The Brown Goddess Can Run!

 So today was THE day!   May 4 (yes, its really May and it really looks like this outside...)   The Firefighters fun run / walk!   Wooo Hooo!    I had signed up months ago to do this, and signed up for the 9.11 km run.   Today was the day.  And I did it! And I wasn't dreading it (too much).  I have never enjoyed running, and today...I was going to prove to myself that the Brown Goddess CAN run.....

Some pre-run pics.....

Everyone say.....Its FREEEZING!!!!!!!!!!

Okay...everyone ready???   Ooooh look!  A firefighter....
lets show him our best side....

Half way with the Handsome Hunk

 Then it was ON.   The sound of the siren...and all the 9.11'ers were off!  Had to focus on my breathing, and just go at my own pace.    Crap...where is that half way mark?  *Fast forward 38 minutes* Ahhhhh...here he is.......I could not resist taking a picture!   I downed my water, and said "You are too cute and gorgeous to not take a picture of...can we take pic together?"  He must have thought I was nuts...but not in a dangerous way, so gracefully agreed and told me I was the first one who asked him that....seriously?   I am almost dead last and nobody asked him?   Their loss.......

One more, and I guess I better get back....
38 minutes and counting

Okay.....I've made it this far.....I can do it.   Of course I can......and what is with this snow???    All I could think about was getting back, and seeing my family and my bootcamp friends......6 km.....7 km, 8.....9....can't stop now!!!  Keep running Sherene!  Then, I see the bridge, and see the start/finish line....I hear them cheering!    

I think the best moment for me was when I saw my Body N' Sole buddies....  They saw me, and ran towards me cheering...Dammit!  Don't make me cry (too late!).   And they ran across the finish line with me! Then I saw my hubby, kids and puppy....and it was absolutely amazing!   My running time was 1 hr and 17 minutes (and 47 seconds), and I ran just about 85 - 90 % of the way, stopping for water breaks, the half-way-hunk-break and a few walking breaks....but....I did it!   The Brown Goddess Ran 9.11 km!   

Me...running across the finish line......Wooo Hooo!

Check us OUT!!!!!

Thank you to my husband and kids for being there for me today and everyday...and thank you Laurie (and Cheryl!) for just about the last 2 years of bootcamp....I never would have been able to do this with you!   And of course, just in case you are wondering, as I crossed the finish line, I was carried by two firefighters.....picture to follow!  

Yeah Baby!!!!  

http://bodynsole.ca/

Its all in your head.....running that is....

So, I am sure everyone is waiting to hear how my training is going for the Firefighter's Fun Run / Walk....

Here is a quick update.

I have been out running three times since my Fire! Fire! post.

Run # 1:  I ran just over 3 km, and ran most of it, but walked for a minute after the first 7 minutes of running, and then another minute of walking after that horrid hill on the way back

Run # 2:  I ran about 4.4 km and I will have you know that I RAN the first 2.2 km WITHOUT stopping!  And then ran most of the way back, just had to walk after that horrid hill (hate the horrid hill!).

Run # 3:  This was today.  I ran.....wait for it......6....SIX!!!!!  S-I-X!!!!!!!  6 kilometres today...and with my dog (though she ran ahead with my bootcamp buddy for a bit).  I ran the entire first half without stopping!  And then, of course, walked for my minute, and walked for another minute after the horrid hill!

No pictures today...shoulda thought of that!  But...had to share as I was so proud that I did this!!!!

And it is totally true what people say...it is a complete head game for the first 10 minutes.  I honestly feel like crying in those first 10 minutes and want to give up..then....something happens....and I just keep going.

Look out Fire-dudes....I'm gonna be so ready for May 4!!!!!  Wooo-Hoooo!!!!!!!!!

Fire! Fire!

OK...now that I have your attention!    So really, who doesn't love Firefighters?  Honestly...they're in good shape, they save people and they look great in a calendar.  Really really really goooood.

Well, because of this, I have gone and done something that I may regret.  I signed up for the Firefighter Fun Run/Walk. What is fun about a run, you ask?  Well, nothing really.  Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I am not a runner.  In fact, I have diagnosed myself with exercise-induced asthma and am certain my lungs are smaller than average (I have no proof of this except for the fact that I feel like I am going to die every time I run).

My friend and bootcamp buddy sent out an email about this fun run and initially I was not even going to entertain the thought, but I clicked the link and read a bit about the run.  There are two distances... 3.43 km and 9.11 km.  The 3.43 is for the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, and the 9.11 is for 911 emergency response.  So that's cool, right?  But then reading on....apparently there is a bonus....as you cross the finish line you are welcomed by uniformed firefighters who present us with our finishers Challenge coin!   Uniformed. Firefighters.  

So, yes, I signed up.  And I signed up for the 9.11 km (am I cray-cray???).  Already I am panicking about what I am going to look like, huffing and puffing past the finish line with my hair all in disarray (uh-oh...didn't think that part through, did I?).  Maybe right before the finish line, I can quickly apply my lipstick (I'll find a place for it), and fix my hair?

Either way, I will cross that finish line (maybe in need of CPR?) and I will be able to say that I ran (?) 9.11 km.  So who else wants to do this with me???  

http://events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=10089

www.bodynsole.ca

Body N' Sole!

Strengthen that core, tummies up and bums down!
Come on...you can do it! 

I think something is wrong.

