The Ebbs & Flows

So... after my awesome 8 miles run last weekend, I hit up some BodyPump Monday morning, and then... I didn't do a damn thing... for the rest of the week. Yeah. Not real proud of myself, and I could feed you all kind of excuses about the whirlwind of symptoms flaring up from my Hashimoto's (depression, moodiness, headaches, stomach aches, etc), but truth be told, I should have just powered through. I will never understand this stupid, stupid disease!

Uggg - I hate it I tell ya! I have to wonder if the flare ups showed up because my eating hasn't exactly been stellar?? WAYYY too much gluten, and that sh!t does NOT like me! Sigh. It is what it is. And it's done, so no use dwelling on it, right?! Right.

So, after a 4 day hiatus, I rejoined the running community for my scheduled 10K Saturday morning. I went in the morning-ish, but it was already warming up, but I knew I had to just...

 

I powered through and did my 6.2 miles at 10:30 mile/min pace. Not gonna cut it! I know it was hot and humid and that def adds to your pace, but I need to be pullin' out a full minute faster on these runs if I'm going to reach that sub 2 half goal! You know what I'm sayin?! So, the moral of the story... don't take a 4 day hiatus when training.

Truth

So, a few things have changed... I have decided to switch my half from the Jazz Half (not real happy about it, but with airfare as high as it is, it's just not a good financial decision for us right now, major womp womp!) and instead, I am going to run the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Half on November 17th. At least it will still have music, right?! Unfortunately, there is no Central Grocery or Cafe Du Monde or Cameillia Grill (can we just take a moment of silence to mourn?)... but there is the Riverwalk, so I guess we'll have to make do. Who knows, maybe Southwest will run some kind of crazy sale between now and October 12th and I'll run both, but for now, The Jazz Half is out :(  I have also decided to run the Austin Marathon in exactly 178 - whoa - on February 16th.

This week, I have managed to stay on track so far, so that's good. I did BodyPump on Monday, and ran 4.5 miles outside yesterday while the kids napped. It was hot as balls, and my pace sucked, but I need to force myself to run outside. Doing my runs on the treadmill aren't doing me any favors, even at a 1 incline. Like my dad would always say, "Do it right, or don't do it all" - of course, right always meant his way. #daddyissuesmuch? Ha!

 

In other news... My baby girl got her first haircut over the weekend. It was very emotional. If it were up to me, she would have just gotten a trim and I would never (ok maybe not never) cut her hair. But alas, she has been bothering me for WEEKS to cut her hair, so that it can be short like mommy's (so sweet), so how could I tell her no?!

I have to admit, it looks pretty darn cute! And this is how cheap I am... they asked if I wanted the "Deluxe First Haircut Package": read $10 for a baggie of hair and a certificate (which we did do for Max) and I said no, and when it was finished, I totally picked up all her hair off the floor and shoved it in a little paper cup until we got home.

Now that it's in a little baggie, it sure doesn't look like much :(

Once again #momoftheyear Whatevs.

I am 100% on to planning their 3rd birthday. Which, by the way, can we just stop for a second.. 3! When the hell did that happen?! This, this right here...

so ridiculously true

Anyhoo... they will be having a Choo Choo's and TuTu's party, and I am by far WAY more excited about it than they are! You can check out my Pinterest board for all of the awesome ideas that I have found that I intend to bring to life. So pumped! In the meantime, the countdown to their 1st day of MDO is ON. T minus 13 days. Just Breath. If I can get through these next 2 weeks, I KNOW I can get through anything, including a marathon.

Happy Hump Day y'all!

Yup - still cracks me up!

-Candice

 

Week 4 & Sewing Retreat Deets

Hey, hey! Well, I am almost half way through week 4 of training, woop woop! and still a few days behind on the schedule, oops! But, I did manage to get my run in while on my weekend sewing retreat - so there's that! And actually, I was quite impressed with my pace/time considering the massive hill country hills I had to run up - like whoa! Somehow, I managed to keep a 9:45 minute mile pace for those 3 miles - I'll take it! Must of been all the sewing... it's good for the soul :)

I'm pretty proud of what I was able to accomplish this weekend, sewing wise (being the novice sewer that I am), check it out...

Emma's apron dress (still need to add a little somethin' to it) I think she likes it :)

 

The bag that took like 6 hours to make! But it sure is cute!

 

  Emma's Aggie gameday dress (still need to add the applique to the bottom)

 

Bag doubles as a chef's hat - it's so versatile!

So now I just have the sewing bug and can't wait to make more stuff! I'm a nerd, I know!

