Fit with Ruthie

just a very fast post before heading out the door to celebrate the new year :) I got my 40 min run in .. but it turned into a 50 min walk run :) 4.5 miles completed! it was 43 degrees outside and yes.. my friends i ran outside :) three layers and a stocking cap did the trick! got a thumbs up from a college guy as he ran past me and two sweet smiles from an older lady out walking.. I think we were all thinking the same thing "way to go .. way to end 200 8 ! with a bang" how did you end 200 8 workout wise? see you next year :) ok that was really really funny. got up this morning to check in and found that i had done a whole post about my lst 2007 workout LOL .. it was either a blonde moment, i was really in a hurry, OR i deep down inside want to forget.. atleast a bit of 08 . :) .. OH no wait... it CAUSE I AM 40! and starting to go :) LOL happy 09 everyone!

her website

here is the information for the Transformation Challenge... His book comes out this month but this link has the challenge info and weekly assignments This differs from Body for Life in that it is 18 weeks and it takes into account the inner struggles we all have :) here's a part of assignment #1 article by Bill: "Being physically out of shape isn't 'cured' by just working out and eating a different way. You see, the condition of the body is a reflection of so much more than just exercise and eating habits. Truth is, our physical form is a manifestation of our thoughts, feelings, intentions… our collective ‘inner/non-physical condition.’ To achieve a sustainable and truly healthy change on the outside, we have to do the work on the inside." click here to see the rules (no money required or supplements sold) ... it has the links to the first 12 weekly assignments just finished lower body workout squats 12.10.8.6 and 24 lunges burnouts (ouch) deadlifts 12.10.8.6...

Here is a video telling about my story.... the last photo is June of 2009.

another 5k today.. felt great. I ran outside.. I was so cold when i left but once i got out there i warmed up and it felt great. and yes.. it was a nice warm 70 degrees outside and NO wind! beautiful. I ran 2 miles around campus and then a mile in my neighborhood. My nikeplus didnt work correctly again.. I think it was because my ipod was not charged enough... so just know instead of the measly .33 miles i actually did 3.1 miles :) stretched when i got home and then did wii yoga :) I am lovin yoga.. might need to get a dvd again on that :) feelin great OH and i AM sore from yesterdays weight lifting and yes my abs are still screaming too! all evidence i am back in the game :) and making progress. and finally. if you have not seen the biggest loser finally.. its a MUST see. click here to take youself to view the whole episode on line! (the main way i watch tv these days :) Progressing towards the goal!

What a year. What a year. Needless to say.. when it comes to fitness and trying to stay healthy .. this year has been pretty darn tough for me. In an effort to refocus, re-motivate and re-dedicate myself to staying on course i decided to do a post reviewing the events of the past year. I will try and make it as brief as possible.. Dec 31 2007 .. I ended the year with a bang! a huge success... the last post of 07 was filled with excitement of being able to squat 100lbs SIX times! Jan 2008 .. first post of many this past year about giving up sugar. Yes.. the dreaded sugar. took a country western dance class with my hubby 6th: posted "be strong, be confident, and believe Feb 2008 The month of the flu (everyone in the family got it... I got it TWICE... actually lasted more like 6 weeks.. but we will call it the month of the flu) 26th: posted "already lost lots of strength" March 2008 the month of the shoulder injury. stopped lifting for good for a month April took up the th...

I just finished a 20 min session of HIIT training .. I am on vacation but we go home today .. i really wanted to do a 3 mile run this morning but my ipod was not charged (i went with it in red) and i really didnt feel that comfy running by myself in a place other than home .. so.. i might run another few miles tonight on the tread but will wait and see how i feel. so i ran about 6 intervals with the hills that are naturally occurring here it was a workout. now to go stretch and get my ab work in :) i look forward to next week and getting back into weight training :) YIPEEEEE ok.. going back through my blog i found this guy.. remember him? click here to see an amazing transformation! lady lost over 110lbs! I think i need to go through and do a post called "the best of" .. for a way to celebrate the end of 08 :) .. wonder what i am forgetting i wrote :) LOL get up and get going! :) and remember sprints are FUN :) OK just a fast update i did stretching and abwork I knew it was...

