Thunder Thighs

I have THUNDER THIGHS and that's a compliment because they are strong and toned and muscular and though they are unwelcome in the petite section, they are cheered on in marathons. Fifty years from now I'll bounce a grandchild on my thunder thigh and then I'll out for a run. Just Do It!

~ Nike Ad

I don't really have thunder thighs, but I love quotes and love the "in your face message" this one conveys. :D My boys' wrestling club is hosting their home tournmanet today. So I'm off after spin class to volunteer and watch my kiddos wrestle. Have a great weekend!

Today's workout: 60 min spin, run 3 miles. RUN ON!

Foto Friday

One of my favorite pics from last years sprint triathlon. Using it as motivation to get in the pool! :D

Let's see those Fotos. Comment {so I have your blog addy} and I will add a link to your blog for the world to see your Friday Foto. Have a great weekend!

T.G.I.F. Links
Pat
rUntoNamAste
Diana
Melanie
FairWeatherRunner
Janice
Izzy Bubbles
Chic Runner
AKA Alice
Julie
Marlene

Pain or Tiddly Winks?

T0 be a cyclist is to be a student of pain...at cycling's core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside of a juicy peach. It doesn't matter if you're sprinting for an Olympic medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you're missing the essence of the sport. Without pain, there's no adversity. Without adversity, no challenge. Without challenge, no improvement. No improvement, no sense of accomplishment and no deep down joy. Might as well be playing Tiddly Winks.

~ Scott Martin

Today's Workout: 20 lap swim, 40 min tempo run, 60 min spin. RUN ON!

Must Swim

I need to get into the pool. I have not swam a single lap since July 2008. Tri training officially begins in...ahhhh...12 days! GAH! No more said. Tomorrow is the day I break out the suit and goggles.

Today's workout: 3 mile run, 60 min spin. RUN ON!

My 12-yr Old Wants to Run the 1/2

My 12 year old son John wants to run the Lincoln 1/2 Marathon with me. He's eager and hasn't given up on the thought that is now about 40 days old. I haven't done any research or asked any experts, but are there any reasons why he couldn't? Training will officially start for the 1/2 in about a week and I know he'll breeze through the short runs. The weekend long runs....well....may be a bit of a reality check. Perhaps I should just leave it up to the running God's and let nature take it's course. What do you all think?

Here he is all decked out in this wrestling gear. Notice the muscle bulging (fist induced) on his right arm.

Later: The registration form stated the minimum age is 12 for participation. This is good! I checked it out yesterday when I officially registered.

Today's workout: 8-400, 5K pace, 60 min spin. Run on!

11 Degree Run Makes a Dog Happy

OK, so I needed to do a 5K yesterday and I originally predicted I would be running it on the treadmill since the temps were so low. But for some odd reason, with the temps reading 11 degress with a -11 real feel, I was dreading the indoor run. Thus, I decided to layer up the clothing and give it a go outdoors.


Take a look at the pic below. Can you guess who's the most excited party for the run? Harley is at least 12 inches off the ground and that was just the beginning of his jumps and bounding around when he saw me all decked out in my running gear.

So off we went. It was a beautiful run breaking tracks into the fresh snow. Turning onto the main road where I was doing the bulk of my 5K, there was at most tracks from two cars leaving an easy trail for me to step in for traction. Overall, the run was fabulous. A little cold on the lungs and the tummy. My two layers of Under Armour kept creeping up and my very top, 3rd layer, just wan't 100% chill proof. I had a streak of red across my tummy where the cold air creeped in when the UA crawled. I think I'm going to have to try another brand of cold weather tops to wear so I don't have to deal with the creeping. Any suggestions? I have a couple of adidas ones, I could layer, but I don't think the two together would be as warm as one Under Armour. I may need to shop for some heavier Adidas or Nike winter tops unless anybody has a better suggestion.




McRib picked us up and we were off to shower and get ready for a 3 hour spin at the Y. I met 6 of my cycling friends for some saddle time and we had a great time listening to music, spinning at our own pace and resistence and planning out the details of our RAGBRAI 2009 adventure.


Today's workout: 3 mile run. I hope everyone had a great weekend and RUN ON!

There's No Place Like Jackson!

