We're a lot of things but mostly we're a good time

Have you heard about the Taylor Bridge fire?

The fire broke out on August 13th and burned over 23,000 acres and destroyed over 60 homes.  It took over 16 days to contain and over 1,000 firefighters. (be still my heart)

A few weeks ago my friend Jessica linked to a fun run fundraiser for the Red Cross, with donations going to those affected by the Taylor Bridge fire.

I signed myself up and told Amber we should do it together.

In our prom dresses.

She agreed.  Signed up.  And for the last couple of weeks we've had banter back and forth on FB or texting talking about this 5K (3ish miles) that we'd be doing in our prom dresses.  We've had friends comment, some disbelieving we'd really do it, laughing with and at us.  We've had friends not comment at all, believing - with eyes rolled - that we would.

It's best to not doubt our ridiculousness.

It knows no bounds.

Saturday morning I woke at 5 with a bit of anxiety.  The anxiety wasn't over the running of three miles in a prom dress, it was over wondering what people were thinking of us.

I woke Josh up and asked him if we were stupid.  Like, stupid stupid.  (I know we're silly stupid)

He says, "no, you guys are fun.  And you're putting the fun in fundraiser."

I laid back down and thought a lot about it.  About what you might be thinking of me.  Of us.  And our silly prom dresses.

It ends with me not caring.

But it started this way:

You might think us irresponsible.  But does irresponsible work 40+ hours per week to raise two kids on your own?  Because that's what Amber does.  Does irresponsible homeschool and keep house for a family of four?  Because that's what I do.

If so, yes, we're irresponsible.

You might be thinking we're 32 and need to grow up.

To that I say, see above.  We're grown ups.  We're just really fun grown ups.  There's so much seriousness to our lives.  There's drama we'd rather not have.  There's junk we'd rather not be dealing with.  So if we have the opportunity bring some excitement, silliness and fun to it - you bet we're gonna do that.

After seeing our dresses (they're strapless) many people were concerned how we'd run without the dresses falling down.  Do you really think we'd run with dresses falling off?  C'mon.  Give us a little credit.  I had joked that we were finally going to be famous if those dresses came down.  Fully knowing they were not going to fall down (and that my fame will have to come another way, dang it).  Rest assured, the dresses kept us covered at all times.  Much to some people's relief and other's disappointment.

Life is too short to take everything too seriously.

Loosen up.

Have some fun.

Do something silly out of your comfort zone.

Like run 3 miles in a prom dress for a fundraiser.

We like to have fun.  We like to be silly.  We like to make other people laugh.

So laugh with or at us all you want.

Just don't be judgey.  

5K Round 2

Remember last year about this time I was an idiot and decided to run my first 5K in over 14 years?

So that was me last year before my 5K.  I ran a 31:20.

A few days before this year's race I decided heck, why not?  I haven't run on my still-hurts-cramps-but-working-ankle since October but hey, let's try it out.  Let's try running three miles and see if thee ol' ankle will hold up.

I signed up.  And Josh said he'd run too.

Here we is:

Lucky Number 69 

I ran a 28:55 this year.  Beating last year's time by 2 and a half minutes.  Good but not what I'd had in mind.  Josh says my goal was a little extreme for not having run in six months but whatev.

It was fun to go out and do it again.  I wasn't nervous this time at all.  And it was cool to run with Josh.  Even though the punk coulda run another 5 miles without thinking anything of it.

He says when we're done, "I was watching this other couple run together and they looked like they were having fun.  I don't think you were having fun."

I wasn't.  I realized something while I was running.  I don't really like it.  Go figure.  I would have rather been on my bike for sure.  But I needed to prove to myself that since March of last year my body was in better condition and could move faster.

I proved it to myself.

And now I never have to run again.

Amen.

Mission Accomplished

6 months.

Countless hours at the gym.

Countless trips to Starbucks and McDonald's.

About 400 miles on my bike.

And I have reached the goal weight I set back at the end of January.

I went from 153 down to 125.  From a size 12 to a size 6.

28 lbs. lost.

I'm happy.

Going to the yoga classes has definitely been the best thing for me.  The flexibility and strength I've gained is amazing to me.  When I first started and we were told to 'Crocodile' which is basically holding yourself in a lowered push-up position I couldn't even lower myself down to the ground.  Now, not only can I lower myself but I can hold myself there - hovering an inch or so above the ground.

