Friday, December 08, 2006

Red sky at morning…

Sailors warning. Well we've got a storm brewing today and I'll probably kick myself for not going for a run, since the rest of this weekend will probably be storming. I'm hoping that it won't be that bad, since I do like running in the rain. I just don't like running in the rain and wind since there are a lot of large trees around here that like to loose big limbs during storms. Especially the first big storms of the season!

I had a nasty calf cramp this morning. That's another reason why I should've run. My run might have kicked the persistent soreness that I feel from it out of my leg. I haven't had a leg cramp in the longest time. I probably got it from wearing heels the day before, since I almost never wear heels anymore.

I did get to cuddle the 3 year old this morning though. I would've missed out on her 6 am visit to our room if I'd gone for my run. She was so cute when she hooked an arm around my neck and my hubby's neck for a big group hug. Makes getting up a little easier.

I just bought some new jeans from The Gap. I'm more than pleased to report that I now fit easily in size eights. YAY! Maybe someday I'll be a six again! I hope that someday is soon and that my minute miles will get back down to 7:30 or so for easy runs and 6 or less for racing. I'd looove to do sub 20 minute 5ks again.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Sheesh, I suck

It's been forever since I posted here. Since I've last posted the family went on Thanksgiving vacation to AZ, Little M had her 3rd birthday and I've probably had several daycare induced colds.

The running is going well. Better, at least. My new goal is a fast 5k in the early summer. I think that is more achievable that an ultra in the near future. And getting faster before running farther might help my performances better anyway.

I'm actually liking running in the cold, in the early mornings. I run faster and I get to try out my new light gadgets. DH got a cool light for me that attaches to the visor of my running hats and I have a fun bright blue blinky light I clip to the back of my collar. They both work really well and make my morning runs easier.

Now I just have to get rid of those 20 extra pounds....

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

So little M comes running up to me last night from the living room yelling "Mommy, Mommy!" Very excited, like fire engine across the street exited. She grabs my hand and drags me into the living room intent on showing me this great surprise.

There's Simba the cat, leg in the air, licking himself.

"Simba's eating his butt!"

The beauty of two year olds is that they see the world in a whole new way. Simba was not impressed.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

One of my coworkers suggested that we all go down to The Ramp (a restaurant/bar on a dock next to the bay) and drink. This was at about 9:15 this morning. And really it does sound better than what I had planned for the rest of the day, because really as things are going, I might as well go to The Ramp and just get sloshed.

So I got passed up again for a promotion here at The Big One. Not because I don’t have the experience or the talent but probably, mostly, because I'm not the boss's best buddy. Not that I don’t like her, I do, but we just don't mesh. What burns me is that she promoted a gal with far less experience. She looooves this girl and thinks she's brilliant. She's not - she just knows how to parrot back stuff she's heard from her superiors. Whatever. She'll have to manage a group of guys (all guys) who don't like her already. Good luck girlie!

Oh, and she has no management experience.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Oh gosh, I haven't posted in a month...bad me!

Well, I've been totally well and now we're sick again! Seems I only post when I'm sick. Work is stupid. The kids are great! Little N is growing up so quickly and is just a happy little 15 month bundle of joy. Big M is almost 3 and full of energy, ideas and mischief.

As for training...well, my hip has been bothering me. So I've been swimming almost exclusively. I did some pretty intense yoga yesterday and that seemed to help my hip a lot! I think that the hip tightness is actually related to lower back tightness too. You know, leg bone connected to the backbone...etc. etc.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

We had great long weekend away! We went up to our family's cabin in the Sierras and had a blast! I'll post pictures. Little miss M got soooo wound up though that she's been a cranky mess - but I'm hoping that being back in her usual routine will make things better. Little miss N was just fine. Being 14 months old - she's still in her happy place, not her terrible two's!

We're very sad about the untimely death of Steve Irwin. We've so enjoyed watching the Crocodile Hunter for years now, and we've greatly admired all of his conservation work. We wonder why so many greedy and nasty people live on while good folks like Steve die tragically. He'll be greatly missed.

Monday, August 28, 2006

After a whole week off, I finally got back to working out on Sunday. I went for a nice morning master's swim. It was long course. Lot's of people dread long course but I love it – I totally prefer it. There's less flip turning and bouncing off the walls. I feel like I get more of a chance to really work on my technique and get into a rhythm. Besides, I'll probably never participate in a short course swim meet; I most likely will only do open water racing and tris.

During my swim I had a stroke epiphany. My right side was not working as well or as hard as my left. I could totally feel the water and catch and pull a big stroke with my left, but then my right was sweeping through the water. So I put all of my attention on to my right side, slowing down my stroke and feeling the water – making sure I was grabbing on to it with every stroke. My speed improved noticeably, immediately! I wonder for how long I've been swimming "crooked."

The rest of the day was unremarkable, but wonderful. The girls had their usual midday nap. Little N woke up early and got to play alone with mommy and daddy in the living room. She rolled around with us, got tickled and giggled and laughed. It was great because she doesn't get to be all alone with us that much. Then when the M Monster woke up we did a little shopping trip to Target and Petco – where the girls got to see a variety of critters. M Monster really dug the birds, snakes, fish, rabbits and kitties that she saw. Little N just took it all in. We had a busy weekend (Saturday there was a big trip to the Big Park) so the girls hit the sack early. DH and I got to eat dinner in peace with some margaritas. A good end to a nice weekend.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

There shall be no running until this virus passes....

I still have a sore throat. And I'm achy. So I'm on imposed rest. Lest you think I'm lounging comforatbly at home - no way. I'm at work again. Being at work is almost a vacation from the fussy rantings of The Little Terror, henceforth to be known as N. N kept me up almost all night last night. N had a Yobaby at 2:30am. Said Yobaby was spooned by me into her mouth since N is two days shy of her 14 month b-day and thus incapable of procuring her own Yobaby at - and I'll repeat it again for dramatic effect - 2:30am. I haven't seen 2:30am since my partying days years ago. It hurts a lot at my age and condition. All I really wanted was a good night's sleep.

The virus is making it's rounds through my family unit and at my work. Half my team has this miserable disease. That's good because then everyone will know that I'm not lying.

I'm counting the minutes until I can go home....

Monday, August 21, 2006

A sick day is a perfect day to start my new blog. I can't run, or swim, so I might as well not go to work either. Why add to the misery. And I can finally start the blog that I've promised myself and other bloggers to start!

Since I am a professional writer by trade, I really should be blogging, shouldn't I?

But being a professional copywriter is only a very, very small part of my life. The real stuff of my existance is my two little girls, my DH and my passion for running and swimming. I've been running since I was 15, sometimes very well and sometimes not much at all. I have a PB of 17:06 for the 5K (road) and 36:30 for the 10K (very hilly road). A few years ago I broke my leg on a fall trail running, and I really haven't been back to full strength since, partly because I had my two girls not too long after that. And running when you have toddlers isn't easy!

I'm a steadily improving swimmer. I learned how to swim as an adult, so I'm not great but getting better. I loooove the way swimming feels and the total body workout it gives you. It's also a great balance to the pounding, weightbearing excercise of running.

Oh, I also used to be a competitive cyclist and triathlete. I think competitive cycling took a few years off of my life, but I do really enjoy triathlons. When the girls are older I'll do some tri's again for sure. I also want them to see their mom as a strong, powerful woman, to encourage them to be the same.

Well, back to napping and recouperating. No running or swimming until this virus passes!