Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Why Is It
Why is it that a Lean Cuisine looks so amazing in the box, tastes amazing, yet feels like nothing more than an appetizer! How can that truly be called "lunch"?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Newest Purchase
Ever since I took my first snowshoe class in Keystone, Colorado two years ago, I've been hooked. So I finally broke down and ordered my first pair of snowshoes. I did a lot of research - yes, I call it research...YOU might call it wasting time on Google. Tomayto, tomahto, Whatever...it will result in a brown box being delivered to my doorstep and a subsequent tromp in the snow-laden northern ohio trails. I can't wait! And besides, it will keep running fun and interesting being out! And I know my black lab will love bouncing in the snow - bonus!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
My Newest Running Addition
Probably not something that's interesting to the guys, but I love my new cuff from Lulelemon. It perfectly holds my car key, wipes away the sweat and adds a punch of color. Santa was kind enough to deliver one to me this year, although mine is gray. Love love love it.
What running accessory do you love or can't run without?
Friday, January 7, 2011
Fitness When You're on the Go Go
This post could begin with a Wham song - you know, Wake me up before you go go, but I'm terrible about song lyrics. I used to think Axl was actually saying "Take me down to the bare ass city." Yep, I'm that girl that sings out loud and NEVER gets the lyrics right.
But the focus of today's post is trying to get in a little fitness when you're pressed for time or maybe don't have the access to a gym because you're traveling or it's too dark for a run. Or maybe, just maybe, you just don't feel like it (been there, done that). I found this especially true during the holiday season while trying to shop/wrap/ship presents, cook, clean (my immediately family might challenge me on this one), and partake in holiday festivities (translation: trying out all those wonderful seasonal brews). So for the past couple of weeks, I've been trying out "mini" workouts and found these two workouts eliminate all excuses, well, except the "I don't want to" excuse.
1. Lauren Conrad from The Hills and Laguna Beach. Don't mock me. I love her and will shell out 4 bucks every time she's on the cover of a magazine. And you thought I was pathetic because I didn't know the EXACT words to a Guns n Roses song. LC's trainer recommends the following when she's traveling and this can be done easily in a hotel room (just use a towel on the floor...otherwise, no telling what you'll acquire). Do this circuit 6 times. I do 3 myself, but I'm not an overachiever.
20 squats
20 situps
20 pushups
20 couch dips
holding plank for 20 seconds
2. Tony Horton, creator of P90X and currently the biggest bad ass in fitness. Tony recommends 10 minutes of what he calls U.C.M.L. - upper, cardio, middle, lower. Do as many pushups as you can with good form (in my world, girl pushups count), then any kind of cardio move (mountain climbers, jumping rope, running in place) for 60 seconds. Do 30 reps of an abdonminal move. Finish with 20-30 reps of a squat or plyometric jump. Do this for 3-6 rounds. I was exhausted after one round, but am committed to not let Tony win.
The best part about both of these is that they are easy to fit into a busy schedule and will benefit us runners by strengthening our core and maybe...just maybe...bringing a PR or two this year!
Do you have a secret weapon of a workout to share?
But the focus of today's post is trying to get in a little fitness when you're pressed for time or maybe don't have the access to a gym because you're traveling or it's too dark for a run. Or maybe, just maybe, you just don't feel like it (been there, done that). I found this especially true during the holiday season while trying to shop/wrap/ship presents, cook, clean (my immediately family might challenge me on this one), and partake in holiday festivities (translation: trying out all those wonderful seasonal brews). So for the past couple of weeks, I've been trying out "mini" workouts and found these two workouts eliminate all excuses, well, except the "I don't want to" excuse.
1. Lauren Conrad from The Hills and Laguna Beach. Don't mock me. I love her and will shell out 4 bucks every time she's on the cover of a magazine. And you thought I was pathetic because I didn't know the EXACT words to a Guns n Roses song. LC's trainer recommends the following when she's traveling and this can be done easily in a hotel room (just use a towel on the floor...otherwise, no telling what you'll acquire). Do this circuit 6 times. I do 3 myself, but I'm not an overachiever.
20 situps
20 pushups
20 couch dips
holding plank for 20 seconds
2. Tony Horton, creator of P90X and currently the biggest bad ass in fitness. Tony recommends 10 minutes of what he calls U.C.M.L. - upper, cardio, middle, lower. Do as many pushups as you can with good form (in my world, girl pushups count), then any kind of cardio move (mountain climbers, jumping rope, running in place) for 60 seconds. Do 30 reps of an abdonminal move. Finish with 20-30 reps of a squat or plyometric jump. Do this for 3-6 rounds. I was exhausted after one round, but am committed to not let Tony win.
