Thursday Three... or four other websites you should check out today

1. I'm sure by now you've all heard of the missing Montana teacher, and SUAR's cousin, who went out for a run Saturday morning and disappeared. Link HERE to the story. Local police and the FBI have been investigating, but there are still no leads on Sherry Arnold. From the story...

The couple have five children between them from previous marriages. Gary Arnold has three and she has two. Sherry Arnold, who grew up in Sydney, is a cancer survivor.

You guys, be safe out there. I live in a super safe, very populated community, and I have always been leery of running early mornings by myself. BE CAREFUL.

And always wear your Road ID. Yes, that's mine. It's awesome.

2. Margot is running an Olympic Trials Giveaway! Guess which three crazy-fast women will make it to London, and win some cool stuff.

My money is 100% on Desi. I'm a little in love.

3. I am seriously stalking Team Sparkle after their announcement on Facebook this week...

Rainbow Race legs AND all skirts colors & sizes are back in stock! But check back daily... because we will be slowly adding new skirt fabrics & new race leg options!

GAH! Can't wait! There's still plenty of time to buy yours for Tinker Bell Half!

4. My friend Leigh is not a running blogger, but she is a runner, and a blogger. Confused? She's a funny lady, and a member of Team Gab, and she blogs about whether or not she should have kids, and is running her first half marathon this weekend. Go visit her and tell her good luck! To Kid or Not to Kid link HERE.

“Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy.”

FIRST

I know you all know what BIC Bands are.

From their website:

These amazing headbands started all as a fundraiser for my run with Team In Training. I was looking for a way to raise the necessary funds to run my first half marathon. I had started to make some handy dandy headband that didn't slip because I was cheap and crafty~ friends said they'd buy them, so I decided to try my hand at making and selling them. My small little venture began and I started sewing. I donated the profits to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Proceeds from the sale of BIC Bands go to support different charities each month.

For January and February, these proceeds will be going to PCRF and Team Gab!

BIC Bands has over 200 styles of bands from thick...

Minnie Mouse?

....thin...

See you later, alligator...

...skinny...

Valentine's Day is coming!

...to my favorite, the Minnie (in sparkles!)

Click HERE to shop BIC Bands!

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Moving on....

I don't talk much about weight loss here, because... frankly, it's just not something I'm terribly concerned with.

Don't misinterpret this as "I'm perfect and don't need lose weight/change anything," because that's certainly not the case. I am about 12 pounds above my goal weight.

The dirty, dirty truth is, I just don't really feel like it's THAT big of a deal. Sure, it'd be nice if that 12lbs came off. I'm just not committed enough to evicting 12lbs that I'm willing to pass on delicious snacks. I'm pretty happy with how things are. I feel better than I can remember feeling in... ever.

I'm content with my body, mostly, and it's lovely.

But this is the thing that really screws with my "Plenty Happy/Happy Lazy" plan.

To get faster, I need to move less of me around. And I really, really want to get faster. I'm tired of being slow.

Sooooo... That means, I guess, that I put down that second cookie. Or maybe not snack on everything I can find from 1:30-4pm (my every-day ritual, food-scavenging. Like a hyena).

I use My Fitness Pal when I want to track my calories. Without getting rocks thrown at me, I have a tough time getting IN enough calories, unless I'm really paying attention. I also have a tough time not justifying that extra cookie because I just ran 10 miles and I know I deserve it, so I suppose it really balances out in the end.

I have lost around 30lbs in the last 2 years. I haven't done anything extraordinary. I just move more, and make more conscious choices about what I eat. I don't even necessarily make GOOD choices about what I eat, I just pay more attention to what I'm shoving in my face.

The problem with running and trying to lose weight, is you're HUNGRY. A LOT.


Maintaining my weight has never been a problem since I've started running. And whenever I take a few weeks off (hello, Jerk Shin), I instantly drop a few lbs. That's cute, and all, and it's nice because those few lbs don't come back. But not running isn't an option.

And I'm also not really a fan of any... "Diets". My philosophy is, if it has a number of days attached, or restricts anything, or asks you to forgo meals... I'm not doing it, there's no way, I'm not interested, and I'll side-eye you for trying to talk me into it. Especially if you come at me with a miracle pill.


I feel pretty strongly about this.

There is no miracle to weight loss. It's just about making decisions. It takes time. It requires a change in your overall lifestyle, NOT just for 7 days, or 30 days; the answer is not in restricting "certain" foods. It's more than that.

Since I've been running, I've been pretty much eating what I feel like. I eat what I want, and it's GLORIOUS, you guys.

But there's a disconnect between what I expect FROM my body, and what I'm putting INTO my body.

If I'm expecting improvements from myself, I need to be fueling myself to perform.

Bah. It doesn't really sound fun, does it?

But it sounds worth it. So I suppose I'll give it a shot.

