Commitment and other ramblings

Let me start by saying that some of this may ramble and go off in who-knows-what direction so please bear with me.

What is Commitment?

1. To be responsible for.
2. To entrust; consign.
3. To place officially in custody, a confinement.
4. To pledge or obligate (oneself). This is the definition I am concerned with!

I have come to realize that commitment is something I have trouble with. That is......commitment to myself!

I recently listened to an interview with Curt King on the LL Blog Site. It really seemed to describe what I've been going through and I highly recommend you listen to it. He has made an amazing transformation and is reaping the benefits of all his hard work. It is where I want to be!

My goals are to run a 3:50 marathon at Steamtown (this would qualify me for Boston) and to weigh 135# while doing it. I am currently 155# and I honestly don't feel like I will be able to accomplish my race goal at my current weight. Yet, I can't seem to avoid eating those crappy carbs.

I'm running 30-35 miles per week and trying to do resistance training 2-3 times per week. And yet my weight continues to rise. There is a saying at Club Lifestyle: "You can not out run what you can potentially eat." I am living proof of that statement!

I have gotten myself to a weight that is uncomfortable. I feel bloated and my clothes don't fit. You would think all these factors together would be enough to get me back in the groove. However, that hasn't happened yet. This led me to the conclusion that I just have trouble making and keeping a commitment to myself. Is that nuts or what?!

I'll be honest - I don't have a solution to my problem and I feel like I'm in a very dangerous place. I'm standing on the proverbial fence. One side has me back on track - exercising hard and eating correctly. The other side has me saying "Who gives a f#@* - this is too dang hard and it isn't worth it!"

The other thing I don't understand is the fact that I honestly feel that fitness is a passion for me. But, if it is such a passion, why do I have trouble putting all the different aspects together? I truly want to get to a point where I view food as a fuel, which would allow me to say no when food is offered and it's not the correct time or food.

I don't have a great end for this post. I would love to be able to say that writing this has made things crystal clear and I now know what road I will take and how I'm going to get there. Unfortunately, I can't. I know what side of the fence I want to be on - I just don't know how to get there. Or, maybe I'm afraid to go there. Not sure why I'd be afraid of being healthier and looking better but on some level I'm sure it's there.

I don't know how many people actually read this blog but I would love to hear your comments. I also sincerely hope that this post could, in some way, help at least 1 person out there. It is worth it to strive for your best. It is hard but I have to believe that I will come out a better person physically, mentally and spiritually if I honor myself by committing to not only myself but also to a proven program. Leanness Lifestyle is that program! It's not easy but if you commit to it 100% it will take you farther than you could ever dream.

I'm going to take that first step right now - anybody want to join me?

Cool Video

I found this video on You Tube and thought some of the exercises were really cool. I want to try the hamstring curl exercise he does on the plates!

First camera pictures

Here are the first 3 pictures. The first one is my son Will, the second one is of my daughter Ally & the last one is of me (my son took a picture just as I started to speak - hence the squinty eyes & funny smile) & my first baby Boomer.

Have a great day!

Birthday Pictures

Here is a picture of the camera that I got for my birthday! It is awesome and I love it! I will post the first couple of pictures that we took with the camera.

I've been doing much better with my nutrition and fitness programs over the past couple of days. It isn't much but I was able to drop 1/2 a pound. I'm also going to try a little visual incentive program with myself. I'm going to put a sticker on the calendar every time I have a successful day. Note, that it doesn't have to be a "perfect" day - I'm trying to get out of my all-or-none mentality and move toward a lifestyle.

Today's run was difficult because of the humidity. We have been in a pretty bad heat wave over the past week or so. It was nice for the kids swim lessons though - the hot temps and heated up the pool water nicely so that it is refreshing but not freezing! Speaking of swim lessons, the kids did well yesterday. Will struggled a touch because of his lack of confidence and I was actually nervous that they might try to move him down a group but he made it through yesterday and then we worked on some things when we stayed afterwards. He seems to be gaining confidence so I'm happy. Ally is her normal fish self and did great!

Off to get some work done before swim lessons!

The Day Has Come!

I'm officially 40!

It has been a really fun day. Early this morning, the kids and I loaded the dog in the car and went to the park. There is a pond there where you can let the dog off the leash and let him run and swim. My dog is 11 years old so he isn't as spry as he used to be. However, he did get in the water and retrieve some sticks (he's a choc. lab btw) and ran around with an obviously much younger dog. We all then did a little bit of walking on the trails and then came home.

In the afternoon, some of the kids friends came over and we ended up playing hide-n-go-seek and then we got the bubble machine out and chased bubbles. The whole afternoon was just a blast!

Then my hubby took us out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. I ate way too much but it was delicious! After dinner they gave me my totally fabulous present - I got a digital camera! I will post more about the camera in my next post. I'm still trying to figure it all out and the battery is charging. I can't wait to take my first picture!

Gotta run!

Not so good lately!

Talking about my food intake - I am making poor food choices AND eating way too much of it! The worst part (to me) is that as I make those poor choices, I'm conscious of what I'm doing and pretty much say f*** it and go ahead with an action that I KNOW I should stop dead in it's tracks. An action that I KNOW will make me feel worse afterwards. How utterly messed up is that?

On a positive note, my exercising has been going well. I've done 3 lifting sessions this week and have had some pretty good runs. However, I must keep reminding myself of something that Coach Dave says:

You can not outrun poor nutrition choices!

It is so true! I could run and lift for hours and hours every week (OK, I already do) and if I continue to eat crappy food and make crappy choices - I will continue to gain weight and not lose it, no matter how much I'm exercising!!!!!!

A friend from LL is having a "Junkless June" competition with 25 of her relatives. Each person writes down 3 thing that they feel will be difficult to live without for the next 30 days and then everyone much avoid every item on the list. Every "cheat" costs you $5 and if you drop out you owe $20. I thought this was a great idea and asked my parents if they wanted to join me in a similar competition. I will also ask my dh but I have a feeling he is going to say no - but it can't hurt to ask.

Off to do some chores around the house - until next time!

Saturday 5/24/08

I read something totally awesome on the LL website. The post was about putting a face to your Beast. What is the Beast you ask? The Beast is that little voice inside you that tells you: "go ahead and eat that crappy food - you've had a hard day and you deserve it!" I give into that Beast WAY TOO OFTEN!

Anyway, back to the post: it talks about how Coach David talks about putting a face to the Beast so that you have a picture in your mind when it calls. To me, that makes the Beast become concrete - something I can actually fight against - not an abstract concept that I just can't truly grasp. The person posting put a co-workers face to her Beast and obviously found motivation galore!

What does your Beast look like? I definitely have a face to mine now!!!

I had a great workout this morning! Got out and hit the trails first thing. If felt great to be back out there again. It was really tough but the weather was beautiful and the sunrise - awesome! We saw deer, squirrels, herons and rabbits. Part of the run was along a creek so we had the sun shining off the water and the wonderful sound of running water.

The run itself was slow and easy - most of us are either recovering from races last weekend or illnesses. We ran a touch over 7 miles and did it in a little under 1:30. I really didn't care how fast we went I just needed to get back out onto those trails. We are heading back out tomorrow too!

Nutrition has been good so far also. I stayed away from the donuts the kids had this morning and from the fries at lunch. I will also keep the rest of the day clean because my Beast now has a face and I WON'T let that face win!!!

Race Results and a Long Week

This past Sunday was the Bell Supply 10 Miler that I've been training for. Last year I ran it in 1:16:00 and placed 3rd in my age group. Over the past year, I have logged many "slow" miles and not many "fast" ones. I've also put on probably a good 10 pounds. However, I still had a goal of running this year's race in a faster time and moving up in my age group win. Well, I'm proud to say that 1 of those goals was achieved and I came really close to the other one. I was unable to run the 10 miles in a faster time but I was able to complete it in 1:18:10. Even though I didn't reach my goal, I'm thrilled with the time. I left it all out on the course and I honestly don't think I would have been able to go any faster than I did!

The goal I did achieve: I was able to move up a place in my age group and ended up with a 2nd place trophy (see above). They are cute little bobble head trophies! I was also the 4th woman to finish and 23rd overall finisher.

The busy/long week stems from the fact that it is our last week of school with the kids. So, there are programs, trips, picnics and report cards. I still need to go in next week and clean up the room and take things off the walls and those sorts of things but at least there aren't any after hours planning etc. I'm really looking forward to having the summer off so that I can get my head straight. It has been a challenging year with my co-teacher and I'm looking forward to moving on to something new!

I have also been maintaining my running. I've been able to get in 1 lifting session (still need to finish 2 more by Sunday) and I've gone out for 2 runs. My legs were still pretty tight and tired on Tuesday but felt much better today. I'm hoping to get out for 5 miles tomorrow.

Time flies when your blogging.....off to our school picnic!

