"Oh, I can't eat that"....

My weight loss journey/fitness training has steered me into a direction that I find people think is weird.
When I tell people that I just lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks they are generally excited and say, "HOLY CRAP! HOW DID YOU DO THAT?" To which I answer "I decided to become a vegan."

When I told Wyatt this he looked at me funny and said, "Mom, how can you become one of those...you aren't from outer space." So then I had to tell him what a vegan was...and he basically told me that being a vegan sounded just about as weird as being an alien.

And you know what. That is how people look at me now. When I go places I have gotten in the habit of bringing my own food; at first that was STRANGE but now it is a necessity unless I want to watch everyone else eat while I sit listening to my stomach grumble. I also kinda felt rude at first like "Yep, your food isn't good enough...gotta bring my own. I'm miss Hoity Toity health food pants".

Being vegan means I don't eat meat and it also means that I don't eat dairy. I also gave up processed foods and have been eating mostly organic. AND I also gave up sugar, unless it's in it's pure cane form.
SO, I'm basically eating twigs and berries.
NAH just kidding. It's not that bad. If you can believe it there are a TON of things that you can eat out there and have just as much protein in them and sometimes more calcium than dairy or meat.

I have to tell you that I do feel a bit snobbish, but I also feel REALLY good. PLUS my clothes are getting too big for me, I have more energy and I HAVE LOST 20 POUNDS!!!

This doesn't mean that I don't miss "real" food. I go to bed every night dreaming of pound cake, pepsi, doritos, steak, seasoned hamburger, beef nachos, lobster, shrimp, regular pasta (cause I only eat whole grain) and the list goes on.
BUT as I am crying myself to sleep thinking of those foods I see my skinny jeans hanging in the closet and remind myself that I actually want to wear them again...and I fall asleep.

So, don't be offended if I show up at your house with my own cooler of food..you can join me, if you wish!!! :)

GUESS WHAT!?

So, I've been spending my time busy not running...BUT I have discovered something COOLER. NORDIC WALKING.
Not Kidding.
Way
Cool.
Of course this fits in better with my personality as well. Wanna know why? Ok, I'll tell you.
It's because you can't help but look REALLY STUPID while doing it! SO, now people think "Hey, that girl looks stupid with those poles in her hands" and not "Hey, look at that poor woman trying to run, she looks like an injured antelope".
I KNOW. I FINALLY FIT SOMEWHERE!

To those of you who don't know, Nordic Walking is like cross country skiing...only there are no skis and there is no snow.
Yep.
Rad. I know.
Just ski poles and you.

At first this posed a problem for me because I had the very real fear of stabbing myself in the foot with the poles. THANKFULLY they are rounded on the ends because let me tell you....I have stabbed myself... A LOT.

For someone born with no coordination it took me several days to figure this out. I felt like one of the guys from the Ministry of silly walks at first. My arms and legs would go at the same time. Which made it look absolutely ridiculous. So, I would have to put my poles down and walk normal for a minute (just so my arms could remember what that's like) and then sneak those poles back in. I outsmarted those arms of mine!

I have to tell you it's a great work out. My arms are already feeling stronger. Which helps because Violet has surpassed giant baby weight and moved straight onto enormous.

AND people do the nordic walking in marathons! YEAH! I can still train! I guess I need to change my blog title to "Skiing without Snow" or something like that....

OH and the big news....I have lost 10 pounds since I started this journey....and 6 of those pounds in the past 7 days!
What's the key? I went vegan. And it's not as hard as you think. Yes, once in awhile I sneak in the coffee creamer or a gummy bear....but mostly I'm just eating Rice, salad and A LOT of beans...

Quick reminder if you come to my house PLEASE remember I'm eating lots of beans...YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Walking a marathon anyone?

So after more attempts at running only ending in knees o'fire I consulted my sports medicine Dr. (this is actually my husband....BUT he was a minor league ball player and has been an athlete for much of his life....so he knows...right?) and he told me that the running was too much too soon for my knees. He said that I need to build up my strength first...then he went onto say a lot more sports/athletic terms and I quit paying attention. BUT as far as he knows I was RAPT. SO, I think what he was attempting to tell me was to ease into the running.
Ok. Haven't I been doing that?
So, my "dr" kinda failed me so who should I consult next? The Internet of course!
I was desperate to proove Chris wrong! I was thinking, "I'll show him! And then I can say I told you so!"
But I couldn't.
He was right.
Piss.

