Spring...successes....failures....choices

I trained for a HM...and made it to 9.5 miles, then decided I was bailing on the HM.  Too many tummy troubles while running over 3 or 4 miles.

It's a bittersweet thing, to drop out a month before the HM.  On the one hand, I feel like a quitter, of course.  But on the other hand, a few positives emerged...
1.  I made working out a priority 3x/week for 3 solid months.  Didn't miss one run.  Cut one or two short due to having to pick up or drive a kid somewhere, but it just became understood that Tues & Thurs were "gym days" and that was going to happen.  I am grateful to my kids & husband for supporting me getting healthier, HM or not!
2.  I proved to myself that I can jog for a couple of miles non stop--I am a proud (and uninjured) Gallowalker, I practice running with scheduled walk breaks of a minute (proposed and taught by Olympic marathoner Jeff Galloway).  So I had sort of brainwashed myself that I could not even make it more than 5 or so minutes without a walk break.  Well, mind over matter--blew myself away in February when I ran for 30 minutes straight on a whim, just to see if I could do it.  So you know what?  This Gallowalking actually did build up my endurance!  30 min!  Learned something new and amazing about my what my tired, 40-something body can accomplish and how my mind affects it!
3.  I realized I don't have to prove anything to anyone but me.  A HM is not in my tummy's cards right now, ok.  Now I can seek out shorter races, maybe that local Tri a little voice in my head has whispered about each year when it said, "You should be doing this..."  Maybe a Muddy Buddy...  So new, shorter distance, more diverse opportunities are out there. 

I also entered a 30 Day Shred Challenge on FB.  Yes, again.   I can tolerate Jillian and her torturous ways for about 2 weeks then my ADD kicks in and I can't do it any more!  So I'll try that again.  As long as I am doing SOMETHING to exercise, that is a positive too, right?

Spring has sprung, optimism abounds.  I am blessed to have choices.

Day 9 of my 30 Day Challenge

This is where my brain is, now that winter has arrived...

Goals:

• Exercise:  NOT YET...  But I have done it every day for 8 days (30 Day Shred 7 days and gym for treadmill the other day).
• 7 hrs minimum of sleep:  NO.  6 1/2.  Getting better, but still gotta work on this.
• Eating "cleaner":  Yes, all week.  For example, definitely 5 fruits/veggies.
• Track my food:  Have done it every single day.  Woo hoo.

Grateful:

• My son just brought me coffee before work:)

Day 6 of my 30 Day Challenge

Goals: 

• Exercise:  YES.  Got up & did L1D6 of 30 Day Shred.   I am now 20% DONE with it!
• 7 hrs minimum of sleep:  NO.  Only 6.  Gotta work on this.
• Eating "cleaner":  WILL UPDATE LATER, TBD!
• Track my food:  WILL UPDATE LATER, TBD!

Grateful:

• For time off, very much
• For returning to routines

Off to work, first day back for me & kiddos.  Yay!

Gratitude:That my oldest son's eyes are just like mine, and when he locks into my eyes, I am so proud:-)
That my husband is a good man, loyal and true...
That my youngest son love hugs:-)

I 30 Day Shredded again today, Level 1, Day 4 (L1D4).  So I feel like I'm on my way:-)

Goals for 2012:

• Complete (without dying) the training plan and the actual Half Marathon May 6, 2012.
• Log my food at myfitnesspal.com
• read at least a few articles a week at Sparkpeople.com
• Drop a few pounds (10ish would be great)

I'm off to a great start, have done Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred for four days in a row now...my personal goal is to do it for 30 days in January (but I got a 3 day head start to allow for those days I can't work it in).

Am worried for when work starts back in two days, am hoping I can get out of bed a half hour early...wish me luck!

Best of luck to us all in our 2012 goals!

Day 2 of my 30 Day Challenge

JM 30DS
L1D2 Done.  It was harder than yesterday.  The real test, again, is when I go back to work Tues...

Off to New York City to see a bowl game:-)

30 Day Challenge & LT Goal: Happy 2012

It is crazy how the approaching New Year inspires me to cleanse, to revisit old habits, to continue to  make my life better.  Am I better off than last year?  YES:  better work situation, my son has a much better school situation.  I am part of a vibrant faith community, and I am blessed and love my husband with all my heart.
So, on an additional positive note, I completed a 5k this year, woo hoo.  And somehow signed up for a half marathon in May 2012.  Stupid mid-life crisis.  Some (younger, fitter) folks at church are doing it and encouraged me--who am I to say no? 

