Back to School tomorrow!!!!

Although he is very well behaved, Zachary heads back to school tomorrow.  He is very low maintenance but I like being able to do the things that I like to do without worrying I am taking time away from him.  Plus his new XBOX is hooked up to the TV I do PIYO on.

My running has improved so much over the last month.  I have reached my goal to get back to where I was before I got injured.  It has been a long road, but I am pleased at the results.  This morning I got out the door early for a nine mile run.  I am amazed how yesterday I was running in shorts and a tank top and today I had to wear winter gear.  

This blog is covering two days, as I forgot to post it yesterday.  It was not that I was too busy because one of my goals was to start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier which has really been awesome.  I just forgot.  

So I had another great run, spent an extra day with Zachary, and just enjoyed being happy.  

A few quotes,

For so long, I sat around feeling sorry for myself, contemplating if life was worth living.  I did this because I thought that a person other than myself was responsible for my existence.  After several years of thinking like this, I finally realized that only I could make myself happy.  It was not easy to let go 

of what was holding me hostage but I had to in order to see that there was a life worth living.  I still have sad moments but I know how to handle them.  I guess I owe a huge thank you to the person who I held onto for so long.  Without that experience I would not be so strong today.  I am a believer in "what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger."  Enough with the sad things. 

I am really looking forward to a great race season.  I feel like all the hard work has finally paid off.  Running is my way of lettting go of negativity, I leave it out there with the miles.  

What I  have to work on now is comparision.  I am always comparing myself to others.  Whether I am comparing running times, or how to be a better mother.  I need to accept that I do the best that I can.

I guess being a perfectionist has its downside.  

Do you compare yourself to others?

Are you glad that school is back in?  I AM

What makes you happy?

Let the hard work begin

HI have set my goals for 2015 and they are not going to be easy to achieve, however I am a hard worker and know that I can do it.  I have been taking it easy the last couple days, because I have been experiencing pain in my calf area.  I went to the doctor about it and they suggested that it could be a stress fracture, however being stubborn, I still continue to push past it.  Tomorrow is my first race of the year and I have my hopes set pretty high. It is a hilly course, hense, the name Hill and Dale, and I have struggled on hills.  Lately I have incorporated them into every run.

A couple months ago I started to cook from Julia Childs Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  It was going well, until I realized that Zachary was not enjoying the food AT ALL.  So I decided that it was not a good idea right now to continue with the project.  So I am currently looking for a cookbook that contains food that an eleven year old will actually eat. I already own Americas Test Kitchen Family Cookbook and am leaning towards that.  I need projects to keep me focused. Since I love to eat and cook this challenge seems to fit.

 

So far I have planned my races out until June 2015.  Along with these races I also have some smaller triathlons planned.

January 3, Hill and Dale 8 Miler - Tennessee

January 25, Rock and Roll Marathon New Orleans - Louisiana

February 14, Hot Chocolate 15K - Tennessee

March 1, Little Rock  Marathon - Arkansas

March 15 Germantown half marathon -Tennessee

March 28 Whispering Woods half marathon - Mississippi

April 18 Ouachita Trail 50K - Arkansas

April 25 Country Music Marathon - Tennessee

May still looking

June 7, Navy ten miler - Tennessee

Well have a great day and I will post after my race tomorrow

Have you planned your runs for the year?

Have you ever cooked through an entire cookbook?

Happy New Year!!!!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy arrival of the New Year.  Unfortunately I fell asleep.  From what I was told it sounded like a war zone outside the house, and  I slept right through it.

I spent most of the morning getting my race schedule planned for 2015.  It also marks the official start of my ambassadorship with NUUN!!!  This is my favorite flavor tri berry.

December was a great running month I increased my mileage significantly with 181 miles.  I am going to keep track of all my miles in 2015 and am setting a personal goal of 2500, which is totally attainable.

My first race is on January 3, 2015, it is an eight mile hilly run.  I am looking forward to it!!!!  My next run after that one is in New Orleans on January 25, 2015 a full marathon, I have never been to New Orleans so I am very excited.

I was going to cook a traditional New Years good luck dinner, however, I am sick to my stomach today.

Sad news about the guinea pig, it passed yesterday, we cried a little, but know it is not suffering anymore.  This is the third one to die on us.

I am really looking forward to reaching many personal bests this year running. I plan on staying out of the hospital, I plan on finding happiness every day.  I am going to work on my blog, no body ever comments on it, so I am not sure if anyone is reading it, or if anyone actually likes it.

