My Shoes

OK - If you've ever had a conversation about running with me - no, like a serious, no sarcasm, no joking, all out conversation...you've heard me talk about RoadRunner Sports. 
I first discovered RR about 4 years ago.  A friend that I was teaching with swore by the "treadmill/video Program".  That's where they watch you walk/run and then fit your foot with a shoe.  Well, those of you who know me...know I like gadgets, gizmos, technology, and all things that are about ME!  I HAD to try it.

I LOVED IT!  They talked to ME!  They fitted ME!  They came to ME!  It was all about ME! 

(No narcissisum involved - just lots of selfishness.  Gotta be honest...I'm a mom of 4 and a wife - someone has to think about ME!)

Tim went with me, and I have to say... he mocked ME the entire time!  He sat there with a smug smirk on his face.  When I said, "What!?"  He laughed and said, "You are eating this up.  You are totally hooked on this system."  Well, duh!

35 minutes later, we emerged from the store with a pair of shoes and inserts that are specially molded for MY feet.

That is when I truly started running...

Then, the twins came along... and I ran less...
Then, we opened our business, the twins started toddling, and Ashley was in high school.  My life...became busy busier, and I became lazy.  I was too tired to do anything at night.  So I stopped running.

But now... I'm back.
I returned to scene of the crime...RoadRunner Sports.  I told them I needed new shoes, new inserts, and a new body.  I told them I was going to run a marathon.  Guess what?  They encouraged me!  They said that although the "new body" part was going to be all on me...?... that they were confident I could - and WOULD run that marathon.  They even said that since I am declaring it out loud...it has to be done.

So... here are my new shoes that will take me to my marathon...Please S.G....Help me!

And Then Came Wednesday

Wednesday is my normal day for "catch up". 

I catch up at work,

go out of town to catch up on shopping (we are limited where I live), and

catch up on house work.

Today...I was PREPARED!

I packed my healthy 10am snack.

I packed my healthy 1pm lunch.

I packed water.

I didn't worry about my other snacks because I had to be home by 2:30pm to pick up the T-Man.

Oh the best laid plans...

On the drive up the mountain, I was planning on how to powerwalk my way around each store...I was prepared to push heavy carts, hold on to large packages, and get my "rear in gear".

My first stop was Kohls, I had a 30% off coupon...I had to.  I was going to save Tim so much money!  30% people!!!
Yeah... I strolled.  I stopped.  I admired.  THEN... I tried on.  I wanted a new swimsuit for our Spring Break trip!  And here... I got a workout.  Trying on suits, trying not to cry, and trying to not actually see me in the mirror.  By the time I was done - there was sweat involved!  It's a stinking swimming suit!  After that workout, I knew I was doing GOOD!  So I ventured over to the kitchen department and put a Baby Cakes Cake Pop maker in my kart.  (Don't ask - somehow I was justifying it!)

When I emerged from the store...it was snowing!  Awesome.  I burn more calories in cold weather, right?  Perfect!  Guess I get to stop at Hobby Lobby...I refuse to divulge what was in my cart, what went through my head, and what came out of my wallet.  It's a girl thing.  It's a craft thing.  It's my thing.

During all of this...I was drinking copious amounts of water.  Silly me...

I still had to hit Home Depot, Michaels, World Market, Pier 1, Trader Joes, and Costco.

I am a healthy, energetic woman on a mission.  I will exercise.  I will tone my body.  I will drink more water.  I will do more shopping...because so far...that power walking, heavy lifting thing isn't working..

Needless to say... I did not get any type of workout in (with the exception of the swimsuit escapade).  I found that it is WAY hard to eat a salad while you are driving, drinking that much water while shopping makes you feel like you have a toddler with you (remember those days when you were potty training your little ones and you visited EVERY SINGLE bathroom of EVERY SINGLE store you went to?), and my "green smoothie" looked nasty all dried out in the bottom of the cup that sat in the car all day.

But don't worry!
                I will persevere! 
                                           Tomorrow! 
                                                                                      I hope.

Tuesday's Mix It Up!

Hurray!  Day two!  I'm on a roll!

Positives affirmations are important.

1 Chronicles 16:11

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

As I headed off for work this morning...I had a plan.  The minute I finished payroll I would run sneak home, log 1 mile on my treadmill then get back to work.
Success!  Not only did I get my mile in, but I ran for 1/2 of it!  Good for me.  (Positive affirmations people!)

