Fit with Ruthie

I slept in. It was nice. I didnt get out of the house for my run until after 730am. It was hot already. I ran a bit, stopped and talked a bit and ran. I ended up running out of time. had to be back here at 9am ..... so.. 10 turned into 6... which is fine. I need the rest and don't want to push it anyway... .. 18 miler this coming weekend YIKES My ITband is still bothering me. I have had this issue before.. i know it will be ok... but its annoying. I have NO pain while I am running-walking. But sitting and walking afterward there is pain. I will be icing, and stretching, and resting... taking it nice and easy on my runs this week so hopefully i can make it through 18. now, nap time :) Rest. Is. Good.

I am looking forward to my 10 miler tomorrow. I hope my throat that is a tad sore is just from allergies and nothing serious. (yikes) I hope my hip feels great after a nice run and some stretching. I have two things that inspired me today.....first is this quote by a Priscilla Welch. I didnt know of her until today.... but here is the quote and the amazing story behind her "If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it. ” The above quote is from Priscilla Welch... never heard of her? Me either! :) check out her amazing story: Priscilla June Welch (born November 22, 1944 in Bedford, England ) was a British marathon runner . She had a most unlikely career in international athletics , having been a smoker of a pack a day until she began running competitively at age 35 . An officer in the British Army , Welch met her husband Dave while serving in Norway . She quit smoking, and under his tutelage, she ran...

wow. what a GREAT morning! the only bad thing is I didnt start early enough to get in a longer run :( I would have done a 8 miler if I had the time... it was THAT NICE outside this morning! Low 70s and a gentle breeze blowing, I ran 2 miles and then came home, made sure the kids were up and then headed to the garage. I did incline situps and then grabbed the exercise ball and headed to the drive way. It was dark, the moon still high in the sky and the stars were AMAZING! I know.. i am sure I looked funny doing abwork on a ball in my driveway... but ... everyone else in the world was asleep :) I would do a set and just lay on the ball and stare at the moon and stars. It. Was. breathtaking! Why would I choose NOT to start my day this way? wow. after the abs I did dips... you know, where you put your hands on a chair and dip your body down to the ground? working those triceps. I was sooooo surprised I could do 20 in a row! I havent lifted weights or done dips in MONTHS. Pushups work so we...

no run today. but i did mow the lawn, clean the garage, and the toilets LOL plan to run in the AM. ....off to bed with me... i tell you what.. if you wake up at 430am and dont take a nap during the afternoon.. then you MUST be asleep by 9 or its just not going to work. :) Oh.. and I just finished watching a movie that was GREAT its free on netflix if you get that online streaming.... called. Run for you Life. Its the story of the man that started the NYC marathon. ......Now, I have a desire to run there someday. (ha... doubt that will ever happen.. but maybe run my own on the same day they run the NY one :)....here's a clip from youtube. :) nighty night!

4 miles turned into 3. It was a nice cool morning. PERFECT for running. Perfect except for the thunderstorm that decided to interrupted my run. The last mile I ended up running 3 HIITS, it wasnt planned .. but the thunder and lightening had a way of motivating me to get done and get inside a building somewhere :) I feel like I am doing well for the 16 miler I managed on Sunday. My hip is still just a tad sore but good. Finding balance in my day. I am still waking with no alarm at 430am.....(go figure)...... but in order to function that means I either nap or go to bed at 830pm. I have chosen to nap and still stay up til about 10pm. so far its working out well. As long as I make myself nap. speaking of nap..................zzzzzzzzz We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon. Emil Zatopek

Yep. Sore... sore in places I haven't ever been sore in. Mostly the outside of my thighs and hips. It is a good sore though not too tough and I know just a bit of rest will take care of it. So, no run for me today... just resting. But I did do pushups. 70 pushups, 50 of those one leg pushups. :) I have been feeling the need to eat eat eat... making sure what i eat is balanced and nutritious. Did I want a blizzard after I ran? oh sure... did I eat one?? nope. So, now I am in the market for running sunglasses. Any one have favorites?

