Week/Weekend Update

First, here's a pic of Kona......

He is such a cutie and continues to be a great boy! No poops inside the house yet, and nothing destroyed yet....

Moving on....last week I got a run in w/a friend. We are both not where we are used to being, so it was nice to have someone to commiserate over our current fitness level with. Don't get me wrong, we are both in shape and workout/run regularly, just not at the level we like to be at. It was a good run none the less and we will run again tomorrow.
I also recently got new running shoes and skirts, which I mentioned before. I switched shoe brands which killed me to do, but Mizuno's were no longer working for me and the latest ones are cut differently and rubbed my ankle bones....so I made the switch to Saucony. They are much more cushioned and not as roomy in the toe box. Because of the cushioning, when my feet start to swell they tend to feel pretty tight, even with them being a full size larger then my normal size. My arches are also getting used to the new shoe and let me feel it on longer runs. I think once I am used to them and they are broken in I will like them.
I got 2 new running skirts, which is kind of a big deal for me. I tend to find an item I like and then stick to it. For example, the black outfit you always see me run in...well I have multiples of the same skirt and top. Things are revamped every season, so when I find something that fits comfortably and doesn't rub anywhere or chaff or ride up or...anything else, I like to buy multiples so I don't have to worry about clothes for a while.
Well with the mud run coming up and not wanting to wear my running staple outfit on the mud run course, I needed to find something else. I am just not willing to risk mud stains or tears to my favorites.
So I went with the company I like the least, Nike! I found 2 that fit well and are decent to look at and broke out of my comfort zone of only black and went w/hot pink. I have since run in both and love them both and am back to not wanting to wear either one for the mud run and risk damage : ) So here is the view of the new goods...
Ok, I think that finally brings me to the weekend. Emma and I started off Saturday with the District Science Fair. Finally. It had been moved back a few weeks. We went Friday night and set up, then Saturday she had to stand w/her project and answer questions anyone had. Then the advisers cleared the room of parents and visitors and asked the students questions and told them how good they did. It was not a judged event. All the kids got a ribbon, certificate, and a new binder. There was a science demo/assembly, and then a drawing for a dinner. They drew one student from each grade, and Em won for her grade in the district. So she (and the family) get to go to a dinner and present her project in front of everyone. (this is like the class project that just wont end!!) Papa, Myles and Sophie went in service while we did this. Speaking of service, Sophie will have some big news next month along those lines! : )
Saturday afternoon we did what usually is one of our favorite runs. Both Brian and I, but more so I, seemed to struggle through this one though. We did the See Jane course, but instead of turning left over the foot bridge, we always turn right to stay along the water and take in the view. We turned around at 4.5 miles, making for a 9 mile run. That is the furthest we have gone in a while, and it was not the greatest. Time wise it was fine, our normal pace, but it felt like I was dragging myself along and my body didn't want to cooperate. It wasn't even the typical run where you feel better once you are done...it just never felt great. But, the views were great, and the girls had fun on their bikes dodging the ground squirrels.
Sunday was meeting, followed by a few hour long quarterly elder meeting. I picked up Brian with a change of clothes for him and the car loaded w/our running gear ready to do some time at the reservoir. After driving there, I realized I had forgotten the key card we have to have to open the gate to park....so we drove home and I ran at home to keep the streak alive! I did manage to run everyday last week and only had to run indoors twice. It felt good to get some decent mileage in, even though not every run felt great.
Ok, so you are up to date!
Should be a fun week this week with a run with a friend tomorrow, Airobics again on Thursday, and the Diablo Trails Challenge Saturday. I am hoping we get some good rain this week so the creeks will be full for the run on Saturday....I would love for the girls to get to run through some creeks during this run!

Last NIght's Class

So we went to the 'Airobics' class last night and it was pretty fun! It is a 55 minute class w/a 3 minute break in the middle. Everyone gets their own square (if you watched the video you know what I mean).
As far as workouts go, it is a good workout to get your sweat on and get in some cardio. It was challenging, but I am not sore at all today. A lot of the moves were the same as I have been doing with the Insanity workout, so to do them on a trampoline was fun. Think plyometrics on a trampoline. Initially I felt it all in my calves, but after a minute of getting a feel for things, I concentrated on engaging my abs and soon felt it there too. Some of the moves included variations of moguls, high knees, butt kickers, heel tappers, running mans, jumping jacks and also mid-air jumping jacks - loved these - some floor work consisting of planks, sit ups, around the worlds, and then a minute of whatever exercise you wanted to do. There was some "jumping" laps around the room that I had a hard time with. It was hard to get your jumping rhythm down to make it from one square to the next. There was some jumping and playing catch at the same time w/your partner. In the end there was some running up onto the wall (walls are also trampolines) and back down, and a cool down of stretching at the end.

The kids were able to jump and play in the other 3 areas during the class, and we could see them pretty much at all times. There was an 8 and under area, dodge ball area, and a foam pit area. They had a blast!

This place was clean, bathrooms clean, staff friendly and good with the kids. The instructor teaches the Thursday and Saturday class, sometimes Tuesday although she said that Tuesday is an easier class and sometimes has a different instructor. It was not crowded at all, but I imagine the Saturday morning class would be.

