Purling Sprite

Failure is not an option!

Wednesday Quote:

Pain is temporary, it may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."

Lance Armstrong

I read this quote over the weekend on my way to my Saturday ride. Sam was driving and a few friends were with us in the car. When I read it, the quote hit a spot in me. I have always been a stubborn mule and when I fall, I dust myself off and just get up and keep going. It is said that it is hard to defeat a person who never gives up, I would like to be a person like that.

The quote by Lance hit a more special spot yesterday as I went out for my last long run before my very first half marathon, May 17th. The first 10 miles were a piece of cake, I was listening to a book on my Ipod and I felt great, I was pumped and was going at a very leisurely pace. By mile 11 though, I was feeling tired and hot. The temperature was about 70 degrees with a nice sunny day which is perfect for cycling but a little too hot for running. My dark skin attracts the sun and I was literally baking, I have blisters on my arms to prove it (I wear 80spf all the time but even with that on).  By mile 12, I was able to see home (it is a long road) and I just felt sooo tired, I was ready to give up...the heat was way too much for me. I drank a little bit of water and then I dumped the last of the water on my head, the cooling was heaven sent and my heart was a little revived but my legs just wanted to stop. Then, I remember the quote that I had read over the weekend, I pondered it and it just hit my heart. I can't give up on the last mile home, I just can't. I kept going and going then when I finally turned into the cul de sac, I saw my kids and hubby and I just sprang to life. I was home, I had done it! I didn't give up.  I had gone 13.4 miles...a full half marathon and a little more.

The farthest I have ever Gone!

I changed my long run days to Tuesdays as I will be going riding/cycling on Saturdays and I know that my legs cannot handle a long run and a long cycling on the same day (I am a wimp!).

Stats:

Distance: 12 miles

Time: 124minutes

Fluids: 30oz (Refilled at the Milville Park)

Weather: Sunny but not too hot--around 60 degrees. Wore SPF80 on my face and arms...safe is the word.

Ran alone with my iPod to keep me company. I love this town! It is perfect for outdoor activities. The mountains, the quiet neighborhoods...just divine for the run.

I felt really great all during the run, I was going a good pace, my legs didn't cramp. My shins didn't hurt and when they did all I had to do was change the way I was stepping and the bothersome ache went away.

Change to implement: If I am going to wear a tank must put vaseline under my arms! I got chaffed due to my chubbette arms! Dude, no fun!

Inspiration...perspiration

Two words that have been constant in my head for the past few months. Maybe it is the fact that I have hit middle age (ha!) or maybe it is the fact that my children pointed at my belly and asked me if we were having a new baby (this is enough to send me running out the door!). The fact is that I have needed for a long time to become more active, to do something about my ever expanding waistline and cheeks. I am short and as a short person, I don't have much room to put the extra fat....if I were just 4 inches taller and had the same amount of fat on me as I do now, I would be lean. But, it is no good wishing to be taller, I am little and I am happy with being little. I visit many blogs (more than I should) each day, and there are a few that have been extremelly inspirational to me. I have a few biking/cycling blogs, swimming, and even a few about runners. Each one of them inspires me and gives me that boost that I need each day.

The other day, I visited Norma's blog. She had written about a book that she was reading. I take Norma's advice quite seriously, so I went in search of the book. The New Rules of Lifiting for Women. The cover reminds me of Scout's arms (except, I think that Scout's are a little bigger :) )...so with Norma's advice and Scout's look-alike-guns, I succumbed and bought the book. I started reading it yesterday and I am in chapter 4. So far, I have learned more about my body that I have in my entire life. I have had to re-think a few things that I am currently doing and I am planning a trip to the local sports store to pick up a set of "real dumbells". Also, I am planning a phone call to my doctor to ask a few more questions about a certain IUD and the estrogen levels that it has and how it is currently affecting and how it will be affecting me when I am 60!

This is the first book of its kind that I have ever read and I am glad that I picked it up...thanks Norma! If you have a chance, browse through it at your local bookstore.

