BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!

Ok, so I didn't get a Barbie dream house or an easy bake oven or a radio flyer wagon or a red rider bb gun, but my holiday weekend was pretty friggin awesome in my opinion.

The holiday festivities started Wednesday with my work lunch and yankee swap. The lunch was mass produced hotel food and I had requested a vegetarian meal and was betting on it being not very good so I brought my own lunch just in case. Thank God I did. As predicted it was pasta primevera and there were almost no vegetables in it at all and gross pasta with what appeared to be alfredo sauce. I didn't even bother to try it. Slow start to the holidays, but just warming up. The yankee swap was entertaining, the first gift I got was two bottles of wine in a very nice box that said 'PEACE' on the outside so I joked that it was just what I wanted World Peace. It didn't stay in my possession very long, apparently lots of people want World Peace. So, I knew that if I took anything really good I wouldn't keep it and I might end up with something really bad so I took a mediocre gift that I knew I would at least enjoy (it just happened to be the gift I bought). It was a trivia calendar. It's on my desk, I got to keep it and World Peace got passed around the room over and over again.

After work I went to downtown Boston to finish up some last minute shopping and get dinner before going to the RaceMenu Holiday party. I arrived at the RaceMenu HQ a little early and helped them set up and finish prepping some of the food. The party started around 7pm. I met a few new team members and some of RaceMenu's clients and sponsors. It was a fun night, I even won a raffle prize and a new bright orange RaceMenu winter hat.

Thursday work couldn't end fast enough. My brain was already in long weekend mode and I was ready to start the mini-break. I took Friday off for my bed to be delivered and to bake a few more cookies to give as gifts. Thursday night when I got home I went for a nice 7.35 mile run on the hilly non-hill loop through Andover and Tewksbury and a little of Lowell. I settled in for the night and watched some random Christmas movies barely able to sleep knowing my new bed was coming the next day.

I was suppose to go for a run Friday morning before the sun came up with Cherie in Methuen but when I got up it was slushing out - not quite rain and not quite snow, just gross cold wet nastiness that I did not want to run in. So, I bailed on the run and decided to clean my house instead. Got my old mattress ready to be taken away and swept the dust bunnies from the floor where my old box spring had sat for the last 5 years (I had the bed for 5 years before that too in a different apartment). The furniture delivery guys showed up promptly at 8:00am and were in and out in a matter of minutes and my new bed was set up. Before I even had time to lock the door behind the delivery men Fatboy Slim had already jumped onto the new bed and claimed it. I was worried he wouldn't be able to get up there, but he made it.

I finished baking cookies and met my friend Ann for lunch in downtown Lowell. I hooked her up with some cookies and fudge and we had yummy thai food at the Blue Taleh. After lunch I was really tempted to take a nap on my new bed, but I still had things to do. I got my car inspected and finished cleaning my house, then I went for a quick 4.4m run before hopping in the shower and awaiting the arrival of my friend Erin coming for dinner. I hadn't seen her in at least 3 years and she was the one that originally helped me lose most of my weight. I met her at the fitness center in the fall of 2006 when I started my journey to a healthier lifestyle and she moved to Colorado in the late summer of 2007 before I hit the 100lb. mark and ran my first half marathon. I still remember the first 'run' I did, she cheered me on the whole way and ran the last quarter mile with me. We were going to Life Alive for dinner and I was so excited to see her I could hardly contain myself.

Dinner was amazing, of course, Life Alive can do no wrong. Afterwards we went back to my house for tea and just chatted and caught up. We were up until 10:30pm! I know that's not really that late for a Friday night, but it's way past my bedtime. It was so nice to see her and tell her all about all the amazing things I've done since she helped me lose weight. We talked about the Boston marathon and all of our different race experiences and training stories. We talked about nutrition and fueling your body right. We just talked and talked about anything and everything. It was seriously the best present I could have gotten, reconnecting with a dear friend that means the World to me - Priceless.

Saturday the holiday happiness continued. I went for an almost 8 mile run with Kim and Ryann, they had moved to a new town 20 minutes away earlier in the week and we were all suffering from Lowell Ladies run withdrawal. The run was a Greater Lowell Road Runners Christmas Eve morning tradition and the crowd that showed up was bigger than ever, there had to be 40 people there. We wrapped up our run and went back to my house for coffee and breakfast. I made pumpkin muffins with the Trader Joe's Pumpkin bread mix. YUM! Even Ryann ate 2 of them, she's only 9 months old! Cherie came over too and gave me an awesome present - Life Alive gift card and an apron that says I run so I can eat cupcakes! So funny. Kim got me a great running top that is actually long enough to fit my abnormally long torso AND a funny little toy joke gift - Grow a boyfriend. It is a little plastic man that grows in water.

