Skip to main content

I got a feeling...

As I WORK to maintain my weight loss, there seem to be three things that keep me "on track."

1.  NUMBERS: I love data.  Heart Rate, Pace, Distance, Weight, BMI, Body Fat% - I track them all.  As my numbers improve I feel motivated to stay the course.  Numbers also help me during long workouts...

2.  How I look:  I think I look strong.  That makes me happy!  A piece of chocolate will not make me as happy as the new muscle that I found in my arm this week :-)

3.  How I feel:  This is a new one for me - and the point of todays post.  I have always been TERRIBLE about listening to my body during workouts.  I push too hard - I expect too much.  I have heart rate trained in the past, but this time is different.  I have been consistent and using my number 1 motivator, let the numbers guide me.  Today I didn't have to.  Today I felt my body telling me how much I could do, and I listened.  Let me tell you - it felt great!!  It made me feel...  happy, strong, amazing, awesome, invincible, and most of all motivated!

Two years ago, running 6 miles sounded like an impossible feat!  Last year, I took on a 1/2 marathon, but laughed when people said you should be able to train at a level of "holding a conversation."  To run more than 1 mile, I would be so out of breathe and red and sweaty - conversation, HA!!  Today...  I talked to people at every mile wishing them a Happy Easter and discussing the beautiful day.  Last year, when I would run SC, I would avoid looking at the mile markers - because "how could it only be 0.25 miles since the last one."  Today, my thought was, "wow that was a quick 0.25 miles!!"  I saw deer today, the glistening of the water, the sun, and even enjoyed the wind in my face (granted it was a light wind.)

Don't get me wrong, I will always use the numbers, especially on the days when the birds aren't chirping and I am not finding the "runner's high."  I thought I had found the runner's high before, but today, I think I finally really found it.  It is somewhere between "I am capable of anything" and "I could do this all day."

However, I will let the feeling motivate me when I can.  The numbers will come :-)  and the "feeling" is so much more motivating and rewarding.

Look how much I have changed as a runner over the last 4 years!

4/20/2014
March 2013

March 2012 
April 2011

March 2010


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

IM70.3 Eagleman 70.3: Lucky #13??

  TLDR: An 11-minute PR in my 13th 70.3!!  It definitely wasn't Lucky #13, though.  I did the work, collected the puzzle pieces, and was able to put them together on race day!!   Pre-Race I drove to Cambridge on Friday, which was the first day of my carb-loading plan.  Having taken the Carb-Loading Masterclass in The Triathlon Nutrition Academy and practicing/ramping it for several weeks.  I wrote my plan, packed a cooler, and got on the road!  I made it to town in time to check in, do my pre-race run, and swim familiarization.  On Saturday, I got up to do my pre-race safety check bike ride and then met up with fellow Team Zooters as they did their pre-race shake-out run.   Race Morning As usual, I set three goals for this race, but I needed to protect my mental game on the run.  So I only set the 3 goals for swim and bike.  Instead of a goal for the run, I made myself a promise.  At this race, I was also going to be...

IM70.3 Indian Wells 2022 Race Report

  Pre-Race On April 30th, Chris Kenon messaged me asking me to be her Battle Buddy and join her for this race.  If you know me, you know it did not take much thought before I was IN!  Travel + Triathlon = Happy Erin!!  Rumors were that this is a fast course with good chances for a PR.  I asked her to join me on Team IMF for this race!  She got to work right away and raised over $1800 for the Foundation!  We also traveled with fellow Team Zooter - Chandler Carranza, our Coach - Sami Winter, and Sami's Fiance (and bike mechanic) Charlie!  It was a quick trip flying to California on Friday, Racing on Sunday, and Home by Monday!  We stayed at a VRBO near the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which worked out perfectly! On Saturday we did our bike safety ride and then dropped off all of our things.  At this race, you have to dip your wetsuit in a chlorine bath and leave it at T1 along with your bike and bike bag.  The Run bag goes to T2, which...

Race Report: IM70.3 World Championships (St. George, UT) 2022

  Shortly after racing IM70.3 North Carolina in 2021 as part of Team IMF (IRONMAN Foundation), I got a phone call from one of the Foundation staff members asking if I wanted to represent the Foundation in St. George at the IM70.3 World Championships in 2022.  Having raced IM World Championship in Kona in a Charily Spot (for Women for Tri in 2016), I was excited about the prospect, but a little nervous that I could still fundraise at that level.  The fundraising commitment for the 70.3 World Championships is $15,000 and I would have 10 months to get it done.   Before I can tell you about the race and race week, I need to say THANK YOU!!!!  As a community, we raised over $17,500 for the Ironman Foundation ! Whether you donated directly, sponsored or participated in my indoor triathlon, participated in my Top in Topsail Raffle, or Sponsored a Mile for one of my many races - THANK YOU!!!  I would not have been able to get to this start line without your g...