Not really. But I had a great weekend. I had a burger and fries (complete with fry sauce...there was some chocolate somewhere in there too...it's only a memory now...) on Friday for my free day. (For those of you who don't know, I follow the Body for Life plan when I'm in weight loss mode.)
Then I felt sick the rest of the day AND into the night. I hadn't eat a single begetable all the live long day. It didn't take long for my body to retaliate. Persistent cramps and bloating made me feel large and sick for a good 14 hours. Nice. This is why I love free days; that's all it took for me to whip out the calendar, plan some meals, blanch me some broccoli, and charge the iPod. Saturday I woke up still feeling gross and told Aaron I was going to run until I felt better. 8 miles later I came back sweaty, sore, and happy. 8 miles. Did you just skim over that part? 8 miles, people. For many of you that's no biggie; for me, it's nothing short of miracle.
Tonight I passed up on a piece of cake. I think I might have higher-than-average run-ins with sweets - especially baked goods. But in a strange way, I'm realizing I won't have to wait long for something even better to show up. (last weekend it was homemade scones). And I can always plan my free days around the highest quality contender.
So I just got back from a 4.5 mile run; I added in some sprint intervals and loved it. Considering it's a cloudy and gray Monday morning, I'm feeling very ready for the week.
April 7, 2008
I Am a MACHINE
March 15, 2008
Race Day
1:00 a.m. : I realize that I am having a really hard time sleeping due to pre-race anticipation. It was a travesty really, all three kids actually slept soundly through the night and I was awake. The whole night.
3:37 a.m. : I contemplate taking a Unisom to help me sleep but figure it's too late now and it would probably make me sluggish for the race.
3:40 a.m. I fret about the Unisom. I really can't sleep but decide not to take it.
4:00 a.m. Still fretting. Now I'm remembering that I have to drive Aaron's car to the race so he can bring the boys in the minivan. It's an '82 Fiat. Stick-shift obviously.
Do I remember how to drive a stick?
4:13 a.m. What if I've forgotten how to drive a stick? What if I stall out at every light from here to there and am late and don't pick up my bib and I miss the start of the race...and I'm really tired because I've been pushing a stalled car...
5:11 a.m. Get up to check the dryer. I have to make sure my freshly laundered jogging attire has been adequately dried. I go check the iPod to make sure it's charged.
5:14 a.m. Try to relax and go back to sleep. Unsuccessful on both attempts.
6:35 a.m. I wake up (yes, *wake* up. Looks like I actually fell asleep for an hour!) to the baby crying. I'm up for good.
7:15 a.m. Eat breakfast
8:20 a.m. Leave for the race. Nervously go out to the Fiat...can't remember which key it is.... Having difficulty moving the seat forward...notice little guide on the top of the shifter has been worn away...
8:35 a.m. Arrive in one piece at race locale, grateful that my stick-shift anxiety was completely unfounded.
8:52 a.m. Eight minutes before the race. Do I need to go to the bathroom? I think I might need to go to the bathroom. It wouldn't hurt. I look and see the line for the ladies room is 26 ladies long.
8:53 a.m. I get in line. Do I really have to go? I'm not sure. Am I going to miss the 9 o'clock start because I am in line for the bathroom? All these ladies look like they're running the 5K (which starts later), should I just ask to cut in front of all of them to go before the 10K starts? Mild panic sets in.
8:56 a.m. The line is moving quickly. I'm almost to the front. I haven't heard the gunshot, that's a good sign. Mentally prepare to sprint out of line over to the 10K starting crowd.
8:58 a.m. Ah. I have successfully passed through the eternal woman's restroom line and was indeed able to use the facilities. That's much better. I take my place in the back of the pack. I realize the iPod didn't sync when I plugged it in last night and so I don't have any access to the new music I bought yesterday just for the race. I want to cry.
9:00 a.m. Ready, Set, Go!
I proceed to jog my guts out.
10:05 (and change) a.m. : I cross the finish line. In front of everyone...
...who started way in the back of the pack with me.
I ran my fastest 10K time. (yes people. I am that slow. 1 hour and 5 minutes was a good 10 minutes faster than my last non-race attempt) I always tout how I don't care about my running times but plop me down in the middle of a bunch of people who are mildly faster than me and apparently I do care. I'm thinking the no sleep thing actually helped. The crazy level was raised just a smidge.
