My Mini Marathon Experience...

I copied this from the Indy Star today...

"The 35th Running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon took place on Saturday, May 8, 2010. The Mini has sold-out for the past nine years with 35,000 registrants, and an additional 4,000 participants in the Finish Line 500 Festival 5K. The Mini-Marathon is the largest half-marathon in the U.S., and overall, the fifth largest running event in America. The 2010 event sold out on December 14, 2009."

To say that the race was awesome is an understatement. Let me start from the beginning....

Friday, I was nervous as heck. My stomach was in knots ALL.DAY.LONG. I was excited/scared/nervous--all at the same time. Thursday night we went downtown to get my packet and that was something. I loved the Expo. Wish I could have stayed longer...next time we won't take the kids. :)

Friday night, sister and I went to Olive Garden to carb load. I had eaten Olive Garden before a long run a few weeks ago so I knew it would be okay on my stomach. Went home with the intention of going to bed by 10. I couldn't go to bed...knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. It was crazy. I was so nervous. I laid everything out...down to my underwear. Was planning on getting up at 5 Saturday morning to be out the door by 6. Slept until 530. Got up ready to go...although stomach still in knots. Fixed me a protein shake for breakfast and had an extra banana. Did I mention I wasn't even hungry b/c I wasn't--still full from the night before. Wish I would have drank more water b/c by the time the start of the race came I was dying of thirst. Not a good thing.

We got downtown, found our corral then went inside to keep warm. B/c the weather conditions SUCKED! It was horrendous running weather. Temperature wise it was PERFECT...but the wind...oh it was WINDY. We're talking 26 mph winds with gusts into the 30s. AWFUL!!!! DH kept saying how he was so happy he wasn't doing it. (And then we wake up today--Sunday, Mother's Day, and it's PERFECT running weather--sun, low temps, light breeze--figures!)

The race started around 745...we crossed the start line around 8. I don't have my official race time or anything yet (haven't looked) but I know it took us a while to cross the start line. We were in a swarm of people. I left sis behind, told her I was taking off (she didn't train AT ALL for this thing). I started with a light run...ended up running for over 8 minutes before walking again. Then the side splits started...again. Had them on my last run not sure what the cause was this time. So at the first water stop I took 3 cups of water and drank them. Then kept going, felt better. My motto was one mile at a time. The first 5 or 6 were a piece of cake. Then we got to the track (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) and it went downhill from there. The wind was awful-I had to put my sweatshirt back on b/c I was so cold. Made it through that and thought the worst of the wind would be over but it wasn't.

At this point I was starting to get sore. I let my mind get to me. The thoughts started pouring in...you didn't train well for this, you can't finish this, etc... but pushed them to the back of my mind and said too late...I WILL finish now. When I would run, I wouldn't feel any pain but when I walked my hips would hurt. So I tried to keep it a jog but heck I might as well have been walking. Did I mention the emotions at this? OMG, I was so emotional. I fought back tears more than once.

I told DH I would text him when I was at mile 12. I made it there and told him I was "almost dead". He brought DS1 down so he could see me cross the finish line. That was SO important to me--for DS1 to be there and see mommy running. He texts me back and says they are right after the 13 mile marker on the right hand side. So I hit that point and take off my sunglasses so I can see them (there was no sun but the glasses helped against the wind) and I am looking and finally spot them. DH lifts DS1 up so I can see him and he yells "MOMMY!!!!!!!" I give him a high-5 and then cross the finish line. There are photographers all over the place and I really didn't want my picture to be of my bawling my eyes out but honestly? That's what I wanted to do. I got my medal, grabbed my food, got one more picture then went to meet my men. It was the BEST feeling to get that post race hug from my 6 year old. I collapsed on the ground and quickly changed my shoes. I was so glad to be done. IT was amazing, awesome, and phenomenal.

The emotions I felt yesterday really hit me hard. I still can't believe I did it. I walked the same race in 2007 and honestly I think I finished 2 minutes slower than then...and I 'ran' yesterday. But I've had another child since then, I'm about 10# heavier than I was then and my bladder isn't what it used to be--had to take a pit stop and I didn't have to do that 3 years ago. Today, I feel great. I came home yesterday and iced my ankles, hips, knees and my low back. Then I took a shower and then soaked in the tub...then curled up with my 2 year old and took a 2.5 hour nap. The hubby and I went out last night and I had a glass of wine with dinner and a salad with real dressing. :) I felt so good. I wanted to wear my medal around last night but DH wouldn't let me. I told him I was going to OWN that medal...I FINISHED that race. I set a goal and I completed it. I was going to OWN all I could! I've gotten that message from more than one person. I will OWN this accomplishment!

