Early morning - coffee Please!
Out of the car - oh what a breeze.
Whats ahead, I do not know.
T-shirts on - its time to go!
Down the hill, we're in the pack
Round the bend, we are on track!
The smells are clean after the rain
The mood is right, i feel no pain.
People cheer that i do not know.
It makes me feel the urge to "GO!"
Omg, what i have i done!
This endless hill is so no fun!
In my calves i feel the burn
In my head i must be stern.
At the top i again can breathe
A small down turn in just a tease.
The next rise is a steady slope
and we no longer use an imaginary rope
We rise back above the trees,
A desire to quit felt in my knees.
But A desire to run felt in my heart
we are that much farther from the start.
The second half, we know whats up
OMG, Mary threw her cup. (LITER!)
Its time again, we mentally prepare.
The hill is close, pull back your hair.
We see the rise, I say RUN! lol
Come on Mary, It will be Fun!
She is such a sport, we stomped it out,
Very little did she actually pout!
One small goal we had to find,
Two girls in front, make them behind.
Half way up that final stretch,
Those two girls we did catch.
Before we know we see the end
Just around the final bend.
"Eye of the tiger" to motivate
Pickup the speed, who wants to wait.
Ten more feet, nine, eight, seven, five
Inches away, i feel so alive!
There's my BABY! Waiting at the line!
The camera flashes, The moment is MINE!
We finished, we finished, we finished,
we finished, we finished, we finished!!!!!!
The adrenaline's pumping, i can't believe
This massive first we just achieved
46 minutes, it went so fast,
I"m cloud nine, i hope it lasts.
Mary's encouragement to do this thing
Has turned in to fulfilling a dream!
I can't believe what we have done!
and I never knew it would be fun!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
5 k...from Mary
I woke up very early Saturday and got ready...went to pick up my BFF and running buddy Jamie. She was thinking about us and our empty tummies and had made some light breakfast for us. We then headed over to Shorter, not really knowing where to go. We did know they would have signs so we weren't too worried about it. I had butterflies in my stomach already. Now..our first 5k we chose to do is at Shorter University, which is a very hill-y campus. We knew (well I thought we knew) what we were getting into. This was also for a charity, which is another reason we are doing the 5K's..our way to get fit while giving back a little. This one was..Jogging for Justice. The fight against sexual abuse. I also didn't think about the fact that the race was at Shorter so we would probably be walking/running with a bunch of college kids. Honestly, I wasn't thinking about ANYONE else who may be there or how they would do or how we would compare. I was simply thinking about 2 things...starting and finishing.
Once we are there, we go check in and get our shirts and bags and bring them back to my car so we can put our race shirts on and put our bags away. We also had some time to take some pictures and stretch. In the meantime, Jamie see's someone she knows so we chat with her for a few. She started races last year and trained for the Berry 1/2 marathon and just ran that last month. Jamie and I are running this next March. As the race is about 3 minutes from starting, we chat with the same girl and her friend, which Jamie also knows. They quickly inform us, after finding out that this is our first 5k, that this is a TOUGH one. They told us that after this, other one's would seem easy b/c it is so hill-y. I was now really getting nervous.
On your mark, get set...GO!!!! Jamie and I both had a REALLY good start. We were walking/running about every minute. I think a couple of times we probably went over a minute running. The first part of the race was also mostly downhill. Once we got to the MAJOR hill that we could not see before the race, I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest! We had just finished our minute or so run right before going up the hill. It was H A R D. We made it though..I caught my breathe...Jamie talked me through it while I whined like a baby! We make it back to the start line and have one more lap to go. Ok, I am thinking to myself, I can do this...just one more time. Again, the first half was easier..it's all downhill or level ground. We hit the hill again and Jamie wanted us to try running up the hill...I think I did about halfway and then had to force myself up the other half. I do say this, Jamie was my CHEERLEADER. I was the WHINY brat. That is how it is when we work out. I motivate and get us TO the gym...and she get's us THROUGH the work out.
From this point, I remember Jamie singing "Eye of the Tiger" and seeing the finish line in sight. I knew we were going to break our personal goal..we had been checking our time. Now, I don't know if this is good or not, but I think with this being our very first 5k and with all the hills we had to encounter...I feel VERY good about our time. We finished in 46 minutes!
