Week 1 - Motivation Needed!

The first official week of my training plan started last Tueday.  I had 40 miles to do and completed 15.  What the heck went wrong and what I am going to do about it moving forward?

I really like kicking off my weeks with the EPIC Tuesday 10 miler.  It always feels good to get that done and sets the tone for the remainder of the week.  Last Tuesday I was sitting at work and my right arm and the right side of my face went numb.  "Hmmmmm, this doesn't seem right" I thought, so I called my doctor to make an appointment.  The doctors office tells me to go the ER and threw lots of scarry words at me that you just don't want to hear.  Words like - stroke, blood clot, seizure.  Crap - I am too young - I am somewhat fit - feel mostly healthy - and have kids to take care of.  Anyhow, I take their advice, head to the ER after work, and they poke me, hook me up to a bunch of machines, take almost all of my blood, test, test, test.  Diagnosis...no stroke, no blood clot, I was not going to die on Tuesday.  So, I will follow up with my doctor and continue to try and find out why this is happening.  But, I will not do it on a Tuesday!  On Tuesdays I will run.

I have also decided to get a coach to help hold me accountable to a training plan.  I can justify any excuse to myself...but what "acceptable" reason can I give to my coach?  I didn't run that 6 miles because there was a new episode of Jersey Shore on MTV.  Yeah right!  I spoke with her today and I'm very excited to have that resource at my fingertips.

The last thing I am going to do, as much as I hate it, is replace my Garmin.  Since I began this ultra life I have ridded myself of that nasty nagging piece of equipment.  But, I think it'll be motivating to see my progress, to track my miles, and helpful for my coach to see this information.  At least until I line up at the starting line of the KM100.  I will not obsess over pace.  I will just use it as a mileage log.

That's all for now...looking forward to a better week 2.    

And so it begins...

On June 2, 2012 I will be towing the line at my very first 100 mile foot race.  This will take place in the beautiful Kettle Moraine State forest in Wisconsin.  I have to thank my very good running friends for giving me the push I needed (push = they signed me up) to man up and do this.  Thank you Brian, Kelly, Leah, Eric, Tif, Matt, Steve, Paul, Jeremy, Rita, Joe, and Michael.  I look forward to many training miles with all of you :-)  

This is how my friends presented this gift to me...I'm a little slow and didn't "get it" right away.

I have just completed putting together my training plan.  It is a 24 week plan...but this race is only 22 weeks away.  I feel I have a good base going in - now I need to pull out the discipline and get serious with the mileage, diet, cross training, and maybe cutting out back on the wine.  I intend to follow the training plan come hell or high water...so, if you're looking for a running bud from now through June, give a holler.  I've got 1,099 training miles to log.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful trails on the course.  These were taken last year while pacing the amazing Mimi Ko during her 100.  I learned so much from that experience.  I actually remember telling Mimi that I would NEVER even consider running 100 miles.  Never say never...

http://www.kettle100.com/KettleMap2008.pdf  - course map


My schedule is telling me 5 miles...

Gotta run.
~jen