From Here to There - Part II

Source

So in my continued journey towards a full marathon I had mentioned that there are several areas I need to work on before I even begin the actual "training". Keep in mind that "training" means the actual training plan that is typically 18-weeks or so and prescribes the number of miles to be run on specific days. So far I am planning on using the Hal Higdon Marathon Novice 1. I'm still researching various plans, but after reading the book that kicked off this whole crazy adventure, I am good with going with that plan because, honestly, if it has worked for others why wouldn't it work for me, right?

Okay, so the second part of getting from here to there is my WEIGHT. Yeah, nobody really likes to talk about it all that much, but the reality is that I'm a heavier than average runner. I admit it. And I know that being a few pounds, okay 30-40, less would greatly benefit me as a runner. Granted, I'm nowhere near what I was at my heaviest. But it's still heavier than I should be.

I've struggled with my weight for pretty much my entire adult life. I've lost, I've gained, I've lost...you get the idea. The good part is that I at least seem to have leveled off somewhat as I have been in the same weight range for pretty much the past 3 years now. But it's still in the overweight range and there's still plenty of room for improvement. The less I weigh, the less impact my poor joints take and the faster I can run.

Now, my biggest problem is that when I am running a lot, or in training for an event, I tend to eat the calories that I'm burning and not always with quality food. I find that I really like using food as a reward for a hard run. Want that doughnut? Go ahead - you ran 10 miles today! Want that hamburger and fries - go ahead, you ran 5 miles! Want that smoothie, candy, bigger portion, __________ (fill in the blank) - go ahead, you're in training! So yeah, you get the idea; I could pretty much plug any item into a slot and come out with the same solution to the equation.

Yeah, I never was a math whiz, but even I can see that the equation above is a recipe for disaster. So not only do I need to LOSE some weight, I need to not add it back on once I do start to ramp up miles.

This is no easy feat, I tell ya! If there is one thing I've learned over the past several years it is that living a healthy lifestyle isn't that hard, but losing weight is! I can eat all the healthy foods in the world, but if I'm eating too much, or too little, or supplementing with junk foods then I'm not going to see the results I'm after. So what am I going to do to get me from here to there?

1. Re-read this guide. I read it a few years back, but I need the reminder.

Get it for yourself here

2. Start REALLY tracking my food intake again. I kind of do this already, but I seriously slack on the weekends which is my downfall.

3. Watch my portions. Again, one of my downfalls is that portions have been getting bigger and I've finished dinner totally stuffed too often lately.

4. Find an alternate reward system besides food for when those runs get progressively longer and harder. Food should not be my go-to reward. But I am absolutely horrible about actually giving myself a reward when it isn't food-based (how's that for jacked-up thinking?!?). I can tell myself that I'll buy a new nail polish, for example, but when push comes to shove I talk myself out of it. I need to do a mind-shift there so I recognize that I do deserve the rewards I earn. 

5. Talk to my friends about strategies for combating this. PLEASE, if you have any tips/tricks, pass them along. Lord knows I need all the help I can get!

So while I am still at a relatively slower pace and lower mileage my primary focus needs to be on losing weight. I'm not a fine-tuned athlete that needs to eat a gazillion extra calories because I'm such a well-running machine. I'm an overweight, forty-something average runner. I need to eat like a normal person that is trying to lose weight. The extra activity certainly HELPS but it does not give me a get out of jail free card. 

Google Search

As I continue my journey from here to there, I know that I am ensuring that, at the very least, I am putting the pieces together to allow me a successful journey to being a marathoner! Let's just hope that the mind, body and soul continue to cooperate.

From Here to There - Part I focused on rebuilding my running following a 5-month layoff and surgery recovery.

Question for you: What is your biggest struggle right now and what is your plan of attack?

Who Has Time For That?

So I thought about creating a board on Pinterest titled "Who the hell has time for this sh*t", but then I realized that it would most likely be the ONLY board I was pinning to!

Like this:

Seriously, who the hell has time for that???

Or this:



Any bets on how many times you would have to perfectly line up and then tape and re-tape that laundry basket to get POLKA DOTS on your walls? And any bets on how long it would take to get sick of looking at polka dots on your walls? And besides, who the hell has time for that? LOL



WTF??? Who the hell has time for that?

So I totally kid, but man - some of this stuff just makes me realize that I am WAY unsophisticated because I am lucky if I can swipe on two coats of polish on the tootsies because I sure as heck can't get it on my nails, much less with all kinds of little DIY designs. And yeah, my walls? They definitely aren't going to have color blocks, polka dots, or chalkboards. They are lucky they have PAINT (that may or may not have been done by professionals). But I sure am impressed that there are, indeed, folks who apparently DO have time for this sh*t! More power to 'em! But it's definitely enough to make a gal like me feel like a total slacker.

