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Yes, I missed my Wednesday workout. My body felt totally gross. Who knew I would physically crave working out…Mentally, I’m still very much opposed to physical activity, but my body is on a whole different level. My little sister described me as a “lazy active person.” As Ironic as it is, that pretty much describes me. I’m still not a huge fan of working out, but I love the way it makes me look and feel after it’s done and over with. This weekend was my family reunion, and I was on the committee, so I was super busy Friday through Sunday. However, I realized that I’m changing into a healthier version of myself, not only was I excited to see the gym at the hotel, but I actually used it.
When everything winded down on Friday night, at about 2 AM in the morning, I put on my workout clothes and hit the gym. No lie, I really did this. I did 2 miles on the treadmill at a moderate speed, then I did sit ups and push ups. Can you believe it? Everyone said, you must be feeling really good, but honestly I was dog tired and wanted nothing more than sleep. But I knew the free drinks during hotel happy hour, and the BBQ in the park would not be good for the scale. When I weighed in this morning on the scale, it looked like everything balanced out, and I’m happy to say, No extra pounds!
This morning’s boot camp class was the last one in this session. That was the only reason, I rolled over, stepped over sleeping Nyah, and picked up the little sister. Since it was chilly this morning, (60 degrees in late July), I put on the track pants I used to wear when I was training for my 1st 5K race. They were huge! They swallowed me, and I was pretty excited about that….
Once we arrived at class, all of the other class attendees punked out and stayed in bed; so it was only me, the little sister and the trainer. We did a push-up test, and I did 32 in one minute. When we first started, a month ago, I could only do 26. The little sister also improved with her sit-up and push-up test. Even though, I haven’t lost weight on the scale, or as my mother put it “the thermometer hasn’t moved,” I have lost inches… And I have to mention that I think I looked pretty good in my skin tight leggings at my Michael Jackson Party.
Today is the lil sister’s birthday, and she forces everyone who crosses her path to acknowledge that it as a special day. I told her she had to wait until to the sun came up before I could even attempt to sing “Happy Birthday.” Boot camp class at 6AM this morning was no JOKE! I guess because it rained on Wednesday, he wanted to make sure we made up for it. The relay race really kicked my butt, but me and the little sister, the “curviest” girls there, did our thang! After a series of jumping jacks, push ups and squats, I was good and funky smelling.
Maybe it was the sangria from last night’s adventure that was seeping from my pores….Anyway, We have one more session and boot camp class is over! I won’t miss getting up at 5:30 AM, but I love all the compliments I’ve received as a postive result of my early morning escapades.
The Red Carpet
So does this mean that I was working out in the hottest new couture dress, and dripping with diamonds? Absolutely not, I was stuffed in my Skinny Jeans and dripping with sweat. I agreed to do the city court filings for my job today. Today was the MLB, All-star game and Red Carpet Parade day. As I walked toward the court house, I smiled and waved at celebrity baseball players riding down the red carpet parade down the middle of Market Street. And much to my surprise, when I was about a block from my destination, the parade route turned, and there was no getting across. I looked up and noticed the secret service helicopters hovering above, and figured I shouldn’t risk, hopping the fence and running across the red carpet. So I turned and followed the parade route. I saw some seemingly friendly cops who might direct me in the right direction. As I approached him, he immediately started shaking his head no. I said “Excuse sir, can you tell me how to get across; I need to go the court house.” He said “You Can’t.” I replied, “But, I need to get across for work.”
He replied “You can’t,” to which I again replied “I need to get across.” He yelled “Read My Lips, You Can’t Get Across, I can’t make a wedge just for you to get across.” At this point it was hot, my jeans were starting to stick, and I was getting very frustrated. I forced a smile and said “the parade must end at some point, could you please tell me where to get across?” He gave me backwards wrong answer, so I went on my own in the opposite direction, and ended up right back where I started. I ran into some co-workers who were watching the parade, and pointed me in the long, but right direction. When I finally got the courthouse, I was hot and tired. I had been walking for over an hour. The security guard at the desk said, “Oh, they stopped taking filings at 1 o’clock.” Before I could panic, the other guard informed me that they were still accepting filings. “Whew…” Now, it was time for the long journey back, as I passed the rude cop on the OTHER side of the red carpet, the devil told me to flip him the bird, but…. I didn’t. Finally another hour later, after maneuvering through the crowds and crossing the highway ramp, I made it to my car. Sweaty back, and tired feet, but mission accomplished!
