C25K - week 5 day 3

I am all over the place with this C25K program. I could have jumped ahead to week 6 but I really wanted the 20 minute run today (no intervals) and I'm really glad I did it. I was slow (10:47/mile) but it didn't matter, I did it. I haven't run 20 minutes without a walk break in a long time...like I think 2011...mind you I ran a half marathon about a year ago, but still.

I'm excited to be running again and that was the main reason I did this C25K program, to find my passion with running again! I will admit that my shins started to be sore and I think I need to invest in a new pair of shoes, but overall it was great. My 5k is this weekend and even though I may end up walking a bit of it, I'm going to be in much better shape for it than I thought.

Even after my 5k this weekend I think I'm going to finish out the C25K program because it's motivating. I like hearing the little computer voice tell me good things. I think I might even do the 10k program since, well, I've got my mojo back baby, yeah!

Grown up decisions and fears - female perspective

Warning to those that follow this blog, I'm going to be sharing some personal information and potentially some graphic girl stuff that you may not want to read. Also, please don't make assumptions about other decisions that may or may not be happening in my life because of what I'm about to talk about.

With that being said...after 17/18 years (ugh is it really that long) I have decided to come off of the birth control pill. In about a week. It has been a decision that my husband and I have discussed and I'm just ready to be off of it.

When you take a medication for more than half of your life though, I'm finding that there is some separation anxiety. I mean I was a teenager when I started all those years ago. I don't even remember what my cycle was like back then. I went on it to help regulate and because, well, I was a responsible teenager to a point.

I've been reading all sorts of blogs and message boards about how women adjust to going off of the pill and I"m nervous, I'm not going to lie. Initially I was nervous about the change in routine, but now I"m nervous about becoming an emotional freak of nature (more so than I already am).

So while I won't share all of the details on here, I think it's important that there be as much information out there as possible for other women going through this situation. You are not alone. It's scary and weird and exciting and nerve wracking and all of it...but it is a decision that I have made, and I'm excited about it. I also figure if I really miss taking a pill at night, I'll just take a vitamin.

There is a part of me though that can't believe I'm a grown up who is making a decision like this...I also can't believe I have been on that medication for more of my life than I was not on it...and I'm not a big fan of medication!

Binder full of women costume - finalized

After playing around with a few other ideas, and my husbands suggestions, a few last minute things have been added.

I had some black card stock paper and created pockets inside of the foam board and put paper with a name and an image of a woman on it in the pocket. I also added some weight to the front part of the pocket to help balance out the weight.

My husband suggested that we use the 3 ring part of a binder and attach it to me and then add more papers that have women's pictures on it.

I don't have a picture of me in it yet (I'll add that later) but here are some more pictures of the final product.

 Here is the 3 ring binder that will be attached.

I added more ribbon and glued it to the back of the binder so that can be wrapped around me.

This shows the pocket with the paper on it, I also had images to the binder itself.

Here's the final product.

Here is a picture of me with my husband as Tugg Romney, the bad Mormon who drinks...the black sheep of the family.

Photo credit to Dennis Kytasaari

I hope you have enjoyed this DIY project with me.

C25K - Week 4, day 2

After being sick last week and then traveling...I took a bit over a week off from running. I did hike a beautiful mountain called Camels Hump in Vermont...and we went the long way around which included some pretty intense climbing for people who don't climb.

Here I am climbing on the edge over a few rocks with the view behind me.

This is the payoff at the top...loving that I can take panoramic shots now.

After my trip I did P90 with my husband and did lots of walking...so no running but was keeping active.

Since I was keeping active, I saw no reason to back track on my C25K program, so I skipped Week 3 day 3 and Week 4 day 1 and jumped right ahead as though I hadn't missed any training.

It was warm yesterday in Chicagoland...78 degrees or so when I started my run. I was not running very fast in light of this since I really prefer the 40s-60s for running at least right now.

The run was the 5 minutes warm up followed by 3 minutes running, 90 seconds walking, 5 minutes running and I believe 90 seconds walking again and then repeat. Yes I was running closer to my normal running pace (which is slowed down to 10 minute miles) but it felt good to hold the pace. I really have been thinking about jumping ahead in this program since my 5k is two weeks away, but I think I'll stick to this program until the 5k. I'll be able to run the entire 5k the way I'm feeling now, so long as it's not 90 degrees out.

Updates on how to make a "Binders full of Women" costume

I have been working on my binders full of women costume. I ended up getting 3 pieces of black foam board, some black ribbon, duct tape, needle and thread and some wire.

I opted to make the binder as though it were vertical, like if you were taking it out of a bookshelf.

For now I'm using duct tape to put the pieces together. For now the are all still the same size, however, I think I am going to make the back piece smaller so that it is closer to the width of my body.

To help it stay up, I taped some ribbon on and then sewed the ribbon into place so that I can wear the ribbon. Right now it's too long but it can be adjusted.

Tape before sewing.

Sewed on the straps

First attempt done

I do plan on hiking the binder up and trying to make the backside smaller. I plan to wear a black dress underneath to hide the straps a bit. Also will use a marker to label it "binder full of women".

I still have some wire that I am going to try to use to create the "rings" inside the binder and then fill that with paper that has images of women on it.

So far, so good.

Week 3, day 2 C25K

Sorry for the delay on today's run, the Presidential debates took over tonight!

My husband and I ran together today. He pushes me hard, always has. When we first started dating I remember going on a run with him and if it was a race, it would have been a PR. He runs much faster than I do (but somehow I beat him in a 10k we did together). So on the run today, it was my fastest run portion since starting.

Funny thing about running with my husband, I don't give directions well. He knew to walk but I never said brisk walk, so walking was slower and running was faster. If we run together tomorrow we're skipping to week 4 since the husband didn't really like the walk/run style...I admit I'm getting a little tired of it and want to start running more, but I'm going to give myself a break and keep it up just a bit longer.

I have signed up for 1 5k and will be signing up for one more the week after...both are about a month away so I need to keep this up, but add more runs to my training so that I can run the full 5k both times.

"Binder Full of Women" costume

It's two weeks before Halloween, and thanks to the Presidential Debates tonight, I have my costume idea...a binder full of women!

Now how to make it.

I am not very crafty, so my initial thought was to get some big cardboard boxes, paint them, put some huge pieces of paper in it with bios and pictures on women...or maybe get a group of my friends to join me in the cardboard box.

Another friend suggested foamcore. I haven't really worked with that before, but it can't be that hard.

In my mind I'm seeing a trapper keeper, I'm guessing that's because of the tumblr page. Since that is my image though, velcro would need to be involved as well.

Any other suggestions as to how to make this thing in 2 weeks with limited crafting experience? I really think it'll be cardboard.

**added 10:12pm CST**
After researching a bit more, I think that I will use the foamcore board.
2 large pieces of foamcore board
1 piece of fabric (to open and close the binder with)
velcro (to keep the fabric on the board)
large pieces of paper with images of women
tights (in the same color of the foam core board)
markers (to title the binder full of women)

I think I have it!