Update!

I was thinking the other day that I totally said that I wanted to do a race each month for a year. HA! Where was I thinking I would find the time? The last race I did was when we were still in NY. That was April. I havent done much of anything since then. I few runs here and there when I'm feeling pudgy, but nothing like a race.

Anyway, I joined the gym on base. I think I wrote about how it was free to go but if you had kids, you had to pay. I was a little upset about that cause you didn't have to pay at Quantico. You just voulnteered your time.

But, I got the punch card and this is day 3 of going. I'm loving it! The boys, not so much.. You would think they'f have a great time interacting with other kids their age and being in a place with a million toys.. but they don't. I guess thats what I get for not being more social with them. All they've known is Mommy and as soon as you take Mommy out of their sight and leave them with no one they reconize, they freeaak.

The first day, Benji was nuts. They called my name over the loud speaker when I only had about 25 minutes on the treadmill to come in and comfort him. They said it as just a precaution and that I could leave him if I wanted.. but I took him because he was hysterical and they said he was biting and kicking and I hate to be that Mom that says, "oh well.. it's your job to deal with him" So the first day was a bust.

Yesterday was about the same. I was supposed to meet my friend, Erica there but her phone broke, there for her alarm didn't go off and she didn't end up making it til 9:30 when I was just finishing.

As far as the boys, Ben screamed the whole time again. I went to check him once and take him potty. He didn't go. he just sat there. They said Noah cried a little bit but was fine after a few minutes. I stayed an hour or so and left..

Today it seemed MUCH better. Erica came with her two boys. Noah and Ben know her kids so I think it's a bit easier for them. Noah didn't cry at all. Ben was crying in the beginning and then I checked on him about a half hour into it and he was playing.. it kind of went back and forth like that all day. We were there for an hour and a half.. got a nice workout in..

I'm loving having a gym partner,(thank you Erica!) she's so motivated, too.. I love it. Keeps me motivated.

I've decided not to focus on running as much. Lets face it, I'm not exactly built to run. I enjoy it still but, there are SO Many different things to do at the gym that work SO many different body parts, why waste a half hour on a treadmill? Its okay every once in a while.. but I'm determined to learn all of the machines in that gym..

FINALLY

A gym membership! I've ben down here for 2 months and have gained some weight. I've been running here and there, but only when I feel really bad about myself. I know that the gym on base housing is free, but I've heard rumors that you had to pay for child care - which wasn't the case at Quantico. You brought your kids, and volunteered your time 3 times a month to watch other peoples kids. It was nice-

So I finally trugged the boys over and got a child care punch card. As I understand, You pay for this card. You can pay $10, $20, or $40 and you get like a meal ticket punch card. Each time you bring your kiddos, they punch your card. I bought a $20 card, which is good for 11 times of dropping  your kids off. What I didn't realize is, each kid is a punch. So when I bring both the boys, thats two punched each time. Thats a load of crap! Totally not cool. Soo, I figured it out that if I go 5 times a week, I'll have to renew my card every week. Which means, $20 each week, which adds up to about .. what, $80? Is that right?! For some reason, before I only made it out to $60.. which I still this is awful! - I've always been terrible with Math -

ANYWAY, I think thats a flipping rip off. Soo, I'm going to call Gold's Gym, down the road and ask what their rates are. This is total bologna. It would be totally cool if I didn't have any kiddos.. Id be able to get in free. But since I have two, I have to get my card punched twice.. lame.

I feel like I might as well be getting a regular gym membership - not getting any kind of deals on base..

So I'll call Gold's tomorrow and find out what their rates are. Ive heard that they're $50 WITH childcare AND TANNING..

It's been a while.

But I'm still plugging along. Although it's been hard to get back into the groove after moving down to NC, I still have that urge to get out there in run. I took about 3 weeks off, and then decided I needed to get back into it. At first, I could seriously run one mile. It was pathetic. But today, I finally ran over 3 miles. Whew.

Let me just say, no matter how shitty I'm feeling, if I go for a run, I feel 100 times betetr afterwards. I love the feeling after a run and I can understand why people get addicted to it. Like today, I was feeling fat and I had a massivr headache.. I went for a run, I feel better about myself and my headache is gone.. I may not be the best runner, I'm surely not the fastest but, I enjoy it and I am always proud to say I'm a runner, and hopefully always will be.

Okay so, as far as weight goes though, I'm getting heavy again. I'm up to 132ish. YUCK. I just wish I could stay 125. That would be so perfect. I hate being so self conscience about my weight. It's so hard to go from 180 to 125 and then fluctuate between 125 and 135. I just wish I could get it under control and keep it under control.

