6 miler

So today I set out to run my long run for the week, which was a six miler.  My friend Lisa was able to come with me and it was fun to run together.  I think of myself as a runner, while Lisa thinks of herself as a swimmer who is getting into running.  So I think in my head I picture myself as being faster at running than her...however ...not sure where I got this idea.  We usually keep up with each other so we seem to have about the same pace, but then we always try to run as hard as we can for the last final stretch (1/2 mile or so) of each run.   Today, said final stretch happened to be climbing a GIANT hill.  (the elevation changes are listed below and you can see that the last mile increase by 52 feet, which doesn't sound like much--but let me assure you it felt steep!!)  I told myself that I would run really hard before I got to the hill  (while it was still flat) instead of waiting until the last stretch, however once I got there Lisa kept going strong.  I tried to keep up, but she eventually lost me, well--only by about 10 seconds or so.

I was exhausted, but it is nice to feel like you worked your body to its capacity.  And that is definitely what it felt like--my legs OR my lungs could not go any faster. 

This was the 3rd time I have run 6 miles, and this is a new PR (62 minutes). WOOO!!

And while I was wondering how on earth my friend had that much left in her, I remembered that she wasn't just any swimmer--but she was in the Olympic Trials for the breast stroke!  So while she may not have trained as a runner, I am pretty sure her amazing lung capacity and endurance has transferred over.  If I can just keep trying to keep up with her I will definitely keep setting new personal records :) 

**All my race stats are from my friends' fancy technological gadgets.  This is from Lisa's iphone app.  

The area that says "splits" are the times for each of our miles. 

Random Chinle Trivia--if you look at the map you can see our neighbohood (the first loop on the left.)  That loop goes around the outside of our entire neighborhood and the hospital and it is about 2 miles.  Then we ran down the hill to the highway and then about two miles up the road  (aka--more than  half way through town).  Pretty much the entire town of chinle is on this tiny little map. 

Happy Halloween!

One of the fun things about Halloween is that it is a holiday that lingers.  Rachel got to wear her halloween costume to school today for her class party, and then we have a neighborhood halloween party at the park tomorrow, a church party tomorrow night, and then real Halloween the next night.    Rachel choose to be a cheerleader--and more specifically a Wildcat's cheerleader.  I was a little confused at first why she chose that particular name.  I thought she was talking about the Chinle High School Football team because their mascot is the Wildcats.  Then I got her to explain a little more--and she told me that this boy in her class plays football with his friends during recess and their team is the wildcats--and she cheers for them.  :) Ha ha So cute!   It later came out that they got their name from the High School Musical because their school mascot is the Wildcats.  So when I showed her pictures of Cheerleader costumes online she got so excited she found this one that is from High School Musical. 

We haven't been in Chinle for a Halloween yet--but I am actually excited to be here because apparently it is CRAZY!  Since so many of the houses here are spread out, the government housing neighborhood where we live is one of the few places where kids can come and actually walk from house to house to go trick-or-treating.   We have been warned to buy TONS of candy and be prepared for non-stop trick-or-treaters from around 6:00 until the security guards send everyone home.    Should be interesting. :)

Go Wildcats!

Hope your halloween weekend is full of fun!

Two's

20 degrees

2 pairs of socks

Two pairs of pants

Two shirts  (+ a sweater)

Went with two running buddies

Todays run:  4 miles 

(11:45 min/mile pace--was shooting for faster...but cold legs can only go so fast in the morning.)

 

 

PS-Cali did not join me today, I snuck out of the house without her...which is why she is following me around--thinking she might get to go for a walk after all.

Crazy Outfit Day at school

It should come as no surprise that Rachel was a natural at picking out a crazy mismatched outfit to wear to school today.    She is psyched that they get to wear fun clothes at school this week, tomorrow is pajama day, and Friday they get to wear their Halloween costumes--a 2nd graders dream come true! 

