It's all fun and games until you can't make it stop

I can sum up the way I've been feeling the last two days in a picture.

It's fun until you want to get off the ride and you just can't.

I did it to myself. I just had to go and drink all that coffee this weekend and screw up my brain. Yes, coffee (at least I'm pretty sure that's why this is happening). And now I want a huge bag of salty potato chips. I won't do it, I promise. But it has crossed my mind.

I've been trying to tie up some loose ends on some things before I head to Virginia, then Maryland, then Washington DC the end of the week. I can't wait for the trip and the race (!!!), but I get anxious about the drive and packing and all that junk, along with the fact that I've screwed up my head.

One thing I had to do was figure out prescription refills. I was in between the time when both of my daily prescriptions are out of refills, but my doctors both called in refills so I had to figure out how to refill them by phone, not being able to talk to anyone in the pharmacy because when you call the drugstore you just get a bunch of recordings. It took me from yesterday morning until the time I drove to the pharmacy today to realize that if my doctors called in the prescriptions already, they're already ready in the pharmacy. Yep. 

I'm actually scared to start packing for the race because I feel like I'm going to forget to pack something imperative, like running shoes or a sports bra. At this point I should probably just let Pippi pack for me. I mean, she keeps Rocco in line. Maybe she's a professional in disguise.

If you want a toy someone else has, sit on them until
they surrender.

I'm actually surprised this picture actually came out. I was laughing so hard the camera was shaking and as I went to take a second shot, Pippi jumped up and attacked me. (By the way, that's the awesome dinosaur Nylabone. They fight over that one more than any of the others. I can't say that I blame them).

The purple and lime green tree is set to be erected tonight. If the plan goes off as scheduled, I'll post pictures tomorrow :)

Do you decorate your tree with a color combination?

Do you hate driving on long trips as much as I do?

(if not, will you be me chauffeur this weekend?)

Not even caffeine can take away my joy

I have pretty much nothing exciting to report. My weekend was amazing and I didn't want it to end. I've got a lot of things going on up in that rickety brain of mine, but I haven't sorted through it yet, so no news. I just have a couple pictures to share...OH and I finally hit that 8-mile PDR! Halle-frickin-lujah!

As promised, this is the outfit I wore for my
own personal 5-mile "Pilgrim Trot" on
Thanksgiving morning.

...and later on in the day I made a child laugh. It was a great
Thanksgiving :)

My friend's Christmas tree has the most elaborate set up I've ever seen. These
are just a few of the individual branches pre-installment.

I got rebellious and drank regular coffee every morning of my long weekend and now I'm paying the price in the form of dizziness. Freaking A.

At some point I will set up my own Christmas tree, with purple and lime green decorations. Oh and I can finally listen to Christmas music without feeling guilty. Also? I only have three more gifts left to buy. I love the holidays!

Mister Potatoehead is a runner

Wow, thanks to you all for the support on yesterday's post! I'm definitely feeling much more confident now about the 15k AND of my planned 8-miler (again) this weekend!

Today will be a cross-training day after work and then tomorrow morning I'm going to get in five miles before the Thanksgiving festivities begin. I really wanted to run yesterday after work, but by the time I got home it was already starting to get dark and I still don't have any reflective gear or a headlamp. I finally ordered both yesterday. I'm trying to save money for Christmas, but I'd rather be able to run in the dark and be a little poorer than to get pissed at Mother Nature for turning the lights off early and sulking.

So, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Do you know what I just realized? PARADE!! I also just realized it starts at 9am. GAH! That means I need to have my run done by then. I could really do without all the commercials and marching bands and commentary. I watch the parade for the floats, to please the child inside me; the one who still laughs at all words ending in -balls and whenever the word "runs" is mentioned. I mean, come on. How fun are gigantic Disney and Muppets characters that could suffocate someone if deflated, floating around New York City??

Apparently Mister Potatoehead is a runner.
Check out the size of his Garmin!

Ice skating. That must be how he works off all that fried food and fake chicken.

Whatever that thing is behind Kermit makes it look like he just farted.

You think this is a picture of the Energizer Bunner. Nope,
it's the walking slices of pizza.

I'm a little bummed there aren't any Minions floats. Literally the best Disney/Pixar characters ever. Here's a taste.






In celebration of Thanksgiving and of the parade, I'm going to be rocking a super fun outfit for my run tomorrow. (Yes, I'm only running through my neighborhood so only my neighbors will see it, but I'll post pictures.)

Are you a Thanksgiving day parade watcher?

What's your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

Whining, not Bitching

I'm starting to get nervous. I'm running a race (15k) three times as long as my previous races (5k) in ELEVEN DAYS! I like to pretend I'm all hardcore, but I'm not feeling very hardcore right now. Hopefully that will change soon. I think as soon as I'm finally able to freaking run eight freaking miles, I'll feel more confident.

