A 'Real Winner"

I was always told that I was a 'real winner', growing up.   Of course this was sarcastic.  LOL

By 'real winner', she meant a little 'odd'.

Anyway,  once again, I have won a giveaway!!!!!! 

WoooHooo

This time, I won a giveaway from this great blog:  Katie Moves.

I love this blog.  You have to check her out. 

I won a Soy PRotein package and check out her original blog about it, because my family stole some of the goodies, as I was opening the package.



Don't mind the pic of the hamburger in the background.  Have no idea what this was!

I received:

-an awesome huge shaker cup (LOVE IT!)

-a workout parachute + dvd + poster (can't wait to try it out!!!!)

-a huge soy protein bag

-2 exercise bands

-2 Balance Bar protein bars (I was lucky enough to eat the s'mores bare pic'd above, but the hubs stole the other as I opened the box) YUMMMMM

-a package of Titan 2 choc chip protein cookies (the teen stole one, but I did get the other )HOLY CRAP, GOODNESS

-a container of vanilla soy protein from GNC (great, but I'm saving for cooking with!)

THANKS KATIE!!!!!!!



GoodBelly Winner!!!

OK, so I hate to lead you on, but I was the winner. 

I received some vouchers for this awesome brand.  I can pick what I want out of a great selection of Probiotic juices!!  SWEET. 

As stated by GoodBelly:  "GoodBelly is a vegan, dairy-free and soy-free probiotic drink with live & active probiotic cultures for digestive health."  Check out more info on this company and its products: here.

With flavors like:

Pomegranate Blackberry,

Bluebery Acai,

CRanberry Watermelon,

Tropical Green and

Tropical Orange (+ more),

how can I not be dying to try them?!

I entered a giveaway from KissMyBroccoli and won!  Check out her website here.

Surprises in the mail!

I came home one day last week and had a nice yellow package in the mailbox.

I LOVE packages!

Baby Girl helped me open and check it out.

Very interested in the business cards.  :)

Don't mind the junk in the background. :P

Inside the package, I received:

• A package of G2 powder to add to my water bottle
• 2 packets of GU Energy-gel.  I'm so excited to try these, since I haven't purchased any for myself yet. There was one in Jet Blackberry flavor and one in Chocolate Outrage flavor.  Um?  YUMMmmm
• A new pair of pink laces!
• A super cute yellow headband (modeled by Baby Girl)

I won all of this from Running Toward the Prize!  Check her blog out here.

Leibster Award!!!!!

I was just tagged to be given the Liebster Award by Triathlon Mami!  I am super excited that someone actually reads my blog!!!!!  Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you.

I know I am just getting started and haven't been on here as much as I would like to, but it's nice to be noticed.

The Liebster Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

Rules for receiving this award:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Then answer the questions the tagger sent for them, plus create 11 questions for the people they’ve tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Notify the people you have tagged.
5. No tag backs.

I.  Here we go!

1.    I copied the above information and rules about the award from Triathlon Mami's blog. ;o

2.    I have 2 wonderful daughters that are 13 years apart.

3.    My husband is my best friend and in many ways the male version of myself.

4.    I am new at blogging. (obviously, so bare with me)

5.    My fears are falling from something really high and caterpillars. 

6.    I lost a finger a couple of years ago, while 7 months pregnant.

7.    My pet peve is repeating myself or hearing others repeat themselves. (just ask my husband)

8.    I still can't figure out how to put my 'sweat pink ambassador badge' on my blog page.

9.    I wanted to be an artist and accountant when I grew up and now happy to be neither.

10.  I like to listen to techno or hard alternative rock  REALLY LOUD while working out.

11.  I am a Scorpio by all definitions.

 II.  Questions for me:

1.  Why did you start blogging?   To make myself accountable for my fitness goals.  Without a competition to reach for, I felt that I didn't dedicate myself enough and thought that if I was announcing them to others, then I'd stick to them more.

2.   Has blogging changed you in any way?   I read more blogs and spend more time on the computer.


3.   What is your favorite place on Earth?   At the beach with my family.

4.   If you were stuck on a desert island with only one book, what would it be?   I haven't read a 'real' book in years.   I search through fitness books and read children's books.  I can't give a title, but I'd say some kind of National GEographic nature encyclopedia or something.