My cheering section might have helped a little bit too!
Overall, I had a great time. There will definitely be more 10K's to run in the near future, but then I'm on to the half-marathon in August. (Aaah- August. That sounds so far away...)
February 26, 2008
10K, I Haven't Forgotten About You
Two nights ago I had a fun little realization. I am signed up to run a 10K on March 15. That's 18 days away folks. And so begins "Operation: Make-sure-I-can-run-6 miles-before-race" strategy.
Yesterday morning, I had a hard time getting out the door, getting the baby out of the high chair, helping the kids get breakfast and do their chores. My four year old screamed right as I was about to go out the door, "WAAAAIT! I need to give you a HUG! I'll miss you!"
I assured him I'd miss him too and reminded him I'd be back quick. I sent him to find Daddy and slipped out the door before I changed my mind to even go. I had my doubts, sometimes I feel guilty wondering if I should stay home to get everyone off to a good start for the day. But as soon as I rounded the corner from our driveway and started running I knew I had made the right choice. It felt so fantastic to be running a) on clear pavement b) without needing multiple layers c) and FEELING the sun. No regrets. I got home 40 minutes later and felt genuinely refreshed and energetic: totally ready to handle the kids. I did sacrifice a shower until later that afternoon, but it was definitely worth every step. And of course, they all survived just fine
I know I've been complaining all winter about having to run in horrible conditions, but when they're not that horrible, they're pretty awesome. Here are a couple of pictures from that run: 
(the famous rehab clinic)
I am beyond excited to be running in non-arctic conditions.
February 4, 2008
Cool Runnings
Apparently I can run on snow.
This picture was from my run on Saturday during a severe case of cabin fever; I had to get out. I can't say it was a great run, it was more like a necessity run to save my mind from the winter. I almost cried when Ingrid Michalson's "Far Away" popped on my iPod,
Far away far away, I want to go far away.
To a new life on a new shore line.
Where the water is blue and the people are new.
To another island, in another life.
I want to go far away.
Away away, I want to go far away, away, away
I want to go far away, far away.
Last night after a long day of snow and more snow, we saw a local weather lady on tv telling us to stay tuned for "...phase two of this snowstorm..."
To which a friend said, "more like phase a billion."
My thoughts exactly.
January 23, 2008
Mother Nature, Why Do You Torture Me So?
It had to happen this way. I put up an "I-can-run-in-any-weather-cause-I'm-awesome" victory post. So what happens next? Snow. And more snow. And more snow in the middle of the night. I wake up and if I can even see 10 feet out in front of my house through blizzard conditions, it's only to see another 3 inches deposited to the 8 that were there the day before. It's everywhere: the recently shoveled driveway, the street, the sidewalk. GO AWAY ALREADY. For the past three mornings I have gotten up and crossed my fingers as I peak through our front room blinds, Only to curse the injustice of it all, "why, why, WHY!?" I need so little to go running! But I do need to not run in a blizzard (and not on snow, it gets pretty dangerous even with a thin layer of snow over really icy pavement). Really. If snowstorms could just happen in the afternoons, my route would most likely be cleared by the next morning.
But that is not the case this week. So this morning, when I looked down at our driveway and saw this, 
I fought the urge to bag my workout for the day, bundled up my boys, and headed back...to the mall. I lucked out because it was a morning that Aaron was home and the crazy crawl-out-of-stollers baby was still sleeping. I was nervous because of my last mallwalking experience, but I packed up the double stroller and two older kids, and just hoped it would be different.
And it was! Night and day. My boys sat in the stroller for the first 10 or so minutes while I JOGGED pushing them.I didn't know how long I was going to be there so I went as fast as I could. Pretty soon my six year old was asking to get out because he wanted to "race" me.
"Alright. But yo. I'm pretty fast."
He smiled as he turned around and yelled, "I'm going to beat you!" and took off down the hallway. The four year old eventually got out too and they were both running as fast as they could in their little jammies and snow boots. So there I was, pushing an empty double stroller chasing after them.
It was fun; they were great and the crazy baby never knew what he missed. And although it really was a lot better than last time, I really do hope this weather lets up and I can go for a run tomorrow. Anyone else sick of winter?
