Hibernation

Well looking back on my blog I see I've been neglecting it terribly! I could blame it on school, but honestly, school didn't start until late August and my last post (prior to yesterday) was in June. I'm just going to chalk it up to, "I've been super busy"!

Since June, I've run a 3rd half marathon, gone camping twice, ran a race up a fricken moutain, joined the local YMCA and started swimming and taking a class or 2 per week as cross training for my running routine, successfully completed my 2nd to last semester of school, celebrated my 1st wedding anniversary, and had a total hysterectomy. So yeah... I guess I have been busy.

The last half marathon I ran was the Old Port Half Marathon in July. I wasn't particularly prepared for it, having just completed my 2nd half with a PR time a month prior. However, this was one I'd been waiting to do for a long time. I had originally signed up for it last year but was injured and missed it. The race organizer was nice enough to defer my registration to this year. I finished the race, however, it was by far my worst time even though I felt like I paced it better than my previous race. I just wasn't prepared, I didn't have enough recovery time and prep time between the two races. No regrets. Earned a very cool medal!

On Labor Day weekend I went camping (just me, myself, and I) at Cobscook Bay campground in Eastport. I chose Eastport because it is the eastern-most town in the continental US and I've never been to that part of Maine before. I really enjoyed myself even if I didn't see any exciting wildlife. The town of Lubec was having it's Annual Pirate Raid festival which was an unexpected pleasure. I really like this area of Maine. Another reason I chose this area is because I've chosen my first full marathon. I will be running the Bay of Fundy Marathon, June 23, 2013. The marathon course is from Lubec into Canada (Campobello Island) and back. That's right folks! My first marathon will be an INTERNATIONAL RACE!! I wanted to check out the terrain. Totally doable!

I completed the Mountain Raid race up Sunday River.... nuff said.

School has been challenging this semester. I took 2 classes,  Municipal Administration and Administrative Law. All I have left for these classes are my finals. I'm looking forward to only taking 1 class next semester!

I am also trying to balance out my exercise routine to increase consistency and decrease injury. So I joined the local YMCA. I really enjoy swimming and I've rediscovered my love of step aerobics. I also try to join one boot camp/strength class per week. We have a beautiful new facility here. I'm really enjoying it!

So my husband and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary the day after Thanksgiving. It was a low key affair, a nice dinner at the Senator Inn. I wore a dress, he wore a tie (both are rarities)! Here's to "happily ever after".

And last but certainly not least, I had a total hysterectomy last Thursday. It's partially due to the recovery time that I found time to sit and update this blog. The surgery went very well and I expect to be back to work next Monday. I will admit, 6 days of bed rest has left me stir crazy! I can't wait to get back to my old routines. There is a possibility I may be able to start running again before the full 6 week recovery period... I really hope so! Marathon training will begin in earnest mid-January (after I return from my trip to Florida to visit my parents)! I'm hoping to be able to get some walk/jog time in prior to that time.

I've been knitting up a storm lately! It started with awesome 80s legwarmers, then moved on to socks (I've finished 2 1/2 pairs already). I also wrote my first knitting pattern ever! It's available via this blog or as a free download on Ravelry.

Well that about wraps it up. I have a killer Admin Law final to complete and my Muni Admin final is next week so lots of studying to do!!

I hope not to neglect my blog like this ever again :D

Gettin' Knitty with it!

I love to knit. Sadly, I haven't knit since I moved up here. Since I'm home, recouperating from surgery, I have lots of time. Not only am I knitting, I'm designing my own patterns! This is my first attempt at writing a knitting pattern. Please let me know if you find errors or if there are confusing instructions and I'll do what I can to fix it :)

Staggered Rib Socks (for toddlers - tweens)

Materials:

set of 5 #1 DPNs

1 ball (50g) fingering weight sock yarn, super wash wool

yarn needle

stitch marker (optional)

Gauge: 36 stitches/48 rows = 4” stockinette stitch

Sizes:

S (2-4 yrs, 5-6” foot), M (5-8 yrs, 7-8” foot), L (9-12 yrs, 9-10” foot)

Cuff:

CO 48 (56, 64) stitches, divide stitches 12 (14, 16) per needle, place stitch marker at beginning of round.

work K1P1 ribbing for 10 (12, 14) rows.

Leg:

Pattern (worked over 8 stitches):

Rounds 1-4: *P2, K6 repeat from *

Rounds 5-8: K2, *P2, K6 repeat from * continuously until last 6 stitches of round 8, P2, K4

Rounds 9-12: K4, *P2, K6 repeat from * continuously until last 4 stitches of round 12, P2, K2

Rounds 13-16: K6, *P2, K6 repeat from * continuously until last 2 stitches of round 16, P2

Repeat rounds 1-16 3(4, 4) times (on the last repeat, only work rounds 1-15). The 24 (28, 32) sts on N1&N2 are the instep sts. These are on hold while the heel flap is worked.

Heel Flap:

The heel flap will be worked back and forth on the 24 (28, 32) sts on N3&N4. Combine 24 (28, 32) heel flap sts onto 1 needle (referred to N1 from here on) while working row 1.

WS facing:

Row 1: SL1, P all stitches

Row 2: *SL1, K1 repeat from * across all stitches

Row 3: SL1, P all stitches

Row 4: SL2, *K1, SL1 repeat from * until last 2 stitches, K2

work these 4 rows 4 (5,6) times, then work Row 1 one more time to prepare to turn the heel.

Turn Heel:

RS facing:

Row 1: slip 1, K13 (15, 17), SSK, K1, turn

Row 2: slip 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 3: slip 1, K6, SSK, K1, turn

Row 4: slip 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 5: slip 1, K8, SSK, K1, turn

continue to work in this fashion until all stitches have been worked. You should have 14 (??, 16) stitches remaining on N1.

Gussett:

RS: Using the same needle (N1), pick up 1 st in each edge stitch along the side of the heel flap. Pick up 1 additional st in the gap between the flap and the instep sts (instep sts are the 24 stitches that have been “on hold” while working the heel flap).