The wind is not my friend

Training for the half marathon in January was going along great, until last week, when the glorious fall weather turned to cold winter weather.  Probably my fault for rubbing it in to my family in Phoenix that we had such nice weather the past few weeks.  Waking up in the morning at 6am and having to run in the dark is hard enough, without waking up to FREEZING temps.  And with 12 weeks to go until race day, and winter just beginning, it doesn't seem like it is going to let up any time soon.    I planned on running this morning but nixed that idea when I saw it was only 30 degrees--I decided to wait until it warmed up...so as of 1:00 it had warmed up to a whole 45 degrees--(wahoo!) and having postponed my shower for the day I wanted to get it over with, so I bundled up and told myself  "at least it is sunny."



Me and my running buddy (thermometer included for proper documentation:)   Also note my new shoes--which are comfy...but not warm, might be adding some all weather shoes with gore-tex booties to my closet soon.

However, I didn't take account for the wind, which pretty much erased any heat given off by said sun.  Stupid wind! 

I have warmer layers but I didn't think I would need them--wrong.  Hopefully with more practice I will get better at choosing my running attire each day--because being not too hot and not too cold helps the run be much more enjoyable.

For the record, the first mile of any run is also not my friend.  As much as I enjoy running, yes usually I enjoy it, it just takes me a while to get into the groove--and the cold wind on top of that made me want to turn around and come home.  But I didn't and I guess that counts for something.    Oh also not my friend: mud puddles.  I have no trouble avoiding them...however my runny buddy doesn't seem to try and avoid them at all--at least she didn't lay down and roll in them today like she has done in the past, but I still had to hose her legs off when I got back. 

today's workout:  Casual 3 mile run, didn't time it.

workout planned for tomorrow:  Running at the crack of dawn with Real Friends :)  Eskimo photos to come!

Deep thoughts

Am I the only one who seems to have deep thoughts and major life epiphanies while watching introspective tv shows like... Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill ?  Or reading an article in a very highly respected magazine such as...Oprah?? 

Just wondering.

Not sure if that is something to be proud of or not, but it is the way it is, and for some reason these shows just happen to get my mind in the right zone where it makes me just want to write all of my deepest thoughts down on paper. 

***
I just met a new neighbor and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that she is an author, she writes mostly children's books.  I cannot wait to get a chance to pick her brain.  For now, just meeting with her and talking with her on two occasions has motivated me to feel like writing again so that makes me happy. 
***

Watching many of my friends compete in a triathalon yesterday has also got me super motivated to get back on my training plan for the Half marathon.    I am officially 12 weeks away from race day.  The casual training will come to an end soon and we will be upping our training to four days a week.  Our long runs will make the jump to eight miles and work up to the goal of 13, and the current 6 mile runs that I have been so proud of will switch to being a casual run that we do on "easy days."    I am excited to move ahead and I THRIVE on working towards goals so while the training gets tough from here on out-I also have so much to be proud of.  As a perfect match to my goal-oriented training I was happy to find a training plan  (from a Runner's World magazine that I hijacked from my neighbor's house while I was dogsitting this weekend) that maps out the last 10 weeks of training before my race.  It adds one speed workout a week and tells you the pace you should be at.  Supposedly, it will get me ready to run this half in under 2 hours.   

The weather has started to get cold  (yesterday the high was about 45 and today I think it crept up to a whopping 50 degrees.)  While I normally take it easy on Sunday, I got a little lazy last week and only ran two days since it was cold.  So I wanted to take advantage of the sunshine  (and not having to get up at 6am and run before school, in the dark).     I tried running a speed workout, and by speed I mean I tried to run as fast as I could in order to just see how fast that really is.  Back in my high school days I ran track and I would like to say that I was pretty fast, not only did I go to State as a freshman but my dad was at almost every meet with his stopwatch timing me from the stands--and he assures me I was fast--so it must me true :)   I actually called my dad today to ask him if he remembers what my times were for the 1/2 mile back then, and he wasn't sure, but he thinks he still has the little notebook where he kept track of all my times.    If he finds it, it will be interesting to read what those times were and see what my body is capable of  (and how that compares to my current race pace).

For now,  based on today's workout --where I ran for a one mile warm up and then tried to run two miles as FAST as I could  (with a rest after the first one) I have determined that 7.5 min is my new PR for a mile  (I am sure it was the fastest I am capable of because I felt like I was about to DIE!  however I was running on a trail where I had to dodge mud puddles so maybe I could shave a few seconds off if I stuck to the pavement.)  Also--for the record this is me running at 5500 feet, and I can't wait to try the same workout when I go to Phoenix and HOPEFULLY it is a whole lot easier. 