I could barely touch my toes - okay, I could barely touch my belly button before I started yoga.  Now, I can bend down and reach my hands underneath my feet.  Seriously.  (I know, a lot of people can already do this, but for someone as inflexible as I was, it's a huge achievement)

My arms are conditioned and strong.  I'm no longer embarrassed to wear shorts; I have ankles!  Who knew?  In fact, for the first time in several years I purchased two pairs.  And I've been wearing them.  I don't have a six pack by any means but when I flex my stomach muscles I can feel 'em easily and it's great.

I can go out and run a few miles or bike 35 and not feel like I'm going to die when I get home.  6 months ago I got winded walking to the refrigerator. ☺ No, seriously.

Six months ago I was embarrassed to go out in public. Now, I'm comfortable with me.  I could definitely lose more weight.  I'm still 10 lbs heavier than I was when I got pregnant with Sugar almost seven years ago.  So, if I get there, I get there.  I'm not going to change anything that I've been doing since January, except to ride my bike more.  My thighs thank me.

And I want to thank:

Josh.  Without his encouragement and the hours watching the girls so I could go to the gym or go running or head out on my bike for 3 hours, I wouldn't be at this point.  Also, he loved me as much at 153 as he does at 125, I'm thankful he's just been there through the darkest times of my life.

Amber.  For convincing me to go to yoga at 6 a.m. which, after we became masters of yoga turned into Body Flow at 7 p.m.  Thank you for the hilariousness and inappropriateness.  We are a good time.  More people should be like us. ☺

Friends.  For texts and emails of encouragement.  Seriously helped me keep on, keepin' on.

YOU! My rockin' blog readers.  For emails, comments left on posts.  You've made me laugh and cry and inspired me to keep trying.

Jessica.  For inspiring me to start running again in the first place. For the texts of encouragement.  For running with me at the 5K and carrying me along the whole way.  (and for the shorts I've yet to return....)  Also, after I finished my 12K she left a comment on my Facebook wall that said, "You're a runner."  That made me so freakin' happy I cried.

It's been six months of hard work.  Dedication and determination I didn't know I had.  Thankful to God for a strong, healthy body and the ability to just get outta bed in the morning.

I'm kinda lovin' life right now.

a very jumbled TMI post about working out

First things, first.

If you're of the male variety - and you know who you are, Mister, it's time to click the little x in the top right.  This post is not for you to read.

Okay, now that we have that settled and only females are reading, here goes.

Working out is embarrassing.  Running is embarrassing.  I super much hated it when I started at the end of January.

Wanna know why?  And remember, I told you this post was TMI.  You were warned.

Okay, so one of the reasons I hated running was because my shorts would creep up my thighs.  You've seen it on women.  Maybe you've seen it on me.  It's not pretty.  But when your thighs rub together, it happens.  So, I'd be out there running and every once in a while I'd be pulling the shorts outta the crotch area.

So.  Attractive.

(seriously, if there's any guy still reading.  GET OUT.)

Then there's the issue of peeing while you run.

Yeah, I said it.

It happens.  It also happens when I ride my bike.  Don't you wish you worked out with me?  I'm a blast!  My shorts ride up my crotch and I pee my pants.  Who wouldn't want to be work out partners with me?!

Seriously, though.  The peeing issue sucks.  I don't know if it's because I've had kids or what the deal is because I do not remember this being an issue when I ran Cross Country in high school (5 trillion years ago).  Occasionally I'll put on a panty liner, other times I just pee my pants.  Good times.

I'm not sure what finally got me to the point that I realized it was just time to get off my butt.  I think I finally realized that my metabolism changed after kids.  It wasn't nearly as easy to have it come off.  I also realized just how sedentary my life is/was.  I didn't move much at all during any given day.

I just went for it.  I took a huge step out of my comfort zone and went into a gym.  I participated in a class and felt like a fool.  I felt like an ass.

And after 3 or 4 times I felt like less of a fool.  I started to feel proud of myself.  'Cause even if I did look like a fool, at least I was there.  At least I was finally doing something other than complain.  And then I set a goal. I set a goal to run a 5K.  3 miles.  Doesn't seem like much to some but for a girl who hadn't run in 15 years, it was a big deal.