Knit the next 24 stitches in pattern (work row 16 of the pattern) onto one needle (N2). You should now have all your instep stitches on one needle. Using a new needle (this will be N3), pick up 1 st in each edge st along the other side fo the heel flap plus 1 additional st in the gap between the instep sts and the heel flap. Using N3, knit 7 (?, 9) sts from N1 onto N3. You are now at the beginning of your round, you should have half of the heel sts plus sts for one gusset on N1, 24 instep/pattern sts on N2, and the other gussset and other half of heel sts on N3.

Round 1:

N1: knit all stitches

N2 knit in pattern (starting with row 1)

N3 knit all stitches

Round 2:

N1: K all until last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1

N2: knit in pattern (starting with row 1)

N3: K1, SSK, knit to the end

repeat rounds 1&2 until you have 48 (56, 64) total stitches left.

Foot:

Continue to work in above pattern (without decreasing) for 44 (60, 84) rounds or until desired length minus 1.5-2 inches.

Shape toe:

Round 1:

N1: Knit all stitches until last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1

N2: K1, SSK, K until last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1

N3: K1, SSK, K remaining stitches

Round 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat these 2 rounds until 20 total stitches remain. Knit sts on N1 to N3. You should now have 10 sts on each needle.

Finish with kitchner stitch, weave in ends.

One Lovely Blog

I was nominated for a "One Lovely Blog" award by Jennifer @ Runningwiththegirls.

Jennifer writes one of my favorite running blogs. Her wit and sense of humor keep me smiling and help me to remember that running is a way of life. Thanks Jenn:)

I'll be paying this forward to some of my favorite blogs.

Here are the rules:

1. Post the award logo and and picture on your blog and link back to the person who nominated you.

2. Tell seven things about yourself.

3. Nominate up to 15 additional bloggers who you think deserve the award.

4. Post a comment on the blog of each nominee to tell them him/her they have been nominated.

Seven Things About Me:

1. I just bought my first road bike. I've had this desire stuck in the back of my mind for a few years now to do a triathelon. My biggest obstacle was that I didn't have an adequate bike. Now I do:)

2. I recently got married (11/23/11). My husband, Andy, and I have been together for 6 years. We have a sweet little dog named Lucy and a beta fish named Flash.

3. I secretly want to be a farmer. The thought of having enough land to grow all my own food, have egg laying chickens, and maybe a goat or sheep (or two) makes me smile. The catch is I don't have a natural green thumb.

4. I am 5 classes away from completing my second college degree. If I were independently wealthy, I'd probably be a full time student and just collect college degrees:)

5. I started running in Sept. 2010, I ran my first half marathon 4/7/12, and am working toward my first full marathon.

6. I love all animals. When I find a spider in the house I catch it and release it into my garden. If I'm running and see a slug or a worm on the path I make an effort not to step on it. The only exception is the mosquito, I kill those whenever I have the chance.

7. I am a vegetarian. I tried going vegan last winter, but couldn't cut it (especially once ice cream season hit)!

Run Tip: Don't Run After Eating Dinner

It was 6:30 pm and I'd already come up with a zillion reasons why I couldn't or wouldn't get my scheduled run in for the day. I was anxiously awaiting the delivery of my new bike, I just ate dinner, it was going to get dark soon, etc. In an effort not to feel like a total slug I decided to head to the Rail Trail to take a nice walk.

Of course, when I got to the Rail Trail I couldn't help but run. The first mile was rough, I felt my dinner sit like a rock in my gut. Taco casserole was probably NOT the best choice. As I completed mile 1 I felt my dinner starting to rebel so I took a quick walk break. The rebellion quickly retreated and I decided to continue on at a slightly scaled back pace.

Over the next mile I had to take 3 more quick walk breaks as the rebellion threatened, only this time it was threatening to evacuate via tow routes (you can probably guess what the two options were).

I plodded along, paying close attention to my gut instincts (pun TOTALLY intended) and completed my 3 miles. I've decided I will count this as my easy 3-miler for the week.

Sugarloaf Recap

Better late than never, right? It's hard to believe just a week ago I was up at Sugarloaf with my KVC girls running the 15K... in 86 degree weather! To say the weekend was fabulous is an understatement and fails to show the event in its proper light.

Karen, Aimee, Tara, Lynn, Amy

I'll start with the team... Team KVC- Amy Lawson (aka Coach), Lynn Ouellette, Aimee Ellis, Karen Longfellow, Heather Perrault, and myself. We were fortunate enough to score a sweet condo for the weekend AND a team Chef and Caretaker!! Heather is new to KVC (and will no doubt be running this next year with us) so even though she wasn't running she volunteered to cook for us! And OH BOY did she cook. When we arrived at the condo (she'd arrived earlier) the whole place smelled delicious! Chicken Marsala, a HUGE salad, guacamole and chips, and CUPCAKES (for after the race... because at KVC we really DO run for cake)!
 
We went to pick up our packets early so we'd have the rest of the night to relax and encourage each other. Packet pick up was rather uneventful (if you don't include the atrociousness of this year's tech tees (mens-cut in baby puke tan with a moose on the front). I've never been to Sugarloaf without snow on the ground, it's quite beautiful.

The night was spent eating and laughing. There was a lot of discussion about what shoes to wear, what time to wake up, what to eat for breakfast, and a book called Fifty Shades of Grey (need I say more)? To say it had the feel of a teenage girls slumber party should conjure up the proper image.