Hottest toy of the year?

Is this the best they can do this year?

I got the most recent issue of Disney Family fun and this interesting looking stuffed animal is apparently the Hottest Toy of the year.   Really???

Now, I may have asked for a Tickle-me elmo...even though I was in high school when they came out.  But I have no intention of rushing to the store to beat the rush on this item.  call me crazy--but I think it is wierd looking--as in kind of creepy and freakish.  But apparently I am the abnormal one --what do you think--anyone seen one of these in person?  I guess if you buy more than one (marketing genius at its best) then they actually harmonize together. 

Sing-a-Ma-Jigs

Mattel, $13 each
Ages 3 and up
mattel.com
It's easy to see and hear why the six cute, 9-inch-tall critters are our No. 1 toy: everyone — from tots to teens, even buttoned-up grown-ups — fell in love with them at first sight and sound. Just press their hands for one of three modes: harmony (fun when they sing together), chatter (their native jabber), and song ("Home on the Range" was a tester fave). With each squeeze of their plush bellies, they open their mouths wide to croon a smile-inducing note.

Making homemade pasta with mom

--oops--guess I didn't make it in this shot--but my shirt is cute huh? :)

This girl has her very own fashion style, and although I wouldn't pick out some of the outfits that she puts together--some of them are pretty cute.

For the record, this little puppy that we were dog sitting was tortured (with kind intentions of course)  for a good couple of hours before it finally was content to just lay here on this pillow and be covered with a blanket.  So cute--and Rachel loved it.

For the first day of Fall Break I let Rachel sleep in this amazing forst she built under the kitchen table.  It was actually part fort/part haunted house  (all the papers taped up were drawings of scary ghosts, witches, etc).  She invited Cali to sleep with her and Cali happily joined in the party. 

Dreaming Big

Since our countdown is down to about 9 months we are beginning to think about where we want to go next.  Here are 3 qualifications that need to be met for us to be happy in our next move:

A house with a Dishwasher
(Because this is getting old)

 Good places to eat out

Don't get me wrong--I was psyched to find out recently that we have our very own authentic mexican food booth at the flea market.  Only on Fridays.  Between the hours of 10 and 3.   They actually made fresh tortilla chips right in front of me that were really good.  They had burritos, tomales, and tacos, and fresh salsa and guacamole.    But it was no Friday night at Boca's (a favorite mexican place in Boston where we would meet up with friends on Friday night). 

Funny story --my friend Lisa invited me to go with her and when we got there I felt like I was in such a happenin' place.  I actually ran into about 10 people that I knew there, doctors from the hospital, friends from another nearby town, Sam's friends, some teachers from Rachel's school.  I have been here for 2 years and never heard about this place, but apparently everyone else has. :)

This place was swamped all day! at times I bet there was about a 45 minute wait.

But you have to realize for comparison, what we have to work with. 

• An A&W  (that is always out of root beer, and not to mention sells nothing edible.)
• A pizza hut that is connected to a hotel--(where the pizza is always nice and soggy )
• A Church's Chicken  (again--not really edible...not if you don't want to take the chance of getting sick)
• a chinese place (similar to panda express) which has decent beef and broccoli and egg rolls (but how often can you eat the same meal?)
• A Burger King.  (enough said.  though I do like their cinni minis--but never get there during breakfast)
• And a Subway  (same as any other subway--but again --you can only get so excited about subway)
• Oh, and three restaurants that are connected to the 3 hotels in town--which obviously are priced towards all of the tourists here hiking Canyon de Chelly, because for just average food you end up leaving paying at least $40 for a family of 3.

I drive past this guy many times a day, and I hear that his Spam Burritos are actually really good.   Though for some reason I have yet to try one myself.  go figure :)

And the final qualification is that it has to be a place with fun things to do.  Here are some possibilities that would be acceptable.

A park with grass

a Library

a golf course

a Target



(you get the idea)

So basically, what we are saying is...it won't take much to make us happy!