Grass Hog

This morning: two mile easy run around this awesome yet hilly crosscountry course by my house.  Then 5 hours of yardwork!

downhill.  I really like this course because it is a trail but very wide

Blanchard Woods Cross-Country Course

It is strange to take a break from running. It's a little sad, because nothing puts me in a good mood like a great run. For me, it's very beneficial that I take a few days off completely from running after a marathon, then ease back into it. Sort of like a reverse taper.

Of course, I am unemployed at the moment so I have even more free time right now. When you are employed, you wish you weren't and when you are not working, you wish you were. Just can't win! Too bad I can't get paid to run all day, that would be the easy solution. However, I have been interviewing over the past two weeks and have pretty much decided which job to take over the summer until the school year starts. But it still doesn't start until May 20th, so I have been trying new activities.

My newest hobby is weed wacking. Most of my life, I have been convinced that the second I try to use it, I would cut my foot off. I envisioned a huge machete type blade spinning around the bottom. I was shocked to find that there is NO BLADE! It is actually a very thick piece of something like fishing line that moves really fast.

love to the grass hog!

Our new yard is significantly bigger than our last home's, but the biggest difference is the sheer number of mulched areas that need to be weeded and remulched. Not to mention this hillside that needs some attention:

the jungle

To make it worse, it seems all our neighbors use a professional landscaping service. Most of their lawns look like the Augusta National Golf Course. That's why my newest hobby is weed whacking/ landscaping!

Unfortunately, I ran out of mulch so the final pictures will come another day. I weeded for about 2 hours and then edged everything with the wacker. I spreaded mulch, then spread pebbles on the trim around the patio. I potted some plants and rearranged the patio furniture. When it was all done, I filled up the baby pool for the pups to cool off, since they were hot and sweaty from all that weeding!

my fur babies in the pool...yes I'm a crazy CorgLady

Is anyone else out there a Weedwacker enthusiast as well??  I'm gonna guess no...

I am still obsessing over Boston....so if you didn't get the chance to read all about it, click here!
 Boston Marathon Race Recap

Boston Training - Week One

Although I didn't run according to plan every day this week, I am very happy with the days I felt up to running. 

Monday : It was AMAZING to run again after having not ran at all the previous week, due to being sick.  I felt so fast and speedy.  I ran 7 miles in the dark around my neighborhood after work and afterwards felt so much happier.  It amazing what running does to make me felt normal after a stressful day at work.

When I got back from my run, we discovered that our furnace was broken - not the best news.  The next 12 hours we focused on staying warm and getting a repairman over to fix it up.  I left for work at 6:30 am and got home at 9pm, because we had our winter concert.  I was very tired after the long, busy day and did not get a chance to run.

Wednesday I had intense sinus pressure after work (my bronchitis turned into a cold, which is much easier to deal with) but the sinus pressure gave me such a headache I came home and actually had to lay down in bed.  Not a good day, and I was even more miserable that I didn't get my endorphin fix.  However, I did get to lift weights in the morning at least!

Thursday I returned to my normal level of happiness by doing hill repeats in the dark listening to rap and Taylor swift.  Weird combination, but it is pretty much like therapy for me.  Of course it is dark, but all the houses were light up with Christmas lights.  It was a great workout and I ran 8 total miles and pulled in my best times ever on that particular hill.  I was in a fantastic mood after.

Friday morning the alarm sounded at 4:40am and after feeding the dogs and getting changed I was on the treadmill for an easy 5, while watching Desperate Housewives reruns.  I LOVE watching reruns of the show while running. 

Saturday I went out to the lake and ran 14 miles.  I averaged 7:50 pace with the last mile a 7:06.  I felt fantastic the first few miles, felt kind of blah the middle miles when the snow and wind picked up, but was able to pull it together for a fast last 5. 


Saturday night we went to the our favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh, Legends of the North Shore and went to the Symphony at Heinz Hall to see the holiday concert.  It was a great night out and was very approrpiate for this time of the year!

Legends of the North Shore - great Italian food AND BYOB

Heinz Hall Christmas Tree

Jordan

This morning we had some snow so my dad and I ran together in the early afternoon.  I ran a relaxing 8 miles with him and spent the rest of the day baking, cleaning, and making a yummy dinner.

Baked Pasta with Spinach, Lemon, and Cheese - from my favorite magazine, Cooking Light!  Jordan liked it, too.

