Summer Races: Shelburne Falls

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Aimee

Most road races are like books to me. Just as I rarely re-read a book even if I love it I tend to only run a race once and then I’m done. This was my third running of the Bridge of Flowers 10K. It is a fairly local race for me held in the quaint northwestern town of Shelburne Falls, MA in the Deerfield River valley along the Mohawk Trail.

The Bridge of Flowers

The race began in 1979 and has been run each year since along the same route with a few adjustments here and there. The course offers scenic charm, a steep uphill challenge, a fast back half and lots of cheering support.

This is a rough sketch of the course. It’s more of a double loop course than a flat line. Trust me when I say that Crittenden Hill should be renamed Crittenden Small Mountain!

I first ran this race in August 2010. It was my first 10K and I completed the race in 1:07:36. With nothing to compare it to I was quite pleased. Last year I was training for the Disney Marathon and incorporated the Bridge of Flowers 10K into my training plan. My goal for the race was simply to finish a second or two under my 2010 time. In rereading my blog post (check out the photo of me near the finish) about the race I will say that I was very modest about my results. I ran the 2011 race in 1:04:16. That’s a fantastic improvement over the year before if I do say so myself.

Back in January after the Disney Marathon I set forth a new running goal in this post. Why the emphasis on speed and time you ask? Turns out I really thrive on having fitness goals. However, I do not wallow in defeat if I am unable to achieve my ideal goal. It’s fun and gives me something to work for. I try to make my goals realistic and attainable. It’s a personal challenge since the only one I’m competing against is myself. I also take into consideration that all race courses are not equal to my training runs. With all that said I have a few general guidelines when I run a race:

Have fun!
Run the best you can
Smile and say thank you to volunteers at the water tables

I do not wear my Garmin when I race because as much I want to accomplish my goals it is more important to enjoy what I’m doing. If I finish with a good time even better.

This was the first year my husband would not be accompanying me. With very little arm twisting my college roommate, Colleen, graciously agreed to come up from Boston for the weekend to cheer me on while watching Carlos during the race. She has run the Boston Marathon twice once with a team during which she qualified to run the race on her own. She ran the second time in under 3:40. In recent years she has suffered with terrible knee injuries and has been unable to run long distances. She’s an inspiration to me and one of my dearest friends.

Me, Colleen & Carlos on the Bridge of Flowers

OK enough already you’re probably saying, get on with it. The day before the race it down poured nearly all day. I was a bit concerned when I woke up to grey overcast skies. Luckily the skies held back and the weather was perfect for racing. I lined up on the bridge without the slightest hint of nerves; made me feel like a real veteran of this race. Soon we set off across the bridge to the cheers of hundreds of supporters. Carlos and Colleen were there to see me off.

The obligatory pre-race photo

I know the course well. The hill was in front of me before I knew it and I tried to keep running, but it feels like you are running up a wall. I began to walk as fast as possible. There were supporters along the way up shouting words of encouragement. I picked markers every now and then and ran from one point to the next. By the time I reached the water station near the top I was certain the hill had grown over the past year. I quickly drank a cup of water and then sped downward as quickly and safely as I could.

The back half of the course begins on a tree lined shaded dirt road. It empties the runners out onto a main road which remains open to cars though there are cones to indicate the lane for runners. We wind our way back down toward the back side of the bridge which we cross yet again to enter the chute to the finish line.

My training for this race was incorporated into my marathon training plan. That was halted in early July thanks to a sore hamstring followed by a strained Achilles. I listened carefully to my body and held off on running until about a week and a half before this race. It was a very frustrating time. In place of running I did strength training, stretching and some swimming.

Despite the training setbacks I felt great during the race. I was comfortable with my pace and had no discomfort at all. I put no pressure on myself to set a PR and I certainly didn’t hold myself to my original goal of running this particular 10K in under an hour. I was just so thrilled to be running my favorite race pain free.

Someday I will run a 10K in under an hour, someday I will run this race in under and hour, but on this day I did not, but that was just fine. As the time clock came into sight I was overjoyed by what I saw and much to my delight I did set a PR with a finish time of 1:01:53. Hot damn!!

“Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”

–William Faulkner

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Blog Stuff

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Aimee

We had a nice weekend. The weather was gorgeous, felt like fall. A friend from my Peace Corps days spent the weekend here. He was content with just hanging out and going with the flow of our plans. I get the feeling from a few of my friends that they find my home relaxing and come here to sort of get away from the hustle and bustle of their lives. This makes me happy. So we didn’t do anything terribly exciting. We went to a busy farm store and bought some local Macintosh apples, apple cider and corn on the cob. Carlos had his first soccer practice of the season. I ran an awesome 6 miles on Sunday.

Tonight we are going to an Ice Cream Social for my son’s school. The teacher said he had a great today and an excellent nap. Kindergarten really tires him out because he hasn’t taken naps in almost 2 years. He’s always been a good sleeper though. So we are off shortly, but before we go I wanted to share my answers for this week’s Friend Makin’ Mondays all about blog stuff.

If you have taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s questions on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so others can see your FMM questions and answers. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers by posting your own FMM post and commenting on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Blog Stuff

1. Have you ever met anyone through your blog that led to an in-person friendship/relationship? No.

2. Most bloggers have a specific niche. What would you discuss if it didn’t seem inappropriate on your blog? I would talk about my job more often if not for HIPAA (privacy) laws.

3. If you could meet three bloggers, who would they be? Honestly I would love to meet all the bloggers I read, but for the sake of answering the question I will name 3. I would love to meet Biz, Marion and Carina. I think each of these women exemplify strength, intelligence and dedication. I also appreciate their support and honest opinions.

4. If you had to choose between Facebook or Twitter which one would you choose? Facebook, though I have a love/hate relationship with it. I tweet every now and then, but I feel like I’m invisible out there. I enjoy some of the articles I find via Twitter. Other than that I am not sure I really grasp the concept of Twitter.

5. Do you vlog (video blog?) No.

6. How many blogs do you read on an average day? I read about 15 blogs regularly, but not all of the bloggers post daily.

7. What is the coolest thing that you’ve seen online recently? I recently read this interesting article about how technology keeps us connected nearly all the time.

8. If you gave your blog a new name what would it be? I would probably just use my real name.

9. Have you ever attended a blog conference like Fitbloggin? If not, would you? I would love to attend Fitbloggin though I think I would feel a bit out of place.

10. In the past I have asked why you blog. Now I want to know why you read blogs? What do you take from it? I read blogs that I find helpful, interesting, and inspiring. I find 99% of the recipes I make from blogs I read. I love reading about people’s journeys to a healthier life. I enjoy learning about different ideas and experiences.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to visit Kenlie’s blog and link up in the comments!

Summer Races: Lake Wyola Road Race

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Aimee

Back in April I announced my plans to run the Philadelphia Marathon in November. Despite the fact that I haven’t written a single post about marathon training I have been training since July. My training came to a screeching halt early on thanks to a sore hamstring followed by a stretched Achilles. I am happy to report that both issues have since resolved. Marathon training is going well despite some bumps in the road, scheduling challenges and a serious lack of time. I have competed in 3 races that I have yet to write about. Two were repeat races that I hope to make an annual tradition and the most recent was a new race in a new place.

Lake Wyola Road Race

On June 10, 2012 I ran this local race for the second time. This was the 32nd running of the Lake Wyola Road Race. Carlos and I frequent the lake all summer. The small beach is a part of the Massachusetts State Parks system. It is a hidden gem about 40 minutes away from home. Race proceeds benefit the Lake Wyola Association.

The website describes the course perfectly. “This scenic 4.8 mile race starts at the Lake Wyola Association Hall and runs counter clockwise around the lake on mostly tree-canopied country roads. The first half of the course is paved with a challenging uphill climb. The second half is dirt roads with a small bit of pavement at the finish line.”

The uphill climb in this race is a great precursor to another race I run each summer. I love this race because it is extremely well organized, very family friendly and the course is picturesque. The pre and post race offerings are among the best of any race I’ve run. The volunteers go above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome and at home in the community of Lake Wyola.

Lake Wyola Road Race 2012

Going into this race I assumed I would do better than last year. However, it didn’t turn out to be one of my best races or even a great run. I broke some cardinal rules which led to a near disaster. I worked the night before which I try very hard not to do before a race. I ate nothing at work and then instead of my usual peanut butter toast and banana I ate only the banana and peanut butter before we left for the race which was a little too early to have eaten. I was not well hydrated despite the heat. Training had been sporadic due to the shin splint I got from ice skating in the spring.

