Thanks guys you were tons of help on the Power Song! Someone break up the tie - the power is in your hands!!
Running daily has turned into walking daily. With Jacob away for work this week I haven't had the chance to get out and run - but I take the kids to the park, which is about a mile from our house and I push them in the stroller and walk as fast as I can without having Ella fall out. I got this awesome sit and stand stroller and I probably should invest in a double stroller i can run with. We have one that pulls behind the bike and Jacob takes the kids for a walk in it, but it's really awkward and I don't think I'd get very far before Ella started beating on Bren.
So next week I'll be kicking into high gear and my goal is to get out for a run at least 5 of the 7 days.

7.2

I went 7.2 miles last night. I really just wanted to see if I could do it and it turns out I can. The route was especially scenic and lovely, so that made me happy. I don't intend to run this daily, however, as once I entered town there was broken glass everywhere, and I worry about my precious angel's little tootsies. Plus it took forever. I was hoping the distance was longer, but when I measured it--alas. I also found out that the cheapo pedometer I bought sucks and doesn't work. I suppose I shouldn't have expected more from a 5 dollar gadget--but I is poor. Either way, that whole being muscular and fit thing should be happening any day now, right?

Dumb

Jacob & I ventured out and took the kids for a walk and stopped at the park half way. I then realized how dumb I was in in that I never set my Ipod to workout mode! Ugh! So anyways, my latest 'run' was really a walk and it was only 1/2 of my actual walk. I calibrated finally and got that all set up to go. I also realized the weight was set at 98lbs! Clearly, I'm far from 98lbs so I changed that up, too. Next week with Jacob being in San Diego and my mom stopping by for a few days I'm hoping to at least get the kids out for a few quick walks.

Evil, Evil, EVIL Elliptical

It shall be named Evil. Sorry - wasn't even an option, but totally right on the head Jamie!

I was so extremely sore that I crawled my sorry butt down the steps to Evil and decided the more I work out the less sore I'm going to feel. I plopped my sore, tired, and achey self onto the Evil One and decided I was going to get in 2 miles the fastest I possibly could. I plugged my Ipod in, turned the trainer to silent so I could just listen to my tunes, set my miles and off I went. The elliptical had recorded I went 2.25 miles before I stopped to check my Ipod out. AHHHHHHH!! IT NEVER RECORDED ANYTHING, wait it counted .15 miles. The elliptical said 2.24 miles in 25 minutes! That was TWO 10 minute miles (a little less than actually) that will never be recorded. So it looks as though my little chip is crap on the elliptical. Not cool! (I shudder to think that all that work was really only the equivalent to .15 miles in the real world)

So I'm going to start a label called LOG in which I will log my miles and info from the elliptical in here in a post and you will all have to trust me. So log: 2.24 miles in 25 minutes.

Evil Elliptical

Lise-

I was tricked that way a few years ago, too. I used to use a treadmill at the University Strength Center for months, and it always read wonderful numbers to me about how awesome I was--but then my membership was up and I started running outside on real pavement--oh, the angst. But your body will begin to adjust, and the fact that you were using an elliptical at all is a sign of getting more physical, so no worries.

I think the reason I can run the 6 miles of hilly terrain is because of the platitudes I've created in my head for each jerkhead hill. Like, "Oh, Jamie, you know after this hill it's cake--THIS is the worst hill," and then I pretty much say that for every hill. :-)

I take my dog with me (tied to my waist, because for some reason I can't hold things while I run), but I need to buy him a harness, because he got off his collar about 2 miles from home and ran all the way back on the highway--leading me to bawl the whole way home, convinced he was dead by truck or bus. Anyway, the run mellows him out usually, so I'm killing two birds with one stone, really.

ALSO for those of you who don't want to have to get the iPod Nano, Nike+ has an sport band now too, so you can read the data on your wrist, and then it plugs in to your computer's USB port. It's $60. Not horrible.

Route Planner

I love the Nike+ kit - that online stuff is great! I'm not sure how to link my profile/history to this site though. I don't think it will let us Rock! I made mine public and tried a bunch of different things and can't get it to work. I'll have Jacob check it out tonight and see if he can figure it out! I also love my Nano. It's going to take me awhile to get used to that little wheel thingy - I loved my shuffle because you just clicked the buttons to get anywhere - turning in a circle to go where ever is hard to get used to for me. But I'm guessing it'll just take a few days and I'll get it.

Last night I used that Walk, Run, Job site to map my route and then I entered my run by distance according to the site - 1.25 miles. It was a lot off - like .4 miles off! I did the same route on the Nike+ site and it was exactly right on. So I think I'll use that route planner instead. Tonight I'm going to do extra stretching and low impact/my deceitful elliptical for an hour and then tomorrow night I'm going to push it to 2.25 miles for real. This coming weekend I'm going to get brave and go to Heckrodt and run the long mile trail - hopefully I can pull 2 laps. It's a little more hilly and curvy, but the ground is much softer so we'll see how it goes.