One last thing: have you seen these cool kitchener/grafting dogtags that Scout has in her store. I am so definitely getting one. This is perfect for both knitters and loom knitters....I need one. I must have one! (Picture of Dog Tag is property of ScoutJ. )

What I would like to do....

I have a goal. It is a dreamy goal. A goal almost unreachable by the likes of me (couch-potato). In 2010, I would like to do something that only in dreams of my dreams I would do. One word. LOTOJA. 206 miles in one day. Cross 3 states. 1,000 cyclists (some of the best out there travel to attend this event. It is a lofty goal. At my current speed of 13mph it will take me about 20 hours to finish this type of race. I have 3 years to work my speed to about 20mph in order to be in shape to participate in this event. I don't want to win. I just want to participate in it. A lofty goal. Just a goal.

Yesterday I biked 20 miles, it took us about 90minutes, my speed went up a bit, not much but there was a bit of improvement. Today's workout log: 700 meters at the pool. Ran/jogged about 3 miles (30minutes).

Maybe with this cross-training one day, maybe not in 2010 but before I die, I can participate in LOTOJA.

One week from Triathlon

The grand event is only one week away! The entire week, I have been going to the 50 meter swimming pool and trying it out. I currently do not have the stamina to do 5 laps continuously, however, with a little stop at every other end I am able to complete the 500 meters. Time-wise I am doing terribly, my best time so far has been 2:44 for 1 lap that includes the small break at the opposite end of the pool. I have plenty of room for improvement...if I only learned to kick well my time will be considerably better. In total, I swam 3600 meters this week.

Running has even been added to the routine and my time has gotten a bit better and if I implement some changes that Hubby has suggested I will probably do better. I am not a runner, nor a jogger, but I try my best when I am out there, but since I have never had any training in the area, my form is not the best. Apparently when I run, I move my entire upper body from one side to the other, it feels comfortable to me, but I am wasting energy that I could reserve for the legs. I am going to grab a rope and tie it around my arms so I don't swing them from one side to the other so much. In total, I ran 6  miles this week.

There is a triathlon this weekend (tomorrow) being held and I am so tempted to give it a shot and see how I do. As you can see from the above, I am not very good at anything but I just want to give it a shot. If there was anyone out there that would do it with me, I think I would go ahead and sign up but I haven't had any luck in enlisting anyone for it.

Pictures: Our neighborhood date at Bear Lake. A few families from the neighborhood got together last week and we went to one of the local attractions. Little Benny spent the day in a little puddle playing with the sand. Wonderboy spent the day inside that donut in the second picture and riding on one of the neighbor's waterskiis. Hubby and I spent the day swimming...trying to perfect some techniques or playing with the little kiddos. Overall, it was a wonderful time at the lake. We can't wait to go back.

Wordless Wednesday: The Cannondale Jekyll 3000 is a superb mountain bike. It comes fully stocked with some of the best components out there. I went in the other day with my mind made up to buy a bike but I couldn't find one that I really liked so I spoke to the store manager--she has sold us almost every single bike we have in our garage! Anyways, I told her my "needs" (yeah, laugh) and how they didn't have anything in stock, so she pulled out different catalogues and shows us some neat bikes but with very high price tags. Then she said she had a bike that she was thinking of selling--the Jekyll 3000. To make the story short: I went to see it, I tried it, hubby tried it, we both loved it! She is holding it for me for 2 weeks so I can gather enough pesos for it :).

I think I can, I think I can....choo, chooo!

I did it! I jumped in and joined the 100 Miles by April 1st challenge. I am going to take advantage of the flood of cheerleaders and the enthusiastic leadership from Stephen (super-marathon-runner-trainer/leader/inspirational guru), Scout (who runs about 100 miles a week--how she does it? I think she doesn't sleep, she dyes yarn, plays soccer, takes care of the kids and she runs, or maybe she dyes yarn while she runs...hmmm?), and Rachael (the enabler and fearless leader of our great movement!)

I put on the old sneakers and I climbed on my elliptical--I was lazy though and I had my children bring the sneakers down to me from my bedroom. Tomorrow though, I shall climb the steps myself to add a bit more exercise to my day. Half-an-hour yielded 3.3 miles, not enough calories shed (nothing compared to the amount I consume every day--I am a bread lover), and a few drops of sweat. But, I feel happy, look at my ticker, I am 96.7 miles away from the goal. Yay for me!

