Giddy Up

...Trying to find the horse so I can re mount that sucker.

Must get back on track.

Don't want to venture out into the 90 degree heat and sweltering humidity.

Going to go try to survive a few miles.

Just Do It.

Yesterday was a chaotic mess. I felt like I was going a million miles all day with hardly any day to just sit and be. I kept saying, "I can do my run later at this time" or "I'll just get it in at the gym between this chore and that chore". Then I just did it.

I didn't have a lot of time before I had to leave the house, but I just went out and ran a quick 2.5 miles. (I wanted to get in 3.5.) I'll consider it speed work because my pace was 8:37 (fast for me). Quick run; done.

I ran out the door, took two of our dogs to the groomers, returned shoes at Target, bought more stuff for the wedding, met Goose quick, picked dogs up, got in an upper body workout and then worked for a few hours. Phew.

That night we were dog sitting my Mom's dog, the little guy, who is best friends with our big guy.



Anyways, the point of the story is the little guy LOVES to run. I put on all of my reflective gear and went out and did a quick 1.5 with the dog. It might have been broken up, but I ended up getting in 4miles. I was happy with that. Sometimes if you just get off your can and do it, things work out.

Today: Yoga, bike ride

This week I'm doing my long run on Saturday because the wedding is on Sunday. As long as it gets done, I'm happy.

Pictures to come, of course.

Save the Drama for Your Momma

Okay, this is going to be a mostly non-running rant.
I'm sarcastic to the max. I love busting on my friends and yes, I can also take it. I have fun.

Being able to take a joke (and make one) is sort of a prerequisite to being my friend. You know, the whole life is wayyy to short to take yourself seriously thing.

A couple of days ago we went out riding on the boat with our neighbor and his sometimes, sort of girlie friend. Needless to say, he's currently 'keeping his options open' and dating a few girls. Good for him by the way. He makes a wise crack about "I think I'm into trailer trash now a days" Goose proceeds to say "Yeah, we know." Our neighbor laughs, we laugh. The next morning the girl texts me saying "I was humiliated and hurt that you made such a mockery out of me all day long. We used to be friends and I enjoyed you guys but now I just don't know."

Note: This woman is 38. Get over yourself!

Moral of the story;

I like to have a good time and my friends have to be able to hang. If you can't hang, move along. Simple as that. Think Commodores "Easy Like Sunday Morning..."

If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun. -Katharine Hepburn




We will resume running chatter tomorrow.

Night folks.

Pushing through with a Smile

"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary" - Vidal Sassoon

I've always loved that quote. It reminds me that nothing is free. If we want it, we have to work for it. After all, that's part of the joy in the end. Accomplishing easy tasks is not as rewarding as accomplishing seemingly impossible tasks [i.e. half marathon! haha].

Quick recap.
Tuesday: 3.5mile run, check.
The run went okay. I've been having a hard time getting back into my place of zen. Everything feels like an effort lately. Maybe I'm just burnt out and overrun right now. I'm hoping things settle down a bit after the wedding is over ...who am I kidding?
Legs at the gym, check.
I didn't go as heavy as I did last week because my legs were feeling that workout for a long time. I just did a few sets of squats [3x55], walking lunges [3x25lb dbs], and kickbacks [3x20lb db].
No eating like a fool, check.
In fact, I even made homemade sauce last night. My Grandma gave us a billion tomatoes from her garden, so I tried it! I'm a serious noob in the kitchen, but I figure you have to start somewhere. Last night with the sauce, I made a mini corn tortilla chicken pizza. It was good, I'm not going to lie to you.


On today's agenda:
40mins of Yoga
Short 6m bike ride
Stretching
Going with bride to be to get our nails done and have a hair consult.
Oh yeah, and don't eat like a fool.


Tomorrow is back to the running game. I'm going to update my ipod, maybe that will help us out a bit.


OH, and here is a picture Goose took of me running (I actually don't really have ANY running pictures). No, I don't normally run like a turtle, that's just how I always smile at him, with my head all down in my chest. haha

Sometimes we take a few steps backward

Sunday didn't go as planned. It went sooo not as planned that I didn't even want to post in here last night.