5.   What living person inspires you most? Why?   My oldest daughter.  We have been through some tough times together and she amazes me every day.  She is becoming such a wonderful and strong woman.  We don't know how truly strong we can be, until we have to, especially for our children.

6.   What historical person inspires you most? Why? I hate to admit it, but I can't think of anyone right now.  I'll probably wake up at 2am and wish I'd answered differently.  LOL

7.   If you were able to have a superpower what would it be? To fly, so if I ever did fall from something really high, then I wouldn't go splat.

8.   What do you wish you could master?   Knive throwing

9.   What do you do to relax?   What the heck is that!!!!  My 'me time' is training, so I'd have to say that the 1/2 hr that I squeeze in whenever I can is my 'relax' time.  Years ago.....I'd paint, sketch, craft, cross stitch or cuddle up under a big blanket and watch movies.

10.  What is your favorite part of the day?   Coming home to my family.  Right now, the baby gets so excited when I come home.

11.   Think fast! What is the first thing you can think of to bring a smile to your face?   My family!!!!!  All I have to do is see their faces.  I couldn't live without them!!!!!

My Babies!

III.  Questions for the next group:

1.    If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

2.    What's your favorite exercise?

3.    What's the one thing that you can't live without?

4.    If the world were to end tomorrow, would there be anything that you wish you'd done?

5.    Do you have a unique talent?

6.    As a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?

7.    Has your blogging style changed, since you started blogging?

8.    What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

9.    What gives you strength?

10.  Burpees.  Love em or hate em?

11.  Neat freak or organized mess?

IV.  Yay!!!  The following have received the Liebster Award!  CONGRATS!                    

(Since I still don't know a whole lot about blogging, hopefully I found the Bloggers' follower numbers correctly.)

0to26point2

A HOPEFUL Romantic dealing with the "BIG C"

Cookies and Crafts

Push.Pump.Progress

Scott's musings on health, fitness, and life.

Strong is the New Skinny

crazyhealthyfit.com

My (Mostly) Healthy Life

Pain Is Nothing

Shore to Run

Eat, Learn, Discover

I SWEAT PINK!!!! Do You? Giveaway

I am so excited to be a new Sweat Pink Ambassador!

Fit Approach is a healthy community, founded by two inspirational women.

As said in their own words,

"Mission

We believe that kicking ass is best done in pretty shoes. We’ve learned that real women sweat, and sweat hard. We know that assertiveness, strength, and ambition are the ultimate feminine qualities. We concede that sometimes it takes hours to get ready, but we’re also no strangers to just rolling out of bed and going. We’re convinced that we run faster in pink shoelaces. We believe in pushing ourselves, and we believe in giving ourselves a break, too. We’re all about the rush of endorphins and the thrill of the challenge. We’re all for looking great and feeling even better. We’re committed to finding our best fit, and making it stick.

How do we get there?
We climb.
We journey.
We balance.
We reward. "

UMMMM......kicking ass in pretty shoes?  You've got me right there!  LOL

We all need some motivation sometimes,  even those who motivate others.  I like to think that I motivate my clients and the participants in my classes, but I sure know that I need a good kick in the a$$ sometimes. 

Just reading all of the stories and blogs on this and linked to Fit Approach, motivates and inspires me!

There are many women with the privilege of being Sweat Pink ambassadors and I am now one of them!

I am excited to help and inspire others to live or at least start living a healthier lifestyle.

I received my ambassador swag in the mail the other day and I am happy to say that I will be wearing my new pink laces in my next run.   I also got a snazzy new tank!  Woot!  Woot!

Who doesn't love new workout clothes!?

I'm giving away 3 pairs of pink laces!

To enter:

1. Follow me StrengthOdyssey on Twitter.

2. Comment below on how you'd like to inspire others or how someone has inspired you in a healthy or fit way! 

For extra entries:

1. Like Fit Approach on FB.

2. Follow Fit Approach on Twitter.

Leave me with a separate comment below for each entry.

