Day 1

Today I woke up 5 minutes before my alarm clock went off at 5:30. At first I was scared someone had woken me up and was in the house and going to murder me. But then I realized it was just my body telling me, "you really, really, really need to go for a run." 

I cleaned the house a little and put the blender in the dishwasher. A little before 7 it started to get light outside so I "jumped" in my car and drove down the road to my parents house. I walked the quarter mile(?) warm up to the canal, stretched and started down the canal at a very slow jog.

I started thinking about this canal. 

I started running with my dad when I was 13 right on this very track. Before there were houses us kids (Ashley, Chase and me) would follow my dad while he ran on our quad and jump off and take turns running with him. I'm 23 now. That 10 years of running on that canal.

Running makes me nostalgic. 

I bet I could write a book in a month if I wrote while I ran.

Anyways, lots of thoughts came to me this morning while I ran to Cooper and back. 

When I got home I made this little beast:

frozen strawberries, blueberries, banana, flaxseed, protein powder, kale, spinach, Amazon OJ (haha it's just oj with acai berry), and almond milk. Blend up well.

Here's to a great day!

Evening:

I just finished my upper body workout. I use dumbbells. I'm tired!  

motivated.-Brooke

So today I did most of the chest and arms p90x workout.

 I really need to figure out a better way to keep Graham occupied. He wouldn't leave me alone and I'm already looking for an excuse to turn the darn tv off.  So when he says, "mom I peed on the floor" I couldn't hit the off button quick enough. Then the babies woke up crying....and everything else got in the way. So I did about 45 minutes of it.

I ran a mile also. It was supposed to be 2. But a mile is still great. It was during nap time so no one was buggin' me. I didn't finish all on my own.

I'm obsessed with the Biggest Loser. Obsessed. It gives me so much motivation! Tonight one of the trainers said something about working out for 3 hours and I was like, "no way!"but...I could do that. If I worked out for an hour and a half before the kids woke up then an hour and a half during nap time. Or 1 hour in the morning, 1 hour during nap time and 1 hour after the kids go to bed for the night. I make all these excuses but really it's all about what you want the most.

I can do this.

Hope you had a great day!

 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words! -Taylor

Sorry for the CRAPPY cell phone pict but do me a favor and look at the bottom left hand box....see that number......the one that says 3.20........yeah.......THAT'S HOW MANY MILES I RAN TODAY!  Holy freakin crap! I did it.  I officially ran my first 5k and get this....I DIDN'T walk!  Obviously, with a time of 45 minutes I was shuffling running pretty slow but it was a run NOT a walk!  I felt great and it wasn't until the 2.5ish mile that my shins started acting up but once I got home I stretched, applied a bottle's worth some Icy Hott, and IBprofin and I'm feeling pretty good!!!   A BIG shout-out to Leslie for sticking with me through all 16,404.2 feet!  My stats for the day:

Time- 45:21 Miles- 3.2 Best Pace- 10:29!!Calories- 422

Total February Miles: 9.2

Total 2012 Miles: 13.7

race time-Brooke

Alright! 

I have been doing pretty good.

 I started doing the P90x work outs last week and they are amazing. So, so hard. 

Last week I also decided to start training for a 5k. This was a pretty humbling experience for me. I have always had to in my head that 4 miles is a real run. Growing up I used to run on the canal and I would run 2 miles out then the 2 miles back making 4 miles a pretty consistant run for me. And If I didn't do the 4 miles I felt like I wasn't reaching my goal. 

So to train for a 3.1 mile race I just felt pathetic. 

But I have had to change my mindset.

Last week I ran a 5k and it was so hard! I really couldn't train for anything more then that right now. I'm excited to get back into running so I need to start with this 5k and celebrate that. 

The race is the beginning for March. My goal for the race is to run it 35 minutes. 

-Brooke

Long Run and a Sweet Treat! -Taylor

Woke up this morning excited to go somewhere new for my "long run" of 2 miles! So I laced up my shoes, straped on my garmin, and plugged in my ipod!  I drove down to the local highschool track.  I was hoping that the "bouncy" track would be a little less stressful on my POOR SHINS!!!!!  Ok seriously, I've played sports my ENTIRE life but I have never experienced shin splints like I have this last week!  ugh!  So I met my trusty running buddy, Leslie.  After a fun lil photo shoot...we did one warm-up lap and then started our journey to 2 miles. 