After deciding where everyone would sleep for the night (and a LOT more laughing) we finally settled down. I'll be honest, I didn't sleep more than an hour or two. I don't sleep well in general, and I sleep even worse in strange places. I can still rest though, even if I'm not really sleeping. And I'm happy to report, there were no snorers:)

We woke up early, 5:15, on race day morning. Bagels and peanut butter were eaten, water was consumed (but not too much) and a LOT of trips to the bathroom. We either have very small bladders or we all get nervous pees before a big race! After much debate, I decided to wear my new (just out of the box) Nike Vomero 6 over my Nike Vomero 5. This isn't as crazy as it sounds, since I'd already retired an identical pair of Vomero 6s earlier this winter. I also decided to go "tech naked" (i.e. no Garmin or watch) as I did at Race the Runways. Instead, I lent my Garmin (aka "Miles", 'cuz I really do name EVERYTHING) to Amy.

We arrived at the start in plenty of time to work out some nervous energy, and yes... another trip (or two) to the porta-potty. We checked out the competition and decided that if you wear brightly colored shoes you MUST be fast. My shoes are mostly white, with a little yellow, this appears to support our hypothesis. To the race organizers credit, the race started on time (much to the disappointment of the 20+ people still standing in line for the porta-potty).

This was my first time racing this distance, even though it's not my furthest. I remembered from my half marathon experience that starting out slower than you think you should will benefit you in the end. Thus, I set out at a comfortable pace. I was a little tempted to step it up as I saw wave after wave of people pass me, but then I just reminded myself that we lined up in the first half of the crowd, and let's face it, I'm not fast. So I let them pass and focused on how I was feeling to gauge my pace. I thought of my teammates and silently wished them a good race. We all had our own goals and definitions of success for this race. For some it was a time, for others a pace, and others were running the furthest they'd ever run. I knew we would all be successful, we'd all been training diligently, we were prepared.

I have to admit, I like racing the longer distances and I like going tech naked. I find myself really responding to my body's cues and by the end of the race I feel like I put everything I had out there.

Once I got to the first water station at mile 2 I'd loosened up enough to really feel like I was racing. This is one of the reasons I like the longer distances, because often times it takes me a mile or two to really start enjoying a run. I'm not a big water drinker when I race (which is something I'll have to address before the marathon and the half marathons this summer), so I ran through all the water stops without taking any water except the last one. I grabbed a cup and rinsed out my mouth which was quite parched by mile 8.
As the lumber store sign became visible up ahead (aka the turn off for the finish line) I began to get excited. The last mile was a bear as the temperature hit the 80s and the sun beat down on me without any shade. I was tempted a couple times to take a walk break, but resisted remembering how I started to fall apart after taking a walk break at Race the Runways. As I approached the turn off to the finish Amy was there, with a BAND, cheering me on. Conch shells, cow bells, and bongo drums! That was enough to lift me up and release what little energy I had left to pick up the pace and cross the finish line. My official time was 1:42:24, my goal was 1:45. My average pace was exactly 11:00 which I was thrilled with (my pace at the 10 mile mark at RTR was 11:16).

The rest of the afternoon was spent cheering on our teammates and eating cupcakes. Amy won 3rd place for her age group (way to go Coach)! We stuck around for a reason. Deborah, an online client of Amy's, was running the marathon, it was her 13th marathon. She's run Sugarloaf last year in about 6:15, she finished in about 5:45, a full 30 minutes better than last year! I also was looking for my cousin, Tony. He was running the marathon too, his first! I didn't find him on race day, but looked him up and saw he finished in 4:24, not too shabby:)

We stopped for ice cream on our way home, still beaming from the triumph of the race and the fun of the weekend. When I got home I showed my husband the cool medal I'd earned ('cuz I run for cake AND MEDALS) and gave him the baby puke tan race tee. I can't wait for the rest of the races this season and for Sugarloaf next year! I bet we'll have 20 runners!

I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but I feel so lucky to be a part of Kennebec Valley Coaching. Not only have I made great new friends, but I'm continually pushing the envelope and doing things I never would have imaged... AND HAVING FUN!!! If you want to join us (and you KNOW you do) click here.

Sugarloaf Weekend is Here!

This weekend, May 19 & 20th, is the Sugarloaf Marathon & 15K. I will be running the 15K with my girls from KVC. We'll be staying overnight in a condo together. This should be an awesome weekend. I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures and shenanigans to share when I get back:) Wish us luck!!

Check out the Sugarloaf Marathon & 15K!

Thirteen point One

I started running in September of 2010 with a Couch to 5K program through my employer. To say I got hooked on running is an understatement. I've run 11 races since then (mostly 5Ks, a couple 4-4.5 milers). For the last year (plus) I've been training toward running a half marathon, and today I completed it! It was originally scheduled for last July; however, an IT Band injury prevented me from completing that race.
I run and train with an amazing bunch of people from Kennebec Valley Coaching (under the watchful eye of our Coach Amy Lawson). Joining this group has been a game changer. I've made new friends that share a passion for running but don't take themselves too seriously as to not have a blast while doing it. We had 10+ runners at today's race. Most ran the 5K, for a couple of them it was their first 5K, and several more set PRs. We support each other and run together, get each other out of our heads when we start to obsess, and most of all cheer each other on and celebrate successes together.

A quick recap of my race. I've been nervous (read "terrified") for days now. I know in my head that I've done the training and am physically ready for this distance, but as distance runners will tell you... running is 90% mental. Last night I worked off some nervous energy by helping Amy out with the new C25K group (all 70 of them!!!). It was a great idea too, it allowed me to loosen up my legs and have fun (not to mention it was a great reminder of where I was not too long ago). I started a mini carb load the day before and capped off the evening with a nice pasta dinner. My gear bag was packed (and checked and repacked several times), I had my clothes laid out, and my Garmin charged. On race day morning I woke refreshed, banana toast and almond milk for breakfast and some Nuun electrolyte in my water. I was still a bundle of nerves once I arrived. It was such a relief to see all my KVC pals when I got to our table though! Lots of chitter chatter and support and jokes to help ease our nerves.

