Alert!

There's a new fitness blogger and you have to check her out!  She's totally inspirational and the most "cut" mama I've ever seen!  I've followed her on instagram for awhile now and I'm totally excited that she's started a blog!  Seriously, all 2 or so of you who read this blog, go read Mom with Muscle, you won't regret it!  I'm so excited to learn from her! (Who knew I could be all "fan girl" about a blogger, lol!)

Update on me...because why not...I ran outside this morning, only 3.03 miles, but I averaged 9:53 per mile. And it was *HOT* too! Hey, lower to mid 70s is hot to me, give me 50 degrees and I'm in heaven! Then later I ran a mile inside on the dreadmill treadmill in 9:24.  I still enjoy slower, longer runs, but I'm happy I can bust out some sub 10 minute miles these days.  I've come a long way since last year when I was running 15 minute miles.  And I was, and rightfully so, proud of myself back then.  I love seeing my progress, even if it's only in speed and distance since the scale is stuck, stuck, stuck!

Survivor Mud Run 2013

I did it, I stepped out of my comfort zone. Heck, I did more than step out of it, I leaped about a million feet away from it! On Saturday I completed the Survivor Mud Run 2013 challenge in Berthoud, Colorado.  I've never in my life done something like this.  I don't like being dirty!  Being sweaty I don't mind.  But dirt, actual dirt, I hate that!  And trail running?  Yeah, I don't do that.  Give me asphalt, concrete, and maybe a some AstroTurf, but trails, nope.

So this challenge started with about a half mile run (I'm not sure on the exact amounts since both my phone - with my Nike+ app - and Fitbit were left with my husband so they wouldn't get destroyed.  This was on a dirt trail with lots of ups and downs (it's really a dirt bike track, so you get the idea).  That was no biggie other than the whole trail aspect and me watching my feet to make sure I wasn't about to twist my ankle on rocks or anything.  Then, the first obstacle.  Right into a lake of mud, going under wires.  I was drenched in mud from my neck to my toes.  Suddenly my shoes felt like they were made of wet cement.  But the run continued.  I went slower than I could have. But I was doing this with my sister-in-law, her step-mom, her step-mom's niece, and her step-mom's friend.  At the beginning it was decided that my sister-in-law wanted to go for it and be competitive.  The rest of us would stick together and help each other out.  Even though the woman I was running with (she was in her early 50s and doesn't run) said I could go ahead, I didn't want to leave her behind.  It seemed rude after we'd decided to stick together to help each other out if needed.  So I didn't run on all the parts that were just running.  The obstacles were still a challenge for me, I don't have a lot of balance, grace and all that other stuff.  But it was fun and I would love to do one with my husband.  He would definitely run all the running with me...and push me to run even faster since he's a fast runner.  And he would LOVE the obstacles!  In all it was 3.47 miles of trails and mud and obstacles and more mud...oh so much mud.

The worst part of the whole thing was near the end when I went head first out of a tunnel into a pool of mud!  I got mud in my eye and it hurt so dang bad!  I fell twice after that because I couldn't see where I was going. But I survived!  I have my medal.  And my shower when I got home was the best shower ever!  Although I think I'll be digging mud out of my ears for the next millennium!  And my only injury is a skinned knee...I was a little worried about getting all banged up.  Phew!

Now I'm back to my sidewalks and streets...heaven!  Today's run was a little over 7 1/2 miles up and down hills in neighborhoods, then down through the old downtown area of our city, past the police station and back into the neighborhoods before talking a (sidewalk) trail into the county fairgrounds where I finished it off.  Awesome!

Did you hear that???

Seriously, did you hear that or was it just in my head? I swear I heard a loud "YES!" this morning when I weighed myself. I know I was going to wait a day or two more before weighing myself again, but I gave in today and I was down!!! But not just that, I'm in a new "decade" of numbers or set of 10s or whatever you want to call it. I'm so happy! I've been stuck in this "decade" since sometime in August. I was beginning to think my scale didn't know how to go down to a new "decade," but apparently it does. I'm so happy!!!!!! I'm only .2 into this "decade," I'm going to have to work my butt off to make sure I don't go up again.

Speaking of which, I hope I worked a little of my butt off this morning. I did a 2 hour workout at the gym, both weights and cardio. Then I came home and did my run (45 minutes) on the treadmill. I was DEAD afterward, but dang I feel good about myself today!

21 days...I did it!

I got my run in early today. I've made it 21 days in a row. I even upped my run today by a quarter mile. I wasn't supposed to do that until tomorrow. I'm not sure what possessed me to do it, but I'm glad I did. Now I'm not filled with dread before doing tomorrow's run.

