As my wise husband said, it would take a little while for my body to remember that it likes running. Thankfully I was able to run 3 miles this morning, though not without difficulty. My end time was right around 33 minutes, so an 11-minute mile average...not bad. I'm thankful I haven't been experiencing shin splints again, although I have a feeling they will come when we start doing our long runs over the weekends. 

Something AWESOME that I've been anticipating finally happened: I got headphones! They are bright orange, of course. (I have orange and gray running shoes and an orange and white iPhone case. I think I'm obsessed.) I had the ear buds that came with my iPod, but they would NOT stay in my ears no matter how viciously I wedged them in. Thanks to Target, I now have headphones guaranteed to stay in. And they work!

Today I listened to Queen while on the treadmill. I love Queen. It definitely distracted me from the monotony of what I was doing. Running on a treadmill is SO BORING. You may ask why I don't run outside. 

Um, that's why. Sleet, snow and wind? Not for this girl. I'll take boredom over frostbite.

Something that I've been feeling guilty about health-wise is the amount of coffee I drink at work. My addiction is iced coffee with vanilla and cream. I'll have at least two grandes during my six-hour shifts, and sometimes three during my eight-hour shifts. I don't drink nearly as much water as I should. I'd like to limit my coffee intake to one per day, and not be so dependent on the caffeine for my energy. I'd also like to get in the habit of drinking a lot more water.

Well, there are my immediate goals! I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm back! Joe and I have been a pair of sickies the past couple of weeks, so the gym has been missing us. Excuses excuses, blah blah blah. We hit the treadmill Monday night, and boy was it hard. Thanksgiving eating combined with no exercise and a sickly constitution equals a HARD run. I only made it to 2.25 miles before I had to start walking. My sweet husband was very encouraging and assured me that it takes time to get back in the swing of things.

We now have a major incentive to run faithfully: we are both officially registered for the SLO half-marathon in April. This is the same one that my daddy and I punched in the face a few months ago. I still remember how impossible the last three miles felt, so I get pretty nervous when I stop to think about it. I think it will be helpful having Joe to train with. Last year I was able to do a handful of long runs with my dad in Fresno, but all the runs/exercise during the week I was on my own. And guess what? This time around it's a family affair. My dad, sister and brother-in-law will be running, and also both my mother-in-law and father-in-law! Watch out SLO, here come the Bogarts/Ramos'/Rams! We got this. 

I've been planning our meals each week and making a grocery list that way, but it's brought to my attention that Joe and I are sadly lacking in the vegetables department. Neither of us are veggie-lovers, so it's hard to keep them in mind. Any good vegetable recipes out there that disguise compliment the vegetable taste?

It's been almost two weeks since my last blog post. We bought a gym membership for me, I have been faithful so far! I'm using my half-marathon training as a fitness guide:

Weeks 1 and 2

Monday: Cross-train (elliptical, weight-lifting, etc.)
Tuesday: Short run ( 2.5 miles)
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Short run (2.5 miles)
Friday: Cross-train
Saturday: Long run (4 miles)
Sunday: Rest

So far I've been pretty good at obeying the schedule. I missed a cross-train day here and there, but I've been a stickler about running. Joe's been semi-faithful. He needs a little encouragement after work, but once he's done working out he feels good.

We both made goals. I'm not telling specifics, but I need to lose about fifteen pounds and Joe wants to gain about fifteen pounds. I got on the scale after two weeks of the above schedule and was horrified to see that I had GAINED 2 pounds. Why body, why?? Joe assures me it's muscle that I'm building up, and that muscle weighs more than fat, but still. It was sooo discouraging.

I have to admit, I am starting to see results. I've lost a little in the *ahem* chestal region and I can see a tiny difference in my belly. Or maybe I can just suck it in better because my muscles are getting stronger. Either way, I'll take it!

I finally have time to update, and something to update about! It took about five weeks, but my cough is finally gone! I still have some congestion, but that could just be allergies. I'm not worried about it.

You may be wondering, "Well Molly, if you're healed, why haven't you been exercising??" I'm glad you asked.

Joe with his Sorcerer Mickey hat and me with my Minnie ears.

Disneyworld!!!! My wonderful in-laws took us to Florida, along with his siblings and his extended family. One big noisy group of Mexicans traipsing around Orlando. It was glorious. The first two days were hot and humid (can you say FRIZZY), the third was just blazing hot, and the following two were beautiful.

The sad part: I got six mosquito bites.

The happy part: seeing the fireworks show in Disneyworld eating Dole whip ice cream surrounded by family.

We also went to Universal Studios which was AWESOME. I'm a roller-coaster wimp, but I mentally peer-pressured myself into biting the bullet. So much fun! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was probably my favorite part of Universal. So cool and bittersweet.

Back to exercising: We walked a TON while we were there. However, I forgot to bring a bathing suit so I went shopping at the SuperTarget there. A humbling experience, my friends. THEN, when we got back to good ole California, I weighed myself on my parents scale. SAY WHAT!? Oh my stars. Time to get to the gym.

Tonight Joe and I visited our local gym for the first time. I jogged 2.5 miles on the treadmill, and including warm-up and cool-down I was on there for about 45 minutes. Joe lifted weights and occasionally joined me on the treadmills. He's realizing how out of shape he is (even though he's thin) so I'm hoping our combined drive will help us keep each other accountable.

Sometimes life is a roller-coaster, and you just have to throw up your hands and go with it. The week that I ran faithfully I had developed a mild cough. Nothing serious, and nothing to hinder me from running. Last week, however, the mild cough turned into a hacking, doubled-over, make-my-abs-and-my-head-hurt cough. I also developed some lovely asthmatic wheezing to go along with it. My poor husband has had to live/sleep with this cough for over a week now. I can't seem to shake it!

