My hilly run

I went out for my first hilly run today. It was 3 miles and I climbed three decent-sized hills. A good portion of the run was at a steady incline, too - much different than the flat-as-a-pancake roads I run on at home.

I was excited to get out. It was a nice, sunny afternoon, 64 degrees. No kids, no stroller to push. Peace and quiet. I checked the clock as I headed out the door. 3:01. I walked the driveway, then hit the pavement at what felt like a nice jog. Downhill...good start. Then came the first big hill. Not too bad, though my legs were still fresh. Flat for a stretch, then downhill once more. At the end of the road, my mom had said I could go right (flat) or left (a climb) to a certain point to make it an even 3 miles. Today I chose left. A long, steady climb. It was a little rough, but I was able to get through it fine, I just told myself that I'd be going back down soon enough.

Back down I went, followed by the steady incline that was my way back home. Remember the downhills at the beginning? I was making up for them. As I climbed my way home, I kept giving myself one more spot to run to. After I hit that sign, it's flat for a minute, and so on. About half a mile from home, the run started to get really hard. My legs were tired and my chest was tight. I'll just run to the park, then I can walk. Wish I could say that I just kept running, but I didn't. I passed the park, but I did stop to walk for about 20 seconds, then started trudging up the incline once more. Stopped to walk for about 10 seconds, then finished off the last 100 feet strong.

When I walked in the door, the clock read 3:31. 30 minutes (give or take a few seconds)! As my average pace at home is a 10 minute mile or more, I was quite pleased with roughly 10 minute miles on hills, with a couple short walk breaks.

Just thought I'd share. We'll see what happens when I try to take the double jogger out...if I dare.

I'm trying

Lots is going on in my life right now. I'm currently in California, living with my parents for the month while Bryce stays home and works on our kitchen remodel. We felt that, for the kids' well-being and his and my sanity, I needed to take the boys on a little trip. So life has been crazy, busy, and a little stressful. And on top of that, it's DECEMBER. My most favorite time of the year...one of the busiest times of the year.

In the midst of all that is going on, I am looking forward to the potential "break" from the daily grind at home. The constant nagging feeling that dishes need to be done, something needs to be cleaned or organized, someone needs to be somewhere, is gone. At the same time, the very real challenge exists - that I am basically single-handedly parenting my children for almost a month. Yes, Grammy and Gramps are here to help (when not at work or on their trip next week) and I am so grateful to them for the help that they can offer, but you can't argue that it's not quite the same as daddy when it comes to certain matters of parenting.

So, in an effort to truly enjoy this crazy month for my family, I'm trying to stay positive. I'm trying to do lots of things, like...

• be patient with my kids when they are overtired and refuse to nap or go to bed right way
• not fly off the handle in sheer frustration when both boys are upset about something completely different than the other and want my immediate attention when I only have one mind and body to take care of their issues
• recognize that while I may be stressed with my two kids here, my husband is in a lonely quiet house, missing us (and yes, I know he misses us ;-))
• be thankful to my parents for letting us, their grown daughter and her two crazy little guys, move in on their peaceful home 
• stay active and productive while I'm here so as not to be bored out of my mind when I'm home alone with the kids
• find reasons to be joyful
• spend some time with the Lord, praying and reading my Bible
• help my mom prepare for Christmas
• prepare myself for Christmas
• finish reading RLAM (I'm still loving it)
• start reading Choosing to See (can't wait to start this one)
• run some hills (there are an abundance of them here), even though I HATE them
• catch up on my blogging
• eat as healthy as possible considering the season...

I think if I keep these things in mind and have a positive perspective, this month will be pretty great. Bryce will join me in a few weeks' time and soon we'll be celebrating our Savior's birth together.

Instead

So, I committed last Sunday to running 3 times this week - 3 miles each, and 4 miles on Saturday. I also committed to no sweets and to keeping up on my bible study.

Well...I did about half that. Two 3 mile runs this week and one 13 minute run on the treadmill before both boys woke up prematurely. I did stay away from sweets M-F, with the exception of a sliver of pumpkin pie on Wed. night. Don't know why I let myself have that. So wasn't worth it. As for the bible study, well, I failed miserably on that one, I'm sad to say. 

Instead, this is what I did...

I painted the new dining room



Moved the boys' toys into the old dining room



Organized their playroom

Moved furniture into the new dining room

And let my house be a disaster in the process

So, while I didn't get much of a cardio workout, I did workout my arms with all the painting and moving things, and I was on my feet almost all day for the last two days.

