Back From Holiday Break

Last week Gretchen and I spent our time out at my parents house with the rest of family for Christmas.  I thought it would be so easy to get bunches of miles in since I would have built in babysitters at the house.  But some days were so cold and some days were packed with activities so a little harder than I planned but I managed to get in 42 miles for the week so pretty good.
Mon:  4 miles at the gym after work
Tuesday:  4 miles outside down BB hwy by my parents house.
Wed:  6 miles on the treadmill in my parents basement.  I had to get up early for this.
Thur:  3 miles on gym treadmill before class in morning and 4 miles after class at night
Fri:  11.25 miles outside my parents house on hwy
Sat: 6.75 miles outside but back at my house

Sun:  It was a warm 16˚ out but I had a few hours to myself so after half a mile on the treadmill to warm up I headed out.  I of course layered properly and then for the first time covered my face in vaseline.  There have been a few times this winter I thought I needed it so I went for it today.  It helped but still so cold on the face outside.  I managed 4.5 outside before heading back in.

I know what you're thinking.  "No more shinny than usual."

Monday:  I just jumped on the basement treadmill for 3 miles then got to try out teaching cycle class at the gym.  I planned out a routine and thought it went super well, and super fast.

Tuesday:  6.5 on the treadmill at the YMCA and that is it for the year.

Hitting 40

Monday:  2 miles on the treadmill.   Planned on 3 but a customer showed up early and I never got back on after.

Tuesday:  3 miles on the basement treadmill, then later at the gym another 3 miles before Suspension class.  I meant to arrive at the gym early enough for 5 miles but as usual that didn't happen.

Wednesday:  Went to the gym in the morning so Gretchen could go to her totsercise class and I ran 6 boring miles out on the treadmill.  Had plans to make the Independence running group that evening but an opportunity came up to help train a competitive girls softball team so that is where I went.  Now I know when those of you who know me think competitive softball I do not come to mind.  No worries I'm not showing anyone how to pitch or catch a ball.  I am only assisting on off season speed and agility drills, so they can stay in top shape for their upcoming season.

This puts me at a whopping 19 miles so far for the week. I've got 3 days and the only possibility for outside running is Saturday and I don't feel the weather is going to agree with me.

Well I finished the week off with all treadmill miles, once at the gym for 5, once at home for 3 and once at my parents for 5.  Totaling 32 for the week.  Once again ok but the weather needs to start cooperating with my very limited outside running time or I need to get tougher.  One or the other.

This past week was  mostly all treadmill again but I did finally hit 40 miles and it seemed really easy.  For whatever reason 6 miles on the gym treadmill and 3 miles on the home treadmill don't seem so boringly hard anymore.  I won't go through all the miles each day since I'm pretty sure no one reads this but my longest run was 6 miles on the treadmill, more than once, 9 miles in one day and only 16 miles outside.  3 of those running around the YMCA building.  Sun: 4 & 2,  Mon: 5, Tue: 3 and Suspension class, wed:  3 miles on gym treadmill, then 3 miles around the building.  Then wed night I was supposed to be in Lee Summit at 7 but still wanted to go to the running group at 6.  They were giving out running shirts that night.  Clearly I run for all the t-shirts so I went just figuring I would have to cut my run short to make it to Lee Summit.  Well for not the first time I tied my house key to my shoe then locked my car key in the car.  I don't know why I do this but it has happened a couple of times.  I didn't realize it until I went to leave.  The good news I had time to run 3 miles outside while waiting for help.  So totally worth missing my job that night for a running shirt 3 extra miles and I won a blinking clip on safety light.  Thurs: 5 miles on gym treadmill in morning then suspension class at night, Fri:  6 miles on gym treadmill, Sat: 6 miles on gym treadmill.  So I did go though all my daily miles.

40 miles done for the week.

Today Gretchen and I worked out at the house.  First she did 5 minutes then I did 3 miles on the treadmill.  After the warm up we did some strength training.  I went with dead lifts, squats and pushups while Gretchen did some squats with a ball throw and planked.

