One year closes and a new one begins

Can you believe how fast 2008 has gone? I know each and every year has the same amount of days...365. But for some reason they seem to go by faster and faster the older we get.

There have a lot of milestones this year. Some good and some well, seemed to be sad at the time.

In 2008:
Our oldest son Scott and his wife divorced. I don't ever want to see a marriage end in divorce. Hollywood portrays marriage as glamorous. Heck we all know it's far from glamorous. It's down right work. But work that is well worth it if both parties want it. One did and the other didn't. The grass appeared to be greener on the other side of the fence till she jumped over. Only then she realized it was on top of a septic tank.

Our youngest son, Eric was married on April 19th to his lovely bride, Lynsey. She has been good for him. He needs a strong confident woman to be his helpmate.

We finally had our first grandchild.
McKinley Addison was born May 14th. She is the daughter of our middle son Joe who is a wonderful Dad. She is getting some hair which has a slight red cast to her hair, which would make my Dad proud. She is always laughing and jabbering. She is beginning to grab hold and pull up. It won't be long till she's up and walking. Look out Mom and Dad.


We had our second grandchild.
Dylan Thomas was born July 23rd. He is the child of our youngest son, Eric. He had issues with his stomach thanks to Dad, Papaw and Great-Grandpa Clarence. But has been taken care of with special formula. He is beginning to roll over. He has such an infectious laugh.

I finished the Evansville 1/2 Marathon in 3:50:30. I bettered my time by 6 minutes 29seconds. I see nothing but improvements in 2009.

My Mom, sister Stephanie, her children Nikki and Taylor moved to Hermitage,TN. At first I didn't think it was a good idea but in the end it's proved to be the best for all of them. Mom's health has improved. Steph is working and has been accepted to a major art institute in Nashville. She is the talented one with her creative ability.

It looks like I will reach my goal of being below 200lbs by Dec 31st. I have 1.2 more to go. It has been a long hard struggle.

2009 promises to be just as exciting:

Scott is to be married in January to a lovely girl, Danica. She is the sweetest thing. Plus she loves my son and they have so much in common. Old cars, camping, fishing. Her parents, Dean and Sherry adore Scott. Just what a mother wants for her children. In-laws that treat her son as their own.

We will be grand-parents again in July!!! Yeah. I was right. I told Charles when we start getting grand-children it will be one right after the other. Scott and Danica are having a baby. Scott is so excited as he didn't think he would ever be a papa.

There is another piece of extremely wonderful news but you'll have to stay tuned. I'll let you know when it's official.

I have a couple of 1/2 marathons I'm considering. In April, TheCountry Music 1/2 in Nashville. In May, The Flying Pig in Cincinnati,OH. And of course The Evansville 1/2 marathon in October. There will be a bunch of short races, 2mile, 5K and 10K's thrown in there as well.

The goals for 2009:

I'm going to work with a personal trainer to begin a strength training program. We have a membership at the Y so it's about time I begin to use all of it. Not just the pool.

As much as I hate it, I'll begin walking on a treadmill 3 days a week. The thought of walking and seeing the same scenery doesn't thrill me but then neither does sitting on the side lines.

Blog at least on a weekly basis. I know I don't have much of a fan base but then this blog is for me about me.

Here's wishing everyone who reads this a Happy, Merry, Healthy New Year.

Missing in Action

Wow! A good blogger I am not. I can't believe it's been over 2 months since I last posted. A lot has happened. Some good,some bad and some great. Here's a run down:

I finished the Evansville 1/2 marathon in 3:50:30. I shaved almost 7 minutes off of 2007's time. Hindsight says I should have bagged the race. The longest mileage I got in was 6.2 and that was 4 weeks prior to race day. I didn't walk at all two weeks prior to race day. My walking buddy, Vicky and I did the race anyway. The race starts out at Reitz Hill and winds it's way through various neighborhoods before finishing up downtown along the riverfront. The race started with perfect temps although it did get a little warm there at the finish. The lack of distant mileage hampered my goal finishing under 3:30. We ended up maintaining a 17:30 pace. My feet paid the price plus I got a charlie horse in my left calf that just about incapaciated me. I could not walk for days. Literally could not walk.

My hubby, Charles and my sister, Stephanie were the race crew. They met us along the race course with cold water and orange slices. She's got the fever now. Since she will be living in Nashville (as of tomorrow) it looks like we will be doing the Nashville 1/2 marathon in April. This time come heck or high water we will be ready!!!

