between 5-9am . . .

 I realized . . .

1. 
   
   I'd pay up to $500 to get a solution to the Pita's snoring.
2. 
   
   He'd pay $1,000 to get me to stop waking him when he is.
3. 
   
   Bad sleep = less than great communication at 5am
4. 
   
   He's less than impressed when I think the solution is to fire up the treadmill [it IS at the other end of our home, I'm not that mean.]
5. 
   
   He should realize that "little" run saved him. big. time [and me].
6. 
   
   "angry" running days can equal awesome running days. 
7. 
   
   I'm a "holder on-er".  meaning that argument from last night.  ya, I'm still mad about it [I'll just add on the snoring grumpy bit for extra "fun"]
8. 
   
   I'll never be the "do everything" wife I thought I could be.  sure I know how to install insulation, grind floors, use a jack hammer, lift tile, paint, dig trenches, plant cacti, re-plant cacti and re-re-plant cacti but no. no. sorry I will not dig an 8x10 3-4' deep hole in my backyard for a spa I don't want. 
9. 
   
   Amy doesn't like my 3 of 5 blogs a week being about running.
10. 
    
    That Peanut is quite possibly the most thoughtful 9 year old ever. . . "Mom do you feel like you are "missing something" this morning.  [I'm thinking HA! Yes, where should I start? ....] Me: "My brain".  Peanut: "no a big hug from your favorite daughter."  Cheese ball but loved it.
11. 
    
    That this is her favorite photo from our Fiji trip
12. 
    
    That - lucky - me.  I won the "we are going to have the farewell party for A & T at our place."  Oh goodie.  On .. the weekend before the july 4th marathon, I'll be running.  yay. perfect.  can't wait.  me you and 40 of your closest co-worker friends.  awesome.
13. 
    
    my sitter canned on me for Saturday night.
14. 
    
    My dad is doing great after surgery & liked the super healthy turkey meatballs I made him [with the double chocolate cake & ice cream to finish it off with]. of course that was healthy too. [lie]
15. 
    
    That I am addicted to Aktin's vanilla shakes.
16. 
    
    Spin instructors are amazing.
17. 
    
    That I have 38 followers?  what?  That I bore to tears. daily.  loving this.
18. 
    
    That my next marathon is in 16 days.
19. 
    
    That I still need a jacket [with sweet quote/thought on back] for race day.

I'm liking these:

• 
  
  I've got the runs
• 
  
  It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse
• 
  
  Act like a horse. Be dumb. Just run
• 
  
  Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane
• 
  
  The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do
• 
  
  Mind is everything: muscle – pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind.
• 
  
  running is like mouth wash; if you can feel the burn, it's working
• 
  
  If you went for a run today and didn't sacrifice anything, congratulations you just jogged.
• 
  
  Some people say I am insane for running; I say running keeps me sane.
• 
  
  Conquer Thyself
• 
  
  My pace or yours [already own that one].

Any others for me?

Happy Thursday!

biggest [sweaty] loser & "oh no you didn't"

Every Tuesday Peanut has volleyball @ 7pm at the YMCA. Usually "this" is how I enjoy myself for the 57 workout minutes but last night [gasp] MY machine was being used/taken/exploited. [panic] I know . . . Sad. Sad. Sad. Sooooo I ended up on the treadmill [mind you a super sweet one] watching "biggest loser". [love that show, cheering for YOU Sam!] On this completely magical treadmill. Are you freaking kidding me?  A 15" screen!  That actually works! With captioning! What?!

the
best
57
minute
run.
in
for . . .
ever.

[well minus a huge industrial "patton" fan blowing at my backside].  My daughter asked if I had "used the pool tonight".  HA!  I wish I "glistened" but I just sweat. buckets.

52 minutes "in" a lady hopped on the treadmill next to me.  You know when you can tell your being critiqued.  looked at.  picked apart.  It was odd.  okay it was seriously weird.  I finished my last 5 minutes - started cooling down.

then I feel a "tap-tap" on my sweaty arm.  [note: not a big fan of being touched by glaring, odd, strangers]

Her:  you like to "jog"?
Me: [thinking, oh no she didn't just say that/ call me that .... breathe be nice] yes, I do.

She went on with a few more "jogging" questions.  Which immediately reminded me of this explosive add campaign from 2007.  Why did this / does this term bother me?  Why do I even care?  Does it bother you?  Was I just having an "I'm a snot" moment? [totally fine with comments declaring "yes, you are"] I want to know. 

            *   *    *    *    *     *     *     *     *     *

a huge thanks to my new blog friend for the heads up on hulu.com. Awesome. My run this morning. went. by. in. a. flash. excellent. didn't even notice the white wall today.

y a y !

Running on "ed"

According to Kera's [and other's] comments, I may have some explaining to do.