In knitting: today I picked up a knitting loom rather than the needles, the mini-wonderloom to be exact, and I finished the matching mitten for the mitten made back in December. The matching mitt was loom knitted quite fast and I still had a few hours of daylight (night time) to burn, so I took the knitting loom for another whirl. The playtime resulted in one fingerless mitt, I guess my mind is stuck in making fingerless mittens. Nothing fancy, just a ribbed cuff,  stockinette for the body--and a stubby thumb section.

Hitting the Pavement!

How lazy can a person be? You see that top that is blocking--yeah, do you remember last week that it would probably be blocked and seamed by the end of the day--well, it is Monday (about 4 days after the day I finished knitting it) and I am barely blocking it.

Why did I procrastinate? Let me tell you--do you see the top panel--it is the back. I had to add a second ball to the back (to the front too but it is not so noticeable) look at the top panel closely--can you see it--can you see the defined horizontal line, yep, that is the place where I added the other skein. In my eyes, it makes the top un-wearable. It makes me want to pull it all out and knit from the two skeins throughout. The sample is not mine (which makes my knitting look worse), it is going back to Soysilk but I don't feel comfortable putting together something that I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing--what to do, what to do?

I am going to seam it and suggest to work the two balls of yarn throughout the pattern--rather than adding it at the end like I did.  Another thing that we (Hubby and I) noticed last night when I was blocking it out (check the picture) you will be able to see what we noticed. 2 very defined circles in the front--placement--right by the boobie sector! I don't know....if it was mine...would I really wear it?...I should have started knitting from the other end (maybe). I guess these little things is a risk one takes when knitting with variegated yarns.

My knitting and loom knitting are in hiatus right now. I have decided that I need to change my habits just a wee bit and thus I need to focus most of my energy into changing those habits. For an entire week now, I have been exercising: jogging/running, biking, walking and ellipticalling--I need to get my body used to the exercise, once I get used to my routine, I plan on picking up my knitting again...I am hoping that by the end of next month my body starts showing some little changes. My goal is to lose a bit so I can pick up my needles and knit myself a nice winter sweater--a medium size one (not only will it take less yarn but I will be able to finish it faster). Reading Lolly's blog yesterday about her success gave me an extra boost of confidence--I can do it, I can do it! Not only am I changing my couch-potato habits but I am also implementing healthier foods--yeah, I have finally discovered the use for veggies--and I am not talking about french fries! I have also pledged not to buy any other yarn (for personal purposes) until I shed 5lbs...talk about motivation--but if you have any to give away, remember me...it may be months before I can buy any...sigh.

Over the weekend, we had a huge garage sale--I was able to unload tons of baby stuff that we are no longer using. Some odds and ends also went out the door--less clutter around to clean up--yay! I also managed to get rid of my dining room table; an old beat up round oak table with room for 4 people. And to show you how bad I am at planning things-now we are eating on a fold up plastic table. I thought that if I just went Saturday afternoon to pick up a table that they would have it in stock, it turns out they have to order them in and it will take about a week to arrive. So for the next few days we will be eating on our fancy plastic table....next time, remind me to buy the new "x" item first!

Lastly--a picture of our Saturday Sky.

Question: I have seen a lot of little pictures/icons popping out in bloglines right next to the blog name--how does one get a little picture in there?

Ranting Major--shopping is not fun anymore!

Clothes shopping can be so depressing and I am not referring to the money spent, I am referring to how fast it brings one to reality--or not!

First some odd background on me and my bodily measurements (not like you need to know, but just to get the point across) I am about a size 10, sometimes I can squeeze myself into a size 8, or if I am very lucky and buying some good clothes from Gap or Banana I can definitely get myself into a size 6. I am short, about 5' 3", closer to 5' 2" than the 5' 3. I am a bit stocky, weighing at about 130s. My body shape is more of a triangle, having the main part of the chub around my hips and the endowed section boobs (remember, I am of Mexican descent ;) thus the hips).

