Aunt Pam camp

So last week I ran zero miles. I had my niece Ali over for aunt Pam camp. This was her first time at aunt Pam camp and being away from home. She was a bit worried about being home sick, but I'm happy to report no home sickness for that girl. She has two other sisters so I think she enjoyed being an only child for a few days. 

Lego brixx was in town. 

Looming

We Found lots of different animals while walking. 

Is this what you should do on the fitness course?

Looking for fish and turtles. 

Celebrations do not require me to run!

So I have been one big ball of lazy since my half marathon two weeks ago.  It doesn't help that we had snow...again.  I am tired of cold.  I don't want to run out in snow or cold rain!  So I haven't!

Tuesday was run club..with rain or was it snow or sleet??  The weather has been so crazy I can't keep track of what happens on what day!  Well anyway, wee headed to run club.  I was going to dress to maybe run, but I realized that I had no intention of running so why not put some jeans on..embrace the lazy! And that is just what I did.

Tuesday was Matt's birthday. Matt is a vegetarian so to celebrate Megan made some yummy vegan cookies.

One was Matt's favorite snicker-doodles and the other was a vanilla no-bake.  Both were very yummy!!

(if you are Andy you put the two cookies together and you are very happy)

Happy birthday Matt

Got to love run club celebrations!  Even if we didn't run.

This week it should be in the 70's, even though it was raining/snowing today.  Virginia should not see snow the second to last day of March!  Needless to say I did not move off of the couch much this weekend.  This is the week that my lazy stops.  Weather should be nice for running and that is just what I plan on doing.

This week is we are celebrating Sandy's birthday along with Jen's 100th run!  I'm in charge of birthday cookies.  Hope everyone enjoys them.

The celebrating continues!

starting to feel like a wimp

This arctic air that has been here for most of January is starting to make me feel like a real wimp!

 I have not been on a run outside since I don't know when.  I can't bring myself to do it!  I don't want to do it!  This arctic air is really messing with my running.  I just need to

I headed to run club last night and with the temps in the low teens and the wind kicking..I didn't run. So as my friend put it I didn't go to run club, I went to club club.. yeah this weather is killing my training this winter. About twenty hard core runners bundled up with multiple layers and headed out for a run last night..I would say I was jealous..but they just looked cold both before and after the run.  I just need some 30 degree days.

Today we got a surprise snow day from school.  Such a surprise that I didn't have any yummy breakfast treats for this morning.  I normally like to make something to celebrate the snow day.  I ended up making a egg and cheese bagel.  Something I would not make during a school day because I don't have the time.  It was fine, not as good as my strawberry pancakes from last week.  If I would have guessed a snow day I would have picked something yummy up from the store.  I am guessing there was some icy spots on the roads this morning because really we only got maybe an inch of snow.  I'll take it though.  I love a surprise day off of work!  I will have to head to the gym this afternoon and force myself to run on the treadmill.  Either that or I will turn into Jabba the Hut.

And really nobody wants to hang out with Jabba!  

What is the temperature that you take your runs indoors?

Where's the running love??

So after the Marine Corps Marathon I just have not been in the mood to run.  I have ran a whole 2 miles..yeah I know you're jealous!  I just have not been feeling the love for running.  Or maybe running has not been feeling the love for me..either way I have not done much.  I could give you a bunch of excuses..you all know I am good at those:

1.  sinus issues
2.  knee bothering me
3.  back has been hurting from boot camp last week
4.  It has been (insert one or more of the following:  too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, too dark, too sunny, too tired to run..etc)


I remember when running and I were in love..I couldn't wait to come home and put on my running shoes on and head out the door.  Or the times when I just would daydream about all of the fun spots I could head out to and run..Ah the butterflies before we would head out the door to meet on the road..and the smile that you get when you are together.  Ah young love. Don't worry I think the love will be back, we are just going through a bit of a rough patch.

I have a half marathon coming up at the end of the month..well the weekend before turkey day actually..so I need to get my running legs in gear.  Annapolis will be here before I know it.  Tomorrow is the day it all comes together.  I am either running the hood..or the gym..either way there is no reason not to put on my running shoes.  Sometimes you just have to suck it up and get out there and run.  I have been walking Riley more..so I don't feel like I have been a total slug.

tired...tired..and more tired...

