Happy Halloween!!

Our Final products at the pumpkin party!! Woohoo!

This is my sister Jen. She did such a great job on her pumpkin!!

This is Jon, Jen's fiance'. He was so proud of his pumpkin!! It says "Hoot". Hahaha!!!

Kevin is working so hard on his pumpkin!!

How do you rotate these things???? Pumpkin anyone??

Food and Workout Log

Yesterday I ran or shall I say, walked, a 10k. It was pretty hilly. Susan, I have a friend that lives in that neighborhood and she said that she will do "hill" training over there. So it was not just us crapping out!! I admit that it was pretty tough. Right now I am struggling with my physical condition, but with mental motivation. I want to run, I feel great running, but I am finding myself lacking motivation to even get out of the door. Oh well, I will chalk it up to post marathon blahhh. I will push through it. I have the half on Sunday and Austin in Feb. I will get focused and the motivation will come. I really enjoy running with the Plano Group. I love it actually. I ran with E today and had a great time. Our time was not stellar, but we completed 4.89 miles in 54 minutes. That was an 11:03 pace. I will get faster. Tomorrow is buttcamp and possible 3 miles with Susan over lunch. I will have to see if I have any tests to run. By the way, my blood sugar is not low at all. In fact, it is high. Not horribly high, but it is still over the limit of what is normal. I am shocked that it is not low, but high. I seriously need more education on Diabetic food intake. I am seeing a nutritionist this week or early next. My fingertips are so sensitive right now. It was really hard to hang onto the lat pull down bar. Ouch!!
Blood sugar before workout or food (4:30am): 95
Workout: Lifting with Richard upper body only
I did not eat anything
Blood Sugar before running (still no food yet--6:30am):100
Power Gel
Workout: 4.89 miles in 54 minutes
Post run Blood Sugar (7:45 am): 98
Breakfast:
Rice cake with Honey mango spread, orange, candy (I know, this won't help my sugar, but it is soo good!!) I suspect that my Blood Sugar will be high on the next check.
2 hour past food Blood Sugar check (11:15am--actually this is a bit late): 114
*Crap, I can't really eat too much candy any more. That totally sucks for a Chocoholic!! Sad!!
Lunch: Turkey sandwich, carrot stick with veggie dip (1 tablespoon), apple with caramel apple dip
Dinner: not sure yet, I will enter this in when I decide
Before Bed Blood Sugar Check:

This whole Blood Sugar thing is quite fascinating. I am doomed for Diabetes. I just know it. I will do my best to control my diet even more. I am struggling with this, but I will do it because I don't want to feel the way I did after Chicago!!! I will keep you all posted!!
Blog on friends!!

Food and Workout Log

This morning was a bit more track work. Susan and I went to the local High School track to meet another running group. No one showed up. I thought I'd just run around a bit, nothing too speedy (I already did speedwork on Wednesday). When no one came, I thought well Susan needs to do speedwork, I'll let her pace and I will follow. We ended up warming up with a slow 800, then ran 2 x 400's and 2 x 800's. Walked a bit and jogged a bit in between. I did not have any blood sugar problems, I drank a Glucerna shake during the breaks. That stuff is so thick, it gets caught in my throat. Uggghhh. But if it helps, then I will use it. I went later this morning (around 9:30 or so) to tempo run. I had initially intended on doing a 5 mile tempo, but realized I did not have enough time. I ended up doing 2.57 miles in 24:51. Not too bad. I am pleased. It is so hard to run by myself!! I also desperately need new music on my MP3 player. I am getting really tired of the Black Eyed Peas, as much as I love them. Any suggestions? I am somewhat of a rocker, but don't like to be screamed at.

Workout:
Glucerna shake
Breakfast:
Organic Rice cake with honey mango spread, an Orange, tea and splenda
Snack:
Yogurt made with soy (this is going to take some getting used to, it is well....different)
Lunch:
1 cup Tortilla Soup, Lunch bag of Fritos, 1/4 cup Sweet baby peas
Dinner:
I don't know yet...We are carving pumpkins tonight so it won't be too healthy I am sure!!

