The 2012 Good Stuff

Happy last day of the year!! I have to say this year was chock full  just in general, so I'm happy to look back and know I was able to start many of my days on the right foot -- so to speak!

(Today's Rest Week kick-off started off just right, too ... with snow!! See?!):

I know she looks scared. She's just ready to
go inside because the girl is wet !

Was there ever a sweeter puppy face?!

Throughout 2012, different days started off with different combinations of feet and paw numbers, and each brought with it a little nugget of a story. Looking back, here are the standout stats:

Number of miles run: 750

Shortest run: 2 miles

Longest run: 13.1 miles

Official races: 6

Number of days run (including registered runs): 189

Number of times falling during a run: 2

Biggest "official" accomplishment: two half marathons this year, one with the best time of my four

Biggest "everyday" accomplishment: sticking to the schedule the entire year. Wait, maybe it's not seriously hurting myself from falling down. OR, is it that I didn't break my camera when I fell ... that's it! My real answer: Not breaking my camera when I fell.

Best running-related development: The weekend Family Run!

Cents found during official races: 7

Total amount of money found running from January 1 - December 31: $9.51

Number of people I cut off during official runs to pick up money: 3 that I know of. 'Very sorry about that.

Number of times Elly cut me off while running: a handful, but she hasn't taken me down again since 2009

Best race swag: The Go Girl wine glass. Can you beat a wine glass?

Number of mornings I just didn't want to go run: not as many as last year

Favorite go-to song to sing to myself: Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

Best decision: changing my mind from running the Go Girl Half to running the 5K. Accepting I wasn't ready to turn it around that fast was momentarily humbling and long-term empowering.

Worst pre-run fuel: Christmas dinner lasagna

Best idea: donating money found during runs to the Food Bank

Worst idea: I'm back on that lasagna dinner the night before running ...

Favorite moment: I have a few --

• The entire family again participating in Turkey Trax
• PC#2 running with me at the Komen event
• Watching the young Crewers joyfully cheer and root on others  -- not just me -- during races. Their hearts are good, and they're not shy about showing it!

And, what's to come? More of the same ... only better because we Keep. On. Going!!

YEAH we do!!!!!

A very Happy New Year to you from all of us! There's more to come from Rest Week when we welcome 2013, so we'll see you then!

In It Together

As I wrote this entry, I originally had the following paragraph as my conclusion. After writing, though, it was clear it belonged at the beginning:

It's difficult to put into words exactly how this running thing is woven into our family in such a way that it's actually about all of us. From running together, to cheering me for official-training-just running runs, to avoiding me because I'm too sweaty to hug, to making signs, to all of us doing an official run, to deeming all money found on runs goes to the Food Bank no matter who finds the money, to committing the time to be together (and, who would have ever guessed our family would run in the first place much less together?!) ... yeah, it turns out running, of all unforeseeable things, has changed us all for the better.

 

That's what 750 miles is made of.

That's quite a Crew. For real.

These 750 miles were made up of big runs, small runs, bits and pieces and, always, a story. Now that you've read the end, here is today's story from the beginning:

Today's run as a whole was excellent. I won't lie, it was mostly excellent because it was short (only 2 miles today!), and because I knew I had a stretch of resting a'coming! The last run before a week of rest both hurts -- because my body's ready for some down time -- and, rules -- because my body is ready for some down time!

Today's run was exactly that, but it was made better having everyone with me. PC#3 provided some entertainment not only in his running style (where he'd periodically make his feet kick his own butt just because he could) but also by quoting many of his favorite moments from Christmas Vacation. There's nothing quite like running along and, out of nowhere, hearing someone say, "What's that smell? ... Fried Pussycat!"

Have I mentioned it's difficult to run when giggling? Just sayin'.

I know I've also mentioned how much I love the cold, snow and Snoopy, so passing by this sign made me all kinds of happy:

Snow is in tomorrow's forecast, too!!

In other happy news, I scored big for the Food Bank. Check - It - Out!

