WOW MOM

This morning in the pre-dawn warm-up run at boot camp I noticed a change in the billboard at the turn around. I swear yesterday the billboard was a Taco Bell ad for a melty cheesy burrito that sort of made me sick and motivated me in a "yuck" way. This morning the Taco Bell ad was gone and all I could read was "WOW MOM"! It made me smile. I heard the words in Spencer's voice. I thought about how it seems that a lot of these women in this boot camp class are moms. How perfect to have a giant billboard telling you how awesome you are for being up before dawn, working out, and trying to be the best you can for yourself and your family.

You bet your ass WOW MOM.

I hope it's there tomorrow.

Boot Camp - Finally!

The world works in funny ways sometimes. My husband is a haggler. He would have been a wealthy man in days gone by because he can work a deal and usually trades up very well. He’s been going to a boot camp for the past 10-weeks now. It was originally an 8-week class but he worked his magic and traded some equipment in exchange for a year membership. AWESOME! I love that he’s committed and that it didn’t cost us any thing more! Well, you know I’ve been wanting to do this boot camp since March. Some how the hubster talked the owners down in price for me to join an 8-week class. Fortunately it all fell on a time when I had just pulled some overtime and was really dreading running in the heat. (Don’t get me wrong—I love running. I just haven’t loved running in the heat this year.) So after a few glitches last week I have started my 8-weeks of boot camp as of yesterday! Whhhhooooo-hhhoooo!

I missed the first week of camp which I know is tough with fit testing and instruction and just general body busting. This week is kickboxing. This camp generally does every other week kickboxing. I’m a huge fan of kickboxing as a work out. I did it a few years ago (ok apparently 12yrs ago). So I introduce myself to the trainer on Monday and she comments that I wasn’t there last week (you totally see it in her eyes that this does not make her happy). She asks if I have my gear, “yes.” She asks if I’ve every kick boxed, “yes.” As we start stretching with our gear next to us she walks by and asked if I went to Eric Noland’s (local martial arts/kickboxing gym) and I say, “yup, how could you tell?” with a tone of knowing exactly how she knew. She replies, “The gear. I taught there for 9yrs.” This might explain why she seemed a little familiar. She probably was there when I was there. I haven’t officially asked her yet. And, that was the last I heard from her for the hour. I held my own for the first class. I remembered the moves and it was not “easy” but she didn’t through a ton of complicated combinations at us so I could at least remember what we were supposed to be doing. I felt really good about the work out and myself afterwards. We had to run for some of the in between times of rounds and it was nice. I was not out in front and I remember thinking “I’m a distance runner not a sprinter.” But it was good to have something to draw on (like marathon training) to know that I could dig deep and keep going.

Actually after class I had a wild thought that I felt good enough I could run a little bit. I really considered it. It must have been a little endorphin high, because by the time I drove home I was a little tired and started to wonder if an hour nap would help or hurt me.

Day two was similar. Good class. My knuckles were sore so I may not have been hitting the bag as hard but I was sweating my ass off and I know my muscles are working because they are sore and tight. Again though I had the thought that I could run a little after class. I knew I wouldn’t today (I had less than 4 hours of sleep thanks to my children) but I am going to keep it in mind that if the spirit moves me I may take myself up on the thought in the future. I suspect I will only have this feeling on kickboxing days. I fear circuit days may not leave me with as much spunk.

I’m happy to be in the class. This is a totally different work out than I’ve been doing for years. I’ve wanted strength and I’m sure this will help me get there. I plan on being as consistent with boot camp as possible (really only allowing for vacation trips out of town to keep me for going) and throwing in a few runs on the weekends. I think this will take me through the first week of September. It will still be hot then but hopefully not as hot as August. Then I will really get my half marathon training schedule in place. I have a good base now and this camp will only help enhance it.

I feel good. Sluggish from lack of sleep but good.

Running really is about more than just running

Again today I got up to run solely because I knew it would not be 90-degrees at 6am. In a few days it might just be that hot that early. Somehow I didn’t realize my alarm had gone off until 30 minutes after the fact so again I could have ditched out of the run. But, I decided in the end to get 3 miles under my belt and try to keep this running thing alive as long as possible before I get sucked into the oppression of the heat.

