Sarah- Thursday, July 21st

Didn't feel great Tuesday. Took the day off. Yesterday, with the best of intentions, I started getting visual migraine auras and immediately called my friend Pam the chiropractor. I am now fully adjusted and rarin' to go. Thanks Pam!!!

Today was an elliptical Aerobic on 5 day. Had me breathing and sweating. I was hoping to do weights but too many children needed too many things so I only did one set of biceps. Sometimes it's not worth fighting the current. K'Nex issues and tea parties need to take precedence.

Sarah- Monday, July 28th

Love that quote, Darce! Now to run far...

Chris rolled over at 6:30 this AM and said, 'when are you getting up to run?' Not 'are you getting up to run?' but 'when?' I rolled out of bed and in a zombie state prepared to run all the while wondering how it would be possible. I just don't go to bed early enough for this crap. I grabbed the ipod and... (da, da, da, dum) the watch. No! Not the watch! Yes, the watch. All kids and husband still in bed, I snuck out the door.

I decided 3 miles would be a nice number for someone who hasn't been running as a form of working out in while. I timed them and it felt awesome to know the times while running a one-mile loop. The time made sense. Here's what I ran in order:
8:45
8:40
8:20
I have myself convinced that, in keeping with this pattern, I could run a sub-6 on my 26th mile. ROFL.

Nice workout.

Sarah- Sunday, July 25th

I awoke at 7 AM to two children and a body that wished to not yet wake. My first thought was coffee...and I don't drink coffee. Instead I got the kids breakfast, turned on Noggin, and went back to bed for an hour. And by then it's about 90 degrees. We had a full family day and in the late afternoon, as Chris napped on the couch, I rounded up the kids and we went out to the pool. They swam and played as I pool ran for an hour. I wasn't sure how that would work as far as being left to my workout but it was great! It's a lot about focusing on form in order to achieve the best workout. This includes keeping the feet flexed/semi-flexed as one would do on the road. It makes a huge difference in what I feel in my gluts and hams which I attribute to a better workout. I like a little pain...especially if I'm not going to drip sweat or turn red like a ripe tomato (as doesn't happen in the pool but does happen everywhere else). Apparently it's the Aquajogger belt that causes the stomach pressure and regurgitation. How incredibly unpleasant. Still worth it for the pool run but it's pretty nasty to be puking in my mouth every few minutes. I had BBQ for lunch and, though I'm sure it would've been fine coming back right after, 4 hours later it no longer resembles BBQ. Nice.

After the hour of running, I did some laps to top it off. I always start with the forward crawl and see how long I can take it. Usually it's about 3 laps max before I have to at least alternate with breast stroke. Today I did 14 crawl laps. I was breathing!

Sarah- Saturday, July 24th

I didn't have the heart to do the one hour body sculpting Pilates. So instead I did the 20 minute workout and then...guess...yes, hopped on the elliptical! 30 minutes of Performance on 5. Damn that hill! Yet another enjoyable workout!

Sarah- Thursday, July 24th

Elliptical...again? Yes, it's over 100 in Texas. I stay up too late at night as it's my only time without the kids and then I have a hard time getting up early enough to run before it gets sweltering and Chris goes to work. Blah, blah, blah. 30 minutes on Performance 5. I actually looked at the screen today- yes, I'm in denial when I elliptical too and look at the screen as little as possible. I stay in the moment. I don't like to know how much is left, what the resistance will be...nothing. For descriptive purposes I decided to watch the course to figure out what, exactly, Performance means. It's one big, long horrendous hill. No wonder Aerobic felt like spinning. It's a good workout! I have found that if I use the machine in sneakers, from the balls of my feet to my toes fall asleep. That makes the elliptical even more endearing. I can be in various stages of undress (not having to leave the house) and socks (not even having to lace any shoes).

Insert expletive here! According to my calculations (which I have been very delinquent in doing) on Jeff Galloway's training site, I am 2 weeks behind in being conscientious about my marathon training. To this point, I have been doing as much as I can of whatever I can for however long seemed appropriate or was possible. I temporarily freaked out just now. Now I'm looking more at the chart and it looks like I have been doing way more than is required at this point in the training. That seems good! Looks like what I need to focus on are the long runs. I must make an effort to get up early once a week to do the long runs. I am enjoying working out this much and have no desire to cut back. My body feels good and looks good. I feel stronger and more mentally in tune than I have in a long time. So fabulous!

