Couch to ATHLETE!

We all have fears, some rational and others less so... I am convinced fear is rooted in something deeper and for every individual the root of that fear is different. Kind of like anger... I think anger is simply caused by fear, which is caused by some emotions we don't know how to deal with. So, this blog is NOT about feelings, it is about my athletic pursuits, but here is the deal, with every event I ponder, there is a fear. The fears range from a fear of failure, fear of a DNF, fear of injury, fear of looking silly, fear of training, and the list continues. Because I have been struggling with all of my workouts  lately, I have a fear of committing to events/races. I was planning on doing a half marathon in September, but I changed those plans. Instead I'm going to run a half marathon in November. I really want to get back in the full marathon game in 2014 and the only real way to do that is suck it up and train! I don't know why a marathon in 2014 is so important exc...

After finishing a huge race, I have a hard time regaining my footing, especially when I don't have my next goals all set up. I'm struggling here! I gave myself a week off, kind of. I went for a swim on Thursday and today. I also went for a run and 'bike ride' yesterday. I don't have another goal race set up, so what to do!!! I am meeting my running buddy tomorrow, but all I want to do is sleep.  Since the race, I have worked two week days and have had the other three work days off. On those three days off I was either driving home, out with a friend for the day (which actually rejuvenated me) or laying on my couch doing a whole lot of nothing. This spot on the couch that I have been getting comfortable in, is the same spot that helped me gain a ton of weight several years ago. I have no interest in going back to that place. Also, after I finish big races, I feel like it is appropriate to reward myself with whatever I want to eat, but that has to end at ...

I don't even know how to begin this post... Several months ago, my sister had this bright idea to do her first half iron distance triathlon. I have always wanted to do one so I told her if she did it I would do it too. Next thing I know I was clicking register now on the registration page of the Highcliff Triathlon in Wisconsin. You can read about some of the reactions I received when I announced to various friends that I was going to do this race here . Over the months my friends have taken on the challenge of being supportive and cheering me on along the way. This was no easy feat as I was on the training roller coaster. As the day approached, I thought about all of the possible things that could go wrong and right. I had visions of myself standing on the side of the bike course with a flat tire, me holding on to a lifeguard boat, dreams about wearing clown shoes for the run, and on and on... I also day dreamed about the finish line, what it might look like, who would be the...

I'm utterly speechless (or thoughtless) right  now. Perhaps it is because I just talked my friends' ears off for several hours? Yeah, I have some good friends... Because I am speechless I'm simply going to leave you all with a poem that one of my friends shared with me this week. It is ringing in my head as I ponder all the challenges we choose or are presented in our lives. Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.  William Ernest Henley  

Ever have that thing you always wanted to do but you don't do it because... well, you really don't know why? Yeah, I have those too, but here is what facebook has to say about that: Some of my favorite bloggers/runners/authors have something to say about that too: "Make someday, today" Michael Franti has his take on it too... "I say, Hey Hey Hey No matter how life is today There's just one thing I got to say I won't let another moment slip away." And you know what? They are all right! You know what the funny thing is? Well this... I am tired, not just tired but exhausted/fatigueed. I don't know why, but I do know that my life must be pretty awesome for me to feel this way. Right? It has to be true... Anyway, I got home from work today and as the exhaustion and fatigue set in, I decided to lay around for a bit. Laying around, turned into a nap... Who naps after work on a Monday? This girl... But I woke up thinking about those mo...