Since the race I done nothing. I take that back, I took a yoga class at the Y although they don't call it Yoga. It's connections. Whatever...It was different. I'm not going to base my decision on 1 class but it kicked my butt. I had to come home and take a nap. Geez..yoga...a nap!! Here's the tentative schedule...Monday is Yoga night. Tuesday and Thursday is water kickboxing night. I need to get my rear end to the gym. What use is it to pay for a gym membership and not go. Notice I didn't say morning. That's cause I don't do mornings! For whatever reason I can't or won't get my butt up out of bed. Really...I'm tired. I have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. I'm hoping these classes will help. I have been thinking about getting a wellness coach (there free at the Y..a trainer is another story) and getting on some type of strength training program. I have more jiggle where there's not suppose to be jiggle. Plus in all honesty..I don't feel good. I don't look good. My clothes hide a multitude of sin..Yes gluttony is a sin or so I've been told.

Good news.... down 1 lb!!! I think. I'm participating in the "Biggest Loser" at Dr Gilkey's. I have to weigh in each week or pay $1. The scale is down 1 pound if I weighed what I think I weighed. He needs to think digital. I know that scale showed I was down 1 3/4 pounds. Folks 3/4 pound can make or break it. I'm telling myself I'm down 1 3/4 pounds. Whatever it takes to get the momenteum going and keep it going.

Tomorrow will be a day of sadness and a day of joy all rolled into one. It's moving day for my Mom, my sis, Stephanie and her family. They are moving to Hermitage, TN which is about 15 minutes from Nashville. It's not far but it is far. People ask me when I tell them my mom and sister are moving what I think about it. Well...they're almost 40 (sorry sis..I had to let the cat out of the bag) and my mom is 70+. They're old enough to live their own lives. I can't and shouldn't live it for them. They are close a chapter in their life and writing a new one. YOU GO GIRLS!!!

That's all for now. I promise I'll write more often.

Dixie

Update

Saturday was the first leg of the Y series. I finished the 5k (3.1 miles) but not in the time I wanted. I was hoping to get in at 45:30 minutes or under. As it was I finished it at 52:40. We'll see what the next 4 weeks brings. The second leg of the Y series is Sept 6th.

I have not figure it out and probably never will. How is that women older than me can walk faster than me? I don't get it. Just how in the devil is that possible? A 65 year old women walked it in 47:17. A 15:14 pace compared to my 16:57 pace. Plus earlier in the year I did a 5K in 49:56. Almost 3 minutes faster.

There are a lot of reason why I didn't walk as fast at the last 5K. 1) the temp was 89* with 93% humidity. Can you say HOT!!!! 2) I'm dealing with shin splints on the right leg. 3) Flexibility issues. I've got some exercises to help with both the shin splints and flexibility.

I have to stop comparing my race to someone elses. My race is my race. Here's a little inspiration I got from the walking site forum.

Accomplishment

The more you cultivate,
The more you accomplish.
Why doubt?
When distance separates you from others,
They cannot overtake you.

In the beginning of training, it may seem as if you are doing very little. You compare yourself to your teachers and to more accomplished people, and you may despair at ever reaching their levels. But if you are diligent, then it is inevitable that you will make something of yourself. Once you reach such a plateau, you will be able to relax a bit and contemplate where you are on your journey.

One of the most refreshing things to realize is that you now have something that no one can take away from you. Spirituality is yours to keep, yours to touch. No one else can gain access to it, yet this precious accomplishment can sustain and guide you. It will give you increased health, and it will give you knowledge that you could not gain through normal means. Once you tap into this source, you have gained a foothold on the spiritual path.

Uncertainty will not plague you. why can argue with you? You have seen it yourself. So once you have reached this milestone on your journey, it is proper to rejoice a little, indulge in a little contentment. Then take up the journey once again. (source: 365 Tao: Daily Meditations Deng Ming-Dao ISBN 0-06-250223-9 http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/vortex/401/library/365/365date.htm} ----

It talks about the spiritual path, but it applies to the physical path as well. Reaching the point in your training where you know you can meet your goal, be it a 5K or a marathon, is very nice indeed. And, as well we know, there are spiritual rewards to be found walking the physical path.

Why do we doubt we can do what we want to do? What if you knew you could do whatever it was you wanted to do? Would you even try? Or would the doubt creep in and prevent you from even trying?

Until next time...

Nothing snazzy

Just another Monday. I had dinner at Applebee's with my one of my best friends Peggy. We get together usually three times a year. Her birthday, my birthday and Christmas. Saturday, I'll be 49. It's hard to believe I'm that old but I am. We had a wonderful visit. She gave me a really cool Debbie Mum patriotic plates and platter set. I'll post a picture later. There were some friends of hers from a reunion she went to this past weekend that came in while we were there. She introduced me and as we were talking, come to find out it was the sister of one the guys, Mark D. that Charles went to grade school with. I called him on the cell and told him someone wanted to talk to him. They chatted for a bit and then He drove to Applebees and ate supper with us and visited some more. I think he secretly had a crush on his friend Mark's sister.