I felt so good that I ended up texting and facebooking during office hours.  BIG OOPS!  That meant that I was behind on my work and wasn't able to SNEAK out early to hit the gym before picking up the T-Man, my kinder kid!

That's OK - We will shop for healthy food, pick up the littles (aka: the twins), and go home.  While the boys play, I will jump on the treadmill.

Again...Umm.  No.  Instead we made fruit smoothies and mommy washed the veggies, washed the dishes, and started dinner.

Boys are in bed...

Finally!  I'm going to get some exercise time!  The wind here today is hideous.  Even my slothly body might blow away if I went out in it.  (Thank you Lord for the blessing of bad weather...for without it I wouldn't have an excuse to stay inside where there is light.)

I took the recent issue of National School Board Association with me because there is an article on technology that I wanted to read, and my iPod was already hooked up so I was Good To Go!

I was cruising right along with my tunes, and really enjoying this month's issue...keeping the exercise first and foremost in my mind by varying the elevation...when "Let's Twist" by Chubby Checker came on.  (Tease if you must...I do enjoy some oldies)

Please.  I urge you all.  If you have that anywhere on your playlist...delete it!  It causes serious bodily injury when you attemp to twist on a treadmill at the elevation of 6 and the speed of 4.

I was able to finish the rest of my exercise...but I have to tell you... I think I have been traumatized.

Exercise is a dangerous sport.

Monday Night Stroll

Tonight, I went for a walk, but ended up jogging (according to Ashley) when  thought I was running...

My friend S.G. is a marathoner.  She runs in them for FUN!!  I'm not sure, but the woman could very possibly have some serious ADHD issues - she is always in motion!  I LOVE her for so many reasons...she is tall, she loves the Lord with all her soul, she is raising beautiful children, she is skinny, and she is always happy.  (Therefore...if I run I will be tall, skinny and happy.)  Don't wory S. G.  ~ those reasons are only a tiny sampling of why I think you are Awesome!
Sorry, I got off track...
Anyway!  When I asked S.G. when she finds time to run the insane amount of miles that she does, she replied, "I run at night."  Then she walked bounced out of the room.  (She is a lot like my favorite cartoon character, Tigger.)  I sat there stunned.  Then I yelled, "I am afraid of the dark!" 
She laughed. 
Seriously.
 I am afraid of the dark AND she LAUGHED!!!!!

So I set off on my newfound plan of running walking jogging exercise.  My daughter, the teenager, was with me.  (Thank goodness!)  I'm not sure she will ever be the same again.  She did ask if she should be seeking psyciatric help at her age...I'm not sure what that was all about!  Here is a look at our journey...

Me: normal blog font
Ashley aka: Sister because the boys struggle with the "sh" blend: in blue

Slow down...I need to warm up.
We haven't made it to the drive way yet.

Oh man, sister.  I forgot about this hill...and it's not even the big one!

Dude, does that car really need their brights on?

I'm out of breath.
We haven't even gone a 1/2 mile yet, let alone made it to the mailbox!

How far have we gone?

Boy, seriously does that guy need to have his brights on?

I have to pee.

I'm breathing heavy - is this normal?

What if I have a heart attack? Will you dial 911
Not if you fall face forward and end up laying on the phone.

How long do we need to climb this hill?

Are there vampires in Camp Verde?

I smell cigarette smoke - do you think there is someone hiding behind that mesquite and he will attack us?

Do "boogie men" fly or run or jump? Do they have super powers?

Oh my gosh! I think that is a skunk! What do we do? Run backwards, stand still, try to jump over it?

I still seriously have to pee - please slow down - it hurts!

I hear something in the leaves...it is following us!
Run faster!!!
I can't run! My stomach hurts.

Why are there so many cars out at night?

 Are we half way yet?

What if a javalina comes after us? I don't think I can out run a javalina. Mom - you can't outrun one of the twins. Oh yeah.

So, what are you doing tomorrow night? What do you want? To ride bikes. No. I have plans. Doing what? I'm not sure yet. You are grounded.

Hey! We are going down hill now. Lets run. Do I have to? Yes

This is not fun.

I think I pulled a muscle. Can we slow down?

Hey!  I know that guy!
as a little sports car driven by a hormonal young man pulls up next to us...
Then the little turd actually paces us!  Are you kidding me?  I'm trying to be tough and just keep running - I don't want this little 18 year old punk to know how pathetically out of shape I am ~ and he is telling us how fast we are/aren't going!

Oh look - I see our house...1/4 of a mile away. It's time to sprint mom. No.

