tiffany's spot

I read the other day that the more things that make up our identity, the less stressful it is when any one thing is threatened. It got me thinking. I used to feel, and sometimes still do on an off-day, that I have nothing. No hobbies, no interests, nothing new, nothing to write home about. I thought about running, how I began running years ago as a weight loss tool, then ended up loving the training. Any time I'd extend my distance, or quicken my pace, I'd be over the moon about it. It was something cool that I did because I wanted to, and not because someone I knew did it. I ran my first half marathon. I was on cloud nine. I had been anxious and excited leading up to that time, and had trained like crazy. I'd run between 7 and 8 miles, several times a week and then longer runs on Saturdays. It began to feel like it wasn't even work. I felt great. My half marathon was awesome. I was more than happy with my time and I felt strong from mile one through the finish line. I...

Alright. I'm going to mention this once and then leave it, because I've got an entirely different blog for this topic because I know that people who randomly stumble across this one really really really want to hear about some SAHM's latest vow to lose weight. I'm totally vowing. I'm really only mentioning this because I want to put my ticker back on here. And before anybody says "Hey Chubby, wasn't that down to like, 16 pounds a month or so ago?" I'd just like to blame the rain that caused us to spend a fair amount of camping time holed up in our camper eating chips. Right. Ticker. Here's the deal. Oh yeah, and I ran the Treherne Run for the Hills 10K this last weekend, and as I pointed out on facebook, one should not assume that because a run in the "hills" is only six miles, that there won't really be that many hills. Apparently, they really can make a six mile loop hilly. I know. I was surprised too. I turned tha...

I've been meaning to post something about my father's day half marathon for weeks now, so here it is! I've always said I wanted to run a half someday , but in the last few years I've either been pregnant or I've recently had a baby, or I've simply chickened out. This past Christmas I told myself that this would be the year I did it, so I logged on to the Manitoba Marathon site and registered. It was still six months away, so I'd have lots of time to run and get ready. It sort of seemed a lifetime away, until it wasn't. I had full intentions of going to bed at 9:00 pm on the 18 th . A good night's sleep couldn't hurt, right? Well, I chatted on the phone for a while, did some dishes, and decided to go to bed. Then I remembered just one more thing I had to do. And another, and another. I ended up in bed around 11:30. This always happens. My alarm rang at 4:20. I leaped up and showered and dragged my poor family all out of their beds to accompany me...

My big run is in nine days. Nine. 9. I've seriously slacked off in the last couple of weeks (couple, few, it's all the same really). I think part of it has to do with a recent stressor that's resurfaced in my life. Those of you who know me in real life will know what I'm talking about. Those of you who don't, but are curious are welcome to email me and ask what the heck I'm talking about. I'll share. I've also gained back five of my hard-lost pounds and lost all control of my emotional eating habits. I can't help but think it's all related. Even though I know it's all emotional/stress eating I can't seem to bust out of it. Whatever. But I digress. Where was I? Oh yeah - slacking, less running, nine days until race day. All that being said, I ran twice this week and knocked off a cool nine miles each time. It felt good. I'm still mostly confident about the upcoming race. My goal is to run the entire thing and do it in 130 minutes. Or ...

I ran this morning. I didn't go at all this weekend, despite having a 10.8 mile route all mapped out. I woke up Saturday morning at 5:30 and I could hear the wind beating the rain against my bedroom window, and trying to rip the roof off my house and I decided to stay wrapped in my nice warm flannel comforter. When I got up at 7 my neck was sore. As the day progressed the pain intensified and extended from in and around my shoulder and up through the right side of my neck. It was the kind of neck pain that prevents head and shoulder movement, and requires that you turn your whole torso slightly when you need to turn and look at something. Steven massaged my shoulder and back before bed and I opted to turn off the alarm. Sunday - no run, again. This morning I decided to go, rain or shine, pain or no pain. Luckily, my neck and shoulder (although still sore) had regained a lot of range of movement so I sucked it up and went. I didn't do too badly - 7.3 miles in 78 minutes, with o...

