This running thing is getting to me!

It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly.
-- Mabel Newcomber

...but in a good way! I signed up for the Turkey Trot in Austin, which is a 5-mile run downtown on the morning of Thanksgiving day. Nothing like getting out and sweating with 17,000 of your closest friends and attempting to run 5 miles, which turned out to be only 4.57 because of a planning error. But the run was fun, even with a lot of lateral weaving in and out of groups of people. I managed a 50:50, which is just over 11 minutes per mile, so I will take that. Nothing to scream and holler about, but the runs are getting better slowly.

So like a crazed lunatic, I have signed up for a number of charity runs... this Friday I will run the Ronald McDonald House Lights of Love 5K, Sunday I will run the Reindeer Run 5K, on the 11th I have the Project Overflow 5K and on the day after Christmas, I have another 5K, the Zilker Holiday 5K. After December, the training gets more serious... I have the 3M half-marathon at the end of January, and will be back in the pool and on the bike. I am also registered to run the Capitol 10K in March.

Over this past weekend, I didn't get a lot of training in the books. I worked on a friend's house and managed to earn enough to pay for my registration for the LoneStar 70.3 in Galveston in April. It is always nice to not have to take race monies out of the regular budget. But it will be nice to get back on the treadmill tonight (geez, did I just say that??)

I don't have to win - I just have to finish!

I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.  -- Golda Meir

Did I mention I am not a big fan of running? Well, I am not – but I also know I have a lot of work to do in that component of the triathlon before next November. Ever since we got back from Florida, I have been trying to get in some run time. I have managed some 30-60 minutes sessions at the gym on the treadmill.

It was a busy training weekend. But what a great way to celebrate another year of being alive!

Started off appropriately by carb-loading Friday evening. Jeff and Mary took me out for birthday dinner at Macaroni Grill. What a surprise I got while I sat there waiting for Jeff and Mary. I looked up to see Briana (Ms. Ironman Florida 2010) and her family walk in. Jeff had contacted her about coming out for the dinner. It was great to visit with all these friends…Madison and Dalton are great kids, and I could see them as inspirational examples of children not becoming “couch potatoes”. Overall, a great way to start off the birthday weekend.

Saturday morning, I picked Jeff up at the hotel and we were off for the Half Calf ride. A charity ride to support the Vista Ridge FFA, this allowed 25, 50 or 75 mile ride options, from the high school up to Andice and over to Florence. We originally talked about doing the 75, but at the Andice store (the 50 mile turnaround) Jeff decided he would have plenty of saddle time on the tri bike doing the 50. I handed him the truck keys and said “see ya later – I am going to ride the 75.” So it worked out well for both of us; I needed a longer ride. So – 4:15 in the saddle and 76 miles later, I was finished.

Sunday, I slept in a little, then went out for breakfast. Did some work around the house and then went up to the gym. Got in a 6.03-mile run on the treadmill in 65 minutes.

I signed up for the Turkey Trot 5-mile run which is on Thanksgiving Day, and the Zilker Holiday Tree 5K on December 26^th. So in a month’s time, I will have done a 5-miler and 2 5K runs, all working toward the 3M half-marathon the end of January.

I will get there – it just might take me a while to do so.

Oh, my gosh! What am I about to do?

You've got to follow your passion. You've got to figure out what it is you love--who you really are. And have the courage to do that. I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams. -- Oprah Winfrey

This past week was exciting, fulfilling, and scary all at the same time... 

I have watched all year the training my now-Ironman friend has gone through. Swimming, biking and running like a fanatic. But it all has paid off. I volunteered at the Ironman Florida finish line, so that I could register early for the IMFL 2011. I picked a specific time window to be there, so that I could be there when I thought Briana would finish. I cannot tell you how satisfying, how exhilarating it feels to catch somebody you know as they finish their first Ironman. The thrill of seeing them cross that last timing mat, after watching them have an awesome swim, followed by a grueling, windy ride, and then having an excellent run to top it all off… what a great day! Another enjoyable thing I was able to do was take Briana’s son and daughter out on the motorcycle on the bike course so they could see mom racing like a pro. Both kids were thrilled.

I was also able to see a number of new friends finish their race. Members of the Beginner Triathlete forum online now have faces and real names. Seriously, if you ever want to volunteer for an event such as this, the finish line is definitely the place to be. Very exciting, yet very humbling as well.

Having said that, we got up early Sunday morning, Briana to get in line for the expo store so she could get the “finisher” garb, and me to register for 2011. The store opened at 7, so she was finished before our line even started. I was excited to be able to register for the event next year, but at the same time, you get that “Oh geez, what have I gotten myself into?” kind of feeling. But having watched Briana all year, and meeting all these new friends and getting their insight, I feel like I know what it will take to get there. I will read all their race reports, and pay attention to their notes. I doubt seriously my time will be anything close to Briana’s, but for me just finishing on time will be enough.

So it is now official – Briana is now an Ironman, and I am now on the path to IMFL 2011. Let’s get this show on the road!