#maquidney

Things have been crazy to say the least. I am feeling unsettled soooo it’s time for something big. Friends have planted the seed, and since I’ve had so much fun growing things this year... maybe that seed has grown and will help me click the REGISTER NOW button tomorrow on IRONMAN MARYLAND 2021? I don’t know. Ignorance was bliss with IMAC 70.3, but now I know what it’s going to take. I know what HALF of that day looks like. But so what? Was it that bad? Oh man... 14 hours to go until registration opens. I may have found 2021′s BST.

IMMD 2021... What the heck am I thinking?!

Today’s Doughnut Count: 1 

Wow. What a time to be alive! Don’t get me wrong, it is MUCH better than the alternative, but Oh Man has it been tough! 

I’ve been working from home for a little over 18 weeks now. WOW. I hadn’t broken it down like that yet... seems like much longer, although it seems like years ago in memories. Anyway... it has been a looooong time. I was doing just fine! Working out every day, a run, or a bike, or a workout, and then working. But then I got injured pretty badly and couldn’t do those things and it made me reevaluate so many things. What exercise means to me, and my why. Then I had surgery and was on a 6 week ban of all activity and I REALLY couldn’t do anything, but now I’ve been released and IT HURTS SO GOOD! I was able to get a swim in today, and I am SO sore, but I am also SO happy. 

Doughnut swimsuit at the pool this morning! 

During these crazy times when so much is so unknown, I’m thankful that I have my family, my health, and my ability to exercise. 2021 is going to be a great year.

Oh, and I very safely delivered doughnuts to friends who are under quarantine due to the Coronavirus this morning. (Don’t worry, I ate plenty!)

Today’s Doughnut Count: 4  (OMG I KNOW!)

Maybe that headline is a little dramatic... but I’ve never claimed to be anything less than that, of course.

Life has been very full and busy since the last entry where I could barely walk. Bless my heart. NYC Marathon was definitely an undertaking, and I’m glad I can say I did it, but boy was that hard.

As of right now, this year’s BST (Big Scary Thing) is probably going to be health related, at least for the first half of the year. I’ve had a few issues come up over the past 10 or so months that have really impacted my ability to swim/bike/run. Hopefully the end is in sight, and the Return to Tri can begin. From what we can tell, MaQuidney is doing fine, so that’s always a good thing!

I’ve spent a lot of time on tables like this over the past year.

We are 48 days into 2020 and I haven’t yet figured out what this year’s Life List item is going to be. It was going to be going to the Olympics in Tokyo, but the coronavirus has me shook and I’m not really sure that’s the best decision I can make, for a number of reasons. I’m not sure if it’s going to be something tri related, or if it’s just going to be something off of my Life List! I want to get my AFF sky diving license, I want to go to the Olympics. I want to get Little Orphan Annie in driving condition, but I also want to eventually do a full IRONMAN. It’s amazing how far away a 70.3 seems right now, in terms of physical conditioning. I’ve been riding, and I’ve taken up yoga (which I absolutely LOVE, by the way), and I get the occasional swim in, but running has been basically non-existent.

Not my bike or picture, but if they weren’t kept inside they sure as heck would look like that due to lack of proper use!

I miss it. I miss riding for a long time. I miss feeling like I actually did something (athletically) that day, and I just need to do it, but I haven’t. Something always comes up, or I don’t listen to my alarm and I sleep. That will change, but when? Am I the type of person who needs to be registered for something in order to be disciplined enough to get myself out of bed in the wee hours of the morning? I guess I’ll find out once I’m fully recovered! It’s just so hard to “do what I can with what I have, when I can,” even though it’s so easy for me to preach that little saying to others. Do as I say, right?!

I couldn’t describe that any better than this. Yes, I once swam 1.2 miles in an hour. No, I can’t do that right now, but I know I have it in me somewhere. Just Start.

Until then, I will just keep on keeping on. It could be a lot worse, that’s for sure. And I’m absolutely going to continue to live up to my blood type and B+.

I DID IT!! And am SO. SORE.

My hard-earned medal (and happily worn heatsheet) from the 2018 NYC Marathon!

More to come tomorrow.

Whattaday! It hasn’t really sunk in that I am setting out to finish 26.2 miles tomorrow. Not yet. I don’t think. Maybe. The WOG (Walk/Jog) is going to be on point, and I AM GOING to finish. Had a fun afternoon with Maquia, preparing for tomorrow! Oh man. It’s almost time!!! AGGGGHHHHH!

Fall colors, cute window displays, freaking out, NYC, and my Dough doughnut with a view!

Today I ran. I successfully completed day 1 of my NYC Marathon training plan and I AM GOING TO stick with it. The days are long, but the months are short, and I know that it will be November before I know it.

My alarm went off early this morning, but I didn’t get up. I stayed in bed and wasted time, until it was time to do some adulting then head off to work with a promise that I would run later tonight.

I left work and headed to a local running meet up where I was for sure gonna run. A long-time friend (who doesn’t run, but is trying) came out, so I ran with her. We got in 1.21 miles before calling it a day because she was done, and I’d forgotten to put my insoles back in, and the stitching was starting to bother my feet. 

Beautiful sights from the first run of the night! 

Feeling the need for some accountabilibuddies, I’d told plenty of people of my plan to start running today so I knew I was going to get asked about it. The pub run was a good start, but I needed to get the full 3 miles in, so I went home and ran around my neighborhood. The Florida Summer Storms were coming, and the second half of my run was definitely at a much faster pace than the beginning, because the fear of getting struck by lightning is real! 

Post-Run Selfie! I made it!! And most of my joints feel mostly ok!

Tomorrow is another run day. : / I miss my bike, and the pool. I think I might have to cool off post-run with a swim. Hey! Something is better than nothing, right?

The Journey to the Concrete Jungle... starts tomorrow. According to the calendar, I *should have* started my 24-week training on Monday. I discovered this on Tuesday. Wednesday came, and I “didn’t have time”, and today I didn’t feel like it. Tomorrow morning I am going for a run. 

I am nervous about running on my bum knee.

I am nervous about 26 point 2 freaking miles.

I am nervous about the hills.

I am nervous about doing one thing for so long at one time. At least with triathlon, I switched disciplines.

Oh, and that doesn’t even include all my anxiety about getting to the race, and where I’m going to sleep! 

I will never know if I don’t try, and I can’t not give it my all. 26.2 miles on foot is so. far. 70.3 was hard, and far, but I did the training, and I prepared. Ignorance was bliss, and I just kept my head down and did it. I am going to use that same approach here, and forget any previous long distance running I have done/attempted lol.