Improvement is constant

This past weekend kicked off a lot of outdoor races for 2013.  Spring is right around the corner, as well as the St. Patrick's Day holiday so you can find lots of fun races to get you out of your winter funk...that is for us here in the Midwest.  For those that have warm temps year round, there is always a race....

For me, I picked a 5K race nearby my home.  Though the weather was to be upper 40-50 degree temps and clear...that did not happen, it is Chicago after all.  Weather was cold, rainy and damp.  I had my gear ready - specifically a green shirt and some crazy green striped knee socks to join in the "green" theme for march races.  One of my fitness goals for 2013 is to finish a 5K in under 30 minutes.  My last race in December 2012, I finished in 32 minutes, so I was prepared to finish somewhere around 33-31 minutes. My runs since the holidays have been hit or miss, I did get some training in...not as much as I would have liked - but I definitely felt ready for the race.  This would be my 6th 5K since I started my running adventure.  I started training and/or learning to run late July of 2012.  So, I have been doing this for about seven months.  Still a beginner on many levels...

It was cold that morning which didn't bother me so much, knowing I would warm up once I got running.  The rain stopped right as the race was to start - nice play mother nature!!!  So, I was ready... new playlist for the race, and my gear was spot on for comfort.  What I wasn't prepared for and totally taken off my game plan was the HILLS!!  Lots and lots of hills on this course.  All my techniques failed and I found I was having a hard time with the hills...heck, there was even a hill right before you crossed the finish line.  Somehow, I had enough strength left in me to do a mad sprint to the finish after that last hill, to try to save some lost time.  The sprint felt awesome, even better was my friend who also ran this race waited for me after she finished and joined me on that final sprint!

Well, final results came out and I was NOT happy. I finished 35:29.  Freaking hills!!!!

True to my personality, I beat myself up pretty hard because of this...and knew it was time to add hills to my training.  As I mentioned earlier, this is the Midwest...we don't have a lot of hills - but they are out there...I just have avoided them on my runs and my routes are pretty flat.

However, like everything in life, just when you find yourself wallowing in self doubt and self criticism - you have that "AHA" moment that snaps you right out of it and provides much more inspiration for you to move on....

That my friends came from my favorite uncle.  He has been running for over 30 years which includes countless marathons...he is an awesome runner.

The day after my race came another local race, but this was 8K.  I chose not to run this one, as I knew I am not ready to move up in distance.  Three runners in my family were running in this race, along with a good friend.  I was at the race because I am also one of the sponsors and I wanted to cheer everyone on!

It was an awful day for a race.  Cold, rain, and wind.  Everyone was soaked to the bones and COLD!!!  My uncle ran this race and finished.  Both of us waited for my aunt to finish - did I mention they are both 60 years old???  As we waited, soaking wet and shivering....he asked me how I did on my race.  Still very salty over it, I started to tell him how much I sucked and that I needed to add hills to my training.  I mean I am talking to the renowned runner of "Tinley Park"!!!!

Before I could even finish my rant of what an awful runner I am...without hesitation, he looked at me and said, "you will improve and you will continue to improve with your running over the course of the next TEN years"...I was like really, like ten whole years, like who has time for that????  He was serious - and explained to me that it is only going to get better, and this is what it is all about...learning and improving.

WOW!  Is it really that simple???  From that moment on, I stopped feeling sorry for myself.  Realized it has only been SEVEN months and this was my SIXTH 5K.  I have many more runs and races to do, TEN whole years worth!!!  my stride and pace will come.  There will be lots of challenges to face at every race...and from that we learn.  Why be upset???

My aunt did finish that race - soaking wet in a little over an hour.   For my friend, it was her first 8K ever, she is a treadmill runner and never ran a complete race in pouring ran, wind and unavoidable puddles in the cold.   She also FINISHED...my super fast cousin in law and uncle.... those two are pro-runners, so of course they finished!!

