Saturday, July 9, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
I DID IT!!
Yesterday was the big day! The day I have been training the past 9 weeks for! Yesterday was my very first half marathon!
Since I ran my first road race ever back in March, I had made it my goal to train to be ready to run this race in only 9 short weeks. I did it! In those weeks I went from running 4 miles to running 13.1 whole miles without dying, quitting or even walking! What an accomplishment for me!!
The race started at 7:30 which meant a very early wake up call! We were out the door by 6:30 and anxiously awaiting the gun by 7:00. Dave and I decided that we would run separtely (I didnt want to hold him back & honestly he messes up my whole pace). My friend, Mary was also running and I planned to stick with her for much of the race.
As the race started I was with Mary but soon realized that I was better off running alone. So I took off and set my own pace-which was under 10 minutes for the first 5 miles. After that I slowed down to about a 10:30 minute mile which isn't bad at all! I felt good most of the race and never once felt like I should walk!
I finished my 13.1 miles in 2 hours14 minutes! Awesome! My goal was 2:30 so I beat that by a lot! I felt great and so very proud of myself!!
I look forward to running another half in September!!
Since I ran my first road race ever back in March, I had made it my goal to train to be ready to run this race in only 9 short weeks. I did it! In those weeks I went from running 4 miles to running 13.1 whole miles without dying, quitting or even walking! What an accomplishment for me!!
The race started at 7:30 which meant a very early wake up call! We were out the door by 6:30 and anxiously awaiting the gun by 7:00. Dave and I decided that we would run separtely (I didnt want to hold him back & honestly he messes up my whole pace). My friend, Mary was also running and I planned to stick with her for much of the race.
As the race started I was with Mary but soon realized that I was better off running alone. So I took off and set my own pace-which was under 10 minutes for the first 5 miles. After that I slowed down to about a 10:30 minute mile which isn't bad at all! I felt good most of the race and never once felt like I should walk!
I finished my 13.1 miles in 2 hours14 minutes! Awesome! My goal was 2:30 so I beat that by a lot! I felt great and so very proud of myself!!
I look forward to running another half in September!!
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| Me & Dave before the race. |
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| Friends & fellow teachers all running the half! |
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| Finishing the race!! |
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| Tia ran her first 5k! |
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| Finished and happy! |
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Memories
I'm sure there are some things that you will never forget about your babies...memories that will always be held close to your heart. But just in case, I want to document this so that I can never forget....
My boy Brayden is sooo funny. Really, he is just so smart and quick its hysterical. He just gets things. When we were driving to Virginia last week we went by Target. He pointed to the sign and said "Store Mama. Buy drinks.". I said "Yes B! That's Target. That's where Mama gets drinks." ( I always but my vitamin water there). So we continued our drive and we see another Target sign (hours later) and this time he says "Target Mama. Buy drinks". So freakin smart!!
Anyway, back to the special memory of my boy. Brayden has this little car that he rides around the house. The seat opens and there is a space to put things. B always picks his favorite toys and puts them in there. He drives around the house and will stop, look in and check his toys. He hides things from Ethan in there too. He is two and going through the "mine" stage. So he doesn't always care to share.
So today he was going up for his nap. We walked by his car and he had to stop to get a toy from the back (he has to take some special things to bed with him). He opened up the back, stood there with his chin in his hand and I could hear him "hmmmm". Brayden almost always does this while making a decision. He finally chose the tractor, jumped back into my arms and off to bed he went.
I've seen him do this a million times, but today as I watched, I realized that this was such a great memory of him. This was something that I want to always remember about him. It's something that will always bring a smile to my face. It was something I needed to blog about.
My boy Brayden is sooo funny. Really, he is just so smart and quick its hysterical. He just gets things. When we were driving to Virginia last week we went by Target. He pointed to the sign and said "Store Mama. Buy drinks.". I said "Yes B! That's Target. That's where Mama gets drinks." ( I always but my vitamin water there). So we continued our drive and we see another Target sign (hours later) and this time he says "Target Mama. Buy drinks". So freakin smart!!
Anyway, back to the special memory of my boy. Brayden has this little car that he rides around the house. The seat opens and there is a space to put things. B always picks his favorite toys and puts them in there. He drives around the house and will stop, look in and check his toys. He hides things from Ethan in there too. He is two and going through the "mine" stage. So he doesn't always care to share.
So today he was going up for his nap. We walked by his car and he had to stop to get a toy from the back (he has to take some special things to bed with him). He opened up the back, stood there with his chin in his hand and I could hear him "hmmmm". Brayden almost always does this while making a decision. He finally chose the tractor, jumped back into my arms and off to bed he went.