That's right! Not one but two quarters a mile apart from each
other!! Ba-da-bingggg !!

And, including my stash, here's what was found by the Crew as a whole:

It's that sum-of-the-parts-is-greater-than-the-parts-alone thing!

Yes, I had a goal in mind, but, today was all about crossing the finish together !

Congratulatory group hug!

With that, we wrap up the year with nothing on the agenda but relaxing! I'll see you tomorrow with a peek backward!

Fabulous Flurries!

As of yesterday evening, I had absolutely zero intent of running today and leaving the rest of this year's miles for Sunday and Monday as planned. But, not only did starting the upcoming Rest Week on a Tuesday make no sense (puh-leez), but I also saw flurries late last night which meant we could potentially run in some snow!! Yahoo!!

I knew there wouldn't be much accumulation (seeing as we had none in the forecast that I was aware of), so I couldn't help but want to get out in it because it's so pretty!

The pooch was, of course, very happy to oblige in the morning activity. She's been with me through all kinds of weather including snow that has frozen between her toes. (That's when she and I were newbies to not only running but also to running with paws in mind; I've since learned on her behalf!) She loved licking the snow all along the route. She can do so while running much like I'm pretty proficient in swiping a coin without substantially breaking stride. We're skilled like that just in different ways. Elly's way closer to the ground, so she has a huge advantage there. My advantage for my skill? Thumbs.

I digress. Back to the route ...

How cute is the running hound?!

We hadn't yet started, so this is not an in-action-lick. It's just
 an enjoyable one.

The powdery snow wasn't slick at all, so
we could cruise! And, there were flurries
going on, so it was simply fabulous!

We've now gone from practicing for her
poetic print ad to a very Senior Picture
Portrait.

Elly and I knocked out four miles today which makes the end-of-the-year mileage count to the goal substantially drop. On our Family Run tomorrow, we'll have just fewer than two miles to go to hit it! (That will work out well because it's going to be cold, and I seem to be the only one who thoroughly enjoys that!) And, what better way to hit that goal than to do so with the entire Crew?!! It seemed very appropriate given the hundreds of miles they've cheered, so that was another reason -- and, probably the best one -- for sticking a run in today!

So, tomorrow it is! I'll check in after the celebratory run!

Skating By

And, on this Rest Day, I slept in!! YAHOO!! All week, it was my plan to sleep later today, but you know how plans don't always go accordingly! Well, today it panned out, and I was super glad because not only was yesterday a longer running day, but we also had some afternoon activity from which to recover!

There we are hitting the ice! You would have been amazed at the grace and
agility of this group. No ... really ...

Let's hear it for ice skating!! We hardly ever go, so, suffice it to say, my first few laps around the rink were classified as Baby Giraffing. There was nothing particularly graceful going on for myself nor the young Pit Crewers! But, we knew once we regained our ice-legs, we'd have a great time!

As I was wobbling around the rink for the first few laps, I loved noticing how it was hardly just me having a time of it. Of everyone going around the rink, there were probably fewer than 20 who had any proficiency whatsoever. By and large, we were a bunch of tools out there making the best of it, and everyone was having a great time!

Taking the risk: Totally worth it. I've found that to be a winning theme in my world!

So, in the land of what I soon saw as a Great Equalizer (seriously, most everyone out there royally sucked), I loved seeing the risks taken by the Crewers. Both of them had goals. PC#2 had a goal to not fall this year; she didn't fall last year and wanted to maintain that streak. And, she succeeded! PC#3 had a goal to fall fewer times than last year. He recalls falling 32 times. (Accurate? Who knows ... but, he sure did fall a lot !) This year, he fell fewer than 20. Another goal achieved!


You can see which one went down a few times! Mom of the Year here did a
lot of laughing and catching them on camera.

By the way, a sign on the wall let us know that 9 laps equals 1 mile. By Aaron's calculation, we completed 9 miles. I have to report that running 9 miles, while it takes me longer on the roads in my sneakers, is way easier than doing so on ice! Yow. Za. My legs were burning by the time we were finished! And, that, my friends, is what contributed to the success of sleeping later this morning: Exhaustion!

