Blog slacker....

I know I've been slacking on posting lately. Things have been so busy. BUT, I have been running still. Monday I did 3.58 miles around the lake, Tuesday I did a simple walk to the park with the kids, and today I did 4.04 miles!!

Today's run/walk was a good one. This is how it went walk 5- run 20 at 5k pace- walk 5- run 1 mile under 11 minutes- walk 10. I started out awesome! I did the first mile in 12.30 which isn't bad considering I walked the first 5 minutes of it. The second mile was 11.09! Then I walked 5 and ran the last mile under 11 minutes. Sure, it was 10:57, but it was still under 11. lol! I was so drained halfway through that last mile that I had to stop for a second and catch my breath and then keep going. Talk about a TOUGH workout. I'm just glad I did it and was able to accomplish my goal. I love that I'm able to keep my pace and I'm going faster. I just love that feeling after a GREAT run. It just makes you feel soo accomplished.

Well, 44 days until my half marathon. CRAZY! It's coming up fast and I'm excited. A little nervous, but still excited. It'll be a good race. I just love the half marathon. I think it's my favorite distance.

Tomorrow's another "rest" day which is good after today's run, but I'm more excited about Saturday's run. 65 minutes I'm scheduled to run and 10 to walk. I love long runs!!

I hope everyone's week is going well!

104 miles!

This morning I got up and ran 6.03 miles!! WHAT?! Yes, yes I did. How awesome is that??? I actually ran 5 and walked the last one, but still.... 6 miles is awesome!

As of today I have gone a total of 104 miles since I started back running. Pretty cool! I'm just so excited about how my running is going. I'm really amazed with myself. I still have to tell myself to go when I don't want to. It really is a mental thing. That and there's that fine balance of pushing yourself and pushing yourself too hard. My shins were a little achy yesterday and today which was the main reason I walked the last mile this morning.

Anyway, today was a good run. I hope everyone else has a great weekend!

First time ever...

This is the first time I've ever kept up running while on vacation. Yay! On Tuesday I was scheduled for 20 walk and my strength exercises. It was a rest day. But, the hotel has a cool treadmill so I had to test it out. I walked for 10 minutes and then ran. I started out at 5.0 and quickly pushed it up to 5.5. I felt great! The treadmill was nice and smooth and I didn't feel like it was yanking my feet under me. (You know how some treadmills do that...) I was so surprised with myself for going 5.5 mph. I'm starting to go faster!

Well, yesterday I was stuck in the hotel ALL. DAY. LONG with 4 kids that wanted to get out. It was fun. When Jason got back around 9 I ran out the door and hit the treadmill for my run. 50 minutes running each mile at a 11:30 pace, with a 5 minute walk between each mile. I started out awesome. The first 2 miles flew by like it was nothing. I was even going at a 5.6 pace the whole time. The walks in between were helpful, but when mile 3 came around... that one was tough. I had drained all my energy and I could feel it. My hands were like magnets to the hand rails and the more I thought about it the harder it was to not hold on. I lowered the pace some and still felt the need to hold on for a couple seconds. Soooo...I caved and held on for about a minute or so. I finally finished the mile and had another 5 minute walk to finish it off. After about 3 of the 5 minutes I was feeling good and decided to run the last minute at a 6.0 pace. I know a minute isn't very long, but I did it. I ran at 6.0! 

I came up stairs and iced my legs, they were a little sore, and went to bed. I feel great for keeping it up while on the road. I've never done this before and it's awesome that my hubby is so helpful and willing to watch the kids while I get my exercise in. 

I'm just amazed at how well I'm doing. Yesterday marked 3 months since little Rosalie was born. She's such a good baby. It really helps!

(I had one if her smiling, but it was all blurry... Oh well, maybe next time.)

Yay!

Well, today started off great. I woke up and went on my run for today. I was scheduled to run 30 and walk 10. I was debating on running outside, but it was raining and me being the silly person I am decided that I'd just go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I didn't want my hair to get soaked with rain before my weigh in. lol!

So, I got to the gym and hopped on the treadmill. I started out walking 5 minutes and then I began to run. After 10 minutes I was feeling comfy so I decided to up the pace. I ended up getting up to 5.0! I know I went faster than that on Saturday, but for me the treadmill is harder cause you have to stay at a consistent pace the whole time and when you run on the road your pace changes naturally.

