Absence makes the heart grown fonder...or something like that.

I haven't been running much, so I haven't been blogging. I apologize, however it's not like anyone was hanging on my every word waiting for the next blog post. I'll give a brief summation of my life over the last 8 months or so.

Running- Ehh...other than my GOTR coaching, haven't done much. I finally bought some new shoes a few weeks ago and am starting to get out and run at least once a week. I'd like to be able to do a 10 mile race in March, but we'll see.

Nursing- I'm still working part time as a school nurse, lately at one of the high schools. High schoolers are strange creatures. I got a full time job working in a nursing home back in June. It seems like the place is circling the drain, lots of drama and I'm looking for a new job. I love the residents I take care of, but if management isn't behind the staff at all? It's not really worth staying in a job where I'm worried I'll be thrown under the bus.

Dating- yes, DATING! So one of my goals every year since I got divorced was to go on a few dates. I've been on more than a few this year. I dated a guy for about two months early in the summer, that didn't work out well. I've now been dating someone for about five months and it just works. Honestly, from his dating profile online, I didn't think it would last that long. There's been miscommunications at times...but we always talk through it. I didn't think I'd ever be happy in a relationship again, but I am.

Kids- they're amazing. Daughter was chosen as the Golden Eagle award winner for her class for the first quarter of school (it's an award for those who are leaders, respectful, etc...). Son #1 has been involved with chorus and the archery club. Son #2 hasn't been involved in too much, he played soccer and isn't sure it's for him. He loves science and has decided he wants to be a scientist.

April: Week Three

Last week was rough, my stomach started bugging me halfway through the week.

Sunday, April 13- 2 miles near my house before church. It was rough. I'd stayed up late the night before and had a drink with some vodka. Not my brightest moment, but a run is a run.

Tuesday, April 14- 2 miles at SJJ. not too shabby, it was all I had time for.

Wednesday, April 15- 1.5 miles with GOTR. my stomach was really bothering me during this, but the pace wasn't too bad.

Friday, April 17- 2.25 miles near home.  I volunteered at my daughter's school in the morning, drove home, ran, showered and left to help my son's class. I went as far as I had time for. It was an awesome run, felt great!

total miles for the week- 7.75

total miles this month- 26.16

My daughter and I

There are many reasons I don't like this picture. However, there are more reasons why I love it.  I want to end on a positive note, so I'll start with the negative.

I don't like how I look.  I hated the the finish time.  I got frustrated with my daughter because of how much we had to walk.

On the flip side, I loved the time I got to spend with her. 53 solid minutes of just talking with my best girl. She finished her first 5k and her only real complaint was there was nowhere to nap during the race. I love that I am showing her how to live an active life. She (and my boys) knows that mom runs. I love the fact that she was so excited about her medal. I love how happy I look in the picture.


I think back on the relationship I had with my mom when I was younger and I want to do better.  I love my mom and we get along okay, but I want to be better about being there for my daughter and letting her know that I will always listen to her.  Spending this time with her during the 5k, I think was the start of that. We talked about everything from school, to the boys, her dad, her friends, etc... It really has been one of the highlights of her young life for me. I know we will always do this.

My mother does not exercise, she'll go for a walk every once in a blue moon. As a kid, I never saw her take that time for herself.  My mother was overweight, as am I now.  After I had kids, she always told me "well, I was only 125lbs after having 5 kids."  It was like she stabbed me with a knife, saying "HA! I had 2 more kids than you and I weighed less!"  Like it was some kind of contest.  It isn't a contest. I'm doing with my life what I need to so that I can be healthy and able to keep up with my kids. A lot of my body image issues have come from my mother and her own. I know better, so I'm doing better.

I'm sure a lot of that is rambling, but I want my kids (especially my daughter) to see how important it is to take care of yourself and how to view yourself properly. While I may be "fat", my daughter will never hear me say that about myself.

April: Week Two

Monday, April 7- 4 miles at SJJ! longest run since my last half marathon in October 2012. I played my music loud, sang along, and danced a little...it was awesome.

Wednesday, April 9- 1 mile with Girls on the Run. This was a rough run, not really sure why. I didn't fuel really well during the day, forgot to eat until late. Overall, though...a great run for the girls.

Thursday, April 10- 2.15 miles near my house. I rarely eat before running, but I woke up starving so had a bite of banana before I left. I started out thinking I'd do a fartlek run, but once I sped up I just kept going. Finished the first mile in 11:57, fastest mile in awhile.