So I set the goal.  I made the goal public for accountability.  And then I accomplished it.  I figured after I met my goal I'd probably quit running.  I did.  For almost four weeks.  I still kept at the gym but I stopped running for awhile.  But I eventually got back into it and once I hit the road instead of the treadmill, it almost got addicting.

I've added in bike riding.

When I first started the bike, it was the one at the gym.  When I'd look down my tummy hung over my pants so much that I couldn't see my crotch.  (TMI!) and tonight while I was on the bike at the gym, I looked down and there it was!

4 months ago I should have measured myself, I almost did.  Honestly, though, I didn't think I'd stick with this. So I didn't want to know my measurements.  I wish I had.  I know I've lost several inches everywhere.  I've gone from a size 12 or 14 (depending on brand) to an 8 or 10.  The smallest jeans I own are now loose in my thighs (one of the main areas of my body that I LOATHE) so I'm feeling a little better there.  My love handles are going away but are definitely still there.

My tummy?  Oh, my tummy.  I still look like I just gave birth a few weeks ago so let's not even go there.  It's amazing what a shirt can hide.  So please, even if you feel compelled the next time you see me, don't lift my shirt, k?

Glad we got that settled.

I had planned to run Bloomsday.  A 12K.  7.5 miles.  I ended up not.  I bailed.  And I felt like a failure.  Then I had the opportunity on Saturday to run a 12K.  Though I didn't know it was a 12K.  I thought it was *just* six miles.  I hadn't run in almost four weeks but I went for it.

I'm still not sure why.

I'm so glad I did though.  Running those 7.5 miles without walking made me realize something.

I'm stronger than I've ever given myself credit for.  I can do more than I thought possible.

And if I can do it, anyone can.

It takes getting out of the comfort zone.  It takes believing in yourself just a tiny bit and rejecting any lies you normally let yourself believe.  It takes guts.

It takes balls.

And even if you don't believe you can do it, I believe you can.

Race Results

I finished!

I was a mess of nerves the night before and the day of.  Almost to the point of being in a bad mood.

i ended up putting pants on cuz i was cold & totally regretted it

We got there early (it's how I roll) and while waiting for the 5K to start (a kid race and a 10K started first) I ended up having to pee (excellent timing).  I'm a big fan of porta potties.  (for real, would rather use one of those than a plastic bag or public restroom anyday.)

Anyway, so on my way back from using the outhouse I'm trying to find Candee.  It didn't work.  What did work is that my friend, Jessica, found me.

Jessica.  The girl who a few months ago started her own training.  But for a way bigger race.  A half marathon.  We chatted for a sec and she asked what my goal was.  I told her the same thing I told you guys.  But somehow she knows me and says, "but what's your real goal?"

as if.

I never thought I could make a 34 minute 5K.  But I still wanted a 30-31 minute 5K.

So, I told her the truth.  I'd love 30 minutes.

She's on the injured list and needed to run slower.  I'm on the short bus list and needed someone to push me.

She offered.

What I love about this is that it was her who got me pumped to start running again and it was her who pushed my ass all through the race.  (sorry, I said ass.)

But it's true.  We ran side by side for awhile but she was ahead of me throughout the race.  I wanted to keep up so I busted my butt.  If not for her inspiration, I seriously would never have started jogging six weeks ago.

For the most part the course was flat.  Which is good for a wimp like me.  But during my Cross Country days I loved the hills.  They made me work harder for some reason.  At the end of the course, to hit the finish line of this race there was a hill.  The only one in the race and it's right at the finish line.

I decided to kick it in, the way I used to do 14 years ago.  But this time I didn't have much left in me to kick in.  I was spent.  I had one girl I wanted to pass at the end but it just didn't happen.

That's okay.  I finished.

And I finished with a time of 31:20.

{more} ramblings from the nervous chick

I posted a status to FB awhile ago saying that I hope Jesus comes back today so I don't have to run the race tomorrow.

I'm starting to get pretty nervous.  Okay, I'm pretty much FUH-REAKING out.  It hasn't been pretty.  When nerves set in on this girl...watch out!

