I'm Baaaaccccckkkkk ;)

So I've been staring at the blinking cursor for awhile now. I knew I wanted to come back, just not really sure how.  So, here goes...


I know I abandoned this blog a loooong time ago, but I've been keeping {fairly} busy over at my other blog with creative and crafty stuff.  The biggest thing keeping me busy?  Take a guess...

Yep, a baby on the way!  He's actually due this coming Friday, so I feel like a walking time bomb.  Maybe he'll make a fourth of July appearance ;).  He's also a big reason why I wanted to come back to this blog -- I'm going to need a TON of motivation to drop the baby weight!  


And while I've been gaining, hubby's become quite the runner.  

Wasn't he supposed to be gaining sympathy weight...? Anyhoo, with one solid 1/2 under his belt, his next goal is the White Rock 1/2 in December. While that's probably a lofty goal for me at this point, I do want to get a 5k under my belt before the end of the year.  And maybe start training for a spring half?  ;)


I probably won't be back to this blog until after baby, but looking forward to catching up with everyone else's stuff in the meantime!  

New Year, New Runs

I forgot to bring my iPod to the office the other day, so I found myself listening to the music on my blog.  And, it reminded me that I have some running to do.  Perhaps I should add "Avoid procrastinating" to my New Year's Resolution list ...


Thanks for all the great tips for running with dogs -- my husky's been rearing to go, though I've found it more convenient to stay out of the 16 degree weather.  Yes, my friends, 16 degrees here in ol' dusty Texas. But the temps are on the rise ... which means my excuses are on the decline.


My brother-in-law's running the America's 1/2 Marathon at Texas Stadium in April.  I toyed with the idea of doing the 1/2, but wasn't sure I'd be ready.  However, since my hubby's sister is looking for a little motivation in the working out department, she and I decided to sign up for the 5k.  It'll be nice to have a goal in mind for those days when I really don't feel like doing squat.  And, it'll be a nice way to ease back into a routine of some sort.  


Who knows, perhaps another 1/2 is in my future for the summer ...

My Running Buddy

I've been itching to lace up my sneaks for awhile now.  So, I took my husky running with me this afternoon for the first time ever.  Sure, we've been on countless walks and car rides, and she's always a sweet and well-mannered dog.  But I was a little skeptical of how she would do running.  I learned a few things:

1. Huskies pull.  HARD. 
2. Always bring a baggie for ... um ... accidents.
3. Even when running, they'll still want to mark everything.
4. Doesn't matter which direction you're going, they want to go the opposite.
5. If they smell a rabbit, prepare to trip over every curb and shrub to get to it.
6. They. Never. Get. Tired.

After a mile, I was able to reign her in and get her home.  Perhaps we'll try the harness next time.  At least we got to enjoy a break in the cold weather -- sunny and 70 this time of year?  I'll take it!  Of course, tomorrow's supposed to be back in the low 40s.  I'm guessing the cooler weather will only make my husky more frisky ...

Ohwell.  I can already tell she's going to be a great motivator ... and I need every ounce of it!

Snuggies & Four-Legged Friends

Well, I'm curled up with my warm Snuggie watching The Biggest Loser finale.  I'm rooting for Amanda to win the title and Abby to win the at-home prize.  Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens ...


In light of the finale, I dusted off my Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred video over the weekend.  While it's only 20 minutes, my arms are still sore.  And, because it's short, there's no excuses why I can't fit it into my schedule.


I also re-discovered the Fit TV channel last night -- a plethora of exercise shows to keep my workouts interesting and anything but boring, especially on these rainy winter days.  I even attempted Shimmy last night, based off belly dancing.  Yeah, so my hips don't exactly move like Shakira, but it was a great ab workout without feeling like one.


I'm guessing after this finale I'll have to trade in my Snuggie for my sweats and attempt a quick workout before bed.  If this rain will ever stop, I'm thinking of turning my husky into my new running buddy.  She's been about as lazy as I have over the past few months, and I know it'll be good for the both of us.  


But I am a little nervous -- should I use a collar or harness?  Does she need a warm up?  I'm pretty sure she's in better shape than I am, but still want to start her right.  Any other tips to running with dogs??

Hello World!

Well, folks, it's been awhile!  Over the past few months, I've had several people ask me or e-mail me about this blog, wondering where I've been and if I'm ever coming back.  It's a wonderful feeling knowing that maybe -- just maybe -- I've been able to motivate and inspire others.  


