Saturday, October 30, 2010

Treadmill 5K

Today was the day - run the entire 5K distance (3.1 miles) on the treadmill.  Run.  I didn't have to be super speedy, just run the entire time.  AND I did it!! 


I finished it in 38:51.  I started at a moderate pace, increased the speed for mile 2 and a little more for mile 3.  Overall, I am very happy with it.  I cooled down, stretched and iced my ankles.  The race is in 2 weeks (yikes!).  Again, my goal is to finish, so I think I will make it.  I've been warned that there is a REALLY steep hill on the course...great! 

The next 2 weeks for me will be filled with mostly 1-2 mile runs, with two 5K distances thrown in there, one each week.  I'm also going to focus on getting rest and eating right so my body is at least prepared.  AND it might be cold, so I'm going to check into some cold gear so I'm not miserable.

We're off to a Halloween party...should be fun!!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Denim and Diamonds

With the thought of plummeting to the forest floor to my death lurking from last Friday, I forgot to share another event that I attended over the weekend.  After leaving Calleva, I drove to PA for a Denim and Diamonds Fundraising Event for the Martin Library in York.  The idea was to have a formal event without the formal part...almost.  That's not to say that there weren't people in tiaras....I know.  But it was a lot of fun.


We had champagne, ate a ton of great food (what fantastic non-meat options too!!) and the most amazing mini desserts!  Since they were tiny (and delicious), we had one of each!!!

We were also entertained by Real Diamond - a Neil Diamond cover band.  The acoustics were terrible, being in an open atrium, but the band was good. 

After a VERY long day (and some sort of crazy sinus headache), I crashed HARD when my head hit the pillow.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

How Lucky Are We???

I will probably cause massive winds and rain to fall on Girls On The Run because I am saying this, but we have been soooo lucky.  There are so many groups that have been rained out on a lot of sessions and we have somehow managed to run outside EVERY time so far.  Even days when it poured most of the day, somehow the sun found its way out by 3:15.  And yesterday, it was beautiful!!!  The temperature was 68 and the the sun was out.  We finished up at 4:05, headed inside to take care of some housekeeping things regarding our upcoming race, and the skies opened up...really opened up.  The wind and rain haven't stopped yet!!!  In fact there was a tornado watch until 3 am. 

I did decide to re-evaluate my race goal.  I've been told by the other coaches that the field is packed with thousands of girls and setting a time goal is just unrealistic, especially since there is no staggered start.  So, my goal is to finish.  I think that's a pretty good goal since not finishing would mean troubles found me along the way!!!  Yesterday we did 2 miles, I ran the whole time and finished in 20 min.  I'm happy with that, and it's on track for my original race goal, but I'm not sure I could have pulled off the final 1.1 miles with the same endurance, so my time may have shot up a bit.  We are doing a 5K next Thursday to get an idea of what we are going to bring on race day.

I decided that my watch for good luck golfing (sporty with bling!) could also be put to very good use for running, so I broke it out and made it my official running watch (once I start timing, etc, I'll need to switch it up, but for now, it's Perfect!)


I also decided to ice my ankles, now that they feel really great, it's easy to skip.  I have to get that in my head as a habit!!!  AND I have to continue to work on my breathing - that is one thing that has always bothered me when I ran and it still is.

Overall, the running is progressing...YAY!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Beautiful Fall

Well, Fall is upon us and it is beautiful.  The town I live in is very small, but there are some benefits...



It's beautiful  here.  I know the winter will be upon us soon.  And if it's anything like last year, we are in for some fun!  Take the time to look around over the next few weeks and enjoy the wonderful changing colors of Fall.  Have a great Tuesday!!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

I always thought this phrase was more about talking to people, public speaking, things where you wouldn't die if you messed up.  I found a WHOLE new meaning to this on Friday (I think I am still mentally recovering which is why it took me until today to get to this post!!).

I organized a Team Building Event.  I did something similar last year where we held an Iron Chef competition.  We had a blast!!



Again, other than a chance of food poisoning, no death involved!!

This year I had my mind set on a ropes course.  I found Calleva and it was right in our neck of the woods http://www.calleva.org/   I think maybe it's self torture, I'm nervous on a high ladder but somehow thought it would be fun to swing from trees in the woods....not sure WHAT I was thinking.

