Monday, November 11, 2013

Samuel's Refrigerator Track

Sam made this track with the alphabet magnets on our fridge yesterday.  He is SO cute, isn't he?


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Two Miles!

Remember how on Sunday I ran 1.7 miles straight?  Well, this afternoon I did 2.0 miles!  To be honest, I'm not sure that I have ever in my entire life run two miles without stopping.  My pace was still 5mph (12 minute miles), but I ran for 24 minutes--another personal record--so I'm not disappointed.  At this point, I'm working on endurance more than speed anyway.

For most of the run I was in "the zone".  (I finally know what that is now!)  I was sort of singing along--in a gaspy sort of way--to the songs on my MP3 player.  The sun broke through the clouds behind me, casting everything in a golden light.  I watched leaves flutter freely to the ground.  A couple of birds soared over my head.  Most of the run was like that.

The last three blocks were the hardest.  I could see the end, but it felt so far away!
I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can.

When I crossed my imaginary finish line, I think I would have done a little dance if I hadn't been so busy trying to keep my lunch down.

Note to self:  Never eat two big tacos for lunch on running days.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Ten-and-a-Half

I did my weekly weigh-in this morning, and I was curious to see how my great (for me) run yesterday would reflect on the scale.  I was hoping to see 146, but it read 144.5!  I realize that some of that unexpected loss may be water weight, but I don't care.  I'm takin' it!  I'm up to 10.5 pounds lost now, and I've officially dropped to a size 8.  I tried on a pair of jeans that I bought at Goodwill to be my "goal jeans".  They're the same make and model of size 10's that I usually wear.  They slipped right up!

When (not if) I hit 140, I'll be down to what I was before I was pregnant with Emma.  I was 25 then.

If (not when) I hit 135, I would be at my wedding day weight.  That was 20 years ago next month.

Weird thing is, my wedding dress was a size 10.  Either sizes have changed (what used to be an 8 is now a 10), or I have more muscle mass for my size now than I used to.  I hope it's the latter.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Run Like the Wind

I'm not really a runner, but I want to be a runner.  Not sure why.  I think I've just always looked up to people who ran consistently.  It seems to me that it takes a lot of self-discipline, and I've always admired that quality in folks.

I also would really like to have runner's legs.  (I know.  I'm so deep.)

Disclaimer: These are not my legs.


In early summer I finally ran a mile straight without dying, and I was planning on running often throughout the summer with an August 5K in view.  Well, the 5K didn't fit with our camp schedule, and once that fell off my calendar, I lost my motivation.

When the kids started swimming lessons this fall, it was fairly easy for me to get a run in on the treadmill a couple of times a week while Lydia was in the pool.  So, that first five-week session I did two runs (walk/runs, really) and one day on the exercise bike (at home) per week.  This five-week session, Lydia's class got cancelled due to low enrollment.  None of the other class times worked with our schedule.  Therefore, I haven't had a decent workout in three weeks.

Enter today....
After cleaning out the mini-van for two hours (seriously), I decided to go for a walk before it got dark.  I was warm enough when I was vigorously vacuuming the van (nice alliteration, eh?), but once I got out on the trail, I was freezing.  It was 45 degrees, and there was a pretty chilly wind in my face.  But then, I ran like the wind.  I ran for 20 consecutive minutes.  Twenty.  And it wasn't even that hard.  Weird.  Looking back, I think I was simply trying to get warm.  My pace was pretty slow--5 mph--but I ran for about 1.7 miles, so that's a new record for me.  And I can only get faster from here.

Watch out runner's legs.  Here I come.  *wink*