A Beautiful Spring Day

Today was a beauuuutiful day! In the high 60's with the sun raining down on us and a cool breeze blowing. Perfect combination. Chris and I went to The Heritage Gardens. They have a beautiful pond with ducks and a couple benches to sit and enjoy. Chris, my bestest friend in the world, is a fabulous photographer --check out her website. She offered to take some pictures of me and they turned out good. I couldn't seem to get them all posted here, so check out the rest on facebook.




















I was playing with shadows. This is a thumbs up for a the beautiful day.





















The first of the beautiful shots Chris snapped.















































Self-portrait of me and Chris.









































I love seeing Lilac all over Colorado this time of year. It has the brightest color and most wonderful fragrance [long inhale...ahhh].

It think it's officially springtime in Colorado Springs!

Peace is Joy!

Something I've been surprised to discover in the last four-ish years of my life is how my God has responded to the smallest prayers in my life. Growing up, I constantly saw all my flaws and was painfully aware of my shortcomings. They seemed so overwhelming, that I would push them to the back of my mind, by watching TV or immersing myself in other stories...anything to keep from having to face them head on.

These areas, haunting me in the back of my mind and heart, always kept me from being lighthearted and free to engage with other people. If I were to walk into a group of people I did not know, I would be very shy and certain they did not like me...simply because I was afraid they would think the same thing of my flaws that I did. Ugly.

But in the past four years, God has done a beautiful thing. As one of these things would surface from the back of my mind, instead of instant fear, I could feel him letting me know he wasn't afraid of this thing; that he wouldn't reject me for this flaw. And through that, I had the courage to look it head on and in honest sincerity, say, Lord, I don't know what to do about this. It's stupid or ugly and I don't want to be this way...will you fix it?

Some things, like learning to prefer others over me seemed to take forever. I remember always trying to get my way. I simply liked what I liked and if someone else didn't then I would try and persuade them to my point of view, because that was the only way I'd enjoy myself.

I remember noticing this when Chris and I would want to go see a movie. We have very different tastes; she prefers martial arts films and heavy duty action flicks and I like romantic comedies and not-so-heavy action flicks. Whenever we'd go see a movie, it would turn into this.

Me: What do you want to see?
Chris: Ooh...how about Mission Impossible 3?
Me: (Involuntary face scrunch) Well, that's alright, but I really think you'd enjoy seeing 27 Dresses? What do you think? Huh, huh? I'm sure you'll like it.
Chris: Okay, I'll go see 27 Dresses with you.

Now, this isn't a direct quote but I began to realize that my happiness was determined in getting my preference. This bothered me. So I began praying to the Lord, asking for the ability to care about Chris so that I could freely go with her to whatever movie she wanted without having to get my own way.

I stumbled and struggled and kept feeling this ickiness in my heart...and every time I did it, I would ask the Lord again. Finally, one day, Chris really wanted to see a new martial arts flick and this is what went through my mind..."I really don't want to see that flick, but I think Chris would really enjoy it. I don't have to thoroughly enjoy the movie to go see it with her. Okay, I'll go. I think she'll have fun at it."

And BOOM it hit me...this was a turning point! I had chosen to do something for my friend, willingly, because I knew she'd enjoy it. It wasn't a painful...fight to the death with my flesh...saying YOU WILL GO BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO! No! It had just become more important to me to see her enjoy something than for me to enjoy it myself.

The joy inside of me began to grow. I could see a flicker of light ahead. I began to see the power of God working in my life...in real life. He'd given me the power to prefer someone over myself and it felt amazing!

This is only one example of the things I've chosen to face over the years. But the thing that brings me comfort, is that when issues present themselves, I'm not afraid to go to God with them. I'm know he's not ashamed of me or waiting to punish me. There is a confidence that he's waiting for me to show it to him and ask for help. There's a knowing that it brings him joy when I have confidence to bring it to him for an answer.

