I Feel Better

Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 46 minutes

I had to have a little heart to heart with myself tonight. If I don't get serious, like NOW, I am not going to be able to do a half marathon on Feb. 5. I've got to say, there are few things I have ever done that have given me the satisfaction of completing two half marathons.

I don't want to give up that feeling. I feel better physically and mentally after kicking out three miles.

After I had that little chat with myself, I got on the treadmill, even though all I wanted to do was take a bubble bath. It's cold, and hot bubbles are wonderful. Obviously, I warmed up once I started running.

I ran three miles while listening to Pandora. I'll have to explain how dumb I am another day when it comes to Pandora. I didn't realize there were so many choices. How could I miss that?

I also ran for the first time on the treadmill in its new home in the corner of the living room. Since all the Christmas decorations are up, it was a pretty run!


Sweaty me. I forgot to wear my bondi band, and I was wiping sweat off my head the whole time.

I'll post more pictures tomorrow showing my new view from the treadmill. Right now I need to get to that bubble bath.

I Should Play Soccer

Hanging out in the freezing cold while this kid practices is not my idea of fun. However, playing soccer is this kid's idea of fun, so off to soccer practice we go.

Luckily, I only have to drive Evan to practice. Eric meets us there and is the one to hang out in the freezing cold. I did offer to throw my running clothes on and spend the practice jogging around the field. Exercise and warmth! Eric told me that he'd stay for the practice instead. I have a great husband.

I considered coming home and running on the treadmill, but I'm just so tired. I need to change the name of my blog from Pokey Slow Runner to Not Running Runner.

It'll come back...my motivation that is.

Least Favorite

My absolute least favorite time of the entire week is Sunday night from about 5 p.m. on. I hate it.

I am either stressing out about all the stuff I didn't get done before the new week starts, or I am sad that the relaxing weekend is about to end.

Don't get me wrong. I love my job, and I am fine once Monday morning rolls around. It's just the anticipation of having to get to the real world messes with my head each and every Sunday (or Monday if it's a three day weekend).

Tonight seems to be more tragic than usual. I just had a full week off for Thanksgiving. Our house is relatively clean, and all our Christmas decorations are out. I like being at home this time of year when everything is cozy and sparkly.

I'm just not ready to go back to the real world. That includes resisting going to bed. Even though I really need to go to bed.

Okay, rant over. I'll be happy to see my coworkers and the kids once I'm at school.


Still, I can't help wanting to stay home and snuggle with this yahoo.


And this one.

No Run, Just Decorate

I thought about getting up to run 3 miles. I guess I didn't think hard enough. I had a bit much to drink last night and slept like crap.

The kids woke us up early. I moved from my bed to the family room and watched a bunch of shows on DVR.

Kid #2 kept bugging me to put up Christmas. It's not what I really wanted to do today, but I knew there isn't going to be much spare time over the next three weeks to get it done.


I tried to unpack the Christmas boxes in pieces. I'm not sure if it's better to go box by box or to just haul everything in at once and unload it all.

In any case, I left several boxes unpacked in the shed, and my house still looks like Christmas threw up everywhere. I guess that means I have too many decorations! Maybe I'll rotate them in next Christmas.


One of my favorite decorations. I think my sister gave this one to me a long time ago.

It's neat to get old enough to have had your ornaments for a bit of time. I have some that I bought before I met Eric. It's also fun to see the decorations we bought together. I think our house is pretty special at Christmas time.


Decorating the tree was pretty easy this year. The kids did most of it.


Kid #1 did a good job. Kid #2 was hanging ornaments from the light strands. I'll go back over the tree after the kids go to bed, but they did a pretty good job!

Tomorrow I plan to do a bit of cleaning. Now that most of the house has been dusted, it should be easy to do a bit of organizing.

Meant to

I meant to get up and and run today before heading down to Bakersfield to enjoy Turkey Day #2 with my husband's family. Fail.

The alarm went off at 7:15, and I couldn't for the LIFE of me figure out why it was blaring in my ear so stinkin' early! Needless to say, I shut that puppy off and went back to sleep.

I was only going to do a loop around the block, but my bed just felt too good.

Anyhow, we were up, showered, and headed south by 9:15. We had a good day with family. I graded some papers and enjoyed champagne mixed with chambord. There might be an official name for the drink. I just call it yummy.

Now we are home. I'm waiting for the oven to heat up so I can have cheese sticks and hot wings. I'm in a "snacky" kind of mood. Healthy living resumes tomorrow.


