Running Crazy

I should have known I would still be a horrible blogger.  I don't know how you all do it - regularly updating your blog.  The main thing for me these days is finding time to get it all done - writing for both this blog and my "professional" blog in the midst of trying to get work done AND get in all my running.  I applaud all of you that do this so diligently.  You are my inspiration and my motivation sometimes.

Today I'm writing my accountability post.  I am hoping to get some readers, even if it's just my pals from #CorralG to get started with, who can keep me accountable to my goals for the remainder of the year.  So, here goes.

RUNNING:
I ended up setting a pretty ambitious fall race schedule.  I didn't set out to be this ambitious, it just sort of ended up this way because of my love and excitement for some of these events and who I would see there.  

My fall race calendar is:

Awesome BLING!

August 31: Disneyland 10K
September 1: Disneyland Half Marathon/Dumbo Double Dare Challenge/Coast-to-Coast
** Running this weekend as a Team for Life member.  If you are interested and able to support this great fundraising cause for cancer, please click here.

[September 21-25: Climate Ride - discussed a little later]

One of my AMAZING run friends

October 13: Chicago Marathon
October 27: Marine Corp Marathon

November 9: Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5K/Wine & Dine Half Marathon
December 1: Space Coast Half Marathon

This puts me just shy of qualifying for half fanatic status, and I could even qualify for marathon maniac if I found another marathon to put on the calendar before January 11.  I'm feeling a little crazy with this schedule, but I know I can do it.  The question is how to do it smartly. I need to train and I need to make sure to get the right amount of rest too!  I started a training plan with RunKeeper to do a sub-2:00 half in time for Disneyland.  It's also got me doing some back to back runs on the weekend, which will help prepare for the Dumbo Challenge.  

My new bike!

The kink in this plan, if there is one, is in the midst of the running training, I'm also training for the Climate Ride.  What is this you ask?  Here's the blurb from the website:

Climate Ride NYC-DC is a grand cycling adventure that connects two of the nation’s most important cities – New York and Washington, DC – by bicycle. From the exciting departure by ferry in Manhattan to the hero’s welcome and rally at the steps of the US Capitol, the east-coast version of Climate Ride is more than a bike trip – it’s an inspiring journey with 150 like-minded people who are united by their passion for sustainability, renewable energy, and bicycles - the ultimate carbon-free form of transportation.

After a great ride

We will be riding somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 miles EACH DAY for 5 days!  So I need to be training for that bike ride as well :)  I'm mixing up my long distances on the weekend between runs and rides.  I've also got my bike set up on a trainer in the apartment for yucktacular days (like today when Andrea is moving through town).  I have some friends giving me advice about training and how to prep for these days!

NUTRITION:

MMM... Pizza!

I know that in order to make it through all this training and racing, I'm going to need to properly fuel my body.  I've been doing Weight Watchers for the last couple of years, and have been able to lose about 35 lbs and become smarter about what I eat and how much.  I'd still like to lose another 10 lbs, but also know I need to be safe in how I eat to train.  This means making smarter food choices throughout the day.  I've got great support from friends who are doing a fantastic job with their healthy eating habits - but I have a weakness when it comes to grocery shopping.  Cheez-its and Peanut Butter Cheerios call out to me!  But I successfully made it out of the store last night without either.  I need to put together a comprehensive plan for eating, that also allows me to splurge every once in awhile - like Friday night pizza and wine ;)



 WORK:

In the midst of this awesomeness, I still have to work!  Gotta fuel the desire right?  So I will say that I have some work goals, which include building relationships with more congregations across Virginia and GETTING ORDAINED!  This is something I have been working on for a long time - over 10 years!  I was hopeful that it was going to happen on June 30, but that didn't work out.  I'm still hoping for a date before the fall craziness happens - and I'll keep you posted on that.  After all, that's what this whole blog was originally created around!  I've got some other work goals, but I'm keeping those close to the vest for now.  


Thanks for hanging in there and reading all the way through this craziness!  I hope you'll check in with me and keep me accountable for all these goals.