Goals for 2011 (NOT Resolutions!)

This last year has been wonderful.  I have worked like a dog, at times, and fallen short of what I hoped to do (more than once), but overall I'm not unhappy.  In 2011 I took on my dream job (teaching at the graduate level), and found my running mojo again (we ran two half marathons in 2010!), and lost 18 pounds (not lot of weight, I know, but please remember that I am very short! So it represented a change from a size 6-8 to a size 2-4 for me.  That's pretty significant!).

And it's time to set some goals for 2011 - I refuse to call them resolutions because I am never good at keeping resolutions.  I am goal oriented, though - I know, semantics, but whatever works, right? They have to be reasonable goals, because I start my doctoral coursework in January and I can't afford to compromise that at all.  But, I don't want this to be a repeat of anesthesia school, where I barely exercised and ate crap and gained weight.  So, sensible goals are in order.

Here goes:

1. Run 1200 miles in 2011.  I thought about trying to run 2011 miles in 2011, and then I calculated up the weekly mileage required, and looked at my schedule, and, well, nah! I think 100 miles a month is more sensible.

2. Do three destination races in 2011.  The first is Disney, in January.  The second is probably Louisville, Kentucky in April (I think Melissa has her heart set on that one) and the third is St. Jude, in Memphis in December.  If I find a cool summer/early fall destination run I'll certainly add that to the mix, but if not, three is good.

3. Complete a triathlon (or two!) - I have my eyes on a couple of local ones that are supposed to be noob-friendly.

4. Lose five or six more pounds.  I really think that dropping five more pounds will significantly impact my speed. I don't need to be a speed demon (as if!) or set any records. I'd really just like to (someday!) get back to my 8-9 minute/mile pace!

5. Get serious about the strength work.  It doesn't take a lot, nor a long time and there's really no excuse for not working in a couple of strength-training sessions a week. I want her back:

6. Find yoga again - I used to love, love, love it and I stopped practicing and my life is poorer without it.  

7. Complete one sewing project every two months.  I thought about one a month, but it is really tough to work full-time and study and train AND get a big sewing project done in just four weekends, particularly if (like my current project) it's a quilt. My creative side needs an outlet, though, and there's so much beautiful fabric in the world and so little time to play with it! So, a project every 8 weeks is probably manageable.

I feel like I'm cheating with these goals a little bit, because I was doing many of these things before the holiday and my bout of illness and injury.  But knowing that I am capable of them means (hopefully) that I'm likely to keep doing them, and 2011 is going to be a great year!

If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, please do so - there's still time! 

Lazy Randomness

I'm having a lazy morning.  Eating my favorite breakfast:

Oatmeal with berries (and sans butter) - thank you, Country Living!


 Snuggling with two of my favorite (hot) dogs:

They don't like outfits - they are being bribed with chicken!

And reading all of your responses to my giveaway and looking up the races you're entering.  I love the fact that there are so many cool races out there!  

Later today I'll work a little on my latest project:

Mine will have slightly different colors and dimensions, because I am physically incapable of following directions!
Thanks, Obsessive Crafting Disorder!

And the youngest child:

wants to go the gym with me later today!  Don't you love it when your children pick up healthy habits?  Particularly when this one has had his share of unhealthy habits in the past.


Have a wonderful day, everyone - I certainly will!

New Year's Resolution Giveaway!

I'm race-shopping this morning, since I have the day off.  I'm trying to plan next year's race schedule, culminating (I hope) with the St. Jude Marathon on December 3rd, 2011.  And I've noticed one common theme - race entry fees are expensive!

Outer Banks Half Marathon - note our cool skirts!

For me, planning the race schedule is my New Year's Resolution. It ensures that I will keep training, and keep eating a healthy diet, and avoid overindulging in soda or alcohol or fatty foods - all of which interfere substantially with my training.  I'm lucky enough to have a wonderful job and a reasonable income at the moment, but that hasn't always been the case.  And I know there are other folks in the blogosphere who may be struggling to make ends meet, or for whom a race entry fee takes away from some other family need.

So, after conferring with my wonderful husband (did I mention he never complains about my running/quilting/educational obsessions?), I've decided to hold a New Year's Resolution giveaway that might help one of you a little bit.  I wish I could afford to pay for a year of races for one of you, but since I can't do that, here's what I can do: my husband and I will pay up to $60 toward a race entry fee for one winner.  

That's right - up to sixty clams greenbacks bucks.  For you, and the race of your choice if you are the winner!  Hopefully, it will help you keep your own New Year's Resolution.  It can be used for any endurance activity you are interested in - cycling, running, swimming, triathlon, unicycling, distance juggling... whatever.  I'll choose a winner out of all the eligible entries on January 2nd and we'll make arrangements for the payment after that.

Do I have your interest?  Good!  Here's how to enter:

1. Comment and let me know in which race you'd use the entry fee.  You can change your mind if you win - I'm just race shopping and I want to see which races you're considering. I'm nosy like that!

2. Follow my blog, or let me know if you already do.

3. Share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook or Twitter.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry so that I make sure you get credit for everything you do. I'll take entries until midnight on New Year's Day (January 1).  So, what are you waiting for?  Go to Runner's World or Active.com or Cool Running and do some race shopping of your own!