Finally! I got a power cord and wireless card for my old DELL Inspiron 8200 laptop. WOOT! Kudos go out to McRib for making this happen. On my laptop I found pictures of my trip to Jackson, WY which I took the summer of 2006 . I did a lot of hiking and hiked at minimum 7-8 miles up {one way} into the mountain, via a trailhead. I'd have to find my journal to name them all. The only real populated one I hiked was past Jenny Lake and that was only populous for the first 5 miles because it's a tourist attraction. I hiked probably 5-6 miles beyond the popular turnaround point and the views were spectacular. I saw bear, moose {I'll have to share sometime my encounter with the moose}, and only a few, if any, peeps. If you haven't been there, you need to go. I took my boys this last summer and they loved it. I didn't take them hiking because we were on a short time frame, but I did take John white water rafting.

These are just a few of many pics. When I get through them all I may post more from time to time. Jackson, WY is my all-time favorite place in the world. If you are ever interested in going out to hike and rough it, drop me a line. I'd love to meet an adventurous group to explore more of the area. Of course, we'd have to go white water rafting at least once.

Today's workout: 5k race, 3 hour spin. The race will more than likely be indoors on the treadmill. :( We are soon to be in a winter advisory. I was scheduled to do the Chiller Challenge in the big Omaha today, but things just didn't workout so I'm trading out that race for another one in a couple weeks. RUN ON!

Foto Friday ~ T.G.I.F!

McRib and I did a destination wedding {does 250 miles away from where you live count as a destination wedding? :)} one day and a reception the next day. Prior to the reception we thought it would be fun to stage some wedding pics tubing down Pine Creek at Hidden Paradise {a very remote, unheard of resort}. Pine Creek runs through a town called Long Pine, 10 miles from where my dad grew up. As a child he would ride his bike there to go fishing. When I was a child visiting my grandparents, my grandpa would take us tubing down the creek. He would drop us off and follow us going down, crossing the bridges ready for another, and then another and then another drive back up to drop off silly kids having fun in the creek. The distance barely makes a mile, but the water is peaceful and cool and not to mention a good time.

Let's see those Fotos. Comment {so I have your blog addy} and I will add a link to your blog for the world to see your Friday Foto. Have a great weekend!

T.G.I.F. Links

Pat
joyRuN

Carly

Denise

Janice

Diana

Michelle

Stacey

Felice

Chic Runner

Carrie

Marlene

Sarah

Global Domination

When in doubt, show up early. Think less. Feel more. Ask once. Give thanks often. Expect the best. Appreciate everything. Never give up. Make it fun. Lead. Invent. Regroup. Wink. Chill. Smile. And live as if your success was inevitable, and so it shall be.
~ The Universe

Today's workout: 3 mile tempo run, 90min spin.

Looky Looks on the Tube: Grey's Anatomy

Attitude is everything.

RUN ON!

$100,000

52 work weeks
5 days a week
260 workable days
8 hours a day
2,080 hours a year
$48.08 per hour earnings

hmmm....I better get started!

Today's workout: 3 mile run.

RUN ON!

Off Again for Another Day

January 20, Inauguration Day, a very magnanimous day in history to celebrate. Are you there? Or following it on TV? I am. Here that is, following it wherever it's broadcast. Have a great day! p.s. Grey's was awesome! I can't wait until Thursday.

No workouts today. John has a junior high basketball game. I'm off to be a proud parent. RUN ON!

Seeing the small is called Clarity.

Keeping flexible is called Strength.

Using the shining Radiance you enter the Light,

where no harm can come to you.

This is called Enlightenment.

~ Lao Tsu

Out of Office Reply

Nikemom is officially on Holiday for Monday, January 19, 2008. Nikemom will be masking her face, sipping fluffy coffee, lounging in the hot tub and catching up on last week's premiere of Grey's Anatomy.

Today's workout: 3 mile run, 45 min spin. RUN ON!

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

p.s. John took 2nd and Jake tood 4th {wrestling} and I ran 9.63 miles on a treadmill. I must be crazy!

