A whole week of no meat...

And I'm still alive lol! AND I've lost 2.5 pounds! Spaghetti squash is the bomb:) that was totally random, but it is! (so filling too)

I feel pretty blah today and I really don't want to run. Hate when I feel like this. My right knee is still twinging with occasional pain- trying to baby it. I've got to do this race!

In personal news my dad is not in good Heath and I am stressing about it big time. Which is a portion of why I'm feeling blah. He is diabetic and has heart problems- major heart problems- needs a transplant. I'm worried out of my mind. He's thousands of miles away and closer to my brothers, who are taking care of him but he's my daddy! He's too young to be in this bad of health. He's not sounding like himself on the phone and that's all I have to go on! You know men are all nonchalant like meh he's alright, but I don't think so! (His condition usually fuels my running but today right this second I just feel yuck/blah/I don't wanna!). Prayers appreciated :)

Feel overwhelmed and out of control which I don't deal well with and generally makes me want to eat and eat and eat some more. It's so hard to break the patterns in your life! Seems hereditary. Hope my kids don't follow my lead and I continue on this healthy path I've found (with a little help)

Off to football practice:). C y'all

Boooo

Boo my knees flaring up again :(. Ran 9 miles this morning on the treadmill had a bad step and mmmmm no good! Had another 4 miles planned for afternoon so I dropped Ty off at a birthday party and Kylie at her aunts and was gonna run in this really pretty neighborhood close to the birthday party. Got out did my 5 mins walking started to run And my knee said mmm nope! So I went to the gym thinking ok ill go try the treadmill -really wanted to do that 4 miles! Treadmill wasn't better so I did the elliptical which I could still feel the twinge. Ice n rest will b on my to do list for the next couple days....boo!

Dinner pic yum:)

How does one person feel so fat and so fit all it one?!?

3 years and 5 months ago (seems like yesterday and 30 years ago) I never thought I could've RUN..... A mile much less the 9 I just finished or the three half marathons I've done! It's crazy how little credit I give myself. I look in the mirror and still see the chunkster I was. I hope I exude more confidence than I feel. Wouldn't it be nice (and scary lol) to have a camera follow u around so u can SEE how u act and what your body language is telling people? I'd also like it to film my running lol so I'll know if I run crazy or not! Lol like the episode of friends where phoebe runs like a little out of control kid! It's was a funny one I'd u missed it:) 4 more miles later.... To the library now cheap and FUN I HOPE THE KIDS BEHAVE :) for some reason I see Kylie hollering on there.... I'll keep u posted have a great and healthy weekend!

Challenges

I have taken on a challenge that I wanted to share I will be vegetarian for the next 4 weeks! I'm
A little apprehensive but I'll try anything. Should b interesting. Just contemplating it last night made me ravenous for the steak the rest of the family was having. I may have one day a week I have meat but I haven't decided yet. This was a challenge by sexymotherrunner.blogspot.com. She is going all out vegan but I'm
Not sure I want to jump all the way in so I'm going to get my feet wet first.
And I am going to give up peanut butter until my relay race on October 5th. Oh my I totally have to do it now! Ahhhh what will I do with out my peanut butter! Lol I'll live and I might even drop these last few pounds!

So yesterday at lunch I ran an awesome 5 miles that felt so good and I really pushed my pace I was so proud and excited that I'm gettin out of 12 min miles FINALLY! So today I thought hmmm can I do it again? Set out for 4 miles today. It was hotter today for sure but I did it! Here's my splits for yesterday (it says 4.68 or some shit I did more than 5 miles but paused my runkeeper some damn how grrr hate that) and for today. Very proud of these numbers! I'm getting there! I hope/pray/dream that I can keep under 11 min miles on this race with 3 1/2 weeks to go I should b good to go :) so exciting!
Lots to think on whole I run lately- my dad is in the hospital again. He has a series of health issues including diabetes, congestive heart failure- needs a heart transplant- has a pacemaker and I has some kidney damage from diuretics trying to get the fluid off from the chf it's a vicious cycle. Hopefully they can get him feeling better. Soon! Prayers appreciated!

Have a great evening thanks for reading:)

My Awesome running weekend

Saturday I had 7 miles am and 5 miles pm
On the training schedule... I got up before Mark went off to work to get it done. I've been putting it off til Sunday's but I didn't want to last Saturday because I was working the night shift at the hospital on Sunday night and knew it'd b too much with laundry and life with 2 kidos and 49ers football, which meant gettin on up before I wanted to on Saturday morning~ ah the life of a runner:) more on this in a bit! Made some baked chocolate oatmeal the night before so i got up and threw it in the oven while I dressed and brushed my teeth(who can run with poo breath lol) it was so good but I could only eat half, I put chia seeds in it and man was it filling so, I saved the other half for post run it was perfect thing to do. All of this took too long and I didn't get out the door til 620 had to be back @705 so mark could leave for work. I was trucking along knowing I couldn't finish 7 miles I thought I'll do what I can and do the rest on the treadmill so I got 4 done and headed in to do the rest watching biggest loser on Netflix. That's show always inspires me. The weather was wonderful by the way Texas cold front woohoo ONLY got up to 90 lol but hey I will take it!

