I signed up for another race on Saturday. It feels like forever since I last raced. Right now I feel like I need a boost. Racing does a great job at renewing my love for running. I also signed up to train with a group for the half marathon in March. I think it'll be a good thing...to help me stay accountable. I've been pretty good about getting my runs in the past two weeks, but that's only because Chad has been so wonderful about making sure I don't talk myself out of it. The cold weather was putting such a damper on my desire to run, but I think I figured it out. I look like a ninja, but I'm a warm ninja. My sweet husband bought me some running tights for our anniversary, and I also wear a full head gator. It's nice, and no one knows who I am.

One more day off, then race day. I'm hoping to sustain at least a 7:30 minute mile. That'll put me right where I was before surgery. Right now an 8 minute mile is very comfortable. For race day, I should be able to push a 7:30, or faster. Next week I'll be hitting it hard, being sure to get all my work outs in.

We went to NY for Christmas and I met the cutest guy in the gym there. (Chad, don't freak out! You're still my dream boy!) He was about 70 years old and has ran 50-60 marathons. Amazing. It was so wonderful to talk to him...very inspiring. His advice to me was to be sure to hit the long runs on the weekends. He said that was the most important thing. I'll take that advice, and I hope I'm in as good of shape as he is at 70. There are some pretty incredible people out there.

I still want to trim down about 7 more pounds. My goal is to just focus on the training and fueling my body...I believe everything else will fall into place. I also hope I can be a good example to my kids, and they will gain a love of exercise too!

Update, post surgery

Today was my first real day back running after my tonsil and deviated septum surgery. It felt so great to move my legs like that again. I worked out a couple of times last week, but it just seemed to wear me down more than I could handle. It felt like the flu took over my body every evening. This week seems much better though. I did a stair and elliptical workout with abs and arms Monday, which felt wonderful to get my heart pumping that hard. Yesterday I went to my Taekwando class and broke boards that bruised my feet. The bruises left me wondering if my feet would be able to run today. It was a little painful, but the joy of pushing off my legs and holding my abs in tight was too much fun to pay any attention to a sore foot. It was enough joy to get me through three and a half miles . My only issue about running outside is the humid cold. With the moisture and wind in the air, it feels like 15 degrees. I need to buy myself some long tights, but other than that I think I have everything I need to be comfortable outside, even if I look like a "bad guy" as Savannah would say.

As far as nutrition, I am back on track, and I can tell my body is happy about that. The running really helps with the cravings. I lost 10 pounds during my surgery recovery, which put me at 117. I am now back up to 120, and it feels good. The last time I weighed this much was this exact time 11 years ago when I married my wonderful husband. After 4 pregnancies and 4 c-section recoveries, I am so grateful to have my body strong again. It feels good. I still feel like I could loose a little more and it would put me at a better racing weight, but I'm not focusing on that right now. I'm only focusing on my training, hitting my workouts, and fueling my body as best I can for that. Everything else falls into place. It just takes time and patience. Now if I could only build up my endurance back where it was before my surgery. My goal for my half marathon is to sustain a 7 minute mile for the entire time. I'm starting to doubt that. Before surgery I could run 8 miles at a 7:30 sustained pace. This recovery has been really hard on my body, and my workouts leave me feeling so tired, enough that I feel like I desperately need a nap. Hopefully this phase won't last long and the workouts will give me more energy, instead of wearing me down.

I've signed up for two races so far, and have my eye on two others for the summer. My first race is a 5k on New Years Day. It will help me gage where I am right now as far as pace. The next race I've registered for is the Half Marathon in DC in March. I'll probably do one more race between January and March. The next one is in September, the trail running rampage half marathon that I did last year. I still get excited thinking about it. I LOVE trail running...it was such a fun race, I hope to sign up for that one this week. Last race I have my eye on right now is DC Ragnar. It was such a blast last year, I've got to do it again in 2011!!!

That's all for now. I'm just happy to be running again, outside with the kids and the dog. Three weeks off is way too long!!!