Sew excited!

Yesterday on my snow day.  I got to sew.  I'm a quilter, but with school I have not gotten to sew in months.  I made my parents a quilt for Christmas but never but the binding or finishing edge on it.  Yesterday, I got to work on it.  I went to the rents and worked on it there and had mother daughter time.  It was nice to have just the two of us after the chaos of the weekend.  After the horrible ru on Sunday I told my running partner that she did not have an option.  Today we are going after class.

Snow day

This is what the house looked like when I woke up this morning.  Needless to say, no running today.  I'm packing running clothes for the gym tomorrow.  It is 3/25!  This is not a normal time for snow for us.  We are expecting spring.  Our daffy have started to bloom.

Lion in the bed

Just a quick story before I go for a run.  We have two cats.  Last night as a treat they got to sleep in bed with us.   Emma was between us and I was starting the movie that we were going to watch while falling asleep.  Well the MGM lion roared at the beginning.  Emma jumped out of her skin and ran away.  She did not come back to bed all night.

Family biking

Yesterday with my nieces was wonderful.  We peep jousted and watched Despicable Me.  I had never seen it.  It was cute.  I put the littlest down and then watched Fraggle Rock with the older two and then they went to bed.  I missed the BBQ but it was ok.

Today we went on a family bike ride.  My dad, brother and I left the local park they did 10.5 miles and I did 6.  It was much easier today then it was on Monday.  It wasn't as windy and they bike much closer to my speed.  My wife, mother, and two of the little girls met us at the park.  We played and played on the jungle gym.  It has been quite sometimes since I have been on a slide. 

We got home and dyed Easter eggs.  Dad liked Gladys so she moved to his home.  I think she might get a new name.  I introduced swimoutlet.com to dad.  It could be dangerous.  He signed up to do the bunny run next weekend which is a 5k.  I'm working Friday night, so I think I'm out.  I do want to sign up for some smaller races as part of my training. 

I'm home for a quick nap and a shower then off to the More Guts than Talent talent show.  I will have pictures to share...

Snow on Spring Break

I was going to run today but then it snowed.  That's right it snowed.  I like running in the rain but I have my limits with snow.

On another note, I finished my last paper for sociology.  So now I just have my nursing classes, working PART-TIME and pre-season training.

My brother, his wife, and their three girls are coming into town tonight.  Not cross training, but definitely exhausting.  I'm babysitting tonight while the grown-ups go out and play.  If they get back in time I'm going to swing by my running partners birthday bonfire.  She is now working full time so I might be out a running partner.

I might be a little MIA this weekend.  Family bike ride might still be in order for tomorrow.

Lunch

For lunch I had the rest of the bean mixture, added spinach, craisins, cheese, salad dressing and it was wonderful!

Adventurous Cooker

When I'm cooking for myself and no one else is expected to eat what I make.  I go out there.  This morning was not exception.  This was my Indian Mexican omelet.  I cooked some white beans and an orange pepper that I seasoned with chili powder, cumin, curry, salt and pepper.  I also noticed so turkey in the fridge so I added that.  I removed the bean mixture from the pan and wiped it out.  I didn't want the eggs to have a curry taste.  I then pour in the eggs as they got firmer I added cheddar cheese and the bean mix.  Folded it over and topped it with salsa.  It was yummy!  The sweetness of the beans countered the spices perfectly. 
So on another note.  I take pictures with my ipad.  I then email them to myself, save them to my computer and attach them to the blog.  When I open the emails on my ipad the pictures are facing the correct way.  When I open them on the computer they are upside down.  I have tried taking the pictures upside down, i've tried saving them upside down, but I can't get them to post right side up!  I figured it must be something with yahoo, so this morning I tried emailing them to my gmail account.  It turned it 90 degrees instead of 180.  I'm getting closer.

I'm part vampire

I've decided I must part vampire because of my love/hate relationship with garlic.  I love the taste but it doesn't sit well.  I had wonderful falafel for dinner tonight.  My wife and I went to bed around 6pm because we were both so tired.  I fell asleep during labrynth, a favorite.  Now the garlic is making the old tum-tum upset and I can't sleep!

Bike ride

Mom and I drove the running and biking portion of the race on Monday.  She missed the turn and we just kept going.  I got so dishearten.  I thought there was no way I can do this, bu then she realized that she missed the turn.  I feel better about now.  I'm still feeling overwhelmed.  I just keep telling myself "that why you signed up for an August race.  You have time to get there.  One thing for sure is that it is a really hilly course.

