Be VISIBLE! Day 3

I have been reading articles and seeing posts on social media about runners running in the dark and not being seen by cars...horrible.  The common statement is "Be visible". Well, yes that is good advise but we, as runners, need to be SMART! Don't run in the road when you see a car coming....don't wear all black....don't a lot of things! So when I go running at O'dark thirty, I try to be as visible and lit up as possible, I run on side walks in lit up neighborhoods. Not always my preference, I like the country roads with no shoulder and no houses. But that is not being SMART when running in the dark. If you are interested in a funny read about this issue, read here!
Ok rant over!

Today was day 3.....3 mile steady run according to my plan. I headed out the door at about 6:10am, in the dark. I work hot pink shorts, neon yellow teeshirt, head lamp and flashing reflective light on my backside. I ran on side walks in well lit neighborhoods. By the time I got home, the sun had shed some light and I didn't need my headlamp any more, so that was nice. And NO RAIN! Crazy!

My run was good, steady. I am a bit sore today from taking a week off and then my last 2 workouts, but it felt good to work the soreness out of my legs.

Work out stats:
3 miles, 27:30 time, 9.09 min/mi avg. No rain, 55ish deg. Felt good.

Training Day 2 - Cross Training

Day 2 of Half Marathon Training

Cross Training

I have a love for Running and I have a love for Crossfit. So when I decided to train for the half I knew I could not give up my Crossfit days. The plan I found had one cross training day and one work out day (probably meant for running), so I tweaked it to allow 2 cross training/crossfit days.

Now, some people would go to a Crossfit Box (gym), not me. I have been collecting weights slowly and building up my own gym. Harvest Box.....Marlea's Box.....The garage....

Todays WOD...Work out of the day in Crossfit talk.... You will get very sick of me talking about WODing and Crossfit and so on, but you chose to read this so what can I say!

Warm up: 

15 Air squats

10 push ups

10 dips

20 sit ups

20 supermans (on a ball)

x 3 rounds

WOD:

15x4 rounds

Hang clean and press #45

Back extension with #45 bar

Jump lunge

Bent row with Kettle Bell #20

High pull with Kettle bell #20

Core:

2 1/2 min of planks (sounds pathetic, but OMG its not easy!)

I got my heart rate up, my arms are shaking and I am dripping with sweat....I would say it was a success.....Now hopefully I can run tomorrow! Hurts so GOOD!!!

Half Marathon Training Day 1

Today marks the first day of a 12 week training plan for my first half marathon.
I have been wanting to tackle this goal for sometime now and I had one in-particular race in mind for my first. It's the Cascade Half Marathon held in January from our local Jr High. I know the course, I know the organizers and I will know a lot of the participants. It is the only half in Oregon in January, apparently that makes it even more special!
A few weeks ago, I realized that if I was going to really do this race I was going to have to start planning now. Find a training plan, register for the race, mentally convince myself I really do want to do this....So I did all those things and that brings me to today. I took all last week off from any workouts, I don't even know when the last time I did that was, and started my 12 week plan this morning.
My dear friend joined me in my 3 mile run. It was sprinkling and cool, truly the perfect running weather in my opinion. We chatted and enjoyed our time together, at least I did, I think she enjoyed it.... :-)

There was a time, not long ago, when I was terrified of running 3 miles. I could barley run 1 without having to stop and catch my breath, stretch and talk myself in to finishing. My first was 5k in 2011, my only goal was to finish and not walk. I accomplished that. Today my only goal for 13.1 is to finish and not walk. Wish me luck in this process!

Work out #1 stats: 3.03miles, 29.07 time, 9:37 avg mile, with HB, weather: light sprinkles, low 50's

I'm BAAAAAACK!!!!

So its been some time since I blogged.....Ok, 4 months and 10 days to be exact! Its been a busy time, school, work, sports....life. I don't really have any great excuses......I will give a few of the high points.
The kids had a great track season. Lucy ran the 400 and 800, 80 meter hurdles, shot put, and decathlon (Shot put, long jump, high jump, 80m hurdles, 800). Caymus ran the 400, 800 and 1500, shot put and long jump. He also did the triathlon (high jump, shot put and 400).
I have been running a lot....not fully an obsession...yet. I did run in my first 10k (6.2 miles) in June and loved it. I did better than I expected and am really looking forward to my next one. :-)
For work I went to Galveston again this year for our annual conference. It was a huge success once again! Now we are prepping for a conference in Delhi, India in the fall.
The kids finished up a great year of school both getting unbelivible grades and praises form their teachers. Now they are looking forward to being a 5th grader and a 4th grader! (how did that happen???)
On a sad note (and possibly a huge part of why I have not blogged in a long time) is that on March 14th we had to have Moka put down. He had been battling with diabites for a year and he lost that fight. It has been the hardest thing our family has had to go through and even now I am getting choked up writing about it. Moka lived to be 12 years old and was very loved and is VERY missed. He was my first baby, my kids big brother, my constant companion.

