Sunday, October 27, 2013

I Stink at Blogging....

Well, despite all my good intentions, I just never seem to have time to keep up with blogging.  I've been working a crazy lot lately, and I've been working out with any leftover free time.

The 5k was nothing short of amazing.  I cannot begin to tell you the emotions that were running through me as I crossed that finish line.  In a word, addictive :)  It was my first race, but no way will it ever be my last.  I already have 5 on my calendar for 2014, and that's just for starters!  I told my husband I want the Monster Series for Christmas!  Great way to keep me motivated all year long.

Running has been a wonderful addition to my family, and a wonderful subtraction on the scale.  At the time of this article, I am down 57 pounds!  WOOHOO!  My husband is down about 20 and he's still running too.  My foot issues (plantar fasciitis) have kept me from pounding the pavement, but I have been biking.  Put on about 80 miles on the old pink bucket this week.

It's starting to get pretty cold here, so I've been trying to adjust ways to make it so that I can keep biking, and I can honestly hear my mother chuckling from heaven.  When we were kids, we were SUPER dirt poor.  Couldn't afford fancy moon boots (the equivalent of Uggs in the late 70's) and instead, I was that dorky kit that had to go around with Wonder bread wrappers on my feet.  Well, after having to call my husband to come get me on Thursday because my toes were frostbit, I bucked up and put plastic baggies in between my two pairs of socks and inside my mittens.  Perfect cheap fix!!!


Saturday, October 5, 2013

Exercise Update

I've been so busy hitting the road that I just haven't had time to sit and write on my blog!  But, I thought it would be a good idea to update and let you know what I have been up to these days.

Still training for my 5k.  So well trained, in fact, that I ran three of them this week, and then biked 17 miles the next day!  I am pretty sure that I am ready for this.  Our race is just 2 weeks away.  I am as prepared as I will ever be.

I've learned many things these last few weeks as a new runner that I would like to share in the hopes that they will be helpful to someone else out there that is contemplating running.

1.  I am much stronger than I ever thought possible.  I have never been much of an exerciser.  I have always given up when I felt uncomfortable, or sore, or was breathing hard.  One little stitch in my side, and I was out!  I learned to push past that!

2.  I have learned that when you are exercising, if you can push past that uncomfortable phase, you are capable of great things.  I feel uncomfortable right away, but it doesn't last.  Well, yes it does, but, more importantly, it really doesn't get much worse.  I have found that I just have to concentrate on my end game, and everything else just fades away.

3.  By end game, I mean future.  I don't mean this ends on my first race day.  Oh heck no, that's only the beginning.  As I am running, mundane things like housework, bills, stress, worries, etc, all fade away.  All I think about when I run is continuing to run, or things that have to do with running.  Like I dream about crossing the finish line at my first race.  My husband and daughter and several friends that are much like family will be running with me.  Some of them are faster than me, and I will be counting on them to go ahead, not wait for me, and cross the finish line, then turn around, cheer for me and be waiting for me with open arms!  Then I will do the same for my friends that I am faster than, and as a team we will all cheer each other on and finish the race!

4.  I have learned that running has replaced other bad habits in my life, like eating junk food and being lazy!  LOL!  I plan for exercise, and I enjoy it very much.

5.  I have learned that spandex is a wonderful thing.  Exercise clothes are with out a doubt the most comfortable thing on the planet.  I used to love pajamas, this is socially acceptable pajamas you can wear in public.

6.  I have learned that there are WAY more races out there than I ever imagined, and even though I haven't yet run my first race, I have so many more that I want to do.  I am imagining a future filled with races and finish lines, and a wall full of medals and a drawer full of race t shirts.

A few short weeks ago, I never thought I'd make it this far.  Running for just a minute seemed impossible.  Running a 5 k seemed unattainable.  I haven't run a timed race yet, but I ran 3 different 5k's on my own this this week.  I can do this.  I am already entertaining thoughts of a 10 k next year...  Look out Monster Series here I come....  Just waiting for the 2014 registration to open!!!