It actually ended up being SUCH a great time.  We all REALLY stretched ourselves WAAAAAY past the limits we ever thought possible. 

We were harnessed for everything, but somehow your mind does not allow that to help you think you are safe! 


I had to climb a tree (try getting size 11 shoes on tiny pegs that were obviously stapled into the tree years ago and were slowing disappearing into the tree as it grew!!), then get myself out onto a balance beam tied between two trees very high up.  Did I mention it was swaying?  Or that it was on an incline?  Again, what was I thinking????


Once you got all the way across and back to the middle, you then had to jump off...backwards.  That's right, I am officially a crazy person.  Somehow I survived and actually really liked it.

The zip line was a blast too.  Again a long climb (this time up a pole so no growth = no peg disappearance...still not the easiest for shoeboxes!)


Then there was a swing.  No ordinary swing.  As we were hiking through the woods to the location of the swing, I was convinced that it was placed very deep in the woods so if you die they can just bury you right there and no one would know!  I don't have a picture of this one because it involved the whole group, but I'll do my best to give you a mental picture.  I'm in a harness that straps around both thighs and my waist (of course the plastic helmet that would be of absolutely NO help if I fell to the forest floor...but anyway).  Two hooks were placed on the front of my harness at the waist, one was attached to a Y shaped bungee cord like device between 2 large trees and the other to a long rope around a pulley.  The whole group held the end of the rope and raised me into what felt like close to heaven.  Since the hook was on my waist, I am now VERY high in the sky laying flat on my back dangling by a hook.  Whenever I'm ready, my instruction is to pull a ripcord that will release me from the rope my group is holding and send me at the speed of light toward the dirt (backwards) at which time the other bungee device kicks in pulling me backwards up into a high swing JUST so I can then see the forest floor coming as I swing the other direction.  I didn't hesitate to pull the cord (I'm not sure exactly why, maybe just wanted to get it over with), but let me tell you that my life flashed before my eyes on both the backswing AND the frontswing.  After that, and I realized I was alive, the next 20 swings (you are moving at such momentum, it takes a while to stop) were a lot of fun!!!!

And finally to the death jump.  Yes, that's right, that's the name, the death jump.  I don't have to tell you why I was a tad nervous.  But I threw on a happy face and decided to dive in.


The goal was to climb a very high pole (oh and did I mention that it was swaying like a palm tree, except it was 30 times as high as a palm tree!!).  Ok, check...climbing the pole.  Now, swing your leg over a plank that measures 8 inches in width and was about 3 feet long.  Check.


That's where it all went bad.

I looked down.

I saw how far up I was and I was on a small piece of wood on a swinging pole.  I think the only reason I didn't faint was because I was more afraid of falling off if I fainted then just sitting there until a crane could come rescue me.  No crane.

This is what I was supposed to do:

Stand on the plank.


Then jump off the end and reach for a trapeze bar.  Right.



Instead, this is what I did.


I came back down.  And then I did a victory dance for being alive as my group applauded me.



Joe went before me and ended up standing on the plank for 15 minutes BEGGING to come back down.  He was finally ENCOURAGED, yes, that's what they call it, to step off the end.  I asked our guide when I got down why he let me off the hook so easily when I said I was coming back down.  He told me that he has done this for 10 years and he just knows when someone needs to come back down.  Can I tell you how much I admire experience????

Anyway, that was my adventure.  Despite not completing the last task, I have to say that I really had such a great time.  And, believe it or not, would be willing to go back and try again.

We were told when we started that the goal was to take a step or two beyond what we thought we could do.  So, complete it or not, I think I took A LOT of steps beyond what I ever thought I could do.  It was such a great experience!!!  Luckily the rest of my group agreed.  Everyone thanked me for putting it together and I think it was a great success.  Now, how do I top that next year???

Friday, October 22, 2010

Bullying

Yesterday's lesson at Girls On The Run was about bullying.  With all of the news surrounding this issue right now, I thought it was really appropriate.  Kids are just trying to be kids and play and have fun, but they have to deal with these issues in the mix.  I know it has always been around, but with technology the way it is right now, I think a different class of bullies has been able to take over.  Cyber bullying is HUGE and really a shame.  It allows bullies that don't have the guts to face someone to do it in a sneaky way - but have just as painful an impact.  Anyway, talking to the girls about this made me realize how much they really do have to deal with and how much WE really have to be there for them.  We tend to think kids just roll their eyes at us and wish they could rule the world.  When a 10 year old was beating around the bush yesterday to ask me to stay with her until her mom showed up, I realized that's not really the case.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I'm On Track (not sure about Levi!)

