Speechless

Wednesday's workout: Insanity Cardio Power & Resistance
Thursday's workout: Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit

I haven't been sore this week, which surprised me a bit since we hadn't done Insanity super consistently in a few weeks. That darn marathon and turkey eating holiday got in the way!

That being said, it was been super hard to get out of bed before 5:00 a.m. this week.

I think the exhaustion has left me speechless.

Seriously, I can't think of anything else to say.

Maybe I'll have more to say tomorrow. 

Running Advent

Tuesday's workout: Insanity Pure Cardio

Nothing says welcome back from a long holiday weekend like a full week of work and morning workouts. It's only Tuesday and I'm pooped already!

I'm interested to see how sore I am this week since the Insanity workouts have been a little sporadic the last few weeks. But, we are back at it now - for at least the next 2 weeks! Hopefully I can handle Insanity and another little insane adventure that is coming up...

Via

So, I have some super crazy fun friends that always come up with THE BEST and MOST FUN ideas. Anyone remember the caber tossing from last year?

Completely normal people throw large logs in their front yards in the middle of winter, right?

So, they created Running Advent. The fun above occurred at a celebration at the end of Running Advent last year. I was unable to participate in 2011...but now I'm ready.

What is Running Advent, you ask?

Running Advent begins on December 1st with a half mile run. Each day you add a half mile. This continues through December 12th. On December 13th you begin subtracting a half mile each day.

Via

Of course there is another version...Running Advent Classic. In this version you follow the same pattern, but you add a mile each day instead of a half mile.

It doesn't seem too bad until you do the math.

144 miles over 23 days.

This week I am trying not to run much to rest my body for Running Advent Classic.

I have to at least give it a try. I can't know that something harder is out there and choose the easier option (not that 72 miles over 23 days is easy...).

I hope my body holds up. December 8-16 are going to be the hardest I think!

Any other takers out there? I'll need a lot of encouragement along the way!

Thanksgiving Weekend Review

Thanksgiving workout: Turkey Day 10K Race
Monday's workout: Insanity 3.25 miles of intervals with lunges on the treadmill, 1% incline A certain workout buddy forgot our Insanity DVD this morning! Whoops!

Vi

The Boyfriend and I started our long weekend of stuffing ourselves with the Turkey Day 10K. It's always a good feeling to get a workout in before watching football all day while eating a lot of food! We met a small group of runners from my running club before the race.

The Boyfriend set a PR for the 10k! Way to go!

I had an OK race. I didn't wear my watch and just ran, trying not to go out too hard or too easy. Definitely not a PR, but I came in 7th in my age group!

Total fail not taking any pics of us pre or post race!

Hopefully the official race pics will be up soon!

I made a combination of 2 sweet potato recipes to take to my grandpa's, and boy were they delicious! They practically tasted like dessert!

The rest of the weekend was spent with different parts of the family as well. They good thing about dividing it up is spending time with some smaller groups of people.

2012 has been quite the crazy year so far, but we still have so much to be thankful for. It is sometimes difficult to remember that this time of year with all of the hustle and bustle and drama that can come along with it.

My goal for the rest of the year is to focus on those things and to remember to be grateful. 

It's Thanksgiving Eve!

Wednesday a.m. workout: Quick 2 miles at 1% incline on the treadmill and core work.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Which also means Hellooo, looong weekend!

Tuesday night, in preparation of the holiday, I made some treats. The super popular (not to mention, super easy!) pumpkin spice cake muffins. One batch for work, one batch for The Boyfriend's family tomorrow!

We are definitely in the holiday spirit or trying to be at my apartment these days! Over the weekend my roommate put up all the decorations!

And both boyfriends even have their own stockings! 

The middle one if for both cats to share!

Tonight's agenda consists of relaxing with a bottle of wine before the craziness of four family meals over three days begins!

Good thing I have a 10K to run tomorrow morning.

Anyone else doing a turkey trot this year?

Tuesday Randomness!

Monday p.m. workout: 3.5 miles of intervals on the treadmill 1% incline
Tuesday a.m. workout: Insanity Cardio Power & Resistance

There must be something wrong with me. I actually haven't minded running on the treadmill lately.

What???? I know, crazy.

I only do intervals and I don't do more than 3-5 miles, so it goes by rather quickly. I still don't listen to music or the televisions though. I know, I'm totally strange. A friend once told me she pretends she is being chased by a bear while she is on the treadmill. I don't do that either, but maybe it's worth a shot.

After the GOTR 5K on Saturday I got to hang out with Sarah and Autumn. There was a little shopping, some crafting and a few cocktails involved. Sarah found a great cocktail mixture of champagne, cranberry juice and lemonade. It was delicious and I can't wait to make drink it again.

Via

Watch out, world, I own a gun! My very first glue gun. This could get dangerous, FAST! I haven't quite finished what I started crafting this weekend, but I will post pics when the project is complete. Unless it's an epic fail.

I also discovered this new nail polish a few weeks ago and finally gave myself a manicure.

Via

I am totally obsessed with it. I am guessing there are magnetic flakes in the polish so when you hold the lid over top of your nail it creates a fun design. It was super easy to do and I really liked the end result.

The pattern is subtle but still noticeable!

Thank goodness this is a short week! I can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Girls On The Run Fall 5K

Saturday's workout: Girls On The Run 5K
Monday a.m. workout: Insanity: Pure Cardio

This year's GOTR Fall 5K was a great success!

The morning started out chilly but warmed up to be a perfect day for a race! 

The girls all arrived early enough to get their faces painted, hair sprayed different colors, decorate tiaras and dance to get warmed up.

A few of the teams meeting pre race

And then it was time to run!

I was the running buddy for one of the girls on my team. Each girl runs with an adult (parent, friend, coach, etc.) so that they have encouragement the entire way. There were times she struggled, but watching her spring across the finish line was so fun!

 
All of the girls did an AMAZING job! I am so proud of each and every one of them. Watching these girls finish their first 5k - and something they have been working towards for 10 weeks - is so inspiring to me. It chokes me up each season.

Way to go girls!

Happy Race Eve!

Friday's workout: 3.5 miles of intervals on the treadmill 1% incline

I LOVE to celebrate the Eve of things...

Birthday Eve

Election Eve

Race Eve!

Today is the Girls On The Run 5K Race Eve!!!!

We started the celebration on Race Eve Eve (Thursday night) at our team's end of season/pre race pasta party. The girls had a great time watching a slide show of the season, playing games and dancing.

Each girl received a framed word cloud based on adjectives the other girls had written about them. Mine is now hanging up at work! It's sad to see the season end, but I am so excited to watch all of my girls at the race tomorrow!

Here are a few pics from last fall's 5K!

Anyone else doing any races this weekend?