The point of this list was to get me out of my comfort zone, to experience new things and ease the blow of turning 30. In reality, I've only crossed off a few items but I feel like this year has been one of tons of new experiences and new friends.
So far, I've gone camping twice(which I've never really done), gone out of town a whole bunch of times(which we haven't really gotten to do, I mean we didn't even get a honeymoon!), and crammed about as much fun stuff into our summer as we possibly could. It was such a whirlwind of a packed schedule that I almost feel like I missed it! I have been so lucky to get to do all these things with my very favorite person too.
This year has also been a shit show of just plain bad luck. To start our year, our furnace basically craps out. Luckily, its tax season and the tax refund covers that. Then our bathroom floods and we end up having to replace all the flooring on our first floor. Then some drunk asshole hits AND totals our car. Insurance covers most of these but not all. These were just the major hiccups since January. This doesn't count all the day to day struggles that we endure. It is so easy for me to just fall into the "Why me?" pity party. Each time, I ask what the hell we are doing wrong to have it so hard when it feels like everyone else has it so easy. Here's where I need to stop before someone yells at me.
Here we are. I am going to be honest with you as well as myself. Being an adult sucks. Sometimes you don't get that promotion you had your eye on. Sometimes you don't know how to talk to your teenager. Sometimes your washer just stops. I mean, there is this phrase that says whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger but for crying out loud, how strong does one person need to be???
I find myself spending a lot of time looking into other people situations thinking I know what's up and being so infinitely jealous that I don't have it "easy" like they do. I forget that other folks are icebergs too. That what I am seeing is just the tip and that I don't know their struggles. And for that, I am sorry. To no one in particular and to everyone.
My promise to myself is to stop looking in other peoples windows and assuming I know how perfect every one else's life is. I promise myself to look at my own problems not with eyes of pity but with solution. And to keep putting out good karma.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
1. Train and run a 5k
I am excited to say that I am officially crossing this bad boy off the list! Yesterday, the hubby, our two boys and I ran the Color Palooza. We got up early, ate some toast, drank some water and headed out to the start. We got there super early so we had a lot of time to just putz around. Which just lead to alot of nervous energy for me, haha.
Line up time finally was called and we gathered with about 500 of our closest friends to start the race. We were off and running. Ironically, we went over 1 bridge right out of the gate which had an incline, made a left and over another bridge which also had an incline. Curse you, course creators! But we were doing well, all four of us sticking together. Somewhere around the first mile, the 10 year old couldn't hang. To be fair, we did surprise both boys with this event the day before. The hubby hung back to make sure he didn't get lost in the crowd. The 14 year old and I kept pushing on.
Did I mention how hot it was? Cuz it was like a thousand degrees. Yes, 1000. Most of the training I've done over the last 8 weeks or so was in the not so hot part of the day because running in the heat in kind of a b*tch. So this race was tougher than most of the runs I've been on lately. Luckily, I had a pretty good motivator. The 14 year old literally pushed me every time I wanted to walk. Total for the whole race, we maybe walked about a block and 1/2. And I am ok with that. If it had been a bit cooler, I truly believe I could have pushed through the whole time but that heavy hot air is, well heavy and hot.
They don't give you a time at the end of the race but I can say I ran across the finish like and that was an awesome feeling. And the hubby did mapmyrun his time so based on his, I can say mine was somewhere in the 30-35 min range. I know I said I didn't care about the time and that just as long I finished I'd be happy, but I'm pretty ecstatic about a 30-35 minute 5k. Considering the attempt last year was a total of 1.5minutes running before feeling like I was going vomit and not even finishing the darn thing. Ecstatic I tell.
Also, one of the other things that made this event that much better was having the 10 year be in just absolute shock and amaze that he finished his first 5k as well. My boy is not super active and dislikes running as much as I do, so to give him this experience was a great feeling as well.
Line up time finally was called and we gathered with about 500 of our closest friends to start the race. We were off and running. Ironically, we went over 1 bridge right out of the gate which had an incline, made a left and over another bridge which also had an incline. Curse you, course creators! But we were doing well, all four of us sticking together. Somewhere around the first mile, the 10 year old couldn't hang. To be fair, we did surprise both boys with this event the day before. The hubby hung back to make sure he didn't get lost in the crowd. The 14 year old and I kept pushing on.
Did I mention how hot it was? Cuz it was like a thousand degrees. Yes, 1000. Most of the training I've done over the last 8 weeks or so was in the not so hot part of the day because running in the heat in kind of a b*tch. So this race was tougher than most of the runs I've been on lately. Luckily, I had a pretty good motivator. The 14 year old literally pushed me every time I wanted to walk. Total for the whole race, we maybe walked about a block and 1/2. And I am ok with that. If it had been a bit cooler, I truly believe I could have pushed through the whole time but that heavy hot air is, well heavy and hot.
