I can walk again!! (Go Team Lean!!)

My run on Sunday was so much fun. Don't get me wrong, I've never done anything that I found that hard, but somehow, it was still fun.

So, my official finish was 2:54:40. That is from my Garmin. My chip time is 5 minutes more, but that is because I took a pee break and had to stand in line for a stall, if you can believe it!! I'm not counting that as part of my run time, since I was sitting! ;-)

I did really well for the first 14k....then the pee break....then my groove was gone! My hips were killing me, and I really finished the last part of the race running for a couple of minutes, walking for a couple.....on and on.... At one point I actually wondered if I could even finish! Somehow, I did.

So, I finally see the finish line, see my walking group waiting for me there......then I look over, and there is my husband and daughter! They came down to surprise me! Husband took the picture that I posted on Sunday. They stood there from the 2:30 mark (in case I actually was a speedy). They were cold, but they were smiling so big at me. I saw husband, ran over to him and let out the biggest sob of my life. I actually lost my breath! I think the race people thought I was trying to steal my race chip - cause while I was hugging husband and daughter there was a man at my ankle trying to get it off! Husband cried at my reaction to them being there. I don't think they have ever done anything that thoughtful. It made the pain worth it! He said me finishing this race was a really big deal, and he wanted to be there for it! I told him he might be a keeper yet! (haha)

The night before the race the dogs we were dog sitting had me up all night. I don't think I even got 4 hours sleep.

Oh, the brunch after the half marathon - totally worth it! It was at the Sheraton Hotel and it was delish.

So, lessons I learned from this run that I can apply to my next half marathon run (which is the end of May)

* make sure to get the long runs in. I only ever ran 12k before the race - and I would have benefited from the mental training had I done the longer runs. You really do need to train yourself to go further.
* have food with me. 14k's in I was STARVING to the point of distraction. I'm sure if I'd seen a small kid with food I would have taken it from them!!
* figure out my goal finish time and what pace that is and then practice that pace. I think I started this race too fast. My avg pace was 8:13, but I started the race under 7. I likely would have felt better for longer if I'd slowed it down.

I'm sure there were other things, but that's all I can think of now. Overall, it was a really good experience. Of course, I can think that now that the pain is gone. I had trouble going up and down the stairs even as late as last night. Monday I went to the Club and did the bike for 30 minutes. Really slow, but I thought it might work out the kinks. I guess it did, cause today I feel much better!

The best part about doing that race? I so inspired my daughter that she is thinking of trying a mini-triathlon!

I realize I'm kinda going on like there aren't a million people out there running half's (and more!) all the time. I'm just so happy that I finished!!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Did I Run the Half Marathon....or Didn't I????

The picture says it all, baby!! More tomorrow - I'm exhausted and having a glass of wine!!

Freaking out...what else is new (Go Team Lean!)

I needed to take a break from blogging for a bit. It was taking me hours to read all the challenge blogs and it seems counter productive to spend hours sitting reading about food.

I have been stressing about the half marathon I have to run on Sunday. I just got an e-mail from the running room with a map of the new route. Crap. I hate last minute changes like that. We went out a week ago to do the route so that I would know what to expect, and now it is all different. Well, not completely different, but different enough to FREAK ME OUT!!

This morning I contemplated just not doing it. Then I thought - that's stupid - just do it. The thing is, the only reason I want to run it is because I'm not a good walker and 22k is just too much walking for me. Then this girl at my club started yapping at me about how long it would take. I think I mentioned this before. In any case, I went from just wanting to run it so I would finish faster than walking to worrying about my end time. I hadn't even been worried about time. URGH!! Why do I care about what people think? I kept telling that girl I just wanted to finish and she kept saying "ya, but in how long?? I did it in 2 hours". I just said "ya, well, I would think you would, but I'm more of a jogger than a runner"....but she still kept asking for a time. Then I finally just blurt out 2.5 hours (totally unrealistic) and now I feel all this pressure!!!

I did weights last night. If you had asked me what I was working on, I would have said upper body. But today I can hardly sit or stand my ass is so sore. So I guess it was more of a full body workout!

I was chatting with a friend on facebook and she has decided to train for the next 16 weeks to do a body building competition up in Fort St. John. Isn't that amazing? The training that is required for that sort of thing is amazing. She will be doing weights 6 times a week and empty stomach cardio 5 times. I asked her to start a training blog - I think it would be very interesting reading.

My BIL called husband today to see if we were going to get FIL a present for his 70th b-day. Husband explained that right now we have no $$ and we have a couple of gargantuan bills coming due in the next few months (the balance of his business loan being one of them). I guess FIL wants a 40" plasma tv (don't we all?). I normally would never tell my husband not to spend $$ if he wanted to except that his parents came into town over Christmas and spent no time with my daughter. They cancelled out of Christmas breakfast at the last minute (they had come every year for breakfast for the past 10 years) and even though they were in town for a week, they only saw my daughter when they came over for dinner Christmas day. That is their choice, certainly, but if they can't give us (my daughter) their time, I am sure as shit not spending $ we don't happen to have to buy them a fucking tv. I was so angry when I heard this. Truth is, I was so hurt at Christmas, even if we had the $ I would have said no. I don't think you should give a gift if your heart isn't in it. You just end up resenting it. At least I do. In the end, husband had decided no before speaking to me about it and had already told BIL this. The icing on the cake was when husband told BIL we didn't have the $$ to buy half a tv, BIL actually asked if we had vacation plans this year - like if we did, then we should pony up for the tv!! Am I out to lunch to think that one thing doesn't have anything to do with the other?? It just so happens that we don't have plans, because we don't want to take a vacay we don't have the cash for, but....

