Woohoo, I've managed to run 4 times this week!
The past few days have been absolutely gorgeous running weather - sunny and 40-45. Yesterday I ran along the boardwalk next to the beach at Redondo, and this morning I ran along the trails at the Weyerhauser headquarters. It was nice to get out and run in the sunshine and have some change of scenery!
Unfortunately, though, the weather forecast looks to be getting pretty gloomy after today. Which is okay, because I'll be stuck at work Monday-Thursday anyways. I am going to try and go for a swim at the gym before work tomorrow and see how that goes. It'll suck to get out of bed that early, but it'll be a good start to the day and nice to already have my workout done by the time I go into work!
This next week will be pretty busy between work, happy hours, New Year's Eve, DBF getting back, and a family trip to Morton to visit relatives from Dad's side of the family, but the Eugene Marathon is 4 months from next Saturday, so I am bound and determined to keep squeezing in the miles however I can!
Today I am curled up in my snuggie watching the UW-USF basketball game, and then will head over to best friend's for a little bit tonight, and hopefully go to bed early and get this next week off to a good start!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Happy Holidays!
I know it's a little late for a Merry Christmas post, but I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!
I had a good time hanging out with the extended family yesterday and eating way too much. I also drank my first red wine and got some good presents! A snuggie, a few cute dresses and sweaters, a Sounders scarf, new socks (always a necessity!), two coffee mugs, a few bowls and glasses for the new apartment I'm hoping to find soon, a calendar, a purse, gloves, umbrella... lots of useful things. I also used gift cards to buy a new pair of jeans and an awesome purple dress for New Year's Eve. Incidentally, the mall the day after Christmas SUCKS - it took us 45 minutes to get into the mall from the freeway and another 40 minutes to get out of the parking lot. Sheesh.
I am looking forward to another 4 day week next week! Still no New Year's eve plans, but hopefully will come up with something excellent. It will be good to see DBF back.
This morning I had a great 3 miler on the boardwalk at Redondo - the weather has been absolutely gorgeous the last few days. I am hoping to get a good run in tomorrow before hopefully hanging out at best friend's house for a bit. Gotta enjoy the good weather while it lasts and burn off all those Christmas calories, sheesh!
Next week's running should look like this:
Monday - 30 min swim
Tuesday - 3 mile run
Wednesday - 5 mile run
Thursday - 30 min swim, 30 min spin
Friday - 4 mile tempo run
Saturday - Off
Sunday - 8 mile run
Total - 20 miles
I had a good time hanging out with the extended family yesterday and eating way too much. I also drank my first red wine and got some good presents! A snuggie, a few cute dresses and sweaters, a Sounders scarf, new socks (always a necessity!), two coffee mugs, a few bowls and glasses for the new apartment I'm hoping to find soon, a calendar, a purse, gloves, umbrella... lots of useful things. I also used gift cards to buy a new pair of jeans and an awesome purple dress for New Year's Eve. Incidentally, the mall the day after Christmas SUCKS - it took us 45 minutes to get into the mall from the freeway and another 40 minutes to get out of the parking lot. Sheesh.
I am looking forward to another 4 day week next week! Still no New Year's eve plans, but hopefully will come up with something excellent. It will be good to see DBF back.
This morning I had a great 3 miler on the boardwalk at Redondo - the weather has been absolutely gorgeous the last few days. I am hoping to get a good run in tomorrow before hopefully hanging out at best friend's house for a bit. Gotta enjoy the good weather while it lasts and burn off all those Christmas calories, sheesh!
Next week's running should look like this:
Monday - 30 min swim
Tuesday - 3 mile run
Wednesday - 5 mile run
Thursday - 30 min swim, 30 min spin
Friday - 4 mile tempo run
Saturday - Off
Sunday - 8 mile run
Total - 20 miles
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
I ran!
Yes, that's right, I actually dragged myself to the gym after work today!
I didn't have much time as I wanted to make it home in time to watch at least most of the Husky basketball game, but I got in a good 2 mile run and an excellent 1/2 mile swim. It's funny, when I was on swim team I only ever swam breaststroke and backstroke, so that's basically all I ever swam until this past summer when we started training for Danskin.
