KM 1-2 or 1125 More To Go

Well I started my training today after finding multiple excuses since last week to start, including having a cold (it was legit and a bad one), I was flying half way around the world (also true) and my favourite - I am lazy so I will start tomorrow.  I soon realized though that if I kept up with that, November 1 would be tomorrow soon and much like the one individual sprint triathlon that I did, I would have mentally trained for the marathon, but not physically and somehow I think I am going to need more physical stamina for that then was required for my sprint tri, so today was the day to run kilometres 1 & 2.

Last year I became aware of My Asics (www.myasics.com) this is a great training site.  Essentially you enter a bunch of info including how much you want to run, if you have a goal in mind (both time and date), your current level of fitness and it spits out a nice plan for you, which you can then use to track your training.  I had used it before when I was half-heartedly thinking that I was going to run a half-marathon last year and found it to be quite useful.  Also from what I have read on the inter web (which is ALWAYS true), it is one of the better training tools out there.  So according to my plan, today I was to jog 2 km at a pace of 9:34/km.  Firstly - I only have one speed and that is called plodding, so I am not really sure of the difference between jogging and running.  In any event, I did my 2km of jogging at said desired pace and did not die.  And, this is the kicker. . .I even came back to my room and stretched!  I figured that if I am going to do this, I best do it right!

In all fairness to me, I have run before and I can run but it is just that I don't particularly enjoy running for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, I am lazy and I have this little voice in my head that taunts me when I run (and I am going to kill that little voice by running this marathon) and secondly, I have big boobs and no matter what I do with them, they bounce when I run, which is annoying.  So why do I run or rather in my case jog, mainly because I can do it anywhere and given that I travel a lot for work, it is easy enough for me to pack my running gear and I can run just about anywhere and if I can't run outside, then there is usually a treadmill at the gym in the hotel that I can use.

Until tomorrow when I conquer kilometres 3 & 4!  (I am starting slow to get back into shape!)

What Was I Thinking????

So back in January, during an impulse based on a post that I saw on Facebook, I decided that I would take my chances and register for the lottery for the NYC Marathon on November 1, 2015 and I was hedging my bets that I wouldn't get in but honestly thought that if I did, it would give me some motivation to lose some weight and get in shape for my wedding in late August.  The odds for getting in to the marathon WERE NOT good - I mean last year, only 11% of the people who entered the draw got in, so really, it was a lark on my part.  I chose to to forget about it until the end of February I got an email reminding me to make sure that my credit card information was current because as soon as my name was drawn, they would charge my card and when it was accepted, then they would email you - and I mean, who would want to miss that.  Mind you, how would you know otherwise?  Well on March 4 I woke up to this:

CONGRATULATIONS, HEATHER!
You've been selected to run the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon.

There's nothing quite like the TCS New York City Marathon. On November 1, you'll join thousands of runners from all over the world in a life-changing journey through the five boroughs. It's a global celebration of the city we love and the sport that drives us, and we're thrilled to welcome you to the field.

Now running a marathon has always been on my life list (everyone has one of those right?!).  Don't ask me why because I don't particularly enjoy running but rather think that to say that you have run a marathon is quite an accomplishment.  So is completing an Ironman Triathlon - yes, also on the list.  No, likely never going to be crossed off.

So this blog will be a summary of my journey over the next 236 days, or maybe it is 237 because I am currently 1 day ahead being in Malaysia and the next 1127km of training leading up to this blessed event (according to my lovely training plan).  I am sure that there will be a lot of whining and snivelling and likely some profanity but also some learnings about me - like running with big boobs sucks!!!!