A lot of people finished before us. I think one guy had to finish in like 20 minutes. I was inspired with his fitness. We aren't there and may never get to THAT point. But next time...we have a time to beat, our time, 46 minutes!! I could not have done this without Jamie. I also want to give a shout out to Keenun for giving me lots of advice and praises!
I am excited about our next 5k...which is about 3 weeks away! We have Relay for Life in less than 2 weeks. I am pumped for our next 11 races!!!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
INJURY
As I stated earlier, we made up our minds to make some BIG changes in 2011. I had already signed up for Health Quest and was about a week in, but had not made any "plans" yet. At the same time, I reconnected with an old friend that I had not talked to in 13 years! She also has a blog and I started reading it. She was now into fitness, health, clean foods...and HALF MARATHONS! I was impressed. I started chatting with her about walking/running and she somehow managed to get me to commit to a HALF MARATHON in Oct. 2011. Ironically, this was ALWAYS a personal goal of mine, but one I did not think I could ever achieve. I cannot run, it HURTS! I still have my doubts, but I also have this voice in my head saying, but what if you CAN do it Mary...how awesome would you feel crossing that finish line??
I made up my mind. I am going to have a goal...October and in the meantime I am going to train and find 5k's. AS many as possible. One each month. I talked over my plan with Jamie and it was like 2 minutes later and she was on board with me. We are both sceptical about Oct, but we are also ALL FOR IT.
I made up my mind. I am going to have a goal...October and in the meantime I am going to train and find 5k's. AS many as possible. One each month. I talked over my plan with Jamie and it was like 2 minutes later and she was on board with me. We are both sceptical about Oct, but we are also ALL FOR IT.
I started walking and then started working on ratio's. I had to start my ratio's at 30:30. Mind you, I am OUT of shape. I have not been active and exercising. I went from 0 to 100. I walked and walked and did my ratio's for over a week and then one day I got on treadmill at home. I had warmed up pretty good and started my first ratio and then came some screaming pain! My legs were killing me. I had to quit. I didn't know what was wrong. The very next day, I went to the gym and walked and started my ratio's again, Jamie was with me. I was STILL in pain...and trying to push through. After about 30 minutes, I stopped and went and stretched REALLY good. I had not been stretching. Mistake #1. Always, Always, Always stretch before and AFTER you walk/run. The next day, I went again, but this time stretched and WALKED 2.5 miles. I was still in pain and knew I needed to chill and rest my body...let my legs heal or I would NEVER be able to do my 5k, which was only 2 weeks away. I let my body rest from Friday-Wednesday. I stretched and iced my legs all weekend. I was sore just from walking, squatting to pick up my kids toys, anything I did all weekend. My body hurt. I realized I started SO fast and my body was telling me. Mentally, this was so hard for me. I had plans to go walk/run all weekend. I was so angry b/c I did not want to stop. I had made up my mind that this is what I was going to do, but I couldn't.
Happy to report however, that on that Wednesday when I worked out again...I was BETTER! My legs felt good. I walked and did my ratio's, finishing at over 3 miles and I felt GOOD. I was back and I could now continue on my journey. I wouldn't be letting Jamie down now either. That was another issue I had...she was ready to go and I had to slow down.
This is the week of the 5k now and I am still feeling good. Jamie and I worked out last night, did our ratio's and had a pretty good work-out. Tonight, we are meeting again to walk..fast walking. Friday we are resting our body to prepare for our 5k on Saturday. I am excited and happy to be better, but have learned some lessons in the meantime. STRETCH and STRETCH some more and PACE yourself. Do not push through an injury. Take time off until you are not in pain anymore b/c it only get's worse. Don't give up. Be Patient. I have to say these things over and over to myself. Lesson learned for me!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Renewal
Fresh Start...
