weekend recap

Once again, we had a full weekend. Friday after work I met up with my friend, Katy, for a run. Katy and I ran the Gobbler Grind together, but she was injured and had been off running for the past two months--kind of like me, only I was just lazy...LOL. So, this was her first run back. We just went out and ran a quick three miles, but it made me feel better about eating the pizza Coach and I had for dinner that night. Coach and I had a Netflix night at home and went to bed rather early since we had an early morning and long day on Saturday.

At 7 AM, Coach and I got on the highway and headed to Joplin. Coach, who never speeds by the way, ended up getting pulled over doing 81 mph in a 65. I was annoyed because we were making good time without him speeding and there was no need for him to be going that fast. I was also annoyed because of course the cop was waiting right where the speed limit changed from 70 to 65. On a positive note though, he reduced the ticket to 75 mph in a 65 mph zone. The reason we left for Joplin so early was because I had to attend a baby shower at 11 AM. One of Coach's college friends is expecting, so I went to her shower and then we all went out that night and stayed in Joplin. It was just the girls....and Coach.

Here's a pic of us girls at the beginning of the night. Please forgive my appearance...I was already tired and did not feel well the entire day!

After partaking in some morning mimosas and afternoon beverages, I opted out of drinking Saturday evening and became the DD. Like I said, I wasn't feeling too hot, but I also had plans to meet a friend to run 6 miles at 4 PM Sunday. And, I didn't want to be hungover. We went to the new casino in Joplin (it's actually in Oklahoma, but just right over the border) where I lost $20 playing blackjack. But, the casino was really nice for a small town like Joplin. Some people down there were comparing it to Vegas and were very serious about this comparison. However, I didn't even think it was as nice/big as the Kansas City casinos, but almost....LOL. Silly people!

Sunday morning, my plan was to wake up and get on the road. However, since I was the only non-hungover one, my plans were altered. We ended up going to eat breakfast (at 10:45) at Cracker Barrel where I ordered the cold cereal breakfast (I'm not much of a breakfast person...especially at 10:45 AM. I'd much rather hold out for lunch) which might be illegal to order there. Finally, we got on the road at 11:30. I was kind of bummed because we had plans to stop in Kansas City on the way home so I could check out--and possibly purchase--an elliptical down there since the selection is bigger than in my town. But, needless to say, that didn't happen since I wanted to be able to shower (for my running buddy's sake) before my 4 PM run. We walked in the door at 2:45 and then I hit the shower and got ready to meet Kerry for our run.

My friend, Kerry, is actually my old boss here at work. We're the same age and know a lot of the same people from growing up in the same town even though we attended different schools our entire lives. Well, she runs about 4 miles EVERY day, but does this on a treadmill (dreadmill). So, I convinced her to meet me for a run on Sunday, outdoors. By the time we ran, weather.com said the temperature felt like 26 degrees and it was very windy. I didn't notice the wind the first three miles, but it hit us like a ton of bricks the second we turned around! Anyway, Kerry is used to the treadmill pacing her so when we started out she was running very fast. Faster than her usual pace (and mine) anyway. So, I immediately told her the pace she was running, per my Garmin, and we slowed down...LOL. Overall though, the run was great and I seriously shaved 30 seconds per mile off my average running pace. She shaved a minute off hers! We ended up running 6 miles in 53:48 for an average pace of 8:58/mile. I was very impressed with her running because I can remember only running on the treadmill and then taking it outside to the wind, inclines, etc and it kicking my butt!

So, I met my goal last week of running three days a week. I've already run one this week and have another run scheduled for Tuesday so it'll be easy to squeeze one more in later in the week to meet my goal.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

back on the saddle

Well, I'm pleased to announce that I've worked out twice this week! Yippee! For some, this would not be an accomplishment at all, but for me it is. You see, until this week I have only run one time (2.5 miles) since my half marathon. And, I really don't count this run since it was one time in two months. So, I've run twice this week with another run planned with a friend tomorrow after work.

