I DID IT!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Have you ever tried or wanted to do something but you were too scared you wouldn't succeed, that you would fail the second you started?  

Wait, I am not the only one?  I have been battling this idea for the last few years.  I was scared to tackle the triathlon more than I wanted to do it, and I wanted to do it bad!  I signed up for one this past year and didn't do it.  I didn't even attempt to train.  Not my best or smartest move.   At that point me being scared was overpowered by me wanted to actually complete all three events.  I think I can hold my own in the pool, but am petrified of the open water.  Man, Water is beastly and can over take me in no time. I think my biggest fear of that comes down to growing up in NY and swimming in the Atlantic and the water is just not calm.  The thought of falling off my bike, oh, I don't want to break any bones.  Luckily, the run hasn't scared me away yet, but I have yet to do a brick workout so we will see how soon that scares me!.  I am finally ready to face my fears!

After the New York Marathon I realized the marathon distance is just not for me.  This is a topic I will actually post about sometime in the future.  After realizing I didn't want to do another marathon anytime soon, I knew this would be the perfect time to get into triathlons.  I actually blame the NYC Marathon a lot on this because my goal was to do NY last year and then start training for tri's in 2013 and in 2014 I would do this big, hairy, silly thing called an Ironman.  Well, because NY was cancelled this whole plan got screwed up, but I still wanted to do an Ironman in 2014...So...

I registered for one!

If you follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Dailymile, or facebook, or well, any other social media outlet you would know I have been doing a bunch more crosstraining than I normally do.  And now you know why:)

I have started base training and I am loving it.  I am still figuring out how to fit this all in with life but I am getting better at it, or so I hope.  I look forward to swimming and bike rides now.  I hope I don't jinx myself now and next time I end up on the side of the rode with my leg broken off.  

Now that I am singed up for an Ironman I guess it is only appropriate that I start small which is why I signed up for St. Anthony's triathlon with team in training.  I've done many events with team in training because it raises money for the leukemia and lymphoma society.  A cause I believe in.  This year I am racing specifically for my good friend Megan, but also for the ones who didn't get a chance to race, who were young when they were diagnosed and didn't get the chance to live their normal childhood or teenage years.  It makes me sad that each year I partake in an event for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society I hear of more people or are affected on a personal level.  When I first heard about TNT I was told that one day they hope to eliminate all cancers by getting rid of blood cancers because blood runs through the whole body.

So, I ask that you take a quick look at my fundraising page (I haven't been able to write a personal note on it yet) and if you can make a donation whether is is $5.00 or more I would forever be grateful!

Genna's Fundraising page!

Questions for you..What advice would you give a newbie training for their first triathlon?

Have you ever took a plunge and faced a big fear you have?

What is your favorite Ice cream?  Mine is cookies and cream with rainbow sprinkles!

Happy New Year- Oh a NYC Marathon Recap

So apparently it is 2014?  Where has the last 20 days gone?  I can't believe it is almost February!

I am going to do a brief recap here is that is O.K with everyone.

1.  I still need to update you on the NYC Marathon and I am pretty sure that is going to come right now.

 I went into this race with a goal of 4:59:59.  I trained my butt off, I think this may have been one of the few times I went in with a goal and 1. didn't get it, 2. tried really hard in training for it.  With the weeks approaching the Marathon I moved my goal like to 5:15-5:20.  Well, that didn't happen either.  I finished at 5:55:14.  I should be proud and happy I finished "THE NYC MARATHON", but I am not. I didn't even want a redemption run.  Well, that is a lie.  I wanted to run the Jacksonville marathon but I knew I couldn't handle the training right after a marathon and listened to my body. I went to NY with these thoughts in my head about what an amazing race this is going to be.  NYRR pulled out all the stops, that I do agree with!  I received the previous years medal, a cute little rubber bracelet with both years on it and of course bought everything in site at the expo.  I read blogs and blogs about what to look out for, pacing, crowd support, everything, you name it, I did it.  Unfortunately, I did not find it what is was cracked up to be.  I didn't think the crowd support was fantastic and maybe that was just me?  I felt it was "thin".  I think that has a lot to do with how long the race is, and I don't mean that it is 26.2 miles.  Elites start around 9, while I started around 11.  That is a whole two hours the spectators are waiting just for me to start and we know, it took me a lot more than 2 hours to get to the point in which people are cheering.  There were lots on times there was no one there.  I am sure the crowds were a little lighter after the Boston Marathon, oh, and it was cold and the winds were 20+ miles per hour.

The course was hilly, I knew that going in, but I definitely did not realize how hilly the course was.  The wind didn't make it easier and damn, you are in Brooklyn for a long ass time!  I was ready to be out of Brooklyn so quickly!  Thank goodness I had my Christ a there with me with our matching outfits!    At mile 15 We stopped to use the restroom and we waited almost 10 minutes.  Christa told me to go on, but looking at my watch and knowing I wasn't going to hit any of my goals, I stayed, I still had 11 more miles to go and it was going to be better with company.

My ITBand started screaming at me less than a mile like and I knew it was going to be bad!  I stopped to walk and stretch.  I wanted to just keep going and finish, I had to remind myself that I don't want to remain injured so I had to play it careful.  Soon we saw my family!  It was so nice to see them, they grabbed pictures, we gave hugs, it was fun.  *Note to family and spectators* If your runner is trying to go for a certain time, don't stop them for pictures.  Luckily my time was out the door, I just wanted to be done.

I do have to say though, I don't think I ever hit a wall.  There was water every mile which also slowed us down because you stop every mile whether you need water or not when you are with someone :)

I had nutrition every 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Boy, thats a lot of nutrition once I was out there!

I got to see DEE who was running as an Achilles Guide.  She is amazing!

It was a great chance to see family :)

At least we know how to have fun!

See Ya Next time NY.. Just kidding!!! 

Questions for you:

1. Have you ever gone into a race and then the expectation just ruined the experience?  Have you had the opposite happen?

2. Have you run the NYC, what were your thoughts?

3. What was your favorite race? Doesn't matter, distance, sports, etc!

ALso, I am training for a triathlon now and feel free to make a donation so I can actually go through with it!!  http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/anttry14/ghimelfarb

I will be updating all my loyal readers with my training soon :)

Also, I just realized this turned out to be a full recap of the NYC Marathon, not life.. I guess you may hear from me sooner than later!