Running with Kittens

Today I had 2 runs... one was an awesome 3.5 with Regan, and the other was jogging laps around the inside of my house with a ribbon trailing behind me trying to wear out Wheezy. It didn't work. She's still totally wired.

But good lord she is cute!

In other news, I have decided that I need new running shoes. It's been 6 months and they've logged a lot of miles. But I'm SO ATTACHED. I feel like I should get them bronzed. I'm going to head to Fleet Feet this time - though I like Athlete's foot, I want to give FF the business since I'm on their racing team. If I get them tomorrow or Wednesday, then I'll get to try them out Thursday and Friday and have some new shiny sneaks for the NHL All Star 5k on Saturday!

Yes, the NHL AllStar game is coming to Raleigh. I'm a humongo hockey fan, but couldn't justify the $200 for the tickets, so I'm just doing the race. I get a long sleeve tshirt and a medal! Plus, U-S Husband said I should buy an All Star jersey. I think that's going to happen.

What else... oh work is crazy. But that's kind of how life in a small nonprofit works.

Tax season has started, so poor U-S Husband is spending entirely too much time at work. But that's kind of how life at a small accounting firm works.

So any runners have some lower back pain? I'm wicked sore and I'm not sure why. Maybe I overexerted on my gym work out Saturday? Could also be the shoes I suppose.

TGINMML.
Thank god it's not monday much longer.

Sarah

25 degrees

It's cold. And I'm a total chicken and now feel very guilty for not running at 9 today. I do not like this feeling!

That is all.

Sarah

Meet "Wheezy!"

Meet Eloise!

She is the newest addition to our little family! And look - she already loves my running shoes! By the by, I wear a size 6 shoe, so that's how tiny she is.

Ultra-Supportive Husband spearheaded this movement. After we lost O'Malley in December, I've been sorta mopey. He wanted to make sure I had a critter to keep me company while he faced a gnarly tax season this spring.

So Saturday, after a fabulous run with my ladies, lunch with the Reynolds, then the Rockwell exhibit at the art museum (wow, saturday rocked!) we headed to the county shelter. Not a rescue, not a box of kittens at a friend's house - the actual, awful shelter. I figured those were the ones that needed rescuing the most.

I found this little one right away. She was, in fact, the only kitten I even looked at. (I do most things in my life on impulse - house, car, wedding dress, etc. My instincts usually serve me well!) Well, turns out, she has a kitty cold - upper resipratory infection. Hence the name "wheezy!"

Preston later decided that Eloise was infinately more elegant. I tend to agree.


We brought her home on Sunday. She is the sweetest thing! She plays and runs around like crazy, then jumps up on one of our laps and climbs up to our neck for a snuggle.

Be still my heart! Preston is a proud papa - he is smitten.



As I write, she's snuggled up under my chin. As a result of her cold, she has the cutest little wheezy snore. SO FRIGGIN CUTE.

I'm off to capitalize on some kitty snuggles... *sigh*

Life is good. And I think O'Malley would approve.


Sarah

Blue skies and sunshine!

We are shaping up to have a beeeayootiful day here in NC! And, bonus! We should get into the 40s! I know, I know, you're tired of hearing me complain about the weather, but seriously guys, usually the average is 50 degrees. This week, it barely got above freezing!


Our run this morning was awesome. Alisha is a fabulous addition to our little troupe. We had a solid 4.4, and our average is now almost always around the 12 minute mark. This is good for 2 reasons: 1) yay for being a little faster! 2) WW categorizes "running" as 12 minute/mile or faster. We've been cheating a smidge, but now, we honestly earned 12 points this morning!

How will 12 points impact my day? We are totes going to Rudinos for grinders and/or pizza. I might even have a beer! Then we're hitting the art museum for the Norman Rockwell exhibit. Yay Saturday!

We had our 2nd weekly WW "meeting" last night, (we had dinner with our friends who are also on the plan) and we had scrumptious broccoli and sirloin stir fry. A really nice substitute if you're feeling some chinese take out. Tonight, upon the request of U-S Husband, there will be an encore presentation of WW Chicken Pot Pie.


Woa. Stomach rumbling - time for post-run meal. Which, speaking of...

What's your best post-run snack? I usually go with something like a banana and some milk, but I'm thinking I might need more than that for longer runs. Thoughts?



Happy long-weekend, all!!!



Sarah

Long time no run

Blurg. I don't like going 4 days without running, but it's gonna happen this week. Ice and being busy made me an indoor worker outer this week. A little yoga, a little Netflix video, a little Wii Fit. Anything to get in those 3o minutes and build a little muscle.

The WW is going well - almost down 5 lbs! Slowly but surely, stuff is fitting better. I haven't felt hungry or like I'm missing out on anything either. We've been eating like kings - steak, salmon, yellow fin tuna ... but we've been eating at home. This does 2 major things - huge money savings, and huge calorie savings. I would rather have a perfectly cooked piece of salmon, some quinoia and a salad better than any burger and fries out there.

