It's Offical

Well, it is official, my flight is booked, and I am registered for the 100th annual Bay to Breakers! This should be quite the journey! I will receive my first metal for completing the race! I feel so special, because I am not good enough runner to actually win things :o)

I have decided that I wanted to take December off from running and enjoy the holidays, this means I can eat the cookies and the good stuff that comes with the holiday. But after January 1st I am back on the waggon. I think that I have a good mind set that I will not fall to behind and let myself go hog wild!

I mean Christmas only comes once a year and I love my Mom's Christmas cookies! So follower(s) you will not hear much from me this month but I will be back in January! have a great Holidays and a great New Year. See you all soon!

The Cold from HELL!

So, I blogged about this for a few months in August I came down with a nasty cold, I blame work, sick kids bring all kinds of germs! I am still battling the dam thing. every time I feel like I am making progress I am borough down with a case of the flem and gunk! I know this is not cute, but shooting snot rockets while running it distracting and slows me down. I have another apportionment with the Doctor on the 22nd and let's hope I can find out what is wrong with me. This is re-donk-lious!

Rain, Sleat and Snow

Well, some of my first winter runs have been a little tougher on me. Seems like my asthma is not getting any better. Guess it is time to visit the Doctor. The cold air tightens up my chest and makes it very hard to breath. I try to run tough the pain and light headiness, but but the time I am just about done I hit "the wall" unable to push though any longer and ready to crap out. How am I ever going to get through the winter?

32 Miles!

WOW!!!! I just rode 32 miles! Okay, so not just but yesterday! Brad and I decided that we would take on the Pikes Peak Trail this weekend. Honestly half way through I was wondering what I had getten myself into. We sttarted at Woodmen and traveled south wards. The weather was great I couldn't have asked for better weather. We turned around at 24/circle ?? Then headed back North, so I guess we didn't quite think that one through becasue we are now going up in elevation! WTF! The burning in my legs made it feel like they were on fire, once we hit Casa La Purdre I had to take a break and snack on a bar and rest for a few, Brad refilled his tires and we just watched the stream for a bit. Knowing that there was about 7 more miles to go, it felt like FOREVER! But I made it wobble legged and all!

With the pain still fresh in my mind I wonder how tuesday's run will be?

I have been SHIRTED!!

Well, after months of trying, I finally earned my shirt from Jack Quinn's! I am officially a member of the Jack Quinn's Running Club! What a great feeling! Now when I strut my strutter with my snazzy shirt on I feel like I did something. Only those who run ten runs will earn a shirt. the next stop is finishing 100 runs, we'll see how that goes, not sure I can make it to 100. That's almost two years of running, but guess only the best of the best get one of those.

Pawtober Fest

Well, Orion and I ran the Pawtober Fest in our best time 31 minutes! Orion was so motivated by the other dogs he wanted to go faster, so I went faster! It was so much fun to see the dogs dressed on costumes! I saw dogs in carts which made me think of Bella :o( I saw big dogs, little dogs, three legged dogs all types of dogs!

After we went to the fun stuff at Nosh! Orion "bobbed for hot dogs" at first he wasn't sure what to do but as soon as he realised that there was food he was all over it!

Good Bye Elliptical, time to trade up

I have finally sold my Elliptical machine! I am a little said to see it go but I know that I will get a treadmill. With winter coming and me being scared that I will slack off I figured it was time to trade up!

I need to be able to push my self harder and run further, so I am now in the market for a t'mill. What to get? There are so many options that I have no clue where to start. All I know is that I will set it up in the office and hook up the TV. Staring a blank wall will get rather boring, and I don't want it in the bedroom, where it can turn into the clothes rack.

This weekend I will start to look around and see what I can find and learn!

October Update

Well, let's see a few things have happened since my last blog. I feel great because I have motivated a few people to join the Jack Quinn's runs! They are an additional motivator for me to keep going. Also, good for them to do something for themselves, it is not easy getting up the courage to run a 5K but the gals are doing great and I am happy to see them partaking in the fun. They are motivated to get a shirt. After 10 runs you get "shirted" I am three runs away. I can't wait to get my shirt!