Sarah- Wednesday, July 23rd

Back on the elliptical. This seems to be my, 'I haven't planned well and need to get a workout in' workout. The longest programs I have on my machine are 30 minutes (the others are 20). I often think of Darcy doing 60 minutes on the Arc and wonder if I'm an underachiever. Prior to the marathon training, I've only ever used the 20 minute ones (because they're hard and because they're 20 minutes). I decided to try the 30 minute Aerobic program on 5 today- once again kicking it up from level 4 which I've always used on this program. It was a nice one. Different from Performance in that the rotations are faster and the hills are smaller/shorter. Definitely gets the heart rate up and some heavier breathing. A little harder to read my magazine b/c of the quick rotations :).
PS- I woke up at 3 AM and couldn't move. No kidding that the 2nd day is worse! Wii Boxing kicked my ass (though I did knock out like 20 people in a row- I'm a force to be reckoned with). Bilateral lats, right trapezius and every other muscle in the right arm are so sore I couldn't roll over in bed without whimpering. I managed to get to the bathroom for some ibuprofen and was feeling a little better when I woke up this morning. ROFL! I love the Wii and those computer players are justifiably nervous about my return.

Sarah- Tuesday, July 22nd

Chris wanted to play b-ball this morning and I wanted to run. Hmmm. He went to the gym to play from 6-7 AM then called me on his way home and told me to suit up. I was ready when he came in the door, went out the door, and ran 2.75 miles then hoofed my butt in the door so he could kiss me on his way off to work. Why such an arbitrary mileage number? I felt like going off the 1 mile loop so I ran around the subdivision, then back to the house, then did a 1 mile loop to top it off. That's my favorite way to run- just run and then Googlemap to figure out how far it was. Maybe I'm into mysteries.... :) Come to find out, I ran 2.75 miles. It was a nice run and I felt good about it. Definitely leaving the watch home for a while.

PS- I'm pretty sore from the Wii Boxing!

Sarah- Sunday, July 20th

Hmmm- it's getting to be late afternoon. I haven't worked out yet. I flip through the cards in my head of what I could do. I start getting dressed and get as far as a sports bra before I come out to the computer to check weather.com. We've been out at the pool all afternoon and it hasn't felt too bad- hot but tolerable. I'm checking the temp to see if I could manage something outdoors. Apparently it's 103. Chris rolls his eyes, 'you thought you were going to run?' Apparently not. I skip happily off to the elliptical. Can we just elliptical for 26.2 miles? I mixed it up and did the Aerobic Trail Run for 30 minutes on 5. It didn't feel like as much tension/pushing but I was definitely moving and breathing.

Sarah- Saturday, July 19th

Chris went to play basketball this morning as he does on Saturdays. He gets up pretty early. No way to beat him to it for a run. I talk to the kids and let them know I would like to do Pilates. They are amenable to the plan and go upstairs to play. I've said it before and I'll say it again. That is one tough workout. Everything is in muscle-isolating sets and by the end of the set, I'm burning. I love that there are still a couple of exercises that I can't maintain my form on. I know that there's more work to do. It's also heartening that I can do most of it and some of this stuff defies gravity! I know I'll be sore tomorrow. I dread the day after Pilates....

Sarah- Saturday, July 12th

A lazy day at the Parent house. I got on the elliptical machine for my standard 30 minutes of Performance on 4. I'm not sure that means anything to anyone but me. I did bicep curls (3 sets, 10 lbs- 16, 12, 10 reps), deltoid flies (3 sets, 8 lbs), and triceps (3 sets, 8 lbs). Then I did a little ab work. It's fun with Chris in the office/workout room hanging out. We were listening to Night Ranger in preparation for the show we went to see that night. Then the kids came in and started lifting weights with us. Too funny. We're going to have to get some of those little, padded aerobic weights so no little toes are squished.

Sarah- Friday, July 11th

Awww- not a slacker, Darce! Being injured just threw you off your game. Time to get back in the groove. Go slow. We have time. For me consistency is the key- even if I only do a little. Losing focus is too easy. Although I must say the goal of the marathon is the bomb. Makes each workout like a step on the way to the top.