So in the end...age does not matter, weather does not matter, hills are going be present on some routes, as well as other challenges....JUST DO IT!  everything will fall into place.....

when did eating become so complicated????

i remember growing up, when eating did not seem so hard.   as kids, we lived on butternut, WHITE bread.  we drank GRAPE CRUSH & KOOL-AID.  sides were CHEETOS!!  our dinner rotations were always spaghetti nights with WHITE pasta, hot dog night (no such thing as turkey dogs), meatloaf night, pizza night, etc....  yes veggies were found on the dinner table and 98% of the time, it came from a CAN.  there was always dessert.  weekends came with lots of dunkin doughnuts and trips to the ice cream parlor...wow!!!!

and yet, neither me or my siblings ever had weight problems, skin problems, behavior problems, etc....

my parents had the rule of if it was still light outside - get out there and stay out until it was mealtime.  there was NO sitting on the couch watching tv.  we always were involved in sports - may not have been any good - but we were always moving.  on the weekend - it was a family affair outside...if it was lawn care weekend -you bet, everyone had a job to do.

then things changed.......

we were told, go sugar-free, fat-free, don't eat white flour products - only eat whole wheat breads and pasta.  diets soda is better now, it has artificial sweeteners that made it taste like the real thing...not like radiator fluid  - aka Tab (oh god, i used to drink Tab by the case!)

now it is time for no carbs, limit protein, eat lots of protein, no carbs after 6pm, eat breakfast, don't eat breakfast, no red meat, eat red meat...

and just recently...DON"T eat whole wheat products...they add all kinds of gluten, bad for your gut...better off eating the white pasta!!!!

ARRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!!

and now we enter the new wave of eating - "CLEAN EATING".

this one for the most part seems pretty easy - no refined sugars, no processed foods, basically no junk....

oh wait, there is also PALEO - the newest concept.  i have not done enough research on that one yet...since quite frankly i am sick of it all!!!!

every time i turn around, another health expert is changing the rules....

i am thinking maybe i should just go back to the basics, feeding my family food from the core food groups like always.  keeping us all engaged in active activity....no sitting on the couch, no video games, etc.  granted, i will most likely not feed my kids butternut bread and kool-aid, but things just seemed so much simpler and easier back then.

i have been keeping a food journal for myself.  it is crazy...trying to eat clean and healthy, making sure i have the right mix of good carbs and protein.  getting enough veggies, no carbs after 4pm, drink at least a gallon of water everyday....  then late at night, i get hungry...REAL HUNGRY, i make bad, bad choices and blow it all to hell.  then i start all over again the next day.  it's no wonder why so many of us struggle with the whole "eat right" concept.  i think there are just TOO MANY RULES!!!!

thinking my new way may just be to fly by the seat of my pants...use common sense & good judgement.

whew...i needed to vent this today.

there just has to got to be a better way.....

Tales from a South Side Boot(Y)camp Babe....

sorry kids - i kinda blew off my blog for the last six months - but been a little busy KICKING SOME ASS! my ass, that is......

since i left you, i did complete that first 5K ever....proceeded to do four more 5K's (each with a better time) and completed one monster obstacle race, the midwest super spartan!  yes, i showed up and finished them all!!

at this time, i would like to dedicate this blog entry to another milestone anniversary in my life.  it was this time one year ago that i stepped into my first "Boot(Y)camp class.  i was exactly seven months post-op from my spinal fusion procedure to my L5S1 disc.  had no idea the adventure that would be starting with that very first class.......

but let's go back a bit.....within a five year period, i had three major surgeries.  two c-sections for the birth of my children (one emergency and one scheduled).  one year after the birth of my son, i had my spinal fusion.  it was performed through my abdominal area, not through my back, very invasive.  bottom line - my core was done....stripped of any strength that i once had.  my recovery would include having to rebuild the strength of my core - not such an easy task.

i stayed in the hospital for four days.  once home, i was on bed rest for about two weeks, then semi-bed rest for another two weeks.  when i did get out of bed, i used a walker to assist my walking.  soon after, i began physical therapy.  most people after having this procedure require 3-4 weeks of physical therapy.  not me!!! i required THREE MONTHS at three times every week.  i am very blessed, i had two fantastic surgeons that performed my fusion, but even better was the physical therapist that my surgeon recommended.  he were fantastic.  the minute i walked through the door - he examined me, explained everything that just happened to my core and lower back since having the procedure and what would happen after i completed my therapy.  he also informed me that my posture was completely off - i had no idea, no one ever told me that before.  happy to say, after my three months of therapy - i now stand upright with no posture problems!!

