I Will Survive

Well it's finally here. Training plan for IM Canada has started and I'm loving it. After recovering from a week of flu or some other unidentified virus, I finally get started on Coach Sam's training plan for Canadian Debbie and I.

I've finished Week One and I feel like a Donna Summer song--I Will Survive! Been setting the alarm clock earlier and even waking up before it goes off. I'm sure this will get old long before August 30th, but right now my life finally feels like it's in order again.

Some might call it a sickness, but I love it!

Workout Log

Sunday, Jan 25
Bike trainer ride 60 minutes

Monday, Jan 26
Bike trainer ride 60 minutes

Tuesday, Jan 27
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Wednesday, Jan 28
SICK

Thursday, Jan 29
SICK

Friday, Jan 30
SICK

Saturday, Jan 31
1 hour run around Town Lake in Austin

Sunday, Feb 1
Bike trainder ride 2 hours

Monday, Feb 2
Swam 30 minutes
Bike trainer ride 45 minutes

Tuesday, Feb 3
Weights with Hawaiian Christine
45 minute Hill Run

Wednesday, Feb 4
1 hour swim at Lifetime
Yoga class

Thursday, Feb 5
45 minute ride on trainer
45 minute run

Friday, Feb 6
45 minute ride on trainer

Saturday, Feb 7
1 hour run

Sunday, Feb 8
2.5 hour ride/30 minute run

Monday, Feb 9
45 minute ride on trainer

The Results are In...

Well another one for the record books. Finished my 8th Houston Marathon and 9th time participating in the Houston Marathon weekend. (I did the half marathon with Lovable in 2008.) Won't dwell on it, but let's just say I didn't make my goal time, but I had a blast! Jean stayed with me the entire time and even would take my water bottles and fill them at each water station. The highlight was the weekend stay at the Hilton with the Spa Girls. Although the four of us don't do as much together as we used to, we are forever best of friends and I love them all to death!

I cried 50 yards from the finish line when I saw Sassy Pants and Sandy cheering me in. I was running to raise money (and I beat my fund raising goal) for CanCare and also in celebration of her hubby's recent discovery that he had KICKED CANCER'S BUTT! They had written me the most touching email when they found out and to see Sassy Pants at the finish line was just awesome....I still miss her on our Saturday long runs since she moved to the KUNTRY (as she calls it).

A few steps later, my kids were holding a giant sign that said "My Mom is My Hero. 4:30". Well even though I didn't make the 4:30 goal, it was even better to see that poster. When we got home, I told them we were keeping that poster and they would have to hold it at the finish line every year until I made 4:30 or less! (And we really did save it. In case I ask any of you next year where I put it, it's in the hall coat closet.)

Now the real training begins! 8 days until Ironman Canada training starts. Coach Sam - I'm counting on ya!


Workout Log

Saturday, Jan 17
Rest for marathon

Sunday, Jan 18
Just a little 26.2 mile run through the streets of Houston

Monday, Jan 19
Stretching

Tuesday, Jan 20
Walk/jog and stretching for 40 minutes

Wednesday, Jan 21
Yoga

Thursday, Jan 22
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Friday, Jan 23
Nothing

Saturday, Jan 24
Easy 4 mile run. Felt a few little post-marathon aches, but nothing major that one shouldn't expect 6 days after a marathon

Marathon Weekend

It's finally here! Weather is predicted to be be good. Spa Girls are pacing me. No excuse not to have a great time. And oh-by-the-way, going to go for the big PR and crash 4:30. I'll give it my all and you can't ask for anything more!

Workout Log

Wednesday, Jan 14
N-O-T-H-I-N-G (Fort Bend Fit Pasta Party

Thursday, Jan 15
N-O-T-H-I-N-G

Friday, Jan 16
N-O-T-H-I-N-G

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVABLE

Do I really have a 21 year-old?

Smart Lovable

Today Lovable takes her Dental School Entrance Test. I can't believe my little girl is big enough to go to dental school. Please send her SMART thoughts! She's been studying her a$$ off!

Workout Log

Sunday, Jan 11
Volunteered from 5am to 2pm at USA Fit marathon. I think that was harder than running the marathon....NOT!!!

Monday, Jan 12
Nothing....Met with Coach Sam to discuss Ironman Canada training plan

Tuesday, Jan 13
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Traditions

Remember the movie Fiddler on the Roof and the song "Tradition". It's one of my earliest movie theater memories as a kid. Our family rarely went to the movies....too much money. But I remember the whole family of 6 going to the theater to see Fiddler on the Roof.

So, this week starts Tradition for me. Houston Marathon weekend #9. The countdown has begun. I'm now one week, seven days, 154 hours from the start of the 2009 Houston Marathon. The traditions have also begun. The first tradition is to have a HORRIBLE last long run on the weekend prior to the marathon. So I had to uphold that! After a good 21 miler six days earlier, I started running on Saturday. After about 1.5 miles, I decided that I'd rather walk this weekend, than spend the last few miles on Jan 18th walking. So I finished the run with a long, slow 2.5 mile walk. It was a great time to think about the good times and bad of the past year.

This week will be a comfortable week of more traditions (massage, pasta dinner, expo, pre-race dinner, etc) culminated by a run with my four original Spa Girl running buddies pacing me for the 26.2

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!


Workout Log

Sunday, Dec 28

Monday, Dec 29
45 minutes on the bike trainer. It's been a while! Did a wattage ride for the first time like Coach Sam taught us a few weeks ago. It different.


Tuesday, Dec 30
Weights with Hawaiian Christine. Yikes she took my body fat and measurements. Gained 3 pounds and lots o'fat! Back to the eating program on Jan 5. She'll take my measurements again on Jan 20.

Ran 46 minutes of parking garages with New Angie and Yvonne.


Wednesday, Dec 31
New Year's lifting of glasses and toasting. Had more martini's than I usually have all year....uh-oh


Thursday, Jan 1
WII Fit with Sweetie and the kids. Yes, it really does count!


Friday, Jan 2
Day of Rest

Saturday, Jan 3
Day of Rest #2 in prep for big one

Sunday, Jan 4
21 miles with Sweetie, Canadian Debbie and Chris. Hot as H-E-L-L. So where does the Big Man get making it 75 degrees and 110% humidity in January? I was happy with our time given the weather. I even got a little kick at mile 19.5 and ran ahead of the group for about 5 minutes.

Monday, Jan 5
Recovery

Tuesday, Jan 6
SICK :-(

Wednesday, Jan 7
Yoga

Thursday, Jan 8
Weights with Hawaiian Christine

Friday, Jan 8
Rest

Saturday, Jan 9
Ran 1.5 miles, walked 2.5 miles