All the single ladies

Move that body: 2.3-mile walk

Last night, Mark left me.

For Indianapolis.

He had to go to some “I’m awesome at my job” teacher powwow/leadership conference and I got to stay here. In the Summit City. Hello, taste of my single days.

Literally.

Usually, when Mark is gone for whatever reason, I use it as a time to eat the things that I love but Mark won’t touch – summer squash, asparagus, white beans, black beans, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, barley. I had originally planned to do breakfast for dinner – a favorite for me, not so much for him – but as I made the drive home, I wasn’t interested. I didn’t want to make myself pancakes. In fact, I didn’t want to make myself anything. So I did what any girl would do. I went to KFC.

Way to lead by example, Kim. Way to go.

I picked up a two-piece dark meat mail with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Oh, and there’s always a biscuit. I pulled one of my old “let’s pretend it’s healthy” moves, pulling the skin off the chicken and not eating the top of the biscuit. I also applauded myself for not picking mac-and-cheese, my preggo fave, as it’s more calories than the potatoes.

Yeah, way to go, Kim. 

***

After dinner, I decided to pass the time by pulling more mutant dandelions and watering my vegetable garden.

In there we have five tomato plants (three varieties), kale , basil, thyme and rosemary. I still want to add some cilantro, bell pepper and maybe jalapeño. My goal this summer is to have the option of doing a good pasta or a good salsa – two things you can’t go wrong with.

Now that they are planted, the real work will be keeping Denali from peeing on them as he’s done to the flowers in the yard. At least he was nice enough to keep me company while I was working last night.

Do you have a veggie garden? What fruits/veggies are you looking forward to this summer?

House call

Move that body: 3.05-mile run with Denali (two walk breaks totaling 0.2 mile)

I moved boxes and dug. Moved boxes and dug. Went down the stairs and up the steps and down again. And, after some real detective skills, I was ready to run.

1 day shy of 31 weeks … I’m a bit terrified that I’m going to get even bigger!
I already look (and feel) a house!

Before I get all whiny, let me tell you something: It was 60 degrees outside at 7:30 a.m. SIXTY DEGREES! And overcast! I couldn’t have asked for better weather – it’s been something I’ve been waiting for for, oh, five months. Combine those conditions with my newly decided fave route in the new ’hood and I was as happy as a clam.

Except not.

My hamstrings were still sore from Sunday’s marathon gardening session. I felt slow. Heavy. Labored. I really thought the first half-mile might kill me but I kept truckin’, focusing on my breathing and the audiobook du jour - “The Help.”

Sidenote: “The Help” is awesome so far, and I really love it as audiobook. I think the story is meant to be heard and not read, and I’m not saying that because I don’t actually read anymore.

I got to the 0.6 mark, turning onto a street that would take me into one of the most beautiful parks in the city if I could run more than 3 miles, and I began making bets with myself to make it to the next street, to the next house and then, finally, to the turnoff where I took a 0.1-mile walk. Denali was kind enough to take a bathroom break during this walk, giving me a few extra seconds of deep breathing.

I felt notably better after the break and relaxed. Relaxed into the scenery and the book and the feeling of running. I took one more break after another mile and took it home.

And despite a good finish, I felt a bit overwhelmed that this might have been a good indicator that things are a changing. My pace is definitely slowing – 11:15 today (I cringe just writing it) – and I think more walk breaks will be required to keep on keepin’ on. Sucks. Really does.

Sidenote: No worries to fret, my friends. I am being mindful of baby boy. According to What to Expect, things are good as long as you can feel the baby move within 30 minutes after you’ve finished exercising. He normally makes his presence known within 15. In fact, after one run last week,he nearly knocked the Runners World out of my hands.

And since I’ve whined, anyone want to add something? A bad run, bad day at work, dog pooped on your bed? Tell me so we can commiserate together!