Look at that plank!

It's Christmas week so I should have plenty of time to run however the weather is going to be super cold.  A high of 13˚ tomorrow, oh yay!

Holiday Gift Guides and Giveaway

Done with your holiday shopping yet?  Ya me neither.  Still need ideas on what to get everyone in your life?  Me too!  Check out these gift guides and enter for your chance to win a $200 gift card from Amazon.

Dad

Kids

Teens

Coupons.com Holiday Gift Guides

Coupons.com Holiday Sweepstakes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Cold

Monday:  Was surprised and had time for a quick 5 miles outside before I had to head to work

Tuesday:  Worked out but no real running other than a few sprints around the gym track.

Wednesday:  Ran at gym in morning 3 miles on the treadmill, 3 miles around the building.  Went to run club at night for another 3 miles.

Thursday:  Ran at the gym in morning for 4 miles.

Friday:  When I got off work Friday afternoon it was a warm 16˚ out.  I ran 1 mile on the treadmill then 6 outside.  The first 3 went well then I turned around to head back.  The very light wind was freezing my face off.  So cold!  First time I ran outside and thought "my face should really be covered in Vaseline."  I made it but was worn out and just went home rather than running anymore on a treadmill.

Saturday:  I spent my day learning all about member involvement in Coaching Connections at the YMCA.  Sounds amazing I know, after that I was close to a shopping center and thought I could knock out some Christmas presents.  I picked up a few then went against my better judgement and bought my 1st running skirt.  I do look super cute in it.  I think I may wear it in some spring races.  Once home I it was already dark and my weekly mileage was looking poor.  I jumped on the treadmill for 3 miles after dinner on the treadmill in the basement in my new skirt.  It ran well.

                             

Weekly Total: Ended the week with only 31 miles.  I'm going to have to get comfortable with the cold cold temps because I have a feeling all the nice temp days are going to be on days I can't run and visa versa.

Sunday Runday:  My last opportunity to run outside for a few days.  It was 19˚ out, way better than the 16˚ on Friday so I figured no problem.  I did 1/2 mile warm up on the treadmill, then went out for 4.5 miles.  Not too bad, it was lightly snowing, maybe I'm getting used to this super fun weather.

                  

Running and Painting

Finally finished painting the living and dining rooms along with the hallway.  It is a minty green with the fireplace wall a shiny white and I'm loving it.  It really brightens up the space.  

I'm also loving that I spray painted the metal apples sitting on the desk a bright pinkish orange from their old 70's golden yellow.

Gretchen got a bunch of great birthday presents and she is loving all her new kitchen bakeware.  She is getting ready to spice up a pumpkin dish.

Friday 22nd:  Went to the gym and ran 10 miles in an attempt to get my mileage up.

Saturday 23rd:  Would of had to get to the gym right at 8 when child care opened because I had somewhere to be mid morning.  That didn't happen so basically no running happened. Fail.

Weekly Total:  31 miles

Sunday 24th:  Had free time so I ran outside for 8 miles, I think there was a high of 30˚ that day.

Monday 25th:  Ran 3 miles on home treadmill

Tuesday 26th:  5 miles at the gym in the morning then another 2 miles at night before suspension class

Wednesday 27th:  ran 3 miles outside with a running group.

Thursday 28th:  Thanksgiving day got out to my parents later than planned and only had time for 6 miles

Friday 29th:  Made the mistake of going out with my sister Thanksgiving night, no running

Saturday 30th:  Went to the gym for 8 miles on the  treadmill.

Weekly Total: 35 miles

Sunday 1st:  Today Gretchen let me run 3 miles on the basement treadmill.  Hoping I get in 40 miles this week but disappointed the weather is not going to agree with me.  Todays weather was perfect for running but I didn't have any free time.  It looks like I'll be able to run outside on Friday and Saturday when it is 30˚ and snowy. Oh Yah.