The First Run

I am so naive.  So, so naive.  I came to the realization that if I start using such things as the weather, the dog, what I ate for supper, and the TV shows on at night that I will never be running outside therefore not training for my half marathon.  So tonight I told myself to buck up and start running. 

After putting Lainey to sleep and getting dressed, Nellie and I left the house at 7:45pm.  I then came back into the house at 7:46pm as Nellie would not budge from the driveway.  (I think she had some horrible flashbacks of running with Bethany in Utah and therefore refused any torture tonight.)  Lesson #1 - don't take Nellie with me or else I will not be getting my mileage in anytime soon.  Thank goodness she refused at the very beginning.  So at 7:47pm, I set out on my trek for the second time. 

Lesson #2 - look at the temperature before you leave the house.  It was a whopping 26 degrees tonight.  I was wearing my Nike Capri tights, short sleeve preformance tee, and a jacket = Stupid.  Oh and at least I put on a headband = WINNING!  Not.  Who runs when it is 26 degrees and a nice crisp wind that probably drops the temp another 5 degrees?  This girl!  Remember...no excuses!  I guess there are also no excuses for being stupid.   

Lesson #3 - running at night in the above cold temperature results in unforeseen obstacles.  Black Ice.  I felt like I should have worn my Keen hiking boots at multiple times of the run tonight.   

Lesson #4 - need to invest in some good tunes.  I love my music, however Coldplay and Fiona Apple does not get the blood pumping during a 26 degree run.  I think I hit the forward button at least 20 times before I finally found an old school Justin Timberlake song to bust a move too.

After learning from all of these hard knocks, I am proud to say that I ran the entire 2.5 miles without stopping.  Who wants to stop when it is that cold anyways?  Good motivation!  It wasn't much but it was a start.  I was riding this high until I realized that I would have only a measley 10.6 more miles to go.    Here's to the next 3 months of training to get me there!     

-Manda

P.S.  Made this tonight - AMAZING!  Brandon even ate a "chip" and said that they were "okay".  That is just fine as I finished off the rest of the sheet pan.  Will be working more kale into the menu! 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-kale-chips/



          

Cleavage and Passing Gas

Here is a cute video of Lainey just hanging out on Saturday morning.  She decided that she didn't care what anyone thought and decided to let it all hang out.  Just know that she gets her gas from her dad. 

Happenings in the past week:
1.)  Nellie Death Patrol Watch
Nellie decided that the ant traps we had set out in the basement tasted just like peanut butter (surprisingly they smelled just like her favorite treat) and she had eaten and licked all the poison out of the trap.  So after debating whether or not to take her to the Emergency Vet (yes this happened on a Sunday), B decided to call poison control.  Luckily, since she is overweight and a big dog they said that she should be okay and to encourage her to eat/drink but to be on the lookout for seizures, convulsions, throwing up, kidney failure, etc.  Okay???  Well, we just watched her for most of the day do what she does best: 

She is doing fine and I think that we are in the clear. 

2.)  Snow Time!
We finally had a big snow and surprisingly it was big enough to shut down school.  Apparently that has only happened one other time in the last 12 years.  So I know what you are thinking...we got 24 inches right?  Nope...just 7 inches, but apparently timing is everything and having 7 inches in the early AM on top of a lot of freezing rain will do the trick.  It finally gave Laineybug an opportunity to show off her super cute snowsuit that Bethany and Clay got her for Christmas.  I felt so bad that we haven't been able to use it, as it has been the 3rd most warmest/driest winter they have ever had. 

Snowbunny

 

Look at all of this white stuff!





3.)  Half Marathon Training Begins!
I guess I have gone off the deep end or a little "Cray-Cray" but I have signed up and registered for the Minneapolis Half Marathon on June 3rd!  I have a little over 3 months to train...but it is going to be painful.  A good pain as I need to get this post-maternity booty into pre-maternity shape and I think that this will be a great goal.  Not only that, but three of my besties will be joining me to run as well! Thank you to Lindsay, Megan, and Rosa!  And here is the kicker...all of my training is going to be outside as I decided not to pay $85/month to join the gym here (now that is cray-cray).  Instead, it is going to be Lainey and I in the B.O.B Stroller (which I get on Wednesday!) pounding the pavement.  Wish us luck and we will keep you updated! 

Hope everyone has a great week!  It is going to be 50 degrees tomorrow and we are going to spend the whole day outside as I could use some Vit D! 

-Manda