so happy my nikeplus works right now! YIPEEEEEE was a great run. tried to take it easy stopped and stretched.. didnt wanna but feel GREAT now. I just cant miss anymore.. so i did it :) now to pack, wrap, pack some more, clean and be santa :)

not a bad run tonight :) felt great. dont miss my plan below AND join my nikeplus challenge if you wanna :) (see post below) tomorrow is a non-run day but i will get on the mill for a few mins to see if i can get my nike plus to register correctly. love that thing but it is a bit frustrating to have it and it not register my runs correctly. I know its just me :) i am doing something wrong :) gotta go eat now.. nothing like a long run to make you hooooongry:)

This is my plan... 13.1 to be completed by ME on Feb 28th.. :) None run days will be alternating upper and lower body workouts... Runs during the week: These runs will be on Mondays and Wednesday Weeks 1-2 run those days for 40 mins weeks 3-5 run those days for 50 mins weeks 6-7 run for 60mins week 8 50 min week 9 run for 40 week 10 run for 30 My long runs will be on Saturdays: week 1 = 3miles week 2= 6 miles week 3 = 7 miles week 4 = 4 miles week 5= 8 miles week 6= 6 miles week 7=10miles week 8= 8 miles week 9 = 5 miles week 10= 13.1 miles NIKEPLUS Challenge anyone.. i set up a challenge for anyone who has a nike plus.. let me know if you have one and i will invite you via email (i need your email address to add you to the challenge as i made it a private challenge and not open to everyone at nikeplus) email me at ruthieartworks@yahoo.com if you wanna join in. the challenge is who can run-walk the most miles by Valanetine's Day :) come on and join the fun!

so i found out another way to make a run go by fast. try programing your nikeplus sensor to your pace... do you know what i am talking about? how you calibrate the sensor to your step .. anyway.. thats what i tried to do tonight when i ran. tried and tried and tried but i couldnt get it to stick... dont know what was wrong.. so i just switched it back to the settings it came with and decided to try again later i would love to hear what the trick is... so share if you know :) now for the run 2.6 miles and i feel better. now to go get things moved around so i can get the weight bench into the bedroom for the winter :) THEN decide what my next plan will be. i havent quit yet.

yeah.. its been busy around here.. mostly ME making the CHOICE to work on my children's book instead of anything else. I am happy I finally finished it.. heres a link if you wanna take a look. I am really glad it is all done and i can move on to something else. I hope to send it to a publisher and see if it gets picked up but have to do a bit of research on that first.. Elephants of Art An Element of Art ... By Ruthie Swedlund Book Preview I will not run tonight. but plan on it tomorrow.. :) I did a ton of cleaning scrubbing, organizing etc.. and then i got to go grocery shopping (urgh) .. I need to workup a def. workout plan for this week as we will be traveling for holidays a bit a big goal is to not miss a workout. I am mulling over joshas tag about plans for the new year.... will be...

today is a busy day.. but i am determined not to miss my run! I have a xmas party to go to in a few minutes.. then a xmas dinner tonight.. so i prob wont run until 9pm tonight.... I will post as soon i am finished. I did some looking through the nikeplus challenges.. and considering entering a few.. I am also going to prob use the training element of nikeplus to train for another half marathon... the beginning program is what I am considering as i dont want to work up too many miles two quickly ... I havent decided when i will start the training... but hopefully soon :) ok .. all for now just wanted to post that I promise to workout :) i will be back later.. until then burrrrrrrr ! its cold :) UPDATE 10:14 PM just finished a great run with my nikeplus it didnt register correctly on the nikeplus site.. so i dont know if my mimi me will have the correct information .. i think i need to calibrate my new plus.. will do that tomorrow.. :) i did 2.5 miles on the treadmill 10.88 pe...

I am so excited!!! remember a while back (like a year ag0? .. i dont remember when... but its been a while) josha sent me a nike plus .... i loved it. used it.... loved it more and then... LOST it. well tonight i got another one!!!! and i cant wait to use it!!!! and esp after seeing those cool shirts josha got from running in the nike plus races.. i will for sure be entering some.. just for the shirt :) I also got a new running bra :) I bought mine at academy its called the fiona click here for the website ok.. i am now off to look a nikeplus website and load my new info woooooo whooo.

