Hello, Old Man Winter

After my lunch time chilly run, I'm pretty convinced Old Man Winter pulled up a chair and decided to sit a spell! It's been a long time since I had to wear a warm running hat, gloves and full running tights. I miss fall temps already! Brrrr....

HBBC Week 1

Week 1 (Nov. 19-25) of the Holiday Booty Buster Challenge is off to a great start! Sunday was my 12-mile long run, Tuesday and Friday I added in 20 minutes of strength, and Thursday was my exciting 5-mile run that turned in to a PR! 19 points by my calculation for this "doer".

A New PR!

My previous 5-mile PR was a 52:49 in 2010 running the Bill Luti 5-Miler in Concord, New Hampshire. Today, I shattered that number and managed to finish the Hermes Turkey Trot here in wonderful downtown Cleveland in 47:52!!!!! Holy crap, Batman, that's a minute faster per mile! Woohoo!

So today, not only am I grateful for a wonderful husband/kids and family, a good job with challenging work and enjoyable co-workers, fun friends, but I am also grateful for having good health and that I am able to do something I love - running.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving

This Weekend's Temptation

Before dinner last night I popped in to my favorite running store to pick up some gels and drink mix. As I walked in the back door with my youngest, a girl greeted me and asked me if I was pre registered. I looked at her with the same level of excitement as a 5-year-old on Christmas morning. A race? Here? In my backyard? I asked if it was a half marathon and it was. Oh dear. I love running half marathons. And I do have a long run I need to knock out this weekend - a 12-miler to be exact...which is uhmm pretty darn close to 13.1 miles. I held tough and continued on to the gels, but I did think about how nice it would be to run with a thousand of my closest friends, to have water stations, post-race goodies. I don't need another shirt nor should I spend the money on entry fee. Devil-Angel. Both were talking to me at the same time. In the end, I held strong. I bought my gels and went next door to have a wonderful dinner (and a Bear Republic Racer 5) with my daughters.

I still need to get in my long run. So I'll be carrying my own drinks and I'll put that entry fee toward a new pair of running shoes instead.

Working on Year 9

2011 will be my 9th Turkey Trot here in Cleveland. I just love this race. Last year, it was just me and the girls. The rain was so heavy that I finished the short 1-mile race sans jogging stroller. Since having Bridget, I've been running the 1-mile race with Greg and Megan while pushing Bridget in the jogging stroller. This year, I convinced Greg to join me in the 5-mile race. Can't wait! This is one tradition I love keeping up!

My Newest Guilty Pleasure

Thanks to my hubs and daughter, I have entered the world of Twitter. Who am I following? Why, Barbie, of course! And you should, too. I mean, come on, with tweets like below, how can you not wonder what Barbie is doing today?!

After a few days of rain in Malibu, this doll is ready to enjoy the sunshine! Hopping on my pretty pink bike and going for a ride.