tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57815653294974667822024-03-05T12:02:45.705-08:00Running Like a GirlLearning how to run & not pukeRunning Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-23358579769086315402013-05-08T11:46:00.001-07:002013-05-08T11:46:09.186-07:00Well, I have lupusMy appointment this morning confirmed it. I'm not shocked at this point, but still trying to figure out my next steps.<br />
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The doctor was positive overall. It doesn't look like my kidneys or liver are involved, which is great. Now it's about managing my stress and health to reduce flare ups, and prevent organ damage.<br />
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So, no more distance running (ever) & likely no more running for the next few months until my joints are feeling better. I may need to move to low impact activities permanently. Things I wish I had done: run a marathon, run more half marathons, gone on every.dang.run that I could have. Things that I will miss. . . all of it. Sprinting towards the finish line, the stress management of running, and the amazing feeling after a long run. . . when the sweat is dry and your body is tingling, and you are so proud of the effort you put forth. Let's hope I can find a similar "high" through some lower impact activity. :-) <br />
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My job is really stressful and demanding, so next up is thinking through how I want to handle that. Lots of lifestyle changes on the way. <br />
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Running, I miss you already. :-( <br />
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Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-83739222165959837762013-05-03T08:57:00.002-07:002013-05-03T08:57:10.548-07:00Ten things FridayBecause, really, who can settle for five? :-) Especially when you're a sporadic blogger - fun things pile up! <br />
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I received the full results of my lab work last night, & the test results confirm what I've been thinking for the past few weeks. I have my appointment on Wednesday, but I've mentally prepared for the expected outcome & diagnosis. Michael & I had a long conversation last night about my need to think through how I will adjust my life, so I know and understand that I CAN handle this, and that I will make any and all changes necessary to have a healthy life, regardless of the diagnosis. He handles stress in a very different way, so it was nice to have that talk and share my thoughts. I haven't put anything into action yet, but I am prepared for next week in the best way that I can, and that makes me feel stronger and more confident, and more in control.<br />
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<strong>Enough of that - today is FRIDAY! Here's what's happening today:</strong><br />
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<ol>
<li>The weather forecast in Seattle (through the weekend) looks amazing. Seattle is a total clutch weather player - when it delivers, it delivers big. Cannot wait to be outside!</li>
<li>Michael is going to Vancouver for his cousin's 50th birthday, so I'm on my own with my peeps. Weekend activities include: snuggle parties (on the floor on blankets, watching movies, with snacks, and of course, snuggling :-), laser tag, & bike rides to the park. In addition to the regular karate & swimming.</li>
<li>I've discovered homemade popcorn. Why was I such a fool with that microwaved crap for so long? Homemade popcorn is amazing & easy, & the boys love it. Perfect for snuggle parties!</li>
<li>Michael is making hamburgers tonight, & he is amazing on the barbecue. Can't wait. I also believe there are going to be margaritas involved. Sweet mercy!</li>
<li>I'm going to try a couple of new recipes this weekend - one is for mango & greek yogurt sorbet, and the other is for a savory oatmeal with sundried tomatoes, goat cheese, & chicken sausage. Woo!</li>
<li>I've mastered the art of bread making. And, everyone loves flaxseed bread in the family. Who would have thought?!</li>
<li>I've decided that I'm out for my half marathon next weekend. Regardless of everything else involved, I haven't been able to train, and I'm not interested in injuring myself. Feels good to have a decision made, and this means I have more free time to indulge on Mother's Day. ;-)</li>
<li>Related to number 7, Mother's Day plans involve - a massage, pedicure, a solid low-impact workout, Michael making me my favorite Persian dinner, cupcakes from my favorite place, and . . . wine. </li>
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9. I've found a local babysitter!!!!!!!! I can't describe my happiness that I now have someone to call when Michael & I want an evening out. We've had bad luck with sitters in the past, & have not had a sitter more than a handful of times in seven years. So, so excited about this, which means - Date night! Michael & I are going to dinner next Saturday to celebrate Mother's Day. Hmmmm, where should we go? The possibilities are endless.<br />
10. love the innocence and confidence in kids. There is a boy in my son's class that he has befriended. The teacher mentioned that she moved Nick to specifically sit next to this little guy because he was struggling so much and Nick was a great influence. I check in with Nick on the ride home from school, and he is always so positive when I ask. (name of other child changed.) "How was school today, Nick." "Great, Bobby is really learning math, mommy. He's not as far along as I am, but he's working hard. Sometimes he gets distracted, but he's a really good boy and he's getting better every day." He is a fierce protector of his friend, says such motivating and positive things, and quite frankly, reminds me when I need to do better about this kind of stuff myself. <br />
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<strong>That's all I've got. What are you up to this weekend? What are you happy about today?</strong> <br />
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Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-20052232170296675672013-04-29T12:43:00.004-07:002013-04-29T12:43:41.105-07:00Things I'm not very good at and my top five happy thingsThe list is probably long, but at the very top is patience, dealing with the unknown, and controlling my own "worst case scenario" from playing out at every opportunity. So, it's pretty frustrating not to be able to get in to see a rheumatologist until May 8th. In fact, the doctor I was referred to by my primary physician wasn't taking appointments until the end of June. I called around & found another specialist covered by my insurance plan who was available earlier, thank God.<br />
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So, to recap, I got the call on Saturday night that I tested positive for an autoimmune "disease" (that was the word she used). The results were concerning, & I needed to make an appointment right away to see a specialist. Testing positive means there are a limited set of things that I could have - it's not a definitive "you're pregnant" test result. Some of the diseases are a big deal (lupus & rheumatoid arthritis, being two of them). The lupus one freaks me out, because the symptoms that I originally went to see my doctor about were: fatigue, extreme hair loss, muscle & joint pain, an increase in my anemia symptoms, and an ongoing low-grade fever. Which matches up with the lupus symptoms. Yes, I know, self-diagnosing is not a good idea. But, I also feel the need to "prepare" myself, for any of the possibilities that loom ahead. Does that make sense? <br />
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To me, get in to see a specialist "right away" means . . . this week? Not the end of June. Anyway, depending on what could be wrong, there are certain lifestyle changes I should be making or considering - how much running I'm doing (creating additional joint pain seems like a bad idea), drinking might be problematic, etc. <strong>So, how much should I change my life while I wait around to hear what's going on?</strong> The honest truth is that I'm.scared.shitless. Seriously, I'm scared that the person I am right now is going to change, and I'm going to have to adjust my entire lifestyle. The reason I went into the doctor for the initial appointment is that I just don't feel like myself - I'm EXHAUSTED. I want to crawl up under my desk and take a nap. I feel like a lazy slug who is not a good employee, mom, runner, and I just can't stand the feeling of not being myself. <br />
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I don't know if I should continue to train for my half marathon in a couple of weeks, but what I'm going to *try* to do (which, goes completely against the grain for my Type A, training plan & schedule driven self) is train as much as I comfortably can. If that means I'm not fully trained, I'll deal with that. If I'm able to train as my plan calls for, I can make a game time decision about being ready for my half. My goal is to not push my body past what it can comfortably do right now - which is kind of the opposite of the normal running philosophy, I think. :-) <br />
