Parents

Parents
Kristen & Benton Brown

An Unexpected Start

An Unexpected Start
Parker Trimble Brown was born April 9, 2010.

I'm One Year Old

I'm One Year Old
Parker will be 14 months old on June 9th.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

I Cheated...

Pretty dramatic title huh?  Don't worry, I didn't do anything scandalous, but I did cheat and start working on one of my New Year's resolutions in the middle of December.  Therefore, I have made some great progress over the last six weeks that I can now report since it is a habit.

I have been taking Parker out on hour-long walks since September since it cooled off.  He loves to look around, take a little snooze, and I love the "alone" time with my headphones.  It occurred to me around Thanksgiving, that I could really get into shape if I started running some since I had already committed 4-5 hours per week for exercising.  I found a used jogging stroller through a teacher friend for $50, bought a bicycle pump for the tires, learned one of the tires needed repair, and spent another $15 at the local bicycle shop.  Ta-da! Newly used jogging stroller for about $75!

I started using the stroller the middle of December and began alternating between running and walking during my 60 minute trip.  This method wasn't anything new - it was what our soccer coach required us to do every August when we started Cross Country practice.  He was never concerned about distance, but rather stamina.  Using Coach Warner's philosophy, I needed to be able to run for 20-30  minutes straight and then I could work on my speed.

I made it through Christmas break and worked out in Wichita Falls, took a break for the cold weather after New Years, and will take time off this week for the ice storm, but its now something I look forward to everyday.  After six weeks I can run two miles without stopping or I can run for 20 minutes straight.  I try to go out for at least 45 minutes four days each week with the stroller and its a treat if I can go for a quick run without Parker while he's napping and Benton is home.  I also feel better and sleep better after a good long workout - which I know should be common sense, but its been awhile since I've been in the habit of exercising every day.

Ultimately, I was also inspired by some friends/bloggers that update on their families and their running.  Thanks to Brynn (http://hodder.blogspot.com) for motivating me with your double stroller all over Coppell and now Brisbane and to Jessie ( http://therunningfamily.blogspot.com) for sacrificing your tush in the cold dark Oklahoman mornings (I prefer late afternoon jogs myself). Through Jessie, I also found an entertaining running junkie who reminds me of what it was like to be 24, newly married, and teaching high school kids.  I'll never be a marathon junkie, but it makes me feel like I'm training for a marathon when I read her daily posts (http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com).

What did I do before blogs?  Oh, yeah, I worked from 7:30am to 6:00pm everyday...

3 comments:

  1. I am so glad you found me because I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! I am so excited about your upcoming 5k....you are going to rock it! K, you have the most beautiful family and you are making me baby hungry! I want Parker!! Dang, we are a lot alike. I seriously can't remember what I did with my free time before blogging....CRAZY!!!

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  2. I love it! I'm itching to get outside right now but it's just too darn cold. So it's only 10 degrees feels like 1? The sun is out right now and it's teasing me. Keep on running, it makes a person feel good no matter how far you go!

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  3. So happy you found a new passion. It's so nice getting out to enjoy the weather--well, maybe not for you right now. I wish I had known you'd want a stroller as we have ours on loan to a friend and we could have passed it along to you. Happy running!

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