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. 

School's in

I've been working on C25K...interspersed with vacation, Hurricane Irene (which really hit our area badly), and school starting up again, I finished Week 3 of C25K.  It was not as hard as I thought running for 3 minutes straight would be for me:)  Since school & Irene, it has been a week since I've run, so I will get back to it.  I am registering for a 5K at the end of October, that is still my goal race.


I've begun to track my food intake in earnest again now that routine is more regular.  My checkup this summer was great, clean bill of health, doc said "Keep doing what you're doing" :)  I was 9lbs less at this checkup than the last time I went for a cold about 6 mos ago. 

I am keeping my mood/reaction to setbacks at work positive and in check.  In the interest of maintaining a positive attitude for the fantastic kids I work with, I am working personally/professionally on a great initiative  called the #30 Goals Challenge--it's for teachers and motivates them essentially to be a positive influence, acquire and share knowledge with students and other teachers.  It's a perfect tool in my personal happiness project.

 

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!

Happiness Project: Day 103

Am down about 5 lbs now.   WW is good:-)

AND went for a 3 mile walk night before last, bliss.  This is the key to WL for me, finding the time to get out there & move.

Work still demoralizing.  Husband and I had frank talk me "being home" next year, about all we would have to give up (there is much), but about all we could gain, too.  Still talking...  But it's amazing how just talking about it, seeing how supportive he is of me seems to have lifted the weight on my shoulders a little.  How life is about choices, and I am grateful to have one here.