Half Marathon Training: Week 1

I would love to say that I am psyched, motivated, and loving the training - but that would be a big fat lie.  I waiver between feeling good and cautiously excited to being incredibly overwhelmed and wondering why I am doing this.  It's been like a yo-yo...and I really enjoy the ups much better than the downs. 

So I thought that the best way to review this week of half marathon training is by highlighting the UPs and the DOWNs.

UP #1:  I connected up with Michele from Scraps of My Geek Life and Fiona from Mom Active who are both doing the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon and I got some great tips!  Fiona hosts a Wednesday night program on MomTV designed to support and encourage moms to choose an active, healthy and fit lifestyle.  And, during last week's program, which Michele was interviewed on, I learned about two wonderful websites that I quickly started using.  The first is Map My Run where it is simple to map out how many miles in a running route (both on streets and on trails).  The other site, Daily Mile, gives me the perfect place to log my miles and keep a journal of each day's workout - plus it is easy to connect with other folks!  It's fun to feel like a larger community!

UP #2:  I ran/walked for four days and each time I felt better about the last. 

UP #3:  A couple of my workout included pushing my boys in a double stroller.  I expected it to be a whiny, fussy, and cranky run - but I wasn't sure if that would be them or me!??!  But instead I was surprised at how much fun we had!  Since I knew that those workouts would be a run/walk, they got to tell me when to run and when I could walk.  I am confident I had a better workout with them than I would have on my own, since they choose "walk" very often, except for the short block where there was a construction site and the time I "highly recommended it. 

DOWN #1:  13.1 miles feels IMPOSSIBLE!  I can not wrap my brain around how I am going to be able to run that far.

DOWN #2:  Blister.  Dang - those things hurt!  I simply wore the wrong socks.  Never again.  I bought 6 more pairs of socks, so I will always have at least one clean pair.

DOWN #3:  Workout apparel.  A few years back, when I decided to run a 5k, I learned about Enell Workout Bras, and for me - who if I could, would happily donate 90% of my endowment to anyone - that bra was a true seas-parting, walk-on-water-type miracle!  It is quite the contraption with 20 million hooks and it's amazing smashing and flattening ability.  But, it is also a huge pain to put on and I have noticed some raw skin from the elastic band (ouch!)  So I think I am going to have to investigate new sports bras.  Also - I can not find shorts that are attractive and work for me.  Since I am not skinny and my legs, errr, rub together (did I really just admit that?) so unless I wear dreaded spandex or longer pants, I am not comfortable in the least.  So either I need to always workout in the air conditioned gym or figure out some new shorts.

OK...I guess I'll take the ups and deal with the downs... 

Week two here I come!

When Searching Leads to Finding!

I started this blog in January and I was feeling lost.  Since then I have tried to be purposeful about figuring out who I am, beyond a mom and wife. And while I haven’t figured it all out I feel like I have found more of me. In the past six-ish months I have recognized that…

• I am passionate about motherhood and the importance of moms supporting other moms.
• Stepping outside of my comfort zone, while unnerving, ultimately produces wonderful moments of growth.
• I love to write and that I am even good at it.
• I am creative and I need to incorporate it into my life daily.
• As long as I am true to myself, it is OK if everyone doesn’t like me. (it sounds simple, but that is big, for me!)
• My confidence has grown as I have gained clarity in who I am and what I believe in.

And all these realizations have lead to make some decisions about my life, which are energizing, motivating, and make me excited to get out a bed every morning. Some of these life changes, like writing a book and training for a half marathon, I have shared on my blog. And, because of that, I have made some wonderful and unexpected connections with others who have inspired me!  And for that, I am so thankful!
 
Also, I am happier than I was in January and more excited about my future! It will be fun to discover what the next six months of searching will find.
 

 

 

Thankful for my space...

My space and environment are very important to me.  When I am able to create a place that gives me a sense of peacefulness and relaxation I feel a true sense of home.

Here is one such place that I love, especially on beautiful spring days!

I can sit here, and watch the boys ride their bikes down the sidewalk and play in the front yard. 

Today I am thankful this special space.

Where is your "special space"?

Do mothers judge one another?

Yesterday, Liz Szabo worte an article in USA Today entitled Why do mothers judge one another and their parenting? that caught my attention.  The article talked about that "mothers can provide one another with invaluable advice and understanding, they also can be quick to cut one another down, making devoted mothers feel inadequate."  One pediatrician is quoted to saying, "I call it 'competitive parenting'". 

The article reminded me about my early days as a mom.

I often felt judged about allowing my first son to use a pacifier.  Random strangers in grocery store lines, would tell my baby, and a sweet baby-talk voice, "Oh, cutie...you don't need that thing in your mouth."

And the comments and opinions continued about my second son's finger sucking..."Oh, that poor guys is going to have to have braces on those teeth."

As I have grown as a mom, I have become more and more comfortable with my parenting choices and thus able to ignore or dismiss comments.  But, at times, I still feel the sting of the judgements from others.

I'm curious...What do you think?

Do moms (and dads) compete against each other about parenting styles and decisions? 

Have you felt judgment about your parenting choices from other moms?

 

Wondering...

Wondering's healthy. Broadens the mind. Opens you up to all sorts of stray thoughts and possibilities.

-Charles de Lint

What do you wonder?

Half Marathon Training - Day 1

Jogging is very beneficial. It's good for your legs and your feet. It's also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.

~Charles Schulz, Peanuts

So today I did it...I put one foot in front of the other (mostly jogging with a little walking) for 1.5 miles.  And I am sure that the ground felt needed...maybe even a little bruised...cuz' I didn't feel very light on my feet. 

Oh well...no one said it had to be pretty!

The bad news: 

13.1 miles feel like a    L    o    n    g    way to run!

Note to self:  take it one day at a time.

The good news:

It felt good to start this new adventure!

FYI:  I do NOT plan to post about this half marathon every day - that would bore the socks off me and, I'm guessing you too! So my plan is to have posts related to the half marathon just on Mondays. It'll help keep me accountable - and perhaps it might interest someone, anyone...

On your Mark...Get Set...

OK...a while back I saw this post from Michele at Scraps of my Geek Life about the Inaugural Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon and I posted a comment, that I was considering doing it.  Her enthusiasm was contagious!  Directly after commenting, I called my husband, at work, and proposed the harebrained idea to him...and he said "What?!!?...Maybe...I can't think about this right now."  And that was how the idea sat...for a month...plus a few days. 

Which brings me to today.  Actually...it brings me to tomorrow. 

The day I start...

Training.

For 13.1 Miles!

(What the hell am I thinking?)

But here's the deal...I have never ran more than a 5k.  And, I am at least 40 pounds overweight.  And, I don't really think that I like running. 

But I am hopeful - that I will be able to train beyond 3.1 miles - and that I might lose some weight - and that I will focus on the good things about running (maybe I'll even grow to like it)!

And committed - that I will do it!  My goal is simply to finish.
(And to have some accountability I will be posting every Monday, for the next 19 weeks, about my progress and training.)

Tomorrow I run/walk 1.5 miles.  And that, I know is doable...but I know it only gets harder from here...

So...wish me luck.  (and my hubbie too...he's also doing it!)