HALF!

Goose In.

Today I ran 3 miles in what will now be known as my first day of training for my half marathon on March 18. I am officially obsessed and excited. It is my "before I turn 40" goal and I have just one year left to make it happen!

Grand plans were made earlier today with Iceman to put ourselves in the lottery (with Maverick and cousin J????) for the Grandma's 1/2 marathon in Duluth, MN next summer when we trip up there. But I got myself all excited and started looking around GA and remembered the popular Publix half marathon in March.

This is exactly 11 weeks and 4 days away and I have become quite the couch potato in the past 10 months since I began working, so I wasn't sure if I had enough time to train, but I found a totally doable 12 week training schedule and since i inadvertantly just happened to run 3 miles today which is on the 2nd week training schedule, I have decided to jump in!

So, Iceman, get that ticker ready for my March 18th half marathon! While you are at it, get the ticker going for the Iron Girl Sprint Tri that Viper and I are doing May 20th.

Let's get some unfinished business out of the way first, though. Where have we all been anyway?? Well, we are all growing in girth and mushing up, I think that is for sure. Lots of excuses, top being Mav and I going back to work after 17 and 12 years at home, and Iceman-well, she just can't stop having babies! But I think we have all officially had our "come to Jesus" meetings in front of the mirror and I hope I am not the only one you will be hearing from more frequently on here from now on.

i have decided that i will forever be gaining and losing the same 10 (ok, fine, 15) lbs. There is no secret how it happened here. It is easier to chose not to work out and eat well. Working at a computer for the first part of the day and then tumbling home to a thousand activites for my 4 gems makes it a good excuse to just not find the time to make it happen. I want to find some excuse for the gain and the mush, but the only real excuse is I stopped moving and started shoving cheesy nachos and wine in my face every night! :) maybe you can relate. or not. then you are Viper. She is a freak of nature. We just won't discuss her right now. (love you Viper).

So, Iceman and Maverick, I am calling you out. What is your truth to reveal here? Bring it on. Let's resurrect Wewawo! Looking forward the health and fitness challenges we will tackle in 2012!

Goose Out
(ICEMAN--get my tickers going!)

Former Athlete.

We are all just a sad lot.

Goose here. What have I been up to? A science experiment. How long can a person maintain their weight and fitness level without purposing to exercise and eat well?

Somehow, with a side factor of stress, which for me manifests itself in an inward shriveling up, I have managed to maintain within 5 lbs my superfit weight. However, things are a jiggling 'round here.



It's true, I stopped exercising pretty much all last winter, much to Viper's dismay and harrassment. Spring and Summer were not much prettier, but I threw in a handful of Shreds and runs to remind my body that it likes to move.

Then, I got a "jenius" (spelling intentional) idea to sign up for another triathlon in order to force myself into regular workouts in order to train. Well, race day came with only a few shreds and runs, a couple stationary bike workouts and zero swim workouts under my belt. I like to live on the edge.

So the sprint triathlon was Oct. 2. I arrived with Viper in good spirits, having reconciled that I knew I could do each portion, just not sure I could do them all together, but that I would certainly be able to finish even if it wasn't pretty.

A formula developed in my mind. A science experiment of sorts. A graph plotting of training vs. health vs. outcome. This would be my third triathlon. And so, taking my experiences into account, here were the three styles of preparedness I have entered these triathlon: 1. Well trained, but deathly ill with bronchitis. 2. Very well trained and very healthy. 3. Untrained and very healthy.

The question was, which type of preparedness is the fastest and which is the slowest?

It takes no scientific genius to know that the well-trained and healthy was my fastest and best time, but I wondered about the other two: trained and unhealthy vs. untrained and healthy.



During the race I actually felt great. I was in a good mood, I found a steady pace, I had fun. So when I finished I think I had higher expectations for my time than it actually turned out. Turns out that trained and unhealthy enough to end up in an ambulance after my first triathlon was FASTER than my untrained and healthy triathlon! Wow. I wouldn't have guessed that!

