Busy, Busy, Busy…Ice Cube Swim and Give-A-Way Winner

Mish-mosh post 🙂

I am soooooooo busy these next coming weeks, looking at my calendar makes my head spin!!!  I actually love being busy, and I have a lot to look forward to but when I look at it all together I start to wonder how I am ever going to get everything done!  I really think June is the busiest month EVER!  So far June is packed with a 7th grade trip to Great Adventure, 8th grade trip to Dorney Park and the 8th grade dinner dance all of which I chaperone.  I also have a bridal shower and two weddings.  And I still need a dress (I HATE dress shopping…HATE) for one of the weddings.  (No, I cannot wear the same dress to both.)  I have a 5-mile race, I’ll be in A.C. for a friends birthday one weekend and the next weekend I’ll be volunteering for a tri.  Whew.  Exhausted just typing all that!

But let’s back up…May isn’t even over yet.  I still have a race this weekend in the Poconos, Memorial Day Weekend festivities and a tri that I am volunteering for!  And speaking of my weekend in the Poconos…water temp is currently 58!  58!!  HOLY COLD WATER BATMAN!  I have a neoprene swim cap which will be a huge help but my wetsuit is sleeveless…ouch!  And although my friend is bringing me her long-sleeved one, I think I would rather freeze than panic.  I just don’t feel comfortable in the long sleeves.  Oh, and I never knew they made neoprene booties, but apparently they do because one of my teammates asked me today if I had a pair or knew someone my size who had a pair.  I was like “I don’t know that many people my size or anyone that owns neoprene booties!”  Let’s just hope I don’t turn into a horizontal ice cube. 

After tomorrow morning, I am off until Sunday.  I’ll be back with a Black Bear race report, M.B.E, P.T. update and another post griping about The Biggest Loser.  So stay tuned 🙂

Now…for the winner of my Pay-It-Foward Give-A-Way!  I entered the participants into the Random Generator and the winner is…………

 LARA @ Saturday Morning Zen

Lara is paying it forward to her sister.  Her sister is going through a tough time and making a big decision in her life; she is new to running and finding it (as most of us do) to be her sanity.  I really wish I could afford to pay it forward to everyone- I loved all your thoughtful stories and wanted everyone to win!  Lara- email me your sisters name/address so I can get the subscription out to her!

That’s all for now…hope you all have a great Friday and fun weekend…anyone racing??

Three Things Tuesday

I have decided this is my last Three Things Tuesday.  The fact is, I am over it.  I already have a Sunday and Monday weekly post, and I am finding that come Tuesday’s I am really struggling to find three simple things to write about.  I think I would rather use that time to work on longer, more in-depth posts.

So…moving on…I felt an appropriate theme for this weeks Three Things, give it is my last would be…

The last time I…

…updated my blogroll was back in the fall.  I noticed the other day that it was full of blogs that either A- haven’t been updated in months, B- I no longer read and/or C- have moved to new links.  And furthermore, there were so many new blogs I have been wanting to add!  So I bit the bullet, took some time, and finally updated my blogroll this morning on my break!  It feels so nice to be organized and up to date 🙂  Ah, to be so Type-A!

…had the triathlon jitters was in August.  With Black Bear only a few days away, they are starting to set in again!  I am racing the swim portion of a relay.  The water temp as of today is 64*….HOLY COLD!!!  And since it is raining today and supposed to rain tomorrow, my hopes are not high for a warm front to come through and give me warmer water!  And I won’t lie…I am scared to death of getting in the freezing water.  I know I can swim the distance, that is not even a concern…but can I swim it frozen?

…felt truly relaxed was on my vacation to Aruba in 2007.  This time three years ago I was packed and ready for seven days of bliss.  And it was.  And I miss it.  I have been on vacations since, to the shore and mini-weekend ones here and there but I think I am well overdo for a truly relaxed getaway.  Think I need to get planning on that soon!

*Don’t forget, Thursday my Pay-It-Forward give-a-way closes.  Not too many entries so you have a good chance!!!

Monday Brain Exchange Week 8- Summer Running

Here are the answers from participants in last weeks Brain Exchange: Kim, Kitzzy, Suzy, Kera, Darlene, Jill and Kandi

Here’s how it works:

Every Monday, I will post a question.  The questions will be set up to post for @ 6am E.S.T. to give everyone ample amount of time to post their own answers throughout the day.

Questions will range all over the board as far as topics are concerned; from the sports themselves to nutrition to blogging and so on.  (If you have any topics/questions you think would be good, please feel free to email me!) 

