No excuses?

Jason and I are frequent watchers of "The Biggest Loser" and this season's theme is "no excuses."  It's so easy to say I can't work out because of _____ (fill in the blank with many reasons...)  Yesterday morning Conner work up at about 4:30AM and usually all it takes is giving him his pacifer, a little pat on the head, and he's right back asleep.  Not so this time.  He wasn't feeling well and after a few attempts and holding him a while, he was just about asleep so I put him back in his crib.  My bed was calling my name but I ignored it and headed to the pool.  Unfortuately Conner never went back to sleep so Jason was up with him and not able to get his morning workout in.  I like the idea of "no excuses" but sometimes there is a really good reason why you can't work out! 
This morning Conner started to fuss around 4:00AM.  I though, oh no, here we go again...  But after giving him his pacifer and a little pat on the head, he did go back to sleep. Before falling back asleep I debated about turning my alarm off and getting a little extra sleep.  Well I guess I fell asleep before I was able to turn it off because it was beeping away at 5:15!  I bundleded up and ran about 3 miles, it felt great!  I got home in time for Jason to go for a run and was also able to lift weights before Conner woke up. 
I am so tired this afternoon but it's a good tired :)

A run in the woods

My parents came up to visit for the weekend to celebrate Makayla's birthday a few days early.  My dad is training for a 100 mile race near Woodstock so on Saturday morning, Jason my dad and I headed down to check out the trails - thank you mom for babysitting the kiddos!  My dad was planning on about 23 miles and Jason and I were thinking we would go about 5-6 miles.  It took us a bit to find the right trial but then we were moving pretty good.  The trails were steep and pretty rocky so we walked a bit to keep our heart rate under control and to stay on our feet (I was the only one who managed not to fall :)  It was a nice change of pace from running on the road, the area was very nice, and the weather was great.  At one point I asked Jason how long we had been going and he said about 50 minutes.  I couldn't believe it!  We finished a steep climb and decided that would be a good spot to turn around.  My dad was on the right trail and had his map and we hoped to see him again in about 4-5 hours at a spot about 20 miles away.  Jason and I had a great run back down to the car and ended up running/hiking for over 2 hours - and felt great!  We think it was about 8ish miles, not bad!We drove around a bit and eventually found the checkpoint where we would meet back up with my dad.  We grabbed a bite to eat then drove back up the mountain to explore.  We walked a short trail to a lookout tower and had a great view of the Shenandoah River and valley.  We've always talked about hiking around the area but hadn't done it yet, it was great and I have a feeling we will be doing more of it.  We drove around a bit more, picked up my dad and headed back home.  I am so impressed by what my dad can do and hope I'm still doing half as much when I am his age!

Getting back on track

Back to the pool early this morning.  It's still not easy getting up at 5:15AM but it was a little less miserable today :)  I feel like I am starting to get back on track.  Trying to focus on my plan for one week at a time, and really stick to the workouts that I plan.  So far, so good this week!  It also helps that I am feeling a whole lot better this week and the kids are sleeping through the night.  Now Jason needs to start feeling better!

It was a cold, dark and foggy morning...

And I was out running!  I ran the "big school loop" (about 3 miles) and felt great.  Started slow and easy and picked it up as I warmed up.  Got home and headed to the basement to lift some weights, did a good upper body workout.  It was a great start to a busy day!After dropping Makayla off at school, it was time for Conner's gymnastics and I chased him around for about 45 minutes (that should count as another run right?)  Then tonight I went to a spin class at the gym.  I really wish there were odometers on the spin bikes!  I'm really liking it and enjoy the change of pace from biking in the basement.

Has anyone seen my motivation???

I seem to have lost it.  Last week was rough between not feeling well and having two kids that weren't feeling well.  Before I knew it the week was over and I did not do any workouts :(  We usually trade off and do a run outside on Saturdays, but the snow/ice combo that we got changed that plan.  I struggled through about 40 minutes on the bike in the basement.  I can't seem to get comfortable on my bike and there always seems to be something wrong with the trainer.  But I sweat a little so it counts right?  I made it to the pool this afternoon and had a pretty good swim.  It's supposed to be one of the practice times for the Masters swimteam, but I was the only one there for the first 30 minutes and then the three others that showed up were doing their own thing, so I did my own thing too and got in 2700 meters.
I didn't have a chance to watch Kona when it was on TV in December, but we recorded it and watched it yesterday morning.  I am so impressed by the pros and inspired by everyone else that sets these outrageous goals and then achieves them.  Makayla was kind of watching it with us but kept asking when it was going to be over so she could watch her shows.  On the way to church this morning, she told me she can't wait to watch us when we do our big race.  She asked a few questions, and I explained that it was a really long race that was going to take us all day.  She asked what we were going to do for dinner, I thought she meant tonight but she was talking about the race day.  She is very concerned that we were going to miss dinner! 
There are so many things that motivate me: my husband, kids, family, friends, being healthy, wearing a 2 piece suit this summer (and looking good!), and being an Ironman.  So maybe it's not motivation I'm lacking, but I better get focused and back on track!

