Summer Schedule

I did not realize how much of a "creature of habit" I'd become until the past two weeks.  My daughter finished up her year of preschool, meaning that I no longer have two free mornings a week.  Which means that my M/W/F/Sa schedule of running got a little wonky, because me being able to run after my husband gets home from work is kind of iffy.  (Sometimes we have plans, sometimes he's late, etc, etc)

I need to rework things, because I am all out of sorts and starting to get grumpy that I haven't been able to go running when I want to.   Yes, yes, "1st world problems" and all of that.  Whatever.  My blog, my right to bitch and moan about whatever I want to.    (Which I know is sooooo entertaining for ya'll to read!)

I think I may switch my schedule to Tu/Thu/Sa/Sun and just get up at the ass-crack of dawn to go running before hubby goes to work.  It's not like I have to worry about it being too cold out at 4:30 in the morning anymore!  Of course, typing "4:30 in the morning" makes me want to cry, but if I can get up that early on race day with no issue, I can convince myself to get up that early for a regular run, too, right?

*crickets*

I guess we'll see.  I didn't drag myself out of bed till almost 7:20 this morning, and my punishment for that will be running after dinner tonight.  Which I hate to do.  So maybe I really will be able to condition myself to wake up early.  The only other real alternative is the *shudder*  GYM.  

Someone please explain to me why I hate the gym so much?  When I first started running, I went 3 times a week.  Every week!  Treadmill, trainer sessions, etc, etc.  My kids went to the Kids Club, it was a whole thing.  Now I can't even fathom dragging my butt to the gym.   Why is that?

The more I think about it, the more I think that I really ought to go to the gym today.  Heck, it's paid for, right?

Anyone else have an aversion to the gym?

Soda Swap

I am a soda addict.  I had grand plans awhile back to cut out all soda, in an effort to be healthier (read: skinnier).   It did not work.

Then, Abby commented that she'd heard that juice and sparkling water mixed together might work for me.  Sweet + bubbles.  Just like soda!  While I admit that I never got around to trying it, one night while I was at the kids swim classes, I noticed something new in the vending machine.

Sparkling ICE.  "Naturally Flavored Sparkling Mountain Spring Water" with "ZERO CALORIES."   Hrm.  Normally I shy away from things with zero calories because they either have zero taste, or waaay too many chemicals and just taste poopy.  <-- Scientific analysis, people.  That's what you get here.  

Anyway.  It was $1.75 or something stupid in the vending machine, but I figured I'd give it a whirl.  The flavor I chose was "Crisp Apple."   I drank the whole thing not being able to decide if it tasted good or not.  It was... different.  But it had no calories and it was bubbly, and I thought, "Eh. At least it's not a soda." 

Then I went home and had a soda.  

Fast forward to a week later and I'm back to feeling like I drink too much soda, and I pick up the Orange Mango (pictured above).  I was staying in a hotel at the time and didn't get around to drinking it for awhile and it ended up warm and.... blah.  Did not like it.  

Fast forward another week (we're almost caught up, I swear) and I give it one last go.  Black Raspberry.  

Oh. My. God.  Deliciousness in a bottle.  Yum yum in my tum tum.  Seriously.  So freaking good.  And zero calories!  Have I mentioned that part?  

So.  I still have not totally given up soda, but I am trying to swap them out more for the new awesomeness I have discovered.  (Full disclosure, I also have Kiwi Strawberry, Lemonade, and Lemonade with Tea in the fridge but have not tried them yet.  They could be totally disgusting, I have no idea. If they're half as yum as the Black Raspberry, though, I'll be in heaven.)

Anyway.  Just thought I'd share my "discovery" for anyone who is looking for an alternative to soda.  Or water.  Or coffee.  Or whatever.   I was in no way compensated for this post, however if by some miracle the lovely makers of Sparkling ICE were to read this and feel like sending me a free case or whatever, I'd totally be down with that.  Yup yup.  Good stuff.  

Slow and Steady Wins The.... Wait a minute!!

Today I ran the Matzohball Run, a local 5K.   I ran this same race last  year, and it was a really bad day for me, emotionally.   I finished in 39:15, which at the time was a PR, so I should have been happy, but I was not.  I was all weird and conflicted and unhappy and blah.

Fast forward 364 days to today - I finished in 40:13 (which is 4+ minutes SLOWER than my current PR), and I was totally happy and fine and whatever.

Makes NO sense to me, whatsoever, but I guess I shouldn't complain about being happy. LOL

It was soooooo hot today, and I ended up walking so many times, it was ridiculous.  I almost always negative split during races, because I don't warm up well and I kind of warm up as the race goes on.  Today, I warmed up with a little slow running and some strides (I'm such a pro now LOL), and then BOOM - started the race (downhill) going so fast my feet should have fallen off.  I spent half a mile going "Too fast! Too fast!" and the other 2.6 miles slowing down to turtle speed.  And walking.  And talking to random fishermen who were also displeased with the weather.   It was good times. =)

Last year, I finished just ahead of a 68 year old woman.  Today, I finished just behind that same woman (now 69!).   She told me she's done over 1500 races in the past 47 years.  I want to be her when I grow up.  Except she's probably slowed down as she's aged, and I'm already her speed.  LOL

The shirt looks blue here, but it's Ravens Purple! 

Happy Sunday! =)