tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85150791750851042342024-03-13T04:04:15.370-07:00running one mile, 13.1 timesColleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-84249029560375295352014-04-25T18:24:00.001-07:002014-04-25T18:24:25.046-07:00One week agoMy mom passed away on April 18 at 6:34. <div><br></div><div>I don't know that there's anything else to say...</div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-39297759429376304492014-03-15T21:00:00.001-07:002014-03-15T21:00:30.172-07:00Make her smile<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D-AUno5uBvU/UyUh3Fi1uRI/AAAAAAAAAQM/NMP9Fq0pIg8/s640/blogger-image--617800676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D-AUno5uBvU/UyUh3Fi1uRI/AAAAAAAAAQM/NMP9Fq0pIg8/s640/blogger-image--617800676.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hung out with my mom tonight. All I ever want to do is make her smile, and so tonight I tried to do that by satisfying her sweet tooth. I told her to make a face while I took the picture. Love it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's hard when she's not happy. Tonight for the most part she was frustrated. She is at home now which is great. Tonight she was frustrated because she has fallen a few times. And she's scared she's going to hurt herself. I am scared she is too but she just needs to remember to slow down and focus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nothing else for now. Shane and I leave for Vegas on Wednesday. Pam will be coming out Thursday night do I am looking forward to having a run/walk buddy to run the strip with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've been up since four am and now it's midnight. Sleep time for me. </div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-90033226087090690542014-03-02T08:12:00.001-08:002014-03-02T08:26:48.202-08:00Untitled...I don't exactly know where to start. The name of my blog would lead you to believe I would have something to say about running. But the truth is I haven't run really since October with any kind of consistentcy. I miss it terribly. It's been a brutal winter as we all know, and the treadmill and I don't get along well. I think I could have managed the cold but I have had limited time available to run when it is not pitch black outside. And when I have had the chance I haven't made it a priority. So I have essentially lost all the fitness I had. <div><br></div><div>On top of there being no running in my life, my mom is not doing well. In December she was complaining of headaches and they found that her cancer spread to her brain in two spots. She went into the hospital and they did intense radiation for almost three weeks. During this time she started having seizures. They got those under control and she was released into a rehabilitation center so she could focus on getting stronger. She overall has made amazing progress. I have seen her go from not being able to stand on her own to moseying up and down the halls with her walker. I saw her go from not having the strength to hold her juice glass or fork to eating on her own. Mentally, shear amazing progress also. In the hospital she was very out of it and within a week or two of the therapies she had been through (occupational, physical and speech) she almost seemed like her usual self (or as close to usual as she will be again). She went from not being able to write to having minimal troubles with it </div><div><br></div><div>And them today brought me back to the harsh reality that my mom will never truly get better and that the cancer is there and moving through her. Today and yesterday she had trouble standing on her own again and is needing the wheel chair. And she has been sleeping since I got here at 9am. Last weekend when I visited she was awake and I showed her how to play candy crush. It's just hard to go from having times when she seems so go to times like today. It's really hard. </div><div><br></div><div>I think if I could get back to running it would make coping easier. But I need to take those first steps. </div><div><br></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Hard is trying to rebuild yourself, piece by piece, with no instruction book, and no clue as to where all the important bits are supposed to go." -Nick Hornby</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A few weeks ago I was here while my mom was in speech therapy. And she said she has to relearn so much but how does she relearn herself. There isn't a book for that. </span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I think this process is making my whole family relearn who we are and what matters. </span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And what matters to me right now is my</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mom. And my dad and my sisters. But I need to make myself matter too and I think the making running a priority will help with keeping me grounded as we go through this. </span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I don't know that there is much more to say at this point. </span></div><div style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><blockquote class="quoteBody" style="text-indent: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding-left: 25px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"It's humbling to start fresh. It takes a lot of courage. But it can be reinvigorating. You just have to put your ego on a shelf & tell it to be quiet."</span></blockquote><div class="quoteDetails" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 25px;"></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div style="text-indent: -30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-91282460444234304432013-10-13T18:14:00.001-07:002013-10-13T18:14:28.248-07:00Oh, Hello there...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Umm Hello. I think I fell off the face of the plant. I fell off plant Earth and into plant work (that sounds clever in my head...)<br />
<br />I am not sure when I last wrote but things have been busy around here. I have run three Halfs since Sept 14th, and I am not signed up for any other races this year. The other awesome running thing is yesterday Pam ran her first marathon. It was amazing to be there with her at the finish. She ran the Prairie State Marathon in Libertyville, IL. This race is in a gorgeous nature preserve in Libertyville, IL. The trails are amazing. I would kill to live by this place and be able to run these trails on a weekly basis. They are in a reserve called Independence Grove (link <a href="http://www.lcfpd.org/preserves/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.view&object_id=194&type=P">HERE</a>). I ran the half, and it was my slowest half ever. But I didnt expect any differently. I guess I should back up and explain a bit more...<br />
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I think the last time I wrote I had just started a new position at work, a managerial position, and I was working on learning the work/life balance of the position. I had not really figured it out yet, and then I was asked to take on a different role within in the company, also a managerial role, but one that really seems to have a whole different level of responsibility along with it. And ever since that switch I am struggling a bit with work life balance. And I need to figure it out. I love work. Love love love what I do and my role. But I have to figure out how to keep doing the other things I love, mainly running. And also taking care of myself. Ive gained some weight, and I feel very out of control with food. One of the biggest things I am finding is that during the day I am having more lunches where I am not in control of the food, and I have not been making good choices during these options. I am not used to being presented with dessert so often, and I seem to have forgotten how to say no. So between that and the lack of running, I feel chubby, flabby and not overly happy with myself physically. So while I love my job, I have to figure this stuff out because its part of my life now, and it will be, so I need to adjust.<br />
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ANYWHO. What I am getting at is that with the change in position, I have not been running consistently. In the last month I ran the three halves, and NOTHING in between. Run a half, take two week off, run another half, take two weeks off, and then run a third half. I am sure you can see how that would result in getting slower and slower, and loosing fitness. So I am expecting a slow time. But, I finished, and it was beautiful and thats what matters. After I finished we hung out and started the wait for Pam. We saw her at mile 18, and then again at mile 25.5 she ran past and I ran with her for a few minutes. She was miserable, and hating it, like you do at that point in a marathon. As we got closer to the finish I broke away from her and got the to finish line so I could record her finishing. I balled as she crossed the finish line, and then as she went down to her knees in exhaustion I gave her the biggest hug ever. I am so proud of her. On the day of the Boston bombings she said she wanted to run a marathon. And here she is, 6 months later, a marathoner. Amazing. Determined. Awesome. Love her.<br />
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She makes me want to do better. To do better at taking care of myself, and not loosing myself in my work. Its so weird, because I love my work. And if I didnt have Shane or Hercules, I would probably loose myself completely in it. But I can't get lost in it because I have them. Not only them, but I have me. And I know that if I am not running, and if I gain weight and feel out of control with food, I will not be happy. And it will have a ripple effect.<br />
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So I have to figure it out. Any tips for work life balance?</div>
Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-80882487467234125972013-05-06T18:35:00.002-07:002013-05-06T19:00:03.086-07:00Kalamazoo Half Marathon...all smilesI don't know where to start with this! I LOVE THE KALAMAZOO RACES!<br />
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1. They are a good # of people. Not so few that you feel alone on the course but not so many that you feel crowded. I loved that they had pacers for the half. It REALLLLY helped people line up properly. It can be really hard to figure out how far back to go if you are slower (and so mostly I just go all the way haha), so it was nice to have a pace group to line up with<br />
2. Good prices. I paid $50 for my Half, and still got all the amazing things you get with more expensive races.<br />
