Ok so yeah, I admit it. I'm a bit obsessive. And more than a little bit goal driven. Running is perfect for an obsessive freak such as myself -- there is always faster & farther, always a new goal.
Recently my newest obsession is this pretty, little (I emphasize little) pair of Miss Me jeans that stare at me each morning while I'm getting ready for work. They are sparkly and beautiful and calling my name. See, I bought these jeans a while back knowing full well I could *never* wear them in public the way they were that day in the dressing room. But I loved them so much...and they didn't have the next size up...so I bought them.
Here is my public declaration that these little pretties will be on my tushie (and zipped!) by NEW YEAR'S eve. 3 weeks. Think I can do it?!?!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Winter Runderland 10K
Today was the 3rd Annual Winter Runderland 10K, put on by our local running store Manhattan Running Company. I am so glad to have local races and I so appreciate the work that goes into planning an event like this. I used to be an event planner, so that probably makes me appreciate this a little more, but getting this together is no small task. So hats off to my friends at MRC for making this a great day!
I ran this race last year - in the freezing rain! No rain in the forecast today (thank goodness, that was awful, but we did get badass status for running it in my book) When I woke up at 8am today it was 13 degrees. BRRRRRRR. Luckily the race start was 3:00 this afternoon so it had a chance to warm up to a balmy 34!
I was hoping to get a big group of us together for the race today, but everyone seemed to have other things going on today. There is one friend who is always good for a race....yep, Russ :) Russ started running last summer and has already run two 1/2 marathons, several 5Ks and today we embarked on his second 10K. Russ has an amazing story of he and his super cute little wife Jaime finding a way to change their lives by health, wellness, exercise & weight loss. Read all about Russ's Thanksgiving reflection on his blog Thunder Road Racing. It's an awesome post. I wish Russ would post some pics of he & Jaime's transformation - it's incredible. (hint, Russ, post the pics!)
Ok on to raceday. After fussing about my clothing choice....Russ & I headed to the start. We stayed in the car as long as we could messing around with our ipods, race bibs, shoe laces, gloves, etc. Noone would ever put this much thought into a normal 6 miler - raceday is just crazy. Well, I mean it makes us crazy. My shoe laces aren't tight enough. Uh, now they are too tight. Should I wear these gloves or these gloves? How many layers should I wear? Does my hair look stupid in these piggytails? Ugh. I spent pretty much the whole day obsessing.
Our goal today was 60 min or under.
We started out strong with mile 1 at 9:40. But I was really uncomfortable (like I always am at mile 1....but my freaking ipod got paused somehow, and it was buried under too many dang layers to get it going again. Crap. No music. I had my playlist picked *just* right to bring me strong into the finish. I knew messing with it would screw up my pace, so, gonna have to go without it.
Mile 2, lookin' good. Mile 3, yep, right on target. Mile 4, good. Here we are finishing up mile 4 with a thumbs up :)
Mile 5 we slowed down a bit - our second trip up the hill. We lost some time there and hit the mile 5 marker at 50:45. Dang it. We had 9 minutes to get the last 1.2 in. I knew I could do this - just yesterday I ran a 9:00 & an 8:30 1/2 mile on the treadmill at the end of my 5 miler. But I knew we'd be cutting it really close. I knew mile 6 had a few small hills at the front, but the finish is all downhill and should be enough to bring us in. At the finish we had to come across a busy street, and police were stopping traffic. When we were approaching the intersection I saw the cop waving some cars through - I said to Russ 'that dude better stop those cars, cause I'm NOT stopping!' I was going for it. Yeah, I don't think he heard me because he probably had Miley Cyrus blaring in his headphones by this point. LOL And yes, I was jealous since I had nothing but my wheezing to listen to.
We hit the mile 6 marker.....and then hit 1:00 on my watch. DANG IT. We didn't make it. SO FREAKING CLOSE. I will tell you this though, I am pretty proud of that last mile being a 9:15. We finished up with a 1:01:01.
I will obsess about that 1 minute for a long time I'm sure. What we could have done different....could we have kicked in faster somewhere....if my new favorite Pink song was playing my ears could I have run faster....if I hadn't ran a hard treadmill workout yesterday could I have made it....blah, it's starting already.But here are the good things about that 1:01:01:
**Seeing Russ's family there to support him was awesome. Having my hubs and kiddo driving around the course yelling at us was awesome. Such troopers coming out in the fa-reezing cold to support our insane habit. How would we do this day after day, race after race without family & friends supporting us?
**My race time last year for this race was 59:03. So much has happened this past year. Surgery, rehab, getting back, etc. When I started back to running in August I was at 11 min miles on a good day. Running 6.2 at a 9:50 average and being only 2 minutes off from where I was last year? Yep, I'll take that.
**This was a 6 1/2 minute PR for Russ from his 10K in August! 6 minute PR in a 10K is huge and awesome and awesomely huge. That's a whole minute faster per mile. Holy crap!