We dressed up Harry. He has been shivering for weeks now. Imagine if we lived some place that was actually cold. I think he pulls off pink quite well for a boy dog.

Trotting

Distance: 3.11 miles
Time: 38:22/12:21 avg. pace

Sucky time. We're going to blame it on the huge crowd getting in my way. Yeah, that's it. It would have been rude to knock over little kids just to get a better time. Heh. Or maybe, just maybe, it had to do with the fact that I'm sort of out of shape, there were hills that I walked, and I'm just slow. Eh, I can only get better. I hope.

I didn't sleep well last night. I should have taken Benadryl, but I didn't think about it. I felt like I woke up 18 times, and then it was hard to get up at 6:15. I think I finally rolled out of bed at 6:45. Looking lovely, I might add.


In the car heading to the park. I've got the best husband who has never missed a race, regardless of how cold and tired he is. I love having a chauffeur.

It was CROWDED getting into the park. It's not usually quite so crazy. I guess everyone wanted to get their sweat on before eating all day. We had to park a ways from the start, but got there in plenty of time. It was chilly, but I remember it being WAY colder two years ago when I ran this race.


One last shot before taking off on a three mile jaunt around the park.


I stand corrected. This is the last shot before taking off. It's my favorite shot. Just my little feet.

I've had these shoes for a few months now. I don't really like them. They fit fine. They feel fine. I just don't like the dark grey and purple color. I'm a white shoe sort of gal. White shoes with pink trim is best.

Anyhow, the run was fine. Except when I got to mile two and realized there was NO WATER. Apparently, slow losers don't get water. Nothing left but empty tables and scattered cups. Rude.

Luckily I wasn't that thirsty.

I was, however, babying a nasty side stitch. I've had problems with this stitch for quite a while. I need to do research to see what can be done about it. I get a pain in that same spot when I'm not even running. Very annoying.

After what felt like me hobbling to the finish line, we took off in search of hot chocolate for the boys and hot cider for me. The girl at Starbucks was super perky. The line in the drive thru was crazy long.

Now we are home watching the Macy's parade. We need to cook a few pies before heading to Chowchilla for festivities at my sister's house.

My throat hurts, but I'm ignoring that. I was already sick at the beginning of this vacation. I don't have the patience to be sick at the end of the vacation.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Turkey Trot Tomorrow

Not much running has been going on the past few days. Five days to be exact. It's okay, though. It took a few days to get over the fever and chills.

Tomorrow I am signed up for the Turkey Trot in Fresno. I didn't run this last year, but I did run it the year before. I'm not quite up to 5K speed, but I ran 2.5 miles last week. I should be fine. Slow, but fine.

Today is Eric's birthday. He's 43. For a few months he is seven years older than me instead of six.


Birthday lunch at Japanese Kitchen. The cook was a talker. I wanted to tell him, "less talking, more cooking." Usually the food is amazing. Today it was just good.

He (the cook, not Eric) also had a very thick Japanese accent. I am horrible with accents. Horrible. People get mad at me because I can't understand them very well if they have an accent. But I don't do it on purpose. I have to stare at their lips while they talk. It's tricky.

The waiter insisted on talking to me...a lot. I understood very little of what he said. Plus, it was loud in the restaurant. I just smiled and nodded. It was just like when I took Spanish in college. Smile and nod.

Other than birthday lunch, it was a pretty low key day. I figured I should do at least one productive thing.


I tried to be the best wife ever by making homemade birthday cinnamon rolls. I got as far as making the dough. Then the dough didn't rise.

Hmmmm.


So I started a cake. In a small bowl.

I have a knack for using the wrong cooking tool for the job. Eric is forever shaking his head as I use a giant spoon in a tiny bowl, or a tiny bowl for way too much mix, or a steak knife to cut a huge onion. And the list goes on.


Eric dancing to his happy birthday song.

In any case, the cake turned out, even if the cinnamon rolls didn't. Eric wanted chocolate frosting. I wanted white. You'd think it was his birthday or something and he should get a choice! Or at the very least a cake to himself. Yeah, no.

Oh, I also cleaned my closet. Sort of. I straightened it up because I needed to get to the memory boxes. So I did two productive things today.


The memory boxes are covered with clothes, shoes, and all my stuff that I am too lazy to put away. However, in order to clean off the kitchen counter, I need access to the memory boxes. Stuff from the kitchen counter goes in the memory boxes. It's a vicious cycle as to why I can't clean my house!


