Oh yeah, I have a blog, don't I!!! Sorry, it has been almost a week since my last post. These summer days are going by so fast!
Here's what's been on my mind for the last few weeks! I am not getting any leaner. I have stalled out at 120 lbs., which I'm very happy with, so don't think I'm complaining because my ice cream's cold. :-) But, for some reason, I was thinking that as I got closer to my 10k goal (which is only two weeks away), I would magically see my problem area (my soft mid-section) magically disappear! Well, it hasn't, and I have to admit that I have been gauging my fitness on what I see in the mirror and on the scale, which is exactly what I did not want to do when I started this thing on March 14th. I wanted to be the Joyful Jogger, and, by golly, that is what I'm going to be!
Heck! Just last month, I ran for 30 minutes straight, and this past Friday, I ran for 50 minutes. This coming Friday, I am scheduled to run for 60! Can I do it . . .NO SWEAT! (Well, there actually will be because, as it turns out, this gal sweats like a man when she runs!) I guess I should have said . . .Piece of Cake (which sounds really good right now. Too bad I just had a bowl of cereal!)
That being said, I just so happened to run across the following quote the other day when I was feeling disappointed and unaccomplished, and it made me feel inspired and motivated. I hope it does the same for you!
"My fitness is close to where it needs to be, and I have time, so I'm running with serenity and confidence and letting the improvements come to me."
- Kara Goucher, American long-distance runner (bio or blog)
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
10k Program - Week 6
Week 6
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 35 min. CT 30 min. Run 30 min. Walk easy Run 60 min. Run 40 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 35 min. CT 30 min. Run 30 min. Walk easy Run 60 min. Run 40 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Day 101
Happy first day of summer everyone!
And in honor of that, we (I say "we" because my hubby did all of the real work, while I just chimed in about color preferences!) changed the Joyful Jogger color scheme to reflect how I feel about summer. Turns out, I think of summer as YELLOW (with a little bit of aqua on the side)!
If YELLOW were an equation, it would be Sunshine + Joy = YELLOW!
May all of your days be yellow!
;-) Missi
P.S. If you normally receive my blog posts via email or Google Reader, take a minute to go straight to joyfuljogger.blogspot.com to check out my new digs!
And in honor of that, we (I say "we" because my hubby did all of the real work, while I just chimed in about color preferences!) changed the Joyful Jogger color scheme to reflect how I feel about summer. Turns out, I think of summer as YELLOW (with a little bit of aqua on the side)!
If YELLOW were an equation, it would be Sunshine + Joy = YELLOW!
May all of your days be yellow!
;-) Missi
P.S. If you normally receive my blog posts via email or Google Reader, take a minute to go straight to joyfuljogger.blogspot.com to check out my new digs!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
10k Program - Week 5
Week 5
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 30 min. CT 30 min. Run 34 min. Walk easy Run 50 min. Run 45 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 30 min. CT 30 min. Run 34 min. Walk easy Run 50 min. Run 45 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Day 99
Happy Father's Day, Babe!
WOW! You totally deserved a better Father's Day than what you got today!
Sure, your day started out nice. You slept in a little, which was a plus. Next, we went to church, and you were really moved by the worship service, so much so, that you even raised one of your hands in the air (which is very uncharacteristic of you, as you don't like to draw attention to yourself, but I thought it was awesome!)
When we got home, you asked for a little help cleaning your shop, which I was happy to do (sorry that our three little ducklings kept quacking for my attention every ten minutes!) And just as things were looking like we might accomplish something. WHAMO! The sewer starts backing up! That's right! Happy Father's Day! Poor guy can't catch a break! And this had to happen on a Sunday, when a body can't even rent a "Snake" to clear a clog! Yeesh!
Luckily (or was it luck?), my wonderful neighbor Melanie's dad just happened to have an electric drum auger at his place, so he and Tracy went to get it! Thanks, Larry! Now, equipped with the right tool,you were able to "snake" the clog. It was arduous and stinky work, but you did it, Babe!
I am so proud that you did not let this fiasco ruin your whole day. Luckily, you were still able to get a haircut and a nap. So it wasn't a total bust!
I love you! You are an amazing Dad and husband. Happy Father's Day!
;-) Missi
WOW! You totally deserved a better Father's Day than what you got today!
Sure, your day started out nice. You slept in a little, which was a plus. Next, we went to church, and you were really moved by the worship service, so much so, that you even raised one of your hands in the air (which is very uncharacteristic of you, as you don't like to draw attention to yourself, but I thought it was awesome!)
When we got home, you asked for a little help cleaning your shop, which I was happy to do (sorry that our three little ducklings kept quacking for my attention every ten minutes!) And just as things were looking like we might accomplish something. WHAMO! The sewer starts backing up! That's right! Happy Father's Day! Poor guy can't catch a break! And this had to happen on a Sunday, when a body can't even rent a "Snake" to clear a clog! Yeesh!
