Thank you

My prayers for an outside run or two this week may have been answered.  The wintry mix we were supposed to get yesterday and last night never came, the sidewalks are pretty clear, and the overnight lows are inching back up into the 20s.  This morning is still a gym morning, but I'm hoping for a good outside run tomorrow.

I did try to take advantage of the inside weekend to start on a project I've wanted to work on for some time- a snowflake afghan.  This is not for me- I still 85% hate snow- it's going to be a gift for a co-worker who has been amazingly wonderful and helpful to me the last 2.5 years and happens to love Christmas decorations.  Although we still aren't exactly sure when Daniel will graduate, we know our time here is (probably) limited so  starting the blanket now gives me awhile to actually finish the whole thing.  

Here's the start.  The first piece always takes the longest while you're figuring out what you are doing.  I'm about 75% finished with the second one, but I had to rip out the second to last row because of a mistake.

And the pattern with the finished product:

 Only 29.25 more snowflakes to go.  I think that's do-able in the next couple years :).

Time to get ready to start another week!

Making it through

Alas, I would have had a much better time running with these ladies yesterday, but I did get my act together for 8.2 cold, slow, slippery miles around campus.  I had good intentions of sticking it out for 10, but honestly this run was not a lot of fun.  By the time I was at 7mi, I was starting to get cold spots on my face and my IT band and hip were hurting from slipping on ice (even with my grippers) and I decided that was reason enough to finish up and go inside.

Proof that living green things and sun do exist.

BUT the weather is looking better this week- highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s with some snow/rain mixed in.  Hopefully we've seen the last of "feels like 3" for the season.*  My first spring race is in two weeks and I'd like to get in at least one more quality workout outside before that.  Today is a rest day, and I'm planning to get in some yoga this afternoon.

Hope you have a relaxing Sunday, all.

*I keep saying things like that, and I keep being WRONG.    

Motivation, where are you???? I need you????

Remember the good old days- like last week- when it wasn't 12 degrees and there wasn't snow all over the roads?  I was so excited about training for my first spring race.  Now- blech- we are back in full on winter mode.  It's 11- feels like 3- and there's just enough snow dusting the sidewalks and roads that I can't tell if I want to wear my grippers or not.  I'm on schedule for 10 miles at 1/2 marathon pace + 20 seconds, but honestly I'll be happy with myself if I get out for 8 just plain old regular miles.  And- at almost 7am- I need to get going because it takes 15 minutes to get dressed to run in weather like that.

We had a relaxing Friday evening starting with several impulse buys including a cool puzzle, a backgammon board, and two books at our nearby Borders going out of business sale and ending with this week's episodes of 30 Rock, Outsourced and Glee.

Other than running and a trip to the grocery store, today is an inside day.  No fun trips downtown- for us anyway.  Come back, spring!!!!  Come back!!!!

    

Weight Training Page x 2

Impressive- I can't even do that holding a broom stick.

Finished up the weight training page.  Just saying I was going to post some max lifts (which for the most part aren't true maxes- just the most I've ever used in training) inspired me to try to move up on a few exercises.  Today is another day back on the treadmill.  I probably *could* run outside, but meh- it's still kind of icy out and I've already got all my stuff packed up to go to the gym.  It has been a busy week at work, and I've had a hard time waking up this week.  Bring on the weekend!

Weight Training Page

I just created a new weight training page that details the plan I'm using.  Check it out!

The ABCs of me

Because otherwise I would just be complaining about the weather*

(A) Age: 28

(B) Bed Size: Queen

(C) Chore You Hate: Scrubbing the trash cans and getting bugs out of the lights (thanks, Daniel)

(D) Dogs: One day...

(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Contact lenses

(F) Favorite Color: Purple

(G) Gold or Silver: Gold

(H) Height: 5’4” or 5'5"- you'd think I'd know this by now, but I've been measured as both- in bare feet.

(I) Instruments You Play: Learning to play the piano

(J) Job Title: Assistant (associate?  I always forget that part) researcher.  I'm a statistician in the ophthalmology department at the UW medical school.

(K) Kids: One day...

(L) Live: Madison, WI

(M) Mom’s Name: Mom

(N) Nicknames: Chels 

(O) Overnight Hospital Stays: Tonsils out in '89

(P) Pet Peeve: People riding their bike or running in the road when there's a perfectly good bike and running path right next to it.

(Q) Quote from a Movie: It's such a fine line between stupid and clever. - David St. Hubbins (Spinal Tap)

(R) Right or Left Handed: Right

(S) Siblings: Brother, 3.5 years younger than me

(T) Time You Wake Up: Around 4:30am

(U) Underwear: Yes

(V) Vegetable You Dislike: Beets.  Celery.  

(W) What Makes You Run Late: Trying to do something productive with the 1.5 minutes until I actually have to leave.

(X) X-Rays You’ve Had Done: Teeth and foot... can't think of anything else.

(Y) Yummy Food You Make: I'm getting pretty good at chicken.

(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: Sloth

Thanks to Leslie for the idea.

Time to get ready for another treadmill run.  I'm planning on doing a treadmill track workout instead of my scheduled FIRST interval run.

*The ice storm Sunday was pretty impressive.  The trees were rattling in the wind when I was waiting for the bus yesterday, and Daniel had to body check my car door from the inside to get it open because it was frozen shut.  It took like 20min to get the car de-iced to so we could go out last night.

RIP Running Outside

At least for the next few days...  Madison got slushied yesterday, and it's supposed to snow all day today*.  Hopefully the roads will get cleaned up pretty soon, but I'm thinking that tomorrow will probably be a treadmill day.  Even though I had a good weekend, this should be a busy week at work and I have generalized anxiety about going back.  Meh, not much else to report.  Might as well get a jump start on the day.    

*Wintry mix ought to be the name of a Christmas party snack food, not a winter weather advisory.