Lessons Learned Today

After 3 agonizing miles at 0630 this morning in some humid 75 degree heat I realized I recently have learned a few lessons.

 

Lesson #1- I have grossly undertrained for the race this weekend. Seeing that I'm a lazy slob I'm not sure why I thought intermittent running would get me ready for a 4 mile race. Also not really varying the speed or incline on the treadmill will severely limit your ability to run outside. Who knew? Ok so I knew that but I was hoping for some magical event to happen that would make me run fast and look good all at the same time. Still waiting on that...

 

Lesson #2- I hate the heat. The treadmill provides me with the ability for comfort. I have my fan, Sydney Bristow, and a cold bottle of water at my disposal through out my run. A back country road provides me no comfort. And this whole getting hot at the crack of dawn thing is getting old fast. I like cold weather running for outside. Until I move to Alaska to run I'm going to continue to complain about the heat and humidity.

 

Lesson #3- Country folk are more considerate drivers. This was the most pleasant lesson today. As I have been in Minier all week (AKA middle of nowhere) I have been able to utilize the back roads for my torture sessions. Every time a car/truck/tractor/semi has been headed my way it has not only slowed down considerably but it has also driven on the other side of the road and the driver waved to me. Now they might have been just making sure I was not on the verge of death as it may have appeared, or as I like to think it, they are just nice people. That and if they hit me, it's more than likely they will actually know me and have to tell my parents they smeared me across the road.

 

Lesson #4- I better start cross training. This is just fact. I will never get better or be in better shape if I don't do that. The question is what to do for a cross train?

 

In other news, little girl #2 decided that it would be a good idea to take a poo in the wagon outside in the driveway for us to find later. My conversation with her went like this:

 

Me: Did you poop in the wagon?

LG2: Yes I did.

Me: Why did you do that?

LG2: I was trying to be funny.

Touché little girl, touché.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Faceplant

The whole "Winter Treadmill Extravaganza" is getting really old. But since I'm a wimp when it comes to running out side I have no idea when that will be able to happen again. (I'm so delicate and the wind or rain may wash me away forever and the wind could make my nose run...) Whinning I know... But I stamped out 4 miles today at a 1% incline. If you could have seen my extreme coolness while running in place you would have been completely impressed. At least up until the point when I caught my foot on the edge of the belt and tripped and planted my face in the display.

It looked sort of like this...

 

My sister and I also decided to sign up for a 4 mile race this June in Peoria, IL. The last time we did this race we did the 10 mile leg and almost died so we are opting for the shorter version of that run. It will be my first race in over a year. I am excited and slightly nauseated over the whole ordeal. But I guess that I need a race to train for if nothing else to keep me motivated.

 

In other news, my oldest baby had her first horseback riding lesson today. She received a few lessons as a gift from the grandparents and has done nothing but talk about it since Christmas. She's so cute.

 

Tomorrows goal, 5 miles with a 1% incline. I'll let you know when I fall in a heap on the garage floor.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Shake that Booty

Now don't be alarmed, but I switched it up a little bit today. Because I'm such an example of studliness and awesomeness I bumped the treadmill incline to 1%, for 3 miles. Stop drooling and close your mouth, cause I know how amazed you are. I'm even surprised by how much it didn't suck! So what if they were the slowest miles ever, I ran them instead of sitting of the couch. I was slightly disappointed that I could see no evidence of my butt looking better post run. You'd think that when a girl worked that hard she could get a little reward. My dream is to one day have this @$$ from running.

 

If only...

 

Oh well, at least it didn't get bigger. After the run the girls convinced me that would be a good idea to play with the easy bake oven. And after a first failed attempt we arrived at a "wonderfully delicious" dessert of cake balls.

Cute, no?

They thought it was the most amazing food ever. I choked one down to be polite and am praying that I don't develop food poisoning. So if you never hear from me again, blame the balls.

And this girl...

 

Posted with Blogsy

5 miles of Sydney Bristow

I'm back in uncharted territory. 5 miles today baby!!! And the last mile I ran in 10:18. I managed to take about 15 sec off each mile from start to finish. Surprisingly I was not a huffing and puffing mess. My foot still feels pretty good but I'm just waiting for th bottom to fall out on that. I'm a perpetual pessimist. It's pretty much doom and gloom at my house on a daily basis. So if you are looking for a good time, come on over to the Haute. Anyhoo, it felt really good. Not, eating a Dairy Queen ice cream cake good but maybe a warm pop tart on a cold morning good. Either way, I'm satisfied.

