A nice bowl of sore back muscles with a side of stiff arms for breakfast.

I love rolling out of bed in the morning and landing on sore legs. That's when you KNOW you had a good workout the day before. The kind of sore where you need to stretch before you make your way to the kitchen. The kind of sore where you groan just a little bit as all the memories of yesterday's workout come flooding back ... yes, I love that kind of sore :-)

This morning my mid back and triceps were a little tight from the swimming I did yesterday. That gives me hope that I will become a stronger swimmer since it seems I haven't really been using those muscles till now. I was thinking, now that I can make it from one side of the pool to the other that I should try to learn some proper technique. I bet I would use a lot less energy and become a better swimmer faster.

I'm back to running today. I am however going to wait until after my classes at the gymnastics gym because it is just too hot outside, even for the gym. There is nothing like working out to the max and walking outside into an oven ... I think I can wait till evening time!

I am back up to 4 miles ...finally! But I wanted to take my time after the knee injury (which has been feeling fantastic!). I will continue doing 5k loops and a few 4 milers next week before upping it to 5 miles. If this marathon is still going to happen this year then I really need to start making some plans because I am running out of time!

I have set up a pretty strong base now, so I can probably start building on my miles ... I need to planning now!

Upwards and Onwards my fellow athletes with sore muscles ... doesnt it feel gooooooood?!?!?!  :)

Starting My Journey

I decided to do this a few days ago while I was on the treadmill at 24 hour fitness. I was running at 4.6 mph, hitting 30 of 45 minutes and it was then that I decided the year 2011 would be the year I would complete my very first full marathon.

2010 is the year that I started taking running seriously. I started to think of it as something more than just exercise to do on a regular basis so I could continue my habit of In&Out.

In 2010 I completed 4 races: A 5k with my dad and friends. A 10k trail race that almost killed me as I had never ran a trail race before and I got lost, a 15k trail race which was beautiful and another 10k in which I came nearly last - only beating a dad with his 10 year old daughter and an 80 year old man with his caregiver.

I feel like those races were just to test the waters, to see if it was something I wanted to pursue. And I am itching to get back on the road and/or trail.

So just about 2 weeks ago I joined 24 hour fitness. I joined for two reasons: 1) So that Josh (my fiance) and I could spend more time together and 2) so that I could start strength training and cross training. 2 weeks in, and even though I am feeling very tired and a little sore, I am excited to continue.

I have started this blog so that I can take you with me on this new adventure. You can follow me, encourage me, join me, advise me or just tell me how crazy I am!!! I hope you enjoy my blog and I look forward to following your blog and reading any comments you leave me. Have a great day and keep moving!