My New Motto

My new motto for the last couple days has been "I'm going for a run and nothing is going to stop me!" Not darkness, rain, snow, a hungry family, a messy house, laundry, stinky running clothes, Christmas shopping, etc. Nothing is stopping me. Once I let a little doubt creep in...I dont go. So Im being tough.

Last night it was dark, raining hard and it was already 6 o'clock with no supper started. But whats my motto? "Im going running and nothing is going to stop me!" I told my son to start supper.

I shut everything out of my mind except running and put on my running clothes. I was ready to head out the door when my daughter called. She needed a ride home from work. My baby was standing in the rain and needed a ride. What could I do? This is not stopping me, just delaying me abit. I will not give in. My daughter was glad for the ride but not very encouraging about running in the rain. She said I was crazy. Not stopping me. As soon as I got home I was out the door.

I started running and was wondering myself if I was crazy. My face hurt at first because the rain was pelting it so hard. As my body adjusted to the weather the rain actually started to feel good on my face. Listening to "Switchfoot" (0ne of my favourite bands) as I ran made me feel so happy. The Christmas lights in the rain were so beautiful! What a great night for a run! I thanked Jesus for my health, daughters, sons, rain, Christmas lights and a great motto.

Great Morning Feeling

I finally gave in and renewed my gym membership. It feels great to be back at the gym. Its my escape out of my small house with 6 adults. I like running outside better than on the treadmill but its great for the winter. The gym is filled with people too but when I step up on the treadmill and put my earphones on Im in my own little world, in my own little space and I block everything else out. Just me and my music and running. This morning I was listening to a singer named "Lights". It was very inspiring. "I just want to run to you, and break off the chains and throw them away." It felt great and very freeing. I thought of how I need to focus on Jesus and give Him all my chains and He throws them away and makes my burdens light. When I was finished at the gym I stepped outside and it was beautiful, snowy and mild outside. It felt great to be alive. It felt great going to work this morning showered and coffee in hand and done my workout.

God Is Bigger

Last week was a sad week. News of the death of a 21 year old daughter of friends and her unborn child, and a week before a death of a friend's only sibling who died days after getting married....plus some hard family issues.... it was just a very sad odd week because I had to fit birthdays in between it all and all I had on my mind was sadness. I didnt exercise or run all week. I had life to deal with.
Sunday morning was Mother's Day and I really didnt feel like celebrating it. What I really needed to do was go for a run. I got new running shoes for Mother's day and my birthday so I was determined that I was going to go for a run before church and put my mind at rest and just enjoy my gift and some time to myself.
I borrowed my daughter's Ipod and it had some beautiful praise music on it. There was a strong wind blowing as I ran and it reminded me of a song that had been on my mind all last week. "Consuming Fire" and one line is "come in like a rushing wind." I suddenly felt such love and praise for God. I just had this sense that God is bigger than all our problems and sadness. Im thankful for God and running.

First Long Run

Im back on my blog again. Hello old friend. As I said before my goals this year are improving my 10K time and lengthening by running distance. I havent run farther than 10K since my injury. Well on Saturday I ran 13K. woo hoo. But I went really slow. I just plodded along pretending I was Forrest Gump. It took me about an hour and a half! Thats slow. I didnt think 3 more kilometers would make that much difference but I was really feeling it. My injury (groin area) was feeling really tight and sore. I iced it when I got home and put heat on it when I went to bed. It was quite a funny site actually. I had frozen fries on my groin area while I was watching TV. Thankfully none of my kids saw me. I will try and do 15K next weekend and I am soooo excited its supposed to be beautiful weather on this long weekend!

Can I Train Without a Gym Membership???

I have been trying to save money and not renew my gym membership. Ive survived since September. Its very hard for me because I love the gym. Ive managed to keep up my running (except December) but not my weight lifting. It is getting harder to get out for a run with the snow and freezing temperatures though. Its hard to motivate yourself to go outside when its freezing and the winds blowing. I just have to put my running clothes on and not think about it because usually thats the hardest part. Just getting out the door. Once Im out there it feels great and it only takes about 10 minutes to warm up and feel comfortable. Sometimes when Im running at night and its snowing it feels magical.

But its a different story with lifting weights at home. When I go to the gym I do all the different machines and I spend more time lifting weights. Also being in a small house with 6/7 people in it, its nice to get out. Also with other people around you tend to show off and train harder.

I may just give in and renew my membership. I thought of just getting a membership for the pool and the indoor track but its not that much cheaper.

Anyways...this Sunday it was easy to get out because it was a beautiful winter day, sunny and crisp. I ran 6K and when I got home I did weights with my arms and also sit-ups and stretching.

I'll see how I do this week.

Things I Would Do Differently at the Next Triathlon

Things I would do differently next time I do a triathlon:

• Train 3x the distance of each sport.
• Do not rent a wetsuit that I havent trained in.
• Maybe buy a second hand wetsuit....and one that does not choke me.
• Wear goggles swimming.
• Do not have a birthday party the night before the race and drink wine.
• Go to bed early the night before the race.
• Do not change into a shirt after the swim that you have to fight with to get on.
• Have a proper water bottle. (So my husband doesnt have to run around like a mad man and find one at the expo and pay $10 for it).
• Pick an easier Sprint distance, not the hardest one .....dummy.

Back on the Blog

I cant believe its been so long since Ive been on my blog. All that leading up to the triathlon and then I didnt write anything about it! I just procrastinated because there was so much to write but then I left it and didnt write anything! I was very disappointed in my triathlon results. I tried to convince myself that I was just happy to finish but I cant help but be disappointed. The swimming was alot harder than I thought it would be and I didnt train enough. But the highlight was that my mom surprised me and came to watch me. That was a special moment for me; also my sister was a big supporter and knowing that my mom, sister, hubby and my girls were on the shore cheering me on forced me to finish the swim even though I thought of quitting many times.

I will write more about the triathlon later but I just wanted to start writing on my blog again because it helps me train. Im not sure what I am training for right now but I want to get back into running longer distances again and see if my injury can take it. I was going to train for the 30K Around the Bay but thats in March already. I think I will start with the 25 K Riverbank Run in Michigan but its not till May. I would like to find something sooner. Im not quite sure yet but I think I want to do another triathlon simply because I feel like I havent conquered it. Also Tosca Reno (my fitness/eat clean guru) is doing one this summer. But its so hard training for 3 sports. Maybe I will just to a dualathon? Im not sure. I just know I am trying to build up my distance.

December is always a crappy exercise/diet month for me. I cant seem to exercise AND get Christmas shopping done. So I dont beat myself up about it. Also I usually gain about 8-10 lbs from all the eating and sitting around. But I am back at it and wishing I didnt eat so much at Christmas. I went for a 6K run New Year's Day and was Very stiff! Wow I couldnt believe it how fast I loose my fitness. Last night I went for a 6K run and it went abit better.