Chargers 5K

Saturday, July 21st was my fourth 5K of the year, The Bolt to the Q.  We were really excited to run with the Chargers, finish on the 50 yard line, meet some Chargers, and get some cool Chargers swag. The course was very difficult for me, but we made it in one hour and 3 minutes.  With the "after race" fun totally crazy and not enough finisher rewards, the day was a disappointment and the event was very poorly organized (we will opt to do the Phillip Rivers 5K next year instead of this one).  Our pictures will just cover the cool part :)

 at the starting line

 Almost at the finish line (can you tell that I am in major pain?!) when I thought my hip was going to simply detach itself and walk away

 walking into the tunnel onto the field

 on the field before we finished, we are on the jumbo screen!

 playing on the field

 melissa running for the touchdown

 playing catch with Andrew

 ready, set, hike!

 escapee!!

 The Charger Girls were so nice! 

Andrew loved them, Melissa got to shake a pompom and Andrew scored several autographs.

We also got Ryan Matthews' autograph on Andrew's football, but the whole situation was so frustrating, I don't really care.  He didn't make eye contact, say hello, or anything to show that he cared thousands of people just participated in him 5K to raise money for HIS charity; the 5 year old next to me gushed about how "you're my favorite player ever" and Matthews didn't respond, just signed and moved onto another person... seriously, Matthews has just gone on to my Chargers I don't like list.

Want to join me?

I have had several people ask if and how they could join me on my 5K journey in 2012, so here are the "races" that I'm planning on doing, the link to read more about it, and registration (if available).

1. Citrus Heritage 5K, Jan. 7
2. Riverside Raincross 5K, February 25

• Information and registration: http://www.riversideca.gov/park_rec/
• To register, click on the 'Online Registration' link of the far left of this webpage.
• It is $20 until February 4th and then goes up to $25.
• I've heard they have a pretty cool goodie bag.

3. Color Run-Southern California (Irvine), April 22

• Information: http://thecolorrun.com/socal/
• We need a team of 4 for it to be $30 a person, or else it is $35
• Let me know ASAP if you want to do this one (registration before 1/15 is cheaper)

4. OC Wahoo 5K, May 6

• Information: http://www.ocmarathon.com/races/oc-wahoos-5k.aspx
• I haven't registered for this one yet, but I'm pretty sure it is $35

Citrus Heritage Run 5K

My first 5K of the year was this morning. 

I was excited and slept strangely as I kept dreaming of the walk.  I set out with the goal of 50 minutes (16 min/mile) and readjusted it to 55 minutes (17.7 min/mile) because that seemed more realistic.

Brenda and I before the 5K started.

The race started with a huge uphill climb that I wasn't expecting and wasn't very good at... let's just say that right off the bat I thought I may actually have been too cocky to think that I could do a 5K after spending a year and a half doing nothing.  Thankfully before the race, Brenda had introduced me to some of her friends from the Riverside Roadrunners.  I could not keep up with Brenda and Andrea, but Becky was there for me!  My new friend and I worked hard and finished at 57 minutes and 37 seconds (18.05 min/mile--although it was a very SLOW first mile, faster second mile, and a very fast third mile).

Becky, my new friend, and me after finishing!

Considering this is my first 5K of the year and I plan on doing at least four more, I now have a baseline number.  I'd hope that I could beat this time next time (Feb. 25th--Raincross 5K at Fairmont).  I also know that I should actually practice some more before I expect that my 40 pound heavier body can perform a physical task it hasn't been asked to do in over a year.

2012 Resolutions

It's resolution time again. 

This year I'm going to set three goals and try to be realistic about them.

1. Participate in five 5Ks

(already signed up for two--Jan.7 and Feb. 25).

2. Cook dinner at least three times a week

(only fast food on Wednesdays).

3. Keep working at Weight Watchers

(even though it is the most frustrating thing that exists on the planet right now).

January NaBloPoMo

This is one new years' resolution that I am willing to make and should not have a problem keeping. Following my success of November's NaBloPoMo, I will take part in January's National Blog Posting Month with the focus on "best."

In order to make the word apply (and actually make it possible to write for 31 days), I'm going to use one of my favorite places. Dictionary.com has twenty different definitions of the best. We'll start with best used as an adjective and then work our way through the adverbs, nouns, verbs, and idioms.

Success

Today is the last offical day of NoBloPoMo for 2009 and I think I can call my pledge successful.

Although I did miss November 21 (sleep deprived from New Moon opening), I blogged 36 times in the month of November (37 counting this one).

I've averaged 17 viewers per day and totaled more than 675 viewers for the month of November. On average, 1.4 people visited my blog per hour in November. If you compare that to October, only 8 of you visited per day and 412 visited for the entire month!

Now, I'm assuming that many of you (my faithful readers) skim what I write and ignore 99% of it. Hopefully there is one day that I make you laugh... or at least crack a smile. Hopefully you haven't been too irritated at my complaining... or too bored with my boring posts.

Quanity over quality has been my push for November and I've actually enjoyed trying to be creative about what I post.

