Running

I tell you, having that Log Your Run widget on my blog sure has guilted me into running more than I usually would! By the way, I can't always see it on IE but it comes up all the time with Google Chrome (incidentally my border is much more aligned on Google Chrome).

Anyway, here are my totals so far:
January: 6.3 miles (yeah, I know...pretty weak)
February: 14.2 miles

2011 total: 20.5 miles/3:27:48 (hours run)

Running Widget

Thanks to Anonymous who sent me the link to get this handy little running mileage tracker! Now I have to get M involved because I can't figure out how to resize it so I can actually see it.

I'm hoping I can run again on Friday morning. My plan is to try to do it during her first nap which seems to be about 35-40 minutes. Perfect length of time for a work out.

Running

I saw a widget on someone's blog that tracks how many miles they've run in a year..I have yet to figure out how to get this on my blog so until then I'm just going to keep track of it in posts.

I think...no, hope, I can run more this year. A is taking more predictable naps and she is napping in the crib so that will be my chance to run. She's been taking a 35 minute nap in the morning and afternoon a longer one around 11 or so.

So to kick off the New Year, I have run a total of one mile so far. Yes, only one. It's been awhile, I have to ease into this!

Total Miles Run 2011: 1

Run Knit Jones, Run!

Finally! The day I have yearned for as I watched the last season of Biggest Loser, the day I could run once again! After about three to four months of pregnancy, it was no longer comfortable to run. And I'm not talking running at high speeds, but the bouncing caused this pressure that couldn't have been good, so I walked on the treadmill for the remainder of my pregnancy but I just couldn't work up the same sweat and couldn't get that same "Mission Accomplished" feeling.

Last night, I decided today was going to be the day that I would run on the treadmill for the first time. We bought it in January or February and have never actually run on the one we own. I took it easy, I just ran at 4.3 and did one mile. I felt that familiar burn in the back of my throat that I get after not running for a period of time. I look forward to feeling my abs burning tomorrow...

I plan to have a date with the treadmill as often as possible...it's a great break from being a milk machine!

Freedom Begins!

I write this as I sit, completely relaxed on my couch watching M play baseball on the Xbox with a cat stretched across my lap. Normally, I would be halfway through my Tuesday night class, trying not to fall asleep.

Today was my first day of my school free schedule, I kept my hours at 30 so I have Tue/Fri off. I accomplished a lot today, but not everything on the list. Here's what I did:

• Treadmill
• Called various pediatrician offices
• Studied for 3 hours at the library
• Lunch at home
• Grocery shopping
• Made dinner (MIL's mac and cheese recipe)

This weekend was also enjoyable. We celebrated my newfound freedom by spending the day in Cape Ann. We took the scenic way up and meandered around the towns for the day (till my back started hurting and we had to call it quits). We then arrived home to find a surprise gift from M...a Canon Speedlite 430 EX II! I really want to brush on my photography skills for the babies arrival. I want to be able to take some great photos and really wanted the fill flash because I'm sure the bulk of our time will initially be spent indoors and a harsh flash isn't flattering for anyone, even the world's cutest baby. I'll post some pics soon that I took illustrating the regular camera flash vs the fill flash. You can really see the difference.

Here are some pics that I took on Cape Ann this weekend...

I

No Resolution Zone

M and I are really not the resolution types....maybe because we know we lack the willpower to make it till January 15 crossed with the fact that we both like to think of ourselves as noncomformists so if everyone else is doing it then we don't want to!

I tend to think of fitness especially as a top resolution goal for many people, so even though this wasn't particularly a resolution for us we are considering getting a treadmill. I have a super sweet deal at the Planet Fitness I go to, it was no enrollment fee and $99 for the entire year paid all at once when I joined. If you do a cost benefit analysis on joining Planet Fitness vs. owning your own treadmill, PF is going to come out on top. However, the sheer convenience of having it in my house is something I've always dreamed of.

