Another virtual 10k

I have been enjoying walking outside so much!  And having these "virtual" events to add some pretty bling to the mix makes it even sweeter!

Long walk outside tonight

Enjoyed a 7 mile walk outside tonight...  Was in the mood to take pictures...

Why not add a few more miles?

So I have signed up for several virtual events now, enjoying them a lot... Being able to do them on my own turf (without driving anywhere), at my own time, and with whoever I want is great!

I was planning on doing a 1/2 marathon distance this weekend to fulfill the Frosty Half Marathon medal that should be on it's way to me, but today turned out to be a good walking day at work - getting 5 miles in (haven't been able to do that in a long time) and then the weather was BEAUTIFUL...  I decided with a 5 mile start, I only needed 8 more miles to get to a 1/2 marathon distance in a day...  I figured for my first virtual that it would be fine to do the miles in segments in the day (as others accumulate miles over a week or even a month to earn their medals)...

Well I did it - 5 at work at my trekdesk, 4.2 with Shay in the sunshine, and 4.1 with Jenna in the dark in Yacolt while Matthew was at Awana Games practice...

It feels great to have this completed!  Can't wait for the medal to arrive and me to be able to put it into my medal case of EARNED medals!  :)

Another virual 10k on the books

I am really enjoying doing these virtual events... I planned on doing this yesterday, but ended up building a loft bed for Jenna instead... But knew that I would make this a priority for today... And it worked...

I am a bit sore in my hip and IT band tonight which surprises me as it hasn't hurt that much lately...  and the physical therapist was talking about graduating me out of PT... We will see how it feels by the time I see him on Thursday...

Virtual races, I am hooked!

I have been following a gal's blog that has lost a lot of weight & she just started hosting virtual 5k events each month. I signed up for January's and got the kids to go with me for this month - Shay walking and Matthew on a bike (Jenna was at a friend's house).  Even though it was raining, we still had fun.

I looked more online and found even more of them and ones that include a medals :)  I love earning medals so it was a great concept. I found some that charged as little as $10 to get a medal and some that charged as much as $50 to get a medal and a tshirt...  But the proceeds of most end up going to some sort of charity so it is all good. (some even tax deductible!)

 This is the first one that Sara is hosting and I got the kids go to with me on the very WET day...

This was one that I signed up for and paid for a medal - I don't have the medal yet, as they are doing another production run, but will have it eventually...  It was fun to go out and do a 10k this morning without any prior training for it... And the weather even cooperated!  It drizzled on me a bit, but waiting until I was all the way home to pour down rain...

The next one I have is to do a 10k between now and the 12th of February for Mardi Gras... I will report back after I get that done!  :)

Ouch...

I started going to Physical Therapy the end of 2012 for some pain in my hip... After a few weeks of PT, it has become very obvious I have lots going on in my hip and my IT band - the muscle that runs the length of hip to knee...

I have backed off on the walking at work because I was busy, and didn't really feel like doing it... But I tried yesterday & sure felt it...

The pain spurred me to figure out how to make a microwavable rice heating pack to put on my aching body... I did it covered in Flannel & really like it. I like it so much I brought it with me in the car this morning (as I hurt while driving) and will heat it up to use on the way home as well...

I will try to walk a bit more today, but listen to my body on how it feels with what I am doing.

One day at a time, one step at a time, one choice at a time...

A new year = new choices

Here we are on the end of another year - I am amazed at how fast time keeps going by. I keep thinking of things I would like to do for the new year - walk 5 miles a day (inside or outside) or just exercise (get moving) a minimum of 1 hour a day... Yeah they sound great on paper (even if it is virtual paper on my computer screen) but I don't know that I really could keep up with that for a whole year... There are a lot of things that I know I couldn't keep up with for a whole year, so why set myself up for disappointment...

Rather I am going to do what I hope you will do as well - resolve to keep making better choices...  

An example - today I had the munchies - the bottle of juice I had with me was not going to cut what my body/mind was telling me I wanted... The thought crossed my mind to go through McDonald's and get an order of fries - but the price stopped me on that - $2-3 for an order of fries, when that much money will buy a whole bag of potatoes that we can make home fries with at home... But I still needed something to eat that I could chew & I knew was gluten free/grain free... I decided on an order of chips and cheese from Taco bell - yes corn meal could be considered a grain, but I think it was a better choice than the McDonald's one...

McDonald's small fries - 230 calories and 11 grams of fat 

Taco Bell chips and cheese - 270 calories and 15 grams of fat...

OK, OK so after I looked it up, it wasn't really the better choice - but guess what - I am more educated now and will make a different decision next time...  LOL

I also now know that a Tostada or a crunchy taco would have only been 170 calories and 10 grams of fat... Again with educating myself so I can make different DECISIONS next time!

So back on track after I realize that I could have made a better decision today - guess what? I won't die from making the wrong decision - I just learn from it an move on... Similar to when I make the wrong decision to eat the wrong thing, or too much of something - I bottle up that feeling of over-full-ness and put it in my memory bank and draw upon it next time I am in the same situation...

Another thing I can learn from today is that I need to pack some healthy snacks that I can have in the car so I don't mess with the drive thru option at all (mind you that was the first time I had gone through a drive through in a LONG time...)  Packing a small baggie of homemade trail mix, or almonds would probably be helpful in the future to have on hand when I just need to CHEW something!  :)

So what am I getting at in my end of the year ramblings?

I am CHOOSING to make healthier decisions in 2013 - one decision at a time - making decisions to a healthier me!  Will you join me?