ITS TIME!!!

PUMPKIN TIME!!!

I am breaking from any talk of training to talk to you about something important and near and dear to my heart.  PUMPKIN!!!

I love pumpkin!!  I am the Bubba Gump of pumpkin.  I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin spice latte's, pumpkin martinis, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin risotto......did I miss anything???  And it doesn't even have to be food!  I like pumpkin candles, pumpkin body wash, pumpkin lotion, pumpkin EVERYTHING!!!!

The only pumpkin thing that I don't like is pumpkin beer.  And thats just because I don't like beer and it doesn't really taste like pumpkin at all.  But I would be up for trying it again if someone could recommend one that really does taste like pumpkin.

My first pumpkin purchase this year?  A pumpkin harvest febreeze air freshener.  It might be 90 degrees out but my house smells like fall. 

I don't know why I like pumpkin so much.  I guess because I have a fall birthday and because I love Halloween.  Maybe because its just damn tasty and yummy smelling?  Maybe because its one of those things that you can only get a few months out of the year.  Even though now you can get it year round I still limit myself to September-December.  I don't think I would love it as much if I had it more often than that.  It just wouldn't be right to have pumpkin anything in July!

So do you have any good pumpkin recipes?  Let me know, or even better just make it for me (I don't cook much)!  If you go to a restaurant that serves an awesome pumpkin dish, please tell me.  And if you notice Starbucks selling pumpkin lattes before I notice it please tell me!!! 

I think this year I am going to get a pumpkin facial. One year I dressed up as a pumpkin girl for Halloween.  I can't seem to find a pic, though.  Trust me, it was cute. 

HAPPY PUMPKIN SEASON!!!!

just breathe

Just finished doing 5 days in a row.  I was technically scheduled for 5- 12 hour shifts, friday through tuesday.  That could have been really bad.  It could have been extremely busy all 5 days but it wasn't.  I ended up only working 3 full shifts and 2 partial shifts but I was at work the past 5 days and that kinda sucks no matter how you look at it.

My house is a MESS!  I have a TON of laundry to catch up on and I really don't feel like doing any of it. I started some laundry and cleaned the kitchen.  I'm really trying to get up the energy to fold and put away some laundry while baby is napping but it feels so good to just sit and do nothing. 

I think I am done scheduling myself for overtime for a while.  Its not worth it.  AND its running season now.  Or at least its heading into running season.  I'm going to be full on training for OUC 1/2.   I'm not exactly sure when the group starts training but as of next Tuesday I will be doing track and trying to increase my running miles and definitely within the next few weeks will start a training plan. So excited to actually be training again!
 Here are my fall goals:

1) Run OUC 1/2.  No time constraints- just finish it. 
2) Lose 20 lbs.  (would love to hit pre-preg weight by December!)

And thats all I've got for the fall.  Anyone else have any fall training goals or races? 

Hopefully the blog will get a little more interesting now since I won't just be randomly bitching but I will actually be training for a race.  It surprises me when I talk to people and they say something about the blog.  I kind of just babble on here and it helps me stay on task for my workouts.  I sort of forget that people actually read it sometimes. 

Next time I write will be about my FAVORITE part of fall.  Those who know me well won't be surprised.  Anyone have any guesses about my favorite fall thing????

Every run is a PR....

when you suck!!

 j/k but that really is a good thing about starting over.  Last year when I was running a lot it seemed like every race I was shaving minutes off of my times.  I knew it wouldn't last forever, that eventually I would get to a point that I couldn't take that much time off.  But now I am slow again and most nights when I go out I'm running faster.   I have a loop thats about 3.22-3.24 miles.  I ran it 2 weeks ago in 36min then last week 35m and this week 34.  Closing in on that 30 min mark.  I really need to start increasing my mileage, though.  I've been sticking between 2 to just over 3 miles.  I think I am ready for 4, but it will be slow! 

This weeks total mileage is at about 7 1/2.  I'd like to get to 8-9 next week and be in double digits before October.

So far I've lost almost 40 lbs.  Pretty awesome.  I kind of thought from the beginning that I would lose the first 30 or so pretty easily.  I'm happy it worked out that way.  I really haven't dieted at all.  I kind of watch what I eat.  I have a diet heavy in fruits and veggies and whole grains.  I don't eat a lot of fried foods or high fat foods.  I try not to eat too much dairy (only because it doesn't agree with Mr Baby)  I do still like sweets but I am not eating them like I was before. Mostly I run and go to the gym (spin/body pump).  I am keeping my calories up because 1) breastfeeding 2) metabolism.  Anyone can lose weight if you drastically cut calories.   I like to keep my calories up and increase my workouts and boost my metabolism.  It worked before and I'm hoping it works again.  I like to eat!! 

I didn't do so hot at the gym this week.  Didn't make it to pump.  I had one good spin class and one crappy one.  I ran 3x.  After this week I will really be boosting up my running in preparation for OUC 1/2.  I will definitely have to adjust my training schedule.  I am hoping to continue to get at least 1 day of weights.  I think in addition I would like to only spin 1-2 days and add a yoga day. 

Goal: 3-4 days running
          1-2 spin classes
          1 yoga class
          1- body pump 

That is my fall training plan.  I'm giving up on swimming until spring!  I'm hoping to lose the last 20lbs by December.  That's 3 months.  Think I can do it??? I'll keep you posted!