I Can Read!

Monday: 1.5 miles on treadmill
Tuesday: 1 mile on treadmill

I have been busy at the local library.

First up, Bringing Up Bebe.

This was an interesting book. An easy read.

I am not looking for sage advice on parenting with this book.
I just wanted an easy read. And this was good.

There were some interesting points discussed and allowed me to think and consider the way I would want to bring up my child.

Last week, I borrowed this from the library.

This is a page-turner.

However, if you have watched his program on 20/20 or on Fox, you would have know most of what he wrote in this book.

(Don't worry. That was not a real mimosa. Just OJ and some Sierra Mist)

Today, I went and got this book from the library.
Nothing like a little true serial killer story to get the blood pumping.

So far, so good. It is a little difficult to put the book down.

Yesterday, I went to the doctor for another routine check-up.

I even got to see the ultrasound of the baby.

Baby C is quite an active little thing. Bet Baby C is getting those legs ready for running!

Here's me at Week 18.

We have been doing some great job at growing!

Lose Yourself

Ran Thursday: 3 miles in 34 minutes. Uneventful treadmill run.
Push-ups: Friday=20.
Total push-ups to date=120.

*

On Thursday, after work, instead of taking a direct route home,
I drove through the windy country roads.
Sometimes, we just need to take the off-beaten path, to "disappear" from the regular life,
to "lose" yourself to something/some place new, different, unfamiliar.
The thing was, I wasn't sad or angry. It was a good day at work.
But I just wanted to be by myself, away from all the usual things.
I ended up parking by the side of the road, stared at the vast land ahead of me and the vast sky above me. I broke down and cried. And quite, frankly, I didn't know what I was crying about.
It didn't take but less than five minutes.
And I was back on the road again.

*

I received more goodies in the mail this week.
Bought some Gu Chomps (strawberry flavored) and a running light for my running friend.
I am excited to give it to him tomorrow when we meet up for a run.
It's a "Thank You for driving and running whenever I want" gift.

The biggie in the Road Runner box:
New running shoes.
I bought the same pair, same size, same color. 
The only difference?
The new smell!

 

I have been busy reading too!

Here's just a stack of what I am working on.

(And I am an extremely SLOW reader).

This Chicken Soup for the "runners" soul has been a really good read.

I like how the stories are short, but always motivating and uplifting. 
I have been reading a story at the dining table with my breakfasts.
Thank you Christine for this wonderful Christmas gift that I am still enjoying.

Under the Chicken Soup book is an iPad with a story for the beginner runner.
Will do a review when I am done.

Under that iPad is The Pregnancy Bible.

Like I said, running is a whole lot easier than getting pregnant.
Running is within your control. Getting pregnant - so out of your control. 



Lend A Helping Hand ....

All right, my dear running friends... 


You have a few kids books laying around your house that your kids have obviously outgrown?  Why not do some good with them?  

The Pink Girl over in Texas is working on a book drive.

 

"I'm collecting books for the USO project, United Through Reading.  As service men and women sit at the international terminal, waiting for the flight that will carry them into danger and away from their families, they can select a children's book.  UTR will film them reading the book then send the book and the recording the the child.  Before I run the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30th, I'm hoping to collect 262 books (one for each mile and also the nubbin!)  to donate to this fantastic program.  Will you help me reach my goal?

E-mail me for deets.  thatpinkgirl AT gmail DOT com. 

Hoping to have the 262 by Oct 15th so we can deliver before I leave for D.C.!"

Isn't this a wonderful project? 
So, help a fellow runner out ....
Send some love. Send some books.

Training Starts Now!

New week.
New goals.

New TRAINING SEASON!!!  (Love training for something. I hate running around aimlessly.)

Today marks the start of a new training season.
The next half marathon is on Oct 29th. (More about this specific race in later posts).
Christine helped me find a half marathon training program on Saturday evening.  I settled on Galloway's. Basically, I will do two 30-minute runs on the weekdays and a long run on the weekends.  For the 30 minute runs, I am doing some modifications. I am going to run with a purpose - fartleks, hills, tempo... you know... all that good stuff. Today, I ran 30 minutes, 2.85 miles, average 10:30/mile, at 1% incline.


