Can we push back my birthday?

I love LOVE my birthdays.  Doesn’t matter what year I am coming up to, or what I do. I just love that I have one day that belongs to me and President George W. Bush. 

Well, I don’t really love my birthday this year.  I don’t mind turning 34, I like the fact that I have one more year till I am 35.  Great things happen to 35 year olds.  It hasn’t however been the best last week of being 34.

Our family lost a Great Grandma, Grandma, and Mom, last Tuesday, June 29, 2010.  Dorothy Gene Dangerfield Gerth, went on to the place our souls go when our bodies are no longer able to care for them.  We are sad, really really sad.  Dorothy Gene Dangerfield Gerth    January 12, 1926 – June 29, 2010   We love you Cookie Girl.

As if one loss wasn’t enough, two families lost their wonderful furry family members.  Again we are sad.

Then, two different families have had terrible accidents happen to someone they love and need.  Again we are sad, and we are praying. 

I just don’t think I can handle anymore sad news this week. 

Everyone is asking “what do you want to do for your birthday, how do you want to celebrate?”  My soul wants to sit down in a quiet place and be thankful that my family is safe and healthy, and that Grandma was able to have a wonderful 84 years of laughter, fun, family and love.

Maybe I will just skip this birthday and have year 34 & 35 next year.  That sounds like a good idea.

Isn’t it beautiful

Tri training has changed locations for the summer.  We now train at Folsom Lake.  We were at Beales Point before the Triathlon, now at the Granite Bay entrance.  I am a tad bit intimidated.  I here the hills there are excruciating.

Look at this.  Isn’t it beautiful.  I love exercising outside.  So much more than at the gym.  There is something about seeing the trees and listening to the birds sing.  And I am a sun baby, so there is nothing more wonderful than getting an overdose of vitamin D.

Hello? Where did my mojo go?

Oh, I am having a terrible time finding the energy and drive to exercise.  Where did my mojo go?  I looked under the bed, in the closet, I even looked in the fridge.  I found that when I couldn’t find it I went for the food.  Yep, I have NOT been eating clean or exercising.  And we all know what that means.  My legs are getting soft and my bum is getting softer.

Last week I signed up for the Urban Cow Half Marathon.  It is in October so I do have plenty of time for training.  I am excited for it I just wish I was more excited to train for it.  I have missed all my tri training in a week and a half.  Mostly because I have been feeling crappy from a cold. I would be lying if I said this wasn’t effecting my mind and spirit.  It is amazing the power exercise and good food do to your overall health.

So, I am dressed to exercise with a runny nose and nasty sore throat, I have to put on my shoes and head out to Maidu for bootcamp this morning.  I am looking forward to seeing the lovely ladies that make up the Wednesday am group.  Wish me luck.

 

This is what we did for nine days prior to me losing my mojo.  Maybe that is why.  Nine days of camping, boating, drinking, and eating.  I actually did pretty good.  I ran with my friends 4 times, 2.75 miles each, kayaked from across the lake to this very point twice.  My eating was very mindful and my drinking well, better than you would expect.  I gave up alcohol a month before the tri.  So my body wasn’t prepared for the drinking and did not care to much for it.  Which is good. I was so exhausted when we returned home, I believe the  mojo just slipped away.

More Pictures

I thought I would add a few more pictures of my Triathlon.  Ok a lot of pictures.

 

Setting up my “hotel” the place that I will head to after I finish each section and leave to start another.

Getting greased up with my numbers.  Race number 307 (which my Mom’s said were her favorite numbers) and my age. At the end of the day I didn’t want those numbers to come off.

Heading to the swimming area. I was so excited.  You wouldn’t have believed that two days earlier I was hyperventilating and sobbing in open water.  I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it. 

My biggest supporter and love.  There was NEVER a doubt in his mind that I could do this (well, a little the Thursday before; when I fell apart at Folsom lake)  He was there at every transition, cheering me on and telling me how proud he was.  He ran to catch me and take pictures. That gorgeous smile never left his face.

