Unlikely Allies

I'll get into the recap of my training for the past week in just a bit.
This weeks' post requires a little back story.
When we lost our friend Corey in January of 2011, it seemed as if he brought an old friend back into Shawn's life, and a new friend for me as well. It's funny how things work out that way...

When I met her, she was enviable to me, I know that sounds ridiculous, but let's face it ladies - we size each other up. We envy someones hair, style, size! And well, this girl was a size 0 soaking wet, well put together, and relishing her life as a stay at home mom and dog treat baker, yes really.
She had a degree in health promotion (obviously), loved to party plan, and discover ways to healthify just about anything - black bean brownies, e.g. She sewed her own reusable zip lock bags...she made green look good. This girl was practically a polar opposite of myself. And though I typically shy away from hanging out with size 0's, (No offense, ya'll make me look bigger!), in her I found a kindred spirit.
Sometimes it feels good to believe that Corey brought us together because we needed each other.

Over 2011 and into 2012 we grew closer, we vacationed together, we celebrated the news her pregnancy and crossed fingers for a successful round of IVF for Shawn and I.
By March of this year however, we were left consoling each other. Another failed attempt at pregnancy for me, the loss of a pregnancy for her.
There we were - unlikely allies.

When I announced that I was again training for a 1/2 marathon - she agreed to be on the sidelines cheering me on, but made no mention of a desire to train along side of me. She's active in her own way - she'll go for a short jog, go to the gym and use the stair stepper, has regular dates with Jillian Michaels. She stays in shape because she enjoys it - I wish I had that DNA!
Something changed though within the last week.

We agreed to meet at the gym for a Zumba class and well, she wasn't feeling Zumba, and well, I knew that I should really be running three miles. So we set up shop at the treadmills and she stated that she would run until she got  bored, that she had never run 3 miles before...wasn't even sure that she could.
Now mind you, it was so thick and disgustingly hot & humid in there - I wasn't even sure I could finish 3 miles. I huffed and I puffed, and I sweat, and I chugged Gatorade and I got through it.
Miss Thang, however, made it look effortless. I mean her shirt was sweaty, but that's about it. She bounced around, looking damn near flawless, increasing her speed and incline occasionally, of course - she's a natural runner.

Must have stirred something in her, because two days later we reunited at a local park for another 3 miler - this time, she left me in her DUST near the end, I watched her ponytail sway in the distance. She joked about how she has a run skirt that she considered wearing, but thought I might have a little too much fun at her expense for that one. She also mentioned a desire to forego the tank top for just her sports bra...only to agree to do that when I'm not around, haha. No offense, but I don't need to see your six pack too - not while you're kicking my a$$, at my thing, with no training - you heard?!
We each ran our 4 miles on Saturday separately (she wanted a copy of my training schedule), and when I texted that I may not get in the 2 mile recovery run on Sunday, I was shocked to get a "2 miles down!!" text in reply a bit later. Them's fighting words! So I reluctantly, begrudgingly, after grocery shopping, before making dinner, ran my 2+ miles.

I didn't expect to have a run buddy, and I may get frustrated at how easy it is for her to do what I've been struggling to do for over a year now, but she's helping hold this girl accountable and keeping this training thing interesting. My unlikely ally, my friend I love to hate, my greatest gift from Corey.

Deja Vu

I honest to God cannot believe I'm typing these words right now...I distinctly remember posting something to the effect of would I ever run a 1/2 marathon again?..."hell to the NO", just 8 short months ago.
But for the same reason I started this blog, and took that initial challenge from my sister - I'm back. Reluctantly, begrudgingly, back.

I cannot hold myself accountable, I can't. I've run since the 1/2 marathon last year - of course, here & there, even joined the gym, doing some Zumba when the schedule allows. I've also been sleeping in, enjoying vacations, BBQ's and everything else life has to offer. I realized that I never even composed a post race entry after the Philadelphia 1/2! It was an incredible experience, it really was...I was just so ready to shuck that life, that training schedule, and never look back. But for as much as I despised running, I loved the results. And for as much as I didn't want to admit it - I needed an end goal to remain focused on my fitness. For as terrifyingly hard headed and strong willed as I can be, I lack some sort of chip, I'm wired wrong...still...even after the grueling training for the year leading up to the 1/2 marathon, I could have easily flipped that lazy switch and reverted back to the person that I was - all of that training down the tubes.

In the past 8 months of my life a lot has changed actually. True to form my husband and I keep busy professional and social calendars. New job for him, new professional opportunities for the both of us, a vacation to the FL Keys, weekend trips here and there, and a failed round of IVF. Yep, I said it.
I'm sure some of you may have wondered how we fared after my commitment to getting into "fighting shape". Well, not so hot. The doctor visits stretched on for months, the medical bills stacked up, and at the end of the day we were left with little hope, no insurance coverage for future treatments, and well, those stack of bills. I lie, we were also left with our incredible union that has withstood a steady stream doctor visits, tears, hormone infused meltdowns and more. Once the dust settled, we came out on the other side knowing that we'd weathered this together and that even if parenthood doesn't happen for us, we are luckier than most, and grateful to have each other...and the fur babies :).

So, once I realized that I wouldn't be on some sort of pregnancy restriction - I agreed to another 1/2 marathon with my sister-coach. This time a little closer to home and we are just over 14 weeks out. The Gettysburg Blue-Gray 1/2 will be here before we know it. I downloaded a new training schedule from Fitness Magazine...it's a 10 week training routine, will just repeat week one for at least a week and adjust as needed. You know me, I like a point of reference...not a carved in stone routine, ha!

Here goes nothing:

Mon - Cross Train...may need some help with this?
Tues - Run 3 miles
Wed - Run 2 miles
Thurs - Run 2 miles
Fri - REST (Hallelujah!)
Sat - Run 4 miles (grumbles...)
Sun - Run 2 miles

Alright alright...let's do this.