Should I??

In a few short weeks I will start training for my first ever Full 26.2 Miles Marathon. I still can't believe that I will be running a Marathon. I get overwhelmed just thinking about this adventure I am about to start!!! The problem is I am already wanting to sign up for another Marathon that is almost exactly a month after my first one. Is this crazy? Should I do it? What will the hubby say? Yes I have not even told Barry yet that I want to run this. (Chances are he may read this and find out about my current predicament!)

I'll start from the beginning of when I decided to sign up to run a full marathon. I was online looking through the evens of the Rock n' Roll Series, and there was Portugal listed. The pictures were AMAZING!!! I knew I wanted to run one and I wanted to make sure if I was going to be somewhere that would be awesome for a first timer! Also wanted to make sure it was somewhere we wanted to visit before we left the UK this next year. So this is why I picked Portugal. I had heard about another Marathon around the same time, but since we had already been to this location I decided to go with Portugal. Well now I am kinda wishing I picked the other one! But we have already bought plane tickets and made arrangements. So this is where I come to my current predicament!! I want to run ATHENS!!!!

You may wonder why the change of heart. Well, when I first started running I just started running to run. Now I have been running to learn. I love to research and learn about the beginnings of things. This is what I have started to do with running. And what have I learned?? The Original Marathon was in Greece.  If we were here another year overseas it would not be that big of an issue, but since we will be moving before the next event this is my last chance while here.

I never knew something like running a marathon would weight so heavy one me. This is a chance in a life time (Runners high speaking here) and I don't know if I would forgive myself for not running it. The main reason in the beginning like I said was I had already travelled to Greece and since I wanted my whole family there for my first Marathon I choose Portugal.

Now I have to find a way to convince my husband to let me go back to Athens and run the Original Marathon!  How many people can say they have done this??! This is a chance if a life time??! I may never get to be this close to Athens again!!! This is going to take some work! These are the days you wish you had family close to come over and stay with the kids so you both could go. (Mom, that's a hint if you want to come over to England for a week in November this year.)

So it's time for a Jogging Stroller...

Recently a friend of mine has started her journey of running with a double jogging stroller. She asked me what tips I had for running with mine. So I figured what better thing to do then write my next blog post on running with a jogging stroller. 

Why do I run with my stroller? Running was supposed to be my time but thatwasn't  always possible. I wanted to run, I wanted to spend time with my family and I hated it when my husband got home and I was heading out the door to hit the pavement. So I decided to change it up and put my big clunky stroller to use! And that's how my adventure began!

When I first started to run with my jogging stroller I never imagined I would be running with it to train for a marathon. I could hardly run a lap on the track without wanting to die.  Now I average about 3-4 miles a run with it and plan on running anything under 10 miles this summer with it. 

When I made the decision to start running and training with my stroller Google was my best friend. I had no idea what I was about to get my self into.  I was still learning to run as an individual and now I was about to add on to it with a stroller. I found some good tips on making sure to keep form and breathing. Try running with one hand and switch it up. Don't lean on the stroller (this is where it is important to make sure your stroller fits your body) I'm 5'2 and my stroller is a bit tall and this makes pushing up hill and in difficult conditions a little rougher. I focus on my form, slow down, and focus on getting through my run pain free. 

The first thing I suggest is to take it slow. Remember you are running in a whole new form. How you ran before when it was without the extra weight no longer applies. It will take some time but you will find what works for you and get into a comfortable grove with your new running companion. Don't give up!! It will get easier!!! I promise.  

My first few runs were not easy. I felt like I forgot how to run. It wasn't just putting one foot in front of the other any more. All of the sudden it was harder to breathe, my legs were getting tired and how was I going to run with a 2 year old screaming over my iPod? This is when I realized I needed more snacks to bribe Q on these runs. After the first few runs, the girls and I started to fall into routine. I had focused so much on how to run with the stroller it didn't even cross my mind to think about it's affect on the girls. Sure my girls were used to a stroller but not for running. It became my focus to keep them happy while I ran. Luckily my little Miss Peighton loves to nap during the time of our run so she is easy to keep happy. However, Miss Q needs to be occupied. It's getting easier now that the sun is coming out and I don't have to keep them constantly covered from the bad weather. She has started to enjoy our runs and the scenery. Some days our conversations are so funny I don't even need my iPod. The best part of having a talkative toddler is her cheering me on! When she starts yelling "Go Mommy Go" there is no better motivation in the world!

Running with my stroller has done so much for me! I get to spend time with my girls and be a positive influence on them. I also get an amazing strength workout in the process!! The jogging stroller can be an intimidating beast!!! Don't let it be. Give it time and before you know it you will be lost with out it!! Plus it's great for holding you extras accessories and the extra layers of clothing as they come off!

Too skinny...Too Fat... When does it ever end???

Today I was scrolling through my Facebook posts and one of my friends post really got to me. Basically she is being told to eat more she's to skinny. This friend of mine is perfect for her. She is built the way she is built. There is no changing that. It's when I see stuff like this I get really worked up. If your overweight you need to eat less. If you are too skinny eat more. Who decides who's too heavy and who's too skinny? Why does someone's size matter as long as they are healthy??? We are all built different!

I have fought with my weight for the last few years and it has been a personal struggle. Then I woke up one day and realized it didn't matter as long as I was healthy! I had been so wrapped up about being "fat" and uncomfortable in my own skin I knew it was time for a change. I stopped making excuses and started making changes in my life. I realized there was no easy fix! The only person who could fix this was me and I started to realize where I was going wrong. It wasn't the outside that I needed to start with but the person on the inside! Once I realized this things started to look up! 

