Thursday!

4 1/2 miles on the track!!  Rain rain went away just in time.  No time for yoga, had to give hubby a ride to work. 

Moving- Please be patient for longer postings!!

Namaste.

Server down??  OH NO!!!  I'm still not sure it's all working right - but we'll see.

So last weekend... Friday - 4 miles plus yoga.

Saurday- 7 miles plus yoga...

Sunday REST.

Monday REST - I'm not cheating here I have a floating rest day in my weekday schedule, I just don't always need to use it.

Tuesday - 4 miles plus Yoga

Wednesday - 5 miles, plus meditation.... usually meditation is a given after yoga, but I did stretching and skipped the yoga this am.  Lack of sleep, I needed to restful meditation this am to rejuv and be ready for me day.  Apparently I need to pack up - we're moving this weekend, so you can imagine how quickly I need to be moving from here till Sunday and possibly afterwards, depending on how this goes.  I know it will go Beautifully, I just have no idea how long it will take, how we;'re going to move stuff from point A to point B, animal arrangements, the list goes on :)  Anyway this isn't about running - so I'll stop rambling about it. ha ha.

Looking forward to next week when I up my mileage again !!  YAY!  But everyweek I also look forward to me rest days... please don't think that this is easy, friends.  It's challenging, but it's rewarding as well.

I hope today brings you blessings and joy!  Namaste

Friday!!

Well... you wanna know how far out we are in the sticks?? SO far it is like an obstacle course driving to the track, trying to avoid the deer and fuzzy things running around. And well, sometimes you just can't miss. This am was such a time. Poor thing is in the ditch on the side of the road now. However, by divine intervention, our vehicle is only slightly dented (size of my hand), and I suffered no injury at all. So run I did.

4 miles. It was actually very very nice. I maintained a conversational pace, which I cannot stress how challenging this is for me. I mean I'm not running with anyone with whom to converse. But this morning I felt so calm and peaceful, I didn't feel like pushing myself, I just felt like running. JUST running. It was really nice.

Basic Flow Yoga, have I mentioned that other than sun salutations this is my favorite? Maybe you've guessed. Love it!

So now we have errands to run, after my shower... oh hey speaking of which - I stink. I did a little reading on the topic. From my research it turns out that the more fit you are to more you sweat when you run. Isn't that interesting?? The more detoxed you are the more you sweat when you exercise. Fascinating! So shower then running errands. It sounds like we run everywhere really. Well, I'm not going to. I'm going to take my time. I'm going to do my best to meet each moment with a sense of appreciation and peace. Each moment is new, I'm learning to value this.

I hope today brings you a new level of happiness, my friends. Namaste.

EaZay Thursday!

3 miles on the track. Nice. I was happy to run only 3 as last night was a late night. Full days with lots of kiddies, scouts, and all the other things involved with family life - well, let me just say - whew!

So 3 happy miles. Yoga - Basic Flow!! Naturally, as I mentioned before I work in some extra items to work on chakras (clearing/aligning/etc). Butterfly is terrific for Root Chakra work. Anyway- lots of fun poses. Enjoyed every one.

This week I have noticed that I've been enjoying more and more little things - appreciating so much. We truly are blessed with wonderful children and spending time with them is a blessing, even if my body would prefer a nap. I am noticing that I am allowing myself to be less cranky (lack of sleep. lol) or short tempered. Which used to be a difficult thing for me. I have been enjoying the sunshine, like never before. The sunrise I am blessed to witness as I run my laps really lift my mood and improve my day. Sounds like such a little thing, but I gain perspective watching the sun break over the horizon and slowly illuminate the sky. It's truly lovely.

Time to really begin the day with the hustle and bustle while trying to flow through the moments with a clear and calm mind remembering that I am one with nature and the universe. *sigh* what a beautiful thought. I am so glad to start the day with such a mindset. I feel so blessed.

May you day bring you bright blessings of joy and comfort as you fulfill your purpose this day. Namaste.

Tuesday and Wednesday!

Alrighty - due to scheduling I didn't post yesterday a.m. Bad me. So here is the post for yesterday ANd today!! YAY me.

Tuesday: 4 quick miles on the track. I say quick, not because I suddenly developed super speed, but because I was on lap 12 before I knew it, then lap 14... by then I was just having so much fun just from surprise that my run was going by so quickly.

Then I came home to Deni Preston's Yoga focussing on backbends. Gotta loves those!! Mmmmm yummy!

