What comes next?

Softball season is over, so is (for the most part) golf season. I'm sure we'll hit the links yet this fall once or twice, but it won't be every week. The Rollerblade Marathon is over, and the leaves are starting to fall, making outdoor rollerblading dangerous. Soon we'll be able to blade in the metrodome, but not yet.

So - what now? I haven't been going to the Y with the frequency I desire. Tonight I can't as I have plans, but tomorrow is a new day (and a new month - eep!) and I will get back into that.

What are my goals?
1. I still need to work on the mass issues. I have plateaued, and not at the mass I desired to maintain constant at. The good news is I haven't regained that awful, horrid, high mass I started with. The bad news, I'm only halfway to where I want to be. To address this I have taken a look at my eating habits, and discovered alarming trends. I am working on fixing those. The problem is I don't want to. I like the convenience of eating out. I like the food I eat when I eat out. I like it so much I do it too often. This adds useless calories. Solution: Eat at home more! Succinct goal: Lose 10 lbs by end of calendar year.

2. I need to maintain my exercise routine now that I do not have my sports to fall back on as exercise points. I am not in any organized sports from now until...?? who knows. Solution: I have a Y pass, and there are plenty of things to do at the Y. Succinct goal: Go to the Y 3 times per week from now until the end of the calendar year.

3. I am feeling more stressed out than I have in a while. I try not to talk about it, but there it is. I have increased job responsibilities (this is a good thing, but causes more work). I have a professional certification I'm studying for in mid Nov., and my house is not in the order that I would like it to be. I also have a lot of 'outdoors' things I would love to get done, but thinking about them adds to the stress level because I don't know when I'll have time for them. Solution: Trickier, this solution, because there are things I'm not willing to do. In summer, for example, I wasn't willing to give up softball or golf. Also there are things I can't do. My job responsibilities are my job responsibilities. They are not 'too much', but I do need to learn to time manage better. There are also things I have to do. I have to study for this exam (and part of the stress is that I need to study more than I am). So, solutions include better time management, making lists and sticking to them, prioritizing, and making sure I do take "me" time, even if it feels like I don't have time for it. Succinct Goal: (again, tricky) Create a sustainable scheme for time management that I will stick to that will help lower stress levels and that includes 'me' time and maintain it through end of year. Secondary: Learn to say no and not feel guilty (or as guilty).

I think three goals is enough. More than enough or I'm going to make #3 worse, not better. So Erin - I will be joining you at that Y more often. Katie, Jenni, Jenny, Chris and anyone else who has to study or desires to do a group study session, or work on quite work or read a book - let's set some up! Meet at a coffee house, we all study and help each other stay on track. Don't feel bad if I say no to socializing, at least through my test date. If I feel working on studying or one of my other goals will help lower stress, I will say no to a big social event, but I will explain why. I also hope that after my exam (hopefully a successful exam) I will have less stress and will be better at prioritizing the things I have to do so I have more 'me and friend' time too.

Race Complete

I have finished my rollerblade marathon in one piece. This is a good thing, as the last time I did it I cracked a tailbone and injured both my elbows bloody! I finished in 2 minutes slower than the last time (4 years ago, and I was 4 years younger and skating 3 times a week!) 1:49:21. This is not too bad, but I can do better!

There is a rollerblade marathon in Baxter, MN June 12, 2010 that I am considering! Also the Dome marathon, but I think I'd do the half for that, b/c it's hard going in circles that long! Next year the NSIM is on the day after our golf banquet. Selfishly I'd like to move it back a week (the banquet) so I can skate the race. We'll have to see.

Today I'm not too sore, but I am sick. I don't know why, but i seem to have a very sore throat, and also some tummy ailments. I'll finish my work and then take some sick time....if I have time!

Wheels - rollin

Saturday is the big day! I have skated this last month enough that I know I will not die, but will not be perfectly happy, after the race. I have skated up to 18 miles at once (this past Sunday) and I made that, though my bones in my foot felt as though they were being smashed together and my ankle hurt. Typically, I'd like to get one skate at or longer than marathon distance before the race, but being that we're less than a week out, this isn't going to happen. Oh well. I did my best w/ my time limitations, and I'm actually skating it, not backing out, so I have that working for me. I'll do more training for the next one. If I said I'm not doing it based on training, I'd never do it cause there is no level of training that is 'enough' for me, really..

I'm in wave 4...which is what I qualified for based on my time from 2005 (yes, 4 years ago). I am no longer that fast, and I hope I don't tick anyone off as they fly past me :P I think it will take me close to 2 hours to finish, 15 minutes slower than 4 years ago, but not bad considering I have trained maybe...7 whole outdoor skates over 6 miles for this all summer! Still, I did 18 yesterday, and if I can go 18 I can go 26. I know that sounds strange, but trust me, it's true.

Later in the weekend we'll likely go climb farther north in the UP. Much fun will be had by all! And on Monday next, I'll be typing and complaining about how very sore and tired I am!

So, Saturday I will race, more against myself and a finish line than anyone else actually out on the course, and I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I did it.