Single Momma

Soooo I'm fortunate to be married to one amazing guy (93% of the time he's amazing, the other 7% he's pure male, haha).  However his job, that we both love, occasionally takes him out of the state. This time he's actually out of the country! This usually wouldn't be an issue, especiallly since I"m still on summer break and can just take it easy with the kiddos until he returns.  (Last time he left, it was the first full week of school, I had a 10week old and a crazy clingy 3 year old, AND they had just started at a new baby sitter....yeah, I can handle this time).

But what I didn't realize is how it affects my Half training.  Typically Tues/Thurs/Sun are my running days. Once he gets home and we have dinner one of us will go for a run. Thankfully he runs on my off days - it works best that way, for some reason we feel that an adult needs to be here with the kids.  Silly parenting, I know... haha.   It just dawned on me though....that I can't get out and run tomorrow. That is a problem. I dread the ol' treadmill.  Seriously. I can find so many excuses while I'm on it that I neeeeeed to get off. Wait, let me rephrase... that I NEED to get off.  Sometimes it's because I forgot to turn on the dishwasher. Or maybe because one of the girls needs a snack.  And sometimes it's because I have gotten off too many times to go pee and feel "what's the point?"  I'm not kidding. It seems I ALWAYS have to pee more when running inside.  Don't get me wrong, I almost always have to pee while outside but not 5 times in one mile.  Maybe I hit the floor harder on the dreadmill, or my mind knows the bathroom is super close. Either way, it happens.

What I'm getting at is that I don't know how single mommas do it?  Do you run/workout before you pick up the kiddos? I imagine most SAHMs aren't single and so the issue of being single and the kids not at the sitter is never a problem...or am I assuming...or did that even make sense?  Either way....I'm doomed to the treadmill this week. Gonna have tos uck it up and do it. No there's no one around to watch the kiddos for me.  Luckily it's only 2.5miles but it's 1.5 mile more than I'd ever like to do on the machine. Did I mention I hate the treadmill?  ughhhh.

Someone hold me accountable! Check in with me tomorrow on my running day and make sure I ran.   Shoot, someone check in with me on off days too to see if I did my strength or XTrain because I'm a slacker there too!

How do you fit in your workouts if you have kids, are a SAHM,, are single, both or well....what keeps you accountable??

Link-Up: Top Ten Running Songs

Yay for my first linky party!! Wooohooo!!   We're sharing our TOP TEN songs on our running playlists.  So hang in there and then check out the other bloggers' sites for their best songs!

So, here are my TOP TEN songs on the playlist right now, in no particular order:

1. Eminem: Cinderella Man
2. Katy Perry: Fireworks
3. Feist: I Feel It All
4. Katy Perry: Wide Awake
5. Afrojack: Take Over Control
6. David Guetta: Sweat
7. Pink: Raise Your Glass
8. Ludacris: My Chick Bad
9. Linkin Park: Burn It Down
10. Pink: Blow Me

So it's time to link up. Here's how it works. Grab the picture/button and put it in your post, linking it back to this blog.  Then once you finish your post, come back here and "link up" by clicking on the blue button below! Be sure to check out everyone else's blog posts as well!!

Thanks everyone!!

More Rambling: Music This Time

While I'm running I have started talking to myself, in a good way.  (See the previous 2 posts for more details if you're brave enough).  But it intrigues me to hear that some people listen to audio books or podcasts.  Right now I listen to music but have recently found a blog that lists ideas for songs and Pandora stations! Stay tuned for that one.

When I started running, I quickly downloaded several songs to listen to.  I found myself listening to Black Eyed Peas, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Eminem, Ludacris, Pitbull and other random songs I hadn't heard of but were recommended.  I quickly learned what songs worked for me and which ones I consistently skipped.  I can't do songs that I would typically listen to and sing along with.  but instead found powerhouse songs or songs with a heavy beat with rap that would allow me to drown out everything.  That's what I love about music.  I fall back to it when I just want to consumed.  Sometimes it's at work and I need to power through some deep lessons. Sometimes it's in the car -- stressful day or emotions running high.  Other times I'm cleaning (rarely) at home and need to forget about what I'm doing and let the music carry me through the dreaded task.

