Binder full of women costume - finalized

After playing around with a few other ideas, and my husbands suggestions, a few last minute things have been added.

I had some black card stock paper and created pockets inside of the foam board and put paper with a name and an image of a woman on it in the pocket. I also added some weight to the front part of the pocket to help balance out the weight.

My husband suggested that we use the 3 ring part of a binder and attach it to me and then add more papers that have women's pictures on it.

I don't have a picture of me in it yet (I'll add that later) but here are some more pictures of the final product.

 Here is the 3 ring binder that will be attached.

I added more ribbon and glued it to the back of the binder so that can be wrapped around me.

This shows the pocket with the paper on it, I also had images to the binder itself.

Here's the final product.

Here is a picture of me with my husband as Tugg Romney, the bad Mormon who drinks...the black sheep of the family.

Photo credit to Dennis Kytasaari

I hope you have enjoyed this DIY project with me.

C25K - Week 4, day 2

After being sick last week and then traveling...I took a bit over a week off from running. I did hike a beautiful mountain called Camels Hump in Vermont...and we went the long way around which included some pretty intense climbing for people who don't climb.

Here I am climbing on the edge over a few rocks with the view behind me.

This is the payoff at the top...loving that I can take panoramic shots now.

After my trip I did P90 with my husband and did lots of walking...so no running but was keeping active.

Since I was keeping active, I saw no reason to back track on my C25K program, so I skipped Week 3 day 3 and Week 4 day 1 and jumped right ahead as though I hadn't missed any training.

It was warm yesterday in Chicagoland...78 degrees or so when I started my run. I was not running very fast in light of this since I really prefer the 40s-60s for running at least right now.

The run was the 5 minutes warm up followed by 3 minutes running, 90 seconds walking, 5 minutes running and I believe 90 seconds walking again and then repeat. Yes I was running closer to my normal running pace (which is slowed down to 10 minute miles) but it felt good to hold the pace. I really have been thinking about jumping ahead in this program since my 5k is two weeks away, but I think I'll stick to this program until the 5k. I'll be able to run the entire 5k the way I'm feeling now, so long as it's not 90 degrees out.

Updates on how to make a "Binders full of Women" costume

I have been working on my binders full of women costume. I ended up getting 3 pieces of black foam board, some black ribbon, duct tape, needle and thread and some wire.

I opted to make the binder as though it were vertical, like if you were taking it out of a bookshelf.

For now I'm using duct tape to put the pieces together. For now the are all still the same size, however, I think I am going to make the back piece smaller so that it is closer to the width of my body.

To help it stay up, I taped some ribbon on and then sewed the ribbon into place so that I can wear the ribbon. Right now it's too long but it can be adjusted.

Tape before sewing.

Sewed on the straps

First attempt done

I do plan on hiking the binder up and trying to make the backside smaller. I plan to wear a black dress underneath to hide the straps a bit. Also will use a marker to label it "binder full of women".

I still have some wire that I am going to try to use to create the "rings" inside the binder and then fill that with paper that has images of women on it.

So far, so good.

Week 3, day 2 C25K

Sorry for the delay on today's run, the Presidential debates took over tonight!

My husband and I ran together today. He pushes me hard, always has. When we first started dating I remember going on a run with him and if it was a race, it would have been a PR. He runs much faster than I do (but somehow I beat him in a 10k we did together). So on the run today, it was my fastest run portion since starting.

Funny thing about running with my husband, I don't give directions well. He knew to walk but I never said brisk walk, so walking was slower and running was faster. If we run together tomorrow we're skipping to week 4 since the husband didn't really like the walk/run style...I admit I'm getting a little tired of it and want to start running more, but I'm going to give myself a break and keep it up just a bit longer.

I have signed up for 1 5k and will be signing up for one more the week after...both are about a month away so I need to keep this up, but add more runs to my training so that I can run the full 5k both times.