The first time I tried to do crawlstroke it just felt awkward and hard compared to breaststroke, but over the course of triathlon training this summer I got my time down to 18 minutes for the half mile and got a lot more comfortable swimming crawlstroke. I've been working on my form lately, particularly learning to breath on both sides. I'd only ever breathed on one side before, so it was really awkward to breathe on the other side at first (a lot of water was inhaled!) but now it's feeling smooth and strong.
In the spirit of getting back into the swing of things, here is my goal for the rest of the week:
Wednesday - 3 miles
Thursday - 4 miles + swim
Friday - 3 miles
Saturday - Skiing?
Sunday - 6-7 miles
Wish me luck!
I didn't have much time as I wanted to make it home in time to watch at least most of the Husky basketball game, but I got in a good 2 mile run and an excellent 1/2 mile swim. It's funny, when I was on swim team I only ever swam breaststroke and backstroke, so that's basically all I ever swam until this past summer when we started training for Danskin.
The first time I tried to do crawlstroke it just felt awkward and hard compared to breaststroke, but over the course of triathlon training this summer I got my time down to 18 minutes for the half mile and got a lot more comfortable swimming crawlstroke. I've been working on my form lately, particularly learning to breath on both sides. I'd only ever breathed on one side before, so it was really awkward to breathe on the other side at first (a lot of water was inhaled!) but now it's feeling smooth and strong.
In the spirit of getting back into the swing of things, here is my goal for the rest of the week:
Wednesday - 3 miles
Thursday - 4 miles + swim
Friday - 3 miles
Saturday - Skiing?
Sunday - 6-7 miles
Wish me luck!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christmas Party report & other news
So I originally only agreed to go to my firm's Christmas party last Friday because I felt obligated to as "the new girl" (you know, networking and all that good stuff). I just felt it wouldn't be so enjoyable because DBF is in NY and couldn't be there, and I am usually pretty shy and don't really enjoy social situations like that, especially when I don't know anyone. I figured I'd be home by 8:30 at the latest (the party started at 6:30).
A few of us went down to McCormick's for a few beers after work, and then we headed over to the party. It was at the Rainier Club, which is super fancy (like live jazz and waiters in tuxes carrying around trays of caviar and wine fancy). I actually had a really good time meeting new people and talking more to people that I've seen around the office but not really had a chance to talk to. Dinner was at 7:30, and I was apparently the entertainment of the table because I'm such a picky eater - I had my first shrimp (eww) and my first salmon (ok) and steak in brown sugar glaze (yumm). The office manager brought her son as her "date" and he ended up being 23 and fun to hang out with. It was nice having someone close to my own age to talk to.
We also got Christmas bonuses and spiffy BLG water bottles. Around 10:30 everyone left the Rainier Club and about 10 of us headed over to Sip, the new wine bar on 5th Avenue. It was a pretty sweet bar, lots of little lounge areas with comfy couches and chairs and $14 glasses of wine - luckily it was their late happy hour so my bank account wasn't too upset by this new development. I got a ride home from Jennifer (the office manager) and ended up getting home around 1 AM. It was super fun for someone who planned on leaving at 8!
I wore this dress to the party:
People seemed to like it, and I love getting dressed up!
In other news:
- I'm not sure how I failed to mention this before (or maybe I just don't remember mentioning it), but Locker is back for 2010!!! Thank you Jake! Dawgs are going to be good next year!
- B-ball Dawgs bounced back from that loss to Georgetown last weekend with a nice game at Portland on Saturday... hopefully they can keep it up against Texas A&M tomorrow!
-I am going to try skiing (sometime hopefully soon) in hopes that it will not be as... crash-inspiring for me as snowboarding was!
- Hoping to get back on track with the running and gym-going this week - it's hard because I'm still adjusting to working the 8-5 schedule so I'm super tired by the time I get home, but it should be easier this week because DBF is home in NY for the holidays. I am going to the Tavern to hang out with best friend on Wednesday, so I might try running before work in the AM if I can manage that... we'll see!
