WOW - where does the time go?

Show of hands = who is totally freaked out by the fact that it is the last day of July 2010?!?!

{wildly waves both hands in the air}

This year has been jam-packed with "adventures" (as my chiropractor calls them):

• Early in the year, I signed up with the No Boundaries group to train for my first ever 5K. Ten weeks of training later I was ready to conquer the Father's Day course at the Crossings in Albany. Now I find myself dreaming of running, so I signed up for the fall training session which will culminate with "The Great Pumpkin Challenge"
• I took a one-day writer's workshop which re-ignited my passion for writing. It was a blast & I met some really interesting ladies. Our ranks even included a local radio personality. It took me back to those high school & college days of the creative writing exercises I used to do.
  
• Our youngest graduated High School - while this is not technically MY achievement, I do have a vicarious feeling of accomplishment for the event.
• I've been devoting a bunch of time to crocheting a baby afghan. Ten more squares & assembly can begin. There is something sooo soothing about crocheting while watching TV - I have this cool container called a "yarn-tainer", so the project is very portable. I take it along to doctors appointments or car trips.
• Speaking of car trips, my husbands 30th high school reunion was held recently. We drove up to Tupper Lake and played tourist for the weekend. We visited with the in-laws (while I crocheted up a storm); stayed in a cute little hotel (which was located next door to the establishment where their graduation bash had been held all those years ago); and had a fabulous time at the dinner/dance at the Knight's of Columbus hall. The big highlight of the evening was when my loving husband overcame his fear of dancing in public and asked me to slow dance to Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight". (sigh with goofy grin on face)
  
• I was asked to be the craft-lady for my church's summer VBS - we call ours Adventure Camp and always have a cool theme every year...this year it was "Out of This World" (a space theme which inspired met to assume the alias of Sissy SpaceChix and devote several weeks to preparing for the fun by die cutting millions of stars). It was LOADS of fun - ALL the hard work on every one's part was well worth it. The kids (young & old) had a fabulous time!
• The boy is scheduled to fly out soon to spend some time with his dad out in the wilds of New Mexico - it is time for the young man to spread his wings and make some decisions about what direction his life should take. It will be a huge adjustment for all of us.
  

Wow - I'm exhausted...I'm thinking it is time for a nap!

Embracing the Changes

I've never been motivated to exercise on my own...until now...the No Boundaries training program has kicked off a changes in me which are welcome & surprising.

I am a former couch-potato and world class sleeper. I find that I have more energy even though my average night of sleep is six or seven hours (down from eight to ten). Case in point: this morning hubby got to get up at 5:30am to go out on his job; my original plan was to kick him out of bed & into the shower and then catch another hour of sleep before I had to get up to start my day. I woke up at 5:15 - thinking I'd forgotten to set the alarm - not the case. Anyway, I got up to do my morning business (if you know what I mean) and climbed back into bed to await my wifely duties of shaking Mike out of bed. He was sawing some pretty big logs when Air1 started playing. I waited for half of a song, before punching in lightly in the arm. As he trundled off to the shower, I lay in bed feeling wide awake.

The internal argument started: you should relax and get some more rest, you are going to have a full day & need the sleep - NO, NO, NO (the fitness crazed part of me disagreed) Get up and do the two mile brisk walk with Leslie Sansone. My rational self chimed in = if you don't, you will be sorry on Thursday, because we are going to do hills for the first time at our NoBo training. So by 5:45, I was up with the DVD playing & ready to have a good morning workout.

Another change I've noticed is my food cravings: Junk food is losing its appeal and I can't seem to get enough pineapple. I am just eating more sensible foods in smaller portions. My new rule in shopping is the read the ingredients & look for the shortest list. AND I must be able to pronounce each & every ingredient.

I am confident more positive changes are on the horizon for me...stay tuned

No Boundaries - RunInspired

The dawn of May 7th finds me awake at 6:26am and mentally unable to relax back to sleep until the alarm goes off at 8am. Mind you, my body is tired and begs for more sleepy time, but my mind and spirit draws me away from my pillow, compelled to record my thoughts about last night's NoBo training session.

I sit at the keyboard pondering the concept of inspiration. I've been told that my participation in the NoBo 5K training is an inspiration (thanks Peggy). That comment along with the support of our Saratoga running group fueled me for the final half mile of last nights training. Our goal was to increase our distance by that much and I found myself ready to quit at our previous 1.5 mile mark. I had visions of shaking my head and saying "nope, can't do it". The group was gathered and cheering me on, offering me raised hands for high fives - my thought was to get to the other side of the group & just stop - until I got to Alison. Her words to me "Come on, girlfriend, you got this! I'll go with you." Her triumphant energy gave me new strength and determination.

After a short time, she said, "Okay, ten feet." I knew exactly what that meant - earlier she had challenged me to "trot" for twenty feet during that day's training. I took off at a lumbering gallop, concentrating so hard that I was holding my breath. I have no idea how far I'd gone (my sense of measured distance is very lacking) so I stopped nearly ready to drop where I stood. Alison being the true friend that she is reminded me to breathe. Being on auto-pilot at that point, I obliged. After a short time, she urged me on again...we could see the finish line (cleverly disguised as a cross walk outside of the Gideon Putnam Hotel). This time my speed was an easier trot and I actually remembered to breathe!

Cool down exercises were in process as we returned to the group. I was greeted by several "Way to go, Sheila!" comments and I was not too secretly thrilled to see them on the grass performing various leg stretches. "Yeah!" I think to myself, "I can sit on the ground! That gives me such a short distance to actually collapse completely! BooYah!" We were doing a yoga-esk move and a couple of others were coaching me to the proper configuration. Ernie whispered "Just think pretzel" - I dutifully did just that and drifted off to a wonderful memory of the yogurt covered pretzels I'd purchased at The Meat House....yummm....sorry, drifted off there for a second...

Today, I realize that I have spent my life to this point thinking that I was not capable of physical activity and was expert at coming up with excuses not to do stuff. I find that thought process is now transforming. Left to my own devices, I would remain in a Java the Hut type of existence (never moving very far at very slow pace). My realization this fine morning = I am no longer an inactive coach-potato, through the power of inspiration, I am a runner.