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<strong>So, on that fun & awesome note, here are the top 5 things making me happy right this very second!!!</strong><br />
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<ol>
<li>My amazing husband booked a trip to Las Vegas, for the week my parents are taking the kiddos to Disneyland. I really, really need to look forward to: cabana time, sunshine, massages, adult-only dinners, time with my love, & people watching!!</li>
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2. My grandmother's 80th birthday. My mom, sister & I are taking her to the beach in a few weeks to celebrate. She has dementia, & so there are times when it's hard to see her change and forget things, but when she's in the moment, it's fabulous. She was hugely important in my life when I was growing up. Our last beach trip with the ladies! Why yes, we're in the local watering hole. ;-) <br />
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3. My boys have become obsessed with reading! Love.it! Here's my little guy, at the bus stop. Just reading away. <br />
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4. This lady, who saved me from myself & took me to lunch (and cupcakes!) yesterday. College roommate way back in the time machine, still best friends (on the right). In the middle is my amazing sister, who is turning 40, even though you would never know it! Jealous of the baby face. <br />
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5. Oh, & I may have bought myself a new bikini for getting into trouble this summer! The dark purple looks surprisingly good on my super pale skin. ;-) <br />
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<strong>Fill me in! What are the top five things making you happy right this very second?!!</strong><br />
Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-45034220509366541442013-04-28T09:41:00.000-07:002013-04-28T09:41:02.760-07:0010K PRIt was my first 10K, so of course it was a PR! :-) Garmin time - 1:04, 6.4 miles. <br />
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Ran it, rocked it, put all thoughts of autoimmune disease & test results away, & focused on the fact that my body was strong enough to run today. That's enough for the moment.<br />
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I crushed my 5K PR, which was likely not the best strategy, since it was a 10K, but I did have a nice smile on my face as I looked at my watch & thought of how far I've come as a runner in the past two years. This race was where it all started, & I remember looking at the 10K runners & not knowing how it would even be possible to run for 6 miles.<br />
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I can already tell that, regardless of what the rheumatologist/specialists tell me, I am going to need a physical outlet to deal with all of the stress & unknowns that lay ahead. No matter what changes in my life, or my physical capabilities, I AM A RUNNER.<br />
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Any fun races this weekend? Fill me in!Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-40821019720512936922013-04-27T21:30:00.000-07:002013-04-27T21:30:09.856-07:00To race, or not to raceWhat a wild ride the last few weeks have been. I got a flu that just wouldn't quit, I've been having such terrible fatigue, swollen joints, sore muscles, you name it. My doctor thought it was a flare up of my anemia, so I moved on & have been pushing myself to get back to normal over the last week - getting back to slow (but regular) workouts, eating better (less carbtastic than I was during the flu & post-flu comfort food phase), & getting religious with my iron supplements.<br />
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My doctor called tonight & I tested positive for an autoimmune disease. Leaning towards lupus, given my drastic hair loss & some other symptoms, but nothing is for sure at this point, just the positive test result for the ANA test. I got a referral to a rheumatologist & hopefully can get in next week.<br />
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I've been feeling like the laziest loser every day for the past month. No energy, no desire to run, so much trouble focusing at work. .. . I've known something was up. <br />
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This is all emotional, & I'm still trying to process everything the doctor said. I finally had to stop googling all of the symptoms, because nothing will stress you out more than a self-diagnosis.<br />
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Title aside, I am planning on running my 10K tomorrow. Slow & steady. This is the first race I ever did (a 5K, way back in the time machine in 2011). <br />
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This race makes me remember how far I've come as a runner, & I'm going to rock it. And, by rocking it, I mean slowly & easily. ;-)<br />
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<strong>Doctors get this stuff wrong all the time, right?</strong> <br />
Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-33863064975470078362013-04-22T08:28:00.000-07:002013-04-22T09:01:19.645-07:00Makeover Monday and the return of the 20 mile week?Happy Monday, all. My title from the post I was going to publish <strong><em>last</em></strong> Monday was "Return of the 20 mile week", because I had a great training week & was pleased that I was finally back on track with my training plan. . . <br />
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And, then I got the flu around midnight last Monday. I ran 4 miles (in total) last week, & I'm back to freaking out about my half marathon that is coming up in just under three weeks! I really have not been able to consistently train for this. I think my goal will be to finish, not focus on time, and find another half this summer that I can really rock & PR. <br />
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For those of you who are long-time readers, you may remember the "growing out my blonde hair color" saga. Refresher, <a href="http://runninglikeagirlinwa.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-my-hair-is-heinous.html">here</a>. :-) <br />
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I did, in fact grow out all of the blonde, in a true test of my patience. About three months after the grow out was complete, I started to go gray. Like, full on, ashy blonde/gray. I've been struggling with the dilemma of what to do with my hair for a few months (okay, six months), but I've been too afraid to do anything. Last night (after cancelling three previous appointments because I was too nervous), I added honey blonde highlights to hide the gray. <br />
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The before picture, at the salon. And, this was right after my workout - my salon is at my gym - hence the awesome post-pony tail curls. ;-) <br />
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And, after. I think it's pretty subtle, but Michael, who didn't want me to color it at all, kind of freaked out. ;-)<br />
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This morning's picture shows the highlights a bit better.<br />
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In huge news, it's sunny this morning, after a full weekend of rain! Do you know what happens to two kids when they are trapped inside on a rainy weekend & can't get all of their wigglies out in the great outdoors? I'll give you a hint . . . it involves lots of wrestling, general naughtiness, & time outs. ;-)<br />
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Sandal-wearing day. FINALLY! <br />
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In my first ever blog prize win, the fabulous <a href="http://www.readwriterunmom.com/">Cori </a>at <a href="http://read.write.run.mom/">Read.Write.Run.Mom</a> sent me my Clif bar prize pack. Not shown in the picture is the chocolate/coconut flavor that I inhaled as soon as the package arrived. YUM! :-) Thank you, thank you, thank you, Cori! The boys are loving the Clif granola bars. I haven't seen those in stores, but will have to check them out.<br />
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What's the running plan for the week, you ask? Ahhhhhh, yes, that! :-) Well, my Hood to Coast team has a Facebook page, and we all report our weekly mileage numbers. I love it, and it keeps me motivated. Typically we average around 20 miles/per person. Yesterday, I had the honor of posting my "4 mile week". And, one of our other runners posted 47! Just the motivation I need to kick things up a notch, know that when I work hard, I can get the mileage in, and a reminder to refocus after being sick. So, thanks to Elliot for that kick in the pants. ;-)<br />
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Here's the plan! My core has been bothering me when I run, so time to amp up the yoga & pilates.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Monday - 4 miles + arms, & pilates in the evening.</li>
<li>Tuesday - Cross train + legs & yoga</li>
<li>Wednesday - Hill repeats (4 miles).</li>