Weight check in: 166
Pace for the Tempo run: 9:40 a mile!! Yippee!! It is only going to get better from here!!

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Food and Workout Log

This morning was Bootcamp. We did upper body weights with Cardio blasts. I really felt like it was more cardio intense today, but everyone else said it was about the same as Tuesday. Oh well. Becky and Candi are doing awesome!! This workout style is tough and they are doing great!! Hopefully they are watching their calories going in after such a great workout!! It is hard for me all of a sudden to keep my discipline with food these days, I am not sure why!! I will get it!! I found some old pics of myself and I cannot believe how I looked just a year and a half ago. Crazy!! I won't post them, I am too embarrassed. Plus I'd have to scan them in and then put them on my computer. What a pain. So I will spare you all the fat pictures!! Heeeheee!! Welcome to bootcamp Richard and Diane. It was nice to have you all this morning!! Susan, it was great to see you too!! And I am looking forward to running with you and the FM group on Friday morning!! I am going to do a double day today!! Day, Day, Day!! I am so redundant today. There it is again?! Hahahaha!! I am going to walk, run, or eliptical and watch Alias!! That is my fave show of all time!! I love strong women!! Go Jennifer Garner!! Even pregnant she is tough!! Hahaha!!
Breakfast:
1 cup Cereal (mini wheats), 1 cup Soy milk, 1 cup Fresh OJ, and 1 cup grapes (I like the number 1 today--haha) (7:15 am)
Lunch:
1 cup Chicken Noodle Soup, 6 Saltine Crackers, 2 carrots with Veggie Dip, and Ginger Snap cookie (only 1--I got them yesterday and already have them portioned out to try to control my intake--I have to keep reminding myself that Ginger Snaps won't make me run fast!! Haha!!)
Snack:
Yogurt (made with Soy instead of dairy), Apple
Dinner:
Leftovers, I am not sure if I am going to have BBQ Chicken or Soup?? I will have to update later!!
**Go Sox!! Kevin is a huge White Sox fan and they won the World series last night!! Woooohoooo!!!!

Food and Workout Log

This morning Richard and I went to run with the group again. Track work. I don't really like track work, but I know it will make me faster. Maybe I can keep up with Susan again?? Who knows. My goal this morning was to run 5 x 800m. I wanted to run them in the same amount of time as last week, 4 minutes. So we showed up and ran a slow 800 to get warmed up. It was really cold outside this morning. Anyway, I ran all 5 in under 4 minutes!! Yay!! They all revolved around 3:50's. Wow!! That was sooooo cool. I find myself getting excited to see if this kind of speed transfers to my longer runs. I hope so. Also I am quite sore from Buttcamp yesterday!!

I have eaten everything in site today!! I have to get it under control!!
Blog on friends!!

My Buns are already sore!!

I have been deceived, I am actually getting sore from Bootcamp (aka by Susan Buttcamp) this morning!! I guess, if my butt is sore that means it is getting tighter which means that it won't jiggle?? Anyone following me on this one?
Blog on Friends!

Food and Workout Log

Okay, yesterday I had 2 cups of Chicken noodle soup. I was really out of it yesterday!
This morning was Bootcamp day. Becky, Candi, Susan and I all met at 5 am to do lower body weights with cardio intervals. It was not too bad. It was good. I probably won't be sore, which is a good thing. I want to do some hill sprints today, but not sure I should because I am doing track work tomorrow morning. I am trying to follow the hard/easy principle. If I do hills today and track tomorrow it will hard/hard? Maybe I should wait until Friday to do hills. I don't know. I am so indecisive these days. Welcome back Susan!! Thanks for a great workout this morning guys!! You rock!!
Breakfast:
99%Fat Free Toaster Waffles (2), Butter (Country Crock Light), and Sugar Free Syrup, 1/2 protein shake, and Grapes (1/2 cup)
Lunch:
1 cup Chicken noodle soup, Saltine Crackers, 2 carrot sticks with veggie dip, and 1 pumpkin spice muffin, 8 oz. Orange Juice (Fresh squeezed)
Dinner:
Shredded BBQ chicken Sandwich and Oven Tater Tots (15 or 1 serving), Pumpkin Bread

**Susan, are you going to do the metric half in FM? And, do you want to do a short run on Friday morning (3 or 4 miles?)?

