The I can do anything post

I did it.
I got my very first tattoo.

When I started running  the farthest I went was 5k. When I talked to people that had trained for and done a 10k I was amazed. That was twice as far as I had run. How could they do that and more importantly why? 6.2 miles? That's just crazy.

Then I registered for the Boilermaker. The Boilermaker is not a 10k but a 15k, so I was jumping from 3.1 miles to 9.3. Stupid I know...but I did it. I survived and I wasn't last. (I did do one 10k before the Boilermaker - the Swamp Rat just to make sure I wasn't going to die and I might as well do a 10 if I was going to do a 15 right?)

In 2012 I went a little crazy. I registered for a triathlon. And another Boilermaker. And a half Marathon. And a second half marathon. And a Full Marathon. The two halfs I did were kind of like the 10k. I registered for the full first and went backwards and registered for the halfs. Somehow I seem to skip over the smaller steps and just jump right in. Maybe it was if I do a half and realize the insanity of running 13.1 miles I will never go all in for the full...so in some messed up logic I registered for the full 26.2 first and then said well hell if I am doing a full I might as well do a half or two before just so I know I am going in the right direction.

Somewhere in my mind I made a deal with myself. Self, I said, if you can do a half marathon we are going to get a cicada tattooed on our foot. Why a cicada? Well there are two type of cicada brood...one has a 13 year life cycle and the other has a 17 year life cycle. So instead of getting a 13.1 I was going to get a cicada to represent my accomplishing a half marathon...and if I ever crossed that finish line on a full I would get him a friend. Two 13 year cicadas tattooed on my foot.

I finished my first marathon on Sunday,  November 11, 2012 I crossed the finish line in just under seven long hours and completed the full 26.2 miles.

Today, Saturday, January 25, 2014 I got my cicadas.

This is the sketch the artist sent to me.

Before I got the sketch I was a wee bit apprehensive, but as soon as I saw it I was in love. It was everything I had asked for.

I got my tattoo at Ascend Gallery in Cortland, NY. I could not have asked for a better experience. From beginning to end it was awesome. My artist was Adam Golden and he was beyond professional and I know I made the right choice. Thank you Adam!

So here is the final product. Something I can always look down and see and say I CAN DO ANYTHING!

Tomorrow I commemorate my marathon.

So tomorrow Saturday, January 25 I will in a very awesome and permanent way celebrate my becoming a marathoner.

While I do have my 13.1 and 26.2 stickers I proudly display on my Hedy (my VW) I wanted to be a little more subtle with something I will carry with me everyday. Something to look at and remind myself I am capable of anything...of greatness...of accomplishing something so few people even attempt.

So naturally I am getting a tattoo. Tomorrow. On my foot.
But I told this story already...about my mom getting me a gift certificate and surprising the hell out of me.

I am a little scared. And even more excited.

I wanted something original. Something just for me. So I met with the artist and told him what I wanted. And he sent me the sketch. And it is amazing.

Tomorrow I will post before and after photos.

Sorry Dad I am not going to chicken out.

Plotting a comeback

Don't call it a comeback.
I've been here for years.

So I am a resolutioner. Yep I said it. I said to myself...self we need to get back on track. So I went back to the Y and not just for work. I have done a few classes here and there (thank you Erin) but I am totally lacking in consistency. So now I am an accountability partner, and if this morning is any indication not a very good one, for Mark. The plan is to go to the Y before work and work out.
Monday I ran.
Tuesday I swam.
Wednesday (today) I slept.
Well, that is not entirely true. I did do bootcamp after work...which is probably way worse than anything I would have done on my own.
Tomorrow??? Who knows.

I still haven't decided if I want to enter any other races in 2014, but I am hoping to make 2015 a killer year which may mean some prep in 2014. We shall see.

Here is a tasty treat I have been making to satisfy my sweet tooth in this new year...
Black Bean Fudge.
Tasty and vegan and probably the healthiest chocolate thing I have had in probably forever.
1 - can of black beans (rinsed and drained)
6 - T of coconut oil (melted)
3/4 - Cup cocoa powder
5ish T of brown sugar (I may or may not have added a wee bit more)
Pinch of salt

Throw it all in the food processor and blend until smooth.
Spread into a pan (I used an 8x8) and throw it into the fridge until it sets up.
Enjoy!
Ridiculously easy and Tasty and Fibrous.

Sorry I don't have any pictures. Maybe next time. But try it anyway.

Saturday is my tattoo appointment. I am super excited and still a bit scared. This I will take pictures of!
Can't wait for my cicadas...I worked hard for those bad boys.

Until then...

Is 2014 the anti race year?

For the last several years I have set goals.
Most of these were race related goals.
Now it is a new year and now is the time to set those goals. Right?

Maybe this years goals should be something else.
I have one ride planned and I need to get ready for that, but maybe 2014 is about not racing against  a clock or for a new PR maybe 2014 is about setting goals to be a better me. To race toward a happier, healthier me.

Maybe I have been running from something...from someplace. Maybe I am running to something...someone. Maybe I am right where I need to be. I am right where I need to be.

Is 2014 the time for me to become who I know I can be? To finish what I started?

I am nearing the end to another trip around the sun and start the last 525,600 minutes before that next big milestone.

I am thinking big plans for 2015. How big? Who knows. I have been known to do wild and crazy things before. Maybe unexpected. Maybe not. Hopefully out of my comfort zone, because we all need to do things that make us uncomfortable and test our limits.

My first thing that makes me uncomfortable? I think tomorrow I shall get up early like way before I have to go to work early and swim. Yep in a pool. In a swimsuit. In front of people. Note to self set up coffee pot to auto brew. I am just curious how chlorine will work wit the no washing my hair thing.

Write it down. Say it out loud. Put it out there. Done.

Now what?

Let's try this again

It has been forever since I set pen to paper so to say and I quite honestly have missed it. Of course I miss running too, but I haven't actually done it in over a month and before that ummmm yeah well I blame it on needing new shoes. Yep I said it. I NEED new shoes. Doesn't every woman NEED new shoes?

So what has happened since I last blogged.

My Mom has had two amputations. Same leg. First one didn't heal so they took some more. We tried to explain there are easier ways to lose weight.
She is home now and doing quite well. Getting prepped for a prosthetic that has a bionic knee. We CAN rebuild her! We have the technology. She should get that sometime soon.
So we added a full bathroom downstairs, moved Mom and Dads bedroom downstairs purged and cleaned. The new bathroom looks great and everyone is happy.

I got a new job.

I am now the Membership Coordinator at the Manlius Y. It is good. I have a team that does my bidding...I mean...nope I mean does my bidding. They are a great group and I am totally enjoying my new position. I like the challenge. I like my boss. I like my coworkers. And I like wine.

Oh for Christmas I got the last thing in the world I would ever have expected from my Mom (Dad totally did not approve, but she has gotten all willy nilly since the amputation)...she gave me a gift certificate for a tattoo. Seriously? Who is this wild woman. I have had my consult and now I am waiting on the art and then the actual needle in the ink in the foot. Excited and a little apprehensive. Pictures and inspiration to come...

Need to find some goals for the year. Need something to work toward.

Oh I saw a bald eagle and a snowy owl with in 30 minutes of each other a couple of days ago. That was fantastic. One more for the life list. Hoping it sticks around. Hedwig is beautiful.

I think that is all I know for now. I really hope to keep this up and find something useful to say...maybe next time I will talk about how I stopped washing my hair. Which is just another fun thing on my list of ridding our little world of yucky stuff.