I ran more of the uphill portion this year than I did last year so I felt strong going out. However, on the back half of the course I felt shaky, sluggish and I knew I was slowing down. It was hot and there were no water stations for the last mile and a half or so.

I wrote about last year’s road race here. I had a great experience last year. Below are my times for both races.

Lake Wyola Road Race – 47:22
Shutesbury, MA – June 10, 2012

Lake Wyola Road Race – 46:35
Shutesbury, MA – June 18, 2011

At first read it probably sounds like I’m making excuses for my poor performance this year. I admit I was a little disappointed when I crossed the finish line. As with any “bad” run I used this experience as an opportunity to learn something about myself and how to train better.

Having just started back at Weight Watchers about a month before the race I was still navigating the points system and how the program would work best with my level of activity. At that time I was backing away from bread and grains because of their high points value. This race taught me that I needed to find a way to incorporate grains back into my diet or marathon training would be a nightmare. I did not fuel properly before this race and I felt the effects especially during the last half of the race. I now use my extra weekly points to be able to eat a healthy amount of whole grain foods. Funny thing is that once I began eating the grains again I began losing more weight.

This race proved to me why I don’t typically run races after working all night. Sure I can run a training run after working all night because I’m not pushing myself to beat my last time.

Despite the fact that I knew it was going to be hot I didn’t hydrate myself properly in the hours before the race. Since I was at work I also drank a couple cups of coffee which didn’t help my hydration.

Silly Carlos

No matter how a race turns out it is still a great excuse to be with my family, do something outdoors and be around other active people. Carlos and Orlando were there to cheer me on. I appreciate all of their support over the last couple of years. I realize that my commitment to running relies on their support. On days when I just don’t feel like going out for a training run my husband is always ready to boot me out the door. When I need to wake up at the crack of dawn to workout because that’s my only opportunity for the day, again my husband will make sure I get out of bed and go. As much as I run these races and workout almost everyday for my health and well being, I also do it for that little guy in the photo above. He is my world and I try to do everything on my part to make sure I will be here to ~~drive him crazy~~ see him grow up.

Lake Wyola I’ll be back next year and looking for a personal record!

Wordless Wednesday: Apples

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Aimee

A quick note before the somewhat wordless part. Carlos is happily settling into kindergarten. I am slowly finding a new routine. So far my days have been consumed with running, cooking and cleaning. Oh and last week we came across an amazing offer to refinance our mortgage so that has kept me very busy. I am running a race this weekend and then I hope to get back on track here. I’ve certainly got a lot swimming in my head to write about. In the meantime I wanted to post some photos from our visit this past weekend to Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery in Richmond, MA. If you are in the area I highly recommend stopping by for a hike, apple picking, wine tasting, hot, fresh cider donuts and more.

: I enjoyed a wine and cider tasting of the accompanying Furnace Brook Winery.

: Lounging after a hard day of apple picking

: Carlos and I taking a rest after hiking trails on the property.

: Sitting pretty

: In the apple orchard

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Tech Questions

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Aimee

It’s starting to feel like entire days are missing. How is it already Monday again?

FMM: Tech Questions

1. PC or Mac? Mac!! Prior to my switch to Apple I had a Toshiba laptop. I was in nursing school and had just completed a lengthy paper. Suddenly my screen froze. I tried everything. I even waited 24 hours while trying to control my emotions. This had happened so many times before. The computer was running so slowly and it was growing increasingly more frustrating to use. I sat staring at the frozen screen in despair. Although I should have been rewriting the paper I made an impromptu phone call to Apple and within 72 hours I had my very own iMac. My love for Apple grew even more when I received my current MacBook as a gift from my husband. It was life changing.

2. When did you get your first computer? My sister and I got a Radio Shack Tandy computer probably around 1985 or so. I remember spending days typing in a program to simply change the color of the screen! It’s really incredible how much things have changed. I’m so grateful that I have managed to keep up with the technology enough to use it comfortably.

3. Do you use cable, DSL or something else? I have high speed cable internet through Comcast. It’s about the only thing I can get in my area.

4. When choosing a laptop, do you think it’s more important to choose the fastest one, or the lightest one? I don’t want a 10 pound laptop, but I definitely prefer speed over weight. The MacBook Air is tempting, but if I had to buy a new laptop today it would be the MacBook Pro. I might even spring for the 15″ screen since we use the computer quite often to watch movies and TV shows.

