moving on

So, this will be my last post at this address. I have decided to switch over to a wordpress format, and so now my blog will be hosted at www.evieclercx.com.  I am in the process of redirecting traffic from this site there, but in the meantime, please find my postings at the new site.

It's a really exciting new change, and so I hope to have the same visitors, and even some new ones.

See you at the new site!

a total spin freak



It's official...I am a complete spin freak. I started taking classes at the Wellness Center last week, and I am now a dedicated Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday spinner.  I absolutely love it.  I can definitely feel that I am working different muscles in my legs than running, and that is a very good thing. This year I am going to really focus on cross training a lot more. I love running and will run until I am unable to; but I think the cross training will help me become a better runner and possibly prevent injuries.

I am contemplating a triathlon this year, but am extremely nervous about the bike and swim portions (of course).  I am not a good bike rider. I did not learn to ride a bike until I was an adult, since the bike I had as a child met with an unfortunate accident at the hands of my father and his pickup truck. Needless to say, I am pretty shaky on a bike. I think these spin classes are a great start at getting me more comfortable on a bike. I did have a realization last week, however, that what is missing from the spin bikes is having to keep my balance while biking. I think this is going to be a big part of learning to ride faster, so my bike training will probably have to start sooner rather than later. I really don't want to learn to ride a bike in the snow, though.  I can't imagine that is an easy thing to do. 

Another reason I like spin class so well is that I have a couple of girlfriends who go with me. It has been difficult to get my gfs to head out for a run with me, but they will usually hit up a spin class. It's a great way to catch up with each other and get a great workout in at the same time.

superfood sorrows

It's Monday today, and we are in the middle of a huge snowstorm. Our town got about 8 inches of snow last night and it has not stopped snowing yet. The schools are closed for the day, and so my hubby and kids got to stay home for a fun snow day while I had to go to work. Snow days and summertime are the only times I wish I were a teacher. You couldn't pay me enough to be on any other time (which is ironic, considering how low teacher pay is, especially in South Dakota).
I finally went outside for a nice, winter run over the weekend. While I was in Boise for Christmas I went out a few times, but haven't been outside in SD since the middle of November. Things started out a little chilly, but it felt GREAT to stride out on a road instead of a treadmill and breathe in that fresh air. I was hoping to get another run in on Sunday, but the snow had other plans. I will most definitely be out there in my Yaktrax once the snow stops falling, though.
Also on Saturday, I went with my good friend, Jayme to sushi (not necessarily "raw" rules, but I love sushi and so decided to splurge) and to a new market, the Pomegranate Market. "The Pom" as they call it, is a new health food store in town, and I have been dying to check it out for awhile. Fortunately, it was right next to the sushi restaurant, so we went in and took a peek. 

The Pom has some great bulk items, like red lentils, as well as just about any kind of rice you can imagine. I also found some superfood powder, which is what I went in there looking for. I have never had it before, but according to the raw food literature, superfoods are a necessary part of the lifestyle. It cost me $30, but I bought a can.
The next day I woke up and made my morning monster, adding the superfood powder, since they recommend adding it to a smoothie.  I poured myself a big glass, took a huge swig...and just about spit it right back out.
YUCK.
Superfood powder tastes like seaweed, only not in a good way. It is horrible. My whole monster tasted like fish, and although I managed to choke most of it down, I had to dump the last bit.  Since I really love my morning monsters, I will not be adding superfood to them again. The label on the package also suggested mixing it with 8 oz of water or juice and drinking it that way, so I decided that I would try mixing it with water and slamming it this morning. It's small, and I can just knock it back really quick, right?

DOUBLE YUCK.

I nearly vomited up the 8 oz. of green nastiness.  I am not sure what to do now. Tomorrow I will try it with juice, but if I can't stand that, then I will have wasted $30 on a product that I can't possibly consume.

Have you ever tried superfood powder? How do you manage to get it down?

kale, kleansing kale

Well, apparently Demi Moore and I are very much alike (of course).  At the very same time I was having doubts/concerns about going on the Master Cleanse, Demi was four days into it and decided it was not the healthiest thing to be doing. She instead switched to something called the Clean Program, a series of smoothies and supplements that is supposed to detox your body and leave you feeling incredible. That particular cleanse lasts for 21 days, and is available at the low price of $350.  I read a little about it, and while it does sound good, I am sticking with my raw foods diet. I am having great results from it, and I have finally gotten over feeling nauseous (no small victory, there).

I am having a good time experimenting with all kinds of different "green" smoothie options, and have found that kale is a very cleansing ingredient to add to a drink. Since I live in a small town in the Midwest, we don't have access to the greatest variety of vegetables, but this weekend I am planning a trip to the city to shop at a new whole foods supermarket called the Pomegranate Market. I am excited to see what goodies I can find there.  They also offer free demos and classes on alternative eating lifestyles, and on January 22nd I am going to a smoothie demonstration, which I am pretty psyched about. Hopefully I will be armed with all kinds of new recipes for healthy living!