The food intake is going rather well. I like using http://www.sparkpeople.com/ to track my food and exercise minutes. Seeing it in black and white really puts it all in focus. Plus I get to earn Spark points. I'm having great success with the water intake as long as it's with ice, in a glass and has a straw. Something about those three things is the key for me.


Tomorrow is the 2nd week of the Evansville half marathon. We train Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday's as long as there is not a heat advisory (which there was today). Training is canceled during a heat advisory. You're on your own for training that day. Most people either train later when the advisory is lifted or not at all. Unfortunately, I'm one of the not at alls. There is over 400+ runners, run/walkers and walkers training this year. Each year it keeps getting biger and bigger and bigger.

Two more days till weigh in.....I wondered if the scale has moved? I peeked.....but you'll have to wait till Wednesday morning. Wednesday night is Luau at OakHill Baptist Church. It's also the pre-registration for VBS. My two nieces, Nikki and Mila are going. Not sure yet about my niece Anna and my nephew, Devon. I'd better be finding out.

Getting my haircut and colored tomorrow. Gotta get rid of this gray. It's either all gray or no gray. Right now....NO GRAY!!!! None. well right now there is because I did to get it colored but tomorrow evening I'll be NO GRAY!

I need to get into my Bible Study for this week. It's the last week in a Beth Moore study in 2nd Samuel. I'm trying to do each day 1 day at a time instead of all 5 days in 1 day.

Until next time,
Embrace Grace

Team 13 - week 1

Made it through the first week of "Team 13". What is Team 13? It's 13 weeks to 13 miles 1/2 marathon training program sponsored by the Evansville YMCA and Vectren. Years past we met at Wesselman's Park. This year we are meeting at Wesselman's Park, Vectren Building downtown Evansville and Garvin's Park.

Here are my stats for week 1:

1. Tues - 3 miles
2. Thurs - 3 miles 16:40/mile pace
3. Sat - 3.262 miles 16:33/mile pace

I will track my times for week 2 and beyond a little better. I'm hoping to break a 15:00/mile pace or better for the 1/2 marathon in October 12th.



I finally got some new shoes. There Adidas SuperNova. Cause I'm a "SuperWoman". Just joking. Well no I'm not. I am a Super Woman. Back to the shoes.....I should have bought a new pair long before now. Not a good picture but you can get the drift of what they look like. Properly fitting shoes is one of the few most important areas in training for any type of event. Actually for any type of walking. Mall walking, walking around your neighborhood. Whatever. If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet you need good shoes. I didn't say expensive shoes. I said good shoes.



The food journal is not going so good. Some days I do good writing things down and other days...well not so good. I've had no problem with water intake. I've decided to use Sparkpeople.com to track my food intake and exercise activity. I think I'm doing good till I see what I've actually eaten. Sometimes not enough and others...well too much. Depends on the mood and the time of day.

Speaking of eating...if you've not had lunch and it's dinner time...does that mean it's lunner time? Not good to go this long without eating something. Leads to a huge eating feast.

Later

Why did I choose this name for my blog?

Well for obvious reasons...I've lost the same 5lbs over and over and over...you get the drift. I use to think overweight people were fat because they were lazy. After all it's easy to loose weight. Right? Wrong, oh so wrong. That is far from the truth as I've found out. It's probably the hardest thing I'm in the process of doing. Trying to loose weight by diet and exercise. But is that enough?

I decided to create a blog to journal my everyday struggles, some good, some not so good to share with those I feel comfortable sharing with. If your reading this your one of the lucky ones. I chose you to walk with me through this journey. Those who have been there. Those going through the same struggles and those who are supportive. Not negative!

I don't know how I ended up where I'm at. Really I don't. It's not like one day I woke up and **POOF** I'm fat. No it creeped up an ounce at a time till it became a pound then it became another pound and another and another. I use to could eat and eat and eat and not gain a pound or so it seem. But July 26, 1998 it hit. The fat gene came out of hiding. I turned 40. I had suddenly lost my ability to eat anything I wanted. Thus began the struggle with my weight.

I will be open and honest in what I post. After all this is who I am now on my way to a better me. I have to face my fears, my struggles and my weaknesses. Then and only then, can I through the help of my Lord Jesus over come these obstacles.

later,