He is the vine, I am the branch

Welcome to Wordpress!

2010-06-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have decided to move my blog over to Wordpress. Basically, I was so frustrated with the fact that my version of blogger wouldn't allow me to upload and embed videos. I got so sick of posting the link to YouTube. So, I'm at Wordpress. You can change your subscription and find me at runodonnell.wordpress.com.

I have a lot to learn about this interface. Does anyone want to give me a virtual tutorial? This is so different than blogger. I feel a little overwhelmed. Yikes. Anyway, I hope that I can figure it out and I'm anticipating that it will make my blog even better.

National Running Day recap

2010-06-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a fun and active National Running Day. I logged my 3 miles on the treadmill. I would call my workout another recovery run. I took it really easy. As I started getting warmed up, I could feel my legs itching to go a bit faster. So, I let them. But not too fast. It was kind of like riding a horse and the horse wants to take off in a gallop, but you know that you need to hold it back so that it doesn't over do it. My legs wanted to gallop last night, but I knew that they still had a bit of recovering to do from my half marathon. So I just let them out a little bit. Tonight I have a 4 miler scheduled and I might let them go a bit harder. Of course, my fast pace is most people's recovery pace. :-) But I'm okay with that.

Thereally newsworthy item from National Running Day was the surprise that Tim had for me when I got home. His C25K program had him running 2.75 miles yesterday. Monday he was also supposed to do 2.75, but he ended up doing 2.9 miles and I think he surprised himself. Last night (wait for it....) he ran a 5K!!! I am so stinkin' proud of him that I can't help but get a huge goofy grin on my face every time I think of it. And, he ran it at a pretty decent pace. I remember my first treadmill 5K (less than a year ago) and my pace was agonizingly slow. He wants to finish his Cheese Days 5K in under 30 minutes (my time last year was 30:06) and I think he is going to smoke it!

So, the point of this post is that Tim actually ran further than I did yesterday. And I'm okay with that!

Pile on the miles

2010-06-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

May was my highest mileage month so far. I love that I keep track of my miles. I started doing it last year when I first started running. I can't believe that I have been a runner for not-quite-a-year, and I've already run in so many races. When I stop to think about it, it's kinda crazy! But I LOVE it!!

Because I also love statistics, here are some for you:
January: 62 miles run, 1 race (5K)
February: 85 miles run, 1 race (5K)
March: 101 miles run, 1 race (5mile)
April: 99 miles run, 2 races (6mile, 8K)
May: 106 miles run, 2 races (20K, half marathon)

This puts me well on my way to my 1000 mile goal for 2010. June will be another high mileage month, as will every month leading up to September's marathon. June will also see two more races. The Bellin Run, which will be my very first 10K (!) and a small race in Auburndale to (hopefully) PR in a 5K. But, I am most looking forward to Jaden's first race. It will be my proudest blog post ever!

Tonight will bring an easy-ish 3-4 mile run. My legs feel like they can handle a decent tempo run. So, I"m just going to let them go and see what happens. I was hoping to run outside, but it has been raining off and on with a chance for thunderstorms, so I will stick to the treadmill.

National Running Day

2010-06-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

Happy National Running Day!! I love that this day exists. I am going to be partaking of the celebration, but I'll have to wait until tonight. I'm stuck at work today (not really 'stuck' but you get the idea), so I will be running my 3 miles after dinner.

Yesterday, I did a very easy three mile run on the treadmill just to see how my legs felt after Sunday's half marathon. I actually felt better than I expected, but there was no way I was going to be increasing my pace. Slow and steady was all I could handle. I'm pretty sure the same thing will apply today. My quads are starting to feel a bit better, but I really see no reason to go all-out at this point. I'm just going to keep rocking my 'recovery' runs today and tomorrow.

I am still waiting to hear about a permanent job possibility. I am hoping to know for sure sometime this week. I am getting anxious. I would love to have some stability regarding employment. While I would eventually love to find a full-time position, part-time will allow me the opportunity to continue my marathon training...and really, that's what I'm most looking forward to right now. ;-)

I hope you are all enjoying your Wednesday! I am all confused on what day it is. Monday was the holiday and I was off yesterday, so I feel like today is Monday. Oh well, makes for a short week. I'm one day closer to heading to Colorado for the Hungry for Hope Conference!

The French have all the fun

2010-05-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

I asked Tim what he wanted for lunch today. He said grilled cheese. Then changed his mind to french toast. Then he said he wanted both....together.
May I present, the French Grilled Cheese:

Served with syrup.

I told you it was hot

2010-05-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm glad that I only ran the half marathon yesterday. There is no way I would have been able to do the full marathon. Race officials actually closed the course after 4 hours. Check out this article for the details.

I finally saw my official time on the website.

I will always remember my first half marathon. And, I'm already looking forward to the next one. (and that upcoming marathon) :-)

Madison Half Marathon

2010-05-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today got off to a very early start with a 5:30 wake up call, quick shower and delicious oatmeal breakfast before Tim and I got int he car to drive to the start of my first half marathon. We had a bit of a slow time finding a parking spot and by the time we got to the starting line, I was out of time for a bathroom stop. This would prove to be problematic later.

The announcer told us that there were 5100 runners in the half marathon! Wow. That is a lot of people.

There were pace groups lined up at the start. I lined up between the 2:10 and 2:20 pace groups, but once the race started, I had no idea where the pacers were. I'm glad I didn't sign up to run with the pace group. It would have been very hard to know where they were.

The first couple miles went pretty well. I felt good. The roads were really crowded and that made it a little hard to get into a rhythm, but I just went with the flow.

I first saw Tim about 5.25 miles into the race. As you can see, I am slightly behind the two guys dressed as ketchup and mustard.

Tim was kind enough to hand me a bottle of water. There never seems to be enough water stops for me on these races. I always feel like I need more and more water. Today I was lucky to have a great 'crew' to support me with cheers and water bottles.

I took my GU around mile 6.5 and then saw my aunt Sharon (with another bottle of water) around mile seven. I probably should have had another GU or some other form of fuel. The weather was extremely warm and I was burning more calories than I usually do on my training runs. I will definitely learn from this experience.

Just before mile 9, I HAD to stop at the porta potties. There was just no way around it. I had been passing them up for miles and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to make it another 4 miles without stopping. So, I picked a line that only had one person in front of me and I was able to get back on the road in about 3 minutes.

I saw Tim again right after the bathroom stop and he had more water for me. Unfortunately, the cap fell off and I drank some of the water, but then I didn't feel like carrying the empty bottle so I left it behind.

We ran along the Monona Terrace. It was gorgeous, but because it was so hot, it really smelled like fish.

There go ketchup and mustard.

I saw Sharon again around mile 11, and after that I was on my own until the finish. The last mile was uphill and really, really hard. My legs felt like bricks. I think I may have been slightly hyponatremic. I was starting to get a little dizzy. Another lesson learned: mix water with gatorade. I'll remember that.

My mantra for running up that last hill was "I can do anything for one mile." I must have said that a hundred times, and I'm still not quite sure how I actually made it to the finish line. But I'm so glad I did.

But, I did get beat by condiments. Humbling.

Here is the video of me crossing the finish line. (click here)

I tried to make it through the finish chute in somewhat of an orderly manner. I remember some nice girl cut my timing chip off. And someone else handed me water. And I got my medal! (It is my first one!) They were also handing out chocolate milk. It is supposed to be the perfect recovery drink. The best blend of protein and carbs. I took a couple sips and almost threw up. It was so thick and disgusting. I don't know how people were drinking that right after the race.

As far as the race course, I was pretty familiar with most of it. The first few miles were basically like running Crazy Legs backwards. So I knew that part. After that, we ran a good section of the Lake Monona 20K race course; also backwards. But I have to say that the uphill climb at the end was completely unnecessary. And just plain mean.

I do have to give credit to the people who put on the race. I can't even imagine how much work goes into the organization of this event. The volunteers were great. They were so friendly and encouraging. Even the traffic cops at the intersections would take time to cheer on the competitors.

There were two times in the course where the full and half marathons converged in a way that allowed us to get passed by the men's leaders. These guys are so impressive to watch. They look so graceful and natural. They make 26.2 miles look completely effortless. It was inspiring to see that.

The other inspiring thing that I saw, that almost brought me to tears, was was leader of the wheelchair division. He had a bicycle escort to get through the crowd. As he was racing through, he just happened to be passing the apartment of a mentally and physically handicapped man who was also in a wheelchair. It appeared that this man had been sitting on his patio for much of the morning watching the runners go by. I had heard him clapping and cheering as I approached. But when that wheelchair racer went by, this man yelled and whooped and cheered so loudly. It was almost as if he was somehow living through the accomplishments of this handicapped athlete. He was clapping and screaming and pounding his fists on his chair with so much excitement and vigor. It was a very moving moment and one that I will probably never forget.

There were other moments too. I saw an elderly couple sitting in lawn chairs at the end of their driveway. They had an old card table between them on which sat their breakfast. Cereal, fruit, juice and coffee. They cheered and ate and read the newspaper, just like they probably do every weekend. This time they just happened to be doing it at the end of their driveway while thousands of people ran by.

I have to also give credit to the people of Madison. They are pretty used to people running through their streets. (Zoo Run Run, Freeze for Food, Crazy Legs, Lake Monona 20K....and these are just the ones I have run in the past year.) They are out in full force cheering on the runners. They show up with beer and bloody mary stations at the ends of their driveways. They come up with some very clever signs to motivate and encourage everyone to do their best. But today, I appreciated them more than ever before. Today there were many people who were standing at the end of their driveway spraying their garden hoses into the street. Others had their sprinklers set up in the street. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I LOVE these people. I will say it one more time: it was HOT today. And those quick showers helped to cool down a rapidly rising body temperature. I saw two different people who collapsed on the course, probably from a combination of the heat and dehydration. I wasn't about to become another casualty of the heat. I took advantage of every garden hose and sprinkler. And I made sure to thank the people on the other end of the hose. I think it is important to thank the volunteers and fans.

Here is what the course looked like:

You can see the spot in the middle where I had to stop to use the bathroom. There are a few other spots where I had to walk the water stops. And then there is that awful hill at the end. Boo!
Here are the stats:
Mile 1: 9:43
Mile 2: 10:10
Mile 3: 9:54
Mile 4: 10:47
Mile 5: 10:41
Mile 6: 10:37
Mile 7: 10:21
Mile 8: 10:23
Mile 9: 12:00 (included bathroom break)
Mile 10: 10:42
Mile 11: 11:14
Mile 12: 11:22
Mile 13: 12:00
Mile 13-13.18: 1:59 (11:09 pace)

Total: 13.18 miles: 2:21:49. 10:45 pace.
I know that I put everything I had into this race. But I also know that a couple weeks ago I ran 14 miles in 2:23 (10:14 pace). Granted, that was Colby and there really aren't any discernible hills here.

So, I need to work on my endurance so that my pace doesn't completely take a nose dive. I can't even imagine doubling this distance to run a full marathon. But, ask me in a couple days and I'm sure I'll tell you that I am up to the challenge. :-)

I need to thank my wonderful 'crew' for supporting me. Thanks Tim and Sharon!! You guys are the best.

Next race: Bellin 10K on June 12th. It will also be Jaden's first ever race.

EMT test

2010-05-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

Now that I have had a day to decompress, if that is what you call running a half marathon, I can begin to process the fact that I passed my EMT practical exam.

And I believe the rest of our class passed as well.

(Brittany is updating her facebook status between stations.)

MSTC provided free pizza for everyone. I chose to not have any. Not exactly what I wanted to be eating the day before my race. And I don't like pizza anyway.

Here are the four most beautiful almost-EMTs in central Wisconsin.

I PASSED!!

2010-05-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

The practical portion of my EMT National Registry Exam is now in the books! I am so excited. The tension was almost unbearable this morning. There were about 45 people sitting in the lobby of Midstate Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids, anxiously awaiting their number being called so that they could go to one of the six different stations that were set up around the campus. I felt like the process took forever. I prayed before going into each station that God would give me confidence and a sense of calm about the section I was going to test on. After each station I felt that I did well. I never felt that I had missed something or did anything wrong, but it still didn't alleviate any of the nerves I was feeling. I was a sweaty, nervous wreck. But, it is behind me now and the next step in the process is to take the written exam. I am hoping to do it in mid-June, but I will need to check my work schedule to see if there is a day that works for me to take off.