I definitely didn't feel like I could safely run last week. My inhaler ran out of juice long ago, and I didn't want to provoke an asthma attack by running with this smoker's cough. I finally got another inhaler this weekend, but I'm not sure what I should do. Rest and get rid of this cough? Or tough it out and start running again before I'm 100%? We'll see. I have less work ours this week, so maybe I'll do some walking and see how that goes.

On Monday, September 17th I called my eye doctor begging for a same-day appointment. My contacts supply had been running dangerously low, but I hadn't had a day off of work in quite some time. I finally had Monday off, and they had an opening at 11:15am. I booked it to Fresno and went to my eye appointment. Lo and behold, my sister went into labor that same day (in Fresno) and had her baby that evening! Lindsay had wanted me to be in the room for her second childbirth experience. Since I got my job, we had both been stressing about what I would do when the baby came. If it happened during the day, would I be working? If it happened at night and I worked the next day, would I be able to find someone to cover my shift? Would I get to Fresno in time? How would I get there? (Mind you, Joe and I only had one car up until two weeks ago) What providence that the baby was born that day!

Unfortunately for me, labor went so quickly that Lindsay delivered the beautiful baby girl while my mom and I were checking in to the maternity ward for our back-stage passes. Even though I didn't make it into the room for the birth, I was able to see her and hold her when she was only a couple hours old. Both mom and baby were amazing and healthy!

God worked it out so perfectly. Joe and I bought a car. I was already in Fresno for an eye appointment. I didn't have work till later in the day on Tuesday. I still can't get over how everything worked out! He provides for our needs!

Emma Psalm Bogart

Success! This is the third morning in a row that I have run 2.2 miles. My thighs and lower back are sore, but it's the good kind of sore. The "hurts so good" kind. I found a new route with less dogs and more shade, so I'm pretty stoked about that. The only encounter I've had with a dog was with one on a leash. The owner (a 12 or 13-year-old boy) stopped, pulled in a tight rein, and made the dog sit while I passed by. Color me impressed, Junior!

I'll be honest, this morning I did NOT want to run at all. I was snuggled up on the couch scrolling through Pinterest, and finally sent my sweet babboo a text: "Ugh...I don't wanna!" His reply: "You'll feel better afterward!" After some playful banter, including some whiny quotes from Up, he convinced me to get out. Let me tell you, I do feel better. I'm not content with my body right now, and every step I take on the pavement is a step towards the size I'd like to be. Even though it's only been a week and a half of exercise, I feel encouraged and empowered.

Speaking of encouragement, I find myself praying a lot during my runs! Mostly "God help me get up this hill" but I also thank him for the level of physical fitness I do have. Some people simply can't exert themselves, either because of medical problems or psychological mill stones. I am able and willing right now, and that's something to be thankful for!

Work is going well, and I do believe I'm starting to make friends with my coworkers. I still need practice making drinks, so I pray that I have the opportunity during a slower shift. A few new people were hired and even though I'm still a newbie myself, I can tell the strain it puts on the veteran baristas! I'm sorry I was such a burden in the beginning, but the fact that I am still new also makes me more patient with the trainees.

Our home is slowly coming together. We still need furniture pieces for empty spaces in our house (right now we're using the box our microwave came in as a nightstand) but that will come with time and garage sale scouting. We will be home this weekend, so hopefully we can get some of that done.

Every now and then it hits me how blessed I am to have such a beautiful home and such a beautiful marriage. I love my husband, and I'm thankful God has given me contentment living here!

Well blog world, I lied to you. I'm sorry! I didn't go running the next day like I promised, but I did do a water aerobics class on Saturday so I consider as a make-up session. I did go running this morning. I couldn't believe how winded I was for how short of a distance I ran! So sad. But that is also motivation. I want to get back to being able to run four miles no problem. It was a beautiful morning for a run, overcast and cool. 

The only think that worries me about running around here is the fact that Tehachapians seem to think at least two dogs is a necessity. And that keeping them behind fences is not a necessity. A medium-size dog ran up to me barking when I ran by it's house, so I stopped and faced it sternly. I wasn't afraid because it wasn't a large dog, but medium-sized dogs have teeth too! One evening I saw an older lady walking with a big stick in her hand. Maybe I'll become that lady haha.

If you are wondering about that water aerobics class, it was a lot of fun! Not a very strenuous workout, but fun to be in the water. I took it at Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona, CA with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandmother-in-law, and aunt-in-law. It was kind of like an adult water park. So many pools and places to lay out! We went in the mineral baths, did water aerobics, took a mud bath (pics will be put up soon), and had a moisturizing treatment. My skin felt soft by the end of the day, but I felt so tired! It's ironic, going there to relax and leaving exhausted. It was a very interesting experience and I loved being with my in-laws, but I'm not sure how people can go all the time!

Speaking of exhausted...I work 31 hours this week. Now, I know most people work 40 hours a week, and there are people who work 40 hours at a much more labor-intensive job, but 31 hours seems like too much to me. When I signed up for a part-time job, I didn't expect to have a just-under-full-time job. I am grateful for the income that I can bring to our family, but I'm wondering if this is the new weekly schedule for me. After standing for seven hours, I feel so spent when I get home. I'm finding that the trick is to do housework before I go to work. Yesterday morning I scrubbed toilets and this morning I'm doing laundry. Now when I get home I can cook dinner and not worry about the house.'

Does anyone have any helpful work/home routines? I'd be curious to hear if there is a good system I can implement.

Good morning! As you can see, it's been a while since my last post. Maybe I've been avoiding you because I fell off the exercise bandwagon. And by maybe, I mean I've definitely been avoiding you. 