So I feel like I have just been running and running but not actually running...know what I mean?  I traveled to PA on Saturday to say goodbye to Becky and slept on an air mattress..not my best night's sleep.  Then came back on Sunday and took Riley on his 1 1/2 mile walk.  I planned on running but I was too tired to lace up my running shoes. Up early on Monday.  Not the time that I wanted to get up.  My poor iphone was super hot and my alarm didn't go off.  Actually the phone did not work at all.  So I had a moment (ok, maybe more than a moment) of panic.  My phone can't be dead!!  So I unplugged and left it to cool...and now I can only squeeze in a 1 1/2 mile walk with Riley.  Great! At school still no iphone so I spend my morning ordering a new one.  My phone is 2 1/2 years old..so it has had a great life, but I was trying to have it hang in there till the new iphone came out.  Oh well the new one is on the way..and of course mid morning the super hot iphone starts to work again. Randomly gets super hot so I am guessing it is time for a new one..sigh...

Monday after school Kristi and my three nieces were stopping by my house on their return to Virginia Beach.  Kristi drove to school and we headed towards the National Zoo in DC.  I learned that you should really check the address when you use the point of interest on your gps.  I gave Kristi and the girls a lovely tour of some nice neighborhoods in DC.  I did comment that I didn't know why the gps was taking us to the zoo through Rosslyn and Georgetown..but who am I to argue with the gps?  So after traveling the streets of DC we finally make it to the zoo.

 All three girls were really happy to be out of the car!  They got up at 6 am to drive to my house and now we are taking them to the zoo.  We had a great time at the zoo, but in the end we were all hungry so we headed back to the car and off to find some food before headed to see the Whitehouse and the Lincoln Memorial.

We ate at the Shake Shack..yummy burger and shake.  The girls were super hungry.  I don't think we heard a peep from them the entire time they were eating.  Next up the Whitehouse.

We had one more stop before we headed home..Abraham Lincoln was calling our name.

 And it was back home.  We were all super tired.  The girls fell asleep on the ride back to my house.  Needless to say no running on Monday.  Tuesday I set my alarm to walk Riley.  I knew I wasn't going to get in a run, but that was ok, because it was Tuesday which means run club.

I headed to run club and ran (what did you think I did? bike?)  And chatted it up with everyone and then headed home super tired.  I knew after the weekend and the DC trip I was going to take Wednesday off and not take Riley on a long walk and not worry about squeezing in a morning run.  It was the best choice I could have made.  I felt much more rested than I have for a week.  It was a beautiful day today so after I got my allergy shot I mowed the lawn took Riley on his long walk and decided that I couldn't let the evening end without a run.  81 degrees on my run..you have to run!  I think it might be a law that you have to run in weather like this during the summer!  I think it is supposed to be great weather for the rest of the week.  I was thinking of moving up my long run to tomorrow if the temps were going to go up..but looks like I can have a great long run on Saturday with no problem.  :)  That long run will be the perfect cap to the end of summer school too!

Hope everyone had a great running day!

It's getting hot in here..

So the summer heat is here.  With it comes the fact that I will come up with any excuse not to run in it. :)  Today was supposed to be my long run..I'm going to try and squeeze it in this evening if the temps go down or it will be an early wake up call tomorrow morning.  I did have every intention of knocking out my 9 miles this morning (I know I've said that before), but I was up at 1:30 a.m. with horrible allergies so I took two Benadryl..ain't nobody got time for dat...

 So I knew that the odds of running this morning were slim to none.  Not sure what is setting off my allergies.  For the past two days I could scratch my eyes out they have been so itchy.  Tuesday is round two of allergy shots so hopefully my horrible allergies will start to leave.

Since I didn't head out to run, I took the dogs out for a walk this morning.  I am dog sitting for a cute golden retriever puppy named Harley.

