Happy Thursday!

It's hard to believe that it's Thursday already!  The week has really flown by.  I had some sort of bug or cold or something that knocked me down for 2 days.  I just felt icky, but not really sick.  Two days of rest helped though.

Today I got up feeling much better and went to the gym.  I did hill intervals on the treadmill.  I did a nice, slow, easy warm up then pushed outside my comfort zone on the hills.  I really don't like hills so these intervals were tough for me, but I did them.  After my cool down I did weights focusing on legs today.  I increased the weight on several machines so it was tough.  I will feel it in the morning.  I have a light run scheduled for tomorrow.  It's supposed to be 2-4 miles.  I'm hoping to get in closer to 4 miles since I didn't run Tuesday and may not get to run Saturday.

Tomorrow we head to Indiana to see my parents and for my 20th class reunion.  It should be a good time.  James is coming with us and my brother and SIL will be there with my neices and nephew.  Yesterday I made unicorn poop cookies to bring down with us.  James and I made those a few weeks ago and they are pretty good.  They are fun to make as well.  Here are the ones from yesterday.

They take awhile to make, but the look cool.  I think the girls will love them!

Today I have to finish laundry and pack.  We are leaving tomorrow around 3pm.  I'm really looking forward to it!

Have a great day!

Toronto Women's 5K and Fan Expo

Wow!  We had a busy weekend!  It was a lot of fun though!

Friday we went to the Waterloo Busker Carnival.  We weren't able to go last year, so Mike and I decided to head up for it this year.  It's a lot of fun to watch the street perfomers.  Here are a few pictures.

Saturday was our really busy day!  Mike and I got up at 4:15 to get ready to head into Toronto.  I had a race that started at 8am and we had to leave by 5:15 to get there to pick up my number and get stretched before running.  I ran the 5k and it was pretty good.  Last week was my first week back with my consistent training.  I was also walking at least 3 miles everyday to take James to his camp.  I started back with my weights and I was feeling really good.  I had a good run and while it wasn't my best, I was still pretty happy with my time.  Here are a few pictures from the race.

 

After the race, we went to the convention center for the Fan Expo.  I have been looking forward to this for a long time!  I got to geek out and meet some really great actors and actresses.  I got to see all sorts of interesting costumes.  And I got hooked.  I wanna go to the ComicCon in March.

I had 3 people that were on my list for photo op and autographes.  They were David Prowse, Lou Ferrigno, and James Marsters.  I was able to get all three.  It was really cool to meet Darth Vader, The Hulk, and Spike.  Here are some pictures from the expo.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we just lounged around and watched the first season of The Walking Dead.  It is soooooo good!  We hadn't seen it yet and we are now hooked!  I'm going to get season 2 today.

This morning I went to the gym for a cross training day.  I did 9 miles on the recumbent bike and then a full body weight circut.  I was sore from lifting last week so this really helped.

This afternoon I have a massage scheduled.  Mike got me gift certificates and I haven't used them yet.  I'm using the first one today.  I'm hoping it will help get rid of this kink I've had in my neck for a few weeks.

Tomorrow I am out for a 4 mile run.  I'm looking forward to it.  Have a great Monday!

Crazy Busy, But Slowing Down Now

Wow have things been crazy the past few weeks.  Between swim camp and James' camps and appointments, I've been going going going!  Unfortunately my training has suffered, but I'm back at it and ready to attack my goal race!

A few weeks ago we had the Kitchener reception for Uncle Pat and Aunt Kristie.  It was held at a lodge near us.  It was nice to see family, but it was warm until the sun when down.  James had a blast!  He got to see Meredith and one of Uncle Pat's friends taught him to fish.

That next night we had a bunch of friends over.  We just did snacky type things and shrimp. There was a ton of food,  but it was good.  It was nice to see everyone and we all had a good time.

