Randomness

So I was puttering around the net looking for races near by...since my race in Virginia is going to be a no-go due to lack of fundage. Anywho, I found this cutie of a race, Bailey's Doggie Dash. How cute it's a 5K race that me and my pooch can do together.
It sounds like a lot of fun! I think I may just do this one...course I'll have to consult Mz. Bridgette and see if she has time in her busy schedule...lol.



In other news, the nice people at Endorphin Warrior are awarding one of EricaH's lucky readers with a chance to win a Training Tech Workout Hat of their choice.
To enter,visit EricaH's blog today!

The Plan

Well, I've picked up running AGAIN, it's a love/hate relationship. One of my problems has been pushing myself too hard. I expect unrealistic things from my body and then hate all over myself when I fail to achieve. That kinda pressure usually leads me to an open bag of cookies with a side of Häagen-Dazs...that's no good! So this time around, "the plan" is essentially No Plan. I had my sights set on the rock-n-roll half in VA but it looks like there won't be enough money for a trip out there, and school shopping for the kids, so I'll have to pass on the race again....GRRRRR. I will run that race one of these days!! But now I'm eyeballing something a bit closer to home...like in my home town. The Grand Rapids Marathon. It's in October so I have plenty of time. My regimen will include running 4 to 5 times a week and increasing the distance each week. My only expectation is going to be my body....if it tells me we can run more ...we will, if it says cool it I need rest, then I will rest. This should help me keep at it for the long hall. And as I go along ..... I'll pick up the Hal Higdon half marathon for a novice training plan, taking time, when needed, for my body to acclimate instead of pushing it to the brink. Small victories, instead of my do it or die trying mentality. I'm going to try to love running again...instead of feeling beaten by it.

Nothing more than feelings...

Well as you may have noticed..me and running haven't been getting along so well. Actually movement in general has been quite a core. I dunno what's happened to me, I'm burnt out I guess. It all just seems so hard...everything. :>/ Am I depressed or something? I don't think so I don't feel sad...more like uninspired. I haven't seen much in the way of weight loss...but that I suppose should be expected since I haven't been running...like at all.

Ya ever feel like your one kind of person on the inside you have thoughts and ideas about how you really are...but then try as you might you succumb to all your bad habits and wind up being this totally other person that you don't even really recognize...that's kinda where I'm at right now. On the inside I feel like I should be this, glowing, fit, yoga posing, ultra runner who eats clean organic food and feels fabulously zen all day long.

But on the outside people see me as an overweight, 30something mom, who as an obsession with reading health books and mags so that she can NEVER APPLY IT TO HER OWN LIFE. What good is all the knowledge if I never apply it. I have read countless books on healthy eating and nutrition...Most women my age are heading to the bookstore to buy fiction romance novels. You won't find me in that section, pretty much ever. I'm always elbows deep in a dozen different non-fiction self help books, mostly on healthy eating, well being, or exercise. I have to admit that I feel weird sometimes even standing in that section of the bookstore or library. Coz I hide the fact that I'm fat and have problems so well...lol. Standing in the self help section says I'm lost...taking 3 or 4 books with you says....I'm hopeless!! I guess maybe I feel like I can think or read my way to being fit. But, it hasn't worked so far.

I have a million excuses, for the world and for myself. I don't have time, I'm not talented at running some people are born to be runners...I'm not one of them. I even pull out the ole well it's just that I'm working so much... I have been working 56 hour weeks. But I've done that and ran as well. All those things are just cop-outs. But there is something definitely in the way of me morphing into the person that I feel like I am inside. I just, for the life of me, don't know what that thing is.

I'm a big fan of Biggest Loser and with every person it seems that they come to this point where they break down and cry, sometimes yell...and then they have this big epiphany and everything changes then all of a sudden they have drive and confidence. You can see it in their faces, there is focus there instead of defeat. I want that for myself. I catch a little bit of it from time to time...but it isn't lasting. I just don't know how to make it stick.

2010 Grand Rapids Kidney Walk

Another gray day in Michigan...about 65 degrees and no sun.
That's how the 2010 Grand Rapids Kidney Walk began.
This was my first time participating in the Kidney Walk. My family got together and formed Team Brent in honor of my brother-in-law. This is a pic of Team Brent...

the guy with the Blue and Yellow hair is Brent. He agree to color his hair all crazy if we made our $$ goal....lol.After battling with juvenile onset diabetes which claimed his eyesight, foot and kidneys we can proudly say that Brent is a transplant survivor of 4 years. Today was a good day for him and his spirits were high! He managed to walk just about 1 mile of the 2.70 mile course.

Part of the trail lead us along the Grand River which made for some nice pics and we got to see some wild life (turtles and ducks).

The other part of the trail took us along the highway where numerous cars and trucks honked in support. I haven't yet heard how many people walked...I read somewhere that last year they had 800 some people attend. I wonder if we beat that this year? There were a lot of people there.

At the end of the day our team was able to raise $2,158.15 for the National Kidney Foundation, and I got some much needed exercise in!
Below is a picture of my oldest son, my hubby and me.


Distance: 2.70miles
Time: 55:34
Pace: 20:33