Distance: 3.5 miles
Duration: 42.2
Playlist: RockMyRun/Zombies, Run!

In my last post I mentioned that I found a new lap app. Well, here is my review of it today.

I dropped Hayden off at preschool and went to the Healthy Living Center for my run. Yes, Penny cried when I left her again. There were treadmills open however for some reason I wanted to run on the track again. Weird.

Anyway I opened the Tap-A-Lap App. The opening screen lets you pick how many miles you want to run and how many laps are to your mile. 3.5 miles for me today. I wanted to push myself. That and I heard someone say on Tuesday that their workout was 5 miles and I was a little jealous. I want to run 5 miles like it is nothing. Someday.

It is very easy to use this app. When you complete 1 lap, tap the giant green Lap button. The app magically tracks all the cools stats of your run. I love the stats, hate trying to figure them out. To the right is a screen shot from the middle of my run.

Old School Counting

I think I like it because way back when I first started running, before the iPhones and all the apps, if I were to run on a track I would have to use an old school lap counter to keep track. This is exactly the same thing, but I get all of this cool stats with it. And for someone who is trying to improve their running, like me, this app is great. And it links to RunKeeper, which is a great plus too!

What is this lap lacking? I wish it would talk to me and tell me how many laps I have left. I know I can glance down and see very easily where I am, but sometimes I like the voices in my head. Sometimes. If it does do this I haven’t found it yet. It also is missing a history section, but I guess that is why they provide the link to RunKepper.

As I mentioned above I did like the fact that it links to RunKeeper but the app lost my connection and I had to manually update it this time. I was scared but luckily the app emailed my stats to me. I relinked it so hopefully it was just a one time fluke. I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

All in all, I think it is worth the 99cents. There is a free version if you want to try it out before spending the big bucks, but you can’t tell the app how many miles you want to run. It only allows for 1 mile. I started with the free one then upgraded. I will be using it again. Run Mom Run!

Next app review: Zombies, Run!

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 35.35
Playlist: Cool List/Zombies, Run!

Today I dropped Hayden off at preschool and decided that I needed to go for a run. So I took Miss Penny and we went to the YMCA Healthy Living Center. I did my normal routine, park, check in, go to child watch, sign in & explain to staff that she is getting over a bad diaper rash. Poor girl. I then go to hand her off to staff and she wont let go. She grabs my shirt with both little hands and locks her feet around me and cries. Ohhhhh…

This is the hardest part about the gym. Leaving my girls when I hear them cry. I had so much trouble leaving Hayden 3 years ago. She would cry the whole time and staff would have to come get me. And I didn’t trust people with my first born. Did you? I was looking for someone to take the time with me & understand that I was a first time mom and that both my daughter & I needed help adjusting. It was hard for both of us. After all, I was a stay at home mom and we were together all the time. Like, all the time.

After many attempts and a wonderful child care staff at the Northwest YMCA we learned to adjust and the separation became good for us. I firmly believe that it was easier for Hayden to start preschool activities (Good Time Gang at age 2) because we practice and the staff helped her. And me.

Then it happened again. When I left the child watch today after Penny clinging to me crying, the feelings all came back up on how hard it is to leave your kids.

The treadmills were full upstairs, which was good because I ran on the track for the first time. EVER. I started out walking a lap to warm up and all I could think about was if Penny was ok. All I could focus on was her crying at looking at me with those eyes. She can get anything with those eyes. Crap, that was one lap. Blerg! I have to count laps. My memory sucks. I started to run (jog) lap 2 and then had a brillant idea. Ta Dah! I have my iPhone. I will buy a lap app. I found a great one, I’ll tell you about later. 

So my laps are easier to track, now back to Penny. Maybe I should just go get her. I don’t want her to hate me. But wait. Remember Hayden? Remember how hard it was for her? All kids go through it. Heck I should do it with no problem since I did it once before. I told myself it was good for her. She needed to be away from me. It will be better for her in the long run.

Then it hit me. Like I ran into the track wall. Crap, hit the lap button. This is good for ME. I need this more than she does. Will tells me all the time. Number one priority is my health. Then the kids. Then school work (just 3 more classes left!). Then work. Then the house. I have wrote about it before but why is it so hard to remember to put myself above the kids? Why do we do that? Why do I do that?

