Don't Make Me Use My Teacher Voice

The count-down is on!! There are officially only 11 days until I face the Greensboro Gobbler and all of its hills and challenges.

I've been training for about a month straight now and things are going marvelously. I recently had some really rough setbacks for about 3 straight runs. It was SO discouraging! I don't actually recall all of the reasons for stopping short of my goals on those days, but I do know that the setbacks were much more mental than physical in nature.

Here is a breakdown of my mini-goals thus far:

• My first mini-goal was to make it up the first big hill at the start of the race. That was all I managed for that day. It was less than 1/4 mi. It was pathetic!
• My second mini-goal was to make it up the hill and then to the dog park at Country Park. Thats about 1/2mi. It doesn't sound like much but it was tough. Actually when I did it I felt so good that I kept running around the bend and down the hill. I ended up doing closer to 3/4mi that day and was ecstatic!
• Since then I'm conquered the biggest hill in the park.
• I managed to get completely around the first lap (1.5mi) which was the outdoor equivalent to the longest distance I ever ran on a treadmill. That was awesome!
• After that I made it totally around and back up the first hill and felt awesome walking back to my car that day.

Then, FINALLY, yesterday...after many setbacks and disappointing runs..I made it around the lap, up the hill and to the dog park. 2 miles baby! WOOT WOOT!

I felt awesome!! I'm so proud of myself and I'm just reflecting now on how far I've come and how hard I've worked to get to where I am. Man, its been tough! This is definitely the physically toughest thing I've ever done. I've never exercised so much in my life and I'm absolutely loving it.
The great thing is that I'm also seeing all sorts of side-effects from all of this running. Wonderful things! I'm toning up all over. I feel like I might actually be able to meet my belly-button one day! haha
I'm actually enjoying my exercise. Well actually..I need to clear that up. I saw a shirt the other day that sums up my attitude when running. "I Love Running. I Hate Running. I Love Running. I Hate Running." LOL! Thats ME!
Also, my moods have been much brighter and merrier. I actually read a while back that when you run, Serotonin is released and its a mood balancing chemical in the brain. Nice, huh?

I still have a lot of tweaking left to do until the race. I think the keys to success yesterday mentally were perseverance and prayer (LOTS of it!) and physically, was that I carb-loaded a bit before running. I don't feel like I ate the best carbs for me ( I had some cheese and crusty Italian bread with an olive oil bread dip for lunch) so I'm going to do some research on the recommended pre-run foods, and then I'm going to keep running. I have 2 more runs to the dog park planned and I want to fit in 2 complete 3ks before the race and give myself about 3 days to rest before the race as per my husband's advice.


So...11 days Gobbler. Me and you. I'm going to beat you down and then I'm going to go to Grandover Resort bask in the glory of mountains of gourmet food!


PEACE!


-G♥

Dear Santa,

Look....I've decided to start a little early this year because you're going to need some time for these things. Here is the Ringle Family Christmas list.

• Daddy Ringle needs some new clothes because he's shrunken so much in the past year its like trying to keep a sock on a flag pole. The incredible Shrinking man needs some new jeans, some socks without holes in them and some new running digs. He would also like to have a weeks worth of no red traffic lights so he can just get on his way and never have to wait. Thats sort of hard for him, Santa! ;)
  

• Guinness Ringle needs an endless supply of nummies and an indestructible chew toy. Santa...I suggest a tractor tire. Please check the local junk yards at the North Pole. It will take him at least a couple of weeks to destroy that. Another suggestion might be a stainless steel fridge or car bumper. I think these things might take a while for him as well. Guinness also needs a new shamrock-shaped dog tag because his current one has the wrong phone number on it.

• Luna Ringle would like for Guinness to stop trying to eat all of her kitty toys so she could actually get to play with them. She would also enjoy some more cans of Fancy Feast. Particularly the "gravy" kinds. Luna could also use a new pretty kitty collar because hers is getting a little frayed.

• Mama Ringle could use a giftcard to Victoria's Secret for Christmas. She's in dire need of some new (and nice!) undergarments. She believes that she's been patient long enough. She would also like to get an acoustic guitar and learn how to play it in the coming year, and tickets and transportation for ANY U2 show in 2011. She would also love a little extra help in the diet & exercise dept. Running is going well but she could use a little more motivation and energy.
  

But more than anything, Santa...The Ringle Family would like to be surrounded by family and friends this Christmas. We'll make our home as warm and welcoming as possible if we can fill it with loved ones.

Please? KThanx.

-G♥