I really do love running in the winter. Makes me feel fresh. Makes me feel alive. I love that I’m the only person out there. I love the sound of your feet hitting the snow. I love the silence of running while it’s snowing.
It’s been said that if you don’t like the weather in Columbus to just wait a day because it will change. Not this winter. It has literally snowed every Tuesday in February. Then it kept snowing until Saturday of each week when it warms up enough to fool you, yet won’t melt the snow. Then Tuesday it starts all over again. The schools have been cancelled so much here that some of them will be going extra days in the summer.
With my lack of motivation this winter, I have found it difficult to get out in the cold and snow and run outside. Instead I have been spending my evenings in the basement on the treadmill. Or shall I say, the dreadmill. Yesterday I had had enough of the basement and told Andrea we’d be doing our 12 miler outside come hell or high water.
I should have stayed in the basement.
We started out and it was cold. Super cold. The wind was in our face and it was snowing. The area we run in has nice sidewalks and walking trails, but you couldn’t find them as it was all covered in snow. I had no idea if I was on the sidewalk or the grass until I caught the edge and rolled my ankle—4 TIMES! The snow was so deep in parts that it was up to our mid-calves. What parts weren’t under snow were pure ice. To say it was a tough run was an understatement. When we reached a turnaround point we both proclaimed we weren’t having very much fun and decided to call it quits when we reached our cars at the 6 mile point. By the end of the evening my ankle, my foot, my hip, and my back were so sore I had a hard time sleeping.
So, back to the basement today.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Mid-Lent Check Up
I think this is about the halfway point of lent. It’s time for a check up.
In our last episode it was revealed that Meredith would be giving up TV for lent. Duh, duh, duh! For those who know me, you know that is a HUGE feat. I watch TV like it is my lifeline. The first couple of days, and probably the whole first week, I definitely was going through withdrawal. I had the shakes; I would sweat; I became violent. No not really, although the violent part was more like really grumpy. Then it became “normal” and I started to get a lot of things accomplished and stopped thinking about all the TV I was missing.
I haven’t been 100% off of TV, though. When I’m over at my parents’ house I usually watch. It is on 100% of the time at their house—how do you think I became addicted to TV? Dave and I will turn on the TV to watch OSU basketball games. And we will turn on the TV if we have finished everything we need to accomplish and 8:00pm is too early to go to bed. But, we have only been turning it on to watch something specific and will turn it off as soon as that show is over.
So, for my midpoint check-up, I’d say I’m doing okay. I’ve found that I can live without TV. I’ve found that I also really enjoy the silence. I’ve gotten a TON done. And I’ve been reading enough to keep the library system alive all by myself. The no TV project will not last forever, but I think I can tone it down once Lent is over.
In our last episode it was revealed that Meredith would be giving up TV for lent. Duh, duh, duh! For those who know me, you know that is a HUGE feat. I watch TV like it is my lifeline. The first couple of days, and probably the whole first week, I definitely was going through withdrawal. I had the shakes; I would sweat; I became violent. No not really, although the violent part was more like really grumpy. Then it became “normal” and I started to get a lot of things accomplished and stopped thinking about all the TV I was missing.
I haven’t been 100% off of TV, though. When I’m over at my parents’ house I usually watch. It is on 100% of the time at their house—how do you think I became addicted to TV? Dave and I will turn on the TV to watch OSU basketball games. And we will turn on the TV if we have finished everything we need to accomplish and 8:00pm is too early to go to bed. But, we have only been turning it on to watch something specific and will turn it off as soon as that show is over.
So, for my midpoint check-up, I’d say I’m doing okay. I’ve found that I can live without TV. I’ve found that I also really enjoy the silence. I’ve gotten a TON done. And I’ve been reading enough to keep the library system alive all by myself. The no TV project will not last forever, but I think I can tone it down once Lent is over.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Word of the Day
What's the best way to describe how my training is going?
HORRIBLY!
I am doing a horrible job at following my training plan. I have yet to run 30 miles in a week and last week I was supposed to do 46. By taking those two months off after the fall marathon I got a taste of "the good life" and now I have no motivation to run.
But the word of the day is rededicate. Starting this week I rededicate to my diet, my core exercises, and my miles--all my miles. The weather is supposed to be bad again this week.(Seriously, I thought there was global warming. What's with all the snow and ice?) But I've got to dedicate to doing my miles even if that means hours on a treadmill.
Rededicate.
HORRIBLY!