I have had many up's and down's physically in my life thus far. I have been active to semi active to none at all! Exercising had always been a part of my life since I can remember. I always have felt better when I was exercising. Not only physically, but mentally as well. It's a "renewal" of the body, mind & spirit. I believe everyone should exercise to the point that they are physically able. I am only in charge of myself and this year, I have made a commitment to RENEW myself. Being a busy, working mom to 3 kids, I often put myself on the back burner while I am taking care of everyone else. This year, I am making some changes and although I will still take care of my family, I am making myself important as well. I am making time for myself and not letting anything get in my way. That has been a huge challenge since becoming a mom. I always felt guilty when I would leave the kids to do anything (besides working and even that I felt guilty when they were babies!!). I was very blessed to have a flexible job when they were babies that allowed me to be with them as well. In 2009 I started a new job that required me to be there 8-5 Mon-Fri, which was a big change for me. However, my very first day of work was my youngest son's very first day of Kindergarten. All 3 kids were in school now so it all fit together. However, with the first year of working, getting home late...homework, dinner, baths, etc. I never had time to fit anything else in my schedule. I had NO "ME" time. I was ok with that, but of course it would have been nice. In 2010, my work partnered with the YMCA and started "HEALTH QUEST". I decided I would sign up and try to make some changes....
Making friends...
After I started my job..well 4 months after, I started talking to a girl named Jamie. Funny, her desk was pretty close to mine, but for 4 months, we just mainly said "hi" and "bye" to each other. We had one thing in common..we both smoked. So..we started talking when we would go outside to smoke. I liked her, she seemed very nice, very honest. We started Health Quest together. She went and weighed in (as were supposed to) every Wednesday. I think I did, maybe 4 times!! I lost 8 pounds and then I pretty much quit. HOWEVER, I made a decision to focus my HEALTHQUEST 2010 in a different direction. I QUIT SMOKING. I had been an on again/off again smoker for years. I am VERY proud to say that April 3, 2010..I QUIT FOR GOOD. It was not an easy task. I focused last year to making sure I did not cave. I went through a lot of changes...a lot of MOOD swings. I went from talking to some of my NC family on the phone every day to hardly at all. I had to do that to make changes. Talking on the phone went along w/ smoking. Some people thought I was so mad at them, it wasn't that...at all. I just had to pull through this. I had to beat any cravings. Several months later..a dear co-worker was diagnosed with lung cancer. That was another eye opener that I did the right thing. 2010 was all about kicking the habit...now 2011 is all about getting FIT and HEALTHY!! Jamie was with me all the way on this. She has also kicked the habit. SO PROUD OF HER! She has also signed on for Health Quest 2011 and we are on a team together. We have make a pact to not only get fit and healthy, but in the meantime to participate in a 5k EVERY month for the rest of the year...I could NOT do this without her. She pushes me when I want to give up and I push her when she wants to not work out...haha! We have had some challenges along the way...even though it has been a short time. We started so fast and dedicated that we had some injuries...will talk about that more later on...
Our FIRST 5k is this Saturday and I am SO excited. I am SO not worried about our time or if we walk the whole thing. I am just so excited that we have made up our minds to make some healthy changes and we are sticking with it. This blog will help with that as well...and we can post about our journey along the way. No matter what, I am just so thankful I have Jamie by my side through this. I have made an awesome friend in the process! :)))
by Mary
I have had many up's and down's physically in my life thus far. I have been active to semi active to none at all! Exercising had always been a part of my life since I can remember. I always have felt better when I was exercising. Not only physically, but mentally as well. It's a "renewal" of the body, mind & spirit. I believe everyone should exercise to the point that they are physically able. I am only in charge of myself and this year, I have made a commitment to RENEW myself. Being a busy, working mom to 3 kids, I often put myself on the back burner while I am taking care of everyone else. This year, I am making some changes and although I will still take care of my family, I am making myself important as well. I am making time for myself and not letting anything get in my way. That has been a huge challenge since becoming a mom. I always felt guilty when I would leave the kids to do anything (besides working and even that I felt guilty when they were babies!!). I was very blessed to have a flexible job when they were babies that allowed me to be with them as well. In 2009 I started a new job that required me to be there 8-5 Mon-Fri, which was a big change for me. However, my very first day of work was my youngest son's very first day of Kindergarten. All 3 kids were in school now so it all fit together. However, with the first year of working, getting home late...homework, dinner, baths, etc. I never had time to fit anything else in my schedule. I had NO "ME" time. I was ok with that, but of course it would have been nice. In 2010, my work partnered with the YMCA and started "HEALTH QUEST". I decided I would sign up and try to make some changes....
Making friends...
