Keep Your Eye On The Prize. What prize?

These last couple of weeks have been tough. I have wanted to give up several times. I've had a million excuses ready as to why I can't run today. I'm busy with work. The kids need me. I don't feel good. I'm playing WordFeud. I even tried to use "the weather is bad" which you normally don't get to use here in San Diego. I really had to dig deep and get motivated. A couple of things came up these past few weeks that had me re-evaluating my reasons for taking this on. I had to remind myself that not only is this a great cause, but it is something that I can be proud of accomplishing all on my own. Just for me. I hate to think that I need some sort of outside motivators because for so long I have depended on validation from other people. People who generally let me down anyways. No more. I am gonna keep my on the prize. What prize you say? Me. I am the prize.

Mother Nature Hates Me!

      I made it to my 2nd meeting with Teams in Training this past Saturday! On Monday I wasn't sure that I would, but I decided that I should be proactive and do some training on my own during the week leading up to the Saturday group training. So I psyched myself up for a run and I was doing pretty well. I was pacing myself and concentrating on my breathing, when a gigantic snake crossed my path. Needless to say, I freaked out! I always tell the kids to stay calm if they see a snake when we're out on hikes, but that was more of a "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" moment. So I survived that ordeal. Not to be discouraged, I attempted once again to run on a day off. I had to go up to the site where I work, Crestridge Ecological Reserve, and figured I'd try a change of scenery. Well, guess what?! About 20 minutes in...Coyote! I'm not kidding. The instructors had told me they'd seen one out the week before, now I believe them.  I was not amused...

      So I made it to Saturday with no further "Animal Attacks" but guess what? I had to drag my butt out of bed in the cold rain to run 4 miles. Again, I was not amused. Why does Mother Nature Hate Me?!
I tried to figure out what I'd done to piss her off. Was she trying to get back at me for some reason? Was it all the days that I'd wasted away inside wearing PJ's on the couch, when she provided the beautiful sunny SoCal weather? Did she feel like I was mocking her with my flagrant disregard of her natural beauty? I don't know, but guess what Mother Nature? You Lose! Because I still got up, and I still ran. Now I have a bone to pick with Father Time, who reminds me that I am not as young as I used to be.

Running For My Life

No seriously. I am. For those of you that know me you also know that this past year has been a pretty challenging one for me. You've probably gotten the late night g-chat or text loaded with the emo-emoticons. Yeah. It was pretty bad. I was sick of myself by the end of the year too.  I've been trying to figure out what I want. I've been feeling restless and unsure of so many things. I finally realized that I need something for myself. Something that is just mine that I can feel good about. So I joined Team In Training and am going to participate in the Rock and Roll Marathon here in San Diego on June 5, 2011. Go ahead. Take a moment. It's a pretty big deal. I mean I walk a lot and hike pretty much on a daily basis but this is a MARATHON. People are going to be running...like REALLY running and not because someone is chasing them.  I am freaking out a little. 


I went to my first Group Training session with TNT. I was really nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if they were gonna make me run today. I mean I don't even have one of those fanny packs with the little water bottles. I felt so unprepared. I have to say though that it was pretty amazing. So many different types of people coming together to make a difference and help support each other. There was a lot of positive energy. Lots of pep talks and pats on the back. As people from our team walked/ran by you heard "good job" and "way to go" "go team".  It felt really good. Oh yeah, at the finish line there was a guy with a cow bell. Yup. A Cow Bell! You know how I feel about that. Well. Maybe you don't but all you need to know is that "You Always Need More Cow Bell!" 


I was really excited about this whole thing so I got my donation page set up and then my AWESOME friend Lili designed this blog page for me.  She came up with everything and then asked me if  I knew why she had picked the title VIX IN TRAINING. Of course I said, "uh. no" She said "because I thought it fit really well with everything going on in your life. Kinda two-fold. You are training to run and at the same time you are still learning about you. Kinda like you are training to be you again and this new goal you have will help you in your self-discovery, in my opinion" Um. I told you she was AWESOME. And she is right. So I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna run for my life. Wish me luck!