A new addition to the family...

No, I'm definitely not pregnant - not THAT kind of addition!! But one I am super excited about nevertheless - I have a shiny new road bike to ride for the 2011 triathlon season!! It is a 2010 Trek 1.2 21 speed road bike, and it is so comfy, fast, and light compared to the $5 mountain/hybrid bike I've done all my previous triathlons on. I can't wait to take it out for some nice long test rides on the next dry days!

Any suggestions on a name? It's a bit hard to tell from the picture, but the frame is navy blue with light blue and white accents.

Other news in a few words: I am almost done knitting my first beanie (after re-starting it 8 times!), my goal for Lent is to do some kind of workout every single day, and I am getting organized to apply to grad school at Seattle University this October!

Finally...

A new job!! A stable, full-time (or close to it, anyways - 4-5 days per week) job! It's a sign of the economy, I suppose (or of my idiotic choice in major) that a University of Washington graduate is working two restaurant jobs while in posession of a Bachelor's degree, but I will definitely take it! It's been difficult and frustrating not having a stable job (except my 10 hour a week job at the Tavern) - it's hard to save money, or pay rent, not knowing whether your hours will be cut or your job will disappear.

The job is a waitress/counter job at Sal's Deli in Burien - it's a lot smaller than the Tavern so it shouldn't be too difficult to pick up. I have enjoyed working in the Tavern and working with people, so hopefully it will be more of the same. The commute is nice and short, the people seem nice and pretty laid-back, and the pay/tips are good. It's only open 7 AM to 4 PM, which means no evenings/nights - definite bonus. I am curious/hopeful as to how flexible they will be with the schedule, but right now I am just pleased to have something steady! My first day will be tomorrow, 9 AM to 4 PM.

As far as school goes, I am filling out the FAFSA this week, figuring out what classes I need to take, and hopefully meeting with financial aid advisors soon. Also studying up on my math/algebra - I want to do really well on the math placement test so I can test out of (or at least into!) the math classes that I need.

Exercise/diet-wise, I have been ok this past week, but not terrific (yet). I have a few good runs over the weekend, some good strength training, and a great hike yesterday. Definitely the strongest I've felt on the trails so far this winter!

My plan for the rest of this week is a strength training (abs/arms) session today, a run and some yoga tomorrow, a run and strength training (abs/arms/legs) on Friday, a short tempo run on Saturday, and a long run of 8-10 miles on Sunday.

Now that I'm feeling better...

It's time to really kick off this new year, with a focus (exercise-wise) on consistent strength training, stretching, cardio, and a healthy diet based on whole foods.

I started off yesterday with a nice little hike up Mt. Si - 8 miles round trip, 4100 feet elevation gain, 2 feet of snow and 30 mph wind at the top. It was a beautiful view, and the more I hike the easier it gets (mentally, anyways!). Just have to keep practicing and working at it!

Today I hit the gym for a swim - I haven't been swimming really consistently since the summer, so I am pretty pleased with a 19:30 800M swim. I also did an abs and arms circuit and stretched everything out from yesterday's hike.

Tomorrow is a 4 mile run around Green Lake followed by yoga, and an ever-ubiquitous yet rarely fruitful job interview. I am hoping to get something with more steady hours so I can settle into a routine!

I am still planning on the Fishline 25K in Port Gamble mid-February as my next race - time to start bumping up the long run mileage again too!

Happy 2011!

I am kicking off 2011 with a stuffy nose, a sore throat, a dizzy head, and a voice that sounds like a 70 year old smoker's. I can't drive my car until tomorrow, my office job has been cut down to one day per week (which means that I am going to, once again, be looking for a new job). I need to learn a year's worth of algebra in the next three months and figure out financial aid, and then take classes at community college that I didn't bother to take in undergrad and now need. My grandma is in the hospital (hopefully nothing serious), and there are still 5 more months until it (might) become sunny on a regular basis.

On the bright side, a less than perfect start to 2011 means that it can (hopefully) only go up, right? Hopefully this will be a quick sickness, so that I can get back to working out, running, swimming, and hiking. Hopefully I will find a new job soon, and become amazing at algebra, and hopefully grandma will make a full recovery ASAP. I will focus on finding small fun things to do throughout the remaining winter months, and get outside as much as possible so I don't drive myself crazy. In some ways, I think it's better this way. Start 2011 with a clean slate and everything perfect, and there is pressure pressure pressure to keep it that way, to not screw up even the tiniest bit. Now, since I am starting off with a mess of things to work through, I can focus on checking everything off the to do list on the way back up. Accomplishing things, fixing things, and taking steps in the right direction actually seems better to me than trying to keep things perfect (although hopefully I'll be there sooner rather than later!).

Once I feel better, here are my New Year's Resolutions for 2011.

1. Diet and exercise - whole, natural foods, less sugar/caffeine/alcohol. Run at least 3-4x a week, swim/yoga/strength train at least 3x.

2. Backpack through the Enchantments and climb Mailbox Peak (will require more than a few training hikes!)

3. Marathon PR at North Olympic Discovery Marathon in June

4. Complete 1/2 Ironman Triathlon at Black Diamond in September

5. My most important one: Be open-minded. By this, I mean say yes to anything (within reason), go in with a good attitude and a goal to have fun, even if it's something that sounds silly or lame to me. Too often, I have gotten cranky over doing something that doesn't sound like fun to me, and I feel really silly when I actually end up having a good time. Why not go into everything with "I don't know what this is going to be like, but let's try and make it fun"?

Happy 2011 everyone!

A few early resolutions

Back from a sunny 3 mile run along the Burke-Gilman this morning and a nice relaxing 800M swim at the gym. I've decided to start working on some "New Year's" resolutions a little bit early!

1. Run at least 3x a week

2. Yoga at least 1x a week

3. Strength train at least 1x a week

4. Swim or bike at least 2x a week

Number 4 will obviously be updated once it comes closer to tri season! I just feel like I need to get started early because I need some motivation to keep getting me out there now that it's dark and rainy so much of the time. Wish me luck!

Have I mentioned yet...

how much I love my new neighborhood? For running, for how close/convenient it is to everything, and for how cute/cozy it is??

The view from my front porch during November's snow storm

One of the main streets of Wallingford... so many cute little shops and restaurants.

The trail around Green Lake

The view of downtown Seattle from Gasworks Park

And of course, the beautiful Burke-Gilman trail. <3

Upcoming race plans

Only one race left for 2010, pretty crazy to think how fast this year has flown by and how much has happened in it!


December - Jingle Bell Run 5K
January - Resolution Run 5K
Lake Youngs Pigtails race (19.6 miles)

February - Port Gamble 25K
Last Call Marathon

March - Chuckanut 50K

April - Wenatchee Marathon


And then switching focus to tri season for the summer. Pretty ambitious, I know, but I'll just take it one step at a time and do the best I can. I'll have to start hitting the trails at Tiger Mountain, Cougar Mountain, etc soon to get some more practice in!