6 Weeks Down and 9 Weeks to Go!

Hey guys.
It's been about 5-6 weeks since I last checked in.

So far half-marathon training has been excruciatingly hard but equally as rewarding.

While Joseph was gone in June I took this lovely little girl with me. Aná has been a decent running companion and has shown me that humans are pretty much the ultimate endurance machines. There were a few times Aná wanted to stop running and I didn't (even though I'm slow as sludge).

After Joe got back from his trip he decided that in an effort to support me, he was going to train for the half-marathon with me! It's been really helpful having Joe support me as now I know that I am not alone in my workouts each day. Sometimes he goes out with me and other days he goes while I'm at work - either way it's motivated me to continue going each step of the way even when my calves feel like tight little knots.

Recently we hit a mile stone. We ran 5 miles together in the evening heat of 98 degrees. We also started getting smarter with our gear and energy. We started trying out different energy chews and have found that the Extreme Jelly Bellies are one of our favorites. We also got some hydration belts because from here on out, our date nights on Fridays will be a longer run!

After our 5 miler, I realized that I needed new running shoes. The shoes I was using were pretty old. They are around 7 years old at this point. I got them for my mission and have logged miles on them there and miles on them here. It was time for a change.

I ended up getting a brand that I've never had before and never heard of. I got On Cloud.

So far they have been pretty great. They are ultra light and have more support in my arch as well as more space for my toes (which is super helpful!). The next week will test them out really well as this Friday we both will hit a new mile-stone (pun intended). We will be going 6 miles on Friday which is further than either of us has ever run in our lives!

Wish us luck!

Why Am I Doing This?

I'm training to run a half-marathon.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. What in the world has possessed you to even do this?! Well...I'll tell you.

On June 6, 2019 I got a text from my sister, Sam. It went something like this:

Sam: "Wanna run a half marathon with me in September?"

Me: ................... "You are gonna run?!"

Sam: "i listened to a really good podcast about making impossible goals, and this feels like the most impossible thing ever😅 "

Me: "Have you done a 5k before?? Or you just want to go straight for the 13 mile kill?"

Turns out my sister has never run a 5k before. And for whatever reason I was compelled to do this impossible task with her. Maybe I just wanted a change in my lifestyle, a reason to start running again, or maybe I've lost my mind. Only time will tell.

Last week was my first week of training on a 14 week training calendar and oh. my. goodness. Running is a lot harder now than it was 5 years ago. (That whole sentence hurt to write! When did I get older?!)

In my training, I'm doing a test of a program for work. It entails that I set a goal with the program and certain objectives and then the Bot automatically texts me at specific times I set to ask me about my progress in my goal. In addition to the interactive reminders, I can ask friends and family to record supportive messages.

The messages have turned out to be really helpful for me. They have gotten me about of bed at the butt crack of dawn more than once. And it really helps to not just have an alarm that I can snooze, but an interactive text message that forces me to think about my goal. I'm constantly thinking about it! Which in turn helps me remember to text my sister about it.

Here's to another 13 weeks of training. Race Day is September 14th, one week before my birthday. And right now, I can't think of any better way to celebrate life right now than to prove to myself that I am capable of the impossible.

Thanks Sam for asking me to join in your quest of impossible - let's make it possible!