The Sun

Last week, all was good.  There were great morning runs before the stupidly excessive heat struck, and there were days at the pool at Grammy and Pop's.  We had Slip N Slide days, and play all day days.  There were bon fire nights, and a Toby Keith night too.

We headed out the "The Lake" to visit Grandma and Grandpa and had a blast there, swimming and sitting in the shade and  soaking up the 100+* weather.  Is the Earth about to explode from the inside or something?

The kids can't wait to see this right here. This means we're almost to "The Lake"!

All the while, trying to soak up every moment that was sneaking by at record pace.  Moments that you just can't. get. back.  Between the "Get away from me!"s and the "Moooooom, she's touching me!"s and the "If you two don't stop right now...!"s, there were so many "I can't believe how lucky we are"s and "Just look at our beautiful children"s and "I wish this moment could last forever"s.

I was smart paranoid enough to have my dumb excuse for a camera/phone phone with me on a run around the lake and I was lucky enough to capture the sun coming up one morning.  I stopped, well, mostly because there was a loose dog running in the road ahead of me, but then mostly because I just wanted to see the sun over the corn field and just - look for a second.  Just that minute where I felt like I really never had before.  Like the sun was saying "Good Morning!  Remember this moment!!"

After some reflection, it's all too clear that The Waker of the Day was hitting me between the eyes with a different little message, "Remember me, and try to find the good it what's to come.  You'll need to pray and search for a silver lining the next few days, so remember me."  Boy, this has been a "so you say there's a silver lining?" kind of few days.

At the risk of sounding vague, there was a pins and needles family situation that needed much prayer as a few days went by with uncertainty.  Everyone and everything is on the mend, thank the Lord.  Man, you just never know.

At the risk of sounding vague, again, an awesome man, a close friend of my husband and fellow football coach tragically passed away on this 4th of July.  The sun, a few days before, was trying to burn the beauty into my mind for moments where it seems like all the beauty is lost.  The sun will be back to remind us, but right now, it's hard to remember even a few days back, the feeling it gave me.  As long as it comes back each morning, hope remains that the silver lining is somewhere to be found.

It's hard not to sound cliche when times like these come around, and they do, and it's horrible.  And it's gut wrenching, and it just makes you sick.  And it's senseless.  And it's unfair.  And it makes you want to question that stupid sun.  But, man, it will sure knock some sense into you.   Makes you appreciate those moments in your every days.  Makes you take a second to really listen to your children and to look right into their blue eyes and etch that memory into your fibers.  Makes you look up into the sky and capture the pure beauty of the sunshine for moments when you can't really even seem to imagine that it was ever there.

I'm going to go and hug my family and say a little prayer for the family of our friend.  Tomorrow, I'll be on my morning run, and Mr. Sunshine will likely be back at it again.  I'll be listening, and soaking in the rays, because, boy, we really need them now.

10 Day Hiatus

10 days seems like such a long time, but then again, I can't even believe it's been that long already!

I've fallen off the face of Blog Land.  There's really no 1 good reason why.  We've had a lot of things going on.  All good stuff.  By definition of good, like not bad stuff...just lots of family type stuff.

Since school is out, I've been taking vacation literally.  Like sleep in till the kids get up, drink 90 cups of coffee, sit out on the patio, put my hair up in a thingy, wear flip flops, have backyard fires, hang out with friends and family, go to the lake, go to the pool kind of vacation.

My daily look...it's hard to tell if it's clean, dirty or just needs a touch-up.  I like to keep the mystery alive.  How come nobody ever told me those sunglasses are a little on the 'just walked out of the docs with my eyes dilated' side?  

We're talking jitters by lunch.

Not, do all kinds of chores and projects and diy kind of stuff vacation.  Hopefully I'll get to all that!

As far as workouts are concerned, I've been back at it regularly since Monday.  So that's 3 days total so far.  I've long since abandoned the Running Streak bandwagon.  That happened the first day of our garage sale on Friday.