So am I the only one that looks at Pinterest and wonders "who has time for that?" (please, please, please tell me no even if its not true...hahaha)

Summer Bucket

I'm going to take a break from all the running and surgery recovery stuff today because summer is in full force and I'm intending to take full advantage of it! I live in a very hot climate in Southern California, so "enjoying" summer isn't always reality. Sometimes the enjoyment comes from not stepping outside into the 112 degree heat! But there's something about that feeling of summer. It reminds you of carefree days of childhood and you can't help but want to recapture some of that same feeling even as an adult. So I have had a little mental "bucket list" of things I want out of this summer...and I'll probably add to it, but here's what I have so far:

• Beach Trips
• 2-3 Mountain Hikes including the end of summer kicker hike to Suicide Rock
• Beach Hike
• Camping
• S'Mores
• Homemade Ice Cream
• Spend time under the stars - heck, maybe even sleep outside under the stars like we did as kids!
• Reading at least one "beach" read (AKA - a less than serious novel! haha)
• Reading at least one classic
• Refresh my music playlist
• Visit a museum
• Picnic lunch (or dinner) in the park
• Take more pictures documenting the fun (I'm horrible about taking pictures it seems...LOL)
• and even more!

I know this list will probably continue to grow, but that's the stuff off the top of my head. Those are mostly things that make me FEEL summer is here. 

I already got several items marked off this past week when I had a little stay-cation at home with the family.

First Summer Mountain Hike

I truly enjoy hiking and what could be better than hiking in the mountains, especially when the air down in the valley is hot and muggy, but up in the mountains it is cool and light? Me, my mom and my sister hit our favorite trail - The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail - in Idyllwild, CA on June 28 in celebration of my sister's birthday. We started early and pretty much had the trail to ourselves until the very end. The air was cool, crisp and clear and the vegetation was still nice and lush. I really wish I could share with you the SMELL of the hike because it was amazing! We passed what I believe was several groupings of honeysuckle and the amazing scent was enough to knock you off your feet. Absolutely heavenly! 

Upon arrival the sun was still working its way above the mountain

That's Suicide Rock - the End of Summer Kicker Hike for 2013 - this is my motivation to hike LOTS this summer!

A view of the valley down below

Does anyone know - is that honeysuckle?

A little trickle still flowing...

Beach Trip

Joshua living it up like a Beach Bum

I'm hoping that there will definitely be more to follow, but I headed to the beach with the two girlies, my friend Kathy and the little Joshua for a day of fun, and not so much sun, at Carlsbad State Beach. It was an overcast and somewhat muggy day, and even ventured on chilly for a short period of time when the breeze picked up a bit. But the weather definitely didn't stop the girls from getting in that freezing ocean! They are definitely mermaids or something because they love the water even if it is brain-freezing cold. They splashed until they were blue and then would take a break just to head out again a short time later. And Joshua? Well, he had a lot of fun from his towel which he would hardly venture off of! 

We all survived with minimal "sun-kissed" looks (AKA sunburns) and capped it all off with what we decided was a new tradition - In-N-Out. It was an awesome day and will hopefully be followed by at least a couple more beach trips this summer.

Homemade Ice Cream

Sorry no pictures to show here of the actual ice cream...just know it was delicious Mint & Chip that was dreamy-creamy and oh-so-good! I have the Kitchen Aid Mixer attachment and it works fantastic. I have made several batches in previous summers and am looking forward to doing more of this in the future...I definitely want to try a nice butter pecan and maybe go old-school chocolate or vanilla. 

Source

All in all, I would say my summer is off to a great start and I am certainly looking forward to marking off items from my bucket list...but not just for the sake of marking them off. I want to make memories, breathe in the heat and cement relationships in summer sand!

So, tell me, what is on YOUR summer bucket lists?

From Here to There…

So I last was finally typing out-loud that I’m beginning the long journey to a marathon. This is definitely not going to be a short road, and even though I’m looking at either late 2014 or early 2015 – which, right now – seems like SO FAR away, we all know how time flies. I’m expecting it to come quicker than I would probably like it to.

And even though it seems so far off, I have a long way to go before I’m even ready to begin training, much less RUN 26.2 miles. So part of my training begins now in multiple ways which I’m going to touch on over the coming (days, weeks, I don’t know – whatever works!) blog posts.

