what's up with 2015

Wow, time sure flies by! I can't believe we are nearing the end of January already!!  Yes, I've been running, and even doing some cross-training.  It's been a good month!  I've set some goals for myself, and also joined a few fun challenges.

First the challenges:

Proof!

1. Run 50 miles during January.  I'm gearing up to begin marathon training the first week in February, so I started doing my base training in December.  But I'm lazy. So when I saw the Minneapolis Running January Miles Challenge I decided to join. Options were 50, 100 or 150.  I knew I wasn't up for a 100 mile month yet, but 50 was totally doable. I have just over 10 miles left to reach my goal. Easy peasy!

2. January Plank a Day challenge with Eat Drink and Be Skinny.  Front plank and two side planks each day.  Four levels of difficulty.  I'm a wuss and remain at level 2 BUT... I am now able to hold 60 second planks (for a total of 3 minutes!) AND I have done it every day so far!

3. Run 100 days in 2015 Challenge. I forget who it's with!! Anyway, I'm sure I can meet this challenge and just thought it would be a fun one to participate in. I know I signed up for it someplace - probably on that bookface thing - but frankly can't remember. You know I'm going to be 50 soon, right? Yeah. So I guess I have cut my aging brain some slack.

My gratitude jar

Goals:
1. Practice gratitude.  I'm learning a lot about personal resiliency and how it affects day to day life.  One great tool to enhance resiliency is to practice gratitude.  I have a jar next to my bed, along with colored pens and paper. Each night, I write down things that happened during the day for which I am grateful.  Could be cooking a meal with the husband, sharing a laugh with one of the grunions, going for a run with a friend, seeing a beautiful sunrise...... whatever made me feel good that day.  The plan is to do that throughout the year, watch the notes pile up in the jar, and then on December 31, read and relive all the wonderful things I saw, did and experienced during 2015.

2. Take better care of myself. 2014 sucked, and I had a few stressful years before that.  I think my overall stress led to injury.  In 2015, my plan is to take better care of myself, mentally, physically and spiritually. Eat better, sleep better, nourish relationships..... you get the idea.  Not only can I help myself, but hopefully, I can do something good for others as well.

3. Run two marathons in 2015.  Because I'm turning 50! Grandma's in June, and if I can get in, Twin Cities in October.  Fingers crossed that the arthritis doesn't make training unbearable.  This is somewhat uncharted territory for me now.  I haven't run further than a half marathon in a couple of years, and I have to say, a couple of those were pretty damn painful. Of course, I wasn't training much either, but since I had signed up to run and if I was feeling pretty good that day, I figured what the hell, I may as well!  Probably not super smart on my part, but whatever. I like the mental challenge just as much as the physical.

So that's what's up for me so far for 2015.  I have a 10k race tomorrow (the Securian Winter Run) which I'm looking forward to.  I've done the 5k a couple of times. It's a nice hilly course in downtown St. Paul. Looks like the weather is going to be gorgeous too - 38 degrees!! Makes me wonder if I should wear capris...... I'm a Minnesota girl, ya know.  I'll run in shorts if it's over 45 degrees.  

I'll let you know how the race goes. If you're racing, or running, or setting goals or otherwise challenging yourself, tell me about it! I'd love to hear what others are up to.

hbbc 2012

This has absolutely nothing to do with
the challenge but...... well, duh.  Right?

It's that time of year again.  Ol' Fatty McButterpants LOVES to show up on my doorstep (and my gut, butt and thighs) during the holidays, and then stay well into the New Year. (Mostly because I have zero impulse control with the spectacular food choices that will be crossing my path the next six weeks of holiday fun, festivities and family gatherings.) Unfortunately for my gut, butt and thighs, I have an extended family of foodies, and while the food we make is amazing (pronounced "Ahh-MAAAY-Zing!! in a high-pitched, sing-songy voice) and delicious, it's also more often than not high fat and high calorie. And I'll be honest, I deny myself nothing during those spectacular meals.

So, I'm going to do the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge again this year.  It's hosted by Amanda at Run to the Finish and is a great motivator to stay active and keep your butt from expanding too much during the season of eating.  And you can win prizes!  I did it last year and had fun with the challenges but sucked at keeping up to date with blogging about my activities. I'm shooting for a better personal performance this year.

