Monday, March 29, 2010

I just felt like runnin

I did NOT want to run this morning. I am still fighting this stupid sinus crud so I can't hardly breathe and my head is POUNDING!! But I knew that if I didn't just go then I'd stay in my pj's all day, clean the house, maybe take a nap but I would most certainly NOT be running at all and I knew I'd wish that I had. So I bundled up warm and headed out the door.

I kept it nice and easy, didn't push it... I just ran. I had two cough drops to help with my scratchy and dry throat. I brought Fiona along {see equipment tab} for some mellow tunage. My mind wandered and I thought a lot about why I love runs like this one turned out to be. I hope you like Forrest Gump cause I've got a PLETHORA of quotes for ya!

Those must be comfortable shoes. I bet you could walk all day in shoes like that and not feel a thing. I wish I had shoes like that.

Having good shoes is HUGE! I loved my Nike trail runners that I recently retired. They had great traction, they fit my feet perfectly. They were awesome... and cute too! And so far I am loving my Asics. They are super light and breathable. The shoe laces up differently than I've ever seen on a shoe; they follow the ridge from your big to up to the inside ankle rather than right up the middle. Interesting.

Mama always said there's an awful lot you can tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going, where they've been.

And what they're involved in! I have to admit that I wish I was able to buy more shoes. Girly high heels, boots, cowboy boots and all sorts of tennies, flats, and casuals. But alas I must forgo the extravagance. For now I am dreaming of a little warmer weather so I can wear my chacos again.

Now, you wouldn't believe it if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was running.

I have ALWAYS loved running. From when I was a little kid. And I was FAST! I was that girl that could beat all the boys {not every time but I was ALWAYS in the front of the pack}. I loved field day because I got to do all those races and skunk everybody!! In high school my race was the 800m and the 1600m. I know that some people really don't enjoy running but... I sure do!

Now, it used to be I ran to get where I was going. I never thought it would take me anywhere.

I didn't always run when I was going places, most often I rode my bike. It is true that it will take you not somewhere physically but figuratively too. Running has helped me through tough times, it's fabulous therapy. Running has helped me achieve physical goals and improved my self confidence. Running has changed me and will continue to do so.

That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going.

Now I am not ever going to go on a running spree like Forrest did. But I am starting to log some pretty long runs. They are tough. But there is a lot of pride when that run is finished. It's a great feeling to accomplish something like that. Maybe I will run across the county, that seems like a lofty but eventually an accessible goal!

So I really didn't want to go on that run. But it felt great to just go out, take it easy, and it ended up being the most enjoyable run I've had for awhile. And that's ALWAYS a great thing!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

We've Got a Winner Here

Friday, March 26, 2010

Hills

I've got a 14 miler tomorrow morning. I am meeting up with my girls and we're going to tackle THE hill!! I found a little video on proper running form for hills and HAD to share!! Wish me luck tomorrow!!!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Official Results!!

I finally remembered to check the official results for my race last Saturday. So Guess What?! I came in #10. SECOND overall female and FIRST in my age division!!! HOLY SMOKES!!!

I went and bought myself a knee strap today. I really hope it does the job but really I just hope my knee quits hurting all together; I don't like this pain business!! I've got another easy run tomorrow and then a big 14 miler on Saturday. I WILL survive, da da da di dee.... I don't remember the rest of the song!!!

ALL Good

For dinner last night we had THEE most killer meal!! We LOVE LOVE LOVE Fish &/or Shrimp Tacos. Serious Love!! I defy you to find something that isn't FABULOUS for you in this meal!!

Cabbage is good for your gastrointestinal health and helps with body cleansing. Tilapia has those awesome heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Black beans are packed with fiber and high quality protein. Salsa is THEE best condiment there is; this pineapple salsa was a new concoction that was a HUGE hit! So though it was all just a eye ball / make up as you go kind meal it turned out PERFECTLY!! Hope you enjoy it too!!

**Measurements are a guesstimate so add more/less to suite your personal taste

Pineapple Salsa 1 Can pineapple tidbits {reserve juice}
2 oranges {peeled & cut in chunks}
1 mango {cut in chunks}
1 bunch cilantro {chopped}
1/2 cup Mezzetta tamed jalapeno slices {cut in quarters}
1/2 purple onion {chopped}
3 Tbsp lime juice
1/4-1/2 cup pineapple juice
garlic powder {to taste}
onion powder {to taste}
salt {to taste}

Mix fruit, cilantro, jalapeno & onion in a bowl. Add pineapple and lime juice. Gradually add spices until you reach desired taste. Add more juices if desired.