Once the race started (late) I set out at a comfortable pace (I had decided to go tech-naked... no Garmin or anything). I wanted to just run and complete it, not obsess over pace and time. I would pace myself by listening to my body. I tend to be a super consistent runner (pace-wise), I pretty much start and end at the same pace (except the very end, I always like to push it as much as I can and empty the tank at the very end). I noticed at about mile 7 I was starting to get a blister on the arch of my left foot. I'd brought other shoes but opted for these ones because they were newer and I'd "retired" the ones I'd run my 11 mile training runs in. In retrospect, I should have worn those ones, I had them in my gear bag. I was happy to see a friendly face at about mile 9.5. My fellow KVCer Sue was there to cheer me one and see how I was feeling. That kind of support put a little extra pep in my step. At mile 10 I was pleasantly surprised to see my time (1:53:10). I was right on pace to meet my goal time of sub 2:30. Unfortunately, mile 11 came and I hit a wall. The wind became very strong and remained so for the remainder of the race. Those last 2.1 miles were BRUTAL for me. I had to take a couple short walk breaks which is really unusual for me. The race is at an old Naval Air Station so the last mile literally goes down a runway. The wind was so intense I felt like I was going backwards! With about .75 miles to go, another friendly face was there to greet me, Karen! She paced me until I only had .1 to go. The last .2 miles I was able to really pick up my pace and finish strong with my coach Amy running along side me and my KVC buddies cheering me on. I was so excited to see that finish line and get that medal. I was actually a bit overcome by the whole thing.

I never would have imagined I'd run a half marathon (and love it)! Running is a funny sport; anyone can do it and your successes are unique to you. I am registered for a 15K and 2 more half marathons this summer. My ultimate goal is to complete a marathon and I'm eying the Maine Marathon at the end of Sept. Completing my first half marathon was a huge confidence builder and brings me one step closer to my dream.

If you have ever even considered running (even just a little) I highly suggest you do it. The C25K program is free on Coolrunning.com and is a great way to ease into the sport. If you are in the Greater Augusta area then come check out Kennebec Valley Coaching, we're a fun bunch and we run with all levels and abilities!

Upcycle an Old T-Shirt

If you're anything like me you probably have a closet (or at least a drawer) full of old t-shirts that are stretched out, stained, threadbare, etc., but you just can't get rid of them. Well DON'T!! Make a tube scarf in less than 15 minutes with no sewing involved!

Go from this:

To this:

Scarves are the "it" accessory these days, so fill your closet with every color under the rainbow and dress up any outfit!

1. Choose your tee. Women's tees with a tapered fit are awesome because the tubes are automatically varied in length. Even tees with prints will work for a fun variation.

2. Lay the tee out flat on a hard surface (like a counter top or table).

3. Cut the hemmed edge off the bottom of the tee.

4. Cut strips (going horizontally, from side to side) to form loops or tubes. Try cutting them varying widths (mine were anywhere from 3/4" to 1.5" wide). When you get almost to the armpit you can stop cutting.

5. Stretch the tubes out firmly (but not too hard, you don't want to break them). IF you break one it's no big deal if it tears at the seam just tie it back together. The edges will automatically curl on themselves. Save one tube to use to tie them all together.

6. Double up each tube, aligning the seams.

7. Cut the saved tube at either seam (making one long strip). Tie the strip around all the tubes just outside the seam then wrap the strip tightly around the seam area (to hide them).

8. Once the seams are hidden tie off and tuck any remaining strip into the wrapped area.

Voila!!!!

Let me know if you have any questions and let me know how your scarf turns out!!

31 Days, 70 Miles

Yesterday I completed my first ever Run Streak. For those of you who are wondering, a run streak is a running challenge where you commit to run every day for a specified length of time. A typical run streak is a month; however, there are some really hardcore streakers out there who do year-long streaks. January is a popular month for streaks (resolutions and all), but I chose February (partly to take some of the pressure of New Year's resolutions off, partly because it's a short month). The rules for my streak were simple, run at least one mile a day everyday in February. During the last week of my streak my dear hubby observed that I was "cheating" by choosing February and should add 2 days to my streak for an even 31 days (in his words, "a true full month"). So I streaked from 2/1-3/2.

I had a few friends streak in January and I was so inspired and impressed with their results (and stamina)! I was hoping to work on my pace during my streak and had hopes of bringing my 1 mile time down to 9:30. That didn't happen. However, I smashed my previous "miles in a month" record (53) by running 70 miles in 31 days. That was HUGE for me.

I really enjoyed the Run Streak challenge and it certainly motivated me to get a run in on days I'd otherwise have skipped. I will certainly do one again and maybe that one will focus on pace.

Since I'm pretty competitive (at least against myself), I've committed to another challenge for the month of March.  March is "Sugar Busters" month; no sweets or candy for the month of March. I generally eat a pretty healthy diet (I'm vegan, so that tends to weed out a lot of the junk naturally); however, sugar has always been my downfall and there is plenty of vegan junk food. Did you know Oreo's are vegan!? So I will focus on cutting back the sugars this month.

My running goals for March are: run 4 days/week, complete 2 long runs (10 & 11 miles), and build strength (via lifting, hill workouts, and yoga).

Tag.. I'm It!

I've been tagged. I'm pretty new to this blogging thing. But apparently other bloggers (usually folks you follow, I'm assuming) will tag you by sending you some questions. You answer the questions and come up with some questions of your own for folks you tag and so on. I was tagged by Jen at Running with the Girls. So, without further ado...

the rules:

1. you must post the rules

2. post 11 fun facts about yourself

3. answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 11 new questions for the people you tagged

4. tag people and link to them on your post

5. let them know you’ve tagged them

 

11 Things you probably didn't know about me:

1. I'm a HUGE animal lover. No joke, many (most?) people would argue I like animals more than people. Many (most?) people would be right. Especially dogs.

2. I've recently gone vegan. I started out going vegetarian about a year ago (since I didn't eat much meat anyway) and cut out dairy and eggs in December. The only thing I really miss is sushi. So far so good.

3. I love beer. Dark beer. My beer motto is: don't drink beer you can see through.

4. I started running July 2010 as a way to prove to myself that I was overweight, not DEAD! I'm continually amazed by what the human body is capable of.