 She is only 12 weeks old.  She is very sweet (except for the razor teeth that she uses to attack anything that moves)  Harley does not like to walk and she doesn't like the heat either (can I blame her?)  So a 10 minute walk turns out to take 30 minutes because she decides to lay down every 10 feet.  So after I took Riley on a mile walk and then I walked another mile.  Hey if I am not running I at least got in a few walking miles this morning.  Next up the pool.

Anyone else have trouble getting out there and completing their long runs during the summer months?

Happy Memorial Day!

Just want to take the time to say Happy Memorial Day to all!  Happy Memorial Day to all who are serving or have served in our Military.

Hard to believe that we are at the end of May.  Especially since the temps have been soo chilly this weekend!  I can't remember the last time I've worn a hoodie and jeans at the end of May before.  brrr...One day 80 degrees the next two 45 degrees.

I went to the gym yesterday to say hi to all of my friends..like the bike, the treadmill, the elliptical.  They missed me terribly.  I wish I could say the same.  I did like reading while biking..got caught up on some of my book.  I stepped on the scale and my weight is slowly creeping back up..so I need to put a stop to that before I gain everything that I've lost.  So I guess I need to visit the gym more often.  Sometimes I just don't want to visit my friends.  I am also going to try and take Riley for more walks (I know you all have heard that before.)  May has not been the best for running.  I think it is just the end of the year craziness at school and I am tutoring a kid twice a week after school, which means after tutoring I just don't have the energy to head out to the gym.  I'm hungry and so I eat and not workout (Hey I wonder how that weight is creeping back up?!)  Fifteen more days of school and then the excuses stop and marathon training starts.

I'm heading out for a long run in a bit...even though I just don't feel like it.  But sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do.  I know I will feel better after the run.  I know I will feel like I accomplished something other than just dreading work tomorrow.  Ok, I'm off to take Riley on a walk and then head out for run. I've just talked myself into it!

running? What's that?

So not a lot of running this week.  I was forced to run at run club by Becky.  I was so tired I didn't think I could get the energy to actually run, but we slogged it out.  Slow and steady...ugh..  This has been a horrible week.  I have felt like crap since Sunday afternoon.  Well turns out I figured out why on Wednesday morning.  Holy headcold Batman! On my way to work I stopped to pick up some cough syrup/head cold stuff.  I had a staff meeting, but really my head was much more important than arriving on time to a staff meeting.  Turns out I wasn't really that late, so all in all a pretty good move.

I tried the Musinex cough syrup.  If you see this stuff walk by it...it does nothing and it taste horrible!  Think nasty cough syrup from your kid days..yuck!  And it doesn't really do much either.  All that nastiness for nothing.  So the day is going on and I am feeling worse and worse..before I left school I decided to call off.  All I was doing was blowing my nose.

The poor kid that I am tutoring after school probably thought I was annoying.  I must have gone through a quarter of my tissue box while working with him for an hour.  I headed home and slept.  No running on Wednesday.

Thursday I have now gone through 1 1/2 boxes of tissues.  Hello!  My nose is not supposed to be a faucet!  I hate not be able to breathe.  I will take pretty much anything! else other than a stuffy nose.  Some odd reason I really love breathing.  I found myself in a benadryl coma for most of Thursday.  Nothing beats a good coma day.

Friday and I am able to breathe better, but I still have an annoying cough.  I think I may try and run a few miles around the hood tomorrow and see how I feel.  I can't let another beautiful day go by without putting on my running shoes.

Tonight my mom and stepdad are  coming over to my house.  They are heading out on a cruise and I am dog sitting. Riley is going to be so excited to see his friend Charlie

So if I end up not running much tomorrow I will have two dogs to play with and walk.  

What to do on a snow day...

So what do you do on a snow day?  That little christmas gift of a day that you get to sleep in and not feel guilty...  why I do not run..that would just be crazy!!  It is early afternoon..I may head to the gym later we will see..but if not that is ok.

