Defining Success

Everything has been hectic, busy, chaotic and exhausting. Can you read that and believe it is in a good way?

After over a year of work we are beginning to pilot a training plan I wrote. Long hours last week, fighting to catch up this week and eventually, hopefully, get ahead to finalize the process. That is stress but it is GOOD stress.

Last week a coworker was sick and we happened to work together....thus my couch became my friend. A quick call went out to my P.A. and an Rx was called in to save the day. With asthma steroids are my friend.

Saturday was spent sleeping and Sunday running a half marathon. Yep- you read it correctly - I ran a half marathon. Why the heck not? I had trained- put in the miles and done the time. By golly! I was going to do it. And I did.

According to my Garmin at mile 10.37 I had an asthma attack. Alternating walking, running and sucking my inhaler got me to the finish. My husband ran the race then came back and met me at mile 12. Normally, I would have put on a brave face and gutted out the rest of the run. Pride and all. My body simply could not do it,so we walked fast and talked until the last .25 mile. That I ran in because  it is important to look good for the finish cameras. Vanity thy name is Jo. Here I must also admit my body was so done by that point that my left foot went numb on that last .25 mile. The finish photos probably looked like more of a gimp than a glorious run to the finish.

And you know what? It felt good. I gave 100% ( Not that bogus 110% people brag about. Though they are most likely the same people who say, " No pain- No Gain." and other such bulls#$%). I went home tired, wired and content with my performance. Then I slept. And slept and took more steroids and cough syrup and slept a lot of Monday as well.      

There was a time in the recent past I would have been upset by my performance. But I am not because I succeeded. On my terms. Go me!

When it is out of your control....

Training for a half marathon is time consuming and up until a few weeks ago I put in the time.  The race is in 9 days and I will not be running. It is hard when meeting goals is out of your control.

My training had been going well and though my speed was not great my endurance was building. Then my body said, "Nope. Not only will you not run you can no longer eat anything with fat. Any time you eat fat your will double over in pain and suffer almost as much as a bad appendix." That is right, my gall bladder is not working very well. No stone just a WHOLE LOT OF PAIN. Whoever said ,"Pain is just weakness leaving the body." and "No, Pain. No, Gain!" was full of crap. Pain is pain and when it is too bad your life can suck at times.

Currently, my consumption of fat is less than 5g per meal on average. Did I mention I am losing weight?
Of necessity I am almost completely vegan. Eating fat ensures PAIN and discomfort after that for hours and that messes up my sleep. I nap a heck of a lot more and if I take the pain medicine I nap a h!@# of a lot more.

Running still happens only more infrequently, much more slowly and for shorter distances. I was down to 10 minute miles and am now back to 11 to 12 minute miles. Sadly, I do not see the surgeon for 2 more weeks. Then after surgery I will again be limited. Once recovery is over the training begins again.

Back in the day....

Now I have another goal. A better goal. The USMC 1/2 Marathon. There is one in May in Quantico, VA and another in October in Jacksonville, FL. Why the Marine Corps Half??? See the picture above. I was 17 when it was taken on Parris Island.  It is all about Glory, Honor and Corps...Ooh Rah. Or something like that.

The hubs questioned my necessity to run that specific race and my reply was, "How many times have I been to Boston to watch you run? (Answer 9 this year). NewYork? (3) Ironman Races, Oh never mind I am signing us both up and you ARE going."

Now I just have to pick the race. Wish me luck!!!