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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