Monday, January 31, 2011

The Accent Vlog



As requested.....here is my accent

Revisiting

Ok, so it's month-end and I know you are absolutely dying to see how I am doing on my goals for 2011. I am pleased with my progress, although slight.

So as a refresher here are the goals:
Lost 10 lbs and see the 130s
Strength train twice a week
Run two full marathons
Average ten hours of volunteering a month
Study the Bible with someone
Make three new friends
Finish school
Pay off debt
Take care of myself
Learn to manage anger, stress and anxiety
Start saving money
Establish a good study routine
Fit into a size 2-4, and feel good about it
Changes someone’s life
Ignore lazy tendencies, and start a pattern of cleanliness
Limit television
Organize a 5k Race
Plan a vacation
Adopt a 2nd dog
Work to be a better communicator
Religiously track my food intake good or bad
Pay attention to details
Make Logan happier
Help my brother get his drivers license
Be proactive about my health
Pray daily
Start a garden
Go as organic as possible
Stop popping my jaw

This Month I focused on two things:
Establish a good study routine- The importance of a routine is buying out time to do whatever it is, at the same time. Consistency is key with setting up a routine. I did really well with this goal, and feel confident checking it off my 2011 goals. I found three times during the week where I could have been studying instead of whatever I was doing. Each week I was successfully prepared for all lessons, and thoroughly understood all material. Don't be shocked, but I can be a lazy student and kinda do most of my learning in the class room-which might be ok if you're in like 2nd grade. When you're an adult though, learning is done at home and when you're with whomever is teaching you, you are clarifying and deepening your understanding.

To ignore lazy tendencies, and set a pattern of cleanliness-This was the goal I was actively working on. I think I thought about this goal daily, which is important. I identified this goal as one of the easiest to attain, and decided not to put it off. I am not a filthy person, not a slob. In fact, I am pretty-much a clean freak except after I have worked 12 hours four days in a row and had this that and the other to do before and after work and school. My biggest down fall was dishes. I could summon enough energy to cook dinner, but by the time I ate lazy-turdness sets in and YUP, I'd let dishes sit over night...maybe even two nights? When you are as busy as I am, sometimes you forget you even had dishes in your sink. This month, I didn't let dishes spend the night in the sink (with reason). Every night, I made sure whatever was left in the sink made it's way to the dishwasher. Now, if a glass or two made it's way to the sink after I went to bed, than I didn't beat myself up about it. The spousticle is on a different sleep schedule than I, and I can't expect him to not eat or drink for the hours he's still awake. Needless to say, it's been nice waking up each morning to a clean kitchen. I believe I set this pattern, and am firmly striking it off my list-and not just because I did dishes. I also deep cleaned my home on a weekly basis consistently. I do a lot of "tidy-ing" as well...but that was always a pattern.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Famous in a Small Town

I am celebrity. Seriously. Stop laughing.

So last month, I forcibly intimidated my family and friends to vote for my submission to a radio ad contest for Hospital Hill Run. Every year, Hospital Hill has a slogan of "I know..." and then whatever it was that running HHR taught you. Last year it was, "I know...I can!"

I submitted: "I know sweat, tears, blisters and the unbridled joy of crossing the finish line" and I won a spot!


The script for all the Ad Spots, mine is on top because I am a winner.


This morning, I went to 810 Radio here in Kansas to record my advertisement. So proof, I am celebrity.


What a hilariously awkward experience. First and foremost, the microphone is ginormous. Big UPS to DJ's that spend hours with things like that in their face. Second, I have an accent I was completely unaware of and third, I recorded a radio ad. I was so unnatural, it was comical. Each take got progressively better and better, and we finally got enough usable sound for a good cut.


I guess I am going to have to start listening to the radio to hear myself!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Topeka to Auburn Race Recap

Last week, my faithful racing partner and I trekked the brutally epic Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon.


You guys can probably guess, I'm not really in any shape to be racing-let alone running a half. Details, right? I woke up yesterday, already stiff. Never a good sign, that you are SORE before the race. Why? It's cold, I have a bad mattress-I'm old. Pick your answer. I stretched a little, drank some coffee and then drove the hour and some change to Topeka, Kansas.


My road trip there, I thought about last year. Last year's race, was my second half marathon and my first time meeting and running with Megan. My ever-so-faithful madre, drove me last year and followed us through the course. We drove the course together, and we only got to mile six and I was nauseated by the course. Last year, I walked through the fairlawn mall severely intimidated by the stature of the runners. Last year, at the finish line Megan and I SWORE we'd never be back.


Urish Hill


This year, I followed the same path. I stopped at the same McDonald's to use the restroom. I parked in the same spot. Megan and I met in essentially the same place. The race has an afternoon start, due the weather and them trying to take advantage of the warmest part of the day. So at 10:58, we lined up for our 11:00 start. This race is seriously small. I think last year there were 200ish people, and this year 280ish. I don't know the best way to describe the race, but for whatever it's worth Megan and I are usually middle of the pack runners, just about average for the course-but at TtoA, we come in close to last.