Tomorrow is another Rest Day in which I will gladly indulge! See you from there!

Money Doesn't Really Talk, But It Would Help Me Find It If It Did

When I'm running and keeping my eyes peeled to the ground scoping for prizes, I often wonder what I'm potentially missing to my left when I'm looking to my right (and, of course, vice versa. I also realize there are other times I don't have to wonder what I'm missing because what I missed was that thing I just tripped over. Fortunately, those times are pretty few and far between.). I'm not bugged by my line of questioning, it's just something I think about to entertain my brain.

This morning, I had something of an answer to this apparent unanswerable question. At least, it seems like I did. I was running along one of the exact same roads as yesterday when I came across the running super score: A quarter!! (For some, beating their own time is a super score. We don't live in the same camps, just sayin'.) I am hard pressed to believe this quarter wasn't there yesterday given it's really rough condition. I'm certain I just had my eyes to the left the very moment I passed it on my right. Crazy how that works! If only it could call out to me when I'm passing it ... like, really  call out to me and talk like songs say and like that old saying goes about money talking. Until that happens, which will be never, I'll just keep my feet moving and my eyes peeled.

Elly and I cruised along on our route today better than I expected. I figured we'd be dragging a bit today after yesterday's longer run, but we were just fine and finished just a tenth under 5 miles. Hooray! We also came home with my pocket full of fun:

That banged-up coin in the background is the aforementioned, sad-looking quarter. You spy three more pennies and a BB there, but check out this foreground coin. That is, indeed, a penny. You know how I often get faked out thinking I found a penny only to discover it's a piece of gum? Well, today, I thought I spied a piece of gum and then discovered it was a penny!

Seriously, check this thing out ... it's not even round  anymore!

The penny on top has had it's share of hard times, but at least
it has held shape!

One of these things is, most definitely, not like the other!

Well, even flattened, it totally counts! And, today took us over the dollar mark for the Food Bank count!! WAHOO!! They can get around 15 pounds of food with that dollar, so that is a winning situation!

Tomorrow is a much anticipated Rest Day!! Take it easy yourself ... it's Friday after all!! I'll see you then!

Bad Fuel, Good Run!

Question: Which is the best night-before meal for fueling a 6.3-mile run? (A) lasagna with a side of orange slices and pomegranate seeds, or (B) a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, a snack-sized Twizzler, an orange Airhead chew and three Krabby Patty Trees?

You're about to find out ...

Let's start at the run's beginning, though, which was a tough start following a holiday! I don't know about you, but there was nothing super-inspiring about getting out of the cozy bed this morning! After yesterday's full day of fun and big meal, I could have been under those covers for another hour or two! But, the family had some after-Christmas shopping plans (which means I need to get on with it so the whole family isn't waiting around!), and I have an end-of-year mileage goal in mind. So, this was not a day for sleeping in!

Did I say goal? Yeah, here's the deal -- my original mileage goal was 800 miles for the year (for some, random reason ... sounded good at the time), and somewhere back in late Fall (? -- I can't even remember now) I realized I needed to can the goal if I was going to have any fun because 800 miles seemed excessive. Excessive can really bring the bummer around, and I want this to remain mostly fun. Bye-bye, big, random goal!

I think it was then that I put 750 miles as my year-end target because it was reasonable, but I have no recollection of actually committing to it. I have a feeling that around the same time I revised my goal is when I also got sick for a week. I'm pretty certain I completely threw the whole goal concept aside at that time because I just wiped out 4 days of mileage, and four days is difficult enough to make up that 750 miles needed to not mean anything. Drat. My only real goal by that point was figuring out when to schedule a Rest Week (one end of the spectrum to the other, huh?) to regroup before beginning April's Half training. Suffice it to say, I never landed on a week for rest, either.

Totally together, I am!