But I've come to realize that this blog is what was motivating me.  My posts held me accountable, your blogs kept me inspired, and your comments kept me going.  I really never meant to stop blogging -- one lazy day just led to another, which led to another ... which ends today.  Right now.  In this moment.


I would be lying if I said I didn't miss running.  And I would be lying if I said that I've laced up my sneaks more than twice in the last few months.  I'm not going to set any crazy goals (yet) or go all Jillian Michaels on the world.  Nope.  Just going to make the simple promise of being more active.  Of finding a balance and routine.  Of enjoying my white chocolate mochas with extra whipped cream and enjoying how it feels to break a sweat.


Ahhhh, it feels good to be back! :)

Goodbye to a Legend -- Hope for the Future

By now I'm sure everyone has heard about the passing of Patrick Swayze.  I can't even begin to imagine the struggles he went through, the pain he and his family endured.  At least -- maybe now -- the family can begin to find peace.


I don't hear about pancreatic cancer very often.  I knew that Swayze had it, and it was mentioned on an episode of House last night.  But I had no idea how horrific it is -- the statistics for those with pancreatic cancer are mind-numbing.  Only 13% live for a year after diagnosis, and only 3% survive for five years.  Wow. 


But it sounds like there's hope.  I ran across an article this morning about a new advance form of radiotherapy that can actually target the tumor, meaning higher doses of radiation can be used without damaging surrounding tissue.  You can read more about it here -- it's actually quite an interesting article. 

And a little hope can be a big thing.

Things That Go Bump

Hope every one had a great Labor Day weekend!  Just a quick note that I've *moved* my crafty blog!  You can now find it at http://bellacreativekatie.blogspot.com.

In other non-news, I stayed busy this past week with pilates, the 30-Day Shred and playing catch with J ... which led to nursing a knot after catching a pop fly with my head.  Ouch would be a complete understatement!  


Surprisingly, though, no rush to the ER was necessary.  You would think I would have passed out or bled or had a really cool bruise to talk about.  But nope, just went down like a sack of concrete in the middle of the field, tears splashing down my cheeks ... yet I couldn't stop laughing.  Poor J, I think I scared a few years out of him.


One of these days I'll get him back for all of the softballs I've caught with my body and not my glove ... 

Catching Up

Man, this past week was a doozy! Work is picking up quite a bit, and my brain is finally succumbing to the madness. Not exactly the best time to scale back on caffeine, but I'm trying pathetically hard to nix the diet sodas. Something about water being better for the body ...

I did manage to squeeze in a couple of decent workouts, though. I did pilates Monday and Wednesday -- a rude awakening first thing in the morning, as it felt like stretching a cold rubber band. But I love pilates because I can begin to feel the toning effects immediately, at least in the flab ... er, I mean ab ... area.

I ran a mile on Tuesday -- I swear the humidity took it's toll a minute into it. But my legs held up well, and I was glad to get that feeling back of wanting to go further. Besides, it just felt good to sweat a little.

We also had our first softball game Friday night. Now that was a good workout! J and I had played catch just about every night the last two weeks, so I felt fairly comfortable tucked in right field. I managed to get on base every time I batted ... despite hitting myself in the head with the bat the first go-round. Yeah, I know, how is that even possible? Not sure, but it got a good chuckle from the crowd, and solidified my point that our team name should have been "Benchwarmers". But, we ended up kicking tail, winning 12-6 despite being a player short.

And let me tell you, I was more sore yesterday than I was after my half marathon. Guess it was all the sprinting -- my legs are still shot. Which is why I think I need a little help in the toning and strength department. I picked up a copy of Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred today at the bookstore -- has anyone tried it? I'm a little skeptical and a little nervous about it ... that lady scares me.

But, maybe it'll be just the boost I need. That, catch, and more running should have me in pretty decent shape here shortly. And, it should be a little more entertaining than the ol' workbench that's collecting dust upstairs.

Tax-free at Run On

Hey Texas runners! If you're heading out to take advantage of tax-free weekend and want new running gear, check out the deals at places like Run On. Their discounts include:

• Buy one pair of shoes, get 15% off all additional pairs (discount applied to highest priced shoe).
• Buy $50 worth of apparel, get 15% off all additional apparel.

Not to mention no tax on all items under $100, including shoes, socks, caps and apparel. Not too shabby!

