FAMILY VACATION!!!

Sorry ya'll.. I haven't been posting much.. getting ready to go on our family vacation!  We are heading to the East Coast!  We are soo excited!  Two weeks of Atlantic Beaches, family, cook outs, bon fires, chatting, eating out.. and just being together as a family.  We CAN NOT wait!

I will take TONS of pictures!  And if blogger behaves.. I WILL be posting them!  It's a MAJOR heatwave here.. today it was 45°c with the humidity!  Craziness! 

Happy Summer!

Last Night's Run

All seems well with my knee.  It was a bit sore and stiff but I'm thinking that was from not running for a week.  Yup folks - I loose it THAT fast!  That is why I have to run ALL the time.. I will loose my endurance, lung capacity and pack on the weight in a blink of an eye.

Even today as I write this my knee does not hurt.  I still am going to buy a new pair of running shoes... but I think the rest did my knee well.

I've also decided that I am going to start using a 1/2 marathon training schedule.  I am starting to FREAK out that I won't be ready in time.  I still haven't found one that I like (or that I can even read for that matter!!  I find them soo confusing.. all the abbreviations..) I am a simple girl I tell ya!  I'll just jump in where the schedule is at 12k - that's STILL where I'm at... oh well.. its been a hot and busy summer.. and to top it off this whole knee thing.

I'll keep ya'll posted when I find one.....

Happy Running!

My non-dryer use Challenge

Our dryer died on Sunday, July 10th!  At first I panicked because we are a family of six and to keep up with laundry I do one or two loads EVERY night.. once the hydro rate drops after 9pm I pop the laundry in the dryer.. wait.. then pop in another and go to bed.

We are now day four without a dryer.. and I'm actually totally ok with it.  Actually I'm excited about it.  I can't believe I just wrote that!  Frankly I HATE.. HATE hanging little clothes on the line.. tiny socks, itty bitty underwear etc etc etc.  With four little ones its ALOT of little clothes to hang.  I totally don't mind hanging sheets, blankets, my husbands clothing or mine.. but the children's.. HATE!

But I am actually feeling really FREE at the moment!  Firstly I love the thought of not having to DEPEND on electricity for drying EVERY SINGLE piece of clothing.  AND the thought of having a decrease in my hydro bill is VERY exciting!  And motivating!  I started to think.. could I do this ALL year round though?  And actually it would be EASIER for me in the winter.  We heat our home with a combination of oil furnace but also with our wood stove.  Boy can our wood stove pump out the heat.  Friends that visit can attest to that.. you can be sure that withing minutes of being in our home.. children are whipping off tights, socks, sweaters and sometimes skirts and pants!  Adults however generally only shred a sweater ;)

So here is my challenge for myself... how long can I go without putting ONE SINGLE item in the dryer??

I don't know where this new drive has come from.. it really started with my running.  I really REALLY like to challenge myself, I like to feel like I am driven... so this non-dryer use challenge ... is... well.. fun!  And exciting!

Here are 10 Reasons to NOT use your clothes dryer:

1. You'll save money on electricity (or natural gas)
2. Your clothes will last longer
3. Your clothes won't shrink
4. You won't set stains
5. You'll save money by not replacing a worn out dryer
6. You'll have less fire risk
7. You won't need a humidifier 
8. You won't be heating your house more in the summer
9. You won't have to iron as much
10. You'll feel good about helping the planet

Keep watch of the weather for those sunny breezy days to hang a load or two... Until next time

Running Vacation ☺

OK.. OK.. I broke down and took some very good advice from a couple of my running friends!  I took a week off from running.  Last week I started to experience significant pain in my knee.  I'm very certain I need a new pair of running shoes.. and I will be buying a new pair.  I'm also thinking that it is WHERE I'm running.  My road is a gravel and so when it is graded they dump down HUGE rocks - which in turn is not very soft and cushy to run on.  I am also finding that because I am starting to really cover more kilometers on my runs I CAN NOT continue to run a slop or up one side and then back down the other.  I will need to be more diligent when I run and take note of these conditions.

Tonight I will be running, last Wed was my last time out.  We will see how I do.  I've been icing it and taking ibuprofen.  It is not swollen just swore.. all be it swore enough that I was having difficulty walking last week.