If you want to play along, all you have to do is post the question and your answer on your own blog.  You can play along any day of the week that works best for you.

Link your post to my blog so that I know you have participated, and in the following weeks post, I will link all the participant blogs from the prior week.

Topic:  Summer Running Tips

Question:  The heat is on its way (and for some has already made its arrival) and the summer is getting close 🙂  What are some of your tried and true summer running tips for staying safe and cool in the heat?

I am actually happier running in the heat, than I am the cold.  I like the feel of running in short and a tank top as oppossed to three layers of clothing.  I like the feeling of the warmth of the sun.  I like running along the river without having to worry about windburn from the cold drafts.  I LOVE summer 🙂  There are so many tips and tricks for summer but I’ll just list my Top 3.

1.  The early bird gets the worm!

My favorite time to run, is in the early morning…the earlier the better.  I love the smell of summer and the cool air that mixes with the warmth of an eary sun.  It just isn’t practical where I live to run while the sun is out in full force.  NJ humidity is gross and the sun can be beastly; I never run in the afternoon.  If I have to run at night, I do, but usually around some type of water so I can catch the breeze. 

2.  Make sunscreen your friend!

I feel like this is a no brainer, but shockingly sunscreen is not a part of everyone’s routine.  If it isn’t part of yours, you should make it a priority.  I use Neutrogena Sport and for my face I use Neutrogena SportsFace; they are both oil-free, light and the sportsface doesn’t run into my eyes which is key.  Before I head out for a run, I always lather up.  And if I am going to be out in the sun for more than two hours, I bring it with me so I can re-apply.  I like having a tan as much as the next person, but it just isn’t worth the risk to do it in an unsafe manner.  Skin cancer is no joke.

3.  Drink in what your body will sweat out!

Another no brainer…or so I thought.  Recently, I was shocked to find out that two of my runner friends do not drink water while they run!  I, on the other hand, drink 8-12 ounces before I run and drink every few miles during a run.  And even more so in the summer.  If I am going for a short run, I’ll take a handheld with me but I really don’t like carrying them so if it is more than 3 miles, I will water drop.  In addition to water, I end my runs with either a sports drink of some kind to replenish my electrolytes.   

Week In Review- 5/10-5/16

Week in Review; 5/10-5/16

Swimming- 1 hour and 50 minutes and 4800 meters total.  Monday–  warm-up- 100 meters, 1200 meters timed,  200 meter buoy drill, cool-down- 100 meters. Tuesday– warm-up- 100 meters, 1500 meters timed, cool-down- 100 meters.  Sunday– 1500 meters timed in wetsuit.  All three swims were really good; I love love love my wetsuit!!!  I cut 2.5 minutes off my timed 1500 when I was in my wetsuit.  I am so ready for next weekend…bring on Black Bear!!!

Biking- 5.6 on the spin bike Friday.  Feels AMAZING even though I have to stay in first the entire time, and take it slow.  Only a week or so more until I can get back to spin class 🙂

Running- 2.5miles on Wednesday.  Ran/jogged at PT.  Kept it at a 12:40 pace and felt good.  My right shin is acting up so my PT has been taping me and it definitely gives it relief.  This run gave me the confidence to go for my 5K.   3.1 miles on Sunday.  First race post-injury and I was loving it!  My hip felt great the whole time.  Right shin unhappy after about 2.5 miles and had to walk quite a bit but I still managed an 11:20 pace!  To say I am beyond thrilled is an understatement.  Ten weeks ago I was on crutches and they had no idea when I would run again…and today, I  finished a 5K in 35:05!!!!

Strength training- 2 hours PT Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Cross Training- 15 minutes on Friday.  Just a slow warm-up before getting on the spin bike.

Abs Challenge- My PT is super focus on my core, therefore my abs are taking a beating!  I am rocking this challenge!

Weekly High: This was a great week for fitness!   This is the best week I have had in a long time.  I am thrilled with my progress 🙂

Weekly Low: No low this week 🙂  Has that ever happened??!?!?!?!?

Notes:  Somebody remind me of this post the next time I have a whine-fest on my blog!!!

Life: The ironic thing about running a 5k today is this:  on this weekend in 2008, I ran my first 5k and on this weekend in 2009, I ran my first half-marathon.  Running this 5k today is sort of symbolic to the continuation of my journey.  And because of that, I wore my half-marathon t-shirt from last year, today.  Here is a pre-race photo:

And back in the car after:

Three things I am grateful for this week:

1. All of the people who have spent time making me a better person 🙂
2. Running in the sun- it was beautiful out today, perfect running weather!
3. Body Glide- newest reason I love this stuff…works great to help get my wetsuit on/off!

