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!