Things are going well. I really can’t complain. I have many things that I am blessed to have. And sometimes it is good to live in the middle of the country, except for the occasional wildfire or twister; we don’t have too many disasters. Anyway, I have nothing to complain or whine about. I can’t even really say there are things I wish/want for, like to be able to run a 9 minute mile or a new Garmin or even for the scale to move rapidly, although it is moving….Nope I feel good, satisfied for the moment.

I’ve come to a few realizations as of late…… Weight……I’m not going to lose weight rapidly and may hit a lot of plateaus. I’m okay with this. I’m going after a tremendous goal doing an ironman distance triathlon. I’m okay with waiting to concentrate on my weight loss until after September. Right now I’m concentrating on my training. Getting my runs in, gearing up to start riding outside again, racing “B” and “C” races to prep for the big “A” race. And working on my swim form, which if I say so myself has taken a complete 180 degree turn from what it was. That $30 fee I paid for the stroke clinic has helped immensely. We have a two week break then, I’m signing up for April!! I actually find myself saying that swimming isn’t such a chore any more. I’m not finding excuses to avoid the workout rather finding more time to make those particular workouts. Anyway, I’m okay with the scale. Yes I still get on it but I don’t get upset if it doesn’t move. The fact that it doesn’t move up lets me know that I’m doing some of the right things. I have lost a couple of pounds and I contribute this to working out more and may be my eating is finally straightening out. Things are finally falling into place. But more so, I’m getting comfortable with me. I’m an athlete. I’m fueling my body so that I can put myself through this insane craziness that I’m going to be embarking on. I am strong…I am complete without the scale…..

Yesterday hubby and I ran a local 5K that was raising money for Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. It wasn’t a flat course; in fact it is partially part of the Memorial Marathon. Anyway, hubby wanted us to run together so we signed up. Here is how our conversation went as we were prepping….
Me: Are you taking your music?
Hubby: That depends if you are going to run with it. Do you need to run with it?
Me: Well, I probably shouldn’t since I need to get used to not running without it for the ironman.
Hubby: Well that’s your answer.
Me: Okay I got my Garmin.
Hubby: May be you should just run

So we get to the event and walk to the start area instead of taking the shuttle, it was only about ½ mile walk, nice warm up. We noticed they had timing corrals (yes we are sophisticated her in Oklahoma) and here was our next conversation….

Me: They have timing corrals…
Hubby: Well let’s go up to the 8 minute mile.
Me: I can’t run an 8 minute mile…
Hubby: Well where do you want to line up
Me: I try to run between a 10-11 mile
Hubby: Well let’s start up in the 9-10 that way you won’t go past your usual time. May be you should just run and not worry about it

So we just ran. We did start out with the 10 mile group, got passed, and passed others (when they hit that first hill). Let me tell you. I ran according to my body for the first time in a long time. I pushed myself (which I have been doing more in my runs) a little harder. I saw as we hit the 4K mark that we actually might break a sub 30 minute 5K so I sped up which was a mistake since the majority of the last 1K was uphill, but I was still very pleased with our results. I thought I was going to hurl going up the hill, hubby asked if I wanted to walk, I said no. Some guy was walking past us leaving and said only 400 meters to go. For some reason that was all I needed to hear. We crossed together at 31:25. Not bad at all. Fastest 5K of the year!

So I’ve come to the realization that I’m comfortable with just doing it!