They don't give you a time at the end of the race but I can say I ran across the finish like and that was an awesome feeling. And the hubby did mapmyrun his time so based on his, I can say mine was somewhere in the 30-35 min range. I know I said I didn't care about the time and that just as long I finished I'd be happy, but I'm pretty ecstatic about a 30-35 minute 5k. Considering the attempt last year was a total of 1.5minutes running before feeling like I was going vomit and not even finishing the darn thing. Ecstatic I tell.
Also, one of the other things that made this event that much better was having the 10 year be in just absolute shock and amaze that he finished his first 5k as well. My boy is not super active and dislikes running as much as I do, so to give him this experience was a great feeling as well.
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013
1. Train and run a 5k
It's race week, sports fans!
Saturday is the day I run my very first 5k. I've not quite finished the C25k program, I'm on week 8 but I feel ok about this. I have had my ups and downs with this running nonsense. But some where about week 6(the second time around) each run I did was better than the last. With that being said, last night was my best one so far. 28 minutes.WITHOUT.STOPPING. Yes, that's right.
When I started this excursion, I really didn't know what to expect. Part me really thought it was gonna be easy and I'd have a "why didn't I start this sooner" moment. And the more I ran, the harder I realized it was. And the more proud of myself I became. And all you folks out there in internet land who think they can't run, can just forget it. If I can do this, you certainly can.
I have a fondness for my running shoes that is so weird to me. They are perfectly broken in, slightly muddy and beautiful. I've loved shoes before but never for these reasons. In fact, I've never loved sneakers in my life. I'm a flip-flop kind of girl. But when I put those sneakers on, I feel a sense of power that is totally foreign to me but I totally dig it. It's like they whisper to me the whole time that I can in fact do this.
Or it's the voices. Whatevs.
Nonetheless, I'm calling myself a runner. And no matter what my time is on Saturday, as long as a finish, I can say that this list item will be my proudest.
Saturday is the day I run my very first 5k. I've not quite finished the C25k program, I'm on week 8 but I feel ok about this. I have had my ups and downs with this running nonsense. But some where about week 6(the second time around) each run I did was better than the last. With that being said, last night was my best one so far. 28 minutes.WITHOUT.STOPPING. Yes, that's right.
When I started this excursion, I really didn't know what to expect. Part me really thought it was gonna be easy and I'd have a "why didn't I start this sooner" moment. And the more I ran, the harder I realized it was. And the more proud of myself I became. And all you folks out there in internet land who think they can't run, can just forget it. If I can do this, you certainly can.
I have a fondness for my running shoes that is so weird to me. They are perfectly broken in, slightly muddy and beautiful. I've loved shoes before but never for these reasons. In fact, I've never loved sneakers in my life. I'm a flip-flop kind of girl. But when I put those sneakers on, I feel a sense of power that is totally foreign to me but I totally dig it. It's like they whisper to me the whole time that I can in fact do this.
Or it's the voices. Whatevs.
Nonetheless, I'm calling myself a runner. And no matter what my time is on Saturday, as long as a finish, I can say that this list item will be my proudest.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
18. Actually R*N a hash
First let me start with that I am not officially crossing this one off yet. I gave it a shot and just wanna talk about it.
If you aren't familiar with hashing(and no, it's not drugs or potatoes), allow me to explain a little. Basically its a drinking group with a running problem. Though, in my case, I do more walking than running. And really, it's more drinking than anything else.
The easiest way to describe it to someone who has never heard of it, is a scavenger hunt for beer. We follow marks of flour/chalk through various parts of town to find stops of beer that may be hidden. We sing a lot of goofy(read:offensive) songs and have a perverse sense of humor and all round good time.
We have been apart of this group for about 4 years now and I never run. Which is why I've added this item to the list. So for the Cinco de Mayo trail (It's on the 5th this year!) I gave it a go. And I ran about 1/3 of the trail. It mostly just shocked folks. I might have been able to run more, had we not run that morning and then I proceed to take my 4 beagles(yes, I am crazy) on a mile-ish walk around my neighborhood. So by 5pm, the start of the hash, my legs didn't want to cooperate with me so well.
We are hashing in Cincy this weekend and there are rumors of a shorter trail. I think I will give it shot again, though the hills down there can be brutal
If you aren't familiar with hashing(and no, it's not drugs or potatoes), allow me to explain a little. Basically its a drinking group with a running problem. Though, in my case, I do more walking than running. And really, it's more drinking than anything else.
The easiest way to describe it to someone who has never heard of it, is a scavenger hunt for beer. We follow marks of flour/chalk through various parts of town to find stops of beer that may be hidden. We sing a lot of goofy(read:offensive) songs and have a perverse sense of humor and all round good time.