Sunday night is always kind of sad knowing that the weekend is over and you have to be at work early the next day, but tonight I don't even care.  I only have 3.5 days of work until a long, long 10.5 day break and I already have so many fun plans/get togethers in the works.  I am like a seven-year-old when it comes to Christmas and I can't wait for everything to start.  My two little friends are also very eager for Santa to arrive with new bones and toys.  Here is a flashback from last Christmas!!!

Visit with Santa

Our tree and both pups this year

Week 2 Training Goals:
Monday: AM lift, PM 5x1,000 total 8
Tuesday: AM or PM easy 5
Wednesday: AM lift, PM hill repeats total 8
Thursday: AM easy 5
Friday: 15 miles
Saturday: 8 miles
Sunday: 7 miles easy

Eve of Boston Marathon Training!

I am going crazy.

Monday of this week, I went to the doctor's after school because I could not breathe without discomfort.  It was pretty tough to teach/speak all day and I couldn't even think about running.  Turns out, I had bronchitis.

I probably should have taken Tuesday off to recover, but I went to work Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  I took my inhaler every couple hours and felt miserable.  Thursday after work, I stopped by target to get some wrapping paper.  I had such a horrible coughing fit I almost passed out!  I took Friday off and went to the doctor.  I was happy to find out that my lungs were almost back to normal, but I should be taking it a little easier - meaning not hanging out with 20 needy 5-year-olds.

I have been trying to 'take it easy' since then, but it is really hard to keep still.  So instead of exercising, I have been cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and running Christmas errands.

In my boredom we watched two movies (I cannot believe I actually stayed awake for them both, maybe my sleepyness has to do with running?) and read a book from the library.

It was as good as the book...probably my favorite book!

Almost better then the book, if that is possible

I am addicted to this author

I am hoping that tomorrow I am feeling good still....because tomorrow begins Boston Marathon Training!!!

I am feeling a little ambitious this season and am going to attempt to run a peak of 70 mpw and lift twice a week.  I am going to follow Daniel's Running Formula plan, since it worked well last year for me.

What's up for this week:
Monday: PM 7 miles
Tuesday: AM 6 miles total, 5x4 min hard, 3 easy
Wednesday: AM lift, PM 8 miles
Thursday: PM 8 mile hill workout
Friday: AM 5 miles
Saturday: 14 miles
Sunday: Easy 8, lift

We will see if all goes to plan...I am really excited to start training for something and having something to look forward to after the holidays are over.  I LOVE this time of year, and always find it sad when we take the tree down and put the decorations away.  Boston training will give me something 'fun' to do.

Being sick stinks...the worst part is not being able to run.  But on the bright side, I had my special friends to take care of me!!!

Making sure everything is under control

Why Yes I Am Alive and Marine Corps Marathon Recap

Let's start off with a Penny and Bruno photo, since I am pretty sure that is the reason why anyone reads this blog!!!

the pups

I am looking forward to trying and blog more often.  I am not sure why I was gone for so long, but I think some of it has to do with my new job this year and working longer hours.  What I missed most was reading everyone's blogs and talking to everyone else through my blog! 

Since this is a blog about running marathons....

October 30th, 2011 I ran the Marine Corps marathon.  I originally planned to run this and shoot for sub 3:10, but very sadly I was injured much of this summer.  I didn't start running again until the first week of August, after doing lots of strengthening exercises at Physical Therapy.  I was thrilled to run again, but really did not expect to run the race in October.  I like to have a long time to build up a base and prepare for my race.  However, in my previous post I ran a half-marathon PR in Erie (1:29:05) and that convinced me to follow through with the race, especially since my friends Leslie and Kate were running it for the first time ever!

All in all, I am very glad I ended up doing the race.  It was a beautiful day and I ran much of the race with Kate, Leslie, and even Charlie!  I felt absolutely fantastic the first 15 miles.  I felt so light and running was so easy.  Around mile 3, both Kate and Leslie came up from behind.  We ran together for a long time.  Those first 15 flew by and we really enjoyed taking it all in together.  My friend Charlie actually dropped back with us, so at one point all four of us were running together.

Having too much fun together

 
My knee started to ache soon after.  Around mile 21, Leslie sped up and I fell back.  The last few miles were agonizing.  I was running so wierdly on my knee, I was pretty much dragging it!  I was discouraged because the first 20 miles I was at around 3:06 pace and it felt SO GOOD and SO EASY.  I kept telling myself that since the first 20 were so good I could still run pretty poorly and get a decent time.  I didn't even expect myself to run the race a few weeks earlier.