Now I have access to the memory boxes. Now I can clean the kitchen counter.

Now I feel the need to eat frosting. Vanilla. Yum.

Sad and Sick

I am very sad. I had a little baby running streak going on. I ran for eight days straight. I felt great. I was proud.

Then I got sick. I'm run down. I'm sad. And I didn't run yesterday. I was running a fever and had violent chills at 1 a.m. I guess I'm not cut out to do a streak. I love the idea, but I guess running through sickness is not for me.

I didn't run today, and I doubt that I will. I'm signed up for a Turkey Trot on Thursday. That will help keep me motivated.

The nice thing about a streak is the motivation to not break the streak. I guess I can start over and see how long I can go.

Stupid fever.

Week Is Over

Distance: 1.5 miles
Time: 22 minutes

I made it through parent/teacher conferences. We only had one parent not show up for the entire junior high! Pretty good! However, it made for some really long and tiring days.

I had to talk myself out of bed yesterday morning. I told myself I'd get my run done "later." Then I chastised myself and thought, "No way will you do your run after 10 hours of parent conferences. Get your butt up now because you'll feel better about yourself if you get this done."

Mind you, this conversation was in my head, and it was 4:32 a.m. I gotta say, I am pretty proud of my short self. I got up. I ran. I felt good.

I ended up staying up really late last night finishing awards for the awards ceremony today at school. However, I still got up and did my one mile this morning. It might seem pointless to only run one mile, but for me, it just helps me stay in the groove of exercise.

I am such an all or nothing personality. I wish I could figure out balance. I'm just not good with balance.

Anyhow, Fridays are normally my rest day. Eric even noticed when I got my running gear on this morning. It's hard being up early, especially after a late night, but once again, I felt pretty good about myself this morning. And I am still in the groove.

Off topic: kid #1 got several awards at the awards ceremony at school. Way to go Evan!


Gold Honor Roll, 3rd place Accelerated Reader, and Cross Country medal. Pretty proud mom right here! Crappy picture, but pretty great kid.

More off topic: Eric surprised us all by showing up at the awards! Love that!

We had an early dinner, were home before 6, and I feel like it's 11 p.m, but it's only 7:25. Is it bedtime yet? Please?

I am so happy I have a week off.

Headache

Ugh. I am working on a headache this morning. It is 4:59 a.m. I am about to go get on the treadmill to run 2.5 miles.

I hope the headache eases with Diet Pepsi caffeine and exercise.

I don't need pain. Really, who does? But today especially would be a good non-pain day, because I have 18 parent conferences to get through. Yes, 18. Tomorrow I think there are 15. We cram them into two days.

I don't mind meeting with parents. I just want to be at my best.

Off to run. Gotta figure out what to watch from DVR. Glee or Against the Wall. Probably Glee. It's easier to comprehend when I'm sweaty and running and out of breath than a crime show where you need to pay attention to the details.

Prime

This is what we had for dinner last night. Eric also made homemade garlic mashed potatoes. It is such a treat to walk in the house after a trip to the library to be hit in the face with the scent of roasted garlic!

The prime rib and potatoes were sensational, and we have leftovers for tonight! Yay! Which is perfect because tonight is a late day with Kid #1's soccer practice. Eric can hang at the soccer field. I'll be at home licking a prime rib bone...or two.

Anyhow, I got up and ran this morning. It felt hard. Thirty minutes of straight running is just plain hard, no matter how you look at it. Someday maybe I'll say it's no big deal.

I want to run the San Luis Obispo half marathon on Earth Day. How fun would that be?

Distance: 3 miles
Time: 40 minutes

P.S. I had a terrible stomach ache this morning. I am hoping the prime rib was not the culprit. No one else in the family is in pain, so maybe it's just me. Luckily the pain is subsiding.

On A Roll

Distance: 1.5 miles treadmill, 18 minutes on elliptical
Time: 40 minutes total

Eric and Evan went to the grocery store to buy some prime rib to have for dinner. Yum! While they were gone, Hudson and I exercised.

I got on the treadmill to kick out one mile and then finish up on the elliptical. It was a nice feeling to know I only had to run for 12 minutes, and then I'd be done! Tomorrow's run will be two and change. I have to look at my plan to see what mileage is on the schedule.

While I ran, Hudson was on the elliptical. Then while I was on the elliptical, I let him walk on the treadmill. I love it that my boys want to be so active. Healthy food eating kids? Eh. But they are definitely active. I also like being a mostly consistent example of exercising.

