In less than 72 hours I’ll be weighing in at Weight Watchers and jump-starting my 365 days to a fitter (and happier) me. So what does one do in their last 72 hours of freedom? Some might indulge in favorite treats or “last meals” but I kind of don’t believe in that. I think that is the sort of flawed thinking that gets us into these messes to begin with. (Though I will admit I had full fat milk in my coffee this morning. *gasp!*
I am taking a different kind of approach during these last 72 hours. I am preparing the tools for my success.
1. My Weight Watchers Card. I am signed up for auto-pay and ready to hit the scale Friday morning and my meetings on Monday nights.
2. A Notebook. I can plan meals and work outs a week in advance. I can keep my WW logs in here, save measurements, and brainstorm for future blogs.
3. Water to Go. I am cleaning my trusty pink water bottle and getting her ready for some serious water drinking action.
4. DVDs. I am sorting through workout DVDs to pull out some faves for days I just cannot make it to the gym.
5. Yoga. I am busting out the new yoga mat and block I got for Christmas and looking for some classes to take in town.
6. Gym Schedule. I need to learn the weight machines and maybe take a class or two. The New Year is all about learning full body fitness.
7. Blogs. I am reading YOUR blogs to get some excellent fitness and food ideas.
8. Disney. Yes maybe it seems lame but looking forward to my next trip (and run) at Disney takes me to my happy place! I think its fine to pull inspiration from wherever you can (or wherever you want).
9. Volunteering. I am looking for races or events to volunteer at. Nothing is quite as inspirational as watching amazing athletes push their limits.
10. Friends. I am rallying family and friends to keep me on track. Your loved ones are probably your most valuable resource. They want to see you succeed!
After the Disney Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon I swore I would NEVER do another 1/2 marathon. I was emotionally and physically exhausted from the race and sort of fell out of love with running. Even though the outcome was a happy one, I simply felt “done” after this experience.
However, after a few weeks to reflect (and truth be told be lazy) I feel that nagging feeling that something is missing from my life. That something is running and fitness in general. While being active is so important, I know deep down it is the running I miss. I miss the feeling of pushing my boundaries, getting stronger with each outing, and feeling good about my accomplishments. So with all of these warm and fuzzy running feelings in place next week I begin my training for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon.
Those of you who follow the blog know the Princess 1/2 did not turn out as I had hoped last year. However, instead of going into this race with those demons haunting me I am looking at this race as “just for fun”. I am planning to follow a 10 week training schedule, run the race as best I can, and if it stops feeling fun/rewarding/beneficial on the big day I will bow out gracefully instead of getting myself all hurt like last year!
Since I have completed a 1/2 marathon I feel the pressure is off and I can just enjoy this one. To be honest I am most excited about getting back into a disciplined routine. I will only be breaking my schedule for a 4 day trip to New York next week. I am going to spend the next month getting back in shape, hopefully re-losing the pounds I have gained 😦 to get back to my lowest weight loss as seen HERE and then start the new year fresh. At that point I will begin the weekly weight segments, photo updates, and monthly recaps that I have been so excited about including on the blog.
For now, I am getting myself geared up for my running schedule. A new shoe fitting might be in order as I ended up with bloody toes after the Wine and Dine 1/2. What style running shoes do you use? I am also looking for some warm running gear, new I-pod jams, and just a touch of tenacity.
While I know the journey is a difficult one, you cannot replace the feeling you get from giving 100%. The pavement and I may have been on a break all Ross and Rachael style but we are getting back together.. Im going to get back out there and Run In Pink!!
Cheer 1: My New Netbook. After work the hubs and I were running errands and moseyed into Best-Buy. We had talked about getting a netbook for traveling purposes (plus I had total netbook envy in Chicago!) and while I was in LOVE with a pink one by HP the hubs was trying to get me to settle for one that was a little more practical. However, today he came to the understanding that the heart wants what it wants (hehehe) and I am the proud owner of a new pink netbook. Woohoo! (Thanks hubs. I heart you!) Writing Running in Pink Project on a pink computer-how perfect is that?
