I want to be like Mike...

OK, not Michael Jordan (who for the record was the best basketball player ever) not really.

I want to be cool like my friends, Kim and Christina. Let me provide some background.



I was swimming with one of my friends this morning and he complemented me on how relaxed and fast I am swimming. I laughed and said, "Thanks, but I'm not fast. Kim and Christina are fast. They amaze me. One day I'm going to beat them in the pool and in a race. Sure it won't be anytime soon, but someday I will." Cocky huh? Well I don't mean it that way. I got to thinking. It sounds like all I care about is being faster than so and so. No that's not it. To me it is like this:







I admire and am inspired at how hard Kim and Christina work at becoming faster or better a whatever it might be. I equate their speed and success as some of the top people running and swimming. So to me it means that if I can hang with them or beat them, then I have achieved real fitness. Silly I know. To me it kind puts a stamp that I'm competent and a serious athlete. That and I always believe in setting goals that are ones you must work to obtain. I think I can obtain that level of fitness and am having a blast working towards that goal.







So when I say "I'm gonna beat them someday." It means I have to work really freaking hard to catch and pass them. Which is a big motivator for me. Because I hold them in high praises and if I'm at their level then I know I have worked hard. And to me working hard and obtaining a goal is one of the best things in the world.







So what athlete do you hold in high regard?

Flat Half and a PR

I had a near perfect 4th of July. Ran the Foot Traffic Flat Half in the morning with friends. Obtained a PR. My husband cleaned the house while I ran. Family Reunion (with the expection of my dad being there it was fun) Then as a family we went to a block party where my husband's band was playing. Danced for 2 hours (or more I don't know) with the kids. Finished it all off with fireworks in the warmth of our car. A good day indeed.

The half marathon was the most relaxed I have ever ran 13.1 miles. I thought we were farther towards the start so the first mile we couldn't go any faster because of the sheer mass of people. Thanks to Laura for pushing and pacing me. She rocks. Thanks to Christina for the help in the warm up and tips. Thanks to Diana for being such a great cheerleader. Thanks to Jami for hanging out with us, being funny as all heck, and driving me home. So here are my splits.

Mile 1-8:43
Mile 2-8:07 (opps: Laura slow down ;p)
Mile 3-8:24
Mile 4-8:22
Mile 5-8:18
Mile 6-8:21
Mile 7-8:18

Mile 8-8:19
Mile 9-8:28
Mile 10-8:17
Mile 11-8:21
Mile 12-8:26

Mile 13-8:11
Last .1- (7:53 pace)




 

Boobs again?

Here is my all time favorite Bra. The Handful. I have five of them.

So here is your chance to save a little, too. They are fantastic for gel's and little tan lines. More on that later.

Today...well, today we all made it through the day.

Today has been for some reason a hard day. Maybe because it was a rest day. Maybe because everything hit me today. Here's a short list of some of the things running in my head. I think it has to do with me having a 'rest' day that my mind decides to use that extra energy.

1. We are moving. Again. I'm so sick of moving. Really done with it. My husband likes to blame me as the reason we move so much. Not sure that's really it. We own two houses and rent the house we are in now. Crazy huh? Here's why. The big house we own (3400 sqft on 1.34 acres) has a mortgage of $2450 a month. It was fine, when we had his full income and my mother lived with us. Well, in an effort to have a relationship with my mother (we my mom and I) decided that this just was not going to work. So this one was my fault. Sure. So we tried to scrape by in that house until it sold. Housing market crashed and let's say the $100,000 we put as a down payment on the house is no more. We would be lucky to break even. I mean lucky. So I being the creative mover and shaker that I am found renters. They lasted 6 months then I found another set of renters. They lasted about 6 months. I couldn't find renters so we moved back into the house. A few months after being back in the house I found renters again and we moved into a rental house. Where we are now. So why are be moving again? Back into that house? Nope. Into our other rental. This rental we co-own with my MIL and step-FIL. We've had renters in there, but they are a month behind (for like the last year). We made enough to pay the mortgage and a little extra so we didn't care. Well, now they are moving out, which is good. However, the house is in need of a new roof and sliding and yard work and... and... and. So we thought we would move into the house to do the repairs. Because honestly there is now way I have time to do any repairs unless we live there. On top of that it's only an $800 a month mortgage. So we will save over $ 700 a month just on rent/mortgage if we move in. This all sounds like a win-win right? Well, the down side is the house is only 1100 sq ft. I know I'm spoiled. But six people in a house that small? Did I mention the one bathroom issue? My kids always decide they have to go poop at the same time. I may have gone outside to pee before. I'm just saying.

