Happy New Year! Wait, am I late to the party?

Apparently I missed the party I was asleep before midnight but was up around 2 am because the fireworks that everyone was still setting off for the new year woke up my baby and he decided to have a party of his own in the crib and my dog decided the safest place to hide from the fireworks was sitting directly on top of my head!!!  So that being said a few things have come and gone and I've survived! 

This happened: 

A's 1st Christmas

New Year's in which we participated for moral support and fun in the beer run, I ran 4 miles and drank 0 beers but I was able to assess my competition for next year! ;-)

My birthday where I ate a HUGE burrito at Chipotle, had a Love it Size waffle cone (1st time in my life) and my husband thought there was noooo way I'd be able to finish the ice cream after that burrito so he thought he'd just eat was I left, sorry bud not this time breastfeeding works miracles when it comes to your metabolism, and we watched a movie and left lil' man with my bro & SIL and yes I cried as we drove to the theater!!  But of course he was a perfect angel for them.
 
Now that the holidays are past and we are back to the normally scheduled programming I have come up with a "wish list" of races for 2014 and I call it that because I realize with a baby anything could change at a moments notice.  My heavier training won't start until about June which works out nicely because by then A will be a little older and be able to go for runs with me in the jogging stroller instead of the one that holds his car seat and hubs and I will trade off doing our long bike rides while the other plays with A.  For swims we hope to get him in classes by then and we'll trade off who goes to swim class with A and who gets to swim laps for training.  Ready, set, go!!!  And it will all go just as planned right?!??? :-)

Jan - 5k Race
Feb - 5k Race
March - 10 mile race
April - 1/2 Marathon
May - 1/2 Marathon
May - November: any sprint or olympic tris we can manage to fit in to practice for November since it will be hubs 1st triathlon ever!! and my first since baby
November 1/2 iron distance triathlon Lake Havasu
December - sprint triathlon that last time I did it qualified me for nationals but wasn't able to go due to pregnancy so hopefully I can qualify again and actually go!!!  But I don't know I'm in a new age group now and I'm nervous this ladies are very dedicated and fast!! 

What exciting races are you doing this year?!?!

Food in miles...

So I am in the process of making my Christmas Menu for the family since my house tends to be the central location for all our family shin - digs.  First I'm am starting the countdown because I get to see hubs during this holiday yay!!! But then I won't get to see him again until Sept. booo that means my dad has offered to make the two of them meat (I guess he's going with beer can chicken I don't really get it but ok)  Now for the rest of us I decided after I had to eat leftover green bean casserole and stuffing and mashed potatoes all by myself for an ENTIRE week I am going the non-traditional route this time.  I'm going to look for some yummy vegan Latin fusion dishes we'll see what happens.  I'm not a baker at all so that has been defaulted to my brother's girlfriend.  But then I started thinking about all the calories that would be consumed.  I found this gem of an article:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/dec/19/christmas-foodanddrink


Christmas pudding    Does anyone actuallly eat this?  Ok well that's 6 miles I won't have to run...
(100g) with custard and brandy butter
6.28 miles
That's 33,158ft
Turkey  The vegetarians in the family won't have to run this..
(90g serving)
1.6 miles
That's about as far as you'd get in half an hour (average speed 3.2 mph)

Panettone  No thank you...
(1 slice, 68.6g)
2.1 miles
That's about 4,235 steps

Christmas dinner plus 2 glasses of wine       Ok so I think I'll just run this distance to play it safe?
12.8 miles

Brussels sprouts   I love brussel sprouts and usually roast them in the oven but we did that for TG so not this time
(80g serving)
1,108 feet
That's one-and-a-third times around a running track
Carrots  
(80g serving)
296 yards

Roast potatoes    Yum I love potatoes mashed, baked fries (especially sweet potatoes), roast so I'll probably have 2 servings of whatever potato dish we have.
(85g serving)
1.4 miles

What the average Briton eats on Christmas Day
75 miles
That's the range of a fully charged Fiat 500 electric car
Mulled wine   I've been skipping wine/beer for the last month or so, whew
(glass)
2.6 miles
After Eight mints
(100g)
4.5 miles


 What are some of your favorite Christmas dishes?  Are any of you running over the holiday?  Are any of you going to do a non- traditional meal, if so what?

 

Final Countdown!

Taper Week!

Saturday - Had an awesome last 10 mile run.  Started at the bottom of a 5 mile hill, temperatures were kind enough to go above freezing with only 1 snow flurry at mile 5, then south for about 2.5 miles of easy rolling hills, where I picked up speed and the bf was cursing me, then 1.5 miles of excruciating downhill, where I was cursing the bf because he caught up to me when I had to wait for the light and as he speedily eased his way downhill, then the last 1 mile relatively flat stretch home where I kicked it up a notch cause I was just ready to be home.  Lots of stretching afterwards and was a little stiff in the left knee. 