SO, then I decided to call a real dr. and chat. This dr. told me that I just need to strengthen my knees and gave me various excercises to try...but then she went onto tell me that some people are just "weak in the knees" (great!) and running isn't an option for them....and to prepare myself to fit into that category.

Now, 2 months ago had someone told me that I was "weak in the knees" and that running wouldn't have been an option I would have most likely done/said 2 things. #1: SWEET cause I'm ALWAYS looking for a reason NOT to run! and #2: HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND!

But now...I'm kinda sad about it. I was really starting to enjoy that runners high and the running lifestyle. I mean I have a blog called RUNNING on Empty....not "Knees of fire so I have to walk now...boo hiss"

So, for now my running dreams are benched. However, I really am going to try building up my "knee strength" and am going to challenge myself to walking a marathon. That's the funny thing, walking and walking quickly give me no problems....must be the low impact....and the fact that I WALK LIKE A NORMAL PERSON...maybe my bizarre running style is to blame for these knees.
SO, then I have to point a finger at my parents because they aren't atheltes either and more than likely this is because of them! It's all THEIR fault!

THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR THE GENETICS!

I wonder if they have mommy and me stroller brigade marathons? Because if they do....I AM SO FREAKING THERE! I'm a stroller pushing BAD ASS!
Violet wears a do rag and flashes gang signs and everything....we are FIERCE in that stroller. (not the blue stroller of death though....that one just makes her cry)

The mile that wasn't a mile

I know you have all been waiting on pins and needles to hear if I survived my first attempt at running the mile. Probably checking your email for my blog update, fingers crossed, eyes to the sky...mucho praying.

I hate to disappoint all of this vigorous waiting...but it hasn't happened yet.

AND it might not happen for awhile.

I have hit a small snag in my training. I have fluid on my knees. : ( And it hurts. Not like a "Oh, that's kinda annoying" type of hurt but more like a "MY FREAKING KNEES ARE GOING TO EXPLODE" type of hurt.

Major dislike and sad face inserted here.

So, I have to do some talking with a dr. and see what my plan of attack is.

Will update soon.

Please don't cry yourselves to sleep.

PS - Secretly I'm ecstatic because I was really dreading running that son of a gun.

Setting a goal for myself

So, Friday (I have decided in all of my infinite wisdom) is going to be the day that I run my first mile...the first time that I have done this since I was in like grade school AND by personal choice.
I meant to start today off right by running half of it and walking the other...but my daughter didn't think that was going to be good for me....SO she sabotaged me by staying up most of the night. That made 6am come way to early.
SO, by the time I got out to run at 7 the humidity was stifling and the sun was beatin down....SCREW RUNNING IN THAT.

I walked. : )

Anyway, Friday I'm sure I will have an interesting update. It will either be written by someone else telling you I died, or me all excited that I did it. Let's hope for the latter.

PS - I haven't tripped on any side walks lately. I was thrown off balance by some little kids beach ball that just happened to bounce across the street in front of me. RIGHT in front of my feet. I was doing some serious high stepping and swerving and before I knew it I was on the ground.

I recovered though. All is well.

Bella's mad. I haven't been taking her with me. It's too hot and she most definitely would die. I don't think I could tell my children that I killed their dog...

HOLY CANOLI BATMAN!

I have lost a total of 3.5 pounds! I know that sounds like NOTHING...but last week I only lost .5 pounds....so that means I lost 3 pounds this week.
WOOT WOOT!!!

That is all. ; )

Hey, it's hot out

I've been getting up at the crack of dawn for the past several days to run/walk because I don't know if you noticed but IT'S HOT OUT. Why can't we get a gradual increase of temperature? Last week it was like 60 degrees!? I hate how ILlinois always does this too me. A couple good weeks of spring and then BAM SUMMER IN YOUR FACE SUMMER. (although last summer was pretty cool...so at least Illinois was nice to me while I was pregnant)

I've discovered something about myself upon waking around 5 or 4:30. I have a much more productive day! I don't feel tired all day and I'm not as cranky.
Now how does that work since I don't sleep through the night (thanks Violet).
It must be my new running attitude. :)

I can almost run my route half-way through now. I have to walk it the rest of the way. I think that by the end of summer I will be able to do it.

I took Bella with me again today....she didn't try to sabotage me as much but she just totally refused to jog. It's against her moral code I guess. She would start and then just stop and sit down. COME ON YOU ARE A DOG!!! WHAT THE HECK!?