Over the last four years, as I encounter these turning points, I have become much more easy going. I don't have to be in control -- most of the time (suppressing a chuckle) -- I enjoy doing new things that others want to try. I am able to admit I have flaws and am a work in progress because I'm not so threatened. I know, that when my flesh rises up or the enemy tries to tempt me, that the Lord is not ashamed. He is the one who loves me and says "What is it? I can fix it. No need to be ashamed."

I know there are many things yet to be encountered but the past several years have brought a measure of peace I have never known. I am confident in saying that I am walking with the Lord and he is pleased to have me with him. And I'm thrilled that he has asked me to join him in the journey. He fights for me. He protects me. He offers me a comfort and a peace when I'm struggling with myself. This is the greatest joy I've ever known and I wanted to share that with you all.

An Afternoon in Denver with Wade

I drove up to Denver Saturday afternoon to have lunch with my brother, Wade. Samantha, his wife, and he are in conferences in Denver. I am expecting a fun visit with them later this week. However, I had time available on Saturday and since he also did, we got to share lunch and a walk up and down the 16th Street Mall. It's basically a row of shops and restaurants along one street in Downtown Denver. It's what I imagine a NYC street looks like.

Wade and I

This guy was creating painting with spray paint. It was very cool to see.

The Denver Skyline from Wade's hotel room.

Pep Talk

Sometimes you just need a pep talk.

Thursday and Friday were not good days. I was feeling dejected and a bit hopeless. I'm having trouble losing weight. I eat pretty good except for those darn stinkin' sweets...my sweet tooth is the size of Texas some days. And with the amount of excercise I've been doing, I had imagined I would be melting away the pounds...but not yet. If any, it must be coming off in 1/4 pounds per week.

On my way out of the office on Friday I was sharing a bit with Jenny, my sweet and understanding co-worker. She listened and shared how she understood but it was a few words she said that really encouraged me. She shared how she saw me, that I was one of the most determined people she knew and she had no doubt that I would reach my goals.

I thank the Lord for her and for her pep talk. I really needed it at that moment and God knew it. Thanks to them both I'm encouraged and pressing on.

If you get a second, check out Jenny's blog. It's one of my favorites.

The Excercise Ball

I put together a really good strength workout from a couple youtube videos. I went searching for excercises that can be done with a big excercise ball, since I have one. I'm so proud of myself for finding something on youtube.com rather than feeling the need to buy into one of those really expensive excercise video clubs.

From the first video, I do all the excercises. I do the first two from the second video. From the first video I discovered the hardest technique and the one I like the best looks the simplest but really kicks my butt (well, technically my arms, back and abs). On your knees you set the ball in front of you just to where you can reach it with your finger tips. You then roll out onto the ball leaning forward as you would in a plank or pushup and then roll back. Watch it and see if you don't think it looks very easy.
But I dare you...try it. I'd love to get your reaction to it.

These are the excercises I do on the couple days a week that I'm not biking or ellipticall-ing.

Any fun workouts you've found that really strengthen your muscles?

A bit sore today

Last night's workout was tough. It was 50 min in total. I spent 10 min warming up on the bike and then did 6 sets of 2 min hard and 1 min easy pedaling. I always try to push myself. I don't like listening to the voice in my head that tells me I can take it easy. I mean c'mon, isn't that what I've been doing most of my life (regarding excercise)? I have to something different.

So normal fast RPMs on the bike for me are between 95-100. So I wanted to do better last night. I kept a couple of the fast 2 min segments at around 110 RPMs and then for the last, I kept hearing Master Kunkel say "This is your last. Make it your best!" So I pushed as hard as I could and got it up to 120 RPMs. Whew! I did it! I finished up with 6 minutes of pretty easy riding at about 80 RPMs.

Then onto the elliptical. With my legs already burning I knew these last 16 minutes would be hard. I was supposed to do 10 min moderate and 6 min easy. I guess moderate for me would be 50 RPMs but I'm trying to increase that, so I shot for between 55-60 rpms. That lasted for about 6 minutes and then I had to bring it down (right around 50 rpms). I didn't know if I'd actually be able to finish but I kept pushing and I did.

