Feeling Lucky?

I am not sure if any of you have noticed that I have been ending some of my posts with I get to run. Here's why:


Feeling Lucky?
If you view your run as an opportunity, your attitude will get an adjustment.
By: Kristin Armstrong

I don't know about you, but my to-do list often rivals the length of my Target receipt. I have activities mapped out from the time my alarm sounds: Down coffee, run, pack lunches, herd kids to school, walk the dog, write and be creative on command, drink more coffee, squeeze in yoga?, prep dinner, drive kids to activities, return to nest, cook, help with homework, eat, wash dishes, oversee hygiene, read stories, give tickles, say prayers, collapse (them, me). Repeat.When I have a race on the calendar, I sprinkle in long runs and speedwork. By then my to-do list starts to look like a complicated recipe, my day broken down into 1/2 cups, 1/4 cups, tablespoons and teaspoons. Sometimes I can feel the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me, the way the X-ray apron rests heavy on my chest at the dentist.

I felt this way during a recent hard workout. I was chugging up a hill saying to myself, I have to get up this hill. I have to finish this workout. And then all of a sudden, a few people came to mind, some sick, others struggling, and I thought about how much they would love to have the opportunity to tackle this hill. I bet they wouldn't think they had to. In the clarity of thinking that comes with adversity, they would likely say they got to run up this hill. I wondered what might happen if I started to think that way.

I decided to try it. Instead of thinking or saying, I have to finish this project or I have to pick up my kids, I stopped myself and tweaked my language: I get to work on this assignment. I get to pick up children from school. I get to help them with homework. I get to buy groceries and make dinner for my family. I get to do speedwork. I get to take Luke to football practice. I get to go on a long run. I get to bring cupcakes to Grace's class. I get to fold clean clothes for my children. I get to listen to Bella sing in choir. I get to run this 5-K, 10-K, half marathon, marathon ...

At first it felt forced and silly, but after a few days, it became natural. I felt freer, more thoughtful, and more aware of why I do what I do. Perhaps I had become so encumbered with my to-dos that I forgot to be thankful for the opportunity to do them. I realized that it's possible to have a reawakening about the beauty in our lives, to understand that we are so damn lucky to be healthy, to have people to love and the ability to care for them.

Since then, I've shared the idea and gotten inspiring feedback. A friend told me she felt more joy while taking care of her kids. Another told me her running group spoke in I get to language for an entire run. A woman and her friends wore "I Get To Run" T-shirts on race day. A woman running the Turkey Trot in Santa Barbara on Thanksgiving morning came up to me and said, "What a beautiful day. Aren't we lucky we get to run?"Gratitude is contagious. It's the smallest thing, but it has the power of something big. It's a shift in perspective that can open your head and your heart. And if you want, you get to try it.

Lots of days to recap--short but sweet!

Wednesday~ I think all I did was Spin today. Interval style class.....
Totally Toned was at noon. My shoulder is still all whacked out.

Thursday~ I went back to my roots! No, I did not let my natural blond shine. I went to the gym for a full cardio session. Elliptical for 30 minutes and the dreaded step-mill that I looove to hate for 15 minutes.
Later on I taught 3-2-1. I toyed with the idea of going for a run, but our crazy windy weather nixed that idea fast.

Friday~ Spin and Totally Toned again! After Spinning today I decided to lift some weights. It's been a while. I am going to try a 5 day split and see how that goes for me. Today was biceps and back. I did super sets of:

Bicep Curls
1 arm row
with 30 seconds rest for 3 sets

Chin ups
Alt. hammer curls

hyper-ext.
Preacher curls on ball

My plan is to also add some plyometrics and core in when I can. So hopefully that equates to a few times a week!
I can say that my biceps are pretty fatigued already. Love. It.
I hope I am saying this tomorrow while running....Yay-I get to run!

Suck it up, Princess!

I have seen that saying somewhere and it seems fitting for me these days. Even though I am the furthest thing from being a princess. Anyway I had a venting session with a girlfriend about my breathing troubles etc. I have to look at the bright side of things. I am able to go to the doctor next Tuesday because my husband has a job that provides us with health insurance. With that being said, I just need to suck it up an find out what the next step to take is and then take it.
Moving on...
Tuesday is my day to do what I want + running club. I skipped running club and attempted my own version.
10 minutes on the elliptical today and then got on the treadmill. I did a 2 mile tempo-ish run with breathing gasping walk 2 breaks. I was sure to do my 30 second walk breaks on an incline! My breathing was not so hot. I thought I would try it indoors instead of outdoors with the club. Although they are doing a 6 mile tempo run tonight, I am totally ok with my 2! Mostly.

Monday Madness!!

The basketball game is on, so I am on the computer! I am not a big sports fan ( I like to watch the Olympics only!), but I am rooting for Duke! I am rooting for them because growing up my brothers hated Duke--so it was my duty as the baby and only girl in the family to go for Duke!
Matt is not a big fan of them either so at least I am not a fair weather fan......
Anyhow--- Today was spin day. I choose to do an endurance class for all my spinners with heart rate monitors ( this would not include myself-YET!) The goal of the class is to keep your heart rate between 65-75% of your max heart rate. They also call this class a fat burner! That makes it more popular because it's pretty tough if done correctly. A few of the people came up to me after class to say just that! It was difficult to not let their heart rates creep up past 75% when I instructed them to add more resistance or pick up the pace. A lot of it has to do with breathing, fitness level and just over all experience. It's fun though--I swear. A lot of them want me to do an endurance class again now that they will know what to expect.
Totally Toned was at noon. Today was all core on the floor. I had it in my head that I was going to do the entire class with the class today, but 1 to 2 times a year my right shoulder gives me grief and I guess it's about that time. I did some planks and shoulder presses in class and that was about it. Dang it. I am not sure what the deal with it is, but it happens sometimes. It's actually sore near the bone--I should probably have it looked at, but we all know I am not going to do that.
That was my Monday!