Saturday night I went to my friend Jenine's house for Christmas eve dinner and her daughter Madison's birthday party (she was born on Christmas day). I brought presents for Madison and Dylann and cookies and cupcakes for everyone else. The girls loved the gifts I brought and I had a great time hanging out and chatting with Jenine and her family. Later in the evening Madison got a really great game called 'Headbandz' and we all played a few rounds. It was hilarious. The game consists of plastic headbands that you wear and cards with different objects on them that fit into the front of the headband. The object is to ask yes or no questions and figure out what object is on your headband. My stomach hurt from laughing so hard. When we finished the game most people had gone home and it was bedtime. I told the girls I needed to go home so Santa wouldn't skip my house. They insisted that I tuck them in first. SO CUTE! Finally, I said goodnight and went home.

Sunday morning, I did my last long Goofy run - 15 miles before heading up to Portland for brunch with my mom and brother. The run was awesome. A little chilly and snowing a bit, but that just made it seem like a Christmas miracle. About half way into my run my front water bottles had frozen solid, luckily I still had two bottles in the back that were ok. I felt great the entire time and averaged a decent pace, right on target for a 4:30 or 4:45 finish in Goofy. Drove to Portland and my brother made pumpkin pancakes. I brought a toy for his dog Logan and foolishly thought it would keep him entertained for hours. Logan destroyed the toy in less than 10 minutes. I got my brother a forever lazy. Funniest gift ever. And a vegan cookbook for my mom, she's going to try the Engine 2 diet.

When we were done eating we went to the movies to see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. It was ok, might have been better in a theater that was a little larger. The screen they had it showing on was only a little larger than my TV. The room was only about 6 seats wide, 2 on one side and 4 on the other. Didn't matter, it was entertaining and had some cool explosions and stunts. When we came out of the theater it was snowing! I was starving, but needed to get on the road and head home. I got home around 9:30pm and went straight to bed.

Monday morning, the only day all weekend that I didn't have to get up early, Fatboy Slim had other plans. He meowed and walked over me back and forth, then started knocking stuff off my dresser and then played with the blinds in my window to get me out of bed. It was 5:00am!!!! I got up and gave him food assuming that was the reason for all the ruckus and he mysteriously disappeared.......back to the bed! The little brat just wanted me to move so he could have the big cozy bed all to himself!

I finished the weekend with some errands, grocery shopping and avoiding the mall and getting gas in my car for the upcoming week. Sad the long weekend was coming to an end but overjoyed with how awesome it was and how great all my friends are. Now onto the New Year and celebrating the end of 2011 and the start of 2012. I think I should finish the year with roughly 1700+ miles and over 50 races including 2 marathons, my first half ironman, and a tough mudder. It's going to be really hard to top that in 2012, but I will definitely try!

Tis the season to be GOOFY......

A little Holiday humor. tehehe

Shoppin’ the mall in a vest so poofy,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be GOOFY,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Now it’s time for me to taper,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
I even have time to read the paper,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Lots and lots of down time for me,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
In the kitchen baking I will be
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Making holiday goodies is my pleasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Though, it may not help your waistline measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast the days of training did go by,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
But it was no piece of cake or pie,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

All that’s left now is to REST,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
So that in Disney I can do my best,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Last week I came to the realization that I had A LOT to do and not enough time to get it all done so I ended up taking a vacation day Friday to try and accomplish some things. It was just what I needed. I got a lot done. I got up super early and went for a run with my friend Cherie. After the run I baked a double batch of sugar cookies, made 8 pounds of fudge, baked a capuccino fudge cheesecake with kalua ganache, and vanilla cupcakes. In the afternoon, I did another run with my friend Ann and while we were running there was a bad car accident in the road we ran on. We stopped and helped the two women injured until the fire department and police showed up. My EMT training comes in handy every once in a while. Finished up our run, then I decorated the cupcakes and cookies!

On Saturday, my friend Moe was hosting a group run from her house and it was a 7 mile loop so I got up early and did 7 from my house before heading over to her house. There was a really great group of people there for the run. I did my first 7miles at roughly a 10:20 pace or maybe 10:30, just nice and easy still not totally awake and not ready for how friggin freezing it was out. Then I managed to do 9:30s with the group! We had pumpkin pancakes afterwards and talked about other upcoming events. I still haven't decided on a spring marathon. Need to figure something out.

