Compliments

I am by myself a lot.  Sometimes by choice and most of the time by means of the life style we lead.  Friends are working, kids are working and at school, and husband is a teacher/coach.  Being alone for long periods of time I do a lot of pondering...sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes it just wastes my time...useless head games that are nonproductive.

I am currently pondering this:  why do I feel when given a complement that I have to make excuses that belittle my accomplishments? 

I have worked hard to get to where I am...diet, exercise, losing weight, running, races, personal growth.  I have gotten out of my comfort zone in many ways.  Invariably when given a complement instead of accepting it and thus accepting my victories I make excuses; how far I have to go instead of celebrating how far I have come.  Am I not worth accomplishments, am I not important enough to deserve victory?

We attended a number of activities this weekend, seeing several people that complemented my weight loss progress and running/races.  Instead of being happy that I look and feel better, I felt the need to explain how much more weight I need to lose or how much more I needed to train to get to a mileage that seems worthy. 

Why do I feel the need to make excuses?

Are you able to accept a complement graciously?

First Snow

As I sit here drinking my second cup of hot tea I am thankful that I am able to be at home and sorry that so many of you had to get out in this weather for jobs and school. 

That first wave of sickness is running rampant through the school and my DH came home and very shortly after dinner hit the Nyquil and bed, feeling a bit better he headed out all bundled up this morning.

I had originally planned on taking off this entire week until the scale changed my mind and I hit the gym yesterday morning for an upper body workout and cardio.  My armpits are screaming this morning, hairdo is definitely going to be simple today.  In fact a hat sounds very good for the football game this afternoon.

Photos for 24 The Hard Way were up last night confirming I am the same weight now as I was at the first of summer.  A picture is worth a thousand words and in this case a picture is proof of no progress in 4 months.

Enough talking, closing now to get my workout done on the treadmill. 

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure

Failure is NOT an option!

24 The Hard Way / Jill

As promised I will link J's 24 The Hard Way race posts"

My Race In Pictures

My Race

24 The Hard Way OKC

24 The Hard Way - Ultra Race - 1 hour - Oklahoma City, OK

with niece and sister-in-law

Beautiful day to start a road trip

Setting up camp

Our camp site

Pre Race

Starting line

And we're off

Don't know why this didn't rotate but it's mile 1

ME - 5th line

Finish line

Awards

4th Race, 4 miles

Beautiful end to the day

Not knowing what to expect we took off to OKC, girls road trip with lots of laughing from the beginning to the end.  We got to the hotel and then despite the directions of the hotel manager and thanks to the race director directions we found the park and got our race packs.  After checking around decided to set up our camp so we wouldn't have to worry with that in the morning as my race started at 7:30.  Ate and went to bed.  Not much sleep due to the record in my mind going over and over what I needed to do and what I wanted to accomplish. 

Up and to the race site in plenty of time to have lots of butterflies but felt pretty calm at the start.  The course was a mile loop with three hills that weren't that steep just went on for a long time, the good part was several down hills and a lot of level course.  Great weather and surrounded by trees and everyone very friendly.  My group was one hour but interspersed with us were the 24 hour runners.  There were camps set up all along the course starting point and ending point with the medical, massage, computer board, and drink/food stations in between.

I felt really good throughout the race and the hour was over really fast.  My goal was 5 miles but I got 4.  The bad part is my hour was over too fast, I felt like I could of gone on for 6 (that's what I trained for) but felt like I accomplished a lot of what I had worked on:  sticking with the intervals, not shuffling my feet, not looking at the garmin just listening for the beeps, and trying to enjoy just being able to be a part of this event.  All in all I was happy with my race.

Here's my race history - 2nd race 2 miles, 3rd race 3 miles, 4th race 4 miles.  Next goal is a 10K. 

I posted some photos that I really am not proud of but need for inspiration.  I have been basically the same weight since the beginning of the summer.  I had really wanted to see a difference from the Lubbock race photos in these photos but did not and am disappointed in myself.  I am going to have to do some real soul searching ... I don't want to be the fattest person/racer any more ...I deserve better.   (Note to self - until you have lost this weight you stick to all black and get a tan girl!)

My niece ran the 6 hour race later in the day / when she posts her race story I will link it.  I am very proud of her, she did great!

Working on a training schedule for the next phase which will for sure include getting back to the gym for strength training but right now just gonna enjoy a couple days off.  

Packing Day

I have been mentally preparing a packing list for this trip trying not to stress over the race too much but it's like a record in my mind going on and on and on.  I know what to do but nervous about 1) new type race, 2) new State 3) eating enough to have energy but not so much I have extra to lose when we get home 3) packing for either dry weather or wet weather and temperatures anywhere from 50's to 70's, and other random issues. 

On a good note I finished my team shirt (skirts didn't work out - not impressed with Running Funky). 

Training schedule completed yesterday with speed work.  Felt good to get to the end of the training schedule. 

New playlist on my Sony, now I have to decide whether to run with or without music. 

24 The Hard Way

Excited to go to another race with J, I will run at 7:30 1 hour, J will run at 12:00 6 hours!!! WOW!!!  Sister-in-law going so we will have company at the campsite.  We always have lots of laughs when we are together, it's going to be a great trip!

Now I'm rambling which is just putting off the packing....better get with it!

Weekend Retreat

Wonderful weekend with Matilda in the mountains.  How could you not relax and rejuvinate here?

