Just a minute of my time...

Back to school...

Did someone say Challenge? this year it is my word for one little word. Most of the year that word has been about running and challenging my body. Now I'm ready to challenge my mind...

 

 

I'm so excited, I finally did it, I went back to school to take my English placement test. So many things inspired me; my love for writing, my love for photography (two of the classes I want to pursue). But also with the kids getting bigger its time for me to find myself.  And I can't deny the posts about back to school from Slacker mom also aided in my decision.

It was sparked with a seminar we recently went to, a motivational seminar about... motivating yourself to change. How to make change happen and stocks and happiness and lots of other things.  I left inspired to make some changes and one way to make change is to write down your goals and then do something everyday to work towards those goals.

Going back to school has been one of my goals and I think between the kids and money I have held back. And I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I went to take the placement test and saw I would enter a room filled with computers and not be handed a sheet of paper and pencil like I had remembered, after all it has been 10 years since I took a test!

And so with the upcoming busy summer we have planned, with trips from Pennsylvania to California, Wisconsin and of course Hilton head Island I added summer classes to the schedule and I can't wait!

One little word captured

Another race, another challenge and oh so much more! 

My challenge started with preparing for the race. I was starting to feel winded and tired and couldn't run a few miles, let alone pick up my pace. Finally my husband urged me to go get things checked out with the doctor. They ordered a Stress echo and a complete pulmonary test. I asked if I could get them done before the weekend of the race since I was hoping to still run it.

Getting this checked out and the thought of not running was a challenge. In fact driving home after the tests I was brought to tears just thinking of not running anymore, it has become such a part of me, I miss it when I don't run after a few days...

The stress echo came back fine, my heart is fine. They are now looking at exercise induced asthma? and I need to follow up with a pulmonary specialist.

I ran the race on Sunday and a tough race it was, lots of hills and while I didn't reach my goal PR running the 10 miles, I'm glad with all I've been going through recently that I was able to run it at all and finish it, now that was a challenge! My time 1:47:05...

You can check out more One little word captured at Jills blog

OLW - The ups and downs of running

One little word - Challenge

One little word captured - week 14

and I'm not talking about the hills...

So here I am after over a year of running. Pushing myself further than I ever thought possible and recently on two different runs I wasn't feeling it. I pushed through, but I wasn't feeling it from beginning to end.  And I've signed up for a full marathon this year?  How am I going to do this if these 6-10 mile runs are getting to me?

Although there may have been a little pep talk in the middle of my run that kept me going for a bit - it definitely was a struggle, and why? What am I doing differently from one run to the next?  How does one seem so invigorating that I can't remove the smile from my face and the next feel like its going to bring me to tears?

I'm trying not to psyche myself out, to research and find out that this is normal for runners and it doesn't mean I won't be feeling that euphoria again soon

and so I've decided to dig a little deeper.  Come up with a food journal of what and when I eat things as well as a running log next to it to see if this correlates with how I feel? Like all those jellybeans? They probably didn't help how I felt? I'm going to make a doctor appointment and get a physical and I think I'm in need of new running shoes again too.

We have another race coming up this weekend, a 10 mile race and while this week I'm going to do my best to eat well and prepare for the race, after this race I'm going to make some changes for 6 weeks and see where they lead me  besides for right up to the Rite Aid Cleveland half marathon.  

my before picture

My plan is to do weekly posts of my changes and the "ups and downs" of these changes, fine tuning along the way.

Goals of the 6 week challenge

• feeling better when I run
• those blasted last few pounds that keep hanging around, literally
• building muscle (mostly in my arms, but also my core strength)
• getting faster and stronger
• Two a days whenever possible

You can find more projects with ONE LITTLE WORD CAPTURED ON JILLS BLOG

 

One little word captured

Week 10

                                                     

Wow we are 10 weeks into 2011... time sure does fly!

Challenge, it is applied to so many things in my life, but this week the word challenge goes to my son Zach.  He decided to attempt his first challenge of running and I'm so happy and so proud! He ran the Arnold 5k with Chelsea, Ben and I and did awesome!

Chelsea wore her new vibram 5 fingers and Zach ran his first race, both of them with their own challenges. My challenge, I just wanted to beat my time from last year.

As usual I over dressed, its just so cold when we start!  I ran it in 29:03 which while isn't bad with some of the hills you run in Columbus, I was hoping for 28 something... Although it is a great improvement from my time running the same race last year which was 35:24

We had a blast the entire weekend hitting the Polaris mall and dinner at Smokey Bones. I'm still not sure if Zach is going to run again but I'm glad he at least tried one race.