i graduated from my therapy, it was a long journey.  upon leaving, we were just starting to have me add a plank to my core exercises to do at home - i barely could do 5 seconds, let alone 10 seconds...but my therapist informed me that it would get better - as long as i continue with my core program.

rules after i graduated:

NO running
NO twisting
NO bending
NO lifting weights

so, with that i started walks on the treadmill and continued my at-home therapy.

now, i am approaching my six month-post op appointment.  at the same time, i start to notice this "musclemomfitness" van in the parking lot at my daughter's dance studio.  had me interested...so i googled it later that night.  I was in love - it was every thing i want in an exercise program...i get bored easily with exercise programs and this seemed to be what i wanted.  i had some left over baby weight from my son and all this new pre and post-op weight...i wanted it off, but knew i had so many restrictions.  i was SO antsy!!  before my fusion, i used to be very active...pretty much the only thing i did not do was running, yeah, i am also a severe asthmatic!  could i be any more broken????

so i sent this "musclemomfitness" an email, explaining my situation and to see if it could work.  she responded back to me within the hour.  turns out, both our daughters were in the same ballet class - so we agreed to meet at the studio after the girls started class.  it had to be a sight, here was patti (the musclemomfitness lady) doing all the exercises and asking, "can you do this, can you do that, what about this?????, etc..."...it was funny!  we both agreed that i would take the list of exercises with me to my follow-up appointment with my surgeon to find out if i can do all these things, along with getting my much awaited "green light" to go beyond walking on the treadmill.  maybe this is why i loath the treadmill so much....

appointment day came - passed with flying colors on my progression of recovery.  he happily gave me the "green light" to exercise and be free, "but don't go doing any crazy, hardcore class".....hahahahahahaha...then i told him i wanted to join a "bootcamp" class...he looked at me, thought for a bit of time and then told me, " i do not want to hold you back.  promise me you will do the following in this class:  1.  use your back as your guide.  if the movement hurts your back, modify until your are stronger.  2.  modify all exercises for bending and twisting until you are healed enough to do them."  AGREED!!!

joined patti's class and told her my restrictions and if she sees me doing a modification, that was why.

so, i entered session one of bootycamp for the first time one year ago.  i was out of shape and had some major limitations.  i was not so much afraid of what we were going to do - i was more afraid of what i couldn't do and may not be able to finish the class.  well, that didn't happen.

patti always provided a modification for all her exercises.  if she seen me struggle or i told her i could not do a certain steps - she always provided another way so i COULD do it.  the women in the class were unbelievable...i was the new girl, the weak link.  they did not know of my back issues -yet were super supportive and cheered me on.

i completed all but one of the classes in that first six week session - came close to throwing up a few times.  most of my movements were modified and some were a pretty sad version of the real thing - but i did it.

i came back for the next session, and the next, and the next, and the next.....during that time had my 9 month and 12 month post-op visits with my surgeon.  he was amazed to say the least of my progress.  i could easily bend over and touch my toes....there was a time when that was not a simple task for me to do.  he was happy that i followed his advice and thrilled that i was now strong enough to not need all the modifications in class.  i also informed him that i had registered to do my first 5K that september, and then a super spartan in october 2012....he nearly fell off his chair.  he was beyond happiness that his surgery was a success for me and it showed!  he encouraged my activity - but of course, followed it up with a "please be careful"....

speed up to today....18 months post-op.  2013.  my surgeon does not want to see me for another two years...he is that confident in me :)

i am so thankful i spotted the musclemomfitness van - contacted patti and joined the class.

i am a faithful follower and encourage everyone to join the fun with me.

i am signed up for over 5 obstacle races this year (including TWO super spartans) and many 5K races.

i CAN do burpees, mountain climbers, hot coals, planks (went from 5 seconds to my longest of 1.5 minutes), sprints, flip tractor tires, squats, lift weights, bend, twist, jump, AND MORE!!!

 i don't think i ever would have even considered doing any of these if it wasn't for patti and the bootycamp girls.  for that, i am forever grateful.   they encouraged and supported my quest for strength.  they do this for everyone who enters the door.  i could not imagine not being a part of this badass, fitness-crazed group of girls.  i love sharing our torturous classes together, i love being able to toe the line with you girls, and i love crossing the finish line with you...even the times when you have to physically push me over that finish line.

cannot wait to see what the next year will bring....  maybe, just maybe...sexy will be coming back....