There are other people out walking this early too! They seem surprised to see me when they run into me, so I guess they aren't new to this like I am. Either that or they are just schocked by how absurd I look....

Don't choose your dog as a running partner....

For those of you that know me, you know that I have a golden retriever named Isabella Puppaleeni (Bella or Leeni for short). As a golden it is in her nature to love everyone so when people come over to our house she does about a 3 minute "twirl" around their feet. It drives me nuts, but I have to admit it's better than the 10 minute grand slam/twirl that she used to do.
Because of this I quit taking her on walks awhile back because she would do this for every person, other dog, cat, bird, street sign t hat she met. I started just taking her out in the country to my brother-in-law's farm shop to let her run.
But this morning I got this great idea, why not take her on a run with me at 6? Surely no one else will be up and she will love it.

I forgot that Bella has gotten a bit out of shape and is a tad bit of a wide load.
The first part of our trip was great because I just started out with a brisk walk, when I started running she looked at me like "NO WAY!" and she got all excited and was running too....for about 25 second...then I noticed that instead of the leash pulling ahead of me, it was starting to drop along beside me...and pretty soon behind me.

I ran for 2 minutes and then stopped to walk and she had this expression on her face like "HOLY CRAP I'VE GOTTEN FAT" and her tongue was hanging to the ground. I was afraid she might hyperventilate. So, we walked for 3 minutes and then started to run again.

I think she had tired of the running because she tried to sabotage me. She would run in front of me one direction, then quickly the other direction and THEN LOOK BACK AT ME to see if I had fallen and died. I think she just planned on dragging my dead carcass home. She did it like 6 times!

SO, I stuck my tongue out at her (just like Maisy does and I even threw in the "eyes" for special effect) and ran faster.

This caused Bella to pull out the "big guns" and she stopped and took one of the biggest craps she ever has IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
She took her time too. So, I had to stand there and wait. And Wait. I had enough time to plan Maisy's future college career at Parson's school of design.
Of course I had not brought anything to pick it up with either. : ( She had already done her business for the day! DAMN DOG.
(I did drive back and pick it up....I just couldn't leave THAT in the middle of the street!)

For the last part of our run I started a cool down. Slowly started decreasing my pace until I was in a nice calm walk.
That's when Bella looked at me with her big old sad brown eyes and said, "You know what, that wasn't so bad." At least that's what I thought she said.

I knew how she felt. I had felt the same on my first run. I wanted to die, thought I would shit myself and couldn't wait to get home.

I think Bella might be a runner too. :)

I did it! I did it!

Today was the first day that while jogging I felt good! I KNOW! It was great! I got to that moment where you feel like you need to stop and made myself push through, and I felt a little bitty rush. So I smiled.
Running goes much easier when you are smiling! :)

I was only able to do 1 mile today though. I started out at 6am and by 6:12 it was raining....I know, that's a slow mile....but I'm just a beginner.

So I come in the house all hot, sticky and kind of yucky feeling in general desperate for a shower and who wakes up? Yep. Ms. Violet.
I guess everyone is going to have to just suffer through my stinkin. :)

Walk a mile in these shoes....

Got new shoes! They're kinda snazzy. Not a lot, just kinda.
I wore them this morning for the first time. They seemed to work pretty well except for the fact that they rubbed a blister on the TOP of one of my toes. Not the big guy...one of the middle ones. On the top?
How in the world do you rub a blister on the top of one of your toes? Is my toe starting to turn into a scraggly knobby toe.
My toes are pretty ugly in the first place so naturally this is horrible news.

Going to go do some serious shoe stretching...hopefully this isn't an issue or me and my new shoes may have to part...ALREADY!

The Biggest Loser

So some of my girlfriends, who shall remain nameless so they don't have to tell people that they are my friends. ;) , decided to do a biggest loser contest to go along with my marathon training.
In theory this is a great idea...then I remember. I'm not competitive....not in the least bit.
I'm the type of person that will let someone else win just to make them happy.
This may pose a problem for my weight loss goal. "No, you go ahead and loose 5 pounds...I'll just hang back here with my snickers bar. Really, it's ok!" Sigh.

Why am I not competitive? After all when you are in theatre (which was my life for so long) people are competitive and snively and always taking pot shots at each other (not that I don't love a good pot shot...but that's another story).
I am also the oldest child, which naturally should make me want to do everything first (which applied to me only in children...and I seem to have pulled ahead in that race...lucky me!).