<li>Thursday - 4 miles speed workouts + arms + pilates</li>
<li>Friday - Rest + yoga.</li>
<li>Saturday - 12 miler.</li>
<li>Sunday - running a 10K. Was supposed to be with Michael, but he hasn't been training at all, so I'll probably be solo, and may see if there's a kids run for the boys.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Woohoo! How do you approach events where you don't feel fully trained? Any tips? I need the mental inspiration as much as the physical this week.</strong> <strong>Also, looking for healthy homemade snacks, for myself & the kiddos. We do a lot of homemade muffins, granola bars, trail mix, etc, but if you have any quick & easy favorite recipes, please share!</strong><br />
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<strong>My current favorite granola bar recipe is <a href="http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/homemade-granola-bars/">this one</a>. </strong>Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-42542942900247749742013-04-15T19:27:00.002-07:002013-04-15T19:27:30.424-07:00Just sadnessNothing really seems worth blogging about, but my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those impacted. I'm nowhere, nowhere near fast enough to even dream about running Boston, but I've crossed other finish lines, & had my kids there, & even crossed the finish line at my first half holding hands with my son. The news that an 8 year old was killed hits way too close to home.<br />
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It just feels so personal. Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-87993457819126470742013-04-11T19:34:00.000-07:002013-04-11T19:34:15.676-07:00Do you ever have those dayswhen you feel not so good about yourself?<br />
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I've had a hard time balancing work (it's crazy - I took over for a coworker who left, & my workload has doubled) & working out. We ate out a lot when my parents watched the boys (a few days of bliss, followed by me missing them terribly). :-) I haven't been getting any sleep due to the construction happening outside my house (picture an overpass being built about 35 feet from your bedroom window - the work happens 24x7). I'm exhausted, & the sleep deprivation has been foiling my morning workout plans.<br />
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Today I was in a crazy funk where I felt very chubby & out of shape. And, quite frankly, freaked out about my half marathon that's in four weeks - that I haven't been consistently training for.<br />
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I managed to squeeze in one mile of sprints on the treadmill by bribing my children with chicken nuggets (yes, I have no shame), before they broke into a wrestling match. I ate a healthy salad for dinner, & was contemplating finishing the rest of my run after the kiddos go to bed. <br />
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And then I got this from my sister, from our vacation three years ago. . . just when you feel like you haven't made any progress in your fitness journey.<br />
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Oh.My.Goodness. And, no, I'm not pregnant, contrary to what the photo reveals. <br />
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Now I run half marathons, & weigh 35 pounds less. Even on a day like today, when I'm not feeling my best, I'm trying to remind myself that I've changed my life. I may not be perfect, or as thin as I want to be, or run as much as I want, but I am a different person - I take care of myself, I work out, & I eat well (within reason - I won't quit you, wine!). <br />
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I needed that today! And, as soon as Curious George is over, I'm going to go finish my sprint intervals on the treadmill. Half marathon in 4 weeks - I can DO THIS!Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-60937316544999684482013-04-02T08:31:00.002-07:002013-04-02T08:31:14.823-07:00Giving up sugarAfter my big Easter candy blowout, and the way my jeans are feeling, I think it's time to cut out sugar for a week. I'm not going to get too hung up on food that has added sugar (my cereal that I snack on does), but I am going to focus on not eating the following:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Candy</li>
<li>Baked goods</li>
<li>Frozen yogurt (because I like to top it with junk)</li>
<li>Ice cream</li>
</ul>
I'm going to shoot for a week, and see if that helps reduce my cravings and just generally make me feel better. It's nuts, because I do not feel good after eating food that's not terribly healthy *cough - chicken strips & tater tots for lunch, bags of Easter candy, chips*, but I still occasionally succumb. I tend to really struggle when Michael is out of town & I'm home alone with the kids (which is happening this week & next), so now feels like the right time to work on this.<br />
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I was supposed to get up at 5:00 am to run on the treadmill, but I got about three hours of sleep last night. They were working on a massive, multi-year construction project right outside our house, and the trucks were particularly loud last night, & kept waking up the kids. No fun. I am currently having green tea & feeling like a zombie. I *will* run today, so I'll need to be creative about when I fit that in.<br />
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You know who else enjoyed candy this weekend? These little cuties. I kept trying to take pictures, and mouths were always full! :-) Note the chocolate on Sam's face, and Nick's chewing. <br />
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<strong>How about you? Have you ever given up sugar? How long did it take before you stopped craving it?</strong> Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-85052299938871370872013-04-01T15:09:00.001-07:002013-04-01T15:09:08.600-07:00Must stop eating Easter candyFirst of all, we had a fabulous, fabulous weekend at the beach. Typically in March, you're in for cold & wet weather at the coast, with (if you're lucky) some sun breaks. Instead, we got this:<br />
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The kids did this:<br />
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They were also pretty tuckered out after all that fun, so there was a little resting on the couch and napping in the car, as well. Easter egg glasses-optional.<br />
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I did manage to get out for one lonely run, and it was stunning. I even brought my phone so I could stop & take pictures. A gorgeous, gorgeous day for a run.<br />
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I had big plans to run 7 miles on Saturday, but instead I spent the day at the beach with my cute husband, watching the kids frolic in the sand. All was not lost, I did manage to bike to town with the kiddos in search of ice cream. ;-)<br />
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And, it's only fair to say that shortly after that picture was taken, I got a wicked, wicked sunburn on my chest. I didn't even think to bring the sunblock - in March!<br />
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Now that I've inhaled a ton of Easter candy, it's time to dust myself off and focus on my training plan once again. Michael's traveling a lot over the course of the next few weeks, so I need to be especially disciplined with my schedule - there's no opportunity to find another time to workout if I sleep through my alarm. <br />
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<li>Monday - Run around 6:30 or 7:00. 3-4 miles on the 'mill.</li>
<li>Tuesday - Run 5 miles in the morning + power yoga</li>
<li>Wednesday - Cross train in the morning + arms</li>
<li>Thursday - Speed repeats in the morning + pilates</li>
<li>Friday - Cross train + arms</li>
<li>Saturday - 4 miler + legs </li>
<li>Sunday - 9 miler + power yoga</li>
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<strong>Did you overindulge over Easter? Favorite Easter candy? Cadbury mini eggs!! How was the weather for you over the weekend?</strong> <br />
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Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-22359357291820405832013-03-18T09:00:00.002-07:002013-03-18T09:00:40.983-07:00On not being photogenic, and a new running plan!First things first. This weekend was my baby's 6th birthday. The first few years were hard (especially since are kids are very close in age), but the last few years have gone too fast. The boys say & do hilarious things, & I love this stage.<br />
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<strong>Birthday party fun.</strong><br />
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I love that Nick has three cousins, all close in age. These boys make every party fun. <br />
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A little brotherly love. . .</div>
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And then I saw a few lovely pictures of myself. Let's just say that I'm . . . not very photogenic. I'm cursed with a round face, my friends. When you have a round face, it's all about the angle.<br />