I am trying to focus on celebrating when I make it through a really tough workout. Usually I'm a little pooped and feeling worn out and just glad it's done but I am finding I really need to celebrate these accomplishments. It changes my mindset from being a big woman on a bike trying to do something I can't to that of an athlete. :)

What's a recent accomplishment I can celebrate with you?

Accomplishment!

To give you a little back-story, because being a good story teller means I have to, prior to about one month ago, my least favorite piece of equipment at the gym was the Elliptical (not counting the stairsteppers, which I don't even count as a possibility at this point).

Prior to my Black Belt test and through about a year ago, I could spend a good half hour on the treadmill, even about 15 minutes jogging and be fine, but I would get on the Elliptical and last no more than 3 minutes and then I would hurt like the dickens for days. I just decided my body wasn't built for it.

But having trouble with my knees as I've been training this year I've had to try knew things. I've spent a lot of time on the bike and decided several weeks ago that I'd give the elliptical a go. After riding the bike for a good workout I went to the elliptical and lasted 7 whole minutes!

But until today, I hadn't lasted more than 21 minutes and THAT was a BIG accomplishment.

However, tonight, I went for a full 30 minutes! I'm not speedy but I did last 30 minutes. That's after riding the bike for 10 min to warm up and then I finished with another 14 minutes on the bike.

Small stuff for some but an accomplishment I'm proud to share!

What do you think about the Elliptical?

Black Belt Testing

Last night I joined other black belts at the Dojang (school) and sat on the panel as we watched the current black belt candidates go through all their curriculum. This is their official test. How well they did last night determined whether they passed as black belts, with one final test...the dreaded fitness test.

Overall they looked really strong as a team. And they were pushed pretty hard. During the several minutes of sparring (this being after they demonstrated all their forms, blocking sets and kicking sets) I saw slumped shoulders and longer breaks between kicks (when they could manage it). But they pushed through and didn't give up. Giving up is something a black belt doesn't do. You know what we call a black belt that gives up....a color belt.

I then had the pleasure of watching a current group of black belts who are testing for their 2nd degree. They looked stellar. The actions and grunts and groans of pain as they did their Jujitsu demonstrations seemed authentic...but having done this I know are just for show.

I'm inspired now. Hopeful that I can continue to work on my 2nd degree. I'm only two stars away from the final stretch. In theory, I could test next May. We'll see. There's a lot going on right now, but perhaps working on this would help in my fitness and enable me to be a better runner.

I've still got my sights on the half-marathon in January 2011.

Go Black Team!

Okay, so I have to confess...I am really into the current season of The Biggest Loser. This Tuesday the teams of two (what were left of them) were broken into two remaining teams, blue and black. The one who got to chose which contestant went on which team was Michael the winner of the "temptation challenge". And guess what he did...he put all the high power people on one team (on which he placed himself) and put all the rest on the other. It was the most unfair setup I could imagine. The two trainers, Bob and Jillian, were appalled. Blue team included all the strong players and black the "less strong".

I was so sad for the black team and so grumpy about Michael's choice. Mid-way through the episode I left to go to the gym and workout. Close to the end I noticed that Biggest Loser was playing on the TV and they were down to the weigh-ins...the last two weigh-ins. Blue (the strong ones) had been weighed and all but the last two on the black team had been weighed. The last two girls had to have lost more than 16 pounds between them to avoid going to elimination. I shook my head. Having watched the last several episodes I had not seen either of them do that much.

The first girl went to the scale, this young lady participated in the temptation challenge and ended up having to eat cookies and other fattening foods in the process. I thought for sure it would have cost her. But to my surprise, she had lost a full 8 pounds!!!

The final girl was up. I have not seen her lose more than 5 or six pounds in a week and I knew the black team was sunk. They would have to go through the awful process of sending someone home. She stepped on the scale, and to heighten the drama, the numbers go up, down, up and down again and stop finally to reveal...a 10 POUND LOSS!