If you do stop by, I'll be the girl looking homeless.

 

I have also fallen in love with Jennifer Garner. She kicks a$$. Lately, Ive been watching an entire episode of Alias during my runs and she gives me the will to keep going. If Sydney Bristow can run and fight in 5 inch heels whilst dangling from a grappling hook, surely I can run for a few measly minutes on a flat treadmill. It's just so much easier to push through the miles with some incentive (get Jennifer Garner's abs).

Sorry Jen, I'll focus more.

 

I've got five seasons to get through so that should last me the next few months if I only watch it while running. And it gives me the desire to run to see what that dirty SD6 is up too. I know it's like years old and possibly dated as far as fashion is concerned, but I don't care, it's love. I just may become a spy. Or I might eat a few Reese's peanut utter cups and go to bed. I'll see which one is most appealing in about 30 minutes.

 

And its the big cup for the win, sorry abs...

 

Posted with Blogsy

New Goals

It seems as if I'm on a 4 mile kick. If I don't run at least 4 miles at a time I feel like a personal failure and should probably than spend the rest of the day in bed. Last night I had planned on a 6 mile run. But I spent the whole time sucking wind and stopped at 4.5. It was all I could do to get to that point. I guess I was in for a bad run considering all the last few have been pretty great. But the beauty of a bad run is that the next run should be better. Right? I'm right, right? Please tell me I'm right, because I don't really want to suck wind again today.

I really am dirty right now...

 

My goal for 2013 is to actually run a consistent 9 min mile. But since I'm starting around the 10:45 point I've got along way to go and it seems logical to set some small goals to meet on my way up to the ultimate goal. So I have decided my smaller goal is to work on some endurance. I want to be able to run for 60 min. I figure that once I get there I can work I speeding things up to fit more miles into that 60 min time frame. I don't really have more than an hour most days to run anyway so I feel that this is a do-able goal.

 

 

On a lighter note I complete my own taxes last night and do not owe money !!!! Super excited about this tid bit and we are getting a little back. Not as much as last year but enough to make me feel like ol Uncle Sam wants to be on my good side.

I know, most people do too.

 

Today, I paint. It is time to finish my oldest new room and get her separated from her sister so that at least one of them is getting some sleep and not playing together all night. I should have taken some before pictures but all you are gonna get is the after. Mainly because I'm lazy and don't really care about impressing anyone with my mad decorating skills.

 

 

I'm off to get high on some paint fumes.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Vampire Love

It seems like I've been waiting later and later in the day to run. I used to not like to do this because I would find any reason to procrastinate a run but now I almost like it better. I at least have slept a little better the last few nights. Last night was a nice 4 mile run at just under an 11 mile pace. I bumped up the speed the last half to try and give my legs a little challenge. (And it was) but over all I felt really good and I got to catch up on Vampire Diaries while I ran. Don't make fun, you all have a guilty pleasure you watch on TV. I'm just brave enough to admit it.

Oh Stephan, you must know of my love for you (and Damon...)

Let's not fight over me boys.

 

Making meatloaf for dinner tonight if anybody wants to stop by. There will also be mashed taters and corn. It's all entirely healthy and fat free (wink, wink). Elliott even helped make it.

She totally loved this

 

In case you were wondering, tomorrow is my birthday and yes I'd love a gift. Monetary is fine but I also accept gift cards and jewelry. And let's not cheap out this year friends, I know you can all do better to show your love for me. I'm not freaking out this year like last year since I'm already 30, whats 31? Nothing I tell you!!! Anyway the security guards at the cession didn't believe I should have been in the 30 and over line. They kept pulling me out of line and asking for ID and everyone had a look of surprise on their face when they calculated my age. I must look twelve or something. I guess that should work in my favor when I'm 60.

 

Posted with Blogsy

New Shoes and an Awesome View

The last two days have been the craziest work days I've had in long time. This girl barley had time for lunch let alone the energy to run after work. I did run on Sunday evening. Of course I performed at a snails pace. Nobody needs me to be a hero and go injuring myself by doing something stupid, like actually trying. I have just come to terms with myself that I can go at any pace I darn well please. At least I'm off my rump and moving. Well moving in place, but moving none the less.

 

Speaking of running in place. Check out this view.

