14 miler

Today I ran 14 miles, my longest run ever! It was a balmy 73 degrees. If you don't know much about running, 73 is hot! 55 degrees is the ideal temperature to run.

Normally I would have been excited for 73 since it has been hot, but this week it got down below 60! So I had some awesome runs this week! Which kind of made this run hard.

When it is cooler running is fun and exciting for me. When it is warm, it is hard and sometimes grueling!!! So I need to be grateful for those times when it is a joy and get through the ones that aren't.

I guess that is why running is quite often compared to life! There are so many similarities! Enjoy the good times and remember them when you are going through the bad!

Life since San Fran

So I don't think I have written anything since San francisco. I am back to training for another half in October. But ultimately I am training for a Marathon. Yes, a marathon. When making my training schedule, I didn't make it for a half, I made it for a full.

Blake is running the Tulsa full, and I want to run it too. I was going to sign up next week, but I also have to make sure we have babysitters.

Anyway, running has been hard. It has been hot and we just got back from traveling last week, then Blake went out of town. So it has been crazy. I think when the girls are back in school and we all have a better routine, we will all be happier. Which means momma will be happier and run better. I have been 30 sec slower. I don't know exactly why but I know I need to loose AT LEAST 50 lbs! So that is going along with all my running goals!

Oh, I am not cutting my hair until the Ogden marathon next may! Fun!

I'm a half marathoner!!!

I ran my first half this morning. The day started with Blake leaving for his marathon. Sara was awake at 4am, and couldn't go back to sleep. I laid by her, and she finally fell asleep. Then Faith woke up to eat. During this time I was sleepy but mostly ready to go. I fed Faith and "rested my eyes" while she ate. She got done at 6:10 and I needed to leave by 6:30. So with Vicki's help, I did.

I got to the bus that would take me to my start line in Golden Gate Park. I met Jamie. She is from Anehiem, and lives next to Disneyland. She was a nice lady and was fun to talk with. We stayed together until the race started. She was walking & I was running.

While we were waiting for our wave to start, we watched for Blake. The marathoners ran right by us. I was watching and found him. I waved and when he got closer he came and gave me a kiss! It is just what I needed! I had never run my first race by myself. I was so nervous. But when I saw him, I knew I could do it!

My plan was to run a 2hr 45 min half marathon. Which means I would run 12min 35sec miles. Well I started running and I was running 11:45. I thought my watch was broken!!! I ran that the whole way. I felt awesome. I didn't get sore until the last 3 miles. The Golden Gate Park was beautiful! It was a wonderful way to see San Francisco! So my time on my watch was 2:35! That's 10 minutes faster than my goal!

I am a very blessed woman! God has given me three beautiful and healthy daughters, and a husband who loves, supports & pushes me! I am so grateful to both Blake's family and my family, who cheer us on and make it possible for us to do what we have come to love...Running! I am truly grateful for all of my blessings!!!!

12 miles, check!

Today was my last long training run! I did it, 12 miles! It's the furthest I have ever run. Not as fast as I wanted but that is ok. I am not far off the time I want to run! My hip is still annoying, and hopefully with a little rest it will be better. Now I taper until the half marathon in San Fransisco in two weeks.

I can't believe it has come so fast. I remember when I decided to run this race. Now it is two weeks away! I can't wait!

I had the greatest help today! Blake, Emma, Sara & Faith came and helped me. It made my run easier, and they cheered me on. I loved hearing Emma & Sara cheer, "go mama go"! I am so grateful that I have such a great and supportive family! I couldn't do this running thing without them!

10 miles!!!

I did it! I ran 10 miles this morning! This 193lb, 33 year old woman did it!!! I got up at 4 and then left at 5am. I am thankful for having my own coach that lives with me! I couldn't do it without Blake. He gets up with me and gets me all ready to go. It takes most of the nerves away!

Last Sunday I ran 8 and I was tired but it felt pretty easy. This week my legs felt like I my thighs were made of stone! It started at mile 6. I really didn't know if I would physically do it. Mentally I would NOT let myself stop, even though I really really wanted to! My fear was that if I did stop, that I would not be able to finish.

