Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A 'not-so-sunny' Day, a rest day, and I should be practicing......

As beautiful as yesterday was, today is just plain cruddy. The forecast includes in the next 24 hours snow, rain, sleet . .. . you name it. I was thinking yesterday after feeling tired on my run, that I should take 2, instead of 1, rest days. It is amazing that after all of these running years, I still have a bad habit of not listening to my body. But I'm committed . . . I really want to do well in the half marathon in May and in the MCM in October if I get in. And if I want to do well, I need to use common sense.

So today is a rest day.

I thought I would use my lunch time to go over a recruitment presentation for tomorrow. Instead, I've looked a beautiful photos, read over some forums, checked out a couple books that I picked up at the college book sale this morning. I think I've exhausted all of my excuses and really need to practice.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

A sunny day in PA and another giveaway at Southern Plate

First off, check out Christy at SouthernPlate blog http://www.southernplate.com/2009/02/basket-filled-pioneer-brand-products.html
Other than one of my favorite bloggers with wonderful recipes, she always has some kind of neat giveway. To quote from her blog:
"The good folks at Pioneer brand are offering this weeks giveaway and its a doozie (I am so tempted to enter…but alas, I shall give it to one of you!). A basket FILLED with all of their great products will be sent to the front door of one lucky Southern Plate reader!To enter, simply leave a comment below! For 2 additional entries into EVERY Feb Giveaway, blog or tweet about this with a link!"

I'm sure that once you starting reading, you won't want to quit. I've made a lot of her recipes and have been happy with every one of them!

On the running front today, I'm hoping to get in a good 4 miles. I had some decent sleep last night, the sun is shining, I'm feeling good - so it is looking promising.

Update: I felt really tired today. Probably due to the little sleep I had Sunday night.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Running report

Saturday: I ran in the snow for 5.5 miles. I wish that it didn't take at least 2 miles to warm up. And I am really hoping that my lethargy is due to the need to lose a few pounds.

Sunday: I ran half and walked half of 3.2 miles - a tradition when I visit my oldest daughter. We take turns running to Dunkin Donuts for coffee and then walking back.

Today: I ran 3.5 miles. I didn't sleep much last night but some weird things going on at work and needed to run to clear my head.

My daughter's last basketball game . . .

I shouldn't do this, I know. But I can't help but think that on Saturday I just watched my daughter's final basketball game or at least the last one in which I hear girlish giggles, where the pressure's not on to win at all costs, where parents are cordial and applaud even when the 'other' team (who are made up of our daughters' schoolmates) scores a basket. Next year, if she makes the team, will be much more serious. The girls much more focused on the winning aspect of the sport rather than the socialization. It hurts to think that in less than a year, my daughter will go from an elementary school girl to a junior high schooler. Granted, we are one of the few school districts that don't yet offer middle school so she's been 'young' a little longer.
It just seems like yesterday that I watched the ultrasound scanner in amazement, utter amazement, and seeing two little pods which turned out to be my twin daughters. They were so little and so healthy when they were born.
I remember that I didn't think I would ever be able to experience pregnancy again after the births of my oldest daughter and son but I was lucky, and got to experience it two more times. I remember the farmhouse we rented, where we brought them home from the hospital, where, for the first time, my oldest son had a bestfriend who lived right next door.
We had really good neighbors who brought over pie and homemade soup and fresh chives. It was a great year that we lived there. It was out in the country with cornfields behind us, near my husband's grandmother and dad. We had two bathrooms. Two bathrooms! We had enough bedrooms for everyone. We had a dining room and a huge front porch. We had a 2 car garage. I wish we had stayed there. I loved living there.
I remember playing basketball in the backyard just days before labor was induced and my girls were born. I remember the smells of just plowed field. I remember the blue of my kitchen and I remember our nightly process of handwashing and preparing 24 bottles of formula.
I'm not ready for my daughter's to grow up. Because if they are growing up, that means my son is growing up too. And where does that leave me?
I crave quiet - but I'm not a fool, I know that I will miss the excitement, noise, and activity when the kids are off to college.
I think when I return home tonight afterwork, I will hug them each real tight and tell them that I love them and that they are the best things who have ever happened to me.
And then I'll sit back and listen to the noise.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

I'm cooking......and a blog giveaway...

When I run, I am careful about what I eat. And when I am careful about my food, I'm a little more creative about cooking. So I search food blogs. And I found this really great recipe for pizza dough.

