It's time to get serious...

Well, it is now a little less than a year until Disney Princess 2012. I am scared, scared sh*tl**ss to be exact. There was something comforting in knowing it was over a year away, but now it's time to get to work in earnest.

One of my friends says a year is plenty of time. Well, maybe plenty of time for a lot of people, but I ain't one of them. I have not run a step since I was in the ninth grade, I have a little more than a hundred pounds to lose to be at my ideal body weight, and thus far can't seem to keep any training efforts consistent. I am now starting feel a bit of pressure, but I think that may be a good thing.

So back to basics:

Walking three times per week for at least 20 min, ideally 30
One long walk per week
Using the Marathoning for Mortals schedule, start working on increasing speed after week 6
Starting week 6, increase speed with the walk/run strategy Galloway teaches

Keep it simple, keep it steady, and away we go!

Pefect World...

Training has been going well.  I started in earnest Dec 30, 2010.  You know--I had to start before Jan 1st.  Everyone knows that people who start Jan 1st are going to fail, and by God...this time I am not going to fail!!!

The first two weeks were really good.  This past week, however, was a bit of a mess.  New babysitter, new school schedule for wee one, snow days with work canceled, and a great flourish to the week, a tummy bug running rampant through my house.  Uuugh!  My treadmill thinks I have abandoned her, I am totally missing my internet smut that keeps me occupied during my training sessions, and the healthy food I bought last week is still in my refrigerator, decomposing as I write.   But this is life, eh?  I don't have a perfect life, nor do I live in a perfect world.  The million dollar question is always, how do you keep on track when despite your best intentions, your imperfect life derails you? 

 Here are my thoughts:
  Today I will make it happen.  Just for thirty minutes.  If it works out for more, then great.  But at least I am going to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes.

I have a plan for my food this week.
Breakfast doesn't seem to be an issue.  So I am not going to worry about it.
Lunch.  I want something satisfying... I am feeling kind of empty if all I do is a grilled chicken ceasar at lunch, although I love them.  I am thinking BBQ meat balls with oriental salad and some fruit.  Warm and filling yet good protein with fun crunch of salad.  Mmmm...
Dinner.  I am going to utilize my resources on this one.
Options for the week
     Meatloaf w/ smashed cauliflower
     Turkey kilbasa & sauerkraut
     Veggie lasagna & salad
     Chicken mole`
     Chicken cherron`
     Pan fried fish w/ baked sweet potato fries

The beef should be coming soon, so we can add beef stew, cube steak, and grilled steaks to the mix...yummm...

I am working to earn a timex iron man watch.  I want the one on the Galloway site.  If I food journal everyday and get in my training schedule for the next two weeks, it's mine!!!

Training schedule, what training schedule, you say?  Well, sort of forgot to mention that hmmm...For now here is the plan.

Training Schedule
(taken from John Bigham's book, "Marathoning for Mortals")
Walk every day for 30 minutes.  2 rest days permitted.  1 long walk per week.
I should be on week three.  However, I feel like I need a week two do-over, as week two only had two walks this week.
So, walk every day for 30 minutes.  2 rest days permitted.  1 long walk of 3 miles this week.

Princess Jennifer M. and I have committed to  the Louisville 5K.  We totally need a short term goal.  I am going to have to chat with her about details, etc.  Oh, and signing up would be a good start too!


I am off to convert some contemplation stage into action stage...

Turkeyfoot Trot

Last Saturday Daniel and I did our first race together, the Turkeyfoot Trot.  We only did the one mile, but he pedaled the entire way on his trike and I pushed.  It was a great day and hopefully the first of many events we do together.

Signing up for the race!

Daniel's first race number bib

Striking a pose at the half way turn-around

Saturday Moring Walk

Although a little chilly, we headed out this morning to Fernbank Park, my absolute favorite park.   It has a fabulous kids playground and a beautiful 1.5mi paved track that is almost completely flat.  One half goes right along the river and has gorgeous mature trees.

After Daniel realized that there weren't other kids on the playground, I had done about half a mile.  We all met up again and did the 1.5mi loop as a family, with Daniel mostly on Steve's shoulders. Not quite the 3.2 miles I had planned but for 2 miles, it was perfect!

Now some training notes for me:

Don't start my tunes until after at least a half mile wam up and stretch!
Neck gaiters are good things!
Stretch, stretch, stretch when I'm done!

The beginning

I saw my friend Jennifer a couple of days ago, and in catching up, we discovered we had both made fitness firsts this year.  She completed a marathon (WOW!!!!) and I did my first race ever-- a 10K.  Even more amazing, we found out that we shared the long term goal of finishing the 2012 Disney Princess Half Marathon.  We have committed to becoming training partners, realizing we are in different places in training, however we both need accountability and a buddy who is training for the same race.

So here it is, the beginning of what I hope promises to be a virtual palace for our royal highnesses to share our journey to the finish line together!