Blessings and Balance

Ran at a pace that is normally easy for me, felt really hard!!

I am not looking forward to my race on Sat. I really don't think I will be able to pull off a 1:40 with my lack of good training the last 3-4 weeks.

I am guessing on the distance.

1 mile warm up 3 hill sprints 1 mile cool down

Decided it was time to be honest with myself... I got on the scale today. I was pretty nervous but it turned out I didn't do as much damage over the holidays as I thought.

My goal is to get to 125 and maintain atleast that weight for the year. Unless pregnancy sneaks up on me. ;) In that case I will just try not to get too LARGE!

Did not have high expectations for the race. The last few weeks I have been dealing with sickness and the holidays. (Eating way too many treats)

I knew I could atleast run under 2 hours I just didn't expect much beyond that.

I had a fun day and raced okay considering my expectations.

I ran with a friends husband. He wanted to run a little under 2 so I paced him for most of the race. He fell just a little behind me around mile 8 but I could still see him for most of the race.

There were a lot of turn arounds on this course. You would run up a street for a ways and then take a sharp turn and head the same way you had just come. The turn arounds made it difficult to keep the pace but I also llike the turn around for a re-grouping aspect. It was fun to be able to see friends and keep an eye on them that way as well.

Around mile 8 my right knee tighetned up and from that point I had a hard time going faster than 8:30's if I did it would really start to cause me some pain. Honestly don't know if my lungs could have handled over 8:30 at that point anyway so it was fine.

I really had such a fun day so I consider this race a success. And for that matter we should all consider any raca a success, just for the mere fact we are participating.

Things I learned... If I want to be faster I really need to do my own training. I had fun running with some new people in my area but I really need to step it up a notch if I want to improve.

Upper body weights with husband last night. He worked long hours yesterday. He got home around 9 and we went in the garage to "pump some iron!" It was really fun to workout and chat together. I let him lead the workout.

Blessing: Being a stay at home.. as monotonous as it may be some times I love to be with my kids. My husband and I spoke in church on Sunday on how to be an Eternal Family. It has been nice to ponder and think about those reminders this week.

Went to the gym. I have a trial membership this week. Not really sure if I want to stay.

20 min Elliptical

10 min row machine (this was really fun I want to get one for home)

lower body weights

Ran one mile

lower body toning

It was nice to do a little something different but I kind of did feel like a fish out of water. It took some bribing to get my 2 year old to stay at the day care. He thought when I said we were going to the gym he would be working out with me. He even brought his own towel. He works out with mom and dad at home so I am sure he figured that's what he would be doing when I said we were going to the gym. I don't know if the hassle of getting to the gym with a two yr old is worth it when I have gym equiptment at home, which I do use regularly. HMMM?

Blessing.... Knowing there is a God. Life would seem pretty meaningless and hard with out him.

1 warm up mile before a trainer humbled me.

I thought I was in good shape until a trainer at the gym beat me up. It was so FUN!

25 min. elliptical

Blessing: Southern CA Weather... Lovin it!!!

My treadmill is stuck an a steep incline so I just walked a mile, it was not easy.

Jillina Micheals circuit workout Day 1.

Blessing: Kickball baseball... My husband went riding with some new friends. I had one of their wifes over so the kids could play. We played kickball baseball... Moms and little ones VS. Big boys. ( 9, 8, 6 yrs) We had  blast. We were laughing our butts off. We were sweatin like crazy too. The big boys beat us 10-6!! So FUN!

Weights: Jilian Micheals circuit training day 2

Walked 1 mile ran 5.

AP- 9:26

Blessing: No school or work today!!!!!! Going to enjoy having my family home today!

Ran 3 on Treadmill at 6 % incline. It is STUCK there!

Jillian Micheals circuit workout day 4.

Hubby and I worked out together again. We laughed a lot at how cute our kids are and the things they say.We got caught up in what is going on in life. Really had a lot of fun.

Blessing: Books.. I am reading a new book right now. "Dear John" a bit cheesy but still fun to read. Tatum Channing is on the cover so really I just like to hold him while I read. :)

Any suggestions for goods reads that I can learn something from?

Not all my miles were easy but I don't like to break them up. LAZY!

Ran 6 at 6 AM with one group of ladies. It was a super hilly run. We ran a hill called "Masters". It is well known around here for being super tuff!

Dropped my kids off at school and ran with another friend for 3 miles. She is just getting back into running. Give her a couple of weeks and I won't be able to keep up with her. Her husband watched my 2 year old .

Blessing: Rain... We are getting a lot of it here. Today I am home in comfy socks and comfy sweats, I think my two year old and I are going to crawl back in bed and watch a movie. LOVIN IT!

My alarm didn't go off this morning!! ARGH! I woke up at 7 AM naturally, it felt so wonderful!! YEAH!

I don't think I am going to be able to fit in a workout today.

We have a couple of families coming over tonight for a pizza party. New friends from church. I am a little nervous to introduce them to the way we eat.

Menu..

Pizza made on whole wheat pitas with turkey pepperoni low fat cheese and loads of veggies...or BBQ Chx pizza on pitas.

Veges and Hummus

Lots of Berries.

I am going to make cookies to make up for the fact that our pizza is probably much different then they are expecting.

Wish me luck!!!

Blessing: Costco Boxes....They saved my son from getting drenched today. We went to Costco and when we came out it was pouring. He had fought me getting his jacket on and he won.. so he had no jacket. I emptied our groceries from the box and put it over his head. He LOVED it . We were laughing and running our way to the car.

Super hills!!!! Had so much fun!!! There were 6 of us this morning and we had a blast.

Ran several miles under 8:45 but I am too lazy to go get my watch for the details.

Blessing: Berry Sweet.. Is a yogurt place here in Cali. I love it and I am going there tonight. My favorite is Blackberry yogurt sugar free and fat free with Stawberries and a few cheescake pieces on top. YUM!!

Didn't have my watch so I don't know any details. Pace felt a little faster than our normal.

Blessing: Last week of being on track... my kids are off track all of February! I can't wait!!!

PM workout: Jillina Micheals "Making the cut" day 5.

3 x 800 done at a 6:45 pace. 400 recovery in between each. Warm up 1 mile cool down the rest of my mileage.

Wanted to run on the track but it is always locked. Did it around my circle. Which is a little difficult with the hills and the cars. Want that time to get down to around 6:30 for now and faster later.

Blessing: Pottery Barn Outlet... There is one 15 min. from my house!!! I am going to check it out today. I am ready to spend some moola so they better have some good stuff!