As if you asked...11 things

I started my day right with a quick 3 mile run to help wake me up this morning.  That a.m. habit is coming along quite nicely!  Yesterday the lovely Katye at Long Legs on the Loose tagged me, so here goes:

Here is how it works:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 Random Things About me…

1. I like black licorice.
2. My husband and I got engaged in a chat room. 
3. I feel the most comfortable surrounded by trees.
4. My husband taught me to drive a stick shift and now I can't imagine driving an automatic.
5. I have three screws in my jaw.
6. I am in love with CEP Compression.  Seriously.in.love.
7. I have sat in the same spot at church my entire life.
8. On the rare occasion that I hit a bunny or squirrel with my car, I cry.
9. My first car was an AMC Pacer.  Loved it.
10. I re-hang toilet paper when it's hung wrong.  (Right = paper over)
11. I have never voted.

 

Katye's Questions:

1. If you absolutely had to change your first and middle name, what would you change them to?  First name to Samantha
2. If you could just drop all responsibilities for a week with not negative outcomes, what would you do with that week?  I would spend the entire week hiking on the AT. 
3. What pattern best fits your personality and why? Animal? Stripes? Dots? Plaid? Paisley?  Argyle actually  I like structure but with a bit of personality.
4. If you could take up any career for a month, what would you pick?  Only a month?  I'd probably want to be field guide in a state park taking groups on extended hikes.
5. Trendy or timeless?  Timeless
6. Are there any brands (can be any kind of brand) that you just can’t live without?  no
7. If you could create your own endurance event, what would it be? Place? Time? Event? Prize? What else?  If I had the time and resources I would want to create an event that supported people hiking/fastpacking/running the AT.  The problem it takes to long for most people to be able to commit to doing it.  So in reality if I ever really did this, it would be a distance event (probably from half marathon through 50 miles) in my home town through mostly trails and forests. 
8. If you are running out the door and can only tag one bag with you for the day, what would it be? Gym bag? Purse? Mommy Bag? Brief case?   I carry a string back pack every day.  It has everything it in.
9. What was one article of clothing from your childhood that you distinctly remember and what makes it so memorable?  Rosebud duds.  They are a brand of blue jeans.  Memorable because my mom, grandmother and I had to go to a special store out of town to get them.  They were the only jeans that they could make to fit my then super slim body.  I loved the individual attention my mom and gram gave me when we went.  Though later in life being singled out turned out to be the start of a skewed body image.
10. What’s your bedroom look like? Do you love it or would you change it up?  my bedroom is a mess.  I wish I could take everything out of it. go through it all then only bring back what I actually use/need.  Like that show Clean Sweep.
11. Just for the hell of it, what Chinese Zodiac year were you born in? Google it if you must ; )  I was born in the year of the Rooster. 

My Questions:

1. Link a blog post that you loved but thought it didn't get enough response.  Why did you feel it should have seen a bigger audience?
2. How many social media sites do you maintain?  Do you ever think of cutting back?
3. When was the last time you ate M&Ms?
4. What one decision or choice you made/had earlier in your life would you change if you could?
5. How many pair of running shoes do you currently own?  actually use?
6. If you could instantly give one of your children your current life, would you?  Does that tell you that you are happy with where you are or not? 
7. If you said you weren't happy with your current life, what would you do to change it?
8. What is your favorite drink?
9. How many miles a month do you drive?
10. When is the last time you flossed our teeth?
11. What was your favorite toy to play with as a child?

Since this post has been nearly every where only consider yourself tagged if you haven't done this yet and want to join in the fun.  Just let me know in your comment so I can hop over and read your answers.

Happy Tuesday

Labels

What a wonderful fun-filled weekend our family enjoyed! It was an unusually short one with the super secret spy not being off an extra day like we have gotten so used to thank to the holidays but we still packed a lot of family time into the hours we had.

Sporting my new ChiRunning hat.  Part of my HBBC haul!

Thanks Amanda!

I finally got outside and enjoyed the milder weather on a nice run around VA.  Not the 24 miles long run that this week called for but a nice rework of the plan allowed for more family time and still a decent long hilly run.  With safety being brought back to the forefront of my mind and I am certain many other's too, I have been struggling with getting outside for long runs.  That feeling of safety is something I have to work on getting back.  Maybe it's more a need to feel prepared and aware.

