too cold, too hot...

What started out as a gloomy, foggy, windy, cold morning...quickly turned into a sweaty, hot, warm-tight-wearing run. It was the first run over 5 miles since the butt injury...so it was slow and a staggering experience. The wind in the face on the way out didn't help either. But it was absolutely gorgeous out and it was nice to put in the time on the feet once again. :)

Distance: 7.8mi
Time: 1:36 min
Pace: 12:05/mile-wow, slowness...I'm telling myself it was the head-wind for the first 50 min.
Place: Santa Fe trail North (Woodmen)
Hour: 8:15am

a cold one...

After only 5 hours of sleep (thanks to a sexy Jim Gaffigan comedic surprise! See below)...a 7am in the cold wasn't something I was super stoked about. But what started out as a rough one, quickly turned into just what I think I needed. Met 7 women (yeah Herizons!) in front of the CRC to run in the smog! Jessica and I had a great talk and t 45 min just seemed to fly by! The park/trees/leaves were absoluetly gorgeous this am! :) Here's the stats...

Distance: 4.45mi
Time: 43:36
Pace: 9:47/mi
Place: CRC/Monument Valley Park-7am

Jim and Fam...

Oh what a night! Ok...so for my mom's bday, we surprised her with tickets to go see one of our favorite comedians Jim Gaffigan up at the Denver Performing Arts Center. There were many layers to the surprise...First Ken had Mom get all dressed up for dinner, and then took her to Rumbi (a favorite of theirs, but in no way a place to get all snazzy for). Here at Rumbi, Adam I were there to greet her...us too in fancy swag. At promptly 5:30p, Ken said "ok, better go" and my mom said to Adam and me, "you guys are coming with us?". Ooooh, and the fun torture began...and continued the entire trip up to Denver. "Red Rocks? Nuggets? Rookies? Denver Museum?"...mom just couldn't give it up! As we drove down 14th street (parallel with the Denver Perf Arts Theatre)...she sees a big LCD screen that shows a pic of Jim Gaffigan- "Oh look, Jim Gaffigan is coming!"- she says. Adam and I are dying a thousands deaths in the back seat...I still don't know how I kept from busting up! Once we parked finally, on the top roof of the parking garage, I handed her the bday card with her ticket in it. What she didn't know at the time was that another van filled with our friends and family were about 10 car-lengths behind us the the entire trip up...awaiting to give her part 3 of the surprise. I sneakily took mom to a random bathroom at another theatre near by and then as we walked back out to our theatre the entire group (Tom, Jeanne, Maddy, Erinn, Nicole, Maili, Beth, Adam, and Ken) yelled "Surprise- Happy Birthday!". Her face was hilarious and she was absolutely floored! She says that she had never been surprised before-her entire life.

The show was so hysterical and Jim, as always, made our cheeks hurt from continual laughter. He broke out some new material such as: the lazy sport of bowling, how horrible camping is, escalator troubles...and cracked us up with some of his tried and true material: hot pockets, and bacon! :) What a night is all I have to say...It was so awesome being with those I love, and seeing my mom so happy! :)

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

mark it in the books...

Today's run was nice...just a short jaunt around the paved neighborhood. Feeling good still in the new 1224's. And even though i'm bruised from my apt with Tony yesterday...the bum is on the up and up! :) Starting to feel like winter is getting within reach...not sure how I feel about that!:)

Miles: 4.55
Time: 43 min
Pace: 9:29/mile

memories...

Last night and today, I had such a fun time with my good friend Toni! To make the long story about our friendship short... Rival point guards for 4 years in h.s....end of senior year we were roommates at the All-State Basketball Games for a week and spent the entire time laughing staying up til' all hours of the night talking...left there being great friends...ironically ended up playing against each other in college as well (her at Ft. Lewis, me at Mesa)...and in the mix there somewhere: have gone rafting, traveled to Hunington Beach, CA, rode scooters in Florence, laughed til' we cried watching Ellen Degeneres stand-up, teamed up in numerous 3on3 tournies, watched Carla Tate and Daniel McMann fall in love countless times in 'The Other Sister'. Oh the memories...

Today Toni and I spent the day visiting over coffee, hiking the incline (her for the 1st time), a big ol' pita from The Pita Pit, driving around saying "Don't get pissed Lady" at the woman giving us a dirty look as my tires barely crossed the crosswalk downtown, and a yummy blizzard from DQ!

I so enjoyed the time with her. It always does my heart good to so easily re-connect with a friend that is so dear to me.

this and that...

These last few days have been good ones:).

Thursday, I took my new New Balance 1224's out for a spin...a slow and steady paced run around my neighborhood. It was so nice to really let my mind wander, get some pain-free time on my feet, and ponder the many miles I have yet to log before Austin. I absolutely loved the shoes...new model...even better than the 1223's; cuter too!