3. The volunteers are amazing. So sweet and helpful and encouraging.<br />
4. Great communication from the race director and great organization.<br />
and last but not least,<br />
5. THE SPECTATORS AND KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY! This community loves and supports this race so much, and you can FEEL it through every mile. The stretches of race without crowds were few and far between. Along the half marathon route, I would say there were people along, maybe 11 of the 13 miles. Maybe not big crowds, but enthusiasctic spectators. You could feel the love for the whole race, it was amazing. There were boyscouts giving out popsicles at the top of a giant hill, neighbors handing out cold sponges around mile 11ish, and random jolly ranchers and gummy bears along the way (the marathon route last year had bacon and pancakes. I kid you not). Another cool thing was there are so many cow bells! I don't know if the race team somehow had them passed out before hand, but there were mini cowbells everywhere (I think they were passed out bc they looked exactly the same). It was amazing. SO MUCH COWBELL!!!<br />
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That picture (Shane took it at mile 7) sums up my whole race. Smiles. And Happy. And more Smiles. </div>
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2:30 Pace group. Good peeps.</div>
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High Five for my mom at mile 7 </div>
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I ran the first 10 miles with the 2:30 pacers. They were awesome. They kept us laughing, and coached us up the crazy hills of Kzoo. And the miles just flew by. It was crazy. I have NEVER had a race go by so fast (Not literally, since this was by no means a PR, but you know what I mean). Example of the awesomeness: At 6.55 miles, our paces and our group started singing Bon Jovi, Half Way There. Love love love it. </div>
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Right around mile 10, the song "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons came on my shuffle, and suddenly I was moving ahead of the pacers. And as the song went on and on, I had a small inner battle on wether I should keep pulling away and or hold back. But then I decided to listen to the other two Imagine Dragons songs on my shuffle and just go for it. I let Imagine Dragons carry me through the last three miles on repeat (It's Time, Radioactive and Demons). </div>
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Another cool thing about this race? My mom was there (as I mentioned above ) :) She hasnt seen me run since the Detroit Half Marathon in 2011, and I loved high fiving her at mile 7, and throwing my arms up in the finish chute and smiling at her. It was awesome. </div>
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(My mom's hand photobombed Shane's picture hehe)</div>
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I finished in 2:28:34. Not my best time but not my worse. But physically, and emotionally, this race was my best ever (maybe other than my PR bc that race I was on crazy endorphin high because I knew I would PR haha). </div>
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I love Kalamazoo. And I want to run it every freaking year. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFQYaoiIFh8" target="_blank">"Demons" - Imagine Dragons</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">They say it's what you make<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I say it's up to fate<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />It's woven in my soul<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I need to let you go<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Your eyes, they shine so bright<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I want to save their light<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I can't escape this now<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Unless you show me how</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d; color: white;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0idI4WiGSg" target="_blank">"It's Time" - Imagine Dragons</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">So this is where you fell</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">And I am left to sell</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">Right to the top</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">Don't look back</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">Turning the rags and giving the commodities a rain check</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">I don't ever wanna let you down</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">I don't ever wanna leave this town</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">'Cause after all</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">This city never sleeps at night</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">It's time to begin, isn't it?</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">I'm just the same as I was</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">Now don't you understand</span><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #38761d;">That I'm never changing who I am</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu-xFvLaE68" target="_blank">"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">All systems go, the sun hasn't died<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Deep in my bones, straight from inside<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Enough to make my systems blow<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Welcome to the new age, to the new age<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive</span></span></div>
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<!--3-->Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-43126521041258092672013-04-22T19:51:00.001-07:002013-04-22T19:51:04.553-07:00One last thing...If you have a moment, please pop over to my Race for the Cure donation page and drop a couple bucks into a great cause :) <br />
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http://midmichigan.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/LAN_Mid-MichiganAffiliate?px=9310296&pg=personal&fr_id=2878 <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E-PzTOGiGjQ/UXX3FeLdLwI/AAAAAAAAAOE/WUG9XeoKNLw/s640/blogger-image-1377781230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E-PzTOGiGjQ/UXX3FeLdLwI/AAAAAAAAAOE/WUG9XeoKNLw/s640/blogger-image-1377781230.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kzPCOGrS7u8/UXX3Em1d2_I/AAAAAAAAAN8/mTKjtohsdv8/s640/blogger-image-49508842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kzPCOGrS7u8/UXX3Em1d2_I/AAAAAAAAAN8/mTKjtohsdv8/s640/blogger-image-49508842.jpg" /></a></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-91202314766145662372013-04-22T18:32:00.000-07:002013-04-22T18:32:05.360-07:00crazy long post. #boston #weightwatchers #marathon are just a few of the topics.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Soooooo I don't know that I have ever trained and prepared so poorly for a race. The Kalamazoo Half Marathon is less than two weeks away, and the farthest I have run is 9 miles. um. yea.<br />
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I am not sure what my issue has been. I could blame it on winter, and the lack of daylight. And as the days got longer, the rain started. And never stopped. But things are starting to look better. And I am getting out there more. So, yes, I am full of weather excuses, but we cannot all be bad a** like Jeff at <a href="http://www.detroitrunner.com/">Detroit Runner </a>and run outside, no matter what the weather. Well, yes, we all can be, but I am not. Nor do I really think I ever will be.<br />
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I have been running, just not enough, or any longer distances. I have ran a couple local 5k's that have resulted in AMAZING race pictures. Or not. Take a look:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRKiKC_2saI/UXXbraawJdI/AAAAAAAAALQ/MzJsU9BI2eM/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRKiKC_2saI/UXXbraawJdI/AAAAAAAAALQ/MzJsU9BI2eM/s320/Picture+2.png" width="199" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhFe0RUH4JE/UXXbtO4EBGI/AAAAAAAAALY/Mvmuwx3RvkU/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhFe0RUH4JE/UXXbtO4EBGI/AAAAAAAAALY/Mvmuwx3RvkU/s320/Picture+3.png" width="209" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-izdzt_QAkGI/UXXbvfDOMmI/AAAAAAAAALg/gfU4SBx2mdc/s1600/13rftp-finish-468-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-izdzt_QAkGI/UXXbvfDOMmI/AAAAAAAAALg/gfU4SBx2mdc/s320/13rftp-finish-468-1.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnnIiKPf-cg/UXXbyByRI6I/AAAAAAAAALw/cW2wc4tsTD0/s1600/13rftp-firstmile-363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnnIiKPf-cg/UXXbyByRI6I/AAAAAAAAALw/cW2wc4tsTD0/s320/13rftp-firstmile-363.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RC8kyxoz_jo/UXXbzu-aGwI/AAAAAAAAAL4/0G_DA1iwTFg/s1600/13rftp-firstmile-365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RC8kyxoz_jo/UXXbzu-aGwI/AAAAAAAAAL4/0G_DA1iwTFg/s320/13rftp-firstmile-365.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Top two pictures are from the Heart Throb 5k back in February, and the bottom three are from the Race from the Place on April 11th. And yes, it snowed that morning. It was ridiculous. </div>
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This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to run as part of a relay team for the Lansing Marathon Ekiden Relay. I ran Leg 6 out of our 6 person team, and I was the lucky one who got the cross the finish line. The place where my exchange was located could not have been more perfect. The way the course was set up, Marathoners would end up running by me 4 times (on different sides of the street) and Half Marathoners twice! That means basically none stop action from about 8:30 til I took off sometime before Noon. I LOVE CHEERING AT RACES! I mean, I literally stood for three hours clapping, and encouraging and cheering on the runners. I had runners high from being in their proximity haha. </div>