THANK YOU!


check out the hottie!!!!  this is me pre-kids in cancun...not sure if i will ever have abs like that again...but it is sure fun trying!!!

you know where you can stick your perfect form....

ok - a little late, but yes i am finally getting to update you all that i did indeed finish my VERY FIRST 5K.  if you have been keeping up with my journey, you know i have never ran in my life due to my asthma.  i have been a severe asthmatic since birth and have never outgrown it, as most adults do...yeah, totally sucked for my parents.  lots of trips to the ER!!

after nine weeks of training three days per week with jeff galloway, he is an olympic athlete you know, my goal date of september 29, 2012 arrived.  my FIRST 5K event that i would be participating in as a RUNNER!

i was fighting a chest cold the week of the race, compliments of the little germ factories that live in my home.  woke up race morning and knew immediately it turned into bronchitis.  those who are asthmatics know this is never good and needs to be taken care of ASAP before it turns into pneumonia.  it is just the way our lungs work when an infection moves in.  in spite of this, i decided it was going to be mind over matter - which basically is what has been getting through all my training, and i was going to do the race.  i had been working most of the summer on my training and i was not going to miss it - even if it meant i would probably slow my pace way down and i might need more walk breaks.  plus, i was so nervous that i had that whole "flight or fight" thing going on, that i figured it was worth a try.  

so, at 8:40am, i walked over to the run - for my first 5k, i picked the one my church was hosting.  pure GENIUS!  i did this for a few reasons:

1. it is our church
2. it is two blocks from my house - so i could crawl home if needed
3. the date - i started training late july, so september 29th was perfect
4. i was praying to god and the angels to carry me over the finish line...lol
5. and lastly, all the volunteers was members of the church - they lined the route, cheered you on, smiled and were just happy to see you.  love when people are all "churchy"

i found my place all the way in the back of the pack.  i was in fact, the very last person in the start line.  heck, even the lady with the double stroller was ahead of me!!  i did not care - i was going to follow my training and listen to my lungs of knowing when to slow down.  had my playlist on and the starting gun went off.  ironically, i found that i was ok - in my mind i was running slower due to my bronchitis.  i stayed on my target 2 minute run/1 minute walk.  as it turned out, i did not need any additional walk breaks.  i used my scheduled walk breaks to keep my breathing on target and use my inhaler as needed.  i ran all three inclines on the route - made me happy to do that.  there were no mile markers - just happy volunteers guiding the route and waving as you passed.  so i really had no idea how far i had gone and how much more i had to go.  then as i passed a volunteer he shouted out - "you are almost done!"  i looked up and indeed, there was my church in the distance.  one more incline to go - i ran it - passed the one and only mile marker "3"!!!!!!  i slowed to a walk just to use my inhaler, change my song on my ipod, then ROCKED it to the finish.  

throughout my training, my time for 3.1 miles was around 42-49 minutes.  imagine my surprise when i saw the big timer and it was 37.07 - my BEST time ever!!!!  BUT WAIT IT GETS BETTER!!!  the official times were not posted right away and i totally forgot about it until today when i went to their facebook page and it provided a link.  pulled up my name and my time was actually 36:53!!!  YAY ME!!!!!  not too shabby for the newbie!!!

here i am after the race with my kiddos - cuties :)  right after this, i promptly got my butt over to the minute clinic to get my much needed antibiotics for that case of bronchitis that was brewing!!!

running was just something i never thought i would ever do in my life.  it was not until i started going to my bootycamp class that included jogging, sprints, etc....  i wanted to take this class, i wanted to get stronger...i knew i needed to find a way to make it work.  started power walking again...then started little jogs here and there...learning for me was that it was all about creating balance between my pace and my breathing AND knowing it is ok to take my walk breaks to keep it under control.  with every 5k i enter now, my goal is to be able to run a little bit more and walk a little bit less...as always, it is a journey.   just another brick in the wall.

along with pace, breathing techniques, and mind control...there is this little thing called form.  not having the proper form can hurt you and make what you are doing so much harder.  both my bootycamp instructor and my running trainer (jeff galloway - the olympic athlete..tehee) both have taught me form, especially in running.  few tips that really have made a different for me:

