I missed a few weeks on here. Sorry! That's what happens when I brag about being so accountable.
I wrote a post last year that you can find here https://imperfection-personified.blogspot.com/2017/07/no-more-apologies.html
This post is along those lines, but in a more positive vein.
So this morning I was at the gym, OrangeTheory, and one of the trainers was there for class as well. We were wearing the same clothes so she took a picture after class with me. Now six months ago I would have hated that picture. But today I didn't hesitate to let her post it. I have worked really hard in the gym since July. I was tired of not being in shape and I had the money to spend on a gym. This is my first no-apology in action. It's hard to understand how we can spend money on things like the gym for some of my friends. But we're not paying for daycare or diapers or formula. We have some expendable income. That is a silver lining for me. It makes me feel amazing when I finish a workout and I am stronger and leaner than I was six months ago.
My second no-apology is that E and I spend money on things that make us happy, like going out for dinner or a date night. You don't need to spend money to have fun with your spouse, but it is nice to not feel that pinching pennies is synonymous with going out. When we were doing infertility treatments we didn't have any extra money to spend on anything, including date nights. So this is another silver lining.
My third no-apology is that I don't need to spend time around other people's kids in order to feel fulfilled in life. I love kids...I mean clearly if we spent all those years and all that money trying to have one that should tell you something. But E and I are ok, or we'll be ok at some point. We're mostly ok with the hand that we've been dealt. It may always be hard, that we'll have that sore spot no matter how much time passes since we finished trying to have a baby. But our worth does not lie in other's children. We love our many nieces and nephew. We have close friends with little ones that we enjoy seeing when it happens. I consider it to be God's grace that we do not feel broken beyond functioning by our lack of children.
What are some no-apology moments you're having in your life at the moment?
Showing posts with label Run Forrest Run. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Run Forrest Run. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Sunday, February 24, 2013
A Little of This, A Little of That
I can't believe y'all haven't abandoned me yet! I'm the worst blogger in history lately.
Life, in general, has been pretty stressful these past weeks. I don't say "these past three weeks" or "two weeks" or any specific number because I have no idea how many weeks it's been stressful here, for one reason or another. And for the most part, all those reasons have been pretty good! But stressful nonetheless.
In a nutshell, I'm in a new position at work and I'm 2 months and 1 day away from my wedding. Yeah, things are a wee bit stressful. So I come home, having run out of words to use and am in general exhausted. Unless wedding presents have arrived. In which case I look more like this!
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Yes I am drinking wine through a Steeler's crazy straw. I'm bleaching my teeth for the wedding and I'm a Steeler's fan. Deal with it. On a side note, non-crazy straws actually are a better bet. This crazy straw kept falling out of my glass which resulted in more wine on me than in me.
DH and I hung pictures today - it makes the house we'll be living in seem like home instead of a place we're renting. Plus we remembered how amazing our engagement pictures are! Thanks, Little Bro and Library SIL for the awesome picture frame, it was finally put up! We also hung my present from my parents when I graduated with my doctorate - pictures of Italy.
I have always loved the Oscars. And I've always wanted to through a super swanky Oscar party. That wasn't quite in the cards this year, but we did throw an Oscar get-together with a couple close friends. We dressed up and drank champagne and frozen drinks, ate great food and She and I discussed Oscar fashion while He and DH talked reddit. I love having friends over!
Weirdly enough, as social as Henry is, he usually is a little AWOL when company comes over. But once they leave he's all up in our faces, demanding attention and love. He's currently shoving his food bowl around the kitchen floor in an attempt to get more food. People, he weighs 14 pounds and is not yet a year old. He does not need more food than is vet approved! Of course if he doesn't get more food his version of waking one up includes a full speed run into the bedroom and a pounce on top of me followed by a slightly confused "Mrouw?" at 4am. As though he had no idea I was there, but since I happened to be just in that spot and am now awake, doesn't food sound good?
Surely kids will be easier, right? Please don't break my illusion of parenthood!
Oh, DH and I signed up for our next run. It's not a half marathon, it's not even a 10k. But it is going to be one of my favorite races ever. It's a 5K run to support The Neuroblastoma Foundation here in the Deep South. All of the proceeds will go back to the oncology department of the children's hospital where I work and one incredibly special person will know that I support him in this way. I can run. I can't cure cancer. But I can run. If you'd like to donate, please visit http://nbwalk.org/default.aspx. I have had the honor of working with more than one child who has been facing this giant. These families are courageous and wonderful and heartbroken and these kids are so brave in the face of what would often bring us adults to our knees. Please support them if you have the time to visit the website and feel led to give.
And on that note, good night!
Life, in general, has been pretty stressful these past weeks. I don't say "these past three weeks" or "two weeks" or any specific number because I have no idea how many weeks it's been stressful here, for one reason or another. And for the most part, all those reasons have been pretty good! But stressful nonetheless.
In a nutshell, I'm in a new position at work and I'm 2 months and 1 day away from my wedding. Yeah, things are a wee bit stressful. So I come home, having run out of words to use and am in general exhausted. Unless wedding presents have arrived. In which case I look more like this!
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DH and I hung pictures today - it makes the house we'll be living in seem like home instead of a place we're renting. Plus we remembered how amazing our engagement pictures are! Thanks, Little Bro and Library SIL for the awesome picture frame, it was finally put up! We also hung my present from my parents when I graduated with my doctorate - pictures of Italy.
I have always loved the Oscars. And I've always wanted to through a super swanky Oscar party. That wasn't quite in the cards this year, but we did throw an Oscar get-together with a couple close friends. We dressed up and drank champagne and frozen drinks, ate great food and She and I discussed Oscar fashion while He and DH talked reddit. I love having friends over!
Weirdly enough, as social as Henry is, he usually is a little AWOL when company comes over. But once they leave he's all up in our faces, demanding attention and love. He's currently shoving his food bowl around the kitchen floor in an attempt to get more food. People, he weighs 14 pounds and is not yet a year old. He does not need more food than is vet approved! Of course if he doesn't get more food his version of waking one up includes a full speed run into the bedroom and a pounce on top of me followed by a slightly confused "Mrouw?" at 4am. As though he had no idea I was there, but since I happened to be just in that spot and am now awake, doesn't food sound good?
Surely kids will be easier, right? Please don't break my illusion of parenthood!
Oh, DH and I signed up for our next run. It's not a half marathon, it's not even a 10k. But it is going to be one of my favorite races ever. It's a 5K run to support The Neuroblastoma Foundation here in the Deep South. All of the proceeds will go back to the oncology department of the children's hospital where I work and one incredibly special person will know that I support him in this way. I can run. I can't cure cancer. But I can run. If you'd like to donate, please visit http://nbwalk.org/default.aspx. I have had the honor of working with more than one child who has been facing this giant. These families are courageous and wonderful and heartbroken and these kids are so brave in the face of what would often bring us adults to our knees. Please support them if you have the time to visit the website and feel led to give.
