Chic Runner Giveaway

Quickie post because I said I'd do it : )

I just entered the onlineshoes.com giveaway at http://www.chicrunner.com/2009/03/you-ask-for-it-you-got-it.html ... here's to hoping I win the gift card & can purchase some new Asics!

No running yet ...

but at least I'm blogging! I'm going to allow my toe a few more days to heal. The weather is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous on Saturday with temps in the 60s, so I'm planning on running 3 miles or so if my shoes don't bother the toe too much. Kate's basketball game is at 11:00, so hopefully I'll be able to go out after we return home. I hope to run what I'm calling the "big tree/woods" route in my running log. It's really very nice and is a logging road through the timber tract west of the farm. I may even be able to convince Taylor & the kids to ride the golf cart for a time. I love running that route, but as I go deeper in there, I have to admit it's probably not the best idea to be completely alone.

I also have a few plans for future blog posts. I'd like to take some pictures of the various places I run. There's nothing really unique about them, but I just want to add a little "where I run" piece to the blog. I read so many different blogs (all listed on the side). It's interesting that so many people live in cities/suburbs and run on roads all of the time. I think that would be a good change of pace, but I really like the serenity of running out here in the country. Of course, it's not like I have any readers ... I guess I just want to add the pictures for my own memories.

I've also started measuring out my 2009 runs on Google Earth with the idea of seeing how long it will take me to "virtually" run to the Outer Banks where we vacation each summer. So far, I've crossed over into Northampton County. I'll try to add a little more info about that in other posts.

I also want to start blogging a little about non-running related stuff, too. Mainly things going on here at home. It's a good place to write a little about some of the cute & crazy things our kids do. On that note, here's one example of life with Will.

We had our "small group" meeting at our house Monday night. Our small group has gotten smaller & smaller & now only consists of Taylor, my mother-in-law Selma, and our pastor Bob and his wife Penny. Bob gave each of the kids a container of the mini M&Ms which they were eating in the kitchen while the rest of us were watching a DVD during our meeting. A little later when Will came back in the den, we noticed that it looked like Will had a little blood on his nose. I didn't think much of it as he's getting over a cold. But as I was wiping it with a tissue, I discovered it wasn't blood but was melted chocolate. Apparently, he decided the M&Ms were the perfect size to fit in one nostril. Thank goodness there was no harm from it and I hope he doesn't try that little adventure again.

I guess that's it for now ... it's almost bedtime and I have a wide-awake 3-year-old to start calming down.

What's this? A new post?

Wow, it's been a looong time since I last posted. Not much of an excuse for not blogging other than life happens. The holidays were great and as always, a blessing to share the joys of the Christmas season with my family. But now it's January (almost February!) and back to a more "normal" pace.

I took a break off running beginning in November that lasted for the most part until January 1. It all started with a very tender spot beside on my left foot's big toenail. And ... fast forward to today when I'm sitting at home with a bandage on said toe. It turned out (or rather in) to be an ingrown toenail. Let's just say I've never been so happy to have a doctor do a procedure involving shots and sharp instruments. Honestly, it already feels better. Even though it's still a bit sore, it's not a sharp pain like it had been for the last 2-3 days when it had worsened.

I'll have to bandage it for a while & take care of it with daily soaks & cream, but if I'm feeling up to it, I'll try to run again in a week or so. I'm in the middle of training for the Sweetheart 5K on February 14. I guess you can call the slow run/walk thing I do training since I actually printed a schedule from Runners World Smart Coach. I ran my longest distance Saturday - 5 miles! It was great and I may have been able to go a little longer. But looking back at it now, it probably had a lot to do with the toe pain flaring up again.

I really don't have huge expectations for this 5K. I'm obviously still very much a beginner. I'd like to best the time at the Harvest Days 5K in October ... that's a reachable goal. A tougher goal is to finish under 30 minutes. I doubt that'll happen due to the toe issue, but we'll see.

The goal for this afternoon? Reading and hopefully a nap ...

