More Shoes!

A girl can never have too many shoes.  I totally agree when it comes to my running shoes and flip flops.  Today I purchased my first pair of cycling shoes.  I really enjoy the spin class I take on Tuesday and want to start taking more if my scheduling permits.  I just haven’t been able to commit much $$ towards cycling.  The whole looking to buy a house, going to Europe, and running is currently enough.  Last night one of my friends in class was talking about how she found the same shoes the instructor has online for $30.  They have to be decent shoes since the instructor has them and they are Cannondale brand.  First thing this morning I did a search (hello Amazon), found, and ordered them.  Originally $80, on sale for $30.  Can’t beat that!   

The only color options were pink and green so I went with the green.  They should be here in time for the class next Tuesday J.

PS – I love internet shopping!



Trip Crown

Yesterday I FINALLY got my Triple Crown medal.  It was supposedly mailed at the end of November, and when everyone else was getting their medals….no medal for me.  L.  I emailed them and they said they would send a replacement medal and to allow 2-3 weeks for shipping.  Two days later it is in already at my apartment!  Very nice surprise.

ROCK N ROLL RECAP

*Rock N Roll – Dallas 3/25/11 – with my sister Amy, my cousin Margie, and our friend Ashley.  Time: 2:03 (was a PR at the time)

*Rock N Roll – Chicago 8/14/11 – with my cousin Nicole. Time 1:53:35 (9.5 minute PR)

*Rock N Roll – St Louis 9/23/11 – with my cousin Nicole. Time 1:56:38

The Rock N Roll series has been good to me.  I had tons of fun and ran great races each time.  I will be running the RNR – Dallas and the RNR – STL in 2012.  I want to run cheaper this year and signed up for both of these races at a good discount.  On 11/11/11 they offered $20 off sign up and I registered for Dallas and then on New Year’s day they offered $15 off so Nicole and I registered for STL.  We aren’t running the Go St Louis half this year (April) so we are definitely doing RNR – STL.  I will be going for the Grand Slam in 2013 with my sister.  I’m thinking Dallas – Chicago - St Louis again and then maybe Nashville (or New Orleans or Las Vegas or San Antonio or ….).  Apparently I’m not picky for the 4^th race.  I’ve always wanted to run a half in Nashville and it would be great for my sister since her in-laws live in TN.  Good time for a visit!!

Productivity

Carrollton Runner’s Club offers 2 5Ks a month.  One is a prediction run and one is a normal race.  There is no t-shirt, but they do have a water station that you hit twice (out and back type course) and he normally has granola bars and fruit at the finish.  The problem with these races are they are easy to skip.  Saturday night, I set my alarm, got up Sunday morning, but decided I just didn’t want to go, so I went back to bed.  The good news is I am self motivated and got up and ran 4 miles a bit later in the day.  Pro – got in a bit longer run.  Con – didn’t have the race atmosphere.  I WILL be going to the race at the end of the month.

In other news, I have had two of the most productive weekends in a long time.  July through December was so jam packed with all my running and traveling plans, that by November I was have anxiety attacks.  I felt like I had been living in a whirlwind, was able to get nothing (outside of running) accomplished and just needed a break.  Running was the only thing that kept me sane.  Early December things started to calm down, but then 10 fabulous days in Illinois took its toll.  I had a great time seeing SO MANY people.  Christmas was great and Jes’s wedding was wonderful, but I was thankful to get back to Texas.  It provides me some inner peace.  So the two weekends I have taken care of things I have been meaning to do for awhile.  The first weekend in January, I went to the bank and got pre-approved for a loan (yay!) and also looked at some Roth IRA stuff.  This weekend I finally got my hair cut (last time it was cut was early August), got my passport photos taken (need to send in the information to renew it this week), cleaned out both my closets and the patio closet.  Threw stuff away and have 3 large garbage bags of things to donate, mopped the kitchen floor, and even had time to read a book for fun, read a chapter in my AU book and go out to watch some football.  And kept a great workout routine throughout as well.  I feel so much better getting all that done.  Now it is time to keep crossing things off my list.  I also got the name of a real estate agent that I may use to help find me some houses.

Parents should be arriving in two weeks!

January Weather ??? –

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here (true for most places).  Yesterday, I had planned on doing a 5 mile run at the gym, but 60+ degrees on a January evening, change of plans, time to run outside.  I had decided it was definitely too good of weather to only run 5 miles.  So I completed a nice easy run of 2 loops (7.5 miles).  Didn’t push it at all and felt great.  My legs were a little tight from the lifting class and spin class I did Tuesday night so it was good to loosen them up.  Today’s high is only supposed to be 47 so I think I will hit the gym after work and do some hill training (ick!).

Supposed to be back up in the 60s this weekend.  Getting in as many outdoor runs as possible.

Gotta love Texas weather :).  At least right now.  Last summer was a bit much with the 100+ degree days.