1. your feet should NEVER literally POUND the pavement.  you should not sound like a clydesdale!!!  your landing should be a light fluid movement.
2. DO NOT swing your arms while running or during your walk break - as it burns energy - energy that YOU NEED for your running!!!  this was a hard habit to break, especially when walking, but i make a point to check myself when i find myself swinging my arms.  your arms should remain at our sides.
3. you should always be able to complete a sentence when running.  if you cannot not speak a word without gasping for breath - you are running too hard!!  i always make sure to give a greeting to anyone i pass on my route to make sure i can speak while running.  it is ok to be out of breath - but never when you cannot utter a word.

i found while on my route for the 5k, i heard a lot of feet pounding and i was wearing an ipod with my music blasting!!!  and they looked absolutely miserable.  i was so tempted to turn around and offer some friendly advice to make their running a bit easier - you know, sharing the love of what i learned, now that i have one 5k under my belt and am a pro-runner...lol.  then i thought again, that maybe on a 5k it would not go over so well.  thinking i would hear the response "hey, mind your business bitch and stick that perfect form up your AZZZZ!!!!!"   HAHAHAHAHAHA - most likely i would have said the same thing if someone stopped me while i was running to offer some unsolicited advice!!!!  heheeeeee...

i may be the slow one in the back, but i am doing the BEST that i can for me.  i will get better and faster in time, but for now - relishing my win in doing something i NEVER thought i could or would ever be a possibility is pretty damn sweet.  i also had set a goal & reward system for myself.  goal = drive + motivation.  reward = power & Strength!!!

oh well - onto my next stop...tombstone 5K on october 20 - i get to run in a costume - YAY!

then, that bitch of a super spartan that is just waiting to claim my ass on a platter on october 28th!!!  oh my....

what's on your playlist?

so here i sit...DAYS away from my "FIRST EVER IN MY LIFE" 5K race.

i am a nervous wreck.  i become more nervous each day...can i finish?  will i be the last person to finish?  will this damn chest cold that i have get worse?  will my pace be on or off???  will my asthma leave me the hell alone for this event???  good god, almighty - need to stop the insanity of my worries!!!  i am just going to toe up to the line and see what happens....

ok - time to make sure my playlist is loaded and in sync for saturday morning.  i am someone who needs motivation when exercising.  i am not the person who is one with themselves or their surroundings to perform,  I NEED SOME GOOD ASS KICKING JAMS TO GET ME THROUGH!!!!  or someone running next to me with some awesome neighborhood gossip to get my mind off the all running i am doing...lol

so, in no particular order, here is who will be helping me get through the 3.1 miles. careful kids, a lot of these songs are a little explicit..... and my taste in music is obviously all over the place....heheeeee

1.  Lose yourself - Eminem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFYQQPAOz7Y

2.  Whatever - Godsmack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPn0Hzx1ntU

3.  Slither - Velvet Revolver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAA4oBDuyCU

4.  Out Comes the Evil - Lords of Acid'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5e4aY-_72g

5.  Party Up - DMX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3nJo2iw3cI

6.Everyone's a Winner - Hot Chocolate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-GkwIRbLw8

7.  Freak - Klaas & Bodybangers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2imDqh73CmE

8.  Wild Ones - Flo Rida
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jWF0Yaxf2g

9.  We Are Young - Fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1efM2mYNocM

10.  Born This Way - Lady GaGa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45aRMPsOrKM

11.  Staying Alive - N Trance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZAfdgYnsZc

12.  Part of Me - Katy Perry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuwfgXD8qV8

13.  Enter Sandman - Metallica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJKuygePHk

14.  Love Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwKvwD97cf8

15.  It's a Long Way to the Top if you Want to Rock & Roll - AC/DC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy0I9WKWp44

16.  That's Not my Name - The Ting Tings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1c2OfAzDTI

17.  Sexy and I know It - LMFAO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVYZJAgLUYA

18.  How Do You Like Me Now - The Heavy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVzvRsl4rEM

19. Crushed - Limp Bizkit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1eJKDcLQhI

20.  Good God - Anouk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWiRpPQ_JMU

and to really get me through that last mile...when i need to dig my way out...