The pounds are a-kickin' & a-screamin'

Obviously, one of the initial reasons to begin running was because it's an efficient means to an end. My overall goal is to lead a healthier life so that I will be a much more healthy, much more happy wife and mom for my family. Running is an incredibly effective way to achieve that overall goal.

So after 11 weeks I am very pleased to report that I feel great and definitely have a healthier body. I may not be losing a huge amount of weight as far as the pounds go, but I'm losing inches as I can definitely tell a difference in my clothes. Most important, I am proud of my accomplishments and that equates to just a happier, more self-confident person.

I read this quote by a poster on one of the Runner's World forums & think it's a hilarious way of describing the difficulties of weight loss ...

"There is no efficient way to lose weight. You have to peel the pounds, one by one, kicking and screaming off your thighs, butt, and waist. Then you have to throw them as far away from you as possible, knowing that they're only going to travel a few feet. Then you have to do anything you can to get as far away from them as possible. You can run, bike, yoga, swim, or crosstrain. Anything that puts distance between you and the evil pounds, and you know that they're going to be right behind you laughing as soon as you peek over your shoulder. And they're armed with doughnuts."

Worldwide Festival of Races

I ran the inaugural "Hawkins Farms Pumpkin Patch 5K" and I placed first out of 1 entries! Woo hoo! My prize for completing the race in 37:07? A bottle of water and big hugs a little later from my daughter and son.

It was a wonderfully cool morning of about 65 degrees and a light breeze. The course was and out and back from my in-laws' pumpkin patch to the church so it was a trail section by the pond and then the farm paths by the cotton and soybean fields to the church. And the good news was that I remembered to bring the church key with me so I was able to take a much-needed bathroom break : )

This was only the second time I've run this distance since starting on July 30. I'm still not able to run the entire time, but the walk breaks are much shorter than my first 5K in September. I will run the Harvest Days 5K next week and hope to finish in 35 minutes.

This was my first virtual race and I heard about it from Steve Runner's wonderful "Phedippidations" podcast. I enjoyed pushing myself to run the extra little bit to log 3.1 miles and "compete" against myself and others virtually. What a blast and a great way to stay motivated as there are not a lot of local races around here.

My old self ...

So do I have an old self I'm trying to leave behind by taking up running? Yep, probably so ... the old self that liked to say "I can't do this because ____________"

Yep, I can do anything ... it's just a matter of setting my mind to it and not letting the self-doubt take over.

I am blessed with a wonderful life. I'm married to my soul-mate -the man I love and have loved for many, many years and our two children are such a gift from God that it makes my heart want to burst. And I need to accept that I am deserving of all of these gifts and, at the same time, I deserve to believe in myself in other ways, too.

So how does this fairly new running "obsession" fit into it all? It's a way of letting myself go & taking the challenge to do something that's tough and new ... and about having the courage to do something that has the possibility of failure ... and then overcoming that potential failure.

Make sense? Maybe not to anyone else, but to me, yeah it does make a lot of sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sElYG7LmUU

20 minute mark & running away from home (not what it sounds like!)

I DID IT! For the first time, I ran for 20 minutes without stopping.

Of course, this was on the treadmill instead of outside like normal, but I'm in Chapel Hill until Friday. I'm not really comfortable running by myself in a strange place, so I decided to use the hotel workout room instead. Zero percent incline & still slow, but that's the most time I've run without stopping for a walk break yet!

It felt great and I am so very, very proud of myself. What a great way to start the week. I'm really, really missing Taylor and the kids already so this was a good mental pick-me-up.

I can't wait until Friday when I'm back home ... just talked to Kate, though, and she's doing much better now. She and Taylor are baking halloween cookies and Will's at Papa's house. I'm glad Kate's not so sad now ... I left her crying this morning which just broke my heart. She's the "star of the week" in Mrs. Garrett's 3rd grade class. I'm going to surprise her Friday afternoon by going to school to be the "mystery reader." I can't wait to see her reaction when I walk in the door.