You know its funny. Sometimes I decide to do things and then I spend a LOT of time telling myself I am CRAZY for doing them. This morning was one of those times. I woke up at 415 am.. (no alarm) and full of energy... I wasnt going to start running until closer to six.. but got ready and headed out the door. The first 8 miles were not too good. the first 8 miles were filled with that little person in my head telling me I am crazy, That I can't do this. I kept saying "why a full? could just do a half", "nothin to prove.. just do the half", "a full on my birthday? seriously? why?" , "I don't have enough hours in the day to train", "I am just too busy to do this right now... I should just do a half in my birthday and a full in the spring".......and on and on and on and on......... The last 8 miles were on the treadmill. I wanted to run outside but I didnt have access to the potty.. and you know any gal whose had 3 kids needs to go...

had a great time at a local bike race :) Helped some friends of mine who organized the event and run a bike shop here in town. It was great fun! and inspiring! met a 70 year old man before the race.. he had LOTS of great life advice and was just amazing to visit with... he left to go to the start he said he just wanted to finish... he finished. last. He was LAST! 70 year old LAST in a 77 mile bike race! .... and this was hilly and hot and ... welll... he was just amazing! and inspiring! so.. i will think of him tonight as I go to sleep and tomorrow as I run and try to get in 16 miles before the start of worship. Would it be ok to show up to church in my running clothes? hum.... :) Naw.. I hop to be out early and finish with 30 min to get ready and wear my 6 inch heals :) A bit nervous about the length of 16.....but if HE Can.. I can.

My Juno came in the mail yesterday. Will write a review as soon as i am done with track practice AND my run after :) Hope the "girls" like hanging with Juno, Hope it wicks well, cause its going to be hot out there. Two thumbs up for JUNO! YIPEEE.. I am so happy! 3 miles, no uni, no rubbing, no bounce, very comfy! now, I wanna buy one in pink! :) I ran 1 mile at track practice this morning... was going to run at about 815am after track but i was STARVING... so i ate, drank my unsweet HOT tea (yum) and rested. 1030am.. checked weather... only 87 degrees.... so I headed out the door. 2 miles with mens pushups on the last 1/4 mile mixed in. I decided not to push it as tomorrow is spose to be long run day. came home.. did MORE pushups. most with one leg (alternating legs) 70 pushups total... and situps, crunches on exer ball, plank and side plank as you can see.. i am drenched in sweat! my arms are jello! my chest is happy my legs feel strong for tomorrow. now, if you have time.....

I have always said I am NOT a morning person. I use to drag myself out of bed by 9am at the earliest. I use to get up, drink a dr pepper eat breakfast and sometimes... go back to bed! I use to stay up until midnight or 1 am. I would sit up after everyone else went to sleep so I could have some "quiet alone time". I use to sit and watch tv late into the night eating ice cream and popcorn/soda. For nine years I was a Residence Hall Director (dorm mom) on a college campus. I spent 9 years staying up until 1 or 2 or 4 in the morning. I was NOT a morning person. Nine years of imprinting in my brain that 8am was the middle of the night led me to believe I would always be a night person. :) To be a person who just WAKES UP.... at 415 or 430 and isnt sleepy? ... i mean.. come on! WHAT IS THAT??? I have a sweet friend who has always been a morning person. She would wake up at 5am or earlier. I could never understand a person that did that. THAT has never been me. Not anymore. so man...

yeah,.. i kicked my own butt today. 4 miles total.. last mile and half I alternated walking-jogging for 20 yards or so and did either 10 mens pushups OR 10 walking lunges. When i was done... 70 pushups and 40 lunges. Drenched in sweat and with NO energy left. I waited a bit late to go run this morning so my body was saying feed me instead of move me LOL... I had planned on doing 4 miles running and thats it... but after 2 miles I had NO energy... my legs were good, my cardio felt good... just literally no fuel in the tank. SO.. I decided if i was going to walk-jog I might as well through in some lunges and push ups :) off to clean, make phone calls and get unstinky :) hope your day is filled with JOY today!