Food and Workout Log

Workout this morning was a lame lifting session with Richard. We were both so sleepy faced that our workout was somewhat a waste of time. I think I may have benefitted a bit more sleep instead of a light lifting day. Oh well, I am sure that there was some benefit to pushing through a workout. Sorry Richard I was really tired this morning and feeling a bit under the weather.
Breakfast:
Mini Wheats cereal with Soy milk and protein powder sprinkled over it, 8oz fresh Apple Carrot juice and hot tea.
Lunch:
2 cups (oh yeah, you know I measured it out), 6 saltines, 2 spice cookies, and a handful of gummy lifesavers
Dinner:
Chicken breast with Italian seasoning and olive oil, mashed potatoes, and baby sweet peas.

Brrrrrr, It was chilly this morning!!

This morning I set off on my own to run the Waterworks 25k. I had great intentions and my mind has been in the right place all week!! I did well. I finished in 2:43. Not so shabby coming off of Chicago so soon. It was windy and cold. I don't think Thruston Racing Group expected so many participants. I think there were like 450 or so. Maybe it was the weather. I don't know though, I had to park like a half mile away from the start. Also there were only 4 potties, can you just imagine the line?
I feel great, other than well..... the whole my legs are exhausted thing. I kept telling myself: Oh get over it, it was 2 weeks ago. But my legs had another idea of what they wanted to do today. Walking was wonderful. That felt good. I would just run until my legs were tired, then I walked. It was so windy that the lake reminded me of the ocean with the waves crashing ashore. I imagined that I was on the beach somewhere tropical. Not Cancun though, those poor people.
I tried some new things this morning on my quest to keep my Blood Sugar under control. First, I actually ate a bowl of cereal with Soy Milk before leaving the house at 6am. (Race time was 7:30). I took Power Gels with me but did not use any of them. I chopped a Luna bar up and carried it with me. No Spark, Muscle Fuel, or V16. I munched on the Luna Bar throughout, but had finished by mile 5 or so, I was sooooo hungry?? Could this be from the cereal?? Perhaps I woke my metabolism up too early this morning. I also carried water and 1 small bottle of Endurox with me. I finished the water, and took some from the stations as needed, but never felt sloshy. I did not finish my Endurox. After the race I did not have the regular bottle of water, instead I had a Diet Coke (I realize that this was not the best choice, but I deserved it!!). I sat down long enough to eat an apple, instead of the usual banana. I did not have any dizzy feelings or feelings of shakiness, lost, or disorientation. I am tired now, but not exhausted. I think I might be getting a handle on this.
All in all it was a great morning.
Blog on Friends!!

*I am going to have this to eat:
Lunch: Baked Potato Soup and Saltines
Dinner: Not sure yet.