2. I'm so busy trying to fit in workouts so I don't explode. But my mom is working and I don't want to overwhelm my SIL.

3. We are broke. Hubby going to school full time and working. Me trying to feed and cloth six people. One of which is me and I eat a freaking lot of food. I eat about 2000-3500 cal a day. That adds up. Especially when it's all good for you food.

4. The kids were either trying to kill me or drive me insane today. I'm not sure which.

5. I'm trying to figure out the whole move thing and have it not affect my husband's schedule or make it stress the kids out.

6. I miss hanging out with my mom. She's working a full time job and I don't get to call her up and say 'hey, let's go to the zoo'.

7. My father (or not my father if you ask him) said a bunch of horrible and mean things to me. I know he's crazy and I shouldn't let it get to me. But you know what I'm pissed. I'm trying to take the high road, but part of me really wants to get back at him for the crap he's done for the last umm....32 years. Let's just say when I got married he showed up drunk to my wedding. When my husband and I went to go buy a house I found out he had been using my social security number to rack up debt and collections to the tune of $3,000. He stole one of my cars from me. It just goes on and on. I am at the point where I really want justice to be done.


8. Avery is having a hard time hearing again. We go to the doctor on Wednesday. She loses part of her hearing whenever she gets sick. Usually it returns quickly, but it's been two weeks and she is still having a hard time. Poort thing.

Off to bed, before I really start sharing too much. I'm going to go kiss each kid like I do every night and thank God for them and my husband.

OH, I did find this one blog that made me smile. http://enduranceisntonlyphysical.blogspot.com/
Check it out.

Happy Father's Day!

For Breakfast the kids and I made Whole Wheat French Toast and pork bacon for Aric. Happy Father's Day to the most amazing father. Thank you for taking such good care of our kids. I love you!

My training for the marathon will include...

I have one whole year to get in shape for my very first marathon. I will be using the First program, for a few reasons:

1. Whenever I run more than 35 miles a week I get injured.

2. I need to cross train to keep from being injured.

3. A friend who has completed 17 marathons, who also can't run over 35 miles/week without injury, recommended I try this program.

4. I think I would get really bored with just running to get in shape. I know that sounds strange, but it's not if you know me. I'm finicky. I like to keep things interesting because I bore easily. (Hush, husband! I know, I know.)



5. I want to be agressive in my training because it fits my personality.

6. I enjoy cross training.









So I am going to try to swim twice a week, run three (quality) times a week, bike once a week, and lift weights twice a week. To keep things interesting I will throw a few races in to keep me on track, but use them as training runs.

July 4th I will be running the Foot Traffic Half with friends Christina, Lynn (She's doing the full... you Rock!), Morgan, and Laura.

July 25 I will run my first triathlon. The girlfriends and Dude's tri with my firends Jami, Amy, Andrew, and Larissa.

August 7th is SkirtChaser in Vancouver. I'm helping Fit Right and SkirtSports with this race and need lots of volunteers. Post a note if you can help.

August 27-28 is Hood to Coast. Running with hubby and a whole host of friends. This will be hubby's first time running it and my second time.


October 17 is Girlfriends Half Marathon. One of my favorite's because it was my first race half.

Nov I always do the Clark County Turkey Trot.

This is what I have for now. I know it will grow, but that only depends on my pocket book. Races are expensive. So what do you have in store for this year?

A nice friendly workout....

turkish get ups 2 each side start with 5lbs and go until failure. I made it to 30lbs


lat pulls start 30 x10 (I about smacked myself in face it was so light..kinda funny) then up to 60lbs x5 and go up 10lbs each turn until failure. I made it to 120lbs

Then 10 rounds of :

5-tri-ceps push-ups

I did all on my toes.

And so did Diana.

1 min wall sits.

myself and Diana (in white shirt) happy we were on #10 of wall sits. Erin and Laura also happy.

And as a reward 15 mins of hamstring stretching