Sunday Quote

What you want, has no bearing on whether or not you'll get it. None. Nada. Zippo.It's only ever a question of whether or not you can behave as if you already have it.
~I got you, babe - The Universe

Today's Workout: 90 min run

We will be spending tall day at wrestling...club wrestling. Jake wrestles at 11am and John wrestles at 3pm. Somewhere in there I need only 90 min to run to alleviate the pine-a$$.

RUN ON!

T.G.I.F. Foto Friday

These pictures were taken the 7th morning {final day} of RAGBRAI. This is my good friend and riding buddy Don. I just uploaded the coffee table book I designed to BLURB showcasing our journey across the state of Iowa and now I'll be anxiously awaiting the postman for the next 10 days, not for his looks, but for my book. HA! You should all be seriously thinking about adding RAGBRAI to your 2009 adventures. It's a riot and a great accomplishment. Let me know if you would like to join us.

Bring it on! Let's see those Fotos. Comment {so I have your blog addy} and I will add a link to your blog for the world to see your Friday Foto. Have a great weekend!

T.G.I.F. Links

Pat
Oz
Janice
Fair Weather Runner
Diana
Kita
Kelly
Chad
AKA Alice
Marlene

Bravo!

11 Days and the 12th was a bust. I don't know what happened, but as of 1:00pm yesterday, I am no longer sugar free. WAAAAAA! I don't really know why. The last 11 days have been easy peasy with little to no sugar weaknesses. And here I am sitting at my desk, a bag of little Heath candy bar bites were in my drawer to my right and there is just no pull to "just eat one, no one will know". I did not even have one iota of desperation to eat sugar, let along a Heath bite.

So, I'm just hanging out grading some papers and before you know it, I'm unwrapping a Heath bite and gnawing away. Yuck! Ok, so, let's have another. It was like a little pig-fest on something I didn't even enjoy. BLEH!

Now I feel sick! GAH! I don't know if it's the sudden shovel full of sugar or a type of candy bar I don't even enjoy. I can't believe I even ate them! I still don't know why. Maybe it was the challenge or curiosity of what that little Heath bite would taste like.

I could've at least held to my high standards and held out for a huge piece of chocolate cake or licorice or better yet, a tub of ice cream. I love ice cream. I'm a "eat it right out of the container" kinda girl. :D

I will be starting the 39 days over beginning today. After selflecting over the last 11 days, sugar is just overrated. [if you quote me on that, I'll have to hurt you].

Today's Workout: 45 min tempo run, 60 min spin. {temps are freezing, so the run is an iffy unless I make it to the Y}

RUN ON!

Confession: I'm On Drugs

OK. So there you have it. I do drugs. That was difficult for me to say, but now that it's out there, I want to share my story with you.

It's not as bad as you think. I pop maybe 9-12 pills a day. Really, it's no big deal. I've read all about the side affects. I know it could lead to an early death, but then again, death is one of those uncertainties anyways, so why not?

My struggle is: do I just stop cold turkey, or do I add more. I've only been on the drugs since the end of 2008. Not that long, but I am experiencing some side effects. Gas. Yes, I said gas. OMG! I can't believe I'm talking about this. If you preferred I use the word flatulence, fart, smell, puff or whatever, just comment and I will adjust. You are my peeps and I don't want to lose your support over this horrible thing.

I've had to make some adjustments in my daily activities. Games.

• Mob Gas: Crowds are the safest because it's out there and everybody blames everybody else. Students are the best crowd to be in.
• Gas & Run: Do it quietly and run! Running isn't unusual for me so I'll never be the suspect
• Who Me?: I thought it was you. Did you puff?
• Cough Gas: Sound off with an "ahem" or loud hacking cough. Warning: this is only a potential cover-up.

I so don't know what to do. I could take some Beano I guess. Any other suggestions? I am not an over-gaseous individual and am at odds with this newly acquired on-going skill I've developed.

Ok, you want to know what drugs I am taking? I knew you were going to ask that. Here goes...

• Glucosamine
• Multivitamin
• Vitamin C
• Catalyst

I feel relieved. Ok, not in a gaseous sense, but I got it off my chest. Anybody experience the same problemos and any suggestions? I'm thinking it's the glucosamine. I need it for my knees and hate to give it up. But it's gas or no gas. HELP!