5. It took me 13 years to complete my first bachelors degree. I'm working on my second, this one should only take me 3 years.

6. I got married on 11/23/11... because who doesn't get married on a Wednesday morning... on the day before Thanksgiving... in Ohio?

7. I have a secret desire to be a farmer and live off the land, but I have little to no ability to make things grow.

8. I was the 5th grade jump roping champion at Nathan Clifford Elementary School.

9. I played goalie in field hockey from 7th grade through my freshman year in college. We made it to the NCAA Div. III championships.

10. I have a dream to complete a full marathon by the time I'm 40... which means I need to do it this year!

11. I love NFL football. I have played fantasy football for over 7 years.

Jen’s questions for my lucky tagged friends....

1. What is the best vacation you have ever taken?   I can't think of a specific one, but I remember family camping trips from when I was a little kid and they were awesome.
2. What is your favorite post exercise food?  I don't usually have much appetite right after a work out, but I'll sometimes grab a cinnamon raisen bagel with PB.
3. Why do you run? Because I can, and that alone amazes me sometimes.
4. What is the food you could not live without? dark chocolate.
5. Describe your most favorite race. The one where I PR!
6. Describe your most horrible race.  The one where every step is a struggle, and it's WINDY!
7. What is the farthest place you’ve traveled to? I took a trip to South Lake Tahoe a few years ago with friends from an outing club. I mostly snowshoed and drank wine.
8. Chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla? Chocolate if it's frosting, Strawberry if it's a shake, and Vanilla if it's soft serve ice cream.
9. Favorite pre-race meal? Coffee.
10. Do you cross train and what specifically? I do 1-2 boot camp style classes a week (at Kennebec Valley Coaching), and yoga (Bikram or Iyengar) as often as I can.
11. Do you taper for races and do you go crazy? I haven't run anything long enough to need to taper. But I'm registered for my first 1/2 marathon April 7th. My guess is that I'll take and go insane.

Tara's Questions for my Friends:

1.  If you could meet anyone in the world who would it be?
2. When you were 18 what did you plan to do "when you grew up"?
3. Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
4. Ocean, Lake, or River?
5. Mountains, Forests, Deserts, or Tundra?
6. When did you start running and why?
7. Best job you've ever had?
8. "My life would be complete if _______"
9. Favorite fairy tale?
10. If you could be anything in the world (regardless of money, education, talent, etc. needed to do it) what would you do?
11. What do you do to motivate yourself on those days when you just don't want to run?

Amy @ Run Muffin

The Power of a Group

Last year I ran by myself almost exclusively. Which didn't bother me since it provides me with some much needed down time and decompression time. But I must say that since I've been running with my buddies at Kennebec Valley Coaching I've been so much more consistent and I push myself so much more, which all adds up to becoming a stronger runner.

It's kind of hard to tell but my hair is a solid block of ice and I have frost/ice on my face.

Take this morning's run for instance. It was -10 at 8 am this morning and I'm sitting in my car waiting for my friends Trisha, Lynn, and Karen to show up for our long run. We'd planned an 8 miler. Trisha ended up being the only one who made it (Lynn and Karen were with us in spirit though:) and we went along our way. Now, if I had just made a pact with myself to run 8 miles this morning I would have looked at the temperature and said &$^# it and gone back to bed. But there is something special about persevering together in such adverse conditions. Did I mention it snowed yesterday so that there was about 1-1.5 inches of fresh fluffy snow covering the trail? We took our time and had plenty of oomph at the end to really push the last 1/2 mile. But if Trisha hadn't been there waiting for me, I would not have thought I would be able to do it. I would have quit.

I find the same this is true with my strength training. I don't particularly like to strength train, but I know that it is important and necessary for me to become a stronger runner, so I begrudgingly do it. If I do it on my own, I KNOW I don't push myself. As soon as the abs start to burn, or the legs start to shake I quit. But not when I workout with the group. I do boot camp and Winter Warriors classes at KVC and I push myself every minute of every workout. I don't think it's a matter of me being super competitive or anything like that, it's the energy from the amazing people in that class that help me see my potential. They encourage me when I need it most and help me push through barriers I thought were impenetrable.

The power of the group is nothing to be scoffed at. The group lifts you up when you feel defeated, it cheers you on when you feel on top of the world, it sees in you the things you can't see yourself, and it's there to support you however you may need it. I'm so incredibly blessed to have found a motivator and coach like Amy Lawson, and a group of amazing running buddies (Trisha, Lynn O, Lynn F, Beth, Aimee, Brenda, Sue, Karen, and the rest of the group at KVC).

Meet Milly

I did it. I bought a treadmill. I'm so excited I could pee. Seriously, this is major news. Anyone who knows me knows of my hatred of treadmills (aka Dreadmills). Oddly, I've still pined for one for years assuming it'd be different at my house (vs. the stinky gym). And you know what... I WAS RIGHT!

Meet Milly (short for Millicent). Yes, I named her. She is a NordicTrack T5.7 and she was one sale:) She arrived stuffed in a box, waiting to break free! All said and done, the transformation from this...

to this...

wasn't too bad. The only BIG hang-up I experienced was during the very first step. I merely had to remove a screw from the rail, discard said screw, and secure the ground wire with a ground screw. I snapped the head off the screw. No joke. Popped the head right off it. I tried pushing it through with a screwdriver and a hammer but that didn't work. So I drove down to the local hardware store and bought a power drill. Yep, that's right, I now own power tools (look out)! With power drill in hand, I returned to the scene of the crime and attempted to drill the screw out. That didn't work. So I drilled a new hole right next to the offending screw. Sadly, the grounding screw is some crazy ass size only used in the Antarctic so NONE of the drill bits matched it. Never fear I said to myself. I'll just substitute a different screw that fits the new hole I drilled. I googled this idea first to make sure it'd be OK. After securing the ground wire (it only took 1.5 hours to complete step one) I was ready to tackle the rest of the "some assembly required". Which went relatively quickly. In all, I spent almost 4 hours 'creating' Milly. But she's so worth it!

