Race #3: March - Outclimb Cancer Challenge

On March 7, I participated in the Outclimb Cancer Challenge.  This challenge is organized completely by volunteers to benefit the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.  It's a 24-story climb up the Wells Fargo building in downtown Salt Lake City.  Participants can climb once or they can try to break the record for most climbs or fastest climb.  This is done by people of EVERY age and physical condition.

The challenge begins at 6 am and participants have until Noon to complete their climbs. This is also run in waves.   Participants are assigned a start time according to how many climbs they are going to attempt and how many people in their group.

I was running this challenge alone.  Weird how everyone thought I was crazy to want to run a stairs race, right?!  One week into my training and I was beginning to think they were on to something.  I love stairs, but they are a beast to do for a long period of time.  My goal for this challenge was 5 climbs or 120 floors.

I got to the Wells Fargo building around 8am.  My start time was 9am.  They had check-in and packet pick up that morning.  There was not a big line, so I didn't have any unnecessary waiting around.  They also had a place for me to check a bag with all of my belongings. 

I was super nervous about this.  I had trained, but didn't know what to expect. 

It begins.

There were many people climbing.  One elderly gentleman held the banister and pulled himself up each stair as he climbed the huge building.  He climbed more than once.  Some were climbing extremely fast.  Others were going to distance.  There was a woman who looked quite tired on my first elevator ride down to the bottom of the stairs, so I asked her how many climbs she had done so far.  She was on climb 22!!  When I left at the end of the day, we were again on the same elevator down to the bottom floor.  She was on climb 40. . . and still going. 

There were volunteers in the stair wells to make sure we were safe.  Some of them had water and others were dressed up dancing to music and cheering us all on.

Every time I made it back to the clock at the bottom of the stairs, it read 10 minutes past the last time I was there.  So, between elevator rides and walking back to the stairs from the elevator, I figure it took me right around 7-8 minutes each climb.  I took this picture when I finished my 6 climbs!!

There was this comparison of climbs to popular climbs other people do throughout the world.  It was fun to think I climbed higher than the Freedom Tower in New York City.

As soon as I was finished with my climbs, I was given a medal and could join the after party.  At the party, there was food and drinks for everyone, massage therapists for a small fee, and prizes given away for costumes, fastest climb, most climbs, and a drawing.  It was a lot of fun.

This would be really fun to do with a team of people.  There were small teams of just a couple of people and HUGE teams of more than 40 people.  All seemed to have a great time.  If you get a chance to join in on the Outclimb Cancer Challenge, take it.  Money goes to a great cause and I'm sure you'll love it.

Trim Your Tire Challenge 2013

I am again doing the Trim Your Tire Challenge.  For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a motivation tool I have been using to keep me moving during the months of November and December.  And we all know that with the extra treats we share together, moving more is a good idea.  So, during these two months I try to accomplish the distances of an Iron Man Triathlon.

4000 meter swim
112 mile bike
26.2 mile run

I have not been training for, nor do I have the time to accomplish all three events in one day, but taking both months to get through the distances is attainable for me.  NOT easy, but I can do it.

This year I have cruised through the swimming and the biking; however, the running is evading me.  I don't love to run in the snow or on the inside track.  Which makes getting my 26.2 miles done is really hard.  I've only run 7 miles in the last 6 weeks.  Here's hoping I can get 19.2 miles in  within the last 2.5 weeks.

Cutting Out the Sweetness

It's been almost 2 weeks and I haven't eaten any delectable desserts.  I wish that I could say that cutting them out was making me feel fantastic and giving me energy I never knew I had, but it's just not.  I feel sluggish, tired, and irritable.

I remember when I first participated in p90x, Tony Horton explained that I would feel this way in the first 30 days.  The days when I was cutting out the crap that was killing my body.  These days were supposed to be hard, supposed to help my body get used to using the good foods to fuel my body.  I don't remember feeling that way before,  but I sure feel this way now.

Although I'm not engaged in p90x this time, there is no question as to the Calorie requirements that my activities require.  Getting through the next 3 weeks will be a challenge.  A challenge that I'm hoping will be a great jump start to a new way of respecting and collaborating with my food to improve my health.