Literally my jaw dropped and a smile spread wide across my face. The black team pulled it out! They did not let the disadvantage determine what they could do. It was such a fun moment for me.

I know, I know...it's reality TV but it just can't be denied...the black team was challenged and against the odds they came out the victors!

GO BLACK TEAM!

A Night in a Snowglobe

I spent the night in a snow globe. This is a view from my Starbucks...listen to me...I still say "my". This is the store I used to work at. I am spending the evening here to study. I'm sitting next to two gentleman that used to be my customers, but now are my fellow patrons: Bruce (left) and Steve (right).

I'm learning lots about Old verses New Institutionalists and why Veblen and Galbraith liked one group but not the other. And how von Hayek refuted Galbraiths theory. No...I'm not using big words and unknown people to sound super smart, but to perhaps entice you to google them and learn something cool.

Anyway, the snow is coming down so pretty and I learned this really cool feature of taking a panoramic view picture that I couldn't resist taking a break from my studies to blog about it.

Ah the beauty of snow on a winter's night. [Big smile...Sigh]

Improvement!

I know, I know...I haven't updated in over two weeks. My apologies. I'm getting busier with studies and by the time I think of blogging my brain has turned into butter left on a hot stove.

I am finally noticing improvement in my knees. Two and a half weeks ago I decided to try biking instead of walking. The pain in my knees and surrounding ligaments had become very painful when I walked. So I got on the bike and rode, and rode and to my delight it did not aggravate my knees!

I did that twice and then started mixing it up. I usually start on the bike and then move to the treadmill. I also began adding in some exercise on the weight machines (which I finally found...funny story). Last night was my best night yet.

11 minutes on the bike

26 min walking

Leg extension

Leg press

Stretching

And I got that all done in under and hour...you should have seen me rushing out the door to get to my car. UCCS (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs) has extremely limited parking for it's 8,000 + students. So you either have to pay big $ to have a parking pass or pay an hourly parking fee ($1.75/hour). I didn't want to pay for two hours last.

Thank you, Jesus!

I have the hardest time finding shoes, especially dress shoes. But tonight I stopped by Goodwill and casually browsed the shoes. I found TWO pairs of nice shoes, in my size AND they weren't frumpy!

[Happy Thoughts]

Slow going

So apparently my imagined "hit the ground running" expectation for training was a fantasy. It is frustrating to be getting off to such a slow start. Seven months ago I was jogging between 12-15 minutes, consecutively. Apparently just seven months can render my knees and hamstrings in such poor condition that walking 20 minutes aggravates them.
[Pooh]
I'm hanging in there and learning patience...patience with my body. Thanks for hanging in here with me. :)

BIG WORDS!

I am reading a book for my class "The Great Books of Economics". It's called "The Worldly Philosophers - The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers". It was first published in 1953. This book is full of big words -- words that I have had to look up. I can normally guess the meaning of the word based on the way it is used in the sentence. However some of these left me clueless. I've listed some and their definitions.

Frontispiece: an illustrated leaf preceding the title page of a book.
Dicta: an authorative pronouncement
Disquisition: a formal discourse or treatise in which a subject is examined and discussed; dissertation
Jurisprudence: the science or philosophy of law, a body or system of laws
Rapacity: inordinately greedy, predatory; extortionate
Vermicular: of, pertaining to, or done by worms
Abeyance: temporary inactivity, cessation or suspension
Sinecure: an office or position requiring little or no work, esp. one yielding profitable returns.

I might add, I am only in chapter 3!

Shoe check and fur hood lining

I took a walk at dusk tonight. I was scheduled for a 20 minute walk today but got distracted playing with my new Netbook (basically a mini-laptop). I looked up and was startled by the diming sun light. So I bundled up to go for a walk around the park just east of my house. It was WINDY. Anyone who lives with lots of wind knows how much colder it can be when it's windy.