sometimes I miss the 2 year old me. (that's me in the middle.. I think I was 3 here :) You know 2 year olds ... the "me do it by meself " attitude. The "look at me.. watch meeeee !".. the "happy go lucky I rule the world and I can do anything" 2 year old. yeah sometimes I miss that me I use to be. If I have learned anything over the past few years its that mental-spiritual attitude is key to success. We think-pray who we become. BUT Negativity is a part of our world. So, what happens to people. What happened to me? What happened to the "I can conquer the world" 2 year old me? .. Society, Life, Events and People corrupted my thinking. Soon I began believing what the world was saying about me and not what God said about me. You see.. God says I am worth it. God says I am beautiful, smart, intelligent , and worth listening too! God listens to me.. doesn't he?? how powerful is that? I believe God whispers to little ones. God whispers his lov...

The joy of running is something that is new to me. All my life running was something i made myself do. Something that was meant as a means to a different end. To get in shape for Softball, to fit into that dress, or to look good for vacation. I never ran to just.....run. I never considered it a "real" sport... ... i was uneducated and just thought runners were crazy people with nothing better to do. I really thought most distance runners had issues with eating disorders and were just running to be skinny. Why would anyone EVER want to run longer than 2 miles? Wow... was I ever wrong! To experience JOY while running and afterward is a weird but very nice experience for me. I am now educated in the ways of running, the mental, spiritual and physical discipline that comes along with running. Next to childbirth its the only experience in life I have come across that has pushed me beyond, made me stronger and feel such a sense of JOY! Why is running taken so lightly. Why do parent...

still sore yeah... it was a Gooooood workout :) Planning a hour and half or 2 hour run tomorrow depending oh how rested i feel and how sore I am :) track meet this week and this weekend.. so life is busy... more time to post next week

My kinda fast food :) This is from last week .. quick and easy :) Cook brown rice the day before... have it in the fridge when you are ready pull a serving out and heat it up. Top with some frozen veggies. I cook a whole bag of veggies in the oven, ROAST them ... soooo much better! add garlic seasoning while cooking top it off with almonds :) YUMMMMMMY :) hard to believe that a few years ago I wouldn't have considered this lunch a meal.. wheres the meat? ha. It would also have tasted bland... not anymore.. veggies now taste SWEEEET! I love how our taste buds can truly change just like our bodies can transform! OK.. so my name today is RUTHIEOHSOSORE. .....OH MY.... sore just doesnt describe it. I am happy though.. means I did something :) .... Tomorrow will be better :) I plan on going for a 4 miler (at least) this evening to try and loosen up the legs and tushy... i ran a tad at practice this morning but nothing significant. but that little bit did help me not walk like a penguin...

Some days, esp after sprints and walking lunges I dream of having this fancy bar system in my bathroom! The word sore isnt enough for today and how I feel. But. sore. is goooooood! I ran just a bit this morning and streeeeeeetched and did pushups. busy day .. lots to say no time... so check back later for my words of wisdom LOL

just back from a 2.5 miler then went to the track and did sprints....and then lunges......and then a long walk to get the keys from my hubby for the car. My legs are already screaming at me.. so tomorrow morning will be interesting :) now for breakfast, the zoo, the library and housework :) did I mention what I saw Saturday morning on my run? Imagine this photo but in a baby stroller (not a doggie stroller) and two poodle mixes standing up with their paws on the bar (like the part my kids use to cut their teeth on). The couple with the stroller were older-- like grandparents...and when i saw them from far away I thought "oh thats nice grandparents taking the baby out for a walk".. as they got closer.... I literally busted out laughing! now... after stewing the idea over for a few days I am thinking well... .maybe the dogs had hips or joint problems or something. ......but i am sorry... i couldnt help but laugh.

