Good morning!

RR:  I had a nice run yesterday, so today I'm planning on heading to the gym for a swim.  I plan on swimming about 1600 yards.

NRR:  Going out with DF's friends was fun last night, but we had to drive about forty minutes to get there and then again home, so we didn't get back until 10 (I know, I sound like such an old lady saying that).  Tonight I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening at home with DF.  After my swim I need to stop at the grocery store, then tonight I'm cooking dinner and hopefully we'll catch up on the Bachelor.

Also, I want to talk to DF's sister and ask her to be a bridesmaid.  I never see her, so I guess I should ask her over the phone, but I find it awkward.  I'm sure she'll say yes, but I feel weird since I don't know her very well.  Two of my friends are my other bridesmaids and it was no problem asking them.

FR:  I'm thinking of making portabella caps, broccoli and sweet potato fries.  Yes, I do believe the sweet potato fries will become a weekly thing.

Have a nice day!  I'll try to make it back for shouts later.

morning all

rr: ahhh 5am run, when I left you in December it was 40*...what is this 17* you spoke of this morning????? brrrr!  double layered on everything and did remember a scarf for my mouth.  3 miles, but pretty slow since I resembled a marshmallow.

nrr: first day of class, I'm stressing out a bit because there is road construction on the exit I use so I'm not sure how I'm going to get there - trial and error I guess.  Not sure if I will keep this class (math gen ed), alot depends on this traffic thing and how bad it is.

fr: had a lot to eat yesterday - made some good decsions, only a few lays from my luncheon box, and only ate half the cookie which is huge for me!  I did go back for seconds at dinner last night though - although a big portion of that was green beans...

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rtr: sort of marathon training.  race is 17 weeks away.  I'm doing a piece mill schedule for the first 6 weeks so I can do more speed work for some races I am doing, after that I will settle into slow longer runs.  I didn't want to jump back into boring running so soon.

jkr: fairly busy semester, I'm taking 12 hours (9 grad, 3 undergrad), but 3 of the hours are an online course and 3 others are a weekend seminar, so not alot of time devoted on campus for the hours gained.  Sounds like Friday was fantastic for your career outlook, I love when you just find that "perfect" thing to do with your life!  what does your future job do, PT type things to rehab children?

seattle: bummer on the seahawks, heard it was a fantastic game! atleast the pressure is off and you can sit back and enjoy the Thunder now (j/k!).  Yea, not sure how eating will work out, I'm trying not to go over 100 cals over my daily goal no matter how many miles...i don't need to eat back the 1000 calories I burned!

Morning!

RR - 3 mi lunch break run today. Finally had a good lifting session last night so I am glad about that!

NRR - Planning to spend the evening studying. I like the online class because I can get as far ahead as I want and not have to sit in lecture if I don't need to, but I want to make sure that I still schedule time blocks where that is my only priority so I don't start letting things slide. Work has been pretty slow this week - should hopefully pick up soon though! Is it pathetic that I am already looking forward to the weekend? The weather is supposed to be much nicer than it has been, and DBF and I are going to go look at the house his parents have an offer in on, so that should be fun too!  They should hopefully hear sometime this week or next whether their offer was accepted.

FR - Thinking homemade quesadillas tonight. I have been having a really hard time with the carb cravings this winter, need to be better about balance!

Hi all,

RR: Need to hit the treadmill at work today but I have a lot of work stacked up, so I need to just stop at some point and go do that. I'm going to St. Louis this weekend to a memorial service with DH (a cousin of his died) and not sure how much running I'll be able to get in, so I should stockpile some miles now.

NRR: Contemplating going to hear some music with my mom tonight in Denver but neither of us are sure we want to make the drive. Might skip it.

FR: Cooked some quinoa last night, so I'll use that in my salads today. Pretty good stuff!

RTR: Good luck asking DF's sister to be bridesmaid -- I'm sure a phone call will be fine. It's great that you're including her in the wedding party!

