Semi-Wordless Wednesday & a Weigh-in

Good advice from Marathon Don on the GR Marathon blog today.

My friend, Beki, posted this on FB yesterday.  Anyone else relate?

Looks like I'm right where I was a year ago. *sigh*

This made me smile. The Oatmeal rocks.

I hope everyone has a Wonderful Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday: social media rocks

Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Pacific Ocean

2 years ago today I met up with these ladies and ran the Inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon.




I couldn't leave California without putting my feet in the Pacific Ocean.



I'm wishing for a beach big-time now. We're on our 3rd snow day in a row with no end in sight. If anyone would like to stuff me in a suitcase & send me somewhere warm and beachy, I'd be very appreciative.

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Semi Wordless Wednesday: proud

I'm celebrating my diver today.

Last night she competed in the regional diving competition and by that smile, I think you can guess that it went really well.

31 divers qualified at their conference meets to compete at Regionals.  After the first round (5 dives), they cut the field to 20.  She was in 19th place.

Then after the 2nd round (3 more dives), they cut again to 16.  She'd moved up to 13th place.  K needed to gain 1 spot to make it to State.  3 more dives and she finished 10th!

My diver is competing at Oakland University this weekend!!!

I'm so proud of all her hard work this year.  She's doing harder dives, including 3 new ones - 2 that she's learned in the past 2 weeks.  I love seeing the look on her face when she realizes all this dedication and work paying off.  I'd say her coach looks proud of her too :)

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Wordless Wednesday: is there good?

Jury is out today.

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Not-So-Wordless Wednesday: Safety First! #runchat

Yes, it's "Weigh-in Wednesday" and I was down a little bit this week, but in light of recent events, I wanted to send out this reminder instead.

Light yourself up, people.  A very well-known runner in the Grand Rapids, MI running community was killed a couple nights ago after being hit by a car.  It was only 6:15 at night but it was DARK.  The time change means many of us are running at dusk or after dark (or in my case, still running in the morning when it's dark) and it's better to look like a dork than to not be seen.

A couple nights before this, someone I know almost hit a cyclist who was biking at midnight with NO LIGHTS and all black clothing.  Really, this is beyond dumb.

If you are going to be out walking, running, cycling or whatever any time near dusk, dawn or dark, PLEASE wear the appropriate safety gear.

• headlamp or KnuckleLights
• reflective vest
• blinky lights on your front and back
• leave the music at home or wear only one ear bud and don't get lost in your music

Just having clothing with a few reflective markings isn't good enough.

Be safe out there my friends!

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday + a weigh-in

This was the first thing I saw when I opened Facebook this morning. Thank you to Mel for sharing it. I wish I could believe it really works.

I like control. I need to feel like I have some structure and predictability. Right now a lot of things feel out of my control and I hate it. I need to relax, be patient & trust that everything will work out.

My weight is one area where I'm trying to relax a bit, but it's so hard. The meds I'm on for my sinus infection are causing other problems. I thought I'd be rewarded with a weight loss this week but instead it's the opposite. I'm back up over a number that I said I'd never see again even with as sick as I was over the weekend.

This isn't the kind of letting go of control I'm comfortable with.

Are you a control freak? Ever had meds make you gain weight?

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Semi-Wordless Wednesday: believe

Injured and sick, I had one of my best runs in weeks yesterday and commented that I felt like an athlete again. A friend reminded me to look at this more often. The athlete is still in me, I've just let too much negative thinking get in the way. I need to believe.

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Semi-Wordless Wednesday: tye dye fail

(Backstory: Last week I managed to ruin a lululemon tank by getting hair dye all over it. A few friends suggested dying it a different color.)
















Epic fail. Tech fabrics do not hold dye - unless it's hair dye. The picture doesn't even do the fail justice.

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Weigh-In Wednesday: crud

Starting Weight (11-28-12): 153.6

Last week: 142.0

This week: 143.2

Change: up 1.2

Total change: down 10.4

It is what it is and I knew this week would be bad. (I'm glad it's only 1.2 pounds because it was much worse a couple days ago.) Trying not to see this as a complete derailment of the past few weeks but only a little bump in the road.  Moving on with increased motivation to push myself on today's 5 mile tempo run.


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Weigh-In Wednedsay: FRAK!

Last week: 153.6

This week: 154.2

Change: up .6

Total change: up .6

What really sucks is the fact I was 150.8 on Sunday. How the hell does one gain 3.4 pounds in 3 days. Shit.

