Cuff Stuff

Great runs

2010-03-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

Monday was speedwork and it was GREAT! I watched Charade with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. I ran 5 1/2 miles. I really think this is the key to me running faster and keeping up my stamina.
Wednesday I ran 6 miles with a friend. I ran at her pace which was much slower but I felt so great. I could have easily run another 3 miles. It made me re-think how I should run this half-marathon. Before I was running fast and maintaining the pace but by the end I was always exhausted. In fact before the end I start to slow down. When I ran slow and steady I felt great and kept along. I don't know, I have to think about this some more.
Thursday I did Zumba.
Saturday...I just needed to know I could do it. So I ran 12 MILES!!! I am running farther than I ever have before!! Mentally I needed to get over this hump that I couldn't run more than 9 miles without struggling. I didn't think about the miles I just pulled my hat down, faced the wind, and ran. I felt like I found my zone by 2 miles in. It was awesome. I also had my friend with me to run along side for about 8 miles of it. So I wasn't trying to be fast at all I just went for distance but here are the stats 2 hours 7 minutes for 12 miles.
So 23 1/2 miles this week!!
Good times.

cell phone

2010-03-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

My six year old asked me today, "mom, when I turn 7 can I have my own cell phone?"

What??? Did that just come out of his mouth? I told him when he has a job then he can have a cell phone.

To which he replied, "Then when I'm 7 I'll get a job. I already know what I'm going to do. I'm going to make my own job by building trains. I already know what I need. Some wheels, alot of wood, some buttons, and a turn-ie thing."

I'm glad we got that figured out.

Not much of a week for running

2010-03-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

The weather was great all week, I even ran outside two days, however, my lungs are not working with me. I'm still sick and running just isn't that fun when you can't breath deeply. I only ran 14 miles this week. Not so great. Hopefully I can feel better by Monday. (I keep telling myself that everyday but so far it hasn't worked.)

My second time at 10 miles

2010-03-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

Monday I did 5 miles of speed work. It was fun because I watched the new Music Man with Matthew Brodrick. It reminded me so much of the funny girls I hung out with in high school. If you are one of them you already know why (via email). Anyway it was very energizing.

Wednesday I was sick and did't want to do anything. So...I didn't.

Thursday I ran 6 miles with two friends. It was great. I was a little faster than one of them so they decided to run at my pace. I tried coaching them along to run a little faster but after 3.5 miles they were ready to slow down. However, I took off at the end which was fun. I was glad I had so much energy at the end. It was great.

Friday I was so busy and still sick, even more so because of running 6 miles the night before. I only put in 2 miles.

Saturday I RAN 10 MILES! My second time ever going that far. YEAH ME!! I realized that I can play the mind game to motivate myself for about 9 miles and then I'm sunk. I have to talk myself through the rest. I can't listen to music, I just have to give myself a pep talk the whole way. At one point I thought if I could visualize being propelled forward like grabbing vines I could go further. (Does that make sense?) So my idea wasn't working I needed more. I ran up on a bridge and I pushed off the railing to propel myself. Ahh that last mile was so agonizing. I kept thinking to myself, I don't want to run a half-marathon, I don't even want to run 10 miles today. I just had to tell myself to shut-up and keep moving. Keep those legs moving.
I also thought about how I approach hills. I generally like to run up hills as fast as I can to get it over with. I sink low in my hips and pump my way up to the top. I don't take the down hill fast either I kind of recover. I wonder if that's a good way to do it.
That's all for now..
23 miles clocked in this week.

I ran 8.25 miles sort of

2010-03-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

So I went with my friend Jennifer to run 10 miles. I decided last night to run 8 and stick with my training plan. We went to a park where there is an 8 mile loop. It was pretty hilly which I'm not used to but it wasn't so bad. The first 3 miles weren't so fun but that is usually the case for me and long runs. By 4 miles I was in the zone and loving it. I stopped at 5 miles and got a drink then the path turned to snow!! I ran up on the road that was parallel to the path for about 1.5 miles then I had to go back to the path. It stunk! I kept slipping so then I had to walk to save my ankles. Then I thought I'd take another path which turned into mud. So not really having fun at this point. My only saving grace was this other woman in front of me. I kept thinking if I fall she is my life-line. I managed to close the gap with her and the last mile had a small melted path. So I ended up running 8.25 miles in 79 minutes. Not too bad considering I stopped and walked on the ice. I walked two miles after the run which was a really welcomed cool down.

I've been inspired

2010-03-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

My friend Kristen has five kids and is running a marathon and she blogs her progress! I have three kids under 6 and feel overwhelmed often, I've been running for almost 8 years now and only 3 years ago decided to seriously train to run in races (5k's until I decided I liked longer runs, 10k's for awhile and now I am running my first half-marathon April 10th.

I love running for so many reasons. I feel like it adds balance in my life. When things get stressful I pound it out on the pavement or I run to escape the problems. I use to run to talk to God. I felt so much closer to him while I ran. I also run for the thrill of the journey. Setting goals is exciting especially when set and eventually achieved. I feel like running is such a mind game that takes so much determination.

Now I mentioned that I ran races before but it got overwhelming. I ran to be fast and that gets old really fast. I started to not like running...that is like deciding you don't like your arm anymore for me!! So I stopped racing for a while and ran without my ipod or watch and ran slow. It made such a difference.

