Thirsty Work

Evidence of today's thirsty work!

5am start = 8km run along the river (a river so big it seems like the Mississippi to me). Perfect Texan running weather - overcast and beautifully breezy - almost felt like 80 degrees - YAY!!  So knackered by the end I didn't even freak out when a racoon trundled across my path.

Walked to and from Crossfit this morning (this is a BIGGIE in Texas - it's just me and the tumbleweed dodging the trucks - Texans don't really go in for pavements) = 5.5km. The sun forgot to put it's hat on this morning so I made the most of it ;-)) Felt NICE to walk. I attempted not to freak out when a stray {?diseased} dog crossed my path.

Leanfit was a toughie this morning: 25 x wall balls = death, 20 x hollow rocks = impossibly slow death, 400m run = being buried alive after the 8km I'd previously run. I called quits after 3 of the supposed 4 rounds. I was deader than dead.

But I am the most rehydrated corpse you've EVER met ;-)) xx

Just registered for my 1st Half-Marathon!!!!

I've just registered for my first Half Marathon race. Never been quite so far out of my comfort zone.

Let's hope this rings true - Miss S! xx

You can probably tell from the cowboy boot race logo that there's been a slight change of plan in my Half Marathon location! To explain: I'd actually been putting off registering for my Half Marathon race as:

• I'm in SLIGHT denial that it's happening


• Realistically I'm not even slightly physically ready to run 12.3 miles (mentally I'm all what can be so bad about two 10kms - I say this despite never running a complete 10km non-stop?! What do I know!)


• BUT mostly I haven't been feeling the San Fran Half Marathon: The course is basically three laps of a hilly lake and it seems designed for pros. Urgh. 

So today, I had another hunt around and I found a Half-Marathon winner - this just feels a bit more me, that and it's in the great state of Texas and BONUS! only a short distance away by Texas standards ;-)

PINKARAMA!!

Plus as it's on the 25th September I get an EXTRA week to train. SUPERDUPERFABULISTIC! I'm still not convinced I will achieve enough in 5 weeks run training wise but 5 weeks is better than 4 weeks! I NEED time - this was Thursday's dismal effort - in my defence I was running in a non-rainy lightning storm, in the dark and I had to stay with my route marker and keep slowing to a walk rather than overtake my route marker else I'd have gotten completely lost/ freaked out.

One of my finest efforts clearly!

Of all the things that appeal about 'Heels, Hills and Him' Half Marathon, namely:

1. It is designed with unintimidating & accessible fitness and FUN in mind


2. The race founder is a lady who was a Multiple Sclerosis sufferer who was told she would never be able to run again. NEVER tell a lady they can't do something ;-)) Just Saying. 


3. The race brand is PINK!!

But my favourite thing is the 100% enticement of a finisher's man-to-take-home................... ok ok medal. But their advertising - 'tis misleading! Han will know exactly what I'm talking about here but you should never have to undertake a mammoth race and NOT come away with a finisher's medal - especially if you've just so happened to have completed 60km!

One of the less attractive things about Heels & Hills is - I'm hazarding a guess from the race title here - that there are a couple of not-so-small hills somewhere on the route. Might need to do a pre-race rece to Irving just to mentally prepare myself.

So as you admire my HALF-MARATHON race registration confirmation, please excuse me, I have an 8km date with a treadmill. (Good job you don't need your arms to run ;-)) - mine are killing) xx

* Special Note: Changing the date of my half-marathon race had nothing to do with being invited to a Tailgate party & American Football game on the day before my original race date ;-))

Just call me Freakin' McAWESOME!!!

Woooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooo

Yeeeeeeeeehaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

YabbaaaaaaaaaaaDabbaaaaaaaaaDoooooooooo

Everybody I'm kung-fu fighting (pwheuw, yarh - arm actions are a must)

This cat is fast as lightning (not really but lets go with it)

In fact it was a little bit frightening (true, VERY true)

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hum, hum ,hum, hummmmm

Need I say more?

OK - well at 5.40am this ninja finally convinced herself to actually get out of bed, wipe the drool off my face (tmi?) and get to it OR ELSE face the prospect of another spin session later on as punishment.

6.02 I was out front the meeting place and joined the back of the group literally as they were setting off - had no idea of the route, distance, who anyone was - but the group I was with seemed the right pace. Lots of identical girls with swinging ponytails chatting as they ran and four slightly less athletic looking men (i.e. wearing teeshirts!) upfront. (I spent a crucial 4 mins delaying leaving the house as I hunted down my shuffle but actually I'm so glad I did. Saying hello and introducing yourself is overrated compared to musical companionship for an hour!)

6.25 I finally slowed for my first walk (even made it up the hill running all the way!!!!) Actually I was ultra devious as I left my water, my house keys, phone (complete with gps map), money everything back in the car so that I was forced to keep up with everyone. Sneaky but it worked.

6.35 The sun finally came up. Hurrah - no need to worry about falling unnoticed into a sink hole!

6.45 I finally lost my run markers in the twists and turns of surburbia and other non-running group runners started appearing from all directions which was tres confusing. (I fairly sure I went the wrong way here and cut a 1-2 km corner but I eventually spotted someone looking back as if looking to check I was still there so I just kept following him. I now realise he also had no idea where he was going and was checking to see that I was following to ensure he was going the right way - haahahahahahah. Ooops.)

6.50 I recognised where I was and even if it wasn't the official route. I knew it was likely only another 2-3km before I could get a drink of water. Hallelulia!

7.01 I checked my distance for the first time and truth be told I was more than a little sad to see it saying 7.00

7.04 I spotted the Montgomery flags, saw the running posse huddled in a stationary group and the girls I started just behind an hour ago also arriving back albeit from a slightly different direction ;-))

7.15 After three BIG glasses of water, I trundled off back to my car.

7.30 I realised I'm the world's BIGGEST idiot as I hadn't actually activated my Nikeband. 7.00 wasn't the distance but the time, it was now saying 7.28. SOOOOOOOOOO MAD I can't actually prove that I ran like a ninja but mapping the route (at least what I remember of it) it looks like my unofficial route was just under 9km. 

Not a bad first half-marathon training run session. WAHOOO xx

Ben does Ironman (AGAIN)

I'm so inspired by Ben completing his second!!! Ironman yesterday (and I can personally attest that Ben has quite an odd/painful looking running style so it was by no means a sure run thing). Yesterday I was dying as I couldn't get any signal at the park all afternoon/evening so I couldn't access the race updates. Anyway finally reading his race summary today has been the kick up the pants I've needed to get on with the half marathon training FOR REAL. Ben's awesomeness and capacity to inspire is truly limitless. While my personal undertaking is nothing compared to an Ironman, a half-marathon is an Ironman to me.

Plus bold move - I've even selected the half-marathon race. I'm not sure 6 weeks is quite the recommended timeframe to train for a half-marathon but whatever IT'S WAY OVER DUE I GOT BACK IN THE GAME (plus 6 weeks of full on run training is probably about on par with my boredom threshold!)

• I may have put on too much weight


• I may not have my incredible training buddies to fall back on for morale and running company 


• I may have lost confidence in myself


• I may never be the remarkable, funny, exciting or particularly adventurous person I really wish I were - even despite travelling half way round the globe to check this out


• And I may never ever meet my 'one'

It doesn't mean I give up. Heart and courage trump natural ability and talent every time. Check the movies, heck, check Ben's double Ironman accomplishment for proof.

The world is full of incredible people with incredible dreams who just remember to show up.

So following in their footsteps, in six short weeks, on the 18th September, I am determined that half-marathon glory will be mine.

Thanks Ben. And thanks Hannah for making the bet! xx