After I started my job..well 4 months after, I started talking to a girl named Jamie. Funny, her desk was pretty close to mine, but for 4 months, we just mainly said "hi" and "bye" to each other. We had one thing in common..we both smoked. So..we started talking when we would go outside to smoke. I liked her, she seemed very nice, very honest. We started Health Quest together. She went and weighed in (as were supposed to) every Wednesday. I think I did, maybe 4 times!! I lost 8 pounds and then I pretty much quit. HOWEVER, I made a decision to focus my HEALTHQUEST 2010 in a different direction. I QUIT SMOKING. I had been an on again/off again smoker for years. I am VERY proud to say that April 3, 2010..I QUIT FOR GOOD. It was not an easy task. I focused last year to making sure I did not cave. I went through a lot of changes...a lot of MOOD swings. I went from talking to some of my NC family on the phone every day to hardly at all. I had to do that to make changes. Talking on the phone went along w/ smoking. Some people thought I was so mad at them, it wasn't that...at all. I just had to pull through this. I had to beat any cravings. Several months later..a dear co-worker was diagnosed with lung cancer. That was another eye opener that I did the right thing. 2010 was all about kicking the habit...now 2011 is all about getting FIT and HEALTHY!! Jamie was with me all the way on this. She has also kicked the habit. SO PROUD OF HER! She has also signed on for Health Quest 2011 and we are on a team together. We have make a pact to not only get fit and healthy, but in the meantime to participate in a 5k EVERY month for the rest of the year...I could NOT do this without her. She pushes me when I want to give up and I push her when she wants to not work out...haha! We have had some challenges along the way...even though it has been a short time. We started so fast and dedicated that we had some injuries...will talk about that more later on...
Our FIRST 5k is this Saturday and I am SO excited. I am SO not worried about our time or if we walk the whole thing. I am just so excited that we have made up our minds to make some healthy changes and we are sticking with it. This blog will help with that as well...and we can post about our journey along the way. No matter what, I am just so thankful I have Jamie by my side through this. I have made an awesome friend in the process! :)))
by Mary
The Beginning
The Intro...
This is for me. This is for Mary. This is for the love of life, for our family and our friends. We have the desire to change our lives and our living habits. And to change your mind IS to change your life. For a year, starting April 2011, we are committing to running/walking/doing a 5k every month. Life is about achieving goals, living outside of your box and committing to the things that matter most (ie, being on this planet for your loved ones as long as you can). The Year of the 5k is about achieving better heath while accomplishing a much desired goal with a friend you can rely on. I love you Mary!
The Eyeopener...
In October of 2010 a very dear friend and co-worker was diagnosed with cancer. Mr. Terry Cordle. He was a long time smoker and one Monday when I asked him to come outside to smoke with me, he said "I quit smoking this weekend. Something inside of me said 'Terry you need to give this up, NOW'" and he did. I was so proud of him! Proud that he was doing something i couldn't yet do. A few weeks later something was wrong, no one was exactly sure what, but something was definitely wrong. By early October it was confirmed that there was a spot on his lungs... CANCER. Even so, doctors were very hopeful "This is small we can get this". Treatment after treatment, still we had hope. Now there is no more treatment and very little hope. I love you Terry!
The Push...
In January of 2011, Rome, Ga YMCA and Floyd county hospital (and others) came together to do the 2nd Annual Health Quest. Last year my results were less than awesome. Questing for health is something you have to commit to and desire or you will end up living two lives. One for the quest and one for you. This year, with or without weight loss, I am committing to the change. The desire to improve my life, my health and my ability to keep promises to myself. I have already quit smoking and been cigarette free since January. This year I will truly Quest for health. But slow is the road to change. Keep your chin up!
The Relay...
As everyone knows, there is a foundation called Relay for Life. It helps to raise money for the American Cancer Society. In March of 2011, the Rome News-Tribune started a team. Terry's Barristas: Terry loves his coffee! Obviously this is something i want to do, am doing, and will do from here on out. This years Rome, Ga relay is on April 29th, from 5pm - 7am. This relay is always all night because cancer never sleeps. So for day, neither can we. Me and Mary are scheduled for the 9:30-11:30 and then work the booth from 11:30 -1:30 and then maybe some more walking! : )
The Result...
