run {weekly wishes}

Happy Monday, friends!  I had quite the busy weekend and every minute of it was perfect.  The husband and I went to two different shows, Tegan & Sara on Thursday and Jamestown Revival on Saturday.  Both shows were pretty fantastic with awesome openers that I plan on checking out as soon as I finish typing this post.  And yesterday, I spent the day brunching with two of my closest girlfriends from high school (+ a little dude).  Lots of laughing was had.

I have not participated in weekly wishes in a few weeks and notice how unproductive I am when I don't, so it's time to get back in the game...

I will... run.  I took a week and a half off and notice the difference in how I feel.  Need to get back out there.
I will... not overindulge.  I have been doing really well eating low carb/sugar and it was starting to show.  That is until last Tuesday when I ate a boatload of chips and had a piece of cheesecake at book club.  I am not really sure why, but I always feel bad not eating food provided for me when at another person's home, like I will offend them if I don't take it.  I need to learn to just politely turn it down when offered.
I will... start a photography blog.  I recently won a new blog design giveaway for Kotryna Bass Deslign and look forward to having a space to just post my photos.
I will... upload photos to Society6 and RedBubble.

How was your weekend?

What are your goals for the week?

Linking up with Melyssa, Leeann, and Molly today!

productivity

^what my Sunday morning looked like.

The beautiful weather we had over the weekend put a damper on my productivity.  I didn't get up from my seat on our back deck but to eat and then when my phone died.  Then I just moved to the front porch swing once the Sun was in the my face out back.  And I 100% did not hate it.  Weekends like this past one are my favorite.  This week is for catching up. 

JUNE WISHES:

I will... keep up the running.  I am really loving this whole running thing.  I am starting to notice my legs are starting to look stronger.  Runner legs are a great motivator. 

I will... attend yoga with husband when he teaches.  My flexibility is absolute crap and running does not help.  I need to work on it more. 

I will... edit photos from our trip to Asheville, NC 10 at a time.  I surprised myself and only took 200 photos the entire trip so this shouldn't be too hard. 

I will... continue to work on project for my little girlfriends. 

I will... research how to complete a DIY wedding gift idea I have for a friend who got married back in Nov.  It's been something I have been meaning to do but have been putting off.  I just need to make it a priority. 

I will... continue to eat low carb and sugar.  

How was your weekend?

Do you find it hard to be productive when it's nice outside?

What are your goals for the month on June? 

(when did it get to be June?)

Linking up with Melyssa, Molly, Bre and Leann today!

to do

^ coffee, library book, and Sunday morning sunshine & warmth are just a few of my favorite things. 

How was everyone's weekend?  I spent my Saturday on the couch watching Harry Potter.  I have had this weird pain on my upper back into my arm that hasn't gone away.  The husband massaged me on Saturday after work which helped a little but it's still there.  Hoping it goes away in the next few days with a few more massages.  Otherwise I may have to actually visit the doctor.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do much in the way of running last week.  I hope this week is different. 

My goals for this week are:

I will... swap my Winter/Summer clothes.  I think Spring/Summer is finally here so it's time to make the switch.  I hate doing it though.  Such a pain.  BUT it's nice to be reminded of all the clothes you actually have.  It's like a whole new wardrobe.

I will... upload my 365 and #my_365 photos to the computer.  Due to my excessive picture taking (#photographerproblems), we had to get a new hard drive because our Mac ran out of space.  I haven't been able to upload anything in over 2 weeks so I have a lot to catch up on.  Now, I just need to bug the husband to install the hard drive. 

I will... go through 3 months worth of photos and videos of my girlfriends for the project I am working on for their families.  The computer wouldn't let me do much due to the lack of space on it. 

I will... keep eating low carb & sugar.  I binged a little toward the end of last week and felt like crap.  I just need to remember that feeling and hopefully that will keep me on my toes. 

What are your goals for the week?

Did you have a good weekend?