Sunday - Day off recovered fairly quickly by mid-day.  

Monday - I had a nice 40 minute jog with a mostly well behaved puppy.

Tuesday - Day is day off and going to puppy/owner training.  Wed. speed  work.  Thurs. easy swim  to stay stretched out.

Wednesday – Speed work but shorter than normal

Thursday – Easy Swim about 1,000 meters no drills

Friday – Day off and drive to Sedona, AZ  There is an all you can eat carb dinner before.  My concern is if the sauce is truly vegetarian or not.  Would hate to have an upset tummy night before race day!  Taking Fuel belt with watered down Clif electrolyte mix drink, 4 packages of Clif Shot Bloks.  Can’t decide how to layer yet because it has been cold but they are predicting a warm up may take a trip to Goodwill for clothes I wouldn’t mind discarding along the way…  Now as long as those darn hills (more specifically the downhill) don’t give me problems with joints or muscle tightness I should be good to go!

Sampling the Stay at Home Life and Hello 2011!

Finally a calm and routine is returning to the household.  After a busy Holiday with family visiting it took me a little while to regroup.  The houses is always a mess after visitors and add Christmas food and gifts makes for an even bigger mess.  What I found out about 1 week and 1 day of stay at home life is that there is such a thing as to much of a good thing….  I relished the alone time at first just because having sensory overload from a full household for 5 days requires that.  Workouts doubled in time which was nice I got to try some new classes I don’t normally get to try: salsa aerobics, muscle hour, abs plus, spin classes etc.  But along with extra time to do that there is also extra time to watch TV and eat out of boredom so I had to make sure I kept myself busy so not to overindulge.  That led to more shopping though so I had to stop that and find something else, which meant cleaning the entire house.  I have come to the conclusion that I will always have a structured job and I am ok with that.

For my new goals I have gotten as far as a name and business card design (I always tackle the fun stuff first) and just received my NASM recertification in the mail which is always exciting to get that little piece of paper after the time and money spent into getting it ;-)  (no sarcasm here at all).  Now I need to register the business, liability insurance, etc….    I have had several requests for my hummus recipe after the holiday people wanting something healthy to start their resolutions with. 

Now the bad news, the bf and I did not get our 18 mile run in this weekend!!!  I know, I know, really I KNOW!!  I am ridden with guilt and anxiety.  The big race isn’t that far away.  I could give you tons of excuses but the truth comes down to us being WEENIES! We didn’t want to run in weather we thought was too cold so instead we went to the gym and did a mini triathlon indoors.  I know cross training can’t substitute long runs.  Isn’t it funny how we don’t follow our own advice?  I had put in so much hard work that week leading up to it with double workouts just to flail.  We are going to stick to our program of course to finish out the training (it doesn’t necessarily help to double the mileage on another week you have to be very careful with that) but I can just see the minutes being added to my time.  I’m already slow enough as it is but we will proceed and will finish just probably no PRs.  That is what happens though when I let myself be convinced to enter a race my heart wasn’t fully in to begin with.  I wanted to do the half from the beginning but I will make the best of this and learn from it what I can so that I can be prepared for the new Triathlon season to come…  Speaking of which I wish they would put up next season’s race schedule so I could map out my course.

Keep on Keeping on...

To Lunch or not to lunch?

As I made my morning walk from the parking lot and up the stairs I looked around the hall way and thought “It’s a Christmas miracle!” Someone came over night and decorated the entire floor so much work just for one day who is crazy enough to do that?  As I walked further I saw stickers on the window I thought Purchasing Dept stickers does that mean they’re the ones who did all this decorating for us?  Then as I was about to put the key in the door to the office I noticed someone I didn’t recognize go in the other door…. Hmmmm  I had exited the stairwell on the second floor not the third floor!!!!!  I snuck out before anyone could see me but was laughing hysterically as at myself and the person passing me in the stairwell looked at me funny so I just said “Merry Christmas!”  It’s a ghost town here and most are already on vacation and those who aren’t physically are mentally, hence the above story.  As the brave few still left sit around discussing whether we’ll get that delightful e-mail from the prez telling us we can leave early and to have a happy holiday!  So I ask myself do I lunch or not?  Will they let us leave or not? 

Fa la la la laaa la la la laaaa!!   That’s all that’s going through my head.