I am doing a horrible job at following my training plan. I have yet to run 30 miles in a week and last week I was supposed to do 46. By taking those two months off after the fall marathon I got a taste of "the good life" and now I have no motivation to run.
But the word of the day is rededicate. Starting this week I rededicate to my diet, my core exercises, and my miles--all my miles. The weather is supposed to be bad again this week.(Seriously, I thought there was global warming. What's with all the snow and ice?) But I've got to dedicate to doing my miles even if that means hours on a treadmill.
Rededicate.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Am I Too Old...
...to Facebook? Because I totally just joined up. I thought it would be a good way it help promote my photography business and to network. Do you Facebook? Do you want to be my (real) friend on Facebook?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday Things I Shouldn't Admit (on a Friday)
Okay, this really isn't anything I wouldn't normally admit, but it was pretty funny when it happened and normally would cause me quite a bit of embaressment.
I started a new job a few weeks ago, and I have yet to make any friends. :( I eat lunch all by myself. This isn't so bad because I've been bring a book to lunch with me, and I get a lot of reading done during that time. Yesterday I didn't have any food to pack at home so I purchased my lunch in the cafeteria. That would mean, the only thing I was carrying back from the cafeteria was my book. Well, the bathroom is on my way back from lunch, so I stopped in before I headed to my desk. It wasn't until I was walking out with book inhand that I realized what it must have looked like carrying a book out of the bathroom. I swear, I was only going number #1!!!
I started a new job a few weeks ago, and I have yet to make any friends. :( I eat lunch all by myself. This isn't so bad because I've been bring a book to lunch with me, and I get a lot of reading done during that time. Yesterday I didn't have any food to pack at home so I purchased my lunch in the cafeteria. That would mean, the only thing I was carrying back from the cafeteria was my book. Well, the bathroom is on my way back from lunch, so I stopped in before I headed to my desk. It wasn't until I was walking out with book inhand that I realized what it must have looked like carrying a book out of the bathroom. I swear, I was only going number #1!!!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I Hate Decisions
Three years ago I felt it in the pit of my stomach. And when my friends nudged me a little, it was a no brainer. I signed up and trained for a half Ironman.
Since that time, I have not gotten on my bike. Not once. No desire, whatsoever.
There's something different this year, though. My stomach feels it again and there's somebody now inside my head saying it's time.
I HAVE to do an Ironman.
Committing to this Ironman, though, is like committing to have a child. And y'all know my fears of having a child. An Ironman takes a full 9 months to train for and you need to sign up a year in advance. The costs are astronomical. My goal would be to do Ironman Florida in 2009, which pushes back my timetable of logically having a child until at least 2010. I'll be 32 in 2010. Is a life goal more important than a life? Is this fair to Dave?
I recently got rid of my bike I hated so much. And this weekend I am going to potentially buy a new bike. If I drop a huge wad of dough on a bike, I'm committed.
I HATE MAKING DECISIONS.
Since that time, I have not gotten on my bike. Not once. No desire, whatsoever.
There's something different this year, though. My stomach feels it again and there's somebody now inside my head saying it's time.
I HAVE to do an Ironman.
Committing to this Ironman, though, is like committing to have a child. And y'all know my fears of having a child. An Ironman takes a full 9 months to train for and you need to sign up a year in advance. The costs are astronomical. My goal would be to do Ironman Florida in 2009, which pushes back my timetable of logically having a child until at least 2010. I'll be 32 in 2010. Is a life goal more important than a life? Is this fair to Dave?
I recently got rid of my bike I hated so much. And this weekend I am going to potentially buy a new bike. If I drop a huge wad of dough on a bike, I'm committed.
I HATE MAKING DECISIONS.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Last Chance for Boston Marathon Relay
We awoke yesterday morning to rain and howling wind. Not exactly ideal conditions for a marathon relay around a one mile loop. After calling and talking to my dad we decided to go for it. Dave and I met Dad at the race site and he was NOT happy about the weather. And you know what's funny....Dad was the only person of our relay who got rained on.
This race is very unique as it's a one mile loop that you can do as a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, or as a relay. A lot of people use it as a warm up for events in the spring as you can drop out at any mile marker you want to. I ran into my friend Helen at the start and asked her how far she was going and she said until she felt like being done. She ran the whole thing.
