Weekend Update

Happy Monday lovely peeps! I hope that your weekend was as good as mine.

My daughter M and I packed up and drove my little green jelly bean over to my mama's house Friday night.  After arriving, my mom and I went out to dinner while M opted to stay and relax, she was feeling a bit sick to her stomach.  This was my first dinner out with my upper partial and it was a bit hard.  I asked for the Gourmet veggie burger with lettuce leaves for the bun.  Mistake one, I still cannot eat lettuce.  The veggie patty was overcooked, ugh...but it was good and then of course there were the fabulous and salty fries, mistake two.  Needless to say I had a stomach ache later on in the evening. It was a nice dinner and my mom and I had a great visit, just the two of us. 

Saturday I got up early and went for a short 3.5 mile run.  I just missed getting rained on, so the run was under a very cloudy sky, although the sun did manage to peak out once or twice. Later on my mama, M and I headed out for my nieces bridal shower and then back to mama's house for the rest of the weekend.  When my daughter and I go over for a girls weekend we usually just hang out, play cards, read, watch television and eat...lol! 

I really do wish my mama lived closer, right now it's a 45 minute drive but she will be retiring next year (maybe) so we shall see what happens. Anyway we had a nice relaxing weekend just being together and celebrating our Mother's day.  M and I got my mom a beautiful candle holder with three tiers of birds and leaves, we also got her a beautiful glass bird to take to her office.  


Sunday was spent driving home and then relaxing for the rest of the day with my family.  I did go out and visit my garden to see what new veggies are growing.  There are now two zucchini plants coming up and a ton of strawberries.  The peppers look awesome and abundant.  Our tomato plants are growing like crazy and the chives and coffee mint plant...awesome-sauce.  All in all it was a beautiful weekend.  Blessings and hugs!

"Limitations only exist if you let them" Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Tuesday Check-In

Hey y'all, just thought I'd check in and let you know what I've been up to and how my Mother's Day went!

Exercise has consisted of...

Saturday

• Ran 58 minutes...this was a beautiful 5 mile slow run/walk
• Walk 17 minutes...a walk with my hubby around the small loop

Sunday

• Played Frisbee with the family...our new obsession 

Monday

• Ran 50 minutes...an awesome 4.33 mile slow run/walk 

 Mother's Day was simply beautiful and peaceful.  The entire family just spent time visiting most of the day.  I woke up and spent some time just getting ready for the day, then my son made me breakfast and coffee.  Since I eat mostly vegan/vegetarian, breakfast was a heated up breakfast biscuit...but it was yummy!  My family sat around talking and laughing, sans T.V. This is a big deal...the T.V. is always or almost always on, but we just didn't feel the need Sunday.  After my oldest son got here we all went out and watched a movie, Oblivion...it was awesome.  Right before the movie my kids presented me with my mothers day gifts..my daughter made me an adorable little mini plant out of paper and a beautiful realistic flower..she is very creative and the detail is amazing...she can make amazing things out of some paint and paper.

flower pot with paper flower

flower pot..made from paper and paint

This sign was made with a C&C machine...I love it, we are all (the kids and I) going to paint this and they will all (4 of them) sign it on back.  I am also going to paint their names on the curves of the petals. We will then put it in my garden out front.  

I am please with how well our day went and how calm it was...at the end of the day we all went and played Frisbee in the parking lot at the end of our street, I won the award for the most bad throws and most epic catches. Winner winner chicken dinner!  Frisbee is our new family fun-time we try to do 3x a week.  Our four kids are all older 19-13 so it is a blast! I hope that all you mothers had a fantastic day!

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Happy Mother's Day

May your day be a blessed and joyous one!

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Half-Marathon Training Week...7

Sunday-Rest Day. IT band bothering me on right leg.  Not as bad as the last time I dealt with this pain on my left side, so that is good.  Had a great Mother's Day, my mama came over and we enjoyed a movie (Dark Shadows) and a little dinner at Wendy's.

Monday-Rest Day. Still having a bit of IT pain, so taking it easy for one more day.

Tuesday-Ran 3 miles this morning and another 2+ this evening.  58 minutes.  Decided to wear my new pink socks today and I actually liked how my legs felt with them on.  They (the socks, not my legs) have a bit of stretch/compression to them so it was a nice feeling.

My New Favorite Socks

Wednesday-Rest Day? I may take a walk with a friend/co-worker later today, and then maybe a run later tonight when it cools down. We shall see....

Well, I did do an hour of walking with my friend tonight on a local trail through our All Sports Park...3.47 miles.  The wind was blowing and the sun was out...beautiful but warm.  This was the first time I have ever been on the trails (except for when I raced on them last weekend) and we discovered some beautiful water fountains, the geese that stay here year round and a lot of beautiful nature (trees, creeks, birds).

