Hello, 2013!

First, a mini-refresher of last years goals can be found here.  I tried to keep things simple by only making two goals; to stop cussing and to get organized.  I think I've done better this year with the cussing but there is always room for improvement.  So, I'll continue to work on that.  And getting organized is about the funniest thing ever.  I did get my computer files somewhat organized but that's about it.  Major failure with that goal.  No real surprise there.

Maybe I'm still experiencing a runners high from completing my longest training run yesterday but I'm feeling like I can take on the world in 2013.  I've been making lists for about a week now.  I have pages  and pages of small things and big things that I want to complete, do better at, attempt, experience, etc.  Rather than list them all line by line I figured I'd group things together.  It will make it easier next year to say I failed at a category than to say I failed at 35 different things.  HA!

HEALTH

I have lots and lots of goals this year.  For starters, to survive my half marathon on the 12th.  I would love to beat the time from my first half marathon in 2006 but I think I'll be happy if I finish standing and able to walk!  I'm also going to try to run a race every month this year.  I was close last year but I really want to try and find one for each month.  I also plan on running the Colorado Half Marathon in May.  This is the one I signed up for last year but never ran because I went Disney World instead.  It was a completely legitimate excuse but I'd really like to run this race so I'm signing up again and will definitely be aiming for a PR.  And if all goes well this year I'd also like to run the Rock N' Roll Half Marathon or Strip at Night as it's called in Las Vegas in November.  My running buddy has family there and it would be a super cheap trip compared to our race in Disney World. In all of my training and running, I'm hoping to get lighter and faster.  A sub-30 minute 5k is still one of those lifelong goals.  Could 2013 be the year??  I hope so.

In addition to all of the running (I'm sort of tired just thinking about it all), I'm going to mix things up a little bit and do weight training, swimming, biking, and yoga.  My strategy to diversify will be helped along by a special program at work orchestrated by our Fitness Team.  I'll share more about this later in the week after our first meeting.  I'm pretty excited about it.  If the diversifying goes well through Spring, I'd like to try my hand at a sprint triathlon in the summer.

PHOTOGRAPHY

I'm deeming this the "Year of the Photograph."  I took some pretty good leaps last year so I figure I have no excuse to not work harder this year.  I'm hoping to get my website completely finished.  And I really want to take a few of the small business classes that are offered through the City and County so that Uncle Sam doesn't take my house for lack of tax knowledge.  More paying customers and tons more practice would be ideal.  Once I'm done reading the book I for Christmas, I'll elaborate more on my photo plans.

HUMILITY & AWE

This one may seem a bit out there, especially without any explanation.  I'll ramble much more on this in the weeks to come.  Basically I'm going to do my best to live with humility and awe in 2013.  This comes from my soul searching from months back and requires a post all it's own.  It's about gratitude and cherishing what life we're given.  

DO MORE

And here is the catch-all.  More reading, more cleaning, more organizing, learning to sew, taking a concealed weapons class, hiking more, camping more, and all those random things I always say I want to do more of or try.  It's about chipping away at everything and, ironically, spending less time in front of the computer.

And that is all.  The new year begins in about 30 minutes.  Midnight will strike much like years past, Brent asleep and me grumpy yet optimistic.  Happy Frickin' New Year, all.  Woo.

Goodbye, 2012!

I think this has been one of the fastest years of recent memory.  Seriously, it feels like just yesterday I was super excited about the year starting and a Disney vacation waiting for me in May.  Oh wait, I am excited about the new year starting...and a Disney vacation waiting for me in just a few short weeks.  Adios, 2012!

All in all, it was a damn good year.  A few highlights off the top of my head...

• Disney World with the family - I had a blast and cannot wait for our next family trip.  Four years to go!!  I get the biggest dumb grin on my face every time I look at photos.  

Brent missed out the torrential downpour in Animal Kingdom!

• IDAHO!! I got to visit my awesome brother Marshal in Idaho for a few days of turkey hunting.  It was a real hoot!  And Marshal hiked me into the ground.  Even though we didn't kill any turkeys we still had a blast!

• Running, running, and more running - Yeti Race (January), Running of the Green (March), Boulder Bolder (May), Firecracker 5k (July), Equinox 5 miler (September), Race for the Cure (October), Turkey Trot (November).  And don't forget the miles upon miles of training for the half marathon!!

 

  

• Paying off my 2nd mortgage (Hallelujah!)

• Victoria Lillian - Getting to be there on the day she was born and hearing Jason say "It's a girl!" through the hospital wall was definitely a highlight.  Ms. Tori is a precious little thing and I love knowing I'll get to watch her grow up!!

• Yellowstone National Park - Brent and I took a quick trip up to Montana looking for a certain yogo sapphire and made a trip through Yellowstone on the way home!  It was gorgeous and huge, just as I imagined it would be.

• Getting engaged - It took five damn years but we finally got there.  Not much has really changed.  Other than I'm now procrastinating on wedding planning.  Deep down I'm perfectly content with a trip to the courthouse.  Oy.