We're also trying to have people over for dinner rather than going out. We've started a "WW meeting" with some friends of ours where we take turns hosting dinner. Again, saving money, and eating better, plus, we're not sacrificing our social life.

Ya'll, I am digging on this whole, healthy, athlete, thing.

Sarah

Hooray! It didn't snow last night!

For the first time this winter, the weather people predicted snow and it didn't happen. Usually, here in the NC, it's the other way around. We get super excited about the white stuff, and then we get rain. Or worse, ice.

But this winter is freaky. It has snowed enough to disrupt stuff about 5 times. I am OVER IT.

Thankfully, they were wrong, and it is a lovely day, and it was perfectly dry. Which means that Regan, Alisha and I were able to participate in the Freeze Your Thorns Off Virtual 5k! The Boring Runner set it up and it's fun to know that bloggy friends all over are participating today. Our time was a race PR! 38.15. Since it was incorporated into a longer 4-miler, we felt OK not pushing too hard.

Alisha was a great addition to our little team - running goes so much faster when you can chat the whole time! Also, we saw a whole slew of friends from the running group. It is so great to see those guys out on the trail! (also, made us feel super-popular since we knew every other person we passed.)

Quick update on the first week of the 100 Day Challenge from John Bingham (and my own personal goal) - it went well! Obviously the days I plan the running days, it's easier, but I've been able to make it happen. One thing I'll plan better next time - I did Yoga Booty Ballet yesterday (it is HYSTERICAL to watch me get my groove on. Happy no one was home). It is a fun video. Silly, but fun. But... BUTT. As in MY BUTT HURTS. And my abs. And, actually, my shoulders. So props to Gee and Jillian for what is obviously a great workout, but uh, I'll not be doing that the day before a long run!

Happy weekend!
Sarah

File this one under "Stuff I Never Thought I'd Do. EVER."

Today I, Sarah Mann Willcox, who doth run from zombies, joined a racing team.

I know. Crazy.

It's with Fleet Feet in Raleigh. There's not a whole lot to it - I wear the jersey to races, take some pictures, meet some friends. Maybe buy a kilt. (Still undecided on that particular piece of it.)

I haven't seen any pictures of the racing team that show girls that, well, look like me. (Read: round.) They swear you don't have to be an elite runner to be included. (Well, obviously, or I wouldn't be wearing this shirt right now.)

So, a new adventure. I really like Fleet Feet so I don't mind being a running billboard for them. Besides, the shirt has a super-cute jogging leprechaun on it (though it is on a Carolina blue background... less good.) And, gees, does it make my boobs look HUGE. Sorry about that.

Sarah

Why yesterday was awesome.

Yesterday was awesome because Regan and I ran 3.1 miles in 37 minutes.

Why does that make us awesome, you ask?

Because it was a PR by 3 minutes. That's right, 3 minutes.

We've been so focused on adding miles that we haven't been too worried about our pace. Well, lo and behold, as soon as we backed down for a quick 3 miler, it was just easier to go significantly faster!

All of a sudden, a 1o minute mile isn't too crazy. An under 30 5k isn't crazy!!

Don't get me wrong, I'll always be a penguin, but hooray for us!

Other updates:
1. I've lost 4.6 pounds on the WW. Even over the holidays! A few friends have joined up with us. It's good times.
2. On John Bingham's challenge (move 30 minutes every day) I'm doing well. Thanks to the wii fit I can even get in a few minutes when I really, really don't want to. Ultra-Supportive Husband is, as always, ultra-supportive. He got me moving tonight when I really, really didn't want to.
3. I'm joining the Fleet Feet Racing Team tomorrow. Because I can.
4. We went to look at a dog to adopt. He was SOOO sweet. But too big. And hyper. And he licked my face and I immediately broke out into hives. Guess we'll have to get another kitten. DARN.

Sarah

PS I LOVE the google TV Kevin Bacon commercial. It is on now. It makes me giggle hard. Yes, it is overplayed. I'm OK with that.

1-1-11 (fun!)

Happy 2011! We had a blast bowling, drinking, and hanging out with our bestest buddies. And I, due to procedures learned from many, many bad experiences, am not even remotely hungover. Tired? Yes. But I was pleased with my efforts.

Diet? Ok, so that might have gotten fudged a bit. But, my friend has joined up as well, so that makes 4 of us on the WW. As I've learned before, it is waaay easier to do this with a support team.

I almost blew my new years goal right away - I did NOT feel like moving at all this afternoon. Bowling at 1 am counts, right?

Thanks to Ultra-Supportive Husband, I got in some fun Wii Fit time. It's nothing serious, but it does get you moving more than, say, laying on the couch does.

We're having gorgeous weather here - it has been 60 degrees today! A little drizzly, but I'm really looking forward to a nice quick couple of miles tomorrow without having to carry any winter weather gear.

I hope you all had a great night! Here's to some awesome accomplishments in 2011!

Sarah