The writer is not responsible in any way shape or form for your reaction to the above content. The writer is reaching far and wide for topics to captivate an audience and seek some help. This is a true story and no facts are made up or solicited off the street. The writer highly recommends the drugs listed above, but also warns you of the potential gaseous side effects.

Todays workout: 3 mile run. RUN ON!

Running In Circles

Usually when I have long runs, I will run one direction and McRib will come pick me up. I get bored running in a circle, so I will will usually just head towards Lincoln and whatever time or mileage later, my dear hubby {McRib} will pick me up. I love this! Per my training scheduled, Sunday was a 90 min run, but no McRib. McRib was out west hunting [5 hours away] so I had to adjust. It was a beautiful day and of course I managed anyways without him. To prove it, I took some pics of my journey.

Here's a pic sporting my new Brooks! It's their first run.

and we're off...
mile 1...

can't forget the shadow pic...
what do you mean stop? I'm not stopping now!
famous senior picture bridge...
there's my sorority grafitti {Phi Sigma Tau}....
nearing the halfway point...

halfway...bridge atop the superslab {I-80}...
fueled up for the last half....{still running}

and we're circling back....

nearing the end...

and we're home!I had a great run! My new shoes were great and ice packs felt even greater on my calves! WOOT! Per yesterday's post regarding compression socks, I will be receiving a free pair of muscle recovery leg sleeves in the mail from Zensah for a product review. DOUBLE WOOT!! Stay tuned.

Today's workout: 60 min spin and 7x400 5K pace. RUN ON!

One Bells

Grandfather rang his chimes at 1:00 am. Less than a minute later, my alarm went off. I'm not kidding. It's 5:20 am. How could that be? Could it be I slept right through my screaming calves? Perhaps I fell deep into a coma and was only dreaming about what to post about today. Does your blog and body keep you all all night like my blog and body does?

My calves are screaming "compress me!" So, I've been searching for the best and right compressions sleeves for my babies. I came across Zensah through my search and was wondering if anybody had any experience with their products. I'm loving the idea of those running leg sleeves but they only come in S/M. I have big calves which makes boot shopping challenging. I'm not into cutting off my circulation, I want to enhance it so if anybody has anything else to recommend I would greatly appreciate their input.

I've got compression socks, but not really liking them as they circulation cutters at the knees and I have XL's. I'm already into the ice packs, I even wear them to bed to calm the screams, but I think I need something beyond ice. HELP! :P

Today's workout: 45 min spin, 3 mile run. RUN ON!

Anybody...

... want to meet me to run the Chiller Challenge 8k in Omaha on January 25? Let me know!

Today's workout: 90 min run

When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.
~ Buddha

Better than Sex?

My new shoes! Brooks Glycerin 7. Better than sex? [for now cuz their new!] or not?!? :D Or is the endorphins the running creates???

Today's workout: 120min spin, 3 mile run. Run on!

Something inside of me just said 'Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,' and I just took off. You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.

~ Pre

It's Foto Friday!

Bring it on! Let's see those Fotos. Comment {so I have your blog addy} and I will add a link to your blog for the world to see your Friday Foto. Have a great weekend!

T.G.I.F. Links

Pat
Diana
Kelly
Denise
ChicRunner
Runtonamaste
Carrie

P.S. 7 days. no sugar. oh ya!

and...in case you didn't catch this is in the news...

Vail skier caught upside down. OOPS!

If you are looking for a February race check out Run to Finish's 7 on the 7th.

Dear Blogging Peeps,

Go check out the Virtual Run Across America and get involved. I'd like to get the sight more interactive, just haven't figured out the best way to do that. If you have any ideas, your help would be greatly appreciated.

The Shirt That Races is also making its rounds. Want to get involved? Shoot me an email and I'll get you hooked up.

I'm looking for some new running shoes. I just bought the Nike Air Zoom Vomero+3 in orange, and I'm debating about just buying the same shoe in blue. They are very comfortable and offer great stability. I was hoping to buy a different shoe offering the same comfort and stability just for fun and variety, but don't want to shop. ;P Do you buy 2 different kinds of shoes to rotate or do you just buy two of the same to rotate?

Todays workout: 40 min Tempo Run, 120 min spin. Run on!