On October 9th Orion and I will be heading out for our first run together. We are running the K9 5K Pawtoberfest! Orion has been training with me he has run two Jack Quinn's runs with me, he only adds about 3 minutes to my average run time, which is okay we all have to start somewhere. We have been running on the weekends, this last weekend it was chili so we had a few good runs. I finally got to break out my long sleeved shirt which I love, and my ORANGE pants. I feel dressed for the cooler weather, I have been looking at new apparel for winter, although I am not sure what I will need. I know that JQ's is requiring a light now that we are heading into the winter. I will have to swing into REI and pick up one. I would like to get a hat that has built in lights but I also don't want to spend lots of money on it.



On another note, I have done a no-no :o( I have hurt my left knee again. This is the one thing I have feared the most in this journey. I had knee surgery a few years back to repair my meniscus. I bruised my tibia and femur and hurt my ACL. Granted I am am back better then I have ever been, but I just don't want to go through that again. Let alone the physical therapy!

I Have My First Follower!

I would like to take the oppertunity to thank my first follower! I started this blog to keep myself on track and stay motivated. Truth is knew that if I didn't do something to keep me motivated then, I would have weenied out! After watching Bridgette Jone's Diary on some TNT or what ever channel, I figured keeping track of progess would be a great idea.

I'm Still Runnin....

I am still running! I have not given up! I have done quite a bit lately. Just blogging about it has slipped my mind lately. I will give you a recap of what has happened lately.

Recap:
July I ran my first 5K race, did well, but need to shave a few minutes off to place better in my class.

I did the Incline for the first time. That was HARD! You climb 2 miles up and gave 2,000 ft in altitude. Talk about a real workout. I know that I should be incorporating a variety in my regiments but that was HARD! I will do it again once I get over the shock value :o)

I was sick the last two weeks in August and it put a damper on my running. My first three mile run, I ended up coughing up my lungs and getting all that "gunk" out! Thought I was about to die half way through and it was very discouraging.

I have done a little soul searching and thinking. I did say that I would do a race for my Mom and I wanted to have the time to do something big and meaningful. So, with that said here are the following goals I have set for myself to keep me on track:

1. October 9th I will run another 5K race, let's hope that I place better!
2. January I will run a 10K race, this is the Rescue Run 10k, I will be in the under thirthy-five bracket! Not looking forward to running with the "teeny boppers" http://www.pprrun.org/events/RescueRun/main.htm
3. I will run the 100th Bay to Breakers race May 15 2011, again I will in the under thirty-five age bracket! http://baytobreakers.com/

I have decided to run this race for my Mom . I would like to run this this for her and I hope that she will feel honored. I am looking for a cause to raise money for and a shirt to wear. I did ask if my Brother would like to do this with me and I hope that he will want to.

I have a little over nine months to prep. I set a "coach" with my Nike+ I am going with the 10k run, then I will switch to the half Marathon run, each will take about 12 weeks to get to my goal.

So, nine months to go! Finger's crossed that I make it!

So, what's next?

I have been asked that often now that I have finished my first run.

I have been thinking about it quite a bit. I know that I have been enjoying running and finishing something has been great! I took a look at http://www.runnersworld.com/ and did a search for runs in the area. There is one that I think would be a good cause. I am interested in the "Be Ovary Aware 5K run and 3K walk" as you can guess from the name of the run it is to bring awareness to Ovarian Cancer. The other is the "Thunderstorm 5K" this is a fundraiser for the department of Discovery Canon Campus. The funds are used for counseling programs in schools.

I am just not sure yet which one I want to do. I know that the school I work for is also holding a 5k that I will happily participate in, which is September 11th, lets hope I do better in that one! I should think about it a little and see what comes to me.

The results are in!

