I feel good!

Wowza! Okay, I know this is no biggie...and today's run used to be like, my normal everyday thing, like back in the day...but for a fat girl getting back into running, today was a great day! It has been a gorgeos day in Lake Jackson today...sunny, breezy, blue skies, and I'd say our high was probably in the 50s, maybe low 60s...yep, pretty much perfect weather! Well, I did some house cleaning and hanging out having fun with my kids--painting the boxes our new car seats came in (the ones that are being replaced since the wreck) out on the driveway to look like racecars, that sort of thing...and really just enjoyed the day. It took me awhile to have the chance to get out there and run, but I was so glad I did!Back when I ran before, I had, what I had measued at the time, to be a little 4-mile route I'd do regularly. It's been literally years since I've run this route, but I used to do it nearly daily. Here lately, I've only been getting in between 2 and 3 miles in the mornings, due to time constraints, so this was a nice little "long run" for me at this stage in the game. So, a few minutes after 5, I finally set out and I start out thinking this might be sorta tough. I run a little after I warm up, and then I have to walk pretty soon. Then I run a little more, and walk a little more. Then, I'm out about a half mile, and there are these 2 kids up ahead of me walking...Do you know what I'm talking about? They are just far enough ahead of me that I won't catch up to them walking, probably, but might catch up to them running, and I didn't want to pass them, only to have to start walking right away after that...so, I was like "do I walk or run?" and then, I determined it was not going to be up to 2 junior high kids if I got my running in or not, so I decided to start running. It also didn't hurt that "Friends in Low Places " came on the ipod...how can you walk through that song? So, I think to myself, if I can run to up to the next street and down it to the next (about a mile or mile-and-a-half or so), yay for me....well, halfway down that street, I so wanted to walk. Well, I had a little self-attitude check, and it was like ...Okay, I'm not hurting anywhere and I'm breathing okay, so I'll keep going. And I did make to to the next street, which was about 2.2 miles from home, a little over a mile from where I started running. Not too bad. So, I walk down it for I think 1 song, then Bryan Adams comes on, and I start to run again......so I'm running and I think, If I can run to the next street, which brings me back to my neighborhood, I'm good...I can do that, surely. Well, here's where it gets fun. Some Chris Rice song came on, and I'm keepin' on, and I get to the street I was aiming for. Still feeling good, I decide to keep going. My Sacrifice by Creed comes on...okay, there is NO STINKIN WAY to NOT run to pretty much any song by Creed, so I think, maybe I can make it to the next cross street...and I do, and then THE HAPPY SONG comes on!!! Like ANYONE can even stinking THINK of not running to that! So I kept going, thinking can I make t to the next cross street? Can I ? Well, I did, and then wouldn't ya know...the EAGLES come on...don't remember which song, but heck..it's the Eagles! So, I run and promise myself I will start to walk at the next landmark near to home. And I do...and I am feeling sooooo good! I walked around the corner into our neighborhood, and as per my usual, I sprint the last block to my house...don't know why, but I feel the need to go as fast as my short, fat legs will take me that last little bit..which is..oh, about 8 minute/mile pace--I think that's a leisurely stroll for some of my friends but for me, it's really truckin! So, I get home and my ipod (calibrated ipod, that is!) tells me I ran 4.55 miles at an average of pace of 14:38/mile, which included my walking and stretch breaks and stuff...not too bad! Not too bad at all! I have always said too...someday when I lose this weight, when people want my advice, I will tell them to GET AN IPOD! That music really kept me going tonight!I know its probably not a big deal, but I feel like I can say "I run" again! I have a long way to go, but to be able to keep going as long as I did tonight is a huge accomplishment for me! I am so grateful! The weather was awesome too...so...wooohoooo....yay me!!!Guess I beter get to working on confirmation lessons again...I think I will sleep good tonight--and not probably be ready to get up when I need to! And.....I EARNED my shower tonight...I just love that!

On rain, swimming, discouragement, and what good a workout can do!

