My worst race....almost

So here I am sitting on my couch, ice under my calf and on the verge of tears.  Tonight I ran one of my favorite races...Rock n Race in Concord New Hampshire.  This race is for such a great cause and means so much to me because it benefits Concord Hospital's Cancer Care Center.  I run this race in honor of loved one who have passed one and in honor of anyone who is battling or has battled cancer.  It has an emotional meaning to it which is why I was so determined to do well.  I have to admit I was shooting for a sub 30 5K finish.  What ended up happening I will never forget.
I was cruising down the road at a much fast pace then I think I have ever run when it happened...my whole left calf became extremely tight and cramped up on me.  I tried so hard to run normal on it thinking it would stretch itself out but instead I was actually limping.  My leg was just not allowing me to run!  I moved over to the side of the street a few times to stretch it out and resume running but nothing was working.  I was faced with a problem I had never faced before...and I wasn't even a mile into the race!!!!  I was turning around to walk back to the start when a friend found me.  She asked if I was O.K. and I said no with tears in my eyes.  After a much needed hug she encouraged me to keep walking and told me I needed to finish the race even if I had to walk it.  So that is what we did.  We walked along and talked, I texted on my phone to a friend and we even had some chips and salsa along the way!  Who gets to do any of that while running a race?!?! 
So I am hoping that this was a one time occurrence and that I will not have any soreness in my leg tomorrow.
As for my finish time...I don't ever want to know.

Great start

6 miles done for today!!!!  Love getting it done early so now I have all day to do the rest of my stuff and decide what I am going to eat!  Ha ha

It was also great to meet my step goal for the day on my fitbit before 9:00 am!

Have a great day!!!

Beth

Refocusing

For the lack of creativity in coming up with a new name for a new blog I have decided to just stick with this one.  It has a lot of history in it for me and would hate to see it go.   Instead I have decided to change the look, maybe add some new features and maybe actually write more....well I will try anyways :)
This past week has been one of many challenges.  I have been on a staycation and the temptations to eat and drink all the things I shouldn't have been...well, challenging!  But I have made a decision and I have to stick to it this time...I am really going to be careful from now on.  In a little over a month I will be starting my training for my first full  marathon and I don't want to mess that up.
I have added a new workout DVD to my routine...Jillian Michaels 6 week six  pack Abs.  So far I am enjoying it..except for the pulled muscles :(  I am doing lots of ice and Advil and hoping to get back at it tomorrow. 
At the gym I met with the trainer and it was great!  I learned some new ways to use the equipment that should help make me stronger.  As of right now it is nice because it is a short routine so between weights and cardio I am in and out in half an hour.  I am using the elliptical for cardio and doing an interval type workout that is kicking my butt!  Short but very effective!  
Running is going well too!  I am finding that many of my runs lately are a lot quicker then they used to be.  Running with my favorite running partner across the street and becoming stronger over all has really helped my pace.  Hoping that my pulled muscles will have healed enough so that I can get out tomorrow for a run!  Otherwise my family better watch out because Mommy with no run in 4 days can get ugly!
So, wish my luck on getting back out there!!
Beth

I'm back....I think

In June of 2010 I started this blog.  A lot has happened in my life since then.  My kids are now in Middle school and high school...my family moved to a new home...I have run three half marathons and many other races...I have become much more focused on healthy clean eating and on different kinds of workouts on top of keeping up with regular runs.... I have found the best running partner a girl could ever have (and the best part is she lives across the street!!)...
So the question is am I still the "housewife on the run"?
Merriam- Webster dictionary defines a housewife as

: a married woman who stays at home, does cleaning, cooking, etc., and does not have another job outside the home

Well I do have a job outside of my home...one I do love and one that allows me to be active almost all day long...working with 3 and 4 year olds is a busy day!! 

I do still do the grocery shopping, laundry and cooking so that part is correct....

But I do feel I have a lot more to offer....I enjoy running and setting an example for my children that if you take care of yourself you will feel good and be healthy.  I enjoy sharing recipes with others of healthy things to eat.  I enjoy sharing what I know about fitness and running with others.