Thursday-No run last night but ran 10 miles this morning with my new hydration back pack...loved it! 1hr 45minutes 13 seconds...it was absolutely beautiful weather to run in, a little overcast and a tad breezy but not cold...perfect!  Having some pain in my left foot but not bad enough to stop running, it is just a niggle of pain here and there.  This last week I was having a strange pain at the 5th metatarsal bone but it came and went very quickly at odd times.

Friday-Cross Train Day. Walked approximately 5miles and 160 minutes. My daughter and I walked all over our town and took pictures of the Art Bears that are placed all over the main streets every year. Here are just a few of them. I do so love my town, they do this every year when it gets warm, but this is the first time I have done a walking tour with Miss Molly and taken pictures.  

By the time we started home my sore foot was really bothering me every time I stepped down and lifted off of it.  I am hoping it is not a stress fracture of the 5th metatarsal bone, which I hear is a most common fracture for a runner.

Molly w/abstract art bear

Artistic bear

Love this Autumn Themed Bear

Gold Nugget Bear (look in mouth)

Saturday-Rest Day. I pretty much rested all day with my foot up.  I did go to Old Navy and get some summer flip flops and a pair of compression running shorts (score!) and then to my Niece's Bridal Shower, where I won a candle and ate some delicious cake!

Miles Ran or Walked=23.47
Minutes Ran or Walked=383
 

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Race Recap and More

Post race

Well the race was a lot of fun, even if it was quite a bit smaller than anticipated.  When my son and I got there it didn't really look like a lot was going on and not really any different than any other morning at the YMCA.


Little by little people started to trickle in but alas it was a very small, if not happy, crowd.  They even had two massage tables set up, I should have gotten one after the race but did not win that prize.  Jake and I cheered on the 5k racers when they took off and encouraged them on their way back into the home stretch. We then estimated what our times would be for the 5miles...I said mine would be 55-57 and he said his would be in the 40's...we were close.


A lot of people were just so encouraging, and I like to see that in a race, it just makes you feel so much better knowing that people (strangers) are cheering you on to the finish line.


The 5mile racers lined up and with the blow of an air-horn we were off.  My son and I were up in the front and took off, the race wound around the horse track by the YMCA and off into the foot path/bridge of our All sports park.  There was a volunteer at every turn so it was easy peasy to stay on the route.


On the 4th or so turn there was a woman, man and their baby volunteering...so nice, the woman called out, "I love the flower in your hair".  That made my day! After all, I love to look fashionable, lol.


About half-way through I started to feel tired, but pushed through it and just tried to enjoy being out there.  Right around the half-way mark I could hear someones shoes slapping the pavement behind me, so I knew I was not last and that they were pursuing me.  One thing about me is I don't ever want to be last or passed up by someone younger.


I turned 41 in January and feel somewhat competitive with others, but I really don't feel 41, more like early 30's.  So as soon as I heard there was someone behind me I started to pick it up little by little to make sure they did not pass me.  


Part of the run was on the bark path of the sports park and that was a first for me.  Bark is not that great to run on, it gets in your sock and shoe...but it is soft to run on.  Well on the last half mile she (the one behind me) caught up to me and for a bit we ran side by side.  She was probably 30 something and her family was out there cheering her on, and just about then I decided to utilize all that speed work I have been doing lately...so I sped up and never looked back. (During the awards ceremony she looked over and gave me a congratulatory wink!)


I race through the finish as fast as my legs could carry me and finished ahead of her, right into my son, who was waiting patiently to give me a high five.  It was an awesome experience running with him.  During the last half of the race I could see him ahead of me and really thought I could maybe catch him, but somewhere around the half mile to go mark he caught some wind and just took off.  


He only finished 1 minute and 3 seconds ahead of me, due to a lower leg muscle problem he was having.  We then went to the food and water tables and enjoyed some fixings while we waited around for the official stats and award ceremony.  We ran into one of my son's math teachers from the high school, he ran the 5k with his two little girls, one of which ended up with the grand prize (for the kids) bike!


Although we (my son and I) didn't win a ribbon, we both walked away with prizes.  I won a bucket w/tools from Home Depot and he won a Subway $5 gift card.  Of course, the biggest prize being that I was blessed to race with one of my son's, my Mother's Day gift to myself.

updated award board

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day with your families.  Mine was beautiful.  My children made me a breakfast of half a Belgian waffle, scrambled eggs (just like I like them) and orange juice and coffee.  Then they cleaned up the kitchen, did laundry, and took me shopping.  We got me a hydration pack for my long training runs and new bright pink running socks.

Woohoo, sexy!

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.