Yup. I know.

I'm a total slacker. So let's recap the past year, shall we?


*I lost approximately 20lbs between January and June. Woohoo!

*In May, I face-planted in the road on a run and sprained my ankle pretty bad.

*Later that month, I lost my running partner.

*Started slacking on my running.....

*Dealt with some pretty serious depression during the spring and summer.

*Picked up a Karate class at the end of June! Loving it!

*Still slacking on my running.

*In the early fall, I picked up a Kettlebell class in addition to Karate. Loving it too!

*Last week I found a new running partner! Back to running!


Karate and Kettlebells have done more for me both physically and mentally than anything else I have tried. Between January and June, I was working out 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week. The last few months, I have been working out 2 hours a day, 2 days a week. I now have muscle tone, I have maintained the weight loss, and I feel stronger and more confident. People tell me I look like I have slimmed down quite a bit the last few months, and though I am not losing that in weight, I am in inches.

I have my yellow belt in Karate and am very close to getting my orange belt. I have also began helping with the kids' Karate class in the evenings.

My new running partner I met through Kettlebell class. We both wanted to do a little more, so it's back to a 5k running program! We are doing the 5k 101 if you are interested. We meet before Kettlebell class to run 2 days a week and meet on a third day during the week to run and do extra kettlebells on our own.

I can't put all this out there without mentioning the awesome people I have met through these classes. They have become great friends and I enjoy working out and hanging out with them!

I am hoping to start 2013 continuing to grow stronger both mentally and physically, get back into running full force (so much easier with a friend!), and building my self-esteem.

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!

We joined the local YMCA the other day. A good friend of mine begged me to join so we could go together. However, by the time I joined, it was only another $20 a month for Shaun to join. And then, by the time we paid that, it was only another $10 to add all three kids. So we just did it. Funny how that works!

So later that night, I met up with K (same friend that just cost me an arm and a leg) and we "worked out" together. Started on the treadmill (feels like forever since I have ran) and I made her run a whole mile straight at a 12 minute pace. It about killed her, but she did it. And I was secretly happy that I barely broke a sweat!

Next was the stair machine, which wasn't bad. Then K wanted to do some ab work. Which, after having 3 kids, kills me. But I did it (and am paying for it 48 hours later). I think we may try to meet up a few days a week and do this.

There is a yoga class I may sign up for with Caitlin. Some "grown up" girl time. And K and I may attempt a Zumba class and make fools out of ourselves. Neither of us is very coordinated.

All in all though, I think this will be good for us. I need to get back into my running (their treadmills are better than mine and with the cold weather around, that's good) and I definitely need to lose weight. So here's to 2012, weight loss and running!

Slowly getting there...

My schedule still feels hectic since the surgery. Yesterday was my second run, 2.9 miles. However, the hill that I recently conquered? I think it conquered me.

Getting to the bottom was easy, stopped to stretch a bit and headed up. Made it about 3/4 of the way up and my legs felt like jello and I was wheezing. I do not have asthma, but there was no doubt with that little whistling sound as I inhaled. So I walked to the top so I could get my breathing/wheezing under control. Once there, I started running again and forced myself to take the long way home. And I survived.

I kind of forgot about the wheezing episode, once I caught my breath, I didn't hear anymore whistling noises. However, about an hour after I came home, I had a tickle in my chest and I started coughing. I kept coughing every minute or so and felt like I couldn't catch my breath. By this time, I was on my way to work. Shaun was at Wendy's (next door to the school where I teach), so I called to see if he had his inhaler. Nope. So I ended up digging through my friend's son's backpack and used his inhaler (with friend's permission of course). I felt so much better and I stopped coughing.

I'm not sure what happened, like I said, I don't have asthma. I'm guessing it was a combination of the lack in running the last couple weeks and the cold air (it was about 30 degrees out). From now on, if it's below freezing, I will take Shaun's inhaler with me when I run! Scary!

Been kind of crazy!

My youngest daughter had her tonsils and adenoids out and ear tubes put in. Things have been a little crazy.

On the running front, I have been bumping up my miles. Each run has been 5-6 miles. I try to run 3-4 times a week, but have only managed 2 a week lately between the holidays and Emily's surgery. My longest run to date was 6.36 miles. It was tough. Luckily, Pastor usually goes with me and that makes it a ton easier.

Shaun finally conquered the Hill. Sort of. He, um, did not enjoy it as much as I did and struggled a lot. But he did it!

Hopefully, I can get back to a better running schedule soon. I need some warm clothes!

Why?

