Zero to hero

It's amazing how fast one can go from zero to hero.  Monday I ran with Tara and Katie and I sucked.....wind.  I was an utter failure.  Tuesday, Tara and I ran a shorter distance and it was OK.  Today I ran with Tara again and, BAM, went farther than I intended and wasn't scaring small children with my heavy breathing.  It's great to feel confident before my long run this weekend.  Thanks, Tara!!

On to total randomness.  For supper Tuesday night I ate a handful of fries, 2 bites of a cheeseburger, 3 bites of a grilled cheese and a bowl of cereal.  Tonight I ate 2 scrambled eggs, toast, 3 hershey kisses, and am now munching on dry fruit loops.   

Have I mentioned I have a student teacher this semester for 2 of my classes?  I should be loving it....  sitting around watching someone else do the work.  It's torture. She's doing a good job, but I'm so worried about scores and content and if she's better than me what they might be missing.  She is probably super tired of me looking over her shoulder all the time, so today I subbed for another teacher and got out of the room.  Not going to lie, though, I did stand outside the door and lurk out of sight several times.  Aside from the teaching aspect...I really miss those students:(  And, I might have a slight major control issue.

One last thing....Often during a run or workout, I feel as if I might die.  I've found a very simple solution to forging on.  SMILE.  Do you know how hard it is to feel miserable when you are smiling?  I'm sure I look like a complete idiot, but I'm fine with that.  Try it and let me know how it works for you.

How dare he??

Tonight I invited the girls to run with me after school.  We took off like a streak of lightening a bit faster than normal (for me) and I even attempted to join in the conversation.  Yep, that's right, I was feeling like a rock star....until mile 1.5 where the cramping started and that evil lil bitch witch in my head started messing with me.  I put on the brakes and nearly abandoned the girls and headed back for an easy 3, BUT I kept going...cramps and all.  Reminder to self: DO NOT eat a marathon bar and drink 24 ounces of energy drink an hour before running.  Lesson learned.

Needless to say, at the end of the run I wasn't really feeling that high I normally get.  Katie even told me I looked sad:(  My husband comes home and I'm soaking in a HOT tub as I always get the chills after a run because I sweat like a pig.  Really.  Of course, he asks why I'm in the tub at 5:30 and I snap that I SUCK  at running.  He wisely walks away.

It pisses me off that my husband,  a FORMER runner (as in high school) can still to this day run like it's second nature...beer belly and all.  He can hike sandhills while hunting and never breathe hard.  I used to think his friends were lying (because they drink twice the Budweiser he does).  I even bragged before deer hunting this year that I'd have no problem keeping up with him when in reality he was standing at the top of the FIRST hill smiling down at the rest of us trudging up behind him.  

Being the bigger person, I put my pride away and ask him, seriously, how I can build up some wind.  My body has no problem with running, it's my lungs.  I told him I feel like a smoker.  He responds, quite seriously, "Well, dear, you ARE a drinker.  Perhaps it's the beer?"  How dare he??  A serious runner NEEDS those (low) carbs!

Do any of you have a more practical approach (other than giving up Ultra, or wine) to solving my breathing issues???  

 

Grrrrr.......

With my new addiction fascination, Pinterest, I've felt inspired to try some new recipes.  My family, however, is not on board.  This morning I made biscuit cinnamon rolls.  

I thought they were amazing.  Shane said they were good.  Grady ate half.  Payton had a bite and declared her dislike and settled for a bag of dry fruit loops.

A couple weeks ago I made a spaghetti casserole to which my family asked, "What's wrong with regular spaghetti??"  Tonight I branched out again and made a casserole from a friend featuring hamburger, potatoes, green beans and a cheese sauce.  What kids don't love anything smothered in cheese?  Mine!  I liked it.  Shane liked it.  Both kids opted for cold cereal.  In my frustration, I had a minor bitch fit meltdown and declared that I was done cooking and they could all eat cold cereal and PB&J every damn night.  Apparently, I'm the only one in this house tired of eating the same 'ol stuff week after week. 

Can anyone help me??  How do you get your family...especially your kids....to try new foods????

Looking the part

I’ve decided that all my “hobbies” lead to a very expensive wardrobe.  Call me vain, but I think that whatever activity I’m involved in is so much more fun when I look the part.

Example A

Hunting.  This year was my first year hunting deer so I invested in some 'She' camo.  I even paid extra shipping to get it here in time for opening weekend.  Turns out it was a great investment as I wore it again a couple weekends ago in my first coyote calling contest.  I mean, really, I have jeans I've only worn once.  I firmly believe that camo made me a more confident hunter:)

 Example B

Sledding.  At my husbands urging, I finally agreed to accompany him on a snowmobiling trip last winter.  I bought some cheap ass snow pants, wore his old helmet that was 2 sizes too small, borrowed gloves from my sister and rummaged whatever else I needed from Shane's closet.  My cheap snow pants left me with a wet ass and the helmet was painfully uncomfortable.....thus distracting me from having as much fun as I otherwise would have.  Since I really did enjoy the trip, I've now invested in a new coat, snow pants,  gloves, socks, helmet, goggles, and even a snowmobile.  I know.  I have problems.

