Girls on the Go 5K Race

 

 

I’ve run my races so what is next on my “to do” list?  I am now registering my two younger kids for races with hopes that I may be fueling a passion for fitness/exercise.  My older son Dylan has run 7 half marathons, 1 Ragnar Relay, a few 10 milers, 10ks, and 5ks.  He is now a runner.  It is now time to get my younger kids hooked.

Posing with our bibs at Fiesta Island before the race

 

 

Mia completed her first 5k run over Mother’s Day weekend at a Girls on the Go race.  This was a race targeted to women, mothers/daughters, friends etc.  It could not have been a better introductory race into ‘running’.  It was small and cozy.  You received a cute little turquoise/pink butterfly with flowers medal. It is one of the prettiest medals.  It's a girly girl medal.  The course was beautiful along Fiesta Island in San Diego.  Mia and I dressed in adorable matching rainbow colored outfits.  We received so many compliments from other runners.  In fact, Zico coconut water asked to take a photo of us holding the bottled beverage. 

Rainbow Girls. We even had rainbow colored hair bows.

 

This was a chip-timed race. The gun went off while Mia and I were in line to use the restroom.  We started at least five minutes later than everyone, but we quickly caught up to the group of runners. I am fiercely competitive.  Winning isn’t about winning the actual race, because I know I will never ever come in first.  Winning is about getting the best out of yourself and making the top third of your age/division.  I also know my children’s potential, and Mia is an amazing athlete.  I know she could easily finish in the top third for her age group.  I was disappointed with our estimated finished time of 50:10.  In fact, I have requested a correction on this time.  When we crossed the finish line, I saw the clock say “50:10”.  This is the gun time--not the chip time, and Mia and I started late.  We passed so many people, trying to catch up to the group that took off with the gun.  Lance thinks I’m crazy.  It’s just a fun run.  Why should I care? I want to know her time, because I want her to strive for improvement.    (I just heard back from the race.  Her official time was 44:58 with a pace of 14:30 per mile)

 

Mia's tutu itched her so she ran without it for most of the race.

 

She is scheduled for another 5k race in July and again in August. In July, we are doing a 5k costume run.  We have a large group of runners.  Half of us are running the half marathon including Dylan and I with a few of us doing the 5k.  Lance is running the 5k with the kids.  I also signed all of my kids for the Amazing 80s 5k run in Pasadena in August.  Eventually, I want Mia and Brandon to progress to 10ks.  Mia walked quite a bit, but I always encouraged her telling her, “you need to pass that girl….” Or “come on. Just run to the water station….run to the bridge and then you can walk…..that girl is catching up….you can do it!”   I learned Mia does have a competitive drive.

When the race was done, we got the VIP treatment.  Yes, we got picked up in the Gryphon.   Isn’t that cool?  Lance drove the dinghy up to the start line/festivities, and Mia and I just boarded the boat.

 

Holding our medals

BLING!!!

 

Mia had done a small kids run when she was three years old.  She also earned some medals from two cheerleading competitions, and with the medal she received from this race, she held them all up.  You could hear the medals clanking against each other.  I told her, “Mia, do you hear that? Do you hear that BEAUTIFUL  sound?  Yes, baby…that is bling.  That is bling baby!!!!  This is better than diamonds, girl!”  Most would disagree, but to me, I will take my race medals over any gem. 

Does Mia want to do more runs?  I told her she didn’t have to, but I didn’t argue with her when she said, “yes!”

Let's Do It: Three-Month Fitness Program

I have an eating problem.  My problem is that I like to eat.  I have been told my appetite is like a guy.  I also have an addiction to sugar/sweets.  I have heard that if you do not drink and alcoholism runs in your family, you often are predisposed to have an insatiable craving for sugar.  I believe this.  It is truly a battle for me.  After every meal, regardless of how full I may be, I CRAVE something sweet.  I have to struggle to fight this desire.  It is not easy.

When I made the goal of running the LA Marathon last fall, I forbade myself from registering until I weighed 120 lbs. At the time, I was a FAT 128/129 lbs.  For my height, this is overweight.  I quickly dropped the weight and was down to 115/116 pounds.  I incorporated a lot of interval, high intensity Tabata style training.  I restricted my diet to healthy foods.  With the loss of the weight, my running benefitted because I lessened the stress on my knees.  Most would think that running makes you lose weight, and it does, but because all I did was run, I lost a tremendous amount of muscle mass and strength. Weight training is just as critical as cardio training.   I also began to relax on my diet, and the weight crept back up. 

