My Double Life...

I told my husband today that I feel like I have a double life lately...I wish it was cooler than it is, like I was a secret undercover agent that worked alongside Brad Pitt to weed out all that is evil in the world, but it isn't...I feel like I am mom, wife, daughter by day and secret running addict by night (okay not night, but really early morning which is still pitch black - might as well be night)...I swear by the time I get home in the morning everyone is just starting to get up or they are still asleep.  Sometimes, if it is really early when I get home (say 7:00) I can slip back into bed and catch a few zzzz's before anyone wakes up, but not for too long...My oldest son will be awake by 7:30.

I have never been the kind of person who could routinely get into the habit of getting up about 4:30 or 5:00 to do anything.  I have done it sporadically for this and that throughout the last couple of years but not this consistent. (In fact, this only started because this summer the heat was so unbearable in the evenings that morning was the only option.  After all it was still 100 degress at 10 pm and would cool down to a whopping 85 by morning if you were lucky!) I think once my body got used to it, everything kind of fell into place but until then for about a month, I was really tired by about 3.  Now, if I sleep past 8 on my rest days, I feel like I am dragging all day long.  I think I am more tired on those days then the ones when I get up before the sun, run 10 miles, and get back by 7.  How crazy is that? But it is true! I just seem to have so much more energy.

The other thing I have come to love about the early morning workout is that I am done by the time breakfast rolls around.  I don't have to feel guilty about time away from the family - especially when they are unconscious all warm and snuggly!  The evenings are still our family time, I can make dinner and not be rushed.  Here is a great article I read that lays out some more benefits of exercising in the morning.

On another note...got all my runs in this week, had no IT band issues, and lost 3 pounds!  It has been a great week all the way around.

Day 2 of Couch to 5K

3 pounds gone!

The kids have started the Couch to 5K training and have so far completed 2 days with ease.  I am so proud of them!

So for this week, the plan calls for:

Tuesday: 4 miles
Wednesday: 5 miles
Thursday: 6 miles

Saturday: 16 miles on trails
Sunday: 10 miles

I am working hard and staying with the plan for the 30 miler.  I think I might be able to just pull this one off, but I have to get a few more long runs in on the trails before I feel too confident.  It is all starting to come together for me though mentally and sometimes I think that is the hardest part.

Time to quit making excuses and bite the bullet

My motto for September.

For the past year and a half, I have been very unhappy with my weight.  I feel like the fat girl around all my runner friends - they are all about the size of my thigh...Don't get me wrong, I know I will never be mistaken for a Heidi Klum double, but I could stand to lose about 20 pounds.  The thing is that I have been comfortable with my weight - and even though I feel like I need to lose weight for many reasons, I just haven't found the motivation to do it...I look around the general public and feel pretty good about myself...and then I realize that is the wrong thing to do.  I need to look at myself and compare myself to nothing but me.  Am I healthy? yes...Do I exercise?  yes...I mean I ran 31 miles and burned 4500 calories last week - so obviously the exercise is not the issue...hmmm...that must mean the food...aw yes, the food...I do like to eat.  I especially like the headband that says "I run so I can eat."  That is me!  I like to not have to worry about what I eat.  And if I run a gazillion miles, I can eat and not worry about gaining weight.  HELLO MCFLY!!!! not going to lose weight if I don't watch my intake...that is basic math ... calories in, calories out....

So one of my main goals for the month of September is to track my intake (and hopefully lose a couple of pounds in the process).  I have started and quit this so many times over the last 18 months, I am embarrassed to say, but I have never written it down and put it out there for others to see.  So here goes...I am laying it all out here.

I should probably make a list of why I want to lose weight - pros:

1) preventative - don't want health issues as I grow older - this is the main one...heart disease and diabetes run in my family and honestly, that is a huge reason as to why I run and run so much...I don't want that for myself or my family as I get older...

2) maybe I wouldn't have to try on 12 different outfits before I go somewhere because I feel fat in everything....

3) increase in energy

4) my kids wouldn't tell me I am squishy!  :-)

I am going to be using the app My Fitness Pal .  If you by chance use that app and want to link up as friends, let me know.  I am aloran96 and I can use all the motivation and accountability as possible. :-)