I hopped on my bike at 5:20 PM. Chris is working from home today which means he's still working. Ugh. Being salary has its benefits and drawbacks. I'm feeling slick in my new gear- running skort, new IPOD, and wrist watch (which I didn't use :). Not to mention a brand new haircut! Loving it. Not sure the skort was the best choice on the bike- a little high riding which caused some thigh/seat rubbing. I went 8.2 miles today- added an extra mile on at the end for good measure. 96 degrees. Sweat was running down my face halfway through. I did remember to wear gloves today so that I could grip the handlebars- completely screwed up my wrist the last time I rode trying to keep my sweaty hands in control of the bike. Had to wear my slingback New Balance b/c there's still a gaping hole/scab on the back on my achilles from the damn ankle weights. It hurts like crazy when I put on my running shoes- there was always a little rub spot there but the weights killed it. Guess I'll be waiting for that to heal before I hit the pavement again (OK with me- it's hotter than hell here for running right now).

Can't wait to hear about San Francisco, Darcy! Do tell! It's on my list of places to go. I thought of you while I was riding. I think often about how you've done this twice. It's very motivating to me that this is not a case of the blind leading the blind :) I'm soooo blind (near-sighted right now).

Sarah- Thursday, July 10th

Busy day today. Took the kids to the Water Gardens in Fort Worth then cleaned and swam with them in the later afternoon. Felt a touch of a cold- some weird sinus stuff and continued chills on and off. Ate an orange juice popsicle and sat in the chaise for a bit while they swam. I had just enough time after Chris got home to make/eat dinner and jump in the pool for a 30 minute pool run before I was off to babysit for a girlfriend (we're swapping now so we can both get out with our hubbies- awesome!). It was a good run. I like when I feel it and I felt it. Mental note- no more dinner before workouts. I threw up in my mouth about 100 times in a half hour. Awesome. The new ipod mix that Chris put on my NEW IPOD (engraved with Parent 26.2 on the back) is fantastic and very motivating. I want to workout just so I can listen to my tunes!!! The armband isn't here yet...

Sarah- Wednesday, July 9th

I felt like crap yesterday! Recovering from a busy 4th w/e, I guess. Today I convinced the kids to watch some TV while I ellipticalled (I just made up a new word :) They were so into whatever they were watching that I did some abs and back when I finished doing the cardio- 30 minutes on level 4 Performance. I do love that machine. It was nice to get the workout in earlier in the day rather than in the evening.

Sarah- Monday, July 7th

Chris got home from work and I needed to get off the premises again for a workout. I decided to bike. No kids towed behind but still approaching 100 degrees. It really isn't the heat- it's the humidity which we have very little of compared to New England. I got a nice breeze on the bike to start which turned into a gale force, Texas-style, wind across the prairie, headwind for most of the rest of the ride. How can you have a headwind for most of a loop? Isn't it only blowing in one direction? I rode on the road (rather than the sidewalk like I do with the kids in tow) in city (OK, very busy suburb) rush-hour traffic and it was great. Back to the house to stretch by the pool.
7.2 miles

Sarah- Sunday, July 6th

Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. That's what I felt when I opened my eyes this morning. That pilates workout does me in. Guess I should do it more. It's devoting the time to it. It takes an hour in the house which means somehow the kids need to cooperate which isn't always possible. Ow.

I manage to get out of bed and realize I must do something but everything sounds like tremendous torture when all the muscles in my body are screaming from the pilates.

I strap on the 10 lb. weights to my ankles and walk around the mile loop with the dogs at a good clip. The only thing I succeeded in doing was getting a horrible and huge blister on my right achilles from the rubbing of the weight. Nice.

Later in the day I did some flutter and butterfly kick work in the pool while Chris played with the kids. Nothing I would call a workout, though.

Sarah- Saturday, July 5th

OK- so I'm trying to catch up on posts. I can't for the life of me remember why I would have taken the 4th off but I'm thinking I did since I don't remember working out that day. Hmmm.

Anyway, Saturday I did the advanced pilates body sculpt again (one hour). That is some tough stuff. Whoa.

