Or I could share with you all the details about 3 separate fundraising events that I have in the works for raising monies for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Neighborhood block party, winetasting, and a garage sale.  I’m also hopefully going to pull off a treadmill stunt just like Christie O.  That’s in the works.  I am bound and determined to meet my fundraising goal of $2900 – I am a little less than halfway there.  Failure is not an option.  I will work, work, work until I get there.

Or, I could tell you about the run I had today, my longest run E-V-A-H.  6.40 miles, with another 0.75 miles in warm-up and cool down.  THAT’S A LOT OF MILEAGE- wahoo! 

I could go into great detail about anyone of these things, BUT I would rather share with you what happened while I was at Costco today.  After my 6.40 mile run.  While I was still wearing my Team in Training shirt.

As I was checking out, the guy at the end of my check-out lane, the bagger dude but not really a bagger dude since he doesn’t bag any of the groceries, maybe I should call him the “boxer”  dude…..whatever.  That guy, he looks at me and says “Go Team!”.   This is what we and anyone that knows anything about Team in Training shouts as a sign of support and encouragement. 

My head pops up and I ask him- Do you know what Team in Training is?

Bagger/Boxer dude:  Yes.  I was an honored teammate.  I am 4 years out (I think he meant that his cancer has been in remission for four years).

note:  Each team for Team in Training has an honored teammate, someone picked by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, that we run for.  We also run for those we personally know that have been affected by cancer.   

We were so excited to connect, really connect.  We chatted it up, exchanging as much information as we could in a short period of time.  He let me know that there was an Austin team for TnT (Team in Training) and that they were meeting tomorrow for a run and did I want to meet up with them.  I told him that I was part of a virtual team and that we were running the San Diego 1/2 marathon.  He will be there as well, meeting his bone marrow donor for the first time.   How effing cool is that?!!!!!

At times, I have found that training with a virtual team isolates me from the “people” aspect of who we are doing all this hard work for.  Now, I KNOW who I am doing it for.  His name is Mike and he is a boxer/bagger dude at Costco and he had cancer and now, he is competing in a 1/2  ironman triathlon.

He is but one face of cancer and he is the picture of health and I love it and it gives me hope that one day, this disease will be eradicated.

GO TEAM.

Donate here.

In 2010 alone, I am doing a half marathon in June, a women’s sprint triathlon in the Fall, another half marathon in November and I am contemplating a FULL marathon in my hometown of Austin, TX next Feb 2011. I cannot believe it.

Then I thought about the life changes that are happening right this very second to our family and I was reminded of how little I have control over that situation and it sucks so very bad and is so very stressful, but exercise and fitness, I have control over that.

Then, I promptly burst into tears. Because I have come so far and I do have control and I can make my legs go faster and exercise lets me escape from every day troubles for a short while and I feel good about myself and the appearance that looks back at me in the mirror.

What is it with me and exercising and crying? Goodness.

So yeah, I did have a loss this week and it wasn’t a very big loss but it was a loss nonetheless.

I may not have control over external situations that affect me and my family, BUT I do have control over me- my health, my fitness. So the small 0.8 lbs I lost this week- I am proud of that and I will own that loss as my very own.

Last week: 167.4 lbs
This week: 166.8 lbs
Loss this week: 0.8 lbs
Total loss for the challenge: 2.4 lbs

Last Thursday’s run was the tempo run and it still remains hard for me.  This was the second time I did my tempo run outside and I find it is more difficult to push myself to run faster when I don’t have the treadmill to rely on.  Towards the end of my tempo run, I felt like I could have kept on going.  Weird thing is- I think the tempo runs ARE making me faster overall.  Amazing how this consistent training stuff works, isn’t it?

Saturday was my long run of 5 miles.  It took me until Mile 3 to feel completely warmed up and finally hitting my stride.  I hit an endorphin high around mile 3.25 and that carried me all the way to the end.  My last mile was at a 10:30 min pace, which is very fast for me and not my normal.  I am still using the run/walk method and loving every minute of it!

Fundraising the required minimum amount for LLS has been on my mind a lot lately.  I am bound and determined to think outside of the box, to raise the amount I need to for LLS, and to participate in the San Diego 1/2 Marathon with my team.  It will happen.

Oh yes, it will happen.

This week’s Monday Project is to answer this question:  Where would you be now if you had waited two years to start this journey?

To be honest, I read this and then I filed it away under “I don’t even want to think about where I would be in two years if I hadn’t started this journey” because um, hello, that didn’t happen. 

But, that Christie O., she’s a smart cookie and she makes us face the tough questions and I decided that I needed to participate in this Monday Project, to remind myself of why I am doing this, to dig deep, instead of living on the surface and getting so caught up in daily life struggles, to pull back and look at the big picture.

I am already crying.  Damn, I am emotional all the effing time, it seems.

The simple answer is this.