And on that note, good night!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Run Faster!
That's what DH and I told each other yesterday.
We ran our 4th and 2nd (mine and his, respectively) half marathons and finished near the end of a small pack. I've run big big big races here in Texas and this one was small. I think I prefer the big ones....not the big ones, but the big ones. We ran fairly well - it was a hilly course with lots of inclines early on and at the turning point it was one fast big in your face hill. I hate hills, FYI. Correction: I don't mind running hills in training, but I hate them in an actual race.
We trained as usual but between some food poisoning on my part and a crazy couple work weeks on his part, our training runs were less than stellar, especially our longest ones. So a bigger race would have been a better choice - this race was about 600 people which meant that we felt alone on the course a lot and there wasn't a whole lot of race day adrenaline pumping because of that. We had some music difficulties, some knee malfunctions and one memorable plummeting blood sugar incident over the course of our 13.1 miles.
The upside is that despite all the problems, the hills, the lack of running camaraderie that usually accompanies a race, we finished just 11 minutes over our best race time. The stats aren't up yet but there weren't many people behind us.
The bigger upside? We met two people on the course who we ran with for a mile or so. The first was a guy probably in his 60s who has run over 40 marathons and does triathalons. This guy was just happy to be running! He was telling us all about the runs he's done and the places he's ran in. The second guy was probably in his early 40s and was very glad he met us because we had found his car key at the turning point. As we passed people we were asking if anyone had lost a car key and we found the guy who had! He ran with us for a while, talking about books and running and where DH and I had met.
Today we are sore and don't want to think about running again. That'll last until later this week when one of us will say "So what race are we doing next?"
We ran our 4th and 2nd (mine and his, respectively) half marathons and finished near the end of a small pack. I've run big big big races here in Texas and this one was small. I think I prefer the big ones....not the big ones, but the big ones. We ran fairly well - it was a hilly course with lots of inclines early on and at the turning point it was one fast big in your face hill. I hate hills, FYI. Correction: I don't mind running hills in training, but I hate them in an actual race.
We trained as usual but between some food poisoning on my part and a crazy couple work weeks on his part, our training runs were less than stellar, especially our longest ones. So a bigger race would have been a better choice - this race was about 600 people which meant that we felt alone on the course a lot and there wasn't a whole lot of race day adrenaline pumping because of that. We had some music difficulties, some knee malfunctions and one memorable plummeting blood sugar incident over the course of our 13.1 miles.
The upside is that despite all the problems, the hills, the lack of running camaraderie that usually accompanies a race, we finished just 11 minutes over our best race time. The stats aren't up yet but there weren't many people behind us.
The bigger upside? We met two people on the course who we ran with for a mile or so. The first was a guy probably in his 60s who has run over 40 marathons and does triathalons. This guy was just happy to be running! He was telling us all about the runs he's done and the places he's ran in. The second guy was probably in his early 40s and was very glad he met us because we had found his car key at the turning point. As we passed people we were asking if anyone had lost a car key and we found the guy who had! He ran with us for a while, talking about books and running and where DH and I had met.
Today we are sore and don't want to think about running again. That'll last until later this week when one of us will say "So what race are we doing next?"
Monday, January 21, 2013
Weekend Update
How was y'alls weekends? Is that proper English? How were ya'lls weekends? Y'all's?
It was a crazy weekend. In fact, I look kind of crazy right now - I'm trying to stretch my wedding shoes so I am sporting yoga pants, a bright yellow t-shirt that says "The Burgh", air dried curly hair and my 4 inch turquoise wedges.
Anyway, DH and I had a busy weekend, as has become our norm. He's been incredibly busy at work this last week or two and had to spend some time at the office on Saturday. This is not the standard for us, so it's easy to let it happen now and then again. I got to spend the morning with my future SIL. We have so much fun when we get the chance to see each other! I'm excited to have a sister here with me, for sure.
I can't forget to mention that we hung out with our good friends at dinner that night, which was just what DH needed after this past week.
Sunday brought DH and I's last run before the half marathon we're doing this weekend. It was a great run for me but not so great for DH. We're hoping that next weekend will be amazing for both of us! The race day adrenaline usually will get you through but you never know what may happen. If my history is anything to go by, we will have a freak ice storm that will hit at mile 7 and we'll have to ice skate the final 6 miles to the finish line. Pray for us. Seriously.
And Sunday afternoon we had an appointment with the wedding venue. I thought, naively it turns out, that we would go in and pick out everything in 20 minutes flat. Feel free to laugh heartily at me right now. We walked out 2 HOURS later. My knees almost gave out in the parking lot at the thought of all we had talked about.
Today brought more wedding stuff - does this ever end prior to the wedding day???? - and a ton of floor to ceiling cleaning, laundry and the gym. There's a lasagna in the oven (homemade of course) that is calling my name along with a bottle of Sauv Blanc in the fridge.
Let's hope I don't break an ankle walking to the kitchen as I would have to take that as a sign that these shoes were a bad decision.
It was a crazy weekend. In fact, I look kind of crazy right now - I'm trying to stretch my wedding shoes so I am sporting yoga pants, a bright yellow t-shirt that says "The Burgh", air dried curly hair and my 4 inch turquoise wedges.
Anyway, DH and I had a busy weekend, as has become our norm. He's been incredibly busy at work this last week or two and had to spend some time at the office on Saturday. This is not the standard for us, so it's easy to let it happen now and then again. I got to spend the morning with my future SIL. We have so much fun when we get the chance to see each other! I'm excited to have a sister here with me, for sure.
I can't forget to mention that we hung out with our good friends at dinner that night, which was just what DH needed after this past week.
Sunday brought DH and I's last run before the half marathon we're doing this weekend. It was a great run for me but not so great for DH. We're hoping that next weekend will be amazing for both of us! The race day adrenaline usually will get you through but you never know what may happen. If my history is anything to go by, we will have a freak ice storm that will hit at mile 7 and we'll have to ice skate the final 6 miles to the finish line. Pray for us. Seriously.
And Sunday afternoon we had an appointment with the wedding venue. I thought, naively it turns out, that we would go in and pick out everything in 20 minutes flat. Feel free to laugh heartily at me right now. We walked out 2 HOURS later. My knees almost gave out in the parking lot at the thought of all we had talked about.
Today brought more wedding stuff - does this ever end prior to the wedding day???? - and a ton of floor to ceiling cleaning, laundry and the gym. There's a lasagna in the oven (homemade of course) that is calling my name along with a bottle of Sauv Blanc in the fridge.
Let's hope I don't break an ankle walking to the kitchen as I would have to take that as a sign that these shoes were a bad decision.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Something Fascinating
I find other's ability to keep physically motivated fascinating! Unless I have an end goal, and one that is fairly attainable it's hard for me to keep going when it comes to training or the gym. I'm not sure why this is. I want to be in better shape. I actually do work hard at going to the gym - I'm there at least 3 times a week if not 4. But my heart isn't always in it.