Thanks for reading friends, mom, and a view strangers (strangers, feel free to comment so I can follow you too).

April Resolutions

I know I'm eight days late, but I've been trying to think of good resolutions that I have a high likelyhood of accomplishing. My track record hasn't been that great...

April Resolutions

• Walk up Mt. Rubidoux four times during the month of April
• Track my food honestly five days a week with the goal of seven days--post points
• Do my Master's assignments at least two days before they are due
• Feel and show "excitement" for students' progress for CSTs
• Try to create a third speed for one-on-one time with Dave (see cartoon)
• Continue recreational activites, drinking water, will/want power, and earring wearing.

Review of March Resolutions

• Every weekend do some type of recreational activity (walking to the plaza, riding my bike around, etc.): 100% success--several trips to the plaza, pet store, bank, good will, FlameBroiler on my bike and feet
• Record and POST my daily Weight Watchers journals every day: 8/31 days, FAILURE... I did lose weight those eight days, so this is still something I need to do.
• Drink two mugs of water per day while at school and more at home: 90% success--made is almost every day of the month, missed a few days because of busyiness!
• Expect high performance from my yearbook students and stop doing the work for them (no more late, late nights): FAILURE, who am I kidding, I am going to be there late even if I do expect high performance!
• Tell Dave how wonderful he is everyday: FAILURE, I'm a crummy wife

Review of February Resolutions:

• Create willpower over food. NEED HELP HERE STILL--as we learned today in the WW meeting, weight loss isn't about will power, but "will want"
• Attend CardioTennis for the 4-week session: sessions finally done and I actually made improvement as I went

Review of January On-going Resolutions:

• Wear earring to work most days. Complete success for three months! Why is this one so easy??!!??

Food Journals

To correctly follow my March resolutions and work this WW plan the way it is suppose to be worked, I've created a blog simply for the food journals. If you care, they are available here.

March Resolutions

I truly can't believe that it is March already!

Continuing my monthly resolutions trend for 2009, here are my thought about this month's goals.

1. Every weekend do some type of recreational activity (walking to the plaza, riding my bike around, etc.)


2. Record and POST my daily Weight Watchers journals every day


3. Drink two mugs of water per day while at school and more at home


4. Expect high performance from my yearbook students and stop doing the work for them (no more late, late nights).


5. Tell Dave how wonderful he is everyday.

Review of February Resolutions:

1. Create willpower over food. Limit myself without other people limiting themselves. So-so results—limiting eating out helped, but I still have a long way to go


2. Attend CardioTennis for the 4-week session (February Fridays) and walk one day a week around my neighborhood Only got to go to CardioTennis once because of the rain and freezing weather—three more to go during March. Rode by bike once and went on one long walk.


3. Keep my desk more organized at work and eliminate half of the piles that grow as they grow. So-so success—I’d say I had a clean desk half the time for the month of February


4. Communicate my expectations clearly and ahead of time with Dave. Ongoing practice

Review of January On-going Resolutions:

1. Wear earring to work most days. Complete success! I missed one day (since Jan. 1st) this past week, but my students said that my little stud earrings counted J

Read the rest of my resolutions here and here.

Biggest Loser

This morning I got up and watched the Biggest Loser from Tuesday. The show started with the contestants having to run up and down this giant hill in order to get one of the two keys that would open the gym doors. Only the two teams who had the two right keys (out of 75) would get to use the gym for the week. They acted like their life was going to end if they didn't have the gym, but over and over again throughout the show the trainers said that it didn't matter where you were at, you could work out. I felt a bit guilty as I sat on the couch... so... I went to the garage, got my bike out, dusted off the sawdust that was covering it and rode to Big 5. I bought myself a helmet (my main excuse for not riding more), then rode to Elliots and purchased more bunny food, and then rode home. I was gone a little less than 45 minutes and probably didn't even ride an hour, but it is something, right?

I haven't kept any of my February resolutions reguarding exercise (rain, overworking, and tiredness have won the battle). I need to do something. Riding by bike is fun--I need to do that!

New Month Resolutions

I decided this year to make monthly resolutions instead of "new years" resolutions. Read about it here.

Review of January Resolutions:

• Post my food journal every day. Succeeded in doing this about 75% of the month. When I did it well, I lost weight well. I shall keep tracking online, but I won't post it on the blog.
• Leave work by 4 pm or shortly thereafter. HAHAHA, this one lasted one week, then tutoring started, then a yearbook deadline came... and 4 pm turned into 6 pm... then 8 pm... I still would like to work on this one, but it isn't likely to help.
• Wear earring to work most days. Complete success! Never missed one day!
• Be paticent and loving to Dave. I need practice, lots and lots of practice.

February Resolutions:

• Create willpower over food. Limit myself without other people limiting themselves.
• Attend CardioTennis for the 4-week session (February Fridays) and walk one day a week around my neighborhood
• Keep my desk more organized at work and eliminate half of the piles that grow as they grow.
• Communicate my expecations clearly and ahead of time with Dave.