I finally decided after some pondering about this over a protein shake *which I quite like actually* that it's because I'm just nice.
I'm a nice nicerton. Ms. Nicey Pants. I want to make sure everyone else is happy, that there isn't any crap going on, and that things can just flow. It's the Libra in me.
This doesn't mean that I can't turn into a cranky pants pajamas...because I can...and have thrown quite the tantrum *usually this is when I'm pregnant and crazy*.

So, how do I get over this non-competitive thing? How do I try to forge ahead in our Biggest Loser race?
I asked the kids what the best solution could be and here is what I got from them:
Wyatt: Mom, it doesn't matter who wins...it's just about having fun. (loosing weight fun? CRAZY)
Maisy: You look just fine, who cares.
James Henry: Mama, you HAVE to win. You just have too!
Violet: Mama Mama Nnnnooooo Nnnoooo

They weren't much help. I guess I just have to really WANT to loose weight. I have to want it for myself and forget about the competition....and if I end up winning...great! If I don't. That's ok too. :)

Blue Stroller of Death

Strikes again! Poor Violet! I went over another uneven sidewalk today. I didn't fall but Violet's head crashed against the side of the stroller. : ( There was a big big huge fit thrown. Poor little girl. She hyperventilated and everything....and here I just got her talked back into riding in it again.

Sigh.

I like this...right?

I'm still trying to convince myself that I like running. I saw a man today running on the highway and boy was he fit. He was also shirtless, wearing shortie shorts and possibly the sweatiest thing I've ever seen in 60 degree weather. Is that what I look like? Do I look like I'm about to melt into a puddle of icky sweat!?
OH NO.
No, I quickly told myself. YOu don't look like that because you don't run fast enough to sweat.....yet....
I will get there, right?
Today has been a day full of doubts for me. BUT I have forced myself to keep going....which was easier in the SUPER COOL MEGA CUTE pair of socks a dear friend gave me a gift certificate for.

So, at least my feet look cool.

Back at it!

Rain Rain....go away.....

Sometimes I wish that the weather would just decide what it wants to do. I don't mind rain, and once in awhile I look forward to a good old rainy day. A day where I can sit in a chair and read a book (wait...that doesn't happen for me anymore...never mind). I don't like these annoying in between days, where it rains....then clears up....gets warm...then rains again...gets cold....and repeat.

Today was one of those days. This morning when I got up the sun was out, I got up just about when the sun was rising. I knew it had rained all night long and I thought, "OH GOOD! The Sun is out! I will have a quick run."
Oh silly silly me.

I had just pushed myself to run for 3 minutes, instead of 2, when I heard thunder. "Hmm....thunder? I thought that was done." Jog Jog Jog. Sing Sing Sing to myself (in my head because I forgot the music thingy again) Quickly I was beginning to hope that I was near the 3 minute marker.
I swear to goodness the second that that big hand hit the 3 minute mark, the point where I was going to sing the Hallelujah Chorus and walk, on my watch... It started to rain. And it wasn't a mamby pamby rain, It was a giant Cow peeing on a flat rock rain. Good thing I didn't have that mp3 player again or it would have shorted out for sure, and possibly killed me!

So here I am now, out of breath from running...and it's pouring. SHIT. I sucked it up and started running again but the rain was hitting me in the face/mouth/hair/eyes/nose. An evil rain that comes at you from all directions, much like the wind from the other day.

So, I just stopped and stood there. I put my hands out and said several really naughty words. Very loudly. Then I had a thought, "Maybe God doesn't want me to run"...then I Remembered that God made me the way that he did...which is definitely not a runner's body. So I said, "Ok, God. I have noticed all these attempts from you to either keep me from running or push me to insanity. If you want me to keep on this journey make the rain stop." And do you know what happened? Damned if it didn't stop. It just competely stopped. It was one of those moments where the hairs stand up on your arms....mine would have if they hadn't have been soaked by tons of water. They kinda just attempted it...just ended up with goose bumps.
Anyway, God told me that he wants me to run. I think that possibly God has a really sick sense of humor.

So after these moments of clarity I sloshed into the driveway only to find James Henry on the porch saying, "Mama did you get rained on! OH NO! You're gonna melt for sure!"
So I said, "Get back to bed James before I drop a house on you." He just looked at me weird and said, "That's not nice mama; come inside I help dry you off".

:)
The journey continues....

I'm not sexy enough for my excercise tape

In order to be able to even think about running I've been doing work outs at home. Working out at home can be great...until you pop in a video with a super hot instructor. I'm currently attempting to do Julian Hough's "Dance Julianne" video. HOLY CRAP. At first I thought that I had accidentally stumbled across a sex tape.
Then I realized that no, it wasn't a sex tape but at actual exercise video...you could have fooled me with all the hip twirling and thrusting that was going down.