So, like I said earlier. Starting over. Time to remember who comes first. Cause if mommma ain’t happy, nobody happy. Run Mom Run! Hit the lap button!

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 40:45
Avg Speed: 13:34
Playlist: Rock My Run

Well, I promised myself that I would post after every run and I have failed that. According to the site my last run was on December 5th. When I look through Run Keeper I have racked up 40 miles since then. Wow. 40 miles? Seems cool when I put it that way. So today I am starting over. Not in just blogging, but in running.

I have not ran since March 2nd. Since then I have been sick with sinus infections then twisted by back so bad it sent me to my knees in tears. Thanks to the chiropractor, and the meds from the doctor I believe I am finally on the mend. So, I can run again. But I’m so slow, but I need to run.

Slow is right. I did an interval run today. 5 min warmup & cool down along with 2 min run and 1 min walk. it was a great way to start again. But when I look at the time I feel so slow. But, one mile at a time right? Yes. And boy did it feel great!

It has been a busy week and I’m not sure how I was still smiling without running. My work plate is full, Penny is walking, Hayden is taking less naps, my mom is here while doing radiation, I feel like the house needs a good cleaning & it is so nice out I just want to take the kids and play outside all the time. AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!

I almost went to the gym being chilly outside but less travel time means more time for me. And boy it was great. There was wind, it was chilly, but running outside is just so different. So pleasant. So . . . whats the word?

I am running again and back to blogging. I have so much I want to talk about. This morning I used run keeper, a new arm band to hold my iPhone, Hot Pants and Rock My Run. As we run together this summer I will tell you my thoughts on all these and running related items. And I welcome your comments to see what you think too.

Here we go! Again. Run Mom Run!

Just wanted to post a workout I found from Pinterest. It’s a challenging one, at least it was for me. Come to find out I was suppose to have an incline of 2. I think I should complete the whole run first.

Happy Running!

In 2007 my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She is still battling with it today. Earlier this year my grandmother was diagnosed with pancerias cancer. She passed away in September. Both of these women mean so much to me. And cancer has changed them. It has changed me.

Anyone can develop cancer. In the US, men have slightly less than a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer; for women, the risk is a little more than 1 in 3. About 1,596,670 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2011. In 2011, about 571,950 Americans are expected to die of cancer, more than 1,500 people a day. A day.

I can’t cure cancer. Not that smart. But I can do my part. Will you help me? I have signed up to run in the 2012 Rock & Roll half Marathon. Running a half is on my bucket list so I thought why not complete this and help the American Cancer Society at the same time. They’re funding and conducting research to find cures, and they’re rallying communities to join them in fighting back.

If you make a donation of $150 or more, I will wear a ribbon in memory or honor of someone of your choosing. The ribbon will be yours after the run. Any donation will help.

We can’t bring back those we have lost. We can do something in their honor. We can help those who are still with us, fighting cancer every day. We can give them more birthdays. My Grandmother should have had another birthday. Many more birthdays.

All cancers suck. I will run for those who can’t. Cheer for me, support me, support the more than 1 million new cancer victims. Run Mom Run.

Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 22:44
Avg Speed: 11:22
Miles to Date: 41.27
Playlist: MotionTraxx: High Voltage v3

It was an easy run yesterday. I was starting my ActivTrax workout and I didn’t want to use all my energy right off the bat. ActivTrax was new to me and I’ll talk about that later as I want to tell you about my new motivation. BTW: I am really sore today after that workout.

According to my workout plan I was to warm up with cardio for at least 20 minutes. Of course I chose the treadmill, but as mentioned, I didn’t know what to expect for my weight lifting portion so I took it easy. I ran 10 min at 5.0, 10 min at 5.5, then ran at 6.0 to get me to 2 miles. I had to stop on an even number.

While on the treadmill I was flipping through my new issue of Runner’s World Magazine. I’m not one of those talented people who can read and run. I just read the big print & skim for what I want to read later.  I was looking for a specific article that was mentioned on the front of the magazine. “52 ways . . . get motivated . . . ” (did you know that it has been proven that if you have a title or a subject line that includes numbers more people will read it? Yep. It worked on me too.)

So as I am running and browsing I found the article. Be More Consistent. Yes please! How do I do that?

