Lapping Couch Potatoes!

Today, I ran my first race since February...that was 9 months ago.  I got talked into running the race even though I just started running a couple of weeks ago after my long lazy spell.  Then, I proceeded to talked my mom into walking the race.  My time was actually better than I hoped but no where close to a PR.  When I saw these, I felt so much better about getting myself up and running this morning!  Way to go, Mom.  I'm proud of you. 

Austin, I'll be seeing you again in February and this West Texas girl plans to kick your hilly butt! 

Thank you Pinterest!

Inspiration by Email

I have been talking myself into running another half marathon.  Tayler and I promised each other we would run the Austin Livestrong again in 2012.  I have been trying to get excited about training hard and trying for a new PR on one of the hardest courses I have ever ran.  Not sure if it is working. 

Today, I received an email update from  Livestrong telling me that the course would be exactly the same.  I guess the good thing about knowing exactly what is coming is that you can be better prepared, right?  I know reading my race review will make you want to come too!

I love their slogan on the front of the shirt....I really don't LOVE Austin :)

I took a little run this evening...Gotta start building those miles! 

Whirlwind

Sums up my week in one word.  I did survive spin on Tuesday without my knee hurting.  Yesterday, Tayler and I ran at the park.  I stopped at a little over 5.5 because I was feeling that oh so familiar pain. 

Even my hair looks like a whirlwind!

Friday was a zoo because it was party day at school.  My MIL picked up the kids after school and took them for the evening.  Unexpected DATE NIGHT!    We got "dressed up" and then ended up eating at Jason's Deli.  Then we went shopping at Academy.  I debated over some new tempos and a foam roller.  I talked myself out of buying anything except GU. 

Last night we had Girl's Night at Beth's house which is really just an excuse to pig out on junk food.  There may have been wine involved, too.  We stopped at Academy on the way and Tayler bought herself new tempos for the race we are running in a week.  Once again, I couldn't decide.  I don't really need new shorts.  I don't really need to spend the money.  I walked out empty handed.  I realized two things last night while hanging out with the girls.  One, I am blessed to have such great friends.  Two, I am getting OLD.  I could have easily gone to bed at 8 pm last night. 

My husband and I aren't really holiday gift givers when it comes to each other.  More like random acts of giving or buying something for the house.  I don't care for heart shaped jewelry, boxes of chocolate, and stuffed bears.  He has been teasing me all week about buying me tacky heart shaped jewelry.  Today, I told him he could buy me new running clothes.  So we set off for Academy.  Three days.  Three trips.  The hubby is not much for shopping, but he could spend hours in Academy so he didn't complain about just being there on Friday.  I walked out with two pairs of shorts and one shirt.  I should buy stock in Nike. 

How often do you buy a new running outfit?

Every few months.  In the summer, I live in running shorts.  New running clothes usually motivate me to run.  Or maybe it is just an excuse.  Either way, I need to clean out my dresser. 

Do you wear the same thing for every race? 

 Any superstitions?

When I played competitive sports, I had a few things that I would always do the exact same way.   I am still competitive but just with myself.  So, I don't worry about making sure I have my lucky "underwear".  I just want to enjoy the run.  If that means new tempos, then SWEET!

My Valentine's present!

BUMMED

Yes those are frozen green beans tied to my knee with one of Maddie's baby blankets.  Redneck.  I know.

Yesterday, the temperatures finally got above freezing.  We headed out to the park for a 10 miler.  The wind was pesky but it was nice to finally be outside running.  After 5 we stopped back at the car for a drink and GU.  Tayler read that taking a GU every 45 minutes really does help.  I had been feeling some tightness in my calf and it band area.  Unfortunately, the tightness turned to pain.  A way too familiar pain.  I stopped and stretched again.  Finally at 6.17 I surrendered to the pain.  I am praying that I stopped soon enough.  I want to be running in Austin in two weeks, not getting MRIs and doing weeks of PT. AGAIN. I can walk today but not pain free.  BUMMED.  My pace was really good yesterday, like new PR good.  I felt good.  The pain seems to come out of nowhere.  I hobbled around afterwards, iced and stretched.  The minute I got home from church this morning I changed back into pajamas.  I am going to rest, ice and finally catch up with my DVR.  We have been missing each other. 

Do you have big Superbowl plans?  Who are you cheering for?

I think I am going to skip out on the party this year and enjoy Taco Soup in my pjs.  Cheering for the Packers since they have a former Red Raider on the team and I really want them to win without Farve.   

Lazy Beautiful Saturday

Yesterday after school my third graders had to sell sno cones as part of their economics project.  Silly me wore a white shirt under my staff tshirt.  It is now polka dotted with coconut and strawberry syrup!  The kids really worked hard.  We sold almost 100 sno cones.  I am so proud of them.  My fabulous team members helped me the clean the MESS! 