We have been apart of this group for about 4 years now and I never run. Which is why I've added this item to the list. So for the Cinco de Mayo trail (It's on the 5th this year!) I gave it a go. And I ran about 1/3 of the trail. It mostly just shocked folks. I might have been able to run more, had we not run that morning and then I proceed to take my 4 beagles(yes, I am crazy) on a mile-ish walk around my neighborhood. So by 5pm, the start of the hash, my legs didn't want to cooperate with me so well.
We are hashing in Cincy this weekend and there are rumors of a shorter trail. I think I will give it shot again, though the hills down there can be brutal
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| I think this is one of the smaller hills in Cincy. |
1. Train and run a 5k
So we meet again.
I haven't given up on this crap just yet. The blog or the list. But life gets in the way and the computer is ALLTHEWAYINTHEOTHERROOM. So sometimes, I get lazy and don't feel like writing. Don't take it personally.
I am on Week 6 Day 2. Again. Big accomplishment; did 20 minutes(almost) of straight running. And felt awesome about it. After this, I thought for sure that the next run, which was run 5, walk 3 run 8 walk 3 run 5 would have been a cake walk but it was rough. And then time slipped away. And then we went camping in West Virginia. And then some more excuses, yada yada yada. I hit maybe a run a week since that 20 minute straight run. And none of them were good. So I decided to restart Week 6 again this week.
I'd like to say that this fresh start helped but running in 80* temps is making me struggle with the last leg of the run. I have tried to wait til like 8-8:30 when the sun goes down some but the air is still pretty heavy. I think on Friday, I am gonna give running in the AM a shot, hopefully that will help.
Tonight's run. Siggghhh. So, let's start with my irrational fear of the woods. Especially when I am alone. Last night, the husband and I ran in the woods by our house and it was wonderful. He is faster than me but knowing he was there puts my anxiety at bay.
Well, tonight I ran alone. And thought it was a good idea to take the same route we took last night. And as I enter the beautiful wooded area, I immediately start feeling like I am in a horror movie. I am literally looking behind me every few seconds worried I am being stalked by a serial killer. Of course, my pace has increased and by the time I get out of the woods I am struggling to catch my breath. This increase in adrenaline and speed basically had me crapped out for the rest of the run. Of the final 10 minutes, I only ran about 7.5.
I can honestly say that this program has given me a new found confidence in running that I have never had. I don't care how I look when I run anymore. My shin pain has decreased and my breathing has improved dramatically. Our 5k is only a few weeks away and I already feel like this is in my grasp more than ever before.
I haven't given up on this crap just yet. The blog or the list. But life gets in the way and the computer is ALLTHEWAYINTHEOTHERROOM. So sometimes, I get lazy and don't feel like writing. Don't take it personally.
I am on Week 6 Day 2. Again. Big accomplishment; did 20 minutes(almost) of straight running. And felt awesome about it. After this, I thought for sure that the next run, which was run 5, walk 3 run 8 walk 3 run 5 would have been a cake walk but it was rough. And then time slipped away. And then we went camping in West Virginia. And then some more excuses, yada yada yada. I hit maybe a run a week since that 20 minute straight run. And none of them were good. So I decided to restart Week 6 again this week.
I'd like to say that this fresh start helped but running in 80* temps is making me struggle with the last leg of the run. I have tried to wait til like 8-8:30 when the sun goes down some but the air is still pretty heavy. I think on Friday, I am gonna give running in the AM a shot, hopefully that will help.
Tonight's run. Siggghhh. So, let's start with my irrational fear of the woods. Especially when I am alone. Last night, the husband and I ran in the woods by our house and it was wonderful. He is faster than me but knowing he was there puts my anxiety at bay.
Well, tonight I ran alone. And thought it was a good idea to take the same route we took last night. And as I enter the beautiful wooded area, I immediately start feeling like I am in a horror movie. I am literally looking behind me every few seconds worried I am being stalked by a serial killer. Of course, my pace has increased and by the time I get out of the woods I am struggling to catch my breath. This increase in adrenaline and speed basically had me crapped out for the rest of the run. Of the final 10 minutes, I only ran about 7.5.
I can honestly say that this program has given me a new found confidence in running that I have never had. I don't care how I look when I run anymore. My shin pain has decreased and my breathing has improved dramatically. Our 5k is only a few weeks away and I already feel like this is in my grasp more than ever before.
I'm pretty sure I still look silly when I run, I just don't care anymore:D
Monday, April 29, 2013
1. Train and run a 5k
Have no fear, faithful readers, I have not fallen off the planet. Nor have I given up on this thing. I have diligently gotten my 3 runs in each week. I just completely Week 4 Day 3, so you know what that means??? Half way baby!
