Happy Thanksgiving

Normally I would be very excited about Thanksgiving but this year I am committed to two different dinners and I am a little nervous about how I'm going to be feeling by the end of the day (my guess is very, very stuffed).  R and I have been together for about 6 years now but somehow this is the first year that we're having dinner at his parents and my parents' houses.  Neither family is large (in fact, he and I are the only children locally) and neither are crazy holiday families so I am lucky on that count.  It's just strange that we now have to think of both families when planning around our holidays- I'm used to us each going our respective family homes and meeting up later.  I guess being engaged changes that a bit.  We have also decided to do a mini vacation at our cabin so we also have "us" time.

My running has been going well, up until this week.  I conquered my "after work" block and feel good about it- guess it's just been a busy week (short busy days at work, running around for Thanksgiving dinner supplies, etc).  I am looking forward to running today- I have to be careful about taking too many "rest days" since I am still building my base and don't want to lose what I've built up to thus far.  Still about 45 days from making it a habit (isn't it 60 days to form a habit?). 

Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend :)!

Mind Over Matter.....Kind Of

I decided that today would be the day I suck it up and run after work.  I am not a morning person and having to get up at 5:30 in the morning just to get my run in for the day is not practical for me.  Of all the mental blocks to have regarding running this should be the easy one to get over.  I mean if I can't suck it up and run in the afternoon how am I ever going to progress as a runner.  I'm being sill and it's time to get over it.  With that said I have my 2min run/2min walk on the books for today, my bag is packed and in the car, and it WILL HAPPEN! 

It was so cold when I got up this morning 15 degrees :( BRRRR!  I know I shouldn't complain because it was in the positive number range but we have been pretty spoiled with warmer weather up until this point so it was a bit of a shock to the system, just like it is every year.  Ahhh, if only my life had landed me somewhere in the southern hemisphere....at least I will be able to start x-country skiing soon.  Can't wait!

I don't know why I'm putting this at the bottom of this post but on Monday my boyfriend of 6 years got me a ring and asked me to marry him.  I wasn't exactly surprised (we were talking about rings since our cruise in October and I mean it has been 6 years) but it was pretty cool to get the ring and make it official :).  I am not the "typical" engaged girl though- I told my mom, my sister, and a close friend and other than that I have just been confirming it if someone asks about the ring.  Maybe I am just getting used to the idea or maybe since I knew it was coming it wasn't the huge "OMG" moment.  I am excited though and am looking forward to planning the wedding (which basically entails picking a spot because I am defintely doing the destination wedding). 

I have been having problems with my side bar gadget freezing up on me so I would like to mention that TMB @ Racing With Babies is having a giveaway for a pretty cool Run Naked Tshirt giveaway.  Head to her blog HERE to find out how to enter.  The last day to enter is November 20. 

How to motivate

I feel really good about how I've been doing on this "round" of building a running base.  I have the written plan in a place that I look at everyday (the fridge) and I have been good about following it.  With that said there are always hurdles and my biggest one is motivation.  It's not that I lack the motivation to become a runner just the motivation to get there.  If I miss my morning or lunchtime workout it's pretty much guaranteed that I will not do it after work.  If something last minute comes up I am all too willing to give up my run for the day (instead of finding a way to do both).  I know that I am building back up a habit that I lost a long time ago and that can be a tough thing to do.  I just hope that I am able to continue on track and find ways to get past my mental blocks.

This morning I did my usual 2min walk/2min run.  It was actually scheduled for yesterday but I didn't get done in the morning so.....(see above :)).  I am just glad that I got it in today and running/walking two days in a row shouldn't be a  problem.  I'm not keeping track of miles right now but did get in a little over 2 today- really slow but no painful shins or side stitches so think I'm on the right track :).

Great Weekend

My weekend was a nice quiet one.  I really enjoy those weekends that involve errands, cleaning, and watching movies in front of the fire (a little cheesy, I know :)).  I feel like I got a lot accomplished after many weekends of heading down to the cabin - it is amazing how quickly a house can get messy just by not being around.  On Friday I did do my run although not as I had planned.  R and I got some last minute plans that forced me to miss my after work run.  I can't say I was disappointed, exactly, but I am trying to overcome those little motivational blocks like working out after work.  Well, needless to say I thought I had blown my run for the day but was pleasantly surprised when part of our plans fell through and we were able to take the dog to a nearby park - a walk for him a run/walk for me ;).  It was very pleasant, kind of like running in a winter wonderland (again with the cheesy!).  I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to running in the cold but I enjoy outside runs to treadmill runs so when I get the opportunity to be off the treadmill I'm pretty happy.  It was a little tougher since there were patches of ice to navigate and in deeper snow it really does feel like running in sand.  Overall it was great and I was so glad that I still got my run/walk in for the day :)!

Back Again.....I Hope

I have been gone from bloggy land for awhile and have really missed it.  I was pretty disappointed in myself for not being able to keep on task with my running and since I had wanted this blog to be about my journey into running I slacked off on it as well.  I guess I just let the excuses get the better of me :).  I am hoping that I am back- I have started a base building plan again (posted on my fridge door with a current and past photo to keep me motivated) and I am currently into week 2.  I am hopeful that I am back both with running and blogging.

I have a run/walk planned for today after work (the absolute hardest time for me to motivate myself to workout- especially on a Friday) but I think that after putting it in writing here it will be harder for me to back out :).  I am trying to find a 5K early in 2011 to sign up for as a reachable goal but, living in AK, it is difficult so I am hoping someone might put on a virtual race (or who knows, mayabe I'll put one on myself). 

Happy Friday!