In 88 days I'm running a half marathon, which is five more miles than eight. Crap.



















I just started running again "for real" in July and I haven't given up yet (and don't plan to). I'm improving, even if it's way slower than I'd like, so I know I'm doing something right. I need to get out of my head. I often wonder if everyone started out running like this; filled with doubt and nerves.

A lot of times when I'm feeling like I just want to quit on a run, I find inspiration somehow. Most of the time it's a saying, like, "eye on the prize" or "just live through it". Yeah, it sounds really lame, but in that moment when you're feeling weak and like a better alternative might be to just lie on the side of the road and die, sometimes it doesn't take much.

I've found running to be a lot like drinking. Drinking is fun while you're doing it and the next morning, you think, "I'm never drinking again"...until the hangover wears off. A lot of times while running, I'm thinking, "I hate this. I'm never doing this again" and then as soon as I'm done and showered, I can't wait til the next time.

I hope, after the 15k, I can't wait to do another race. I think that is what will determine how I feel going into the half. At least I know I'll be running with an amazing "team"!


Are there any mantras you say to yourself to kick your own butt into gear during a run?

Did you have a hard time reaching new distance goals as a new runner?

Not quitting my day job

To put it mildly, this weekend was a kick to my ego's crotch. While Kara and Alyssa finished 50-mile races and Gina, Amanda, and Kari finished half and full marathons, I took a punch to the gut by trying to finally run 8 consecutive miles. I tried to let all of the above people be my inspiration.

Here's where I think my downfall was: three forced rest days in a row last week followed by a kick-ass spin class and weights workout with minimal stretching on Friday does not make for a good run on Saturday. My legs were refusing to go and, oh man, the pain. My inner and outer thighs were refusing my attempts at begging. I was forced to quit at about 4.5 miles. I feel so defeated!

Even wearing an awesome outfit didn't help.

...and today I'm going to spinning class since it's the last day of classes for the rest of the week, and then I am going to expect the rest of the week's runs to be successes. Hard-headed? Probably.

And now, how did the holiday shop go, you ask? Well, Amanda and I went in thinking it was going to be a roaring success. Our "goal" was to make $200. I had spent the last three weeks making Noodle Huggers and pet collars like I was one of Santa's elves. I was trying to be so prepared for this thing, I've let cleaning the house go by the wayside and now I can't STAND the mess! But it's ok because I was going to make enough money to afford Christmas!

We got in and set up our table, which took a whole...15 minutes. We literally sat around watching everyone else set up their tables for two hours.

The left side

The right side

Finally, 12:00 came and people started trickling in. We sat and watched...and watched...and watched no one come over and buy a single item. I began to realize that this crowd was...well...not fun (read: snooty and pompous). No one understood the whimsy of my items. I got so sick of hearing "What's a Noodle Hugger?". It was clearly explained on the sign AND I told everyone that showed any interest, "they're non-slip headbands". Now, if someone at a craft show told me that, I'd be all over it, especially with all the designs. I'd get this weird look and then they'd walk away. I'm pretty sure the connection between "noodle" and "head" was completely lost on these people (or maybe it's because they're noses were too high up in the air to be at all imaginative).

Around 2pm I told Amanda that if it didn't pick up by 3:30, we're just going to leave then and not stick around til 4 to get stuck in the crowd of everyone packing up to leave, with all their money. So, as my suspicions expected, we got no sales in that time and we packed it up at 3:30. The organizer lady came around wanting to know why we were leaving early. I told her because we just aren't selling anything so we're going to leave. She goes, "It looks really bad for the other vendors if there's an empty table". And if my brain worked faster, I would have then told her, "There may as well have been an empty table here!" and then I'd have stomped on her foot and ran away. I'm pretty sure I won't be invited back next year. DARN!!

I had to pay $25 for the spot at this show and I didn't even make my money back. Yeah. It was that bad.

The theme of my weekend? DEFEAT



Did YOU have a better weekend??

Do you like to wear colorful running clothes or is it just me?

I need to hire elves

Oh, hey. Hello there. Remember me? I've been MIA for a couple of days...a couple of very busy days. I assure you I'm alive and well.

Yesterday I was working from home and for my extended lunch break, I took a little trip to run errands with Jeremy and Amanda. I had heard about the buy one, get one free Starbucks drink event and I was all over it.

So we headed in with out sights on the peppermint mocha and as we were standing in line, Amanda noticed the fine print...this event is only from 2-5pm and it was 1:05 when we were standing in line. For crying in the sunshine! I'd been thinking about this for DAYS and now you're telling me I can't get one of my drinks for free for another 55 minutes? We were very sad but, alas, the barista dude with tattoos and hickeys on his neck wouldn't cut us a deal so we had to pay for both or our drinks. I guess we'll try again this weekend. Bastards.