I've seen him do this a million times, but today as I watched, I realized that this was such a great memory of him. This was something that I want to always remember about him. It's something that will always bring a smile to my face. It was something I needed to blog about.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Finally...A Crawler!!
Ethan turned 9 months old on Saturday. I can't believe its been 9 months already! Time really goes by fast....when we're talking about babies anyway.
At 9 months old Ethan has 2 bottom teeth and is showing signs that the top may soon be on their way. He is talking up a storm....lots of mama's, dada's, and nana's. He has been eating table food for awhile now...and he LOVES it! Right now cheese puffs are his favorite but he doesn't discriminate. He will eat just about anything!
Ethan is waving hi and bye-For real. If someone says hi, he waves. If someone says bye, he waves. He knows that's what his little hands are for! And he loves to point to things! So smart!!
Now for the big news! Ethan started crawling! Yay! My boy is finally crawling. I realize that developmentally he is right on track. But being the second, he is, of course, compared to his brother. Brayden was crawling at 6 (almost 7) months. So when Ethan wasn't crawling 2 months ago I was a little worried. But he finally started scooting on his bum a couple weeks ago. And then a few days before he turned 9 months he started crawling. Yay! He is also pulling himself up on anything that's around...sometimes that doesn't end so good!
Ethan is still a love and I enjoy watching his personality come out more and more each day. He is growing and changing so much! I wish time would slow just a little!
At 9 months old Ethan has 2 bottom teeth and is showing signs that the top may soon be on their way. He is talking up a storm....lots of mama's, dada's, and nana's. He has been eating table food for awhile now...and he LOVES it! Right now cheese puffs are his favorite but he doesn't discriminate. He will eat just about anything!
Ethan is waving hi and bye-For real. If someone says hi, he waves. If someone says bye, he waves. He knows that's what his little hands are for! And he loves to point to things! So smart!!
Now for the big news! Ethan started crawling! Yay! My boy is finally crawling. I realize that developmentally he is right on track. But being the second, he is, of course, compared to his brother. Brayden was crawling at 6 (almost 7) months. So when Ethan wasn't crawling 2 months ago I was a little worried. But he finally started scooting on his bum a couple weeks ago. And then a few days before he turned 9 months he started crawling. Yay! He is also pulling himself up on anything that's around...sometimes that doesn't end so good!
Ethan is still a love and I enjoy watching his personality come out more and more each day. He is growing and changing so much! I wish time would slow just a little!
Ethan David
9 months old
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I AM a Runner!
I have made a big decision since my 4 mile race two weeks ago. I've decided to embark upon a new, more lofty goal. I am going to run a half marathon! Yes, that's right....Ive decided to do it! The first annual Greater Binghamton Bridge Run half marathon is on May 15th and I am going to be one of the runners! Holy crap!
Since I found out that I can actually run...distances...without stopping I have been excited about running. I think about it all the time and I look forward to going out and beating myself each time. Right now I'm not concerned at all about being fast...I just want to finish. I do feel myself getting better each time though. And running the shorter distances like 3 and 4 miles are almost easy now.
What I am finding difficult it the time I spend away from the boys. I feel like I'm neglecting them a little. Between work and running and the gym and the chiropractor (whom I see like 3 times a week) I feel like I'm not spending enough time with them. I tell myself that I need to do this-for me, for my mental health, for my health. And that I do spend time with them...every evening we have a good 3-4 hours together before bedtime and we spend all weekend together. But that doesn't help the guilt that I feel. I am hoping that once it warms up Dave and I will be able to take the boys running with us...it makes it more difficult for Dave but it would be time that we could all spend together. And summer is around the corner.....only 7 more paychecks!!
The race is in 6 weeks and I am looking forward to continuing my training! I can't wait to go for 12 miles in a couple weeks! Updates will be posted!
PS-I am down 30lbs! I hope running will help me lose the next 10lbs by June!
Since I made this big decision I have been training. Dave found me a 10 week schedule and I have been sticking to it pretty faithfully. I run shorter lengths, like 3-4 miles on Mondays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays I do a longer run, about 5-6 miles and then Saturday is my distance day. The first Saturday we ran 6.5 miles. This past Saturday I ran 9 miles! Can you believe that?!? 9 freakin miles! And I didn't die!! This upcoming Saturday will be 10 miles and I will increase a mile each week until I hit 12 miles. Then I will work my way back down again....and then it will be race day!!