Saturday, April 12- 3.1 at SJJ. Hot diggity dog, it was an awesome day for running. Gorgeous breeze. Mile 1- 12:50, Mile 2- 12:18, Mile 3- 13:24...total time 39:39. Only 5 1/2 more minutes to lose to get down to my 5k PR.


In the past few weeks I've become more conscious about what I'm eating and my activity. I've dropped almost 4 lbs since the beginning of March.  3 of those in the last week and a half. I do not think it is coincidence that once I increased my running and started core exercises the weight just started dropping. I'm pretty pleased with this and hope it continues. I have a wedding to look good at in October!

April: Week One

I will attempt to keep a better log, mostly for my purposes.

Sunday, March 30- 1.85 miles at SJJ. first time at this trail, it's pretty nice.
Monday, March 31- 1 mile walk with the kids
Tuesday, April 1- 2 mile hike at RR with the kids
Wednesday, April 2- walked 2 miles, ran 1 mile at CCP while the kids played on the playground
Thursday, April 3- ran 3.1 miles at SJJ, Garmin says fastest 5k (it's not, but fastest since November).

I'm sore, but not hurting. The good kind of sore. I think the knee sore is from the neverending rain and thunderstorms.

I started the April 30 Day Core Challenge on Tuesday. Phew, those leg lifts are a beast. I've never been good at those! Hopefully, by the end of the challenge they'll be a little "easier".

running update

So, I haven't been the most consistent of runners.

I ran the Midsummer Night Run 5k on August 10, 2013. My first race as a 30 year old. Woo! I finished in 46:44. Definitely not my best 5k time, but not shabby for my first 5k post injury. I did a lot of 1 and 2 mile runs after that...and a lot of bike rides. I wasn't injured, I just didn't "feel" like running.

Fast forward to November when the Sub 30 group on FB was having a virtual 5k. I participated, of course and got a kick ass shirt. I finished this 5k in 41:38. Definitely an improvement from the August time. Sadly, I followed that up with only one run in December.

I got the plague in December. The never ending upper respiratory infection that knocked.me.out.  I rarely get sick and I could barely get off the sofa Christmas week. Then came the January of many school days canceled. I was finally feeling well enough to run and couldn't because the kids were always home. If they were at school, I was working. It was miserable.

In February, I finally drug my ass out to run again. It was hard to start up again. I decided I was just going to run as far as I could, with no regard to time. I got in 6 runs in February...for a total of about 11 miles. Not a lot, but better than just sitting on my butt the whole month.

With Lent starting at the beginning of March, I had decided to cut all sweets from my diet and attempt to eat more fruits and vegetables. I actually do enjoy eating them, I just never make it a priority. On top of that, I was working on getting in 3 runs a week, any distance. I started to help coach a Girls on the Run team at the boys' school, sadly I am only able to run with them on Wednesdays. I finished up March doing a 5k with my daughter. We ran about half and walked the other half, finishing in 53ish minutes. This was by far my slowest 5k time ever, but the most enjoyable. She asked me why there wasn't a place to nap during the race. Love her.  I finished the month with about 22 miles. I doubled my miles from February. So I'm slowly getting there.

I consulted my friend, Mr. Neon about what I could reasonably expect to run in April after the past two months.  To try and become more consistent, he has suggested I attempt four runs each week, with 3 of those being 2 milers and the other a 4 miler. Then slowly upping one of the 2 milers to 3 miles each week until I'm running 3 milers/3x a week and the 4 miler.

So that's where I'm at. I'm considering registering for a 10k in the beginning of May. I haven't done a 10k race since the Bluegrass 10,000 in July 2012. I've done further distances, but not that one. Should be fun and my friend is the race director.

30th year update

So I listed some goals for my 30th year. Most of them are attainable. I've relisted them below

• finish my BSN (estimated- spring 2014)
• lose 50 lbs
• find a job
• be more involved in the kid's schools (PTO, SBDM)
• be more involved in church (vestry maybe this year. yikes)
• be more consistent in my eating habits and have them compliment my exercise habits instead of exercising so I can eat junk
• go on more dates
• teach my kids to play the piano

My update on these goals

• on track to finish my BSN in FIVE weeks. FIVE!
• still a work in progress
• job- check. it's not a perfect job, but it's a job. 
•  definitely more involved. on the family resource council and official box tops coordinator at the boy's school; PTO secretary at the girl child's school. 
• I have been more involved in church. I decided not to run for vestry, but have been asked to be the President for ECW (Episcopal Church Women). they think I'll bring in a younger demographic.
• I have been doing far better with my eating habits. fruits and vegetables are my friends.
• dates...um. yeah, about that.
• I started teaching the kids to play, but haven't been very consistent.

so that's that. need to post about my running soon.