Saturday's 5K Run was great and it felt good to accomplish something. I am notorious to start something and not finish it.

The weather was cool but shortly after the race started it got warm quickly.

So, here are my stats for the Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine:

• Official time: 0:33:38
• I was 260 overall out of 348 runners
• I was 116 out of the 181 women
• I was 22nd out of 27 in my age class

Overall if feel good about my run. I did not reach my goal of finishing under 30 minutes, my I did get my personal best and that is good enough for me. I started very strong, but it was also down hill, I think I should have let the hill carry me down. Then I took a hard left on North Carefree and that was all uphill for about a mile, I was not ready for that, then back down, I need to practice hills so I can learn how to let the hill carry me down, but I was worried I would crap out and come in dead last. I need to let go and not over think things. This was a good first real run. What on to next?

Sea-Level ROCKS!!

One of the things I was really looking forward to when I got to San Jose this last week was being at sea-level. You see Colorado Springs is close to 7,000 feet and training in the thinner air is supposed to give you a great advantage when you get down to sea-level, where your body just "swims" in the extra oxygen and propels you to great athletic feats of wonder. IT must be so, because the U.S. Olympic Committee has a large training center in the Springs, and we all know how many Olympic medals U.S. athletes accumulate thanks in part to their high altitude training.

Now, granted, my expectations of finishing a mile in record speed was a little high. I had visions of me running all over the neighborhood that I grew up on and people would see me running and be in awe just like I am of those that pass me on the Tuesday night runs. I was hopping that I would run swiftly and smoothly and feel light as a feather.

Well, I did clock some of my best miles and that gave me a boost of confidence and it motivated me. I felt great about my runs, however, my vision were a little off. The cold air felt so good and it felt like my lungs were not as tight and was much easier to breath.

I just hope when I hit the Colorado pavement that I will not turn into a wheezing asthmatic. I think that I will hit the elliptical machine since this week bring 90+ degree weather, which makes it hard to run.

It's offical!

After running my fastest mile on Sunday and the endorphins ruining through my bloodstream I decided it was time to officially sign up for the Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine race which will be on Jul y 17th.

I decided that I would sign myself up for the run. I will pick up my packet on July 15th and I will find out where the race will be held. I plan to walk the course and see what it looks like. I am scared that there will be an uphill spot. In which I know that I am not ready to tackle that yet.

So, will the endorphins pumping I decided to sign up. I am register for the female under 35 age group. Me run against 25 year olds? I feel like they belong in their own running group, this intimidates me. My check in will be 6:30am and the race will kick off at 7:00am. With what I am currently running, I see my self finishing by 7:30am. Fingers crossed that I make my set goal.

The map will not be released until the 15th, so I have no clue what I will be running let's hope there are no hills. I know that the race will start out side the Sky Sox Stadium, and finish in front of third base. After the race, there will be a pancake breakfast prepared by Colorado Springs Firefighters! YUM!!

I have bragging rights!

I ran the Jack Quinn's 5K last Tuesday and I beat Brad! Can you believe that? Brad says we came in "on time" but I was clearly a few minutes before him! I officially have bragging rights! I finished with a time of 38 minutes. Now, I said that I would shoot to finish the Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine in under 30 minutes and I think I can do that. For one, I would not be running in 80-90 degree weather! So that will be a plus!

My stats (according to my Nike+):

• Time: 0:38:50
• Pace: 0:12:28
• Total K: 5.01
• Calories Burned: 251

Next Tuesday work is having a good-bye thing for me at 5:30. So, I am thinking I will leave straight from work and run then go to the Jack Quinn's thing. This really puts a damper in my training schedule Tuesday's are my big run days and I have already missed one big day. I can not let this be a habit.

As for the run, that stupid hill gets me every time! I think it's the devil and it is there to make me work! I guess everything can't be easy!

"I just felt like running so I went for a run..."

I have been asked when I decided to start running. I have also been asked why? I could Forest Gump it and just say:

"I felt like running..."