You can find more One little word captured on Jill's blog here

 

One little word captured

This week my word Challenge was used over and over again.  I knew it was coming too, I knew the second I booked the flight to Florida that there was going to be a challenge ahead.  I just didn't know how challenging it was going to be.

You see I'm not a HUGE fan of flying, in fact my last flight was in 2006 so its been a while... But being a "runner" now and learning about the Disney Princess half marathon last year when it fell on Chelsea's birthday, I knew it was something I would have to prepare myself for.

This year they moved the marathon to the week before Chelsea's birthday, but with the choice of Vegas or Disney for her 21st birthday she chose Disney and running.

I knew I would be better flying with my daughter but also knew it would still be a challenge and oh how we were challenged.  Part of our challenge, a snow storm... a nasty snow storm which ended up leaving upwards of 12" of snow...

on our way to the airport.  at this point our flight had not been cancelled

We arrived at the airport and found our flight had been delayed 15 minutes, then the next update our flight had been delayed until 1:50 (from 11:15).  My nerves were kicking in as I thought not only do I fear flying, but add to it deicing the plane and horrible snow storm with high winds... nice

But then what could be worse than flying out in this blizzard?  The flight got totally cancelled... I almost started to cry... all these plans for months, down the drain? As we waited in line luckily we didn't know that these people were all booking into the last flight that they hadn't cancelled. So now my fear of flying went into my fear of not getting there at all...

Finally we got to a ticket agent and while he wasn't the nicest man. In fact he wasn't pleasant AT ALL we got our flight changed to the early one that while delayed was still scheduled to go. Although when confirming our original flight the day before my sweet husband told me to upgrade to 1st class to help my nerves - Next challenge...

The plane is full first class is out of the question and I cannot get you two seats together... here I am again holding back the tears since that was my one saving grace, sitting with my daughter....

We then unknowingly had hours to kill as they would delay further and further into the day. We were glad to get on the flight but now just wondered when we would even get to Florida? We spent the morning and afternoon chatting with other stranded passengers who were also on our flight, one couple that was going to watch their daughter run in the race. And in the "small world" conversations we had we found that they knew Ben from Lutheran West, the wife worked with one of Chelsea's sisters in her sorority as we talked about college amongst other things.

Finally at 3pm they started loading the plane, and ahh yes the nerves kicked in again!  Chelsea went first and then by the time I got on we stared around the plane at the rest of the groups of couples that of course were not going to split up so the two of us could sit together.  Finally a man said I don't care where I sit, as long as its and aisle and switched with me. And while it didn't get me next to Chel, it got me right in front of her and that was better than where I was!

As we sat on the plane awaiting instruction we began talking with others around us who as we found out were also heading to Disney to run the princess half marathon! We laughed and joked with all the people around us, and sitting next to me was a young boy (2nd grade) and his mom. Now I knew I had to keep my fears at bay as not to upset this boy.

Our captain kept us up to speed on what was going on... the winds now were the problem as one plane tried to take off and the captain of that plane was not comfortable with it.  So after a while they unloaded our plane again for another delay.

Just as I would get myself ready for flight, something else would change...

We had to get off the plane and wait again, wait until these winds died down, and flying conditions would get better.

those shapes in the distance are the plow trucks trying to keep the runway cleared

Once they did finally announce we were going to take off and had to re-board the plane we now had to do so alphabetically and have out our license since they had already scanned our tickets. We joked with others and they found out our last name and knew we were going to be the last to board... well almost last. There was one guy thats last name was Zi - so he took the last place spot!  We later referred to him as "Z" when we past him in the Orlando airport as he smiled walking by.

Once it was time to taxi out and deice the plane my nerves were beginning to show themselves again. I reached back and grabbed Chelsea's hand as we took off down the runway. We held onto one another the entire time until we reached our cruising altitude of 33,000 feet.  (thanks captain, but something I didn't need to know) tears slowly streamed down the side of my face as I couldn't be more happy than to be doing this with my daughter. And once we were up, the entire plane CHEERED!

And now finally we were on our way to Florida, on our way to the original challenge... the race!

You can read more One little word captured on Jills blog

 

 

One little word captured

Week 8

As the challenge continues and the weather continues to be cold and race day approaches I have to continue to run on the treadmill.  I don't really mind the treadmill run, but I know getting outdoors will be more effective for both my body and soul.