Cheer 2: Date Night. While I love running errands with the hubs (looking at you Target, Groomer, and Bank!) it is always nice to have some one on one time that is just for fun. Tonight the hubs and I had date night on the cheap and went to the dollar movies (yup it’s really a dollar-isnt that awesome?!?!) to see Knight and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. As you can see the movies are a little older but sometimes we just wait it out. I mean it’s a dollar-come on! When the hubs and I watch previews we look at each other and will either say “Real Movies”, “Dollar Movies” or “Not Interested”. It’s a foolproof system for the most part though Dinner For Shmucks did trick us into paying full price. Ha! Anyway, tonight’s movie was really fun and we finished off the day cooking dinner at home. It was very relaxing and much needed.
Cheer 3: Weekend Kick Off. Frankly this cheer is attached to every Friday but I am especially excited for this weekend. My oldest (in years not age) and best pal Tiffany is throwing a birthday party for her little guy. He turns 1 this week. So the hubs and I are headed up to Richmond to get our party on Elmo style. I am excited to catch up with Tiff, Robert and their families and hold some precious babies. Good stuff! Also on tap for the weekend: some craving curbing (burgers), a movie (Step Up 3D or The Other Guys), and some fall wardrobe shopping on Sunday. You all know how I adore some shopping and as an added bonus it gets me out of seeing Piranha 3D (true story) with the hubs and some of his pals.
So tell me:
What are your weekend plans?
And
What are your “must have” clothing/accessory items for fall?
I leave you with a photo of my precious pup right from the groomers so fresh and so clean! Have a Happy and Healthy Weekend!!!
For once our big Sunday workout plans, well, worked out. The hubs and I got up bright and early for some running and cycling. For those of you who read my blog often you might be thinking “She bikes/cycles?” And the answer to that is no, at least I haven’t been. I bought a bike three years ago during one of those divine moments of inspiration when I thought “ok this is how I am going to shed some pounds.” I rode it maybe 5 times and I was over it. However, I was thinking with my new healthy living lifestyle it might be time to revisit biking. Plus the hubs is an avid cyclist. In fact, cycling is how he lost fifty+ pounds B.S.R (Before Sara Renee) 😉 Since it is such a passion of his I thought it would be something else great for us to do together. He has taken on running like a champ and now it is my turn to give his sport a try!
I recently had an acquaintance who is working toward losing 200+ pounds ask me if there was a way for her to “bike at her size”. I thought this was an excellent question so I started looking for answers. For those with a little excess weight you can buy a wider seat for your bike, try a recumbent bike, or invest in some padded shorts to maximize comfort. I can tell you firsthand that biking at a weight that is not ideal can be painful. It’s the truth. But with the right modifications it can also be great. I also wanted to find some answers for individuals who had more than just “some” weight to lose. Ideally I did not want to have to say you should start on one of the bike machines at the gym. It’s not the same thing. So after doing some research I foundSuper Sized Cycles. Super Sized Cycles makes a variety of bikes for larger individuals and can accommodate up to a 550 pound person. While I have never used a Super Sized Cycle product I did communicate with them via email before writing this blog and the staff is very responsive and knowledgeable. They want to “spread the word that people of ALL sizes can bike” and I think that is pretty great.
It had been ages since I have even seen my bike. I bought it at Bikes Unlimited in Lynchburg, VA with the help of my husband (then fiance) and knowledgeable sales staff. I was obnoxious when I went in and demanded a pink bike. Ahem. I know better now and while I prefer pink and will pay a little more for pink athletic equipment is really not the place to make such a fuss over color. However, they managed to find me a pink bike that didn’t suck (Yipee) so I am now cycling in pink! My goal is to get up to 25 miles. Today I biked three. I know to avid cyclists this is only a drop in the bucket but to have some perspective I could not run for 3o seconds this time 8 months ago. The distance will come. The intensity will come. For now I will enjoy the workout and concentrate on getting stronger and faster and better.
Our Bikes
Me trying to remember how to even ride a bike. 🙂
After the 3 mile ride came a 4 mile run. It was slow and there was quite a bit of walking involved. Getting up and going this morning was a slow process so it was much too warm before I ever got on the trail to run. On the way back in that 1 mile marker has never looked so good. It’s funny how just knowing you are on the last mile puts the spring right back in your step.