Just look at her beautiful face. I put her in the guestroom, because quite honestly, no-one ever comes to see us. We've been in this house 2 years and we've had guests twice and one 'crash for the nighter'. I will need to make some adjustments to the room. I need to move the TV so I can see it better and I may have to do some rearranging (heck I may take the bed out all together and get one of those Aerobeds). One thing that is a must... a fan!!! Holy Nut does it get hot in there!

I ran my maiden mile (well, more like 1.5) and then tried out one of the pre-set programs. Central Park Walk. It sounded lovely, not sure what makes it a Central Park walk (other than I was watching When Harry Met Sally). Basically it was a 1.8 mile walk with inclines ranging form 0-4.5 at a speed of 3.5.

I'm excited to do my first 'real' run tomorrow morning. I still plan on running outside as much as possible, but Milly will surely help me keep my running goals this year when the weather and/or daylight don't cooperate:)

The wall in front of me is also super blank... what should I put there to motivate me to run like the wind?

Happy New Year!

I am ushering in the New Year by cooking up a storm today! Started with wholesome vegan whole wheat chocolate-coconut pancakes (using unsweetened chocolate and coconut, there is plenty of sugar in the syrup). Then making spicy black bean soup, roasted chickpeas (for snacking), a nice big salad for the week, and HOMEMADE SEITAN!! So much cheaper, and better, to make your own, and it keeps well in the fridge for a couple weeks. Woo Hoo!!

Vegan Chocolate Coconut Pancakes (single serving)

1/2 cup unbleached white whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 1 tablespoon warm water

1/2 unsweetened milk alternative (I used unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup unsweetened (or semi-sweet) dark chocolate chips (vegan)

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Mix dry ingredients until combined. Add wet ingredients and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips and coconut. You may need to add additional milk (by the tablespoon) to get batter to desired thickness. Heat a non-stick skillet on medium heat and add 1/2 the batter. Cook until bubbles form on top and flip. Cook until set. Repeat with remaining batter. Top with vegan butter spread (optional) and pure maple syrup (or other toppings of your choice).

I don't like to say I am making a "resolution", I prefer to call them goals. I have several for 2012. One of those goals is to post to this blog at least once a month. I also have running-related goals; I will run a race a month in 2012, I will complete a half marathon in 2012, I will run 4 days a week in 2012, I will increase my weekly mileage to 20-25 miles per week. I continue to lose weight by exercising and eating a healthy diet.

The race a month goal is hardest in the winter. There are only a handful of races in January and February. I am already planning on running The Thaw (4.5 miler) on January 14th. February's race is still undetermined. I also have 3 half marathons I am considering. The soonest is April 7th, Race the Runways, and I am already registered for the Second Annual Old Port Half Marathon (I was actually registered for it last year, but was sidelined with an injury so they graciously deferred my registration). Developing a 4-day 20-25 mile a week habit will take some time... perhaps the entire year. But it's a very worthy goal and one I'm willing to be patient to develop.

There are certain times of the year when I can't help but be optimistic and full of hope for the future and New Year's is one of them (I tend to get this way in the fall and spring as well). The coming year is filled with possibilities and opportunies to increase happiness, joyfulness, knowledge, and health.

What are you doing to celebrate a new year?

I'm just sayin'... I'm an ISTJ

So I've taken Meyers-Briggs and Jung type personality tests several times in the past and I'm usually someone disappointed with the results. My last MB test indicated I was slightly more introverted then extroverted which didn't make sense to me. I talk A LOT! I was the kids always getting in trouble in school for talking and spent many hours in detention for being so chatty. Even now as an adult I am still accused of talking to much. So how is it possible that I'm an introvert?

Assuming that last test must have been defective I recently retook the test: Results: ISTJ... still more introverted! Seriously? I talk a lot but I don't say much (meaning I may talk a lot but I don't share much or reveal much). I also have a high need for time to myself. I know a lot of people who hate to be alone, that's not me. Luckily, my fiance also has a need for a lot of alone time, so we don't get offended when the other needs some alone time. That being said, I've always considered myself to be a pretty social person. I prefer small close-knit groups to larger groups and it can take me a bit of time to warm up to new people, but once I'm comfortable around them I tend to come out of my shell a bit.

I've never been one to share my thoughts or emotions (as a matter of fact, I tend to try to avoid all contact with my emotions). Maybe I have this vision of introverts being hermits who live in caves and don't have any friends and never come out. That is certainly not me. I'm quite the contrary. I LOVE staying busy, exploring new places, learning new things, and yes, I enjoy doing a lot of this by myself. Maybe that's the introvert in me.

Maybe if I changed my vision of introverts I would actually see myself and embrace my ISTJ nature.

Have you ever taken a MB or Jung personality test? What type are you. Do you agree with the results? Leave me a comment!

I'm just sayin'... Adopt a Dog!

So today is a special day in our household. It's Lucy's adoption anniversary; 6 years ago I took her in and promised to take care of her and love her. I'm looking forward to many more years of canine companionship.

I grew up with dogs. When I finally moved out on my own one of the first things I did was get a dog, Skippy. Skippy was a 70lb lab/collie with a heart the size of Texas. This dog didn't have a mean bone in his body. He actually go beat up by a cat while we were on a walk one day because he refused to defend himself against the little feline demon. I eventually had to insert my leg between the two to get the cat off him. When Skippy passed away I was absolutely heartbroken. I would go home and the whole house was quiet and still. Every once in a while I'd bump his leash that was hanging on the hook and the jingle of his tags would bring tears to my eyes.

I started looking for another dog within a couple weeks. I went to shelters first because I'm a 'mutt' kinda girl. There were a couple potentials but none really stood out and said "take me"! Lucy came into my life quite by accident. She is a little blond chihuahua mix. I've always had medium to big dogs. In fact, I used to make fun of little dogs saying they were just cats who learned to bark. But she showed me that she was much more than a pocket pooch.