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Here's me with my sister, last year, at almost exactly the same weight I'm at now (I'm currently two pounds higher). . normal looking face:<br />
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And, then there's this glamour shot. . . Hello, there, triple chin! I'm photogenically challenged, I think:<br />
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And, this morning.<br />
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<strong>Pictures from the side are NOT GOOD.</strong> Must remember to pose more during photos. :-) This picture was great inspiration for dropping the last ten pounds!<br />
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<strong>Last week's workouts:</strong><br />
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I had a pretty light week, with no running! My original plan was to take a few days off to recover from my half, but then I got a nasty cold, so I stuck to cross training & took it very easy. Here's what I actually did, along with my calorie intake for the day. I'm starting to notice a trend, where I am hungrier on days when I don't work out. . . Not what I was expecting, but it appears <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/278373-does-exercise-suppress-appetite/">there may be some scientific support for this</a>. <br />
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<li><strong>Monday</strong> - Rest day (planned). 1429 calories</li>
<li><strong>Tuesday</strong> - Rest day (unplanned) + power yoga. 2000 calories.</li>
<li><strong>Wednesday</strong> - 30 minutes on the elliptical + legs. 1510 calories</li>
<li><strong>Thursday</strong> - 40 minutes of biking + arms + pilates. 1231 calories.</li>
<li><strong>Friday</strong> - Rest day (unplanned). 1454 calories.</li>
<li><strong>Saturday</strong> - 35 minutes of elliptical + 35 minutes on the bike + arms & legs. 1544 calories.</li>
<li><strong>Sunday</strong> - Rest day (unplanned). 1542 calories</li>
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<strong>This week's workouts:</strong><br />
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Today officially kicks off a new training plan for the Mother's Day Half in May. I really, really want to stick to the workouts, focus on speed and getting more hill training in. Here's what I'm planning for the week ahead:<br />
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<ul>
<li><strong>Monday - </strong>4 mile easy strides (with 4/30 second sprints) + arms. Power yoga this evening.</li>
<li><strong>Tuesday - </strong>45 minutes of cross training + legs. Pilates in the evening.</li>
<li><strong>Wednesday - </strong>2 speed repeats, for a total of 4 miles. </li>
<li><strong>Thursday - </strong>60 minutes of cross training + arms. Power yoga in the evening.</li>
<li><strong>Friday - </strong>Burlesque or Zumba with a friend.</li>
<li><strong>Saturday - </strong>Run GPR, for a total of 5 miles. </li>
<li><strong>Sunday - </strong>5 mile run + arms/legs & pilates.</li>
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<strong>How about you? What does your schedule look like? Did you have a fun St. Patrick's Day? And, are YOU photogenic? If so, please share tips! :-)</strong> <br />
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Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-42093741890365817282013-03-15T13:37:00.001-07:002013-03-15T13:37:40.097-07:00A few things about me Thanks so much to Stephanie at <a href="http://nowirun.com/">Now I Run</a> for the Liebster award! <br />
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Love the questions. :-) <br />
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<strong>1. What is your favorite breakfast food?</strong> - Hmmm, I don't make it very often, but Huevos Rancheros? I typically have an egg with spinach on bread + fruit & coffee in the morning. Boring!</div>
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<strong>2. Where would you travel on a dream vacation? </strong>Easy - French Polynesia. For more "regular/realistic" vacations, I love the Oregon coast & Las Vegas.</div>
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<strong>3. How many concerts have you been to? Which was your favorite? </strong>Not a huge concert person, but I saw both Dido & Jackson Brown in concert & they were amazing.</div>
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4. <strong>Where were you born?</strong> Washington state!</div>
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<strong>5. What is your all-time favorite movie, book, and/or song?</strong> - Ahhh, I'm bad at this. I easily forget. Hangover? I have low brow taste. ;-) </div>
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<strong>6. Do you embarrass easily? Most embarrassing moment?</strong> - Yes! I think it was when I was wearing a long skirt in high school, & someone stepped on the back, & it came off. It was pretty traumatic at the time.</div>
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<strong>7. Did you go to college? Where? What did you study?</strong> - Yes. Claremont McKenna (California) & University of Puget Sound (Washington) for undergrad, & University of Washington for grad school. Professional writing, business, & an MBA.</div>
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<strong>8. Do you have pets? What kind(s)?</strong> - We have one lonely fish. </div>
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<strong>9. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?</strong> - Tillamook Udderly Chocolate. From the factory! The Tillamook Factory has all of the flavors, & it's amazing! </div>
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<strong>10. If you could only go to one store for the rest of your life which one would you choose?</strong> - For clothing shopping? Nordstrom?</div>
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<strong>11. How often during the day do you check your email?</strong> - For work, I'm online ALL DAY LONG. In the evenings, 3-4 times/night. Part of my job involves international, so I have to make sure things are going well during different parts of the day.</div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" scale="0" src="http://seethisgirlrun.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/liebster.png" /><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">What is a Liebster Award?</span></strong><br />
The Liebster Award is for any up and coming blogs that you enjoy reading and a great way to promote them!<br />
<strong>1.</strong> This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.<br />
<strong>2.</strong> The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another.<br />
<strong>3.</strong> Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.<br />
<strong>4.</strong> Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.<br />
<strong>5.</strong> Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.</div>
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Not entirely sure about the stats on followers for some of the blogs, but I'm giving the Liebster award to:</div>
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<a href="http://happyhealthyrunner.com/">Happy Healthy Runner</a></div>
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<a href="http://marathonlar.blogspot.com/">Marathon Lar</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ricoleruns.com/">Ricole Runs</a></div>
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<a href="http://momvsmarathon.sanitydepartment.com/">Mom vs Marathon</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thehinzadventures.com/">Learning Patience</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.runningstarfish.com/">Running Starfish</a></div>
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<a href="http://runnersfuel.blogspot.com/">A Runners Fuel</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.readwriterunmom.com/">Read Write Run Mom</a></div>
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<a href="http://joannaruns.blogspot.com/">Joanna Runs</a></div>
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<a href="http://runeatplayblog.com/">Run Eat Play</a></div>
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<a href="http://stephrunson.wordpress.com/">Steph Runs On</a></div>
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In running news, I haven't run at all since my half on Saturday. I'm kicking off a new training plan next week in preparation for my return to the hilly Kirkland Half Marathon, so I thought it was a good week to take it easy & focus on cross training, yoga, & pilates. I'm also attending a burlesque dance class with a friend next week. WHO AM I? Totally outside my comfort zone. :-)</div>
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And, my leprechaun is turning six on Sunday. Can't believe it!</div>
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Me, today. I used to take daily ugly bathroom pictures, but then my office took out the full-length mirror, so today you just get a self-portrait. Taking my own picture gives me unnaturally large arms. Hot stuff! :-) Still tired & adjusting to daylight savings time. Can you tell? </div>