Sunday 5/11/08

This was a really great weekend!

Saturday looked like it was going to be an awful day because of an insane schedule. We were supposed to have soccer pictures, soccer games and a birthday party that my dd was going to. As it turned out, the rain we've had lately cancelled the pics and the games which lightened the load tremendously. Instead of running around all day long, we actually got a chance to sit and relax. The birthday party was also good because it turned out to be a drop-off type party. So, instead of sitting in a bowling alley for 3 hours I was able to go home and relax - again. That never happens!!!

My workout was also good on Saturday. Because of the supposed insane day, I stayed at home and ran (1 less hassle). I was able to cover 8 miles in a little over an hour. Today's workout was also good. I met Cathy and we ran 10.6 miles in about 1:41:00. Not real fast but not real slow. Overall a good weekend of running! Next Sunday is my 10 miler and I really want to try and beat my time from last year so I probably won't run on Saturday. My schedule is also up in the air for this week because dh will be working some more overtime and the weather forecast is a bit iffy.

I also had a great Mother's Day! My dd tried to give me breakfast in bed - unfortunately, she put cereal in a bowl (with the milk) at about 6 am and I didn't get home until about 7:45 am. Needless to say, it was a bit soggy! However, I loved the thought and the effort. The kids made me some beautiful crafts and my dh bought me some Techwick running shirts - love that material. It's from EMS at it is absolutely awesome!

Total Different Topic!
I was reading a post by IronWil and she posted something right on the mark for me. Here is a section from her post:

I'm learning that habits, good or bad, are pretty powerful things. They're so powerful in fact, I've recently come to admit that some of mine have involved behaviors I didn't even enjoy, but simply felt compelled to repeat regardless of knowing I'd just feel like crap in the end. From oversleeping to letting people regularly waste my time, my actions and interactions weren't benefiting me at all, and I only felt regret and anger with myself for allowing them to continue. Problem was, however, I didn't know how to make myself stop.

I spent a lot of time and energy trying to find the big cause... that subconscious, psychological need now manifesting itself as said habits, but you know what? I finally just woke up and realized they were all just simple practiced actions, and like all animals, I'd been trained.

The comments that I've put in bold really jumped out at me. Many of my poor food choices are just unhelpful habits that I have felt compelled to repeat over and over again. I then also go through that painful experience of trying to figure out "WHY" I do these things to myself. I think I really just need to start "sucking-it-up" and work on breaking those habits. I know it won't be easy but as they say: It takes 2 weeks to form a new habit. I need to start working on those new habits right away!

Triple Crown Race Report and other stuff

I'll admit it - I'm not going to get a race report typed in here. I am mentally and physically worn down from work and it just isn't worth trying to get it typed. Suffice it to say, I had an awesome time and I honestly believe that I WILL do it again next year. The official results are in:

Finish time: 5:51:46
87th Overall finisher
13th Female finisher
3rd in my age group (30-39)

I am thrilled with the results especially knowing that I walked a number of miles with a friend who was struggling. I could have had a better time but friends and safety are (and always will be) much more important!

This week has been crazy with work, kid activities and hubby working OT. I haven't gotten in much running but it's probably a good thing because of all the other types of stress recently. I'm still hoping for a good showing at the Bell Supply Ten Miler on the 18th!

I had a rude awakening of sorts last night. We had a school function and I get my nice shorts out to put on and they were TIGHT! I know that I'm heavier than I would like to be but those shorts were pretty darn loose last summer. This has prompted me to get off my horse and set some goals (they aren't necessarily finished and polished but it's a start). My transformation goal is to get down to 130 and 19% body fat. I may not maintain that weight but I will get there! I still need to work on some intermediate goals but they will be up soon too.

Gotta go!

I'm Working on a Write-up

I have it written but it is taking a while for me to type it onto the computer. Short version: the race was awesome and I definitely want to do it again next year! I finished in 5:51:46 and made it through the river without difficulty. The only problem I had was a small blister on my right foot - it really wasn't a bad blister, it was just under my toe nail so that was a bit of a problem. The good part was that it didn't bother me until after the race so things were good.

I was able to run 3 time this week (Tues - Thurs), for a total of 13 miles, but then really crashed last night. I even started to get a sore throat. As a result, I'm running tomorrow (weather seems like it is going to cooperate more on Saturday than on Sunday) and taking Sunday off. Hopefully, the extra rest day will be enough to keep me healthy.

I'm hoping to get back into a lifting routine next week but will let my body tell me if it is ready. I also want to start performing track workouts and am hoping my friend Cathy will want to do them with me again!

That's all for now - will post that write-up when it's finished!

This is it!

Today is my first Trail Marathon! I've been looking forward to this race for a long time and I'm really excited that it is finally here. I will post a write-up as soon as I can.

Preparation for the marathon

I've done my last run before the race and I'm now trying to increase my carbs. I have to say that it isn't doing much for my weight loss goals. The good thing is that I know a lot of it is carbs and the water that goes along with it.

I want to make a public declaration: When this race is over, I WILL concentrate on my weight loss goals and I will lower my weight and my body composition. I will determine the specifics in the next couple of days.

Off to school!

Confession Time!

I have had a couple of days of: "I JUST DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" - speaking of weight loss and healthy living of course. There have been many factors contributing to this attitude and as a result I haven't been checking in here and I haven't been following a good program either. The only constant has been my running. I'm in my taper week so I ran 5 miles on Monday, 4 miles today and 4 more are on tap for tomorrow. After tomorrow, running will cease until the marathon on Saturday. I will admit that I have started each day with the best intentions but have given in to that inner brat each and every day. I'm writing about it now so that I can get the ship going in the right direction today!

Today has been going well. Here are my meals (actual and planned):
1. Fritatta
2. Smoothie
3. Crab & pasta salad with veggies
4. Veggies & cc dip (planned)
5. Buffalo steak, baked fries & salad (planned)
6. LL cheesecake (planned)

I will write again tonight to update today's results and plan for tomorrow.

Friday 4/18/08

Not much time but I did want to check in. Today wasn't a great day - started first thing when something wonky happened with my alarm and I overslept by an hour. Eating was only so-so and I never got my lifting in.

Tomorrow is my last long run before the marathon. I want to go at least 10 miles but that is going to depend on the people I'm running with. I won't run the trails alone so if they need to leave I will finish with whatever I have.

Gotta go - better planning tomorrow!

Review of Thursday & Plan for Friday 4/18/08

Had a few too many snacks today. I found myself eating some bite-size turnovers at work today. They are one of those things that if around....I eat. I tried to modify the rest of my meals but they were still calories that I didn't need to have.

Tomorrow is a room day at work. That means that the kids are off and all the teachers get a chance to do "whatever" needs to get done. We have an open house coming up and I'll probably be working on some of those crafts. I'm really looking forward to being on my own schedule and just doing what needs to be done.

I got my new running shoes today. Lori told me about Holabird and they do have good deals. Shipping is free if you order is over $50ish and I got the shoes in a day and a half. Lori has been using them for a while and has had nothing but good interactions. I may find myself as a regular customer as well.

Goals:
1. Monthly goal: I will weigh 146# by 5/1/08.
2. Weekly goal: I will lift 2x & run 5x by 4/20/08.

Nutrition:
1. Fritatta
2. Smoothie
3. Tuna and baby carrots
4. Veggies & cc dip
5. I have this planned but I don't' have the menu in front of me - it will be healthy
6. LL cheesecake

Workout:
Tomorrow is a rest day from running but I am going to do an UB workout.

Friday Goals:
1. I will lift in the am.
2. I will follow my nutrition plan - taking my snack and lunch to work.
3. I will drink 72 oz of H2O - did well today (over 72).

Review of Wednesday & Plan for Thursday 4/17/08

Today was an excellent day! It started with a small drop on the scale. Then I met my friends for a run and we decided to do an "easy" 5 miler. Well, that didn't last long! The group started out with a pretty quick pace - after about a mile I told everybody that I didn't want to go as fast as they were running and was slowing down. Now, that usually has at least one person drop back with that person but not today (at least for a bit). I decided to just hang onto the back of the group and not push the pace but they were pulling away. Just about that time, Lori decided to drop back with me - it was nice to have a partner again! However, at about the 3 mile mark she started to pick it up again and I knew I was fighting a losing battle so I decided to just go with it. Shortly thereafter, Lori made the comment that she would love to pace the other 3 runners (they always seem to push the pace). I told her that I had given up on trying to have an easy run and that if she wanted to go we were going. As we passed the other 3, they made a comment to the affect: there go our speedy down hill runners. My comment back was, "I've given up on an easy pace so now it's time to go". At this point I was pissed and ran like it. We ended up running the 5 miles in 45 minutes flat. A 9 minute per mile pace may not sound super fast but we usually go at about 10 to 10:30 per mile so the increase was substantial. I will not be running that fast again tomorrow - I've had 2 hard days in a row and I need to start a bit of a taper for the marathon.

