A Little Game of Touch and Go

This morning has been touch and go. And let me tell you why.

Touch: Nobody wants to get up. Period. End of story. It's become a problem.

Go: I had a healthy, delicious breakfast this morning.

Peanut butter and banana sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice on a 100 calorie English muffin. YUMMY!

Touch: It's freaking windy.

Go: But it feels great outside.

I'm suppose to run this afternoon. Hopefully I can get Logan to go with me (ahem, Logan needs to run again). But I don't think I can tell you how freaking windy it is. Blustery might be a more appropriate term.

I need to run. I have to run. I'm training. I have to run. I want to run. I need to run.

Touch: I woke up with a headache. NBD. I get those sometimes, but this one is the size of an elephant sitting on my tiny skill cap.

Go: CAFFINE AND ADVIL! Two of the worlds greatest miracle drugs.

Touch: It's freaking windy, which makes me not want to run.

Go: I found some really great quotes on Pinterest to keep us me going.

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." - John Bingham

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I will not run like someone running aimlessly.
1 Corinthians 9:25-26

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine

"The hardest step for a runner is the first one out of the front door." - Anonymous

Sidenote---I watched a movie about Steve Prefontaine one day. I was really into it, feeling inspired. And then he gets in a car wreck and dies. I was so upset. More angry than upset. Such a true talent. What a shame.

So the quote he said above is about running, but it can be applied ot any part of your life.

Another sidenote---I'm feeling much better now that I've shared with you all about my touch and go day thus far. I'm hopeful it will be a GO day for the rest of the day.

What are some of your favorite inspirational quotes?

How do you handle touch-and-go days?

All That is Important

I ran 4.5 miles this weekend with my mom and some of her super awesome running buddies Kerri and Lisa. I got to wear my new long sleeved running shirt. I felt legit.

The downside to legitness came when the run was over, and I took off my fleece headband thingy to evaluate my hair.

In my defense, that is not all sweat. It was very foggy that morning so condensation played a big part in the making of this rat's nest.

The fog was so thick it didn't really lift after the sun came up. (Yes, I said when the sun came up...meaning that I got up before the sun to go run in the freezing cold.)

Fog is super creepy. All I could think about was someone jumping out of the fog and chasing us. Clearly I have a problem. My brain works too hard when it comes to thinking up crazy scary senarios. I still blame Criminal Minds.
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My friend Jodi has the cutest baby in the history of all the babies.

It's crazy to me how five months ago we were all waiting to see that cute little face. I lub her so much it's a little stupid.
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I ran again yesterday. Still preparing for my upcoming 10K. I've got two weekends left for long runs. (BTW--anything longer than 3 miles is a long run to me at this point.)

Distance: 3.0 miles
Time: 37:38
Best Pace: 10:29
Average Pace: 12:33
Calories: 317

This weekend I will run my first 5 miles since the last one. Next weekend I will run 5.5 miles. And then next weekend is the race. And I will run 6.2 miles...a personal record for me. So it's getting down the wire with it all. But I'm excited.
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I made soup last night. I'm pretty sure it's the best soup in the world. Thank you Clean Eating Chelsey for creating something so wonderful.

Broccoli, potato and white bean soup is probably my favorite soup this season. I have a feeling the roommate and I will be eating lots of soup this fall/winter.
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Kroger had my most favorite flower in bulk. So I had to get some to brighten my house.

Tulips are the most beautiful and happiest flowers. I love all the different colors, but I'm a true sucker for red tulips with the yellow centers. I swoon.

Did I leave anything out?

How was your weekend?

First Class Roommate

I've lived with the same roommate for 5 years. I mean that has to be a world record. And everyone thinks Samantha, the roommate, is the quietest, sweetest girl ever. Everyone loves her.

But nobody knows that she is an absolute loonybird. She's not a bit quiet. In fact, she never shuts up. And she has a bit of an attitude, which I like to think she picked up from me throughout the years of living with me.

The reason I bring this up is because everyone thinks the roommate has it together. That she is prim and proper and lady-like. Nobody ever sees what she's really like.

Last night I caught her in one of her finer moments.

This is mild compared to the fact that she likes to scream into the couch cushions and has conversations with me while sitting on the couch facing the wall.