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When I took off, I knew I just wanted to keep around a 10:30 pace, and I did that. I thought a lot on this run, (4.5 miles) mostly about Boston. There were so many runners showing their support for Boston, and everytime I saw a Boston shirt I tried my hardest to speak right to that person and acknowledge it. I wanted them to know my heart was right there with them. I even saw a Boston 2013 shirt. And so I ran along my 4.5 miles, and I thought about how races and running will never be the same. And how lucky I am to be running, and how lucky I am to have my loved ones still around me. And as I came down the street before the last turn, ahead of me I saw a marathoner that I had cheered on four times already that day. He was carrying a Boston flag. And as I came up along side him, I smiled, and we commented on the crazy headwind we were facing. And he said he had never ran a marathon and carried a flag before. And I told him it was the perfect time to start. And then we turned to the finish line, and I backed off from him a bit and to the side, wanting him to have a good finish picture. And with each step closer to the time, my heart raced and it got hard to breathe. And part of me inside was paralyzed by fear but I knew I would keep going and it would be fine. And Boston next to me had tears on his face. It was emotion at a level that I have only experienced once before when running (and that was when I finished my marathon) but this emotion was totally different. </div>
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I dont really know what to say about that moment and the moments to follow other than I knew then that I wanted to run a marathon again. As I saw the marathoners cross the finish line, I felt their emotion and their joy and their accomplishment. And I wanted it again so badly for myself. </div>
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I havent really talked about this to anyone (so why not put it on a public blog for the world to read? ha) but lately I haven't been happy with myself the way I know I can be. And that lack of happiness with myself is a combination of a lot of things.</div>
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1. I have been struggling to get back to my goal in WW. And each week reminds me that I didn't do it again.</div>
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2. I havent been as active as I want to be because I have let stupid stuff (aka the weather) stop me.</div>
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3. I havent made the best decisions with food (and therefore see #1)</div>
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4. I haven't done anything new or challenging in running. I run the same three or four miles, at the same mediocore pace, and then I sit like a bum on my couch.</div>
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I just hate that when I look in the mirror, I am not elated with my weight loss like I once was. </div>
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I need to remind myself more frequently how far I have come, and what I have done. But I think since I am not doing those things anymore, or doing them the way I was or the way I know I can, I am forgetting. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlWj0rteh-s/UXXgoI0uZQI/AAAAAAAAAMI/Pd1XaHj856I/s1600/11057_10100107928906424_1165181_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlWj0rteh-s/UXXgoI0uZQI/AAAAAAAAAMI/Pd1XaHj856I/s320/11057_10100107928906424_1165181_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I need to look back at this more often, to remind myself what I have done. And what I can do. </div>
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So yea. This post ended up getting more indepth than I was originally thinking it would but o well. Is anyone even still reading haha?</div>
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Besides the above stuff, so much more has been going on. Remember a couple posts ago when I mentioned having a big interview? Well, I got it :) Starting in June I will be part of the Management Development Program. I am beyond excited but also nervous for this. I love the company I work for, and I truly believe in what we do and our mission. And I just want to do my best to help our staff feel that same passion. Because with the passion and caring, the other steps fall into place.</div>
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On top of that, MY SISTER IS PREGNANT!!!! Yes, Eileen, my oldest sister, who just got married in October, is PREGNANT! Baby Marc will be joining the world at the beginning of August. </div>
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Hmmm anything else I am missing? Well, I guess there is the one big thing that I should put out there. But first backstory. My sister Pam, has wanted to run a marathon for awhile now, but she always said she didnt have time to train. Well, after Boston, she decided she would make time. Boston made her realize how precious every moment is, and to not let her fears (fear that she didnt have time to do her job well, take care of her house, etc etc) control her. She is going to make training a priority. She will put it on her calendar, etc.</div>
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And so of course, when she told me she was doing it, I said "I will run it with you". We will be running the Prairie State Marathon on October 12th, in Libertyville IL, outside of Chicago. Then we will go spectate Chicago the next day :) Yup, on tired marathon legs haha. I have not signed up yet but plan on doing so next week. </div>
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SO! That is the update. I will get through Kzoo. I will just enjoy it, and not think too much about time. I just hope it is good weather :)</div>
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O! Lastly!</div>
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I will be volunteering at the registration tent for the Mid Michigan Race for the Cure on Sunday! Ill be there starting at 9, until 10 min before the race when I will line up and run for my mom :) BTW she is doing fabulous. She is so freaking strong it amazes me. <3</div>
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OKay seriously lastly, we took some family pictures for my Mom's 60th birthday. Here are a few:</div>
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Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-18488231189469223272013-03-03T10:39:00.000-08:002013-03-03T10:39:05.140-08:00K-Zoo Half training, week one<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First week of training for the Kalamazoo Half Marathon is done!<br />
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The schedule was:<br />
Monday - rest<br />
Tuesday - 3<br />
Wednesday - 4<br />
Thursday - 3<br />
Friday - rest<br />
Saturday - cross train<br />
Sunday - 6 miles<br />
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Actual runs:<br />
Monday - rest<br />
Tuesday - 3.1<br />
Wednesday - 2 on treadmill<br />
Thursday - workout class at work that included burpees, mountain climbers, lunges, squats, kettle bell swings, planks, shoulder presses and sprints. Great workout that left me sore for two days<br />
Friday - rest<br />
Saturday - rest<br />
Sunday - 6<br />
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So it wasn't a perfect week but what I am reminding myself is last week I ran three miles, the week before that I ran 6, and before that 5. So while I need to get into training, I need to ease my mileage up slowly. So 11 miles this week will do :-)<br />
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That's all for now folks! Have a great week!</div>
Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-47599234102204523022013-02-26T16:56:00.001-08:002013-02-26T16:56:14.567-08:00Finally committedI am blogging from my phone, so bear w me here. <br />
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I finally signed up for a half marathon! I will be running the Kalamazoo Half Marathon on May 5th :-). Kzoo was my first (and only so far) marathon last year, and I am excited to return to the scene of the crime ;-). I will be using Hal Higdons novice two plan for my training, except a slightly shortened version. <br />
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Besides that, I wanted to share a blog post I read today that I really loved and identified with. <br />
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http://www.shutupandrun.net/2013/02/why-those-who-start-running-dont-stop.html?m=1<br />
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If you don't follow Beth at Shut Up and Run, you should. Check out that post. I started running to loose weight and because my friends were. Yup, because the cool kids were haha. And I have kept running bc it is an escape and a time to zone out, to let the stress melt away and to know that when I am done, I will feel good about myself and feel like I accomplished something. I am glad to be back in the game and running a half in a few months. <br />
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That's all for now folks. Have a great week!<br />
Ps: I have a big interview at work tomorrow, so wish me luck!<br />
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Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-47104737919111707152013-02-08T18:18:00.001-08:002013-02-08T18:19:04.453-08:00Sticking to the plan...Two days in and I am on my plan still. Tomorrow morning will be an abs and arms day, and 5k on Sunday. Yay for plans :-)Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-54452400867535790192013-02-06T16:41:00.001-08:002013-02-06T16:41:11.788-08:00Super Bowl 5k, and I NEED a goal.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Sunday I ran the Super Bowl 5k in Okemos. This was a simple course through a neighborhood, and it was a lovely (CHIILLY!) day for a run. I ran with a co-worker, Jon, who helped pace me to my 5k PR back in October. On Sunday, Jon ran what I think were his first miles of the year, and I huffed and puffed along side him. This run was definitely harder than I wanted, and the only excuse I will make is that there was snow on a lot of the route, and that made it that much harder! I finished in 31:38. Not my best but not my worse.<br />
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This Sunday I am running another 5k, The Heart Throb 5k. There will be 90 people from my job running or walking this race! How awesome is that?! We are a company of somewhere above 400, but less than 500 ppl (cannot remember the specifics), and so that means almost 1 out of 4, or 1 out of 5 of us is running! HOW COOL! (I love my job and the company I work for more than I can really explain :-D ). I hope to do better than last week's run. The snow should be gone (hopefully) because we are looking at temps in the high 30s. </div>
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So, besides that, I need a goal. I need to get moving. Maybe a goal is not the right word, but I need a plan. </div>
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So here is what I am proposing for the next week and a half:</div>
