Sun
Tonight’s run was an accomplishment. The goal Homie G set for the relay was 8K in an hour. I did 8.1K in 62 minutes so I’m guessing I need a new goal for the race? Maybe 8K in 50 minutes?
I LOVED parts of tonight’s run. Though it was cold in the beginning and my left ankle and shins were bugging me so I found it hard to settle into my run. Once we hit near the halfway mark, we were in an interesting part of town. I love the old houses in that area, and then we ran through this tunnel and I felt so alive. It’s really an indescribable feeling. I was listening to upbeat hip hop as I ran through that tunnel full of graffiti and it made me run faster for a bit - I felt so tough! (I know, corny…but hey - whatever works)
As soon as I turned the corner out of the tunnel, the sun was there. It sat, sinking into the tree line, which was filled with colour and life. It was absolutely warm and beautiful.
That little red mark is about where I reluctantly turned my back on the sun and headed back. I hope to do that course again.
The only thing I want now is this, (in pink!) because 8K without water kind of sucked somewhat.
Last week, Sarah sent me an Amazon gift certificate and I got an armband for my ipod and a Biggest Loser cookbook! Thanks Sarah!
Oh and on the weekend, Daren took me out to see his friend’s band play and when I got dressed in my jeans, they were looser. So I grabbed a belt (duh) and when I did it up, I could get it 2 more holes further without sucking anything in. So yeah, running? Is working. I can’t wait to see my next measurements with G.
More goals?
- Size 6 by my brother’s wedding (Aug 31 - I’m a bridesmaid!);
- A half marathon by October (in Niagara Falls, maybe with Nat!)
What are your body goals?
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
11:25 pm |
Supporting Your Community
I hate the guys
who criticize
and minimize
the other guys
who’s enterprise
has made them rise
above the guys
who criticize.
~ Unknown (my Grade 8 principal said it in an assembly and it stuck with me - if you know the author, please comment or email me and I’ll put it in!)
~ Christina said most what I’d like to say, (a hell of a lot nicer than I could have.)
I’ve had a nagging post in my head for the last week or so, as I watched blogger after blogger announce the birth of books, get recognized for their various crafts in various forms of media, work to support each other and create wonderful things together.
Not once was I jealous. Hell I barely have time to wipe my ass, never mind pen a book or jet across the border to be on television.
No, instead I was proud. Proud that fellow bloggers like me were doing something worthy of public consumption and recognition. Proud that friends, clients and acquaintances were working on things that are passionate to them.
But I’m not so naive that I’m blind to the hate-filled bullshit I’m seeing scattered in comments of said announcements and quite frankly, I’m disgusted. What’s happening is nothing short of a bias against what exactly? A group of parents that are being lumped together with high-school words of “popular” “vapid” and “fake”?
It’s no better than bullying and I won’t stay quiet about it.
Besides, wouldn’t that time and energy be better spent working on your own goals?
If you can’t be supportive about months and years of consistency and hard work by your peers, whether you like them or not, then don’t say anything at all. Look around and see what YOU can accomplish.
Edit: In support of my community, I’d really love it if you went and read this beautiful post by Belinda, once you’re finished commenting here (if you’re gonna. no pressure. really.).
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
4:02 pm |
The Itsy Bitsy Instinct
Last night Daren and I noticed a spider bite on Thomas’ back. I kept an eye on it all day today while it doubled in size, turned an angry red and looked like it was filling with pus. I know.
Then I Image Googled “spider bite” like I told you this morning. Yeah, like I said, don’t do that.
What I learned is that the little critters that come hang out in our house in spring, are called Black-footed spiders or Cheiracanthium mildei if you wanna git all fancy-like.
My spidey-senses tingling, I decided I would call the hospital to see if they were better equipped to deal with a spider bite than Urgent Care and they said they were.
To most people, a bite from one of these guys is pretty harmless, and the nurse even gave me a dismissive “we usually do nothing and tell parents to use Benedryl for a couple of days.” (Don’t you hate when medical staff do that? It’s not like I came in because I felt like partying in the ER. I love nurses and that kind of crap isn’t limited to them - doctors can be pompous condescending sacs too.)