Anyway, after the run I braved the crowds and the traffic and the parking at the ...ugh...MALL! I decided it was finally time for me to buy myself a new bed. I was dreading the whole experience because furniture salespeople are right on par with used car salespeople on a scale of annoyance and douchebaggery. I confirmed this in the first store I went to. I walked in and was targeted by a very portly, red headed, sleezy salesman. I told him I needed a new bed and he made a b-line right for the most expensive top of the line super fancy new technology gel infused foam matress. I told him I wasn't really interested in foam and I wanted an inner spring matress and he argued with me and said that they were outdated and soon to be off the market and I NEEDED to get the gel foam. See the squishy cut out thingy doesn't it look cool. His stupid flashy toys weren't working on me but out of curiosity I asked how much a queen size super fancy foam matress costs. It was a bargain at $1999 he told me. If I had my matress for 25 years that would only be $75 a year (clearly he can't do math because I just did the math and it's $80 idiot). That doesn't include the base that the foam needs because regular bed frames don't support it's fanciness. I didn't even bother to ask how much the base cost. I said I was going to look at bed frames and I left.

The next store was a totally different experience. There was a very nice woman there that asked me all kinds of questions about how I sleep and if I currently experience any pains or trouble sleeping and focused on me and not a fancy foam matress. They even had a cool machine that showed how my weight was distributed when I was laying down in different positions. She showed me several different matresses based on the information from the machine. I found a nice pillowtop inner spring matress that I can definitely see myself drooling on in the near future - it was half the price of the stupid foam thing AND it included the boxspring! I also founf a very nice bed frame to go with it. I can't wait to sleep on it. Everything is being delivered this Friday - Merry Christmas to ME!

Saturday night I went to a holiday party at Cherie's house. I brought the cheesecake I made the day before and my party shoes and even had a few Christmas cosmos (this would come back to haunt me the next day). The party was so much fun. All my running buddies were there and some new friends too. We partied late into the evening and early Sunday morning. And at some point someone (Josh) turned on the 80's music channel and we had some drunkin sing alongs to end the night. It was great. I gave out presents to all my running friends - a headlamp and a first aid kit for Nutter since she's always wiping out when we run, Lululemon gloves with a wind proof fold over mitten for Kim because her hands are always cold, and a handmade coupon for Cherie for "a moment in time" I will babysit while she and her husband go out on the town because she's super busy working fulltime and going to school and driving two boys to various sporting events. Everyone loved their gifts and THAT is the greatest gift I can get - smiles on my friends faces.

Sunday I tried to wake up early, but the Christmas cosmos and late night made it a little tough. I think I rolled out of bed around 7:30 which is wicked late for me. I had some tea and a slice of leftover cheesecake for breakfast. Got dressed and sat on my couch in my running clothes trying to get motivated. It took a while but I finally started running around 9:45am. I felt pretty good. I made a conscious effort to stay hydrated knowing that the Christmas cosmos probably dehydrated me a little. Sipping water and clif shots everytime my garmin beeped at mile markers. I took salt tabs every two miles or so and gels at 5, 9, 12.5 and 14.5. I maintained a decent pace between 10:00 and 10:30s for the first 14 miles, then my tummy rumbled and I really had to pee, perhaps drinking at every mile was too much. Either way, I had to go and there was no gas station or port o potty in sight. I slowed my pace to 11:00s and took walk breaks. FINALLY at 16.5 miles with a mile and a half to go there was a Mobil station and I stopped. After I felt great and it was like I started a brand new run. I could have done a few extra miles, but decided to play it safe and rest. 32 miles in 2 days is enough goofiness.

Wicked busy weekend, but I got a lot done and now I can relax for the rest of the year. I got all my shopping done, all my baking done, Goofy training done. Time to taper and enjoy the holidays with friends and family. Happy holidays everyone! Stay healthy and active!

Goofy training almost done

I'm actually really looking forward to the taper right now. My back to back long runs are wearing me out. For a while there I wasn't sure what was up and I wasn't feeling good at all. My med-long runs would go ok, but then my long run would be torture, not painful just slow and sluggish. I'm still not even close to as fast as I was last spring Pre-Boston/Tough Mudder, but I was getting there and starting to feel a little better. The 14 miler I did two weeks ago was depressing. My legs felt fine and my heart rate was fine and I felt like I was really working, but my Garmin told a different story. I was struggling to do 11-12 minute miles when I know I can do 9:00s on a good day.