I was trying to be tough and not use my hood but I couldn't do it! There must be some lingering Floridian in me trying to keep warm. I pulled on my hood and snapped it closed but that wasn't enough. The wind was still blowing into my hood. I had to use the draw strings to pull it tight around my face. I look like an Inuit when I do that.

At this point I have to interject that I am terribly fond of the faux fur lining on my hood. It is amazing at keeping the wind off my face and therefore keeping it much warmer. If you have never had a hood with fur lining, go snag one from a friend and try it. It's really quite amazing.

The walk was a good one. Walking in a public park on the earth, not a sidewalk, does pose certain areas of concentration not found on a treadmill. For example, you have to watch out for divits and holes so you don't trip. The other, you can imagine, is why I do a shoe check before I come in the house...yes, the dreaded doggie fertilizer. Hee hee...thankfully I was fertilizer free after my walk tonight.

The Spirit of the Marathon

Has anyone ever seen the documentary "The Spirit of the Marathon"? It was available for online viewing on my Netflix account. The program was really well done. They followed 7-10 people through their training to run the 2005 Chicago Marathon. Those they followed included one of the "Elite Runners" -- those that actually run a marathon to win it -- all the way through an over 65 gentleman training to run his third marathon.

The history of the marathon was appropriately intermingled with personal stories. From a woman's perspective, one of the most intriguing parts was the history of woman runners. Apparently after an early Olympics, in which, after completing an 800K run several women collapsed in exhaustion, the powers that be decided that woman are not long distance runners. They attempted to protect women by eliminating all women's long distance competitions.

One actual and ludacris documented reason that women should not run was because "their uterises would fall out". However, as the Boston Marathon grew in popularity a woman, Katherine Switzer, registered to run (1976), by simply using her first initial rather than her first name. So she was registered and given numbers.

The press jumped all over it when they saw a women running. They were amazed and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the moment. However, there was a race official, who taking great pride in the race, jumped into the road, grabbed her and litterally tried to throw her out of the race. Coming to her rescue was her training partner, who came full on with a shoulder block aimed at this man, throwing him to the side of the road instead. The two took off running and both completed the race. Her completion of the marathon sparked a resurgence of running for woman all over the world. To see more about this you can visit her website at www.kathrineswitzer.com.

If any of you watch this documentary, I'd love to hear what you thought.

Getting Back In Shape

The last couple workouts have been harder than I thought. It's not because the workouts themselves are difficult, but because I'm out of shape. It amazes me how long it takes to get in shape but how quickly you can get out of shape. I've been active, engaged in intense workouts at TKD and at the gym, since June 2004. I've only been inactive for about 7 months and I can really feel the difference.

My main concerns are my joints, especially my knees. So I am working on strenghtening them. I noticed the strain on them after Friday's 40 minute walk. I iced them that night and they are better. I am being a little cautious at the beginning because I have a long term goal. However, I hope to be jogging some of each workout in February. I'm pretty sure I'll get there.

First Night Back at TaeKwondo!

TaeKwondo will be my cross-training activity during my half-marathon training. Wednesday night was my first night back. Class was small and that was good because I got personal attention. I haven't taken a class since June and I am rusty.


Thanks, Miss Jan! Jan was the other blackbelt student in class with me. She took time to refresh me on Taegeuk PalChang before class. It's the form we are learning this quarter. That refresher helped a lot.

We did some good core work at the beginning of class and I am feeling it today. Gotta give it up to the good old ABC sit ups!

Beginning training

Monday was my mile benchmark. Basically I was to walk/run a mile and time it so Coach would have an idea of where I am starting. Chris came to be my timer. We went out to Jenkins Middle School. They have a 1/4 track available to the public.


I did the prescribed warm up (about 15 minutes walking slowly) the dynamic warm ups (involved some high knees and butt-kickers) and some accelerations. Then I began my mile. I haven't been active (other than work) since June so I knew I would need to walk most of it. I walked the first lap (1/4 mile) in 4:55. I picked up the pace the second lap and finished in 4:33. The third lap I jogged a portion of one of the straightways and finished in 4:03. And the last lap I jogged most of both straightways and a bit at the end...finishing the last lap in 3:36. My total mile time was 17:08. The good part is that I kept increasing my speed and beat each lap by almost 30 seconds.


