A look at perfect form:

Ok, so after reading Born to Run I am so in awe of ultramarathoners and trail runners. Here's a video of a guy who won the Leadville 100 miler in 2007. His form is perfect. I wish I ran like this:

My new "barefoot" shoes...

It's funny to call them that since you aren't barefoot but it's as close as it gets, I guess. I wore them all afternoon and then on my run in the evening. They felt great - I was so happy to not have to worry about little pebbles stabbing me in the heel but I do have two little hot spots on the bottom of my big toes. I was expecting some blisters so I'm ok with that. They're called Vibram Five Fingers. Here's a shot from the side so you can see there isn't much there on the bottom. They fit really snug and and very light.


I thought this was a funny image - I look like a gray-footed hobbit or some sort of cyborg.

15 down - more to go...

As of today I am 15 pounds lighter than when I started weight watchers. I am glad to see the loss but I have to admit I thought it would be a lot faster than it was. I guess I started May 8th. So that means it took me 3 1/2 months to lose that much. Above is the chart on the weight watchers site that tracks my weight. As you can see - that little trip to Idaho put a big kink in my progression. And was it worth the treats? No way. If I had just followed my regular progression I might be 5 to 10 pounds lighter right now. That's a lesson learned - I hope.

And now my mileage is going up. This next week I will run a total of 13.5 miles. That is about half of my first goal. I know once I am running 25 miles a week my weight loss with really be going.

I just finished "Born to Run" and it was soo good. I highly recommend that. I think I'll do a post about it in a couple days because it deserves it's own post. I am also planning on getting a pair of these. I'll let you know when I do.

And here's a current picture of me. I figured I should show what I look like. I still have 40 pounds to lose - can you believe that? My kids told me this morning that I'm somewhere between the yellow and green lady on top... And I was thinking of putting this photo on facebook and so I was playing around in photoshop and trying to make my arms skinnier. Once I finished my oldest said, "What don't you try it on your cheeks now?" Thanks.

p.s. I didn't put it on facebook - I always feel too sneaky skinnifying myself. If I don't like how I look, I just won't share it...

Three & Amigos

So tonight I ran three miles and I realized that it's been almost three years since I've run that far. I'm ashamed to admit it and it makes me realize how much times flies. Let's see, I got pregnant in January of 2007 and I might have run that far after I got pregnant - probably. And then I lost that baby at the end of April and I didn't run more than a mile and a half again until a couple months ago. This is a picture of me just days after I lost that baby. So maybe not three years -maybe more like a little over two - but still. So, in a lot of ways, I'm back.

AND my brother came along. I sure do love having a running buddy. It makes the run so much easier because I get that girl talk time I so desperately crave as a mother of young kids...you know?

Barefoot running...

So there is this not so new fad in running - barefoot running - and on Thursday while jogging with my new jogging partner Karen my knees were hurting. I was talking too much to focus on my form and so after the first mile I decided I was going to take my shoes off. And Karen did too - she's fun. And we ran the next mile with no shoes on. And guess what? My feet didn't hurt and my knee pain went away too! So the next night we went two miles again - the whole way sans shoes. Soo...the whole idea started when we heard the author of this book recommend running with your shoes off for a month or so to correct your form. I guess our shoes can cause us to run incorrectly. Anyhow, I'm going to get that book and I'll tell you more about the theories then. All I know is that my knees didn't hurt AT ALL on Friday and I'm going to run without shoes for the next little while...

p.s. We look like weirdos - two chubby girls running down the sidewalk barefoot...I think people must think we are strange newbies trying to be obnoxious.

I swam a mile tonight!!!!!!!!!

Boo-cycle!

Does anyone else hate bike riding? Well, not bike riding but stationary bike riding. I love my swimming, as you know, and I love my jogging, but I have yet to feel that for the bike. It hurts my bum and it's boring boring boring. I bet if I read a book on it or a blog or something it might get me excited about it. Any ideas?

p.s. Isn't that a great image?

the run of death...

Tonight's run was death! I felt like I had to fight every urge inside my body just to keep going. I think it all started today when I went clothes shopping. That is not a good idea. I never like shopping for clothes but doing it while you're chubby is so depressing.

Also, I weigh EXACTLY what I weighed one month ago. It all came crashing down when I felt like I was losing my milk and then went out of town. I just feel like the wind went out of my sails and I lost some of my ferocity. But I have decided I am no longer going to focus so much on numbers and focus more on working up to 25 miles a week. I read once that you see real weight loss when you are running that much. It worked after I had Elijah. And since I ran about 7 miles this week I've got a ways to go! But I'm still doing my weight watcher's too.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm going to do that triathlon. Trust me, I want to but I picked it back when I thought we could stay at Mike's aunt's house in Kamas(where the race is) but since then his Grandma broke her hip and had to move into his aunt's house making no room for my family. I just don't know how we're going to drag the kids up there early that morning and have Mike watch all four boys during the race. And I can't leave them home since I have to breastfeed the baby. Bummer, eh? Hmm...we'll see.