Food and Workout Log

Workout: Track work. I met with a new group this morning. I had so much fun. I feel like a rockstar!! I sort of just showed up. Now, I have tried to join running groups before on track days and always ended up more discouraged than inspired. I was only slightly afraid that this would happen, so I showed up anyway. I need to find a group to run with. What could it hurt anyway? I also need the work. I was lost a bit when trying to find the location but thankfully a good person pointed me in the right direction. I found the group. They were all standing in the dark on a track. I couldn't really make out any faces, but approached anyway. Brave soldier, I know, I didn't really know what I was walking into. So I ask if they were part of the group and they all answered with a response like "yeah, who are you?"I told them who I was, am, and that I might be interested in joining the group. They all just laughed and said, "All you have to do is show up and you are part of the group." So I smiled back and said okay. A women off to the side said I just got here too, I will warm up with you. And just like that I found myself "part of the group". No one left me, some despite their own pace hung with me just to get to know me. Some are marathoners, some just like the work, some are 5k 'ers. It was a mix of people. I completed the warm up (a slow easy 800) and waited to see what's next. I figured I would just do what ever they were doing. I quickly found out that they were all doing different things ranging from 400's to 1 mile repeats. I knew for sure that a 1 mile repeat was not going to be an appropriate choice. I am just not there yet. A 400 seemed like the wiser choice, after all it hasn't hardly been 2 weeks yet since completing the race in Chicago. I did my first 400 in 1:53. I am thinking to myself, this is too easy. So we milled about trying to recover and then got ready for the next one. They like to ask everyone what distance they are doing, so when it came to me, I quickly shouted out 800. I didn't even give it a thought. Immediately I began questioning myself. What was I thinking? I don't like sprints and I am not even sure if I can run an 800 without crapping out before finishing. I had my MP3 player on so I could not hear everything that was being said. I sort of like to tune out life when I am running. It is my time to escape. But I heard mumbling and just like that everyone took off. Before even realizing what was happening I was behind. Oops. Here is a bit of history about me: I am a volleyball player, that is what I did in high school and part of college. I have never run track or been competitive in track. This sort of training is somewhat foreign to me. Some of the women in the group, actually almost all of the other women, were faster than me despite my starting behind everyone. I made every effort to hang with them, but they were just much faster than me. The second time around, I turned my music off to hear what they were saying. We all lined up again and announced our sprint of choice. We are all standing there hands on our watches and leaning forward like we are at the beginning of a major race. It was probably pretty funny looking. I heard someone say: 5, 4, 3, 2, go and we all took off. I started with them and lagged behind quickly, again despite my efforts. The second time around I noticed that my legs are tired and my lungs kind of hurt. I just kept chasing after everyone in front of me. I can hear the women in front of me cheering me and each other on. I think, wow this is really cool. I don't think I have heard that before. In races, I usually see my husband cheering me on then I run up to him and we chat for a brief moment, but this was different. I found it extremely motivating. These people whom I had just met are cheering me on by name. Cool!! I check my time as I finish: 4:04!! What??? Can't be?? How?? Not sure. So I am milling about trying to catch my breath and eating a Glucerna bar, remember the Blood Sugar thing. I feel great, other than breathlessness I am fine. No dizziness, no drunk feelings. We line up for the 3 time around (my 2nd 800) and again announced our sprint of choice and took off. I think announcing what distance you are running is kind of funny, but it is accountability at its finest. I push myself through my 2nd 800, and check my watch after finishing: 4:05!! OH MY GOSH!!! What??? Two times in a row?? Holy smokes, this is cool!! Again with the wandering around and eating the Glucerna bar. At this point my legs are tired. I am beginning to think I am finish when someone walked up and said, how many more are you going to do? I answered, "don't know, how many more is everyone else running?" She rattled off "oh I think so and so is going to do a few more, do you want to stay?" I said sure, but I am not sure how many more I can do. I am game for 1 more. So we lined up again, made our announcements and took off. My legs felt like molasses. I am definitely slowing down. I thought, I made for 2 800's, that is 2 more than expected I can slow down and finish knowing that I worked really hard. So I stopped chasing everyone and just ran. I finished and checked my watch: 4:05!! I am in total shock. I am so pumped!! I walk off the fatigue and another lady said "another?" and I quickly said I don't think so, I am tired. 3 is good for me for right now. So she said, if you watch and cheer for me for one more, I will do a cool down with you. I am thinking cool down? I never really cool down. So I said okay. I cheered her on and she was like "I need someone like you to cheer for me more often, it really helped. Thank you." I failed to tell anyone that coaching is second nature to me. I love to give encouragement in any way I can. We cooled down (easy 800) and chatted some more. I hope to be able to run with them again. I had a great time!! I did not have any dizziness or disorientation at all through the whole thing!! Yay!! I think munching on a Glucerna bar throughout the workout was great!! I also took about a teaspoon of Glutemine (protein supplement). When getting in the car I drank a Glucerna shake. I was shakey, but not dizzy so I wondered if it would help. It did. I still need to check my Blood Sugar levels, but this was a breakthrough. I felt great. I am recovered already. I don't think I need to run anymore today, but I am not exhausted.
Workout:
Muscle Fuel, Glutamine (before workout), Glucerna Bar, Glucerna Shake
Breakfast:
Organic Brown rice cake, Mango Honey (less than a teaspoon spread on rice cake), 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, 1/4 cup red grapes, 8.45 oz Fresh Squeezed Tropical Fruit Juice
Lunch:
Left over Pork roast with veggies, 2 fun size Snicker bars
Snack:
Protein shake, banana
Dinner:
Chicken Ceaser Salad

