Fitness Mommy

Not Running…:/ (Are emoticons allowed in blog titles?)

I really thought with the kids not being here with me in Austin I would be running.  Running and walking, living outside and enjoying alone time.  I thought I would be so free and run to cure boredom and run to fill time. 

Life hasn’t been like that.  I think in two week I’ve ran three times.  I have no motivation without my family here.  I know I need to get out there and run to feel better about myself and to cure the things I listed above, but I really haven’t wanted to.

I think the thing about having my family with me is accountability.  I think they wouldn’t give me a hard time about not running but I would see them being active and it would spur me on to want to run.  Also, I’m not training for a race. I love you, Austin but there are no big races here very often.  You have to travel to them.  And, as much as I love racing I’m not traveling for something I have to pay $30 - $60 for to begin with. 

Enough whining right? I’ll keep you posted but I plan on running at least 15 miles next week.  I may even get up early and run before work, GASP!  I plan on a long run on Sunday and I hope that kicks off a week of intense running.  I have to get used to the heat and keep my fitness up.  I also plan on doing sit ups and pushups.  I have to get this core in shape! 

What is your spring fitness looking like?

Schlotzsky’s Bun Run 2011 5K Recap

A lot of my running friend recap their races.  I tend to think my race experience is a little boring but, I love running in races and thought you may enjoy my thoughts.

As you all know in painstakingly detail I have been in Austin for a week.  Our good friends’ who live here agreed to let me tag along.  One of them had never ran in a race before, so, me a seasoned professional had every reason to believe that I would beat them.  

The race was really packed!  Dallas 5Ks are usually a little sparse but since Austin doesn’t have as many runs as Dallas this was well attended.  It took 3 minutes to cross the start line.  As we started out I had to navigate through all the runners.  I left my friends a little behind and had every reason to believe I wouldn’t see them again until then end.

As we rounded the first corner we started to cross a very long bridge, it was uphill.  If any of you have ever ran in Dallas you would know that it is generally very flat and fast.  Austin, your hilly, just sayin’.  I huffed and puffed and made it to the top.  As I was peeking the top of the hill I noticed our cute friends right in front of me, I said “HEY!” and caught up.  We ran together for awhile but then they walked and I took off for what I hoped to be a huge lead.

As we started up the second hill a cute homeless man was very enthusiastic about our running.  He yelled things about God and running.  He boosted our spirits for sure.  Along with the random homeless man was a group of gymnasts.  They had a long mat and they did all sorts of fun cart wheels and things.  Not sure why, but hey, it’s Austin!

At the turn around we went under a bridge and ran up and down a couple of more hills.  Well I guess we ran up and down the two hills we had previously ran, but, you know what I mean.  I grabbed some water because it was hot as heck.  Then trotted down a hill into the finish.

There waiting and chatting with their friends where my friends I thought I had left in the dust.  DANG!  Oh well, they were sweet and thoughtful and included me which felt great and less lonely in a new city.  We went to brunch and had a couple of beers, which is why we run these races right? FOR THE BEER!  

Well friends, recap is done…let me know if I shouldn’t do that again.

Random Stuff…how’s that for a title?

I’ve never lived in a city where I knew just a couple of people and didin’t know where things were.  I didn’t think I was scared to venture out because I have taken it for granted that I knew my surroundings.  Today I got fed up with sitting around and watching tv.  I just couldn’t do it anymore.  I have read a lot but it isn’t the same as getting out and getting some vitamin D from the sun. 

I left the house people, by myself.  I walked to Starbucks, got a coffee…hooked up my laptop and let out a sigh of relief from boredom.  Just walking here lifted my spirit.  I remember a day when I was younger when eating and watching tv was all I wanted to do.  But, since me and my husband have adopted a more physical lifestyle, I just can’t do it anymore.  I need out of the house, I need to be around people, I need to sweat, I need to have fun!  These are good things to know about yourself.

I spent this past week missing my little family so much, and I know that isn’t going to change until they get here but I’m pledging to get out of the house as much as possible, when I’m not at work.  Life changes so drastically sometimes that it takes you by suprise and it takes a minute to recover.  I’m recovered.

Tomorrow I’m running in a 5K and I plan on making a running friend if it kills me!  Thankfully Dave has a sweet friend here with is fiance that have agreed to let me tag along.  I don’t have a goal anything under 36 minutes will make me happy.  I’ll keep you posted…if anyone reads this silly blog.

XO from ATX,

Vanessa

Hello from Austin!

Hi Everyone,

I’ve relocated to Austin, TX.  And so that explains my absence in part but also I feel the need to write about it.  I’ve started a new job and I’m waiting here patiently until school lets out for the kids and they, along with my husband will join me here in June.

So far it’s going well, rationally I know it’s harder for my hubby to be home with 3 kids and take care of all their needs.  But, emotionally it’s hard not to be there for them.  “It is only a month, it will go quickly, no need to freak out.”  This is what’s going on in my head.  It doesn’t help that our 2 year old was crying on the phone last night telling me to come home and hold her.