FYI, I completed a half marathon way way back in 2008.  In 3:02 (learned a tough lesson about dehydration that day).  I am 3.5 years older, now in my 40's, slower, a few pounds heavier--perfect scenario for a HM, no?  Major lol...

What I love about the long run is that it is ok to be slow.  I've been jogging (r/w to be honest a la Galloway) about 13 minute mile, on good days.  SO that is ok with me, really.  I am COOL with being in the back.  It's all good!  I work full time, am active in my church & its ministries, I am THE caregiver for my dear father with dementia, have two high-energy children with activities, and a hard-working husband.  I am cool with just finishing.

So I've eaten salad today, first time in too long.  And exercised.  And I aim to keep that going, here's how:

1. Joined my favorite internet community's "challenge" to lose weight and simply be healthier;
2. Joined a 30 Day Shred challenge on www.myfitnesspal.com.  I curse Jillian Michaels, don't know what I was thinking, ha!

I need accountability.  I had a great network of fellow runners when I was just starting running 5 years ago in my late 30's with a 1 and 4 year old--had never run in my LIFE!  I  checked in on a few of their blogs today--a few are off the map like I've been, but some are STILL GOING!  So exciting!  They inspire me.

Biggest reason to keep going--my kids.   I'll figure out how to get to the gym to run in the winter.  The kids want me to be healthy, we talked about it. 

Running 13.1 in <5 months. 

Shredded AND C25K'd Today

A Happiness Project is not easy, lol.

Here is the tally today:
30 Day Shred, Day 9, complete.

AND...

C25K - W1D2
Run 1 min, walk 1.5 min x 11
Distance:  probably slightly over 2 miles

Cool thing is I was starting to feel a little rhythm, a little more comfortable shuffling for the 1 minute "run" portion of this alternating run & walk.  And then the rain started dropping.  It felt good, but I started worrying about my precious, moisture sensitive iPhone...so I tucked it in my waistband and covered it with a hand.  Then my husband called and offered to pick me up, but I declined, said it wasn't raining too badly and by golly, I had a run to finish.

And then the heavens opened up!  He showed up a few minutes later, a site for wet eyes.  I loved running in the rain, it had been so hot today.  I need to rethink running with tunes & podcasts on my phone, though.

But I was starting to get a rhythm, despite the difficulty of hauling myself along the streets of my town.  And fit a little picnic lunch with my little one, after we had some reading time.  Good day.

C25K is back...

I just found out there will be a Half Marathon in my town in October!  I've been seeing some friends on the internet find success with C25K (Couch to 5K running plan).  I've been Shredding for a week+.

All that combined has made me start C25K again today.  Week 1, Day 1.  I completed C25K about 4 yrs ago, and about a year later ran a half marathon.  It was a high point for me!  I floundered with running after that, for years, for a number of reasons (lost my mom, Dad got sick & I am the health/financial caregiver, kids needs changed, job got emotionally draining, etc., etc., in a word LIFE happened, big time). 

It has been harder to get back into running now that my kids have hit the age of after-school activities, but as a teacher, I feel summer is my only shot to start--if I can't get it going now, I can't get it going anytime.  So wow, after W1D1 (Week 1, Day 1) I realize I have my work cut out for me.

C25K - W1D1 
Run 1, Walk 1.5 min
Time: approx. 40:00
Distance: 2.46 miles

It may not be an HM in October (big goal), but I'd love to complete the 5K they are having alongside the HM.  Either way, I hope to run more, while continuing to Shred!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

The clutter reduction and reclamation of our home has begun.
And Day 6 of 30 Day Shred is complete.  Feeling good:)

School's out, Shredding it, Summer Goals

School is finally out, recovered from a minor surgery, all is well.

On July 1 I began 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.  Did 3 days (they did get progressively easier, mercifully) but went away for a week.  So I got back in the saddle today, Day 4.  Am also tracking my food on a website.

I do not want to waste this gift of a summer.  My summer goals are:

1. Spending quality time with my kids (priority #1)
2. Getting my house into a bit more order & reconcile with FlyLady:-)
1. Clear out two rooms that have been taken over by "stuff"
2. Move kids'/our bedrooms around--this will involve painting some rooms (GIANT project, not sure this will happen)
3. Continuing to work to make exercise a priority.
4. Continue reading for pleasure
1. Have completed The Help, am now reading The Book Thief, next up, Hunger Game
5. Continue preparing for the school year:
1. Attended a 3 day conference and am nightly working on new initiatives for my classroom

Off to declutter for at least 15 minutes!