The Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plains-Welcome to OKlahoma!

Looked a little stormy today.

Today I decided to get out there and run. I looked up motivational quotes on Pinterest and got dressed. I headed out with my runkeeper going and the music on. It was windy!!! I'm not sure if there are any storm warnings, but by the end of my run the sky had a greenish tinge. If you are from Oklahoma , a greenish tinge is not a good thing. Like most Oklahomans, I'm not going to get too worried until I see a funnel cloud.

look at those clouds!

I took a different route than normal. I conquered my fear today. I went over the old 33 bridge. There is no shoulder, and people aren't really used to runners. So, I was worried that I would get hit by a car. I made it! I also had to run on Hwy 88 for a short time. It slowed me down a bit, because I had to run on a slope in the grass to avoid the cars.

I'm on top of the world!

All in all a good run even though it was REALLY windy! I should have gone farther, because I have lost a lot of my running ability. You don't use it, you lose it. I went too long without running. I'm looking forward to the next training program with Runner's World.

I promise I have two legs, but I was running.

2.53 miles in 32 min (with 5 min warm up)

Walkin' in the Sunshine

A few of these have happened to me.

Today, I walked through the sunshine. It was warm. I had every intention of running today, but once out there I lost all motivation. Billie Jo called me, and we can't ever have a short conversation. I just never felt it today. I am glad I got out there and at least got a walk. So yay for me and all that. Tomorrow will be better. I plan to get out there in the morning before it gets hot.

today it was a 18 minute mile, since it was walking only

Motivation for tomorrow.

Even Bad Runs Are Good

I love running in the country!

Monday I went out and took advantage of the older girls being home to watch the babies. I started the runkeeper and headed out. I actually listened to music this time (one ear only!). It was enjoyable, until I looked down at my runkeeper, and noticed that it wasn't working. UGH. It said I had already gone a mile, in 5 minutes. I wish. So I'm not positive how far I went or what my average min/mile was. I did go appx 36 min and I think my average min/mile was somewhere in the normal range. It did get difficult, and I forgot to go to the bathroom. Luckily this was a short little run. You would think country roads wouldn't be all that busy. Well here in Inola, they are always busy! And I just knew if I hung my butt out there, someone I know (I know lots of people) would see my white behind and tell everyone about it. Luckily though, I made it home without incident. Hoping tomorrow's run works out better. It did feel good to get out there, and my foot felt pretty good. I've started wearing my boot to bed again, because the foot has been hurting. Today is Zumba practice and Sabrina's Zumba class tonight, so no running today for me.

The roads will wait for me.

Track Running With My Bestie

Pretty sunset

My friend Sabrina and I were texting this evening, and she said her and the family were going to go running at the high school track. I haven't been seriously running very much at all lately. I need to get back to it as I feel as if I am losing everything I gained over all those weeks of training. Anyway, I invited myself along, and said that we would meet her there. Her son is 3 weeks younger than my son (even though he is the bigger one!). They like to play together. So I brought Amos, and Kylah and Ashleigh. I left Erika with her daddy at home.

We have had beautiful weather recently. Today was no exception. It was in the 70's with a really light breeze, perfect for getting back on the road. I'm going to have to try track running again. Very different from the treadmill and the road.

Logan (in the red shorts) and Amos (in the blue pants) running buddies.

Let me just tell you, Sabrina has loooooonnnnngggg legs, and therefore long strides. I have said it many times and unashamedly (is that a word? spell check didn't flag it, we will go with it) I am a shuffle runner. I have a very short stride and I go slow. It is good that I went with them though, it makes me push myself. All in all awesome little run. Could have done more, but was feeling kind of lazy. Enjoyed the company though. Nothing like running with your best friend, even when she's kicking your butt.

About average except for the under 8 min/mile average while running!

 

After walking home, I came in to see Erika fast asleep on Eric's legs. So sweet. She didn't even wake up when I moved her to her bed. Amos asked to go to bed, so we must have worn him out too! And now I'm headed that way as well! 

New Month, New Goals...Errrr Goal

My old diet

Today is the first day of the new month. May. I'm not overly worried about getting in a bathing suit this year. I guess this is my year of self acceptance. I'm more irritated at how unhealthy my diet is. I love the unhealthy foods. I crave cakes and cookies more than anything. I can even pass up chocolate if I can have a snack cake with milk. Burgers and fries. Ugh. I am starting my own new challenge for the month. I'm going to improve my diet!