So how do I avoid that same pitfall with my half marathon coming up? Cross training. On Monday I do Speed work. Aerobic intervals of running really fast, followed by a one minute recovery and then fast again. Tuesday I take off. Wednesday I run an easy run of 4 to 5 miles including weights ( I haven't had time to do the weights yet but that's the plan). Thursday I do Zumba followed by a one mile run. (Its hard to feel like I've exercised unless I really sweat or run.) Friday I take off. Saturday I do my long run.

Tomorrow I should do only 8 miles but my friend Jennifer is running 10 and it'll be nice to run with someone. The longest run I've ever done is 10 miles. I"m a little nervous to do it tomorrow. I also have forgotten how sore and tired my body gets from running so many miles.

I hope to update more on how my runs and training is going.

What will they say?

2009-07-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

N was talking to R the other day and this is what I heard...

N- I think I'm going to be a dog when I get older
R- You can't be a dog.
Mom- Maybe you could be a dog doctor called a veterinarian or a dog trainer.
N- No, I think I'll just be a dog

One Sunday I was picking out a dress for N to wear to church. I pulled out a dress she wore last year thinking we could get one more wear out of it. N looked at it and said "Mom....I don't even rec..ognize that dress!!" What was I thinking!

Random thoughts

2009-06-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Monday I came downstairs to find N telling me that C just ate a cherry from the wonderful game "Hi Ho Cherry Oh The counting game." Sadly I didn't count how many cherries we had before N fed one to C. I don't know if its bad but I'm going to hope it just comes out on its own and not go searching for it.

Wednesday while I was reading a book, N tried to stick a rock up my nose. I asked her to stop and then I heard a little cry. You guessed it, she stuck the rock up her own nose. Luckily, my niece did this once and I was at the doctors office when they took it out. I knew just what to do.

So as to not leave R out of the picture, a few weeks ago my in-laws were coming to visit. I was busy trying to get everything done before they arrived. I had several lists and I still seemed to be forgetting things. I felt frazzled and was trying to gain some order. The kids were with me and we had just pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store, and I told the kids to hop out. As R was climbing out I noticed he had on one church shoe and one tennis shoe. I asked him why he had on different shoes and he simply replied, "you said to get into the car and I couldn't find my other shoe." Bless that boy. What do you do with a stressed out mom and no matching shoes? You find what ever you can and get in the car. I just had to laugh.

I've been thinking recently of what things I couldn't do without:
1. Clorox wipes- bathrooms are so much easier to clean
2. Frozen meals- it saves $$ compared to eating out when its been a long day
3. A husband that puts the older kids to bed- I'm a good mom until around 7:30pm
4. A great book to read- my favorite escape when everyone is quietly playing
5. Zumba- I can't get over how fun this is
6. BBQ- the smell, the taste, need I say more
7. A great run- I love running

The New Us

2009-05-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

Having a family of five seems very large. While I never thought that our family of four was very big, some how five has seemed to make our size double.

Today a woman probably in her late thirties to early forties pushing her 9 month old baby in a stroller stopped in front of my house. She saw me outside with my three children. She looked me up and down and asked if the children were all mine. When I responded in the affirmative she asked if I took care of all three by myself. I tried not to laugh and said I did. She couldn't believe I could manage to care for all three of my children. She then asked if I was going to have anymore. Somehow that is every one's question to me. Having another child is not something I think about when I already have a baby in my arms.

I must say that I don't mind everyone pointing out that I have my hands full. (A common comment I hear wherever I go.) My first response is to agree with them and then delegate.... I am a mom and have learned to delegate everything. So when I hear this comment I put them to work. For instance, as we are all heading into the grocery store and I hear, "you have your hands full" I smile and say "Yes I do. Would you mind getting a cart for me?" Everyone is so willing to help me out. It really has been nice. They see that I am in need and I find a way for them to fulfill that need and they seem happy to do it.

April Fools

2009-04-19T19:29:00.001-07:00

Last year I pulled a prank on my family with our dinner for April fools and I did it again this year. I made a taco shepherds pie and whipped the potatoes with pink food coloring. I had some berries in the fridge and put them on top. As a side note I made a great whole wheat pie crust that tasted great with the shepherds pie.
While the kids were playing I announced that we were going to have some dessert. The kids jumped up and ran to the table. They kept asking me if we were really having dessert. I was so excited to see their faces. R made a horrified face when he took a bite. He asked, "so you made berries and potatoes together?" I was trying so hard not to laugh and I asked straight faced, "don't you like it?" N kept asking for the pie. We kept telling her that she had it on her plate but she was getting more upset. Finally I told them it was April Fools and it was just a joke. They understood it was a joke and they ate the shepherds pie but they weren't interested in dessert.

Dessert was suppose to look like chicken pot pie but really it was butterscotch pudding. No one really ended up eating it.

A vistor came to our house

2009-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

We had a leprechaun come to our house. He left some green footprints on the counter and then jumped out the window. But before he left he dropped some gold covered chocolates all over our house.

R woke up on St. Patricks day and was shocked to see the state of our counter-top. He quickly realized that the leprechaun was gone and that he and N had some candies to find. They had fun finding all of the chocolates and eating as many as they could before breakfast.

Some Changes

2009-04-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

I'm making some changes to my blog. I've been a little worried about the content I post and who is reading it. Instead of going private I've decided to be a little more guarded. I'm not going to list my kids names or where we live. So if you do make comments on the blog please don't list them either.
I'll post some pictures soon. Right now I'm just doing a little re-vamping.