Here's hoping...

I'm hoping that old idea that bad dress rehearsal equals a good first performance holds true this weekend. I never got around to my long run this weekend...for the second weekend in a row. I made up for it the last one by running 5 on Monday. I skipped a bunch of runs due to that IUD and Thanksgiving. I thought I'd hit at least 3 today or maybe more...but I was lucky to get 2.5 in. It just wasn't a good run. Nothing was painful...just not quite right. My right foot still hurts some, as does my left knee. I just couldn't quite get in the rhythm. And now I'm worried.

It seems sometimes that life just has other plans.

Christmas has apparently snuck up on me, and I'm panicky about gifts and cards and decorations and all that goes with the holidays. I'm ready to have this race over so I can have a couple of slow weeks before hitting half marathon training after Christmas. I wish I'd done more to get ready for this one though... strength training would have been nice as would have been sticking to my training plan.

I'm really working, though, on quality time with my kids. But just when I think we're having a good day, one of them melts down. Or I do.

And I'm working on giving myself a break. Tonight will be a cup of hot cocoa with Starbucks liquer and some gingerbread marshmallows. And yes, they look like they're wailing "I'm melting" but they sure are delicious.

I learned something new today!

You can make microwave popcorn using a brown paper sack! Oh, yes, you can! Talk about saving some money...and you know exactly what goes into it. No chemicals or preservatives or artificial flavors!

It's easy too...and the kids enjoyed helping. You just add 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels (which I got in a big bag for $1.48 at WM) into a brown paper sack ($1.00 for 50) with 1 tsp. oil and a little salt (or 2 tsp. sugar if you'd rather have kettle corn). I figure it's about $0.15 per bag, which is a savings of about 85% (if I have any clue how to do the math here). Plus, again, you've got the added benefit of no chemicals, flavorings, etc. It was really good too!

I'm really into this idea of making things at home now. Next up is those seasoning and dip mixes.

Trade-offs

I didn't get my run in today like I'd planned...but I got to sleep in til 8 and see some friends of ours that I hadn't planned on seeing. They weren't too far away taking care of moving stuff, and when we suggested they come this way, they agreed! It was so good to see them today that I totally didn't mind missing my run.

But...I am planning on it tomorrow. It will be my first run in almost a week. Too long, I know. Especially with a race in a week. I'm looking forward to it!

Plans derailed

Ok, I know Thanksgiving is no excuse not to work out. If anything, it's more of a reason to hit the road. But I haven't. But Thanksgiving really isn't my excuse. And maybe it's too much info, but I had an IUD placed Wednesday and have been a little nervous to run again. I know it's silly, but that's the truth. But I'm planning on getting out there tomorrow for a good run. I'd love to be outside, but it's cold! I may have to treadmill it instead.

We have friends coming in tomorrow too, so that complicates things a little. I'm sure she wouldn't mind watching the kids for me to run, but I haven't seen her since the summer and want to catch up with her. Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

The marathon relay is just a little over a week away. I know I can handle my 5-mile leg. I did that on Monday before school. I'm not going to cut too much time off my run at this point, so it's just a matter of keeping on keeping on, right?

To be honest, after some things this week, I need a run. A good, brain-clearing, soul-cleansing, muscle-challenging run. And that, I think, will be the plan for tomorrow morning.

Good day

Today has been a good day. Not all of it. But most of it.

This morning we weren't able to sleep in thanks to DS waking us up at 7 demanding food. But we were lazy and fixed a big breakfast and enjoyed it. Then we all crawled back into bed :) It was fun to spend some lazy, silly time with the kids.

Then we finally got up and going and got some Christmas decorating done. Tree 1 is up and the living room is mostly decorated. We'll get to the rest later. It was really cute watching the kids help decorate the tree this year. This was really the first year they've been able to do this, so it was neat.

I got to catch up with one of my best friends on the phone and somehow managed to wrangle a visit from her and her family tomorrow! Can't wait to see them!

Then we went to River Bend's ElectriCritters with the kids and my parents. It was cold, but not miserable. We enjoyed seeing Santa, hearing a story, seeing all the lights, having some cider and hot chocolate on the trail, and then having popcorn and s'mores at the end. Then we drove to a house that designs a lights and music show before heading to the house for snacks, cider, hot chocolate and more s'mores (made with French vanilla snowman marshmallows and mini choclate chips because that's what we had).