Well, I am on my way. 

I've been lying low on the running information because I was afraid of jinxing myself.  I was nervous jumping into week 3 (again) after my 2 week hang-up from an ankle injury.  So, I quietly moved through week 3.  But, I've jumped over.  Yesterday I completed Day 1 of Week 4 on my running training plan and the ankles are feeling great!  Here's the plan for the week:


Normally, Levi joins me.  He's great company (and pretty entertaining too!).  Now I'll try to tell this story so you can get a picture in your head.  I would have given anything to have it on video (I might have won $10,000 too!) Well, I guess yesterday he was busy (you know, licking Cooper's ears or seeing how small of a ball he could get his body into) and didn't realize I was on the treadmill until after I had started.  I heard him clumsily fly down the steps and slide sideways into my workout room.  He was soooo excited, he wasn't thinking straight and he jumped on the join me.  The problem: He jumped on through the front!!  He took me out at the knees like a bowling ball and continued to fly back the treadmill until the wall stopped him.  I was torn between tearing eyes over my smashed finger, tearing eyes of laughing REALLY hard and tearing eyes from thinking he might be hurt.  But, before I had to decide which one of those came first, he got up, shook off and jumped back on (this time in the right direction!).  He continued as if nothing happened for the next 35 minutes.  I have to say it was the most excitement I've had on the treadmill!!

Once we recovered from that incident, I had to get myself moving.  I had to be on the FAR east side of York (I was afraid I was going to be attacked by a bear!!  Or a drifter!!) to do a presentation for the board of a non-profit.  One of things my company does is help non-profits increase funding - either by planning events (stay tuned...I'm in the middle of planning a great golf outing for next Fall!) or by pairing them with a company that has an existing program they can plug into that will allow their supporters to increase their giving without digging deeper into their pockets (because, let's face it, there's not a lot at the bottom of most people's pockets right now!).  I was told to expect a casual atmosphere (this is where I went wrong!!!!).  So, I'm picturing a table, with me at the end standing and presenting my slides, handouts, etc.  Oh, how wrong I was.  The only good thing about showing up to a much larger crowd than I expected, standing in front of a very open library and presenting on a screen that was as big as the building itself, was that I only realized I was in that situation 5 minutes before I had to spring into action!  Anyway, I survived and I think they were pleased.   I survived!!!  Onward and upward...

Have a great day!!!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Busted!

Emma used to be the only privileged one to sleep on the bed.  But she's getting old.  We got her an old lady bed for the floor when I moved to Poolesville and she's been doing great with it.  Last week I saw a few suspicious hairs on the blankets and Saturday morning when I got out of the shower, she was busted....

I can only hope it's because shes feeling spunkier...on her lifelong diet.  She gets low calorie food and veggies, special joint OPC-3 for dogs AND Omegas every day PLUS she runs around like a mother hen after Cooper and Levi in the yard...maybe it's FINALLY paying off!!!

Friday, October 15, 2010

I'm Official!

Doesn't getting a t-shirt for something somehow make it official?  Ok, maybe that's crazy, but I never claimed to be normal :-)  We received our 2010 Girls On The Run t-shirts last night.  And somehow, seeing my name on the list of t-shirt recipients made me feel official. 

I'm officially registered for the GOTR 5K on November 14th and I'm very excited (and a little nervous) about it.  My biggest goal for this first 5K (in a LOOOOONG time) is TO FINISH!!!  I think just running the whole time will be an accomplishment for me.  I think I will set my goal time for 30min.  I know that is slow...don't laugh.  But, if I could pace myself consistently for 30 minutes, I would be very happy.  Once I get this under my belt and get some consistency in, I can move to increasing my speed.  Wish Me Luck!

The Pink House

How cool is this?  The White House was bathed in pink lights as a tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month!!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Funny Thing About Goals...

We all set goals...goals for life in general, goals for our careers, goals for our families, financial goals, business goals, weight loss goals...I could go on and on and on.  Anything that's worth doing is worth setting a goal to accomplish.

That's the funny thing about goals...YOU HAVE TO SET ONE IN ORDER TO REACH ONE.

