1st Run of 2016

Well hello 2016! While I had big plans for this blog I totally failed, but this is just for fun and an outlet for me to share my life when I find time haha! I don't know what my goals are this year. I haven't really planned anything out. I know we have a lot of changes coming this year so I think I'm just feeling unsettled. I accomplished a lot the past two years and for that I'm thankful! 

I do not want to fall back into old habits though. I think my goal should at least be to maintain when it comes to health and fitness. I felt burned out after my 1/2 marathon in November. I had every intention of keeping it up through Dec. but I made excuses and my 1st week off turned into 6! 

Yesterday I had every intention to get started running again and I let it pass me by! I did enjoy a family walk around the neighborhood though. I hope to make more of those happen this year! 

So last night as we were watching the Biggest Loser and eating the last of the pie. (haha- Seriously)  my sweet hubby posted a then and now photo on Facebook. I didn't even know I had any full body shots from when I was my heaviest. It was from a day we took the kids roller skating. I made an attempt to skate and I fell and remember how hard it was to get up! (talk about embarrassing). I weight in around 220+ plus pounds. The 2nd image its form Nov getting ready for my 2nd 1/2 marathon of 2015. 75+ pounds lighter! 

I got all these sweet comments. Then I asked him if it was a hint. haha! I don't think that was his intention at all. He's proud of all my hard work to lose weight the past two years! I thought it was sweet. It was a great reminder to get out the door and to continue to put in the work! 

So today we did it! Hubby and I went to the park! I just wanted to get in a 5K easy run/walk and he was going to do a brisk walk around the loop! It was cold but I love running in the cold way more than the heat and I really don't like a treadmill. I felt so good even though it was a tough run but I remember why I love to run. I also remembered to be present and aware of others around me. I always wonder what people are thinking when they are running or walking. I made an attempt to say hi or at least smile to those I past. It may have been there 1st attempt of the year too!

 I'm just glad I took the step to get out the door again! That can be the hardest! Plus I did sign up for a 10K in Feb. so I better get back to work. I hope this at least encourages you to make those steps and keep moving forward! It's a lifestyle change and not a diet for sure! Hears to a Healthy new year!

What are some of your goals for 2016? 

Marathon Monday: Week 1

HI! Welcome to Marathon Monday! No, I'm not talking about a Netflix marathon! Although I do enjoy those on occasion. I'm going to start a VLOG (video blog for those that don't know) hopefully every Monday. This will be a little glimpse into my journey to running my 2nd Half Marathon. 

I started my fall training today after very little running this summer! So it kinda feels like starting over and that is hard, but it also just felt great to get out and run! Along the way I'd love to be an encouragement to you especially if you are a runner or wanting to become one. I've only been running since Jan 2014! It's changed my life!  If you have questions I'm happy to help! I've learned a lot! I'm going to share a video soon on my journey but today is a short one! 

Here is VLOG #1 - Marathon Monday Week 1 of 13!!

Thanks and Enjoy! 

If you have any questions let me know and I'll save them for a little Q&A Blog post soon! 

Stick around because I'm also going to do some review of items I use for running! First one will be the Apple Watch I got for my b-day a few weeks ago!  

Giddy Up and Go Race Day

I have to say since I started running in Jan 2014 I never thought I would come to love it so much. Of course it's more of a love/hate relationship. Haha! I love it enough to have already singed up for a 2nd 1/2 marathon in November. 

I knew my running this summer would be slim. Hubby was working full time and going to school 4-5 days a week. It was hard to find the time to get outside before it was hot and humid. (no matter that I have a treadmill.....ugh..treadmill)  I'm a wimp and don't handle that well. I substituted it with a full month of Pilates with a Blogilates Calander and another month of Yoga with Adriene! I learned so much and it helped me lose weight and tone/strengthen in other areas that need it but July was a slacker month. I intend to be ready for the Giddy UP and Go Race Virtual 5K/10K/Half Marathon with my Local Edmond Moms Run This Town Chapter (I was aiming for 10K). 

So I attempted to run on a plan when I could....even if that meant treadmill. It felt good to run again but I was then surprised with a two week Colorado Vacation to see family! I'm not complaining totally worth it and I was fully intending to keep up my running plan as I could and I did once while on vacation.....then I got sick!

The last week of vacation I was just resting and trying to feel better. I was doing okay enough to drive 10 hrs back home, but when I got back to Oklahoma the sickness got worse. Hubby finally sent me to the clinic and I took my z-pack and I started feeling myself again. 

I just can't get rid of this chest congestion though. 

I attempted a treadmill run on Monday and got 2 very slow miles in. I just couldn't breath. Thursday I attempted an outside run and only got a mile---still can't breath well. Ugh! So frustrated. 