First things first – getting my running back following the surgery in February. I’ve already begun the long, slow journey to “regular” running again when I restarted Couch to 5k (C25K) back on June 4. And I have a continued slow-building plan all mapped out through early next year. The C25K program that I am using is an app for my iPhone by Zen Labs and it’s pretty bare bones, but it meets the need! It lasts 8 weeks (the “original” C25K program is 9 weeks and is available at www.coolrunnings.com) and gradually builds you up to running a 5k – or in my case, running for 30 minutes straight. You might be wondering why I say for me it will be 30 minutes instead of a 5k? Well, because there is NO way that I am going to be running 3.12 miles in 30 minutes – that’s an under 10 minute/mile pace! Crazy fast in my book…hahaha

Check it out here

Following my “graduation” from C25K I will do an Easy 10k Training app with Jeff Galloway from Lolo Fitness – a company, I must add, that makes some pretty awesome fitness apps!! This program follows a walk/run ratio, which Galloway is famous for, and runs for 13 weeks. I plan on doing a 4 minute run/1 minute walk program, but you do have the option of using “just run” if you don’t want to do an interval training program.

And Check This One Out Here

Once I am done with that program in early November, I will transition over to a half marathon training plan for 16 weeks. I am currently set to use a plan developed by Runner’s World SmartCoach. The thing I like the most about Runner’s World’s plan generator is that you plug in your information, so it gives you realistic training times that gradually build your speed over the training period; and it doesn’t hurt that they build in active recovery time every fourth week. They are very smart AND efficient!

Create Your Own Plan Here

Okay, so short detour…I really like the SmartCoach program too because I have it as an app on my iPhone – BUT here’s the weird part…I can’t re-find that app in the iTunes store. So I’m thinking that they no longer support it but because I downloaded it before they got rid of it that I still have it?? Has anybody heard of this? But see – I can prove it – here it is…open on my phone:

I’m glad I have it and it’s rather convenient to be able to just open up the phone and see what is on the plan for the day without going to a printed sheet of paper. But I’ll also admit – it doesn’t have much capability outside of it giving you the exact same info that you can get on their website. You can’t rearrange days or anything and it doesn’t do any kind of tracking or actual coaching. It just provides the basics, but it was free, so who am I to complain?

So anywhoo – that gets me through pretty much February 2014…and well, I haven’t decided what to do from there! I guess I will see how I’m feeling and if I’m feeling pretty good I’ll start training for a fall marathon. If I’m feeling beat-up and rundown I’ll just keep going in maintenance mode and begin training for a spring 2015 marathon.

You marathoners or folks that have recovered from injury – what do you think of that plan? Am I on the right track?? Any advice or suggestions is more than appreciated!

Source - Thank you, Heather for this one!!

So the Journey Begins...

I finally admitted to myself, probably about a month or so ago that I am going to HAVE to do a marathon in the near future - near being 2015, but whatever, when you are talking 26.2 miles that IS the near future! I then cemented it by purchasing this thing:

Buy it for yourself here

And then I posted it to Facebook so there would be no turning back.

Okay, so this thought - this idea - this crazy thing has been brewing in my mind for quite some time. My original thoughts about anyone that ran a marathon was that they were straight up crazy. Then it became the thought of wow - those people are weird...who would want to run that far?? Then it started to worm its way in, you know, that little nagging voice of "they can do it, why can't you?" And then I started to actually believe that little nagging voice - why CAN'T I do it? Then I said some off hand remark to my hubby about a year and a half ago about doing one and he said - you never will. *GASP* He threw down the gauntlet but I wasn't ready to pick it up just yet. 

And then the knee disaster hit and I've been through a ridiculous amount of pain, stress, and now finally, rebuilding and I realized that I just might be able to do it...just ONE TIME anyways. Just to get the magnet and the medal and to be able to say "I did it!" What finally pushed me over the edge? This ridiculous Abs Challenge that I've been doing with my family this month.

I don't know the original source of that thing - that BEAST - up there, but let me tell you - it is NO JOKE! I went into this month thinking I would never be able to do it. At the very least I thought I could do all the crunches and leg raises, but the planks and sit-ups were extremely questionable. A few days before June started I didn't even think that I could do a sit-up. I hadn't done them since I was forced to in school for President's Physical Fitness Tests! I certainly hadn't done any since birthing four kids over three pregnancies, gaining and losing ridiculous amounts of weight, and completely ignoring my core for the most part. So I decided to just see...could I do even one? So I laid down and propped my feet under a table in my home office/fitness room and assumed the position, and then DID IT! And it wasn't even that bad...okay, turns out it was a total myth that I couldn't do a sit-up. So then June started and I kept moving through the challenge, and what do you know? I was able to do it...ALL! Granted, we still aren't done with three more days of actual workouts left, but I am fully confident that I'll accomplish it. And I wasn't even a little bit sure just 26 days ago and then today I did 110 sit-ups, 170 crunches, 60 leg raises and held a 100 second plank - that's 1 minute and 40 seconds!! (I know for many that is probably just barely getting started...but for me it is quite an accomplishment! I remember last summer building up to a 90 second plank and I have to tell you, I was trembling like a leaf by the time it hit a little over 1 minute...holding it for the full 90 seconds was very difficult. And today, it was hard, but there was minimal tremble). #PROGRESS

