Goodbye 2011, You were a great year!

January and Febuary
I am going to lump those two months together because all I can say about them is that they were colder than normal, snowier than normal, and windy. I think I only ran outside a total of ten times.  The rest of the time I was in suffering on the elliptical and doing Bodyrock.tv

March
First 5k of the year. The Shamrock run that the local running group puts on.  I did not get a PR but I did beat my time from the previous year.  I felt good and was so excited to be running in my running skirt for the first time of the year.  My older sister ran it with me which doubled the fun! Also ran another 5k with a new PR.

April
Ran three 5k races, PRd in two of them and WAY overdressed for the light rain for the third. 
Started my blog.   :) I got under 7 minute per mile splits for the first time in my life and broke a mental barrier.

May
Did the Women's Run 5 mile, got a 5 mile PR by 4 seconds.  Joan benoit Samuelson also ran this race, but I hardly saw her after the second mile, that woman is AMAZING!  I also ran a 5k.

June
Did my first ever 10k so that was an automatic PR although my time was a bit disapointing to me.  My splits averaged 7:15 and I felt like I should have been closer to 7:00 minute miles since that was where my 5 mile splits were. It gave me something to go off of though.

July
My third half marathon.  Mentally this one last year kicked my butt.  I went out too fast and it was hot out.  I took a different approach this year and got a PR by a couple of seconds. I felt strong physically and mentally.  I also did my first ever mud run and had a great time. 

August
I did my second 10k and went into it feeling well rested, and ready for redemption.  I PRd barely and mostly felt like the 10k race distance has not been conquered by me.  The next weekend I had a 5 mile race and went into it feeling tired and a little mentally stressed by the previous weeks performance.  1 mile into it I knew I was going to PR and I was STRONG.  My second favorite race of the year. A new 5 mile PR, by over a minute.

September
My 4th half marathon.  The one I had waited all summer for.  My favorite race of the year, perfect weather, perfect course and another new PR by over three minutes.

October, November, and December 

These months were all about loving running and taking time to just run.  Just run is what I did tallying up more miles each month than I did most of the rest of the year.  I also ran my first ever street mile race and won it. :)

Things Running Has Taught Me About Invincibility

I am invincible

I can have weeks of running that feel AMAZING. 

I can PR at every distance I race in a 4 month span of time.

I can run a race faster than I ever thought I could .

and feel great doing it.
One week after my knee puffed up I ran a half marathon and got a new PR

I went into some races feeling unsure of how I would do and smashed PRs.
I finally raced a 5k and a 5 mile with splits under 7 minute miles,
 that had always seemed like a huge barrier to me

Barriers are made to be broken.
You can't keep this girl down!

I am not invincible
Over the summer I had problems with my hamstrings.

 My right knee puffed up so big I could hardly walk.

After my half marathon in September I had some shin type pain on and off all fall. 

Back pain left me grounded for awhile too.

I went into some races feeling great, but ran feeling low on energy and ran slower than I knew I could.

I can have weeks of running that feel like a struggle the whole way.
There always seems to be a barrier in the way.
Running can be hard on my body.

Okay, so I may not be invincible,
but those runs where I feel like it sure makes up for the days I don't feel invincible!

Tell me about a time you felt invincible this year.
Tell me about a time you didn't feel so invincible.

End of the Year Eww

I kept telling myself that I would be starting speed work up again in January in the new year but then I saw a magazine cover that had "New Year New You" on it and I thought that was lame.  Why do people have to wait for the new year to have a new them.  What if you don't want a new you?  What if you are happy the way you are.  So on that note I decided to start today.  

The windiest day of the year.

Okay it wasn't really the windiest but it was really freaking windy!  I did a two mile warmup with the first mile going INTO the wind and the second mile was cross ways with the wind so it wasn't as bad.

I did 8 x 400 meter intervals.  The first three felt really rough.  It may or may not have had anything to do with the hills.  I like to think it did.  The 4th and 5th were feeling better and the 6th and 7th felt great like my legs were remembering what they needed to do. Okay and it was more downhill at this point too.  Then I had to listen to my guts and head for the cover of the bushes in the creek (luckily I carry toilet paper with me). 