Did I mention the prizes?  There are prizes to be won, people!! So sign up and tell 'em Bitter Hag sent you.  It's going to be fun!

heading to grandma's - weeks 12....and 13....and 14

What can I say?  I've been a busy girl and have been spending so much time on my computer at work that I can't bring myself to have more screen time at home.  Plus, I've just been exhausted in general, both mentally and physically.  You'll see that my training time suffered as well as my funtime/screen time. I've really missed blogging and keeping up with my buddies on dailymile.com but something had to give....

Anywhoo, I'm working on getting caught up - Grandma's is only 21 days away!! Twenty-One Days!!!  I'm starting to get really excited about it!!

So here goes - three weeks worth of miles.
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Week 12: April 30-May 6 - crazy busy workweek with some seriously long hours.

Monday: Easy run of 4 miles at 11:15 min
workout note: nope

Tuesday: Tempo Run
Warm up with 1 mile at 11:30 pace
Tempo Repeats: 3 x ½ mile at 9:45 min pace. Recover ½ mile at 11:30 min pace.
Cool down with 1 mile at 11:30-45
workout note: didn't do it

Wednesday
workout note: nothing, but it was a rest day. :)

Thursday: Easy run of 4 miles at 11:15 pace

workout note: nope

Friday - walked 3.63 miles

Saturday - Down & Dirty 8k Trail race 4.87 miles

workout note: since I hadn't run all week, and I was really in need of a fun run, I did this one on the spur of the moment. It was a good decision - I had fun and got a PR too!!

Sunday - Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon

Long Run as Follows: I know this is a race, but you are going to run it as a TRAINING run!!!

TRY to run 11:15 min pace – please nothing faster ;)

Cool down w/ brisk walk. THIS IS A CUT BACK WEEK – no goofing around during the race ;)

In my defense, TenacityChris asked me if I was going to throw the hammer in this race since I "took it easy" at the Get in Gear. While I didn't exactly throw the hammer down, I did get a PR on a tough course. It was a nice mental win, too. Yay me!!

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Week 13: May 7-13

Monday: Easy run of 4 miles at 11:15 min pace

workout note: nope - just couldn't run for some reason, but I walked 2.58 miles with Jane

Tuesday
Interval Run As Follows:
Warm up with 1 mile at 11:30 pace
Interval Repeats: 6 x 1/4 mile at 8:45 min pace. Recover 1/4 mile at 11:30 min pace.
Cool down with 1 mile at 11:30-45

workout note: YES!! I really do love these TM runs. Seriously!

Wednesday

workout note: core work (ouch!) and 2.72 mile walk with Jane

Thursday
5 Miles Easy Run at 11:15 pace
workout note: Did it!! Super fun trail run with the running club

Friday
workout note: rest day

Saturday
Long Run as Follows: WU w/ 1 mile at 12:30 pace
Run 14 miles at 11:15-12:15 min pace
workout note: Northern Lakes 30k. 18.78 miles at 10:43 pace.

Sunday
rest day

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Week 14: May 14-20 - this was the worst training week of all.  I just didn't have it in me for some reason.

Monday - Easy run of 4 miles at 11:15 min pace

workout note: walked 2.54 miles with Jane

Tuesday - Hill Run As Follows:
Warm up with 1 mile at 11:30 pace
Hill Repeats (can do these outside if you can find a ½ mile long hill)
4x ½ mile hill (or 3.5% on TM) at 11:15 min pace with recoveries by jogging down. 

workout note: much as I love these workouts.....nope

Wednesday

Thursday - Run 5 miles at 11:15 pace

workout note: walked 2.58 miles with Jane

Friday

Saturday
Long Run as Follows: WU w/ 1 mile at 12:30 pace
Run 17 miles at 11:15-12:15 min pace

workout note: weather was crappy so I deferred this run to Sunday

Sunday

workout note: weather still crappy so I ran on the treadmill.  I FORCED myself to do 5 miles and that was as much as I could handle. 

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So there it is..... 

Clearly I've been struggling a bit, but I've also had some pretty good highs sprinkled in there,  too!  So overall, I'm ok with how those three weeks shook themselves out.  I've got a lot going on in my life and running is something I do for ME. 

A gift to myself.  

And if it stops being fun, or really becomes a "have to," then gee, maybe I shouldn't do it.  But it IS still fun, and I love seeing improvement in my times, and I love when I'm able to meet the challenge of a tough run. So I'm going to keep at it and not punish myself for not getting all my miles in.  

Sometimes I just need to remember that it's all about the journey!  

catching up

I've been a blog slacker again.

