Disney Princess Prep Day 1: Starting Over!

Life, it's always getting in the way of things.

My mom's in the hospital, my husband is working long hours, and my busy season is about to kick up.  These would be fantastic excuses to not get my butt out there... but they're also really good reasons to get my butt out there.

So this morning, I went ahead and got my butt out there.  I took the little dog too.

I re-started my Couch to 5k program so I can begin preparing to become a runner again.  I liked life when I was a runner!  It gave me something to focus on, some time to myself every couple of days when I had a perfectly good reason to not be in front of a computer (or doing whatever).  I always felt good after finishing a workout-- not necessarily physically fantastically good (there were times I wanted to fall into a pile halfway through), but I always felt accomplished.  The sky's the limit.  There's no "Ok, I'm done!".  You can't "beat the game" when it comes to running.  I slept better.  I was hungry for better things.  There was more "happy" even when there was sad.

Clothes fit beautifully, of course, and I totally wouldn't mind getting to a less flabby Chesty Pear state.

So... today's the first day of the rest of this year.

I used my trusty Robert Ullrey podcast to prompt me when to run and walk... plus I just like his encouraging words.  He knows when you're getting tired and he tells you it's okay, that you can do it.    I don't need a pushy drill seargeant telling me what to do, I need nice Robert.

Pain: My right butt muscle, my right knee, my left leg muscle that goes from my ankle to the back of the knee... all of these body parts were calling my name this morning.  I had a little bit of the side-stomach-cramp starting up near the end of the workout but for the most part, I was able to move past it and feel good.  At the finish, most of the agitation was in the right side of my lower back.  It's tight.  I need to work on it.  It probably has most to do with me slouching in everyday life.  I'm pretty hunchy.  I think it's the boobs.

No equipment failure or techincal difficulties.  The dog behaved alright and didn't go on the death-lunge for too many squirrels.  Right now my cat's sitting on top of my computer mouse, but that's about it for animal interference this morning. 

In honor of my current goal, I wore the mickey mouse shirt I got at Disney this Christmas : )

I have to admit, knowing I was only going about 2 miles today, and knowing that 13.1 miles is a lot further, I'm a little scared of what it'll feel like to be running that far.  I remember how dreadfully far that 10K was last September.  That's less than HALF of a half-marathon.

The way I look at it, I know a lot of runners.  I know a lot of very determined, successful dedicated runners who started out at a point of fitness that's below where I am now.  I know a lot of people who are running long distances RIGHT NOW (this past weekend for instance) who never would have imagined they could do these things... and then they said, "Hey, Kasey can do it... so can I!"

I see them on Facebook.  Theyu're doing incerdible things and changing their lives in such positive ways.  They've stuck with it and reached great goals, so can I.

Here's to the dream ; )