I realized I have NEVER EVER purposely put myself through that much pain! But I also realized I was mentally stronger than I ever realized. And during this last month, that is something I needed to realize!

I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and that he is my best friend. I have three beautiful girls that are so sweet and loving! I am grateful for all I have!

I DID IT!!!!!

P.S. Next week is 12! Ahhhhhh:)

Wow what a run!

So I haven't been feeling very good lately and I have had a sore hip. Tuesdays run was better than Sundays because my hip hurt less and I was 30 sec per mile faster. Today's run was a tempo run. I was supposed to run one mile warm up, run 3 miles @11:53 and run 1 mile cool down.

I started out ok. The first two miles are the hardest for me. Then I got in a groove and felt great! I ran as fast as 11:48. I was so happy! Plus my hip didn't hurt! Yay!!!!! And it was 60 degrees. Even better!

So I didn't cool down at the end, I just kept going until I got home. I really felt good and the run was awesome! I never thought I would be here after having Faith 3 months ago! I am so proud of myself!

8 miles

Today I ran 8 miles. I ran 8 miles one time with Blake last year. My experience this time was very different! 1. Blake was at home with the girls. 2. I have a sore hip that made it so I couldn't run like last Sunday. 3. I still did it!

Last year I would have used my sore hip as an excuse not to run. This year I am training for the San Fransisco half marathon and I only have 4 weeks left to train! No excuses and I want & need to run as many miles as I can before the marathon!

Besides the pain and being a whole minute slower than I was last week, I enjoyed my run. I enjoy the time to myself. It helps me to feel good & the only thing I have to worry about is making to the end. All of life just pauses until my run is over.

I am proud of myself for running. It is not something many people do or even want to do. I would never have thought in December of 2008 that I would have had a baby and 16 weeks later I would be running a half marathon!!!

I could never have gotten to this point without my family! I love Blake, Emma, Sara & Faith so very much!

7 miles

Today I ran 7 miles. It has been a year since I have done that! I distinctly remember running it. I ran by myself while Blake drove and gave me water and Gatorade at stops.

The biggest thing I remember though is how I felt about running! Last year I ran and I don't think I ever enjoyed it. I knew I needed to and I loved the sense of accomplishment after I ran. Blake ran with me a couple of times and he was so sweet it help me but I wasn't nice at all. It was hard and I couldn't talk, I just had to focus.

My run today was very different. I wasn't nervous about the run. I really can say I enjoyed it. I even felt like I could have chatted along the way! Faith was born 11 weeks ago and I am already up to 7 miles. The farthest I ever ran was 8 and it was pure torture. But i can't wait to run 8 next week.

I really don't know what changed other than having Faith. But I am glad it did. I may not be fast but I can say I am a runner! My average pace was at 12:38. That is awesome because I want to run my first half in San fransisco in 2hr 45 min. And 12:45 is the pace! So excited! I am already there so maybe I will be faster in 5 weeks!

San Fransisco half

I have been runnig again for 6 weeks. I have been doing pretty well! Last Sunday I ran 5 miles and I felt good. The miles are good I just want to be faster, and that will come with time!

So I thought I might do the San Fransisco 5k, but that is only 3 miles and I do that all the time! Blake and I talked and I decided to do the San Fransisco half marathon! 13.1 miles. I only have 5 weeks to train! I am excited but very nervous at the same time! I don't actually run 13.1 before I run the half, so that makes me a bit apprehensive. And I won't have anyone I know running with me. But it will be good. On July 25th 8:30am pacific time I will be on my way!

I am lucky to have my own personal running coach! He's awesome and I couldn't have a better one! Thanks Blake for pushing me and encouraging me. I love you!

5 miles

Blake and I have figured out a schedule since I start my training soon! My long run days will be Saturday. It gets so hot we both can't run on the same days.

So Sunday morning I decided I would run 5 miles. I have been feeling good, so I have been pushing up my miles! I felt pretty good. I felt like I could have run for miles! My time was 1hr 7min. 13.00 pace! Awesome!

June 12

4 years ago today, I had our Sara Victoria Jones! The only good thing about that day was that Sara was born! That Sara is a fighter!