The truth is as a woman of my family we all have the tendency to be bottom heavy so I have always tried to keep an eye on my weight, and that I did. I watched it go up and down and up and down. At my heaviest I was 160lbs on a 5'2" frame, which was not good. Prior to getting married I got down to 120lbs in the course of one year. The weight returned faster then I anticipated. I quickly jumped back up to 14olb before I knew it, guess I went on a binge and ate all the stuff I couldn't have before the wedding :o) I gained weight so fast people started to think I was preggers! YIKES! I started to work on the weight again and got back down to 120 which took me about 9 months. Then it started to creep back up! It would have kept going up if Brad did not make the decision to go to Mexico this year.

With the impending date of heading to Mexico and having to wiggle myself into a two piece made my stomach twist. So, I decided that I would start to work on my weight again. I started to take part in a walking group at work. I would walk 1 1/2 miles at lunch and focus on what I am eating. Finding foods that I like are are good for me has been hard and I get off track often.

Wiggling in to that two piece still made me want to up chuck my last meal but I was a trooper and did it. I felt better after I bought a wrap to cover up. I mean have you "seen" the scenery in Mexico? I felt like the kid no one wanted on their soccer team and had to be the "second goalie"

So after I returned from Mexico, and realising that there would never be a day that I would look like I used to at the current rate, I decided that walking was not enough, so I decided to start running.

So to bring you to the current date and time, I have noticed physical changes in me I also noticed mental changes. For one I bought a scale which was a huge step. Brad once tried to bring on in to the house about two years ago and I tossed that before it even hit the bathroom floor. I never wanted to obsess about my weight ever again. The focus is to feel healthy and feel comfortable in my own skin. For me to step on that little white scale by choice and not for the annual doctor's visit is scary thought.

There are times that I ask myself what have a gotten myself into? and wonder if I am going to finish it. I would only be out $25 bucks but the shame I would face by not finishing something I started kicks my butt back on the wagon. There are times when I back off running and I think that I need the mental rest, but when I get back I feel great and what makes it better is I do a run better then the last time!

Sore Legs Go Away

I have been running although I forgot my Nike+ adapter to my iPod, work was very quite on Thursday. I have been listening to my body and trying to heal. My right quad is still very sore, nothing seems to be helping. My left shin split has healed but it brought on a left quad acke.

I look rather funny hobbling around, I am trying to tough it out though. Tomorrow is another Jack Quinn's Run. I am thinking of hitting the elliptical upstairs and see how my legs do. It happens to be 90+ outside and the idea of running is less then desirable.

I am seriously considering taking an epson salt bath, and those that know me know how I feel about submitting my self in a bath of salt. It may find its way into places it DOES NOT belong. So I will continue to stretch and rub out my ackes.

No Pain No Gain right?

I have 25 days to go and I am getting a little scared that I will not reach my goal. But I have four weeks to go! I guess a few days out is not so bad as long as I kick but in my training.

Still Running

Yes, I am still running just forgot to blog more. I will try to keep up on that.

Yesterday I ran the Jack Quinn's 5K race and did it in 40 minutes! I am happy with my time, I would like to do this in 30 minutes or less and I have five weeks to go. I think that is a realistic goal.

My new shoes were wonderful and I didn't have sore feet after the run which was nice. Although that stupid hills still kicked my "ars" and the thin air still gets me. I need to work on my breathing, I get to panting and it makes it harder to run.

I found that if I run through my leg cramps it does get easier, so that was nice to realise. I also ran much further this week. I did a good run walk method. I would like to try and limit more of my walking. I also forgot my gum so I ended up with cotton mouth ICK! I was at Walgreens today and looked for the gum with "energy" in it. Like it really helps but I figured I would give it a try.

Last Thursday I was proud of myself, I could have been a "Lard Butt" and sat on the couch after Brad and I went out to dinner, but I got myself outside and ran my fastest 1.45 mile! That was a great feeling.