I drove down to the place where the race will start and finish.  It starts at 10 so if I'm there at 7, that should be good, right?  Okay, I won't really be that early but prolly pretty close.

I'm so ready for this to be done and over with.  Mostly because I want the green beer at the end and so I never ever have to run again if I don't want to.

I didn't get home until midnight last night (this morning?) and Josh and I stayed up talking for awhile and it seemed like as soon as I fell asleep the girls were waking up.

Oh, probably because they got up at FIVE!  Who does that?!  Argh.  It was ugly.  So, the four of us were crammed into our bed.  The girls giggling and me growling.  Next time I'm just headed up to Sugar's bed.

I know I posted my goal for the race but can we pretend I didn't?

Mostly, I realized, I just want to finish.

Starbucks drive-thru play by play

I'm sitting in Starbucks.

Earbuds in.  Pandora playing.  Lady Antebellum if you're curious.

Venti iced hazelnut breve at my side.  (it was free so why not get the big guy, right?)

I am, of course, sitting by the window so I can stare at everyone who goes through the drive-thru.

People watch.  It's what I do.

A short haired blonde woman with two blonde haired children just left the drive-thru driving a Honda Odyssey.  She probably grabbed herself a cup of coffee to get through the evening madness.

At least that's what I do on occasion.

I can handle morning time fairly well, evenings can be a whole other story.  Everyone is tired and cranky and ready for the day to be over.  Yet there are still so many hours left of the day and they include dinner prep and baths and being social with one another when really, we've already used up all our words for the day about two hours ago.

Or, maybe she was grabbing a cup of coffee before they head out on a road trip.  That's always my fave.  I love me a good road trip.  And a coffee in hand makes it that much more delightful.

Anyway, I'm at Starbucks all by my lonesome.  It's a treat.

I just picked up my number and chip for Saturday's race.  I'm number 71.  There are over 600 people registered online.  I'm trying not to freak out.  It's not working very well at all.  I asked if they had a course map.  Nope.  Okay, well since I'll be in back I'll just follow everyone else.

We now have a little red beat up Honda Civic in the drive-thru.  And I totally didn't expect the driver to be a woman in her mid 40's.  But it was.

Pandora is now playing some Kenny Chesney.

Drive thru just sported another Honda Odyssey.  Three Hondas since I started this post.

The wind is crazy today.  I posted on Twitter that I was thankful I'm chubby otherwise the wind mighta knocked me over.

Being chubby has its perks I s'pose.

You also don't have to iron since you just fill out all the wrinkles in your clothes!

2 pts for chubbies!

Can you tell I'm absolutely bored and don't know what to do with myself?  So I just ramble.

Oh man, now it's Jerrod Niemann's Lover Lover on Pandora!  Life is good.  And I'm totally rocking out in Starbucks.  I look like I'm crazy.

We now have a blue Pontiac in the drive-thru.  Can't see the driver yet but I'm going to guess male.

I was so wrong.

18ish year old perky blonde girl.

While I was on the treadmill today Spice decided to mess with my laptop.  The little turd somehow disabled my touchpad.  I had no clue how to fix 'er.  So, all day I was having to use a mouse which I'm now out of the habit of using.

Finally got the brains to Google "enable touchpad" and BAM! She's all fixed now.  I was pretty proud of myself.

We now have a Dodge Durango in the drive-thru.  Guessing it's a guy...

And we have Gary Allan on Pandora.

Are you loving the play by play or totally bored like I am?

I honestly can't tell you if the driver was a man or woman.  I hope people don't ever think that about me.

Okay, I'm through rambling.  You don't need to thank me.

My Goal in Black and White

I said last week that I'd post my goal for Saturday's 5K.

I don't want to post my goal.

I want to throw out some really high number that I know I can beat.

But I'm just going to do it.  I'm going to write it.  Here.  And I'm going to pray like crazy that I'm under it.

I'm embarrassed even to say what it is because it seems sooo slow.

Oh well.

Here goes.

34 minutes and 36 seconds.  Because adding those numbers comes to 7.

And I'm freaky when it comes to numbers.  (among other things I'm freaky about but that's what the last 4.5 years of blog material has already told you about me.)

So.

There it is.  34 minutes.  36 seconds.

