Training: Weeks 4 & 5

      I'm having a hard time differentiating the individual weeks at this point because it just seems like I'm constantly running and progressing.  But I do know that I just finished week 5, and tomorrow I start week 6.  

      I would say that week 4 was a turning point for me.  When I have run in the past I am literally in this state of dread with each step that I take.  The whole time I'm thinking, "I'm running.  This sucks.  My legs hurt.  Oh no, a 5 minute run is coming up.  Not looking forward to that.  When will this be over?!"  I have taken a turn and now it is kind of like I am in a state of zen as I run.  I'm thinking about the lyrics to the song I'm listening to and enjoying a little free time away from my crazy wonderful kids.  

      My younger sister, Chelsea, and I are doing this training together so it's fun to be able to call or text her later that day and say, "I ran.  It was _____ (insert: awesome, terrible, exhausting, etc.).  How did yours go?"  The first few weeks my response was usually along the lines of "tiring" or "really challenging", but the last few times I have said something like "Great!".  That right there is progress.  There is nothing like the feeling of seeing your body do things you didn't know it could do.  I am NOT a runner.  I think I will maintain that for a long time.  But I am becoming one.  I am becoming somebody who ENJOYS running.  I am becoming somebody who says things like, "I'm really looking forward to my run tomorrow."  I never knew that Courtney existed.  

      My most recent workout was one that my sister and I had been dreading.  Before it had always been intervals.  An example would be: 5 minute jog, 3 minute walk, 5 minute jog, 3 minute walk, 5 minute jog.  The longest we had run would have been for 8 minutes at a time.  But this most recent workout simply stated, "Run for 20 minutes.  No walking."  That was scary to me.  That seemed like a big jump to me.  But I got out there and did it.  And my text to Chelsea was (word for word), "It was awesome, Chels!  I wasn't even tired!"  

      I am so looking forward to my training this week.  It has cooled down quite a bit and I really enjoy running in the cool weather.  It really almost makes me giddy to talk about.  We even registered for our 5k on November 3rd, so it's official.  I am actually enjoying my training so much that I am going to continue training for a 10k.  My friend, Hannah, has agreed to do that with me, which is another thing that has me so fired up.  

      Never in a million years did I think that I would be saying these things to you.  Anybody can run a 5k.  If you've been wanting to do it, I urge you to train.  It is so fulfilling.  I love it.

Training: Weeks 2 & 3

I was originally going to update about my 5k training weekly but then I realized that there's not a whole lot to talk about. I'm just running in intervals and it's getting progressively longer and harder. I will however try to update every couple weeks.

Week 2: After a particularly hot run at the track I decided to listen to my sister's advice and try running through my neighborhood under the shade of the big beautiful trees. I really enjoy doing this because not only is it more comfortable, but I'm getting more of a road-race feel doing it this way. I've also been enjoying exploring my neighborhood. It is very beautiful. As with most small towns there isn't continuity from one house to the next. There might be a large, beautiful house next to a tiny little shack next to a historic home next to new construction. There aren't rules like in some of the newer neighborhoods. It's fun for somebody like me who really enjoys real estate to snoop around in this way. Here are a few of the homes I get to run by:








Week 3: I was really getting into the swing of things and then I got sick for about 2-3 days. I missed a run because there was just no way that I could do it in the state I was in. I was all ready to do a make-up run on a day that I don't normally run and all of the sudden a huge storm hit. It looked like a hurricane outside my window. When everything was said and done many trees had been knocked down, broken in half, and destroyed. Everybody was out cleaning their lawns. Our neighborhood was cluttered with tree debris. I finally was able to run after the storm and it was interesting running around and seeing all of the damage. It was fun to run through. Here are a few pics I snapped of the damage:











I can tell that my body is getting used to this training. I feel ready each time that I run. The runs aren't intimidating. And if you can believe it I actually look forward to them. It's a little time to myself to just be alone and listen to music. It's very therapeutic. I hope that I'm saying the same thing the next time that I post.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Couch-to-5k: Week 1

This was my first full week (out of 8) of couch-to-5k workouts.

This week's exercise consisted of alternating 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes with a 5 minute warm up and cool down period at the beginning and end.  I really liked this workout because as the title suggests it starts out very beginner which makes it seem not as intimidating that I'm training for a race.

