So I said I would add to my list whenever I thought of more things to be grateful for...And maybe it isn't a list of new things...but just different reasons. And it was a challenge today to come up with reasons of things you are thankful for.
~~The running club --(last night I ran a 3:32 800 followed by a 3:27, there is no way on this planet that I would be able to do that without the club, so for their persistence in proving to me that I'm capable I'm forever grateful.
~~Louis -- because he allows me to go off exercising whenever I feel the need (which lately has been often) and never complains. Instead I get compliments on how dedicated I am...
~~My Kids -- Not only have they been understanding with the recent training regiment but encouraging. Also, they teach me something every day. They are so simple and I would love to transport that simple attitude into my life. I'm thinking they teach me more than I teach them.
~~My health -- Because in recent times, I have gone through many illnesses, injuries etc... I'm so happy to be pain / illness free. And I've read blogs and many friends are or have been injured it makes me appreciate when I'm healthy.
~~ My gym friends -- Just to be completely honest, if I thought there was any hope they would forget the way to my house I would sleep in most mornings, but because I know they are going to be there waiting I get my butt out of bed. And 98% of the time I'm happy that I did.
~~My Job and Co-workers -- Because I get some interaction with real people but that most of those people keep me laughing all day. Who doesn't want to laugh all day?
I guess that is a good list of new reasons for the day...
09 May 2012
02 May 2012
Respecting the Distance
I read a blog every day...some days the author talks about running and such and some days not. Either way I love her posts, they are creative and fun and sarcastic and I wouldn't know how to start my day without it. I only hope that my posts are somewhat similar. At least when I go back a few months later and read them they are ok. Not sure it is something I need to read everyday.
Anyway, I'm about 10 days away from the Palisade half marathon. I feel like I have had a great training session until this last week. I have had some major soreness, a little bit of knee pain and super tired. And in my state of running ALL the time I'm not sure how to scale back. Yes, I know that I should be on a taper, but just like any runner I'm not sure how to do that. I feel guilty about not running and completing workouts. I ran my last long run on Sunday. Long run of 14 miles. I did the 'hill' twice and added in a few more miles around the neighborhood. My time was 2 hours and 12 minutes. The most fabulous things about that is that my last 1/2 marathon was 2 hours and 11 minutes which basically means I should be good. However, back to that taper situation. I'm wondering the purpose on going out only to run 4 miles. But on the other hand I need to learn to respect the distance. After just running 14 miles, completing a track workout, 4 miles should be easy right? Lets hope so...
A few weeks my long run was 5 miles and I figured it would be no big deal. And in the end, it really wasn't. However, during the run I felt like I was having a hard time. When I finished, I was running a much faster time, therefor the reason of the difficulty. So I hope I've learned how to respect the distance!
Anyway, I'm about 10 days away from the Palisade half marathon. I feel like I have had a great training session until this last week. I have had some major soreness, a little bit of knee pain and super tired. And in my state of running ALL the time I'm not sure how to scale back. Yes, I know that I should be on a taper, but just like any runner I'm not sure how to do that. I feel guilty about not running and completing workouts. I ran my last long run on Sunday. Long run of 14 miles. I did the 'hill' twice and added in a few more miles around the neighborhood. My time was 2 hours and 12 minutes. The most fabulous things about that is that my last 1/2 marathon was 2 hours and 11 minutes which basically means I should be good. However, back to that taper situation. I'm wondering the purpose on going out only to run 4 miles. But on the other hand I need to learn to respect the distance. After just running 14 miles, completing a track workout, 4 miles should be easy right? Lets hope so...
A few weeks my long run was 5 miles and I figured it would be no big deal. And in the end, it really wasn't. However, during the run I felt like I was having a hard time. When I finished, I was running a much faster time, therefor the reason of the difficulty. So I hope I've learned how to respect the distance!
19 April 2012
Random thoughts
Every time that I have a great idea for something to 'blog' about I'm busy so then I think "when I have an extra few minutes I'll do that." Now as I sit down at the computer with an extra few minutes do you think I can remember anything that I wanted to blog about, update etc? The answer is simply no...I've got nothing!
At work we decided it would be fun to replace all the carpet in the place with tile. I seriously think I would rather shoot myself. The person we hired did fabulous work and the tile looks great, but it took forever. And moving all the stuff and trying to run the business in the meantime wasn't much fun. I got pretty sick in the middle of it all but I have mostly kicked that and since the showroom in 90% back together life is good. While all of that was going on I probably had some ironic not so fabulous thoughts about remodeling contractors and being thrown into the middle of projects I don't want anything to do with but all those thoughts have since escaped me.
