Welcome To My Life

Here's my training schedule for my goal of running a half-marathon. I'm starting slow since I haven't been running lately. I'm following a training program from the Yuengling Shamrock 8k and half marathon (Virginia Beach). I've adjusted the 8k and half program to fit my schedule. I'm going to run the 8k on March 21, so I'm training for that first. Then I adjusted the half-M training program to start after a 2 week break. Normally an 18 week program, I decided to add 4 weeks to the schedule just so I could start slow and work my way up. The goal is to run the Rock and Roll Half Marathon (Virginia Beach) on Sept. 6! Here I go....

Week 1: Jan 19-25
Monday: 2 miles walking
Tuesday: 30 min. walking
Weds: rest / strength training
Thurs: 30 min walking
Friday: cross training (spin/step)
Saturday: 30 min walking
Sunday: rest

Week 2: Jan 26-Feb 1
Mon: 2 miles run/walk
Tues: 3 miles run/walk
Wed: rest / strength training
Thur: 3 miles run/walk
Fri: cross train (spin/step)
Sat: 35 min walk/run
Sun: rest

Week 3: Feb 2-8
Mon: 2 mile run
Tues: 3.5 mile run/walk
Wed: rest / strength T
Thur: 3 mile run/walk
Fri: cross T (spin/step)
Sat: 35 run/walk
Sun: rest

Week 4: Feb 9-15
Mon: 2 mile run
Tues: 3.5 mile run
Wed: rest/strength T
Thur: 3 mile run
Fri: Cross T
Sat: 5K or 30 min run
Sun: rest

Week 5: Feb 16-22
Mon: 2.5 mi
Tues: 4 mi
Wed: rest / strength T
Thur: 3 mi
Fri: Cross T
Sat: 40 min run
Sun: rest

Week 6: Feb23-Mar 1
Mon: 3 mi
Tues: 4 mi
Wed: rest / strength T
Thur: 3 mi
Fri: Cross T
Sat: 45 min run
Sun: rest

Week 7: Mar 2-8
Mon: 3 mi
Tues: 4 mi
Wed: rest/ strength T
Thur: 3 mi
Fri: Cross T
Sat: 50 min run
Sun: rest

Week 8: Mar 9-15
Mon: 3 mi
Tues: 3 mi
Wed: rest / strength T
Thur: 2 mi
Fri: cross T
Sat: 30 min run
Sun: rest

Week 9: Mar 16-21
Mon: 2 mi
Tues: 3 mi
Wed: rest / strength T
Thur: rest
Fri: rest
Sat: 8K Race day!

Here are a few tips...
1. Don't be a slave to the schedule
2. Start slow...walk first and work up to running.
3. The long distances on Saturday are the key workouts. Take it slow.
4. Have 2 days a week to rest. I find it's better to train less mileage than more (less injury).
5. Have fun!

After the 8k, I will take a 2 week break and start the half M training. I'll post that later.

Today we all stayed home...no school due to a snow day. Although not a snowflake fell out of the sky today. We were anticipating 1-3 inches of snow but nothing happened. How did they get the weather so wrong today??? That's ok, it gave the kids the opportunity to stay home and watch the Inauguration with me. It was moving to see how many people were in DC to see such a historical event. It brings me hope and I am definately ready for change!

Shaye and I spent our "girls night out" coupon shopping. I haven't done it for years. I hate grocery shopping and bringing coupons just makes it take longer (3 hours long). But with times tight now, saving money anyway we can is helpful. I think our coupon adventure was a success. We saved $88 on our bill, thanks to unlimited triple and double coupon day at my local grocery store. That was almost a 50% savings. The best part was seeing Shaye excited that we had saved all this money. A lesson learned!

I've been putting off writing my NY resolutions because they always seem to be the same...lose weight, get organized, save money, read more, etc, etc. Those are things that will forever be on my list. I am a constant work in progress. Doesn't it seem like that? So this year I decided to focus on one thing only. Something that doesn't involve improving myself but just for the fun of it...to say I did it. So this year I decided I wanted to run a half-marathon. Why? I don't know. I should of done it a year or two ago. Back when I was in shape and running daily. But I didn't. Since then I sprained my ankle in the summer and I am no longer running so it will feel like I am starting all over again.
I turned 40 this year {and so did Pat} and I feel I hit a small milestone. I can no longer say I am 3o-something. I have joined my sisters in the 40-something group. I am excited about it! To celebrate the beginning of the 4o-something years, I will be running. I hear the rock and roll half marathon is great for beginners. So off I go...hitting the pavement! Anyone care to join me {hint...to any of my sisters}???

Three years ago we took in Buddy from a friend, who had a friend, who had a neighbor, who had a friend that found him lost in her neighborhood. They were unable to find Buddy's owner and he had been living at a farm. He was on his way to the shelter. Brayden wanted a dog for his birthday, so we decided to see Buddy at the farm. Of course he was adorable. Small, cute and calm. Little did I know that these were traits of a scared puppy and not of a black lab. So we took in this small, 6 month old lab. Buddy grew into this huge 90lb dog with a short attention span and loves to chase bunnies and squirrels. He has taken me down on our walks, has pulled me through bushes and I have many times experienced rope burn trying to hold onto him while he chases a bunny. He is referred by Pat as "labradork". And he reminds me of Marley in "Marley & Me". With all those traits, he is loved! Buddy is part of the family now. He travels to Ohio with us, sleeps with the kids and I like to think he will be there to protect us if ever needed {the way he barks and growls at the UPS man}.

Today is Buddy's 4th birthday and he will be celebrating with a thick and creamy peanut butter sandwich. YUM-O. Life doesn't get any better than that for a dog!

I'm cleaning out all the things good...I mean bad for me. My kids have been given all this candy between Halloween, school treat bags, birthday parties and Christmas. We haven't even seen Valentines and the Easter Bunny yet. What do you do with it all????

I was reminded by a friend { hi beth } about the many talents that Pat has. He is hard working, focused and driven...but inside him lies a little boy who loves to play video games with the kids, shoot hoops and plays volleyball like he's still 2o. My friend asked me, how did I get Pat to make a gingerbread house? It's the little boy in him...he makes one every year with the kids. And Beth, he wanted to make sure I told you he was the only one to make his work with icing. The rest of us cheated and used the glue gun to keep it together.













I wish the little boy in him would come out more often...but the real world seems to draw him back in! But when it does, it reminds me of one of the many reasons I love him. He is a complex person, mostly misunderstood. Everyone seems intimidated by him. Maybe of his size { 6'5 } or stature but I know the real Pat. Caring, sensitive....i can't tell you all his secrets. So, if you look close enough, you'll see it. The little kid in us all!