I'm keeping this open until next Saturday the 21st.  Let's see  how many people I can get to read my blog!!!!

Nirvana Sneaker Review

I have finally been able to try out my new sneakers!!!!!!

I was lucky enough to be invited to take part in an awesome opportunity.  I received a pair of Mizuno sneakers as part of the Mezamashii Run Project.

I found out about the Mezamashii Run Project through my friend Jen.  

'Mezamashii' means "eye-opening" or "brilliant" in Japanese.

In Mizuno's words:

Mizuno believes their shoes can help runners achieve the mezamashii feeling more often, so they're inviting thousands of runners to receive a free pair of shoes and join their quest for the brilliant run.

Check out more information on The Mezamashii Run Project.

I called the 800 # that I found on the Mizuno site and spoke with someone who helped me choose the correct sneaker for me.

I was really glad that customer service was as awesome as it was, because I have never tried out Mizunos.  They aren't common at most shoe stores and I don't usually go to the specialty stores (but I should).  I picked the Wave Nirvana 8.

I chose this particular sneaker, because my feet overpronate. 

I received the sneakers by mail 2 DAYS LATER!!!!  I was so excited to try them out. 

And then the rain began.  I was not going to take my brand spankin new sneakers out in the rain.

My daily schedule only leaves me a few mornings per week to get out and run, so I'm limited to begin with.

Then there's rain.

And then the baby got sick.  :( 

It took me a while to get out and run in my new sneaks.

Last Sunday......I was finally able to get out and run!!!!! 

Woo HOo!!!! 

I love my early morning runs (even on Sunday, although my husband may not love that I get up so early  LOL).  This way there isn't much traffic, the temp is still cool outside and I can get home and usually shower before the rest of the family gets up .

LOVE THE SHOES!!!!!! 

I sometimes have a little nagging knee pain from my overpronation and these shoes changed that.  I thought they kind of looked a little funny at first (kind of like those 'toning' sneakers :P).  But that look is only on the inner part of the sneaker, where I need the support. 

They felt like little clouds on my feet.  Sooooooo comfy and I only ran 3 miles, but they stayed super comfy.  I didn't want to take them off, but they must be saved for running only.

I love the  color combo.  Pink is one of my fave colors.

Another added bonus:  I didn't have to double knot my shoes.  I ALWAYS have to double knot them, even when they are brandy new. 

I can honestly say that these Mizuno sneakers are my favorites so far EVER.  I am honored to be part of the Project.

Everyone!  Go check out the Mezamashii Run Project.  At the very least,  make sure you give Mizuno a try the next time you need running sneakers!!!!!!!

NEW SNEAKS!!!!!

I was so freaking excited earlier this week. 

I came home from my longest work day (roughly 14 hours) and found that a package had arrived for me. 

What was it?!

NEW SNEAKERS!!!! 



Ella was excited to try them out too!

I have never tried a pair of Mizunos and was totally psyched to get into these.

A problem arose.  Ella got sick the day after they arrived and I haven't been able to get in a run since.

Looks like Sunday will be THE DAY.  My husband just loves the fact that I get up by 5:30am on a Sunday.  Hey!  Could be 4:30, like it has to be on weekdays, to get my run in.

I always go for the sneaker color scheme closest to pink/gray, if there is that option.

This sneaker, the Mizuno Nirvana, only came in one color scheme.  It was my usual fav!

I have to point out that these sneakers have the same color scheme as my blog:  pink, gray, black, white, and  just a little bit of orange.  SERIOUSLY!?  It has to be fate.  Right?

Stay tuned for my review and more details!!!!!!!!!

What a LOVELY day!

Today was like most Saturdays.  I worked from 7am to 1pm and then returned home to swap off parenting duties with my husband, so he could go to work and then I ran around until the baby's bed time.  I spent time with both my girls and that is all I need

 (of course, until the hubby returns home  ;P).

I am sitting down checking my emails, FB, Twitter, blog, etc and what do I find?!?!

A nomination for the ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD!!!!!!!! 

My friend Jen at MILES MUSCLES AND MOMMYHOOD nominated me. 

