Feels Good To Be Back

This morning was a routine that I have greatly missed. I dropped the kids off at school and headed over to one of my favorite sections of the trail for a run. I completely forgot my MP3 player, but after the half, it's really not a requirement for running anymore. I do like to have it on so that I don't have to hear myself breathing. (It really bothers me!!)

I originally planned on doing a 3 mile run, especially since I'm going to be doing a series of 5Ks over the next few months. I was also concentrating on trying to run as far as I possibly could without stopping to walk. I think I am still having issues controlling my pace because I am usually pretty good on my way out, but I start to get super tired and out of breath around one and a half miles. Also, my shoes, as I mentioned before, are pretty shot and my right heel still has not completely healed from the half.

It was a little humid outside and that did not make for a great run, but the temperature was tolerable. I didn't feel concerned with bringing water for such a short run, so I didn't. I think I will eventually invest in a hydration belt and just wear it for all runs, just in case. Like I said, I was going pretty strong for at least the first mile and it passed rather quickly. (13 minutes, to be exact). I went out a little over a mile and decided that I just didn't want to push it. It actually took me a little time to convince myself that this was a leisure run and I didn't have a set distance or time goal to meet. I was a little slower on the way back, but I still managed to run a lot of it. When I finished, I had gone just under two and a half miles.

My husband participates in SwagBucks and that is how he funds his obsession hobby of collecting movies. He's been wanting me to participate for a long time now and I just haven't seen the need. Well, I now see the need. You see, I need new shoes and I need money to buy those shoes.  So, I think I will sign up and start earning points towards Amazon gift cards.

Tomorrow, I am going to do something a little different. I am going to meet up with a friend after I drop the kids off at school and go for a hilly walk followed by a swim. I haven't really had a chance to swim all year and I actually miss it. Plus, it's a great workout! Oh, and I also managed to log and stay under my calories today on My Fitness Pal. I'm hoping I can keep it up!

Too Much Time At Home

I hate not posting anything. It makes me feel like an irresponsible blogger. Therefore, although I have nothing to say, I shall blog. Be it short or rambly...here it is!

I've been cooped up in the house with the kids since Saturday and it drives me INSANE!!! I've actually had a headache the past couple of days and all I've done is snack on food when I shouldn't. Bad idea. It's been so hot outside that I can't really go out and do anything and I get frustrated at the kiddie pool because a) water costs money and b) there is not a level spot in our entire yard! It makes me wish we had a downstairs deck so that it would be on level ground. Either way, we haven't done anything and it's been taking it's toll on us.

If you look above it, you can catch a glimpse of the Abby cat!

I did get crafty yesterday and made the kids a "race track" out of masking tape stuck to the carpet in the living room. Gabriel really enjoyed it for a while. I can't take the credit for being that resourceful, it was an idea I snagged off of Pinterest a while back. I have been meaning to do it for forever, but kept forgetting until desperation pulled it up to the surface of my mind!

It's not hard-backed like my last one, but it's cute!

                                                                            I also made an impulse buy at Wal-Mart. I had to stop and get some dishwasher detergent and some white vinegar. (I use it to make my own cleaning agents) Everyone should know that July is when new planners come out in the stores. I have a serious planner obsession and I have yet to make it all the way through a planner without purchasing a new one. This year is apparently no different. I saw it and knew I had to have it! So, I spent some time today filling it out when the kids had pushed me to my mental limits. It's a love/hate kinda thing, though. I almost ALWAYS need to look back at something that happened months ago and when I change planners, that makes life difficult.

I go back to work tomorrow afternoon (yay)! I really need the time out of the house. What I really, really need to do is get my butt on that treadmill and run 3 miles. Maybe I can get that in tomorrow. Crunch time is upon me. A little over a month and a half until the half marathon.

4 Miles and A Glass of Wine

I ran 3 miles yesterday before work and today I ran 4 miles after work. Surprisingly, I have had some pretty good times the past 2 days. I'm still nowhere close to where I need to be for the half, but it's some progress.

Yesterday, when I ran before work, was my first run after the sunburn I came back from Florida with. It's also the first time I've sweat since I had that sunburn, so when I ran, I noticed before taking a shower that the sweat was all beaded up on me in the sunburned areas. When I touched it to wipe it away, I realized that the sweat was actually trapped under the burned skin!! It was both fascinating and disgusting at the same time! Therefore, when I got home from work last night, I had to have Shane peel my entire back because it itched SO bad!!

Tonight, with dinner, I had a "mini bottle" of wine. Shane and I have been drinking wine with some of our meals lately. I guess it's just something you do as you get older, or maybe we're becoming snobby and sophisticated (yeah, right). Anyway, I had a Starbuck's Java Chip Frapp today at work and I only had about 8 or 9 ounces of water, so I was probably pretty dehydrated to be running 4 miles and I sweat a lot of that out, so that glass of wine has me a little woozy and sleepy!! Too bad we have such a busy day tomorrow, or I'd sleep in!!

