Raise your glass...

2010 is beginning to come to an end. Just a few more hours left until that big ball drops.

I must say, this year has been wonderful. I want a better one next year, but this one has been great. I've decided to say goodbye to 2010in the best bloggy-way I know how...a List!

Things I've accomplished:
- Total miles run: 233.77 (furthest ever!!!)
- Total races run: 6
- Furthest distance: 13.1 miles Rock N' Roll Chicago Half Marathon
- Fastest race: 29:15 Stonebridge 5K
- Weight lost: about 15 lbs!!!! (can you believe it!!!)
- Pairs of running shoes bought: 2
- States run in: Florida and Illinois
- Blog entries: 160
- Blog Followers: 24! Thanks!
- Blisters: too many
- Toenails lost: none! I did kill one, but it never fell off. It's almost done growing out though.


Things I want to do in 2011:
- Run 300 miles
- PR in the Green Bay Half-Marathon (I need to beat 2:43:22)
- Run 1 race each month from April through November (8 races total)
- Get a Garmin for my birthday! Pedro needs a sister.
- Run in a new state
- Add a new races to the schedule. Will have to to meet the 8-races goal.
- Start a family :) (any good blog recommendations for this one?)
- Be better with cross training and use my gym membership to the fullest!
- Be better with commenting on other blogs
- Stretch! Stretch! Stretch!
- Convince my dad to start running (I give this one a slim chance of becoming reality, but you'll never know until you try)
- Find 2 new running routes/locations

(As I think about it, I'll post about more)

Ok! Husband and I just celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. We took a nice little trip to a resort/spa to really celebrate. After thinking about it a little bit, we determined we've actually been together for 11 years total! Holy cow!

We're going to tackle 2011 together! Here's to more miles and another year together!

Happy running everyone!

Confessions

Dear Running,

I have something to confess...This isn't easy, but.....I've been cheating on you. I know, I know...I said you were the only sport/exercise for me. But lately, things have just been.....well......off between us. Every time you feel the urge I'm just not up for it. So, I've been spening a few extra nights at the gym with Yoga. She's really great! It's not that you're not great...it's just that she takes a lot less effort. Plus she doesn't give me blisters.

But today, when I finally made some time for you, I realized how wrong I've been. Those two miles we shared on the treadmill at the gym were magical. I don't know about you, but I felt sparks fly again. If we're going to make this work, I've got to step up and start making more time for you.

You really are the only sport for me! So what do you say? Will you take me back? Can we still be friends?

Love,
Jamie


Ok....all sillies aside....I'm going to stomp the last few miles out of 2010 and start off with fresh legs in 2011! The Green Bay Half is only 5 months away and I've got to get my booty in gear if I'm going to PR in this thing like I'd like to.

Lace 'em up and move 'em out! We're going running!

It's beginning to look a lot like...ouch! ouch! ouch!

Finally! It's Christmas break! Just what I've been waiting for!

I kicked off my break with a massage. Ahhhh....Just what I needed. I was beginning to carry all of my stress in my shoulders and could barely lift my arms past shoulder-height by 2:00 some days. This massage was a must before I could do any kind of relaxing this break.

However, 2 hours after the massage was over, all the tightness came back. Just shrugging my shoulders hurts. Fail.

This morning I kicked off my day with Yoga. I thought that the stretching and relaxing would help me release more stress and get rid of shoulder tension. I definitely felt relaxed after, but not stretched out. The instructor (who was great!) even tried to help me with a few poses and commented on how tight things seemed. What really caught her attention was my quick recoil out of standing splits when my hip cramped up :(

After reading Katye's post about tight hips, I've noticed some tightness in mine. Ok...not some...ALOT! It seems like they will cramp at the slightest odd movement or over-held squat. Yoga has been painful at times because of it. I have always noticed a tightness, but I guess the concentrating on it has made it worse.

I will now include a picture list of things I cause extreme cramping in my hips...

A v-sit and any ab exercises based on this pose are impossible. Plus if I am required to extend my legs out straight from this position, something pops in my right hip. I would "click" at tumbling practice when we did v-sit-ups. It didn't hurt too much, but it was really annoying.

Impossible to hold for longer than 10 seconds! Anytime I suspend my leg out to the side the hip locks up almost instantly.

This one I can do, but I couldn't find a picture of the exercise you do after that looks like you're peeing on the hydrant. That one is killer :(

This one is the reason why I hate toning classes and pilates classes.

So there you have it. Pain city here. This has always been the case, but I've never paid much attention before. Today, the yoga instructor told me that she is a therapist (the specifics I can't remember) that practices myofacial release and gave me her number. I'm debating about calling her. Loosening my hips an releasing the tension in my shoulders would be awesome....since massage doesn't last and is too expensive to do consistently.

Any thoughts or advice?

Snowflakes and shoes laces

Well....believe it or not I have actually gotten in a few runs lately. Emphasis on few.

Last Saturday, just after our first snow storm of the year, Bentley and I went for our first "winter" run. This only happened because the road out leading away from my neighborhood was blocked by a tow truck pulling two cars out of the ditch and I couldn't get to yoga at the gym. The run wasn't too bad. It was only 1.25 miles and super slow because I kept slipping.

I also managed to get in a run tonight after school. The temps were still in the 20's and I knew those wouldn't last forever (Monday's high is only 6!!!!). Bentley and I went out and got back before it got too dark.

My endurance is really suffering with this inconsistent training. I had hoped to build up a good base before I started my Half training in February. Sadly, that hasn't happened. Maybe over Christmas break.....

Random fantasies

So I was fantasizing today....

I would like to show up to school and have the Trolls that live in my desk Not eat my copies for once!!!!! Seriously! I lost half my stuff!!! And it was in the "Wednesday" tray when I left last night! Grrr....

I want to be able to stop time during the day so I can fit in a run during lunch time. 40 minutes just isn't long enough.

I want to be able to catch all my "forgetful" kids before they leave my room and remind them to bring home their spirals.

I want to be a Victoria's Secret model. Seriously. They're looking for a petite angel, right?

I wish dishes would wash themselves.

There are a few other fantasies floating around in my mind right now....but I'm being distracted by my school stress and Celebrity Chefs of Beverly Hills.