Running thru life... I am back!

Today blog is simple... I am back!

I just finished my ten miler and for the first time in weeks I feel like I am a runner again. 
I would like to thank all the people involved... my husband (who hooked up my computer to my tv so I could watch my shows I missed this week), Grey's Anatomy,  Private Practice, and water.

I thank you all for you support.
I am back and I am ready.

Enjoy this beautiful saturday!!!

Running thru life... while managing plans

We have plans this weekend to have some friends over for dinner.  Normally, this would not be a problem but with Joe is school now he devotes most of his Saturday and Sundays to studying which means it is all on me!!!  This normally would be fine but I have some things that I need to get done (a long Run, a couple errands, social stuff, etc.) 

So I have a plan.  I decided to make Lasagna for dinner!!  Why you might ask?

1)  Easy to make ahead of time

2)  I can make two and freeze one for Joe and I to eat during a week we are crazy busy

3)  Most people like lasagna - it is not an offensive food. 

So Wednesday night while my hubby was in class after my nightly run, and after starting the laundry.  I quickly got to work in the kitchen.  There was a process..

1) Setting everything out I need.  This is a must!  I know how to make my recipe without the recipe sheet. 

2) Boiling the noodles.

3) Cooking the meat.

4) Putting it all together.

I ended up making two lasagna's- one will go in the freezer for later and one in the fridge. 

Then on Saturday- I just need to pop in the oven for about 45 minutes!  I plan on making fresh green beans to go along with it- which will take no time at all.  For dessert with are having brownies and ice cream (also something very easy that most people like.)  I made the brownies last night.

So all in all it will be a pretty easy dinner party!

Dinner made easy!!!

Running thru life: Sprint Tri

On my journey to push myself, I have decided this year I am also going to do a SPRINT TRI.  This is a triathlon that is shorter and is good entry for people in the the world of triathlons.  Unfortunately that one I really wanted to do was right after for 1/2 marathon- which my husband veto'd quickly- stating my muscles would be tired and he is probably right.  So now I am trying to find one that will work with my schedule. 

I found a organization the "Tri It Now" group who sponsors  5-6 sprint Tri a year.  The only problem with the Sprint Tri's is there are in the summer.  I am not a good person with exercising in the heat so I am not sure how I will do with this. 

I am considering the 14.06 Sprint Tri July 10th

"We challenge you to work toward accomplishing your dreams...
this triathlon is a starting point:
one tenth of iron distance.

0.24 mile pool swim (425 yards)
11.2 mile bike ride
2.6 mile run  "

What do you think???

Running thru life... Keeping me motivated

Now that my runs are getting longer- I started to get bored a little.  So Monday night I updated my ipod and rearrange the music.  I made a running mix for me called "Running."  Very clever I know! 

My ipod is pink (would you guess any other color?)

The problem is I have to update this running mix every so often with new songs and also new order because right now I can tell you how far I have run just based on what song is playing.  I like to keep it fresh and mix my music up.  So I added some new favs with the help of some I-tunes gift card I got for Christmas.  I hate spending money on music so the I tunes gift cards are a treat!!!

Thank you very much parentals!!

I then plug my ipod in to JBL ipod speakers system.  (I got this for my hubby a year after we started dating.  I absolutely love it and the speaker quality is AMAZING!) 

So last night I had a new mix to run to and it was a nice change of pace.  I found I was able to focus more.

This just goes to show while I am a creature of habit- it is good to changed everything up once and a while. 

Happy Listening. 

Running thru life- Getting back on track

After having all weekend off and being pampered, I need to get myself back on tract.  I realize that I have less than 5 weeks until my run and panic is starting to set it. 

So this morning- I got up and bit the bullet!  8 miles on the treadmill.  I would have done more but Clemson started barking at me and that was the end of my nice peaceful run. 

I know mentally that I need to step up my running schedule.  The first couple weeks I was just trying to get back into my grove.. which i have done.  Now I need to push myself!!!    I find this hard sometimes especially on a raining day where I would love to stay in bed but I have to remind myself this is important to me and something I want to accomplish.  It is also just the half way mark as I hope to be able to do a marathon next year. 

So I say to my brain... you can do it.  You can push me.  I will push back and run harder.

Happy Running. 

Running thru life... Planning a girls weekend Part 2

It is time for my friend and I to have another girls weekend.  After talking we decided that money is a little more on the tight side this time so we wanted to do something a little bit more money friendly. 

So I came up with a genius plan.  My parents are going to be out of town for a long weekend... so we are crashing their place.  Why you might ask?  Well 1) It is not my house and while I LOVE my hubby and my Clemson puppy it is hard to have a girls weekend with boys around 2) My parents house is in Ashburn- closely located to both wineries and the Outlet Mall  3) It is near Landsdown spa.

So our weekend itinerary was as follows:

Friday night we both arrived at my parents house in Ashburn VA.  We planned Thai Food, a bottle or two of wine and the Sex and City 2 Movie.  (We have been waiting to see it together!)  May spend $20 for the Thai food. After watching it... we both had the same feelings.  Good but not great!!

Saturday we got up and did a little winery/shopping combo.  We hit the outlet malls first which was smart because we got there about 11 and left by 2 (when it started to get croweded.) 
I made out like a bandit.  I got a sweater from Micheal Khors for $20!!!!  And a cute dress from Benetton for 40% off costing me only $35.  I promised myself I would only buy things in color that I did not already have and I stayed true to that promise.

After shopping we headed over to Panera to get  a bit to eat... excellent Apple Fuji Salad. 


Then we headed to Fabboli Winery.  We did a tasting for free and then headed to Chrystalis.  At Chrystalis winery we have both already done a tasting so we decided just to buy a bottle of wine we liked and drink it.  We then headed home to get a bit to eat and watch Leap Year, which was quite cute. 
 
I picked these two wineries because 1) I love them  2) They are realitvely close to my parents house and also the outlet mall.  3) Either I or my parents are members so we get free tastings!!!!    Only money spent it any clothes or wine we buy and lunch, but tasting will be free!!!

Sunday we headed to the Landsdown Resort at Spa Mineral for some much need pampering.  This was our splurge.  It was so worth it.... We arrived early at noon and were able to rest in the woman's lounge room where we sipped on Cucumber water and caught up on our reading. The we headed off to our treatments which we excellent followed by a pedicure.  We left around 4:30... it was just what both of us needed and were both quite impressed with the spa.  I think if we went again we would try not to go on a weekend because the lounge room was quite full. 

Well happy weekend...