Amazing what the right nutrition and hydration will do to improve things. This past weekend I did an 8 mile run and then a 16 mile run. I was sort of dreading the 16 miler because of my experience the week before on my 14 miler, but Sunday morning I got up and got dressed and headed out and figured I didn't care how long it took, I just needed to get the miles in. I started out slow and eased into it. I brought salt tabs with me this time and reminded myself to drink a sip every mile to stay hydrated. I felt a lot better. I was averaging 10:00s and even after passing the halfway mark I still felt amazing. A total change from the previous week. I finished the run averaging 10:18s a perfect 4:30 marathon pace.

Now the only thing that is lingering and annoying me and could put a damper on my training is lack of sleep. I have been tossing and turning and waking up a lot throughout the night and basically just not sleeping well at all. My resting heart rate has been elevated for the last 3 days and I feel like I might be coming down with something. I need a new bed really bad. I might break down and buy one this weekend. I've had my bed for over ten years and it was a hand me down when I got it. I can afford a new one, the thing that always stops me from buying a new bed isn't going to a furniture store (although that is part of it, those sales people are almost as bad as used car sales people) it's buying all new bedding. See, right now I have a full size bed and there's no way in hell I'll buy another full. I want (and deserve) a queen size bed. BUT that means I need new sheets, a new comforter, a new duvet, Probably could use new pillows, not to mention a new bed frame too! My matress is currently on the floor so a bed frame would be a huge improvement. I wonder how much my training would improve if my sleep improved. I'm guessing exponentially.

Anyway, regardless of what 'me to me' gift I get this year. I will definitely be wrapping up 2011 with a lot of miles. I'm at just over 1600 right now and will be doing a 12 and 18-20 this weekend for my last long runs before Goofy plus about 20 miles mid-week, there are 3 weeks left in the year and I've been getting >40 miles per week. If I keep it up I will hit 1700+ miles for the year. I've done about 50 races including the stair climb, Tough Mudder and my half Ironman. I'd say it has been an epic year and I have accomplished my resolution to challenge myself in new and different ways. I will have to get creative and think of a really good resolution for next year. Suggestions welcome.

While I'm on the topic of lists....