Monday, The Running Worm and I met up in Platte City which is about halfway between our houses. We ended up running four miles on a really pretty trail with snow surrounding us and even a little creek (crick?) with some running water and water falls. I struggled the first two miles, but after that I found my groove and ended up running a decent pace. Yesterday, I ran on my favorite trail at home and planned on running four miles. When I got to the 2 mile point, I decided to run a little further and ended up turning around at 2.5 miles for a 5 mile run. I felt even better during this run and ran a 9:26 pace, which was definitely within my pace range while I was doing my half marathon training. I was actually pleasantly surprised with this pace since I had taken those two months off...I figured it would take me awhile to get up to a pace like that regardless of the mileage. So, I guess I now need to raise the bar on my goal time for my next half marathon! I'm also planning on incorporating some more speed training into my training this time around.

Speaking of half marathons, I registered for the St. Louis half marathon in April. I'm getting very excited and am ready to start training (even though I have awhile). So, my goal over the next month is to run 2-3 days per week and get in some weight training at home. Hopefully this will get me ready for the training since I plan on PRing! And, some more exciting news.....Coach and I are going elliptical shopping on Sunday. Hopefully I find something I like that isn't ridiculously expensive! Knowing me, I won't like anything less than the ellipticals at the gym! Wish me luck!

and....I'm back!

Welcome back! I know, I know...I've definitely been slacking on the blog posting. Truth is, it doesn't seem like much has been going on since the holidays. Well, actually that's not true because I have a new hobby of eating horrible foods in enormous proportion. Seriously, I've gained 7 lbs since I ran my half marathon. I know the fact that I've only run 3 miles since then has definitely played a role, but so have my eating habits, my portions, what I put it my mouth..it's all horrible.

To portray the severity of the situation, before Christmas I went over to a friend's house. She was in town and I hadn't seen her in awhile. So, she starts asking me if I'm pregnant. I tell her no and she asks again....I mean, she thought I was lying because she asked me like four times! I practically had to swear on my life that I was NOT pregnant (which I'm not), but it's really b/c I have put on weight. And, I can't even use the excuse one who works out might be able to use...you know, Muscle Weighs More Than Fat because there's NO MUSCLE HERE!

Anyway, on a less disgusting and depressing note, I got my arm warmers for Christmas (which I obviously haven't used:), my new camera and a healthy amount to go towards my elliptical which I'm hoping to buy next month. I can't wait.

Please let me know who is really in for running the STL half marathon and who will be spectating b/c this is really still in my plans. Hopefully the snow holds off here starting next month so I can train adequately since I'll be starting from scratch...hopefully it's like riding a bike!

I'll leave you with a pic from one of the Christmas parties Coach and I attended. These are a couple of guys Coach grew up, so I'm not claiming them! Oh, and no, your eyes are not deceiving you...they re-pierced their ears (apparently this was a big thing to do in High School in Nevada, MO) and were wearing Christmas bell earrings...one each. This was taken during a break while playing Survivor Flip Cup where the losing team votes one person off the island after every round (I passed out shortly therefore--I think drinking excessive amounts the past two months may have played a part in the 7 lbs too, but that's just a guess). Stay Classy!

getting in the Christmas spirit

Christmas truly is my favorite time of year. I had pretty much all of my Christmas shopping done this year before Thanksgiving....I'm not joking! When I was younger, I started listening to Christmas music in September! Last year, I really got into baking new sweets/candies for Christmas parties I attended so I'm going to keep this tradition going again this year.

On the menu for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party I'm going to on Saturday night.........

Cake Balls (recipe found here)

Rather than doing red velvet on the inside and milk chocolate on the outside, I'm planning on a dark chocolate inside with a white chocolate outside. I can't wait to try these puppies!

The other new item I'm baking for the first time....

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies (recipe found here and here)

No, you're not hallucinating. That is a chocolate ganache icing on the top to make these brownies a little more melt in your mouth, wonderful deliciousness! Caution: This WILL make your love handles a little more lovable! Um, Honey, I REALLY need that elliptical......