Well...I guess since I mentioned every possible topic in the title to this post, I should make sure I cover all the bases! Rain! It's been raining a lot lately...mostly in the morning...at oh, like 5:00 am, when I am supposed to be up running. I say a lot...like, the past 2 days really, I guess. Now I don't mind a little rain, mind you, but I just don't think I'm hardcore enough to be out in an out-and-out downpour yet! I can remember running in some pretty decent rain back in the day, but I just didn't want to be out in such a huge downpour as these have been....so, when I hear the rain falling, I"ve been turning off the alarm and just sleeping in a little while and enjoying the sound of the rain, which is so nice! I do want to get back to the running...I really do....but, I will say I have enjoyed the little break (and will be praying for more rain tomorrow, probably!) It does sorta make me feel like a weenie though, when it gets to be like 10 am and its bright sunny outside! "Really, it was raining at 5...I promise!"
And I guess that brings me to the next thing....swimming! I have really been enjoying my pool time! One day I did 17 laps, I think 15 another day, and tonight I did 16. Those are like back-and-forth being one lap...so, like 32 lengths, if you were to count it that way...I will say...If I could use a kickboard in the triathlon, I think I'd so have it made! I will usually do a few laps with the kickboard to warm up and cool down and man, I can boogie on that thing! I could go for stinkin' ever with the kickboard! But alas, I think I probably have to be all on my own power for the tri! So, I've been swimming....breaststroke, backstroke, and crawl and alternating between them all. I'd like to work up to doing more crawl, but man oh man...that one wears me out! I'm getting a little stronger at it, but its still tough! I really am enjoying the swimming though, for something different. It feels really good, and I do feel like I've really done something when I get back.
The discouragement, is thankfully abating a little bit, but I had a few dumpy days there, which have weighed me down a bit. I had a meeting that, in my opinion, was a little rough the other night and that was discouraging.....things at home seem to have been discouraging for awhile--the ridiculous mess and housework that piles up being only a part of the problem--a significant part, no doubt, but yea...I don't blog about that. I'm not done with my class yet, which is hanging over my head, the bank account is overdrawn til I get my paycheck tomorrow, and geesh! I was just feeling a little hammered on there for a few days. I know the Lord won't give me more than I can handle, but crap...why does he have to think I'm so stinkin' strong! He is faithful, and I know and hang on to that. And I am thankful He has given me a body...albeit a short, fat, very unattractive body (and that's not His fault...he gave me a good gift, I just happened to have screwed the gift up over the years!)...that can, despite its weaknesses...still run, still swim, and still be challenged! What a gift it is to be able to go to Him in prayer, but also to know its a gift from Him as well, to be able to sweat out frustrations as well....I was feeling much more encouraged after all that.

Here's to hoping we all continue to feel encouraged!!!!

So far, so good...and yes, as a matter of fact, I HAVE lost my mind!

So, the running is going well. I went Monday morning early and this morning early. Tuesday I couldn't go because I worked until 6 am Tuesday morning and Craig had to leave as soon as I got home, so no run for me that day...I was pretty much comatose most of the day anyway, from the night shift. The election really made for a crappy end of the day too...so yea...yay for Tuesday being over! Anyhow, I feel like I am getting stronger on the running now. I mean, I will probably never be fast or anything, but just to be able to keep on going is such a wonderful feeling. My Nike ipod thingy tells me I am averaging around 13 minutes/mile, which isn't too bad, wtih the walking averaged in, I guess. Yes, I am a turtle, but I'm totally fine with that! That ipod is really helpful too...and I have such a crazy mix of stuff on it! Jars of Clay and Relient K are some of my better get going selections, and anything by Bowling for Soup gets me to kick into high gear too. Bryan Adams old stuff and Bon Jovi isn't too bad either! Throw in a little Rich Mullins, Patsy Cline, Larry Gatlin, and Point of Grace (yes, I am cheesy!) and you've got yourself a cooldown! Sometimes, I do this "run a song, walk a song" thing to time out my breaks, and let me just say....the Lynard Skynard extended dance mix of Freebird makes for a pretty long run for this outta shape momma! That one isn't for the faint of heart! So, the losing my mind part....yes, its fun! Okay, the story goes, I have done a marathon before when I ran, and would love to do one again sometime, though I'm not anywhere close yet. Something else, a little goal (well, not such a little one!) or dream is maybe a better word for it, that I'd like to do and have always wanted to do is a triathlon. I have crazy fiend athlete friends that do them, and wow! I am in awe. Not long ago, I ran across a dear old friend from high school and college that is not only a dentist, but also a professional triathlete now as well...like, big time! Anyhow....the last opportunity I had to think about it, I weenied out. I know I could do the running and the biking part--yes, slowly, I admit, and probably not terribly gracefully--but given enough time, I COULD get myself from point a to point b on foot or on a bike. But the swimming...that scares the crud out of me! I swim, yes...but not like THAT! Well, this weekend, I hear about this triathlon at Moody Gardens in April, so I googled it and found it. They have the longer ones on Sunday, but Saturday is the Sprint one, which is the short course....swim 0.3 miles (I think), bike 12-something, and run a 5K (3.1 miles). It would be quite a challenge, but I like the idea of it because:--It IS a challenge...and I thrive with a concrete goal to work toward.--It would push me to work really hard..and I love that!--I think the distance is doable...--It's in April..so I have like 5 months to train.--It's in Galveston, so I wouldn't have to travel, which would make it cheaper and easier.--It's on a Saturday, so I wouldn't miss church for it.So.....I SIGNED UP!!!! Paid my money, I'm committed, baby! So.....I went and swam tonight....and man, do I stink at it!! When I was a kid, I swam like a fish..not so much now! WEll, maybe a dying fish, or one with a hook in its mouth or something! Yea....that's gonna take A LOT of work! But I'm committed, so there's no turning back now. And crappy swimmer or not, I feel really really good right now! I'm loving this! Brain or no brain, I'm in!!