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Thursday: run 2 miles, 10 min abs and 10 min arms</div>
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Friday: workout video (its a 10 min video but man, I was huffin and puffin by the end!)</div>
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Saturday: abs and arms</div>
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Sunday: 5k</div>
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Monday: abs and arms</div>
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Tuesday: run 2 miles (more if I have the day off. If I have the day off, I will go for 4!)</div>
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Wednesday: work out video, abs and arms </div>
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Thursday: run 3 miles</div>
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Friday: rest</div>
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Saturday: arms and abs</div>
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Sunday: 4 miles</div>
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Sound like a plan? Alright, now I just need to plug that into my phone and STICK TO IT!</div>
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Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-38655590754195520962013-01-31T16:28:00.000-08:002013-01-31T16:28:03.449-08:00January 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hm, so if someone had told me that I would only run 15 miles this month, I would have laughed at them. But here we are on January 31st, and I only ran 15 miles this month!<br />
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While I was not running a lot, I did start doing ab and arm workouts more frequently, and I have really enjoyed that. My real focus for this year is to be less jiggly, and I am on my way!<br />
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In other news, the company I work for (is amazing) has been doing a lot of various healthy incentives and programs over the past few years, and this year they announced they will start paying for us to RACE! I AM BEYOND STOKED! There will be a list of races each quarter that they will pay our registration for :) How awesome is that?<br />
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So far I am signed up for:<br />
<a href="http://msutriathlon.com/events">The Heart Throb 5k</a><br />
<a href="http://www.komenmidmichigan.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/">Lansing Race for the Cure</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lansingmarathon.com/Events/EkidenRelay.aspx">The Lansing Marathon RELAY!</a><br />
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This coming Sunday I am running the Superbowl 5k, which I signed up for simply to get myself moving. I am still plugging away on the treadmill, but I did venture out this past weekend for a 3 miler. I need to get out more, but I just struggle a bit with the cold. The lack of daylight still is not a big help either.<br />
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Anywho! Thats all for now. Time to watch my Spartans play against Illinois. So far, things are not going well, but there is still lots of basketball left to play :)<br />
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Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-9607677583196743372013-01-21T12:21:00.000-08:002013-01-21T12:21:01.062-08:00What to do?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been feeling a bit lost lately when it comes to running. For the majority of the year after I ran the Kalamazoo Marathon, I knew without a doubt that I would train and run it again this year.<br />
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But here we are on January 21st 2013, and I have run 6 miles this year.<br />
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I am not feeling particularly inspired to run with any frequency or for any long number of miles. I don't know if its the cold that is keeping me in, or what but I just am not feeling it.<br />
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What I am "feeling" when it comes to exercise is anything other than running. I am craving the feeling of being strong. I have been doing more core workouts and I just downloaded an app that has some arm workouts. As I said to Shane, I want to feel less jiggly. And what I am finding is that as I work towards that, I am sore, and therefore do not want to run.<br />
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While I don't want to run, I don't much like the idea that when I am wanting to run again, it will feel like I am starting over. But that is an exaggeration since when I started I couldn't run a quarter mile without walking. But you get the point.<br />
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I am sounding a bit whiny right now I realize but oh well.<br />
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I cant help but wonder though if this lack of interest in running is due to a lack of plan. I havent signed up for any races in 2013 yet, and therefore do not have that motivating me either.<br />
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What to do? Do I sign up for a race and just make myself go through the motions of training, with hopes that the love will return? Or by doing that would I run the risk of really really really not wanting to do it, and therefore burning myself out even more? For the months of November and December I made myself go through the motions of running so that I could complete my 1,000 mile goal. But a lot of the time my heart just wasn't in it. And part of me thinks those two months are what landed me here in the first place, craving anything except a run.<br />
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So what to do, what to do? I plan on trying a Spin class in the coming weeks sometime. And will keep working on my core and my arms. And running the occasional two or three miles when the mood strikes me. And I guess I will just see what happens...</div>
Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-23431807394892104652012-12-31T07:00:00.004-08:002012-12-31T07:06:07.256-08:002013...A year ago I wrote a post that contained three goals I wanted to achieve. Read about it <a href="http://colleenpitmon.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012.html" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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Goal 1: Reach my goal weight. On May 23rd I became a <a href="http://colleenpitmon.blogspot.com/2012/05/goal-2andrwrunstreak.html" target="_blank">lifetime member</a> of weight watchers. And let me tell you, I thought maintenance would be easy. It isn't. BUT. None of it is easy. Being over weight isn't easy, losing weight isn't easy and maintaining a healthy weight isn't either. But I will pick my hard, and that is maintaining haha. The picture below was right around when I reached goal. I love that picture. We look so freaking happy, and it is because we are. :-D<br />
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Goal 2: Run 1,000 miles in 2012. I just finished this morning! Nothing like coming down to the last day, but I knew that was how it would go.</div>
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Last year I ran and walked a combined 576 miles. This year I ran 1,000 and walked 20 (I probably walked more but only recorded those on Daily Mile). I am really glad I did this. There was times in November and early December where I didn't think I would finish. BUT! Its done :-D Goal #2, complete.<br />
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Goal 3: This was actually the first goal I completed in 2012, but it by far is way more awesome than the last two. Well I dunno, reaching lifetime in WW is awesome. WW changed my life. WW led me to goal 3. But anyways. When I think about my first marathon, I still always get chills. When I think about crossing the finish line, I typically get choked up. I don't really know how to sum up this goal. Here are the posts about my marathon:<br />
<a href="http://colleenpitmon.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-am-marathoner.html" target="_blank">I am a MARATHONER!</a><br />
<a href="http://colleenpitmon.blogspot.com/2012/05/kalamazoo-race-recap-part-1.html" target="_blank">Kalamazoo Race Recap Part 1</a><br />
<a href="http://colleenpitmon.blogspot.com/2012/05/mileskalamazoo-race-recap-part-2.html" target="_blank">Kalamazoo Race Recap Part 2</a><br />
<a href="http://colleenpitmon.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-first-marathon-pictures.html" target="_blank">My first marathon - pictures</a><br />
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There is a lot I could say about this year, but I don't really know how to say it. It has been a truly amazing year. A ton of amazing things happened, and a few not so good things happened. But that is all part of life, and all part of how you come to appreciate the good moments so much, and know that there will be bad but you cant dwell there. </div>
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So, what will I do in 2013? I have no freaking clue. For the the majority of 2012 after I first marathon, I thought for sure I would do another. But I don't know if that is in the cards for me right now. I think if I do one this year, it will be a fall marathon, simply because of the hours of day light that will be available to me to train. And if I do a fall marathon, I will most likely do Detroit because its close to home, and my family can come watch. I want my mom to see me finish a marathon. I want to run one for her, so I have no doubt that I will do another. But I just don't think it is in the cards for Spring 2013. </div>
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I will run the Lansing Half Marathon (last years PR), and I will run the CC River Run Half in September. But other than that, who knows? There is a race in Chicago called the Get Lucky Half Marathon in March, on St Patty's Day and I really want to run that. But haven't signed up yet. I am having commitment issues with races so far haha. </div>
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So all I will say is in 2013 I will roll with the punches. I will maintain my current weight. I will keep running. And I will enjoy every single moment I have with friends and family. </div>
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HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Be safe and have fun tonight!</div>
<br />Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-32429815971392661532012-12-07T18:36:00.002-08:002012-12-07T18:43:14.885-08:00Why hello blog-land<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So, where did I leave off? haha (this post will be long btw)</div>