Fish/Shrimp Tacos
Corn Tortillas
Cabbage {shredded}
3 Tilapia pieces
Shrimp {shelled and de-veined}
Pineapple Salsa
1/2 cup pineapple juice {twice}
3-4 Tbsp lime juice {twice}

In baking pan place Tilapia and cover with juices. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes; or until while and flaky. Meanwhile, saute shrimp in pineapple & lime juices. Layer corn tortilla with fish or shrimp and top with cabbage & salsa. Serve warm black beans on the side.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Nike Women

I was exploring the Nike website, messing around with Nike+ stuff and I came across THIS page called Nike Women. I think I'm in LOVE!!!



It is so STINKIN SWEET I can't get over it!! You sign up {free of course}. You make a cute little Mini Me. You pick some workout routines and how often you want to workout. Then you simply go in and it has a series of workout video clips all organized and ready to go. You check off which ones you did. It's AWESOME!!

So now you don't have to buy a bunch of workout dvd's! You can also hook up with buddies and cheer each other on. You can join the same workout if you want. I am so excited! I love my Jillian workouts but I'm wanting variety too!!

So go check it out. Look me up. I love cool stuff like this!!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Run up that Corporate Ladder

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Feelin' Fine!

Today I had my first race of the year!! I have been anxious all week with my knee being tweaked and all. But I iced it and tried to stay off it so I was hoping that by the time this race came around that I'd be able to at least run it. My friend, Annie, let me borrow her knee strap and I am ever so grateful that she did!! I think it made a world of difference!

I went into this race without a time in my head {a first for me}. I just wanted to finish and I kept telling myself, "Run SMART". I seriously did NOT want to make this knee injury worse! I BLEW THE DOORS OFF!!! My first mile I ran in just under 7:00!! But my knee felt great! So I just ran! I think I was NEEDING a good run SO BAD! I shaved off an awesome 3:04 off my previous PR from September of last year! Final Time ~ 23:28!! Official places haven't been posted yet but we are pretty sure that I came in 9-10 overall and as the 3rd overall woman! I am THRILLED!!

Plus I won a pair of sweet new socks! I am far from 100%; but I am pretty psyched!! BOO YEAH!!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Homemade Ice Pack

Now I'm sure you guys were picturing something totally awesome and crafty!! Yeah, no. THIS is my homemade ice pack!But this is no ordinary chunk of ice!! It is pliable too... kinda slushy! So here's how you can make your own:

In a QUART size freezer bag mix one cup rubbing alcohol and two cups water. If you need a bigger bag, simply double the liquid to two cups rubbing alcohol and four cups water in a GALLON size bag.

The alcohol doesn't allow the water to freeze all the way. It's awesome!

I have spent A LOT of time with this bad boy lately. My knee has not improved yet; I am hoping it does in the next day or two. I am getting more and more anxious with every day that goes by.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Not any better

Today I headed out expecting a MUCH better run than Saturday. I felt great for about 2 miles and then my dang knee started hurting again. I tried to just slow down and take it easy but it gradually got worse over the next mile. At 3.2 miles I stopped and was going to call it good and just walk the rest of the way home. But Hawkeye was home with the kids and would be needing to get to work. So I ran/limped and walked on and off the rest of the way home! I am so ticked!! I don't think I'd be so worried if I hadn't JUST BARELY forked out the money for this race!! So the plan is that I'll ice again today A LOT. 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off... I'll do that 2-3 times. Then Wednesday I'll walk instead of run so hopefully by Saturday I'll be 100% again.

*Stay tuned for a cool homemade ice pack!!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Watch Out!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Ticked Right Off!

Yesterday I mapped out an awesome 12 miler for today. I paced it off in the car to make sure I had my bearings and everything. I've been feeling great but haven't been able to get all my runs in with moving and being sick. My Mom was driving nearly 45 minutes to watch the kids so Hawkeye and I could run together! Plus a girl friend of mine was coming along too. I was SO STINKIN EXCITED!!!

Things went downhill rather quickly. Within the first mile I already had a side ache. Hawkeye starting limping around 2 miles {he hurt his ankle last week and apparently it wasn't as healed as he had hoped}. The hills came in to play at 3.75 miles. Hawkeye had to turn back about a mile later. He called my Mom and had her come pick him up. NOT what either of us were hoping for!

Annie and I trudged on up the hill. Luckily my side ache had subsided but those were some tough hills!! At 6.75 we had reached the top of the hills and made our way down. That's when I started having real problems. Both knees and my left ankle started hurting... CRAP!