A few of us went down to McCormick's for a few beers after work, and then we headed over to the party. It was at the Rainier Club, which is super fancy (like live jazz and waiters in tuxes carrying around trays of caviar and wine fancy). I actually had a really good time meeting new people and talking more to people that I've seen around the office but not really had a chance to talk to. Dinner was at 7:30, and I was apparently the entertainment of the table because I'm such a picky eater - I had my first shrimp (eww) and my first salmon (ok) and steak in brown sugar glaze (yumm). The office manager brought her son as her "date" and he ended up being 23 and fun to hang out with. It was nice having someone close to my own age to talk to.
We also got Christmas bonuses and spiffy BLG water bottles. Around 10:30 everyone left the Rainier Club and about 10 of us headed over to Sip, the new wine bar on 5th Avenue. It was a pretty sweet bar, lots of little lounge areas with comfy couches and chairs and $14 glasses of wine - luckily it was their late happy hour so my bank account wasn't too upset by this new development. I got a ride home from Jennifer (the office manager) and ended up getting home around 1 AM. It was super fun for someone who planned on leaving at 8!
I wore this dress to the party:
People seemed to like it, and I love getting dressed up!
In other news:
- I'm not sure how I failed to mention this before (or maybe I just don't remember mentioning it), but Locker is back for 2010!!! Thank you Jake! Dawgs are going to be good next year!
- B-ball Dawgs bounced back from that loss to Georgetown last weekend with a nice game at Portland on Saturday... hopefully they can keep it up against Texas A&M tomorrow!
-I am going to try skiing (sometime hopefully soon) in hopes that it will not be as... crash-inspiring for me as snowboarding was!
- Hoping to get back on track with the running and gym-going this week - it's hard because I'm still adjusting to working the 8-5 schedule so I'm super tired by the time I get home, but it should be easier this week because DBF is home in NY for the holidays. I am going to the Tavern to hang out with best friend on Wednesday, so I might try running before work in the AM if I can manage that... we'll see!
- Also had fun making peanut butter cookies with kisses in them and peppermint bark with mint and white chocolate with my marathoning buddy last night. We also watched Wizard of Oz and Ratatouille (sp???) and decided that we want to get chinchillas when we "grow up" (he's 27 and I'm 22, thus the quotes).
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Fly by
Maybe if I post on my blog that I am going to the gym to run and swim, I will.
I will, I will, I will!
I will also try not to consistently eat all the junk food lying around this office. Free junk food may be my downfall!
Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. My goal for the weekend is to run a whole two days in a row! *gasp* I just need to get better at time management and get back in a routine!
I will, I will, I will!
I will also try not to consistently eat all the junk food lying around this office. Free junk food may be my downfall!
Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. My goal for the weekend is to run a whole two days in a row! *gasp* I just need to get better at time management and get back in a routine!
Monday, December 14, 2009
2010 races
This is just a tentative list, but I figured since I ran my last race of 2009 yesterday it's time to start planning for next year!
January
Resolution Run 5K
February
Valentine 5K
March
St. Patrick's Day Dash (3.4)
Mercer Island 1/2 Marathon
May
Eugene Marathon
Beat the Bridge 8K
Sammamish Sprint Tri (?)
June
Seattle Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon
July
Torchlight 8K
Seafair Sprint Tri
August
Danksin Sprint Tri
September
Black Diamond 1/2 Ironman Tri
October
Dawg Dash 10K
November
Seattle Marathon
December
Jingle Bell Run 5K
If you have any other suggestions let me know!
January
Resolution Run 5K
February
Valentine 5K
March
St. Patrick's Day Dash (3.4)
Mercer Island 1/2 Marathon
May
Eugene Marathon
Beat the Bridge 8K
Sammamish Sprint Tri (?)
June
Seattle Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon
July
Torchlight 8K
Seafair Sprint Tri
August
Danksin Sprint Tri
September
Black Diamond 1/2 Ironman Tri
October
Dawg Dash 10K
November
Seattle Marathon
December
Jingle Bell Run 5K
If you have any other suggestions let me know!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Jingle Bell Run Race Report
Background/training - Not much, I've basically been taking it easy since the Seattle Marathon. I have almost 5 months before the Eugene Marathon, so I thought it'd be ok to give my legs a bit of a refresher after two marathons two months apart. I planned on running this easy just to stretch my legs and get a nice fun run in.