I then saw these two garbage bags in the ditch.  I HATE people that litter.  Really you couldn't wait.

 Then I noticed that all the cans were unopened and the catsup and mayo were only half gone.  The Pringles cans still had chips in them and the noodles weren't open either. The other bag looked like it was full of meat.  I didn't open it though.  Eww.   Littering AND wasteful.  I hope they got coal for Christmas.

Then I noticed Cola doing this and acting weird so I looked over where he was.

 Don't look if you are easily offended or grossed out.  Really

 Not sure exactly but guessing they were coyotes??  They were pretty small Totally skinned, gutted, and dumped by the side of the road.  There were at least ten of them. Too bad they weren't wolves.

A little freaky.  So I got out of there and finished my last interval.  It was my fastest one.

I did a bit of an easy run for another two miles one mile at half marathon pace and the last mile back home was into the wind.  I was wiped out by the time I was done but it felt GREAT to get some speed work in.

I saw a bunch of deer also I tried to get a better picture but by the time I whipped out  my camera they were pretty far away.

 What are thoughts on the New Year New You attitude?  Do you find it as annoying as I do?

I know it is a great time to launch a new attitude and goals, but if why do you think you need a new year to do it?

Tuesday quickie and a winner

I found this on Pinterest this morning and had to share. Nike has some really great ads and who doesn't want to have evil legs!

 It came out kind of fussy but it says

"Rise up in the morning with the spirit you had known in your childhood. That spirit of eagerness and adventure and certainty"

I love this!

 It is amazing how much faster the years seems to go by once you are an adult with have responsibilities! The new year is right around the corner now! 

My Christmas weekend has been so busy!  I did manage to run more than I thought I would .. :) I have to work an extra day this week :( so I might be behind on my miles, but that's okay.  It isn't like I have any races anytime soon.

I am planning to start doing some speedwork once the new year rolls around. It has felt good to take a break from it though.

Hope you all have a good Tuesday and I am hoping to catch up a little on my blog reading tomorrow.  I have mostly been unplugged since Friday. I did have a great Christmas and got lots of great loot.


Ps have you entered my Drymax socks giveaway?

Winner of the beef water bottle and recipes is

Shoot me an email with your info and I will get that sent off to you!

Virtual 5k for Christmas

 My printer in nearly out of ink so this will have to do.  I really ran 6.67 miles down to my parents house and back.  I left my camera there last night and wanted to go get it. There was a 5k in there twice so that counts I think

 ignore the Christmas mess.  This is one beautiful day out for running.  LOVE IT   I could have and should have worn short or a running skirt today.

 I thought this tree looked neat against the dark purple wild plum bushes

This was supposed to me Cola and I but he ducked out at the last minute.

Merry Christmas from Cola.

 

Okay back to Christmas for me!  

ps. did you enter my Drymax socks giveaway?

Merry Christmas

 Here is our Charlie Brown tree with all the presents around.  The kids are so excited.

 Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.  Hope yours is merry and bright.

Drymax Socks Review and Giveaway

Recently I did a post on running in cold weather and I got a lot of questions about keeping your feet dry.  I have resorted to putting grocery bags over my socks, which has helped but they tend to tear while I am running and my feet still get wet anyway.

I wondered if anyone made socks that were designed to keep runner's feet dry.  Enter Drymax. I found them by Googling dry feet and socks or something like that.   I wrote to them and they were ever so awesome as to send me 10 pairs of running socks.  Some for me and some for a very lucky reader!

 First Impressions

• They feel very cushy without being really thick or bulky
• There seems to be incredible attention paid to detail
• I love how they seem to fit on my feet so perfect.  

Now lets delve a little deeper as to what makes these socks the "#1 sock to keep feet dry" as the packaging says.

• True Fit Sizing, available in 5 different sizes to ensure as perfect a fit as possible.  I got a size medium for shoe sizes 7.5 to 9.5 womens and they hit like they were made for my feet.  They don't feel too tight nor is there extra material squishing around in my shoe.

i borrowed this from their website

• Active odor control: silver ions are infused into the sock as it is made to kill odor causing bacteria.  Umm..YAY! How can you not love that? 