I blame two things. 1. The Common Cold. I've been fighting with that bugger for about a week. Still coughing and sinuses are congested. 2. New Shoes. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my new shoes. BUT, they aren't exactly broken in yet {just 6 miles on them prior to this run}. There. Perfect explanations for the crappiest run EVER!

I managed to run fairly hard at the end; I HAVE to give all I have left in that last quarter-ish mile. But nearly instantly afterward my knee tightened up and hurt something awful. It seriously hasn't hurt that bad since my high school sports days.

So now I have a head game. Next week is an easy "off" week. But the week after that I've got a 14 miler. I WAS planning on just adding two more miles to this route; it's a great route and I need the hills. I was feeling confident and psyched for this and now my brain is trying to convince my body that it's too much. Hawkeye HAS to be at top performance level entering Boot, so if that means pulling out of the marathon... so be it. ARGHHH!!! I hope you can hear that cream through the ethernet!

On a positive note, cause I am ever so about being positive, aren't our bodies AMAZING?!! I just ran 12 MILES! Not only that but I am capable of running farther or faster... both actually! It's AWESOME!!! Monday is the beginning of a new week. And it is going to be GREAT!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

It's Official!

I finally paid our dues for our big marathon this spring. I hate that they cost so dang much; especially when we've got to register two of us!! I am so excited though. It's a tough course; all the hills are at the end! But it's going to be an amazing experience that I am going to relish every second of.

I haven't been able to run as much the past few weeks due to moving and being sick. Well, I guess I've only missed one run a week {and it's never been the long run} but I haven't been doing very well on cross training the other days. Now that we're more settled in I am sure that things will get into a rhythm now. I am not quite finished unpacking, down to 1-2 boxes... tedious office/scrapbook/computer stuff that I am having a hard time finding places for. I'm just glad to finally have an inkling of normalcy!!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

10 Years & Counting

A few weeks ago The man and I packed up the car, left the kids with Grampa & Gramma, and we headed up to the ski resort where we were engaged 10 YEARS AGO to the day!!! Holy COW!!! We stayed in the same lodge where the big event happened. It was the most fabulous few days.

Day One: Arrived at said ski resort & got settled. I SO want this bad boy on my wall!We grabbed a most fabulous dinner; pork loin and halibut... I'm still salivating! During dinner Hawkeye gave me a new wedding ring {to replace the one I lost several years ago}. Isn't is GORGEOUS?!! We capped off the night watching Olympics, which only psyched me up even more!

Day Two: Hitting the slopes bright and early!! No new snow for days so it was a groomers kind of day but even a bad day here is better than the best day anywhere else!!! Here we are on the chair lift up our first run! I still got mad skills!!! What a workout too! My legs were on FIRE!We boarded all over that mountain! We took a million pictures. We smiled, laughed and had just an AWESOME time! There really is no place more beautiful, stunning or awe inspiring as this ski hill.After a killer day on the hill we decided to strap on the snow shoes. It was an absolute BLAST!! Here we are with the ski resort behind us. We had the most amazing view of the hill and the valley on the other side. Well worth the climb to get there!Day Three: We really wanted to board in some powder! Thanks to our hike the previous day we found the perfect place. We were able to get in a few run of perfect, untouched powder. There was even a jump for the man to play on. Oh it was the most perfect way to end out trip!I had to throw this one in there too. We hiked past the horses that the resort uses for their sleigh rides up to a yurt where they serve dinner {we so wanted in on that awesomeness but they didn't run on the days we were there... MAJOR bummer}! Isn't this guy just AMAZING?!It was the trip of a lifetime. I was on cloud 9 the entire time. It was THEE most perfect way to celebrate the beginning of my life with the man of my dreams!

Pot of GOLD!

Remember my obsessive post about Mazzetta products awhile back? Well check out THIS pot of gold!!! My new friends/family of Mazzetta sent me all these GLORIOUS products to try!! I've already busted into the cauliflower, peperoncini and brussel sprouts. DELICIOUS!!! Our favorite of those three is the Garlic and Dill Peperoncini. SO SO SO YUMMY!! We're having some friends over this weekend and we're going to break into the olives... I can't wait!! I have to thank Chris at Mazzetta {yet again} for spoiling me rotten with this package! Thanks a million times over!! I have died and gone to heaven!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

She's ALIIIVEE!!!!

I am BACK!!! Loads of updates coming... tomorrow!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Should be a pistol... not a rifle!

Nike Trainer

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