I found out two things. The rhythm that I thought I had, doesn't exist. So, all these years where I thought I was looking cool on the dance floor? Wasn't. Apparently I was looking stupid. DARN IT.
I also found out that dancing is a heck of a good work out, I was sweating harder than I do when I try to carry Violet upstairs.
I did the Cha Cha, Jive and Paso Doble. Which kind of translates into the "Don't fall down", "Holy crap this is fast" and "Shit, I can't breath"

Enough already! I'm ready to run!

Has anyone else noticed it's windy out?

Day 2, anti-biotic. Not noticing much of a change yet but am hoping for results FAST. I guess you can say that I'm a bit impatient, but I'm really ready to start training! This past week I worked out with my girfriends almost everyday. We went to each others houses, they came to my house (in which provoked a cleaning frenzy unseen in these parts in some time)and we did work out videos. I AM STILL SORE. I didn't realize how absolutely out of shape I'm in. I guess chasing the kids around and lifting giant Violet all day is not good excercise....who knew?
I woke up this morning at 6am and decided that I would go for a light jog/fast walk. On came the underarmer and the borrowes shoes (just tryin em out, seein what I think...thank's Sam)and I quickly scampered outside before the kids could realize I was gone and have melt downs.
I got to the end of the block and realized 2 things. 1. It's COLD out. 2. It's WINDY. And I don't mean blow a little breeze through your windows windy, I mean HOLY CRAP MY FAT SELF IS GONNA BLOW AWAY windy.
I circled back to the house and grabbed a sweatshirt and was on my way.
Guess which way the wind was blowing? Against me. It didn't matter which way I went, I swear that wind changed positions and was blowing against me.
I did a big middle finger to the sky and kept on.
I was able to run for about 2 minutes, then walked for 5 minutes, then ran again for 2. I forgot the mp3 player so I sang songs in my head. Which kinda worked, but not really.
I really hope that no one saw me. First of all the wind was blowing my hair out of my pony tail, I hadn't washed my face yet, AND in my haste to go out and get going I had put my pants on backwards. This probably wouldn't be an issue if they didn't say ILLINOIS across the butt. SO I ran this morning with ILLINOIS right across my crotch.
Oh well. At least people know I'm a fan.

First Attempt

This afternoon when I returned home from grocery shopping (bane of my existance)I decided to do a "dry run" of my running route. In order to do this I had to make Violet agree to ride in the jogging stroller. Violet thinks that the jogging stroller is the 5th circle of hell. I don't know why but when she sees that big blue thing come wheeling out of the garage her eyes get big and she starts saying, "Nnnnnnooooooo Nnnnnoooooo". I don't know if it's because the wheels are huge or if it's because the first time she rode in it a spider dropped down onto her head and I had a bit of a freak out, ...either way...she doesn't like that thing. *for the record the spider was really big and scraggly looking and it landed on my babies head...what followed was an arms flailing, hysterical screaming dance by me...which to a baby is probably more frighetning than the spider.
After many promises by me of "it's going to be ok, it will be fun!" I talked her into it. I got her all strapped in and we were off. What I didn't realize though is that I didn't quite have her strapped in and as we rounded the corner of the first stretch I noticed a wee little foot hanging dangerously close to the front spokes of the stroller. The straps that I thought were tightened had become loosy goosy and Ms. Violet was on her way down fast. ACK! So, I went to quickly stop and save her from slipping out of the stroller and I tripped on one of Farmer City's finest uneven sidewalks. Tripped head first and went sailing into Mrs. Vance's cute little cacti that live on the corner of her yard. I don't think they are so cute anymore. After going head first into them I'm going to say that I honestly find them down right unfriendly.
Violet was dangling from the stroller so I brushed off my pain (cacti in the eye) and saved her.
I looked at her. She looked at me. We called it a day.
It was just a dry run after all...

