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. 

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.