After the test, I met Tim in Marshfield and we headed down to Madison. I was really looking forward to the expo for the Madison Marathon. It is my first ever half marathon and my first real expo. There were a lot of people, a lot of vendors, and a lot of great products. I could have spent several hours and many hundreds of dollars, but I managed to restrain myself. I wanted to get some cool shirts, but the prices were a little steep. I ended up getting some GUs and a couple Bondi Bands. I've heard good things about them, and they are so much cuter than the bandanas I usually wear.

Now we are at my aunt's house about to have dinner. I am hoping to eat and relax tonight. I'm really excited about tomorrow and I can't wait to run my first half marathon.

NREMT practical exam

2010-05-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

This morning I will be spending my time taking the practical portion of the test to get my EMT license. I will be going through 6 different stations to prove my aptitude in different patient care categories. To say that I am nervous would be an understatement! I am freaking out!

I am trying to trust myself and I keep reminding myself that I know this information. I just need to be able to perform in a very high stress situation. Which, is not unlike what EMTs are called to do every day. But for some reason, I feel more comfortable actually helping a patient than talking my way through a scenario with an evaluator.

I have been reciting the registry checklists in my head. I go over them in the shower, while I'm driving to work, during down time at work, before I go to bed. I'll go over them on my drive to the testing site.

I am trying to put together a plan (hello, Type A!), but it is difficult because I don't know which station I'm going to have to do first. I don't know how much time I will have between stations. I don't know when I will be done with the exams. It is very difficult for me.

Just remember....one thing at a time. That will be my mantra for the day.

And, as soon as I get done, I can meet Tim and head to Madison for the race expo and enjoy the running part of my weekend.

Today's thoughts

2010-05-28T06:49:00.001-07:00

It has been a while since I've shared my random thoughts. Here are the things that are running through my head today. Go ahead and fill them out. I'd love to know your random thoughts.

What I'm thinking: A lot of the things I have been working toward for the last several months will come to fruition this weekend. And I'm nervous about them.

What I'm reading: Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult

What I'm listening to: Christian radio

What I'm learning: patience and trust, but those are life lessons that I will always be working on

What I'm watching: who knows? Now that 24, Lost, Heroes and Flash Forward are all off the air, I'm going to have to find something to do with my time.

What's cooking: tonight's dinner will consist of nut butter coated parsnip fries, and something else that is still to be determined

What I'm buying: hopefully a Bondi Band at the race expo tomorrow evening. I know that there will be a ton of other things that I want, but I will have to exhibit some restraint.

What I'm thankful for: all the training I put in leading up to my half marathon and all the studying I've done in preparation for the National Registry Exam

What I'm creating: all sorts of vegetarian meals in my head. I am really enjoying making meatless meals.

What I'm praying: that all my studying will pay off during tomorrow's practical exam. I am very much looking forward to being an EMT

What I'm planning: my summer racing schedule. I'm hoping to get a couple more half marathons, my full marathon and maybe a duathlon. Stay tuned!

What I'm looking forward to: crossing that finish line on Sunday completing my first half marathon

A picture to share:

Photo from Jaden's preschool picnic this week. We had so much fun.

You're getting warmer...

2010-05-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

It seems that everyday, when I look at the race weather for Sunday, the temps keep climbing up.
71 degrees
76 degrees
82 degrees
85 degrees

It appears that it is going to be a warm one, folks. I will be guzzling lots of water and I'm lucky enough to have a couple spectators who will be showing up at strategic points on the course to supply me with extra water. After my 20K at the beginning of the month, I have learned not to depend on the water stops for sufficient hydration needs.

On the race website, they list all the water stops and what will be available: water, gatorade, GU, or bananas. I am going to try my best to plan my race and my fuel and hydration needs appropriately. But I know that things could always change. I'm Type A, I need a plan. I feel like I'm floundering without one.

I really hope that the temps don't get too warm. Even though the race starts at 7:15, I know that it will warm up pretty quickly, especially with all those people running. I've got my list started of all the things I need to bring with me. My Garmin is charged and I've been working on my ipod playlist. Now I just need Sunday to get here!!

But, first, I have to pass my NREMT practical exam on Saturday. That is another issue entirely.

Hope you are all having a great Thursday.

EMS call

2010-05-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

I went on my second EMS call in Colby tonight. Obviously, I can't give any details, but I can say that I am learning more all the time and that the Colby EMT's are a good group of people. I even got an offer for sponsorship for my running. Of course, it was from a meat processing plant, and I'm a vegetarian; so that won't work. :-)

I was really excited that the pager went off and I was able to go on the call. It is frustrating to hear the call and not be able to go. I've even stopped turning on the pager if I know I won't be able to go, because I will just be disappointed. So, tonight was great. I was able to finish dinner with my family and be home in time for dessert and some TV with Tim.

I got some great encouragement from the EMTs for my upcoming registry exam this weekend. I am still going back and forth on what I should be more nervous about: my NREMT test or my half marathon. I think I'm even nervous about being able to properly fuel while I'm stuck at the testing site all day Saturday. And I'm hoping that Tim gets done with work early enough to meet me after my test to go down to Madison.

Preschool picnic

2010-05-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

Today was Jaden's last day of preschool for the year. I can't believe how big he is getting!
He was really excited to see me when I went to pick him up.

He knew it was time to go to the park for his picnic! The other preschool that he went to this year, was having all the families get together for an end of the year party. And the weather was perfect for it. We met at Red Arrow Park in Abbotsford for food, fun and bubbles.

He found a feather when we got there and the first thing he wanted to do was to find his friend Josie and tickle her with it.

She's pretty cute. I'd tickle her too!

Yes, I am wearing pigtails; as every self-respecting 32 year old mother should. Don't judge me! :-)

Jaden was very excited that daddy got done with work early and came to the park with us.

There was much bubble chasing!

Jaden vs. the frozen yogurt

2010-05-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

Jaden took on the frozen yogurt pop for dessert tonight.

I love how big his eyes are. He has been wanting this since we put it in the freezer yesterday.

He actually couldn't finish it. Maybe I need to keep the yogurt in the freezer to prevent him from eating 4 of them in one sitting.

The good and the bad

2010-05-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

First the good news:

I was very pleased with the overall grade of 98% But I have to admit being disappointed with an 82% in the administrative category. They asked some very obscure questions.

Then the bad news:

Holy heat wave, Batman!

2010-05-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, that says 93 degrees! That usually doesn't happen in Wisconsin...and certainly not in May. We might get a few 90 degree days in July or August, but this is just crazy. And it is humid. Fortunately for me, I love warm weather! But, I am glad that it is supposed to be in the 70's for Sunday's half marathon (which is 98% full).

Will run for money

2010-05-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

I am really bumming about money right now. I know that I am going to be unemployed in a few short weeks....unless God decides to open the door to the perfect job. I'm concerned about how we are going to handle our bills and where we will get the money for our trip to NY in October. But, honestly, I'm also wondering where I'll get the money for the races I want to do this year. Running is a very easy activity to do...just you and the road. But when you start putting your heart and soul (sole?) into some races, the costs can add up quickly.

Here are my upcoming races (*) and also the ones I'm really hoping to run (?)

Madison half marathon(*): $65
Bellin 10K (*): $17 (me) $7 (Jaden)
Auburndale Boogaloo 5K (?): $13
TC (Twin Cities) half marathon(?): $55
Colby Cheese Days 5K (*): $15 (each-Me and Tim)
Madison Mini-marathon (?): $50
Fox Cities Marathon(*): $70 (me) $8 (Jaden)
Staten Island Half Marathon (*): $??
Madison Mud Run (?): $28
Noodleini (?): $23

I'm sure I will find a few more races that I will want to run. I always do. I usually have to pick races that will fit into my schedule. And I'm really hoping that Tim will want to do another race or more. And I KNOW that Jaden will want to do some more runs.

So, who wants to sponsor me? I'll gladly deck myself out in whatever corporate paraphernalia you have. Just call me a running billboard. And since I'm slow, lots of people will see it!

Another coat of paint

2010-05-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

We are the world's slowest painters. I started taping off the back wall next to the fireplace on Friday night. I taped the other side after church this afternoon. Then I decided to start painting while Tim and Jaden were out mowing the lawn. It is such a pain to paint around all the shelves. It was a pain to tape around them too, but the painting was awful. I only got one coat on and I will try to get the second coat done tomorrow. I don't have to work, so I'm hoping that Jaden will cooperate and let me finish it.

In the photo, you can also see that the top of the mantle got painted. Tim did that and I really like the lighter color (as opposed to the dark wood that it was before).

I also wanted to share that the strawberry plants that I put in a few weeks ago; that I was sure were going to die immediately, now have flowers on them!!

I think I'm supposed to pull the flowers off so that they spread for next year, but I am going to leave them and hope that I actually get some berries this year.

Things that make me happy #7

2010-05-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

I'm growing spinach!!!

Tapering stinks

2010-05-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

You know you want some. Green monsters rock! There is really no other way to describe it. This one was pretty basic. Half a banana, handful of strawberries, tons of spinach and some milk. I forgot to put ice cubes in it. :-( I just think that smoothies should be REALLY cold.

I finally got back on the treadmill this morning, even though I had no motivation at all. I did 4 miles at a very leisurely pace. And it felt great to get back to running. I read an article on the 'taper blues' the other day and I thought the beginning of it very accurately described what I'm going through right now.

I am definitely feeling more tired during this taper than I was when I was putting in 30 miles a week; and the runs I am doing aren't at the same intensity that I had been doing. I am trying really hard to trust my training plan, but I have a history of questioning it.

Tomorrow is another scheduled day off, although I am thinking that I might do some weight lifting. Nothing too strenuous, but I want to keep moving.

How do you deal with a taper? Any suggestions to help me?

Worrier

2010-05-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

I am going to share something with you that has never happened to me before. I can't decide what to worry about more.

I have my National Registry exam on May 29th. This is the practical exam culminating everything I have learned in my EMT class. There are 6 different stations where I will have to demonstrate competency in everything ranging from splinting a shoulder to treating a trauma patient. It will be me and the evaluator and my bundle of nerves.

The next day, on May 30th, is my half marathon in Madison. I feel like I have been working so hard leading up to this race. It is definitely my 'A' race (as if I am that good) for the spring. I'm trying to think ahead to make sure that I remember to take along everything that I will need: the right shoes, fully loaded ipod, GU, sunscreen, correct running attire (depending on the weather), etc. I am excited to finally complete a half marathon, but I also have a goal of doing it in under 2:15.

Then there is the logistics of the entire weekend. I have to find my way to the evaluation site in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday morning. I have to make sure that I bring enough food with me to get me through the day and also to load up on carbs so that I will have energy for the race. Tim has to meet me in Wisconsin Rapids when he gets done with work so that we can drive to Madison. We have to stop at the race expo so that I can pick up my packet and check out the expo. Then we will head to my aunt's house for a fantastic dinner and hope that she isn't mad at me for announcing my vegetarianism and potentially putting a damper on her dinner plans. I am hoping that I can get enough sleep Saturday night so that I can wake up rested and ready on race day. I need to plan out where we are going to park before the race and where Tim and Sharon should plan to stage along the race course to get pictures and give me encouragement and water.

So, you can see my dilemma. When I think about my National Registry Exam I start to get nervous about whether I will be properly prepared. But, then I remember that my half marathon is the next day and then I start to get nervous about that.

When I think about the half marathon, I worry that I will be properly rested and fueled. But, then I remember that my National Registry Exam is the day before and I get nervous about that.

What is a girl to do? This morning I found myself reciting my trauma assessment sheet in the shower!

Jaden's first race registration

2010-05-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

I spoke with my cousin tonight and he made me realize that the Bellin 10K in Green Bay is going to be upon us before you know it. I have been so preoccupied with my half marathon (95% full as of today) and then the Hungry for Hope Conference, that I have sorta been putting everything else on the back burner. I have a bad habit of waiting until the last minute to get my registrations in. One of these days I am going to wait too long and end up getting burned.

But, I finally decided to complete the registration tonight. And, not only did I register for me; I also filled out a registration for Jaden:

I am so excited for him and I know that he can't wait. He tells everyone about his race and his super-fast-running-shoes. I can't wait to watch him running with all those other kids. It is great to see unbridled joy on his face.

