Progress

I had a good week last week, well sort of. I started off my week well. I had class for the first time this semester and when we were dismissed from lecture to exercise I headed straight for the treadmill. I managed to go for 16 1/2 minutes with an incline of 4.5 and a rate of 2.5 which is big for me. I didn't stop the entire time. Our teacher wanted us to do cardio for about 15-20 and then weights 2 reps of 6. I did my 2 reps of 6 and wanted to get back on the treadmill. But we had to stretch so class could end. The fact that I wanted to get back on the treadmill is what is most surprising to me. At first, I wanted to give up but kept thinking in the back of my head...nope, you have a marathon to run next year, get it in gear. And I did! I am shocked, but it really does feel awesome to be able to get in line with a goal that I set for myself.

Accountability

I honestly thought that the only people who would read this blog would be me and Tim and maybe one of my friends who was up at night and might be bored. Certainly I didn't think I would hear about it from anyone. Boy was I wrong. On Saturday we were at a BBQ and one of my friends had asked me if I had still planned to run the marathon next Labor Day weekend, I said yes. She then told me that she was thinking that she might want to run it as well with me. I was stoked, I later found out that another friend and her mother were going to be attempting to run it too. Wow! Today I was talking to my baby sister about it and she even said that she wanted to participate in some way. This whole thing has taken on a life of its own. When I told Tim about it he said "You know what that's called? Accountability." I honestly thought that the only accountability that I had would be Tim and I and this blog, but it turns out that not only do I have people on my side rooting for me, but I have friends and family who are even willing to run with me as well. This motivates me so much more to get it in gear and be able to run the 1/2 marathon.

Not giving up

My body is a funny thing. It does what it wants when it wants with no good reason. It really tends to take a turn on me whenever I decide that I want to do something good for my health or when I have a goal that I want to reach as far as physically. Well this time was no different. The day after I started this blog and had made the decision to do this marathon and start exercising I got sick. My stomach would not hold anything in it. I thought that yesterday I was fine, which meant that I could start working on a plan for starting to work out, and wouldn't you know it....there goes my stomach again. It's times like these that I usually just give up on a goal. I just throw my hands up in the air and decide that my body will control the way I do things. But not this time. I can't let it. My body may be angry with me for moving around more than usual and getting up earlier than usual, but its gonna have to get used it. I am tired of being tired all the time because of what I eat and lack of restful sleep because I don't do anything all day. They say that it takes a strong mind to overcome some illnesses. I think it just might take my mind being stronger than my stomach this time. Because allowing my stomach issues to rule my life has only made me heavier and more ill. And being ill is not going to get me to a half-marathon. So I will begin to plan my work-out and eating schedule to reach my goal. Nothing is going to stop me this time.

Disney Half Marathon

I was looking at pictures today of friends of mine who were at the Disneyland Half Marathon. A few of my friends have done the marathon on more than one occasion. In looking at the pictures posted up on Facebook on Run Disney's page I felt a sudden twinge of "Hey, I wanna do this." I began to look into it and told Tim about it and that I wanted to do it. Its an entire weekend long event. The Health and Fitness Expo, the 5K Cars Land Run, The Pasta Dinner, and the Half Marathon itself. Now, I am not an avid runner, as is apparent by my current weight (ugh 246.6), but when I was younger I used to run all the time. It was my way of releasing tension, and also a way to get out of the house without my mom questioning where I was going.I would run the 1.6 miles around where I lived. Not too far but the inclines can be hard and the uneven pavement sometimes gave me shin splints...but those times running were my escape. I have realized that once I had nothing to escape, I stopped running. Sad but true. In looking at the smiling faces on the people who were getting to run today I began to remember the joy of just running. So I told Tim that I thought we should do it next year. Sign up for the Half Marathon at Disney. I mean, why not, we're there all the time any way right? So its been decided, we are to start training to be able to at least finish the race. Its a pretty big goal for the two of us. We have to be able to build up stamina and get a good running groove going. I don't want to finish first, but I would love to finish. Our reward for finishing the race? Our stay at the Grand Californian that weekend with a massage at the spa. Can we do it? I think so. And I know that I will see some of my friends there next year. Who knows, perhaps it will become an annual thing for us....maybe even do the Coast to Coast Challenge and head out to Florida to Disney World. This isn't about losing weight for me either, though I am sure I will drop some weight. Its about building up enough stamina to finish the race within the time allotted. This is about a goal and not giving up on that goal. Its about doing something with my husband that we have never done. Its about being healthy, both physically and mentally. Can I do it? You bet your booty I can. I can do anything I set my pretty little mind to. I sign all my emails with Phil. 4:13 and I live by that. Like Hercules sings in the movie "I know every mile, will be worth my while" and that is why I have titled this blog that. Stay tuned to see the progress. I am certain pictures will be posted and I might even want to give up a time or two, but I am determined.