While waiting for the doctor, I was subjected to the loudest ghetto mom in London. I don’t know where this chick hailed from but she made eye contact and fell in love with this face or the fact I had ears. She proceeded to tell me (and the entire hospital) her 8 year old son had strep and that’s why they were there, her boyfriend was on the adult side with the same and oh my god she is gonna get sick and her son has already had double pneumonia 12 times in his short life and RSV too and he is ADD and ADHD and even when he was sick the doctors thought he was fine because he was bouncing around like a rabbit on crack (yes, she actually said that in front of her kid, and mine) and that he got them all sick: her, her sister, her sister’s boyfriend, and her boyfriend, and so her mother had to take her son away and bring him back to “put him on the boob” and leave again so he wouldn’t get sick all over again and isn’t that terrible?
All the while, I was trying not to shoot myself in my ever-bobbing head. I swear to Zaboomafoo, I don’t know where my patience comes from some days. She was called before I had time to stab her in the throat with MY FOOT.
The doctor at Children’s Hospital tonight had just been to a conference where they taught him that many spider bites end up in staph infections that are resistant to antibiotics. (Don’t Google that either - I did earlier and actually knew what he was talking about because I’m so SMRT and stuff.)
Anyway, Thomas is on a high dose of an antibiotic 4x a day for 7 days. I hope it doesn’t hurt his tummy ~ he already has a bad cold and enough is enough already for toddler’s sake.
It’s funny I took him in to the hospital because normally I would have waited a bit to see if it was an infection. Something about this one was different. It reminds me of when Dylan was a baby and my instincts kicked in and he ended up having Kawasaki’s*.
You gotta trust those parental instincts, they have kept my children safe for nearly 14 years total.
Word to your mother bone.
*Not this kind of Kawasaki. Only Jenny has that affliction.
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
9:48 pm |
Quick and Dirty
After running nearly 7K (4.4mi) on Saturday (in 55 minutes) I actually pumped my fist in the air, high fived Homie G and cheered, like a total dork. I don’t care though - it’s the longest I’ve ever gone and we came really close to meeting the goal she made for me. Our goal was 7K in 55 minutes and we accidentally cut off 0.3K because Homie G gave the map to the other team members. Whoops. I owe my ass a jog around a parking lot or something.
We ran through downtown and I hope we never do that again. The number of people smoking on the street made me want to puke. I’m sorry but if you see a purple-faced, fat-assed mom huffing and puffing her way up the street, the least you could do is keep the smoke in your black lung-age rather than blow it in her sweaty face. It won’t be the cigarette that kills you, you inconsiderate douchenheimer. Ugh.
The last leg of the run was down a very steep hill back into the Gibbons Park. It was shin-splinty and hurty but I ended by sprinting because Homie G doesn’t like it when you fall in a heap on the pavement after a run - she wants you to SPRINT. There’s a special place in hell for that kind of behaviour. Someone ought to tell her. I would but I’m still out of breath.
The funnest part of Saturday was putting not one, not two, but THREE bottles of power steering fluid into our car and watching it piss out the bottom before I could go anywhere. It’s still in the shop and today we should get it back after we hand over an arm, a leg and a tit.
Thomas is sick with a head cold that has rendered what’s coming out of his nose suitable for a Ghostbusters extra should there be another sequel. He also has what looks like a spider bite on his back so I Googled to see what I could do about that. I accidentally on purpose hit “image search.” Don’t do that, okay?
I have a ton of work to tackle this week so posting will be quick and dirty like this. I’m stressed out a touch but I’m handling it well, but if you don’t comment here at Sugarpants and at Work It Mom, I’ll break your freaking neck.
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
9:44 am |
Gang Mentality: Bullying
Two days ago, a student at the high school that our sitter goes to, not 5 minutes from my house, was beaten to unconsciousness and while he was passed out on the pavement, the boys who were beating him up kept kicking him in the head.
He is in hospital now.
Those boys kept kicking him.
Other students filmed the entire thing with their cell phones.
While this boy lay, passed out, the other boys kept. kicking. him.
In. The. Head.
While others watched, filmed, pointed, and DID NOTHING TO HELP HIM.
Every time I imagine it, I feel sick to my stomach. I’m livid.
This could have been our sitter. It could have been our son, a mere 5 years from now. It could be your son. Nephew. Grandson.
Not that girls are exempt.
So while I see this Day of Silence on other blogs, no disrespect to anyone but, I have to say that I will NOT stay silent about bullying.
Because ever since I heard this story yesterday, even though I wasn’t there, even though I don’t know this kid in the hospital, it infuriates me to my core.
Britt wrote about not letting our sons grow up to be rapists.