She was owed by an acquaintance of my aunt. The woman who owned her should not have even owned a plant let alone a dog! Let's just say Lucy was not getting the care nor the love she deserved. After one particularly bad episode the owner told my aunt she was going to leave Lucy in the woods "to fend for herself". My aunt convinced the women to leave the dog with her and she'd find a good home for her. When the woman brought Lucy to my aunt she brought with her a 50lb bag of adult dog kibble, a rawhide the size of my arm, and various other inappropriate items.

When I picked Lucy up she was timid, shaky, and terrified to play with anything. I remember going to sleep that first night with Lucy tucked under the covers with me. I could feel her trembling all night. As the days went by she started to relax. I could see the fear and anxiety melt away as her muscles relaxed, the big brown eyes softened, and the trembling ceased. Within a few weeks she figured out that she would no longer be abused or neglected. She started enjoying her new toys and loved sitting on my lap.

If you met Lucy today you'd never guess she had such a tumultuous puppyhood. At only 9 months old I was her 4th owner. But she quickly realized that she had found her forever home and I found a dog to step in where Skippy had left off.

There are so many great dogs in local shelters just waiting to be adopted. Unless you are looking for a dog for a specific task (i.e. a working dog) it makes little to no sense to go buy some designer dog. Let's face it, must of us are getting a dog for a pet, not a guard dog, or a bird dog, etc. So if you are looking for a dog, please consider a shelter dog before you fork over hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on a designer pooch. I'm just sayin'...

I'm Just Sayin'... Don't Toss Your Bananas

I've decided to add a new series to my blogs. I'm calling it "I'm Just Sayin'..." and it will mainly be short words of wisdom, observations, and other miscellaneous thoughts. I am hoping this series will allow and encourage me to make my blog more active. So without further ado, here is the inaugural post for this series.

I can't tell you how many times I hear folks griping about how fast their bananas turn brown. "I bought a bunch of bananas and by the time I got home they were brown!" Well don't fret!! I <3 bananas and buy them every week; however, I don't always get to them before they brown up. Here are a few things (besides banana bread) you can do with them.

First off, FREEZE THEM!! Peel and slice the bananas and put them in a freezer proof container. Once your bananas are frozen you can use them to make banana "ice cream". All you need to do is take 2-3 frozen, peeled, and sliced bananas and put them in a food processor (you can also do this in a blender) and blend 'em up. The frozen bananas will cream up as they are blended and make a very yummy, 1 ingredient, frozen treat that tastes like banana ice cream. You can even get fancy and stir in some add-ins like walnuts, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, whatever you like! You can also add other frozen fruits, like strawberries or blueberries, and create your very own signature flavors. You can eat it right away, or if you prefer to have it later put it back in the freezer.

My favorite way to use frozen bananas is in a smoothie. I <3 smoothies for breakfast especially in the summer. My favorite blend is delicious and healthy!!

1-1.25 cup of UVAB (Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze) or you can use skim milk, or light soy milk
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup of frozen bananas
1-2 teaspoons of nonfat, non-dairy powdered creamer (like Cremora)

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend it up! There is no need to add ice cubes because the frozen fruit does the job of making is thick and icy cold!

Try it, love it, thank me later!!

P.S. You can freeze just about any fruit that is on it's way out, so before you toss those berries or bananas consider the smoothie and ice cream possibilities!

I was NOT Abducted by Aliens

So to say "it's been a while" would be an understatement. I really have been busy, but not THAT busy. Instead of trying to catch you up on the details of my nitty gritty life the last couple MONTHS I'll just give you some highlights:

1. Went to goddaughter's 1st birthday party! Happy birthday Anne-Marie!
2. Ran a PR in a 5K in May.
3. Helping out as Asst. Coach to Couch to 5K running group.
4. Bought new sneakers.
5. Started physical therapy for ITBS.
6. Was going to return new sneakers due to extreme pain in right foot. Got expensive insoles instead.
7. Was put on 2 weeks rest from running; unable to test out new expensive insoles.
8. Met my future BIL and his wife; Ben and Felicia came from Texas to visit with their dog, Lola, for a few days.
9. Went strawberry picking in a thunderstorm.
10. Found a field rat in my garden; decided to move bird feeder and named him Mr. Templeton.
11. Discovered the awesomeness that is 'garlic scape pesto'. I have a desire to put it on virtually everything.
12. Dropped out of the 1/2 marathon that I was training to do on July 24th. Once I am cleared to run again I will focus my attention to the Maine 1/2 Marathon in October. I deferred the registration for the July race to next year's race.
13. I have not been successful keeping my food budget under $100 (except for this past week). But that doesn't count because I had a bunch of stuff left over from the previous week.

I really am going to keep up with this blog. Summer is a hard time for me to want to be inside. I have been very busy with my 2 jobs, coaching, training, and regular everyday stuff around the house. I haven't even been to the beach yet!!!

Anywho, that is about all I have for now. What have you been up to lately?

24/7/365

Wow, time flies doesn't it? I have been going non-stop for a couple weeks now between my full-time job, part-time school, running, and new part-time job. I will continue with the blog and Project: Food Budget, but can't promise the Thursday deadline.

My fiance and I also spent last weekend at the NFL Draft in NYC. We drove to Portland, took a bus from Portland to Boston, and took the train from Boston to NYC. It was a very nice trip and I highly recommend travel by train to anyone who has a relatively short trip planned. While in NY, we spend 80% of our time in Radio City Music Hall attending the NFL Draft; however, we did manage to go out to breakfast a couple times. We went to Mike's in Brooklyn, near the Pratt Institute as well as this really cool Mexican cafe right in Brooklyn right under the train stop. They had this really yummy smoothie-type drink (I can't remember what it's called) made with orange juice, carrot juice, and condensed milk and a couple other 'secret' ingredients. We also went to dinner on Saturday night at City Lobster & Steak in Manhattan. I had the wild mushroom risotto with a side of sauteed spinach and grilled asparagus. It was quite delicious and has inspired me to attempt risotto at home.

