The good news

The good news is that despite the lousy race, I lost 2.2 lb this week, bringing my total to 92.8 lb lost. I have ONLY 2 lb to go!!!

The Race

Well, it was a bit of a disappointment all around. After doing a mock 5K in 31:42 on Thursday (an average 10:12 mile), I did the race in only 35:06. Turns out that a couple people w/GPS gizmos said the race was actually 3.26-3.27 miles (seemed like it to me anyway), but that still puts me at a 10:44 mile, which is very disappointing.

To add insult to injury, there was a problem w/the prizes. Every division was divided into men and women, EXCEPT walking, where we were all lumped together. How unfair is that? I placed 5th when combined w/the men, but if they had only counted women, I would have placed 2nd (a 19-year-old woman walked faster than me). Unless they change the way they do things, I don't plan on doing this race again.

All in all, a disappointment.

portraits

We had more portraits done today and they are SO cute! Here is a link to see all of them.

To work, or not to work?

On Thursday I got an interesting phone call. S called and asked if I wanted to work part time again. The position sounds very intriguing and like a great opportunity in a lot of ways, career-wise. I think I'd really enjoy it. L is all in favor of me doing it, with certain conditions I won't detail here (suffice it to say, it will make things easier on him in terms of babysitting at inconvenient times). Calvin LOVES Cove Care (the school we had him in before), and so the big question mark is Michelle. Will she like it? Is it good for her too? We can't really ask her. Today I'm going to leave them there for the afternoon so I can shop for clothes (yeah!) and we'll see how she likes it, that is, if we can tell. If the job was FT, I would not even think about it, because I don't want to be away from the kids that much and I don't think it's good for them either, w/L working FT also. But a great PT job? With the exact hours/days I want to work? It's tempting. I have prayed about it quite a bit, and while no booming voice from heaven is speaking to me, everything seems to indicate that this might be a good thing to do. Input from the readers of this blog is welcomed :).

Interval workouts

Since I'm training for a 5K, my brother recommended interval workouts to help me go faster. They are brutal so far. It is quite the workout. This morning, for example, I did a warm-up then alternated 2 min very fast with 45 sec recovery. By the end of the 2 min I think I'm going to die, and then 45 sec later I get to do it again. It is tough, but the results are going to be good. This morning I went 3.36 miles in 35:52, which is a 10:40 mile - and that INCLUDES the slower pace. I am now hoping maybe I can do a 10:30 pace for the 5K, which would be about 33 min for the race.

Smiley girl

Sticking her tongue out at Daddy

My darling baby girl :)

  

GO UTES!

Miscellany

I somehow have been very busy and I'm not sure where all my time has gone. I guess the regular household stuff just takes lots longer w/2 kids, and I'm not used to it yet. It's been fun, though.

Good news about L's job - things seem to have stabilized for the moment. I didn't post much about the details of the job stress etc because of some confidentiality worries, but I'm happy to say that things are better now. To celebrate, we went to Log Haven on Saturday night. It was really good, but I have to say I think I like the Paris better. Plus we can walk there from our house! We'll have to go there again soon, that is if we can afford it - big expenses last month with buying plane tix for my brother's wedding in October (we had to buy THREE tickets because Calvin will be 2 and has to have his own seat!), paying for Michelle's hospital bill (about $1000 we had to pay, which is not bad considering the total bill was about $40K), and also paying for repairs to one of the cars ($723). Ouch. It's been an expensive month.

We took Calvin to the state fair Sunday night and that was a BIG hit. He absolutely loved the animals. He was running through the cow barn saying "moooo moooo". So cute! He also loved the pigs, the sheep, the goats, the birds, and the rabbits. The carnival rides and games were fascinating to him as well - he walked around wide-eyed, taking it all in. Side note - usually fair food is a HUGE temptation to me, so I brought my own snacks and was able to totally stick to them. I have no idea how, except that the grace of God was reminding me how good it feels to have self-control. It was wonderful.

Exercising has been going great, and I've decided to only bore all of you with my habits when something of note happens. I've entered the Young Alumni 5K at the U on Sept 30th, and am hoping I will get a prize in the women's walking division. I think I can do it - I'm pretty fast these days. Anyone want to join me for the race?