My knee and hip have been bothering me lately, so today was a rest day for me. Tomorrow I hope to do some yoga in the morning and the elliptical at lunch. I am taking it easy for January, and might not run at all. I am debating a couple of different marathons for the Spring, which I will need to start training for in February.

a slight change of plans...

Well, yesterday was a very, ahem, productive day for me. I ate everything in smoothie form, and included lots of green stuff like kale, spinach, some winter veggies like butternut squash, and fruits like pears, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, and bananas. No coffee, and it totally sucked, just like I thought it would. In fact, I had an enormous headache all day and I kind of felt like my body and head were on opposite sides of the room. That doesn't make for the best work day. I can't imagine what I will feel like once I am off food...which is why I have decided to not do the "fasting" part of the cleanse, but rather keep with the raw foods and veggies. Yesterday was an incredibly cleansing day for my body, so I can't imagine that it would get any better with no food. This is working for me, and I still get to eat (which is super important).
I don't think that the Master cleanse is an appropriate cleanse for people with jobs, kids, workout  routines, etc. Sure, it works for people in Hollywood because they are able to take a week off and seclude themselves in their houses while they cleanse. This does not work for "the commoners."
Looking back, going on this radical cleanse was me feeling like crap with all of the yucky stuff I put in my body and wanting a quick fix. All I really need to do (thanks, Jayme, for helping me figure that out) is get back to eating healthy stuff again, and these last three days have really done some amazing things for me.
So...new goal. I am going to continue eating according to the "raw" lifestyle for the month of January. I will not be able to keep with the total raw lifestyle after January, since I will be starting to train for my spring marathon and will need protein and calcium (meat and dairy), but I will maintain the fruit and veggie regimen that I have started for myself. I think I will be stronger for it.
I am feeling a little nauseous and gassy (maybe too much information, but it is true) from the veggie overload my body has been subjected to, but it is further evidence that I have been neglecting my fruits and veggies for far too long. Once my system is used to this stuff again, things will be better.
And yes...I had coffee this morning. It was delicious.Technically a raw foods no-no because of the caffeine...but hey, I can't be perfect. I also got up and did yoga, so they cancel each other out.

day one: great preparations

Well, day one is done and I am a little discouraged, especially since the official cleanse hasn't even started yet! These next three days are all about getting my body ready to handle no food, so today's goal was to eat only "living foods." That means no dairy, no meat, basically only fruits and veggies. Five minutes into my morning today...I already blew it by making coffee.  Not only did I make coffee, but I drank two huge cups and enjoyed every minute of it.  Once I finished, I felt a little guilty, but my love affair with coffee runs deep and it will be a real challenge to not have any coffee for the next two weeks. I ate fruit salad, so that was a small victory, since I am used to pancakes.
The rest of the day was fairly disciplined, although I did slip up at Olive Garden and had the salad with the dressing. I didn't have any croutons or breadsticks (my goodness, that was tough), but I think that the dressing is technically a no-no. I had minestrone soup and ate around the pasta, and an acai berry drink along with the salad. Dinner consisted of a spinach/berry/banana smoothie (juice-based because dairy is a no-no), and I had to break down and eat a few handfulls of walnuts. I don't know where nuts fall into the "living foods" category, but they do grow on a tree, so they should totally count. At any rate...I am absolutely STARVING tonight, and will have less food to look forward to tomorrow (and no coffee, since I had my hubby hide my coffee maker and coffee from me so I won't slip up).
This part of the cleanse is the pre-cleanse. According to what I have read, this part is not necessary, although I have to say I completely disagree.  As hungry as I am today while still eating food is a clear indication that I have been overindulging on too many carbs and junk food and too little veggies and fruits. There is no way that I would have been able to go from my current diet to no food without a few days of agony. I still don't think they will be easy, but these few preparatory days will help make it less horrible (with any luck).
Tomorrow is smoothie day, so everything I have will be in liquid-ish form. I need to be careful not to have too many fruits, with a goal of a 60/40 ratio of veggies to fruits. Fortunately, I am an avid smoothie maker, so am quite fond of green drinks. The veggies should be no problem for me. The "no coffee" part will completely suck. I have some herbal tea that I can drink tomorrow morning to try to replace coffee, but it will not be an adequate substitute. I am just telling myself that it is short term, and I will be very glad when I have all the yucky stuff out.