5. What kind of cell phone do you own? Do you like it? I have an iPhone and I love it…a little too much.

6. How do you carry your laptop when you travel? I carry it in a laptop case. It’s a bright orange ING carry case that I got for free for opening a savings account years ago. I don’t go far with my laptop so I haven’t invested in anything more stylish. On airplanes I keep the laptop with me and store it under the seat in front of me.

7. How many e-mails do you send on an average day? I probably only send a few a day.

8. Do you ever blog using your iPad or similar tablet? I used my iPhone once to write this post. It was a quick one so it was easy enough, not sure I could type a long post on the phone though.

9. What do you use more often – a desktop or a laptop? The old iMac desktop belongs to my son now. It is slow and when he was 2 he crammed lord only knows what into the disc drive. One of my work IDs popped out at one point and we know there is more in there because it is unusable. He navigates the internet like a pro, well the little of it he has access to thanks to parental controls.

With that said I use my laptop 100% of the time and I love it.

10. As a blogger, are there other gadgets that you need to get the job done? If so, what are they? I occasionally use my iPhone for photos or to respond to comments. I also have a lovely dSLR which I desperately want to learn how to use properly.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to visit Kenlie’s blog and link up in the comments!

Reflections on Summer

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Aimee

School starts next Wednesday for my son. He is going to be in full day Kindergarten, the only option at his school. It has been an action packed, fun filled, busy summer, but in all honesty I’m not sad that it’s over. I have always loved the beginning of a school year. It signifies a new beginning, the excitement of change and the start of fall, my favorite season. Life is about to change dramatically for us. I will soon have many hours in the day to do, well, whatever the heck I want! Realistically though, those hours are likely to fly by filled with mundane things like errands, cleaning, running, cooking and the occasional lunch with a friend. One thing I’m most excited about is that I will finally be able to blog a bit more regularly and a little more about running.

Before I get into my new routine I want to reflect on this summer. Traditionally I have always loathed summer. It meant less clothing, bathing suits, more focus on my body, pesky sunshine, crazy hair under full command of the humidity level and roughly 3 months of feeling more uncomfortable than usual in my skin. This summer was different in so many ways and was the first summer I can honestly say I loved.

Many a day was spent at one of my favorite local beaches, Lake Wyola. We discovered it when Carlos was a baby and have been going ever since. It’s about a 40 minute, traffic-free drive from my house. The beach is small, but staffed with 4 lifeguards. The water and beach area are super clean. We typically go with kids from Carlos’ school and their moms. It’s fun for the kids and usually really relaxing for us.

8 month old Carlos at Lake Wyola in 2007

Carlos at Lake Wyola in 2012

I signed Carlos up for a few different local half day camps. Most met from 8-12 and allowed me just enough time to go for a run and take a shower or run an errand. He spent two weeks in an activities camp at a local park. They did arts & crafts, sports, short hikes, and played games. He did two different soccer camps each a week long. There was also a week of tennis camp at Mount Holyoke College. My thoughts on the camps: Carlos had a great time. The tennis camp was a bit unorganized and pretty much anyone could have picked up my child. I spent the entire week running around the pond just below the tennis courts and the campus so I could keep an eye on Carlos. I liked that the camps were only half day because I was not ready to have my baby boy gone all day! Honestly though I felt like I did more driving around and preparing for the camps that in the end they didn’t actually provide me with an adequate amount of time to do all I had hoped.

Tennis Camp

3 summers ago I started Carlos in swimming lessons through our town. This summer he was learning to dive, do the crawl stroke and survival floating (treading water). Thoughts: There is a sense of relief that comes from knowing your child can swim. I love the style in which these lessons are taught. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 3pm-4pm is a commitment on both of our parts. Carlos never complained. The air inside this indoor swimming pool is really hot and steamy. I complained a few times!
Carlos and I went to Florida to visit my Dad for a long weekend. My thoughts on these quick trips with a 5 year old: Awesome! Seriously my son and I have it down to a routine now. We both love the whole airport/airplane experience. Our time in Florida does not follow a schedule or agenda and truly allows us quality time spent lounging at the beach or in the pool with my Dad.

