Starting off the New Year... Doctor Who, Holiday Streak done and the most miles ever.

To kick off the New Year and set the mood for a year of completing any running goals set, I met with some members from my Moms RUN This Town chapter in the afternoon to do some laps around a pretty park.

All of us have different paces and had different goals for distance planned for today, but we all met together and ran with each other for awhile, before we started to spread out and set into our goals.  I think we covered every distance from 5K to just a smidgen more than a half marathon.  What am I saying?  Every step taken after 13 miles is a step taken deliberately and with a lot of determination.

My goal was to end my Holiday Streak (day 52) with 15.2 miles.  This is the most miles I have ever completed.  My sweet husband also gave me an entry into the Doctor Who virtual race for Christmas. 

If you are interested in this virtual race, you can join the Facebook Group "Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Virtual fun run/walk".  Contact the admins to possibly sign up for this race because registration is officially closed, but they are taking a limited number of extra registrations.  

The bib number is the same for everyone, so I "doctored" my bib to be the code for "the vortex manipulator" in the show... or an even cooler double meaning: the time and date that the first episode ever aired (17:16 23rd Nov '63).

I'm disappointed that once again my "Charity Miles" app didn't work again.  If on the "feeding America" campaign, one mile feeds 2 people, I could have fed 30 people on my long run today.  :(  I hope they fix whatever problems they are having with this app. It is so frustrating to end a run and see that no miles were picked up by it. The app constantly updates every time I open it... so I don't understand what the problem is.  If you have a secret to it, please share it.

That aside, I've made it home with my miles well tracked (thank you garmin) and my body feeling it.  I've taken my ice bath, slathered my aching legs with arnica gel and probably going to sleep in my 110% juggler knickers.

As you can see from my garmin above, it took forever to complete the task of 15 miles... but it is done.

2014 will be a year of determination and maybe "slow and steady" will win the race.  :)  It helped to see familiar faces of my sole sisters as we passed each other in the park and I listened to some of the Doctor Who radio dramas featuring "the 8th Doctor".  I was geeking out a bit.  :)  I also wore my "I believe in the blerch" shirt since I didn't have a doctor who tech shirt.  You can totally take that as a hint to get me one, if you want.  ;-)

Happy New Year and happy running!  The year is surely going to be full of lots of adventures.  I hope it is an injury free year for you and would love to hear about some of your goals.  :)  I enjoyed reading your goals on my facebook page.

Holiday Streak and Hedonic Hunger

Day 32 of my Holiday Running Streak complete.  (My goal is to run at least one mile every day until New Years Day...)

I'm not covering the distance I'd like to... but today I was not warm enough and was feeling a little heavy...


It was my favorite annual event today... the "Cookie Exchange".  Bake a dozen cookies for each participant and trade a dozen with everyone to take home some new tasty treats.... to give away, of course!  But there are plenty there to taste too.

So, being mindful of how much I consumed and "Hedonic Hunger"...  I ate one or two too many and really needed to hit the street, freezing rain or not.  This might be exactly why many sign up to do this run streak!  There are plenty of seasonal treats right now that are pretty tempting...

I love this cookie exchange!  Last year, I made a cardamom black pepper cookie with juniper berry icing and the year before was a persimmon cookie with orange glaze.  My favorite cookie will always be "Santa's Whiskers".  

Well, this year, I was lazy and did a known favorite of my husband's.

Chocolate Chip Bacon cookies.

 Recipe makes 3 dozen cookies.

 6 slices maple-cured bacon, chopped

 1 1/2 cups white sugar

 1 cup softened butter

 2 eggs

 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 2 cups all-purpose flour

 2/3 cup cocoa powder

 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

 1/4 teaspoon salt

 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Directions:

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Crumble.

Beat the sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer in a large bowl until fluffy and smooth. Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the chocolate chips and bacon. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Let stand 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Enjoy.  Maybe I'll look up my other cookie recipes for you in time before Christmas?

What are your favorite cookies?

25 things I've learned in 25 days of running. (My holiday running streak.)

I started my running streak on November 11th and today marks day 25!  I have to admit that I started early as kind of a "practice run" because I hadn't been running at all after my 15K race and was burnt out.  I didn't think I'd keep it up.  So... here's what I'm learning about myself and about running in general on this journey!

25.  I should probably foam roll daily.


24.  A hot shower feels really good after a cold run.

23.  I really have an amazing, supportive husband to watch the kids for me to sneak in those daily runs.

22.  I don't like to run with music anymore.  It's easier to hear my pace or how my feet are shuffling and to focus on what is going on around me. 

21.  I really can do this.  I'm on day 25!!!  I don't have to do a huge training run every time... Just a mile if that's all I have time or energy for.

20.  On day 20 I learned I can run a 10 minute mile!  Well.... 10:03.

19.  I can get into size 10 jeans!  When I started running in January, I was in "22W".  

18.  Those cute metaphors about falling 99 times and getting up 100 times do not explain how hard it really is to get back up after a fall!  I had to chant to myself  "Get up!" as I laid there looking up at the sky trying to figure out what happened to my great run. 

Day 16 of my running streak.  Everything is scabbing over nicely now!