My training has been going good...until I got sick...even then I probably had some sarcastic stuff to say. Probably a good thing I didn't have a lot of time on my hands! I think I skipped a few track workouts and then I haven't been swimming either...For some reason I didn't think it would be a good idea to contaminate the pool with all my snot and stuff. I think life might have also gotten in the way of a track workout or two so I decided I would do them a different day, all alone...That is sad and made me realize that I don't listen very well. I ended up almost doubling the workout. Oops! But I haven't missed a long run. No, instead I almost hacked up a lung or two but got those 10 miles in. And last Sunday, the long run was 12 miles and since I'm such a sucker for peer pressure I did Candelas hill twice...It hurt, but glad I did it.
At work we decided it would be fun to replace all the carpet in the place with tile. I seriously think I would rather shoot myself. The person we hired did fabulous work and the tile looks great, but it took forever. And moving all the stuff and trying to run the business in the meantime wasn't much fun. I got pretty sick in the middle of it all but I have mostly kicked that and since the showroom in 90% back together life is good. While all of that was going on I probably had some ironic not so fabulous thoughts about remodeling contractors and being thrown into the middle of projects I don't want anything to do with but all those thoughts have since escaped me.
Here is the new showroom...totally worth it!
My training has been going good...until I got sick...even then I probably had some sarcastic stuff to say. Probably a good thing I didn't have a lot of time on my hands! I think I skipped a few track workouts and then I haven't been swimming either...For some reason I didn't think it would be a good idea to contaminate the pool with all my snot and stuff. I think life might have also gotten in the way of a track workout or two so I decided I would do them a different day, all alone...That is sad and made me realize that I don't listen very well. I ended up almost doubling the workout. Oops! But I haven't missed a long run. No, instead I almost hacked up a lung or two but got those 10 miles in. And last Sunday, the long run was 12 miles and since I'm such a sucker for peer pressure I did Candelas hill twice...It hurt, but glad I did it.
Lucky for you (and probably myself) I don't take pictures of myself when I run!
Both of the kids are busy with their activities...Brooke is still dancing, still loves Mr. Jeff, Ms. Kate and the rest of the group at the dance studio. She mentioned to me she was to be on the competition team next year...Not really sure what that entails yet...But sounds expensive and like a lot of time at the studio...Tyler is playing both soccer and flag football right now. Yes, I am that gullible of a mom to sign my kid up for two different sports at the same time. But he is just so darn cute how could I say no?
We went to Moab over Spring Break...we took my dad's Raptor 4-wheeling and Lou was successful in putting the first scratches in it. Lucky for us, my dad is good natured about that kind of thing. We also did some hiking. Tyler wasn't feeling good that day so it wasn't our best day of hiking but we still had fun.
This cave a super fun for the kids...and the adults!
Just in case any one needed it pointed out, my sister is taller than me, I just didn't know it was that much!
Maybe I was standing on the low part of the hill? Maybe I'm just that short!
I don't think an explanation is needed!
05 April 2012
17 and Full of Dreams
As I watched TV last night there was a sentence that started me thinking...alright more than one...but we will start with the one. The quote was something like (I'm paraphrasing because I didn't write it down word for word) "If one sentence helps a person through a rough time or gives someone hope that previously had none than that makes the hour of television worth it." I could not agree more. Do you know how many lyrics to songs or story arcs in a television show that I identify with? Because of something going on at work or at home or psychologically and here, since someone is singing about it or writing a television show about it they know the problem too...I'm no longer alone.
I'm not going to sugar coat and say that my days are full of unicorns and rainbows and everything is always perfect, but I will say that I have gotten through many of those non rainbow filled days because of a sentence or a song or whatever...Maybe it is as simple as 'I wish someone would say that to me' or how is it that a song knows just what I'm thinking? Or maybe not, but I think we as a humans forget that it only takes a sentence or mantra or song to make life so much better or maybe just tolerable.
I remember working with a trainer one day...and obviously I wasn't doing the exercise the 'correct' way and she kept talking, rephrasing the same thing until I got it. And now, years later, I remember when I'm doing that specific muscle group I have her in my head telling me how. I remember also, running the track in a particular difficult track workout that I had Katy Perry singing in my ear and so every time that song plays I go back to my day at the track and how the song helped me through and then I remember I've had much better days at the track after that. One last example, going through a difficult time during a relationship I was attracted to sappy, sad kind of songs and shows. I would listen to the songs over and over and watch the same episode of television over and over...And however it happened I moved passed the difficult time and moved on to much happier days. But still when those songs play I'm reminded how far I've come.
Last night it was also brought to my attention that when we are young we are always looking toward our dreams and becoming the person we want to be...And then somehow we grow up and we still look forward. We don't ever realize how far we have come or how we have somehow morphed into the person we once dreamed of. So today, I'm going to think of that person...That 17 year old high school graduate that couldn't wait for all of my dreams to come true! I encourage everyone else to do the same. To realize that we all grow everyday and to some of us we are too busy living in the future to realize how great things are in the present!
