Day 65 - Hygiene & Weather

Showering, to me, is a chore. A chore that often gets procrastinated longer than it should. So if I actually make the effort to shower, I definitely don't feel in the mood to mess it all up by going running. And then if it's been a while since I have showered, I don't feel like going running either because I know that afterwards I definitely SHOULD shower, and I still don't want to. This plight has given me an excuse not to run many a time. Combine that excuse with the weather... (may I kindly remind you I live in a city named HURRICANE for good reason!) and the sum is a lazy bum who hasn't been running very much lately.

After my last run, day 36, I didn't run again until the Saturday after Thanksgiving, day 48. I asked my sister-in-law, who is also preparing for the half marathon, if she wanted to go run with me. I was supposed to be running a full twenty minutes by this time, but due to my lack of training, was not ready for that. I ended up walking 5, running 12, walking 2, running 8 and walking the rest of the way (don't know what it was.) When I was finished I felt sick.

On day 39 I received a text from a friend who is also training with me saying, "so excited! I just registered for the 5K!" If it weren't for her, I am pretty confident I would have fallen off the bandwagon for good at this point. Not having run consistently for the three weeks prior to the 5K, I definitely did not feel prepared. HOWEVER. Thanks to my lovely friend for holding my feet to the fire, I am proud to say that I showed up to that 5K in my little Santa hat at 9am on day 55, ready to cross that finish line.

The Secret Santa 5K was my first official race, and also the first time I had run since day 48. It was a very enjoyable experience that I was so grateful to have shared with a good friend.

We ran for the first mile, walked a quarter mile, ran three quarters of a mile, walked a quarter mile and ran the last three quarter mile to the finish. I have no idea what time I finished in. I forgot to look. But at this point, my goal in all of this has really cemented into simply finishing. For me, this is about dedication, self-discipline, consistency and endurance. It's about every little step I take toward that finish line, not the pace that I am running at.

So although the 5K went well, I didn't quite feel the renewed sense of determination that I was hoping for. In fact, I didn't go running one time the entire next week. Which brings me to this week. I was going to go running yesterday, but it was raining all day. (see, there's another weather excuse.) So I was determined to run today, and thankfully the weather was absolutely beautiful. What really lit the fire under my butt to keep going was the fact that two rooms have been reserved in Bryce Canyon for July 14th thanks to my sister in law. dun dun dun. It's kind of starting to feel official here! I really am going to do this!

According to my schedule, I was supposed to be running 25 minute runs all last week and 20 minute runs for the two weeks prior to that. And up to this point, I hadn't done any 20+ minute runs and I was scared of even trying. But today, with two girlfriends by my side, I determined to just see if I could do it. A full 25 minute run. AND I DID!! I wasn't fast, but I didn't stop one time! I am feeling very proud of myself. I was also proud that I even went on a Tuesday, which is not a normal training day. (they have been Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturdays.) But I was a little let down when I looked at my calendar before blogging today and realized that, oh. This week marks the beginning of five days of running every week and today was my first Tuesday on the schedule.

Well, here's hopin' that I will keep at this and that I will be ready to kill it for that 10K coming up in February!

Day 36 - Jump

John asked me tonight, "What do you want to do? Go running or write your paper?" ummmmm... neither? So he turned on some rockin music on Pandora and it got my feet moving. I really did not want to go out tonight though. Once on the street we turned on Pandora on John's phone and I must admit that when Van Halen started playing Jump I had to try to stifle a big, loopy grin on my face for how much I was enjoying jogging to the music right in that moment. Unfortunately that moment didn't last long because the phone began buffering and didn't start playing anything again until I finished my ten minute run, two minute walk, and just began my eight minute run. So I had a lot of time with just my thoughts and they went something like this:

I'm always surprised at how well I can do these runs, for how much I DREAD them ... One of these days when I'm running for miles and miles I'll look back on days like today and wonder how I ever thought running ten minutes was really hard ... Man, actually I really really don't want to be running miles and miles ... For real. Will the day come when I actually am enjoying this rather than dreading it? And Lindsay, what will it take for you to remember to stretch before you go out running!?

When I got home I did some yoga stretches that felt wonderful and then I looked up the video for Jump so I could share this epic running song with you. And I had a good laugh at the video. Wow.

