Back in September, I had a bit of a health scare. It stopped me in my tracks, literally, and made me put my relationship with running on a back burner for a bit. Not only did it give me the much needed rest my body needed, it also gave me a refreshed appreciation that I am able to run.
Running is a gift.
Weeks later, after being cleared by my doctor, I slowly got back to it. My body was weak, I had lost about 12 pounds, and I knew I needed a move.
I joined a gym.
I never thought I would go back. I needed so badly to "get away" a year and a half before when I cancelled my membership. I had become stagnant and everything was so boring. I truly am thankful for the year and a half I spent on the open road, out in the elements, watching the sunsets and sunrises and everything in between...but I am also happy to be back in the gym, especially in this weather!
I have been working on my whole body and not just running. I feel great, my hip pain is totally gone, and I feel stronger. I am really looking forward to building more muscle, increasing my speed, and getting back to racing this year.
Almost a week ago, I walked in to Complete Nutrition. I have been upping my protein and trying to eat cleaner. I met with a girl there and had an analysis done. I stepped on that analyzer and was a little freaked out as to what it would say...I was hesitant to even do it...but, I was pretty pleased with my numbers! The trip provided me with a lot of new information and was an encouragement to keep going and doing what I am doing. I have a trip planned to go back in there the middle of February to step on the dreaded analyzer again to see if my muscle mass has increased at all and see if any other progress has been made.
That, coupled with a few races already on the calendar has been much needed motivation.
It feels so good to be back!
Happy Running!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Cone of Shame
On Tuesday, I took my Henry boy to the vet to be neutered. It turns out he is a bigger baby than I originally thought. He made sure to let everyone know, in true Husky fashion, that he was not happy and very uncomfortable. He wouldn't leave his incision alone so they sent him home with "the cone of shame" to be kept on for the next two years of his life...not really, just for a few days until it becomes a little less uncomfortable for him. He is running in to everything and almost has one side of it chewed off...really, I expected nothing less. He hates being cooped up not able to do anything. I cheated and took him for a mile walk this morning...he loved his little bit of freedom. I am really looking forward to taking the cone off of my pretty boy and having him run with us again. Until then, I guess I have to listen to him "talk" back to me and tell me how upset he still is about the whole ordeal.
Oh, Henry!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Coupler
Last week, I got up early to take my pups for a run. What I usually do is take Zoey out for three to four miles and then run a victory lap with Henry (usually one to two miles). Henry was raring to go and in true Husky fashion, wanted to "talk" about it. He let me know that he was not going to be left behind this time. I thought, "What the heck" and leashed him up too.
I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as we ran our morning run together...all three of us. Zoey was quick to show Henry the ropes. He seemed most comfortable running about a half body length behind her on her left side. Sometimes, on the route I run, there can be a little bit of traffic. I usually say, "over" to Zoey and she moves over beyond the shoulder of the road in to the grass. It was nice because all I had to do was say the word and Zoey would move herself and Henry over.
It was after our first run together that I knew I needed a coupler.
And my husband was kind enough to let me pick one up on Saturday:
Potty break is going to take some getting used to with the coupler on, but all in all we had a fantastic run! It was such a blast...and if we had a bigger house and a fenced in yard, I would get one or two more to add to my pack.
For now, I am thrilled to run short runs just the three of us.
I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as we ran our morning run together...all three of us. Zoey was quick to show Henry the ropes. He seemed most comfortable running about a half body length behind her on her left side. Sometimes, on the route I run, there can be a little bit of traffic. I usually say, "over" to Zoey and she moves over beyond the shoulder of the road in to the grass. It was nice because all I had to do was say the word and Zoey would move herself and Henry over.
It was after our first run together that I knew I needed a coupler.
And my husband was kind enough to let me pick one up on Saturday:
Potty break is going to take some getting used to with the coupler on, but all in all we had a fantastic run! It was such a blast...and if we had a bigger house and a fenced in yard, I would get one or two more to add to my pack.
