Dear friends – if anyone’s still out there…
I’m still here. And still running! 😀 I have about 20 miles planned for the next 7 days and I’m actually looking forward to it. Its amazing to think I used to be unable to run just one mile!
Anything is possible. Anything.
Still raising funds for Give Kids the World too. Every penny (literally) counts!
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/StacyBell/disneyprincessweekend2014
So I ran my first race! It was an 8k. Flat. 10+ mile per hour head wind. It was my longest run to date.
I finished towards the end with my best friend and cheerleader.
BUT I earned a personal record on my mile, 1k, and 5k. 🙂
And it was fun.
I can’t wait for another race to beat my time!
But next time I’mgoing to have to figure out something else to do with the chip. My ankle’s still recovering.
BIG Announcement!
I am running for a great charity – Give Kids the World. Will you join me through financial support?
GKTW provides week long free vacations to families who have a child with a life-threatening disease like this little princess.
I’ll be running the Glass Slipper Challenge at Walt Disney World – 19.3 miles in 2 days. A 10k and then a half marathon!
Will join me on my journey and donate a few dollars? The goal is for $3000.
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/StacyBell/disneyprincessweekend2014
For anyone out there not is perfect shape – you might get this.
I have boxes, bags, and stacks of old clothes that I outgrew around my house. And no, I don’t mean I got taller. I even have some of them marked by what weight to get to before they’ll fit.
Well, I took the plunge: I opened one of the boxes. Actually I cleaned out my dresser, opened a box, and cleaned out my closet.
And … drum roll please…. I have a load of laundry of stuff that fits again!!! Including some of my college soccer gear (granted, those warmups have aloooot of give). Now there’s a small stack of clothes that are too big sitting on my floor to sell/give/throw (but I might hang on to some of them to use as painting/work stuff).
I can’t wait to see what the next month of running training does for my body!
Oh, and plus: I found a cardigan thing I have been looking for almost 2 years. 😀
12:40 – Fastest Mile yet! When I started my c25k training I did an 18minute mile. 🙂 Although my second mile was a 13:40… I’m ok with that. One step at a time.
I tend to pace too quickly at the start of my outdoor runs. Is that normal for you?
10:00 minute mile here I come!!! 😀
On of my tricks when I’m at a low point on a run is to switch my music to the Magic Kingdom’s Wishes soundtrack. I imagine getting to watch the show for the first time as a runner. 🙂 Maybe that will help other Disney-loving-wanna-be-racers.
Oh! An incase you hadn’t heard: Disney is starting to offer healthy treats in the parks. If you’re like me, vacationing means eating: Turkey legs, soda, Dole Whip, Mickey ear bars, pastries from Main Street, funnel cakes… well, you get the idea. 🙂 now they are opening stations that sell fresh fruit, more healthful beverage options, etc – you can read all about it at the Disney Parks Blog. Good news for those of us trying to trim down our Minnie Mouse girlish figures. 🙂
I can’t believe it but I am now running 25 minutes straight. Granted my runs are sloooooow but it’s more then I’ve ever done. I’m actually about to finish week 7 (last run tomorrow) of my c25k training program.
I realize I’ve been pretty pathetic on keeping up with posts. However, for all the I-don’t-think-I-can-run folks out there: I didn’t think I could either! Running has always been a bucket list item for me. But when I hit week 5 of my C25k (Couch to 5k for newbies) I thought I was a gonner. I had to run longer then I ever remember running before.
Thankfully I had my friends at #Team runDisney. <— If you haven’t found them you can check out the group on Twitter (@TeamrunDisney) or on Facebook!
They gave me great advice on what to do including slowing my pace. And now here I am! A week from running 5k distances! And honestly, I’m pretty sure I could tomorrow if I tried (but I’m sticking to my programs… all about the mental game at this point and finishing what I started).
SO, I now feel like I can call myself a runner instead of a runner in training. 🙂 A slow runner, but still doing laps around the me of this time last year! 🙂
Below: After an especially rough run last week. I was supposed to do 20something minutes without stopping but I stopped twice in the first 10 minutes. BUUUUT, THEN I restarted and ran the whole assigned distance. I had a little Rocky moment at the end of that run. 🙂 AND important lesson learned : small strides on hills!!! 🙂
Epic! What a high! What thrill! What a success!
I did it! 3 days of running training in one week. I had my fastest outdoor mile on my Nike app to date. And no shin pain – say what?! { Get use to it – I’m a very exclamation mark kinda chick }
I even wore some jeans that hadn’t fit in months.
And then…
I had 9 days of graduate class with an hour commute each way. There was no running. I planned to. I thought about it. I hit snooze. Alot.
Before everyone gets sad – don’t worry! It’s always darkest before the dawn. The ring had to go to Mordor but at least Frodo and Sam had each other { yes. I am a unabashed nerd }.
I have two more runs under my belt since my class. Unfortunately my shins have been a tad bit sore so I’ve been resting 2+ days between run training. Tomorrow or Thursday will be my next run. And the good news: my last run was my furthest distance logged { in 30ish minutes } to date. By a tenth of a mile.
Hey. Every little bit helps…
2012 is over. January 5th is just a few days away.
For most people that January 5th deadline is pretty meaningless but for me it marks my “A.A.” – “After A.B.”. January 5th is the day 5 years ago I married my hubby. So for me that date is a mile-marker to gauge the happenings of life.
This year has brought a host of news: Gluten-Free, established business for me, new fire-fighter career for A.B., first house purchase, adding a dog to the family, first niece born, paid off the car, lost 10 pounds…
But really, I’m more interested in moving forward then looking back. Sure back has its place but this is about the new – the growing. A.B. and I had a good heart to heart yesterday – you know, the kind that bounces between “this is the best conversation we’ve ever had” and pull-your-hair-out-staring-stonily-out-the-window. Growing.
The best and deepest growth is easy and painless – said no one. Ever.
One of the products of that conversation is the obvious need for us to grow. As a couple? Sure. But most importantly, as individuals. For me that means I need to read and connect. I live a solitary adult life. I work from home and mostly rub shoulders with students under the age of 18. I need to be pushed not just to share.
For this new year (5 A.A. or 2013A.D. for the rest of the world) I will be attempting to spend daily time reading a good book/blogs to stretch my thinking on God and I’ll be reading/studying weekly on increasing my vocal knowledge (and that’s not even going into health and lifestyle growth!). And then I’m going to share here. Why? I don’t know – not really because I have anything of epic and original value (although I hope I help someone besides myself). Maybe because its good to write it out.
What any good teacher will tell you: you learn best what you have to effectively communicate to others.
So look out world. Time to grow.
Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Be the Impossible 