Couch 2 5K: Week 15

I can't believe it!! WEEK 14!! To be honest this was the first week I really thought I could actually run a 5K by the end of this month. I started strong and finished strong this week!


Run 1:
Walk 5 minutes
Run 20 minutes
Walk 5 minutes

Run 2: (Struggled a little)
Walk 5 minutes
Run 12
Walk 3

Run 8

Walk 2

Run 2

Walk 5

Run 3:

Walk 5 minutes
 Run 25 minutes 30 seconds (2 miles)
Walk 5 minutes

I did yoga 2 times this week at the YMCA and so I WAS really sore on Run 2 day and to be honest I was depressed and tried all day to talk myself out of going but in the end I went!

Run 3 I did in Arkansas on a treadmill at a hotel and was so excited that I ran 2 miles straight! I had never thought I would or could do that.


We have had a lot going on in our family the past few weeks and running has been great to reflect and get out some anger as well as pray as I run! As always I love great christian music that keeps me moving forward and encourages me to dig deeper each run I do!

Couch 2 5K: Week 14

I realized when I got back from Arizona that I have like 5 weeks until the race I signed up for so I had better learn to let go of my control and start running outside. So for 2 of my 3 runs this week I ran outside! Allie and I would walk to school in the morning together and then I would run home (the long way) which was exactly a mile from the school to my house. As always for me it is harder to run outside then in the gym.
These were my runs this week:




Run 1
Walk 5
Run 10
Walk 5
Run 5
Walk 5

Run 2:
Walk Allie to school
Run all the way home

Run 3 (at the Y):
Walk 5
Run 13
Walk 5
Run 8
Walk 5

All in all it was very good for me to let go of the control I feel when I run on the treadmill and listen to my good christian music, feel the wind on my face, be in that moment/in that stride and not focus on how far I had to run. All my runner friends talk about "the zone". I think I am getting there but I still need to let go and just enjoy the journey more.

Couch 2 5k: Week 13

Well for week 13 I got to experience was turn commitment was by staying committed to my running program while on vacation!  We went to Arizona to visit our good friends Billy and Sarah!! They had a YMCA by their house so I got 2 of my runs that week there!

 It was the nicest Y I had ever been to and they had the treadmills with the massive fans on the front which I tend to run better on.  These were my runs:
Run 1:
5 minutes walk
8 minutes run
5 minutes walk
8 minutes run
5 minutes

Run 2:
Walk 5 minutes
Run 20 minutes (THAT IS RIGHT I RAN 20 MINUTES STRAIGHT!)
Walk 5 minutes

Run 3: (This was when I got home at the Y).
Walk 5
Run 5
Walk 3
Run 8
Walk3
Run 5
Walk 5

Running in Arizona was SOOOO much easier!

My friend Sarah says it is because of the dry air! It was very cool to me to do all of the "vacation" things while still staying on track with my running!

Couch 2 5K: Week 12

Well my week 12 running adventure was a journey much like life... one of peaks and pits! My first run I was able to do 3 5 minute runs with walking in between each one and I was quite happy with that since I had been sick.

My second run the girls asked if they could come to the Y with me. I was REALLY struggling with my run and then Chloe and Allie got in a fight and long story short I gave up on my run and marched them home.

My 3rd run was the day we left for our trip. I was really busy so I did not have time to think about the run I was about to attempt until I stepped on the treadmill and set my workout. I surprisingly ran for 8 minutes straight and then I was able to 6 minutes (with walking in between)! It was a great way to start the day and also a great start to the trip!

Couch 2 5K: Week 11

Week 11 of my running quest was a week of fever and aches (THE FLU!). I was able to start running after 10 days on Saturday and I was pleasently surprised that I was able to run 5 minutes 3 times! I was pretty sore the next day but now it almost feels good to feel sore! I only have 5 weeks until my first 5K!

 

Allie B is 9!!!

Well this sweet girl is now 9!

Due to the sickness at our house, Allie had a long drawn out birthday celebration! We started the weekend before her actual birthday with an ice cream cake from Freddies with family and of course presents! She got a new bike from meme and punkie and money, a bracelet making kit from aunt heather. new zipper earrings, outfit, and spring sing tickets to the Saturday afternoon show! After the short celebration we headed to the Kumon awards and Allie got to go out with her Dad and Laura for a birthday dinner.


The day her party was supposed to be Chloe was ill with walking pneumonia and horrible ear infection and I tested positive for flu so I had to postpone her birthday party. She was DEVASTATED, but being the GREAT friend she is Rose saved the day and Allie got to go spend the night with her BFF Jazzy and Rose took them to Spring Sing since I couldn't go! She even kept our birthday tradition of ice cream for breakfast at Braums!

We finally got to have Allie's party the week after her birthday. She invited 3 friends from school!

She planned to eat dinner at chick-fil-a!

Then we headed to the theater to see the
Lorax!





Then we went Braums for ice cream!

Finally we ended up at our house for a sleepover complete with pillowcases to decorate!


In the morning I made "birthday pancakes" (regular pancakes with chocolate chips and sprinkles).



She did tell me that it was "THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!" So hopefully the day I had to tell her that I had to postpone her party had not ruined her life! HA!

Allie makes me laugh everyday! She loves to sing in front of the mirror! She loves to be a girly girl (even though she pretends to only like tomboy stuff that her sister likes)! She loves to play outside and ride her bike! She loves her sister and spending time with her! She loves to help people!  She stopped piano but started ukulele!

This last year Allie has really had to learn to be more independent with sister at another school. She now will take her own lunch money and turn it in. She walks out of the back gate of the school where I pick her up (because Satan invented pick up lines at schools and I hate waiting in them).

This next year will hold even more adventures as she participate in LTC for the first time and she will go to church camp for 5 days this summer! She will also get to be a big cousin again in June!

Allie B, I love you and I am sad this is your last year of single digits! You are an amazing beautiful person inside and out! I am so glad that God chose me to be your mom!

Couch 2 5K: Week 10

Well like my life, my running journey has been 3 steps forward 2 steps back. This is week 10!


I got one run this week before I discovered I had the FLU! So as my running coach told me..."Running Rules: Illness above the neck, run. Illness below the neck, no run."

I did really well in the one run I did:
Walk 5 minutes
Run 8 minutes
Walk 5 minutes
Run 6 minutes
Walk 7 minutes


I am happy that I still have 6 weeks until the race. And it made me feel good that as soon as the Dr said "You are positive for flu."
 My first thought was "NO!!! I can't run." which before I would have looked forward for a doctors excuse to not run!

God is good and I will continue to "run with perseverance the race marked out for me.". (Hebrews 12) Both in my running journey and my daily life.