For now, I am thrilled to run short runs just the three of us.
(All tired out after our first run all together)
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Changing it up...
This was our playground today. I've been needing a change of scenery lately. After Zoey was attacked by two dogs on our last long run, I am hesitant to take the same route with her. So, today I loaded her up in the van and we took a short little drive to the trail. It was a gorgeous day and I think we both appreciated the new route. We had a lovely eight miles. I brought her home, leashed up my baby boy, Henry, and off we went on our one mile victory lap. I am really looking forward to when he is able to join us!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Something New : Meet My Running Buddies
I haven't been blogging like I would like to lately. It's not because of a lack of things to write about. I feel like, although I am still logging the miles and still passionate about running, it's changed for me. I started out on this journey and running was something totally different to me back then that it is now. It was a way to get in shape, lose the baby weight, and find some "me" time in the craziness of raising little ones. My children are all school age now...life is still crazy, but a little more layed back crazy. Running has become my lifestyle, a part of me. It's no longer about an escape per say as much as it's about pushing myself further, challenging myself, and finding solitude out on the open road.
I have run with a single jogger, a double jogger, and even a triple jogger chasing after my sanity. Recently, they have begun to run beside me...such an awesome thing! Although I love to run in silence, I have never really enjoyed running alone.
My little chicks began leaving the nest, my joggers began to have fewer seats, and then one day I was selling my single...it meant I was alone.
About that time, Zoey came in to my life. She's my husband's dog. We adopted her from a shelter when she was a tiny puppy. She had been abandoned with her siblings and her mother...left out in the cold to freeze to death. Her mom and her were the only ones to survive. I fell in love with her picture...and awkward looking little pup with crystal blue eyes. I knew that one day she would make the best running buddy...and she has. We started out slow, but she has logged many, many miles by my side. She has run in all kinds of weather with me. She has helped me make it home on those days when I am just not in to it and she makes me feel a bit safer out there.
Zoey girl - 2.5 years old
Back in November, I lost my Pit Mix, Macy. She was also a rescue, adopted at the age of six. It was a loss like I have never experienced before and took me a while to feel like myself again. I knew I wanted another dog to call my own, I just didn't know when. I also knew that the next dog would have to be able to join my team. I had been in touch with a husky breeder for about three months. I turned down one of her puppies at the beginning of the year because it just didn't feel like a good fit. One night, shortly after the 4 month anniversary of Macy's passing, I decided to go on the breeder's site and see if they had anything cooking...and that's when I saw him. A puppy of theirs that had been adopted out, was taken back out of a bad situation. I emailed her about him and she immediately wrote me back and told me that he was mine if I wanted him. I talked to my husband and got the okay. A couple of weeks later, we were driving back from Michigan with Henry curled up in the back seat on my daughter's lap. He has been such a good fit for our family and a wonderful boy. He has made my loss back in November a little easier. He just turned 5 months at the end of April so he's not able to run with us just yet, but in no time we will have him out there with us. For now, he's my victory lap boy...I pick him up when Zoey and I are finished and he enjoys a mile or two with me.
Henry (5 months)
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Runnerversary
It all started with a two toned blue double jogger...and a big dream that one day I would run a marathon.
Most days though, I just hoped that I would be rested enough and my two children under two would cooperate long enough for me to get my 3 miles in.
Things sure have changed in these last seven years! My runnerversary is coming up...Spring is coming too. It's always around this time of year that I fall in love with running all over again. Maybe it's the anticipation of being able to get out there, lose the layers, and really give a run all I've got. Maybe it's looking forward to not having to worry what's under my feet or what I may slip on. You may be lucky enough to get a few of those days during the winter in the midwest...but when you know you will have a few months of them, it's a different kind of feeling. Maybe it's purely the anticipation of being able to see what I am made of again...to push myself farther and reach new goals on the road.
