Whatever happened to lazy Sundays?

I don't know...I think when I said those infamous words "I want to run a marathon", I successfully removed all chances of me having a lazy Sunday for a very, very, very long time! Got up this morning (a little later than normal, but still too early for a Sunday), and after some breakfast of yogurt, oatmeal, All Bran, mixed fruit and a half a latte, I headed out for a 26k run. This will officially be the longest I've run, ever, and I was doing it alone. So I headed down to Eau Claire with a plan and headed out. East to Langevin (Edmonton Trail), and then across the river, and then west young lady, head west...past where I was stationed last week at the Hypothermic Half, turning around at the old Bowness bridge...on the way back, my breakfast was totally gone, and the gel I had was pretty ineffective...I did a great 10:1's all the way out to the 13k mark, but the way back was slower and most walking. Weighing down on me was the fact I also said I was going to bake the cake for tonight's birthday dinner (mine yesterday, my mom's (today), my nephew's (next Friday), and my brother's (mid March))...so I didn't do the full loop back, finishing at 22.5 km. Came home, soaking wet (they said it was -12, so I dressed for it!...they lied!!!), changed, baked a chocolate Guinness cake, jumped in the shower, got the cake and icing stuff ready to roll, changed again, packed up and headed to Mom & Dad's. Ordered Chinese (a long standing tradition, and there goes my deep fried goodness rule!), watched my brother and father fight before running to hide in the bathroom, wishing I drank more, before everyone settled down, and we had a lovely evening. Cleaned up the mess, and then drove my nephew and his girlfriend home, and just got in myself. Now I'm going to enjoy my lazy Sunday and settle down to watch the Amazing Race.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Today is my birthday...

Na na na na na naa...
Happy Birthday to me...
Na na na na na naa...

Wow...I was alive when the Beatles first sang this song... Happy B-day shout out to all those celebrating this weekend!

Happy Friday

My week was so stressed at work, I decided last minute that I needed a day off! So here it is, I took today. Got to sleep in a little, and now I'm lounging in my jammies, sipping a latte (more espresso than milk, just the way I like it) and deciding what I should next. I am going to help H. move some furniture and then do some running around with Mom later this afternoon. And I potentially have a date tonight (yes...with a man, so pick yourself up off the floor and continue reading!), although I haven't heard details yet, so guess it's still up in the air.

I was proud of myself this week...I was very close to cracking and inhaling every chip and other salty, deep-fried, sugar-coated, dipped in chocolate badness I could get my hands on, but instead I greeted my emotions rather than eating them, and went for a brief walk. Between a coworker taking days off (when they are so far behind in their own job) and then calling in sick, computers not working and fighting with the desktop/network people all week about the cause, reports needed having to be reworked 4 times just to get the data right and looming deadlines, I'm amazed I didn't knock off a candy store!!! But my resolve held out and as a result I kicked another 1.8 lbs to the curb this week (I am no longer saying I lost, because that implies that I can find it again!) at weight watchers. And I have a very good run yesterday (fueled by stress, no doubt!) that saw my average pace increase by a good 1/2 minute per km.

Interesting article on the news this week, about how some doctors in Canada (an Alberta doctor is spearheading) are calling on the Federal government to regulate diet programs. Their concern are these fad and 'rapid weight loss' programs out there that promise excess weight loss with little or no effort on the patient's side. Reading the comments was also entertaining - found it on http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090217/CGY_Diet_Regulation_090217/20090217?hub=CalgaryHome.

Well, I should go make some breakfast (usual oatmeal, milk, craisons and almond slices) and jump in the shower to head out on my day.

Have a great one, everyone.

Where did the day go?

First off, due to the icy, snowy conditions yesterday, I did not run 23k. I did a short walk in the morning with the coffee ladies (3.3??) and then ran 8k in the afternoon, with my friend MF, who paced me on his bike. He almost wiped out more often than I did - there were some very slippery spots. I was feeling sorry for the Hypothermic Half runners scheduled for their race today, but the humidity dropped, so no more snow or ice over night, and it turned into a glorious day. I was also able to pick up my volunteer package yesterday (helps with the Running Room crew remembers you), so I could sleep in today, rather than having to be up and down at the start line at 8:30. Instead I was stationed at a checkpoint, probably at about the 10-10.5k mark, watching for traffic (big stop sign in hand) and wayward runners (point them in the right direction). Not sure how many runners / walkers there were (it was capped and sold out, hence volunteering instead of running), but the first guy raced past me at 10:39 (the race started at 10!), and the first lady about 3 minutes after him. And let's hear it for the sisters, shall we?!?! She ended up passing him, and won the race, with a time of less than 1:28!!!!!!! Holy mother, that's travelling fast!!!

I must remember the next run I'm on to be very appreciative and vocal to the course marshalls. I was overwhelmed by the number of 'thank-yous' and high 5's for me, rather than for themselves. What else did I have to do on a Sunday morning?? And I got brunch out of it. Sat with a group I know (MF from yesterday, posting a time of 2:05 - none too shabby!), and after filling my belly with the best bacon ever (of course, when you never eat it anymore, it all tastes sooooo good!) and wicked good muffins, I headed off to the Farmer's market to get some fruit and veggies (and pita from the Greek ladies), came home, swept and cleaned up my sidewalks, and now I think a nap is in order!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy Valentine's Day

There is something wrong with this picture...it's 7:28 AM on a Saturday, and I'm up. Dang...I did enjoy a few pints of Guinness (less calories than Coors Light, and way better tasting!) last night, but no ill effects today (yet!). It appears to have snowed all night, and it's currently -14, which is really making me look forward to the 23k I'm off to run later today. Still meeting the ladies for coffee at 9 (sans H., who's spending the day working in her apartment) but have to meet up with M. at noon. He's going to pace me on his bike - that just sounds scary!! He's running a Half tomorrow, otherwise he'd be running beside me today, but at least I'll have some company. This will be the longest I've run, ever (Melissa's last fall was 22k), so I hope to have it all done in under 3 hours. And I'll have sidewalks to shovel at some point today too...just hope the running paths are cleaned, although the City is pretty good about that.

Off to the shower...I don't want to be all stinky when I go for my run!

Happy Valentine's Day, by the way...for those of you in love, enjoy. For those of us still searching...happy hunting!!

Happy Valentine

Thursday night...

Home with a belly full of chicken pho, extra veggies and some shrimp salad rolls. It's a good thing! Good weight watchers meeting...I think it is just as important to find a good group of people that you meld with, along with a kickin' leader. We have that on Thursday nights...everyone is vocal and has great ideas and comments and usually aren't afraid to speak up about them, and Faye as our brave leader, is in a word, AWESOME! Faye was my first leader when I joined, oh so very long ago now, and after some wandering (finding a more convenient location, etc), I am back and never leaving her again. And I am on a roll...gains have been minimal and losses very reasonable and consistent. Just the way I like it!

Ran at lunch - weather was cooler (-9) but it was actually quite pleasant to run in. Going to do some hills tomorrow, since I had a meeting on Wednesday that got in my way, and then my long slow 23k on Saturday, since I'm volunteering to help out at a half marathon on Sunday, and won't get my run in then. I'm so not going to know what day of the week it is!!

But most importantly, it's almost Friday!!! Happy weekend, everyone!