Well, just this past Monday, I realized 750 miles was totally within reach if I worked for it because I was only 17 miles away. I admit that during a break where I was still pondering what day Rest Week should start, 17 miles seemed very, far away. But, between Monday and the 31st, there were four normal running days. Four days. Seventeen miles. Totally doable if I don't take a break. (Man! )

With the goal again in mind, I drug myself out of bed this morning, leashed up my running pal, and off we went in the very, chilly Winter wind! I'm not going to lie, I could relate to our Santa friend here in the beginning:

He looks rather sad, doesn't he?

I perked up a bit after getting our groove going and finding 2 pennies within a half mile of each other right there in the first mile!

Putting a penny in a pocket when you have gloves on is not an
easy task, so I had to stop for a second to do so. This stop gave
Elly a moment for extra sniffing. When she was finished, and
before I even told her to get back to running, she threw her head
to the left and knocked it right into that trash can. The can was
empty, so I feel no guilt in reporting that it was really funny.

I didn't map this route before heading out and, instead, went by instinct. I wanted to push for some good miles, but I didn't want to lock myself in from the beginning and get all hung up on the number. Sometimes it's inspiring knowing I'm going to accomplish a particular distance when, other times, it's a pain to think I have to go that far. I decided surprising myself in the end was today's motivation!

The run surprised Elly, too. We were about half way through when we passed a road that takes us home, and Elly has been on it many times. She's been on it so many times that she not only habitually turned toward it, but when I gave her the command to keep going forward, she kept turning her head back to let me know she was ready to go home. Over and over and over she turned, often with a desperate look in her eye, until she finally had to give in and go my way. 'Poor thing didn't know what she was in for when she signed on for this run!

Perhaps it was at this point for Elly, too, that she and I had the same realization: Last night's food was not great running fuel! You could probably guess from the intro's question that my fuel was the lasagna; I'm guessing you didn't assume Elly had the latter stash of candy. But, she did. That's what happens when a stocking stash is in her reach and she's unsupervised. What a booger. Anyway, neither of us did well with the fuel, but I suppose we had the activity reserves from which to pull to keep going! Again, I didn't know how far we were going, but the only way to finish was to commit to the end ... for both of us!

On our way up an often-dreaded hill (but the last hard push of the route! Yeah!!), we came across a fun, familiar sight! Remember this tree from last December?

Such a cute, little tree that received some love!

Here's this year's treatment:

I guess a little love is better than none?

We were well rewarded not just for getting up that hill, but at what turned out to be one mile to go, we came across 4 more pennies! I was pretty stoked and hoped finding 6 pennies was foreshadowing the distance in terms of penny-per-mile! It turns out, it was, literally, right on the money!

Hooray! We did it! We don't suggest
our pre-run meals as good ideas, but
they're nothing to keep you down, either.

With 6 more cents in pocket for the Food Bank, another BB for the stash (oh, yeah, found one of those, too!), and miles closer to the year-end goal, it will be up and at it tomorrow morning! We'll see you after!

Love For the Pit Crew

Merry Christmas, everybody!! I hope your morning started off just the way you wanted and your celebrations are happy!!

Included in ours was a gift to each Crewer from me:

That's a Pit Crew super score!

I used to put together a bag of goods for the Crewers to have while they waited for me on runs. That tradition slowly went to the wayside, but no one has really forgotten. So, when I didn't provide the original toaster pastry treat during the recent Jingle Bell Run, and there were questions regarding their potential whereabouts, well, what's a girl to do but to make sure there were some for each of them under the tree?!
This morning started out early and awesome! It's back to it tomorrow, so Elly and I will see you after our (very probable) sluggish morning run!

Stop and Sit. Good Doggy.

Merry Christmas Eve!! Elly and I started the day out just the way we wanted (only a little bit later than usual ... gotta sleep in on a holiday after staying up way too late to watch a movie after all!)! It was 23 degrees, but there was a bite in the air this morning from the wind, so we got our grooves on to get out there and get back inside! Cold: Good. Wind: Not Good.