I'm only 5.4 lbs from my WW goal now! I have lost 89.4 lb and want to lose 94.8 lb total to get to 155 lb (yes, I used to weigh 249.8 when I started WW - scary!). I feel like a new person. The only problem is that I literally have almost NOTHING to wear now. I have bought a few pairs of jeans and a few short sleeve shirts at the thrift store to tide me over, but I'm thinking it might be time to buy some new clothes now that I'm almost at my goal and I have nothing to wear. When we went to dinner last Saturday night I had to wear big baggy stuff because otherwise I just didn't have anything nice that was warm enough for a cold night up Millcreek Canyon. I'm excited but not sure how much $ I want to spend right at this moment, since I'm feeling rather broke. I'll probably just get a few things now and save $ to get some more in a month or so.

Being in shape has a big down side

After a marvelous bike ride partway up Millcreek Canyon tonight with Dorothy, I came home thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could talk L into biking some with me. After all, he really does love biking more than just about any other exercise. But no. He is flatly not interested in biking with me at all until he gets in better shape. How is he supposed to get in better shape if he won't go? I suggested we could bike flat rides, like the Jordan River or over by the airport. Nope. No dice. I am not sure I get it... I mean, it's not a competition. I would go as slow as he wanted. I just would love to have the company and hang out w/him some. I guess he feels threatened by the fact that I'm in better shape, though I'm not sure why. I did stuff with him when he was in better shape, and he waited for me, and that was great. Can a man in the reading audience help me understand what the deal is here? I'm just not getting it. :( I'm sad. I wish things were different somehow.

Book baby, garbage cans, etc.

Calvin and I (and Michelle too, of course, though she slept the whole time) went to Book Baby today at the Anderson-Foothill Library. It was great. Calvin totally loved the other kids, the songs, the books, the bubbles, and the balls and boxes to play with afterwards. Fabulous! I think we will return often.

In other news, the weather was so gorgeous that we all took a wonderful walk after dinner - we meandered around the block, following Calvin who dutifully pointed out all the blue and green garbage cans ("Boo", "Dean") and the fire hydrants, the rocks, and all sorts of wonderful things.

Changing the subject yet again, on Tuesday I had my cholesterol checked and it was normal (not that I was expecting otherwise). Michelle had her 2 month shots the same day, and I got a tetanus/pertussis shot so I could sympathize with her (seriously, they are recommending now that adults get a pertussis booster, as whooping cough cases are on the rise). I also got an appt for a bone scan due to my strong family history of osteoporosis/osteopenia. It's Tuesday morning at 10 am. Now I just have to find someone to watch Calvin for an hour or two so I can go - Michelle I think can come with me, no problem - she usually sleeps in her car seat just great. Anyway, any takers to watch Calvin for me for an hour?

Loren wants to watch a movie tonight, so I'm going to go ahead. I'm sure I'll regret it when the alarm goes off at 5:45 am, but what the heck. I can hopefully get in a nap tomorrow.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I did a sub-11:00 mile walking! Woooo hooo!

Today it just seemed right. The weather was a perfect 55 degrees (I love it when it's just a little nippy - perfect for exercising) and sunny (well, the sun wasn't all the way up, but it was beautiful). I decided to go for it and try to see just how fast I could go. I pushed really hard most of the way and finished the 3.75 mile SH Park route in 40:07, for an average 10:43 mile!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ave HR 149.

Yesterday I did an easy 35:32 time over 3.02 miles... about an 11:46 mile. Ave HR 138.

Friday's Feat!

I got featured in Friday's feat in Salt Lake Tribune columnist Sheena McFarland's blog. Check it out here!

W-F exercise

Wed walked SH Park 3.75 miles 42:09.
Th walked uncertain distance, but it felt good. 35 minutes, high intensity.
F walked to Laird and 1900 E, about 3.1 miles (ish). 35:36, about 11:29 mile.

We did it!