Go Carli it’s your Birthday! Okay, so it’s not my B-day, but it felt like it. This morning when I got up at 6AM, I was so nervous that I was almost sick to my stomach. I had to pray and calm myself down. When I got in the car Maurette Brown Clark’s song “It Ain’t Over
” was on the radio, and gave me a big burst of inspiration. I reminded myself that I’ve done this before, and I can do it again. I stood with the crowd of 8,000 as we listened to Susan G. Komen’s sister give us words of encouragement. The Governor and Shawn Johnson, gold-medal winner on the balance beam at the 2008 Olympics
and winner of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars
, were also there to run in the race. Cardinal’s Hall of Famer Lou Brock
sounded the horn, and we were off. I didn’t let all the skinny people whizzing past me worry me. I was there to beat my time, not theirs. I kept a steady pace, and fed myself positive thoughts. “You have a website about running, you want to encourage others, you don’t want to be last, you’re almost done.” I took a swig of Gatorade at the refresh stand and kept it moving. The 1st mile is always the hardest. I was completely shocked when I saw the 2 mile marker, as my iPod
was a little behind on the distance. When I had about a half of a mile to go, the pavement texture changed, and I felt a blister on the bottom of my foot, and my feet starting tingling. “What the heck is going on I asked?” I’ve never had a blister, or tingling numb feet. I didn’t have time to figure it out, and I was super excited when I checked my time. I knew if I kept my pace, I could beat my original race time of 54 Minutes. When I was about 2 blocks from the finish line, there was my brother in law, the only person downtown in a Sunday Suit, video recording my final push. I turned the corner and saw the finish line, and the clock said 50 Minutes! I did it; the feeling was so overwhelming yet exhilarating. Everyone should experience the natural high of crossing the finish line. I met my goals, I wasn’t last, and I beat my time! Miss Missouri, gave me my medal that I proudly wore around my neck. This time when they asked ”How do you Feel?” My answer was “Great!!!” 
I had to go downtown today to pick up my All-Star 5K race packet from the booth they set up across from Busch Stadium. It was pouring down rain, the whole way from my house. By the time I got there, it let up some, and I picked up my t-shirt and race number and D-tag to track my time. My plan was to jog the actual race path, to get a feel for it. But I’m sure you know by now, I don’t get down with the rain like that. I could not risk getting drenched. Traffic was a mess because all the fan fest stuff was going on, and they’re still cleaning up the city. They built a new park, filled in the pot holes and even cleaned up the bus stops. They even cleaned out the pee smell from the stadium garage elevators. I guess they want to make a good impression of St. Louis for President Obama who’ll be throwing the 1st pitch at the all-star game!….St. Louis is doing big things!…I drove the race path, to familiarize myself with the hills and the terrain. It didn’t seem too bad, just really long, and it’s supposed to rain again! I kept saying in my head that tomorrow’s blog heading would read “The Race that Never Was” But, I know that I want my blog to be successful and help other people accomplish their goals, so I went to the track at the gym. I jogged about 2 miles, because I didn’t want to over do it. Well…tomorrow is the big day, so I’m logging off, and calling it a night.
Last night I could not sleep, I laid in bed watching my guilty pleasure t.v. show Tori and Dean
on Oxygen. I guess I like it because I grew up watching Tori Spelling on 90210
. I didn’t go to sleep until after 1 AM. Some part of me wished I over slept, and the other part of me wished in a sick way that I would be too sore to go to boot camp class. No such luck. I woke up on time and felt fine. My little sister was taking her time this morning and not answering my phone calls, so we were a couple minutes late for class today. Of course there were “late push-ups” in our honor, and those who came after us. But, he actually took it easy on us today. He threw a little Jump Rope
in the mix, but we mostly did ab exercises on the mats. At one point I thought I felt a bug crawling down my arm, but nope, just sweat beads rolling down. I’m still not totally at peace with “it’s okay to be soaked with sweat and smell funky.” Well anyway, I’m going to relax for the rest of the day, get my nails and eyebrows done after work, and chill listening to Maxwell’s new CD, while reminding myself that I WILL met my goals and finish my race on Sunday in record time.
Today, I was determined to run the entire 3.1 miles to prepare for my 5K race on Sunday, although part of me felt like I couldn’t do it. Which was is totally crazy, seeing as how I did it in April. I was still hurting from yesterday’s Jump Rope fest during boot camp class and totally unmotivated to go running. I went to Forest Park anyway, and hit my regular path that I know for sure is 3 miles since my Nike iPod tracker
still needs to be calibrated. Today’s run was hard…my left leg cramped up…that annoying pain in my right side reared it’s ugly head, but I pressed through it. Like the boot camp instructor said, once you work though the tough parts, you’ll see your break through….and low and behold I did. I was in a good groove, that is until the Mama duck and her ducklings took their time crossing from the pond over the bike/jogging trail. They were so cute, but they slowed me down as you see on the chart. Eventually, I picked back up my speed and finished in 53 minutes! Maybe I’ll be able to meet my goals after all!