Around 14 minutes I wanted to hold onto the sides. My legs were starting to feel it, but they weren't drained. It's like my mind realizes when things are starting to get tough an it wants to quit. BUT, I DIDN'T! I kept going, but my mind kept nagging. "Hold onto the sides, it's ok." How can I say I ran it without holding on if I hold on? The funny thing is, I really didn't need to hold on. I was comfortable, but I was having to work at it.

Well, I finished it without holding on. 3.04 miles in 40 minutes. Really not bad considering I walked for 10 of those minutes.

I came home after that and weighed and I lost 3.4 pounds this last week!!!6 more pounds and I'll be under the 200's!!! Go me!

This week will be fun. We're going on vacation to California. My goal is to eat lots of fruits and veggies and run at the hotel's fitness center.

I hope everyone has a GREAT week!!

Salt Lake City 5k

I don't have any pictures from the race, oh well, that's ok. 

This morning I got up at 5:15 and got ready for the race. I got downtown by 6:45 since the race started at 7:10. I went alone this time. I didn't want Jason to have to wake the kids up so early and then have to keep them in one place while I raced. They would have been super cranky... 

I had some oatmeal before I left the house, but when I got to the race my stomach was growling so I ate a GU right before the race started. I think it helped cause get this.... I shaved 2 minutes and 23 seconds off of my last 5k time!! How awesome is that?? I ran it in 36.33! I love it! 

My legs felt great. I didn't feel winded or drained at the end, that's what I was hoping for. It's nice when running feels natural. The only thing that I am having to train more than my legs is my mind. I really have to work at not giving up. There was a hill halfway through the race and I looked up and my brain started with the "walk...it's ok. No one will blame you for walking. It's ok. Give your legs a rest." Then the other side of me started saying "keep it up, you're doing great. Just keep your mind on the road and focus on the next step. One foot after the other. You've got this. Keep it up." I made it up the hill without stopping and I finished the race at an 11.41 pace. LOVE IT!

After the race I met up with my friend Sue. It's always nice to see her. I want to be a racer like her one day. She always wins! She's a super fast runner. She did great at this race. We run a couple of the same races every year. It's nice on days like this when I'm at a race alone to know someone there. :)

I got home just in time to feed Rosalie. She woke up about 5 minutes after I walked in the door. Talk about perfect timing! 

I can't wait to see how I do at the next race. It'll be great!

Playing Catch Up...

The past 3 days have been busy and I haven't been able to blog, BUT I have been able to run!

On Wednesday we took the kids to the park and my awesome husband watched them while I ran 4 miles. I was really impressed with myself. I was scheduled to run 45 minutes. I ran 45 and walked 5 to cool down and I went a little over 4 miles. I love that I'm getting a little faster with each run. I actually felt pretty good too. I was going faster, but I didn't feel like I was pushing myself any harder than normal.

On Thursday I was scheduled for a 20 minute walk and strength exercises. I did the walk with the family around the lake, but I was so busy with a million things that I didn't get the strength exercises in. Some is better than none, right?

Today I went out and ran 2 miles in 27 minutes. Not bad...not bad. Not super fast, but that's ok. I'm working up a sweat and it's getting easier each time I do it.

Tomorrow is my 2nd 5k! The SLC Marathon 5k. I'm hoping to go a little faster than I did last time. So, if I can beat 38.58 I'll be happy. I just need to update my tunes. I'm getting a little tired of the ones I have on there now. What are some of your favorite songs to run to??

Now, I'm off to bed...I've got an early race tomorrow!


Good luck to all those racing this weekend!!!

Day 9: Flaming Enthusiasm

So, one thing that always gets me pumped to get out and move is The Biggest Loser. It makes me realize that I never want to be that big. My biggest weight was 235 and that was after giving birth to Brianna. I never want to be that way again. I could have easily gotten bigger. It's so easy to put on the pounds, but after watching that show, wow...I just don't want to feel that miserable ever again. It's hard to move, it's hard to find clothes, you're always out of breath, it's not fun. Food isn't worth that. 

I got close to that weight again with Rosalie, I topped off at 228. Now, I'm ready to lose it. I'm ready to be under 200 again! I've got enthusiasm. :)

This evening I went out to walk 20 minutes before I did my strength training and I ended up walking 5 running 15 and walking 5 more. I felt good running. I'm loving that I'm getting back into this. I know I'm going to reach my goal. I'm going to be successful.