Thank you all so much for the love, support, prayers, etc... I felt them yesterday. I loved the race experience so I am setting a goal to do one organized running event every month for the rest of the year. The next one in a 5k on June 5--Out Run the Sun--it starts at 7 PM! That's my kind of race. :) I'm sorry this got so long but I wanted to get all my thoughts out there.

Now it's back to the grind and a new fitness routine. I'm going to do some strength training. I've been reading about Jen for a long time now and she's awesome and so inspiring. I LOVE her blog. She has inspired me to get more into strength training. I want my butt to look good...and my arms and legs and tummy. So we'll see where I end up. :) Have a good night everyone and a great OP day tomorrow!

UPDATED to add--I'm a RUNNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Who would've thunk?

You may or may not remember that little race I signed up for....yeah it's in 23 days!!!!!!

Oh how I don't feel ready. I am not running 4-5 times a week like I probably should be....BUT, I am working out 4-6 days a week. I've recently discovered zumba and ZOMG!!! It is freaking AWESOME!!! I love it! The class I am doing right now is only for a 6 week stent, but I am hoping she will extend it (it's at my church and this is her first class to teach) but she's added a new class at a local gym but the time of day is really bad for me. So, for now, I am doing that for an hour every Thursday night. I work out on Friday mornings to Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred--it's also awesome! Saturday has been my running day, Sunday is Pilates. Monday is usually rest or walk or bike ride. Tuesday is either run/walk/or bike. Wednesday is rest or run. I'm really trying to get in 5 days a week of SOME form of organized exercise and then also be active the rest of the day (when I am not working). I've had some mental blocks to overcome too with my running.

I set out on Saturday (4/10/10) to do 7 miles. I got up early, carb loaded the night before, suited up, grabbed my CamelPak, and my cell phone and off I went. Honestly, I didn't think I would make it. I had a landmark to run to and then turn around and come home. I never in a million years thought I could do it. In the past few of my runs, I've had this mental wall hit me at about 45 minutes. "You can't do this, are you crazy? you are not a runner." Those types of things...this time I revved up my iPod so I would have awesome songs at the 45 minute mark--IT WORKED!!! But then I hit that wall at the 1 hour mark. Oh it was awful! I really wanted to finish in an hour and a half or less. I ended up walking more towards the end than I had been, but you know what? I DID IT!!! I made it back home in an hour and 32 minutes. If I had kept up my running, I would have made it home faster. I couldn't believe I did it! I was on cloud 9. When I was in the shower, I kept telling myself that I did it and it was AWESOME!! I felt so awesome. I thought my pace was horrendous but I got a new Nike+ and it's not as bad as I thought it was. I have been running for 5 minutes, walking for 1 or 2 minutes. During the running time, I will hit the button to tell me my pace and low and behold it's around 10 something. I couldn't believe it!!! So I don't suck after all. :)

So who would've thunk? ME?!?! ME?!?! I am becoming a runner. I will not say (yet) that I am a runner, but holy cow does it feel good!

I went out last night and did about 3 miles--why does the first mile have to suck so bad?? After that I was fine but man that first mile was TORTURE!!! I burned 455 calories and I wanted to come home and eat Thin Mints but I didn't. I had some strawberries and FF Cool Whip--it was awesome.

A few weeks ago I contemplated giving up on this half marathon race. I debated transferring out and giving someone else my bib number...but I didn't. And now? Now, I really think--NO--I KNOW I can do this! It may not be pretty, it may not be great, but I will do it. I will finish and I will be PROUD!!! I will be my own superhero.

Now, if only I could get my DIET to coincide with all the exercise I am doing. It's not awful, but it's too much of the good stuff. I'm really trying to reign that in this week. Although the scale has dropped 4# since Monday morning--but that was after a weekend of eating out a lot, not as much water, too much coke zero. So I am feeling balanced right now--right this second. I have control right now.

Okay, my thoughts are out of my head and on 'paper'. I feel better now. :) I hope whoever is out there reading has a GREAT day. Get up and get moving!

Why be normal?

When I was in high school, I had a shirt that said Why be Normal? So, here I am 31 years old and being different is a GOOD thing.

Here's my thoughts....

Do you ever feel like an outcast or an outsider...in your own family? Like they are in a clique and you are not part of it? What's wrong with being different? What's wrong with living life differently than they do?

What's wrong with wanting financial peace?

What's wrong with despising credit?

What's wrong with enjoying exercise and being active?

What's wrong with not wanting to eat fast food?

What's wrong with not drinking soda or sweet tea, kool-aid or lemonade?

So what that I am not super skinny--*I* am beautiful in my own way--and I KNOW this. I don't need breast implants to be happy. I don't have to be super skinny to be happy either. My mom tells me all the time that I'd be pretty if I lost weight--something would look better on me if I lost 20#. I don't need her or anyone else to feel like I am loved. People wonder why we don't travel to visit our family more than we do now and this is why.

WE ARE DIFFERENT.