Randomness

sore butt. caffeine. no sugar. jacobs birthday. 7 days. training. brows. thaw chicken. balance. haircut. perseverance. deposit. gift certificate. mario kart wii. administrative certificate. thank you's. order contacts. salad. fitday. spark. bulletin boards. turkey sandwich. oil change. gloves. film. wrestling. parents. meet. opportunity. knowledge. nebraska. running shoes. coat. drum lessons. music. value. creativity.

Today's workout: 3 mile run, 60 min spin. RUN ON!

I Got SWAG!

Today's Workout: 6xHills. RUN ON!

Just 5 More Minutes!

My alarm. How rude! Stop going off. I know I gotta get up and get ready for school. ARGH! I don't want to. I don't want to wear make-up. I don't want to wear a bra all day. I don't want to..... Holiday break is officially over. GAH! I am ready. I am not ready. I missed the off ramp this morning (exit to work) not only once, but two times! This has got to be a sign.

3 days = no sugar WOOT! WOOT!

Today's workout: 45 min spin, 3 mile run.

RUN ON!

Please Don't Pass the Sugar!

Day 1 and NO SUGAR!!! WOOT! WOOT! Day 2, so far so good. :D I'm feeling challenged and I'm liking it. [so far] The first days/weeks of any habit breaking is the hardest but it's gotta be done. I'm can publicly admit {not that it's difficult..heehee} but not only am I a scale whore, I am a sugar whore. So whore no more. :P

Todays workout: 60 min spin and 5 mile run. It's icing up outside, so the run might not get in, but just in case.....I know how far I gotta go! Have a great weekend everyone!

RUN ON!

T.G.I.F. Photo Friday

For some reason, photos and me are just not jiving today. So no photo post for me today. Sorry. ;P I did a text only post below.

Do you have a photo to share? Because you can even if I didn't. Today is: thank goodness it's friday photo day. If you'd like to participate/share, COMMENT {so I have your blog addy} and I will link to your T.G.I.F. photo post.

T.G.I.F. Links

Pat
Oz
AKA Alice

39 Days Adventure Style

I did not like what my scale told me today so here is how my new year is going to start in regards to nutrition:

I vow to eliminate the following from my diet for 39 days:

scotcharoos. ice cream. sour cherry balls. cinnamon teddy bears. licorice. carmel corn. laffy taffy. cake. pie. fried foods. chocolate. cool whip. any other candy. all sugar. all sweets.

I vow to add more of the following to my diet for 39 days:

water. fruit. vegetables. protein. fiber. vitamins/minerals.

I've talked about it before and I'm talking about it again. Nutrition and exercise. I'm looking to make some significant changes in my diet to impact my race results. Diabetes also runs in my family and at the rate I intake sugar on a daily basis, I'm feeding a potential disease. I've also got a great race schedule for 2009 and I have some personal goals I want to meet.

So here we go. Scale whore is going to measure her success or failure by body fat % only. I'm going for 22%. McRib is going to measure my extremities tomorrow [hips, arms, thighs, butt, waist, calves] and I'm going to hit the road running. At the end of 39 days, I will evaluate, and do what I need to do to keep the success going.

I'm serious, I'm unstoppable and I'm going to be successful!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I'm officially registered for the Triple By-Pass! It took waking up in the middle of the night, but the word is it fills up the first day and January 1 was registration day. So I'm up, we are in and that is good thing.

Today is also the day the Virtual Run Across America begins. Go check it out! We are beginning our journey in Calais, Maine and will end in Carmel, CA. If you want to participate, check out the Rules of the Road and then just start running. Don't forget to comment so we know where you are.

I'm excited for 2009!!! I've got some great events scheduled for this year {see sidebar} and I'm motivated to define my nutrition to help with my fitness. I'm still researching this so if you have any recommendations, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Today I'm off to teach a 60 min spin class and then to a football party to watch.....that's right, you guessed it..... The Gator Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Clemsen Tigers. Go HUSKERS!!!

I also need to sneak in a 3 mile run sometime today, so I'm off to crawl back in bed for a few more hours so my looky-looks are open for today's activities. Take care and have a great January 1 in 2009.

RUN ON!