It’s a woman’s prerogative, you know. 

Mr. Pea, The Architect and I went out today to check out the race route for next Sunday.  When I signed up for the race several weeks ago, I knew that the route was on back country roads; however, I was under the impression that the roads were at least paved.    Guess what?  Not only are they not paved, but they are also not compacted, as in a combination of muck and large gravel. Big rocks, not your typical worn gravel road gravel.  I managed to complete 15 miles today, but it took two hours. Two long, hard hours.  I seriously overestimated my abilities when I signed up for this one.  I came home, logged on to the race site and voluntarily relinquished my slot to someone on the waiting list.  The Architect?  He’s totally in. He finished about 23 miles today in the same two hours.  *sigh*  How cool it would be to have the muscles, stamina and confidence of a 15 year old boy!

So.  I’ll try another race on another day, hopefully a mountain bike race.

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Four.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. Princess Pea found a gorgeous sweater for me, but not a complete outfit yet.

2. Weight This Week: 160.1. Waist 31″. Up. Really?

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  It’s coming. Eventually.

Do Five Pullups:  Just one again this week.

Firm Up the Arms:  Yes again. Two hard core kettle bell sessions including single arm swings and lifting a 26 lb bell over my head.  Pushups?  150 for the week three sets of 50.

4. Books

Refuse to Regain.  I didn’t get any reading in this week.  Too busy helping DirtBike and Princess Pea with projects and homework.

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.  Reading my Bible is proceeding.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  Hey Jo!!

7. Visit Other Challengers:  Yes!  Everyone is hanging in there. Go us!

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Stay Steady. Keep the Faith.

Steady is as steady goes.

When I was a kid, my Mom always said that to me, usually when I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to wrap up some assignment or project. Steady defines my week.  No loss, no gain.  Except for an amazing NSV.  The Architect and I rode 30 miles yesterday – THIRTY MILES!  Took me three hours and 10 minutes.  It’s a good thing we went riding yesterday because today?  Today was INSANELY windy.  I’m talking about 40 mph steady winds. This is wind so strong that it was delaying flights at DFW.  Then, we got a taste of Lubbock and Amarillo, literally a taste.  Ack-ptooey.  We had a genuine dust storm this afternoon, the kind that blocks out the sun, makes everyone cough and sneeze and coats the tongue with grit.  We usually have these in the spring, not in January.

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Three.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me.  Nope, Still not done.  I’ve delegated this to my daughter Princess Pea.  She has to find Mom a dress before Easter.

2. Weight This Week: 159.9. Waist 31″. Exactly the same.  *sigh*

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  It’s coming. Eventually.

Do Five Pullups:  Just one this week, but it’s one more than I could do a few weeks ago.

Firm Up the Arms:  Yes again.  I can see muscles in my arms!!  Well, of course they were always there, but now I can actually see some serious definition. Pushups?  150, but not all at once.

4. Books

Refuse to Regain.  I’m reading the chapters on how the food industry is specifically programmed to sell us unhealthy food, lots of it.  Makes me mad, and even more convinced that I’m in the right for refusing to eat fast food.

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.  Reading my Bible is proceeding.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  Hey Jo!! Yep.  She and I are both busy, but I did manage to pop by her blog a few times this week.

7. Visit Other Challengers:  I didn’t get around to as many blogs as I wanted to last week.  Offspring and work took a lot of my attention. I continue to pray over you who need praying over, and to cheer you all on!

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Stay Steady. Keep the Faith.