OH i have missed it for so long! My happy place. That point in a run where .. it feels like you are just free.. the cares of the world are gone and you are just in this place... peaceful and happy. It happened between mile 1 and 2 today :) ahhh. just nice to have that feeling back. :) I did 3 miles today. warmed up first for .25 miles ran until 1.25 miles (a mile straight) walked until 1.5 (.25 walking) ran again until 2.5 (another mile straight) walked until 2.75 (.25 walking) and ran FAST the last .25 finished 3 miles average of 11.53 per mile not too fast but i am not going for speed just yet.. wanting to just get into that happy place and stay there for a bit. the happy place is what makes running fun. Its what makes me want to run.. without the happy place running is a drag. so i am so very excited i found it again :) after i ran i did some pushups, leg lifts, situps and hip-ups. :) (and you thought i was going to miss today too huh? :) This song is so fitting for me these days......

got up first thing to work out... went to let the cat in from the garage when i picked him up my back started spasming .. I was like URHG .. NOT AGAIN! but i got my shoes on anyway and got on the mill.. I did todays workout according to my plan... not going to fuss or worry or feel bad about missing the last two days.. I am just moving on .. so today 2.5 miles done. I felt bad the whole time.. I am telling you gals I feel like I am starting allllll over.... I feel like I have never run farther than a mile in my life.. it was tough. frustrating, emotional, and just down right depressing where I have let myself get too.. but you know what.. today is the start of climbing out of the pit.. of getting up and getting myself back. and THAT makes me happy! I have done it before I will do it again. NO Big. here's to feeling better ... its just a matter of time :)

yeah well planning isnt everything i keep thinking that one of these days i will actually be back in the routine i miss so much.. walking around in the body i miss so much and feeling the energy I miss so much. but again.. today.. it didnt happen. very late night last night and very very busy day today equals no energy so.. again.. I am here wondering when this will all begin to make since. Why.. after 2 years .. so long being determined, disciplined, and motivated.. .. why have I struggled so much for the last 8 weeks. I dont understand it... all i can hope is that this place i am in now will somehow make me more determined, more motivated and more disciplined to NOT GIVE UP. To keep myself focused on being healthy and fit until a ripe old age.... I know that life will never be perfect, i will never be perfect... but for goodness sakes.. enough is enough. I am ready for this to be a bit easier now.. SO i am off to bed.. praying for rest and a morning that finds me on the treadmill.. ...

urgh.. not they way i planned my day to start. 430 am our fridge woke up our daughter ... it was spewing water allll over the floor. got that taken care off and tried to go back to sleep but then was woken up at 7 by a loud noise.. our dog was in my daughters room on the floor having a seizure :( ... took her to the vet.. he thinks she has epilepsy. i am bummed. but so thankful she didnt die this morning like i thought she was going to do right there in front of the kids :( urgh.. love pets but i hate it when stuff like this happens. (we already lost one dog who got hit by a car when she got out of our yard when we were gone..so i dont want to go through that again) all this to say i am exhausted. and i am so tired of typing those words . i will run later this afternoon before 5... promise i will post here later when i do for now i must finish breakfast.. laundry, schooling, and take a nap :) hope your day started less exciting than mine! ------- GOOD NEWS .. BAD NEWS good news is i go...

BE SURE AND READ THE POST BELOW TO SEE MY NEW PLAN.. AND YOUR INVITATION TO JOIN ME !!!! :) did 2 miles :) and I am finally warm! . took 1.5 miles before my feet warmed up.. isnt that crazy! I hate to admit but i couldnt run the whole thing. 2 miles. wow. so sad.. to go from 14 mile run to not being able to do 2 is just flat out depressing. hopefully this will all come back quickly ... i still have some muscle in my legs.. see :) .. so thats good news.. Heres more proof of my exhausting workout: gotta love my mac :) and the great laughs my daughter had snapping these :)

I have had two misses in a row. I am not upset about this fact though.. as I am mentally back in the workout game.. Wednesday I did a huge amount of house cleaning which always feels better and really did help my soreness (which i had left over from the day before :) .. Yesterday was coop.. and its just too exhausting of a day to workout when i get home ... Thursdays will always be my day off until coop is over :) The winter has hit here (24 this morning) and although its a bit warmer here than where you are .. I miss those HOT days of summer. I dont understand why my body reacts to the cold the way it does but once i get cold .. i stay cold. its like I cant get warm. I know I know.. you are thinking .. "girl.. its 74 in your house right now" .. arent you warm now? .. the answer.. no. i am not. (weird huh). so.. Because of this cold issue.. I have given myself another " ultimatum " .. Start getting those runs in and see if that helps, OR go to the Dr. .. As all ...

