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!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
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 :)
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 :)
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
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.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Summer nights
Though the official start of summer, aka the solstice, is still a few days away, tonight is a perfect summer evening. The type of evening that brings back memories. It's after 9, but it's still 80+ degrees, with a breeze...the fireflies are lighting the grass...there are so many smells in the air...and all you want to do is be outside.
It's the reason I bought a (few) bottles of white wine...to sit out on my deck and just enjoy. I have no desire to go to sleep...unless I was out in a tent, with some marshmallows and other friends in the woods.
Nights like this I don't feel my age...I feel 5, 10, 15 maybe 21 or 22...but that's the reason why I bought the wine.
I love summer
It's the reason I bought a (few) bottles of white wine...to sit out on my deck and just enjoy. I have no desire to go to sleep...unless I was out in a tent, with some marshmallows and other friends in the woods.
Nights like this I don't feel my age...I feel 5, 10, 15 maybe 21 or 22...but that's the reason why I bought the wine.
I love summer
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wedding Welcome Letters and RSVPs
We are getting down to the final days...3 weeks from tomorrow is my wedding day. I must admit that I don't like it when people ask me how many days, or when people tell me how many days. I still have 8 work days left and I need to make it through that before I can finish up the little details here and there. I feel like a total "B" to my Mother (sorry Mom) because she is the worst offender...but we both understand that she's excited and just wishes that she was here.
The RSVP due date is tomorrow...and there are still a handful of people that we are waiting to hear from. There are some family members that I just put down as "no" since they are way out of town and haven't booked a hotel room, so it's a safe bet that they are not coming. There are other family members that I will have to call, and I don't know why but I feel awkward about it. My cousin for example, he called me the day he received his invitation and said he would be here...but never sent me an official RSVP. He's known for making promises that he can't always keep, so I'm going to have to call and just check...but it feels weird. What if he tells me no or avoids me because he doesn't want to disappoint me? Or his brother, he hasn't said a word to me, but has told my Aunt (his Mother) that he has until the 15th to make up his mind. Technically, you had until the 13th or so because the mail needs a few days to get to me. I guess I'll be calling him this weekend too.
It's funny though, how some people are holding off to see how their relationships are with other people. Seems odd if you ask me. For example. some friends are at odds with one another and are waiting until the last minute to decide if they make up with each other before the wedding. Oh well.
Finishing up this post is the Welcome Letters. I think we've gotten those done. We've welcomed people, told them the timing of events, and given them lots of options for things to do while they are in Chicago. We broke it up into two pages. Page 1 the wedding welcome and details, Page 2, everything we could think of to do in Chicago that fits on one page. And here is that information...let me know if I'm missing anything:
"What is there to do in Chicago?Museums, Beaches, Flowers, Famous Buildings
The RSVP due date is tomorrow...and there are still a handful of people that we are waiting to hear from. There are some family members that I just put down as "no" since they are way out of town and haven't booked a hotel room, so it's a safe bet that they are not coming. There are other family members that I will have to call, and I don't know why but I feel awkward about it. My cousin for example, he called me the day he received his invitation and said he would be here...but never sent me an official RSVP. He's known for making promises that he can't always keep, so I'm going to have to call and just check...but it feels weird. What if he tells me no or avoids me because he doesn't want to disappoint me? Or his brother, he hasn't said a word to me, but has told my Aunt (his Mother) that he has until the 15th to make up his mind. Technically, you had until the 13th or so because the mail needs a few days to get to me. I guess I'll be calling him this weekend too.
It's funny though, how some people are holding off to see how their relationships are with other people. Seems odd if you ask me. For example. some friends are at odds with one another and are waiting until the last minute to decide if they make up with each other before the wedding. Oh well.
Finishing up this post is the Welcome Letters. I think we've gotten those done. We've welcomed people, told them the timing of events, and given them lots of options for things to do while they are in Chicago. We broke it up into two pages. Page 1 the wedding welcome and details, Page 2, everything we could think of to do in Chicago that fits on one page. And here is that information...let me know if I'm missing anything:
"What is there to do in Chicago?Museums, Beaches, Flowers, Famous Buildings
- Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission): 2001 N. Clark Street
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: 2430 N. Cannon Drive
- Museum of Contemporary Art: 220 E. Chicago Avenue
- The Art Institute of Chicago: 111 S. Michigan Avenue
- Shedd Aquarium: 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
- Field Museum: 1410 S. Museum Campus
- Adler Planetarium: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
- Museum of Science and Industry: 1 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive
- Wrigley Field (where the Cubs play): 1060 W. Addison Street
- US Cellular Field (where the White Sox play): 333 W. 35th Street
- Lincoln Park Conservatory (free admission): 2391 N. Stockton Drive
- North Ave Beach: 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive
- Garfield Park Conservatory: 300 N. Central Park Avenue
- Promontory Point: 5491 S. South Shore Drive
- Millennium Park: 201 E. Randolph Street
- Grant Park: 337 E. Randolph Street
- Buckingham Fountain
- Navy Pier: 600 E. Grand Avenue
- Magnificent Mile: Michigan Avenue
- Hancock Building (and the Signature Room): 875 N. Michigan Avenue
- Willis (formerly Sears) Tower: 233 S. Wacker Drive
- Billy Goat Tavern (multiple locations, this is closest to hotels): 430 N. Michigan Avenue
- Weiner Circle: 2622 N. Clark Street
- Portillo's (multiple locations): 100 W. Ontario Street
- Garrett’s Popcorn (multiple locations): 625 N. Michigan Avenue
- Pizzeria Uno or Due: 29 E. Ohio/619 N. Wabash Avenue
- Mr. Beef: 666 N. Orleans Street
- The Berghoff: 17 W. Adams Street
- The Green Door Tavern: 678 N. Orleans Street
- The Green Mill: 4802 N. Broadway Street
- Architecture Tour (walking or boating): 112 E. Wacker Drive, 312-922-8687
- Untouchables Tour: 600 N. Clark Street, 773-881-1195
- Pizza Tour: 27 N. Wacker Drive, 800-979-3370
- Chicago Ghost Tours: 610 N. Clark Street, 888-446-7891
- Rock Around the Block - Lincoln and Belmont Avenue
- West Fest - Chicago Avenue, between Damen and Wood
- Chicago Folk & Roots Festival - 4400 N. Lincoln Ave.