Food and Workout Log

Workout: 1 hour bootcamp. This workout was very high intensity. Candi met me and we went through it. I still need to work out some kinks, but overall it was a great workout!! Susan, we missed you!! My arms are jelloey!! I plan to do some running this morning before getting ready to test today. I am going to call it "Heck yeah I like hills" day. I plan to do 4 McKamy hill repeats. I will run up the hill and walk down it. So like I said: Heck yeah I like hills!! I will not be beat by the hills in the half coming up in a couple of weeks!!
**Update: Heck yeah I like hills!! I was reminded of how much they actually suck, but I will keep telling myself that they are great!! I did four repeats!! I ran down one hill and back up the other side. I rested 1 minute in between each one, except for the last one. I had to pee. Lucky for me they are building a new housing addition so there were an abundance of port o lets. Hhahahaha!! Wow! My legs are recovered from the marathon, I think. I feel strong. I did have a little bit of the dizzy feeling after the hill sprints, but it subsided quickly and did not get lost or disoriented. Hallaluia!! I think I can keep the blood sugar thing in check with the Glucerna shakes until I have a definitive answer of what is going on!! If it doesn't work, I will keep experimenting!! I know there is an answer!! I will find it!!
Spark
Catalyst
Breakfast: Shredded mini wheats (Kashi Cinnamon Harvest), medium banana, and 1 cup Minute Maid light
Snack: Glucerna Shake after running hills
Lunch: Tuna on Whole wheat bread (made with mayo), and lettuce, small lunch bag of chips (probably Dorito's, I can't decide yet), 3 mini Snicker's fun size bars, Carrot Stick with Veggie Dip
Snack: Small Granny Smith Apple with 1 Table Spoon Fat Free Caramel Apple Dip, Protein Shake??? Not sure yet
Dinner: Pork Roast and veggies (cooked in seasonings in the slow cooker). I love using the slow cooker, it is so easy!!

**These are my intensions, I pretty much stuck to it yesterday so it should be easy to do the same today!! I may add more snacks if I am hungry today!! I am still trying to drop my weight to 160 before November 6. I will run the half in 2 hours or less!! I am determined!!

Blog on Friends!!

We're in the spirit now!!

I can hear you all laughing now!! I know, I know, I am such a dork!!! Hahaha!! It sucks sometimes to have soo much time on my hands!! Petsmart is cool!! I also am in love with my new camara!! Heehee!!
My little devil!! Nikko is just over 2 years old.

Chi town was great!!

Oh my gosh, I have soooooo many pics to share with you all!!
So, I had a great time in Chi town!! Kevin and I left on Thursday evening after work. We dropped Nikko off in Norman with my family!! We arrived late and it was so cold!! I loved it!!
We stayed in Tulsa on Friday night then arrived in Cal City on Friday evening. Kevin, Gramps, and I hung out for a while before going to Aunt Bonnie's to say Howdy!! Saturday morning Kevin, Gramps, and I went to a local resteraunt to load up on Fuel. I had 3 pieces of French toast made with wheat bread and egg beaters. It was yummy!! After we ate, Kevin and I headed to the expo where there was a ton of stuff to look at!! It was a bit overwhelming but very organized.
The clock running here displayed the time left before the marathon started.