After we drove the course we headed out on our bikes.  I think I went about 4 miles.  I know I sound like a runner not a biker, but it is what it is.  I just half way up the second hill and thought to myself, I have to make it home from here.  I turned around and headed back to the park.  Once I got closer to the finish  it got easier.

Biking fucking sucks!  It is way harder then I remember.  True I haven't been on a bike in oh twenty years. I tried to spit the first time and I really thought it landed on my shoulder because I was afraid to turn my head.  The next two times went fine.  I'm working on getting used to the caged pedals.  I got better at flipping the pedal over so I could get my foot in.  I also used the aero bars three times.  I swerve way more with them.  It was cold and rainy.  I was coasting down the first big hill and the wind was trying really hard to keep me on top of the hill. 

This is my new bike.  From now on I'm going to hold the camera upside and see if that helps.  I did learn how to position it different on the page.  I had a bad night at work on Monday, but when I woke up Tuesday afternoon the sun was out.  It was warm.  I slept for about 5 hours and everything was better. 

Today the plan is that mom is going to come over this morning and we are going to clean the house really well and fix the gutter.  We are then meeting for dinner at like 3:30 which means leaving earlier.  So I hope to get a run in between cleaning and dinner.  I do totally count cleaning as cross training. 

FIELD TRIP!

Yesterday I went on a field trip.  I bought a new to me bike off Craigslist.  I'm so excited.  A nice British couple was selling it.  It had been the wife's bike when she used to tris.  It was built as a tri bike.  It has aero bars and caged pedals, which is great so I can bike in my running shoes.  Gladys is just too tall for me.  I think this bike is a much better fit.  When the sun comes up, I'll take a picture.  I'm still going to do a little work on Gladys and see if my dad want to use her.

That's right, my dad.  He has recently lost over forty pounds and has signed up to do the race as well.  It will be his first tri too.  We won't run together because we'll have different start times, but it will be nice to know he is out there too.  It has really amped up his work outs too.  He told me last night over Corn Beef and Cabbage (capital letters because it is one of my all time favorite meals) that he used to be happy if he walked for 30 minutes on the treadmill but not anymore.  My mom is super cute, she says she is in training for training.  On the weekends she has been walking my dad's runs and biking with him. 

Next weekend my brother and his brood are coming to town, so my dad, brother and I might go for a ride.  Mom and I are going to go for a ride today.

Today is the start of my Spring Break.  I have to work tonight, but it is the only day a work this week.  Today I'm going to couch and read my book for school.  Gang Leader for a Day for sociology class.  I have to write a paper about it by Friday.  So couching, reading and a bike ride is my relaxing day before work.  Benny, the dog, is already fast asleep next to me.  I'll let you know how the ride went later.

Psychology 10what!

I just finished my last paper for psychology!  All I need to do is turn it in and I have officially completed the course!

Too much

This is my last week of having two papers due.  I'm so excited.  I can see light at the end of the tunnel.  Needless to say I can't workout today.  I really need to finish one paper and make a good jump on the second.  I just have to make it to Tuesday morning.

On the flip side, I might be buying a new bike and an indoor trainer.  I will let you know more when I do.

Five miles uphill

I didn't make it to yoga yesterday.  I chose sleep.  I would have only gotten two if I was going to make it to yoga, but today I went for a great five mile walk in the park near my house.  It was power walking and we ran up the hills.  There were quite a few hills.  After being copped up in my seat all morning I just needed to get out and move.  I did do a few cartwheels in the grass.  I'm attaching a picture of myself when I woke up yesterday as proof that I did not need to be in public.  Since I'm sharing bad pictures I also thought I would attach a picture of me in my new swim cap.  It looks nothing like me.  My mother says it looks like Im in an ad for sperm.  Gotta love moms.

Oops neither are facing the right direction.  Oh well.  Anyone know how to fix this?


On our way back to my running partners house we saw a cow giving birth.  We took a picture it is not the best picture but it was still pretty neat.  When we got back to her house she gave my a quick hooping lesson.  She is a hoop dancer and I happen to be in a hula hooping competition in 10 days.  I have a whole lot of practicing to do.  I just can't keep that thing up anymore!  I was awesome when I was six!

Great the only picture up right is the birthing cow.

Extra Shift

When I woke up yesterday morning it was foggy and drizzly.  So I thought I would write a paper for a while and then go for a spin on Gladys.  Well, as the paper writing was happening a friend reminded me that I was going to meet her in the skills lab.  As I was leaving the skills lab I got called into work.  So I ended up not having to time to go for a ride, but it means I will only have to work one day next which is spring break.  I thin k it will be worth it.  I'm currently waiting for HR to open, then I'm going home to sleep.  I want to try and make the noon yoga class at school.  I was going to try and go to Dicks after HR but I just need the sleep.  Sorry this is a lame post but hey I've been up for over 24 hours at this point.  Cut a girl some slack.