1000 miles

2010-05-19T13:47:00.001-07:00

Did you know that I am on par to run more than 1000 miles this year? I randomly decided to do the math. In order to run 1000 miles in a year, I need to average 19.23 miles per week. Definitely do-able, but there will be a few taper weeks built in leading up to some of my bigger races.

Averaging 19.23 miles per week for each of the first 21 weeks of the year (not quite through the 21st week) would put me at 403.85 miles for the year. I'm currently at 427.2 miles for the year. This is pretty cool! I had no idea that I could even run 1000 miles in a year.

I need to give myself more credit!

I am strong!

I can do it!

I AM A RUNNER!!!

My legs hurt

2010-05-19T07:25:00.001-07:00

My legs are really sore this morning. And not in the 'I-got-a-really-good-workout-and-feel-great' way; but in a 'I-have-done-too-much-without-enough-rest' kind of way. After my 6.4 miles yesterday, I went to the gym for a quick weight lifting session. It was very speedy, but I worked my legs and they are really stiff and sore. I felt horrible on my hike from the parking lot into work this morning. I am so excited that today is a rest day and that I only have short runs scheduled for the next week and a half leading up to my half marathon. I don't think that I will again make the mistake of lifting weights when my legs are already so tired. Lesson learned.

I am really looking forward to dinner tonight. I am going to make a seitan stir fry. I've never had seitan before, but I've seen some interesting looking recipes with it and it seems to be the perfect choice for a vegetarian stir fry. I'll let you know how it turns out...and how my carnivorous husband feels about it.

Happy hump day!

Today's run

2010-05-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know what that craziness is at the end. I didn't count that. I think I accidentally started the time when I was getting my lap splits. Apparently, I need a Garmin tutorial.

Even though my run was kinda a bust, I got a few pics of the nice bike path where I ran for part of my time today.

I was relishing the shaded parts because (once again) I forgot sunscreen. I don't think I got too burned, but I need to remember to bring some when I am going to be running outside.

I found a little park (with a small lake). I might go back there some day and do some trail running. I just wasn't feeling the trails today and decided to stay on the paved paths.

Thank God for shelters with bathrooms and running water to fill my hydration belt. :-)

I also need to thank good friends for letting me show up at their house for the sole purpose of using their shower. See, I got done with work at 1:00 and it just didn't make sense for me to drive home (30 minutes), then go on my run and shower, just so that I could drive back to Marshfield (30 minutes) for my EMT class tonight. So, I ran after work, showered at Teena's house and then met my friend Barb who was gracious enough to lend me some cookbooks and Vegetarian Times magazines to help me in my vegetarian transition. I am going to have a lot to look through and I can't wait! Tim is going to love going veggie. ;-)

What is your favorite vegetarian recipe?

NOT nine miles

2010-05-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Don't you just hate it when all your good planning goes to crap?!? That is what happened for me today. I had planned on running 9 miles after work, but then everything started conspiring against me. And by 'everything' I mean me.

I started out and felt good for the first little bit. It was hot out, but I had my hydration belt, so I felt prepared. But about a mile and a half into the run, I started having stomach issues. I am not one who usually deals with this particular problem. I have occasionally had to pick up my pace to get to a restroom, but for the most part, I'm not in extreme discomfort or anything like that. Today was different. I dealt with actual pain. I was NOT having a good time, and I new before I even hit the 2 mile mark, that I wouldn't be completing nine miles today.

Also, my legs didn't feel very good. I think I need to adjust my training schedule. Typically, it has looked like this for the last couple weeks:
Saturday: long run
Sunday: rest/weights
Monday: speed work
Tuesday: mid-distance run

I don't think that I am giving my legs a chance to fully recover. Maybe I need to schedule an easy day on Mondays. Or move my mid-distance run to Wednesday or Thursday. I don't know. All I know is that what I'm doing now isn't working.

Here are the sad stats:
Mile 1: 9:33
Mile 2: 9:22
Mile 3: 9:52
Mile 4: 10:19
Mile 5: 10:52 (included a walking break)
Mile 6: 10:43 (another walking break)
Mile 6-6.44: 4:24 (9:59 pace)

Total: 6.44 miles 1 hour, 5 minutes
Tomorrow is a day off (to spend with my family!) and then I'm into my taper.

One year later

2010-05-18T07:27:00.001-07:00

It is hard to believe that my accident was exactly a year ago. So much has happened since then. A year ago I was in the middle of a very busy MA program with all the academic requirements associated with that. I was in a job that I wasn't exactly crazy about. And, I was only thinking about running; not really doing it.

The accident was actually a big part of what got me started running. I was ticked off that I couldn't do much of anything active for a while. And, if you know me at all, you know that when someone (or something) tells me that I can't do something; it makes me want to do it all the more. So, I guess I am grateful that the accident happened, even though it led to a very stressful time for us.

There was the hassle of trying to find a new car, which took about 2 months. During that time I used my dad's car. Again, grateful that I had that opportunity. I also had to miss work, and thus income. I had to try to schedule all the appointments I needed: physical therapy, chiropractor, orthopaedics, and assorted follow ups. I couldn't lift anything with my left arm and it seemed that everything was pretty painful for a long time.

All in all, I was actually pretty lucky. The accident could have been so much worse. My car was hit just behind the driver's side door. Twelve inches the other way, and I would have been hit directly. I might be telling a different story.

In other news, the weather is absolutely GORGEOUS!

54°

Hi 76° | Lo 46°

Sunny

High temp of 76 degrees today! I love it. The rest of the week looks just as wonderful and next week we could be in the mid-80s. There is really nothing better. I am going to celebrate the weather by going for a run this afternoon. I have a 9 mile run on my schedule. It is my last long-ish run before I go into taper mode for next weekend's half marathon. I won't run more than 3 or 4 miles at a time until the race.

What does your taper plan look like?

I'm a vegetarian

2010-05-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

I figured it was only a matter of time before I made this official. For almost a year now I have gone without beef and any highly processed meats. I've chosen vegetarian options when they are available. I've experimented with all sorts of different protein options....tofu, seitan, tempeh, etc. But, after watching the trailer for Earthlings, I just couldn't stay on the fence any longer.

It feels good to say that I am a vegetarian. It is going to be an adjustment for those who know me. I grew up eating meat and potatoes; a regular farm girl. I've been reading a lot of blogs of vegetarians and I know that there are so many options available that have nothing to do with meat. In fact, once I stopped eating beef, I realized that I didn't really desire to have any meat. That made it very easy to give up. I have a feeling the same thing will happen with other meats.

The biggest challenge will be for my husband. He is really nervous about what this will mean for his meals. I'm not going to force him to give up meat entirely. That is his decision and it isn't one that I can make for him. However, when I am making meals, they will be meat free.

As for me, I am thrilled that I will be able to eat healthy, tasty meals that won't cause me a crisis of conscious.

Things that make me happy #7

2010-05-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight we took Jaden up to the track at the high school after dinner. He has his first race coming up next month and I wanted to let him practice the 1/4 mile distance. I really didn't think I would have to run it with him. After all, I did run 14 miles this morning and I was pretty tired. But how could I resist running with him?

He was so excited. He made me say 'on your mark, get set, go!' just like it was a real race.

Then I watched him take off as fast as his 4-year-old legs would take him. 'Pacing' is not a word that he understands! He just went all out. And he was loving it! I thought he would start to get winded and stop talking, but he carried on a conversation with me the whole time we were running around the oval.

We got to the finish line and he proudly declared himself the winner. After about a minute of resting, before he had even caught his breath, he declared that we had to do it again.

Sure, I'd love to tack a half mile on top of what my legs already did this morning. But, we started out strong on our second lap. This time, he slowed sooner and was definitely starting to drag by the back stretch. He wanted to hold my hand for about the last 200 meters. That just made me realize how cool it would be for him to finish my marathon with me like that. Hopefully I can find a way to make that happen. (He's so sweet.)

Once we finished the second lap (which he also won), it was time to pack up and head back home. I am more than confident that he will be able to handle the kids race next month and that he will have a great time while he's doing it. I couldn't be prouder of him right now.

Green Monster

2010-05-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have finally joined the Green Monster movement. I have seen this smoothies on tons of blogs that I read...here, here, and here. I have been very nervous about trying it myself. First of all, I wasn't convinced that a smoothie that's main ingredient is spinach could ever taste like anything other than spinach.

But, I'm up for anything, so I gave it a try.

Into the blender goes a banana, some strawberries and a couple handfuls of spinach.

I added some milk and gave it a whirl.

It turned out green and frothy.

I was nervous because it was green.

Verdict: It was fantastic! It was banana-y and strawberry-y and delicious!
Next time I will add some flax seeds and maybe a little bit of chocolate or something. I can see that this is a base that could work with a lot of different fruits. I can't believe how easy it was for me to get in two servings of veggies and two servings of fruit and a serving of dairy. Next time I would probably put a few ice cubes in it to make it colder. It was a great post run drink that I paired with a cappuccino (I needed the caffeine).

Oh, here is something else. I suffered through some really nasty chafing today. I know, I know, don't wear cotton. But my selection of appropriate running attire is severely limited. I have a great pair of shorts that I love for my long runs. I just need to invest in a few tank tops (and probably a couple more pairs of shorts). That way I don't have to deal with the painful, raw, red chafed skin under my arms. I put some diaper rash cream on it and I hope that it will feel better soon.

Fourteen miles

2010-05-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

For updates on my previous long runs, check these out:
10 miles
11 miles
12 miles
13 miles

Today's schedule called for 14 miles, a new personal distance record! I was really looking forward to this run because I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle the half marathon distance, and then some!

Unfortunately, the first 6 miles felt tortuous. I don't know what was going on. I was tired, I felt like I was dragging, and I just didn't feel comfortable in the run. I'm not sure what happened after that, but I started feeling better and had a little more energy for the rest of the run.

Here are the stats:
Mile 1: 10:22
Mile 2: 10:34
Mile 3: 10:40
Mile 4: 10:17
Mile 5: 10:03
Mile 6: 10:18
Mile 7: 10:31
Mile 8: 9:50
Mile 9: 9:55
Mile 10: 10:15
Mile 11: 10:24
Mile 12: 10:29
Mile 13: 9:51
Mile 14: 9:56

Total time: 2:23:23 Average pace: 10:14

I'm a little bummed that I only an 4 miles under 10 minutes, but I'm going to try to be encouraged that all of them were in the second half of my run.

I took some fuel around mile 8:

This is a new brand and flavor. I think it was vanilla strawberry. Not too bad. I would try it again.

I wore my hydration belt with twenty ounces of water, but I also stashed two 20 oz bottles of water along my course. And I came home with no water left. I think I definitely need to get a four bottle hydration belt. If anyone wants to sponsor me, I'm currently coveting the Nathan Speed 4R.

I am so glad that my mom is willing to take Jaden for the morning so that I can go on my long runs. He has so much fun over there. Today, grandma gave him some 'jobs' to do and she even paid him for them when he finished. He was very excited to get his own money for helping grandma. he came home and immediately put it in his piggy bank. I'm really lucky that she is willing to take him and that he loves going over there. There is no way I'd be able to do my long runs without having someone to watch him.

Well, I am going to spend the rest of my day recovering and doing some house work. I already have a load of laundry in the washer. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday!

Earthlings trailer

2010-05-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

This trailer was enough to make me absolutely ill about the way animals are treated in the pursuit of cheap food.

(For some reason, blogger won't let me embed video, so you'll have to click the link to view the trailer. If you right click, you can open it in another window.)

I wish that I hadn't already prepared chicken tonight for dinner, because I am not sure that I can eat it. I'm not sure that I can ever eat meat again. This may have been the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. Although, after seeing this, I would never want to hurt a camel, or any other animal.

I've been struggling with my meat consumption for almost a year now. I have cut out beef, sausage, sandwich meats and anything else that is highly processed. I've been choosing non-meat alternatives whenever I can; things like tofu, seitan, tempeh and beans.

I am going to have to watch the full movie. You can find it here. I can't speak to the content of the whole movie, since I haven't seen it yet. I think that will be on the agenda tomorrow, at some point when Jaden isn't around. I don't need him to see the fullness of the cruelty that is possible.

Please, watch the trailer. It is less than 3 minutes long. Let me know what you think. Did it affect you? Did it make you want to change the way you eat? I would love some dialogue on this subject.

A kind word

2010-05-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a friend will tell you exactly what you need to hear at a given time. And it is even better when it is someone with whom you haven't spoken with in quite a while.

