A Run in the Sun is Much More Fun!

Today was the day! I got outside for a run, and man did it feel good! Let me tell you, I was like a horse chomping at the bit to be set free. Of course, it was freakishly cold out, and my arms felt like they were going to fall off within 5 miles of the run...that's nothing compared to the amazing feeling my new Izumi's gave me. Oh, I LOVE those shoes! My Mizuno's are nice too. Had my arms not gone into a numb state, I'm quite sure I could have run another 4 miles with NO problem.

Wait...I said I was taking this slow. Nice and easy. The run did feel easy. It felt rather effortless with an 8:04 pace per mile. Really, 8:04...I was expecting 8:15-8:30. I am rather pleased with my running at this point in my training. over 6miles in today, and I've already decided my treat twice a week is to get outside for a run (unless it's a really nice day and someone is nice enough to hang out with my boys so I can get out the door!!). I can't WAIT for some sunlight earlier in the day so I can start my morning runs again!

School starts again tomorrow! I'm definately not ready like I said I would be. All these glorious plans to have 2 weeks of lessons prepared over break have been a bunch of wind. That never happened! Here I am blogging while I could be planning. Ah, I rather like the last minute stuff! I don't call it procrastination. That word has such a negative vibe. I like to call it, "life on the fly."

My legs need a little break. I think I'll do free weights tomorrow and give the old legs a day off of running. MAYBE. I should be taking at least 2 days off a week at this point. I predict by March, I will up my mileage, with my long runs being 10-12 miles, and my short runs/workouts at 4-8 miles. By the end of April, hopefully I'll be looking at 12-15 miles for long runs! RACE SEASON IS UPON US!

Thought for the day: If you truly believe you can make great things happen in your life, TRULY believing and bringing positive behaviors and habits into your life, you WILL make great things happen, and great things will happen for you.

Ring in the New Year!

I started the new year by sleeping in a bit. After hearing the dogs WHINE like crazy, I figured...I'll feed them, take them out, and go BACK TO BED!! Well, that's what I did! I suppose I woke up around 8:40 (I think so, but I didn't check). After reading for a while, I got up and started CLEANING THE HOUSE! Oh, this post is so exciting. Hold on to your seats, folks! No, really. Life is boring when you're on vacation unless you're actually ON a vacation somewhere exciting.

Instead of thinking vacation is boring, from now on, I'm going to picture myself somewhere exotic (getting the house cleaned, floors vacuumed, and laundry done of course). That's going to help take the raw edge off the mundane everyday tasks!

I just finished a 4 mile run on the treadmill. Way to ring in the new year! I had just enough motivation to muster up 3 miles, but pushed myself to keep going another mile. I'm HOPING to get outside for a run tomorrow! See, something to look forward to! Peace out!

Thought for the day: Take a vacation in your mind. It's free, you don't have to grip a barf bag, and the only way to get into trouble is if it's on the clock!

The Countdown Begins...

It's almost the new year. What does that mean? Does it mean we scramble to make a bunch of resolutions? Do we dare to try new things and make lofty goals that in the end, just make us feel unworthy and low? No, the OLD me would have said that, but the NEW me says, the new year could bring really great things. It could mean a chance to take chances. Maybe you have resolutions or just one resolution you would like to stick to. I said I wasn't going to have any, and that this year I would just work diligently to keep up my running, eat healthier (low carb, high protein and greens)...But, that's not a resolution because I have been doing that for the past month. No, my NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION IS....

To floss more. Yep, you heard it hear FIRST! I'm going to floss because Dr. Oz said it's good for your heart. I'm a sucker for anything good for my heart, you know! Thanks Oz.

Oh, yeah, my workout. Today I ran a little over 4.5 miles and felt great. It was another treadmill run, but I resolute to not care WHERE I run, as long as I'm running!!

Thought for the day: What doesn't make sense won't make sense the more you deconstruct it...no, it just falls apart. Some things were meant to be an enigma.

Treading The Road

No, not DREADING the road...treading it! I got out for a run today. It was absolutely spectacular. Everything was beautiful, white, and wonderful. Okay, so that doesn't mean I like winter weather or the roads for that matter. The fact is, I have been longing for more road runs. Treadmill runs are necessary to keep me running, but when I can find the time to get out for a run, it's so amazing!

