Out of Comfort Zone - 30 DSLR

OK - so this wasn't today's post, but finally getting caught up!   This struck home as in 3 weeks I will run my first half marathon.  This is TOTALLY out of my comfort zone. 

Even though its my goal, it seems unbelievable.  Growing up I was not an athlete, and only occasionally active.  But even though I'm out of my comfort zone I feel great.  It is getting to be more "me".  I still shake my head in amazement when others ask to run with me... Wednesday last week I ran 4km with another mom who didn't run much over the summer (but in the spring I really had to push it to keep up with her) - I pushed her for the run - and then she headed home and I finished another 12km!!!

Now I am training for a half marathon.  I did a 16km run on Wednesday and have a 21km run planned for Monday... Today my run was 11km long and absolutely wonderful.  I did run 1km walk 30sec and felt great for most of it and on my "slow jog" down the hill home - my pace during this nice easy run was 6:33 min/km as I was trying to cool down.  My splits weren't negative due to all the hills on my route - but had some great fast kilometres and some nice slow UPHILLS....  It was a great run, but still need to figure out the best way to carry my water.

• I can't stand the taste of plastic containers so can't use the FuelBelts - I love the way the belt fits, but the water (in plastic) makes me gag...  
• I have a torso pack that holds my KleanKanteen vertically so I'm limited to the smaller sizes as it hits me in the back, and the belt rides up as I run.  So I use it, but its frustrating.  
• There is also another one available at running room that holds the bottle on an angle and maybe that would be better, but I'm worried about it riding up as its a similar style to the one I have. 
• Holding it (with or without a hand carry sleeve) works for short runs, but hard enough on a 10k - definitely can't do that on my longer runs
• And due to circulation issues, I can't run with a backpack style on my back.

Suggestions?

Resting - 30 DSLR

Someone was to be napping...  I think the wrong person was!

Sleeping!

Some days allow more time to rest!  Others are very busy. Sometimes its hard to rest or nap or take time to just sit.  Responsibilities, activities, cleaning, volunteering, ...  In the first photo, my brother fell asleep on the floor and managed to stay asleep with an active 11 month old on the floor...  In the second photo, my son fell asleep on the floor, all tuckered out...

Rest is very important as are relaxing activities.  As a mom, it is easy to forget this.  We need to remember to take time out to enjoy a cup of tea, read a book, have a nap, or do some yoga.

Resting is also important in exercise.  The body needs time to rest and recover.

30 Days of Self Love -- Perseverance

Over at Faith, Fitness, Fun Tina blogged today about Perseverance.

• What ways have you seen the benefits of perseverance in your life?
  
  Perseverance has helped me complete many things in my life... Getting my gliders license, private pilots license, my many years studying engineering, and most recently my journey to a healthy life and my half marathon training.
  
  My weight loss journey has been a struggle, as losing 100lbs seems very daunting. It is unbelievable the changes that have occurred in my life in the past two years, because I have become active and lost my extra weight. I have become an inspiration to others and have others saying that they should come running with me! That is what perseverance has done - it has helped me run!
• If you don’t want to get too personal, what are some small acts people can do to keep on keeping on?
  
  Sometimes when things look bleak, its just the small things, and keep them up. One step, one glass of water, one trip around the block... They all lead to another. A long journey can be broken into smaller steps and its ok to pause and regroup before heading on...

Running
Today was a rest day... I tried to cut the yard (mainly weeds & moss, grass needs water to grow) but the lawnmower won't start! I did walk 3.6km to and from school today

My plan to run tomorrow has been changed - it was to be my long run, but a course I am signed up to take is now 2.5 hours earlier so I will get in a shorter run after my course. Then a long run on Friday...

30 Days to Self Love -- Finding Joy!

What will bring YOU joy? It’s yours for the taking….so take. 

Today many things bring me joy!  Joy is all around and ours for the taking.
Today I got great joy in heading out for my run. It was wonderful to head out to run, and a beautiful sunny day!

What else brings me joy?

My kids: Today my youngest went to school for half a day, and tomorrow starts full-day kindergarten. The joy and happiness in her as she heads off to school is great. She was a joy to pick up from school, and is growing into such a beautiful and wonderful little girl. My other two children are also joys as they are excited to embark on new activities this year. As I ran home past the school my oldest daughter, was so excited to see me and excited about her yummy pumpkin-apple muffin I made last night.