After a messing weekend we did have to do some chores like cleaning the floors. Which was made easier with the Shark. Even the kids didn't mind helping especially helping to put the box to good use.

LBM can make everything chore more fun with his antics!

Teamarcia got a little free press with S'ghetti girl's new shirt.

Speaking of shopping, I noticed something troubling while we were shopping. 

Labels.

You might notice that I don't wear a wide variety of clothes.  I wear the same running outfits frequently and even in casual photos I am often sporting the same argyle purple or black sweater.  That is because I don't like to shop.  So I don't do it very often. 

If fact the only pair of blue jeans that I own that fit were purchased about 7 years ago.  They look terrible on me now and were part of the reason I finally gave in and went shopping.

The other reason is that my poor dressing habits have be adopted by my beautiful daughter.

I am not doing her any favors setting such a terrible example.

While I don't want her to be too wrapped up in her appearance, I do want her to care about herself enough to look her best given the situation.

I guess I want her to take pride in looking nice to an appropriate degree. 

It's a fine line, right?!

S'ghetti girl lives in seat pants.  If it is not warm enough to wear skirts she will be wearing one of a few pair of sweats that she owns.  While sweats have their place they shouldn't be the only pants she wears.

Enter the dreaded Blue Jean label.

We went to countless stores and until the next to last store every single label share one word:

s.k.i.n.n.y

First off, my daughter is of an appropriate for her height and age.  She is healthy and beautiful.  While she may not be a active as some children she is by no means over weight.  Yet time and time again she was told that her body was somehow not "right" after she tried on pair after pair after pair of blue jeans. 

Of course, no one said that directly to her but I can remember being that adolescent girl struggling with no longer being a child and not yet being ready to be what come next.  Even though I repeatedly told her that everyone has to go through all these different styles and cuts to find the pants that fit them best, she was still brought to tears in the dressing room after dozens of pairs simply didn't work with her shape.

s.k.i.n.n.y

I h.a.t.e that word.

If you really follow me you know that I never use that word.  The H one.

There is very little worse than seeing your daughter struggle with something that shouldn't even be an issue.  I tried my best to tell her that it's just a pair of pants.  And we did find several that she would agree to wear and honestly they a super cute on her.  I just worry that everything she wears them she will remember the experience and view herself negatively.

I wish I had a magic ball to see if this one experience was going to affect her or if all the praise and love she is given daily will be enough to give her the confidence she should have.  Something, some comment or person or situation caused me to view myself differently than the reflection in the mirror which lead to years of pointless self confidence issues.  Was it the nicknames in grade school?  Was it the "special" jeans  (Rosebud duds.  I was really thin as a young child) that set me apart from the other kids? 

Whatever it was I just don't want there to be an it for my daughter. 

I need her to know the true, that she is smart, kind and important!

How can you over come an entire industry seemingly set on brain washing your kids?

Lastest from the CDC: This could be contagious

In a recent announcement from the CDC regarding patients afflicted with a condition long diagnosed, runrunrunitis, have now be displaying a progressive array of symptoms. 

runrunrunitis

The CDC has not reported whether this is a result of the runrunrunitis condition or if this new discovered racealottaultracoccal is a variant strain of a virus emerging in patients who fall within similar parameters.

racealottaultracoccal

Early studies were inconclusive regarding the duration of infection.  One study indicated that this disease will display symptoms and then potentially go into a apparent dormant state only to return weeks, months, even years later.  Other studies seem to show evidence that re-exposure to others afflicted with runrunrunritis brought about a reemergence of the racealottaultracoccal in patient who previously demonstrated symptoms.

CASE STUDY # 111269

Female patient in otherwise good health presented with an ongoing case of runrunrunitis.  The patient displayed the classic progression throughout her long running infection. 

Classic progression:  Increased physical activity, expansion of social groups, increased sunlight exposure, progressive desire to move more, culminating in an injury.  These injuries are typically of the lower body and seemingly self induced.

Due to early detection of the infection, even after more than 20 years, the patient has remained injury free.  However on recent evaluations the patient has been exhibiting an expanding array of symptoms, both physical and mental.