But, I had FUN! I felt GREAT! I stayed STEADY. And I decided to be proud that, as Viper said, with a handful of shreds and a couple runs I was still fit enough to get out there and do a triathlon!



I have high hopes for getting back out there to run. I have 14 months before I turn 40 and have decided I would like to run a 1/2 marathon before then. Possibly this coming spring. So that is my new goal I will aim for and try to get my training groove back on. In my defense, I started working last spring and have not figured out how to incorporate regular exercise since then. Any suggestions?? (and remember I have a family of 6 and several animals that need me so it is not as simple as just doing it after work!)

Good to be back, I will try and not be a stranger. Maybe I can even dig Maverick and Iceman out of the woodwork. Mav is working full time now and Ice has 5 homeschooling kids, but that baby of hers is almost one and its time to get back to fighting shape!

Perhaps we should plan the 1/2 marathon for next summer in MN, ladies? We need to give Jessy a moniker and she can do it with us!

Goose Out

I'm Still Standing

I am not a fast runner.  Nor do I run particularly far.  I like to run 3 miles during my workouts but sometimes I run 4 and sometimes I run 2, since starting working and with my knee injury sometimes I just walk 2 miles.  One morning I just walked the 1/2 mile loop around the block and came home because I didn't have a lot of time but I wanted to get my blood pumping before I started the day.

Over the past year or 2 you have read on this blog the workout adventures of Iceman, Goose and I.  Goose was a busy over achiever placing high on triathlon ratings and running 10 mile races in impressive times.  Iceman was distracted with babies but in her heyday regularly ran 5 miles and finished a 10K several minutes in front of me a few years ago.  They both train hard and deserve the accolades of success that go with their hard work.

BUT,

I am still standing.  Still running.  Still moving my body.  I may go through ups and downs.  More or less training, occasional weeks of neglect.  BUT, I keep getting up, keep starting over, keep moving forward.

BECAUSE,

I know I have won the race simply by walking out my front door and not by how much I accomplish once I leave. 

And now I find myself making the guilt call to Iceman in the morning to make sure she is returning to her workouts post baby number 5 and wondering if Goose's friend H, or Viper as we like to call her, is still taunting her with workout success.

I am sure eventually they will both pull themselves together and blow past me once again but you have to admit there is something to this slow and steady thing.

That's all I have to say about that.

The 10K that almost was

It wasn't mean to be.  My 10K run.  It wasn't meant to be.  I enthusiastically started training in January and was even still looking pretty good through Febrary.  Then something went wrong, I forget what now, probably the weather, and I just sort of lost my enthusiasm for the task.  However, up to 3 weeks before the planned run I still intended to do it.  Then 2 weeks before the run I started to waiver but I was feeling a little guilty.  After all I stated my goal an made Iceman put the counter on this blog and all. 

Mom and Dad to the rescue!  I was flown out at the last minute to Florida where my parents winter to drive my mom home because my dad hurt his back and couldn't make the drive.  So while hundreds of other winter weary runners in Minnesota braved what I am sure was horrible weather for the sake of the first spring run, I was on a lonely road somewhere in Illinois speeding toward home with my mom and daughter in tow.

I did have one wonderful run in paradise and then me knee hurt so bad I abandoned running the rest of the trip.  Knee pain frustration can be a future post. 

Just thought I would share.
Maverick Out.

That was a little unsettling

This weekend I had an opportunity to help our boy scout troop raise money for camp scholarships by working at shift at the "brat wagon".  We sold burgers, brats and dogs from a cart outside a local grocery store. I had the early shift this morning starting at 10am and ending just as the lunch rush started.  It was nice to help out the troop.  I ended up manning the grill warming up the pre-cooked meat.  I found the experience a little unsettling.

