10 races in!!

I crossed a milestone this morning! I have now officially ran 9 5k's and 1 10k race! Since April I might add. That's an average of 2 races per month!! This one was extra special, as it benefited Niagara Hospice. They took such amazing care of us and my step father when he passed quickly from cancer 2 years ago. He is missed dearly everyday. 

SO I finished in 38:45 - which isn't a PR, BUT after BARLEY running for the past 6 weeks, I was pretty impressed when I turned that corner and saw 38 on the time clock! It was a nice course, that ran through 4 mile state park, in Youngstown, NY. It was nice to run by the all the families camping for the weekend and cheering you on. My heel is a bit sore after, but not unbearable. My mom actually walked the race with a good family friend of ours and both won medals for their age group! Mom finished in 57 something and karen in 1 hr 3 mins! Congrats to both of them too. We didn't get pictures (bummer) the best part of the whole thing was Colin (my 3 year old) running up and grabbing my hand just before the finish line and running with me. He was so cute and SO excited to run with mommy!! 

Tomorrow is yet another busy day. Apple picking with friends!! Ready for some fall fun! 

Another Run in

Skipped the rest of week 5 yesterday and moved right into week 6 day 1. It consists of


1 5 min run
walk
1 8 min run
walk
1 5 run
The first did I did w/o much problem, the second 5 min really killed me. I really think I need to redo the course I take, it's all uphill the last part, and I know that plays a huge factor in why I had trouble with the last part. Trying to find a route however near me that isn't uphill is hard to do! On top of running 2.5+ miles yesterday, I got a decent strenght training session in as well.
I am loving this fall weather and hoping to get a good run in tonight as well. I am hoping this has me back on track! I am feel ing better just thinking about doing it. I've been tracking my food today as well, which is something that I havent done in a few months. I am hoping this is the push I need to see results. I am actually looking forward to weigh in on wed!

Back to Basics

Starting over again. Back to simplicity. Yesterday I RAN. It's been just about 4 weeks since I've ran, and hurt my heel. I wanted to give it some time to heal, and while doing so, built up this horrible mental block,, that I just could NOT get past. It was killing me. So much so, that I figured if I can't run, why bother doing anything? THEN I noticed I was giving into EVERY craving I possibly could. I kept saying if I am not working out, why bother eating right (yea, I know dumb, dumb). THEN we went camping last weekend. We got home from camping and I weighed in at 250 WTF????? When we left for Colorado a month ago i was at 237!!!. Well on Offical weigh in day, I was at 242.4, which was only a 2 lb gain while on the camping trip. NOt too bad, and I am sure alot of water retention. And I was dehydrated. SO.. 3 days this week, Sitting at work I get all this motovation to go run. I know I need to just GO! Well, I can't when I sitting at work. So 5 hours later, I get the kids, make dinner, transport to cheer, go though school paperwork, get bathes done, bedtime done, it's now 9:30pm. Yep, no run for me. Nor do I want to go to the gym that late. So what do I do? Yep, sit there with a huge bowl of ice cream and wallow in my own pity. *sigh*

Yesterday I had enough. I NEED to do something. I've been lucky that in the month that I haven't been doing much that I only gained 5 lbs. But I know that 5 will turn into 25 very easily. It was a perfect evening. Got the kids, made dinner, ate, and handed over the kids to hubby and left. Got my running gear on, grabed my Ipod and went directly to the C25K program. What better way to get back into the swing of things. I jumped right in at Week 5 day 1. (3) 5 minute runs seperate by (2) 3 mintue walks. It was perfect. The one was patheticly easy. The second was hard, but I did it. The last was a killer, but I pushed and kept on going. I ended up coving 2.48 miles in the 34 mintues that I was gone. I was impressed. I am going to continue to use the C25K program until I am more comfortable out there again.I am determinded to get past this mental block. Having someone telling me what to do will hopefully help that. I didn't have any heel pain while I was running, but had some later that night and a ton this morning, Nothing that some motrin wasn't able to help me with. I'll live. I can walk, thats how I judge it. So this is my back to basics plan.
I will contiue to run at least 3x's per week, if not every other day.
I will start tracking my goals again.
I will start tracking my food again
I will start tracking my fitness again.
And the most important I will be mentally ready to run this race on the 25th and kick some butt for cancer and Hospice! I have a goal to work towards and darn it, I am going to do it!

Give a Way

Ever wanted a fuel belt?? I know I've considered it. Well ~  Running Diva Mom is giving one away HERE - Check it out and enter! I personally would love the Kiwi Green/Black H20 belt! Good Luck!!

Weigh In

So I'll start by saying TOM is visiting. And I didn't try worth of crap to lose weight this week. Seriously I didn't. Sure I've watched what I've ate, but I also gave into each and every craving there was. I've been pretty laxed about my workout's too. It's been HOT here. 90+. I've done the trail a couple of time and I did one day of strength. That is IT. Pathetic I know. I haven't ran in almost 3 weeks, I am still fighting the mental block. However I still managed to lose 1lb! What the heck is up with that?? I am super thrilled to be back to 240, but quite suprised since I was all preped to see a 243 on that scale today.
I can't figure out what is going on with me. Maybe becuase I really can't even remember the last time I was smaller then 237, so my mind is content to stay where I am at? I am proud to have lost 30 lbs so I don't feel like I need to push anymore? I dont' know, but I don't know what has got me to this point where I am so stuck and lacking motovation. I need to get back to basics. I know ALOT of it has to do with how busy our schedule got the month of August. No I not using that as an excuse, but has become near impossible to make it to the gym during the week and working out at home at 9 at night, well personally I'd reather sleep! So yea, not doing so hot. I am glad I lost that one lb. I have no idea what I did to deserve it though. I have the SPARK book. I am going to go back to reading it. I am determinded in Sept to get my A$$ back in gear. To do good again and lose a good 3 lbs by the end of the month. And RUN darn it! Break the mental block Kym. I will, I just need to DO IT! My next race is the 25th and darn it, I will run at least 6 times before then. It's a small goal, but you know what I am going to make it a spark streak so I hold my self accouintable. It's what i need to push the block away!
In other news, we are going on a family camping trip this coming weekend! 3 days! We've NEVER taken the kids camping ever. I am excited and nervous about how it will turn out, but super excited at all the activies that are planned too!