Since I found out that I can actually run...distances...without stopping I have been excited about running. I think about it all the time and I look forward to going out and beating myself each time. Right now I'm not concerned at all about being fast...I just want to finish. I do feel myself getting better each time though. And running the shorter distances like 3 and 4 miles are almost easy now.
What I am finding difficult it the time I spend away from the boys. I feel like I'm neglecting them a little. Between work and running and the gym and the chiropractor (whom I see like 3 times a week) I feel like I'm not spending enough time with them. I tell myself that I need to do this-for me, for my mental health, for my health. And that I do spend time with them...every evening we have a good 3-4 hours together before bedtime and we spend all weekend together. But that doesn't help the guilt that I feel. I am hoping that once it warms up Dave and I will be able to take the boys running with us...it makes it more difficult for Dave but it would be time that we could all spend together. And summer is around the corner.....only 7 more paychecks!!
The race is in 6 weeks and I am looking forward to continuing my training! I can't wait to go for 12 miles in a couple weeks! Updates will be posted!
PS-I am down 30lbs! I hope running will help me lose the next 10lbs by June!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Race Day!
Today was the St. Pat's 4 Miler. I set a goal for myself in January to run this race without walking and....I DID IT!
This was my very first road race and the 3rd time I have ever run outside. I was pretty nervous leading up to the whole thing. The night before I was dreaming about running....and eating (while I was running). Weird. We got to the gym early, checked in and got our official t-shirts (the real reason I ran the race). Then we waited. When it was race time everyone went out and lined up. It was exciting.
People were passing me from the get go. It was a little intimidating but I just focused on running my own race. Dave and my friend Mary ran with me. We finished the first mile in just under 10 minutes. That is a personal best for me. We continued to run.
At about mile 2.25 we had some fans cheering us on. My baby-sitter and her son were standing on the corner and then a couple blocks up my mom and the boys were waiting for us. It was so nice to see them all supporting me!
The last mile of the race had a hill. Not huge, but still it was a hill. I worked hard and made it to the top and then it was a race to the finish. Once we hit the finish line street I tryed to pick up my pace a little. I didn't want any other people passing me...and I actually passed some people. Right before the finished line I heard "Go, Mrs. Walker!". It was a student from last years class cheering me on! It was so sweet. What a nice way to cross the finish line!
I finished the race without stopping and I didn't come in last place!
My official time was 40:41 (again, a personal best). That's a little over a 10 minute mile and I had previously only been running an 11 minute mile. I finished in 578th place out of 735 runners. So I beat over 150 people! Not bad for my first time!
I am feeling very accomplished and proud of myself. I am actually looking forward to running another race...I just have to decide if that will be a 5K or a 1/2 marathon.
Hmmm....how hard do I actually want to work in the next 9 weeks?? Stay tuned....
This was my very first road race and the 3rd time I have ever run outside. I was pretty nervous leading up to the whole thing. The night before I was dreaming about running....and eating (while I was running). Weird. We got to the gym early, checked in and got our official t-shirts (the real reason I ran the race). Then we waited. When it was race time everyone went out and lined up. It was exciting.
People were passing me from the get go. It was a little intimidating but I just focused on running my own race. Dave and my friend Mary ran with me. We finished the first mile in just under 10 minutes. That is a personal best for me. We continued to run.
At about mile 2.25 we had some fans cheering us on. My baby-sitter and her son were standing on the corner and then a couple blocks up my mom and the boys were waiting for us. It was so nice to see them all supporting me!
The last mile of the race had a hill. Not huge, but still it was a hill. I worked hard and made it to the top and then it was a race to the finish. Once we hit the finish line street I tryed to pick up my pace a little. I didn't want any other people passing me...and I actually passed some people. Right before the finished line I heard "Go, Mrs. Walker!". It was a student from last years class cheering me on! It was so sweet. What a nice way to cross the finish line!
I finished the race without stopping and I didn't come in last place!
My official time was 40:41 (again, a personal best). That's a little over a 10 minute mile and I had previously only been running an 11 minute mile. I finished in 578th place out of 735 runners. So I beat over 150 people! Not bad for my first time!
I am feeling very accomplished and proud of myself. I am actually looking forward to running another race...I just have to decide if that will be a 5K or a 1/2 marathon.
Hmmm....how hard do I actually want to work in the next 9 weeks?? Stay tuned....
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| My running partner & hubby. He stayed with me the whole time! |
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| Friends & co-workers Mary and Jim. I finished the race with Mary! |
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