My job is to start a new job (check), look for a place to live and a couch.  (We aren’t bringing our couch with us, it’s old and beat up, we need new and simple.)

I’ve had a blast catching up with a dear friend though, she is very giving.  It’s been comfy and nice. 

I started running yesterday, what difference Austin is from Dallas.  For one, the hills are either going to make me so strong or kill me and two, the heat is amazing.  It was like 97 degrees here yesterday.  The hottest day of the year and I decided to go running.  I barely made it through my 5k route, I stopped at an elementary school to cool off and get a drink.  I’m shocked they didn’t see me and run screaming through the hallways, I looked like a hot mess.  On the upside the rest of the way home was down hill.  Thank goodness for air conditioning!

Today I chose a new street that had a sidewalk.  Running on the street around curves and uphill makes me nervous, so we need to readjust. I will let you know how it goes, because you have nothing better to do than read about what street I run on right?

I have not had any dairy this week.  So I’m not sure what that makes me, I don’t eat meat or dairy but will eat fish.  Any suggestions on what this is called?

I’m concentrating on remembering what the tops of my children’s heads smell like, the embrace of my wonderful husband and being productive.  “It is only a month, it will go quickly, no need to freak out.” 

March Fitness Challenge - How to Win Prizes!

Hey everyone!  I know you are excited about our fitness challenge.  I know I am.  I’m excited because I need it!  So I will be running, logging my calories and cutting meat out of my diet.  But, those are my personal fitness goals, you have to decide your own. 

All I want from you is to go to our like page:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Fitness-Mommys-Fitness-Challenge/141418805921712

And post everyday that you have completed your workout and calorie counting for the day.  This is on the honor system.

You will get extra points for daily challenges that I throw out and that you complete.  These could be anything from 10 pushups to posting a picture.

This is all about participation and accountability!  We are not focused on anything but helping you meet a goal so, whatever that goal is let’s be successful.  I’m not expert but I love to help so let me know if you need anything.

Remember helpful websites: myfitnesspal.com or sparkpeople.com are great for tracking calories.

See you guys tomorrow! Get prepared today!

This is the reminder of the basic rules:

Prior to the challenge please do the following:

1. Pick a workout, this can be anything from walking, running or a workout program such as P90X, Insanity or Turbo Fire or a Boot camp, anything!

2.  Commit to working out at least 5 days a week.  

3. Commit to logging your nutrition at least 5 days a week.  It’s up to you to set your calorie goals.  It could be a matter of lower fat numbers or lower sugar.  It’s totally up to you what you need to track.

You can purchase workouts at: http://beachbodycoach.com/vanessatkb77 

Go to this like page on facebook to be a part of this challenge: http://tinyurl.com/4hgyasc

March Fitness Challenge Details

Our fitness challenge starts March 1st!  

Prior to the challenge please do the following:

1. Pick a workout, this can be anything from walking, running or a workout program such as P90X, Insanity or Turbo Fire or a Boot camp, anything!

2.  Commit to working out at least 5 days a week.  

3. Commit to logging your nutrition at least 5 days a week.  A great site to use is myfitnesspal.com or sparkpeople.com.  It’s up to you to set your calorie goals.  It could be a matter of lower fat numbers or lower sugar.  It’s totally up to you what you need to track.

This is not about numbers we will not post weight loss as everyone is different.  This is just a challenge to get you moving and held accountable.   I will let you know more details on how prizes will be won.  

If you need help with any of this let me know! I’m here for you.  

You can purchase workouts at: http://beachbodycoach.com/vanessatkb77 

Go to this like page on facebook to be a part of this challenge: http://tinyurl.com/4hgyasc

My Happy Place

Sorry for such a gap in posts.  I’ve been waiting for content, and so here is an attempt at a readable post.  

Whenever I write about running I tend to focus on overcoming negatives whether that be pain, endurance, attitude and so forth.  But, TODAY, I want to focus on what I like to call my running happy place.  

I’ll start with an analogy (and men, I’m sorry but this is the only way I can describe it)….breastfeeding.  Whenever I was breastfeeding my daughter it wasn’t easy.  It was hard to begin with and painful sometimes.  I had to really die to my selfish desires to quit and persevere.  After a few minutes of feeding our little baby my body would release a chemical (Oxytocin) and I would feel so happy and blissful!!

Now fast-forward 2 years and here I am running for the first time in my life.  I started noticing something cool that happens about 2-3 miles into a run I get an overwhelming happy feeling.  The pain in my legs release and I start feeling in the groove.  I call this my running happy place.  It’s the point where I can relax and talk and feel less anxiety about finishing the task at hand.  

I did a little online research and found this article “Exercise and the “Runner’s High”: can it really make you happy?” Sarah Frayne and she does a great job explaining the research history on this subject, but let’s just say if you love chocolate you need to run because running releases the same chemicals that make chocolate a help to your mood!

Oh yeah I’m going to make it my mission to find my happy place everyday!  I hope you do too.