Who is buying a brat at 10am?  Well, fat people.  Until a little before noon when normal lunch time begins we did not have a single normal weight person purchase food.  A few bought 2 meals, a burger and a brat which comes with 2 bags of chips and 2 cans of pop.  One guy rolled up in the grocery stores automatic cart because he could barely walk and said he needed to finish his cigarette before he could order!  I kept wondering if any of these people had ever seen the "Biggest Looser".  I felt like I was watching a scene from one of the contestants "life before" videos.

This past week I read something in Family Circle Magazine where they guy asks what a couple eating chili cheese fries, a couple eating deep friend calamari and a mom eating an extra large deep dish pizza have in common?  They all told the doctor, "I can't control what my kids eat."  Funny, sad, true.  I can't help but ask myself some days if I am not the reason my daughter won't eat anything.  I mean I do eat lots of veggies and I love healthy food but I would be lying if I claimed I didn't introduce more than my share of unhealthy food into her diet and enjoy those foods myself.  It was definitely a little unsettling.

Since I was feeling so unsettled after the brat wagon I went into the grocery store and bought lots of veggies, went home and made a salad (of course I heated up chicken nuggets for Isabelle.  Try not to judge me.)  Then I went to the gym to work out.  Turns out the other thing unsettling is my food when I work out in the afternoon.  I guess I should go back to pre-meal work outs.

Just thought I would share.

Learning to train

I have been working away here training for my 10K.  And then again, not so much.  But I  haven't given up!  The 8 week training plan I am going to follow just started this week so although I haven't pulled it out yet I am hardly behind at this point.  I have learned a couple things in the past couple weeks about my personal fitness.

Number One:

It turns out the longer I walk before I start running the longer I can run before my knee hurts.  So doing a 2 minute power walk and then cranking up the speed on the treadmill means I cannot run for 30 minutes but walking for 5 minutes or more before cranking up the speed means I am just starting to feel a little soreness 3 miles later.  In other words I need to park really far from the starting line and get in a good walking warm up.

Could be a life lesson in this.  Don't rush in to things too quickly.  There is some saying about walking before you run.  I always thought it had to do with kids learning to walk but who knows.  Maybe the real lesson is simply to know your body.

Number Two:

I could run at 5.5 miles per hour on the treadmill ALL DAY LONG.  I don't even have to engage my brain in the task.  I could just go and go and go forever.  Yet somehow I feel compelled to run at 6 miles an hour because I think that is where I am supposed to run.  I mean I can run quite a while at 6.0 but I have to concentrate so much harder.

After discussing it with my husband we decided that 5.5 is my optimum zone 3 fat burn speed.  It is the perfect place where I am not going so fast I am only burning sugar but not so slow I am doing nothing.  My perfect all day long mid point.  For the longer runs this is where you want to train your body to hang out.  Not sure that 6.2 miles is considered a long run by most people but it is long to me.
So I have no idea what that means for my training but I thought I would share.  I would love it if 6.0 was my optimal fat burn zone but apparently you don't get there by only running at 6.0 or higher which is what I had been doing all of last year.  I think I need to mix it up a little more.

I think I am going for the ultra simple 10K training plan which is really below my skill level but he next up is going to require more work of me than I really have the time to give it.  The point of doing a 10K at the beginning of the good weather season was to motivate me to get back into shape early and be able to really enjoy my running all summer long instead of spending the summer getting my running up to par only to have school and cold weather hit when I am at the top of my game.  And I think the simple plan will accomplish that just fine.  Well maybe it will be a hybrid training plan between the two since I am already half way through the novice training plan.  Either way, I am getting there.

Hello, Old Friend

Well, the time has come, again, to dust off the old workout paraphernalia. The baby is starting to sleep through the night, I'm not feeling so newly postpartum, and my gym membership is needing some attention.

So this morning was the morning. Ipod charged, shoes located, workout bras - oh, they still need replaced - but use-able. Gloria woke me up about 5:30am and after I fed her and got her back to sleep, I made a beeline for those workout clothes and ultimately, the gym.