Days 20 - 34

I'm playing catch up here. Composing blog posts in my head on the days that I run (or don't run) doesn't mean much if I don't get it typed up! So the bad news is, I've fallen behind on blogging, but the GOOD news is, I'm still training! Although there was at least one day that I thought I'd fallen off the bandwagon for good. All right, here goes.

Day 20 (Saturday October 28th) - Saturdays
I've decided Saturdays are REALLY difficult training days. Having a husband home makes my schedule all skiwompas. I didn't run again today. Kept thinking I would, but the day ran out. We did go on a really fun triple date though with my sister-in law & her husband and another sister-in-law & her blind date. Olive Garden, black light miniature golf & pumpkin cheesecake cones at Maverick. I've been craving one of those cones ever since. As far as making sure I get my run in on Saturdays I just HAVE to do it during the day because chances are it isn't going to happen in the evening. I'm learning this from experience.

Day 22 (Monday October 31st) - Trick or Treat
I was supposed to do a 6 minute walk, 7 minute jog, 5 minute walk, 6 minute jog, 6 minute walk today and it did not happen. I justified it though with the fact that I walked around for about two hours outside with my cute little trick or treater.

Day 24 (Wednesday November 2nd)
Check! Got my training in today (or rather, tonight.)

Day 26 (Friday November 4th)
Ran again today pushing the kids. John roller-bladed along next to me.

Day 27 (Saturday November 5th) - Dyslexic
So I was absolutely determined to get a run in today since I had missed the last two Saturdays, and in fact, hadn't run a Saturday yet at all! I invited some friends over that night to hang out. And lucky for me Katie (who is training too) hadn't done her run yet today, so we went together. It was enjoyable to run with her. I was definitely running at a quicker pace alongside her! I realized I had been dyslexic when I looked at the training schedule for this week though. The CORRECT schedule was 6 walk, 7 jog, 5 walk, 6 jog, 6 walk. But I remember looking at it and distinctly thinking, "okay, 7, 6, 5, 6, 6. Got it." And that's what I had run on Wednesday and Friday. Katie corrected me. I felt a little dumb. Oh well.

Day 29 (Monday November 29th) - Strike
We had the same friends over again tonight. But this time I used it as an excuse not to run cause I really didn't feel like it. Strike... what is that, 4? Well, out of 16 scheduled running days, that means I've run 12. (quick calculation) Well, um. Okay, so 75%. That's not as pretty a number as I was hoping for. Keep going, keep going, keep going.

Day 31 (Wednesday November 9th) - Ten Minutes
I was really not looking forward to having a 10 minute run be part of the schedule. Maybe that's why I didn't feel like running on Monday. But I'm determined not to quit this, so I did it! We played Pandora on John's phone and that really helped. He was impressed that I didn't even seem out of breath! He asked if it was even hard. Trust me. It's hard. Granted, the hardest thing is just getting out there and DOING it. I'm pleasantly surprised at how well I'm able to do these longer runs when I don't think I can do it.

Day 33 (Friday November 11th) - Good Planning
I am totally giving myself a pat on the back today. I really put forth effort to get my run in today. I was supposed to go to Time Out For Women tonight and wanted to leave at 5:30pm. I knew I certainly wouldn't feel like running at 10 at night when I got home, so I knew I had to do it before. I was working on random organizing projects throughout the day until it came down to the wire where I knew that if I didn't pack up the kids in the stroller and get out there, my run wouldn't happen today. And I am proud to announce that I did just that! Yay me.

Day 34 (Saturday November 12th) - Past the Point
I really enjoyed being at the Time Out For Women conference today. The adult session of stake conference begins in less than an hour. There won't be a run happening before then, and I'm just not sure about one happening after 9pm tonight. John has an ulcer in his eye and is not feeling well. If he doesn't feel well enough to go out with me tonight, then no run today because I don't want to go out by myself that late. However, I do want to share a really cool song I heard by Hilary Weeks today. She was inspired to write this song after she read a post on her friend's blog who just happened to also be training for a half marathon. So I thought it was duly appropriate and absolutely loved listening to it live today. You can read Hilary's post about it here, where she's also included a link to the song, Past the Point.