My eating has also been good today as was my lifting routine. I followed my plan - I ate according to plan AND lifted after work. It really feels good to be back in a groove!

Goals:
1. Monthly: I will weigh 146# by 5/1/08
2. Weekly: I will weigh 148#, lift 2 times & run 5 times by 4/20/08

Nutrition:
1. Fritatta
2. Smoothie
3. Turkey sandwich
4. Veggies & cc dip
5. Steak Fajitas
6. LL cheesecake

Workout:
4-5 mile run with group

Thursday Goals:
1. I will run first thing in am.
2. I will drink 72 oz of water (freeze jug and then take to work)
3. I will follow my nutrition plan (take my snack & lunch to work)

Review of Tuesday and Plan for Wednesday 4/16/08

Today was a good day! I had a few snacks but overall I stuck with my plan and am pleased with my effort.

I'm going to go get some new running shoes tomorrow. While running today, I started to get some pain in the top of my left foot and last week I had some pain on the bottom of my foot. Pain on the top + pain on the bottom = New Shoes (in my book anyway). Speaking of today's run, it was a great one! We set out to run our 5.5 mile hill course and for some reason we started pushing the pace pretty early on. We ended up running 7 miles and had an average pace of 9:28m/m. I'm very pleased with that because the hill is steep and long and Danielle and I pushed it hard the whole way.

Goals:
1. Monthly: I will weigh 146# by 5/1/08
2. Weekly: I will weigh 148#, lift 2 times & run 5 times by 4/20/08

Nutrition:
1. Fritatta
2. Smoothie
3. Tuna & grapes
4. Veggies and cc dip
5. Chicken fried rice (Precision Nutrition)
6. LL cheesecake

Workout:
4-5 mile run (pretty flat course) & UB lifting session

Wednesday Goals:
1. Run first thing in am.
2. Lift when I get home from work.
3. Follow nutrion plan (bring snack and lunch to work).
4. Drink 72 oz of H2O.
5. Buy new running shoes.

Plan for Tuesday 4/15/08

Today is finishing well!

Goals:
1. Monthly: I will weigh 146# by 5/1/08
2. Weekly: I will weigh 148#, lift 2 times & run 5 times by 4/20/08

Nutrition:
1. EW omelet & 1/2 banana
2. Protein/fruit smoothie
3. Tuna & apple
4. Veggies & cc dip
5. Turkey, cranberry sauce & mixed veggies
6. LL cheesecake

Workout:
Run - 6 mile hill climb

Tuesday Goals:
1. Run first thing in am.
2. Follow nutrition plan - make sure I have everything made and ready to go tonight.
3. Drink 72 oz of H2O - freeze jug tonight and take to work.

I am hopeful that I will see a bit of a budge on the scale tomorrow morning. I will also start posting that info to keep myself accountable.

BTW - if you want a really inspirational read, try reading Julie's blog! She is an amazing person and a great runner to boot!

Monday 4/14/08 Review

Today was both good and bad in terms of my plan. I woke up first thing this morning, to do my lifting, and just couldn't get moving. I felt exhausted! So right off the bat things were going south - but that didn't stop me! I made sure I had breakfast according to plan and made my protein shake for meal 2. Off to work I go and then I realize that in all the morning preparation, I forgot to make my own lunch. After school was over and in between errands I grabbed a burger which again was not to plan - but that didn't stop me! I made sure I did my lifting when I got home and my next meal was according to plan. So far I have had 5 of my 6 meals and feeling confident that the last one will be just how I planned. I have also consumed 72 oz of water.

So, even though my day didn't go exactly how I had planned it, I am quite pleased with how I stopped myself from allowing the day to spiral out of control. Tonight, I plan on making all of tomorrow's lunches so that I don't feel as rushed in the morning.

Tomorrow's plan to follow later!

Plan for Monday 4/14/08

I'm going to try journaling here. I am usually most successful when I'm consistently journaling and it just hasn't been done lately and as a result my weight loss has stalled. I haven't had a plan most days and it has resulted in poor choices. My hope is that I will be able to write each night as my plan for the next day, so here we go.....

Goals:
1. Monthly goal - 146# by 5/1/08
2. Weekly goal - lift 2 times, run 5 days and weigh 148 by 4/20


Nutrition:
1. Fritatta
2. Protein shake with banana
3. Tuna salad with veggies
4. Veggies and cc dip
5. Baked chix strips & mashed cauliflower
6. Protein packed pumpkin pie

Exercise:
Lifting - UB

Monday Goals:
1. Exercise first thing in am
2. Drink at least 64 oz or H2O
3. Follow my nutrition plan

Hopefully by posting this and coming back and documenting how I've done will keep my mind a bit more focused on what I need to do to achieve my goals. Speaking of goals, my trail marathon is coming up in 2 weekends and I'm really starting to get excited about it! I've done 1 previous marathon but this is going to be completely different and I think that is why I want to do it so much. Lori was talking about possibly downgrading the other day and I told her that I DID NOT want to downgrade. Fact is, I know I can walk the distance so finishing the miles is not the issue. In fact, I'm planning on walking part of the race - I just want to run the best race I can and hopefully finish in less than 6 hours. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!

Runner's High!

We had a wonderful run this morning! The temperature was about 58 degrees at 4:30 am. I was able to run in shorts and a T-shirt for the first time this year. I've been in shorts this year but not shorts with a T-shirt. We felt great the whole run. It is so much easier when you don't have all the extra clothes on! We ran for about 2:30 hours without stopping. This may not sound all that amazing but we were running on some very hilly and some very challenging trails. 2:30 hours on the trails is NOT equal to 2:30 hours on the roads.

OK, we didn't run it at Bionic speed but it still felt great! We were able to cover about 14 miles and went for a total of 3:03 hours. During the last couple of miles we hit some pretty steep hills that were absolutely covered with crazy roots and rocks so we walked a bit more than we would have wanted but we just didn't feel safe on the hill.

I think I'm actually starting to feel better about the marathon. It is in 2 weekends and I'm still nervous about crossing the water but I'm not nearly as nervous about being able to cover the distance. I want to get another hilly trail run in tomorrow but I'm not sure if the timing is going to work out.

I'm also trying to make sure I get in at least 2 lifting sessions each week. I'm not necessarily going for heavy weights but I would like to make sure I get in at least those 2 sessions each week. I'm hoping that it will help me to drop some more of this weight.

Speaking of weight loss....my eating hasn't been great over the past week or so but it hasn't been horrendous either. I feel like I'm making some forward progress but I still have a way to go!

Thursday 4/10/08

I thought these were great quotes:

"If you want to win a race you have to go a little berserk. "

Bill Rodgers

“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily. ”
—Sally Koch, author

This week has been much better!

I've actually run 3 days in a row and tomorrow will be 4! I've covered 17.77 miles so far this week and I'm scheduled for another 4 tomorrow. Friday will be a rest day and then we'll be running for about 4 hours on Saturday (assuming the weather isn't crappy!).

The trail marathon is in a couple weekends and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. I know I've been down this road before but I just don't feel like I've gotten enough consistent training in. In the back of my mind I know I will be able to finish because I will be combining walking and running. I think it is just the fact that I was sick that one week, then I didn't get to run the following week because my husband was out of town and most importantly, the weekends have been horrible in terms of weather. It seems like every weekend it rains and our runs either get cut short or cancelled.

But, the race is in the future and my runs are here and now. I'm just going to enjoy each day and each run as they happen!

I'm Quite Proud of Myself!

Today I went out and ran 10 miles by myself! I can't tell you the last time I went out for a run alone - unfortunately it will probably be the only run this week because of my husband being away on a business trip.

I took a page out of my friend Lori's book and connected my Ipod up to a small speaker and put it in my pocket. What a difference it made!!! I've never been able to run with headphones on because I tended to run to the beat of the music and would get all out of sync because the music would get too fast and I would cramp etc. However, having the music just out there and not right in my ears really helps - you get the benefit of the distraction but not to the point where you have no idea about your surroundings. Much safer!!

My pace was also quite good (about 9:45m/m) and I completed 10.01 miles. I could start to feel it at the end - legs were getting a bit tired and my lungs were struggling but the good part was that I didn't feel like I was going to cough up my lungs at the end. This makes me feel a touch more comfortable in my ability to finish the trail marathon. The good part about this race is that there aren't any other goals other than to finish it. I fully intend on walking parts and my finish time is not something I'm concerned about. It is a tough course and I just want to say that I completed it!

Off to take my wonderful hubby to the airport - I'm going to miss him!!

Saturday 3/29/08

This is going to be a tough week for me for a number of reasons. My husband will be away until Thursday afternoon so for the next week I'll be a single parent. In addition, because he will be gone, I won't be able to do any running (although I am hoping to work something out with a friend of mine so that we can get some miles in during the evening hours) - no one to watch the kids.