How do people keep their heart in it? There are girls I see that are getting after it on the stair master, on the free weights, on the treadmill. And I want to go ask how they keep going. I also kind of want to order a pizza and just leave it in front of their machine to see how good their will power is.
I'm in the best shape of my life. And I don't want to keep going. I want to sit on the couch and eat donuts and Lucky Charms and pumpkin muffins. But I suspect I will, in fact, still go to the gym after work tomorrow night and get in my miles.
Mama Kat....link up.
How do people keep their heart in it? There are girls I see that are getting after it on the stair master, on the free weights, on the treadmill. And I want to go ask how they keep going. I also kind of want to order a pizza and just leave it in front of their machine to see how good their will power is.
I'm in the best shape of my life. And I don't want to keep going. I want to sit on the couch and eat donuts and Lucky Charms and pumpkin muffins. But I suspect I will, in fact, still go to the gym after work tomorrow night and get in my miles.
Mama Kat....link up.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Weekend Wrap-Up
Last week was filled with ups and downs. Luckily the ups outweighed the downs by the end of it, so we'll call it a success. But by Friday I was ready for the weekend!
I volunteer with a cat rescue group once a month, and this past Saturday was my day. I usually help get the adoption set-up and then hang out for a bit. I love helping with this organization, even when I wish I was laying on a couch soaking up whatever is on Bravo. But DH and I have this bad habit of double booking ourselves on those Saturdays...this weekend was no exception! So after a couple hours with the kitty cats, we were off to Grand Prairie with friends.
For a cupcake meet. Which has nothing to do with cupcakes and everything to do with cars. Lots of cars.
Outside.
With no shade.
In 106 degree sunny clear skied weather.
Heat stroke hot weather.
Yes, we're crazy.
It was hot, people. Luckily the guys were troopers and went to the car to get the cooler and some books. You read that right, we sat and read in the shade. Girlfriend and I are basically Rory Gilmore.The menfolk ventured out with Powerades and oohed and ahhed to their hearts content. And then we blasted the AC the whole way home to try and cool off.
Sunday is usually a pretty lazy day for DH and I. We try to get to the gym where I pretend that I can still run miles on end without stopping. Why is it that I feel like I've gone 6 miles only to look at the treadmill display and see it's been a whopping 1.5 miles? I ran about 3 before throwing in the towel and hopping on an elliptical for my last 20 minutes.
The side effect of all that running is that I became ridiculously hangry while we grocery shopped. And whenever I get hangry - anger born from hunger - in a grocery store I find it impossible to find anything to eat. In a grocery store. Surrounded by food. I managed to hold it together until we left the store at which point I'm pretty sure I morphed into the Hulk. DH told me later that even when I'm hangry and grumpy he still thinks I'm cute. It's a good thing I'm marrying this man!
The weekend was topped off with The Bachelorette - finally Emily picks the right guy! - and Breaking Bad - I love Mike, love him.
Today it's back to Sculpt class and baking cookies for Little Monkey's birthday fiesta. Not a bad way to spend my Monday!
Have a good one, y'all!!!!
I volunteer with a cat rescue group once a month, and this past Saturday was my day. I usually help get the adoption set-up and then hang out for a bit. I love helping with this organization, even when I wish I was laying on a couch soaking up whatever is on Bravo. But DH and I have this bad habit of double booking ourselves on those Saturdays...this weekend was no exception! So after a couple hours with the kitty cats, we were off to Grand Prairie with friends.
For a cupcake meet. Which has nothing to do with cupcakes and everything to do with cars. Lots of cars.
Outside.
With no shade.
In 106 degree sunny clear skied weather.
Heat stroke hot weather.
Yes, we're crazy.
It was hot, people. Luckily the guys were troopers and went to the car to get the cooler and some books. You read that right, we sat and read in the shade. Girlfriend and I are basically Rory Gilmore.The menfolk ventured out with Powerades and oohed and ahhed to their hearts content. And then we blasted the AC the whole way home to try and cool off.
Sunday is usually a pretty lazy day for DH and I. We try to get to the gym where I pretend that I can still run miles on end without stopping. Why is it that I feel like I've gone 6 miles only to look at the treadmill display and see it's been a whopping 1.5 miles? I ran about 3 before throwing in the towel and hopping on an elliptical for my last 20 minutes.
The side effect of all that running is that I became ridiculously hangry while we grocery shopped. And whenever I get hangry - anger born from hunger - in a grocery store I find it impossible to find anything to eat. In a grocery store. Surrounded by food. I managed to hold it together until we left the store at which point I'm pretty sure I morphed into the Hulk. DH told me later that even when I'm hangry and grumpy he still thinks I'm cute. It's a good thing I'm marrying this man!
The weekend was topped off with The Bachelorette - finally Emily picks the right guy! - and Breaking Bad - I love Mike, love him.
Today it's back to Sculpt class and baking cookies for Little Monkey's birthday fiesta. Not a bad way to spend my Monday!
Have a good one, y'all!!!!
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Big D
DH and I ran the Big D yesterday. Given the recent weather and weather reports, I was prepared for either a cancellation or a delayed start. Or maybe a tornado halfway through the race. God was good, though, and even though it poured the whole way to Dallas and up until about half an hour before the start, things dried up. Around mile 6 it started to rain again and got pretty dark out.
I was super nervous about this run. My recent training runs have been pitiful. Full of side cramps, shoulder cramps, shortness of breath, tired legs, no energy, short distances, barely making it a mile and a half before needing to walk. Discouraging to say the least.
But yesterday, despite DH's knee and hip issues in the first couple miles, we ran great. We stayed just ahead of the 2:30 pacers, walking briefly through a couple water stops and to take a gu, that was it. Our breathing was good in spite of all the hills. Dang that course was hilly! At one point I left him a little behind because there was a huge clap of thunder and one bolt of lightening; nothing like the threat of electrocution to make a girl pick up the pace! Mainly I was the one trying to catch up to him.
I finished 1349 out of 2031 overall for the half and was 141 out of 214 for my age range. I typically finish closer to the middle of the pack, so either I need to work a little harder or this group was a faster group overall.
But the best part of finishing a long race? The food afterwards! We went to Jake's with one of DH's running friends and his cousin. The best burger I've ever eaten, hands down. Then there was mexican for dinner and pizza for a snack. Yep, pizza for a snack.
And I definitely need to work on my core strength a lot before the next half. From the hips up I am sore to the touch. It feels like I've been beaten. Some hot tub time was the last perfect touch yesterday and felt like heaven. In fact, that might happen again today.