• Protective Padding:  Instead of making their socks thicker they make them denser.  This makes them feel really cushy without being thick.  I was really surprised how cushy the trail running socks are without making my shoes feel tight.

• Drymax fiber technology.  I don't even know how to explain this. The inner layer is super hydrophobic and moisture won't stick to it and the water instead goes to the water attracting outer layer. I would have thought this crazy if my foot didn't have a wet on the outside dry on the inside sock on it right now. It works.

• Blister Guard by helping reduce friction, moisture and heat they help prevent blisters  It isn't a blister free guarantee, but every little bit helps right?

Their website is filled with little tidbits of info about why these socks are so great.  I have run over 40 miles in them now and would have to say I am in love with these socks.

I think the Running Lite Mesh ones are my favorite, but I will probably love the Hyper Thin ones the most this summer.  I am kind of cheap about buying socks, I usually buy them in bulk and go with whatever is handy.  I would shell out the money to buy more of these.  The Hyper Thins socks I saw listed for between $9 and $11.

Did I mention these were made in the U.S.A.?  I love that! They also make socks for hikers, golfers, cyclers and skiers and more.

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One lucky winner will get their own size medium pair of socks in each of the following kinds

• Trail Running
• Running Lite Mesh
• Cold Weather Running
• Hyper Thin Running

That is four great pairs of socks!

What the heart whispers (and a Ryder's Eyewear winner)

It started snowing on my way home from work yesterday. Of course the closer  I got to home the more snow there was and the worse the roads got.   There was even someone rolled in the ditch.  Drive for the conditions people!  The last couple miles of interstate towards my house can be a pretty nasty stretch.  I see a lot of accidents and people in the ditch because they drive too fast for the conditions.  Sometimes I take the gravel county road as far as I can before I have to hop on the interstate so I don't have to deal with the idiots on the road.  Makes for 7 less miles of interstate and idiots.

I got in a 30 minute elliptical workout, I had been hoping to run, but I felt sore today so I decided to keep it low impact.  Then I threw in a 25 minute HIIT workout and was beat!  I don't usually get in a good workout on the days I work unless I get off early so this felt really good!

Winner of the Ryders Eyewear giveaway is Jerilee from Mom's Gone Running !  Congrats Jerilee and great job getting in that 20 miler on Monday!

I saw this saying today and wanted to share.  I think within all of us this battle happens.  

"It's impossible" said pride.

"It's risky" said experience

"It's pointless" said reason

"Give it a try" whispered the heart

I remember when I started thinking about racing.  I thought about it for years.  I wanted to do it, but didn't have to guts to get out there and do it.  I was finally encouraged by a friend to do it and have not regretted it.  Then my friend Carla started encouraging me to think about doing a half, and I kept telling myself I couldn't run that far.  I am not a distance runner.  I will get my butt kicked.   (i know so what, right?)  Where would I find the time to train? So many excuses as to why I couldn't run a half marathon.

I really was convinced my body was not meant to run farther than 6 miles.  (Laughable now)

But she had planted the seed.

My heart starting whispering to me and I kept trying to deny that I could do it.  Where would I find the time to train for a half?  13.1 miles was too far!  Two years later I have run four half marathons and twenty-some shorter race,but the half  is now my favorite distance. 

Running in general has brought so much to my life.  I have met great new people both locally at races and in the blog world.  It gives me a whole new sense of accomplishment and purpose.  Don't get me wrong I wasn't wondering around lost without a purpose, but it brings a new and healthy focus to my life.  I love what it has brought to my life. I feel like it has made me more outgoing and I am an introvert.

 Listen to your heart!  Really you have a choice  You can sit there and go through life wishing you had tried X or you can get up and figure out how to get it done.  I wish I would have started running in races earlier.  Now I think why did I wait until I was 32 to really get into it when I thought about it for so long!  No sense in wasting time on regret though!

With all that in mind I am thinking "What shall I do in 2012, that I have been wanting to do" I have to admit as excited as I am to be doing Hood to Coast this year I am also a little terrified of it.