My Husband:  He has made an amazing transformation in the past year... I am so glad that he has joined me in my healthy and active lifestyle -- he too has lost over 100lbs and is running and exercising many times a week (although he runs much faster than I)... My husband who got up early to head out for his run before work -but before leaving, he emptied the dishwasher and took the garbage out!  Made my morning much easier - thanks...

My mom & step-dad:  I love that they think of the little things, and are such great helps.  They were recently in the Okanogan and have brought me home apples (as my apple trees were barren this year), and also some beets to make pickled beets.  They are wonderful with the kids and a great help.



My Running: 
Now that all three kids are in school, I am able to run on weekdays.  I keep reminding myself that I will need to take a rest day sometime this week.  I've done 3 hard days of running, so although I would love run tomorrow, I will start back with either Jillian Micheal's Yoga Meltdown or ChaLEAN Extreme.

Today run included a 3km "warm-up" run to the oval with an average pace of 5:45min/km.  Then a .8km walk (at a 7:52min/km pace), then onto 200m run with 200m walk repeats (did 9 of them, was trying for 8, but mis-counted).  My pace for the run ranged between 4:30 and 4:50 with the last one at 5:17 (oops I was tired). My walk intervals were generally at a 8:30min-km pace.  After my repeats, I walked for half a km, then ran nearly 3km back to the school.  Forgot to turn my garmin back on after talking to my daughter I missed the last .9km home.


The following table shows my stats, excluding the .9km walk/jog to and from the school (walk up with kids and jog home)

	Time	Distance(km)	Pace(min/km)
Total	1:12:00	10.85	6:38
Running	0:45:42	7.74	5:54
Walking	0:26:18	3.11	8:27

Perfection - 30 Days of Self Love

Day 8: Perfection
In what things do you try to seek perfection? Why do you even want it? How does desiring perfection actually hurt that area of your life? What would letting go of the hope for perfection do for you?
I am not nearly as much of a perfectionist as some in my family, but do try and control the urges to do things perfectly. To do things perfectly takes time away from other things, and just isn't possible in many situations. When I sew and craft, I'd love to do things perfectly, but I have gotten to the point where I can leave a few small imperfections alone without redoing them. As my grandmother always says "A blind man would love to see it!"

Two of my children struggle with perfectionism. My son really struggles as he sees the only way to do something is if he can do it perfectly. This has caused him much frustration. With lots of work, he is starting to realize that he doesn't need to be perfect - he just needs to try.

My youngest daughter (age 4) is currently going through a stage - I hope its a stage - where she won't do anything if it isn't perfect and gives up saying "I can't do it!" She really can do it, but is judging herself against her older siblings and knows that she isn't as skilled as they are so she won't attempt the task.


Quote to Reflect On
Once you accept the fact that you’re not perfect, then you develop some confidence. ~Rosalynn Carter
This quote is so true in our family.  Developing confidence does help, but is really difficult to teach a child.

My Reflections on 30 Days of Self Love Challenge:

Todays topic of perfection is a wonderful topic for today.  I'd fallen behind over the weekend with some of my responses to the topics.  BUT I have been thinking about them, there is nothing that requires me to write everyday and so todays post has helped me realize that I don't need to do this perfectly.  I just need to reflect and when I have time, I will write up some of my relfections.

Thanks Tina for this Challenge!

Self Love - Intrinsic Beauty, Trusting your Body and Love from Others

Tina at Faith, Fitness, Fun is running 30 Days to Self Love Reflections.  This weekend she has highlighted 3 more topics of Self Love and really had me thinking.  Her first topic, on Friday, was reflecting on inner beauty -- on looking below the surface to find inner qualities to cherish.  Intrinsic love is hard sometimes to grasp, because as we search, we need to look below the surface.  For someone who has always struggled with body image issues finding the intrinsic beauty in myself is sometimes difficult. Saturday's topic had us thinking about trusting our bodies.  We need to trust our bodies in so many ways, and listen to our bodies.  We need to trust our body on what it needs for fuel, and when it needs rest.  We need to trust our body that it will provide us with the energy to pursue a happy life.  On Sunday, we were to reflect on love from others. 

These topics are difficult to put the "answers" into words. Answers isn't quite correct as this isn't a test or homework assignment. I guess the word should really be "responses". 

My Gram and youngest daughter

Day 3:Intrinsic Beauty
How do they showcase in your life and make you beautiful?
I am truly beautiful because of my love, my love of my family, my friends and my faith.  My love is showcased as I embrace life, to share my time, love and support with my children, my husband, and my extended family.  It is also showcased by my time spent volunteering and helping - helping at the school, at church, and at dance.  

