Back to work!

Alrighty, folks, as you all know I have been a Stay at Home Mom for a while now...1 year and 8 months to be exact and let me tell you, as much as it is stressful, trying, noisy, messy, crazy, lazy, etc etc etc, I LOVE each and every minute of it!! The Hubs and I had planned that when the little man starts going to school that that would be the time to go back into the workforce.
Well, plans changed! I just by chance (and a little luck) got offered a job as a Fitness Specialist for a Corporate Fitness Facility where not only do I get to train people but teach group fitness classes. Yeah, I know, totally up my alley and exactly what I want to be doing! Plus it also gets me out into the  real world with grown-up interaction 😜

At first I was only going to be working part-time but I got offered to go full time. When I was originally approached for full time my first thought was NO WAY! But after talking with the hubs and weighing the pros and cons etc ect we decided full time would be okay. I still get my mornings with the boys and I'll be home in time to get a little play time before it is time to put them to bed.  

The only bad thing is that Mr. Beefs has to go into school and that should be interesting. He's been at home with me since he was born so I'm expecting a bit of a rough first week but I think he will actually enjoy interaction with other kiddos. (At least that is what I'm telling myself to avoid having major mommy guilt) 

I am really excited for this new venture...now to get my Zumba certs!! 

Esprit de She = PR's!

Most of you know about my unfortunate accident resulting in a fractured fibula...that was then soon after followed by cellulitis in the same leg. Because of these injuries I was not able to run and train like I should and with so many races on my schedule I was devastated and I was expecting horrible times.

Instead of running I had been spending my cardio time either cycling or on the elliptical. Little did I know that this cross training would make me so much stronger and able to run longer!! 

I had been chosen to be an ambassador for the Houston Espirt de She 10K. I was super duper excited to help promote the running series however I was a little nervous because it was my first solo race. Every other race that I had run up to this point I had had someone there running it with me. However, as I was walking up to the starting line, what do I see?? 3 pink Moms RUN This Town shirts and Tutus!! I just had to run over and see what chapter it was!! It was some of the ladies from a neighboring chapter that I had spoken to briefly over Facebook but had never met before. Funny how wearing MRTT to gear brings people together.
Anyway,  I set out to run like I had been training before my accidents...4:1's. Run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute and so on and so forth for the whole 10K. However, my Garmin had a different plan...it did not want to do intervals that day. I started running with the intentions of running the first mile straight and my Garmin was supposed to kick in with the 4:1's after that. But it didn't. And I was feeling pretty good so I just kept on running. Before I knew it I was at the 5K mark and I had hit a PR! A 5K in 30:46...for me, that was kinda awesome. And it served as my motivation to keep on trucking. After that I was in the ZONE!! I finished out the 10K in 1:04:53. Again, for me, I was super happy with myself!! I know that it's only going to get better from here on out. {As long as I avoid all wet foliage and insects LOL!}

Haters into Haterade?? {Slightly Ranty}

Before I get myself into a tizzy, let me first say that typically I do not let people get to me. I've learned over the last year or so that people will try and bring you down or talk badly about you to make themselves feel better. And I'm okay with that. I've learned to embrace the haters! But what I don't like is when people (even if it's inadvertently) attribute my weight loss and fitness success to me not eating, etc. And that could not be further than the truth! Here's how this came up...
I was out at a Greek restaurant with my parents Friday night and I really wanted the vegetarian platter. It was a Greek salad, hummus, lentil soup and falafel. Sounds delish, right?! Well, apparently my mom had been speaking to my grandpa earlier and she decided I could not get that and her exact words were "you do not need to diet, get fish or something else". First off, I'm not on a diet, secondly that vegetarian platter has plenty of healthy calories and thirdly I didn't really want fish...I wanted the hummus and salad and lentil soup gosh darn it!! I was completely taken a back especially when she tells me that my grandfather and my aunt were "worried about me" Um, since when does my grandpa and my aunt discuss my appearance and why would they immediately think it's because I was not eating. Just because I take care of my body unlike other people in my family does not mean I do not eat. At first my feelings were really hurt. I have worked my ass off to get to where I am today and to do it the most healthy way as possible. I eat 5-6 meals a day, mostly clean, all gluten free and I try to maintain a healthy weight and eat lots of protein. I do not eat junk, that doesn't mean I'm starving myself.
Anyway, I got off on a tangent...sorry!...I was hurt that my own family would think that. But then I got to thinking, should I take it as a backhanded compliment? Is my babyweight-loss and toning up been THAT noticeable?? I'm seeing the glass half full and saying yes!
People will always try and turn something positive into a negative {even if they don't mean to or understand it} so I'm just going to let it roll off my back and smile ;)

Gritty Goddess Obstacle Run

Yesterday was the Gritty Goddess Obstacle Race at Moody Gardens down in Galveston. It was also the first race North Houston Moms RUN This Town ran together!!!!...and it was also the third race I've run with my Momma ;)
It was soooooo much fun! Our team name was Rack Attack (the run benefitted Susan G Komen breast cancer research). OH...and it was also one of our ladies very first 5K race ever!! She's done way more than a 5K on our weekly group runs but this was her first official event. And I was soooo proud of her. We ran the entire way (except when we were doing obstacles of course) and she kicked booty for sure.
The obstacles were a blast. There was a slip and slide, a fire pit, an enormous cargo net mountain, an electric fence to crawl under, the obligatory huge mud pit and lots more. They were such fun.
Afterwards we enjoyed an ice cream sundae and adult beverages...because really, that's the only way to recover from an event like this, right?! ;)
There's another Gritty Goddess in September and we're already forming our team for it. I can't wait to do it again!!!!

Esprit de She Houston and a GIVEAWAY!!

Hey everyone! I am so super duper excited to be running the Esprit de She Houston 10K next week!!

I was absolutely thrilled when they asked me to be an Esprit de She Ambassador and I've been pimpin' them out like crazy ;)
If any other ladies in the area want to join in let me know!! It's going to be awesome!! Here's all the info:::

Thursday, May 9th at 6:00pm (5k or 10k fun run) through CityCentre shopping district. Be there or be square!

5-9pm Night market opens. It's going to have fresh produce, local artisans, creative projects....so much cool stuff!

6:30-9pm Post race music and FUNNNNN

8pm She Warrior Yoga Class open to all {heck yeah...it's going to be AMAZING}

You can find all the details and registration information on their website- http://www.espritdeshe.com/

Esprit de She is hosting events all over the country that combine fitness with social events and fun. They have also so kindly offered to give away Athleta tees for two of you!...which means its GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Here's what you've got to do...comment here that you've liked & shared Running Crazy Mom's Facebook Page
and make sure you "Like" the Esprit de She page. (you gotta spread the love lol)
I will pic TWO WINNERS via Rafflecopter on Wednesday 5/8/13 for these awesome shirts!!

GOOD LUCK and RUN ON!!

May Fitness Challenges!

Oh man...it's May already. Where on earth did the time go?? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating New Years Eve with the Besties.
Anywho, I am so excited about the 2 May Fitness Challenges we've got going on in my Moms RUN This Town group. We've got a killer Squat Challenge and a Fitness Pic-a-Day Challenge. Today was day 1 (obviously) so I had to take my "Before Pic". I had been avoiding any sort of progress pictures for a while because well 1) UGH...pics of myself looking all bleh and 2) I still have work to do. But I did it anyway. I can't wait to put my "After Pic" next to today's to see if there's a noticeable difference. There better be! I'm not squatting and beastin' it in the gym for nothing!! ;)