As I prepare for some individual business coaching calls tonight, my focus is on setting goals...with a twist.  It's not your typical, ok, what are your goals and what will you do to get there?  Been there, done that, a thousand times over.  We all have.  Not just in business, but in life.  Someone asks you your goal, you say what it is (if you know it...sometimes that's the overall problem and you don't even realize it!), you say what you're going to do to get there, you might even do it for a day or two, but the only things that stick are the easy parts.  The parts that are tough, they get shoved to the side and life slips in, easily, every time.  What does that do to your goal? Next time>>>the question again, what is your goal and what will you do to get there.  I want to look backwards tonight.

Tonight the questions will focus more on whether or not you think you are doing what it takes to reach the goals you've set for yourself.  If not, why?  If you don't know why, how will you change it?  What will it take to turn that around and what is your plan to get there?  There are many areas in my life that I have to set goals around now and I'm sure I'm not alone...business is no different. 

I really look forward to these calls because it puts me in touch with everyone in my business.  It also forces me to walk the walk.  Who am I to coach if I can't do it, who am I to inspire people to reach if I'm not reaching.  I was asked today if it gets frustrating when some days you feel like no one else is on board.  My answer is yes, some days, if I'm being honest.  But other days my team is so amazing and I'm the slug...they inspire me way more than I could ever thank them for.  We all struggle reaching our goals- there's no universal goal out there.  They are all very different and very personal. I think that if you help,  EVEN SLIGHTLY, others reach their potential, their dreams that only they can pick, it's worth it.

TIRED, TIRED, TIRED

What is going on???  I can't explain it, but I REALLY wish I could.  I am exhausted.  I feel a little bit like I've been hit by a bus.  Just wanted to explain why I've been M.I.A. from this blog.  I work, I eat and I sleep (ok, I run, go to girls on the run, take care of the fuzzy brown friends....but you get my point). 

Anyway, here's to hoping that ends soon!!  I have things to do!

Yesterday at Girls On The Run, the girls were asked to invite a staff member to run with us.  There was a really impressive turnout!  It was really nice to see the girls excited about their teachers showing up (some of the teachers weren't super thrilled to actually have to run, but they gave it a great effort!).  We are working up to being prepared for our 5K next month in downtown Silver Spring.

The pressure is on next week...the other coaches have activities planned that will get them to Girls On the Run about 1/2 way into the session...which leaves me...with 16 girls...by myself... No, they are actually really great, I'm sure it will be fine.  If you don't hear from me after...worry...and send backup!!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Tomorrow is Replay Day!!!

Well, tomorrow is the start of week 3 (again!!) of my running program.  This is the day that sent me into the backward scramble game of catch-up. 

So, I rested up today.  Levi and I watched the Skins WIN!!

He had his head turned when the Packers were close to taking it...he has very little faith!!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Happy Friday

The week is coming to a close...is it just me or did this week seem to take FOREVER!!

So, I have a question.  One of my snuggly little brown friends (I won't mention any names)


continues to eat poop!  YUCK!  I've heard several things.  I know if there is something missing in their diet they will do that (but they all get the same nutritionally balanced diet PLUS vitamins PLUS antioxidants PLUS some veggies PLUS Omega III!!!) And he's the only one that does it.  I've also heard they could resort to that if they are bored (sometimes 'only dogs' do it when they have limited people interaction).  Mine are crazy, they always play, always attack each other.  I don't think he is bored (although that may be it during the day when he eats my rug....but I think that's anxiety - those of you that have met him know he is very special and has some, what shall I call them, ISSUES.  MAJOR ISSUES.  Anyway, I digress. 

I don't want to resort to having to follow them around and pick up every time they go (mainly because I am lazy and like picking up the yard 2-3 times a week instead of 2-3 times a day and I HATE the cold so the fenced yard is such a blessing to have this winter!!).  I want to find a way to make him not like it anymore before I give in and resort to just not caring anymore (very close to this right now).

I have heard putting hot sauce on the poop makes it undesirable (like it's not already????? and if I'm going out there with the hot sauce, I'm just going to pick up the poop!!!).  I have also heard that feeding them a few pieces of fresh pineapple or a few spoons of canned pumpkin daily will make it less yummy (again...really?  but ok, I'm not a dog so I won't judge).

I'm going to try these...just curious if anyone has tried them or if there are any other suggestions out there?