Monday was my first workout and I arrived at the local high school track around 10 a.m.  I don't think I could've asked for a more beautiful day to begin training.  It was in the 70's.  The sun was shining and there was a nice cool breeze.  I turned on my C25k app that guides you as you are running and keeps track of your workout.  I blasted my music and was able to do my workout with a really great mindset.  I felt like the training was challenging but doable.  Remember that I had a baby 4 months ago, so this is the first working out I've really done in over a year.  I left the track feeling very accomplished and with a general positive attitude for the rest of the day.  

Luke is actually doing some training of his own for SWAT tryouts that are coming up, so we're running on the same days and alternating watching the kids.  On Wednesday he went to the track first and when he got home he warned me that there was a high school gym class that was out running the mile that day but they should be done by the time I got there.  I headed to the track and sure enough they were just finishing up and about to walk inside.  "Phew, I missed them!", I thought.  Maybe 10 minutes into my 30-minute workout another class came out and they were obviously going to be running the mile as well.  As I ran by the PE teacher I asked him if it was okay if I keep running.  He said yes, and that they would be timing the mile.  I told him I would do my best to stay out of their way and not interfere with their running.  As the class began to run I would try to get into one of the middle lanes as the kids came up behind me so they could have the inside lane.  It didn't matter to me since my workout isn't about a specific time or distance at this point.  I could hear some girls running up behind me as they were about to finish their mile.  I stepped to the side so they could run on the inside and apparently one of the girls wasn't paying attention and she just PLOWED into me.  I laughed, and thought about how she was probably humiliated since her whole class saw it.  Her teacher yelled out, "That's why we don't look down when we're running!"  Poor girl, I definitely don't miss that part of high school.

Friday was the hardest workout of my first week.  It was very hot out.  The high was in the 90's, but because I was there in the morning it was only in the mid-80's.  But man, it was still miserably hot.  The whole time I was huffing and puffing and drinking water and just not digging it as much as I had the past two workouts.  Running on the track might not be the best idea until it starts to cool down a bit.  There isn't any shade from trees and I can feel the sun beating down on me.  I think next week I am going to try running through my neighborhood with all of the nice mature trees providing me shade.       

Overall still feeling very motivated and excited about my training.  I'm hoping to keep this positive energy as I continue with my workouts.  Also glad that I have three workouts behind me and that I have two days off before I start up again on Monday.  Thank God for the weekend.

training

For the past few years I've been interested in doing a 5k race.  The most I've ever run is (embarrassingly) two miles, and a 5k is 3.1 miles.  I'm not really a runner, but I know that with a little training it is definitely something attainable.  Another thing is, I still have about 15 lbs to go until I will be more comfortable with my body and at my pre-baby weight.  I've heard other people talking about doing the couch-to-5k program.  It's an 8-week program that takes a non-runner gradually up to 5k shape with three 30 minute workouts a week.  This sounds perfect for me because I have limited time as a mother of three young children. 

I found a race that is on November 3rd and it's routed through the fairgrounds.  I was looking for races in November so that I would have 8 weeks to train and also so that the weather will be cooler.  This means we will be starting our training next week if we want to finish it in time.

I recruited my little sis, Chelsea, to train with me.  Neither of us is a runner so it will be a challenge for us both.  I'm really happy about this because while I know Luke is willing to run with me, that doesn't really bode well for either of us.  He is an advanced runner and much faster than me, so he would have to slow way down so that I could keep up.  Now Luke can run his speed, and Chels and I can run ours.  

A couple years ago I committed seriously to a diet leading up to one of my best friend's wedding.  I realized then about myself that I have a hard time sticking with something unless I have an end goal.  I lost 25 lbs then, and I am hoping to have similar success.  I will try and do a weekly progress update on how our training is going to hopefully keep myself motivated.

Wish us luck!!

Goals:
-Finish the Couch-to-5k program
-Finish the 5k
-Lose 15 lbs
-Fit into a smaller pant size

Asa Lennox

Asa Lennox Harden 

Born: April 28th, 2013, at 12:22 p.m.

8lbs 4.5 oz, 20.5 inches long.