Sunday, Day 3, and lots of stuff is picked through.  I can't believe nobody wanted the double stroller that doesn't fold up!  Come on!  And the box of VHS tapes!  Barely touched.  "What About Bob" is still here if anyone wants it.  I'll only charge shipping and handling...any takers?

This was the first one I've ever had, and I can't say that I loved it.  I can't say that I hated it.  I just had it.   That's about the extent.  We ended up having ours on the same day as a couple of other neighbors, so it was a GarageSale-A-Palooza around here last weekend.  An easy-ish way to score some fast  cash and get rid of your stuff.  Someone's trash is someone else's treasure is what they say!

Back to workouts.  They still consist of running, pushups and core work.  As obsessed I am with core work, one would think I'd have a crazy 8 pack by now like Gwen.  But, I also love Red Vines and don't have a personal chef, or trainer...anyway...I'd better get to work!

Oh, Gwen, are those airbrushed on?  Or are they real?  Gees!

The kids have had a fun packed week with going to a Detroit Tigers baseball game ( or 2 if your name is DMan!) and to Greenfield Village to ride the train and the 99 year old carousel.

Thankfully there was a dog and a horse right next to each other, or we'd have had issues!  Someone swiped the zebra and pig right from under our noses seconds before!

source

Hope you're having a fun summer time too!  

Are you watching the Bachelorette, by the way?  Anybody have an opinion on the 4 hometown-bound guys?  My fav so far is Sean.  And I like Jef, but I have a feeling she like Arie more than the others.  Thoughts?

Anybody have a summer-go-to shake for meals where you're recovering from meals that were way too delicious and you just couldn't stop yourself?  Like when you can't stop dipping in the dips?  I love me some Shakeology.

Don't Call It A Comeback

First, the past few days worth of workouts:

Today/Thursday:  Nothing yet...this means nothing.  No 1 mile run, no pushups, nothing.

Yesterday/Wednesday:  Insanity Pure Cardio.  1.6 mile run.  The Pure Cardio is such a good workout.  I'm actually sore.  Love it!

Tuesday:  Morning run 4.5 miles.

Monday:  I think I worked a whole post about how I wasn't going to run at all...but then when I went downstairs and told KDog that I posted about not running, he convinced me to go run a mile.  I did.

The streak is back on...that is if I get a run in today.  There's still time.  But, if I don't get it in today, then the streak is off.  Have you ever heard of someone so wishy washy?
Sick of hearing about it yet?

Did I ever mention the time -last year- that I trained the Hal Higdon half marathon schedule to a perfect T in order to run the Detroit Free Press half?  Oh, I ran every mile on that dang paper.  Then, I didn't get my special license to run over the Ambassador Bridge to Canada and back in time.  Didn't run the half.  I ran 13 miles that day anyway, in my neighborhood.  I'm doing it this year.  Talk about wishy washy.  Not to mention top notch procrastinator.

School is officially out for summer.  I love my J.O.B, however, I also love not going to my J.O.B. for approx. 3 month out of the year.

DDog had his pre-school graduation last week, and he looked dapper and 5.  I can't believe he's 5.

How'd my baby get so big?

Grammy and Pops were there.  They wouldn't miss it for the world.  And SweetJ has to put her own twist on things.

We went to the local scary place where mobs of sketchy looking people hang out shopping mall to check out a sale at Bath and Body Works, and we ran into a Butterfly display.  It was really cute, and unexpected, and the kids just had to check it out.

This was one of those times where I just had to completely suck it up and not act like a fruit cake screaming while cute, dainty little butterflies creepily gracefully fluttered all around us in a stinky and hot climate controlled tent.

It's not that I'm actually scared of butterflies.  Look at them.  They're so pretty.  But I'm scared of bugs and flying things, so they technically fall into both categories.  Doesn't matter if they're more bug than bird or the other way around...no good either way.

I got some cute pictures and the kids thought it was cool.  Check that one off the list.