I'd like to win the cookbook, How to Cook Like your Grandmother, and you can have that chance too! Just click here: http://blog.cooklikeyourgrandmother.com/2009/02/cookbook-giveaway.html

Yum!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Another day....

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'" - Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

I'm at that pivotal point - where I've committed to training for a specific race and am terrified of not running. I'm following Hal Higdon's training for half-marathon and should have 3 rest days. Makes sense. I'm 46 years old, after all. But I can't deal with the no-run days.

I've been running since 1994 and I run like I live my life, to the tune of my own piano. I understand that what I know about running is what I've picked up here and there over the years from people much more knowledgeable than I. So I've decided that if this guy, Hal, thinks I need 3 days rest, then I'll do it! So I compromised. I did a few laps on the indoor track because it was raining but it was so darned hot in there, I decided to take it outside. I ended up doing a little less than 3 miles: speedwork.

I avoid doing anything like speed intervals, etc. but I did them today. Walked 100 steps and then sprinted 100 steps. Not much of a concession to rest days but definitely not as stressful as had I run.

Monday, February 9, 2009

I said, "RUN"!

Today is the official start of my training for the Skyline Challenge half-marathon on May 2. In killing 2 birds with 1 stone, it is also the start of my training for the Marine Corp Marathon in October.


I say 'official' training in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way. It's as official as I can make it. I'm just a run to make me feel good kind of runner. Not really a competitive bone in my body - but I really like the T-shirts. And in retrospect, I like knowing that I've completed an organized event. I like the free food after a race. I like the feeling of being with kindred spirits and knowing that all of us runners are a unique kind of odd. It's funny - even though I'm burning up all kinds of calories when I run, I eat better when I run. Because I figure if I'm going to be kind to myself, I'll be really kind to myself.

Training for something also gives me an answer. For when non-runners ask me why I run. As if a 46 year old grandmother is an anomoly (and it is not). And 'just cuz' as an answer and is the truth - just doesn't fit well with some people.

Seems that some folks need to have a concrete answer for every type of behavior. But not me, I'm anal in other ways but not in reasons. Just cuz is fine with me. Because I like to. Because it's time alone and time to think and when I run (as opposed to walk) I'm going too fast to worry about all the silly little things that I probably ought to be worrying about.

I've seen stories about some really inspiring people over the weekend. Last night on Dateline, there was a segment about Tom White, a runner who voluntarily had his foot amputated so that he could continue his sport. I understand that. Lots of people don't.

There was a story about this woman who started running when she was 80 and continues to marathon. Can't remember her name and can't find the link but in searching for it, I see that she is not an anomoly either.

I think right now when the economy is where its at, it is nice to have a hobby that is low cost. And not only is healthy mentally but physically.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Tuesday's run . . .

. . . wasn't a run, it was a brisk walk. Sometimes the hardest thing for me is to not run. I had intended not to run yesterday but my new camera was sitting there on my desk just waiting for me to take it on a quick jaunt. But today, I took a walk with a friend whom I haven't had a chance to chat in quite a while. That in itself is an accomplishment since a. I like solitude on my runs; b. my friend talks alot. fast. and it is hard for me to keep up with her mentally; and c. she has legs that are about 10 feet long so it is hard for me to keep up with walking. 2.7 miles today; 3.55 yesterday. Anyhow, here are some pictures from yesterday's run:

Check out this blog for some good cooking and some great giveaways!



http://www.southernplate.com/2009/02/win-a-coffee-lovers-dream-set.html

Some lucky duck will win this Coffee maker's dream set! Check Christy's blog, not only to enter, but to read some good recipes presented in a very entertaining manner!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Dang! The groundhog saw his shadow!

No, that's not really a groundhog. It's me, running. Although I look like a pilgrim. Not sure why?

But yesterday was absolutely gorgeous in central Pennsylvania and a great day for run with my dog. And a great day to try out my new camera, a Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS http://http//www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=16347

I have a nice Fuji FinePix S700 which is great but not so great to take on a run. I've been wanting a smaller camera for a long time to take on my runs.


So now, I'll be able to snap some photos when I run! If I remember to take my camera . . .


Here are some pictures I took yesterday on my run through rural Centre County -



More to come as I figure out the different settings on my new camera!

Busy summer

So much for keeping up with this blog! Seems like there is always something to do and for that, I am very grateful! We finally have rain - i...