Thursday, January 31, 2008

Reality -- and below zero temperatures -- Bites

Well, I did do the follow-up I committed myself to doing in my last post:

I tired to book an session with Dave (swim coach), but found the "Y" had changed their appointment website and my info (and three-remaining appointments) have been lost. Dave is looking in to this, but has not resolved the issue yet. Despite this, I have been in the pool a number of times. It feels good to be back in the water.

I also got on the scale. Yuck. I had been doing so well up until we left for vacation on December 20th. I put on a few lbs over the holidays, which is no fun and really wrecks havoc on my self esteem.

I should know by now, after more than 40 years battling my weight, several long, long years struggling with big, bad food issues and all that crap that is attached with it, that I'm more than just a number. But, that stupid number still has a lot of power over me -- especially when it is not one I want to see.

The funny thing is that my body fat percentage is in a very good range. I was participating in an indoor training class at my gym and we got measured three times during the 12-week session with the dreaded pinchers. Can I hang on to that number?

No.

I see and measure my self by the one on the scale.

Stupid...

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On another topic: training for Fargo Marathon started last Monday. There are only 15 people in the training group. Fourteen of them want to run 4:00 hour marathons; one wants to run a 4:30. I'm shooting for 5:30.

So, I'm the slowest poke out there.

One of my good friend's husband is the coach for the session and, as much as he wants me to be part of his group, there is no way I'll be able to keep up with them. I'll have to do this training on my own.

Fortunately, I've got a number of other friends that will train for the Fargo 1/2 marathon and they've generously offered to do some running with me. A couple of them have even offered to provide support for me when I start getting in to the long runs by riding beside me on a bike. I'm very lucky to have that support.

I've also checked in with my Tri Club to see what they do for training runs. Apparently they have a number of members that meet on Saturday mornings at a lake near my house. I've been told that the speeds and distances of the runners cover a wide range, so I think I'll check them out too.

The weather has been really awful lately. We are just finishing the second very cold snap of January. Air temps yesterday ranged between 14 below and 2 below zero. Wind chills were like mines 35. Brutal.

But, the days are getting longer, which means there is hope for spring's speedy return.

2 comments:

Sunshine said...

Loved reading your post tonight. It is so good to read your opinion about this weather.. and do I ever agree with you.
This slower, later bloomer cheers you. All that you are doing is way better than the couch!!

Dori said...

Your body fat percentage is more important than your weight, so congratulations on that. But I hear you; we've been so conditioned over the years that weight matters. It doesn't. What matters is our health. And you, Miss Bee, are a picture of health. :-)

I know what it's like to be the "slowest poke out there." The group I'm running with goes out too fast for me and I have trouble keeping up through the end. I miss our group.