My view from the gym... not too inspiring really, but with the right tunes and the right attitude I can travel far away!

Check out more One little word captured at Jill's blog

One little word captured

Ahh here I am, late getting to my one little word.  It seems every week my word relates mostly to working out and running and well to be honest, that was my intention when I first chose the word.  I want to challenge myself both physically and mentally as much as possible.  I have goals I want to reach with running, with weight - ugh yeah that one is always a challenge! 

and so this morning when my body was aching from the last couple days of challenges

• running 13 miles
• weight training with Chelsea - killer!
• 3 mile hill run
• 100 floors on the stepper with Milt

The last thing I wanted to do was get up and go take another class.  My legs ached to walk, to sit down, what could possibly happen if I take another class?

But I made myself go and I'm here to tell you I feel better after doing the class, although I'm still a bit sore it's not as bad as I felt this morning.  

It's a great feeling to accomplish something you didn't think you could do!

You can find more one little word captured here on Jill's blog

On my way to becoming me...

One little word Captured/Week 6

It's hard to decide and sometimes harder to accept the pieces that come together and define us.  I know there are a lot of things that define who I am and its funny to think that here I am 46 years old and still trying to figure it out, but alas I am.

The older I get the more things make sense and I'm learning the whole "everything happens for a reason" theory. Although I still don't agree with it all the time. And I'm more accepting of myself, faults and all without the feeling that I need the approval from others of who I am or what I do.

Recently I watched an episode of Extreme home makeover, and I know just about every episode can have you in tears, but this one was particularly moving for me.  They lost their daughter in a car accident, she was texting.  My heart broke for this family, for all they were going through, but I also saw how they were giving back, doing positive things to teach other teens about texting and driving. Then they get the new house, a beautiful new house and all that came with it.  

But through it all I just kept thinking guilt, guilt, guilt... how do you enjoy when all the guilt comes rushing in...

See that's the other part of grief that I don't hear as much talk about.  They go through the 5 stages of grief which are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  But they never talk about the guilt?

There is guilt in everything after losing a loved one, losing a child... how can something material make me happy? Christmas comes with all the excitement and anticipation and it goes again, and while I know how to treasure each of those moments that I have its hard to treasure anything without guilt trailing close behind.  How can you be happy, you buried your son?

And really society does it too with claims of "I don't know how you do it, I could never do it" Ah, so does this mean I loved my child less because somehow I am doing it, I am surviving?

I feel like I'm rambling now, but my point.  Life is challenging, guilt is challenging and as I make it through each day and work towards finding and defining who I am it's going to come with a lot of bumps and bruises, but also bittersweet memories.  Learning to be myself and accepting that that is enough.... 

You can find more one little word captured here on Jill's blog!

One little word - Captured

Week 4

Wow these weeks are flying by! We are heading into February which leaves me one more day to reach my goal of 100 miles for January.  I didn't plan on 100 each month, but it seemed I was so close I had to at least try to get there.

But this weeks challenge for me was about friendship. Not that having a friend is challenging, but it is challenging to keep them a part of your life.  You know the old saying "you have to be a friend to have a friend"  Well I've been friends with these girls since 9th grade in high school, over 30 years now, as Lisa reminded me the other day.  And you may know the story of how Lisa and I met. Although I must say I've never been known for my great memory for details...

The other day we met for lunch, to catch up and to offer one another moral support for the challenges we are each facing in our lives. It's nice to know there is someone who always has a supportive word or has been there and gets what you are going through.

To find more great stories of One little word Captured go to Jills blog

One little word Captured

Week 4 - Challenge    

As I go along another week finding ways to apply my word to my life it somehow seems to do it on its own.  When I chose the word it was for me to challenge myself in my running and in other parts of life, but it seems life has a way of challenging us even when we aren't looking for a challenge.

And in between all those challenges you have to pursue your goal with the same attitude, because the time is going to go by whether you do something or not, right?

This week my challenge wasn't as much about running, although believe me I am counting down the days of January and noticing I only have a few days to run 27 miles if I want to reach 100 miles for the month of January (another challenge)

 For me this week was about challenging myself creatively.  Finding time to go into my scraproom and create.  It's all a part of the balance and walking away from the computer.

And so working with my WORK IN PROGRESS kit was exactly what I needed to challenge myself to get back into my scraproom and create!

Check out more One little word captured here on Jill's blog