On top of all that, the actual reason husband even called me was to tell me we need a $700 brake job for our car today. All of the above was just an aside to that.

I have two days of contract work next week. So that is good. I have to go in and train the girl again that I trained last November. So far I've been paid to show everyone the same stuff around 3 times. I guess as long as they want to pay for it, I shouldn't worry about it. I have been hoping for some contract work....two days isn't much, but better than nothing for sure.

OK. I suppose I have rambled now like an idiot. Sorry. This stuff has just been swirling around and around in my head. It helps to get it out in a forum like this. Better this than picking up the phone and yelling at one of my relatives. Well...maybe not better for you guys who had to read it...but.... ;-)

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Much Better Mood

Phew - I'm in a much better mood today.  I did get dog out for a walk yesterday and it felt so good to have the sun on my face.  It was ridiculously nice out yesterday and even my lullulemon jacket was too much -  I had to unzip my jacket.

Puppy is still adjusting to his new booties, and he managed to kick them off no less than 4 times.  Twice, sadly, I didn't notice and we had to walk back from whence we came to look for the missing booty.  Little monkey - likes to keep my on my toes!  Anyhow - he was happy to have the sun on his face also - and he didn't even bark at one person that we passed!

Not much on the agenda today.  I've already been to the Club for a massage that hurt like hell.  Tonight is Belly Dance.  Should get out for a walk this afternoon - take advantage of the nice weather.  I'm sure that I heard on the radio this morning that it is supposed to snow tomorrow.  Shitters.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Biggest Loser TV - Spoilers (Go Team Lean!)

GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH!  That Joelle!!  OMG!!!  She just did not get it.  Even in the end when talking to Carla.  I loved that episode.  Husband was completely engaged - I haven't seen him pay attention to the tv like that without there being a sporting event on ever.  We had to pause the broadcast to pick daughter up - but husband would not budge until he saw Joelle's weight loss.  0.  Oy.  Sometimes I wish you could see 24 hour feeds like on Big Brother.  You just don't know what they are doing with the editing.  But, for her to make that comment about Carla working hard, and Bob's team having more teams to vote....that made it seem obvious to me that she wasn't fussed about the fact that she wasn't trying.

And the gal who only lost 2 lbs at home.  Ha - I can so relate to her!!  I said to husband - that is the most realistic thing I've ever seen on this show.  She is what most people go through.  It was nice to see that little dose of reality in there.  Like they said - they are the Olympics of weight loss.  She had clearly embraced her opportunity being back on the ranch and worked hard.  Nice.  

How cool was it that both Bob & Jillian called people out and just said - hey, if you aren't loosing it's cause you didn't do what you needed to.  I knew the whole "maybe you gained muscle" thing was bunk because my trainer had told me that unless you are actually training for competition and eating as such - you won't ever gain weight from working out with weights.  

Can I just say how much I love Tara and Filipe & Sionne?  (I don't know if I spelled their names right, but hopefully you know who I mean).  I love how hard they work.  I love the effort they put in.  I love how positive they are.  I just love everything about them.  I sure hope all 3 of them are able to go far so we can have lots of viewing time with them.  

I had a really rough day yesterday.  So down in the dumps.  Hopefully today will be better.  My laptop is so broken.  I have been having trouble turning it on, and getting it to stay on.  Today I tried to lift the screen and the entire top part of the keyboard area lifted (the hinge on the right side of the screen broke) and the entire computer fell apart.  We so do not have the $$ to buy another computer right now.  Ugh.....I'm using daughter's computer right now.  Much to her dismay.

Tonight weights with husband at Club.  I have to get the dog out for a walk.  Both of us will feel better if we get some fresh air.  I'm sure of it.

I don't feel like reading blogs right now.  I'm in a crappy mood and I feel like if I read one more blog that says "oh, I ate this (hamburger, slice of pizza, piece of KFC) and NOW I will have gained" I will scream.  We have to (and I know this from previous week's experience) eat 3500 EXTRA calories to gain a pound.  That is more than a slice of pizza.  See, I'm cranky.  Cranky from seeing myself reflected in the 216 blog entries I have to read.  ;-)

Well bloggers.....have a healthy day.

Ugh

Ugh best describes my mood this morning.

Last week I:  worked out with weights twice, ran 3 times, belly danced, did yoga, and walked 18k.....oh, ya and I gained 0.7.

I wrote my weight down and though F*CK!!  I did all this hard work and this is how I'm repaid?  

Well, I did some bookkeeping with my points....and I overate even for all that activity.  

I have written out my nutritional goals for the week (something I haven't done for two weeks now).  I am going to look them over every morning before I start the day - just to keep it fresh.  Nothing to do now but move forward.

My first reaction was to quit the challenge, but I'm not going to.  

My computer is pooched.  It has been doing a disk check for 3 hours now.  That can't be good.  I'm using my daughter's awesome Mac.  It is so nice and tiny and light.  I'm jealous.

My mom's husband is due to be released from the hospital today.  This is good news.  His operation went well.  He should recover nicely.

I've been to the Club already to do my weights.  It took me almost an hour today.  I tried really hard to concentrate on form and take my time, so as not to use momentum.  It was really hard, but I embraced it!!  HAHA!

My 18k walk yesterday morning almost killed me.  I don't know why I think I can run 22k.  At least now I've seen the route, so I think I will be able to give it a good go.  I was so tired after the walk though, I actually fell asleep in the hot tub!  I then layed down on my bed before my shower for "5 minutes", but slept for almost an hour and a half!!  I was out cold!

Have a healthy day bloggers!