did my day 2 workout just now.. right before i eat lunch.. should have done it first thing this morning but i woke up starvin and wanted to eat breakfast. I did the mile.. squats, deadlifts and biceps .. i took it easy on squats this time cause last week i THOUGHT i took it easy and i couldnt walk for 2 days! not good when the family is sick and your walking around groaning with every move.. so i learned my lesson.. easy grasshoppa :) happy i got it done busy day today gotta go blessings OOOOO not good.. already sore.. guess i didnt take it as easy as i thought :) hehe r

Its all about never quitting. Plain and simple. what other choice do I have? do I want to weigh 170lbs again? Do I want feet that hurt ever second of every day? Do I want those pains back that woke me up at night when i would simply roll over in bed? Am I going to choose to be tired and depressed everyday? Do I want to hate every single piece of clothing I put on? Do I want to feel old and weak? Do I want to return to going to the Dr every 2 months because I am sick, or just don't feel "right"? nope. sure don't. I like the me I worked so hard for.. and I am going to keep her. No matter how many obstacles get in the way. No matter how many times I pull my back out, or how many shoulder injuries that come my way, no matter how many days off i MUST take to get my family well and back to normal. I just cant quit. not an option. How I feel effects who I am. Who I am effects who and what I will become. Who I am effects who my husband will be and who my children will be. Who...

urgh.. what a crazy week. Praise the Lord my husband is doing great. We are both a bit tired .. he from the illness and myself from lack of sleep.. I am hoping after tonight my schedule will be back to normal and I will feel like myself again . I am tired of being tired. :) its amazing how exhausting taking care of a sick family can make you in a weeks time. And so here i am again.. I made plans and BOOM.. they got shot down (again).. whats a gal to do? I call it a Do over. . so I will start day 1 again and see if THIS TIME i can get 10 days in a row in .. it all starts tomorrow. Its so interesting to me how I made it a year and half ago or so 100 days straight without missing a workout.. and over the last 3 months.. i cant get a break. urgh.. some times life just happens and you have to hold on to the wagon until the horse stops running so you can climb back on. whoa besty.. whoa

just home from the ER with my husband I am feeling better.. although not 100%. he is feeling better than he was. he ended up getting the virus and gets dehydated FAST when he gets stomach stuff.. so we spent the morning and afternoon in the ER. we are now home and he is resting.. doubt working out will be a priority at all today.. but no worries. i am back. but gotta put first things first :) more later. I am off to try and squeeze in a nap.

i got a version of what my kids had... urgh! so not today. hopefully tomorrow.. my head will not feel like it will explode and will spend more time out of bed instead of in bed. OH AND THOSE SQUATS MADE ME UNBELIEVABLY SORE! HAVENT BEEN THIS SORE IN YEARS! URGH. patience grasshoppa patience

I KNEW i should have done this workout at 900 this morning.. but I didnt . so tonight when I got home at 930 I jumped on there.. I did a mile.. then bi curls, shoulders and triceps... ouch.. If my legs are any indication then I will have arms that can hardly wave goodbye with:)

just finished my mile on the mill and legs lifts I did 2 sets of 10 squats, curls and extensions its been sooooo very long that that was totally enough and i am already feeling it :( wow. had a horrible rough night.. but took 2 naps today and I was determined NOT TO MISS 2 down 8 to go :) while running I saw in this vivid imagination of mine.. strong eyes of determination. I drew it after.. this is what came out Silent Determination (please see my art blog for a progress shot of this.. also.. any images i created art under copyright) get up get out and get going progress is only a few minutes away from where you sit right now

my 9 and 12 year old have it now got an HOUR of sleep last night. just up from a 3 hour nap but woke up to the 12 year old getting sick again :( urhg.. hope this is it for the winter! bummer i am planning on doing my workout after i eat and sleep a bit more. ugh. hope your kids dont get it.

