I am affectionately referring to this past week as "Bronco Donna" week. No, I do not ride horses but I do like western movies. I think I missed out by not living in the days of the wild frontier and living off the earth. That would have been great. Anyway, my Bronco is a 1983 to 1985 (can't remember the exact year) Ford. My hubby, bless his little heart, bought the Bronco, the first time, about 15 years ago. He has since bought the Bronco two more times. Yes, he bought the same car 3 times. He sold it the first time to a guy who worked for him. They guy got it stuck in a creek and decided he didn't want it anymore so hubby bought it back from him. Several thousand dollars later, it was as good as new. Next, he sold it to my cousin in Georgia for their 16 year old son. She then decided that a vehicle without air bags was not a good idea for her son. I agree. So, hubby bought it back from them. 3 times. I have threatened to divorce him if he sells it again. I know the DMV is bound to get a kick out of him.
I didn't work Monday or Tuesday but on Wednesday I had to go in., Now, I was not about to move my new car any where so I was left with no choice but the Bronco/dog taxi. My hubby uses this vehicle to take his dogs places. He has a secret place (well, I know where it is) that he takes the dogs on Sunday afternoons and he uses the Bronco as the taxi. Said vehicle is a magnet for dog hair. It is totally covered on the inside in dog hair. And did I mention the seat belts are crazy and I am a seat belt stickler. I had to put an extra-large beach towel in the seat and fight the seat belt for 20 minutes before I could even start the thing. Oh, and did I mention that the Bronco is a straight drive? Straight drives do not scare me. I learned how to drive on a tractor and a pick-up truck in the country so I can handle it. AND, when I was in high school, I drove a straight drive school bus. Can you believe they used to let students drive buses? I shudder at the thought. I wouldn't let my kid get on a bus with me if I was 16. Whew..scary....
After two days of Bronco Donna, I had hubby to dig out my car. I only drove to school and to Cat's salon. Avenue 427 Salon, 704-739-6955 (just saying). Gold Street was a little scary and my street is still scary. But, I did survive the week of the Bronco.
I missed three days in a row of walking/running. And boy could I tell it!! I hope I don't have to do that again. It is hard to go back to where you were after missing that much time. I thought I was going to drop dead on Wintergreen on Thursday but I made it. And today seemed harder. I don't know. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Now, to the cute, skinny, blonde with the perfect hair, legs and whatever, please stay off my street when running, especially if I am out there too. Why don't you just stay out of my neighborhood, better yet, go run in another town. You really didn't have to pass me three times AND talk to me when you knew I couldn't breath much less talk. Matter of fact, why don't you just take your perfect little cutsie self to another state.....hmmmmm??????
Anyway, hope the weather holds out so I can make up for lost time this week.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
running in the rain
There are a few things that I have come to realize since beginning my new program. They are as follows:
1) If you take your leggings out of the dryer because you had to wash them in the morning before you went to school because the cat slept on them and they had hair on them and they are the only ones you have and you know you will need to wear them because it is going to be cold and rainy, make sure they are good and dry.
2) If you are running down Maner Road in the rain and cold and your glasses get wet, do not take them off and try to dry them on your hoodie because your hoodie is going to be wetter than your glasses.
3) Do not run with your eyes closed no matter how exhausted you are on that last stretch.
4) Do not believe your husband when he is outside fixing a sled for granddaughter in anticipation of a big snow and says he will keep the dog from following you because half way up Wintergreen Court you will look down and there will be the crazy little canine and you will have to turn around and take the crazy little canine home and start all over.
5) If your neighbors stare at you as you walk/run past, pay them no attention. So what if you haven't brushed your hair (and maybe your teeth) and you have on no makeup and your panting like you are about to die. Your out there to feel good, not look good...So there....
6) Always keep your head up. They do park port-a-johns in the road at new house construction sites on Wintergreen Court and you will run into it.
7) Don't spit..Someone is always watching...
OK...I think that's all I have learned. I am still doing 4 to 1 mailbox lengths... and am very proud. What will I do if it snows? I am really worried about missing a day. I was thinking that maybe I could do sit ups or something in the house. But I feel like I need to do something for 30 minutes since that is how long my outings take (more if I have to bring the dog back) and I don't think I can do sit ups for 30 minutes. Probably not 30 seconds. Oh well, I'll figure something out. It is amazing how good I feel these days. Giving up the diet cokes (almost totally but still have to have some in the morning) has made me drink more water and I am not having any trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. Wonderful. I even get up earlier. Why am I still getting to school only seconds before the bell rings?????
Until next time......
1) If you take your leggings out of the dryer because you had to wash them in the morning before you went to school because the cat slept on them and they had hair on them and they are the only ones you have and you know you will need to wear them because it is going to be cold and rainy, make sure they are good and dry.
2) If you are running down Maner Road in the rain and cold and your glasses get wet, do not take them off and try to dry them on your hoodie because your hoodie is going to be wetter than your glasses.
