Mind Dump

There is so much  going on in my head today...so I thought I would just throw it all out here bullet style :)

* My best friend lost his father yesterday. It was expected, but I don't think you are ever really prepared to say goodbye. My heart breaks for him and I wish I knew how to comfort him. When my Dad passed away he flew in from graduate school...and then flew back again the next week to be a part of my wedding. I hope that I can be at least half the comfort to him that he was to me. It is just so hard knowing a friend is hurting.

An old picture of us...

*Yesterday Debbie and Shannon asked about my reflections on my 30 Day challenge. When I started the 30 days, my easy pace one- mile took about 13:20...now I am very comfortable at a 12 minute mile. I wish I would have kept a tally of exactly how many miles I ran during the challenge. During the 30 days I did not lose any weight...but that's OK I will get there eventually...I just have to keep moving forward.

*  I went and had lab work done last week and they are changing the dosage of my thyroid medicine...I have to go back in one month for more lab work. I have read that it can take up to a year to get thyroid levels balanced out...but I am still hopeful that it won't take that long. (If anyone has any experience with this please give me some words of advise or encouragement...this is so frustrating!)

*  I didn't get to swim while we were out of town this weekend :(      I was really disappointed. The first day the pool was closed because they were having a prom at the hotel that night...when we came in that night the pool looked gorgeous with floating lit flowers all in it... and the prom kids looked nice too. On Sunday morning, the pool didn't open until 9 and we were checking out at 10...just not enough time. Maybe next trip.

* I really hate to see people being mean to others about their weight.  This weekend at the baseball game, the high school kid that was working as a bat boy was possibly 15lbs over weight. He was tall with a muscular build (very football player type body). At one point during the game, he didn't see a ball laying on the field after a play...and the home team's catcher yelled at him to pretend that the ball was a cupcake and run after it. I was just shocked by the rudeness. And I felt really bad for the kid...I mean this was opening weekend for that team, and possibly the kid's first day on the job...and now he will be reminded of that player's comment every time he works(or maybe he can just let it roll off). It just really irked me! SO unkind...

* Yesterday was an emotional day after hearing about my friend's father. I had planned on a shorter run that night, but not knowing what the week entails (with funeral arrangements) I wanted to go ahead and get my Jelly Bean 5k finished. My time was 40:07 which is not my best, but I caught myself drifting off in thought during parts of the running...just so many thoughts swirling...and memories of my own Dad. After the run, I felt better than I had all day! Isn't is great how a nice run can do that for you?

* I am hoping to conquer the Muscles class this evening if everything goes as plan...wish me luck! (I'll need it!!)

30 Day Challenge Update- COMPLETE!

Saturday morning I completed my 30 Day Challenge! I started the challenge on March 1...Ran for 13 Days and got sick. Then Started with Day 1 on March 18 and finished my 30 Days on April 16!!!
Thanks for all the support you guys have shown and a Very Special Thank you to Shannon for being an awesome accountability partner in this challenge!!!
Yesterday was my first "rest" Day in 30 days and it felt wonderful. But today I am hitting the treadmill again :)

30 Day Challenge Update

Yesterday was  day 25 of my 30 Day Challenge! I am so glad I made this challenge for myself, because I really believe it has helped my running. Unless something happens, I should finish the challenge on Saturday before we hit the road for another baseball game! I think I will add back one run "rest day" a week after I finish the challenge, but try to gradually increase total weekly mileage.

Little Red School House 5k

The Little Red School House 5k is a race I really wanted to do. The proceeds from the race go to buy school supplies for children of need in our county schools. However, Tommy and I were heading to Nashville early Saturday morning and I was worried about running us late..or having sore legs while making the 2+hour drive. Tommy said to run it if I wanted to, but I honestly wasn't sure if I would do it until I work up Saturday morning. 
I woke up early and debated doing the run for about 30 minutes. I am so glad I decided to run. I headed over to the run (about 30 minutes from my house). This was the first race I have done without Tommy going to cheer me on...and hold my stuff. I laced my car key into my shoes,and that worked great. I got registered, and picked up my swag bag (or lack there of...it only had a shirt and bottle of water). Threw them in the car...and headed to take a look at the race route. I am not very familiar with the community,and always have a fear of getting lost on the race course. Then it was time to line up. The first mile felt a bit long, but my time was right at 12minutes. The second mile felt really fast and I hit it about 25 minutes...the last mile was the hardest...it was sooo hot (compared to the temps I have been running in, when I crossed the finish line the temp was 86 degrees.) I crossed the finish line at 39:08 a PB for an official 5k :) I was thrilled!!! And glad I decided to run the race. I paced the first 2.5 miles with another runner,and then pulled ahead of her at the end when she started taking extra walk breaks. After the race,I went over and introduced myself. She lives about an hour away, but we exchanged phone numbers to keep in touch  about future races. I didn't stay for awards, because I needed to get home and shower again before we hit the road.
We have had a great time in Nashville. Running on the hotel treadmill (old and shaky) this morning was a bit of a challenge..but I got in my 1 mile for the 30 Day Challenge :) We are going to do some outlet shopping today and hit another game this afternoon. I am also hoping to hit up the Trader Joe's before we head home tonight :)

30 Day Challenge Update

This morning I completed day 15 of my Challenge to Run 1 mile every day for 30 Days. I am half way finished with this challenge...it is all down hill from here. Of course, something could come up to cause me to have to skip a day again...and have to start over with Day 1, but I am very hopeful to make it to 30 Days this time!
You might remember that I started this challenge on March 1. I was able to complete 12 days, but then took a few days off because of a sinus infection that the doctor was concerned could turn to pneumonia. But I am proud to say that in March I ran 26 days :) and over 60 miles :) That is exciting :)

Three Things Thursday...