A few years ago when I started this journey I started a list of things I wanted to do, some simple, some more challenging, some silly, some serious. I keep adding to the list and checking off items as the time goes by. Sometimes my goals for the year accomplish some of the list items, sometimes I accomplish items by chance and a little luck of being in the right place at the right time. It keeps me motivated and has taught me to appreciate life and all the little things. Here's my list:
1. Get a Passport √
2. Go skydiving
3. Get a 26.2 tattoo
4. Drive across the US
5. Learn to Surf
6. Go on a Whitewater rafting trip
7. Go on a Dude Ranch trip
8. Learn to ride a horse
9. Go on a Tornado Chase trip
10. Complete a Triathlon √
11. Complete a ½ Ironman triathlon √
12. Complete an Ironman triathlon
13. Boston Marathon √
14. Qualify for the Boston marathon
15. London Marathon
16. NYC Marathon
17. Chicago marathon √
18. Maine marathon √
19. Visit the Grand Canyon
20. Visit Niagara Falls
21. Visit the Great Pyramids
22. Visit the Eifel tower
23. Visit the Great Wall of China
24. Climb Mt. Washington (or run up it)
25. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans
26. Go to Carnival in Rio
27. Tomato fight in Spain (outside Valencia)
28. Get married in the Maldives
29. Visit Machu Pichu
30. Go on a Century bike ride √ (Metric and Full)
31. ½ marathon in less than 2 hours √
32. Marathon in under 4:30 √
33. Philly Marathon
34. Napa Valley trip
35. See the Tour de France in France
36. Alaska trip
37. Write a book
38. Learn to ride a unicycle
39. Learn to play a musical instrument
40. Learn to speak another language
41. Compete in the Death race
42. Professional pin up style photo shoot
43. Boston Trapeze School
44. Sell a piece of original artwork
45. Play the tambourine with a band at a live show
46. Run an ultra marathon
47. Beat my brother in a sprint Tri
48. Open a B&B or Bakery or restaurant
49. Have a cup of coffee/tea with a celebrity
50. Complete a marathon in all 50 states (5/50)
51. Go to Culinary school
52. Take the Firefighters exam
53. Re-Tile my kitchen floor
54. Get gas insert fireplace in my living room
55. Finish the crown molding throughout my house
56. Finish my basement
57. Be an extra in a movie
58. Have a speaking role in a movie
59. Walk on stilts
60. Be on the cover of a magazine
61. Get published
62. Do the Goofy Challenge √
63. Big Sur Marathon
64. Find a job I love √
65. Pay off my Visa bill
66. Pay off my college loans
67. Join a CSA
68. Plant a vegetable garden
69. Grow fresh herbs in my kitchen
70. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
71. Learn to fly fish
72. Go on a blind date
73. Draw/paint a mural √
74. Throw a kick ass party
75. Build a website √ (ironboots/rocklikewar)
76. Finish a crossword puzzle in pen
77. Act in a play
78. Win an award √ (best costume Devil’s Chase)
79. Build a piece of furniture √ (hockey stick table)
80. Inspire people
81. Organize a road race
82. Watch an operation live
83. Sneak backstage at a concert √
84. Do a ride along with the police
85. Ride on a fire truck
86. Slide down a pole in a firehouse
87. Do the Boston Stair Climb √
88. Invent the next pet rock
89. Save a life √ (girl at UNH)
90. Learn to shoot a bow and arrow
91. Go swimming in the Mediterranean Sea
92. Do a polar bear plunge
93. Donate my hair to Locks of Love (or similar org)
94. Recreate an iconic photograph
95. Take a pottery class
96. Take a stained glass class
97. Finish Tough Mudder √
98. Do an unassisted pull up
99. Fall in Love
100. Write a blog √
101. Go zip lining
102. Run Reach the Beach Relay with an Ultra team
103. Be in a parade √
104. Play bingo and win
105. Participate in a flash mob
106. Get a master’s degree in nutrition or an MBA
107. Take a dance class
108. Take Ballet class
109. Take a self-defense class
110. Do a snowshoe race
111. Do a winter triathlon
112. Try paddle boarding
113. Learn to cartwheel
114. Ride the tallest rollercoaster
115. Ride the fastest rollercoaster
116. Go to Europe
117. Marathon in under 4:00
118. Buy a farm
119. Buy a stranger’s groceries
120. Fill up a stranger’s gas tank
121. Donate a large amount of money to charity
122. Do a high ropes course
123. Take swim lessons to improve my technique
124. Learn to sail
125. Learn to row crew
126. Win a race
127. Stand on 4-corners (4 states at once)
128. Participate in a cook off/bake off
129. Learn to snowboard
130. Be a seat filler at an awards show
131. Spend a week “off the grid”
132.

I continue to add to it and check things off. I hope my list inspires you to make your own list and not just so that I can check off #80. :)

Dear Santa...

My training last week was just sort of ho-hum. I did 42 miles total, my back to back long runs were 8 and 14. My 14 miler was slow and sluggish. I just wasn't feeling good at all. No energy.

So, since it's the holiday season, here is my list for Santa:

My wish list:
1. Health and happiness for me and all my friends
2. Injury free 2012 for me and all my friends
3. More smiles and laughs than frowns and tears for me and all my friends

Since no one, not even Santa can give those gifts here’s an alternate list:
1. Lunch at Life Alive
2. Asics 2170s size 11
3. Lululemon Scuba Hoodie

Things I REALLY need, but wouldn’t ask anyone for and will most likely buy myself:
1. New laptop (mine is older than dirt and only displays a blank white screen, kind of like a sheet of paper)
2. New bed (mine is over 10yrs old and was a hand me down when I got it)
3. New road bike (mine is 13+yrs old and has been crashed multiple times)

I'm not really into gift giving and Santa usually skips my house (except last year when he stopped by early with a number for Boston). I may do a few small gifts this year and will definitely bake a lot of cookies for everyone. I think my new job does an office yankee swap, if so I'm getting the forever lazy to give.

My plan for this weekend is to do 10 and 16 miles. Really hoping the 16 miler goes better than my 14 miler last week or else I may actually have to go to a (gasp) doctor and find out why I'm dragging ass(excuse the phrase, but it really does describe the way I feel accurately).

And now for something completely different, what Santa would look like if he ate a plant strong diet and only had vegan cookies and almond milk on Christmas:

Holy Crap it's December!

This year has gone by so fast. I can't believe it. I hope this month goes by just as fast. I don't have any races planned yet for this month, but I'm training hard for the Goofy Challenge so I don't really have time to squeeze in a fun holiday 5K. Plus, I have a a few holiday parties to attend and will be bringing some yummy treats to each of them so that means when I'm not running I need to be baking.

