As the Year Ends...

It's New Years Eve and I got my final workout for the year in this morning. I really felt the effects of the running today - my legs are complaining a little bit. I was happy that my heart rate isn't getting as high as it was at first, and the recovery time is a lot shorter now too. I started thinking about getting a personal trainer to give me some idea of how I'm doing and how to do it better. I decided to hop in the pool afterward to see just how bad I am a swimming these days. I surprised myself - I swam two lengths without much difficulty, just poor form! I start my swimming class next week, so hopefully I won't look so goofy for long. I am proud to say that in the 24 days since I started going to the Y, I have gone 15 times, logged over 14 hours of cardio training, and lifted over 13 thousand pounds. I can't say I've lost any weight - but my skinny jeans are getting tighter in the legs and looser in the waist, so i think there's been some conversion going on. Tonight I celebrate!

In the Beginning

Several years ago I made a promise to myself. The promise was that if I got my weight under a specific number, I would train for and complete a marathon. In hindsight it almost seems like punishing myself for becoming healthier! I reached that weight earlier this year after losing over 50 pounds. In October, I decided that I owed it to myself to honour that promise. I began walking 3 miles every other day - as they say, you have to walk before you can run. I knew that I wouldn't continue walking outside when it got cold and slushy, so I got a membership to the YMCA. Since then I've maintained my resolve and have been able to start working toward my goal. My first goal is to be able to run 3 miles by June 1, 2010. I think that this is definitely a SMART goal and if I keep at it the way I have been, I will have no trouble achieving it. Today I ran 0.6 of a mile - which doesn't seem like much, but it is a start. The best is that I feel great and I am excited that I am finally running again! My sister-in-law planted the idea of doing a "Give it a Try" triathlon next summer, so I think I'm going to have to set some more goals. I hope that I continue to have the resolve to document this journey.

Originally written December 29, 2009