I run for my kids...

Do I even deserve to be called a runner?

2012-03-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

Even though I read the books, subscribe to the magazine and visit all the blogs, and even get out there and do my 12 minute mile pace, it feels like I'm an imposter when I say I like to "run" or I am going for a "run". Like I should be saying that I'm going jogging instead. Even Runkeeper feels like something to be used by the cheetah runners, and not certainly by me. I think I'm in a speed funk. I don't want to push too hard when I'm THISCLOSE to finishing C25K V2.0, so I keep at a pace I know that I can hold vs. pushing even harder and not reaching my goal. One more week of C25K and then speedwork is my next goal. I want to have a 10 minute mile pace again.

Swingset Sweepstakes

2012-02-27T21:56:00.004-08:00

https://www.swingsetsonline.com/backyard-ideas/backyard-blog/playsets/January%202012/Double_the_Prize_Double_the_Fun_Sweepstakes

My kids would so totally adore this! They love to be outdoors and have fun climbing and swinging so this would be right up thier alley. Totally crossing my fingers!

Would totally love to win this!

Long time no see!

2011-11-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, I think my time of temporarily flaking out on this blog is over. After I graduated from C25K I kinda got lost... 9 weeks of having a strict fitness plan was a huge motivator and bonus for me. I like having rules and guidelines... when left to my own devices I end up doing whatever and being lazy and not being the healthy individual that I am striving to be. Also swapping my runs to indoor has been very, very rough. I am extremely slow and poky on the treadmill. Today, official Day 1 Week 1 of Bridge to 10k, I only managed half of the distance that I'm supposed to be covering. It's hilariously sad. :P But it's still exercise, so I pressed on. I'm glad to have an app and a plan again, something to follow. Next to come is a goal list!

Here's a pic from today's 'fun' on the treadmill


yeah. i realize I'm horribly poky slow on this thing vs. outside.

Can't believe I've hit Graduation Week

2011-10-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

I'm at Week 9, I can't believe it. When I first decided to do Couch to 5k after being inspired by my friend Annie, I thought this would be like most projects that I started and uh, didn't exactly finish, but NO I actually followed through this time! Yesterday was Week 9 Day 1 and though I did it on the treadmill, (now understand why I have heard it referred to as the dreadmill).

Dreadmill!

Though it was crazy hot and I turn into a nuclear reactor when I run, I managed to run for 30 minutes straight! That's just crazy! I can remember Week 1 Day 1 and huffing and puffing at 1 minute of running and thinking there was just no way that I would ever be a runner when I was that out of shape. It's so exciting to be on graduation week. It seriously seems like the time has flown by and I am shocked that graduation is Sunday. Wonder what my next program will be? I need a program to keep myself accountable! Oh and I'm so proud of my hubby! He did work straight to church board meeting til 11pm, and then came home and did his run! SO SO proud of him!!

And btw: Does anyone know why one is SO much slower on a treadmill than outside? It's SO weird! Why do I feel like I'm going uncomfortably fast on the treadmill when I manage that fine on the pavement??

So excited!!

2011-10-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

Traded an old laptop that we resuscitated with $20 and $20 for a new keyboard for.....

THIS BABY!!

folds up so I can keep it in the living room!

sweet digital display!

I'm so thrilled! Not bad for a $40 treadmill! Everything works great on it, and now I'm not scared of the rainy days that are coming! Or getting in a workout before bed! Extra exclamation marks!!! ;) I might be just a tad amped...

Blah run

2011-10-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

So Sunday with Week 8 Day 1, running 5k was awesome. Then Monday hit and hurt my neck, no running for me. Then Thursday, finally better, go for a run, expecting greatness and awesomeness and the thrill and accomplishment of another good run.

Did. Not. Happen.

We started running straight off, slow jog through the warmup. Hubby was in front of me 2 blocks ahead the entire time almost, THAT'S how bad I was dragging. 2 miles in, with another mile to go and I was just done. I had a Lia Sophia party that I was already going to get to late so I threw in the towel and decided not to prolong the misery of the disappointing run and cut it short and went to the place we let Tay run on the way home instead of the extra 1 mile loop. SO disappointed. I know I'm supposed to rest a day between runs but I really want to go out today (blue sky, YAY!) and redeem myself and get in 5k.

Speaking of 5k, my costume is on it's way for the Monster Mash 5k! While hunting for Taylor's costume I found an awesome pink devil costume with tail, ears, and cool arm sleeve capes. Plus it will be very easy to run in once If find a pair of black shorts. Getting really excited for the run :)

Banjees Wrist Wallet Giveaway!

2011-10-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

A Duck on the Run: Banjees Wrist Wallet Review and Giveaway!

Team Sparkle Giveaway

2011-10-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Team Sparkle Giveaway

Active Bands Giveaway

2011-10-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

Gourmet Runner: Active Bands Review and Giveaway: Click this link at your own risk, but let it suffice to say that I have some wild hair. No, not a couple of curls. A wild, beastly tangle t...

