Ok, so maybe I noticed the wind in lubbock whilst trying to carry presentation kites boards from the commuter lot to the architecture building.

And maybe I noticed the lack of hills in Lubbock whilst driving in a westerly or easterly direction at sunset or sunrise (respectively).

But, never have I been so opposed to them as now while training for a marathon. I was very proud of myself last week for accomplishing a personal best of 8 miles without stopping.  Not only that, but I finished it in about 9:30 minutes/mile…which for me is freakin’ awesome for a long run. So perhaps it was really just pride this past Sunday when after only 2 miles of running headfirst into 20 mph winds that my body decided it had enough. I gave in. I walked. Shoulders slumped, jaw dropped panting for air, starring at the pavement – walking. Ok, so maybe it wasn’t that bad that I had to walk…but the fact that it was after only 2 miles…when I was intending on going a full 8.  Kind of a letdown.

So despite the debbie-downerness of it all, I mustered up my strength, ignored the pain in my legs, and wiped away the salty sweat dripping into my eyes and started up again. (After all, at this point I was, well, 2 miles away from my house and didn’t feel like walking all the way back.) Fortunately, going back meant that I now had the glorious wind at my back. This also meant that I had the glorious hills to climb up.

-side note-
It really was a fair trade-off.  Going downhill into the wind, and uphill with the wind at my back.  But this is not about logistics…this is about excuses.
-end side note-

By the time I made it back to the house, my legs just felt like a mushy mess dangling from my hips.  My cool-old-man headband no longer functioned as a dam to hold sweat, but rather a heavy sponge that my neck strained to hold up. I quickly grabbed my water bottle that I had stashed in the mailbox. Mind you, this was supposed to be used for the halfway point in my run, but now served as the end of the run drink. I took a few hundred sips and went inside.

Looking back, I’m still trying to figure out the root of the unfinished run.  The possibilities and conclusions as I see them:
The Wind – Could be seen as an advantage. Some people are crazy enough to artificially create wind with jogging parachutes and whatnot.
The Hills – (The landscape that is…not the tv show (although that certainly would be a distraction)). Again…could really be an advantage. Even though it was hard, my legs should be stronger for the next time.
The Pepperoni Rolls – Did I forget to mention my diet of greasy-fatty-bad carb goodness the night before?  Also suspect.
Pride – It could have been my own assumption of awesomeness after running 8 miles the week before when really my body just needed a good rest.

Most likely?
Just a bad day –  Everyone has days where they’re off.  Nonetheless, just because I stopped during the run, doesn’t mean I’ve stopped the training. I’ve still got 7 months to get there.  Little stops are good for reflection and reality checks to see how things are going. I’m going to rest tonight, and get back out there tomorrow.  The next challenge? Apparently it’s running in thunderstorms…

2009 Achievements
285 of 1000 8 of 24 Achievements
	Tenth of a Ton Weigh 200 pounds – 25 pounds total weight loss.	40 Acquired 04/16/2009

Starting weight: 226 pounds
Current weight: 198 pounds
Weight loss to date: 27 pounds

WooHoo! For the first time in nearly a decade, I weigh less than 200 pounds. Needless to say, this has been a long time coming. I actually remember back in college the first time I stepped on the scale and saw 201 pounds staring back at me. From there I went into denial and blamed it on everything from a busy schedule to muscle weight to the common phenomenon of big bones.  My weight fluctuated up and down for years until last year when I topped out at 226. Two Hundred and Twenty Six Pounds.  I used to watch The Biggest Loser and think “At least I’m not as big as those people”….until I got to the end of the season and those people now weighed less than me.

Despite meager efforts not much happened until the months leading up to Brandon being born. The stress of realizing that I was soon going to be a father helped me drop about 15 pounds very quickly.  I used that as motivation to keep going.  I continued to work out and started a consistent running schedule.  As further motivation I started training for a marathon which included intermediate 5k and 10k runs. What’s ironic is that at first I used the running as help to lose weight. Now, I want to lose weight to help my running. Carrying 200 pounds around for 6 miles doesn’t do much for the knees. And if I really want to run a marathon at the end of this year, those last 15 pounds have got to go.

Now when I want to make excuses I just picture trainer Bob Harper yelling at Joelle in an episode of the Biggest Loser:
“I’m sick of just words words words, talk talk talk. Shut the f*** up! Just do it! Just stop talking and do it!”

You tell ‘em Bob.

2009 Achievements
245 of 1000 7 of 24 Achievements
	Fun Run Run in a 5k event.	25 Acquired 04/05/2009

It felt a little odd going to the Big D Marathon to run a 5k, but I ran it proudly. It was really windy, but the course was pretty flat and it was a good mix of people running for competition and just for fun.  Here’s how it went:
5k in 24:58. (8:03 per mile)
I came in 53rd overall, and 6th in my age group.
Most exciting part? Celebrating with the family at the end. Time to move on to the 10k.

He doesn't know why we're celebrating. He just knows it's exciting.

2009 Achievements
220 of 1000 6 of 24 Achievements
	Pink Slip Pay off car.	50 Acquired 03/31/2009

That’s right. I’m now the official owner of that glorious vehicle known as the Honda Civic. On to the next achievement…5k this Sunday…