40 days

In 40 days I will be running my first... and probably last marathon.




Initially I was running for one person but now I am running for two. My daddy died 21 years ago next month and he died of a heart attack while jogging - I thought running a marathon to raise money for the American Heart Association was the best way to honor him, but over the past year and past few months my mawmaw has gotten worse and worse and I am running for her as well now. She has aortic stenosis (msp?) and its gotten to the point where she cant do anything for herself anymore - the woman who raised me and has always taken care of everyone else. I love this woman so much and want to honor her with my run also. Now I run in memory of my dad and honor of my mawmaw. I was worried last week that I wasn't training enough and wouldn't make it... but then my 15 miler happened Saturday and what got me through was thinking of them and how much raising this money means to me.



I want to do this to my shoes... I really do think this will help also!

My training hasn't been great, or enough at this point, but I will keep running and I will cross that finish line because I can, they cant run anymore, but I can run for them and I will. Even though this will be the hardest thing I ever do, I know my daddy will be with me every step of the way and my mawmaw will be waiting at home (Lord willing) to hear all about my finish.


If you feel so inclined to donate, please use the donation link in my toolbar on the right hand side of my blog!

15 mile run, hunting, and Christmas parties

My sis and I took this pic with her first deer and my girls and its by far my FAVORITE picture of that weekend. LOVES!

 

 

Wednesday night was the hubs Christmas party and we had fun but I guess didn't take pictures, it was right after work and we were in a hurry to get there... then Thurs morning I left early to head to the field to visit a few wells and then head to my field Christmas party that night - since I hadn't worked out all week Thursday when we got to the hotel I ran before I got ready for the party and got in a pretty 4 miles along the river by the hotel... it was nice to run again!!!

 

 

Then I got all dolled up and curled my hair and headed down to the party!

 

We have our party at the casino every year and so we had to take a pic by the million dollar wall... and my coworker is an Aggie so she wanted to make the Johnny football money sign....

 

this tree was in the lobby - so pretty!

 

 

Friday was my 9/80 off so I drove home and relaxed and caught up on DVR.... then Saturday I woke up early to get in my 15 mile training run... got a new PR on my half marathon!!

 

 

And almost didn't finish, but I did!!! About 3.5 miles in I wanted to quit, but I stuck it out and I am glad I did... I was texting the hubs and mom and sis and asking for prayers for the last 5 miles, but it got me through!

 

Does anyone else wear a HR monitor while running? I don't like the HUGE discrepancy in my calorie burn between my app and my HR monitor - anyone else have this issue??? Thoughts?? Comments??

 

This weekend is supposed to be my 16 miler, so here's to hoping I can swing it! Although it feels much more attainable now that I hit 15!!

 

After my run, I met some friends at the ballet and saw The Nutcracker - LOVED it! It was a lot of fun!

 

 

Saturday the hubs got this beast! He is beautiful and had a lot of meat so I cant wait to get it back from the processor!  Elk burgers is all I can think about!!!!

 

 

 

 

Holidays and Marathon Training

The holidays are a busy time for all of us, but its important to make time for fitness and healthy eating.

I have been failing miserably at the fitness part, but have been doing well considering for the eating part - lots of meals on the road and parties, but I am taking things one meal at a time and being good when I can, and if I have a meal that's bad, I dust myself off and keep going and get right back into it. In the past I would like one meal de-rail and entire day, or even week for that matter so I know I am growing and improving, and that's all I can ask for.

My marathon training has been non existent, had one short 3 mile run last week and nothing yet this week. Today is the hubs work Christmas party after work so I am going to try to get in a workout before/after it, but today may be a wash. Tomorrow is my field work Christmas party (4 hours away) and I am going to try again tomorrow but who knows. Friday is my 9/80 off and the hubs is going to be gone all weekend so I plan on getting in a 15 miler either Friday or Saturday and KILLING it. Its not going to be easy, but it needs to be done! I have 53 days til my marathon! 53!!!!


I need the following runs each week coming up to be able to survive this thing:
5 miles and 15 miles this week
4, 7, and 18 miles
5, 8, and 16 miles
8, 5, and 20 miles
5, 8, and 15 miles
5, 8, and 9 miles
3, 5, and 8 miles
3 and 3 miles


FEB 2nd- MARATHON!


I know I have a lot going on, but I need to get these runs in - so its no more excuses time!

Workout Wednesday: T25 Challenge

Monday I started a 10 week challenge with Karri @ Babe Before Baby where I will be doing T25 in addition to my marathon training.

I have 110 days left in my 20's and I want to maximize that time to get in the best shape I can before I hit my 30s! My goal is to drop 20lbs, but more than a number on a scale I want to be toned and healthy. I am hoping adding in a workout that's quick (25 minutes 5 days a week) and keeping up with my training will help with that. PLUS running a marathon around 20lbs lighter would make it easier... so that's the goal!

My workout plan for the week:
Monday- 3 mile run and T25
Tuesday- T25
Wednesday - 4 mile run and T25
Thursday- T25
Friday- 15 mile run
Saturday- REST
Sunday- T25

I had a migraine Monday after work so I am going to have to get in that T25 another night this week.