I need to let a stinker...

I don't understand S.G. She makes it look and sound so easy and pleasant.

I need less distraction in my life.

I think I will do better on a treadmill - just me and the iPod - no vampires, skunks, javalinas, teenagers, cars, bright lights, leaves, bushes, smokey air...

At least I got my three miles in!  (And under 1 hour!)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

I Am A Runner

... or may be I am a walker...

...or perhaps ~ a WOGGER!!

You know a person who walk/jogs.  You can't call it walking because nobody can comfortably keep up with them, and you can't call it jogging because well, you just can't.  It's not fast enough, but I don't really know how fast you have to jog to make it a jog vs a run or even a speed walk...I need to Google it!

Here is the scoop - yep, this handy little blog of mine has become - once again - a personal journal.  If nothing else, I hope you get a chuckle out of my foibles...or at least learn from my injuries (to both body and psyche.)

I joined a group, Lose 30 pounds in 100 days.  Count me in!  I need accountability, I need external motivation, I need help!  At first, I "played along"...reading what others said, commenting on their successes, and encouraging their frustrations.  Then I realized - these ladies are losing some serious poundage.  I want in on that!

I took before pictures - no, they will not be posted here unless at the end I look absolutely, freaking amazing!  Then maybe.
I weighed myself.  (Sorry - didn't do the measurement thing.)
I created a plan.

Part of the plan is to run.  For some insane reason I want to run a marathon.  Why does anyone want to run a marathon?  I have no idea.  I think it sounds cool to be able to say, "I ran a marathon - I'm still alive - I ran a marathon!"
For those of you who don't know me...

• I had to Google how long a marathon is.
• I have 4 children - 1 of them is a teenager ~ she is the easy one of the bunch.  The other 3 are still little and cannot be left alone, only one of them is in school all day, my husband and I both work full time (out of the house), so to take the kids with me is not acceptable because they are too big for a triple stroller, and they aren't ready for a bike yet.  Do you understand the challenge?
• My job is a DESK JOB!  I roll in my chair from my desk to the printer.
• I think getting up to get a book should be considered exercise.
• I have ADD.
• Although I definitely have weight to lose...I probably shouldn't lose 30 pounds.

For Christmas, my wonderful, awesome hubbie bought me a Snap membership. (Snap is a fitness center in our town.)  I was thrilled!  I started off great ~ we would go together every morning at 4am (when all the kiddos were asleep and the teenager was home) ~ I would come home and want to fall promptly into bed!  Eventually, due to weird circumstances... we quit going.

My NEW goal...because I read somewhere that goals should be ongoing and should be revised to fit the needs ... blah, blah...not sure.  I just needed to revamp!

Monday - Wednesday - Friday: 

• Walk/Jog/Run/Sprint in the great outdoors (Hopefully with the teenager)

Tuesday - Thursday:

• During the 10am break ~ sneak home and get 1 mile in on the treadmill. 
• After lunch ~ hit Snap for a mile on the elliptical and pump some iron, baby! 
• Then grab another mile on the treadmill at home when the littles go to bed.

Off we go!  Follow my newly shod, Roadrunner feet!

Grateful for Rainy Mornings

We were in a slow spot at work so we had to make some cuts and I had to go into the office...which means I have less time to "play" with my blogs.  This morning, I decided to take the time to enjoy breakfast at a local coffee shop...it dawned on me that I haven't stopped to look at God's blessings in my life.  Here is a recap...

1. Blessed with friends.  I can run out to the "ranch" with T.K. and the kids and it is as if time has stood still.  We can start from any point.  It doesn't matter that she has been on the road and I've been working...we are still friends ~ even when distance and time separate us.

2.  Blessed with health. 

3.  Blessed with quiet rainy days.

4.  Blessed with stability.  I recently went to a nearby homeless shelter/food bank and realized just how good I have it.

5.  Blessed with family.

6.  Blessed with work ~ especially when we are in a time where so many are struggling to find jobs.

7.  Blessed with the ability to help others.

June 18, 2011

Surprise!

Since I don't go visit my dad...

he decided to come visit me!

It was his Father's Day present to himself...

(yep, just a little guilt there!)

I love you, Dad!

Thank you for coming to see me!  I know what a trip it is coming up the hill out of the city.  I appreciate your efforts!

So thankful that I still have my dad,

that he loves me enough to drive the distance to see me,

and that we can still enjoy each other's company!

The greatest gift I ever had

Came from God; I call him Dad...