I'm not going to sugar coat and say that my days are full of unicorns and rainbows and everything is always perfect, but I will say that I have gotten through many of those non rainbow filled days because of a sentence or a song or whatever...Maybe it is as simple as 'I wish someone would say that to me' or how is it that a song knows just what I'm thinking? Or maybe not, but I think we as a humans forget that it only takes a sentence or mantra or song to make life so much better or maybe just tolerable.
I remember working with a trainer one day...and obviously I wasn't doing the exercise the 'correct' way and she kept talking, rephrasing the same thing until I got it. And now, years later, I remember when I'm doing that specific muscle group I have her in my head telling me how. I remember also, running the track in a particular difficult track workout that I had Katy Perry singing in my ear and so every time that song plays I go back to my day at the track and how the song helped me through and then I remember I've had much better days at the track after that. One last example, going through a difficult time during a relationship I was attracted to sappy, sad kind of songs and shows. I would listen to the songs over and over and watch the same episode of television over and over...And however it happened I moved passed the difficult time and moved on to much happier days. But still when those songs play I'm reminded how far I've come.
Last night it was also brought to my attention that when we are young we are always looking toward our dreams and becoming the person we want to be...And then somehow we grow up and we still look forward. We don't ever realize how far we have come or how we have somehow morphed into the person we once dreamed of. So today, I'm going to think of that person...That 17 year old high school graduate that couldn't wait for all of my dreams to come true! I encourage everyone else to do the same. To realize that we all grow everyday and to some of us we are too busy living in the future to realize how great things are in the present!
29 February 2012
It takes an orthodontist to teach me...
I know...All of you have been wondering how the training is going right? I know, my exercise habits are so interesting that you run to the blog every day to check it out...I am kidding. But some days I've got nothing better to write about.
Today I had a giant reminder...you see, when there is a problem and you think you have the perfect solution for the problem, when in reality you are just scratching the surface. Perhaps the perfect solution is going to be simply a band-aid on the complete bigger problem? Well today I had that reminder yet again. Long story longer...The orthodontist that did amazing things to my teeth will now be making all sorts of money on me again, through my beautiful daughter. You see I'm not terribly upset by this at all because I appreciate the money my mom spent on my teeth and that now I have a presentable smile, so I know that Brooke too will appreciate all of this.
On to the training. I've had to make some modifications to the original training plan...You see my knee did not appreciate the running 4 days per week...and I was informed by some fabulous people 'in the know' that I will be alright with running 3 days per week...the gym and swimming. so we will see. So far this week I've got 2 runs down, 2 gym visits accomplished and that menacing swim taken care of. Just one more run that I'm planning tonight (yes again in the wind because I don't know what it would be like to run when it's not windy) and then only 1 more gym visit...I love when I get most of my work done early in the week so when I'm tired I can actually sleep.
Last night I did my first track workout of the year. And the report...well the next time you think that running on a mud filled track by yourself at a high school, in the wind I'm advising you to think twice before actually going. Not only is it difficult to run the workout by yourself, timing and such but then to add all the other variables...it just isn't that great. Anyway, my times were not that fabulous 3:58 and 4:05, so that didn't make my day at all but when Lou pointed out that I was dodging kids and running in a yucky surface I guess it isn't that bad. Then the wind...I love the wind. Hopefully next week I can join the club instead of going it alone.
Today I had a giant reminder...you see, when there is a problem and you think you have the perfect solution for the problem, when in reality you are just scratching the surface. Perhaps the perfect solution is going to be simply a band-aid on the complete bigger problem? Well today I had that reminder yet again. Long story longer...The orthodontist that did amazing things to my teeth will now be making all sorts of money on me again, through my beautiful daughter. You see I'm not terribly upset by this at all because I appreciate the money my mom spent on my teeth and that now I have a presentable smile, so I know that Brooke too will appreciate all of this.
On to the training. I've had to make some modifications to the original training plan...You see my knee did not appreciate the running 4 days per week...and I was informed by some fabulous people 'in the know' that I will be alright with running 3 days per week...the gym and swimming. so we will see. So far this week I've got 2 runs down, 2 gym visits accomplished and that menacing swim taken care of. Just one more run that I'm planning tonight (yes again in the wind because I don't know what it would be like to run when it's not windy) and then only 1 more gym visit...I love when I get most of my work done early in the week so when I'm tired I can actually sleep.
Last night I did my first track workout of the year. And the report...well the next time you think that running on a mud filled track by yourself at a high school, in the wind I'm advising you to think twice before actually going. Not only is it difficult to run the workout by yourself, timing and such but then to add all the other variables...it just isn't that great. Anyway, my times were not that fabulous 3:58 and 4:05, so that didn't make my day at all but when Lou pointed out that I was dodging kids and running in a yucky surface I guess it isn't that bad. Then the wind...I love the wind. Hopefully next week I can join the club instead of going it alone.