**I didn't hurl like I *almost* *kinda* did last year.
**I took home a sa-weet 2nd place age group medal! I hope I never get ho-hum about getting a raceday medal. I know some people have so many of them that they aren't that big of a deal to them anymore, but I love, love, LOVE bringing home a race day medal. If I could wear it to work tomorrow without everyone talking about how crazy I was, I totally would.
Man, I LOVE race day. No sleep the night before, obsessing about every little detail, running with my friends, having our families there, working hard and being proud....the whole thing.
What a great way to end the 2010 racing year!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
21 Habits of Happy People
I read this list today and thought it was worth sharing with my bloggy friends :)
“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~ Elbert Hubbard
Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed. We’ve all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life. The following are 21 things happy people make a habit of doing:
1. Appreciate Life
Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
2. Choose Friends Wisely
Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.
3. Be Considerate
Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.
4. Learn Continuously
Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.
5. Creative Problem Solving
Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.
6. Do What They Love
Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.
7. Enjoy Life
Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.
8. Laugh
Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)
9. Forgive
Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.
10. Gratitude
Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.
11. Invest in Relationships
Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.
12. Keep Their Word
Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.
13. Meditate
Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.
14. Mind Their Own Business
Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.
15. Optimism
See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.
16. Love Unconditionally
Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.
17. Persistence
Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.
18. Be Proactive
Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.
19. Self Care
Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.
20. Self Confidence
Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.
21. Take Responsibility
Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.
Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. Work on developing these habits as you own. The more you incorporate the above habits into your daily lifestyle – the happier you will be!
“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~ Elbert Hubbard
Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed. We’ve all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life. The following are 21 things happy people make a habit of doing:
1. Appreciate Life
Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
2. Choose Friends Wisely
Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.
3. Be Considerate
Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.
4. Learn Continuously
Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.
5. Creative Problem Solving
Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.
6. Do What They Love
Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.
7. Enjoy Life
Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.
8. Laugh
Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)
9. Forgive
Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.
10. Gratitude
Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.
11. Invest in Relationships
Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.
12. Keep Their Word
Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.
13. Meditate
Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.
14. Mind Their Own Business
Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.
15. Optimism
See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.
16. Love Unconditionally
Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.
17. Persistence
Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.
18. Be Proactive
Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.
19. Self Care
Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.
20. Self Confidence
Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.
21. Take Responsibility
Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.
Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. Work on developing these habits as you own. The more you incorporate the above habits into your daily lifestyle – the happier you will be!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Gobbler Grind 1/2 Marathon
Gobbler Grind 1/2 today!Couldn't have asked for better weather today, 60 degrees! I instantly regretted my clothing choice - I was hot by mile 1.
Ran w/ Russ, Scott & Jaime from Thunder Road Racing today & that was fun. :)
We all ran together for the first few miles, Jaime went on her own to finish up her 5K & the guys & I pressed on. We had a pace plan & a 2:20 goal...but apparently none of us can add b/c @ mile 8 we thought we were 10 minutes behind our goal. I think we should all buy each other Garmins for Christmas or go back to gradeschool for math.
I think my words were "Well, f-ing A, we gotta GO!" LoL So we did. :) We split at this point & Scott went some place outside of body & blew the 2:20 goal away w/ a 2:07!
I was feeling really good at mile 9 & decided to take advantage of the long downhill to catch up on the mystery minutes we were behind - mile 9 for me was an 8:30 pace! Yeah, I've never done that before. Awesome.
But...I would regret that around mile 11 when I felt like I could walk it in. I was tired, & needed to GU at mile 9 - I didn't - so I guess I got what I deserved there. Finished up with a 2:23 w/ Russ right on my tail.
I ran this race last year in 2:14 - so I'm no where near where I was last year. But I'm super proud of today, I gave it all I had. 7 minutes faster than the 1/2 I ran a few weeks ago, so I'll take it!
A sad site today - Around mile 10-11 I came around the corner to see an ambulance & a crowd of people - I looked to see a man on the ground. They were doing chest compressions & he was looking really bad. Really scary. I don't think I will ever forget seeing this happening. I have no idea what happened to that runner, but I'm thinking of him & hoping he went home today. Sure puts the pace I didn't make into perspective huh?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
California Run
I went to La Jolla last week for work and lucky me this was my Saturday running route. Sunrise on the beach :) 
Beautiful! It was quite a trek getting to the beach, but only about 3 miles from our hotel. Getting back was another story....this hill was just one of many....
DANG! This was at about mile 9. Not what you want to see on mile 9! But I kicked out a 12 miler before most people even had their breakfast muffin. Yeah, I think that's cool.
Oh and we ate some of this....
and some of this....
Race day THIS WEEKEND! 13.1 here I come!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Giveaway Winner!
Sometimes I have no idea where the days go, time just slips away from me! My giveaway ended LAST Friday....I know....BAD BLOGGER! No excuses....except I was in sunny California this past week for work with no time to do much of anything except work....well and some beach....and some good times with old & new friends. So yeah, no time to blog but I guess I had plenty of time to do lots of other things :)
So without further adieu.....the winner was selected by random.org, out of 156 entries.
