I’m currently across the country in Portland, Oregon. My sister and I ran in the Shamrock 5k here on Sunday, but now I’m sliding into the hiatus habit of couch-potatoing and junk food. I have to say, it’s a little relaxing 😉 Going to do my best not to let it get out of hand.
The best part so far is being able to sit down a read Twilight finally 🙂 And I’m talking my sister into taking me to Trader Joe’s at some point. Woot!
i will tell you i ran today.
3.5 miles
i will tell you i hated every minute of it.
and i will tell you…
i ate way too many cookies 😦
try try again tomorrow 🙂
It’s raining.
It’s a cross training day.
I did 20 sweaty minutes on the elliptical and some quick basic lifting.
Tonight I’m going out with my husband and my two sisters that are in town from Oregon. New Orleans Funk! Yeah! Water for me, though… I’ve got a 4 miler in the morning 🙂
getting ready to pack up and head to hot springs this afternoon. i’m excited and a little nervous for the big day today. i’m planning on taking a lot of pictures so look for the race recap soon!
Although limping around like a kicked dog the last couple of days with a stiff back, I loosened up a bit today and was ready to make my last training run before Saturday’s race. I have to say that it was the only thing I was looking forward to today. I’m a burned out teacher right now, and Thanksgiving break can’t get here fast enough.
I was shooting for 4-5 miles today, and I’m proud to say I made it for a full 5. I’m starting to think I’m getting the hang of this running stuff. My knees and feet were close to giving out on me and the end, though, so I wouldn’t say it was all that easy. I do enjoy being alone with my thoughts and my ipod for an hour, though. Today I entertained myself with thoughts of the wonderful massage I’m planning on getting in Hot Springs after I get done on Saturday. And probably a pedicure for my tired out feet. Yeah!
Speaking of my ipod, I thought I’d share my playlist that I’m usually listening to when I’m out. I have it on shuffle so it doesn’t get predictable. Needs some beefing up, so fresh music ideas are welcome.
What’s your favorite workout song? Clean the house song? Mad at the world song?
Note to self – Don’t pick up big terra cotta pots the week before a race EVER. I need to stop thinking I’m She-Ra and get my Man to help me more. To be fair, he did warn me, but I rolled my eyes and heaved and hoed anyway. Been icing my back ever since.
So anyway, it’s the week of my race. It’s coming up fast this Saturday. I had an “easy” 2 mile run scheduled for today, but it not happening with my back feeling like its breaking when I stand up, so I’m skipping today and waiting till Wednesday to run 4-5 miles. I’m not too worried about it because I skipped last Monday’s “easy” 2 miler and did fine for the rest of the week. My body needs rest, and I’ve learned to give in when it calls for it.
It’s been a good training session so far, but I’m looking forward to the completion.
This is my personalized 5 week training plan I got from Runner’s World. It’s a pretty simple way of getting a running schedule to fit whatever you are training for. I recommend it, for ease of use if nothing else.
In other news, I was gifted with some venison hamburger meat today, and this crazy cold weather came up from nowhere, so making chili just had to happen.
I had no recipe, I just threw things that were on hand and on my “diet” in pot.
Hit the spot.
Later, taters.
Speaking of blessing my heart, this little girl does it every single day for me.
My first born, my Abby. She knows momma goes running a lot. Yesterday she wanted to go with me, she wanted to run. I told her I was running a long way. She said she could do it. We got 500 feet down the road and she was done. We raced back home.
Then I offered for her to ride her bike beside me while I ran. Her eyes lit up and she eagerly hopped on. Riding a “2 wheeler” bike is still relatively new for her, but she is doing a great job.
The road inclines for a bit at first so she stayed right beside me. There we were, mom and daughter, going down the road. It’s quiet, until she turns her head to the side a bit, just barely though, so she still has her eyes on the road, and says “I love you, Mom”.
My heart melts.
Every parent knows that the unsolicited “I love you” is pretty much the greatest thing in the world. You didn’t have to prompt it out of them, they just felt like they needed to tell you. Sweetness.
So there we were, side by side, going down the road. Then she gets a little faster. And turns the corner before me. Then around the cul-de-sac and passes me going the opposite direction. I tell her, “Abby, wait for mommy”. She ignores me and keeps on pedaling. I can’t help to think that this is the way it’ll be from now on.
She’ll love me. And then leave me behind to go live her own adventure.
But I guess I’m okay with that. I guess. Maybe.
I know that she watches me, and pays attention to what Mommy is doing. Sometimes she asks for a “healthy apple” to eat, or a big glass of water that “is good for you”. And I can’t tell you how proud I was when I found her in my room one day, lifting a 5 pound dumbbell over her head repeatedly and telling me that she was exercising. She even ate a bite of spinach the other day, because she knows that makes Popeye’s muscles bigger.
She loves to flex her muscles to let me measure how much bigger and stronger they are getting. It makes me happy to know that I have given my daughter a base to begin her own journey in life. And believe me, she has balance. I believe she got a fistful of Halloween candy after this little adventure.
I stinkin’ love oatmeal. It’s become as natural as breathing in my morning routine. I eat it pretty much every morning when the weather has even the slightest hint of coolness in the morning. Basically, all school year. I don’t do instant anymore, as those packets have wayyyy too much sugar in them. Simple and basic old-fashioned oats. 1/2 cup with 1 cup water, in the bowl above, nuked in my microwave for 2 minutes. Perfect. I don’t even salt it anymore (believe me, you get used to it). My toppings vary slightly, but there is almost always pecans. I love pecans.
Today’s oatmeal had my homemade apple butter, pecans, and raisins. It lasted me all morning.
Lunch was leftovers from last nights’ experimental recipe. This was a warm sweet potato salad.
Sorry for the crappy picture. I was tired.
I thought this was pretty good, but The Man just tolerated it. The recipe called for roasting cut up sweet potatoes and ham (we used turkey ham) with onion slices, then tossing with chopped spinach and walnuts (i used pecans!). Drizzle it and the end with a vinaigrette made with apple cider vinegar/maple syrup/olive oil.
Like I said, I was happy with it. I’ll probably try it again, but may play around with the dressing to see if I can make the husband happier with it.
Supper was a second go-round with the blackened fish/peach salsa/brown rice entree that I mentioned in an earlierpost. This time we had it with sweet peas. Still yum.
Bless My Heart 