Wednesday: 5 lovely miles on the track. I've been surprised at a few things I've found on the track. 1 - very few people get on it for very long. 2 - No one stretches out for more than a minute or 5 before getting in their car. 3 - most people out here are walkers. That's all cool and everything. I was just surprised. Well, the not stretching isn't cool... I would be soooo sore if I didn't stretch! I only stretch for about 10 minutes on the track, but then I come home and do an hour of yoga, getting warmed up again and stretching... because almost all of yoga involves stretching some parts of the body. And if I didn't do that - it would hurt so much the next day. I am finding however that I haven't been sore yet. I've had a little twinge here and there in my knees, so then I'll use my cho strap the nxt day and be mindful of my fott placements on my runs and engaging those tooties muscles as I run... but overall really no soreness to complain of.

The run was lovely. Really it was. I can tell already that my body is acclimating to the longer distances really well, as they get easier and feel faster with time.

Then I came home and did Yoga Basic Flow with Deni! I love this dvd set. It is so great to have Deni in my living room every morning helping me to pull in my bandhas, keep my dristi, be mindful of my alignment, etc. I just love the wonders of technology sometimes.

I hope this day brings you all peace and contentment. Bright Blessings, you lovely people!!

Namaste.

Monday night???

Yes, I got on the track at 7:30 pm and ran my 5 miles. Did a lot of stretching and came home and ATE!!! I wasn't very hungry all day, so I drank a few green drinks, but wanted to stay light if I was running as early (possibly) as 5 pm. And I usually have a or two green drinks anyway. My hubby's schedule is somewhat shaky. Running this late was not my plan. But it's done. It felt great, once I got over the large group of people at the highschool for the basketball thing that was going on inside.

At one point I was in "The Zone", and I swear a coupla times I heard someone "whooo hooo" - ing. Dunno what it was about, but it didn't distract me, just heard it and kept my stride. Was nice to witness myself do that - not get distracted. Granted towards the end, my cool down, I may attract attention... I tend to dance around as I try to slow down and then walk a while... a little shimishimi here and little funky march there... well who on earth DOESN'T dance to Queen??? I mean REALLY? I'm happy! I dance! So I probably look a bit like an idiot or a looney, but that's okay. I'm happy. I Feel good na na na na na na na!

So here I am, chowing down on some broccoli, carrots and a little sunbutter. Nummies. And as soon as it hits my tummy, I'm gonna pass out I think. This schedule I'm keeping right now is taking some SERIOUS getting used to. Whew.

Well, nighty night, ya'll.

Monday's Weather??

Wind, rain, thunder, lightening, and what?? HAIL?? Is that HAIL??? I love the weather out here. So obviously no running this am, maybe I'll get it in this pm (let ya know if I do)... if not I'll get those 5 miles in tomorrow, provided the weather cooperates!

SO this am, Deni Preston's Yoga with a moving emphasis. YAY! Turned the heater on high so I could sweat properly. YAY!! Detoxing is good for the body. I LOVE PIGEON!! Oh and CRANE!!! I love them!!! Probably just because they feel so good!!! Like the spinal twist at the end... which is like a free visit to the chiro - YUMMY!!!

Then meditation. I don't share much about meditation, except that it's a good thing, usually. However I will tell you that my meditation sessions are getting longer. 30 - 40 minutes is not unusual. I am working on clearing a few chakras, this week's focus is my root chakra, and I might stretch it to a two week application if my root chakra does not look as clear as I'd like by Saturday. Oh those negative emotions we store away. They are not even always ours! We're such silly mortals, you know?! Silly silly. Feeling like we're responsible for pleasing everyone, and everyone else's happiness and fulfillment... silly people. Well, I feel I'm very very close to having all of it purged. Because let's face it, if you don't make an effort to dump those toxic feelings, they collect and affect your health both emotional and physical. There is nothing on this earth that is purely physical. Everything has a spiritual.

Anyway enough of my rambling. It's a lovely rainy morning. My little garden is getting plenty of water, even though I miss the humming birds - they'll be back. Rain is wonderful to wash old gunk away within our souls as well as off and out of our bodies. Cleans the earth and nature, which in turn helps sustain, heal, and nourish all living things. I will make an effort to go through my day feeling nourished and sustained by nature, taking all situations with a calm and clear mind and an open heart.

May this day bring you what you desire in your own heart as well. Namaste.

Restorative Sunday...

need I say more ???

Namaste, everyone.

Saturday!!

6 miles on the track!!! Whew!!! By the time it was done I wanted to keep going!!! Why oh why does it take me so long to warm up??

Ah well. It was good. Did some Yoga on the track and meditation at home. Then I just jumped into my day!! WHo hoo!

Due to scheduling difficulties I was late typing this up. I try, people, I try.