Anyways, now that you know my "measurements", I can go on to explain my saddening experience of the day. I went shopping for a top to match this cute skirt I found last week.  As I was browsing through the "selection" of clothes, I just wanted to sit down and bawl like a baby. Everything was made wrong, I mean, they are nice tops, however, something is seriously wrong in the women's fashion department.

Exhibit A: Nice cashemere top, upon closer inspection, if a person with any boobs tries to wear it, the top will end up at least 4" above the belly button.

Exhibit B: Gorgeous silk top, upon closer inspection, the designer forgot to add half the material for the V neck--this thing gives the boobs the most open view to the world they have ever seen!

Exhibit C: XL ribbed top, upon closer inspection, the midsection is sooo darn tight that it barely fits around Nyah's midsection. How in heck did they manage that one!

Exhibit D: Perfect black top, goes with everything, except my shortyness! The sleeves are soo blooming long I can wrap them around me and call me Slinky!

Conclusion 1: Came home with two cardigans that can cover all the chubs and make me look "fill in the blank with your favorite adjective".

Really, I am asking myself--what are clothes designers thinking? Are they on crack all the time? Do they really expect "real" women to fit into the slinky clothes out there? I mean, I can squeeze myself into them, but I prefer to have all my skin "contained within the shirt" rather than having 1/2 of myself popping out at different places. Do designers really think that we are just made flat--nothing in the front and nothing in the back? Maybe if I were 12 years old I could fit into the top and have it reach a decent length upon my torso, but not even then as my boobs probably would have made it go up 3 inches up!

Conclusion 2: If I want something to fit me really nice and whichever way I want it, I am just going to have to knit it!

Hubby brought a good point up on the way home:

H: It seems that all the clothes are geared towards teens

Me: Yep, it seems that way. I don't mind fun clothes, but the size of them is a bit off.

H: You would think they would put clothes out there for people that can afford them. Really how much can a teen afford?

Me: Well, it appears that they can afford about 1/2 a blouse according to the sizes they are selling now a days.

Alright, so I was a bit frustrated at the time, but really, even my teen nieces have to buy undershirts to go with their tops so they can have their mid section covered.

Remember this is only my nightmare when trying to find a top. Don't get me started about trying to find a pair of jeans or a skirt!

Am I the only one seeing this when purchasing clothes? Tell me about your experience--tell me I am not the only one that feels "left out" from the fun shopping experiences.

Ok, enough ranting, now I need something to make me feel better--I think I saw some dark chocolate in the kitchen someplace....hehehe.

Motivation Tactic

After two wonderful pregnancies, if you can call puking for 8 months straight wonderful and now 20lbs heavier and 8" thicker around the middle section, I have decided that enough is enough. I really need some type of motivation to get me going and shed some of the inches around my middle. So, I am posting my measurements here to get me started and I will be posting progress reports every month and maybe if this information is open to the world to see, I will get my butt in gear and do something about it, besides complain to my DH about how fat I feel.

Without further blabbling:

• Arms: 10.5" unflexed; 11.75" flexed.
• Chest: 39"
• Waist: 35"
• Love Handles: 38"
• Hips/butt area: 39"
• Legs: 20.5"
• Calf: 13"

As you can clearly see, I am a little barrel with little twigs for arms and legs. I pack all my weight in my middle section. What did you say? I have no butt--yep! you are right, I have never had a butt, my mom always said, if you didn't have so much boobs, if it wasn't for being well endowed in the upper part of my body, I could be a great swimmer. I have what is called sweetly as "sugar cookie bottom" LOL.

So, now that I have come out and told you these grossly measurements, I am going to tell you that I am going to do something about it, besides complain about how terrible I feel.

I will do the following:

• Exercise at least 3 times a week
• Eat a bit less breads and baked goods
• Eat less tortillas--but can't give them up, I love tacos too much!

I will not:

• Diet--you know the first 3 letters of this word spells Die--yep, I don't want to die, so I won't diet.

Looking: Encouragement.

No more cheese tortillas for me for breakfast!