Week 5 CMM 1/2 Training.

Wow what a week. Started out Monday with a two mile distance walk. Did not want to push due to my big toes and calves still being tender. I just wanted to get some mileage. I then took Tuesday and Wednesday as off days to recuperate from Saturday and Monday.

Today I headed out to one of my favorite places to run, Moss Wright Park. Yes that is the park with the "Hills of death".

There are three different routes you can take. There is the original 1.8 mile route. I call it the short loop. Then I found out today that there is two versions of the long loop. The one I did a couple of months ago going up the "Hill of Death" and a shorter one near the entrance of the new dog park. I inadvertently found the dog park loop today. I was a nice change of pace.

Today's goal was to work on my pace as well as some mileage. Due to the report 3 to 6 inches of snow that Nashville "might" and since HALH broke his leg running in snow I have developed a superstition to running in the snow. Silly I know but I don't want to tempt it.

Surprising to me I found that after the first mile I was slow jogging most of the distance and not panting like a dog. I found that I was goofy grinning and the other joggers/runners/walkers were looking at me funny. It really felt good to be able to jog a decent distance with out having to push myself. Hopefully I will soon be able to move that slow jog up to a full jog then run.

I know that with my weight I have to be very careful of my knees and the pounding they get when I run.

I am not sure what is going to happen on Saturday but I have decided that if it is too nasty to go out I will be hitting the treadmill. I so dislike the treadmill because it faces a wall, and I have no deciding power to move it.

I will update you all on what happens Saturday for those of you not part of the Hendersonville Running Club.

Today's Stats

Distance: 3.53 miles

Total time: 1 hour 12 minutes

Till the next run.

FCR and HALH

Long Run Two: New milestones

Wow what a morning!

It was beautiful and the sun was shining. Just cool enough to be out and well running. I started out kind of slow. It takes me about a mile to get my body warmed up. Along the way I found a companion to train with. Thank you so much K. you were such a big encouragement to me, and to H. who came back to make sure we were doing good.

Somehow we missed where we were suppose to run to. So we headed to the library, we turned off Indian Lake and headed towards the library and got half way there before we decided that we should probably turn around so that we could make it back. All said and done K and I did a total of 5.31 miles in 1 hour and 45 min.

This was my longest session and my best session and my time seems to be right on pace to finish the 1/2 in four hours. Of course my goal is run part of the marathon but right now I'm focusing on finishing. Someone reminded me it's not how fast you get there whether you run or you walk it's getting there that counts.

Once again the support and cheers and the encouragement makes such a difference. I see it in my attitude, I see it in the ever increasing mileage and the slow increase in time relative to the miles I complete. It was just November when I was doing 2 miles in 1 hour. It really seems to astound me how well I'm doing. I don't think about it until I look at the time and the distance at the end.

Even yesterday I was excited about the time and distance. I kept going because I surprised how fast I covered the real estate.

Today was the same. When I looked at how long it took me to finish the mileage I was so happy.

I am finding that the few hours I spend on Saturday boost not only my distance and decrease my times but they boost my week.

Remember friends all you have to do is: Lace 'em up, open the door and it is one step, one mile, one run at a time.

FCR and HALH

What a day!

Wow. Today was my first day back really training and not just testing what my lungs will handle, and I feel GREAT!

I added a new app to my iPhone a few weeks ago before I got the flu. It's called Runmeter. It does a few cool things that I really like. It's got a stopwatch feature that lets you name your route, what your activity is ie: running, walking, biking, hiking, skating, skiing, or swimming (they make waterproof iPhone cases now).

It keeps track of what time you started, your time, the amount of time you stop, the distance your average time per mile, the climb, the calories, AND you can email your results to yourself, it even gives you a GPS route on a map.

Since today was the first time using this app. I was a bit unsure of exactly how it works but now that I have used it I am very happy to say that it the newest addition to my training gear. It will even let you export your info in a cvs or spreadsheet format. It was also a LOT less expensive than some of the $300 dollar Garmin devices.

I also added another new piece of gear. I went and got a pair of genuine running shoes. I ended up getting a pair of Brooks shoes and for the first time EVER since I began this journey in November I did not have to stop and stretch out my arches or adjust my shoes. These are the first pair of shoes that I didn't immediately take off when I got in the door.