Namaste!

Real Quick - Friday!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! 4 miles. run run run. lovely!

Then hop home and jump into arm balancing with Deni!!

Still getting into that one almost scarey pose, but it's less scarey now... process. It's all a process.

Brightest Blessings to you all! I'm not to going to ramble on today - just enjoy the wonderul feeling of health and wholeness. I hope you are too.

Namaste.

Thursday!

3 miles on the track after a measely 4 hours sleep. Well, at least yesterday's extra rest counted for something... I needed it. My calves felt much better, especially the left. I also found out a few things:

1 - I need a good two miles to warm up on chilly days.

2 - My calves are adjusting to my new foot fall. I used to be a heavy heel striker... but now I land on the balls of my feet. That plus the track, I do believe, require time for my legs to fully adjust to. Note: with this understanding I can't wait to begin doing striders... a whole new thing for my legs to get used to. lol.

Abdominal Yoga today... YIKES!! I work hard on my abs because I've had so many babies... they're weak weak weak. BUt they will be strong strong strong!!! You wait and see. The ab poses KILL, breath breath breath!! Granted in Yoga you are ALWAYS improving your abs, because of the constant bandhas, but extra focus is good once in a while. I can't handle it often yet - but I'm getting there!

It's a beautiful morning!! I hope you are all enjoying it wherever you are. Namaste.

WEDESDAY!

Morning, all! Funny thing- last night I woke up at 1 am, and got this feeling that I shoould make today a rest day and just do my yoga. I'm big into following feelings I get - so I reset my alarm and slept in a teensy bit. No running today. When I woke up later, to actually wake for the day, I find that my left calf has tightened up so much that I'm limping. While I'm brushing my teeth t's starting to loosen up a little bit, but I think that perhaps this was a good reason not to run today. At least this one body part needs a little more recovery. So tomorrow, back in the saddle.

Today - Yoga!! With whom? No one other than Deni Preston, of course. Yes, eventually I'll want to break it up a little more with a few other instructors, but for now I'm happy with my set of dvds.

After the first 20 mins or so I felt my calves start to open and lengthen, and my heels began to touch the floor again as I sayed on Down Dog. Big Toe Pose... what does it do?? It says, "Good Morning!!!" to your Hamstrings!!! As it stretches out the hams it stretches it out the calves as well. Half Moon is challenging!! But it feels so good!! Especially when you come out of it, ha ha! Wag the Tail - NOT a favorite! Did a groin opening after Traingles. WOW!! and YOWZAAA! But after the first 3 breathes it began to feel better and open up. Runner have tight groins... but like I mentioned, I am DETERMINED not to have that issue. The only way to keep those muscles open and maintain that fexibility I have (and increase it) is by doing poses that open this area of the body, like Wag the Tail, the Pliet Squat thing (I dunno what it's called), etc. So even when they make me wanna cry, I gotta tolerate it and breathe through it, and as I do breath through it I feel these muscles opening, and the tension decreases as I exhale deeper into the poses.

I love Yoga. It exposes all our weaknesses at once, then challneges us to improve then, maybe even one day to make them strengths.

It looks like it might rain today. awwwwww. I was hoping to get a little sun. Maybe I'll get a little gardening in before it does. So much to do. But it looks like I may be starting to get a handle on the timing of my mornings. It's not quite 8 am. And yesterday I was in the shower before 8 am. Tomorrow I'll just have to get up a tiny bit earlier so I can keep this schedule. I like it better this way.

I hope my ramblings have been fun to read. Brightest Blessings to you all! Namaste!

Tuesday!!

Up before the sun, and one the road before he's even peaking out from under his covers!! Due to schedule I had to get outta bed BEFORE 4 am. I had to be back home at leats a 1/2 hour early. YAY! Yeah, sleep deprivation is the best, right? Ri-ight.



Aren't those lovely arms?? And just another exmple of how one should not fear sweat! It's great to sweat!

Not my best run, but not the worst. "A little tired" might be an appropriate phrase to us ein describing me this am. By the last mile I was feeling more energized. By the last 2 laps, I was feeling great! I might have gone a few more laps had I had the time to spare. But I didn't so I just did my 3 miles, plus cooldown and a quick stretch. Then home and onto YOGA!!

"It's Basic Flow, everyone! Are you ready for this?" - gotta love Deni Preston! you may eventually get sick of ready her name here... but that really can't be helped. So *smile*, she really does ROCK! Lots of poses I needed today. Big Toe is a MUST!!! I am so sore today. Youch! A good run, some yogam and EXCELLENT stretching is just what I needed.