It is going to be really strange not being able to run but I'm going to try and do some combo workouts. I find it very boring to just sit on the bike for an hour but I thought I could combine some jumping rope and the bike as well as some lifting and the bike. I'm hoping that the changing up of the type of exercise will really give my body a boost because I really am getting nervous about the trail marathon. I put a countdown timer down at the bottom of the page (although I may try and move it around) and there really isn't a lot of time to get ready for this race and with my cold etc it is just really freaking me out!

My nutrition plan has been going really well. I made a weight loss goal on LL and I've been doing a good job at not only following my plan but also logging everything. I'm also being rewarded on the scale - I've dropped 3 pounds over the past few days (yes I realize that a lot is water weight). The way I've been feeling the past few days (minus the cold) just really hits home just how much of an affect a good nutrition plan can have - I just feel better!!

Getting Better

I'm glad to say that although I'm not back to "normal" I am getting better. I've been able to do 3 days of running this week and would love to get out tomorrow but I think the weather will not be cooperating. I had less trouble with the actual running than I thought - the worst part was stopping! Pretty much as soon as I stopped running, the coughing fits started and I thought I was going to be sick a number of times!

It wasn't great but it was a step in the right direction!!!

It's Official....

...I'm sick and I've got it bad!

I've been fighting the chills and the sweats all day and a good portion of yesterday. I knew it was bound to happen - there are just too many people around me that have been sick. That's happen when you work with kids!

Here's to getting well and getting back to running!

I NEED to get my act together!

I've been doing a little bit better with my nutrition but not well enough! I'm up higher than I've been in a long time and I really need to just get my act together. I haven't been writing down my plans or making my food a head of time and those are 2 things that just sabotage my efforts BIG TIME!

So, starting today, I am going to start writing down my plans again. I hope it will enable me to get a handle on this aspect of my life. Other things are coming together and I'm feeling good about that. However, without having my physical/nutritional life in balance the rest just doesn't feel "right"!

I didn't run today because of some heavy rain this morning. I'm hoping to get in about 5.5 miles (on a hilly route) tomorrow and then 20 on the trails on Saturday. Off to write down my plans!

Awesome Run!

We had a great run this morning! We met at the trail entrance, bright and early (4:30 am) and got out head lamps on. Yes, it was still pitch black out! However, the rain had stopped and the temps were great - about 45 degrees or so. There were 4 of us that set out on out planned 4 hour run. It was hard going because of the dark and I was a casualty of that darkness. There was a nasty little tree root that jumped out of the darkness and grabbed my foot - actually I just plain kicked it and went for a tumble. My toes/feet are always a BIG concern for me because of the big bunions I have on both feet so I knew I was in trouble as soon as I hit that root. I managed to roll a bit on the way down but I still hit my left knee pretty hard. So there I am, feeling quite embarrassed, with a sore right toe and a sore left knee. The good part was that I didn't rip my pants (they're my favorite pair)!

After the fall we did pretty well. We were all feeling pretty good and making good time - slower than a normal run but good because of the darkness and the hills (the trail we run is REALLY hilly). Two of us had pretty good lights but the other two were struggling with their lights so we did a bit of rearranging in our running order which helped a lot. However, soon after that, one of our runners starting having a lot of trouble with her cold. She was struggling to breathe any time we pushed up a hill and we started doing a lot of walking. As soon as it was light enough to see, the other 2 runners decided that they could make it back on their own and wanted to go at a slower pace. I think we were at about mile 10 at this point and feeling pretty good so Lori and I kept going at our own pace. As the next couple of miles went by, we could slowly feel the trail taking its toll (and my knee and toe were starting to stiffen up too) but we kept pushing until about mile 14 and then we walked for a bit. Walking NEVER FELT SO GOOD!! I'm not really sure how far/long we walked but the body was definitely starting to give out. I was to the point where ever step was really starting to hurt but I wanted to keep going - our goal was 4 hours and our hope was 18 miles (didn't think we'd make that). We ended up stopping at about 3 hours and 48 minutes and ran 17.5 miles. We probably could have gone the extra 1/2 miles but we were both ready to STOP!

My legs, no make that my body, was pretty sore all day. I made sure to ice my knee and foot many times throughout the day to help get rid of the pain. It has worked a bit but I think tomorrow it is still going to be a bit sore and stiff. I can't meet the group to run tomorrow and I don't know if I'll try to run on my own or ride the bike. That will probably depend on how my knee feels.

Off to do a bit of reading and then to bed - I'm really looking forward to the bed part! Keep on runnin'!

Another new exercise session!

Today I went swimming, for exercise, for the first time in.....well let's just say it's been a really long time! Last summer, we joined an outdoor pool but the kids didn't really have much in the way of swimming skills so I didn't want to leave them alone. I would occasionally sneak in a couple of laps here and there but nothing worthy of note.

It was really GREAT! There weren't huge numbers of people (everyone had their own lane) and I didn't die. That last part, I feel, is really key - LOL! It also just felt great to do something different. I swam for about 40 minutes and was then able to shower and dress there so when I got home, all I had to do was worry about getting the kid's stuff ready. If the finances were there, I would join the gym tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will be back out on the roads - I'm hoping for a 6 mile run. Not sure if I'll get that in because the other people I'm meeting have all been fighting bad colds so they may not want to run those types of miles so soon. I'm hoping to be a bit more consistent this week because I realized today that our trail marathon is about 5 weeks away. That means we also need to get at least one 20 miler in here soon too. Hopefully the weather will cooperate a bit more this weekend!!

Keep on runnin'!

I did something new today!

I signed up for a 3 day pass at out local YMCA and exercised in their gym. We were supposed to run 18 miles out on the trails but the weather wasn't cooperating. We have had torrential downpours, hail and lots of wind. So, my friend Lori suggested I get the 3 day pass and we do a workout inside. We ran for an hour on the treadmill - I can't believe I actually lasted an hour because I despise running on a treadmill. However, it is different when you are running next to friends and can talk while you run.

Then after finishing a little over 6.5 miles on the treadmill we got on the stationary bikes. These were really cool because you had a computer screen in front of you and you actually raced a course and they are linked so Lori and I were on the same course at the same time. The other really cool aspects were the fact that the resistance changed with the change in elevation (we did a snowy mountain course), there is a gear shift and you have to actually steer the bike or you go "off the mountain". Overall it was a really good experience.

I'm planning on going back on Monday and trying to swim a bit - that should be interesting! I tried swimming a bit back in the summer and it really kicked my butt! Lorie told me she does 66 laps every Monday - I'm not sure if I'll do that many or even if I can do that many!

Speaking of swimming, biking and running....as we were riding, Lori started talking about trying a 1/2 Ironman Triathlon and about me joining the Y. I would love to do both (especially after today's good experience), however, it isn't in the finances right now pus it just doesn't make sense to join now because we will be joining our other pool in the summer. I am hoping to be able to join once the fall comes around and the kids get into school. I think both kids will be in full day programs next year and it would give me a great opportunity to hit the gym in the afternoon. If that happens I would love to try and find a triathlon next spring!

First things first - I have a trail marathon to get ready for. We aren't going to be able to get out on the trails this weekend but I am hoping to get at least 13 miles in tomorrow (more if time allows and if the wind allows). Tomorrow will also be tough because we move the clocks ahead 1 hour so we lose an hour of sleep. Such as life when your a runner I guess - Happy running!!

Saturday 3/1/08

“The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes.”
—Victor Frankl (1905-1997), Holocaust survivor, neurologist, psychologist, author

I posted this quote a few days back. It had been sent to be via email. Then about 2 days later, I found the same exact quote in a book I was reading. I figured it had to be really important if it was being made so obvious to me! BTW, the book was called "Eat That Frog" by Brian Tracy and it was a very good read - I highly recommend it!

OK, onto other things! I've been keeping my training pretty regular - running anyway. I haven't been lifting regularly. Truth is, I've been finding it quite difficult to fit in all the things I want to do in any given day. That reminds me of another quote I've heard: "You can do anything you want, but you can't do everything you want". I'm not sure who said it but I first heard it through LL and David Greenwalt. So, it pretty much comes down to the fact that I'm not making my fitness and my nutrition a top priority!

I was able to get in about 120 miles in February which I think is pretty good considering it is a short month. March has also started off well. We did just short of 14 miles on the trails this morning in about 3 hours. The trails we run are quite hard and it is GREAT preparation for our trail marathon. The group is going out again tomorrow but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make that one. It might not be a bad thing if I have to miss tomorrow because my legs are pretty sore right now.

