Magic Carpet Ride....

Anyone?

Today, I woke to typical New Jersey August weather.... the Triple H-Threat...HAZY, HOT and HUMID. I need to swim.

On days like this..... I hate not having a car.... the bus adventure to the YMCA, would be a tremendous challenge in the soupy air we have today.... it was a tremendous challenge running in it last night and doing my strength this morning in the yard.

And so...... I wished for a magic carpet ride... I think that might be the most fun.

Running without Breathing....

I remember my cross-country and track coach, Greg, telling me that breathing was not important.... I tried to remember that as I went out on this very, very humid evening to complete a 40 minute run.... wow. Breathing was essential... despite what coach says.

So, I am glad I pushed myself to do it.....

5K in 30 minutes -- a slow pace for me.... with 6 x 30second maximal bursts (which were seemingly slow and belabored energy to complete)...... and then a 10 minute recovery run.

I am exhausted. It was hard.

And where is that thunderstorm??

I am a JERSEY GIRL.....

Tough girls come from New York City,

Sweet girls come from Alabama,

But JERSEY GIRLS have FIRE & ICE in our blood.

We can ride four wheelers, be a Princess,

throw left hooks, and drink with the boys

...and if we have an opinion, you know your gonna hear it.

I LOVE being a JERSEY GIRL!!!

BTW, I am completely offended by the show-- JERSEY SHORE....

and people who say JOISEY... puhleeze. You have to be from Bayonne to say it that way. LOL

I just don't feel like it!

Ever have one of those days?

Yesterday, I managed to delete.... a complete folder (unrecoverable) of my web-site. DRAMA! with a capital D.... I managed to stay composed until today, when i don't have a temporary folder as it was deleted yesterday, and well.... the HELP button was not very helpful.

I needed an answer, and it seems I will have to wait at least 24 hours.

This morning there were clouds. Training looked promising.... until female issues took over and I just don't feel like it. As it is, training is being altered slightly because I am riding on Friday and not tomorrow... so, I think what might happen is that I run tonight and do the swim Monday.... I hate playing with my training like this, but sometimes, life just happens, and I have to address life.

So, today.... I spent much time on www.msjathletics.com, revising, reworking and trying to figure out what, why and how.... In the meantime, my blog-site serves as my website. It might stay that way, I don't know.

I need to eat.... and so, I am off.

Drama That Changes Things

At the beginning of this blog, I shared about drama that had stopped my life for an evening, and of course it was the evening prior to the beginning of my latest adventure in training. Today, the drama has pretty much subsided.... but the memory is still there.

A week ago.... someone I call friend, who I had grown to love as a brother, told me he wasn't interested in me or my life. Wow. That was something that really knocked me off balance..... and this past week, I have been learning to deal with the loss of this friend.... which unto itself has been challenging. He and I chatted almost every day.... and for the most part more than once a day in various forms of media... from texting to messaging to facebooking to phoning to lettering to emailing.... and now, I am supposed to have found some magic off-switch to turn off my emotion because.... he no longer cares about me?

I never understood that about guys. I get the necessity to remove stuff from one's life from time to time.... there are people that have shown me their true colors and I no longer associate with them.... I just don't understand this. And maybe I never will...... I stood by him through so many challenges that came up in his life, with no expectations... but because I care about him.

And now, I needed to do something constructive with the emotion and energy that I have currently no where to dispense. I needed to do something constructive. I needed to use this energy for something good. (And yes, I am grateful that I have been training..... otherwise, I might go mad! with the silence.... but instead, I have time to swing a kettlebell, run, swim or bike... and use up some energy and focus on me, and not what I am missing).

As a result, I have more focus..... I still feel lost, but I am pretty certain what direction I will be going professionally and personally.

I am going to use the rest of this year to learn more about training and nutrition and racing and applications..... I am working on 2011's racing and education schedule. I am hoping to create some amazing opportunities for myself.... and I am being drawn toward the cape, but am torn, as I am developing relationships in the Princeton area. I trust that the right doors will open up, as I continue to pursue my goals. (visit www.msjathletics.com for more insights of my professional development/projects).

And while, I continue to move forward.... I will never forget my friend.

Ben, I love you and will miss you.

Me HUNGRY!

I know... I know..... I sound like animal or some other character from the muppets.....

BUT I AM HUNGRY!!!

Seriously, by eliminating the processed foods and preparing meals.... I know when I am satisfied, and I know when I am hungry. There is no second guessing it.... my body is clearly telling me FEED ME NOW! or STOP EATING NOW!

and on the stop eating part.... if i take another bite, i feel sick.. in that, i am paying attention.

Hunger has stopped being a sensation in the belly. It is more in the throat... and it is definitely different than thirst.... and today, i drank over 2.5L of water.

These observations are teaching me about my body. I am looking forward to continued discovery.

Get Out the Door

'He who is outside the door has already a good part of his journey behind him.' -- dutch proverb

It is interesting how a new month, a new week, or a new day brings a new beginning. Today, I read this (yesterday's inspirational quote) as I am contemplating getting up and doing strength...... honestly, I am exhausted.

Strength commences today (yes, i am weird.... i like to get a week foundation of training before adding the strength to it). And I am exhausted. Getting out the door is going to be a challenge.

I know I will feel great when I go. I know I will feel re-energized when I finish.

And getting out the door, is sometimes the hardest thing.......

This week is going to bring a repeat of last week's training (i want to get it right and feel strong before progressing with volume) with the added strength and a greater focus on my eating. Rest is more valuable than ever before.

In order for me to begin this week, I need to step out the door.