To be completely honest, I've lost motivation. In Fresno, I was working out for my wedding dress. In SLO, I would see literally dozens and dozens of other people running and exercising EVERY DAY. (It's hard not to feel motivated when you're in a beautiful city and being reminded every morning and evening during your commute that you should exercise.) Here in Tehachapi, it seems like almost no one works out and everyone goes to McDonalds. My own husband isn't much of a help. He is naturally thin and eats tons of junk. (Love you babe!)

So here I am...it's been almost a month without running. Last week Joe and I did go for after-dinner walks almost every night, so that was a little time of physical activity. I need to get going again. It's starting to cool down in the evenings and mornings here, so that will be nice. Okay! Commitment time: I'm going to run tomorrow morning (I have work in a bit today) and run three times next week. How far? Not sure. I'm just going to go. Break!

The Rams are completely moved out of the temporary apartment and moved in to our "permanent" home! It's such a relief to be unpacking. I used an actual glass (not a classy red Solo cup) for my iced coffee this morning, and a real fork and knife at lunch. It's nice to not have to worry about your knife snapping in half when cutting a particularly tough portion of food. Ah, the simple joys of life!

I completed week 2 of my new job.

Can you guess where I work?

I think my store is a little unique because it is such a small town. My training hasn't been what I expected, but I've been having so much fun! I get a little frazzled when I am taking orders from customers, but once I can memorize the buttons on the register I know I'll be okay. My coworkers have been very patient with me, and a few have warmed up to me rather quickly! I'm so thankful for something that gets me out of the house and interacting with the community a few days of the week.

The day Joe came home from Florida, I was at work. My coworker popped her head into the back room where I was training and said "Molly, your husband's here."

"Really???" I half-shrieked. My heart started pounding like it used to when we first started dating. A moment of doubt crossed my mind as I went to the front of the store. My coworker hardly knew me, let alone who my husband was. Maybe it was a mistake. Sure enough, there was my tousle-headed man candy ordering coffee for his office. Later my coworker told me, "You and your husband look so much in love." Oh my goodness, we sure are. 

All in all, God is showering us with blessings. We hit a rough patch coming to Tehachapi, but our lives are growing sweeter each day. 

As an update to my last post, I did succeed in running six days in two weeks. I took a break this week because of an infection, but hope to be "up and running" next week!


As some of you may know, there has been a TON of drama surrounding our apartment situation here in Tehachapi. We finally signed a year lease on a newer, nicer apartment in a safer neighborhood, so we were through the roof about that! I went today to clean it before we moved in, and horror of horrors: SPIDERS EVERYWHERE. Oh my goodness, what the heck. I was alone, and therefore screamed at every new crawling revelation. I used about a half a can of bug spray on anything and everything that looked like a bug. The concentration seemed to be in our kitchen. Once I sprayed nearly every surface, I climbed onto the kitchen counter to start cleaning above the cupboards. Hello, mouse droppings. I looked up... and nearly fell off the counter. A dead mouse stuck in the air vent in the kitchen.


I completely fell apart. I can't do this. I already thought I was being brave by killing the spiders. But a dead mouse? I'm out.


I cried on the way back to our current apartment. Not because I was so terrified by the critters, but because that was my plan for the day. Clean the apartment. Normally cleaning isn't so important to me, but I had designated that as my distraction. I haven't seen Joe since Saturday. He's in Florida on a business trip and will be home tomorrow. One of my best friends, Amanda, came and stayed with my for a couple days and she was a wonderful distraction! Of course, she had to return to her life eventually.

Strange as it sounds, I depended on cleaning the apartment as a way to get through the day. If I succeeded and achieved my goal, I knew I would be okay. Since I failed, despair set in. Joe and I haven't been apart like this since we've been married. It's not even that he's out of town- he is across the country. Not only have we not seen each other, we haven't really been able to talk either. A two-minute phone conversation here, a five-minute text conversation there.


I know this post probably sounds like the crazy rantings of a clingy wife, and it probably is. I just miss my husband! I didn't marry him to be alone in TEHACHAPI.


After having a nice little pity-party, I read one of my favorite blogs: Pray for Ian. This blog always has a knack for putting my life into perspective and pointing me towards Christ. I realized that I was putting my faith and my comfort and my hope in myself and my tasks. Because I failed at my tasks, I became comfortless and hopeless. Instead of asking God to surround me with His joy and peace and comfort, I pursued my own strength. No wonder I'm miserable, right? Only my Savior can restore my soul and drive away the deepest loneliness.

"Good morning Starshine! The earth says 'Hello!'" That's how I feel this morning. Cheerful and slightly awkward. I just got back from a 2-mile run and had a couple interactions that were interesting:

1.) Got honked at by a strange vehicle. Not sure if it was a "Yay, good for you!" honk or an "I'd kidnap you if I could!" honk.

2.) Got crowed at. Literally. By a large rooster. Nice rooster...just stay on your side of the fence and we can be friends.

3.)  A middle-aged construction worker told me "Yer lookin' pretty today." I'm wearing a baggy church t-shirt and shorts. Again, not sure if that was a kind word or a creepy word. I feel like he could be genuinely nice because it's a small town and maybe people talk like that here?

Anyway, this was the second run I've been on in the last two weeks. The first run didn't go so well. I think I had high expectations for myself, since I'd been able to run longer distances in hilly SLO. By the 1.5 mile mark, I was huffing and puffing and cursing myself for falling out of shape. I walked the last .5 mile, pretty discouraged.

My husband comforted me by telling me the elevation change probably impacted my breathing more than I realized. According to Wikipedia, the elevation in San Luis Obispo is 234 ft. and the elevation in Tehachapi is 3,970 ft. Okay, maybe it's not ALL due to the fact that I haven't run in weeks.

Today, I didn't put as much pressure on myself. Slow and steady wins the race. I decided not to try to improve my time, but instead decided to do whatever it takes to not stop running. Praise God, I didn't stop running till I got home. Hopefully the more I run, the better my body will adjust to the mountain air. My goal is to run 2 miles at least three times a week, hopefully four. C'mon self-control, we can do this!