As for my commitments this week...here's the plan:

-Keep to my bible study, doing each day when it comes, not saving it until the last minute

-Stay away from sweets M-F again (except maybe Thanksgiving)

-Run in the morning on Mon, Tues, and Sat

-Do a group run on Wed night

I think I'll stick to those four for this week. Life is about to get really crazy with our kitchen remodel coming up and, at that point, I may just need to commit to keeping my sanity!

the "first" run

So, yesterday...

I went out and did a 3-miler yesterday. I took the boys in the double jogger and headed out in the mist (and just a little fact about me - I LOVE running in the rain). I was prepared for a good, easy 3, okay, maybe not quite so easy pushing a double jogger carrying 50 extra pounds...but relatively easy.

Um...I'm an idiot. The fact that I haven't run in several weeks (a few of those weeks I had to take off after a minor medical procedure, the other weeks - well, excuses, excuses) and the fact that I hardly ever run with my jogging stroller didn't seem to sink in until I was actually out there. Those 3 miles were harder than I'd like to admit and truth be told, I only ran 2 of them and walked the rest. It's okay...I'll get it back, I know.

And since stopping to walk during my run didn't hurt my ego enough...when I stopped for a second to see how the boys were doing in the stroller, Trevin's response to me was a lovely eye roll (seriously, where do they learn this stuff?) and a simple "go fast." Well Mr. Trevin, I don't see you running right now...(okay, I'd never really say that to my child, at least when he's 2 and a half).

So back at it. It's amazing how quickly we can get out of shape!

I Commit

So it's technically "I Commit Friday," but it's not Friday today, is it?
My friend Meredith is hosting this on her blog, so I thought I'd join in. I love the idea of a little accountability.

This week, I commit to:
-running 3 miles three days this week
-running 4 miles on Saturday
-not eating sweets Monday-Friday
-keeping up with my Beth Moore bible study homework

What do you commit to?
 

Gearing up

Okay, I've always been one of those runners that runs in whatever old workout clothes are lying around. I've never put too much thought into comfort. I don't always match when I run. My clothes sometimes even have holes in them (gasp!). My outfit of choice is usually some old shorts from high school and a cotton tee shirt or ribbed tank top...fancy, I know. And while this has worked for me, I will often find my shorts or tank top riding up in their respective areas. I may even be too warm or cold.

I feel like in order to get serious, I should maybe get some running gear. Aside from my running shoes (which I did get fitted for at Fit Right...I mean, if you're wearing 12W running shoes, you may as well get good ones, right?) I don't have much of anything, except for your basic spandex capris and one moisture wicking tank top and matching pair of shorts.

So, while I really want something like this for Christmas to go with our upcoming kitchen remodel, I'm thinking I should really ask for running gear and I'd love to know what YOU think I should put on my list. Recommendations? Please?

fresh start, new blog

I'm turning over a new leaf, and it started with this book...



I'm only 4 chapters into it, but I'm hooked. I recently went to a book-reading that was being hosted by some awesome running moms at my church. Sarah Bowen Shea was there to read excerpts from the book she co-authored, Run Like a Mother. I had heard good things about this book and thought I'd check it out. Truthfully, I wasn't really in the mood to go to the reading, but I had a feeling there would be something there, just something, that could really help me. And there was.

To start, I should let you know that the last nine months for me (since Tyson was born) have been characterized by what you'd probably call "baby blues." I've been craving order in my life, rest, change, something different. Change needs to happen and since I know the Lord and that His will for me is not to live in anxiety and sadness, but to have peace and a joyful heart, I know I need to do something about the way I've been feeling.

So anyway, after the reading on Wednesday night, I brought the book home and dove into it.

I.love.this.book. There's so much I love about it so far that I really can't go into it all or I'd be writing a way-too-long blog entry. But basically, I love that the authors come right out and admit that running is not easy and that getting up early to do it is not fun. I love that they express why they do it anyway, why they make it fit into their insanely busy schedules, why they accept no excuses. I was especially hooked when reason number 1 for one of the authors was (in my own words) the mental high from running that helps combat depression. I'm completely sold.

So I've got a plan. I'm going to run like a mother. No more excuses. This night owl is going to become an early bird (yikes!!!) and I'm going to do something that might actually make me feel better.

So here's to a fresh start and a new blog. Stay posted!

(I will still be updating my boo-momma blog, as well. I'll be posting my family stuff there. It's private, so if you want to follow it, send me your e-mail address and I'll add you!)