Diet, Increasing Mileage and more family adventures

The idea of running 13 miles when it was 8 months away seemed completely reasonable. The idea of running 13 miles now that it is just 6 months a way is starting to feel a bit scary and challenging.

I have been working hard at taking weight off slowly while revolutionizing my lifestyle and diet habits. It is going very well! It is now becoming a habit and normal to make the sensible choices and don't get me wrong I still eat all the "bad" foods and eat what I want, just in smaller portions. I don't do the "oh well, I cheated now I can eat the whole pizza and whole cake that leftover bag of chips and a bottle of wine. Now if I want cake I have one bite, if I want chips, I have a small handful, If I want a cheeseburger,I have one without the bun. The weight is slowly coming off just like it slowly went on.


On the running front, I know I have to increase my mileage slowly and have been trying to get in three runs a week and two swims and the other days I want to strength train or bike. I once again have found that increasing my mileage like so many other aspects of running is about training my body yes, but that comes naturally if I do the three runs a week. It is in fact more of a mental war against myself and the I can't do its. I find myself constantly making these crazy statements to myslef and then having to prove myself wrong. For example, I have to run first thing in the morning, because I am too tired at the end of the day. Well, no, I am mentally tired, but my body can do it, so I give myself the choice, if I can't wake up it means I am running later in the day. I just go and do it.

I have also found myself saying I can't run that much it is too far or I can't run a hilly course, I just can't. Well, last weekend I ran my first 4 mile race and this past weeeknd I ran my first 4.8 mile race with hills! I did it, I finished dead last, with grandpa passing me in the final stretch, but I finished, check me out, dead last:

 452  60/60   F4049 Janet Sweeney        46 F North Falmouth, MA  1:04:27 13:24
453  40/41   F3039 Sara Coady Howe      30 F Milford, MA         1:04:27 13:24
454  76/76   M4049 Bill Connell         41 M Falmouth, MA        1:04:52 13:30
455  15/17   M6069 Harvey Ko            65 M Elliott, MD         1:05:27 13:37
456  16/17   M6069 Chris Polloni        66 M N. Falmouth, MA     1:05:27 13:37
457  17/17   M6069 Rob Grey             65 M Cambridge, MA       1:06:43 13:53
458  41/41   F3039 Amanda Gonzales      36 F Marblehead, MA      1:08:00 14:09

Ok, I lied three grandpas edged me out, sigh.  That's ok, grandpa,
I will take that
one for the grandpa team.

I have been following the Jeff Galloway book and according
to the plan, I have to
increase my mileage every weekend.  I have found that
if I find a race to do that
helps me
increase and build in a family adventure, it helps
 me to accomplish this
daunting task.
Fellow teammates and new friends Caliin and Josh
 invited me to do the Falmouth race and
I could not decide until 9:30pm the night before,
 I was terrified.  How can a big old
Heffalump run 4.8 miles???  I felt like I was doing
 a trust fall blindly when I said ok
let's do it.  Luckily I am blessed to have a wonderful
 husband and family who like me love
to take on adventures and travel in a heartbeats decision.
So, at 6:30 am we were off driving to
Falmouth.

The race was amazing, so may supporters and families
 were out on the road cheering the
runners on, handing out water, spraying us with hoses,
 it was amazing and I did it.
Afterwards we spent the most incredible and relaxing day
with Caliin and Josh and
their beautiful family at the beach.  What an amazing
 adventure!  It never would have
happened if I had not embarked on this journey.  Thanks
 Caliin and Josh for a fantastic
and inspirational day!

I am now searching for new family adventures wrapped
around a race with increasing
mileage for the weekends.  I think this weekend will
be a journey to RI to visit
my old stomping grounds in Narraganset after a race.
Nik is usually more agreeable if the
their is lobster and beer at the end of the adventure for him.

Duh, of course for all of you who know me well and are
wondering of course i am trying to
make a race happen in Disney on a weekend before January.

So come run with me, if I can do it, you can do it!!! 
It's all in the state of mind!

