Creature Comfort

I don't know about you, but when the weather turns to fall and winter I no longer wish to drink water, eat salads, eat healthy period. I want to eat warm casseroles, pastas, hot cocoa's etc.

Thankfully because I run, I can get away with eating a treat or two and pay no consequence. But, I find lately I just eat more. I am busy, I have six kids, I have house to tend to, husband's needs to tend to. Family stuff, photography stuff. But, it just boils down to the fact that I have to care for myself, and in turn I can care easier for others who need me at all times. Like my Courtney who is still breastfeeding. My little leach LOL!

I have developed an eye twitch in my left eye. It is driving me NUTS! I know I need to slow down...I need to care a bit for me again. Take the time to just treat my body right. That includes eating right, and exercising more etc. But boy oh boy is that tricky when all I want to do is flop over on the couch with a hot yummy drink, and a bag of potato chips. (NO I have NOT done this but the thought is there!)

Just an update :D

My weight is right at 150, and I figure this is where my body likes to be so I will not fight with it. Now is not the time to fight my body! I have to WORK with my body. I am not going to be so hung up on the numbers on the scale.

I am 'in between' clinics right now. I ran 7 kms last night and I felt great! I am starting my second half marathon clinic next week. That clinic will prepare me for another half in February 2009. I cannot wait! And, I have decided to do one more half after that...either Vancouver Half, or Scotia Half. And, in June 2009 when the marathon clinic starts up I will train for 18 weeks to prepare for my very first MARATHON to take place in Victoria on the very same place I ran my first half marathon (and LOVED it!) in October 2009. Perfect birthday present!

So, all good!

This Sunday

I am running my very first half marathon. I have been wanting to do this distance of race for about three years now. Finally, it is the week before. Six day until I make my mark at the start line. 21.2 kilometres. 

I am a jumble of emotion, nerves, excitement. Woo! And, tomorrow is my 37th birthday. What a great way to start off my 37th year! 

I am just thankful to have legs, and a strong body that carry me day to day. Run while I am able. I try not to take for granted the gifts I am given.

I am blessed.

23.55 kilometres

That is what I ran this morning. It took me 2 hours and 29 minutes. I was only supposed to run 20 km with my group, but I decided to go with my bud Kevin, and the marathon group. It was a most excellent day for a run. The only thing crummy was that my watch which appeared to be working, stopped working and so I swore, and threw it into a bush LOL.  Anyways...

I am so pleased with what I have been able to accomplish in the last four or so months of my half training. I asked the guys not to tell me when I was past 20, 21.2 km. I just wanted to finish up strong. I managed to do just that, and I sprinted for a finish! It was a great moment. I actually welled up with tears during my run (but making sure nobody saw me LOL) I just thought wow! I did it. After three plus years of wanting to finish this distance, I managed to do it, and a bit more.

I am two weekends away from my half marathon in Victoria. We are going to go. We will go for two nights, bring our baby Courtney, and heck! We will enjoy our time! I cannot wait for race day! I know I will bawl my eyes out when I finish because this is what I have been working SOOOOO hard to do. And just knowing how far I have come in terms of health, all of these babies etc. I cannot wait. 

It is decided. We are going, we are going to have fun and celebrate my birthday in Victoria this year! Perfect way to celebrate my 37th birthday!

The official countdown is on!

20 km or 23 km on Sunday?

I am still wavering back and forth trying to decide which race to do. 

I am ready...on Sunday I am scheduled to run the longest run I have ever run at 20 km. But another group is doing 23 km and I kinda want to do that run just in case it does not work out for me to go to Victoria in 2 weekends.  Or, there is the Rubber Ducky Half the following weekend on the 19th that is all on bark mulch...hmmm not sure I want to run that?! So, I could just solve all of this and just run it on Sunday. But, my friends tell me I need to run a real race. To me, I just want to get the number under my belt and start increasing my distances further. Perhaps start my training for a FULL marathon for my next goal. I really truly feel ready to move forward...

My weight is holding steady at below 150 lbs. I am still breastfeeding my Coco. I hope to stop around her first birthday in a couple of months. 

Anyways if you told me one year ago that I would be ready to run a half marathon in most likely a sub two hour race I wouldn't have believed you. But, I am SOOOOO ready. I have been wanting to run this distance for almost four years. And in a few days, or a few weeks I will have that goal checked of my LIFE LIST!

19.2 km - the longest run

I completed to date in my whole running experience the longest run I have EVER completed. I feel so proud of my self. It was a great day for a run, and just to think that in a few weeks I will be running my very first half marathon. I have been wanting to do this for so long, and to think that it is weeks away feels just amazing.

Weight wise, I am hanging in at 147 pounds, and I didn't really care too much about my eating. I just went with the flow. But, it is nice to be consistently down below the 150 mark.

I still haven't decided whether to go or not to Victoria for my race. I am still trying to wean Courtney, and well I am doing my best as is she. We have about 3 weeks until I need to leave. And so I will keep working at it. I have cut out now 3-4 feeds and leaving a before dinner feed, a bedtime feed and a early morning feed. 3 weeks, 3 feeds to remove. She is doing OK with her cup! It it doesn't work out, I can a. bring her, or b. do the Rubber Ducky half on the 19th. But I REALLY want to do my big race because I am hooked up and I have paid for my race etc. So, that is where my heart wants to be. 