I had a really good idea for a blog post, but I forget what it was. Either that or I'm lying. Guess you'll never know. Spring is here. I am so relieved to see the patches of snow and ice clear up more each day. Crescent "Lake" is more "Lake" and less glacier every day too. Would you believe that there are already ducks and geese swimming in that "lake"? Actually, the Canada geese have been kicking around here for weeks already - even before the water was back. Not sure how those things could get any dumber. Last summer I fantasized about punting them into the water on my morning walks. I think I may have mentioned it on facebook and started a days-long conversation with a couple of friends about it. Isn't it cute the way they hiss and beat their wings at you as you run by? No? Didn't think so. Apparently all I have to do is feed them loads of bread and they'll all cripple up and drown. I'm not really going to do that. Punting them ...

I walked 50.9 miles this week (Mon-Sun). I don't usually do that much, but last week was such a bust because of a stomach bug that I figured I was going to go over the top this week to make up for it. I really want to annihilate that ticker. Then I might try for five more, but I don't know. If I did that I'll weigh the least I've weighed since puberty hit. I have no idea how much I should actually aim for. I'm actually feeling pretty good in my clothes these days and I don't feel overly pressured to lose a bunch more, but it would be nice to find out what my actual ideal weight should be. Whatever. If you're wondering where my "Miles Walked" ticker went, it's at the bottom of this blog. I haven't been running enough lately. The last few weekends the track has been closed due to hockey tournaments, and I just don't feel all that excited about running on the ice outside. I have this thing about falling and injuring myself. Soon though, I...

Tonight I went to a new fitness class with my three sisters-in-law. It was kickboxing. Well, I think it will be. Today we did a warm up, and then some sets of push-ups, sit-ups, kicking, etc. and counted how many of each we could do in a minute. I'm guessing that we'll do it again on the last class. The class is twice a week for six weeks. I'm looking forward to changing up my routine somewhat. I had a plan to run four days a week. That's turned into one or two, depending on the week. I really don't want to run on the ice, in the dark, in the morning. I had fully intended to go to the indoor track at the PCU centre a couple of evenings a week, but most evenings I just don't feel like it, especially when I already do Zumba once a week, and then I feel a little guilty about ditching Steven multiple evenings on top of that. Zumba ends in two more sessions (tomorrow and next Wednesday), and I might drop in on Saturday mornings instead of Wednesday nights for a wh...

I was going to go over my last years resolutions and see how I had done. Turns out I made no resolutions. So I guess I passed then! This year, I'll make some. My grandma walked 1000 miles last year. I can run/walk that too! Last year I did 736.5 miles. There was one month I did 115, there were a few where I slacked. I'm going to run. And run and run and run. I'm signed up for the Mb Half Marathon. I have no idea how fast I should aim to do it, but I'm thinking that I'd like to do it in under 2.5 hours. If you're a half marathoner and have an opinion, be sure to let me know! I'll try not to kill any large birds on the highway, and to remember that no, they do not always move. I know it's all physical stuff right now, but that's what's on my mind these days, so there you have it.

I've always wanted run a half marathon. This last spring I was pregnant, so that was a beautiful excuse for not doing it. I'm a bit of a chicken. The year before that I thought about doing it, started running in the winter, and then slacked off near the end of winter. I told myself that I wouldn't be able to get ready for it in the amount of time I had left. The year before that - pregnant. This year I've decided to do it. For real. To stop myself from flip flopping on whether or not it's something I can actually manage to do without dying somewhere along the trail, and eventually deciding against it, I've signed up. That's right. I am now officially registered for the half marathon on father's day. Seriously, I know I can do it. I may have to have a few walk breaks, but I know that I can do it. In the fall I went on a few runs that were just over 6 miles in length, within months of having Elliot. I go to the gym and can run 6 miles in an hour, even wit...