So, as I mentioned before, I haven't done any sort of physical activity today.  I planted some flowers and ran up and down the stairs a few times.  But, my go-to workout, if all else fails, and if you even want to call it one, is PUSHUPS AND PLANKS.  I can do these in any outfit, don't really have to change.  I can do them with my glasses on, which is nice.  I can do these any place inside or outside.

I'll do 4 or 5 sets of 20, 25 or 30 pushups.  Resting 1 - 2 minutes between.  The planks for 2 or 3 minutes.  What I really need to work on is holding those planks longer.  I will try tonight.  I just see the 3 minute and stop.  Today, I will hold it longer.  Hey, I might surprise myself!

Hey, how about I go do that instead of perfecting the art of writing backwards.  Anybody know if there's a setting that will de-mirrorize the computer picture taking thingy?  Yeah, like I'd figure it out anyway.

Anybody have a quick go-to workout that you do in a pinch?

Do you like butterflies?  Is it weird that I don't like them?

Can you write backwards?

Running Flops, Smores Pops and Jankily Made Products

Day 15 today of the NON Streak.  Let me tell you, I gave it a real good go.  Last night, in my determination to keep the Streak alive, I ran 1.22 miles at 11:02 p.m.  I was not going to let the day go by without a run.  Today, I say...I just. can't. do. it.  I could go right now.  Not quite dark yet...but my legs  say stay home, and so, 14 days of running is the most I've ever done in a row.

I stink.  But, I'm just a human who needs to take a small break.  Just a day.  The kind where I put my pj pants on at 6:45 break.  Where even 1.22 miles doesn't sound like a break enough.  Detroit Free Press Half Marathon Training is just around the corner, so I'm feeling not so bad about this day.

On a more positive note, there are just 3 more days of school left until SUMMER BREAK!!  I can almost taste it.  Or smell it...that, and the rank odor that is emitted from my classroom due to the 142 sweaty teens wearing jeans and fur hoodies as they bake in my 90* upstairs inferno of he...ok, well, it's almost summer...Yay!!

Here are the delicious Smores Pops I found on Pinterest...

Marshmallows, straws, chocolate melted, crushed grahams...even I can do this.

Super easy to make, and super tasty.  Next time I'll think to actually melt the Hershey's bars instead of the chocolate chips.  AND...I've got to find some other sweet toppings to add besides your basic Honey Grahams.  I'm thinking maybe soak the marshmallow's in vodka or spike the chocolate...or maybe I should just cool it and roll them in sprinkles.  They're for the kids for Heaven's sake.

We got a pool.  Just like I remember having when I was a kid.  It was so much fun!  We got all sunscreened up, filled up the oasis and let the sun heat the water...the kids and their friends had a ball!  For about 1.5 hours until the thing split down the side, and the water came spilling out.  Bummer.  They just don't make things like they used to.  These poor kids.  Can't even enjoy a plastic backyard pool anymore. Too jankily made.

You know, if you want something done, you just have to do it yourself.  Which brings me to my next topic:  our stinking dryer.  It broke.  After 2 years of working so very hard for us, maybe 3 days a week, it just got too tired of heating and tumbling, and tumbling and heating, and quit.  No heat.  Tumbler going, but as luck would have it, nothing dries if you got no heat, man.  So, we had to bring home a new one, in the hopes that it serves our family for more than 3 months.  Mostly because it took KDog 9 hours to NON FIX the last one, poor guy.  Glad he wasted half a day on getting nowhere for free as opposed to paying repair man to tell us the same thing!  (Sorry about your wasted day, too, Jeff!)

Here she is.  Isn't she a beauty.  I, personally would rather spend the money on maybe a new pair of running shoes and a personal family chef for a month, but we had to get this dryer.  