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

The two far sides of the spectrum

2011-10-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

On one hand I'm going to call the doc in the morning about my neck. Being totally not-functional with a spasming neck is not working out.

On the other hand I decided to be optimistic about this not derailing my running goals and registered for the Monster Mash 5k in Eugene. Hubby thinks I shouldn't have with the neck injury, but hoping they can do something to get me back out on the road... it's not til Oct. 30th anyway. Praying hard that the doc can do something for me. Heck I'd even take a shot at this point, and I LOATHE needles, so you know the pain's gotta be bad!

Pain horrible pain. :(

2011-10-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

So who would have thought that I'd be immobilized by pain that was unrelated at all to running?!?

Yeah, the second time I got up to go the bathroom (having two kids ruins the body for life, I swear. Worth it, but ruins your body) I felt this awful twinge in my neck. And then anytime I moved my neck left I felt such horrible excruciating pain. This morning I climbed out of bed and tried to go to the bathroom and ended up crying on the floor for a half hour :(. And now I'm on hour two sitting in the living room with a heating pad wrapped around my neck. Actually I just traded it out for a ice pack. Well, a package of frozen brussells sprouts wrapped in a towel, but it multitasks well that vegetable. I am being totally honest when I say I have not felt pain like this since my fibroids when I was pregnant. Man I hope this is a 24 hour thing... I have W8D2 tomorrow and I need to kick butt!!

Cake giveaway

2011-10-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

With Eva's 2nd Birthday on the horizon I want to win a gc to Cakes With Jaz!

Week 8 Day 1

2011-10-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

Awesome day!! No, the weather did not cooperate with us again. Apparently Mother Nature thinks it's hilarious to have clear sky on our off days and rain when we need to get out there. We were all ready to head out and then Runkeeper said it had a error and needed to be reinstalled so I sent the hubby and kiddos on ahead while I tried to reinstall the app superfast. Got that done finally and needed to catch up with the family, so decided to do a light jog with the warmup instead of walking. I totally got in the zone with the music and the scenery and the drizzling rain. Kept my normally flaming hot body rather cool! By the time I got to mile 2 and was heading home and knew I would be at or more 5k by the time I got home I decided I was going to run the whole thing to see how well I might be able to do a 5k in. AND I DID IT! I ran for the 5 minute warmup, the 28 minute run and the 5 minute cooldown, that's 38 minutes! I can't believe that 8 weeks ago I was having serious issues running for 1 minute. (So many exclamation marks I know, lol). It feels SO good to push your body to a point where you never thought you could be. This is totally how I feel...

Most awesome run EVER

2011-10-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last night Week 7 Day 3 was on the docket for the hubby and I. Once again the weather decided NOT to cooperate and to be a total biotch by lightly raining. So we put the giant umbrella over the stroller and headed out. In way it was really nice because there was no getting too hot because there was always a nice mist to cool me down, lol. At .33 miles we took off running like we normally do (Couch to 5K requires a 5 minute warm-up walk). We ran down the streets we normally did, went down one and back to add in some extra mileage, and I hit this point where my legs just kept on going and I was in some kind of running zone. It was such a welcome difference from when I try to countdown the 5 minute alerts on my phone that the app gives me. I was enjoying being out there, seeing the houses pass, enjoying the smell of the rain and the scenery. It seemed like it went by so fast, and then all of a sudden my hubby was asking how much longer we had and I said 1 minute. He thought I was joking and had cut it short, since I was worried about him having another bad asthma attack like he did after Week 7 Day 2. So we cut across two streets when the 5 minute cooldown run started and then we RAN HOME. That's how good we felt. It was 5 blocks down, but felt amazing! I hope more of my Couch to 5k runs feel like this. Though we are trying to find a treadmill because the pouring rain is imminent and it's going to suck to run out there in it.

BTW: Here is a good resource for running remixes, Rock My Run I downloaded one that I used last night and it was AWESOME. Ke$sha, Muse, The White Stripes, Shiny Toy Guns. Seriously amazing. Totally got me in a great running mood too. Bring on Week 8!!

So THAT'S what a sunrise looks like!

2011-10-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

So despite doing W7D2 yesterday, my awesome friend Andrea wanted to run in the morning, and I will take whatever running opportunity I can, even when it's in the morning, when I cannot function until 10 am.

Got up at 6. Plan was we would heat out at 6:30. Notice it's still pitch black outside. Not good. I like to stay alive and not get hit by cars. Do a quick check of sunrise. 7:15. CRAP. Didn't plan that out very well. Text her to say we will go out at 7. Did I mention the weather forecast had sunshine? No clouds? Did I mention that it was raining this morning? What's up with that???

Anyway, we soldiered on, ran, walked a crazy hill, ran some more and then got to talking, and well... walked the rest except for a few bursts of running to not be total slackers! Hence my craptacular pace. For doing 6.5 miles in less than 24 hours I think I did ok ;) Now to save energy for Week 7 Day 3 on Friday night and then onward to Week 8 next week! (I'm a bit excited to be nearing the finish, can you tell?)

