Seriously considering it

A half-marathon, that is. There's a local one in 9 weeks. I just so happen to have a 9-week training plan downloaded. I'm scared slap to death to commit to it. I'm sure that's normal, though, for people who have never done a half. I think I'm most scared of taking longer than 3 hours to do it. But, I can do 5 miles in about an hour, give or take a few minutes, so logic says that I should be able to do 10 miles in about 2 hours and then 3 more miles after that, so around 2.5ish hours. Still scares me. Like butterflies-in-my-stomach-already scares me. I think I am going to do the first week of training and then register. Maybe it will be what I need to break through my stinking weight loss plateau.

Yeah, I'm behind.

I've hit 5 miles again and am hoping to push it a little farther this week. I've been subjecting the kids to my runs here lately because I seem to have lost my will to run in the mornings. I've been taking them to the track after Andrew gets out of school and running at least 5K each time. Today was run club and since I didn't get out this morning, I went to the track a little early today. Ran 2.75 before the kids got there and then tacked on another 1.26 with the kids for a total of 4.01 in 50.13.

Everything else has been pretty much the same around here. Found out that Clayton's parking isn't totally paid for, but we won't be paying as much as before. Insurance doesn't kick in until May 1, so we're living with temporary insurance right now. He's working tickets now and likes it much more than answering the phone. When they hired him on, the only open spots were the Saturday through Tuesday shifts, but he was told to stay where he is until further notice. I'm liking that because it's Monday through Friday and he gets off work at 4:30.

My nephew, Levi William, arrived on February 3. I haven't gotten to meet him yet, but that will be taken care of tomorrow since my loving husband has arranged a GNO for me. Evidently, LeeAnna is in town a little earlier than planned and Clayton talked with her and we're going out tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to some girl time. Can't wait until I can get some girl time planned with my sisters from church, too.

As far as weight loss goes, I'm still hanging around the same 27ish pounds. At least I'm keeping off the same weight rather than gaining again. Hoping to eventually drop some more.

Oh, and one other thing! I'm helping teach in GAs and am loving it. I actually taught last week and had a blast! It's much more laid back than I was making choir to be.

Exciting news! My husband starts working directly for his company come Monday! Parking will be paid for, woohoo!

More exciting news! I'll have a new nephew by Friday!

Random news: My truck has been cleaned out, washed, and vacuumed.

Running news: I hit 5 miles on Tuesday in 58.03! I did 2.11 miles in 26.51 on Wednesday and 4.73 in 1.03.01 yesterday. The good news about yesterday's run, even though it was slow, was that I conquered the hill between my house and the end of the road not once, but TWICE. It's a long hill, but I ran up it both times.

Running update

I'm so excited to say that my last 2 times out, I've run, yes RUN, 4.25 miles. I did not stop to walk either time! If it had not been so foggy when I finished running this afternoon, I would have tried to hit 4.5 miles. Aiming for that Monday morning. I believe I have enough time before the Cooper River Bridge run to add 0.25 a week and be able to run it all. Haven't signed up for it though. I don't want to run it alone, so I need to find out if someone wants to go with me.

Feeling bloggy today

Not sure why, but I'm feeling bloggy today. A couple nights ago, I had the urge to put pen to paper. That doesn't happen real often, but when it does, I go with it just as I'm going with this today.

I'm a week into the healthyfitfamilies.com challenge. I'm eating more veggies and fruit than I thought possible...and enjoying them for the most part. I'm able to crank out the sit-ups without a problem. Still amazed that I can do that. I pulled out a FIRM work out DVD yesterday and was able to get through it relatively painlessly, nevermind the fact that I almost tripped over the fanny lifter while doing some step and kicked it over doing some cardio. It was a good work out. I'm a little sore today, but it's a good sore. Was going to do another one this morning since it is raining and I couldn't get my run in, but didn't feel like changing out of pj pants or putting shoes on, so Wii Fit Plus won out. I did 30 minutes and have also done 100 jumping jacks and 100 squats since then. Looking forward to a good run tomorrow.

Did another 4 miles Monday and felt great. Hoping to increase by at least 0.25 when I go out Saturday morning.

Speaking of Saturday, my best friend, Leslie, and her family are coming to visit on their way to their new home in Virginia. I can't wait to see them and spend the day with them. We've been friends/sisters for 20+ years. I don't get to see her much because we've lived pretty far apart for the last 12.5 years.

Now that I have the bloggy feeling out of my system, it's time to refill my water cup and get back to work.

Awesomeness

I seem to have gotten my groove back as far as running goes. I ran Tuesday morning, Wednesday afternoon, and Friday morning last week. I covered 3.7, 2.0, and 4.0 miles respectively. I am still walking a little each run, but I am most definitely running more than I walk. My walking distances are usually about 0.1 each time I slow to a walk and total about 0.2 each run. I'm down to 83.62 miles in my hundred mile challenge.

I've also joined another challenge that requires 20 sit-ups, 20 push-ups, 30 minutes of exercise, 3.5 servings of fruit, 3.5 servings of veggies, and giving up a vice for the duration of the challenge. My vice is coffee after 4:00. I tend to drink a cup while I'm cooking supper. So, I'm on day 4 of this challenge. Who knew I could do full fledged sit-ups after having 2 kids? I surely didn't, but I can. Mondays are my "official" weigh-in days. And by official, I mean I chose that day to weigh-in each week.

2012

It's a new year, 3 days into it already. I'm not one to make resolutions, but I do have a few goals I want to meet this year. I have started reading through the Bible on my droid through the Daily Bible app. That's one goal: to read through the Bible. I also have a book downloaded on my Kindle that has to do with the names of God. I want to read through that. I've started. I've chosen a word to be my word of the year, so to speak. It's "perspective." After this past year (and all that is not done yet), I feel I need to have perspective on what this year will bring. I want to have God's perspective. I want to see through HIS eyes and not my own. Tough? You betcha'. BUT, with him, all things are possible. If I ask according to his will, it will be done.

Physically, I have a mini goal of losing 10 more pounds by March 1. That's do-able. I also have a goal to run 100 miles by February 29. That's do-able as well. My plan is to run 3 times a week and hit at least 3.7 miles each time out. If I do that 25 days, then I'll hit the 100 miles. Of course, I'm also trying to turn my 5K running into 10K training, so hopefully I'll be adding at least a little distance each time out.

I'm excited about what the new year will bring.

Weight loss to date: 27.2 pounds.