#8

In doubling up on the day I missed for abs/squats, I really did a number on my front quads.  Lesson of the day:  If you place your feet farther apart when you do your squats, it works the backs of your quads and your gluts.  This piece of info actually made doing squats today, possible.

I do enjoy my new playlist for running.  I enjoy even more watching hockey.  If only my team would win and move on, I'd have more hockey to watch.  And cheer for.  LOUDLY.  AT THE GYM.  Yep, that was me.  You know what I discovered... no one was paying attention.  The dudes around me at 9 o'clock at night all have their earplugs in, doing their own thing.  I am sure there might have been a woman behind me somewhere wondering what kind of work out I was doing waving my arms like I was.  I am equally sure that she didn't hear me either because she had earplugs in as well.

Run. Run. Run.

#7

Oy, I was derailed yesterday by a migraine!  I was in agony, but I took my medicine (then some more medicine) and I pushed through work, after-school activities and responsibilities.  I didn't run nor did I do my Ab and Squat challenge (found here: http://tribesports.com/challenges/30-day-ab-and-squat-challenge).  I did download some indulgent reading as opposed to the reading I am doing for my class.  I snuggled under a blanket in the car at baseball practice and enjoyed going on a romantic journey.  I think.  No actual romance yet...

Today, I got up and did yesterday's Ab/Squat workout and after school I completed some of today's workout.  I finished the rest of the squats as I was cooling down from my run.  115 squats in one day may have been a mistake.  Just sayin'.  I think because I varied my abdominal workout to include sides, lower and upper, I am in better shape.  Sort of.

Run, run, run.  I really didn't want to go to the gym.  I really wanted to change into jammies and not workout clothes.  I really wanted to crawl into bed and delve back into my novel.  It helped that I had to go to the grocery store for supplies for a luncheon tomorrow.  I won't lie.  That is probably the only reason I went.  BUT I WENT.  And at the grocery store, I didn't buy any chocolate.  HUGE.  FOR.  ME.

#5, #6

After taking a Friday break, Saturday and Sunday I was right back on it!  Run, run, run!  Also, keeping up with the squats and crunches.  Some of it gets easier and then it isn't.  I decided today that I am tired of hopping around from album to album on my iPod to get to songs with the right running beat so I am off to create a running album!

#3, #4

Yesterday after school, I was able to get my day 3 run done before driving to pick up College Boy.  He is going to be Med School Boy come August and we toured the satellite campus today.  We've been hearing that he is young and after today, I can agree with that.  Most of the 20 students (if not all) have been out of school doing other things.  None of them finished their undergrad in 3 years and are now headed to med school.

Anyhow, time for posting was non-existent due to the drive up and back (in lousy weather, no less).  And this morning I got up before the sun and did my run so I could drive him back to school after the tour today.

I must go do 30 crunches and 30 reverse crunches before crawling into bed.  Thankfully, I did the killer squats this morning otherwise, I'm not sure I'd be able to after all of the walking and steps I did today!

#2

I didn't get up and run.  I was up every hour anticipating the time the alarm would go off at such a wretched time.  About the 4th time, 3:40 am, I convince myself I could do it while I was waiting for the baseball game to start.  As if.  However, the result was fabulous.  I turned off the alarm and promptly fell back to sleep for 3 solid, hard hours.

However, after working all day, doing the post-school to baseball sprint and enduring a heartbreaking loss where LRHB didn't connect at the plate (again), I put him to bed and went to the gym.  DONE.

Books 15-17

I don't want you to think that I have abandoned my terrific reading passion.  I have not.  I read three books that I haven't had the opportunity to tell you about and I am in the middle of two others, sort of.

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak took me awhile to get through.  Not because it wasn't fabulous, it was!  But just because it did.  It was full of detail and I found myself having to catch myself up when I would be gone from it for more than a day.  And since last month was filled with boys on Spring Break (3 kids, 3 different Spring Breaks), my reading time came in bursts.  It was fabulous!  Totally loved it!  Grateful for the recommendation from my sisters-in-law.  Can't wait to see how the movie does the book!

I also read Where Courage Calls another installment in the Janette Oke Canadian West series.  It is actually a stand alone book, designed to accompany the show that aired this winter on the Hallmark Channel, "When Calls the Heart".  The show is lovely, truly family friendly in the spirit of Little House on the Prairie series. The book was also lovely, removing the bitter taste in my mouth from the last book that I had read in the series (it was just disappointing and apparently I am still bitter).

I've read Blossom Street Brides by my favorite author, Debbie Macomber.  I read it in a single afternoon, cherishing every moment of it.  Then I received it as a gift on CD's from my mother.  I hadn't the heart to tell her I'd already read it, so I am honoring the gift and listening it to it again.  I do so love her storytelling (Debbie's) and I am loving listening to it again!  I make a lot of trips that are 60-75 minutes long, sometimes 3 and 4 times a week.  When I am alone, I am no longer alone.  I am surrounded by my "friends" from Blossom Street.  If you've not read this series, I encourage you to do so!  It is every bit as delicious as the Cedar Cove series.

The other book I am reading is for another online class I am taking.  I'll update you when I've finished.  I am sad to say that it is really cutting into my reading for pleasure time as it is not a light as the book required by the last class I took.

#1

I am taking a moment out of our regularly scheduled program to tell you that I will return with my resolutions.  However, I am quickly telling you about two resolutions, to be numbered later.

1. Strength Training - I am getting older and it will make me stronger and less likely to incur injuries.  Prevent defense.
2. Setting a Goal and Reaching It - I have always been fascinated by a specific race run Memorial Day Weekend.  This year, I am going to cross it off my non-existent, except in my own mind, bucket list.  I am setting a goal and working toward it.  It requires that I stay healthy (please pray) and that I stick to a very strict exercise regimen (btw, I just learned how to spell a new word).  I will be following an App and getting on the treadmill 6 days a week.  

This is when I tell myself, I can do anything for 5 weeks.  Just 35 days from now I will hopefully be telling you all about how fabulous I am.  Well, you already know that so perhaps I will be telling you about how fabulous my race was.  Or sleeping.  

Additional bonuses might be that I am a trimmer version of me when this is done.  But that is a byproduct, not the goal.  The goal is the race.  Everything else is just gravy.  YUMMMM!  I love gravy!

PS.  I am pushing myself to document this journey by writing a brief note daily to hold myself accountable.  I am being held accountable on the strength training by a co-worker.