Good-bye Complacency, Hello Insanity!

As I finished a 12 mile run on Saturday, I was thinking about my goals and how I am going to achieve them. I want to qualify for the Boston Marathon again. I want to get faster and improve my fitness level. I want to tone-up and shed a few pounds. Then, I started thinking about my time-line. The Houston Marathon is January 15th. I'll be starting to taper my runs at the beginning of January. Therefore, I have exactly 2 months or 60 days to shape-up. I need to concentrate on cross-training as well as running to achieve my goals. Insanity!

Last year, I enjoyed the benefits of a boot-camp fitness class. I loved it! I attained all the previously stated goals. However, the class took a lot of time away from my family (twice a week - 2.5 hours - in the evenings). Not an ideal situation for my hard-working husband or my two young boys. It was also very expensive. Insanity!

Then a friend recommended the Insanity workout DVDs. I bought it and used it leading up to the marathon last year. They are a really good workout. No equipment and all in about 40 minutes - 1 hour commitment. I can do that! I recommend them as well. I enjoyed the same benefits of the boot camp, but was able to do it on my own schedule and for a fraction of the cost. Thanks Shaun T! Insanity!

Day 1 is today. My goal is to follow the program faithfully. I will post a before and after picture at the end of 60 days. I was going to post a before picture now - but you know what a look like and the results will be best seen side-by-side at one time. Plus, I want my free "Insanity - I Earned It" t-shirt. Here goes! Who's with me?

Houston Half Marathon

I ran in the Houston Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 23. This is the first of three races in the Houston Marathon Warm Up Series. The next is the Texas Metric Marathon on Nov. 13, then the Sugar Land 30K on Dec. 11.

I really enjoy these races. They are all spaced about a month apart and are the perfect distances for training for the Houston Marathon on Jan. 15, 2012. It is a great way for beginners to get a large race experience with 2 of them including a drive into downtown Houston. It is also a good way for runners to get a feel for their fitness level, to try out different race strategies and just practice hydrating and re-fueling.

I traveled along with my girlfriends Nicole and Vickie and her husband, Mike. It is such a fun atmosphere heading to the race, laughing and talking about our goals for the day. It's Houston, so of course, it was hot and the mosquitoes at the start were fierce. I couldn't wait to get out of there and get running. I made a rookie mistake at this race last year and after I drank a whole mug-full of coffee was in the port-a-can when the gun went off. I knew better this year and was at the starting line in plenty of time and enjoyed the buzz of the crowd.

My good friend Michelle came out to cheer me on at mile 6 and 9. It was a boost to see her at mile 6 then I looked forward to seeing her again over the next 3 miles. I didn't finish as fast as I wanted to, but it was a good race, I felt strong and enjoyed it.

The post-race atmosphere is just as sweet. Lots of laughing and talking, loud music, beer (at 9am?) - I opted for the massage. I won't be running all three races of the warm up series this year. I have another meeting with the half marathon in San Antonio.

Excuses

We are creatures of habit. It's easy to get stuck into a rut and just do the same thing all the time. I stepped out of my box to start this blog, then I haven't logged anything in over a week. Sometimes it's hard to break a habit and it's equally as hard to start something new. That's my excuse for not posting anyway!

I am also totally addicted to this new website Pinterest. Insanely addicted. It's a virtual pin board that has really neat stuff from all over the web that other users have "pinned" to this site. You can request an invitation to become a member and start your own pin board.  That way you can pin stuff to the website and on your own pin board to reference later. If you haven't seen it, check it out. Very cool!

I love to craft and make different stuff , but there should be a disclaimer on some of these Pinterest crafts that they are "more difficult than they appear!" It is fun to look at all the different "pins". The categories are massive, but my favorites are Home Decor, DIY and Crafts, Fitness, Kids and Education.

Treadmill PR

After last week's mediocre and somewhat disappointing run, I needed a mental victory. Last year, I ran 10 miles on my treadmill. Today, I did 11!

It was too easy to drop the kids off and come back home. I was toying with the idea of doing a treadmill run anyway for a couple of reasons. First, I knew I would have plenty of water. My handy-dandy treadmill doesn't mind holding it for me either. Second, I could zone-out and not have to watch for cars or think about every step or turn I was going to make. Third, it would be cool to set a new record. Fourth (and the deciding factor), I had this week's episode of The Biggest Loser to watch!

It's fun to curl up on the couch and watch those guys and gals tough it out every week on that show. But, I always end up feeling a little bit lethargic and guilty afterwards. They worked out so hard and I just sat there - probably eating something, too. I was also dreaming about having one of the trainers coach me during a "Last Chance Workout!" Well, today I got just what I needed. Bob and Dolvett took turns yelling at me to "Move faster, Work harder, Go! Go! Go!"