Frigid 10K 1/7/12 –

Frigid 10K 1/7/12 –

First race of 2012.  It got off to a shaky start.  The Dallas Running Club (DRC) is implementing some new timing technology and they warned us that check-in was going to take longer than normal and to arrive early.  I’m not sure if everyone got the message or they didn’t believe just how long it would take.  The race was supposed to start at 8, but because of how many people they had to get through it ended up getting pushed back to 8:30.  At 8:30 we all go out to the lake and get lined up and it is nice and sunny out however, you can see the cold front rolling across the lake.  Then around 8:40 someone comes running down the hill saying they are still having problems with the database and it is going to be at least 20 minutes.  We have been standing around, getting cold, and at this point everyone just wants to run.  We finally convince the race director to just start the race.  There will be no awards and no official times.  98%+ of the people there have some sort of watch, so it wasn’t a big deal.  Let’s run!!

I really wanted to PR in this race (one of my January goals).  I haven’t run too many 10Ks and my PR was 55:53 (9:01 pace), and I knew I could do a lot better.  According to my watch I was about 53 minutes flat.  Just to be on the safe side I will say 53:03 and call it an unofficial PR.  I definitely could have gone even faster.  Now I know what I am capable of, and next time I will officially shatter my old PR.

I was very happy with the run and it felt great to get back into racing.   The only other races I have this month are the Carrollton Runner’s Club races, 2 5Ks.  Pretty cheap month for racing (2012 goal). J.  

Next BIG race is the Hot Chocolate 15K!  Time to get my mileage up a bit, hoping for another PR.  Official this time!

January Goals –

Running -

~Run 75 miles

~10K PR - running the Frigid 10K, my only 10K in Jan.

~Increase long run up to 9 miles - I have been doing a lot of solid 3 -5 milers with some hills and speedwork (anything to break up the run on the dreadmill).  With the Hot Chocolate 15K coming up, I need to get the mileage up a bit

Work –

Finish book for AU 65 - now that I have a test day picked out, I have a specific date I have to have this done by.  It is giving me motivation.

2012 Goals –

These are the current ones I have.  I'm sure I will be changing them/adding more as the year goes on.

Life:

~Buy a house – went and talked to the bank and have the mortgage process started.  Going to be broke in 2012.

Running:

~Race cheaper – Ways to complete this: not running as many out of state races, not running as many big name races, focus more on club races, be more selective on ‘fun’ races and obstacles/mud runs.

**Goofy Challenge is the only exception** - I know that will not be cheap.  It is technically in 2013, but you register in early 2012.

~PR at 5K, 10K, 15K and half distance - have an unofficial 10K PR in the books already (post coming later)

~Train for the Dopey Challenge – upgraded from the Goofy challenge – (September to December will be occupied with nothing but running!)

Other:

~Start playing up a level or two at volleyball – queen of the court ?maybe?

Work:

Complete my AU designation - Working on 65 now, then will have to get through 66.

Start looking at CPCU

This Pretty much sums up the second part of December

December in review – there wasn’t much on my racing scheduled.  I only did one race, which was a trail run, a first for me.  Deck the Trails.  Not my best run ever, but enjoyed it and will definitely look at other trail runs in the future.  Ended up 5^th in my age group.

I spent over a full week in Illinois for the holidays.  The first 4 days were primarily taken up with Christmas stuff.  Had a great time and Santa was very generous this year, then I had a couple days free, then it was wedding festivities.  The best part of the break was all the people I got to see.  During a run I stopped by Dong’s house and got to chill with her and the family for a good bit of time.  At Christmas Eve mass I saw Steve (and family) for a very short time.  Stacey and I went out one night and we wanted a pretty low night so we went to Larson’s corner.  Not one of my usual hangouts, but I had been there a couple of times.  It wound up being a very random group of high school friends.  We all knew each other, but never hung out at the same time.  Ended up being a blast.  I also got to see Megan for lunch and catch up and then headed to Peoria for Jes’s wedding.  Had a great and saw tons of Peoria folks.  Overall a great trip home, but I was definitely ready to get back to Texas and chill out.  No trips to Illinois until April – over Easter, but more importantly to see GLOWBUG (niece/nephew).  $5 says nephew!

As for my December goals –

I officially ran 97.5 miles, but if you count all the times Kyla chased me in circles around the house and chasing Jes around the mall on her wedding weekend, I definitely think I hit the 100 mile mark.

Body Pump and Spin class – Check - went every week I was in Texas

AU 65 – not so much.  I am now putting completing my AU 65 book 2 in January goals.  I have signed up for the test so now I have an actual deadline to shoot for.

I read several books – including Eve (Iris Johansen).  My mom picked it up from the library (I was waiting on my aunt to finish the copy my mom bought, but patience has never been my strong suit) and I finished it in less than 4 hours.  I chilled on the couch and read it in one swoop and was extremely impressed that my parents allowed me to do this with practically zero interruptions.

Stay on budget – check

Fit into bridesmaid dress – check (no alterations necessary).  Sweet!