Sugar. Also, about those relay races I already paid to run...

May 9th : 5 miles easy. 10+ min pace.

May 10th: JM Ripped in 30, level 2

(New week)

May 11th: JM Ripped in 30, level 1

May 12th: Rest day. Quick yoga and planks before work. 

May 13th: 3 miles, TM.

May 14th: Rest.

May 15th: 6.5 miles, outside.

May 16th: JM Ripped in 30, level 2

May 17th: 3 Miles easy w D, 10 strength

Weekly totals:

Run: 3

Strength: 2

Rest: 2 

Remember this? Workout recaps? 

*hooo*

There. I just blew some dust off my keyboard. I am feeling pretty good from a week of mindful eating and trying to stay active. 

I have also cut waaaay back on the sugar. 

Sigh. Sugar. Like a bad ex-boyfriend. Keeps coming around tempting you when you know nothing good will come out of it. 

Actually, I ended up marrying the only real boyfriend I've ever had so what do I know.

Sorry. Let's focus. 

I love sugar, remember? We were talking about sugar. I know a lot about sugar.

Now, I don't mean I'm giving up all sugar because a lot of whole food have natural sugars, with which I am ok. I eat at least one apple daily, which can have up to 20g sugar. I am fiiine with that.  I am talking about the processed crap that I can't seem to turn down. 

Cake? Who said cake? Chocolate? Let me get my fork. 

Just like with cutting meat out of my diet, cutting out sugar and processed junk ultimately helps me make better choices through the day. 

Let's face it, my body is that of a 38 yr old, NOT a 28 yr old. I am much more sensitive and ... erm, delicate than I used to be and instead of fighting it, I need to learn to adapt. 

So, more consistent exercise and less cookies. 

The good thing is, once I get going, I truly do enjoy workout out and getting in a good sweat. I read somewhere that once you make it a part of your life, you don't try to fit it in, you just do it. I also love making run dates with friends, which is basically like multitasking because you're working up a sweat and catching up on life!

Sure, I am married, work full time, commute, have 3 growing kids and a busy schedule, but I can make this part of my day easily. No excuses, right?

Right.

Besides, the 1st of my two relay races this summer is less than a few weeks ago.
AHHHHH....

They say you never regret a run, and they're so, so right.

I have this habit.

Every few weeks I will blog about something mundane, something that's gotten me somewhat motivated again to start running. Then, I run a little. And then I run not at all. I take a blog break. I throw tiny pity parties, and I don't even offer hors d'oeuvres. Yes, I had to google how to spell that word. What kind of party is that, anyways. At least serve some cheap wine.

I decide yet again to write another post about how *this* will be the time I get back on the horse. I guess the motivation isn't working so well if I have to keep writing the same thing over and over again, right?

Good god, woman. Get over yourself already!

I ran one day this week, after work and it was on the treadmill. When I first started running, I would run most days after work, but it was just too stressful to juggle running with making dinner, finishing homework and having family time. So I eventually turned into a morning runner, sometimes even getting up before 4am to get in all the miles. On Wednesday, I squeezed in 4 miles before dinner, and wow was it totally worth it.  The self talk leading up to those 4 miles was pretty ridiculous. I basically spent 20 minutes convincing myself that I would come home and run before doing anything else. My legs felt a little heavy, but eventually I got into the groove and finished 4 miles in just over 36 minutes, watching some House of Cards to pass the time. I'm only on season one, but it's already getting pretty interesting.

Francis, you slept with Zoe! And Claire was ok with it! Confusing! Claire totally should have slept with creepy artist guy. Must keep watching! 

I felt amazing after those miles, nice and sweaty! I meant to run at least one more time before the weekend, but the rest of the week kind of got away from me. I had plans to get outside today since the weather was glorious, but instead opted to take a nap instead of trying to shimmy in a run between errands and dinner.

I napped for 2 glorious hours.

Totally worth it.

My alarm is set for tomorrow morning, to run with my friend, D. I'm excited - it will be sunny and crisp, my favorite. A run is the best way to start the weekend.

Best way to start a day, in fact.

Let's do thissss.

Happy Mother's Day weekend to all of you out there!

May Days

I'm here.

I can't even remember the last time I posted! However, I am pretty certain I have run, at the most, about 10 miles a week, if that. Instead of blogging, I've been enjoying the escapades of other running, home decor, and food blogs. Vicarious living, gotta dig it.

However, seeing people cross the finish line at Boston, reading about how other full time working moms can wake up at 4am to get in a run, drooling over the time consuming and creative home inspirations of oh so talented women across the country really has got me thinking, These people are busy, have children, husbands, families, hobbies, responsibilities, some way more than me.

Why do I let myself make excuses?

Sure, I'm busy with home life, working full time, commuting 2 hrs a day, having active kids and a social life, but..

Who isn't?

Beth is one of my favorite bloggers, because she truly does keep it real. Her latest most on not having motivation really resonated with me, because.. well.

I don't have any.

What I have are excuses.

At this time last year, I was running the Tacoma City Half Marathon. It was a tough race and I barely made it through, half trained, discouraged and heavier than I would have liked to be. Last year at the end of the race, I vowed to redeem myself in 2015.

The race was this morning, and I didn't run it.

After the Seattle half last December, I let myself take a break. I was tired of waking up at 4am, weary and sore all of the time. I just wanted to take back the joy of running so I just cut back. Instead, I cut it out. I started to make excuses, i.e. I'm tired, bloated, busy, sore, hungry, tired, tired.., and then I just got used to life without running or any form of exercise.

I told myself I'd start in January.. then February, OH and then March. April? I could train for a half in one month. I've done four, what is one more, right? Honestly, I just got complacent and lazy. I convinced myself I wasn't made to run.

Today is May 3rd, and for this month I have run 6 miles. Yesterday I ran 3 afternoon miles in the sunshine. It is the first time in a very long time that I have run outside solo. I have been squeezing in some nice, very slow runs with my neighbor friend, but it's been mainly to catch up on our week and have some girl time. I rarely even break a sweat, but I still love our time together. Yesterday, as I was running into the wind, sunshine beating down on my face and my scarily pale legs, I felt, for the first time in a long time, happy to be moving, to be running, music blaring in my ears and my heart pumping out of my chest. I admit, I struggled and had to stop a couple of times, mainly because I am sick and unable to breathe out of my nose (Excuse? maybe...) but I finished feeling achy, sweaty and satisfied. My splits aren't anything to be bragging about, but I felt happy to just be out there, legs moving and arms pumping.

Mile 1 -  9:13
Mile 2 - 9:18
Mile 3: 9:22
Mile .12: - 7.22

Avg Pace: 9:13

This morning I struggled through 3 miles on the treadmill, and again had to stop a few times with my feet on the side rails so I could take a deep breathe, or cough out some gunk. But I got to the 3 mile mark, and then finished with a short HIIT workout on YouTube. I'm trying to slowly get back in the game here.