I wish I could say after 21 days that I'm enjoying this. I'm so not...at least not yet. But it is getting easier and that's awesome! I was hoping to try a run outside today, but we're having massive wind. Sigh...hopefully the "heat" (61 degrees) will stay and the wind will go so I can try an outside run sometime this week.

Getting easier

All I can say is...HOLY CRAP! It's getting easier!!! The past two nights I haven't felt like dying while I ran. Yay!!!!!!!!!

I did it, but it's not a habit yet...

So I did my 1.5 mile run tonight. Today was day 15, also the first day of 1.5 miles. But it's still not a habit. I can just tell. Right now it's something I'm forcing myself to do, but it's not easy. So I decided to look up how many days of doing something equals a habit. In that lovely Google search I found this blog, 21 Days. I haven't taken the time to really read much of it yet. Seriously, I just did this search and it's after 1am. I'll look around more, just let me get some sleep first. This whole staying up way too late thing can't be good for my health. Anyway, it's about someone who set out to make running a habit in 21 days. Now she's running race after race. How dang cool is that???

So, I guess that means I'm 6 days away from running being a habit. That's not too bad, right? That would mean by the time I watch next week's The Biggest Loser (don't get me started on tonight's episode...gah!) running will be a habit.

Oh...and I'm not just taking the above mentioned blogger's word that 21 days makes a habit. Nope, I also found it at D*I*Y Planner among other places. Of course, most of those were blogs. But come on, bloggers know all...right? Ok, maybe not. But I'm taking their word for it this time.

D.R.E.A.D.

I'm so filled with dread right now. Tomorrow is my last day of running 1.25 miles, then it's up to 1.5 miles a day. I so do not feel ready for it. Sure, I know I won't die. But my 5'8 body is carrying way too much excess baggage for this to be easy yet. I used to love running...right now I so do not love it. I'm pretty sure that love will come as some of this baggage goes, but dang it 1.5 miles sounds HARD right now. I'll do it, I have to do it. If I don't I'll only be disappointing myself and I don't like being disappointed.

On a happier note...I got my running done for today about half and hour ago. Yay me!

1.25

Yep, I'm up to running 1.25 miles at a time. I'm still a big old wussy, but I'm getting better. I've figured out that I have to add a quarter mile each week if I want to be ready for 13.1 miles the first week of December. I think that's totally doable.

By the way, today will be my 10th day in a row of running. I'm pretty darn proud of myself! And yes, the iPod Nano totally helps. I'm still completely loving it! I know they're expensive, but if you can get any kind of MP3 player I'd totally suggest it. It distracts me enough to push me to keep going.

And I've decided Paramore is a great band to add to my list. I put the Twilight soundtrack on mine and there are two Paramore songs on there. Then I was talking to a PR rep I work with and he suggested another Paramore song...totally good, I need to see if iTunes sells it.

Progress...and more

Today was my sixth day in a row of running. I'm still only running a mile at a time, but after tomorrow I plan to add a little bit. But I feel really good about myself. It's hard for me though, I just want to be able to do more now, but the whole logical side of me knows I have to do it bit by bit or I'll fail.

I can't wait for my iPod Nano to show up though (maybe tomorrow!!!), I think being distracted by music will really help. I'm trying to figure out what music to put on there. Back in 9th and 10th grade I listened to the Wayne's World soundtrack and Green Day's Dookie album while I ran. I know those are really odd choices, but I think I might put them on there just for sentimental reasons. LOL!

On a new note...I'm so excited for the new season of The Biggest Loser to start this week!!! I need the motivation from it. :)

I've made an executive decision

Ok, so I figure I'm the CEO of my life and my health and it's time I made some changes. I've been working my rear off (I wish literally) and nothing is working. The one thing that has always worked is running.

I love running...really I do. But it's one of those things that when I stop doing it I stop liking it and it's hard to get back into.

But I need to do something...so...I've decided I'm going to run the Las Vegas Half-Marathon. I ran it in 2002...so I know it's possible. I was doing some research tonight and it's changed since then. It's been sold and is in December instead of January/February. It runs through the strip instead of out in the boonies outside of town (sounds like a cool change). So I have just over 11 months to whip my rear (literally) into shape to do this.

I'm hoping with a goal in mind that I can do it. It's not a goal to lose 40 pounds or drop a dress size. It's a goal to be strong enough, to get enough endurance to do this. Hopefully all the other stuff will come along with it.

At the same time I'm still going to workout with a trainer, I'm still going to use the elliptical and bike, I'm still going to use the Wii Fit, etc. But now I'm going to run and it will be my main focus.