I was super nervous about this run. My recent training runs have been pitiful. Full of side cramps, shoulder cramps, shortness of breath, tired legs, no energy, short distances, barely making it a mile and a half before needing to walk. Discouraging to say the least.
But yesterday, despite DH's knee and hip issues in the first couple miles, we ran great. We stayed just ahead of the 2:30 pacers, walking briefly through a couple water stops and to take a gu, that was it. Our breathing was good in spite of all the hills. Dang that course was hilly! At one point I left him a little behind because there was a huge clap of thunder and one bolt of lightening; nothing like the threat of electrocution to make a girl pick up the pace! Mainly I was the one trying to catch up to him.
I finished 1349 out of 2031 overall for the half and was 141 out of 214 for my age range. I typically finish closer to the middle of the pack, so either I need to work a little harder or this group was a faster group overall.
But the best part of finishing a long race? The food afterwards! We went to Jake's with one of DH's running friends and his cousin. The best burger I've ever eaten, hands down. Then there was mexican for dinner and pizza for a snack. Yep, pizza for a snack.
And I definitely need to work on my core strength a lot before the next half. From the hips up I am sore to the touch. It feels like I've been beaten. Some hot tub time was the last perfect touch yesterday and felt like heaven. In fact, that might happen again today.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A Little of This and a Little of That
I know, it's been practically forever. It's weird the way I go through times where I want to post every day and then I go through times that I can't think of one single thing to pass along. Today is a weird mix. Nothing is solidified enough to warrant a whole post on it's own, but there's more than a single blurb.
DH and I are running in his first half marathon this weekend. He's totally ready for it and is stoked to be doing this. I, on the other hand, am feeling less than ready. I know that running is a mental game, almost 99% of the game. And my mental game is waaaaaay off. This half is owning me right now. I've got to figure out how to beat the game and it's gotta happen before Sunday. Part of the owning comes from the fact that I have yet to run a race with pleasant weather. I apologize in advance for any adverse weather conditions in the Dallas area on Sunday.
I made a playlist for running, in a related note. It's 7 hours long. Please, Lord, tell me that it won't take me 7 hours to finish this run coming up!
My best friend got engaged this past week and I could not be happier. She deserves every second of happiness that she is given.
The allergies here are ridiculous and I have the red swollen eye to prove it. All I did was spend about an hour outside and it looked like I'd been punched. Ok, maybe an exaggeration, but it wasn't pretty and it felt really crappy. Maybe it's whatever the heck is blowing in from Colorado and New Mexico. My system has reduced itself to only handling the horrible Texas allergies and cannot handle anything new.
Work continues to be less than stellar in some ways and better in other ways. At least I know my manager has my back.
Puppy has worn herself out tonight. I love watching her play and figure things out. She came barreling into my room tonight with her Kong and tried to jump up on the bed. Which she can do when she doesn't have a Kong half the size of herself in her mouth. She dropped it next to the bed, jumped up and then proceeded to look over the edge of the mattress at the Kong, then at me, then back at the Kong. Clearly the look said "A little help?" She eventually figured out the angle that she needed to hold it in her mouth so that she could jump up and make it onto the mattress.
Well, spunky showkids, that's all I got.
DH and I are running in his first half marathon this weekend. He's totally ready for it and is stoked to be doing this. I, on the other hand, am feeling less than ready. I know that running is a mental game, almost 99% of the game. And my mental game is waaaaaay off. This half is owning me right now. I've got to figure out how to beat the game and it's gotta happen before Sunday. Part of the owning comes from the fact that I have yet to run a race with pleasant weather. I apologize in advance for any adverse weather conditions in the Dallas area on Sunday.
I made a playlist for running, in a related note. It's 7 hours long. Please, Lord, tell me that it won't take me 7 hours to finish this run coming up!
My best friend got engaged this past week and I could not be happier. She deserves every second of happiness that she is given.
The allergies here are ridiculous and I have the red swollen eye to prove it. All I did was spend about an hour outside and it looked like I'd been punched. Ok, maybe an exaggeration, but it wasn't pretty and it felt really crappy. Maybe it's whatever the heck is blowing in from Colorado and New Mexico. My system has reduced itself to only handling the horrible Texas allergies and cannot handle anything new.
Work continues to be less than stellar in some ways and better in other ways. At least I know my manager has my back.
Puppy has worn herself out tonight. I love watching her play and figure things out. She came barreling into my room tonight with her Kong and tried to jump up on the bed. Which she can do when she doesn't have a Kong half the size of herself in her mouth. She dropped it next to the bed, jumped up and then proceeded to look over the edge of the mattress at the Kong, then at me, then back at the Kong. Clearly the look said "A little help?" She eventually figured out the angle that she needed to hold it in her mouth so that she could jump up and make it onto the mattress.
Well, spunky showkids, that's all I got.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Honey, Can We Get A Racoon?
Short running update: I've been dealing with adult RSV for the last five weeks. According to my doctor it can take up to 6 weeks before I feel better or stop coughing. I wasn't able to run for the first three weeks. In fact I pretty much felt like I was going to pass out just from walking up and down the stairs. So I started working out again slowly, was totally discouraged by the incredibly fast rate that I had lost mileage and speed, and was as sore as when I first started working out a couple years ago.
Today Running Girl and I ran 6 miles and gained a half minute in our mile time. Woot! As much as I hate the loss of speed and distance when I get sick, it always amazes me how quickly it comes back. Working in some intervals and hills and we'll be back to a flat 10 minute mile or better.
In unrelated news, DH has decided that we need to have a raccoon as a pet someday.
I have visions of waking up and hearing the refridgerator door opening while the Coon helps himself to a midnight snack. Maybe we can train him to turn on the water and rinse whatever he's interested in eating? Wouldn't want him to ingest any pesticides.
Oh, and he also wants a bat.
Courtesy of Google images
I'm never going to have house guests, am I?
Today Running Girl and I ran 6 miles and gained a half minute in our mile time. Woot! As much as I hate the loss of speed and distance when I get sick, it always amazes me how quickly it comes back. Working in some intervals and hills and we'll be back to a flat 10 minute mile or better.
In unrelated news, DH has decided that we need to have a raccoon as a pet someday.
I have visions of waking up and hearing the refridgerator door opening while the Coon helps himself to a midnight snack. Maybe we can train him to turn on the water and rinse whatever he's interested in eating? Wouldn't want him to ingest any pesticides.
Oh, and he also wants a bat.
Courtesy of Google images
I'm never going to have house guests, am I?
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Long Version of Our Grueling Run
Who would have thought that Runner Girl and I would have managed to pick two 1/2 marathons in a row that had deplorable running conditions? Our first was about 18 months ago and was on the hottest most humid and disgusting day the Deep South had offered at that point. My run included a 2 mile walk in the middle so I didn't pass out alongside the race trail.
