Tuesday, November 25, 2008

My Family is Full of Turkeys

I really wanted to run in a a Turkey Trot this year however my hometown does not offer one and the closest one to me is about an hour away and has a $30 entry fee most importantly...I was not going to get a shirt out of it. So I had almost given up on the idea when I realized that my parents live on a very hilly but secluded 2.5 mile loop and I have a huge family. The combination of these two things has created the Frist Annual My Family is Full of Turkeys Fun Run. I am also mapping out a 1 mile route for the non-exercisers that still want to join in on the fun. Now, there is a possibility that every family member I just sent this email to just opened it, rolled their eyes and hit the delete button, but I think there is a good chance that I can at least get 4 other people out there with me. And the best part.....I am working on the design for the T-shirt right now and I am going to print it off on to transfer paper and then iron it on to shirts!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Success!!

For the first time ever...I am excited about swimming! Ok, I have always liked swimming, and always thought I was a decent swimmer but certainly not well equipped enough to swim long distances. I worked with the instructor yesterday and she was a huge help in figuring out how to perfect my strokes and I was amazed at how much easier and faster I went through the water. It made all of the difference in the world just having someone work with me for 30 minutes. Now I am super excited to go back and work on this some more before my next lesson!

It is just not starting to get cold here but luckily the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend and in the 60's so I am planning on getting out and enjoying it by going for some bike rides and some runs while this gorgeous weather lasts! I feel like I need to really appreciate this weather after reading about everyone else dealing with snow and ice already I will enjoy this gift I have been given!

On a totally random note, I have a blemish (I am too old to have pimples. I refuse to admit it, I don't care how common it is) right below my eye and I can see it and it is driving me bonkers and I am sure I keep making the oddest faces as I look down at it. If only I had not killed my camera. Sniff.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Swim Lessons

I start swimming lessons tomorrow at the local Y. I have not been able to find a masters class and really I do need help with my basic strokes so I think this is going to be the best thing for me for awhile. I also think this will help me be more confident in the pool so I will be more likely to go and not be so worried the whole time about the other people there. Swimming is the worst area for me to really beat myself up mentally before I even start racing so I hoping this makes a big difference next year in whatever races I decide to do.

I am dragging my roommate along with me and while she is whinning now, I know she is going to love it. I always make her do these kinds of things with me, and while she whines and drags her feet, she always goes along with these fleabrained ideas I have....and then ends up beating me in whatever it is we are doing. I need to get her out on a bike because I am hoping that I have enough of a lead on biking that maybe I could stay ahead of her for awhile......but just in case I will put her on a big heavy mountain bike to start with. :)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Back Home!

Well, the horse show went great and I ended up winning two of my classes and placing 2nd in the other two. I also got one of the qualifying scores (kind of like getting a PR) that I needed so that was a huge plus and really the whole reason I went. It was a lot of fun and I did take several pictures....and then left my camera in the truck. Which my mother found when it fell out and hit the concrete yesterday. She is not really sure how to turn it on or check it so I am going to have to wait until I go home at Thanksgiving to retrieve it and then post the pictures. If the camera is toast, at least Christmas is coming!!

This week marks my return to the gym which is a hard adjustment after working outside all summer and fall, but with it getting dark so early, it really helps to get the workouts in. And once I get back in the habit, I really do enjoy the gym and the classes they offer. I do love spinning classes. Hearing the cries of pain always makes me grin...even if it is my own crying I am hearing.

Hope everyone is having a great week and is getting ready for Thanksgiving!! It is coming up quick!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Getting Ready to Go

My horse is now waiting in transition for me at my parents and we are both ready to go to the show tomorrow. My show whites are…..not so white after an unfortunate washing incident, but I am going to attempt to fix that before I leave. We are going to head to the show on Wednesday and I ride on Thursday. Wish me luck! I am getting fired up and am excited to go and hoping that since this is the one show I have really been able to go to this year it is not only a successful one, but also a fun one! I am going to try really hard to remember my camera!

I was kind of amazed at the number of gadget-less people! (And people I really look up to!) I think for now I will remain one of them and keep things very simple. Not to mention the fact that I really have not mastered all four of the buttons on the current watch I have so why I really think I need something more complicated, I don’t know. It is really sad but I have to get one of my friends to set my watch for me before I run. It is sad. I would like to get my super cheap bike computer set up so I could keep track of mileage for the year.

I talked my boyfriend into doing a 5k with me! Ok, I asked him to do a 5k with me and he turned over and grunted. Which is a much better response than any other time I had asked him about it so I think this is a very positive thing that he did not say a flat out no! So, because I know he reads this, please say very positive things about what a great experience it will be and how much he will love it! :) Now, I just have to find the perfect one for us to do! And matching outfits of course! (Stop rolling your eyes dear. You are stuck with me.)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Temporary Off Season

Again with the whole bad blogger thing, I know. Sadly I have had a shameful lack of material for you guys so therefore-no posts. Since I have been getting ready for this horse show, I have decided to take my off season break now and will start my half marathon training in two weeks when the show is all done! Really, I will this time! :)

I am not sure if Garmin has been advertising their 405 a whole lot lately or if it just keeps catching my eye, but I have to say I am interested. It is such overkill for someone like me but I do love the toys. After investigating a little more, it looks like what I really need is one of the bike Garmins, but they just look like something I would break within a week and then cry over. I am thinking I need to take babysteps as far as electronics are concerned before I invest the big bucks but if anyone has any advice, I would love it!