Back when I was asking for questions for another 20 Questions page, Cindy asked for my best weight loss tips & strategies. I'd guess it's pretty safe to say I am no longer qualified to answer that question. Way back when, I used Weight Watchers - I counted points and used their little trackers.  It worked.  I lost 50 pounds on WW, but I wouldn't say I was healthy and I certainly wasn't strong.  I had zero muscle and definitely couldn't go out and run for 2 minutes, much less and hour or more.

I think the old adage "eat less, move more" is still true, but why isn't it working for me anymore?

Anyone want to help Cindy (and me) out?

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Fitness Friday: Tri-ing Again!

How crazy is it that the one thing I bought on Cyber Monday was my first race fee for 2013??? Even crazier - it's a triathlon! This one is longer that the tri I finished in 2012 so I'm now freaking out a bit. Longer swim and longer run, but the bike distance is about the same.  Good thing I have until July to train!

source

If you live in Michigan (or nearby), I've heard great things about Tri del Sol and as far as triathlons go, it's very reasonably priced.  Anyone want to come "tri" with me???  If you click this link, you'll find a very short (3 question) survey and a discount code towards ANY of the races.  The survey will be open until tonight and the code is good until Feb 1st.  Tomorrow morning, I think I'm going to register for a half marathon that's coming up in May in Northern Michigan.  It always sells out and I've heard it's beautiful and FAST.  So much for not training for any distance races in 2013.

Remember....

(stolen from FB)

(Semi) Wordless Wednesday: mantras

I need a new mantra - care to take a vote :)

I'm running my first official 5k since 2009 tomorrow. I'm actually excited about it - and I haven't been excited about many runs lately, so that's HUGE.  I have no clue how it's going to go or what kind of time I can expect, but I plan to have fun and not stop until I cross the finish line. 

Then I can come home and eat all the things :)

Semi-Wordless Wednesday: BEER

Wisdom compliments of Magic Hat Brewing Company.


I'm loving this Heart of Darkness stout right now. (Well, not right this second since I need to go to work, but you know what I mean.)

What's your favorite beer?

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Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Speedwork

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I'm counting on this.

Do you do speedwork?

Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Discipline

On Saturday, I wanted nothing to do with my planned long run.  The weather was crappy, I was frustrated at the outcome of my daughter's diving meet, it was already 1 in the afternoon when we'd gotten home and I wasn't properly fueled.  You get the idea. I had it in my head that the run was going to completely suck before I'd even laced up my shoes.

Then someone reminded me that athletes don't always want to do their workouts but they do them anyway.  This person was 100% correct (and called me an athlete which was pretty cool).  If I hadn't gone for my run, I'd have missed this:

12 miles of some of the prettiest trees God and Michigan had to offer.  Getting out there required discipline that I don't always have.  I needed some serious encouragement on Saturday, but I'm blessed to have people in my life to nudge me in the right direction.

Wordless Wednesday: BEERRUN

Tonight was the last of the 2012 Grand Rapids Marathon beer runs. We ran 5 miles on the White Pine Trail in Rockford and celebrated with awesome New Holland brews at The Corner Bar. My Ichabod pumpkin ales were AWESOME.








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Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Pride

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What steps are you proud of for taking this week?

Semi-Wordless Wednesday: believe this

I saw this on FB one day - I wish I knew who (whom?) to give credit.  All I know is that inner mean girl and her little voice inside me is constantly telling me I'm not brave/strong/smart/beautiful and that little voice is a f"ing liar. We all need to remember that.

NotSo-Wordless Wednedsay: marinara sauce

We had an abundance of tomatoes this weekend so I decided to experiment and attempt to make pasta sauce.








I didn't have a recipe but this is basically what I did:
1. Sauté 1 onion & about 5 garlic cloves (diced up) in olive oil.
2. Boil a little water to remove the tomato skins. (Score each tomato skin & cut them in half. Scoop out some of the seeds then drop the tomato in the water. Let it boil for a few seconds & when you take it out of the water the skin will come right off.)
3. Add the tomatoes to the onions & garlic & mash them up a bit.
4. Add some diced green pepper, a shredded zucchini, and fresh basil.
5. Add salt, pepper & oregano.
6. Let it simmer for an hour or two, stirring occasionally, until it's reduced by about half. Taste it. Add 1-3 tsp of sugar if it tastes bitter or acidic & simmer a bit longer.
So good & healthy.



Do you have a favorite pasta sauce recipe you'd like to share?

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