Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Half way mark!

Movin' it with Michelle

7-15

Last week I modified my training; I realized I did TOO MUCH too soon.  So instead of biking or doing a long mid-week run, I supplemented doing my short runs and strength training.  My mileage suffered, but my knees were thankful.   

I finished the week with 24 miles, with the highlight being my 13.13 run on Saturday. 

It hurt. 

I wasn’t easy. 

I began the week thinking what the hell.  I can’t run 4 stinking miles comfortably….how can I do 26.2?????????

And then I met up with my fellow pacer and running friend, Melissa on Saturday and we KILLED our 13.1 miler. 

We were smart. 

We stopped to pee…fuel…and stretch.  But we ran…we ran through beautiful trails, sun pouring down on us, and shade hugging us…we ran.  We held our pace for the entire training run, and I believe it’s safe to say we were giddy. 
10:30 pacers rule.  Yup. 
 

Yes…

We are only half way there. 

No…we’ve already finished HALF of our long runs.  Yes. 

But I am training with my heart this time.  I know now that all the silly crap in life is just that…SILLY.  I am not letting myself count on anyone for this race, these miles, other than myself. 

I have let go of confidence crashers, financial discord, and everything in between. 

So now, when I run, I RUN.  I leave all the crap behind. 

Now brings on week 9 of Fox Valley Marathon training. 

I pushed off my rest day and ran 2 miles today, prepped healthy meals, and am now relaxing with a glass of wine. 

14 miler Saturday?  Sure…

Yup.

I will now keep Movin’ forward.  Forward thinking.  Forward movement.  Forward goal setting. 
Uncategorized

Week 8 of Full Marathon Training complete!

Movin' it with Michelle

7-7-2013
 

Monday started out with a ten mile bike ride.  It was such a beautiful day, and I wanted to cross train so I headed out happily on my bike.  It was windy, but beautiful regardless. 
 

Tuesday I got my mid week mini long run in of 6 miles, knowing the holiday weekend was coming up quick. 
 

Wednesday was a rest day.

Thursday I was blessed to run 4 miles with friends after work, and then ate like a hog at a wonderful BBQ with my adopted St. Charles family. 

 

I allowed myself the next two days of rest for my upcoming long run. 

Sunday– This morning I woke up at O’Dark 30 to meet the Fox Valley marathon training group for our second training run.  This was my first training run pacing for the full marathon, and I was nervous as all get out, but managed to keep my nerves (and tummy) at bay.  I normally can run a half marathon without peeing, but the lines at the porta-potties were long when I got there, so bypassed going before the start.  We finished our 12(.25) miler strong, yet beat at a time of 2:08.

Looking around there were runners of all ages (even a KID-wow, he ran 12 miles today and was MAYBE eleven years old.  Yes, totally impressed).  I began to notice that some runners are more “elite” than I will ever hope to be, and felt a bit of a disconnect between the group.  Call it an odd ‘vibe’ so to speak.  I pushed off the icky feelings and hung with my 10:30 pace group proudly.   I like to call my pace group the “normal runners.”  The runners who run for themselves, for their health, or for possibly personal goals.  We all have competitive spirits as runners of course…but there was no feeling of, “oh, you are only the 10:30 pace group” type feeling. 

I don’t judge people on their pace…honestly, EVER.  I know we all can’t be Boston qualifiers, or people who can run the FASTEST or the FARTHEST.  To me, it’s a personal journey.  It’s a personal race to better ONESELF.  So hearing from a running friend that she too felt this “vibe” sort of bothered me.  But my advice to her was, “Smile extra big at them, and don’t let them steal your joy.”  (G rated version of course) J 

It’s all about Movin’ forward gang.  One mile.  At.  A.  Time. 

#movinforwardwithfitness
Uncategorized

Week 8 of marathon training and the 4th of July

Movin' it with Michelle

7-3-2013

I just typed the date of this blog (it’s how I catalog them for filing purposes) and I can’t help but to blink. 

22 years ago I was finishing up my first day of “in-processing” in basic training.  I left home, friends, family, and all I knew to join the Air Force. 

I didn’t ‘fit’ in growing up, and this was my chance to do something bigger and better for my life. 

Most thought I would fail.  I failed a lot as a teen.  Hey, who didn’t?  I let a lot of people down, including myself in my teen years.  I made wrong choices.  I was a jackass.  Yup.  Heck, sometimes I still am a jackass.  But I am constantly working towards being a better person. 

I realize as of late, I have to stop looking for acceptance from people.  I have to live my life for ME, just as I did for 20 years in the Air Force. 

