Electronics malfunction

I guess when you begin to rely on electronics it becomes inevitable that at some point they will malfunction and wreak havoc on your workout. Apparently, today was my day. Scheduled for a two mile run this morning I headed out the front door with my heart rate monitor and my i-touch (recently equipped with the Nike+ipod application. As I started my run I was only about a block away from the house when the Nike+ just stopped working, no music, no nothing. I had to actually stop and reset my workout and begin again. Okay, I should be good. As I start running again, I look down and see my heart rate monitor is no longer receiving a heart rate. Crap! As I try to moisten the sensors on the belt, it still is registering as zero. Oh well, I stop the and restart the monitor and that seems to work. Okay, so all of my stuff is going to be a little off today as I try to run and adjust all of my electronics. Good thing, I already know my route and know where I need to turn around and I know where I can start my cool down walk. As I'm running down my street, I'm thinking that it seems weird that the friendly Nike+ lady has not come on to give my my mileage counter. So I hit the button which gives me an update only to hear that it's not actually receiving a signal from the monitor in my shoe and is only tracking minutes of my workout. Like I said, good thing I already knew my route.

After another frustrating workout with my i-touch I decide to google my shuffling music issue. Oh, seems at some point I accidentally selected the shake to shuffle option in my settings. So every time I run the i-touch thinks I'm shaking it and shuffles to a new song. At least I have that fixed! While I'm messing around, now is probably a good time to update my workout playlist, as mu runs get longer I'm going to need some good motivation!

That was hard

Sunday's will be my long run day. Scott should have weekends off pretty soon, which will actually allow me to run long days on the road and not at the gym. In my effort to work up Hal Higdon's 12 week 1/2 marathon training program, I'm using his model but my mileage plans until about mid September when I'll start his official plan. Today on my schedule was 3 miles of running. The last time I actually ran 3 miles was at the CPOA Memorial Run in May. Needless to say. today's run hurt and since it was on a treadmill it was boring. And to make matters worse, my I-touch is doing this funky thing where it starts playing a song and skips to another and then another and if I'm really lucky another. I was about ready to take it and throw it across the gym. I guess I  need to look into seeing what the problem is. For the most part, my legs felt good, it was mostly my lungs and heart that were protesting today's run. I had to mentally tell myself (repeatedly) that no one said this would be easy, that I was not a quitter, there is no such thing as can't, and I can do this because I am strong and stubborn. I tried to imagine how good I would feel once I was done and had accomplished my goal for today. Finally, the mileage counter hit 3 miles.

After a cool down and some stretching I hit the restroom. Good lord, I looked like someone left me out in the sun all day yesterday. I get red in the face when I workout, but this was ridiculous. I splashed water on my face and I still looked the same. Really? This is kind of embarrassing, hopefully the further I condition my body the better it will get.

I sit here with my new Lululemon compression socks on. This is my third pair of compression socks, I figured I would need more with all of this running. Every pair I have is slightly different. I have a pair of Sugoi compression socks that I really love, so we'll see how these workout for me.

I survived the week, that's the most important thing. I think for next week, I'll keep the mileage the same for my long run day and then increase the following week. Right now, my body is adjusting to running 3 days a week and working out 6 days a week. I'm working to try and figure out my calorie intake with my increased workouts and hopefully still lose weight, but I seem to be hungry all of the time, so I need to focus on lots of small meals.

Week end Totals:

Run: 6 miles
Bike: 23 miles

It's official

It's official, I just registered for my first 1/2 marathon. I asked Scott if he thought I was crazy, and his response was "yes, but good for you".

I'll blame it on all of my smofit friends who inspire me everyday. And for the opportunity to do something that I would never, ever have thought possible.

So here is to lots of "what they hell was I thinking?", "why the hell am I doing this?" and "whose bright idea was this?" over the next several months.

Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon

Happy Sunday

Cheers to the end of the weekend (remember my hubby works weekends), it felt like a successful week as far as exercise and family activities. I was able to get in some great workouts and keep the kids happy all weekend... maybe I shouldn't jinx myself.

