Goal of smiles

Here I am 2 weeks post first marathon stretching after a relaxed 40 min run on this cool November sunday. While I am doing push ups and sit ups I am realizing I do not have a race planed out.. but I know there will be one, I have a detailed running plan and a running coach.. but again no actual race. I am thinking in my head this is not training, or is it? What is this? Finding myself confused and even more anxious about telling family and friends my plans out of fear of misunderstanding.. I sit up and I have a huge smile on my face. I am smiling because I just finished my 40 min run and I feel great and that is all that matters. Running is my passion today. 

I now know I am a runner and I can admit I love it. Training for my marathon was such an amazing experience and I find it hard for other people to understand. I have regret for not blogging, journaling or really expressing my feelings on paper. Today I know my journey in running has many years ahead so it is ok that it was not all logged on paper and pen. It was logged in my heart and is the reason I am still running. 

Many asked when I was ending training and after my race "Brooke what will you do with your time????!?!?!?!?". Thinking to myself, simple just work out and not be so structured. More time with people, food, tv, volunteering etc. I thought its not that big of deal... well for the past 2 weeks I worked out 5 or 6 times and I felt I had went on the longest vacation. It was great to be able to do things on my time, see more friends, cook, volunteer.. enjoy movies, sleep, candy etc. Well this was all amazing but this is not my goal. My goal is not to be the best chef in DC, the volunteer queen for the church, or an expert movie critic. While I still can enjoy all my other joys in life, I need to commit the most time to what my goal is. 

That being said, here I am 2 weeks after the longest run of my life and I am committing to my goal of being a faster stronger marathoner. I always see my races as the party platform for my training. Well my goal is to party in the Boston marathon.. to get there I have a few races and years ahead. I guess this is why I am in "training" for a few years not knowing exactly what is ahead, but I know it will bring me smiles. 

Boo Running for Boomer | Team Boomer

Boo Running for Boomer | Team Boomer

The joy of training.. in the cold

This time I am training months of Jan, Feb and March- quite the opposite of my last race that involved training in July, August and September. I have learned to enjoy a good bundled up run covering my ears and having lots of sweat with red cheeks after. But last night I could not bear the cold and had to surrender to running on the treadmill amidst the Georgetown gym fashion show of beautiful runners. Its hard not to compare yourself, sometime I find it healthy like maybe I want to have better form then the girl next to me. Sometimes it can be annoying casue I think wow they look good I want that outfit too.. when the last thing I need is another pair of lululemon pants.
Last night was a prefect example of running to train vs. running for fun/weight loss. I stalled at home for about an hour with my husband contemplating running inside or out- complaining about my tight hamstrings and fighting the urge to just watch TV and eat all night long. But I know I have to train to do this race and all of the reasons are not good enough reasons to make my Thursday run into a " I just didn't feel like it" night. This is when the fire inside comes out of me. Putting on my clothes, and hitting the treadmill with the only motivation
( if you can even all it motivation) is to bang out this training run. Of course I was tempted to walk but I didn't I ran and I was proud. To run to train is really what the joy of training is. In the cold or summer it takes you to another level of pushing yourself to do things you do not have the desire to do.
After my run I had my yummy protein shake, took over the couch and had a great night with my husband. It was simple and hard to picture if I hadn't went for my run because I realize I can have both - training, time with my husband, food and of course all the time for TV.

13.1 for 2012

The distance:
Its been 3 months after my last post and 4 months after my race- and time to reconnect with running chatter. The fall and holidays were a great time of "not" training and having lots of time with J has he was off after his knee surgery. We went on lots of trips to NY, Boston, West Virginia and really got to enjoy lazy weekend mornings and holiday festivities. I ran here and there as I wished, focused more on learning to accept that while I may have ran over 13 miles, I am not able to walk out the door and run 13 miles as I please. I have to train and I have to train for a race to build my body up for 13 miles. There were a few runs where I felt un motivated so I maybe didn't run as much, or maybe I ran just to be social with a friend. It was nice not having the intensity of training yet I still want to run 13 miles again.
The solution:
I am running the DC Half Marathon on March 17th. Not only am I able to train again, I am training my good friend Kelly. Training started today and will be for 8 weeks. I also registered for the NYC marathon, but won't know if I get in until April. I shall see about that one... hopefully all goes well training for this race.
The experience:
Lots has happened in my life in the past 3 months. I learned that I am stronger than I thought I was and was able to feel and live through some tough emotions. I also found that my gratitude is genuine and I have so much love for life and my life with my husband. We planned trips for 2012 and have  future hopes and dreams I never would have dreamed. While running in January is an experience its been quite enjoyable. I had my first flat face down fall a few weeks ago when I bruised and cut up my knee and hand ( still recovering). I ran with snow on the ground and over the icy key bridge. I ran with J has he trains for job interviews. I ran the way I love to - with believing and trusting my body to do what I know it can do.
The goal:
Run all my training runs to the best of my ability. Enjoy new yoga studios, maybe start swimming and enjoy good food as always. Love my body and love myself. Keep blogging my running chatter.