The sun is up now, and a shower is calling my name. Bright Blessings to you all! Namaste.

Monday! Huzzah!!

Monday's are terrific days! Don't ya just love Mondays?? Okay maybe they're not the favorite day of the week, but they are my 1st run after my rest day which is N - I - C - E ! !



4 1/2 miles this am. I was late getting there, late starting, so I had some of the youth track runners (who apparently train during the summer months at the highschool) getting in the way. BUt they only did a few wamrups and left. It was a good run. The first few laps were, parhaps, not my best - but getting warmed up takes me a bit. However, I found my stride by mile 2 and then it was just grrreat. I am loving my Brooks PureFlows. This am they put the "Whoo" in my "hoo".

Since I was late and needed to stop at the local Walmart for a few things, I went ahead and did my yoga right there on the track. Many Sun Salutations, Triangle, Big Toe and Hand Under Foot, Pigeon and SCREAMING PIGEON!!!, Loads of stretching and a little meditation thrown in at the end. I'm working to clear out a few chakras, so I can't skimp on the meditation. Yeah- a few ppl stared as they walked around the track - I was the only runner there. But I was on the very outside lane, hopefully not in anyone's way. If I was in someone's way I didn't notce it. It was too wet to do yoga in the grass. Oh well. The Yoga felt AMAZING! The Stretches felt AMAZING! I love Yoga!

I was all sweaty in WalMart, but that eary in the am, no one's there who would care... and after I thought about it, I wouldn't have cared even if someone else had. Ha. I got my carrots and guacamole - mmmmmmmmmmm. I ate a banana on the way out the doors - YUMMY!!!

This week's long run goal is 5 or 6 miles, I forgethaven't decided. Last week I did the 5. I was only scheduled to run 4 this am, but it felt good so I went over. Tomorrow is an easy breezy 3. Looking forward to it.

I don't know how many of you are runners, but when you run you kind of think about it ALL the time. When you get those new shoes in the mail it's difficult not to put them on right then and try them out. It's difficult to rest on your rest day, or on the optional rest day - even if you feel your knees or ankle or whathaveyou needs a little more rest. During the day, after your run, you're thinking about tomorrow's run and the long run coming up, and next week's schedule. You think about the race, if you do races. You think about the food you're putting into your body for the optimal performance, weight loss, strength gain, muscle tone, whatever you're going for. But your brain is always thinking about running and aspects of that part of your life. Even after the race you're thinking about the recoop plan, the next race, etc. I'm even thinking about how to get a treadmill because THIS winter I GOTTA run!!!! I got plans, dude! How am I gonna save that much $$, I have NO CLUE! But it's gotta be done!!

Happy Beginning of the week to ALL of you!! Namaste.

Sunday- Rest Day!!

Restorative... YUM!! Need I say more... really? Deni Preston and her restorative is exactly that!! Restorative. It is as rejuvinating as it is restful. Yummy!

At the end of my yoga session, I did some serious meditation. Ooommmmmmmmmmm, oh wait that wasn't the mantra today. Hee hee. Today it was (pronounced) Nannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng. Mmmmmmmmm. Also yummy. Feeling free and easy now. And Ready to start a new week.

Namaste, everyone!

Saturday!!

YES!!! I was out of bed by 4:15 am !!! GO ME!!! My body protested, but I did it. 5 miles. Was fun. 20 laps, was still fun. I think I enjoy the track. NO ONE else came that early on a Saturday... at least not today.

I think I might need another knee strap (alos known as a cho strap)... we'll see. The longer the run the longer the cooldown needs to be, or it HURTS to stop running. I don't like to stop running right off... it really does HURT. ESPECIALLY any run over 6 miles. Once I start running more than that it really does cause that much discomfort to stop. I can do a 10k and stop, then walk without much discomfort. But 8 miles... can we say "ouch"? SO jog jog jog, then walk walk walk... then walk some more. Then stretch!!

I have the lasting burn in my legs this am. I figure in the next few weeks it will develope into an olmost constant feeling. I'm okay with that. FEEL THE BURN!! WHOO HOOO!

This am I have the oil burner on to infuse the room with some vanilla - y scent while I practice my yoga!! LOVE IN' it!

Deni Preston's Yoga focussing on arm balancing! Are you stoked or what?? Well, I'll be honest... these arm balancing are NOT easy! In fact there's one I'm kind of scared of - I feel like I'm gonna do a face plant right into the wood floor when I do it... and I'm still not doing it right. Fully extending I would almost be kissing the floor. Makes me nervous. But approach approach approach. Like a toddler with new food- just keep reintroducing over and over again - eventually I'll get it. There are other balances that are difficult but I LOVE them because I can do them now. Like Crane!1 I love Crane!! Just floating up there, balancing on my hands. That's kewl, dude! It took a while, but I got it... like triangle actually. Once I let go of that selfjudgement, I find I can accomplish so much.

