Run for Fun? Who Knew!

I've been on a plateau with my weight loss the past few months. You've probably noticed that number to the right of us hasn't been changed for quite a while. Dang it. After we had company visit in late July, I just found it more difficult to be disciplined and motivated. 

I didn't give completely up, mind you. I picked up a box of Mike and Ikes to read the calorie label before putting them back on the shelf. Did you know a box of those puppies has almost 800 calories?! I could easily put one of them away in a day! But I didn't...

While I haven't completely lost my willpower, I admit to not being as healthy as I want, either. I've been working a lot more this past month, which has made consistent workouts almost impossible. 

So when my friend, Jari, suggested that we begin training for a 5K coming up in December, I just laughed. Actually, I choked on a piece of chocolate while texting her back that she was crazy. I don't run for fun! I prefer to only run if it is with a basketball in my hands, or chasing a softball, or diving for a volleyball, or getting my butt kicked by Hubby in racquetball. I certainly have never entered a timed race before. I told her no. And then I thought about the benefits of running. And that it would help kick-start my weight loss goals and get me back on track. I couldn't come up with a legitimate reason to not participate in training for a 5K. I wrote her back to tell her I was in...and then she choked on a piece of chocolate out of pure shock.

Before we began training, we recruited people to join our team. We figured it would be great to have a full team to participate in the run, which is the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Jingle Bell Run on Saturday, December 17th in Glendale, Arizona. Our team presently consists of ten people total, nine ladies and one gentleman. Since we live all over the country and have weird working schedules, we are training on our own using a schedule from active.com. It includes instructions on how to train for your first 5K, which I found very motivational and helpful since I had no idea where to start.

Instead of the typical eight-week training program, our schedule lasts for ten weeks. It is a little more gradual, and the first week is just walking! Now that's my type of 5K training! We will have an extra three weeks after training to add endurance to our times before the race takes place in thirteen weeks. A 5K race is 3.1 miles, so it certainly isn't a marathon. But it will be 3.1 more miles than I've ever trained for in the past, so nothing bad can be said about that!

Today was Day One, and I just got home from the gym. It feels amazing! I even walked an extra five minutes at the brisk walking pace because I was feeling so good! I bought a new toy (thanks, Birthday Money) to help me track my progress...the Nike + iPod has a small sensor that tucks into my shoe while running and tracks distance, rate, calories burned, etc. on my iPod Touch. 

Since today is just our first day of training, it's not too late to join in on the fun, too! Let me know if you want to become a team member and be on our mailing list. People are even coming from out-of-state to run the race with us in December. Even if you can't run it in person, training will be a great experience. Can you imagine not gaining any weight during the holidays?!

I am so tickled for this whole process. I never thought I would say that about running!

West Coast Gangs Signs, Yo

Considering I just got home from the busiest week I've ever had at this job, perhaps I should hurry to finish posting last weeks trip!

On Wednesday morning, I got up a little too early, for my taste, after a very late night. I was able to enjoy some gorgeous flowers at the FBO entrance, which made it all better! We left Fresno and headed for Modesto a little west of us. We had just enough time to run for some lunch at a quaint little Mexican restaurant. It was delicious, but food usually is when you're hungry! I love me some Mexican food. It's the one ethnic food that never gets old for me!

We next flew to Oakland, where we spent a few hours while Big Boss toured some properties. I love Oakland and actually saw the sun on this visit. I'm still in shock.

That evening, we continued north to Chehalis, Washington. We've been here before but usually during the daytime. On this particular occasion, since it was 10:00 at night, we found the crew car with the keys underneath the seat for the passengers to borrow for an hour. After I got them on their way for work, Terry and I started an engine back up to taxi to the self-serve gasoline pump with Jet A fuel! We've had to do this before...but I don't remember as many spiders in the building. I hate me some spiders! After entering the credit card information into the machine, we couldn't get the pump to zero out and begin fueling. After trying for twenty minutes with no success, I called the airport guy who made a special trip from home to help us out. He brought the fuel truck around just as our passengers arrived with dinner for us from Wendy's. And you thought we always ate gourmet! I watched My Baby get fueled while we all thought the fuel truck was going to die at any moment. It was loud and sounded sick! Finally, we had enough fuel and paid our way to leave. I'm so glad he was willing to come in to help since we didn't have enough fuel to make it to Seattle!

Our last stop for the night was Seattle. Oh, how I love Seattle. I prefer it more when I have time to stay to enjoy it. We landed shortly before midnight and drove to the La Ghetto Quinta near the SEATAC airport. A bed felt really good.

The next morning, without knowing where we were headed next, we were ready at the airplane by 9:00 AM. When Big Boss arrived, he pulled out an atlas and tried to decide where to go next. This happens a lot, by the way...we don't know where to next until just before we leave! He chose Utah, and off to Salt Lake City we went!

It's always a treat to come back to SLC. I lived here for just over a year during my first year in college, and I got my Private Pilot License at this very airport (Salt Lake International). We had time to run to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. I got to try their new Skinnylicious Menu, which lives up to its name. I had the chicken salad sandwich on brioche bread with some sweet potato fries. And we accidentally ordered a tower or onion rings. But I only had a few.

Before my passengers left for Sandy, I told them it was peach season. When they arrived back at the Million Air FBO, they were carrying a 20-pound box of fresh peaches! Ahhhh, just for me?! We divided the spoils to take home. What a treat!

From Salt Lake, we flew to Las Vegas. This is also a favorite stop (where don't I like to visit?!), but we only had a few hours here before continuing on. To home!

It was a rushed couple of days, but very fun. 

Phoenix - Monterrey - Fresno - Modesto - Oakland - Chehalis - Seattle - Salt Lake City - Las Vegas - Phoenix

Typical Work Day

Here's the situation: You have just finished eating dinner with your Hubby. It's 6:30 PM on a Tuesday night and you start to think that perhaps you're safe for the evening from being called to go to work. You are just about to head to IKEA to buy some shelf liners for your new pantry, but it will take a few hours round-trip. But hey...you're safe since it's 6:30 PM. Then your phone rings, and you are told that not only are you leaving that evening, but Big Boss wants to be wheels-up in just an hour. And your co-pilot is driving around town and can't make any arrangements. So you get to call two airports to arrange cars and hotels, which takes a precious twenty minutes. And then you get to cram everything into your car and rush to the airport, which is a twenty-minute drive from your house. Luckily, you're there before everyone else and get to do the pre-flight inspection before Big Boss arrives to leave. Wheels-up just an hour and a half after being called for work.

Not only did this scenario come true last week, but he didn't want to just stop at Monterrey! We flew on to Fresno later that night and landed around 11:45 PM. What a fun work day! The stars look so much better from 36,000 feet!