WOW!!!!!  I am so excited.

It's great to be recognized and very motivating. 

The One Lovely Blog Award is a "pay it forward" kind of way to recognize your favorite blogs.

Here are the rules:

1. Post the award logo and and picture on your blog and link back to the person who nominated you.

2. Tell seven things about yourself.

3. Nominate up to 15 additional bloggers who you think deserve the award.

4. Post a comment on the blog of each nominee to tell them him/her they have been nominated.

****************************************

1.  I use to be 'stalked' years ago by this girl named Jen.  LOL

Now, SHE inspires me. 

2.  Not a lot of people notice or know this, but I 'lost' a finger a couple of years ago, while 7 months pregnant.  No, not just the tip.  No not just the first knuckle. 

I have just enough of  a stub to hold change in my hand, but not enough to get in the way.

3.  I have two daughters that are 13 years apart.  For some reason, I thought this would be easier, since there is such an age gap.  One has just started walking and the other doesn't have a license yet.  WHOA!!!!! What was I thinking.  I wouldn't change a thing.  Love them to pieces.

4.  I JUST realized that i've left a batch of cookies in the oven for about 45 minutes!  MY HUSBAND IS GOING TO FREAK WHEN HE WALKS IN THE DOOR!  He hates the smell of burnt stuff.  (but I love slightly burnt rice cakes and popcorn.  is that weird?)

I am making them for a 'father's day gift', but really just because I needed an excuse for my craving.  Well, less to go in the cupboard. 

5.  I love to paint, sew, craft, cook and workout.  None of which I have a lot of time for.  The necessities win.  Cooking (because I can't starve my family) and working out (because I NEED to or i'll go absolutely crazy) win.

6.  I am really new at this whole blogging thing.  Follow at your own risk.

For some reason (which I can't figure out) when I preview this post, it's messed up.  Sorry.  I even 'followed' myself and don't know how to undo it.

7.  The first half marathon that i've been training for, filled up.  :(

I am still training, but wondering if everything happens for a reason.

I've just started teaching a morning Plyo Bootcamp class twice per week and have cut some of my run days, but my booty and legs are really loving the class intructing!

My Nominees are:  (drumroll please)

  1.  Cookies and Crafts

     This girl Katie gives such an eclectic, homey, comfy, down to earth feeling to her blog.  She makes me smile, because in many ways, she reminds me of myself.  I enjoy reading her posts very much.

 2.  Rebecca @ Mediocreathlete

  WOW!!!!  She makes me laugh.  That's all I have to say.  Check it out.

Knees, Instructing and Kids

Should I keep running or start biking??!!! 

My knee is a little better, but still bothering me. 

I stopped powerlifting, because I hated the way my knees felt when I wasn't working out.  You'd think the knee issue would've been from squatting and deadlifting, but nooooooooo.  It was from the darn angle that I'd twist my legs into (back and under the bench) when setting up to bench.  It helped me get a good lift, but did a number on my knees.

I told myself that I hated the way it cut into other fitness adventures.  There was no way I could go out for a jog back then. (Not that I wanted to.  LOL)

Now, my knee seems to bother me more than both of them did back then.  Or maybe it's just time making the problem from back then seem less.

I forgot to mention, in my Sunday post, that I had run that morning.  It didn't go so well on the knee.  Better than I'd thought, but worse than I'd hoped.

I will work on some things to help this work out.  I WILL work on my stretching and IT band. I AM getting new running shoes.  (I got new shoes, but tried a less expensive pair and added support to help w/my overpronation.  I'm thinking it's not working.)  I WILL fuel better, before going running.  I WILL eat cleaner from now on.

Phewww.  I feel better now.

So.... my Plyo Bootcamp class started on Tuesday and I had 3 people show up. 

 I was happy with this, since  I'd expected NO ONE to show up.  I ran into a few members in the lobby after class and they had no idea about it.  One came into today's class and one will be there next Tuesday.    YAY!!

I had 3 people again in today's class.

