Week Three

Elena came home on Friday feeling so sick. We took her to the doctor right away and she tested positive for Influenza A, which is the cousin to the Swine Flu! Because we caught it within the first 48 hours, she was able to take Tamiflu to help her get through it faster. But, Michael caught it from her, and he got really sick. Then I caught it and got really sick. Then Joey, and Evelyn...and Kevin! We were all sick on Sunday and it lasted all week! So this whole week was spent either at the doctors office, or in bed. :(

Thoughts on London's Run

Emails I recieved:

Maurine,
Congratulations on this undertaking. I actually knew London of London's run. Her mom and I swam in highschool together and I was London's brother, Preston's first grade teacher. I have done the run and it's a great low key atmosphere. You will love it. Hang in there. Everyone has a different pace and approach.
Nichol

Hey Maurine!
I hope I"m still considered one of your "good friends" even though I'm not joining you physically on your quest to run that marathon. You know I support you 100% and will be there emotionally, mentally, etc. for you. I saw your blog and noticed you were now doing London's Run. Well, in my last ward in Mesa, the girl I visit taught was London's aunt. She told me all about London and she always does the marathon....of course. Anyway, that's awesome of you to choose that run because of the Sabbath day thing. You are a great example.
love you, Jenn

Week Three

Monday I had planned on hitting the gym hard and sticking with the training schedule I had found online, which called for Walking 2 min, Jogging 5 min 3 times in a row. But things just didnt go right at all that day! Right when I was on my way out the door to the gym, Joey had a blowout in his diaper that required bathing. So, I was late, but still I was going to go. But by the time I got Joey all cleaned up, Mikey was screaming to be fed. So, I fed him. But by the time he was done eating, it was lunch time for Joey. Anyways, the day just went on and on with things that kept me from going to the gym. Instead of accepting defeat, I embraced the change and did two Core workouts that I have on video at home! Take that!

Tuesday the training schedule called for 15 mins of cross training. My plan was to do that 50/50 class for 15 min, but as you can read below I KILLED all 60 mins of it! YEAH! Go Team Maurine! LOL (Sense the sarcasm?)

Wednesday, the training schedule called for walking 2 min, jogging 5 min, 3 times in a row. I have to say I really had to psych myself out for this. I knew from before that running 4 min straight was hard enough, and I wasnt sure if I could do it... BUT I DID! It was really hard, but I did it! I could tell that I had the wind to keep going too, but my SHIN SPLINTS were killer! That's what's hard to get over right now! Every night I ice them and rub them down. I'm told that they just get stronger with time, and I have to just keep pushing through this. We'll see. I was also told that to help strengthen them I should walk on my heels. So, I do that in the gym as well... (I'm sure that's fun to watch: a 200+ pound woman walking around the gym floor on her heels, trying not to fall over! LOL)

Thursday, the training schedule called for extra stretching and strengthening. I stretched really good, and then I hit the weights, working out my legs, back, biceps, triceps, and abs. It was good to not have cardio to do.

Friday, the training schedule called for walking 2 min, jogging 5 min, 3 times in a row again. I, for some reason had such a hard time completing the 5 min! I did it the first time, but the second I couldn't run past 3 min! It was my shins... they were just killing me!

Saturday, the training schedule called for the same thing again: walking 2 min, jogging 5 min, 3 times in a row. I was determined to hit 5 min each time! The first time I hit it, the second time I hit it. The third time I couldn't run past 4 min, but then I kept going and I did it a 4th time and hit the 5 min then! I was proud of myself for pushing myself a little harder. Afterwards, I stretched out and felt really good...like I could still do more.

Since I had a half hour left before I had to pick up Mikey from the child center, I decided to attend the Fitness Yoga class for the first time! I went straight up to the instructor and said, "Hi, I'm Maurine. This is my first time. I'm going to have to leave in half an hour to pick up my baby, but I'm going to do my best to keep up till then." She thanked me for letting her know. I got my mat and took off my shoes, and laid down and followed her directions as best as I could. It was so nice to meditate at the beginning of class and stretch. I was able to do most of the positions, but I could tell I'm really lacking in leg strength. I'd like to do this every Saturday!

Consensus at the end of Week Three: Moe Pain, Moe Gain! (thanks, Beth!)

A Slight Change Of Plans

So, after I sent out that Email To The World, a few of my friends responded that they'd love to run with me, but they couldn't because the race fell on a Sunday.

