All that pedaling doesn't really get you anywhere

"This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill. Fifteen percent concentrated power of will. Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain. And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!"
- Fort Minor

That adds up about right. Most of greatness is pain. It's a beautiful pain though- its building something that is created uniquely by you. Your race is your masterpiece. There is art and beauty in your struggle.

12/3/12 | 30 min on the stair master & 15 on the elliptical ( recovery from 2 hr ride the day before)

12/4/12 | 6 mile morning run with baby Cael in the jogging stroller
Taught a grueling 45 minute spin class in the evening

Don't rest, just go longer!

2 hr ride today. My husband brought our little one over to a friends house for mass quantities of football viewing and I had a lot of time on my hands. I missed my baby so much! The workout was a welcomed distraction to help pass the time once I got all the cleaning and toilet bowl scrubbing done!

My legs aren't trashed and I got some goo d energy towards the end. I did the whole thing as a fartlek and picked up the pace at random increments for random durations.

One of the smartest things to do to help train for a half marry is to get your body used to being on the move for longer than normal. Cross training is very welcomed here to help reduce the risk of injury. You can go a lot longer and at a much higher intensity/faster pace than if you were running = improved fitness = smart!

If you're bored, lonely, or feeling blue use your workout to fuel you too.

It's a matter of perspective

If you are exhausted, you took your hard day seriously. If your not tired, get out there and get crackin.

12/1/12 | negative splits stroller run
60 min; 7.08 miles (although I beg to differ). GPS app was lying. It estimated my pace too slow the first 4 miles. No way was I running at 5.5 mph! I know my pace. I've developed great body awareness over the years. I think I did manage to get in at least a mile at around 6:50 pace at the very end. Gradual build.

Yes I did get all defensive. You know you do it too when taking about your speed. You know why? Because your always racing! Yes, if we are treadmill neighbors at the gym, I am racing you. Just own it.

"No Excuses November"

My Da always tells me that excuses are like a$$holes - everyone's got one. And in my opinion, those who have no excuses are the ones with the sorest a$&holes. Riding that damn bike everyday doesn't make your bum feel the most comforted but the pain It lets you know your still alive and working towards something.

A great quote from the movie Major Payne is what I would love to tell some of my clients: "you get no sympathy from me; if you want sympathy look it up in the dictionary between shit and syphilis!"

11/29/12 | jogging stroller run
60 + minutes

Running home

Your feet know what to do if you just trust them. Running through an adventure never really gets you that lost. You always intuitively circle back home. As runners we wear our heart on our feet.

11/28/12 run | jogging stroller run
60 min approximately

Our son hates to go slow.

Facts of lifestyle

There are no excuses. Anything you can talk yourself out of is an excuse! Stop making them and start doing. Everything is possible if prioritize and organize. It may be hard work, but its worth it.

I have my "Saint Ralph" moment daily when I tell myself to keep pushing. I have a dream that if I can place at the North Shore 1/2 life will somehow work its self out.

Don't give up hope my friends. The greatest things in life happen because people are craziness to achieve them. The things we are crazy for make us unique and interesting so embrace your crazy. I am the crazy runner chick and I'm okay with it.

Playing the catch up game

11/26 | steady ride high resistance
60 minutes

11/25 | Jogging stroller run :)
Cael loves to sleep while I do work
60 minutes approx.

11/24 | steady ride high resistance
58 minutes

11/23 | long ride 70 minutes with 1 minute power boosts on 15 second rests for 20 min

11/22 | long ride 65 minutes

11/21 | 7.5 miles with jogging stroller

Lots of biking and intervals for previous workouts and regular sets of core training, decline lunges push ups and squats!