Out for a morning walk

 John check out the fitbit! 

Week 6 Day 1

 I am on to week 6 of running! I have run at least 5 days a week, for the last 5 weeks. Now that I have gained some strength, I am ready to focus on my real issue, and that is food. I am living proof that you can run your butt off daily, and still have a bootie -- if you don't watch what you eat. It is time to turn my attention to TOTAL health . . . I am 33 now, time to get with it, I should say! 

Today's run was good. Foggy and cool, but fairly pleasant. Mom was out there with me, pushing the stroller with Henry. 

A little health tip: 

Did you know that 10 grams of sugar = 2 teaspoons of sugar?

 Look on the back of your cereal boxes, granola bars, juices, etc. The max sugar you should have in a day is 24 grams of sugar. (Equal to about 2 granola bars.) 

Good to remember . . . no wonder my butt is not shrinking, eh? I am guessing my daily sugar intake is around 75+ grams. 

Also, do you have a headache? Consider the amount of sugar you may have snarked that day. I hate label-checking more than anyone, but it is good to know what we are putting in our bodies! 

They'll be nice to us, if we be nice to them. :-) 

I love running past the swimming pool dreaming of warmth . . . 

 Forward! 

Groundhogs Day Run

Like Punxsutawney Phil, our February 2nd shadows predict an early Spring. Let it be so! 

My first run as a 33 year old was good. It was a beautiful day, sunny, and warmish. And best of all, Charles came with me! Trying to keep up with him was a challenge, and I couldn't keep up most of the time. But he did double-back to stay with me -- which of course makes me feel like a total wimp. But I still like having him along, because he is cute. :-) 

He liked it so much, he is going to run again today! Yea Charles! 

Wow, Johnny!

Frostbite 5K

Celebrate good times, come on!

Today was Mari's birthday.  So, as I started my 5K race today, I dedicated it to her.  Happy Birthday sister!  

The temperature in Willow was a pleasant 25°.  The only downfall was the deep snow on the trail.  4 inches of punchy snow.  Lots of twisting and turning.  I felt like a drunk driver (now don't get any ideas that I've ever experienced that.)  But, it was so challenging to stay on a straight path.  

As I saw the sunrise on the frozen lake we were running on, I was in awe of the beauty surrounding me.  The beautiful scenery made it all worth it.

Here I am at the start of the race.  Ray and the kids were my cheerleaders.  Stephen and McKinley loved burying their legs in the snow and playing on the playground while they waited for Mommy to come across the finish line.  They were also excited for the carnival events after the race. 

 Cotton candy was the sweet treat of the day. Hooray!

Nearing the finish.  Stephen ran out to greet me and encourage me to the end.  Thanks Stephen!

Victory!  Ahhhhhh....celebrate good times, come on!  :  )

I am happy to report that I earned a 3rd place ribbon in the women's division today.  Even though there were only 20 runners in the race, it felt great to receive an award after all of the struggle through the  snow.  We CAN do hard things.  We are stronger than we think we are.  Remember Henry Ford's words of wisdom:  "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't...you're right."

Beautiful Day

 It was above freezing and beautiful today. A little taste of Spring. Loved it. It was so nice to have the sun shining on my face. I ran free without the stroller today, it was pleasant. It was day 4 of week 5. 

And my last day running as a 32 year old. 

Goodbye 32 . . . HELLO 33! 

Going Home

 Running away from it all for a while sure makes you appreciate going home and being with your loved ones. 

Today, I went on a 6 mile run after Ray got home from work. It was a pleasant 35 degree day w no wind. I even took my gloves off after mile 2. As I ran down Wards St ( where my dear friend Crystal use to live), I noticed this new home was completed and available for purchase. So, I think the Nortons should consider moving back and live there. : )

One of the best parts about a run is coming home. When I arrived home, the kids were playing in the yard w Daddy. It made me so happy to see him outside enjoying the new snow w them. Today was a good running day.

Day 2 & 3 of Week 5

 I ran yesterday. That is all I have to say about that. :-) 

I ran today. Henry was excited about it . . .

 It was mostly pleasant, though the trails were sprinkled with black-ice. It made it really hard not to fall. I cannot wait until the Spring when it is warm, the trails are clear, and I can run without such great obstacles in my way. But I have done it. I have run the whole month of January -- the worst month for outdoor running. If I can run now, I can run always! I cannot wait to run my guts off. (Literally.) I cannot wait to swing my arms, and fling my legs forward -- with speed, instead of caution. It is coming, and I have built up stamina to make it happen. As soon as the conditions are right I will be able to really GO! 