We are looking at a few different models, I'm enamoured with this one lately:

It's a reasonable price, I never thought I would get half of these features for under 1k. It has programs, allows you to do an incline, the belt is 20 X 55 and it has a 2.5 something or other motor which is recommended if you want to run on it. It has a lifetime warranty on the motor and 1 year parts warranty where Nordic Track sends a technician to your house for any repairs rather than having to ship it somewhere. Sounds good so far....

Friends and Food

Yesterday, A and S came over to see the new house. E liked gathering sticks in the yard and hand delivering them to us and attempting to eat the acorns that adorn our back deck.

We tried a new Thai place for luch which was really good. In our old 'hood, we had zero Thai so we're glad that we have an inexpensive good place nearby. Unfortunately, haven't seen any Indian food yet :(

We also tried one of the two dairy stands near our house, I voted to go for the one where the line is usually the longest since they are both on the same road and within 1/2 mile of each other. It was ok, not great by any means. A kept finding chunks of ice in her ice cream and they got the order for E wrong. I, ever the fan of Dairy Queen Blizzards or it's brethen, was disappointed to see no nods in this direction. It was straight up ice cream in a cone or a dish or frappes. I got a malted frappe (Coffee Khalua Brownie) which could have been heavier on the malt powder. Oh well. We'll try the other one next time.

In gym news, I did a machine I have never seen nor tried before. It basically forces you to do a crunch by bringing your upper torso down and bringing your legs up. I did 10 and my lower abdominals are killing me today. Go machine!

Today I'm planning to attempt staining our unfinished bookcase...pics to follow

Happenings In Short

As usual, I have zero time to post but in short, here are the details of my life lately:

• Laptop almost died, M saved it. Hard drive #3 and still kicking
• Cellphone almost died, M saved it. He's not sure how
• Open houses last weekend,cute neighborhoods but horrible commute.
• Class today, no clinical Thursday. 3 classes left after today. Note to self: savor current and summer schedule, because Fall is going to suck the big one.
• Got new yarn from Webs from aniversary sale for 2 new sweaters for me
• S and A are having another boy
• Anniversary coming up this weekend, M has something planned but don't know what.
• New yarn came: One is camel colored, one is a burgundy/aubergine.
• Farm pick up last Sunday. Pick up switching to Saturdays for summer.
• Cookie taste test: Nestle if you like chocolate, Pillsbury if you don't.
• New running shoes this weekend. They call it persimmon, I call it bright orange.

Fartlek

I really enjoy that word! It's Swedish or Norwegian for interval training and I've recently embraced it as a way to make my hour of cardio breeze by. Today's interval included:

5 minutes of running at 5.0 mph at level 1 incline followed a 2 minute period of walking at 3.5 mph at a level 6 incline.

I went to the gym both yesterday and today, but yesterday was rushed because I had a ton of things to do before I had to start the lasagna and I got a crappy treadmill...the kind you are supposed to do if you have bad knees, it has more give but it's much harder!!

I really enjoyed my work out today, now since I'm not able to go to the gym after work during the week, it's a treat to go and decompress on the weekends.

The Non Resolution

I don't make New Year's resolutions. Nothing against them really, I just don't like to set myself up for failure. If I had a resolution, it would probably be the same as everyone elses...something along the lines of losing weight via working out and eating better. But like I said, not that into failure.

I did do something in the way of that non existent resolution though. I went to my first class at my gym that I've belonged to for about three years. One of my friends happened to mention she joined a gym this past Monday and has already been to four classes! Then I started thinking about an article that I read saying that people weren't backing down on buying gym memberships in these hard economic times, rather, they were hell bent on getting every pennies worth of the sometimes criminal fees charged. Maybe I too, should take this approach. Soak up the gymness....

The class was good, I'm still sore and it's nearly four days later. I didn't loooove the instructor though, he seemed very interested in trying to impress people with his complicated yoga poses than actually doing the exercises with us. I was also annoyed with his non rhetorical questions....'Are you feeling it? Huh? I didn't hear you guys' He would actually make us answer when we're struggling to breathe.

Anyway, I'm tempted to try this class again but am crossing my fingers for a different instructor. One who favors the rhetorical.