I have really been struggling with body image lately. The past few weeks have been really difficult for me. And I don't want to talk about it too much or dwell on it because I don't respond well to focusing on my body. It tends to take me down a dark path to places I don't want to go. And I have many friends who also struggle in this area, and I would hate for something I say to derail someone else's recovery. So, I have been suffering silently. And, trying to focus on the good.

My body can do so much for me! (It's a great mantra....when it works.)

The mantra hasn't been working much for me lately. I get stuck focusing on the negative: the weight I've gained, the way my body looks, the difficulties I have trying to log more miles and increase my endurance. In the back of my mind, I have horrible, negative, debilitating thoughts that threaten to send me back down the same spiral that I dug myself out of more than two years ago.

But, today, I got a great message from a good friend who I haven't seen in a couple years. Someone who knew my past struggles and could even relate to them in her own way. In three short sentences, she put a smile on my face and really brightened my mood. She encouraged me and gave me a little permission to offer myself grace. I am very grateful for this wonderful, beautiful woman and I feel so blessed to have her in my life. And I miss her desperately.

What is the nicest thing a friend has told you recently?

Here comes the sun

2010-05-13T11:03:00.001-07:00

I couldn't possibly be happier with Saturday's forecast!

71° | 46°
M/Sunny

Saturday is my 14 miler. It is my last long run before the half marathon on the 30th. As of today, the half marathon is 90% full!! I am so freakin' excited I end up with this goofy grin on my face every time I think about it.

This week's weather has been just plain nasty, and I think it has taken a toll on everyone. I've been a little down and cranky. People at work have been short with each other. Even the lady at the gas station was mean. We all need some sunshine to brighten our spirits. (And a nice long run won't hurt either!)

When the weather gets cold and rainy for several days, I start craving comfort. Comfort foods, comfortable clothes, comfortable activities. I just want to curl up on the couch in my pajamas with a good book and cappuccino. I guess, since I'm at work, I'll have to settle for just the cappuccino. I think the cafeteria has English Toffee. Yum.

What do you do when the weather gets crappy? How do you stay motivated to work out?

Runner's High

2010-05-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

I will admit to stealing this from someone else, but it is just so good.

THE RUNNERS' HIGH
It's no longer sport, no longer just a game.
It has become a way of life.
Every breath is a stride, every heartbeat a string of silence.
It is a compulsion from deep within.
It is a passion for glory.
To go through the torment.
To last through the waiting.
To gain that one moment, alone with myself.
And only the few, who chance to strive, can know the experience.
To hear nothing but breath.
To feel nothing but heartbeat.
To feel so much like hell, running so close to heaven.
This is the Runners' High.
This is the feeling I live for.
This is the goal I strive toward.
If my chance disappears, part of my life would end.

Renewal

2010-05-12T09:28:00.001-07:00

I have grown SO tired of finding new grey hairs. It seems that every day I have new ones sprouting up. So, I was thrilled to read this verse the other day:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

I am going to try to remember this verse the next time I see a nw grey hair. It is just the outward appearance. What I really want is for my inner most self to be a mirror, reflecting God's love. As I age, any outward beauty wastes away. But it is my inward beauty that becomes more important than the proper shade of concealer or hair dye. With all I do to try to hold the hands of time at bay: exercise, make-up, clothes, hairstyles; am I spending at least as much time preparing my inward countenance?

What about you? How much time do you spend on your inward appearance?

Star Wars

2010-05-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows my husband, knows his affection for Star Wars. It borders on obsessive. Actually, it probably leaps over the line with both feet and lands squarely in obsessive.
Now, he has created a monster. Check this out.

What do you think? Do I make a good Leia?

What about Jaden? Isn't he the most handsome Han?

And, naturally Tim would cast himself as Luke.

But, my favorite......
Penny as Lando; with the Storm Troopers!

Can you make out her mustache?

More tests

2010-05-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

So, remember that EMT written final that I took last week? After the lead instructor reviewed everyone's answers, he adjusted our grades. My new grade....93%!!! I am pretty excited about that.

Tonight we got the info that we will need to take the written part of the National Registry exam. I am starting to get really nervous about all of this. The practical exam is in 2 1/2 weeks....followed by my half marathon the next day! I have to pass the practical part of the exam before I can take the written exam. I am hating the fact that there are so many costs involved. $100 for the practical exam. $70 for the written exam. It is so expensive to try to get licensed to save people's lives.

Aches and pains

2010-05-11T13:53:00.001-07:00

Today really seems to be dragging. I keep looking at the clock thinking that it will be almost 5:00, but no such luck. There are still patients to see and work to do, so I'll just keep plugging along.

My mind has been preoccupied today with some minor aches and pains that I've been dealing with. I've shared the pain I experience in the arch of my right foot, but since my long run (13 miles) on Saturday, I've also been nursing sore hips. And, just to finish off the trifecta, my right shoulder has been popping and locking like a rap star.

The more research I do on foot pain, the less I believe my problem is plantar fasciitis. First of all, I don't experience pain in my heel. The pain is localized to the arch; specifically the most medial part of the arch.

The pain seems to be worst under the navicular bone. It is really bad in the morning and gets better as I move and walk on it. It rarely hurts while running. I try to do a little massage and stretching before getting out of bed to warm everything up. When I get done running, I do more stretching and icing, but I'm not sure about the effectivenes of the icing at this point.

The hip pain is worse in my left hip and manifests itself as a tightness with occasional popping. It feels like it really needs a good stretch, but when I try to, I can't seem to get a deep enough stretch.

This is the stretch I do most frequently, with variations when I am lying down or seated. I just desperately want to stretch it more, but no matter which way I twist or turn or contort my body, I can't seem to get to the exact spot that needs work.

My shoulder is something that just decided to start giving me problems the last day or two. I can't think of anything I have done, or any reason that my right shoulder would start popping. It has gotten progressively worse as the day goes on.

This is definitely a downer of a post, but thanks for letting me vent a bit. I'm hoping that I can get these problems taken care of. I am going to see the best chiropractor in the world tomorrow and I have faith that she can help.

I am a little nervous about the toll that marathon training is going to take on my body. :-/

Math whiz

2010-05-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

As we were riding home from Bible study tonight, and enjoying our Culver's ice cream, Jaden states that he is going to have 5 bites of daddy's ice cream. "And since I already had two bites, that means I have to have three more bites. And that will be five bites."

Right, Jaden. :-)

I have no idea when kids are supposed to learn to do things like math, but I am constantly amazed when he does things like this. Mostly because I know that I am failing as a parent and I am most certainly NOT the one teaching him.

Maybe on Friday when I'm off work, we can work on long division.

What has your kid done lately that has surprised you?

Non-extreme home makeover

2010-05-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today was the day that my old pool table got a face lift. The pool table has been in the basement of this house for as long as I can remember. Some of you many know that this house used to be my Grandparent's house, so it was basically my second home while I was growing up. I remember playing many games of tag in the basement where the pool table would be 'safe.' Well, my decided to pay for it to get refinished as an anniversary present.

Here is the before:

The two guys from The Pool People came over about 10:45 this morning and got to work. Here is what Penny did while they were here:

Jedi was a little more uptight and felt that he had to keep an eye on things.

About 2 hours later, the pool table was refinished, the pads were reattached (apparently, 15 years of kids climbing and sitting on the pool table isn't good for the pads), and the existing ball return system was taken out.

That is the remains of the ball return system. Once the guys get back to the store, they are going to send me some mesh pockets to attach to each of the six holes. They should be here in a couple days. I really like the way the blue fabric looks. Naturally, Tim picked the color.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

Today was my 5th Mother's Day. Even though Jaden is only 4 years old, I always count the Mother's Day before he was born, because that was the day I found out I was pregnant. I couldn't believe how perfect it was. I mean, who finds out they are going to be a mother on the day set aside to celebrate mothers?

This year we had a very low-key celebration. Jaden made me a beautiful "MOM" wreath at church. His favorite colors are blue and yellow.

Then we went out for dinner in Abbotsford. The food was mediocre (at best), but the company was fantastic.

I just LOVE that kid!

Training plan conundrum

2010-05-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

So, I've been thinking a lot about my training plan lately and about how many races I can run the summer/fall up to and including my marathon in September. My half marathon is in three weeks (YIKES!) and I am contemplating doing a couple other half marathons this summer before the marathon. I'm looking at doing one July 4th in Minneapolis and then another one on August 18 either in Madison, or Sheboygan.

I love the idea of doing more half marathons. Judging by last weekend's 20K, I really think that I will enjoy the 13.1 mile distance (yesterday's 13 mile training run not withstanding). In my head I'm tossing around all the possibilities for races. I know that I am going to do some shorter races this summer, a 10K in June and a couple 5Ks in July and August. I would like to do another half marathon, but I just don't know how that would work with my training schedule. I would have to taper prior to the race, then run the race, then recover after the race. I don't know that my training plan has enough wiggle room in it for that many 'down' weeks. I mean, it's not like I can run a 16 mile training run and then do a half marathon a couple days later. Nor could I run a half marathon and then turn around and a 21 miler in a few days.

Then again, when I look at my training plan, I see that my long runs during the week of July 4th and August 21st are 13 miles. Is that a sign? Did I unknowingly schedule lower mileage weeks, because I was meant to run those half marathons? Probably not. :-)

Naturally, I wouldn't be able to run the Athens Fair 5K if I decided to do a half marathon that day. And, I'd have to rearrange my 13 mile days to fall on the race day. But I usually end up switching around my training plan to accommodate what days I'm working or when we have other stuff going on. As long as I get my miles in, I'm not too preoccupied about which day I run them.

I'm also thinking about how crazy (difficult) it is going to be for me to be doing my longest training runs in August, when the weather has the potential to be rather hot and very humid. I don't like the idea of running the same loop past my house five or six times just so that I can fill up my water bottles. Then again, I'm not thrilled with having to pre-set a bunch of water on whatever course I decide to run. Maybe I can just get Tim to leave the house every 45 minutes to bring me water and/or fuel. (highly doubtful)

I guess I am looking for some advice. Have you tried to incorporate races into your training plan? Has it worked? Does my plan need to be altered? Should I just focus on the marathon and leave the half marathons for next year? I don't know what to do.

Stimulation package

2010-05-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

I was kinda shocked to see such a big box delivered to my house today. I knew that I hadn't ordered anything, but I thought that maybe Tim did. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the box was addressed to me. And the labeling on the outside looked promising.

And, on the inside...

A case of Golden Grahams. It is an odd thing to get. I think I remember signing up for something on the General Mills website a while ago. I'm certainly not going to turn my nose up at free cereal!

Today was filled with baking for the church bake sale.
Jaden even helped. Check out the video here.

Thirteen miles

2010-05-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

Yikes! I never thought that I would ever run 13 miles. Last year, I was ecstatic to be able to run three miles. But today I accomplished another personal distance record. If you're interested in how my other double digit runs have gone, here are the recaps
10 miles
11 miles
12 miles

Today's run was a challenge. It was COLD!

And windy. And I actually got sleeted on while running. God and I had a talk about that. Mostly it was me yelling, and God listening quietly.

Regardless of the cold and wind and sleet, I came home a sweaty mess. I am envious of those women who perspire. You know, the ones who cross the finish line of a race with a little sheen on their forehead and that is about it. I don't perspire. I sweat. A lot. Just to appease my own curiosity, I decided to see how sweaty I was after today's run. Well, I was actually able to squeeze sweat out of my sports bra. And not just a drop or two; I got a steady stream. I know that this is way over the edge of too much information, but I was (in a weird way) really proud of that. But it also told me that I needed fluids fast. I've been trying to drink as much water as possible since I got home.

Unfortunately, I also noticed a recurring problem that crept up again today.

I still haven't figured out why this happens. I know that my toenails are cut short enough. Also, it only happens on my right foot. Other strange things about my right foot: it is the only foot that gets blisters, and it is the only foot that experiences arch pain. Not sure why that is. My right knee tends to hurt more than my left, but my hips get equally tight and stiff.

I tried a new form of fuel today.

I understand why they call this espresso LOVE. I loved it! So yummy. And one of the benefits of running when the weather is cooler, is that the GU doesn't get as runny. I liked it today with a bit of a thicker texture. I took the GU between mile 7 and 8 and then chased it with a bottle of water that I had stashed along my route.

