Today was my first day of training for a half marathon I would like to run in the Fall. I haven't run in a long time unless you count running away from the kids, so today was rough for me. But as I was running (and sucking wind!) I realized that the main thing holding me back wasn't my physical ability it was my mental state. My body was weak today, being my first day of training, but my will was strong. I am doing a run/walk marathon my first time so I was running 3 minutes and walking 1. I would tell myself "It's only 3 minutes...only 2 more minutes...you can do 1 more minute..." and by the time I knew it I was at my minute walk. Taking it a little at a time and encouraging myself little by little before I knew it I was done with my run/walk and doing my recovery.  I couldn't believe it. It was done...already? And I ran/walked the entire way! I didn't give up! My body was hurting but I wanted to finish badly enough that I kept going. Mind over matter...I believe in that so much, especially after today.


Today, take some time to set a goal. Set just one goal. And then do whatever you have to do to reach that goal. Maybe your goal is to get a closet cleaned out. Put everything aside and start cleaning.  When you finish cleaning that closet and take a step back and look at what you've accomplished, you will feel so amazing! Do it today...what are you waiting for? 
 
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These are my new shoes. They are going to take me to the finish line of my first half marathon...or at least through the training that will then lead to the marathon. I'll probably need a new pair by race day!
I never buy anything for myself. A new book once in a while maybe, but even those I usually get off of paperbackswap.com so I don't have to spend money on them. I'm not cheap, just thrifty. Truth is I feel guilty spending money on myself when there are so many other people in my family needing things. New shoes...I can do just fine in my old ones right? No. 

I have a goal. I am a woman with a mission. And for the longest time I have given to everyone else and ignored my goals because...well, out of guilt I guess. Or maybe fear...maybe I'm using the guilt excuse to mask my fear of reaching my goal...or worse yet, of NOT reaching it. Maybe I'm really afraid of failure. Whatever it is, I've put off my goal of running a half marathon for years now and I decided it's time to get this off my Bucket List so I can make room for better things like roasting marshmallows at a bon fire on the beach or living in Ireland for a year...maybe two. First thing's first though...

So I bit the bullet and bought the shoes. Great deal on zappos.com by the way (thank you Wendy Fielding for that little nugget!). I'm going to do this and I need to hurry because I want it done before I'm 40 and I ain't gettin' any younger! So my goal is to be able to run my first "practice" half sometime this fall so I can have a qualifying time in order to run my first "official" half at Disney in January 2013. Realistic I think. We'll see how it goes. I have horrible knees...thank you high school volleyball and ROTC in college...but if it's meant to be it will all work out for the best, right? I'm hoping to hit a number of 5K's along the way as well. I'll keep this site updated as I go. Wish me luck...this is going to be quite the adventure!