Wannabe Runner

After sitting out in the cold for 3 days (OK so maybe it’s not cold, and I know the desk doesn’t have feelings…), the desk has been adopted (again, I realize it doesn’t have feelings, but just roll with it).

Just thought you should know.

Courtesy of ihasahotdog.com.

Let it be known, my post today will not be about working out.

Nicole (my roommate) and I are moving. OH so much fun! Not…although I can’t really complain because for the first time in a while, I will live in a whole house Very exciting stuff.

I consider myself a gypsy of sorts. I think moving 9 times in 5 years allows me to classify myself as such.

Yada, yada, yada, anywho…the point of the story is that I have been so busy cleaning, shampooing carpets, and the like, that I may not be partaking in P90X this week. I know, you are sad panda and I’m sorry. BTW when I was looking up sad panda, for those of you who are not familiar with the term, on Urbandictionary.com (yes that was a shout out), I found a new term – “drive-by friending.” Hahahaha. And so it begins…the new feature, phrase of the week. OK, enough with my apparent ADD.

But I do have an announcement to make…

FREE DESK!!! Free, you ask. YES, FREE!!!! I can’t take it with me, but YOU can. It’s located curb-side on Hiddenhollow Cr. in Bryan, Texas. It’s in pretty good shape. You know you want it! We had a good run, but I can’t keep it.

OK, I think that’s enough advertising for one day. Hope y’all have a great day, and I will be back to update you on moving/possibly P90X/running.

Cheers!

I have to say, my best friend Kelly is responsible for this post. Thanks Kel!

I got up this morning at 6, laced up my running shoes, and went on a much need mile-long run. The Brown Dog has really become quite a heifer and I think lately she’s been kind of miserable.So no more excuses. I must run, if for no other reason than the fact that the Brown Dog needs it.

Iz a happy goggie (you'd understand if you read ihasahotdog.com)

It wasn’t the easiest mile I’ve ever run, by far, but I did run it all and I am getting back into the swing of things. I thank P90X and my former personal trainer for keeping me in decent shape, so it’s not like starting from scratch. I say former personal trainer, because I had to stop working out with him. Between needing money for our wedding, and the fact that he couldn’t make it on time, or had to cancel (an hour before our scheduled time no less), I had to fire him. Se la vie.

Yada, yada…

So why, you ask, is Kel responsible for this post?

I got a text message from Kelly last night, and she told me that her half marathon is a month and a half away. I told her that I needed to start running again. When my alarm went off at 6 this morning, I went to hit the snooze and saw that I had a new text message. Of course it was Kel. Her message said, “You you do [need to start running again]. You need to start writing on your blog again.”

So here VOILA! Here it is Kel!

On the wedding front

We’ve had a pretty productive few weeks. Jared and I went to Victoria last weekend and met with a photographer (who wanted to charge WAY too much for pictures), looked at two potential reception venues (we picked Power Avenue Warehouse! YAYYYY!), met with the Priest who is going to marry us (Father David is the coolest), I think we’ve decided on a caterer, and we have reserved a DJ. I don’t know why some people think wedding planning is so stressful. It’s been a breeze so far.

I met with another photographer yesterday who I think we are going to go with. So check, check and check that is all off the list. *Gives self high five*

By the way…I just found a website called bridezilla.com. People are crazy man.

Hahahaha! Bridezilla...some people have too much free time

Alright, I gotta go finished getting ready for work. I’ll update you after my P90X workout this afternoon. TGIF!!!!!

I know, I know, it’s been a while…

In my defense (and to be used as a valid excuse) I’ve been on the road a lot lately for work. Last week it was Waco and Brenham, and yesterday it was Deer Park. So I haven’t had a  whole lot of time to write.

I am also packing. Right now (if you know me at all)  you might be thinking that I live a gypsy kind of lifestyle. Which is sort of true. Moving 8 times in the last 5 years has certainly been an experience (and a pain in the ass), but it also teaches you to be lean when it comes to your belongings. I like to travel light. OK maybe I’m just trying to look on the bright side, but whatever.

Yada, yada , yada

(Any time I say this it reminds me of Seinfeld, “I met this lawyer, we went out to dinner, I had the lobster bisk, we went back to my place, yada yada yada, I never heard from him again.”-Elaine. If you haven’t seen that episode you should check it out.

So anywho…

P90X is flippin’ sweet. I really didn’t think that I would enjoy it but I LOVE it! My favorite is Kenpo and my least favorite (at least right now) is Yoga X. I know, I know, you are saying why does she not like yoga. Well, I actually do like yoga, but it’s been so long since I have done it, I’m a little out of yoga-shape. So, I’m trying to have a positive attitude about it, because after all, it’s yoga, and yoga is a lot about having a positive attitude/outlook. Right?

My roommate, Nicole, and I are packing up our duplex to move into a real house! Woo hoo! And lucky for me, we get to move on my birthday. Greeeeaaaattt.

Alright I gotta run. But I’ll catch up later.

New news

Soooo…after a well-deserved long vacation at the WONDERFUL Disney World in Florida, I’m back – AND engaged!

That's right, he proposed to me in front of Cinderella's Castle! Totally shocked...obviously.

You read that correctly – ENGAGED…to the man of my dreams <3

OK, OK I’ll stop being corny.