 See that shiny puddle? That is not water, it is ice, the whole trail was like that . . . not good. 

My goal is to be whole by April 24th. "Whole" meaning: running free, feeling great, and looking better would be swell, too. April 24th will be one year since giving birth. If I can reclaim myself by then, I will consider myself a lucky-ducky. I can do it! And you get to watch me! 

Layer Up

 Yesterday's run called for the fashionable face mask. It was -6 w/ the wind chill. It was dark and almost dinner time. Ray cooked dinner while I pounded the pavement for a few miles. 

My headlamp shines a very bright light for which I am grateful. As I looked down the road in the dark night, I thought I saw a garbage can, but as I looked more closely, I remembered that garbage cans don't have 4 legs. 4 very long legs that is. Mr. Moose was standing right in the middle of the road, so I stopped slowly, turned around and ran the other direction. He was far enough away that I didn't startle him, but he startled me and helped me to pick up my pace and go home. 

In the pics you will see what it takes to get dressed for a cold, winter run. I had 5 layers on top last night and 2 on bottom. Sage was laying by the clothes hoping that she would be coming along on the run. : )

In the last pic, you will see my motivation for running today. That's what I thought of during my run in the falling snow today... Warm, gooey, homemade cinnamon rolls. Ahhhh......life is sweet! Run on!

Day 1 Week 5

I ran today. It was snowing, I was pushing Henry and William in the beast-master double-stroller with one arm, while talking to my sister, Kary, on my cell phone. I looked ridiculous. I was going slow, but my legs felt unusually good. After having Sunday as a day of rest to let them heal after those crazy stairs (they really did a number on my calves!) I felt much better.

Just keep going . . . and going . . . and going! That is all you can do sometimes!

Running in Circles

Some like it cold, some like it hot, some like to run or possibly not!

How low can you go?  :  )

This is the temperature I woke up to yesterday morning.  Brrrrrr!  

Stephen and I decided it was much better to come inside and warm up by the fire.  Ahhhhhhh....cozy.

So where did I go for my run to stay warm?  Off to the track.  Fortunately, the Sports Center is only about an 8 min. drive from our home.  My plan?  10 miles.  10 miles around a track?  I had done it once before and I was determined to do it again.  So, I began running in circles (literally.)  I tuned into the tunes, starting w/ Celtic Thunder's, "I would walk 500 miles."  I love the beat of that song.  Get's me going.  So, I decided to run the first 5 miles at a warm up pace.  Then, my next 3 would be fast.  I was going to break my PR for a 3 miler and......I did  (see watch below.)  My last 2 miles would be cool down and deep breathing.  It felt great!  We can do hard things.  We just have to believe and decide to decide.  As I was running, I thought of Mari running the stairs in her home for an hour.  She did it.  It was hard, but she was determined and focused.  She would not give up or give in to quitting. To quote Yoda: " There is no try, there is only do or do not."

Before I started the fast 3 miler, I said to myself:  "Just do it Kary, you've got this in you...do it!"

Love  this quote that is on the wall near the track area.  It is so true!  I thought I could.

This is how I train for marathons.  I train hard so marathon day seems easier.  

It is so mental.  90% mental.  Tell yourself you can and you will!  Just do it!

Day 5 Week 4

 Run today was in thick fog, and heavy snow. There was about an inch on the ground by the time I got home. It was super-slick, but I managed. Onward! 

My feet were soaked, but otherwise it felt good! 

Kids Indoor Workout

20 sets of stairs, 100 circles of running around the house, 100 jumping jacks, 100 crunches, etc. 

Nice and sweaty

We love to workout!

Shwoosh! Time to rest. 

And random cute picture of Henry 

Day4 Week 4

38 degrees, and clear pavement . . . I was in Heaven! Yea! My calves were SUPER sore from the previous day of stair climbing (a totally different movement than running -- Woo Baby!) But it was a great run . . . so much faster than running on ice! I was free, too, no stroller . . . so I really ran for it, and I felt alive. (It really is hard pushing the stroller . . . it holds me back.)  I am so excited for Spring running when I can really bust it out!

John the Stud-Muffin

 Grandma took some pictures of Johnny getting ready to play basketball. (This is Mari posting.) 

Look at those muscles! 

 Mindy was giving him some pointers before heading out the door . . . 

 Look at that cute boy . . . chiseled cheeks and everything. 

Not sure what is going on here? Interesting . . . 

Basically, John is a stud. He goes to the gym everyday, except Sunday. He has lost over 50 pounds, and he looks fantastic! Yeah John! 

SO PROUD OF YOU! KEEP IT UP!