Today's workout was AWESOME! It was one of those workouts/runs that feel so good and cathartic, you know?? I did 3.5 miles on the treadmill (since it was already 86 degrees outside at 9am!), and then followed that up with an upper body tabata Tuesday weight workout! I felt like I was in beastmode! I love feeling my muscles getting bigger - seriously, how do dudes not sit around feeling their muscles all the time?! Maybe I'm the only weirdo!

 

In other news, we finally made it out with the kids to see the bats fly out of the Congress Ave Bridge. J's cousin and his family were in town Sunday, so we thought it seemed like a fun thing to do after eating at the best.place.ever aka Shady Grove. Four words. Green Chili Cheese Fries. Ah-Maze-Ing. Mmm, I'll dream about it again tonight :)

Sorry for the uncropped pic, I totes stole it from facebook and was too lazy to fix it!

 

The ever famous Austin Bats!

 

Anyhoo, the dreaded incline workout is on tap for tomorrow... kill me now! Oh, and I think decided to nix the Dallas Marathon and shoot for the Austin Marathon February 16th - 201 days away baby, bay-be. But who knows, I may change my mind again - we'll see! Oh, and I am going to check my body fat % this Friday - my goal was to get it down to 21%, so we'll see where I am with that goal. I'm nervous and excited - I guess as long as it goes down, I can't be disappointed, right?! (BTW - in April it was around 30% - yikes! A freakin' 1/3 of my body was FAT - eww!)

Except maybe oreos and milk!

 

 

-Candice

Summertime, and the livin's easy...

Summertime is most definitely upon us here in 'ol Tejas! Holy smokes is it HOT! I'm talking 108 people! Despite the heat, the swamp butt and the massive boob sweat, I've have been killin' it with my half marathon training! Can I get a woot woot?!

 

 

So I officially started my training schedule on Monday with Strength training, a little BodyPump, pump, pump it up, pump that Texan spirit up! Sorry, I got transported back to my high school pep rally momentarily, but I'm back now.

I totes need this tank!

 

 I am doing Hal Higdon's Intermediate Half Training Program, which will end pretty much exactly when I am set to run the Louisiana Jazz Half.

 

Can I just tell you how stinkin' excited I am about going back to NOLA! Mmmm Cajun food, Abita beer, jazz music, people watching... ahh love it - CANNOT wait! Maybe LSU will be playing while we're there - Geaux Tigers! I'm not a fan, I just like to spell geaux like that ;) I am planning to add in some lifting to the mix (maybe 2-3 days a week including a BodyPump class), some core work, and maybe some cycling (either a class or a ride on the trail once a week). I'll be splitting my runs up between speed intervals, hills, easy runs, pace runs, and tempo runs. I REALLY want to run a sub 2 at the Jazz Half!

Eating has been going really well too! I feel like I am finally find a good balance between eating clean, low carb, dairy free, and grain free. It ain't easy, but it sure seems to be making a huge difference in my overall health! Of course, I'm not perfect, I'm just do the best I can, and aim to get better. Imperfect Progress, that's what it's all about my friends! My go to breakfasts are scrambled green eggs (spinach), all natural bacon or turkey sausage, fruit and a cup of coffee or green tea. My lunch is usually a turkey wrap with veggies and fruit or leftovers, and I find most of my dinners on Pinterest and the Peace Love Low Carb blog. I also will have a protein smoothie after a hard workout or run. I use Jay Robb Chocolate Egg White Protein, spinach, half a banana, chia seeds and ice and it's yum-o! Oh and these little guys are my new favorite obsession!

Ohhhhemmmmgeee, so good! I wish I a) knew how to make them at home and b) had the time to make them at home! They are great snack for when you're out and about and can't make a smoothie or whatever.

Anyhoo - I am just feeling fan-flippin' tastic lately! I will admit that it is a bit overwhelming to remember to take all these darn pills, but oh so worth it! By the way - I totally got my haircut... it's really short... what do you think? Now I just have to wait a few weeks to correct the color (um yeah, that can be a whole post in and of itself, let's just say, this is not what it was supposed to look like).

Sorry - this is the only pic I have

Here are some pics from our 4th of July weekend festivities, hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

 

Double rainbow "What does it mean?!"

(watch it, seriously, you can thank me later)
 

Neighborhood 4th of July Pool Party

Mmmm Ice cream!

 

Sunset before the big 3rd of July fireworks show

It's about to start!

Just chillaxin' waiting for the parade to start

Here it comes!

CANDY!!!!!

Family pic!

Tempting, but no, we did not eat the GIANT donut at Round Rock Donuts!

We could not peel this kid away from these fountains!

Look at my poodle mom!

Mere moments after this photo was taken, she tripped and her flower balloon popped

and an epic meltdown ensued. Fun times.

Cheeto coma on the way to Mimi and Poppy's

Face painting!

My little flower child

Spiderman!

What 4th of July weekend would complete without watermelon with friends?!