SJP: The band doesn't play a lot ... we used to play about 4-5 times a month but we've backed off a bit to get some other things done. Might crank it up a bit more this spring. I love it that you can log significant miles on the treadmill ... that gives me hope that I can go at least half that far!

Ou: You are tough to run outside in these temps! It's hard to get the clothes right. When I bundle up, I get more sweaty and then when the wind hits, it's really cold.

Java: Hope obedience class goes well! Sorry about tax paying ... it's miserable even if you only have to do it once a year; can't imagine 4 times.

Seattle: Hmmm ... quesadillas sound good. I get a brand of La Favorita tortillas that only have 8 net carbs in them ... you might check out those for carb control (hard for me, too ... I had an alarming amount of popcorn last night while catching up on Downton Abbey). Re: band stuff--I sing and play rhythm guitar (no fancy stuff), and DH plays fiddle.

Snow: I just use the app on my iPhone (RunKeeper) to map out the runs, and I usually just run the same routes, so now I know what my X-mile routes are in any direction from my house or work. Great job on the 7 miles!

JKR: That's cool that your DBF plays mandolin and sings ... mostly bluegrass? Is he in a band? I play guitar (just rhythm) and sing. DH plays fiddle. It's really just for fun. We could book a lot more dates but we have so  many other interests ... it's nice to be able to dial it up and down according to our schedules.

rtr - enjoy your swim tonight!  I have been slacking on that, only gone once in the past month...  I miss it!  Need to get back into it for sure.  I am with you on being an old lady, 10 on a weeknight is late!  I think it's sweet that you want DF's sister to be a bridesmaid - hope everything goes smoothly in asking.  It could be a fun chance for you to get to know her better!  And yes, sweet potato fries are usually a weekly thing here as well..  awesomeness!

sjp - glad you are feeling a little better after the cold!  Does running help your ttom at all? It usually makes me feel better temporarily but then worse after.  Cramps suck!  Baked chicken sounds fantastic, I haven't made it in a while (other than those chicken nuggets!).  DBF's parents are waiting to hear back from the seller's bank (shouldn't be too much longer), and we are going to go look at it this weekend since DBF and I haven't seen the inside yet!

ou - I think going back for seconds is totally fine if it is veggies...  I have become such a veggie/salad fan now that I've lost weight and I never thought I would.  They can be so good if you make them right!  Brr on your run this morning - it's been in the high 20s here a few times over the past week and that is cold enough for me!  I have just been sort of playing the hunger thing by ear...  I am ok with going over if I am actually hungry and I eat something healthy, not just b/c I'm bored or want a candy bar haha!

Java - yay for taco night!  I hate doing taxes as well, so glad I only have to do it once a year.  Hope obedience class goes well tonight - I'm sure it will be really nice when W is well trained enough to go on your runs with you!

snowden - welcome to the rain in January club...  winters are definitely rough up here, not so much because of extreme weather but just the constant gloom.  it's supposed to be partly sunny here this week and I am way too excited about that haha.  Nice work on the 7 mi!  I usually either guestimate, run on marked trails, or just run by time since I can guess my pace pretty well usually.  I have tried running with a Garmin before but I just don't like it that much.  I need to start eating eggs more often...  they are so filling for breakfast!  Much better than Starbucks croissants...  (whoops)

MC - good luck working in a run today - it's great to be busy at work but sometimes it's hard to juggle many things at once.  I'll have to look for those tortillas - sounds like a great compromise carb-wise!  I've never had quinoa before...  I've heard it is super good for you though!

jkr - your mileage and your treadmill running both amaze me!  We have treadmills in the basement of my work now but I still haven't used one.  I actually don't think I've run on a treadmill at all this winter, and I've run in some pretty nasty weather.  I work right by the waterfront so the wind coming off the sound can be pretty brutal sometimes.  I am with you on that - I am fine if it's cold, OR raining, OR windy, but two or three at once is yuck!  yay for an easier semester and a routine - that is always nice!