We want our kids to not be bullied, not to be bullies, not to follow the pack, not to get hurt…the list goes on.
While we’re telling them all these things NOT to do, but are we teaching them about how to stand up in a situation like this where a massive, violent, horrible act was committed by teenagers?
These kids aren’t just fighting, as kids tend to do — it’s the ganging up on one kid that has my head shaking. When we were young, girls didn’t fight. Guys would occasionally but it was always one on one. If you had a beef with someone, the fight was still fair. One on one - face to face.
Our sitter, his mother and I talked about this with him. She vowed to get him a cell phone so he can call police if this ever happens again.
“If I call the police Mom, I’ll be the next one to get beat,” he protested.
How do we teach our children to do the right thing when the right thing (possibly saving a fellow student’s life) could land them in a hospital with a concussion or worse, a toe tag?
Please — help me understand WHY this happens, WHY kids are using violence in numbers, and WHY they think filming it with their cell phones to become “YouTube famous” is somehow a better fucking decision than using that phone to call for help?
Please discuss. We need this sort of thing to end and I don’t have all the answers. Even if I teach my kid how to defend himself, how to handle a bully, the fact of the matter is if he is up against a group of kids, he might end up in serious trouble.
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
1:25 am |
You’re Never Going To Believe This
Tonight when we got back from dinner, I headed over to the schoolyard to throw the ball around with Dylan and a couple of his buddies.
On our way back, we ran into my neighbour from a few doors down and you’ll never guess who was with him.
(more…)
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
11:54 pm |
Running My Fat Ass Off
In the spirit of Andrew Is Getting Fit (one of my new fave blogs), I’m going to document some of my runs.
My goal today was to do 5.5K in 40 minutes. I did it in 34. My trainer said between the 3rd and 4thK, she has a hard time pushing through. It didn’t help that from the 3.5 - 4 point mark it’s an incline, but I did it. I tracked it on Gmaps. What a great tool for anyone looking to keep a record of their walking, running, or cycling.
The Crazy Stallions (our team, named by Homie G - who clearly doesn’t realize 5 women can’t be stallions…rofl!) are going to run Saturday morning - 7K. I wonder what my time will be!
Don’t forget to sponsor us in the Forest City Road Races! WE ARE NEARLY HALFWAY TO GOAL!!!
The Thames Valley Children’s Centre needs all the help they can get and it’s a great cause.
So last night, after looking at my food diary, Homie G tells me I’m doing well, lots of protein, lots of veggies and get this:
(more…)
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
4:11 pm |
She Turned Around and Gave That Big Booty a Slap
Jenny @ The Bloggess twittered this morning about someone telling her that perfectly sensible, comfortable, capri pants are OUT.
WHAT?
Okay, then let’s take a close look on what is supposedly “in.”
(more…)
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
8:49 am |
The Sneaker Whisperer
Where I’ve come from:
March 15 - began running - 2 minutes at a time.
March 17 - 3 minutes at a time.
March 19 - 4 minutes at a time.
March 21 - 5 minutes at a time.
March 25 - 12 minutes at a time!
March 27 - My first 5K! (run/walk)
March 29 - 5K (run/walk)
Apr 1 - 5.5K (run/walk)
Apr 6 - 6K!
Apr 8 - 5K again!
Apr 13 - 6K again!
Apr 17 - 5K - (33 minutes were without stopping)
Apr 20 - 5.4K (33 minutes were without stopping)
Apr 22 - 7K - (46 minutes were without stopping)
(a whole bunch of weight training and walking in there too but whatever)
********
The plan until the race:
Wednesday April 23 - weight training + incline walking 30 min.
Thurs April 24 - 7K - including 60 minutes straight running Revised by G: 5.5K in 40 minutes of straight running. She says she will revise the rest later b/c I can’t be running 7-8K on every run just yet.
Fri April 25 - softball
Sat April 26 - 7.5 K - including 75 minutes straight running To be revised
Sun April 27 - walking
Mon April 28 - weight training + incline walking 30 min.
Tues April 29 - 8k To be revised
Wed April 30 - weight training + incline walking 30 min.
Thursday May 1 - 8K To be revised
Friday May 2 - softball
Saturday May 3 - 8K To be revised
Sunday May 4 - walking or cycling
Monday May 5 - weight training + incline walking 30 min.
Tuesday May 6 - 8K To be revised
Wednesday May 7 - weight training + incline walking 30 min.