21.  Thunderstruck - AC/DC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlejfA5NCbQ

22.  Dragula - Rob Zombie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1Z1Zrot-go

23.  Top of the World - Van Halen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRReUDOoUEM

bricks in the wall...my adventure with learning to run

all in all it was just a brick in the wall......

we all have walls for one various reason or another.  some walls are busted down with dynamite, some with brutal physical force, and some...like my current wall...brick by brick.

i guess that is how i feel about my new wall in life...the wall of being able to run.  never ran in my entire life due to having severe asthma and allergies since birth.  i was in and out of the ER so many times, i am surprised my parents remained somewhat sane...lol  back then, asthma relief was through primatene mist and/or a trip to the ER for a breathing treatment...these days, better inhalers are available, long term meds and you can do your own treatments at home.

most people that have childhood asthma will outgrow it by the time they are adults...or it at least greatly improves.  not for me...it is still pretty severe...i live on inhalers and meds to be taken daily if i want to breathe freely for the day.  what can i say, it is life, my life.  it has been this way since i was a child, so i do not know any different.  though there are many physical things i can do without my asthma rearing its ugly head, running has never been one of them.  minutes after i start i can feel my lungs tighten to the point of wanting to burst.  i then feel like i am trap with only a tiny straw used to breathe out of....

so now i decided i wanted to start running for many reasons - mainly health and fitness, but mainly to see if i can learn to control my breathing and be able to run without having an asthma attack.  plus, i am really fascinated with all the obstacle races being held - i love that kind of stuff.  however, i also know to get to each obstacle, i would need to be able to run...and my favorite bootycamp includes a lot of running activities...so, i needed to get moving!!!!

i started using the couch to 5k app on my phone and really liked it and found it was a good pace for me to learn how to run...and learn when to slow down and breath.  i know, it sounds so simple - but for us asthmatics, it is not.  whenever, we start having an attack or feel we are losing control of our breathing - we then panic...which is an awful experience.  one that i have endured many, many times in my life.

mind over matter eventually kicks in after the fear is gone...which is what has happened to me.  i no longer fear running and know that i can do it with modifications of course.  i also have found my pace that works for me and how to breathe properly - lots of deep breathing while on my walking warm-ups and while running i am constantly thinking about taking quality breaths and to never get out of breath...when i do, which does happen, i slow down to catch my breath - use my inhaler (never leave home without it) and move forward.

about 5 1/2 weeks ago - i stopped using couch to 5k and starting using jeff galloway's 5k app.  i like it so much better!!!  i love all the tips he shares along the program and gives you the option to change your run/walk ratio when you feel it is time to change rather than the app deciding when it is time, like couch to 5k.

one of best tips for running and learning your pace is that you should always be able to talk while running without huffing and puffing.  it is normal to be out of breath when you are talking and running - but you should never not be able to speak.  i keep that in mind when i run and make sure i say hello to everyone i pass as a check to know my pace is right.  that tip alone also keeps my breathing in check - to ensure if i want to speak while running my breathing must be in control, as well.  so far, so good.  i now find the need to use my inhaler during my run/walk program has decreased and on some runs i have not needed to use it once - i have come a long way!!!!!

so, yes, my quest to learn how to run is happening.  i must admit, i really do not like running at all, but i like the strength  and endurance my body is getting as i get better.  with that said, i find it funny that i actually cannot wait until my run days  (i do my program 3 times a week), yet once i start i cannot wait for it to end...lol.  

of course, i am a slow runner - but that is ok, because i FINISH and never quit!!!!!

with each day of running, learning to control my breathing, increasing my pace...then maybe, just maybe i might start to enjoy my runs,,,eventually i WILL take all those bricks down left in the wall.

totally ROCKED it!!!

motivation is golden...

recap of the last 24 hours....

last night - full hour of bootycamp (in the park).

this morning - bodyrock workout with sandbag (aka diaper bag filled with filled water bottles ~12 pounds) and dip station (aka my walker)

this afternoon - took kids to park - they played in the sand and i did FOUR complete set on the monkey bars!!!!!  love my new training gloves :)

this evening - 2 mile run/walk...increased my pace ratio to 2 min run/1 min walk and shaved 2 minutes off my current time....

take that biotches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!