Pappy!

The birthday boy!



Monday was my grandfather's 89th birthday!  What an amazing age - to live 89 years and have the stories to tell!  Can you imagine??

Anyway - we went over for an impromptu dinner to celebrate with my sister, Anna, her two kids my grandfather and our family friend Marion.

 

Me and my
Pappy


In other news... I've been pretty busy this week.  I've missed a few workouts but I'm ok with that.... I need to jump back on the bandwagon but right now I feel good about where I'm at and what I'm doing.  I need to get through a test next week and then I will feel much better. 

Pappy and 2 of his 6 great grand kids


 I mentioned on twitter that I'm going vegetarian starting Monday June 13, for one week - I've tried this is something that I've wanted to do and it's on my 30 before 30 list.  I need to put together recipes for 7 days of a meat free diet... I plan on blogging along the way as well.  Any ideas or recipes you want to share you can email me at allie0662 {at} yahoo {dot} com.

Thank you for the sweet notes on Monday's post... June 4 is never an easy day and I'm thankful I have a forum that I can openly express my feelings... you guys are truly TRULY the best.

Don't forget tomorrow JUNE 10 is MRS. ADVENTURE'S DAY OF GIVEAWAYS.... Go visit her for a new giveaway at different intervals throughout the day. 

AND - I lost a follower....booooooo. 

  

 

Out of my funk Friday

I had a post written that I was going to publish yesterday…. I had a tough {{tough}} day on Wednesday. I woke up not feeling like myself….. Technically I guess about mid-morning I started feeling very down.  Not like depressed – but just down.

I thought to myself all day that “all I needed was a good ride on the trainer”.  Typically a good workout will kick any kind of a funk I’m in.  My funk has been onset by the constant thought that I am in no way prepared for NOLA.  I mean I am – my goodness I’m in my 23rd week of training – I may not be in any kind of shape to win or even place for that matter – but I should certainly be able to FINISH!

It goes in cycles…. One week I think OK I’m prepared I can do the run…. I can do the bike… but that swim…OH THAT SWIM. SHOOT ME NOW!! 

And then I have a good swim workout and I think…..

{As EMZ says}

“I’ve freakin’ got this”

Then….I continue to have issues wrapping my head around 56 FREAKIN’ miles on a bike.  Dear Lord – What on earth have I roped myself into?

Then…I go and have a good ride.

The run – I’m not so worried about.  13.1 miles is A LONG FREAKIN’ way alone – much less after a 56 mile bike AND a 1.2 mile swim.  But I know if I absolutely had to walk every inch of the 13.1 miles I could AT LEAST finish.

So back to Wednesday – I was in this funk.  I’m never going to finish, I’m tired of working out ALL the time, and I’m tired of sacrificing things for training… I’m tired of being tired.

I’m tired of waking up at the ass crack of dawn (even though I haven’t done this in a few weeks)… I’m tired of doing this all by myself.  I was feeling like I lost my triathlon – mojo.

Then I ran yesterday….

If you follow me on twitter (@allie0622) I tweeted about crushing six miles – or having six miles crush me.  I crushed it….with my fastest six mile time to date.  An even 1:00 hr on my Garmin…… My fastest mile was a 9:38. 

I ran at a new place… new scenery motivates me. 

I was at mile three and I saw a lady wearing a shirt, walking, with Mickey Mouse on the back and I thought of Lesley and Wifey.... at mile 4 I saw a lady with abs like EMZ , then at mile 5 I saw a dude wearing RED shoes that reminded me of Jason's En fuegos....

Seiously - you were all on my run with me....

Rejuvenated – yes; re-motivated – yes; ready for NOLA –getting there!!!

In other news…

I have a pretty bitchin’ outfit for our 80’s party tomorrow night.  Think bright yellow jeans with a neon geometric print blazer and some pretty awesome boxy shoulder pads.  I will make sure I have pictures for you.

Coming soon with my friend Janette will be a weekly link up segment….. you can link up each week – details to follow – we are hoping to go live in April.  Think inspiration, motivation, dedication, and tribute……..

The house goes on the market on Monday..... anyone need a house in Dallas???????

Weekend Wrap Up

First off - let me say I had an AWESOME training week last week.  It wasn't necessarily the quality of the workouts or any extra effort I put into it - it was that I hit all 7 days of workout - 100%!


It is a great feeling to know that you accomplished your goals and it is even better when you can FEEL yourself getting stronger.  I think by adding weights and core work 2-3 times a week over the last three weeks has made a HUGE difference.  I have lost 4 pounds over the last few weeks and can actually start seeing the difference in the way my clothes fit.  I put on a pair of pants today that used to be a little tight, not like "she needs one size bigger" tight - but snug - and the they are loose on me today.  I am having a good Monday.


Now on to the weekend.....

I was scheduled to do a 4 mile interval run on Friday.  Run at 80% for 8 minutes, walk 2 repeat until I hit 4 miles.


Bill hadn't run outside since we ran 2 miles together awhile ago (and I PR'd with like an 8min something mile - I was sprinting basically the entire time.) so he was a little nervous to do 4 with me, but I knew he could do it.  He is in so much better shape than he gives himself credit for. 


I got out of work early on Friday and was very excited to spend some time outside since it was 70 degrees and GORGEOUS!  We hit up the gym for weights first then headed outside to the greenbelt for a 4 miler.  FYI - I love my GARMIN!


We had an awesome run together....it is one of the best feelings - us being active together and taking responsibility to be healthy together.  With the history of heart disease in both our families it gives me a little extra warm and fuzzy each time we workout and eat healthy.


Friday night we decided to try a new restaurant.  We are big on trying new places..... we found an authentic German restaurant in Plano, The Bavarian Grill.