I found out the other day that my son has gotten into my daughters elementary school (we have a choice system). I really didn't fear that he wouldn't but now we have to decide if we are going to accept the placement. The school I teach at has a Kindergarten class but we only have 4 kids signed up for it and we need at least 5. Our program is a full day program and the other one MAY be a full day program but that hasn't been officially decided yet. I worry that he me be "lost" in a really big class. Lost in that he is such a good kid that he won't get the attention that you get in a smaller class. He isn't into school as much as my daughter is and I think the extra attention he would get in the smaller class would get him off onto a better start. The good thing is that our director knows that we all have to make our decisions (of acceptance) by the 21st of this month so she will be making her decision in the next week or so.

Have a great weekend!

Thinking Positive

THINKING POSITIVE

I woke up this morning after a 3rd night of not being able to sleep, I'm fighting a cold, my neck feels like it could spasm & it is that time of the month. I got myself out for my exercise, modified because of the above list, and decided something while I was out there. I need to decide to be positive. So here is the challenge: Decide to be positive all day.

1. The kids getting on your nerves - decide to be positive, many people want kids and can't have them.
2. Family (Parents, In-laws, Dh...) driving you nuts - decide to be positive, many people in this world are completely alone.
3. Falter on your program yesterday - decide to be positive, today is a new day and a fresh start.
4. Feeling bad about where you health is right now - decide to be positive, you are making a difference in you health each and every day.
5. Things at work driving you insane - decide to be positive, many people don't have jobs, money or a roof over their heads.

These are just a few. We all have things in our lives that get us down - Don't let it happen, BE POSITIVE TODAY!

Great quotes

I've been meaning to post these but life has been so crazy that I haven't gotten around to it. So, here they are in one big group (ok maybe not so big - LOL).

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

—J.K. Rowling (b. 1965), novelist

“Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable. ”

—Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005), writer, professor, management consultant

“The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes.”

—Victor Frankl (1905-1997), Holocaust survivor, neurologist, psychologist, author

These have all really given me things to think about. Especially that last one - we do choose what our attitudes are and will be. We don't have to be down in the dumps because of things going on around us. In fact, I posted something on a site I used to frequent a lot (and am getting back to more now) that deals with this topic and I think I'll go get it and post it because it is something that I need to re-read and keep reminding myself of.

Sunday 2/17/08

“Who, being loved, is poor?”
—Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), poet, playwright, novelist

I haven't posted in a while but this quote definitely needed to go up - I love it! I think we all forget this way too often. We don't need more money and more things. Sometimes the simple things are all we need to be and feel fullfilled.

I'm Ready For A Break!

My legs are tired! In the past 4 days I've covered about 30 miles. So I'm going to take a break tomorrow - I may even sleep in a bit!!

I thought about taking today off but Lori was going to be out running with us and it has been a while since she has been able to make a weekday run so I decided to give it a try. I could tell pretty much right away that my legs were pretty darn tired. Then for some unknown reason, a couple of our group runners decided that they wanted to run fast. I say unknown reason because they kept saying how tired they were because the day before was so long and tiring. I stopped at 5 miles and when I took a look at our splits, the only mile that was over 10 m/m was the first one - all the others were faster. The other 3 runners decided to keep going after I stopped and I found out later that the next mile was done in like 7:50 m/m! I am SO glad I stopped at 5 - I kind of kicked myself for a second after I stopped but that faded quickly. Then to hear that time afterward.....boy did I make a GREAT decision!

So, I'll take tomorrow off and jump back into it on Thursday. I guess I am getting older because I haven't ever really experienced this before. I haven't even been lifting as much as I would like so it isn't that.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and I've decided that for Lent I will be trying to clean up my eating. I seem to be able to control my eating better durning this period. It doesn't really make sense to me but I guess my promise to God means more to me than a promise to myself. There is something very wrong in that statement. Now, don't get me wrong, promises and covenants with God need to have that sort of priority but wouldn't you think you deserve to give yourself that same sort of respect and commitment?!?! Something else to keep working on I guess.

February '08 Begins

January '08 ended with a fall and a fender-bender. Not really the way I expected the day to go. I went for a 6 mile run, on Thursday with a friend, and close to the end of our session I caught my toe on a big metal plate and went down. Luckily, all my experience in many different sports has taught me how to fall. As I went down, I rolled with it and as a result I didn't really get hurt - just a bit of a bump on my elbow. Then on my way to school, someone ran into the back of our van. Luckily, no one was really hurt and there was no damage to either car. I will say that my neck and upper back are a touch sore but it is all muscle related. After a day like this one I was really hoping for a better February!

February '08 began yesterday with a huge rainy downpour all day long - not the start I was looking for. However, February 2nd has started out wonderfully! We were planning on running trails this morning but with all the rain yesterday, we decided to stay on the streets. So, we met at 5:30 am (which is a better start time for me anyway) and off we went. The temperature was about 35 degrees so I decided to go with loose tights, a short sleeve shirt and nylon jacket and no gloves. About a mile or so into the run, I was beginning to think I had mad a mistake about the gloves. However, true to form, in about 5 more minutes I was really glad I had left them in the car. My layers ended up being a perfect choice!

We ran 10 miles in about 1:45 (about 10:30 pace). The distance was nice, the temperatures were good, the company was great and the sunrise was pretty. Overall, a great way to start the weekend. The best part though was the fact that I was able to get home in time to have breakfast with the family. Last week, Will asked my husband why I didn't want to have breakfast with them anymore - talk about breaking my heart! So, this week especially, it was very cool that I was able eat with them! Tomorrow, we are planning on doing another 10 miles - 20 miles on the weekend is not bad.

My mileage for January was just shy of 100 miles. I'm shooting for about 125 each month so I was pretty far short of that monthly goal. I know though, as the warmer weather comes around the miles will start to increase and I may be able to make up the difference.

The registration for the trail marathon that we want to run is now open so I will be registering for that soon. Lori also wants to run a marathon in March (the trail marathon is at the end of April). I don't know about that one yet - I want to look at it a bit before committing. The good thing is that they are both local (day trips) so the only real cost is the race itself.

Off to clean the house - did I say February was starting off well?!?!?!?!?!

13 Years Ago Today.....

..... I Married the Love of My Life!

'nough said.

Trail Pictures

Here are the pictures that my daughter took on the trail. I think she did a wonderful job - especially considering that she is only 7 years old.

Awesome Saturday - 1/26/08

I had an awesome run today. It was our weekly trail run (we try to get out to the trail at least once a week anyway - doesn't always happen but we sure do try). It was quite cold at 6:45 am but when the sun came up it was beautiful! Most of the run is done right next to a river. There is still snow and ice (just a little) back on the trails and on the water and it can just take your breath away with its beauty!

We covered about 8 miles - at a nice easy pace (a little over 11 m/m). We had 6 runners show up. Three of them turned around at 3.5 miles and three of us went on to a bit over 4 before turning around. The only bad/scary part was the we came upon some hunters in the park. Last Saturday and today there was deer hunting in the Delaware portion of the park. There was not supposed to be any hunting done in the Pennsylvania portion of the park - which we confirmed with the park rangers before leaving. Unfortunately these idiots decided to ignore that fact. We almost turned around when we first saw them but the told us that they didn't realize it wasn't in PA as well and that they were going to stop and head back. They lied! All 6 of our group today ran into them again after we had turned around. When my group got back to our cars we stopped at the park office to report the incident but there wasn't anybody there. One of our group members knows some federal law enforcement personnel and he said that he was going to report the incident to them. Nothing will probably happen but it's just nice to know that you at least reported it.

Speaking of the group, we have been bouncing around the idea of giving our group a name. There are a number of running groups in the area but many of them just let you fend for yourself. If you are out on a trail and end up with some sort of problem, they just leave you. We make it a point to get everyone back safely - no one is left and no one goes back by themselves. It is one of the things that I love about this group, we all really care about each other! Lori came up with a name which I thought was really cool. I'm not sure how she wants to spell it but she came up with "The WhYers". This actually has a double meaning - we meet at the Y on week days which is meaning one and the second is why do we run? why do we run marathons? why do we run early in the morning? etc. I thought it was awesome!

I gotta go - the kids want to play Go Fish!

Great read!

I found this enty by Tom Venuto on his blog and thought it was great. It is something I want to keep in front of me to remind me of how important goals are and that I need to make them, read them, adjust them if necessary and of course achieve them! Enjoy!


Your Fitness Future Foretold: 20 Predictions for 2008
Tom Venuto
Happy new year! This is the first post in 2008 for the Burn The Fat Blog and today I’m going to predict your future and forecast exactly what kind of results you’re going to get in 2008. Sylvia Browne, step aside… I’m pretty good at this..

Several years ago, a public relations firm in New York City asked me to write an article for one of their publications about fitness trends and predictions for the coming year. It turned out that my “crystal ball” was pretty darn accurate. I nailed most of the predictions I made about aerobics classes, yoga, core training, “holistic” approaches, online personal training technology, the baby boomer market, increasing obesity and many other subjects.