Of course, the moment you’re out there running you know you made the right decision. It’s beautiful and one less thing on my mind the rest of the day. I was surprised at how good I felt. I mean there was the rocky start of trying to find my groove but by the time I passed the park I was pretty happy with my pace and feel. The funny thing I noticed on the route this morning is that there seemed to be a lot of people out either running or walking. At one point I honestly started to feel like I was on a parade route! Saying Hi and waving to fellow morning movers. I found myself wandering to thoughts of Kristin Armstrong’s book Mile Markers and her thoughts on running and friends. As I headed into the last mile I see a runner stopping to stretch. It’s a friend I’ve known most of my life. Ok, really who she is is the cousin to my best friend since first grade. She lives in my neighborhood and her daughter is best friends with my current best friend’s daughter….. small world. I laughed and stopped and chatted with her for a few minutes. It was so funny to see her because I remember that she was a runner in high school. She looks just the same! Even in our few moments of conversation it was great to feel that connection as moms and runners and friends.

Stopping and chatting sort of threw off my groove a little but it was worth it. For a moment I felt like I was living in Armstrong’s book and it just reaffirmed for me that I’m doing what I love to do and I’m really not alone. Running serves so many purposes. Obviously health and fitness, but also friendship and space and mental well being. Some days I love to run alone. I love the time to work something out in my head or just be silent in my head. Other days it’s the only way I can talk to my friend with out a baby doing something dangerous or destructive demanding my attention. If I’m running I feel less guilty about taking time for myself and my friendships. I really never would have guessed I would have come to this place with running. I’m happy I did.

Commiting to Tinkerbell!

Yeah! I did it! I committed to running the Tinkerbell Half Marathon! I'm so super excited about this! It's so awesome on so many levels! (ok that's a lot of exclamation points and a lot of high school sounding pharsing.)

Honestly though it's is amazing! I love that the race is the day after my daughter's second birthday and days before Spencer's birthday and just a mear 18 days before my birthday----- so HAPPY BIRTHDAY YB'S!!! And, unless my sister completes a half marathon before January it will be her first half marathon ever. This is a girl that used to break out in a rash when she ran outside. seriously. It will be beyond words to run this with her. (ok, if you know anything about my sister you also know that I am sort of setting us up for some crazy freak disaster to set in but we'll be in the Happiest Place on Earth where customer/guest service is of the utmost importance (yes, I used to work for the cult.... and boy do I wish I still did right now!). The cast members will get us through any thing Holly's luck will bring us! ha!

It's odd though committing to this run. Odd on a financial and best use of resources level. We're a single income family so trips to Disneyland are not an every year occurance. Races haven't been either because of babies and whatnot but put together a race and a trip to Disneyland and we're talking serious cash when it's all tallied up. I am only really justifying the expence because it is near our birthdays, and it's the first Tinkerbell Half Marathon, and Holly's going to run it too, and because I've commited early. The money's gone. I won't see that race fee again. Thank you overtime and holiday pay. Next month the hotel room.

But I do wonder, was it the right move? Should I have used that money for 8-weeks of boot camp? I want to go to boot camp. Everyone is doing it. No joke, everyone I know is going to this boot camp. My husband just signed up for the year and is so stoked he can hardly contain himself. I want to join, but now I've signed up for the race. I feel like "I spent my workout money." It's for one day. Was it the best decision? Depends on perspective. I'm happy with the decision. I wish I could have both, but unless I play the Lotto tomorrow and win it would be irresponsible of me to sign up for 8 weeks of boot camp which would take me through the heat and give me plenty of time and strength to train for the half marathon.......... I haven't thought about this much, can you tell?

Either way I'm happy. There is a lot of potential for an amazing weekend! I really happy to have a goal on the horizon too!

Please and Thank You

Sometimes what I do really can't help but make me thankful for what I have.
My babies (even at 6-yrs old still "my baby") are beautiful and healthy. Thank you.
Please let me never take them or their health for granted.
Please give me the strength to love them as deeply and completely as they deserve. Don't hold back.
Thank you for allowing me to love them and know them and delight in them.
Please let me touch and feel and hold them until my last breath and beyond.

Nothing like a little work transferance to really bring home what's important.

I really wanted to pray tonight. I think I just did.