When people were talking about podcasts so I downloaded PodRunner and listened to techno music that was set to so many beats per minute.  That lasted a few months, then I was bored.  I've gone back to listening to music from my playlist and I'm ready to find more songs.

But I saw this blog post that lists "12 Secret Pandora Workout" stations.  I have Pandora but haven't bought the ad-free (I REALLY hate the ads.  Definitely planning to buy the adfree Pandora sooooon) but the possibility of listening to Pandora while running is intriguing.   Pop over to her blog to see what stations she recommends!  I'll try them on the next run.

What do you listen to? 

Free Therapy - Part 2

Here's the riveting part 2 of my mental breakdown...not a breakdown breakdown, but a breaking down of my mental thoughts :)  I'm not THAT crazy.  But if you didnt' read part one (it was a doooozy) you can find it here.

I've kinda gotten through all that, now that I'm training for my first half. Yes, I had to create my own modification because I can't run 3 miles yet. But dang it I'm doing it!  Well, havent' been doing the cross training etc but I'm gonna run this half in Nov!  I'm realizing I have new struggles.  I guess not new, but still frustrating.  And running is definitely my free therapy.  The husband is also running the half and I get confused with his training and try to block out his speed.  But I still think about it.  I'm running a 12 min mile and that's AWESOME for me.  I keep thinking I'm super slow but the more I read others' times Im' not feeling so slow. I also find myself frustrated when I need to walk.  I find myself wanting to run with perfection, not stop if I'm not supposed to.  Or finding myself thinking that walking is cheating...or setting goals for myself on when it's okay to walk but then thinking I set my goals too low.  Am I rambling, probably.  But oh well.  You can stop reading anytime you want, haha.

Last night's run was probably the first time I treated it as a therapy session.
My friend is training for her first marathon and running the Galloway method, a run/walk. So I tried running my 2 miles by running 2 minutes and walking 1 minute.  I didn't really enjoy it and I think it hurt more.  I've always thought that walking was more of a nuisance than running.  Don't get me wrong. The walk is needed but it works different muscles and then I dread starting back up the run.  It definitely slowed down my total time (duh) but at the end of the 2 miles I didn't feel any less tired like I thought I might. Maybe that method works better for longer runs.

But as I ran I used that time to think. Think. Think. Think. I thought about how far I'd come. I thought about how it will feel to finish the half. I thought about how hard it was and that I was doing it. Finally, I was doing it.  I thought about how one of my friends is running the same race, only she's doing the half and how I'm feeling overshadowed by it. Thankfully for my #RockingtheRoute group, I got over that and focused on me accomplishing my goal.  (thanks girls!)  I thought about my breathing and learned that thinking about my breathing made me breath funny, so I stopped...thinking, not breathing.  I thought about how I tried something new and learned I dont like it (the run/walk) and now I know...  I thought about how hard I am on myself and how that is just negativity that I don't need right now.  And then I thought about it more.



I was only out there for 24 minutes, running/walking 2 miles.  By the end of it though, I wasn't really done with the therapy session and found myself somewhat ticked when I walked in the house.  I felt that I had just started digging deep and frustrated.  (I'm seeing a pattern...me always frustrated...which is frustrating).   I showered, still ticked for some reason, grabbed my laptop and started typing.  Somehow between blogging and messaging a local runner for some insight into the half I calmed down ... a lot. Enough to where I forget exactly what the deal was, but eager to hit the road again and work out some more "issues" .  I guess running does that for ya too...leaves ya wanting more (once the pain is gone, like childbirth, haha).





