Your legs are amazing.
That is all.
Sarah
Sunday, January 8, 2012
I feel great!
I, Sarah Mann Willcox, Lover of all things sweet, have made it through one full week with no sugar.
Or alcohol. Or "white" stuff. (bread, potatoes, rice).
Can I get a "boo ya!"?
It has been a lot easier than I thought it would be. It's like a game. Not going to do this forever, but it feels good to know that I can have some pretty serious will power when I need to.
Also, I've lost 2 pounds. So, there's that.
As for the half-marathon training, it is going swimmingly! Probably could have made it to the gym a couple of more times last week, but our 6-miler on Saturday was bangin. We smoked it and felt great. I remember the days when just 2 miles would send me home exhausted for a day on the couch. Not so anymore! We went thrifting and picked up some awesome stuff from Miss Ashley's store in Durham. Love.
Today, spin class. Next weekend, Shrimp & Grits 5k in Charleston.
2012 is off to a fabulous start!
Sarah
Or alcohol. Or "white" stuff. (bread, potatoes, rice).
Can I get a "boo ya!"?
It has been a lot easier than I thought it would be. It's like a game. Not going to do this forever, but it feels good to know that I can have some pretty serious will power when I need to.
Also, I've lost 2 pounds. So, there's that.
As for the half-marathon training, it is going swimmingly! Probably could have made it to the gym a couple of more times last week, but our 6-miler on Saturday was bangin. We smoked it and felt great. I remember the days when just 2 miles would send me home exhausted for a day on the couch. Not so anymore! We went thrifting and picked up some awesome stuff from Miss Ashley's store in Durham. Love.
Today, spin class. Next weekend, Shrimp & Grits 5k in Charleston.
2012 is off to a fabulous start!
Sarah
Thursday, January 5, 2012
2012 Strategic Plan
Or, when a grantwriter tries to make resolutions.
In my job, I spend a lot of time looking at the impact of activities, so everything we do has to be written in a way that it can be measured and proven at various times. So the idea of a vague, generic "resolution" makes my skin crawl. What does "I resolve to exercise more!" even mean?
So, I introduce my strategic plan for 2012 - complete with benchmarks and measurable goals and objectives.
Eating goals:
So. There you have it. I have a lot of things lined up for 2012!
Dear readers, what are your measurable goals and objectives for the year?
Sarah
In my job, I spend a lot of time looking at the impact of activities, so everything we do has to be written in a way that it can be measured and proven at various times. So the idea of a vague, generic "resolution" makes my skin crawl. What does "I resolve to exercise more!" even mean?
So, I introduce my strategic plan for 2012 - complete with benchmarks and measurable goals and objectives.
Eating goals:
- 2-week sugar/"white stuff" detox. I'm 5 days in and feel great. This is not sustainable for me, but I've done it before and it does help to kick sugar cravings. It's modified South Beach phase 1.
- Keep on keepin on. I've developed good habits. Stick with them.
- Learn to cook one new food per month. Report back.
- Run 1 race/month.
- Run a 33 minute 5k. You'll see that this is a bit higher than my earlier 30 minute 5k - gotta start somewhere! My race PR is 36 minutes.
- PR a half-marathon. First attempt in March!
- Do 20 "real" pushups. In a row. Without wanting to die.
- Try 3 new classes at the gym.
- Ride bikes/walk with my husband more! Ok, this is vague. But with tax season coming up, his time is pretty limited, so I don't want to get frustrated by putting an unrealistic goal here. We'll go for 1/month average but hope for more!
- Visit my grandmother once/month. She's 92. I only saw her a few times in 2011. She lives 5 miles away. I can do better.
- Visit my godmother before May. She's 87 and is convinced she'll die when she's 88. Which is in May. So. Just in case. Gotta get that one in there. Cause she's adorable.
- Save $2000 to my Roth IRA. I put a lot in my 401k, so I don't stress about my Roth, but saving for retirement is important! That's $167/month. Roughly 2 trips to Target.
- Reduce "screen time." If there is "nothing on," turn it off. No need to watch that John Stamos episode of SVU. Again.
- Learn to cable knit. Make, well, something.
- Learn bluegrass fiddle! First lesson last night... a big difference from my Irish and classical background! I want to be able to improvise with a group. LONG way to go.
