F is for Friday –

And for the fantastic week I have been having…some things to note - I am going to try and make them start with an F – for the heck of it.

1.      Fun times in Arizona – Spent the week out in Scottsdale Arizona for our annual underwriting meeting.  Got to see everyone from the different offices and eat lots of really good food.  Meeting weren’t overly exciting, but nothing too painful either.

2.      Fat paycheck – BONUS DAY!!! – Yeah for more money.  I was pretty impressed with our bonuses considering the losses we had during the year.  One very good thing about my company is how well it does overall.  Very stable company.  Using it to pay off my Europe trip and a cushion for my downpayment on the house.

3.      Five new accounts in February aka writing business. – After a dismal January, I am very happy with my February numbers.  It’s been tough writing business lately so having a good month really makes me happy.

4.      First Earthquake account.  Yes, I am officially a California quake writer – My company writes tons of Cal Quake business.  I don’t see too much of it being in Texas – we see mainly the wind accounts, so it is nice to write some Earthquake too.  It is a small account with nothing too extreme. 

5.      Fantastic take down on my large loss from last year.  Hopefully 2012 will be profitable for me – Yay!  Even with the take down it is large loss, but at least it is not as large anymore.  Having this loss really took a lot out of me this year.  Starting fresh in 2012.

6.      Free $$ for flights - $500 voucher  - Leaving Arizona, they overbooked my flight and were looking for volunteers to take a later flight.  Since I was on my own at this point and wasn’t sharing rides with anyone, I decided to take the voucher and get off the plane.  Was able to hang around the airport for a bit and get some studying done for my AU 65.  Wasn’t a bad deal.  Going to use that money to fly home for my dad’s 60^th birthday.

TGIF –

Yesterday was a pretty good day, especially at the gym-

For some reason, I cannot run on a treadmill.  What I mean by that, I cannot run fast on a treadmill.  When I am outside I easily keep under an 8:45 pace for 5 miles, without much effort.  At the gym, I struggle to keep a 9:30 pace for 3 miles.  I know that the treadmill changes your stride.  You are push straight up (with the belt moving below you) vs. pushing forward when you are outside.  I just can’t figure it out.  Yesterday when I got to the gym, I was feeling pretty good and hopped on the treadmill and just started to go.  I maintained an 8:20 pace for 3 miles.  That is by far, the best run I have ever had indoors!!!  Now if I could just figure out how I did that, and replicate it again.  After 3 miles I started to slow it down the last mile as a cool down.  I finished 4 miles in under 35 minutes, which included the cool down.  Then I went to a spin class…

Needless to say, but the end of that class, my legs were shot!  It was my first time taking this instructor.  I really like several of the drills we did and definitely got a good workout.  The only thing I didn’t like was the music.  He comes right out and tells you that the music is for background noise only, so it didn’t really match up with the drills all that well.  The songs themselves were fine, but I like when the beat matches the type of drill you are doing.

Another great part of my workout yesterday – I am getting better and better about clipping into the pedals!

Other good things that have happened recently:  my bonus is going to be better than expected, some friends found out they are expecting (in Sept), Amy’s doctor says she is right on schedule, and work has been going pretty good.

Now it is time to enjoy the weekend.  Nothing too much planned.  Hoping to get in a long run, do some shopping (now that most of the house stuff is behind me – time to get ready for Europe), and maybe start packing up some stuff.

Hot Chocolate PR type of day –

Saturday morning was the Hot Chocolate 15K here in Dallas.  I have run the Hot Chocolate race up in Chicago (2010) before, but this is their first year having it in other cities.  The morning started off a bit rough because the parking situation was a mess, but other than that it was a great race.  A cold front moved in the night before the race to the point that the race director sent out an email encouraging the slower runners doing the 15K to drop down the 5K.  I think they should have just encouraged everyone to dress appropriately, but whatever.

The run started off pretty well.  I tend not to look at my watch during races and just run based on feel.  They did have clocks at every mile marker so I new I was running under a 9 minute pace.  I ran mile 4 in about 8 minutes flat and thought I was in trouble at that point.  That is a bit too fast for me in the first half of a race especially knowing that there was a hill at mile 5.  Pretty impressed that I was able to hang on and maintain under an 8:20 pace overall. 

Finishing Time: 1:17:03 (8:17 pace). 

All of my 5K splits were fairly consistent.  8:21; 8:11; 8:19

I had a variety of goals set for this race that as long as I hit one of them, I was counting it as a success.

A – I wanted to be under 85 minutes.  Which would put me on pace to be under 2 hours at a half, because really it is all about the halfs.

B -  Under 83 minutes which would be a new PR.

C – Under 80 minutes just to see if I could.  I waited until mile 7 to decide if I was going for this goal.  I had over 20 minutes to run the last 2.3 miles so I decided to go for it.  Guess I had a few minutes to spare J.