Luckily (or was it luck?), my wonderful neighbor Melanie's dad just happened to have an electric drum auger at his place, so he and Tracy went to get it! Thanks, Larry! Now, equipped with the right tool,you were able to "snake" the clog. It was arduous and stinky work, but you did it, Babe!
I am so proud that you did not let this fiasco ruin your whole day. Luckily, you were still able to get a haircut and a nap. So it wasn't a total bust!
I love you! You are an amazing Dad and husband. Happy Father's Day!
;-) Missi
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 94
Here's an interesting question that my hubby posed to me the other day: "Babe, would you rather look fit or be fit?"
Great question isn't it, and one that has been tickling my brain and heart ever since. Here was my knee-jerk response, though: "I would much rather BE fit than just look fit!"
Now, for those of you who know me well, that has not EVER been the case with how I feel about being in shape. In my youth, I was very active in sports, not to be fit but to have fun. In college, I focused on my studies, was very busy with social commitments, had a part-time job and managed to stay stressed-out most of the time, all of which contributed to weight loss (and acne) and the appearance of fitness. I honestly don't think that I worked-out a single day in college.
After college, I jumped right into teaching high school, enrolled in graduate school and eventually met Mr. Right (yes, that's you Honey!) Who has time to workout with all that going on! Finally, right before we got married, my soon-to-be hubby and I joined a gym and focused on LOOKING our best for the wedding. Now, I can't really speak for him; he might have truly wanted to be in shape, but I can definitely say that I did it so I could look good in my VERY sleek wedding gown.
Fast forward to December 1, 2009. My last baby was a little over a year old, and I had stopped breast feeding. Now, it was time to get serious about getting into shape again, especially in the saggy baby-belly region! So, I took on P90X for the second time (the first time was in 2007, and the results were great - so great that little Wesley came along 9 months later ;-) Here's the deal though; both times I took on the P90X challenge, I was completely focused on how I would look when the program was finished. Fitness was just a by-product!
This time, it's different. My focus is fitness; my focus is joy; my focus is sustainable exercise; my focus is taking care of the temple that God made. Guess what happens when you focus on the right thing . . . the rest will follow!
Keep your eyes on the prize!
;-) Missi
Great question isn't it, and one that has been tickling my brain and heart ever since. Here was my knee-jerk response, though: "I would much rather BE fit than just look fit!"
Now, for those of you who know me well, that has not EVER been the case with how I feel about being in shape. In my youth, I was very active in sports, not to be fit but to have fun. In college, I focused on my studies, was very busy with social commitments, had a part-time job and managed to stay stressed-out most of the time, all of which contributed to weight loss (and acne) and the appearance of fitness. I honestly don't think that I worked-out a single day in college.
After college, I jumped right into teaching high school, enrolled in graduate school and eventually met Mr. Right (yes, that's you Honey!) Who has time to workout with all that going on! Finally, right before we got married, my soon-to-be hubby and I joined a gym and focused on LOOKING our best for the wedding. Now, I can't really speak for him; he might have truly wanted to be in shape, but I can definitely say that I did it so I could look good in my VERY sleek wedding gown.
Fast forward to December 1, 2009. My last baby was a little over a year old, and I had stopped breast feeding. Now, it was time to get serious about getting into shape again, especially in the saggy baby-belly region! So, I took on P90X for the second time (the first time was in 2007, and the results were great - so great that little Wesley came along 9 months later ;-) Here's the deal though; both times I took on the P90X challenge, I was completely focused on how I would look when the program was finished. Fitness was just a by-product!
This time, it's different. My focus is fitness; my focus is joy; my focus is sustainable exercise; my focus is taking care of the temple that God made. Guess what happens when you focus on the right thing . . . the rest will follow!
Keep your eyes on the prize!
;-) Missi
Sunday, June 12, 2011
10k Program - Week 4
Week 4
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 40 min. CT 30 min. Run 30 min. Walk easy Run 45 min. Run 45 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 40 min. CT 30 min. Run 30 min. Walk easy Run 45 min. Run 45 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Day 87
Okay, I'm just going to say it: I feel and look healthier and leaner when I have a tan. (After all, brown flab is better than white flab!) I know. I know. Sun exposure is bad for my skin and can cause premature wrinkling, sun spots and even cancer. And believe me. I'm not scoffing at any of these ramifications. They are real and serious!
Still, I gotta tell ya; I get a little Vitamin D buzz this time of year when the little bit of sun exposure I get each day (playing in the yard, going to the park, swimming in our neighbor's pool, going on a bike ride, running, etc.) steadily accumulates (without burning) into a nice golden brown.