I am going to limit my junk food.
I will NOT have dessert everyday. (yes we do this at my house)
I will eat a healthy lunch everyday.
I will eat oatmeal everyday for breakfast.
I will also eat 2 snacks a day. (Some sort of healthy snack)
I will drink a full glass of water before eating anything.
I will try to distract myself with an activity if hungry before scheduled time to eat, and will drink 2 glasses of water.

I am off to go make my grocery list for the next two weeks. I am not going to say that I won't have any junk food, I'm just going to severely limit it. Don't go crazy here, there is no way I could cut it out completely!

My new diet

Back into the Swing of Things

Yes, this big hay bale is in the middle of town.

It was a beautiful day Saturday. After weeding the garden, cleaning up the yard, and cleaning out the trees that were growing in my gutters, I decided it was a perfect day for a run. I haven't been running in a few weeks. I was suppose to run the OKC Half Marathon today. Members of my running group ran, and I'm a little bit jealous! That's ok, I will be training with them again, and this time I am going to do the Route 66 Half right here in Tulsa! All my friends did great, and I am loving seeing their pics.

Tractors are not uncommon either.

New running shoes!

 Since I knew I wouldn't  be running today, I decided to head out and try my new running shoes. I still need to get some new inserts, but made due with my old ones. I went for a run around the big town of Inola. We are the hay capital of the world, which is why it is not unusual to see hay bales around town. It wasn't overly hot, and I wanted to try to increase my speed since I wasn't going for distance.

Honeysuckle perfumed the air. Love the spring/summer!

I finished the 2.47 miles in 30minutes and 12 seconds. Average 12:12 per mile. Not too bad, but not great either. I am hoping this next week I can get in some more miles and maybe a little quicker.

Rocking it out, captured by Billie Jo (my Sis in law)

In Zumba news, I taught my first ever hour long Zumba class. I was subbing for Sabrina in Claremore. It was a blast. I messed up a few times, but I think all the ladies had a good time. I know I did, and if they got as sweaty as I did, they had a good work out too! I got new Zumba shoes too!!

New Zumba shoes too!

Riding the Roller Coaster

This is my life.

My last post was all positive. Today I am feeling more than inadequate in every way. My neighbor came over around 10:50 to get something out of the garage today (We are building rooms in the garage for the older girls). I was still in my pjs with no bra on,already eating lunch, and my house was completely trashed. I kept my arms crossed and tried to explain away how incredibly lazy and disgusting my house and I looked. I am not exaggerating the house. Amos found the basket of plastic eggs and had dumped them on the living room floor. There were toys all over.

At least the pictures on my walls aren't crooked. Right?

Erika has been screaming all morning, usually because she thinks she is mistreated in some way. She falls down, well somebody must have pushed her, I strap her into her carseat, shame on me. Every thing has caused a screaming meltdown today. Also, we are working on potty training, but Amos really isn't getting it. He does well if I tell him when to go, but doesn't tell me when he needs to go. I feel like I am being trained more than I am training him. So we tried regular undies this morning. First thing he does is poop in them. Ok, gross. I clean him up, and we talk about where we are suppose to go potty. He will tell you that you go in the big boy potty, not the undies. Seriously, 20 minutes later, he pees on the living room carpet. I have waved the white flag today. He now has on a diaper. I know logically that he won't be going to high school in diapers, but I have to say that the thought has crossed my mind that he will always be in diapers.

Interesting. There is one fish, two fish, a red fish and a blue fish.

 I'm not sure where this inadequate feeling comes from. Why do I compare myself to other people, sometimes people I don't even know? When you go to someone's house, usually you give them a heads up. So they have their house clean. I know this, but I still get so jealous sometimes that my house seems so cluttered all the time. I clean things off, and then the same day sometimes just hours later, they have piles of stuff on them. Amos is almost 3 and not even close to potty trained, my house is not ever going to be in the pages of Beautiful Homes, it seems as if the majority of my communication with the babies is of the yelling variety, and I have no fashion sense, AND I'm extremely unhappy that I haven't been running or to Zumba in 2 weeks!
Hmmmm........Maybe I have found the problem. Luckily it is an easy solution. Tomorrow I will be going to Zumba, and Saturday after I get my new shoes, I am going to go for a run.
You will all be pleased to know that I have finally gotten dressed and cleaned the house. I even did 2 loads of laundry! Now that the babies are both asleep and my chores are done, I am going to enjoy my peace and quiet and watch some kind of mind numbing tv until the older children get home......in 15  minutes.

I live near train tracks, this equates peace and quiet good enough for me. Where's the chocolate?