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I have been very absent from writing in my blog, but I have still been reading reading reading the blogs I enjoy.<br />
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I dont event really know where to start with this post (I feel like I start a lot of posts that way).<br />
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Lets start with the obvious. When I last wrote, I was running the <a href="http://www.wildlifemarathon.com/">Wildlife Half Marathon</a> the next day. I wanted badly to PR this race. It was a flat course that I was mostly familiar with. <br />
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Fast forward to the end of the race: I didnt PR. This was an out and back course. I cruised the first four or so miles, and as I started to see people running back past me, I got pumped up. I got excited. I was happy for them, and I was happy to running. And so I ran faster. Too fast through the middle. I bombed around mile 10 and was struggling to keep under a 12 min pace. I walked part of the last mile and a half. I finished in 2:24:51, 20 seconds slower than the CCRR 2012, and about 5 minutes off a PR. Ah well. <br />
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A few weeks after I ran that half, I ran a race that I want to run every year for the rest of my life. And I am NOT exaggerating. I ran the <a href="http://www.runmackinac.com/17th_Annual_Mackinac_Island_Great_Turtle.htm">Great Turtle Half Marathon</a> on Mackinac Island. I ran this race entirely with Erika (Who I have ran 4 out of 6 of my halfs with) and it was fun to just cruise. Erika has a bun in the oven right now, so the plan was to walk the uphills and cruise downhill. And that i what we did. Time was not great for this race. But it was BEAUTIFUL. I loved every minute of this race. I went into it knowing there was no chance of a PR for me (although TWO people I knew running PRed!!) and so it was so easy to enjoy. I finished in 2:38:04, still faster than the Detroit Half last year :).<br />
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In between those runs my sister got MARRIED! The day itself was stressful, but the reception was so fun. And I am so happy for her. It was a great day with family and friends, and anytime my family is together, we find a way to have fun (the best example I can give of this: my Uncle Joe and his son doing the Gangnam Style dance. LOVED IT.). <br />
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The couple of days after the run on Mackinac were bad days. My family stuff has been happening, and so that has been the main thing occupying my mind since then. I wont really go into it more. I will say it is something that will be ongoing and I am sure at some point I will open up more about. I want to open up about it. But its not mine to open up about. <br />
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And on that note, back to running? My last race of the year was the <a href="http://www.theparade.org/turkeytrot/index.php">Detroit Turkey Trot</a>. You have all heard about the CLUSTER F*CK that was this race. This was my third year running the 10k and I have NEVER experienced anything like this. The race has always been a bit crowded, especially before the 5kers split off. And that was the case again. After the 5k was split, there was plenty of room. Until the finish. I was one of the people who had a PR in the bag, or so I thought. I was on track to finish somewhere around 1:03 (My PR is 1:04 and something). I would have had it, if I hadnt hit the wall o'people that was the finish. But it is what it is. I know I can do it now. So I just need another 10k, and I will do it.<br />
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Besides that, not much is happening with running. I am working towards my 1000 mile goal for the year. If I count miles walked, I am 34 miles away. If I dont count miles walked, I am 69 miles away. Part of me wants to say just count the miles walked! But part of knows that if I do that I will feel like I am settling. And so I shall carry on. I have a plan, and I have about 3 days at the end of the year where I dont have runs scheduled so if I stray from my plan, I gave myself a cushion to make it up basically.<br />
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And that is that pretty much. I just typed all these words, so I will go back and throw in some pictures now. Time to end the longest post ever. :) I will leave you with the below picture. Those two guys...they make everyday so much easier. I am so thankful for every minute I get with them. <br />
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Good night all :)<br />
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Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-31857901831005278572012-10-13T18:16:00.002-07:002012-10-13T18:16:26.487-07:00weather forecast for tomorrow's race...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've never raced in the rain.... Lets hope tomorrow isn't the time it happens but it looks it will be...</div>
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Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-73409626160735476882012-10-07T16:57:00.001-07:002012-10-07T16:57:23.980-07:00Race crazySeeing all the posts about the Chicago Marathon today are making me have all kinds of crazy race thoughts. What do I mean by crazy? I am currently entertaining the idea of running two marathons within a two week period in the spring. Yes, really. I like the idea of the Lansing marathon because Lansing was my second home. I love Lansing, it is a good city and I feel at home there and comfortable. Secondly I am considering running Kalamazoo again, for redemption of course. After running my first marathon there last year, I want to go back and rock the course. Or just do it again and do it a bit better haha.<br />
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At other reason I think I am feeling a bit race crazy is because I set a 5k PR today!!! I ran the MSU Museum Dinosaur Dash, with a goal of running it in less than thirty minutes. I finished in 28:54!!!! I was so stoked and happy.<br />
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But this short distance and the short lived feeling of accomplishment has left me wanting to run longer and harder and faster. And challenge myself even more.<br />
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Besides thinking about Lansing and Kalamazoo marathons, I can't help but think about a big city race. Chicago....Detroit... Yes, fall marathons. I said all summer I wouldn't run a fall marathon ever because I don't want to give my summer to training. But maybe I don't have to? Wen I trained last year for my full, it took over my life to an extent. Running became priority over things like cleaning the house haha and cooking and things like that. Maybe the second time around I can work on finding more balance in the process. I think I will need to make this a goal. If I decide I want to train in the summer for a fall marathon, I have to find a balance. I have to. I love relaxing in the summer ad not thinking "eh prob shouldn't have another beer tonight, I've got a long run tomorrow". But then I guess if I decide to do this, I will have to as myself would I rather properly train and run, or have another beer.<br />
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Can you tell my brain is all over the place when it comes to running....? I will mull this over in the coming weeks and months. Right now I have marathon training starting on December 17th for the Lansing marathon.<br />
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Tentative runs for 2013:<br />
Get lucky half marathon in Chicago 3/16<br />
Lansing marathon 4/21<br />
Kalamazoo marathon 5/5<br />
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<br />Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-29263843240762654122012-09-16T16:27:00.001-07:002012-09-16T16:27:55.064-07:00Capital City River Run-done!2:24:31 was the time. Beat last year, but not a PR, but really I didn't think I would PR this. Out of my four half marathons, this was second fastest :)<br />
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More to come later this week!!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hR35PTkeOlE/UFZgbZMB8yI/AAAAAAAABaE/cfKPpSsQU44/s640/blogger-image--815597059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hR35PTkeOlE/UFZgbZMB8yI/AAAAAAAABaE/cfKPpSsQU44/s640/blogger-image--815597059.jpg" /></a></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-46812943310503443362012-09-13T17:56:00.004-07:002012-09-13T18:07:11.800-07:00Race Photos and some fun with picmonkey<div style="text-align: left;">Here are the pictures from the Mackinac Eight Mile Road Race this past weekend :) All the photos are from <a href="http://www.backprint.com/view_user_event.asp?PID=bp%18yG&EVENTID=107233&BIB=668&S=230&PWD=">Action Sports Images LLC</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I didnt touch on the race itself much, or how I felt during it so I will do a bit of that now. As usual, I lined up towards the back of the pack, but I made sure to be in front of the majority of the walkers. I started out nice and easy and slowly picked it up throughout the race. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMgPvm2-uRM/UFKBbi3DVKI/AAAAAAAABZg/eZt5baBXagY/s1600/Picture%2B9.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMgPvm2-uRM/UFKBbi3DVKI/AAAAAAAABZg/eZt5baBXagY/s400/Picture%2B9.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787830781338670242" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4pxocQWkgA/UFKBbVeya0I/AAAAAAAABZU/0kD-DXeTbLw/s1600/Picture%2B8.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4pxocQWkgA/UFKBbVeya0I/AAAAAAAABZU/0kD-DXeTbLw/s400/Picture%2B8.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787830777747237698" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwcXg7P5KKk/UFKBQWujVjI/AAAAAAAABZI/KsoyyPwrVIw/s1600/Picture%2B7.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwcXg7P5KKk/UFKBQWujVjI/AAAAAAAABZI/KsoyyPwrVIw/s400/Picture%2B7.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787830589103232562" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I kicked it up around mile 5 or so and just kept cruising. For the last two miles or so I knew I had someone using me as a pacer. She was just behind me, maybe 10 feet and stayed there the whole time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The whole time that is, until she flew past me in the finish shoot. I was so pissed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8As4pIu8JSs/UFKBPIUqyZI/AAAAAAAABYk/inJ_wsWrAdI/s1600/pacing%2Bsucker.