Ok so Monday was a weird workout, I was scheduled to do 50 minutes of cardio.  I started on the treadmill, 10 mins. Felt funny so took a bathroom break, step machine 12 minutes still felt dizzy and lightheaded so went to the mats to do some crunches then pushed through another mile on the treadmill.  All in all only managed to get about 35-40 total minutes at the gym (including the crunches) and went home.  I don’t get why this randomly happens to me I ate well that day I’m gonna have to start taking gel packs to the gym even for short workouts, ridiculous!!  It happens to me about 2-6 times a month for no apparent reason…  Tuesday on the other hand had an awesome plyometrics and weight workout that totally made up for Monday.  Burned over 400 calories and felt awesome.  Wed. had an indoor soccer game that we brutally lost but we were short subs so I did A LOT of running!  Today if we get out early I will go for a hike with my wonderful doggie and my bf, yes he’s wonderful too we just have a difference of opinions from time to time ;-)  Then to go grocery shopping to prepare for a fun filled Christmas weekend.  Extra bonus my good friend since 7^th grade will be in town with her new hubby and we will be seeing the Luminarias together!!!  I’m so lucky to have the friends and family that I have surrounding me!!

Menu:

Friday -  BF = Eggs or Tofu with grits (tortilla for D), "soy bacon"
             Lunch = Steak or Vegetarian Meatloaf, mashed potatoes
             Dinner = Salad and/or leftovers
 Daytime hike or sledding and snowplay with Lexi
 Friday night we will go to Old Town to see the Luminarias then drive around to see Christmas lights (S & Fam joining us)
 Saturday - MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 BF = Berry Tasty Breakfast Cups
Lunch = Sweet Potato Casserole (w/some set aside for D to be made with marshmallows), Rice and artichoke salad, crescent rolls, Couscous loaf, corn on the cob (or some type of grilled vegetables), Mom's choice of dessert
Dinner = Leftovers or Salad
 D & N 12 mile run, someone else could walk Lexi
S and Fam to stop by in the afternoon for hot chocolate distribute neighbors gifts....

Sunday - 
BF = Hot Cereal (or left over crescent rolls for egg sandwiches w/soy sausage
Lunch = Spaghetti w/Marinara Sauce (Mom's Style Sauce) and Garlic Bread
Dinner = Salad, Leftovers or sandwiches
 9am spin class or other activity

Monday -  2 hour Volunteer w/Road Runner Food Bank first thing in the morning.....

Yes this is an actual email I sent out to my family, I know I have a problem with planning ;-)  See prior post…

Lil bit of training & lots of planning

Anyone else feel like they spend most of their time planning and planning to plan?  I am constantly making lists, lists of goals for each year both work and personal, lists for groceries and shopping, lists of things I need to do each week then broken down to each day, lists of what trips I need to plan and what I'm going to do while I'm there and what I need to do before I get there, training schedules, race schedules, holiday lists and schedules, daily work tasks lists etc, etc.... No?  Just me?  Come on I know all you triathletes and runners out there must have some Type A tendencies!  I've been made fun of more times than I can count for being such a planner.  Then on the flip side I've been thanked for being a planner cuz if not half the stuff wouldn't have been possible (especially on vacations).

Not to say that I don't leave room for some spontaneity but it has to fit into the empty slots ;-)  I guess it's just about staying in motion....  Right now my latest lists involve Christmas Gifts and Volunteer Events.  I've started my own little tradition in that the only gift I really want from my friends and family is their time.  I usually have to find the events for them to volunteer at and and book it but it's worth it in today's world of commercialism and corporate holidays I wanted to bring a little taste of reality back to it.  On the block so far this year for different events is a food bank, toys for tots, and homeless veterans.  I've decided to take a short break from volunteering year round with a local hospice and possibly pick up some extra volunteering with an outdoor group, I spend enough time in the outdoors that maybe just 2 x a year for a trail clean up isn't enough!

Training: Yesterday I played another soccer game.  We won which has been a nice change compared to our previous season.  I was told to not be afraid to kick the ball hard at the goal that I was tapping.  1st I've never played forward so I don't know how to take goal shots I welcome any help in that area, 2 my ankle is still tender so I was a little gun shy.  But with time comes experience.  Today I'm going to do 20 mins plyometrics, 30 minutes weight lifting and 1-2 miles on the treadmill.  Tomorrow is sprints.  I'm arguing back and forth with my other half whether to do the 16 mile run this Sat. or next either way 10 miles will be the longest we've ran so far so I don't see the difference and that would mean I could participate in an event I look forward to every month with my local running group... But we'll see who wins the logic behind this one!

Keep moving!