I also realized that you should not participate in a whole early morning class, if you've given blood the evening before.  JUST SAYIN.  OK,  I'll start listening to the instructions that the nurses give me when I donate.  ; )

I'm actually glad that the class is starting out smaller, so I can get a handle on this instructing thing.  I need to plan myself a whole bunch of classes ahead of time, though.  I say I'll plan it earlier in the day and then it's 10:30pm and I'm sitting down with my notebook, thinking about getting up in 6 hours.

I WILL write up classes sooner and get to bed earlier!

I did get to the gym yesterday for my own lifting workout, which felt great.  It was a quickie, but good for the back and bis.

Today is my oldest daughter's last day of Freshman year in high school.  UGH. 

The year went by faster than expected, just like EVERY other year.  We/she learned some things and I'm glad that I'm not still in high school.  All in all......it was a pretty good year. 

She can't get a job until the end of summer, but is eagerly awaiting the chance.  She won't be able to get her license until the end of next summer, which is a relief and pain, all at the same time.

My Babies back in April.

(This is being written by a rare naptime 'during mommy is home time', but Baby Girl is stirring in there, so time to go!)

Plyo Bootcamp and SLACKING

This week I committed myself to teaching a Plyometric Bootcamp twice a week, for the next 6 weeks!  AGGHHH 

I was trying to think of  a different type of class to teach at the YMCA that I work at, but since I don't really teach or take many group exercise classes........I am limited to my abilities.  I've subbed in for a few Bootcamp classes and Barre Sculpt classes withing the past 6 months.  I must say that I am MUCH more comfortable instructing the Bootcamp class, than I ever was during the Barre classes.  I don't think I'm cut out for anything graceful.  LOL

I think that this will be fun and get me way more comfortable being the center of attention.  Hopefully it'll open me up to a whole new world of fitness instruction and I'll keep broadening my horizons to new classes.

Next up:  SLACKING.

This week, I slacked off.  I did manage to make it to the gym and lift twice this week, which felt great.  I did not however run. at. all.
It rained most of the week and my left knee has been giving me problems, so I thought it best to give it a rest.  Remember my last post about not overdoing it?!  I'm trying to listen to my body.


At least on Saturday I took a 3-4 mile walk down the Eastern Trail with my two baby girls.  It was a nice afternoon.  It was nice an leisurely, but enjoyed by all.  Here are some pics.

On Sunday,  my oldest asked me if we could go back down the trail.  WOW!!! What a surprise!  She is usually asking when we can turn around.  LOL

We took our bikes out and rode for 12 miles or so.  It was a great ride, once again.  :) 

 Love my time with my girls and my oldest Baby deserves some one on one time.
She's 14 now, so i'll take it when I can get it!

I should've named her Grace.  She took a digger off the bike, when she hit her handle bar on a post at the end of a bridge.  She's OK, though.  She's more and more like me every day.  LOL

Don't tell her that!

Next week.....I will be more productive!!!!!!!

STAY TUNED.

Week in Review

This week started a little off schedule.
I trained with a client on Sunday morning, so I pushed my longer run to Monday.  This was OK, because of Monday being a holiday. 
I then decided to make Tuesday a rest day, where Monday should've been.  Much needed.  My left knee has been a little tight.
Ran Wednesday, which should've been a rest day and Thursday, which was normal.  Wednesday, I did manage to make it to the gym with my older daugher and got in some lifting.  Must get more in!!!
Friday I made a rest day, because I taught bootcamp for a friend during my run time.  This was actually another good thing, because rest was needed. 

I've told myself :  "This time around, listen to your body!!!!!" 

Meaning that every time I get into a new fitness addiction, I push myself hard, over do it,  and then move on to the next thing.

Most evenings this week were devoted to cooking.  This is something that I do often, but have not been as strict with preparing my OWN meals for the week.  I make food for everyone else, but scrounge around for something quick for myself. 

Here's what my fridge looked like after day one:



Top shelf:   eggs, cut up strawberries, cooked chicken breast, and a bunch of containers of semi-cooked or cut up softer foods for the baby

Center shelves:  milk and milk,  100% juices for the hubby and teen,  lots of fruit, salad, peeled grapefruit, and cooked chicken and veggies for hubby to take to work

Bottom shelf:  jar pasta sauce for my daughter to make tortilla pizzas with and marinated chicken chunks (waiting to be cooked)

Drawers:  cheeses, lots of salad veggies, apples, wheat bread and tortillas

Ok, may not be perfect.......but i've also added hard boiled eggs, cooked salmon and many clean meals to the freezer.