I have to make sure DMan has at least 1 of his 3 Tigers jerseys clean for every single day of the week.  I really should just return the rest of his closet full of clothes, because he refuses to wear anything but the polyester baseball shirts.  At least he has no body stank yet, because in a few years it could get real ugly.  Hopefully he grows out of this stage.  And then SweetJ has to have some sort of pink sparkling thing to wear, she's got to keep up her Disney princess persona!

The cuteness!

Ok, this isn't a jersey shirt he's got on, but it fits the sports criteria.  It has football on it.  That will due if the dryer is broken and we are at a shortage of baseball shirts.

How To Get Through a Tough Workout

Today marks day 10 of consecutive runs.  This morning was particularly tough, mostly because I was chased by a bulldog at 4:45 am...not cool...but also because I wasn't in it mentally.

source

The first bit of my run was no fun.  I didn't want to do it in the first place.  But, I knew that there was a reason I needed to just keep going, finish and move on.  I had to do some talking to myself, and rationalizing and convincing myself that I should not stop a block from home and crawl back into bed for an hour longer.  Boy, that sounded great.  But finishing and logging another pretty good run started to sound even better after I played a few little mind games on myself...

Sometimes finishing a brutal workout can be, well, brutal.

• A workout can be rough right from the get go.  Maybe you have having a heck of a time getting started in the first place.  You can find 20 reasons to talk yourself out of even beginning to workout.
• A workout can be rough because...it's a rough workout!  Like as in a strenuous one.  Like as in you're dog tired and don't know if you can finish the last 5, 10 or even 30 minutes of whatever it is you're doing.  You hurt...but in a good, "I'm going to be sore tomorrow" kind of way.
• A workout can be rough because you're feeling out of shape, and you're comparing yourself to what you 'used' to be able to do or to what somebody else is doing. 
• A workout can be rough because you hurt.  Like as in something doesn't feel right.  In this case, ignore the rest and just stop.  If you are actually feeling injured, then pushing yourself to do more is only going to end bad.  

Whether your running, lifting weights, doing a circuit, a workout video, at the gym in a class (zumba, dance, aerobics, yoga...) you will have days where it just seems. so. hard.

These are the workouts that will shape you.  They will help you to put MIND over matter.  Think of them as mind workouts.  Not only are you logging miles or minutes with your heart rate elevated, you are working your MENTAL TOUGHNESS.  Sometimes, that is the one thing that can bring you down when the going gets rough.

It's all about trickery.  That is if you don't mind telling yourself a little while lie.  This is all used for the positive...clearly.  Haven't you ever talked yourself in to eating a second cupcake?  Or another scoop of ice cream? How about talking yourself into hitting snooze one more time even though you KNOW you'll be late?  Somehow you were able to trick your  own self into doing these things...

Tips to get through it:

• Compartmentalize.  Cubby holes.  Mental file folders.  Whatever.  Just  put the debilitating thoughts somewhere else.  I say "put" because you have to physically mentally push them out of the way.  This is so you can focus on....
• The why?  The important stuff.  Why are you doing this particular workout in the first place.  Get back to brass tacks.  What did you set out to accomplish?  Take those thoughts out and keep them rolling around in there for a while.  
• Focus on how you WILL feel.  If you are feeling like you need to stop and walk for example...assess the importance of persistence in that instant.  What will you feel like after you stop?  Is it really going to make you feel "better"?  Will it help the situation?  OR will you benefit more from sticking it out and going the distance?  If you are wishy wahsy about ending your workout before you'd planned, odds are you should just keep at it.  
• Pretend you're in the ultimate competition for whatever it is you're doing.  Sound weird?  Try it!  Ok, so I visualize that I'm running Boston...or about to get my Boston Qualifying marathon time. The crowd is going wild, "my" fans are chanting my name...all I have to do is dramatically cross the finish line with my arms waving in the air stop at the usual corner, push the stop button on my Baby G, do some mental math to figure out my average mile time and make sure there are no cars before I cross the street.  
• I tell my legs to take over.  If my mind is going soft during a run, I just tell my legs to pick up the slack.  Get going guys, you have to do your job and the job of the slacker on the second floor!  
• Crank it up!  Get a kick a$$ playlist going.  Turn it up!  Get into the grove.  Pick some songs with super upbeat tempos.  Pick songs with lyrics that make you want to fist pump and headband and make that crazy rocker face!  This is almost always a full proof.  Just tell yourself to get through one more song.  Now keep saying that until you're done.
• Here are some great tips from Runner's World too.  I have Loved reading this magazine online lately!

