ARC Trainer From Hell...giggle, giggle, giggle

Wow, this week has been brutal...now let me tell you why!

Firstly, Monday came calling, or should I say screaming into view and I was not ready for it at all.  I had not been feeling very well since the previous Friday...so let's just say...I didn't work out for 4 days....oh my goodness.

Next came Tuesday and I was feeling well enough to take a brisk 90 minute walk for a total of 430 calories...woohoo! I was finally feeling better.

Here comes Wednesday...Happy Hump Day and all that jazz.  I hopped on the ole' ARC trainer for 15 minutes for a whooping 150 calories and then the dreaded but loved spin bike for 60 minutes for 754 calories and my total burned for this day was...drum roll please......904 calories total. Thank you very much. I need a snow-cone now!

(Taste the rainbow)

Oh Thursday, how I love thee...let me count the calories..or um, something like that! Another very brisk walk for 114 minutes for a total of 717 calories burned.  Whew!

Yes, yes, yes It's Friday...TGIF, am I right? I thought so.  Well I took it off due to me not feeling the best, again...bummer.  It was still a nice day.  Spent some time outside enjoying the breeze and the smell of Fall...love my life.  Ran my son out to school so he could help set up for the Home coming dance...he is in the F.B.L.A. and was earning money to go on a 3 day 2 night business trip.  (Future Business Leaders of America--FBLA)...he is looking to get scholarships from this class, and his school has won State for 11yrs consecutively...he is very excited to be in this class.

My son Jesse FBLA

Saturday is here...love the weekend! I woke up and ran my son back to the high school so he could finish up home coming stuff, then I went to the YMCA and got my workout on...ARC trainer for 1 hour, devoted to hills only for a total of 742 calories...wow, that was one beast of a workout...wore my Survivor shirt...made me feel like a bad ass...lol, even though I'm not really, (my kids think I am)...but I am a Survivor and it makes me feel strong when I wear it, after all I did earn it!

Enjoy the rest of this beautiful weekend my friends. Oh and it did rain last night, finally...we got some much needed precipitation in, I don't know how long!

Blessings and hugs from this ♥warrior princess♥ to all of you!

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.

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.

The Big C...as in cancer

 At the time of this writing (2009) I had no idea what was in store for me years down the road...as I re-read this I was amazed of some of the verbiage I used.  (read at the end where I use marathon and sprint) I wasn't a runner then and I am very much aware of God's sense of humor and timing...enjoy!

I remember when I found out that I had cancer; my first thoughts were, I’m going to die. I just did not really prepare myself for those words. I was scared, even though I knew that God was in control, and I was scared because I did not want to leave this world, my family and my friends. I say I am ready to go “Home” meaning Heaven, but really I’m not. My life is great, and I love the people, and the beauty that surrounds me day in and day out, and that in a nutshell is the whole kit-n-caboodle.
How can I be not ready to go “Home”? Heaven is described as something I cannot even fathom, the beauty of it is like nothing I or any other human being has ever experienced, so how can I not be ready to go there? What does that say about me? I will tell you what I think it says… I am not done living my life; there are exactly three boys and one girl I plan to marry off and loads of grandchildren I want to spoil and one wonderful husband, who I can’t wait to grow old with. 

Maybe because the Bible tells me of things I cannot see or touch, I don’t take it as seriously as I should. I believe wholeheartedly in God’s word; don’t get me wrong, it is just hard for me to understand this Heaven I cannot feel. This life I lead here on earth, I can touch, and feel… it is comfortable… What a way to live, comfortable.

Maybe I am not supposed to feel comfortable. It may be that God wants me to be just the opposite… as in uncomfortable. He has plans for me; just because I don’t know what they are does not mean they don’t exist. I cannot for the life of me think of what would be so great about me that God has this whole plan worked out just for my life, but you know, He does. He loves me so much that He sent His only Son to die on that cross so that I could have eternal life. He loves me that much, and I had absolutely nothing to do with it. I have done nothing worthy of God’s love, but yet I have it. “Thank you for the life you have given me, and thank you for loving me in spite of myself”.

The friends I share life with are so special to me; they have all been a blessing in my life. Jesus is my friend too and He has blessed me with so many loved ones, I hardly feel deserving, but I thank Him anyway. As I finish up here, I just want to say that God is not finished with me yet, I am a work in progress, and my life is not a sprint… it is a marathon… to be taken one step at a time. So I am off to continue on the journey I call my life…my cancer…my journey. God be with you and may He richly bless you!

Now in 2012 I am healthy and in complete remission from my cancer.  I have lost about 60lbs and I run, bike and lift weights most days of the week. I have turned my health around with God's help and some determination to go forward and not back.  I don't even recognize that old me anymore,..in fact I cannot even stand to look at my old pictures except to remind myself of who I used to be. I have come a long way baby, and intend on going much farther.  

 "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.