Friday, I enjoyed a short run with the CRC crowd down at Monument Valley Park, and then chowed on some yummy wooglin's pancakes. No pinching in the butt...but still some pretty tight hamstring/piriformis. After work, I headed over to Beth's, where we indulged in many girls' favorites...tacos, cookie dough, and Sex and the City (movie). What a way to bring in the weekend.

Saturday, I know I was taking a risk in tackling the incline, but with no time goal...it actually turned out great! I really just focused on keeping a my step/toes pointing forward with every step, and not compensating for a tight left leg. The downhill trip on Barr was worse then the steps...I could feel myself shortening my stride. Made my legs feel different lengths. But overall, Sat am turned out to be a pretty good workout. A few hours logged at the CRC, then it was off to an early night cap at mi casa.

Sunday, I did a short 40 min recovery run around the neighborhood in order to loosen up the tight quads developed from the incline/run down Barr. A nice slow jog...again peaceful music, a pleasant breeze, thoughts about cold runs ahead this winter!:) Then it was off to Monument Valley Park with Beth, where we volunteered for the Fall Series (adult and kid races) and helped out our good friend Micky (Pres of Pikes Peak Road Runners) . It was fun to cheer-on our friends; many of them CRC folk...and yell for them while they were in pain running through 1/2 mile of waist-high water! Beth and I ended up running all around the park as we helped mark the course for the kids series. We left there covered in blue flour. The kids were absolutely adorable to watch...many crying by the end of the race. Hilarious. Diet Cherry limeades from Sonic, and we were off to Tammy's for a BBQ/Bronco game hangout.

Such a fun, eventful, encouraging weekend! Even though my butt/hamstring aren't 100% recovered, I feel the tightness starting to loosen. I will continue to stretch, get massaged (by Tammy), get beat-up by Tony (ART guy) and focus on building back up the time on my feet. I am so excited to be training for the Austin Marathon.

games...

Feeling the need to post. Not all sentences assured to be perfect. Just a few thoughts.

Why as adults do we forget the pleasure in playing games? I know my mom and Staci opt out of many games as they "lower my self-esteem". But, every now and then I find myself in a place of such joy in the midst of a game. Today, playing volleyball with a former coach and a former teammate, I found myself in such a happy place. I came home and was watching Jon & Kate Plus 8... and they were playing Hide and Go Seek...it brought me back to such a fun, youthful time. Made me wonder why we don't play more games? Maybe back to the "if we had more time...question". Hum. Oh yeah, and my non-playing vball forearms are extra bruised this evening.

My Periferitis (Maili's terminology for my periformis/hamstring issues) has been so so...did a light 30 min run today and it felt pretty good. Spent a good 20 min stretching it tonight, so hopefully it's on the up and up! :)

Speaking of running...I'm officially signed up for my 1st marathon! I can't believe it! It will be in Austin, TX (my birthplace! ) on Feb 15th. Scared, but can't wait! :) More to come on this issue...actually lot's more to come on this issue over the next 4 months! :)

Hugs and peaceful sleep to all my loved ones...:)

so excited...

I am so excited for tomorrow. I am going with my good friend Suzy to a wedding for a photography shoot. Suzy is an absolutely amazing photographer (see her website here www.bohemianperspective.com) and she has, so thoughtfully, given me her time and knowledge in helping me tap into a long-time interest. She just purchased a sweet new camera, so she is letting me take her old one and just see what I come up with at this wedding tomorrow afternoon. Ah- I can't wait! Photos to post later I'm sure!

Off to bed now...getting up early to run with some CRC folk before work.

Happy Friday to all!

lost...

Sometimes I feel my mind is lost...it jumps around from thought to thought, and sometimes I feel like I'm looking for the answers to too many questions. Maybe it's because we focus too much on what's going on around us...the external experiences our mind has to take in, process, then react to. I feel like I don't get enough time to really search for and explore the important stuff...what's going on inside- deep in my heart and mind. Because of this, bits of truth and emotion seep out into my daily life and sneak up unexpected...catch me off guard...and leave me confused on how to deal with them.

Speaking of time...I think about the following questions almost daily: How much happier would we all be if we only had to work four hours everyday. What would we do with the extra time? How would the decrease in stress, the increase in energy, effect our personalities? I believe we would be a whole lot happier, feel more fulfilled, more rested, and more like we were actually living a life rather than surviving one.

robin's wedding...

Such a great time at Robin and Steve's wedding on Saturday...beautiful and real. Some pics to document! :)...

homecoming...