So you might wonder where I am going with all this but the answer is that I dont really know.  I think I might say goodbye to this blog and start a new one but still need to work out the details and direction.  When I get it figured out you will be the first to know!!

So until next time keep running, feed your body well and stay strong

Beth

New Goals

Hello!!!  Yes, once again, I am back.  Still not posting as often as I would like to but it just can't be helped.  Heck I can barely get in my runs lately!  With the time change and the fact that it is so dark in the morning and dark so early in the evening, there are just not enough hours in between to get out!
I have finished Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 DVD and have to say I really feel stronger and really good about what I accomplished.  I really stuck to it and completed it!
 Next up is Jillian Michael's Body Revolution....I found phase one is sold all by itself and after I am finished with phase one I can borrow the other phases from a friend.  Some of the workouts in this program require a resistance band which was included in the set I bought since my friend needs her band to do the program as well.  Worked out perfect!
Another goal I am setting for myself is the Runners World Holiday streak...running everyday from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, even if it is just one mile.  I have tried to complete a streak before and it did not go well....my body just could not handle it.  I feel so much stronger now, so I am going to give it another try.  If it does not work, then at least I can say I tried and then move on.  I haven't quite figured out how I am going to  get in a run everyday....this might require running in the dark :( 
So yes, I just might be crazy, but this kind of thing is what keeps me going....having goals and working toward achieving them.
What kind of goals do you set for yourself?
Please feel free to tell me about them in the comment section :)
So until next time (hopefully soon), keep running, working out, and staying strong!

Kicking it up a notch

Yes, I know it has been a while since I have posted anything.  I have told myself I would like to post at least once a week, but it just does not happen....sorry, what can I say.  Actually that could be a good thing because then you don't have to read about all my crappy days or any random silly posting.  Let's just go with QUALITY not QUANTITY...sound good?
So now that my half marathon has come and gone, things have been different.  It feels kinda good to not have any pressure to stick to any particular training schedule.  I can go for runs and not really worry about how far I am going.  I am still trying to get in at least one long run each week (it was 5 miles last week) just to maintain my current fitness level.  I have incorporated something new into my life and boy has it made a big difference!!
Let me take you back one week ago....weigh in at weight watchers...I was up 3.8 pounds!  Not only was this a lot of weight for me to handle, but it was over the 2 pound buffer for lifetime membership (which is free).  Of course I still felt great and I was not really noticing any difference in the way my clothes fit so it really snuck up on me.
Enter Jillian Michaels....I started her Ripped in 30 DVD the day before that dreadful weigh in and was getting up super early to get these workouts in and did some running in the afternoon.  One week and for days later....drum roll please

 

DOWN 5.6 lbs!!!!!  Seriously this is a major loss for me....I am not really sure if I have ever lost this much weight in one week before.  

So, the lesson to be learned from this....every now and then shake things up, try a new form of exercise, try some new foods.  Obviously it worked for me.

I am on week 2 of this DVD and although it is torture, I am really enjoying the workouts.  

So until next time I highly recommend the Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 workouts, keep running, and stay strong!

Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon 2013....Done!

Can I just tell you what a rewarding feeling it is to know that all my hard training I did all summer long was totally worth it?!  Not only did I finish the race faster then the time goal I had set for myself, but I beat my time last year by...ready for this....

14 minutes!!!

I finished in 2:20 and feel like I ran a very solid race.  For just about every mile I ran it was a consistent 10:30 pace or right around there.  The weather was not the greatest, but was o.k.  It was overcast for the whole race so there was no sun beating down on us and the rain held off till at least mile 10 (well for me) so it was not the entire race like last year.  Unfortunately because we were so cold and getting wetter by the minute the after party at the race was not very fun...drank half my beer and ate my lobster roll but did not really taste it because I was so cold.  After getting home from the race, my family had prepared a whole feast for myself and two other of my friends who ran the race (first half marathon for both of them)!  

So now what?  That is the question of the week I guess...

So until next time, keep running, stay strong and ROCK ON!!