Obviously, this is not always going to work.  You are going to poop out sometimes.  But, if your MIND is in training, just like your body...those days will be fewer and farther between.  

I, in no way am claiming to be any sort of mental health expert.  These are just some things I do when the going gets rough...but obviously, if you are actually hurting...I mean physically there is something wrong...please don't ignore the pain, say you were taking my advice and end up having run on a broken leg for 7 more miles.  Please.

Other things:  

1. I've got preschool graduation pics coming soon
2. I've got a Lululemon gift card burning a hole in my pocket and can't choose what to get...the irony
3. 6 more wake-ups until my summer is officially here
4. I'm thinking about getting a new pair of running shoes to rotate in with my New Balance 880 for the summer.  No idea what to get...thinking about Mizuno?  

Any tips and tricks for getting through mentally tough workouts?

What should I get from Lululemon?

I'm kind of in need of a playlist re-vamp, speaking of...any suggestions?

Pushups Complete and Running Streak

It's been a while.  7 days.  So much and so little has happened all at the same time.

I've taken up a new habit.  Today marks the day of the longest amount of consecutive days I've ever run in a row.  7.  I've decided to unofficially take part in the Runner's World 38 Day Running Streak.  Starting on Memorial Day, run at least 1 mile a day until July 4th.  2 days I ran the minimum requirement...mine is 1.5 miles (1 lap around the hood).
Anyhow, 7 days straight.  Only 31 more days to go.

Since I haven't had a rest day to rejuvenate my workout clothes supply between workouts, I've been running in outfits like

Go Gophers!

and

pretty sweet looking, I know.

Almost 2 weeks ago now, I actually completed the 100 PushUp Challenge I started 6 weeks or so prior.  I was very skeptical, to say the least.  They said I would be able to do 100 pushups if I followed the plan.  I stuck to it...with a few little twists of my own here and there...and it actually happened!  Kent was a witness that I did 4 sets of 25 pushups with 1:30 rest between sets.  Anything's possible, fo sho.
I've done anywhere between 60 and 100 pushups a day since then.

I planted a garden.

We're calling this a garden.  There are no vegetables.  This could quite possible  be the smallest garden ever.  I should call someone about this.  Maybe get into the Guinness Book of World Records.  What WILL be a record, is if I keep them all alive until at least July 1st.  

We've gone to the park.

Fist pump for the park!

The days are longer, the nights are shorter, there is so much more time to do so much more!  Outside, that is.  And guess where my computer is.....it's inside, upstairs, away from the action!  I have no lap top, no IPad, no IPhone...this is what I'm working with here.

There's that green shirt again.  Not to mention the Verizon Wireless special from 1988.  No good.

Even our regular camera is broken.  Time to prioritize.  I need to get with the digital age.  If I'm going to be documenting our exciting lives, where so much and hardly nothing is happening all the time, I'm going to need some sort of technological advance.  I will never be able to call myself a real live "blogger" unless I get with it!

7 more days until summer starts for my teacher hubby, and 1 week more than that for me!

Have you surprised yourself lately with any physical feat you didn't know you had in you?


Are you up to speed in the digital age?  Am I the only one left in the universe without a 'smart' phone?


So you have any big plans for this summer?  Vacations?  

Running Mis-hap #112 and My New Accessories

Don't get me wrong, the sunshine is a beautiful thing!  It brings life to the land on the first day of spring, grows the grass and flowers, all that good stuff.

There are lots of things that I like to do in the HOT sunshine.  Take paddle boating, for one.

