It all started with laughter.....

One night at dinner I casually mentioned to my dear, sweet, supportive husband that our friend (and hubby's cousin) Tonya (http://www.tonyaallentri.com/) would be hosting a triathlon (mini sprint) training program at our local Y.  He asked if I was going to sign up for it and I said, "I thought about it."  His response, giddy laughter. Well that just pissed me off hurt my feelings.  So guess what I did?  I signed up for it as soon as it was available.

Now I am not Sally Fitness, never have been, I do the gym thing a couple times a week but I don't have marathon sessions.  I walked some, did some weights, stretched a little.  I gave it effort, or I thought I was giving it some effort.

Found this on: https://www.facebook.com/richardallenfitness

Now I knew about the sessions before they became available, so I got a bike and I started swimming a bit.  The first time I got in the pool, I thought I was going to have to be rescued by the lifeguard.  One lap, yes,  One lap was all I had in me, I was panting and coughing (because I tried to drink the pool) and I thought Holy crap, I am never going to be able to do this.  Now I have not swam with a purpose in many moons, I mean many, many moons.  When I was younger, I swam a lot, lived in the pool and was good at it.  There is much truth to adage, "If you don't use it, you loose it."  So I basically had to learn to swim all over again.  Called up Tonya got some pointers from her, read a bunch of stuff, watched YouTube and slowly built up my confidence and each time I went I did one more lap.   I also wear contacts, so I spent a lot of years with my eyes closed under water so I also worked on becoming more comfortable with my face in the water for an extended period of time with goggles on.  (Make sure you get good goggles, there is nothing worse than having your goggles leak!)   The first night of class she wanted to see how we were swimming and I did it!  I was no speed demon, and I still wasn't super comfortable with my face in the water, but I did all she asked.   I didn't drown so I was pretty excited considering a month previous I could only swim ONE lap.  This past Saturday morning,  I headed in was able to do, a few warm up, some drills, set and few to cool down.  Don't ask me how many, because I am terrible at keeping count!

Found this on: https://www.facebook.com/richardallenfitness

The next class, she wanted us to run, now I suck at running, always have.  I have often said I was born with anti running gene.  I flirted with running off and on for years, I just can't make myself love it.  I was determined though, I had also been practicing in the weeks before the class so I didn't make a complete fool of myself. to be truthful, just a little bit because I really don't like to run, it was more of a ralk (run, walk).  I did my best to keep up with them, but I quickly found out that wasn't happening because I would either die or at the very least cry in front of strangers so I slowed down.  When I had to,  I walked, when I could,  I jogged.  Again, I am not a speed demon, in fact,  I am the slowest,  but I am progressing.  When I started this, it was all I could do, to do a .10 of a mile, and that my friends is not a joke.  This morning I did 3 miles, slow, but I completed it with no walking at all.  I have also figured out that I have to completely concentrate on the task of running for some reason I can not multitask on this.  So if you see me out there, just wave and keep going because I can't chat.

Found this on:http://teenamonteleone.blogspot.com

Then we biked, now this was what scared me the most.  I love to bike as a kid, I burned up the roads of my little town.  As an adult, nope, it hurt and it hurt in some seriously tender spots.  When I got off the bike, I felt like I had given birth to an elephant.    So I got some handy,  dandy biking undies, (Me and bike shorts? No, thank you) that I could put on under my shorts and much better.

The first night I got the bike, I thought I would ride down and get our paper.  I was all cocky too. It's not that bad I thought as I pedaled down the drive and then I turned to start back up and OMG, I thought I was going to die.  I just knew my lungs were going to pop out my chest, and my heart was going to rocket out of the top my head!   In fact, I actually had to stop for few moments.  I did not remember it being this painful as a kid!  Again, I kept at it. One more lap, then a mile, then another, each time just a bit more.  Last Thursday, she led me on a 9 mile ride and I did it, with a lot of sweat,  but no swearing.  I even did the horrible hills (horrible to me anyway) and I was able to keep going.

I am currently using a mountain bike, which is not designed for road biking, it is heavy and I feel like I could give it more, but she can't take anymore.  I am currently looking at road bikes, but I just had to replace my air conditioner (a must in NC) and my dryer less than 2 weeks apart,  so we shall see if I can pull it off.  So if any of you know of a good road bike that won't kill me, that is cheap or free, let me know!

Found this on Pinterest,  but no one to give credit to! 

 For biking and running, I do at home either early in the morning or at night, I live in the country and we have a really long driveway and a nice trail leading over to another road so that serves as my training ground. It is safe for me to do alone without worry of cars or snakes (snake season here in NC) and there are elevation changes.   I just go back and forth and use an App to keep track of my mileage.

My running buddy.

I find that I quite enjoy this training, it gives me an time to myself, and I feel much better.  I have gotten over the guilt of taking an hour or so to compose my thoughts, either on a bike, running or doing laps.  For a long time, I felt terribly guilty about taking time to myself. Why?  I have no idea, I just did.

I have lost about 12 pounds in the last 3 weeks, due in part to the sweat fest I participate in and I am also making better choices about what I put in my mouth as well.

 I have learned I am much more capable that I gave myself credit for. 

 My goal in this in the beginning was to finish so I could shove the medal up show my husband I could do it, but as the weeks have rolled by I have come to realize it is not that important. I really want to do this for me, to know I can and know that I DID.  Will I do more?  Can't say for sure but,  I am enjoying this........

Until next time.

Grandparents: The people who replace your parents

My son loves his grandparents.  Plain and Simple.  I do too,  for that matter.  They are wonderful people who have taught him so much.  He only has one set, my parents both passed away so I guess that is why I feel strongly about him spending time with them.  My husband swears they are not the same people who raised him, they have been replaced by some sort of aliens who give him anything he wants!  He says, "I don't know who they are, but they are not the same people who raised me."  It is probably true, they would of never allowed my hubby to DUMP the toy box out and string toys from one end of the house to the other or eat ice cream in living room.  I guess that is why grandparenting is so much fun, you don't get the blame for spoiling the child, the parent do. How many times have you heard, "his grandparents spoil him so much and let him do whatever he wants"?

 Never.

Never ever.

Nope, not ever.

They teach him so much, spend time with him, let him roll around in the sand, dig in the dirt, and be a little boy and I am thankful for that.    I did this project on Easter Sunday, it took like 30 minutes and they will have these forever.

This is my favorite.

3 Generations. Nana, Papaw, Daddy and J
 Jordan has pollen all over his hands from playing with the spring blooms.

I had a good relationship with my grandparents, I was always at their house and learned a lot from them and have many fond memories of them.  I was 12 when they passed away (3 weeks apart) and to he honest it did leave a void in life, I missed them terribly and still do.  I do not have one picture of myself with them, not one, so I wanted to do this for them and him.  Hubby also loved his grandmothers, he lived right next door to one, so needless to say he was always at her house, he still speaks frequently of them, so this project was close to both our hearts.

Until next time.