January 17, 2008
I'm Over It
The fear of running in the cold, ice, and snow. I'm Over it. I ran every day this week even the day with single digit temperatures. THAT was cold! I got about 50 feet from my house and thought, "This is craziness! What am I doing out here!? Why am I not running back into my house?" I actually had one of my fastest times that day. If I stopped, even at street corners, my body started to chill. So I just kept going...faster and faster...until I was home. I've got to write these little victories down, they help outweigh the dorky stuff.
Like Today, I tripped and fell. And before you leave a comment telling me to get off that ice, it had nothing to do with weather. I tripped on a crack in the sidewalk. Nice. There was a girl waiting at a bus stop about 20 feet in front of me when it happened. I swear I heard a giggle as I passed her. I also, feeling very uninhibited because of my black winter hat (that makes me almost unidentifiable to the untrained eye), busted out a couple of dance moves at a stoplight this morning. Someday I'll get Aaron to hop in our car and follow me on my run. There's a video post for ya.
Since I'm too lazy and tired to connect these in any sort of cohesive paragrahs, here is a list of some of the things I've learned over the past week. Enumerated.
1) Although I think I lost weight this week (1 of the 2 pounds added over the never-ending holidays) I'm finding that I'm not having the same physical and emotional reaction to the number on the scale. Maybe I'm just tired of caring, I don't know. What I do know is this could change at any given moment and so I am enjoying the freedom from the oppression that is the scale. I still weigh myself every couple of days, I'm still running, lifting weights, keeping my food journal, everything. Maybe it has something to do with focusing on other things in my life right now, or the fact that I go running by the cemetery where Clay is buried on a regular basis. Every time I pass it, my heart hurts a little; I stop thinking about stupid things and start thinking about life. Family, goals, big picture-type things. Or it might just be that some kind of hormonal biochemical switch flipped. I have no clue. I may very well be back next week whining about some weight fluctuation (a very real possibility people). We'll still keep the Friday weigh-in...I think. Just for the accountability.
2) I like running. In the past it has always been a vehicle for calorie-burning but I can honestly say I'm growing to really enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, I miss my gym membership hard, but have been pleasantly surprised at how much I crave a good run. Even in the cold!
3) Every time I go, I have a turning-lemons-into-lemonade feeling. I actually in a weird way am glad we couldn't afford to renew my gym membership. Being shoved out of my comfort zone has payed off so far, and I've actually been *gasp* grateful.
4)It's been a week. Winter doesn't really end here until April. I've got a long way to go.
January 14, 2008
18 Degrees
I did it. I actually went for a run in the early morning in the middle of winter, in Utah. It wasn't that bad. The most annoying part was my face nearly being frozen off by canyon wind, oh and stepping knee deep in snow to push the crosswalk button. The other really annoying part was my socks kept slipping down, but that has nothing to do with the cold.
The highlight was running up a very large hill that made me feel like I was halfway up the side of a mountain. Well, I kind of was. I kept imagining Bob Harper jogging backward in front of me, "C'mon Katie. FASTER." I also tried out my new hydration belt. It was perfect! AND allowed me to bring my little camera to take a picture from the top of my hill:
One day down, four to go.
(FYI, Molly's finally back from her business trip and should be back on here soon!)
January 12, 2008
Overcoming Wussiness
I need to get over my resistance to running in less-than-desirable conditions. Here are my reasons:
1) As much as I wanted it too, the money for my gym membership is not appearing out of thin air.
2)The indoor track is only open certain hours, which are usually the most inconvenient ones for me. Plus, it takes 20 minutes to drive there in bad weather.
3) I'm supposed to be running a 10K mid-March.
4) If I don't get 3 or 4 big cardio days in a week, my stress level shoots through the roof. Really, I don't know how people don't exercise.
5) I'm loving Corinne's at-home workouts but don't feel like I'm maximizing the opportunity because I'm having such a hard time coming up with a consistent doable cardio solutions.
6)I see other people out doing it. And not the hardcores. People with iPods and un-fancy running clothes. Why do I have such a hard time? Mostly I'm worried about rolling my ankle, or slipping and tripping, getting injured and being laid up for a couple of weeks. Which would be catastrophic (see #4). But today I sucked it up, and went for a run on a different route. There weren't as many rough unplowed sections and it made a huge difference. I don't know why it's so hard for me to just turn down a different road!