SYMPTOMS

Increased confidence

Heightened awareness of time

Adhering to a strict daily routine

Obsessive interest in diet, weather and clothing often focusing on foot wear

Soreness

Lack of energy

Moodiness

Loss of confidence

Nervousness

These symptoms continued for 16 - 24 weeks

In the final phase of the disease the patient exhibited:

euphoria

delusions

extreme joy

exhaustion

soreness

increased appetite

This final stage presented in a group setting and is cause for further study to determine if reinfection occurs due to the close proximity of others as reemergence of the initial symptoms is sometimes spontaneous.  Others displayed a delayed return of symptoms.

I wish to thank all those who help with this case study.  In particular Dr.s R. and K. Brown, RunER; K. Spradlin, RD; B. Powell, iRunFar without whom this study would never have been brought to light.

If you feel you are exhibiting any of these symptoms and would like to participant in a study, please leave your case history in the comments below or email me directly.

although all these "symptoms" are true  for me and ultra running, this case study and illness is fictional. 

Ultra Running is not a disease, it's a gift!!

5 Things Friday ~ Let's not kid ourselves Edition

I am not silly enough to think that I actually have 301 followers.  But that is what Blogger is telling me.  On the verge of Google Friend Connect going away I am happy that new people are finding me interesting or amusing enough to hang out with.  I know most of the "followers" don't come around anymore but I still want to celebrate you, faithful reader, who comes back time and time again.  To read about how I am still running every day and still praying to get into that 100 mile race.  Still running the same races as last year (hopefully a little faster). 

You don't want to miss out on anything exciting so remember to subscribe via email to make sure you get all the latest posts.

I move up another spot on THE wait list! 

It does make me feel a little bit bad that in hoping to get into the Massanutten Mountain  Trail 100.  I am really hoping that 71 other people either hurt themselves, don't believe in themselves and simply can't keep up with the training.  Let's not pretend any different, as bad as that is, I am hoping those 71 others hurry up and do it soon!

It was report card day.  That is either a day of joy or a day of misery.  As I am the mother of a rock star, it was a day of joy for her and pride for me. 

But I am no any different than most parents.  I can remember how my folks did it to me too.

The Scene:  S'ghetti hands me her report card.  Face beaming.

Me:  That's great honey!  Look at those grades. 

S'ghetti:  I improved my math grade and got 99% in science again!  I am going to be a chemist...

She continues but I'm now comparing the first 9 weeks to the second.  And as if nearly straight As wasn't good enough (which it is), I open my mouth and start saying how "we" con improve in a few places.

DUH!

I don't pretend to be the best mom but even I should have known that all her hard work simply needed praise in that moment.  The "extra work" in those other areas could have waited for a later time.

I secretly registered for another 50k.  This one at the end of February.  It was only $19.85 to register.  But I'm not fooling anyone with fact that I will have to tell Hubbs that I need to do a "little" 31 mile training run...and it might require a hotel stay. 

click HERE

If you want to join me. 

After 628 days of streaking you might think that those runs are so ingrained that I hardly think about them.  Well, you'd be right.  So much so that I am sometimes guilty of not thinking about how far I have already ran in a given week.  I simply run my "usual" run each night.  So I am not kidding when I say I haven't remembered to that an actual cutback week in about 8 weeks.  And that is only if you count dropping down 4 miles as a step back.

If you don't use DailyMile then the 55 and 12 might look odd.  That's the week that went from December to January so DM split it.

Since we will be traveling this weekend, I think I might actually be successful in stepping back!

I know my body will thank me even if my mind disagrees.

Are you thinking about "follower" with GFC going away?

Waiting it out for any races this year or did you get into everything you wanted?

Did you kids enjoy a joy-filled or misery-filled report card day?



Have you ever secretly registered for a race?

How many miles or what percentage do you use to call it a "step back" week in your training?

# 2

My training plan.

yeah I do have one.

its written in pencil

good thing considering how much erasing I have done lately.

This weekend is to be my 20/12 b2b long run. 

I can tell you now that will not happen this weekend
if
we are in Virginia.

That's the thing with my life.  It doesn't seem to care that I have a plan.
It doesn't care that in about 16 weeks I could be high up on a mountain half lost on a rocky trail frantic to make friends with another runner who wants to run, in the dark, through the night, with their new best friend, me.
My life doesn't care about any of that.
This week my back to backs came early in the week and spanned 3 days.