It was a really enjoyable day. There were parts I'd rather not have had, but that's ok. That's the way it is sometimes.

Where did they go?

I realized that I hadn't filled out my training log for the past couple of weeks, but when I tried to add the missing information, I can't remember what I did. I thought I had blogged most of my runs, or at least commented on them on Facebook, but apparently, I didn't. Now what? I know it shouldn't be a big deal, but I'd like to have a mileage total in that log. Hmmm....and what's bad is that I can remember at least one run, a long one that had to end a little short due to some, um, GI issues. The problem is, I have no idea when that one was. Was it before the 3-Day? Was it the week after? How could I forget that?

And what am I supposed to be doing in the morning? Apparently, I made two different training plans for the marathon relay in less than two weeks. And what's worse? I didn't realize it until I went through some files on my computer! One plan is in my bag out in the car, and one plan is on my computer...so do I go with convenience and go with the handy plan or go look and see what the other, the one I've probably followed more, says.

Either way, tomorrow is supposed to be speedwork of some sort. I did 4x800s last week, so I'm thinking a tempo or interval run is in the works. I'm off tomorrow, so that's good, but I also have a doctor's appointment in the morning...one I'm not really looking forward to, and one I'm afraid will mess up my running possibilities on Thursday.

But, on a positive note, I think my brother and I are going to try and fit a long run in together this weekend. :)

Thinking about gifts

I've recently found some recipes for soup, dip, drink or seasoning mixes and I'm thinking about using them as gift ideas. I've found these in a couple of places. One is Julie Garro on Facebook. The other is the Tasty Kitchen website, a spinoff of The Pioneer Woman's.

I like them for myself as well. I like knowing what the ingredients are and having control over what goes into the mix. I also like the idea of having these things already premixed to use.

I think others would like them as well. I was thinking of doing little gift baskets/bags of the dip mixes for small gifts (coworkers, etc.) and doing some larger ones, maybe in jars, for couples I know.

Now it's a matter of deciding which recipes to use and what ingredients I'll need. I'm thinking Sam's is my best choice here so that I get larger quantities of the ingredients.

Let's see. I have recipes for the following things:
Dill Dip
Onion Dip
Ranch Dip
Hot chocolate
Homemade popcorn
BBQ seasoning
Taco seasoning
Seasoned Salt
Cream of Anything Mix

I was thinking the dip mixes or the hot chocolate and popcorn idea for small gifts and the ohter mixes for a gift basket for a bigger gift. Hmmm...lots of planning to do, but the work itself should be easy...measure, mix and package.

Gotta love that treadmill

I know that most people hate the treadmill, and I will readily agree that running outside is so much better...but the alternative is not running, so I'll gladly take that running contraption in my garage.

I wasn't able to run my long run this weekend due to the Mission Hope Craft Show that my mom organized again this year on Saturday and a killer headache on Sunday. But with the White Rock Marathon Relay just two weeks away, I know I need to log some miles. So I did. I got up at 4:30 this morning and logged 5 miles in 50 minutes! I'm thrilled with that. I did learn a couple of things though: 1. The garage is not cold enough yet for long tights, but I did like the compression feeling of the tights themselves. 2. Running without the iPod is great for shorter distances, but the longer distances? Not so much. Lucky for me that even though my iPod wasn't charged, we have Dish on the TV out there and I can get the Sirius/XM stations on it.

This morning's run was helpful in more ways than just logging miles. I went to bed really feeling uneasy and restless. Nothing's really wrong. I just couldn't sleep because I've got a lot on my mind. Money. The holidays. Cooking. Doctor's appointments. Possible injuries. The kids. Parenting in general. The house. I just felt like a jumbled mess. I can't say that 5 miles was a miracle worker, but I definitely feel a little more capable of handling these things.

And with that being said, I must head home and get some of those things under control.

I'm at it again

I'm at it again...fundraising for Susan G. Komen, this time through the Marathon for the Cure program. In addition to running the Dallas Rock 'N' Roll Half, I'll be raising $250 for this worthy cause. You can find me here: http://www.info-komen.org/goto/cmjohnson. I hope you'll check it out.

Speedwork!

