I Require Adult Supervision

Some time ago, I posted about feeling frustrated and stuck in life, and vowed to take action. Since I only have two hobbies (running and piano) and am loath to pick up a different one, it was fairly obvious that I'd continue to stretch myself there.

I started my piano lessons with Elaine almost 2 months ago. I love her...as a person, as a teacher, as a pianist. From the very first lesson she identified a technique issue that was really holding me back. The reason I had been feeling so frustrated was because I would go in fits and starts- I would practice like crazy but feel like I wasn't getting any better, then I'd lose motivation and not practice for a little while, then I really WASN'T getting any better. Elaine has unlocked the door for me- all of a sudden because I'm tweaking my technique, I see myself getting better and better every single week. Not only is the music sounding better, it feels so nice when I play it. She recently complimented me on how quickly I've adopted the new techniques, and I told her that I would be an idiot not to since it made playing so rewarding.

But, as is true with most things, you must be consistent to get the pay off. Let me tell you this: there is nothing quite as motivating as knowing you are going to have to face your enormously talented piano teacher on a weekly basis to get you practicing regularly. Even today, I really wanted to do this post because I've been thinking about it for weeks, but first, I marched upstairs and logged an hour tickling the ivories. I'm glad I did. And I'm so glad to have someone mentoring me and holding me accountable.

Speaking of mentoring and holding accountable...

I've been fantasizing about a new PR (that's personal record) in the half-marathon, but knew I needed to change my diet and training to get it. Enter Emilee, my bonus sister. Conveniently, she's a health and fitness coach, and she offered to help me. I'm a consistent runner/exerciser. I do not miss a day. Period. However, while my diet is largely good, I am known to eat mass quantities of candy. It's a terrible habit. I've frequently moaned, "If someone will just tell me what to eat, I will eat it!" Well, Emilee was completely willing to tell me what to eat, what to run, and what to strength train. We've had weekly meetings where she would switch my diet and workouts up, she would weigh me and take my body fat (Yes, I would totally scream "Last Chance Workout!" in my mind when I was at the gym the morning of our appointments), she would give me my runs for the week, and would just all around encourage me. So, no more Hot Tamales for lunch, since I couldn't lie to her and I also couldn't ADMIT that I had eaten Hot Tamales for lunch.

Doesn't she look nice? She is. Even when she "nicely" informs you that for the next three weeks you will be subsisting entirely on lean proteins, egg beaters, protein powder, oatmeal, brown rice, and non-starchy vegetables, and that's it.

But, thanks to her, I did it. I'm sporting a medal from the Ogden Half where I beat my last PR by 6 minutes. (Stats: 1:42:59, 7:48 on the miles. I came in 14th in my age group out of 412, 174 overall out of a group of 2361.) The other "medal" I'm wearing in this picture are my jeans: I'm down a pants size and lost almost 6 points on my body fat.

Liza ran with me of course.

She saved my bacon by giving up her GPS when I realized I left mine in the car.

For a runner, that is the ultimate sacrifice.

After the big race, we got to see the Hunter gals.
Jody, Merrilee, Liza, and Amber

Jody, Jamie, me, Liza, Amber, Emilee
Aren't my sisters pretty?!?

Jody is having a baby in a couple of months and we can't wait.

Back to the theme of my post:

I'm really grateful to have been mentored over the last couple of months. It's amazing what I've been able to accomplish, and I know I couldn't have done it without the encouragement and guidance I've received. Soon, I will have the piano equivalent of race day: a solo recital.

I'm crapping my drawers already about it.

Probably no one is invited.

And I mean that in the nicest possible way.