How did you celebrate Mother's Day?

Linking up with Melyssa, Leeann, and Molly today!

until next time

may wishes

So yesterday I completed my third half marathon.  Our goal was to finish under 3 hours.  And we did.  We made three hours our bitch, coming in at 2:31:56!  Since we are both getting back into running we kept our runs slow and easy throughout our training.  Our goals for our next 13.1 is to finish faster and hopefully get to the point where we (and by we I mean me because I know Barb can run much faster) can run a 10 minute mile comfortably.  We did end up walking a little, mainly up the hills, but probably ran a total of 11 miles.  Not bad for a Sunday morning.  Pittsburgh is such a cool city and it was so fun to experience the different neighborhoods and personalities of the city on foot.  

MAY WISHES:

I will... stick to a low carb and sugar diet.  Since we are starting over again in our training, our bodies should have enough time to adjust so we can complete those long training runs when we get to that point. 

I will... keep running. I may still be on a bit of a runner's high from yesterday still but I look forward to continuing training and hope to complete a couple more 13.1s before the winter. 

I will... continue to blog on a regular basis.  

I will... get out more.  I need to spend less time watching shows on Amazon and more time reading or walking outside.  

I will... read more.  I have a lot to catch-up in regards to my 2014 reading list. 

I will... upload more photos to Society6.  I have loads to add from last year's 365 photo a day. 

What are your goals for the month of May?

Linking up with Melyssa, Leeann, and Molly today!

  

short

Like I mentioned in my last Weekly Wishes post, I would like to share more photos from last year's 365 photos.  I added the one above to my Society6 shop last week.  I think my favorite way to display this specific photo is framed or on a stretched canvas.  Although, I do think it would be kinda cool as a laptop skin as well.  What do you think?

I had such a wonderful weekend.  My one goal for the weekend was to sleep in on Saturday and stay in bed to read for a little.  And I did just that.  I am currently reading A Time To Kill, and although I have seen the movie a bunch of times, I am loving the book even more.  Obviously there are parts that are hard to get through but once you do it is hard to put down.  

My goals for this week are pretty short;

I will... finish the Pittsburgh 13.1 on Sunday.  I might be crawling across the finish line, but I will cross it.  If we can finish under 3 hours, I will be happy.  What do you think Barb?

I will... organize 3 months worth of photos and videos of my girlfriends for a project I am working on for their family.  I went through June of 2013 and am blown away by how fast they have grown up.  Sometimes I wish time would just stand still for a little while. 

Are you reading anything good these days?

Something you would recommend?

What about your goals for the week?

Linking up with Melyssa, Leeann, and Molly today!

until next time

it band

One of my favorite bloggers, Amanda, has been having a Runners Tell All link-up the 21st of every month.  Since getting back into running and training for my first 13.1 in a few years, it has been a perfect motivator and great place to share running related topics that I wouldn't normally share.  Today's prompt is: Share a bad race or training experience and what you learned from it. 

A few years ago I had this grand idea on attempting one half marathon a month, for 12 months.  I even blogged about my attempt at said challenge (which I seemed to have deleted) in 2010.  Since getting into running, the only thing that seemed to motivate me to run on a consistent basis was to train for a race.  So, in an attempt to keep me motivated and running consistently, I decided it would be a good idea to run 12 half marathons in as many months.

However, what I thought would be motivating, was not.  I wasn't training like I should have been and had taken some time off before I started this asinine idea so when I attempted a few long-ish runs I got injured pretty quickly.  Around mile 3.5/4, the outside of my right knee would start to hurt.  Like really hurt.  Felt like if I took one more step it would just break in two.  Being somewhat of a novice to running and never before really having any type of serious sports related injury, I feared the worse and thought my running "career" was over.

I explained to the husband where it was hurting and that is when he told me it was my IT Band, or the Iliotibial Band for those of you who are are more technical.  The IT Band is a band that extends from the outside of your hip/butt stretching all the way down to the side of your knee.  The pain can present itself anywhere between those two connecting points.