I do confess, it wasn’t that difficult, because instead of just taking a stab in the dark at it, I actually did some research on industry statistics. I also had some “insider insights” because I’d been a health club manager for so many years and was privy to fitness business trends.

This year, instead of making predictions for the whole fitness industry, what if I could take out my crystal ball again and predict with 99% precision exactly what kind of results you will achieve with your body by the end of 2008?

Well, I can do that too!

I would claim that I have some kind of “gift” for this, but to be honest, you and I don’t need to be psychic to make predictions like these.

There are two things you can always count on: (1)Nature’s laws of cause and effect and (2) human nature.

On that basis, here are my 20 fitness predictions for 2008:
I PREDICT that if you can reach into your pocket on any day in 2008 and pull out a card or piece of paper with all your body and fitness goals written on it in vivid detail, the odds are 95 to 1 in favor of you achieving every one of those goals before the end of the year.
I PREDICT that if you focus your thoughts on your goals and how you are going to achieve them, all day long, you will reach your goals so fast in 2008, it will make your head spin.
I PREDICT that if you focus your thoughts on health woes and body fat problems and if you think about what you don’t want, all day long, your problems will get worse than ever this year.
I PREDICT that if you made a new year’s resolution, but you didn’t turn it into a specific, written goal with a deadline and a strong reason why you must achieve it, you will freely abandon it the moment the going gets tough.
I PREDICT that if you can tell me all the reasons why achieving your health and fitness goals are important to you, you will be motivated from within to stick with it when the going gets tough
I PREDICT that at times, the going is going to get tough.
I PREDICTthat if you can tell me today what is your life purpose and what is your lifelong vision for your body and your health, you will still be as motivated and driven at the end of the year as you were at the beginning.
I PREDICT that if you don’t have long term goals and a “big picture” vision for your life that you will lose your New Year’s enthusiasm and motivation in a matter of months or even weeks.
I PREDICT that the way you see yourself in your mind’s eye today will be an exact reflection of what you see in the mirror at the end of the year.
I PREDICT that if you have a setback that seems to get in the way of you reaching your health and fitness goals and you tell yourself “this just is temporary; this too shall pass,” then it won’t set you back and it will pass.
I PREDICT that if you believe the way your body looks today is out of your control and you feel helpless or powerless to change, you won’t even make much of an effort this year.
I PREDICT that if you accept complete responsibility for the way your body looks today and you believe that you have the power to change, that you will take action and keep taking action, even through the tough times.
I PREDICT that if you’re unhappy with your physical condition and you say, “it’s not my fault” or you blame it on genetics, hormones or age, then your body will look pretty much the same at the end of 2008 as it did on New Year’s day.
I PREDICT that the more you have patience, a long term perspective and the ability to postpone immediate gratification, the more likely you are to be a success one year from now.
I PREDICT that the more you seek “miracle pills” or “quick fixes,” the more likely you are to be a failure one year from now.
I PREDICT that you will be tempted by many quick fixes in 2008.
I PREDICT that if you hang out with losers and negative people this year, you will become just like them.
I PREDICT that if you hang out with winners and positive people this year, you will become just like them.
I PREDICT that you will run into more negative people and losers this year than positive people and winners.
I PREDICT that if you recruit just one friend or support partner that stands behind you and the lifestyle changes you want to make in 2008, you will double your chances for success. If you surround yourself with numerous support partners, you will become virtually unstoppable. So how does your future look for 2008?

Based on my “predictions,” if it doesn’t look as bright as you’d like it to be, then don’t worry, because a prediction is not predestination.

You can’t do anything to change the past, but by changing your thoughts, attitudes and actions in the present moment, the future is yours to create.Your friend and coach,
Tom Venutowww.BurnTheFat.com

How things change!

I originally had planned on trying to run a marathon on March 9th in MD but that didn't work out. So we decided to try to run in the Bad to the Bone marathon in Charlottesville, VA 0n April 19th. Well, that didn't work out either. So now we are trying to enter a trail marathon right here in Newark, DE. From everything I've read it is hard but fun. In the description, the director tell everyone not to run this for time - run it to have fun. You even have to cross the river 4 times. I tried so post some pics but they wouldn't come up. I've run the area many times and it is beautiful! However, the river can be ankle to knee deep and that actually makes me just a bit nervous. I'm not afraid of water - I'm afraid of how my feet will deal with running after having crossed the water.

I haven't been running as much as I would have liked this month. Yesterday, I had a back spasm and decided not run. Then this morning, just as I was starting to get dressed (at 4:05 am), here comes my son walking down the steps. I knew he wasn't going to go back to sleep and if I made him go back to his room, all he would have done was wake up the entire house. So needless to say, I didn't get to run today either. I did however, get in a 25 min. bike and 30 min. of lifting. Not the intensity I know I need but at least I got in the time. That is a step in the right direction.

Tomorrow I WILL get out for a run. I'm meeting Cathy and maybe Lori at the Y for a run. The weather on Friday doesn't sound like it is going to be very nice so I want to make sure that I get a run in tomorrow!

My eating has not been perfect but it has been much better. I'm proud of myself - there were all sorts of donuts and cookies etc at work today and I only had 1 little bite. I really wanted to devour the entire box of donuts! I just kept thinking about my goals and my leverage and it got me through the day. I really hope to see some downward movement on the scale tomorrow morning!

Until next time!

Beautiful Mornings!

There has been the most beautiful full moons the past 2 mornings! Yesterday was met Jim for an early morning run and at times the sky was completely clear and the moon was a sight to see. At other times, there were just wisps of clouds moving across the moon and it was almost eerie - cool but eerie.

This morning I was on my way to the supermarket (the whole family was off because of the MLK holiday so I got to go first thing) and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was amazing and awesome! Kind of puts things into perspective - we are just one small part of a great big world and universe.

Enough with the deep stuff! Yesterday's run was a bear!! The wind and the cold made it REALLY hard to run. Jim and I ran 3.6 miles and called it quits because it was so hard. The wind and the cold were both just taking our breathes away - I was proud that I got out there and did something but bummed that I couldn't get more mileage in.

Today, we took the kids and the dog to the trails. It was still really cold but there wasn't much wind. Our normal procedure is to just walk and when the kids get tired they tell us and we turn around. Well, they didn't say anything (I guess they forgot) and we ended going 1.94 miles one way. Of course the kids then told us that they were really tired and you could really see them starting to drag their feet. I must add that they have been bouncing off the walls lately with excess energy, so one of the main reasons for getting them out was to drain some of that energy. After a while of walking back for a while, and hearing LOTS of sighs, I put Will on my back and carried him. Shortly after that, I put him down and carried Ally for a while. When we hit 3 miles Bill decided that he would carry Will so I kept carrying Ally. So all-in-all I walked about 2.5 miles just myself and then carried one of the 2 kids for about 1.5 miles. Talk about a good workout!

The walk was a lot of fun and the area was absolutely beautiful. Some of the hill sides still had snow on them, the sun was shining brightly and the water was amazing. Some areas had fast flowing water and other areas had a thin layer of ice covering the majority of the surface. Ally took some pictures and I'll try to post them later tonight.

I still have to do my lifting and I'll finish that a little later. Overall, I'm feeling much better with my program and mindset. My goal for this week is to start increasing the running mileage again. Our totals haven't been very high because of the tapering of our runners doing the Goofy and then the weather wasn't cooperating. I will also know this week whether we will be signing up for the Bad to the Bone Marathon and I want to start preparing immediately!

That's it for now!

Trail Running

The Group got out for a trail run this morning and it was awesome! There was still a touch of snow left on the ground in places so I actually got to wear spikes for the first time. It was pretty cool. I didn't feel myself slipping at all and I also couldn't really tell I was wearing the spikes (no sticking or tripping over things). It was Lori's first day back with us, after her Goofy Challenge. She did really well but her legs were understandably tired. We ran a touch over 6 miles at a nice easy pace and even walked a bit. It was just nice having her back with us.

The weather was chilly but nice. As usual, my gloves came off around 15 minutes into the run but the rest of my body felt really good. I'm never quite sure if I've layered correctly at the start. Tomorrow might be another story though. We are planning on running on the roads - I need to run early so that I can make it to church services which means it is too dark to get onto the trails. I can't wait for the summer because it is so much easier to get onto the trails earlier in the morning which then allows for longer runs and not as much disruption to the day with the family. Anyway, tomorrow is supposed to be really cold, at least for around here (my apologies to all who live up north a really get the cold temps). The last temperature I saw was 17 degrees as a high and there is a chance of snow flurries when I'll be out running - I WILL be out running though! I just finished reading a story, in my latest Runner's World, about Ryan Shay and his dedication to his sport and passion. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not going to take my training anywhere near his intensity but it did make me think about how many times I've not gone out because the weather was "bad". He went out in blizzards, I'm not going to do that but I also now feel that maybe a few flurries shouldn't stop me from getting out and doing what I need to do!