Yesterday ended up being a pretty great day for getting a burn in. I did my Jillian workout for 1.2 hours in the morning, ran 5 miles with Brian on his lunch break, then did the class in the evening. Brian rode 16 miles on his bike, a 5 mile run, and then the class.

I have plans to go next Thursday with a sis and am looking forward to it!

Air, Anyone?

Tomorrow night Brian and I and some Mud Run friends are taking the "Airobics" class at this place......I will try to keep Brian from busting out his secret Parkour moves (he's a huge fan these days)! Just hoping the class does not involve any flips. I am looking forward to it, though, and hoping it's wonderful and I love it and it can be the source of many fun "girls night out's" in the future!

I will let you know how it goes, how the class stacked up as far as a "workout" goes, and if it will be the future spot for fun nights out with friends!

(P.S. - I watched a ton of videos looking for one w/a song that didn't have swear words. Apparently jumping looks better when set to obscene music?? I came across this video and song and it reminded me of my sis.....and of some abs I saw recently on American Idol...so this was the winning video : )

PPS.- Day 3 of the Streak and it stands! Small victories should be celebrated : )

Let the Streaking Begin!

Starting today, I will streak every day, once a day, for at least a mile.

I mean that in the running sense of course. In January I thought about having a goal of a year long streak, which is the more traditional way of streaking. There are groups, clubs, organizations all across the country that you can join. I thought about it for a minute.....but seeing how the last few months have been about resting up and recovering from last year, didn't seem like a bright idea.

Now, however, I find myself a few months later, and very, very well rested. : ) We do have 2 fulls on the calendar in the next 8 months, but training for San Fran wont start until mid April. We are Auxiliary Pioneering in April (under the 30 hour plan) and will get all our time in on the weekends....so training will completely consist of mid week runs, probably under 10 miles depending on daylight in the evenings. We have a few fun races between now and San Fran, but nothing that will require "training" for....so what is a girl to do to get re-motivated. How do I start to even want to get my "game face" back on?? I have definitely kept up with my workouts, haven't' missed any and on some days have done doubles, back to back....let me just say...if you find yourself keeping up with your strength training and not keeping up with your running....don't get on the scale!!

So, back to running. Well, it's always been about goals for us. If we don't have a goal, we aren't working towards anything, and we tend to slack off. I love running, and I would love to be able to say I love it so much and I care about my health enough that I run regularly because of both. But that's not the truth. I run regularly when I have something to train for, or a goal...no matter how random. Remember spring break 2 years ago?? The 40 miles in 4 days challenge?? No reason, just to see if we could...and we did. So for me, this month, it's The Streak. Run every day, for at least 1 mile. Treadmill, outside...doesn't matter.

We had 'date night' on Saturday and ended up at Sports Authority where my hubby let me spend more time and money than I should have. I have 2 new running skirts, a new (and may I add amazing!) Under Armor sports bra, a Nike running top, and a random shirt. I am very much NOT a Nike fan ( I will save that for another post), but it was a cheap top, and fit well. I am geared up in my new clothes, ready to get day #1 of the streak underway!

Before that though, I must give a shout out to my fellow Mud Run gals. I cannot say enough how amazing you both are looking (and feeling, I'm sure!). I know you have both put a lot of hard work into the past few months, and it is showing! You have both totally impressed me and amazed me with your determination and drive and commitment to getting ready for this race. You have also instilled a fear that I didn't have initially in regard to this race, but am now a little worried about keeping up with the 2 of you! You should both feel great about what you have accomplished!

Oh, one more thing I forgot to add to the schedule on the side over there, but we added the Diablo Trails Challenge on March 19th. This is a course we are very familiar with having hiked it often with the kids. It starts out of Castle Rock Park (the hike we do w/the caves...you've seen pictures here before, Melissa and kids hiked here w/us, too) and is a run we have been wanting to do w/the kids. It is a wet one, muddy one, has a few creek crossings this time of year, and should be a total blast. Brian, me, Em and Soph are doing the 5k. It is a Brazen run, so of course the girls will be out there w/a goal of getting age division medals, although this is a popular run and it will be tough!

Alright, well.....time to streak!

Introducing......

"King Kona Kamehameha"

Puppy Love

We just got home with our little man. He is such a love!! He has a beautiful mom and papa and had lots of sisters and one brother. He cried a bit on the way home, but now is off and exploring his new home and has already had his first outside potty!

Suprise!!

We have been keeping it quiet for a while now......


Our family is expecting a new addition!!!


We are expecting another boy.

We have been keeping it quiet and low key, but now that we have told the kids they are very very very excited and are alive with the excitement of having a new little one around to look after and take care of.

We have decided to let the kids pick his name, so now the only question is will we have a little, harry, black "Prince Charming".....or "Bolt"....or "Kona".....or "Nemo" running around the house?

We will see him for the first time on Saturday and after we have him home and get to know him better, we will put names in a hat and pick one.

I love Miniature Schnauzer's and while it has been many years since we had Tuff Tuff, I can't wait to have another puppy in the house and all the excitement and adventure they bring. Bubba will have a partner by his side in the jogger again!

So....did I have you going for a minute???