I finally feel like my fridge is back to where it should be.  Now I have to keep up with it.  LOL

This afternoon it POURING!!!!  I had a nice lazy afternoon with my girls, though.  My older daughter wanted to watch old dance recital dvds and the baby just danced to the music.  It was really nice, but do you think I could get to my camera and catch the baby dancing?  Noooooooo.  Never happens.

Here are a couple of cute pics from the past week. 

Making silly faces

Under Armour girl already

If you look real close, you can see that there is a tiny pony tail on the top of her head.  :)

That's it for today!  See you next time.

Improvement!

I've been running for two weeks now and this makes my 6th run.  Until today, I had only run 1.5 miles w/out stopping to walk.  (The full runs, including walks, were between 3-4 miles.)  I'd been getting farther before my walk portion, each run.  The distance of the walk was also getting shorter.  I had been walking a whole street last week and this week I had only walked appx 50 ft. 

Today I didn't walk at all!!!!!!

This morning I ran at a 10 min/mile pace for 2.6 miles and I didn't even take ANY walk breaks.  I know that's not very far for a lot of people, but that's far for me!

My runs are getting better.  YAY!

Oh, did I mention that the race I wanted to do in July is full?  Bummer. 

It was only the second year of the race and they didn't expect it to fill up so quickly.

I signed up on the waiting list, in case there are enough cancellations.  Fingers crossed.

I'm trying to find another half in my area around the same time.  I found one for 3 weeks later, so I'm planning on that one, but still training for July.  A few extra weeks will be great for me though, since I only started running a few weeks ago.  I'm following a plan where I was supposed to be able to run for 30min, prior to starting it, and that was not possible.

The Garden Attempt

I had always dreamed of having a garden.  I wanted to grow my own vegetables.  Think of how good we'd feel eating what I'd grown and save money too!

We finally bought a house a few years ago and I couldn't wait to put one in. 

Then we had the baby. 

The garden did not happen last year.

This year, hubby says "Didn't you want to make a garden?".  I told him I did, sometime.  He said, "Well, sometime will be too late."  OK, so he's right. 

 We went to get some supplies and he built me a box outside and I started some seeds indoors. I planted some of everything that I had bought seeds for. There were snap peas, green beans, cukes, zucchini, green leaf lettuce, romaine, carrots, and spinach in my boxes.

Some of them came up quickly and some of them did not.

A few weeks later, I started some seeds directly outside.  The peas, lettuce, romaine, spinach and beans that I planted directly in the ground are growing great!  YAY!!!!!!

I had been keeping a log of how my seeds were growing, so that next year, I could separate certain veggies that took longer to germinate. 

I put the seed boxes outside to 'harden' them, before planting them in the ground.  I am just learning about all of this as I go, so I will make a few mistakes.  The cuke leaves started turning kind of yellow. 

I transplanted some of the cukes, beans and peas into the outside box.

My husband tells me the other day, "I think some of them (in the seed box) aren't growing well, because we are over watering them."  WHAT!?  What do you mean WE are over watering them?!  I told him to leave them alone.  Now all my notes don't mean a thing, because there were more variables than I was writing down.  UGGGGHHHH

We have seen deer prints in some sand in our yard and last year we had skunks and a groundhog.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the animals don't ruin my garden, before I get to it.  So far, so good.  I look at it each morning, before my run.  Every time, I am amazed that I am still seeing plants.

Hopefully the critters will stay away and I will soon be able to tell you about my wonderful garden. 

Hike w/ Baby Girl

So today, Baby Girl and I took a hike. This was only a couple of miles round trip, but it was her first experience being in the backpack.

  She loved it! YAY!!!! I'm so glad, since she may be spending a lot of time in it, this summer.  I'm thinking............lots of backyard lunges with these two attached!