A 200 mile relay with 11 other people most of whom I don't even know.

In a place I have never been too, hundreds of miles away from home.

To a VERY BIG CITY!  (please don't make me drive with all those lanes of traffic)!

By the end I will be running on a dangerously low amount of sleep.  (very scary just ask my husband)

Did I mention I don't even know who 7 of my teammates are going to be? and 2 of them I have only met once!

"It's impossible" said pride.

"It's risky" said experience

"It's pointless" said reason

"Give it a try" whispered the heart

What is your heart whispering for you to try that has you running scared?
For heaven's sake I can't even bring myself to type the freaking word mare uh thon , even that makes me want to vomit. are you reading this Rachelle?  You keep pestering me. So there it is, out there.  I am thinking about it.

Yesterday and resolutions

My little cowboy spent most of the day yesterday laying on the couch and emptying the contents of his poor little stomach.  If it went in, it came back out.  Breaks my heart when my kids are sick.  Poor little guy.  Except I am not supposed to call him little, he hates that.  He is 5 years old and is not little anymore.  He reminds me all the time. 

I couldn't very well ask someone to watch my kids while I ran.  Everyone I would have asked yesterday I am sure didn't want their kids to get sick either.  Boo.  So I ran circles around the outside of the house, the driveway and to the corrals and back.   I ran 4 miles the first and second time I went out and 2 miles the third time for a total of ten miles. 

Boring!  I guess I could have used my ipod and listened to a podcast or something but I have kind of been enjoying being alone with my thoughts lately and haven't taken my ipod on the last couple of runs I have been on.  I used to HATE running without music, now I am finding I like it.

It is getting to be that time of year, no I am not talking about Christmas, but what happens right after.  People start thinking about the coming year, the things they want to accomplish, want to change, do better, not do, etc.  Yep, I am talking about New Years resolutions. 

source

 I found some interesting stats on New Year's Resolutions. I like stats.

40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolutions each year.
Among the top new years resolutions are resolutions about weight loss, exercise, and stopping to smoke. Also popular are resolutions dealing with better money management / debt reduction.
The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
- past the first week: 75%
- past 2 weeks: 71%
- after one month: 64%
- after 6 months: 46%
While a lot of people who make new years resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't explicitly make resolutions:  source

There are a whole lot more crazy stats on this website if you are interested in reading more about it. Basically what Steve Shapiro surmised was that people who set resolutions and attained them were no happier than people who did not attain or did not set resolutions on place at all.

Interesting. I think so anyway.

So this leads me to wonder if I should even make New Year's Resolutions I am still going to feel the same way at the end of the year.

Need some help making your New Years.'s Resolutions?  Go HERE and they will make them for you. Easy peasy, don't like the one they give you?  Just keep pushing the Gimmie More button until you have all the resolutions you need!

 Yum!

I have been thinking a lot about New Year's Resolutions lately and what I want to accomplish next year. I haven't decided if I will have resolutions for next year or not.  I think the last time I really wrote them down was in 1998.  I know because I still have the piece of paper they are wrote on.  (I attained 80% of them by the way).  I would rather just have goals in general like I always do.


Here are some great tips for setting New Years Resolutions you can hopefully stick to that I found on various websites, just by Googling it
.

1. Set achievable goals. 

2. Create a plan.

3. Don't make absolutes. 

4. Write it down.

5. Allow for flexibility

6. Share it with others

Finally don't forget to enter my giveaway for Ryder's Eyewear and Beef Recipes and a waterbottle

Are you a resolution setter?  Not generally, but I may set a few this year just for fun.
What tips do you have for setting goals?  

I ran faster.

Miss Zippy challenged her readers to answer some questions and since I couldn't think of anything else for today, I am answering her questions in a blog post.

• Best race experience? I have a hard time narrowing this down.  I had four races this year that I adored.  I felt amazing, I ran smart and I PRd.  Two were 5 mile races and two were half marathons.  If I really had to narrow it down I would pick the Montana Governors Cup Half Marathon.  Why was it the best?   I felt amazing.  I came into the race feeling like my runs had been blah and my legs had felt heavy on my training runs and I ran my best race ever! I had a nearly 4 minute PR and broke the elusive 1:40 time to run it in 1:37

that's right boy, you have been CHICKED!