Better Day Today

Morning!! (on my way to work this morning)

So after feeling so horrible yesterday, after hubby got home from work, I lugged my bike into the back seat of the van and took off to a new bike trail about 5 miles from my house. This trail has been in the works for 10 yes, 10 years now and just opened 2 months ago. It runs through the woods in the deep suburbs by us and you can spot tons of wildlife at times. A friend of mine has seen 3 turkeys and our fox friend already (we have quite a few fox around). The kids were INSANE yesterday, like someone gave them an IV of red dye, so I was thankful to get the heck out of there!
I wasn't able to do the whole trail, since it was 7:20 when I arrived, and I was alone, I didn't want to ride after dark. It's scary even if you are close to home and know the area. The path is 4 miles long one way, and I decided I would ride to the 2.5 mile mark then turn around to get a good 5 mile ride in. I did just that,stopping a few times for pictures and water breaks and made it back to my car at 7:53, just as it was starting to get dark. It was so calming and relaxing and it was a perfect, not humid evening. The trail turns out is RIGHT around the block from where Courtneys cheer practice is. I could hear the girls yelling from where my car was parked (courtney didn't have practice last night, but other teams did) SO on the nights that hubby is home when it's time to leave for practice (which are FEW) I am going to drop her off, go run/walk or ride the trail and be done in time to get her 2 hours later. It will be so much easier then driving 20 mins to the gym and being stuck inside when our summer months are already so short.

My original goal, as I mentioned yestrerday was to run. For some reason, I am having a running mental block. I am scared. What is UP with that??? I think it's becuase I am SO afarid of hurting my heel more and not being able to walk after that I am blocking the running from happening. I need to work through this. I know I can and will, but mental blocks are MUCH harder to climb then pysical ones sometimes. Yes my heel is healing (LOL) but still have some problems with it. I can't soley bear any weight on just that foot w/o pain. Trying to balance in the shower on just that foot to shave the opposite leg is hard, and I feel the pain a ton then. I am going to have to go the pharmacy and see if they have any type of braces for your heels (???) that I can wear for the extra support.

Here are some trail pictures. Cell phone camera of course, so they are blurry.

When I got home yesterday, I thought I would do some shopping in my closet to see what bottoms were fitting. I was able to get into a pair of 22 jeans that I haven't fit into in 2 years. They are a wide leg and I love them! I am wearning them today.... Hang on I'll go get a picture.

Ok, so while trying on pants, I can't understand why clothes fit SO different. Why I button up a size 18 but not a 22?? Seriously yes, I was able to ZIPPER and BUTTON my goal jeans (Thanks BECKY!!) However there is NO way I could wear them in public yet, I had about 20 lbs of fat hanging over the top of them, but hey I zippered em right?? But yet a pair of black curdoury pants in a 22 I couldn't even get to BUTTON let a long ZIP! Geez! I am excited to eventually get into a 20 and 18, because I have SO many jeans in these sizes. I was an 18/20 forever until 3 years ago when I ballooned to where I am/was 8 months ago. I am slowly surely making my way there. Yes I've lost 30 lbs. But not much of that was from my waist belly area. Figures huh???
Ok, enough for now. Happy Hump day

Weigh In

Yet another gain. It is what it is. It's a small one, only about 4-5 ounces, but I am doing it to myself. I can't figure out why i can't get myself back into this. Is it really THAT easy to fall out of habit and things you know you really enjoy?? Seriously?
This time of year is just a challange in itself for me. It's getting close to back to school time. We have cheer practice every night from 6-8 (I get home from work at 5:15) and my hubby typicaly works long days and doens't get home until 7 or later. This makes it very hard to get the gym (my guys with sensory issues don't handle the day care part of the gym, or I'd take them with) once things get settled down it's after 9- the gym is open until 10:30, and once upon a time that is when I went. NOW I can't bring myself to do that when at 9pm all i really want to do is sleep!! I haven't ran since the race after vacation and my heal injury, which is still acting up. I did get to do some ST last night and minor cardio, but had to really PUSH to finish it. To get back on track, I know I need to start running again. It's what I really enjoy doing the most (outside of strength) and gives me my time alone. I am going back to basics. I am going to go back to the C25K program. start around week 4. I know I dont' HAVE to do this. I've run 9 races in 5 months time. BUT i feel like I need to start back up slow and really baby this heel of mine. My next race isn't until 09/25, and although I keep thinking I need to pick up one here and there, I am not going to. I am going to use my program, use the tools I've found over this 8 month journey and work my hardest. I am going to get past this. If it takes a month, fine. If It takes a week fine. I just know that I've come this far, and I can keep going. I WILL keep going. Just need to get back to the basics