White Rock was this past weekend. It was low 40s and rainy. Another humid disgusting day, except replace the hottest with the chilliest. If we hadn't signed up for this together there was no way either of us would have gone. The day was the type where the only thing you wanted to do was to curl up on the couch, sip hot chocolate or tea and watch movies or bad TV. Instead we were all up at 4 to eat some breakfast and head to the Big D in time to beat the crowds. This race had 25,000 people registered to run this year. A rough 9700 finished the race. I don't know how many actually started. Enough ran that it took us 25 minutes just to cross the start line from our corral position.
It started really raining as we were shuffling toward that start line and It. Did. Not. Stop. Not for 13.1 miles. Not even after those 13.1 miles. It had been raining here for 2 days before the race. That equals a lot of standing water in these parts. So within the first mile we had damp clothes and soaked shoes and socks. That pretty much sums up the way the race went. I don't think I ever really warmed up, even over the end of the race.
Once we finished and made it inside for our medals and finishers shirts we cooled down fast. Like, fast. I was trying to stretch and basically every muscle in my legs seized up into little rocks that were not allowing any further movement. My running jacket (a poor choice of cotton blend) weighed an easy 7 pounds if not more and my shoes probably a couple pounds. Interestingly, my shoes don't stink all that much since they dried out.
Other than the rain and a section of hills, it wasn't a bad race course. It wound through some beautiful neighborhoods, the locals even stood out in the rain cheering us on and a few ambitious frat boys were handing out shots of beer in mile 9.
I am sad to confess that I totally was making fun of how Runner Girl was walking when we finished lunch....until I tried to stand up. If any of you are fans of How I Met Your Mother, it was pretty much like Barney on the subway, except I managed to get up just barely. I probably would have taken up DH on the offer to carry me to the car except I'm sure I smelled like a man.
Does it make me crazy that DH and I are considering running another 1/2 in April? Well, I'm ok with that because I know I can do it. Super proud of us, Runner Girl!
White Rock was this past weekend. It was low 40s and rainy. Another humid disgusting day, except replace the hottest with the chilliest. If we hadn't signed up for this together there was no way either of us would have gone. The day was the type where the only thing you wanted to do was to curl up on the couch, sip hot chocolate or tea and watch movies or bad TV. Instead we were all up at 4 to eat some breakfast and head to the Big D in time to beat the crowds. This race had 25,000 people registered to run this year. A rough 9700 finished the race. I don't know how many actually started. Enough ran that it took us 25 minutes just to cross the start line from our corral position.
It started really raining as we were shuffling toward that start line and It. Did. Not. Stop. Not for 13.1 miles. Not even after those 13.1 miles. It had been raining here for 2 days before the race. That equals a lot of standing water in these parts. So within the first mile we had damp clothes and soaked shoes and socks. That pretty much sums up the way the race went. I don't think I ever really warmed up, even over the end of the race.
Once we finished and made it inside for our medals and finishers shirts we cooled down fast. Like, fast. I was trying to stretch and basically every muscle in my legs seized up into little rocks that were not allowing any further movement. My running jacket (a poor choice of cotton blend) weighed an easy 7 pounds if not more and my shoes probably a couple pounds. Interestingly, my shoes don't stink all that much since they dried out.
Other than the rain and a section of hills, it wasn't a bad race course. It wound through some beautiful neighborhoods, the locals even stood out in the rain cheering us on and a few ambitious frat boys were handing out shots of beer in mile 9.
I am sad to confess that I totally was making fun of how Runner Girl was walking when we finished lunch....until I tried to stand up. If any of you are fans of How I Met Your Mother, it was pretty much like Barney on the subway, except I managed to get up just barely. I probably would have taken up DH on the offer to carry me to the car except I'm sure I smelled like a man.
Does it make me crazy that DH and I are considering running another 1/2 in April? Well, I'm ok with that because I know I can do it. Super proud of us, Runner Girl!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
13.1 in 2:28
Because of this....
and this....
I get bragging rights for pretty much the rest of the year!
PS. Wet cold shoes equals numerous blisters, FYI.
and this....
I get bragging rights for pretty much the rest of the year!
PS. Wet cold shoes equals numerous blisters, FYI.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Pre-Thanksgiving Thoughts
I am thankful for having baking skills. I am also thankful for DH who will eat my pies no matter what they look like. Y'all, I'm scared of pie crust. I'm trying yet another one this week. And I'm making my first ever pecan pie. Shaking in my pants scared.
I'm thankful for a running partner who doesn't let me stop. I wish she would come over tomorrow and rub my sore calves. Those hills can bite me. Sigh...actually, after a couple more weeks we'll OWN those hills. Or at least be running them a little more consistently.
I'm thankful for family. I can't wait to talk with them on Thursday. I'll be missing my family, gathered around my parents dining room table. I'll probably cry for my mom at some point while making dinner for DH and I. She knows all the tricks. But I can't call her every 10 minutes when she's making her own feast for everyone.
I'm thankful for a break from work and a chance to plan for our Door Decorating contest after this break. I'm having fun just trying to figure out what the other teams are doing...especially the Circle Team. I'm incredibly tempted to cut just one circle into a square. Just one! I think it would be detrimental to my health though as Circle Cutting girl may cut me if I do that!
I'm thankful for grace, perspective, love, family, friends, running shoes, coffee, good books and pumpkin pie. But not pie crust.
I'm thankful for a running partner who doesn't let me stop. I wish she would come over tomorrow and rub my sore calves. Those hills can bite me. Sigh...actually, after a couple more weeks we'll OWN those hills. Or at least be running them a little more consistently.
I'm thankful for family. I can't wait to talk with them on Thursday. I'll be missing my family, gathered around my parents dining room table. I'll probably cry for my mom at some point while making dinner for DH and I. She knows all the tricks. But I can't call her every 10 minutes when she's making her own feast for everyone.
I'm thankful for a break from work and a chance to plan for our Door Decorating contest after this break. I'm having fun just trying to figure out what the other teams are doing...especially the Circle Team. I'm incredibly tempted to cut just one circle into a square. Just one! I think it would be detrimental to my health though as Circle Cutting girl may cut me if I do that!
I'm thankful for grace, perspective, love, family, friends, running shoes, coffee, good books and pumpkin pie. But not pie crust.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Imperfection Personified
There are a lot of thoughts roiling in my mind right now. I've always had an idea of what I should look like, and let me tell you...I have never looked like my "vision". I know that my vision is unrealistic in every way.
My vision has been propelled by what the world has told me is attractive.
What the world tells me is acceptable.
What the world has told me is enough.
But what Genesis 1:27 tells me is that "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." So am I telling God that He's not beautiful? Am I really going to go there? Really? How conceited or small minded can I be? Why do I want to change who He has made me to be?
Because the world tells me that what He made is not good enough.
