And so it begins...again

After 9 weeks of absolutely no working out and all pure recovery I'm ready to get started. What did I do in those 9 weeks? Well, I managed to plan my 2009-2010 season which so happens includes my very first ever Half Ironman ( thanks Mark!) Who in their right mind is in the middle of recovering form surgery and thinks "sure, a half sounds great"? I'll tell you who...ME! I am so stoked it's not even funny. During the recovery time I went out and purchased new cycling shoes that I will be breaking in on Wednesday in my spin class with coach Steve at Breakthru Fitness in Pasadena, and a brand new fancy Zoot wetsuit that is officially the nicest wetsuit I have ever had (it's my 4th). I have the gear, now I need the nutrition and training (both mentally and physically).

Yesterday I put the nutrition aspect back on track. If there is absolutely anyway I'm going to get this done, and with a goal time, then I need to get my ass in gear. So, I said goodbye to the diet coke and iced lattes that fueled me for the past 2+ months and hello again to my Superfoods and a very well thought out meal plan. I literally spent all weekend planning menus, calculating caloric needs, formulating what food will need to go in what meal. I was surrounded by books and paper. I think I finally got it down. Next up, planning the workouts.

Today I'm going to try to get in a 2000 meter swim, at the very least 1600 meters. It's my prep time for the next 4-6 weeks, during which will include the Long Beach Half Marathon, so taking it down a level or tow is key, especially when you consider that I have absolutely no muscle tone and will be starting from the ground level.....or so it feels that way. There is a lot more to training than just the physical. There is the mental and I have been missing that for years. This year that ends and I get my head back into the game. At the end I want to look back and see how far I have come more mentally than physically. I want to get to the next level and add that 50-mile ultra in Nov. 2010, but unless something changes that will not happen.

Here is my racing schedule thus far:
Oct 11 - Long Beach Half Marathon
Nov 7 - Solvang Prelude
Nov 14 - San Gabriel 10k Turkey Trot
Feb 7 - Surf City Half Marathon
Feb 21 - 2nd Annual Pasadena Marathon
March 13 - Catalina Island Marathon
March 27 - California 70.3 (Half Ironman)
May 2010 - Trek Women's Endurance Series, Disneyland

I'm still looking for a race in December and January.....let me know if you find one!