*And thanks, Dano, for suggesting to add Sister Hazel (playing now) to my iPod. I forgot how much I enjoy them! :)

Attn Creative Junkies

Hey all! Just a note to let you know my crafty blog *bella creative* is up and running ... for anyone who's interested :).

Back to running posts this weekend (and new tunes) -- until then, I'm catching up on reading your wonderful blogs as I'm sooo behind. But I suppose that's not unusual for me.

It's Hump Day, then bump day, then FRIDAY!*

*I know, that makes no sense. But I like it, so I'm leaving it ...

Monday Monday Monday

I am super ancy today -- maybe because it's Monday, maybe because I drank too much sugar-infused lemonade at lunch. Regardless, I have a mountain of work to do and an anthill of motivation to accomplish it. Perhaps I'll save it all for after dinner ...

I'm liking the idea of completing the Nike Woman's Marathon with Team In Training, so I think I'll try to make it my goal for either 2010 or 2011. I'll figure it all out as we get closer! Until then, I'm slowly getting back into the running deal and hopefully will get myself signed up for a 5k or two this fall.

J and I are playing in a co-ed softball league starting next Friday, and just practicing for that has been quite the workout! Especially since I've never played a day in my life up until a few weeks ago. You'd think I'd learn to catch the ball after getting hit in just about every place imaginable while playing catch with J. Guess it's a learned skill ... but the games should be fun.

In other ventures, I'm starting a new blog (bella creative) to tap into my creative side ... or at least something to keep me busy while J's working in the garage. So if you're into the whole crafty-handmade-some people call it art-stuff, then you'll have to check it out. I'll let you know once it's up and running!

Here I Go Again

I didn't exactly leap out of bed when the alarm went off this morning. By the time I did get up, the sun was beaming through the windows and my stomach was growling for some breakfast. After downing a granola bar, checking e-mail and working on a few slides for my presentation at work, it was already 10:30. No excuses, I told myself.

I changed into running clothes and dug through the sock drawer in vain trying to find two that matched. No excuses. Wearing one pink sock and one blue sock, I rummaged around looking for my watch. I couldn't leave without my watch. I had only 30 minutes to spare in my hectic schedule. No excuses.

I gave up and strapped on my iPod. Only it was dead. How can I run without my tunes? I ran up the stairs and tried to find my old one, only it was dead too. Seriously, no music? No excuses.

With no music, no watch and mismatched socks, I finally headed out the door. It was super hot already, but it felt good to feel the sweat beading up on my skin. And to feel my legs fall back into an old habit. I put in just over a mile ... slow, but still a mile. With no excuses.

*Thanks to Running Around Acres for suggesting the awesome Whitesnake song playing now -- will be adding it to my iPod tonight!

Wanted: New Running Playlist

I'm chewing on your wonderful race suggestions and will figure it out eventually. As many of you have said, I just need to get back out there. So out there I will go. My goal next week is to put in a short run Monday, Wednesday and Friday -- I'm thinking a mile or so. Baby steps, people!

So over the weekend, I need to wash my running clothes, dust off the sneaks and update my iPod running playlist. I desperately need some new tunes to help spice things up -- and I'd like your help building my playlist!

What do you listen to when running? What tunes pump you up? What song will be the key to all of my running successes ... er, or at least get me out of bed in the morning? :)

So ... What's Next?

You guys hit the nail on the head with the question, "What's next?" I've been trying to figure that out, but to no avail. Maybe that's why I was a little sluggish in posting my race report, because I didn't know where to go or what to do after.

And, five months later, I'm still not sure. But I definitely know I want to do another race. Many of you have hinted at another 1/2 or *gulp* a full. That would be cool. Or maybe another event with TNT -- Mohan suggested the Nike Women's, which does truly intrigue me. Maybe in 2010 ...

But what to do in the meantime? I suppose the first step would be lacing up my sneaks again. I think I've run twice since Big D. Horrid, I know! I had every intention of taking a short break to let the ankle heal completely. And well ... a short break turned into a bad habit. Oops.

So, I'm going to work on getting back into the habit this week. But, as for a new goal / adventure, what do you guys think? Any race suggestions or cool goals that I can work towards (like 50/50, but without the 50 ... haha)??

FINALLY, a Post-Race Report

Heeelllllooooooo! I know, I know -- where the hell have I been, right?

