Just Do It

One of our favorite traditions is running the Turkey Stampede 10k that supports the Faith Mission. (I love that even if for some reason we couldn't run, we didn't waste our money! Love supporting an excellent cause).

I debated about doing the 10k, considering the 5k instead, because I haven't run more than once a week for months. And being pregnant, I was a little nervous about surviving. But I just hated the idea of breaking tradition. And I love impressing my husband.

This race has had obstacles for me each year… all related to bearing children! But I think that's what makes it one of my favorite traditions! It has played a huge part in teaching me that I can do so much more than I thought I could.

I first learned this concept from my other half. He's always told me (not always with sensitivity I might add) that my body can do amazing things. After the last year, I finally truly believe it. And I want so badly for you, dear reader, to believe it about yourself, too!

Do you want to be a runner? Then become a runner!
Do you want to lose weight? Then lose weight!
Do you want to be fit and healthy? Then get fit and healthy!
Do you want to be stronger spiritually, mentally, physically? Then be stronger!

I realize there are road blocks. Different for everyone. But how many are simply in your head? And how many are simply obstacles that you need to push past? work through? beat?

most of them.

I am the queen of excuses. Pregnancy makes it that much worse! But the race on Thanksgiving morning was a much needed reminder that I can do so much more than I think I can. And so can you!

Don't wait for the new year. Stop making excuses NOW.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Running??

I know that all of you wait anxiously by the computer, waiting for my next amazing, thought-provocing, inspirational post. I'm sorry to keep you waiting! We've been sooo busy with wonderful things. I have a post about our super-fun Memorial Day weekend in the works. But today I came across an article I had to share.

Check out this article about a huge study comparing running versus walking. I love to walk, but I love running much more and I'm excited that running wins overall! I mean, they are both very beneficial but according to the study, running is better for weight control, and it actually suppresses appetite! (I can tell I haven't run in awhile. I've had the serious munchies today!)

I love that I am lowering my risk of high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes as a runner. And guess what, walking helps with that, too! So get moving!

And speaking of running, I was supposed to be running my second half marathon, blowing my PR off the pavement this Saturday. But when it came to registering and we saw the price tag, we decided it wasn't worth it. And with all that we've been busy with, I'm glad God closed that door.

Priorities.

So this Saturday I think I'm going shopping with my mom and sis. Excellent trade-off :)

I still run and I still love it! Races are just going to wait for awhile.

Dear Winter, you can go away now.

It wasn't until I became a runner that I started to not like winter. I did learn this year that I really do enjoy running in the snow. Something about the challenge. But I'm not big on running in the dark. Safety reasons! And it's just always dark!

So I'm finding other ways to keep me busy (at the expense of the laundry)...

1. Turbo Jam

2. ChaLEAN Extreme (borrowing from my mom! What I use for most of my weights).

3. The good ol' Tae Bo. Doesn't that throw you back a good decade??

This is a video of Marie and Jack doing Tae Bo. Cutest thing ever. Please excuse the messy house.

4. Enjoyed some time on my parents "new" old style stationary bike.

5. Of course ZUMBA!

6. I like to try out some workouts from pinterest. (The link will take you to my pinboard with all sorts of workouts).

7. And whenever I can, I run!

I did head out on the 4-miler one warm day a couple weeks ago and it kicked my butt. Running is its own thing. I'm in fantastic shape, but I'm not gonna be running a half-marathon on Turbo Jam workouts. Sooo ready for spring!

The bottom line is, we often use winter as an excuse to get out of shape and gain weight. At least I always use to! But there is no excuse for such things! There's enough workouts on pinterest to keep you busy for weeks. And you don't need any equipment! Or very little. Try Walmart, TJMaxx, Marshalls, or Aldi if you need something.

Or turn on the Zumba station on Pandora and dance!

I'm anxious for spring, but I'm not gonna sit around and wait for it!

Source: reasonstobefit.tumblr.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

"the 26.2-mile victory lap"

So I claim to be a runner but I have never run a marathon.

... Checking the horizon ...

Nope, don't see any out there either.

Even after finishing my first half-marathon (actually we were right around mile 12 when Derek and I started talking about it), I had absolutely no desire to shoot for the mother of all races.

Source: runningtoescapethetruth.tumblr.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

The more I read about running, and the more I run, the less aversion I feel toward a marathon.

BUT

I still have no plans of running a marathon any time in the near future.

The reason?

Not because I am scared to death of it - that only makes me want to conquer it!
Not because I doubt my ability to do it - I know I could!

Source: workingonme.tk via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

No, the reason is because ((unless you are Derek!)) training for a marathon is basically a full time job. And my current full time job (wife and momma) is SO much more important.

"Like surviving labor, crossing the finish line of a 26.2-mile race is a testament to perseverance, discipline, dedication, and a few other multisyllabic words often found on inspirational posters hanging on office walls. The race is a huge accomplishment, of course, but it's really the months of training that change your life and perspective. During the no-glory, no-spectators training miles, you discover how hard you can push yourself, how persistent you need to be, and how to call forth motivation when you'd rather just call for a pizza." -Run Like A Mother

Obviously, I'm going to be running a marathon someday. 2, actually.

Source: goodbyebabylon.tumblr.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

When the kids are older, in school full time, or maybe totally out of the house, I will be training for and running a marathon. And then I'll do it again because I'll know what to expect and how to better prepare for it and race it.

Source: imagekind.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

So who's with me in 10... 15... 20 years??