And I'm starving!!! Green drink being consuming as I type now. This a.m.'s Green Drink consists of 4 oz coconut milk, 8 oz of water, 4 ice cubes, a generous handfull of romaine (gift from a very nice neighbor), a tiny slice of avocado, and two little slices of cucumber, with a touch of honey. I made a lot because I am sharing with our youngest daughter. Don't ya love how kids seem to think that no matter what YOUR food is yummier than whatever they're eating - even if it's the SAME THING?? She still is convinced that the beverage in MY cup has hidden yummliness. Silly girl.

Okay, now that I've almost finished my breakfast, and I do believe a snack will shortly follow, I do believe a shower is calling my name. Tomorrow is my rest day... now that I'm in my running mode I'm gonna have a hard time NOT running. I'm gonna hafta be satisfied with restorative yoga in the a.m. Gulp gulp gulp- yummy!!

Senind you all lots of love and a beautiful day!!! Namaste.

FRIday!!!

3 miles. Not my best run. I was COLD!!! On my way OFF the track my butt was STILL freezing!!! I was also a little tired... which was exasperated by the cold! However, it was not my worst run. I still enjoyed it, I observed my fatigue, I also observed that maintaining the conversational speed was a challenge. My body wanted to go faster, I believe this is because it wanted to get warmer! My MP3 player was all charged up, which helped me get my speed back down when my breath became reactive.

I remember when I was training for this race, the first time. Every single day after the 2nd week of traing it felt like my buns and thighs were constantly on fire (even while I slept). This morning's chill actually had me looking forward to that.

An hour of yoga with Deni Preston. While I wanted to jump into RESTORATIVE, I felt that Basic Flow would benefit me more today. So I denied myself, and felt a lot better after doing so. The Yoga warmed me up while my space heater ran. If I had done restorative I would have remained chilly. So Basic Flow was a better choice.

I added my own poses into the program, as some of the instruction on how to get into poses I don't need anymore and takes up time. Why waste the time waiting, when I can use that time for another stretch or pose? That's what I mean! So extras were added.

I need to figure out what takes so long in my mornings... getting everything done, including typing the posts up, is taking me (what I consider to be) too long. I know it's a 20 min drive one way to the track... so that takes time. And when I get home I take out the dogs, care for whomever is up already, sometimes get the boys outside to their chores, etc... but I need to figure out how to get it all finished before 8 am. That would make me happy. I'm gonna give myself a little time to figure this out, and with little ones I don't expect perfection everyday. But taking until 9 to get into my morning shower is not acceptable. So I'll think on it, and get a plan of some kind and begin to apply. Because if I feel this takes too long to document, I'll stop... which will dminish my focus on training... it's adomino effect from there as you can see. That is also NOT acceptable. So I'll just make it work. *smile* it's all a process!

Thank you again for reading.

Training Program!!

Yesterday I had to organize, make copies, fill in dates and so on before I could type up my thoughts and plans. Howevere I'm failry ready now:

I got this book from www.paperbackswap.com Which means I paid about $2.50 to send one of my books to someone else and got this for free. This is what I am basing my training on. This shows you a set up for training programs for whatever distance you're going for (almost, it doesn't cover a marathon and a half or other REAL distances). The author breaks up the training into 3 stages. The first stage being Road Work. Road work is simply the accumulation of miles. SLOW accumulation!! Since I am going for a half marathon this time, that's the program I'm looking at. This books sets up 17 weeks of training for you. Because of the fasting and the recoop time I feel I need, I added three weeks to the beginning - so my training will last a total of 20 weeks. My first week is almost done.

The second stage is Strength Work, which obviously deals with strangth building during those weeks. The Strength Work includes tempo runs and inclines!! WHohooo! Don't ya just LOVE a good hill?? The third stage is Track work. Track work involves 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1600-meter, and 3200-meter repeats. This gives you speed, the "tempo" that (hopefully) you'll run your race.

Right now, of course, I am in the Road Work phase. I'm starting out small, and building up. At the end of the Road WOrk phase the long run (n a Saturday) will be 16 miles. Then I enter into the Strength Work, which cuts the long runs back down to 10 miles. Just the thought gets your blood going, doesn't it??

I will share how this all goes, falls apart, comes together for me as I get through it. At this point I'm still surprised I'm getting out of bed as early as I am to drive to a track...