Trim Your Tire Challenge

For the last month, I have been working to accomplish the Trim Your Tire Challenge.  Between being sick, having sick kids and all the holiday hoo-hah it's been pretty challenging to get a bunch of it accomplished.

The challenge is to do a half, whole OR ultra Triathlon in two months time.  From November 1 to December 31.  I put it together to help motivate me and my family and friends to work out this holiday season.  At the very least, stay the same pant size through all of the sweets and treats.  It's been pretty fun.

I have decided that I do not love to ride the bike.  Maybe at another time I will become a triathlete.  But not anytime soon.  I missed swimming.  Such a wonderful feeling of heat and cool at the same time.  Love it.  I do miss running.  I have only got one mile done of my 26.2.  This is because I have been trying to pound out the 112 miles in the bike.  It's taking longer than I thought it would.  But I'm pressing on.

So far, I have done:

1900 meters swimming
57 miles biking
1 mile running

One month to go.  It's going to be a good one.

100 Mile Challenge

I have been running for the last three weeks with my wonderful friend Janet. Last night on our run, she said that she was doing this 100 mile challenge. It's to run 100 miles by the end of the year. And she wanted me to do it with her. I said,

"YES!"

I am a little nervous about the holiday festivities getting in the way of my required 10 miles a week, but I'm hoping that I will be able to stay on target. It will also help me to prepare for my first Half Marathon. My little brother asked me to sign up for it with him. I did. I don't know what I'm thinking. I haven't even done a 10K before. Oh NO! It's in 8 months, which is plenty of time to train for it, but I've never ran that many miles at one time. The farthest I have run at one time is 5.5 miles. This will be the first real challenge I have set for myself in a while. I'm excited to keep you updated on my progress.

120 Mile Challenge Update

I am such a slacker. I don't report my miles very well this year. OR even keep track of them well. I guess that means that I lose them if I don't keep track. I know I have gone out with my Hubby and Sweet Pea a handful of times that I didn't record my miles for. Oh well.

I have been out walking a bit. This last weekend a ton. We went out to the Zoo, This is The Place, and Discovery Gateway. We walked a ton. I know that I am supposed to count my "I'm in my exercise clothes" times, but these were some really hard walks for me. I really worked up a sweat. Got my heart rate going. So, I'm counting it. This pregnant lady can use all the exercise I can get. At any time of the day.

That brings my total miles up to: 12.57 Miles. I know, I know. I'm WAY behind. But still moving. And that is saying something.

It is really getting hard to move. My first pregnancy never gave me pains like this one does. There are days that I can barely get off the couch. So, I'm doing well. Only 5 more weeks of the pre-baby pain. Then I'll just have a little bit of post-baby pain and it will be all over. There is an end. Yeah.

Back In The Habit

I did it. I got up and exercised today. I got my heart pumping a little and my arms and legs moving. It felt great. And I feel great still. It didn't give me a headache or make me extremely tired. I guess the last time I tried some of the things I did today I was just on the verge of sickness and tired anyway. Now I'm better and it feels great.

I'm 30 weeks from the end of my exercise restrictions. Well, more than that with recovery from my c-section, BUT still. I am excited. It's going to be a different season when I'm through with this pregnancy than last time. Going into Fall and Winter will be hard. I need to get some new ideas for exercises I can do with 2 kids around. But that's later.

Right now, I'm walking. I've entered the 120 mile challenge again this year.



I did this because I need a little bit more motivation to get out of the house. AND exercise. It's just too easy to stay home. I used the enormous amounts of rain that we have been having as an excuse, but just realized that even if it's sunny I just have no motivation. Cat's 120 Mile Challenge gives me someone to report to every week. I am pretty competitive and I don't like to come in last. So, this will be good I think.

Last week, I did just a little over 2 miles. (slow start, I know.) And this week I have already gotten that. I am going to at least double my miles from last week. That's the goal.

Wish me luck.

Cardio X CAN be done. Woot! Woot!

It's so wonderful. I was able to complete the whole Cardio X without stopping. This was very exciting. Especially since my Sweet Pea was crawling around the living room the whole time. While doing the Yoga and Stretching portions she would climb up on me. I really like it when she climbs up on me, but while exercising it is most inconvenient; however, it is very cute.