• I would be 20+ lbs heavier than I am now.
• I would be incredibly unhappy and depressed about the way I looked.
• I would not want any pictures taken of my fat face.  Specifically no pictures with my kids because all I would see would be everything that is wrong with me instead of the beauty of their faces and their love.
• I would be pigging out and food-medicating my stress.
• I would have been probably had a nervous breakdown by now.  Seriously.  If not that, then I am positive that I would have been on my way to a serious, “I need a doctor’s help” depression.
• I would still be thinking that I HATE RUNNING and that there is NO WAY in the world that I would voluntarily choose to run long distances.  I would never enter a 5K nor a 1/2 marathon nor even consider running a full marathon.  I would still be thinking that triathlons are only for super-athletes and that I am not one of them.
• I would not have learned all the tips and tricks of cooking in a healthier fashion.
• I would  not be the “mother” that I want to be for my children, the example they need and want to model.
• I would not have found the Sisterhood.

But you know what,  I did start this journey.  January 2009 to be exact.  Because my BFF in the whole wide world is Christy and she encouraged and motivated me to get on board with the Sisterhood. 

Losing weight has been hard work but so very worth it.  Even better have been the friendships I have formed.  Even better has been the fact that I have walked outside of my fitness comfort zone and have learned so many things about myself.  Even better has been the confidence and the “I can do ANYTHING” attitude that has developed. 

5K- bring it on.

1/2 marathon- bring it on.

Triathlon- bring it on.

Full marathon- maybe bring it on, ha ha.  

Take pictures with the kids- yes.

Role model for my family- yes.

And on and on and on.

I am so glad I did not wait.

This week’s weight:  167.4

Loss of 1.8 lbs- woot, woot!

I have been an exercise machine this week.  I am training for the 1/2 marathon in June, running with Team Shrinking Jeans.  My daily thoughts are consumed with training/running and fundraising.  After taking care of my family, that’s about *all* I do.

What’s that you say?  You would like to donate to the wonderful cause that I am running for (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)?  You can either donate to me individually or to our team as a group (if donating to the team, it will be divided between all of us).  Go ahead, don’t let me stop you : ). 

So yes, I am very happy that I lost weight this week.  I will be even happier when I reach my fundraising goal (I am *almost* halfway there).  I will be ecstatic (and probably crying) when I cross the finish line at the 1/2 marathon with my team.

One last thing……Hottest Hookers in the Hood  (Team H) are going for the gold with this challenge!!!!!

Motivation to think twice before I snack on something mindlessly.

Motivation to keep up with my running and 1/2 marathon training.

Motivation to add shredding to my exercise mix.

Motivation to lose 10-20 more lbs.

While I think these shots are OK (check out my before/after shots from the 2009 30 Day Shred here, there has been a positive change since April 2009), these pictures just serve as a wake-up call that my work is not done. 

I still got some junk in the trunk that is rattling around.  I still have a squishy post-pregnancy belly and my “baby” is 17 months old.  My hips and thighs don’t match my waistline and I would like to change that.  My arms and legs could use further toning up.

I will participate in the 30 Day Shred Challenge for the most part.  My 1/2 marathon training comes first, BUT I think I have it in me to throw in 25 minutes of shredding 3-4 days a week.  Along with swimming and biking and other weight training  : ).

Watch out Jillian!  You don’t scare me anymore, especially since I have been exercising regularly and consistently since September 2009.  Your workout still makes sweat and breathe hard, BUT my muscles no longer creak like they used to, I will not wake up sore tomorrow, and believe it or not, I actually LIKE IT when you yell at me through the TV.

Bring it on girlfriend.

Measurements:

• Arm- 12.5″
• Waist- 36.5″
• Hips- 41″
• Thighs- 26″

I would like to encourage all of my fellow sisters that are doing the 30 Day Shred to post their before pictures.  It is liberating, eye-opening, and I tell you, it will be REAL motivation to keep going when it gets tough.  We’re all here to support you!

Um nope, you aren’t going to get it.

Life has been super busy this past week, with my middle child turning 4 years old, hosting two birthday parties, and a visit from the grandparents.  Throw in all the running I have been doing, figuratively and literally, and yeah, I don’t have a long post in me!

However, I can tell you this.

I ran my longest training run yet: 5 miles……well, 5.11 miles to be exact (right around 1 hour).

What?  You didn’t hear me?  Here, my boys help me show you how many miles I ran (I have a daughter, too, but she was off playing somewhere in the house and can I just say how much I love this picture?!).

Yep, I ran 5 miles and lived to tell about it. 

Now, my body wants a nap.  And a massage.  And for someone to take care of EVERYTHING so that I can rest : ).

Donate here to Team Shrinking Jeans (we’re running a 1/2 marathon and raising $$ for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).