That is the way my life goes.  A bit off-plan.  Often unpredictable.
But come to think of it. 
My training my be exactly the plan I need to see my way to a 100 mile finish line.
Ultras tend to be a bit unpredictable.  They rarely follow a plan.

With 16 weeks to go, I think I might actually be right on track.


If you are wondering were I am on the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 wait
list click Here

How important is it to you to "follow the plan"?

The other things I do

You might think with all the running to get ready in the hopes of getting into the Massanuetten Mountain Trails 100

 I'm currently at 72

that I would not have time for anything else.

Well you'd be wrong.

This weekend we celebrated another family tradition as we gathered for my mom's birthday.

We went bowling!

My oldest did great.  It might have something to do with the bumpers in his lane.

The super secret spy and LBM worked together. 

LBM got his first strike!

My mama with her birthday bowling pin.

We spent a lot of time doing hill repeats, I mean sledding.

We even had time to get S'ghetti girls new soccer shoes. 

They have just the right amount of pink for kicking Grass, right?

And I also ran a little bit...

more than I had planned.

It was a great weekend to cap off and epic week!

My New Squeeze

Can they help offset 57 miles so far this week?

The arrived in an inconspicuous plastic packing bag.  I think they were trying to their presence unknown.  My usual compression shorts were tucked away waiting for me to get my evening run done.  I just won't let them know I had a visitor. 

This is the result of a 10 year old offering posing advice

I put on these incredibly soft shorts more easily than I thought I would.  After reading many reviews that talked about how tight they were I expected them to be, well tighter.  I did not wear them during my run I have only worn them after my run so a full review will have to wait but if first impression are any indication.

Be glad you can't really see my toe!

I might have a new squeeze in my house!

Thanks to Marcia The Studly Runner for the great Aspaeris Pivot Shorts.

Tearing Down

This post has little to do with running but everything to do with who I am and the kind of people I am raising my children to be. 

It's been a constant in my life.  Although my view of it has changed over the years my Pappy Max's barn has always been there as a symbol of some many things I believe my grandfather and father stood for.  It was about a way of life.  A kind of integrity not often found.

The boards and beams of our barn will be used by others and in that way they live on.

Our barn stood for hard work. The kind of work that few people do any more. The work that starts before the sun rises, blisters your hands, wearies your back, ends after the sun sets but fills your soul. 

That barn represented an escape. It housed days and days of youthful adventures. Within it's wooden walls I created worlds and lives and escaped the youthful boredom of rural living.

It represented a source of pride.  Although I would grumble at every chore my sisters and I were charged with doing, I found a sense of pride in doing them well.  I was proud to be a part of something that had stood for so long.  The sense of neighborhood and community with all the farmers gathered in our barn yard as the auctioneer sing-songed the bids as we held a cattle auction in the spring.
 

The barn represented history and family.  Being a creative child I would linger in the thoughts of my grandfather and his father's hands at work on the very boards of that barn.  I enjoyed imagining that my hand lay where theirs had been.  I felt connected to a history of my family that I would never know in this life.

The barn represented taking chances.  I remember climbing into the rafters and jumping into grain filled gravity bins below with my heart pounding in exhilaration.  My heart was also pounding the day my mother caught me with a boy in the haymile.

It's probably the same for many family farmers.  The barn is a central part of family life and takes on a life of it's own.  That life, the life of our family barn is coming to an end.  It's hard to imagine what my view will look like without it.  Tearing down walls is rarely an easy thing to do.  I am thankful for all the time I had growing up on the rural farm.  I am hopeful as I look to see what reality lays beyond those comfortable walls of my past.  But I won't forget the lessons I learned and I will share those memories with my children so that in the retelling of them, they will live on in our family always.

Cove Creek Farm

Doris June Barrack Diehl and Max Robert Diehl

gone but never forgotten

may I live to make them proud.

Side Rails

Last night I had a killer run!  The training plan I am modifying using for the MMT 100 this May has a lot of B2B but I can't always fit them in on the weekends so I shuffle things around a bit to fit into my family's plan for life.  That reality had me on my treadmill last night for 15 miles. 

Having gotten off work early thanks to a dentist appointment and having my oldest home to help with his brother and sister, I could have done this run outside but I chose to be on the mill.  It was a decision made easy because I had a movie to watch.

Courageous.

