Couch Potato to 5K

I did it!  After about five months of working toward my goal of running three miles I finally made it the whole distance on Thursday night! 
The C25K program is awesome – it does just what it says – enables a couch potato to work up to running a distance of 5K or 3 miles over the course of 9 weeks (obviously it took me longer – I blame the heat).  To fully understand how it works check it out HERE.

I started out barely being able to run for 60 seconds.  (Yeah, I was that much of a wus.)  Halfway through the training when I had worked up to 5 or 10 minutes of running I thought I might die.  Then there was the day I had to run 20 minutes non-stop!  Yikes!  The whole time I kept thinking that there was no way I would ever make it to the full three miles.  Then we started running for distance instead of time.  Two and a half miles was pure torture.  Seriously, I ran 2.5 miles 3 times a week for at least a month and a half before I was able to move on.  Slowly but surely I would get a little further each time until one night I could feel that I would make the whole distance and I did!  (I am pretty sure that it had a lot to do with the 15 degree drop in temperature that night – I realized that the sometimes over 100 degree temperatures have an extremely negative effect on my energy when running). 
I know my runner family and friends may be laughing at me right now but this is a MAJOR accomplishment for me!  I am so stinking proud of myself that I reached this goal. 

I can not take all the credit…there are several parties I wish to thank.  As I mention everyone and everything please enjoy envisioning the spectacle we make as we trot around the neighborhood with this entourage.
 
Stephen and Boston who, night after night, sat “patiently” in the double jogger.  Stephen sweetly says, “Great job running Mommy!” after each run.


Kloie, who usually didn’t stop to bark at other dogs.

 
My double jogging stroller, pushed by Scott – not me.  (It has to weigh at least 100 pounds with both boys in there).

 
ipod, speakers, Top Gun soundtrack (yeah, we like thumpin’ to the 80s tunes the whole time)

 
My squirt bottle. I tear up a little when I think of this one -  running in upper 90s or sometimes over 100 degree weather is AWFUL – yeah, it is still that hot at 8pm, but little squirt kept me sane.

 
Most of all Scott!  I could have never reached this goal without his support!  He went with me faithfully 3 times a week, plodding along at my snails pace and never getting frustrated when I stopped or gave up even though it ruined his work out.  I know that he could have run this whole distance no problem the first day we started the program but he stuck with me anyway!  I know, I am a lucky woman to have such a great friend and support in my sweet husband. (This is a random picture of him – nothing to do with running).

Where to go from here?  Keep on trucking!  I want to shave at least two and a half minutes off of my time so that I am running 10 minute miles (I know, not a speed demon) and then in October or November when the weather finally cools off I will run a few 5K races.  Just for fun.  Ha ha!  I love the thought of saying that all casual like, “yeah, I am going to run a 5K this weekend.”  It makes me a little giddy.  I have become addicted to running in a strange way – I totally hate doing it in the moment – but when I am done the feeling of accomplishment and the general “high” I get is so great!  To be honest, the 15 pounds I lost in the process has a lot to do with my love affair with running.  This was another goal I was working on so I was doing Weight Watchers too – just counting points, not going to the meetings.

I am still in shock and awe that I was able to complete this program.  Seriously, if you are reading this thinking that you could never do it you are so wrong.  I was NOT a runner, have never ever been good at it in my life.  If I can do it YOU totally can!

P.S.  In case you couldn’t tell, these pictures are the genuine article – why did I think taking pictures after the run was a good idea???  Though I must say that even though my shirt is soaked, a good portion of that comes from my spray bottle – not all of it is sweat. 

Easily Entertained

Every now and then they play well together.  It is pricey toys that spark their interest and bring them together?  No…   

It is becoming more frequent that Stephen will invite Boston to join in on an activity.  And I love every minute of it!



They played with this Costco jumbo pack of TP for over an hour, happily building towers and knocking them down. There were very few fights and so it was pure bliss for me.  Yes, they really were collaborating in the effort – much more so than the pictures reflect.  Boston would gather the rolls and bring them to Stephen who would build the bulk of the tower.  Boston would try and stack a few rolls when he could reach.  Then they would take turns knocking down the towers they had built.