• Get all three children dressed and fed
• Toddler reaches up to kitchen table and pulls down a full glass of water onto himself and the floor
• Pre-school gets bitten by a spider and it swells up
• Kindergartner mouthy and sassy and pouty and whiney
• Stressed out and overwhelmed and tired by all that needs to be done
• Laundry, kitchen, toys picked up, mail sorted
• Pre-schooler’s birthday planned for tomorrow
• Pre-schooler’s family party for Saturday
• Need to buy present for him AND for a party my daughter is going to
• Set up “chore store” so that I can get my kids on board with doing chores and earning prizes
• worrying about fundraising, fundraising, fundraising for Team in Training
• must exercise/run this morning
• drop off each child in three different places
• run to Walmart to drop off donation letter request, pick up a few things
• run to Target for birthday presents (didn’t have at Walmart)
• scarf down breakfast and coffee

That was just this morning.  Have I mentioned that my husband has a work schedule that does not allow him to be around much?  I won’t go into specifics because ya’ll don’t need to know all the details, but suffice it to say that I do a lot of the “raising of the kids and taking care of the kids” by myself during the week.

Add a big ole heaping mess of “OMG, there is so much going on at Shrinking Jeans” and yes, I was feeling craptastic this morning.  My husband and Christy got to bear the brunt of my venting.

Then, I went for my run. 

My mind was completely free of “all the things I need to do”, the to-do lists put to the side for 39:38 minutes (3.53 miles).

That was the BEST 39:38 minutes of my life.

Now, I feel refreshed and like I can do anything.  The chores are still there to be done, the party still needs to be planned, the kids still need taken care of, my house still looks like a bomb went off in it, but folks, I did something for me- something that I enjoy and that frees me from my overcluttered, overwhelmed, overstressed mind.

And that, THAT is why I will keep running, even after the half marathon is over and done with.

Fantastic.

For real.  I am not making this shit up.  Yes, I cuss.  Sometimes.  Not all the time especially NOT in front of my kids.   

So yes, today is weigh-in and I promised herethat I would weigh-in today, but the cosmic universe had other plans for me and I will not be weighing-in today.  Funny thing is, I was thinking I would have a pretty good weigh-in today because I have been exercising A LOT, and drinking tons of water.

I will never know what could have been, for today.

Instead, I will be buying a new scale ASAP I am chronic weigh-er.

In other news, I am so excited for our new challenge to ramp up into high gear.  My team members are:

Team H is going to rock the house.  H stands for H-A-W-T High-Fiving Hookers (term of endearment amongst Shrinking Sister friends).  Or whatever!   We might need a better team name, no?

Good luck to all the teams.  May the best team win Team H.

Well, my answer for both Monday Projects is one and the same.  I did something new on Thursday and frankly, what I did, makes me a Superhero in my eyes. 

I joined The Sisterhood Olympics and took on the mini-triathlon event, along with my sisters Christie and Brook and Jessica.

What is a mini-triathlon?

• 500m swim
• 12 mile bike ride
• 3.1 mile run

One right the other after the other.  Consecutively.  No real rest breaks, or not much at least. 

I have been toying around with the idea of trying a triathlon, but you know, LIFE got in the way, and then the training for the 1/2 marathon got in the way and I pushed all thoughts of the tri to the back burner.  Until Wednesday night at 9pm when I threw caution to the wind and said to myself:  I’m going to do the triathlon on Thursday.  I am not going to think about the fact that I have no training WHATSOEVER in swimming or biking.  I am just going for it and I WILL finish it, no matter how long it takes me.

You know what?  It wasn’t so bad.  Long- yes.  Horrendous- no.  

The swim portion of it allowed me to re-realize my love for swimming and that I am actually GOOD at it.  I mean, I knew that I loved to swim and I knew that I was a natural at it, but once again, life got in the way and I had forgotten about all of that as I churned out three babies.  I haven’t swam laps in a very long time and yesterday- I jumped in the water and cranked out 500m in 11:30 minutes. 

Folks, I am going to toot my own horn and say that is a FANTASTIC time for someone who has not TRAINED ONE SINGLE BIT for swimming.  I wasn’t even pushing myself – that was my natural, easy-going pace.  I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I am 100% certain that with proper training, I could bring down that time, significantly.

The bike portion was my weakest leg, and longest leg and the one that I obviously need the most work on.  I was on a stationary bike and man, was that boring.  Put me on a bike outside and I think I would do much better.  12 miles in 1 hr 6 min.

The run was good- not my best, but hey, I had just come off a 12 mile bike ride and practically jumped on the treadmill and started running.  My legs felt like jello, my right knee was aching a bit, and my left calf was TIRED.  So yeah, not my best run but still a respectable 3.1 miles at 37.04 minutes. 

My superhero swims, bikes and runs and she kicks ass and takes names while she is doing it.  She doesn’t quit even when her right knee is feeling wonky.  She doesn’t quit when she is bored out of her mind on the stationary bike.  She doesn’t quit when she is breathing heavy while she is running.  She doesn’t quit when she realizes that she has been exercising her body for 1.5+ hours non-stop.

She keeps going and refuses to QUIT. 

That superhero is me and I can channel her whenever I want.

One last thing- I totally want to high five Christie, Brooke and Jessica for completing the mini triathlon with me.  It was awesome to do it together, even virtually!