22 February 2012
Mind over matter...is it really all a mental issue?
Life is funny sometimes...How it just drops enough information in your lap to keep you going / motivated / learning etc...
You see, I posted yesterday that my 'official' training for the Grand Valley 1/2 Marathon starts on Sunday. While that all sounds great and a feat worth accomplishing. I started the training a week early...you know try and make up some of those works out that I'm bound to miss...I had planned on running 4 days a week, the gym 3 days a week for biking and strength training and swimming once a week. Doesn't sound too terrible and I had even broke it down to what days and times I would fit them in. Well workout number 5 into this week and my knee is kinda sore, I'm exhausted and many muscles are sore. It is frustrating first because I've been running and going to the gym. Granted not with a specific purpose but I've been there. I'm frustrated because of my knee...as I haven't run many miles, just 3 days in a row. Maybe fewer longer runs are going to be required. But the sore muscles...really?!
Well just today a blog I follow shared a post about your brain power...the whole mind over matter and if you put your mind to it, your body will follow. It all sounds great and that we train our mind the same time we train our body, but it just isn't true. We have to choose to visualize our training and our races and then our body will endure the training. Maybe my body is revolting because I said training doesn't start until next week and here I am trying to go a week early. It's the mind asking why are we enduring this torture for an extra week? Click here to check out the blog post.
Either way, I guess I'm going to have ease into this training thing. It is much harder to get used to than I thought.
You see, I posted yesterday that my 'official' training for the Grand Valley 1/2 Marathon starts on Sunday. While that all sounds great and a feat worth accomplishing. I started the training a week early...you know try and make up some of those works out that I'm bound to miss...I had planned on running 4 days a week, the gym 3 days a week for biking and strength training and swimming once a week. Doesn't sound too terrible and I had even broke it down to what days and times I would fit them in. Well workout number 5 into this week and my knee is kinda sore, I'm exhausted and many muscles are sore. It is frustrating first because I've been running and going to the gym. Granted not with a specific purpose but I've been there. I'm frustrated because of my knee...as I haven't run many miles, just 3 days in a row. Maybe fewer longer runs are going to be required. But the sore muscles...really?!
Well just today a blog I follow shared a post about your brain power...the whole mind over matter and if you put your mind to it, your body will follow. It all sounds great and that we train our mind the same time we train our body, but it just isn't true. We have to choose to visualize our training and our races and then our body will endure the training. Maybe my body is revolting because I said training doesn't start until next week and here I am trying to go a week early. It's the mind asking why are we enduring this torture for an extra week? Click here to check out the blog post.
Either way, I guess I'm going to have ease into this training thing. It is much harder to get used to than I thought.
21 February 2012
Training starts...Sunday!
My official training for the Grand Valley 1/2 marathon starts Sunday...That sounds so crazy since I've been running and going to the gym...but I guess all of that was character training since it wasn't specifically aimed at a race or anything. During my run last night I devised a plan in my head of the workouts I need to get in each week in order to run a good race and I was kind of excited to tell Lou, because he is gonna have to push me out of bed...No more excuses that I'm cold and don't want to get to the pool. So for those of you that want to know here is my plan...
Sunday -- long run with the club
Monday -- pool in the morning or short run in the evening
Tuesday -- gym in the morning for cross training and strength and track workout with the club
Wednesday -- gym in the morning for cross training and strength and 3 mile run after work
Thursday -- pool if I ditched on Monday or short run in the evening if I ditched on Monday
Friday -- gym in the morning for cross training and strength
Saturday -- rest
I'm not super sure that I can accomplish all of this but I only have to last until May... And I'm still aiming for that sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon time...
And you know what...why wait until next Sunday...when I can start this past Sunday... I ran 5 miles Sunday...2.75 last night and made it to the gym this morning...It's that darn morning at the pool that will be the hard part. I'll keep you posted!
Sunday -- long run with the club
Monday -- pool in the morning or short run in the evening
Tuesday -- gym in the morning for cross training and strength and track workout with the club
Wednesday -- gym in the morning for cross training and strength and 3 mile run after work
Thursday -- pool if I ditched on Monday or short run in the evening if I ditched on Monday
Friday -- gym in the morning for cross training and strength
Saturday -- rest
I'm not super sure that I can accomplish all of this but I only have to last until May... And I'm still aiming for that sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon time...
And you know what...why wait until next Sunday...when I can start this past Sunday... I ran 5 miles Sunday...2.75 last night and made it to the gym this morning...It's that darn morning at the pool that will be the hard part. I'll keep you posted!
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