  Example C

Rodeo.  Although a lifelong hobby, it still requires new boots for me, new boots for my horse, new ropes, and other various gear updates.

 

 Example D

Running and other sports.  Yes, it is probably silly that my 5 mile max should propel me to buy running tights, socks, shirts, headbands, shoes, etc, etc, etc.  Oh, can't forget my beloved Garmin.  But, c'mon, it's for my health.  We can't put a price tag on that and besides, I did wear my camo jacket to run my first 5k (in the snow).

In retrospect, I should be adding up how much money I'd be saving if I (we) didn't have so many "hobbies".  BUT, I'm not.  Know why?  We are having fun.....as a couple and as a family.  I've spent more time with my husband in the past year than since before the kids.  We take our kids with us hunting and to rodeos.  We are planning a family snowmobile trip.  My daughter was SO excited to "get" to run the mile in PE.  Maybe the old saying of  "the family that plays together stays together" is true.  (That is a saying, right?)  Anyhow, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Sledding Fun

This weekend we went on our first sledding trip to WY.  We were a little worried we wouldn't be able to find snow....especially from the looks of the highway parking lot.

View from the parking lot

Thanks to the veteran sledders we tagged along with,  we found ample snow to get stuck repeatedly for great adventures.  

First minor wreck

Tara and I were very fortunate that our "guides" had the patience of saints as this trip was quite different from those we went on last year.  We had to really ride, not just coast along.  We both have new to us sleds and it took us about half a day (and many near disasters involving trees) to find our groove.

 I'm proud to say I only got stuck once the second day after attempting a stupid daring climb with jumps and Tara narrowly avoided death by her husband after crashing his sled by tree.

Tara and I

My shoulders and back are crazy sore so I've been super lazy today.  Sadly, I ate like a horse and drank like a fish so I really need to get in a workout today.   I'm off to do some yoga in an attempt to loosen my muscles up a bit.  I was in a running funk last week and really need to get back at it this week. 

Total Randomness

Prepare yourself for total randomness, folks.

Last week I increased my miles in an attempt to get a stronger base.  I'm not worrying about my pace right now because I really need to focus on my distance.  I'm feeling good with the running; HOWEVER, I thought one of the perks of all this running would be seeing the scale go down.  Not so much and I always seem to be starving...especially at night before bed.  I've never had this problem.   Someone please tell me this is normal?

In other news...I'd like to share the mantra of my yoga lady.  It goes something like, "I have a nice ass.  I have a nice ass."  Yes, she really says that on the DVD.   Well, she is a liar.  All I have is a sore ass.  Really.  I felt every step of my run today.   I don't know if it was the yoga last night or the coyote hunting on Saturday but moving my legs was a challenge today.

Speaking of butts...check out this Nike butt ad.

On the work front:  I love being a teacher, but you know what I don't love?  Concession stands.  Sponsoring the concession stand is close to torture.  Apparently I was in denial and totally missed that I'm on concessions for this Friday.  Yes, it's Tuesday and I had nothing planned.  No worries.  I've got people.  It's a good thing because I'm supposed to be on my way to the mountain with some peeps for a great sledding adventure.  Momma got a new sled and is scared anxious to try it out:

 

UPDATE:  My most awesome mailman left a small pistol for me to try out today.  It is bad a**.  I'm going to stalk some police message boards now looking for the perfect something to carry it in while running.  

 

To Share or not to Share??

I'll admit.  I used to think that "those" people that shared their every run or workout via Facebook, Twitter, etc. were extremely annoying.  Like I'd look at their update and tell them through the computer "who the f*** cares?" 

Today I ROCKED my first 5 mile run....and I "shared" it via social networking.  I know some of you probably rolled your eyes and contemplated blocking my updates or even defriending me out of utter annoyance.  I know...I used to occasionally have those thoughts myself.

Well, now I get it.  Although I've always been very active and consider myself "fit", I seriously couldn't run a mile without collapsing, and I'd laugh and make sarcastic jokes about running in general.  TODAY I RAN 5 FREAKIN MILES!!   This is huge, people.  It's newsworthy in my world, especially considering the fact that I turned down free beer last night so I wouldn't feel crappy during the run today.  It's like I don't even know myself:)

I really am not bragging about my milestones nor am I obsessed, but am I proud?  You're damn right!!  TODAY I RAN 5 FREAKIN MILES!!   

You can expect me to continue "sharing" an occasional milestone workout.  Trust me....if I can EVER arrange my body like the instructor on my Yoga DVD, I'll be giving the same fist pump I gave after my first mile. So, please be patient and bare with me until the newness of my latest journey wears off. 

Sound off:  Do you "share" your workouts or do you find it extremely annoying??  

Pistol Packin Mother Runner?