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8As4pIu8JSs/UFKBPIUqyZI/AAAAAAAABYk/inJ_wsWrAdI/s400/pacing%2Bsucker.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787830568056703378" style="cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZGYLKEe2wo/UFKBOibiqjI/AAAAAAAABYY/WtnFiE1Ywq8/s1600/evil%2Beye.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZGYLKEe2wo/UFKBOibiqjI/AAAAAAAABYY/WtnFiE1Ywq8/s400/evil%2Beye.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787830557884983858" style="cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gM3bKzhuIiY/UFKBPnX14-I/AAAAAAAABYw/ZsKy7N3aJR8/s1600/SERIOUSLY.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gM3bKzhuIiY/UFKBPnX14-I/AAAAAAAABYw/ZsKy7N3aJR8/s400/SERIOUSLY.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787830576391513058" style="cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">SERIOUSLY?! I am bookin it as hard as I can and you decide to cross my path? RUDE.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YT42qM2UdiI/UFKBP4u7IqI/AAAAAAAABY8/wrz34z4k0ds/s1600/Picture%2B6.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YT42qM2UdiI/UFKBP4u7IqI/AAAAAAAABY8/wrz34z4k0ds/s400/Picture%2B6.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787830581051728546" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And thats all folks :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">PS: I made <a href="http://holycannolirecipes.blogspot.com/2011/05/buffalo-chicken-potato-casserole.html">THIS</a> for dinner tonight. SO FREAKING GOOD. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-38340278225399545672012-09-12T17:20:00.007-07:002012-09-12T17:58:45.230-07:008 Mile Mackinac Road Race and a weekend in the U.PShane and I have always gone to St Ignace, MI to celebrate our anniversary, and this year we continued the tradition. When I was in college I did an internship up there for the summer, and I fell in love with the area, and so did Shane when he came to visit. It is about 4 hours north of Jackson, and the drive flies by with the GORGEOUS scenery.<br /><br />So anywho! This past weekend we celebrated 3 years (a little early, anniversary is the 19th) by heading to St Ignace. We headed up Friday afternoon, and spent a bit of time at the casino, ate some dinner and then when to bed. Not a super exciting night, BUT that is because the next morning I was running :) When we picked the date for when we could come up north, I checked for races and found that there was an 8 mile race around Mackinac Island, and I knew immediately I had to do this race. I dont know the best to describe Mackinac other than to say it is amazing. If you have not been, go. Seriously. Even if you arent from Michigan.<br /><br />So bright and early Saturday I boarded the ferry to take me to the island (No cars allowed! People walk, bike and use horses. In the winter people snow mobile).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MaMWCa-v8W0/UFEnOIhXoZI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Zvt5jiooKWU/s1600/photo-8.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MaMWCa-v8W0/UFEnOIhXoZI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Zvt5jiooKWU/s400/photo-8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450119906894226" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br />View of The Mackinac Bridge from the ferry<br />(connects the lower and upper penisula of MI)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I grabbed my bib, and just hung out for a bit before the race started. Mackinac is one of those places where it is easy just to sit, and take in the views. Surrounded by beautiful blue water on all sides, big old houses and all kinds of other neat stuff.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwS_dOkaejs/UFEpu5v-_fI/AAAAAAAAAH4/JjYvxfw8bWA/s1600/photo-17.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwS_dOkaejs/UFEpu5v-_fI/AAAAAAAAAH4/JjYvxfw8bWA/s400/photo-17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787452881900600818" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2itHTNfs9Y/UFEpakXfczI/AAAAAAAAAHs/3F-ikOxTwbg/s1600/photo-16.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2itHTNfs9Y/UFEpakXfczI/AAAAAAAAAHs/3F-ikOxTwbg/s400/photo-16.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787452532563342130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Before I knew it it was time to run! The race itself went great. 8 miles around the outside of the island. Water and trees on one side, trees and beautiful old homes on the other.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSUbw8QDpWk/UFEr5UT8zDI/AAAAAAAAAIE/zSflO4_0pQw/s1600/mwihaus2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSUbw8QDpWk/UFEr5UT8zDI/AAAAAAAAAIE/zSflO4_0pQw/s400/mwihaus2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787455259852721202" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.stormeyes.org/tornado/digitals/superior/mwihaus2.jpg">source</a><br />Thats just one exanple of types of houses on the island<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRaxkM_7OSM/UFEpae40eFI/AAAAAAAAAHg/eLCeTMrwGRI/s1600/photo-15.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRaxkM_7OSM/UFEpae40eFI/AAAAAAAAAHg/eLCeTMrwGRI/s400/photo-15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787452531092518994" border="0" /></a><br />Garmin and medal<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Medals went to all the finishers :) I was pretty happy with my time. I ran negative splits, and was only passed by about 3 people during the last two miles or so (One girl passed me in the finish shoot, after using me as a pacer for the last two miles. I was so not happy!). After the race they had apples, bananas, orange slices and water. Simple, and perfect for an 8 mile race. After finishing I headed back to the ferry and back to St Ignace. Shane didnt come over to the island with me, and so he was waiting for me back at the hotel. While I was running, Shane golfed 9 holes (Pretty cool right, we went away for our anniversary, but spent the morning apart haha. We each have our hobbies and took some time to enjoy them in a new area hehe).<br /><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPhzaWjQRsg/UFEnNCgMFAI/AAAAAAAAAFc/55KH4lxvlGE/s1600/photo.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RPhzaWjQRsg/UFEnNCgMFAI/AAAAAAAAAFc/55KH4lxvlGE/s400/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450101111460866" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br />Post run, love the double thumbs up<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After showering and getting all warm and cozy, we headed out for some lunch. St Ignace has tons of little restaurants and we picked one at random, and it was a hit. We stopped at The Marina Pub, and wow it was good. I have a house salad, and a bread bowl with potato bacon soup. The bread bowl was still warm and toasty and you could tell it was freshly baked. There were big pieces of potato in the soup and they didnt skimp on the bacon either. So good, and perfect after my run.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WtmDGxn3p5k/UFEpZyrHH-I/AAAAAAAAAHU/k28OnaHfob8/s1600/photo-14.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WtmDGxn3p5k/UFEpZyrHH-I/AAAAAAAAAHU/k28OnaHfob8/s400/photo-14.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787452519223861218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After lunch we headed to our favorite sports bar in St Ignace, The Driftwood (also a motel, which was where we stay each year) and watched the MSU vs CMU game. The Driftwood is defintely a MSU bar, and we found ourselves quickly surrounded by fellow Spartans. It was a good time, as always. After that we just relaxed, did a little more casinoing and upon returning to the hotel sat outside for awhile, just enjoying the night and chatting. It was a great day. I love getting away from everything and just being together.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The next morning we woke up, and headed for breakfast at our favorite place, Java Joes. I discovered this place during my internship when I wanted GOOD coffee, not just McDonalds coffee. Not only is the coffee good, but the food is awesome, and the servers are great. They are a wee bit slow (but they are always packed so that is why) but its worth the wait. I had the veggie frittatta w sour dough toast, and probably 3 mugs of coffee haha. Besides those things, the owner is a HUGE Jimmy Buffett fan, and they sell tea pots in any shape you can imagine (a few that I will mention are a hippo, beehive and zebra)!<br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33W0g7isDmg/UFEnr29-jLI/AAAAAAAAAHI/zyFg0b3oZ2s/s1600/photo-13.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33W0g7isDmg/UFEnr29-jLI/AAAAAAAAAHI/zyFg0b3oZ2s/s400/photo-13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450630591122610" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " border="0" /></a><br />Yum.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Before we knew it, breakfast was done, and we only have one more thing we wanted to do before we had to head back to Jackson. I knew that if you went west on US2 for a bit, you would come to beautiful sandy beaches (I had gone once while doing my internship). But I didnt know how far haha so we figured we would just drive for a bit and see if we got there. We got there after about maybe 10 miles or so, and it was so worth the drive.<br /><br />Here are just a bunch of pictures from our time on the beach:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlmFjA21pZg/UFEnrqDtLII/AAAAAAAAAG8/OajBGRbvPGg/s1600/photo-12.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlmFjA21pZg/UFEnrqDtLII/AAAAAAAAAG8/OajBGRbvPGg/s400/photo-12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450627125488770" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6U1P8jcx3J8/UFEnOkUKjbI/AAAAAAAAAGM/uT3f-UospJU/s1600/photo-9.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6U1P8jcx3J8/UFEnOkUKjbI/AAAAAAAAAGM/uT3f-UospJU/s400/photo-9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450127367703986" border="0" /></a><br />Shane decided he wanted to go out to the sand bar<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KLPIwJ0ehw/UFEnN9yqmoI/AAAAAAAAAFw/qJXwIq6_LLA/s1600/photo_2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KLPIwJ0ehw/UFEnN9yqmoI/AAAAAAAAAFw/qJXwIq6_LLA/s400/photo_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450117026650754" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted to go too haha<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8fVkApBScCM/UFEnNfdXo-I/AAAAAAAAAFo/bV4wtJZr9DY/s1600/photo_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8fVkApBScCM/UFEnNfdXo-I/AAAAAAAAAFo/bV4wtJZr9DY/s400/photo_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450108884263906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BEOFJ5JKik/UFEnrDFdJfI/AAAAAAAAAGw/QBESV8wx_tU/s1600/photo-10.