Getting My Oink On

While training for OBX I swore that I would never run another marathon ever! Never SAY NEVER! I am officially registered for the Flying Pig Marathon on May 2nd in Cincinnati Ohio.

Of course those that know me know I roped in a friend or two to go with me. I started with Pam Connor, Kay Shore and Christine Flowe. Pam politely declined when she read the race course. Kay declined when she was told the date. Due to the fact she holds a yearly party and has for a long time and people look forward and depend on it being the first weekend in May. Tons of people better show up and have fun since she turned us down to have the party. Christine said "let me think about it"....That didn't take long. We both are officially registered. Our room at the host hotel is rented and training has begun! Then in talking to my new friend Steve from OBX, he is running it as well. I thought I had a few more suckered in but no go! I am just excited that we are going to know someone.

We actually had a hard time or I should say, I had a hard time getting a training plan that would work with the fact that I am doing a sprint triathlon the very next weekend. So to say the least, I am at the gym or running everyday! Glad John is doing the sprint as well or they might not ever see me. Training plan is picked, just tweaking it now to fit in the swim and bike.

This is our second week actually and we are doing great. The cold weather has not stopped us, maybe slowed us down a little more than normal but we are excited and looking forward to it. There is something wrong with people who are looking forward to running 26.2 miles! Come join the madness!

Starting 2010 out right

It is always a tossup on how we should bring the New Year in here at the Barrett household. Yes for anyone who really knows us, I know your laughing your butts off at that one. John and I are normally asleep. The last two years though we have done something different.

Since the love of running plays a key part into whatever we do and how we plan anything. We even plan our New Years celebration around it as well. There is a great event that helps us start our year off with the one thing that I love. Running of the Lights......Folks gather starting around 11 p.m. at Tanglewood Park and get ready for the ball to drop which we are watching on the big screen and the horn blows and we run a 5K through the winter wonderland of Tanglewood Park. Of course we are running with friends and after the run we have our own little party. This year we had champagne, hot chocolate, coffee and the BAILY'S.... that is the most important ingredient. We have our New Years toast and the party is on.

While everyone else is out drinking and eating too much, John, me, Keith, Christine and Kay are running and laughing having a blast. I cannot think of a better way to start a new year.

This year was a little different, in that, we added the Resolution Run in at 10 a.m. Another 5K to help get folks motivated to stay healthy during the year. John pushed it a little more than I did and rode 25 miles on his bike at the Polar Bear Ride. I decided I was tired and it was cold so I went to the movies instead.

I think we have a good start on 2010 and meeting our personal goals this year. I hope that each of you will put your health at the top of the priority list. You only get one chance at life, make the most of it! Wishing each of you a prosperous 2010!

Last Post For 2009

Here it is, December 31, 2009 and I am excitedly counting down until it 2010.

Followers know this has not been a good year for me personally and I am glad it is coming to an end. I will not miss any part of it. I do take me with lots of accomplishments but I also could take with me alot of heartache. We as a family have learned alot this year. More about people in general, the good and the bad of humanity, more bad than good, but we are ditching it and leaving it behind. We leave it behind and we grasp on to that we have each other if nothing else. Having each other means the world to us, but we are more blessed than we ever could imagine with a group of friends that are more like extended family!

So for 2010, I feel it. This is going to be my year! God Bless each of you that read this crazy blog. Again, my outlet for what I learn from life and my training.

2010 will be rung in with my running "sisters" and I say that because they are more than friends to me. We are running tonight at midnight and we just keep going all the way to Cincinnati OH for the Flying Pig Marathon in May.

Happy New Year!

I have let my public down

I hate to report that I wimped out on Saturday! Yes I was supposed to run the Mistletoe Half Marathon in Winston Salem, NC (aka hill central) and I backed out.

This is how it started. I was emailing another runner on Friday discussing the weather and we pretty much decided that it wasn't worth being cold and miserable for 13.1 miles. Then, I got a message from Jess later on asking where we running rain, shine or sleet? I think that is how it went. I quickly replied, NO if too cold and raining but I would be backing down to the 5K. She kindly agreed and we our plan was set.

I woke up Saturday morning with my new best friend Lucy. A beautiful yellow lab who has not quite mastered holding it all night at 4:45 a.m. No rain... I was sad! Then when I woke back up at 6:00 a.m. it was pouring! I mean cold and pouring the rain. OK decision made. 5K'ing it I was. I had to run something so I could wear my new t-shirt. Then Jess texted that she wasn't going at all because her almost 1 year old had not slept good. Yeah ok blame it on the baby ! Just kidding Jessica! Good, now I don't have to tell my bully of a running friend that I was backing down! Bailing out, however you want to look at it.

