New Year...New Me?

    The Freak Fest plus their new cousins, Ella and Blake Morrison

I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted.  My life has been in some sort of crazy holding pattern.....I think.   My workouts are off and not as many, my eating is terrible--way too much snacking, my house is messy, I have been sick and passed it to the little man......

I need a fresh start it would seem.  Initially, I had a goal of a 8k/half marathon challenge in March.  I have not been able to stick to a plan thus far to begin to training for this lofty goal.  

Last week, I ran in a 5k locally.  Ran 32:24 which is not too bad, but it is in the wrong direction since I really want to try to break the 30 min mark.

I have also been having issues with shoes.  The hubby bought me a new pair of Nike running shoes for Christmas but the sales person at the mall led him astray from a proper stability shoe.  So, I found myself making a return.  Next I ordered a pair from Nike.com, similar to my current pair (which I love and they are discontinuing).  Not the right shoe, remotely.  Sent those back.....Then, found a pair like my current ones but different color.  Again, not the right fit.  Sent those back today and ordered asics.  I really wanted Nikes to use my Nike sport band but am frustrated by the lack of places that sell Nikes locally.  I should not have to drive to get them.  Ughhhhh!  I have a trip to Richmond this weekend with my sister and will give it one more try to find the right fit and if not, then I am selling the sport band on ebay.

My lofty plan for tomorrow is to get up and attend a spinning class at 05:45 at the wellness center.  Wish me luck.

Back on Track, maybe

Since starting weight watchers and running in June/July 2007, I have lost and started to maintain 65+ lbs.  I still have at least 15 more to go and then my goal is to have abdominoplasty, which I wanted to do by spring 2009.  With the continued exercise and training for races, I have learned that I can snack on chips, cookies, candybars, whatever... and still maintain this weight in the 170's.  Last week, I decided I needed to refocus on weight watchers, boost my exercise a little and get back on track with the weight loss.  Doug also is counting points with me.  This, however is a little frustrating because he gets 33 pts and I am down to 24.  If I get into the 160s next week, I drop another point to 23.  It is great to have his support with cooking and weighing food, etc. 

This week I weighed in and lost 3.8lbs.  I was very excited.  My only concern is our family trip to New York next week and all of the food I will be faced with while away.  

For my workouts lately, I have been making it to the gym again.  Last Sunday, Tisa and I worked out with a 10 min warmup on the treadmill, weights, and 10 laps in the pool.  I have been twice since to run on the treadmill.  Definitely not the same as outside, but after work, there is no sunlight.  

The family is leaving for New York on Sunday.  We have quite a full trip planned and are trying to stick to a tight budget.  We have been so blessed to have had our families purchase our show tickets,  Young Frankenstein and Mary Poppins, and my sister got us a room at a Hilton just outside of the city for $40 a night.  We plan to take some food for breakfast and lunch and only buy dinner.  

My sleeping running partner

I went for a run today.  This was my running partner.  I-man.  After less than a mile, he conked out.  I wanted to make sure he was warm enough.  It was 43 deg and windy.  He had on his winter coat, then his buzz lightyear raincoat which he is in love with.  Then of course the blanket.   I would have been toasty enough to nap too, I guess.

This was the first time I have run since the 1/2.  Holy cow.....painful run.  I will never take a 2 week break again!!  However, I ran 3 miles in 31 min which was pretty good, it did not feel good at all.  No rhythm, no groove, no high.  ugghhh!

10 things I am thankful for!

1.  Christ

2.  Doug and kiddos, Hannah, Makenah, Lilah, and Isaiah

3.  My dysfunctional family, Kuykendalls and Palmers alike

4.  Health

5.  Wit and sarcasm

6.  My running support team--Tisa, Jill, Doug, Karen, Dr. Bagous, etc, etc, etc

7.  My profession

8.  My iphone

9.  Diet dew

10. Tennis/running shoes....can't have enough and  my favorite pair of jeans to go with them....so comfy!

Post 1/2 Blah

Not sure why, but since the 1/2 last week, I have been feeling blah!  Not sure if I am disappointed in how  I felt during the run or not meeting my 2:30 goal or what.  But, I haven't run or made it to the gym at all this week.  I have read about this happening after you have set such a big goal, completed it and then think....now what!?!?  I am setting my sites on another 1/2 in March '09.  The Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach.

The challenge to myself would be to complete an 8k on Saturday of that weekend and then to complete a 1/2 Marathon on Sunday.  Very doable I think.  I would also like to train a little more aggressively to make sure I meet the 2:30 time frame (or faster--sorry Tisa:) .  For my first 1/2 I pretty much trained to finish.  Time really was not a motivating factor until the end, when I should have just left well enough alone, so to speak.  I should have just maintained my usual goals which are to 1. finish and 2. to not be last.  

Whatever the reason, I am waiting for the fog to lift soon.  

13 miles for 13 months!

This shirt celebrates 13 months of no alcohol and no smoking for Tisa!  The race being 13 miles also was tied into this big event of 13 months.  I wanted a t-shirt for us all to celebrate with Tisa!.  I also thought that the race being in November would be great for long sleeves, which is what I ordered.  Then a few days before, Brooke and Faye backed out because of childcare issues, 2 shirts down.  Next the forecast was rain, no good for cotton shirts since they would probably weigh a gazillion pounds with the water.  Finally, the weather ended up being 68-70 degrees.  Again, no need for long sleeves.  Oh well.  I hope she liked the shirt, and I will wear it again!  I was trying to be sweet, maybe should have just kept it simple!  Either way, great shirt! Great weekend!  Great race!

13 Miles DONE!

We did it!  13 miles, actually 13.1.  The official time was 2:31:32.  I wanted to finish in under 2:30, but I am happy none the less.  It's hard to believe the day finally came and went.  I actually paid for this run back in March and so much of the recent months has revolved around this event.  I know I have driven friends, family and coworkers crazy with training schedules, cross-training, race reports, new shoes, sore muscles, etc.......

Here we are at the finish line.....Me, Tisa and Karen!! I am so proud of all 3 of us.  Each one sacrificed in a different way to be able to complete this run! 

Tisa and I crossed the line together.  We stayed with Karen up to the last 3/4 mile.  She started wheezing around mile 7 and I was worried for her breathing a few times, but she toughed it out!

Usually I am the photographer, but I turned it over to Doug for the race.  This is a fun shot of our shoes.  The fourth set is our friend Valerie.  She ran the 8k that morning with a great time of 50 min.  Way to go Val!

Nora and Doug took the kids ahead in the race to see us.  We kept looking for them after mile 6 and were starting to get discouraged as we did not see them for a while.  Then at mile 9, here they are manning a water station.  When they arrived, there were no volunteers, so they jumped in to help.  Since we were in the middle of the pack, they must have seen about 2000 runners before us.  How cool.  They were also able to land some of the great volunteer shirts which I liked better than the technical shirt that was part of the entry fee.

Here we are at the end.  So proud of us!!!!!

Volunteers, Makenah and Thomas (Tisa's son)  Happy Birthday,  Thomas!