Amazing Morning Run - lessons learned

So Below is my long winded post about a regular morning run. I realized after I posted it in my online running group that I've never written so much about any run ever--- even my marathon! So I figure that maybe I should be putting it in my blog that I've abandoned and have been considering starting back up. So here it is. As of for the blog..... I don't know where it's going or what it'll really be about, but for me it's all about family, kids, and running, so it's likely to be about all those things.

59:20mins / miles 6.1
omg!!!! a gift from the running gods!
perfect weather, no time constraints (thank you summer vacation), and no watch.... I'll explain more after a shower and I get to work.

later: So I definitely have a cold. I'm not dying but the nose is getting runnier and the phlem is yellow and there's some coughing. So I could have easily stayed in bed. I wanted to stay in bed. but a peek out the window showed a cloud cover and the temperature prediction was only in the 70's for today ----- If you don't know the central valley in California you don't know what an amazing gift this is. usually it's 100 - degrees by now and running at even 5am is a bit miserable----- and then too I thought I don't feel awful now but what if I feel worse later this week and I really can't go out for a run or can't go to yoga tomorrow...... take advantage while you can. So I did. It was a little later than I would usually go but since school is out it really didn't matter, especially if the weather is cooperating. I held in my coughing fit and nose blowing until I was out the door and across the street as not to wake the natives in my house. I had a moment of wondering how this was going to go because I could feel the coating for phlem on my lungs. but honestly just being outside in the beautiful cloud covered slightly cool breezy morning was enough to make it all worth it. I was in love with the morning. So on my .25 walk I stretched and hatched up the inner lining of my lungs and really started to feel better. I had my 4.75mile route mapped out in my head. I even knew what I could do to add a mile to it if I really wanted too. no pressure though. Before I got to the corner I made the decision to take off my watch. I've been feeling alittle chained to my watch on my runs lately. Not really sure why but even just having it on was getting to me a bit. I've been thinking about running with out it for the last few runs so today I decided I would start it at the beginning of my route and leave it and pick it up on my way back. It was great! I immediately felt better, lighter, and was glad I'd know my time but not be obsessed with it. So, out I went. I route and weather was good. The lungs were good. The legs were good. not far into the run I was seriously considering extending the run. When I got out to the fields I looked longingly at them but didn't head out that far.... there was no way to change your mind once your out in the potatoe fields. This started me thinking about the difference between running outside and in the gym on a treadmill. Outside once you're out, you're out. There's no stopping and walking to the car just a few feet away. For me, even if I want to quit once I'm on the road, I keep going mostly because I know if I keep running I'll get home faster. running on the treadmill has always been mentally much tougher for me. (There's a chance I may be religated to a treadmill in the future but we'll see what comes.) I make the turn at 2.5 miles knowing that I can still complete the original route or I can make the turn in half a mile. I see the route in my mind and it is definitely the longer route. I feel good. No struggle, so let's do it. Somewhere after a few turns I start to see another alternative route form in my mind. I could just keep going straight and add a little more to this run....... I hit the intersection and I keep going straight!!!! I feel awesome! awesome that I chose to keep going! awesome that I have this much in me! In the last mile I try to start calculating the miles and I think I may have added a mile or at least a half a mile (that one street always throws off my calculations!). Without my watch I'm not sure of my pace. I know it's at least a 10 minute mile. It could be less but probably not by much, I settled in and didn't push too hard. (For half a mile there was a woman with a dog on the other side of the street and she passed me. I was a little bummed and thought "wow- I wonder what her pace is... not too much faster but fast enough to pass me...." I almost changed directions completely to follow her but that might be stalkerish and I need to run my own race.) When I picked up the watch it said less than an hour so either I ran way faster than it felt or my extention wasn't as long as I thought, but the milisecond of disappointment in my time vanished immediately because it was a beautiful run and I had more than a few moments where I knew that if I had the time and no one would worry about if I was kidnapped or not I could have ran for another hour without a problem. loved it. (obviously! look how much I wrote about it! )

So many lessons learned so early in the morning!

• talk yourself into something, not out of it.


• accept gifts, even if they are hard to accept. the reward it worth it.


• listen to your heart, don't fight your desires, lose the watch every once in a while.


• visualize


• give yourself options and take them!


• relish in your victory (even on a regular day morning run!)

Now if only I didn't have to go to work and I could have crawled back in bed for even 30 minutes then it would have been a fully mind blowing experience! ha!