Alex, Erica, and I hiked Mt. Timpanogos yesterday. It's a total of 14.06 miles on the Timpooneke trail, and 4389 feet of elevation change. We left the trailhead at 6:30 am, and got to the top at 11 am. I was pretty scared on the top part, as the drop-offs by the trail were very steep. The vertigo was quite something - I had never really experienced anything like that before. Alex & Erica were quite encouraging though, and up we went. Fortunately, the altitude didn't really bother me much (though Alex and Erica noticed it more, being from sea level). The views from the saddle and the summit were so beautiful - I was amazed (actually, the scenery on the whole hike was fabulous - it was just a gorgeous hike). We ate lunch on top of the mountain, and descended starting at about 11:40 am. We got back to the car at 3:30 pm, very dirty and tired, but feeling victorious. My muscles aren't too sore today, except for my calves, which are hurting. (However, it didn't keep me from going on my walk this morning, which felt good - I did an 11:17 mile for 3.12 miles!). I'm happy that the training I did enabled me to actually do the hike pretty well.
MORE PICTURES HERE

Visitors!

My brother and his fiancee, Erica, are coming TONIGHT! I am so excited to see him and to meet her! Yay!

We are planning to hike Timp on Monday. That is going to be a challenge, but I've been working out hard and think I'm ready. I hope.

Working for the elusive sub-11:00 mile

Wed 8/16 biked to circuit training workout and back

Th 8/17 pushed the kids in the stroller to Liberty Park, fast. Got 30 min high intensity exercise. It was HOT though. Later that night, biked Emigration Canyon (7.6 miles, 1333 ft elevation change) w/Dorothy. It took 55 min to get to the top of Little Mountain. It was an awesome ride!

F 8/18 biked to circuit training workout and back

Sat 8/19 walked to 923 Diestel & back, 3.12 miles. 35:18, which is an 11:18 mile.

Still working for that darned elusive sub 11:00 mile. I will get it someday... I have been close - did SH Park in 11:07 once. Will keep trying!

Exercise update

Saturday 8/12 walked to 953 Diestel; 3.02 miles; 35:20 (11:41 mile). 64 degrees, felt good. Average heart rate 141.

Sunday 8/13 walked about 4 miles while camping. It was beautiful up in the mountains and it was an amazing walk. 52 minutes; ave heart rate was low 140s.

Monday 8/14 walked pushing the stroller because Loren had an early morning appt and my alarm clock didn't go off. It was a decent walk but a bit warm.

Tuesday 8/15 hiked up Mt Van Cott above the U of U. I'm not sure how far I walked, but my book Hiking the Wasatch suggests 2 miles round trip. However, I think it was farther because of where I had to park - there is now a building where there used to be parking when the book was written. I am guessing maybe 3 miles round trip. It took about 1 hr 10 min, and it is 1148 feet of elevation gain, according to the book. My quads were really feeling it on the way down - it was quite steep, that's for sure. I'm still trying to get ready for the Timp hike next Monday the 21st, so I thought a real steep hike was in order.

Book game

Sara wrote in her blog about some books. I love to read, though my taste is definitely not as sophisticated as hers. Nonetheless, I thought I'd write about what I like.

1. One book that changed your life: Walking: The Complete Guide to the Complete Exercise by Casey Meyers (see my previous post as to why).

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. He is one of my favorite writers, and this book is a classic in the sci-fi genre.

3. One book you would want on a desert island: If I can only pick one, I agree w/Sara that it would have to be the Bible.

4. One book that made you laugh: The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy - OK, it was fluffy, but it really was funny. I'm also enjoying the Girlfriend's Guide to Toddlers.

5. One book that made you cry: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Great book - I love time travel books, and this one had some new twists. It was super sad, though.

6. One book I wish had been written: How to Survive Med School, Residency, Quitting, and Career Indecision And Trouble That Seems To Go On Forever.

7. One book you wish had never been written: I've read some really really BAD sci-fi books my dad passes on to me... but they were so bad I've forgotten (mercifully) their titles.

8. One book you are currently reading: John Adams, by David McCullough. Great book so far. I finished 1776 (by the same author)not long ago for book club, and it was fabulous, so now I'm reading John Adams for an encore. I am bummed, though, because I don't think I'll be able to attend book club w/my brother and his fiancee in town this weekend.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (recommended by Kate Wheatley).

10. Tag five people: Tania Choi, Sara McNeil, Mark Peach, Sam Wheatley, and Danny Maland (don't even know if you all read my blog, but hey, it's worth a shot!).