Matt's Transformation

When Liz signed me up for the Wrightsville Beach Tri on my birthday last year, it was the motivation I needed to get myself back in shape. As most of you know, I've been pretty committed to working out this year. The season is pretty much over minus a few remaining runs and I just wanted to reflect and hopefully provide some motivation for those of you where I was a year ago. This year I have done 4 5k's, 3 10k's, 1 Duathlon and 2 Triathlons. My journey has taken me from 238lbs down to 213lbs and in probably the best shape of my life. However, it didn't start so well...

I started running a few times a week and my first runs actually started out as walks with Liz when she was early in her pregnancy. The walks turned into slow runs of about 2 miles. My first 5k was around 28 minutes so right at 9min per mile. My running schedule is now 3 days a week with my longest run to date being 9 miles. I just set a personal best in a 10k race this weekend with a 49:15, close to 7:37min per mile!

Leading up to the Triathlon, the swim made me the most anxious. I'll never forget my first swim. I was completely winded after 1 lap (50yds) and I thought, "There is no way I'm going to be able to swim a mile!" My last big swim was a 2500yd workout and my 1500yd time in the Wrightsville Beach Tri was just over 20min. To be honest, the swim is probably my favorite now...funny how perspectives change when you give them a chance.

My first bike ride was about 8miles averaging about 14mph and I was shot, no chance of running after, I could hardly walk! Needless to say, my bike built up to a career long of 32miles and my top racing average was 21mph.

Some might look at this as a chance to brag and if that's the way its taken, please understand that's not the way it is intended. Honestly, in the world of competition, I've never won a thing and am not that fast! It's not about that really and that's my point. So many people out there look at their situation with their health/work/marriage, etc and think, "I could never do that" or "That won't work for me." I promise that when I first started, I would get so ANGRY after every workout that I almost quit a number of times. Looking back, I'm trying to figure out what actually helped me tackle that mental hurdle b/c that's the hardest one. I started with small goals and made a commitment to myself and to Liz. Secondly, I publicized it...many of you are probably tired of hearing about it, but thank you because that was a HUGE help knowing that I had to answer for myself even if ya'll weren't holding me to it ;) Thirdly, I had a group of friends that walked through my goals with me, even if they didn't know it either. So, in the end, set goals, tell people about those goals and ask them to keep you honest and lastly, walking by yourself is never fun, so find someone to walk with!

Here's to whatever goals and dreams you might have! As my friends at TrySports say, "Believe, Acheive"

MVP of the month

So my MVP award goes to my wonderful husband Matt! We couldn't have made it through the last few weeks without him. He is sacrificed so much of his time to take care of me and Matthew. He has stayed up many nights helping me with Matthew and then going to work in the early morning. And usually when he walks in the door, I'm so exhausted that I have to hand the baby over to him. I'm sure he would like some time to relax and watch sportscenter but instead he has put himself aside and chosen us. I am thankful for a Matt leading this family and being so sacrificial! Let's pray that he doesn't get mono too- it is called the "kissing disease right"?

Mono, myrtle beach and more help from Libby and the grandparents

Mono with a 11 week old? Really- am I ever going to get well! I'm trying to stay positive, having to put my pride aside and finally let people help me. So where did I get mono, who knows, but I will say it has been terrible timing to get it having a young baby! I have been forced to stay in bed the last four days and dreaded the fact that Matt was going to be out of town for 3 nights. He won a trip to Myrtle Beach to golf, play in a cornhole tournament and enjoy some sunshine. He didn't want to leave us with me being so sick, but family to the rescue to help me and baby out:) Libby and Ruffin came down for two nights and Mary Grey and Derrick let us stay at their house for one night. I'm so thankful for these wonderful servants that have been placed in my life. I never knew it would be so tiring to stay at home with a baby. Matthew has several little ailments that cause him to be fussy several times a day. Don't you wish babies could tell you what is wrong with them. We do know that he has colic, reflux, infant eczema, an umbilical hernia, cradle cap,etc. We are so blessed that none of these are life threatening so we continue to stay positive and hope that they pass very soon. I want him to stay little:) but I can't wait until he can tell me why he is crying! I guess blogs are just ways for mom's to get out frustrations- so thanks for reading and for any prayers! They are much needed right now:)

In Memory of Nanny and Sunday night dinners

My grandmother Nanny (my dad's mom) passed away this morning in Raleigh. I am so glad that we got to visit with her on Thursday and say goodbye. My sister and I took our newborn sons to meet her. Matthew is 9 weeks old and Cooper is 5 weeks old. They got to hang out in bed with Nanny and even though she was very weak- I think she knew that we were there. You never could slide one past her:) During most of our visits over the last two years, we would think she would be sleeping and she would pipe into the conversation like she hadn't missed a beat. She was always on top of things and had the best memory of anyone I know. Her mind was so sharp and she remembered names, numbers, dates and really anything important along her 85 years of life. She probably even remembered stats of ballgames because she spent many years going to them. Nanny came to almost every single one of our high school games and attended everyone of my home NC State games. When I think of Nanny though, I think of her standing in the kitchen of her home on Cowper Drive. Every single Sunday night for 22 years of my life, we gathered to eat with the Bailey's. I did the math, that means she cooked almost 1,144 meals! Being a wife and mom now, I appreciate all the grocery shopping, planning and cooking that she did. And those rolls,yummmm! I could list a million memories of Nanny, from sledding in her front yard to watching fireworks on top of the van. I was so blessed to have wonderful grandparents and hope that one day I live to be a grandmother and continue on the Sunday night dinner tradition.

As far as sports go, things are good around the Ham house. I, of course, love the Wolfpack; good, bad or ugly. Over the last few years, it's been more bad and ugly. However, the Pack has started off 5-1 this season and made things very fun for a change. Because of Liz's former athlete status, we are members of the Varsity Club which gets us discounted tickets and preferred parking. Last year, we had 4 tickets, but this year we dropped it down to 2. I missed my first home game this weekend because of my 10-year high school reunion, but have watched every second of every game all year. This week, Matthew and I hung out at the house while Momma ran errands. State won big, 44-17 over Boston College. Needless to say, Matthew and I were very happy. It was awesome! After every big play, I would cheer and Matthew would laugh. It got to be so funny to me that I put this embroidered burp cloth on him and snapped the picture above. State travels to ECU next weekend to hopefully go 6-1 before their bye week and a big Thursday night matchup with Florida State on Oct. 28th. GO PACK!

My best friends light up my life

"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."
- Henry Ford