The Journey

Awhile ago, I painted a pretty picture in my head.  It was of my journey to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  It was like one of those sports movies with music that played at just the right parts and the underdog always won.

But the actual movie has been nothing like my make-believe movie.  My actual movie has played out like this:

On a Friday, I ran 18 miles alone and finished by 6:30am.  Which means I started and ended when it was dark.    Then on the following Monday, I ran 11 miles....in the dark.  BUT 10 months ago, running this kind of mileage wasn't even imaginable.  Or being mentally tough enough to run it alone.

I haven't been doing speed work on the track.  The thought of doing intervals makes me want to vomit.  It gives me anxiety.  And It is hard.  BUT I'm running almost 45 seconds per mile (in training) faster on the road than I did 10 months ago.  And I can still get to puke zone doing it.

My body is full of niggles right now.  Training aches and pains.  The hypochondriac in me is going crazy.  BUT they are not full blown injuries and I can still train.  

I had a goal of getting to a certain body fat percentage by race day.  I can't get there if I really like sugar cookies.  The demons laugh at my self mastery.  BUT I'm getting closer to that number, albeit slowly.

I feel like my journey is in a constant state of change.  I'm changing.  I've come a long ways in the 10 months I have been training.  Though I haven't conquered all my demons, I'm getting closer.  I've conquered other things along the way which has made me a more disciplined runner.  There are things that I once thought impossible or hard that I can handle semi-gracefully.  

The journey that I thought I was going to experience is nothing like the journey I'm on.

Silken Laumann, an Canadian Olympian, said, "It's important to know that at the end of the day it's not the medals you remember.  What you remember is the process--what you learn about yourself by challenging yourself, the experiences you share with other people, the honesty the training demands--those are the things nobody can take away from you whether you finish twelfth or you're an Olympic Champion".

I'll find out how this movie plays out in 8 weeks.

Bahamas

Tim qualified for president's club again this year.  Since we did Europe last year, the company decided to do a beach trip this year.....Bahamas!

I still had to get my runs in for my marathon training....I had a really ugly view!  I did most of my runs outside with one of the other wife's.  It was a great way to tour the island.

Working hard on the beach....taking one for the team.

I drank way to many strawberry smoothies.  But when a waitress comes to you on the beach and asks YOU if YOU want a drink, I'll take it!

We took a tour of the island and went to a local zoo.  Tim was able to feed the birds apple slices.

I got a chance to hold the Toby bird....I'm not much a wildlife gal!

We had dinner at the Poop Deck.  The name just made me giggle.  I even got a t-shirt.

It was great to get away for a few days and soak up the sun.

February Update

Every Valentine's Day, we have a "heart attack".  Everyone has to write something they love about each other on a heart.  I love hearing what the kids have to say about each other.

Loom bracelets are all the rage in the 4th grade.  The bracelets are made on a loom with small rubber bands.  We have 3 looms and a gazillion rubber bands.  The girls make several bracelets a day and everyone in our family has several.

The big kids recently participated in the 4th grade play.  The play was about Utah history.  Carter was a mountain man.  Annie was a rock climber.  Abby was a beehive.  Everyone in the family knows all the songs!  It was a great experience for them, but I'm really glad it is over!

Lots of cub scouts and the Blue and Gold Banquet.

I'm still running lots and sometimes question my current goals.  I still have a long ways to go to accomplish my goals.  It takes a lot of time.  Running is the easy part.  It is the strength training, stretching, diet, and icing that requires a lot.  Hopefully it is all worth it.

I have a far-fetched dream of having a small farm some day.  This will probably never happen, but I often think about how I would run it.  I've been reading a lot of books about it lately.

We have neighbors that have a lot of chickens, rabbits, horses and turkeys.  They are truly self reliant people.  They believe in growing their own vegetables and raising/killing their own meat.

They recently butchered their turkeys (I won't post the pictures).  They invited me to the event.  I was beyond excited (for real)!  I got to watch them shoot the turkeys, skin them, and pull out all their guts.  The wife was going to can all the meat.  Watching this process made me even more excited to dream!  Someday.....