E L T O N J O H N

10 hours until showtime.

workout done.
day off work with recovering sick kid.

So far? good day.
Oh, by the way. . .

Can you do a 5K? http://bit.ly/cDBLAC I bet you CAN!

Breaking through walls.

So Sunday was a tough day- but I worked it out and got that good workout in. That's what mattered.

The best part about it was that in reflection, I was actually energized to stay on track by recongizing that I CAN beat myself mentally and push to reach my goals. It turns out- I'm going to have to do a treadmill workout tomorrow too- so I'll be testing myself again; but this time I'm going to do it- a shorter run on the treadmill, I think I can handle this.

Today, my oldest daughter was sick- so I had to take a half day to come home and play Dr. Mom. But I went to the gym before I came home- so that way it was done and out of the way. She is still feverish, so looks like I'll be home tomorrow too- unless she just wakes up so much better (no real symptoms of anything- just a fever). But tomorrow night- ELTON JOHN CONCERT!!

I am so excited about this concert- you just don't know! :)

Hitting a wall.

This happens every now and then, but I hit a wall today. And my body is rebelling and being stubborn. I don't want to exercise. It feels like a forever thing- like I'm done. I know that's not true- but today it feels that way. I got on the treadmill (bc it was raining here) and set in my head to do 4 miles. I was feeling sluggish- but thought that once I got going that I'd kick it into gear and feel good. No dice.

Once I hit the mile mark and just wasn't feeling it- I got off the treadmill.

As far as my training schedule for my race, I should have done 4 miles today. but I know I can do 4 miles, it isn't about that- I just needed a break. So- instead, in a bit, I will go do a workout video. I just need to switch it up a little. Still get a sweat in, still burn the calories and feel good- but just don't want to run today.

Coming off a large weight loss last week- I thought I'd be pumped and it would be easy to continue- but it just didn't happen that way. So today I'm regrouping- cutting myself some slack (but still going to put in a good workout) and get back to the training schedule tomorrow.

**Update: I did get in a 50 minute workout video, a great sweat and I feel so much better.

Did I read that right?

Here's a cool number - 6.2. Why is it cool? because I lost 6.2 lbs THIS WEEK!

I was not trying to hit such a huge number- and I also realize that it is unreasonable to believe I can maintain that type of loss each week- but I worked my (literal) butt off this week and was very strict about how I ate and it paid off!

We are having a biggest loser contest at work- and last week, I was up .2 - so to be down that plus an additional 6 lbs- I was ecstatic!

I woke up not sure I really wanted to do my short run today- but that just powered me for the next couple runs at least- the results are what drive you to move forward.

This isn't just about weight loss (though today, it totally is!)- but overall health improvements and awareness. I deserve to be healthy and I'm making sure it happens now.

**Update: I was actually THE biggest loser for the week, btw.

Jitters.

I'm signed up for the 500 Festival 5K that runs right before the Mini Marathon in Indianapolis on May 8. I'm looking forward to running it- and also nervous.
- it starts at 7am. STARTS at 7am. That means for parking, stretching, etc- I will have to be there very early. The bonus is that I'll be done in time to watch the winners of the Mini cross the finish line.
- I get a sparkly 5K medal for finishing.
- Races make me nervous- but then again- I still get jitters before any run. I am a runner, I claim it- I own it- but my confidence in my ability still gets stuck sometimes.

My biggest fear at the moment is the fact that headphones are not allowed on the course. If you see my post about the Race for the Cure,  I use music to pace myself. This is going to be a real challenge to mentally keep myself on pace and not get going too fast and putter out. However, on the plus side- It will be easier to find my pace group this time- so I'll be around others of my same ability. The race is 2 weeks from Saturday. One more week of solid training and then I'll take easy runs for the week of....

If anyone wants to offer some advice, I'd be happy to take it!

Recognizing a habit.

People often discuss habits - most of the time, it is about bad habits. We may mention wanting to FORM good habits- but you don't hear much talk about the success (in terms of a habit, that is).

This morning- as I was getting my [healthy] lunch together for work, I saw something I had posted on my refrigerator in January when I started back to running. It was a list of 'excuses' of why TO exercise, even when you don't want to. One of them is "Like Dr. Phil says, 'Fake it 'til you make it'".

Early on, I found my training schedule to be so bothersome- my body was rebelling, it hurt, I was sore- it was hard. There were days that I had to D R A G myself to my runs either on the treadmill, or later, outside. But I kept that list up- and the Dr. Phil line always jumped out at me.

This morning? I realized I had not looked at that list in several weeks. I now look forward to my runs every day- and if there is a chance I won't get it in, I get upset- upset enough to MAKE the time to get it in, one way or another. I did, indeed, fake it until I made it. I MADE IT!!! I may not be fast, I may not be a long-distance runner (I think 4-5 miles is my limit for now)- but I am a runner without having to force myself to believe it.

I have made a healthy habit stick- and more, I love the feeling of tired muscles from a great workout. As I left the gym from my strength training routine yesterday, my arms were sore- but a good sore. It was awesome.

Have you made a healthy habit stick- and have you given yourself the credit for making it happen?

There once was a race called Ragnar

I had a baby this past November. Sometime in about the middle of the pregnancy- I had the crazy notion that I would be able to join 11 of my friends- 7 months after having that baby - to run a 188 mile overnight relay race in Utah. But ready or not- I am going!

The race is just 2 months away- June 18. We run from Logan, UT to Park City, UT - each person running 3 legs of varying lengths. In total, I will run 12 miles - all 3 of my legs are right at about 4 miles each. I have the shortest distances of all, and 2 of them are mostly sloped downhill. I hope this counteracts the elevation challenge we'll all be facing from being used to running in INDIANA. I am so excited for this though. I mean- the self-conscious part of me is fearful that I'll be shunned by the real runners out there- the ones who run farther and faster than I do (which is most)- but I actually think I'll be accepted and encouraged. I am certain that I'll be so physcially exhausted by the end that it will hurt- but I'm ready. I still think I was crazy and posessed by a red-headed baby that made me agree to do this.

The good part about this relay? At each exchange we start running as the last runner finishes his/her leg- so there is no corral to accidentally start out too fast to. I get to pace myself, which means I'll be able to maintain my paces better. We should get some amazing pictures and have a really cool story to tell. If it wasn't so expensive to do this race, I could see probably wanting to do at least a couple a year....ah, but that's the pre-race me talking. . .