So you ask where all this is going.... Mary mentioned to her facebook family about walking in the relay and one of her long time friends mentioned that she might also do a race with her in Atlanta in October. Mary mentions this to me, we start talking about the reality of it. And the reality is that if are even going to think of doing a 1/2 marathon we are going to have to commit to some extremely hard work. After a good bit of advice from others one thing kept coming up. Do a 5K first. Which then turned into "Do a 5k" every month. So we are going to commit to the 5ks, commit to the relay for life, become extreme health questers and change our lives!
The Start...
After a good bit of walking and jogging, a few injuries on both sides..... ready or not our first 5k is in 4 days! Saturday, April 16th we will be Jogging for Justice at Shorter College in Rome, GA! We may end walking the entire thing and come in last place, but we are going to do this. These days life is and should be all about accountability. So with you and this blog, we are hoping it will help us be accountable. Accountable for achieving our 5ks.
So join us on our journey to lifes greatest and hardest accomplishment. GOOD HEALTH! It should be hard, fun and enlightening!
Good health to you all!
by Jamie
This is for me. This is for Mary. This is for the love of life, for our family and our friends. We have the desire to change our lives and our living habits. And to change your mind IS to change your life. For a year, starting April 2011, we are committing to running/walking/doing a 5k every month. Life is about achieving goals, living outside of your box and committing to the things that matter most (ie, being on this planet for your loved ones as long as you can). The Year of the 5k is about achieving better heath while accomplishing a much desired goal with a friend you can rely on. I love you Mary!
The Eyeopener...
In October of 2010 a very dear friend and co-worker was diagnosed with cancer. Mr. Terry Cordle. He was a long time smoker and one Monday when I asked him to come outside to smoke with me, he said "I quit smoking this weekend. Something inside of me said 'Terry you need to give this up, NOW'" and he did. I was so proud of him! Proud that he was doing something i couldn't yet do. A few weeks later something was wrong, no one was exactly sure what, but something was definitely wrong. By early October it was confirmed that there was a spot on his lungs... CANCER. Even so, doctors were very hopeful "This is small we can get this". Treatment after treatment, still we had hope. Now there is no more treatment and very little hope. I love you Terry!
The Push...
In January of 2011, Rome, Ga YMCA and Floyd county hospital (and others) came together to do the 2nd Annual Health Quest. Last year my results were less than awesome. Questing for health is something you have to commit to and desire or you will end up living two lives. One for the quest and one for you. This year, with or without weight loss, I am committing to the change. The desire to improve my life, my health and my ability to keep promises to myself. I have already quit smoking and been cigarette free since January. This year I will truly Quest for health. But slow is the road to change. Keep your chin up!
The Relay...
As everyone knows, there is a foundation called Relay for Life. It helps to raise money for the American Cancer Society. In March of 2011, the Rome News-Tribune started a team. Terry's Barristas: Terry loves his coffee! Obviously this is something i want to do, am doing, and will do from here on out. This years Rome, Ga relay is on April 29th, from 5pm - 7am. This relay is always all night because cancer never sleeps. So for day, neither can we. Me and Mary are scheduled for the 9:30-11:30 and then work the booth from 11:30 -1:30 and then maybe some more walking! : )
The Result...
So you ask where all this is going.... Mary mentioned to her facebook family about walking in the relay and one of her long time friends mentioned that she might also do a race with her in Atlanta in October. Mary mentions this to me, we start talking about the reality of it. And the reality is that if are even going to think of doing a 1/2 marathon we are going to have to commit to some extremely hard work. After a good bit of advice from others one thing kept coming up. Do a 5K first. Which then turned into "Do a 5k" every month. So we are going to commit to the 5ks, commit to the relay for life, become extreme health questers and change our lives!
The Start...
After a good bit of walking and jogging, a few injuries on both sides..... ready or not our first 5k is in 4 days! Saturday, April 16th we will be Jogging for Justice at Shorter College in Rome, GA! We may end walking the entire thing and come in last place, but we are going to do this. These days life is and should be all about accountability. So with you and this blog, we are hoping it will help us be accountable. Accountable for achieving our 5ks.
So join us on our journey to lifes greatest and hardest accomplishment. GOOD HEALTH! It should be hard, fun and enlightening!
Good health to you all!
by Jamie
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