Dec. challenge complete and a new challenge for Jan.

At the beginning of December I challenged myself to do 1 mile of exercise every day.  I am proud to say that I completed that goal!  I biked more than I had anticipated when I originally started in December but I did get the mile(s) in!

I ran 25.7 miles.
I biked 35.8 miles
I swam 2.75 miles

In January I am going to change my goal to 10 minutes of exercise since biking one mile took only 5 minutes or less and/or 1 mile. 

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Tomorrow I'm racing in a New Year's 5 Mile Race. I've never ran in a 5 mile race so I'll have a new PR for 2012 on the first day! 

Our Christmas Eve surprise

I have always had a real tree. This year was no exception. We went to the family's farm and cut one down three weeks before Christmas, which is pretty early when you a real tree for that long.

Christmas eve morning I was turning on the tv next to the tree when I saw a little bug. It took me a minute to figure out it was a baby praying mantis! Then I looked a little closer....they were all over the presents!!














We had a praying mantis nest to hatch! 100-200 little guys over all the presents!

My sister in law says they are good luck. I sure hope they are....after u vacuum them up!


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Back in the pool

After almost a year hiatus, I got back in the pool yesterday. I did my mile for the day in the pool. It felt good, although my shoulders were a little tight last night from it.

I went again today but due to time constraints only got in 1200 yards, not quite a full mile....so I need to bike or run later to get it in.

I want to do a tri in february or march so swimming will become a must in the next couple months. Plus it will help to get these extra Christmas pounds off quickly I hope!

Centre colleges asst. swim coach is trying to get a masters team together and I'm very interested in doing that but not sure the practices would work with my schedule. I might have to get the workouts from the coach but do them on my own.

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas!

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2012 Goals and Upcoming Race Schedule

My 2012 race schedule is now posted on the left side bar.  Check it out and let me know if you will be at any of them. 

My goals for 2012:

*complete 1 or more triathlons
*sub 30 5K
*half marathon in under 2:40
*continue to cook more, eat out less
*lose weight (20-25 more pounds)
*mark off 1 or more states
*reach 100 followers
*1 or more organized bike rides

10 pounds of cookie dough

is in my freezer!! Last week my husband put cookie dough on our grocery list and I refused to buy any. Needless to say he was not very happy with me after I came home with no cookie dough.

This past Saturday I wanted him to drive an hour to meet me and the swim team for dinner after our meet. He asked what was in it for him, so i promised him 10 pounds of cookie dough to make up for not getting any the last time.

He came, I bought, and this is our massive amount of cookie dough:




Thankfully we are going
to my parents house for Christmas Eve and will be supplying dessert and his family is coming to our house for Christmas on Monday the 26th. Guess what we will be having for dessert then too??

2011 Goal Recap

2011 Goals (goals in black, outcome in colors)
*run a 5K in under 30 minutes :(  I did get a new PR but still several minutes off sub 30

*run a half marathon in under 2:45, preferably under 2:30 :( I did get a new PR of 2:49. I actually forgot my goal was under 2:45.  I was thinking it was under 3:00, which I did do!

*do 2 or more triathlons :( I only did one triathlon this year.  Another one that I had planned to do was not put on

*lose weight (which will help a lot with the first two goals) :) yes!!! I have lost about 20-25 pounds this year.

*stop drinking soft drinks (had quit, but during my sickness started again)  :(  not even close to stopping....

*get at least 1-2 more states marked off my list :) I did get West Virginia marked off

*cook more :) we have been cooking much more than 2010 and are limiting our eating out to only 2-3 times a week. 

Even though I didn't meet all my goals, other than my "stop drinking soft drinks" goal I did either meet my goal or made huge improvements! I'll going to call it a successful year!

Kids run with Santa

Last night the local running store in our town had a Kids Run with Santa.   Luckily it was Jordan's day off so he was able to bring my niece and nephew down.  Andrew is too young but Anika was just the right age!

At first she was scared of Santa and didn't want to get to close to him. They took all the kids outside and took a picture.

Anika is in the navy jumpsuit next to Santa.