Day 19 - Night

The nice thing about running at night:

Day 17 - Alone

K's been having a really difficult time sleeping through the nights lately. It's been pretty hard on us. We've been getting between 3-5 hours of interrupted sleep a night. John told me when he got home that he simply didn't have the energy to run tonight, so I'd have to go alone. The sun had just set. It really wasn't that late, it just gets dark so early now! Well, I have no idea where I drew my energy and motivation from, but it was there. I put on some long running pants, a headband, hoodie and my tennis shoes. I took John's phone with me and ventured out alone.

During my first 8 minute walk I searched for and downloaded a stopwatch app on the phone to keep track of my time. 5 minute jog, 5 minute walk, 5 minute jog, and what was supposed to be a 7 minute walk at the end was 11 for me to make it all the way back home. Perhaps I'll make that route fit into 30 minutes one of these days.

During my jog today and two days ago I realized I was imagining running the half marathon right then and it made me feel so suddenly exhausted I just wanted to quit. The thought that I'll never be able to run that long flitted across my mind. I had to mentally take the reigns though and tell myself that this is the very beginning of my training! Focus on baby steps. Don't think about running the half marathon. Think about what I'm supposed to be doing right at that moment. I CAN run for 5 minutes.

I won't say that I loved going out and running/walking, however, I surely CAN say that it was enjoyable. This is a good sign.

Day 15 - Broken

I'm having a difficult time getting these posts written on the days they actually occur, even though I'm drafting them in my head on that day.

Today (Monday) my kids were sick with fevers. But I had told myself that Monday would hold no excuses, and so it did not! After dinner we packed the kids into the stroller with the windbreaker on and went out for our first run.

I made sure to grab my watch because my husband's cell phone battery had died. So I looked at the hands and did a quick calculation of what time it would be after we had walked for 8 minutes and we set off walking. My watch hands glow in the dark so I kept holding my wrist up to the meager streetlamp light to charge it. I looked at my watch and made note, "okay, about three more minutes." We kept walking. I looked at my watch again. Apparently time was moving a lot slower than I thought. Still three minutes. We walked for a lot more. Finally, sure that it must be time to start running, I looked at my watch and the hands were still in the exact same place. That's when I realized it was broken! Ha!

We figured we had walked for about eight minutes surely, and John said he would keep track of time in his head. So we started our first five minute run. Then five minute walk. Then five minute run again. When we finished the second run, John counted out loud at the pace he had been counting time in his head. He laughed and said he had probably been counting too fast. I thought it sounded too slow! Well, what mattered to me was that I had ran. I felt good. It was challenging enough, but not overwhelming.

Day 13 - Disappointed

long night with baby. wake up early. pump milk. clean kitchen. get ready to go to the temple. temple sealing of friend's family. come home. get family ready to leave. Staheli farm. corn maze. nephew's birthday party. extremely exhausted. 8:30pm. driving home.

This brings me to thinking about 9AM church in the morning (which comes really early) and the facts that:
A - We need to bathe Joseph
B - Joseph only got about 8 hours of sleep the previous night (usually it's at least 10) and didn't get a nap today
C - Bedtime routine of jammies, brushing teeth, reading scriptures and prayer and laying him down to sleep usually takes at least 30 minutes
D - I need to do my own personal scripture study
E - John and I haven't prepared our Primary lesson yet
F - Kaili is super tired and ready for bed
G - I am really exhausted after spending 3-4 hours walking around the farm and the corn maze

... and I begin feeling really overwhelmed at the thought of taking a 30 minute chunk of time out to do my first day of running training: 10 min walk, 3 min jog, 7 min walk, 3 min jog, 7 min walk.

John was very encouraging of me sticking to my training. He was totally willing to go with me. He said things like, "You can't quit now! You've got to stick to it, even when it's hard!"

He had me this close to doing it. But I chose not to. I'm justifying that all the walking around in the corn maze I did counts for my training today. But I didn't run, and I feel disappointed.

(And since I'm posting this on Sunday, I can honestly say I feel good about the choice I made last night. Even though it's disappointing, it would have made my night way too long.)

Monday will hold no excuses!

Day 12 - Booking It

(written in my head on Friday, posted on Sunday.)

I've been busy today, but the good kind. I've felt super productive going from one project to another including working on Joseph's costume, cleaning the kitchen, watching neighbor's kids, potty training (which is more of an ongoing project), and making snacks to bring to the Halloween party we're going to later tonight.