I am actually enjoying my bootcamp at 6 a.m. in the morning.  Or almost enjoying it.  Or...not dreading it.  One of those, but at the very least, I am not dreading it.  I joined my friend's boot camp again (her link is below...its Body N' Sole! Check it out!) right before Christmas, and crazy me...I was one of her "repeat offenders" and joined again for the January session (and I will probably join up again for March!  What IS wrong with me????).

When I first started (or started over again) in October, I could not even do 1 full push-up...I had to go from my knees...which is not bad, but the fact that I could not do a single push-up bothered me.  At the beginning I actually felt that I would never get there.   So it shocked the hell out of me when I realized that I actually could do it.  

At the start and end of each session, there is a fitness test where you do three things:  Sprint back and forth, do some step-ups onto a box and do push-ups.  Each thing is timed, and then you do the exact same thing at the end of the 8 week session to see if you improved.   Here are my results from last session, and while it's not an Olympic record, for me, the improvement shows me that I CAN do it.

Sprinting back and forth, 20 feet, timed for 2 minutes:  

• First Session:  9 1/2 times   
• Final Session:  12 1/2 times.  This number didn't change drastically for me, but the number improved slight.  Keep in mind I am averse to running.  So good for me for improving!

Step-ups onto a box, timed for 1 minute per leg.  

• First Session Right Leg: 30, Final Session Right Leg: 29  
• First session Left Leg: 21, Final Session Left Leg 28.  So my right leg was a bit less, but my weaker leg....I went from 21 step ups to 28!   Not bad for an old coot like me!

Push-ups, timed for 1 minute, and we are to keep track of how many full push ups, and knee push ups

• First Session:  23 Knee Push Ups.  
• Final Session:  15 Full push ups, 19 Knee Push ups!!!!   This was the biggest improvement for me, and the most meaningful.  At the beginning of the fall session, I had to start from my knees, and by the end, I could actually do a reasonable "bums-tucked-in" full push up (15 of them)!    

So what do I love about my bootcamp (or what do I tolerate)

• My exercise is done by 7 am 
• Super Fun! (hmmmmmmm........my goodness...what is happening to me?)  
• It's only 2 times per week...which is enough for me...anything else that I do is bonus (like dog walking!)
• Every week is different...we work hard, and it IS hard, but she always makes sure the workouts are unique and different.  
• My friend, the bootcamp-babe is so energetic, it is inspiring, and she gives me motivation to keep going!

So far, this is longest and most consistent form of exercise I have ever done.   Thanks Body N' Sole!   You have made me not dread exercise!  I may even be enjoying it (or enjoying the benefits of it, anyway!)  See you Monday morning!  I may even be on time!

http://bodynsole.ca/

Post Thanksgiving Weight

Question:  Why would I weigh in the day after eating turkey and stuffing and pie all weekend?

Answer: Because sometimes I think that maybe...just maybe this time I did not gain weight.  Yeah, right!

Oh well, so I was up 3 pounds after our double turkey feast, but I did my duty, and weighed myself, if for no other reason than to keep on track instead of derailing completely!  I weighed myself again today, and the 3 pounds is miraculously gone.  Okay, it's no miracle, because I was good with my eating this week, instead of cramming double helpings of pie and stuffing in my face!


So what have I learned?

• My weight fluctuates.  Not new information, but it helps me to write it down

• When I overeat, I gain weight.  When I indulge in too much booze, I gain weight.   (duh...kind of a no brain-er, but again, helps to write it out!).  

• Weight fluctuates due to many things, not just overeating.  Fluid shifts, time of the month, amount of salt you eat,  amount of carbs you eat.  Total calories you eat, the exercise you do (or don't do!), etc... 

• Did you know that 1 gram of carbohydrate holds 3 grams of water?   That means if you ate 400 grams of carbs,  you would be holding  an extra 1200 grams (that's 1.2 kg!!!) of water!   EEK!   And no, I don't agree with a Paleo-no-carb-diet, but really, this just puts it in perspective.  Does my body need carbs?  Yes!  Does it need 400 grams of carbs? NO!  Everybody need carbs.  We just need to choose the good carbs, and choose not-to-much-carbs.  There's my sermon on carbs!

So....the moral of this week's weight loss tale?  Don't be so hard on yourself, enjoy the special occasions, but maybe not the double-double of pie and ice cream.   

How many weeks til Christmas season starts?   Time to get moving!

Boot Camp, Baby!

It sounds so simple....

...yet its just do darned hard to do!

So I finally did it.

I added exercise to my routine (today).   A friend of mine is a Certified Fitness Trainer and had a great summer deal to stay in shape (in my case...to GET in shape).  I "ebb and flow" with my exercise.  There are times when I am very regimented and work out regularly with my yoga, and my zumba (the mighty flow) and then it just stops because I don't make the effort to make the time (alas, the ebb).

That's really problem though, isn't it?  To make the time for ourselves to BE healthy and to feel and look great, and ultimately defy the aging process!   I think about my day today and it was busy even though I was not at work.  I unpacked from our weekend camping trip, did some camping laundry, cleaned some bathrooms, took kids to their annual eye doctor appointment, drove to pick up my daughters friend (who is lovely!), prepped dinner......and I decided that my "me-time" today would be boot camp.  I don't like exercise, I am not good at it, but I can say that right now, I feel great!  And we even did burpies and I survived!

The result?  I am proud of myself for joining the summer boot camp, I took an hour of "me-time" today, and am happy that my exercise routine is no longer in the ebb phase, but in the flow...now if I could just keep it there!