I also found a new weekday running partner. Her name is Sadie, she has auburn hair, has a spunky personality and is very close to our family. She doesn't talk much which is nice because if she did the neighbors might complain. She's just over a foot tall. If your confused I am talking about our Pomeranian. It use to be hop-a-long hubbies job to take the dog and the trash out. Well since the broken leg it has now become my job. Since I am not very fond of going up and down the three flights of stairs multiple times I try to consolidate my trips. She loved the trip. She ran when I ran and walked when I needed to walk. We even tackled the evil Long Hollow Pike to Northridge climb up Conference drive. She was a trooper. When we got back home HALH (hop-a-long-hubby) asked her if she wanted to go for another walk and she ran to her "sit" spot next to the door ready to go again.

I just want to take this time to say hello to all the new folks in the beginners group with HRC and a thank-you to those that have been so kind as to keep tabs on how HALH is doing.

And I leave you with todays stats. (more for me that you)

Today's stats are:

Total Time: 28.05

Distance: 1.45 miles

Average per mile: 19.19

Till I come crawling home after tomorrows long run,

FCR and HALH

Two weeks and finally starting to feel better!

Well as you know we have been down and out of training for two weeks now. Leon is doing well and is spending time working on his APSU classes and beating every video game he owns. His cabin fever set in pretty quick.

I am feeling better. I'm sure the warmer weather has helped. I was able to jog a bit to and from the mailbox the other day not far but I wasn't totally winded either. I miss training and can't wait to get back to it.

I'm two weeks behind but I'm sure with determination and some hard work I can catch up. I miss the group. I plan on being back this coming Saturday.

We are waiting on Leon's surgery follow up on the 26th to see what is going on and how far he has healed from surgery. We still hold on to a small hope that if he can't run he might be able to walk at least part of the course. I'm sure walking is going to be part of his physical therapy. We will update you all as soon as we know.


With thanks for the notes and emails and constant support.

FCR and Hop A Long Hubby.

Eventful Day

Well as you know I'm grounded from training until I get over this flu, so Leon headed out this morning for a group training session with HRC out at Drakes Creek. Towards then end of the first 1.8 miles he slipped on some snow and apparently fell on his twisted ankle. I on the other hand was tucked warm in our bed asleep so asleep that he had to call me twice before I heard the phone ring. It was Leon telling me what was going on. Fortunately he was not out by his self he was out with the HRC beginners group and there were people to bring him home, there were two of them, one to drive our car back and one to drive Leon. Joana and Tom thank you so very much. I am so thankful for all the wonderful friends and support we have received from HRC (Hendersonville Running Club).

What was originally thought to be a severe sprain was actually a broken fibula (bone anatomy) Just above the joint. We were given a perscription for some pain medication, a big black boot, crutches and a referral to an orthopedic surgeon. So we bundled up and headed home. We got to our exit and got a phone call from the surgeon, oddly enough he had just finished an ankle surgery and the x-ray tech told them they had just had another broken ankle, the surgeon pulled up the x-rays and called us and requested that we come back to the hospital due to the break and where it was at he said that it would heal better if we could come back and have the surgery done today, so I whipped a u-turn and headed back to Hendersonville hospital. Leon had what they called an internal reduction and stabilization. They used one screw to hold the two pieces of bone together, then added a 6 hole plate and 5 more screws. We were able to go home several hours after surgery. Leon is asleep as I update our blogs.

The fact that we chose Hendersonville Hospital was a fluke anyway, we debated as we left which ER, Skyline or Hendersonville would have the shortest wait, we live just about halfway between both.

We went there because we felt the wait wouldn't be too bad that early approximately 8am in their area. So off we headed to the east.

Looking back on the entire situation tonight we were guided in every step we were at the right hospital, at the right time, with the right employees on duty to catch and take care of Leon so well. We know that our Heavenly Father guided all the care events that took place today.

The love and outpouring of support from our family, our HRC family, our ward family and many many friends, has been so comforting and wonderful.


FCR and one sleep hubby.