Here goes nothin'.

an update on the whole race and weight loss endeavor and a bunch of parenthesis

owie.

oh.

owie.

Amber someone had a brilliant idea to do a different class than our normal yoga. So we went last night.  (she's been before) and I got my butt kicked.

I'd say I got my ass kicked but that might offend some.  So I'll just say I got my butt kicked.

It's called Body Flow.  Sounds easy enough, right?

WRONG.

Oh.my.word.

By the end of class I was a sweaty, nauseated mess.  My abs hurt, my arms hurt, my legs hurt and if I still had my appendix it would probably have hurt, too.

I left class trying to come up with other exercises that could work all those other muscles that would be a little more enjoyable and less killer.  I thought of one and well, this blog is mostly rated PG. 

And we should keep it that way.

(I know, what's happened to me.  I swear and elude to *ahem* references in a blog post, you'd think I was drinking something stronger than Folgers.)

(kinda wish I were, even if it is 8:07 am)

My race is next Saturday.  Not this Saturday.  The next one.  The 12th.

The day my favorite 11 year old niece turns 12.

(Happy Birthday, S.  I'll give you my last place trophy!)  (I'll do anything for my nieces.)

Anywho, back to the race.  It's coming up.  I want to vomit just thinking about it.  Josh keeps telling me it's only 3 miles.  I'm totally aware, dude.  But the last time I ran three consecutive miles I was 17, 105 lbs and only lugged around a B cup.  (sorry male readers).  I'm 30, 142 lbs (eeeeek) and a newly reduced C cup.  I gots me a whole lot more to carry now.

These three miles.

They might be the end of me.

I'm not going to post my race goal just yet.  Next week at this time, I will. 

The weight loss has been slow and steady.  I like it.  I started out nearly 5 weeks ago weighing 153.  (seriously, I'm posting this for the world, what is in this coffee??) I'm down 11 lbs as of Friday.  11 lbs results in 1 cup size, 1 pant size and a little less in the love handle department.

I have 17 lbs to go for my goal weight of 125.  At this point I'm not going to say I'd like to be pre-pregnancy weight.  I don't know if it's possible and I think 125 will be great.

And I shall now end this really rambly post.  Apparently I talk a lot when I've been up since 4:45 and have a cup of Folgers in me.

Picture Cute Spandexy Shirt without the actual picture

I bought a cute, new workout shirt.

The husband was with me when I tried it on.  He really liked it and encouraged I buy it.

So I did.

This morning I decided to wear it for the first time for my treadmill time.  Thought I'd take a picture of my its cuteness to show you.

Um, yeah.

I will never be allowed to wear this shirt in public.  Why on earth the man thought this shirt was a good idea is beyond me.  And why I couldn't tell in the mirror that it doesn't belong in public is beyond me too.  In the mirror, it looks fine.

But take a picture of her cute black and hot pinkness and well, it's uh, not appropriate.  Such a bummer.

She's cute.  She helped me run faster.  (kinda like when yer a kid and you get new shoes and you can jump higher and run faster.)

Josh has set a goal for my race.  The dork (I say that lovingly) thinks I can run 'er in 30 minutes.  That's a 10 minute mile.  I'm having him tested for drug use today.

I got on the treadmill and set the pace for a 12 minute mile.  That's 5 mph.  I was able to do one mile at that speed before I wanted to vomit up my Folgers.  It's progress.  I'm trying to remember that.

Now I just need to find a cute, spandexy shirt that is appropriate to wear in public so I can run that 5k in 30 minutes.

T Minus 22 days

That's when the 5K is.  22 DAYS.  As in, 3 weeks plus one day.

Who am I kidding?  I'm not sure I can do this.  I'm freaking out.

My goal is to be running 5-6 miles per day here real quick like so that when the race comes 3 miles seems like nuttin.

I still need to get out on actual pavement soon.  I have shin splints somethin' fierce (war wounds of my high school Cross Country days) so I'm a little nervous to hit road.  My treadmill is so easy on my shins and knees but it's not reality.

There's a girl from high school and a friend of my dad's running. They asked if I'd like to run with them. hahahahahahaha. Uh, no. Someone has to pick up my the rear of the race and that chick is going to be me.


It was so nice of Holli to offer but they'll be finished with the race before I even have my shoes tied.