 

Who wouldn't want to stare at junk for an hour while huffing paint and gas fumes? I know I enjoy it. It is totally better than freezing my butt off in -2 degree weather or driving to the gym to smell other people sweat and hope to not catch the Ebola virus off sweaty dirty machines. Living the dream, no?

I got some new shoes. The store that I frequent for running supplies did not have my precious Brooks Adrenaline 11's so I got adventurous and tried on every running shoe in the store on a quest for foot comfort. I had been going with a shoe for stability due to my plantar fasciitis seeing as that's what the foot doctor was recommending. But since my feet never actually felt better under his care I started thinking that maybe he wasn't a know it all. There is some research out there that leads to the assumption that your foot needs a less supportive shoe so that it has to strengthen itself and not rely on the shoe for support. Interesting theory. So this time I went for a more neutral shoe, they are Asics Gel- Nimbus 14's. They feel completely different from my other running shoes...and I like it. Now granted I haven't done more than 10 runs in them but I still haven't had heel pain.

 

You can't see it from that picture but they are huge. A 10.5 and a very large amount of silver and purple. Not exactly my color scheme but I'll make due. Christmas brought about a new toy as well. That's my Garmin foot pod stuck to the laces of my shoe. It pairs with my 405 forerunner to keep track of my distance on my watch while on the treadmill. It make it a whole lot easier for loading the data in the computer for those purgatory runs.

I plan on running later tonight after getting the kiddos in bed. They have an annoying tendency to want to come in the garage a critique my running style while stealing my water bottle. I will let this little one watch though.

 

She is our newest addition to the family. Three dogs in the house! At least she doesn't shed and her poo is the size of a tootsie roll. She and Hector are besties.

 

Both of them believe they are lap dogs as. You can tell. The oldest dog is rarely ever pictured due to his extreme hatred of the camera and is never doing anything cute any more as he is older than dirt and sleeps all the time.

Now I just have to figure out what to watch while running in place tonight.

 

 

That's me, a sweaty mess, with no clue what to do.

 

Posted with Blogsy

I'm Back...But Who Cares

You know how life goes, everything seems great then the S!@T hits the fan and life implodes. Pretty much the story of my life the last four months. And let me tell you, life has pretty much sucked, but I digress. And I won't bore you with the whining and complaining that I could do because no body likes a whiner! Let's just say running was on the back burner, I lost 45 lbs in those 4 months (not in the most healthy way I might add) and am now taking a few wonderful pills to keep me happy and sane.

This is actually me medicated and not my dog. Crazy, no?

I have chosen this week to quit making excuses for my life and get back to running (seeing as that's one of the things that I actually like to do). I bought that treadmill that I wanted and put it in the garage so I wouldn't be tempted to use it as a clothes rack. Now comes the part of using it and getting back into shape after so long off. On the upside, all that rest has allowed my feet to feel pretty good and I don't have pain every day. Of course the weight loss probably helped a lot.

Here goes nothing. Gonna get on that dang treadmill. Please send a rescue party if I'm not back in a month.

Posted with Blogsy

Running Drought is Over

 

Yesterday I got up early to take the dog on a walk so that I could get it over and done with instead of dreading it all day.  Of course the dog had a great time and never seemed to get tired.  And because I would eventually like the wonder pup to be my running partner I decided that it was as good a day as any to start running.  I took it slow and didn’t push myself ( but when have I ever?)  And much to my surprise I made it a whole mile.  Pick your jaw up off the floor and swallow the drool hanging from your lip and stuff your tongue back in your face…

I know, blows my mind too.

 

Of course the dog didn’t think that I was moving fast enough for him, he decided to walk me.  Gonna have to work on that…

It was a great game for him, no so much for me.

 

Then all day yesterday I cleaned the house and got ready for the invasion of children that happened later in the evening for this girls 3rd birthday.

 

And that is truly what she asked for.

 

After the party you couldn’t even tell the house ever started as clean.  In fact, I will send them to your home if you need a wrecking service.  Just give me a call to arrange service. 

Fat running is hard!!!

 

Thought I would give a quick update on my dangling appendages.  And by dangling appendages I mean my feet and not boobs.  I have faithfully spent the last 2 weeks doing some stretching and rolling of my feet every night involving a tennis ball and a frozen can of cranberry sauce.  I found a great website that has assisted me in my healing process.  At athletes training athletes they really line out how and why and what you should be doing for each type of injury.  Instead of the doctor handing you a sheet of paper you don’t understand and even wonder if he could possibly do the exercises he wants you to do with his big pot belly hanging out.  (Sidebar: I always wondered how a fat doctor could tell me I needed to loose weight or get healthier, uhhhhh, look in the mirror first.) 