#21 is the winner and that is Jen!
Jen's 5 favorite things about running are below. I don't know which I like best, they are all awesome. But I think I have to go with #2. Run on my friend!
5. I am starting to see the slightest hint of a waist! I haven't had a waist for 10 years! :)
4. My shoes. I love my shoes.
3. The extra energy I have now that I have started running.
2. The sense of personal accomplishment!
And the number one thing about running:
1. The look in my husband's eyes - I can tell he is super proud of me. :)
So without further adieu.....the winner was selected by random.org, out of 156 entries.
#21 is the winner and that is Jen!
Jen's 5 favorite things about running are below. I don't know which I like best, they are all awesome. But I think I have to go with #2. Run on my friend!
5. I am starting to see the slightest hint of a waist! I haven't had a waist for 10 years! :)
4. My shoes. I love my shoes.
3. The extra energy I have now that I have started running.
2. The sense of personal accomplishment!
And the number one thing about running:
1. The look in my husband's eyes - I can tell he is super proud of me. :)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Giveaway Friday
I think Friday calls for a giveaway! :) Weeeeeee!
I want to do a full review on everything on the list, and will do that later....but for now, you can win a grab bag of a few things I think are awesome!
First, my favorite socks, Injinji toe socks. I started wearing Injinji because I was developing blisters in between my toes. Never, ever another blister after switching to Injinji. Yeah, they come in white but you'll win these:
Just because they are way more fun!
Second, RockTape. I have lots to say about RockTape, and it truly deserves it's very own review. This stuff is amazing and made it possible for me to run again after knee surgery. Seriously! To this day if I run without the tape it hurts and I'm swollen after. With the tape = ZERO pain during or after and no swelling. Really! I have no idea how it works and I really don't care ;) It just does! You will win a sample of tape cause I'm not giving you my full roll! I love, love, love it. And it comes in pink. BONUS!
Third, a jar of PB2. Yeah, this stuff is good. My friend sent me my first jar and I love it in a smoothie :) 85% less fat calories than regular peanut butter. A little scary at first because it's, well, powdered peanut butter, but trust me, it's good! The website has lots of recipes too.
Fourth, a Somnio Tshirt. It's white and says "I have issues" on the front. Yeah, don't we all!? This shirt is a size L but it's mini size, so unless you're truly a small you may have to give it to your tiny little friend. But it's still cool.
Last but surely not least, I will throw in a "Will Run for Cupcakes" magnet for your fridge from Race Day Memories. These are super cute and I should know cause I make them :)
Ok that's it for today!
Do any/all below, leave a separate comments for each letting me know you did it! Random pick on Friday Nov 5. You'll have at least 7 chances to win!
1. Like Race Day Memories on FB here
2. Follow this blog
3. Shout it out on your blog, FB, etc. Separate comment for each :)
4. Follow Race Day Memories blog here
5. Give me a list of 5 of your very favorite running related things
6. Follow my friend's blog Thunder Road Racing just because they are awesome.
7. Like them on FB too here
Easy peasy right? Happy Friday!
I want to do a full review on everything on the list, and will do that later....but for now, you can win a grab bag of a few things I think are awesome!
First, my favorite socks, Injinji toe socks. I started wearing Injinji because I was developing blisters in between my toes. Never, ever another blister after switching to Injinji. Yeah, they come in white but you'll win these:
Just because they are way more fun!Second, RockTape. I have lots to say about RockTape, and it truly deserves it's very own review. This stuff is amazing and made it possible for me to run again after knee surgery. Seriously! To this day if I run without the tape it hurts and I'm swollen after. With the tape = ZERO pain during or after and no swelling. Really! I have no idea how it works and I really don't care ;) It just does! You will win a sample of tape cause I'm not giving you my full roll! I love, love, love it. And it comes in pink. BONUS!
Third, a jar of PB2. Yeah, this stuff is good. My friend sent me my first jar and I love it in a smoothie :) 85% less fat calories than regular peanut butter. A little scary at first because it's, well, powdered peanut butter, but trust me, it's good! The website has lots of recipes too.
Fourth, a Somnio Tshirt. It's white and says "I have issues" on the front. Yeah, don't we all!? This shirt is a size L but it's mini size, so unless you're truly a small you may have to give it to your tiny little friend. But it's still cool.
Last but surely not least, I will throw in a "Will Run for Cupcakes" magnet for your fridge from Race Day Memories. These are super cute and I should know cause I make them :)
Ok that's it for today!
Do any/all below, leave a separate comments for each letting me know you did it! Random pick on Friday Nov 5. You'll have at least 7 chances to win!
1. Like Race Day Memories on FB here
2. Follow this blog
3. Shout it out on your blog, FB, etc. Separate comment for each :)
4. Follow Race Day Memories blog here
5. Give me a list of 5 of your very favorite running related things
6. Follow my friend's blog Thunder Road Racing just because they are awesome.
7. Like them on FB too here
Easy peasy right? Happy Friday!
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