Thursday, January 24th, 2013

Good morning!  Another icy, cold day!  I was cranky this morning and didn't want to get up, but did anyway because Brian had to be up early (what's the point of trying to sleep in when someone is ironing in the bedroom?)  It was good to be forced up, though, because once I was up, I was glad. 

I had yoga last night, and it was a night I was missing my Philly days of hot yoga.  Even though I was moving a lot, I just couldn't seem to get warm.  I was craving the old days when I used to walk into a hot, sweaty, sauna of a room at Dana Hot Yoga to be greeted and challenged by one of Lisa & Dorian's wonderfully talented instructors.  It always used to feel like a spa-treatment or something. 

Tuesday night I had a run on the agenda and it was surprisingly pleasant after the first 2 miles were gone.  The solitude was actually quite nice.  Brian and I have committed to doing the NYRR (New York Road Runners Club) 9+1 this year - which means you run 9 NYRR races and volunteer at 1 and then you get automatic entry into the subsequent years (for us 2014) NYC Marathon. 

The marathon has been a distance I've been dancing with for years now.  I would consider myself a committed runner since I quit playing basketball in college, however, I am glad I didn't give into the temptation of training for a marathon.  In hindsight, I was unprepared for what it would take in terms of commitment to proper nutrition/hydration, sleep, and a well-thought out training plan.  I probably would have trained without enough discipline or knowledge, definitely wouldn't have abstained from alcohol or late nights, and while I ate "healthy-ish," I was known to mow down on cheesesteaks, wings, cheese fries and various other things I would never eat now.  I probably would have run the marathon and been disappointed - dissuaded from attempting again. 

Now it's different.  I'm a tougher runner and much more educated about this sport.  My diet is better than ever.   I'm ready for a new challenge to find out what I'm made of.  With the 2014 NYC marathon on my mind (Marine Corps, too??), it's been much easier to be committed to getting all my miles in.  It's also been nice having a partner in crime to do it, too :) 

Carpe diem!

J

ps.  I promise in the next few days I'll have more pictures from the Park.  It's just been too cold to bother with taking my hand out of my glove to take the picture!! :)