Progress

Happiness is a Cake and a Smile

Yesterday I ran a 5K. Funny thing about the 5K - you get mixed reactions from people when you tell them you are doing one. And you can tell who has the running background and who doesn't based on the reactions you get.

Well, that should be a cake walk for you.

Short and easy, huh?

Really? You're JUST doing the 5K? Why? Are you injured?

People assume that if you are doing a 5K that you are doing a "fun run", a recovery or training run. Fact is, these HURT!! There is a big difference between "doing a 5K" and "racing a 5K".

This year I am focusing on short course so it makes sense for me to RACE the shorter distances. Last year, I trained for, and failed at, a winter marathon. I had IT band issues and it wrecked my run for the rest of the season. NOT THIS YEAR!! I am BACK! I PR'D THIS RACE!

Race day was cold, wet and miserable. I think the temp dropped 5-10 degrees between 7 am and 7:30 am. I am always afraid I will over dress so I didn't even think to bring gloves and therefore, my hands froze. Someone said it even hailed! While the weather conditions were less than ideal, the course was FAST - slight up-hill going out, all downhill on the way back.

While my time is still nothing a real runner would call "fast", it shows that I am making progress. And that is what I am most excited about - progress and results.

To celebrate, Carly (who ran the 1/2 Mary yesterday) and I went to my FAVORITE breakfast place - Succotash. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place - great diner food and cute hipster waiters.

Cute Carly

Cheers to progress, pancakes and good friends.

"It's more fun when you do things together!"

Robyn and Lazy-Eyed Villasi at the Pool

It's an inside joke between Paul and I, this quote from my uncle that I'm using as this post's title. I think Paul was washing my parent's car, or raking leaves, or something and my super-duper-uber nice uncle came out to help him and simply said, "It's more fun when you do things together." Okay, so maybe you had to be there.

Anyway... I usually train alone. Mostly because of my work or social schedule, but also because I just prefer to train alone. Hey, I pay a coach to write me a workout every day - a workout that is written just for ME. It's hard to find someone who is willing to do your workout with you at your pace, ya know?

But this past Sunday, I met Robyn at the gym for a swim and a run. Swimming with others is easy - you can physically be next to someone for the entire workout, but doing completely different things. Running on the treadmill is great too - you can chat away (or sweat, huff and puff away) right next to each other while doing two totally different workouts. I will say that it REALLY made a long Sunday afternoon at the gym FLY by and we got to catch up on all our girl gab (trouble fo' sho'!).

What else ... oh yeah, so I've been doing some crazy hard, crazy fun run workouts lately. Of course, the weather has been rather crazy awful so I'm doing most of them inside. Enter my OTHER training partner - the iPod. I admit, I'm a bad athlete and use music as a crutch to get through a tough workout. So what? Besides, it would just be pure torture to run for an hour at on the dreadmill listening to the pop-station-of-the-week at the gym ... all while staring at my frustrated/bored face in the mirror.

Here's the playlist that has been "training" with me for the last couple of runs:

• Number 1 - Goldfrapp
• Electric Feel - MGMT
• Ooh La La - Goldfrapp
• Hung Up - Madonna
• I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
• Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus (not proud of this one - but it does make me laugh!)
  
• Pon de Replay - Rihanna
• Stronger - Kanye West
• Great Expectations - Gaslight Anthem (pickin' up the pace)
  
• Where I Stand - Nothington
• The '59 Sound - Gaslight Anthem
• A Mistake - Nothington
• Flannigan's Ball - Dropkick Murphys (you know, cuz St. Pat's was last week)
  
• Neighborhood - Arcade Fire
• Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division (cool down song)

I will always be known for my eclectic taste in music, that's for sure!!!

Oh, and because you made it this far, I'll leave you with this funny photo... yesterday it was 70 degrees out!! But the snow from Saturday had not completely melted, leaving me with a new idea for an "ice bath" - but really, just left me with a numb ass.

Yeah, not one of my brighter ideas - but it makes a funny picture!

New Beginnings

Okay - gonna let the cat out of the bag here. Hopefully doing so won't jinx the streak I have going ... there are some big changes that will take place in April for me. Biggest change is that my best friend and I have decided to take different paths, after being on the same road for 12 years.

Details should not be discussed via public media, but I will say that it is a decision that we made together and is one that I think we are accepting well. We never followed the rules before and we aren't going to now - we have vowed to remain friends and, so far, I think are doing a pretty good job at following through on that.

We put the house on the market two weeks ago and we are already under contract! Of course, we priced it to sell, and with the market being the way that it is and us pressed for time, we made out the best we could. It's not ideal, but we did okay. I love this house but there will be others - there always is.

And with that - "there will be others" - I am really looking forward to the next few months!! I have always loved spring - warmer temps, new life breathed into grass, flowers and trees (oh how I will miss the huge lilac bush on the side of our house!). Spring has an even stronger meaning for me this year - MY new life.