Afterwards it was time to hang out, have some fondue and some hot chocolate.  The after party in Dallas was definitely better than in Chicago.  We finished at the automotive building in Fair Park so all of the fondue and hot chocolate was INSIDE.  It was nice to be able to sit down, be warm and hang out.  They had a band and a DJ going.  People doing the Cupid shuffle and then a conga line.

Feeling good about the upcoming half marathons.  I really want to be under 1:55 for at least one of them.  And if I can – I would LOVE to break into the 1:40s.  If not, pretty sure I can break into the 1:40s this fall when I start training for the goofy challenge.

House hunting:

This week has been absolutely crazy, but in a good way.  First things first – I BOUGHT A HOUSE.  My parents have been in Texas and we looked at houses for two days. 

Here is the timeline of my house hunting:

*Thursday night we saw 5 houses and there was one that I really liked.  Everyone agreed it was a good house and a definitely possibility. 

*Friday – two new houses came on the market that I like and my realtor set up appointments. 

*Saturday we see the first house at 11.  It is gorgeous!  New granite counter tops, slate floor in the kitchen, new stove and dishwasher, new sod in the back yard, etc.  It lived up to the pictures online.  We go the second one, which cannot compete with the first.  Everyone agrees that the first house isn’t going to be on the market long.  By the time we got back and realtor ran comparables and talked to the listing agent, the house already had an offer on it.  I decided to put in an offer too!  That night we go out to Trinity Hall – an Irish Pub that my parents enjoy.  A bit after 9 PM my phone is ringing and it is the realtor calling to say they accepted my offer – WITHOUT CHANGES.  That was big for me.  The offer I made was the top I was willing to go and was worried what I would do if the countered.  Things to note – I got the fridge, washer and dryer – so I don’t have to buy too much big stuff up front.  I also picked a closing date more than 30 days out to line up better with the end of my apartment lease.

*Sunday was the superbowl.  Mom made delicious soup.  I won some $$ in a Superbowl pool.  Dad won more $$ in his pool.

*Monday I had my freak out over the house.  Again – parents in to the rescue.  That’s all taken care of much better now. 

*Tuesday the inspection – some things came up, but nothing too earth shattering.  House is 12 years old, it has some normal wear and tear.  Hopefully they will get everything taken care of.

It has been a busy week!

Loopy –

My standard running route right outside my apartment is the large loop around the Hackberry Country Club.  It is a perfect 3.76 (yes – not 3.75) run.  I cross no major roads, just 4 places where cars can turn into the club & neighborhood.  Since tons of people run and walk this loop most of the drivers are very aware and cautious. 

Yesterday, the parents came over right after work and mom was cooking dinner (ham and some sides – yummy!).  It was a perfect 70 degree day, so I went for a run while they chilled in my apartment.  I am very excited to report that I ran my fastest loop ever!  30:54 (8:13 pace).  Great way to start February running.  I can run that pace in a race no problem, but struggle to push myself on normal runs.  Something about the race atmosphere allows me just to run faster, even without feeling like I am pushing myself.  If I can run this pace on my own, wonder what I can do in a race?

I think my spin class is helping with my speed.  On our rides we change tempo and resistance a lot.  I think the sprint work on the bike is really paying off with my running.

Now let’s start talking February

First of all – I decided a bit ago that I would not be running the Chicago marathon this year.  Not because I don’t want to, but because I am trying to race cheaper this year with all the other things I have going on.  Also, Europe will fall right in the middle of the training.  However, I am having a REALLY hard time convincing myself not to sign up.  The only thing keeping me from hitting the button is the Goofy Challenge.  I am super excited about that and that training will fit in with my schedule well.  I also know that is going to be an expensive trip.  Chicago marathon $$ going to the Goofy Challenge pot. 

Now on to the other stuff - Right now the parents are in town and helping jump start the house search.  We seem to agree on the areas I like and the style of houses.  Now I just have to decide on a time frame and find a house I love.  I’m already getting tons of decorating ideas – gotta love Pinterest! 

I’ve decided to move my AU 65 test back 2 weeks.  With the parents in town,  I am too distracted to get good studying done.  No biggie.

February Goals –

·        Run 80 miles

·        PR at the Hot Chocolate 15K

·        Increase my long run to 12 miles preparing for my half marathons this spring

·        Try either a second spin class or the Cycle Power & Strength class

·        Study, study, study – AU 65

January Goal Recap –

January Goals –

·        Run 75 miles – Check.  Logged 85 miles.

·        PR 10K – Unofficial Check.  I ran one 10k that was having technical issues with their timing devices, so we all ran untimed.  Based on my watch it was a major PR, so I am calling it an unofficial PR

·        Increase long run to 9 miles – Check.  Just accomplished this on Sunday.  I felt great and ran under an 8:45 pace.  I feel ready for the Hot Chocolate 15K

·        Finish reading AU 65 – Check.  Now I am unto the studying and reviewing portion

Overall I had a very successful month.  I accomplished everything I wanted and continued to go to my lifting and spinning class for some cross training!  Now that I have my new spin shoes, I might try and do that a bit more.