Melissa - Vain Triathlete

I am. I can honestly say that I am hung up on the numbers. For me, racing has always been about the numbers. Sure I love being outside, the training regime and the friendships I have formed but when you get right down to it, everything I do is geared towards improving my last racing time. Every so often I'll read an article or hear someone say "don't get hung up on watching the clock", "I don't run for time", "what fun is it if you are racing against a clock". Stuff like that just does not bode well with me. I am ALWAYS watching the clock. I watch several numbers as a matter of fact. And, as of late, I now watch my heart rate numbers of which I happen to find extremely interesting and a little challenging.  The numbers do not get old for me. My body might get old but my numbers are not old. Recently, I ran the Bill Rogers Jingle Bell run in Boston. This race is not a race, it's a fun run. I can't think of any other race where I hav...

I drink alone, all by myself. (song reference here) Heed that is. Yes. Most of my training is done alone. The quandary I face is that I love to run with people. Sadly my schedule does not always lend itself to other running buddy's needs and wants. So, I creatively and consciously try to carve out possible running routes and plans that others can enjoy along with me at least once a week. Sometimes I gear them up ahead of time to let them know what the plan is and sometimes I just pray that they will be amendable when I show my face. Gulp. The chances of me finding a running partner these days are slim. There aren't many people who will allow themselves to fall into the mold that I have cast most mornings. Most running buds either want to run with no plan or they themselves already have a hard core plan that I would not fit into. Interestingly enough the latter is becoming more and more common. Usually only one or two of my buddies will engage me on a run when their time allo...

Yikes. I've aged up. I'm OK with it. Not a big deal really. Currently, I'm more concerned with learning all these new strength and core exercises Jen handed out. I'm also entrenched in marathon training right now. So, I have bigger and better things to think about rather than dwell on the fact that I'm exactly midlife. So last weekend I danced my ass off all night long. Again. I recently danced this long at Roses party a couple of months ago. I think I want to go dancing once every two months. I just love it and think it should be an integral part of my life. Here's a nice photo of me dancing to Lady GaGa with my niece Alissa last weekend. She's my oldest of 14 nieces and nephews. I was so happy to see her looking healthy and happy. My training is going well. I’m on a 3 week hard, 1 week easy plan. I told Jen that, because I'm on that second half of life, I need more rest to recover. It's just a fact of life. Sleep is a drug to me. I cra...

As many of you I'm sure have experienced, sometimes it feels like the world is conspiring against your plan for the day.   The PLAN for today was to run 16 miles with 1 hour easy, 1 hour at 7:15 PACE and 15 minutes cooldown.  I had a good plan the night before. I was ready with my nutrition, tote with dry clothes. I had even  lined up some running buds for that first hour. Unfortunately for me, I have recently realized,  I can be a bit of a headcase.  I have realized that I can allow myself to put up very good arguments in order to derail my plan.  I have struggled with this in the past and have acknowledged this weakness in me.  Today was definately a great test for myself to see if I could overcome my headcase ways.  Now that I am  aware of this weekness lurking inside my brain I am more prepared to deal with it when I rears it's head.  The first sign of my weakness...