I'm glad it's done. With a little good TV, I'd do it again, too!

Getting Started

The fall marathon season is upon us. I really love this time of year. I look forward to signing up for races, getting the confirmation email and planning a training schedule. I love studying my calendar - seeing the workouts planned and executing them. Perhaps its a feeling of satisfaction and completion that I'm looking for or the shocked look I get from non-runners.

I'm not doing anything extreme or extraordinary. In fact, plenty of runners run more than I do. Even the Biggest Loser contestants are running marathons! I just really enjoy doing it. And if there's anything a runner enjoys more than running, it's talking about it!

I remember a time when I didn't enjoy running. It was used as a punishment in other sports or whenever I gained weight during college and it just seemed too hard - that really was a punishment. But, with most things if you look for the positive and change your attitude, your heart and body will follow.

I started training for my first marathon in 2002. I had been married for almost 3 years and my husband had a lot of hobbies. Since we didn't have kids at the time, he was free to go and do all of his fun activities. I accompanied him on several occasions, but I didn't really have anything to call my own. I wanted a hobby! I had been thinking about starting to run for at least a year soon after 9/11. It has been well documented that after traumatic events such as wars, The Great Depression and 9/11 more people start pounding the pavement. I would consider myself one of those that was affected by this running boom. Running is stress-relieving and when faced with your own mortality there's nothing better to do than get in shape.

"To Run A Marathon" was also a goal that I wrote down in high school. Now at the time, I thought those goal-setting activities were pretty lame. I was 15 or 16 years old and I was expected to come up with some life-long goal? Give me a break. (I'm even rolling my eyes as I type.) So I thought as big as I could a wrote "to run a marathon". I probably didn't even know how far that was it just seemed unattainable at the time. I do remember I also wrote "to write a book." Does this count? I should have said blog and I would have been a visionary. I do believe in the goal-setting exercises now. Writing it down is the first step to making it happen.

In 2002, I joined a running group. Best advice ever - join a group! I have a place to meet people with the same interests and there is safety in numbers. By some magical force, the runs with the group seem easier and that's good because they're longer. Effort is distributed among everyone, so the work-load is shared.

The fall race season leaves me feeling nostalgic - it's nice to look back at where I started and how far I've come (literally!). That's why I started running, but there are a ton of other reasons why I keep running. I'll save those for another time. Life is a journey - enjoy it!

Just another run

Yesterday, I ran 5 miles at 11:30 am. Today, I ran 10.5 miles at 9:00 am. The bottom line is...I don't like it!

Warning! Complaints below!

I usually do my running at 5:00 am. In the pre-dawn hours when most are still asleep. Obviously, I have taken this for granted because when my husband travels I don't have this luxury. Hmm, that's funny, I just called running at 5 o'clock in the morning a luxury! But, it really does serve it's purpose. I learned a lesson many years ago that with young children getting it done early is paramount. There are a thousand excuses and interruptions that can prevent me from running later. Also, I'm a procrastinator and the longer I can put something off, the more likely it's not going to get done. I'm more tired in the evening (at least it feels that way). I'd rather roll out of bed, clothes and shoes on, brush my teeth and be running before I'm fully awake enough to realize what's going on.

It was really hot today and I underestimated the amount of water I would need for 12 miles. Twelve was the original plan, but I ditched the run early due to lack of water. I'm already feeling guilty that I didn't gut out the intended mileage.

I usually run with my girlfriends, but I was solo today. Apparently, everyone wanted to get their run done early, too. So, I was left to my own thoughts. I was thinking about a discussion we had in Bible study yesterday. What's your wildest dream? What the biggest thing you could ask God to accomplish through you? I was thinking about that today. My dreams at this point seem quite small.  A good wife and encouraging mom. A fit and healthy runner. Perhaps I need to dream bigger. What's your wildest dream?

I do know that we all need to ask ourselves this question. And really answer it! What a waste it would be to look back on your life and think that you didn't try or that you didn't do enough. Start today! Go for a run, go for a walk, hug your kids, kiss your spouse! Try something new. Become better, be better. I'll keep working on my answer.

My boys are growing up fast. Even they realize it. My 3 year old told me those exact words this morning. "Me little boy, me grow up fast." Their hugs and kisses are limited. Soon they won't want to sit in my lap. I read today that by the time boys are 7 they look beyond their mothers to adult males to learn what it is to be a man. Brady is 6 1/2, I am very thankful that he has strong men in his life to learn from, but I'm still going to smother him in kisses at least until he's 17.