Getting through all the pain and suffering of the knee infection and subsequent surgery, physical therapy and recovery and then doing the abs challenge made me truly realize that I am more capable then I give myself credit for on a regular basis. I can push through discomfort. I am mentally capable. I am (working on) physically capable. I totally believe that I can do it! I know it will be hard, but I also know that hard is conquerable.

So it turns out that my hubby knew what he was doing when he used that reverse psychology; he knew that telling me I couldn't/wouldn't would be enough to eventually push me over the edge...and here I am free-falling. And so the JOURNEY begins. 

My Dog Needs a Psychiatrist

I would like to introduce you all to Miss Daisy Mae. She is a Bichon Frise and has been a member of the family since she was 3 months old. She is now 8 years old. And she needs a Psychiatrist.

Miss Daisy sporting the "leisure" look

So you may be thinking she needs help for her mental illness because she likes to dress in children's clothes, but you'd be wrong. Okay - so the story behind the jammies? My kids did that as a form of torture. j/k about the torture. But the kids really did do that to her...and she didn't seem to really mind all that much. Doesn't she sport that leisure look well, though? :-)

Anyways, the reason she needs a doctor/therapist is because she is CRAZY. She goes through these phases where she adopts stuffed creatures as her "baby". But I think she really worries about her "baby" because it doesn't do anything! So then she whines constantly and then moves it around to different places. She buries it in blankets and pillows. She stuffs it in little holes to protect it. And whines, and whines and whines. When she goes outside the first thing once she comes back in is run around looking for her "baby" all in a panic like it got up and moved. We've tried hiding it in the past to get her to mellow out, but she always finds it. She sniffs it out.

She eventually gets over it, usually when she gnaws off its ears or tail (she's had a little mouse squeaker toy, and a little monkey...makes no difference, she'll adopt it if the need hits). This time around she has decided this little nasty Christmas kitty cat is her baby. It's been her chew toy for years, but now her psychosis set back in and now it's the "baby".

So yeah, my dog needs help. I'm debating finding a male dog to breed her (we never have), but my one major concern is if she is this crazy about a pretend baby what would she do with a real one???

But in the meantime, we just try reminding her that her baby is fine. Crazy dog...

I'm Not a "Blogger"

From Google Search

So I did some thinking about this whole blogging thing and what I wanted out of it, and what I was willing to put into it. And at the time I realized that #1 - I don't have time to turn blogging into a full-time job; #2 - I don't have a desire to turn blogging into a full-time job; and #3 - I can't turn blogging into a full-time job because I have awesome benefits in my REAL full-time job.

So then I thought - why am I doing it then??? And you know, I was somewhat shaken because I went into blogging as a way to chronicle my journey, easily share with friends and family what I'm up to, and get my thoughts out in a way that allowed reflection and exploration. But when I asked myself the question of "why am I doing it then????" I didn't remember all those reasons. All I was thinking about was the fact that there are so many bloggers that for them this is a full-time job. They promote themselves on social media platforms, they put regular words into something akin to poetry, they take beautiful pictures, they sign up for races all over the place, they are structured in their training, and they are fast. Pretty much all things that I do not do because of lots of reasons...time being the top of that list.

BUT then I realized that being a "blogger" is what works for them. I don't need to compare my blog to theirs because I don't have the ability or the desire to be that. I'm not a "blogger"...I'm just a person that wants a space to share my journey whether it be with family or friends or people I've never met.

So even though I've taken a long absence from the blog, I realize that the desire to share isn't gone. Just the desire to be a "blogger" is gone. And I'm okay with that! So if you want to keep reading along, I'd love to have you sharing my journey with me! And if you ARE a "blogger", then I salute you! I admire what you do and put into this on a daily basis...because, believe me - taking pictures, thinking up topics, learning and doing all the design stuff, hosting giveaways and sponsors, (oh my!!) is very time consuming! And that's not even touching on the fact that you "bloggers" are putting your very personal lives out there in the big, bad world for all to see and you touch us out here in the world in amazing ways! You remind us that we are all flawed, that we all have things we wish we were, that we are all striving to be better at something, and more importantly that we CAN be a better person. And it matters - it really does!

Speaking of bloggers - feel free to post links to some of your favorites in the comments as I'm always looking for new people to inspire me! Thanks!!!