Cool Runnings

Last fall, LegoMan's swim team practice increased from three to five nights a week! Instead of my usual sitting around and watching practice, I decided to take advantage of this hour and half to get back into a regular exercise program.

For the last SEVERAL years, I had become quite complacent with my couch potato lifestyle. I get up before crack of dawn for work and after work involves supervising homework, keeping up with the never ending laundry and housework. I was certainly not going to get up at 4AM to exercise and at the end of the day I was just TOO tired.


I began walking a couple miles while LegoMan swam and at some point in the process I lost my mind. I downloaded the Couch to 5K app on my phone. This is a 3 day a week, 9-week program that takes you from being fat and happy on the couch to running a 5K.

Seriously.

Little known fact, if you actually finish the program you receive a lifetime membership to the Funny Farm!

Along with a friend, we started the program.....we finished the program. I went from barely being able to run 60 seconds in week one, to running 28 minutes NON-STOP in week 9. I won't lie, it was hard. There were times when I wanted to stop and walk, I didn't. I let my determination win. I am proud.

In November, we entered our first race. It was just 2 miles, but we ran the WHOLE way.

BEFORE:

(don't kill me Carol)


AFTER:

NOTICE: I am still upright and no oxygen was necessary

Our next goal is to run our first 5K in February and then a insane long-term goal is to do the Princess Half Marathon in February 2012 complete with a tu-tu and tiara. For real. (Teresa, stop laughing. I.Am.Serious.)


*Insert recent MRI results and talk with neurosurgeon*


My running days just got started last fall and now they are over. I'm not exactly sad about it. I never really loved it, I did it because I was insane trying something new. Besides, I think I'm the only person in American who can start a running program, continue it and gain 3 pounds in the process. I know, I know....."it's probably just muscle". Whatever.


I was really bummed that I would not get to do the Princess Half Marathon. You see, I had competely embraced the idea that my insanity would carry me 13.1 miles through Disney World, all while sporting a tu-tu and tiara (again, Teresa, stop it). This weekend I found out it IS actually possible to walk the course and I even found a training program for walking a half marathon. So, the Disney dream is still alive and I've got a year to get ready.


The last couple weeks I have had to rest and regroup. This week I plan to restart slowly with LOW-IMPACT exercises ONLY. Oh, I can't leave out the Pilates to strengthen my core muscles. That should be highly entertaining for all involved.

Stay tuned.....

heh-LO

The warm weather has finally made an appearance in Alabama and everything outdoors is blooming and turning green! Thank you, Lord!

The change in weather has brought out another Springtime guest.....the ice cream truck! I'm sure we all can share a childhood memory of getting a ice cold treat from the ice cream man on a HOT Southern day. A few of my ice cream favorites were the Orange PushUp, the Rocket Pop, and there was one with a gum ball at the bottom of the plastic cone cup.

I am ashamed to say that I don't think my kids have actually had the pleasure of ordering from the ice cream truck. I know, I know....why not let them?!

First, listen to this....pay no attention to the video part, for it is completely unrelated.



How creepy is that song?! THAT is the exact song "our" ice cream truck plays, over and over and over again. However, slow the speed down a third. It freaks me out!


And then there's the person driving the truck. My mind races with thoughts of

1. have they had a background check
   
2. are they a child predator looking for houses where kids live
   
3. how do I know that's not some freak who bought an ice cream truck and peruses neighborhoods

Irrational? Probably.

I think I saw "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" one too many times in the 70's. Who remembers the CREEPY child catcher holding the lollipops screaming, "free ice cream today"??






Every time I hear the ice cream truck near our neighborhood, I cringe.

Until I change my mind, my kids will have to remember THIS ice cream treat:

‘Fro Me to You— Scared? I’m not!

 

This may just be my last week “playing” along in Kristen’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You carnival.

Why?

Because what I am about to show you is the worst of the worst.  Or the best of the best.  Whichever.  It matters not. 

 

 

In honor of Halloween, Kristen has declared a “SCARY” theme for this week.  And what you are about to see brings a whole new meaning to scary….on any level.

This photo has surely never made it into a scrapbook or any book for that matter.  I’m not for certain that my family or my husband has seen this photo.  For reasons that will soon be quite obvious.

I’m not exactly sure how many people have seen this photo.  I’m almost positive those who may have had a glimpse at it back in 1987 probably have put some other memory in that place of their brain.  I wish I had.

Here are the pertinent facts:

Year: 1987

Place: Judson College freshman dorm, 3rd floor to be exact

Who:  Yours truly

Why:  Apparent boredom whilst being trapped at a Baptist women’s college located in small town Alabama; and I’ll have to claim naivety here, too!

Scam Makeover artists: Karen G., Jan J. and Michelle S. (my roommate and down the hall “friends”)

 

Ok……deep cleansing breath……letting it out……ready?

No.

Wait.  Do I really want to do this.

It’s hard to type with beads of sweat dripping on the keyboard.

What the heck.  I’ll never run for public office.

Stop.

Go empty your bladders ladies.

Ready? 

Brace yourself for a new level of scary

I will be so kind as to blow it up for the visually impaired and to ensure everyone gets the whole effect:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yea, yea, yea……laugh it up…..

 

Who just snorted? 

 

Teresa, I do not want to hear one word from you sister. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

I cannot be responsible for any Coke or Sweet Tea spit out on computer screens across America. 

 

Once you get a hold of yourself, click here to go over to We Are THAT Family and see if anyone can top this.  I would venture to guess it will be impossible.

I am totally expecting some sort of award for this week’s post.  Seriously.

I’m sure my followers will be tenfold by midnight.

Thank you…..thank you very much.