Then they ran 2 blocks up the street then back down 2 blocks back to the bike shop. 

love this picture, just wish it wasn't so blurry!

After the race, Anika was excited to tell Tutu all about it!

Then they got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. 

LOVE this picture!

Andrew was mesmerized by Santa's beard

Cold run and a new course

This was the temp during our Saturday morning 5 mile run.

After having run on the same course all summer me, lesley, jeremy and twila decided we wanted a change. Plus we also need to start running on a hillier course aka the pike.

The Pike - the course we ran on to train for our first half marathon. It is all rolling hills and very scenic across the country side.

It was a great run with a new 5 mile training run PR. It had been a few weeks since mine and Lesley's last run together. Always good to see my running partner again! :).

On Friday after I posted about my 31 days challenge I had my hardest day of not wanting to get my mile in! But I did! Good thing I wrote about it on friday. If I hadn't I probably wouldn't have done it. Thanks for everyones support! It really helped! Only 20 more days to go!



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My 31 Day Challenge

I have committed myself to taking a 31 day challenge.  The challenge being that i have to do at least 1 mile of something every day during December, whether it be running, walking or biking. 

I have started biking again on my exercise bike. I had to look back and see that the last time I was on it was in March! :(   I have biked three times this week though and have really enjoyed it!  Unfortunately the display on the bike is not working properly so I don't know my exact mileage.  I have been estimating it based on the times/miles I did last spring and winter. 

So far I have made it through the first 8 days.  To be honest I hadn't posted about my challenge yet bc I wasn't sure I could do it.  But so far so good!! It has also helped that I have been doing Run With Jess's 12 Days of a Fit Christmas.  You should check it out.  There are still a few days left and every day she draws a giveaway winner from those that have posted. 

some library/ryan gosling humor

I saw this on fb today and just had to share it with the blogging world.  It is too funny and oh so true!  Enjoy!

http://librarianheygirl.tumblr.com/

sale shopping

Summer and fall clearance clothes have begun!!

I picked up the following items online or at the local running store for pretty cheap.



Can't wait to try these out! Nike two in one tempo short. They felt great just trying them on.


Short sleeve running shirts bc believe it or not I only have one. (the rest are sleeveless)



I got jeremy a couple things too.




Short shorts to use on the treadmill or over tights.




Vizi pro jacket to wear on early morning runs.

I have stopped though and won't buy anymore running clothes for awhile. I am in need of some new work clothes.

Why is it easier to buy running clothes though than work or everyday clothes?


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OPP #2 jingle bell jog and a Christmas tree

This was another failed attempt at getting sub 30. This one I knew would be though bc it is on the hardest course in the area. Having run this race the previous two years and on the course at another race I knew what was coming - 1 1/2 miles uphill from the start.







These pictures just don't do the hills justice! These were the last ones at mile 2.

But it's a race I like to support! The money made goes to benefit the alzheimers association. Next year I'm thinking I will volunteer to work it though rather than run!

The race has a ton of sponsors and they have presents along the course for you to pick up and carry to the finish line. I got a yatzee travel game and jeremy got a longaberger travel mug.







Everyone wears bells on their shoes so it is very festive and fun to listen to all the jingling!





Jeremy ran this race with me again this year. He actually had gotten up early and ran 10 miles with twila before running the 3.1 with me so he could get in his long run this weekend.

After the race we went to eat with jeremys brother (who had come down to race and got first in his age group) and our niece and nephew at cracker barrel. If you have not had their cinamon French toast you need to go!!

Then we went down to the farm to cut a Christmas tree. I have always had a live tree and with our bigger house I wanted a bigger tree. Jeremy though wasnt too keen on the idea so this is what we came home with:




Decorations and lights to come!

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A Few of My Favorite Things - running edition

A couple weeks ago I Run Because I Can posted "A Few of My Favorite Things". I thought it was a great post and am going to copy her idea.

Favorite Pre-Race Food:

bananas

Favorite GU flavors:
I couldnt pick just one!
I also can't wait to try the peanut butter!

chocolate raspberry

chocolate outrage

mint chocolate

Favorite Headband:

sweatybands!!!

