Goals

The past couple of weeks have been pretty busy for me with the half marathon and moving from one apartment to the next.  So I figured I would talk about the experience of running, and the different goals I've set for myself.  Lets face it if you don't set goals you won't feel like you have achieved anything.

For a couple of years now I've been signing up for different races / runs.  My first run was the Disney Jingle Jungle 5k.  My best friend Jess and I ran that one together.  We started the race to the tune of Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie.  Since that race I scroll to that song and play it at the start of each race, every time.  A week after my first race my cousin Barb came to town to run the Women's Running St Pete Half.  I had a great time visiting with her and wanted her to continue to come back.  So I told her that if she came back to do this same half the following year that I would do it with her.  That meant I needed to buckle down and start running way more than I was.

In February 2013 Jess and I ran the Gasparilla 8k.  I was miserable during that race.  I had a splitting migraine and wanted to throw up just about the entire race.  During packet pickup they had a pretty good deal for the Clearwater Iron Girl Half.  I figured why not attempt my first half?  I ended up spraining my ankle a couple of weeks before and dropped down to the 5k which I ended up walking it.

Life happened and one thing led to another and all of the sudden its November.  Guess who didn't prepare herself for her first half?  Yup this girl.  I figured what the hell, lets try it.  I was ok for about the first few miles.  My cousin Barb hadn't left my side.  Then I hit mile 6 maybe.  Blisters were all I could feel on my feet, and my ear was just throbbing.  It wasn't pretty.  Around mile 8 the van who was picking up the people who weren't going to finish in time, was on my heels.  I ignored them for a while.  Next thing I know is I'm was dead last and they told me that I needed to get in the van and take the short cut over to the finish line.  Barb took off and completed the race while I ended up only running (mostly walked) about 10 miles.  Trust me when I say, you should seriously prepare yourself for a run like that!

Barb and I decided to do the Gasparilla Half but not in 2014.  I needed more time to train.  I also found out a few weeks later that I had no eardrum, which is why my ear hurt during that race.  Eardrum surgery is no joke either.  I wasn't allowed to bend over and pick anything up and I wasn't allowed to hold anything over 10lbs.  I also moved from Tampa to Miami 2 weeks after the surgery.

Once I was fully healed and able to workout and run again I joined Orangetheory Fitness (OTF).  Along with working out at OTF I was running with the running group from OTF on Sundays.  I wasn't 100% prepared for this race either, but I was in a much better condition that I was the last time.  I was a lot stronger this time, and lost 40lbs.  My time wasn't great at 3:26, but that is less than the minimum requirements for a 16min mile for most races.  I now have my first half under my belt and I can only get faster and stronger from that.

The reason I'm telling this story is I've set 3 different goals for myself.  I have the OMG goal.  I want to drop 100lbs and I want to run a Full Marathon (bucket list).  My half way there, drop 50lbs run 2 hours or less for a half marathon.  Then the baby steps, drop 5lbs, complete the race.

As of today I've dropped 46lbs and I've completed my first half.  I found that setting baby step goals makes you constantly feel like you are accomplishing something which is never a bad thing.