Friday, we went out for our anniversary and I did not run, Saturday and Sunday brought rain, which made it less desirable to run. Monday I ran at lunch and felt back on track. Today is a rest day and I need it my right quad is killing me and very sore, I have been trying to massage it out, but nothing has helped, I hope that I did not do something bad to it. I don't want to be writing about and injury instead of my journey towards my first race. So, I will take it a little easier over the next few days.

Shoes say so much..

I love shoes! I feel that shoes say a lot about a person. Also, I love that no matter how much weight you gain or lose your shoes always stay the same size.

That being said, after work yesterday, I decided I would stop by the Colorado Running Company to look at a new pair of shoes to replace my Asics that are quite a few years old. I have heard at the store that they put you on a treadmill and watch you run, help you pick out a pair of shes that are best for your feet.

Since, I had left knee surgery a few years ago, I have been cautious about in re-injuring my knee again. I don't want to ever have to do that again. I tore my meniscus, bruised my ACL, and bruised my femur and tibia. All that done while running, maybe it had to do with my Ascis? Or me just being the klutz that I am.

I spent some time handling the shoes, and looking at the styles. I concentrated more on shoe's that had an integrated ship system for my Nike+, which happened to be either Nike or Adidas.

I got tested for something called "pronation" and "supination". Pronation is a turning outward of the foot or ankle, so that one has a tendecy to walk on the inner border of the foot. Supination is the opposite of pronation.

First they gal had me stand on this squishy jell pad that was connected to a computer. This showed my pressure points. I mostly stand on my right back heal. Which I expected, I had learned to stand on my right after surgery. It also showed that my right foot had a fallen arch, which I again contribute it to standing on the right. The gal asked me to walk for her to look at my arches. So, I strutted my stuff and she told me that when I walk my arches flatten out. Honestly, this I already knew, since I wear inserts in my shoes to help with my arches. What I was more interested is to know if I was running "normal".

I tried on three different types of shoes that were best suited for my feet. Two different pairs of Nike's and one of pair Adidas. I walked around with both shoes on, two different shoes on, both shoes on....and ran up and down the bock. I finally narrowed it down to two different Nikes. I hopped on the treadmill two different times. My running was recorded for each pair of shoes and compared side by side. My left foot is "normal" however my right foot, I tend to run slightly on the inside of my foot, which is known as, "over pronation". I still believe that it is due to my knee

My final decision:
Arn't they pretty?

Let's hope these bad boys carry me through my first 5K run! Pink is my favorite color not that it helped me make my decision, but it sure doesn't hurt. Under the left insert there is the chip integrated system. This will be nice, because I forget my chip pack often and hopefully this will help me keep track of my progress a little more.

Recap of Last Night's Run

Last night's run through downtown Colorado Springs was run under GREAT weather. We have had a heat wave, and before the run, the clouds rolled in and the temperature drooped. 900+ runners finished a 5k+ (the "+" is because it was 5.44K which is a little over 1/4 mile longer). For those that do not know a 5K is 3.1 miles.

The run was a variety of pavement, road, trail and two hills. The hills kicked my "ars" and I learned very quickly that it was time to get new running shoes. Since the ones that I have are 10+ years old, but they have carried my but through many runs.

Here are my stats (according to my Nike+)

• Time: 0:47:48
• Pace: 0:14:09
• Total Kil: 5.44
• Calories burned: 252

Not the best that I could do, but I am very happy with my results. I now have a base line established. I ran 1Kil. walked 3Kil. then ran the last1k+. I will try to aim for a walk run method next time, and hope to improve my time. I also have to remember that I need to stop my time when I am stuck at a stop light. Running through down town you tend to hit street lights.

