Krissy Thomas » Training

Kick it or Eat it?

Krissy — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:12:27 +0000

I looked in the mirror last week and saw something that freaked me right out! I saw my mom’s body taking over mine. I really don’t mean to sound so ugly, but it was the weirdest thing. I’ll admit, this winter has NOT been easy for me. It’s been one thing after the other…

it’s too cold out
it’s snowing
it’s not snowing, but it’s icy
it’s too windy out
it’s been below freezing for 4 weeks straight
i’m busy
i’m tired

You know the drill…I’ve had my excuses and because of that my shape has turned rounder than I prefer.

So, last week, I told a few friends and decided it was time to stop with the excuses and get back on track!I have a couple of people that I’ve asked to hold me accountable. A friend who I’ve asked for motivation/coaching. An app for the phone to calculate my calories/excercise and most importantly, an updated outlook on my personal health.

One of my friends that I’m being accountable to as well as checking in on them told me that it sounded like I was “kickin it” so I told them that they needed to kick it too and their response was “well, unless I’m eatin’ it. The end result of that conversation was that…failure is not an option(yes, we’ll have setbacks and bad days, but…) we will “KICK IT!” Friends, Life’s too short to complain and whine and let yourself slide right into complacency and a bigger rear end…so I’m gettin’ off my back-side to kick it!

Who’s with me?!

NO Fear

Krissy — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Do you have ridiculous fears? I mean like really stupid and ridiculous fears?
Do you ever fear falling down the big flight of stairs that end at the main entrance in your place of employment?
How about feeling like somebody will walk into the bathroom stall you are currently in?
Do you ever think that you will be hit from behind on a day when the roads are icy?
When was the last time you thought about getting a tickle in your throat and coughing uncontrollably while you are in a very quiet environment?
How about a twitch…any chance that you fear getting a twitch on your face with some upcoming filming soon?
Oh wait, how about the fear of stepping on a sleeping rattlesnake while on a run?
Better yet, how about the fear of having to go potty(i mean, not number 1)while on a trail in the middle of nowhere?
Hmmm no, none of those fears ring a bell? Oh okay, yeah, me neither.

It’s Time To Shred

Krissy — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:14:00 +0000

So… I’ve got something to tell you. On Friday, my little man asked me how much I weighed and I said I didn’t know because I never get on the scale and so he asked me to get on and…well…it’s a sad story the rest of it.
The silly scale told me that I weigh more now than I have weighed in SEVERAL years! I’m not saying I’m fat(hush, those of you that I complain about my muffin top with). I’m just saying, I’m too big for ME.
I don’t like trying on 5 things each morning before deciding on something appropriate for work. I don’t like bulging out of my clothes and I don’t think it looks attractive when my clothes are skin tight.
After that little moment of awareness, I decided that it was time to stop my smack talking because you know; all of this is attributed to the fact that my knee got hurt in the fall(also attributed to laziness, the holidays, winter, stress, work, kids, lack of time etc…) and I had to simmer down on my running. But now, I have got to get my booty movin’ and back to where I like to be physically…without ANYMORE excuses. Sometimes little moments like these(the awareness’)push me into my hyper-motivated mode and so I went out and bought 30 day Shred with Jillian Michaels and decided that I am going to run every day (1-5 miles) except for Sunday.
Yeah, so I did the crazy work-out on Friday and it kicked my butt! I ran 4.5 on Saturday and then did the work-out again yesterday. Now, I’ve just got to stay on this bandwagon with an upcoming work trip and all the other craziness in life.
I was talking to one of my girlfriends the other day and wondering how come we can’t be those girls who lose weight when they are under stress?!
So there you have it…Transparent enough for you? Now I’ve told you and I’m hoping that this makes me somewhat accountable for working out…and makes me stop whining a little too. Anyone wanna join me…anyone, anyone?

Walk On

Krissy — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:26:00 +0000

Yes, yes, I’m getting to it. I know I haven’t posted since last week and I’m sure all 4 of you are eagerly anticipating my thoughts.

I had quite the learning experience my friends. I wasn’t expecting to get schooled during this marathon, but, really, that’s what happened.

Training for a marathon isn’t the easiest thing as it takes so much time and so much commitment. Needless to say, I spent hours of training, some of it very painful to get to the point of feeling confident about the marathon.

Hannah and I had our splits down, we had a plan and we were on our way. Everything felt so freaking perfect…even the freezing cold weather before the start. We ran and talked about how awesome we felt, how great our bodies were doing and how different this marathon felt from the last one. Wow! Well, then mile 12 hit and my knee sent a lightning pain up to my back and down to my foot. I tried to act like I didn’t feel it and pushed through and succeeded for about 3 steps, before I had to stop in pain. Hannah smeared ibuprofen rub into my knee, but i couldn’t go, so I asked her to please go and I would catch up as soon as I could figure out what was going on with my knee.

