Marathon in the morning

So I'm running my first marathon in the morning. I signed up in a moment of fervor when my friend Heather convinced me to push the button. Guess who isn't running 26 miles with me in the morning? Thanks, Heather! ;o) Eight months later, I'm ready (enough). My long runs have accounted for over 6 marathons. I have to rely on my training and know that these legs have 26 miles in them tomorrow. I missed 4 key runs (Disney, my daddy having aneurysm surgery, my being sick, and my daddy having a heart cath), but I can't (and won't) focus on that. I am focusing on so many other things - amazing weather, incredible friends who have run with me, supportive kids/husband/parents who will come out to support me. I'm also running in honor of Dylan Will, a young man who lost his life in a battle with depression. I'll carry his memory and his struggle with me and remember that I have found a passion and an outlet that allows me to have a positive, healthy outlook on life and to be brave and to be thankful and to just keep moving forward.

This time tomorrow, I'll be on my couch in my compression sleeves, sitting on an ice pack, eating a crapton of pizza, and calling myself a marathoner. Here's to fresh legs, cool air, supportive crowds, and a good night's rest.

Giddy up!!

MIA

So who knows where I've been for the past 5 months...? Training, life-ing, DisneyWorlding, Oilmaning, camping... Just being generally busy. I still have two race reports to write - the Mammoth Lake Olympic (which I will not return to) and Oilman 70.3 (which I will definitely return to, just not in 2016). Our family spent a weekend at Brazos Bend State Park with our Cub Scout Pack in November enjoying our first family campout (which will also be repeated; early and often). We also spent Thanksgiving at Disney World and Universal Studios (which left us broke and tired, after 46 miles of walking in 5 days).

I did a scary, scary thing this weekend. I took a pic of myself in not much at all to track my progress between now and IMTX. I haven't decided if I'm going to publish this post or keep it private. Maybe I'll publish it without the images, just to keep myself honest without embarrassing myself and my family. The plan is to take the same two pics every Sunday from now until IMTX to document how my body changes and responds to the intense training schedule that is Ironman.

Some day soon, I'll get around to the race reports and camping tales and Disney fun and all of that. Kids are going back to school tomorrow after Christmas break and marathon training will come to an end on January 17 when I toe the line at the Houston Chevron Marathon. (shaking in my New Balance....)

I don't make NY resolutions any more - I set yearly goals. This year, the goals are as follows:

- Run the Houston Marathon
- Conquer the sub-7 half iron
- Learn to cook rice
- Register for IMTX17

I have two weeks left until the Houston Marathon and 14 weeks until HIMTX. I made my first pot of rice this morning. It wasn't half bad. I'll volunteer at IMTX in May and sign up for IMTX17 the following morning. I'm well on my way to achieving those goals and it's just the fourth day of 2016.

With a whole lot of prayer and some dedication, I'll completely transform my body through the next 15 months, 17 days, 14 hours, and 60 minutes.

How's that for a catch-up post??