7) I can't get Lucas' comment from the other day out of my head: "...Don't let winter keep you indoors. Get out there and show Mother Nature who's boss!" I take her comment very seriously because she is an outdoor runner. IN MINNESOTA.
I thought banishing mallwalking would be the answer, and it definitely has pushed me in the right direction, but I've decided I just need to grow up, stop being a baby and get out and run.
"...and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed."
(-I thought this was the USPS creed, turns out it's from Herodotus Histories)
January 2, 2008
I Endanger Running
I jog. And I wear Pearl Izumi's. If you don't know why that's funny check out this ad campaign. Can we just bask in that irony for a couple of seconds? (Just in case you didn't click, these will help you get the gist of the campaign. Just click to enlarge)
Hey I even went mall-walking this morning in them! And when I do attempt to run, I never quite look like an animal or predator about to catch his next meal, and let me assure you I am making no one nervous. So in the races I run where I'm terribly slow and am jaming out with my iPod, I hope people notice the shoes I'm wearing because that's right, they're my Pearl Izumi's. Maybe those people will base they're entire opinion of your brand on my run I'm sorry, jog.
Muah ha ha ha ha haaaaa.
Not so friends. At least one of us is!
*I don't know why I find this so funny, I should probably be offended, but I thinking that would involve caring a little more than I do. I mean they really do make a great shoe...maybe I'll be irate in six months or so...
December 27, 2007
Out With the Old, In With the New
It's time to bid farewell to the old shoes.
Now say hello to the new fancy ones.
Thanks to a friend (who shall remain anonymous), I was able to purchase some brand spankin' new running shoes from a real running store (no Sports Authority clearance racks this time thankyouverymuch). Aaron and I tried to do some research on the best shoes and top-rated woman's running shoes, you know, just to be prepared before the purchase. But as soon as I stepped foot into the store, the nice folks at Runner's Corner just took over. I was so obviously a newbie runner, the girl who was helping me explained everything she would be doing, like I was at a doctor's office about to get some new unfamiliar test done. "And then I'm going to bring out many different pairs of shoes for you to try. You will try them on. then you will turn and exit the store to test out each and every shoe. Understand?"
"Uh-huh." It sounded simple but after she had studied my old shoe (even taking it in the back to get a second opinion), and then demonstrated the correct way to lace it (that "extra" little hole down at the bottom? Ah-ha!) I was slightly intimidated. She even made me demonstrate my lacing ability in front of her so she could make sure I was doing it right. I must've tried on 15 pairs of shoes, and then tried on the favorites against each other. I took them all for tests runs in the parking lot...every time.
Well, the perfect shoe found it's way to my foot and I was blown away at how different it felt. Light. Cushy. Socky. I could not wait to go for a real run. I knew I'd have to wait til the next day seeing as it was evening and pitch black when we left the store. That night, shortly after we put the kids to bed I was summoned up to my boy's room. After a quick no-monsters-anywhere scan I turned around and bumped directly into this,
or I should say, my KNEE bumped directly into that left corner of my kid's bed frame. OWW! I didn't really think much of it seeing as my klutziness and the path of destruction that is regularly left through all parts of my house makes for a lot of these incidences. It wasn't until the next morning when I got out of bed and realized walking was painful did the realization set in that I would NOT be able to try out my new shoes that morning. As the day wore on however, my knee started to feel a lot better and I knew it was just a surface injury, a bruise at best. So mid-afternoon, I got my running gear on, all my winter stuff, turned around in my bedroom to reach my fancy shoes and OUCH. I hit my knee again. On our bed this time. In the exact. same. place. Tears were shed, yes, it hurt that bad.
Why did I have to bump my knee in the same place right at that time? C'mon! New shoes! A day where my husband is home in the middle of the afternoon to watch the kids, 3 days of Christmas eating, no precipitation. And I couldn't go. Yeah, I cried.
**My knee is feeling much better now.
I will go tomorrow...barring any further injuries.
UPDATE: I went. They were everything I hoped for and more. I could cry tears of joy just thinking about it.