As I posted as my Facebook status this morning, I conquered my nemesis speedwork for the week this morning! I actually followed my training plan for once...I ran my 4x800 with 400 recovery. I think I ran it faster than I was "supposed" to though, but I have a hard enough time figuring out my speed on the treadmill as it is. I hit 7mph and hoped it was close to the 4:24 half-mile I was scheduled to try. I think, if my math is anywhere close to right, I actually ran my halves in about 4:15...and I survived! Feeling stronger already...

I'm a little worried about a couple of injury-like issues after the 3-Day. My left knee is still unhappy, walking during the day or running. It's not painful, so to speak, but it's definitely talking to me.

And then there's my right foot. I'm not entirely sure I don't have a stress fracture on the inside top bones. It doesn't hurt all the time. Certain movements hurt worse than others, but not consistently. I was able to run just fine. And I'm being stubborn. I'm not having it checked out until after the relay marathon Dec. 5. If it still hurts then, I'll have it checked out. That should still leave me time to train for the half marathon even if it does turn out to be something. Smart? Probably not. Nobody claimed I was.

It's been a while...

Oops. I just haven't gotten around to this blog in a while.

Let's see...my Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure was this past weekend. I think I'm just now recovering. It was an amazing weekend. Quick rundown:

Thursday: SB wakes up in the wee morning hours throwing up. That means little sleep for me. Not a good way to start this adventure. DH takes the morning shift with her; I take off the afternoon. She seemed ok, so I left as planned that evening for the hotel with DH and the team. I knew her grandparents could handle it, but she was ok. Got a decent night's sleep in the hotel and got up super early to get ready.

Friday: We head to the Opening Ceremonies. I lose a glove before we even start as I try to put my credential on my lanyard. Opening Ceremonies were emotional, but exciting. We head out walking. The cheering stations were amazing, and I loved seeing my hubby and parents at them. My hubby covered the beginning stuff for our local news station where he works. My parents met us at all the cheering stations Friday...very cool! Half the teams walks fast...the rest, my half, walks quite slowly. We finally make it back to camp, find our gear, shower. I visit the medical tent and get my feet taped up to try and keep the blisters at bay and get my hip worked out...thank goodness for those sports medicine folks. Her name was Linda and she was awesome! Sleeping in a tent in sub-40 weather was chilly to say the least. My sleeping bag/fleece liner combo proves quite warm, although the porta-potty trip is cold. Waking up in cold weather isn't good for sore muscles (which is why two team members headed to a hotel).

Saturday: We head out for Day 2, our longest. Once again, half the team is speedy...finishing by 3:30. The rest of us are almost last and come in at 6:30. Jessica and I battle blisters all day, hers much worse than mine. But we make it! And we promptly eat dinner and head to the hotel. Ahhhhh...a warm shower, carepted floors and a soft bed.

Sunday: Day 3. A short one, but ouch. I hurt so much worse. I self-cared my feet after the bandages came off in the shower. It worked. I learned a lot of tricks. I did visit one medical tent at lunch. Our team tried to stay together. I could tell the rest of the team struggled to go so slow. We loved seeing our kids and families in West End. The sight of those black team shirts was wonderful! Closing Ceremonies were good, but nothing beats connecting with our families again. The Favers and our family headed to Razoo's for dinner. Poor Jessica and I could barely walk. The best sign ever? "Limping is still walking"!!!



I took Monday off, and to be honest, a good night's sleep did wonders. I ended up weith a couple small blisters that healed very quickly and two sore spots, my left knee and my right Achilles. By Tuesday when I went back to school, I was pretty good. My left knee's still talking to me some, but it's not bad.

I actually ran 2 miles yesterday. It went ok. Nothing hurt too bad. It took a sec to get into a good form, but it worked. I need to get a long run in tomorrow...five miles maybe? I just have 24 days until my family's marathon relay. It turns out I am running a 10K leg. I thought I had a 5-miler. Oh, well.

And...the big news? I signed up for the Dallas Rock N Roll Half Marathon through the Susan G. Komen Pledge Program. I have another $250 to raise. My idea? I need to find a coroporate sponsor to pay the money...and I'll gladly airbrush tattoo their logo on my shoulder for my run! It's either that or I sell my miles...I'll run each mile for someone for $20 a mile. Hmmm....