 Favorite Handheld:

GoLite HydraClutch 

 Favorite watch:

my (formerly Jeremy's) Garmin 305

Favorite Post-Run Socks:

CEP compression socks

Favorite Shoes:

Asics Gel Nimbus

Rushed the field

I got to mark something off Amy bucket list yesterday - rushing the field at a football game!!

We have had season UK football tickets for 5 years now. The field has been rushed several times during those 5 years but we were sitting in the upper deck when it happened. Last year our seats were moved to the lower level so rushing was a possibility. The one game the field was rushed though happened to be the same weekend of our first half and we had given the tickets to jeremys parents.

I have always wanted to rush the field. When I was in college I was never able to either I wasn't at the game or was sitting in the upper deck. Since having gotten season tickets it has been on my bucket list to rush the field!

This year we were even lower, only 5 rows back from the wall to the field. Unfortunately the team has not had a good season and would not go to a bowl game. We were playing Tennessee who we have a 26 game losing streak too. Jeremy and I both had a feeling that we might win but knowing how UK plays we weren't counting it as a win just yet.

UK led the whole game which for the most part was 3-0. Finally UK scored a touchdown, but TN scored a touchdown right back. We were still up.

With 4 minutes on the clock everyone was standing and hoping we could hold on. Students were coming into the gates getting ready to rush the field. At about 2 minutes left we got the ball back and took a knee til the time ran out.

We hopped down the bleachers. Jeremy went over first and then I followed! We helped me down and we took of running to the middle of the field! It was so awesome!




The wall looks small there but it's probably about an 6-8 foot drop.



On the field with several thousand of our closest friends.


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Black Friday

Last year was my first time ever black Friday shopping. Jeremy and I wanted a tv and target had some for pretty cheap. We got tithe store about 30 minutes before they opened not realizing you had to have a ticket to get items like that. So no tv for us!

This year I was ready to try again. Jeremy refused to go but my friend emily said she would go with me even though she had nothing to buy. I got to target at 9:45 - 2 hours 15 minutes before they opened and the line was already around the corner.

About 11:30 the line tightened up and started moving forward. People had put up there chairs and were ready for the doors to open. This caused us to be at least in front of the store rather than the side. The lady behind us had asked if they were giving out tickets and was told yes. However, no one ever came by. We just assumed they weren't after all.

When the doors opened I ran to the tvs while emily grabbed a cart. There were 2 different tvs a 46" and a 40" that were in our price range. We wanted to get the bigger one if we could but the 40" was ok as well. I got to the tvs and said I wanted the 46" one. The guy working asked if I had a ticket!! What? I told him they didn't pass them out! He held some up and said yes they did! Oh man! Not again!!!

We started to walk away and overheard the guy that was manning the 40" tvs that you didn't have to have a ticket for those!!! Woo hoo! Emily grabbed a cart and we loaded the tv up! Success!!




Emily went to get in the check out line and I went to check on a laptop. The line to get into electronics was crazy long. I called emily to see how long the check out line was and found that it was non existent, so I went to check out instead of staying in line. No sense making emily wait for me even longer, the laptop can be bought another day.

Jeremy installed it last night and hung up my painting of deuce!





Did anyone else shop black Friday?

Get any good buys?

Learn something for next years black Friday expedition?


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OPP - take 1

Wednesday 9:30 pm - I am writing this part the night before the 5k that is tomorrow (Thursday). I am not nervous but I am a little antsy. I am pretty sure I will be able to get a PR even if I dont go under 30 and I'm ok with that. I have my clothes laid out and am ready to go, although I must find my spibelt here in a minute. There are over 1500 people in this 5k so I am a bit worried about trying to navigate through them, to not waste energy, but still get a good time. I went to the chiro today and my hip and knee have been pain free all day. :) yay! I haven't run since sunday, so my legs will be good and rested for tomorrow. With any luck I'll at least have a PR in 12 hours and possible permission to get a puppy!