T25 is no joke yall - its 25 minutes of non stop work. Last night I did the first disk - cardio, its running, jumping rope, mountain climbers, jump squats, and jump lunges- no breaks, 25 minutes of GO GO GO! I did it and for a first time doing it I was pretty happy with how I was able to keep up.

I also got in my before pictures and measurements last night... and I did NOT like what I saw. Its time for a change and I am hoping this along with carb cycling is JUST what I need.

Thanksgiving Update

We spent Thanksgiving in New Orleans with my family... and as always it was a blast, this year was even more exciting because my cousin Laura announced that she is pregnant!!!! We are very excited for the start of another generation of cousins in our family... every year we take a cousins picture:

 

Just the guys:

 

 

A silly pic, I was supposed to be doing the L in the "B Im From Louisiana" song, but it looks like a gun:

And a girls pic:

 

 

 

I slaved over a hot stove for an hour heating these up - the twice baked potatoes were amazing - and I resisted the mac and cheese because I ate so much potatoes.... 

we sent a few holiday snap chats:

 

and then had some serious time to reflect on the year... 

 

me and my love!

 

 

 

my mawmaw, I suspect that will be her last thanksgiving... it makes me sad, but I am glad she was able to celebrate this one with us!

 

 

Since I carbo loaded Thursday at lunch, and my cousin had a planned 17 mile training run that evening, I decided I should run since I had a running buddy AND my new 13.1 Brady Bands headband to display (they are having a sale today you should go check them out - I LOVE LOVE their bands!). I was on schedule for a 12 miler last week, so that's what I did - I know my app only says 11.6, but my cousin and I ran the same path and his map my run said 12 - I am going with that! He then went on to run another 5 - I died in an ice bath... it was 36 degrees! I have never run in that cold of weather before, but getting to run around City Park was beautiful! It was hard and I wanted to quit a few times, but I powered through... and rewarded myself with more potatoes that night! :)

Friday was the LSU Arkansas game, which was a much better game than I was hoping for, but we won and had a good time, so that's whats important!

Saturday we drove the trailer up to the property so it would be ready to go for my sisters visit this coming weekend after her finals... we also refilled all the feeders and did some work on the property and I drove the trailer for the first time ever! It was scary at first, but all highway so not bad!

Sunday night was our first Christmas party of the year and I learned how to East Coast Swing!!! They had two dance instructors and after eating I decided I should move a bit to burn some calories... it was pretty fun!

We had a busy few days, but it was fun! Tomorrow I plan to talk about my new challenge and plans for the 111 days left til I turn 30!!!!

 

Thanksgiving- A Time to Give Thanks

Normally I am the biggest black Friday shopper you will meet - a couple years ago they moved it from zero dark thirty on Friday to late Thursday night and I still participated... this year I will not be participating - don't get me wrong I love deals, but what I don't like is that now this has been pushed up to dinner time on Thanksgiving day, this holiday is a time to be thankful for what we have and spend it with the ones we love, not go out shopping for what we want causing other people to have to work instead of getting to spend the day with their loved ones. I LOVE a great deal, but I also feel the stores are taking this too far.

This Thanksgiving weekend I will be spending it with my loved ones who I am the MOST thankful for. I love all my family and friends but there are a few who I know I would become a depressed miserable wreck if I didn't have in my life - they keep me stable and sane, I know its wrong to have favorites, but I am only human:

My heart belongs to this man, who while I was sick all week this week from the LSU game has taken care of me including making me homemade chicken noodle soup:

My best friend and baby sister - she keeps me young and fun:

This woman is such an amazing woman who practically raised me and I hate that she is struggling health wise and keeps getting worse, I hate knowing that my future babies will probably not get to know her and experience what a wonderful woman she is:

My mom who had to raise 3 kids on her own:

My brother and crazy cousins that are always entertaining at family gatherings... and Mardi Gras!

 

My chosen family members (aka friends):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last, but not least my fluffy babies:

 

I hope you get to spend this holidays with the ones you love and are thankful for!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Weekend Update- no running

 

Friday night the hubs took me out for a date night, it was AMAZING... we had planned to go to Morton's because I have a gift card from a work Christmas party from 4 years ago- that's right... 4 years... and we were going to use that, well even though it was cold and rainy - they were booked with reservations, so we walked down the road and ate at Americas restaurant, which was a first for both of us, but very yummy. I got the filet and the hubs got the swordfish - Mine was better than his but his wasn't bad either... it was delish! I may have helped him eat a little bread pudding for dessert too. It was a carb day- don't judge! :)

 

 

Saturday was "free day" and LSU vs A&M - which was cold, rainy, and I am really glad we won because I was freezing and I was dealing with a sore throat last week that's now worse and I am all kinds of congested. Yay for being sick.

 

After the game my sissy met up with us at Texas Roadhouse for dinner... we are always serious when we are together.... always!

I miss her like crazy and hate that she is in New Orleans forever away, but luckily I get to see her again Wednesday night!

No 12 miler this weekend due to the game being at 2:30 and us leaving Houston Saturday morning and me getting sick at the game and Sunday it still being cold and rainy - no point in making myself worse!