W7D2 done!

2011-10-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

Did Week 7 Day2 of Couch to 5k today with the hubby. We got into 12 minute pace averages (even with the warm up and cool down walks! :D That was totally awesome. Our paces are all over the place because it's Oregon and there's nary flat land to run on, there's always a crazy hill lurking around a corner. I'm trying to get to the 5K distance in the time allotted, so think I'm doing good on schedule since I ran 2.5 miles today and that's how much you should be doing.

Of course that total of jogging didn't factor in the end of the run jog with my little man. THIS is a HUGE reason why I run. I want to show him that fitness can be fun and exciting in whatever sport he chooses, but he is so excited to get out of the double stroller and run as fast as his little legs will take him for the last little stretch before home. It's SO adorable. Especially when he bends over all red cheeked and tuckered out and sighs loudly 'I'm so tired!" lol.

Subbing in the elliptical...

2011-10-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

Well the weather is super crappy and rainy. Yes I know, PNW, I expect this in October.. I'm just THISCLOSE to finishing up C25K! Sigh. So anyway, tried to do W7D2 yesterday and failed. Lotsa stuff I don't want to go into, but the gist of it was that it's apparently impossible for me to run while wanting to cry and being super angry. Whoda thunk it huh? So today I'm desperately needing some good exercise since the last successful day I had was Saturday. Enter in my sister-in-law's elliptical. Boy is that puppy hard! I did 30 minutes on it and felt good, so hoping I'm now ready for W7D2. BRING IT!!

Saturday Deep Thought...

2011-10-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

Telling your spouse that, and I quote, "you let the lazy win" is probably NOT going to inspire them to get out there. Sigh. I love having a buddy doing the same thing as I am, but am not going about it the right way to get him excited about it.

Totally unlreated to running but this. is. mindblowingly. amazing!

2011-09-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Three things Thursday...

2011-09-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

Three random things in my head about running....
1) Why do most running blogs I read use garmins instead of their smartphones? Preference? Lack of data plan? Does Garmin have something awesome that apps do not? I looked up the price of one of those puppy's and was in OMG shock. For that price I'd buy a iPhone4! Although I have seen that they have heart monitors that come with them and that would be amazingly helpful to have an accurate idea of the calories I've burned instead of just guesstimating a boatload and using Runkeeper ;)

2) Running blogs are SO inspiring! I'm a mom of two. I'm TIRED. I was up last night at 10, 11, 12, 1, 2 and 3 because my oldest (4) kept waking up crying. Today the hubby and I are going to tackle Week 6 Day 3 of Couch to 5k. If you are unaware, this particular day is a 5 minute brisk walk and then 25 minutes straight of running, no breaks! and then a 5 minute cooldown. On days like this when my energy level is not quite where it should be, I like to read blog after blog. Reading recaps of other people's accomplishments is so motivating to me.... totally gets my head in gear, even if the energy level is trying to get there as well!

3) I need to eat better.... I had a hot dog rollup with the kids today (hot dog in a tortilla) and though the hot dog was one of those healthier preservative-free ones I still felt yuck afterwards. Can't wait for a new food budget tomorrow so I can eat cleaner like I want to.

and now a pic of the kiddos on the route we are going to take tonight to do 3 miles! May quite possibly be the redneck capitol of Oregon but at least there's beautiful scenery to run by!

Shameless vote request

2011-09-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

This really has nothing to do with running, BUT I am trying my darndest to use every method available to find votes, so here goes. I entered my kiddos in a Cutest Faces contest. I never usually do this because a) I hate seeing vote requests and b) I already know my kids are cute, don't need to win something to show that!, but the prize for this one is a photography session, which this mama could definitely use, and also there aren't many entries so I figure I'm going to try hard, even if I'm already way behind. If you want to help
you have to like TLC Photography http://www.facebook.com/pages/TLC-Ph...74166235933425 and then the photo that is here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.293680160648699.94515.274166235933425&type= 1

It's the one that I use here on blogger as well. My son is entered as well and he's the cute smiling little boy that's swinging :)

Thank you so much in advance!

Newton GC Giveaway

2011-09-27T16:10:00.001-07:00

GC for Newton Running Shoes giveaway! :D

New Kicks!

2011-09-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Well they aren't the fabulous pair of Brooks Glycerin 9s that are on my wishlist.... BUT I'd rather not rob a bank for new running shoes that don't bruise my poor little piggies. So I scored these at JC Penney's for an awesome price. I admit, I kinda got suckered in by the pink, lol, but they are comfy and size 7.5 so hopefully my toenail issues will be fixed. You can see the now retired 6.5's in the back, the evil ones that gave me the bruises. Maybe I will keep them for just church volleyball league? Or save them for the Warrior Dash 2012 which I WILL DO, warrior buddy found or not!

Starting Week 6!

2011-09-25T15:51:00.001-07:00

Finished Week 6 Day 1 today! So hot to run in but still feels good to push my body and get out there :)