Now that I've stopped laughing....
Hello everyone
Thank you for the support and encouragement
Having a pretty good week so far in regards to the Goofy training. I took Monday completely off, having to recover from both the long run and post-VMA trauma (did you see that trainwreck? worst. awards show. ever.). Tuesday I ran 6.6 miles in the 'hood. It was the same route I was running during my 6+ mile runs last year in preparation for the marathon....and the memories of last years training took over my thoughts for a while....
I remembered being out there during Nov/Dec with my long sleeves, running pants and warm gloves...tackling the route amidst the chilled winter air...taking in the sights of the near-professionally decorated Christmas displays along the way. Feelings of excitement and anxiousness, knowing I was training to run a marathon...fear of the unknown, but faith that the plan in place would lead me safely across the finish line....
I compared that to this year...knowing what to expect during the months ahead, feeling confident in my abilites to complete any obstacle thrown my way...being able to totally relax and enjoy the run, even smiling as I thought to myself "here we go again"...it felt so great to be out there...and then it hit me with just how far I had come....
Two years prior, during the exact same time period, I had finally made the decision to get cortisone injections around my spine due to a bulging disc that was pressing on a nerve and severely impairing my ability to even walk. I won't go into the entire story here, but sometimes the pain was so intense that I would literally crawl up steps...and I often wondered if I would ever be able to do normal activites again (take a walk, play in the backyard with DD or the dog, etc). A few days before seeing the Orthopedic Surgeon to let them know to go ahead with the shots..the pain subsided. Somehow, something adjusted and within a few weeks two years of pain suddenly disappeared and I was able to function normally again. It played a large part in my decision to get healthy. I was 222 pounds, not exercising, and completely unhappy with myself and the life I was leading....
my how two years makes such a difference...
I valued Tuesday nights run while I was doing it. I was happy to be out there. Happy to be running, happy with how far I've come with my life, happy to know that this path will once again culminate in WDW where I will hopefully celebrate success with my Goofy buddy
It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes among countless ones discussed in last years journals...
My therapist is the pavement,
my drug is endorphines,
my foe is the next hill,
I am a runner.
Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in numbers, times, distances...It was nice to push all of that aside for a brief period and kind of enjoy the moment...until that big dog came sprinting from the back of one of those homes, full bark on, ready to make Kibbles and bits of me
Luckily, it didn't want to venture off property...makes me glad I chose marathoning instead of meter reading or mail delivering
Last night I weighed in at 189 and did 30 on the elliptical, using the good ol' reverse mode deal. I think I finally got the hang of going backwards...it felt a bit easier at the time, but boy did my quads feel it later on last night
Today calls for a nice 4 miler...time to crank up the Mayday Parade and visit my thearapist
(Mayday Parade you ask? they are an awesome new group out of Florida...kind of in the same vein as Fall Out Boy...uptempo, catchy choruses and awesome to run to! Check them out!)
Hope everyone has a great day!!
*delete*
Good job listening to your body and giving yourself the rest day you needed. 
on the awesome weight loss and weight management. 
oooohhhh ooooohhhh I know...I know where Scott is going to run! So NOT fair that I don't get a prize. 
J/K
You are a constant source of inspiration for me 
I totally think you're right! I was wondering what that random comment was on Amy's journal....I should've picked up on that. NICE JOB, Beth!! 
Thought this would brighten your day 
