My needs

In the last few weeks and during some of my 'tougher' workouts, I've finally decided on something: I need professional help. Yeah, yeah. Some of you would say "yep, you do because you're crazy," but not that professional help - the help of a triathlete coach/running coach/motivator/nutritionist. It's a bummer, though, that they cost so darn much.

I have drive and stamina to finish nearly anything I put my mind to and decide to do. I just lack the willpower to continue on. I slack off during a workout or something difficult at work and try to talk myself out of it - and sometimes succeed. Let's say I've decided to do a 9 mile run on Sunday, and what usually happens is I get to the 3 mile point that is usually used for turning around or continuing on, and I'll turn around and get 6 in. Or I'll start walking because my mind says to not stress my body or my legs. But then I feel guilty that I didn't give myself the workout I need. My mind wins; my body loses.

I need someone (besides my dear hubby) to push me, to show me the way, to be my rabbit, to be my driving force other than my own body and mind. I need to be told I can do this, I am doing great things - I need to know I'm improving and am capable of reaching such and such goals. I just sometimes wish - ok, all the time wish - that I could just snap my fingers and my fitness is top-notch and my body is 15% fat instead of 20-something.

I have also pretty much figured that I do better with a schedule that's been worked out for me and outlined week by week. I did as well as I could for Ironman last year, when I had Coach Jason provide me with monthly workout schedules. I think I need that again, instead of showing up for masters and weekly runs. And don't get me wrong, I've done this for enough years I can do that on my own, but I want to know the details - tempo run here, speedwork here, hill work here, pick-ups here, etc. I'm very anal and detail-oriented and just going for the workouts that are available to me aren't really cutting it.

Maybe its because I don't have a huge race such as Ironman driving me, but I do have some coming up in the second half of the season that would be great if I can PR in.

I also - desperately - need a nutritionist. I am a horrible eater - and the most pickiest one you'll ever meet who isn't 6. I promise. I'm a meat-and-potatoes-and-desserts girl and I eat maybe 2-3 veggie types and 3-4 fruit types. And I am constantly hungry, but I think that's my fast metabolism. I love breakfast and eat breakfast every single day (eggs, english muffin, maybe a small piece of sausage), a yogurt smoothie for snack, lunch at work with whatever I have time for, another snack around 3 and then dinner. Sometimes in the afternoon I get what I call "work munchies" where I'm getting finicky and seem to need to constantly be eating. Other times I'll come home from work and have a bowl of Special K before dinner.

I would also like to improve my running - and tremendously so. I've never been a runner, have had the notion that I'm not a runner pushed into my head ever since first grade when I was the last one to finish a relay (and it's all on tape - thanks Mom & Dad). I've done pretty darn well the last couple of months, but I would love to see me hanging in the 7 min. pace. Shoot, I know one day I'll be faster than Bryon (he hangs in the 6 min. pace and has qualified for Boston twice now) - when he's 60 and I'm 47, but that's still not for a while!

I NEED MOTIVATION! I NEED AN EXPERIENCED, QUALIFIED COACH! I NEED TO GET OFF MY REAR AND SUCCEED!