I was thankful for the cold air, though, because it's keeping around the remnants from this week's snow! And, while we've seen some flurries, we're not counting on a totally white Christmas. Therefore, that which stuck around will probably have to do! Anyway, at one point during our run, I noticed how cool of a backdrop a still-snow-covered hill would make for my festive pup, so, out of nowhere, I told Elly to Stop and Sit.

The funny thing is that unless someone has a leash or Dentastick in hand, Elly has absolutely no idea why she'd be asked to sit. And, when in the middle of a run, she's double-confused! She did, however, immediately comply, and this was the turnout of the quick photo shoot:

Again practicing for her future in poetic
print ads ...

"Um, Mommy ... I thought we came out
here to run. And, my buns are cold
just sayin'."

Having her sit right there in the middle of the run was fabulous because she gave me one of those, "Um ... I'm really not sure what's going on but I will do what you're asking" looks. (It's like the same look I gave my 7th grade assistant principal when I was called to his office. You weren't called to his office unless you did something wrong. Little did I know I'd been busted for throwing a paper wad on the bus and had a bus ticket waiting for me.) Two clicks of the camera later, and we were again off!

We'd already cha-chinged 15 cents on our run when we came across a healthy dose of BBs ... excellent Christmas Eve fun!

I thought I was going to get a gift from Elly by bringing home two unused poo bags. Within 3/10 of a mile from home, she took back her gift intention and gave me a different one instead. But, that was okay. Who couldn't love this pup?

Oh, and Jacques? Yeah, I forgot to bring him along. Whoopsie. It turned out okay, though, because he was at home hanging with Daphne:

"We're the smart ones. The fools are out
in the cold ..."

Our original plan was to go for a Family Run tonight and check out the lights, but that's been vetoed given the breeze accompanying the cold! So, we'll be seeing the lights from the car! (Yay!) And, with that, I'm off to continue on with the celebrations and traditions! A night full of peace to you and yours!

Elly Speak

Hello friends, Elly here to let you know about the run I was not going to be left out of this morning! I made rootin' tootin' certain I was in the Family Run mix by being super annoying winding myself around any legs walking within three feet of my leash. Mommy finally got the hint, hooked up my riding companion, Jacques, and we were all out the door!

It was 26 degrees as duly noted by Mommy. That's quite warm to me as I sport the fabulous fur. Of course, Mommy had to declare how great the temperature was, Daddy had to throw in a faux cry, and PC#3 noted how it felt great outside even though he only had on one shirt layer. Might I mention that singular layer was on backward and, when pointed out, he turned it forward while  running. The lad has mad skills.

Jacques and I simply have swagger:

We rock.

Speaking of undeniable style, check me and Daddy out when we took a very brief pause toward the end of the run (because Mommy was investigating the frost on Daddy's cap ... how cool is that?!). I'm pretty certain this shot could be submitted for a print ad of some sort ... I'm thinking perfume. Can't you just hear the commercial narrator being all poetic about looking into the distance and looking back on your past?

Brad Pitt does that weird Chanel commercial ... might he lend
his voice to our certain, upcoming commercial? He doesn't even
have to appear ... which would be cheaper ...

Back to reality, there's nothing fancy at all about these family outings, but they are the highlight of my days! (Well, that and when I get my evening Dentastick ... yeah!!!) I hear Mommy's running tomorrow morning, so I'll see what I can do about not being left behind! We'll see you tomorrow after (see how optimistic I am?)!!

Bank For The Bank!

I just had to share that in one month's time, Aaron and I collectively have found $1.65 just walking around!

There are two quarters in that stash! Booyah!

If this rate keeps up, and  if my current rate of finding money while running maintains, we will have between $25 and $30 to give to the Food Bank just from money we've found !! That's bank that benefits the Bank, my friends!

Let's see what we can spy tomorrow among the four of us as my plan is for a Family Fun Run! I'll report as to the plans of all after my assured run! See you then!

Want-To-Dos

On this rest day, I had a lot of things I wanted to do. So, while I was busy, Lizzy found one of her favorite things to do:

"Ah, yes ... curled up and comfy ..."