My side rails got a bit more visiting during this run than any in recent history. It was a very moving story and spoke to me on many levels. It is a movie about 4 fathers who find a need to follow the Bible's teachings on how to be a Godly father and the head of a household. The obvious message is an amazing one that I hope every family hears. But there is a message for everyone in the family, not just the fathers.

When I write a post I rarely think about whether my readers will "like" it or not. I hope that what I have to share will be of some use to my readers but I rarely consider that a post might get 1 comment like this one because I choose to share something beyond my children's antics and my running. 

It takes courage to do many things in life.  And that's the point.  It takes courage to get on a treadmill for 15 miles.  It takes courage to put your beliefs out there.  It takes courage to run a 5k, a marathon, a 50 miler or a 100.  It takes courage to look into the sweet eyes of your children and accept the responsibility for raising them.  And it takes courage to make yourself aware of what you are asked to do in your life.  Because once you are aware you are responsible to do it!

In our families, in our running or swimming or biking, in our work, in our faith; it takes courage to step out and do what makes us stand out.  Are you feeling courageous?

Have you seen Courageous?  What did you think?
What have you done lately to stand out?

A way of life

Today is day #613 of the running streak.  It's become so automatic to run every day that I often forget to check and see where I am as far as what day it is or how many miles I have run.  But a couple days ago I check to see how the numbers were looking and I realized that I was about 40 miles from hitting

5000 miles.

I don't know what you did tonight but after the first mile of my run tonight I had run 5000 miles without taking a day off.  I finished my run at 5010 miles.  That had a nice ring to it.  For a brief moment I thought it was pretty amazing, then I remembered all those runners who have streaks that have lasted decades HERE.  Runners who really live the running lifestyle. 

It was a great way to spend some of my evening.  The kids cheered for me as I "crossed" the 5000 mile mark and then they quickly got bored of watching me run in one place.  After this long my thoughts are a little different than they used to be.  Now my thoughts jump to things like wondering when I'll hit 6000. 

Crazy how a little habit becomes a way of life.

Ignore it

Every time I read a post I feel inspired, encouraged, educated, uplifted.  I often feel some how more powerful by simply knowing this amazing group of people.  The courage that is shared whether your journey is to your first 5k or your about to embark on a Ironman has become contagious!  I thank you all for putting your adventures out there and allowing me to share in them.

But I have to admit that I am scared shit less about getting into Massanutten (MMT 100).  I know I have felt this kind of self doubt before.  I felt completely freaked out before my first 50k and then of course before each of the 50 milers I felt the doubt creep in.  But I chose to ignore it.  It would be great to be a well of confidence just bubbling up but the reality is I forget sometimes that I really can't do anything. 
That is not a typo.
I can't.  I can't run 100 miles.  I can't run marathons.  I can't.
That is if I try to do it myself.

I was so nicely reminded that I don't have to be sure that I can, what matters is I know that He can.
yes it is going to be one of those posts
Granted when I started running many years ago, I didn't consciously do it to get closer with God.  But that is what happened.  I found that as my miles piled up and my mind grew quiet, I was praying.  Suddenly I had found time to devote to a conversation that I had not really been holding up my end of before.
The work, the training, the time will be mine but I know that in the end this is something I feel drawn to do.  The blessing I have been given requires me to share it. 

This spirit of determination will help carry me through those things I am worrying about.  The rocks, snakes, cliffs, hills and hills and hills, the loneliness, the fatigue, the darkness, the unknown will all be here but I won't be alone.  I know that even with faith I may still not complete this next challenge.  I may be unable or unwilling to pull that strength up from inside myself and I might not finish or hit my goals but I do know that when I make it into the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 it will be because I did have doubt. 
I just didn't listen to it.


What are you allowing doubt to steal from you?
Need a few words of encouragement, send me an email for a uplifting heart-to-heart.

A long engagement

Even though I haven't yet done a year end or a 2012 goal post, you wouldn't have to be reading very often

but of course you read every day, right?

to know that my A goal for 2012 is to go for the 100.

yeah, as in miles run at one time. 

on trails, in the mountains, through the day and through the night, without dying or falling off a cliff.

To achieve that I registered for the Massenutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run.