Over the past couple of days, I've been doing much better at sticking to my LL plan. My eating has been much more under control and I even got a lifting session in the other day! Today has been a higher calorie day but I've kept it under control. I've had more carbs than I probably should so I may see it on the scale tomorrow but I know that my mind is in a better place and I will see the reductions soon.

There is also a change to my marathon plans. Originally, I was thinking about doing one in MD in March but those plans have been scratched. Plans are not finalized but I think Lori and I (and hopefully others from the group) are going to run the Bad To The Bone Marathon on April 19th. She needs to check one thing on her schedule and if that is clear we will be off to Charlottesville, VA!

Gotta go - Keep on Runnin'!

What a Weekend of Racing!

Many of "The Group" was running this weekend. Congrats goes out to Lori and Leanne for completing their Goofy Challenge. For those who may not know what that is, it is running a Half Marathon on Saturday and following that with a Full Marathon on Sunday (in Disney World of course). Throw times out the window, just completing that in 2 day is AMAZING and OUTSTANDING! I tip my hat to you both!!

Congratulations to Lynda as well for completing the Full Marathon and to their Dad (yes Lori, Leanne and Lynda are sisters) for completing the Half Marathon!

I will say right here and now that I envy them - to have a family that would band together to do something of this nature is awesome!

Now to the local race! Jim, Cathy and I ran in the PSCI Icicle 10 Miler this morning. It was a great day to run! The sun was shining and the temperature was 45 degrees. There were 478 runners in the race - a far cry from the Marine Corps Marathon for sure! It only took me a couple of seconds to get to the start line - pretty cool! The course was made up of rolling hills but for the most part it was more uphill for the first half of the race and down for the last half. There is 1 MAJOR hill right at the end of the race that I thought was going to cramp my right hamstring! I've never been so happy to get to the top of a hill!!

When the race started, Cathy took off at a really nice clip and Jim and I were moving pretty well too. Jim and I hit the first mile at a little over 8m/m and Cathy was somewhere ahead of us. I didn't really have a specific goal for the race - I really haven't been doing much in the way of hard or fast training - so when we hit that first mile at about 8 I was thrilled and decided that I would be ecstatic if I could average 8 - 8:30m/m for the whole race! I ended up picking out a runner in front of me (wearing a green shirt) who appeared to have a nice easy stride/pace going and just told myself to stay with her. Shortly thereafter, I saw Cathy up ahead of me a caught up to her. We spoke for a couple of minutes but my green shirted runner was pulling away so I sped up in order to keep contact. There were a couple of times when the hills started to get to me and I just concentrated on my breathing and sticking with the green shirt and before I knew it, we were at the turn-around point and I knew that MOST of the tough hills were behind me - YEAH!

On the way back to the finish, we definitely had to contend with some wind! I was wearing some loose tights and a long sleeve shirt. Temperature-wise it was a pretty good choice but the wind was cutting right through my shirt and was actually making it hard to breathe at times (I'm sure my cold wasn't helping there either). I could actually feel the cold on my chest and stomach and how it was constricting my chest. It was a really weird feeling! But it wasn't so bad that I thought there was a problem, just enough to have the sensation. Once we got back into the wooded and residential areas I didn't have the sensation as much. We also got onto a nice long down hill section and I really tried to stride it out. I was still sticking with the green shirted runner and was feeling great about my race. I had been consistently hitting the mile markers at 8 minute intervals. Then I saw it - the right turn that led to THE HILL! About 1/2 way up the hill I was even with the green shirted runner but when we got to the top, she had a bit more left in reserve and was able to pull away from me. At the top of the hill we turned left and ran about 1/4 mile to the finish. It was in this last 1/4 mile that she pulled away. She finished about a second in front of me - yes, she was also in my age group but I didn't care. I had given this race a great effort and was thrilled with my time! I finished the race in 1:20:32 which is a pace of 8:04/mile! I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to maintain an 8 minute pace for the whole race. Bill and the kids met me at the end of the race - it was a great way to end the morning!

Congrats go out to Jim who finished in 1:30:49 and to Cathy who finished in 1:31:48. My hat especially comes off to Cathy because she has been fighting her sinuses all week long. They really flared up on her during the race, making it hard to breathe, and she gutted it out anyway. WAY TO GO CATHY!

Overall, a great racing weekend! Again, congrats to everyone involved!

Moving on: now that everyone is past their major races, I'm looking forward to being able to add some harder training days into our schedule. I have come to realize that my legs aren't responding as well to race days when I don't do ANY harder training days. Lori has already said that she would be willing to do some track workouts with me once she has recovered from The Goofy. I'm actually looking forward to putting in some time on the track.

Keep on runnin' and thanks for taking the time to read this report.

Saturday - Good & Bad but Sunday is lookin' Good!

Saturday started off awesome! I woke up and got on the scale and it finally showed some weight loss - 2 pounds! I was so excited that I was practically bouncing when I met "The Group" to do our run. The run itself was also really good except for the fact that I was only able to go 8 miles. I had hoped to 13 but nobody else was going any further and I didn't feel safe going alone (it was still dark out and there are a lot of wooded areas where we were). But other than that I was pleased with the morning. Since it was Saturday, it was doughnut day when I got home and I decided that it would be my splurge for the week and had 2 doughnuts. Unfortunately, doughnuts appear to be a trigger food for me. As a result, I ate and ate and ate all day long - on anything and everything I could get my hands on. Even as I was doing it, I realized what was going on and knew that I had to stop but didn't. I'm not going to say that I couldn't (I almost typed that) because I am in control and I was choosing not to stop.

That is a major shift in my thinking. I have a problem with emotional eating and am now realizing that I've used that as a crutch/excuse in the past. Just because I'm upset does NOT mean that I'm not in control anymore! My emotions do not control my arms or my mouth and does not make me eat crap. I am working the Leanness Lifestyle program and it is becoming my lifestyle!

Today is looking much better! I didn't allow yesterday's stumble to negatively effect today - another huge step for me. In fact, it strengthened my resolve to make today "perfect" with respect to my meal plans. I have stuck to my plan and am looking forward to continuing it tonight and tomorrow. Although my eating has gone according to plan, I can't say that about my exercising plan. I had wanted to get out this morning at 5 am and put in 45 minutes before meeting a friend to run another 4 miles. Unfortunately, it was pouring this morning and pretty darn cold. I do not like to run in the cold rain! The good part was that it stopped early enough for me to get in that 4 miles with my friend. It was a really good run - decent pace and great conversation!

Well, I'm off to go cook a nice healthy dinner: Roast chicken and mashed cauliflower. Keep on runnin'!

The First Miles and Minutes are Logged for 2008!

Today was supposed to be lifting only day but I decided to put in about 3 miles before lifting this morning. I figured it would be a great warm-up and I did really want to miss to days in a row of running.

It was really cold out this morning because of the wind - cold for here anyway. I know there are many people in the northern parts of the world that get out in much colder weather than we get here in DE but it felt pretty darn cold to me. My pace was about 9:25 m/m and then I came in and lifted for about 40 minutes. It was Week 2/Day 2 of my Afterburn program. I increased the session up to 2 sets and increased some of the weights as well. It's funny, when you look at the sessions on paper they don't look like much. But, when you get into the workouts - THEY'RE HARD! I think I wrote this earlier, but I keeping the weights light and concentrating on form and moving through a full range of motion and even with that I'm getting sore. Luckily, not so sore that I can't function but sore enough to know that it is working.

I feel like I'm starting to get back into the swing of things. School starts tomorrow as well - one more piece of the routine back in place. Once my dh goes back to work next week we will be back into the "normal" routine which always helps. There is a new team starting up this week on LL and I'm hoping to join in with that! The teams are always quite helpful!

Time to get my evening routine started. Keep on runnin'!

Happy New Year's Day!

Today has been a great day! I actually slept in this morning - I was in bed until 6:30 am and for someone who is usually running at 4:45 am this is really late! After breakfast, I did actually go to the grocery store but after that, I really didn't do anything all day. I actually spent a significant portion of it dozing on the sofa. I can't tell you the last time I did that!

I don't really have anything else for today. I just wanted to share how great it feels to actually take a day off every once in a while. I think most people get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day life that we forget to enjoy the day for what it is - a chance to enjoy the many things and blessings that we have in this life.

Have a great evening and a great week!

Oh, and Julie, I made a comment to your comment on the previous blog - let me know what you think. I'm not sure if my thinking is off or not.

The Numbers are In!

I finally did all my calculations (miles run) and here they are:

• In the month of December 2007 I ran 94.87 miles.
• In all of 2007, I ran a whopping 1,128.69 miles! This is compared to 614.13 miles in 2006.