Anyways, I am just so pleased that I did my run today, and I totally look forward to my 18 ish next week, and the following week a 20 km. Then the race! 

Changing my half marathon race!

I have decided, that I will decide closer to the 12th of October if Courtney will be OK with me travelling away for the RVM half in Victoria. I can cancel the hotel reservations 24 hours before if need be.

I have, however found a local half marathon that we can take the whole family too. That is the way to go I feel. It is on the 19th of October. So, one week later. I am excited about that.

My training is going well. We are doing longer runs, and hill training. Last Sunday I ran a 14 km run and it was awesome, and this week we did a 6 km tempo run, and on Wednesday we did hills. So a 3 km run there, 6 hills, and then a 3 km race back.

I am going to seriously consider doing some triathlons next year. There are several small ones I can do to get my feet wet in the sport again. And then in 2010 I want to do my first Half Iron in Oliver, BC. 2 km swim, 93 km bike, and 21.1 km run (half marathon) I know I can do it! It will just take some patience on my end, and just knowing I can do it! Yay!

My weight is up by about 2 pounds, but I feel that it is muscle I am putting on as my clothes all still fit the same. I changed my ticker to reflect that gain.

My run yesterday morning

I went for a 14+ km run that started out with thunder and lightening. Then a huge downpour of rain. More thunder and lightening, then sun! That was the most different run I have ever done LOL.

I have been keeping very well. My runs are getting longer, next Sunday I run 16 kms. This week a straight tempo 6 km on Tuesday, and on Wednesday is hill training. We are up to 6 hills.

My race day is about 8 weeks away. But, I am thinking weaning Courtney is not going as smoothly as I had hoped, and this race is not local. I have to go on a Ferry, and stay in a hotel. We were planning on staying for 2 nights (sans children), but now I am thinking I may not run the official race. Just keep with the training. I will be eventually running 20 kms so that will be a huge accomplishment for now. But, I have already paid 70 dollars to go there and do it. SOOOOO. Not too sure. We may just go on the ferry, with Courtney, sleep over, I race and then come home. Only one night. Just get it done!

Or, I continue on with my running. I join another half marathon training that starts end of October (I was going to do this one anyways) and do the Historic Half right in my town. It is on the Valentines Day weekend in February 2009. My breastfeeding will be over by then!! That might be a better scenario. Although not what I really wanted right now.

What to do. What to do. My husband has put on 20 pounds, so September 2nd I am going to try to help him get back on track. I know he is not happy with this gain, but his life has been pretty stressful since his Dad died. So, I am sure there will be some more bloggin' going on around here in the next little while.

Didn't feel like it today...

but I put my runners on and did it anyways. Tonight was week two of hill training. We ran four hot hills. Next week we run five hot hills, and continue up to nine hills. Today my nose has been rather stuffy, and I am feeling really worn out and tired. But now that my run and hill training is complete. I have energy.

I know running gives me energy! Thank you Cliff for making me go tonight. I was *this close* to not going out. No excuses.

So far, I feel good as I can. I know it is going to be a challenge to lose the last 10 pounds. Especially when I tell friends or family that I have only 10 more pounds to lose, and they ask me 'from where?'

Believe me, there are 10 or so more pounds on me. I felt every extra pound on my hill training, nearing the crest of the hill.

*gulp*

I am officially registered into my first half marathon! Woo. I took the step, I committed and I will be ready. Training is in full force. I ran a 9km run this morning in the heat, and boy was it a struggle. Wow.

But, I did it. It can only get better (and cooler as the race day of October 12th approaches!)

I will be able to cross this off of my 'to-do' list finally! Woo!

Day 17 of 30

Clinic night tonight! So exciting! My first half clinic has begun! June 17th - October 7th!

16 weeks of training has begun!

4 km straight run 23 minutes
100 crunches
25 push ups
50 squats
stretch

140's are close...

I have really found that you can eat well all you want, and the weight hardly budges when breastfeeding. BUT, if you eat well and ramp up the exercise combined with a positive I AM GOING TO GET THIS WEIGHT off mental attitude of pure positivity it surely works. IT is like a magice triangle!! All points of the triangle have to be FULLY engaged to lose the weight I have found.

I could possibly be in the 140's next week which is just crazy to me. I keep standing on the scale in disbelief!! I keep getting called 'bone rack' and 'skinny' which I do not see LOL. All I know is that I have never ever felt so strong and healthy. For I am doing this whole weight loss really well.

So I could possibly drop into the 140's this coming week, or the next. I haven't been there since 1989/1990. The year I graduated or just in college. The thought is just mind blowing to me. I have muscles developing in my legs, and I look strong. I like that look for me.

I find I have to 'release' the weight in my mind and let it go, and it goes. Bye bye weight. I never want to see you again.

It is Friday, and I have a 5 kilometre steady run to do tonight at a very good pace. I am hoping/needing to complete this run in 26 minutes which is a good race pace for the half. That time will also take about 2 minutes off of my fastest 5 k I have ever done. *fingers crossed*


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