School is almost done for the semester, only my final exam left and then I'm off for the summer (well off from school at least). I just started a second job. I'm working at a local convenience store a few days a week. So far it is going well. They are only a couple miles from my house so it's very convenient, the people are friendly, and they pay well (for a part time job).

As I mentioned in a recent post, my running routine has been in a bit of a funk lately, but that seems to be turning around. Having the second job may actually HELP keep me on track since I won't be able to procrastinate. I have 11 weeks until my 1/2 marathon and I'm up to 8 miles so all is going well. I have a couple 5K races coming up (one is tomorrow) and I'm going to try to squeeze in a 10K before my 1/2 marathon at the end of July. I am still eying a full marathon for this fall, but have yet to register for it. I figure I'll wait until I complete the 1/2.

Now that spring has sprung I'll have to turn some of my attention to the yard. I actually enjoy lawn mowing and weeding and all that, I just hope I have time to do it! I plan on having my 'urban micro farm' again this year (which basically consists of a few containers with tomatoes, basil, and perhaps something else).

That's about it for now. I'll update Project: Food Budget soon!

Backsliding

So as I've mentioned earlier I am training for a marathon in October (and I have a 1/2 marathon at the end of July), last week was my first 'rollback' week as far as mileage goes so you'd think last week would have been a breeze as far as training is concerned. Well, it wasn't. I couldn't seem to motivate myself. We had a 4 day weekend and I didn't get my long run in until Monday! AND I skipped my short run on Thursday. So basically my week should have looked like this:

Mon: rest

Tues: short run

Wed: rest
Thur: short run
Fri: rest
Sat: long run
Sun: long walk

but ended up looking like this:

Mon: rest
Tues: short run

Wed: rest (this is where the wheels fall off the bus)

Thur: rest
Fri: more rest
Sat: still resting (or just incredibly lazy)
Sun: slow 3 mile walk with the dog

This has really unnerved me and I've spend considerable time trying to figure out what the hell is going on. The best I can come up with is that I have some underlying fear about failing. It seems to have crept up as the mileage on my long runs increased. I find myself fixating on my long run even before I've conquered the weekday short runs. I went from running 3 times a week to running once a week, and my goal is to build up to running 4-5 days a week. So here is my plan:

1. I will schedule my runs and KEEP MY APPT with myself. If the weather isn't cooperating I will commit to running the treadmill (aka dreadmill) for 30 minutes or doing the elliptical for 30 minutes.
2. I will not stress about the long run UNTIL IT'S TIME for me to run my long run!
3. If I cannot complete the mileage for my long run, I will simply try again until I make it.

Someone made this comment to me: "sometimes it can be hard. But I firmly believe that if you are going to commit to running, you have to be willing to sacrifice other parts of your life for it..." And he is totally right. I've been doing a lot of work around structuring my life to reflect my personal convictions and goals. One of my main goals is to work on my physical well being. I am amazingly healthy and quite fit for someone who is overweight. If you were to simply look at the numbers (blood pressure, sugars, cholesterol, resting heart rate, etc) you'd assume I was physically fit. But I'm not. I've been overweight for almost my whole life but active in spite of it. For ONCE I'd like my outsides appearance to reflect my inner health. There is a very popular running path right by the house I grew up in and I always envied the people running the Boulevard. I used to walk it all the time, but I always wanted to be one of the runners. I've always admired people who run; their dedication, their easy stride, their strong toned legs. To me it is the epitome of healthy hobbies. And don't even get me started on those runners who are COMPETITIVE ATHLETES! I have immense respect for anyone who runs a race whether it be a 5K or an ultra marathon. I'm amazed and energized when I watch them. I WANT TO BE ONE OF THEM!

That is my goal: to be a real runner! So as my friend so aptly put it, I need to make sacrifices. It's not always going to be easy. I won't always 'feel like it'. I stumbled upon an article in Runner's World today and there was a quote that really stuck with me:

"you rarely regret the runs you do; you almost always regret the runs you skip".

So true. So today I am reiterating my commitment to running, to becoming a runner, and to shaping the outer me to reflect the inner me. 

Project: Food Budget Week 2

Wow, week 2 is in the books and it wasn't pretty. The grand total for the week came to $141.05. A couple high ticket items contributed to the costs, including:

toilet paper $7.99 (12 pack)
shrimp $5.99 (for a 1 lb. bag of raw frozen shell-on shrimp)

There were also a few items needed to restock the pantry:

vanilla extract $3.05
olive oil cooking spray $2.59

Then there is the big issue. I buy more food than we eat in a week. Of the items we bought last week (which were supposedly for last week's dinner menus) several are yet to be eaten:

3 soy yogurts $.80 each ($2.40)
spinach and cheese ravioli (frozen) $1.99
a red onion $0.72
a head of cauliflower $2.49
organic portobello mushroom caps $3.29
mini sweet peppers $1.99

That is a total of $12.88 unnecessarily spent last week. I also had to run to the store twice during the week to pick up items that I'd forgotten to put on the list (including a few ingredients for a recipe I brought to a potluck for work).

What did I learn from this week? LOOK IN THE REFRIGERATOR, FREEZER, AND CUPBOARD WHEN PLANNING YOUR MENU! Had I done that I would have realized I had ingredients for at least two dinners. Lesson learned.

I have no doubt next week's grocery bill will be much less due, in part, to the fact that we'll be in NYC for the NFL Draft from Friday through Sunday. Aside from being UBER excited to go to NYC for the first time (not including driving through in the middle of the night while driving back from NC), I am really excited to take a run in Central Park!! At least that is my plan for Saturday:)

Have you been making any changes to your grocery shopping habits? How is it going? I'd love to hear from you.