Arlington National Cemetery

When I was a junior in high school, my parents gave me a generous gift in sending me to Washington, D.C. with my high school. It was a grand adventure & I am afraid that I probably didn’t appreciate exactly what it took for me to be there at that time. I had fun but I think I thought more about socializing than monuments.

A few memories stand out:

• We happened to run into Senator Kennedy behind the Capitol building. We said hello and smiled, and he proceeded to ignore us. I know he was busy & sick of the limelight but he seemed to me to be a snob.
• We were able to tour the inside of the Capital rotunda and the artwork & architecture was stunning.
• One evening we went to the mall to see the Vietnam Memorial. It was brand new, maybe not even officially open, and there were protestors. I didn’t really understand what the protests were about but I remember that they were there.
• The program that we went with decided that visiting Arlington National Cemetery wasn’t a required thing for a student trip to Washington. What??? Our eleventh-grade social studies teacher helped us climb over the fence and we walked through the cemetery at about 7 a.m. It was a sobering sight – rows upon rows of white crosses in perfect lines. It was the most sacred, meaningful time of the whole trip.

Motivation and Action

Isn’t interesting how you start a project (like losing weight) and are excited & enthusiastic & full of hope & promise? It is so easy to make good choices & even lifestyle changes – for a little while. About two weeks in, I suddenly burned out on preparing fruits & vegetables all day long. Fast food seemed like the easy button. Diet Coke sounded a lot tastier than water. I thought that I was doing something wrong.

I asked my trainer for ideas – I told him that I’m just not feeling it. He asked me, “What’s changed? Are you stressed? tired? what’s different?” Oh yeah… the kids were back from scout camp & the 50-miler. Scott was back to work. Chris started his Spanish class @ tech. My days were suddenly not my own. I took a nap. I took a rest day (sort of – after a killer personal training workout). I just followed the eating plan without thinking too much. (It helps that the diet & the working out are working!)

The good news is that I really like to exercise. Gretchen Rubin (a blogger who frequently writes about happiness) said, “Regular exercise ‘improves your mood, decreases anxiety, improves sleep, improves resilience in the face of stress and raises self-esteem.’ It also offsets the effects of aging. In fact, in some studies, the effect of exercise was equal to that of drugs or psychotherapy.” I am all in favor of happiness & better sleep & good moods.

OK, I think I am rambling. The whole point is that I don’t have to feel like it to do it. I guess that’s one of the lessons that I’ve learned from being an adult. I might not feel like cooking dinner, but if I don’t do it, the kids will have cereal or PBN (peanut butter & nutella). I might not feel like making my bed, but it is too close to the front door to neglect. I might not feel like going to boot camp at 5 a.m. but I made a commitment to be there this month & so I go. I might not feel like exercising on Saturdays (the other days are pretty easy) but when I do, I feel so much better!

We watched the movie “Marathon Man” about Dean Karnases who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. The pictures & the music & the words were put together very well. It inspired me to be more of a runner. (Being inspired & being fast are not connected in my world yet.) There was a quote by a random guy in the show, “The only way I lose today is if I don’t have the courage to come out & try.”

Yesterday, I decided to have courage & go try another 5K. It had been a long time since I had run on pavement (other than laps around the building at 5 a.m.). The temperatures were steamy at 8:30 a.m. I left my headphones at home (even worse than the heat!). But the course was beautiful (Furman University). I ran & finished Maggie’s Run in 36:50. It was as difficult to run as the half marathon I completed back in March, but I still felt like I had accomplished something great as I drove away.

 

 

a Food sATurated world

When I was growing up, I was a bean pole. People asked me if I was anorexic all the time. Fast forward thirty years & no one asks me that any more. (ahem) My neck & shoulders hurt all the time – and losing weight will take some strain & stress off of the region. So I have enrolled in boot camp, upped my cardio, and taken on DJ’s diet of death. (Just kidding – but it is Spartan.)

Every day that I drove around town last week, all I saw were fast food places and restaurants. Nothing really called to me, but convenience was trying to draw me back. My diet has consisted of lots & lots of fresh fruits & vegetables, lean protein (chicken & tilapia) , a little brown rice & oatmeal. These are great foods, but salads & vegetables take time to prepare. I know that I will get used to this new way of life, but it is taking a while.

On the days that I go spinning (cycling class), I need to increase my caloric intake. I was HUNGRY!  I am starting to learn what hunger feels like. I have eaten a variety of fruits & vegetables – and wish that my family would join me in my healthier eating because the refrigerator is overflowing with produce. We will certainly save money by not going out to eat as often.

I have increased my trips to the gym – and the number of naps that I take!!! I did four spinning classes last week; one was self-taught & just as hard as the rest. I went to boot camp at 5 a.m. for two days. I am certain that I thought about going to yoga or Pilates a few times but didn’t do it. I even turned the treadmill on at 9:45 on Saturday night because I still owed my body 55” of cardio. I haven’t had a Diet Coke for over a week & I haven’t really missed it. I have downed A LOT of water – I carry around a Gatorade lip lid bottle & nurse it all day long. I am starting to feel like I am healthier & have more energy. I like it.

I really appreciate having someone to be accountable to. It is working – I am losing weight successfully for the first time in a really long time & I am so excited! I love the “this is easy” feeling. I remember having it before & taking it for granted. I want it to stay this time.

Honorary Award (for now) Marathon Maniacs

             

Scott has a passion for running! He wanted to run a marathon as a life goal – and I think the Boston Marathon was even part of that dream. He started training two years ago in June 2008 – he could not run a mile but kept trying & now he can run & run & run.

To be an official Marathon Maniac, one must run a certain combination of races in a certain number of days, months, etc. Scott ran three full marathons (26.2 miles) in two months!