As I write this, I am avoiding the dishes in the sink and the clothes all over our bedroom floor. I thought I would write a little update on our mountain life situation. It has certainly been a wild ride!


Four days before our big move, we got a call from our Tehachapi renter saying that the apartment we had decided on was filled with mold, and we would have to find someplace else while it was being renovated. Um, ok. Thanks for the heads up! Needless to say, all of Thursday afternoon and evening was filled with online research and phone calls to apartment complexes begging for shelter. I made an appointment with one apartment manager for the next day, and my mom and sister kindly offered to come along and help me check it out. Joe was not able to come, as he had his big senior project presentation in the morning and a final in the afternoon.


Thank God I had my mom and sister. They are way more bold and experienced than I am, so they basically asked all the money questions and voiced their opinions. The apartment manager was willing to work with us so that we could move in the following Monday, granted that our credit report checked out and that I could provide them proof of Joe's income. Long story short, I picked up a printed declaration of employment from Joe's Tehachapi employer and turned it in. Because the manager's supervisor was not in that day, we would have to wait till Monday morning to hear the final word.

Monday morning. The morning that we are supposed to be on the road hauling our whole lives with us to our new town. It was definitely a discouraging time. Why would God provide a place for Joe to work but not a place for us to live? We just had to pray and be patient. That weekend was sheer stress. Both our families were in SLO to see Joe graduate, and we did the rest of the packing and loading into the moving truck. My parents were packing/moving superstars!


Monday morning rolled around, and we had decided just to go, even though there was no guarantee all our stuff would have a home. We had to get to Tehachapi anyway, and Monday was the only day we had extra hands to help move (my parents). On the way there, the apartment manager called Joe and said that the printed proof of income was not enough, because he hadn't started working yet. So we would have to pay the security deposit, first month's rent and last month's rent. Okay, we understand. Unfortunately, we don't have immediate access to $2,100 in a town with no Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or a credit union. Thanks to my parents, we were able to scrape together enough money to satisfy the manager for a while, and we go the okay to move in.


We got all our furniture and boxes into the apartment, and then bid adieu to my wonderful mom and dad.


Well, no electricity. No gas either, which means no hot water and a stove that we couldn't use. Joe made some calls to the appropriate companies, and we spent the first night in a hotel with Burger King and a bottle of wine.


After twenty-four hours we got electricity, but it wouldn't be for another week that we would get the gas turned on. I tried taking ONE cold shower, but it probably sounded like I was hyperventilating with all the ruckus I made. After that I swore off bathing. Aside from not being able to cook without a microwave or bathe, that week really wasn't that bad. We slept in, went to a Dodger game with Dad, and got to know the town a little.


For now we are living in this apartment month-to-month, and hopefully by the end of July we will be in a more permanent apartment.


All I can say is, God did put a roof over our heads, and He knows what He's doing!

Well, I fell off the wagon again. Do I feel guilty? Not really. Joe and I have been cramming time in with friends and coast activities the past two weeks, trying to soak up as much San Luis Obispo as possible before we head out. I've also been working in overdrive trying to tie up loose ends before my last day at work (which was yesterday).

It doesn't feel real yet. When we moved here to SLO last summer, I knew what I was getting in to I knew we'd be here for a year while Joe was in school, that I would work a full-time job, and that we would be attending an awesome church. This next chapter of our life holds many more unknowns. There are a lot more cliffhangers this time around.

1.) I don't have a job. I'm 22 years old. I've always had school or work to do. Sure, there were summers that I didn't work or didn't have summer school, but it's been a few years since I've really had time off. I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself, and that's a little scary. I don't want to be the lazy housewife who sleeps in, watches soap operas, and wears sweats all day. I want to be productive and useful. How does one be useful without a job, children, or even a church to volunteer for? That's something I am praying through and trying to figure out. We move in a week, so I guess I'll find out soon enough!

2.) We aren't acquainted with any churches in the area. We have had a few suggestions (which we are grateful for) and will be investigating our options, but this is the first time that we as a couple don't know who our earthly shepherd is. One of Joe's closest friends counselled him not to look for a church with the expectation of being served and wowed, but with the intention of serving and encouraging that congregation. Our pastor's wife advised us to attend a church more than once in order to fully understand and absorb their theology and doctrine. (This was good advice for me. I think I would have gone once, and if the church didn't meet my "standards" I would have never given it a second thought.)

3.) We don't know how Joe's job will be. He'll be working 4 ten-hour days, instead of 5 eight-hour days. He was warned that overtime is to be expected, so he may end up working 5 ten-hour days most weeks. Joe has worked full-time over summers, but not over-time. He is super excited and thankful for a job in the field that he is interested in (aerospace). I'm a little concerned about him being burned out by the end of the week, but I know the Lord will sustain him. (This is another reason why I want to find some kind of work soon. I don't want to be unproductive while my husband is bending over backwards to provide for us.)

4.) Because we don't know how he will like his job, our living situation is tentative. We have a six-month lease on a two-bedroom apartment, and after the six months we can choose to pay month-to-month (a huge blessing). If he likes his job and we feel that God is intending us to stay in Tehachapi long-term, then we want to save up and buy a home as soon as possible. If he doesn't like his job, then we'd like to look for a house to rent for a couple years while he gains some work experience. Basically, we know we will be in that apartment for six months, but beyond that we have absolutely no idea.

A snapshot of our new apartment in the winter. I don't know how I will survive the snow!

