I'm back!!!! Pet peeves at the gym

I took a little break because I was not sure if anyone was actually reading my blog.  I got a sweet message from a high school buddy Jenny Kreider who said she missed it.  That made my day so I am back to blog.

PET PEEVES at the gym.
The reason I am writing this is because I spent two hours spinning this morning and was completely grossed out.

1. Does working out really require you make "sex like" moans?  It makes me feel weird when I hear men moaning at the gym.

2.  Do you really have to wear makeup and fake eyelashes to a spin class?   When I go to the gym, I may wear mascara, however I know that I go to the gym to work not look good.

3. I think at some point the "older" population just needs to not wear spandex.  I was so grossed out by the second instructor because he was "older" and decided to wear spandex shirt and shorts to teach.  I beg the lord to remove that image from my head. Let's just say it made this guy, look sexy,, LOL.

4. Please for the love of GOD, wear deodorant.  It seems like every gym I go to the smelliest people sit right next to me.  I think it, in this case, was a cultural thing.  I mean when in Rome, welcome to America, land of deodorant. I thought the following were fitting:

5. The classes were full of people, no bikes available.  Why on earth would you take a class depriving someone else of working out, when all you do is complain and half ass it.  

On the bright side I was awarded a 15% off Buffalo Wild Wings coupon for working so hard in class.  I had to make the difficult decision to cancel my marathon next weekend in New Orleans, as my leg is still bothering me.  So for now my next race is scheduled on February 14, 2015. You get the mug full of snacks when you cross the finish line as well as the awesome ribbon.

Zachary is growing like a weed, my older two are back to living their lives.  Prissy is doing well, spoiled as always.

Have you ever run a hot chocolate run?

Do you have any pet peeves at the gym?  I DO

How is your new year going?  mine is great

Blueberries in January

So this morning I ran into Krogers to pick up a few items, and right when I walked in there was a huge display of fresh blueberries.  Of course I picked up a container of them.  They always remind me of summer back home.  My brother and I would be sent out to pick blueberries, however we would eat more then we were supposed to.  My mother would ask us if we were eating them and like little clueless kids, we replied "no."  Now looking back maybe we should have realized that our mouths had turned blue.

I came home and made cream of wheat with fresh blueberries and bananas. I always add a litlle almond extract to my hot cereals because I like the smell and flavor.

I have not been running for the last few days because I have a lingering pain in my calf.  I have been cross training at the gym instead.  I just joined LA FITNESS, which just opened.  I love the pool, and sauna.

 

I'm sure it is cold where you are so I included some cold weather humor:

I love funny quotes especially when I grew up near Lake Erie.  It was so cold growing up that when you went outside your nostrils would freeze together.  The Army introduced me to the mild winters, so I decided to stay south.  I physically cannot handle the cold anymore, my body shuts down so fast because of Raynauds phenomenon.  

With the New Year behind us, I made a few decisions to not drink soda or alcohol.  I am trying to cut down on sugar, notice I said cut down, because I would not be honest if I said I was stopping all together.  I have been eating a lot healthier then I have in awhile.  It is not easy to do the healthy thing, with all the unhealthy options available, it is about self control.  I have not eaten fast food in months. If I am going to eat away from the house, I always make sure there are healthy options available. 

How cold is it where you are?  It is twenty five degrees here.

Would you move for weather purposes? 

How are you doing with your goals?  I am on track feeling pretty good

 

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?

Race #1 success and wet

Hill and Dale 8 miler...
Started out feeling really good, great pace, rain was not bothering me at all.  It was a balmy 70 degrees outside. I had a lightweight jacket on which two miles in had to come off, because it was so hot.  Where do you put an Aasics jacket so no one will steal it?  On top of a porta potty, seriously, I did that.  Since I was at the porta potty, made a quick pit stop, while the race was going.  Now I look back and think that if I had not made that decision I would have fared a little better in the placing. Then again at least I did not decide to go behind a small tree as seven hundred people were running by.  Whoever that lady was had ZERO class, maybe she thought she was cute.  It was one of the trashiest displays I have ever seen at a race. The hills were challenging, the puddles were challenging, however overall I really enjoyed myself.
The compliment of the day was "you are the best smelling runner I have ever come across."  I was honored at that statement.

Finished fourth in the female division!!!!!

Got home and took a well needed and deserved hot shower.  Went out to On The Border for dinner and had an awesome cactus margarita as a reward for a job well done!!!!!

Back to work tomorrow with a 12 mile run on the agenda. 

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!!!

National Drink Champagne day, farewell 2014

I am beyond words for 2014 to leave.  I made alot of new friends this past year and that is about all I can say good about it.

How adorable is this?

"Have you ever seen hot chocolate drinking hot chocolate?"  Mrs. Green

I have been nursing a sick guinea pig for the last 24 hours.  This will be the third guinea pig to die on us.  This WILL BE the LAST one we get.  Heartbreaking to watch an 11 year old cry because I do not know how to fix a sick guinea pig.

Today is National Drink Champagne day.  I plan to partake in the festivities!!!!

I need one of these, with Moscato in my home ASAP

Today is my rest day from running which means I will be swimming and doing PIYO.  Tomorrow will be my last run before Sunday.  This will give my body a llittle rest time, still having some minor nagging issues in my right leg.  

I hope everybody has a safe and happy NEW YEAR!!!!

Do you like this blog?  Are you following it?

Are you staying in or going out for NEW YEARS?