Water Park in Florida

I spent a fair amount of this summer in a bathing suit and didn’t really mind it. For more on that read this post.
We had visits from old friends and visited dear friends.
Nearly every weekend was booked solid.
We love day trips and there were a few great ones this summer like a visit to Mystic Aquarium with friends, a family day at Second Beach in Newport, RI and an afternoon at the Children’s Museum in Albany with my Peace Corps site mate/dear friend and her adorable baby boy.

Penguins at Mystic Aquarium

Enjoying a Del’s Frozen Lemonade at Second Beach in Newport, RI

Albany Children’s Museum with our favorite new friend

Hiking: we did more hiking in the beginning of the summer and not as much as I had hoped. There’s still time! Running: marred with minor injuries in early summer that took a little time to heal. Still I managed to run three races including the Color Me Rad 5K with Carlos. I am in the midst marathon training. Swimming: Carlos swam almost every day this summer. I dipped my toes too and even got my head wet on occasion.

The Navigator checking the map of Mt. Tobey

Color Me Rad 5K

A sunny swim

Other experiences we enjoyed this summer were blueberry picking, a drive in movie, the live How to Train Your Dragon show, birthday parties, homemade popsicles, play dates and ice cream – lots and lots of ice cream!

Overall pros of this summer:

tons of outdoor activities
Carlos had ample opportunity to play with other children
new adventures and experiences
quality family time
great summer weather almost all summer
after a few years of winter layoffs my husband has been working mandatory overtime every Saturday for months now
not being preoccupied with my body and feeling the most comfortable I have ever felt during the summer in bathing suits, summer clothing and new environments

A few cons of this summer:

a few things had to go by the wayside, namely blogging and home projects
never enough hours in the day
lack of structure and routine
busy but not truly relaxing
pulled hamstring and pulled Achilles
my husband has had to work mandatory overtime every Saturday which meant less family time
too much ice cream!

Seeing all of this in writing makes me sigh and smile. We did a lot. In many ways this was the best summer of my life. I have tears in my eyes when I think of how much more of life I’ve experienced since Carlos was born. As I close the summer with a birthday next week I am excited about what lies ahead for me. I feel better now at almost 39 than I did in all of years leading up to this birthday.

Thank you for the memories Summer 2012. After a whirlwind few months I’m ready to wind down and return to a routine. Let this not be goodbye just see you next year!

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Groceries

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Aimee

FMM: In the Kitchen

1. How often do you cook at home? I cook almost every meal every day at home. This wasn’t always the case though. I always hated cooking. After having my son I embarked on a quest to learn how to eat healthy. My husband bought us a laptop and I discovered healthy living blogs chock full of delicious easy recipes. With my laptop on the kitchen counter suddenly a whole new world opened to me. I love to cook now and prefer eating home over eating out most of the time. Every now and then I enjoy going out especially for ethnic food.

2. Do you eat more fresh produce, frozen or canned produce? We go through so much fresh produce a week I really should have a garden.

3. What are a few unusual staples that can always be found in your kitchen? Banana peppers, nutritional yeast, chick peas and dates.

4. Look in your fridge, then tell us about the healthiest thing in there. A ginormous Costco bag of spinach

5. Now share the most unhealthy thing in it. I think it’s a tie between turkey dogs and sugar free Jello. My husband and son eat the turkey dogs and Carlos grabbed the Jello by accident as a snack for camp this week. I didn’t look at it carefully when he threw it in the cart. I would have bought the regular Jello. I don’t like him to have the artificial sugar. It will probably make it’s way to work where someone will eat it.

6. Do you eat leftovers? Yes.

7. Do you use coupons at the supermarket? I try to use coupons, but often times I forget them. I dislike the coupons that offer money off if you buy more than one of a product. I don’t always want more than one because it might spoil or I’m not sure if we will use it all.

8. How often do you try new recipes? At least once a week thanks to all the terrific recipes I find on blogs.

9. Do you make grocery lists? Do you stick to them? If I make a list I usually stick to it. I don’t always make lists despite my never ending attempt to get organized, be more efficient and save money.

10. If you could buy one food item that would magically be calorie-free, which item would you choose? Peanut butter

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to visit Kenlie’s blog and link up in the comments!