5.) God is still reconciling me to the idea that we won't live close to family. Granted, we are still in California, and Tehachapi is only two and a half hours away from our hometown. I find myself feeling anxious about when it comes time for us to have kids. I still can't imagine not being able to drop off little Joseph Jr. at my parents so that Joe and I can have a date night. Or spontaneously having a playdate with his cousins. I think this time in San Luis Obispo has made me more open to being without my family when it's just me and Joe, but I'm still resisting a future where our babies will be without family.

I think the fact that I am uncomfortable with all these unknowns tells me how much I want to be in control of my own life, and how I'd like to think I know what's best for me and our future kids. At the end of the day, my Savior knows what's best, and He is working all things for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Okay my chickadees, gather round. Have you ever started a great workout routine/diet, saw great results, accomplished your goal, and then fell flat on your face? I'm here to tell you, you're not alone. I didn't exercise for a month after the half-marathon. Not one jog, work-out video, hike, walk - nothing.


For 3 weeks, I was limping off and on. I think running 13 miles without adequate arch support really messed up my bones/ligaments/muscles/whatever. I still feel it in the soles of my feet when I get out of bed in the morning. There is no excuse for the last week and a half. I was just being lazy and apathetic.


Unfortunately, my body knew I was being lazy and apathetic, and I am reverting back to my blob-like shape. Yesterday I looked at my fitness board on Pinterest and became re-inspired. Also I was noticing how my jeans were fitting tighter again! The past few days I have been making Jillian Micheals 30 Day Shred part of my daily routine. My shoulders and inner thighs are pretty sore! She works the upper arms a lot, which is probably the weakest part of my body.


It's only a few days, and already I feel better. I know it's mostly psychological, but there is something to be said about knowing you are working towards a healthy body.


As some of you may know, Joe and I are moving to Tehachapi, CA. Seriously, who does that. Oh, we do! The husband landed an awesome job there, so we are mountain-bound. I've looked online for a month and a half, and there is not a job in sight for me. Mostly ads for truck drivers and AC repairmen. Also prison guards and borax miners. Not exactly my forte.


It looks like I am going to be stay-at-home wife for a while, until I can do some networking and see what kind of work is out there. I told my mom that I will either get really fit or really fat during this full-time homesteading. Right now my goal is to do the Jillian Michaels every morning, and go for a run every other day. That will probably dissolve during our moving chaos, but I'd really rather get fit once we're there. I will honestly have ZERO excuses. We shall see! 

One month after the half-marathon and I am only just finding time to write about it! As I said in my previous post, Our time was 2:30:16. My dad's half-marathon time from the race in November was about 1:55. (How embarrassing. I felt so bad for holding him back! Of course he's a sweetheart and said he just wanted to spend time with his favorite daughter. Sorry Lindsay, the truth hurts.)


I was thrilled with my time. Probably because I would have been thrilled to finish, let alone beat my goal. My goal was to beat my sister's November time, which was about 2:45. :) Can you tell there's a little sibling rivalry?


Anyway, back to the race. I was so nervous the night before. Joe and I have been married for about ten months now, and I don't think he's ever seen me so anxious. I was bouncing off the walls in a bad way. Usually a cuddle or a kiss from him calms me down, but at that time I wanted to scream "I'm freaking out! Don't touch me!" (Sorry, Joe!)
Reason 1: I found out that night that my race packet (by mistake) didn't include a time chip. Would they still let me race??
Reason 2: Long story short, Dad had registered us for the full marathon because the half was full. He was told by the event organizer that this was ok, and we would just have to tell the information table that morning we were only running the half. Still, that's worrisome!
Reason 3: I HAD NEVER RUN 13 MILES BEFORE. Me, the mile-hater, was about to voluntarily run 13!? What the heck was I thinking?


Needless to say, it took me a while to fall asleep that night. My alarm went off at 5am, and I rolled out of bed tired and scared. I made myself an egg and toast for breakfast and tried to drink as much water (not easy with a nervous stomach) as possible. It was dark and cold outside, which just added to my anxiety.


I jogged the mile distance from our apartment to the starting line. I was nervous, but felt better when I saw my dad waiting for me. We went to the information table and told them our plight, and also told them about my missing time chip. They gave me a replacement, thank the Lord!


We stretched, warmed up, and waited to be called. Once the time approached, we shuffled into the waiting crowd to start running. My heart was pounding with fear and excitement. I couldn't believe I was running for fun!


We started at an easy pace and pretty much kept it the entire run. SLO is very hilly, and there were a few hills that I didn't expect. One seemed to last forever, but that made running back down it that much sweeter. We only stopped for water, and once towards the end to use the restroom. It was a beautiful, overcast day. Perfectly cool for a long run. We ran through downtown SLO (eerie in the morning, very still and quiet), through the countryside, and through some beautiful neighborhoods.


Right around mile five, I thought to myself "Uh... Molly, what were you thinking?? I can't do this!". Thankfully, that was right around the time my husband had found a place to cheer us on. He jogged beside us for a few paces, asking how I was doing and encouraging me like crazy. :) (I told you he was the best!)


The rest of the time sort of melts together. It seemed like much longer than 2 and 1/2 hours, but it also went by quickly, if that makes sense? We were cheered on during the final stretch by my mom, my sister and brother-in-law and little niece, and my husband. It was a great feeling to be done, and to know that I had done it!


I would definitely consider doing another one, but not for a while! :)

Honestly, I just wanted to make a post dedicated to my husband (this may be the first of many in). He's been my No. 1 fan and cheerleader during this whole fitness adventure.

My desire to work out is like the tide: one minute I am all in, and the next I am running away (to lay on the couch). Joe's encouragement, however, is constant. He was always supporting me and telling me that I can do it. I despaired of ever running again when I got shin splints a couple months ago, and he held me up and pushed me along.

Side note: His encouragement also includes discouragement of unhealthy things. Last night at Food4Less, he flat out told me "No." when I wanted to buy cookie-dough ice cream (my fave!).

I pouted. He is immune to pouting.