Face of pain

Thankfully, I made it through and finished in 3:14:19.  That is 37 seconds off my best, so I really wish now that I tried to push it a little more at the end...but not so sure that I could.

Leslie and I at the finish

Kate, Leslie, Leslie's friend Sabine and I entered in the team division.  We were "Pittsburgh's Smoking 4" and we came in as the fourth women's team.  However, the three teams that beat us were the Air Force, Marine, and Army teams.  I am okay with losing to them.

sparkly headband bought at the expo - $5

One of my favorite things about this race was my specially selected racing attire.  I loved the pink overkill.  The arm warmers were fantastic, especially at the start when it was 35 degrees. 

In addition to running the race with my friends, I got to visit my twin at his apartment Saturday night and stay overnight at my best friend's apartment right across the street from the Pentagon City Mall.  I love her place.  However, that was not totally planned.  We were going to just leave Saturday morning, since we had the dogs to look after.  My dad called at 8pm Friday night and said a snowstorm was moving in.  We threw all our things in a suitcase and left immediatly.  My parents dog sat and we got to Caitlin's apartment at 2:00 am.  A little past my bedtime, but it was awesome to stay with her.  Another unexpected event was the tick Jordan had to get removed at the UrgetCare down the road. Sorry, I did not photograph the tick.  We managed to take care of that on our way to the Expo.

with my twin at his apartment

What is next you may ask?  Starting one week from today my official training for The Boston Marathon begins!  I am excited to begin and try chasing a PR there.  I have heard that it can be pretty hilly, so I have been doing hill repeats once a week to prepare.  I am hoping it is not so hilly that it makes it unrealistic to try for a PR here.

If you have run Boston before, any advice?

We missed you all!

Erie Half Marathon

Yes, this is a running blog again!

First, some fun pictures from the last few weeks.

We finally met Bruno and Penny's cousin, Moose!

Bruno enjoyed some couch cuddling after a long day at school/hard run

Can you find the weenie?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this vest from Macy's.  I may be watching too much Real Housewives of New Jersey, though.  Is it appropriate for a kindergarten teacher?  Or at least to wear out to dinner with some jeggings and high boots?  Did not buy it yet...but am thinking of getting it soon!

 I had signed up for the Erie half marathon at Presque Isle to get my body ready for the Marine Corps Marathon I am doing October 30th.  I was pretty unsure about this race, mostly because I just started running at the end of July (due to injury) and have been following my own training plan.  We woke up at 3:30 am this Sunday morning to get to the race around 6:30!  It was an awesome morning for a run, cool, sunny, the only complaint was that it was very windy on a couple of the miles that weren't shaded (we were on the peninsula at Lake Erie).  I had no idea what pace to try for so when my first mile was 6:53 I thought what the heck I might as well try to keep that up!
Mile 2 I caught up to a group of three girls and my mile split was 6:51.  I was feeling pretty comfortable and tried to just relax and enjoy the scenery of Lake Erie.  It was a beautiful fall morning.  6:e58 for the next mile and I reminded myself not to get comfortable and slip off pace.  6:44, 6:52 and by that time I passed two girls who I could tell would probably not catch up, and the other girl that was with us left me in the dust, suddenly taking off at mile 5.  The next few miles we had the wind to deal with, but I felt like I could keep up my pace for the whole race, unlike the last time when I ran this course and totally bombed the last few miles. 

Mile 6 was 6:51.  Next, 6:50, 6:54, and 6:49.  When I got to mile 9 I mentally told myself to start picking it up and 'catch' those marathon runners who started a half hour earlier (they had to do two laps) and just enjoy the feeling of racing again.  My legs were very tired and I was breathing so hard I kinda startleted those marathon runners, but I felt great at the same time.  A lot of very nice marathon runners gave me words of encouragement, especially since I was a girl.  The last four miles were 6:45, 6:42, 6:36, 6:33, and the last .1 at 5:46 pace.  I was thrilled and totally surprised to cross the line and see that I got a 3 second PR at 1:29:03, and that I got third overall!

Nothing beats the feeling of a new PR, especially when you have a marathon coming up that you hope to PR in....after I finished I found my husband of the year, did a two mile cooldown, grabbed some chocolate milk and headed to the lake to take some pictures.

by the lake!

pretty day!

number one fan

My award was a really cool glass picture plaque of one of the lighthouses at Presque Isle.  It was a very good day in Erie, and I got to see a bunch of my friends run the whole marathon and half marathon.  To top it all off, we got back about ten minutes before the Steeler game started - and they won!

Today was a much needed day off from running, mostly because my calves are on fire from racing.