I was completely worn out after all of this and starving. I had not eaten anything yet. Bryan and I headed out to Panera where I had a small BBQ chicken salad and 1/2 of a turkey/spinach/artichoke panini with red onions and tomato. YUM!
After lunch we ran some errands and ended up at the mall. 😉 I had one of those fabulous New York and Company coupons that offered 60.00 off a 125.00 purchase. I love to use NY&CO for all of the seasonal trends that you don’t want to spend a fortune on. You know? If you need a black dress visit Nordstrom but if you need a lime green cardigan visit NY&CO. Anyway the store was pretty much all on sale so I bought a ton of clothes for 60.00 or so ( I will show you some of my favorite pieces soon). I got loads of items in my new favorite color combo (gray/yellow/white). It has been my new favorite combination for all of 18 hours or so since I saw it on Katherine Heigel at the end of Killers last night.
I am sitting back waiting for the hubs to finish dinner (YAY for a man who knows how to cook) and watching Alice In Wonderland on DVD. How do you love to spend your Sundays?
Besides being a fantastic U2 song it was also kind of the theme of my day. Yesterday I planned to blog but things got so hectic I completely spaced. The highlight of my day yesterday was certainly my visit to see the hair guru Caleb. I am rocking the Snow White look here. Maybe I should be her in the Princess 1/2 marathon next year!
This morning I was up super early for a Saturday. I had a handful of All Bran crackers because I strongly believe I have been waiting too long to eat in the mornings. I know I have mentioned these guys before but I love these crackers. They have almost a sweet taste. Having them with some milk is my absolute favorite.
I got in some stretching and errands before breakfast. I contemplated a workout but the hubs and I have a pretty major workout planned for tomorrow and I want to be at my best for it. Definitely check in with me tomorrow to see how it goes. After the errands/stretching I made my famous low fat Vanilla French toast. In order to make this you will need:
2 eggs (or 6 egg whites which I prefer)
3/4 cup skim milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Nutmeg (to taste)
It is SO simple. You mix the above ingredients, dunk your whole grain bread, and “fry” with non-stick Pam/Butter Spray. Then drizzle on some fat free syrup, cut up a side of fruit, and add a slice of turkey or soy sausage. Yum! I had mine with a V8 fusion.
After breakfast only one of the twosome that is Bryan and Sara headed up to Roanoke for an event with friends. One of my best friends baby girl is turning one and today was her party. Bryan gets a free pass though because he needed to spend some time with a friend who is going into the military.
For those of us who are not yet to the baby phase of life sometimes these events can be, well, awkward. I knew that was not going to be the case with Kristen’s party for her baby and I was right. It was gorgeous. Pink and brown decor, fresh cut flowers, a cookout by the pool, cocktails for the grown-ups… I told her minus the babies and it could have been a party I threw for myself. 😉 Speaking of babies, her little one looked adorable and all of the kids/babies were so well behaved and precious. It was a really adorable and fun event.
Did I mention how much I LOVE the pink? Partying in Pink. I like it!!!
Every Last Detail was Gorgeous.
This made me giggle all day. Keeping the big “kids” and the little kids happy is the key to a great party!
My thoughtful pal made sure to have some veggie burgers for me since red meat and I are not really seeing much of each other anymore. I also had one scoop of baked beans and one gigantic scoop of pasta salad. I was also told I had to mention the one Hershey kiss I ate too.
I love good cookout food. Yum!
We of course took a moment to pose for some pictures…
Kristen and I
Nikki~Me~Kris= The New Charlies Angels. 😉
After the Birthday party I headed back home to meet up with the hubs. We decided we wanted a relaxing night so we ended up at the movies. I love love love Katherine Heigel so we went to see Killers. I see all of her movies. Do you have an actor or actress that you cant resist going to see? I was also excited to see her hair in this movie since the previews are what inspired my current hair cut if you recall. We had a great time. We split one Icee which is my favorite indulgence at the movies. My stomach may hurt a little from all the sugar but it was really tasty. What is your movie snack of choice?
I am that most excellent kind of tired and am heading to bed. I have ONE big workout to rest up for. Fingers crossed there is no rain!!
