Tough Run

So I went out with a plan to run 8 miles this morning at a nature trail I really enjoy running at.

I was kind of procrastinating before I left- had cup of joe, some Cheerios and was chatting with my father in-law and brother in-law- they even called me on it when they said "don't know if you really want to run today".

So I got my butt in the car and drove to trail. When I went to link my watch for the run it wouldn't link so I reset it and instead of it working the screen went blank. No GPS. What are you going to do- go run.

About 2 miles into run realized no mid run snack (gummies, chews, Gu). I normally don't run more than 6 miles or an hour without some rehydration/snack. I did have water though. So I kind of decided then I wasn't going to do 8.

When you make that kind of decision, as a runner, it can be defeating. So I stopped and walked through one Xmas song (the only bright side of the run listening to my Pandora Xmas station). I started running and made it until my phone started ringing. I never run with my phone but wanted to listen to Xmas songs with minimal commercials. So I answered my phone- one of my most favorite people- sister checking in for "cousins" plan of day. I was happy to vent few minutes about my crappy run and then have her tell me to "get running".

Finished my 5.8 mile run in 1 hr 3 min. Not a fast time or the distance I wanted to run but I ran, it is done and I can move on.

This time of year is always a little frustrating -I am not training for anything so my running mileage always goes way down. I try to focus on other activities ( weights, swimming, spinning) and there just isn't enough time or maybe motivation to get it all done.

I'm secretly waiting for the year that I get done with races and keep running long- not super long- just 8,10, 12 milers once a week.

For now I'll keep doing what I'm doing and just try to run a little longer. Hope you do the same.

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Tough Run

So I went out with a plan to run 8 miles this morning at a nature trail I really enjoy running at.

I was kind of procrastinating before I left- had cup of joe, some Cheerios and was chatting with my father in-law and brother in-law- they even called me on it when they said "don't know if you really want to run today".

So I got my butt in the car and drove to trail. When I went to link my watch for the run it wouldn't link so I reset it and instead of it working the screen went blank. No GPS. What are you going to do- go run.

About 2 miles into run realized no mid run snack (gummies, chews, Gu). I normally don't run more than 6 miles or an hour without some rehydration/snack. I did have water though. So I kind of decided then I wasn't going to do 8.

When you make that kind of decision, as a runner, it can be defeating. So I stopped and walked through one Xmas song (the only bright side of the run listening to my Pandora Xmas station). I started running and made it until my phone started ringing. I never run with my phone but wanted to listen to Xmas songs with minimal commercials. So I answered my phone- one of my most favorite people- sister checking in for "cousins" plan of day. I was happy to vent few minutes about my crappy run and then have her tell me to "get running".

Finished my 5.8 mile run in 1 hr 3 min. Not a fast time or the distance I wanted to run but I ran, it is done and I can move on.

This time of year is always a little frustrating -I am not training for anything so my running mileage always goes way down. I try to focus on other activities ( weights, swimming, spinning) and there just isn't enough time or maybe motivation to get it all done.

I'm secretly waiting for the year that I get done with races and keep running long- not super long- just 8,10, 12 milers once a week.

For now I'll keep doing what I'm doing and just try to run a little longer. Hope you do the same.

-----
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Hotmail for iPhone and iPod Touch
http://www.fluentfactory.com/mboxmail

How do you communicate?

I noticed today, as I do almost everyday, that my email is really an AD message board for any store I've ever purchased anything from.  Email is no longer a way to check in with friends- if you are close friends you will "text" each other and if you are mediocre friends you will find out about your "friend" via "Facebook", Blog, etc. 

There is rarely a phone call or a good old "snail mail" letter involved to stay connected anymore and I know this won't surprise you, but I miss that connection.  I of course love even more that one on one, face to face time that I make some of my favorite Peeps share with me on a semi-routine basis: coffee, dinner, drinks, b-day celebrations ( I know they only happen once a year, but sometimes that one time out yearly is more "face to face" time than I have with other "friends" in my life). 

This past year I set out to write a letter- good old "snail mail" once a week to someone, anyone.  I did really pretty good, but have been floundering over the last 2 months.  I've also done a poor job of keeping my letters logged- I am planning to post later a review of those I sent a letter to and brief "why"-first names or no names listed to keep it semi private.  Anywhoo- I've been slacking, I've been exhausted, and I've just been plain unmotivated, but alas the year is closing in and I want to end it on a good note. 

