What I've Been Up To

Oh heeeeeyyyy.  How are you?  What have you been up to lately?  Sorry I've been so MIA.  Just not much to report around these parts.  So just to catch you up, here's the Cliff Notes version of what's going on (which is nothing!):

I did, miraculously, actually bake a few things for Thanksgiving this year.  I made pretzel brownies and s'mores bars thanks to Michelle's great ideas.  Like usual, and unsurprising, I f-ed it up though.  I know I know, you're far from shocked.  The in-laws have a fancy oven and unknowingly I used the "convection" oven setting, which apparently cooks things faster.  Buuuutttt I didn't alter the cooking times.  Story of my life.

So the brownies were kind of overcooked.  The s'mores bars were still awesome though, I highly recommend them.  What's not to like?  Butter?  Good.  Chocolate?  Gooood.  Marshmallows?  Goooooood.

Let's see, what else?  We saw Skyfall and Breaking Dawn Part II.  I fell asleep during Skyfall and thought Breaking Dawn was just as bad as all the other books / movies.  But we all know I'm not a reliable recommender. 

 

I went to yoga.  A LOT.  I bought a Groupon for hot yoga and decided it was my new method of fixing my hamstring.  Although I really liked it, and could feel it doing lots of great things for my body, I actually think it was making my hamstring WORSE.  All that direct stretching of it.  So my new method is to avoid putting any stress on my hamstring whatsoever.  I NEVER try to touch my toes.  I'll let you know how it works out.


I ran some races.  You already know all about those though.  Though I haven't "raced" any of them thanks to my bum hamstring, in the last 4 weekends I've done THREE races.  That's ridiculous!  The Mustache Dache, the Seattle Half, and now the Christmas Rush 10k.  Whew. 

I saw this amazing sunrise last week when I was headed to work.  I told you, I don't have that much to report!

We actually completed a home improvement project.  Our weekends used to be filled with these but we haven't done one in a LONG TIME now so I was proud we did anything.  This awkward space was in our bedroom and we finally added some shelves.  I kind of wish we'd done 4 shelves instead of 3 but those are NEVER coming out of there.

I read Reached, Wild, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

Reached was the 3rd book in the Matched trilogy (more young adult dystopia fiction, the story of my year), and NEVER start a trilogy before all three are published.  I could not for the life of me remember what the previous ones were about. 

Wild was VERY interesting and I HIGHLY recommend it.  Very hilarious the true troubles Cheryl gets herself into when she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail without EVER training, wearing hiking boots before, or ever putting on her backpack.  Kind of like Eat Pray Love but better.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower was okay.  I look forward to seeing Hermione in the movie. 

     

And last but not least, Cooper is still precious.  I know you won't find that surprising at all.

And how's Runcember going for you?  I've been struggling, I won't lie.  Last week was crazy busy for me with something work-related every night, and I was just so exhausted that convincing myself to walk even a mile was tough.  I hope this week is better.

We have some people who are just straight up DOMINATING though.  Seriously, Robyn did 50+ miles in just the first week!  Don't forget to enter your mileage!

So what's new with you???

Christmas Rush 10k Race Report

Oh hello.  Did you miss me?  Probably not! 

I've been doing a lot of nothing resting since the Seattle Half.  Although Runcember is kicked off and running (and I'm kind of regretting it everyday I have to force myself off the couch just to get in that mile!) it had seemed December would possibly be RESTcember as well.  As in, let's fix this freakin' hamstring once and for all, shall we?

Anyway, so although I deemed the Seattle Half the end of 2012's running season, I was technically signed up for one final race: The Christmas Rush 10k.  This would be my 4th time running the race, it's one of my home-town small-time favorites, and I didn't want to miss, but I figured I could just walk the 5k instead if necessary. 

So anyway, there we were, Saturday morning in the crisp cold air ready to "run" a race.  Kerrie, Erika, and Jennifer joined Jordanne and I, and all of a sudden, unready as usual, we were off! 

There's not much to report about the race itself, especially since it was far from a "race".  It was flat and they made it a loop this year instead of an out-and-back which I LOVED.  The race seemed to have doubled in size since last year though, it better not become too big for its britches!

I stayed with Jordanne until about 3.5, when I was dying for a walk break, so I forced her to go on ahead.  I walked again through the 1 water stop and ashamedly again with less than a half mile to go.  Some lady passed me during this walk break and was like "COME ON WE'RE ALMOST THERE" and I can't believe how much I hated her in that instant.  It reminded me of all the times I've said similar things with ONLY the best intentions!  Ugh, I was shooting daggers at her with my eyes.

Thanks to Kerrie for the pics!

But even with the walking I still somehow managed to get in in JUST under an hour.  Squeaking it a little close with a 59:51. 

And the hamstring?  It actually felt okay!  I don't want to get my hopes up just yet though.  I was focused heavily on taking short steps, and obviously the walk breaks.  Please let this continue. 

And NOW my 2012 racing season is officially over. 

Runcember Has Begun!

Today marks the start of RUNCEMBER!  So get our there and run or walk your mile today and every day of December!

I know you can do it!

Sadly, thanks to my hamstring that is never-ever-ever-getting-better it's looking like it might be more like No-Run-Cember for me, but I plan to DOMINATE Walkcember!  GO SIGN UP HERE!

SO HOP TO IT!