Month: February 2011


Feb
2011

100 miles!!!

categories: Travel

Yay me!!!  I ran 8 miles this morning to complete 100 miles.  I was aiming for 6 but felt really good after 6 miles that I decided to go for it and do 8.  I forgot to take my bottle of Muscle Milk but as soon as I got home I drank my milk.  I hate being sore.  I walk a lot in school so I cannot be sore at all.

Great news!  I got my ticket to go to Mexico in the summer.  I will be there from June 27-July 10.  I plan to go to Puerto Vallarta and maybe Cuba.  Yay!!!!  I have not been to Mexico in years and am really excited.  My sister lives there so it will be great to see her as well as my brother-in-law, niece and nephew.

When I return I plan to go to Boston and Philadelphia.  I want to see the whales!!  I love sightseeing and visiting different cities.  Maybe I will have time to visit another city before going back to school in mid August. 

Any upcoming travel plans?


Feb
2011

Just because you can does not mean you should

categories: Running

That is what my friend told me when I told her why I wanted to do two marathons this year.  It makes perfect sense.  I should not do it just because I can but more because I want to.  Well, “problem” solved.  I will not a marathon in the Spring but instead will focus all of my training for the Hartford Marathon in October.  Since I had signed up for the SunTrust National Marathon next month,  I am thinking of switching my registration and instead running the half marathon.  I need to pay a fee of $20 for the switch.  I already have my plane ticket and I think I have the OK from my job so there is really nothing to hold me back.  Just do it!!!!

I ran 4 miles today.  The number in the training widget is going up.  Yay!!!  Feels so good to run.  I just need to remember to stretch, stretch, and stretch.  I went to the chiropractor on Saturday and sure enough was told (again) that my muscles are tight.  Definitely don’t want any injuries or problems so I will make sure to listen to her.


Feb
2011

33:22

categories: Running

That is how long it took me to run 3 miles today.  How did I feel at the end?  Fabulous!  It felt so GOOD to run.  The two week break sure helped a lot too.  I felt energized and wanted to run more but the therapist told me to run for about 30 minutes.  I plan to go tomorrow and Thursday.

So I decided not to do a marathon in May. Why? Well, I guess the real question is “Why do I feel like I have to do one?”  I guess I was trying to convince myself that since I have been doing one a year for the past 4 years then it was time to start doing two a year.  Why push it? One a year is enough for me. However, I LOVE, LOVE half marathons and plan to run as many as I can this year.  Below are the half marathons this year.Chi Town Half Marathon, March 27

  • First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon, May 1 
  • Magellan Development Chicago Spring Half Marathon, May 15  
  • 13.1 Marathon Chicago, June 4  
  • North Shore Half Marathon, June 12  
  • Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon, August 14 
  • Oak Brook Half Marathon, September 5
  • Chicago Half Marathon, September 11 (maybe)

Happy Running!


Feb
2011

Boy, I miss running!

categories: Running

It has been 2 weeks since the last time I ran.  I stopped running because I had pain in my hip, thigh, and knee.  It isn’t an injury but just tight muscles.  I was told that I could run 2-3 times I week for about 30 minutes.  I decided to just take time off and not run at all.  Oh my, I think I became a whole different person!  I miss running!   I miss the energy from a post run.  I miss the sweat on my face (yeah, it sounds gross) letting me know that I was getting a good workout.  I miss the numbers increasing on my training widget (still at 71 miles).  That is all about to change when I hit the gym on Tuesday.  I am excited and looking forward to it!!!

This Friday I signed up for 2 more races.  I have yet to decide if I want to do the Wisconsin Marathon on May 7 or the Chicagoland Spring Marathon on May 15.  I have heard good things about the one in Wisconsin but don’t feel like making the drive home after a marathon.  But the one on the 15th is a new marathon so I don’t know how many people will be there and/or what to expect.  Plus the latter one gives me an extra week to train/taper.  Well, whatever I decide to do I need to make a decision soon so that I can revise my training plan.

By the way, Princess is still hanging in there.  It makes me happy but also sad.


Feb
2011

A fun snow day

categories: Fun

We had another snow day on Friday.  At first I did complain because I was anxious to go back to school on Friday.  I had my stuff ready on Thursday night and was getting ready to go back to bed when I received “the call”.  What?  Are you sure?  That is what I said to the person that delivered the “good news”.  Oh well, I guess I will stay home.

Friday morning came and I wondered what I was going to do.  I sent a text to my friend to tell her I had another day off and she told me to go over to her house.  Splendid idea!  I had “nothing” to do so I got ready and made the drive to her house.  We had no idea what we were going to do but we knew for sure that we were not going to stay home.

Of course first we had to eat breakfast.  Let’s not forget the coffee since we both LOVE it.  Then we went to Target and spent 2 hours there.  I just love that store!  I can always find something to buy whether or not I need it.  Then we went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Awesome store too!  I love the way it smells!!!  By then it was lunchtime so we ate at Hugo’s Frog Bar.  OH MY GOODNESS!!!  The food there is delicious.  We started off with a pear blossom martini and baked goat  cheese.  Yummy!  Then I had lobster bisque and chargrilled marinated shrimp.  Wonderful!  Oh yeah and another martini.  We both wanted creme brulee but did not have any more room to eat so we ordered two of them to take home.  🙂

Last stop was to Ann Taylor Loft.  Great store and even better when there is a huge sale going on…60% off.  I bought a dress, a top, and sweater for about $45 and I even used my teacher discount.  I was very pleased with my purchase.  Then we went home.

You’d think that by now I would not want to eat anymore right?  Wrong.  Dinner time came and we had pizza at her house with a pomegranate martini.  Delicious.  Oh my, I don’t think I’ve ever had three martinis in one day.  That is OK though since I was enjoying my day off.  I had such a wonderful time and grateful for that snow day.

On a different note, I went to see a physical therapist and it looks like I don’t have an injury.  Big relief.  My hip, quads, and hamstrings are tight.  More stretching and less running is what I need to do.  At least I wasn’t told to stop running because that would have made me very sad.  So now I won’t run the marathon in March but might do one in May.  That is OK though.  I need to take care of this tightness so as not to make it worse.

I signed up for the Hartford Marathon.  Yay!!!  I am looking forward to it.  I also get to see and spend time with my two dear friends.  That sure makes me smile.