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Sweet Potato Fries and Why It's Tough Being a Woman

Well, here they are.....TRY NOT TO DROOL!!!


Don't they look delicious???  They were!!!  Ok, enough of that...go make yourself some :-)

So now I know you're curious about the second half of that post title.  I wanted to share something pretty funny with you.  I started a class Monday night with my friend Megan and 28 other women on the Book of Esther and the subtitle for the class is "It's Tough To Be A Woman".  The funny part is the survey.  If you aren't familiar with Beth Moore, she is SOOOO funny.  Before putting this study together she took a survey of 400 women and asked what they considered the hardest part of being a woman to be.  The largest response by a MILE was...

Do you know?  What do you think?

HORMONES.  I thought that was so funny.   It was some overwhelming 80+%

What would your response be (you can't use hormones...)  And guys, no silly answers :-)

I also have a confession to make.  I am skipping running tonight.  I KNOW!  But, it is what it is, I'm beat.  I am going to rest (see my previous post on rest!!!) and prepare for my conference call tonight.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable evening (and works harder than me tonight!!!)

What I'm Thankful For

I am very thankful that I came upon Girls On The Run and decided to give coaching a shot.  The lesson yesterday was on being thankful.  The run portion actually ended up being a silent run where the girls were told to think about the things they are thankful for as they run silently.  Up to this point the run portion has been very social, but we wanted the girls to think about how running made them feel - they aren't always going to have 16 other girls jogging along with them.

While I am thankful for SOOOOO much in my life, last night I was particularly thankful for my sweet potato fries.  They were delicious.  The only thing I regretted was NOT MAKING MORE!!

I will have to share the picture I took with you a little later today, can't seem to get it sent to myself!!

So simple - I cut up a sweet potato - tossed it in olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary and baked at 375 for 20 minutes...PERFECTION.

Have a wonderful Fall day!

Monday, October 4, 2010

A Time For Rest

A typical weekend for me is "catch up".  I tie up loose ends from the work week, I organize my business plans for the following week, usually getting in a few appointments I wasn't able to pull off through the week, I clean the house, etc., etc., etc.  That's not to say that I don't take it easy sometimes, but usually as I do, my mind is thinking of the 40 other things I SHOULD be doing.  That's not really rest.  But yet I still do it all the time.

Well, not this weekend.  I actually rested and enjoyed my weekend.  Of course now my house needs cleaned :-)  But, oh well, it won't cave in!!

Friday - pizza and wine and TV snuggled under a blanket
Saturday - WONDERFUL dinner ( http://www.chart-house.com/ )
Sunday - lunch, shopping, redskins (yay!! Go Skins!)

Read about some of the benefits of getting enough rest : http://www.natural-health-restored.com/rest-and-sleep.html

So, now it's back to work.  I feel refreshed and ready to have a great week!!!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Levi and I are Running Partners!!

I always knew Levi loved the treadmill and of course he likes outside walks and runs, but he has jumped the obsession line!  Since tomorrow is a rest day in week 1 (yep, that's right, started over in week 1, remember?), I guess I can officially say I made it through.  Levi has joined me a little this week, but the last 2 days he has taken on the commitment.

He jumps on and takes off and goes the ENTIRE 40 minutes (5 min warm-up, 30 min plan and 5 min cool down).  He starts to pant a little at ~ 25 minutes, but he is such a trooper.  Even when I'm done, and I'm stretching, he sits and waits JUST IN CASE I might decide to hop back on.

What impresses me most is that he adjusts and changes his speed when I increase and decrease the speed of the treadmill to alternate between walking and running.  A few times he thought we were done when I backed it down to walk, but when he got to the back of the treadmill and realized it was still moving, he worked his front feet a few strides and then hopped right back up there!!


Of course he blinked with the flash :-)

I hope everyone enjoys this BEAUTIFUL day!!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Check Me Out...I'm Famous

 Ok, maybe not famous, but it's very cool just the same!

When I started posting Operation Beautiful notes, I let Caitlin Boyle know.  She asked for my blog name and wanted to feature one of my notes. Sooo, I am the top pick on her 5 of the notes for the day...check me out HERE.  Each day she picks a few submissions to highlight.  I knew there was a reason I had to share my story with all of you, what I didn't know is that she would read it and post it for others as well.

Gotta follow your gut!