• Best run? I don't know that I can narrow it down, but I know I loved this one.  The day was beautiful and I felt great.  It was so nice to get in a long run  after all the rain we had been having.  Winter felt like it was dragging on forever.

• Best new piece of gear? Discovering Lululemon running skirts.  The shorts underneath are the best and they are feather light.  

 Love my Lululemon skirts!  I give them two thumbs up.

• Best piece of running advice you received?  I got so much great advice from all of you this year but this one really stuck with me "Enjoy being fast" . from Chicago Runner Girl. it became one of my mantras for the fall races.

• Most inspirational runner? I have a hard time with this one.  I have read so many inspirational running stories this year since I joined the blog world  Neon Blonde Runner is amazing,  Dorothy at Mile Posts and all her crazy stroller runs,   

• If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be? I ran faster.

 It is a good thing I am off work today as my little cowboy is not feeling good.  :(  Poor little guy.  I hate it when they are sick.  I don't know if I will get in a run either :(  so I may resort to laps around the driveway just to get in some mileage.   What runners do when they are desperate! 10 laps around the driveway is equal to just over 1 mile.  OR I can run back to where the horses are and then around the driveway 5 times for a mile.  Either way I am  where the kids can see me and yell at me if they need something.

I did get off work a little early yesterday and was able to sneak in 4 miles before I had to pick up the kids.  The weather seems like it has been unusually warm, but maybe it is just because it was colder than normal for awhile. 

Don't forget to enter to win Ryder's Eyewear or the Beef water bottle and recipes!

Because the west wasn't won on salad giveaway

 Last Friday I went in to the Montana Stock Growers Association trade show Friday night and helped out  with the Montana Beef Council as a part of Team Beef Montana (also my Hood to Coast Team).  They were going to have us pass out beef themed appetizers.  They didn't need us to however because the food was gone before they could ever get a tray filled up for us to pass out.  We did pass out some beer cozies and water bottles.  I also picked up some great pamphlets that are full of recipes and beef info. 

The convention was a great time.  Montana is not a populous state and the agricultural community is widespread but small in that everyone know everyone.  We all were in 4-H and FFA together or went to college together.  Even if you don't know someone your friends all know them.  Good times.

 I brought home a couple water bottles to share. 

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We all know we need protein to build muscles among other things. Here is a fun little graph illustrating what a great source of protein beef is compared to some other protein rich foods. 

One three ounce serving of beef contains

• 51% of the daily value for protein 
• 38% of the daily value of Zinc which aids in post exercise tissue repair and helps convert food to fuel
• 37% of the daily value of Vitamin B12 which aids cell development and the functioning of the nervous system and the metabolism of protein and fat
• 14% of the daily value of Iron which besides bringing oxygen to your muscles  helps increase resistance to stress and disease

There are 29 "lean" cuts of beef to choose from.

Half of the fat in beef is monounsaturated which is the same heart healthy kind found in olive oil and salmon. Additionally one third of the fat is stearic acid which studies have shown to be neutral or cholesterol lowering.

I will send two lucky readers a water bottle, bag of spices, and some pamphlets full of recipes, tips on cooking beef and nutrition info.

All you have to do to enter is tell me your favorite way to eat beef! I will pick a winner using random.org on 12-23. 

source

Busyness

Goodness, life feels like it has been so busy this last week and I feel so far behind on EVERYTHING! I do have the kids Christmas shopping done and presents WRAPPED and that feels good to have done.

Yesterday we went out and got a Christmas tree. The kids and my husband and I all had a great time hiking around searching for one. We also took my nephew with us.

We hiked around this cool rock that looks pretty neat on this side.

 and looks like a dragon head from the other side.  The kids thought that was really neat.

Striking a pose.

Enjoying the view.

I went for a run later in the day.  Running has not gone very well this week.  I got about 2 miles into my run yesterday and noticed my vision felt funny.  Ugh.  I tried to ignore it but I knew it meant a migraine was on the way.  I ran a little bit further and decided I better hurry and get home.  I did a total of 5 miles but really wanted to do at least 7.  I had a pretty good headache by the time I got done though so I didn't regret turning around.  Running isn't that fun when your head is pounding with every step.

