Last Night...

...I went to sleep in my workout clothes.

On purpose.

I had had that random thought on Sunday night but didn't do it. Then yesterday I was inspired by my sister who old me that she had slept in her workout clothes on Sunday night in order to minimize excuses to getting up early.

So I tried it last night.

Other than waking up at midnight, 2:30, and 4:20, there wasn't much difference.

Unfortunately, that's kind of a big difference... So I'm not sure if I'll do it again tonight or not.

But, I did finally wake up - and GET up early!

And here are the fruits of my labors (not bad for being done before 6 in the morning, right?) -

this was during my three minutes of cooling down (rounding out the 45 minutes).

the other 42 minutes were split 50/50 between running 5 mph at a 4% decline (totally works the abs)

and walking 3.5 mph at a 15% incline (with 1 minute of 40% incline thrown in there just for fun).

 i'm sore.

My New Hobby (Addiction?)

To sum up in a picture -

And if we're friends on facebook, then you may have been subject to my latest ravings about this hobby.

I'm a trail runner now! (after four days in a row, am I officially a trail runner? or not yet?)

I love it.

And I'm pretty sure I look just like that person in the picture.

Except that I wear pants because I'm afraid that bugs and poison ivy will get me.

And I don't heel strike. (that was for you)

And my legs aren't that toned. Yet.

But other than that, I'm pretty sure I look just like that. (:

And it's sooooo much fun!

And I can say that the day after I came home like this -

that bump in the front shouldn't be there...

There's a pretty nice chunk of skin that rubbed off my left palm too.

But it's still fun!

I got right back up and kept running down. I figured that running down a mountain has certain risks, and falling down the mountain is one of them.

As a consequence of the fall... I took medicine for the first time in... a long time. I've never been a huge user of medication, and my job has made me even less inclined to be so, but I was grateful to pop four (yes, four!) advil last night. My body was aching and my knee and palm were throbbing. No tears, but I came close a couple of times. Especially when I had to clean it off. And then again in the shower. Ouch.

But again - still fun! Promise.

Oh, and an explanation for the fall - I've taken my dog, Max, with me each time I've gone up there. Yesterday I had him running in the heel position, and he moved just a little too close to me. I tripped on his leg and felt myself going down. I thought I caught myself, I worried that I didn't, I thought I caught myself and then, *BAM* I was sliding down the mountain flat on my stomach with my hands out-stretched also sliding flat on the ground. What always amazes me is that your clothing can be completely untouched and you'll have scrapes on your skin. My pants had nothing but dirt on them when I got back up, but both my knees were scratched. How does that happen?!

In other news... here are some videos - and other things - I've come across from facebook or blogs or otherwise lately that I really like.

This little boy has cerebral palsy and doctors said he would probably never walk. His dad comes home from overseas and is greeted with this...

I cried a little bit.


This next one is just cool.

I also came across this article on obesity that I thought was kind of interesting.

There are a few other things that have been mulling around in my brain but I'm afraid they each deserve their own post. Which means it might take a while before I actually post them...

Until then, Happy Friday!

Color Me Rad & Wogging

I've had this post pending for over a week. I was going to say more about the pictures, fix the one that didn't get rotated in iphoto, and explain 'wogging.'

But I don't feel like it.

I'm too tired.

And the dogs are anxious for a walk.

So I'm going on a walk.

Enjoy the pictures.

2012 Races

If you're reading my blog through google reader, you wouldn't have seen my new '2012 Races' sidebar.

If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. (:

There are some awesome races coming up.

Here are some of the races I'm the most excited for -

runnercross -

alone, or with 2 teammates (I'm not sure which I'd prefer) - it looks like a really fun mud run/obstacle course. if you haven't done a mud run yet... well, your life is not complete.

adventure race for africa -

I am soooooo excited for this one! I think it'll be awesome. I need at least one teammate, but if more people are interested, we can talk about people doing different legs, or other teams, etc. lots of options with this one.

(it's the same day as this half, which makes me kind of sad because that half looks fun too, but the adventure race looks even awesomer... {I know that's not a word!} it's also the same day as this team event which looks like fun too, but I think I'm still sold on the adventure race.)

vigor stairs -

vigor was started by the sister of a friend of mine - she's the one doing the other team event on the same day as the adventure race, so if you can't do the adventure one, do hers! (: this stairs race looks like it will kill me. in fact, I'm kind of planning on that. but if I do survive... I'm thinking it'll be awesome.

pirate swim club run / walk the plank -

I don't know anything about this other than the race title has the words 'pirate' and 'walk the plank.' which makes me think this will be a fun race. and it's in magna. which may or may not be a selling point...

most races found through runningintheusa.com.

Pretty Much, Yep.

My friend Amber showed this to me and I just had to share it.


I can't be the only one who relates to this, right?