Then I showered and the kids and I went to run some errands. Football/cheer pictures were on our agenda for 3 so we were going to go see Madagascar at the dollar move but then I got a text that no the picture people would b leaving at 1230 (it was 1140) so I told the kids hmm-well I guess we won't get pics this year and Ty was like no mom I want that picture we can make it! So we ran home they got dressed in all their stuff and we rushed over to the field.... Where they were taking down the tent and backdrops!!! So aggravating! The lady was rude on top of that but anyway I'll still get their pics they picture ppl
Are coming back for our team since it was so I'll planned or well not planned! So we went home and waited for game time and I took a much needed nap. Mark got home & we headed to the game with his brother and his wife and my mom and step dad. I was so excited! Which was quickly deflated as well because they hardly played Ty! And they sent him out onto the field twice only to send him back out and I being his mom could tell he was beyond upset so I was upset too. As the game went on he got to play s little and the time he was in he did great he ran the fastest I've seen him run and tried his little heart out! His team lost :( but he kept a good attitude about he whole thing which made me really proud of him:). Kylie did really good cheering. She got mad because we weren't giving her enuf attention a couple times but she got over it and cheered better than she has before:) it was great!

We headed for Denny's~ one of Ty's fav places~ he says they have the best eggs!(I've been trying to perfect MY eggs to look like theirs lol he still says no mom they don't look like that!) we ate n left got home after 8 and I still had to run the last 5 miles...

This is where my eff it usually comes in to play but I got out the stuff I ordered for my relay~ reflective vest, blinky light, water bottle, and headlamp -put it all on after i figured it out-felt ridiculous with that headlight lol so I didn't wear it but after I got out in the darkness I wished I'd had it that's for sure! Had to use the handy dandy flashlight on my phone a couple times because it was so dang dark I was afraid I'd twist my ankle or something since I couldn't see where I was running. Got it done-awesome! I'm so glad I didn't say screw it! So then Sunday is supposed to be a rest day but the day after I do this split long run I like to run that morning to simulate the relay I'll be running so I headed back out Sunday bout 1, after making breakfast, going to the store,the donut shop(not for me), doing laundry- I finally got out in the beating sun to do another 5 miles~ got it done and it felt great that I didn't cut short or not do these runs! Having a team depending on my running is just the fuel I need for my runnin fire! Going to have to sign up for something else after this to keep going. I feel like I'm getting somewhere like I'm a real live runner and I love love love it:)

Bob Harper's lentil soup must try

Bob Harper's Savory Lentil Soup

Note: If you prep the chopped veggies ahead of time, this is a super quick meal to make!

1/4 c dried lentils
olive oil spray
1/4 c chopped carrot
2 tablespoons chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 c cubed peeled sweet potato
1 and 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
dash of salt and freshly ground pepper
(optional) 1/2 tablespoon parsley,1/2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Rinse and drain lentils, set aside. Coat medium pot with olive oil spray.
2. Add carrot, onion, celery, garlic to pot and saute for 5 minutes.
3. Add bay leaf, thyme, tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.
4. Add lentils and sweet potato, stir 1 minute.
5. Add broth and bring to boil; reduce the heat and cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until veggies and lentils are tender. Stir occasionally.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with sprinkling of parsley and parmesan (also good without).

Yesterday's "run"

I had THE suckiest run ever today! I should have run at 5am and got it done while it was cooler but I didn't pry my ass out of bed so that left after work running because lunch run last week was scary in this hood.... I got off at 5 went home to change and walked over to Ty's football practice(bout half a mile I'm guessin) sat and watched him a while then decided I'd go on and do my run and meet them back at home to cook dinner. I set off walked to warm up 5 minutes then started my run. Ran up the road with no shoulder where I swear people were seeing how close they could get to running me over! Won't run this route again. Didn't bring water-dumbass move because I go into fantasizing about water and keep thinking about it and telling myself oh hell ill just go up and ask the next person I see if I can get a drink out of their hose! Then I look for a hose on EVERY HOUSE I PASS! Lol it turned into feeling like I had been abandoned in the desert-u know like u see on cartoons?!? Lol so my running suffered, badly! I really hate when I have that type of run! I am very ready for cooler weather. It's supposed to be ten whole degrees cooler on Saturday which is absolutely awesome because Ty and Kylie's football game at the redone high school stadium is Saturday and it's also my day to run a split 11 miles :) so excited about both!!

Less than 5 weeks til
Relay time! I borrowed this picture below from a Facebook friend and i think I may put it on a shirt for the race lol because forward definitely describes my PACE!

Have a great and healthy day!

Is it bedtime yet?

I'm so very ready to say goodnight! I got up at about 630. Ran 6.something miles, fixed breakfast, mowed front yard(mark took over and finished :) took 4 kids to the Waterpark and I'm pooped! And I still need to run another 5 miles....Uggggg!! I think I may have sat in some glue cuz I can't pry my ass out of this seat... Lol no here I go....