Take My Breath Away!

If you are a child of the eighties, like myself, one movie sound track come to mind when you see that song title. Anyone?

Yep! Top Gun! I was in the eighth grade and absolutely just aged myself but- wow what a movie and what a song! That was before Tom Cruise went all weird and you can be sure a picture of him in his flight jacket that I tore out of BOP magazine was on my bedroom wall.

Wait...what am I supposed to be writing about? Oh yea...Running, breathing... now I'm back on track!

I will admit to kind of blowing it this first official training week. I have had 2 good runs, but I haven't really followed the in between "stuff". I strung lights in my bushes yesterday and decided to count that as cross training. I gotta get with it! We did run this morning and I hate, HATE to admit that I was looking forward to the early morning run. It's 7:30, the run is done, I'm wide awake and the day is in front of me. It was a really good run too. I felt good, we only walked a couple of times and then it was only up what appears to be mountains that have sprung up in Madison, Ms. I declare this is a hilly neighborhood! My legs felt good. The company was good and overall is was a great start to the day. So here is my issue now:

I can't breathe! I get to where I can't catch my breath. I want a deep good breath and I can't get it. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the 6 Diet Cokes I drink everyday. Somebody please tell me that's not it! If comes down to running or Diet Cokes- well is there really a choice?

A few Christmas's ago I bought my Ironman brother a book he asked for for Christmas. It was an entire book about how to breathe while swimming. That was the craziest thing I had ever heard of. Well, now I'm wondering if there is one for running. I may at least google it.

Maybe Tom Cruise wrote a book about it?!

Little Brother

This is my little brother, Andy.

I know he looks all tough now but I could totally beat him in a kick fight when he was 9.

This picture was taken about 6 years ago during his first Ironman. You heard that correct-his FIRST Ironman. That means he has done more than one. I haven't yet figure out why he is smiling in this picture. He is either just starting or just finishing a marathon. Yes, that's right. A full marathon - 26.2 miles. After swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112 miles. It's a little obnoxious.

He has been very supportive of my "little" endeavor. The other day when I wrote about my leg hurting I got an email almost as soon as I posted that simply said. "What's wrong with your leg?" He gave me lots of really good advice on how to care for my hurting leg and I really thought that was so sweet. Then he threw in this little zinger, "If it makes you feel better I had to walk a good bit on my 19 mile run the other day." Nice.

One time he was home visiting and he called me from my mother's house and asked if this was a good time for him to run over and say hello. So he literally ran over to say hello. As in he used his legs-not a car- and ran over to my house. Brothers.

He's running a marathon in a couple of weeks. I'm really amazed by him. I feel the need to share with everyone all my trials and tribulations of running a few miles and he quietly runs marathons and Ironmans.

He also brought me a little gift when I saw him this weekend:

At first I was offended because I thought he was calling me fat, but I've been assured that all serious runners use this so I think that was very sweet.

I'll never be as "fit" as he is or as serious about this as he is. It's just not in me. But I am very proud of my little brother. (And he's not really obnoxious-I actually might be the obnoxious one.)

But I'm pretty sure I can still take him in a kick fight!