Here's a few things that occurred to me during my inaugural 5th child workout.

1. I love to workout. Let me rephrase that, I love to workout to my tunes. Boy, get a little Janet Jackson running through my veins or plug me into some New World Son and I feel like I have lightning bolts shooting out of my fingertips. Seriously. You know in the movie Flashdance where she's starts running in place as the music starts blaring? That's ME! (You know, not as graceful or perfect-of-body) Especially this morning, when I haven't listened to my play list in almost a year. It's audible caffeine.

2. I think "moderation in all things" is such a wise way to live life. But when it comes to working-out, it's just not me. I walked into that gym this morning reminding myself that I had already accomplished my goal of just getting there. And that an easy 20 min. on an elliptical would be more than enough. Just to find myself, 35 min. later, talking myself off that thing.

3. I miss my expensive gym membership. Can I say that? I won't be going back. It was a wise fiscal decision. And this new "discount" gym is completely adequate. Actually more than adequate. It's even closer and I get to park closer than the fancy place. But this morning I missed the sleek locker rooms, the smell of chlorine in the air, the pulse of the aerobic class music that I was, one day, going to try out... My new gym will do just fine.

The best of all was feeling so accomplished and ready for my day so that when I see this sight, I'm ready for my day.

Outdoor Running

This weather really makes me aware that running season is almost upon us. I am getting ready!


It is almost 50 today in MN. That is pretty crazy for February but we aren't complaining. The cold will return. It is only February.


I ran my neighborhood today. It was great in so many ways but hard in others. My knee hurt more than usual from all the hills and uneven pavement. That frustrates me. My mind felt alive.

As I ran I started making a few lists:


Here is what I love about being able to run outside in my neighborhood:

1. It is right out my front door.  No driving. 
2. If I go on a 30 minute run I will be home in 30 minutes not 45 or 60.
3. I love getting to know my neighborhood.  I know the cracks in the road, what houses are for sale, who is remodeling.  I watch the changes happen.  When I drive through my neighborhood I am not just passing through but I am on roads I feel like I really know and have a connection to.
4. Sometimes I run into friends.

Here is what I do not like about running in my neighborhood:

1. It is hilly.
2. Traffic.
3. The sidewalks are crooked so I am running at an angle half the time.
4. Knowing that I cannot decide to quit 2 miles from home, I must keep going. I like to have an out.

Here is what I like about treadmill running:

1. It is flat, unless I don't want it to be.
2. Climate control.
3. Childcare
4. constant speed.
5. instant statistics
6. control.

Here is what I hate about treadmill running at the Gym:

1. It is boring.
2. constant speed.
3. instant statistics
4. The feeling that I am a rat in a cage.
5. Going nowhere.
6. All the distractions.  My mind can never settle on a thought.

I am wondering if this is the year I need to start driving to some better outdoor running locations. There are a couple lovely 2 mile loops just a mile or two from our home. Both do have a couple hills but also have some nice flat even stretches as well. One is actually so close I have run to it, around it and back. Or do I venture even further to one of the nice flat beautiful former railroad bed bike paths where I could run for miles and miles with little incline. I have often wanted to jump off my bike and go for a run on them, maybe this year I will.

Forgetfulness and Frozen Parfaits

I am 36 years old and I had something happen to me that has never happened before.

I forgot to eat.

What's that, you say! Forgot to eat?! I do that all the time!

Well I don't. Oh, there have been times in my life where I have chosen not to eat. There's been times where I push it off. But I don't forget. I've always been keenly aware of my hunger. I can tell when it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. I am acutely aware of it getting stronger and more demanding. It has always been a conscious choice and effort to skip breakfast, or wait till I got home to eat even though I would be "starving".