1. For my giveaway, I had you guys tell me a diet confession...and I loved your answers! I thought in fairness, I would offer up one of my confessions: When I need to workout in the morning, I sleep in my gym clothes...I would feel guilty taking them off without getting the workout in first :) LOL (I know I am an oddball! :) )

2. Today is mine and Tommy's 4th anniversary! It has been a wonderful four year...and I am so glad Tommy walked into my life when he did. My anniversary is always a bitter sweet time. As most of you know, my Dad passed away a little less that two weeks before my wedding day..his funeral was 8 days before my wedding. I always say that my wedding was the last gift my Dad gave to me, because Tommy and I originally wanted to elope. Dad insisted on a big wedding...and honestly did most of the planning. He wanted so bad to be able to walk me down the aisle. He did get to see me in my wedding dress, and I will never forget him telling me how beautiful I looked. It was during one of short spurts not in the hospital...and we were at my grandmother's house. It was out of the blue, and he said...why don't you go try on your dress for me...at first I didn't want to...I wanted it to be a surprise for him, but I am so glad I did. Physically, I was alone when I walked down the aisle to my future  husband... but I know my Dad's spirit was there with me, and it was in every detail of of our big, beautiful, wedding.

3.  My 30 Day challenge is moving right along...more on that tomorrow :) And I am very excited about Amy's Spring challenge...if you haven't signed up you should!

     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Bike Goal Complete!

Tonight I finished my 150 miles bike goal  for the Winter Warriors Challenge with a nice 13 mile ride :) I am excited to have met this goal, and glad that I have found another form of exercise that I LOVE :)

I also finished Day 8 of the 30 Day 1Mile Challenge! I had a nice 1.25 mile run before hopping on the bike.   I know that I will not meet the 150 miles on foot challenge, but would like to have 100 RECORDED miles finished before the challenge ends on Sunday. We will see if that happens. I say recorded miles, because I know I have some mileage that I forgot to record during the challenge.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! You can find me at the track (or on the treadmill if we get the storms they are calling for this weekend!)

Three Things Thursday

1. Tonight will be Day 7 of my 30 Days of consecutive running. My runs have felt really strong this week! I am really hoping to break the 2 miles in 24 minutes this weekend!

2.  I have been pondering my Spring Goals for Amy's Challenge. I think I have everything narrowed down...and will post those next week :) If you haven't signed up for Amy's Challenge you should!

3. Lori is having a Chobani Greek Yogurt giveaway! YUM YUM! Go sign up and tell her I sent you :)

SICK :(

My head cold is sticking around, and moving toward my chest. As much as I hate to, I am going to skip tonight's run. I may have to skip tomorrow, too. But once I am feeling better, I will start back over with Day1 of the 30 Day challenge.  I made it 12 Days! :)

30 Day Challenge Update

I am moving right along with my 30 day challenge of running 1 mile each day for 30 days. Yesterday, I completed Day 10. Overall, each day the run gets a little easier. Yesterday, (and today) I was fighting a head cold/allergies and so my breathing was a little off the entire run. Usually, after completing the run, I walk at least another mile or do walk/run intervals, but yesterday I walked a quarter-mile to cool down and called it a night. My plan was to add another quarter-mile to the run today, but I may wait until this cold clears up. If the cold goes into my chest, I will have to stop the 30 day challenge until I am well and then start over again, but hopefully, it will run its course in a day or so.

I am really excited about heading to the zoo tomorrow! Our weather is suppose to be in the high 60s tomorrow! (WOOHOO) We have been dealing with 40s most of the week. I think part of my cold is the constant change in weather lately. I am ready for it to get warm and stay that way.

Hope everyone has a great safe weekend!

30 Day Challenge Update

Yesterday, I completed Day 5 of my 30 Day Challenge. I am 1/6 of the way to my goal! After work tonight, I will get Day 6 into the record books and finish up my Wii Time for the WWW Challenge.  This is what the rest of my workouts looked like this week!

Monday- Spinning class and Upper Body Strength Training
Tuesday- 1 mile run, 1.5 mile walk with treadmill's cardio heart rate program
Wednesday- Rim 1mile, walk 4 miles
Thursday- 1 Mile run, 1.5 mile walk with treadmill's cardio heart rate program & upper body strength training
 Friday- 1 Mile run, 1.5 mile walk with treadmill's cardio heart rate program
Saturday- 1 Mile run, 20 minutes Wii Fit

My 30 Day Challenge

On Friday's post, I said I needed to return my focus to gaining good health and fitness, and stop worrying about the scale. When my focus is on health and fitness, I feel good about myself. At the beginning of the year, I noticed a few people challenging themselves to 30 days of activity (running, walking, biking). At the time, my heart wasn't into it, and I didn't join any of these challenges. But now I am ready! I am challenging myself to 30 days of running at least 1 mile a day. I am not sure how long this challenge will take me to complete, because we all know life happens and plans/workout schedules have to change. But I WILL complete this... if I have to skip a day, I will start back at Day 1 and try again...and I know I will get there.  I am competitive with myself, and I hope this will light a new fire. During the Winter Wonderland Warriors Challenge, I have began to try many new forms of exercise. (I love my new spinning class, and plan to go to a ZUMBA class tonight), but these new interests took time away from running, and I want to do BOTH!  I hope that by challenging myself to this 30 days of running, I will also be ready to go when the Spring 5k season begins! I would love any of your that are interested to join me in this challenge! I can't wait to feel that sense of accomplishment when I complete my 30 days!  I will keep you guys updated!