Gift ideas for the Runner in your life

Well Christmas is  coming up and some of you might be wondering what to get your running friends..well here are some ideas:

• Socks...you can never go wrong with a nice pair of running socks.  I love socks!  I really like the Feetures and the Bulaga sock brand.  Someday I will try the injinji socks..not sure how I will like the toe socks.

• Gloves!  Its getting cold out there!  Gloves are always great!  Don't worry about getting the latest and greatest..stretch gloves from Walmart or Target work great!  That way if I have to discard them during a race I will not feel guilty. 

• Reflective vests are great to make sure that cars see your favorite runner while they are out pounding the pavement and the days are shorter.

• Nothing says Merry Christmas than your favorite Gu!

• A nice basket of products to use on race day.  Some of the race day essentials could include: face wipes, band-aids, Motrin, granola bars, ponytail holders, flip flops..

• Itunes Gift Card - so those runners in your life have new tunes to run to!

• A new hat or visor is always a great idea!

When in doubt you could also give the gift of a race entry..put the entry of a local race on a Visa prepaid card.  Who would not love a free race!?!


Hope everyone enjoys the shopping season!

What has been the best running Christmas present that you have received?

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Thanksgiving shopping stuff..

One tired dog after playing with mom's puppy.

When you are from Texas and you don't have a belt buckle..you make one.

Almost missing happy hour specials because you are getting your picture with Santa =two beers for everyone except Nestor.

Things to be thankful for...

Today I thought I would share some things I am thankful for.  I haven't been doing the daily thankful thing on facebook, but thought it is Thanksgiving so I would share with you all some things I am thankful for.

• Family:  I love Thankgiving!  I love heading home to my mom's turkey and stuffing and spending time with my mom and stepdad and friends.

nothing says Happy Thankgiving than mom with a colonial soldier on the 4th of July :)

• Friends - When you do not live near your family, friends become family.  I have a great group of friends who always keep me laughing and running.

• Riley - my dog.  Nothing is better than coming home to a happy little face who always wants to go for walks.
• Running - love that I can run.  I always enjoy a good race or run.
• cooler running weather - nothing beats a fall run
• new blankets to snuggle with on the couch...Just bought a sherpa blanket for the couch..I may never leave the couch again!
• football season - love football season and the cool weather.  I love watching Sunday Football. 

Happy National Hug a Runner Day!!

Hugs to all of my running friends and bloggers!  Hope everyone enjoys a hug and run today :)  Going to head to run club to hug all of my running friends tonight.

 

I've just realized..I don't really hug people.  Well today..look out I'm hugging some runners!

Tis the season to be jolly..

Today I spent the day listening to Christmas music and decorating the house for Santa.  I know some people think it is a bit early but I'm not home for Thanksgiving and December is always such a busy month that I felt it was this weekend or I wasn't going to put up the decorations.

 

There is something about the Christmas season that I just love.  The lights and music always bring a smile to my face.  I have lots of plans for the holiday season.  Listening to the Marine Corps Band play Christmas music.  Laying wreathes at Arlington Cemetery.  Seeing the National Tree and all of the other state trees.  Visiting the National Zoo for Zoolights.  Visiting the Botanical Gardens Christmas display and finally Punch and Pie Party (everyone brings a pie and drinks some fun punch) Who knows if I will do all of this but I will certainly try. 

 

I didn't run much this weekend.  I planned on heading to the gym today, but I ended up just being lazy and enjoying the holiday lights at home.  I was going to go tomorrow, but I will be going to see the Redskins play the Eagles and then I will be back home to enjoy the Steelers win over the Ravens.  So I guess this weekend will be the weekend of no working out.

Half Marthons 2013

So far my calendar for 2013 consists of the following races:

Rock n Roll USA has a different course this year, so we will see how I like the new course.

Pittsburgh is a new Rock n Roll Race.  I've never ran Pittsburgh so it should be fun. 

These are the only Half Marathons that I have on the calendar. 



I also have been looking at some other races, but have not registered for them yet.


February 24th - Colonial Half Marathon in Williamsburg, VA  If I complete this half, I will move up in Half Fanatics.  The great thing is that it is a 1pm start so no problem driving there and driving back.  I'm holding off on this because I want to see how the weather will look.  I don't want to run in snow.


April 7th - Cherry Blossom 10 Miler.  My friend Kristi wants to run the race, I think we may have talked Becky into running the 10 miler and Glen wants to run the 10 miler too..with all of that I couldn't say no to the race.  I know this is my least favorite race.  This will be the last time I run it (I know I have said that before).  We will see if we get into the race through the lottery.

 

 

April 28th - Iron Girl in Columbia, Maryland

 



June 8th - Hatfield McCoy in WV. 

September - Navy-Air Force Half Marathon - Washington, DC


Any races that you think I should look at to add to my calendar?  I really would love some localish races  in Northern VA or Western PA races so I don't have to go broke with travel expenses.