Insecurity and humiiation

Ok, so I like doing races. They are a challenge, an excitement. It is fun to scope out a race on cool runnings and make it happen. I have to say though once I get there I am a ball of nerves and insecurity.

I AM THE FAT CHICK!!!!!
Everyone there is sculpted and formed, muscles ripling, doing funky warm ups and exercises and then there is me, the Heffalump eating hay before the race. People look at me and quickly look away avoiding eye contact.

I know that once the race starts I will be the last one.

As hard as it is for me to swallow it is ok because I am the last one running the race, not the last one thinking about it or almost signing up for it, but I am doing it.

Ok, I sound brave, but really I am ashamed, embaresed and humiliated. I use those feelings though to go on.

Today was tough, I was of course the last one, all alone, but I did it. I ran a four mile race today. I DID IT! Alone, but I did it. It hurt, but I did it. I was slow, but I did it.

I feel good, still insecure, but proud. I am on my way. Three races under my belt, and I am enjoying them.

It is still not getting easier but that has to change at some point.

Come on everyone come run with me, if I can do it anyone can!!!

Success depends on a fellows will for its all in the state of mind......

Oh the Places You'll Go

It is funny because I always thought of this as my personal journey, but it is actually my families journey as well. My son is now getting into running and wants to run with me. I did my second 5K this weekend in Ipswich at this beautiful farm called Appleton Farms. It was a gorgeous day!
The course wound through a path in the farm by orchards, cows and horses.

It was a tough race for me due to many hills and the heat. I did it though and it felt great. Afterwards, Gabe ran in his first race. A 1/4 mile kids race where he came in fourth and won a medal. Did I win a medal? No. Anyway, I never thought that I would insprie him to run and race, but now he has picked up this interest. Ironic, while I have been spending hundreds of dollars the past several years, having him try karate classes, and swimming and soccer and on and on and he loves running!

Afterwards we enjoyed a beautiful farm in Ipswich and went strawberry picking and had a delicious lobster dinner. Would we have gone to Ipswich or this farm had I not done this race? Probably not. Running and this journey is starting to take my family to some amazing places. It is exciting and adventurous for all of us.

We went away on Sunday so no workouts this week. I am supposed to have running class tonight, but I am hearing the rumbling of thunder so not sure if that will happen. I am hoping to do a track workout with the North Shore Striders a running group I have joined tomorrow night. Every Thursday they do a track workout with a coach and a long run on Sundays.

I am also hoping to do a 4 mile race in Swampscott on Saturday.

I need to purchase a garmin if you see any good sales, let me know.

The weather has been making running tough, it rains every day.

That is my update for now. I am still doing weight watchers as well.

I Did It! My first 5K.

I was so nervous yesterday, I mean nervous. This was it. This was real. I was going to put myself out there as a registered runner, knowing that most 60 year old runners would be faster than me. Knowing that most runners would be thinner than me. In better shape than me. However, I did not think many would be more motivated than me. I packed my family in the car and headed out on a beautiful evening up to a gorgeous park in Beverly. I am so happy we discovered this park, right on the water with a walkway around Beverly waters, an amazing playground, beach, beach volleyball, wide open fields and an ice cream shop. We wil go back. The kids were happy playing while I went to register.

I must have looked clueless and like I might vomit because a kind organizer asked me if this was my first race. I told her it was and she was supportive and made me relax a bit. She even came over to me later and took down my name and address and told me that if she had any shirts leftover she would mail me one since it was my first race.

I was meeting my All Ears teamates Calin and Josh for and their adorable kids for the first time. Calin was runnig with me and although I am sure she could have blown me away, she was very kind and ran at my pace. It was so fun getting to know them and I am excited to race with them, run with them and hang out again. THANKS CALIN!

I forgot, the number for my first race was 163. No medal, but that is ok, I had a number.

We stared out in a mob and soon enough relaxed into a good slow jog. Calin was comfortable to talk and jog and that made me at ease. I often had to wait a breath or two to get the words out, but it was relaxing to have a friend to talk with while running. At mile 1 they gave us water, and I thought I could run and drink at the same time, nope. That apparently is another skill you have to train for. At mile two we were at 27 minutes, I thought that was a pretty good pace for me. Around 2.5 I was starting to feel it, this was the fastest I had run before and there were some inclines we were dealing with, I lost my ability to chat at that point except for a few Shrek Donkey references of are we there yet?