Like many true trail races, the MMT 100 has a limited field of runners.  To allow runners a some what equal opportunity to run a very popular race MMT 100 uses a great lottery system as part of their registration.  The next step of the system was on January 4th, the last day for "lottery winners" to submit payment and stay on the entrants list.  On that day I went from a potential 158th to 75th. 

That's right there are 74 people ahead of me on the wait list.

The race only allows 205 runners to be on the entrants list.

As mose of my readers are beyond the fourth grade and can do simple math, I'm sure you can see that I might have a long engagement with the wait list.

Fellow ultra friends who have run MTT 100 many times assure me that with the next two steps on April 16 the (last day to withdrawal with full refund) and May 1st (last day to withdrawal with partial refund) many entrants will drop out for a list of reasons. 

The race scheduled for May 12 - 13.

As exciting as the possiblity of doing a 100 mile ultra is, it would kinda be nice to know before the day of the race that I am going to get in.

What is the shortest notice you have ever had that you made it into a race?

What do you think of race lottery systems?  Level the play field or should it be first come first served?

for a complete explanation of MTT 100's lottery system click here

Cause for Celebration

Today is Day# 610

It was a high mileage week in my journey towards my 100 mile trail race.

Daily Mile 78 mile week
One more week higher mileage week
and then a step back week with cross training
I will actually be excited to cross 80 miles in a week again.

This little blog made the Top 30 on Marathon Training Schedule's Top 100 Running Blogs.  It really is a list of some amazing bloggers.  Click HERE to see who else made the list.  There are 100 great runners to learn from and share with.

I was one of the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge Top 3 Winners! 
Click HERE to see the other winners, congrats the other winners and enjoy Amanda's wonderful monthly challenges.

Maybe I should pay the lottery?

I need a favor...

I do.  I need a favor. 

Somehow I have gotten out of the habit of getting

my increasingly big butt

out of bed in the morning.

The morning is seriously a great time to squeeze in a little exercise and start the day right.  I know all this stuff.  I lived the double days for years.  Lately I have gotten tired.

Tired of fighting with LBM. 

Tired of dealing with weather. 

 Tired of not getting my sleep again thanks to LBM. 

Tired of feeling, well tired.

The odd thing is that the days I do get up even for a short run or workout I always feel better throughout the day.

So this morning if you haven't seen me post my run on DailyMile by, let's say 9 o'clock feel free to

completely call me out, say I'm lazy, remind me that I'm letting myself down...

 leave me an encouraging comment.

I'll be happy to return the favor because 

that after run smile...is always worth it.

The Other D Word

Recovery is about more than not being active.

I was thinking about recovery while I was watching The Biggest Loser last night.  For anyone who has watched the show, you know that first episode shows scenes of "contestants" being pushed beyond their limits physically and mentally.  That usually results in footage of contestants fainting, throwing up, crying, whining, or just plain walking out. 

Last night we were even introduced to the term "fake vomiting."  Which Bob Harper explained is really the way a contestant gets to take a break in the workout.  While I didn't watch the entire episode what I did see left me wondering why they still don't show any footage of what the trainers have the contestants do or not do for recovery. 

Now I do realize they are editing hundreds, maybe thousands of hours of footage down to fit into their hour and a half show time. 

Come on.  they are not kidding anyone.  At least 30 minutes of every show is advertisements!

I credit them with trying to show as much of "the process" as they do BUT I think they are missing a key element in the fitness journey.

RECOVERY

This is probably the last topic you might expect to read about here considering that I haven't taken what most would consider a "rest" day for recovery in over 600 days.  I do however use many things for recovery after every workout. 

Today let's talk about diet. 

I know it's the other D word but often your diet can be a critical part of not only your fueling but your recovery.

I am currently on a "diet" meaning I am restricting the options and reducing my calories on purpose.  In case you are interesting I am basically following The 17 Day Diet.  This plan for the first 17 days capitalizes on the rapid weight loss you can experience due to reducing the amount of water you retain.  While many may feel that "water weight" loss is not "real" weight loss and thus has no value.  I would disagree. 

The first positive of the rapid results on the scale, as quickly as the second day, are that you feel motivated to continue to eat healthier because you see your efforts rewarded. 

You also benefit on this plan by eliminating items from your diet that may be difficult for your body to digest.  Due to any number of reasons I have gotten lazy in my meal preparation.  Typically after my evening run I simply just want to make sure the little kids have eaten and they are often happy with less than stellar choices.  With this plan I am reminded how little preparation is required to have several day's worth of meal ready that are fresh and good for my body.