Lance and I have a poor habit of snacking in front of the TV at the end of the day.  I buy lots of goodies for the house.  Honestly, if Lance never married me, he would be much thinner than he is now.  I am always buying him the things he loves:  ice cream, chocolate etc.  I want him happy and I overfeed him with everything unhealthy.  It is not good. 

With a group of friends at work, we started on a three-month fitness program.  I am beyond excited as fitness has always been a passion of mine.  When I was 18 and I entered college, I was clueless on what career I wanted. I chose to be an English major because I loved literature, but what would I do with that degree? I didn’t really want to teach.  At the time, my passion for fitness had not developed, but now, if I could turn back the clock, I would major in kinesiology.  I would be a sports physical therapist.  I would train as well.  I am so passionate about this that I love watching videos of people exercising.  It's kind of sick.  Though I am not fulfilling this goal as my full-time job, I do get to share my passion with friends. We developed a three-month diet and exercise program.

 

 

We started on May 1 with body measurements.  We intend on taking final measurements three months later.  Weight lost is not an adequate indicator of physical change/growth.  You need to focus on the inches, flexibility, and strength as well. 

Weight/Measurements as of May 1, 2014
	Lance	Liz	Mylinh	Maryam
Weight	253 lbs	123 lbs	114 lbs	129 lbs
Chest	49.5 in	34 in	34 in	36 in
Waist	49 in	33 in	31 in	29 in
Hips	50 in	39 in	36 in	42 in
Thigh	26 in	24.5 in	21.5 in	24 in
Arm	17 in	12.5 in	12.5 in	13 in

I also did an initial fitness evaluation of us with the intention of seeing how much improvement we make at the end of the three-month period.  Each of the exercises were performed until complete fatigued/exhaustion.  In terms of the push-ups, these were not “girl” pushups but the regular guy ones.  You may think these initial results are pathetic, but keep in mind, we did one test after the other with only a minute or less rest period.   As a group, we train twice a week together with me leading the exercises.  They are supposed to work out individually the rest of the weekdays.  I think twice a week will not suffice.  I have proposed a three-day work out as a collective group.

Fitness Evaluation Tests as of May 6, 2014
	Lance	Liz	Mylinh	Maryam
Plank	1 min 41 sec	3 min		1 min 32 sec
1/2 Mile Run	4 min 40 sec	4 min		6 min 10 sec
Push Ups	15	21		6
Side Plank	37 sec	1 min 45 sec		39 sec
Static Wall Squat	2 min 2 sec	1 min 46 sec		48 sec
Burpies (1 mins)	8	20		9
Squats (2 mins)	49	72		45
Sit ups (2 mins)	63	90		80

In addition to these training sessions, we are also making ourselves accountable to each other by reporting our daily food consumption.  If someone has a “bad” day, they will suffer the consequence by climbing the stairwells of our 12-story office building twice.

It has only been 7 days for me, and I have lost 2 pounds.  I am down to 121 pounds. Actually, it’s been a little more than 7 days.  I feel better.  It is not easy.  Someone brought in donuts to work. I did not have one.  Someone brought in tiny Bundt cakes (lemon, white chocolate, chocolate, red velvet). I did not have one.  An In and Out truck came by to give free double cheeseburgers to all employees. I did not have one.  I am also proud of Lance.  Yesterday, we had to go through the drive through at Carl’s Jr because we had a baseball game to go to that night.  He ordered a turkey burger and no fries.  I had a turkey burger with a lettuce wrap, no fries.  Sometimes, you cannot avoid fast food, but there is always a healthy option on the menu.

People start diets and a workout regime but oftentimes, it cannot be maintained.  I have always worked out.  I just need to focus on my diet.  My goal is to return back to 115/116 pounds so that is basically 5 pounds for me.  Lance wants to get to 210 but he would be happy being in his 220s.  I think we need to establish goals that are realistic and maintainable. 

 

You just feel better.  It isn’t about looking better. It really is about feeling better and being healthier.  Looking better is just a nice benefit.  It does help tremendously that we are doing this as a group. We support each other. We hold each other accountable. We motivate each other.