Enjoy your New Year!!!

I am going to kick depressions ass this in 2015!!!!!

The last couple of days have been extremely exhausting.  I am trying to get back to where I was, running.  2014 was not nice to me.  Started off with a trip to the VA hospital for severe depression New Years day, broke my tailbone March 10, another trip to the VA hospital for a week for major depressive disorder, pulled my hamstring, lost several toenails, and in October an 11 day stay at the VA hospital.

I had a lot to overcome just to get back to running.  It was not easy and it is a struggle everyday.  Yesterday by the grace of God I made it 20 miles, not a great pace, however my ultimate goal was to hit 20 miles and I did.

Rewarded myself with a venti white chocolate mocha.

It was so cold outside, and I was sweaty so the first thing I did when I got home was of course check on Zachary who was still asleep at noon.  Jumped in the hot shower until the hot water ran out.  Then for the rest of the day I sat on a heating pad.  

Got up this morning, no where near as sore as I thought I would be.  Decided to go for a short run three miles at a 758 pace with a one mile walk at the end.  Not too shabby.  I'll take any progress no matter how small.

I am trying to decide how to ring in this new year.  Champagne, wine, Kinky, fireball?  Lol

My first race of the year is on January 3, 2015 it is an 8 mile run in the Shelby Meeman Forest, the Hill and Dale 8 miler.  My goal is to finish in a respectable time.  

Some New Years quotes, and humor.

As I was typing this blog, I witnessed, a hawk swoop down towards my birdfeeder trying to get lunch.  The birds at the birdfeeder sensed his presence and were able to retreat to safety.  

How are you spending your New Years?  I'll be at home, with an adult beverage.

Have you  made any resolutions/goals?

What have you been doing?

Post Christmas run, time to relax

Ran a quick 8 miles this morning.

I am loving this new watch, taking a little time to get used to.  But I love this watch.

I have a race on the third, which I would love to place in, however will be happy just finishing it.

Spent Christmas night watching movies and hanging with Zachary.  Went to Eat Well for dinner.  I refused to cook both Christmas eve and Christmas day.  It is becoming a tradition to eat there for Christmas.  I enjoyed the shrimp tempura, and scallops.  

Came home from Eat Well and poured myself a glass of Kinky blue.  It is such a relief for it all to be over.  I always worry if my kids will be satisfied with their gifts. This year was a success.

Have I ever mentioned that I love to clean.  I am a cleanaholic.  I bleached down the kitchen today, cleaned up from the last two days, time to relax.  

I hope everybody had a great Christmas with those they love.  Time to start working on setting goals for 2015.  I will reveal my list next week.  I have a lot planned.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.  Today has been an awesome day already and it is only nine in morning.  Santa was very good to me this year.  My sons were equally as giving. I never ask them for anything, however I received the most thoughtful gift.  I received a package yesterday from my son, there was a card inside that made me cry.  This is my twenty year old son, picked out a pandora bracelet, with three charms.  Once charm was for having boys, a heart with a blue crystal, one charm was for nature because I love anything outside, and the third was a pearl to signify our birthdays.  I never knew he cared so much.  I am so proud to be a mom to all three of my sons.

Probably the best few days of my life have been the past few days.  I don't know if my medicine is finally working, or maybe I have finally let go of things that were making me feel horrible. I take my good days very seriously, and try to make them last as long as I can.  

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas, and spending time with the people that matter the most to them.

I got up early to make breakfast from scratch.  I made bread dough by hand, yeast packets, etc.  I then tore it apart and made monkey bread.  

Have you ever wondered how plants know when it is Christmas?  I have been patiently waiting for my Christmas Cactus to bloom and what do you know I woke up and it was blooming, so pretty.  

I am going to test out my new Garmin Forerunner 220 today, which I am super excited about.  I feel like this is the training tool I need to perform better.  

After my run I plan on drinking some Kinky, blue in the tub. Sounds like a good plan.

Have a great evening, eat, drink and be merrry

Was Santa good to you?he was good to me

Do you  have a Christmas cactus?  did it bloom yet?

Are you having a good Christmas?  why? or why not?

Baking completed and what's up with all the rain?

Cookies are ok for breakfast, right? I consulted with an expert and he gave me an ok and agreed it was just fine.

I ALWAYS over bake, I make two batches of everything. Just in case a last minute gift is needed.  Plus I just love to bake.