So this morning Bryan and I were scheduled to run the AEP Festival in The Park race in Roanoke, Va. There was a 10K and 5K option which I always enjoy. As some of my regular visitors may know, I live about an hour from Roanoke (and these races start early) so time is of the essence. I first want to say this is one of the only races I have done with no email reminder the week of the race with essential information. We had an address given to us when we registered for packet pick-up so that is where we headed this morning bright and early. I started the day with my pre-race breakfast of a whole grain English muffin with organic peanut butter and a V8 fusion. I think this is going to be my default racing breakfast from this point on.
We drove an hour to the location knowing packet pick up was 6:30-7:30 and when we got there we find out that this was only the location for early packet pickup and regular packet pick up is at the race site. This is not terribly uncommon but we realized we had no idea where the race was. We assumed the packet pickup people would tell us. So after getting out the hubs smart phone we look up the race page on facebook which did not have the information we needed. So, we then looked up the page for the Festival In the Park itself and finally found the address. We plug it in the GPS and I see we will arrive at 7:40. Ahem. The race is at 8:00 so I am thinking worse case scenario we are a minute or two late and we run the 5k instead of the 1ok and The End. We park and full on run to the packet pickup. It is now 7:52. We find a volunteer who is really nice and says” hurry up there so you can catch someone. We are about to start.” So we get to the pick up table to find 1 girl, empty tables, and her basically saying “Sorry we closed down at 7:30” Its now 7:55 or so. So the hubs tries to reason with her (we know now the packets are in her car) and she refuses. So the gun goes off, the race starts, and we are numberless and kind of pissed. There were WAY less runners than I anticipated so that was the one thing that kept me from losing my mind on this poor girl right there. We take some responsibility for being late of course but the information was confusing and it was a “fun run” not the Olympics-They should have just let us run. I did manage to snap a couple of pictures for the blog before the bitterness set in.
Downtown Roanoke
The Race we SHOULD have run. Ahem.
The Park
From what I could tell the event itself was well organized. There were plenty of medical staff, police, etc on hand. The post race food looked good and it would have been a fun area to run in. There is always next year I guess. 🙂 Since I was REALLY upset the hubs suggested we register to run The Uncle Billy’s Day 2 miler in Altavista VA, and The Percivals Island 5 miler here in Lynchburg. I also registered for a 5K on the 19th here in town. My husband won’t be joining me but he will be coming out to show support which is pretty cool too.
End Recap——————————————————————————————————————————–
After leaving the “race” I was feeling down so Bryan suggested stopping in a little town in between Roanoke and home called Bedford for a run. This was a gorgeous park and I will admit it made missing the race a little easier to take.
Bryan has been having some shin issues lately so we decided to do a nice gentle run. Does anyone have any tips for avoiding or nursing shin splints? Even injured the hubs was ready to run with me.
He was even “Running In Pink” (sort of)
Hey pink is pink. It totally counts
After leaving the park we headed home and got showered and changed for an afternoon out. I decided on some black pants, a very Spring-ified ruffly shirt with a cropped cardigan. I of course carried my yellow bag which has been my summer staple. I keep seeing these yellow leather bags popping up everywhere. I choose to ignore the fact that yellow is very in for summer and instead go on under the delusion that it’s all because of this fabulous bag I bought while I was in FL for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. I also included this shot because I have not put up a full body progress shot in a while. 🙂
We headed to Depot Grillfor lunch. I like the atmosphere of being by the river and the train tracks. It has kind of a cool vibe.
I also love that you can write on the tables and walls with the crayons they leave for you. I of course had to endorse my blog and Bryan decided we needed to make sure our names made it on the wall.
We both chose Smoked turkey wraps with fries for lunch. I have been REALLY craving fries so I had some. Its that simple. Tomorrow I am back to clean eating and the french fry craving is gone.
After lunch the hubs wanted to treat me to a cupcake and who am I to turn down a cupcake? (All things in moderation and I havent had one in weeks. ) Soo we headed over to Tasty Selections where we picked up matching Creme Brulee cupcakes to go.
I spent an afternoon shopping where I (gasp) bought nothing and then ran some errands. Tonight is more errand running and dinner out with my hubs.