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BEOFJ5JKik/UFEnrDFdJfI/AAAAAAAAAGw/QBESV8wx_tU/s400/photo-10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450616663844338" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTxrUTNXtNE/UFEnqxTEOBI/AAAAAAAAAGk/tMToWUw6Y6k/s1600/560960_10102514298612244_732974460_n.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTxrUTNXtNE/UFEnqxTEOBI/AAAAAAAAAGk/tMToWUw6Y6k/s400/560960_10102514298612244_732974460_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450611889092626" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br />Shanes journey to the sandbar. It was cold (surprise surprise haha)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUn1BKQRr8I/UFEnqX8EduI/AAAAAAAAAGY/olScjDcRf0o/s1600/558265_10102516369961244_986725599_n.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUn1BKQRr8I/UFEnqX8EduI/AAAAAAAAAGY/olScjDcRf0o/s400/558265_10102516369961244_986725599_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5787450605081753314" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br />He tried to splash me but ended up getting his shorts wet hehe<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And that was that pretty much. We headed back to Jackson and back to reality. I didnt want to go haha.<br /><br />BUT!<br />We will officially be back there the weekend of the 26th and 27th for the Great Turtle Half Marathon on Mackinac Island! Erika and Tim are also going and running, so it will be fun.<br /><br />I cant wait :)<br /><br />PS: Doing good on the goals. Water intake is good, tracking I did...kind of, and I am down .7 pounds. woot.<br /><br />Good night all!<br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-61640577433358388732012-09-03T17:59:00.004-07:002012-09-03T18:12:24.651-07:00End of summer, and time to start freshSoooo here we are in the final hours of summer (because really after Labor Day, its all back to business as usual) and I have to say, it has flown by. <div><br /></div><div>Summer brought many a challenge in the food department, and I am looking forward to trying to get back on track and feeling good, and in a better place before the holidays take over.</div><div><br /></div><div>So my plan for this is to start fresh, and have goals :-D</div><div><br /></div><div>Goal 1: 100 crunches, and three sets of 12 of what I am calling "side to sides" because I dont know what they are really called. I want to be less jiggly in my mid section. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goal 2: Track. I know it is the key to being successful in Weight Watchers. I have proved it to myself so many times. And yet I still struggle with it sometimes. And I am one who once I fall off the tracking wagon, it is hard to get back on. But I am going to. I have to. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goal 3: Water. Drinking lots of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goal 4: Mix it up with my work outs. I run. Thats all I do. I need to do other things. Wether it is walking more, or trying a yoga video or getting to kickboxing again, I need to do other things. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last, but not least. I want to loose five pounds. Yes. Five. I will weigh myself in the morning, record it, and go from there. What is my time frame for this? Eileen's wedding. That is October 20th. Weight Watchers says you can expect to loose .5-2 pounds a week. Well, I have a little over 6 weeks. So I need to hit around a pound a week, give or take. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyone want to or need to jump on this with me? I think I will try and update weekly on Wednesdays or so (thats my weigh in day) and let you know where I am at with my goals. </div><div><br /></div><div>On another note, race reason is approaching! 8 Mile Road Race at Mackinac Island this weekend, Capital City River Run the weekend after that. I think I am about 90% sure I will do the Wildlife Half Marathon in October, and during our 11 miler this AM Erika brought up the idea of doing the Half Marathon on Mackinac at the end of October. I am loving that idea. I know that it is a hilly hilly tough course, and I would go in planning on taking it easy. Not to mention that would be the third half in three weeks for Erika, so she would be moving a little more slowly also. We shall see what happens :)</div><div><br /></div><div>That is all for now! </div><div><br /></div><div>PS: Did you see my Spartans this weekend? :) Yes, the offense was...nerve wrecking and not great all the time. But that defense? OMG. killer. Love it. </div><div><br /></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-33203129331213722852012-08-28T17:52:00.004-07:002012-08-28T18:24:00.678-07:00Most random post ever.<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y9jyBejh0nE/UD1txTb2JhI/AAAAAAAAAEY/dEi4K2UzMfw/s1600/207181_10102469987107854_1900547916_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y9jyBejh0nE/UD1txTb2JhI/AAAAAAAAAEY/dEi4K2UzMfw/s400/207181_10102469987107854_1900547916_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781898190411671058" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Starting out with a random FREAKING adorable picture of Hercules, </div><div style="text-align: center;">because seriously, who doesn't love a picture of a cute dog?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So, it has been almost a month since I last posted. Yipes. Right now in my running world there are two things going on simultaneously (CCRR Half Marathon training, and my goal to run 1000 miles in 2012). <div><br /><div>Be prepared for some rambling.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Capital City River Run Training</b></div><div>I have been running, but not feeling confident on my long runs. When I started this training for CCRR, I envisioned myself PRing in this race. And I don't feel it. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I find myself on a long run, I find myself thinking about how much BETTER these felt during marathon training. How strong I felt. And how crappy I feel now. I feel defeated by 10 miles. I feel slow. I feel the opposite of strong and confident. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>How do I get rid of this feeling? </i></div><div><br /></div><div>When training for my marathon, 10 miles was nothing. I would bust out a 10 miler on a Wednesday after work. *sigh* Maybe I am remembering it feeling easier than it really was? Who knows. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder if part of my sluggish feeling is running in the heat. I trained for my marathon during the winter, and I just felt better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ_Pqhu21mI/UD1tyM6mksI/AAAAAAAAAEw/YlaFuC4tJ8Q/s1600/430273_10102463089146424_503248654_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ_Pqhu21mI/UD1tyM6mksI/AAAAAAAAAEw/YlaFuC4tJ8Q/s400/430273_10102463089146424_503248654_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781898205841494722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Trying to combat the heat/dehydration with my loves :)</div><div><br /></div><div>I am so torn right now, this post probably makes no sense. I think I need to go back and read my posts from training because I know it wasn't all sunshine and flowers, but I remember just overall feeling better. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think I shall blame the heat. </div><div><br /></div><div>At this point, my half PR is 2:19 and change. And right now I am on pace to run about a 2:24ish. *sigh*</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhArsPC3cpk/UD1txgXCYSI/AAAAAAAAAEk/HgOexEp4x3A/s1600/427218_10102425825742584_30125945_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhArsPC3cpk/UD1txgXCYSI/AAAAAAAAAEk/HgOexEp4x3A/s400/427218_10102425825742584_30125945_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781898193881162018" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Post 6 miler. This was my fastest 6 miles ever, 1:01 and change</div><div><br /></div><div>Anywho. On to the next goal.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1,000 miles in 2012 </b></div><div>Things are...going. </div><div>January - 58</div><div>February - 82</div><div>March - 100</div><div>April - 115</div><div>May - 82</div><div>June - 77</div><div>July - 78</div><div>August - 74</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, my summer months are lagging a bit behind where I need to be (80 a mo). I am determined that was the weather cools down, I will be more comfortable getting more miles in and I will complete this goal. I have a rest day on schedule tomorrow, then 6 on Thursday and 2 on Friday, which will get me where I need to be for August. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2mqnd0Mcuc/UD1tyoKVEVI/AAAAAAAAAE8/aw8crMGKhS8/s1600/549491_10102469984612854_1746534204_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2mqnd0Mcuc/UD1tyoKVEVI/AAAAAAAAAE8/aw8crMGKhS8/s400/549491_10102469984612854_1746534204_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781898213155213650" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">After an 8 miler with Pam</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Races for the year</b></div><div>Lansing Half Marathon - done, PR</div><div>Kalamazoo Marathon - done, PR</div><div>Heart of MI 10k - done, PR</div><div>Run Mackinac 8 Mile Road Race - September 8th</div><div>Capital City River Run Half Marathon - September 16th</div><div>MSUFCU Dino Dash 5k - October 7th</div><div><br /></div><div>Still to sign up for/considering running</div><div>Wildlife Half Marathon October 14th</div><div>Detroit Turkey Trot 10l November 22nd</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, that ends this incredibly random post/update. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-61564031645497535442012-07-29T05:40:00.007-07:002012-07-29T05:56:59.701-07:00What have I been up to?