Happy Spring!

I am lovin this beautiful weather, that I promise you! I have been doing a bit of biking since the warm front came through, and it has reminded me how much I enjoy riding a bike. I am also promoting for my work Nation Ride you Bike to Work Day and the combination of the two has gotten me motivated to bike more. I remember the summer we tried to drive as little as possible. Does anyone remember this? Chris was home from work all summer with a shoulder injury so we decided to track our gas usage and bike to as many places as possible. Every Saturday we biked downtown to market, we biked the bikes to and from school, we biked to the grocery store even. It was pretty amazing, and this was back in the day when Bren was in bike trailer so we were hauling him around. Granted it was nice to have the trailer because you could put your groceries right in the trunk of it, but it was heavy!

I want to try something similar this spring. It isn't feasible to bike Bren to school because it is in a different town, and there is a time frame to consider there, but perhaps we need to go back to biking instead of driving on all the little trips. I'm game. I just need to drop my bike off for a spring tune up and I am ready to roll.

*Ride your bike to work day is Friday May 21, 2010 by the way!

I swam 2600 meters Monday night and it was killer, but in a good way. I need to lift real quick tonight after soccer and I should be set on lifting for the week. I am not going to swim tonight because we have soccer for B and volleyball for P, and that is enough for me. The pool is closed all next week so I am going to try to get to the Christian Family Center to swim a few night, any takers on joining me? It might actually be fun.

I am headed out to run in a few minutes, the day is too pretty to not to, right?

The Acres 5K is coming up..... The question is, will I be ready to NOT embarrass myself??

Ouch!

Yes, ouch. I am hurting. Hurt-in-g. I think, perhaps, just maybe, I over did it last night. The story of my life, right? Wow. I struggled to even put on a shirt today my shoulders hurt so bad. Don't worry, I managed to dress myself before going to work, thank you.

I met Trina and Joan at the gym to work out. I needed someone to push me, hold me accountable, bribe me, anything really. I hadn't lifted in 12 days. I did both arms and legs. Thankfully my legs feel great. On the flip side of that, my arms, mostly just my shoulders, are killing me. It was, I am certain, a combination of lifting and the busting my butt swimming.

I tried to keep pace with Mr. Carlson again, and he is so fast. Instead of counting how many meters I was swimming I just counted how many ahead of me he was. He always swims 1500 meters and leave at 8:45. I am usually far enough behind that I can finished my 1500 by 8:55. With out him I would need an abacus set up at the each end. For the life of me I can not count how many laps I do. My mind races and darts around from topic to topic, losing track of all things other than my breathing. And trying to remember to kick. I can't believe how often I forget to kick. That is probably why my shoulders hurt so bad, they do most of the pulling.

I, of course, swam with Teresa and Ashley. What would I ever do with out them? My breaks are so boring when I swim alone.

Today I went for a quick little run through the 'hood with the little man ahead of me on his bike. Encouraging me Screaming at me to hurry up. It was a good run, I am glad I did it, but it was not fast. Not at all fast. I have so much work ahead of me....

Apologies all around...

When I started this blog I apologized, knowing full well that I was a bad blogger. I am sorry for not updating since my vacation. But seriously folks, I just got back 5 days ago, and had to spend my weekend with my friends. I did nothing that resembled exercise until yesterday.

My motivation for all this training has dwindled, but I am working on getting it back. Yesterday I biked even though it was a little chilly. I forgot how much I like to bike, and THAT I believe has motivated me.

The UNDY 500 is in less than a month and aside from being a bad runner and not having the stamina to run a 5k at this point, I DON'T HAVE ANY COOL UNDERPANTS TO RUN IN. My focus should be on the training, but you know it is not.

My plan this week is to rock the gym every day except for Tuesday. Tuesday I am going to get a little body sculpting done (I hope), and detox from the most amazing vacation ever, and in all honestly, the most amazing weekend in a long time. Detoxing.

Tonight? Lifting and pool. I can't wait to lift again. I haven't lifted in 2 weeks, and the thought of lifting has me motivated to the point where I want to sneak down to the Fitness Connection RIGHT NOW!! I could lift in my khaki's right? Tempting, but no. After the big Math Club show at the High School the rest of my night will be lifting and swimming.

Here is my vacation movie. I can't help it, I like to make movies, and had such a good time.

I'm trying to put together a workout plan for Spring Break at the Christian Family Centre, anyone interested in putting the kids in day care and working out?

A quickie

Hey folks! Greeting from the Virgin Islands! I see many of you are checking this daily, so I apologize for the lack of posting while on vacay, but ya know, I'm on vacation!

I have a bunch of pictures that I make into a movie, probably while chilling in the airport on my way home. But none the less, expect some pictures late next week. If you are dying for some pics, you can go here and see some.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/featherweatherk/sets/72157623607126626/

I have found a wonderful work out while here on Charlotte Amalie. Aside from the insane amount of hill walking we do that is. (seriouslt INSANE amount of walking daily mostly on steep inclines while toting my 4 year old!) I have been swimming in the ocean with a 60 pound 4 year old on my back. Seriously. He hold onto my bathing suit straps llike they are reigns, wears his water wings and bosses me around. I pretty much can only do the breast stroke in this condition, but that is a wonderful shoulder workout! The bouyency in the salt water makes having a kid on your back a lot easier that fresh water, a lot! We have been eating and a drinking a lot of fruit. Fresh fruit! Yum! Papayas grown rampandly here and taste wonderful blended with local bananas and local rum. You can get this mixture all over. With out the rum for a kid, of course!

I have done a little running, a little swimming, and a lot fo walking. And honestly a lot fo relaxing, but again, that's what vacations are for!