• Spinx Marathon – 3:37:17.
• SunTrust National Marathon – 3:21:44. Boston Qualifier!
• February 21st - Myrtle Beach Marathon (canceled to “snow” – he ran anyway) – no official time
• March 6th – Snickers Marathon in Albany, Georgia – 3:28:00.
• April 19th – Boston Marathon – 3:42:17.

One of the best part of racing is running with friends. We have both been inspired by other runners. These pictures include some of our running friends.

Baseball Champions

   

Ryan plays on a Dixie Youth baseball team. They were able to win the championship against a great team coached by his former coaches. Now they are going into the All-Star season & he is thrilled to continue playing.

It was all fun & games until … it will all fun & games!

     

We parked at a friend’s house & walked to a nearby beach. The way that the beaches are kept private is by not allowing street parking. No shoulders – nada! Even though it was a Saturday morning – there were very few people on the beach!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day weekend was spent with family & friends enjoying sunny (& sometimes not-so-sunny) Florida.  We had a great time!!! We drove down Friday morning, saw NO TRAFFIC (red letter day for sure), and spent the afternoon at the beach. Nice. We spent the next day at the beach & then had grilled kabobs. (Note to self – must do kabobs! I am squeamish around raw meat so the kids will have to do the threading. They taste SO GOOD though!) Sunday - church was nice & then we went to The Lake House. It is so peaceful, lovely, and quiet that you just must relax! We had barbecue chicken from the Dutch oven that was super moist & tender. We played dominoes. I swear that I always lose – but not tonight!

Monday morning we had pancakes, freshly picked blackberries (yum!), and then went out on the boat. Launch time? 10:46. Crash time? 10:48. #Chris’ braces & #Ryan’s forehead made serious contact. My rule for when we need stitches is if I can stick my finger in it (not that I ever do). This definitely qualified. We hurried (sort of) to the nearest town with a hospital. It was REALLY REALLY yucky! We waited 15” at the window to check in & were not acknowledged. We asked around for another option & were given the name of a walk-in clinic that was OPEN. We still had to wait a really really long time, but Ryan ended up with glue instead of stitches. Chris will have to get his wire fixed – and his lip will have to heal (the hole is all the way through!).

THE Boston Marathon

     
Yesterday was AMAZING. Scott got up early & left for the race. I will try to get a guest post from him in the next day or two. (Right, Scott?) I ate breakfast & plotted my stops along the way. I could not have prepared myself for the crowds. As I went to board the subway, a Patriot’s Day celebration was taking place in the plaza. Lots of soldiers, the pledge of allegiance, & the national anthem. The mayor. Very cool that I happened to be at the starting of the parade.
For the first stop of the day, I rode the green line out to Woodline  (mile 17). All of the passengers on the subway were chasing runners and happy! For a few minutes I wondered where the runners would be, but as soon as I stepped off the train, I could hear the crowds & the bells [given out on the course]. There were already a lot of people waiting for the wheelchair division & the Elites.
The race was so inspirational!

• The wheelchair athletes came through, pushing with only their arms. What stood out to me the most was the number of young male amputees – veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The fastest athletes had been training for years & were really fast (25-30 mph fast!). The newer athletes definitely struggled but were still amazing.
• The elites came next. Elite marathon runners finish the race in less that two hours and fifteen minutes. (That’s really fast!!!) Police cars & photographers came by first & then the runners, hugging the edge of the course to run the shortest distance possible. I could have touched them from where I was standing! The women’s winner was Teyba Erkesso. Kosgei (pictured above) took third place. They were all amazing!!!
• The male elites ran as a pack – the BAA site says
“At 15 miles the split was 1:12:32 (4:57) with 1:17:10 (4:38) appearing one mile later. By this point, Cheruiyot had edged his way to the forefront, with the right hand turn at the Newton Firehouse on a near horizon and the hills immediately in front. As it was, so it is. The hills have told the tale before and did again this year. A 5:09 mile brought the pack to 17 in 1:22:19, at which point Cheruiyot had taken command, injecting a telling surge. Merga responded quickly, as did the pack; though it was evident that some damage was being done. Hall was, it seemed, struggling, close to 30 seconds off the pace, while Keflezighi appeared also to be feeling the effects.” Did you see that? 5:00 minute miles for the whole distance!!! I tried to get a picture of Ryan Hall, but he was running close to the crowds & Mr. Big-Fat-Head moved out in front of me with his camera so I missed him. It was still cool to see him close up.
• Next, I was able to see Scott. Luckily, he saw me & stopped to take  a video. He seemed to be having a great time. I kissed him & ran to get on the next subway (with lots & lots of other people). I squished on the subway, standing in a corner & talking to a lady from Phoenix, Arizona. I walked down the hill at the “Resevoir” stop, about 23 miles. I saw many people that I had seen before Scott & then started to see many whom I had not. When I saw a guy dressed as a rubber ducky – I knew that I had somehow missed Scott.

I went back to the subway station, squished into a corner at the front by the driver, and slowly, slowly made my way towards the finish line. I was tired & hungry (& my blood-sugar was low). Scott called me to let me know that he had finished, walked 1/2-mile to the bus to pick up his clothes & his phone, and walks back to the hotel. I was LOST and had a difficult time finding my way back to the hotel. Finally, a subway guy helped me get to the right gate to ride the subway back. Scott had been taken care of by the hotel - they had showers reserved & snacks for the runners in a room. He recovers so fast!!! He has already been out to run two times.
The race was huge & the crowds were huge! When I was waiting at mile 17, the runners started a few at a time & then came in swarms. Hundreds & hundreds & thousands of people all on a collision course with Copley Square. So many runners & fans & supporters. Everywhere that we went in town was swarmed with runners & their fans. The blue jackets with the unicorn logo were all over the place.
I hope we can return next year!!!