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKCkVP0fhww/UBUwOw7DBbI/AAAAAAAABWw/pYnqS03bAFI/s1600/319301_10102375765972764_736509698_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKCkVP0fhww/UBUwOw7DBbI/AAAAAAAABWw/pYnqS03bAFI/s400/319301_10102375765972764_736509698_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770571527754024370" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday morning run <3</div><br />I feel like I havent written about running in awhile! And I realized that it true, because I havent really since July 13th when I busted out that sub 9 min mile. <div><br /></div><div>Half Marathon training kicked off after 4th of July and it has been going strong. I've been doing pretty good at following the set mileage and not so good at following the times the plan says I should run haha. I just have trouble running at a 12 min mile pace for only a 2 mile run. But anyways, I figure I will let pictures speak for me and just post a bunch of those along with this post :)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been running a TON with Erika which is fabulous! I love my solo runs but I really love running with someone also. The miles really fly. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZXIbAR_CzM/UBUwPQi7N_I/AAAAAAAABXI/ZXgV9DfmCwg/s1600/602653_10151108922008690_976670125_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZXIbAR_CzM/UBUwPQi7N_I/AAAAAAAABXI/ZXgV9DfmCwg/s400/602653_10151108922008690_976670125_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770571536242784242" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mUN0Zac3N4/UBUwNPyVnMI/AAAAAAAABWY/Qu9sWan21ME/s1600/251982_10151127121738690_819556046_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mUN0Zac3N4/UBUwNPyVnMI/AAAAAAAABWY/Qu9sWan21ME/s400/251982_10151127121738690_819556046_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770571501679254722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My hair does that really awesome thing on every run. I just cannot contain those little hairs. Anywho. Erika is the one that got me into running and pushed me through and helped me become mentally tougher. Right now she is coming back from injury and our roles have been reversed. I am glad I am able to repay the favor to her and help get her out there and keep her going. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We ran our 8 miler yesterday morning on the Falling Waters Trail in Jackson (paved flat trail, it is great) and I experience the need to run into the woods for the first time. And by run I mean penguin waddle slowly and hope I made it hahahhaa. The pic below is after I returned from the woods and Erika nicknamed me "mama bear" hahaha</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNmgZe9LN-0/UBUwXf9PqqI/AAAAAAAABXU/avvxqGv-Kbc/s1600/Picture%2B1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNmgZe9LN-0/UBUwXf9PqqI/AAAAAAAABXU/avvxqGv-Kbc/s400/Picture%2B1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770571677818661538" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Besides the CCRR coming up, I also signed up for the <a href="http://www.runmackinac.com/42nd_Annual_Mackinac_Island_Eight_Mile_Run___Walk.htm">8 Mile Road Race on Mackinac Island</a>! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVJkGiiBT-0/UBUxhUTvpnI/AAAAAAAABXg/LHPVH4hq1OI/s1600/Picture%2B2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nVJkGiiBT-0/UBUxhUTvpnI/AAAAAAAABXg/LHPVH4hq1OI/s400/Picture%2B2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770572946002126450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am beyond excited for this race. Shane and I always go to St Ignace for our anniversary and we ended up having to go the weekend before our anniversary (THREE YEARS!! <3) this time. Being the runner that I am, I had to check to see if there was a race that weekend and when I saw this, I knew I HAD to do this race. It goes around the outside of the island and is a relatively flat course, which is nice ;-) Also, you get a finishers medal along with your tech tee! I was sold on this so quick. The price wasnt too bad, and once you add in the ferry fee it is about $50. For me, this will be worth it. It will be a GORGEOUS course and probably something I wont have the chance to do again. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And for just a few other random things:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1LFptfeDjQ/UBUwNrW27OI/AAAAAAAABWk/yRyspvYlUME/s1600/314087_10102376940119764_1978829128_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1LFptfeDjQ/UBUwNrW27OI/AAAAAAAABWk/yRyspvYlUME/s400/314087_10102376940119764_1978829128_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770571509080190178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got new shoes finally!! Found my usual Saucony ProGrid Guide 4s on sale for $50, so I jumped on that. I am still really hesitant to go to the Guide 5s because of the change they made in the drop (12mm to 8mm). I think that if I work them in slowly when it comes to be that time, I will probably be okay. Or I may just go get refitted at Playmakers and see what they suggest. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thats all for now folks! Have a great week!</div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-7769484200385399772012-07-25T05:03:00.001-07:002012-07-25T05:08:35.609-07:00What's really hard?I had a talk w my WW leader Linda this morning. I have been hovering 2.5-3 pounds above my goal weight. I said her "maintenance is hard". <br />
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And she followed up with is it really? She pointed out that when I was GAINING weight, having to buy new clothes and hating what you see in the mirror is hard. Sneaking food or hating yourself for demolishing a whole chocolate cake is hard. Being unhappy with your life is hard. <br />
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So really, is this that hard in the big picture? <br />
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She said I should remind myself what I have done that's cool since I lost weight. Four words for that. I am a marathoner. (running a marathon is hard!! :-) )<br />
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I needed a reality check. This isn't hard. I know how to do this. In reality I have been maintaining for two months, I just have been maintaining a weight that is three pound too high. <br />
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How about a small goal? Or a few small goals? I want to loose one pound this week. How will I get there? Tracking, Accurately. Drinking water when I get an urge to snack.<br />
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Those are my goals. This is not hard. I know how to do this. I know how to freaking do this. Not feeling happy with Myself or my goals is hard. This is not. Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132557778462074308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515079175085104234.post-80413308753180916732012-07-22T07:50:00.004-07:002012-07-22T08:15:53.904-07:00Armpocket Sport i20 reviewSo I have never done a product review, other than to say that I bought something and I love it. So bare with me as I try to do this!<br /><div><br /></div>Last week I was lucky enough to win an <a href="http://www.armpocket.com/">ArmPocket</a> from <a href="http://www.detroitrunner.com/">Detroit Runner</a>. They didn't ask that I do a review but I figure why the heck not? They gave me something for free, so I might as well share my opinion on their product. <div><br /></div><div>I choose the <a href="http://www.armpocket.com/products/SPORT-20-LW.html">Sport I-20</a> model, which is the medium sized ArmPocket. When looking over the products online, the thing that I was most excited about was that the ArmPocket said that the pouch had a "touch control window" aka you can actually control the phone or Ipod you put in there without having to take it out. And honestly out of all the things they said the product did, that was what I cared about most. </div><div><br /></div><div>I got my ArmPocket last week and I have used it a few times since then. The ArmPocket advertises was being Water Resistant, and I decided to put that to the test on Thursday. I had a 5 mile tempo run on schedule and I was debating between treadmilling it (ugh) or running in the rain. I decided on the rain and figured it would be a great time to test out the ArmPocket. I put my phone in the front of the pocket, and house key behind. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZelwaxF9H3c/UAwXE70tEyI/AAAAAAAAAD4/vc5NxQX7qZg/s1600/photo-6.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZelwaxF9H3c/UAwXE70tEyI/AAAAAAAAAD4/vc5NxQX7qZg/s400/photo-6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768010596300428066" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>There was a ton of room still for gels or anything else I could need to carry with me. Upon completing my 5 mile run, I was in love with this product!</div><div><br /></div><div>The water resistance is FOR REAL! It drizzled my whole run, and when I opened the pocket up once I got home, my iPhone was perfectly dry. I was also able to control the iPhone easily on the run through the screen. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xalpZmNeHlY/UAwXEtqNZHI/AAAAAAAAADw/SCAElA1meMk/s1600/photo-5.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xalpZmNeHlY/UAwXEtqNZHI/AAAAAAAAADw/SCAElA1meMk/s400/photo-5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768010592498312306" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Besides those two features, I fell in LOVE with the armband. It was soft and didn't chaff my arm at all (IN THE FREAKING RAIN!!) and it stayed in place great. The strap is made of a no slip memory foam, and it also has holes in the strap for venting. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3zEgTTmmNI/UAwXFFJya_I/AAAAAAAAAEM/a1FxNc5Esww/s1600/photo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3zEgTTmmNI/UAwXFFJya_I/AAAAAAAAAEM/a1FxNc5Esww/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768010598804777970" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>So to summarize, I love this ArmPocket. They retail for 29.95, and even though I got mine for free, I would totally say this would be worth the 29.95. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I think about using this vs my fuel belt, I have to say, I think the ArmPocket will be my go to. The ease of using my phone, and the confidence that I have in the Water Resistance of this just makes me gravitate towards the ArmPocket. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>PS: If you want to see a more throughout review, check out the one Detroit Runner did. Jeff does an <a href="http://www.detroitrunner.com/p/running-gear-reviews.html">amazing job reviewing products</a>, and I as a result of his awesome reviews, I have bought two of the products ( <a href="http://www.detroitrunner.com/2011/07/awesome-giveaway.html">my 26.2 emblem for my car </a> and <a href="http://www.detroitrunner.com/2012/05/foam-roller-comparisons.html">my foam roller, The Grid</a>)</div>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047212677620890376noreply@blogger.com1