Imagine the hilliest course of your life, and then you'll have Urish road-the mile 5-8 stretch. Imagine the slickest, most compacted slushy snow, and then you'll have 100% of the course. Image the most unstable, unlevel dirt and gravel road, and then you'll have miles 10-12. Imagine the hardest, most grueling course and the coldest winter winds and you'll have the Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon.


This year, even though we are in way better shape was equally as hard as last year. The first few miles are always the hardest, but I was so stiff and my shoes weren't tied right, my legs were cramping. It's kind of a blur now since, it's been over a week-but I still remember the misery. Miles 1-5, I always ask myself WHY? but miles 6-12, I know.


Something magical was the fact that we crossed the finish line at the EXACT SAME TIME as last year, pretty much down to the second. Crazy right? Our finish line photos were ruined by this douche that asked us to drag him the finish line, and then edged us out in the last second. Rude.
We finished up, ate some FREE pancakes-one of the many perks of this race. Then I drove him. The drive home was brutal, almost as hard as the race.


The end.

♥ ♥ ♥


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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

It's About That Time

So you want some Winter Do's and Don'ts?

1. Do: Reuse your safety pins. That sweat wicking under layer can be a stickler for staying at your waist line. If it's tight fitting, like it should be-it will likely ride up. There is nothing more annoying then an under armor layer bunching under your boobs. So here's what you do, take those annoying safety pins you have left over from every race you've ever ran and pin the front/back of the shirt to your shorts and viola! no more riding.


2. Don't: Lick your lips. Seriously, do not do it. The cold and wind will dry out your lips fast and once you lick your lips once to add moisture you won't be able to stop. Cake your lips in plain chapstick before you g o out. If you forget to do that, if you can get through the first 5-10 minutes of outdoor running without licking your licks, you'll start to forget the annoyance of dry lips.

3. Do: Invest in menthol rubs, or anything menthol. When you get back from an hour in the frigid cold, your lungs might naturally be congested. You might be a little wheezy from the restriction the cold caused. I have menthol body wash, it's a soothing body analgesic and coupled with hot steam it helps me breathe easy. Also, here's an inside tip: Vicks Vaporub is applied to baby's feet in hospitals when the have URIs because the menthol is overwhelming to infants. When you get out of the shower, put some vicks on your feet and then put on socks. In about 10-15 minutes you'll start to exhale menthol. It's magic and works.


4. Don't: Rapidly breathe. You know what happens to things in the cold right? They shrink. Cold air will restrict your airways, and it will be harder to breathe. Cold weather running takes conditioning. Inhale through your nose and then "HA" it out your mouth, slowly. By no me ans, inhale and exhale rapidly-which might be a natural inclination.


5. Do: Buy a really good moisturizer. Do you have some lotions? Do any of them dispense through a pump? Those aren't any good. Any lotion that can be pumped or squirted have been thinned with alcohol additives. Winter running will dry your skin to new levels of alligator. Lotions in tubs with lids, no I don't mean bath and body works body butters, are the best. Eucerin, original and in the tub, gets my seal approval. Lotions with fragrances, pumps and aren't very viscous can actually dry out your skin.

6. Don't: Partner with someone who's a complainer. Wanna brave the cold? Don't do it with someone who is going to rely on you to drill Sergent them through it. Run with someone who is impervious to the cold, who is going to run with you like it's a spring day. Moaning about how miserable the cold it will only make it worse. Run with someone who is just happy to be running.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Turn it Up, Turn it Out

I’m not really one for writing down goals, or resolutions or whatever. It’s not that I’m not a goal oriented person, I just never write them down.

I decided to change that, in 2011 I have set the following goals for myself-I will check back on first of each month to see how I’m doing-and no, not all of them are running related:

Lost 10 lbs and see the 130s
Strength train twice a week
Run two full marathons
Average ten hours of volunteering a month
Study the Bible with someone
Make three new friends
Finish school
Pay off debt
Take care of myself
Learn to manage anger, stress and anxiety
Start saving money
Establish a good study routine
Fit into a size 2-4, and feel good about it
Changes someone’s life
Practice Honesty
Ignore lazy tendencies, and start a pattern of cleanliness
Limit television
Organize a 5k Race
Plan a vacation
Adopt a 2nd dog
Work to be a better communicator
Religiously track my food intake good or bad
Pay attention to details
Make Logan happier
Help my brother get his drivers license
Be proactive about my health
Pray daily
Start a garden
Go as organic as possible
Stop popping my jaw

What are your goals for this year? Share them with the boskyblog!

On Deck for tomorrow: Winter Running Do’s and Don’ts