Three things Thursday

1.  Tutus --- making pink and black tutus for my birthday run next week.

 2.  Oh I hope they are as good as the last tour..  three boy band dance offs...yes please! See you guys in June!

3.  Not sure if I'm loving the 70 degree weather in January or hating it...

Love is in the air

Love is a wonderful thing!  That first time you set eyes on the one you are hoping to fall in love with.  Then after you put them on your feet and take them for a test run your hoping that it will be love.  Finally after a few you can feel it....its love!

And they are pink!!  I decided I needed a new pair of shoes.  I decided to try out Brooks Pure Cadence. I was hoping that it would work out for me..the last time I went to a new shoe it was not love..it turned out to be an abusive realationship (blisters) so they had to go back.   These girls though are so pretty and light and fun!  I know it is pretty early, but I think it might be love.  I know I said I love my Adrenalines, but I can't help it, these are so pink and they are so light!  Sorry Adrenalines, I still love you, but not as much as these pink girls.  

I took them for a run at my 100th run at run club on Tuesday!  The first time they hit pavement.  It felt like I was running on clouds!  I loved them.  

Speaking of run club...not sure if you caught the fact that this Tuesday was my 100th run!!  And it was a beautiful night to run my 100th run...mid to high 60's!  Hard to believe that last Tuesday I didn't run because it was in the single digits.  So I guess the weather was helping me celebrate my 100th run too!  On your 100th run you get a long sleeve tech shirt, but they didn't bring them last night, so maybe next week I will get my shirt.  I did get a lovely balloon and card from my friends.

You do make great friends while running!  

picking up wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery

This morning I met Becky and Jeff at Arlington National Cemetery  to pick up the Christmas wreaths that we placed on the headstones back in December.  Today they needed volunteers to come back and help pick up the wreaths that we placed thanks to Wreaths Across America.

Waking up at 5:30 is a bit early to wake up when you do not have a race.  I was anticipating a very cold morning which didn't really make me want to jump out of my warm bed.  Yesterday we had some brief snow move through the area along with it has just been cold.  I figured it would be in the single digits.  Luckily it was mid twenties for the morning. Hello heat wave!

What you might not be able to tell from the picture is I have three shirts on, running tights under my jeans and two pairs of socks on.  I think I might have been slightly overdressed.  I guess it is better to be over dressed than under dressed, right?  Becky and I had little problems finding Jeff and we headed over to the first group of people cleaning up wreaths that we found and started helping out.

 Lots of walking back and forth this morning.  People brought rakes and brooms to load the wreaths on to the stick.  All we had were our two arms.   Next year we will be smarter and bring our own stick.

 Weight lifting with wreaths anyone?  I think my arms got a workout this morning.

It was a great morning giving back.  So glad I went, even though I really wanted to stay in my bed at 5:30 am.

Snow day = gym day!

This week as been soo cold.  The coldest it has been than more than 2 years.  So needless to say I have not been dying to run outside when the weather is in the single digits.  And considering that it was in the 60's last week these single digit days feel even worse!  So cold that I didn't run at run club!  And that doesn't happen all of the time.  I did go to hang out and chat to friends, but I didn't run.  Way to cold.  

This morning as a nice little surprise I woke up to text messages galore this morning!  And was I glad to have a 5:30 am wake up call for a snow day!  The first snow day of 2013!  I love snow days!!  I think I like them more than the kids do.  We didn't get much, but it really doesn't take much to have a snow day in Northern VA.  It was a bit icy and maybe 1 to 2 on the ground.  So all in all I think it was a good call.  95 had accident after accident (people can not drive in weather here).  So with my free time I got to sleep in and then I did some work with the medicine ball this morning while watching the Today Show.  Yeah I know how to rock a snow day.  After that I decided that I was going to head to the gym and do something..probably run.  It was a bit tricky getting out of my development.  My wheels were spinning but I made it.  The main roads were fine.  So once I made it to the main roads I had no issues.  

Once I made it to the gym I did four mile intervals which I am pretty happy with.  Then to end out my time at the gym I always enjoy reading while biking.  I am reading Defending Jacob right now.  Pretty good book. Hopefully I will keep going back to the gym so I can finish my book.  I figure if I have to get in a bike session in order to read, that might work out in my favor.

running included in my lazy three day weekend

This weekend I have done a bunch of nothing.  I should feel bad about laying on the couch as much as I have..but I don't.  I'm thinking of it as recharging my batteries. I did run on Saturday, Sunday and Monday!  Go me!  Did I run my long run this week, no, but I did run something which is better than nothing.