I am so so so looking forward to a weird combination of activities tomorrow. First up is an extra fabulous day of brunch, shopping and Sex and the City 2 with a girlfriend followed by urban camping with the hubs pals. It will be interesting for sure. I cant wait to share it with all of you! Have a Happy and Healthy LONG weekend!
Today was another bright and beautiful day in Virginia for the most part. It would have been a great day to run, play disc golf, or do other various outdoorsy type things. However, the hubs and I decided since we are pretty much committed to something for at least the next month’s worth of weekends we were going to relax. I was craving a “good old country” breakfast this morning but was unwilling to spend the average 1,000 calories (no joke i looked it up) this breakfast has at some of the most popular breakfast spots. So with subbing whole wheat toast, turkey sausage, skim milk, and not inviting butter to the party we were able to have a HUGE breakfast for a reasonable caloric price tag. Not that I would advise this every single morning as it was a little on the high side but it was exactly what I wanted and worth every last calorie!
After breakfast the hubs and I split for a bit. He took care of mowing the lawn, weed eating, etc and I took care of putting away what felt like a century worth of laundry, wiping down the kitchen etc. I did take a break to bust out my new yoga mat which I love. I especially love the color. While pink will always be dearest to my heart I really do heart an Alice In Wonderland blue. I know nothing about yoga mats though. What should one look for when buying a mat?
After a morning of housework it was lunch time. Since I had such a big breakfast I wanted to skip out on lunch completely however we all know its not wise to go hours and hours with no food so I had a tiny slice of a frozen Wolfgang Puck BBQ pizza. As promised I am slowly collecting some interesting color and pattern plates so you don’t have to look at the same plates everyday. It turns out buying mismatched plates is rather fun.
The rest of the day was lazy and fantastic. It was just what we needed to recharge. Due to some stressors at work and home in recent weeks I felt like I had not slept in months. It felt great to snuggle with with hubs, watch some TIVO, nap, and kind of do our own thing. The hubs plays a lot of video games while I blog, read blogs, and research vacations for us. Anyone else out there a video game widow?
For dinner we decided on a classic combo: salad and sandwich. Dinner was really colorful which I love. The sandwich was built like this: wheat bun bottom, pickles, deli turkey, green apples, 2% cheddar,lettuce, tomato, honey mustard, and wheat bun top. We had this with salad mix from the bag (yes I cheated) dried cranberries, and a balsamic vinaigrette. Also pictured is a side of “sweet midget” pickles (that is really what they are called) and some apple sauce. It felt like a very Spring friendly meal which I love!
My week was so full and crazy last week that tonight is the first time I have thought about the weigh in tomorrow. I know I ate right and worked hard but I will not be surprised if the incredible stress I was under rears its ugly head on the scale this week. I will try not to get too down in the morning if it does. There is a new beautiful week in front of me, a 10K coming up, a Sex and the City 2 date with a girlfriend, a jewelry party, and some Alice in Wonderland fun in store this week. How could I not smile? What are you looking forward to this week?
Three cheers for getting this house back in order today! I am so excited to show off the new bedroom so that is what I am going to do. There are a couple of items missing but I’ll explain as we go along. Bryan and I had tons of old mismatched hand-me-down pieces which I am proud to say are now living in the dorms and apartments of college kids who came by to get them today. 🙂 The color scheme for the bedroom came from my love of Tiffanys box blue. This is a little greener but that was the initial inspiration. The idea for the stripes came from the “Splat” episode of Sex and The City WAY back in 2004. I am obsessed with that show so I will drop a SATC reference from time to time. Anyway I have included the clip that shows the bathroom from which I decided stripes were where it was at! If you are offended by language don’t watch as the f-bomb gets dropped a time or 6.
Now with that said, here is a look at the new bedroom.
When you go in this is immediately to your left
The pink accents are my one homage to my formerly totally pink bedroom. Ive been told I can have a pink chair so I might need to be on the lookout for that!
Next comes this corner. In the corner I hope eventually have a cool chair and under the double pictures a small desk.
Now, I am sure you noticed the random Audrey “tile pic” hanging just to the left of the dresser. She is the top of what is going to become a water-fall of frames. All of which will have very stylish photos of people in my life. The Audrey tile talks about fashion so I want to make sure all of the frames and pictures to go under it sort of embody that spirit.Here is a close up of the tile.IT was given to me as a thank you gift for doing wedding make-up. 🙂
Here is the close-up of the double frames. I am trying to decide what goes in the Winne the Pooh quote frame. I LOVE a frame that says something.