We had planned for Dad to run the first 7.2 miles, Dave the next 3 miles, and I would run the remaining 16. Dad did his legs fairly quickly as did Dave. I started off much faster than I anticipated and started cranking off 8:05s for the majority of the miles. By my 11th mile I was feeling pretty tired so Dave took over for 2 miles and then I ran the last three. We came in at 3:35:06 for 11/19 relay teams and 2nd for 3-person teams. The thing that gets me is that my PR for the marathon is 3:35:05 and we didn't even beat that. Next time, Gadget, next time!
There was a photographer at the race and hopefully I'll be able to find some pictures soon to post. I took my camera but because of the rain, I left it in the car.
This race is very unique as it's a one mile loop that you can do as a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, or as a relay. A lot of people use it as a warm up for events in the spring as you can drop out at any mile marker you want to. I ran into my friend Helen at the start and asked her how far she was going and she said until she felt like being done. She ran the whole thing.
We had planned for Dad to run the first 7.2 miles, Dave the next 3 miles, and I would run the remaining 16. Dad did his legs fairly quickly as did Dave. I started off much faster than I anticipated and started cranking off 8:05s for the majority of the miles. By my 11th mile I was feeling pretty tired so Dave took over for 2 miles and then I ran the last three. We came in at 3:35:06 for 11/19 relay teams and 2nd for 3-person teams. The thing that gets me is that my PR for the marathon is 3:35:05 and we didn't even beat that. Next time, Gadget, next time!
There was a photographer at the race and hopefully I'll be able to find some pictures soon to post. I took my camera but because of the rain, I left it in the car.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Neurotic, Psychotic....
....or just plain tired.
Before we went to bed last night we vacuumed all the smoke detectors in the house. But at 1:12am (yeah, I checked the exact time) all the detectors went off. Without hesitation, and thank goodness it wasn't a real fire, we grabbed the vacuum and headed upstairs to the one smoke detector that is giving us trouble. Five seconds later it had stopped. Dave made it stop for good, though. He took the sucker right off the ceiling.
I don't do well with interrupted sleep. Did I mention I don't have kids?
Before we went to bed last night we vacuumed all the smoke detectors in the house. But at 1:12am (yeah, I checked the exact time) all the detectors went off. Without hesitation, and thank goodness it wasn't a real fire, we grabbed the vacuum and headed upstairs to the one smoke detector that is giving us trouble. Five seconds later it had stopped. Dave made it stop for good, though. He took the sucker right off the ceiling.
I don't do well with interrupted sleep. Did I mention I don't have kids?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
My Ears Are Ringing
It happened agained!
At 3:15 this morning all the smoke detectors in our house went off. We felt the doors, smelled around, checked the basement, the attic, outside, and found no trace of a fire. We tried turning off the smoke detectors individually like last time, but they wouldn't shut off. We called the security alarm people and they told us how to disconnect the alarm, which didn't shut off the smoke detectors either. We called the fire department who were no help. We called the alarm people again and they told us to take a vacuum to our smoke detectors and finally they shut off. The time was now 4:15 and the alarms had been going off for an hour.
At 5:15 the smoke detectors went off again. This time Dave marched straight upstairs to the vacuum and they stopped immediately. Around 5:30 I finally fell back asleep until 5:53 when I woke myself up. Needless to say, it's been a long morning.
Here's the part that pi$$es me off. The alarm company said the smoke detectors are not their responsibility. I understand that because we don't have our house monitored, but if we did have the house monitored as soon as those alarms would go off, they would have dispatched the fire department and everything would have been taken care of. So, if the smoke detectors are not the alarm company's who's are they? Who can I call? If I call the home builder, they'll just say they're not under warranty. From this I've learned one very important lesson...my next house will not have hard-wired smoke detectors.
At 3:15 this morning all the smoke detectors in our house went off. We felt the doors, smelled around, checked the basement, the attic, outside, and found no trace of a fire. We tried turning off the smoke detectors individually like last time, but they wouldn't shut off. We called the security alarm people and they told us how to disconnect the alarm, which didn't shut off the smoke detectors either. We called the fire department who were no help. We called the alarm people again and they told us to take a vacuum to our smoke detectors and finally they shut off. The time was now 4:15 and the alarms had been going off for an hour.
At 5:15 the smoke detectors went off again. This time Dave marched straight upstairs to the vacuum and they stopped immediately. Around 5:30 I finally fell back asleep until 5:53 when I woke myself up. Needless to say, it's been a long morning.