Yesterday I thought I was going to run the loop.  The plan was to run 6.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining.  It was in the fifties.  I did a few loops and then stopped to pick up Riley and head to the tennis courts to lock us in and run some more.  The tennis court is almost as boring as running the mile loop, but at least Riley gets to run after me if he wants and just sniff around if he wants.  I did get to Spanish music.  Well the music wasn't on probably since he was finishing up by the time I ran by.  Ah it really did feel like springtime!  Don't worry truck washing guy, I will see you again I am sure!  I didn't get in my 6, I stopped at 3.  This training isn't looking the best so far.  But at least I am getting out there right?  And it is pretty early in the training schedule.

Today I headed to the track and did some 200 m sprints..ugh..I am sure my legs are going to feel it tomorrow.  It was a bit cold, but not bad once you got out there and moved (isn't that always the case).   I threw in some jumping jacks, crunches, bicycles and push ups in between some of the sprints.  I figured since no boot camp, might as well do some boot camp moves.

I have some new running shoes coming.  There is just something about new running shoes.  I'm trying a new shoe so I hope that they work..if not I will be sad and have to send them back.  I'm sticking with the Brooks brand though so hopefully the new shoes will be love.  On random non running shoe notes, I headed to Macy's yesterday and found some flats for work for 12.50!  How great is that!  I love when I get to the register and the shoe is less than I expected!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day!

random stuff

Yesterday I went running with Becky again.  We ran the same hilly route as last weekend.  It was fine.  As we started running it was cold..feels like 29 brr...of course the weather started warming up as we ran.   So my original long sleeve bundled up running attire was really sweaty at the end of the four mile run (although to be fair I'm always sweaty after a run)

I'm not doing the greatest on running during the week.  I'm going to get out there this afternoon and run 6 today and then some track work on Monday since boot camp is canceled because of the holiday. For some reason I've just been exhausted after work.  I think I might be allergic to my school. :)  

On a different note I'm participating in the Biggest Loser at work.  Sometimes it is just so frustrating because my body does not like to give up any pounds..but boy does it like to add pounds.  Well I have been trying to watch what I'm eating a little bit closer than in the past.  Nothing crazy, but trying to be more thoughtful about what I'm eating.  I also have been trying to move a bit more too (and not just running)  Well yesterday I ended up finally seeing a new number on the scale!  I am officially down 10 lbs since the beginning of the school year.  Then of course I went out to dinner last night with my friend Theresa so I didn't see the number this morning, but it was there.  So hopefully I will see it again soon. :)  And if I'm being honest, it was .2 away from 11 lbs loss!  So that is some excitement in my life!  I'm not sure if I will win any of the weekly weigh-ins (I didn't last round either) but it might help me own what I'm eating and think about moving a bit more.

aches and pains..

Boot camp happened on Monday..I am finally able to walk and not feel my abs as I bend over.  I worked muscles that I just didn't know that I had!  I also found out that I hate planks..doesn't matter if I am planking to the side, with one arm or basic, I hate them!  All of my hate can only mean one thing..I guess I need to keep up with boot camp!  I will say it is always fun to work out with a group of friends, so that makes all of the sweating and aches worth it.  Hopefully it will pay off with my running too! Bonus!

Made it to run club on Tuesday!  It was  great running weather (except for the drizzly/sleet that was falling from the sky)  But really once you start running, it didn't bother me too much.   I wasn't sure how I was going to feel during the run, considering that my inner thighs wanted me to just stay on the couch and watch Young and the Restless all day (too bad I had work..sorry inner thighs..we have to make some money today.)  But just as I thought, the first few steps were a bit painful, but once the muscles warmed up I forgot all about my boot camp pains.  I also thought Becky would want to turn around at the 5K point (she wasn't looking forward to the drizzly run) but she didn't even mention it.  That could be that Jen joined up with us and we were just chatting it up.  Then coming back, our friend Ryan showed up and ran with Becky while Jen and I ran in front of them.  Ryan's legs are super long, I felt like he was pushing Jen and I during the last part of the run (which I guess is good, since I was wanting to walk or let him and Becky go around us) But I hung in there.