My husband and I seem to be in disagreement (big shocker) about me running on the highway....some nonsense about my safety and such.  I assured him my lightening speed would get me by???  Really,  if I want to go farther than .8 miles, I have to (a) run on the highway or (b) run through a pasture that will soon be filled with protective momma cows and big ass Sandhills that I'd rather avoid. 

I proposed that the only logical solution is for him to buy me a very small pistol to carry while I run...thus the title of pistol packin mother runner.  Catchy, huh?

Today my husband was a VERY brave man.  Even my Dad said so.  He entered a coyote calling contest with me as his partner.  To some, the coyote may appear cute and loveable.  To a rancher, they are the pain in the ass that eats baby calves, sometimes before they are even fully born.  Therefore, we shoot them.  Take that, PETA. 

 Anyways, only a brave man would spend the entire day with his armed and dangerous wife.   We both came out unscathed.  We even won 2nd place and I rarely never felt the urge to shoot him.  Yay, us!! And I got to wear my rockin She camo for the 2nd time. 

Even after his our huge success (yes, I did shoot one today.....at about 40 yards out:), he was reluctant to accept my pistol packin suggestion.   Naturally, I decided to take matters into my own hands.  To get our winnings tonight, I was stuck in a room full of gun crazed men for over 2 hours.  I innocently mentioned my strategy and within minutes I had tons of suggestions.  I'll soon be hitting Google up for final decision making help.   

Consider this a warning to all the crazies that drive on my rural highway!  I'm soon to be a pistol packin mother runner.  Wait, what the hell does a mother runner pack her pistol in?  I swore off fanny packs a looooonnngg time ago.  Help??!!!

Sneaky??

Sometimes I feel like such a sneak. 

Example A:  My Mom watched my kids while I worked Monday and I told her that I had tons to do and not to worry about bringing them back until 1/2 hour later than I knew I'd be done so I could sneak in a run. 

Example B:  The past 2 nights I've rushed home and put supper in the oven and then found something riveting for the kids to watch on TV so I could get in a workout.  Tuesday night was running and last night Yogalosophy.  Shane was gone so during this time I threatened to beat them (not really) if they interrupted me.  Yep, mom of the year there.

Example C:  Payton had BB after school and I let Grady run wild at the gym and snuck in a run before fetching them both.  Aunt Heather is the coach so I can kind of get away with it. He wasn't TOTALLY unsupervised.  I mean cousin Knight is like 7 now?  I'm sure he had complete control. 

Many moms would pry feel guilty about such sneaky actions, but me, not so much.  Yesterday, the highlight of my 8 yr. old daughter's day was her 10 minute something mile she ran in PE.  Would she honestly have been so excited had she not seen her mother give a (double) fist pump after completing her first nonstop mile on the treadmill?  I think not. 

What's your style?

My health and sanity aren't just for my sake.  My family health history is a prescription for disaster, and it's no big secret that I get very bitchy without my "me" time.  I'm thankful that my family (after much training) "gets" this. 

Do you ever sneak in some "me" time and then almost feel guilty about it?

Helloooooo 2012

Seems like the thing to do in bloggerville is talk about all my resolutions for 2012.  I don't really make resolutions (really, no one sets out to have a worse year than the one before) but I can definitely come up with a list to help with becoming a better me.  

• Clean out my inbox more.  It's ridiculous the number of emails I accumulate.  Pure laziness, I know.

• Don't hit snooze (so many times) in the morning.  If I get up even 10 minutes late, my house is pure chaos in the mornings.  I end up yelling at everyone to hurry up, threaten to leave them at least 5 times, make 5 trips back and forth to truck, etc.  

• Eat healthier...especially in regards to sugar, white flour and processed foods.  I seriously believe we are putting toxic waste into our bodies with all the processed foods now a days.  Another soap box for another time.

• Pack my gym bag the night before.  I hate forgetting my sports bra or the perfect socks.  I do NOT look hot in my gym shorts with the socks I wore to work.  

• Drink less beer wine soda.  I have no desire to give it up but I think one Diet Coke a day is better than two. 

• Take a lunch to work.  When I don't I run to the store and buy shit while spending a small fortune a month at the local grocery.  

• Be a better teacher.  I mean, really, I'm in charge of shaping young minds:)  I'm actually very serious about this.  I find tons of great ideas (many on teaching blogs) and I file them away (bookmark them) and never actually try them out.  I inherited a new reading class today that I'm so excited about and we are starting a "Reading around the World" project.  It's going to be super fun!!

• Shop less and save more.  I love clothes and I'm not lacking in them, but I often find myself staring at the closet saying, "I have nothing to wear."  Hey, some are emotional eaters...I'm an emotional shopper.  

• Hug my kids more.  Ask anyone.  I'm not really an affectionate person.  I cringe when others get in my "bubble".  Even my high school students joke about my bubble. 

• Try something new and adventurous (because we reeeeallly need some more hobbies, NOT).  Last year I added hunting and snowmobiling and love them both!! 

• De-clutter....from my house to my car to my classroom to my life.  Interpret as you wish.  

To be continued......Who knew my list would get so long?  Bring it 2012!!