All posts by Kim

I am a 44 year old wife, mom and athlete. I started running in high school and have loved it ever since. As I got older, I had to stop running every day so I added in weight training and all sorts of fun work-outs like Insanity, P90X and Turbo Fire. I'm a certified personal trainer and I love all aspects of fitness.

A Few Words Can Wash Away a Funk

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This week I feel like I have been in a bit of a funk – just a combination of being tired and a few issues that have been going on awhile.

Since I quit my job almost 3 years ago, I have spent lots of time by myself.  Even when I’m working at our venue it is usually just me and my cleaning stuff!!

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This week I started thinking about how much my social life was tied to my job and I miss it!!!  However, I decided that wallowing wasn’t helping so I should do something about the situation!!!

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Then, as I was going through my blog feed I came across something that made my entire day/week!!!

My sister wrote the sweetest post about sisters.   In fact, I’m copying it here because it made me  so happy (after I finished crying!)!!!

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Sisters

There is something about sisters…something special…something unique…something only girls understand. “Sister” can mean an actual blood-related sister, a sister-in-law, or even just a friend who is so close you consider her a sister. Whatever definition you choose, there is nothing in the world like a sister. I am lucky enough to have all three of the above definitions apply to my life, but this post is really about only one of those. Kim.

I’ll be honest, when we were young we were not friends. But then, what 16 year old is really friends with her bratty 9 year old little sister? That’s what a seven year difference will do when you’re young. But then we grew up a little, and those seven years didn’t seem like such a big deal. (In fact, at one point someone actually guessed that I was older than her, and I think our ages were 13 and 20.) And then we grew up even more, (you know, became adults!) and it was like that age difference just disappeared. It was awesome!

As adults, we both went through different life changing events at different times, so that pulled us apart again at times (which I think is probably pretty normal). But regardless of that, we have always been there for each other for the big things (weddings, children, etc.). I won’t lie when I say that I wish we were together and could share the little day-to-day things as well, but maybe someday! Regardless, I have always known that I could count on her for anything. There are two specific times when my sister was, let’s be honest, a life-saver to me. The first was my wedding day. Without being asked, she just took charge that day making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be when they were supposed to be there, without me worrying about anything. She helped me get ready (not sure when she got ready!), and was the last one to give me a hug before I walked down the aisle. She made sure everything was taken care of even after the wedding and after we left. And she did all that without being asked.

The second time was after Hadley was born. Unfortunately I had some health complications a few days after we came home, and luckily she was there visiting. I was admitted into the hospital and she, without hesitating, stayed and took care of my less than a week old baby at home. She gave him his first bottle, changed his yucky diapers, got up multiple times during the nights with him, and most importantly loved him. During those few days, I never worried about him being taken care of because I knew he was in very capable hands. And again, she did all that without being asked.

My sister is a rock. Sometimes she has been a rock that I just stepped over and kept going. Sometimes she has been a rock that I have leaned on. But, the older I get, and the more I learn about her and about life, the more I appreciate her and hope I can be like her. She is my big sister…someone I look up to…someone I respect…my friend. I’m lucky that I get to go through life with her.

written by Mandi Lewis @ Live…Laugh…Love…..Lewis

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The timing of her post was exactly what I needed.

Have you ever read something that turned around your entire mood?
Do you ever spend a week in a funk?

Happy Friday!!!

Kim

Trails, Roads, Races, Treadmills – Running Is Running

My Treadmill
My Treadmill

If you’ve read my blog at all you know that I LOVE my treadmill!!!  I log the majority of my miles on the treadmill and I rarely race anymore.

This wasn’t always the case for me.  I used to hate everything about the treadmill.Screen Shot 2015-03-24 at 8.46.21 PM

I ran competitive track and cross country in high school and college.  When I was in grad school (in Alabama) I raced a lot and never once trained on a treadmill.

It wasn’t until after we had Jordan that I converted to being a treadmill runner.

Because of the nature of Chris’ job –

returning from a deployment (2011)
returning from a deployment (2011)

he has always had to be away for varying lengths of time.  I didn’t want to share my running (I’m selfish like that!!!) by pushing a stroller so we bought a treadmill.  (I’m on my 3rd in 16 years!)