As the years go by, it's reiterated after every run, just how much running mirrors life. There are times in life where the "hills" or "mountains" just seem too steep...the "miles" seem too long...your "lungs" are burning too badly...and you don't think you can take another step. Then there are those times where the "road" is flat, the "wind" is at your back, and the "weather" is just right...you take a deep breath and you push yourself to go harder, go longer, and it just feels right. I think running has helped me appreciate different times in my life a little more. In my mind, I have run 26.2 miles four times...I can do just about anything.
So, if you are thinking about taking up running, getting more serious about it, running your first race, signing up for your first marathon...step out of your comfort zone and take a risk. You will discover what you are made of...and have a lot of fun doing it!
If you are a Momma that just hopes her kids will cooperate for the next three miles or the Momma who hopes to get out the door without one of your babies chasing you down, I've been there...and even though it doesn't seem like it now, you will miss this. Some days I wish I still had a little one to push around in my two toned jogger...or a little cheerleader to yell, "faster, momma, faster". Do your best...take time for yourself...and remember that they are watching you and you are setting a wonderful example and showing your kids that you know you are worth the time to take care of yourself.
So, as I approach my runnerversary I think I will lace up my hot pink Asics, invite my Zoey girl to come with me, buy a couple of new songs, and go for a long run...and just be thankful that I can still run...and enjoy the open road.
Most days though, I just hoped that I would be rested enough and my two children under two would cooperate long enough for me to get my 3 miles in.
Things sure have changed in these last seven years! My runnerversary is coming up...Spring is coming too. It's always around this time of year that I fall in love with running all over again. Maybe it's the anticipation of being able to get out there, lose the layers, and really give a run all I've got. Maybe it's looking forward to not having to worry what's under my feet or what I may slip on. You may be lucky enough to get a few of those days during the winter in the midwest...but when you know you will have a few months of them, it's a different kind of feeling. Maybe it's purely the anticipation of being able to see what I am made of again...to push myself farther and reach new goals on the road.
As the years go by, it's reiterated after every run, just how much running mirrors life. There are times in life where the "hills" or "mountains" just seem too steep...the "miles" seem too long...your "lungs" are burning too badly...and you don't think you can take another step. Then there are those times where the "road" is flat, the "wind" is at your back, and the "weather" is just right...you take a deep breath and you push yourself to go harder, go longer, and it just feels right. I think running has helped me appreciate different times in my life a little more. In my mind, I have run 26.2 miles four times...I can do just about anything.
So, if you are thinking about taking up running, getting more serious about it, running your first race, signing up for your first marathon...step out of your comfort zone and take a risk. You will discover what you are made of...and have a lot of fun doing it!
If you are a Momma that just hopes her kids will cooperate for the next three miles or the Momma who hopes to get out the door without one of your babies chasing you down, I've been there...and even though it doesn't seem like it now, you will miss this. Some days I wish I still had a little one to push around in my two toned jogger...or a little cheerleader to yell, "faster, momma, faster". Do your best...take time for yourself...and remember that they are watching you and you are setting a wonderful example and showing your kids that you know you are worth the time to take care of yourself.
So, as I approach my runnerversary I think I will lace up my hot pink Asics, invite my Zoey girl to come with me, buy a couple of new songs, and go for a long run...and just be thankful that I can still run...and enjoy the open road.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
One Week Down...
It's amazing what 35 miles and limiting what I put in my mouth can do...
I am down 4 pounds! I couldn't be happier! Not bad for a weeks worth of work. I'll take it.
I am not saying it was easy at all. There were a few times that I was tempted to eat a box of Girl Scout cookies. A couple of times I was tempted to go through the drive through on one of my crazy days when it would have been easier just to grab something on my way to work rather than plan ahead. I didn't...and I am so glad I didn't.
It's been a while since I logged 35 miles (31 running, 4 elliptical) in one week. It felt so good to be back on track. My hip is giving me less of a problem. It's at a dull ache now and not the shooting pain that I had before. At the gym, I found the rowing machine and I love it! It's such a good workout and it was nice to give my hip a break. I can't wait to get back in there and row again tomorrow.