The race - Took the light rail up from Tukwila to downtown Seattle with my cousin, Mom, and Mom's friend (who all walked the race). We had just enough time to pick up our packets and shirts and head out to the start line. It was overcast but warmer than last year (37ish). There were about 12,000 people there, which makes it the biggest Jingle Bell run in the US.
Mile 1 - This mile is uphill for the first half and downhill for the second half. I ran it at an easy pace, around 10:40ish, just passing people. A woman walking with a stroller (in the "timed runners" wave) clipped my heels and then was like "well that's what you get for running in front of a stroller". *sigh* Some people are just oblivious!
Mile 2 - This mile was mostly flat through the tunnel to the I-5 express lanes. I love this part of the race because everyone always sings Jingle Bells while we run through the tunnel. I just focused on passing and swerving in and out of people and ran it in about 10:25ish.
Mile 3 - I decided around here that I wanted to at least beat my post-Portland Dawg Dash time (33:36) and picked up the pace a little. We came back out of the express lanes and up a short steep hill, which I made it halfway up before my legs said "NO" and I took a short walk break. Then it was around the corner and downhill to the finish, where I managed a nice long finishing kick. Mile 3 was my fastest mile of the race.
Final time - 32:06 - definitely not a PR but a good minute and a half faster than Dawg Dash and about similar effort, so I am ok with it.
Post-race/reflections - After the race I went to Starbucks and got a peppermint mocha to go with my bagel and banana (yum) while I waited for the others to finish. When they did, DBF picked us up and we all went to brunch at Mecca, a cute restaurant/bar place on Queen Anne that has excellent food. Then we took the light rail back to our cars at Tukwila and on the drive home, the first snowflakes of the winter started falling! That means it's snowed on the day of the Jingle Bell Run each of the last three years, which is pretty impressive given how little it snows here.
I intended to do the Jingle Bell as a fun run, and that's what it was. It sort of feels like a nice easy victory lap after marathon season!
The race - Took the light rail up from Tukwila to downtown Seattle with my cousin, Mom, and Mom's friend (who all walked the race). We had just enough time to pick up our packets and shirts and head out to the start line. It was overcast but warmer than last year (37ish). There were about 12,000 people there, which makes it the biggest Jingle Bell run in the US.
Mile 1 - This mile is uphill for the first half and downhill for the second half. I ran it at an easy pace, around 10:40ish, just passing people. A woman walking with a stroller (in the "timed runners" wave) clipped my heels and then was like "well that's what you get for running in front of a stroller". *sigh* Some people are just oblivious!
Mile 2 - This mile was mostly flat through the tunnel to the I-5 express lanes. I love this part of the race because everyone always sings Jingle Bells while we run through the tunnel. I just focused on passing and swerving in and out of people and ran it in about 10:25ish.
Mile 3 - I decided around here that I wanted to at least beat my post-Portland Dawg Dash time (33:36) and picked up the pace a little. We came back out of the express lanes and up a short steep hill, which I made it halfway up before my legs said "NO" and I took a short walk break. Then it was around the corner and downhill to the finish, where I managed a nice long finishing kick. Mile 3 was my fastest mile of the race.
Final time - 32:06 - definitely not a PR but a good minute and a half faster than Dawg Dash and about similar effort, so I am ok with it.
Post-race/reflections - After the race I went to Starbucks and got a peppermint mocha to go with my bagel and banana (yum) while I waited for the others to finish. When they did, DBF picked us up and we all went to brunch at Mecca, a cute restaurant/bar place on Queen Anne that has excellent food. Then we took the light rail back to our cars at Tukwila and on the drive home, the first snowflakes of the winter started falling! That means it's snowed on the day of the Jingle Bell Run each of the last three years, which is pretty impressive given how little it snows here.
I intended to do the Jingle Bell as a fun run, and that's what it was. It sort of feels like a nice easy victory lap after marathon season!
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