#28: Do the Couch to 5k to prepare for run with Kurtis

So those that know me really well know that I have absolutely zero interest in working out.  I'm one of the lucky ones that doesn't have to work to fit into my clothes.  I've been the same size since high school with no effort on my part to stay that way. (Yes, I'm knocking on wood so that won't change!)  By no means do I live an inactive lifestyle... I just don't work out in any formal since of the word.  Well on my last 101 in 1001 list, I put down that I wanted to do a charity run/walk to give back to the Ronald McDonald House at Texas Children's Hospital.  When my youngest son was born, he had complications with his breathing, and to put it plainly, it turned out he had two holes on his lungs.  He was transferred two days after his birth from the hospital he was delivered at to the NICU at Texas Children's Hospital.  He was born on Dec. 22 which meant a lot of crazy scheduling and driving over the Christmas holidays.  It was a very stressful time for me and my husband, but the people at the Ronald McDonald House at TCH made it all a bit better.  Their kindness and generosity to us was so unexpected and appreciated.  They had gifts on Christmas day for all our boys, a bed at night for my husband to stay at the hospital with our son, meals for him to eat, and so many other things that made that time easier to focus on our son.  I will forever be grateful to the doctors and nurses at TCH for their care and patience during that time.  The least I could do was give back to them so they can keep doing what they do best.

So why not a charity run?  Sounds like a great idea!  Until it's race day and you haven't prepared for a single inch of the race, let alone a whole 5k's worth of inches.  I did complete the race, which was great and all...but I definitely had enough time during the race to think of a million other things I could do to give back to the RMH at TCH that didn't involve running.  I swore I'd never do another one... Until I got back around to my family who had been at the finish line cheering me on.  There was Kurtis, all smiles and so excited.  "Sarah, Sarah!  I wanna do this race with you next year!" he tells me.  I'm thinking, "Nuh-uh.  Ain't happening."  But Kurtis is a bit persuasive, and maybe my mind forgot a bit of the misery I inflicted on myself that day... I finally agreed to do the race with him this year.

So, now I'm in a pickle.  Kurtis is my "bounce off the wall" kid with tons of energy.  I now have to keep up with him during this race.  I can't just run awhile and then walk a longer while at my own leisure.  No, I'll have to actually keep his pace.  And yes, I am saying he could run faster than me.  There is no doubt in my mind he could run the whole thing and never look back (or hurt the next day either!)  It became very clear to me that I wasn't going to be able to to do this race without some sort of preparation for it.  How can I let an 11-year-old smoke me in a race?  I'd never live it down.

And so begins day one of the Couch to 5k for me.  I downloaded the app on my phone.  Crawled out of bed. Got dressed.  Put on my awesome new running shoes.  And did day 1.

Stage	Distance	Time	Pace
WU	505 yards	5:00	17:24
1	167 yards	1:00	10:31
1R	173 yards	1:30	15:15
2	182 yards	1:00	9:38
2R	160 yards	1:30	16:24
3	183 yards	1:00	9:36
3R	154 yards	1:30	17:06
4	155 yards	1:00	11:20
4R	162 yards	1:30	16:15
5	165 yards	1:00	10:37
5R	155 yards	1:30	16:56
6	166 yards	1:00	10:33
6R	160 yards	1:30	16:28
7	162 yards	1:00	10:50
7R	155 yards	1:30	16:55
8	166 yards	1:00	10:32
CD	497 yards	5:00	17:40
Total	1.40 miles	18:30	13:09
inc WU/CD	1.98 miles	28:30	14:24

To all my fellow friends that are runners...feel free to giggle now. :o)

I hated every minute of it.  I will continue to hate every minute of it.  I've tried being positive, but am finding nothing positive about the situation other than I WILL be able to keep up with my son on race day. Period.  The rest sucks.  That said, I hate reading other people's negative posts on the internet, and I strive not to post complaints myself.  So that's the last you'll hear about my Couch to 5k training until I get to week 9 and run a whole 5k without stopping.  I'll have nothing positive to say about this subject until then, so I just won't say anything about it at all! :o)

101 in 1001 {take 2}

So, here is my second 101 in 1001 list!  :o)

My first 101 list taught me quite a bit.  There's just something about a list that calls for completion.  So all those things I said I'd get to "one day soon...when I have the time" went on the list.  While I didn't complete my whole list, I sure did have a ton of fun checking off the activities I did get to do.  It's all about living a life you want to live and having fun while doing it....and if you can make a difference in someone's life along the way, it's all the better.  So bring on the big things, the little things, the fun things, and best of all the 101st check mark saying I did them all! 

The Mission:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

June 6, 2012

+

1001 Days

=

March 4, 2015

Items in Italics are in progress.  

Items in Bold are complete.