And now you all know what brand of TP we buy!  :)

Green Slushy Anyone?

 

Boston clearly enjoyed his first slushy from QT.  We got these slushy drinks for the boys after spending the entire morning at Primary Activity Day (okay, this activity was over a month ago…)which was a water party in 110 degree weather.  It was also very humid that day.  We were at the park for 2 and a half hours!  It was awful.  Seriously.  I am pretty sure I had heat exhaustion by the end.  I couldn’t even take five steps without stopping to catch my breath.  Anyway, Stephen, Boston, and the Primary children from the ward seemed to have a great time.  Scott was a trooper and so helpful with setting up and taking down all of the play pools and slip and slides.  He made me promise not to have this kind of activity ever again.  I readily agreed!

A little place I like to call DES

Pssst - I have a secret to tell you - we get government assistance.  We are poor college students.  'Nuff said.  Now on to the story:

Today Scott and I had to go down to DES to renew our food stamps and insurance.  dripping sarcasm...Ahhhh, I love going to DES.  It is such a clean and nice place to be.  I can think of no other place I would rather spend my time.  

We waited for them to call our number for at least an hour and a half.  We did a great deal of "people watching" during this time.  My main thought for most of the women there was "hi sister, did you look in the mirror before you walked out the door?  Hmmm, no I think not, cause that "shirt" is not doing it for you."  Such nastily dressed women I have never seen.  One lady had her big fake boobies practically falling out of her tank top as she chased her 2 year old boy around the room - I wanted to cover Scott's eyes.  There were seriously so many large people with short shorts and short people with large hineys.  And the bellies. Yuck.  Seriously, people look in the mirror and cover some skin (and stuff)!  

When we finally got called we ran to the front desk and the lady helping us was a total crack up.  She was old and missing several teeth (I am sure she has the same insurance we do and it doesn't cover dental - they just pay for you to have them pulled, hence...toothless) but she was so happy and sweet.  She confided that tomorrow was her last day - she was retiring - tomorrow! Several times she said how she was so glad that she was old. She said she planned to travel and intends to go to California on Monday.  The plan is to walk along the beach and think of her coworkers "hmmm, I wonder what they are doing right now?" and then laugh to herself.  As part of the process we had to be fingerprinted and have our pictures taken.  When she took Scott's picture, she started giggling and couldn't stop.  There wasn't really anything too funny about the picture that I could see, but apparently something struck her as hilarious.  She was still laughing after we walked out the door.

Thanks sweet little lady for helping us at DES - you made the wait a little less painful in the end!

This one is for all my peeps from the family reunion

I am very sorry that many of you missed our rockin' Hatch Family reunion.  I have the best aunts, uncles, and cousins.  There is no one better!  The girls had some fun times making flowers and "crafting."  Sigh.  It was really fun!  So, if you weren't there, I am sorry you missed it and this post won't really make a lot of sense to you...

My lovely lovely friend Stephanie who taught me how to make cute headband flowers (you know the ones...) during our latest Relief Society activity just posted a tutorial for making JERSEY YARN on her cute family blog!  (This will just show you how to make the yarn part - you will have to remember the rest on your own until I get around to demonstrating it ...don't hold your breath).  So exciting, I know.  So here you go:

Now go ahead and cut it into 2" jersey yarn.  If you don't know how to do this, just cut strips in your shirt but stop 2 inches before the end....DONT cut all the way across!

Now put your arm inside and open the shirt up

now lay it out so that the intact side seem is in the middle

Now cut just the top layer from one incision to the previous one on the other side in a diagonal line... like this:

It should look like this when it's spread out a little

Now wha -la! you have one long continuous piece of jersey yarn.  I only ended up using half of this yarn for this project.

PS - this girl is seriously so talented in many ways...I especially appreciate her skills as our Primary Music Chorister.  Sheesh, jersey yarn and primary music.  What would I do with out ya' Stephanie?