Thanks for sticking through all this muck of a mess that was supposed to make sense.  I'm not going back to reread and see if it makes sense, too late in the day for that and as Sweet Brown would say "Aint Nobody Got Time fo Dat!"

Free Therapy

So I know I don't post much...life gets in the way. Same excuse I use for working out and getting fit.  With school starting back in 3 weeks my life this past month has slowly become more consumed with my classroom and decorating. I soooo wish I could spend a fortune on my room and decorate it the way I want.
However, teaching at the same building with the same teachers has it's benefits.   I've learned soooo much about myself in the past 6 years teaching.  And some of the teachers have helped me realize some deep stuff about myself, through my reflective teaching.

I am very much a reflective teacher and often first assume that the problem lies within me. Which is a good thing, to an extent.  It's always best to first look within when confronted with a problem instead of automatically thinking there's something wrong with the kids or that they just weren't listening (unless it's a full moon ... then it HAS to be the kids' fault.  I kid...kinda, haha).   But it also backfires on me and that's where my coworkers step in.  I often use them as resources or sound boards when I'm stumped or have a new idea.  One of my coworkers knows me well and knows when I'm being too hard on myself. She reminds me to stop and look at the situation from a "different lens" or she'll flat out tell me that my self-expectations are unrealistic.  I think everyone needs someone like that.   I'm getting off track - oops.

I know they say running is a mental sport.  80% mental, 20% training..or something like that.  I feel for me it is definitely a mental game.  I find it a good therapy session ... although I'm kinda leery of what is going to happen when I get to longer runs because just within the 30 minutes I'm on the road now, I come home with my mind reeling and confused and set and ready for new goals and frustrated and makes me want to run more (or drink).   I know I'm hard on myself. When I was running more consistently to prep for my first 5k, I was on fire.  And it lasted a little bit.  When I started running again, I was disappointed in how hard it was again. I was frustrated that I couldn't run what I was running.  I'm not talking about running an 8min mile like I did in high school. I'm talking about not being able to run a mile, like I did a month prior.  I would get mentally defeated and hate running because I knew I wouldnt be as successful as I was.  Yeah, lame, but it's true.  I started c25k again and even THAT frustrated me.  Again, just being hard on myself and unrealistic expectations. I would even get upset that it was making me upset.  I'd be frustrated that I mentally wasn't willing to push through it all when I knew I could at the time.


Stay tuned for Part 2 where I delve into where I'm at now...will post it in the AM. I know you're dieing to hear the rest of my head-drama.

Lesson learned

 So I learned a lesson today.  73 degrees is great.  If you are spending time in the shade, going for a leisurely walk, or even for a BBQ.  It's great weather for July or October.  But it's not great in mid-July, at 9:30Am when you have to run.  The number is a trick.  

Saturday I did my long run for the week....two miles (everyone cheers: wooooo).  It was rough.  Ethan ran the first mile with me and I think that was part of it too. We ran his route which included hills. I also felt the need to show-off and go fast at the beginning, which kicked my butt later on. But I did it.  Lesson learned.  Felt amazing afterwards. 

This Girl Got Her Run On

Guess what...I got in TWO workouts today. Not sure I've ever been able to say that!

Today during Abbie's naptime I did the BikiniBodyMommy's Day 2 challenge. WOW - I'm sooo outta shape.  I thought it was tough. It was 7 different activities (I think) and I did 3 reps...took about 30 minutes and I had HooBear beside me the whole time.  She supported me by sitting on the computer chair, eating Cheez-its, and calling me out when I slacked.  At one point while I was doing planks (let it be known that I hate planks) she told me she thought I was actually laying on the ground, crying. Yeah, thanks babe.

