Back at it...

I haven't posted in a while...but the other day a friend asked for the link and it reminded me that I had this at the perfect time. At the time, I was feeling fairly burnt out and not motivated to train, particularly for the 1/2 marathon I had scheduled in a week or so. Despite not posting on here since September, I have completed two 1/2 marathons, with one more to go -- it's this Sunday and my lack of motivation accounts for the fact that I'd like to skip the 1/2 and just do the 5K that is also offered! After months of long distance running and training I can honestly tell you I am seriously looking forward to the more diverse workouts triathlon training offers!

I'm staring down one final 13.1. My motivation is waning and that good 'ole monkey is creeping his way back onto my back....the one that says be a couch potato, you deserve it, don't train today, take a nap, have another glass of wine...and the worst one of all...hit snooze just one more time! Which is why it was perfect timing for one of my old high school buddies who's also training for a 1/2 to ask "what's the address for that blog you were doing?"

So I'm back at it and hoping the writing won't only be cathartic but also motivating for me and anyone who stumbles upon it. I'm no athlete, I'm not skinny by any stretch of the imagination, despite my best attempts, the reality is I like food and my body likes to store it like its preparing for the next famine! None of it comes easily or without a lot of blood, sweat and yes, even tears. My Winter of 1/2 marathon training is emblematic of my personal struggles with this monkey business we call fitness!

It's been unseasonable cold here in Florida and it has seriously hampered my training. Setting a Winter goal for myself of completing my first 1/2 marathon in January came without the consideration that some of my longest and hardest training would be done in some of the coldest, bleakest weather, and yes people, during the holidays! Brilliant right!? Let me just say running covered head to toe in thermal gear, hat, gloves, armed with chapstick (when I remember it) over the last few months has been brutal.

My friends up North, I know you're scoffing, but it's been in the 30's several times and no matter how wimpy I may be there is nothing wimpy about me or the weather I battled through to complete my first 13.1 in January. What was supposed to be a nice run along Pensacola Beach turned out to be the Great Monsoon of 2010 and one of the most challenging moments of my life. Freezing rain pelting us the whole way, 45 mph winds (literally) and 30 degree temps resulted in most people opting for the shorter distances offered or not even showing up. It tested me to the core but donning a trash bag for limited protection and with my Itunes blaring, I never stopped running and finished the damn thing -- dead last -- but as some friends reminded me, long before those who just flat out quit.

To ease my mind, I picked up an extra 1/2 a few weeks later in Tallahassee, when a friend had to drop out and the weather promised to be better. My time was slightly faster, the weather was cold but lovely otherwise and most importantly I wasn't last this time!

I'm staring down one more 1/2 this weekend and as I said, nixing it for the 5K is tempting. Unfortunately I have a feeling some of my training partners who will be there aren't going to let me wimp out. After all, I didn't wimp out in 45 mph winds, how can I justify it now? I guess it's all just part of the constant battle...the monkey fitness continues...