I got a nap in when I got home and that seemed to help.  Migraines suck.  I am so glad I don't get them very often.  I know people that get them all the time and I do not envy that!

HOPEFULLY this next week goes better. 

Have you entered to win a pair of Ryder's Eyewear yet?

Here is a picture of me in them yesterday before the migraine hit.  You can see how dark the photochromic lenses are here in the bright sunlight vs in the house as they were in this post.

 There might be something else in that picture or actually two somethings that you will have a chance a winning also.  One is not my dog.  Think blue and in my shoe!

Ryders Eyewear Review and Giveaway

Scott from Outside PR sent me a pair of Ryders Eyewear Sunglasses recently.  They are the Swamper photochromic.

The website describes the Swamper as "A classically-styled sport frame for men and women that’s packed full of technology. Adjustable hydrophilic nose pads and temple tips give the ultimate custom fit."


First impressions were good.  They fit comfortably and seem to be neither too tight on my head or too loose.  Perfect!  I don't know that I would have picked out these particular frames, but the longer I have them the more I like them.  I have worn them on many runs and have no complaints about them,  I would recommend to others.

The frames seem very durable and are lightweight.  The lenses are a polycarbonate material which is very durable and on top of that they have a scratch resistant coating. They come with a case to store them in but I tend to not use cases so I love the scratch resistant (not scratch proof I know) coating.

What I think is super cool about them is that they are Photochromic lenses.  What does that mean?  It means the lenses are somehow smart enough to get darker in bright sunlight and lighten up as the intensity of the sunlight lightens. 

They also have hydrophilic nose pads and temple tips which means when I get all sweaty they won't get slippery.

 In this picture the lenses are really light since I am in the house.  Sadly everytime I have tried to get a picture outside it has been cloudy, but I have worn them in bright sunlight and noticed the lenses darken.  AWESOME. 

It’s important to note that most car windshields block the UV light that’s needed for the Photochromic reaction to take place. For this reason, you should not expect the tint of the lenses to darken while driving in bright conditions. (from the website)

I love that they block UVA, UVB, and UVC rays as well as harmful blue light.  All of that means it helps protect your eyes against wrinkles, cancer and cataracts.  LOVE IT!

Want to win a pair of these fab beauties for yourself?

Flat Tire Fiasco or how not to change a flat tire.

I went in to work today only to go to a 7 oclock meeting.  My plan was then to make one stop and head home.  Lo and behold when I got back to my car it had a flat tire. 

Kind of deflated my mood a little, but no biggie I can change a flat. 

Step 1

Call my husband so I have moral support and trouble shooting help.  Put him on speaker phone.

Step2

Dig out the three huge garbage bags of clothes in the trunk that were supposed to have gone to the Rescue Mission months ago and put them in the back seat of the car so if anyone comes down to the parking garage I don't look like I am hauling around garbage.

Step3

Dig out the spare tire/donut and the tools and the little crappy car jack that comes with the car.

Step 4
Loosen the lugnuts.  Not as easy as it sounds. I don't have a tire iron just a bunch of great tools and so first I have to figure out what size of socket wrench I need. Start cussing.

Step 5
Jack up the car. Also not as easy as it sounds as it is a crappy little car jack and takes about 10 times more work than it should.  Cuss some more.  Finally get it to where I can take off the tire and the car jack folds in half.  Car is now back where it started and I have  no car jack.  Deep breath

Step 6
Go upstairs to the staff lounge praying all the while someone with a car jack is in there.  I am in luck.  One of the surgeons generously hands me his truck keys, tells me where to find it, says it is a crappy little car jack too, but if I want to wait for him to finish his case he will come help me.  Great, except he is in a longer case and I don't want to wait that long.