Umm.. it was every bit of goodness that it sounds.  We started with a cheese plate (Camembert, Emmentaler, Gruyere and smoked Gouda), then a mixed salad with carrots, green beans, cucumber dill, tomatoes with green onions and pickled beets.  (not a fan of beets)

For dinner I chose some form of schnitzel that was delicious with a potato pancake and a mixed salad.  Bill had some dumpling something or other with a bunch of mushrooms and it was scrumptious.  Everything was in German so pardon my lack of description….I weighed HEAVILY on the waitress’s suggestions.

We each had a few German beers…again not sure of the names.  I had a hefeweizen I know for the first one – not sure the second and I have no clue what Bill had. (good descriptions huh?)

It wouldn’t have been complete without dessert – a chocolate cake of pure decadence and an apple strudel – yes we had both don’t judge!!!!

Saturday I went and met up with Cayla to ride bikes.  We got some good mileage in and for fun stopped and took this pic.

If you follow me on Twitter (@allie0622) you’ve seen this before!

We hung out for awhile – ate on a patio because the weather was PERFECT AGAIN! And then I headed home.  Bill was out with some friends prepping baseballs for the Texas Rangers spring training.  Don’t ask me – all I know is they rub a specially ordered type of mud on all the balls and have a BBQ. 

Sunday we met up with my friend Laura, Karen and Randy, and Cayla for breakfast.  Laura was in town for the stock show and it was great to see her!  We were college roommates and had one too many o’ fun time together.

Karen, Randy, Bill and I headed to ZestFest 2011  It was festival of hot sauce, salsa, dips and all around indulgence.  After a big breakfast it probably wasn’t the best idea – but we had fun anyway.

Bill took some ridiculous challenge of 7 hot sauces…the last one being called “Black Mamba” he was hurting until this morning if that tells you anything.  Good News….we got a pic of him in his winning gear

He was a trooper and headed to the gym on Sunday night with me…. He lifted weights and ran and I just ran.  After that a serious hurricane of cleaning hit our house and we went to town.  Baseboards, fan blades, showers, tubs, you name it – it all got cleaned.  Boo – ya!  Lovin’ a clean house!

Coming up this week:

A week packed full of AWESOME Superbowl parties!!!! Bill scored tickets to an event almost every night this week through work.  Go ahead ask….”Allison, what party are you most excited about?”

You got that right – Bill got us tickets to the PRIVATE B.E.P concert on Friday night.  So freakin’ excited I almost peed my pants.  Seriously- I almost peed…he told me when I had to go to the bathroom reallly really bad! Haha! 

Lots of training – did a weight and core workout at lunch today – check the side bar for other workouts.

Busy work week – as usual.  But this keeps me motivated…

Yes that's my Matty Run Run sticker on my cube at work....Seriously having a bad day? A pink unicorn can cheer anyone up!

Jason is also coming up to work on Friday to speak with our walking/running group.  VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT!! Nutrition is a HUGE interest for the folks in our walking program and I think Jason's knowledge is going to be very helpful for them!  Not to mention I hope he gets like 10 new participants in MM!

I will see A LOT of these this week:

The Packers are staying across the street from my office....... guaranteed to see at least a few prostitutes this week.  (follow me on twitter and you would have heard that joke a few days ago - yes I'm reusing it.  I'm sure Daniel Tosh reuses jokes too... @allie0622)  I may be making a few extra trips to Starbucks just to see what I can see....you know what I mean?

How was your weekend?????

PS - GO CLICK HERE FOR MY PSIL'S SUPER FUN WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS!

Training, Tweeting, and Retail Therapy

I'm feeling much much much better.  Last week I was totally a loser and skipped about a billion workouts... I wasn't feeling it, I was tired, run down, stressed and overworked.  I took the weekend to RELAX, RELOAD and enjoy my 2 hr trainer ride on Saturday.  I skipped running yesterday and instead got a massage...best.decision.ever.  I went to bed woke up at 4:30am rested and ready to swim at Masters.  I got in 2400 yds this morning and finally feeling like myself again.

This whole training thing is cyclical.... ups, downs, and all the in betweens - BUT so worth it in the end.

Tonight - round #2 at the gym for a 60 minute spin class.

In other news -

I spent $85 yesterday at Ross.  Don't judge me.  I love Ross - but only when I'm in the "mood".  We needed to spice the house up a little bit - you know curtains, welcome mats, kitchen mats, those sorts of things that Bill is never going to buy.  Him being color blind really is really an advantage to me when it comes to decorating the house.  :) Love you honey!

For $85 I purchased

3 sets of curtains - 2 for the kitchen and 1 for the window by the front door
1 - outside welcome mat
1 - set of king sheets
1 - entry rug
1 - kitchen rug
1 - toilet paper holder for the guest bath
1 - soap dispenser for the guest bat (that's getting returned b/c it came witout a spout)

That's alot of stuff for $85.  I had previously went to Kohl's and one set of sheets was more than that.  (and the Ross sheets aren't crappy sheets either - they are super soft (I forget the thread count), super comfy and we slept like babies last night)

Oh yes, I joined Twitter yesterday (@allie0622) - So follow me - and if you want to read my BFF's antics you can follow her too (@caylaann03) Just now getting on this twitter bandwagon so if you tweet comment and leave me your name and I'll follow you :)  Welcome to 2011 Allison :)

I had over 500 unread blog posts on my google reader yesterday - b/c of traveling the last few weeks and just being plain out of it - they accumulated pretty quickly.  I marked them all as read and started a do over... you can expect more comments from me starting NOW!!!

Now I'm off to find a race for February...... putting off starting work until I absolutely HAVE TO!