In three-months, I’ll report our final results.

 

LET’S DO IT!!!!

Trampoline Fun

“Plan more day activities with us….”

I listen to my kids, because I want to be a better mom. 

After watching Mia’s softball game on Saturday, I took the kids and Shane to Surf City Trampoline Park in Huntington Beach for two hours of physical activity and fun.   I thought an hour would more than suffice, but the kids pleaded for a two-hour jump so that’s what we did, and quite frankly, those two hours slipped by!

I got my workout clothes on because this  two-hour excursion was going to be my workout of the day.  The thing is though....this didn’t feel like exercise.  I had so much fun.  We jumped all over.  We jumped in foam pits.  We played basketball, but what was the best part of the day was playing dodgeball.  You really burn up a sweat.  I was probably the oldest player (ok, not probably….I was the oldest person on that Dodgeball court.).  I was playing with teenagers and little kids.  I probably looked like a fool, but boy—was it fun!!

I woke up the next morning with a sore back and sore arms.  I AM HURTING!! I wanted a workout, and I got exactly that.  Mission accomplished  And, you know what?  When are we going again? I am so ready.  The kids loved every moment and so did I.

Jog-A-Thon

There is an annual jog-a-thon at Brandon and Mia’s school. This event is the biggest fundraiser, and I have always attended, but mainly as a sideline spectator.  This year, I volunteered to help the classrooms.  Mia’s class was overwhelmed with volunteers, and Brandon’s class was in need so Lance and I assisted this year in tallying up the kids’ laps, giving water, and leading them in the warm up.  It is such a little thing, but I just LOVED leading the warm up exercises.  All the kids followed me, including some of the other parents and teachers.  It made me even more aware that my real calling in life should have been a kinesiology major.  Lance even said he loved being around the kids and he even questioned if he should have been a teacher instead.

 

 

I am fiercely competitive. When I learned there was a medal for the top boy and girl runner in each class, I began giving my motivational speech to Mia and Brandon.  I would not have pushed them so much if I did not believe they both had potential to receive this honor.  Brandon and Mia are AMAZING runners.  They always beat their teammates during running excercises in softball and baseball.  So, the poor kids had to listen to their crazy mom…Mia ran in a smaller lap designed for the younger children and though I was volunteering for Brandon’s class, I would run over to Mia’s track to give her encouragement as well.  The end result was Brandon tied for first place, completing 22 laps.  In my estimation, 22 laps is probably a little over 4 miles.  According to Mia’s tally sheet, she ran 25 laps.  The girl who received the top honor ran 26 laps.  When Mia came home from school, she gave me her tally sheet, and I (nut job that I am) recounted the marks and I quickly learned that they miscounted Mia’s tallies.  She had 26 laps as well, which means she should have received a medal as well.  No point in disputing it, because I would just sound like an even more nut job so I just let it go and told Mia that I would take her out for a special award. 



Mia's 1st Grade Class

Mia's class about to start

Brandon's First Place - Running Medal. So Proud

 Brandon with Dean (one of his best friends) who tied for First Place.  The girl raised the most funds.


 
Brandon with his classmates. The girl with the pink shorts next to him won for most laps by a girl in his class.  

 

I took the kids to Target to get a small reward.  Both of them pushed themselves.  I would mutter, “Dig deep.  You can do this.  You got this…don’t give up…” or “It looks like Dean is a quarter of a lap ahead of you….you can do this…”  I believed in them, and well, they did absolutely amazing.   Brandon has a natural competitive drive.  They both are superbe athletes.  Am I too competitive? Am I teaching them that it is all about winning?  I dont believe it is all about winning, but I do believe you have to be aggressive and give everything your all.  You have to hussle.  My dad taught me that.  You have to have that drive to do the BEST you can do....and I hope that is what I'm teaching them.  Ok, ok, ok....so  Brandon reminded me that I said, "your friend won't be standing up there with you next year...."  Brandon knew I was joking or was I not?

A Grateful Easter 2014

Our Family - Easter 2014

bunny ears...

 



"Honey, thank you.  That truly was the best Easter I have ever had....It really was...."