I will- WILL- write a letter a week for the last weeks of 2013.  Maybe one of you readers/Peeps of mine will be a lucky recipient.  We all want to receive mail- at least the kind of mail I'm talking about.  Plus win/win for keeping our Post Office in service/business.  In a world daily where I feel like I have more contact with "Ann Taylor Loft's" latest "sale email" or Land's End's holiday sales emails or better yet good old Walmart  notices (yep I shop there and proud of it, but don't really enjoy getting daily email from them). 

So this Holiday season- yep the holidays are upon us in case you didn't notice the already trimmed houses in your area with lights and trees, xmas merchandise out for sale at all stores and the holiday music you can now start listening to beginning Nov 1st- think about sending someone a good old "snail mail" letter- no not a generic x-mas card, but an honest to goodness note/card/ bust out that good old stationary (the one our grandma gave you a decade ago- I have some and am proud of it).  It'll make you happy to write and send it and it will make the receiver even more happy when they go to their real "mailbox" and see what is awaiting them.

It's been too long

Can't believe the last time I posted was Nov 6th.  I've had some pretty good excuses, but won't bore you with them.

I feel like there have been so many different posts I could've put in over the last two weeks- some examples: Why eating out at fast food restaurants three days in a row won't help your energy level, How do you survive a move, What I've been reading, Holiday Thoughts, and How Awesome All House Audio is!... these to just name a few.

But time moves on and if you don't write about certain subjects when they occur or hit your brain/spend time pondering, well most of the time the topic/subject moves on and you have more to write on.  So I'm moving on. 

I will tell you I'm looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving and not having to think about what "box" I will have to unpack next.  I'm looking forward to our annual cookie baking day.  I'm also excited for our 3rd annual family 5K walk/run Turkey Day Morning.  I'm also about 40 pages away from finishing another great Louise Penny book from the Armande Gamache series- if you haven't read her yet you need to.  (Note recommend starting at the beginning of series). 

This was a quick post, but I got one in.  I leave you with a picture taken from my "reading room" the other morning when I got up to run.  Life is beautiful!

Random Wednesday Afternoon Post

I'm having a strage Wednesday.  I got up went to the gym, came home, got ready for the day, got in my car drove 2+ hours for a meeting, meeting done now sitting at a Starbucks trying to get some writing done, heading to another meeting/dinner tonight, spending the night at friend's house and then heading home.
 
I'm on my own, by myself, can do whatever I want, I only have me to be concerned with- no "what are we going to have for dinner", "what are we doing after school", "did you get your homework done?", etc, etc.  It makes me feel like I'm living a different life-removed from all the crazyness. 
 
If you can do this one afternoon- get away, by yourself, and do what you want, when you want- it truly is freeing and makes me feel young- you know the young you were when in college and only had to worry about yourself.  Happy Wednesday! 

October Reading

I'm kind of in a reading slump.  I'm struggling to figure out what to read- I peruse the shelves at Barnes and Noble and the library and can't seem to find what trips my trigger- not in the mood for heavy, romance, or intellectual.  I've been waiting to see the Louise Penny- Armande Gamache series- new book on the shelves at library, but alas I broke down and just put my name on the "hold list"- 2 Penny fans ahead of me. 

I'm reading book club book- which I like- but I normally have 3-4 in my "reading cue" but just am kind of road blocked.  So kids and I went to library today and seriously were there about 2 hours- which I took advantage to write one of my overdue posts, hence the two in one day (kids asleep now and hubby watching movie that wasn't my genre tonight- Murder/Suspense/Thriller- not in the mood for "scary movie").  So I'm digressing- at the library today I looked into the Nonfiction section- Dewey Decimal 011 and 028 to be specific- books about books and what people read.  I'm hoping two of my picks inspire- "1001 Books you must read before you die"- written by over 100 book critics (which intimidates me a little- I'm not high brow and wonder if the critics will be high brow).  The other book "So Many Books, So Little Time- A year of Passionate Reading" by Sara Nelson.  I'm already at chapter 3 and like this lady a lot, but thus far her reading picks haven't keyed me in on any must reads, but her writing style and how her reading affects her family and life in general do resonate with me.

So enough about my reading roadblock and onto what I read this past month.  In no particular order...

  Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
This was an interesting read.  It was written in a quirky no nonsense type dialect- almost in letter form, with dates being written in the heading of each titled chapter.  Ruby is the main character and you follow her through her life.  For some reason I thought the book was going to be a comedy, but it really wasn't.  It was o.k. and I didn't regret reading it, but don't know that I'll pick up another Atkinson book.

