I suck at this.

This is the post where I come back and let you know that I have mastered the "C" of the "C25K" program.

There isn't much else to say. It's hot. Like, really, really hot. I don't want to run. Does thinking about running count? Siiiiigh. I HAVE to do this. I already registered, and it's going to be fun. But, could it drop like 40 degrees? Please? I need motivation. 

Training: Day 1 {Jessica}

Well, it started out well enough.
I put on some "work out clothes", tie up the old tennis shoes, load the 3 year old into the stroller.

My husband has decided the whole family will run/walk/bike to get some exercise...that's fine, it's day 1, not like I will be going a great distance.
We all head out into a gorgeous (Monday) night, with my 8 year old in the lead on his bike.
We make it down the hill and half way home before an accident occurs.  My 6 year old, Jack, (pictured above jumping) decided he was not wearing his tennis shoes for this family exercise outing (read:  He didn't know where either pair was) and that he "wanted" to wear his flip flops.  He didn't want to ride his bike (which is what I wanted him to do) but walk/run like Mom and Dad.  I informed my husband that this was fine...but, if anything happened to him, Bart was the one to stay behind.  After all, he is not the one "training" (and man alive do I use that word loosely!) for a race.
Back to training.  I'm walking.   I'm running to the next driveway, and the next.  I'm walking as my heart beats and my is about to explode, Jack catches up to me to run by me, then he is running ahead of me, then...BAM, he falls.  He is such an accident prone child that I just knew this was going to happen...sure enough, he hurt is foot, knee, and hip.  I cuddled him until Bart caught up, then I ran on, leaving Dad to deal with the training injury.
Even with the injury, the entire family made it all the way around the block (not a huge deal, maybe 1/3 of a mile total? twice...but I did walk more then I ran.  I raced my 8 year old on his bike a few times, always cheating so I got a few seconds head start before he creamed me.
Overall it was not as torturous as it could have been.  The running parts, especially the running part where I ran for about six driveways (I know, major big accomplishment, right?) were pretty hard, but I survived, and believe that next time, I will do even better!

And speaking of next time...that was Monday, it is now Thursday night and that is the only training I've done...unless you count the marathon eating of ice cream I did today at an ice cream party I hosted!  It will get better, I just need to get into a routine and become more disciplined with it.

My Dirty Little Secret

I've got a dirty little secret.

It's been buried deep in my heart since I was in eighth grade at Block High School in Jonesville, LA.

I wanted to be a runner.  Well, actually, I wanted to jump hurdles.
We had to jump hurdles in p.e. one day and I thought it was just the BEST part of p.e., ever.  But, being a SMALL town, there was no track team, no reason to run, so I put that dream away.

Then, I started high school (in another equally small town).  Vidalia High School.  I was an overachiever and sought after getting as many A+'s and 100%'s as possible.  P.E. was one area where it was hard to  achieve perfection as I was not a very athletic child.  However, with the running "unit" if you will, I knew exactly what needed to be done to get an "A"...how many minutes I had to run around that pretty neighborhood behind the school to get that "A"...it was like an apple being held in front of the donkey's mouth to get it to go faster.  I did what it took to get that "A", but never more.  I never came in first place, but I always did  my best.

Fast forward to college.  A roommate of mine invites me to run around the P.Mac at LSU.  For exercise...not to outrun the serial killer that was haunting everyone.  And I did it.  And it felt great (well, in that achy, sticky, kind of way that happens when you just GO FOR IT in the heat of Louisiana in the spring).

But, then I got engaged and moved into an apartment and didn't run and didn't even think about running.  Until...one day...maybe two years ago?  My friend, Nicole, posts pictures of something called "The Warrior Dash".  Then, a few other friends (also in Louisiana, I've moved to Nebraska by this time) start posting on facebook about running...and my competitive, "If they can do it I can do it" spirit starts to grow.

Recently, it seems like all of facebook caught on fire with posts about running, signing up for 5K's, 1/2 marathons, etc, etc.  And, that 8th grader who wanted to be on track was BACK BABY!  She just didn't know how to "get 'er done".  After reading a post my friend, Lexi, wrote, about her Color Run, I knew I really wanted to do that event (and the Warrior Dash...maybe next year?).

And thanks to Megan seeing a post I wrote on facebook about a Zombie Run (SIGN ME UP!), now we are heading to Des Moines in October to do a Color Run!  YAY! (it's okay to eat Chick Fil A after a run, right?  Because DM has one!)

Well, YAY for now...I haven't started training yet.  But, I am confident I can do it.  Why?  Because I accidentally took the boys on a 5k adventure (they were on their bikes) the other day and...I didn't die!  So, I think we will go on more bike rides, but this time, I will wear sneakers and running shorts, not denim and flip flops...help me look the part a little better, right? 

So, now that you know my dirty little secret, stick around and see how these adventures go as I train for a 5K with a jogging stroller full of a 45 lb 3 year old, a 6 year old on a bike with training wheels, my 9 year old on his "trickster" bike, and all the hills Omaha has to offer.  It should be a real fun time, y'all!

I've lost my damn mind.

Yep. That's all there is to it. I've lost my damn mind. I'm 32. I'm a fatty. Exercise and me don't really chill in the same circle. But here I am, committed to do not one, but TWO 5ks. One is in September (Dirty Girl Mud Run) and one is in October (The Color Run). This blog will mostly focus on training, and the color run, but I may toss in some info about the Dirty Girl run. This blog will be co-authored by my teammates, so you'll get to see lots of points of view. Mine will probably have the most swearing. :)

The funniest part of all of this is that I have no clue WHY I decided to take up running. I loathe running. I hate the outdoors. I despise being sweaty. I'm an indoors kind of girl. But then... I don't know, it just started annoying me. I mean, yeah, I'm a fatty mcbutterpants. But I've always been that. it should bother me more, but it doesn't. I don't mind how I look, and fat or skinny, I'm a pretty awesome me. But I just suddenly felt like running was something I NEEDED to conquer. And when I say that, I don't mean being the fastest. Nope, not at all. In fact, the two races I'm doing specifically are NOT timed, and are all about fun. My goal? To finish. 1 hour, 3 hours, running, walking, crawling... I don't care! But I WILL do it. Because it's a challenge. And I'm not going to let myself kick my own ass. I don't plan to become a competitive runner. Frankly, I think those people are off their damn rockers. A running high? I'd rather have a Grey Goose high, thank you very much. But, I just feel like my brain says "You can't do this", so I'm going to show it who is boss.

However... training starts tomorrow. So, I will probably have a whoooole different attitude by then!

--Megan