“Start with a reasonable goal. Develop a plan. Then record your workout and progress. If that doesn’t work find a buddy, announce it to the world.”

Ok, so I got this blog in which I log and talk about every time I run. I can see how little I run/blog. Is that motivating me? Kinda, but not enough. Do I have a goal in mind? Well, I’d like to be at pre-Hayden weight, to run a 5k every month and a half marathon. What’s the plan? Run more. Dur. Ok, Runner’s World. What else do you got for me?

“If all else fails, for every mile you run reward yourself with $1 toward a trip or something you desire.”

Hmmmm. Not a bad idea. Money. I love money. I love gifts for me even more. But getting anything one dollar at a time is gonna take awhile. So will reaching my goals. The hardest step for a runner is always the first one out the door. Ok, lets try this little money motivation and see if it works. What do I have to lose? Weight.

I got home and found a mason jar (so I could see all the dollars inside), made a motivation tag, tied it on with a pretty red ribbon and put in on my desk, next to my monitor so I could see it every day.  A dollar is still a dollar, a mile is still a mile, and they all add up the same. If I want them to add up quicker, then I run more. Sounds easy, right?

So, is a reasonable goal 100 miles (I really mean $100)? I have a heart rate monitor on my wish list. Lets see how quick I can get it. Stick around – see if I can do it. Who’s going to join me?

Maybe I should just ask Santa.

“Whether is is a 14 minute mile or a 7 minute mile IT IS STILL A MILE!” Run Mom Run.

Distance: 3.1 miles
Duration: 32:15
Avg Speed: 10:24
Miles to Date: 39.27
Playlist: MotionTraxx: Big Time v2

Gobble Gobble.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I have spent the past 23 days posting on Facebook what I am thankful for. Thinking about it each day has really opened my eyes. I have so much to be thankful for.

Family and friends are so important to me and I have been blessed with amazing healthy girls, a wonderful husband and family who never gives up on me. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work from home to raise my girls. Some days I question that blessing. I have a wonderful business partner who wants to succeed as much as I do. I could go on and on and tell you everything I am thankful for, but when I really think about it, I am most thankful for all my past blunders. I can’t call them mistakes, because given the chance I would do them all again, exactly the same – as every move I have every made as led me to where I am today. I love where I am today.

I want to go back and thank all of those people who got me here. Even the mean ones. The art teacher who introduced me to my first Mac; the friends who got me through high school, the boy who I followed to college; the job I had at college that made me more outgoing; the roommate who slept with my boyfriend; the friend who joined the Navy whom I followed to San Diego; the boy who cheated on me with a girl who was dressed in the same Halloween costume as me (not a good excuse); the girl I moved to Waterloo with; the bar-tending job I got there; the boy I met there and went to Florida with; my grandmother for bringing me home from that crazy train; the aunt & uncle who let me live with them while working at the Y; the boss I had at the Y who thought I should go into Graphic Design; the friends I met at the Y who introduced me to the man I would marry.

Looking back on all of that I remember sitting in my room when I was a teenager praying for something different. When my heart got broken, when friends betrayed me, when I was lost – all i wanted was something different. I thought  was getting the short end of the stick. It was so not fair.

But it was. There is always sunshine after the rain. Be willing to put up with the storms and the tides for the beauty after can’t be explained. But be ware, the tides never end, storms will still come. Just remember to hang in there and remain thankful. I love where I am today. Run Mom Run.

Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 31:00
Avg Speed: 10:20
Miles to Date: 22.17
Playlist: MotionTraxx: Globe-Trotting

Wow. I really pushed myself today. It felt great. I like watching my time on the treadmill. I can see how long I have been running and how far I have gone. Therefore I can push myself. I was even on a treadmill that had a tv but I still watched that number. I can’t stop till I hit 3 miles.

I want to be able to run a 5k in under 30 minutes. However I just looked at the race results for the last run I did, Run for the Roses, and the fastest women time was 17:01. Wow. She is fast. However she is only 20. Of course she is fast. If I ran at 20, I would have been fast too. Well faster than I am now. then as I look even further a 40 year old completed it in 20:58 and got 4th place.

So, I need to change my goal to be even faster, but not yet. Let me reach this goal first. One step at a time right? I have many running goals, but the first one is a 5k in under 30. And to have it happen more than just once. Run Mom Run.

Do you have any running goals?