Photo Journal: Night at the Grocery Store

6:30 p.m. Dinner Time


7:30 p.m. The store is quiet, but it is too early to start closing chores. Dessert time? Oh, well, maybe I could just have a little something. Fruit would be good.

7:35 p.m. That pear was okay, but what I'd really like is a beef stick. Okay, two. And a Tootsie Roll.


10:30 p.m. Home from work, children in bed, and I sit down to finish my food log at MFP. Only problem is, I didn't write it down at the time, and I (intentionally?) lost count after the third Tootsie Roll.

Today, 7:30 a.m. I will move more, eat less. I will not let a few bad choices bring me down. I have a clean slate.

Encouragement

I gotta go to work today. Drag. But I did get my run in- two miles at a 10 minute pace. It was pretty easy. Just a few months ago, two slow miles was the most I could do. I've actually made a lot of progress this summer.

Go, me! :o)

Last Daze of Summer

The apples are ripe, we've had our first frost, and geese are gathering to head south. Yep, summer is almost over, but not today. Today it is hot! And what better way to spend what may be the last hot Saturday of the year than sitting by a large body of water, sipping alcoholic beverages of your choice while your spouse watches the children just outside auditory range? Of course! Going for a long, hot, sweaty run and then blogging about it!

I think of some really weird stuff when I'm out running. It's just a shame that I can't remember much of it later on. Maybe I need to take one of those little voice recorders out with me. There's lots of little gadgets that might make your run easier or more entertaining, but it could easily get out of control. Watch, heart rate monitor, GPS, CamelBak, fuel belt, iPod, cell phone, key carrier, ID holder, and that nifty little jacket that folds up in its own pocket (in case of rain). All designed to be lightweight and strap on to your body one way or another.

I don't own most of that stuff. My watch-slash-heart-rate-monitor stopped working, so I just borrow my son's watch. We have a GPS, but it wasn't designed to be worn and so in order to bring it with me I have to stuff it in my bra where it will not bounce around (as much). This always makes me feel self-conscious. I can only hope that anyone driving by will assume that I am using some type of device that is supposed to be carried in one's bra. I don't usually carry water with me; I own a CamelBak but the darn kids lost the reservoir so until I can buy a replacement it is really just a very small, worthless backpack with a hole in it. I guess a belt of some type would be convenient. Because of where I live and run I don't really need to carry ID or keys or cell phone with me, but it would be nice to have a place to keep chapstick other than the other side of my bra.

Best Mile Yet

Just a quick post to record my current personal best mile: 8 min, 12 sec.

Yes, I am patting myself on the back.

That is all.

Now What?

Unfortunately, the racing season for my area is pretty much over. I know, bummer! There is a 5K on the 17th that I'm considering. Runner Me would love to do it, but Mommy Me is still debating, and Mrs. Me is waiting for hubby's input on the subject. (I love you, honey!)

Perhaps you have noticed that I "forgot" to post my weight and measurements. You are just too polite to say anything. I weighed in yesterday, measured my waist, and stopped there. The fact is, I gained last month (only a bit, but still), and rather than get all bummed and mopey and punish myself for that, I'm just going to tell myself "lesson learned" and continue on.

And so, it is time to come up with some new goals. I'd like to work on increasing my running base and just maybe be ready for a half or even a full marathon next year. I'd also like to do another full round of P90X, and I've heard good things about Turbo Fire. Bellydancing? There are so many possibilities!

First and (Almost) Last: Ed Hansen Race Report

Today was my first 10k and my longest run to date. The day dawned cloudy, wet, and windy. Breakfast, coffee, drive to Ontonagon. Check in, dig through the goodie bag (ooh, a little watch thingie!), easy warm up, one last trip to the PlastiJohn. Soon, it is time to line up.

Bib number one- guess which excited newbie runner sent in her registration ridiculously early? Note the yellow watch thingie.

The Firehouse Alarm sounded, and we were off. About halfway through the first mile, the excitement of the start wore off and I fell into an easy trot. I had lined up at the back so it was easy to pick who to keep pace with. I reached the one-mile marker at about nine minutes. I walked through the first water station at Mile Two; I haven't mastered a technique for grabbing those little water cups without breaking stride. My trick has been to drink the water while counting 50 steps- or 100 steps if I really need a break.

In the Third Mile, my legs started planning a mutiny.
My Legs: "Why are we doing this again?"
My Brain: "Because it's good for us and we enjoy it!"
My Legs: "Easy for you to say, we do all the work while you just enjoy the ride! Hey, there's the 5K track. Let's just take a shortcut. We're dead last anyway."
My Brain: "No, I'm pretty sure that lady in the blue shirt is behind us somewhere. Besides, cheating would be a dumbass thing to do."
My Ass: "Leave me out of this."

And then, there was one mile to go. Oh, dear Mile Five, you were my favorite. My brain had talked my legs into cooperating; the air whooshed effortlessly in and out of my lungs, three strides in, three strides out; the woman that smelled so strongly of fabric softener was no longer directly upwind. The course went into a thickly wooded area and I swear I felt that the trees knew who I was. They watched me pass, indifferent and aloof but not unkind. The very wind seemed to boost me along, willing me to go faster and stronger. Maybe I experienced just a bit of that euphoria I've heard about, a runner's high effected by the beauty of the surroundings and given to me like a gift.

Before I knew it, I was approaching the last corner, and there was my family, cheering for me. "Go, Mom! You're number one! Run faster!" Picking up the pace seemed to require no effort at all; I think I was going all out at that point, but it didn't really feel like it. The fatigue of my effort was right behind me, though. As soon as I stopped my whole body felt shaky and weak.

In the end I finished last in my age group, gender rank 19 out of 20. I came in right behind a seventy-year-old man with a limp. I'm just kidding; he's really 61. My time was 1:02:59, my pace 10:09 per mile, so I was a little off my goal pace of 10 min/mile, but that might have been unrealistic anyway. I didn't win any awards- not even a door prize- but I feel like I came away from this with a great deal. I'm so thankful to be a runner, no matter how slow.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Yeah, baby!

Easy does it...

Today was my last short run before Sunday's race. My body said to take it slow and easy, so I did a walk/run even though it was only two miles. My body complained of being stiff and a bit sore so I will give it a sauna and some extra stretching this evening. My body also said it wants cherry schnapps in 7Up (a.k.a. the Dirty Doctor), but I decided to ignore that request. Listening to My Body is not always a good thing.

It is the beginning of the month but I am postponing taking my weight and measurements until Monday. I'm a little nervous about what the outcome will be; I've been working my butt off but feeding my sweet tooth. (I can afford this Snickers- I ran today!) I had a personal goal to avoid the scale this month in order to focus on fitness rather than weight. I'll be sure to record the outcome of my little "experiment".