Let's put this in perspective. In the last 5 weeks I have ran 90 miles. And I have not lost a pound. When I use the BMI and body fat charts to see where I fall, they tell me I am overweight and obese, respectively. I would have to lose 40 pounds in order to have the body fat of a "fit" person. Seriously? Death would be the outcome of me losing 40 pounds. I would be skeletal, literal skin and bones. But if I subscribe to the formulas and equations that the world uses to measure my worth as a healthy being, I would have to strive for the unreachable.
What gets lost when focusing on the BMI and body fat charts is that I ran 90 miles in 5 weeks. My body is healthy and strong enough to run 90 miles. That is 18 miles a week....between a 1/2 marathon and a full marathon. Maybe this is one more race for me to run, outpacing my insecurities. Has He made me not good enough? He has given me a body that can move and run and play and work well. One of my favorite passages of scripture is Hebrews 12:1-2:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
Because in every aspect of faith and life we are faced with races that require perseverance and commitment. Whether it be completing a work project on time, getting out and literally running, making dinner when it feels overwhelming and pointless or finishing the laundry. Why should accepting ourselves be any easier? We are our own worst critics, the most heartless shame-filled wonky-eyed individuals. Kinda like we're all stuck in one of those Claritan clear commercials...you know, where they magically removed the filter that allergies give you and voila! We can all see clearly. Um...can I get one of those magic pills please? It'll make me accept myself, right?
I am imperfection personified. Imperfection that I am learning to love. Until then I will cling to His perfect image that He knows me to be, even when I can't see it myself.
My vision has been propelled by what the world has told me is attractive.
What the world tells me is acceptable.
What the world has told me is enough.
But what Genesis 1:27 tells me is that "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." So am I telling God that He's not beautiful? Am I really going to go there? Really? How conceited or small minded can I be? Why do I want to change who He has made me to be?
Because the world tells me that what He made is not good enough.
Let's put this in perspective. In the last 5 weeks I have ran 90 miles. And I have not lost a pound. When I use the BMI and body fat charts to see where I fall, they tell me I am overweight and obese, respectively. I would have to lose 40 pounds in order to have the body fat of a "fit" person. Seriously? Death would be the outcome of me losing 40 pounds. I would be skeletal, literal skin and bones. But if I subscribe to the formulas and equations that the world uses to measure my worth as a healthy being, I would have to strive for the unreachable.
What gets lost when focusing on the BMI and body fat charts is that I ran 90 miles in 5 weeks. My body is healthy and strong enough to run 90 miles. That is 18 miles a week....between a 1/2 marathon and a full marathon. Maybe this is one more race for me to run, outpacing my insecurities. Has He made me not good enough? He has given me a body that can move and run and play and work well. One of my favorite passages of scripture is Hebrews 12:1-2:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
Because in every aspect of faith and life we are faced with races that require perseverance and commitment. Whether it be completing a work project on time, getting out and literally running, making dinner when it feels overwhelming and pointless or finishing the laundry. Why should accepting ourselves be any easier? We are our own worst critics, the most heartless shame-filled wonky-eyed individuals. Kinda like we're all stuck in one of those Claritan clear commercials...you know, where they magically removed the filter that allergies give you and voila! We can all see clearly. Um...can I get one of those magic pills please? It'll make me accept myself, right?
I am imperfection personified. Imperfection that I am learning to love. Until then I will cling to His perfect image that He knows me to be, even when I can't see it myself.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Run Like the Wind...
Nah, that's not quite right. I think the line is "Sew like the wind, old one". I'll give a dollar to the first person who knows where that's from.
Anyway, tonight we may not have run like the wind...but we did run 9 miles. Hold the phone. NINE miles? Shut the front door. 9 miles. It's been a year and a half since we have run that far. Our mile time hovered between 10:30 and 11:00 for a total of 1:39. That's in hours and minutes, people. If you'd prefer, it's 99 minutes. We ran for over and hour and half.
It's just occurred to me that we may need professional help.
Anyway, tonight we may not have run like the wind...but we did run 9 miles. Hold the phone. NINE miles? Shut the front door. 9 miles. It's been a year and a half since we have run that far. Our mile time hovered between 10:30 and 11:00 for a total of 1:39. That's in hours and minutes, people. If you'd prefer, it's 99 minutes. We ran for over and hour and half.
It's just occurred to me that we may need professional help.
Commencing Challenge
Ok, so I have no actual theme in mind for this post. I am emerging from a weekend long funk of sickness and steroids. Thank heavens for CareNow. I went to bed feeling crappy on Friday night and when I felt no better when I woke up. So off DH and went to get me a diagnosis and some good drugs. Missing work is no option for me at this point - mainly because I'm selfish and don't want to use my vacation time when I can't be on a vacation.
Lots of movies and TV, including The Conspirator (totally worth renting!), Sanctum (eh, it was ok) and about half a season of Dexter. A wonderful DH who went and brought back "sick" food so I could feel better. I have to say, I feel 634% better than I did yesterday morning. In fact, my running partner and I are attempting a nine mile run tonight. They - whoever "they" are - say that as long as you're sick from the neck up you are fine to work out. We'll see.
The worst part of being sick in this instance? They gave me steroids to help the inflammation and the dose they gave me on can kind of push me over the edge. Have any of you ever had the steroid anxiety? It sucks. It makes me paralyzed with fear that something bad is going to happen. I'll start crying for no reason. I get a little panicky. It makes me really grateful that I'm normally a very stable person. Now, the only time this has ever happened was when I was on a higher dose for a longer amount of time....so, I'm hoping I can avoid it this go-round.
Maybe the steroids will make me run faster? I'm just hoping we manage the whole nine.
Lots of movies and TV, including The Conspirator (totally worth renting!), Sanctum (eh, it was ok) and about half a season of Dexter. A wonderful DH who went and brought back "sick" food so I could feel better. I have to say, I feel 634% better than I did yesterday morning. In fact, my running partner and I are attempting a nine mile run tonight. They - whoever "they" are - say that as long as you're sick from the neck up you are fine to work out. We'll see.
The worst part of being sick in this instance? They gave me steroids to help the inflammation and the dose they gave me on can kind of push me over the edge. Have any of you ever had the steroid anxiety? It sucks. It makes me paralyzed with fear that something bad is going to happen. I'll start crying for no reason. I get a little panicky. It makes me really grateful that I'm normally a very stable person. Now, the only time this has ever happened was when I was on a higher dose for a longer amount of time....so, I'm hoping I can avoid it this go-round.
Maybe the steroids will make me run faster? I'm just hoping we manage the whole nine.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A Break from Fantasy
It's raining here in the Deep South. We need it, for sure. It's perfect curl up and read weather. It's perfect snuggle on the couch and watch a movie weather. It's perfect pancake weather.
It is not perfect running weather. At. All. My running partner and I were supposed to run 8 miles tonight. Totally not happening in the deluge that has been hanging out over our neck of the woods.