I'm so totally rambling today - but you know, I can't go out of the house in a bathing suit unless Aaron takes a picture of me. I have to look at that picture and decide weather or not I'm skinny enough to go out in a bikini.. If I think I look fat, I'll put a pair of shorts and a tank top on.. if I think I look okay, I'll wear the bikini but when I get to the beach, I'll keep my shorts on.. I'm so selfconsciencde about my theighs and butt.. thats kind of sick, right?

I hope some day I can get over it and feel comfortable enough in my own skin to bare it all..

Dodge the Deer 5k.

The day started with me getting up at 6:30 to take a shower(cause I always have to shower before a race for some reason) I woke Aaron up at 7 and then Ian came at 7:45. We followed him to Schodack, NY.

It was raining the whole time and about 42 degrees on the way there. I remember thinking that we should just turn around and go home. After all, the race was only $15.

On the way, Jolene called and said she was running late. With how long it would take her to get there, we would be finished with the race already so she stayed home.

We got there and picked up our packages and bibs and then went over to a tent that they had where they were selling tshirts and souviners and all that stuff. I ended up buying a tshirt and Aaron bought a sticker, and a tshirt. Ian bought a pint glass..

Then they announced it was time to line up. By then the rain had stopped. (thank goodness) and we all lined up. There were 264 people at this race. Not the biggest race Ive ever done but it was a nice chunk considering we all had to squeeze onto one tiny trail.

They said "GO" and we were off.. I stayed with Ian for the 1st 2 miles. It was SO hard to get around people in front of you so I'm blaming some of that on my finish time. Lol..

At mile 1, they had a clock and my pace was 9mins20seconds.. which was pretty good. (for me) It seemed like FOREVER for the mile 2 marker to show up, I thought that they might have forgotten to put it up..but then I saw it. Ughh.. I was dying by then for some reason and thats when Ian started to pull away..

I kept my eye on him the whole time though. Aaron was long gone by then and I was just trying not to stop. I passed a few girls that looked about my age but I think they got me in the end...

Over all, it wasn't a good race. It was my frist trail race and not at all what I expected. Very hilly which was fine but also so very crouded..

Official time: 28:57 - Ouuccchh! Not my best time but not the worst, either.

On to some pictures:

These were the mascots I guess.. I have no idea what the race is about. All I know is it's put on by the Albany Running Exchange and they had a cookout and music and everything.

Thanks for reading!

country

Here are some pictures of the hilly route that Aaron and I ran a week or so ago. I love the route.. very pretty!

Here is looking down the hill that we ran up:

I hate how pictures dont show the true massiveness of this hill!

This is just before going down it. Pretty big drop off.

I have a video, too but for some reason, I can't get it on here. Darn.

We had our race this Saturday so I'll be posting a race report after this.

Phew!

Aaron and I took a different route on our nightly run today. We ran way out into the country where all there are are cows and the smell of cow poop!

It was fun though. The first 1/2 mile was all hill. Probably bigger than the ones back in Virginia,(if you remember me posting pictures of those suckers) and a hell of a lot longer! But we made it all the way.

I wish I had brought my camera. It was just so peaceful out there compared to running in town with people everywhere and traffic. I hope we can do this route more often.

Im beginning to think I can be a distance runner. That is, when I'm not thinking about running, I can be.

 Like today when we were running out there in the openness with nothing around but cows and beautiful views, for once, I wasn't thinking, "Man, when will this be over? I can't breathe, my legs hurt, I have a cramp" like I normally do. I was just thinking about the veiw. It was fun. Seriously.

Our race is this Saturday. The Dodge The Deer 5k trail run. This should be fun!

Graceful

Yeah, leave it to me to roll my ankle while doing nothing at all.
I have had problems with my right ankle for as long as I can remember. Ive never sprained or broken it though. It's just been really weak my whole life.

I remember playing basketball back in middle school and rolling it almost every week. I always had to tape it for games.

So yesterday, I was downstairs doing laundry and talking on the phone with Aaron when I went to step over a broom that was just laying on the ground. I don't know how it happened but, I stepped down on my ankle wrong and fell. I landed with my body half way up the basement stairs, phone flew out of my hands onto the floor and all I coudl hear was Aaron yelling, "Babe! Are you okay? Should I call 911? Your Mom? Do you need help!?" 

I'm sure he was worried because when I went down, I screamed "F*ck!!" and then I started crying hysterically.. I heard my ankle snap. It was awful.. ew. CRINGE! !

Anyway, I am okay. Aaron didn't have to call 911, (or even my Mom.) I made it back up the stairs and took my sock off.. sure enough, it was already starting to swell. Nice.

It looks a lot better than I thought it was going to today though!

Just a little swollen. And I can walk pretty good too!

I'm trying real hard not to be a baby about it :)

(man my calf looks fat and dry!)

It better heal before the 17th cause thats my next 5k!