Three things Thursday

Three random things:

1.  I'm heading to the gym tonight..I would rather sit on the couch and watch Hallmark Christmas movies,but I'm telling myself that I will take my kindle and read Running On Empty...if that doesn't make you want to hop on the Bike at the gym I don't know what would.

2.  One week until my favorite holiday!!  Yippy!  I love me some Turkey day!  Can't wait to head up to PA to see friends and family.

3.  I waited too long to sign up for a Turkey trot and now it is sold out..so I tried to sign up for the second Turkey Trot that Megan is running and it is sold out too.  I'm going to try and sign up day of since they have 100 spots open day of..but with my current luck with turkey trots it may end up that I am cheering everyone on!  Who knew that people were so crazy for turkey trots?? 

Wordless Wednesday - favorite things

Compression Sleeves Rock!

Happy Veteran's Day and a PR!

Hope everyone is having a great Veteran's Day!  Thank you to all who have served and currently serving! 

*Update*  My gym did not move.  I thought it did move, that is why I have not visited it since forever, but turns out they did not move. Who would have thought that the gym would be in the exact same location that it was 6 plus months ago!  lol   I also went to the gym two days in a row last week.  :)  I will continue to head over to the gym more often since I now know where it is located

Today I ran a Veteran's Day 10K with Megan, Glen and Lee (new guy at run club).  I realized I hate running this time of year.  I can never tell what type of clothes to wear.  I did notice when we were trying to park that people either looked like they were running in the summer or waiting for the snow to fall.  I dressed for 40 degree weather in the morning when I left..when we go there I soon realized that it was going to be closer to 50 while we were running.  Yeah I should have worn a short sleeve shirt.  Turned out my half zip wasn't too bad to run in, but I would have liked my short sleeved better. I figure this running weather out before the snow falls. 

The 10K took us through Haines Point which is the horrible lonely part of the Cherry Blossom 10 miler.  So Megan and I knew what we were going to see on this run.  Very flat and not a lot of people.  We got there just in time to bag check and jump in line to start running.  I tried to jump in towards the back since I am a slowpoke and didn't want to try to keep up with the pack, but run my own run.  Turns out I made a wise decision.  I felt pretty good running considering I really didn't run much in October.  I bet those two days at the gym really helped me with my stamina ;)  I kept my own pace and felt really good.  I hit my 5K point faster than I have been lately, so I was pretty happy and was hoping I could keep it up to the 5 mile mark.  At the 5 mile mark I was ahead of my normal 5 miles.  Yes!  On to the finish..I knocked off 6 miles from my 10K time!!  Yeah me!!  So happy! Love a PR! 

After we met up with Gary to get our picture for run club.  He was running the 10K but we didn't have a chance to meet up before the race because of the bag check line. 

After the run we headed over to enjoy some yummy french toast.  A race would not be complete without a plate of french toast! 

Overall it was a beautiful day for a run.

tomorrow I find the gym...hope it is still where I left it..

So no school tomorrow.  Yeah!  So I will head out the door and vote and then head straight to the gym..that's right I had to write it on the blog to make sure that is what I will do :)  I had it in my mind to head to the gym tonight, but I just couldn't bring myself to go. Then I figured out that if it is seven, last week it would have been 8:00 and really that is just way to late to go to the gym on a Monday! Yeah I thought that was a pretty good excuse too. 

I just have not figured out what time to fit in the gym.  I can't go after school because by the time I get there it is packed and I am annoyed that I have to circle the parking lot multiple times to find a parking spot.  So I need to go after 6:30.  I just have to work on the no excuses.  :)  I wish I could get up early and head to the gym, but really I like my bed too much. 

Hope everyone gets out there and votes!!

November Goals

Well I didn't really run in October (unless you count running 3 times as running).  I felt like between the flu and the sinus/cold thing that attack, I just didn't feel up to it.  I did run and PR on a Half last month..but on the flip side I ran and mostly walked the Army 10 miler..I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

November will be different.  This month I would like to get back to running regularly.  I would also like to start to use the gym that I pay for every month but never seem to go visit.  It would be great if I could run once while home for Thanksgiving, but I'm not going to fool myself..I know that is not going to happen. :)  Sometimes you  just have to be honest with yourself. :)  So I'm just going to stick with the running and gym goal. I think that would be great for me.

On non-running news...I found out that I have tickets to see the National Christmas Tree lighting!  I've put my name into that drawing for the past couple of years and nothing.  I checked my email and I got four tickets!!  So excited!  I also got tickets to see Barack, Bill and Dave Mathews this Saturday.  I am super excited.  Dave is playing acoustic before Bill and Barack come out! Former President Clinton has been doing some great comedy recently..so should be great to see!

Hope everyone has a great November and keep on running!



Do you pay for a gym membership and rarely/never go?  Or am I the only one?