I am super excited to be moving in with my very good friend, and teammate, Aubree Dock!! Last night we went to Home Depot and picked out new paint colors and again I was reminded of new beginnings. She is just a super girl and focused athlete! I haven't had a roommate since college (that was a disaster!) but I think this will work out just fine while I save up some cash and figure out where I am going.

Where am I going? What do I want to do? Questions I get from friends all the time. Right now I have one answer - I am going to train/race and have fun. I am going to stay in KC for at least a year and then, who knows. The world is my oyster and I can take as much time as I want, or as little time as I want, trying to figure it all out. I am thrilled by the adventure of it all!!

One thing is for sure - I am due for a vacation!!! Whew! So there is a little break between races this summer in July and another in August and I'm pondering where to go. Right now I'm leaning toward San Francisco or California wine country. Maybe I'll go by myself, or maybe I'll go with my friend MG - if I can convince her to leave NYC for a while. Of course, there is always NYC - LOVE that city!! Don't know if I could live there, but I sure do love visiting. So much going on all the time!

The calendar reminds me that today is the first day of spring. Ha! We woke up to 2-3 inches of snow this morning. If that isn't a kick in the face. I hear that Tuesday it is supposed to be 70 so there is a light at the end of this wicked tunnel of gray skies and cold, wet weather.

Cheers to new beginnings, new adventures and new life!

Spring in my step

Okay, so the last couple of days have been rainy, dreary and a little on the chilly side but I have a spring in my step! This morning while I was eating breakfast and looking out the window, I spied a Robin on the deck singing his happy little spring-time song and it made my day! Then, as I was taking out the trash (a dreaded chore), I noticed the spouts of the daylilies and hostas poking out of the ground. SPRING IS ALMOST HERE! And with Daylight Savings this Sunday - well, I can hardly just contain myself!!!

Tee hee!

Lots and lots of changes are taking shape in my life and if I can keep myself in check and not fall victim to self-sabotage, I should be sittin' pretty for the 2010 race season. The biggest positive that comes to mind, especially in the last couple weeks is my nutrition. Last week, without really even attempting it, or setting any sort of goal - I ate clean and healthy all week long! AND did not have a drop of alcohol all week (the weekend is another story all together). This week is even better - I purposefully made meals that were full of healthy ingredients and again, NO ALCOHOL! The crazy thing is - I don't even miss it! I'm not even craving it!!! I might even be able to get through this entire weekend without a drink!!

I know - THIS IS HUGE!!

Lots and lots of other things on the horizon for spring. My social calendar is filling up as well - but I'm keeping it balanced. A birthday party, a run with a friend, a fun 5K with co-workers, wedding shower, Phoenix concert, whew!

First race is May 2 - TriZou in Columbia, MO. That is also the day after my teammates' wedding on May 1. I am looking forward to both, obviously, but it will be SO hard to call it an early night and go back to the hotel to rest and get ready for the race while everyone is partying it up. NO SELF-SABOTAGE here! I will be prepared! I will visualize how I will say NO! to temptation (no to beer and wine, YES to cake!!!).

Training is still going well this week. The workouts look harder on paper and I'm actually a little surprised to find that I am able to complete them perfectly. Oh sure - they are still tough, but I guess what I am saying is that, I didn't know I could do THAT NOW. Ya know? Of course, my runs are still slow but they are getting there and I feel confident and happy.

And, shhh.... little secret.... come closer....

I actually have accomplished one of the goals I set for the year already. I moved up a lane at masters! It is awesome and sucks at the same time. It was kinda scary to make that move and it hurts SO BAD - just like it did when I first started going to masters two years ago. I always leave completely fried! But I'm there and will work like hell to stay there.

More exciting things to come in the next few months - but I don't want to give it all away now. Stay tuned!!!

March Update

Since I've been healthy, training has been going really well and I couldn't be happier. Just buzzing along doing the work, hitting the numbers (watts, send-offs, etc.) and getting ready for the season.

I had a minor set back this weekend - I was just so tired! Once again, I have to blame self-sabotage as I went out with friends and had too much fun!! I'm also suffering from a bit of sleep-deprevation the past couple of weeks. I can get to sleep just fine - but I wake up two or three times a night!!! Ugh! So frustrating!! I tried warm milk, hot baths, herbal tea - nothing is working. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

What else? Um ... I have registered for ALL of this years tris and saved a bunch by not doing anything too far away or longer than Olympic distance. Okay, Hy-Vee was the most expensive at $125 but I expected that. Kinda.

The weather here in the Midwest has taken a positive turn and spring is just 14 days away!! Hopefully we have seen the last of the snow and highs in the 30s. Knock on wood though - it has been known to snow here in April. Even though the weather has been lovely (sunny and 64 yesterday!) I have not ridden outside since November!! It is going to be a rude awakening when I do, I'm sure.

I'm trying out some new recipes from this awesome blog - but $11.99 for coconut butter?? I hope it has a long shelf life!!

That's about all. Hope your training/racing is going well!!!