He is an amazing husband. I'm so thankful God chose me to be his wife!

Almost two weeks after the half, and I am still hurting. Unfortunately, as beautiful as my shoes are, I think I need new ones. After talking with an athletic/nursing student friend, I think the problem was arch support. It feels like my bones are cracked (which is a HUGE exaggeration, my legs aren't broken). When I leave for work in the morning, I have to go downstairs. Each step I take makes me wince.

This is horrible for two reasons:

1.) It hurts.

2.) I'm afraid to exercise.

I feel the itch to do SOMETHING. After training for three months, I went from running 5-20 miles per week to complete inactivity. I want to run or do a workout video, but I'm afraid of how it will feel on my legs.

My dad and brother-in-law have both been measured/fitted for running shoes. The running company recorded them run and advised them on the best shoe for their step. I'm thinking this might be the next big purchase we make for me. I want to keep running, but not if I have to keep limping downstairs! 

We did it!!!

Half-marathon time: 2: 30: 16

Two posts in one day?? I must be scrambling to make a deadline or something! Honestly, the half marathon is in three days, and I wanted to catch up to the present in time to post about it!


The week after the 10-miler with my dad, I was still hurting. My hamstring would remind me whenever I took a step that he/she didn't like what I had done to him/her. (Why did I give my hamstring a gender? I ask you, why not?) My shins were improving, if still a little stiff.


Fast forward to the following Saturday. The training schedule advised only running 7 or 8 miles (nothing too strenuous a week before the race). My dad also told me to take it easy.


For whatever reason, I ignored their cautions and told myself that if I could run 10 miles in hilly SLO by myself, then I really could complete 13 miles the next Sunday in the half-marathon. It became my make it or break it moment of training. I took some Tylenol, drank some water, and took a pack of Goo Chomps with me.


I don't wear headphones while running- mainly because mine just flop out of my ears and I'm too cheap to buy replacements. This is good and bad: Good because I can hear oncoming traffic (cars, bikes, other runners, rabid dogs, etc.) but bad because I have no distraction from my exercise! I amuse myself by surveying the scenery, especially towards the halfway mark. I'll add a pic soon.


In the end, I made it. The Lord had created strong winds against me that day (literally, not figuratively) but He calmed them for me whenever I needed a break from the strain. It was a great day! I was very excited. Full of triumph, I declared to my husband that I would dominate the half-marathon next week!


Two days later, I attempted to do a light run (3 miles) on the track. I couldn't do more than two laps because my right ankle was giving me pain. WHAT THE HECK BODY?? Why do you break down so often?


It has been a day and a half since that attempt. Today I will try to run three miles again. This time, I think I will push myself even if it hurts a little. I need to do at least some cardio before this Sunday!

The half-marathon in SLO was rapidly approaching. On the weekend that a 9-mile training run was scheduled, Joe and I participated in a 5K with his family. I was very nervous, as I had never participated in any sort of competitive group run. I resolved that this would be a good warm-up for the half-marathon, and that it would get my nerves out of the way.

Oh. my. goodness. My first mistake was telling my husband that I had a goal-time in mind (34 minutes). He took off like a shot, weaving in and out of other runners, beckoning me to catch up and plowing the way ahead. I kept up for the first mile, but after that my strength began to flag and he had to slow down. I was NOT used to running at that pace! I had run 9 miles two days before, but not nearly as fast as we ran that 5K. My legs were burning and I was breathing heavily. At the sign that marked the beginning of the 2nd mile, I cried "What!?? We've only gone one mile?"

We beat my goal time, thanks to my darlingannoyinglyathletic husband. We completed the 5K (3.1 miles) in 30 minutes and 58 seconds. This was about a minute ahead of my mom-in-law, a minute-and-a-half ahead of my aunt-in-law, and three minutes in front of my father-in-law and sister-in-law. Joe was pretty proud of us (I'll admit that I was too!). 

My second mistake was not stretching thoroughly after the finish line. I suffered for it the following two weeks- I had either pulled or strained my left hamstring, and my shins were once again swollen.

I was so frustrated and worried at this point. The days leading up to the half-marathon were dwindling FAST, and I needed to get healed and keep training! I couldn't believe that once again, my body had turned against me. In Fresno, my main problem was asthma: we moved out of the dirty air to SLO, so problem solved! Instead of being great, my body just failed in a different way.

A week after the 5K was Easter weekend. Joe and I went home to spend time with our family, and I fearfully joined my dad for a 10-mile run that Saturday. I took Ibuprofen after breakfast, and he had me put a hot compress on my leg. Once it was warmed up, we took off. Thankfully, Fresno is a lot flatter than SLO. I was able to complete the run just fine, praise God.

Dad even said he noticed an improvement in my strength and endurance since the last time we had run together. Watch out half-marathon!

Like I said in my previous post, I was blessed with access to an outdoor rubber track on Cal Poly's campus. It is walking distance from our apartment, and rarely has more than three people on it whenever I go. Below is a picture of my husband and niece on the magic track.

Running on this track was like running on clouds compared to the pavement hills I was jogging on.  I took it easy at first, trying to run as gently as possible. (How in the world do you run gently??) Eventually, the cushy effects of the track were evident: I was HEALED, praise the Lord!


I cautiously began running on pavement again. We had reached the halfway point of the training schedule, and I was thrilled to accomplish a six-miler. Of course, after this great feat, Joe and I got extremely busy and I slacked off on the training. We went to Las Vegas with his family. I brought my gym clothes, fully intending to pound out seven miles on the treadmill in the hotel workout room. One mile in on Saturday morning, Joe calls me to come back as the family had risen early for breakfast. I was so discouraged. I had been doing so well with the track and the good habits, and in two weeks' time I had ruined it all.