Friend Makin’ Mondays: A Little More Personal

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Aimee

It’s August already! And it’s Monday again, really? I’ve gotten off track a bit with the focus of this blog. I am determined to begin my marathon training posts tomorrow. I still can’t quite believe that I’m running another marathon in November. I began marathon training about a month ago and almost as soon as it started it abruptly stopped due to some minor issues like a hamstring pull and an Achilles strain. I’m happy to report that I’m back in action. Philly here I come…slowly but surely. In the meantime it really is Monday and time for Friend Makin’ Mondays.

FMM: A Little More Personal

1. Are you a morning person? I think I’m just an all day person. I don’t love the idea of getting up in the morning to go to work which is part of the reason why I enjoy working nights. However, I was up at 5am this morning to go to the gym because it was my only opportunity to work out. On my nights off I get up when my son comes in my room in the morning which is usually around 5:45am. I’m not grumpy or hard to wake in the morning.

2. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? I’m probably more of an extrovert but not to any extreme.

3. Are you addicted to anything? If so, what? Peanut butter and my iPhone.

4. How many times have you been in love? Once and I’m still in love with him. We will celebrate our 11 year wedding anniversary in September.

5. What is your position on politics? I’ll never tell! It gets more confusing every time I read the news. I will say that I feel differently about many things now than I did in my 20s.

6. Are you religious? I don’t go to church. I was raised Catholic, but my parents didn’t really practice the religion. I am fascinated by all religions and love to learn about them. I have attended different denominational services especially living abroad. I respect a person’s right to worship. I am spiritual in my own ways and pray in private. I think a basic religious foundation is important so for now my son is attending Catholic school.

7. Would you prefer backpacking or a luxury hotel? I’ve done both and at this stage in my life I prefer the latter.

8. Do you have/want pets? I don’t have any nor do I want any. My son thinks I am allergic to animals (I’m not – don’t judge) though his request to have a dinosaur was accepted pending his ability to find one in need of a home. I have nothing against animals I just don’t want to be responsible for one.

9. Are you a sports fan? Yes I am. I always cheer for our home teams. I enjoy going to sporting events. I really wish I could watch more of the Olympics. My husband and I are going to our first Red Sox game at Fenway on his birthday in a few weeks. I’ve seen them play the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. If you know anything about the two teams you will understand how brutal that situation is for Red Sox fans.

10. How often do you brush your teeth? This question cracks me up. The answer really should be two or more for everyone. I brush my teeth in the morning and at night before bed everyday. I also brush around 5am when I’m at work so my patients do not have to endure coffee breath when I check vital signs in the morning.

11. Do you have tattoos and/or piercings? Ear piercings and 1 tattoo in an well hidden place on my body. I don’t necessarily regret the tattoo but if someone offered to remove it free of charge I would jump at the opportunity.

12. What’s your favorite clothing brand? Dickies, Cherokee or Champion! Not really, but I live in scrubs or workout clothing. I tend to shop mostly at Loft. I have a very difficult time buying clothes to flatter my pear shaped body. To all the skinny jean and straight leg pants designers out there, how about something stylish for the curvy girls?

13. Should a man open doors for a woman? I think people should just be more respectful overall. If I get to the door first I hold it. With that said I am doing my best to encourage gentlemanly behavior in my son. It’s certainly not a bad thing.

14. Which season is your favorite? I adore the fall. I love the colors, the scents, the foliage and the crispness in the air.

15. Would you rather eat less or workout more? I would rather workout more, but I’ve come to the discovery that I need to focus on both my portions and working out regularly if I’m going to be successful at reaching my goal weight.

16. What’s your idea of romance? A night out alone with my husband would be romantic enough for me.

17. How often do you do things that are outside of your comfort zone? All the time! I am constantly doing things that push me outside of my comfort zone particularly with running. Each race is an opportunity to do better, go faster and learn something new. I am in the midst of trying to find baby sitters in my area and have joined an online sitter service. I wish I could just find sitters who live nearby or who are already known to me. I’ve resisted joining a service until now because it seemed a bit overwhelming. I’m learning the ropes of finding a babysitter this way and hoping I will find a few college students who can babysit with Carlos on occasion.

18. Christmas or Halloween? I love the Christmas season. I just abhor the idea of excessive gift giving.

19. Would you rather live in the country or the city? I would prefer to be in or close to a city.

20. Share your life philosophy. Never give up on yourself.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to visit Kenlie’s blog and link up in the comments!

