I think I can, I think I can?

It's on record: 10k training begins in January.

OH. DEAR. GOD. I am terrified

I have been reading articles about "taking my run to the next level" and it scares the crap out of me. You'll have to start running 5 days a week, they say. You'll need to average 15-20 miles a week. Get used to running 60 minutes at a time. Get used to  declining social invitations.  This isn't me. The thought of running for an hour makes me want to hurl. I'm weak! I'll fold too easily! Just last night, I got a last minute invitation to play bar trivia (if you know me, you know I take this very seriously), when I had already decided that I NEEDED to go to the gym. Frankly, I allowed myself to eat too many delicious leftovers from the previous day's office potluck,  not mention what I consumed at the actual potluck, and an after work run was my get out of jail free card...

Despite knowing better, I totally rationalized not going to the gym. I'll have light beer. Or no beer. I'll order something relatively healthy. I'll wake up early the next day and work out ('cause that always happens). Being social is good! Trivia works out the brain, which is just as important as the body! But in the back of my head, I just kept thinking:  I haven't even begun my training yet and I am already failing.

In the end, I did go to trivia, with no guilt. I used the gym at work (duh! that was an obvious choice), changed (sans shower, sorry fellow trivia go-ers!), and got the bar on time. I was able to have my chicken gorgonzola salad and eat it, too.

Maybe I shouldn't be as terrified as I am. Maybe I can figure out this run/life/work balance, after all. I guess the real question is: am I up for the challenge? I think so.

Not Bad for a Fat Girl

2014 has been quite a year. A new home, a new job, a new healthier lifestyle. I never thought I'd be the kind of person to run voluntarily, without being chased. I absolutely never imagined I'd maybe enjoy it. (Whether or not I really enjoy the running, or just how I feel afterwards, or the competition of it, or just the shopping for running clothes is up for debate!)

Three 5ks this year and I'm finally getting the hang if it. The first time, I just wanted to cross the finish line at all. This time around, I wanted to run the whole 3.1 without walking, all in 36 minutes. Did I do it? Well, I finished a minute and 25 seconds after I wanted to, but I  DID run without walk breaks. Not too bad for a fat girl!

Thank you, wine.

I somehow managed not to eat my weight in cranberry sauce and stuffing this Thanksgiving. I can't say that my plate was always perfect and full of veggies, but considering my 4 day weekend consisted of two Thanksgivings, two  birthday celebrations, and one mini college reunion, I faired pretty well! I managed to make it to the gym two of those days and I did, in fact, eat veggies. Let's just forget about the part where I drank a whole bottle of wine.

That bottle of wine does lead to reflect on the things for which I have been thankful for this year:
1. Wine. white, red, rose, I don't discriminate. Though I enjoy you (mostly) in moderation these days, I still love you.
2. My partner and the home we have created together (I should maybe mention here that these are not ranked in order of importance...)
3. My nutty friends and my even nuttier family. You're all crazy. And sometimes you drive me crazy, and into the arms of wine. But I can't not love you.
4. My (new, official, as in I'm kinda the boss) job and a staff that continues to support me and work their tails off.
5. My able body that I seem to be able to push a little further and further each day. Thanks for not letting me down, body! Honestly, we still got our issues, but the truth is, you let me do things like run 3 miles and for that I am forever grateful.