"Binder Full of Women" costume

It's two weeks before Halloween, and thanks to the Presidential Debates tonight, I have my costume idea...a binder full of women!

Now how to make it.

I am not very crafty, so my initial thought was to get some big cardboard boxes, paint them, put some huge pieces of paper in it with bios and pictures on women...or maybe get a group of my friends to join me in the cardboard box.

Another friend suggested foamcore. I haven't really worked with that before, but it can't be that hard.

In my mind I'm seeing a trapper keeper, I'm guessing that's because of the tumblr page. Since that is my image though, velcro would need to be involved as well.

Any other suggestions as to how to make this thing in 2 weeks with limited crafting experience? I really think it'll be cardboard.

**added 10:12pm CST**
After researching a bit more, I think that I will use the foamcore board.
2 large pieces of foamcore board
1 piece of fabric (to open and close the binder with)
velcro (to keep the fabric on the board)
large pieces of paper with images of women
tights (in the same color of the foam core board)
markers (to title the binder full of women)

I think I have it!

Week 3, day 1 - C25K

After a fun weekend with lots of playing outside in the rain and hanging out in the suburbs, it's back to reality. Monday's are my late day at work so I was able to get my run in this morning. I was a little nervous about this morning since I did enjoy a bit of wine over the weekend, but the run made me feel lots better.

Week 3 is a bit odd. The same normal 5 minute warm-up, but then it's a mixture with the run/walk. 90 second run, 90 second walk, 3 minute run, 3 minute walk and repeat. It seemed too short today, I wanted to go further and longer. My mileage was a bit shorter so I know that it was shorter in general. I think that's a good feeling though, that I want to keep going.

My plan for the week is to complete Week 3 and start on Week 4, but that might be pushing it a little bit since I'm traveling on Friday and will be hiking in VT...but we'll see what I can do.

After my C25K run I came home and lifted weights for another 20 minutes so I felt as though I had a complete workout this morning.

Now though...time to go to work!

C25K - end of week 2

I had a rough day today at work...and I kept telling myself, "just make it home and go for a run". I can't even TELL you the last time that happened to me. It was such a great feeling!

After work I did go pick up half a case of wine BUT I didn't open it (right away).

I came home, took the dog for a walk, and went for a run. It was very refreshing. I started my run/walk off slower than I had 2 days before. After I was into my second cycle (I think that's what you call it...you do 6 sets or cycles or whatever) I found my grove. Yes I followed the walk/run guidelines...but instead of 90 seconds running, 120 seconds walking...it turned more into the opposite. That made my really happy.

Knowing what I'm capable of, I think I will end up skipping ahead a little bit...but I'll follow the guidelines mostly...but maybe I'll just start week 3 tomorrow :)

Back on the running path

October 10, 2012 - day 2 in a row of running...well walk/running but 2 days in a row.

That used to be normal. I used to run 4-5 days a week. I was almost always training, and I loved always being in half marathon shape.

Then it happened, I lost my running mojo. It started off slowly, and I don't even know if I remember the exact date. The longer the mojo was missing, the harder it was to get it back. I kept racing, but it seemed more like a chore than a passion. With the exception of the Warrior Dash in June, the last actual race (just running no obstacles) was Thanksgiving, 2011. That is ridiculous! 

I tried to get the running bug back but it's not something that can be forced.

50 degrees...that's what did it.

I love the fall, and the bug came back a week ago, full on.

Rather than jumping back up to serious mileage, I read about getting back out there. There are tons of couch to 5k programs (C25K) out there, all following similar patterns. Start out with more walking than running to get you out there. I know that I could run more than I am, but right now, I want the routine back...the distance will come, the speed will come, I just need to get out there.

I did notice that besides the C25K programs, there was not much else out there about getting back on the path, so here we go.

I have run every distance from 5k to marathon, and I've completed sprint triathlons and 2 Warrior Dashes...and then nothingness. I want to follow through on my commitments. I want to be accountable...so guess what world, here comes the blog.