Um. Yeah. that's all. Go shop BIC Bands. Thanks.

Wordless Wednesday

She's feeling a bit better. :)



Click HERE to donate to Team Gabby and Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

Making out in Lancaster just to pass the time...

1. You guys. Not running is freaking boring. And nothing makes for a boring blog more than a boring life.

2. Did you know I'm friends with a celebrity?? Look (<- that's a link). It's true. Don't be too jealous.

3.I had to also stop doing the DVD's pretending I was exercising, because my shin started HURTING after some of that stuff. I had already stopped doing the jumping stuff, because pretty sure if I can't run, I shouldn't jump on Jerk Shin. But.. hurt anyway.

4. You know what this means? Suck Less, bitches.

5. I spent all of last weekend pouting excessively, being angry at strangers, and horrifying my gentle husband. And shopping, but not buying anything. Something in this list will be changed this weekend. You can guess which one.

6. In typical "My Body Hates Me" fashion, I've easily dropped 3lbs in a week. WTF.

7. I'm going to screen Breaking Dawn Saturday morning, before I take #1 and #2 to see it. Take THAT, Jerk Shin. You get to watch sparkly vampires make babies. Ha.

8. I think Becka should do the 100 miler. Don't you?

9. I went to Yogurtland last night with my internet friends, and didn't take a picture, because I'm a sucky blogger. No content already, hey, watch me make it worse! Good thing Monica is a good blogger, because she has pictures.

10. Some super sexy man was hitting on Skinny Runner a LOT. How she passed up on his hot, hot offer to buy him some FroYo, I'll never know. I mean. He HAS $400 COMING TO HIM, SOON! You could retire on that. Fact.

11. I'm sooooo excited to see Hungry Runner Girl next week!!!!! (Sorry, could you pick up those names I just dropped?)

12. I'm trying to come up with fun fundraising ideas for Team Gab. Got any?

13. What if she side-eyes you, like this? Does that help?

Have a good weekend, y'all.

THIS KID rocks my socks

Gabby turned the big F I V E today. She's been looking forward to this for MONTHS; literally, asking almost every morning when she wakes up if she's five yet. So, this was kind of a big deal for us.

Now, I know that every parent always thinks their kids are the best thing ever. But, for real, she really is the Best Thing Ever.

Saturday morning, we met up with TNT and Team Gab. We missed some of them (sorry, guys, but we'll be back soon!), but she had a blast with the Team that we did see...

Ricca, the Campaign Manager

Breakfast, kind of...

Saturday afternoon, between expo'ing and skipping bloggy dinners (sad face), I did this....

And Sunday, after Long Beach Half, it turned into this...

We were very, very excited...

In case you're ever curious, birthday cakes makes for excellent post-race refueling.

Gab is super into arts and crafts, so of course she scored hard on the artsy fartsy gifts. With which, she drew a picture of me...

Right. I mean, I have long hair, not short, but otherwise...

Rest. Reflect. Regroup.

I planned to start a fresh new training cycle after Long Beach, so.. I guess that’s what I’ll do.

Cross-training plummeted the last few months, and I want to build that back in. The H and I have a thing planned… I think he thinks we’re starting this week. Little does he know that I’m currently freaking EXHAUSTED and don’t think I’ll even manage to make it through the work day. I’m pretty much certainly not playing with some HIIT tonight. Sorry, H.

This week is all about recovery. I’ll recap Long Beach today, but it was a tough, tough race for me, mentally and physically. It was freaking HOT. I didn’t train in the HOT. My fault, entirely, and I’m 50/50 kicking myself and determined to never run in the HOT again ever. I feel pretty good – The Shin is acting shady, as per usual. But aside from that, I feel alright. A little achy, definitely like I ran a hard race yesterday, but nothing disturbing seems to be amiss. I like it.

I might try a short recovery run tonight. Or maybe tomorrow. Just to shake out the legs…

I'm also going to be focusing on hill training, and possibly trail runs. I've got a hilly half coming up in five weeks, so I want to be prepared. I have no PR plans for that race, just for fun. I also am not a fan of dying, so hill work it is.

This weekend I’m taking all the kids (!!) to run Chapman University 5K with Team Sparkle. I’ll be running (aka, “running”) with #2 and #3, so no PR’s there, just a nice, easy pace. #1 will be busy killing it, I’m sure. Checking out the results from last year, she might place in her age group. Again. Punk.

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In other, non-running news, Gabby turns FIVE tomorrow!!

I must be inches away from disaster, because typing that made me teary-eyed.

Anyway. Like a crazy person, I decided we should celebrate this weekend, since her birthday is on a Tuesday, and we had the cousins over for some cake…

Yeah. I made that.

It was freaking DELICIOUS after a race. Refueling win.