Here are my splits. I wasn't focusing on anything today other than getting in 13 miles. I hardly ever even looked at my Garmin, because I knew that I just had to keep going.
Mile 1: 10:09
Mile 2: 10:28
Mile 3: 10:21
Mile 4: 10:44
Mile 5: 10:30
Mile 6: 10:47
Mile 7: 10:24
Mile 8: 10:09
Mile 9: 10:37
Mile 10: 10:21
Mile 11: 10:13
Mile 12: 10:05
Mile 13: 10:30
Total: 2:15:18 average pace: 10:24/mile.
My goal for the half marathon in a few weeks is 2:15. I have a little ways to go.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with those splits. I wasn't trying to run hard, but I like that I was pretty consistent.

On my graph, you can see the two times I had to stop and stretch my hips. I probably should have stopped a few more times, but after running up a hill, they were especially tight.

I'm going to keep drinking lots of water the rest of the afternoon. I also have to finish up some desserts for our church bake sale tomorrow. I hope I have enough eggs....

More than words can say

2010-05-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

You've got to be kidding me!

2010-05-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is snow. It is May 7th. It is starting to accumulate. This is wrong on so many levels.

In unrelated news, I don't think my hair has been this long in about a decade.

And, how weird is it that I'm old enough to start referring to periods of my life in 10-year segments?

"I guess today it's going to be winter"

2010-05-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

That is what Jaden said to me in the car. It is snowing today! Yes. In May. I believe this is why I left Wisconsin in the first place. Now, if someone could just remind me why I ever came back.....

On another note, I want to thank you all for your advice regarding the pain in my right foot. I am still experiencing the pain, especially in the mornings, but I have found that stretching and massaging helps to warm up the muscle before I get out of bed. I've also looked into some products designed to help, but I'm not sure I want to spend the money on them just yet. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and see if I can keep the pain from getting any worse.

Does anyone else think that this was the l o n g e s t week ever? I swear, it feels like my 20K was a month ago, and it has only been a week. Of course, my legs are still recovering. after Tuesday's exhausting 8 mile run, I decided to take things a little easier the rest of the week. I took Wednesday off and shortened my planned runs for yesterday and today. I had 6 miles scheduled for each day, but did 5.5 yesterday and 4.5 today. So, 10 miles instead of 12. Not a huge deal, but I still have to tell myself that it is okay to take it a little easier when that is what my body needs. I'm planning a 13 miler tomorrow morning and I'm really hoping that the weather cooperates. No snow would be a good start. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that is going to happen.

My plan is to run from my house to the starting line of the Colby Cheese Days Chariots of Cheese race. It is about .75 miles from my front door. I am then going to run the 10K race course twice. That way, I am close enough to my house to stop for more water or to use the bathroom. I'll also get a bit of a hill workout in by running past the cemetery (twice). I'm going to take it easy and just plan of the run taking me about 2.5 hours; especially if I have to stop for water.

Alright....time to get away from the computer and put some make up on for my job interview. I'm nervous. I'll let you know how it goes.

Things are better today

2010-05-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was a pretty bad day (part 1, part 2). However, it did get better! Just as I was about to leave for class, I got a phone call from Marshfield Clinic Human Resources. I have another job interview today!! I am praying that this is a good one; that this is the job that God has for me. After hearing rejection after rejection, my confidence is pretty low. Intellectually, I know that God has the perfect job waiting for me in His timing, but I have never been good at waiting.

Last night was my written final for my EMT class. I was very nervous and didn't feel at all prepared. I have been so preoccupied with everything else that has been going on in my life, that I haven't studied the way that I should. The test took me a little over an hour and I turned it in, not feeling very confident. There were so many questions that had multiple 'good' answers and it was a challenge to determine which answer was the 'most' correct. I had to wait until everyone was finished taking the test (3 hours total) until we could correct them. I ended up getting a 90.6%! I am pretty excited about that. However, as a class we have 3 questions that we need to discuss with the lead instructor. I am hoping for an additional 2 points which would give me a score of 92%. I would be ecstatic with that!

There is still a lot of work to do in class. I have to prepare for the National Registry practical exam on May 29th (the day before my half marathon). There are six different skill stations that I have to pass in order to be able to take the written exam (computer based, of course). I'm still not sure on the date of the written exam. I guess I should probably look into that.

Well, I'm off to prepare for my interview. Wish me luck!

As if things couldn't get any worse...

2010-05-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

There is really nothing like a little rejection, heaped on top of monstrous guilt, to make for a great Thursday.

And then, lest you think I was over reacting:

Yep, life sucks right now. And I have a final exam tonight.

Worst mother ever

2010-05-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

I feel so horrible. I missed Jaden's Mother's Day program at preschool today. I was the only mom not there and Jaden was sad that I missed it. By the time I went to pick him up at 11:30, all the other kids were already gone. I cried a little and asked Jaden to forgive me about a hundred times. He kept telling me that he sang songs at his program and that all the kids got to give their moms flowers and he didn't get to give me mine. :-( I feel like a complete failure as a mom right now. I know that Jaden will forgive me, but I just don't know if I will ever forgive myself.

And it isn't even that I was doing anything important. I went and worked out and came home and threw some stuff in the oven for the church bake sale this weekend. I TOTALLY could have been there. There is no reason that I should have missed it. My heart is heavy. I hate missing this kind of stuff. I am hoping that maybe someone took some pictures that I can get copies of.

To make it up to him, I took Jaden to the park. We had a great time on the swings and the slides and the sand box.

Whew!

2010-05-05T12:18:00.001-07:00

I am so glad this morning is over! It was a crazy morning. Two providers+only one MA (me)=chaos! I was running back and forth between each provider and their patients and trying to get the paperwork taken care of and rooming patients and doing eye exams and I was so happy to see lunch time roll around. Being busy makes the morning go quickly, but I'm tired. And I still have a lot of paperwork to catch up on this afternoon. I know that I'll get it done, but I don't like to have things hanging over my head like that. I much prefer doing things as they happen. It makes me feel more in control.

I always look forward to Wednesday nights. I don't have anything going on. After a busy weekend and having something going on Monday (Bible study) and Tuesday (EMT class) nights, it just feels good to eat a meal with my family and curl up on the couch to catch up with the DVR. Of course, I'll probably turn my EMS pager on, just in case something happens that would allow me to go on a call.

Yesterday's eight mile run was definitely more than I should have done so soon after my 20K last Saturday. I am going to take today off and reschedule the rest of my runs this week. I was planning on doing my 13 miler on Thursday or Friday, but I think I'm going to hold off until Saturday morning; assuming my mom can watch Jaden while I run. My other runs for this week are supposed to be 6 miles each. One of them may or may not end up being only 3 or 4 miles. When I first came up with the crazy idea to run a half marathon, I read all about how many people would over-train and show up at the starting line exhausted and not properly rested. I thought to myself, "there is no way I could ever do that." Now, I'm not so sure. I can see how easily it would be to get caught up in the training and the need to get all the miles in. I have to keep reminding myself to listen to my body and give it what it needs: rest, nutrition, stretching, cross-training.

I am also experiencing some pain in my right foot. The pain is in the arch of my foot and it is really bad in the morning right when I get out of bed. I've been trying to massage it before getting out of bed, but those first steps are still painful. I also try to stretch it throughout the day, but that can be a challenge with shoes on. And I don't think I should take my shoes off at work. Any suggestions on what I can do to deal with the pain? (not running is NOT an option)

Hot eight miles

2010-05-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

I know that I have said this before, but sometimes I just have to push through the hard part of the run, to get to the good feeling at the end. Today's run was supposed to be an easy 8 miles. The problem was that there was nothing easy about it. It was HOT out today. (Well, hot by Wisconsin standards....about 70 degrees.) I don't know how I'm going to handle doing my long runs outside in this weather for my marathon training. Last summer I didn't mind, but I was only running 2 miles at a time. Now, I am going to be tackling double digits at least once a week.

When I started today's run, I really thought that it would be an enjoyable jaunt through Marshfield. I was excited because I don't usually get to run there and I was looking forward to the change of pace. But, I soon realized that it wasn't going to be an easy run. My legs were tired, but body was tired, and my hips started feeling tight after a couple miles. I actually thought about cutting it short and just doing 6 miles, but I knew that wasn't going to help me toward my ultimate goal.

So, here are the stats for the 8 miles:
Mile 1: 10:03
Mile 2: 10:00
Mile 3: 10:19
Mile 4: 9:55
Mile 5: 9:54
Mile 6: 10:17
Mile 7: 10:08
Mile 8: 10:25

Total time: 1:21:04 Average pace: 10:06
The last time I ran an 8 mile training run: 1:21:09
At least I'm consistent. I'd rather see improvement.

I was so tired at the end that I literally just ran 2 laps around the parking lot until I heard my Garmin beep the end of the 8th mile. I desperately wanted the run to be finished. But, I'm glad I stuck with it and finished it. It is all leading me toward that marathon finish line.

Do you guys have to power through your workouts? What do you do when you want to quit?

Tuesday's Thoughts

2010-05-04T07:51:00.001-07:00

I wish that I had come up with this idea on my own, but I snagged it from someone else. Feel free to use it yourself.

What I'm thinking: My afternoon run is preoccupying my thoughts. And, I really need another cup of coffee today.

What I'm reading: The Art of Being, Constance Rhodes

What I'm listening to: Random office noises: keyboards clicking, radio in the background, a phone ringing somewhere

What I'm learning: A lot of EMT-related things. I need to do some more studying today to prepare for the final exam and practice for the National Registry.

What I'm watching: I know that last night's episode of 24 is on my DVR waiting for me. Maybe I'll get to watch it tomorrow.

What's cooking: I just put some coffee on at work, and I'm about to eat my breakfast: oatmeal with banana and chocolate covered raisins

What I'm buying: I know we need hazelnut creamer and cat food. And bananas

What I'm thankful for: The health of my family and today's beautiful weather.
What I'm creating: I have the thoughts of my next tattoo floating in my mind. I'm still working out the details.

What I'm praying: For a full time, permanent job. For a friend who has a lot of changes going on right now.

What I'm planning: The church bake sale this weekend

What I'm looking forward to: My 8 mile run OUTSIDE after work.

A picture to share:

Things I never said to my mother

2010-05-03T10:39:00.001-07:00

Jaden has said a few things in the past week or so that really got me thinking about the effect of technology on the next generation. When my sister and I were growing up, we weren't in the type of household that stayed up to date on the latest gadgets and gizmos. We (eventually) got a Nintendo; but I never did get to save the Princess.

I've never been very good at video games.

But I think that Jaden will be. He really enjoys playing Lego Indiana Jones with Tim on the XBox.

So, I really shouldn't be surprised when I hear these phrases come out of his mouth. It is just the signs of a new generation.

"Your cell phone is ringing, but not like a phone call; like a text message."

"You're updating your ipod." ( I still don't think my mom knows what an ipod is.)

"Mom, I have to wait, the game is loading."

"My mom has a new Garmin watch so she knows what time it is when she is running her race." (I don't know how to explain to him that the Garmin will tell me everything except what time it is.)

I think I will probably spend the rest of my life trying to stay ahead of Jaden's technological advances. I'll probably fail and there will be an updated version of me teaching my mom how to program the VCR in my near future.

Botanical Gardens

2010-05-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

It might seem weird to post pictures of the hotel that we stayed in this weekend. But I was pretty impressed with our $69.00/night room at the Hampton Inn. It was spacious and nicely appointed, and although I don't prefer down pillows, I slept ok the two nights we were there.

I LOVED that there was storage below the sink. I hate that all my stuff always clutters up the sinks at the hotel. Great idea to put in a couple shelves.

Today's main event was the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. My aunt had mentioned them to us on Friday night during dinner and when we checked out the website, we saw that they were free!! (we love free) It was the best no money we ever spent. This place was gorgeous. And, coincidentally, I had run past it during Saturday's race, but it was just as I was hitting my lovely 10-mile wall, so I wasn't interested in the beauty to my left.

And it was beautiful. Just take a look....

(that's a really big cottonwood tree)

(the turtles were enjoying the beautiful weather)

(the ducks decided to take a nap)

I love that the little bird was resourceful enough to get around the spikes designed to keep her from building her nest there.

After our tour of the outdoor garden, we paid our $1.00 each to take a walk throught the conservatory, which contained "almost 700 plants...flourishing in the tropical paradise--along a rushing waterfall, beside a flowing stream, draped over bamboo arbors and vining up towering palms. These plants represent more than 80 plant families and almost 500 different species and cultivars."