Sleep has been really funky!
I am totally functioning on a not-school-night sleeping hour. That translates to sleep all day and stay up all night.  Which also means that my running, despite being the first thing I do in the morning, is actually the last thing I do before I go to bed (at 7 a.m.)
Told you it was funky!

Here are a few random thoughts and things that happened today.

I am one who needs to be in control. Running gives me absolute control of myself (compared to my life, where my decisions pretty much revolve around someone, something etc.) 

Corinthians 13:1 to 13:13.   I'm not a Christian, but this is so true. And I will learn to love with respect, with kindness. There are many good morals that anyone can learn and will likely benefit from. 

Starting today, for a week, I will be without any soda. No Diet Cherry Limeades, no Coke Zero, no Diet Coke. Just water and unsweetened iced tea and milk and juice.  So far, this day is good.

I got this wonderful gift from a friend from graduate school in the mail today. She is the nicest, kindest, most sincere Christian I have ever met.  I can talk to her about god without her telling me that her god is the best, is the real deal. We can have open discussions about things like that. Her actions speak of a true Christian. Anyway, she sent this book to me because we had a conversation about Christ, and since I was a journalist before I was a speech-language pathologist

And that sums up today.  Tomorrow, I am going to strength-train/cross-train. I cannot wait to run again on Thursday!

And if you are hesitating about doing a half marathon, or 10K, or the whole entire freaking marathon, sign up! Live this remaining summer, fall and winter with a goal, with something to look forward too.

When I run, the stress in my body melts away.

Friday Fillers

Anne Marie over at Goals for the Week dedicated her Friday's post to EMZ. Basically it is about "filler blogs" and why we blog.  Click on the links for some interesting reads. 


Here's my 2-cents.
I started this blog with the sole intention of sharing my runs. I realized that my mind gets really random when I run. It's not possible to share my running experiences without sharing all those random thoughts. And my random thoughts usually are related to real-life experiences.  So there you go - here's a blog that's running-related with real-life thrown into the mix. 


Here's a little real-life + running.

I found a package for me on the front porch this morning before I drove to work.  I controlled myself and didn't open it until lunch time.
I found these:

I chatted with a friend in college recently on the phone about him being a new dad and all the wonderful joys of being a father.  When asked about how I am doing recently, I found myself talking INCESSANTLY about running. So, while at a used book sale, he came across these two books and purchased it for me. This was an absolutely thoughtful gift because this was an absolutely sweet gesture that totally acknowledged my love for running.  Thanks Vinay!

********

Aneta over at My Running Bucket is going through a pretty fantastically exciting phase of her life - moving into her new love nest!  I was one of the first people to comment on her blog about a survey/random tidbits. So, here you go.

4 TV Shows I Watch:   I don't have cable anymore and haven't watched TV at home in 2 years. But when I go online, I will watch   
Gossip Girl  +  America Next Top Supermodel   +  Beverly Hills 90210   +   Law and Order  

4 Things I'm Passionate About:

Family     +       Boyfriend              +            Running           +    Cooking

4 Words/Phrases I Use Too Much:

Goodness     +       Silly Goose          +     Oh man!         +       I don't know.  

4 Things I Have Learned From The Past:

If you feel an injury brewing, stop and RICE.

Surround yourself with positive, responsible people.

I can do anything I set my mind to it.

I often underestimate my abilities.

4 Things I Am Looking Foward To:

My brother's wedding in 2012    +   Paddy Wag growing up and running alongside me   +  Always the next time I get to spend with my boyfriend     +   Seeing my parents and best friend. 

4 Things I Love About Winter:

Cold with possibility of snow   +  Christmas and break   +   Winter fashion/accessories   +   Fireplace 

Now, consider yourself tagged in your blog or pick a category and share the 4 things on the comments section below.

Happy Friday y'all!