what i did with my christmas vacation

I hope you all had a delightful Christmas season!  I am still glad we did not have snow.  :)  Here's a photo journey through the past few days.  Enjoy!

Christmas Eve Service Drama at Grace Chapel

Christmas Morning flight to Louisville - Good morning!

Quirky breakfast joint with really good food!

tasting Kentucky Bourbon mash (pre-liquor stage) at Maker's Mark Distillery

Tasting finished product!  Much better than the mash. 

Dinner.  The most amazing steak I've ever had.

Dessert.  Chocolate Bourbon flavored mousse.  YUM.

Dad and Mom

Me and Ben - brother

Downtown Louisville

Sunset over Philly Wednesday Night...almost home

And that was it!  Now it's back to the real world.  What did you do over the holidays?

an open letter to december

Dear December,

It’s been so wonderful having you around again this year.  I love all that you bring:  ugly sweater parties, holiday baked goods, delightful joyous music and of course, Christmas – a time to celebrate Christ’s birth with friends and family.

Despite all the good things you bring, I must confess I am not always delighted to see you.  In years past you have not been so kind, bringing with you freezing temps and snow – ugh!  But this year you have been the most pleasant guest.

You’ve brought along mild temperatures, sunny days and dry ground.  I’ve had countless runs in your comfortable temperatures where I haven’t had to worry about dodging puddles covered in ice or creeping around snow piles to ensure that drivers see me – who are no doubt crazy with panic over last minute Christmas shopping.  I’ve been able to enjoy running outside in far less layers than in the past, which translates into less laundry.  

I know there are some who long for a white Christmas.  Who wish for the trees to be laden with snow.  Who wish for sledding and snowball fights.  I am not one of them.  I am very much enjoying the delay in the snow this year.  In fact if your relatives, January and February, would like to not bring it with them either when they come to stay, I would much appreciate it.

Again, December, thank you for visiting again this year.  And thank you for bringing with you all the good and none of the snow.  I understand you’ll be staying with us a few more days.  Do me a favor and keep up the good behavior.  

 

Yours Truly,

Angela

top five

This past week was a busy one, to say the least.  And I'm anticipating this coming week to be even more busy.  There's Christmas Service reheasals, and then five services packed into three days (www.grace.org/christmas).  And in between there is a Christmas Party for the Wilmington Youth Ministry on Wednesday.  Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I've got to pack for Louisville and find time to get my runs in!  Tis the season...

And while we're on the subject of running, I had some time to think yesterday on my 12.5miler.  I began to think about my current top five winter running related things.  Here's what I came up with:

5. Zumba!  It may not come as a surprise to you that I don't like to cross train.  I know that I should...but I don't.  Until now.  I have been introduced to Zumba and it's so much fun!  One hour of fun, sometimes challenging dance moves that get your heart rate up and your whole body involved.  So. Fun.

4. Tights - Never thought I would wear running tights when I first started running but man, they are so comfortable and perfect for those cold days when you're logging lots of miles.

3. Chocolate Milk - There is nothing more that I want when I get back from a long run than a nice big glass of chocolate milk.  Lots of protein to help with muscle recovery and pure deliciousness.

2. Lake Quannapowitt - I know I've told you before how much I love the lake in my town, but I'm gonna say it again.  It's not only a perfect 3mi loop around (yesterday, I did it twice) but it's beautiful, as well.  And there's always people out walking/running/dog-walking to do some quality people-watching.

Aaaaaaaaaaand finally,

1. Stretching after a good workout - Some people don't like to stretch out, some do.  I'm in the camp that does like to.  It feels very satisfying to stretch out some tight muscles after a good, hard workout.  And it keeps me loose and prevents my muscles from getting too sore.

I'm taking a deep breath and diving into Christmas week!  Hope yours is relaxing and not quite as hectic as mine has turned out to be.  Merry, Merry, everyone!!

christmas wish list

I just read an article on runnersworld.com about the wish lists for a few chosen pro-athletes/runner types.  Check it out here.  Some were practical, some were ridiculous, some were noble and some were just down right weird.

Case in point.  Dave McGillivary, race director for the Boston Marathon, had this as number three on his list:

"Non-sleeping pill–I've always felt that sleep is over rated. As humans, I know we all require sleep, myself included. However, who invented that and why? We are only here for a short period of time. Sleep is such a waste of valuable time. I'd like someone to develop a pill that mimics sleep by slowing your metabolism but allows you to stay awake and function throughout the night. That would be a big seller–well, I'd buy it but not sure anyone else would."

