Day 275: Track Date as mood shifter

I wanted to go to the gym today after I get off work, but I don't think that I'm going to go.  You know what may help with my "funk"?  A Track Date.  A time to let my feet hit the pavement....be one with the elements.  Breath the fresh cool air!  I'm going to leave work on time (maybe even early), drive my car home, change my clothes and walk/jog to the track, go around a few times and come back home. 

Did you know that exercise helps with our mood?  Maybe it will help with mine today.

Day 274: Stinking Thinking

I embraced it!  Today has been a day full of stinking thinking.  I've embraced the negative thoughts and emotions that we all have but have allowed them to run ramped in my mind.  There is a big difference between truth and lies.  Most time our stinking thinking is either full of lies, or it's truth with a tainted view point.  The bad part is I don't have to stay here, but I choose too.

How do you get out of this place?  Embrace the truth about the situation.  If you don't know the truth, then you have to ask, seek and then you'll find what the real deal is.  Today can be better.

Day 272: How many miles?

So I overslept again today.  I didn't wake up until 9:30am and I actually went to bed a decent hour.  My hours are a little different today because I have to work and support a Kirk Franklin Concert that we are having at the Worship Center.  I'm going to wear my running shoes and Nike+ Sports band to see how many miles I end up walking tonight.  It should be pretty interesting.  How many miles do you think it will end up being?

Day 271: Pretty Good Day!

Today did not start out how I wanted it to.  I overslept by 4 hours and was totally behind on my mornings activities, but now looking at everything, today has been a great day.  I was able to put all of my taxes information together and get the information to the preparer.  I was able to plan a few fundraising activities to raise support for my Ghana Missions Trip.  The big news is that I got my bike today.  Well, not literally, but the process has begun.  I went to the store, was sized, picked out the color and paid a portion.  Once I pay the remaining balance it will be all mine.  I was able to spend time with my baby sister and nephew and still minister at Queen Esther tonight.  All in all, today is been a great day (I feel a little guilty for not working out today though, but I'll get over it).  Now it’s time for bed so that I can get up for Boot Camp in the early am.

Day 270: Self Encouragement Day

Nothing much to talk about today other than "I am a runner!"  Doesn't look like it or feel like it, but I am.  Today is a day that I have to encourage my own self cause I was a little down in the dumps.  I overslept and missed Boot Camp and because of the course of todays events didn't make it to the gym this evening.  Tomorrow is a new day and that's it.

Day 269: Super Fantastic Fun

This morning I made it, I made it to boot camp.  I actually woke up, got up and made my way there, tired and all.  Today we did more running than yesterday and while I walked (as everyone else ran around like speedy rabbits) I thought and thought somemore.  I said, "Rochelle, why in the world do some people think that this is fun?  This is work....wait, it's HARD work and I'm not having a 'Fun' time doing this".  Fun is based on an individuals perspective.  Let's be honest, it's not that fun for me because I'm not good at it and I feel like I look like a big goober trying to become good/better.

But, with anything we do, if we never broadened our perspectives on a matter we, we remain narrow minded individuals.  How can running become more fun for me?  That is the question for the evening.  Anybody have any replies?

Day 268: Discipline

“What’s required from a person in order to be come disciplined in an area of their life?”  That’s a question that I have been asking myself for the past couple of days as I think about working out to be prepared for these races.  What’s required from me in order to accomplish the goals that I have clearly layout.

Hummmm, I think creating a plan and walking out the established plan is required.  Not allowing my actions to be dictated based on how I may physically feel, but doing what’s required regardless of feelings.  Talking about the goal and allowing people to help me (which I don’t do the best at).  Oh yeah, discipline requires ACCOUNTABILITY!  Accountability means you check in with someone and they check in with you.  It means you’re honest and someone is honest with you as you get closer to the overall goal.  I think being consistent with training and preparing for these races will mean getting up for boot camp in the morning even when I’m still sleepy.  It means working out after work even when it’s been a long day and all I want to do is watch TV and sleep.  

I went to boot camp this morning and it was HARD.  I wanted to go to Track Date afterwards, but it started thundering and lightening really badly, so I came home, ate breakfast and took an am nap.  I have a plan, but I’m taking everyday one day at a time.  Oh yeah, I have a new rule, no eating after 8pm.  That is like stupid early for me, but I figured that if I plan out my meals, I can do it.  It should help me drop weight too.

