People just don't get it... And that's ok

The other day one of my very best friends said to me "Is running a means to an end for you? Or do you really like it?" This unto it's self is not a question that grates on my nerves. What annoys me is her next comment. "Because you know running is SO hard on your body." She doesn't get it. That's ok. Most people don't get it. Every morning when I was pregnant I went for a walk. The last 3 months of my pregnancy I did that walk early in the morning. Every morning without fail I would pass Jerry. Jerry is my 79 year old boyfriend. (Jerry doesn't know this, this is just what I call him when I'm talking to David about him.) Anyway, Jerry HAD to stop running when he was 75. His body just couldn't take it any more. Just like me Jerry didn't start running until his late 20's. I am confident that I will be able to be like Jerry. And if I'm not and my body only allows me to run for 20 years... it will be 20 wonderful years I wouldn't trade for anything. People who want a means to an end do P90X or cross fit. Runners, run for the love of it.

People who have amazing lawns with fantastic flowers and perfect hedges find strength and inner peace from such work. Those of us who do not find inner peace and strength in yard work have a couple of hanging plants. I am the later of those two. (and my hanging plants died) I just don't get it, but I love to look at the gardens of those folks who find their inner peace in the soil. I find my inner peace in running.

In 2010 I ran/ shuffled my first marathon. The marathon it's self didn't go well. But the training was awesome. I learned so much about myself during the process. On my 20 mile run I started in the housing division above Fred Meyer, ran over the over pass between Richland and Pasco, crossed the Blue bridge, ran through Columbia Park and circled back to where I started. This is exactly 20 miles. While on that run I found the song Uprising by Muse. I listened to that song 6 times in a row and then 2 more times after that. When I hear that song now I am transported back to that time. I can feel the strength come from the marrow of my bones in my finger tips and work its way all the way through my body. I can feel the power of the Blue Bridge beside me and the energy of the mighty Columbia River under me. I loved that run and I love that song. Like a drug addict I am determined to feel that high again.

I did however just have a baby. Heidi is 9 weeks old and I am still a fatty. Rebuilding lung strength is not easy and it takes forever to do! But I've started back down the running path and I can't wait for the day when my wight is down, my lungs are strong and my body is healthy! I am running the Hood to Coast relay race with some ladies from church next August. That is if we win the lottery and get in. It's the worlds longest relay race and It's gonna be awesome. But I have to get my comfortable pace down to at least 9 minute miles to be an asset to the team.

Speaking of being a fatty. With all my other babies I have been an equal opportunity fatty. Never in my life has my belly fat gone out further then my hip fat. Not so this time. Many of my jeans zip up just fine, but then I've got all the belly and upper hip loping over the top of my pants. I don't know what to do with this. I spend as much time in sweat pants as humanly possible. So it's back to weight watchers for me. The first time I did weight watchers I lost 35 pounds, the second time I lost 40 pounds. This time I have about 25 pounds to lose. But it doesn't matter I still hate losing weight. It comes off so slowly and eating is just no fun. Today I went to weight watchers and gained a pound. When you gain weight the lady weighing you doesn't say anything! Nothing at all. It's like I'm a beggar asking for a buck. They just say "got it"... and send you on your way. If you lose weight they tell you congratulations. But if you gain it, it's like you just brought the plague into their weight loss meeting.

Depressing as gaining a pound is when you've been dieting there is a silver lining. David is leaving on Sunday for three weeks! Normally this wouldn't make me so happy, but this time I can't get him out the door fast enough. His "light" pop corn at 10:30 pm isn't helping my belly fat go away. When he is gone I lose weight much easier. I tried to get him to deploy for 3 months, but the timing didn't line up right. :) My weight loss success depends on David being very far away.

The moral of the story is... I hate dieting and love running. Until my weight is down I have to try to make the two friends. I'm blogging about running in an effort to keep myself from talking about it.

I have also been trying to dabble in photography and I will try to post some of the pictures I do.

Abe and Dallin are so weird. They can't help but be silly at all times. I cherish the normal smiles I get out of them, because they are few and far between.

Heidi Denise Peterson in her blessing dress. Her grandma Gale made this dress for her. It is Beautiful! Both of the girls are named after women I hope they grow up to be like. Molly is named after Rebecca Michelle Gale. Heidi is named after my cousin Denise Gale O'Very.

Our little dolly! Heidi

So fun to have a baby sister to stroll around.

Molly is nuts about Heidi. She is so sweet with her!

Heidi and Molly Pop. The shadows when I took all these pictures were awful. I'm pretty pleased with myself over the end result I was able to get.