Halloween 2009 was quite fun. We took the monkey's trick-or-treating at Tanger outlets and then out to eat. It was raining on Halloween so the festival was moved to Sunday. The kids went trunk or treating and on a hay ride. We had a great Halloween. Scott did not dress up :( .

Good morning MONDAY! Ran 5 miles this morning. Not feeling quite myself today. Hopefully the next run on Wed. will be longer.

More mileage

Was on my wish list. But now I am wishing for a Garmin. Had a wonderful morning run at 8am 52 degrees F . I ran 7.48 miles, mostly on dirt roads. The gravel was a bit tricky to run through. Greeted some cows, horses, dogs, and a cat on my run. Haven't ran outside to much...just getting started with it. The treadmill is great but outside is where it's at!

On Saturday Oct. 24, 2009 I ran the race for the cure 5k in Macon, Georgia. The weather was a bit chilly in the beginning but warmed up quite nicely by 9am. I felt like I was dragging the whole race...so many people passing by me. I had to keep focused on my goal of beating my first time of 36:20. They had a parade and all kinds of fun thing for kids to do. Scott stayed with the kids at the in-laws house while I ran. Found out my time today...after stewing over it the past 24+ hours....30:51! SWEET! I am very proud of myself for sticking with it. This makes me want to go farther next time. The next one is in November. Training is always going on....hills here I come!

Before we started the AIDS/HIV Walk/5k run in Atlanta. Betty, Sheli and I. The quilts were out on display for the loved ones who had passed on. We walked for charity on this sunny and chilly Sunday afternoon. Planning on walking again next year and starting collecting donations sooner than I did. Had a great time!

Passed 5 miles

I ran 5.68 miles today in an hour. Felt awfully slow today. "Go to your edge. It's just outside your comfortability, but inside your capability."

First attempt at 5+ miles

Raining again this morning....so off to the treadmill I went. All the reading I have been doing on training for a race tells me to run outside. It will be nice to get back out there. This morning I ran 5 miles at a pace of 10:49 (54:09). I was cheering myself for making it 5 miles under 55 minutes. It wasn't that long ago I was at a 15 minute mile and the first 5k I ran was 36:20. The time is coming down and the distance is going up the longer I train. I found a new website called thedailymile.com where we support and motivate each other to keep going and set goals. I was asked by Scott(husband) why I would want to run a 1/2 marathon or full marathon. My first response is because I need a goal to work up to and secondly it sounds like fun. Yes, I must have a whacked out idea of fun. Since I stopped teaching at the local gym I find a goal helps me get out of the house and do something for me everyday.

Get out and do something for yourself today! Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

My new favorite thing!

"I stand in awe of my body." Henry David Thoreau

"Every man is the builder of a temple called his body." ~Thoreau~
If we all thought about our bodies in this manner we would be healthier and happier.
I am happy each day to be able to get up out of bed and do the daily activities I take for granted all to often.
When wanting my body to perform certain tasks sometimes my body whispers 'slow down' or screams 'STOP' . Listening to your body and knowing what you are feeling is key. Getting in touch with your feelings....well not as easy as eating that quarter pounder with cheese your head is telling you will make it all better.
Stop and sit in the quiet...thinking only of your breathing. Some call this meditation...I call it sanity in an insane world. Try it for a few nights 5-10 minutes a night for a week and see how you feel. Your body is talking to you....but what is it saying?

If you can't read the fine print here is what it states. "Obesity finds it hardest to catch up with those who are running." I had to share. I ran 4 miles this morning and feel great. I have tried to add in swimming on Friday's after I run. The treadmill has been my best friend for the past few months....since it seems to be raining every morning here in Georgia. I run outside when the weather permits. I see some others as examples to me and then I know when I turn around I am an example for other also. It's a circle....be the example you want someone to be for you.

Learning to run Sept.

Lace up your running shoes and start training! I started training to run few weeks ago. Teaching fitness classes is a piece of cake compared to running (for me that is). I started by running for 3 minutes on and walking 2-4 minutes between. Finally worked up to 27 minutes continuous running. Every week I am trying to add a littler more mileage and time. Finally down to a 12 minute mile. WOOHOO! I decided to take the plunge and try a 5k coming up Sept. 12. Learning to love running is foreign to me. Aids walk/run is coming up in October...working towards a longer marathon. Wish me luck!

