This week was full of those little incidences that you have to just laugh about to keep from getting stressed!!!
Monday – I was hoping to watch some of the Boston Marathon – But, after spending the morning cleaning the venue, I had enough time to drive home, catch the final 5 minutes of the men’s race, shower and get back to the venue for a meeting.
At the meeting , the couple brought in a baby and a 7 year old girl (she wasn’t in school because she had been sent home earlier that day with pink eye) – the guy told me they were all sick – after I shook hands with everyone!!!
Tuesday – I had my 3 month check with the dermatologist after having some skin cancer removed. Before I left his office he had used some weird thing to “freeze” about 10 spots off my hands and face and taken a scalpel to a spot on my back to test a “worrisome” spot.
Normally when we have events at the venue I don’t stay. However, Tuesday evening we had an event that I had to stay for. Driving home I couldn’t figure out why it seemed like the Topeka drivers were worse than normal. When I finally got close to home (it is about 20 minutes driving through town) I realized that somehow the know had gotten turned and I was driving without lights on – OOPS!!!
Thursday – I had a full morning of ironing tablecloths lined up. About 45 minutes into my ironing/book on CD one of our tenants text me that a squirrel had made a nest inside the wall/ceiling of her apartment.
Not a picture from the apartment – I didn’t climb 3 stories up a ladder to see the actual nest!
Almost 2 hours and a full education on squirrels later (thank you Critter Control) I was finally back to ironing for the event that afternoon – thankfully I finished with over an hour to spare.
See – sometimes it is good to just laugh at all the petty stuff that happens.
What things did you choose to laugh at this week instead of letting them cause you stress?
Today’s 44 was another multi-move exercise!!! I started in a lunge –
ready
Staying in a partial lunge the entire time, I did a row –
row
and then I opened to a fly.
fly
After completing 44 with my right arm, I had to switch and do 44 more with my left arm.
2nd siderowfly
I used an 8 pound dumbbell which was a challenging weight by the end!!!
I decided to do another forgotten DVD today – TaeBo Amped – Express Sculpt. The amped workouts use this cool stick or “amplifier” –
The amplifier can be used in the shortened form or extended to look like this –
extended
This workout was 45 minutes and it isn’t very cardio heavy (not like most TaeBo workouts) but using the amplifier is a great way to really make your shoulders burn!!
Yesterday I was in Ft. Worth, TX to watch my sister-in-law, Stacy, run her first marathon.
Start – Between the half, full and ultra which all started at the same time, there were about 30,000 runners and all I can say is – WOW!!! The start was actually pretty well organized with 8 corrals. I was in a great position right at the corner for the first turn (about 100 m in).
Stacy and her running partner in matching orange tops
So, Stacy and her running partner, Anna are looking fresh and ready for the race here.
After the start, I coordinated with Sam (Stacy’s husband/my brother) and he picked me up so that we could get to our first view point.
Mile 4 – the runners were still in one huge pack at this point and it was hard to pick out Stacy but we did see her!!
Mile 4 – stopping to say hi to Hays & Isabel
I think that it was a nice place to stop for a second since they were half-way up a long hill!!! Both Stacy and Anna were still smiling at this point – all good!!
From here, we had to figure out our next view point (and feed the kids!!). Getting from place to place was a challenge since so many roads were blocked off.
Mile 10 – this was the point where the half marathon runners were being directed to stay to the right and it was still very crowded. This time, I managed a picture before they got all the way to us!
still smiling
Anna had enough of the long sleeves so she handed her shirt over to me when they passed.
After we cheered for them and many others, we let the kids explore the water gardens for a bit and then headed to our next view point.
Mile 15.8 – This was a fun wait!! There were some other people cheering for runners and we had a great time yelling for people. Hays and Isabel decided to encourage runners here.
so fun!!
This might have been the first time I cried during the day – it was so amazing to watch the runners switch over so that they could give the kids “5.” Stacy and Anna were still running strong and seemed to be doing well when we saw them.
One lady had a huge fan group here and when she came into sight and saw them she did a cartwheel – awesome!!! I watched another lady stop and hug her baby before continuing on – so many emotions watching all these runners!
Mile 20 – I think that mile 20 was my favorite spot!! (and sadly, the only one where I didn’t take any pictures) We were at this spot for close to 30 minutes and I had a great time cheering for all the runners. At this point, they either looked really strong or completely over the whole thing!
The funny thing about getting to watch and cheer – so many people said thanks for coming out and encouraging them – I don’t think they realized how incredible the experience was for me as a spectator!!!