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<strong>What are you up to this weekend? Fun plans? Training runs? Races? Fill me in! And, if you are celebrating TGIF, what are you indulging in this evening? I'm planning on a glass (or two! ) of wine. :-)</strong> </div>
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Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-42763018256201902002013-03-11T08:38:00.001-07:002013-03-11T08:38:10.661-07:00Ugly race picturesWell, first of all, I can't believe there are free race pictures available! What an unexpected treat. :-)<br />
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And they are truly classics. I take ugly race photos to an entirely new level. These are at the halfway mark, I think?<br />
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This one requires a little explanation. I was briefly confused when I crossed the finish line. I was shooting for 2:20, which my Garmin said I could do, so when I saw 2:24 or whatever on the finish line, I was both pissed & confused, as well as being in the normal end of race pain. Of course, in my delirium, I forgot that I started near the end of the pack, so of course the 2:24 wasn't my actual finish time. But, this picture nicely expresses how I felt in that moment. I like to call this "bitter runner". Also, running apparently makes my sports bra cease to work & my chest slides to my belly button. Or else, I look like that all the time & just never noticed. Hot stuff! :-) <br />
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Also, after owning my Garmin for two years, I finally figured out how to upload the information to my computer. I'm a slow learner. I've uploaded my race, but can't figure out how to view the details by mile. Is that possible? Doesn't it allow you to view your average mile pace? I just see it on a graph?<br />
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<strong>How was your weekend? Any fun race stories? Most bizarre thing I saw on my run. . . a woman in full running gear (but no bib) on the trail, carrying a large handbag. Like, a full sized Coach purse. It was. . . strange.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
I'm running a local 10K (it's about a mile from my house, so I can't resist!) in April, but my next training goal is for the Kirkland Mother's Day Half. I want to beat my current PR on that course (2:23) & would love to beat my PR from Saturday (2:20). It's a super hilly course, so I need to really focus on both speed work & hill training.<br />
<br /><strong>How about you? What is your next training goal?</strong>Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-44899102395476572942013-03-09T14:05:00.000-08:002013-03-09T14:05:34.426-08:00A Perfect Day for a PR!I had high hopes for the Lake Sammamish Half because the course is flat, flat, flat! And, unlike my first half last May, I wasn't fighting bronchitis. Based on my 12 miler time, I was hoping to come in between 2:10 and 2:20. <br />
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Despite the worst side ache I've ever gotten running between miles 7 & 8, I manged to squeak in at 2:20:08. I'll take it! :-) <br />
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The first 7 miles were all rainbows & unicorns, but I made a huge mistake at the first water station & gulped three cups while I was running. Cue the side ache that would not go away. I debated bringing my own fuel belt & water/Nuun & actually had it in the car, but didn't want to carry it unless I needed it. I do need it, because I'm a sipper of water, & need it consistently throughout the race. When I chug it down, bad things happen.<br />
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I was finally able to run consistently again around the 8.5 mile mark. The sun came out (it was really foggy before that) & I was feeling better. I know I gave it my all, because I had big plans to finish hard the last two miles, but I was barely able to keep my pace. Even when I saw the finish line, I didn't have much energy to close with.<br />
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I'm a little sore, and know I'll be feeling this tomorrow. And, I had the mostly heavenly lunch ever. It's one of my favorites, but a calorie bomb, so I usually resist. . . Turkey & swiss on a cheddar bagel with Russian dressing from a local bakery. So, so, so good.<br />
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I'm off to take Nick to get party stuff for his birthday next weekend and enjoy the sunshine. Life is good!Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-21580261363084685732013-03-07T13:19:00.003-08:002013-03-07T13:19:44.320-08:00Ten Things I'm Happy About Right NowI'm in a great mood today, for no particular reason, so here goes!<br />
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Here are 10 things that I'm happy about today.<br />
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<ol>
<li>I'm working too much. . . because I actually enjoy my job. It's been <strong>years</strong> since I could say that.</li>
<li>I'm getting into the routine of waking up at 5:00 am & working out. It's AMAZING. Not the waking up early part, but the knowing you're done & nothing will come up & foil your plans.</li>
<li>My kids are at the best ages ever. Sam's seven & Nick's turning six next week. Sam has "girlfriends", they tell jokes, they keep each other company now when the other one takes a bath. They read each other books, it's awesome.</li>
</ol>
Brotherly bathroom love<br />
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More love:<br />
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<ol>
4. Never been more in love with this guy. We've hit our stride, helped greatly by overall reduced stress, kids who sleep through the night, & just figuring out how to parent two young kids.</ol>
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5. I've finally lost 5 pounds since January. It's taken a long time, but I'm making progress & can definitely notice a difference in the way my clothes fit. Boom!<br />
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6. I posted last year that Sam was really struggling in school & every day was full of so much stress & drama with his teacher. This year? He's doing amazing, & (insert small mom brag) just got tested for the gifted program. His teacher is so fabulous & I feel so grateful that he goes to school every day & feels confident again.<br />
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At Yogurtland, following an eight hour IQ test on a Saturday. Poor guy survived like a champ. Last year he couldn't focus for an hour. This year? He rocked out an eight hour test. He's an amazing kid & has come SO far. Love this boy.<br />
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7. This guy is turning 6 in a week or so. And, he's pretty damn hysterical. And, moody & emotional, & loving, & sensitive, & as always. . . the surprise of my life.<br />
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8. Michael & I are having a "date" on Saturday. Our first date since our anniversary in October. I'm so dang excited, I don't even know what to do with myself.<br />
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9. Yoga is making me feel GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD. Why did you all keep it such a secret? I had no idea I would feel so good?!<br />
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10. Oh, and there's that minor thing I'm doing on Saturday. Before my date night, of course. My third half marathon. So, so, so excited!!! <br />
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<strong>What are you happy about today? Share the joy! :-) </strong><br />
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<span id="goog_96222755"></span><span id="goog_96222756"></span><br />Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-10687031138431365092013-02-26T11:09:00.000-08:002013-02-26T11:09:52.532-08:00Recommend your running tights and reflectorsYesterday was my rest day, so I'm chomping at the bit to get out there & run again, after my great 12 miler on Sunday.<br />
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Here's my workout plan for the week - I'm two weeks out from my half marathon, so this week's mileage is a little lower than last week.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Monday - Rest day</li>
<li>Tuesday - 4 mile run + arms + pilates (evening)</li>
<li>Wednesday - Speed repeats - 6 miles</li>
<li>Thursday - Cross training + yoga</li>
<li>Friday - 6 miles + arms </li>
<li>Saturday - 8 miles</li>
<li>Sunday - cross training (skiing)</li>
</ul>
I have a pair of great Lululemon running tights, but I need a second pair. Can you recommend your favorite running tights? Under $100, and hopefully under $75. Am I too optimistic? :-) I want full length (cutting off just before the ankle).<br />
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Also, do you wear reflectors when you run early am/evening? So far I've been running with a headlamp, but on part of the run, I'm running with traffic, and a car wouldn't be able to see me from behind. Recommendations on a reflector? A vest? A shirt with built in reflectors? <br />