 

Almost done with the swim.  It took longer than I thought, but I did it and I was so proud.

  

I had done it!  I had conquered a fear.  Swimming in open water, with my head in the water.

 

Getting on my bike.  I am on my way.

A little over an hour I was back at the transition area.  I was excited to start the last section of my day; the run.

I have pictures of me starting my run, but I wasn’t smiling and I look like I was defeated.  I like these photos of me finishing.  I am smiling.  I did it. However, I wish someone would have told me to take my ears out of my visor.  I forgot about that during the run.  They were getting sun burnt.

I finished.  

This is one of the reasons I did this.  My girls.  I wanted them to see there Mommy accomplished something big.  Kelsey was so proud of me.  She knew how hard this was for me and how much I had to sacrifice to get here.  I missed her field trips, last week of school parties, and the last day of school.  My girls always come first.  This was the first time in 9 years that I put myself first.  I did feel guilty and sad.  But I know that there will be more last days of school and field trips for me to do with them.  This was very important to me and because of that it became very important to them too.

My sweet proud Kelsey

Lorri Ann and I Holly and I

These two ladies are my angles.   They (and a lot of other coaches) have guided me through this wonderful process, teaching me to trust my mind and my body and to know that I can do anything, not matter what.  Around the end of March I started having problems with my colon and beyond.  I had had blood tests, CT Scans, Ultrasounds, Colonoscopy, I was sick, hurting, bleeding and scared.  There support and love never failed.  What I learned from these women was that I could persevere and that I was a strong woman.  I did it and I am so proud of myself. 

Two years ago I would have given up, and been ok with it.  It is my health, I need to take care of myself, is what I would have said.  Well this time I knew that if I gave up and didn’t push myself to conquer that mind game I was playing, it would have been the end.  I would have lost all respect for myself and I would have fallen into a depression.  I needed to prove to myself that I am that woman I always thought I was, but have been way to scared to believe it.  I was scared of failing.  Well I am no long scared.  For the first time in my life I can say with a smile and believe it – I AM PROUD OF ME. (thank you Mama Bootcamp)

I Did It…Now I Can Do Anything

June 5, 2010 came and went.  What did it leave me with is this.

and then this.

For the last 6 months I have been training for that day.  5 days a week focusing on my goal.  Not only did I find courage in myself, but I found determination, trust, love, acceptance, and excitement in pushing my body to places it has never been.

It was one of the best days of my life.  Yes it was only a Sprint Triathlon ( .5 mile swim, 16 mile bike ride, 3 mile run) but hey a beginner needs to start somewhere right? And YES I got that negativity from some. There have been some not nice people to me and yes it hurt my heart.  But I am keeping my head held high and moving on.

I will do more.  I will train for the August Tri.  I would be doing the July, but I have started a class on Saturdays and I don’t want to miss it.

I might even tackle a 1/2 marathon.  The possibilities are endless.

Training Day 50!

Wow can you believe it has been 50 days since I have started this process?  Doesn’t feel like it has been that long.  Amazing.

Thursday morning we headed to the park, not knowing what was in store for us.  The sun was shinning the air was crisp, perfect for a serious crazy butt kicking workout.  My trainer was way to excited about what she had up her sleeve.  We warmed up and then we were told to head to the hill. UGH!  Really hills again.  Secretly I was excited. 

I headed to the hill we ran our .50 miles to the final destination, where we were told to do a warm up and stop at the top.  The our trainer strategically placed two orange cones breaking the stretch into 3 sections.  We were to start at the bottom run up to the first cone and turn around and run back.  Without stopping we then had to run back up the hill to the second cone turn around and recover to the bottom.  Again without stopping we were to run back up the hill to the top and turn around and recover run to the bottom.  When we reached the bottom, we had to start all over again 4 times.  WOW.

