Great Weekend & A Missed Run

I sometimes wish that I lived in the lower 48.  Sometimes I feel very isolated in AK, like I'm missing out on some great things: farmers markets that stretch on for blocks, FOUR seasons that have distinct beginnings and ends, walking well anywhere- hard to do when everything is so spread out.  But this time of year always makes me happy.  The sun is bright and stays up longer and longer each day.  Its still crisp out but you can feel that its getting warmer- the snow starting to melt (even if it freezes back up at night).  It really is a great feeling knowing that Spring is almost here and, with that, summer is right around the corner.  It's a great feeling :). 

We went to our cabin this weekend (it's about 2 hours outside of Anchorage).  It was a beautiful weekend and we were able to do some mini hiking on both Saturday and Sunday.  Coop (our dog) absolutely loves it out there- he gets to play outside, non-stop, for two full days and nothing makes him happier.  It's always hard to leave (I really wish I had taken some pics- I need to get better about that :)).

I missed my scheduled run on Monday.  I have been feeling something (?) in my chest and was worried that I might be coming down with something.  I took it easy Monday and Tuesday and am actually feeling pretty good today.  I will need to make up my run on Thursday which gives me four straight days of running.  This makes me a little nervous since I am still in the building up phase and I worry that four consecutive days might too much?  Well, we'll see- if by Friday I feel exhausted or shin splints or anything else I might lay off and just miss a day.

Happy Hump Day Everyone :)!

Blog?......What Blog?

I am quite obviously an inconsistent blogger.  My intentions are good- I want to be a regular, entertaining, insightful, CONSISTENT blogger but I just can't seem to get there.  I get on everyday and read other blogs (one of my favorite things to do :) ) but then it comes time for me to actually write a post and.....nothing.  I am hoping that over time I will get better and find a routine but until then I'm afraid I may just be a fair weather blogger.

On the running front things are actually going really well!  I am still building a base (it is progressing slower than I would like but it is progressing so I'm OK with that) and once I get done with the 5K training plan- hopefully mid April- I will start my half marathon training.  There are three races that I am looking: See Jane Run in Seattle (July), Big Wild Life Run in Anchorage (August), and Rock n Roll in Vegas (December).  I don't necessarily think I will do all three but am strongly aiming for at least two of them.  As long as I stay on track with my plans than I should be good :).

Today I have a 2 miler planned.  It is getting to be really nice here and I am itching to get outside and run.  The only problem is that it is doing the Spring melt/freeze here and the times of day that I would be able to run are the times when I would be most worried about hitting some ice patches.  It's probably going to be the treadmill for another month but at least I know the end of winter is in sight :).

Happy Friday!

Glad it's the weekend

I have the house to myself this weekend.  R took Cooper and went to our cabin- he's trying to dig out our snow machines for a trip we're taking in a couple of weeks.  There's not much snow down where he's at so I'm not sure what kind of luck he'll have.  All I can say is that I'm glad that I'm not there (it's down around zero this weekend).  I feel like I get a lot done when I am home alone- for example today I had breakfast with my mom, got my oil changed, did the shopping for the week, and got my workout in all before noon.  It was great- very productive feeling :).  My run was so so.  I'm still in the "start over" phase so get a little frustrated at the slow progress.  Overall it felt great though- I'm definitely at a point where I look forward to my runs rather than dread them :).  I am hoping to start a weight training program this week, I really need to focus on weight loss and I think building muscle will help that.  I am now going to open a bottle of wine, pop in some cheesy romantic comedy, and enjoy my solitude.  Have a great weekend!

Is it February Already???

Well, I wish that I could write this post (after soooo long) and say that I have been following through on all of my new year goals and resolutions......but I can't.  January sped by and it was a little too easy for me to slack off on the running while finishing up with school (thank goodness I'm done with that!) and if it wasn't for my wonderful dog needing a lot of walks I don't know if I would have gotten any activity in this last month.  I'm not too bummed- I can't beat myself up too much I mean what's done is done right?  I can just regroup and try and start again...and again.....and again....and, if necessary, again.  I am getting used to this pattern :).

