70.3

Let me start with Day 1 Christmas challenge. Weigh in: 194.2. (Down 2 pounds from last weigh in on new scale). Feedback please, my old scale that does not work anymore said my starting weight was 244. Last time I weighed on that scale before I got a new one it was 190. Please tell me, was the scale just more generous than my new accurate one? Or was it going bonkers and I probably weighed around 193-192 not 190 (assuming I gained a couple of pounds last week). I am thinking I am going to stick with my starting weight as 244 because my scale then was probably accurate.

Anyways, my week has been insane, stressful, busy, involved lots of hard work, and many time consuming tasks. Cody's surgery is in the morning, for those who would ask, he isn't sick, he just has something he was born with needing correction. He will be put under and it's a 2-3 hour procedure. Please pray for him. Shane is spending the night with a friend tonight so Cody and I can leave for the hospital in Hollywood at 4:30am. God give me grace! I will be alone because Davey is out of town for work.

Yesterday I attempted to assemble the jogger myself, because the husband of the family I bought it from took it apart and packed it in my car for me. I was getting frustrated, and had no clue how it went. But I did it! I figured it out all by myself. My husband is amazing, he fixes anything and everything and I never have to do any thing like that. But wow! I can! But I couldn't fix our garage door when it got stuck opened the other night. Neither could my neighbor. I was in tears! Doesn't sound huge, but man it was a H U G E problem. 12 dogs sleep in the garage, there is a doggy door to go in and out of it, so how would I keep them out of it so they didn't get out? Not to mention we live backed up to an ally way were there are drunks and bums. Our garage goes to the ally, so all Davey's tools, our bikes, baby things, lawn mower, ladder, ect ect I had to move out so it wouldn't get stolen. All 12 dogs in the house, an invitation for weirdos to come into our backyard through the garage. I was scared. I called some friends and they came right over and he was able to fix it. Praise God. But that was very time consuming stressful event!
I think it's fair to say I miss my husband being home very much.

Now to the subject of training. Training with the boys is difficult. I have not been to the gym in weeks. But yesterday I used our new (used) jogger, and I ended up running 3.77 miles pushing the boys! It felt fantastic. The boys loved it too. It was so much easier to run with it. I've noticed, the first mile is very hard, boys with me or not. My calves burn, I want to stop the whole time, then just after a mile too a mile and a half, I feel amazing! Effortless almost. I feel I can run for hours. I would have kept going, but the boys were getting cold and we had to get ready for church. My knees are sore though. I need to run ever other day if possible to give them a brake. Today I am going to bike with them after I do a photo shot at a park for a family.

Now the big news. 2011 RACE'S. Yup. I've started training for 2011 races! I have mentioned an Olympic distance triathlon, which is in April. But I have been keeping something to myself. A HALF IRONMAN. July 30, 2011 I will be doing my first 70.3 Half Ironman [1.2 mile swim, 56 mile Bike, 13.1 mile run]. I am so excited!! I have been thinking if I could do it, if I can be ready, should I wait until 2012, ect. Like I have mentioned before, we want to try for another baby at the end of next summer. I don't want to wait that long before I do a 70.3 because after having a baby there is a lot of recovery, then training from square 1.
I know I can do it. I have 8 months to train. I am already training for my first half marathon in February. Once I do that, I know I can finish the 13.1 mile run leg of the 70.3. I am actually most concered with the swim. That is about an hour to an hour and a half swim. Two plus for slow swimmers. The whole 70.3 is about 8+ hours of racing. When I first started doing Triathlons, I thought swimming would be my strongest, but I've discovered biking actually is. I have so much room to improve on all 3. I need to be focused and planned. Now I have resources to train with the boys, so no excuses.
Started tracking again yesterday. Feels so good. Last night for dinner I made grilled chicken on top of brown rice and black beans topped with fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and onions with lemon. It was so good! Wish I took a picture.

2 miles? No way!

