Dirty Girl

On my quest to regain even a shred of my old body BC (Before Children), I looked at my alternatives. I knew working out from home was not an option. We have an elliptical machine and an exercise bike which are better at collecting dust then trimming inches from my fanny. Sure they were bought with great promises to my husband that I really would use them if I just had them in our home, easily accessible. No sooner do I get my work out clothes on, shoes all laced up, and start the wheels a turning, I am checking the clock to see how long I have been at it. What seems like at least fifteen minutes is only three minutes in reality.

And unless you can sneak away and lock yourself in a soundproof room, you can not exercise with little kids around. It just doesn't work.

I hate committing to a gym membership. How can I justify that bill when I can't even get off the couch to use the two machines I have under my own roof.

Desperate measures were needed!

I have never been a "runner" by any means. In the past when people would ask me if I was a "runner" I would chuckle loudly and always give them the same answer.

I run for two reasons my friend:
There is a large, scary man chasing me down an very dark ally late at night or the horses got out.  

And when I look back at the last 10 years of my life I can honestly say I have only run when the horses have gotten out. -thankfully-

So how do you become a runner?

After talking to several people, I received some great tools to get me started.

1. Start with NEW shoes. Unfortunately, the last pair of running shoes I bought were in 1999. And I was still wearing them until I got new shoes!
2. Sign up for a race! There is no better motivation than knowing you just paid $65 to participate in a race. I paid for it; I am going to use it. But most importantly, I don't want to look like an idiot when the day arrives. Time to get running!
3. Start Running! 

I had no idea how I was going to keep my self motivated, disciplined and committed to my new exercise plan and $65 investment.

In walks Couch 2 5K Running Program! It was just what I needed. Three workouts a week, they told me what to do and for how long, it was a combination of running and walking each week that gradually increased in the amount of time you were running. I could do this; I think. The best part - They have an App for that!

I downloaded the C25K App on my fancy new iPhone - Of course I needed a new phone! How else was I going to get skinny again?? - strapped that puppy on my arm, kissed the kids, said good luck to my husband and out the door and down the driveway I went!

Two and a half months later was my race. I showed up in the middle of no where with about 4,000 other women. We ran and got dirty in my first ever 5K Mud Run to support Breast Cancer! Not only was I now a runner for my own health, but I chose a race that also supported a great cause!

I ran along side one of my good friends, Lisa. We were part of a team of 51 women and we called ourselves the GI Sloppy Janes. Many of the women participating were military wives, family members or friends. 

My mom came to cheer us on and document the day. My daughter was there as well. I really wanted her to see her mom cross that finish line and "run real fast" in her first race. I think it is great for our children to see their parents active and taking care of our selves. I want this for my children!

The race was challenging

We climbed over hay bales and 10 other rugged obstacles over the 3.1 mile course.

There was even a cargo net

But the day would not have been complete without a LOT of MUD

As Lisa and I finished trudging though our last mud pit of the day, 3.1 miles behind us in our very first mud run, and just 30 feet left to go before we crossed that finish line...

There was just one very special pair of big, brown eyes watching.

Without hesitation, I smiled at my daughter and motioned her to come join me and together we "ran real fast" across the finish line!

Procrastination

It is the number one killer of many well thought out plans.

On my personal road to self betterment and recapturing self expression, I have identified another task to master and that is self commitment. That means I can’t go this long again with out a post. I need to make a commitment to myself to continue to run, love my kids, and share my thoughts.

Here is to SELF

It’s All About…

I was an animal lover from day one. Horses crazy came when I was eight. The neighbor girl introduced me to the world of Breyer horses and the real ones seemed so magical.  I was fascinated, quickly obsessed and there was only one cure – I had to have one!

I grew up in a non-agricultural family to say the least. Sure we have great uncle so and so who has a pig farm back Iowa…

My families Ag roots ended there.

Dad was big on outdoors. Hunting. Fishing.

Mom was the easy sell. She used to love playing around old great uncle so and so’s pig farm. She was my ally in convincing my father to let me get a horse.

She has always lived vicariously though her daughters.

As I grew from a girl to woman one thing was always a constant fixture in my life, horses. I went to college because I could ride every day and get school credit for it. I even received credit for getting up early in the mornings and feeding in my pajamas. College was the best time of my life!

College <enter my future husband>

We met on the first day of class, the year we both transferred to Colorado State University.

I was his cousin’s friend for eleven years.

He was her new roommate.

She hated waking up before noon.

I had an 8:00 am class that got over early and her house was close to campus. I knocked on the door and there he stood with no shirt…

Avoiding the awkwardness of a first encounter, I did what any sensible, confident young woman would do. I pushed right past him muttering something about, “Is your cousin home” and let myself right in the front door avoiding eye contact at all cost. I slipped past him, down the hall and sprung onto her bed.

“Oh my gosh, is that your cousin?!?!?”

The rest is history. Six years of dating, a home of our own, a big beautiful wedding and five years of marriage this year, we are building our family one page at a time.

Motherhood is by far the hardest, most rewarding and beautiful thing I have ever done. It will take your breath away, warm your very soul, test your last patience and is the place where every smile originates. There are moments when everything comes so naturally and days when I have made twelve phone calls to my mother and Google is always on speed dial.

Being a working mother keeps life interesting. Without a routine we would never get out the door. Although that makes my life feel like an episode of Ground Hog Day, the kids just love to spice things up every now and then. We will leave it at that…

I used to have such a passion for writing. These days I mainly write for work. In a quest for self betterment that began two months ago when I decided to become a runner I have now decided to become a blogger.

We are working on the inside and the outside.

Here’s to it then!