My mid morning snack

Fueling your body in a healthy way will help your body to repair and recover from all the stresses you put it through.  While this plan may not be for every one and may not be an example of a realistic life long eating plan for most, a "diet" is a tool to help rid your body of unneeded pounds and bad habits that are hindering your performance.  Diet doesn't have to be a bad word.  A diet can be a useful tool in achieving the fitness level you are reaching for this year.

So how you do feel about diets?

Have you ever followed The 17 Day Diet?

How has "dieting" effected your training?

Speaking of recovery tools.  You don't have to visit often to know my number 1 recovery tool, my all time favorite recovery tool is COMPRESSION.  And The Studly Runner is hosting a Aspaeris shorts giveaway.  I am dying to try them since I hear amazing things from every one who has.  Hop over and share some of your wisdom with Marcia or just go to talk about my crazy dieting-during-training thing.

How'd December Go?

December 2011

Monthly Miles Ran: 286.4 (Year total: 3021)

Highest Mileage Week: 12/12 - 12/18 (DM Weeks)  76 miles

Rest Days Taken: 0

The Streak: December 31st was Day # 601 of the streak ~ 4872.2 miles,

Runs ~ ave. 8 miles per day/ 56.2 miles per week

Races:

Zero.  Zip.  Zilch

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

Pumpkin dessert
I told I would share this recipe.
It is sooo good. 

CRUST:

1 Box of yellow cake mix (Reserve 1 cup and set aside)
Add to the cake mix 1 melted stick of butter or margarine, 1 beaten egg, and ½ cup of chopped walnuts. Mix well. Spread mixture in a 9x13 greased baking pan.

FILLING:

Mix together: 1 large can of pumpkin, 4 beaten eggs, ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, 2/3 cup of Evaporated milk, 2 ½ tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of nutmeg, ¼ tsp salt. Spread the filling over the crust.

TOPPING:

Mix together until crumbly: the reserved 1 cup of cake mix, ½ cup sugar, ½ cup of walnuts, ½ stick of softened butter or margarine. Crumble the topping over the filling.

Bake @ 350 for 50-60 minutes. Cool and serve with whipped cream on top.
(I have had better luck reducing the temp to 325 to avoid over browning the bottom)
Believe me, you will want to write it down!

Non-food Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

Too much computer time

Which Outfit did I Wear the Most:

Kinda lived in my Skyline Challenge Trail 50k shirt. 

What We Are Watching:

With the Kiddos:

Alpha and Omega

My Viewing:

Red Box Rentals

Funniest/Best Kid Quote:

Given the fact that my kids NEVER stop talking, you'd think I'd have endless ideas for this one.

BUT I must have perfected my tune out abilities because this month I've got nothing.

Current Triumph:

601 days streaking

 

Current Goals

Personal:

To get LBM to sleep in his own bed.  every.night.

Running/Fitness:

To be ready for spring ultra season.

To cross train more.

To drop body fat.

Current Blessing:

Every single day in my life. A gift.

Current Excitement:

Family:
S'ghetti girl is playing basketball

Running/Fitness:

I registered for my first 2012 fall event (September).  It sold out in 90 minutes.

Current Concern:

Personal:
Still working on reducing my body fat.

Family:
Getting LBM to want to sleep on his own.

Running:
Where will I be on the wait list for the 100 miler come January 4th?

How did your December days add up?

Resolution Run ~ 2012

As I look ahead to the new year that I woke up to this morning; the thought of a clean slate, fresh goals and a renewed drive helped move my over indulged body and out of schedule mind. 

The weather was a wonderful mix of sunny skies and cloudy breaks with a breeze to keep me company.

Had I been in PA I would have had company on this run as Biking Sherpa is making fitness goals for 2012 she would have happily joined the fun

extra HBBC points are incentive too

and LBM would have enjoyed the jogger ride

but with the "race" to take place in VA traffic is often an issue.

But even solo the miles flew by and the hills didn't seem nearly as tough.  It's amazing what a little "race" incentive can do for your mind. 

I finished ready to return to my family and content that I did something wonderful for me.

Here's to another year to running and fitness!

Thanks Amanda.