Team Gabby is looking for runners in SoCal (or anywhere, we’re not picky!)! Please click HERE to read about the challenges in treating pediatric cancer, and how you can help. I know, I know – soooo much fundraising, so little time/funds/interest. But you’ll be running ANYWAY, right?

Plan for the Week.....

Sooooo...

Last week I was scheduled to post a recap of the Funnest Half Marathon EVER which I have failed to do. FAIL. Oops. Today, pinky promise.

On the plan for last week:
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - 5 easy miles
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 8 easy miles
Sunday - Rest

I assumed I'd be slow to recover, a la my previous two halves. Turns out, when you participate in the Funnest Half Marathon EVER, you need far less recovery time than when I try to kill yourself with poor pacing.

Actual:
Tuesday - 4x800's, FASTEST 800's ever. I thought I sucked at the time, now I'm stoked about doing them.
Saturday - 10 easy miles with Team in Training and Team Gab. THIS was possibly the best training run I've had to date. It was great company, good conversation, and it was the Team's first time running double digits - and when you're a new runner, you know how exciting that is! I'm so glad I was able to join them.

On the schedule this week.....
Monday - Yoga, I'm feeling a little tight... hills Saturday did a number on my glutes
Tuesday - 5 miles at tempo
Thursday - 5 miles, easy
Saturday - Random 10K!

So this Random 10K... First, it coincides with Racing with Babe's virtual race. Second, I'm going to try out a new strategy that I've been considering trying.... speedwork via racing.

Yep. I'm thinking 12x400 with 400 RI. The Jesse at Journey Thru Life tried this strategy for a 5K, and crushed her previous PR. My speedwork average paces have been coming out faster than my 10K PR (you know, the one that was set just 6 weeks ago.... The Birthday 10K).....

How bad could it be? Right?....

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Saturday night, I'll be attending the local Light the Night walk with Gabby. We have an appointment with her oncologist on wednesday, and are *hoping* to start maintenance Thursday..... and it starts with a BANG. We're tentatively schedule for a lumbar puncture thursday morning.

I've never, ever wished for my kid to get a lumbar puncture, but right now, I am.

Plan for the Week

So, I didn't entirely suck last week.

Tuesday - 4 slow, horrible miles. That first run back kicked my trash.
Thursday - 2 (4x400) with 100RI, 5 miles total. THIS was awesome.
Saturday - 10 HILLY miles on the bike.
Sunday - 10 miles on the treadmill, goal pace 12:10, actual pace 11:44.

I've been slightly freaking out about, you know, that half marathon coming up in THREE WEEKS. The one that I've been in denial about while I took 2 unplanned weeks off of everything. The last long run I did was 7 miles. Really, me? But the 10 miler was awesome, and I felt fanTASTIC the entire time. I briefly toyed with the idea of running 13.1 on the treadmill, but figured I wouldn't push my luck. But I bet I coulda PR'ed.

For this week....
Monday - Cross training, of some kind. And stretching. My left IT band feels tight and achy.
Tuesday - 4x800, 400 RI, 5 miles total.
Wednesday - cross training (no, really)
Thursday - 5 miles, 3 miles at tempo pace
Friday - cross training
Saturday - 11 miles

I forgot how GOOD a long run can feel.

My workout weekend in pictures...
I am in love with G2. Gab loves her Sparkle Skirt :D

Saturday I rode my 12yr old's bike up to work the Team Gabby water stop for TNT. So much fun, and not lacking in the snack options...

The ride there must have been uphill, because I was DYING. I was seriously considering asking the H to come and pick me up. SO glad I didn't, because the ride home was exponentially better. Still hilly, but fun.

Something else I missed about long runs?

Gu. I love that gu'ey stuff.

My Internet BFF bought me these for my birthday last month (while laughing at me). They are MAGIC. My shins/calves/feet feel totally unscathed. I wore them out for a walk later in the day, and got some funny looks, but whatever. I bet the Togo's eating chick with the side-eye didn't just run 10 miles.

Gooooooood weekend.

Friday, Friday....

Welcome back, Running Mojo. Man, I missed you.

Last night I did 5 miles total, 2 (4x400), 2:10-2:16, with 100 RI, 800 between sets.

1 mile sloooow warm up
1 - 2:23
2 - 2:10
3 - 2:25
4 - 2:17

1 - 2:15
2 - 2:14
3 - 2:19
4 - 2:15

.75mi cool down

So, not quite where I wanted to be. But it felt GOOD to run again.

Welcome back, indeed.

Today was my last day at work, and man.... That felt good, too. Sometimes it's just time to move on.

Tomorrow, I'm volunteering at the Team Gabby water stop for TNT. I seriously love volunteering, it's such a rewarding feeling. If you've never done it, do it!

Aaaaad, to round out my Fresh Start, I'm heading to the farmers market tomorrow for the first time in ages. It was a lot of fun eating fried Mac and cheese for lunch today, but... Really, me? Knock it off.

It's a new day, my friends.