Then swim camp came around.  I was at the pool all day for 4 days and then I did lessons at night.  Crazy busy and the first 2 days were so bloody hot.  It rained the last 2 days so it was a bit cooler.  That weekend Mike and I had absolutely nothing to do so we were lazy and just lounged around.

The same week as swim camp, James had Clay Camp.  It's held at a local studio and they do all sorts of art projects with the focus being clay.  It made some really cute things.  We have his painting hanging up in the hallway and his pot and monster displayed in the living room.  He loved the camp!

Last week I started my canning.  I made 33 jars of pickles.  It took me all day, but they are done and they look great!  I have already given two jars away and will be taking some down to Indiana next weekend with us to give to my family.

I also had densist and eye appointments last week.  The dentist appointment went much better than the previous one.  I still have two more scheduled to get the crown put on, but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Saturday we went hiking along the Bruce Trail.  We did about a 3 hour hike on a pretty technical trail.  A lot of it was very narrow.  The end we had to go almost straight up the escarpment to get back to our car.  We had fun and ate lunch in a nice clearing.  After our hike we stopped at the Royal Botanical Gardens.  James loved seeing all the flowers and took lots of pictures.  Then we went out for dinner. 

Sunday I went to Welland for Open Water Provincials.  I had 3 swimmers swimming and they did awesome!  One girl swam the 3k and the other two swam the 1k.  The 1k swimmers each placed 3rd in their age groups.

Yesterday I started back on my sub-30 5k traning program.  I'm also using it to help me get ready for my 10 Zoo run at the end of September.  I was in the gym yesterday doing cross training.  I rode the recumbent bike 8 miles and did weights.  Afterwards James and I walked to Mad Science camp together.  He was so excited about the camp.  The topic for the week is rockets.  When I picked him up yesterday they were launching rockets and all the kids were so excited.  On the walk home he just talked a mile a minute.  After I totaled up my mileage from the gym and walking yesterday it was 15 miles.  That was a nice chunk of change to put in the Disney jar.  Then James added his $3 for his 3 miles walked to and from camp.

The Disny Jar is the way we are saving to go to Disney World.  For every mile walked/run/biked we put a dollar in the jar.  James has gotten on me about starting my training again so he can see the jar fill up.  He really wants to go to Disney.

Today I got up and ran 4 miles.  It was a beautiful morning to run.  The temperature was 48 and it was quiet and peaceful on my run.  I counted 6 rabbits along the way and only 3 scared the crap out of me.  They darted out in front of me and I almost stepped on one.  I felt really good on this run.  This is the weather I love to run in and wish all my mornings were like this.  The only thing that made me laugh was something they were saying on the radio.  I run to the radio not just a playlist.  I like the talking.  Towards the end of my run, they were talking about a study that just came out of Japan that said if you wake up before 5am you have a higher risk of hardening of the arteries.  Then if you exercise that early you have a higher risk of a heart attack.  I'm listening to this as I'm finishing my run and knowing that 5am is sleeping in on some days.  Oh well.  I'm not going to change.

After breakfast James and I walked to camp.  My muscles were a bit stiff.  I know it was from the weights yesterday as I did legs.  I enjoyed the walk though.  I have my coffee and James always talks about interesting things.  Today we talked about fruit, older brothers/sisters, how he's excited for school and what he's going to ride when he goes to Great Wolf Lodge with mommy.  It was a quiet walk home.  I don't take my iPod on the walks, just my runs.

Tomorrow is my rest day, but James and I will still walk to camp.  A nice leisurely 3 mile walk will be fine.  Thursday I'm doing speed work and weights at the gym and Friday a short 3-4 mile run.  Saturday I have a race and then we are going to FanExpo.  It's the ComicCon of Canada.  I'm so excited!!!!!!  I can't wait to go!

Well, I'm off to do laundry and get a few other things done.  I'm glad I'm back on track and I feel great!  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Happy Wednesday!

