Randomness...

• I made it 10 days without visiting Target and then I caved.  I just HAD to go.  I figured that my happiness was at stake.
• I spoke to a very nice Bristish man on the phone today and had to keep from busting up laughing at the thought of him saying mobile or flat.  You know what happened?  He asked me to ring him back on his mobile.  I. almost. lost. it.  Bahama memories all over again.
• Ken discovered the Girl Scout Cookie Peanut Butter Patties.  He is now addicted.  Funny how that can happen when he "does not like sweets".
• He is the same person that has eaten over half of my peanut butter M&M's.  Odd, huh?
• I am no longer getting carded when I buy alcohol (hangs head in shame).  *But* I think this is because I only buy wine.  What 20 year old buys red wine?
• I plan on testing this theory (you know, boost the old self esteem) by going to buy some Purple Passion or Apple Pucker.
• If this plan works against me, I might have to order more anti-aging face cream and start applying it hourly.
• The Starbucks by my office is still passing out Christmas cups, and I might be the only person that is happy about that. 
• I spent 20 minutes Googling the Golden Girl's house yesterday.  We are going to be in Miami and I wanted to do a drive by and get a photo.  Don't judge.
• You can imagine how disappointed I was to find out the actual house shown is in LA.
• This is probably the time I should point out that I made Ken drive me by the actual Full House house. (I am a child of the 90's don't judge)
• He was utterly ashamed when I admitted I had memorized the address.
• He was even more ashamed when I told him to circle the block and park so I could get a photo.  He refused. 
• I better stop, I am losing cool points all over the place...
• Ken had something come up that would interfere with the NYC Marathon.  For the sake of his sanity (and safety), he was able to rearrange his schedule. 
• Ken and I had an entire conversation via text about Angel, Theodore, and Kya donating money to the Humane Society.  The last text was Ken saying that he is glad we have raised such caring animals. Yes, we are those people, feel free to throw things and laugh at us.  I am fully aware that we need to find more things to keep us occupied...
• And last, but not least, we had a milestone at our house on Tuesday night.  That's right, Ken went with me to the gym.  I will give you a moment to catch your breath......Yep, he went to the gym and worked out no less.  To say that I am proud is an understatement.

Happy Weekend!

Week 2...

Monday - 1 hour on bike trainer

Tuesday - 7 miles at the gym with speed work

Wednesday - Rest, dinner with Jill

Thursday - 7 miles at the gym with 4.5 miles at 8.3 mph

Friday - Rest, dinner with Ken

Saturday - 1 hour 15 minutes on bike trainer and one mile walk with Kya

Sunday - 10 miles at the gym and the dog park with Kya and Ken

Total: 24 miles

My Sunday run was suppose to be longer, but I had just about had it with the treadmill.  I started to get a bit of a headache and mentally I was just D.O.N.E.  I just could not take one more second. 

It looks like I am going to be embracing the treadmill for the remainder of the week, since we ended up with eight inches of fluffy snow. 

Week 1...

Week one of marathon training is in the books for a total of 26.50 miles.  Here is what it looked like...

Monday - 1 hour on bike trainer

Tuesday - 6.25 miles at the gym with speedwork (54:24)

Wednesday - 2.0 mile walk with Kya

Thursday - 7.25 mile tempo run outside (1:01:46)

Friday - rest

Saturday - 45 minutes on bike trainer

Sunday - 13 miles at the gym (1:58:12) and 4.0 mile walk with Ken and Kya at the dog park

All in all, a very good week.  I am very excited about this training cycle.  I am looking to really challenge myself with speed work this time around to try to qualify for Boston.  I know it is not going to be easy, but here is to a lot of hard work coming my way!

2010 Review...

Yes, I realize I probably should have done this last week, but there is nothing wrong with being fashionably late right?

January

Well, looking back, January was really boring for us.  I did, however, smoke a coyote on my way to work. 

RIP Mr. Coyote

February

We welcomed a new family member, Hazel joined our home.  I instantly fell in love!

March



We took a road trip with Rob and Michelle to Arkansas

We celebrated Kya's Adoption Day

We received a ton of snow on the first official day of Spring

April

I ran the St. Louis Marathon and got a new PR of 4:10 (which I later broke again!)

Bless my heart, I look rather rough here...

I had my braces put on and reversed my age by about 15 years

We celebrated my last super (you know, last meal I could eat without braces) with Rob and Michelle

And a little wine

May

We celebrated our first anniversary

And I met the only dessert I have not been able to finish...

 I almost ate it all...

June

I ran my favorite half marathon, Hospital Hill, in Kansas City

July

Ken and I went on an amazing trip to Napa Valley and Sonoma County

August

We paid off Ken's student loans

September

We hiked Pike's Peak

Kya and I went camping with Ken

This is a big deal since I only go once a year

October

I ran the Chicago Marathon and broke four hours coming in at 3:56!

November

I turned 30

Michelle and I went to the Bahamas

December

We celebrated Christmas all month long

Happy 2011!

2010 Total....

The calculating has been done and I officially can say that I ran 1,375.40 miles in 2010.  I wish I could say that I enjoyed every second of it, but we all know there are several miles in there where I questioned my sanity and promised to never run again.  At the end of the day, I am thrilled and proud to call myself a runner and very lucky to be able to take off and run several miles whenever I please. 

Whenever I am down and feel like I suck at running and will never get faster, I like to take Kya with me and really watch how much she just loves running.  It is written all over her face.  She just wants to run.  So if you are struggle and feel like you cannot do it, just do what a dog does - take off running with your tail wagging and tongue hanging out!

Here's to a great 2011 filled with many miles and new PR's!