A good run!

So, because I did not run for a week I was thinking that I was going to have to start C25k week 3 all over again, well once I got to the gym I decided to just go with week 4 and slow down my running speed from 5.5 to 5.0 I am so thankful I decided to say to hell with it and go for it, because it turned out to be an incredible run, inspite of the fact that I had to pee the entire time that I was running, on my last 5 min run I accidently pushed stop on my program so I ended up running almost 2 min longer than I was supposed to, I am so thankful that I have incredible friends who have inspired me to start running again, I had forgotten how much I truly enjoy it.

Uphill...Both Ways!

This morning was a hard run.  It was sub-freezing temps, the wind was blowing in my face while going uphill, AND I forgot my gloves.  But I made it.  Week 5 Day 1 of Bridge to 10K is complete.

34:58

Yup, that's the time of my 5k this morning!  I'm still not convinced it was actually 3.1 miles or maybe the clock was wrong, but either way.  I'm owning this time.  Look long and hard, because you will never see it again ;)

I miss running!

This week has been a tough week, I have not been able to run at all, due to kids being sick and my car not working, I have come to realize that I really enjoy the 3 days a week that I get to put my headphones in my ears and tune the world out while I listen to the Black Eyed Peas and literally run my butt off (atleast that is what I am telling myself.) I am really hoping that Dale is able to fix my car by Saturday so I can sneak off to the gym and run.

You're Welcome

You know what I've noticed?  People are really friendly at 5:30 in the morning when I'm running.  Everyone says hi and smiles - some people even tell me good job as I run...very encouraging.

You know what I'm wondering?  Is everyone always that nice or are people especially nice to the chubbies running at 5:30 in the morning.  Either way, to all the people whose days I make a little brighter, you're welcome.

Playlist

I'm semi-obsessed with Florence + The Machine lately (and, FTR, I liked them way before the SNL appearance and Glee cover).

While I love every song on the album, "Dog Days" has been first on my running playlist for quite some time for this lyric alone:

"Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father, run for your children, all your sisters and your brothers. Leave all your love and your longing behind, you can't carry it with you if you want to survive."

So that's why I run. For all the people in my life who couldn't (or still can't) run - my dad who blew out both knees seeking NCAA glory on the college basketball court, for my brother who battled cancer at age 26, for my friend Kit who was wheelchair-bound way too early and succumbed to MS before his 40th birthday, for Hannah and Lily who run with angel's wings, and for my daughter who can't yet keep up but watches and learns and will soon leave me in the dust.

BOO-YAH!

I ran this morning for sixty minutes and fifty-three seconds and during that time I ran 4.6 miles.  I'm pretty damned stoked!  At this pace I can run my half marathon in June in under three hours!!!

Crosswalks

Everyone knows that your children always are better for other people.  People continually tell me what a doll my three year old Tatiana is and I just laugh and say thank you, knowing full well when we get home she will turn into the holy terror she is, especially when she loses a mini game on Mario Party 8 for the Wii.  Yes, she plays the Wii, don't judge.

Anyways, I couldn't help but think of this as I was running this morning.  I ran a new route this morning that was less sidewalks and more "multi-use path" but which also took me along major streets and crosswalks.  I noticed that as I approached each crosswalk my pace got a little quicker, my step a little peppier.  It wasn't hard to deduce that I was running for other people at that point.  I wanted everyone at the stoplight to see that I was an amazing runner, truth or not.

So here's my thought.  Do you think they could plan a half-marathon course in nothing but crosswalks?  I think I could totally kick it.

Perspective

So this morning during my hour long "wog", it's a walking jog, my mind was going every which direction and I was trying to figure out at the 3.5 mile mark how I was ever going to run 13 miles.  And then I remembered that four months ago I didn't understand how people could run five minutes in a row and I decided it won't be that bad...hopefully.

What the Hell!

I don't know what my problem is lately but I have no, zero, ziltch, desire to run.  Part of the problem is I'm getting really good sleep at night - so good in fact I hate getting up.  I'm the type of person that sleeps because it's what expected of them.  I'm normally an early riser - like 5 or 5:30 - and I like it because I can get things done early and cruise around the rest of the day.  But lately I've been going to bed and I have to set an alarm, something I rarely do, to force my lazy ace out of bed.  Sigh.

Needless to say, I didn't actually finish Week 2 Day 2 of B210K (I did come close), but I have tomorrow and I can sleep and still get up and not have to worry about children getting off to school or husbands to work or babies coming over to be watched.  I can just get up and run...and sleep.

What's Worse?

1. The fact that I have to wear a Poise pad to make it through the jump rope and jumping jack sections of 30 Day Shred without having pants wet to the knees.

2. The fact that I'm 32 years old and have Poise pads on hand.

3. The fact that your kid tells you during every move, "Wow, Mom, this is really easy for me! Why are you so sweaty?"

4. All of the above.

Little Red House Around the Corner

When I was a kid, we'd play "Little Red House Around the Corner." Little Red House Around The Corner was a game my mom invented to get my brother and I to shut the hell up. Anytime my mom would yell "Little Red House Around The Corner" at us, we'd have a contest to see how quiet we could be. As an adult looking back, I think this was pretty ingeneous of my mom, at least until we got old enough and smart-assy enough to respond to her with gales of laughter instead of silence.

My husband has worked extremely late the last two nights, which does not facilitate exercise since I've got no one to wrangle my nearly 4 year old. I work more than full-time and, frankly, I'm not willing to get up even a 1/2 hour earlier to workout. So after work it is. Problem is that I'm equally lazy (if not more so) at night than I am in the morning so if I don't exercise as soon as I walk in the door, it doesn't get done. However, since I rock, I've powered through for the past two days. Yep, two days. Impressive, aren't I?

Last night it was 30 Day Shred, accompanied by a little girl using two remote controls as hand weights who thought it was hilarious to try and climb on my back for a horsie ride while I was doing push ups.

Tonight, I restarted the C25K program (in anticipation of then starting the 1/2 marathon training program). I'd classify myself as an intermediate runner. I mean, it's been a while since I was running regularly but I did complete a 1/2 marathon last year, so it's not like I'm a slug either. So I figured it would be no big thing to hop on the treadmill tonight. It took me about 30 seconds to realize (1) the treadmill effing sucks; (2) trying to run on a treadmill while simultaneously supervising your child effing sucks; (3) trying to concentrate on breathing, form and when the hell I'm supposed to be walking and running while simultaneously trying to avoid an accidental amputation of my child's fingers because -OMG- she just can't keep her hands away from the machine effing sucks; (4) running with only one earphone in so you can keep up a conversation with your child effing sucks; (5) and having your kid talk non-stop during your entire work out ("Heymomdidyouseethatwatchthisheymomwasn'tthatcoolheymomlook!") effing sucks.

At around 28 minutes, I was gasping for breath and screaming "Little Red House Around the Corner!!!!"

It didn't work.

My husband has promised to be home by 6pm tomorrow night.

Just a Penguin

So I finished week one of bridge to 10k today and I feel pretty good.  I'm excited to start mapping out running routes longer than three miles, so next week should make me feel accomplished.

I did stumble upon something while running this morning.  Every day is a struggle to get out and run.  Not because I don't enjoy it, but because there's that part of me that says I shouldn't be doing this - that little voice that says I'm too chunky, I'm too slow, I look ridiculous.  So far the other part of me is winning but I wonder how long it will take before all of me realizes that it's ok to get out there and run, even if I am just a penguin.