The plan was to drop the kids off at the babysitter's around 7 and go to our party at 8. I knew I'd have to get dinner AND a walk in before then, which was quite the task, if you know me well! Amazingly I did. We had spaghetti around 5:30ish. And I went out walking at 6:30 with just my two (almost three) year old.

He wanted to walk himself, but I took the stroller knowing he'd get tired halfway through. He started out running. His little two year old legs ran a good half of the way causing me to have to book it to keep up with him! I kept thinking to myself, "I'm not supposed to run until tomorrow!" It wouldn't surprise me if I walked faster today than I'll be jogging tomorrow!

Day 10 - Distracted

I have chosen this month to learn a skill I've been wanting to for a long while: SEWING. I'm working on sewing a cute little monkey costume for my son for Halloween. Tonight I was totally into my project. All thoughts of anything else went completely out the window.

Then as I took a little break from my sewing project to take my son potty, (potty training is enough of a distraction on its own!) it got me out of my bubble long enough to realize that I had totally forgotten about my walk!

Well, it was 8:00 PM, so thankfully I still had time to go. We walked our thirty minutes at 9. The whole time I was concerned my husband was going to pass out since he had donated blood two hours prior and didn't tell me until we were already on our walk that, oh yeah... he's not supposed to exercise for like 12 hours. We made it home without any major crises.

Day 8 - Windy

Week two and I'm still being consistent! Yes, I am totally cheering for myself and will continue to do so as long as I continue remaining self disciplined with this training!

Today was another 30 minute walk. It's been super windy all day today. Good thing we have a cover for our jogging stroller.

My question is, did I burn more calories walking into the wind?

Day 6 - Forgetful

I totally forgot to blog on my training day, which was yesterday. BUT, I didn't forget to train! I was supposed to walk for 30 minutes. I walked for 38 minutes because my 3 year old wanted to walk rather than ride in the stroller. It sure is enjoyable going out with the kids at night for a walk. The weather was simply perfect.

And on an exciting note, apparently I'm not alone among my friends in my desire to run this half marathon! I've got three more friends who will be joining in preparing for the race. Wahoo!

Day 3 - Attitude Adjustment

This first week of training I only have to train three days, Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Yesterday while walking to my class I found myself thinking, "Yes! I don't have to go out later today for a walk!" And then I realized I probably should change my attitude if I really want to be successful with my mission to run a half marathon. If my attitude is one of dread towards the days I'm supposed to be training... I don't see how that will equate to staying very consistent with it. So, attitude adjustment!

I looked forward to my walk this evening. And it was lovely. I wore a bandana around my ears to protect them from the wind. I walked for 30 minutes tonight. And I did the same route as I did two days ago, meaning I walked fast enough as to shave off 5 minutes!

I'm sure glad I've got another week of 30 minute walks. I'm kind of dreading when I have to start running.

I'll be adjusting my attitude again soon.

Day 1 - Couch Potato

I am a couch potato. I have been super sedentary in my lifestyle for at least the past year and it's time for me to change. I do enjoy running when I get into it... it's the getting into it that's the hard part!

Today I was supposed to walk for 30 minutes. I was going to do it earlier in the day with my kids, but then realized the stroller had a flat tire. So I put my husband to work fixing it as soon as he got home. After dinner we all went for a walk together as a family. We walked for 35 minutes.

Unfortunately, about thirty minutes before we left, I suddenly began feeling ill: severe headache and nauseousness. I felt that way all day on Sunday, but today had felt just great until just before the walk. I wasn't going to use it as an excuse though. So I went, head pounding. By the time we got back home I was feeling like barfing so after a quick trip to the bathroom (where I did not throw up, thankfully) I went straight to my bed and took a two hour nap. Yes, a two hour nap two hours before bedtime. When I woke up my head was still killing, so I took a pain killer and after about thirty minutes it has finally let up and ah... what a relief!

I realized as I was walking that I want to invest in a headband to wear around my head and over my ears because the tiny chill in the breeze made my ears hurt really bad and we're not even into winter yet. John said I should wear earmuffs. He made fun of me for wanting to wear a sweatband over my ears because that's not what they're for. I don't care. I want a sweatband over my ears.