Bryce Canyon Half - In Pictures

the drive in:

the manager of our motel - The Padre Motel - giving us a history lesson
on the area around Bryce

the 'padre'

the manager's stash of books of mormon in many, many languages

annikki scored a new German version from the manager

cowboy blues - fine dining
they boast 'the best margaritas in town' but it doesn't
take much for them to admit that they're the
only margaritas in town
~they're the only place with a liquor license~
there were maybe six dinner options on the menu, but the service was great and really friendly

so happy to be on a bus before 5 am

even happier they have fires while we wait for the start

runners getting ready to go...

scenery from the race

the girl in the red on the left turned and said, 'you're doing awesome!' as they passed. she couldn't have been more than 15 - but i'm thinking she was even younger. what a sweetheart. i saw her friend (sister?) turn to her after but i didn't hear what she said. the first girl's response was - 'i'm just trying to encourage her.' so sweet.

check out the population...

scenery from the drive home
we took the back way
and didn't regret it - such a gorgeous drive!

the Bryce Canyon half was awesome. i might have to do it again. it's such a beautiful run with a lot of downhill.

despite my being untrained for it (see my time...) i really enjoyed it and am fast recovering.

A Few Things. All Connected. At Least in My Head.

1 - As I've mentioned in recent posts - I've gained weight recently. I blame it on my thesis. And my apparent (sometimes complete) lack of willpower/self-control when I'm stressed out over my thesis. Which is almost constantly.

Today, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

I did not like what I saw.

My first (and only, really) thought was - 'I'm fat.'
(before you go needlessly jumping into platitudes/explanations/sympathetic mumblings, please hold. that's not the point of my story)

I walked out and immediately saw two women who were bigger than I. One of them muchly so (I know that's not a word). My first thought was (as I've been told by my oldest sister on numerous occasions) - 'Some people would kill to have my body.' to which I add - 'and if they wouldn't, they should.' (not that I'm being vain - see above.)

Not that that makes me want to stay where I am, but I can appreciate the fact that I'm not as bad as I could be.

Thank heavens.


2 - I went running tonight.

For the first time, in way, way too long.

Especially considering that I'm signed up to run (I mean walk) a half marathon next weekend.

However, it's in Bryce Canyon and I figure it will be a beautiful walk/run and I can enjoy it for what it is.

The run tonight felt great, by the way. I remembered how much I love running.

Even on a treadmill.

And compared to outside running, I hate treadmill running.

But Sabrina helped me.

Have I mentioned how much I love that movie?

maybe once.

or twice.

or three times...

... or four.

But not enough, I'm sure.


c - I'm totally not on track to lose 30 by 30... sadly.

However, I can still do it. I've just got to be more invested. And start acting on it. 1.67 lbs a week for the next 18 weeks (exactly!) and I've got it. I can do this.


4 - I eat better when I exercise. Which is why I made myself get on the treadmill tonight. I went to a Relief Society presidency meeting in my running clothes so I wouldn't have an excuse when I got home.

It worked.


e - I'd say more. Because I'm sure there was more. But I've forgotten what it was.

And I was hoping to be in bed by 10. Which isn't going to happen since it's 9:58.

And I still need to shower.

Because I went running.

Did I mention that? (:

Race #3 & Memorial Day!

First of all -

- so grateful to live in this country
- so grateful that I lived outside this country for a year and a half so I appreciate this country even more
- so grateful that my mom's parents came from Mexico and France so they could give their future children (and grandchildren!) a better life
- so proud to be an American
~ I love this country! ~

race #3 - a Memorial Day race - benefit war veterans - quite fitting. I finished in sometime under 35:30, but I'm not sure what my exact time was.

Not bad.

Yay America!

just saw this on a friend's blog, thought I'd share:

So Many Things to Say...

But all I have time for is this -

click here

Memorial Day race honoring (and thanking) the troops.

1 mile, 5k, 10k options.

You should sign up and run!

(in American Fork)

Race #2

This morning I woke up early to run in the Susan G. Komen 5k in downtown SLC. After waking up, checking to make sure Dingo didn't mess in my room during the night (he scratched on the door multiple times and I was too exhausted to get up so I ignored him, knowing as I did so that he could quite possibly be leaving me something to clean up - thank goodness he didn't!), getting dressed for running, trying to convince the dogs they couldn't go with me, and sneaking away from them to my car, I headed for the train station. On the way there I noticed tht I had a 'brake lamp' warning on my dashboard (more on that later).

Now I'm literally falling asleep as I type this, and having to check and recheck typed in sentances because I'm not always making sense to myself.

I wouldn't even publish this, but I told a friend that I'd publish a post a least once a day in May.

More to come (in an updated version of this same post):

• cute dogs running
• thousands of runners
• my cousin and his family
• catching the train on the way home
• fixing the brake lamp
• picking up my weekly basket
• and maybe more... (:
  

I'm No Good At Fundraising...

I never have been good at it. The same day that I created this post, I emailed some people letting them know what I was doing (running a 5k through the Komen Foundation), and that I'm trying to earn money for breast cancer, and that I would appreciate a donation. Any donation, any amount. Even $1. By the end of the email, I was practically offering to give them money instead of take theirs. As of right this moment (11:55 am and 13 seconds) I have raised zero dollars. I'm just no good at asking for money. I feel guilty. Even though it's for a good cause.

I'm still taking donations if you're interested in donating. Click here to donate.

Or I'll just give you money instead.




Here are some facts about breast cancer.

(aside from some kinds of skin cancer-)
Breast cancer is:

• the most common cancer in women, regardless of race or ethnicity
• the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women
• the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women
• in 2007 - 202,964 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,598 women died from breast cancer

facts found here