Good-bye 13.1, hello 5K and running people in

My being sick has allowed me to really reflect on my fitness/running.  I have made the OFFICIAL decision to NOT run 13.1 Prairie Fire Marathon.  I am going to run the 5K and run some of my peeps in instead.  I am going to still come to the long Saturday runs because I really enjoy them and will run what I can.  On a physical level I have gained weight since my marathon Oklahoma City Marathon.   and it has made running supper hard and distances over 6 miles not enjoyable.  People tell me I "hide it well"  and don't look overweight to them, but the truth of the matter is that NONE of my jeans/slacks/pants fit me and I have been forced to wear dresses.  I wish I could blame all of this on menopause but I can't.  I eat when I am stressed. It blows my mind that I ran a marathon 4 months ago and am NO WHERE near that fitness level.  If you have ran with me you know what the source of my stress is.  I am still not ready to publicly acknowledge it in this blog but it has been hard.  Our family has been on an emotional roller coaster for 3 years now and I am really ready for things to change.   I need to take a long HARD look at my nutrition, and I need to lift weights.  As I write this, please do not feel sorry for me.  Simply understand that as a runner sometimes life will not allow you to follow through with the goals you have set for yourself.  That being said, I have a new goal.  I want to give long distance running a complete break for 12 weeks.  Crazy, right?  Can you believe your girl NJ just said that?  Something that has worked in the past for me is  Body For Life program.  It involves weight lifting three times a week and HIIT (20 minutes) the other three days of the week.  Of course my HIGH INTENSISTY INTERVAL TRAINING  will be running.  By taking this fitness approach now, I will be able to run for fun in December and begin training for 13.1 in January.  I am so proud of the progress that all of you have made these last few months.  You will have an OUTSTANDING  13.1 or 26.2 miles.  Some of you have already asked me to met up with and help to get through some of your last miles on race day.  I would be honored to do so.  I REALLY tried and had hoped that Prairie Fire Marathon would "heal" me the way that OKC did. I was wrong.  I have enjoyed being a volunteer for Start 2 Finish and have met wonderful life long friends. I will see you on Saturday for 4-6 miles???

Mona, Brittany and Kendra will do GREAT at Prairie Fire!

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