Thursday am - Well I did not break 30 by quite a bit, but I did get a PR. My official time was 35:02. Considering the course was crowded and hillier than I usually run I am happy with it. Mile 2 was again my worst out of the three miles. It was also the hilliest of the three. Mile 1 felt really good. I had to weave in and out of some people but tried not to as much as I could. Mile 3 was downhill for the most part so it was a nice fast finish.

My next 5k is in a couple weeks at the same place but the course is a little different.



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Hood to Coast movie

I was able to check out the Hood to Coast movie from my library via ILL. It came in this past week from Portland University. It was really neat to see the different teams and the history of the race.

Also learned that roadkill isn't dead animals but people you pass. Some of the bourbon chase vans had a road kill count written on them. Completely thought they were counting dead animals!!


My thoughts on the movie (spoilers)

Having done the Bourbon Chase in October i was more connected to the Thunder and Laikaning team. The girl that had the 3 mile theory (if you can run 3 miles you can run any distance) I thought was crazy! She was funny to watch though bc she had said she had never ran any of the distances before and yet had the second to hardest leg. "I kept thinking why would her team do that to her?" and "if you feel that bad now, just wait til that last leg when you feel like you want to die"

The R. Bowe team made me cry every time they came on. Especially when the wife told about him passing and her not wanting the baby. I would feel the same way I'm sure.

I could not get over kathy. She died, actually died in the race the previous year but yet wanted to do it again and to do the same legs even. Jeremy and I kept repeating to ourselves, that's Twila, she would do that!

Dead Jocks in a Box was quite humorous. I felt bad for the girls that they made run under/through them. No one wants to smell 4-6 men that have been running and not showered in 36 hours. yuck!

OPP and WW update

On Thangsiving morning, jeremy and i are going to do a 5k. It's called the Thoroughbred classic. we have never done this race before but have wanted to. they always have awesome tech shirts! Jeremy's dad is also planning on doing the race so it will be a fun family event. We would like to start this race as a family tradition.  It will also be my first chance at trying to break 30.  My treadmill runs have been going really well.  However, yesterday i had planned on running and did not.  The bookfair was delivered and I worked for a couple hours moving heavy boxes and cases of books.   Then last night my hip started hurting, very sharp stabbing pains.  :(   When i woke up this morning, my knee on the same leg was killing me.  All day long it is either my hip or my knee, my knee or my hip that have been bothering me.  I called the chiro and made an appt for tomorrow am.  I'm hoping he can get me back "inline" for Thursday. I would hate to not be able to run bc of it. 

I went to weigh in today and was DOWN 3 pounds.  Which is great, but that's only 2 pounds lost in 2 months! :(   Which is not the best!  I have noticed that since the half and i have been doing short, fast runs the past couple weeks my weight has been down.  I'm hoping to keep it coming off over the holidays but i know that will be a challenge.  I just have to stay focused!! 

Painting with a Twist - pug style

In the summer I tried to get a group of girls together to do a painting at our local community arts center. Unfortunately we couldn't get a group big enough.

One person through suggested we do Painting with a Twist in a near by city. I had never heard o it and was really surprised when I visited there website at all the different choices there were.




The walls were covered of paintings they do.





One of the choices was a "paint your pet" night. For anyone that knows me knows that my dog is my baby. He is 9 1/2 and the sweetest thing ever. So of course I had to paint him! Problem was the class that was offered for that was on a night I had to work. :(

I emailed them and asked that when the next calendar came out if they could please put it on a Friday or Saturday night. Sure enough they did!

I sent them a picture of Deuce and they sketched him using the picture.







The instructor told us to get our pets filled in first then we would do the background, then go back and add details to our pet.












I wasn't happy with his eyes so I went back and tried to fix those.







My friend Emily painted her pet "Charlie".



It was a little stressful bc you want your dog to look like they really do. I think that doing another picture would be much more carefree. Jeremy ad I need a painting over our couch and havent been able to find anything big enough to cover the area we like so I think we might go back to painting with a twist and each do a painting that would go together and hang them side by side.

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