 . . . . "why the freak would you EVER run 20 miles on a treadmill? Don't you live on planet earth where you can just go outside?"

It all started with a doctor's visit in February 2009.  [Cliff Notes version].  "You either run on a "forgiving surface" or you won't be running at all in 5 years time."

So, off I went four to five times a week to LA FITNESS to run.  By September, I had received enough disapproving looks and comments from fellow gym go-ers, that I bought this little beauty.

[side note:  have yet to figure out how to make the TV work - we have satellite - from what I can gather, we'd have to buy a new satellite box JUST for my little "ed" - not going to happen.]

I did move my treadmill 180 degrees.  Yippee!  So now instead of looking at this.  I see a plain [all] white wall.  awesome.

While this is the [running] life I've known and HAD to accept for a while now.  I had no idea how "weird" it was to run 99.8% of my total miles on one until I called Runner's Den [store] one day in early January.  I was having a lot of knee pain and wanted to know what types of braces they sold.  We chatted.  He asked a lot of questions.  Then he asked THE question.

Him:  What surface do you run on?
Me: a treadmill
Him:  When you don't run on a treadmill, where do you run?
Me: umm, well.......I only run about 2-3 of my weekly mileage outside but I run in the bike lane [I know, I know, illegal, I get it]
Him: you are joking. [please note it wasn't a question]
Me:  uhhhhh, no.

Anyway, had to end up going to the store to buy a brace.  When I walked in .... .... it was hilarious.  The man had told everyone in the store and the employee's had all sorts of crazy questions for me.  Where is it?  How far do you run each week?  Do you watch TV?  Do you really think that's good training?  No group running?  Don't you miss the "fresh air"?

Here's my pro's and con's list.

Pro's:

• Can run no matter what the weather outside is [rain, wind, heat, etc]
• Can run when Peanut is asleep
• Don't have to run at anyone else's pace
• Have a fan I bought that is JUST for blowing right at my bum. the whole time.
• Fan in "ed" which blows right at my face
• Can text and run without running into tree's
• Answer work emails while running [I know, not the best for "training"]
• listen to my music without wearing headphones.  hate headphones.

• can test peanut on her multiplication tables
• knees are doing much better
• home for deliveries
• no dirt flying in my face when buses pass [this is AZ people - dirt, dust ...bad air]
• can do laundry [can put clothes from washer into dryer in 35 seconds flat]
• No chance of getting run over. [huge pro there]
• toilets are close
• water is closer
• AC vent hits RIGHT on me from it's new location.

Con's

• can do laundry
• no running groups
• a plain white wall
• I'm home, even more. [work from home, run at home, play at home]
• Ed's TV doesn't work
• My neighbor can see me on it from his backyard . . . creepy
• my dog comes to the window and looks at me like he hates me
• my legs take much longer to recover after a marathon due to the huge difference from my "training" surface and my "racing" surface.
• accuracy? 
• cost
• and fine . . . it might be just the slightest bit boring some days

The thing, I possibly, love most? . . . . once race day arrives.  I am all eyes, heart & lungs.  AND 100% in awe of the beauty around me.  It's all worth it.
 

I'm gonna run this town

Well, It's official. 

Prescott will be seeing me.  Soon.

Whiskey Row Marathon 2010

May 1, 2010.

Ready?  Yes.  Ran a 20 miler today and feel better than I have in three months. [yay!]

Did I ever mention how fun [lots of sarcasm here folks] it is to run 20 miles on a treadmill?

Am I thinking this is going to be a PR?  No.  Not with an increase of 1,300 feet in the first 7 miles.  Not for this [non-hill, treadmill running] city girl.

Loving the course description?  NO.  "This is one of the toughest Marathons in the United States. The terrain is rugged, the altitude exceeds a mile above sea level and the weather can be severe."  - awesome.

Who's meeting me there?

*post edit* - Thanks to "Steve" for the email:

"really?  really, you pick WRM over all the others from your post last Wednesday?  Come on!! ... Hawaii, Seattle, D.C?"

Answer, HECK NO!  This is what I'm calling my "marathon to occupy my brain so I'm not totally depressed when April 19th [Boston] rolls around."  Did I qualify for Boston? Yes, in December 2009.  Was I able to register in time? No. :(

Also, the Pita said this wouldn't "count" against my "you can run any two" offer, as he will be fishing with Peanut [while I run].

a w e s o m e.

Big Girls Don't Cry

Well thanks Fergie - but I never said I was a "big girl".

I am bummed, angry, mad, sad, crying.  So that probably makes me one of the biggest dorks alive today.  Because this is why:  NYC Marathon Status: denied.

I hate that word: denied. 
a bit harsh, no? 

I think it should have read: I'm so sorry you number was not picked this year but we all love you here in NYC!  [and YES, in pink would have been nice too]

Yes, I like that a lot better.