Yesterday couldn't have been a better day off...:). It started with a massage by Tammy, which was absolutely heavenly! Shortly after, I met my grandpa for sushi at Jun's...yummy! Then it was back home for a glorious nap. The evening was the best as I went to the Manitou homecoming football game...it was so much fun! Mom and I first met Amanda, Mike, Sarah, Ben and Lindsey at the Townhouse lodge for a beverage. Then it was to the game where we laughed and visited with Jeanne, Maddy, Erinn and Bridget.

Amanda was making fun of the mustang on the back on my mom's 1972 letter jacket (let's just say it's not like the logo they have now and is kinda weird looking)...my mom snapped back with "It's a bucking horse Amanda...so, buck you!". It was freaking hilarious...we were all crying from the tears of laughter!

Bridget also cracked us up as she shared with us her dad's terminology for today's technologies and new consumer products....Epods, Blueberry's (not Blackberry), and North Stars (aka Rock Star energy drinks). :)

Oh yeah, and the spot where my mom and I parked Suzy Suzuki couldn't have been closer to the dumpster...mom had issues trying to get out of the car (see pic below).

It was such a fun day...full of laughter and love:).

loser...

I'm watching the first episode of the new season of The Biggest Loser (families) tonight...and I just love this show. Makes me think back at how much being a trainer did my heart good. I love watching people fight for something they truly want and need. Bob has 4 sets of married couples, and Jillian has 4 sets of parent/child teams.

There are many great shows getting started this week and next! The Office and Lipstick Jungle start next week-yeah! Oh, and a new show with Molly Shannon, 'Kath and Kim' premiers in 2 weeks...looks to be a funny! :) It's about a younger woman (Kim) who moves back in with her single, but dating, mother (Kath-Molly Shannon) after getting a divorce. All this talk makes me seem like a tv junkie...but in reality I don't have time to watch all that much...just the few I really enjoy:).

Adam is off on tour with A Novel Form and is having a blast. I talked with him today and they are actually traveling through Idaho...he says he is currently in Napoleon Dynamite's world. Cracked me up. Lamas, horses, cows. I asked him if he was going to be judging cow's milk later. I can hear the happiness and pleasure in his voice and it in turn makes me so incredibly happy for him.

Ok...getting ready for bed. Romester and I are off to the gym tomorrow morning, early...then meeting a friend for coffee before work! :)

Goodnight and hugs to all...:)

trouble...

So yeah....butt/hamstring/low back/quads/knee...all still hurting, all still a mess. Poo. Forcing me to take a break, rest and recover...even though i'd love to, seems to be no fighting this one. When dealing with a sharp, pinching pain- I don't really feel like pushing through that sort of pain is worth it. I'd rather return to running sooner than later. It's amazing how much more free time I have without running so many hours on the weekend.

Enjoyed a yummy breakfast at the Olive Branch with Staci this morning...then off to a family get together at Mom and Ken's. I was so spoiled as I got to indulge in some precious baby-holding of 2 month old Autumn Riley.

I so excited...I found our new book club book 'Certain Girls' by Jennifer Weiner on half.com for $8.00 plus shipping! A total steal after seeing it forsale at Barnes & Noble for $24.00! Should be arriving any time now. It's the sequel to our recent read 'Good in Bed'.

one more.

Another fun photo from the skirt chaser, thanks Meg...love it! :) So much fun.

from boo-stick to yum-stick...

What started out to be a bumster of a day- thanks to the sore sciatic and piriformis, keeping me from doing any running, or incline fun:(-...turned into a relaxing, go-with-the-flow-type of day that I probably needed.

M and I plopped ourselves down on the couch this am with coffee in hand, laptops on laps, and Food Network on in the background for additional entertainment. We were hoping Ina Garden-host of Barefoot Contessa, would be on so we could laugh at her popped collar, imitate her words to hubby Jeffery, and talk about her assumed closet eating rituals. But no luck:(. We would have an Ina run-in later in the day however. :)

Cleaned the room...paid the bills (depressing)...talked to mother...then was off to The Hub with Maili so she could get the Jeep beautified! :) While waiting at The Hub, we enjoyed our Route 44-sized Sonic Diet Cherry Limeades...and asked the young gal working there for the remote to the tv. Sure enough to our surprise- Ina! Barefoot Contessa was on! YEah! We really don't watch the show for food tips or recipes...just to poke fun at, who probably is, one nice lady! We are so mean!

After some scrambled eggs...I found myself on the floor, lying on a tennis ball (on the left cheek), watching...surprise surprise...Elton Brown on Feasting on Waves. Yummy Jamaican grub! Then M and I came to an agreement...I'd make zucchini muffins and cookies if she'd start cleaning her room. Ooh...they were yummy! :)

Now winding down for bed...hopefully tomorrow the injured rear will feel better! Thanks to my dear roomie...thanks for the laughs...the listening ear...for simply the time. :)

Ohh...almost forgot...here's some visuals from last night:)