But I also went ahead and ran tonight.  I'm in week 1 of my 20week half marathon training and this is my 2nd run this week, 1.5miles.  I'm managing to run with an average of 11:45-12:00 min mile both times and tonight I really didn't mind the run.  So does that mean I'm getting better?   I looked back on past mile runs and noticed that I'd been doing 13-14min miles back in January.  You BET I'm getting better!  Although I'm not too concerned with my time/speed but more of maintaining my pace.  Tonight I ran without my watch (okay, i had it with me but the battery was dead) and still managed to keep my pace.  And when I ran, I wasn't dieing this time. I'd like to think of that as progress for sure.   Last time I ran with gum, didn't this time, and think I'll chew it next time - gave my mind a good distraction.

So this gives me motivation. I love seeing progress. It's this "high" that I need to remember when I'm dreading going...which was me tonight. Thankfully E made me go.  *thanks E*

Tomorrow it's a rest day...Sat is 30 min of cross training and then 2miles on Sunday.  Sleep and repeat next week.

20week Half Training ... Begun

So I created my own hodge-podge mix for a training plan to get me ready for my first half this fall.  I'm planning on using Hal Higdon's novice plan but it is a 16 week plan and it expects you to be comfortably running 3-4 miles at least 3 times a week. And I can't.  So I created a plan that mimics his routine only starts with 1.5 mile runs and slowly builds to the 3 mile runs.  Mondays are stretch and strengthen (which I didn't do) and Tues/Thurs/Sun are runs with cross-training every other day.  Whew. I should just upload the doc, that would have been much easier. Oh well.

Did I mention that E got me a Garmin???!?  I am excited and have found how to use it to better my runs while in midst of running.

Anyways, so when I've gone running up til now, it was one mile runs. I typically run 12-12:30min/mile.  Lately though they've been right under 12.   Today I ran 1.5miles in 18minutes.  The first mile I ran straight then walked 30 sec, ran 2 min, walked 1 min, ran 2 min.  I like the idea of run/walk as needed. I could definitely see the benefits of giving my body a break. I think I'll continue the 2/1 at the one mile mark until I feel at one mile that I don't need that break, and keep building endurance until my mileage grows.  But who knows.

For now though...2.5miles in for the week! Woohoo. Tomorrow is weigh day and to be honest I haven't thought abt the scale in a whole, uh oh.   We'll see how that worked.

Outside Run .... Denied

All dressed up an nowhere to run :-(

Was excited to go out and run a virtual holiday 5k...got dressed...Abbie asleep...E and H occupied... Watch and music ready....headed outside to see massive lightning coming over the hill.

I stood there for ten minutes debating with E whether it would be safe to wait it out.  We finally decided I would have to opt for the ol dreadmill.  Ugh.
So here I go....putting in the miles on the machine. 

Here's to hoping I can find something on TV to watch.

Checking in on Wednesday Weigh-in

So, by the looks of this blog (and my scales) fitness hasn't been a priority this summer. And I  will admit I've been more focused on the girls and now that it's July I'm focusing on work more.  I've kept up my work blog more too, but probably since it's easier. It seems every time I post here, it's blah blah blah I'm not doing anything and not losing blah blah blah.   I keep thinking of game plans but they don't work because as soon as I get up from  here I don't do them.  (womp womp womp). 

I didn't even weigh-in this morning, that's how focused I've been! 

However, I have started back up running.  Monday was to be my 1st day back of training in prep of training for my half this fall, #fail. Mon and Tues was a bust, nothing done. But today.....ahhh today...I did the fittest for teh Bikini Body Mommy Challenge (and nearly died).  Wow what a test! I'm excited to see changes and progress but that means commitment. 
But here's my stats for the test:

1.  SPEED SQUATS:  34
2.   HIGH KNEES:  85 
3. PUSH UPS:25 (modified)
4. SQUAT JUMPS:  22
5. TRICEP DIPS: 17
6. BURPEES:8
7. ALTERNATING LUNGES: 15
8. ELBOW PLANK:20sec

Trust me, it was H.A.R.D.  I plan to do workout day #2 tonight then 3 tomorrow before the festivities for the 4th.  And even plan on taking them home to do during the camping weekend.  It seems a few days I'll be doing cardio/running so guess I'll be taking home my shoes and sports bra! Woohoo. 