I was hurting yesterday; had a giant blister on my achilles, super tight hammies, a sore booty, AND I hate a giant cheesey pasta dish about three hours before running. I was a mess.

I still set out to do 5 miles (my official training plan just started and called for a 4mile run, I want to give myself a cushion so I decided I'd step back from last week's 6.5 to 5 this week).

I start chugging along and my ears are just burning. There were some serious wind gusts, which would have been a welcome cooling off if it wasn't stinging my ears so badly.

Next, I had some serious gut rot from the pasta. I knew this would be the case. I got pretty discouraged out of the gate, but then realized that's what long runs are for. That's how we learn and prepare.

So lesson for me: I can do carbs in the form of breads for fuel but I don't do good with large pasta portions. I get nauseous pretty quickly and feel it everywhere.

Needless to say I only got in 4.5miles and had to walk for a chunk of it. My pace was an average of 12min which is pretty darn good for how much I walked.

Tomorrow is another day.

Today I got over myself, did a LOT of stretching to try to help out with my tightness and got in a pretty great upperbody workout at the gym.

I NEED to get to the running shoe store FLEET FEET and score some new kicks. I've been so busy with this wedding (coming up on Sunday) that I've been struggling to find the time. Things will slow down.

Tomorrow is 3.5mile run.

And, probably legs in the gym.

Sweet Blissful Day of Rest

Let us recap:

Yesterday was n o n s t o p . I got up early and raced to Wal-Mart for some last minute essentials; apples, bananas, almonds, granola bars, and rice cakes to accompany our day of wine and merriment.


Raced home. Packed up the cooler, her presents, and all of the goodies.
Headed out on the road, by foot that is. I was determined to still get my run in before the day got away from me. I only managed a quick 2.5miles (I only wanted to do 3.5 so it's not the end of the world) but I felt good for the rest of the day. My legs, more specifically my booty and hammies, were feeling the hills. I had done a heavy leg workout on Thursday; deep squats and walking lunges were still with me. But, I got through my run.


After a quick shower I left to enjoy the rest of the day.


It was beautiful. The weather was absolutely perfect (high 70s, light breeze, sunny skies) and everyone had a great time. Here are a couple of pictures.




We brought the night to an early close around 9pm. Hey! When you start getting down at 11am, you're exhausted 10 hours later! Cut me some slack! :]

But, afterward Goose and I went to a coffee house to hear and take pictures of a friend's band. Needless to say, we got back home around 1am.


But today....


Was restful.

I woke up around 8:30, enjoyed a nice breakfast out with Goose, lounged around and caught up on some reading, went for a relaxing boat ride, took a nap... Ahhhh.


Back to the grind tomorrow.

7mile run. Bring it, bitch.

Cross

On my training schedule for my half I have made Wed/Thur cross training days.

Wednesday was yoga, bike ride, yoga.
Thursday was yoga, heavy legs day at the gym, short bout on the arc trainer.

I like cross training days. I like feeling challenged and pushed, remaining active and occasionally forcing myself into new areas of fitness. [considering taking a spin class; eek!]

What I like most about cross training is that I come back to my running strong. I don't feel like a boob that just sat around for X days nor do I have my running muscles screaming at me for over use. It's a great feeling.


Tomorrow is the long awaited bachelorette party for the bride to be. (Note: I am the Maid of Honor in said wedding and thus the organizer of said event.) Alas, I will still be getting up early (oh, in my world early means prior to 10am) to do my 3.5m run prior to the festivities.

And, the festivities will include: an afternoon wine tour, a nice classy dinner at the lake restaurant, and some drinks at another bar on the lake. The best part?

Goose is the driver. I'm psyched; he's really great to have around at events like this, the perfect fit.

Luckily for me Saturday is my day off so I don't have to worry about a curfew...

Feeling strong, feeling motivated, trying to keep things in perspective, watch triggers, learn along the way....


Just keep on keepin' on.