Quote to Reflect On
Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty – they merely move it from their faces into their hearts. ~Martin Buxbaum  
When I think of this quote, I think of my Gram.  And at 94, I think this picture shows her true beauty - her love and interest in her family (especially her great grand-children).


Day 4:Trusting Your Body
In what area do you know you need to trust your body more? How do you plan to do so today? There are two areas where I need to trust my body - the first is my instincts with food and the second is with running.  I need to continue to listen to my body and honour it by listening for cues so it can be healthy.  It is getting easier to nourish my body with natural and healthy food, but some days I still struggle.  I also need to trust that my body can support me as an athlete. As a child I was never athletic and it was never required of me to be active.  We did a few activities as I grew up that were active (water & downhill skiing, wind surfing, biking), but they were seasonal and never competitive sports.  My brother was the athlete, and he was encouraged to explore his interests trying different sports as his interests grew and changed.  I was never encouraged (bribed by one teacher) to become active, to find a sport or activity I loved...  From this I have difficulty accepting that my body can be athletic, that I am an athlete... but I am!  

Quotes to Reflect On
There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it.  ~Elizabeth A. Behnke

This statement is so true.  We must listen to our bodies, and listen with our bodies.  It is so easy to listen to the negative statements running through our brains and forget to feel what our body is really saying.  As a non-athlete for over 35years, I have difficulties trusting that my body can know how to run and that I'll be able to complete my upcoming half marathon.  I still think of myself as the person coming in last, the one who never finishes the runs...  I remember at 17 unable to complete a 1 mile run (I did walk it, but was unable to run it), and definitely didn't finish it in the goal time.  BUT now I can run that mile (and a few more), and although I can't remember the time goal of the mile we were to complete, I'm pretty sure I could complete it under that time.  Until last year, I never really had been taught to run, on how to pace myself, on how to build my endurance, on how to listen to my body and feel how wonderful it was to run.  Now I run, I listen to my body, and try and banish those negative statements that come from others buried in my memory banks...


Day 5: Love from Others

My Cousin

On Friday we attended my cousin's wedding.  It was a beautiful event and few of the people there knew my struggles with my weight, other than family.  Due to our busy schedules we don't see my uncle and his family all that often.  Over the past few years, we get together at Christmas.  My cousin has always been an athlete, she has participated in many sports, including Varsity Sports at University, and making the National Field Hockey team.  Growing up we didn't have much in common, I was 5 years older and she always seemed closer to my brother than me -- they were both athletes, and closest in age.  I was truly blessed on Friday, when she congratulated me and told me that I looked amazing and fabulous.  She is quite proud of my accomplishments.  I doubt I'll ever run as fast as her (she's run a number of half marathons and probably some full marathons too!) but I really felt her love and respect for me.  (I think my mom got a photo of the two of us at the wedding, but since my mom's on holidays I'll have to post the photo later...)

My uncle (her dad) also said some amazingly supportive things to me at the wedding.  I'm glad to have his support and love. 

So many people love me and support me.  My husband and kids, my parents and their spouses, my grandmothers, my extended family, and my friends.
I'm sure they've loved me all these years (as have other family members) no matter what I've weighed or what my fitness level was.  And I'm glad they are standing with me in my journey through life.  I am happy they care, cherish me, love me, support me, and need me.

Try to think of all those wonderful things about you that others care for and use those to fuel your day.

My children love how wonderful I am, how I am there for them, how I comfort them, how I teach them and bless them.  They believe in me, and strengthen me.  It is for them I will continue to post and reflect this month, even as some of these topics are really hard to respond to.

My Running
I have been struggling with running ever since my husband went to Europe. It disrupted my schedule (such that it was) and now I'm having troubles getting back into routine. Especially since any routine I would have gotten into the past week would have then been changed come the start of school after Labour Day. BUT I do need to get moving as my half marathon is fast approaching. In the morning I will go for my long run.  I will post later about my recent runs and about my goals and reflections on some of my issues with running.

41 Days until my first Half Marathon!

Self Love - Gifts of the Body

Today I will celebrate 3 things about my body.  Sure its easy to criticize, but our body requires our love.

