Challenge Wednesday #12: I answer a fitness question?!

Eeek!

You better go check it out at Tracey's blog, because I find it to hard to believe that I could answer a fitness question.

But it's true.  Hehe.

Happy Wednesday!

Bucket List Update: Participate in an organized sporting event? Check!

I have to admit something.  This item on my bucket list?  I was sure that it would be something that would happen YEARS from now {sort of like the African safari}.

Then I remembered the Couch to 5K program and wrote about it on Facebook, asking if anyone had done it before.  People had, and loved it, so I decided to take the plunge {and then waited a few months to actually start it}.

And I urged my friend Sonja to work it along with me, so we could encourage each other.  We caught up in person this past summer and decided, "Hey! Lets run a 5K on Thanksgiving!"

pre-race {that would be why I don't look exhausted}

Because that would be good enough incentive to go through the Couch to 5K program, right?  

Well, enter a move from the Netherlands to Scotland and a husband who traveled quite a bit and I ended up cramming the last four weeks of the program into two.  But I finished it.  

And have begun to enjoy running.  

next time we are totally wearing turkeys on our head.  or something.  there was a pilgrim couple too--adorable. 

the starting line.  see that building that says "st. louis" on the side of it? that is the office I worked in right before we
moved.  I got a kick out of that being where the starting point was.  loved it, actually.  

So, we didn't run the whole thing.  I am chalking that up to:  a. being about 36 hours off a plane from Amsterdam {and 16 hours of travel}, jetlag and children with jetlag {i.e. getting up at 4 AM}, and the start of a cold. 

Enough about the excuses though.  I am going to keep training, and the next time we do this?  Running the whole thing. 

But, we did do a few things that make me very proud:  finished running, didn't finish last {seriously, there was probably 1/2 mile of walkers/runners behind us}, finished under 1 hour, and had an AWESOME time just talking and getting to know each other again.  

Post run {/walk}.

And no matter what anyone says?  

Facebook rocks.   

So there.  

Oh, and if you are curious about couch to 5K?  Click here to check out a great website that describes it.  And there are apps galore for your iPod, iPhone, etc. 

~ ~ ~

How about you?  Has Facebook made anything surprising possible for you?  Have you done the Couch to 5K program?  How did you like it? 

Health matters :: Day 28 [31 days to being a better mama]

27.  Do one thing that is good for your health:  walk 10 minutes, eat a piece of fruit, or get a good night's sleep. 


Hmm....this one shouldn't be too hard. I like me some fruit.  And I am still working through the Couch to 5K program, so I'll make this a day I run.  Done.

But why is this so important?  I talked about it here.  But for me the number one reason is that I want my children to remember me as an active and fit mommy.  Who is ready for any activity they toss my way.   Also, I think it would be great if the kids grew up in an active family.  And I am the one who mostly needs to get my bum of the couch to make that happen.

Source: forahealthyandhappylife.tumblr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Of course it also important to be active so that I stay healthy and am around to constantly nag encourage them.  So that I can pull out those bath photos when they have their first dates.  Oh, and to make sure that when it is time for J#4's first date, that J#1 keeps the shotgun {that we don't own} in the closet.  {wink, wink}


So...what are you going to do for your health today?  Tell me...pretty please???


If you are just joining me, please be sure to check out my 31 days to being a better mama page for previous posts.