Step 7
Go find his truck and locate car jack.  I have some minor difficulties locating it and figuring out how to get to it, but do.  I can't get it out of the truck.  It appears to be bolted down.  Run back down to the parking garage and grab some sockets and a wrench I think will work.  Run back to the truck only to discover they are too small.  Run back to parking garage get some larger sizes, run back to truck, I now have the right size but the freaking socket is too short.  EFF!  Run back down to car, grab a ton of tools, go back to truck and finally get it unbolted from the floor of the pickup.  At this point I discovered I didn't need to unbolt it all I had to do was turn a little handle and it would have come free.  Start laughing, think about crying.

Step 8
I can't figure out the car jack. 

There are some extra parts I don't know if I need or not. Go back to nurses lounge and between three of us nurses we couldn't figure it out.  Call hospital security.  They offer to air up my tire.  I don't want it aired up I want my spare on.  They transfer me to maintenance.  The offer to air up my tire.  Finally they admit they have a car jack and tell me they will meet me at my car.

Step 9
Go back to my car, get car jack figured out and car halfway jacked up, when maintenance finally shows up with a real car jack.  Maintence man jacks up my car and looks impressed with all the tools I have and with the fact that I have the lugnuts loosened. I try to impress him some more by trying to take the lugnuts off and tighten them instead.  Ooops.  Damn socket wrench.   He helps get the tire changed and drives away.

Step 10
Get everything cleaned up turn around look at tire, it is nearly FLAT!  I mean it might as well be flat.  Shrug my shoulders and get in the car.

Step 11
Drive to Walmart so I can get it fixed and get my Christmas shopping finsihed. They tell me it will be 45 minutes to an hour.  PERFECT, things are looking up!  Go shopping, take my time, pay, go check on car.  Still not done.  Sit down, read some magazines.  It took 2.5 hours to fix a flat tire! 

By the time I left I was so frustrated.  I wish I would have brought my running shoes. I could have got a nice long run done, instead I don't get home until 1pm and the weather is no longer sunny and warm.  It is cold and windy. 
 

On the bright side I finished the kids Christmas shopping and came home to some great new socks to review and you will all have a chance to win a pair after I get them tried out! 

Frosty!

 Yesterday was very foggy day. I am pretty sure the sun never once peeked out once.  It was also a bit colder than the last couple of days were but at 21 degrees with no wind was not bad running weather.  In fact it was really peaceful. 

After feeling like crap all morning because I had a big ol piece of chocolate cake and a couple cups of coffee for breakfast, I ate fish and veggies for lunch but still just kind of felt crappy.  I nearly bagged the run.  I didn't go until around 2 and as soon as I started running I started feeling better instantly and went on to have a rather stellar 7.5 mile run with an 8:16 pace. 

I was a little surprised at the pace, that is faster than I normally run a longerish run and I hadn't felt great all day.  Maybe it was the fog or just my body wanting to do a detox!  Either way it felt really great.

 

 I tried to take a picture of myself at the end of my run as I had frost all over my hat and chin, but by then my camera battery had died.  Boo. 

I did get some pretty pictures of the grasses all covered in frost, which I think a lot better covered in frost than I do!

 

 I also updated my Garmin training center this week thanks to Neon Blonde Runner.  I love the new look.  I didn't even know I could update.  Thanks Katherine!

Speaking of her, she Boston qualified with her second marathon with a 3:30 time at the Rehoboth Beach Marathon over the weekend.  So go wish her a congrats if you haven't already.

I needed a kick in the pants today

I didn't sleep very good last night.  I hate hate hate being tired.  just ask my husband, I am no fun when I am tired.  I am feeling a serious lack of motivation today. 

Maybe I shouldn't have had chocolate cake with my coffee this morning that always makes me feel like crap and I know it.  Chocolate cake just goes so good with coffee, so sue me.

I found this























and with that I am off to get in a workout and drink lots of water

I know when I am done I will feel better and more energized.  I am also going to eat a HUGE veggie salad for lunch with a tilapia (not labia as my son kept calling it last night) filet.  Hopefully that will detox my over caked/sugared up overtired system. 

and hopefully the stars will realign and I will be able to get in a run.  It is super foggy out today and I am hoping to run in the fog.  It looks really peaceful.

Not sure the cat is enjoying this hug as much as my daughter is, but I do know she is a great hugger snuggler.

