I Can't Run

... or jog. Or really walk that far if we want want to get down to the nitty-gritty. I hate exercising. Nothing about it is fun for me. It has always been that way. I remember dreading the day we had to run a mile in gym class. I ended up way in the back with the fat kids and the kid with one leg (not really... but if there was such a kid I'm sure I would've been behind him). I was by no means fat or "out of shape" per say, I just couldn't run. I blame it on the desire to read rather than be outside playing and running around during my childhood. I was a nerd. Still am!

While I will never understand the "lets run a marathon for fun" people, I am giving running a chance. I am following the Couch to 5 k program (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml). I made it up to week 5 but then D came home for leave and ruined it all! I re-started on W4 D1 (week 4, day 1) and even managed to (almost) make it while running outside. I have never done this before and it was quite an accomplishment since running outside is a bazillion times harder than running on a treadmill. I hope to make it all the way through the progam before the 5K I am going to be signing up for to run on May 15. EEK! It is a down and dirty run, which means I'll be crawling through the mud. Gross. But I have a good group of ladies to keep me going and hopefully make it through.

This has been one of my goals to complete before the deployment is over. I think if I get serious about it I can really do it. I just won't enjoy it at all.

I am also told it will help wth the stress level (which lord knows I need). The little bit I do run has helped, so imagine when I run 5 miles! :) I'll be so stress free people will think I'm high! LOL

So off to the gym I go tonight. But I won't be running. Oh no! After this big long post about running you didn't think I would actually do it, right? :)

Yoga is calling my name. My pretty new pink yoga mat is begging to be used!

Sun, Wine, and Jogging

As always I feel the sadness of another weekend come and gone. I was told that the weekends would be the hardest with D gone and, while sometimes true, I enjoy the downtime. I enjoy getting to sleep in as late as I want and make up for the sleep I didn't get all week. I'm going to enjoy my ability to sleep in late while I can because I have noticed it's becoming more and more difficult as I get older. I enjoy Skype conversations with no time limits because I have somewhere to be or have to get up in the morning (if only that would happen regularly).

Friday night was calm. I got home from work and relaxed at home before calling it an early night. After a movie and some popcorn I was sleeping peacefully.

Saturday brought the SUN! This has been a rare occurrence lately so I took full advantage. After calling up my new friend Wilson for some sun-going support I was up and off. Cole and I headed happily to what I like to call doggie heaven - Fort Steliacoom Dog Park. It is a huge fenced in, off-leash dog park close to our house. Cole loves it more than Beggin' Strips (which is saying a lot because he lives for those things).

Going to the DP is a bittersweet outing for me. When D is home we spend a lot of our weekend there just enjoying Cole and being together. It took me a long time to bring myself to go back when he left last summer. The first time I went alone I cried because it was the most alone I had felt since he left. It's our special place. It got easier as time went on because I knew I had to do it for Cole. And myself. I can't limit my life and doing the things I truly enjoy because for a little while I have to do them alone. It's not easy but it has to be done.

After our time at the dog park Wilson and I headed off to Jake's Bar and Bistro in Steliacoom. It was a clear sunny day and beautiful outside! I enjoyed my quesadilla and good company with an amazing view of the sound and mountains. How can you not love the PacNW??

Cole and I headed home to enjoy the rest of the day. I sat outside and read a magazine and *gasp* might have gotten a little sunburn on my face! I am so ready for summer, in more ways than one!

That night was a nice ladies night with a few glasses of wine and good company. It's always nice to get together with people who understand your situation and you can talk about your hopes and fears while getting (mostly) understanding back.

Today was my day of no plans! I made myself get up and get my butt to the gym! I am training to become the runner I know is buried (way, way, way) down inside me. I'm up to running a mile with a short break inbetween. This is a huge deal to me because I'm pretty sure I've never run a complete mile in my life. Running has not been an enjoyable experience for me to say the least. It wasn't easy, nor pretty I'm sure, but I made it through!

I'm signed up for a 5k race with the ladies on May 15th so I have no choice to really kick it into gear and reach my goal. I might not make it, but I'm going to give it my best shot!

Tonight is the premiere of "Life" on Discovery Channel (similar to Plant Earth - which I LOVE) so I don't plan on moving from the couch.

Soon starts another week! One week closer to having D home. We are almost at an important day milestone in our deployment journey and I am more than ready to hit it and then have it over with. In no way have I enjoyed this past year and I am so flipping ready to have him back home.

Onwards and upwards!