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<strong>Would love any recommendations you have on the tights or reflectors. I'm working on my wish list for Mother's Day. :-)</strong> <br />
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<strong>Have you purchased any new running gear lately? If so, please share! :-)</strong><br />
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In completely non-running related news, Michael bought me a bread maker for my birthday, & I've been making bread way too often. It's fabulous. MMMMMMMMMMM, bread! Do you bake?<br />
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Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-56045575366387901192013-02-25T09:01:00.001-08:002013-02-25T09:07:54.773-08:00Long Run Anxiety and a Badazz 12 MilerDo you ever get anxious before a long run? If you ask Michael, I'm sure he'll tell you that I get very . . . tense before a long run. I don't walk to talk, I'm mentally preparing, & I don't do well with last minute schedule changes. Which, is kind of silly and unrealistic, given that we have two kids & sometimes you have to go with the flow a bit. <br />
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We spent Friday & Saturday at the beach, on the Oregon coast. LOVE that place, but the weather is a bit unpredictable. My training plan called for a 6 miler on Friday, my 12 miler on Saturday, & then Sunday would be a blissful rest day. Of course, on Friday, the wind was blowing 30 mph, it was hailing, & raining all day. I'm from the northwest, & don't mind a little rain, but this was a full on storm. I decided to swap my rest day to Friday, & I'd do my 12 miler on Saturday, followed by my 6 miler on Sunday. Did you get all that? :-)<br />
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There was a brief break in the rain on Saturday, & as I mentioned, I was already a bit tense since my schedule was "off". I wasn't quite a mile in when the hail started. Followed by a little sunshine, monsoon like rain, wind, & then a second round of hail. I kept going, and was really pleased by my pace at the half way mark. And then things got crazy. The wind picked up, branches were falling, & the hail was cutting my face. I looked at the Garmin, & had to either add another loop to hit 12 miles, or turn around & head for home. I was just short of 8 miles. I knew Michael would be worried, & honestly, I like to be hardcore, but I'm no masochist. <br />
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Don't I just look jazzed that I had to cut it short? Also, there's hail on my face. :-) <br />
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At this point, my long run anxiety was at an all time high. I'd already put in 8 miles on Saturday, which meant doing my 12 miler on Sunday for a 20 mile weekend. . . A lot more than I normally run.<br />
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I kept thinking of a comment that <a href="http://cautionredheadrunning.blogspot.com/">Redhead Running</a> made in a previous post - you have to believe to achieve. I got up on Sunday morning (and, because Michael is an amazing guy who gets me, he took the kids skiing by himself) & got myself all ready to do 12 miles. I chose a route that should be pretty similar to my half marathon. (Sadly, I lost that hat on the run. I had to take it off at mile 2, & tucked it into the waist band of my pants. Boo. Good bye, Helly Hansen hat. We've had many fond memories - skiing & running).<br />
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I sat in the car, & kept doubting myself. You're tired. You already did 8 yesterday. It's going to hurt. It might rain. Wow. Then I reminded myself - your husband went through all the effort to give you a kid free morning - don't waste it. I also promised myself that I would sent a Garmin picture to him at the end of the run, which meant I was committed to 12 miles. Too much pride to bail early after all that anxiety. :-)<br />
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And you know what? I had my fastest five miles ever. And, my fastest 8 miles ever. And, my fastest 12 miler. Ever. And the entire time, I kept repeating that "You have to believe to achieve." You CAN do this. You are faster & tougher than you give yourself credit for. YOU ROCK. My goal for the run was to finish in under 2:15, which would give me confidence to hit a PR for my half in two weeks. My absolute stretch goal was 2:10. <br />
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<strong>That's right baby, 2:06!!!!!!!</strong> <br />
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My legs were like bricks for the last mile, but the first 8 were probably the most enjoyable miles I've had in a year or so. Never give up, people, because it's the run that you're not expecting to be great that can really make running fun & take you to places you never thought you'd be.<br />
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All done!!!! <br />
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<strong>Do you get anxiety before long runs? My stomach was queasy for the rest of the day. I drank & fueled well, so not sure what caused that. I had to force myself to eat. Does that happen to you? Tips? I kept things mostly to basic carbs, which helped.</strong> Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-41080353884160399732013-02-21T09:16:00.000-08:002013-02-21T09:16:23.042-08:00Building a race calendarI love working on my calendar for the year, & trying to find races that look fun. It gets me all motivated & tingly. :-) One of my goals for 2013 is to run 10 races in the year, so my criteria is a little stricter than usual. Here's what I'm looking for in a race:<br />
<ul>
<li>The date has to work for our family calendar. That comes first, especially given the volume of races I want to do.The one exception to this is Hood to Coast, as obviously, that's a fixed date & I'm running with a team.</li>
<li>I want something super local, to cut down on travel time/time away from the family/general inconvenience. I love running a race in the morning & still being able to hang with my crew in the afternoon. </li>
<li>Most of the races need to be cheap. Hood to Coast surely isn't cheap, & I have a budget ($1200) I need to stick to this year. That means no bailing last minute on races, & smaller races. </li>
<li>I prefer smaller races anyway - they just feel more fun, & I hate the hassle of looking for parking, etc.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Here's my tentative lineup for the year:<br />
<ol>
<li>January - ran a 5 mile train race. It cost $15 & was about 10 minutes from my house. Win/win!</li>
<li>March 9th - Lake Sammamish Half Marathon (already registered)</li>
<li>April 7th - Mud & Chocolate Half Marathon (trail race, in Redmond). Not registered, & this will depend on Michael's travel schedule. We may be at the beach instead.</li>
<li>May12th - Mother's Day Half in Kirkland </li>
<li>August 23rd & 24th - Hood to Coast!</li>
<li>September - work charity 5K. Date TBD.</li>
<li>December - Jingle Bell 12K - Kirkland. Date TBD.</li>
</ol>
I still need three more races for the year, so if you have anything to recommend, please do! I especially want a few in June & July. <br />
<br />
And, I'm happy to report that I got up at 5:00 am TWICE this week to run. I'm on track for my planned workouts, & have my last long run on Saturday (12 miler) before my March 9th half run. <strong>My goal for that race is to get a PR. . . so below 2:23.</strong> I should have a good feel for whether that is possible after my run on Saturday. Fingers crossed!<br />
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I couldn't resist sharing this picture of (one of) my Valentines! This was Nick in Hawaii in November. Michael is still digging out our pictures from that fabulous trip. This boy is so cheesy, & I adore everything about the picture. The smile, the glasses, the tank top (his choice for a Hawaii souvenir), the pose, all of it!<br />
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<strong>What about you? What's on your race calendar for the year? How do you choose races? </strong>Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-10220325193400822532013-02-19T08:44:00.000-08:002013-02-19T09:06:45.362-08:00Getting back into the grooveWhere have I been? Skiing, hanging out with this bunch of cuties, celebrating birthdays, working, & occasionally running. Yesterday was my first solo trip to the mountain with the boys, & we all survived! Just one minor encounter with the ski patrol when Nick got lost. Let me tell you, skiing with two kiddos, & all of us being at different ski levels (& more importantly - speed!) is no small feat. And, one of those mini skiers can't read, so trail signs are of no use. Anyway, we had a great day at the mountain, & I felt like a super hero mom.<br />
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Ski season is winding down, & I have a bunch of races on the horizon, so time to get serious & get back into a regular running groove! I know what this means, & I've been putting it off. . .it means finally motivating myself to consistently run at 5:00 am. Oh boy, this should be interesting. I've been trying to do this for a year, but the time has come. With Michael's travel schedule, it's either 5:00 am or never on most days.<br />