Bakerella just might be my new favorite baking blog! I was introduced by her by this lovely lady's blog--Pioneer Woman! Seriously, if you have some spare time (like, really...a LOT of spare time) check out Pioneer Woman's blog. She is absolutely hilarious! Okay, so she's been around awhile and maybe everyone already knows her, but I just discovered her. And, she has a ton of amazing "Cowboy/Cowgirl" recipes on her blog that are a little more my speed. She lives in OK and is the wife of a 4th generation rancher. So, she's a city girl turned country girl. Although I can't relate to country life, Coach would absolutely love live in the country someday, so maybe her blog will help me be more open minded about the possibility of that....someday.....like WAY down the road.....uh, let's not get ahead of ourselves here:)

half marathon training....failed

So, this week marked the start of my training IF I decide to do the Topeka to Auburn half marathon. I'm still on the fence about it--since I'd be doing it completely solo, running through the country roads of Kansas with God knows what kind of weather in mid-January--but was planning on starting to train for it and then would decide whether or not I'd run it once I got a little ways into my training. The temperature is below zero today with the windchill with ice and snow covering all the trails and sidewalks in town. And, since I cancelled my gym membership and don't have a home gym, running is impossible right now. I refuse to run outside if the temps are below zero with the windchill...I'm not that crazy.

So, basically, I just need a kick in the butt to get me on my training program and the weather to cooperate...that's not too much to ask, right?

On a less depressing note, I talked to my friend Cookie last night and she's thinking about running a half marathon--come to find out she was inspired to do this from my blog, so even more exciting for me:) And, since another friend of ours, Twit, is going to run the St. Louis half marathon--and Cookie lives in St. Louis--Cookie and I decided that we should all do that race. So, I sent Cookie a couple of training schedules to get her even more motivated! It's going to be so much fun!

chiefs football game

Coach and I scored some free tickets (very good tickets, might I add) to Sunday's Chiefs vs. Broncos game. We got a late start heading to the stadium and discussed selling our tickets since it was kind of cold outside. Yes, this is greedy, but we seriously had our money spent by the time we pulled into the stadium, on many glorious Christmas presents for one another. Too bad we didn't pull into the stadium until 11:50. Yes, I know. We didn't have any time to sell our tickets, so we ended up going to the game.

But, to entertain ourselves during the 25 minutes of stop and go traffic outside the stadium, Coach and I did some role playing of what I'd say to someone who was interested in buying our tickets.

Me: Two tickets....anyone need some tickets?

Coach: Sure, I'll give you twenty bucks each for them.

Me: Twenty bucks? You mean to tell me that you're trying to STICK ME (Coach informed me I meant to say "STIFF ME") by offering me twenty bucks per ticket to the Chiefs/Broncos game, one of the Chiefs biggest rivals, the game at which they're retiring Derrick Thomas's jersey, for two tickets with a face value of $90 each?!?!?! I'd rather rip both of these tickets to shreds and throw them out the car window rather than sell them to you for that price!

We role played many other scenarios and had a ton of laughs....I was crying by the end of it! The Chiefs lost, of course, and we ended up leaving in the 3rd quarter, but still had a good time. Coach informed me that Chiefs fans are known to be some of the white trash-iest of any NFL fans. This, I didn't realize. But, after he told me that, I started to look around at some of the other ticket holders and by golly, he appeared to be right.

Our favorite quote of the day by a Chiefs spectator. Said by a man holding a beer, "I haven't been this drunk since last week!"

So, we were among Missouri's finest Whiskey Tango! Hopefully we didn't blend in!

from the beach to the freezing cold

On Thanksgiving, Coach and I left for Mexico. We had a wonderful time away, although we wish it would have lasted longer. Here's the view we looked at for 5 days.




We returned to Missouri just in time for temperatures in the twenties and blustery winds. I took my workout clothes to Mexico with full intention of working out in the fitness center, but needless to say they never made it out of my suitcase. In fact, even more depressing is I haven't even run a millimeter since my half marathon.

Tomorrow, Coach and I are going to get our Christmas tree which I'm so excited about. I've already wrapped about half of my Christmas gifts and only have about two more gifts to buy before I'm done. This is my absolute favorite time of year: listening to Christmas carols, trimming the tree and wrapping presents. So, I've got a very festive weekend ahead of me.

The next couple of weeks are filled with parties, one is a Snuggie couples shower (yes, we are being forced to wear Snuggies out to the bars) another is an ugly Christmas sweater party, and the last is a girls Christmas party with some fellow Jr. Leaguers. So, many fun things to look forward to.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Oh, and one last thing. Coach and I were thinking about hanging lights this year outside and I like the white lights, but Coach wants to hang blue lights. I seriously thought that blue lights were for Hanukkah...anyone want to weigh in on this?