The next weekend, we went home to Fresno and I was obliged to run the training schedule's allotted eight miles with my dad. Holy heart-attack Batman! During the last mile, oxygen was the only thing that kept me going. I had this surreal experience of "Okay, if I can just keep breathing, then I won't collapse. Air...I love you air."


This taught me something: Skimping on weekly runs is NOT WORTH THE AGONY come Saturday!

My new job in SLO is as an administrative assistant for an insurance company. This was my first exposure to the San Luis Obispo culture. I learned early on that I wasn't in Kansas anymore. 


Gluten-free? What is gluten? You guys don't drink soda? Why are you wearing exercise clothes when you get back from your lunch?


I had entered a whole new world, populated with health-conscious people. Their idea of take-out was a salad from the local health food store. One of my coworkers actually brought cauliflower rice to work for lunch. HAH. That was my response. Organic smorganic. I wasn't made to survive on leaves and vegetables I've never heard of. The exercising during lunch thing really spurred me on to start running again, however, and I quickly developed a habit of running three days a week on my lunch. I went from no exercise at all, to running three miles Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through hilly SLO countryside.


About two weeks in, I had to stop. Shin splints had returned with a vengeance. I felt like my legs were painful stilts that sent jarring, cutting pain shooting up my legs each step I took on my run. My husband urged me to take a week off to let them heal. I took this advice (probably what I should have done way back when I was hitting the gym with Taylor) and impatiently hung up my running shoes for a while. Right about this time, my dad proposed that he and I run a half-marathon in SLO in April. I considered it, and accepted his challenge. He wanted something to train for, and I wanted something to get me skinny.


After my shins had healed, I began running again, this time with a purpose and a training schedule. After about a week, I was in pain again. I cried to my husband "Why is this happening to me? This isn't fair!" For once in my life I actually had the DESIRE to run and exercise. Why wouldn't my body let me refine it?? Joe assured me that everything would turn out okay, that I just needed to take it easy and we would figure it out.


Then, when all seemed lost, God gave me a miracle in the form of a rubber track on the college campus down the street.

Post-wedding: Life is good. I'm freaking married to the love of my life! I get to kiss him whenever I want (if PDA was a disease, we were infected beyond recovery. Go ahead and gag.) and sleep in the same bed with him! Well, sleep is a strong word. More like toss and turn because there's a boy in my bed.

Hello, Hawaii honeymoon!

His grandparents own a condo on Maui, and they generously offered it to us for our honeymoon. It was a magical time. I felt/looked great, and had so much fun being in a bikini and not being ashamed of my body!


Leading up to our wedding, I had suspended work-outs due to time constraints. And of course I didn't work out on our honeymoon (unless you consider playing in the ocean a workout). Once we returned to "real life", it became obvious that I was in a no-work-out rut. As I had graduated from college, I could no longer use the Rec Center on campus. Fresno is HOT in the summer, usually hovering around 100 degrees. Taylor and I ran outside a few times in the "cool" of the evening (85 degrees does NOT feel cool when you are pounding the pavement) but it was hard to establish that habit.


A few weeks later, we moved to San Luis Obispo, CA for Joe's last year of college. I occupied myself with unpacking and crying over separation anxiety from my home. I did that for about four months. I gained all of my weight back, and then some I'm sure. I felt gross and lonely, but it was hard to feel motivated when I didn't have my cousin Taylor encouraging me.


In the fall, my dad and my sister ran a half-marathon in Fresno. I was so proud of them! I told myself I could never do that, though. 13 miles, you're crazy! Seeing them succeed inspired me, however, so I slowly started running again..

The year that we were engaged was also my third/senior year of college. I was also working 25 hours a week. So school, wedding-planning, and work weighed heavy on me. Thank God for my mom, my sister, my grandma, and my second-mom Sue! They shouldered most of the planning burden and just came to me for guidelines most of the time. My poor mother- I don't deserve her!

Anyway, since I was working out and busy stressing, I lost weight. I remember wearing a high-waisted skirt with a belt, and for once I didn't have to fluff up my blouse to hide my muffin-top! My waist was small for the first time in my life.

Once I tried on the dress (freshly altered) it became clear that I could NOT lose anymore weight. The seamstress had shortened it, taken it in, and added a bustle. After lacing up the bodice, my mom said "Oh dear, Molly. This is almost too big now." What my mom meant was that the laces in the back almost laced closed, instead of the wide V that the laces should taper down to.

I wanted to fist-pump in the air so bad, but that gesture probably would have clashed with the moment.

This picture on top is the best one I could find of my dress from the front. Let's be honest, the true focal point is my ADORABLE niece/flowergirl. She pulls off the whitedresslook in mid-air! The picture on the bottom is a good shot of the back (bustled, at the reception). Anyway, you can see that I have somewhat of an hourglass shape. Some of it is due to my corset-like bodice, but a lot of it is due to pounding the treadmill for five months with Cousin Taylor!

As I was saying in my previous post, I fell in love with my shoes. Nike Women TR Fit. Or so my husband tells me. Supposedly they are run-training shoes, which accounts for the light-weight, malleable nature blah blah blah. Bottom line: They are a DREAM to run on. It's like wearing nothing on your feet. After my old torture-shoes, I felt like I was running on a cloud. I am head over heels in love with these shoes. If they ever wear out, I want to get another pair exactly like them. Simply amazing.

Taylor and I continued our workout routine. Three miles three days a week, and on Wednesdays we joined an aerobics/strength class. It was called "Cardio K.O."- Cardio Knockout. The first few times, we got knocked out. Our abs and upper-arms were definitely NOT up to par. The push-ups and sit-ups were killer, but eventually we were able to at least keep up! It was such a fun class. It would be completely dark except for colorful DJ lights flashing everywhere like a dance party. The music was a mixture of Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Cee-Lo. Our instructor (a small, ripped Asian man) would sing along into his microphone whenever he sensed we were about to die.