Mile 26 – Sam, Hays and Isabel found a view point so that they could see Stacy cross the finish line but I went further out. I was close to the 26 mile point (so they still had to run those long last 0.2 miles) and make one final turn.
I think I was here for over 45 minutes and this was by far the most emotional part of the entire day for me. Watching so many runners realize how close they were to completing the marathon – for some their first and for others one of many – but all were happy!!
I saw runners crying, spectators running with them. Some runners were jubilant and others were just gutting out that last little bit but all had one thing in common – they were marathoners!
almost done!!!
Tired but excited and so close to completing their very first marathon!!!
I didn’t see them actually cross the line but I heard the announcer as he read their names!!!
Marathon Finishers!!
WooHoo!!! Watching the race was an awesome experience and I’m so happy for Stacy (and Anna).
I wasn’t totally prepared for the emotional experience that it would be for me. I always thought that I was OK with not actually racing a marathon – now I’m not so sure.
Congrats, Stacy! I’m so proud of you!!!
By the time I got home last night I was completely exhausted and felt like I had crammed at least a week into Saturday and Sunday but I would do it all again!!!
This morning I worked my inner thighs with the 44. This was a nice move for a rest day!!!
(BTW – Chris took the pictures for me on Friday night since I would be in a hotel this morning.)
I laid on my back with my legs up in the air, toes pointed out –
ready
From this position, I just brought my legs together with my feet crossed –
right foot in front
Returned to the start position –
here again
Then crossed my legs with my left foot in front –
left leg in front
See why I said it was nice for a rest day? Even though I counted a rep as a right cross and a left cross, this move was relaxing!! The key is to squeeze your legs together on the cross part and have control on the open part!!!
Because it is and I spent more of the night awake than sleeping, my brain is in a fog this morning!
I’m leaving at 5:30 to take Stacy and her running partner to the start of the marathon (that way their families with small kids don’t have to leave quite as early). Can’t wait to cheer for them as they run!!
Thankfully that picture was from a previous year and I don’t think it will be as cold!! It is already over 50 here on the way to a high of 72.
Yesterday when I got to the hotel it was 77 degrees!! I knew there was a reason that I am still a Texas girl at heart!! Walking around with no coat in February is a large chunk of why Texas is my favorite!!!
OK – enough babbling – I have a marathon to get to!
Today I used a medicine ball for my 43. I put my hands on the ball and got into plank position.
start
Then I stepped my right foot out to the side, back to center and my left foot out to the side and back to center for 1 rep.
step right foot out then back infeet togethernow left foot
It took me 2:20 minutes of holding plank (with my hands on a ball!) to complete this 43!
I tried another new (to me) workout today. Cathe – Turbo Barre. On the cover of this DVD it says Low Impact Series. Don’t let that fool you into thinking this was easy! WOW!!! The pain burning in my hips, thighs and butt at points in this workout was no joke!! I’m pretty sure that I will feel everything about this workout tomorrow! At one point, I think we spent at least 5-7 minutes up on our toes while squatting with our feet in various positions.
I don’t have a barre but this barstool worked perfectly!!
just as good as a barre
I’m pretty sure that this will become one of my go-to choices for days when I don’t want any running or jumping but still want an incredible workout!!
I started running in high school. I also competed in college and when I was in grad school I spent a lot of time doing various road races from 5K – half marathon. Since then, I have only run a handful of races – a few 5Ks and a 10-miler.
I have trained for several different marathons during my running career but never even started one – first one I was in college and really sick and the next 2 (maybe 3, I’ve blocked some!) I ended up with stress fractures and had to stop running entirely.
Sometimes now I wonder – Am I a real runner? I haven’t even run a marathon. I have run more than 26.2 miles in a single run but does that count? I’m not sure at this point if I will ever run a true marathon – I would like to but for me right now, just being able to run is enough!!!
On a completely different note – Since it’s spring break (and yesterday was probably the nicest weather we will have all week), we decided to play tennis when Chris got home from work. After about 30 minutes, Jordan and I decided to walk/jog home – (about 2.5 miles or so around the lake).
Jordan decided to sprint a little!!
It was a fun just hanging with Jordan for a bit and getting a little fresh air!
What do you think makes someone a “real” runner? Distance, speed, time, cool running gear…?
But, after spending the morning cleaning the venue, I had enough time to drive home, catch the final 5 minutes of the men’s race, shower and get back to the venue for a meeting.
