When to throw it out the window

So for this upcoming race, I've decided to throw my training plan out the window, kind of. I originally wanted to run a couple races before Robie to help give me my grand number of 14 races. I will not be running the two races before Robie. Robie Creek is a beast and I want to make sure I have fresh legs. I got injured the last time I raced extreme hills and I want to make sure that doesn't happen again.

For Christmas I got The Runners World Big Book of Marathon and Half Marathon Training. I have almost read all of it and it was really helpful in learning and understanding the fundamentals of running. This is where I picked my training plan to start with, and they have some really good ones in here.

Like I said before, I am switching out speed for hills, but I am also going to play with the mileage. My body hasn't really been eased into running high mileage per week. I've decided that I will keep my shorter runs between 3 and 4 miles. My weekly mileage for this first race will range from 14 miles (last weeks mileage), and the highest will be in a couple weeks with 23 miles. I am working on/doing research on what I should be doing between my races, as June and July are looking pretty busy.

I love following training plans, but I end up getting a little obsessive and negative when I miss a work out. This does nothing for the training process, and quite frankly it makes me not want to race. I will be setting up mini goals each week which will have my workouts I need to complete. There will be no days or dates tied to the workouts. That way I've still planned workouts but still have wiggle room for when life happens. Here's what this week looks like:

Know what else I throw out the window?! Matching socks! I hate that part of the laundry, so I got into this nasty habit of throwing them in bags so I can sort them later. Sunday I caved - they were overflowing, and I realized I needed to stop being a lazy housewife. I matched as many as I could, and downsized to a small bags one for me and one for MMR :)

I have some serious spanish homework and a Papa Murphys Pizza calling my name (thank goodness for college coupons and pennies in the couch cushions because I did not want to cook tonight). Adios!

Um Hello?! Are you there

I'm back!!!!!!!!! Did you miss me?! I know you did ; ) Life has been pretty busy this last month and it has no plans on slowing down. I had to re-prioritize some things and I had to put spending time on the internet on the back burner. To be honest - I've also been trying to spend less time hogging the computer and more time living in the moment.

I have some good news to share...............I got a bib to run Race to Robie Creek! I really really wanted to run that race last year but ended up not getting a bib. It's first come first serve and then there is a lottery you can enter for a second chance. It's the toughest half marathon in the northwest. I'm actually kind of scared of what I got myself into. Here's the elevation map. Enough said.

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Even better news......I have a running partner for the race - MMR!!! I finally have one of my many wishes coming true. He's probably going to be way faster than me but still - he's running a race with me and thats all that matters. Bucket list CHECK.

This is going to be the first race of the year which means I have some shuffling around later in the season, but I'm okay with that. Another race I'm super excited about is this one:

I get extra motivated when I have 'for sure' races lined up. I know I have big goals this year wanting to run 14 halfs and I've come to realize that it's not just my body that will need to adjust. It's expensive to run 14 races, especially if some of them are out of town, and last minute sign ups. So I had to pick the two most important races I for sure want to run. And these two are it.

I'm really excited to be going to Seattle in June. My mom and I are going to plan a pretty sweet girls weekend! This is my first huge race series and this is my first race out of Idaho. 

I must get back to my Spanish homework. Homework = good grades = passed classes = graduation = kick ass job. Goodnight.

It's all about being random

So this one is going to be all over the place. I had quite the productive day today. I made some money, gained some knowledge and pumped those endorphins. On my 4 miler today I thought about how AWESOME the month of February is going to be and it starts in just 3 days.

The Super Bowl is Sunday in case you have been under that rock. Growing up I use to BEG my parents to let me stay up through half-time. One thing I love about living on the West Coast, the game is on so much earlier! Then after the Superbowl its the OLYMPICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if you know this, but I am OBSESSED with the Olympics.  For the summer game I brought my laptop to work so I could stream the events. GO TEAM USA!!

I had 4 miles in the training plan today and I really wanted to run outside, but mother nature had different plans. It started snowing sometime during class and it felt like the tempuratures dropped 10 degrees. What I'm actually trying to say is that I am a wuss and moved my run to the treadmill. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, and as always it was worth it. I wore my favorite crops ever today. I wish I had gotten them in every color especially because some of the went on sale.

It kinda looks like I got punched in the face but I didn't I was just really warm and walking out of the gym.

Yesterday I forgot to post a progress shot from my bathroom. Here are the before pictures, and then after of the one wall. I bought both canvases from Home Goods a long time ago. I have the frames hung on the other wall but I need to run to pick up the pictures I ordered.  Considering they've been ready since Sunday afternoon I will need to pick those up tomorrow!

Now I'm off to do the dishes and get some sleep, I have another long busy day tomorrow - Unit then!! 

Today started the pace. Literally.

Today is finally here, and over for the most part. In just 10 short weeks I have my first race of the season. I am really excited and kind of nervous. I love running, working out and feeling good, but there's just a little extra motivation when it comes to actually having a training plan. Since the most I have off between races is three weeks, I will be sticking with the same plan, just modifying it between races. I got it from my Runner's World book I got for Christmas!

This week has 4 running days, 2 cross training days and one rest day. My long run is Sunday and depending how my body feels I may be swapping an easy run for some cross training or rest. I have told myself I need to be flexible as the training gets heavier; I will really need to listen to my body.

Today I created my own spin session. I took from different websites and my general knowledge from going to classes, set it to my own music and went for it. It was so hard, like really hard. I had sweat in my eyeballs by the third track. My legs were so tired when I got home I sat down, and literally almost fell over trying to stand up.

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It was so nice to stay home this past weekend. On Saturday I went into crazy cleaning mode and re-organized our bedroom closet and cleaned the kitchen. I would've taken some really embarrassing before photos, but I didn't remember until I had everything together. We are renters until we start bringing home some real bacon and closet space is limited. But now all my flats and work out sneaks have homes!

Sunday we went for a drive to get out of the fog and clouds. We saw the sun for about an hour and got a nice little mile hike in. We even got Dude to sit still for a few minutes to get his picture taken. He HATES getting his picture taken. It's so funny, he will bark and charge the camera. We can get him to sit where we want to take his picture, but then when he sees the phone or camera come up, he loses it!

I love spending time at home, but our weekends in Boise our so much fun too. Here's a look back at our weekend away in Boise:

Triple moon on our midnight drive.

Wine tasting at Koenig Vineyards

Visiting with my Grandparents. It was so much fun catching up and hanging out/

Every scale should look like this. Out shopping with my MIL.

Baked potatoe and chili bar and my MIL's. It was so so good!