BOOOOOM! do you like where you are? do you like what has happened? do you want to be who you use to be or who you worked so hard for? Are you going to back down, quit, stop, and give up. NOOOOOOO I wont sugar coat things.. its been tough around here for the last few months. Its been stressful, frustrating, and down right depressing. What I had worked so hard for.. what I had planned my life to be like right now... what I had envisioned... BOOM.. down by the wayside... Lost in a ocean of injury and sickness.. .. I had it all figured out. THIS Thanksgiving I would have just completed my FULL marathon.. I would be in such great shape, and feeling like I could do anything.. cause ladies.. if I could run a marathon.. there is nothing I couldnt do. But instead.. I am having to RESTART..... starting over is never easy. but here i am. I feel like I have gained 20lbs. I know I havent but feeling weak and flabby does that to a girl :) I am def NOT what I use to be when i was out running 10-12 mi...

ok.. you would think after 2 years of working out that "getting back at it" wouldnt be all so difficult. But after almost 6 weeks off with no real pattern and consistancey i am struggling to find my way again. I am frustrated with myself and my body. I have lost muscle and have gained some pounds were i worked so hard to get rid off (URGH). and I giggle in places I havent giggled in for 2 years now! here are some things I realized yesterday. I have to have a plan I have to set some goals I have to be working toward something I have to get up and get it done first thing in the morning .. i cant wait until later so .. check back later for my plan .. I now it wont take long to get my fit body back.. but i have to be determined to eat right and exercise or its not going to happen. when i was running 10 or 14 miles a little cookie here or there didnt matter.. but now... ouch. ready to be in the grove again and wondering how long it will take to get there.. r

its been getting colder so this weekend we moved the treadmill inside! I will be running later this afternoon :) Yesterday was to be the day i ran my marathon. I am so glad i decided not to go. With my Dad having a stroke last week.. it would have been even more stressful to have been traveling to the race. I was so happy yesterday morning to be sitting in church instead of at the starting line where it was prob 34 degrees and really really crowded. (two things i really dont like.. cold and large crowds :) This past weekend we celebrated not going by driving up the road a bit to a small town that has a GREAT art gallery and shops:) I had such a relaxing day on saturday and really celebrated with my sister and friends :) It seems I have been having art flowing like crazy these last few weeks. I have always been an artist but have never taken it seriously. The combination of being on my back for a month and going to the DMA has rekindled my love and passion for art. I made a promise to m...

oh.. it was a killer 1.5 mile run followed by another 1/2 mile of walking and sprints.. yes sprints.. it just about killed me.. but felt soooooo grand! tomorrow is weights ! really feeling back .. finally.

I havent been me for a while. well.. actually I have.. but its been the OLD me. The old depressed, lathargic, lazy, tired, too busy, always something wrong with me .. me. Its been so hard getting myself back on track.. but i have tried hard to be patient and not expect too much right at first. I have been easing back into running the last few weeks.. mostly walking with some running at track (when my kids run)... I had yet to run longer than a mile straight without walking.. but tonight... ladies.. tonight.. I did over a mile... actually i ran 2 miles.. with only 3 very very short walking or stretching breaks. it felt GREAT! Running is my stress reliever, my thing that centers my thoughts... its also... and MORE IMPORTANTLY.. the thing i do instead of taking blood pressure medicine.. You see... i have low blood pressure.. and for most that is great... and i guess it IS.. BUT low blood pressure makes you feel like crud. Yesterday and today i have had moments of dizziness.. and I know i...

thanks to Jojo who sent this along to me.. wow. whats YOUR excuse? I have none...... now.

Dad is better but still in the hospital... a bit of a recovery process ahead of him.. my workout today was a mile and half walk jog this morning. garage is good to go for tomorrow :) cant wait to lift weights. I will be posting art in a few mins.. check out barbie if you havent seen her.. shes on the art blog.. just click the link on the side bar :)

Its a BEAUTIFUL Saturday afternoon here and I am posting to let you know that I am making progress... I have yet to get back into a my fitness routine but am determined to start Monday... part of that process involves cleaning out the garage( again_) and moving our treadmill inside so i can run in semiwarm environment :) hehe. (you see if its not in the high 80s ,..well its COLD to me :) .. anyway Garage is almost done :) and i am looking forward to getting back into the grove :) dont know how many of you are interesting but... I have been on the creative overload mode around here... I have thoughts and a up coming post on t his and how it all relates to my desire to be healthy... but that will have to wait until next week. :) until then help me name my snobbish lady i drew last night :) click here as a side note.. I entered an art competition... i still cant believe i did it... !!! I am just so excited my art is going to be hanging in a gallery! how cool is that?