Remembering

Lizzie dressed up as a witch. She is one of my best friends. She turned 12 this month and she has cancer. One of the pads on her right paw has been removed and inspected. The cancer is 'very aggressive'...told to us by the vet. I can see that the spot that was removed is already back and larger than before. the dilemma is to remove the pad. In which case Lizzie might not wake from the anesthesia and she will probably never bee the same without the pad. Or leave it and it gets larger. The vet wants to do an x-ray and blood tests to see if it is inside her yet. She's not getting any younger and chemo is out because I won't put her tired body through it. I don't want to do anything at this point but let Lizzie live out her life happy and without pain. Will the removal of her pad cause pain? Absolutely. is it the best thing for her? I don't know.

Lizzie is my baby. She was my baby when I went through not being able to have biological children. She was a comfort to me when I was home alone at nights when Scott had to work. She has traveled all over with us and I do believe she thinks she is a cat (always licking her paws). I hope we can make the right decision for her life. She has made a great impact on my life and my family's life. I love her and am saddened to think of ever being without her.

Patiently Waiting

The experience I have had with yoga and whole foods being a part of my life have changed me. These experiences are the gift I am waiting for my spouse to receive. He has started paying more attention to what he is eating and continues to try new poses with our nightly yoga. I am impressed that he has kept this up for a few weeks. He tells me about the benefits he is feeling and experiencing....DUH! Telling someone about the benefits is just half of the journey. We are on this life journey together. The pauses and stops along the way are priceless. The hope I have for him is that he will live a LONG healthy life and be around a long time. Genetically in his family men do not live past 60. I want him to be the exception and if I keep nudging him down the holistic path with me and we will stay active together.

Newbie to running-me, I have also tried to start swimming. I am a horrible swimmer....but I am giving it a shot. Running on a treadmill is wonderful but as soon as I get outside and the air is the least bit cool...headaches and my ears ring like crazy. I'll have to find some ear coverings or something. The swimming....well I'll just say it's something I'm trying out.

Trying to go GREEN

Going full on green is not as simple as it has been made out to be.
I started small by drinking less bottled water and filling up the same container with filtered water from home. I also bought the cloth bags for grocery items and put them in the cars.
I find I need to put my purse into one of the bags to remember to bring them in with me.
My husband calls me a tree hugger and I read online a new line "granolier than thou".
He's just jealous (wink). Whole foods and Farmer's Markets have become a second home to me.
When I have to go to a grocery store it makes me cringe at the sight of all the processed foods.
Yes, my kids still eat some processed foods....but they are limited.
Asparagus and spinach are my new favorites. When I was growing up you couldn't get me to eat anything green (sorry mom). But I have changed my 'green' ways. Those of you who know me know I still will NOT eat broccoli...and I seriously doubt that will ever change.
Small changes can make a HUGE impact on your body and life. Add little green to your day!

Fall a time for Change

-CHANGE-
What have you always wanted to change? I always want to change something. Whether it be my hair color, attitude, dress size, position, or wall colors.
The most recent change started in June after reading 'Naturally Thin' by Bethenny Frankel.
That was when I realized the love and support I needed give myself to be healthy FOREVER!
For me it wasn't about losing weight. I wanted to keep what I had lost off and get healthy. this book changed so many aspects of my thinking. I have lost 13pounds since I read this book. I have become high maintenance when it comes to what I will and won't eat. Processed food is out....all natural WHOLE foods are in! The guilt monster has been quieted and my family has also started to embrace a new way of eating. Thank you Bethenny...the common sense is invaluable to me.

Once upon a Time...

His arms like vines wrap

round my waist.
His hands express all
time and space.
I gaze into my
true love's face.
And feel love time
cannot erase.
His eyes take me to
a lonely place.
To hide my sorrow
show my face.
I know not of a
safer place.
Than the eyes of my
true love's face.

~Heather Foskey