3) Do not run with your eyes closed no matter how exhausted you are on that last stretch.
4) Do not believe your husband when he is outside fixing a sled for granddaughter in anticipation of a big snow and says he will keep the dog from following you because half way up Wintergreen Court you will look down and there will be the crazy little canine and you will have to turn around and take the crazy little canine home and start all over.
5) If your neighbors stare at you as you walk/run past, pay them no attention. So what if you haven't brushed your hair (and maybe your teeth) and you have on no makeup and your panting like you are about to die. Your out there to feel good, not look good...So there....
6) Always keep your head up. They do park port-a-johns in the road at new house construction sites on Wintergreen Court and you will run into it.
7) Don't spit..Someone is always watching...
OK...I think that's all I have learned. I am still doing 4 to 1 mailbox lengths... and am very proud. What will I do if it snows? I am really worried about missing a day. I was thinking that maybe I could do sit ups or something in the house. But I feel like I need to do something for 30 minutes since that is how long my outings take (more if I have to bring the dog back) and I don't think I can do sit ups for 30 minutes. Probably not 30 seconds. Oh well, I'll figure something out. It is amazing how good I feel these days. Giving up the diet cokes (almost totally but still have to have some in the morning) has made me drink more water and I am not having any trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. Wonderful. I even get up earlier. Why am I still getting to school only seconds before the bell rings?????
Until next time......
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Today's adventure was absolutely wonderful. I started out at exactly 5:00 and was back in at 5:27. Now, I don't know if that is good or not, but I did hustle. My running is getting so much better. Instead of running from one mail box to the next and then walking to the next and so on, I was able to run 3 mail box lengths to 1 walk. It wasn't too bad. When I got home I figured that I had done half a 5K. Could I double that? Probably.
Liz promises me that at this rate I will definitely be ready for the NoDaween 5K in October. She thinks I might be able to do a 5K before then so the Jingle Bell Run is definitely a possibility this year. I hope so. We'll see how it goes and how the hip holds out. So far, I haven't had to take pain meds before or after but the old(and I do mean old) hip is a little achy tonight.
The temperature was around 40 but with my new black leggings, it was not too bad. Actually, on the return trip, I had to roll up my sleeves and I was sweating when I came in.
I have decided that the way I have been able to build up my running endurance is to think of something totally away from the actual running. On Monday, I planned my seating chart for the computer lab at school and today I planned out some poetry lessons for a couple weeks for now. Robert Frost will really get you moving.
I have actually lost 7 pounds in the last two weeks. Yippee. I'm not really focusing on weight loss here but it is a nice perk. I'm also sleeping better. I think that has a lot to do with the drastic reduction in my diet coke addiction. I have been downing water like crazy (which I should do anyway) and have steered clear of the diet cokes. They don't even interest me that much anymore.
I want to get a treadmill to put upstairs in front of the window. That way, when it is rainy or snowy or whatever, I will have an alternate plan. I wouldn't use it everyday, so I am a little hesitant to invest the $$$$ in it. I'm going to give it some more thought before I do anything.
I want to be a runner.....:)
Liz promises me that at this rate I will definitely be ready for the NoDaween 5K in October. She thinks I might be able to do a 5K before then so the Jingle Bell Run is definitely a possibility this year. I hope so. We'll see how it goes and how the hip holds out. So far, I haven't had to take pain meds before or after but the old(and I do mean old) hip is a little achy tonight.
The temperature was around 40 but with my new black leggings, it was not too bad. Actually, on the return trip, I had to roll up my sleeves and I was sweating when I came in.
I have decided that the way I have been able to build up my running endurance is to think of something totally away from the actual running. On Monday, I planned my seating chart for the computer lab at school and today I planned out some poetry lessons for a couple weeks for now. Robert Frost will really get you moving.
I have actually lost 7 pounds in the last two weeks. Yippee. I'm not really focusing on weight loss here but it is a nice perk. I'm also sleeping better. I think that has a lot to do with the drastic reduction in my diet coke addiction. I have been downing water like crazy (which I should do anyway) and have steered clear of the diet cokes. They don't even interest me that much anymore.
I want to get a treadmill to put upstairs in front of the window. That way, when it is rainy or snowy or whatever, I will have an alternate plan. I wouldn't use it everyday, so I am a little hesitant to invest the $$$$ in it. I'm going to give it some more thought before I do anything.
I want to be a runner.....:)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
No resolutions here.....
I do not make New Year's resolutions. I think when you do you are just setting yourself up for failure. If you don't lose that 25 pounds or quit that bad habit or whatever, you just shrug it off and give up. Setting goals is much better for me. And I have set several goals, most of which are personal but some I will share. I tried to choose goals for all areas of my life. Physical, mental, educational, and, of course, spiritual.