Since I’ll be getting married in about a year, and since I’ve got to get serious about the half marathon in November, my roommate and I started P90X this week. Today was day two, and let me just say, it’s no piece of cake. Tony Horton will kick your butt, but in a good way (if there is such a thing).

I’ve also decided to get back on the blogging trail.

My best friend is moving to Costa Rica and inspired me again when she started blogging. Check out her travel blog.

I will commit to follow P90X and blog about that and running each day that I do it. I may even throw some wedding-planning commentary in once in a while.

The Wannabe is back and better than ever.

What, WHAT! Ran again today.

I’m very proud of the fact that I haven’t lost much of my stamina. I will say though that my heart rate was up for the entire run today. A quick look at my Garmin tells me that my average heart rate was 172. Freakin nuts! We ran 2.6 miles in about 30 minutes. Not too shabby.

Well, Shiner and I are pretty pooped.We are just sitting on the couch watching the History Channel’s series, The Universe. Caution: I’m about to get philosophical (at least as philosophical as I get).

This is the Orion Nebula. This is an actual image, not a painting. Pretty humbling huh?

Watching this really makes me think: How many times a day do you think you’re the center of the Universe?

I know for me, the answer is way too often.

It also brings another question to mind: how often do you take it everything around you for granted?

Again, for me the answer is all the time.

This is the beautiful thing about dogs (especially my dog).

1. She never thinks she is the center of THE Universe. On the contrary. She thinks I am the center of the Universe.
2. She never takes one minute for granted. She is always happy to see me, always grateful to go on a run.
3. Even though she sometimes eats too much, she never complains about being too full, too fat, or too anything

I have a theory that if humans were more like dogs, we would be a better species.

So with that in mind, I’ll leave you with this. I’m so grateful for God, and everything He has given me: every person (or four-legged friend), every moment, every breath, and every stride during a run.

Enough of the philosophy.

See ya next time. And until then, happy trails and happy running.

YES! I’m back.

I noticed the other day that the brown dog is getting quite plump. I’ve continued working out since the half marathon, so I have not been thus effected by the lack of running. I do love my dog, though, and I can’t stand the thought of being responsible for her shorter life span, due to the fact that I haven’t been running.

What does that mean?

It means, we ran 2 miles tonight (pats self on the back). Surprisingly enough I ran shorter splits than I normally do, and finished the 2 miles in 22 minutes (I ran a nine minute mile on the first one and then walked part of the second).

It also means no more excuses for not running. Period.

So, I’m rededicating. For those of you out there with my similar mentality of “if I don’t have anything to train for, what’s the point of running,” I feel you, dude.

Sooooo – the San Antonio Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon is November 14, 2010.

And I will be running it.

Let the countdown begin!

My amazing mom (who is always right) and super-cute nephew, Cooper.

Soooo, my mom is one of my biggest fans. Which is just about the greatest thing ever, but lately it’s been difficult for me to get motivated about blogging when I feel like I have nothing to blog about.
I’ve stopped running as much as I was. Fail.

And, I know it’s the classic excuses, but I’ve just been super busy. Fail again.

Regardless of all that, what momma says is usually right, right?

Right.

So here I am still blogging.

I forgot to tell you that in my quest to drop my body fat percentage, I have acquired a personal trainer. His name is Adam at Aerofit and he has been making me log my food all week. Turns out I have been eating HORRIBLE.

My first meeting with him is on Thursday, so I have a feeling I’m going to get yelled at from day one. Sweet.

Check this out…

Badass of the week: Dana Casanave.

Why, Dana?

She’s running 52 marathons in 52 weeks to support South African AIDS orphans.

Go to her blogspot to donate to her cause.

OK that’s all for now. Have a fabulous Tuesday (yes I will post TUESDAY LOLS in a little bit). Until then happy trails and happy fast moving on feet (you may be scratching your head right now, but we are going for synonyms of the word running this week).

For a few weeks now (2 to be exact), I’ve been trying to figure out what my next personal challenge should be.

Was it to train for another half marathon? I felt like the answer was no.

Was it to see how many races I can do in a year? Again, no.

I felt like it needed to just hit me…

And so it did:  I was on Facebook today and I’m a fan of CoolRunning.

They posted an article about your ideal racing weight. According to the article, “Because of the strong influence of individual factors, there is no way to accurately predict your lowest healthy body fat percentage, although it is likely to fall in the range of 3 to 9 percent if you’re a male under 40, 5 to 12 percent if you’re a male over 40, 12 to 17 percent if you’re a female under 40, and 15 to 20 percent if you’re a female over 40.”

Since I fall into the “female under 40″ category, we’re looking at 12-17 percent.

Which means?

I’ll give you a hint: I’m not even close to having 17 percent body fat.

So my next mission is to try and trim up. I’ll be letting y’all know what I’m doing – the way I’m eating, working out and changing my outlook on “the body of a runner.”

BTW running today with my friend Hanna. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Until then, happy trails and happy running!

So I know I’ve been MIA lately. I’m trying to decide what to do now that I have conquered the Austin Half Marathon.

I will keep you updated…

….but until then enjoy. An elderly couple walked into the Mayo Clinic for a checkup and decided to play an impromptu piano recital. They’ve been married for 62 years and he’ll be 90 this year. LOVE IT!