Tag Archives: goals

Goals I’m Committed To!

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race goals
Goals I’m Committed to Achieving Next Season (in order of importance and obtainability to me):
  1. Sub-two-hour half marathon
  2. Do a triathlon
  3. Do most of my training runs under 9 minute miles
  4. Paris Marathon in April 2015… I’m not quite sure if I’m committed to doing a full…  Have I forgotten how much a full marathon hurts?  Do I have the commitment to train for that many miles?  Do I have the money to do this?  Lol… all of this remains to be seen.
Steps I’m Taking Now:
  1. Good bye Galloway:  Although I started running using the Galloway method 5 years ago and still using it loosely during races, I have stopped doing this during my training runs.  For any of you that may not be familiar with Jeff Galloway’s run/ walk method, it’s a great way to ease yourself into running.  Running and walking at timed intervals gives you the ability to run faster and recover more quickly.  I may not be able to run a full 13 miles without taking a few walk breaks to lower my heart rate but, doing all of my training runs without walking has helped me build a lot more endurance.  As the saying goes “I run ‘till it hurts so that tomorrow, it’ll hurt less.”
  2. Biker Chick: So, I may not know how to ride it very well but, I have the most important tool necessary if I’m going to attempt to do a triathlon… my awesome new road bike.  I’m taking it out for short 7 mile rides until I can coordinate to go a little further with a friend for support (yeah, I’m a chicken, so what?!) I’m pretty psyched.
  3. Flying (running) Solo:  Although being part of a group has been a huge contributing factor to getting me active and involved in athletics, it is only now that I’m doing most of my runs alone that I am truly coming into my own.  It’s fun socializing with others but if you really want to get faster, you’ve got to be able to push yourself… and only YOU can feel how far you want to be pushed.  You can’t push someone else and no one can push you.
Steps I’m taking Soon:
  1. Sink or Swim: I’m signing up for swimming classes this summer.  I can do a mean froggy and doggy paddle but, I’ll admit, that my swimming form is pretty pathetic.  If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right!
  2. High tech: Although I’ve been kinda “winging it” with calculating my pace during races up until now, I got a taste of what it’s like to use a Garmin watch during my last half and got hooked.  My sister let me borrow hers at the “Best Damn Race” we did together and it was pretty amazing.  Not only did it tell me what my current average pace was at all times during the race but, I was able to print out my pace per mile afterwards.  I couldn’t believe that mile 12 was my fastest at an average 8:32 a mile!  (did I want to get it over with or what?!)  I’ll be asking my family to get me one for my b-day this summer!!!
  3. Extra Income:  I need more mullah to support my racing habits.  Rather than sit under the laurels (or the palm trees at the beach) this summer, I’m going to have to get myself a little part time job to fill in my spare time and make some extra cash for these entry fees and possible travel expenses.

March 8th and 9th: Epic Declaration to the Universe

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casey 1

So, this weekend I got to see and help out at a mountain biking race!  The weather was awesome, the company was lovely and doing something out of my usual was great!  Bonus is… its inspired me to try something new.  I don’t know about getting filthy dirty and riding on trails just yet (not saying I won’t try it eventually) but, I’ve decided I’m going to get on a bike of another sort….. and try doing a triathlon this upcoming season!!

That’s right!  This prissy bookworm, crocheting domestic diva, wanna-be athlete is not just going to run a sub-two-hour half marathon next season… She’s declaring to the universe that she’s gonna do a triathlon too!

Because I don’t have a legitimate road bike just yet, I filled the tires of my mom’s old bike from the 90’s (It was laying in my garage) and went on my first short ride this weekend!  I’ll be filling you in on my adventures as they arise.

Here are some fun photos from the race 🙂

March 2nd: Race #2… Mission Accomplished!

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1980750_850008398349103_1490304406_n

Well, we both woke up sore and tired at 5:20am this morning but neither of us let on that we thought this might be a bad idea… back to back half marathons in one weekend is pretty crazy.

Since we both put on our brave faces (and really wanted to prove that we could do this) we headed over to the Swamp House Half as planned.  It was pretty cold by our standards, around 50 degrees, and our tired muscles and joints were stiff as boards but when the blow horn sounded we were off.

The conversation was good, the company was the best and the adventure was epic.  I love my little sister and our crazy antics.  It was a fun race and the after party was lively and delicious!  Where else do you get unlimited IPA beer and jambalaya included in your race entry?!  Oh, and did I mention that they gave us a little swig of beer at mile 12 just to give us the motivational boost we needed to finish?  Fun times!

Amazing finale to an amazing race season.  I am so proud, happy and ready to train for next season’s goal: HALF MARAHON UNDER TWO HOURS!!

March 1st: 2:04:00 Baby!!!

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proud 2

Its called the Best Damn Race…. and it was definitely MY Best Damn Race.  I beat my personal record by 4 minutes!  The official times are not yet available on the race’s web site but as I crossed the finish, the time clock read 2:04:00 exactly!!  I couldn’t believe it!  I am over-joyed and feeling GREAT!

No tummy aches today either!  I think I just needed to include more protein in my diet!  One down and one to go for this crazy weekend.  Tonight, we will be having a pre-Mardi Gras extravaganza at a local pub and making King Cake, lol.  Let the good times roll!

Wish us luck tomorrow… Swamp House here we come!!