So instead I ran down the street to Wal-Mart and bought a $10 biggest loser cardio-max work-out DVD. Why is it so much harder to do cardio for an hour than run for an hour? Ok, I should preface this with the fact that our 4 mile run on Thursday was awful. But in general I can go run with my girlie and we can do pretty good. But Bob Harper makes me feel like a huge failure in the fitness arena.
Adding to this period of hard runs is the fact that DH and I have gotten away from the strict eating plan we were doing. And given that he was one of my few supports for that eating plan, it's hard to not want to eat crap all the time. We do not want to be happy fat, dangit!
Compounding (such a fancy way of saying "adding to" except I just used "adding to") my feeling of poor self-esteem today is the "I Used to Be Fat" marathon on MTV. According to one of their weight loss gurus, my weight should be about 24 pounds less than it is now for my height. 24 pounds. I don't think I will ever see 125 pounds again. If memory serves correctly, I think I may have sped past 125 pounds when I was about 10 years old in between bites of a Snickers bar.
Taking the proverbial step backward here, I do realize that I am in the best shape of my life right now. I have run and cardio'd and changed what I eat and look and feel the best that I have ever been. I am healthier than I have been in a long time. I want to be around for a long time because DH has promised he's not letting me go anywhere anytime soon. But somedays it just doesn't seem like anything is changing and that I'm spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere.
Do any of you ever feel like this? What is your personal motivation for continuing to try and be the best you? What gets you down?
It is not perfect running weather. At. All. My running partner and I were supposed to run 8 miles tonight. Totally not happening in the deluge that has been hanging out over our neck of the woods.
So instead I ran down the street to Wal-Mart and bought a $10 biggest loser cardio-max work-out DVD. Why is it so much harder to do cardio for an hour than run for an hour? Ok, I should preface this with the fact that our 4 mile run on Thursday was awful. But in general I can go run with my girlie and we can do pretty good. But Bob Harper makes me feel like a huge failure in the fitness arena.
Adding to this period of hard runs is the fact that DH and I have gotten away from the strict eating plan we were doing. And given that he was one of my few supports for that eating plan, it's hard to not want to eat crap all the time. We do not want to be happy fat, dangit!
Compounding (such a fancy way of saying "adding to" except I just used "adding to") my feeling of poor self-esteem today is the "I Used to Be Fat" marathon on MTV. According to one of their weight loss gurus, my weight should be about 24 pounds less than it is now for my height. 24 pounds. I don't think I will ever see 125 pounds again. If memory serves correctly, I think I may have sped past 125 pounds when I was about 10 years old in between bites of a Snickers bar.
Taking the proverbial step backward here, I do realize that I am in the best shape of my life right now. I have run and cardio'd and changed what I eat and look and feel the best that I have ever been. I am healthier than I have been in a long time. I want to be around for a long time because DH has promised he's not letting me go anywhere anytime soon. But somedays it just doesn't seem like anything is changing and that I'm spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere.
Do any of you ever feel like this? What is your personal motivation for continuing to try and be the best you? What gets you down?
Friday, September 2, 2011
Sometimes When I Run: Friday Confessional
Sometimes when I run I pretend I'm someone else. Or somewhere else. This is particularly helpful on long runs, or lately, on any run. When I think I can't go one more step I think "Would Frodo stop on the way to Mount Doom?" or "Would Sidney stop running if she needed to save Vaughn from certain death?". Sometimes I pretend that I'm running with someone I'd love to meet or a place I'd love to see.
But I never wish I was running with Phoebe. I just can't. Even that's too much for me.
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But I never wish I was running with Phoebe. I just can't. Even that's too much for me.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Do You Ever...
...have writer's block when you want to blog?
...get sad when you realize that your favorite group is no longer a group because things like life have intervened and then you get all weirdly proud of them for recognizing that family is more important but you're still a little peeved that you can no longer go drink beer and sing along in small mind-blowingly loud venues and maybe hang out with the band after?
...try to get a good run in only to have something you ate sabotage you and twist parts of your gastrointestinal anatomy into knots?
...miss your hand-holding peanut-butter-and-jelly-making Alias-loving boyfriend when only leaving him 8 hours prior?
...wish there was something in the refrigerator that consisted of chocolate and cream and peanut butter instead of sweet potatoes, fish and vegetables?
...find one of your favorite movies on TV late at night and just have to watch it, even though you own it on DVD?
...yearn for some time where you grew up, and where it's currently 30 degrees cooler?
...let your hair air dry and end up looking like a hair band groupie from the 80s?
...feel a desperate need to see your best friend in the world because they know you better than you know yourself?
...get a song stuck in your head and end up using part of the lyrics for a post title?
Brandi Carlile, I heart you.
(Both videos are from YouTube)
...get sad when you realize that your favorite group is no longer a group because things like life have intervened and then you get all weirdly proud of them for recognizing that family is more important but you're still a little peeved that you can no longer go drink beer and sing along in small mind-blowingly loud venues and maybe hang out with the band after?
...try to get a good run in only to have something you ate sabotage you and twist parts of your gastrointestinal anatomy into knots?
...miss your hand-holding peanut-butter-and-jelly-making Alias-loving boyfriend when only leaving him 8 hours prior?
...wish there was something in the refrigerator that consisted of chocolate and cream and peanut butter instead of sweet potatoes, fish and vegetables?
...find one of your favorite movies on TV late at night and just have to watch it, even though you own it on DVD?
...yearn for some time where you grew up, and where it's currently 30 degrees cooler?
...let your hair air dry and end up looking like a hair band groupie from the 80s?
...feel a desperate need to see your best friend in the world because they know you better than you know yourself?
...get a song stuck in your head and end up using part of the lyrics for a post title?
Brandi Carlile, I heart you.
(Both videos are from YouTube)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Coffee Klatch
Is it a klatch if it's just me and I'm sitting on my couch by myself?
There's a world of change happening down here in the Deep South and I'll post about it as soon as I can. I hate change in some respects and appreciate it in others. So as a small diversion I'm going to attempt something different here.
A - Awn. When I was little, my younger brother called me Awnie Becca....does that tell you how often I was in trouble that he knew my middle name?!?
B - Bread, any kind. I crave bread. Hunks of it with a great cheese.
C - Classy is what I'd like to be on a regular basis. Working on it.
D - Diagnosing hearing loss and weeding out those little fakers (ok, so there's many more normal kiddos than fakers) is how I spend my day.
E - Every night and morning I check all the blogs I follow. Every. Single. Day. I'm terrified I'll miss something!
F - Football!!!!!!! It's starting. I'm talking about college ball, people. Specifically SEC ball. I love this time of year.
G - God, my Father and His ever present grace. I'm so glad I'm a child of His!
H - Hockey....oh hockey. I miss Da Burgh and hockey at all times. I relish any glimpse of the Pens and ice and a puck.