Playing Along

After reading Marathon Maiden's blog Wednesday, I decided to play along here. She asked seven questions, and here are my answers:

1. Dishes: clean them up right away or leave them for later and do lots at once? Hmm - it depends! Usually get at least one load in the dishwasher right away, then we see about the rest.
2. What is your favorite US president and why? George Washington - he was such a genuine public servant!
3. Favorite song of 2010 and why? "I like big butts..." oh, wait... :)
4. Seasons: Fall or Spring? Fall.  But spring is nice, too!
5. Are you a brand loyalist all the time? Some of the time? None of the time? If so to what brand? Nope - no brand loyalty here.
6. Sweets: Pastries or Ice Cream? Ice cream is a food group - 'nuff said!
7. What would you say to a guy who said “So leave your keys on the kitchen counter / And gimme back that ruby ring with the big diamond”? I dunno - maybe, "Then don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out?"

Now, I guess I have to make up some questions - can I come up with seven?  Hmm, I don't know.  Let's see:

1. Cake or pie?

2. Dogs or cats?

3. Beef or chicken?

4. Truck or car?

5. Winter or summer?

6. Rolls or Biscuits?

7. Beach or mountains?

Play along if you'd like to - I'd love to see your answers!  I'll catch up with blogs and blogging here in a day or so - right now I'm enjoying a bit of a break with my crew!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Nashville Flood Relief

Tennessee is my adopted home, and it is a beautiful state.  I don't live in Nashville, but like most folks in Tennessee we were horrified to see images of the flooding that occurred there in May. 

Imagine waking up to this:

or this:

 Nashville is recovering, but there are still people who are homeless and struggling due to the devastation.

Melissa and I ran the Women's Half Marathon in September, and we loved our visit to Nashville.  See how happy we look, with our Nashville Bling?

Nashville is the only town I've ever raced in where the amateur musicians on the side of the race course sounded like professionals.  The musical talent here is amazing - and it was a great distraction while we climbed Nashville's many hills!

Here I am, running in Nashville!  This photo was taken about mile 8 of the half-marathon.  Yes, I've lost some weight since then, but Nashville was the race that started us on our way back to fitness, and it holds a special place in my heart for that reason!

And, my wonderful husband (who puts up with all things running for my sake) has always wanted to see a certain country music legend in concert.  Not being a big country music fan, I did not really share that enthusiasm but fair is fair - he never complains about my running.

So, when that certain country music legend decided to do a series of flood relief concerts for Nashville, I knew we had to participate.  And we did - we took a truckload of people (8 total) on a road trip last night, to see this:

Those of you who are country music fans will recognize Garth Brooks! And, I have to admit, he puts on one heck of a show!

Nashville loves Garth - imagine 20,000 people in a stadium singing together and you can imagine what it was like.  My husband was in heaven, and I have to admit that I enjoyed it, too!  Even though country music isn't my favorite genre, I do enjoy being in a crowd of people who are all excited and happy to be there - this is why I love college football, too!

The folks around us were singing and dancing and crying - it was fabulous. 

I did not enjoy getting up early this morning to go to work, however!  It was a small price to pay, though, to thank my husband for putting up with so much from me.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to bed!

Cold and Grey

And blah - I just want to snuggle under a blanket and hibernate.  I'm sure I was a small hibernating animal in a past life!

Look at this little guy - doesn't he look cozy?  And his snacks are right there beside him!


I have a little bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder - when the days get short I want to eat carbs and sleep.  That's one of the reasons we scheduled Disney. A January trip to Florida should be just the thing to pull me out of my slump a little.  I hope!

Are you all ready for Christmas?  I am not, but I will be!


Update: I had to share this.  I was reading this post at SUAR and getting all maudlin, and the dog (we have a hydrocephalic chihuahua and he isn't the brightest) peed on my foot.  Oh, well - now I'm going to be up doing laundry - might as well pop a load in the washing machine and go for a little run!

Big Fat Greek Marathon Fund: $62.50

Goal: Unknown (they send out information in February)

Days until next race: 19 (Disney!!!)

Off Topic - Code Blue

Okay, this is very off-topic based on something I overheard at work this morning.  Two middle-aged women were waiting for the elevator as I walked by, and they were talking rather loudly.  And one says to the other, "Well, his heart stopped during surgery and they couldn't restart it, but he was old so they probably didn't try very hard." And the elevator doors opened and they got on and the doors closed and they were gone. And I didn't have time to say anything, but oh, how I wanted to!  This is not the first time I've heard something like this, and every time I hear it I feel the need to address it, so here goes:

I have been a nurse for more than ten years. I started as an Army nurse, where I specialized in trauma care. I worked in the intensive care unit and the emergency room.  Then I went to anesthesia school, which was three years of further education and clinical experience.  I have seen a LOT of cardiac arrests, in hospitals all over the country.  I have NEVER seen one respondent to a "Code Blue" who was not 100% serious about saving the life of the patient.  And I'm pretty sure that if I had, their colleagues would not have taken it lightly.

Seriously - some of the hardest work I have ever done in my life was during a Code Blue - and I've never been alone on one for any length of time.  Everybody with a free pair of hands comes immediately to your location to help.  You'll easily have half a dozen dedicated professionals working on the case, and we generally don't give up until it's absolutely clear that there's no hope left.  Now, there's significant controversy over that, to be sure - some people think we try too hard, especially in cases that perhaps shouldn't be "coded" at all.  Be that as it may, I think it's safe to say that nobody could accuse us of not trying hard enough.

Please, please, please - if you've ever lost a loved one in a hospital setting, accept my sincere condolences, and please don't think we didn't try to save them.  I can assure you that that is not the case.  Sometimes we work for hours on the patient and then one (or more) of us goes and cries with the family over the loss.  We feel each loss and we absolutely don't give up easily.

Okay, now I'll climb off this soapbox - I appreciate your indulgence during my rant.  I'll try to keep those to a minimum in the future.  And don't I look tall up here?  :)