***Heidi thank you for the name corrections I would really hate to not thank the correct people****

Road Blocks

Frustration can be one of the biggest de-motivational elements in our lives. This week has been full of frustration. I have the flu. Not conducive to running or training. The problem with me having the flu is I have to be careful that it does not develop in to pneumonia, which I am very susceptible to.

Recently Charlene the coach for the Hendersonville Running Club beginners group sent the blog address to the rest of the beginners group. So I say to you all

"Welcome and please enjoy"

Motivation for the week: This is a life changing event. This is the beginning of a new lifestyle that my husband and I can share with each other as well as our new HRC friends.

Weight loss: 5 pounds total lost 35 pounds

Goals: Get Healthy, motivate Hubby to keep up the good job.

Remember: One day at a time one step at a time one mile at a time.

FCR & Hubby

Week One......

Well so far this week the only miles we have logged have been between the couch and the bed. Both of us were hit by the creeping crud of the moment by Sunday night Hubby was down for the count. Monday he was feeling better and I was down for the count.

We have to take a moment and say "Thank You" to all of those readers that have started following our Blog. The support from the Hendersonville Running Club continues to warm our hearts and fuel our determination to continue on our quest to healthier and more active lives.

New Day One. HRC Beginners Running Group.....er walking for some of us!

Wow what a great morning. Hubby and I got up at 5:30 am ate great healthy breakfast to keep warm. Got dressed in layers, many layers. 17 degrees is really cold not to mention the snow on the ground.

We had a ton of fun and did really well. Hubby was able to do all the run/walk intervals, me not so great the cold air did me in. I'm going to blame it on the damage from the pneumonia last year.

Even tho I was not able to do the run/walk intervals I had a great partner to walk with . Thank you so much D for the encouragement and help along the way.

Today marked the longest walk we have done at one time, 3.6 miles in just over an hour. I forgot to look at the clock when we started.

Joining the Beginning Group was the best thing that Hubby and I have done so far. Even though he was ahead of me he found a running partner that helped keep him going as well.

The support was awesome. My walking partner and I were the last ones done. That was okay though. I kept moving at a steady pace with D's help. He injured himself trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon so he's on walk only status, great for me.

Hubby came back and found me on the back side of the loop and our friend T also came to encourage us as we finished the last little bit.

We are really looking forward to next week and have committed to each other to get up everyday and run/walk in the am before hubby leaves for work.

Till next time
FCR and Hubby

January 1, 2010

Welcome to 2010! I'm excited for the New Year so many new goals and so many new things on the horizon of the new year.

From here on out if I say "our" I am not speaking in the third person I am including my husband. We are embarking on goals that intersect this year.

I'm going to break down some of my walls this year. First of all here are my stats so far. I'm laying out here online for the world to see. A sort of global accountability.

Weight 267 lbs
total loss of 2009 32 lbs. Go Me! 18lbs to my 1st goal of 50 lbs.

With my doctors help and advice last year I only set goals of 50lbs at a time. It was daunting and scary. How was I ever going to do it? I did it with changes in diet and stopped eating box convenience foods and changed what I ate when I went out.

No extreme wacky cleanses, no extreme eating diets. Just real food cooked healthy. Eating the way our bodies were meant to eat.

My biggest problem with dieting is that in order to fuel your body enough to make it work correctly you have to eat 3 meals and 2 to 3 small snacks a day. THAT is a lot of food. I don't like to or forget to eat.

For help I used an app on my iPhone called "Lose it" a very simple app with ease of use and understanding of what it does and how it does it. But do not be discouraged if you do not own an iPhone or iTouch ,you can find these types of online programs to do the same. I hesitate to list any here with out trying them but all I did was search "weight loss tracker" there are hundreds of them. The key is finding what works for you.

Using my doctors advice and the suggestions from "Lose It" I first logged everything I ate counting calories I consumed every day....wow it adds up. Then my doctor, "LI" (lose it) and I decided that 1800 calories would keep me healthy and full and help me lose weight. Once I starting really logging and tracking food, I was surprised that there were times at the end of my "eating" day I had lots of calories left over.

The key is doing what works for you and do it healthy no crazy fad diet fixes. Just good fresh food prepared in healthy ways.

Anyway here's to a great 2010 and an even healthier you and me!

Till next time?
FCR and Hubby