But the other day my 5 children and I had homeschool co-op. It's always crazy getting out the door and I hadn't had time to eat. But I made myself a Greek Yogurt Parfait that I thought I would eat in the car. Well in the car I decided that I would wait to eat until I got there because, lets face it, eating a parfait while driving is a little tricky and I didn't have that far to go.

So we get to co-op and I get immersed in handing out Valentines, stopping children from crying during devotions, nursing babies and finally giving up and taking everyone to the nursery. Then the nursery starts to fill up with Moms and babies and I'm chatting away... Then my friend Mary walks in about a half hour before lunch, munching on a sandwich and this wave a realization hits me! One - I have a, now probably frozen, parfait in the car, and two - I am REALLY hungry.

So I guess there are new experiences to be had, even at the ripe old age of 36.

Oh, and the parfait was only partially frozen and was quite yummy.

Iceman Out

Day in the life of a Rock Star

Some days it just comes together.  Today is that day.  So I thought I would share.

I got up, had breakfast with Isabelle, read her a devotion, read myself a devotion. Helped Isabelle make a Valentine bag and address all the Valentine's I had purchased for her class, put on my work-out clothes, made my bed and a short grocery list, put Isabelle on the bus and was out the door to my weight lifting class.

After the class I buzzed through the grocery store, had a quick chat with Goose on the way home, showered and was dressed with groceries put away and Isabelle's lunch waiting for her when she got off the bus.  Ate my own lunch, then made ahead several little things for easier future meals, sliced up the fresh pineapple I bought (before it went bad this time), cleaned up kitchen and then moved to my desk. Purged and organized coupons, balanced bank statement, updated personal notebook so all the pages weren't just hanging out, sent invoices to plow clients for last weeks snowstorm, called a delinquent client, signed up for some college organization web site the school insists we need, paid some bills, signed hubby up for a required continuing ed class he needs, put away some pictures.  All while Isabelle was entertaining herself with various crafts.

I am a rock star!

I share this here because I don't think that exercise and weight loss are the only keys to a healthy life.  I think being on top of your life and organization is also an important key to a healthy life.  I also share because I think that exercise and watching what I eat gave me the energy I needed to have a rock star day today.

I have a large glass of water and I know what I am making for dinner.  I am now going to read the magazine I bought at the grocery store and take a well deserved break.

Maverick Out

The Solitary Woman

Ok Let's face it.  Maintaining your health, at the end of the day, is a solitary sport.  I mean you may have people in your life supporting you, encouraging you or even doing the same thing as you but when it comes down to it, only you can do the work and achieve the results.  Loosing weight, getting in shape, training for an event, they all have to be about you and for you.

I always want someone to do something with me.  Someone to validate what I am doing, keep me accountable and maybe even tell me what to do so I don't have to figure it out myself.

All that is not to say it isn't fun to share the journey, to go on a run with a friend and exchange healthy recipes, I still love all that, but I as I have been wanting to loose weight for about a year I am realizing it is all up to ME.

I found a couple pictures recently from back in my glory days of weight.  I had been up to my heaviest weight and realized looking at a picture of myself and Goose after the birth of her second child that I looked more like I just had a baby than she did.  Serious changes began in our home a few months later and I got down to my lowest weight since I was in jr. high.  I knew I looked and felt great but I started telling myself I could never maintain the rest of my life, even though I did for over a year, and that was the trigger to let it all go.  So here I am nearly 10 years later 20 pounds heavier.

I was going through some pictures this week and found these from my glory days:

Check out my LEGS!  So skinny.  It wasn't a dream, I can have those legs.  I still have those shorts but they do not fit like that anymore.

A rare picture of me thinner than Goose.  In their defense, both recently had babies.

Looking at these pictures made me remember that time in my life.  When I was focused.  When I was doing it for me.  When I felt great and looked great.  And I didn't think it was so much work or any real sacrifice.  And I must confess I didn't not appreciate at the time how great I looked.