The best part about both of these is that they are easy to fit into a busy schedule and will benefit us runners by strengthening our core and maybe...just maybe...bringing a PR or two this year!
Do you have a secret weapon of a workout to share?
Monday, January 3, 2011
Something Cool
Just came across a cool website and immediately signed up. If you're a book reader, give it a try! The site will organize and track what you've read, what you're interested in reading, what others are reading, and what's trending They even have a category of worst books ever!
goodreads.com
Got another run in - looks like a habit is forming :)
goodreads.com
Got another run in - looks like a habit is forming :)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2010 in Review - or How I Made Silver Status
What a wonderful, exciting, blessed and exhausting year! On the running front, I successfully managed to score personal bests or PRs in the 5k, half marathon and marathon distances with significantly better performances - very happy!
On the traveling front, I had a fantastic year traveling with family and even started a new "girls trip" tradition with my two daughters, who also have my love for traveling. We took our first weekend trip in July to New Hampshire and Vermont - what a wonderful time!
As far as checking off states, 2010 was busy! I checked off, with the help of Greg, Megan and Bridget, the following eight states by running 2 marathons, 2 half marathons, 2 10k races (I ran a half and a 10k in Delaware), 5 miler, 8 miler and an Adventure Race, which was quite the adventure!
Delaware
Minnesota
New Hampshire
Vermont
Utah
Arkansas
New Mexico
Rhode Island
I also tackled the Run for Regis Trail Half Marathon in the snow in January and the Fools 25k trail run in the mud in March. And to top things off, I logged in slightly over 1,000 miles during 2010, dropping from a tight size 12 to a loose size 10 in the process.
I think i'll race less in 2011 and try to enjoy each racing event more - a lesson I learned the hard way as I spent December nursing a very tender achilles and sore knee. Although, I did make Silver Elite Status again on Continental. So here's to another year of possible upgrades from Coach to First Class (phew!).
I'm not really a "resolutions" kind of girl. Instead, I like to set little goals - something achievable, not too lofty, but makes me work a little harder. So this year, I'm going to try to use a little less profanity (blech, that's going to be H-E-double toothpicks hard), floss a little more (my dentist will be appreciative), play outside a little more with my girls (does putting B in the jogging stroller count?), spend at least a half hour each evening with just the husband (watching Glee on dvr counts, right?), and check off at least five more states this year with the help of my family.
Now, I just have to figure out where the 2011 girls trip will lead us?!
May 2011 be everything you want it to be!
On the traveling front, I had a fantastic year traveling with family and even started a new "girls trip" tradition with my two daughters, who also have my love for traveling. We took our first weekend trip in July to New Hampshire and Vermont - what a wonderful time!
As far as checking off states, 2010 was busy! I checked off, with the help of Greg, Megan and Bridget, the following eight states by running 2 marathons, 2 half marathons, 2 10k races (I ran a half and a 10k in Delaware), 5 miler, 8 miler and an Adventure Race, which was quite the adventure!
Minnesota
New Hampshire
Vermont
Utah
Arkansas
New Mexico
Rhode Island
I also tackled the Run for Regis Trail Half Marathon in the snow in January and the Fools 25k trail run in the mud in March. And to top things off, I logged in slightly over 1,000 miles during 2010, dropping from a tight size 12 to a loose size 10 in the process.
I think i'll race less in 2011 and try to enjoy each racing event more - a lesson I learned the hard way as I spent December nursing a very tender achilles and sore knee. Although, I did make Silver Elite Status again on Continental. So here's to another year of possible upgrades from Coach to First Class (phew!).
I'm not really a "resolutions" kind of girl. Instead, I like to set little goals - something achievable, not too lofty, but makes me work a little harder. So this year, I'm going to try to use a little less profanity (blech, that's going to be H-E-double toothpicks hard), floss a little more (my dentist will be appreciative), play outside a little more with my girls (does putting B in the jogging stroller count?), spend at least a half hour each evening with just the husband (watching Glee on dvr counts, right?), and check off at least five more states this year with the help of my family.
Now, I just have to figure out where the 2011 girls trip will lead us?!
May 2011 be everything you want it to be!
Dining Room Before & After
Like everyone else, I have a long to-do list, that gets longer and rarely do items get checked off, But today, with a little paint I remade the dining room lighter and brighter and hopefully winter won't feel so long with these softer colors. I couldn't believe it had been 7 years since I last painted this room!
BEFORE
AFTER
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