Under those frames will go a small desk and small chair for me! I am thinking of something like this and this. Luckily I already have 2 super awesome items to “Sara in Wonderland” out my desk area once I settle on one!
cooleset mousepad ever
Next we have the bedside tables and bed. My table is much more crowded than Bryans. I have tons of books, magazines, face cream, nail polish etc on mine. 🙂
I love the deep chocolate and silver bedding since its a subtle match and not as matchy matchy as what we had before. I saved it though because I love switching the looks out sometimes. Can you believe this set was only 24.99?? Crazy!
As we move to the right you can see the silver draped curtains I picked up over the weekend. They are a perfect match for the silver in the bedding.
This corner also has our hamper, some photos, and our super awesome "melty" clock that I think is very Wonderland-ish
Moving to the right again there is a stone table against the wall at the foot of the bed. It leaves enough of a path to walk through to get to the other side. The TV and DVD player, a vase, and a photo frame are on the stone table. My Audrey Hepburn print is above it. I despise the poster frame she is in so if anyone knows of where I can get a good deal on a HUGE frame let me know.
To the right of this is Bryan’s closet. Mine is upstairs and it is a sight to behold. Ill have to give you the tour sometime! To the right of the closet is the new chest of drawers followed by the door.
The print above the chest of drawers is the cheshire cat drawing we got at MGM (or Hollywood Studios-whatever) during our trip for our 1st wedding aniversary.
And finally a couple more random shots:
Any ideas where I can find an overstuffed fabulous pink chair or a ginormous frame?
After this was all done I made some lettuce wraps for dinner. Here is my recipe:
1.25 lbs Jennie-O Extra Lean ground turkey (1 package)
1 head of Boston leaf lettuce
1 carrot, peeled and minced
1clove of garlic, chopped
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1 chopped onion small
1 green pepper chopped small
Juice of four limes
2 tsp Sriacha chili sauce (or more. I use more)
(to taste) green onions, chopped
Garnish:
1 red pepper, minced
1/2 cucumber, deseeded and julienned
2 tbsp roasted cashews, chopped
Preparation
Cook turkey in skillet till no longer pink, then transfer to a dish and cool in refrigerator. Remove core from head of lettuce, then wash and dry leaves. Combine veggie ingredients (carrots through green onions) in a bowl, then stir-fry in olvie oil until soft then stir in cooked Jennie-O turkey. Arrange lettuce leaves on the outer rim of a serving plate. Spoon turkey mixture onto the center of each lettuce leaf to create wraps. Garnish with peppers, cucumber and cashews.
We did not garnish tonight but I served them with a side of whole grain rice.
For the rest of the night I am catching up on Blogs and TIVO, snuggling with my pups, and having some fabulous Skinny Cow Ice Cream. Only 2 points for this container!
In terms of the Caring in Pink Project Challenge I am making sure to send a thank you note and a little gift to a friend who did something nice for me over the weekend.
We need to let those we love know we are thinking of them! Positivity breeds Positivity so I challenge you to go out of your way for someone tomorrow! Hold a door, send a note, or just make a quick call to a loved one. Let me know how it turns out!
Look at me rocking an afternoon Blog! Normally I am at work during this time but I took a personal/vacation day to get some much needed things done here at home. Really the bulk of my morning was quite boring until I decided to take a well deserved break and go for a run. When my husband reads this he is going to cringe but all I had this morning was some coffee and I decided, after reading a lot on other blogs about running before eating versus after, that I would try my first pre-breakfast run. This is a special little pet peeve of the hubs and I think it is because he worries about me getting sick or hurt while I am out there alone so his concern is valid. However, I just thought I would give it a try to see how my body reacted to it.
I had intended on doing 6 miles today but due to the pouring rain I only ended up doing 5. There is something sort of cool about running in the rain. It kind of makes you feel tough but peaceful all at the same time. Plus the trail was empty for the most part. It reminded me of training in the dead of winter for the Princess 1/2 Marathon.
I got all rain geared up and set out for a run.