Sidelined by Sinuses

I was all gung ho to start running this morning. I had the alarm set for 6am and running clothes were already set out, so what happened? When the alarm went off I noticed that I was awake but couldn't see anything. At first I thought that I had possibly gone blind, but then realized it was that I couldn't open my eyes.
After a very dangerous trip to the bathroom (in which I stepped on at least 2 toy tractors and 1 toy field cultivator and said some pretty nasty things...) and a close inspection of my glorious morning self in the mirror, I discovered that I wasn't blind...but that my eyes have been slimed shut by oozing sinuses. EEEEWWWWW. I KNOW. GROSS.
At about that time James Henry came wobbling and moaning *and somehow didn't step on ANY tractors* into the bathroom and had the same issue. It seems that our allergies have decided to mutiny and have taken over our sinuses.
OFf to the dr.'s office we both go. Hopefully I'm not sidelined for long and can get this taken care of soon. Of course running with a sinus/respitory infection doesn't sound like a good idea...so my grand adventure may be stalled until this Thursday or so.
Super crap.
OH well, still motivated. Decided to spend day on my finals and downloading some songs for my mp3 player *which I am borrowing from my daughter...shhhh..don't tell*. I am also thinking about going on the quest for the perfect running sock....who knew socks were so important!?

Mom, Dad...I've decided to start running....

All of my life, and I mean pretty much 28 of my 32 years, I have been teased for how I run. I like to think that I'm graceful...but that doesn't exactly work because I happen to be the type of person who breaks their arm while falling up stairs (true story...made diaper changing my 4 month old quite the adventure). When running I have always thought of myself as looking good; my family will tell you that this isn't the case. Apparently my vision of my self doesn't quite fit reality. My mom has always said that I look like a gazelle fleeing from prey and not succeeding. My dad has never really commented, but he does purse his lips together and giggle when other people make comments...so I guess he's part of the "if you don't have anything nice to say" group. My husband simply says, "Kelly, are you SURE you don't have some kind of physical impairment?" when he sees me run.
I've always been an actress, since I was a little girl...and on stage I really am quite graceful...this MUST be because I'm playing a character. SO, naturally I tend to have *flare* when doing just about anything. I do lots of Jazz Hands and Pizzazz could really be my middle name. Both of my younger sisters are runners and skinny. I'm not skinny. I was born ready to wear a size 12 and a DD bra....which makes junior high LOTS of fun.
Now that I'm 32 I seem to not be able to bounce back from having babies, like I did in my 20's and have somehow managed to be 20 pounds heavier than I like. Despite eating healthy, trying different diets, not eating, runing around like a chicken with my head cut off...I can't seem to loose any weight. And I figured out why. It's because I don't get any excercise. My excuse has always been that it's because I don't have time.
Well, that is partly true. I have 4 kids, I'm a full-time student, I have a house to take care of, a dog, and a husband who is...well, let's just say he's high maitenance. If I want to get excercise I have to schedule it in, and then make myself do it. I actually did a work out video for a month, everyday straight. IT was boring, but I was seeing results...so I was sticking with it. Until one day my husband told me he needed me to not work out because he wanted some help with something. I told him, "If I don't work out, then tomorrow I will think it's ok not to work out" and he just said, "You're crazy". I said, "I know that. BUT I also know myself and I will tell myself that it's ok to miss once in awhile." And pretty soon...guess what? No working out. AND I gained weight! ACK!
The Illinois marathon just ran yesterday in Champaign (which is about 25 minutes away from me) and while reading about it in the paper this morning while eating a caramel tart (wonder why I can't loose weight?) and drinking my coffee it struck me. Why don't I train to run a marathon? Maybe this would be the thing to help me loose those 20 pounds! Why not set a big goal for myself and then just do it. My sister Lydia called me not long after this epiphany and she thought it was a great idea. She actually didn't laugh at me as most people do when they hear about me running. She even said, "You should blog about it".
So, here I am. And I'm realizing there is a lot of preparation into training for a marathon. First off I need to figure out how to train for a marathon, secondly I need to buy myself some running shoes...because all I currently have are slip ons and flip flops and I'm sure those would just intensify how silly I will look, and thirdly I need to set a route for myself...oh and by an IPOD...all runners have those? Right?
This could pose to be expensive. I'm all set to start tomorrow though. I'm forcing myself up at 6a.m; hella early. Everyone else is still asleep at this time and I can run/walk by myself. PLUS not as many people in town will notice me that early...hopefully they will all be sleeping.
Although Violet isn't sleeping through the night yet (that's my giant 9 month old who can't go like 2 hours without food) and I will be tired....I'm going to do it.
I just told the kids that I am going to start running and here are the responses I got: Maisy (8): Can I come with you? Wyatt (7): Yuck! James Henry (3): I ride my bike! and Chris (crochety old husband): Really? Hm. Well, that should be interesting.
He's RIGHT. It should be interesting....Here Goes Nothin!