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What I really need to do is fix my running location, because currently our treadmill is in the basement, facing a wall. If you enjoy feeling like you're in prison, this is definitely the place to be! I can run outside in the mornings as long as Michael isn't traveling (about half the time), but I need to make the treadmill running more enjoyable. We're thinking of hooking up a DVD player, or something. More on that.<br />
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I've also gained six pounds, & while I'd love to tell you that it's all muscle. . . I'm pretty sure it's not. I had to film a video for work, & seeing the footage was a cold, hard reality check. I've actually been getting quite a bit of exercise, so given that I'm still gaining weight - that should be a solid indicator of how much I'm eating. Gulp. <br />
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Recap from last week:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Monday - </strong>Rest day. Ran 11 miles on Saturday & skied all day on Sunday.</li>
<li><strong>Tuesday - </strong>Ran 2 miles on the treadmill. All I had time for.</li>
<li><strong>Wednesday- </strong>45 minutes of cross training (elliptical) + weights</li>
<li><strong>Thursday - </strong>Ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill. Because I was that lazy at 5:00 am.</li>
<li><strong>Friday - </strong>Ran 3 miles on the treadmill. I know, I know, such improvement! :-) </li>
<li><strong>Saturday - </strong>We were supposed to ski with a bunch of family for Sam's 7th birthday, but it was pouring buckets at the mountain. So, we went bowling & drank beer. And then followed that up with a movie + wine. Obviously, it was a stellar workout day.</li>
<li><strong>Sunday -</strong> 60 minutes of cross training + weights. Could have run at the gym, didn't. Have a cold, feel like dog doo.</li>
</ul>
So, there you have it! I did three runs, for a grand total of 7.5 whopping miles. My goal for the week was 22. And, I did two cross training workouts. Holy smokes! I have a half marathon coming up in three weeks, so it's time to get really serious.<br />
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Here's my plan for this week:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Monday - </strong>The boys had the day off, so we went skiing. We skied 15 runs (that's a ton with kids!), so I got in quite a bit of exercise.<strong> </strong></li>
<li><strong>Tuesday - </strong>5 mile run at lunch + arms. Pilates tonight.</li>
<li><strong>Wednesday - </strong>4 mile run at 5:00 am. </li>
<li><strong>Thursday - </strong>60 minutes of cross training at lunch. Yoga in the evening.</li>
<li><strong>Friday - </strong>At the beach! Taking a long weekend as the boys are on mid-winter break. I love running at the beach ! 6 mile run.</li>
<li><strong>Saturday - </strong>Long run for my half in a few weeks. 12 miler.</li>
<li><strong>Sunday - </strong>Rest day.</li>
</ul>
<strong>How do you get back into the groove with eating well and working out consistently? I'm going to lower my calorie goal on My Fitness Pal & get more serious with recording each food item. I've been lazy lately & just adding big bunches of calories at once (i.e. Lunch - 600 calories) & I'm clearly underestimating, according to the scale. :-)</strong><br />
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<strong>Also, if you're on My Fitness Pal, & would like to connect, please let me know!</strong>Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-63638149623678661452013-01-03T20:55:00.000-08:002013-01-03T20:55:04.793-08:002012 in review & goals for 2013Oh, 2012, you wily beast. There were some truly amazing moments in there. :-)<br />
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I ran a 5K, a 12K, a 15K, two half marathons (see that 5th picture down for the most glamorous moment of all ;-), & the truly epic Hood to Coast.<br />
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I also had some pretty fun times with my favorite peeps. Lots of trip to the beach, many trips to Las Vegas, & a family trip to Hawaii. <br />
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Life is good. :-)<br />
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My goals for 2013?<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Lose 12 pounds, bringing my weight to 135. I'm trying to shoot for a healthy, but realistic number. I've gained fourish pounds over the last few months.
<li>Track my food/exercise every day in My Fitness Pal. </li>
<li>Complete 13,000 minutes of cardio. This will be a huge stretch goal for me,
but I'm ready for the challenge! I surpassed my goal of 12,000 minutes in 2012.
<li>Complete 100 strength workouts.
<li>Complete 100 stretching workout</li>
<li>Run consistently, as measured by the following:</li>
<ul>
<li>Run 10 races.</li>
<li>Run 20 miles (or more) per week</li>
<li>Run 1000 miles</li>
<li>Achieve a PR in a half marathon</li>
<li>Run a 5K, a 10K, a 12K, a 15K, a 30K, a half marathon, & Hood to Coast</li>
</ul>
<li>Blog a minimum of once a week. I miss the accountability!</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ol>
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<strong>What about you? Any goals for 2013?</strong><br />
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Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-27018613584171155592012-12-12T12:54:00.001-08:002012-12-12T12:54:36.044-08:00I'm a giant slackerSeriously, where does the time go? For me, I think the majority of it was spent at my office. I worked 60+ weeks from September until a few weeks ago, when (Hallelujah!) I switched jobs.<br />
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Life is much more manageable again. In the meantime, as soon as I left my old job, Michael & I took the boys to Hawaii. Best vacation of my life. <br />
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Our crew had the most amazing time together. After all of that crazy work & no time with the family, it was *essential*.<br />
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More pictures to come, but I have *so* missed this. All of it. The regular running, the blogging about it, the support of this awesome community, being inspired by all of the amazing people out there.<br />
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2012 was a great year, & I'm already plotting out my 2013 goals!!!Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-78550886526544571332012-08-28T08:33:00.000-07:002012-08-28T08:33:01.021-07:00Hood to Coast - Leg 1 RecapWhere to start, where to start. I got asked to join a team the first week in July (one of their runners had an injury and had to drop out). I've been dying to try a relay, & decide to get over my fear & just go for it. Two days in a van with five of your smelliest friends with no sleep? Running 200 miles? Who can resist? :-)<br />
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I didn't know any of the other members of the team, save for my sister's boyfriend. I was assigned to the Runner 1 position, which basically means that you are the first person to run down the extremely crazy downhill from Mt. Hood, but it's also the easiest total running position. The second leg is in downtown Portland & totally flat. The third leg was also easy, & Runner 1 runs the least miles of all of the team. I was freaked about the downhill on Mt. Hood, & all of the advice I received was basically - take it slow. Don't shred your legs on that first leg, because you will suffer for the rest of the event.. . . So much easier said than done! <br />
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Our relay team, "We've got the runs", had an introductory barbecue the night before the event started. My grandmother passed away the weekend before HTC, & her funeral was on Thursday. I was an emotional mess, & didn't get to attend the barbecue, meaning I'd never seen any of the other runners before. This would prove to be a challenge during one of the handoffs.<br />
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I stayed at my sister's house in Vancouver the night before, & set the alarm for 4 am. We had a 10:45 am start time, & needed to: pick up all of the other Van 1 runners, decorate the van, load up, & drive to the mountain. <br />
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We'd heard horror stories of traffic jams, so we left for the mountain around 6 am. When we got to Timberline Lodge, it was a complete party atmosphere. They were calling out running teams every 15 minutes, & the place was loaded with excited runners. I had a Starbucks spinach/feta wrap at 5:00 am & some coffee, and couldn't decide if I should eat anything else before my first run at 10:45. I decided to have 1/2 of a peanut butter & jelly sandwich around 8:00, & drank all four of my fuel belt bottles filled with Nuun. I wanted to be well hydrated, since it was starting to heat up on the mountain. <br />