So I have decided to go forward in my health journey a little more quietly.  Don't worry I will still share, I still like validation, encouragement and an occasional running partner.  But I am realizing I need to stop thinking about and talking about my plans and instead quietly just start doing it.

I have 2 goals this time around, health and fitness.  I have lost the weight and I have been in great shape.  I have never done it together.  But it is time and I am ready.

Up from the Depths...

Hello World,

I don't even know what to title this post. It's me, Iceman, it's so cold here in the Northern Tundra that "Iceman" is an appropriate handle.

As my wingmen have said, I did, in fact, just give birth to babe #5. Well, it's been a month now. Is that still considered, "just giving birth,"? It sure feels like it. I'm still trying to get my brain wrapped around my new "normal." Somehow the jump from 4 to 5 kids is a BIG jump. What DO you do with the newborn who's crying and hungry while trying to explain the finer points of multiplication to my 8 year old. Or dealing with a screaming 4 year old and 2 year old who can't share while I'm handicapped by the nursing baby and the book that I'm trying to read to my 6 year old. (Yes, this all did happen this morning...) This will all get easier, right?

Oops, little break. The 2 year old just whacked the 6 year old in the head with the business end of a plastic sword. Oops, another break, 8 year old needed some direction with math.

I'm back.

So as for body reclaiming. Here's what I know:

1. With a stronger body I know I will better take on this physically challenging role.
2. Being physically more capable will help me to be emotionally more capable. Plus all those feel good endorphins from exercise.
3. Looking nice helps me feel better about myself.

So what IS a good plan for an already maxed out schedule.

Well I am going back to Weight Watchers Tonight! Waa Hoo! O.k. I'm a little apprehensive about going back because I'm not really there, mentally, to start being disciplined with my diet. I'm hoping for a big "kick in the pants" tonight that jump starts that mental change.

I have joined a small gym that I haven't actually been to yet. I remember with the last baby, telling my husband that when the baby starts to wake only two times at night I'll start going. Well I'm already there with this one. Yet working-out 4 weeks postpartum seems insurmountable. Maybe this week I'll work on the diet and next week we will start in with that gym.

O.k. back to school, babies, well, life. Hoping I hit my stride sooner than later.

Iceman down but not out.... :)

Throw Down

I think we need a challenge!  With Prize!

I need to pull together my eating and my exercise.  And I need to do it on a new schedule as my morning workouts sort of went out the window when morning Kindergarten started.

I happen to know changes have been afoot for Goose and Iceman as well so we are all reinventing our eating and work out schedules a little.  The holiday's are over and spring is right around the corner.  Time for something to get us back on track.

The Challenge:

Since we are all runners I propose a 2 month challenge.

Month number 1-January 30-February 26
Run 15 miles per week
weight train in whatever way suits you 1 times per week
Post weekly meal plans

Month number 2- February 27-March 26
Run 20 miles per week
weight train 2 times per week
post weekly meal plans

The Prize:

The person who runs the most miles and completes all other training should get $5 coffee cards from the losers.  One prize per month

I propose adding biking to the challenge in April but we can review when we get there.

You have a week to prepare and accept the challenge and then I will look forward to the weekly updates.

If we have any readers who want to join in spirit just let us know in the comments.

Secondary goal:  Get a picture of iceman in some race this year.

A healthy lifestyle is journey.  A marathon not a sprint.  We are butt kicking animals one day and then we fall down and become wide load couch potatoes the next.  The question is, do we get back on track or will we let failure define us?

Maverick

Marketing Martha

I have been getting a little magazine called "everyday food" for the past year and love it.  I love it so much that when the renewal came in the mail I bought gift subscriptions for my mom, Goose and Iceman as Christmas gifts.  Why keep all those yummy recipes to myself?

Here are some things I enjoy about it and look forward to sharing with family:

Every month there is a 1 week meal plan.  Now often in magazines they are complicated week long meals but I have actually done a couple of them and they are simple, delicious and simple.  Plus they are good.  OK I have a limited list of requirements for my food, quick and tasty.