(The title to this post was taken from Run Like A Mother)

2013 Goals: Running/Fitness Edition

We have a lot of goals related to finances, ministry, each of the kids, personal, etc. But those don't all necessarily need sharing. I want to share my running and fitness goals for the obvious reason of accountability, with a side of future bragging (on Christ) when I succeed (by God's grace)! And I'd love to connect with more runners to keep me motivated, learn new things, and just make new friends!

And since I love running so much, I just want to talk about it!

First for fitness:
- Reach pre-Marie weight (give or take 5lbs bc I'll still be nursing) by my birthday (April 22)
- Be able to lose/maintain without constant calorie counting
- Save for and purchase space-saving weights and chalean videos

Running
- Speed training
- Half marathon in June under 2 hours
- 500 miles by December 31

I received Run Like A Mother for Christmas from my MIL (she does an excellent job of keeping my library stocked!)...

and am loving it! I highly recommend it for new, seasoned, and in-betweener runners. If you know me on Facebook, you've seen lots of quotes from this book. It's motivational and entertaining. Read it!

Do you have any running goals for this year? I'd love to hear them! And I always love a little competition ;)

Pennsylvania hills in the snow don't scare me! Well, at least this one didn't.

30 Days of Thanksgiving {Day 4}

Thank You, Jesus, for my BRF.

No, our running technique is not this bad! We're just horrible actors.

I have this amazing friend who has challenged me not only in running and eating healthy, but also spiritually. I am so blessed to have this dear, godly friend living right next door!

Thank you for choosing Conor Ct, Alysha! I don't know how I survived without you. I'm so grateful you are in my life. Love you!

Source: thingsaboutgirlfriends.tumblr.com via Catie on Pinterest

Um... oops.

As way more of you than should probably know... I had a rough week last week. And I did a great job of whining and complaining about it. I also did a horrendous job of keeping up with the challenge.

Oops.

Here's the problem... when I'm down, I eat. When I'm stressed, I eat. When I'm tired, I eat. I even realized in the past couple days, when I'm happy, I eat! I like to eat.

The point is, while I was having the worst labor day weekend in my memory, I could not wait for bed time when the house was finally quiet and I could turn on some netflix and browse pinterest and eat. Specifically animal crackers and mountain dew. I found comfort in those things.

Oops.

Well, finally Derek got home and different discipline ideas I tried with Marie were working and I was feeling better. So I finally looked at what the challenge was for the week and began working on my verse. And whatdyaknow, I could have used this verse days before!

Oops.

... Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light...

Thank You, Lord.

Now it is almost Wednesday of week 3 and I just looked at what the challenges are.

Oops.

Week 3 - September 8-15

• Light arm work
• One soda a week
• No food after 9pm

Memory Verse: "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him." Psalm 28:7

Thankfully we just ran out of soda. I'm excited to get some arm work in. I totally forgot that was this week. As for the no food after 9pm... that's gonna be a lot harder than I thought it would be! If I really wanna lose this pesky weight, I just gotta do it! But man, even these simple challenges are so much harder than I thought they'd be!

Source: atalante.co via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

On to much happier things... yesterday (one day short of five weeks after my entire abdomen was sliced open and my sweet Kempy was yanked free) I went for a jog! Not only did it feel great, it was so easy that we (my BRF and I) did the first two days of Ease into 5k. And tonight we totally skipped week 2 and did the first day of week 3. And I still feel great!!

I was so afraid that I would be all the way back at the beginning... before I became a real runner. When I hated every minute of it. 

But no, as soon as we started jogging, I was overwhelmed with excitement and joy!

I'm still a runner. And I have the goal of attempting that beloved 4-miler next week!

So just be prepared... many running posts will likely follow. :)

Source: nice-pictures.info via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

Mile 4

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There's something about mile 4.

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You've completed C25K. One mile is pretty much easy. Two miles is not bad. Three miles is no longer daunting. But four…

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And at this point you still kinda hate running. You love that you've accomplished the training and maybe you've run that 5k race, but you still pretty much hate every minute you're pounding pavement.

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Maybe this is not you. Maybe you loved running that first ding on your C25K app. Or you thought you loved running that early on. But you haven't completed mile 4.

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There's something about mile 4.

You lace up your shoes (or pull on your Vibrams!) and head out the door for that very first 4 mile run. You're a little nervous, unsure, kinda intimidated, and actually quite excited, though you are not ready to admit it.

One mile. Okay.

Two miles. Halfway. Hallelujah.

Three miles. WALL.

But don't stop there. That wall is not real. Keep pushing through it. You're on mile 4…

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It might take a couple minutes. Maybe even most of mile 4 but then it's suddenly there. That door between the first 3 miles you forced yourself through and probably hated every minute of, and Mile 4 where runners live.

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Real runners. Runners who love to run. Runners who run just to run.

This is where running becomes more than just something you do but becomes part of who you are.

When you've finished that mile 4, you will have crossed over to a world that will change you forever. The world of running. The world of being a runner.

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You will stagger in the door laughing. You'll find yourself thinking (or even shouting!)...

I can't wait to hit mile 5... 6... 13... 26...

I love to run.

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Several miles into your future you'll still be nostalgic about that first 4 miles. You'll remember the very spot you slammed head first into an invisible wall but somehow managed to crash through. You'll find yourself taking that same route for your just-for-fun runs or when you need a quick get-away. It'll become one of those "firsts" that you love to reminisce about and you write about in your journal.

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There's something about mile 4. It is the gateway into hundreds, thousands of miles ahead.

Welcome to our world, fellow runner. 



Which mile was your mile 4??