Over the years I’ve learned to love running on the treadmill.
*  It doesn’t matter how cold or hot it is outside
*  It is never raining or snowing or muddy

this would NEVER happen on the treadmill
this would NEVER happen on the treadmill

*  I can always pause for a pit stop without having to duck behind a tree.
*  I stay caught up on my DVRed shows!!
*  I could run during nap-time, early morning or after the boys were in bed when they were little and couldn’t be left alone and I was doing the single parent gig!

Most of the time I’m perfectly fine with the fact that I am a treadmill runner.  However, there are times that things come up that make me question if I really am a true runner since most of my miles are on the treadmill.

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I know that there are differences – no wind, not a natural incline, controlled climate…..I try to accommodate for some by setting my treadmill at 1.5 incline for all of my runs and then using the incline for hills on occasion.

I don’t race much these days – mostly because I always raced to win not just to finish a race and the training required for that is more than my body can handle these days since I have had more stress fractures than I can count.

Screen Shot 2015-03-24 at 8.43.39 PMSo, sometimes I question whether or not I am a real runner.  I know that there are many people who scoff at the treadmill and would say “NO, those miles don’t count.”

However, I know that running is running and it doesn’t matter where you run, how far you run, how fast you run or if you take a picture to document the run – RUNNING IS RUNNING!!!

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In my heart I know that I am a runner – I am a treadmill runner and proud of it!!!

What are your thoughts – is all running the same?
Do you run?  Where do you like running the most?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Sometimes a Race Ends up Not Being a Race

Saturday I had big plans!!  I was running the Grasslands Trail 50 and I was ready to finally complete 50 miles!!!

at the hotel ready to go
at the hotel ready to go

I trained well for this race and felt both physically and mentally ready to finally complete a 50!

Since the race started at 6:00 am it was still dark –

starting line
starting line

It was really dark and since we were in the middle of nowhere (the grasslands) there weren’t any true lights – just our headlights (knuckle lights for me).

About 10 seconds before we started the director said we should have our ankle bracelets (timing chips) – oops!!!  So I started a little late since I had to run over and get mine but I wasn’t worried since we had 50 miles.

The first hour or so was horrible – it was so dark and no one could see anything.  Hard to follow a trail when you can’t even see.  And the water and mud was unavoidable.

This particular area of Texas had a bit of snow a few weeks ago and since the snow melted they have had lots of rain.  It rained all of last week.

The trail looked like this

Grasslands 50in the good spots.  There were plenty of areas that were even worse than this.

I hit 13.1 in around 3 hours – my all-time slowest half marathon and by far the hardest half of my entire life.  I tried not to let myself think that I still had 37 miles – I just focused on finishing one mile at a time.

Around mile 16 it got to the point that I was doing more walking than running because of the conditions and the number of times that I had slid and stumbled thanks to the huge amount of mud on my shoes.

My feet stayed wet and muddy, the temperature never got above 50 and I was cold.  Not once did I warm up.  My breathing was hard even though I was walking more than running and when I could run it was slower than my cool down miles usually are.

Basically there was nothing about this race that I enjoyed!!  I was miserable and didn’t even feel like it was a race – just something to be endured.  I was afraid that I was going to end up seriously hurting myself – thankfully I only took one major fall!

Finally I got back to the main area (around mile 19) before starting the next loop (there were 4 different loops plus an out & back) and I told my sister that I was done.

when I finally saw Mandi
when I finally saw Mandi

You can tell that there wasn’t a single happy thought running through my head.

I think more than anything I was upset because I trained to run 50 miles and I was ready to run 50 miles!!  What I wasn’t ready to do was slog through ankle deep mud (sometimes even deeper) for 50 miles at a pace slower than my slowest cool down pace.

I sat down for a minute and then decided that being miserable for hours and hours wasn’t something I wanted to do so I QUIT!!!

after the "race"
after the “race”

My shoes probably weighed 8 pounds each – not kidding!!!  I threw them away!

This wasn’t a race for me – it was just something that I hated!!!  Even if I had sucked it up and finished I wouldn’t have felt like I ran 50 miles because it wasn’t running like I want to run!