Jeff Galloway's nutrition advise was great, I never once felt dehydrated, although a power bar one hour prior to the race was needed (http://www.jeffgalloway.com/nutrition/index.html . I skipped out on it in fear that I would end up with a gut acke. He suggests on Race day, you eat often in little portions, and stop four hours prior to the race, drink plenty of water and sports drinks 6-8oz every hour. I went with a G2 Gatoraide Lime flavor. I am not much of a juice drinker so it was tough for me to get that down. For lunch I made a Chicken Salad, with Almonds, grapes, cucumber, ranch dressing, celery, onion and pepper and a few wheat Special K crackers. So by the time I got out of work, with all that protein and the sports drink in me I was a little hyped up, or it could have been the endorphins rushing through me.

All in all, I feel it was a great run and I will look forward to the next one. Good thing today is a "rest" day, my muscles are sore, and I need to get new shoes.

Finished My First 5K!

I am happy to report that I have finished my first 5K!

Just a little shout out to Mother Nature:

Thank you for providing me with great weather for my first run!

I am going to hobble up the stair take a shower, hobble down the stairs, eat a bite to eat, drink some water, hobble back up the stairs,

you know then look steeper then I remember?

and then go to curl up in bed. I will blog tomorrow with my post-race thoughts.

Run or Walk?

Run....Walk....Run ...no Walk...no Run...which do I choose? After thinking about this, I really should set my goal to set a personal best verses Running or Walking. I am more scared that I will set my sights to high and ending up coming "First In Reverse"

I took some time to research a plan it does seem possible to get myself ready in 8 weeks for a 5K, but I am a little hesitant. I have a schedule mapped out and I am on week three which now will include four runs a week.

Here is my plan:

I will attend my first 5K hosted by Jack Quinn's Running Club Below is a map of where I will be running (hopefully)

Brad will attend to keep my butt moving and be my support person. I am a little nervous about it, but I can always take time and walk when I need to. I will report out my status tomorrow after my run. Let's hope I make it back if I don't pass out from utter exhaustion :o)

Decisions...

40 Days Until My First Race

Yesterday I did not run, but I did do am 8mile ride with Brad in the mountains, it was nice to change up the views.

Today I ran 1.43 miles and I felt good about this because the distance that I thought I was running was 1.0 miles. Thanks to the Nike+ I found out my run was longer, this makes me feel better about my progress. Today I ran/walked this in 18 minutes, which I am getting quicker each day.

I signed up for a "coach" on the Nike+ web site. According to this, my next run will be Tuesday and I am scheduled to run 3 miles. YIKES! Guess it will be a good time to join the Jack Quinn's running group. They have races on Tuesday's. Monday is an off day for me, I am not so sure I will take it off though. According to the "coach" in 12 weeks I will be ready for my first 5k run. 12 weeks? Well I guess everything takes time and patience.

So, I have 12 weeks? I guess that is a reasonable goal...but I was hopping for something a little sooner. I did take some time last night to look at a few races in the area. There are two that I am considering one is the "Run for Hope 5K" the other is the "Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine"

The "Run for Hope 5K" supports the circle of hope fund, which supports Memorial Health system cancer patients with living expenses while on treatment for there illness.

The "Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine" is a foundation the brings awareness to Proteus Syndrome, which can affect different systems of the body such as, increased organ, bone or body size; tumors of the vascular system and fat cells; extreme deformities; pulmonary embolisms; which call lead to death.

I have considered both runs, one which hits home for me and the other is a great cause for a local family in Colorado Springs. After thinking about both of these, I will attend the Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine. I want to save my emotional connection for cancer patients for a special race. Something I am ready for and have prepared for. I want to make it memorable.

The Alex Hoag race will be a great testing point to see how I can do. Not only will this be a great test. It sounds to be entertaining. I will finish at the Sky Sox Stadium! After the race there is a pancake breakfast which will be prepared by the COS Firefighters! This was voted by CO Running Magazine as the "Best 5K run in Colorado" in 2006.