It's been nearly five months since I finished the Big D 1/2 Marathon with TNT ... wonder if any of you guys have stuck around? Truly did not mean to leave you hanging -- in my defense, I left for Puerto Rico the week after, have had several computer issues ... and am just downright lazy sometimes.

So, since this is a little anti-climatic as many of you have already blogged about the Big D race, I'll just share a few things. Like the fact that is was sooooo freakin' cold and windy that morning! Definitely made the days of training in frigid winds worth it. Just glad I was wearing pants and not shorts ...

J won the award for Best Supporting Husband, riding around on his mountain bike snapping photos, dodging swift winds and sketchy neighborhoods as best he could ...

I love this starting photo, reminds me of "Where's Waldo?" ...

I was bound and determined to run all 13.1 miles without stopping ... and by God I did it, with even a smile to boot ...

Remember when I was trying to set a realistic finishing time? I thought it would be around 2:55:00. And many of you said I could do better ... and I did. I finished in 2:43:41. Still plenty of room for improvement, but I was so super proud of it. You can also see our TNT group photo on the Big D Race Results page ... pretty cool!

I carried all of my donors with me during the race ... well, their names at least. Thanks to you guys, I raised over $1,800 for Team In Training to help find a cure for Leukemia!

All-in-all, it was such a wonderful experience. I encourage everyone to train for a race with TNT at least once, whether you've run a hundred marathons or you're a couch potato just getting started. It'll definitely change your life -- as well as those around you!

T-minus 4 Days ...

Saturday was our last TEAM run before the big event on Sunday (just 4 days to go!), and Mother Nature made sure it was unforgettable. Here lately I've been spoiled with sunny spring weather in the 70s -- I've even dusted off my flipflops and stashed the sweats in the back of the closet.

Weatherman warned that a cold front was moving in Friday afternoon, but I didn't pay attention. I left for work in short sleeves ... and nearly froze my butt off walking to my car that afternoon. The temps had dropped 30 degrees in a matter of hours, with me waking Saturday morning to a windy 34. Dang it. I went digging through the laundry pile trying to find my fleece pullovers. (Don't judge me ... sure, they were dirty. But, a little smell was worth the sacrifice so I wouldn't freeze to death.)

Layered, gloved and grumpy, I huddled with the rest of my TEAM while we waited to get started. After quick announcements, we were off ... straight into 20mph winds. Grrrr, I kept thinking to myself, keeping my head down and hoping that the four miles would go quick.

About a mile in I started to notice stuff hitting my face. It was dark so I couldn't make out what it was. At first I thought dirt, but it was too soft. Then I thought gnats ... which made me paranoid and resulted in constant spitting. But seriously, there can't be that many gnats. I could catch a glimpse of something in the glow of the street lamps. Rain maybe? But my clothes didn't feel damp.

The sky began to grow lighter about two miles in, with grey clouds hovering up above. Something was blowing in all around me, so I stuck out my black sleeve to catch whatever it was. No, it couldn't be ... it looks like ... Small little crystals of ice. But it wasn't ice. It was snow. It was freaking snowing! The little ice flakes slowly turned into big, beautiful white flakes that swirled all around me as I ran. I just couldn't believe it!

I instantly forgot about how cold it was, or how the wind was making it hard to breathe, or the blister forming on my right foot, or the ten million things on my to-do list that day. There was something soo calming about it all and I wanted to keep going, as if the snow would stop if I did.

It swirled on for another hour or so after I got home (and of course I woke the hubby up to see it). It was kind of neat knowing that I got to experience it, while many others were still tucked in their warm beds. Kind of like a little secret between Mother Nature and those of us out there running ... and an amazing way to wrap up this training season!

Tuesday Catch Up

Okay, I guess I really lost track of time over the last week! Things at work are picking up and, after spending all day working on the computer, I've been keeping the laptop closed at night. I'm sure many of you can relate!

The weather at our TEAM run last Saturday started out really crummy. It was cold, rainy and windy when I awoke at 5:30. But, by the time I arrived at our practice and we got started with announcements, the rain stopped and the wind calmed down. Sidestepping the rain puddles in the dark was the only challenge, and a fun one at that. I think I had more water in my shoes than the lakes around here. But once dawn broke, the weather turned beautiful.