I was GOOD at being an Airman.  I loved it.  I loved the uniform.  I loved the consistency. I loved the pride.  I loved the patriotism.  I loved being a part of something BIGGER.  I didn’t reach ALL the goals I set forth for myself while in the Air Force.  But I loved every single moment I was blessed to have served.  Tough, hard, meaningful, and AWESOME all wrapped into one great ball of GREATNESS.  And I will miss it, always. 

I am now 40 years old.  The 18 year old kid who got on that Greyhound bus is now just a memory.  But her passion, her drive, and her goals are still so very real. 

People may not respect, value, or support my dreams for something more.  But some DO.  More so, I do.  And I can’t keep hoping for support that I won’t receive. 

SO with that…I have my scrubs laid out for work tomorrow.  I am working my first 4th of July since joining the Air Force.  I will do my job, get my run on, and spend the day with great friends and extended family. 

Week 8 of marathon training is going well.  I will be pacing on Sunday for a 12 miler, and I am nervous as all heck.  But I will run with my heart when my legs and knees decide to give out. 

Happy 4th all.  This truly is, and always will be my favorite holiday. 

#movinforwardwithfitness
Uncategorized

June wrap up!

Movin' it with Michelle

Well, it’s the last day of June.  What a month it’s been. 

I am finally getting into the groove of my new job, and while I do enjoy it-more so the time it gives me with my family, I know this ‘career’ isn’t my life passion.  It’s a good job, and I always enjoy learning new things.  But I don’t LOVE the career path I have chosen, more so that was chosen FOR me by the Air Force 22 years ago.  But I plug along, and take the joys I get every single day. 

There is more for me out there.  I know it.  And I continually strive towards my goals. 

I love fitness, in all aspects, although I haven’t always lived the healthiest life style.  But running, lifting weights, biking, you name it-brings me joy.  More so, inspiring others to want for more in their lives gives me such happiness. 

So I have poured my heart and soul into my Facebook page, and am having so much fun reaching out to others.   What started out early last fall as an attempt to mark my place in this world with a small footprint has turned into 4000+ followers strong.  I lose some and gain some followers each day, and it is so exciting to hear about people’s progression in healthy eating, running, etc. 

With that, and my new commitment to run this full marathon in September, I will pace my first full marathon training run on Sunday.  I will be pacing the 10:30 pace group, and pray I can hold this pace for 12 miles in the heat of summer.  I am NOT a good summer runner.  Nope.  I suck actually.  But I am out there, and that’s what counts. 

Today I made myself get outside for a nice quick 3 miles, and made myself go on a hilly route in order to push myself.  WIN.  My last mile I struggled, but I finished strong. 
 

I will never be an UBER runner that wins awards, or has awesome PR’s that people look at in awe.

But I run.  And I love to run and work out.  And I keep trying harder.  That’s what matters to me. 

#movinforwardwithfitness
Uncategorized

Week 7 of Marathon training nearly complete!

Movin' it with Michelle

Well, I made it through my first official week (although week 7) of marathon training. 

I ate smartly this week; minus the buttered popcorn I ate the movie theater tonight that is totally kicking my ass right now.

I ran smartly, getting a short run in and my long run done on Thursday, which may have not been so smart.  It was 90 degrees, and the path I choose was FULL sun cover and NO shade which led me to some very slow miles.  But I got a ten miler in and I am pleased and only slightly sore.  We had a great time despite the weather, and even snacked on wild berries! Tomorrow will finish up my week with an easy 3-4 miler in my neighborhood.  I have revamped my plan to only 3 days per week of running, and strength training with cross training mixed in.  I didn’t get much “cross training” in this week, but I held strong with weights and core.  I hope to get a couple bike rides in this week now that my hubby is home and settled. 
 

I have been working on a logo for my FB page and it’s been so much fun.  One of my followers chimed in and offered a couple super cool designs.  I am brought back to my MBA journey where I swore I’d have my own business one day…this is a small step in a forward direction.  I can’t wait to see my fitness gear in production.  Stop by my page to cast your vote!  One lucky winner will win a custom made visor! 
 

I haven’t cooked much…but I have remained healthy for the most part. I cheated Friday night with 3 taco bell hard shell tacos, and popcorn today.  Heck…we aren’t perfect right?

I have realized that not everyone will always be in your corner.  Even those who are supposed to be closest to you…but you can’t please everyone, and you have to keep your boundaries.  You can’t let the lack of joy for your passions sway your determination. 

You simply keep Movin’ forward.  I have found some pretty amazing people on this journey towards a fitness and positive lifestyle, and I wouldn’t trade a single soul for the world.  I work hard to maintain my own fitness, the happiness of my family, and my slowly growing FB page and I love it, all of it!  I see changes happening, and it makes me literally giddy.