I've come to the conclusion that the first 1/2 miles SUCKS!!!!  Every time I start running I HATE it!!!  My body hurts, my lungs burn, and I always hate the music I pick.  But then the moment I hit .51 miles it all goes away!  Once I pass that half mile point I find my stride.  So I need to remind myself that if I can just get past that first half mile, I'll be smooth sailing!

So I feel like I need to say something b/4 I keep typing!  So...I want to let you know that I am SO PROUD of myself!  I really am!  I can't believe that I can run a whole mile straight not to mention 2.5 miles!  So, with that being said I was so DISAPPOINTED with todays run!  Once I got past the dreaded first half mile I was doing great!  At one point my pace was an 11 minute mile (my longest was 15 min)!!!!  I had determined that I was gonna do it! I was going to keep going the entire 3.2 miles (5k)!  So I was feelin like a million bucks until I hit the 2 mile mark and then it happened.....some kind of force came up from the depths of Hell and sunk it's devilish teeth right into my shins!!!!!!!!  They were on FIRE!  It came from out of nowhere!  Everytime I took a step the pain shot from my ankle up to my knee!  I was able to go another half mile (2.5 total) but had to stop!  UGH! I was soooo bummed!  My breathing was great, my body felt great, and I was on a kick butt song.  I felt like I could have gone forever EXCEPT for those dang shins!  This is disapointed me with my new best friend; ICY HOTT!

(Total time: 38:37   2.53miles    352calories)

I think Leslie could see how disapointed I was so she asked if I wanted to go back to her house for the tastiest protein shake on EARTH!  Of course I accepted her offer!  Oh and it was PURE BLISS!  It was whey protein, peanut butter, and mixed frozen fruit!  Tasted exactly like a PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH!  YUMMM! Thanks for raising my spirits Leslie!  Tomorrow is a much needed rest day and on Monday is a LONG run of 3.2 miles! That's right, I may not have won the battle today but I WILL win the war on Monday (Running War, that is)!  HAPPY TRAILS!

February Miles: 6

Total 2012 Miles: 10.5 

Progress!!! -Taylor

I LOVE this girl!

Leslie has been my "running" buddy this last week and she is the BEST motivator!!!!  When I'm whining how much my legs hurt and how much I want to walk she tells me to "suck it up, buttercup! Keep going!" 

So we set out today for our ONE MILER.  My goal was to be under 13:00 minutes (last Friday I ran one mile in 13:30)  I was SUPER excited to use my GARMIN for the first time!  I LOVE IT! 

We started strong but I have KILLER shin-splints right now!!! So I was hurtin' the first 1/2 mile but once I loosened up I felt myself get into a stride!  Our last little bit Leslie told me to sprint so....I sprinted!  I ended up finishing the mile in...........12:49!!!!!!!  Woohoo!!!!! I almost shaved a WHOLE minute off!  What a great feeling to set a goal and accomplish it!!  Tomorrow I'm meeting Leslie at the track for a 2 miler! 

Total February Miles: 3.5

Total 2012 Miles: 8

P.S. I wanted to thank everyone for the AMAZING comments!  Your positive words keep ME motivated! Love you all!!!

Christmas Came Early!!!! (....REALLY early) -Taylor

I seriously could have KISSED the UPS man today b/c he brought me this!!!!!!!!!!

(This is my SUPER excited face!)

A Garmin Forerunner 305!  This baby is a GPS that will track how many miles I run, what my pace is, calories burned, AND SO MUCH MORE (I just need to learn how to use it!)  One of my favorite bloggers "Slim Katie"  uses it and swears by it so I knew I had to order one!  Speaking of Katie, if you want some REAL motivation mosey on down to her blog! http://www.runsforcookies.com/  This girl is AMAZING!!! I can't wait to stap this puppy on tomorrow for my 1 mile run!  See ya tomorrow! HAPPY TRAILS!