seeee! THIS is what I love about training for the long haul. THIS is what I love about being an advid walker or runner (or a bit of both). ITs so much more than just exercise. ITS a reflection of life. Just as life seems to be holding you back BOOOOM ... there it goes.. and you can see its all for a reason. I like that. Weather the storm for the glory that is after. so.... this morning was a quick 4.5 miler with the last mile alternating brief walking and sprints. URGH> It was HUMID> 94% and drizzling rain......I was pouring sweat and it felt so good :) I love how 4 miles seems like NOTHING. ha. weird. Now... Josha has been buggin me to show photos of the new duds. yeah. freaks me out. size 4 jeans. small shirts and size 4 dresses. Not use to this. I have squeezed into a 4 before....but not like this. Its like my body is finally adjusting and relaxing into the new me. I have been wearing jeans that were a size jr 9 ... I have put off buying new and just belting them.....but s...

"I dont wanna I do I dont wanna I do I am not gonna I am gonna I dont feel good I will feel better if I do going back home no your going to stay but i dont wanna but, no, really... you do." THAT was my conversation with myself this morning. 5am, drizzling rain dark HUMID, I had NO energy. EVERYTHING was telling me to go home, get back in bed. I drove the car to campus. Parked. Sat there. "i dont wanna". I sat. ......... I started the car up, pulled out and started to leave....."I dont have any energy".. "I want to go home to bed"........Put it in reverse and parked again. "If i am here, i might as well" I got out of the car, started walking, started running, "I dont wanna".... "I am going home"....turned around, took 10 steps ........"NO.. I can go home after a lap...only after 2 miles...THEN.. I can go home" "you will feel better if you do it anyway"........ so I sucked it up I did it anyway. I g...

yeah... been busy the past couple a days. but its allll goood! Went out today for my first solo run since the half... did 2.5 miles.. last mile was sprints. OUCH. felt good though.. was another early morning run.. i had run and bis and shoulders done before 545 am :) wooowhoo! Here's what i have been up too! I am getting set for the next round of training and I am sooo excited to do this again ... what a GREAT experience, HUGE blessing in my life!!!! I LOVED it!

i am exhausted had 17 people complete freedom half marathons this week :) AMAZING experience. 2.5 hours sleep last night half marathon group did thier half today.... it was just our own thing... not "organized race"....but what a GLORIOUS day it was. Lots to write about but i must get some s leep. I was blessed the first part of the morning by experiencing the half with each person, then by helping coach our youth team in a track meet that lasted all day. I cannot think of a much better way to spend the day. Here a just a few pictures from today. .. i do have more... but going to bed. I am amazed at what God can do with just little ole me. One little person sharing her story and throwing a half marathon training program out to the "wind" to see what happens. ... 2 years of wishing there were more people doing the half with me that day... .......God is great. I love he takes what I have and can use it to bless others lives!

A couple of things have changed since this time last year.................. there are no words!

Dark isnt the word for what it was out there this morning. It was a tad cool so i wore my night life jacket... by mile and half I was HOT!.... Perfect weather for running or sleeping in a hammock (which i plan to do later today) low 70s (like 72) no wind- over cast ...... but 88% humidity which is HI for here. I grew up on the coast of texas and wozer if felt like texas coast this morning! By the time I was done I was DRENCHED in sweat... nothing evaporated. NOTHING. every crook and cranny was sweaty. and boy did I ever stink! thankful for the lighting! :) . thankful for God's word etched in stone! So this is how it went down. mile one.. great mile 2.. great but hot mile 3.. took off jacket and then great mile 4... this song came on and I cried. Thinking of all my girls going to do their halfs on saturday and those who have already done them and those who wish they could. Mile 5 .... OH GLORIOUS MILE FIVE... .LOVE LOVE LOVE MILE FIVE... run...