I didn’t train completely smart for my first full marathon.  I ate whatever I wanted, nearly like when I was pregnant with my second child thinking I would run it off.  I am still fighting off those 10 lbs of carbs.  SO with that, I will train smarter, eat smarter, and BE smarter this time around. 

Next week calls for a 14 miler.  I have to pace the half marathon group on Sunday so plan to do the route twice.  I got this.  Right?

#movinforwardwithfitness
Uncategorized

First full week of Marathon training-GO!

Movin' it with Michelle

They say you run a marathon with your heart, and your legs will surely follow. 
 

Last year I ran my first full marathon with my legs, and my heart and mind were all jacked up.  The voices that said “I couldn’t,” nearly won around the 17 mile mark.  But thankfully my heart kicked in, as well as my awesome sister sticking with me for every step and we ended up FINISHING my first FULL marathon. 

I didn’t doubt I would finish, heck I just did a 20 miler at 3:48? Just a couple weeks before…My sub 5 marathon was mine!  Yet my knee gave out and I was left on the side of the road doubled over in pain and tears.  I shuffled my way to the finish line.  And I was pissed.  Pissed because I over trained, I didn’t listen to my knee, and frankly I was just plain dumb.  But that didn’t take away the pride I felt when we crossed the line, and tears poured down my face.  I still can’t think about that day without crying.  I am NOT a true marathoner who does multiple races…I swore I was a “One and DONE” girl. 

But that’s not me.

I DON’T quit.   I don’t do things half assed.  And if I make a mistake, I FIX it. 

I have listened to those Jack Ass voices for far too long.  Yet as of late, more so within the last few weeks, I have taken those voices out back and kicked THEIR asses. 

This is MY race.  The Fox Valley Marathon, the training runs, ALL of it-last year-made me “re-fall” in love with running.  They welcomed awesome new friends into my life, and they proved to ME that I could do IT.  I remember my first training run as if it was yesterday.  I joined up with the 10:30 group, and didn’t know a soul.  I held pace for a couple miles, yet fell back quickly.  I was running alone, and I was scared and petrified of getting lost.  But I finished that training run, and returned for more…

I grew during those training runs.  I met new friends.  I got to know ME again.  And I realized the only thing stopping me besides a crazy knee, was ME. 

I learned I enjoyed running with people, which is something I NEVER enjoyed.  I learned I LOVED racing alone, because it was MY time to just blow EVERYTHING OFF.   I learned that it was ok if your close friends and family didn’t understand WHY you ran, and that they only needed to know you LOVED it.  And they simply needed to let you RUN. 

I struggled with dedicating myself to another season of full marathon training.  I don’t have the family cheering squad that some have, and it’s hard when those that know you best just ‘don’t get it.’  Then I realized…they don’t have to…I sacrifice a lot as a working Mom of two while my husband is away, A LOT.  So guess what…this is MY time.  I deserve it.  I deserve every mile underneath weary feet that I earn.  So here I go…

I deserve a ‘redo.’  I want redemption from Chicago last year.  I want to finish STRONG.  Not just finish.  I want to do better, run harder, feel stronger…and I WILL.  Lord Willing. 
Uncategorized

FVM Group Training Run #1 Recap

Movin' it with Michelle

Today marked the first official training week for the Fox Valley marathon.  
Training:
I managed to get in two 2 mile runs on the dreadmill this week, 2 strength workouts, and 5/7 days of core, and did my “long” run this morning with a nice and easy five miler. 

The day started off with an extra snooze, ok, two…My hubby got home from his training yesterday so I was too excited to sleep…had probably one too many glasses of wine before an early morning run, but hey, I’d get through it!  LOL!

As soon as I rolled out of bed and got dressed I was welcomed by a lovely text from one of my favorite people, Andrea #DOEPICSHIT…”Running is dumb.”  We both agreed we’d never love getting up early in the morning to run, but 30 minutes later we were tiredly hugging in the Geneva Running Outfitters parking lot.  “Let’s do this!”
#doepicshit  The original Epic lady.  I felt honored to run with her!
 

I was super excited to see Karen from Trading in my Heels  but bummed we forgot to take a photo!  I was also blessed to see all my awesome running buddies who I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like to!

The weather was already creeping near what I call HOT and it was only 6:30 am, but we grouped up and took off in staggered groups by pace.  This was my first time as an official pacer, so I was a bit nervous.  I was blessed with a smaller group of seven runners, half of which split off because they were training for the full marathon.  (yes, I already have the full marathon itch, that I will touch on later in this post-lol).

