2ManyCurves's Journal, 03 March 2014

Yesterday can only be summed up as a CHEAT day. The ice storm rolled in so I wasn't able to complete my long run. I also found myself unable, or rather unwilling, to cook, so I ordered pizza. I laid around in bed all day watching NetFlix documentaries. Not the good ones that focus on health and becoming vegan, but more the suspenseful crime thriller documentaries. While I did virtually nothing in the way of physical activity, I found myself with a tons of aches and pains. Pain in the bottom of my foot, pain around my lower shin, an ache in my left knee, side stitches, and all the other things I might expect after a long run. Except there was no long run, not even a short run. It occurred to me that running must be very good for me because when I don't run I notice all of these issues... ha.

I looked up one of my race results from when I ran a half-marathon in my 20s. At the age of 23, I completed my first half-marathon in 2:51. That is about 13:03 min/mile. I was never particularly fast. Wouldn't it be nice to beat my pace at the age of 39? I'm not positive I will do it, but it gives me a range to work towards and I'm not terribly far off. I've been averaging a 13:20 pace. I know I can speed that up. I've had first miles under 10. But, somehow I end up losing it in the second and third mile when I try to figure out a steady pace that I can maintain for the rest of the miles. I think perhaps I hold back too much in those miles because mentally I am telling myself to save some so that I won't burn out early. I am also hoping that I will have lost another 20 pounds by April 19th so that I will move a little lighter. If I drop those twenty pounds, I may be pretty close to the weight I was when I ran my first half at 23. Funny how life can come full circle. Same race, same weight...hopefully better time.

One big difference is that my son isn't a toddler picking me up at the finish line. Instead, he will be crossing the finish line himself, most likely nearly an hour ahead of me. As difficult as he has been in the last six months, I do like that he enjoys distance running. He is one of those kids who doesn't even have to train for races. He simply shows up, runs and is done. I'm sure his times would be much better if he did weekly training runs. But, I don't think he is too motivated to chase after medals even though he has placed on several occasions. I think it is more of a social event for him. He likes the tshirts, the music, the atmosphere, the whole turkey legs post race. He doesn't concern himself with whether he beats his last pace. He'd much rather cross the finish line next to his girlfriend so there is a cool new finish photo of them together. I've said before that I have never seen a child with so much potential and so little determination. His mindset is different than mine. I'm more competitive, driven, high-strung, always seeking to improve and succeed. He just shows up for the party. Maybe instead of trying to make him more like me, I should be a little more like him.

Just my thoughts for the day. Have a great week!

2MC

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1772 kcal

Fat: 58.44g | Prot: 104.50g | Carb: 261.62g.   Breakfast: Powerade Zero Orange, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Milk (Nonfat), Papa John's 14" Original Crust Pizza - The Works. Lunch: Baked Sweetpotato (Peel Eaten), Kraft Natural Shredded Fat Free Cheddar Cheese, Wal-Mart Extra Lean Ground Beef 96/4, EarthGrains 35 Calorie Wheat Bread. Dinner: Flour and Water Gravy, Egg, Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits, America's Choice Bacon Thick Sliced. Snacks/Other: Milk (Nonfat), Malt-O-Meal Honey & Oat Blenders Sweetened Corn & Wheat Flakes, j. Higgs j. higgs butter microwave popcorn, Frigo Light Mozzarella Cheese Stick. more...

1829 kcal

Activities & Exercise: Sleeping - 24 hours. more...