And you know what? We are okay with that! We don't feel welcome with our own family b/c we are so different from them--our way of thinking is so very different.

We visited family for the Easter holiday and we learned a lot while we were there. Feelings were hurt (mine) and no one seems to care (which isn't anything new). I've always been the Cinderella in my family. My mom's own BFF will tell you that. My sister (J) is the favorite, my sister (M) is the baby, and my brother (also an M) is the boy. But you know what? I'm learning to accept this and that it's OKAY. I will never be super skinny like J is and to my mom--that's all she cares about. She doesn't think of my boys--only herself. She doesn't keep toys at her house for my boys that they can play with outside--so we hear DS1 complain NONSTOP about how bored he is...and if you are a parent--this drives you nuts!!!

One day, they might see the light. They might see our way of thinking. But for now, it's okay that we are different. Right now, we are living like no one else so that later we can live like no one else.

I don't live my life to please my mom or any of my family for that matter. I live to please God and to serve him and my family. My husband and my boys mean the WORLD to me. I go to sleep thinking of them and I wake up thinking of them. They are my life. Behind God--they come first. I strive to make them happy--to be a good mom and an even better wife.

So...what's wrong with being different?

N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!!

Tell me--are YOU different from those closest to you?

So lucky, so blessed

(Disclaimer: I debated even hitting publish on this post...but this is my blog and hence my thoughts...)

Lately, I have been feeling very lucky and blessed.

The hubby and I have been on the same page for a while now. We are in sync with each other and it's been very nice. We no longer argue about money. Almost a year ago we started on the Dave Ramsey Plan and our life has gotten better and better ever since. In October, we started going to church. We have been married for almost 10 years and I have been wanting us to go to church ever since we got married. I swore I would not be that woman at church who brought her kids but her husband didn't come with her. Besides, once we got married and moved to our current city, I lost my home church (driving 2.5 hours one way was not gonna happen). So anyway, we started going to church in October...we don't argue about money anymore b/c we live on a (gasp!) budget and our life is generally good.

We've been blessed with DH having a good job. I have been at my job for almost 10 years...and working from home for almost 7 years. My job also provides our health insurance and it's better than what a lot of people have so I won't complain about it.

We have 2 wonderful healthy boys that adore each other. They have blessed and enriched our lives so much. We adore them and love spending time with them. How did we get so lucky?

So...here's my question. And I will be 100% honest here, I am SCARED TO DEATH to even say this. I feel like things are going so well....when will the other shoe drop?? Yeah, we had some major car issues this last week but b/c of our budget and our savings, it wasn't a problem at all money wise. But I mean....I feel like I'm so lucky and we've been so blessed especially in the last year. I know there is a higher power at work here too and to that I am thankful.

I'm trying to get closer in my walk with God but I'm new at this too. The hubby and I have never prayed together before...ever. Every time we go to church (so every Sunday now), it's such an emotional experience for me. I think hubby thinks I'm crazy b/c I cry every time we are in the church service. :)

I don't know where I am going with this. Just trying to get my thoughts down on proverbial paper. Lately, I feel like things are going so well. It looks like there IS a reason for all of that.

I'll be back to your regularly scheduled blogging after this. Promise! ;P

Where does the time go?

Holy cow, it's Wednesday.

What happened to the weekend?? And Monday and Tuesday?? Lately, the days seem to be going by so fast and it's only going to get worse (or maybe better? Closer to spring and summer and warmer weather).

Well, I survived the weekend. It wasn't great eating wise but it wasn't a complete disaster either. This week hasn't been great but it's not been awful either--eating wise. I've been keeping up with my workouts thus far. I need to get something done today and tomorrow.

So I want to know if this is normal. When I am running outside in the cooler air and I take deep breaths--I get a bloody like taste in my mouth. I drink while I run and also spit out mucous (sorry if that is way TMI!) and phlegm and there is no blood. But that taste is there--is that normal??

I got out on Monday and rode my brand new bike for 36 minutes. My mommy parts were sore afterwards but once I recovered I was fine. My butt wasn't even sore and that's why I bought the bike I have--LOVE the seat!

Okay, I'm going to go get some lunch. I've been trying to do higher protein at lunch time (well the whole day actually) and it's done a world of good for my afternoon snacking! Have a great OP day!

Stats don't lie...

(sung to the tune of Shakira's Hips Don't Lie).