The first thing that crossed our path, were these adorable little birdies.

Then, we soaked in the beauty around us.

Orange trees

Apple tree

Can you tell that the orchids were my favorite?

The plants are actually growing up through the air conditioning vents.

Tim's favorite....The Venus Flytrap

The next time you are in Madison, be sure to stop at the Botanical Gardens. Oh, and it is right across from Lake Monona, so you can pack a picnic and enjoy the whole day.

Tim's new shoes

2010-05-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went back to Fleet Feet shoes to get Tim fitted for some running shoes. We had help from Julie, who did a great job. I also got to talk with her about running the 20K, since she had run the race as well. (And she agreed that there should have been more water stations.) I tried not to hover and just let Julie and Tim do what they needed to do. I think Tim tried on four pairs of shoes, ran a few laps on the sidewalk outside the store and finally decided on a pair that he thought would work for him.

After we finished at the running store, I was famished. We went to Maharaja, an Indian restaurant in Madison.

I thought the food was fantastic! And I could have eaten the Garlic Naan forever!

I love spicy food! It was a great choice for our anniversary dinner.

We decided to skip the movie because we didn't want to feel rushed at the shoe fitting or at dinner. So when we finished eating, we went to the mall to pick up some cards for upcoming birthdays and to look around and window shop. Then, time for ice cream. There is always room for ice cream. This time it was Cold Stone ice cream and it was great!

This morning, Tim decided to try out his new shoes at the gym in the hotel.

He looks good, right? I think it is hilarious that we both ended up with the same style of Brooks running shoes. (But why were his cheaper than mine? hmmm.....)

Recap part two

2010-05-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to get my Garmin up and running this morning so I can post my splits for yesterday's 20K. I am still a little stiff and sore this morning. I did go sit in the hot tub last night for about 20 minutes. That seemed to help my hips a little bit. I massaged my arch on my right foot before getting out of bed and I think that helped as well.
Here are the stats from yesterday:
Mile 1: 9:47
Mile 2: 9:52 (see, I didn't start out too fast!!)
Mile 3: 10:05
Mile 4: 9:57
Mile 5: 9:53
Mile 6: 10:01
Mile 7: 9:35 (what?!?!)
Mile 8: 10:16
Mile 9: 10:16
Mile 10: 10:20
Mile 11: 10:52 (hello, wall)
Mile 12: 10:53
Mile 12-12.52: 5:18 (10:12 pace)

My average pace per mile was 10:09. I'm pretty satisfied with that. I would definitely do this race again. The course was beautiful. It was pretty well organized, other than the lack of sufficient water stops. You can check out the finish line video here.

Note to self:
When going for a 2 hour+ run, remember to wear sunscreen. I am a little red today. I guess I am still used to having to dress in layers for my runs and I completely forgot that the sun actually does shine in Wisconsin in the spring. :-)

Lake Monona 20K Recap

2010-05-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today's 20K race along Lake Monona was my longest race (by far) to date.

The weather was great and the registration was very well organized. Holly met us at the start and she and Tim followed me around the lake to get photographic evidence of my 12.52 miles (the course was a little long).

I started out well. I felt really good and just maintained a steady pace. I didn't start out too fast, which is a huge victory for me. :-)

Apparently, there was a chicken that ran the race. :-) I don't remember seeing him, but Tim and Holly were quite preoccupied with him and almost missed seeing me at the first water stop.

They proceeded to follow me down the road to get some more pictures.

When they didn't have me in their sights, the checked out the Madison sky line.

And they played in the lake.

I caught up with them again (and my Aunt Sharon) around mile 10 or so. It was about the same time that I hit the proverbial wall. I suddenly got very tired. My legs were sore. My hips were really tight. And my pace dropped drastically. Holly said that she could tell from my stride and posture that I was struggling.

The last 1.5 miles was really hard. I was having some pain in my right foot and my hips were so stiff and sore that I couldn't get a decent stride. I kept running because it would get me back to the car faster than walking.

By the looks of that photo, I also got a little cranky towards the end of the race. i think it was the dehydration talking. There weren't enough water stations. I actually stopped twice along the bike path to get a drink out of a water fountain.

After the race, my legs were covered in salt. I was really dehydrated. I guzzled as much water as I could and it still didn't feel like enough. We went to Whole Foods for lunch and I ate a lot of food! And it was good.

I am having Garmin uploading issues, so I will post the mile splits tomorrow.

I did it

2010-05-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

I tackled the lake! I finished my 20K this morning (12.52 miles--the course was long) in 2:07:05.

My sister was there to cheer me on.

What a difference a week makes!! The weather was fantastic today. There was a bit of a wind and it got a little gusty at times, but without it, it would have been too hot.

I'll be back with a full recap and stats later.
Right now, Tim and I are going to celebrate the rest of our anniversary by getting him some running shoes (YAY!!), eating Indian food for dinner, and going to see How to Train your Dragon at the IMAX in 3D. There will probably be ice cream after that because I feel like I could just keep shoveling food into my mouth.

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

Happy Anniversary

2010-05-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

Today is our anniversary!

Six years ago today, we got married. Time flies.

Today my wonderfully supportive husband gets to watch me run a 20K around Lake Monona. He is being a trooper about it. I think he is just looking forward to lunch after the race. I know that his idea of fun doesn't involve sitting around for more than two hours to watch my run by him. But, I'm so glad that he is willing to do this for me on our anniversary.

I hate driving in the rain

2010-04-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

What a crazy drive to Madison! The wind and rain were horrible. For a time, between Wausau and Stevens Point, we were driving less than 40 miles and hour and the visibility was next to nothing. It seemed like forever, but we finally made it to Madison and got to Fleet Feet to pick up the race packets for tomorrow's race. I am bummed that Holly won't be running it with me. I have been looking forward to running with my sister, but she needs to take care of her back and heal well so that she can keep playing volleyball. And, hopefully, she can run with me another time.

After picking up the registration, we drove over to my aunt's house. And, as per usual, she had a feast ready for us. There was chicken in gravy, couscous, broccoli, green beans with almonds, veggies and dip, yummy rolls and a chocolate cake to die for! I think I have definitely loaded up on calories for the race.

Now we are getting tucked into our hotel for the night. The hotel is great (I'll have pics later) and I am hoping to sleep like a baby and be to the chip pick up at 8:00 tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!!

And, good luck to my friend Bryon who is running the Illinois marathon this weekend; Becky and Rob who are running the Illinois marathon relay; Liz, Becky and Beth who are all running the Eau Claire half marathon.

Coffee date

2010-04-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

I had a great coffee date this morning. Liz and I decided to meet up and check out the new coffee shop in Colby. I say 'new' but I think they have been open for about 8 or 9 months now. I guess I'm a little late.

I had a latte and it was pretty good. But it was great to catch up with a friend and just get to know each other better. :-) I hope we will do this again.

Then it was time to come home and pack for the weekend. Fortunately, I had help.

I also got distracted by some flowers.

Okay, now I must finish packing for the weekend and clean the bathroom
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, especially those of you who are also running races.

Photos

2010-04-30T05:42:00.000-07:00

Finally, here are some of the 'real' photos from last weekend's Crazy Legs race.

I'm smiling. I actually look like I'm having a good time. That picture was taken just before the halfway point.

Crossing the finish line. And I'm taking a photo at the same time! :-)

After

2010-04-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Isn't she cute?

Why do I run?

2010-04-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

I often get asked why I run. Especially from people who have known me for many years; people who know of my long standing eversion to running. I am not even sure what the turning point was, what event or series of events transformed to into a runner. But, in the past few months, I have gone from saying "I run" to "I am a runner." And it is a great feeling. But why?

I'm not sure that I can answer that question fully. Just as there are millions of people who run, there are also millions of reasons to run. Some people run purely for the exercise, others are running from something, or to something. Some have been given a gift of talent and run to capitalize on that gift.

I run because I have to. Now, I know that sounds strange. I have been running for less than a year, and before that, I spent more than 30 years avoiding running at all costs. So for me to tell someone that I need to run, is strange indeed. But it is the truth. There is something inside me that drives me forward, pushes me when I am tired, motivates me when I would rather not run. I don't know what that force is, but I know that if I could sell it, I would make millions.

I run because it is my time. It is a chance for me to refocus, to recenter, to regain. Some people run in groups because the love the commaraderie of running. They use the time to connect with friends and talk about what is going on in their lives. I would do that. I certainly love running with people. It makes the time go faster and offers a distraction from the repetitive miles.

But I prefer to run alone. I don't know if that makes me a loner or not. I just know that I use that time to think and to pray and to talk to God and to talk through my own issues. Sometimes I will listen to music, or podcasts, but a lot of the time, I just listen to my breathing and the sound of my feet pounding the pavement. There is peace in the repetitive sounds and movements. There is joy in pushing my body and feeling it respond.

I run as a way to show my appreciation to God for giving me the ability to run. I run to revel in His creation; both nature, and my body. I guess that in a way, I run as a form of worship. It sounds grandiose and I understand that, but running is so much more than putting one foot in front of the other for endless miles.

Running helps me to be a better person. It gives me a chance to evaluate myself. A time to work through personal struggles and decide how I should respond. I think about what I've done and how I've reacted and I try to learn from those situations. And there is no better way for me to do that than in the middle of a two hour run.

Some people like to talk through their difficulties with a trusted friend, and I see the value in that; I've done that. Some people pray or journal or meditate or do yoga or drink or do any number of other things. I'm certainly not saying that running is the only way to enlightenment. Or even that running will ever get you to enlightenment. All I know is that for me, the world is a clearer, better place after a run. I am able to deal with what life throws at me. I can think more clearly. I can problem solve more effectively. I can understand better and this makes me a better person.

And, there is a part of me that runs to set an example. I am not the fastest, or the best, or the most graceful, or the most anything, but that is what gives me the opportunity to show people that anyone can run. I want my son to run. I want my husband to run. I want my friends and family to run. For way more than the physical benefits.

So, now that I have waxed philosophical and you probably still don't understand why anyone would find joy in running for more than 2 hours (let alone 5!), I just want to let you know that the next time you see me on the road, and I neglect to wave back, please remember that I am probably doing a whole lot more than just running.

And I'm loving every minute of it.

Shave and a haircut

2010-04-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Chocolate for breakfast? Yes, please!

I couldn't believe it when I saw Greek yogurt at Walmart! I was amazed. This morning I had some chocolate Oikos with Bear Naked Banana Nut granola.

I have to say that this ranks right up there with my oatmeal creations for breakfast nirvana.

Today, Penny is getting a haircut. She has been getting a little scraggy and it is time to get rid of all that excess fluff before it gets too warm outside.

Poor Jedi goes crazy when he gets put in his kennel without Penny. They don't seem to have any idea what is going on.
Check out this video.

Those are the before pictures. Stay tuned for the after!

You're a nut

2010-04-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

After the wonderful success that was my homemade peanut butter, I decided that I had to try other nuts. I started with almonds, because I found a bag of raw almonds at Aldi. It really is as simple as that. :-)

The almonds must have been a little more dry than the peanuts, because it took about 1/2 a teaspoon more oil than than the peanut butter.

It was delicious!! I am thoroughly enjoying my foray into homemade nut butters and I can't wait to try more. I think I will be adding my almond butter to my ice cream tonight. I can't wait!

In other news, this is why Tim is excited to have a son.

Welcome Tyler Matthew

2010-04-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

My cousins had their baby boy the other day! I am beyond excited for them. Poor Anne has developed this habit of getting to the hospital about an hour before she delivers, and because of this she has never experienced the wonder of an epidural. Tyler was born less than an hour and 20 minutes after their arrival at the hospital. He is doing well; eating like a champ. He was 20 inches long and weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces.

That's big brother Brady giving Tyler a kiss.

Personality test

2010-04-28T08:13:00.001-07:00

I like to take personality tests. I like to see how each measuring device displays my perceived strengths and weaknesses. The latest test I discovered was the Enneagram Personality test. I heard about it on a podcast on How Stuff Works.com and I had to take it for a test drive. I actually took the test three times. The first was a shortened version of the test, the second was a more comprehensive one, the third was a sample test from the official website. Not surprisingly, my dominant personality type was the same in both tests. My secondary types were different, as was my 'variant.'

I was not at all surprised when primary type was the Perfectionist, also called the Reformer.

Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.

I relate to a lot of this description. I am definitely afraid of making a mistake. I am well-organized, I try to maintain high standards, but I certainly have the tendency to slip into criticism and perfectionism.

Basic Fear: Of being corrupt/evil, defective
Basic Desire: To be good, to have integrity, to be balanced

I'm not sure how accurate these two statements are. I don't think my basic fear is corruption. I would relate more to feelings of failure or inadequacy. And I think the basic desires are a little off, as well. While I certainly do strive for integrity, I think I am more driven by the desire to accomplish my goals.

Key Motivations: Want to be right, to strive higher and improve everything, to be consistent with their ideals, to justify themselves, to be beyond criticism so as not to be condemned by anyone

These key motivations are pretty spot on. I am always trying to improve things. One of my mottos is: "There has to be a better way." And I hate criticism. I know that it can be good and constructive, but I am always nervous and anxious when receiving criticism of any kind.

Famous Ones: Hilary Clinton, Al Gore, John Paul II, Eliot Spitzer, Sandra Day O'Connor, Mahatma Gandhi, Bill Moyers, Martha Stewart, Ralph Nader, Katherine Hepburn, Harrison Ford, Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, George Harrison, Celine Dion, Joan Baez, George Bernard Shaw, Micheal Dukakis, Margaret Thatcher, Rudy Guliani, Kenneth Starr

That seems like a lot of politicians! I'm not sure it is the company I would like to keep.

There is a huge, long description of what typical Type Ones are like, but I won't bore you with the details. I am just fascinated by these tests and what they can point out about how we habitually behave. You can read detailed accounts of the nine different types on the Enneagram official website.

In each version of the test I took, my secondary type was different. In the first one, I scored the second highest score in Type 7. This type was also listed as the 'growth arrow' for Type ones.

Type 7: The Enthusiast. Busy, productive, extroverted, optimistic, versatile, spontaneous, playful, high-spirited, practical. Also: over-extended, scattered and undisciplined. Constantly seeking new experiences, can become distracted and exhausted. Problems with impatience and impulsiveness.

In the second test I took, my secondary type was Type Three

Type 3: The Achiever. Adaptable, success-oriented, self-assured, attractive, charming, ambitious, competent, energetic, status-conscious, highly driven for advancement. Also: diplomatic, poised, overly concerned with image and what others think. Problems workaholism and competitiveness.

The third test listed Type 5 as my secondary type.

Type 5: The Investigator. Perceptive, cerebral, alert, insighful, curious, able to concentrate and focus on develping complex ideas and skills, independent, innovative, inventive. Also: can become preoccupied with their thoughts and imaginary constructs, detached, hig-strung, intense. Problems with eccentricity, nihilism and isolation.

So, those of you who know me, what do you think? How accurate do you think these descriptions are?

Do you take personality tests? Do you think they portray you accurately? I'd love to get your ideas on this.

Goals and an adjustment

2010-04-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

I seriously have the best chiropractor in the world. I really wish she had a website so I could link it up. I really feel that she has listened to me and considered all that my running does to my body. After the training that I have put in lately, and the race last weekend, I was in desperate need of an adjustment. And boy did she deliver. I think I walked out of there two inches taller!

She spend some good time on my knees. My right knee has been giving me some occasional problems and we also noticed that I only have blisters on my right foot. Then I brought up that my right arch bothers me in the morning when I first get out of bed. She said the two words that every runner dreads....plantar fasciitis. Naturally, I freaked out. She calmed me down (I told you she was amazing) and said that I should be able to treat this with stretching and that I shouldn't even worry about it. Whew!

Back up to this morning. I got in my 7 miles and felt really good about it. Then I talked to my cousin about his new baby. Welcome to the world Tyler Matthew!! I can't wait to meet you. Anyway, jason and I discussed my Crazy Legs race and my upcoming 20K this weekend. We talked about goals that we each have....I want to run 33 races before my 33rd birthday. He wants to do 20 half or full marathons before he turns 40. I like his goal. I might take it on as my own. However, he has a considerable head start. First, he has already done at least one half marathon. And, he is two years younger than I am. Maybe doing three halves and a full isn't such a bad idea this year. We'll see. I'm going to be looking for your help to decide what I should do on August 21st. Expect a post about it soon.

What are your goals? Long-term? Short-term?

I remember when my goal was to run a 5K. Now look where I am!

Bangkok Curry

2010-04-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

How wonderful is my husband? He met me over in Wausau for dinner and ice cream and he brought the camera along in case I wanted to take a picture of my food! He really is amazing!

And I did want to take a picture. We went to Noodles and Company, one of our new favorites, and I order the Bangkok Curry with extra asparagus and snow peas. I was paying for it and I heard the guy in the back tell another employee that this was an "epic Bangkok Curry. Good call on the snow peas." I smiled and yelled back a heartfelt thank you. And it was epic. It was so good that I actually told Tim that it was almost as good as the Thai food place we used to go to when we lived in Arizona.

Jaden had a blast with his big bowl of mac and cheese.

He is such a ham for the camera.

I wonder who he gets it from? :-)

St. Claire's ER

2010-04-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I will be working in the ER over at St. Claire's hospital. I need to get some patient contacts for my EMT class and the pager for the Colby Ambulance Service never seems to go off when I can actually go on a call. I will be the first to say that that is a good thing. I know a lot of people in this community, and I am glad that they are mostly healthy. But, since I do need to get some experience dealing with people who are sick, I'm going to head over to Weston today for a few hours. I am hoping to get some hands-on experience and to learn a lot. I'm certainly nervous and I don't know what to expect, but that is part of the excitement of working in EMS, right?

I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday.

Training plan anxiety

2010-04-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was working outside, doing some planting and cleaning up of the flower beds, and I noticed that my shins were a little tight and sore from Saturday's race. I am usually not sore after races, but I knew that I pushed myself pretty hard. I was interested to see how my legs would handle today's three mile run. I am very happy to report that while I can still feel some tightness, there was no pain during today's run. And I have no reason to think that tomorrow's 7 mile run should give me any problems. I hope that the weather is nice enough tomorrow to do my 7 miles outside after I drop Jaden off at preschool.

I am really struggling right now with following my training plan. I had some very qualified help when I put together my training plan, so I (intellectually) believe that it is a good plan and that it will adequately prepare me to accomplish my goals. But, I haven't had a double digit run in over two weeks and I am getting nervous. Granted, last week was a scheduled light week and it corresponded to my minor taper leading up to Crazy Legs. This weekend I have one of my big races for the season. I am running a 20K (12.4 miles) around Lake Monona in Madison. I know that I need to take it easy for a bit before a long race like that. But, as I was running today, I realized that I have never run 12.4 miles. I did 12 miles on my birthday, and I know (intellectually) that my body is conditioned to be able to complete the distance, but I like to KNOW that I can do something before I do it. Usually this means that I will have already done it at least once. My training plan has me running a 14 mile training run prior to my half marathon in a few weeks.

I know that it is not recommended to run a training distance equal to a marathon, prior to racing that distance. And my training plan only takes me up to 22 miles. But for some reason, I think that is okay. I'm not worried about going from 22 miles to a race distance of 26.2. Why? I have no idea! If I can rationalize that, I should certainly be able to rationalize going from a training distance of 12 miles, to a race distance of 12.4 miles. I realize that you may think that I am insane. You would be close to the truth. I am just trying to learn to trust my body and to trust the training that I have put in. If I were training to be competitive in this weekend's race, I probably would have skipped Crazy Legs and focused on another long run prior to the 20K. But I wouldn't have given up the experience of Crazy Legs for anything! So, instead, I will continue to worry and ponder and anxiously wonder if I have adequately prepared myself for 12.4 miles around the lake.

TMI

2010-04-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

Jaden and I had to do some grocery shopping after church this morning. He said that he wanted me to get some strawberries. It always makes me happy when he asks for fruit so I was more than happy to oblige.

When we got home, he stated that he wanted a bowl up cut up strawberries for his snack. Fine with me.

He finished it very quickly and asked for some more. Ok. Glad to give him some more.

After that bowl, he said that he wanted a few more. For a second snack. The first two bowls were his first snack. Whatever. Four-year-old logic rarely makes any sense to me.

He finished his 'second' snack and came to tell me that he was still hungry for strawberries. I was a little curious as to how he could possibly still be hungry, but I wanted to respect him and if he said he was hungry I was willing to believe him.

Within an hour of getting home, he finished the entire one-pound container of strawberries. I didn't get a single one.

Just a note to you parents out there, a pound of strawberries will do quite a number on your child's digestive system several hours after eating them.

Ruminate on that. :-)

I hope you all had a great weekend.

Madison in Bloom

2010-04-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

It seemed that everything in Madison was blooming this weekend. It was really beautiful. Here are some of my favorites.

If I ever moved to Madison, I would have to live on this street.

After this weekend's rain, Madison should be even more beautiful next weekend when I am down there for my 20K. Hopefully, the sun will be out and I can get more pictures.

More Madison

2010-04-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

After passing my CMA exam, I decided that I needed a treat. I found this amazing Gelato place in a mall and fell in love. I got a small with half Tiramisu and half Amaretto chocolate chip. Oh, my goodness. It was amazing!

Then, I hit up Borders to find a book and did some Operation Beautiful posting. It has been too long since I have left behind some post-it notes and I think book stores are a great opportunity.

This one was my favorite!

Where to begin?

2010-04-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

I have so many things to tell you guys. I'll start with Crazy Legs. It was madness! I have never seen so many people in one place all lined up to run in the rain. Actually, the rain held off during the race. (Thank you, God.)

I left my Aunt Sharon's house a little after 8:00 because I knew that it would be insanity trying to find a parking spot. And it was. Sharon and I had talked about the two free parking spots near Camp Randall. Well, both of those were full. She had also mentioned to me that there was a school on Mills that a friend of hers was going to use to park. She told me that I should go down past the Eye Clinic to find it. Well, as soon as I saw the Eye Clinic and it's empty parking lot, I knew that my search was over!

But, let me start from the beginning. I told you guys yesterday about my CMA exam and that I passed!! Yippee! On the way to the testing site, I stopped by the Kohl Center to pick up my race registration packet.

I got there about 20 minutes before the doors opened and there was a line. There weren't that many people in front of me, but people kept showing up. By the time they opened the doors, the line was around the corner and up the block.

The CrazyLegs people do a really good job of organizing. I really have to had it to them. There were more than 20,000 runners and everything about the entire event was pretty easy for me to navigate.

You know it is a big race, when they have to subdivide the runners whose last names start with 'O.'

There was this cute older couple who was volunteering at the T-shirt area. They were really adorable and seemed to be having such a good time talking to everyone and just spending time with each other. Of course, I was one of the first ones in the door. I hope they were still enjoying it 8 hours later.

So, fast forward to race morning, I am dressed warmly, parked at the Eye Clinic and heading to Camp Randall to catch one of the many shuttle buses to the Capital Square.

Once we got dropped off at the Square, I was amazed at all the people. And, again, at the organization. Oh, and for my NY friends, here is Madison's version of the Flatiron Building.

The Capital Square is beautiful and I just couldn't stop looking at the gorgeous pink tulips! I wasn't the only one taking pictures of them.

I was in Wave Z, which was right in the middle of the pack. There were 52 waves....A-Z and aa-zz.
Looking ahead to Wave Y.

And back....

I even noticed people in the windows of the hotel who were watching all the commotion.

And this guy had one of the best seats in the house.

We even had some pre-race entertainment. This guy was very talented.

I knew that my friend Jeremy was somewhere in the sea of 20,000 people. I didn't know where, but I was silently wishing him well. I haven't seen him in quite a few years. So, imagine my surprise when I turn around to see....

This was the coolest surprise ever! What are the odds that we would wind up in the same wave and get to start the race together? What a great day!

We finally made our way to the starting line.

And, we're off!!
A nice steady climb to start the race. It didn't seem to faze me much because I (characteristically) started much faster than I wanted to.

There was a nasty hill in the second mile that just about killed me. I totally wasn't prepared for it and at one point I looked down at my Garmin to see that I was running at about a 14:00/mile pace. Yikes!

But, I just kept truckin' along. I saw my Aunt Sharon out on Observatory Drive and was thrilled to be able to ditch my jacket and leave it with her. I would have been fine to leave it around my waist, but I was afraid it was covering my race bib and I wanted to be able to search for pictures of myself later and I knew that I would need my bib to be visible.