So. There you have it. I have a lot of things lined up for 2012!
Dear readers, what are your measurable goals and objectives for the year?
Sarah
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Bloggy exchange!
Ok I am SO lame. I got my bloggy exchange gift from the most-fabulous Jennica over at SeRUNity a while ago, and it took me FOREVER to write about it.And you know what? It is FABULOUS.
Ready for this? It was a gold, sparkly, ADJUSTABLE running headband. And it is AWESOME! (obv. Utah girls know what's up!)
Please forgive these crummy pictures- it was an early run! Alisha immediately complimented my supreme bling. Thanks to Jill for organizing again this year. It is fun to have new running friends across the country!
Happy 2012 all! Goals to come. Just gotta think them through!
Sarah
Monday, December 26, 2011
Best run in a while
I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! We spent ours at my parent's - ate lots of food and relaxed. Got some sweet stuff - P got me a keirig for the office. Rock!
Today I went running. I've been taking it easy with the food tracking and the obsessive gym-img. Just needed a rest you know?
Today I planned 4 miles, but ended up doing 5! In just under 60 min. Yup. 12 min/mile average. The 5th mile was 11:00. Seriously! I got this new app for my phone that analyzed my pace and picked songs from my library. Loved it! Nice to have variety from my usual lust and I think it kept me pumped.
More family stuff tomorrow! I love this time of year!
Sarah
Today I went running. I've been taking it easy with the food tracking and the obsessive gym-img. Just needed a rest you know?
Today I planned 4 miles, but ended up doing 5! In just under 60 min. Yup. 12 min/mile average. The 5th mile was 11:00. Seriously! I got this new app for my phone that analyzed my pace and picked songs from my library. Loved it! Nice to have variety from my usual lust and I think it kept me pumped.
More family stuff tomorrow! I love this time of year!
Sarah
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Finally! Winter!
And of course, that would be my first long-run of the training season...
We have had very unseasonably warm weather here in NC. It's been AWESOME. But today, my first run of the training season, was a chilly one. 27 degrees! Where did that come from??!!
Alisha and I are officially training for our 2nd half-marathon. March 18th in Wrightsville Beach. I'm pretty pumped about it. Should be a bigger race, and much more scenic than lovely jacksonville was. Also, not quite so many marines. Probably a few more penguins like us.
Also, it's the day after St. Patrick's Day. This is good because we can hang with our friends for the holiday (we'll go to bed early and bunk at our friend's house who is running the race too) and then alll of our buddies can haul their hungover butts to the finish line to cheer us on, lead of course, by U-S Husband and Alisha's beau, Rob.
But, given that it's (eep) exactly 3 months away, we've got some training to do. We go up from the 4-miler we did today by half a mile each week. We're hoping to take a yoga class on the days after the long run to limber up. Two 3-4 mile runs a week, some strength training, and spin class on Sundays will round it out. It will probably be intense, but I feel good about the cross and strength training element which we more or less left out before.
Our goal is to finish stronger than the last one, but hopefully in under 3 hours. Seems totally do-able - especially because we've done it before.
Any whoo...
I hope everyone is having a great holiday season! I'm spending most of my time eating sweet treats... ugh. (also YUM!) I'm participating in a running blog gift swap again this year - While I'm a bit late, I picked out some AWESOME stuff for my buddy. Fun!
So, dear readers, what races are you gearing up for in 2012? Anything new and exciting for you?
Sarah
We have had very unseasonably warm weather here in NC. It's been AWESOME. But today, my first run of the training season, was a chilly one. 27 degrees! Where did that come from??!!
Alisha and I are officially training for our 2nd half-marathon. March 18th in Wrightsville Beach. I'm pretty pumped about it. Should be a bigger race, and much more scenic than lovely jacksonville was. Also, not quite so many marines. Probably a few more penguins like us.
Also, it's the day after St. Patrick's Day. This is good because we can hang with our friends for the holiday (we'll go to bed early and bunk at our friend's house who is running the race too) and then alll of our buddies can haul their hungover butts to the finish line to cheer us on, lead of course, by U-S Husband and Alisha's beau, Rob.
But, given that it's (eep) exactly 3 months away, we've got some training to do. We go up from the 4-miler we did today by half a mile each week. We're hoping to take a yoga class on the days after the long run to limber up. Two 3-4 mile runs a week, some strength training, and spin class on Sundays will round it out. It will probably be intense, but I feel good about the cross and strength training element which we more or less left out before.
