"Goals that are not written down are just wishes"
I've had these 2 goals for a few months and finally hit them this week after a lot of hard work. One was weight/nutrition based and one was speed/performance based.
It's been 6 weeks since I read "Fitness Confidential" and completely changed the way I eat and think about food/nutrition/fueling. Today marks 6 weeks of NO COKE which I never thought was possible (do you know how hard it is to eat a hamburger without a coke??). I still crave it but it's getting progressively easier with each passing week. I've eaten more than I ever have, all great food not crap (for the first time in my life!) and feel great but the day finally came when the scale hit a number I didn't think was possible. I didn't change my eating to lose weight - I changed it to fuel better and recover better for triathlon and to get off of the sugar roller coaster I've been on my entire life. Weight loss was just a nice little perk! Hitting my goal weight was #1 crushed goal of the week.
Then there's the speed/performance goal. I never feel like I'm getting any faster in triathlon, no matter how hard I work. I finally put that thought aside and have been pushing myself (more like being pushed by my coach and team!). Today was the day to put my money where my mouth is. For most runners a 5k is a piece of cake and breaking thirty minutes is mindless but for me it's been a struggle. It might even seem silly to most that this is even a goal for someone. I did it once last year and have not been able to accomplish it again. It's the goal that keeps eluding me and I know the reason is all in my head. Clearly my body is capable but it never seems to happen. The past few 5K's that I've run have all been so close 30:55 or 31:02 but never UNDER that 30:00 mark. At the last race when I watched the clock tick over to read "30:00" I screamed a very bad profanity very loud in front of many children. I felt bad when I got home but I was so damn frustrated at the time so if it was you and/or your children - I apologize. My truck driver mouth gets me in trouble often. Today was the day I've been working for all year - mile repeats, hill repeats, getting up at 4am, driving to NYC to train - today was the day to make that all worth it. And it worked! I somehow convinced my friend, Jess, to join me for the run. For the first 1.5 miles she paced me, unbeknownst to her - which kept me moving at my goal pace. The first mile came and my time was 9:07 - right on track for a PR, just couldn't let up. I was laser focused, didn't really say hi to anyone, hardly spoke, eyes straight ahead - this had to be my day and it was! Finish time was 28:20 with a pace of 9:07 - I am over the moon and ready to get it under 27 minutes next time. When I remember where I started and where I am now I'm shocked, amazed, proud, humbled and just so damn happy! IT CAN BE DONE!
Deihdra Miller 39 F 28:20.36 9:07 F30-39:14/32 53.65
Don't Stop. Won't Stop.
Congratulations Deihdra! That is absolutely amazing on both fronts. Coke still calls my name but rarely does it scream loud enough for me to answer. I know the struggle of wanting that goal speed so much that you say bad words in front of children. Keep it up. You are inspiring.
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