So with that said, my race will be Saturday July 17th. I will register for the 25-29 age group. To run or to walk? I would like to sign up for the run, but I think the walk maybe better for me since I have not completed 5K running all the way. Perhaps I should wait until Tuesday after the Jack Quinn Run/Walk race. This will give me the base line to see if I can do this.

Thoughts: If I believe in myself and I believe that I can do this I know I can.

The only problem is staying focused. I need to stay focused! This also means I should take better care of my body. Shoes, payment and water are not the only factor that I should take into consideration. Being healthy is another major factor if you don't feel well then you will not preform well.

So, this looks like I have quite a few decisions to think about. Let's see what Tuesday brings.


Alex Hoag Run for Sunshine:
http://www.alexhoagrun.org/register.html

Jack Quinn Running Group:
http://www.jackquinnsrunners.com/index.php

Calibrating Nike+

After hours or trying to figure out how to calibrate the chip fro my Nike+ I think I may have figured it out.

Apparently, you have to sinc the chip with the iPod by walking a distance. Like I had mentioned in my earlier post, it was hot yesterday! I just had to use it so I took no expense and walk around the block. My word, it was flipping hot! I couldn't wait to get back inside my cool house.

I "tried" to sinc up my results to Nikeplus.com and got frustrated with the software, they sure don't make it user friendly!

After thinking, I need to pick a date in when I want to do the 5K. I think I will surf around the net and see if I can find a real race and register for it. Not that Jack Quinn's is not real, but it would be a great practice for a race.

Time for the Nike+

Today I decided that I would get up with Brad at 6:30am and hit the pavement early since today will be HOT 90+ and we have a concert to go to later. I decided that I would give Orion another shot to run with me. After 20 minutes of Orion displaying his excitement of dancing and wiggling like he's a fish out of water I was able to wrestled on the harness on.

After we get going, it seems that a good nights sleep was what Orion needed. He did very well only stopping once to do the do! I shed two minutes off my time buy running more then a speed walk. Yeah for me!

To track things a little better I decided that I would pick up a Nike+. This handy little gadget will track my progress a little better then the pedometer that comes with the iPod Nano. Thanks Trista for the suggestion!

After two different trip to two different stores, I finally got my hands on this hot new item. Now all I have to do is set it up calibrate it and start running. So the book says, but we'll see how easy this is.

Don't Take the Dog!

With the weather being a little cooler I decided that I would head out for a little jog. I went upstairs to get ready and while putting on my shoes. I look over and see Orion. He was looking at me like "Mommy, can I come too?" While lacing up I look over at these happy little brown eyes I thought to myself well, he is looking a little chunky and I guess he could use a jog. What's wrong in wanting to benefit your dog and yourself?

Why not I thought to myself, so, I grab his harness and a baggie and away we go. Or so I thought. How quickly MY jog turned into Orion's jog. He has the need to stop and mark everything we passed! This what his brain must have been thinking:

"Oh, look a tree, that's mine. Oh, look a rock, that's mine. Oh look weeds, that's mine. Oh look wait that's not mine, I must mark that too..."

I think you get the picture. Half way through I told myself, well maybe he's just not ready to take on this length? Mid way through my thoughts I feel a yank on my arm. I look back and Orion has decided that he was done. No matter how much coaxing I did he was not going to move. I walk over to pick him up and he decided that he hot a burst of energy and takes off. WTF! I thought he was out of steam! Guess he wanted to pull the old "SIKE" Mom out since she tricked me into going on a jog instead of a stroll.

As we round the last corner of our jog. I decide to pick up the pace. What was I thinking? I am not ready for this, my chest tightens and I start to feel light headed. Just a few more steps and I am there. I see the house in site, come on legs you can do this. I hit the driveway with since of relief and an enormous amount of pain in my chest. Guess I am more out of shape then I thought I was. How on earth will I ever make the journey to a little 5k?

I unharnessed Orion and he darts for the water bowl, and I hit the fridge and gulp down water like it is going out of style....OUCH brain freeze!

Time to go log this and then hit the showers, tomorrow is another day.