This is in direct juxtaposition from what I posted yesterday.  Our bodies need rest, our minds need rest.  It's good for us!  And quite honestly, the thought of doing stuff (whatever the stuff may be) for 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, sounds awful!!  I get out of bed in the morning thinking how great it will feel to go back to bed at night after a full, satisfying day.  I love my sleep.  I need my sleep!  

To each his own, and all that...but that pill sure won't be making it on my Christmas Wish List!

In case you're wondering what IS on my list:

1. Donations to the Respite Center!!!

2. coffee, in any form.

3. an oversized fisherman's type sweater, like this.

4. Asics GT-2170's - I go through 2-3 pairs of shoes a year.  

What's on your Christmas Wish List?

day(s) of rest

It's been a while...and I must confess:  my run streak is way over.  I was coming down with a nasty head cold and knew that if I didn't take some days off from running (because I couldn't take them off from work!), it would just get worse.  So last Monday was the last day of my run streak.  I took a few days off, threw in a day of Zumba, and finally got back to some mileage this past Monday.  And it felt gooooood!

While I'm bummed I wasn't able to make the run streak last longer, I'm proud of myself for how long it did last (and totally impressed with those still doing it - shout out to my cousin, Carol!!).  Never before have I run 15 days in a row.  Can't say that again!  I've also relearned a valuable lesson:  rest days are important.

I wasn't making every run an intense one, but I might have unconsciously tried to.  I wasn't running as far as I could each time, but like I mentioned before, it's hard to stop at just one mile...  It just turned out that right now, at this time, my body couldn't take it.  Fighting off the sickness was more important to me that fighting to keep the streak alive.

Because, in case you haven't heard, I've got a marathon to train for!  I think it was good to relearn this lesson now rather than halfway into my training.  It's good to take a day or two a week to let the muscles heal, let my body rest and repair before assaulting it again with miles and miles.  Even our Creator took a day off and created a whole day for us to be still - it's a built in rest day!!

I plan to get a few miles of speedwork in at the gym tonight - not my favorite.  Tomorrow night is Zumba (seriously, if you haven't tried it, get some friends together and head to the gym.  It's so fun!!  But mainly just for women...).  Saturday is going to be a long run; and I can't wait for it...  Sunday will be my day of rest, in more ways than one.

getting by with a little help from friends

The past few days of the run streak have been tough...  I'm now sick.  It's just a head cold (coughing, sneezing, runny nose) but it makes sleeping harder, which is what I need to get over it.  Oh, the irony...

I have SOOOOO been wanting to give up, get some rest and get rid of this icky feeling.  But I SOOOOO want to finish out this streak business too!  Decisions, decisions.  I need to figure out at what point do I call it quits.  I'm not there just yet...

Totals:
Friday - 2.16
Saturday - 10.65 with my friend, John!  Without him I would have run slower and shorter.  Yay, accountability!
Sunday - 4.21
Monday - 2.59 - with my friend, Kirsten at 9:20pm after a dinner party with lots of fun friends.  (True Friends run with you after a dinner party, late in the evening...) 

Thanks to Johnny and Kirsten.  Couldn't have kept it alive without you!!!  :)

look what i got!

There's absolutely no turning  back now!  I received my Invitational Entry from the Respite Center in the mail yesterday.  It is currently on it's way back to Hopkinton and soon I will be officially registered for Boston!  SO EXCITING!

day 11

I have never run this many days in a row.  And I know why too:  It's hard!  I'm tired!  Today, I wondered why I was doing this?  Not sure, other than to say I did it...

I thought about only running a mile today, but once I get going it's hard to train my brain to run slower and shorter than if I was actually in training.  Because when you're training, the runs mean something.  You've got to get a certain amount of mileage in each week - a hill run, a tempo run, a speed workout and a long slow run.

But when you're not really training for anything the runs don't really matter as much.  I'm much more free to just enjoy myself with out worrying about pace or how many more miles.  As long as it's more than one mile each day, I'm golden!

It's a new way of thinking.  One that I can give in to until January 1st.  And that begins Boston Marathon Training.  (Nervous Excitement!)

For the record:
Sunday: 1 (you recall the Mt. Dew debacle...)
Monday:  4.81
Tuesday:  4 (at a sweltering gym)
Wednesday:  6.6
Thursday:  2.76