We hit the gym this morning so I could get my 2 mile run in, made an obligatory pit stop at Starbucks (they know my kids by name as well... is that bad?) and then headed to Sydney's new school to meet some girls in her kindergarten class. Sydney was super excited to play on the playground at her new school with some new and old friends and Kylie, as always, loved hanging with the big girls. Let's hope I am as ready to dive into this whole mother of an elementary school child thing.

Week end totals:

Bike: 20.61 miles
Run: 3 miles

Next week should be interesting. Hoping to find sticking to a plan seamless.

Hmm, lots to think about

As you know, it's difficult for me to sit idle. I promised myself after I left MADD that I was going to not dive into a bunch of projects, that I was instead going to focus on myself and determine what I really wanted to do with my time. so far this has been going well. I have decided to hold off on returning to my volunteer position at the hospital and have just focused on making myself healthy and happy. I've started by reading again, a lot. I'm like a sponge that just can't get enough. After the spring semester of school and working and raising my family, I wasn't able to read a non-textbook for months. I have more than made up for that fact and am reading everyday and loving every minute of it. I realized how much I miss it and how much it relaxes me. I have also started working on trying to form a workout routine to ensure that I am getting enough exercise every week. With the both kids in school 3 days a week, it has been a huge help. I try to take advantage of the days they are in school to get outside and run or (new this week) ride my bike! It make such a huge difference to break up the monotony of the gym. I than am trying to go to the gym on Saturday's and Sunday's and take the kids. This helps me get in those extra workouts and also keeps the house quiet for Scott so he can try and sleep.

So, I seem to be setting up a nice rhythm and  finding time for myself so that I am more sane than I was in the months of April through June. Of course, since I have found this nice rhythm I am contemplating "what's next". I have some pretty loft goals in mind but I haven't made a decision as of yet. I'm doing my research (since we all know I research everything until I am blue in the face) and will make a decision a soon. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time, I just have to determine if this is right for me and if I can try and stay sane, because afterall, staying sane, is my number one goal.

Stay tuned for more...

Toronto here we come

So I guess it's girl and boy on the go. After a very stressful week of riots and overtime for my husband we are thrilled to be leaving on Monday for Toronto! We made this trip 3 years ago when I was 7 months pregnant with Kylie and my morning sickness kicked in the morning after we arrived. I still managed to have a wonderful time in a wonderful city in between the episodes of nausea. So I am thrilled to be going back and to not be pregnant!

Once again, we will be staying at the Fairmont Royal York with a view of Lake Ontario. The Fairmont is walking distance of everything and there is so much to explore in Toronto. Tuesday night we have tickets to see Rush at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. Last time we saw them at the Air Canada Centre, so we're excited about seeing them in a different venue in their hometown.

Leaving the girls, especially to travel so far is going to be really difficult, but I know we need this time together!

Happy 4th of July!

Dad got home around 6am and I woke the girls up around 7am to get ready for their big run. Sydney is an old pro at this, but today would be Kylie's first run. The Moraga 4th of July Run benefits Campolindo High School's track team and the the high school kids lead the little kids around the the course, so it's a lot of fun.

Stretching before the start of the race

warming up

lined up at the start line

Kylie is only 2, but I thought she might be a little sad that Sydney would get a medal and she wouldn't and she loved cheering Sydney on at her last race, so I asked her if she wanted to run as well, and she said yes! It is quite a challenge to run with a 2 year old and still try to get photos of your 5 year old running. So Kylie and I cut the course short to get ahead of Sydney and snap her photo.

Sydney looking strong!

After Sydney went by Kylie and I picked up with the rest of the kids and Kylie ran all the way to the finish line to get her medal!

I am super proud of both of my girls. I decided not to run today because I would have needed our double stroller which does not fit in my car, it was a little sad for me but watching both of my girls do something that I love to do myself was such a great feeling. Sydney wanted to do the 2 mile run, "Mom, we'll run with you!" I had visions of being about 1/4 mile in and having to carry both kids... we opted for breakfast instead.

I've been debating about bringing Sydney to the Jail Break Run this year because I would like to run it without pushing a stroller and the kids run is a 1/2 mile long and poor Syd was beet red after it last year! But she loves running so much, how can I deprive her.