Joy, thankfulness, sorrow, & anniversaries

Today I was reminded of many things which bring me joy and for which I am thankful. Daily I am reminded of what a wonderful family I have---an incredible husband who is a wonderful partner and father---2 cute, delightful boys who make me laugh and smile daily---my Saviour who loves me and looks out for me in ways I cannot even comprehend but I am grateful.

Today on the way to my son's swimming lesson, for which we were already running a bit late, the station wagon got a flat tire. I am glad this happened today, not tomorrow while we were on the road to NC. I was able to call my husband, who came right away to help. A wonderful, God-sent stranger who helped change the tire and inflate the deflated spare. Financial provisions from God which meant we could buy a new tire today instead of having to borrow money or not pay a bill to do so. My being in better physical shape, so that I could put the baby in the stroller and hike the mile or so in 15 minutes to the YMCA to still make it for part of the swim lesson. A year ago, it would have taken me much longer to get there with many more aches and pains. It is hard to believe that a year ago I started this journey and could not even jog halfway around a track.

Thankfulness----I am so grateful for this station wagon, which used to be my Dad's. I can transport 5 children and 2 adults or other combinations of people while toting "stuff" in the back. The car gets good mileage, runs well, and means no car payment---all of which I am very thankful for as our budget is very tight these days. It is as if my Dad knew we would need it when he insisted that Mother pass it on to me upon his death.

Sorrow----It was 3 years ago this month that Daddy died. I know he would be proud of me in the strides I have made this year. He always encouraged my competitive nature from my elementary years to my high school judo competitions through my graduate school days. He would have been proud of my recent 12 month weight loss journey losing 53 pounds. He would have been proud of my new running ventures. I am sorry he is not here for these but mostly I am sad that he never knew his newest grandson who was born 11 months after Daddy died. I am reminded of Daddy often as I drive his car and wear his watch when I run. I miss him.


PS. I registered for the 10 miler today.

Free your mind...

I have finally reached a point where I enjoy running. Getting past the first 1/2-1 mile warm-up is often a mental hurdle for me. After reading RUN RIGHT NOW by Joe Henderson, I felt much better knowing I was not alone in my distaste for the warm-up period. The 2-3 mile portions of my runs are my favorite. During that time my mind easily wanders away from any thought of pain, length of the run, or the like. Free your mind and the rest will follow. I know that most of my challenges in running are mental. The music I listen to on runs on my mp3 help a great deal. Some of my fav songs which help me conquer my mental battles are(sometimes it is the lyrics, sometimes the rhythm, and sometimes both):

Top 3 fav running songs
Ain't Nothing Wrong With That (Robert Randolph & The Family Band)
Free Your Mind (En Vogue)
I Will Run (Misty Edwards)

Other favs
Rhythm Nation (Janet Jackson)
Smooth Criminal (Alien Ant Farm)
Fight for your right (Beastie Boys)
List of Demands (Saul Williams) i know the topic
Switch (Wil Smith)

Yesterday, I hit my longest run of 7.5 miles in 1:21:54. At mile 6 my mp3 player ran out of power, but I had control of my mind and kept moving on with spirit even through the final 1/2 mile.

In mid to late July, I have been adding swimming as a different cross training activity several days each week. Today, I clocked 600 yards in 25 minutes with some concentration on arm work to balance out my running leg work.(I swim while my son takes swimming lessons.) I am hoping to get my bicycle repaired so that I can begin adding cycling/commuting to work for cross training.

A friend from Weight Watchers told me she read that every pound lost decreases 4 lbs of pressure off of your joints. I have a goal of being between 171-165 for the 10 miler. I have lost 2 lbs since setting this goal, only 6-12 lbs more to go!

Hmmm, maybe new shoes do make you run faster

July 19, 2008
Race day
Length: 5 miles
Finishing Time: 54:23
Mile Pace: 10:53

My dh says new shoes make you feel like you can run faster....this is is based upon his childhood memories. I wasn't sure about this theory, since on the first day I wore my new shoes I tried to hurdle a small chain barrier while running and landed on my face. But today in running a 5 mile race, I think his "new shoe" myth may have been realized.
I met one (and part of another) of my goals:
-Run the 5 mile race on July 19th in 58:00 or under
-Run a regular 10:30 mile in longer runs (Although my regular pace isn't yet this, I am so much closer than I was at my 11:15 pace.)