Last year, I tried the Tan and Tone America spray-tan technique, and it worked great, especially on my lily-white legs that hadn't seen the sun in years. (Thank goodness for capris pants as a nice alternative to shorts!) This year, though, because of my vigorous workouts, I can't do the spray-on because it can't hold up to the sweat!
So, I've decided to expose my "lily whites" in shorts a little each day to get some color. I'll let you know how it goes. So far, so good! My legs are now more beige than white!
;-) Missi
Still, I gotta tell ya; I get a little Vitamin D buzz this time of year when the little bit of sun exposure I get each day (playing in the yard, going to the park, swimming in our neighbor's pool, going on a bike ride, running, etc.) steadily accumulates (without burning) into a nice golden brown.
Last year, I tried the Tan and Tone America spray-tan technique, and it worked great, especially on my lily-white legs that hadn't seen the sun in years. (Thank goodness for capris pants as a nice alternative to shorts!) This year, though, because of my vigorous workouts, I can't do the spray-on because it can't hold up to the sweat!
So, I've decided to expose my "lily whites" in shorts a little each day to get some color. I'll let you know how it goes. So far, so good! My legs are now more beige than white!
;-) Missi
Sunday, June 5, 2011
10k Program - Week 3
Week 3
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 35 min. CT 30 min. Run 30 min. Walk easy Run 40 min. Run 40 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 35 min. CT 30 min. Run 30 min. Walk easy Run 40 min. Run 40 min. REST
normal pace race pace 30 min. normal pace slow pace
(avg 140bpm) (avg 160bpm) (avg 140bpm) (avg 130bpm)
Friday, June 3, 2011
Day 83
WOW! It's hard to believe that it has been almost a week since my last post. What a slacker! I honestly don't know where the time has gone. I guess I'm trying to get adjusted to my summer schedule!
Anyway, as you know, I run early in the morning so that I can beat the heat and be home in time to stretch a bit and grab a drink of water (and maybe a shower) before the kids get up. I have also grown accustomed to running virtually the same route around my neighborhood each time I head out. This just baffles my hubby, who needs the variety of a different route each time to keep his mind occupied! Hey, whatever blows your hair back!
I say that to say this. A wonderful thing has happened during this process of running the same route all of the time. It seems that I have developed a bit of a "fan club" for lack of a better term. You see; the same cars pass by me every morning. The drivers started out staring and waving; now, they're giving me the "thumbs up." Then, there's the guy that waits for me to turn the corner before starting his diesel truck, so as not to startle me or be in my way as he drives off. Then, he gives a friendly wave!
Next, I have my dog-walker lady, who nods in appreciation as I cross the street well in advance of her three dogs seeing me and going into yipping spasms and tangling themselves up in the multi-leash. I also enjoy the friendly nod of the elderly gentleman who rides his bicycle each day.
But nothing tops the encounter that I had today with my little walker friend who is probably in her mid-sixties and possibly Chinese (or from somewhere in the Far East). We've never spoken but have communicated through smiles for quite some time. Anyway, today, out of nowhere, she sidled up next to me and started running. It was only for about 30 seconds, but it was magical! Then, she smiled and walked off as if it never happened. Perhaps it didn't! Regardless, it made me smile. It was truly joyful!
;-) Missi
Anyway, as you know, I run early in the morning so that I can beat the heat and be home in time to stretch a bit and grab a drink of water (and maybe a shower) before the kids get up. I have also grown accustomed to running virtually the same route around my neighborhood each time I head out. This just baffles my hubby, who needs the variety of a different route each time to keep his mind occupied! Hey, whatever blows your hair back!
I say that to say this. A wonderful thing has happened during this process of running the same route all of the time. It seems that I have developed a bit of a "fan club" for lack of a better term. You see; the same cars pass by me every morning. The drivers started out staring and waving; now, they're giving me the "thumbs up." Then, there's the guy that waits for me to turn the corner before starting his diesel truck, so as not to startle me or be in my way as he drives off. Then, he gives a friendly wave!
Next, I have my dog-walker lady, who nods in appreciation as I cross the street well in advance of her three dogs seeing me and going into yipping spasms and tangling themselves up in the multi-leash. I also enjoy the friendly nod of the elderly gentleman who rides his bicycle each day.
But nothing tops the encounter that I had today with my little walker friend who is probably in her mid-sixties and possibly Chinese (or from somewhere in the Far East). We've never spoken but have communicated through smiles for quite some time. Anyway, today, out of nowhere, she sidled up next to me and started running. It was only for about 30 seconds, but it was magical! Then, she smiled and walked off as if it never happened. Perhaps it didn't! Regardless, it made me smile. It was truly joyful!
;-) Missi
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