Quote of the week:  “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” — Muhammad Ali

TGIF For Real!!!

 

Four weeks of NJASK testing finally ended today 🙂 

The full moon from a few weeks ago seems to still be lingering around my building; the kids are out of control!!!  In a typical month, we might suspend 3-5 kids total.  So on the year, no more than 50 suspensions.  Generally, our kids are better than most and we have very few problems.  Notice I carefully used the words typical and generally??  Because in just the last three weeks, we have had 26 suspensions.  26 IN THREE WEEKS!!!!!  Oh, and I forgot to mention…two expulsions.  In my four years here we have, up until this week, only ever expelled 2 kids.  This week, we have expelled 2.  So yeah, it doubled! 

Needless to say, I am sooooo happy to only have a few hours until my weekend begins 🙂

In fitness news (this is a tri/running blog right???) I had a great week!  I am very excited for my Week In Review- I finally feel like I am getting back to normal!  And I am happy to report that I have been Ranch Dressing free all week.  But I won’t lie, I miss it!  I gave up Diet Coke for my New Years resolution (haven’t had a drop since Jan 1) and that was hard, but no ranch dressing has been crazy difficult.  Maybe next year I’ll try for 40 days and give it up for Lent?

As for my weekend, my 5k is Sunday.  My only goal is to finish and have fun.  I’ll be sure to report on it in my Week In Review.  Wish me luck 🙂

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!!

PS- Don’t forget to go here and enter someone you love in my Pay It Forward give-a-way.  It’s good for your karma rating 🙂

Pay It Forward Give-A-Way With A Twist!

Up until two days ago, I had a scratch off ticket in my purse from Christmas (yes, from Christmas!!) that was worth a $3 prize.  I finally cashed it in and on a whim, I bought another one for $5.  I am not a big gambler, and in my entire life, I have bought only a handful of scratch offs so this is not a common thing for me.  But guess what…I won $25!!!!

So you are probably like “Blah blah blah” right??  Where am I going with this and where the hell is the give-a-way???

Well, I want to pay some of my winnings forward (I like good karma rating, what can I say!)…

So I give you…

The Pay It Forward Give-A-Way With A Twist 🙂

The prize: A one year subscription to Runner’s World Magazine.

The twist: You enter for someone else to win 🙂

How to enter: Leave a comment here with the name of the person you will Pay It Forward to if you win and tell me why you picked this person.  Additionally, you must email me the name and address of the person you are entering for (email on sidebar).  Please use subject line ‘RW magazine’ when emailing. 

Give-A-Way closes one week from today, Thursday, May 20 @ 6am EST.  Winner will be chosen by random generator and announced later that same day. 

Have fun and goooood luck 🙂

Three Things Tuesday

1.  I think it is time for a 500 mile club PiF update!  Looks as though I will finally hit 100 miles this week!  Of course I had hoped to hit that mileage back in March but my hip and I weren’t getting along as you all well know by this point.  I’ll be running a mile or tonight and another one tomorrow at PT, so my 5k on Sunday will put me over the 100 mile mark!!!  Are you in the 500 mile club?  If so, how are you doing with your miles?

2.  About a month ago my work put a block on blogs.  But suddenly, and awesomely, the block was removed.  I was thoroughly enjoying this until last Friday when I noticed the block was back on!!!  Oddly, the block is not on all blogs.  It looks as though it affects only those blogs with a pop-up comment screen (blogger, I think).  Even still, I miss my blog-reading breaks big time already and it has only been a few days. 😦

3. Tricia  over at Endurance Isn’t Always Physical, asked her readers to take pledges for better health for National Women’s Health Week from May 9-15.  I decided to give up Ranch Dressing.  I know this is such a simple thing.  You may be thinking how lame this is, but if you knew me IRL, you would know how tough this challenge is for me.  I eat ranch dressing on EVERYTHING.  When I told my co-workers at lunch about this, one asked me “Then what will you eat?” because seriously, I eat ranch dressing on….everything!  And if you have every looked at the nutrients label on a bottle of ranch, you know how absolutely not healthy it is to eat.  So, being that I am a ranch dressing lover, this is going to be tough.  I am hoping that through this challenge I can find other ways to eat the things I usually eat with ranch, and I won’t eat so much of it in the future.  I will never give up ranch completely and light ranch is gross and out of the question, but I know it is one of the superbad things I eat and I would like to cut it down substantially.  Any suggestions for substitutes??  (Note: I don’t really like ketchup and I hate mayo.)  What small thing would be a BIG thing for you to give up?