Training will continue when the germs go away...

After my great run on Saturday, I started to feel another cold coming on...  The only thing that sounded good on Sunday was sitting on the couch, so no workout then.  I planned to swim Monday morning but Sunday night was rough between me not feeling good and being up a lot with Conner who is also not feeling well.  I skipped Monday night's spin class but got a better night's sleep last night and feel a tad bit better today.  Hoping for at least an elliptical workout this afternoon and back on track tomorrow.

31 degrees is COLD!

It seems to be our Saturday routine is taking turns to run at the Battlefield.  I headed out without thinking too much about the temperature and quickly found out it was COLD!  I probably should have worn gloves (like Jason told me to do...) as my fingers felt like they were going to fall off for the first two miles.  I started nice and easy and kept and eye out for the puddles that were now ice - I tried to run through one, almost slipped and fell on my butt.  That would not have been fun...  I picked up the speed as I warmed up and finished pretty fast and feeling strong, finishing the 5ish mile loop in 45:30, about a minute faster than last week.  There were only a few other runners out today and I was happy to be one of them :)

That little voice...

I have been trying to go to sleep earlier but last night was a late night due to a storm with thunder and the dog barking.  Then Conner wasn't feeling well so I was up with him for a while around 2 AM.  So I had no problem ignoring the little voice in my head that was telling me to get up and work out, and enjoyed sleeping in until the kids woke up.  Conner seemed fine but I wasn't feeling great.  He took a nap while Makayla was at school and I read a book on the couch.  That voice started again telling me I should go work out...  We played outside after picking up Makayla and I hoped that a little running around would be enough to quiet the voice.  But no.  I really wanted to relax on the couch some more but the voice won, so I headed to the basement to ride during nap (and I brought my book!)  I rode for a hour and am glad that little voice kept bugging me!I also made it to the pool again yesterday.  Hoping tonight goes better so I can make it there again tomorrow.

Two mornings in a row!

These dark, early morning workouts are really hard to get up for, but I feel so much better after I do!  It was Jason's turn to go to the pool so did the elliptical, abs and weights in the basement.  Conner started to wake up around 6AM which was just about halfway into my workout.  I guess we should let him know our training plans and that he can't wake up until 7AM!  Luckily he went back to sleep and I was able to finish my workout.

Two workouts, one day!

This morning started super early with a trip back to the pool (it had been a very long time since I was last there).  The swim felt great and I enjoyed being back in the water.  I got home just before Conner woke up and was happy to have my workout done before it was time to be mommy. 
When Jason got home from work, I headed out for workout #2 - a spin class at the gym.  I wasn't really a fan of spinning in the past but am starting to really like it.  It's a great workout and I left a little pool of sweat, one that would probably disgust most of my peers, but impress my dad :)
I feel awesome about my two workouts but am also starving.  And sitting here watching Diners, Drive Ins and Dives is not helping!

Breaking rules

I usually don't run two days in a row but today was another nice day so I broke my own rule and headed out.  I ran what we call the big school loop, about three miles in just under 26 minutes.  Felt pretty good and I enjoyed running in the sunshine.  Chance of rain/snow tomorrow so I'm glad I went out today!

Good start to 2012

This week seemed to fly by!  I did elliptical and weights one day, biked on the trainer another, and today I enjoyed the 60 degree weather and ran outside (yes, it's 60 degrees in January!)  I ran about 5 miles at the battlefield and there were lots of people out running/walking/biking and I was happy to be one of them!  My run felt great and I held just over a 9 minute pace. 
We also added another race the the calendar this week - the REV3 Half Ironman in Knoxville in May.  Looking forward to it!

One race down, many more to go!

We started the New Year off with a 3.5 mile race in Albany, NY.  The weather was not normal for this time in New York but it was great for running - sunny and mid 40s!  The course was nice, there were a lot of runners, and it felt great to be out running.  I felt strong during the run and finished in 30:34, a 8:44 per mile pace - very happy with that!  Looking forward to a great year!