It was amazing.  I am pretty proud of myself.  I made faces, grunts not so nice words.  but I did it. 

4.25 miles of hills.  Yay me!

I love family vacations…

We went to the Russian River Valley for the holiday weekend.  It was absolutely perfect.  We always enjoy vacationing with Denise and Rob.  Our girls have so much fun together and we all enjoy doing the same things.  Whether it is running on trails, fishing, eating good food, wine tasting or just hanging out with the kids.

We didn’t do to much wine tasting or actually any (well other than the drinking) Denise is expecting so, the wine consumption was a little lower this trip.  We ran on a trail from Shell beach to Goat Rock which was so muddy, I have never ran in the mud before.  I was so worried about falling down that I ran hunchback and my lower back killed me later that day.  We then hung out at the beach all afternoon.  It was so beautiful.  That's were all of these pictures are taken.  The waves were crazy.  This was the same weekend that the Waves took down spectators in Half Moon Bay.  We went to Doran Beach in Bodega Bay and it was so calm and beautiful. Kelsey even body surfed.   

This was the first day at the beach.  The sun was hiding behind the clouds but it was pretty warm.

On Sunday the weather was amazing.  Hard to believe it was in the middle of February.

We made an amazing dinner for Valentines; Rob made his (famous to us) Clam Chowder, Stephen grilled up filets and Denise and I made a yummy Salmon Pasta.  Along with a bottle of special select and Caymus. YUM  it was an amazing dinner.

Here is an amazing red wood.  They are so huge.  The girls loved looking up at them.

Training Day 47 (yikes it’s been awhile)

Ugh, really 47, yikes. It has been so much fun!  I have come a long way.  I have almost dropped an entire size, and haven’t lost to much weight because I have been gaining muscle, but I have lost so many inches.

Could I be trying harder yes!  Have I been giving it my all?  Honestly no.  And I really need to start.  I am enjoying the process but also taking it really slow.  I threw myself into training and put nutrition on the back burner.  For me that was the best way.  I love food.  I have made changes but nothing dramatic. I can now run 4 miles woo hoo and I am running almost 15 miles a week.  I love it.

On March 28th, I will be participating in a race being put on by Mama Bootcamp!!! Yahoo.  My goal is the 10k, but the rate I am going with injuries and feeling ah just a little sore probably the 5k.  But I can hope.

So today, I am suppose to run or do some kind of cardio. I don’t want to.  Plain and simple….I just don’t want to.  I will though.  I will get on that Treadmill and run my butt off. 

Training Day 9 (Friday)

Rest Day Yippy!

I forgot to mention yesterday that when I got home from Tri Training, I took an Ice Bath to help my legs recover from the week.  It took me 10 min to get in, and I used Lamaze breathing to get me through it.  After the first 2 minutes, it wasn’t to bad.  It felt like needles in my ankles and feet, then that went away.  It started to feel good, I know that is crazy but it did.  I got out after about 5 minutes, then took a really hot shower and stretched.  Pantea our running coach recommended this, she said I would feel better.  And YES I did.  I am actually looking forward to running on Saturday and then plunging in the ice again.  Anything that will make the recovery faster and more effective.

We made Clean Eating Turkey burgers from dinner tonight and they were yummy the entire family enjoyed them.  They were so juicy and we put chopped garlic in them for that extra yummy flavor.  So good.

Training Day 8 (Thursday)

Ok, I am just plain exhausted.  My legs are killing me and my spirit is a little down.  I was excited to start training again today, but smiling not so much.

Thursday is a great group.  It a lot smaller than Tuesday night so there is a lot of time to actually talk with the trainer.  We were doing much of the same on Tuesday night so I wouldn’t really be timed on my mile.  But I would love to see what I thought was my slow time on the mile.  Boy I was still having a hard time with the run.  My legs where just not having it.  I was really discourage now.  Wondering how long it would take for them to get back there energy.  What should I do? I ran to mile 2, stopped got myself together striped down before we started, which I learned from last time.  When the whistle blew I was off, ugh, so slow so tired.  Geez legs get with the program.  The rest of the body wanted to run.  I struggled so much even more than on Wednesday.  I finally pushed through.  I made it at 10:46 are you kidding seriously?  Even my crappy run was still under 11 min.  I just didn’t know what to say.