Finally, I am starting to feel like sub 3:10 is possible at Marine Corps!  40 days!

MIA

So I haven't blogged in about a month.
Basically, my time has been consumed with getting ready for my NEW JOB!!!

I have been hired as a KINDERGARTEN teacher at a new charter school in Pittsburgh, Imagine Penn Hills.

Our School's Grand Opening

I know everyone has probably heard from the teachers in their life how much work is involved...but can you imagine doing that AND helping start up a brand new school?  It has been a very fun, but also very busy time.  I felt a little guilty blogging during this time!

I have 20 kindergartners and they are a great bunch.  I have been spending A LOT of time teaching them things that might seem silly - how to line up, how to wait in the hall, how to ask for help, how to gather materials, etc.  Not too exciting yet! 

At my desk - we built all our furniture!

 The days are somewhat longish - I actually woke up around 4:40 to run before work this morning!  I am hoping this is something I can get in the habit of, I actually have more energy at work when I run first.  More time to spend with puppies later!

On another note, last weekend we attended my best friend's sister's wedding.  It was at a CASTLE!  It was so beautiful out and we had a great view.  We had a great time with Caitlin and Peter!!!

yay for fake tan lotion

up close!

castle!

dancing without shoes

As requested, a picture of Bruno.  He is a bone chewing fiend.  He looks like he is smoking a cigar!

Bruno!

Our majestic Corg!

Goodbye for Awhile!!!

Busy week!!! Wednesday was Jordan's 25th birthday and we celebrated again at his mom's.  
Two exciting things going on this weekend.....
my track team friend and freshman year roommate DIANE is getting married tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!  I am a bridesmaid (she picked the most adorable dressess and shoes!) and today's festiviities include lunch, nail appointments, and the rehersal.  Can't wait for tomorrow!

Diane is the heptathlete on the far right, at our Indoor conference championships!  

Then, EARLY the next day, we are flying to Cancun, headed to this awesome all-inclusive resort!!!

ahhhhhhhhh

One thing I am very excited to do is Yoga on the Beach - Jordan said he would even do it.

Going with these guys!  Jordan's college roommate Cory and gf Kristen!

The only bad part is I will really miss my two little knuckleheads.....

Talk to you when I get back!!!

Puppy Boot Camp/Long, Long, Weekend

Although I have been off work, training Mister Bruno has kept me very busy the past couple days.  We are working on potty training, walking on a leash, sitting, and not biting Penny.

The doggies like to tease and chase each other, and also torment me.  This time, they decided to hang out under the bed together.

After that, I found them napping with each other sooo nicely.  It reassured me that Penny will probably not eat Bruno, no matter how many times he tries to nip her! 

little puppies

family cuddle

they love cuddeling

again

 

 

Bruno had an important call to make

Bruno's first ice cream from Aunt Maura

Lauren and Lisa came over!!!

Since this is supposed to be a running blog.....

Everyday I have been biking 45 minutes - 80 minutes.  I have been lifting 3x a week and doing my knee rehab exercises daily.  I start PT on Tuesday.  I am really hoping that after a couple sessions I am able to start building up again!

Happy Fourth of July!

Weenie!!!

 

Friday started off great....Jordan revealed to me my special anniversary gift that I would get later that night....

But first, I got to meet up with old running friends Autumn and Tasha at the Olive Garden in Robinson.  It was so nice to meet up and really made me miss running Cross-Country and Track with them.  It's so funny because when I think how I miss college I ALWAYS think about my running friends and cross-country memories.

Running friends!  Tasha, me, and Autumn

And here is my present!!!!

Our Puppy's Mommy

He will be named BRUNO!

so excited.  Please quit ripping my shirt off!

such a cuddly puppy

meeting Grandpa

Penny shared her red toy

Penny seems happy

He will be her husband someday

mid bark

Meeting his cousins

napping on Daddy

napping

Still my number 1 girl!!!!!!!!

Meeting Uncle Corey

1st bath

Penny was so glad she was not being bathed!!!

All clean now!

opening our wedding cake!

It was good

We are enjoying our new puppy so much!  I am very relieved because Penny seems as happy as ever.  Initially, she was very afraid when Bruno chased her around our house.  Now, she likes to get him to chase her, I just have to discourage him from the biting that puppies do so he doesn't make her mad!  And Jordan is being such a great Puppy Dad!

I am ready to enjoy our anniversary today :) !  Melting Pot tonight!!!
PS If you have any advice on getting two dogs used to each other, let me know!!!!!!