Snowmagedon!!!

Snowquester!  Big storm coming this way!  The federal government closed today because of the weather.  Our local schools because of the weather.  Does my college?  Nope.  I still had to take my test on poop disorders.  I think I think my grumpiness of the lack of even a two hour delay carried through to my workout today.  I thought school would be closed and so then the gym would be too. 

I went just like I'm supposed to I wanted to run two miles today.  It wasn't very successful.  I lacked consistency the whole way through.  I walked some, jogged some, ran some, power walked, slow walked....  One mile into it I was having my gas issues again and the gym had very few people in it except for a guy stretching his legs right behind my treadmill.  So I went and had unsuccessful quiet time in the bathroom.  I got back on and did the next mile.  My legs are kinda fried from yesterday.  After my lack of good experience on the dreadmill I hoped on the rower trying to get some arms in and help relieve my legs a little.  Man my ass is swore, yoga terms it would be my seat bones.  After 7 minutes I gave up came home and ate a brownie. 

This month the gym is offering two classes a week.  Tomorrow is barre-fusion.  I signed up.  I'm hoping it is a lot of stretching.  I can use it.  Now that I've figured out how to attach pictures I have a few that I owe you.

This is Gladys, my not so trusted steed.  She and I are going to spend quality time over Spring Break fixing her up a bit.  Sorry she is upside down.  I'm not sure how to fix it.

As promised, here I am in my new bathing suit.  At least I'm right side up.

BRICK

My goal is to workout five days a week.  If I do three I won't be mad at myself.  Yesterday, I was hoping to run but my running partner was sick and the couch was really comfy.  My mom asked if we could go for a walk, she is trying to lose weight,  how could I say no?  The three of us headed out, she, myself, and my dog.  My dog counts as a whole because he weighs over 100lbs.  He is a great Dane lab mix.  We power walked 3 miles.

My goal is to run M,W,F and bike T, H.  Until the water temp warms up and I add swimming.  I do kitchen swim at least twice a week.  I just wonder what the neighbors think!  So, today was suppose to be a bike day, but I really wanted to run.  I got my iPod issues settled so I was able to put an audiobook on it, I was ready to go.   I got to the gym and realized that I didn't bring my ear phones.  :(

I did figure out how to hook up earphones to the dreadmill and bike, but alas no earphones.  I wasn't sure how this work out was going to go.  Since I'm in "pre-season" I'm really flexible with what I do. I try to push my bike workout to be a third longer than running, other than that I roll with it.  I was able to get on the dreadmill in front of the tv on hgtv instead of sports, score, I ran for a mile and then hoped on the bike.  I rode for three miles and then realized that I hadn't been on the bike for 15 minutes.  So I rode until the 15 was up, 3.3miles.  I then got back on the dreadmill!  I ran for a quarter of a mile, walked half and then ran for the last quarter.  I always look forward to the sprint at the end of my run.  When you leave it all on the road.  I jogged until I hit the mile marker so I would know that I would get my mileage, but then I cranked up the machine and just ran.  It was amazing!  My labored breathing became even and my body was like this is what I want to do.  I remembered how much I like running fast.  I ran another quarter.  My next dreadmill run I'm going to remember my headphones, open her up and just see what the old girl can do!

Getting to know me

I'm 32 years old.   I've had several careers.  I worked in professional theater and I taught school.  Now I'm in nursing school.  I get very antsy in jobs, so I'm hoping that nursing provides a diverse enough field that I won't have to go back to school every time I get restless.

I never played sports growing up.  I danced and spent time in the theater.  After college is when I found my athletic side.  I randomly joined a rugby team and LOVED it.  I played for two years until I broke my hand.  During that time I started running on my own to get in shape for the team.   I then become a soccer coach for a few years and would exercise with the girls.

A friend and I started trail running together as a way of having accountability.  We would invite people to join us.  There were about 15 of us in the group.  The group met everyday.  At the end of the run we would decide where we would run the next day and who ever showed up ran.  I only ran M-F.  I was still doing 25-30 miles a week.  We would vary long and short runs.  We would all start at the same time and wait for everyone to get out of the woods when we were done.  Everyone set their own pace and often pair-up ish for the run.  We would usually have 3 to 8 people show up for any given run.  It was a lot of fun and a great way to meet new people.

Well, that is my not so athletic history.  I was diagnosed with Lupus last year, which means I must exercise when I can.  I also need to eat a high protein, high veggie, low carb diet.  This sounds like a perfect recipe for a tri!