Speaking of yummy food, Thanksgiving was AWESOME! I got up early and went to the Ayer Fire 5K with Kim and Ryann and Daisy. It was cool but not cold and very sunny. Perfect morning for a little run. As an added bonus I was able to give the fire department a stack of flyers for the stair climb, hopefully they bring a team. Kim and I ran the race together, unfortunately Ryann and Daisy were not allowed to run with us so they cheered instead with their grandparents. The course was mostly flat with a few rolling hills. It went by really fast, Kim was on fire, I had a hard time keeping up with her. We finished in 26:44 at a 8:37 pace. Not bad. Probably my fastest 5K in a while. After the race I hopped in my car and headed home to start cooking for my family.

It worked out perfect. I got home and threw the turkey breast in the oven then jumped in the shower. I had prepared pretty much everything the night before and only had to wait for it all to cook now. My mom, brother and grandmother drove down from Portland and arrived just in time. The entire meal was ready at noon. We started with Butternut squash and apple soup. Then we dug into the main courses. The turkey was just for my mom and brother, I had wild rice stuffed acorn squash and veggie gratin and mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy, green beans, roasted brussel sprouts and wild mushrooms. I even made some cranberry chutney. Everything was perfect. My brother actually really really liked the veggie gratin. The stuffed squash was ok, I would pre-cook the squash if I made it again because the stuffing kind of dried out. Here's the gratin, it tasted just as good as it looks. AMAZING!!!

After my mom and brother each had 2 or 3 helpings of everything we needed to digest a little before moving on to dessert. My grandmother, unfortunately, is starting to show her age. She was a little confused and quiet for most of the meal. She didn't know who I was or where she was. It's really sad. She enjoyed the food and I told her it was great to have her visit. My brother brought his dog Logan with him and it was hilarious to see his reaction to my cats. Lola hid under the couch and Fat Boy Slim didn't really care, he was just pissed that we moved his food dish and he couldn't eat. Logan was terrified of both cats. He wouldn't even look at Slim and he found Lola under the couch and she quickly let him know she didn't want to be friends with a swift swat to the nose.

Finally, we decided we had room for dessert. I couldn't decide which cheesecake to make so I made two! My usual pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap pecan crust and caramel swirl AND a new recipe - cranberry swirl with a cran-raspberry compote.
OMG! This might be my new favorite cheesecake. It was delicious. A little tart and a little sweet, not too heavy or dense. The crust was yummerific, made with vanilla wafers and lots of butter. My brother loved it and said, "I'm going to take a small slice of this one and leave it for you and take the rest home with me." With a pretty good food coma about to set in, they had to drive back to Portland and bring my grandmother back to her nursing home. I passed out on my couch as soon as they left.

Black Friday I did NOT go shopping. Instead I got up and had some tea and breakfast and lounged around watching the today show and the news and then went for a nice 7.5 mile run. I was a little tempted to go shopping after my run out of boredom, but decided to nap on my couch instead and watch movies.

Saturday, the Lowell Ladies did a nice 7 mile run and I added on to and from Kim's house to make it 10.3 for me. We kept a really great pace for the whole run. It felt really good. I was bored afterwards so I decided to brave the mall and see what all the fuss was about and maybe get a few things. There really wasn't anythign I needed or wanted. I got some work clothes and that's about it. In the evening, I went to downtown Nashua with some friends. They have a 'Holiday Stroll' and we thought it would be lights and local stores and spirit, but it was mostly spirits and I don't mean the holiday kind. Nashua earned it's nickname "trashua". The stroll was more like a street festival with crappy food trucks and vendors selling trinkets for kids. None of the stores were open and none of the restaurants were either. It was kind of lame.

Sunday morning I completed the long weekend with another long run. 16 miles! Getting Goofy. A little over a month to go and I need to get my back to back long runs done. It wasn't pretty, but I did it. I wasn't tired and my legs felt fine, but for some reason I just felt like the force of gravity had doubled on me and I was being held back. It was taking twice as much energy to move my body forward. I think I over dressed and got dehydrated. I never drink enough when it's colder out. Sure enough when I got home I had lost several pounds in sweat while out running. It wasn't as fast as I would have liked but it wasn't really slow either. I'm still on target for a strong finish in the Goofy Challenge (as long as the weather doesn't kill me).

This is what it's all about:
The bling I will get for running 39.3 miles in 2 days. I can't wait!