I will catch you up soon, I promise!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

I am reffing my last games of the season tonight! A little sad about that I think..... I have loved this basketball season, and really enjoyed reffing. Funny huh? I used to ref 10-15 games on any given Saturday during college and now reffing 2 games a night is 'a work out'. Funny? Maybe scary is a better word for that.

I am getting on a plane in 16 hours with my 4 year old and traveling to the Virgin Islands for 9 days of relaxing. I plan on running and swimming as much as I can, but my main goal is relaxing. It is, after all, a vacation!

I will check in (I'm sure more than once!) but I want to leave you with what I am listening to these days....

Said and Done - Nervous But Ex...

I hope you enjoy it. Ex's and Oh's to all those we are leaving behind. I will see you next Thursday. Our plane gets in very very early in the morning, and the ribbon cutting at Parks and Rec is at 9:30. Perhaps I will see you there?? Make it a plan! There will be snacks and coffee so why not, right? So, 9:30 at Parks on Thursday the 18th. Love.

Instead of hitting the gym....

I made this. My beautiful little girl turns 8 this weekend. Each year I make the kids a birthday video of pictures from the year, going through all of them helps me realize how blessed we truely are.

Happy Birthday Peyton! No gym for me tonight or tomorrow, spending time with my girl! Well, girls... I am so lucky to have you here with me this weekend enjoying her birthday together as a family.

Realize your goal is to figure out your role within the context of the whole.

I Like Giants - Kimya Dawson

I like this song for many reasons, but I have been singing it a lot lately, especially this part, "So I swim for all salvation and I swim to save my soul
But my soul is just a whisper trapped inside a tornado
So I flip to my back and I float and I sing
I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything
I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything"

My arms are sore. How sore? Sore sore. My shoulders mostly. I raced Mr. Carlson at the pool last night and it was killer. Before I tell the story of the race, I guess I should explain who Mr. CArlson is.... His daughter played basketball at the high school for me years and years, and even years ago. I saw him at the gym a while back and while chit chatting he mentioned that he swims in the mornings. I told him I swam at night, he didn't know people were swimming at night, so since then he has been swimming Mondays and Wednesdays. But unlike me, he swims hard for one mile then leaves. I swim, stop, talk, swim, stop, adjust my goggles, etc. etc. Last night We stopped around the same time, me to catch my breath, him because he was done with his mile. We talked for a few minutes and then I challenged him to a race. He is tall and strong, and a really good swimmer. But you know me, I am uber competitive.... Let's Race! He laughed but agreed. Seriously folks, we swam so fast! I have never swam that fast my whole life. I swam like a was being chased by the mythical pool shark. When we finished in what he calls a victory for me, but I think was a tie, we both were so amazed at how fast we just swam. Even my friend Teresa couldn't believe how fast we zoomed. We then decided to race one more time and that was an easy victory for him, but again, we swam SO fast.

It was nice to re-charge my competitive spirit. The fuel of competition, my favorite fuel!

It all brings me back to this small town. I love it here. I love it for many reasons, but I love that my 8 years here have brought some of the most fantastic people into my life. I love that I am getting to know the people I work out with, the people at the pool, and the people in this community. I love that my work enables me to build relationships within the community, it is a wonderful feeling.

*Deep breath* I am lucky. I am so lucky. I have the most amazing family and the best friends a girl could ask for.

That being said, Rachel; I think it is time we started, to kind of sort of run. I was thinking we run the shorts walk the longs of the 'hood and see how that goes. When I get home from vacay. In the evenings now that my evening programs are all over. I could do it on my own, but I don't want to. I think we should do it together. It will be more fun that way. Plus we can spend more time together like that.

Steps in the right direction.....

Last night I reffed 2 games then suck it up and went to the gym after. Yup. I pushed myself, I know that the only way I am going to see the results I want is if I do this. I HAVE to. Yeah, I was tired. And yeah, it was not fun, but I did it. I think if I can just push through right now it will be fun again, I will make it fun again. I will.

Elizabeth Gilbert wrote that she is better with less on her plate. Maybe I am too. Right now my plate feels so full, a scramble to make it. A sick boy, planning for a vacation, packing for said vacation, household duties, work, trying not to get pink eye through it all.... I am going to relax on my vacation and hit the gym hard when I get back. I am rewarding myself with this vacation so to speak. Right now my focus needs to be on getting everything together, spending some time with my family, and figuring out how I can leave for 10 days and not leave everything in chaos. I am better with less on my plate.

I did, however, ref tonight and then swim for an hour. I feel pretty good! Tired, but good. Steps. But I am exhausted, so good night. Keep taking steps.

Inside all of us is HOPE.

Breakdown

Breakdown - Jack Johnson

I had my first big breakdown. What do I mean by big? And what do I mean by break? Working out is hard work. Training is hard work. This is hard work, and I am tired, and I am not seeing the results I want, and blah blah blah. For so long working out was fun and I loved it. Now I feel like it is just work. My sister put it into perspective for me when she said, "Working out sucks, that why people don't do it." Good point Sister, good point.
I am frustrated. I thought I would be further along than I am. I am frustrated and tired. I need some motivation. I did, however, swim last night. After hours of mind games with myself. "I can't go, I'm too tired" "I have too much work to do to swim" "My arms hurt" And so on and so on and so on. But, I swam and I swam hard for 50 minutes. I need to get excited about this again. I want to get excited about this again. I NEED to get excited about this again.
I am not going to the gym today, and I should , but I can't. I got a call from preschool and they think he has pink eye. Yuck. We have a 1:30 Dr. appt. At least this is now and not while on vacation.
I am reffing 2 basketball games tonight, it is a higher level so I should get a little exercise in. Reffing this age group I tend to sweat and get into int he flow of the game. So, I have that going for me. Now? Now I am in my sweat pants in bed with a boy with possible pink eye. Grrr.