ok.. first of all I am seriously considering NOT going to the race. NOW before you all go crazy on me.. let me explain :) here are my reasons for not wanting to go: I am not ready. I could finish 13.1 miles for sure .. i have the mental determination to do so.. but I am a bit worried how it would leave my body. I am JUST now getting to where I have NO pains in my back and I am worried if i push it then i wont be able to run all winter. (which is something that sounds so depressing!) I dont want to spend MORE money going to an event that I know I cannot do my best in. This is NOT the vision I had for my first big race... showing up, walking, worried I would be one of those people they cart off the course. .. not the vision at all. I am just not ready. Please dont see this as if I am giving up on running, fitness, or striving to stay fit. Not at all! Infact.. I see this decision as a way to perserve my fitness lifestyle. I dont want to give my body for one race and be sidelined for weeks...

so this morning was track for the kids I had planned on walk-jogging 4 miles while they practiced but today coach sent them on a 2mile run around campus. its pretty safe but we were a bit concerned about the younger kids not checking really well for traffic at the little intersections.. and i dont trust those college drivers too much either.. so i spent the run going realllllly fast to catch up with the kids to allow them to cross and then running really fast again to get back in front of the first person....... so a 2mile run of sprinting and resting sprinting and resting havent run that hard in ages! it felt great!

CLICK HERE for my commitment to the art side of me :) and what i am doing about it (daily) just wanted to let you all know i just finished 4 miles...walked 3ish ran 1ish.. felt good. Do you know the story of Grandma Moses? This past Friday I had an opportunity to stand in front of a Grandma Moses Original painting! I was inches away from it... and it was an emotional experience. WHY? was the painting as technically complete like a Renoir or a Peale? no. But the painting inspired me like none other I saw that day. (you can read more about our tri p HERE ) What place does art have on my fitness blog? Well.... this painting stirred emotions of guilt and desire all at the same time. It is hard to explain... but in order to understand you must know a bit about Grandma. You see, she didnt become a painter until she was in her 70s. She died at the age of 101!. ... In that amount of time she completed 1500 paintings! This experience awoke something inside of me.. it erased all the excuses...

another 3 miles done this morning and I woke up with NO tightness in my back and NO pain! I am so happy :) i am also thrilled i did a whole mile jogging without stopping! happy i am feeling strong again just happy

there is no way around it.. i know its coming.. and i should not complain.. but i seriously would move to a tropical island if i had the money :) woke up this morning and it was 42 degrees.. which is nothing to some of you but to ME its a huge road block to getting in 3 miles. "wait until it warms up" "we can go to track at 6pm and it will be in the 70s then" "i can just run on the treadmill" BUT no i said would do 3 and i didnt need to wait so the kids and i got on our long pants, and sweatshirts and headed to track i was cold until mile 2 and after that it was nice really nice REALLY NICE so i am happy to report .. my hands are still cold, my ears are tingling but my run is done:) ---i think its time to move the treadmill from the garage to the house---winters coming and i cant stop it :) its probably going to be SOOOOO cold the morning of the race... burr but with 30000 other runners maybe we will be warm anyway now its time to cook a hot breakfast a...

just got home and stretched... 4 miles walking and jogging. felt great my back still has a "catch" in it.... feels tight like i need to just exercise and stretch stretch stretch so thats what i did. I have only 2 weekends (21 days) between me and the 13.1 i will try and complete. my plan is to do this (this is subject to change) : (I WILL TAKE ANY SUGGESTIONS!!!! INPUT PLEASE) Sunday: off Monday: walk jog 3 Tuesday: Weight training Wednesday: walk jog 3 Thursday: Weight training Friday: Walk jog 3 Saturday: Walk jog 6 and 2 in the evening (total 7) Sunday: Off Monday walk jog 4 Tuesday Weights Wednesday: walk jog 5 Thursday Weights Friday: Walk jog 5 Saturday Walk jog 8 and 2 in the evening (total 10) Sunday Off Monday: Walk Jog 4 Tuesday: Weights Wednesday: 5 miles Thursday: Weights Friday: off Saturday Off Sunday RACE ITS A PLAN!!! (i know how plans have been these days.... but its something to shoot for!)

