Happy Birthday to...ME!

Today was my 36th birthday and what a great day it was.  I started it out with a strong 5k bringing my total so far this year to 31k!!  I'm very proud of this and am also very happy to have run on my birthday!  It's the first birthday that I have actually run on and I'm considering making it a tradition. 

I returned home, got ready and headed out for the day.  I am very fortunate to work for a company that decided several years ago to make out birthday an extra holiday.  Adrian didn't work until 5:30pm so we had the whole day together.  We ran a couple of errands, went out for lunch and coffee then got the girls from school.  Christina had to go for a follow up from when she broke her leg so I took her for that while he made me a delicious dinner.  I've spent the evening hanging out with the kids, Meag came over and brought me a bottle of wine which is yummy!!

All in all it has been a great day!  I'm looking forward to a great year of fun, family and fitness!!!  Thirty-six will be my year!!

Always Room to Learn!

This week we have been in a bit of a deep freeze in Southern Ontario along with many other places.  Tuesday it was so cold that many things got cancelled including my run.  Thursday was much less cold so I went out with a friend and ran 5k.  It was a great run and I felt good at the end.  After that run and last Sunday's run I decided that I was going to up my distance today.  I ran just under 8.5k and it was tough but felt great at the end.  The funny part today was that I wore carpris, a tshirt and thin jacket and was much to warm for a good part of the run.  I even took the jacket off for a bit.  That was annoying though because then it was tied around my waist.  Overall it was a good run though.

I discovered something this week.  I don't really think it was a new thought but a much clearer thought.  I would much rather run in cold winter temperatures that the dead heat of summer.  Part of that thought came during Thursday's run when I was talking about a friend that is away this week enjoying a much deserved vacation in the sun and sand.  She borrowed my Garmin so that she could track her runs while she is away. I was without a tracking device during my run which made me think of her in the heat.  In that moment when my bottom lip and chin were frozen I thought to myself that I would rather that than sweltering sun.  I love the sun and heat but only if I am sitting in a chair not moving.  Running is a much better sport for winter, spring and fall.

I've been running for over 3 years now and every run teaches me something new.  Today I learned that despite the fact that I let my distance slide, I can still go for 8k and be standing at the end.  Perhaps that Half Marathon will be a much better one than I think!!!

By George I Think She's Got It!!!!

So who came out of the holidays weighing less than they went in?  This girl did that's who!!!  

The holidays are a season (or few weeks) where so many people think they are supposed to gain weight. "It's no problem I'll just work really hard in January and it will be gone."  We have all heard it.  All the socializing with family and friends.  Lots of food to eat and so busy that it's hard to get workouts in.  It's like we have been conditioned since childhood.  We are inundated by the media with the advertising for weight loss resolutions and the discounts at gyms for January, the kick start your year messages.  I am certainly guilty of this thought process over the years.  However this year I made a very conscious decision that I would not gain a bunch of weight.  I wasn't concerned about losing and I definitely had some treats.  The interesting part is that I made a very big effort to enjoy the treats without over indulging.  Not once through the holidays did I sit down at the end of the day feeling sick from too much junk, too much candy, too much food.  I often left meals feeling pleasantly full but never sick full.  I also worked out fairly regularly.  I was signed up for the Resolution Run and needed to be able to run that 5k on New Years Eve so I had to keep moving before then.  Boxing Day I went out and ran, a couple days later I went to the gym and then I ran the race plus two more runs.  Sunday I even ran 6.32k!!  I had set out to run just 5k but it was so nice out and I just felt great so I kept going.  It was awesome!  

One of my goals for this year was to keep closer track of my running and keep a closer eye on my weight.  I started with a weighin on January 1st and was pleasently surprised to find that I was actually one pound less than I was before Christmas!!!  Then I got on the scale today for my regular weigh in day and found that I am down another pound!!!  This year is certainly starting out on a good note:)  Today the scale said 227 which is the lowest I have seen in a long time!

I think I have finally got this lifestyle figured out!!  Will I never eat junk again?  Of course I will!!  Will I overindulge at times?  Probably!  Can I make it through a special event or holiday season without gaining weight?  Sure can!!!  

Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone!!  What a year it was.  Although it didn't end as well as we would have liked it was mostly a great year.  I'm looking forward to this year and the great things that are going to happen.

I like to look at January 1st as a new and fresh start.  Everyday is a new day but given the fact that today starts a new year it's a great time for reflection.  I'm happy with where my journey is right now.  I'm back to running regularly, continue to eat healthy and am happy with most things in my life.  I have a few goals for this year that are not that different than last year.

I would like to continue to work on my running.  This year I am going to actively track my mileage though.  I have never actually kept track of my total kilometers for the year so this year my goal will be to reach 400k.  That might seem like a lofty goal but really it isn't.  In the last 4 months I have run just around 120k so to reach 400k won't be too big of a stretch.  Given the fact that I will be training for a half marathon over the first half of the year I should be able to reach that goal without much work.

I would like to maintain my healthy eating.  I have let things slide over the last couple of months and haven't been making my lunch as often as I should. This often results in unhealthy choices and money spent that doesn't need to be spent.  My job makes it hard for me to eat the things I would like to for lunch at times.  This time of year I would love to be able to have a hot lunch everyday but I am out of the office and don't have the ability to heat things up.  I need to take things that I can eat in the car and perhaps even eat while I drive.  This often means sandwiches which I do not love.  I will take cut up veggies and fruit or cheese and crackers.  That gets boring though.  I could buy a good thermos to take soup in but I like my soup really hot and after it sits in the car all morning it isn't very hot anymore.  Clearly what I really need to do is plan better and find things that are portable and yummy.

My other goal is to save up enough money to go on a mini vacation for our 10th anniversary this year.  If I can work things out right we will leave the girls with friends for a weekend and go away, just the two of us.  We have never done that before!!  Simply by not buying my lunch so often I should be able to save enough in time for a nice weekend away.

Stay tuned for some updates as the year goes on!