From Couch Warrior to Marathon Princess: Late As Usual

Sooo here's the thing.....I am perpetually late! Some people think that this is because I'm narcissistic, but that's not the reason. In my head, I believe that I can get 20 things done in the next 12 hours or so. Of course things NEVER happen the way I plan, soooooo I'm always late. I am also a magnet for the ridiculous. If there's some quirky thing that's going to happen, it ALWAYS happens to me!

So, when our marathon training was to begin, I was late!

We signed up for Team In Training at the kickoff party on January 26, 2010. At that time we were given a February training schedule that laid out our mileage and workout schedule for the next month. Yippee!!

Then do to some crazy only-my-life circumstances, I needed to return to the north and was unable to begin training on February 1st.

Now you might be thinking to yourself, "just because she was in the northeast doesn't mean that you can't workout". And you would be right, under normal circumstances. But since this is my life and the way things always happen....those first two weeks of February happen to bring to the northeast the largest recorded snowfall in the history of that national weather service (which has been operating for the last 88 years)!!!!

That's right ladies and gentlemen, we were not hit with just one snowstorm, there were 3 major record breaking snowstorms!! It was so bad that the New York City School system actually closed (for the first time in its history!!!).

For those of you who are thinking about alternative indoor options.....just shhhhhs!!

When I was finally able to dig my snow covered car out of the snow, giving the batteries a little much needed boost, I began my trek back to Charlotte. So I had lost two weeks of training time and decided that I could easily make this up over the next week all I needed to do was a little push!!

Once back in Charlotte I begin my training catch up with some much needed Billy Blanks Amped-Up Tae Bo!!! I love Billy!!!! He's able to motivate me and makes me want to vomit all in the same 55 minute session!!

Then the next day I stretch out my muscles and go for a little three mile spin around the neighborhood. Not sooooo bad, muscles are a little sore the day after but tolerable. So I decide that after I get my new sneakers from Try Sports, I'm going to really reeve up my workouts (this goes back to the stuffing two much into one time slot thingy)!

So, after the incredibly helpful salesperson at Try Sports helps me find the perfect running shoes and sells me on the most AMAZING stick massage thingy in the world, I'm ready to really pound out some miles!!!

Now, I have decided that since I am going to be spending so much time outside working on my running, I might as well kill two birds with one stone (so they say) and try to get my anxiety ridden, spasmodic, extra large/cuddly rescued cocker, named Teddy Bear, trained properly. And of course the best way to do this is to wear him out so thoroughly that he has no choice but to submit to me, right?

So in line with the philosophies of Cesar Milan and the vast array of dog trainers out there like him, I decide that Teddy Bear and I will start our new training session off with a 6 mile walk/run. Yup, that's right, 6 miles.

Our first three miles started off with Teddy Bear tearing across the street, zigzagging over every inch of concrete, making sure that not a blade of grass was spared his spray!! "Ok.....this is ridiculous," I thought to myself. So I harnessed my inner Cesar, remembering all the little tricks that our trainer had taught us, and I began to TAKE CONTROL!!

The next two miles were a blur of corrections and commands as the two of us battled it out for status as the Alpha. Everything seemed to be going alright (except for the newly formed blisters on my fingers from holding the leash so tight), when all of a sudden we came across a flock of......DUCKS!!!

Now even the most seasoned, well trained dog, would do a double take at the sight of twenty birds waddling only 10ft away from them. But for Teddy Bear, there was no second guessing. To him, those ducks were a gift from nature, there for the taking, and take he must!!!! So off he went flying through the grassy park, with me and my throbbing shoulder in tow!!

Our sprint finally ended as Teddy Bear launched himself into the pond, doggy paddling after the taunting ducks. Luckily I was able to coax him out of the water.....but this was just as a pair of sweet elderly women decided to stop and admire the scenery.....right next to us. And we all know what happens when a sopping wet dog emerges from the water........oops!!

Needless to say both Teddy Bear and I were in need of a hot shower and a long nap by the end of our adventure!!

Next up, our first 8 mile run with the team!!