Last night I decided since I was pretty sure that we were getting the day off, to head to run club.  I know it is a Tuesday of course I was going to go to run club.  But I had my mind made up that I wasn't going.  I had to stop off at a viewing for one of our kids at school whose parent had passed away, and I thought well no way can I do that and run at run club.  So afterwards, since no rain was in sight (and it was supposed to start off as rain first)  I figured I was pretty safe to make the trek up to run club to socialize, not run.  Glad I did..always fun seeing friends.  On the drive home it was crazy how quickly the weather changed..I went from absolutely nothing, to rain..a few mile later it was sleet (but nothing was sticking b/c it was still 35 degrees out) and then ten miles from home it was a whiteout (but still nothing was sticking to the roads.)  I made it home, with no real problems, to snow on cars and grass and feeling really good about a snow day.

Finally they call the day and I feel so excited..I just can't hide it..I'm about to lose control and I think I like it...

Anywhoo...today I thought I could sleep in but mom called at 7 am. to ask if I had a snow day.  And after that I made some yummy snow day cinnamon rolls (they were homemade from the pop-can)  I had a hunch and thought I would enjoy some yummy cinnamon rolls on my day off so I picked up a can at the store a few days ago.  I haven't had them in years.

I know you are thinking after that I probably went for a run..umm  no not really.

I did take Riley for a walk.  I love walking in the snow.  This snow was not really that much fun to walk in. There was so much water with this snow.  As soon as it hit the roads it would turn slushy...causing me to have wet boots and wet socks.

Where's Riley?  He starts to blend in with the snow.

The view of the backyard this morning.

I did see the local Marine Runner running in da 'hood.  I asked him if his feet were soaked he said not yet as he ran by...hmm  my feet need wrung out after a short walk..how could his feet be dry?

After the walk I caught up on some tv and a nap.  There is something about snow day naps!  Afterwards I headed to Panera to enjoy some soup, since I had a dollar off of soup.  I may head to the gym later to hit the mill..but if not that is ok...it is a snow day after all!

Hope everyone enjoys the day!

its been one of those weeks..

It has just been one of those weeks (and it is only Wednesday..ugh.)  I have been so crabby this week.  Work has been irritating me and I just can't shake it.  I thought I would be better on Tuesday and then it was rainy and I just didn't want to go to work. I didn't head to run club either. It was rainy and cold and I just wanted to stay inside.  Then Wednesday came around which is staff meeting day.  Yep, once again I am now irritated about something new.  Just when I feel like I am starting to get over one thing, people end up handing more stuff to put me in a bad mood. I'm the librarian, I am supposed to be sunny and happy all of the time (it says so in the librarian handbook).

I know I should have come home and ran to sort it out and get over it, but I just didn't feel like it. Which is too bad because it was sooo nice outside. I did walk Riley so he was happy and did get some fresh air.  I did go to the grocery store to get some food to eat and milk for cereal. So I wasn't a complete angry hermit.    I did not head to the gym like I planned on doing.  Guess there is always tomorrow.

This is exactly how I felt this afternoon!

Sometimes you need to just watch some TV and eat some chocolate chocolate chip ice cream and call it a day.  Hopefully tomorrow will start to turn around and I will feel less like the angry cat and more like myself. If not, I have a facial scheduled for Saturday morning, so that should change my outlook.  

December..what running??

So I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth.  I've been around but obviously not blogging much.  December has been horrible for running.  I ran 11 miles this month (I know you all are jealous!)  I did get to the gym a few times so I am happy.  With all of the happenings of December I'm ok with the very low mileage.
Here are some pictures of what I have been up to in December.  Enjoy!

Botanic Gardens

Zoolights at the National Zoo!

Laying wreathes at Arlington National Cemetery

Laying Wreathes at Arlington National Cemetery

Christmas at Run Club

Steelers vs Chargers..we loss :(

National Christmas Tree Lighting

President Obama playing up to the crowd.

So I was a bit busy during December.  I always love December and experiencing all of the Christmas festivities around Northern VA and DC.  I also headed home to PA and got to hang out with some friends from High school that I haven't seen in twenty years (I also hung out with some friends that I get to see every year too)

Monday I start back to running.  Training for Rock n Roll USA begins on Monday.  

Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday!
   

I need some run-ivation!!