I am sooooo happy happy happy happy Happy! 3 miles... walked one jogged 2! happy. UPDATE just a short update to let you know my back is still feeling good :) even after the run :) AND my living room carpet is deep cleaned AND my sink is shiney! YIPEEEE sooooooooo glad to feel better!

.. over and done? dunno. but i DO know i just finished getting more exercises than i have had in almost a month! what did i do? turned on a little switchfoot and did: planks, 5 push ups, 4 sets of 12 sit up, leg lifts, and walking lunges! yes.. walking lunges! I plan on getting a walk in before or after cats cake and bday party :)

Yet another round at the Chiro. this afternoon to see if he could fix me.. REALLY REALLY fix me. so.. he adjusted my hips back in place and gave me a GREAT cortizone and electronic stem therapy thingie.. AWWW it was NICE. I am now going to track with the kids (at night) we missed it this morning because we had our science and history fair.. a alllll day process :) .. so kids run tonight and i will walk and jog a tad progress. progress. just have to be happy with that. progress is good. UPDATE: Ok i had to report back that i walked about half a mile and did a hill or two walking. Nothing amazing or fancy but i consider it progress :) I am also excited to say i can bend down and touch my toes with NO pain! AND when i was cooking supper tonight i twisted to the right to grab the milk and .. NO Pain!.. and .. I could shave my legs.. NO PAIN! .. Praying that it lasts a while...

What if you woke up tomorrow and.... could not get out of bed without pain you dreaded picking things up off the floor you had become ill in the middle of the night and the virus lasts 6 weeks! you lost the use of one of your limbs you were unable to do common house hold chores without help you were in constant pain you couldnt sneeze, cough, sit, move or laugh without pain your feet hurt too bad to even put shoes on! What if....... What would you do today. Would you live any differently today... Some of the above list is actually what I have and am continuing to go through. It has been an increadably frustrating, painful and depressing journey. To go from running 10 12 and 14 miles to being in bed for hours at a time is something i would have laughed at if you would have told me last year this would have happened to me. I would have done a lot of things differently for sure.. I wouldnt have complained about the weather I wouldnt have missed a run because i was just lazy I would hav...

750am I am soooo happy to say i woke up this morning and went on a 2.5mile walk with a few sessions of jogging! it was beautiful this morning... 54 degrees, cloudy, misting.. in the past it would have kept me inside... BUT NOT ANYMORE!

ok.. so I DID get the green out of my hair but i was worried about coloring it myself .. so i went to the beauty shop.. it took 3 hours!!!! yes.. 3 hours.. at one point i thought i was going to have to go REALLY REALLY short because the ends of my hair were so damaged! But Sandy Saved my hair! Its darker... can you tell? has low lights of brown and red... i am just thrilled i can keep growing it out!!!! and i didnt have to start all over!!! I tried to get a shot so you could see the back.. and how layered it is... i think i am going to like it. :) will get some getting use too.. :)

So after a day (yesterday) where i had three crying sessions cause i was so frustrated and upset at how bad i felt and wondering how long it would continue. This morning i woke up with a surprise of feeling better! My sinus' are still messed up but the aches that went along with the congestion was gone! PRL! My back was no longer in spasm mode and I was just happy to feel up to taking the kids to track... SHOOT i was happy to be able to get out of bed without feeling like i could pass out! I did a mile walk (slow) this morning at track and it really seemed to help the tightness in my lower back. Then i spent most of the morning with the kids deep cleaning out living room-den and part of the kitchen. I started feeling pain and tightness around 2 this afternoon and decided to walk on the treadmill to see if it loosened up... AND IT DID!.. i still have to be careful how i bend over but after some good stretching its LOTS better. The treadmill walk got me to thinking... I MUST get myse...