If you are not familiar with the Couch to 5k program, it is a gradual build of walking to running. The lady living in my ear buds tells me when to walk and when to run and she's mostly pretty nice about it. Until she makes me run more than I wanna. So far, my basic view is that I hate what I am doing, and longing for the previous week's "easier" run, which I guess means it's working.
This journey has been hard. As discussed earlier, I dislike running. I hate the breathing heaving, the nose running and most of all the shin pain. BUT despite all these challenges, I have made it to halfway point and I have to admit, I'm pretty freaking proud of that.
All whining aside, starting this in the spring is by far the best thing about it. My neighborhood smells like flowers which is so delightful. The air is cool enough that I don't feel like I am wearing a wet blanket but not so cold that my lungs feel like they are going freeze up. And 4 weeks into this thing, I am a lot less concerned with how I look when I run. Mostly, because I am focusing all of my energy on willing time to move faster so the fire in my shins will go out but that is totally besides the point.
When I started this, running more than a minute was tough and now I am up to 5. It's not huge, but I will take it and I'll just keep waiting for that great run I keep hearing about.
If you are not familiar with the Couch to 5k program, it is a gradual build of walking to running. The lady living in my ear buds tells me when to walk and when to run and she's mostly pretty nice about it. Until she makes me run more than I wanna. So far, my basic view is that I hate what I am doing, and longing for the previous week's "easier" run, which I guess means it's working.
This journey has been hard. As discussed earlier, I dislike running. I hate the breathing heaving, the nose running and most of all the shin pain. BUT despite all these challenges, I have made it to halfway point and I have to admit, I'm pretty freaking proud of that.
All whining aside, starting this in the spring is by far the best thing about it. My neighborhood smells like flowers which is so delightful. The air is cool enough that I don't feel like I am wearing a wet blanket but not so cold that my lungs feel like they are going freeze up. And 4 weeks into this thing, I am a lot less concerned with how I look when I run. Mostly, because I am focusing all of my energy on willing time to move faster so the fire in my shins will go out but that is totally besides the point.
When I started this, running more than a minute was tough and now I am up to 5. It's not huge, but I will take it and I'll just keep waiting for that great run I keep hearing about.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
1.Train and run a 5k
Week 2 Complete.Hurray!
Week 3 Day 1 in the books as well.Groan...
And I thought 90 seconds was bad. HA! It's cake to 3 minutes. (hmmm.. cake...)
I am not so secretly cursing my parents for not making me go out and run more often as a kid because this sh*t is hard as an adult. Honestly, the things I am struggling with the most are my shin pain and my breathing. I gave some new stretches a shot tonite and having iced the crap out of my shins on Sunday after our run, I noticed a difference. They still hurt but the pain has definitely decreased in intensity. Now, to work on my breathing so I stop sounding like I am giving birth whilst running.
On the plus side, having dropped 15lbs since the last time I gave Couch to 5k a shot, I notice a lot less strain on my knees which makes running slightly more pleasant but only slightly. Also, having a running buddy makes me more accountable. Thanks Hubby!
One of the things I struggle with is follow through and so hitting milestones like completing Week 2 is a big deal for me. Especially with something I don't really *want* to do like, pant and hiss and moan for 2 miles in my neighborhood. And I was especially dreading the 3 min straight run this week. But I did it and for that, I am going to glow with pride. Or sweat. Could go either way.
BTW, running in the rain today was kind of sucky but at least we beat the heavy rain!
Week 3 Day 1 in the books as well.Groan...
And I thought 90 seconds was bad. HA! It's cake to 3 minutes. (hmmm.. cake...)
I am not so secretly cursing my parents for not making me go out and run more often as a kid because this sh*t is hard as an adult. Honestly, the things I am struggling with the most are my shin pain and my breathing. I gave some new stretches a shot tonite and having iced the crap out of my shins on Sunday after our run, I noticed a difference. They still hurt but the pain has definitely decreased in intensity. Now, to work on my breathing so I stop sounding like I am giving birth whilst running.
On the plus side, having dropped 15lbs since the last time I gave Couch to 5k a shot, I notice a lot less strain on my knees which makes running slightly more pleasant but only slightly. Also, having a running buddy makes me more accountable. Thanks Hubby!
One of the things I struggle with is follow through and so hitting milestones like completing Week 2 is a big deal for me. Especially with something I don't really *want* to do like, pant and hiss and moan for 2 miles in my neighborhood. And I was especially dreading the 3 min straight run this week. But I did it and for that, I am going to glow with pride. Or sweat. Could go either way.
BTW, running in the rain today was kind of sucky but at least we beat the heavy rain!
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