Work out catch up

This week we were all starting to feel better! Thank God for health! Graysen didn't start feeling better until Thursday, but we are all now on the mend and back to our normal activities. This Monday I went to Zumba Sentao and it felt great. Ben really works on the core and legs! I worked Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday I made it to Zumba a little late, but I got a good 40 minute workout in tho! Friday I did a 20 minute workout at home. It was crazy cause I used my stop watch and only counted the actual time I was working out. It took me an hour to get a 20 minute work out in. Mainly cause a friend was texting me and my boys were home. Caden helped me do some work out moves, he even did some along with me. I was planking and he decided to get on my back. I did a 30 second plank with him on my back. That was tough for me, but I pushed through and got the 30 seconds! Friday evening I went for a short jog while Caden biked. I did 1.35 miles in 21m. Caden told me "Mama go slowly!" I told him, "Trust me buddy, this is slow!" We had a good time! I worked Friday overnight from midnight to 8 training for relief nursing supervisor and got off work at 8:30. The free fit camp is Saturday mornings 8-9 during the Titan Challenge. I got there and changed in time to do 20 minutes of fit camp. I was so tired so i decided not to stay for Zumba. Two of the ladies from the gym who are in a running club and who are also doing the Bearathon were going jogging after fit camp and asked if I wanted to join. Well I knew I needed to go since it has been a while since I ran and I need to continue to train for next weeks Bearathon. They were planning on doing a 5 mile jog through the hills of Woodway. They do there runs in intervals where they walk 1 minute and jog 1m15s and repeat. I'm sure I slowed them down a bit but I joined them and thought I kept up pretty well! We did 5.23 miles in 1h21m28s that is better than I did when I jogged 5.19 miles straight January 20th when I did that in 1h21m42s. So I was pretty proud especially with ALL the hills we had! There were a ton! 

Today's jog: 

This was the biggest hill and I don't think this picture

does it justice cause it was STEEP!!!

This was Caden on our jog yesterday!  Love him to pieces!
Let brotherly love continue. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-2

3 day, 60 Miles! Say What?!?

So, I recently decided to fulfill a long time goal of doing the Susan G. Komen 3 day. It is a 60 mile walk in 3 days. Sounds crazy right?! But I am so excited to do this! I have always been very passionate about the fight against breast cancer and cancer in general. Please help me in this journey as I raise money to participate in this event! Go here to read more about my story and to donate to my cause! Any amount helps and no amount is too small!
Thanks in advance! In Him, I can do all things through Christ which strengths me. Philippians 4:13

2's company!!

I am so excited to announce that Caitlin and my brother have registered for the Bearathon! I am so excited for this next journey! It is 2 weeks away! I was hoping to have gotten at least 2 runs in this week but Tuesday night I couldn't really sleep at all as I had the worst chills of my life! I woke up Wednesday with a fever of 102 and had to go to work. I popped some Ibuprofen and off to work I went. I couldn't handle it though as I felt so miserable. I got coverage from my friend Danita and although my boss told me it would still be an occurrence even though I got coverage for my shift, I went home to bed. The in laws continued to watch the boys until the hubs got home and I slept for 2 days straight. Besides waking up to go to the doctor on Wednesday. The Doc told me that she thought I had the flu but since I tested positive for strep that it didn't matter because they don't do anything for the flu. I have still been running fever and am going to see how I feel in the morning before going back to work. Caden started running fever and had an earache and a sore throat on Friday so off to the doctor we went. He was positive for strep and I believe by the drainage from his ear that his ear drum has ruptured because he has also no longer been complaining of the earache. Poor guy just can't catch a break. And to top it off, Graysen started running fever tonight also. Please pray they get well soon! 
In totally unrelated news, I weighed in this morning at 221.6! Nearly down 25 pounds since September! I know it is going slowly, but I am happy with an average of 5 pounds a month. After all, in a years time 5 pounds a month is 60 pounds. I would love to lose that by the end of the year! Wish me luck!  Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. 
Psalm 37:5

It's OFFICIAL!

Tonight after Zumba Sentao I came home and made it official! I have officially registered for the Bearathon half marathon!! I am a little out of practice with running but I am still taking this challenge head on and am going to do my best to finish the race in the 4 hours they allow. I'm waiting to see if my brother or Caitlin sign up as well. We shall see. I need to get a few runs in in the next few weeks before the race! I am also working on some exciting new things for my fitness future, but I will tell you all that in another post! My journey to 13.1 is so close I can taste it! Even with all the pain in my foot, I will do it! Wish me luck!