And I always say, "Nobody's ever here." Nobody ever sees her like this except me.

Clearly she's insane and hilairious. And the comedic relief that I live with every day.

So stop saying that she's quiet. Don't do that anymore. Because it's a false statement.

The kid never shuts up. And if you listen to her, you wouldn't want her to shut up because she is the funniest person I know. She's a guaranteed laughfest.

Other classic Samantha/roommate moments:

• The time she made me go get Dorito's with her in a hurricane.
• The time her arm looked like death.
• The time she hid old tennis shoes in her trunk for 3 years.
• The time she made an awesome t-shirt.
• The time she lured you in with her photogenic self.

I hope I've cleared up any misconceptions of the roommate and her insanity. And now you know. So next time you see her, scream at her and I'd bet she'll scream back.

Holy Crap I Can't Handle Stuff Like This Before 8:30 A.M.

Dudes we have to take a break from the HTDTYSAKW series because it's only 8:30 in the morning, and I have already overcome a crisis.

Exhibit A:

A newly released from life cockroach.

Exhibit B:

Cockroach killing assistant.

Now let's really talk about what happened.

7:30 A.M. I stopped at Starbucks on the way to work to get some coffee because I'm out of half and half at home...clearly a good reason to hit up the Bucks.

7:50 A.M. I sit down at my desk and turn on my computer. Check the work e-mail. Check the personal e-mail. Open Blogger to check my favorite blogs.

8:05 A.M. The co-workers start to come in. Lots of movement. Papers shuffling. Talking amongst ourselves.

8:07 A.M. Hairy-legged cockroach makes it's first appearance on the bookcase near my desk.

8:07:30 A.M. I zero in on said hairy-legged cockroach. Drag Tiffany over to look at the cockroach with me. Feeling of disgust and horror consume my thoughts.

8:08 A.M. Try to convince Tiffany to kill the cockroach.

8:15 A.M. Tiffany and Stacy leave me to conquer cockroach alone.

8:15 A.M. to 8:25 A.M. Played out worst case senarios in my head of cockroach flying in my face, crawling on me, just walking around on its spindly legs. I shudder.

8:25:30 A.M. Cough. Almost throw up. Pace around in a circle.

8:27 A.M. Get pissed off at said spindly legged cochroach. Find the Raid.

8:28 A.M. Use Raid to end cockroach's life.

8:30 A.M. Crisis over.

If the cockroach were still here to tell us his side of the story, I'm sure he would have a good reason for being inside my office crawling on the bookcase near my desk.

But I didn't give him a chance to speak. I just sprayed that Raid until there was a thick sheen on the cockroach's legs and everything in that general area smells of cochroach killing spray.

That having been said, the can of Raid will stay at my desk in case others come to mourn the death of their fallen brethren.

Running with a Famous Person

I spent yesterday afternoon catching up, making a costume and running with my old college friend Ben Davis. We've known each other for three years now and have a bit of a history.

Ben is now my famous friend.When we met in 2008, Ben was 360 pounds. He was sad and lonely, but then he made a decision to change his situation. Three years later, he is a whole person smaller, a marathon runner, two-time Ironman and inspiration to millions of people who follow his life journey every day on his blog Ben Does Life.

We met at Starbucks to have some coffee and catch up. And as the conversation went along, he said we should run.

Now let's get this straight. Ben runs. I jog. It's very different. And I was instantly nervous when he said we should run together because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up. See...Ben runs fast. I jog slow.

But we ran. And it was amazing (aside from the fact that my side had a sharp shooting pain under my rib cage the whole time). Four miles at sunset. Perfect weather. It was glorious. And I didn't really keep up, but I tried. And that's all that matters.

And I helped him make an old school ghost costume.

He's so menacing. (We did cut out some eyes...and we basically stole that sheet from Wal-Mart. But let's not get into that.)

Ben: I had fun with you yesterday. When you come back to 'Merica, there will be more coffee, running and friend time. So get ready. See ya at Christmas when you pick up the masterpiece of Sherman.

On a semi-related note: my mom sent me an e-mail this morning.

Yep. It's happening. 13.1 miles. I will get that sticker. And that medal. And that personal accomplishment. And bragging rights. And whatever else comes along with it.