Keeping Warm

Week 2 is done and crossed off

I just completed week 2 of my 1/2 marathon training. It went well except for the fact that I have not had any weight loss. I know it will come, but it sucks when you are working so hard and then you get on the scale and nothing, zip, nadda. Dammit!!!

I did my long run tonight of 3 miles in 35:40. I am not going to break any speed records but I am not fast, never have been and probably never will be. I was supposed to run 12 min miles and I did - good enough for me.

It went better than I thought it would so I am a happy girl tonight. 7 miles for the week along with cross training to my 30 day shred and 1 day of rest. Next week is a total of 9 miles... 2,3 and 4. Shit... 4 miles on the dreadmill. Maybe the weather will warm up by next weekend and I could attempt a run outside, but I doubt mother nature will cooperate with me.

Wisdom?

My mother in law sent this to me tonight and I just had to share. I feel like this somedays as well.

A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been goingto the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time. So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was,walking slowly up to the holy site.

She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave,using a cane and moving very slowly, she approached him for an interview.'

Pardon me, sir, I'm Christian Amanpor from CNN. What's your name? 'Morris Fishbien,' he replied.

'Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?' For about 60 years.60 years! That's amazing!

What do you pray for? 'I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims.''I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop. ''I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, andto love their fellow man.

''How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?'

'Like I'm talking to a fuckin ' wall.'

Remembering my Dad aka Bumpa

It will be 11 years on 1/25/2009 since my dad passed away from colon cancer. It seems like yesterday.... he lived long enough to see me married - which he never thought would happen - and he also lived long enough to know that I was pregnant - but he never got to meet his 2 grandchildren - and he was such a wonderful grandpa. I envy my nephews and niece that got to meet him and know him and have their pictures taken with him - they have memories. My kids only know "Bumpa" from pictures. My dad died on 1/25/1998 on Superbowl Sunday, the last Superbowl the Packers played in. Needless to say, I don't get into the Superbowl much anymore. I know it is not always on 1/25 but I associatethe Superbowl with my dad's death and on Superbowl Sunday I just want to hangout with my kids and husband and just be. I feel my dad with me more this time of the year than any other. He comes to me on occasion throughout the year but I always feel his presence around the time of his death and in October around his birthday. It warms my heart and freaks me out a little too but I long for his reminders to not forget him.

I received this from a friend today, but I feel like it really came from my dad - this is his reminder this year. I also lost my older sister to brain cancer a little over 2 years ago and maybe she played a part in sending this too. Just a warning... this is kind of a chick thing so you guys may not get it... ha ha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

Since watching this I have been thinking about my friends and family and how each one of them is special to me in their own way. We don't tell those close to us how much they mean to us often enough. We get caught up in our day to day routine. Crap, we are all busy and we need to remember to slow down sometimes, count our blessings and tell our friends and family how much they mean to us. So instead of hugging a tree today, hug a friend, a sister, a brother, your kids, your parents, your husband, your wife and anyone else who is important to you.

Cross week 1 off

I have found that I enjoy crossing off my runs on my training schedule. I have successfully completed my first week of official training for the 1/2 marathon. Only 16 more weeks to go. I had a great run tonight on the dreadmill. I felt like I could have run forever tonight... it feels good to be at that point. So what if I only had to run 2 miles... it still felt good and that is all that matters. So a measly 6 miles for the week and cross training on my non-run days. I am hoping that the scale shows some progress soon.

It finally happened, I broke out my Jillian Michaels 30 day shred DVD this week. I LOVE IT!! You get a kick ass workout in 20 minutes. It has 3 levels and I chose to skip levels 1 and 2 and went straight to level 3. I survived it and it kicked my butt and I got really sweaty too. There is room for improvement on the pushups. I did half of them on my knees but the plus side is I did the other half on my toes. I now have a goal and that is to be able to do all of the pushups on my toes in a couple of weeks. In 20 minutes you do cardio, strength and abs - what fun!! If you want a great workout I would recommend buying this - it can be found at Target for $15 - a great deal.

Happy training to everyone out there. My first race in 2009 will be CrazyLegs 4/25/2009.

Badger Hockey

We took the kids to the Badger Hockey game tonight. Badgers crushed Colorado College 6-1. GO BUCKY!!! Nothing better than Badger sports. Now it is off to bed because we have to get up early for basketball.

Dad and kids... so happy together
Defense!!

My Buddy...

Fight the Demons

Okay, so if you live in the midwest you know it is really freakin' cold outside.

The lazy demons were after me today. I was so comfy under the blanket tonight and was finally feeling warm. The minutes were clicking by and I kept thinking that I need to get up, change my clothes and run... the lazy demons kept on saying "no, don't do it, you can do it tomorrow".

They almost won, but I whipped off my blanket, changed my clothes and ran my 2 miles tonight. I need to stay on my training plan - NO MORE SLACKING and making EXCUSES!!

