Winning

I chose to eat an apple rather than but a candy bar. One good choice leads to another?

Flake Out

Totally flaked out after vacation.  The running is very minimal, not even getting out to walk 3 times a week.  Not really sure what is going on.  I just don't care.  I know it is just a funk.  Coming down of the high of vacation, uncertainty about my job (when this one will end, when a new one might begin, if I am to do something on my own), and no napping.  Working through the funk.

Olympic Hopeful

While watching all the teams walk into the arena I remembered that I told myself this morning that I would run tonight.  How can I be an Olympic hopeful if I don't run.  I have skipped every run this week.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  Even Ryan couldn't convince me I needed to go. 

A few things that need to be known about me and my running:
1. I am a slow runner.  At my best I was running maybe an 11 minute mile
2. In 2009 I was what I would classify myself as a "runner".  Running regularly, slowly building miles, running races, and in the best shape of my life (still only running about 11 min/mile)
3. Fell out of running almost as fast as I fell into it and have regretted it and have tried to become a runner ever since

The chubby girl inside of me has won every decision today.  Large Cherry Coke at lunch, cake at a meeting, popcorn and chips after work, extra helpings a dinner . . . and she was about to win another one when I realized at 9:30 I didn't run and the next commercial was one featuring Ryan Hall my favorite runner. 

Thoughts on tonight's run (in order):
1.  I'm just going to run for a few minutes so I can get back for more of the ceremony.
2. That cool house is for sale.  I have always like that house.
3.  Maybe I could go one more block
4.  I feel really fast right now. 
5.  I think I am going to add on my other route.  When I walk I will just cut it off and go home.
6.  I don't think I am going to walk.
7.  I wonder if they lit the torch yet?
8.  I really don't think I am going to walk . . . how about that.
9.  I wish I brought my phone and had been tracking my run.
10.  What am I going to do when I get home?
11.  There is the turn for the house.
12.  I think I have at least 2 blocks left in me.
13.  I'm done.

I didn't set any land speed records - 12 min/mile for a little over 2 miles. But I realized in that run that I have potential.  Even when I classified myself as a runner I always counted myself as a slow runner, I was slow because I never pushed myself to get faster.  Over the last few weeks I have been reading old Runner's World magazines that were never picked up except to move from the mailbox to the basket.  If I have picked up one things is that you will never get better/faster/run farther if you don't try to run faster or go farther.  My sole goal to this point is just to run again, but this run made me realize that to just be a runner again isn't enough - I want to be a better runner every week.  Whether it be more miles, better time, or run a race longer than 8K.  And I now know I am not really an early morning runner.  My miles are better run after Cade goes to bed, not trying to fit them in before he wakes up.  

We will see how long these lofty thoughts last. 

Sluggish

Well I ran on Saturday, it was a good run too. The kind where I just kept going and didn't wish I was home and when I did get home I felt like I had really accomplished something great. But that is the last time I ran. I am down to 183.2, mostly because I am finally getting a handle on my eating and because of my continued work outside.
I don't usually get all wowed by Ryan Gosling photos but some women do. But Fleet Feet Tulsa had this on their Facebook page today and so I have been doing some jogging around the greenhouse in between readings.

The HEAT!

I know everyone is talking about the heat. Especially those who work in it and work out in it. Currently I am both. I spend my days in a combination of outside and greenhouse (guess which is cooler) and spend 3 days a week trying to run outside. Make that only one this week. My Wednesday weigh in was great, down to 184.8, but I would venture a guess it hasn't stayed down. A mix of energy zap from the days has made morning runs almost impossible, or I should say modulation is low. I started a running group, but we have no definite time or goal, so for now I just planned a Saturday run. At least that will boost my number to 2. I am currently looking for more indoor work, and if I get the job I am currently interviewing for that will solve that, the next problem will be getting up earlier!

Plug Along

So far I have kept up my running schedule. Can't say the same for my off days. Chalk it up to spending my days in a greenhouse getting rained on for hours at a time.

I didn't loose much weight this week, but I didn't gain. 187.2.

Trying to keep this in mind:

Boot Camp Drop Out

Every year around my birthday I take stock of what is going on. Most people make their goals and plans on January 1, but I choose July 2. This year the goal is to be in better health. I have never really cared much since I moved away from St Louis and quit running. I keep thinking "I will run again", but then I get started and fizzle out after less than a week. Now my family is my reason to be healthy. I want to be able to play with Cade as he grows up, and every indication is that he is going to be full of energy and hard to wear out. So I am starting now to try and keep up. I started Boot Camp at the beginning of June thinking that would be a good jumping off point . . . I only gained weight. I gained because I was killing myself in the mornings and so I had it in my head that I could then eat whatever I wanted. So I quit. I watched Run Fatboy, Run on Monday to get my modulation back. I am now running on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So far it has felt really good. The other weekday mornings I do some long stretching sessions and some arms and ab work. For the weekends I'm not sure what I am going to do yet. Maybe it is time to buy a basketball again and challenge Adam to a game.

I guess this is my accountability place. So here is the dirty truth: I weigh 188 pounds today. And every week that number has to go down. My goal is to be back to the weight I was before getting pregnant (170) by November. That is a very doable goal. After that I will set another whenever I hit it. But what is my incentive? What is my treat for making it? Any thoughts?