"Disturb my slumber, and the big paw comes out."

She has a bit of an attitude. In the meantime, Elly found one of her very favorite things to do:

Elly steals every chance she can get to curl up with fleece!

And, finally checked off of my want-to-do list was to remake Elly's Rudolph bandana. It wasn't in her bandana box which is weird. With no other use for it, you'd think it would have been with the other bandanas. Seemed not, so Elly has not been as visually primed for Christmas as I normally like. Finally, she's in fashion:

Such a strong, proud puppy and looking
simply mah-velous!! She'll look very put
together for Sunday's run, don't you think?

Elly loves to show off her bandana changes,
but with no one else home to see it, she just
kept waiting for more pictures to be taken.
She does love the puparazzi.

By the way, I think our household aided in bringing on the snow by calling to it with our window decor:

Maybe if I'd decked out the window with all of the snowflake
gels I have we would have gotten even more snow!

With other items on my want-to-do list, I'm off to see about accomplishing them! See you on tomorrow's Rest Day (I'm kind of digging this 2-days-in-a-row rest routine!)!

Unexpected Surprise!

I was all set to run outside in the cold this morning ... but, I was not prepared to wake up to this!

That's snow, baby!!

YAHOO!! I love snow!! Once snow is on the ground and I know what I'm working with, running in it is pretty fun. But, while it's coming down and there's no way to tell what spots seem to have traction and what spots are going to land me on my can.

So, it was another day to the treadmill (drat!)! The "I Love To Run" Facebook page recently had an excellent graphic wrapping up my sentiment about the treadmill:

Just sayin'; not dwelling.

Here are the morning before-and-afters, though! Here's our first before:

And, after!

Before (I'm kind of glad the snow gave me an excuse to not go out to run because the wind was whipping. Brrr ... and, annoying!!):

After! ('Feel like you're watching Sesame Street  yet?)

And, let's throw in an early "during":

I love those big, huge clumps of fluffy flakes!

And, here's not just a "during" but an "after treadmilling":

My man, a Diet Coke and snow ... the triple-threat of awesome!

Some days, it's as simple as getting up, getting it done however necessary and moving on with the day! Today was one of those. So, the Thursday miles were logged, and it's onward to start a fire in the fireplace!! See you tomorrow on Rest Day!

Sight Seeing

While stopped at a red light more than 3 miles into our run, I noticed I wasn't particularly sweaty, and I most definitely was not out of breath. I don't know if that means I'm well conditioned for the route I took, or if I really wasn't trying very hard today. Either way, I was almost finished, and I wouldn't have changed anything along the way had I noticed my ease earlier! Besides, right after my self assessment, Elly noticed something cool that took my attention. Check it out!

Now, I know very little about birds, but I did figure out this was a hawk. Of some sort (which is a step up from most of my bird identification: "Pretty."). This hawk was actually on the grass until we got too close which is when it took off with a good swoosh  of its very, large wings. That swoosh scared the crap out of Elly (which was funny). Fortunately for me, it landed nearby so I could still see it and take its picture until it was bored with me.

This is Elly either checking it out from the distance or wondering where on the grass it still was:

She looks so smart with her ears all perked up.

In addition to our hawk sighting, I also spied with my little eye ...

Often, it's the perfection of the coin's circle that tips me off
to the treasure lingering around me.

And, this is what Elly looks like when patiently waiting for me to pick up coins:

"Are we crossing? Are we changing directions? Just what are
we doing here? I'm so confused."

Between the gross nickel, its nearby penny friend and two other pennies, well, that's twice as many pennies as miles equalling a great run in my book no matter how sweaty I was. Or, was not.

One of those pennies has lived a very, hard life.

Tomorrow is supposed to be shivery-cold all day which means the morning is big-time-Brrr! I'll be putting my money where my mouth is about running in those temps, huh?! It's been a quite a while since having to do so, so it will be an adventure! I'll see you after braving the tundra!