On to drills which I really enjoyed because it gave me sometime to work the pesky heavy legs.

At the end I was glad it was over and I was looking forward to a rest day.  And I was going to rest a lot!

Training Day 7

Ok so I love Wednesday mornings too!  Who am I kidding, I love all my Training days with Mama Bootcamp.  This morning was Bootcamp.  The sun was shining and birds were out, the rain as much I enjoy it was gone.  It wasn’t too cold, so I hydrated and ate a quick but effective breakfast (protein shake with a banana) grabbed a cliff bar and water and I was out the door.

I dropped the girls off at school, and headed to the park.  I was still pumped from the night before and ready to put my body in gear. Mentally I was ready, but physically not so much.

The machine was not super excited to be put through another workout so fast.  Warming up I took it easy.  I didn’t push myself just easing along.  I was tired and a little disappointed.  When I want my body to work and it doesn’t I get really down. After the warm up, I was told to take it easy with my run.  I told Holly that wouldn’t be a problem because I wasn’t sure if my legs would actually move any faster than slow.

Off I went, Yikes!  It felt like I had 80lb bricks attached at the ankles, ugh.  I was a lot distracted by it and irritated.  I wanted to fly by like the other Tri trainer who worked out with me the night before.  But my machine wouldn’t let me. I pushed and pushed and finally made it to mile 2.  I then decided to walk a little while thinking that would help and also thinking about what Lorri Ann said once “don’t underestimate the power of walking”.  I think as someone who loves to run and loves what running does for me mentally and physically, I often forget that.

I finally made my way back feeling discouraged, but happy that it was over and then on to workout.  I had to take it really easy at one point I almost started crying, my legs where just so tired. I found my happy place and just did what I could. I realized I was no longer smiling, I was no longer happy to be there.  But another thing I realized.  I didn’t make an excuse or try to find a way out of staying.  I wasn’t looking to leave.  That is a huge breakthrough for me.  I usually play scenarios in my mind about how to get out of exercising, i.e. there is always something more important to do or I  just convince myself that I am not feeling well.  Not this time though.  I pushed right through it and was happy when it was over and really proud of myself. Yea Me.

Tomorrow….Thursday Tri Training…..Woo Hoo.

 

Training Day 6

I love Tuesday training days.  Because, I get to train in the dark.  It sound funny I know but, there is something about running at night.  There is no distractions, it’s quite I don’t really notice all the other ladies and I am not looking at anything but straight ahead. I love it.

When I pulled up to the park it was raining like crazy.  And the training will go on in the rain. So we headed to the under covered soccer field and did warm ups by the bleachers.  I am tall, so there was little room.  My head was under the bleachers. But I warmed up and I was excited to start our run.  We were going to be timed on a mile, I was really excited.  I haven’t been timed on a run outside in almost 10 years.  I wanted to know what my speed really was while running outside.  I run about a 11 minute mile on the treadmill and I feel like I go so much slower outside. I was a little disappointed that the mile that we were being time on was the 2nd mile we run.  The first mile we run has hills and really puts me over the edge sometimes.  I always feel like I do better on the first.

Thankfully the ran stopped just in time for our run.  I did a slower pace warm up and then when we reached the top of the hill we cooled down just a tad and then got ready for the mile.  I chose the wrong time to take off my layers, hat and gloves, I ran while doing it.  I could have ran a tad faster if I did that before starting.  I was a little disappointed with my decision to strip down. I have learned my lesson.  I was unable to catch up with another runner who I had been pacing with.  oh well. I finally made it to the end, and I heard 10:26 WHAT?  are you kidding i thought, oh my gosh.  I was so happy.  I ran a mile in 10:26.  That is huge for me.  On of the last races I ran 11 Years ago I ran just under 10 min mile and I was in really good shape and had been running for a while.  I am really happy.