Thursday May 8 - 8K To be revised
Friday May 9 - softball
Saturday May 10 - walking or cycling
Sunday May 11 - RACE DAY!
Donate here to sponsor our team! We are at 38% of GOAL and have raised $375 in the first 6 hours of fundraising!
Special thanks to:
Adam, Britt, Lechelle, Nicole, Heather and Cheryl!
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
4:30 pm |
A Love Letter Of Sorts
Dear Jenny, Heather, Y, and Christina,
Thank you for helping me to see the light.
I’m not quitting this writing gig. Sure I was leaning heavily toward it, slumped over, defeated. I really thought that I’d said everything I cared to share. I figured no one wanted to hear any more about my efforts to become a healthy person. Part of becoming that healthy person is overcoming the feelings of inadequacy I have been feeling lately.
In fact, it’s going back to how it was. Honest, raw, heartfelt. Things that make me laugh or cry. I gotta get past the fact that some people won’t like me, but some people will and more importantly, some might relate to something I write. Thanks for talking me through it the last week or so.
Love Your Home Girl,
Sugarpanties
************
Dear Masta Homie G,
I know I’ve said something to this effect to you in person, but I want you to know just how much I appreciate you pushing me further than I ever thought I could go. I never thought I would be able to run for 46 minutes straight, as I did tonight. I never thought I would be able to run 7K, as I did tonight. I never thought I would deem a core class as easy, and I sure as hell never thought I’d be running in a marathon on a team.
That’s a lot of “nevers.”
You have helped me change my life. There is nothing more satisfying than throwing out all my clothes that have an X on the label. There is nothing better than the feeling I get about 7 minutes into a run, that I can run forever. There is nothing more kick ass than the pour of sweat, the tightening of muscles I didn’t even know I had and learning to love this body for what it can DO, rather than hating it for how it looked. Thank you for being a driving force in my every day.
Love, K-Unit
************
Dear Daren,
I know the last few months have been slightly more challenging, what with you arriving home to make dinner as I dash out the door to meet with Homie G. I know it isn’t easy to cook up dinner while watching our kids, and then for you to take the time to bring them outside and toss the football or soccer ball about makes me love you even more.
Your constant encouragement has never wavered through this time and I know I’ve done it for years with you going to hockey 3 nights a week but I still maintain that having me absent during the dinner hour has to be more trouble than having you gone when the kids are nearing bedtime or already tucked in.
Thank you for noticing the little changes, (*pinch* *wink*) for reading up on new foods and recipes you think I might enjoy and benefit from, and for pushing my ass out the door when I would have rather stayed in bed. For all of these things and your unconditional love through everything, thank you. I love you with everything that I am.
Love K
************
Dear Dylan and Thomas,
Firstly, I know Mommy has been gone many nights but I do rush back to tuck you in. I appreciate you helping Daddy with dinner, setting the table, unloading and loading the dishwasher and generally being well-behaved while your Daddy takes care of things. I know your Daddy is fully capable of doing all of this, but your good behaviour and pitching in has been noted and we are so very proud of you both.
p.s. Dylan - thanks for running with me. I know you love it, but it sure is nice to have that time with you.
************
Dear Sugarpants Readers,
Yes, you. You have been so kind as to leave comments of encouragement and I really appreciate your thoughts. I know we all lead busy lives and sometimes I don’t have time to answer comments via email or leave comments on everyone’s sites. I just want to tell you that I really applaud this community for rallying together in all kinds of situations. I’m proud to be a part of it.
Love Sugarpants
xo
p.s. My feed is wonky. I think since I moved to Bluehost, (which I LOVE), it changed. So it’s here if you want to add me to your reader thingy.
p.p.s. The marathon is in 18 days. I finally set up a thingy so if you want to donate to the Thames Valley Children’s Centre on behalf on the Crazy Stallions (yeah, that’s our team name, shuddap) then you can donate here. Yeah that’s my real last name…shhhh.
Every $5 helps so please don’t feel like you have to go nuts. I set a goal of $1000 - it would be nice to get to that, especially since it’s my first marathon!
UPDATE: HOLY CRAP - WE’RE ALREADY AT 10% of MY GOAL! Thanks to Adam, Britt, Heather and Nicole!
p.p.p.s. I keep typing marathong. Heh.
Posted by Karen Sugarpants @
9:54 pm |
