Butterfly Days

Butterfly Days ( life changing emergence from a cocoon day)

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes(Turn and face the strain)

I really wish that I could say that I came up with this phrase and
idea but credit belongs to ladyheadstrong who was blogging about a subject near and dear to me: losing weight. While I like to think that “I am not my weight” there are times that I let the number on the scale dictate my day.

Anyhoo, I am going to use this term to help me reach the goals that I need to set for the next run I plan to do. Quite honestly aside from the Workout Boogies I have not
run or did any exercise other than running my mouth for weeks. With this track record I cannot expect to run anywhere but to the nearest ER without taking the proper steps to get in shape.

Full disclosure: I grew up in a ‘Right Here, Right Now’ type world. Instant gratification is the name of the game and I do not know from nothing about
deferred gratification. I am going to focus on mini targets to get in the shape that I want to be.

In this case, where I want to be is finishing the Broad Street Run in less than two hours. In 2007 I ran limped the Philadelphia half marathon in 3 hours and 26 minutes. I was training for the race but somehow life got in the way and I let things slide. I wasn’t going to run but I thought of that $75 entry fee and got off my
rusty dusty. I dragged myself through the streets of Philadelphia to complete this
race. I don’t want to be dragging myself down Broad Street in May so I am going to
allow myself time to train, get in shape and be a proper runner.

So my Butterfly Days will be as such:
Cocoon Day: May 3rd, 2009

Butterfly Days:

• December 25 aka Christmas: 18 weeks until the race. Goal is just getting out there.
• January 20 aka Obama’s Inauguration : 15 weeks to race day. Goal is 12 laps
• February 14 aka Diane’s performance: 11 weeks until race. Goal is 16
  laps
• March 10 aka The Bee’s day!: 7 weeks to race. Goal is 20 laps
• April 12 aka Easter Sunday: 3 weeks to race. Goal is 24 laps
• May 3rd aka race day. Goal is to finish in under 2 hours.

During the winter I am not going to lie: if its too cold I may have to rethink my track visits. I have access to a gym that I will take advantage of. I am going to focus on small goals instead of the entire race so that I can actually finish.

Root, root,root for me!

-r