Then we went to meet our friends at Logan's to celebrate Todd's pinning.  He is now an official EMPLOYED firefighter with LFD.  I had to miss his pinning, but that is good thing because I probably would have cried and embarrassed us all.  Todd was a bit hungry and decided to order this

20 ounce ribeye with fries and mac n cheese.  I am sure he had already consumed about 6 ounces before I could snap the picture.  The rest of us ordered "small steaks".  After watching him tear up that steak, I want to enter him into a food eating competition  It was a great dinner with good friends.




  Like my blogging, my running has been nonexistent this week.  On Tuesday, Tayler and I did hill repeats.  The weather is beautiful today and I needed to get some miles logged.   My kiddos wanted to go ride their bikes, so we loaded up and went to the park so I could run hills while kids road their bikes. 


The prairie dogs were running scared!


I know I should be cleaning or grading papers, but I think I might take nap, read my RW magazine, or go shopping. 
Enjoy your Saturday!



Catch Your Magic Moment

Ran a little over SIX miles OUTSIDE in SHORTS

Average Pace: 9:07

I've been running with my iPod on all my solo runs lately.  It is very unlikely that you have heard of most of the songs on my running playlist.  One of my favorites is Right Now by VanHalen.  Yes, I know it tells my age.  Tayler & Danielle would say it is a "generation thing".  They like to take shots at me because I'm a decade older than them.  I love them anyway.  I know they are just jealous of my ability to run on my treadmill in my red high heels!

Or maybe it is because of my perfect children. 

Could be that I'm the lucky girl who has been sharing a bed with this guy for the last 14 years

Back to the real reason for my post.  I really need to love a song so that I can get so wrapped up in singing along (in my head) that I forget I'm pounding pavement.  My goal before the Livestrong Half Marathon next month is to add about 10 songs to my playlist.  I have itunes giftcards burning a hole in my pocket!  Please leave a comment with your favorite "running" songs. 



Treadmill Tuesday

Week 5 of 16 - Marathon Training Plan

The weather was beautiful today but my little guy is sick and so I had to run on the dreadmill.  The good news is that I don't dread it as much as I once did.  It is kinda like "speed work" for me.  I set the tm at 9:22 for the first mile (easy warm-up)  Then after that, I speed up every half  or quarter mile until I am running around 8:20.  I know that is turtle speed for most of you guys, but it is a big accomplishment for me.  I'm a former 11 minute mile girl.  This has been working pretty good for me since I only have to run 4 miles on Tuesdays. 

I get to stay home tomorrow with this sweet boy while my kiddos at school eat the sub alive.  Poor sub.  Jaxx is such a big boy now that they gave him pills instead of liquid antibiotic.  I am sure he will feel up to kicking my booty in monopoly tomorrow.  I'm off to watch the Biggest Loser.  I find it very motivational.  I don't EVER want to be a contestant on that show!

Do you watch the Biggest Loser?

I usually don't watch it regularly.  Once every two weeks or so until the last few weeks. 

Last night, my hubby found a show called HEAVY.  Wow!  Have you noticed how obsese people have enablers in their lives?  Dream takers instead of dream makers.  I guess it is a little like being an addict, you can't get clean if you don't change the peeps you hang with.  I challenge you to be a DREAM MAKER!  That's why I love my BHC girls.  I wouldn't have started much less continue this journey of 1000 miles in 2011 without them!

Sunday Funday

Ran OUTSIDE in SHORTS today.  A balmy 55 degrees in West Texas.  Tomorrow's forecast:  70s.  SWEET.  Maybe Monday won't be a rest day after all.  No School.  Even SWEETER!

I even thought a time or two about stripping to my tank, but where would I put my shirt?  I was suppose to run 9 but turned it into 7.  Why? I was actually feeling pretty good, but I was short on time.  I stopped back by the house to get a drink and ended up wasting time talking to the hubby who was resting after his grueling 1.5 mile jog. I'm being mean.  He just stared crossfit and has been SORE.  I had to make these for my niece for her birthday...why do something weeks in advance when you can wait til hours before?

Bummed you can see the detailed stiching.  I should have taken a better picture!

I named my blog Bling on the Run partly because of my hobby side business.  I make jewelry and decorate jeans, camo pants, flip flops, hats, etc.   I have a business partner, but she moved away 2 years ago, and I haven't been very motivated to really work the business with her gone.  My plan is to scale back and just do custom orders and gifts for friends and family.  Next month will be my last month to have a "store front".  I chose not to renew my website at the end of the year.  I'm a little sad.  I just don't have time for work, children, the business and running.  Something had to give.  So, I will be having a "Going out of Business" sale next month.   I will be sure to post pictures of all the gorgeous merchandise!

Yesterday, I did manage to make it to Target.  I went for one item - the jeans I needed to decorate.  I came home with ONE basket FULL.  In my defense the lamp and shade is for my mom.   