It was pouring the rain so my “beginning of the run” shot is a little blurry.
The trail is paved with mile markers and almost tented by huge trees. It blocked the rain enough to make it bearable. I was getting pretty drenched but not soaked to the core like I would have been otherwise.The other cool thing about the trail is you can take off road (dirt) trails that sort of take you all over. This is what I do when I run with Bryan but when I run alone I stick to the pavement.
It’s comforting to be alone with your music, concentrating on breathing and taking good strides.
I ran under some bridges
And across them..
I used to hate this part of the run (I am scared of bridges) until a work friend told me to turn off my i-pod when I cross. The sounds of rushing water are so peaceful that its now one of the best parts of this run!
It was at this point that I started regretting my no pre-run fuel choice. I felt hungry which was fine, but I also felt like I could be running stronger if Id eaten a little something before I went out. Live and learn. It was also at this point that I decided to turn my 6 miler into a 5 miler. I was cold and hungry and I wanted to finish strong. However, I still had a little distance to go before I turned around. I ran through the tunnel which was extra wet and gross because of the storm.
Then I hit more open trail.
I headed back the way I had come and then ran by the garden. I got a little extra kick in my step because I was literally seconds away from being finished.
Finally, I saw the most beautiful thing of all…..My car. 🙂
I was cold and wet and starved. I packed up the wonderbug and headed home. On my way the hubs called and invited me to lunch. He had been meeting with his academic adviser for the engineering program at ODU (yes I am very proud!) and wanted to grab a quick bite before heading back to the office. He decided on Mexican which was fine with me since I would have eaten almost anything by this time. I ordered a salad with grilled chicken and by salad I mean a plate of lettuce with grilled chicken, goat cheese, salsa and a slice of tomato on top. Its not fancy but it was good. I also split a side of rice with the hubs and ate a few chips. I was actually shaky by the time we got there so the chip eating was kind of a must.
On the way out I grabbed an Andes mint. These are addictive to me. I cannot keep them in the house. One is of course fine, 20 not so much. 😉 So I had my lone mint and headed home.
I am getting back to work on the house and hopefully meeting up with someone who is buying our old dresser (YAY!). I am really looking forward to “The Big Reveal” of the new bedroom later this week! What is your favorite place to run?
I will recap the rest of my day later tonight. Have a Happy and Healthy Day!
Be Thankful Each Day In The Month Of May: Today I am thankful for my job. Yes its stressful at times. However, I love working with families and kids. I am grateful to have a steady income in an unsteady economy. I am thankful to work with a wonderful team of people who genuinely care about the kids and families we work with. I have a cool boss who watches Gossip Girl and gives excellent workout advice. I get to work close to my house with a pretty flexible schedule. I really cant complain. 🙂
My April Challenge was to lose 6lbs in the month of April. Even though this has been a rough month for me in terms of weight loss I did lose a total of 7.4lbs in April. Success!
Now May is upon us and I started thinking of a new challenge. I want to hit the 2lb a week target if at all possible so I am looking for an 8 lb loss in the month of May! I know some weeks I have big losses and others small so I am not caring so much about the increments in which I lose the weight, just the total itself. Keep your fingers crossed!
My next May challenge is to combat the negativity in my life. That is why I am doing a Be Thankful Each Day in the Month of May challenge. At the end of each May blog I want to post one thing I am thankful for on that day. I think it will be a good way to stay on track with the power of positive thinking.
My final May challenge is the Caring in Pink Project. 😉 I want to make sure I reach out to friends and family this month with phone calls, cards etc and get into the habit of expressing my love and friendship to the wonderful people in my life. It’s also a great way to make sure I don’t get so wrapped up in my own life and drama that I forget there is an important world out there with great people worth the effort.
On a final note I have decided to buy myself 5 new songs a month to keep the workout music fresh. So far for this month I have:
Usher – OMG
Help me with my May music! What are some awesome new songs to get my workout on to???
Be Thankful Each Day in The Month of May: Today I am thankful to have good friends who know me so well they can text me photos of housewares that I would love,send me links to bracelets I should buy (and WOULD buy), who are honest with me (even when it hurts) and who love me just the way I am.
The Running In Pink Project 
