Exciting News!

Heather and I are really happy to announce that we have set a date for our wedding!

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/HeatherSorgen&StaceyHolda

Starting fresh...

So, I came down with a horrible horrible cold... that may just have been H1N1, but I didn't want to do a nasal wash to find out. They wouldn't have been able to do anything different to treat me, even if it was, so I felt it was a moot point. I'm still recovering going into my 2nd week and training for the Eugene Marathon starts this Saturday morning offically. I feel like I'm really out of the loop and behind already! So, instead of focusing on what I haven't been able to do and freaking out, I'll focus on what I'm able to do. Yesterday morning Heather and I went to the gym at our condo complex and did cardo on the bike and treadmill and then weights. I'm TOTALLY feeling it in my arms. Even when training for runs, I don't usually weight lift, but I know there are amazing benefits - so I'm trying to start this training season off right. I am finally feeling a little bit better and my breathing is better. I can't believe that as someone who has done a triathlon, 200 mile bike rides, marathons, etc........ this last week I couldn't make it up the stairs in my house without wheezing at the top and stopping for a break. I'm slowly making my way back to being totally healthy. Tonight, I hope to visit the gym again and get a short 20-30 minute workout in. I'm excited for Saturday's team practice.

I've also been trying really hard to take a good fresh look at what I'm eating. I realized that I'm not including enough protein and that I'm reaching for simple carbs as convenience food. For example, instead of making oatmeal I was grabbing a bagel. Bagels really don't do much to keep you full and they can just be empty calories. So, I'm trying to eat better, healthier breakfasts, keeping a loose idea of how many calories I consume per day, etc. Nothing crazy here. I don't "diet". I'm trying to accept changes that I can use for the rest of my life. I'm going back to my nutritionist next week, so I'll check in with her to make sure the changes I am making are all healthy ones. :)

As I've said before, I have quite a bit to lose to be in the "healthy range" and to try to get off of my medications for hypothyroidism. Each pound is one that I not only want to lose in a healthy way, but to keep off in a healthy way.

I'll just keep waddling on!

-Stacey

Soggy shoes!!!!!

Today's run was WET!!!!! Left the comforts of a warm bed to go running in the rain with Heather. Reminded me of old times running in the rain in Illinois. We "technically" never ran in "thunderstorms".... but my old coach Walsh must have had some really bad hearing.... wink wink. Today there weren't just droplets or mist....... downpour. And it felt so good. :)

Fun...

Wow. I started running again. Saturday's run was ....... not the best run. Today's run..... was better. :) I got up early this morning, with my amazingly cheerful better half, and we hit Magnuson park together. She walked and I ran. In an incredible show of support of my running, she surprised me with this awesome Nike plus thingie for my shoe. It syncs to my Ipod touch and when I plug it into the computer, I can keep track of all running, pace, time, etc. It is really motivating. On Saturday, I averaged a 13:40 mile. Today, I averaged an 11:40 mile. At one point, I looked down to see that I was pushing hard to a really good song..... pushing a 9:40 pace hard. :) All in all, it was a good morning. We ran in the darkness, trying to follow the trail of streetlights and safe sidewalks. I'm grateful to have someone to be out there with. It makes it less lonesome to know I'm not by myself in this.

I'm going to do this. I'm going to get fit. I'm going to be healthy. I'm going to continue running... and remember how it feels to run.... just for the fun of running. Just to go FAST. Just to feel what it is to be ALIVE. I miss when running felt like that. Today, when I looked down to see that 9:40..... and I was rocking out to a great song.... I remembered that feeling for a moment.

Song of the Day: Galvanize by Chemical Brothers
Great running song...

-Stacey

EUGENE!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has begun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am OFFICIALLY training for the Eugene, OR Marathon on May 2nd! Check out my website!!!!!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/eugene10/sholdagtvz

Whewww.....

Sometimes life happens while you are busy making other plans.......ya' know what I mean?
This weekend was crazy busy! October is dun dun dun "PROPERTY TAX MONTH"....... so I've been working extra, Heather has been working extra, and I had Theo Chocolate call out of what seems like nowhere and offer me AMAZING GIGS all over town! I've been busy for the last couple of weekends and my weekends are taken by chocolate for the rest of the month. It kind of puts a damper on the whole training thing when I'm exhausted from being on my feet all day.

Tonight, I'm determined to wear my really silly headlight and go for a run in the dark after class... granted it's getting dark around 7pm now. So, around 8:00 tonight, I'll be headed out in the darkness to get in a couple of miles, just so I can stop talking and get started. Spin class with Cari has been a blast and I think that I've talked Cory into joining us in class this Thursday. Tuesday night I am going on a long bike ride with my better half.... around Seattle, maybe to LogBoom Park?

I'm stoked for October 15th.... that is the night of the amazing party Jeff Peterson is throwing for everyone doing the TNT Eugene HIT season! I'll be buying a new pair of shoes that night while we are up at RUN 26 and I can't wait. New shoes are like nothing else. I'm so excited to get out and use them....

It's the little things.

-Stacey

Way to go, Kelsey!!!

One of the amazing things that I've found since I started being physically active is that I've helped some really amazing people find it within themselves to do the same. I got an email a couple years ago from a random person looking at the Team in Training website. She was looking into doing a season with Team in Training and was looking through the fundraising websites, looking at info about all of the people involved. She wrote me to tell me she wasn't going to do the program.... until she found my website. She said that I was the only one she could "relate to". She wasn't tall and skinny and "runner" looking.

I have served as a mentor twice for Team in Training and both times I had people who at the end of the season told me that they never thought they'd be able to accomplish a season, except for that they knew that I had done it. In fact, I've done it 6 times now. Onto number 7. My favorite TNT coach, Jim Kirby, says it best; "You are better than you think you are. You can do more than you think you can".

I want to commend my friend Kelsey for taking her first steps into her journey of running. Kelsey, you can do this. You can make it happen. You are physically fit, a strong walker, and you can do it! I believe in you!

Whether my training has inspired you or not, reader, is not my main purpose, but it sure feels good to know that you care. :) If that means I get an extra workout/running/cycling buddy... then all the better.

If you are just getting into exercise... or turning a new page in life:

"The Courage to Start" by John Bingham



Love,
Stacey