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Before I knew it, they were calling my team name, & I was lining up. My new BFF van members were cheering me on (seriously, I was with an amazing group & feel so lucky that I had already bonded with people I didn't know a day earlier). My goal for this leg was to try & pick up a few extra minutes, knowing that I would struggle with my legs for my 2nd & 3rd legs. I also wanted to not go full out & hurt my ankles or knees. The adrenaline was pouring on, & I started talking to another girl who was running for the first time. She was awesome & helped calm my nerves. <br />
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They counted us down, & we were off! The entire time we were running, I was thinking about my grandmother. She passed away at 94 last Saturday, & was an avid nature lover, & the hardest working, most disciplined person I know. She was way ahead of her time, & I will miss her so much. As I ran, I was thinking of her, & how much she would have loved the view from Timberline. It was breathtaking. This sounds silly & I'm really not the kind of person who believes in this, but I swear that I could feel her with me - telling me that I could do it & just to stay in control & enjoy the experience. <br />
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I finished 5.64 miles (and, 2000 ft elevelation drop) in 50:15, which was about 4 minutes under my race pace. I was so happy to see my teammate, Runner 2 (Everett), that I slapped that bracelet on him. I sat down & cried - it was such an emotional experience.<br />
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These awesome people totally made it happen for me - everyone was supportive, fun, & we were all first time HTCers. <br />
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Starting from the left (Nick, my sister's boyfriend, & the only person I knew before the trip), me, Elliot, Everett, Kelly, & Erin. All rock stars. <br />
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My second leg, coming up next!Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-39547146285137810072012-08-27T10:20:00.007-07:002012-08-27T20:00:21.360-07:00Hood to CoastOh my, sweet lord. What an adventure! And yes, I'll just skip past the fact that I haven't blogged in months, because I have no excuses, other than just a crazy schedule.<br />
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But, Hood to Coast baby. . . it was amazing, and dramatic & awesome. <br />
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Here's half of my team (Van 1) at Timberline Lodge, about an hour before our start time.<br />
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And, me, right before my leg down Mt. Hood!<br />
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Me (in the purple) at the end of the first exchange - just finished pounding down Mt. Hood. . . Oh, my quads.</div>
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We had such a crazy experience - Van 2 broke down, a runner got sick, a huge fire closed one of the roads & one of our runners had to add extra miles to get through the detour, we lost our slap band, got caught in a 3 hour traffic jam on our way to our "sleeping" area (I use that description loosely, given the 2 hours of sleep we got), our last runner got pointed in the wrong direction & ended up adding six extra miles to the finish (with about 50 other runners). . . it was nuts. And, easily one of the best experiences of my life. So, so, so much more to come, but if you ever get a chance to run this relay - DO IT! You will not regret it. <br />
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I promise a full recap, plus more regular blogging!Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-31434165356713534442012-07-02T09:00:00.002-07:002012-07-02T09:00:39.619-07:00The discipline of runningClearly, I have no discipline when it comes to blogging (life & work have been overwhelming lately!), but when I was running yesterday, I started thinking about how much discipline is necessary for running. <br />
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To set the stage, it was 52 and raining when I got to the park for my run. Yes, on July 1st, 52 and raining. I know, I know, it could be 110 and smoldering hot, but I was not excited to run in the rain - AGAIN. And, as I conned myself into getting out of the car & committing to at least 6 miles (my training plan called for 9), I realized how much discipline goes into my running.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Getting my kids ready & out of the house when Michael travels, so I can take them to the gym & I can run.</li>
<li>Waking up at 5:00 am on week days so I can squeeze my run in before work.</li>
<li>Waking up early on weekends so I can eat & digest before my morning run, to minimize the impact to the family.</li>
<li>Planning my weekends around my run schedule.</li>
<li>Eating well before runs, because I've learned that valuable lesson many times of what poor pre-run fueling will do during a long run. ;-)</li>
<li>Planning & organizing every day, to create that window of time for running. Life is busy, & if it's not planned out, it will not happen.</li>
<li>Just the act of getting outside (or on the treadmill) is probably the hardest part for me right now. I do it, but I'm not going to pretend it's easy.</li>
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And, in huge/slightly scary news, I got asked to join a Hood to Coast relay team yesterday! One of their other members bailed, so I'm filling in. I'm super excited & very nervous to see which legs I get. <br />
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Much, much more to come, and after all of my hemming & hawing about my run yesterday, I ended up with my fastest 9 miler ever, and by far my most enjoyable long run. Boom! Love that.<br />
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<strong>Questions for you:</strong><br />
-Have you done a relay? Tips? Tricks? <br />
-How should I think about training?<br />
-What kind of discipline do you put into your running?Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781565329497466782.post-17093357539209248772012-06-06T11:32:00.004-07:002012-06-06T11:32:34.400-07:00Return of the training planWho knew that bronchitis would knock me out for almost three weeks without running?! Yikes. I'm finally feeling better, & so happy at the prospect of running more than four miles per week again. Woohoo!! <br />
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<strong>Five Things Wednesday.</strong> (I know, doesn't that just flow? ;-))<br />
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<ol>
<li>Michael & I went to San Diego to visit friends over Memorial Day, & finally got a chance to run together. I wasn't 100%, so it wasn't exactly a hard core run, but I love running with a buddy. So much more enjoyable. And, in the best news ever, he agreed to do the Rock & Roll/Las Vegas Strip at Night Half with me!!! His first ever. Seriously. Giddy. And, view from our balcony in San Diego. . .</li>
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An extremely glamorous robe shot:<br />
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2. I'm going to Las Vegas four times over the next 6 months, & I am ridiculously excited. Why do I love that place so much?! On the agenda, are four fabulous trips:<br />
<ul>
<li>Girls trip with my amazing sister + my fabulous friend (mid-July. . .not that I'm counting down or anything!)</li>
<li>Romantic getaway with my lovely husband while said amazing sister corrals my children + her two boys. She's even taking the four kids to THE FAIR, by herself. Yes, she's a hero, people. (mid-August) It's possible that I ordered a sequined bikini for this trip. Because you know, I'm 19 and a super model, totally capable of pulling this off. . . </li>
<li>My sister & I are taking my mom for her 60th birthday trip (mid-October)</li>
<li>Strip At Night HALF! (December) with Michael</li>
</ul>
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3. I'm back to a training plan (rebuilding base miles & officially kicking things off next week). I'm doing a trail half marathon on August 4th. I've not done much trail running, so I'm looking forward to doing something new & pushing myself.<br />
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4. My office no longer has a full-length mirror, so I only have one "ugly bathroom" picture, courtesy of my lovely husband:<br />
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It's an awkward shot, but the tank top & sweater are both new, & much more flattering on. <br />
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5. Work has been absolutely nuts over the past few weeks, but the crazy period is almost over. I've missed you guys & can't wait to get back to more regular blogging. And, running, for that matter!<br />
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<strong>Give it to me! What is your favorite vacation spot? What fun things do you have lined up for the summer?</strong> <br />Running Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00773459567812986141noreply@blogger.com3