One thing that I would like some advice on (if anyone is still willing to check out this greatly slacking blog :) ) is treadmills.  I am in the market for one and was wondering if anyone had some suggestions on brand, type, whatever other categories there may be?  There are SO many of them that it's a little overwhelming.  I would like to buy new (some friends have not had the greatest luck on purchasing used ones) and my price range caps at $1000 (hoping that is middle of the road).  All suggestions will be very much appreciated.

I am once again restarting my base building phase of training.  I got 42 minutes in today (about 2.42 miles) of walking/running.  If felt pretty good which makes me think that I haven't lost ALL fitness that I had built up in December.  As of this week I am on track and hoping that I can get through the month that way. 

How have you done so far with your New Year Resolutions/Goals now that January is done and gone?

Look towards 2011

I have been thinking about what I would like to accomplish in the new year.  I am not a big goal maker- whenever I have been asked about what my goals are (in interviews, by school counselors) it would be very difficult for me to come up with anything.  It's not that I am an unambitious person, it's just that I am afraid of committing to a goal and not following through with it.  I don't like putting these in writing, or telling others about them, only to let them fall by the way side a few months later.  I've decided that I want this year to be different.  I think it will be good for me to have a few goals that I can work for and look forward to throughout the year.  I thought about it and I have five that I think are attainable, realistic, and positive for me.  And here they are.......

1. Run 1000 miles in 2011 - last year I thought I would try this but it was a bit over ambitious.  I think it's still ambitious but I have a much stronger base at this time than I did last year. 

2. Race in a half marathon- again, something that I had wanted to do last year, but due to an injury (and my mental inability to get back into running after recovery) this did not happen

3. Run a 10 minute mile- right now I am at about 14min/mile.  I am hoping that by the end of the year I can improve this

4. Reduce the amount of processed foods I eat- fueled by recently watching 'Food Inc'....scary stuff

5. Limit animal products to 1-2 days per week- this one is going to be really tough, I am a big meat eater and lover of cheese but I really want to work on improving my health and losing weight

***Bonus Goal- Be a better blogger (I really enjoy blogging but have been very inconsistent the last few months)

So, these are my goals for the year to come.  I only hope that having them here in writing (and my personal written copy) will help keep me focused and on track.

Fairweather Blogger

I am obviously not the most consistent blogger- it is not something I have made into a daily habit.....yet.  Breaking Pace tagged me in one of her recent blogs to answer a few questions.  I decided that that would be a nice way to get a post in since I have been absent.

What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2010?
I am actually proud of the fact that I have stuck with running- for the most part.  It has definitely been a "on again off again" year for it but there have been more ons than offs in the running department and I have to see that as an accomplishment.  I may not have gotten as far as I would've liked (I had planned to run a half marathon this fall when I started running at the beginning of the year) but I haven't given up either and, for me, that's pretty big

What are your goals for 2011?
Similar to what they were for 2010.  I would really like to train and run in a half marathon by the end of 2011.  Assuming that I don't get another sprained ankle ( :) ) I think I can make this happen.  I would also like to run a race with my sister.  She lives in another state and every year we talk about doing a destination race together- I would really like this to be our year.

What was your favorite race?
Well, I have very few races to choose from but I would have to say that my favorite race is the Women's Run here in Anchorage.  It is a 5 mile run that donates proceeds to breast cancer.  This is a race that a group of friends and I have done for the last few years and we all have a great time doing it.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Well, I have so many to choose from but I guess I'd have to say Reeses- and not just any Reeses, I LOVE the ones that come out during the holidays.  I swear they tasted different and soooo much better!

What is your most embarressing running moment?
Well, when I was going to do a race with my sister we walked so much the day before, in very hot weather, that I chaffed so badly I couldn't do the race (hence the above goal to still run a race with my sis).  I guess I technically running when this happened but I traveled for the race and it's pretty embarressing to say I wasn't able to do because of chaffing!!

Now I need to tag 5 people to answer these questions.  I have been a little remiss in my blog reading so if I am tagging someone who has already been tagged- my apologies!

Brilliance Wasted

Running Rocks

Chubby Chicks Run Too....

Runner Mum

RunToTheFinsih

Thanks again Breaking Pace!

Hope everyone has gotten their Christmas shopping done- I don't know about elsewhere but it is getting crazy here :)!

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 :)!