We had movie day yesterday, went to a second run theater which was really nice.  I had won some free movie passes last year at a race and finally got around to using them.  We saw teenage mutant ninja turtles, it was OK. 

Trying to sit out this nonstop rain, it rains here all the time.  I will run in the rain, but not a cold rain.  I guess it is a triple PIYO day.  The sun has not made an appearance here in quite some time.

This is how miserable it looks here.  

I'm getting so excited about Christmas Eve.  My father loved Christmas Eve we always had finger foods and lots of sweets.  I have continued that tradition with my family.  This year will be the first time in over thirty five years that I will attend Christmas Eve services at a church.  

I am feeling really good lately.  I don't suffer from physical pain.  I suffer with depression and it sucks not knowing how you will feel each day.  I hate it when people say just cheer up, because it is not that simple. It is not something that is 100% controllable. Medication, lifestyle changes, and a great support system are necessary in maintaining a status quo. I am not embarrassed to admit that I am depressed!!!!

How many different types of cookies did you make? I'm at 13

Do you or anyone you know suffer from depression?

Are you going to Christmas Eve services? 

Baking, running, and donating

I have a Christmas tradition of baking tons of cookies, and giving them out as gifts.  When I say tons, probably about 15 different types.  It feels bettter to give something that you spent time and love on.  Plus, the easiest way to a persons heart is through the stomach.  I've heard that for years.

After buying all the supplies which took about an hour, I get home and my oven stopped working, it refused to heat up.  I tried switching the breaker.  It was like it knew it was getting ready to be used for an insane amount of time. I had to call the repairman.

They were not able to "fix" it so they rigged it for now.  

The days are just not long enough lately, between cooking, running, blogging, hanging out with Zachary the day is gone.   Did I mention that he will be out of school for two weeks?  I wonder how many times I will be beckoned to the kitchen because he is hungry? I really do not mind though.

I have two weeks before my first race of 2015.  It is an eight mile race called Hill and Dale, which in itself leaves me to wonder what I was thinking registering for a race with the word Hill in it.  I was going to do a race near Nashville, but changed my mind.  

Well today is my long run day 15 miles so have a great Friday.

Friday catch up

Pre-race

Yesterday was a great day. Started off with the Memphis Turkey Trot.  I have a difficult time in the cold because of Raynaud's disease.  It was 39 degrees, I sucked it up and did better than I hoped. The only part of me that was affected by the cold was my ears.  They came back to life after about thirty minutes.

Stopped for a hot coffee on the way home. I only place I drink coffee from is Dunkin Donuts. America RUNS on Dunkin, seems fitting.

After I got home I was in the kitchen for hours.  I don't think I was ever as happy to be out of the kitchen as I was last night.

I slept ALOT.  I knocked out a quick seven mile run right at sunset today, it was beautiful. There was no way I was going anywhere other than running.  The greediness of people never ceases to amaze me.  Black Friday is a perfect example.  I would never fight over anything other than my children.  Seriously to fight over a bra at Victoria's Secret?  

I have two long runs scheduled for this weekend, and a whole lot of relaxing with my friend wine. 

I got mail today, two months late, my prescriptions from the VA. This is an example of why the VA has such a horrible reputation. When I don't have my medicine, I actually withdrawal off of it, which is horrible. I have called and complained a number of times. This is what came in the mail (multiple bottles of the same medicine) 

I guess I should be happy???

How was your Thanksgiving?

Did you spend too much time in the kitchen? 

Did you brave the crowds today?

Fantastic Friday

I have had two great days of running pain free, which has been few and far between lately. I have been plagued with injuries since March.  Broken tailbone, torn hamstring, blisters, lost toenails, runners knee, and lastly the ingrown toenail.  I am grateful for the last two days. 9 miles yesterday and 12 today, averaging an 8:13 mile.  

After about a year of contemplating whether or not I should attempt to cook my way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking I have decided to go for it. So I bought the paperback copy.  Does anyone know where I may be able to get a first edition autographed?

Academy sports is having their grand opening all weekend,ms cored a free pair of Crocs, which will be very useful for the pool.  Tomorrow is a free tackle bag. I will be there because I love to fish.  It is another favorite past time of mine.

So I am training for an Ironman, several marathons, and cooking my way through a cookbook. I will never say I am bored..

Why doesn't anyone comment? I would appreciate a comment good or bad 😜

Have a great weekend, keep sparkling🌌