Boston Marathon on my mind.......

The Boston Marathon that I will not be running on the 19th of this month has been on my mind lately. I am completely over the fact that I will not be there. Really, I am! I have been for a long time now. There are quite a few people from my running club that will be there and I am totally excited for them. I am probably more bummed that I can't make the trip to root them on, more than the fact that I won't be running the actual race! (2011 baby!)

One good thing about not running the race is that I (most likely) have asthma( if you have not heard!). It's not completely under control yet. I can only imagine what some of my 16+ training miles would have felt like these past months. Probably not so good!

Another good thing is that I am not really a fan of running marathons so my longest run this year will be 16 miles--which I already did!

The one thing I am most excited about is the possibility ( oh I hope it all works out!!!!) of getting a new GPS that is debuting at the Boston Marathon. I have connections. Ha. It's the Garmin Forerunner110. You can't even buy it yet. I had my heart set on the Garmin Forerunner 405cx for over a year now and was actually going to get it very,very soon ( taxes were finally done on Saturday!) But things have changed. I even surprised myself with the change of mind. The 110 model is smaller...it won't be a big computer on my wrist! It has less functions then the 405cx, but it has all I need and want really. GPS for running and the heart rate monitor for spinning ( and running and elliptical and living--I love HRMs!). And it's over $100 cheaper! I hope my friend that is buying it for me is able to get it; I have a feeling it will be a hot commodity-being that nobody else can get it until May(suckas!) I hope to get the grey and pink one too. My last GPS was basic black so it's time to add some color! So please...say a little prayer at night that I get this! (only half joking here.)

4 Days of recaps.

Thursday~ I actually forgot to update my Thursday when I was updating the previous days ( on Thursday) D'OH!
Thursday I went to the gym ( without puffing on my inhaler- it was a brain-fart) and did the elliptical for 30 minutes and that was it. My breathing was OK. It was a bit labored, but nothing to be afraid of. I then taught 3*2*1 a few hours later. I could totally feel my lungs during class. My lungs were not happy with me, but at least the cardio segments were only 3 minutes long at a time. Ugh.
Friday.~ I taught spinning in the early morning and could feel my lungs sucking in air HARD. Ugh. After class I did some core and plyometrics. I felt fine during this.
Saturday~ OFF! We were out of town and I had every intention of taking a walk before breakfast--nope. Oh well. A day off was needed.
Sunday~ 16 miles!! I did the first 6 with 2 friends from my running group. Thank goodness....16 miles would be pretty tough to do by myself. We hoofed those miles in about an 8:40 minute mile average. They both were coming off of running 10 miles the previous day at about an 8 minute mile pace so they were kind of tired! The next 10 I did by myself at about the same pace or a bit slower. I had a few bouts of tightness in my lungs but nothing major. I also had my rescue inhaler on me just in case. I was super excited that my old Polar GPS did not cut off and my iPod stayed on! Woohoo!
The weather was beautiful which is why my asthma was probably acting up! Lots of new growth and wonderful allergy/asthma inducing stuff! Love it though.
I pretty much feel like garbage now. It might be all the goodies I inhaled ate on Saturday at a family Easter gathering. So much yumminess! Time to get it back together.....(tomorrow)

Who needs to breath anyway?? This chick.

Tuesday~I went to the gym and did the elliptical for about 20 minutes I think...I can't remember! (it's been a long week...)
I later went to running club and was prepared and mildly excited to run some 800's! The weather was too good to be true. It was in the 70's--aaaahh!!
I did the regular warm up which consists of a 2 mile easy paced run-it's slightly uphill ( of course!). I felt my lungs collapsing constricting at the top of the hill. I thought this to be normal right?!? I did just crest a nice sized hill at an 8:10 (ooops) pace right?!? RIGHT?!?! So we turned around to complete the rest of the warm up and when I stopped and recovered I could still "feel it" in my chest. Fab. I tried not to worry because I know that I medicated myself correctly (Singular and Advair to the rescue). I still decided to use my emergency inhaler ( Abuterol) before starting the 800's. I got my 2 puffs of that and went into the first 800 rearing to go! I ran it at 3:20 something I think. This was about 10-11 seconds too fast according to my pace. And it was about 3 minutes too fast according to my asthma! Oh boy. I could not breath at the end. As I "recovered" my breathing got worse- I walked a lap but that did not help at all. I decided to be done for the night. I hung out on the track with my wheezy self and cheered for my non-wheezing team. I was also hanging out to make sure I did not pass out or anything. I also hung out because Tuesday is MY TIME and I was not ready to go home to my kids and Matt (whom I love with all by heart by the way!).
So that was my Tuesday. I am very frustrated by all of this of course. I am going to see the allergist on the 13th for a 2 hour appointment. I think I will get the lovely skin prick test. Super fun! I am supposed to attempt 16 miles on my own on Sunday. I will try. I won't die trying so don't worry. :)

Wednesday- Thanks for reading about today if you actually made it through Tuesday's blabbering.
Spin today. I did a nice, but challenging interval loop. Plenty of hills with short segments of pure speed and endurance. Lots of hootin' and hollerin' going on! The class was not very full. I hope due in part to the almost 80 degree weather we had. Nice.
Totally Toned was 2 hours later. I can't remember what I did, but the girls came back today saying their abs were mighty sore. Mission Accomplished.