And look what was waiting for us at the end of the run:

 We brought some cupcakes for our friend KP's birthday.  Since the first time we met him was over someone else's birthday cupcakes..  Well the lesson we learned is that if you are bringing birthday cupcakes, you should make sure the person is coming.. oops.  Well we sent KP a picture (which didn't taste nearly as good as the cupcakes)  

Always nice hanging out at run club!  Chatting and enjoying some beer.  Smaller crowd this week because of the weather, but still great seeing everyone.

Now off to have a run up some hills..ugh...

lookin' good!

I have this guy in the neighborhood who is really nice.  We talk every time we see each other while we are both out walking our dogs.  He knows I"m a huge Steeler fan and I know he is a huge Redskins fan.  We do not know each other's name...odd?  Who knows, but he is just a nice guy.  Our dogs do not like each other though.  Well I was taking Riley out before heading out the door to have dinner and drinks with my friend Stacy.  It was her birthday so I was thinking I will take the shorter loop and then Riley will have his walk for the night.  Well neighborguy was walking up the hill, so I decided since our two dogs do not get along and he was walking towards the shorter loop first, I would take Riley around the mile loop.  Your welcome Riley!  We started chatting about football and then I turned to complete the walk..neighborguy turns and says "Hey!  You've lost weight right?!  Lookin' good!"  Why thank you!  He just made my night!  And because of him I didn't drink my face off (not that I was planning to) and I told myself that I was going to go for a run in the morning.  Thanks neighborguy!

Good night hanging out and chatting with friends.  And I did wake up this morning and head out the door for a run..in a t-shirt..and shorts..and it is January!  Yeah that shouldn't happen!  I like the warm weather..I like not being cold right now, but really it is January, it should be cold and there should be snow on the ground..or at least the threat of snow at some point.  If this keeps up I'm going to be hanging out in my bathing suit in February!

Tomorrow is Monday..Booo!!   I start boot-camp after school.  Wish me luck!

hills..what hills?

This week was just one of those weeks when I just didn't want to run.  I've been tired and just didn't feel like running.  I've been trying to watch what I have been eating, no soda this week (Yippy!?)  I just didn't feel like either heading to the gym or around the block to run.  Thanks to Becky she has been making me run this week when I just don't feel like it.  I made a running date with Becky this morning to get out and run.  She is training for her first ten miler and feels like she needs some motivation to get out and run..little does she know that she motivated me this week.  I made my running date with her for 9am.  Ah..I so wanted to stay in bed this morning and run in the afternoon...overcast, drizzle and low 40's..yeah perfect day to stay indoors.  But I did make the date, so I put the clothes on and headed out the door...oh on a side note I am .4lbs away from down ten pounds!!  Yeah that lifted my spirits a bit this morning (even after having some Haagan Daz ice cream last night..I just couldn't help myself after thinking about it for 2 hours)  So I headed out the door to meet Becky.  We were going to try the forest, which we both have never ran before, but it has been raining so I'm guessing that would be a muddy mess.  So we met at a local high school and explored some rather hilly neighborhoods.  It was a great feeling!  4 miles down thanks to Becky (and she wanted to do a little more than 2..ha!)

Becky and I have a date for some track work on Wednesday...and Monday is my first Bootcamp class ugh...save me!!!

The night I didn't want to run...

Ever have those times when you just don't think you have the energy to run?  Well mine came on Tuesday night.  We were headed to run club  my favorite night of the week, I can't feel sluggish on a Tuesday!!  Well I felt like I just couldn't keep my eyes open .  I think it might have something to do with no snowdays in the forecast and the fact that I have given up soda.  Becky told me that we were running.  We could run the 5K..I was not up for that plan.  No..if we are running I'm running the 4 miles..no shortcuts!  I got there and Becky ended up running with KP and I was running with Glen.  Becky dropped off because it was just too fast of a start for her..so she did some run/walking.  I kept up until the turn around and Glen ran with KP and I ended up running with Marie and Jen.  Turns out it was a great night for a run.  The weather was perfect!  I was debating on running in a short sleeved shirt but it looks like everyone else was dressed for snow.  Net time I don't care, I'm running in less.  I was wishing I would have left the top layer at the bar.