So now we are in full summer swing...that means sports camps, swim lessons, camping, swimming, and lots of play.
I will try to do better....emphasis on the word try....... :-)

33...Happy Bday to me!

To day I turn 33. Pretty exciting day. Double didget birthday and all!!!
So far its been a good day with lots of birthday wishes and hugs. I am surounded by people who love me.
At 33 I have a lot to be thankful for. My life is good. My kids are healthy, smart, and very active, I have a home to call my own, a boyfriend who fills my heart with love everyday, parents who are a wonderful example of what 34 years of marriage should look like, brothers (sister in law and niece) who are living life to the fullest, AMAZING friends....oh the list could go on and on and then it would look like I was bragging. I am not, I am just taking a moment to reflect and appreciate where my life is today.

Happy Happy Birthday to me!!!
And now time to take a walk down memory lane....

1 year old in Cannon Beach, love bird parents in the background.

17 High school Track!

13 Basketball!

First Day of school..freshman year!

Cutest little baby!!

First Day of school Kindergarten!

11 going on 25!

Wild child!!! 7 ish....

I live by the beat of my own drum....

4

22 and ready to pop with Lucy!

3rd birthday!

Newborn Me!

Wild as ever!

23 years old

25th birthday cocktail with my mother!

Happy 26th!

Look at those babies!!! 27

Lots of candles!!!! Looks like 28 to me!

My favorite win!!29

SURPRISE!!!!! 31

32

Wrestling and Hunger Games

Well its already January 18, 2013....how is it that time can go by so fast? I feel like I blink and another week has gone by. I just want to hold on to the sweet moments and cherish them! It seems like life has other plans though! We get so busy with school, work, sports, chores (although it seems nothing ever gets done) that we forget to slow done and breath!!! So this is my breathing moment while I look back at the last few weeks.

Wrestling is in full swing, so that takes up a whole day every weekend....that is where a lot of our time is spent! Caymus started basketball last week and has his first game this Saturday. He is so excited and is LOVING playing!
We have taken some time to do some fun stuff too. Lucy had gotten a kindle for her birthday and it was pre loaded with the Hunger Games series. So she dove right in and pulled her friend C into it too. They loved reading it together and could not wait to watch the movie!!! So being the AWESOME moms we are, we had a movie date! Popcorn, coffee, cozys and all! OhMyGosh watching the girls watch the movie was a priceless moment and I am so glad H and I got to share it with them! Now we all cannot wait until the next movie comes out!!!

The girls and their Katniss Braids! All ready to watch Hunger Games!

We had a huge tournament on a Sunday a few weeks ago. This one is always HUGE and a VERY long day....We did have good seats and a great cheering section. That helped pass the time.....

Me and my girl in our signature tournament photo!

They had all the kids come down for a photo...only about 800 of them!

That same weekend, we headed down to Corvallis for an OSU vs Boise St Wrestling meet. It was the kids first time watching a collage meet and it was cool! We took our friends along also, the more the merrier!!! We had a great time followed up with some yummy pizza and laughs! So thankful for such great friends !! (B Family!)

The kids at OSU

Baby Claire! We have some great kitties!

Other than the usual daily routine, work, school, homework, practice, workouts, knitting, reading, there is not to much else to report! We are all healthy, happy, and living every single day!!!

Harvest Threads

For years I have been knitting and quilting, making gifts and little things for around the house.....For years I have dreamed of it becoming something. At one point I had a business licence and web page and all that, nothing ever really came of it.....Then one day I made a headband......The next thing you know my Facebook was blowing up with orders and my dreams started coming true!!! I am feeling very fortunate and blessed right now and my fingers are knitting away!
Currently, since the beginning of December, I have made and sold 27 separate items. So, Harvest Threads is in full swing!!!!!

Special Order mom and daughter headbands

Some lucky cousins will be looking very cute this winter!

Classy Lady headband

Cozy Mitts

Special order of matching mitts and headbands.

Matching headband and mitts for a very adorable little girl!

I can just imagine how cute the little girls who got these for xmas must look!

My model and Jr sales lady!

This is my first headband, when I made it and Lucy saw it she insisted she wear it to school the next day.....She rocked it and is a great little sales girl!

~Harvest Threads~