Today was hard for me to get out and run.  The timing wasn't good.  The team I coach for has a swimmer on the Canadian Olympic team.  Andrew Ford made it in the 200 IM.  The prelims for that event were this morning.  Since CTV is showing it live he swam at 6:06 this morning our time.  I left for my run at 5:45.  When I got home, I got online and watched his swim.  He made the semi-finals tonight!  It was a really good swim too.  This afternoon I'll watch the semi-finals.

Yesterday I was supposed to go for a 4 mile run.  I got up, got dressed, let the dogs out and saw lightening.  It was a nice morning too.  Of course nothing ever came of it, but I didn't want to take that chance.  So I came back in and got ready to go to the Farmer's Market.

Today I ran with my brother-in-law again.  We did the 2 minute run/2 minute walk again.  The first few rounds I felt like I was pushing it a bit.  I think he was too.  The last 2 we got slower.  Overall my run was a bit slower than Monday.  I just felt slow and my feet felt heavy.  Tomorrow I'll be doing speed work.  I enjoy doing speed work.  It breaks things up.  I don't get a lot of distance, but it's fun to do.

Today I'm doing some more cleaning and organizing.  It seems like it never ends!  It has to get done though. Right now I'm off to do my core workout and then to shower.  Have a great day!!!!!!

Lake Festival and Monday Morning Run

This past weekend Mike and I went to Ohio for Lake Festival.  I love going because I get to see family.  Lake Festival used to be so much bigger, but it has just been really weak the last few years. It's sad to see that it's not as big as it used to be.  I used to love going downtown and seeing all the crafts and sales.  It seemed that more community groups used to do various things.  There has to be a way to make it better.

I did run the 5k that they have.  I love this course as it's really really really flat.  Here you get flat courses, but not like this.  It's so nice to run on the flat course.  It's my first 5k road race since I hurt my knee.  I did run the 10k in June, but 5k is still my favorite race.  I ran it in 33:14 officially.  That is about 30 seconds off my best time.  I was happy with that.  If that's where I am now after taking almost 2 months off to rehab my knee, then I should be running a best time in August when I run the Toronto Women's 5k.

Here are a few pictures from the race.

I got to see my great aunt this weekend as well.  I don't get to see her often so I love when I do get too.  Here I am with my great aunt, my grandma and my mom.  It's been about 5 years since we've all been together for a group picture.

I got to visit with my grandpa and my aunt and uncle as well.  I love when I can go down and see everyone.

This morning I got up and ran with Mike's brother.  He wanted to start running and asked if I would run with him.  I warmed up by running the mile to his house to get him.  We then did an interval run.  We started with a 5 minute walking warm-up.  Then we did 5 rounds of 2 minutes run/2 minutes walk.  Finally a 5 minute cool down.  The ended up being about 2 miles.  Then I ran the 1 mile home.  I'm back doing my sub-30 5k training program.  It worked to get me ready for my 10k in April and got my time down so I'm doing it again.  I have adjusted it some.  Today was supposed to be a cross-training day, but I figured this run/walk would be like cross training.  Tomorrow I have  4 mile long, easy run to do.  I'm taking a very hilly route tomorrow so I'll get some nice hill work in.  That's still my weakness so I'm going to really work on it this time through the program.  Wednesday, I run with Pat again, but I'm also hitting the gym to start back on my weights.  Thursday it's speed intervals and weights.  Friday short run with Pat and weights.  Saturday will be a rest day and Sunday a easy run.  I'm pretty excited to try to push it a bit again.  My knee has been feeling really good so this should be a good training phase.

I've been watching the Olympics and I love it!!!!!  What's nice is I can watch both the US coverage and the Canadian coverage.  I get to see different sports and different countries.  Right now I'm watching Serbia/South Korea in women's volleyball.  I watched rowing this morning and some swimming.  I am such an Olympic junkie and for the next 2 weeks I'll be glued to the coverage.

I'm off to do my core workout now.  I have been letting that slide so I'm back on it.

Have a great Monday!!!!!!