Runtravel: Hah I am fast asleep by 10pm (even on weekends)... I actually don't even remember the last time I stayed up that late. I definitely have the bed time of an 80yr old! Glad you had fun last night with DF's friends. I think it's really nice that you're going to ask DF's sister to be a bridesmaid. I'm sure she will be honored and happy! Does she live nearby where you two could get together for lunch or coffee and you could ask her?

Sjp: Next race is February 9th, so about 3.5 weeks. It's a small 50k in Maryland, about an hour from my parents' house. Should be fun... I'm just hoping there isn't snow on the ground! Ugh I wish my cold would go away too it is SO irritating when I'm running! Outside I can just blow snot rockets (gross) but on the TM that's not really socially acceptable hah. I also feel like my nose is stuffier and runs more in general when I'm running. Weird. Hope you don't get hit too hard by the snowstorm tomorrow!

Ou: Ugh it is SO much harder to get out there and run before dawn when it's winter... just the thought of crawling out of my warm bed and going out in the cold is so unappealing. And no matter how many layers I put on, I always end up freezing when I finish. Spring needs to hurry up and get here! Too bad it's still January. Hah. Hope the first day of class tonight went well! Bummer about the traffic and construction I hope you can get it figured out for commuting. That's nice you have quite a few of your courses online and over the weekend. My future career in pediatric PT... I want to work in the hospital. If I'm working with kids in the PICU I'll be focusing on rehab after surgery, getting them out of bed and moving around and just being active. One of the biggest things that is emphasized in pediatric PT is to get the kids active and moving through play... which is fun because you have to be creative and spontaneous and kind of just go with the flow of the kids. If I work in the NICU (ultimate goal, but it will take a while to get there), I'll be working on getting the infants to develop strength in their extremities, posture and head control, and educating the parents on the best way to help their child develop normally. It's such an awesome field and there is SO much to learn!

Java: I saw a pic of your pup on facebook... so cute! Is he just not used to running yet? I'm sure it will take some practice.

Seattle: Glad the lifting session went so well last night! I always feel so accomplished when I have a good workout. As for the TM... I hate the rain and cold together more than I hate the TM. At least my runs is mildly enjoyable on the TM. When I'm wet and cold there is absolutely nothing that I enjoy about running at that point. Nice that your work has TMs in the basement! Luckily my apartment complex has a little gym right downstairs. When I move in with DBF next year I have plans to buy a TM and put it out on the screened in porch. Hah. Not sure what he'll think about that. What class are you taking online? Don't worry I'm already looking forward to the weekend too! Have you seen pics of the new house yet? CONGRATS on all the good news at work today! You totally deserve it.

Snowden: Nice work on the 7mi yesterday! I have a Garmin and used it for the first few years that I was into distance running. But the obsessiveness of the numbers got to be too much for me... I felt pressured to hit a certain pace/distance every run. About 1.5yrs ago I quit using it and have never gone back. I have gotten really good at estimating my pace based on effort, so when I'm doing my every day normal run I am just running for time. If I estimate my pace, then I can estimate the distance I ran. When I run on the TM that obviously tells me the distance. When I run on the trails at my parents' house there are mile markers and I always wear a digital watch, so I can check on my pace every few miles to make sure I'm running the pace I "think" I'm running. I usually am. In races I run based on perceived effort and that works very well for me. I have run with pace groups in marathons if I want to hit a certain time. Again, I've found that I'm pretty accurate with pace/distance when running by feel. That came with lots of time and practice. I don't think I'll ever go back to the Garmin. It's so freeing not to have one. Although, I know plenty of people who absolutely LOVE theirs and wouldn't run without it. To each their own... that's just my 2 cents.

MC: Hope you were able to hit the TM at some point today! I always "stock up" on miles during the week if I know I'm going to be busy and unsure of weekend mileage. DBF's very favorite music is bluegrass and that's what he plays the most. But he also does covers of some contemporary songs that sound pretty great... my favorite song that he does is "Wheels" by Dave Grohl (from the Foo Fighters). That's pretty cool you and DH play together! What kind of music do y'all like to play the most?