I will update you all after my run tonight.  Until then.. keep on keepin on! ☺

My Journey - thus far

My journey.. started back on Wednesday, May 5th.  I was asked to join a running group.... One year, fourteen months and and three days ago.. and I'm still running.  Why am I posting this?  I'm not fishing for kind words (although I am extremely humbled by them).  I am posting this to say this:

 If I can do this and I never ran before and you have the desire to loose weight, be healthy and have something that is just for you.. then you CAN do it.  Find the strength, it is in you.  When I don't think I can not run any longer.. I pray.  I ask God to give me the strength.  I ask God to help me be the person He designed me to be. 

**side note.. funny thing happened to me on my weekly run with my dear friend Alyson (www.proudtobeafitmom.blogspot.com).. she asked me if the running shirt I was wearing was new.. 'cause I looks slimmer in it.  The funny part.. was that it wasn't new.. but I shared with her that I was wearing the same running shirt this Canada Day run as I did my very first run back on Canada Day 2010.  This is what sparked the comparison image below!  I call it my 'sausage top'!!!  haaahhaa  why didn't anyone tell me I look like a stuffed sausage in that top??  Hey if you can't laugh at yourself.. who can you laugh at. 

Keep Running!  Keep Laughing!  Just keep on keeping on! ☺☺ 

My shoes are my problem.. for now...

I'm pretty sure I need a new pair of running shoes.  I am now running in my second pair of shoes.  Yup!  Two pairs of runners in one year.  Do you think that sounds like alot?  It may.. but did you know that there are many factors that can contribute to a person needing new shoes?  Here are those factors:

1. Depending how many miles/kilometers you are running you need to purchase new running shows at LEAST twice a year.  Yes sirree!  It is recommended that your shoes should be changed every 300-500 miles (that would be 483-805 kilometers)
2. Another way to gauge if you need new runners is how they are feeling.  Are you starting to have discomfort or pain when you run?  How do they feel on?  Are they rubbing in places that they never did before?  Are you starting to incur injuries?
3. How many months have you had them?  Some runners can last up to eight months while others may need to be replaced at four or six months.
4. Weight and your form can also be contributing factor as to how your shoes feel on your tootsies.  If you are a runner that is overweight and if you do not have the proper form these two factors can have a huge effect on where and how your running shoes are 'wearing'.  The weight thing you can not overcome at the moment.. you are out there running - and that is a good thing.. the weight WILL come off.  Your form however.. if you feel like you are flailing around while you run.. you probably are!  If you only want to run at night so no one can see you because you think you look silly... well it may just be your form.  Get help in that department!  Try to hook up with a local running group, seek advice from a knowledgeable running friend (if you have one) or even just research running videos on YouTube.

Those are the most common reasons why you may need a new pair of running shoes.

Now where do I fit in here... I am well into my 1/2 marathon training and I'd say I'm beginning to experience most of the above.  My left knee and upper thigh have started to give me some pain.  I've had the same pair of runners since January, so you have to understand that I ran in the cold cold winter.  I do believe that extreme heat and cold would have an effect on shoes.  I am still working at loosing weight, I am certain that my extra 20lbs pounding on those shoes are definitely starting to compromise them.  My weekly miles/kilometers are starting to accumulate.  My highest weeks have been 25km - now I know that is not that high.. but while I continue to train those weekly km's are only going to increase.  As far as my form, I have been told that my form is good.. although now that I am starting to feel quite a bit of discomfort in my shoes I am starting to overcompensate.

So the jury is out.. I am very certain that I need a new pair of running shoes.  As we are a family that chooses to live on one income.. that expense will have to wait for a bit.. but not too long because I don't want to sustain more injuries.  In the meantime I will continue to enjoy a couple of ibuprofens throughout the day and snuggle up to an icepack at night.

Happy Running folks!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Soo proud of my two oldest!  They wanted to run in the Canada Day race down by the water today.. and they did!  They ran awesome!  I am soo proud right now I am beside myself!  I don't have they official times.. but it doesn't matter.. they had fun doing it.. big smiles on their faces.. and maybe just maybe running will turn into their 'thing'

I ran as well.. 5k.. 27:23.  I'm ok with that time.. it's a pb (personal best).. but I really wanted to break 26:00 minutes.  But I look at it this way.. ONE year ago TODAY I ran this very race.. my first race.. and my time was 34:00.. it's been a lot of hard work this past year.. but well worth it!

Happy Canada Day!!