A few lowlights...

• Finding out Mr. Miles has gnarly hip dysplasia and trying to wrap my head around the idea that he could be in pain.  I constantly watch his back end to make sure he's moving fluidly.  His right leg does seem to roll out less ... I know that doesn't make any sense.  But I think he's more comfortable now than he used to be.  And yes, I'm ignoring the odd front leg limp he has going on at the moment.

• Not moving - most frustrating thing on the planet right now.  I'm feeling more and more claustrophobic by the day as stuff, stuff, and more stuff swallows me whole.  I'd pack stuff and move it to the garage but the garage is FULL.  Effin' hate that this has to be such an ordeal.

No photo of the messy overstuffed house... just Brinkley exemplifying how I feel about it.

• Losing my shift at work.  I'm going to miss waking up by my natural body clock.  And getting my runs done in the morning.  I'm creature of habit and routine.  And my routine is getting completely knocked off kilter in next week.

Check back tomorrow for the standard new years resolution post!

Cha-Ching

In other news... this made me squee with joy last week.



Progress.

Rest

Tomorrow is my longest training run of this cycle. Two hours and twenty minutes is my goal. I've been hydrating all day and have eaten lots of carbs and turkey for lunch and dinner.

I'm nervous but excited to final hit taper time!! Now if I could really focus on not eating any junk!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve's Eve

My first day "off" was a busy one. I worked some overtime shenanigans first thing this morning. Then I headed home and grabbed my gym bag so I could fit in my long run.

Post two hours and ten minutes thumbs up!!...sort of




It wasn't too bad. Some random soreness, including a cramp or Charlie horse in my left glute. I'll survive.

After a quick cold bath and hot shower, we headed to Green Acre for some family fun. My mom had the whole placed decked out - lots of great stuff!! I should Instagram all of her decor! This is one of four trees.


After pigging out on ham (haha), we watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!!

I took a late night hot bath - or more of soak to try to ease the Charlie horse. Now I'm on the couch with my feet propped high... watching The West Wing!!

I have a super busy day ahead of me tomorrow ... I have to wake up early!

By tree light

I've had a busy week. One more day to go... I think I can make it! After work tonight I stayed and used the treadmill to fit in a 30 minute run. It was rough - stomach pains from scarfing down a sub an hour before.


I'm now kicked back on the couch watching The West Wing. This show never gets old.

A lot like Christmas

We got snow yesterday and overnight. And nobody was happier than Brinkley Miles!! He loves the snow!


I saw lots of great Christmas lights tonight!!

Tuesday Tidbits

• I got a lot accomplished this weekend!  I haven't been able to say that in a long time.  Projects done, cleaning done, laundry done, running done, grocery shopping done!!  I have real food in the fridge... I'm not quite sure what to do with all of the options.  And, good news... I found 3 missing work socks beneath my bottom drawer in the dresser.  Every week, I'm one sock short in the clean work sock department.  I usually wear one dirty, one clean on day four.  But no more!! It's the small things...

• Indoor tracks have been running savior the past week and half.  I even managed my two mile run on the track.  It's nice that I can go on a weekday afternoon and pretty much have it to myself for that long.  Looking like death while running is easier to accomplish without an audience.  We'll see how my legs recover in the next few days to see if I have another two hours in me on Sunday.  I may push it back to Wednesday the 26th, which I have off!  Or I may shorten it to an hour and half or something.  Time on my feet is what I'm going for at this point.  

• While out grocery shopping today I bought a dark chocolate candy bar.  I waited all afternoon and evening to break into it.  Bite by bite as I dinked around doing different things, I polished the whole thing off.  It was delicious and I have no regrets.  Dark chocolate is good for the heart anyways, right?

• The foam roller and I became good friends tonight.  Oh the pain.  It was excruciating and liberating all at the same time.  I'm not sure what hurts more, the knots being rolled out of my legs or my arms from burning while I hold up my body as I roll.  Full body workout, folks!  Holy crap!

Favorite Things

Source

• Scandal - I said I was getting around to gushing, so here it is.  This show is my new favorite thing in the world.  It's fast-paced, smart, unpredictable, includes a central storyline with the White House and president, and has a great cast!  I've found like minded people online to share in my fangirl squeeing about the show.  And I've tried my darndest to get everyone I know in real life to watch it.  I don't think I've ever pushed a show on people like I have Scandal.  Thursdays, 9pm, ABC - WATCH IT!!

• Honey Stinger Acai Pomegranate energy gels!!  Seriously, these things are delicious.  And very easy to gobble down while running.  Most gels taste and feel like gel.  Honey Stinger has it figured out because the consistency wasn't very gelatinous so it made it easy to swallow.  I didn't feel like I need a whole bottle of water to get through the packet.  And flavor was great!  I will definitely be packing some of these for Disney World!