After our run we did push ups, bicycles and drills.  We did some really good leg exercises.  My legs felt good and I was pumped.  On the way home I was really excited and happy.  I couldn’t wait until tomorrow for Bootcamp.

 

Training Day 5

Ah, Monday the Training week begins.  Monday is the first official workout day of the week.  It starts the week off and doesn’t stop until Friday (rest day).

I am suppose to Spin today.  Well, I didn’t.  I know, the day started out really bad.  The car wouldn’t start the girls were late to school and I was still all gassy from yesterday.  Probably the lack of water and the unmentionable food I ate.  Again Clean Eating is the way to go.  I happen to think that hibernation is the best when the day starts out like that.  I did a lot of journaling and house work, listening to music on my ipod and reflecting on my mood.  Working through it. 

I did work through it and I will be ready to face the world tomorrow. Until then…….

Training Day 4

Another Rest day!  I did rest.  I slept in really late thanks to my wonderful children.  I did splurge today on my food.  And I have been paying for it since.  My stomach is a little upset and full of air.? Not sure what that is about but I will have to look at my food log and make sure I don’t make that mistake again.

I didn’t drink hardly any water today, I will feel that tomorrow.

I think I will take the rest of the day to rest.

see you tomorrow.

Training Day 3

Today I run (I sound like a cave man) along with Arm work.  Since I had a close call with a Chin Splint.  I was told to only run for 15 min, at a slower pace.  Ugh. Really, I am back there again (over the summer I hurt my Achilles tendon and it was so painful to even walk).  So I got on that treadmill but had decided that if the chins did not bother me I would run 20 min.

I started slow just pushing my cold legs along.  At first they (the chins) were tight, as they loosened up it became easier.  I increased my speed, and then I could feel there retaliation.  They did not like the speed as to which I WANTED to run. So I slowed the speed again.  I ran those 20 min. not fully getting that running high I usually get, but I was happy.  The blood was running through my body full of oxygen, sweat was dripping down my face.  I was happy and pain free as long as I ran at a slow pace. Which is fine.

Off to arm work, we have at Mama Bootcamp BFAS! Big Fat Arm Set, sometimes they are a Bigger Fat Arm Set.  However I just did the original.  3 sets of 15 of each exercise. 

I have been paying attention to how foods affect the way I feel when I exercise.  I beginning to understand why that is important.  I have been pushing my body more than I have in 7 years.  In order for my body not to give up or my mind and spirit not to give up I have to make sure that I eat the foods that are going to allow me to get the best performance from my body.

I have switched to Soy Milk, I do not eat eggs on the training days, I drink protein shakes with a banana instead.  Also on the Training days with Mama Bootcamp I usually have a cereal high in protein and fiber with low sugar and of course the Soy Milk.  For lunch I have a salad and a sandwich or a wrap.  Because my Training with Mama Bootcamp varies (tues @ 6p, Wed @ 8:30 am and Thurs. @ 11am) what I eat and when is different everyday.  That has been a challenge.  I have given up coffee, diet soda, and juice.  I do drink tea every afternoon.

This week will be the first week that I am fully involved in training. Yippee.

I will be posting recipes from Clean Eating with pictures next week.

Training Day 2

Today was my off day.  I know, does that really count as a training day?  YES!  Don’t ever think that your rest day does nothing for training.  It is my day of reflection of how my body is working.  It is also a day where I focus more on my nutrition.  I spent the day doing easy things.  Trying not to push and making sure that I was drinking all my water and getting in my vegetables. I am finding that water and food do really effect my mood.

I have been trying out a lot of meals from Clean Eating.  I love this cook book.  It has really pushed me to use veggies in a way that I never have.  In two meals I can get almost by whole days worth of veggies.