I have to say that I am extremely proud of these numbers. Earlier this year I set a goal of 500 miles. I never really had any idea how many miles I could cover in a year and since I was pretty close to 1,200 for this past year I am going to keep my goal for next year at 1,500. I am also planning on creating a body transformation goal because I am NOT happy with the way I look or feel. I'm also looking forward to how my better body will help my running.

I have also been able to get my lifting started again. I have been starting slowly, so I don't get too sore, and I've been pleased with the sessions. The Afterburn series has a set of exercises that you do (2 different days) for weeks 1-4 and then you switch the exercises. You lift 3x per week and alternate the 2 days. For the first 2 days, I did just one set of the exercises and today (my first repeat of day 1) I increased the session up to 2 sets and increased some of the weights. I'm trying to concentrate on going through a full range of motion rather than going for heavier weights. Especially since I lift at home, I think it will give me greater ability to progress at home.

My weight hasn't dropped in this first week of getting back into things. I know it is because my eating has not been very good. We still have cookies in the house (leftover from Christmas) and I have not been able to stay away from them. I don't want to throw them away because the rest of the family is enjoying them and I don't usually have things like that in the house so it is a special treat for them. I know I should either throw them out or stay away from them but I haven't been able to follow through with this as of yet.

I also need to find a good leverage. My biggest problem with that is that I'm not a very materialistic person except for my exercise equipment. I can't really give that away as a leverage because I need it to reach my goal. My finances also aren't in a position where I can put up money. My dh also isn't open to the idea of using our joint money as leverage (things are pretty tight - lots of Christmas bills and car repair bills). If any of my fellow LL's are reading this and have a suggestions PLEASE share them!

Time to get the kids off to bed. Until next time!

Another Year Ends and Another Year Begins

This has, in many ways, been a great year for me. My family is healthy and happy and when that is the case most other things are secondary.

Earlier this year I found a wonderful group to run with! They are some of the nicest people I have ever come in contact with and I thank God every day for them. It has made running something that I truly love to do. Before, I did it because it helped keep me in shape and because I knew I was good at it - now I get up and look forward to meeting up with them, having some awesome conversations and pretty much just pounding out the miles.

This group really helped me finish the Marine Corps Marathon. I really have my doubts that I would have been able to put in the miles that are needed if I had had to do it completely on my own. Because of these wonderful people, I'm also planning on running in a couple of other marathons in the upcoming year.

Speaking of the upcoming year, I have placed a couple of new items in the column to the right. One is a list of goals for 2008 (which I may alter &/or add to as the year goes on) and the other is a list of races I would like to run this year. This too may be changed/added to as the year progresses.

The "bad" part of this past year is that I have allowed my weight to get up higher than is comfortable. It is the weight I was when I got married, almost 11 years ago, but I have come to realize that I am much more comfortable when I'm a good 10 pounds lighter. It really started when my marathon training kicked into high gear. I started making poor eating choices - way too many processed carbs - and started eating them in quantities that were too large. I was able to hold pretty steady before the marathon but since then I have been unable to decrease the eating as my training decreased. It is something I am really trying to get a handle on RIGHT NOW!

Tomorrow will be my last 2 workouts for 2007. I plan on lifting (Afterburn) first thing in the am and then meeting "The Gang" for an early morning run (actually late for us - 5:45 am). I am really excited to figure out exactly how many miles I logged this year. I know it is over 1000 but because I slacked off in keeping track of it here I will wait until tomorrow and then download from my Forerunner and figuring out exactly what the totals are. I have finished the year strong - since 12/23 (start of my Christmas break) I have logged 55.94 miles and will probably do somewhere between 4 and 6 tomorrow.

I guess that is all for now - until tomorrow when I post my totals. Keep on runnin'!

I have finally made it!

Things have been pretty insane around here lately but I have finally gotten past a great deal of it:

1. Thanksgiving is over.
2. My class is over - being out of the house 2 days a week for class and then all the homework was really hard.
3. My son's birthday has past.
4. My daughter's birthday has past.
5. Our school singing program is over -it's really hard to get 21 three year olds to learn the words to 4 songs and then actually sing them during the concert.
6. I am now officially on Christmas break!!

Add onto this list all of the normal life stuff and trying to get ready for Christmas and it really starts to get to you.

One good thing is that I've kept up with most of my running. I have allowed myself some days off, when things got crazy (kids being up sick all night, me feeling sick etc) but for the most part I've done OK. In fact, tomorrow I'm doing a 7 mile trail run with my friends. I'm really looking forward to it! My running has been good but my lifting has pretty much been non-existent and I'm hoping to change this over Christmas break. I also need to really clean up my eating. I've taken the step of making a goal on LL and want to take off the extra weight I have put on.

So my goals for this upcoming week (Friday 12/21 - 12/28):

1. Lift at least 3 times
2. Run at least 4 times
3. Make healthy snacks for myself
4. Track my exercise on LL
5. Track my food intake on LL

If I can accomplish these goals it will be a great first step to getting myself back on the more healthy track. I've strayed pretty far but I'm going to work hard to get back!

It Finally Happened

I gave in and bought some bigger clothes. I really hoping that this will be the inspiration that I need to get me back on track.

The weather hasn't been very cooperative with my running. Especially since I'm not really training for anything right now, I'm not running in the rain. I don't mind running in the rain if it is warm out but when it is cold and rainy - forget it!

I'm planning of starting my lifting again tomorrow. I think I'm going to start the Afterburn program from the beginning again. I didn't do much more that a week and a half before I strained my abdominal muscle so just makes more sense to start from the beginning.

Bill is driving the Station's fire truck in the Elsmere Holiday Parade today so we will be heading out to that soon. It isn't the nicest of days (cold and damp) but we are going to dress warmly and go anyway. I've never been to this parade so I'm hoping it is fun.

Until next time!

Losing Myself....

...and not in a good way. I'm losing myself in a layer of extra fat!

Way back in the spring, I developed a pretty bad case of tendinitis in my forearm. As a result I had to stop lifting because everything I did was causing me pain. That seems to be the beginning of my problems. About the time that I got the tendinitis under control I was pretty far into my marathon training. Everything I had read told me not to add in lifting/new exercising in the middle of the training because it greatly increased the risk of injury - so I didn't.

When you read running publications, they tell you to make sure you eat lots of carbs because that is what your body needs when running long distances. Unfortunately, for me, the increased carbs began to get bigger and bigger (in portion size) and the quality began to get worse and worse. If I were to look at my nutrition right now it has become mostly carbs (hardly any protein) and high amounts of fat. I have not been tracking my nutrition so I have NO idea what my calorie intake has been but I can guarantee that it is way too high! My weight has increased to about 148 which is less than I was when I got married almost 11 years ago but higher than it should be. I am also to the point where my clothes are quite uncomfortable and I hate wearing anything that isn't shorts or sweats (my problem area is my waist).

I am still running a good 30 to 35 miles per week and tried to start lifting again a couple of weeks ago. The lifting got cut short, again because of injury - I strained an abdominal muscle. I think I'm now to the point where I feel comfortable adding the lifting back into the program. Just in time to deal with all the stresses of Christmas and birthdays (both my children have December birthdays).

I find myself doubting myself in many ways lately. I don't feel in control of many aspects of my life and I don't know how to get rid of the feeling. Everyday I wake up vowing to myself that today will be better! I will eat a more balanced menu. I will make sure to get my lifting sessions done. I will avoid fast food. I will avoid candy/sweets. Each and every day I say these things to myself and each and every day I find myself failing miserably! I have tried over and over again to get myself out of this "funk" and I can't seem to find a way.

At Leanness Lifestyle, Coach Dave talks about finding your "Why" and from day 1 I have struggled with this. I try to look into myself and figure out what I'm feeling and why I'm feeling it but I always feel frustrated while doing it. It is not a skill I am very good at and I think my frustration comes from the fact that I think I should be able to just come up with the answers. I'm looking into myself not some stranger, so why can't I just sort it out and have the answer? It is all very confusing and frustrating (I seem to be using the word frustrating and awful lot - do you think I'm feeling frustrated? LOL - kind of!)

Anyway, I'm not really sure where all this is going. I'm still running and will continue to do so - it is one of the few really great things in my life right now. My husband and my kids being the only things ahead of it right now. I want to get all the other aspects of my life under control and back in order and I hope to be able to do that soon. I'm praying for some divine intervention - I need the Lord's help to get me back on the right path. If there is anyone out there that is willing to give me a swift kick in the butt or has any suggestions I'm open to reading them.

Here is one source of true inspiration. Julie, I don't know how you fit everything into your day but if you have any suggestions please help. Your pictures are awesome - to think you have been able to put on muscle and lose fat while training for ultras is amazing!

I hope that by starting to post here more often, I will be able to get things back on track. I also need to get back onto the LL site and log my food and my exercise. I know these things are the first steps - all I have to do is start using the tools and keep at it consistently!