After going to the expo Kevin and I headed over to a suburb of Chicago to watch his cousin, Jessica (pictured below), play in a volleyball tournament. I know what some of you are thinking, don't I get enough volleyball at home??? Well, no. I had a great time and it was a fantastic way to hang out with more of the family. Below and to the left is Aunt Bonnie and Conner (Brianna's baby boy).

To the left is Gramps and Conner. Below is Brianna and Conner. We are all still at the Volleyball Tournament.

When Kevin and I left the tournament, we had just enough time to change clothes and head out to the Italian Village. I think it is one of the oldest Italian resteraunts in Chicago. Here we are crammed in a tiny booth. The whole place was packed. Here is Kevin, me, Susan, and her friend Kate. Below is a picture of Chi town before sunrise.

Sunrise on race day. I love watching the sunrise. There is something very special about the beginning of a new day.

Start Line. Can you believe all of these people??
44,000 runners were present on this very exciting day!!

Here we are at the start line. This was just about the last time I saw Susan. It was so crowded!!

To the left is somewhere before mile 2. Below is mile 2, I just don't know how rotate it around.

Somewhere around mile 3 or 4, it is still crowded!!

I loved this part. It is after mile 7 or so. I loved the trees. The whole course was somewhat shaded. There was a cold breeze almost the entire time. I shedded my layers a bit too early. I got cold and stayed cold the whole time. It was totally worth it though!!

Look, there are still a ton of runners around me.


I saw Kevin at the half way point. I was sooooo happy to see him. I was lonely by myself!! I made it half way!! To the left was a pic I took off of a draw bridge. Isn't it post card like??I loved it.



The crowd was starting to spread out here, but notice it is after mile 15!! Whoa!!

This on the left is US Cellular Feild (or Kominsky field--where the Sox play). We were really lucky that the Sox swept Boston, otherwise the race course would have been very different. Game 4 would have been on Race Day. Below, mile 24, I am almost there!!

Here I am on the left at mile 25. Some stranger was kind enough to take my pic. Below is me after the finish!! I am totally disoriented and confused. I think my blood sugar was dangerously low, because I was really lost. I was not sure where I was or where to go. I have never felt that way before. It was scary!! The finish area was very long and there were a ton of people!! I could not find Kevin or Susan. I was looking but was lost. I somehow came up with an apple and a bottle of water. Finally when I could not find anyone, I just sat on a curb and ate my apple. I was very, very disappointed in my time. I finished...yes...but in 5:44:42. My goal was 4:30. I am not sure what happened. Blood Sugar problems??? Not sure. That kind of thing runs rampant in my family. It was the first thing my mom said when I told her how disoriented I was. My foot was dying!!! I could hardly put any weight on it. Plantar Facitias (how do you spell that).. SUCKS!! I thought it was better, guess not. But in hindsight, I FINISHED and faster than Austin in Feb. 2005.
Here we are saying goodbye to Gramps. We don't get to see him very often so we wanted to take advantage of the time together.

Oh my gosh. On the way back from Chicago, somewhere around Missouri we saw the the Oscar Meyer WeinerMobile!! I have never seen it in real life!! We laughed for an hour or so!! HeeHeee!!

I love road tripping with Kevin. He drives, I ride. The landscape is just gorgeous!!

It is just a shame that our Texas government insists on cutting down trees!! This is still Missouri!! It is so beautiful!! I didn't want to rest, I was afraid I would miss all of the trees!!














When we got back to Norman, Kevin and I waited for my dad to get off work and we went to eat. We went to Charlestons and all my parents could say was that I had just run "The Chicago marathon". They were so proud. They told everyone from the hostess to the busboy. Sorry about that if any of you are out there. I ate the biggest Prime Rib steak. It was sooooooo good. I don't normally eat red meat, but I just felt like it on Monday night. The funny thing about running a marathon, is that you can eat an 8oz steak, salad, bread, and mashed potatoes and not feel very full!! Crazy!! I had a great time and would not trade my experience for the world. I just wish I could have performed more like I had trained. So you may ask, What's next? The Dallas Half on November 6th!! I plan to have a very good time. I am in search of a group to train with.