February 16th: Declarations

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life as words
As my lovely friend Madelyn (www.karmafreecooking.com) has taught me, we must declare things unto the Universe to make them so.
Having completed my workshop today, I truly understand the impact of using my words to declare the possibilities I want for my life and acting in the” here and now” to make them a reality.
Here are some of my declarations:
  • I am declaring that I understand my own worth and value the amazing person that I am.
  • I am declaring that I will run a sub 2-hour ½ marathon next season.
  • I am declaring that I will meet and marry a man who loves me for all the beautiful things that I am.
  • I am declaring that I will be a mom one day.
  • I am declaring that I will continue to travel the world (Including a trip to Europe for the Paris Marathon April 2015!)
  • I am declaring a fulfilling relationship with my loving friends and family.
  • I am declaring financial stability and wealth.
  • I am declaring that I will start my own business and be self-employed.
There are many, many more….
What are some of your declarations?

January 21st: Sticking with it!

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never giving up!

Today I am thankful for not giving up.  You know that frustrating feeling you get when you think about how in-shape you were, how great your clothes used to fit you, how amazing you felt back in the day?…. well, I’m resolved to never feel like that ever again.

There will be no starting over because there will be no giving up.  I am deciding as of right now that I will always be “In the Best Shape of My Life”… for the REST OF MY LIFE.  Who’s with me?

January 20th: I Beat Her! (and by “her”, I mean myself)

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I will beat her 2

Today I am grateful for feeling awesome!  I’m healthy, my legs and hips are not in pain and I’m thinking I might just kick some serious ass in a couple weeks at my next half marathon: The Miami Marathon and Half Marathon on Feb. 2nd (formally the ING Miami Marathon).

This running season has been epic for me so far.  I’ve been putting in some serious efforts.  I’ve been running hard, cross training, eating well, making some sacrifices, taking some chances and believing in myself more.  And its paid off!  I have improved my personal best at each race by AT LEAST 2 minutes.  And although it may seem ridiculous to some, this is the first time in 6 years of running that I sincerely consider myself “a runner.” All these years, I have felt as though I have wanted to be a runner but could not quiet classify myself as one because I just wasn’t good enough.  But, I AM good enough.  And I’m owning my awesomeness today.  🙂

January 4th: Personal Record and Injury Free!

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west palm 1:2 jan 4th

Today I am grateful for having broken my personal record at the Sunshine State West Palm Beach 1/2 Marathon without injury.  As you may remember, I have set a goal to beat my race times by one minute each race this season.  I have surprised myself by actually beating my PRs by 2 minutes for the past two races.  Today, I beat my last race time of 2:10:31 by 2m 31sec.  I passed the finish line as the race clock ticked at exactly 2:08:00.

I am so incredibly proud of myself and, to be honest, have never been more emotional at a race… Not even my Full in 2009.  I prayed last night, and throughout the race, that the muscle in the back of my left thigh wouldn’t seize up on me as it did last March during the Coral Springs 1/2 that I ran with my sister.  It was very painful and forced me to hobble past the finish and take about a month off of running afterwards.

This past week, the same muscle has been tight and achey and I have been panicking to myself about it because I have been training so hard and looking forward so much to possibly getting a personal record at this race.  It started to get a little sore and tight around mile 8 but I decided that “I’m not going to think, I’m not going to feel, I’m just going to fricken’ do it” … And I did! 🙂

Decreed to the Universe

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intention

OK everyone. As I mentioned in my post after my last half marathon 2 weeks ago, recent personal events have led me to make some changes to my running schedule this season. I promised myself I would only be changing dates, not changing the amount of races, and really focus on achieving my goal to p.r. at every event by at least one minute. So far, I have been beating my times by two minutes each race!!

My little sister, who will be doing her first FULL MARATHON the Sunday after Thanksgiving, asked me casually last week if I would be available to do the “Best Damn Race” half marathon http://bestdamnrace.com/orlando/ with her on Saturday March 1st. I was originally scheduled for the 13.1 Allstate Miami Beach that weekend and jumped at the chance to change my schedule and do a race with her instead… but then she dropped the bomb on me: She was also scheduled for a SECOND HALF MARATHON THE FOLLOWING DAY and wanted me to participate in both with her. http://www.swamphousehalfmarathon.com/

Back to back half marathons in ONE WEEKEND?! This is the stuff that only lunatics (like full marathoners) come up with. Now, my girlfriends might try to convince you that this whole break-up had me on the verge of an Elizabeth Gilbert-esque Eat, Pray, Love life-crisis for a couple of days but… Im not THAT crazy. So, I told Georgette she was nuts and declined.

A couple of days later… I thought of my friend Madelyn. While I may not see Madelyn very frequently and I can’t say that I know her too intimately, my interactions with her are always positive and impactful. She has good intentions for others, is sincere with her words and is always spiritual, positive and up-lifting. She’s a pretty amazing vehicle for the messages I need to hear at the times I need to hear them and I’m always a willing listener.

Madelyn shared some of her personal intentions on Facebook that week and claimed that they were “Decreed to the Universe”! It made me smile because I realized that thats the only way that anything really happens: we must decree our desires, believe that they are possible and be receptive to them when they arrive. There are many things I need to decree to the Universe at this point of my life, especially those things that I thought I had, those that I have lost and and those that I fear I will never truly create.

I’ve decided that I will start “small” and make my first decree this: I will take the challenge of running two half marathons in one weekend with my wack-a-doo sister as the finale to my running season this year. It is Decreed to the Universe!!

Next step: Decreeing Happiness, Love and Family

Why do YOU run?

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worry less run more

When things get tough, I turn to my family. Hugs and dinners with Mom. Conversations with my little sister. Watching TV on the couch with my Dad and Step Mom. Phone calls with my Aunt. Bitch sessions or tears with my girlfriends. Praying every morning on my way to work. Going to the beach alone. Writing. And…. RUNNING.

I run to prove to myself that I am strong. I am capable of achieving great things. I can stomp out whatever sadness and loss I’ve suffered with every step on that pavement. I can find elation in that adrenaline rush and peace with the exhaustion that follows.

I run towards the solution not away from the problem. I run more and I worry less…

Why do YOU run?