Can I Get a Mulligan?

A do-over? Yes? Thank you! I am so thankful that when it comes to exercising and working out that even when I slack, I have a chance to start over; to try again. I started out my 21 days with great intentions. But,things didn't quite end up like I had planned. I'm not going to make excuses. I just screwed up. Don't get me wrong, I have been doing stuff. Just not running like I should. I have been doing a mini bootcamp 3 days a week and Zumba (LOVE) 1 day. But my running has suffered. Then it dawned on me that I have my first race in two weeks. Oops. Granted, it is only like 1.2 miles. It's a great new race called "Run WITH the Law" and it benefits the Special Olympics of Kansas. We are only the second city in the state to participate in it. I am still in need of donations to meet my goal, so if you are in the giving mood please click on my link!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/marissa-wood/2011-derby-run-with-the-law

So, today I will (once again) start over.

A Fork in the Road

Last week I hit a fork in my training. I was doing well on my 21-day plan, but the fork got in the way. On Friday I took my physical agility test for police officer. Yeah...not in as good of shape as I thought. I still passed (yay me!), but not by much. I was told afterwards that I needed to work on sprints and weight training, especially for my upper body. Well, crap. I wanted to train for distances longer than a block. So, now I don't know what to do. I know I need to sprint and I need to increase my upper body strength so I don't get injured at the academy. I don't want to be bulky, though. I still want to practice my distance running, too. Ugh! Why does someone have to throw down a damn fork in the middle of my road???

Starting Over

SUCKS!!! That is all. Continue on with your day.

Creating a Habit

So, I have been slacking. I keep finding one reason or another to not go to the gym or do a video at home. Time to snap out of it! I have read that it only takes 21 days to create a habit. Hmm...there are so many directions I could go with that. I don't imagine that it would take me 21 days of eating cookies to make it a habit. I know for sure that back in my bad girl smoking days it didn't take 21 days for me to form a habit. So, if it is so danged easy to form a habit for bad things, why am I finding it so hard to form this good habit??? So, here and now I am setting a goal. I WILL exercise for the next 21 days. And, it will be for at least half an hour (but hopefully more). If we have another "Blizzard of Oz", I will do my Shred. If the ground isn't frozen, I will get my butt outside and off the freaking dreadmill. If the weather is crappy, I will learn to appreciate the dreadmill. I will learn to embrace the senior citizens at the gym; the ones who take up the already too small track and the old man who stares at my ass while I am on the elliptical. I hope that when I am their age I am still out and as for the old man, at least SOMEONE is staring at my ass. (And NOT pointing and laughing. Or maybe he is. I choose to think not.) And really, what is 212 days? It's less than a month. And if I am ever going to compete in a half marathon, hitting the gym once or twice a week just won't cut it. I have been checking out the local race calendars and started making my "wishlist". But right now those 5K's even look daunting. But I have a feeling that if I make it these 21 days, it'll be the push I need. Oh...and more to come on a possible half marathon. Get ready to break out your checkbooks!

And....I'm Back!

Thought you lost me, didn't ya? Well, you aren't so lucky. I've had to revise the description of my blog. No 25 weeks of training. I'm not sure how long I have. As of right now, the 1/2 marathon in May is out. I finally made it back to the gym after being released by my doctor. It wasn't pretty. It feels like all the progress I'd made up to November was gone. I couldn't even run half a mile. I feel like a failure in so many ways. But, I know it isn't the end of the world. When I look back, I know how long it took for me to be able to run that half mile and I know it won't take as long to do it this time. Then, I'll just have to work my way back up, then keep on going. And you know what? I'm ok with it. All I have is time. There will be plenty of half marathons for me to sign up for. I do still plan on doing one before the year is over. I also still plan on running my 500 miles. I'd love to be in the "Tall Mom's Club" in which they run 1000+ miles a year, but maybe some other year. So, it's back to running/walking and cross training. I'll probably add in some Shred, as much as I hate it. Those 500 miles are going to run themselves.

I Get Knocked Down...But I Get Up Again

Are you singing the song in your head? I am. It has kind of become my theme song. I've told you about how when I decided to get my act together that I kept running into obstacles. Then, I'd try to start again and hit another obstacle. Well, here I am again. I had a slight run-in with the treadmill two weeks ago. We fought. The treadmill won. It was very sad. All joking aside, I thought I had merely scraped up my leg and I would be back on it in no time. Well, as my leg has healed, I noticed my back hurting. A lot. It has gotten to the point where I can't even bend over and touch my toes. (For those that know me well, you know I am incredibly flexible; to the point where I can bend over BACKWARDS and touch my toes.) Well, it turns out I have done something to my sciatic nerve. From what I hear, there is really nothing that can be done to fix it. However, I am going to see if there isn't a least a way to alleviate some of the pain so I can continue running. I am going to contact the chiropractor and see what he says.

My point in this is; even though I am hurting I WILL get back up. I WILL continue on. If my doctor tells me no more running, I will find something else to do. But, I am hoping that won't be the case. I figure if people can have back surgery and complete a marathon a year later, I can overcome sciatic nerve pain. I WILL find a way. Giving up and giving in is not an option. That's not to say there won't be days I will want to give up. When those days happen, I hope I have people there to help me up.

Chasing a Dream

This post is not about me. Today I want to talk about my friend, Christie. She is wonderful. She has probably been my biggest supporter since I began running. She started not long after I did and is doing amazing things. Christie decided to take the plunge and sign up for Team in Training and compete in the Princess Half Marathon at Disney in February. For those not familiar with TNT, it supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a member of TNT, you raise money; 75% of it goes to LLS and 25% pays your way to the race, hotel fees and some meals. Christie has been working her butt off trying to raise money. She has to raise $3300 by January 11th and she is far from her goal. If she doesn't raise the money, she is done. She will no longer be a team member. I don't necessarily agree with how things are run, but that is neither here nor there. The point is, Christie needs YOUR help. If you can spare a dollar or ten or more, every donation helps. You can also help by purchasing one of her awesome carrot cakes or Tiffany's devine cheesecakes. Like Bunco? Register for her fundraiser. It's January 15th and it's a $25 pay-in due by the 15th of December. If you don't know how to play, there will be plenty of us to teach you. If you choose to support Christie, you aren't just donating to pay her way, you are helping LLS find cures for blood cancers. And haven't we all been affected by cancer in one way or another?

For more information, visit her page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ks/dipihalf11/clawrenfnl

To learn more about Team in Training, visit their webpage: http://www.teamintraining.org/ks/