Monday, Monday...

And you can tell it's a Monday!

I haven't been sleeping well lately and I finally get to sleep and was going to let myself sleep until aruond 6:30, but the animals had other ideas.  Indy started yowling and knocking things off my dresser.  Anya decided that she needed to "share" my pillow.  Mulder, who slept with James last night, heard everyone else having fun so he came up and tried to "clean" my ears.  All at 5 am.  Yep, welcome to Monday!

I got up and putzed around until it was time to get James up.  He wanted to walk, but I really needed to get to the grocery so we decided that we'd walk this afternoon.  We went to the store and then I dropped him off at daycare.  Since we decided to walk this afternoon when I picked him up, I was just going to run to daycare and then walk home with him.  Well, when I realized how hot and humid it is I changed my mind.

After I put the groceries away, I went for a quick run.  Today was my short run day so I ran a quick 1.75 miles.  Just shy of my 2 mile goal.  I'm glad I took my small water bottle with me.  I usually don't take water with me on such short runs, but something said I should today.  I had to slow down about halfway through to take a few swigs.  Plus I put ice in it so it was nice to hold in my hand as I ran.

I was really happy with my time.  I held a pretty good pace for me on a short run.

Next week I'm going to start running with my brother-in-law in the mornings.  He wants to give it another try so I'll run with him on my interval days and short run days to get him back into it.  It should be nice.  Mike has been running in the evenings and liking that.  James will go with him when we have him.

My next race is the Lake Festival 5k this Saturday.  I'm looking forward to it since it's a really flat course.  I'm hoping for close to the same time as the Good Friday run.  I'll be really happy with that.

I'm doing a core workout before I shower.  I haven't been doing weights or core and I need to get back into it.  I'm going to do my Buffy workout.  I love that core workout and I'm in the mood to watch an episode of Buffy.

Tomorrow I have a 4 mile run scheduled and I'm doing that early before it gets hot and humid.  Plus James and I are going to the Market so I want to get my run done before heading out to buy lots of good fruits and veggies for our veggie challenge!

Mike and I are doing a veggie challenge and James wants to join us.  We are going to eat 5-6 servings of veggies every day.  James is going to eat 3-4.  The challenge is to make them all different and try new things.  I'm hoping it will get us back on track of good eating since we've been traveling so much and having to eat out.  We both just feel like slugs since vacation.  James also wants to try new fruits every week.

Well, off I go to kill my core!  Have a great day!

The Warrior Dash

I ran the Warrior Dash yesterday for the 2nd year in a row.  I had just as much fun this year as I did last year.  It's a tough run because of the hills and the obstacles.  This year there seemed to be more obstacles that required crawling under things.  I don't remember quite so much crawling last year.  I still had a really good time though!

Mike and James couldn't go with me because James had a piano contest.  He did pretty good for not being able to play or practice for over 6 weeks due to his broken finger.  The contest was in Toronto so they got to have a guys day yesterday.  Here is James at the contest.

I didn't really want to go to my race by myself so my friend Vicky came up from Michigan and kept me company. We had  girl's weekend!

Friday we drove up to Barrie and spent the night.  Saturday we got up and went to the race.

It was at Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort.  Vicky was awesome for holding my stuff and taking pictures!  I really appreciated it!  Here we are before the race.

Most of the obstacles can't be seen by the spectators, but the last three are right where everyone can see.  Here I am going over the cargo nets.  I'm the on in the yellow.

After you get off the cargo net, the next obstacle is the fire. 

After the fire, the last obstacle was the mud pit.  I love ending runs in mud pits!!!!!!!

And I survived another year!

And they had firemen to hose off all the mud.  I think they enjoyed it just a little too much.  I mean how often to you get to shoot people with a fire hose.

I did manage to get most of the mud off there at the race.  I still needed to get a shower after our drive home.

Vicky and I had a great time!  I'm really looking forward to running it again next year.  It's just a lot of fun and different every year.