Challenge

Clearly we all like a little challenge here and there.
Well Coach G added an extra yummy challenge in there for us.

The challenge: to set up goals for yourself for the month of December.
The prize: an outfit from Skirt Sports - a team sponsor.

So what is my challenge for the month.
1. to only miss 1 workout a week due to pure laziness. I may have to miss some due to my volunteer committments so those don't count. but when I feel the need to be lazy. that counts.
2. to get my shins in check.
3. to get rid of the hole in my foot.

now #'s 2 and 3 are somewhat out of my control, but I will do what the doctors tell me to get them better and that's all I can ask for.

so...here's to not being lazy. it sure has been fun the last few months though.

IMAZ or BUST

Registration Confirmation for:
2009 Ford Ironman Arizona
Dear Melissa,
Congratulations! You are now registered for 2009 Ford Ironman Arizona. Please check the event's official website for updates: http://www.ironmanarizona.com

Richmond Marathon

Last week I ran my 2nd marathon. It was my brother's 4th.

After weeks of watching the weather we were ready...cold and rainy.

throughout the night we were awakended by the thunderstorms.

Then came time to get up - just a gentle pitter patter of the drops.

Okay that's more like it.

Time goes on.

And the temperature does to...to over 70 degrees.

With headwinds.

and sun.

The girls and I charged forward. Playing the alphabet scattergories game that entertained us during our training. We posed for pictures and were having fun.

Some memorable moments included...

Mile 4 - we passed my condo and Coach G was out there with her kids ringing cowbells for us.

Mile 6 - I saw my mom, sister, and nephew. That was a great booster!

Mile 8 - a tree fell from the wind. not just a branch..the whole thing! It scared the beegees out of us. Timberrrrrr!

Mile 10 - there was a car accident. One car was in our way, so it was being used as a dumping ground for cups after the water stop.

Mile 11 - a woman tried to turn crossing over the path of the runners. I gave her a few choice words. (inspired by Miso?)

Mile 12 - DOMinator met me with my additional bag of shot blocks and enurolyte tablets. this was much needed.

Mile 16 - bonk. right when IronGreg was on the course cheering me on.

I took in more salt and water and caught a 2nd wind.

That didn't last long.

The girls pushed forward.

IronGreg ran the last 10 miles with me pulling me in. blocking the wind for me.

Mile 20 - a sign read "if you haven't puke yet, you're not going to". I laughed at that. surely they didn't know what my tummy was feeling like.

Mile 24 - IronGreg's family was there cheering me (us) on. A great booster.

Mile 26.2 - the finish line. TG KO was there at the bottom of the chute and caught me as my sister came running around the corner to give me a hug and support - I wanted to just puke. but i didn't!

It was not a great race. (for me or my brother) Frustrating to knowI had such good training to end upwith a bad day. But we have to take what we are given.

And most importantly I finished.

Therefore, it was a good day.

There are estimates out there that people were on average 40 minutes slower than their expected finish time.

Goal A - 4:23

Finish time - 5:03

Marathon Theme Song

"Against the wind
We were runnin' against the wind
We were young and strong,
we were runnin'Against the wind"

Thank you Bob Segar

26.2 Miles of Dedication

According to WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University Dedication is:
dedication
noun
1. complete and wholehearted fidelity
2. a ceremony in which something (as a building) is dedicated to some goal or purpose
3. a message that makes a pledge [syn: commitment]
4. a short message (as in a book or musical work or on a photograph) dedicating it to someone or something
5. the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action; "his long commitment to public service"; "they felt no loyalty to a losing team" [syn: commitment]

Some have commenting to me on the dedication it takes one to challenge themselves to even contemplate running a marathon - the training, time, nutrition, and all else that goes into making your body gain the ability to perform the task at hand.