I visited my dad this past weekend and was rather disturbed. He is a big guy, tall, big-boned, and can stand to lose quite a bit of weight. And I realize he has bad knees and arthritis from a lifetime of sports injuries. But he was barely able to walk after getting off the couch, was hobbling around like a 90 year old man (he is barely in his mid-fifties). He made a comment that he was sore from mowing the backyard that morning. And FTR, it is a postage stamp yard, half filled with a pool and a barn. So, I am a little worried about him. I even asked him if he was this bad now, where was he going to be in 10-15 years? I told him he needed to start exercising rather than sitting on the couch watching sports and golf all day. He wasn't real interested in that.

So after my 5.5 mile run the other day, the snarky person inside of me sent him this text "Hey old man, I ran 5.5 miles this morning!"

He didn't respond.

I talked to him on the phone the other night and he mentions the text and asked me why I punish myself like that. I responded that it wasn't punishment, that I enjoy it.

So why do I run? Pastor and I had this conversation during a short run yesterday. He was curious if I felt it was a healing process for me due to a difficult childhood. No, not really. It's crossed my mind, but it's not my focus. I don't think about that while running.

So why?

It started out because I wanted to lose weight and I hated it. After starting and stopping a couple times, I found the Couch to 5k program and finally stuck with it. After nearly 2 years, I haven't lost any weight, but I am sticking with it and I love it now.

I love that peacefulness I experience while running, just me and the road and God. I love that feeling of accomplishment when I am done. I love (and hate) pushing myself physically beyond what I think I am capable of. I love pushing myself mentally, that when my brain tells me I need to stop because my body is exhausted, I can tell it "maybe later". I love the energy burst I get after a run, it's better than coffee (though it will never replace it)! I love having it as a way to spend time with good friends and my husband and my daughter. I love how it's a stress reliever when I am upset. I love running.

Running has given me a healthier body. Even if I haven't lost weight, I am still healthier than I was 2 years ago. Running has given me confidence I didn't realize I had lost. Running has given me a sense of inner strength. Running has given me a way to break through obstacles in life.

Running is a gift I give myself every time I go out.

6 days, 3 runs, 12.75 miles

Wednesday, 4 miles
Saturday, 3.25 miles
Today, 5.5 miles

I am definitely bumping up my game now. And you know what? I feel better with these longer distances than with the shorter ones. It almost feels easier in a way. I guess I was ready to move on. A new route probably helps too.

There is a half-marathon relay coming up in less than a month. Shaun and I are considering it, but he is worried about the weather. There is a 5k that day too, so maybe we will do that instead. 3.1 miles in crappy weather is better than 6.55!

Perfect time of year

Fall is the perfect time of year to run. Perfect temperatures, smelling the leaves, all that good stuff.

I haven't ran since Saturday (I did 2.8 miles that day). Sick child and only about 6 hours of sleep in 3 days, I just wasn't feeling up to anything strenuous. So this morning I texted Pastor (of course) to see if he was feeling up to a run. Of course he was!

I should know by now, that every time we run together, he pushes me. Usually far beyond I think I can go. But for some reason, I enjoy running with him and maybe I am a glutton for punishment. Or perhaps, unconsciously, I want to be pushed. Either way, I know what I'm in for when I ask him to run.

So we meet up and venture off on a slightly different route than usual, but will still take us to our normal turnaround spot. We get close and he suggest continuing on down the road and down this ginormous hill. I concede. Running down the hill was so much fun! As long as I didn't look behind me anyway.....

We get to the bottom and stretch a bit. After a few minutes, I said "let's go, I won't be any more ready to do this than I am now." So we went back up the hill.

It's a pretty big hill. We live at one of the highest points in the county. It goes up a bit, levels off, goes up a bit, levels off, repeat......you get the point. At one point, we had to stop due to a tractor and traffic (didn't want to get run over) and we walked one of the level parts. In all honesty, the hill wasn't as bad as I had always thought it would be.

The rest of the run was good. We did walk a few times. But physically I felt great! We got to the end of my street where I decided I would be done and walk home. He didn't agree and suggested we run back down to the other end of my street. I agree on the condition that I walk home from the other end as I had enough of hills for the morning. So we did. Back at my driveway, my distance was 3.88 miles. He told me to finish up to 4 and I did.

Pastor definitely pushed me today. I conquered 4 mills and the ginormous hill. I'm not sore anywhere yet as of 2 hours post run. Lots of water today. Maybe I can get Caitlin out to run today, she hasn't ran since the 5k. If I feel up to it, maybe we will both go out together. Or maybe she will get on the treadmill. We will see.

But I feel good. Really good.