No food goals...just focusing on my running plan and the BBM 90 Day challenge. 

Wednesday Weigh-In

Well, here is today.....Wednesday.

Which means weigh-in Wednesday.
I'm feeling discouraged...or something... I'm not making an effort I suppose, which is leading to not seeing any change, which then leads to more disappointment.  I'm kinda just blah about it now and only doing the blog because I set out to do it (and not ready to fail at something else).

I feel like everytime I blog though, I'm just reporting back the same thing...."no workout" "no scale going down" ... nothing positive.

So today's weigh-in is 198 even.

My eating hasn't been too bad (probably because we need to get groceries).  I ran 1 mile earlier this week.  I still lneed to begin the 90 day bikini body challenge. Not sure why I haven't.  Granted night times have been rought with Hayden lately, getting her to bed at a decent time. I suppose I need to do the workout during the day, while Abbie's sleeping.
I really need an accountability partner that is driven to losing weight and keeping me accountable.  How do you go about getting one of those?

*Sigh.

E is out on a 2 mile run tonight.  Last time he ran, he over did it and then was super light headed afterwards (slightly concerned) and so I'm kinda wondering how this one will be.    My plan is to run a mile when he gets back (and is breathing normal).

Tonight I ran...

Tonight I ran, and I enjoyed it.

I opted to start up the C25K program again...although I hate the stop/go aspect of it, I loved it tonight...for a while. I realized that the forced walking time was good for my pride. I was like "oh, I HAVE to stop because she told me to start walking" instead of "Dang it Krista....why are you stopping already!?!?"  I was content to walk instead of beating myself up this time. However, it was frustrating int he sense that I could run longer than she had me running. And at the end of it, I did it for 30 min which included 10 min of warm up and cool down and then interval running.   The frustrating part is that I did my last 5k in 37 min....so I'm tryin to wrap my head aroudn the fact of why didn't I just run that 30 min and be done with it?  Still not sure. 

Ethan and  I decided that I should probably jump a head a week or 2 in the training so the intervals are longer.  Tomorrow, no runs but on Monday I'll do week 3 or 4 and see how that treats me. I just don't get the running for 3 minutes bit...I can run for about 10 without feeling like I'm going to die.  Where's the week where they hold your hand over that?!? So should I skip ahead a few weeks and get to where I feel the workout or do I trust the process and stick to week 2.....   either way I'm skipping ahead.  :)

But here's to getting in a run today (Ethan ran 2miles this morning....atta boy!)

 

Just an update

Ethan made it possible for me to go running last night. Yay! 

I really wanted to want to run, but dreaded actually doing it.  I couldn't decide on outside or treadmill....and here's why. If I run outside I have to actually get dressed and run all up and down the hills. But yet if I run on the treadmill I hate running on the treadmill its boring and there's nothing to see.

But I got out and ran and I did it down and back on the road, just a mile. What I'm coming to realize is that a mile is a mile. I'm only competing with myself but yet I still get frustrated when I'm not as good as I was.

I usually listen to a podcast called PodRunners where you can listen to music based on beats per minute but this time I decided to go back to my Runners music playlist. I think I might have liked it better not quite sure yet.

Anyways I ran down half a mile actually  0.54 miles and then walked for a little bit and then jog the rest of the way back up the hill. I was excited to see that my time at the end was a 12:30 mile average. Not too bad. I wish that my music had a beat per minute play option on it but i think that music was a good thing.

So it seems so far I've been able to get at least a mile in every other day. Granted this is day 3 but I'm hopeful. I did hurt my ankle, well more the top of my foot. Really hurts to walk on it. keep an eye out and see how it goes. Hopefully today I can get in a little bit of Jillian while AbbDabs is asleep this afternoon.  

Here's to Thursday!!