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Whatever you do, do well. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Finally home!

Late Saturday afternoon the Doc came back in and released Caden to go home! It was a struggle! A long 5 days 4 nights in the hospital with our little man! Praise God he is better! David and I are very thankful to everyone for all the prayers and support and are totally blessed by it! Thank you!! 

Our silly guy was trying to air up a balloon with the blood pressure machine!

Home at last and tucked in bed!

When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.  Romans 12:13 NLT

Under the weather

I haven't posted in a while but I am still here. I have not ran in a while unfortunately but I am still doing the half marathon! I have done Zumba the past 2 weeks alone. I need to really get after it, but sadly my oldest boy is sick and we are spending our second night in the hospital. He has rotavirus and was severely dehydrated from the N/V/D. Hopefully if his labs normalize by tomorrow we can go home. Please pray for his little body to heal!

Still moving!

I haven't blogged my workouts since my last 5k. Sorry! Sometimes life gets busy and the blog gets tossed aside :/. Last Wednesday I was off and I enjoyed it. It was a beautiful day and I took advantage. I jumped on the bike for a much needed ride! I was headed for a ride and then to the gym for Zumba. Not even 10 minutes into my ride my drink holder broke off and down went my water bottle and water. I double backed to the house and got a fresh bottle of water and off I went. I rode 3.19 miles including the distance up to the gym for Zumba! I forgot how much I enjoyed riding! I can't wait to get back on! It didn't make my feet hurt at all and that is a blessing!! I then did 10m26s on the elliptical or elli for short as I call her which was 0.76 miles then off to Ben's class for 55 minutes of Zumba! It felt good! Then I rode the 1.22 miles home in 8m25s. It was such a nice change if pace. After this half marathon I am thinking of just doing the other runs I have planned which are mostly 5Ks and continuing with Zumba and biking again to help with my weight loss journey and to assist with decreasing the pain.

I weighed in for the first 2013 Titan Challenge that same morning of Wednesday, February 6th as well. In the month and a half since the last challenge ended I have only lost 1.4 pounds and I know I can do way better! I plan on working hard and my goal is to lose at least 15 pounds this challenge! I lost 12.2 pounds last challenge so it is totally doable! After all I want to see the 190s by the time I turn 30!! These are my two goals! I'll keep you all updated on how it goes!

Much love!
~Valerie

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35

Graffiti Run Fun

Caitlin and I had a BLAST at the Graffiti Run in Ft. Worth last Saturday! Sorry it took so long to post, I have just been busy. The drive was basically a straight shot and only a few turns which wasn't bad at all, the Google map app on my phone took us right where we needed to be. We even got a front row parking spot which was nice. The race started at some field complex and went along the river bank. It was beautiful! There were about 3 hills, but it wasn't bad. My RunKeeper app said it took me 53m08s for 3.34 miles. I ran the first 1.5 miles and then we alternated running and walking and took several pictures. Caitlin's mom and niece and nephew came up at the end to be apart of the color after party with us. We saw them before the finish line and hugged them and then Caitlin and I ran to the finish line and we took a bunch of pics before I realized I hadn't turned off my app. It wasn't about time tho, it was about fun! And we had a lot of fun!

 Before our wave started. The start line was at the balloons

We ran in waves and had several start lines.

 Thumbs up! I'm ready to race!

 Caitlin along the river bank

 Me and Caitlin, we somehow mixed up our numbers in this pic.

 After the race

 Running the first 1.5 miles, and after the first color. I heart pink!

 Afterward

 Me and my cousin Karen! I'm so glad we found each other in the 1000s of people.

Glad she had this great idea also!

 Thumbs up! Ready to start this run!

 After....I hated the orange on my head lol

 

 Stopping for a photo op. 1 color down 3 more to go

 Before the race!

Showing off our awesome glasses! The registration said you get a shirt and a headband,  but lucky for us it was a shirt and these awesome sun glasses!

 Finish line!

We did it!!
The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Miracle Match 10K Results

The results for the all the Miracle Match Marathon runs are up! I surprisingly didn't come in last! Although if I had, I would still be proud of myself for finishing! In the 10K division, there were 77 runners. I got 74th! Eric got 69th and Caitlin got 70th! I am very proud to have put my mind to it and finished it!  My official time was 1h37m29s. The professional pics are up also. I like one of them and may buy if for a scrapbook later. 

This is what victory looks like! 10K finishers baby!!  

Race Day 5K

Caitlin and I are on our way to Ft. Worth for the Graffiti Run! Wish us luck!