I was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo looking forward to doing this all 26.2 miles:

And laughing/smiling like a dork [like this]:

So, I emailed the Pita.  Felt "unfit" to call & [gasp] his work phone charges per text [what?].  So ... of course, he calls, he's amazing.  I cry [duh].  He tells me to pick two and we'll "go".  really?  seriously?  Not too many other hubbys' would understand my freakish running "needs" [I use that term loosely] like this & man, do I appreciate it.

So what to do?  What to do?

Help me pick.  I will be running in at least two of these this year:

• Prescott YMCA Whiskey Row Marathon May 1
• OC marathon May 2
• San Diego R&R June 6
• San Juan [WA] marathon June 6
• Seattle R&R June 26 - ummm ya guess not - sold out - unless it's a charity run
•  WHITE RIVER 50 MILE TRAIL RUN - [WA] July 31
• SF, CA marathon July 25
• ** Kauai Marathon Sept 5 **
• Portland Marathon October 10
• Denver R&R Oct 17
• Nike women's marathon, SF, CA Oct 17
• ** MARINE COPRS marathon Oct 31 **
• Santa Barbara Marathon Nov 6
• Malibu International Marathon Nov 14
• Seattle marathon Nov 28
• Las Vegas Dec 5
• Tucson Marathon [the one I got my goofy blogger photo from] Dec 13

Don't get me wrong Mr. Sinatra, I'm going to "be a part of it" alright.  I am securing my 2011 spot by running the stinkin' 3:23.  I will not be "denied" again.

Today I am loving . . .

 . . . This photo of MY dad's hands:

This Photo Of "O":

This photo I took by Picacho Peak:

This one from Colossal Cave:

Love this one from the AZ RR Marathon:

And this because it made an AZ running magazine - go Peanut!

This one because I wish I could make that exact face about 44 times per day:
Oh and that Tan Man & Michael look 8 years old.

This because Happy does what I'd never do:

And this one [again] because I love them most-EST:

And finally:

Because, they do. Oh and so do the refs.

We ALL know that Zoubek fouled Matt Howard which would have completely changed the outcome.

Spring Break Week .... The Good/Not as good

It all started with the "Bake Sale" [thanks neighbors & family!]

Good: She [they] had a blast & donated the raised funds for ..... charity [what have I created?!] ;)

Not as good:  Me and a lot of dishes.

Good: Things sold great [eBay] while gone

Not as good: Nasty emails from buyers who thought I should be able to ship over-night without any warning from them.

Good:  Hiking at Picacho

Not as good:  Having to carry the 30 pound pack up [it was quite the picnic, I'll tell ya]and the 15 pound pack down

Good: Mine & Peanut's cardio endurance

Not so good:  The Pita's

Good: not tripping up on the hike

Not so good:  When we [Peanut & I] laughed so hard we cried when The Pita landed bum first.

Good: Leaving for Tombstone


Not as good: Getting to Tombstone

Good: Not playing "I spy" the whole road trip

Not so good: playing VW Slug the entire road trip [left. arm. not doing so good.]

Good: showers in Tombstone hotel

Not so good: Cold water in Tombstone hotel

Good: awesome new family memory of "what do you mean I can't bring in my bucket?"

Not so good:  Guy on meth [apparently neighborhood fellow] dragging around a huge garbage bucket behind us shouting not nice things.

Good:  Peanut got to drink her ROOTBeer in a saloon

Not so good:  the burps that followed

Good: free roll-a-way

Not so good:  roll-a-ways one inch from our bed

Good: Weather in Bisbee

Not so good:  finding a hotel under $140 in Bisbee

Good:  Mine tour in Bisbee

Not so good: a 6'8" man in a mine

Good: buying Peanut off in the mine gift shop [so we didn't have to go]

Not so good:  she's an expensive buy-out

Good: Leaving for Tucson one day early

Not so good:  Letting the Pita try the "back route" into Tucson

Good:  Sushi in Tucson

Not so good:  sharing sushi with a 9 year old

Good:  Swimming at resort in Tucson

Not so good:  having one child, bored, in pool, in Tucson

Good: new arrival of Easter kids staying at Hilton

Not so good:  not wanting to leave the pool for the next 9 hours

Good:  Hilton provided Easter hunt

Not so good:  200 eggs X 75 kids = not too excited about her basket filling abilities

Good:  kids activities all weekend

Not so good:  games like "run & scream" - nope not joking

Good: ate too much the night before to want the Easter Brunch for $49/pp

Not so good:  planning my over-eating fest for next Easter

Good:  staying an extra night

Not so good:  not being able to stay and extra-EXTRA night

Good:  Nana & papa watching Chuy

Not so good:  They didn't want to keep him-permanently

Good:  to be home

Not so good:  waking up to "reality" [even though it's an awesome one].

* * Side note . . . . GO BUTLER - BEAT OBLITERATE DUKE! * *