It happens to me every time.  I run a long race and then afterwards it is so tough to get back to running.  I just don't feel like running or visiting the gym, even though I know I have to.  I am tired of buying bigger clothes!  I told myself I can have one week off after the half..yeah that was 2 1/2 weeks ago.  I did run this week at run club, but I need to run more than once a week.  And it gets dark earlier..and it is cold..do you need more excuses?  Hopefully I will take my lazy self to the gym tonight.  I need some run-ivation!  (I'm sure that run-ovation is stronger than motivation) 

The great thing about having a race on the calendar is that it forces you to get out there and run.  I currently only have a 5k Turkey Trot on the calendar next weekend then a 5K Hot Chocolate race in December.  I am doing Amanda's HBBC.  I hope that is the incentive I need to keep on running right now. 

Day 1 of going sans Sugar..

So the day went pretty good going sugar free...except for the small..tiny...itty bitty Hershey kiss that I accidentally popped into my mouth.  I was walking past the bookkeepers office and she always has a bit of chocolate in a dish by her door.  Well I just snatched one while I was walking by.  I didn't even know what I was doing until I threw the wrapper away and swallowed that evil little kiss.  Opps...day one and I was doing so well.  Thanks Hershey!  Not feeling too bad.  I would have liked a soda while eating out with Susan, but other than that I am doing pretty good.

I didn't run on National Run Day...opps..  Well I can't after I went out to dinner.  Nobody wants to see me throw up on a treadmill.  So no run today.  Hopefully I will get in a run tomorrow.  Or Zumba..one or the other will happen tomorrow. :) 

Running randomness

So this is the last week for my Girls Run with Pride. :)  Saturday will be the first 5K race for 11 girls in grades 3, 4 and 5.  I am so proud of them!  I hope it is a nice day and they have a great run (or run/walk for some).  I think I might have some pizza delivered on Thursday (our last official practice) to celebrate their running. :)  Some have really taken to running.  Which makes me really happy.  I can't wait to see the look on their face when they cross the finish line! :)

Speaking of running, I did none of that this weekend.  I am hoping to squeeze in  7 miles tomorrow..but not sure if that is going to happen.  I have girls' run club and then I have to run over to Michaels' to get some t-shirts to make for the run on Saturday. It may get pushed to Wednesday..but we will see.  Maybe I will try to get up early and squeeze in a run before school...as some of you may realize this will probably not happen, but one can hope right?  I have 4 more weeks until the half marathon.  Yikes!  I hope it is not too hot. 

no running for me...

So I haven't ran in  about a week.  I was sick with a head cold last week so all I did was down Nyquil like it was my business.  This weekend I was planning on running...but I didn't.  Instead I sat on the couch and read books and watched tv.  I know that what  a productive weekend.  I had planned on running 5 miles but that didn't turn out to happen.  So tonight I finally ran...only a few miles, but I didn't walk at all and I ran!  Yeah!!  Tomorrow is run club, so I didn't want to over do it tonight.  That and it was starting to get chilly outside.  Outside running really makes such a difference in my running.  I hate running at the gym. 

Tonight is Too fat for 15.  I love that show!  I can't wait to see if the kids lost weight since last year.  I am so addicted to fat shows!  Last night was Ruby on Style..love that show too.  Her friends so enable her eating...I couldn't imagine being Ruby's size. 

Pizza Please

Tonight I am not running, I am enjoying some pizza.  I love pizza!  I could eat it everyday and not get sick of it...yummy.  My friends and I have decided to go and try a mom and pop pizza place in our town.  I guess if you and a friend order two 28" pizzas you can win a shirt and your pizzas are free.  So we decided to go and scope the place out.  Nobody is taking on the challenge tonight, but we wanted to see what the pizza had to offer.  Our friend Nick is debating on taking on the challenge with a friend.  I am simply going b/c I love pizza!  What a great support system I am! lol  I was going to go and run tonight, but I forgot that we made pizza plans..and really if I promised to go grab a pizza I don't want to back out and let people down ;)  Running might have to happen tomorrow. :)

Pizza update: we got to the Family Pizzeria and it was not open.  Looks like it is still operational so we might try again another day.  It also looked a bit sketchy..but sometimes that is the place with the best food.  We ended up going to Sam's pizza, first time there and not bad.