Sarah- Thursday, July 3rd

What are the chances? I got up early again today! Chris was working from home due to the impending holiday and early market shutdown so it all worked out today. I laced up and ran the 'big' loop. I ran it forward again and hated it. I think backward is the way to go. The ipod died 1/2 way through. Right after I was thinking I should blog the mix I was listening to b/c it rocked. Nice. Last time I compliment that piece of crap. Could be the sweat from my palms seeping into the cracks.... I decided to add a smidge onto the end and it's a good thing I did. Turns out that 'big' loop- the one I thought was 4 miles- is only 3. I made it 3 1/2 by adding the last bit around the neighborhood. Call me an overachiever.

I must sit down with a calendar and start figuring out when these long runs are going to start. I need different shorts b/c Chris is starting to wonder why his are always in the laundry and I'm getting underwear chafe. I need one of those belts that holds water bottles too. And shoes with rockets on them wouldn't hurt....

Oh! I forgot to mention that when I was at the intersection about 1/10 of a mile from the house this morning I saw the minivan. The one that I see occasionally passing by around here that has the sticker on the back window that says 26.2. Simple. I want to join that club.

Sarah- Wednesday, July 2nd

I got up and was hoping to run this morning but it didn't work out. After consulting with a sleepy Chris, turns out he had a server build that he had to get up and go do so he had to be out of the house early. Damn. We had a very full day (again) and going to the waterpark with 2 kids who want to do totally different things should be deemed a contact sport.

I called Chris to let him know I planned a pool run when he arrived home. He called on his way home to tell me to get my suit and belt on so I'd be ready to go. He's playing basketball with the boys as soon as I'm done. We actually did this jockeying for workouts yesterday too, come to think of it. I did as I was told and got 45 solid, ass-kicking minutes in the pool. I was burning. It was much different than before. It's really about focusing on form and speed. It's easy to get slow and lazy in there and once I really tried to turn up the pace, I was feeling it. The kids came out to the (cold) spa to swim while I finished the last 20 minutes or so with Chris spectating. They counted out the last bit of my workout by songs ('Daddy, how much time does Mama have left?'- '4 more songs after this one.') I spent the last song doing fast swim laps and ended wrung out. It was great. It's so weird to get out of the pool and be quivery all over.

Sorry- you'll have to turn your head/monitor sideways- have I mentioned I hate Blogger???

Sarah- Tuesday, July 1st

I think I may have training ADD. My 'schedule' pretty much constitutes me picking something out the exercise hat (in my head) based on the events of the day, time of day, temperature, and what I feel like doing. I try to rotate and mix things up. It helps me to not get bored and I feel like it gets me in better shape all around (quite literally :)

Today I felt like being outside of the house. Be it 96 degrees outside when Chris got home from work, I needed to go out the door. So I decided to try out rollerblading in the heat and see if it has the same effect as running.

I'll tell you one thing, it works different muscles for sure. I did 3 miles with my gluteus burning to the maximus almost from glide 1. A good butt and lower back workout for sure. Just picking them up is hard- they're heavy! On my second lap, a neighbor stopped to watch and said, 'that looks like good exercise' as I was rolling by. I couldn't figure out if that meant that it looked hard to him or it looked hard on me. Maybe both :) I find myself staring at the ground alot and trying to figure out what random stuff is on the sidewalk or how it got there. If it's liquid, how long it will take to evaporate. There's one spot on my loop that there are these liquidesque spots that don't ever go away. I have to will myself by them and not to touch them to figure out what they are. My OCD becomes more apparent :)

Sarah- Monday, June 30th

Another crazy day at the Parents. I 'taught' Sadie's ballet class this morning followed by a day of children at the house. Then to Wal-Mart. Then to dinner with Daddy. Oy. I'm tired! No more days off for a while! I MUST do something. So when we come home, Chris and I tag team bed preparations for the kiddos and I run off to the elliptical. 30 minutes on Performance/Level 4- damn that's tough! I read an article about living green on a budget, whether to vaccinate, and how to include kids in dinner preparation (so they'll eat it). I love the elliptical machine! I got to exercise and read all at the same time. I strapped on the 10 pound weights on my ankles afterward and did some leg strength work. I'll be feeling that tomorrow, for sure.