Our goal is to finish stronger than the last one, but hopefully in under 3 hours. Seems totally do-able - especially because we've done it before.
Any whoo...
I hope everyone is having a great holiday season! I'm spending most of my time eating sweet treats... ugh. (also YUM!) I'm participating in a running blog gift swap again this year - While I'm a bit late, I picked out some AWESOME stuff for my buddy. Fun!
So, dear readers, what races are you gearing up for in 2012? Anything new and exciting for you?
Sarah
Sunday, December 11, 2011
What I did on my Utah Vacation
Hi! Long time no see! I promise to be better about this whole blogging thing, but I have a great excuse this week - I was on vacation in Salt Lake City!
My inlaws moved there a couple of years ago. Although it's sad that we don't get to see them as often as we'd like, we do have some pretty bangin visits.
This week we:
Went to the amazing new Natural History Museum. Do you know how many dinosaurs used to be in Utah? Like, Gazillions.
Went on a 6-mile hike around the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. We learned at the natural history museum that the valley in Salt Lake used to be, well, a lake, so the "shoreline" was about halfway up the mountains. Pretty cool.
Drank a lot of Polygamy Porter. Not only does it have a fab. label, it's also quite delicious.
Saw The Muppet Movie.
Went snow tubing! We giggled for 2 hours.
Ran in 15 degree weather! 3.1 miles with my patient father-in-law. We had a great time! The altitude and the cold took me the rest of the day to recover from though. The good news is that my new jacket is perfect for winter running (and long johns work pretty well under running pants. :-) )
Skied on perfect Utah powder. The mountain was all ours save a few snow boarders (who, thankfully, stayed out of our way)
Shopped.
Ate.
Read. (I finished 5 books - that is my favorite thing about vacation - having time to finish books in one day. One of life's little luxuries!)
Went downtown to Temple Square to see the lights. The Mormons go all out - it is always beautiful!
Hung out with my amazing family - I'm so blessed to become a part of the Willcox clan!
Leaving was bittersweet, but it's good to be home.
Oh, and PS, even though I thought I indulged all weekend, I must have done something right - I lost almost a full pound this week! (and I didn't track AT ALL - which I recommend everyone take the chance to do at least one week this holiday season).
I leave you with a picture taken out of the downstairs window of my inlaw's house...
See why it's so relaxing to spend a week there?
We are seriously blessed.
Sarah
My inlaws moved there a couple of years ago. Although it's sad that we don't get to see them as often as we'd like, we do have some pretty bangin visits.
This week we:
 |
| The Jurassic Park theme wouldn't get out of my head... |
Went on a 6-mile hike around the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. We learned at the natural history museum that the valley in Salt Lake used to be, well, a lake, so the "shoreline" was about halfway up the mountains. Pretty cool.
Drank a lot of Polygamy Porter. Not only does it have a fab. label, it's also quite delicious.
 |
| Why have just one? |
Saw The Muppet Movie.
Went snow tubing! We giggled for 2 hours.
Ran in 15 degree weather! 3.1 miles with my patient father-in-law. We had a great time! The altitude and the cold took me the rest of the day to recover from though. The good news is that my new jacket is perfect for winter running (and long johns work pretty well under running pants. :-) )
Skied on perfect Utah powder. The mountain was all ours save a few snow boarders (who, thankfully, stayed out of our way)
 |
| Erin, Preston, Me, and Rosa. We dominated up at Brighton! |
Shopped.
Ate.
Read. (I finished 5 books - that is my favorite thing about vacation - having time to finish books in one day. One of life's little luxuries!)
Went downtown to Temple Square to see the lights. The Mormons go all out - it is always beautiful!
 |
| From the top of the Joseph Smith Building. |
Hung out with my amazing family - I'm so blessed to become a part of the Willcox clan!
Leaving was bittersweet, but it's good to be home.
Oh, and PS, even though I thought I indulged all weekend, I must have done something right - I lost almost a full pound this week! (and I didn't track AT ALL - which I recommend everyone take the chance to do at least one week this holiday season).
I leave you with a picture taken out of the downstairs window of my inlaw's house...
See why it's so relaxing to spend a week there?
We are seriously blessed.
Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)