Some Days You Just Aren't With It

Today was one of those days. I think my sub conscience is trying to tell me that it's OK to take more than the scheduled amount of time off after my long runs. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. I took yesterday off. Tonight, it was me and the treadmill and an easy a 3 mile run. I should really be used to these by now since I have been basically running this distance at least twice a week for the last 2 months. You would think it's a breeze. Not the case. The only good thing that came from this run was that I maintained around a 12 minute mile. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to maintain that throughout the half, but if I can get close, it will be great! (It means I won't be out there for the full 3.5 hours!!)

I'm really glad that I took yesterday off. The 5 mile run on Saturday really tore up my stomach. In fact, my stomach has pain and (other) issues after every long run. I did some research on it (of course) and the conclusions are divided. There is a condition called "runner's trot" which accounts for having issues mostly during running, which I don't have. Some people claim IBS and some say it's the lack of blood flow to the stomach. Some people theorize that it is what you eat, some say it's when. The important thing is that I figure out what is causing it and how to stop it before I am miserable every Saturday and Sunday for the next 11 weeks!!

Oh, I finished A Discovery of Witches. It was wonderful great AMAZING!! I haven't loved a book that much in a long, long time. It was devoid of all the teen angst that I have been reading as of late. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend you do so. I really wanted to just crawl into the book and be with the characters. So, of course, I have started the second book, Shadow of Night. It's made me a little bit unhappy, but I think it will work itself out and I'm sure it's because there is a certain character that I already dislike. I should really try to pace myself with this one since it hasn't even been released yet and the third book probably won't be out for at least another year. Ehh...who am I kidding? I'll probably tear right through this one as well!

Feel the Burn!

I really didn't think I was going to get a post in tonight due to the internet being down all day. When I called AT&T, they said, "your area is experiencing difficulties. The estimated time for repair is 11:20am on June 1, 2012." Are you freakin kidding me?? Noon tomorrow??? I was mad!! The good thing that came from it was that I didn't have the internet as a distraction before my run and instead of checking FB while I iced and rested, I read a few more chapters of A Discovery of Witches. I am still thoroughly enjoying it. It really is a lot like Twilight without all of the tension and teen angst.

Tonight was my third training workout in a row. Yep, 9 miles in 3 days. My hamstrings still seem to be holding up. My left calf/shin are giving me some grief, but tonight, I was really feeling it in my thighs! While I am currently hobbling around the house, even after icing them, I am pleased because that means I am finally working those muscles and toning my upper legs. Yay!! (happy dance). I'll be taking tomorrow off to rest and then 5 miles on Saturday. That will make 14 miles in a week!

Sorry this isn't longer and that I don't have a picture to share, but I am tired and going to soak in the tub, read for a bit and then fall into bed and sleep. Goodnight!!

Confucius Say...

I don't have much to say today. I spent the day at home allowing my children to drive me slowly insane. We did leave the house to pick up my new glasses. (I'll post a pic when I don't look a hot mess!) For most of the day, I let Evelyn run around in just her nightgown. We've begun the summer before school potty training bootcamp for little girls. So, between yesterday and today, she has peed on the bathroom floor twice (at least it was the correct room), once on her bedroom floor and she pooped in the bathtub (she actually NEVER did that as a baby). But, never once did she go in the potty. Extremely frustrating!! I dislike hate potty training children!!! Why can't they just pop out knowing how to go potty? Cats are practically born knowing how to use the litter box!!

OK, enough of that. Shane brought home Chinese food tonight for he and I for dinner. He also brought home fortune cookies. One of them was strangely packaged and caught my attention.

There are 2 fortune cookies in 1 package. Must have slipped past QC!

Double fortune in one package!!! Naturally, I claimed these cookies for myself. After dinner, I opened them up. The first fortune said that a trip south would make me unexpectedly happy (I could really use a vacation) and the second said that I would reach my goal if I continued on the path. I took that as a sign for the half in August. It feels like every time I do a training session, I spend half of it wondering if I will be able to finish a) at all or b) in the allotted 3.5 hours. I spend the other half of it telling myself that I am committed and I have to do it or I'll never respect myself again.

Ran on the treadmill tonight. The training schedule said 3 miles "pace" which means the pace in which I intend on running the race. I would like to maintain a 12 minute mile, but I just don't think that will happen. However, that was the pace I ran on the treadmill. I ran 0.9 and walked 0.1 of each mile. The good thing is that I maintained the 5mph pace on each 9/10th of a mile without stopping (though I felt like doing it a few times, especially at the end). Also, my hamstring seemed to hold up. I have ice on it right now as a precaution and I will soak in a warm Epsom salt bath after this, but it seems to be ok. Much better than the last time I ran inside. My left shin hurt a good deal, but I'm generally used to that. I think I could probably (already) use some new shoes and I really need to go to Big Peach and have my feet evaluated for the best fit, but that's just not in the budget right now. 

So, another treadmill run tomorrow and a 5 mile "long" run on Saturday. Stay tuned, folks!! Oh, the book is still going well. I read a few chapters last night. I'm still intrigued!