This past week, I also threw a 7 mile run in there. I haven't done a distance like that in a few months. It's was not uneventful. I have a route I run that's a 7 mile square around my house. I have run it too many times for me to count. It's out in the country so I can just let go, sing, talk, whatever I want to do. It's where I run to get away. I like to take my four legged running buddy on this route when I go...it's makes me feel a bit safer and she likes it too. Well, about two and a half miles in to it I look back to see a dog following us. He was a big guy and kinda scared me at first. I didn't know if he was going to be aggressive and so I sped up a little to keep Zoey away from him. I was more concerned for her safety than mine. After about a tenth of a mile, I realized that he wasn't backing off. So, I stopped and yelled at him. I told him "no", I told him to go home, and I told him to get. Nothing worked and I didn't have the time to stand there and figure out what would. We kept running...and he kept up right beside us. After a little over three and a half...yes, three and a half miles...I decided enough was enough. He obviously wasn't going to leave us alone. After a few phone calls to different people, I called the police...I didn't know what else to do. I paused my Garmin and stood on the corner and waited...all the while, our big tag along stood right there with us. The officer came, checked him out, and the loaded him in to his car after seeing he had no form of ID on him. I thanked him for coming to the rescue (of the dog and mine) and finished up the rest of our 7 miles...just the two of us. Add that to my list of firsts. Running is never boring (well, unless you're on a treadmill).
I am ready to start Monday off with a bang! I have plans to hopefully drop another three pounds this week. That will put me at the lightest I've been in a while. I also plan to log at least over 20 miles this week and continue to keep my eating under control. Here's to accomplishing goals!
Happy Running!
I am down 4 pounds! I couldn't be happier! Not bad for a weeks worth of work. I'll take it.
I am not saying it was easy at all. There were a few times that I was tempted to eat a box of Girl Scout cookies. A couple of times I was tempted to go through the drive through on one of my crazy days when it would have been easier just to grab something on my way to work rather than plan ahead. I didn't...and I am so glad I didn't.
It's been a while since I logged 35 miles (31 running, 4 elliptical) in one week. It felt so good to be back on track. My hip is giving me less of a problem. It's at a dull ache now and not the shooting pain that I had before. At the gym, I found the rowing machine and I love it! It's such a good workout and it was nice to give my hip a break. I can't wait to get back in there and row again tomorrow.
This past week, I also threw a 7 mile run in there. I haven't done a distance like that in a few months. It's was not uneventful. I have a route I run that's a 7 mile square around my house. I have run it too many times for me to count. It's out in the country so I can just let go, sing, talk, whatever I want to do. It's where I run to get away. I like to take my four legged running buddy on this route when I go...it's makes me feel a bit safer and she likes it too. Well, about two and a half miles in to it I look back to see a dog following us. He was a big guy and kinda scared me at first. I didn't know if he was going to be aggressive and so I sped up a little to keep Zoey away from him. I was more concerned for her safety than mine. After about a tenth of a mile, I realized that he wasn't backing off. So, I stopped and yelled at him. I told him "no", I told him to go home, and I told him to get. Nothing worked and I didn't have the time to stand there and figure out what would. We kept running...and he kept up right beside us. After a little over three and a half...yes, three and a half miles...I decided enough was enough. He obviously wasn't going to leave us alone. After a few phone calls to different people, I called the police...I didn't know what else to do. I paused my Garmin and stood on the corner and waited...all the while, our big tag along stood right there with us. The officer came, checked him out, and the loaded him in to his car after seeing he had no form of ID on him. I thanked him for coming to the rescue (of the dog and mine) and finished up the rest of our 7 miles...just the two of us. Add that to my list of firsts. Running is never boring (well, unless you're on a treadmill).
I am ready to start Monday off with a bang! I have plans to hopefully drop another three pounds this week. That will put me at the lightest I've been in a while. I also plan to log at least over 20 miles this week and continue to keep my eating under control. Here's to accomplishing goals!
Happy Running!
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