Left foot pain (September:most of 2 weeks off) middle back pain --neck pain --severe lower back pain (another 2 weeks off) the start of a sinus infection --started feeling bad yesterday... URG> Lower back is still aching-sore-tight figure another trip to the chiro this week :( feeling like i will never be normal again! I feel like i worked so hard to get in shape.. just to get injured and sick!!!! frustrating. At the "end" of my 2 year journey i was expecting to feel like a new woman... but a young one.. NOT a 90 year old! This is getting ridiculous !

Had my "last" Chiro appointment this morning. Todays adjustment consisted of adjusting my lower spine. The rib that i had pulled out of place, (and waited 10 days to do anything about), ended up pulling on the muscle that runs down the back causing it to pull the vertebra together in my lower spine. The therapy i have been having the last three days was all in an attempt to get the swelling down so i COULD be adjusted. The Chiro also told me that on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being really out of wack.. -those are not his words but mine).. that I was a 9 when i came in! He also said that if I was adjusted with the swelling like it was before that it could risk a bigger problem and could have resulted in surgery! (oh i am so glad he didnt tell me all this until after i was fixed! yikes!) Good news all around. I am so happy. He said i could run this weekend and would def. feel like it for sure by Monday! I am a bit sore but nothing like i was.. and . .. today i will have to fulfi...

Thats what happened to my hip this morning at the Chiro. The swelling had gone down quite a bit and i felt so much better this morning.. 2 advil before bed and ice pack on it from 4am to 7am did the trick. Doc adjusted my hip and POP it was loud! hurt for a sec and felt great afterward! I am home now and can sit down without holding on to something and get up from a seated possition without looking like i am 10 months pregnant :) hehe. I am so happy he was able to put all back to the right place.. he said i was rotated pretty bad out of place so it should feel lots better :) I go back friday for hopefully my last adjustment for a while :) I am dreaming of a 2 mile walk run on Sat morning. (before our kids last track meet)

trying not to get my hopes up but this morning my back feels lots better! I can sit down without groaning in pain :) yippee. Off to see Dr Chiro :) OH I need a run! I miss it ! so if you are running this morning.. take a few strides for me!

"Thank you for joining us for another episode of: AS THE BACK TURNS, a continuing saga of a Mom whose back has "gone to the dogs" In today's episode Ruthie finds out that she has a fluid filled sack (because her back is so inflamed ) in her lower back that is causing a "clicking" noise as she walks. She gets therapy (cortizone gel and ultrasound etc) and feels better for about an hour. Ice has become her best friend and her children are beginning to wonder if she will ever cook again, do laundry or be able to pick anything up off the floor again! Dr Chiro wants to see her tomorrow for more therapy and hopes to adjust her lower back on Wednesday. This puts tears in Ruthies eyes as she wonders how loud she will scream and if they have a wooden spoon she can bite down on! Ruthie has also given up on the idea of running a full marathon in Nov. and will be happy to complete a half at this point and has only one goal.. of being at participant and not a spectato...

well. after feeling fantastic after the adjustment and treatment i slowly started feeling bad again. i have had a hard time sleeping cause of the pain in my lower back. Yesterday I had moments of tearful pain.(which reminded me of labor back pains) so i am still hurting. no running, no workout of any kind... I go back to the Chiro tomorrow morning. will see. ___ I just have to say.. all those times i didnt workout cause i "didnt feel like it".. because i was lazy, or had a mild ache or pain... UHG. i have learned through this to be THANKFUL and to not be so easily taken off track. Nothing like pain and feeling like a 90 year old woman who needs a walker to put a different perspective on things

I am now a believer!!!! My husband MADE me go to the Chiropractor today after track. (I walked 2 miles) 10 days ago when i "adjusted" my ipod string while running.. the POP i felt in my mid back was a RIB going out of place! That pain went away but it went to my neck.. then my neck was better and went to my lower back. I could not pick up a paper off the floor, tie my shoes, and could hardly get in bed and lay down! The Dr adjusted me quite a few times (cracks and pops so loud my hubby could hear it!!..)and when he was done said "girl.. you were a train wreck!" i can not tell you how much better I feel now!!! WOW. I think i should have gone to the Chiro about 20 years ago :) hehehe.. My lower back is still sore.. its a different soreness though.. i will ice it most of the day, which is what they said to do after they did the "electronic stem" thingie on me :) .. I told my husband.. you know your a runner when you will go to the dr because i WANT to run!.. ...