Take the polls on the side :) 1 is for naming my elliptical and the other one is for a good Power Song. A Power song is sweet! You determine what your power song is on your list and anytime during your workout you need a boost you hit a button and it will play the song for you! Right now it's Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Nike+ Kit * 2 & Despising/Thanking Many

I got mine, too :) I even used it today. Thanks for the extra motivation Rock and Ranee! Jacob came back from his marathon duties this morning with 2 Nike+ kits (one for each of us) and 2 Nanos! We're selling the shuffle and his video one so if you are interested in buying them - let me know!
I didn't calibrate it because I know I'm not in the shape I want to be in yet. (Yeah, I know I can re-calibrate, but still)
So under the default I ran 1.6 some miles (almost died a few times) in 24 minutes. Not bad, but let me tell you a 10 minute mile on real pavement is way different then a 10 minute mile on the elliptical. I hated that elliptical every step of my run today. It lied to me - it gave me confidence I never should have had. Heck, I was up to 4 miles on a regular work out day and 7 on my big run day. Please, 4 miles would knock my you know what to the ground. My knees are really not happy with Mr. Elliptical down in the basement. You had them fooled really really well - I would rate my soreness with the soreness of afterbirth pains! My chiropractor will be making a fortune off of me during this training process.
I want to name my elliptical so I can smash his name into the ground every step of the way - let voting/suggestions begin!
I secretly despised Ranee, Rock, and Jamie every step of my way too - I'm impressed you guys can run your distance without croaking! You guys are awesome and I want to be you!
I also secretly despised the man walking his dog behind me. I hope he knows he forced me to continue running about 1.2 consecutive miles because I didn't want to look like a wuss and stop to walk, even though my pain was beyond imagination! Even Gnarls Barkley's Crazy wasn't pushing me (it's my power song on my IPod - Rock what's yours?)
I also despised the people who ran the marathon today and finished with amazing times. (have I told you I don't care what my time is at this point - I just want to finish it) The 'winner' was of course a guy and he clocked in at like 2 hours and 10 minutes. INSANE, I tell you! I felt good knowing a number of people crossed in tears - pretty sure I'll be balling mine out when I cross. If you look at race results it is always a guy who finishes first and always 20-25 minutes faster. Ugh! I had to scroll to #70-something in last year's Fox Valley marathon to finally find the 1st place women. I'm guessing men are faster because they don't have to lug around breasts and hips and booties!
Anyways, thanks for the motivating me. Even if the reception wasn't received very positively. Really, you should feel honored if you were among the despised - you are my motivation don't stop letting me despise (and secretly thank) you!

Nike+ Kit

Upcoming races

I signed up for a 5K on June 1st. My goal is to finish in 30 minutes. We'll see how it goes...I am also signing up for a 10K at the end of June. I think I might be able to do it. On Saturday I ran 4.5 miles and didn't want to shoot myself afterwards. I think that counts as success :) Anyone is welcome to join me if you have a chance!

Official

If registering wasn't enough I've purchased an actual running outfit - like that kind of clingy, but breathable material. It was a Mother's Day Gift to myself and I'm loving it. It's amazing what it can all hold in place - way too much info I know, but if you've ever breastfed a baby for an extended period of time you know what I'm talking about! Now I just need to work on that sweet shoe with the pocket for the chip I want to get for my IPod and I'll be set to go. I guess I have to get the special Nike shoe, too!

Since it's Mother's Day tomorrow I was just thinking about my little kiddos and how if I can't do this for myself (running/getting into shape) that I need to do this for my kids. I want to stick around and watch them grow up, I don't want to miss out on a thing! Also, it's probably a ton more fun to have a mom who loves to take them swimming in the summer time (which requires a swimsuit), or loves to run around and play with them without getting winded and gross, and if anything it's a great role modeling type thing. I don't enjoy pushing myself to the point of death, but I've made myself a goal and I'm going to do everything it takes to accomplish it. If there's anything I want/need to pass onto my children (next to their faith in God) it is perseverance and to achieve their goals. I need to delete the word can't from my vocabulary and start using will and no more 'ifs,' either!

Registered

I've officially registered for my first running 'event.' Not sure what you would call it really. I'm not really racing anyone and I really don't have any previous times to race against myself. Whatever you want to call it - I'm registered for the Bellin Run coming up on June 14th. Jacob also registered in the stroller division :)
When you register you had to decide what your goal finish time would be so you can be placed in the correct starting 'corral' and wear a matching colored number thingy. (EX: 30-40 minute finishers start in corral red and wear red bib thingies, 40-60 in a different one, and so on) I'm hoping to finish in quicker then an hour, however I don't want to be the only specific colored shirt finishing in the the 60+ minute group if I don't quite make it. So I registered for the 60+ minute group and nothing says I can't finish sooner :) I hope that wasn't royally confusing, but I'm guessing it was.
So that gives me a few weeks to see how fast I can knock down 10K! (Realistically, my goal is to just to be able to run the entire thing and finish without dieing first)

Bellin Run

My time is sort of limited, so I realize this isn't 'pretty' or 'organized' yet, but I'll get on it.

In case you are interested, the Bellin Run is coming up in June - it's a 10K, and Jacob, the kids, my in-laws, & I are all going to register for it so if you're interested register and run/walk/push a stroller with us!

1 mile at a time

I thought it would be cool to journal my journey to the Marathon next May and if you were interested in running it, I invited you to collaborate with me. I'm just going to use this to track my running goals and try to keep myself motivated.

Last night I reached my first small goal of a 10 minute mile on the elliptical! However, I could only pull off 1 - 10 minute, the other 2 I did were progressively longer. My next goal is to get 2 miles in 20 minutes!