Run time improvement

After being sick and the rain, I wasn't able to get a run in earlier this week. I finally got one in today after dropping Baby Bear off at daycare. I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill and my mile time has drastically improved since last week! My mile time was 12:22, that is more than a minute off my time from last week.

Even with missing a running session earlier this week, I was still able to improve. Yay!! I have been getting two short runs in a week, although I have been hoping to get three in. I missed out on a run on Monday since I was sick. Usually, I would workout even when I have cold, but since it was raining outside and I had Baby Bear with me, I didn't want to take her out in the jogging stroller in the rain. I am hoping the weather will be dry on Friday so I can get a run in again. I have been running about a mile and half each time I am out, I hope to get some 2 mile runs in. As my time improves, I should be able to. My time is limited so as I get better I should be able to run farther. I am very happy with my progress.

Back in the swing of things

Lately, I have been pretty sleep deprived and have been choosing sleep over exercise. Considering the little sleep I have been getting in the last week, it is all for the best. This morning, I felt decent enough to get to the gym and run on the treadmill before work. I still running pretty slow, but am working on it. My mile run time was 13:55, at least is was under 14 minutes, but still pretty slow. I am thinking about doing a 5K in March and so that will be a great motivator to get me back in shape. If I can get more sleep, I am sure I can bet back in the swing of things and back to a regular schedule of working out. I really want to get back to it, since that is my alone time and I miss that time to myself.

The end of a decade

Wow, I can't believe that it is the end of a decade.

In this decade...

I met and fell in love with the man I would marry.
I completed my Ph.D.
I got my first real job.
I learned to crochet.
I bought my first car on my own (I always had hand me downs).
I made many new and wonderful friends.
I moved 4 times.
I lost my sister-in-law.
I married my best friend.
I paid off all my credit cards.
I ran a 10K and a relay triathlon.
I became a mother (probably the best things that happened to me this decade).

The last 10 years were packed with so much, some great and some not so great (losing my sister-in-law in particular). Lets see what the next decade holds for me.

Not the mama

I used to watch this show as a kid. I have been trying to remember what the show was called and my brother reminded me today.

Injured, ugh!

I think that I have tennis elbow. I have been experiencing pain in my elbow and forearm. At first I thought it was just muscle soreness from starting to lift weights and doing my push-ups, but my right arm has continued to hurt. Sometimes lifting my water bottle to drink hurts. I was talking to a friend about it and he mentioned that it might be tennis elbow and that I should probably lay off push-ups and lifting. I don't really like that solution, but I supposed it is what I need to do. It is tough to not lift anything at all, since Baby Bear does need to be carried more often than not. So my healing process will probably be slowed due to her demands. Just when I thought I was getting back on track I hit another roadblock.

Since I have to put the 100 push-ups on the back burner, I am going to try to focus on cardio and running. My mile time is atrocious, so that I will be working on a time that is more acceptable to me. I have never been a fast runner, so I am realistic about it and I know I have to take it a little slow at first because of my knees. (They have been bothering me too. I know I am falling apart.) But I just got new running shoes, so maybe that will help. I sure hope so.

Motherhood is wonderful, but it has done a number on my body. I have to remember to be patient since it has only been 6 months postpartum. I will get there; I know I will.

Two years

Two years ago today Tricia was taken from us by cancer. Her memory is still very strong in our hearts and minds and will always be so.

Tricia, you are not forgotten. You are always in our heart and memories. I think of you often and I miss you.

100 push up update and a new gym

I am finally back on track with my 100 push up training. I am on week 3 of the training and I have to go down a level of training. Missing training has a definite impact on your progress. But that is life and being a new mommy has a toll on you. I am still suffering from sleep deprivation but I am doing my best.

I have found a new workout schedule that seems to be working for me. I have free access to the gym at the college that I work at. It is a new gym and last week I started going before heading back to work. So far that has been working out for me. I drop Baby Bear off a little earlier and get a 30 minute workout in (I wish I had more time, but that is all I can squeeze in right now). I shower and change and then walk over to my office a little later than usual. I think this has been the best bet for me. I have worked out more in the last week and a half than I have in the last 2 months since I came back to work. So this is great. Lunch time workout were not working, but so far this new schedule is working.

I definitely have a ways to go before getting back to the level I once was at. I ran on the treadmill yesterday morning and my time was really sad. It took me almost 14 minutes to run a mile. Now that is sad, you would have thought I was walking. I just have to keep on working to get my stamina back. All in time.

100 push-up update and step class

I have to be honest, I been slacking off with my 100 push-ups training. Mostly because Baby Bear has been sick and then Papa Bear got sick, so essentially I had two sick babies. That meant I wasn't getting much sleep at all so week 3 of training went out the door. I know excuses, excuses. I promise myself that I will be back on track next week.

On a positive note, today I had the chance to go to the gym and take a step class. I hadn't taken a step class since I was pregnant. It kicked my butt a bit, but it felt so good to be challenged! I have been walking a lot with Baby Bear (she is not quite old enough for me to be able to run with the jogging stroller, hopefully soon) but it is not the same as doing a really good workout. It was really nice to get to the gym. It is tough to find the time. I tried fitting in lunch time workouts and did so for a week or so, but that was not very successful since I generally have to pump during lunch and many times end up working through lunch. It is going to take me a little more time to find a way to fit exercise back into my life. I just keep having to to try different times during the week and hopefully I will be able to find something that will work into my life and schedule.

100 push-ups: Week 2 update

I am a little late with my week 2 update (I had a sick Baby Bear to deal with the last couple of days). Week 2 was tougher but I survived. At the end of the week, I did the exhaustion test and I completed good 24 push-ups. That means that for week 3, I will go to the second level of training. I was just 2 push-ups away from the third level of training, but I could not push out another push-up. Let's see how I do this week.

Autism Walk

We walked on Saturday and I raised just under $300 for Autism Speaks. Our team raised $1600. Not bad! Thank you to everyone who supported Baby Bear and I in our walk. For some pictures, check out Baby Bear's blog.

It is not the most organized walk, but it is for a good cause and it is pretty cool to get to walk on the field of Angels Stadium.