And this is when I was first introduced to what has become my running BFF, the foam roller.  The foam roller is a firm  cylindrical foam noodle-type thing that helps to massage those parts of your body that are hard to massage yourself.  To work out your IT Band, lay the foam roller on the floor then lay down on your side on top of the roller, rolling up and down, making sure to only target between your hip and the outside of your knee.  Then repeat on the otherside.  If my explanation is hard to get (I am not great at explaining things), here is a video that shows you how.

When I hoped to continue with the 12 half marathons in one year plan, I rolled out twice a day and on each side for 2 minutes.  Unfortunately, that didn't help me at the time so I had to accept that I wouldn't be able to complete the challenge at the time.  I have, however, discovered a trick that works for me now.  If I am going for a run that calls for 4 or more miles, I roll out each knee before the run. Knock on wood, I haven't had any serious pain since.

What is your worse training or race experience?

What type of running related injuries have you experienced?

Has your IT Band ever been an issue?

Have you heard of foam rolling before?  If so, do you make time for it when training?

Linking up with Amanda, Leeanne, and Molly today!

until next time

I will...

While waiting for the husband to get out of yoga yesterday, I sat in my car with the windows down, Dave Matthews blaring through the stereo, and all was right in the world.  What is it about this time of year that makes me feel so nostalgic for my younger days?  Am I alone? please tell me I am not alone. 

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

I will... keep to my scheduled running program.  ever day but one.  

I will... upload photos to Society6.  I uploaded the one above.  Click here to check it out. 

I will... not go over 30 grams of sugar or 60 grams of carbs.  I admit I cheated twice this week but my hard work showed from the rest of my week once I got on the scale and saw I lost a little over 3lbs!

I will... use the Canon. accomplished.  beginning to feel inspired again. 

I will... take photos for littlest girlfriend's 2nd birthday present.  nada.  and i still don't have a gift for her.  any ideas for a 2 year old girl who already has pretty everything?

THIS WEEK'S GOALS: 

I will... continue to add photos to my shop.  In fact, I would like to start sharing them with you all more often.  I'll be sure to let you know when I do. 

I will... stick to my 13.1 training.  

I will... stick to eating low carb and sugar.  My goal weight is 4 more lbs and I'll be happy.  

I will... journal 3 times this week.  It is something I have been wanting to do and no longer want to make "wait until I get a polaroid" excuse to do so.  (unless you want to buy me a polaroid?)  

What are your goals for the week?

What does Spring mean to you?

What songs are you jamming to these days with your windows down?

Linking up with Melyssa, Molly, and Leann today!

until next time

exercise. journal. correspondence.

The last 2 weeks

run. run. actually run.  i will run. I was pretty good week 1 but did no running while in CO.  I blame it on the altitude. 

blog. i will blog 3 x this week.  i will also journal a little and be better about writing my ideas down.  i would really like to start to get a bit more organized when it comes to blogging. I did blog 3x before I left.  However, I didn't journal like I hoped while I was away but I do have some ideas. 

be present. we are meeting my family in co for a week of skiing.  i am going to be spending a week in the mountains with some of my favorite people so instead of worrying about this here blog, i am going to be present and just enjoy myself while i am there.  accomplished. 

This week:

exercise.  After a week of no physical activity, besides skiing, I need to get back into it (again!).   I would like to run or walk at least 2 miles every day this week but would be just fine if I stuck to my 13.1 training.  So happy it's March and the weather is already starting to let us know she's here.  50s and sun predicted today and tomorrow. 

journal. I will write in my journal at least 4x this week.  Doesn't matter if I have anything in particular to write about.  Maybe, just maybe, it will spark something. 

correspondence.  I will write the many Thank Yous to those who were so helpful and welcoming last week. 

How was your week?

What goals have you made for this week?

Linking up with Melyssa and Leann today!

until next time