I can't believe that she is already 4. Sara is independent, loving & kind.... When she wants to be! She an be mean, and sweet all at the same time! I love that she remembers all the words to song she has just heard! I love her hugs and her kisses! She loves to play princess, and the next minute she wants to go play in the mud with rocks. Sara can say some off the wall things, and Blake & I look at each other to figure out where she came up with it! Sara is hillarious and makes us laugh!

Today her dad is racing a half marathon in honor of Sara's birthday! We get to go see him run! We are also going to the carnival! Thanks daddy for being a great example to us by running! It has truly changed all of our lives for the better!

Feelin good

Today I did the same 4 miles I did on saturday. The temp was 68@6:15am and breezy this morning. Sat weather was 80@8am. I think I like the 68 much better!!!

Anyway, I started off running and I felt pretty good, but I thought it would go away. The second half of my first mile was hard, but not too bad. Then I realized something; running takes alot of stomach muscle! And that is something that I don't have alot of right now because I just had Faith two months ago. I realized it today because I could feel it. Then I could feel myself getting stronger, and That my legs weren't the thing slowing me down, it was my tummy. Once I get it back where i was I will be faster!

My first mile was 13:50, 2nd 13:00, 3rd was 12:30 & 4th 12:00. These are estimates because I can't get to my watch, since I am rocking Faith right now. But you get the gist!!! I was FASTER! Each mile got better and I felt GREAT! I felt like I could have kept going. I love that feeling. It means I am back! I can't wait to get faster but that will come with time!

Another ccomplishment is that I am under 200lbs! I weighed 199 on Saturday! Never again will I EVER weigh 200lbs! I love what I am doing with my life. I love feeling good after I eat and not feeling guilty for what I have eaten. I love the feeling of accomplishment after going on a run! I love being at the finish line with my girls, watching Blake run in and feeling so proud of my wonderful husband and all he has accomplished! I am at a place that I NEVER thought I would be and I LOVE it!!!!

4 miles

Wow, I never thought that when Faith was two months old I would be back running 4 miles. Now when I stopped running, when I was pregnan, I was running 11.5 min miles. Now I am at 13.5. But I want to be faster. I will once all the baby weight is gone. I have about 20 lbs to go!

Funny, while running I was thinking what I would put in my blog. It kept me motivated to keep going.

The first mile is always hard. Then the second mile I feel as if I could run for hours. Because it was so hot this morning, the third mile was excruciating. I thought I would have to stop. When I left the house it was 80 degrees! Yuck. Too hot for me. But I had to get my run in! It took all of me mentally to get through mile three. On the 4th mile I was in robot mode. I just looked ahead, ran and breathed!!! What a run! I was so excited to have done 4 and really I didn't die, but I was tired and really thirsty!!! My pace was 13:23, per mile. At least that is the average. I was happy with that.

I want my girls to know how much I love them, and how they inspire me to be healthy and active! Blake is my rock and support. Without him I would not be where I am today and where I will be tomorrow, and years to come!

Tomorrow is another day to reach another goal!

My running blog

I decided that I wanted to keep a running journal. I keep a paper journal for my thoughts on me. But I wanted to keep a blog to inspire me to run, loose weight, and do all I want and need to do in life. I want to be 180 lbs by Faith's blessing, which is July 18th. My goal is to get to 150lbs. I am training for the Mother Road Half Marathon on 10-10-10. Blake is going to run it with me. He is such an inspiration to me. He works so hard to be the best he can be. The girls love their dad and watch to see what he is going to do next!

Our life together has been crazy, but we have each other! We have had our good times and our bad times, and all we have done is grown closer with every trial. I enjoy running because it makes me feel good about myself. I feel such an accomplishment when I get done. It is definitely not the easiest thing I have ever done. I just wish I would have done it a long time ago. But I didn't and here I am. I have lost 30 of the 50lbs I gained when I was pregnant with Faith. So now I need to work on the last 20. I can and I will do it.

My children inspire me to be better. I look at them and I want to have the energy to run and play with them. I want to be able to chase them around without being winded. I am so grateful to Blake who decided he was done being fat. I know some people have a problem with that word, but when you have left it behind, saying it is a thing of the past! I will NEVER be 230 lbs again! I will never be 205lbs again! Soon I can say I will never be over 200lbs!!!