  In my quest for some reading stimulation I walked along the shelves starting alphabetically one day at my favorite public building- Library.  I came upon this book after picking up the one previously mentioned- get it Atkinson, Bayard.  This book look intriguing and so I picked it up after the Atkinson one and found it read like a mystery.  The book takes place in 1830 West Point and the two main characters are a New York City detective and a young cadet named Edgar Allen Poe- yes that Poe.  I found it a little long, but was not disappointed in the end and was a better pick from my alphabetical wanderings at the library.  Would be interested in reading other books by Bayard, especially since it had a historical fiction feeling to it and wonder if other of his books do to. 

    Ivy and Bean (#1) by Annie Barrows
Daughter was wanting to read a "chapter book" with her good old mom and so I asked our wonderful children's librarians (two of my favorite- one was whom suggested "My Father's Dragon" for my son and I to read back when he was in 1st grade and seriously without her suggestion I don't think I would've known about that wonderful trilogy- read it if you haven't).  Anyways,  these two ladies had another good suggestion- Ivy and Bean are two different girls who find their differences appealing.  I appreciated this book because it showed kids using their imagination and there was little of the language I despise "boring, stupid, shut up" or worse.  My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed it so much we have ventured to the library twice in search of book #2- there are 9 in total- so put my name on that "hold list" today too.

 "Athens America" by Larry Baker
Book club read for the month.  It was an interesting story, but after book club this past Wednesday I wondered more than once whether or not I would have enjoyed this book as much if it didn't take place in a fictitious town very ironically similar to the one I live very close to.  Was I drawn into the story wanting to read and look for "city" connections.  After I got over looking for the "city" references I did wonder how all the stories tied in.  It was not a feel good book and I felt at the end I was kind of left wondering what it all meant.  If you are interested in "city politics" I would recommend this read as I feel it does portray a somewhat accurate picture of what I've heard "city politics" to be like.  I.E. the local PTV station just happens to lose audio during important speeches/debates/ or basically anytime they don't want the public to hear the truth.    Again, O.k. read, but unsure if I will pick up another Baker book.

Which leaves me with the thought that some authors are unlucky in that a reader may pick up their worst, instead of their best and never read their best.  I.E. if I had read Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" first I don't think I would've read another Steinbeck book, but I read "East of Eden" first which I thought was great and so went on to read others and may end up reading another by him, so maybe I'm doing myself a disservice by saying I won't read another book by a said author just because I don't like the first one I read by that author.  Anyways, off to read- having a glass of Cab (fyi- Butterfingers candy bars go great, Peanut M&Ms not so much :)).  I'll keep you posted on what books I've found in reading about reading and books about books. 

October Running

Above are pictures from my last 1/2 of this running season- Run for the Schools.

Mileage for October- 60
My longest run was on October 20th (13.1). I ran well but didn't PR. The hills were tough and I enjoyed them until the last one at the end. The weather was perfect (cold). I didn't enjoy the start where I was bobbing and weaving around walkers ( seriously why do walkers do that and why do race directors not make an announcement for walkers to go to the back of the pack). Also was tough, mentally, running out and about mile 3-4 seeing 10k runners running back toward you- defeating knowing that I had many more miles to go. Lastly, a first for me- wore my fuel belt during race. Found it easier to drink on the run. Not sure I'd wear one during the marathon but will likely wear one during my next 1/2. I'm no good at drinking from open cup and running so normally walk through water stations. Wearing the fuel belt allowed me to run the whole time. Looking forward to a break from training schedule for awhile.

Besides running I also started some weights at the end of October. Jamie Eason LiveFit 12 week training plan- it's free and pretty easy to decipher. Go to bodybuilding.com ( no serious) and sign up with email. You are then sent the weekly training schedule along with diet/nutrition guidance too. Bet you can guess what part of the LiveFit plan I'm failing at- didn't help that we just celebrated national trick or treat day. I like this plan because it makes me go to the gym and if I go somewhere more likely to follow through then thinking I will get up and drag my body downstairs to do free weights at home.

Needless to say the weight program kicked my butt- especially the arms part. Her plan calls for no cardio when you are starting out, but I didn't totally want to lose my conditioning plus if I'm going to up my tri participation next year I need to keep swimming and biking. So I was able to smoosh 4 days of lifting into 2. It took me an hour each day,but I was able to still get in swimming, biking and running.

Now it is November and I just really can't believe how fast this running year has flown by. Feels just like yesterday I was planning my race schedule out for 2013.

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