July is here!

Wow, I really can't believe it's July and the half-marathon is right around the corner... and 13.1 miles later... :)

I'm a little nervous, but getting through a few more 8 mile runs has built my confidence a bit to say I'll at least be able to make it through!!! I was hoping to finish in just over 2 hours, but because my training hasn't been consistent enough, I'll take what I can get.

I basically canceled all my "social" plans for July except the two shows I have planned on the 15th & 16th... and other than that, just TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN... I cancelled my 4th of July weekend plans... and did my runs... :) I was very proud and happy to say I DID IT.... even in the heat... my friends who I had canceled plans with were surprised but equally supportive, which meant the world to me!!!

My left knee is feeling a little "achy" from time to time - so on the advice of my coach - I'm going to see a PT tomorrow just to be safe. We don't want knee problems now! (or ever)...

Long runs and what goes through your mind in the hours that you are running is crazy.... I end up not even remembering 1/2 of what I thought about. But these long runs are testing my mental and emotional abilities to cope with the distances, be patient and pace myself for sure. doing 8 miles on a treadmill is an interesting test as opposed to doing it outside.... no trees or people around to distract you... just you and your body and GO... then the thoughts come.... everything from, "I should have worn different underwear" to "why am I still mad at my mother after all these years" hahahah Literally it's a mentally grueling test. I guess that's part of the reason why people love iPods so that they can tune out. Since I started training - my iPod has been out of commission - so I'm really being tested. It's either that or wait at the Apple store... and think I'd rather run a marathon than wait at the Apple store for help! hahaah

I find my body is just getting adjusted to being a runner. I am a runner now. That's a whole other concept I never fathomed to wrap my head around. I really like the way my body feels. I haven't really lost much weight, and it fluctuates depending on my run days and what I'm shoving down my throat because I"m so hungry all the time. But that's all balancing itself out. My clothes fit the same pretty much, but I feel a little tighter in my skin. Jeans from last year still don't fit, but I could probably take off someones head with the strength in my legs!

I saw the nutritionist - but she's so unavailable that I've taken some of her advice, and will continue to see my fabulous MD who does acupuncture and is an alternative guy with eating habits and things... he recommended this book "Eat Fat, Lose Fat" since I'm having an issue with my eczema related to eating more carbs. Going to look into that this week...

I gave away most of my copies of The Four Agreements - but bought myself another one this past week. It's a wonderful book... I highly recommend for anyone that needs some positive good thoughts thrown into their every day life...

Much love, keep on keepin' on...
Peace, rock n' roll,

Curly
xoxox