Thanks Becky for making me just suck it up and run.  Sometimes you just need a friend to kick you in the a$$!  I could have easily been talked into not running too. :)  Turns out that run gave me a second wind.   Sometimes it is just so easy to forget that you get a nice pick-me-up from running.

I wore my new toe socks..not sure how I feel about the socks yet..I'm still on the fence.  I think I may like the heavier weight toe socks rather than the thinner lightweight socks.  But I'm still willing to keep trying to see if I fall in love.

I had a nice little gift to myself waiting for me when I got home on Thursday night.

I was so excited to put it up on the wall!  Unfortunately I had to wait to have my drill charge up.  I can't wait to add some more medals to this great looking holder!  

See I do have more than three medals! lol

Do you hang up your medals?  

If so where do you hang them up? 

 I was debating on hanging my going up my steps but ended up hanging them in my spare bedroom.  

beautiful day for a run

Well I if my Resolution was to put off running for as long as possible I would be rockin' that resolution.  It is so hard to get on track with a running schedule once you take an entire month off.  And I know I shouldn't complain about the New Year Resolution people at the gym, but they do make it harder for me to head over to the gym.  I tried telling myself I would head to the gym around 7:30/8:00 at night to avoid the madhouse and actually get a machine, but by that time I was able to talk myself out of the gym.  This week will be better!

 Look what came in the mail on Thursday!  Yep I'm trying out some toe socks!  I tried them around the house (not sure if I'm going to like them yet).  Next run I will try them out with my running shoes.  I found a great groupon deal  for the sock and I've always wanted to try them so what the heck, I bought the groupon and they just came in the mail.  I'm hoping that the socks will cut down on the lovely blister I get at the end of my one toe.  The only way I will tell that is to run some long runs in these socks.  And since I took a month off, I'm guessing a long run is not happening this week.  :)

This morning I did some cleaning around the house mixed in with some food channel watching.. and kept telling myself that I need to run today...I need to run today.  Finally I just sucked it up and went upstairs and put some running clothes on and headed out the door.  I am so glad I did!  It is a beautiful day out.  The sun is shining..no real breeze..

I tried out my new running socks that Santa brought me (which is the reason that I didn't try the toe socks yet)  You can't get a nicer day to run in January!  Headed out the door and realized that I need to run a bit more regularly.  I guess that is what a training plan is for!  Did a few miles and then took the dog for a walk.

And notice I ran with a hat..I never run with a hat.  But since it was so sunny and I haven't showered I figured that the neighbors would like me to look a little presentable.  Your welcome neighborhood!

Hope everyone had a great weekend with some running thrown in!

2013 Goals

Happy New Year to everyone!  Seeing as it is the first day of 2013 I thought I would share some of my running plans and goals this year.

First I would like to add more mileage to my calendar this year compared to last year.  I am going to shoot for 700 miles this coming year.  Last year I was the first year that I actually tracked the amount that I ran.  And if you can call tracking my running miles a resolution, I stuck to it for the entire year!!  Go me!   I would also like to improve my half marathon time..or my 5k time..or really just my speed over all (if you can call what I run speed...lol)  I'm  hoping that being more consistent with my running will help me increase my speed..and if I can drop some lbs..then I'm sure that wouldn't hurt my times either. :)

Races that I am running.  This year doesn't look like it is nearly as crazy with running races, but you never know how it may end up shaping up.

February:  two races that I am debating on running.  I need one more half before March 16th to move up in half fanatics.  So hopefully one of the February races will work out.  I'm waiting to see what the weather is like before I sign up..I'm willing to suck up the higher race day registration to avoid running in a snowstorm.

Love Rox in Richmond on Feb. 16th
or
Colonial Half in Williamsburg  on Feb. 24.  This race starts at 1 in the afternoon..which really sounds nice..I can drive down and drive back with no problem...and the weather should be nicer than in Northern VA at the time.  Although I don't think you get a medal for this one..so we will see...

March -16th- Rock n Roll USA

April - 7- Cherry Blossom 10 miler

June - 8 - Hatfield McCoy Half Marathon

Aug. - 4- Rock n Roll Pittsburgh
          17- Biggest Loser Half Marathon in Erie

September - Navy Air Force Half Marthon

October - Heritage Half Marathon

That is what I am aiming to run so far..I am sure I will be throwing in some 5K's and other local runs as I find them.