Watching the fam swim in the lake, for two.

But, one thing I have to remember, that I DON'T like to do in the HOT sunshine it to go for a nice long run.

I wanted to get a good run in, you know, before it got too hot on the 94* day we had here in May.

<Set the scene> By 8:30am it was over 80*.  Sounds like a perfect day, but not when your internal temperature gauge is set at 10* above normal in the first place.  I sweat at the thought of 80* weather.  I sweat at the thought of thinking about 80* weather.  Ooop, here I go.  Sweating right now.  Great.

Just thinking about it being over 80* makes me want to dump my entire water bottle over my head, and stop and walk to the nearest McDonalds 4.5 miles into the run.  It also makes me want to ask the poor McDonalds worker to let me use her cell phone to call my husband to pick me up because if I tried to take 1.more.step I would probably keel.---Which is exactly what happened.  Let's just call it Running Mishap #112.

The poor McDonalds lady was probably petrified to see sweating like a friggin mo fo me walk in, and then use her phone...the horror.  She probably just threw the thing away after I was done with it.   I probably would have!  Bless her heart for letting me use it.

So...there went the long run, Kent picked me up and the rest of the day was perrrrrfect.

I just can't take the heat, and I just can't take the sun.  I would take running in the dark, cold any day over running in the blazing sun.  This just means that my summer is going to be full of pre-7:00am wakeups to avoid running mid-day.  OR post 8:30pm runs to make sure the sun is looooong gone.

With that said...running in the morning or evening before sunrise poses a small safety issue.  If anything else, visibility of ME with on-coming traffic, crossing streets etc.  All to often, you hear about someone getting hurt on a run or bike ride due to the driver who didn't see them or that they "came out of nowhere!"  I've even come  up on a runner/biker or two that I really didn't see until the last minute!  It's a scary thought!

This is why I contacted the super-geniuses at RoadID.  This company has products dedicated MY safety on the road!  Their products are designed to give you the highest visibility when you're running/biking when the sun don't shine.

My new high-visibility belt.  This baby will let me be seen by car headlights at up to almost 700 feet.  That's about 400 feet more than white clothing, which I thought was the best way to go!   

Check out these laces!  Again, almost 700 feet of visibility.  This is a BONUS since it takes the average driver about 600 ft. to react to danger in the dark!  What about the distracted driver...I shudder...

Not to mention the ID products that allow you to display emergency numbers in the (knock on wood, cross your fingers and say a little prayer) event that you are injured and can't give the info to someone on the scene.

This particular bracelet is rubber, similar to the, say Lance Armstrong yellow ones that you see all over the place.  So very, very lightweight.  Like it's not even there at all.  The metal ID plate is not flashy or even really noticeable.  Sleek and not jewlery-like.  Just my style.

I tend to pile all of my jewels on one wrist.  As you can see, I'm  full of bling and veins.  How lovely!  But, the RoadID bracelet is a perfect fit.

Not only are these products geared toward athletes, but they have ID products for children to wear like, say on a family vacation to Disney, or anywhere that you might (knock on wood, cross your fingers and say a little prayer) be in danger of losing track of your little ones in large crowds.  I don't know about you, but turning the corner down the aisle at Kroger a few steps before DStud gives me anxiety let alone...I can't even say it!

Now that I have my ID bracelet - the Wrist ID slim-, shining beacon Reflective Shoelaces and Reflective Belt (which is a snazzy alternative to the all out reflective vest) I feel a little bit better about hitting the road at my favorite time of the day dusk and pre-dawn.

You'd better believe my kids will be sporting the Kid's Wrist ID in pink and blue ASAP!

*I was given these products to review by RoadID, and the opinions are my own.*

When is your fav time to run/workout?  


Do you shy away from running during the dark-er hours due to safety?  


Would having the proper reflective gear and ID make you more at ease?


Am I the only one who tries to avoid exercise in the sun?  Am I crazy??