• Spotify - It's about the music.  You can download and play any song on demand.  And the radio version for the iPhone is fantastic.  I'm still debating whether or not to go the subscription route so I can do music on demand while running.  Maybe I'll give it try during my next training cycle. I've been finding lots of great music - Josh Abbott Band, Randy Rogers Band, Easton Corbin, Kip Moore.  Me and Brinkley have been jamming out quite a bit lately!

• The West Wing - While enjoying my new obsession Scandal, I really wanted to get more of a White House fix so I started watching Christmas episodes of TWW.  I love how every time I watch an episode, I find something new about it to love and laugh out loud in my own content, happy little world.  This time around, CJ and Danny have me laughing the most.  Gosh, that show makes so damn happy.  Instant pick me up!

• Sleep - I actually had the chance to sleep-in today.  And I will get to again tomorrow.  Sleep is fabulous.  No obnoxious alarm (other than Milo) to wake me up.  I think I sleep better through the night if I know I don't have to get up a specific time.  Sleep...sounds fantastic.  I think I'll get ready for bed now!

I did it!

2 hours and one minute to be exact!! Two gels to fuel my way. Around the hour and half mark I thought my legs were going to implode. I stretched it out and finished the last 30 pretty damn strong!!


I'm sitting in an ice bath now trying to distract myself. I think I may have a chance at surviving this half marathon thing!! Yah!!

Photo Bomb

I uploaded some pictures yesterday while working on my Christmas cards.  I found this gem from Thanksgiving.  Moxon's photo bomb is priceless.  Love that kid!  We'll have do take another group photo at Christmas when Marshal and Brent are home!!

When I picked up my cards from Walgreens last night, I also picked up photos from the disposable cameras we used at the Blizzard Beach in Disney World.  I was almost in tears from happiness because they reminded of how much fun we had!!  I wish I could click my heals and start that vacation all over again!!

Eight days and counting...

I've been a busy bee today.  At least in my head, I have been.  I worked some overtime shenanigans first thing this morning.  Brrrrrr.  It was quite chilly out too!!

Once I got home I watched one of my favorite episodes of Scandal online.  I'll gush more about Scandal at some point.  I ordered Christmas cards.  And I made macaroni and cheese!  Making something to eat was quite an accomplishment.  I keep forgetting to eat lately.  Not sure what the deal is.  Usually, I'm always hungry or wanting to eat.  It probably has something to do with the fact that I've been a major slacker in the running department and my metabolism just could care less whether or not I eat anything.

I ran with a friend for a little bit.  An easy 40 minute run today and a loooooonnnnggg run tomorrow.  My goal is 2 hours.  And then 2hrs again next Sunday.  Then 2hrs and 20 minutes on the 30th.  That will be longest run until the half marathon.  After that I have to taper and carb up.  I'll just hope for the best the day of the race.  I had a great streak going and was feeling awesome up until I got sick.  It sucked the wind right out of my sails...and lungs.

I have big plans for 2013 so I'll get another chance at running a half marathon and trying to beat my time.

More later...

Blank

I don't know how many times I've opened a blank page for a blog post this week. I just haven't much to squeak out - writing funk, I guess.

I need a few days off to catch up, which is really sad considering it wasn't but a few days ago that I had a few days off... to catch up.

I have a very busy weekend ahead of me - shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, the usual.

The next 4 weeks are going to be a blur!! Crapola!

Never alone

Brinkley keeps close watch on me when Brent's away. He takes the "you take care of mom" order seriously.

O Christmas Tree

Things are moving at a slow pace around these parts. The bronchitis still lingers. The Dr. gave me antibiotics but they've been slow to make any great effect on things.

The only thing I've managed to do between naps and coughing fits was decorate the tree. Brent dragged all of the boxes to and from the garage and even assembled the tree.






There was a box MIA in the garage. We don't have a tree skirt, Rudolph, or Brinkey's stocking. It is what it is. The garage is a battlefield not worth traversing. Maybe next Christmas I'll be able to decorate a house and use all of my cute decorations.

A body's revenge

Over the course of the past year I've ran hundreds of miles.  I've lifted a few weights.  Not many, mind you.  I've swam a few laps.  I've tried to eat a little healthier.  And I've been consistent with getting a decent night's sleep more times than not.  So how does my body repay me, you ask??

My body failed to fend off the attacking army of germs and I've been riddled with chest congestion, sore throat, a runny nose, a stuffy nose, and coughing.  The coughing is the worst.  Only because it aggravates the throat, which inflames the chest causing me to wheeze and start the coughing all over again.  Yes, my body loves me.

It's been a very long four days with this crud actively rearing it's ugly head.  I've taken enough Mucinex, Sudafed, NyQuil, and EmergenC to kill a small horse.  I'm not sure if I've seen the worst or the worst is yet to come.  I'll be lucky to make it through the day without losing my voice.

Needless to say, I haven't been running since Tuesday.  That fact alone is enough to piss me off about this whole sickness.  I was on a really good streak, darn it!!  I don't have time for this sickness crap.  I have a half marathon to prepare for!!!

And with that little rant done, I'm going to finish off this glass of EmergenC and get in a hot, steamy shower.