Roll With It

my new personal trainer post run

At the last minute, I decided to put my 4 year old son in the jogging stroller and take him with me to get some miles in.  Sounds simple enough, but I haven't run with the stroller in over a year and he is not a small 4 year old.  It turned out to be nothing like that run I had planned for the day (I was hoping for 4-6 miles solo), but it was a great 2 and half miles.  You have to love the fact that kids his age have no filter.  As we started running he asked me. "Mommy, are you running yet? You need to run fast!"  Sorry, honey. This is as fast as your mommy goes. After we finished the first slow and steady mile, I decided to add some entertainment for him and run some intervals.  He LOVED going faster and I got my heart rate up.  We took a potentially boring run and put a spin on it.  I may have to do more training with him because he was very excited to race on the middle school track by our house, but he didn't have his running shoes on.  I think next time we may run up some big hills to get coffee and a donut or do a neighborhood 5k with a stop at the post office.  That's how we roll. :)

Well, my resolution to blog more has not gone as planned and neither has my running this year.  I could list excuses, but the bottom line is lack of motivation.  I think after running two full marathons earlier this year, I was just tired.  Pure and simple.  Life got in the way and I didn't try very hard to change that.  On the up side, my cross training was going great.  I started Bar Method classes and LOVED it!!!  
So, here I am trying to get my running mojo back and trying to stay accountable.  I have races coming up. Time to get training. What do you do when you need a boost in your running?  I would love to hear some creative motivators!  In the meantime, here is a list of what I'm training for so it is public and I cannot slack. :)

• A destination race with my running BFF: Detroit Women's Half  9/22/13
• Hometown race: Kansas City Half 10/19/13
• Bass Pro Half: 11/3/13
• And the biggie: St. Jude Marathon this December, one of my Bucket list races AND I am fundraising, too

Clearly I need to get my tush out the door and get running.  I think this sums up my new agenda:

Happy Running!!!

New Year, New Goals.

It's that time of year again.  The commercials for gym memberships and diets are everywhere.  I have decided that resolutions are not for me, but I love setting goals and checking off lists.  So, here is my list of goals for 2013.

1. Run 1000 miles. Hardest part may be keeping track.
2. Track workouts and all miles on dailymile.com
3. Host at least 2 Zumbathon fundraisers 
4. Teach 2-3 Zumba classes a week. 
5. Eat well.  Whole food, real ingrediants. 
6. Get my chapter of Moms RUN this town running!  Or walking.  
7. Become a Lifetime member of Weight Watchers.  
8. Get stronger, work harder, and kick butt!
9. Keep up this blog
10. Enjoy 2013!!

Honestly, my list could be 100 items long.  But these are the big ones.  Have a Healty

 and Happy 2013!

California Here I Come!

A couple weeks ago I signed up for my first marathon: The Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco!  I am still wrapping my brain around the fact that I will be running 26.2 miles in a city know for its hills.  The best part is, I have joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training to get me to the big day.  I will have the support of great trainers and other participants while I work on preparing myself and I know that I will be working hard to support a great cause.  Just yesterday I set up my first big fundraiser at a local restaurant. Next week, I hope to open up my etsy shop (more details to come)!   I know that working to help fund cancer research will keep my going, especially when things get tough and I feel like I can't run anymore.  

My Fundraising Page!

Back on Track!

I have been mentally absent the last few weeks.  My motivation was zilch.  In the process I discovered that blogging is a lot like tracking my food and activity points for WW: I have done nothing on both fronts.  Everyone has days or weeks when their head is not in the game, and I had quite a stretch.  Last Saturday I decided that the funk needed to end.  I want to reach goal sooner, not later and the way I was living was not going to get me there.  Miraculously I had stayed the exact same weight for 3 weeks even though I was WAY off track.  I knew that luck would run out so I gave myself a pep talk and adjusted my attitude.  Then, after I finished my yummy chinese lunch I opened up my fortune cookie and found the following fortune: "Use your abilities at this time to stay focused on your goal.  You will succeed."
I needed to be reminded that I have all the tools I need to get where I need to go.  All of my goals are achievable if I stay focused and keep my head in the game.  Watch out goal weight, here I come!

More testing

I have to share the new cardigan I test knit for Jennifer Dassau aka needlediva on Ravelry.  She always designs patterns that end up teaching me new techniques and push me to tackle some of my knitting fears.  This new sweater, Stolitsa, isn't release yet, but when it is you should get yourself some Malabrigo Twist and knit one up.  I can't wait to cast one the beautiful shawl I am testing for her next.

80 down, 10 to go!

The moment I have been putting off finally happened last Saturday:  I set my official WW goal weight and it is only 10 pounds away.  I feel like I am about to graduate from school, making sure I have completed all the necessary classes and getting nervous about the big day.  I have set my goal a little bit higher than I actually want to end up at to give myself more flexibility, especially when I start some serious marathon training.  I keep hearing that the hard part is keeping it off.  I am ready for the challenge!  I know that I'll be going to meetings, tracking, and setting fitness goals to help me maintain my healthy lifestyle.  In fact, as I lose the last 10 I have a race every weekend in May.  To find races in the Kansas City area to walk or run go to www.mararunning.org. I would love to see some familiar faces at these races:

•  Run for Mercy  4/30 
•  Mother's Day 5k which is really fun on 5/8
•  Run With the Cows on 5/14
•  Weight Watcher's Walk-it 5k on 5/22 
•  Amy Thompson Run/Walk on 5/30