Music Monday!

This is me. Playing the guitar. And singing at the same time. Ahhhh. 

I apologize for the poor video quality, static and sub par talent. But hey, this is my blog and I do what I want.

Solo Saturday

Sometimes you just have to get out there and run solo. I love running with other people, but there are days when I'd rather just be by myself; with my own thoughts, my own pace and my own route. Yesterday was one of those days. I ran a very hilly route to the Arnold Arboretum, up Peter's Hill, Bussey Hill and back along the Southwest Corridor. There wasn't a cloud in the sky so I brought along my phone to take some Peter's Hill summit photos. 

The plan called for 6 miles at "pace". If all goes according to plan, "pace" will be somewhere around 9 minute miles for the Napa Valley Marathon in March. I didn't really pay attention to my Garmin during this run but when I glanced at it I saw numbers ranging from 7:55 to 10:15. Let's just say this run was all over the place. I'll blame it on the epic hills that hide in the Arboretum. 

Oh Christmas Tree

How to get into the holiday spirit:

1. Purchase a tree from a local vendor who donates all the profits to Boston Children's Hospital.

2. Put on a holiday Pandora station.

3. String lights around the tree.

4. Decorate the tree with fun, sentimental and tacky ornaments.

5. Pour a glass of whisky, sit in front of the tree and admire all your hard work. 

geology is hard.

This website is too perfect. Gets me every time.

I have to admit.

After a couple of less than stellar days at work I officially decided that I must be in some sort of funk. A life funk if you will. After a bit of self reflection I realized that a lot of things in my life lately have come to an end. As a result I've been left feeling a little bit lost. My weekends feel incomplete without my long slow distance runs, I no longer have class and studying to take up my evenings and am only signed up for one race in the next three months (gasp!). 

Running wise (until yesterday) I had been keeping up with the Runner's World Runstreak. I made it 19 days with a total of 71 miles since Thanksgiving. I made the decision to break the streak when I realized that the 2 and 3 mile runs I was doing seemed mentally tougher than some of my 13 and 16 milers I did during the training for Philadelphia. Since this week marks the 12 weeks to go until Marathon #2, I need to start ramping up my weekend miles. I realized that if running 2 miles seemed really hard, then maybe 10 was going to be a LOT more difficult than I would like. As a result, I quit the Runstreak yesterday. 

Even after just one day of no running, I feel 1000 times better. No guilt for quitting the Runstreak, extra pep in my step on tonight's run and I'm feeling much better about kicking this little life funk goodbye! 

Sorry for such a downer of a post. I generally try to stay very positive on this blog, but sometimes things get a little bit tough and it's important to acknowledge those difficulties as well.

Here's to the rest of 2012 being full of holiday cheer, love and better running!

(What I wore. Skirt: here Shirt: The Loft Scarf: here Boots: Rockport Watch: similar here)

FHR Night Out

 

Last night, the Forest Hills Runners were lucky enough to have a special, one of a kind, extra special evening at Marathon Sports. After some beer drinking, champagne cheersing and shopping (what better combination could you ask for!?) we all headed over to Whiskey's for dinner (and dare I say...more beer?). I swear we are actually a running group.

It's always great to hang out with these folks when we're not gasping for air during hill sprints. Just sayin'. I hope nights like this happen more often, whaddaya say guys!?

Just another manic Monday.

I won't lie, today was one of those days that comes along every once in a while (usually on a Monday) and just kicks you to the curb. I think there must have been a shift in the lunar cycle or seasons, or something. I like to play the "I should have known it was going to be a bad day when..." game. My favorite responses from myself and coworkers today:

"when I left my house without my favorite scarf."

"when my phone rang at 4:45 AM with my opener calling out sick. And 15 minutes later when my phone rang again with the other clinic opener calling out."

"when I got halfway to the train and realized I didn't have my wallet and had to go back home."

"when I finally got on the train and it didn't move for 15 minutes."

So. You get the picture. 

Luckily today had a few redeeming moments. 

1. The most delicious black bean burgers in the history of the world. Made my yours truly (with a little help from Chef Drew).

2. Went to a new class at the gym. HIIT (high intensity interval training). What better way to remind myself that I've only been running for the past four months and totally neglecting my core strength and arm muscles? My glutes will be thanking me tomorrow, or maybe Wednesday if I can walk by then.

3. The Giants are currently beating the Redskins 13 - 10. It's definitely too early to call it but I feel good about going to bed at this point. 

Here's to Tuesday bringing this week back to the positive!