I still need to finish up with 10 minutes of abs.

Football is on. Cowboys vs. Bills. My husband loves Cowboys. My BIL loves Bills. Cowboys are ahead 7-0 in the first two minutes!

This isn't a very exciting post. Just me rambling about running.

Running Partner

Distance: 3 miles
Time 38:22

Evan rode his bike with me while I ran 2.5 miles this morning. It was a pretty good run. Not great. Not fast. But it is encouraging to know that I can run 2.5 miles without stopping at an average of 11:45/mile pace, even though I have been fairly inactive for several weeks.

Evan is a good little partner. Even though I tell him he can ride ahead of me and wait at the corners, he rides very slow and stays with me the entire time. He also held my vest when I got too hot. I should have known upper 50's temps weren't very cold. I was decked out for a snow storm complete with gloves! Not necessary.

Now I'm ready for the rest of my day. Soccer and basketball, laundry and lesson plans. I adore three day weekends.

This is random, but I also need to eat some fruit. Trying to up my fruit and veggie intake.

Veteran's Day

Got a great run done. I watched Covert Affairs and zoned out while clicking off the miles.

Day 1 - 2.75 miles

Moving

Distance: 2.75 miles
Time: 39 minutes

Running never seems to be any easier for me. That's okay. When I finish a run, I sure feel like I accomplished something.

My dear sweet husband signed me up for the local Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. He and the boys will undoubtedly be out with me in the freezing cold to cheer me on as I slowly make my way through the 5K. I'm excited to have a race to look forward to. That seems to be one of my huge motivators.

Must go. Must work. Must grade papers. Must get report cards ready so I can actually REST on this three-day weekend.

Jealous

Distance: 2.75 miles

I am jealous tonight. The Two Cities Marathon is taking place in Fresno/Clovis tomorrow morning, and I won't be a part of it.

It's my own fault. I made the decision to not train. I decided not to register. And now I'm feeling wistful at the thought of not being there.

I might drive downtown tomorrow morning to watch some of the runners run by. That would be neat.

I also fit my own short little 2.25 mile run in today during the hour that we have to be at Evan's travel soccer game before the game even starts. I got back right in time to see all of the game.

Building up my stamina takes time and patience.

Two Miles...nice to see you

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 34 minutes

I did not go to sleep early last night. I know that 4:30 comes awfully fast, but I still chose to stay awake.

Sure enough, 4:30 rolled around much sooner than I would have liked. However, I did not hit snooze 18 times or turn off the alarm. I got up, ate my granola bar, checked Facebook, and got my butt on the treadmill.

After my 5 minute warm up, I cranked out two miles. Without stopping. Win!

It's a bit of a push going from one minute intervals to running for 24 minutes without stopping. It gave me a pretty big boost of confidence, though! I can do this!

I am exhausted, but getting the run done early is worth feeling good the rest of the day.

Still Got It

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 36:15

I must have been pretty tired this morning, because I hit snooze two times without realizing it. I opened my eyes at 4:55 and shot out of bed like a flash. I try to be on the treadmill by 5. Didn't quite make it this morning.

I ate my granola bar, checked Facebook, updated Day 2 of what I am thankful for (today it's the treadmill), and got to running. For some reason, I didn't feel like watching tv this morning. Instead I listened to my tunes. Weird. But a nice change.

I did two 9 minute-3/4 mile stretches with a 1/2 mile walk in between. It's rather hard going from nothing to running for 9 minutes, but I did it. I had to back up the pace to 5.0. I just couldn't hang at 6.0. No problem.

I am looking at the Half in February as my "getting back to running" half. I'd like to focus on speed for the Half in May. And speed is a relative term! Speed for me could be improving from a 12 minute mile to an 11 minute mile! But hey, it would be an improvement!

Must go get ready for the day. My principal is evaluating my teaching today. How is it that I've been teaching for 12 years, but this still makes me nervous?!

Plan

I dragged myself out of bed at 4:50 this morning to be on the elliptical by 5:10ish. Ugh, that is early.

However, I am finding exercise to be a really great way to start the day, regardless of how tired I am.

I did 30 minutes of elliptical and 10 minutes of arms, which I am feeling the results of this evening.

Last night I mapped out my training plan to get back in shape to begin the training for the 1/2 marathon on Feb. 5. Ha! I have to train so I can train!

It feels good to have a plan. It made me content to think about it today. I like that feeling.