For Christmas Eve I made our entire meal from the Clean Eating magazine. Here is a picture of our Turkey.

 

I also made stuffing, sweet potatoes and green beans.  It was so good. 

I haven’t felt this good in a long time.  The water, exercise, and eating clean is really working to make me feel so good. 

Training Day 1

It was sooo cold.  I think maybe it got to under 40 degrees by 6pm.  Stephen had taken me shopping for some appropriate cold weather workout clothes.  I am so glad he did.  I was jumping in place for the first 10 minutes waiting for the fun to begin. Lets back up a few minutes though.  It took me a good 15 min. to actually get the courage to get out of the car.  I am just plain shy and have a love/hate relationship with new things when I don’t have a buddy to keep me company.  Thankfully there were a lot of women who came alone too.  Good for them (us)!

When training started, it started slow for me.  I don’t usually workout in the evening, I am usually drinking an adult beverage by then (maybe two)!  But soon I started to warm up and it didn’t feel so cold anymore.  The more I moved the warmer I got. Planking and ab work OUCH! If I don’t do another crunch in the next few days I won’t be sad.

After warm-up, we then talked about running groups, I started to panick.  Ok, I am not a walker hoping to become a jogger or a jogger/walker or a runner I am a jogger that wants to be a runner (or you could call me a very very slow small stride runner).  There were three groups.  I didn’t fit in perfectly with any of them.  So I kind of made an in between group with a few other women.  I was no longer panicking.  I actually was just like those few other women and I started to feel more comfortable.  I had made myself a “running” playlist for my ipod, so I would have music that would push me to run.  I ran and ran and ran.  I ran faster then I had ran in a long time.  And it felt so natural and like I had been doing it for years.  I caught myself actually smiling at times.  I was giving my self a pat on the back!

After the run and a little bit of stretching and a potty break  (I wish they made diapers for people who ran) we did many, many, many sets of pushups and bicycles, I was anxiously waiting for the final final final from Lorri Ann. As that came I pushed my upper body up for the last time, and moved onto drills.  We have a running coach (I am super excited about this) she had us doing really funny looking (but very effective) drills for posture and conditioning.  I haven’t decided if I will be doing them in the front yard yet!

All in all it was a fantastic night.  I left feeling really great.  I was happy, my body was tired but exhilarated from being pushed so hard and I was looking forward to my Epsom Salt bath and tea. 

The amazing thing is that after I got in the car, I realized I was no longer cold, and could not remember feeling cold during or after the run.  Weather appropriate clothing is a must!  I will be getting pants, underwear and socks next!!!

Friday’s are my off days, so no training just stretching for 20 minutes.  Back on Saturday when I do my 35 minute run, which quite possibly be a 15 min run, depending on how the chin feels.

happy exercising.

Tami

The Training Begins

I have decided that my word for the year is Move (Movement to be exact).  So I signed up to do Tri Training with Mama BootCamp.  I have been with Mama Bootcamp since last April.  But took the summer and beginning of Fall off, and came back in October.  Since Oct. I have lost 28 inches!!!!! and 8 lbs., which means that I lost a total of 8 FAT lbs.  and gained some lean muscle.  Fantastic!

I love Mama Bootcamp, I love the trainers the women and being outside.  So when Lorri Ann announced that they were starting the Tri Training again for the Tri for Fun on June 5 at Rancho Saco, I thought about it and couldn’t find a REAL reason not to do it. So I committed. Yicks, but I am super excited.

So today with be my first Tri Training session.  My session will be Tues at 6pm, and Thurs at 11 am.  Then in between I have a bootcamp session on Wed. and then Monday I spin and do weight exercises and Saturdays are my running and core strengthening days.  Friday and Sunday I have off.

Sounds like a lot but I am really excited. I have to get the nutrition part down and make sure that I am eating to fuel my body so it performs like a machine.

Wish me luck!!!