 

So anyhoo, after my come to Jesus talk with myself, I got down to business and really have seen some results.  I am by no means pain free but I can get through a day at work and not hobble home on bloody stumps and when I get up in the morning that first step in only uncomfortable instead of feeling like “OMG a shotgun has just blasted through my heel.” 

 

Take note, feet!!!

Now the precarious thought…  When to start back to running.  Do I give it a few more weeks and see if they have more improvement or do I attempt a few very very very short runs and see how they feel? (Of course sitting on my backside has been much easier over all than running 13 miles.)  If only another type of cardio sounded remotely interesting I could abandon running all together.  Who am I kidding,  I am not coordinated enough to swim or bike. We are lucky I am capable of putting one foot in front of the other without falling over every 5th step.  I guess more rest would be better than re-injury…

 

 

On a totally unrelated note, have you tried these…

 

There are no words…. Go out, buy them now.  You can thank me later and I would like to publicly thank my friend Sarah for starting me on my love affair.

County Fair Time

 

Impromptu visit today to the Vigo Co. Fair.  Thankfully it was not a sweltering hot mess today, only in the high 80’s.  The girls had been begging to do something and since I’m a cheapskate we went to the Fair while it was free.  Who am I kidding, I really went for this…

 

Walking Taco= Best invention EVER!!!!!

It was Swine Show Day so we were able to some nice clean hogs.  Only once did I hear, “Kelsey, get your pig!!!” and then saw a moderately large brown pig escaping through the crowd.  I’d like to believe that the pig truly escaped to find a new home where he can be free from the threat of “The Butcher”.  But then again probably rather just eat him as pork chops.

 

Of course there was a petting zoo where I made a new friend.

 

And if you haven’t seen City Slickers then go see it now and you will understand the reference.  This little guy wanted me to take him home (mainly to be prevented from being turned into burger).  He acted like a cat when you petted his head and pretty much asked me to scratch his chin.  We parted ways but not without a few tears.

And the girls made some new friends too.

She kept saying, “They so soft…”  like it was amazing.

 

I love blowing their minds with this information.

Now would think that a petting zoo would be a PG rated affair, but you would be wrong.  In the pot bellied pig pen there was a momma piggy and her piglets who were only 3 months old.  And lets just say, I had to have the birds and bees talk with the girls a little earlier than I’d hoped.  At least it was the abridged version and I only they gave them the bare bones of the story.  But every time we turned around we saw this…

 

And this…

And just when I get a cute shot of something cute, I get photo bombed by pig sex…

Seriously a sick pig.  Even the Mama pig couldn’t avoid her horny progeny.

She kept biting him and tossing him aside every time he’d jump her.  The kids were so confused.  I’m confused too, baby pig incest???

 

Over all it was a great trip.  A lot of walking but nothing harrowing.  I just hope to not have nightmares about being attacked by pot bellied piglets…

Date Night

 

In the absence of children this week, the hubs and I decided to go on a bonafide date last night.   And by date I mean dinner and a movie because we can’t be any more inventive than that.  But we didn’t have to worry about a babysitter or getting home at curfew a decent hour ever!!!

So Chili’s it was where I had a delicious Santa Fe Chicken Salad and he had the half rack of rib (Mississippi Dry Rub).  Excellent choice.  The salad was super spicy but in a good, “my tongue is not quite on fire but tingly in a good way spicy.”  After Chili’s I realized my poor time planning skills and had to figure out how to kill an hour and a half before the movie started.  So we did what we used to do in college we headed to the bookstore and wandered around and laughed at book covers.  Yes we choose to judge the book by the cover completely.  I did find a Brain Quest workbook for Little Girl #1 so that I can completely ruin summer for her and make home just like school for the next 3 months.  Go MOM!!!!

I would like to take a moment and personally thank Chris Hemsworth for topping off my night.

Something about a dirty man…

Snow White & the Huntsman was pretty good.  Kristin Stewart still needs some lessons on showing emotion and other miscellaneous acting skills.

Charlize Theron really makes the movie though.  She’s BA and I want to look like her when I grow up.

I know, and it makes me sad.

We still managed to be home by 11pm.  10 years ago I would have been out until at least 2am.  That’s what happens when you get old and can’t possibly go without sleep. Overall a great night, thanks D.