Week 1

Miles Today: 3
Total/Week: 3/12

Today starts my training schedule. Actually it was yesterday, but that was a Rest Day, so at least I've been successful so far . .. Rest? CHECK!

To say I'm a bit nervous about embarking on this 24 week journey is an understatement. We've had massive snowfalls this year, it's December in Iowa, and I'm a single parent of 3 kids under 3 . . . and have 468 miles ahead of me.

Is it fair to put this kind of pressure on myself? We will see. I did my first half marathon this year on my birthday and it was the most amazing experience imaginable, and what I gained through the training was amazing. But that was summertime. Now, it's WINTER.

Our next challenge is traveling for New Years. I have 2 runs scheduled for when we're in KC @ my Sisters. . . I'll still have to go jog, just in a new territory. I hope Dad and Sis or either or join me.

One week at a time, right? We've got 12 miles scheduled for this week. Let's do this thing.

Jingle Jog

Distance: 4 miles
Conditions: 20 degrees

Well, we did it!



After claiming it would be too cold and too early for a Saturday morning race, once the kids were up at 7 I asked them, "Do you want to do a race with Mommi today?"

To which they replied a hearty YES!

So we hustled out the door into the great white frozen world and busted out 2 laps around Gray's Lake. The first lap was fine, the second was miserable - the twins took turns crying and Little A slept through most of it. I should have brought a couple blankets for the kids and we desperately need warmer mittens. I'm having trouble finding warm ones their size.

All in all it was a great race: I ran into a high school friend, had the honor of pushing the ONLY stroller, got cheered on by a shivering crowd and got a really dorky long sleeve shirt to prove it.

Next year, it will be just me doing the run, but it was fun to get the kids out (we even saw Santa!) and push them around our training grounds once again. . . though it makes me desperately wish for spring.

Cheers.

U Turn

So . .. my motivation this week has been about 0.

Maybe I need a little break from the pressure I'm putting on myself to train? Maybe the treadmill is boring as hell? Maybe I'm a little sleep deprived with kids waking up at all hours?

Um, yeah.

Official training starts December 28. . . til then I'm going to be nice to myself and only work out if I feel like it. Good news is I've lost 6 lbs, so at least I'm making some progress somewhere. And I have a plan.

Saturday there's a Jingle Jog (2 or 4 miles) at my regular summer training spot @ the lake. Maybe I can convince Dad to do it with me?

Ready, Set, Ugh!

Last week I put in 7+ miles.

The first 7 were a 2, 3, 2 on the treadmill in the basement. . . the majority of it jogging - whoopee.

It doesn't matter that the + was a walk to the store with the stroller & kids in tow. . . it was hard, dammit, to make it through all the ice and snow buildup on the sidewalks and keep 3 toddlers headed in the same direction. It counts for something . . . be it a + or whatever.

This week, not so much. Ok, so it's only Monday, but I spent the day home sick with the kids. And turns out Lil A woke with a fever and much general puniness, too. Ugh.

So my plan is to put in somewhere between 8 & 10 miles a week until Dec 28 . . .that's when my 24 week training program begins. Hopefully the rest of this week will be brighter!

A Sissy Jogger Is Born!

Does this mean I have to wipe the chap stick off the rim of my wine bottle?

Better yet, let's just begin.

I've NEVER been a runner, unless you count the times I used to race my Dad in the yard as a kid. We'd be finished with a project like planting a tree or working in the garden and decide it was time to go in. We would then both look up at the house at the top of the hill, then at each other, and take off like bats out of hell - me squealing like the sissy I am and him lithely sprinting
like a gazelle.

Those days have long passed, but I do still fancy myself somewhat of an athlete. I envision myself being able to walk for days, or do heavy lifting like installing windows, but again, those days have passed as well.

So I'm not ancient, but I'm 34. I have born three beautiful children and for that my body has suffered. Where once I felt myself indestructible, pregnancy brought me to me knees, and facing death.

Luckily, those days, too, have passed, though not as long ago.

So I saw it fit to shake my angry fist at the havoc pregnancy played on me and began walking again. The summer months and a triple jogger stroller saw me through my first 10K and then my first Half Marathon.

Triumph! Success! Tah Dah!

But wait.

You see where this is going. The Sissy Jogger. Walking is no longer enough. It is time to tackle the ugly beast that is running. I hate it. Abhor it. Spit on it - pwhua!

But it is inevitable - at 34 it is time to tackle the beast and push forward one more step. You know my Dad didn't start running until he was in his early 30's?

So this is my blog, to pour my silly sissy jogging soul into . . . my training, my progress, my setbacks. Welcome.