I'm still working on myself and who I am. Everyday I find out alittle more about myself. One thing is for sure, there is no too skinny or too fat. What really matters is being healthy and happy. When you get these two things together the rest starts to fall into place. It's just sad to think there are so many negative people out there. We shouldn't be putting each other down. We should be building each other up!

I have posted a picture here. The first picture is me after having my 3rd Baby May 2013. The 2nd Picture is March 2014. It has not been an easy road but I have earned every pound lost and every bit of confidence gained!! No one did this for me. It's a struggle at times because you may not know but I Love Cupcakes!! So for now I will continue to run my butt off and workout out like crazy so every cupcake I do eat is earned and well worth it!!

So after all my jabbering here what I'm trying to say is.... Stop judging each other by what their size is! Being Healthy is what matters! Help build each other up and stop being so dang hateful!

Comfort Zone

I have noticed that I get comfortable with a pace. There is nothing wrong with this and I know that but lately I have been pushed out if my comfort zone with my running. 

My husband says I drive like I run. I tend to speed up, slow down, speed up and especially with music. However, I don't usually get away from my comfortable pace. I get lost in it and what's around me and I forget what I'm doing. 

Then recently I have started to leave my little happy place and have stepped into a new level. My pace is normally so consistent that I could tell you how far I went just by how long I was running for. So this last week when I hit a new PR on a 5k run with my double jogging stroller, I was stoked!! I had taken almost 5 minutes off my average 5k pace and that was with these 2 kids!! 

It's the little accomplishments that make me keep pushing and doing what I am doing. Sometimes all you need to do is push yourself and other times you may need a push from those around you. If I had been out running by myself I can almost guarantee that my pace would not have improved. It has been finding other runners and moms and friends to push me when I didnt think I could push myself any further.  

Every day has become a new adventure with running. Some days I can't wait to get out the door and other days it's Quinn and Peighton who are ready to go running, with as Quinn calls them "her people".  Peighton has even gotten to a point of no napping if we are not out on a run during her nap time. 

Running has helped me start to settle in as a stay at home, domesticated engineer. The last few months have been amazing and I am so excited to see what the future holds for me! This summer is going to be awesome. 

At the end of my runs during the week, we always end on the track so Quinn can go for "her run". Yesterday Peighton joined us on the track. My little baby is walking and it's so awesome to be able to share my journey with my two little ones. Q & P making my running journey what it is all about!

Baking and Running

So for the last few weeks I have put a major hold on my baking! However, I really miss it. So I have decided that I need to find a happy middle. I need to start baking healthy versions that are runner and weight watchers friendly. So over the next few weeks this is going to be my new mission!!

Today I found a new recipie to try out for tomorrow's after run get together. I just say it was a success!! These lemon poppy seed muffins are super yummy. It has been very hard not to eat all of them tonight! This is a recipie I will be using again for sure. 

Sunday Mornings....

Over the past 3 months, Sunday mornings have become "Me Time". I love running with Quinn and Peighton during the week but when it is time for that long run I am ready to just let go and run! No stroller, no kids, no worrying about do the  girls have enough snacks, does Quinn have to pee or is she going to drop the iPad from the stroller. It's also a good time to reflect on the week of running and hard work with the stroller. 

After finishing up my first half marathon on Sunday, on the drive home, I told my husband "it's over, all the training and all the running and it's over". It was then that I realized the hard part wasn't running the half marathon, it was the training. The running 4 days a week when I had never ran as part of a routine. The losing all my excuses and getting out there when it was cold and raining. Loading the girls in the stroller when they were being pains in the butt. The half marthon was the easy part!! I just went and did what I had been training for. 

Now I have running fever!! I feel like I want to go out and run a half marathon every weekend!! I loved how I felt when I finished that run!! I have shown myself I can do more then I ever thought I could. I used to say I'm not a runner. Now I am happy to say I am a Runner! It has become a part of who I am and I love it!! Happy Sunday (Runday) everyone!! Then to make my morning even better there on the counter when I got back was a Mother's Day card from my hubby and the girls. (It's Mother's Day here in the UK) Couldn't ask for anything more!

The Next Run...

Let me tell you what! Stairs were my worst enemy on Monday after running the Half Marathon..well them and the having to go pee. Who knew having to go pee would almost make you cry when you had to sit down! The best part about Monday for me is it is OFF Day. Sometimes this makes me sad because I have come to really look forward to my daily runs. At the same time though I like to let my body rest and I know that it needs it. It also makes Monday an easy day after the crazy weekend! So Monday I did absolutely nothing and spent the day with the girls. I was still debating if I was going to go to the group run on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning I was still rather sore but figured it would be good to go run. Boy was I right. I felt so much better after stretching my muscles out! It was a nice slow 3.5 mile run with the jogger and it felt good. I have also come to a point where I really look forward to Tuesday and Thursday runs because it is something on the calendar. I have been getting into a routine and it involved hardly leaving the house. Especially since the weather is so moody you never know what might happen.

To make the day even better I finally received a reply for a volunteer opportunity that I have been looking into. I am working on my reply now and will post more about it when I know more! I am really looking forward to this! Since I  have become a stay at home mom I sometimes feel like I don't have enough to do. I get into the routine of the same thing everyday and have been trying to find a way to do something more but still be able to involve my girls. Can't wait to tell more when I know more!!!

Then today I went ahead and went for another run. I was having the normal morning dialog in my head while looking outside and debating if it was worth lugging out that heavy stroller and getting the girls ready. I am glad I did! I had a good short run, still can't believe I am considering 2 miles a short run now when less then year ago the thought of that was crazy to me to do for fun. It's days like to day that I am thankful that I am finding new friends and learning more and growing everyday with my love for baking. It was also Waffle Wednesday so I needed to get a good run in before I stuffed my face with a waffle!