I am going to attempt to do it again today. My attempt to add more points into my days. I don't know about you, but while doing p90x I find myself wishing it was worth more points than it is. Oh well, it's better to know that I can accomplish it than to get many points for it. Right?

Favorite Sin

One of the ways to earn points for the 500 is to give up my favorite sin for 7 days. A whole week. It's pretty hard. The one that I LOVE is:

CHEESE

It's yellow,

Sweet AND Salty,

runny,

hard,

delectable goodness.

I have had to give it up for the last 6 weeks and it doesn't get any easier over time. I thought it would, but it seems to be getting worse. All I want is Mac 'n Cheese, a grilled cheese sandwich, Nachos,

chili cheese fries; well, you get the idea.

It's a tough one. But I guess it will be worth the 5 points. Hopefully. Some days I just want to hide in the corner behind the couch and eat a whole bowl of cheese curds. YUM!!


(picture from www.thedailygreen.com and www.kats9lives.com)

My First Morning of the 500

I'm just going to call it the 500 and you are just going to know what I'm talking about. Deal? good.

This morning I got up fed my Sweet Pea and myself (I'm quite proud of this one, I don't usually make time to eat) and set off on our little walk this morning. This is my real first day of keeping track of points. Too bad it's in the middle of the tracking week.

I'm getting in my water.

I exercised.

I did my push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and calf raises.

Does jumping with Sweet Pea on my lap count as weight lifting? I think it should.

How are you doing on your points/goals?

It Begins

The 500 challenge. Technically it began this last Wednesday, but when I have a 102 degree fever, I just don't feel like exercising or making healthy choices. (or any choices at all) Anyway, it's here. And I'm ready.

64 oz of water every day= a breeze (I mean, I already love to drink water AND I have to because of feeding baby)

walking miles=Sweet Pea loves taking walks; we go every day AND we're training for our 6K in October

Eating healthier= a little more difficult because I crave the grease and salt of so many wonderful foods.

Stretching= this one I NEED, but I really struggle with remembering when my little one is crying (screaming) for me

There are a TON of ways to get points this challenge and I'm excited. I hope that I can do it.

Here I go!!!

Biggest Loser Family

My Family is doing Biggest Loser. We have until December 17th, right before we all participate in our Christmas Festivities. I'm really excited. I don't know if everyone is taking this seriously, but I sure am. I want the $100 at the end to go get a spa treatment OR a new outfit for my new body OR more running gear. I don't know, but I'm going to WIN!!

This contest is mine.

I'm starting at:

weight: 196 pounds.

pant/dress size: 16

AND flabby all over.

By Christmas this will be NO MORE!!

Almost There

Walking has become my life. As I walk I yearn to RUN. I can't wait until I can again. I'm so excited that I have almost reached 120 Miles this summer. I wasn't sure I could do it, but I'm only 7 miles away. It's so great to accomplish something physical again.

Anyone have some tips to help keep up your milk production while exercising?

Oh So Much Summer

It's been so long. I have been really busy with a new little one and had smooshed all my blogs together without even thinking about it. But I'm back. Posting Here about my fitness.

So, you can imagine, I'm almost 7 months post-baby and still flabby. Obviously wanting to get back to my extreme exercising self is the goal, but a very distant goal. Beginning my trek to skinny-dom started out pretty rocky. I didn't get out much. Ate like I was pregnant still. (not that I ate for two, I just didn't make the wisest choices.) And complained about being fat.

NOW. . .

I am walking everyday. (I started to run, but my breast milk lessened. So, I stopped) I joined the




And I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I have lost a couple of inches. I've got to step it up to meet my goal for December. To lose the extra 30 pounds I'm holding onto. I'm gonna do it.

I enjoyed the 120 mile challenge so much that this fall





And I'm stoked!!! If you want to participate in the 500 challenge go to nutsinanutshell.blogspot.com and email Cat. She would love it. Don't be afraid 500 is NOT miles this time. It's points. And you earn points in a million different ways. It will be so fun. I hope you join in.