I - Icing cookies with royal icing and fondant and anything else I see on the web.
J - Justification of shopping trips for frivolous things. I excel at this. It's sad.
K - Keeping us real - the girls at work are not afraid to call each other out. Totally real.
L - Laughing with my DH. Loving my DH. We laugh over the goofiest things and once we get going there is no stopping. I love him wholeheartedly.
M - My momma. She's become one of my best friends, a true support. I never thought that would happen when I was a moody stinky teenager.
N - Not a fan of horror movies. I almost ripped the couch arm from DH's furniture when we watched I Am Legend....which isn't even a horror movie. So you can imagine if we'd watch something actually scary.
O - Outrunning my insecurities. Trying to.
P - Putting myself out there and being vulnerable with others.
Q - Q-Tips. I know, I know. I'm an audiologist and I use Q-Tips. Please don't take away my license!
R - Running and running and running. Running toward a second half marathon.
S - Submersion into any book I'm reading. I love learning about the characters and how they develop and succeed or fail. I love a true to life book - you know, not always a perfect Hollywood ending.
T - Too much caffeine. I drink coffee like it's keeping me alive.
U - Unable to sit on the patio because of the golfers. Hockey gear just isn't comfortable in 100+ temperatures and I'm not a fan of traumatic brain injuries, so no patio for me.
V - Vaniqa. Yes the hair remover stuff. I was trying to remember the name of any restless leg syndrome medication the other night and somehow busted out that DH needed Vaniqa. Totally not the same medication.
W - Without hair dye I would be much older appearing than I actually am. Feria, I love you.
X - X is always x-rays. I've had a million. Grace will never be my middle name.
Y - Yonkers...has anyone ever been there?
Z - Zumba, I'd like to try you. Please be available sometime soon.
I guess it's back to the real world and some closet cleaning.
There's a world of change happening down here in the Deep South and I'll post about it as soon as I can. I hate change in some respects and appreciate it in others. So as a small diversion I'm going to attempt something different here.
A - Awn. When I was little, my younger brother called me Awnie Becca....does that tell you how often I was in trouble that he knew my middle name?!?
B - Bread, any kind. I crave bread. Hunks of it with a great cheese.
C - Classy is what I'd like to be on a regular basis. Working on it.
D - Diagnosing hearing loss and weeding out those little fakers (ok, so there's many more normal kiddos than fakers) is how I spend my day.
E - Every night and morning I check all the blogs I follow. Every. Single. Day. I'm terrified I'll miss something!
F - Football!!!!!!! It's starting. I'm talking about college ball, people. Specifically SEC ball. I love this time of year.
G - God, my Father and His ever present grace. I'm so glad I'm a child of His!
H - Hockey....oh hockey. I miss Da Burgh and hockey at all times. I relish any glimpse of the Pens and ice and a puck.
I - Icing cookies with royal icing and fondant and anything else I see on the web.
J - Justification of shopping trips for frivolous things. I excel at this. It's sad.
K - Keeping us real - the girls at work are not afraid to call each other out. Totally real.
L - Laughing with my DH. Loving my DH. We laugh over the goofiest things and once we get going there is no stopping. I love him wholeheartedly.
M - My momma. She's become one of my best friends, a true support. I never thought that would happen when I was a moody stinky teenager.
N - Not a fan of horror movies. I almost ripped the couch arm from DH's furniture when we watched I Am Legend....which isn't even a horror movie. So you can imagine if we'd watch something actually scary.
O - Outrunning my insecurities. Trying to.
P - Putting myself out there and being vulnerable with others.
Q - Q-Tips. I know, I know. I'm an audiologist and I use Q-Tips. Please don't take away my license!
R - Running and running and running. Running toward a second half marathon.
S - Submersion into any book I'm reading. I love learning about the characters and how they develop and succeed or fail. I love a true to life book - you know, not always a perfect Hollywood ending.
T - Too much caffeine. I drink coffee like it's keeping me alive.
U - Unable to sit on the patio because of the golfers. Hockey gear just isn't comfortable in 100+ temperatures and I'm not a fan of traumatic brain injuries, so no patio for me.
V - Vaniqa. Yes the hair remover stuff. I was trying to remember the name of any restless leg syndrome medication the other night and somehow busted out that DH needed Vaniqa. Totally not the same medication.
W - Without hair dye I would be much older appearing than I actually am. Feria, I love you.
X - X is always x-rays. I've had a million. Grace will never be my middle name.
Y - Yonkers...has anyone ever been there?
Z - Zumba, I'd like to try you. Please be available sometime soon.
I guess it's back to the real world and some closet cleaning.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Run, Forest, Run
So my running partner is back! She took a short hiatus due to a little thing called "having offspring". Anyway, we've been fitting in night runs wherever we can. Her hubby is a triathlon lovin' fool and it's tough finding time for two parents to get workouts in.
I've stepped up my game the last couple weeks because we'd love to run the White Rock 1/2 in December. Which is in 3 months. Which means we have to not die after running 13.1 miles. In 3 months. I'm running a pretty consistent 4 miles at a time and my pace isn't bad - somewhere between 10.30 and 10 minute miles. We ran a slightly slower 4 tonight and finished in 47 minutes. I think that's pretty amazing since the air is like soup right now - I adore the rain we got here yesterday, but it definitely upped the humidity something crazy - and we talk the whole time we run.
The only downside of the run tonight? Quarter sized spiders and copious crickets along one 1/4 mile stretch...that we had to run twice since we run a circuit. We're talking large spiders, people. And neither of us are bug people. So picture two normal women who suddenly are jumping side to side as they run, occasionally running into each other.
The rain also brought out the Egyptian plague-style grasshoppers...you have to watch out or they jump up and smack you in the face or body when you walk past them. Luckily the grasshoppers must be day bugs as they were nowhere to be seen. I don't think we could have made it otherwise.
I've stepped up my game the last couple weeks because we'd love to run the White Rock 1/2 in December. Which is in 3 months. Which means we have to not die after running 13.1 miles. In 3 months. I'm running a pretty consistent 4 miles at a time and my pace isn't bad - somewhere between 10.30 and 10 minute miles. We ran a slightly slower 4 tonight and finished in 47 minutes. I think that's pretty amazing since the air is like soup right now - I adore the rain we got here yesterday, but it definitely upped the humidity something crazy - and we talk the whole time we run.
The only downside of the run tonight? Quarter sized spiders and copious crickets along one 1/4 mile stretch...that we had to run twice since we run a circuit. We're talking large spiders, people. And neither of us are bug people. So picture two normal women who suddenly are jumping side to side as they run, occasionally running into each other.
The rain also brought out the Egyptian plague-style grasshoppers...you have to watch out or they jump up and smack you in the face or body when you walk past them. Luckily the grasshoppers must be day bugs as they were nowhere to be seen. I don't think we could have made it otherwise.
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