I went through my mental check list of things that i needed to try to make the knee work again, then i went over the list again. Nothing was working, so then of course i resorted to the only thing I know to resort to when everything i know stops ceasing to be what i know…I pray. Yes, I’m sure there are others who would resort to prayer first, but I’ll admit, I’m a weak human and it was what i did when i had no other options…Is this foreshadowing? I begged God to make my knee work again so that I wouldn’t have to quit. I couldn’t stand the thought of turning back or stopping and walking off the course. I couldn’t stomach the relentless “if only’s” that would follow me around forever, so I continued praying, then suddenly… For some reason, I had this strange peace and I knew that I should start running again, so I did and I was able to run another 7 miles. Amazingly well at that…not as fast as before, but still it was a run.

At mile 19, I stopped and then it was done…there was no more running to be had by my poor little knee. Mentally I was sooo NOT done, but there was nothing I could do, when every step running resulted in shooting pains up and down my legs. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get back to running, so I walked…because stopping was not an option. In my walking I observed so much and what i observed is part of what I’m believing was a very defining life moment for me.

I finished the race with a friend that I made at around mile 22. We had a pretty uplifting conversation for the final miles of our marathon where neither she nor I were very happy about walking, but knew beyond a doubt that the walking was purposeful and necessary.

So, friends, I finished strong…albeit, it wasn’t the way i planned and there was no sprinting to the end to greet the camera’s head on, but I smiled(humbly) walking across the finish knowing that I gave it my best and the path to the finish meant as much or more than crossing the line.

SMILE!!!

Krissy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:41:00 +0000

On Saturday I had an 8 mile run scheduled, so I ran out 4 miles into the eastern plains of Colorado Springs and back. The terrain was a bit hilly, but more downhills on the way out which meant there were more uphills on the way back… and the wind was pushing against me too.

I felt pretty good on this run, but it’s never really “fun” to run uphill against the wind, so i decided to do one of my “interesting” mental experiments. I hypothesized that if I were to smile while running uphill against the wind, then my mental state of mind would be changed and I would be forced to pretend like I was enjoying my exercise. (Stop it, stop calling me crazy!)

Guess what? My hypothesis totally works, no really it does!
Yeah, I’m pretty certain I looked freakish running with a big smile plastered across my face, but guess what? It didn’t matter what anybody thought as they drove past because they weren’t out running with me. I finished MY course and felt strong at the end of MY 8 miles. My attitude affects everything I do and only I can determine what it will be.

Yesterday a kind old gentleman behind the deli counter randomly said to me, “Just remember to keep smiling your smile and everything will be just fine.” I forgot Saturday’s running lesson come Monday night, but I’m grateful for his reminder. So here’s my new motto: “Smile when you’re going uphill, against the wind because you will finish just fine”

Marathon Mommas

Krissy — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:39:00 +0000

Here we are at the birthday dinner for our fabulous running mentor and friend, Cindy, who is in the middle of the picture. She’s fast, strong, smart and a pretty swell gal! I dream of being as fast as Cindy some day.

One week from today we will run our second marathon together. “Together” should be interpreted very loosely as Cindy will smoke us and will be sitting at the finish with a frosty beverage in hand while Hannah and I drag ourselves across the line.:)

Strangely enough these girls and I connected as we trained for San Francisco together last year and our friendship has evolved into something quite unexpected but sooo rewarding.

I guess I’ve discovered the beauty about running with people through these girls. You end up seeing each other completely undone in every sense of the word. No make-up, but also no pretenses and no false images of grandeur because we see and know how each other struggles with hurt, pain, joy and life. There have been days when one or all of have been moody and/or distant. There have been days where we have not wanted to run, but the peer pressure kept us going. There have been days when we have laughed through 10 miles and not thought twice about the mileage. We’ve had running therapy sessions, we’ve had running comedy sessions and we’ve had running in quiet sessions.We have run miles and miles and miles together in the sun, wind, snow and rain talking about our highs, lows, sicknesses, aches, pains and everything in between and through it all we’ve known that we can be ourselves.

Experiences in the past few years have brought some very dear friends into my life and these women are two of them. I know I can count on them at any minute of the day. They have nurtured me, loved me and allowed me to be…once again, “undone” in front of them and I am so very thankful for that. Seriously, anyone who holds my hair back while I vomit is my friend for life! Also, anyone who holds my hand while i whine is my friend for life! And anyone who knows way too many details of my digestive system is my friend for life. (That would be a runner’s joke);)

I am so thankful for the chance to run another race with them while we keep putting in miles on this marathon of life together.

His Pleasure

Krissy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Eric Liddell: I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.

Last week, I watched the movie, Chariots of Fire… partly out of curiosity because I’d never seen the movie, and partly out of a need for inspiration with my running. Eric Liddell’s story is awe inspiring. He was a humble man with an incredible talent and a greater ability to recognize there was a greater force and purpose to his life than what people saw and stood in awe of.

Most impressive to me was seeing how he stretched his ability to full capacity because he felt that God took pleasure in it. What an amazing concept…to think that God takes pleasure in us when we fulfill the gifts he’s given us to their maximum potential!?! Can you just see it now? God, smiling at us like our proud pappa because he sees how we value what he gave us?