Still need to
---Figure out what nutrition works for me best on race mornings
I ate a banana and drank G2, 30-60 minutes prior to the race. I think the humidity was working against me today. Although the temperature was fairly decent, the humidity was high and as I pushed through at the end of the race and for 30 minutes after finishing, my stomach was queasy.
---Pace myself in the beginning of the race
Today, I ran the 1st half of the race faster than the last half.

Well, 70 days 'til the 10-miler. I may squeeze in one more race before that-who knows...but the training continues.

How to cut your child's hair

I checked out the book, How to cut your child's hair at home : a step-by-step guide to giving your child a professional looking haircut at home by Laura DeRosa, from the public library. It was so easy to read and this morning I cut both of my boys' hair (ages 2 and 6) and they look great---if I do say so myself. I have messed up their cuts several times before, so I was tickled pink to finally have success with such an easy to follow book.

For more "Frugal Friday" ideas, check out the Biblical Womanhood blog.

Keeping up with coupons for different stores & trips

With all of the trips I have made to different stores for various coupon/saving deals, I found I was sometimes misplacing coupons or lists. In addition to my regular coupon organizers (which I carry with me to all stores in case I find unadvertised or clearance deals) I have two other "wallets" (picked up at my fav consignment shop for pennies). One is for Food Lion and one for CVS (these are the 2 stores that are on the way for most of my daily travels and from which I use the most coupons). I organize these wallets before I leave the house. In each I place:

1.) my lists of good deals that I get from reading circulars and other wonderful blogs like Money Saving Mom and Centisble Sawyer
2.) coupons needed for the deals on my lists

For other great Works for Me Wednesday ideas check out the Rock in my Dryer blog.

Cooler weather, new shoes, training for the 10 miler and goals

There are only 82 days 'til the 10 miler! Every time I think about this upcoming race, I get butterflies in my stomach. Some friends of mine who are runners, some of which have run this race before, have offered a variety of advice. I am sorting through their advice and what I am researching as well. In addition to the physical preparation left in the coming weeks of training, I still need to tackle the mental battles of the training and the race. My mind is my most challenging battlefield.

I am up to 10Ks in my long runs and totals between 12-15 miles per week. I miss running on the trails where the miles are clearly marked. However, because I have been running early in the AM (starting between 5:30-6 AM) I do not feel safe running alone on the trails through the wooded areas. I have been sticking to a fairly busy and well-light road with sidewalks. I like the relative coolness of the AM runs (this morning it took me 45 minutes to lose the red-faced look & feeling from the 73 degree 10K run.) I like the summer sunrises before 6 AM but I will also be glad to get back to the 45 degree and below winter days! I am very thankful for these past weeks with many days of temps below 90 degrees.

My dh got me a gift certificate to the local running shop so I could purchase new shoes. I have began running last August in a pair of leftover, many years old cross trainers that I picked up at Sam's Club. Months later after a couple of 5Ks, I purchased my first pair of shoes just for running--a pair of men's Reeboks for $17 from Sam's Club. Now I have a pair of Asics Gel-Nimbus 10. They are very nice although it took me several days to get over the sticker shock. I have NEVER paid that much for a pair of shoes before. I know I need good shoes for running.

My goals to accomplish prior to the 10 miler:
1. Drop another 8-15 lbs(from my current 179) to make it easier on my joints
2. Run the race course in its entirety at least twice
3. Run a 5 mile race on July 19th in 58:00 or under (This will be my first race as a 45 year old---seems like the 45-50 year old women run faster than the 40-44 year olds ---go figure!)
4. Learn to pace myself better in the first 1-1.5 miles
5. Figure out what nutrition works for me best on race mornings
6. Run a regular 10:30 mile in longer runs--I am currently struggling to break the 11:15 mark.