Winners never cheat and cheaters never win

Perhaps you saw me doing the happy dance yesterday morning as I finished my 11 mile run by myself! My good friend Jill was running in VA and so I was left to go by myself. But I did it!!! I didn't die...have to use the bathroom...or get jumped and/or abducted (weird fear of mine). I actually felt great! Here is my question though...if you know you are going to win the race is it ok to train the course? I ran 11 miles of the 1/2 marathon that I am doing in September. It has TONS of hills so I wanted to know what was coming while I was running. Now let's be real....I'm not going to win this race. The winner will probably be giving her acceptance speech by the time I finish so do I really have an advantage? I am just trying to go faster than 2 hours. We shall see! I would like to talk with the race developers and ask why oh why they need to have the course end after a HUGE hill! I mean really it's like adding insult to injury!

My clean eating has been going ok but I feel like I am always thinking about food! I am sure that once I get used to it all I will be able to think about other things. This is my last week before going back to school and I am not too thrilled! Emma and I will be soaking up all that we can of each other this week! She has a stuffy nose so she is a bit clingy anyways. I do love this weather though!!!

Ok now what?

As I write this post I am watching the Kennedy funeral on TV. Growing up in Rhode Island and living now in Massachusetts, the Kennedy family has been a royal family of sorts. JFK was married in the church where my aunt was married and he spent many summers just next door in Newport. I can't help but feel so badly for this family that has experienced so much tragedy through the years. I look also at the young nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews and wonder which ones will carry the name and continue Camelot. Some resemble the family that they could stand in as some historic figures! On a lighter note and really a hard transition, I finally found quinoa at Trader Joe's yesterday along with a lot of other ingredients that I have seen on other people's blogs like agave nectar and almond butter. I am left now with the question, "OK now what do I do with them?"

I took the babe out yesterday for a walk and to try out jogging with her a little. I have a jogging stroller but I need to dust it off and use it! I took her to one of my favorite places to run. It is 6 miles that winds along the coastline with Boston in the distance. I love it here! I used to live along this path and it was so nice to be able to wake up and run along this. My favorite is the cute old couples walking and sitting on the benches. The newest addition is the put in 1/4 mile markers so I tried to do running every other 1/4 mile to get Emma used to running. I kept thinking that she would get a bug in her eye or something...how do I fix that? She loved it and kept waving to people as they walked by!

Today was supposed to be my 11 mile long but the weather had another idea. Even though I ran the Boston Marathon a few years ago in a Nor'easter I'm not so ready to do that again! For those of you not from New England a Nor'easter in April means cold temps and LOTS of wind and rain. I wore a shower cap over my hat!! I will admit though that I was happy to see the rain since my trainer KICK MY BUTT yesterday. Long run Sunday here I come!

Just 2 more hours please???

Many days I feel like I need just 2 more hours and I will be able to get everything done! Today was one of them. Then of course I am acting like a crazed lunatic because it's back to school time. Staples has been playing the song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" but I disagree! I am a teacher and I am trying my best to ignore the fact that I have to go back to work and leave my precious baby with someone else! But that self pity is for another day's blog...probably the day before school starts and I am sobbing!

My concern today as I wanted to scream out was "How am I going to fit it all in?" I can't run before school because I have to be there pretty early....how do I fit in weight training and running while also giving my husband time to go to the gym too??? Any suggestions? My only suggestion was that we go to the bank and say "Thank you very much for this house but we don't want it any more." and moving into something that won't force me to work! Before Miss Emma, I went for runs after work and then to the gym. Between my husband and I we clocked a good 5-6 hours a night there but there is no time for that!

On a clean-eating note, I am starting to get a rhythm but am feeling like I still don't understand the "rules". I find myself eating the same things every day and still not getting in any real carbs. The only thing work will be good for besides a paycheck is that it will force me to eat well. I find myself just gazing at the cabinets and throwing away anything that I am tempted to eat. My poor husband came home today looking for something but I had thrown it away! Sorry it was calling me! I just keep plodding along though...

Gotta love this cool weather for running!!!

Could I Be More Type A?

Ok so day 1 has come and gone. I will say that it was a bit of a "soft opening" because I was not able to really go grocery shopping on Sunday. However I did pretty well....I only sneaked one butterscotch chip from the cake on top of the fridge! It cracks me up how Type-A I am though. I couldn't start anything until I had read the whole book and made lists all over the house. What to eat....how much....when...even a spreadsheet to make sure I am getting everything in! It will get easier I'm sure once time goes on but I felt very calm with my little checklists! Day 1 I felt like all I did was eat all day long! It was very much like feeding Emma...every 3 hours! Just as long as I don't end up with her thighs...they are SUPER cute and squishy on her...not so much for me!

