Back in HM training....

And it has been an adventure.

I am in the middle of the Runner's World's "Run Less - Run Faster" program. I am running three days a  week. One day is a speed workout. One day is a tempo workout. The last day is the big long run. My body has really taken to the program very well, but wiped out after my tempo and long run days. Those days require a lot of careful planning afterwards. I learned last Sunday that rest is very important after when I went to the Chicago Auto Show afterwards (BIG mistake!!). I am in the 5th week out of the 16 week program.

I also have registered (*gasp*) for the Twin Cities Marathon in October.  My game plan this year to focus on just two big races and some little races in between. Thank GOD that I have a 4 week break between training programs.  I am going to seriously need it!!

School has an adventure. I have been learning a lot. I am looking forward to my first EVER Spring Break week off from school.  Yes, kids, in the years of undergrad and my first graduate degree, I did NOT have a Spring Break or a summer break or a break between semester period. I am surprised that I did not go coo-coo during the previous programs.

Anyways, I really need to seriously blog more. This will be a big help during the course of my training plan.

Laters!

My decade...

I know that this is over a week late, but it took me while to compile my thoughts and compose the list. The list is mixture of things that I accomplished and things I learned during the last 10 years. Some are good and some were just really stupid mistakes.

1. Traveled to a foreign country for the first time (and waiting over 9 years to do it again)

2. Struggled with understanding patience

3. Learned that things come for a reason at their own time

4. Became pregnant a second time and expected a healthy child

5. Learned that you should never make assumptions in life

6. Learned to stand up for someone who cannot speak for themselves

7. Learned how to let go and allow God to take the driver’s seat

8. Learned how life precious is and not take it for granted

9. Gave birth to a stillborn daughter while sacrificing a part of myself physically and emotionally

10. Learned to get back up when I fall down and try again

11. Become pregnant a third time and blessed with a healthy, energetic daughter

12. Learned that I need to stand up for myself and put myself first

13. I signed up for WW and took the first step after reaching my heaviest weight ever.

14. I found my self-confidence for the first time as the weight came off.

15. I also found that I also had the courage to walk away and not look back.

16. Filed for divorce for the first time.

17. Found hope in a new relationship.

18. Went back to school for the first time in years.

19. Pursued my Associate’s degree

20. Got married for a 2^nd time

21. Found out that my dad was ill with leukemia a month after I got married.

22. Dad gets a bone marrow transplant, but ends up in an induced coma for 2 weeks.

23. Learned how precious life is for a 2^nd time after losing my dad

24. Life goes in a different direction

25. Started training for my 1^st marathon with Team in Training for RNRAZ

26. Became a stronger person

27. Completed my Associate’s degree

28. Start on my Bachelor of Science while I start preparing to take MN State POST exam

29. Passed the MN POST exam

30. Started training for my 2^nd marathon with Team in Training

31. Became a better runner

32. Became a faster runner

33. Became a determined and stronger woman through injury

34. Learned how to move on once again and walk away from something out of my control.

35. Learned that you must change first and take the lead to be the better person.

36. Filed for divorce for 2^nd time.

37. Found love in unexpected places

38. Found my new best friend and partner in life

39. Moved to Chicago.

40. Completed my Bachelor of Science degree

41. Graduated with University Honors (Magna Sum Laude if I had the minimum credits to graduate with Greek Honors)

42. Learned that I need to love myself before I can love someone else.

43. Learned to be a better person and friend

44. Completed my first Century ride

45. Learned to be myself and love myself for who I am

46. Travelled to some very fun places within the country – New Orleans, NYC, Brussels, Amsterdam, Phoenix

47. Learned that I do have a lot of patience – more than I thought

Catching up with Firefly

Well, during my sabbatical, a lot of things went on in this Firefly's life. I won't go into complete details, but here's a short list of them.

1. Witnessed a baby being born (ok - already born by the time we - and all calvary of 15 ob/gyn docs - got there) inside of a parked SUV in the ER loading area where I work at 6:50 in THE MORNING. I guess the baby could NOT wait at all.
2. Finished another undergrad course with another "A" and now 4 classes away from graduating with my Bachelor of Science degree.
3. Made a final decision to go onto grad school after graduation and in the process of applying towards schools that I am interested in. I am looking towards working on a Master's Degree in Education with a specialty in Adult Education. I am interested in taking a month off in January to give myself a little break before jumping into the Master's Degree program. Josh has challenged me to go onto a Ph.D program if I do as well in the Master's Degree as in this current undergrad program. We have a little agreement with that if it holds true, but won't go into any details until I make that decision. I will have to see in a year or so to see if that holds true.

I would like to thank everyone for that wonderful comments you made in my last post. I appreciate all of the support I am receiving right now. I am still working on stuff on my own, but ready to return slowly into the blogworld. I am working on my way back to the top of the pile again.

Strength......

What is strength? Strength is holding yourself together during very stressful situations. Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength. - Frances De Sales

Strength is rebuilding one's endurance after a 4 month break from running and building the speed again.

That which does not kill me makes me stronger. - FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE, Twilight of the Idols.

Strength is being able to remain calm when someone yells at you right in your face for something that happened to their BMW within the parking garage.

The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone. - HENRIK IBSEN, An Enemy of the People

Strength is adjusting very well to four different situations at the same time - new job, new industry, new city and new place to call home.

If your heart acquires strength, you will be able to remove blemishes from others without thinking evil of them. - Mohandas Gandhi

Strength is handling three critical situations in one day and walk out of work in a calm demeanor with my head high.

I worshipped dead men for their strength, Forgetting I was strong. - Vita Sackville-West

Strength is realizing that you were wrong and correct the situation after admitting it.

Strength is turning life's lemons into lemonade.

When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. - Audre Lorde.

Strength is walking into the morgue for the first time with a funeral director, admitting the fear, and walk out with my dignity.

Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely in my tenacity. - Louis Pasteur.

Strength is saying strong even though life feels like it's sinking beneath me.

I am strong!