1. Finish all the unfinished goals of list #1 by December 31, 2012.
2. Do the 365 day photo challenge starting on my 30th birthday.
3. Make a digital album of those photos.
4. Start a community vegetable garden in the Houston area.
5. Start a community vegetable garden in the Dominican Republic.
6. Go to every Buc-ees in one weekend.
7. Go on at least 3 photography road trips.
8. Be the cause in 10 of my close friends and family doing the Landmark Forum. (1/10)
9. Organize my closet like S.L.R. would.
10. Enjoy a bottle of Cristal champagne with friends on a joyous occasion.
11. Finish Christian’s baby book/ convert it to a digital album.
12. Make my own jam.
13. Try 5 new artistic photography techniques in my photos.
14. Learn how to paint a picture.
15. Paint the picture I have in my head onto canvas.
16. Do something I’m scared of doing.
17. Make a Family Digital Album from mom’s side.
18. Make a Family Digital Album from dad’s side.
19. Make a Family Digital Album from my side.
20. Cook a steak for Erik.
21. Cook a hamburger for Erik.
22. Organize my photos into one location.
23. Make a “Best of” folder for my photos for easy reference.
24. Print our family portrait onto a large canvas.
25. Teach Westin to tie his shoes.
26. Teach Christian and Zack how to take pictures.
27. “Run” a 5k with Kurtis.
28. Do the couch to 5k to prepare for said run.
29. Do an art project with Beau. {thinking maybe a really hard origami project.}
30. Make a piece of jewelry with one of Grandma’s spoons.
31. Write an E-book.
32. Read 25 books.
33. Go to the Chihluly exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
34. Go to one of Chris’ dog competitions.
35. Buy a house.
36. Catch a fish from the pond at the farm.
37. Do 5 Pinterest projects.
38. Enter 5 photography contests. (1/5)
39. Submit a photo every month to the National Geographic "Your Shot" contest.
40. Dye my hair chocolate brown.
41. Teach Westin to write his name.
42. Organize my music into one location on Amazon Cloud.
43. Photograph 10 species of birds in nature.
44. Teach the boys how to wash their own laundry.
45. Take the boys to see “Rount Mushmore” :o)
46. Take the boys to see the Badlands.
47. Fly my Cat kite.
48. Do charity portrait photography for families in the Dominican.
49. Make a difference in someone’s nutrition by teaching them to grow food.
50. Iron all of my outfits for a week...Even if it doesn't matter!
51. Use my phone as just a phone for a week.
52. Plant a willow tree by the pond at the farm.
53. Write at least one blog entry a month.
54. Keep a gratitude journal.
55. See Hayes Carll in concert.
56. Shoot something and eat it.
57. Go on one of Erik’s adventures.
58. Put all of these goals onto my calendar so they get done in a timely manner.
59. Play and beat a Final Fantasy game with Erik.
60. Go to an Astro’s game every season.
61. Teach Zack and Christian how to drive.
62. Read 5 books from Erik’s library that he recommends to me. (2/5)
63. Learn 3 new 30 minute meals.
64. Learn 3 new crock pot recipes.
65. Buy myself a handgun.
66. Get my CHL.
67. Do an art welding project.
68. Complete a Bible study on 5 books of the Bible.
69. Surprise Erik with 3 sweet nothings a month.
70. Go to the Alamo.
71. Go on 15 kid-less date nights.
72. Buy new living room furniture.
73. Spend a whole day being lazy with Erik and the boys.
74. {personal goal with the Hubby} /grins! :o) {0/10}
75. Identify and find 10 Texas native plants in the wild that are edible.
76. Identify and find 10 Texas native plants in the wild that are medicinal.
77. Learn the proper fishing knot to string my own fishing pole.
78. Buy me a new Canon 580EX II flash.
79. Make 5 new dessert recipes.
80. Take the boys to the drag races.
81. Donate my time/skills to the Ronald McDonald House at TCH.
82. Take a nap in a hammock.
83. Buy a pair of boots.
84. Stay at a bed and breakfast in the Hill Country.
85. Catch a really big fish.
86. Make a quilt for my bed.
87. See Cirque du Soleil “O”
88. Make my own laundry detergent.
89. Go play Bingo.
90. Buy me a new Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L lens.
91. Contribute $10 to a vacation account for every accomplished task {and make Erik do it too.}
92. Become a PPA member.
93. Go a whole week without spending any money.
94. Shoot a target Annie Oakley style: backwards with a mirror. 
95. Take the boys to a Six Flags theme park.
96. Build a really awesome sand castle with the boys.
97. Decorate a Christmas tree and deliver it to a family who is at TCH over the holidays.
98. Pay for a strangers coffee at Starbucks.
99. Take the boys on the behind the scenes tour at Sea World.
100. Teach the boys how to identify 5 constellations... {and how to see satellites going by}
101. Participate in 100 snapshots project.