My second (and last) semester of college, I took a 1-unit Pilates class. I was DETERMINED to get rid of some of my jiggle before walking down the aisle. Let me just say, I was a Pila-trainwreck the first month. I marveled at the instructor's flexibility and control. My foot has to go where? How long do I have to hold my body up? Should my arms be shaking this hard?

I had been working out for a while when the dress finally arrived. I tried it on in the bridal shop and couldn't help but be giddy. It was exactly how I remembered it. I could NOT wait for Joe to see it! One thing was very clear though: Alterations required. I am 5'2", which seems about a foot shorter than the skyscraper that wedding dresses are made for. It was also evident that I had lost weight. Victory!

Aside from my occasionally lackluster attitude about going to the gym, 2 major obstacles stood in my way:

Shin splints. A couple weeks into running on the treadmill, I developed shooting pain in my shins whenever I ran. I voiced my concerns to my cousin, and she just urged me to tough it out till the muscles adjusted to our exercise. I naively agreed, and didn't alter my routine at all. Looking back, that wasn't the wisest or most informed decision I ever made, but at the time I was afraid that if I took a break from working out, I would never start back up. Eventually my shins adapted, but it took a lot of wincing and self-control to stay on the treadmill.

My second obstacle was blisters. I started out using a pair of running shoes that my parents had bought me a couple years prior. They were barely used, as I had rarely exposed them to any sort of surface other than the bottom of my closet. After a few runs, I developed a couple of pretty gnarly blisters on the bottom of my feet. Totally disgusting, right? I tried different socks (thick, thin) and I tried lacing up the shoes super tight or super loose. I refused to admit (though my then fiance insisted) that my almost brand-new shoes were the issue.

Finally, when I couldn't run because the bottoms of my feet were raw, I had to confess that I had a problem. Joe took me shoe-shopping, and we chose these bad boys.

Well, he chose the shoe, and I chose the color. If Joe hadn't been there to advise me, I would never have purchased such a thin, light shoe for $80. They hardly weigh anything, and you can bend them in half without exerting any effort. Definitely not the sturdy shoe that I had imagined. Little did I know, I would fall deeply in love with them during our first run together.

The urge to get in shape didn't immediately strike me. The dress had to be ordered and shipped from China to a warehouse in the U.S. and then shipped to our local bridal store. I didn't see the dress again for a while.

About six months after Joe proposed, my cousin Taylor and I were talking about working out. I knew I needed to get my body into shape if I wanted to really look good in a strapless, and she very sweetly reminded me about the required bikini-honeymoon photos. "Make me happy to look at those pictures." She told me sternly.

She and I went to the same university, and tuition included the gym fee.




We dabbled for a while before committing to a weekly routine. The first time we went, we ran a mile on the treadmill. It started out positive, us talking big and stretching like pros. I felt pretty confident. I was older and wiser and I had a goal in mind! 

Aha, so we meet again Mile!

About 2 minutes later: Why the heck *gasp* am I doing *wheeze* this again? Curse you, Mile!

All the horrible memories of public school PE came flooding back to me. My side was cramping and I could feel the asthma tightening my lungs. I was re-living all my past experiences. It was bad. I wanted nothing more than to leave the Rec Center and never go back.

Thankfully, Taylor is extremely hard-headed. She's competitive and has a will made of iron. She had determined that we would work out, and work out we would.

Do you remember me saying I got my first boyfriend senior year of high school? Well three years later Joe got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

Hysterical tears and laughter were the order of the day. He really asked me! I have an engagement ring! I'm getting married! I weigh more than I ever have in my life!

Uh..wait a minute. I weigh more than I ever have in my life. Once the initial shock and thrill of being engaged to the love of my life subsided, I began to dread wedding dress shopping. I didn't want to do it. I didn't want the fuss, the opinions, the look of my body in a form-fitting dress (no way was I going ball-gown either.) I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

My wedding dress sort of snuck up on me. My grandmother, mother, sister and I were in Carmel, CA for a day and they suggested we look in a few boutiques. I reluctantly agreed. Eh, why not. My mom and sis teared up when I put on a flowy gown made of organza. It was beautiful, but the price tag made it clear it was not for me. The second boutique was smaller and a little sketchy...the owner was about 60 and had overly-bright red hair. She was about to close when we popped in. I tried on a sweetheart satin gown (about a thousand dollars cheaper than the first dress) and knew it was the one. It made me look curvy and held me in at all the right places. Love at first sight.

I loved how I looked in it, but as it was strapless, I knew I had some work to do if I was going to wow Joe at the altar.

My story begins way back in 4th grade. For the first time, our class was required to run a mile for P.E. This was when my parents discovered that I have asthma! I already had glasses and hung out in the library, so this was just the icing on the nerd cake. From then on, I nurtured my hatred for running. I was never athletic, so this test of fitness and endurance was torture. My hometown has about three weeks of good weather per year as a cosmic rule. Generally it's either blazing hot or freezing, so jostling through a field with a hundred other kids was not exactly "fun". Or enjoyable. Or even remotely satisfying in any way.

Fast forward to senior year of high school: I've been accepted to the university of my choice, I've been involved in Leadership for two years, I have my first boyfriend and an amazing summer ahead of me. Come the end of first semester, I fail The Mile. This means I fail P.E. Which means that unless I make up that semester, I can't graduate. You can imagine my bitterness that THE MILE stands between me and my diploma. I had good grades. Extra-curricular activities galore. I just couldn't run a mile in 10 minutes. This was when The Mile and I had the worst relationship yet. Shoes were thrown, tears were shed, names were called. It was a bad time.

Thankfully, I was able to take an additional P.E. class the next semester and I graduated on time. It wouldn't be till two and a half years later that The Mile and I would meet again.