17.  Sometimes you just have to sneak a run in while doing errands.  On day 21, as the family loaded up into the car to go to the Christmas tree lot... I ran ahead 2 miles before they came across me en route and picked me up. 

16.  I can beat my family the 2 miles or about 22 minutes it takes me to run to the grocery store.  It takes my husband that long to load two kids into the car before being able to get the car on the road...

15.  It feels good to get a charity mile in.  Go check out this app if you haven't yet.  It will help your motivation to run for others.  

14.  Wood bridges and docks covered in frost are very slick. Yikes!  I don't think I ever crossed one so early in the morning before this run streak.
13.  Get up early enough and there is an untouched world full of beauty and some wildlife.

Day 15-  3 blue Heron.  One in flight on the bottom, middle picture.

12.  And 7 days later, the same place at the same time can be just a freezing and rained out path.  But at least I got out there... right?

11.  Cat calls leave me on edge.  I really don't like them.  Can't a guy just holler "Good job!"

10.  Running everyday means a lot more laundry.
9.  Your socks don't have to match.
8.  This also made it obvious that I have plenty of running shirts but need more pants.
7.  It is easy to throw on a t-shirt to get a quick mile in, but it is uncomfortable to run in jeans, slacks, or yoga pants that were just "a little too big" when lounging around the house.  Baggy pants are no good.
6.  What feels like a SLOW warm up now, used to be my "full out" fast pace.  I'm improving!

5.  Cold ears hurt like an ice cream headache.

4.  It didn't take long to figure out where a mile landmark is in any direction of my front door.

3.  I'm not drinking nearly enough water in a day.  My goal is 90 oz. minimum.  I think I had a glass of water with my lunch today... maybe.
2.  Snot rockets are just gross.  No thank you.

And #1:
The digital "your speed" sign can register me!  9 MPH baby!  Yeah.  I should probably rely on my Garmin for more accurate pace readings... 

Any surprises or revelations you've come across because of running? 

Streaking through to the New Year!

Idly flipping through my Runner's World magazine while cross training on the stationary bike... I thought about my lack of motivation.  It was Sunday... my "long run" day.

However I was on day 15 of my "I can't seem to lace up my running shoes" streak. 

Then I came across an article about the holiday Running Streak to take place Thanksgiving day to New Years day.  Run every day for at least one mile.  Okay.  I can do that.  But I need to start now...

I have a 10K coming up on Thanksgiving Day to usher in the holiday and my first year of trying not to be a glutton.   I need to start training again!

So... today is day 2 of my run streak.  Yesterday was a slow and stiff one mile.  Today was an even slower three miles, but I think I'm getting my mojo back!

As you can see, my sweet Bugaboo wanted to run with me.  It has been even longer for her since she has been able to go for a ride.  And "Ludo" from our "Labyrinth" themed half marathon came with us.  This doll goes with us everywhere now... (he even has his own set of pajamas and clothes.)

So, you might just see more of "Ludo" on this run streak....

In the mean time, you might just find me on pintrest, drooling over pumpkin pie, eggnog, persimmon cookies, anything with chocolate in it, candied yams, homemade fudge and on and on.  This season is full of so many temptations that I usually walk out of it a full 20 lbs heavier.

What are you doing to stay healthy this holiday season?  Do you have any issues with food, over eating or lack of motivation to run or exercise?  ...My hibernation instinct is kicking in.

It's the final countdown! I'll be running a half marathon in the morning...

This is it!  All my hard training, pounding the pavement (despite sun allergies or soggy feet from the rain) and long runs while pushing a jogging stroller... it's time to test that dedication and see how it works out for me on a hilly trail tomorrow.  13 miles of hills and mud from all our rain and then more hills.  I think I should have done more hill work?  It's the final countdown.... can you guess what's going on in my head?  Well, besides sheer panic.

You're welcome.  :)

Happy Girls Run hosted yet another giveaway and announced their winner yesterday. (The first giveaway you can read about here.)  They asked that race participants post on their facebook page pictures of their race outfits and gear for Sunday.  "Our favorite submission will win a prize pack filled with race and lifestyle goodies.  They will also receive a custom LE Bandz headband for the 2013 race!" 

Since one of the race is hosted at Henry Hagg Lake, the second largest habitat for the Fenders Blue Butterfly, it made sense to wear my favorite running shirt and add a butterfly to my water pack.  The Fenders Blue is an endangered butterfly only found in the Willamette Valley.  (However, the race beneficiaries are Raphael House of Portland and Girls Inc.)

Well, I won again.

I'm off now to the expo and to check out the fantastic goodies.  More to come later... but for now, I need to get my stuff together and my nerves under control for the race!

Here's my packing list:

• Running Shoes
• Socks
• Capris
•  Arm Sleeves/Arm Warmers
• Jacket for post race warm up
• Change of clothes post race
• Garmin
• Hat
• Phone with Charity Miles app running in the background
• Bodyglide
• Flipbelt full of my homemade fuel (recipe to be posted soon!)
• Hydration pack with water and Nuun tablets
• Road ID
• My fantastic family
• And finally my Race bib and any other paperwork

 Wish me luck!!!

What items are on your packing list for race day? Most importantly, what am I forgetting?  (Don't freak out... Don't freak out....)