I had not even thought to consider what day the race fell on. I guess I just assumed that it fell on a Saturday. But when I learned it fell on a Sunday, I knew I couldnt run that race either.

I believe in God. That He is my Heavenly Father. And I believe that he trully gave us commandments to follow, the greatest of these commandments is to love Him. I believe that by following all the commandments (or trying to) I show my love to Him. I know that He commanded us to "Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy." I try to follow this commandment the best I can. With 4 little children who are full of energy every day, not just weekdays, resting on the Sabbath can be challenging. But, the Lord knows me, He knows my intent is good, and He knows as well as I do that I cannot perform a huge feat as running a race on the Sabbath day, and still consider myself as keeping it holy.

While I cannot run the PF Changs race, this doesnt mean I cannot accomplish my goal. I found another race called London's Run, named after a little girl named London who bravely fought Leukemia and died. This race benefits the Phoenix Children's Hospital in fighting this disease. Anyways, the best news of all is that it is definetly on a Saturday!

Not only have I changed what race I'm going to be in, but I also made another discovery. I found a training schedule for people like me to help them get ready for whatever kind of race they are running in London's Run. They offer a 2 mile, 10K, a 1/2 Marathon, and a Marathon. I looked at where I'm at physically, and compared that with the training schedule written by a professional, and given the time I have left, it's more realistic for me to run the 10K first. So, thats what Im planning on. My goal still is to run a marathon eventually. I think I'll run the 10K first, then work up to the 1/2 marathon, and then eventually the marathon .

The point here is that despite these obstacles that could've been good excuses to bail out, I'm not giving up on my dream. I may have to take smaller goals now, but they all lead to the bigger one in the end!

50/50

So today I decided to try the 50/50 class at my gym. This means 30 mins of cardio, 30 mins of weights. This was the first aerobics class I've taken since longer than I can remember.

So, I got there a little late because I forgot to check which studio it was in, and I while I was waiting outside Studio 1, they had already started in Studio 2. But I quickly figured that out, and went in. They had already started, and of course the only spot left in the room was right up front. Awesome.

They were all doing the Step aerobics with the benches and two risers. So, without even thinking I just grabbed what everyone else had and tried to join in. I quickly realized, however that I was having BIG TIME trouble with 2 risers. So I stopped and took them out to make just 1 riser. I couldnt even do that. So I took those risers out too, leaving just the bench on the ground. I gave it all I had in me... but even the instructor could see I was struggling, and she said (in the microphone so everyone could hear) "Why dont you just use the floor, no bench."

So there I was doing everything you're supposed to be doing in a Step Class... but without any steps. Awesome.

Finally, the cardio section was over and we went into weights. As if jumping up and down steps wasn't enough of a workout for the legs, the instructor started the weights portion with lunges and squats using weights. Awesome. I died.

Then we did biceps which was cool. I guess holding my four kids and diaper bags etc. has worked those puppies out enough to be able to keep up with the class.

Then, she had us do push ups, followed by triceps where you sit on the bench and lift yourself up and down using only your triceps. Um... I could NOT do it.... Thats lifting 200 plus pounds only with my triceps!! NOT POSSIBLE! But I tried. And that looked really funny, Im sure.

Finally it was time to stretch. She had them stand up on top of the benches and put their toes on the edge as they stretched their calves, without holding on to anything. Oh, I knew I would lose my balance and fall off and look even dumber..so instead I leaned up against the closest wall to stretch my calves out. That's when the instructor so lovingly pointed out (yes in the microphone) "We really try not to touch the walls, it just gets the mirrors all dirty." Oh good! More attention brought to the fatty on the side! Awesome.

If that didnt top it off... Later on, in the locker room, I saw someone I hadn't seen in a while. She stopped me and said, "I saw you in that class upstairs! Me and a bunch of girls were watching your through the window wondering what you were doing! LOL" I laughed too, and pretty much said I wasn't sure either, but it got my heart rate up!... I left as soon as I could get away from her, and thought about how I had an audience throughout that whole class. Awesome.

Despite all that, the first thought I had was, "I'm SO going back next week!" I have to prove to myself that I can do this class! I dont care how stupid I look. I'm not doing this for them. I'm doing this for me. I need this. And this whole experience is just one more thing I can add to my collection of Tacklin Fuel!