Have a great Monday!

Quite possibly my worst racing pictures

 These are from the Turkey Trot I did on Thanksgiving.  I think they are both from the street mile race.
Pretty sure that in the first one here I may have been fighting the dry heaves.

 and I look like I want to vomit in this one too.

I guess I can be consoled by winning the street mile if my pictures have to look so freaking awful. It is hard to smile when you think at any second you just might hurl.

Yesterday was a super awesome day outside and I had hours to get in my run so I extended my 11 mile run into an impromptu half marathon.  It was so nice out, I feel like I have to take advantage of those kinds of days this time of year when at any time we could be plunged into below zero temps for a week. 

My favorite way to eat my oatmeal lately has been to put chia seeds, chopped almonds, chopped whole dates, and cinnamon into it.  I found some yummy steel cut Irish oats at Costco.  I can't believe I haven't bought steel cut oats before  They are so much better! They take a little longer to cook up, but it is so worth it!

Seriously so good.  Between the dates, cinnamon, almonds, chia seeds, and oatmeal there are lots of yummy flavors and textures going on. Like a party in your mouth.

Are you an oatmeal eater?  What is your favorite way to eat oatmeal right now?

Gelbot Winner!

 The super lucky winner of their very own Gelbot

is... Jen at Runner... Maybe

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In totally other news.  A girl that I race against occasionally has qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials in January in Houston.  Yes she always kicks my butt, except when she is running with her niece or nephew, then I beat her although I know she could beat me without even putting out that much effort.  She is so fast!

Sarah Graves qualified at the California International Marathon December 4th.  Good luck Sarah!

Hope you all have a great weekend and get in some great runs!

What I want my daughter to know.

It starts young.  I can remember the first time I realized I was skinnier than most of the girls in my class.  I was in first grade and we were outside at recess, my friend looked at me and told me something along the lines of "I wish I were as skinny as you"  I tried to play it off, but then they all started in on how nice and thin I was.  I had to concede I was pretty much skinnier than any of them were.

I was a busy active ranch girl and most of them were town girls.  I spent loads of time outside on weekends and after school, they knew what was going on with all the cool TV shows that I had never even seen. Before this I don't remember ever giving it much thought.   I don't remember my Mom ever making a big deal out of what diet she was on or her trying to lose weight. I know from having conversations with her since I have grown up and it was difficult for her to lose some weight after her FOURTH child.  She had Jane Fonda tapes and had a bike exerciser.  I remember as a kid thinking it was so much fun to do the Jane Fonda workouts.

I don't want my daughter or my son for that matter to be talking about going on a "diet" in the 6th grade like I remember some of my friends doing.  I don't want her worrying about her weight.  Weight is just a number.  If I weren't packing around all these muscles sure I could weigh less and wear the same size or smaller jeans, but then I couldn't run so far so fast and how fun would that be?



Sure I have had some ups and downs with my weight through the years. I know that I have the power to do something about that.  Instead of worrying about being skinny and concentrate on being fit and in great shape.

I try to emphasize to my kids that I run and I workout  

to be healthy,

to feel good, 

to be happier,

to be strong,
and to be fit.

 I do it for me.

Not to be skinny.

Not to look  like someone else 

I don't want to look like this                                                    or this

Source

Source

not even an option, this is just gross

source

and is it just me or has this beautiful women gotten a little too thin too?

I have muscles.  No, my body by Hollywood or modeling standards is not perfect, but it can run a 1:37 half marathon and a 5 mile race in under 34 minutes.  I can do 40 pushups without stopping to rest and power my way through Bodyrock.tv workouts like nobody's business. 

There is too much emphasis on skinny, thin, and being busty as the ideal body.  I want my daughter to know that a fit strong body is more perfect and more attractive than a bony one any day.

and that truly...

Nothing looks as good as healthy feels.

Love your body, take care of your body,   

feed it right,

and it will take care of you.

I titled this "What I want my daughter to know, but I do want my son to know it too.  I only really have my own perspective of this from a woman's viewpoint.  I always assume boys don't worry about it as much, but I bet I am wrong.

Thoughts?

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