We then continued our errands with a trip to Ulta. I had seen a sparkly pink nail polish on Pinterest that I really wanted and I was excited to finally get it. I normally don't like spending $8 on nail polish, but since most of the polishes I own are two years old (or older), I decided to splurge. And then...they didn't have it...womp womp.

I was getting ready to head out the door when I spotted a MUPPETS collection from OPI. MUPPETS!! All the colors have fun names inspired by, well, the Muppets. So fun!

Animal-istic, Meep Meep Meep, Wocka Wocka!, Pepe's Purple Passion, Designer de Better!, Warm and Fozzie, Rainbow Connection, Excuse Moi!, Gone Gonzo!, Fresh Frog of Bel Air, Divine Swine, Getting Miss Piggy With It

They were sold out of most of the colors except for Meep Meep Meep, which just happened to be a bright sparkly pink color. Meant to be! (in case you don't remember, Beaker is the character whom this color is named after. Remember?)

I think Pippi was jealous of my new "makeup". I got out of the shower this morning to find this

Yes, that is the two containers of Victoria's Secret lip gloss that I had in my purse...now all over my carpet and my dog. How the hell do you clean up greasy lip gloss from carpet? Pippi's solution? Lick it out.

Just wait until I throw all this up later!

I'm now kicking myself for laughing at this:

The rest of the time I spent not working  yesterday, I spent in my "workshop" to get ready for this weekend. 

Unfortunately the elves didn't finish it all for me while I was sleeping last night. Lazy little jerks.

As far as training goes, I was "out of commission" the last couple of days. I'm currently climbing the walls with anxiety. I cannot wait to get to spin class today and to run tomorrow. I'm getting twitchy. Today I need to finally order myself a headlamp and reflective vest for running after work. I now have two drawers for running clothes and accessories instead of one. Pretty soon I'll need a whole separate dresser. 

How many drawers do you have committed to workout wear?

Have you entered Kari's Noodle Hugger giveaway yet?If not, you're almost out of time!

Good luck to everyone running this weekend, especially Kara, Kari, Alyssa, and Amanda!

Jealous of the dogs' lives

Ever wonder what dogs do during the day when you're gone?

I was working at home yesterday, so I spent most of the day sitting at the table, meaning they took a break from their normal following me around every single place I go routine, to get a LOT of sleep. I mean geez, who wouldn't want this life?!

Hearing all these stories about people running and working out in the morning is making me miss my morning workouts. Tomorrow afternoon I'm having a procedure done which will leave me immobile through Thursday (hopefully not longer than that or I may burst), so my plan is to wake up early and do a workout video, just like in the old times when waking up early was my "thing". It's been pretty difficult just getting out of bed lately, but I want to change that.

 

Since I'm afraid of running outside in the dark, I'm going the workout video route in the mornings. Andrea informed me today on her blog that research shows it takes 66 days for something to become a habit. I'm hoping that I'm not the "norm" and it will take me, like, two days. I mean, I used to do it several times a week, so for me it shouldn't take as long, right?

On a side note, head over to Kari's blog and enter her Noodle Hugger giveaway!

Crafty weekend

Saturday started out with an amazing breakfast at a little place up the street. A bacon, cheese, and black bean bean omelette and a cinnamon roll. I was gearing up for my 8-mile run later in the day, but I want this breakfast EVERY DAY! And then Amanda and I went in search of a few things I need for the Holiday Shoppe next weekend. I was beginning to freak out that I wouldn't have all the things I'd need. I still don't, but the rest of the things I need include signs and tags I need to design and print out. Hopefully after this weekend, all Noodle Huggers and collars will come with a tag. Wee!

The majority of my weekend was spent making lots and lots of these

I bought the hangers for the Holiday Shoppe.

...and there are more to be made. I'm my own little sweat shop.

After taking a three-hour nap on Saturday, I scrapped my run plan and decided to do it on Sunday. My 8-mile run turned into a really painful 4-mile run. I'm not quite sure why it sucked so badly, but hopefully today's run will be redemption.

19 days til the 15k, less than 100 days til my first half marathon! YIKES!!

I also created our 15k race shirts for our "team". No preview there. you have to wait for the race pictures :)

The signs I designed for the shoppe next weekend will have to suffice.

Obviously they will be a lot larger than this. It's all starting to come together!


Did you do anything crafty this weekend?

I hope those who ran this weekend had better luck than I did.

My ode to eleven

Happy Veteran's Day to all. In the name of this day and this date, I present to you eleven random things. Because my brain is filled to the brim with random and I don't get to unload that often.