Thankfully these trails were ‘home’ to me, a place I have spent many hours, laughed, cried, and focused my energy and strength on self-improvement over the last 2 years.  And here I am…a pacer!  WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA??  Last year I couldn’t hold pace to save my life, let alone lead a group of runners to run the same pace.  But as we finished off mile one, I realized it wasn’t a matter of “could I do this?”  I WAS DOING IT! 

We ran, chatted, and got to know each other.  I had two seasoned full marathoners, a brand new half marathoner, my running friends Ami and Andrea, a runner who met up with us mid-way, and a runner I had met last year during the training runs.   I was feeling quite strong, and our first two miles were 10:35 and 10:30 respectively. 

We hit the water stop/turn around point at the 2.5 mile mark and stopped quickly to drink and wave our two marathoners and stragglers goodbye and good luck as we turned around.  The temperature was (or at least felt like) it was rising quickly, and we all were trying to stay motivated.  I would call out as we hit each mile, and we all continued to chat and get to know each other.  Miles 3 and 4 clocked in at 10:24 and 10:13 respectively.  Darn there I started trying to pick up speed, and we had to slow it down just a touch.  With the last mile to go we held strong, yet the dreaded last 2 blocks of HILLS were rough indeed. 
Photo thanks to Fox Valley Marathon
 

But we made it, and our last mile registered at 10:24.  YAHOO!  We rocked it, and I am so proud of my group. 

We were lucky enough to be welcomed by the Fox Valley Marathon crew with freezie pops, cookies, and yummy hydration drinks.  Life was good.  

With that, I am now toying (again) with the idea of training for the FULL marathon.  I can either do my long runs during the week in the evening so I can still do the ½ training runs with FVM group, or I can run added miles after the training runs.  I have a lot to think about, and not a lot of time to do it! 

Rock on, Movers!
Uncategorized

Memorial Day post

Movin' it with Michelle

I was an active duty Air Force service member for 20 years, 28 days. I served my country proudly stateside, in a support function that most don’t respect nor recognize. I personally will never forgive myself for not having “boots on the ground” overseas for this was the sole reason I joined. But I served, I sacrificed, and I wore my uniform proudly every single day for more than half my life.
Here I am, almost 20 years ago…

And I miss it. And it hurts. And sadly, yes, the flood gates have been opened. Someone pass me a tissue, PLEASE.

My Memorial Day wasn’t filled with BBQ’s or parties. We traveled to Wisconsin to view the stones my Father (a Vietnam vet) had dedicated for both my husband and myself. The ceremony was canceled due to nasty weather, but we still stood proudly at the memorial to view our stones laid carefully amongst other service member’s stones. I tried to hold back all of my emotion, my heartache in missing my fellow service brothers and sisters, but as we drove back south towards home I found I couldn’t hold back my tears. I closed my eyes, listened to country music and just took deep breaths.

I recalled so many memories…times when I was told I would “make it all the way to the top tier” and become a Chief, yet sadly I only retired as a Master Sergeant. My dreams will always be there, and I’ve let them go for the most part, but on days like today I am catapulted back to a time when serving my country in what little capacity I did, well, was what I DID. And I loved it…I still do. I always will. But my time as active duty ended two years ago. Now my role has changed to an Army Wife.

I have said goodbye, and welcome home more times to my husband than I can count on both hands. I am supposed to be the strong one, holding my family together while he continues to serve. Yet today, I feel very small and weak. I try to my tears so that he doesn’t see how his absence affects me. I blame it on allergies, being tired, you name it…he can’t know how hard it is on me; because he has bigger things to focus on…he’s still serving…

And then his post (very rare) on this picture tonight made me realize my time to serve isn’t over. He wrote “The true strength behind a paratrooper… family.” Keep in mind, my husband rarely posts on Facebook, so this meant a lot to me. I now need to dig deep, and serve in even a bigger capacity which means taking care of our family while he is gone so he can focus on his missions at hand.

But still, I miss the uniform and all it represented. I miss the camaraderie, the pride, and I miss the closeness of the military. I feel very lost and alone without it these days.

But my Grandfather, Father, and husband amidst many others will remain my heroes’, and I will hang on to that feeling for the rest of my life. I will allow myself this night of weakness, and keep in my heart the new beginnings of tomorrow. I will allow my heart to be heavy with the ripping sounds of my husband’s suitcases being zipped, but I will realize I have been doing this on my own for quite some time now and that I WILL get past the hard days and appreciate the good days.
Uncategorized

Saturday Musings

Movin' it with Michelle

I haven’t blogged in over a week now.  I have been caught up in life and world events, and trying to just remove myself from the outside world to be honest.  The Oklahoma tragedy hit close to home as my best friend and her family lives there-and just nearly a year ago I was there on vacation enjoying the time of my life.  Now to see so much loss and heartache left me with a hole in my heart. 