Lance Wade



I woke up at 5:15 a.m on Easter morning.  The sun had not yet come out.  I strangely felt such a burst of endless energy, and I began my very productive day. I was truly on fire.   The kids were with their dad, and Lance was in San Diego on the boat so I began the laborious preparations for our family Easter.  I wanted to show my family how much I loved them and how they are quite simply, my life.

I thoroughly cleaned the house, and I mean four loads of laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, changing linens, dishes, and cleaning the kitchen/patio.  I assembled four Easter baskets, I made little potted lollipop plants.  I walked the dogs. I did some cooking, but nothing major. For the first time ever, I ordered a family feast from Honeybaked Ham, and boy, it was scrumptious.  It was also easy.  Why have I never done this before?  We agreed for Christmas that Honeybaked Ham will be our holiday dinner.  It was too easy and it really was absolutely delicious.

Easter Menu

• Honeybaked Ham
• Honeybaked Turkey (oooooh, this was the best turkey ever!)
• cheesy scalloped potatoes
• stuffing
• creamed corn
• potato casserole (courtesy of me)
• zucchini and yellow squash casserole (courtesy of me)
• pistachio fruit salad (courtesy of me)
• dinner rolls
• cheesecake
• apple pie with vanilla ice cream
• carrot cake
• frosted sugar cookies

Desserts (minus the cheesecake) and the vanilla ice cream to go with that apple pie

There was so much food.  It fed all nine of us, and there is plenty for dinner tomorrow night.  I invited my sister and her family to join us for this delectable dinner. I really enjoyed spending the holiday with her.

What is an Easter without an egg hunt?  I waited excitedly for all the kids and Lance to return home, and we immediately went on an egg hunt.  Lance didn't even have time for a shower and shave. What makes my egg hunts unique is that each person has to find their special egg in addition to all the candied-filled eggs.  It is this special egg that provides a clue to where their basket is....It makes Easter fun as everyone tries so hard to find that special egg.  I hide that egg in the hardest possible place.  Lance and Dylan needed hints to find their egg...basically me telling them, "you are getting too cold...you are getting warmer..you are hot! Hot! Hot!"

the hints...

Once everyone received their hint, it was rather easy to locate the baskets.  I had so much fun filling everyone's Easter basket.  I love to see their smiles and excitement.  Lance said, "Wow! This is just like Christmas!"

Dylan is a typical teenager so he wanted money, and his basket was filled with money and facial cleanser.  He grabbed the bag of cotton balls from his basket and asked me with a puzzled expression, "Mommy, are these used? The bag is open and it has hair in it." Ok, so that is weird, but I was prepared to buy him his own brand new bag of cotton balls, but I saw that I had two pretty full bags in my bathroom so I threw one in his basket. Picky, picky, picky.  Brandon got Nike Elite basketball socks, books, Xbox gift card, and Skylander figurines.  Mia got some new clothes, hair accessories, books, and shoes.  Lance found a small Coleman carry-on cooler and a thermos in his basket.  I thought this would be perfect for day rides on the dinghy. He got new shirts, deodorizer for his car, and these awesome work gloves.  He also got some aromatic massage oil.  Yes, I'm going to give him a swedish massage.  I love spoiling my family.

 

However, Easter isn't about eggs, candy, or baskets.  There is so much more to it, but I think the true meaning often gets lost in the traditional marketing celebrations.  While eating, Lance asked the kids, "what is the meaning of Easter?"  They should know.

No, we did not go to church. We are not members of any church, but I personally don't need to belong to a church to feel close to God.  I thought of him throughout the day, but I realized I needed to do more to worship him today, and the best  way I knew how to do that was to go for a run so I ran 6.2 miles.  Running does many things for me.  It brings me closer to God.  With each step and breath, I pray as my feet touch the pavement.  I am in total reflection of what my life means, all the important people in my life, and how God has always been by my side.  I listened to Hayley Westenra's "Amazing Grace" during my run.  It was my service.  I felt peaceful.

my path during my Easter 6.2 mile run

I hope everyone's Easter was filled with blessings.  Sometimes it seems unfair.....why am I receiving so much blessings? I am beyond fortunate, but more than anything, I am grateful, and I will never stop being grateful.

Thank you, God.  Thank you for all that you do for me.  I have had pain in my life, but even during those difficult times, I could feel your presence embrace me.