A Clearing

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Aimee

I’ve listened to my body telling me to stop before the injury gets worse. First my shin, then my hamstring and most recently my Achilles. I waited patiently doing all that I could to help myself heal completely. Now that I’m healed it feels like I’m starting over. The run is slower, harder both mentally and physically. I won’t quit though. I’ll get back to the place I was at once before and just when it starts to feel the slightest bit easy again I will challenge myself to push further.

The trail may be the same but the run is always different, ever changing. I needed to stop for a moment today to remind myself that I run for more than just physical fitness. I run as much with my mind and heart as I do with my legs. My speed may have slowed down but my love of running is as strong as ever.

Bathing Suits

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Aimee

There was a summer during my teen years when I routinely sat around my aunt’s pool in baggy sweaters and baggy stretch pants insisting that I was “fine.” I’m from New England where the temperatures vary, but summer is still fairly hot so I doubt I was actually “fine.” I vividly remember one ensemble being a combination of a hot pink long sleeved sweater and yellow pants. Yikes! I obviously refused to get in a bathing suit that summer. I have been self-conscious about my body for as long as I can remember. Bathing suits have been the absolute bane of my existence for many years.

Junior high swimming was anxiety provoking. Thank goodness for makeup sharing induced pink eye or rather spraying the hair spray a little too close to my eye about 10 minutes before swim class so I could go to the school nurse and feign pink eye. Worked like a charm as did menstrual cramps, headaches and oops I forgot my bathing suit. In order to makeup the swim classes I missed all I had to do was swim 20 laps after school. The swim instructor allowed me to keep a T-shirt on over my bathing suit and there was no one there anyway besides the swim team who paid no mind to the random two or three people making up missed swim classes. Twenty laps was no trouble. I actually love to swim. I simply hated getting in the pool during swim class with all of my peers, boys and girls.

I was quite a good swimmer though. Twice the swim coach approached me about joining the swim team and twice I replied sure despite having no intentions of joining. In retrospect I regret that decision to this day. That is the one and only thing I would change if I had a do over because I believe it would have inadvertently altered the course of so many other events in my teenage life.

I’ve never been comfortable in a bathing suit. I have a quintessential pear shaped body so exposing my legs is nothing if not embarrassing. Only recently with the advent of the skirt tankini have I been able to feel even remotely comfortable on the beach or at a swimming pool. I initially felt a bit elderly, but then I found a couple of cuter styles of skirt tankinis. A flattering bathing suit for my figure and continued positive changes to my body have given me the confidence to wear a bathing suit when the need arises though I still keep my cover up or sun dress on as long as possible.

This past weekend I was in Florida with Carlos visiting my Dad and his girlfriend. It was a quick three night trip and it involved being in a bathing suit 90% of the time. We swam at his condo pool, the beach and on Saturday we spent the day at a water park. Initially at the water park I kept my cover up on, but quickly realized that it would simply be a nuisance because there were too many fun rides so I relegated all my belongings including the cover up and my flip flops to a locker. I walked around a water park for nearly 7 hours with nothing but my bathing suit on. You know what…I felt absolutely fantastic.

OK I didn’t exactly feel like I could grace the pages of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. I simply felt normal. I felt comfortable for the first time in nothing but a bathing suit, albeit a skirt tankini. I didn’t think about my weight, or how my body looked in the bathing suit. I was comfortable in my own skin. I wanted to shout how good I felt or at least share it with someone. I didn’t do either. I just kept reveling in my head how worth it this journey has been. I’m so glad that despite my ups and downs with my weight I have never fully given up. I am grateful that I persisted and found a way to make fitness a priority in my life. I am proud of myself for continuing to learn more about nutrition, try new ways of eating and delve into the reasons why I’ve been overweight for so long.

After having my son I knew that I didn’t want to watch my him grow up while sitting on the sidelines of life. I wanted to be right there in the thick of it, running, playing, experiencing life with my family. I vowed that my weight issues would never inhibit my son’s life. Saturday was a really significant day for me. It was the first time I had ever been to a water park with my son. I rode every water slide, jumped in the pools, lounged on a tube while floating down the lazy river and sat at a picnic table for lunch in nothing but my bathing suit.

Good times!

What kind of bathing suit do you wear? Are you comfortable in it?