Day 264: Great Day

My blogging patter has been inconsistent over the past few months, but I have so much that I want/need to say.

Today, Thursday, March 17^th has been fantastic.  I think that it will be memorial for a couple of reasons:

1.  I had to go to the post office to apply for a US Passport and something amazing happened.  A lady, who was up in age, dropped her keys.  In instinctively reached down to pick them up, but she got to them first.  I proceeded on with whatever I was thinking about until I finished doing what I had to do.  When I left the Post Office she met me outside and told me that she appreciated my kindness (I was sort of shocked because I didn’t think that I did anything spectacular for her).  She said to keep doing what I do and God honors me because of it.  She doesn’t know it, but it is just what I needed to hear because I was questioning how I serve and how I give to others.  Do I go overboard, am I excessive and is it even appreciated.  So, needless to say, I’ll keep being me!

2.  I went through all of my clothes a few weeks ago and packed a bag of things that are too big for me now.  But, that same bag of clothes is sitting in my room next to my dresser.  There are actually more clothes that I need to add to the bag, or start a new bag, but I haven’t because I’ve been too afraid to let it go.  What if I need them again?  What if my weight loss is a fluke and I gain even more than I’ve lost?  Donating the clothes, or removing them from my house, makes my weight loss more permanent and that is SCARY.  In one of my conversations with God I said that I would get rid of the clothes when I could afford new ones.  How about today my prayer was answered, but not the way that I thought it was going to be.  Yeah, I still can’t afford new clothes, but a friend (who is loosing weight herself) passed clothes onto me that she can’t fit anymore.  I have been blessed beyond blessed today with new clothes to wear that will fit my slimmer body.  I heard that Providence Hospital has a program where they pass plus sized clothes down to individuals who need them at no cost.  Tomorrows objective – call Providence Hospital to finally donated the clothes that no longer fit me.

3.  Yesterday I did it.  I signed up for the 10k (6.2 miles) and the Half Marathon (13.1 miles).  After I did it, I experienced mixed emotions.  I was excited, scared, determined, defeated and rejuvenated all at the same time.  It’s weird though.  I said that I was going to do this this year and despite all of the odds, I’m still working towards the goal.  Granted, I have not worked nearly as hard as I was in the beginning of this journey; but, my dad constantly reminds me that it’s not how you start, but how you finish.  When I’m having a sad sack moment, he will say, “finish strong Rochelle, finish strong”.  

The 10k is taking place on Sunday, June 5, 2011 in Annapolis, MD.  It is the Zooma race that leads participants through historic Annapolis.  The Half Marathon is on Saturday, October 15, 2011 in Baltimore, MD sponsored by Under Armour.  Intense 2adays shall commence Sunday, March 20, 2011.  No excuses are acceptable as excuses do not lead you to the finish line.

4.  I am going on a missionary trip!  I turned in all of my paperwork and will be going to Ghana, West Africa this coming July 20, 2011 through August 5, 2011.  I am extremely excited.  Here’s the kicker….I have to raise $3,500 by May 1^st.  That is not a little bit of money to fundraise.  I’ll do it though, because I don’t want to waste the money that I’ve already put down to go.

If you’ve taken the time to read everything highlighted above, do you see why today has been an unforgettable one?  You are officially apart of Rochelle Land.  How can we partner together to accomplish the above tasks?

Day 258: Seriously, what's running!?

I am TOTALLY behind on my goals that I made for this year.  By this time I was supposed to be running 6 miles non-stop - but I am very far from that goal and or idea.  Today is March 1, 2011 and I think that I'm ready again to get back on track.

I had to get a pair of new shoes because I had a pair of Brook's Running Shoes, but I didn't like the way that they felt.  I tried to break them in and just get used to the feel of them, but it didn't work.  So I went back to the tried and true Nike's that provide the necessary support for my foot that overpronates.  I also just purchased this Polar WearLink+ Transmitter Nike+  that will monitor my heart as I work out.  I felt it was a good investment because my family has a history of heart related issues and I've been struggling with my asthma over the past few weeks; so this will tell me what's going on on the inside of my body while I work on the outside.

Do you even know what running is?  It is technically classified as moving at any pace faster than a walk.  If both feet are off the ground at any moment while your moving, then your running.  And do you know the A number one rule to running/training is?  It's - HAVE FUN!  Although it's work and requires a lot of commitment, your supposed to have fun in the process.  Here is my question - how is running supposed to be fun?  Do you think I'm doing this wrong?  LOL