I’m not gonna lie, cuz I do sometimes wish I had the talents of an Olympic athlete, a gifted singer or a fantastic artist, but I don’t. I mean, yeah, I’m athletic…a little, but you really don’t want me to sing and I can only draw stick figures. If I were to sit and think of all the talents/abilities I don’t have, the list would be a mile long, but if I allow myself to think about what in me brings pleasure to God, then the things are simple, but possibly as weighty as someone who does “great” things like win medals and stuff that everyone can see.

Sometimes when I run, I too can feel God smiling at me because he made my body (and yours) to run and run well…not in the way that Eric Liddell ran, but He formed this maze of intricate nerves, muscles, tendons, fibers, bones and skin to be uniquely me. Maybe I won’t ever run a mile in 4:34, but that’s not the point…because that’s not what I was made me for.

So, today…what is/are the gift(s) that you have that brings pleasure to God? Do you actually use your gifts and talents or are you hiding it away because it’s not what you wanted, or because your friends have “better” gifts?

When I focus on my gift(s), I can count them on one hand, but I’m OK with that. Out of those “gifts”…the one thing that jumps out at me is in knowing that I was made to be a nurturer…specifically to my two kids, and sometimes to any kids I can grab hold of. I joke about being a “lioness” but really when it comes down to it, being a mother is something I guard with my life. I recognize that God takes pleasure in my abilities as a mother because He knows I’ve poured myself into being the best for my cubs. Maybe it won’t win any medals or prizes that anyone will see, but seeing who they are becoming is simply amazing.

So, no… I’m never gonna make it to the Olympics and I’ll never have a CD made(You really should be thankful for this)and my work will never be displayed in a museum, but…I am going to be the best mother and in that I can feel His pleasure.

thankful thursday

Krissy — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:58:00 +0000

thankful for:

finishing our 20 mile run…no more super-long runs till the actual marathon!
the beautiful views on the first 4 miles
the golden path of leaves we ran on.
the sounds of a rushing creek/river along our path.
the first 8 miles where i was gleeful and had a chance to be grateful
for the goodness in life.
the following 6 miles where i felt buffeted/crushed and minuscule in comparison to the wind i was running against.
my friends who built me up when i felt i could go no further.
my friend who held out her hand to me when i wanted to give up.
my friend who told me she knew i could finish the 20.
the gu that gave me boosts of energy.
the water that kept me going.
the last 6 miles where the wind was at our backs and the trail was downhill…mostly.
the music in my ears…especially van morrison and “brown eyed girl.”
seeing my little green car waiting for me.
an automatic vehicle that requires no effort to drive with achy legs.
the opportunity to run and feel the hurt of functioning muscles, joints and bones.
the opportunity to understand that i am blessed through the pain, setbacks and preparation for every race…literal or figurative.
the knowledge that even when i run alone…i’m never alone.

Knee, I love Thee

Krissy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:32:00 +0000

I haven’t run more than 10 miles in the past 2 weeks.
Know why that is not a good thing for me? Well you see… I have a marathon coming up in a few weeks. Yes, I know, last year I did the play by play on all the track practices, training runs and shoe purchases, but this year…well, I’ve been a bit crazed.

So, 2 Saturdays ago I had a scheduled 17 mile run. My usual running buddies were not with me that lovely day, so I decided to start in one spot, run south for 4.5 miles, return to my starting spot and do the potty/water/fuel break, then run north for 4 miles and return. It was a great idea and logistically it was perfect because it broke up the length so well.

My lungs felt great and my stride felt awesome and the day was beautiful.
I ran up into the Air Force Academy grounds watching the graceful flights of blue and white parachutes and yellow gliders overhead. The sky was so blue and perfect.
I decided, on mile 16, to do a quick break at the port-o-potty before my big finish so i stopped and read about the possibility of getting bit by a west Nile virus carrying mosquito if i proceeded to the lake. Thought about that probability and decided that would NOT be a good option and then proceeded to start my running again…

EXCEPT…I couldn’t start up again. My right knee stopped working! “Um, hello, leg, I’m telling you to move, now let’s try this again”
Guess what? The leg was willing, the knee was not. My sweet little knee pretty much screamed at me and said she hated me and never wanted to speak to me again!

“But, but, but…Knee, I need you and I love you and why would you let me think that all was well for 16 miles and then suddenly decide to stop? No other body part is hurting or complaining! Be a team player! What did I do to deserve this from you anyway? Oh…you mean, you don’t like the mileage i put on you without warning? Oh you’re not a big fan of the shoes that need to be replaced? Oh, you mean to tell me you’re not gonna take this kind of (ab)use anymore?! Well…Ok, fine, well, where does that leave the rest of us body parts? You don’t care?! Well, since we have no other choice, Can we please go to therapy?

So, there you have it folks, my life as a crazy person who gives personalities to my body parts. Yes,I’m going to therapy…for my knee this week!!! I’m so freakin’ excited that I can’t even stand it! I’m hoping that the doctor is a magic man cuz, I need a little bit o magic in my achey knee(s) and i’m hoping that i walk in and he waves a wand and zippity doo da, all will be well.

What?!?! A girl can hope can’t she?!