ONE
So, I should have known it was going to happen. It's a once-in-a-lifetime date. 11.11.11. However, you know that saying, "You lose it if you talk about it"? Yeah, after about the five trillionth time it was referenced on Twitter, Facebook, the news, the radio, in conversation in the work hallways, I want 11.11.11 to die. It's been totally and completely ruined for me. Thanks, media.

TWO
Can someone please explain to me what the recumbent bike was invented for? Why go to the gym so you can sit back and relax? Seriously. I was forced to use one of these yesterday when my treadmill routine was cut short due to pain in my hip (again) and no other cardio machines were open. I felt like a huge lame idiot, trying to get my sweat on when the girl on the "lazy machine" next to me was reading a magazine while casually pedaling along with no resistance. I mean, the seat has a back to it. Why not just attach pedals to your easy chair at home?!

Hi, my name is sham. What's yours?

THREE
I swear Pippi does more than just sleep. I know most of the pictures I post are of her laying on my bed, but the truth is, that's really one of the only times she's not moving around at lightning speed. I was actually able to catch a rare moment on camera when she was standing still...for .00002 seconds.

How dare you make me stop moving!

FOUR
I'm somewhat addicted to Nylabones. No, I don't chew on them, I swear. I'm addicted to buying them for the dogs. Pippi is banned from chewing on rawhides because, did you know if dogs try to swallow a rawhide whole, they will throw it up...every. single. time? Yeah, I've reached my dog vomit cleaning threshold. So, I buy Nylabones. Every time I go to Target or Petsmart or Amazon, they have a new shape. How can I resist new shapes?!

This is just the collection sitting in my room last night. Spoiled? Probably.

 FIVE
There are not enough hours in the day. No, seriously. By the time I wake up, get to work, work all day, get my workout on, take care of the dogs and eat dinner, I've got maybe an hour before I go to bed and then I wake up in the morning and do it all over again. Work gets in the way of everything.


SIX
I don't understand why someone would want to do a naked belly pregnancy photo shoot. I've never had a child, so I really don't have room to make judgments, but I mean I'd never lift up my shirt while not pregnant and start snapping photos. We can see that you're pregnant while you're clothed. Why do we need to see skin?

via AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. I think that says it all.

SEVEN
Today I purposely didn't bring my water bottle to work, in order to force myself to drink lots of green tea. I know, it's stupid, considering tomorrow is my long run day and I need to stay super hydrated. I used to be really good at drinking a minimum of two cups of green tea a day and I've been falling short on my water consumption lately because I'm getting SO SICK of water! I need flavor! Hopefully all the antioxidants will help me in the long run and maybe I'll get sick of green tea and just want to chug water :)

My faaaaavorite one.

EIGHT
This is secretly why I adopted a white dog.

NINE
I have no butt. It's sort of a big joke in my family. My twin brother has a nice one (yes, I'm allowed to say that). He totally stole it in the womb.

TEN
It's almost lunchtime (11am is my lunchtime), and I haven't done much work yet today. Employee of the year!

ELEVEN
I am not a fan of guys who lift weights but don't do cardio. I wouldn't want to marry someone who looks like a giant turd, but gets winded walking up stairs.

I need a thermal butt cover

I forgot to post this picture of my running attire from Saturday's long run. I looked like a freaky weirdo, but I was warm. Well, except for my butt. My butt was cold the entire time. Also, does everyone's feet look like clown feet in tights?

Pippi says, "Yo. 'Sup peeps?"

Yesterday I had another horrible treadmill run attempt. My left ankle and hip were screaming. I tried to push through, hoping the pain would just go away, but tripping and flying off the treadmill is a huge fear of mine. While "flying" may sound like fun, I've done that kind of flying before and it's totally not fun at all.

Today I'm going to try to run outside, but my fear of the dark and getting hit by cars and chased by wild animals is on high alert. I haven't gotten a headlamp yet and I don't own anything reflective and it's been getting dark a little after 5pm these days. This brings me to my next subject...money. I've added a crapload (that's disgusting talk for a whole lot) of new items to the shop. Go! Buy! So I can afford a headlamp :) Because if I get mauled by a killer armadillo, I'm holding you responsible. (No, not really but I will be pretty pissed off at having another medical bill).

Seriously, the Noodle Huggers have become a necessary part of my workout. I actually blame my bad run yesterday on the fact that I forgot to pack a headband and, therefore, my hair was everywhere and sweat kept dripping down my forehead.

Here's a peak at the new ones:

Another new development in the brain of Emily (it's a seriously scary place): Since Netflix has run out of episodes of Mad Men for now, and Make it or Break it is on a break, I had to find a new show to become addicted to. I've landed on Nip Tuck. It's so awesomely disturbing. Everyone on the show is so messed up. I love it. I mean, check out some of the show photos.

What shows are you addicted to?

Am I the only one who thinks armadillos are both awesome and scary and still I want one for a pet?