After this shopping trip, I am officially back on the Dave Ramsey envelope plan! 

I'm gonna have to sell some jewelry to make up for this!

Am I Crazy Enough?

I been feeling a bit under the weather for a week now.  I won't do anything crazy like go to the doctor.  Who has time for that?  Yesterday was the worst.  Today I was feeling better and decided that I better take advantage of the 60 degree day and head outside for a run.  I decided to break in my new BROOKS Ravennas today.  My hubby and I have been buying brooks for about 15 years now.  They are my favorite!  I got a deal on these because they are so last year!  Orange is not my favorite color, but I decided to incorporate orange to be FUN...see my Friday Fashionista post if you missed it. 



please ignore the my gorgeous tan

Tayler and Danielle were over achievers and ran a 5 mile race yesterday.(according to our plan, it was REST day)  They averaged something like a 8:40 pace.  SMOKIN' 

Danielle & Tayler

Anyway, I was even too sick to go cheer them on.  Later, they were sweet enough to take Maddie Grace to the Texas Tech basketball game. Maddox had won tickets at school, but since her parents obviously don't love her enough, she had to sweet talk Danielle, Tayler and Beth into taking her.  Did I mention that I have some of the best friends in the whole wide world?  Maddox is a very strong willed child and not the easiest to spend an afternoon with.  My husband is sure the girls will decided not to have children.  We are all teachers, so they probably have already decided that anyway!

BLAH, BLAH...back to the run.  My training plan said 8 miles.  I decided that I would take my iPod since I would be running solo.  I've been having this problem with mile 2 lately.  I think it is because I try to keep with those speedy little running buddies of mine and I use all my energy in mile 1.  I decided that I would NOT be looking at my garmin.  With the music, I wouldn't know when I hit a mile (except that I run the same route, so I kinda know anyway) cause I wouldn't hear the little beep.  I was determined not to hit a wall on mile 2. 

Mile 1:  8:53  feeling good lovin' my tunes
Mile 2:  9:04  (SWEET) I've been dropping to 9:45-10 lately
Mile 3:  9:30 now, my wall is at 3?
Mile 4:  9:18 better
Mile 5:  9:28 feeling a bit tired at this point
Mile 6:  8:35 my stomach was hurting and I wanted to get home...didn't make a full 6

I decided not to go back out and finish...I'm not dedicated enough to risk the embarrassment of an accident. 

Pretty bummed about my stomach, but pretty pumped at my 9:14 average pace.  It is a new PR for me.  I tried to take a picture of my eye sweat...it didn't show up and my hubby informed me that "It wasn't a good picture."  What??  Running over 5 miles in 47 minutes doesn't make me look like a beauty queen?  Who Knew?  Thanks honey.  The good thing about being married for over 13 years...he feels safe enough to be brutally honest or CrAzY enough to risk ???? 

Is your husband/boyfriend crazy enough to be honest with you about clothes, make-up, hair? 
Obviously, mine is.

So, am I cRaZy enough to set my sights on a marathon in April or May?  I think I will hold off on that decision until February. 

It gonna get cold on the South Plains this week, so my next run will probably be on the dreadmill.  Have a GREAT week!

Cold Weather Fools

Yesterday's Workout (suppose to be a rest day)
10 minutes on the StairMaster = .75 miles
20 minutes on that silly elliptical
15 minutes of weight training - arms only

Today's Workout
(Marathon Training Plan - 1 hour run)

So we ventured out to Mae Simmons and Mackenzie parks to relish in the beautiful weather.  NOT!  The thermometer in my car said 37 but the windchill was 30.  As I've said before, I do not like cold.  But I couldn't imagine spending one hour on the treadmill. 

A lovely overcast winter day in West Texas!  Who would not LOVE running here? 

According to my Garmin, my average pace was 9:47.  I'm ok with the pace.  I felt pretty good today.  I might even have felt GREAT if the temperature was 20 degrees warmer. 

Shannon from Philadelphia Phitness Pharmacy mentioned that she might get leg warmers to keep her legs warm with capris, instead of buying long running pants for the winter.  Being the fashionista I am, I just put my compression sleeves on with my capris.  For me it serves two purposes and I don't have to spend any more moolah.  SkinnyRunner talked about compression sleeves here.  I have a pair of the Zensah, but I am considering buying the CEP.  I'm actually old enough to have rocked the leg warmers when I was younger.  Too bad I didn't keep a pair.  It is obvious that Shannon has way more fashion sense than me!

I'll post more of my fabulous running fashion tips later.  Maybe I will start a Friday Fashionista post!

Christmas tonight with my parents before they escape to their lake house and deer lease for the rest of December.  I hate to brag like the spoiled only child I am, but your gonna be jealous of my loot.  To brag post or not?