I was hoping Boom Boom Pow with Michelle and Mike would come on my shuffle about then, but I couldn't find it. Although I got my fave song to run to right as we were rounding the corner to the finish The Heart Brings you back by Blues Traveler. We finished at 42 minutes and some change and it felt AWESOME! I was tired and felt like I pushed myself.

The atmosphere at the races makes you push yourself, and I think that is a huge benefit of doing them. I am excited to do my next one. I feel tired today but got in a strong swim this am 40 laps freestyle and 15 kicking. I am not too sore though, just tired.

I did not get to refuel last night because we did not leave the park at about 8:15pm and that menat that the kids dinner had consisted of the post race snacks of cookies, chips, juice, ice cream and posicles, hmm have to plan better for that the next race. I was too tired to cook when we got home, so dinner was baked tostitos chips and salsa.

I am going to figure out a schedule of races to do and post them. I am asking people if they want to help me fundraise to fight breast cancer to donate $5 everytime I finish a race.

I will definetely feel nervous, but more confident at the next race, I keep thinking about where I started mid April when I could not run for 5 minutes straight.

If you think you can you will for it's all in the state of mind.
#263

Forward Progress

Success!
Finally, I feel like I am making forward progress! I credit most of my success to all of the wonderful friends who have been following my progress and supporting me with kind words and helpful advice. My team mates from Team All Ears have aso been a wonderful source of support and advice. I feel very lucky to not feel isolated and alone on this tough personal journey. Thank you everone!!!

Weight Watchers was a great decision. Thank you Gael and Diane and Tara for suggesting that and inviting me to meetings. I never realized the food mistakes I was making before I started to track what I was really eating and how many points were assigned to what I was eating. I have lost 6 pounds in two weeks on weightwatchers and I have not been as faithful as I should be, so that shows that this is a good plan and it is working. What I like the most is that I can eat whatever I want, I just have to keep track and be accountable. In the past, I would think nothing of having five spoonfuls of the kids mac and cheese and then eating a full takeout dinner with Nik. Wow, what a big mistake that was!

I can feel my body changing and feel lighter in my step. I have now lost 18 pounds overall. I feel like summer is a great time to start this because of all of the fresh fruit and veggies and the accessibility to the grill.

I have also discovered baked tostitos chips, which makes me feel like I am not missing out on anything.

Exercising is going well. I am not improving as fast as I would like in my running speed and ease, but I am also taking it very slowly, so I do not injure myself. I have discovered that I love swimming, what a fantastic workout. I am in need of a road bike so that is on my list of things to acquire. I woud like to complete a mini Triathalon by the end of the summer, 1/2 mile swim, 3 mile run and 15-25 mile bike ride. I am going to run as many races as I can this summer and will work toward the Tufts 10K in the fall.

For my 1/2 marathon and training I am rasing money for the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast cancer is a serious disease that is affecting as many as 1 in 4 women. Please consider donating to this fund. If breast cancer has touched your life in any way or if you fear it might, please consider donating. I will be sending a new donation sheet out soon, but I am hoping to inspire people to donate to the breast cancer cause through my running, training and journey to become healthier.

Consider this, I am running my first 5K tonight, if I can do it, will you consider donating $5 toward fighting breast cancer?
If I can complete a triathalon would you consider donating $10?
If I lose 25 pounds, would you consider donating $5?

A very good friend of mine is battling ths disease right now and she is in my thoughts and in my heart everyday that I train. K if you are reading this, I hope you know that you are part of my inspiration.

Please Help me raise money to fight this disease. I am on a running team, you can read more about the team here. http://allears.net/pluto/teamallears.htm.

The Avon Foundation is distinguished from most other donors that fund a single institution or scientific investigator by supporting a virtual national network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations, each of which is making a unique contribution to helping patients or advancing breast cancer research. The Avon Foundation awards funding in breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research, including prevention and therapeutic vaccine studies.