My Grandmother & her great grand kids
June 2006

1. First I thank my body for giving me 3 wonderful children. Motherhood is truly a blessing!
2. I thank my Heart for beating so I could share my love with those around me. 
3. And finally I thank my Feet for walking and running and taking me so many places.

Confidence

January 2010 - My first 5K Race!

Tina at Faith, Fitness, Fun is running 30 Days to Self Love Reflections.  The first topic is Confidence!  I have confidence in many things, but do struggle with confidence in a few areas.  In those areas where I am strong it is easy to be confident. But in those areas where I haven't excelled in the past it is difficult to be confident. I am working on my weaknesses and it takes determination to change what was set in motion years ago.  Growing up my strength was academics, I was a reader, I was good at math and science, A's were expected in most subjects, but it was OK for me to get a C in gym. 

My newest strength is that  --  I am a runner! This is a new strength.  I grew up learning that I wasn't athletic and given that I was smart, it didn't really matter (according to many adults in my life) that I wasn't a runner, soccer player, dancer, etc.  Some days it is difficult to believe that I can run, that I am a runner, and that I will soon complete a half marathon.  My training has been derailed the past two weeks because of self-doubt, but today I started again!  And got out for a run and a walk.  The past two weeks are in the past, they don't matter... what does matter is the run I completed today and those that I will complete going forward.  I am a runner and I can do it!


It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not. ~Author Unknown

My 4yo daughter today is exclaiming "I am a genius!"  She has confidence - and I hope as she grows she can keep her confidence.  That I can continue to nurture and strengthen her.  And lead by example, to show her that she (and her older brother and sister) are worth it and that they too can do what they set their mind to! 

Priorities....

A couple of days ago, Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point posted today about a presentation at the Healthy Living Summit about orgainziation and Priorities.

Caitlyn posed the following questions: What are your priorities? What do you want to pay more attention to? What extraneous commitments do you wish you could focus less on? Sometimes just putting it down on paper can help make it a reality!

Step one: Realize that there are 168 hours in the week. 56 of those hours should probably be spent asleep. In order to maximize our time and schedule in ‘free time,’ we need to be more aware about how we spend our energy.


I really try to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but realistically I get 7 or 7.5 average... I am trying, and think I'm doing much better as I used to get 6-7 hours.

Step two: List out your priorities. Some of these priorities are negotiable and some are probably non-negotiable. Of course, these priorities are different for other people.

Here’s my list in order of priority:
* My husband and kids
* Getting an adequate amount of sleep
* Working out 5 times a week/training for my upcoming half marathon
* Shopping for and preparing healthy meals
* Being there for my kids and helping at their school
* Keeping active with my husband and kids
* Sewing and Crafting
* Spending time with family and friends
* Interacting with other bloggers and reading other blogs
* Volunteering with three programs the kids are involved in
* Reading actual books, relaxing, and writing for pleasure
* Watching my favourite television shows

Step three: Identify which priorities you can downgrade or drop completely. Also identify new priorities that you would like to focus more on.


In the fall I will be taking on more care of my Grandmother as my mom will be out of town. This will include weekly trips to visit her for approximately 6 weeks. I really enjoy spending time with her and will schedule it in.

My youngest starts Kindergarten and will be attending full days (the first year of full day kindergarten available here). I will be volunteering now with 3 kids in the same school and helping in all 3 classes. I hope that I can be of assistance to the Kindergarten teacher as she transitions to teaching this new program -- there has already been a call out for volunteers with group reading, family lunch times and other activities. I will also be helping the running program at the school to get my older two kids involved again.

The volunteering include being a Spark (Girl Guide) leader, the webmaster for a dance association and the secretary for the school PAC. I hope to get organized and schedule time for these so I don't have to do anything in a rush. I want to be planned and organized ahead of time. And to keep the prep time spent on this under 1 hours a week; plus the weekly spark meeting, monthly PAC meeting and quarterly dance meeting.

Truthfully I'd love to be able to drop the shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc - but realistically that's not going to happen. I hope to work on getting a routine set to get these done while the kids are at school and meals planned ahead

Step four: Get organized by using a paper calendar or online calendar. Look for ways to plan ahead so your priorities get accomplished and you don’t feel overwhelmed.


I already use Google Calendar to plan my families activities. I also keep a paper calendar in the kitchen and a white board calendar on the fridge. It works -- most of the time!

30 Days of Reflection for Self-Love

Tina over at Faith, Fitness, Fun is running 30 Days of Reflection for Self-Love

I'm interested in what the month will bring!