingle Bell Run Cap City Half Marathon The Chicago Triathlon (Olympic Distance) A century ride (not yet scheduled) Deer Creek Triathlon (Sprint Distance) Possibly an Aquabike with Janell And I'm sure a smattering of 5 and 10ks. I put this in writing as a promise to myself to follow through with all of the goals I set for myself this year. While I train for the half marathon I will spend my cross training days riding and swimming as to continue toward my goal of finishing the triathlon....

You may be wondering the story of the 10k, and all I can say is it was AMAZING!!! My great friends came to town to run with me, we got lined up with all the OSU students who looked like they grew up on the cross country team. We were so far back in the crowd of over 3,500 that we didn't hear the announcers or the start of the race. In all of the excitement we began our slow trot and all of a sudden we hear a large WHOA and the crowd halted. The best way to explain this experience is by equating it to when you are driving too close to the car in front of you and they slam on their breaks. Everyone in the crowd had a nervous laugh and began jogging again. My good friends stuck with me for the first mile of the race. I did exactly what my sister told me to do during the race; start off slow and steady. I passed mile marker 1 and my friends took off to run to their fullest potential. I don't remember much after that except that all of a sudden I was at mile marker 5 and I said to t...

I discovered something yesterday and I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it. I was doing the Toyota Women Only Triathlon in Ohio with my friend Erin and realized my times are more and more important to me. You see, I transitioned from being concerned only about finishing an event to wanting to improve my times. Technically this is a good thing; it means I have enough confidence to know I can finish what I got myself into. On another note, it means something has to change in how I prepare for these events. For the last few months I have been hanging onto the words by Scott Tinley: “Everyone has the desire to win but only champions have the desire to prepare.” I have taken these words seriously in both mind and practice; however I know I can train more, harder, and smarter. In the words of Ironman Dave Scott “If you set a goal for yourself and are able to achieve it, you have won your race. Your goal can be to come in first, to improve your performance, to just finish the rac...