I have spent the week latching on to my husband and kids, whether they liked it or not.  Funny to say, I am the black sheep of my own little family…the “un-fun” one, the disciplinarian, the one that everyone disagrees with in any given conversation.  But I love the 3 other people that make up my crazy little family dearly, so I concentrated on THEM this week, knowing so many have lost their loved ones in natural disasters and other tragedies in general recently. 

This morning I ran the “Soldier Field Ten miler” with some girls from my running group.  We had a nice time, but I’ll admit the vibe was weird, and I just felt ‘off.’  I ran my race, met back up with my running friends, and came straight home.  There was no real celebration of a ‘job well done’ so I simply tackled laundry and tried to nap between white and dark loads.  It’s hard when your family doesn’t ‘get’ why you run.  When they don’t show pride in your efforts, or want to cheer you on during races.  No, this is not why I run…but support sure would be nice. 

Back to the race…

I am odd in the fact that I cannot race and talk at the same time.  (My sister and friend Janel are the only two people I can run more than 10 miles with consecutively) So more times than not I am running alone in my races because I simply can’t hold a conversation at a race pace…but my friends and I all started together, yet after about the second mile we all split off.  Katy took off, I stayed in the middle, and Erin and Michelle were right behind me yet sadly I didn’t see them. 
 

I ran this race more in honor of Memorial Day.  I dug out my old Air Force physical training shorts, and wore them proudly for these ten miles. I got up at 4 a.m. and recalled 22 years ago when I did the same exact thing in basic training.   My knee, cooperated; thankfully.  I had small issues around mile 6-7, but simply needed a bit of fuel to get me through the last few miles.  I didn’t break the 9 minute mile mark, but I didn’t expect to either after having taken a week off to rest my knee.  I thankfully held strong, and seeing Soldier Field in the horizon brought me back to my first half marathon in San Antonio in 2007 where I ran into the stadium to finish…and yes…I got choked up.  Thankfully I still at least get emotional over my races.  Someone has to, right?  I finished in 1:34 which is an average pace (54% for the women this year) so I will succumb and be satisfied with remaining average. 
 

I have found my happy place in the 10-13.1 mile runs, and hope to increase my speed and endurance. 

I am trying to find peace with self-support and self-pride.  But simple said, it’s hard.  Cheering squads are always nice, right? 
Uncategorized

Friday

Movin' it with Michelle

5-17-13

Today marked my third week in a row of 6 day work weeks, and sadly it caught up to me…I am still not used to the hours, or the fumes that come with working in a histology lab and I was ‘un’welcomed today with a migraine.  I haven’t had a headache like this in almost 2 years, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I got home at 3 o’clock and immediately retired to my recliner to rest until 4 o’clock when I needed to go pick up my youngest from after school care.  Normally a bit of rest takes care of minor headaches, but this one was a doozy, and I had to drag myself up to go get S from daycare and get the girls fed and settled.  I poured myself into a hot shower with my youngest hoping that would ease the pressure on my neck, but no such luck.  Sadly, said headache resulted in S missing out on a cool play date, but hey…life goes on, right?  Mommy wasn’t right tonight.  Thankfully some meds, lots of water, and more rest gave me the relief I needed.  Workouts=nada…but tomorrow is a new day.

Today’s challenges:  My dog decided to roll around in raccoon poop.  Yup.  Full fledged rolling, which resulted in FULL FLEDGED STANK.  This set my migraine in a downward spiral, and I was blessed in the fact my oldest hosed him down outside while I picked up my youngest from school and picked up dinner.  Yea…we had Taco Bell.  Don’t judge.  I haven’t eaten Taco Bell in over a year. I needed some comfort food. LOL.  Diet restarts tomorrow. 

Tonight’s blah:  I miss my husband.  Am I werid in the fact that I actually LIKE spending time with the same guy for almost ten years now?  My house seems so empty when he’s not here…and today is our two year anniversary of being in our ‘dream home’ in St. Charles, IL.  After all is said and done, people coming and going, he has remained my constant in life…he may not understand everything I do, but in the end he’s there for me when I need him…be it physically or mentally. 
 

Lastly…sometimes we feel discombobulated.  And that is ok…tomorrow is a new day. 

Hang on to your constants.  Love life.  And keep movin’ forward.