Here's the part that pi$$es me off. The alarm company said the smoke detectors are not their responsibility. I understand that because we don't have our house monitored, but if we did have the house monitored as soon as those alarms would go off, they would have dispatched the fire department and everything would have been taken care of. So, if the smoke detectors are not the alarm company's who's are they? Who can I call? If I call the home builder, they'll just say they're not under warranty. From this I've learned one very important lesson...my next house will not have hard-wired smoke detectors.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ruined My Birthday :(
I got an XM radio in December and ever since then I stopped listening to local radio. Combined with turning off my TV for six weeks, I have no idea what's going on in and around Columbus. This morning I drove the other car to work and heard on the local radio station that Michael Buble was coming to town. I LOVE Michael Buble! The station said they were giving away front row tickets on Thursday for the concert, so I kinda assumed the concert was Thursday too. I called the husband and asked him to purchase tickets, that I HAD to go. By the time I reached work I didn't have any messages or e-mails from him. I was sad. So I looked up the concert myself and saw that it was on April 16th. My 30th birthday! I called him again and asked him to purchase the tickets. He told me not to purchase them myself. A few minutes later I got an online greeting card from my mom. It was a birthday card. Weird, since my birthday isn't for another two months. Turns out, my parents had already purchased me tickets for my birthday, and I ruined the surprise. Either way, it is a great birthday present, and I can't wait to spend my birthday with Michael.
New Shoes
10 weeks to go and 350 miles to put on these new puppies. Which, by the way, I got two pairs for $100. (footlocker.com) Can't beat that!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Big Thank You!
Thanks, you guys! I hit a new high for unique visitors to this blog yesterday. 97!!!!
I'm sure it had something to do with the fact that Team StayPut sent out an e-mail blast yesterday and I am the current featured athlete on it. I hope you all continue to come back and visit this site as it's b!tchin! Or at least, I think so. :)
And while you're surfing the internet, feel free to hop on over to my photography blog and website.
I'm sure it had something to do with the fact that Team StayPut sent out an e-mail blast yesterday and I am the current featured athlete on it. I hope you all continue to come back and visit this site as it's b!tchin! Or at least, I think so. :)
And while you're surfing the internet, feel free to hop on over to my photography blog and website.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Thursday Things I Shouldn't Admit
I might have talked about this one before on the blog, because I know I've told some people.
To this day, I still believe I'm going to hell for this one.
Despite what y'all might think, I have always been compassionate. I just have a tough exterior, like an M&M. :) Back in third grade I wanted to do something nice so I took a small box and started collecting money from my friends at school to be given to the local children's hospital. When I brought the money home that night, my mom wasn't happy with the decision I had made and made me return the money. The problem was, I didn't know who gave me the money. So the next day at school I gave all the money to a friend and told her to keep it. I don't know what she did with the money, but to this day I still feel bad about that decision.
To this day, I still believe I'm going to hell for this one.
Despite what y'all might think, I have always been compassionate. I just have a tough exterior, like an M&M. :) Back in third grade I wanted to do something nice so I took a small box and started collecting money from my friends at school to be given to the local children's hospital. When I brought the money home that night, my mom wasn't happy with the decision I had made and made me return the money. The problem was, I didn't know who gave me the money. So the next day at school I gave all the money to a friend and told her to keep it. I don't know what she did with the money, but to this day I still feel bad about that decision.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Time Is On My Side
Today is Fat Tuesday, which means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Although I'm not Catholic, I have always appreciated the Lenten season and have always tried to give up something, and usually something really difficult. In the past it's been chocolate and soda and eating out. So far, they've been difficult but doable.
I might have met my match. This year I have decided to give up TV. Yep, my sacred, glowing box. I don't know what I'm going to do with my time. Work on sewing, maybe. Or read more books.
And this isn't going to be easy to do even since there is a writer's strike. I have replaced my regular shows with other shows like Mythbusters and Intervention and anything on HGTV.
Am I crazy? Is this going to be too hard? What would you do with all this extra time?
I might have met my match. This year I have decided to give up TV. Yep, my sacred, glowing box. I don't know what I'm going to do with my time. Work on sewing, maybe. Or read more books.
And this isn't going to be easy to do even since there is a writer's strike. I have replaced my regular shows with other shows like Mythbusters and Intervention and anything on HGTV.
Am I crazy? Is this going to be too hard? What would you do with all this extra time?
Friday, February 01, 2008
January Statistics
January was the month I started back to running after a long break after the Columbus Marathon. It's been a rough go-about with a lot of life thrown in, but I did get some miles in.
Running-71.5 Miles
And I think I went to yoga 5 times in January also.
Running-71.5 Miles
And I think I went to yoga 5 times in January also.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