Remember when I posted about my job being eliminated?  My last day there was February 3rd.  I took a week off to re-group (and lick my wounds) and started my new job last Monday.  So far so good.  I like the people and the work is interesting.  But it's SO stressful starting a new job, and having to be there 8-5 Monday through Friday is a big change.  I'm used to spending part of most days working at home. On the up side, my new boss does triathlons so we're going to try to hold some of our meetings while running.  I'm excited about that!

The first day of my new job was also the first day of MARATHON TRAINING!!!  Oh, how I love to have a plan!

Here's what was on the plan for last week:

Monday
Easy Run As Follows:
Warm up walking 5-10 min at brisk pace
Easy run of 4 miles at 11:34 min pace
Cool down with brisk walk of 5-10 min
Tuesday
Interval Run as Follows:
Warm up with 2 miles at 11:34 min pace4 x ¼ mile repeats at 8:40-8:50 min pace.  Recover with ¼ mile at 11:34.Finish run with 1 mile cool down at 11:34 min pace. The interval run Kicked.My.Ass.  It was HARD to run that fast but it sure felt good!
Wednesday - Core work and ran one mile
Thursday
Easy Run as Follows
WU w/ brisk walk for 5-10 min
Easy run of 4 miles at 11:34 min pace
Cool down with brisk walk of 5-10 min
Friday - elliptical and ran one mile
Saturday
Long Run as Follows:
WU for 1 mile at 11:34-12:34 pace
Run 5 miles at 11:34 pace
Run last 1 mile at 10:13 min pace. (Goal Marathon Pace!!!) I felt like I could run all day during this one!  Oh, and I ran that last mile in 9:15 and felt fantastic.  Isn't that bizarre????
Cool down with brisk walk for 5-10 minutes
Sunday - walked the dog and ran one mile

Halfway there!  And I still can't color in the lines.

The biggest challenge?  Keeping to that unbearably slow pace. I haven't been able to do it yet.

Goal check-in:
Running at least one mile per day - 46/51 days of success
Moving 30 minutes every day - 51/51 days of success!
Clean eating - I think I'm seeing some improvement there!

In other news: 

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE free stuff?

My sweet new watch! Did I mention I won it?  

Team Ortho, sponsor of many of my favorite races, was doing a week of giveaways on Facebook.  All you had to do was "like" their page and "like" the post stating what the current giveaway is.  They have things like Newtons, watches, jackets, and sometimes even jewelry.  When I see those posts come across I always pounce on 'em like a honeybadger on a house of bees.  Anywhoo, a couple of weeks ago, on a Wednesday, I found out I won a free Soleus watch from Team Ortho and Gear Running Store!!!!  How cool is that?!?!

Then, two days later, I found out that I won a jacket from my running club for being the 10th person to follow their blog.  Can you say "Su-Weet?"?  I haven't picked it up yet, but will do it soon.  I love the internet!

So that's about it for now.  I have more to share but it will have to keep until my next riveting post.  Stay healthy and active, my friends!

the universe works in mysterious ways

 I sort of got the rug pulled out from under me last Friday.

I found out my job (along with those of my boss and two co-workers, and 9 other folks with similar jobs) is being eliminated, and that we would all have to apply for newly created jobs if we waned to remain employed.  And there was no guarantee that we would be hired into the new positions.  I understand now why it's happening, but that didn't lessen the surprise or the sting.

But let me back up a little bit......  About a month ago, two different people sent me e-mails about a couple of (also) newly created jobs with another organization.  Both jobs would be doing things I've got great experience in, but with a bit of a twist which would make it more interesting.  Even though I was happy where I was at, I figured I'd interview for them and see what they were all about.

Turns out it was a good call.  Three hours after learning about the demise of my job, I got a job offer from the other organization.

I feel so fortunate!!

Because my (potential) new boss would need to check references and negotiate my salary request, I had some time to think over the choices in front of me.  And I was grateful that I had choices!  After lots of contemplation I finally decided to take the new opportunity.

More change coming my way! I'll be traveling throughout the state about 50% of the time, and won't have the flexibility of working from home as much as I've been able to in my current job. So yeah, it's a huge change, but what does it have to do with running?

Well......... nothing.

And everything.

My new schedule will change how I'm able to train for Grandma's.

The way I see it, it's sort of like dealing with an injury. It changes your approach so you have to figure out what you need to do to continue working towards your goal. But you can't let it wreck your outlook on life or derail your plans. And it provides an opportunity to learn more about yourself as you rise to meet this latest challenge.

I'm excited about my new job!