Running Thoughts

sorry to be MIA... I am visiting family for about a week.  Not getting to run...  :( BUT...I got a kettlebell from my SIL for Christmas!!! Merry Christmas! I'll be back at the exercise game soon!  

Yay! We finally have enough snow for sledding...my favorite high intensity intervals! I ran 6 HiiTs up the steeeeep hill, through the snow with fantastic sled-rides down to catch my breath in between! Good for the mind, body, and soul! The very best part: it involves my kids! Such a great day. We'll sleep well tonight!

maybe tomorrow I'll eat clean!  I'm having trouble remembering to eat often..maybe I'll set my watch and actually wear it. I did 2 sets of weights today.  The plan was 3 sets but I was done with 2.  I hope I feel it tomorrow!  I decided to move run days to MWF and lifting to TThS this week.  My thought was that I would like to have my long run on Monday when my oldest is home (have I mentioned that  our school is in session Tu through Fr, with a 3 day weekend every week?  and how much I love that?) and after my hubby has left (yet again) for the week.  That way, I don't miss any time with him while he is (seldom) home and I can choose the time of day to run based on when the sun is out because my daughter is here to stay with the boys.  Anyhoo, it's a good theory that I wish I'd thought of earlier because after Dec 31, hubby is job hunting, so not so much travel.  And we are leaving for a couple of weeks to go to visit grandparents and friends during the Christm...

Little reasons I prefer running outside rather than inside on the treadmill... "Move away (huff, puff) from your sister."  "Don't torment (puff, puff) your brother."  "Tablet is spelled (huff, huff) T-huff-A-puff-B..."  You get the idea. Other than that, my run was good.  Nike.com is messed up right now, so please reassure my poor little nike mini that I did run...3 miles.

I got my lebert equalizer today...

Some cool freebies I found: www.womensadventuremagazine.com On the left margin are some great give-aways to sign up for...check 'em out! Sara came over for our great whole body workout.  We are cooking up a New Year's Challenge...any ideas?  We have a few.  Also, I'm thinking of changing up my blog for the new year to keep me on my toes and blogging daily, so watch for that.   Done with your Christmas shopping?  How about something to spice up your exercise a bit and get yourself motivated??   Skirtsports is sporting a sale...$12 running skirts!!  Can you believe it?  Or some kettlebells ?  Or this that I ordered for myself!?  I'm hoping for this ....  How about you?  Any fitness wishes on your wishlist?

The chill stung my throat as I listened to the whisper of my favorite running shoes making their way through the snow. I could hear the music from my ipod like a little nudge in my left ear. My other ear, though, was listening intently to the silence around me. The silence of winter in my little town. The mountains towering above and around me spoke of ages past in tiny visual voices only the eyes could hear. The snowflakes that glittered in the air, finally finding their place on my skin, told me sparkling secrets of silence. I knew as I listened that all of the nothing that I could hear was all of the something that I love about running in Winter. As I licked the ice-tasty snowflakes from my lips, a clump of snow fell from a tree with the startling sound of a soft landing, and as though a gunshot had pierced my reverie, I became once again aware that it was time to head home. Today's 2 miles was a peaceful reminder of why.

Didn't run yesterday, but hiked for about an hour through deep snow in search of the perfect Christmas tree.  Found it!  I tried to post a pic, but it didn't work! Today was a lifting day.  I'm really liking my new lifting routine.  It involves multiple joint exercises and focuses on the core and whole body.  Not isolated moves.  I'm always slightly sore afterward, and that feels like progress!  You've gotta try this!  wow.  I'm only up to the slower ones in the beginning.  I'm checking out bodyweightculture.com too...interesting.

Today was a run "If I choose to run" sort of day.  I had told myself that I would only run today if I just couldn't stop myself or found myself with nothing do but jump on the treadmill (like that could ever happen!). It was a cold run, but really fun with my golden retriever, Banjo, loping along easily as my companion.  We went 2 miles. It's interesting when I give myself permission to skip a workout, that I find myself chomping at the bit to fit it into my day.  I realize on days like today that I don't have to beat myself up for not running/working out or make it a LAW that it be done...I just have to allow myself to skip it.  To really give myself a truthful option to "not."  Then, I realize how important it is to me.  I actually have learned this over time from my autistic son.  I always allow myself not to work with him in his playroom, to truly have the choice.  Of course, when choosing, I choose what is important to me.  Now, there are times when...

commitment big word.  I was thinking back to when I began this fitness journey and realizing that it took that big word in a big way.  I didn't just fall into a routine willingly or instantly love the pain of exercise.  I didn't immediately think, "ah!  running and lifting weights...now that's where life is at its best."  I made the decision to do this whether I got it right or not.  whether I loved it or not.  whether or not I wanted to.   commitment

For a treadmill, mine is pretty ok.  I don't know why, but I'd rather run 5 miles outside than 2 inside, but run 2 on the tready, I did.  (sort of a yoda sentence that is) I am even slower on the treadmill.  maybe because it's monotonous to me.  I had thought I'd maybe be faster after training and running the Half, but not so!  I'm slower than ever, but i'm having fun.  Tomorrow is lifting day--hooray for that too! I ordered this .  cool,huh?  ya want one, dontcha?

Back in the grooooove!  I took a little break during the holidays and while hubby was home with a few days off.  I can't remember where I left off with journaling my workouts, so I'll start over with today!! Getting back into the groove can be harder sometimes.  Sometimes it's just so easy to take a break and then get right back in, but not this time.  I'm not sure why, but I do know that I told myself I was tired and the weather was too cold (I have all I need to workout INSIDE my house), so what is the big fat deal??  So, I went with what I know...I just have to do it and stop accepting my own excuses.  After all, Ruth is sticking with it and she has had real REASONS for not working out, wanting to and not getting to.  So, decided to want to.  I had a great lifting workout with Sara today and plan to run tomorrow.  Back ON!  And excited about it.  I knew I would be!