Athletes come in all shapes and sizes

A few weekends ago was my first triathlon ever.  I would have never thought 15 years ago, let alone last year, that I would have even tried to train for one.  For me this is huge.  For many people it's huge.

While waiting for our turn we watched the half-ironman.  70.3 miles...wow is all I can say.  One of my biggest observations was that athletes come in all shapes and sizes.

For so long, I always pictured athletes one way.  It has taken me so long to get beyond that.  After having four kids, my body is certainly not that of a teenager anymore.  Now don't get me wrong I'm not boasting saying I'm this amazing athlete, but I work hard and get results.  My point is that I saw so many people, this weekend especially, that if I saw at the grocery store a few years ago I would not have thought they may have just completed a Half-Ironman.  Many of them like me, who at first glance may not look like I have run at all.  Just to explain, in case you didn't know, a Half-Ironman is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run.  If your like me, your are thinking holy cow.  I agree.  (This us all in a consecutive span too and not spread out over days.)

Anyway,  back to my points, part of which is, genetics and size doesn't mean everything. Some people look amazing and do nothing.  People automatically assume that if your were blessed with a great figure that you are automatically an athlete. I have to say I am a bit jealous of those people. Hard not to be, but I know how hard I work out and just need to keep reminding myself I wasnt born with that gift. There are people like me that workout five, six, even seven days a week and may not be beach body perfect.  That doesn't mean they dont work hard either.  Sometimes genetics just makes it so much harder. 

So my message of the day(well really since it's been @30 days since I posted last, so month) is:  Encourage people to do what is right for them and be better for themselves.  The sky is the limit!!!  You can do it!  Look how far I've come.  Never forget how far you've come too!  Happy Thursday!

Oh and less than 150 days :)!

Let the training begin!!!

So the official training for the NYC Marathon begins today. No we never really stopped training/exercising, but the official "training schedule" starts today. It's pretty crazy when I look at it thar way. There are now only 182 days until we actually run the race. I have a mental goal time(no I'm not sharing that), but my/our overall goal is to complete our first marathon. Then I'm finally getting a tattoo.

I'm going to explain that by going off topic a little because you are probably laughing. After two c-sections I figure that won't hurt at all. No seriously, after completing my first half-marathon I swore I was getting a tattoo. I seriously though I would never be able to do any more than that and didn't think I would want to. So now I am waiting until after my first full marathon. However, I am putting this in writing, I think there will be more marathons for me. I am not saying I will be setting any records (crazier things gave happened though), but I want to experience some marathons I have already been looking into...like Hawaii:). I haven't been there since I was there on business in 1995 and I would love to go there again. Talk about scenery while you run. Anyway, my point is I never want to forget this experience. I never thought I'd be scheduling my vacations around marathons. Pretty crazy.

Okay back to the reality that I haven't finished my first yet and I have my first triathlon scheduled for next weekend. So after I finish the triathlon I'll have to run a little longer to get my planned run in for my marathon training. Crazy. I can say I am looking forward to putting my focus back into the running. I was certainly feeling spread thin fitting in swimming, cycling and running. However, all the cross-training did help me in so many ways. Trainers do know what they are talking about ;).

So here goes nothing. Were off and the training has begun. 26.2 here we come! Look out NYC the Verdicchio 6 are on their way;).