I ran a little too fast for an easy run. Maybe this is because I'm always slow on the treadmill, and once I get momentum and forward thrust, I can kick out a mile much faster. This morning, my average mile was 8:18, and I ran for 6.27 miles. That's pretty fast for a nice easy run, especially where I'm at right now. I was really hoping for a bit slower pace (especially with such unpredictable roads).

Tomorrow, I was going to take the day off, but I'm going to see if I can fit in another early morning outdoor run. Maybe this time, just 3.5 miles. But I'm having too much fun to take a day off. I might take Saturday off. Maybe. Oh, AND my new Pearl Izumi's just came in the mail today. They're the same one's I already have, but my old one's are wearing out, and injury is not a word I would like in my vocabulary right now! SO....hopefully, early morning run with my new zumi's and I'll think about Friday when the day comes...Saturday, probably taking the day off...we'll see.

Thought for the day: Whatever you have, wherever you are, whoever you're with...appreciate it for what it's worth. You could lose it all in the blink of an eye.

Another tread....

Yes, it was another treadmill run for me today. It's amazing what 6.5 miles of running at a 9 minute pace can do for your imagination. Really, with a wall in front of me and music playing, I had to fill in the blanks!

6.5 miles isn't bad if I do say so myself. Of course, running 6.5 outside would have been much more enjoyable (at least the scenery would have been) but I digress.

Do I still have a week of vacation? Well, almost a week. I went into work with the boys today to get the room ready for 2011. We spent over 3 hours there, and I still have about an hour or two I could devote to getting the room ready for our first day back from Christmas vacation. I'm thinking about lesson plans, nametags on tables, newsletters, and worksheets. Go figure...vacation really IS a myth!

Anyway, great run today. Tomorrow...HOPEFULLY I'll have time to run my 6 miles OUTSIDE before Randy has to leave for work. It will be glorious to feel the wind and sun on my face!

Thought for the day: The distance you travel is far less important than the route you explore.

Run, rest, repeat...

What a wonderful day out. 17 degrees and sunny!! Really? Is that what I've been reduced to...thinking 17 degrees is awesome!?

I'll be honest with you...(not like I WASN'T before) I like running in cooler weather. In fact, 45-50 degrees is my ideal running weather. Slight breeze, a little sun, a lot of cool. That's what I like best! I decided Southern California would be nice, but maybe it's a little TOO warm for me! My dreams of moving to the great state of Cali are not completely gone, though. I still think about living where I can FEEL the energy surrounding me!

Alas, here I am. And I should make the best out of what I have been given. Today's workout (run) was just that...I made the best out of the 4.0 miles I ran. I ran nice and easy for the first 3.25, and ended the run gradually upping my intensity for the final .75 miles. I know I'm just getting back into running and promised myself JUST GET THE MILES IN SLOWLY!! That's what I'm doing, though.

One more week of vacation until it's back to work! I'll be heading to the school one or two days this week to clean out the room (bring back things I don't need in the room the rest of the year) and to prepare for the next couple of weeks...always a plus to be ahead of schedule!!

Peace out! Tomorrow or the next day, it would be awesome to run around the lake, then to M, and back home. That would give me about 6.0 miles!! That would be my longest run since getting back into running 4 weeks ago. I can do that!

Thought for the day: Life is not a teeter-totter...it's a balance beam. Those who focus and are determined enough, not only make it from point A to point B, they make it gracefully!

Treadmill bound and winter woes

Has it really been almost a year since I've blogged!? Life has been full of ups and downs, twists and turns, decisions made in my head, yet not followed through. You could say I've been thinking a lot but fear has kept me from jumping in the water!

I am running. Just thought I would say that "out loud" so I could remember what it was that drove me to perfectionism in the first place (saying things out loud)...I'm running and loving every second of every run, every day. 4 weeks ago, I made the concious decision that life is too short not to follow through on what you love to do. When you love what you do, you are truly ALIVE!

Life hasn't been all fun and games, though. I'm tiring of this cold harsh winter weather and long for the sun, sand, and warmth. People ask why I would want to move away from what I've known my whole life. Again, life is too short. I'm not going to want to be on the verge of the end of my life thinking, "Why didn't I take more chances...why did I always just play it safe..."

After my 3.5 mile run on the treadmill, I thought of a good thought for the day...

"My treadmill is not a luxury, it is a necessity..."