Checks should be made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and should be mailed to:
Deb Wills, 3520 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite F03-105, Fredrick, MD 21704 Please to be sure to write Team All Ears Amanda Gonzales on the check in the notes. If it is easier, you can give me a check and I will bulk mail them as I receive them.You can also contribute online by clicking below or visiting
http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/DebWills Please be sure to put All Ears, Amanda Gonzales after your donation.

Thanks everyone, I will keep you posted on how the 5K went! Thanks again for all of your support!

All Signs Point to 5am

I love to sleep, I love to sleep as late as I can, I love the reward of a glass of wine or two at the end of a loooong day of being a mom and chauveur to four children. My husband has to leave for work at 6:15 am, grrrrrr. As the CEO of this household. Job description: Raise, love and nurture four children, teach them the self help skills and wisdom they need to make it in life and grow up to be the thoughtful, intelligent, successful, caring, polite, savy and respectful individuals that they are destined to become.

Love and support my husband and be an interesting and attractive partner.
Clean, shop, maintain a house.
Feed and cook for a family of six.
Pay the bills budget and manage the finances
Run a successful Disney travel agency business.
Take care of the two cats.
Stay in shape and eat well.
Keep in touch with friends.
Train for a 1/2 marathon, rain money for breast cancer.
Shuttle my kids, to baby playgroups, baseball, soccer, swimming, gymnastic, ballet, speech therapy, OT therapy, PT therapy, horseback riding, camps, playdates, school, homework, projects, interesting activities desiged to create geniouses.
Lead a girl scout troop of 29 girls.
Manage the needs of my autistic son, including his therapies, reading about all of the latest research, and treatments, meet periodically with his team of six doctors, individually of course
Be a caring friend, and daughter.

So I think all of that deserves a glass of wne at the end of the day. However in the midst of suceeding at all of the above, I need to fit in workouts and train and since I am not a night person, nighttime workouts are not a viable option.

ALL SIGNS POINT TO A 5am wakup for training runs four times a week. Ugh. I hate running on the treadmill, I hate running with the jogging stroller. Therefore my only window other than on weekends when my husband is not working is to wake up at 5 am and go for a run.

This honestly seems harder than all of the above, but I am committed and must do it, so I will start tomorrow or Monday whenever the alarm beeps first. Any advice on how to muster the strength to do this????

This is my next goal!

IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT YOU DON"T, IT's ALL IN THE STATE OFMIND, Wish me luck!

Setting Goals

Wow, I have decided that the end of the year is much crazier than the holidays. We have been double and triple booked most days with end of the year activities and I must say it has been a struggle to squeeze in workouts. Last week was a rough week, but the good news is that I joined weight watchers, got yet another pair of new sneaker and got new inserts from align.

I am finding weight watchers easy in the day and harder at night but am not finding the time to write down everything that I eat.

I have found that goal setting is really working for me. I have a goal to run the neck without stopping, I came close this past Sunday, I was able to run up the first five inclines without stopping. I also have set a goal to be able to swim a mile freestyle. Freestyle has been very difficult for me so far. I swam 10 laps today and felt really proud. You have to believe in yourself to set a goal and accomplish it and you have to push yourself to accomplish it and most of all you have to dream to achieve your end goals and believe in yourself and your dreams

I have learned these past seven weeks that so much of this fitness training is a mental war. If you believe in yourself and set a goal and don't quit in your mind, your body will rise to the occasion and accomplish your goals. If you are negative and tell yourself you can't do that, you will quit.

It reminds me of one of my fave Mark Twain poems

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but don’t think you can,
It’s almost certain you won’t
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost
For out in the world you’ll find Success begins with a fellows will;
It’s all in a state of mind
For many a game is lost,
Before even a play is run,And many a coward fails
Before even his work has begun
Think big and your deeds will grow;
Think small and you’ll fall behind Think that you can and you will;
It’s all in a state of mind
Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins Is the fellow who thinks he can!