His due date was May 5th (cinco de mayo, AYE AYE!) and he was supposed to be induced on the evening of April 28th, but Asa had his own plan.  At around 4 a.m. I woke up with my first contraction - it was very light and I didn't even know that's what it was...until I had another one, and another, and suddenly they were strong enough (around 6 a.m.) that I decided to go downstairs and have some coffee and just see what these pains were all about.  Luke had worked overtime the night before and was sleeping in the basement so I woke him up and told him what I was feeling.  Went back upstairs and wasn't up there for long when I realized this was it.  Started timing my contractions and they were becoming very regular.  

Luke got up, we packed our bags in between contractions (yes, I wasn't packed yet), and headed to the hospital as soon as my Grammy arrived to watch the girls.  The ride to the hospital was interesting.  This was my first time really experiencing true contractions because with my first two I was able to get my epidural before the real pain started.  I'd be fine one minute and then literally climbing my seat and yelling the next.  

I was able to check in pretty smoothly.  A man that rode up the elevator had seen me having contractions and was very concerned and got me a wheelchair.  He pointed at his name badge and told me if it was a boy to name him "Michael", like him. Sorry Michael, it was a close second.  ;) 

After a while in triage we were taken into a room finally and I was given some medicine to make the contractions less intense, and then ultimately I was given an epidural.  Thank God for modern medicine.  I was very comfortable after that and just had to wait to dilate completely.

The same doctor that delivered my girls came in to deliver the baby.  We were so happy because if I had been induced like I was supposed to it would have had to be a different doctor.  We really like our doctor so that was just so special to us.  

After about 90 seconds and 3 pushes, out came Asa!  It was so easy.  

They say those first ones pave the way!

Asa has been such a joy.  He is an incredibly easy baby.  He's always been very content.  At 3 months old he has already been sleeping through the night for at least a month.  I am so in love with my little boy.  And that's another thing - we just can't believe we have a boy.  I honestly thought it was going to be all girls for us, and I think Luke did too. (Even though he claims he knew Asa was a boy all along.  Yeah right.)

Heartbreaker.

oh yeah...

Oh yeah, I have a blog.

Kinda forgot.

Well, let's catch y'all up.

I'm pregnant, (Yes, again), with baby #3.

We'll find out if this little mango-sized darling is team blue or team pink on December 20th.  I am currently 18 weeks.  Time is flying this time around.  Probably because I have a been-there-done-that attitude about it.  Not that I'm not excited, but I'm pretty much an expert.  

At first I'm pregnant but feel normal, then I'm sickened by anything and throw up approximately 1.5 times a day, then it's like my body is trying to play catch-up and I could eat two breakfasts, lunches, and dinners every day, followed by feeling pretty dang good, followed by feeling pretty dang huge, followed by feeling pretty dang impatient, followed by popping out a baby, followed by sniffing/kissing a newborn's sweet head for the rest of his or her life. 

We've almost lived in our house for a year now.  WOW!

It's almost Christmas and the excitement is building.  But I wish it would just stay cold instead of fluctuating each day between 70 and 30.  And I want some snow.  We've been watching Christmas movies almost daily, but I won't feel truly Christmasey until we get some dang snow.

Haven has her first Christmas concert tomorrow night.  Tear.  She practices all of her Christmas songs using vibrato.  I should try and get a video of that because it's HILARIOUS.

Parker is a salty-sweet princess stinker.  Possibly bi-polar.  (I kid, but seriously.  The girl goes from naughty to nice in .06 seconds flat.  Santa's going to be confused.  She'll probably get chocolate covered coal for Christmas to cover all the bases.)

Lukey is still a super hero police officer.  He went to rifle school and made RIFLE SQUAD! (As I like to call it, and he hates for me to call it.  I think it embarrasses him...  and I like it.  Wink wink.)

I'll try to get back to my blogging.  Pregnancy does something weird to my brain.  I forget about practically everything except for my kids - lucky for them!

tumblr

I always have a lot on my mind.

And I'm a big facebooker so I'm always updating.

And sometimes I'm scared people are thinking, "Will you shut up?!"

So I made a tumblr for my mind vomit.

Here it is, enjoy!

Court's Extras