The race finishes inside Camp Randall Stadium. We actually run onto the field and finish at the 50-yard line. Pretty cool. There is a band and tons of cheering fans. It was awesome!

I would definitely run this race again. The energy was incredible. The race was very well organized and it was so much fun. I just hope that the sun comes out next year.

Here are my stats from the Garmin:
Mile 1: 8:47 (wow!)
Mile 2: 9:23 (including killer hill)
Mile 3: 9:34
Mile 4: 9:26
Mile 5: 9:16

My Garmin recorded the race distance as 5.01 miles.

Official total from CrazyLegs officials: 20,450 participants! Wow!

Jeremy finished in 48:27. Great job. He crushed his goal time.

Provisions

2010-04-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

Yippee!!! I just have to wait for the results to be certified, but I passed!!!! I'm so excited and relieved. I feel like all the schooling and studying was worth it. I just hope that my interview this morning was as successful. I left feeling very unsure of things. It was just a tough situation to get a read on. I guess all I can do is wait and see if I hear back from them. In the meantime, I am going to celebrate this victory by running an 8K tomorrow (probably in the rain).

I hope you are all enjoying your Friday!

Test prep

2010-04-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. I am about to jump into bed and hope for a really good night's sleep. Tomorrow is a nerve-wracking day. Interview first (2nd interview in the department/meeting the physician) and then the drive to Madison for my medical assistant certification exam. I will definitely need some restful sleep tonight. I hope that I can come back tomorrow and let you know that I passed. Please keep the prayers coming. The interview is at 8:00 am and the test is at 1:30 pm. I may or may not have internet access until Saturday evening, but I will promise to fill you in on everything then. (Including my 8K Crazy Legs race and a friend's baby shower.)

Until then, I thought it would be fun to pose some practice questions for you all. See how you do.

Test anxiety

2010-04-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have this HUGE test to take tomorrow. It is my certification exam to be a certified medical assistant. I wasn't nervous about it until I heard that a friend of mine from school didn't pass. I just jumped on the American Association of Medical Assistant's website and took two practice exams. I passed both of them, but it isn't making me feel any more confident. I am VERY nervous.

On top of that, I have a second interview tomorrow morning. This is with the same department I met with on my birthday. I enjoyed the first interview and I am really looking forward to meeting the physician tomorrow and hopefully solidifying my ability to serve in the department. I really want the interview to go well, because I think this would be a really good fit for me.

What do you guys do to deal with your nerves?

Happy birthday Mikayla

2010-04-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Some days there is nothing better than a good massage. Today was one of those days. I was treated to a great massage from the wonderful staff at Back to Bliss. I love them! And I really love a massage that incorporates lots of stretches and that is just what I got from Cheryl today. Hip stretches, calves, glutes, IB bands, arms, shoulders. I could have laid there all day. I feel so much better.

Alas, the rest of my day is now calling me. I picked up Jaden from preschool and we are having some lunch....that bears a striking resemblance to breakfast. Jaden had some Rice Krispies and I am enjoying a really yummy bowl of pumpkin oatmeal.
It has:
oatmeal
flax
berries
banana
2 scoops of pumpkin
1 scoop of peanut butter

I could easily eat a variation of this for almost every meal and be a very happy lady!

My good friend JJ is having a baby today. Welcome to the world, Mikayla. You are a very blessed little girl. You have two wonderful sisters and parents who love you immensely. They are going to bring you up in the Lord and teach you what you need to know to follow Him.

Is it just me, or does it seem that everyone is having babies right now? I have another baby shower to go to on Saturday.

Four chords

2010-04-21T12:29:00.001-07:00

Here is an entertaining video that illustrates why I always seem to say "that song sounds familiar."

http://www.wimp.com/fourchords/

Newest Breakfast Sensation

2010-04-21T08:24:00.001-07:00

I have discovered a wonderful addition to my morning oatmeal. Chocolate covered raisins! Yum!! Oh, my; this was just an accidental discovery. A coworker had some dark chocolate covered raisins and she offered me a handful. I had just prepared my daily mug of oatmeal, so I just grabbed a few and threw them into the oatmeal. Best thing ever! The chocolate got all melty and mixed into the oatmeal and raisins were nice and soft and mixed well with the banana, chocolate and oatmeal. I will definitely be repeating this wonderful accident.

What is the best food discovery you've made?

Alone

2010-04-20T07:55:00.001-07:00

Today is my first day at work as the only MA. The girl I'm filling in for had her baby on Friday...a really adorable little girl. She will be out for the next 6 weeks. Which means that my countdown back to unemployment has officially begun. :-( The other MA is with her provider in Wisconsin Rapids today, so I am manning the desk by myself. My provider has a pretty easy schedule today, so I'm not at all concerned about how the day will go. It is just a little strange not having anyone else to talk to.

I'm going to try to study my Registry sheets for my EMT class today. Last week was a bit of a wake-up call. I realized that I don't comfortably know my way around a patient assessment or a trauma assessment. Actually, I'm only really comfortable with two of the six Registry stations, so I have a lot of work to do in the next 5 weeks.

I'm also searching for some easy, yet impressive, recipes for the upcoming bake sale at church. I'm in the process of garnering some volunteers and I'm really hoping that this event will be a wonderful success. What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with a really yummy dessert that you didn't have to make?!?!

Boston Finishers

2010-04-19T10:34:00.001-07:00

I have never run a 4:48 mile in my life. I think I'm doing well if I run half a mile in 4:48. I can't even imagine running a 4:48 pace for 26.2 miles. But that is exactly what Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya did today when he crossed the line first in 2:05:52. Unbelievable! Ryan Hall (my fav) came in 5th with a time of 2:08:41. To give some context....Hall's time was the same as my 12 mile run last week. Hall's finish was the fastest by an American since 1994. In 1994, I was a sophomore in high school and doing everything in my power to find excuses NOT to run.

On the women's side, Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia finished in 2:26:11 (5:35/mile pace!!) The top American was Paige Higgins who came in 13th, about 10 seconds after the leader.

My dad stopped by to take Jaden golfing as I was getting ready for work. He thought it was a little weird that I was sitting at the computer hitting 'refresh' every few seconds to stay up to date on the race. I told him that if he ever wanted to get me a really kick-ass birthday present, that he could send me to Boston to watch the race. That is certainly the only way that I will ever get there. I'm pretty confident that I will never be able to throw down a 3:45 marathon to qualify. In fact, if I were to somehow be able to maintain the same pace from my 12 mile run last week, I would finish a marathon in just under 4 1/2 hours. And I would be THRILLED with that. (I don't think it will happen.)

Congrats to everyone who ran this year's Boston marathon. You are an inspiration!

I didn't pay attention

2010-04-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

This morning's 8 mile run got away from me a little. When I run on the treadmill, I have to cover the digital display. If I didn't I would constantly be watching it and I would despair over how slowly I was running or how the distance just isn't going by as quickly as I would like it to. Today, I was just chugging along at a pretty easy pace and watching some DVR'd shows. I thought I had gone about 7 miles so I decided to take a look at the display to see exactly how much further I had to go. Imagine my surprise when I saw that I had already covered 8.6 miles! I finished out the quarter mile and was really pleased at how easy 8.75 miles felt to my legs. Granted, the treadmill workout today didn't include any hills or head winds, but I'll take it!

I hope you are have a great Monday!!d

Marathon Monday!!

2010-04-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

Today is the Boston Marathon! I never thought that I would be excited about 28,000 people running through Boston, but suddenly my life is full of running and endurance dreams. I hope to be a marathoner this year. While I have no plans of ever running a BQ (Boston Qualifier), I can't wait until I can personally understand the pain and joy of completing 26.2 miles. Personally, I am cheering for Ryan Hall. He is an amazing runner to watch. And of course, I would love an American to take the prize. On the women's side, most of the elite runners with a chance to win are foreigners, but I can't wait to see how they tackle the course. I am hoping to see part of the race before I have to go to work. I'll be watching it online. But now, I have to go run my own 8 miles. This week is a bit of a taper week leading up to Saturday's Crazy Legs run in Madison.

Bake sale time

2010-04-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

My church is going to be doing a bake sale on Mother's Day to raise some funds for some desperately needed Cafe equipment. We are using stuff that is getting old and we really want to expand and be able to offer some new things to the congregation and to the community. The Cafe is really a ministry and another way to introduce people to Northridge and to help them feel welcome.

So, my wonderful blog-reading friends. What desserts should I make for this bake sale? We are looking for fancier treats; something that you would want to surprise mom with after her Mother's Day dinner. I'm already thinking of making my Tiramisu.

But, tell me.....what do you think I should make? And be ready to provide recipes if I pick yours.

Unrequested gift

2010-04-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get a gift from someone and you know that they had the best of intentions in giving it, but you're just not sure what was going through their mind when they gave it to you? I got one of those gifts today. I'm sure that it was given in love, but I have no need for it whatsoever; and I am going to have to put some effort into getting rid of it.

I know that my dogs love me, but seriously? I don't need a half-mangled robin on my back deck.

What is the worst gift you ever got?

Making progress

2010-04-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to start taping up another wall in preparation for painting it. I had done a small section on Thursday and I really like the color.

Tonight I tackled the rest of that wall. I only got the first coat on, but I thought it was pretty good, considering I didn't even start until after dinner.

I'll do the second coat tomorrow after church and try to get a picture in better lighting. There is still a lot to paint.....

And, in case you haven't seen a cute picture of one of my animals lately, here is Nola, sitting pretty.

What do you do to change things around in your house? Do you paint? Rearrange furniture? Get new light fixtures?

Spring pictures

2010-04-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

Today I just had to revel in the wonderful beauty of God's creation. I know that I don't exactly love living in Wisconsin (I miss Arizona too much), but today was a perfect day (although a tad windy). I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Aren't they gorgeous? I can't wait until the hollyhocks start coming up. I'm also hoping to get the garden started next week. It is almost time to get those veggies in the ground.

Breakfast of champions

2010-04-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

What a great way to start my day. Jaden let me sleep in until 8:15. That never happens. I guess there are benefits Nick Jr....and teaching your kid how to turn on the TV. The only downside of sleeping that late is that the coffee is cold by the time I get up. :-(
But, I made up for it by making a really yummy breakfast.

A grilled banana on some peanut butter toast. Topped with cinnamon. Holy yum! Of course, I am going to love anything that incorporates bananas and peanut butter.

I have a 6 mile run scheduled for this morning. Since I am home with Jaden, it will have to be on the treadmill. But I am really itching to run outside again. Hopefully next week.

How late do you usually sleep in on Saturdays?

Homemade Peanut Butter

2010-04-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

I have found out that blogs are great ways to ~~stalk~~ keep up with old friends. I've discovered some great blogs by people I knew in high school and college. And I almost always learn something from them. Today, I used this post to try to make my own homemade peanut butter. Since I consider myself a connoisseur of all things nut-butter-related, I had to try out this recipe.

The ingredients were simple enough. 1 cup of unsalted peanuts. 1 1/2 tsp peanut oil. 1/4 tsp salt. Much better looking than the ingredients listed here:

All the ingredients went into the food processor and I set it spinning for about a minute and a half.

The taste was great. Very pure and peanut-y. The texture was still a little grainy, but I didn't mind it at all. It was sort of between smooth and crunchy.

Kinda makes me wish I had some celery sticks to dip in it. I might try a spoonful of it in my ice cream for dessert tonight.

So, what did I learn.....
1) Homemade peanut butter is pretty yummy
2) In my corner of the middle of nowhere, it is impossible to find shelled peanuts. I had to shell a lot of nuts to get a cup.
3) I think this recipe would work for all sorts of different nuts. I'm already thinking of almonds and macadamia nuts. Yum.

What is the last thing you made from scratch?

Things that make me happy #6

2010-04-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

Jaden picked me a lovely bouquet of 'pretty yellow flowers.' I love them. He asked me who planted the yellow flowers and I told him that God planted them. His response: "He planted them for me, so that I could pick them for you."

I love that kid.

A new day

2010-04-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

A five-mile run and one phone call later, and I am feeling better. Things get crazy in life sometimes. It is important to take care of the relationships that matter to you. I know that I am guilty of getting swept up in the day to day drudgery of life, but I need to be more intentional when it comes to the people I care about. I don't want to go so long without connecting to these people that I fail to notice when they are going through a rough patch.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13