Building Blocks

I heard this is what Mile 23 looks like. As a non runner trying desperately to run with the gazelles, I can only imagine what mile 23 would feel like. Now that I've recovered from the half marathon "experience". . . yes. . .that is what we will call it . . an EXPERIENCE! LOL. I was silly to not have trained much outside prior to the Iron Girl Half. There was a teeny tiny race - several years ago where I actually won a gold medal for my age group. I beat a skinny girl and stood there in the first position for my cheesy medal and couldn't be happier! - We chatted a bit after the race and she said she trains on a treadmill inside - at that time I was always running outside and used to the heat humidity and pavement.

Not this time LOL. I'm such an AC lover! I love sweating in the AC!!!!! I really enjoy spin classes, which are super challenging --- but somewhere in the back of my mind I remember that spinning classes were supposed to be saved for easy days.  - I love taking Zumba and Sh'bam! I love BODY PUMP and BODY ATTACK!!! Body ATTACK is 30 mins of pure hell actually where the resting pace is . . .RUNNING. We are doing all kinds of high cardio non stop all out jacks and jacks and burpees and pistol squats - mountain climbers . . . and then she says ok run it out and you think . . oh YES- oh YES now we just run thank you thank you .. . .HAH!

I've been taking Total TONE classes and something called BENDER BALL. I'm telling you . . . I did everything except put in longer miles for that half marathon. . ..  I did run - but it wasn't to the extent it should have been.

I've officially signed myself up for the Walt Disney World Wine and Dine Half Marathon on November 10,2012.
 This should be interesting as it is a night race that begins at TEN PM! I've never run even a 5k that late! I think Anna will sign up for the half- with Joe and Jackson going for the 5k. Shaun says shes in for the half. I'm hoping Lara will register - and Matts' Dad would like to run it too. He is a  zippy guy at 64 years old!!

I'm planning on increasing my speed by doing 90 seconds on 90 seconds off 10 times. These workouts really suck. But they get better as weight comes off of me.  Then I would like to do 5ks in the summer to keep me focused and aiming for something. -
- I would like to do a workout where I start at a certain pace for 3 miles - increase speed for 3 miles, decrease speed 3 miles and increase 3 miles.  I'm hoping this will help me break things down better and also try harder to stay in a better place.
I don't want to just go out there and DIE.

I've always been a Nike Pegasus girl. I got these cute nike frees recently with the intent of wearing them just for the dance classes at the gym . . but they were so bendy and weird I just don't feel happy in them. I started out with Mizunos but once I built some leg strength up I moved out of those particular ones which had a lot of stability. - Pegasus has always just been my great friend. . never lets me down. . . But for some reason I decided to run the half marathon in Nike Structure Triax 13. I realize thats an older model but I got them a while ago with the intent of wearing those for my first long run . . so away they hid for years until it was time for them to shine! My feet were hurting so bad at the end of the race - there were no blisters, I put vaseline between my toes and on all the rub spots in the morning before heading out to the race start. . .But I really should have worn my Pegs! Worst experience I had with shoes was Gel Kayano by Asics. Lost a couple tonenails with those suckers.. My second toe is longer than my big toe on both feet, after spending 16 weeks running with a group with the kayanos. . . I realized I was just messing myself up with those shoes! ANyway - that was a long time ago.
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Okay - I'm not worried about not being able to do this. I know I can. It is just a matter of preapring well this time. I have 6 months. 6 months to peel weight off and speed up. 6 months to get myself in gear. I know I will do better. I'm just having a hard time focusing on when and what to run. Now that the Florida sun is starting to beat down - I either have to get up earlier or stop going to my fun dance classes and run at that time instead.

- Either way I will keep you posted!