Giving Yourself A Break, Shouldn't Last Too Long...

For my Birthday/Christmas/New Year, I bought myself a Fitbit. Because I needed a kick in the pants. I mean...a BIG one!

I always take "time off" after my "last" half marathon of the season, to eat, drink, and be merry...usually it's just a few weeks, and I'm back to running and boot camp, like nothing ever happened.

I went to Florida after this last race, and then I pushed my time off so far that my gym trainer was actually texting me ideas to try to get me to come back to the gym. (I heart her!!)

Aside from a few random 3-4 mile runs, I had not worked out significantly for almost 3 months. Fitbit opened my eyes to my laziness! I also got off of my clean eating kick. And my pants had something nasty to say about that...it went something like...."bitch, you can't squeeze much more in here, can't you see that muffin top???"...)

It's NEVER easy to stay on a path of health and fitness. If it were, everyone would do it! My upside is that over that last few years instead of a "diet", or a set time of working out, I've finally decided that I have to eat well and be active to be happy. Not just with my weight, but in the way I feel when I do those things. I feel so much better when I run faster, or lift a bigger weight!

And now...it's just 137 days until my next half marathon.

Here's to the new year, and staying on a path that makes me happy

Pre-Race Jitters? I Got This...

I'm not the least bit worried about my upcoming half marathon in Virginia Beach in 16 days.

But that kind of worries me.

I haven't been putting miles in like I should be.

Especially outdoor miles.

But this ain't my first rodeo, it's my third. 

But what I'm doing differently this time is I'm more cross-trained. I do my boot camps, and my short runs (ok, mostly indoors...) but I'm not following a training schedule like I did with my last two half's.

People are trying to scare me. Trying to psyche me out.  Asking me all sorts of questions about being ready because I haven't been doing all the miles.

I have come to dismiss these people's worries because they have never run a half marathon before.

I mean, where is their licence in running? I know what to expect. I know it's hard. I know it will be painful.

But then, I have never been in business to be the fastest, my enjoyment of running a half comes from running the 13.1 consecutive miles and finishing.

It's about the experience of the race, the enjoyment of every mile run, and the (cute and sparkly starfish) medal I receive at the end.

In closing, don't let other people squash your dreams. No one knows your potential but you. People who could never accomplish what you can, will try to psyche you out.

Prove them wrong.

Press on.

Live your dream, and enjoy the feeling you have when you finally accomplish your goal!

For me, in the end...I get to spend a week with my sister, having quality time, and enjoying the sand and sun... and my running a half marathon is just the icing on the cake!