Yup! I ran 2 W H O L E miles with out stopping last night! I am amazed at what I can do, when I really had no clue I could. I wish I would have known this before the 5K at Tri Carson. I now know, that I can run a whole 5K. Last night I felt great after the 2. I could have done more. I was glad to stop, don't get me wrong. I did the 2 miles in 27 minuets. Faster than Thursday's run. But still very very slow. Thats a 13:30 mile. S L O W. Davey ran 3 miles in 28:30. He's so fast! And he was pushing a stroller. Let's just say he's really sore today. Me, I feel good. I will ice my knees just to be safe though.
We decided to go to the track as a family. It was so much fun. The boys L O V E it. They run with us until they are tired then go in the stroller, and Shane yells "Go Mommy!!" the whole time. :) Then on our cool down lap after we finished running, they run the lap. Shane did 1/2 mile total and Cody did 1/4 mile. Shane says, "Mommy, I run too!". It's so cute.
I just find it amazing that when I am at the gym on the treadmill (let's say last week) I am dying for my 3 mins to be up so I can walk. That's why I didn't think I could run far. But during Tri Carson, I ran the last leg of the run (a little less than a mile) and was surprised I could do it with out dying. So it sparked my curiosity. I am not one to think "It's all in your head" like Davey does. BUT I set my mind up that I was going to run two laps around my neighborhood Thursday night and I did and last night I just determined to do 2 miles, and I did. There is a mental aspect, being confident and knowing you can, really makes your body able. I was under estimating myself on running. I am so glad I stopped enabling myself to do less than what I can! I was really stressed about being behind on C25K, but now I'm ahead.. yay :)
Thursday and Friday I did cycle in the morning and ran at night. Confession: I have N O T been tracking my points :/ but I have not been eating a lot.. I hope.
I don't want to make this a super long post, but there are many things going on in our lives I have not posted about yet. So many burdens, blessings, and growth.
About a month ago now, Davey got laid off. There is just no more work for his company right now, and in the near future. He was one of the last one's to be laid off. I won't bore you all with all our details and goals for career/ministry/finances ect. but I will say, looks like Davey is going to get on with the Union with his Dad and work on a 2 month project, 2 hours away from home. This job would be a huge blessing seeing it's government paid job and Davey has not worked in 4 weeks. It would also be very hard because he will be gone 6 days a week, only home Saturday nights and Sunday days. He worked a job far away for a few months last year and it was so horrible being apart. I dreaded it so much. I miss him, get so depressed, feel unprotected, and lonely. I will have so much work just for myself, i.e: boys, house, puppies, big dogs, yard work, selling the puppies, bills, ect. Of course, I am thinking about how I won't be able to work out as much either. If I want to take the boys to the gym, it cost $6 for 2 hours. If I only go 3 times a week that's $18 a week, and $72 a month. Plus I am just getting certified in a week, and how will I pursue that with him gone? What if I get a chance to sub? I won't have the time or ability to work on my songs and rides to have prepared in case I get a chance.
What about running outside? Do you know how hard it is to run with a double stroller that is not a jogging stroller? Really hard. It's doable though, I know. And how bout riding bikes outside? Nope. I don't have a bike trailer, and even if I do, there really aren't roads here safe enough or bike paths I would pull my boys on. I will say, I have already pleaded my argument for a bike trailer and a jogging stroller though for while he is gone. Enough complaining. I am just going to suck it up and try not be a baby, and do what I need to do.
What's the big deal you might ask? Well, I have a schedule all written out for 4 months, Dec-March to train for an Olympic distant triathlon for next season. I don't have one in mind yet, but was hoping to do a few sprints and maybe an Olympic, then I want a baby. [:)] So in my head I have it all planned out, but why am I getting so upset? I already know, God's plans are different then our own sometimes! I'll just train the best I can while Davey is gone. That's all I can really do. If you have not noticed, I am always a worry wart. I stress about things I can't control. I need the Lord's help in this area.
Anyone have any ideas on how to train with the boys I'd love to hear them! :)