According to Fave, Dedication is...
1 - my brother, Matthew - He is the one whose determination and dedication of marathns and triathlons inspried me to pursue them myself.
2 - all the women on my team - that showed me that with mental toughness and the support of each other anyone can conquer any challenge . if you want it, it's yours for the taking.
3 - my colleagues - they laugh at me whe I come in sore from a big workout, support my need for caffeine when I am tired from getting up too early so I can fit it in, and confirm that it is okay for to me to constantly sit here eating!
4 - missy - one of my BFF's who supports these crazy goals I have and entertains me on trail runs so we can grow stronger together.
5 - monkey Karen - who has begun the challenge herself in completeing her first two running races and aleready making such strides (pun intended)
6 - cousin Rachel - (who I still pretend is in middle school even though she is finishing college)under my peer pressure she completed her first 10k this spring even though I ended up being too sick to barely get out of bed but she kept pushing forward and recently completed her first half marathon.
7 - Baby David - the world is at his fingertips. May he conquer all that he dreams of.
8 - cousin Carolyn - who recently crossed the finish line of her first triathlon and afterwards she gave me one of the greatest compliments of all - that I was her inspiration. (me? really?)
9 - Coach G - she developed not only a training plan to get me to the finish line but also a circle of support that words cannot do justice.
10 - Coach Karen - who will continue to kick my butt in the water and on the track...if I ever go!
11 - Jackie - as she begins to prepare herself for taking on this challenge for the first time herself.
12 - Keiko - childhood to "adult"hood friends. a fellow interior designer. and now a fellow triathlete, too.
13 - Pinot Noir - for my sanity
14 - SQ - for always smiling
15 - Teresa Stadler - for keeping my going
16 - Jim Miller - for keeping my shins working.
17 - Princess -I have a crazy schedule for taking her o-u-t and her snggles are the best!
18 - Molly, Mollie, Lisa, and Debbie - for our training runs.
19 - Mindy - my co-worker training "together" (she's with Sports Backers) to complete her first marathon
20 - KO - true friends don't need ponytail holders.
21 - my Iron girls - the dedication they show to overcome any and all obstacles to complete a marathon...after swimming 2.4 miles and cycling 112 miles.
22 - Karen and Temple - my girls pursuing their goal with me in the Richmond Marathon. Their first time taking on 26.2 miles of smiles.
23 - Katharine - who always keeps me focused on what it is important. she has met me at the gym too many mornings to "ellipticalize" together when my knees and/or shins were too inflammed for actual running.
24 - Alison - who convinced me to sign up for the Nike Women's HALF Marathon last year. i couldn't get in, so she said I could sign up for the full and run the half. Without that half filling up I wouldn't have had the confidence to pursue the full...and complete it!
25 - Mom - whose cheers can be heard above all others and finish line hugs cannot compare
26 - Greg - "Greggy-Pooh" as he has become to the TG's. who keeps me focused and hydrate and eat the right things...with ice cream splurges. And let's me whine and complain over the small things - then brings me back to reality.
.2 - Lynnie and Miso - Sure the ".2" seems like a small distance, but it is the longest distance one can imagine. Without our games (I can hear you) and wearing masks, training would not have been nearly enough fun. I credit these two girls for keeping me going thoughout our training. Miso Grateful. I dedicate this marathon to us!

Let the Countdown begin

5 days until the Richmond Marathon

An 'I' becomes a 'L'. A 'L' becomes an 'I'

As the alarmed went off this morning I was up and ready for swim practice.

I was feeling good working on freestyle. The hips were rotating (although I was stretching my arm out too far forward)

Then came backstroke. In the past I would windmill down the lane and get it done.
Not today.
ProKaren broke it down and I just could not get the timing down! It's backstroke! Sometimes after breaking things apart I jsut can't put them back together. I overthink. Grrr.
So I had to do my drill...
an 'I; becomes a 'L'
a 'L' becomes an 'I'

Fianlyl ProKaren was over us being retarded on our backs.

So she has us do breast stroke.
mmmm. interesteing.
now I have had some friends attempt to teach me this, butI have never had an actual breast stroke lesson. And I can't frog kick and my legs be mirror images.
we do a few laps "making a pizza and cutting it in half"
not bad.
then comes to just frog kicking.
For me this looked more like treading water.
and she wants to complete a 100 IM one day. oh Lord. I hope that day is far off.

So Proud

1. My friends became Iron(wo)men this weekend. And damn they looked good doing it.
2. The guy who taught me to swim. no really, he made me swim my first lap ever last year. He finished his 5th ironman...of 2008. (yes, he's crazy and we love him) And he sitll has 1 more to go.
3. Amy finished the NYC Marathon yesterday taking the headwinds...head on (ha! get it?!)
4. Lots of my friends signed up for IMFL09

So...
...in 3 days one of my closest friends who lives in GA is coming to VA for a few days to see me!!
...in 5 days my cousin that I conviced to run her first 10k with me this spring (and then I got sick and couldn't run) she is going to do her first half marathon!
...in 12 days I will begin (and hopefully finish) the Richmond Marathon. And my brother is running it too. and my mom is going to come out and watch, too!
...in 21 days I attempt to sign up for IMAZ09