I decided I would just do the 5K (3.1 miles) even if that meant walking most of it. 

Friday was my birthday and enjoyed a yummy dinner with family and tried to get to bed early since I knew I would be getting up at 5 am! 

I could....not....sleep! I seriously woke up every hr, but some how I wasn't super exhausted and woke up excited to run. 

Got my Coffee and did about 30 minutes of Yoga to wake me up and get ready to run. 

Unfortunately I knew the route was going to be uphill both ways.....seriously! 

Headed a few miles down the road to Elite Feet in Edmond and had fun seeing some gals I hadn't seen in a while! I really enjoy running with these moms! 

I've learned a lot from them and they are so encouraging! 

Set up my new Apple watch (which I'm not sure if I like for running, I really like my Garmin, but I'll try it a few more times to see. ) Got my running playlist going and headed out. 

It was a lovely morning for August! Not terribly hot or humid! I was so happy for that! 

Thankfully the course did start downhill but I probably started too fast but I knew I might as well enjoy the downhill while I had it! I did really well for 1.5 miles but the hills got me! I wasn't having a super hard time breathing like Thursday but still some. I started intervals at this point (more like walk to that stop sign, run to the stop light) I was trying really hard not to walk to much, but I knew that last mile was mostly uphill. I did find a few sprinklers to run through. They felt great! 

The good news is I finished!! For being sick and not running to consistently lately and the hills

I was happy with my average of 13 minute miles and finished in about 40 minutes. 

I felt really good after the run, runners high is a real thing ya'll! 

The Evoke Coffee Truck was there at the end and let me tell ya! They had the yummiest waffles and coffee! I had a fresh blueberry waffle and iced coffee. It hit the spot after the run! I'm always starving after a run, but I don't usually eat a big ole waffle! lol! It was so worth it. 

I was excited to win a prize! I choose a Mom's Run This Town Headband! 

Can't have to many running headbands. There was also a great goodie bag and a fun metal.

Thanks to Ashley for putting it together, Thanks to Elite Feet for hosting and thanks to all the sponsors for the fun goodies in our grab bags! Lots of fun stuff! 

I'm really glad I pushed myself to do this even if I'm off my game! The kids head back to school this week and I'm determined to get back to my training. Technically this would be week 3 of 16 so I'm a little behind where I want to be but I could follow a 12 week plan and probably be okay! 

Guess we'll see! Looking forward to getting back up to speed and distance! Here's to more runs with my buddies because that is always more fun! 

Do you like to run? Have you ever done a virtual race? 

A Birthday Surprise and Fall Training

Okay so I might have overly mentioned it's my birthday on Friday! 

Today my hubby said he got me a gift. I had no clue so I was getting overly curious. 

I think he was going to wait till Friday but my 7 year old son saw him sneak in the door with a box and not so quietly said "Dad did you get another Apple Watch?" So surprise busted and I heard! 

I wasn't expecting anything so this was quiet the surprise. 

Now I've used a Fitbit for about a year and a half along with a Garmin Forunner Watch for my running. This summer my hubby got an Apple Watch and gave me his Garmin Vivo Active Watch. It does it all and I was very happy with it. So I didn't expect anything new. I'll now likely be selling my other two watches but I'll have to test out how it does with running 1st. I really like using the Nike+ App for my running so I'll be glad to switch back since I've been tracking with Garmin Connect since May and I find there app to be a bit confusing to use. I love using my fit bit though and all the online tools. I'll likely keep using Myfitness Pal to track food and such. It helps me soooo much! 

After a hit and miss summer of running it's almost time for school to start and I'll have my mornings to run outside again more consistently! I'm a week late to my fall training because of vacation and sickness. I'm still not 100% but I have a 5K Race on Saturday with my 

Edmond Mom's Run This Town Group! 

It was supposed to be a 10K for me but I'm just not prepared or well enough yet. This congestion is getting on my nerves! I just want to breath and not cough so much. I'm going to have fun either way! 

On the bright side I get to try out my new running shoes! In April I ran my 1st 1/2 Marathon and at the Expo I won a pair of Brooks shoes. I finally made a decision and got these in a couple weeks ago. 

I've loved my brooks in the past so I'm looking forward to breaking these in. 

These are the New Ghost 8 in Purple/Blue - Love these colors! 

(you can read about my 1st 1/2 marathon journey here) 

I look forward to sharing my journey to my 2nd half marathon. 

I'll be doing the Route 66 in Tulsa, in November! 

Do you use smart watches? What are your favorite Gadgets for running? 

What are you favorite workout shoes? 

Share in the comments below!