We got over there and wow there were a lot of people there. I was shocked as I just knew people would not show up due to the very poor weather conditions. NOT! Too many people actually for my liking in a 5K. What you had were three kids running groups and lots of adults who must not really run on a regular basis as they didn't know race etiquette very well.

Let me tell you how I see race etiquette! Elites in the front of the pack. Faster than average next in line. Slower runners and so on and so on. Except, if you are a run/walker, there is nothing wrong with that. But please start toward the back and stay to the right. If you are 5 years old and your parents drug you out in the cold pouring rain, please beg them to start in the very back. If you are going to stop right in the middle of the race and almost knock the runner behind you down, say excuse me, I am so sorry! If your a dad and your wife sent you out in the cold pouring rain because you work too much and need to spend time with your children, please do not carry your umbrellas while trying to run with your child. Someone will get their eye poked out!

I think you get the jest of how this race went. I think my favorite line though from the entire race is "Mom, I can't feel my legs. Honey, do you want to hold mommies hand?" Yeah like that is going to make it all better! Ha Ha hee hee, we got a good laugh at that one and it was before the kid had even reached mile 1! Wonder how the rest of that conversation went?

This is one race I totally was sad I didn't have a camera. You should of seen me, John, Kay and Christine in our matching Hefty bags. Of course being the fashion divas that we are, we made them our own. Mine was a onesie, Christine was the armless runner, Kay the slutty runner and John just a man in tights with a trash bag on! It was funny and picture worthy!

So public, thank you for your encouragement. I am sorry I let you down ! If you don't know this, I am going to tell you! I am a HUGE baby when it comes to rain! It might mess my hair up! (DISCLAIMER: RUNNING PARTNERS YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO COMMENT ON ME BEING A BABY)

The Mistletoe Half Marathon

Tomorrow, my friends and I will be running the above mentioned race! Of course we are all trained up and ready. Our plan is to always stay trained well enough for a half and then we will feel great when we find our next marathon to run. But some of us are not as motivated as the others. That would be ME! I am just not feeling it. I am especially not feeling it due to the weather forecast tomorrow. Cold, rain and maybe some snow mixed in there. I love snow! I mean love it!

That is not the part I am dreading. I am dreading the pounding my body is going to take. Not like it is not use to it, but I am just wishing this was over. I need to be positive but I am not finding it in my feet right now. I know, I am just being a big huge baby! I sure hope that a good nights sleep, brings a different attitude tomorrow!

Wish me luck. Although, I think I am gonna need more like a miracle!

Slacker Award Goes To.....AMY BARRETT

Thank you, thank you so much...I was not expecting this! Yes I was. It is Tuesday and I am not feeling it this week. For no certain reason that I can think of but I do not feel motivated in anyway to get moving.

I need to remember that my motivation to keep running during the cold months is that I honestly like it, once my body gets use to it. For that to happen I would have to get up and go wouldn't I? My other motivation found is that my running crew keeps me accountable. Girls, start cracking your whips! I am slacking off!

This weekend I am running a half marathon in Winston Salem. No PR's will be set on this course due to it's diffeculty, but none the less, I am running it!

Happy Tuesday and I hope your motivation is better than mine this week.

Ready for the 2010 Calendar

I found a site yesterday GoTribalnow.com for women triathletes. Haven't really figured it out yet but I think it is going to be a helpful network for me. With that hunting around, I figured it was time to start planning what my 2010 Race Calendar will look like. I had no idea how much and how many ideas I would have. Yes, I am even considering spring and fall marathons. I figure what the heck! I am already trained for it. I just need to keep pushing. John and I have set a hefty goal this year, so we need to start getting focused on what it takes.

Swimming is going to take priority this winter. I am going to once again take a swim class and then work with the masters group as much as I can. Of course I need all the help I can get. I am very confident with my running and cycling - climbing ability. Yes that is a minus climbing ability. I need some work there. I don't think it is a lack of strength as much as it is knowledge on gear shifting. Once, I can get that swim thing down I will feel so much better. White Lake of course is on my list. I am going back for one more TRI at that.

So with all that said and written, I have my calendar out, I am pulling up calendar of events on-line and oh, a training plan or two might be nice.