My physical goals - Walk at least 3 days a week and run the length of Maner Road. I didn't set a specific date to reach the "Maner Road Run" but I will get there. I set the walk 3 days a week goal a week before the new year and have exceeded it. I have even managed to run more than I ever have. Today I ran from the top of Maner Road to the entrance to Hall Crossing. Then I walked to the first mailbox and ran to the next and repeated this alllllllllll the way home. Yippee for me. Never done that before. I was so dang proud of myself. I called Liz (my role model) and shared. Another physical goal is my diet. I will not give up bread but will make better bread choices in type and quantity. Bread is my weakness. I wish I hated it. Too bad. I love it!!!!
I also need to keep a check on my protein intake. Not eating meat causes me to lack some in the protein area and I need to be careful about this because my body knows when I need it. I also need to slack up on the diet coke addiction I have.
My mental goal - Don't worry so much. Easy to say. The only way I can reach this goal is by putting things where they need to be. God's hands. Hopefully with my new spiritual goals, this will be achieved. I also want to spend more time just thinking. I want to learn to respond appropriately to challenging situations and I believe that thinking and evaluation my thoughts will help with this. I also want to have a better attitude toward my job. Yes, I sometimes have a bad attitude. The kids aren't bad and the people I work with are great, but still, I sometimes have a bad attitude. I am so lucky to have a job. I have great benefits, get off early, have lots of time off, so I need to have a more positive attitude. I'll never get rich teaching but I don't expect to be rich. I have everything I need and almost everything I want. Actually, I can't think of anything I want that I don't have. So there....I'm good.
My educational goals - Well, I do have some credits toward my master's but I really don't see me finishing that. Not in the mood. Too lazy or something. But I do need to read more. Oh, I read all the time for school but I want to read things I have never read and really don't need to read. The classics. I want to read "Gulliver's Travels" and "David Copperfield". May add more to the list as time goes on.
My spiritual goals - These goals are most important to me. I want to read the Bible all the way through. I started with a new program January 1st, last night. I have started many times before. I am almost 50 and really need to do this before I die. My dad reads it through about 3 times a year so surely I can do it once this year. I also want to spend more time praying for others. I am a big prayer person but I need to improve in my prayer life. I also want to serve others more. God has been so good to show me many areas in which to serve and I need to continue to be open to these opportunities. I also want to be more active in my Sunday school class. I have already started planning a Valentine's party for our group.
So there.....that's my goals or some of them. Not impossible goals but realistic attainable goals. And goals that I feel mean something for my growth in all areas of my life....
My physical goals - Walk at least 3 days a week and run the length of Maner Road. I didn't set a specific date to reach the "Maner Road Run" but I will get there. I set the walk 3 days a week goal a week before the new year and have exceeded it. I have even managed to run more than I ever have. Today I ran from the top of Maner Road to the entrance to Hall Crossing. Then I walked to the first mailbox and ran to the next and repeated this alllllllllll the way home. Yippee for me. Never done that before. I was so dang proud of myself. I called Liz (my role model) and shared. Another physical goal is my diet. I will not give up bread but will make better bread choices in type and quantity. Bread is my weakness. I wish I hated it. Too bad. I love it!!!!
I also need to keep a check on my protein intake. Not eating meat causes me to lack some in the protein area and I need to be careful about this because my body knows when I need it. I also need to slack up on the diet coke addiction I have.
My mental goal - Don't worry so much. Easy to say. The only way I can reach this goal is by putting things where they need to be. God's hands. Hopefully with my new spiritual goals, this will be achieved. I also want to spend more time just thinking. I want to learn to respond appropriately to challenging situations and I believe that thinking and evaluation my thoughts will help with this. I also want to have a better attitude toward my job. Yes, I sometimes have a bad attitude. The kids aren't bad and the people I work with are great, but still, I sometimes have a bad attitude. I am so lucky to have a job. I have great benefits, get off early, have lots of time off, so I need to have a more positive attitude. I'll never get rich teaching but I don't expect to be rich. I have everything I need and almost everything I want. Actually, I can't think of anything I want that I don't have. So there....I'm good.
My educational goals - Well, I do have some credits toward my master's but I really don't see me finishing that. Not in the mood. Too lazy or something. But I do need to read more. Oh, I read all the time for school but I want to read things I have never read and really don't need to read. The classics. I want to read "Gulliver's Travels" and "David Copperfield". May add more to the list as time goes on.
My spiritual goals - These goals are most important to me. I want to read the Bible all the way through. I started with a new program January 1st, last night. I have started many times before. I am almost 50 and really need to do this before I die. My dad reads it through about 3 times a year so surely I can do it once this year. I also want to spend more time praying for others. I am a big prayer person but I need to improve in my prayer life. I also want to serve others more. God has been so good to show me many areas in which to serve and I need to continue to be open to these opportunities. I also want to be more active in my Sunday school class. I have already started planning a Valentine's party for our group.
So there.....that's my goals or some of them. Not impossible goals but realistic attainable goals. And goals that I feel mean something for my growth in all areas of my life....
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