- Opening weekend of Bristol Renaissance Faire - IL/WI border"
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Chicago Wedding Welcome bags
I've been so busy with all the wedding planning that I have completely neglected my blog! I've been doing tons of searches on what to put in "Wedding Welcome Bags" that I thought I would make a blog entry about what's going into ours.
I'm still on the fence on a few things, but decided that we wanted to welcome our friends and family with fun things as well as necessities.
A keepsake is a magnet with our names and the date of our wedding...but the magnet is the Chicago Flag. It's quite awesome
In the blue is where our names and the date go, in white. We're thinking of including the story of the Chicago flag in our welcome letter (a future blog will include whatever I end up writing in the letter).
So in addition to the magnet, we realize that people are going to want some bottled water, so each person will get a bottle of water.
For a sweet snack we made up some personalized chocolates. Dark hershey kisses and miniature peanut butter cups that have our initials and the date on them.
For a salty snack we decided to be lazy and just go to Costco and get the variety pack of chips.
For the hangover cure, we found individual Pepto Bismo and Advil packages, so those are in there too.
We were able to get a brochure about Chicago, but we're also including a homemade map for people, in addition to the timeline on the map for them. We'll also print out some of the suggestions on "what to do" from the wedding website since some people are making a vacation out of this visit.
We wanted to do lots more, but we figured people would rather have more food and booze available to them at the reception, so that's where the money is going.
Now...if only people would book their rooms before the reservation date is up!
I'm still on the fence on a few things, but decided that we wanted to welcome our friends and family with fun things as well as necessities.
A keepsake is a magnet with our names and the date of our wedding...but the magnet is the Chicago Flag. It's quite awesome
In the blue is where our names and the date go, in white. We're thinking of including the story of the Chicago flag in our welcome letter (a future blog will include whatever I end up writing in the letter).
So in addition to the magnet, we realize that people are going to want some bottled water, so each person will get a bottle of water.
For a sweet snack we made up some personalized chocolates. Dark hershey kisses and miniature peanut butter cups that have our initials and the date on them.
For a salty snack we decided to be lazy and just go to Costco and get the variety pack of chips.
For the hangover cure, we found individual Pepto Bismo and Advil packages, so those are in there too.
We were able to get a brochure about Chicago, but we're also including a homemade map for people, in addition to the timeline on the map for them. We'll also print out some of the suggestions on "what to do" from the wedding website since some people are making a vacation out of this visit.
We wanted to do lots more, but we figured people would rather have more food and booze available to them at the reception, so that's where the money is going.
Now...if only people would book their rooms before the reservation date is up!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Starting another 40 day routine
After reviewing my blog posts from last year, I think what I need, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically is to complete another 40 day journey. I was already planning on going to a yoga studio for 3 weeks, I might as well start incorporating the journey this weekend and add a few extra yoga sessions into my routine early.
For the past 60 days or so, my fiance and I have been doing the P90 workout. Since it is two dvds for the first 6 weeks (we did a month) and two dvds for the second 6 weeks (we did a month) it becomes boring fast. We have decided to end it up tomorrow and take a month off from the P90 and P90X plan. I am going to reintroduce myself to more yoga classes (and home practice), running, and some other DVDs that we have. I think that completing the 40 day yoga practice again may help me destress and focus on me.
I doubt that I will blog as much as I did last year, but I do hope to have my blogging be a part of the experience again.
For the past 60 days or so, my fiance and I have been doing the P90 workout. Since it is two dvds for the first 6 weeks (we did a month) and two dvds for the second 6 weeks (we did a month) it becomes boring fast. We have decided to end it up tomorrow and take a month off from the P90 and P90X plan. I am going to reintroduce myself to more yoga classes (and home practice), running, and some other DVDs that we have. I think that completing the 40 day yoga practice again may help me destress and focus on me.
I doubt that I will blog as much as I did last year, but I do hope to have my blogging be a part of the experience again.
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