Weekly update (not much happening)

Thanks to those of you who responded to my plea for a sure-fire recipe. I haven't done much cooking in the last few days, but I will be sure to try all the recipe suggestions. And yes, the crock pot cake was from c-jane. After hearing that I am not the only one to end up with a burnt mess, I half suspect that vixen jinxed her recipe to keep the chocolate-y goodness to herself. Evil.

I have been unusually sore over this week, and I'm not sure what that's about, but it's affecting my morale. I still made it to Baby Bootcamp twice this week and have run twice, but I've really had to push myself to get it done. I guess you can't always enjoy exercise - sometimes you just gotta do it. Next week my training program turns to all running. Oh joy. The one bright spot is that I ran without the stroller tonight and it was MUCH easier. I can actually visualize myself running the whole race - and I feel so stupid writing that, after hearing people talk about their marathons last night. Some day I'd like to run the Nike Women's Half Marathon, but I'm going to have to work up to that one. Any race that involves chocolate, pedicures, the all-important race t-shirt AND a Tiffany's necklace at the end has my name written ALL over it! Check it out here: Nike Women's Marathon

So close!

I am just $130 away from my pledge goal for the Komen for the Cure race on October 25. First, thank you to those who have donated. I am grateful for your support of this important cause and of me. I won't let you down - I ran 2 miles yesterday & will continue to train and push myself until I finish running that race!

Next, I am so close to my monetary goal, but would be incredibly grateful for any additional donations. It's NEVER too late to pitch in, and every single dollar helps. I hate grovelling for anything, but would happily walk through a bed of hot coals on my knees for additional donations. Or run 3.2 miles - I think it's going to be just as painful.

If you're not able to donate right now, please consider doing so in the future. Money is always needed to fund research and prevention programs. There are tons of great pink ribbon items out there, and they make wonderful Holiday gifts, too. Thanks for listening to my poorly worded plea.

Go Team Baby Bootcamp!

Progress?

Since I started on my quest for improved fitness/ better health, I admit that I've done better with the exercise than the healthy eating. I just seem to crave chocolate almost all the time. I can satisfy my craving with something as simple as chocolate milk, but often find myself wanting much more than that. It's a bummer, as giving in to the cravings mean I am taking away from all the hard work I'm doing with exercise. I'm working out 4-5 times a week and still on the running program. I often feel like I am just spinning my wheels, not making any true progress, but try to refocus myself and realize it's a journey with different bumps in the road every day. And frankly, a life without chocolate chip cookies is not something I want to experience.

After I ran this morning and got cleaned up, I tried to pick out a marginally more creative outfit than my usual jeans and T. I pulled out one of my 3 pairs of shorts and grabbed a black blouse. I dressed myself, and realized the shorts were not only comfortable, they were a bit roomy.

ROOMY, people!

I bought these shorts 2 years ago, right before we went to Hawaii. I was pregnant at the time (I didn't know it yet), and they were almost too snug, but I was desperate for something cool to wear in the tropics. I never really imagined that they would be close to TOO big on me. I wear jeans so often, and they are a terrible barometer of weight loss (I always shrink mine in the drier, so they are snug when I first put them on). I didn't really think I'd made any improvement in the last few months, but there you go: my shorts are a little too big.

I guess the running really is helping. This is week 5 of the plan, and it's getting interesting. By the 3rd day of running this week, I'm supposed to be jogging for 20 minutes straight. While I know I CAN do it, I'm curious to see how I feel in the middle of it. I think I'll mix up my playlist, maybe add a little Rocky theme song in the middle to get pumped up. And of course, I keep telling myself that pushing the stroller makes me work 30% harder. I hope this means that race day will be 30% easier than my usual workout, but I have a feeling that's not going to be the case. Oh well, whatever keeps me running, right?

Week 2 Update

Training: I'm still on the program. It was a little more running this week, mixed in with walking. I did the program on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I got up early on Saturday, bundled up Big J, and we went up the hill and around the lake by the library. It was a cool, foggy morning with lots of bunnies out along the trail. I'm most enjoying getting outside and exploring different trails and paths. Week 3 ramps up the running, so I'll be interested to see how I do. After the first 5 minutes or so I seem to adjust fairly well, so hopefully it will continue. My knee is bothering me a little bit, but the twinge usually goes away after warming up.

Pledges: I am so humbled to have received more than half my goal in pledges. Your confidence in me is inspiring, and I feel the weight of this responsibility on my shoulders every day of my training. I still have $200 to meet my goal, so I'll be sending out another groveling email asking for pledges and support. For those of you who have donated - Thank You! For those of you still thinking about it - do it! It's tax deductible! It's for a great cause! You won't be sorry!

In other news: I have a lovely goosegg on my forehead. I nailed myself on the corner of the trunk of my car while heaving the stroller back inside yesterday morning. It wasn't bad yesterday, but this morning it was marked by a nice red spot and some lovely swelling in the surrounding area. It's hard to see if you're not really looking for it, but I'm still glad I cut my bangs on Friday & I can kind of sweep them over so you can't see it. I iced it with a bag of frozen peas, but it still aches.

Have you been to El Rodeo yet? I have, and I want to go back. Tomorrow. And the next day. And possibly the next. Good Mexican food is hard to find outside the West Coast, and I'm a little shocked this place is as yummy as it is. In Des Moines? Oh yeah. Cheap, too. You know it's got to be good if the homies eat there. I know, it's a stereotype. But you shoulda seen the guy - he could have been straight out of South Central. Again - in Des Moines? Oh yeah.

Oh, what have I done to myself?

I intended to rise with the dawn this morning, waking fresh faced and energetic, ready to pack up Baby J into the BOB and stride like a gazelle through my first workout of the Couch-to-5K program.

Not.

I haven't been sleeping well, so despite heading to bed at 10:30, I didn't really fall asleep until after midnight, and then I crashed. When the alarm went off at 7, I was in no mood to peel myself off the mattress. Plus, Big Daddy was oddly unsupportive of my plan to run before he leaves for school. I know his schedule changes from day to day, but I also generally count on him to be home until 7:30... so I didn't (don't) understand why he was hesitant to sign off on my idea to work out in the morning. A puzzler....

I thought Plan B might work. But Big Sis was grouchy and wanted nothing to do with a bike ride this a.m. (while I run), and proceeded to whine and moan about it. I coulda forced her, but I too was in no mood to subject myself to such torture on a Monday morning. So Plan B was scrapped.

I finally came up with Plan C, and we headed to Raccoon River Park at 3:00 this afternoon. With a clever mix of bribery and iTunes, we all managed to work our way through the first workout. I felt pretty good while running, especially after the first few intervals of walking and running. I even felt good while stretching and watching Big Sis splashing in the fountain (water feature? what do you call it?).

Now? Not so much. After making 2 pies and sitting on the floor for an hour while catching up on The Pioneer Woman's Q &A... I am stiff. I am sore. I am creaky. Should your knees creak? Should your back pop? I didn't think so. Let's hope the Motrin of unknown dosage (and age) kicks in soon. I am so glad I don't have to run tomorrow.