Once again I learned something about myself – I HATE trail running!!!  

Would you have stuck it out in the mud?
Does mud and having wet feet bother you?  I hate it – I don’t even like it when my shoes get just a little dirty!!!

One day I will run 50 miles but it wan’t Saturday.  It will not be in a trail race!!!

Happy Monday!

Kim

Race Day – 50 MILES!!!

Today is race day – 50 miles!!!

The week was very light because I’ve been trying to rest up some before running for hours.

Sunday 3/15  45 side lying front leg pulses.

pull the top leg to the front (I can't get my leg straight out)
pull the top leg to the front (I can’t get my leg straight out)
pulse leg up & down
pulse leg up & down

I was laying in the sun because it was cold and I didn’t want to turn the heat back on!

time to work the left leg
time to work the left leg
pusle
pulse

Monday 3/16  45 squats with knee lift across body – hands behind head the entire time.

squat
squat
bring right knee up at a diagonal
bring right knee up at a diagonal

Squat again and then –

bring left knee up at a diagonal
bring left knee up at a diagonal

This move was really fun!  Since I counted a right & left knee raise as 1 rep I ended up doing 90 squats.

Tuesday 3/17  45 BOSU step overs.

stand on BOSU with right leg - left leg steps front
stand on BOSU with right leg – left leg steps front
bring left leg to back
bring left leg to back

This move went quickly but my stationary quad was burning by the time I finished 45 reps (front-back-front).

Time to work the other leg! Start front.
Time to work the other leg! Start front.
back
back

I did an easy 5 mile run – 39:23 followed by 0.35 easy miles.

Wednesday 3/18  45 weighted pulsing lunges – set weights down, pick weights up.

Ready to work
Ready to work
go down and set weights on the ground
go down and set weights on the ground
come up without weights
come up without weights

To complete the rep, go back down and pick up the weights.  Umm….this wasn’t my best idea since it ended up being 90 lunges total on each side!!!

ready for side 2
ready for side 2
down and set weights down
down and set weights down
up without weights
up without weights

And, back down to get the weights to complete one rep!!!

Thursday 3/19  45 oblique punches with legs up.

punch right hand to left foot
punch right hand to left foot
punch left hand to right foot
punch left hand to right foot

I liked this move – it was fairly simple!!!

Friday 3/20  45 boat poses with moving arms (out in front – up).

start
start
arms up
arms up

This was a great core challenge!!!

Saturday 3/21  45 quick back & forth calf pumps.

thanks, Hunter!
thanks, Hunter!
other leg calf up
other leg calf up

This was a quick back & forth move of my calves – a good stretch before my race.  I took pictures of Hunter showing the move Friday morning before I left home so that all I had to do this morning was the actual 45.

Now, I’m off to run 50 miles!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Headed to Texas!!!

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So, the other day when I talked about our spring break I didn’t mention the fact that I’m taking a quick trip to Texas.  Really quick!!

I’m driving down today (Friday) and will drive home on Sunday.  On Saturday I’m running a little race –

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Yep – even though I might have said that I was moving on and done with the 50 mile races, I’m running 50 miles on Saturday!!!

One of the great things about this race is the fact that it is in

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I haven’t lived in Texas in a lot of years, but it is my home country!!!  I will always be a Texan!

I’m excited to return to my home state to race – it has been a long time.

Also, I’m meeting up with a blog friend – Chelsea from TheDancingRunner.  She has run many marathons and has decided to give ultra running a try!!

I’m going to Texas solo – trying to plan a quick trip with the family is much harder than just going alone.  However, my sister

Mandi & Griffin
Mandi & Griffin

who only lives about an hour away is going to come up and stay with me Friday night and hang out at the race Saturday!!!

I feel like I have trained hard for this race and put in the miles.  Now I just need to be smart on Saturday and remember how much I love running!!!

Screen Shot 2015-03-19 at 9.04.22 PM50 miles is my goal – I know that I have it in me to complete the entire race!!!

How many times do you try something before you give up?
Do you have any goals that you have tried and failed but you know you can achieve?

Happy Friday!!

Kim