We drove up on Thursday, parked and unpacked the car and then kept to our plan to walk everywhere.  The weather was wonderful and our room was situated perfectly to where we could walk to meals, walk to the chapel then back to our room full circle.  On Friday afternoon we had some free time so we walked all over the campus which included ALOT of hills!  Meals were an issue but worked through it and was pleased to find that I had gained -0- pounds when I got home, no loss but no gain, I'll count that as success.  Hills caused a bit of an issue with the knees, nothing that I can't deal with.  (icing knees as I write this)

Up this morning back on training schedule, short run this morning and speedwork on Wednesday and then off to Oklahoma City on Friday.  Adding some carbs to diet this week which makes me very nervous but will deal with it as I go. 

On a totally unrelated subject I will be doing my first photo shoot session this afternoon, wish me luck! 

Getting Ready



Possible for OK (can't tell if the scarecrow in the background likes it or not!)

Working on a new playlist/green tea/water...hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Put new playlist on my old MP3 player to check it out before putting it on my Sony (forgot what a pain the cords were, I love my wireless Sony player)

Tuesday I wore new skirt, not impressed, now not sure what I will wear at OK.  Want to be comfortable but want to feel good about the way I look also.  Run was great, felt good and my knees are better. 

Yesterday was my first speed (me + speed = not pretty) work.  Planned this run for after football practice so we could use the track.  I do much better on morning runs, thankful that most races start early in the morning.  It wasn't really hot but way hotter than we are used to (mornings have been in the 50-60's).  Nervous about running distance instead of time/intervals just because I had never done it (new things make me panic) and I had been stressing about it all day.  Started off a little fast not going with the music tempo, until later in the run.  Playlist worked out great but now I need to figure out how to put it on my Sony someway to get it to start at the beginning every time I use it. All I have to say about the workout is that I finished, period.

Knees are better, back is the same, weight has been the same all week (yuck)

Leaving for a retreat today.  Looking forward to being in the mountains and going with my friend Matilda.  We have already planned to park the car and walk everywhere, then on Friday afternoon we have some free time and the plan is to do the hills around the retreat.

Hope you are having a great week!

New View

After M finished working Saturday we took off for Amarillo for the rest of the weekend.  We walked through the Country Peddler Show and then went to Saltgrass to eat.  Left there to go to a movie but really didn't see anything we wanted to wait another hour for so went to Academy and then checked into our motel.  This time of the year is so busy we were just going to watch tv, read and chill out, next thing I knew I woke up around eleven.  Read a while and then zonked out again.

We had made plans to run a trail that the "My Get Fit Place" guy had told us about that was right next to the motel.  Excited to see new scenery and not a circle.

This is a picture out our motel window you can barely see the trail right behind the red SUV.

We slept late (8am oh yeah!) and headed out.  The schedule called for an easy 4 miles so we were going out and back.  It was very cold to begin with, in the low 50's with the wind in our face.  Nice flat trail for about the first quarter mile and then a easy hill and we ended the two miles here

Notice my new shoes which are great, Brooks Ghost 4

 No new blisters this morning and the heel cup is fabulous!

I thought the run back would be easier, the wind would be at our backs and ...OH NO, the whole way back was a steady incline (with one huge big hill) leveling out the last 1/4 mile.  Good news is we finished and the run felt really good.  Started out slow, increased gradually (except for the steepest hill) and finished strong.  Felt great until about an hour later when I tried to get out of the truck at Target lol! 

My thought about mile 2 1/2:

 "there is only one letter that changes hill to h, e, double hockey sticks"

Back home now, icing my knees is the next agenda after posting this.  Nice to get away, nice to get home.

My first speed work will be this week - should be interesting

I really need to totally redo all the music on my player.  Something like this:  http://23imaginaryfriends.blogspot.com/2011/10/half-mary-playlist.html  Want to do it before going to OK

Great weekend, hope you had a great weekend also!

It's The Little Things

This morning was chilly, not sure how cold it was when we ran but when I was checking my email at about 6:30 it was 54.  Fall has arrived, at least in the morning.  Now the sun is shining 71 degrees and the forcast calls for wind,  yuck.

It's the little things that either begin your day on a high note or a low note.  This morning was good, first time since I had the "mystery flu" that I ran all my intervals.  Proud of that.

Stomach issues better

Back issues better

I'm at my lowest weight since starting this mission

Finally got to talk to the treadmill folks and although I have to wait until my DH gets home to help me take the cover off, she thinks it may be the controller and they will replace that.  Whoo Hoo!

Test - today I made a pact with myself that I was not going to "stalk" my garmin.  I had the intervals set and looking at the watch was not going to change anything.  I even think sometimes the more you look at it makes the run/intervals seem longer.  I knew how many laps we needed to run and "it is what it is"  just run till it's over. 

While running this morning I was thinking (scary I know).  The people that say run with easy knees and light feet have never had short stumpy legs with thunder thighs and a big butt.  Just saying

Feeling a bit better about the 24TheHardWay in OK which is in only 2 1/2 weeks.



New Week

Did an ugly 3 miles Sunday afternoon after dealing with stomach issues all day.  Felt like finishing any way pretty or ugly was an accomplishment. 

The last few workouts have been very trying so decided this week would try a run day, walk day, run day, walk day...see how that goes.  So this morning I did an easy 2 mile walk.  I will add miles each walk day.  I'll get this down one way or another.

I also walked with my camera because the day before the prairie dogs were everywhere!  At first I thought maybe my headphones were messing up and then realized it was the chatter of the prairedogs.  Today I got photos:

Also got photos of this:

You would think it's pretty self explanatory BUT...I guess it's for everyone except those certain folks that don't think it means them...oh boy!

Very pretty morning and I enjoyed being by myself and just communing with nature (how deep huh?)

Back issues tonight, will be going to bed with the heating pad.  "The heating pad is a very good friend of mine!

Hope you have had a great start to your week.