We're tapering at the moment, so I only had six miles to hammer out. I thought it might be a struggle -- especially since my iPod wasn't charged -- but it felt soo good. It was the longest I've run since my 14 miler over a month ago. I just took it nice and slow, and didn't have to stop once to walk. I never felt any pain in my ankle during -- just a little stiffness after -- and it seems my lungs are finally catching up. Coach was truly happy to see me back out there -- I just wish I hadn't missed as much as I did. I found part of me wishing I could still do the full ... maybe next time ...

A good portion of my TEAM left Friday for the Rome Marathon -- I haven't heard how everyone did, but I'm sure they all rocked the house! I couldn't imagine a cooler race than that. But I'm sure Big D will hold it's share of thrills ... or at least I'll be able to read the street signs ...

Anyhoo, I've been thinking a lot lately about my goal finishing time. And I'm not really sure where to start in predicting it. It took me over 3:20:00 to do my 14 miles, but I stopped and hobbled quite a bit. It took me 1:21:00 to complete my sixer, which is probably a pace I can keep up for awhile. I definitely want to finish in under 3 hours. So maybe 2:55:00 for the half? Seems kind of slow on paper, but is probably realistic.

Speaking of times and half marathons, I must say I was pretty darn impressed with The Biggest Loser contestants doing half marathons last week. I couldn't believe some of the finishing times!! Not to take away from anyone's amazing accomplishment, but I think the inside track runners had a slight advantage over those running outside in the elements and non-flat terrain. But still, kudos to them all. Tara's 2:24:00 finish will surely beat mine!

Tomorrow I get to finalize all of my paperwork / donations and pick up my race-day jersey ... exciting!!

No Dodging -- It's Friday!

Well, I won't harp on the obvious fact that it's FRIDAY, but I'm sooo glad it's here! 50/50 is officially on it's way down the road to dowtown Dallas. With this weather, I probably should have strapped on a life preserver! Hopefully the rain will simmer down enough to get in a dry TEAM run tomorrow morning.

I'm thinking of running up to the gym to drip a little sweat before work, but I have the end-of-the-week-don't-really-want-tos weighing me down. I'm a little jittery just sitting here though. Maybe putting on my sneaks will be enough to catch my lazy mind up with my ancy body. I watched Dodgeball the other night, and just love the scene with Lance Armstrong. So I had to share. Who couldn't use a dose of motivation (and chuckles) today?

On the Way Back Up

While yesterday was a cloudy 77 degrees, today is a rainy 37. The bipolar weather definitely has my lawn confused, and I went around the house this morning turning off fans and turning up the heat. Guess I'll be working out inside today!

I made it to our TEAM practice on Saturday, for the first time in what feels like forever. Coach was down south with several of our mentors and other runners at the Texas Independence Relay -- a 203 mile, 30+ hour relay from Austin to Houston. Talk about crazy!

Those of us who showed up practiced with the summer team. I was surprised how many runners and walkers there were. I guess our team started our fairly large in the beginning, but now it seems relatively small. All of the summer team participants had on matching TNT t-shirts and name tags, and the mentors had made breakfast snacks for everyone to munch on after they finished.

Envious? A bit. But I guess I have the luxury of training with seasoned runners, which is always nice. Anyhoo, after the raffle winner was drawn, I ran about 1.5 miles and walked another 1.5. My ankle felt great -- it was my lungs that had trouble keeping up! Ohwell. I really just wanted to test my ankle with a short distance. It felt great being back out there.

I worked out at the gym at work for a bit yesterday. I put in two miles on the treadmill, selecting the "variety" workout which switches the incline every few minutes. My ankle felt great and my lungs kept up. Hopefully I can just keep building (quickly) from here. I will say that, after training outside for soo long, I felt clumsy on the treadmill. I just wasn't sure what to do with my arms, or what to look at besides the person's behind in front of me. Definitely different than being outside, but it was nice to mix it up a bit.

Just 24 days to go! :-)

50/50 Winner!

Well, it's 81 degrees outside and I'm trying to talk myself into a short run. I'm sooo enjoying this break in the cold, and hope it sticks around for awhile.

Looks like the 50/50 book will be staying in Texas for a little longer -- congrats to the fabulous That Pink Girl!! While I'm not quite ready for a challenge like Dean's (the book is inspirational, not magic), it does get me thinking towards my next adventure after Big D. Not sure what that is yet, but I guess it'll hit me when it's ready.

Happy (almost) Friday!