Friday, January 4, 2008

Turn the Beat Around


Belatedly, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (or any holiday/ observation that has meaning to you)




Sometimes I can just talk and talk!

Other times I am quiet!

Things have obviously been quiet for me lately. Some of that is just indecision. There are days that I am convinced that not only can I finish my first half-marathon in less than 2 hours but that I shouldn't even have a problem with it. Then days like yesterday in which doubt is dominant.

There are a few reasons for doubt! Will I be overly tired on race morning because of working the night shift the week before? Will having my family around mean less relaxation and sleep as well? What about my training? I jumped from running 20 miles a week to 30 miles last week and my legs are yelling at me for it. My right achilles/ankle and my left big toe hate me right now.

But there are also reasons for optimism:

  1. My family will be there! They are a big reason I do triathlon/running. And I just love seeing them as I am finishing a race.
  2. Many from the blogosphere will be there! Including those who have blogs that I very frequently visit; IronJenny, Trimama, Comm, momo and the RnR blog group.
  3. My running has dramatically improved. Just over a month ago, when I would slow down from an AT interval, I would slow down for less than a minute then eventually go back to 6mph to get my heart rate back to just below 160. Yesterday, I did this not paying attention to my effort and my heart rate went down to 137 at 6mph. I had to up it to 7 mph, which was awesome. My heart is recovering so much quicker. Of course, it is not so easy on later intervals because I am hot and sweaty. But that shouldn't be a problem in Phoenix.
  4. I can improve. That is always something to be optimistic about.
  5. I know that its not what you do with your life, It's what you do with what you got! (bad english on purpose). If I put my best effort in, then I should be happy.
  6. I came out of the holidays weighing less than when they started. I am solidly at 219 now. Last fall, I had a post about hitting 22o but that turned out to be some random lower weight. I was at 222-224 for the longest time before the last 3 weeks hitting 220,219 and 219. This is the first time I have been under 220 in 15 years.



A week from today, the fam and I fly to Phoenix. Exciting!

What songs have you added to your training lately?

I have particularly been enjoying:
  • How Far We've Come by Matchbox Twenty
  • I Run for Life by Melissa Etheridge
  • The Distance by Cake
  • and Turn the Beat Around by Gloria Estefan. You gotta have a little disco in your life.

Take care
Jumper

10 comments:

  1. I didn't know you were doing the RNR marathon... Jenny, Greg, and I will be there!

    Laura

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  2. I'll be there as well!! Good luck!! I fly through the cities on Thursday morning at 7:00 am!! Brin on the warm weather!!

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  3. Good call on the music. I'll have to add those to my playlist...

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  4. I have your number in my cell - we can meet up at the expo at 10:00 a.m. - and there is a dinner Saturday early-evening with bloggers.
    Great job on getting and staying below 220! That is great!
    See you all this weekend ;-)
    Jenny
    p.s. - I just added the whole album from Mercy Me onto my iPod - it's great...

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  5. Happy christmas to the Jumper family. You've done the training and I am sure you will do the time. Even if you don't make the time you will be at the start line and thats half the battle.Good luck.

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  6. Your going to have a GREAT run.

    Kick butt and give Trimama a big high five!

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  7. oh, just go out there and HAVE FUN. that's my plan. hopefully it will get me to the finish line!!!

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  8. You're going to do great! Way to go on the 220 too!

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  9. I'm sure you'll do great! Have a great time out there!!

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  10. If you'd like me to post your progress with the race on Sunday, please stop by my blog and provide me with your bib # so I can track you online. If you'd prefer your time and progress to be kept private, that's totally understandable.

    Best of luck with the race on Sunday!

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