This was the only 'exercise' that I got today.  It was a rest day from jogging in the morning and Saturdays are 'Children day', so I don't get any training in later in the day.  The BIG problem with this low exercise day is:  I've eaten like crap all day.  Why is it, that when my body isn't sore or tired from training, I eat worse?   Do I really need that physical reminder to MAKE me listen to my head?  I KNOW what i'm supposed to eat, but it doesn't always happen.  Tomorrow is another day and enough talking about my bad choices of today.

The only problem was.......there was one child missing.  The teenager wanted more friend time.  OK, I can give in once in awhile.  She doesn't know what she's missing.  LOL!  She does not find the little hike as exciting as we do!?

Just wait and see what I have in store for one-on-one time tomorrow.  HEHEHEHE (evil laugh)

Maybe a nice long bike ride.  Sounds good to me!  But, not till after my Sunday jog.  Hopefully, I'm not really regretting my poor eating choices of today.

Missing Toenails and Other Questions

So.......today was run # 5.  Am I allowed to call it a run yet?  Let's say that today was jog #5 (from the start).

Monday had started my 10 week plan for training for the half marathon.  Tuesday, today, and tomorrow are all supposed to be 3 miles and then 4 on Sunday.

There is a hill that starts my route each day.  I walk up the hill, from my driveway {to warm up ;)  LOL} and then begin my jog.  When reaching the starting point for my jog........I had a  question about my training.  There had been a car accident (the cop told me that the driver walked away, thank goodness) and the street was blocked off, which meant that I had to take a detour.  This was going to take me close to an extra mile over my original route.  Should I swap my 4 mile day on Sunday, for today? Is that enough to really matter?  I had hoped to stick to the 10 wk plan to the T, but it's already screwed up.

I think that this is no big deal, but then my head started spinning with all the little questions that have been racking up over the past few weeks.  These questions have been stemming from all the worries, problems, fears, etc that I overhear and conjure up in my head.

     Do I really need to pay attention to the mileage that I'm racking up, so I know when I need new sneaks?  Will I just feel it?  Will I even run enough to matter?
   
 Should I be wearing special socks?  Do I need compression socks? If I don't wear them, will I get nasty veins?  Would running make any difference in my leg veins, if powerlifting and bodybuilding hadn't?

     How long of a run will I do, before I need one of those water belts?  Should I really be eating and drinking more, before I go for my run?  I only get up like 10 min, before I head out the door and hate having anything in my stomach.

     I've heard a lot about bad heel striking?  I don't have pain now, but should I be running more on the ball of my foot?  Will I all of a sudden have horrible pain, because I may be running wrong?

     Will my toenails fall off?!  I can deal with black toenails, because I always have them painted and I like dark nail polish.  Missing nails will NOT look good in my cute sandals this summer and I have a feeling that my teenage daughter will remind me of this, every time she may see it.  I haven't had even a slight pain in any toe yet, so no worries.  I even cut them last night, which made me worry all night.  Did I cut them too short?!  No, they seem fine.

     There are a lot of slugs out in the morning.  Do they slither up trees and if so, will they drop on my head?  I ran my hand over my head, quite a few times this morning.  Caterpillars are a BIG fear of mine, so I'm always on the lookout for them too.

     Am I going to have to worry about chafing at all?  How far of a run will it take to chafe?

     I want to squat and deadlift.  Should I do it today and jog tomorrow, so that when my legs hurt the worst, it'll be a full rest day?  Would the jogging, just loosen me up, if I have some DOMS?  Might be good, but I'd hate to wake up and give myself a reason to stay in bed, rather than go for my jog.

     Should I be wearing a visor or glasses?  The sun is getting brighter by the end of my jog and I don't want to help the wrinkles out any by squinting.  On the other hand......would a visor make my forehead break out?
  
     Will all the real runners, think Im a joke for even asking all of these?  Will they say 'she only ran 13 miles this week.  what's she crying about?' ?

OK.  ENOUGH WHINING FOR NOW!!!!!!!!!  I'll just take it jog by jog and listen to my body.  Everyone is different and no one knows me better than ME.   :)