Last week I installed a new stat counter on here. I was curious if anyone was still reading b/c I wasn't getting any comments. Low and behold you are! I've gotten 2 comments (1 per post) on my last two posts but yet my blog has been visited way more than that. If you're here and you're reading, go ahead and leave a comment! I won't bite, I promise. I'd really like to know who all is out there nowadays. :)

So it's been a super crazy week! Work was pretty crazy on Wednesday and I stress ate to deal. When am I going to learn that doesn't work or help??!!? Tuesday, I did get on the elliptical for 20 minutes and it felt so good. I didn't set out to do any certain mileage or work extra hard--just 20 minutes. I felt good afterwards and I worked up quite a sweat. Today (Thursday) I got to take my workout OUTSIDE! I went to the park and ran 2 miles. Well, I won't say ran. I walk 2 minutes and run (more like jog) for 3. Back before my injury in October, I was jogging 8 minutes and walking for 1. I'm really trying to get back up to that. My mini is in 64 days and I am starting to freak out a little bit. I think I'm going to have to go back to the mentality of doing something work out wise every day. That's what I was doing back in October. I did something almost every day--whether it be a walk or a jog or the elliptical. Now, I have my brand new bike to add to the mix and I can't wait. The weather this weekend is supposed to be GORGEOUS. I'm hoping the hubby and I can go for a ride on Sunday afternoon. I still have to get a bike trailer so I can take my littlest man when I'm not riding for fitness. Can't wait to get that though and make it a family affair.

I am so looking forward to spring. Just this morning I was telling the boys all the fun stuff we are going to do this summer--the pool, the zoo, playing outside, riding bikes--oh I can't wait! I feel like I've spent so much of the last 2 summers inside b/c DS2 was so little. I'm so thrilled to be at this point with them. They adore each other which makes my life a lot easier! :)

We're trying to decide where to go for vacation this year. Looks like we are going back to Florida. I told DH that next year, we are going to the East Coast. I want to go somewhere different and somewhere we've never been before. I'm more excited to plan that trip...guess I should get this year's over with first, huh? :) Any tips out there on places to go on the East Coast. Myrtle Beach is out--went there in 2008 and didn't really care for it. I'm thinking Jershey shore or Maryland or somewhere like that. I want to get a beach house that also has a pool. Of course all of that depends on the $$$. That's why I need to start planning now. :)

Our anniversary is in June and the hubsters and I will be married TEN YEARS! How did that happen?!?! I seriously don't know where the time has gone. It's CRAZY!!! So we're talking about going on a cruise this fall to celebrate. I'm kinda excited...who am I kidding--REALLY excited! :) We're looking at five days--KID FREE!!! Oh I'm gonna cherish that!

So with all this vacation talk...I have got to get my butt in gear and lose these pounds. I've changed my goal to "only" want to lose 2o. Heck--that might as well be 200 to me. But I can do it. I'm turning in my journal next week to my leader so I have to track everything. I will exercise at least 4 days this week (hopefully more!) and I will track it all. Last time I did that, I lost 3.6# that week. Well, needless to say--I've gained that all back. ARGH!!! So, that's my plan for this week--journal and exercise. I'm also going to eat higher protein. I'm going to try to keep my snacks to popcorn or fruit. I'm having troubles with my lunches. Here's where I could use some tips! I try to do leftovers, but lately we rarely have them. What we do have, DH usually takes for his lunch. Since I am home, I can make something but I'm usually swamped for time too. I think I just had some ideas pop in my head...but I'll take any ideas you may have out there too!

If you made it this far, GREAT! Now go ahead and leave me a comment--it's not that hard. Just click where it says "comments" to the right of the time. That's where you leave it! I'm dying to know who's reading. I'll be back this weekend with an update. I already have my journal started for the week (week starts Friday morning) so I am on the right track. Have a good one!

Dear Winter,

It is now March 1st.

I hope and pray that you are done with all your snow and ice and cold temperatures. It's not that I don't love you for your own reasons...but I am over you at this point. I am longing to get my exercise outside. I have a brand new bike that I'd love to rack some miles on to. I want to get my mini marathon training outdoors instead of on the elliptical. I'm starting to hate my elliptical and that's not a good thing. The weather forecast here in Indianapolis this week has lots of sunshine and increasing temps. I pray this means spring is literally right around the corner. I'm ready for sandals, pedicures, long walks outside after dinner and family bike rides. According to the calendar, March 20 is the first day of spring. Please, winter, please be over early. You always come early--why can't you be over early too? Also, my boys are dying to get outside too. They are sick of playing inside. They want to go outside and run and play and wear themselves out. I will gladly welcome you next year with open arms and all your snow. But for now, I am over you.

Love,

Amanda :)

So now it's March 1st--what are your goals for the month?? I'm going to get back on the exercise bandwagon. It's been 2 weeks since I worked out and I'm ready to feel that rush again. I didn't sleep well last night so I didn't get up when my alarm went off this morning...hoping to squeeze in a workout this afternoon. We have our FPU class tonight so Mondays are pretty tight.

Okay, so I started this post this morning and came back to finish it. Doesn't look like I'm going to get in a workout today...work is too busy this afternoon. But I will make it tomorrow! I'll report back and tell you how it went.

Oh one more thing...I'm trying to start using twitter more. You can follow me here. Later!!