After I ran, I did my sit ups and lunges too. It feels good to cross off another training day on my schedule.

Now, I can put my warm jammies on and plop on the couch to watch Greys and Private Practice.

Stay warm everyone... warmer temps are coming over the weekend. Can you believe we are excited about 20 degrees? Anything above 0 is welcoming.

It is official

My training for the 1/2 marathon OFFICIALLY started yesterday. I have been running and cross training for the last couple of weeks but not consistently. It is now the real deal and no time for making excuses or finding other things to do.

Tonight I did 2 miles on the dreadmill and it felt good. I ran too soon after dinner and I got a side ache but walked it out for about .10 miles and then it was back to running. After my run, I did 60 situps, 40 lunges, and some upper arm workouts. Time to shed my holiday weight.

My goal is to lose 15 lbs by May and by this time next year I would like to be 20 - 30 lbs lighter. I can do it, I have done it in the past but I just need to be disciplined and stick with it.

Happy training to everyone. It is so cold here in Wisconsin this week.

It felt good

I just finished up a 2 mile run on the treadmill. Kritta has corrected me and from now on it will be called the dreadmill. Very fitting since I dread doing my runs on it but since in I live in God's country and it is winter there is no other choice right now. I wish it were the end of March so I could start running outside.

If people would shovel their sidewalks and use ice melt then maybe we could run outside but hell naw... no one around here does that.... sorry for my rant... all better now.

So back to my workout... I did 2 miles on the dreadmill and it felt good. I did some intervals and cranked up the speed to 6.5 mph during commercials... okay you speed demons - quit laughing - that is fast for me- and then when the commercial are over I go back down to 5.0 - 5.5 mph. After my run I did 50 situps on my ball and some squats.

Good enough for today... tomorrow is cross training day and I think I will be doing my Jillian Michaels 30 day shred but will do 2 /20 minute workouts.

Workout

I went to the Y again today. Did a 1 mile warm up on the dreaded treadmill but got to watch part of Badger BB on TV so that was a bonus. I then did some situps and weights for about 45 minutes. I really need to get rid of this tire that is starting to form around my middle. Then it was off to play some basketball with the kids.

I am going to try one of the 20 minute workouts on my Jillian Michaels DVD in a couple of minutes. I will let you all know if it is any good.

Yes, I ran today...

I woke up today and my back pain was gone. I think I tweeked some muscles on New Years Eve. I could hardly move New Years Day so I did a lot of stretches, my daughter rubbed my back, and I slept on a heating pad for half of the night. I woke up feeling pretty good today.

I got out of bed and did the necessities and was off to the YMCA for a run. I did 2 miles and felt good except I did not have anything to eat so my stomach felt weird so I need to remember to eat something next time. I just wanted to get out of the house and get it over with so I forgot to eat.

My first 2 weeks in my training will be fairly easy - by easy I mean not a lot of miles on the treadmill - I just hate the treadmill... but it is my only choice at this time because the sidewalks and roads are very slippery right now... and I will fall.... guaranteed. I am hoping that by March, the roads and sidewalks will be good enough so I can do the rest of my training outside which will also be my longest miles. Anything more than 5 or 6 miles on the treadmill will kill me - I would rather poke sharp sticks in my eyes.

I wish we had a place to run inside. I spent part of the day today searching for a place to run indoors in Madison - no luck. There are a few gyms in the area that have tracks but I think running around a track would suck just as bad as a treadmill - I wish the Kohl Center offered something - at least I could run around in big circles and do some stairs.

I also bought a new workout DVD yesterday - it is Jillian Michaels (Biggest Loser) 30 day Shred. I love her on the Biggest loser and this will be a good workout for me on my cross training days and I can do it at home. I will let you all know if it is any good. I wish our YMCA had some decent personal trainers but I have to say, I am not impressed with the ones I have seen there. So I will go with the Nazi, Jillian Michaels and pretend that she is there with me yelling at me to not quit and to do 50 more situps or squats and I will yell back at her to shut the hell up and go get me a cookie.

Hooray for 2009!!

Happy New Year to everyone in blog land!! 2009 has to be better than 2008 - right?

No more procrastinating on my training plan. I now have 4 months to train for the 1/2 marathon on 5/3/2009. I paid my YMCA membership fee the other day - that is a step in the right direction. I am going to sign the kids up for swimming lessons which will help with my workout time. Since I will be at the Y, I can get in an hour workout at least once a week without being interrupted to play basketball half way through my workout.

It will start tomorrow... really.... I was out too late last night and I did something to my back and can hardly move today. It is just a muscle strain - I think I did it carrying my son out to the car. He was 65 lbs of dead weight and I was trying not to slip on the ice.

So here is to 2009.... I hope it is everything we need it to be.