Today I am feeling much better about constantly feeding my face. I did something similar when I got married and ended up losing 20lbs! I was as small as I was during my crazy sports times! I spent the first few weeks feeling really full. Once my body got used to the food I was hungry almost on cue! So I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I have those 5 last lbs from my pregnancy that are a thorn in my side! (I have to digress and make sure it is clear that I am so thankful for my health and the many blessings the Lord has given me. These lbs won't kill me but they just annoy me!) I had lost 30lbs a week after my C-section and felt like I was on the Biggest Loser Ranch! Then over the following 6 months I lost 15lbs more. Yes do the math folks....even after spinning EVERY day for 9 months I still gained 50lbs! Oh well Emma was healthy and happy! My goal is to lose at least 10-15lbs but I will sing a glorious hallelujah after 5! Day 2 is halfway done....not giving away my starting weight but will keep you posted on the loss!

So unfair!!!

Ok so here I am day 1 of my Eat-Clean life change. I ate my oatmeal egg whites for breakfast and am about to eat my second midmorning boost when I decide to fire up the oven to make some sweet potatoes for Emma. Let me take a minute to thank the person who invented central air or else my stove would be on a 3 month break! Anyways I am getting things ready and waiting for the oven to preheat when the most delicious smell come wafting out of it.....yesterdays birthday cake for my husband! Our oven tends to smell like whatever was cooked in it last. It is usually sweet potato or garlic but yesterday I baked my husband the most delicious birthday cake with chocolate and butterscotch chips. NOT FAIR for the girl trying to eat clean! I had to put the leftover cake on top of the fridge because "Out of sight, out of mind!" I'll let you know how my willpower holds up on day 1!

New England Summer: 1 Crazy Runner: 0

Today I waited to go out on my long run because my really fabulous running partner was coming back from some time away. I had to wait for her because she is who gets me through these long runs! She's awesome and a great friend! Either way we waited until 10:30 to go out and do 11 miles. Well that we found out is a no no in New England. It was about 86 degrees. Now that doesn't seem like much if you live in Arizona but here in New England 86 degrees is accompanied by what felt like 100% humidity! It was as if we were running through water! Now my lovely running buddy Jill was fine to do the full distance but by about mile 4 I was all set! I began fantasizing about taking a tourist down and stealing their water. Either that or diving straight into the ocean! We only completed 6 of our planned 11 miles.

Now I am wicked (can you hear my Boston come out?) nervous that I am going to bonk in the 1/2 too! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make up for lost mileage? On my schedule I was only down for 10 miles so I missed 4 but how can I make up for this. Should I do a long run some time this week or just continue with my regularly scheduled runs? I can't wait for Fall!!

Thanks Jill for being such an understanding running buddy! I owe you big time!

Runners are nicer than bikers

I have been running the same 5 mile loop for many years now. It winds through very nice neighborhoods with huge mansions on one side and the ocean on the other. You can't help but be happy watching the sun come up over the ocean while you run. I make it a habit to pick out the houses I would buy if I ever won the Powerball! There are a lot of runners and bikers that follow the same loop. It is full of rolling hills and can be quite a challenge! I began to notice the other day the difference between the bikers and runners on this loop. Runners will always look at you, do a little wave and at least grunt a hello. Bikers on the other hand can't even look at you let alone say hi! Now granted by the time I see many of these bikers it is after a few hills and I am ready to tackle them and steal their bike but really! I know many pepole who bike and they seem very nice. Is there a hidden code between runners to say hi that bikers don't have? Just curious!

Ok so here I go!

OK so a million blog readings later I am making my own! I have my first 1/2 marathon in 4 weeks as a mom (I have run 2 others) and my body continues to hold on to those last 5 lbs. from my 8 month old. Two days ago I bought the book laying out the Eat-Clean diet and I am sold! It is very similar to how I eat now only better! My daughter eats only organic foods and I need to eat just as well as her! Isn’t it so true as moms that we always make sure everyone else is healthy before we make sure we are healthy? Well not me! I know that I will only be a better mom if I am healthy. SO here I am laying it all out. Bear with me while I figure this all out!

I would love anyone to help me out like how to customize my header and such!