Just Plodding Along

This weekend is the last weekend before heading back to school. To send Spring Break out with a bang I decided to reside on my couch and catch up on some movies I have been wanting to watch. Plus it was raining so I couldn't possibly do my long run today. I might melt or worse get wet and chafe. Pajama pants and multiple movie viewings was the name of the game. (I briefly considered the dreadmill, long enough to cringe, roll my eyes and snuggle further into the couch. No way ten miles is happening on that torture machine.) I have decided since I am an expert on cinema and that a review by someone with such fine tastes may assist you in your next rental decision. (Disclaimer: I am not an expert. I have watched Bridget Jones Diary and the Devil Wears Prada both at least 20 times. The only foreign language film I enjoy is Amelie because it mentions creme brulee and I thought the movie Burlesque was a shoe in for best picture (Cher you are an unappreciated gem). So you h...

This morning I woke up at 5:45 to drive over to Goodyear for the inaugural  Arizona Half Marathon . Some friends of mine that live in Tempe let me crash in their guestroom. It was fun to be able to hang out with them. The race was located in Estrella . I woke up with a bad attitude and did not want to go run. I briefly thought about just staying in bed, making breakfast for my friends and driving home but I managed to get myself out the door. On the way I dropped by Circle K to get some beverage. I love gas station coffee. So many choices, tons of creamer all for around $1. Can't go wrong. Since the race was kind of in the middle of nowhere I just picked up my number this morning at the Starpointe Residents Club. The club area was located across the street from a Safeway so there was plenty of parking for everyone. This was also the start and finish area.  Because I had registered way back in October I also got a bag and a hat along with the race t-shirt....

This Saturday I head up towards Apache Junction to participate in the Lost Dutchman Half  .  I have wanted to do this race for two years now so I am pretty excited to do this one. Miners and pots of gold what is not to love? It is an out and back. It is slightly uphill overall heading towards the six mile marker and then slightly downhill on the way back. According to the website there are no significant hills (I am not sure what makes a hill significant versus not, they all seem pretty significant to me). I really want to see how hard I can push it. And even though my left leg is still wonky for some reason (actually I think the reason is my left hip is weak and is out of place, making my left leg short than my right. Only way to fix is strength training and stretching but that takes time and probably won't be fixed before Sunday. How do I know all this, why the internet of course. Am thinking of going to a sports doctor but have to work my way up to it I gues...

Tomorrow I head down to Sedona for the Half Marathon so it is time to figure out the A, B & C goals. That be a lot of hills.......at altitude  Sedona = 4500ft     Tucson = 2389ft so I see a lot of heavy breathing and walking in my future. Plus my left leg has been acting kind of wonky (technical term). Calf and shin pain out of nowhere. And I want to take pictures on the route I mean look at this: So with those disclaimers/ excuses: A Goal: finish between 2:15 & 2:30 B Goal: finish between 2:30 & 2:40 C Goal: finish & obtain medal That'll do.

Miles Run: 86.7  (I believe this is also the number of celebrity gossip magazines read and glasses of wine drank but I don't have a sweet log book to keep track of those things). Half Marathon's Run: 2  Temecula Half  & Team Gab Virtual Race Medals Obtained: 1 Cross training done: lots of lunges, squats, sit-ups, push-ups and biking Horrific  YOGA  injuries obtained: 1 Pounds lost: like .025 So I just like can't understand why I am not skinnier.....oh hand me that candy Pairs of awesome glitter shoes obtained: 0 Pair of awesome Aspaeris shorts obtained: 1 Mornings Nellie woke me up at 5a.m. because she wanted to be fed breakfast NOW: 31 ummm.....so feed me already

On Saturday morning we got up bright and early at 6a.m. to get ready for the race start at 7:30a.m. for the Temecula Valley Half Since we were only 15 minutes away we could kind of sleep in. After glancing out the window and seeing it was raining my dream of a cute running skirt outfit was dashed. Long sleeves and capris it was.  The traditional thumbs up pre-race photo (C this visor is for you) A ready to go in the hot race shirt. Fun rain perfect  weather for a race After finding parking pretty quick we headed into the winery to get out of the rain. Monte de Oro Winery was the race start There were porto potties but also real bathrooms inside the winery open to runners. They opened up their barrel room for runners to stand in to get out of the rain. The race was delayed by 15 minutes due to the weather and the amount of slow pokes still backing up traffic. That kind of annoys me when people don't head out early enough to be there on time. You know th...