I could hear my cheerleader (Chris) cheering towards the end of every lap. It was good to have her out there.

My right hamstring felt a bit sore afterwards. So I iced up that night, in fact I strapped an ice pack to the back of both legs and slept that way. It felt so much better in the morning.

Tuesday's prescribed workout was a short 20 minute walk. I was grateful as I was still feeling soreness in my right hamstring. However, by the time I took my walk I wasn't feeling it anymore.

Tuesday was also my first night at the Recreation Center at UCCS (the University I'm attending). I must admit, I was self-conscious. It was full of 18 to early 20 year-olds, all buff and in good shape. I got more than one second-glance. Nonetheless, this is my gym now and I'm going to make it home and get to know these people and hopefully impart something into their lives.

Meeting with Coach

I met with Coach today. We talked in detail about the my benchmark test tomorrow. Chris has volunteered to be there and time me. I have been prescribed some walking and warm ups to get the blood flowing first. Then I'll give myself to a mile (in my shiny New Balance running shoes) and see how I do.

There are people who could train without a coach but I keep hearing this in my head: "Know what you want, Have a plan, HAVE A COACH, Take continuous action, Review your plan, Renew your goals, Ma'am!" These are the "Six Rules of Success" taught to students at A.L.L. TaeKwondo.

Running, though I know it is simple, is something I haven't done much and I have set a big goal for myself. It's important for me to know that someone who's been down this road before me is showing me where to go and the best way to get there.

It is begun!

I made my way to the Colorado Running Company at N. Tejon and Cache Le Poudre to buy some running shoes today. I met my coach, Nicole, there to buy some shoes. Chris joined me too in support of the big adventure I'm setting out on this year. My goal is to run the Disney World Half-Marathon next January.

To explain where I developed this interest we have to go back in time...just a bit. Towards the end of my training for Black Belt, to prepare for the fitness test, I began spending quite a bit of time on the treadmill; running a mile was part of the fitness test. To my surprise, I found I really enjoyed it. But it did not become a regular thing. I took on a part-time job in addition to my full-time job -- my goal being to pay off my debt and build some savings.

During this period of long days and little excercise I had a conversation with Jenny, a co-worker at Coleson Foods. In college, she trained and ran in the Los Angeles marathon. It was such a moving experience for her that it stuck with me after she told her story.

I began to think about the experience and wonder if I could ever do something like it. In August, during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics I was speaking with a friend, Nicole. She had trained at the same TaeKwondo school (dojang) as I. She had been competing in triathalons and was now coaching a team.

I tossed the idea of running a half-marathon out to her and to my surprise, she was completely supportive. I must admit, I thought anyone in their right mind would say "You? Are you kidding?" or the more kind version "What about walking a half-marathon?" In fact, she thought it would take little time for me to reach the level of a half-marathon.

That so intrigued me that I really gave it some thought. In a short time I had determined to do it. However, I knew, with my two-job schedule, that it would have to be postponed.

Well, NOT ANYMORE! I'm ready, willing and now shoe-ed!

I had fun today, having my foot-print and my jogging gate analyzed, being fitted in shoes and taking a couple jogs out the door, around the corner and back again (with Chris at my side in her flip flops).

I have a meeting on Sunday with Coach Nicole to arrange all the things that need arranging and then I will do a test mile on Monday, with Chris as my timer. Then I'm off and nothing can stop me!

So welcome to my blog. It'll primarily be a way to update my family and friends about my training but don't be suprised if the other aspects of my life float around in here too. This is going to be a great year and a great adventure. Come along with me, won't you?!

A digital representation of my feet. Notice my right arch is higher than my left. (Notice Chris in the reflection doing her duty as my personal photographer.)

My new shoes! They are red, black and silver. (Ooh...SHINY!)