Saturday Seven

No, not how far I ran. How many quick update items I came up with:

1) I love my training Plan for the Unser Half. Coach really listened to my goals for the upcoming half marathon and tailored my plan to help me get there. Most notably - no speedwork until *after* the half, some targetted hard surface running, and plenty of cross-training & strength work. We're focussed on getting to the finish line upright, feeling good, happy, and wanting to do it again. :-)

2) I will not be running the superbowl 5K, but I will be running the sweetheart run next weekend on my birthday. I will be sporting a new age group, W45-49, and I think that will be a grand way to celebrate.

3) I felt good doing W2 D2 pushups in column 2 yesterday. 35 pushups complete!

4) The long awaited sofa is finally here. Thank heavens!

5) Husband & I are planning a get-away of our own in March while the kids are off to New Orleans to help rebuild houses in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Hoping to have our plans firmed up by the end of the weekend.

6) Enjoyed my long run with the group this morning. Weather was 32deg and partly cloudy when we took off. It was quite nice, actually.

7) The scale isn't cooperating with my endeavor to lose 5lbs, but clothes are fitting better. I know I'm not the first to figure this out, but I'm beginning to truly believe that the exact number on the scale isn't such a big deal...

That's all for now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Try, Try Again

Somewhere along the way in Nov or December, I abandoned the push-up challenge somewhere in week 4, I believe. I was having problems with my back and problems with motivation. I also took a bloggy break. And despite good intentions, I never got the push-up challenge organized the way that I wanted to.

However, I still believe that push-ups are a great exercise so I've decided to start over. This time I'm working through column 2. I'm honestly not sure if I'll make it any farther than last time, but I'll never find out unless I try. Right?

Day 1 in column 2 calls for 6,6,4,4,5* where the 5 for the last set is a guideline for the minimum number to be done. I executed it as 6,6,4,4,8.

Wow. I think that was the first time I've ever exceeded the minimum on that last set. If nothing else, it is progress. Slow, steady progress.

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday." ~Author Unknown

January Totals

Numbers
- 51.15 miles running :-)
- 5 strength sessions
- 2 lbs lost

Plans
- Train for Unser half marathon
- a few fun runs (5Ks) in Feb
- 3 more lbs lost

Thoughts
- I'm thrilled with my running mileage for January. It was all outside too. This whole race to train thing is working well for me.
- Not doing any races was actually a benefit. It meant replacing 5Ks with longer easy runs. I think the longer easy runs are better as half marathon prep. Having said that, I'm looking at back-to-back Sunday 5KS the next few weeks. Just for fun though.
- Running with the group again. And I *heart* it.
- I need to get more serious about my strength work. It helped with injury rehab and prevention last year. I shouldn't be slacking off in this area.

Saturday 5

Our running group usually breaks into three groups. Speedy-McSpeedsters, Fast-Runners-in-Denial, and the Mid-to-Back-of-the-Packers. Sadly, I was the only Mid-to-Back-of-the Packer who showed up. Disappointed, I was prepared to run solo.

It was a chilly 24 deg when we headed out for our scheduled 5 mile run. I had decided to wear tights, two long sleeve shirts, and a fleece. Plus gloves and a warm hat. I knew within a quarter mile that I had over dressed. By the 1 mile marker, the fleece and gloves came off. At about 1.5 miles, I decided the gloves should go back on. Finally comfortable, I settled into a rhythm.

The group was encouraging when we passed each other on their way back from the turn point. Hoots and hollers and high fives. The positive energy motivated me to kick it up a notch.

Then the oddest thing occurred. One of the Speedy McSpeedsters (a guy who's training for Boston) decided to run out a little longer so he could meet up with me near 2.5 mile turn point and keep me company for the run in.

My run group rocks.

Three things Thursday

Furiture -

The sofa is expected to arrive at the warehouse on Saturday which would make it available for delivery some time next week. Sigh. And why should we beleive you this time?!? I'll feel a lot better when they tell me that they actually have it in stock. Until then, we're being all trendy with a couple of card table chairs making due...

Fasting Blood Work -

Today is my annual "health for life" blood work. Which requires 12 hr fasting. Which means I'm hungry and decaffeinated. And cranky. Very very crankky. I'm thinking of taking coffee with me to the lab...so I can have it immediately after they draw blood. Can you say addict?!

Run Schedule -

I'm supposed to be running 3 times per week. The plan is Sat long run. Sunday recovery run. And a shortish run either Tuesday or Thursday with the group. This week I made it on Tuesday so I can take today off. Which is nice, because another storm came through and it is raining at the moment. Yeah, sure, I'm well aware that many of you run in the rain. I'm a weather adverse desert dweller so you gotta' cut me some slack...

Early Evening Run

Met up with the Running Group in the early evening for a nice 3 miler. I would have liked to go farther, but we were running against sunset. It will be easier in a few weeks when it stays light later.

There was one new guy who's a friend of my half-marathon training partner. He says he wants to do Unser with us. Woot! That makes three. How exciting is that?!

Anyway, I really enjoyed the run. I may feel differently in a few months, but for now it is nice to be back with the group again. Nice to see everyone again.

I wasn't wearing my Garmin, but someone else was and she said we were doing about a 10:15 pace. That's slow for most of them, but actually a good workout for me.

Honestly, I can't wait to get my half-marathon training plan from Coach. I'm ready to Go.For.It!!

Four unrelated thoughts

Furniture

Because of the problems I've been having with my back, we decided to get a new sofa and loveseat. Found something with good back support at LazyBoy. Yay. Set delivery for Friday. They confirmed said delivery on Thursday.

We had found a family that could use our old sofa/loveseat and were happy to give it to them.

Then, about an hour before the new sofa/loveseat were scheduled to arrive, I got a call. Only the loveseat could be delivered. Sofa is not in stock, but was supposed to arrive by now. Sigh.

So now we have a loveseat and a big empty space waiting for a sofa. Which I *hope* will arrive this week.

It's a discontinued color and we got it on sale, so I'm a bit nervous.

Running Group

Debut was on the schedule for Saturday. However, a storm came through Friday night / Saturday morning. Most of the group bailed in the morning.

A few of us showed up anyway.

I must say, it was something special. Except for a few bridges which were sketchy, the trail was in good shape. The snow along side was beautiful. The weather was nice...32-ish and no wind.

We enjoyed 5 wonderful miles along the Bosque trail. It was spectacular.

Haiti

A young couple from our church had been trying to adopt a little girl from Haiti for the past 2.5 yrs. It's been a frustratingly slow process. She was 6mo old when they started the process; she is 3 yrs old now.

In the midst of the tragedy caused by the earthquake, they got good news. The US embassy was speeding up adoptions already in progress.

They flew to Orlando to pick up their new daughter yesterday morning. Amazing.

Age of Majority

My firstborn, my son, the boy who forever changed my life, turned 18 this past Wednesday.

I'm sad about how quickly time has passed, but I couldn't be more proud of the wonderful young man that he has become.

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Monday morning weigh-in 124.6 lbs