The food is for the most part healthy, lots of stuff that is dairy free, encourages organic living.

I have gotten lots of magazines with recipes in the past and even recipe magazines before and I will say I have lots of recipes I use from them but I have never had one magazine that I so consistently found and used recipes I enjoyed.

This month I have already tried and enjoyed the Shredded buffalo chicken sandwiches and am going to try out some of their smoothie variations.

Not that Martha needs help marketing but I just thought I would share.

Maverick out

The full spread

Maverick In

Well I think that H would make an excellent "Viper", the leader of the flight school.  She could shape us all up.  Just a thought.

I don't like to be a cliche.  I want to be original.  So I decided against jumping off my butt on Jan 1 like everyone else and have continued to meld with the couch for another week now.

It has been over a month since my last run and getting close to a month since my last any other form of exercise and I have made a few observations:

The good news is that although I don't have a scale and can't say one way or another what my weight is, my clothes aren't any tighter.

On the other hand...my body is starting to hurt, not the good kind from exercise but the bad kind from atrophy, I am sleeping terrible, becoming a slacker around the house and in general becoming one with the downstairs couch.

Sometimes you just give in to your inner sloth and go for it.  That is one of the down sides of MN.  The cold just sucks the life out of you.  But then maybe that is the whole point, back in the day we needed that additional layer of fat to survive.  The thing is, I don't need additional fat now, I have a furnace.

Then again when you are in MN unless you have some crazy commitment, you need a club membership.  NEED.  And as we have had to cut back on things this year I had to cut that.  However, I started a part time job this week and although I wasn't planning to make any changes for a few months I told my husband I would be going to the nearest club as soon as possible.

I can't live like this.  I mean I know I did live like this for years.  Sluggish, tired and without much enthusiasm for life and getting out there and living it.  BUT, I have seen the other side.  I have tasted the good life and can never go back.

So here are a few things I am considering to keep me motivated this winter and throughout the year:

Cross Country Skiing.  I must admit that I have told hubby at times that when I see Cross Country Skiers I think they look crazy.  I mean people who do it REALLY love it.  But I talked with a neighbor who recently started doing it at a ski hill a couple miles from our house and became interested.  It is only $8 for rental and trail pass. That price excites and motivates me.  Plus my hubby grew up doing it with the family and I am always looking for something our whole family can do together that is healthy and active.  So potential future post about how that works out to come.

While races are fun they are also costly so I am not quite as ambitious as Goose limiting myself to just a couple things.

The spring Get In Gear race.  I had said I wanted to do the 10K but as my butt has spread across the couch I have been thinking the 5K might be a challenge.  However, if I do sign up for a new club membership in the next week I will go back to my 10K plan.  I don't expect to be able to run the whole thing by the end of March but I want to do something that will really challenge me at the beginning of the season and get me off the treadmill.

Sometime in August:  first annual Wolfe/Byrd/friend family duathlon.  Bike/run/bike.  Iceman and I will plan it, set it up and unless we can motivate the rest of our families, be the only participants.  Still it is happening!

Possibly considering the Irongirl duathlon here in the cities this summer.  Not making full commitment at this point but I do want to keep up my triathlon body a little.

Biking:  More family bike rides, something we enjoyed last summer.  Looking to borrow or buy a ride behind for Isabelle so she can join the fun and we can loose the big parachute on wheels.

I really miss my body pump class and my nice toned arms, legs and abs.  I am not sure I will be re-joining the Y since I have found the cut rate clubs also have treadmills for half the price.  If the new club doesn't have something similar I will be forced to make up my own routine.  At least I have learned a lot from body pump.

My hubby has full access to a wonderful workout room at the fire department and I will be challenging him this year to use it.  Another competitor in the family duathlon this summer.

That should be enough to keep me entertained and in shape.

ICEMAN---What news from the postpartum ward?

Maverick Out.