a clean start to 2011

Happy New Year!  I cannot believe that it is 2011 already...where does the time go? I remember when I was a kid my Dad always told me how quickly life goes by when you're an adult, and I am really starting to see that. This year was a complete whirlwind. As I reflect on all that has happened, it has been a good year, but it all went by so quickly.  I took on some amazing consulting jobs, one of which turned into an amazing full-time position, ran two marathons, took some great trips, and celebrated five years of marriage with my husband. Yes, 2010 was a great year, but I am really looking forward to 2011.
I am not really a resolution person. I find that people rarely keep to their resolutions. It's also a lot of pressure to put on yourself right at the beginning of the year, you know? I prefer to set small goals throughout the year, like training for races. I find that it is a lot more doable for me.
Having said that, one goal that I do have overall is to eat healthier. Since my schedule has been so hectic for the last few months, I have been eating lots of junk and way too little veggies. I am feeling really off balance because of it, so have decided to make a huge effort to do better going forward.
In fact, I am starting a cleanse tomorrow. It is the Master cleanse, a ten day cleanse designed to flush the body of toxins. I have never cleansed before and so am very nervous about it, but also excited to see it through. While on the cleanse I will not be eating, and I think it will be really hard to go without chewing. I will miss it. It will also be tricky negotiating the bathroom situation while working, since from what I have read, the cleanse can be pretty violent at times. Still, it is a good jump start to better nutrition, so will be good for me.
One big part of the cleanse is documenting each day, recording how I feel, etc., and so I will be recording it all here, for anyone who wants to vicariously experience the cleanse.

some social media savvy

It's been awhile since my last business-related post, so I decided to dedicate this one to utilizing social media correctly. Let me first say that I love social media the way Elvis loved bacon...a LOT. I am completely obsessed with twitter feeds, blog rolls, and facebook updates, especially for businesses. I cannot tell you how many online webinars or interactive facebook press conferences I have sat through just to capture the next "nugget" of information that might be passing down the tubes. Through both life experience and sitting through endless webinars, I have learned a couple of basic tips that I would like to share with you. Keep in mind that my focus is on businesses; however, this stuff can certainly apply to personal social media.
1. Keep your posts relevant. Although this seems like a total no-brainer, it can be tricky, especially with startup companies who want to imbibe personality into their new business. The temptation to infuse elements of your personal life in with your business can be alluring. Although this can be done well, nearly everyone who tries does it incorrectly.  A good example of incorporating your personal posts into your company would be to post that you are at an after-hours meetup for startups, or you and any employees/partners you may have are doing something together in the spirit of the company.  A poor example would be if you are headed to a bar after work. Not important. Bottom line: keep your business business-worthy.
2. Start a conversation (and keep it going). So often people feel like social media is an excellent platform for posting coupons, new arrivals, etc. for their business. And it is; however, if that is the only thing your business posts, people will soon stop listening. Social media exists (for businesses) as a bridge between consumer and business; not so much as a way for the business to tote their wares, but as a way for consumers to find value in the places they spend their money. Consumers want to feel that they got "value" out of their dollar, and this can be multiplied by utilizing social media. As a restaurant, you can give ideas for no-fuss dinner party appetizers; a clothing store can provide fashion advice, etc.  Plus, when you post advice like this, you invite your user to start a conversation with you. There is not much point in commenting on a coupon. It is what it is.  But a recipe...that has the potential to engage the consumer, as well as anyone else who follows the conversation (which amounts to a lot of people).
Fitness: after taking two weeks off I ran 3.5 miles on Sunday. Monday was 30 ellipical minutes and squats/lunges/abs. Tuesday, 20 minute run, 10 minute bike, arm and ab workout.

I'm thankful

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday. I am so sad to report that I was sick with the flu for most of  it. What a bummer! I am still not feeling my best, but this post is terribly overdue, so back to work I go. 

In the spirit of the holidays, I made a list of the things I am thankful for in my life. I don't know about you, but I feel very fortunate to have all of the things that I have, and so many wonderful people in my life. This is the old "top ten" list, although none of these has any more weight than the other. I am equally thankful for each of these things.
1. I am thankful for a husband who, while not always thrilled by my running, is supportive of me running marathons, training for triathlons, and traveling for them all.
2. I am thankful for an eleven year old girl who is truly her own person. She is unique and special and I am so lucky she is mine.
3. I am thankful for a four-year-old boy who can always make me laugh. He lights up any room he is in and can make anyone feel special and loved.
4. I am thankful for a two-year-old boy who feels the need to constantly be fully decked out in a costume, mask and all. It's such a pleasure to have coffee with Batman, Darth Vader, or Buzz Lightyear each morning.
5. I am thankful for two legs that allow me to continuously abuse them with high-mileage races and super-high heels and stay injury free.
6. I am thankful for my extended family. Although I have learned in my adult life that we are not exactly the most traditional Ward Cleaver family model; we have our own thing going on and make it work for us.
7. I am thankful for my in-laws. They are most definitely the Ward Cleaver family model, and it is nice to have that kind of traditional influence in my life.
8. I am thankful for Nike. 'nuff said.
9. I am thankful for my book club friends. We are an eclectic mix of ladies, and it is so wonderful to be part of a book club that doesn't actually require the reading of the book.
10. I am thankful for my blog readers. I can't believe it has been almost a year since I started this blog. I have had a fantastic time writing over the last year, and knowing that people actually read it makes it that much more motivating.

There you have it....I am definitely thankful for many more things than this, but the post needs to end sometime. Do you have a thankful list?

go, google, go

Yesterday while I was logging miles on the stationary bike (boring as hell, but a great cross-train), I saw on the news that google is giving their employees a $1,000 holiday bonus and a ten percent raise. Ten percent, in this economy, where companies are taking benefits away from their employees left and right just to stay in business.Wow. 
Naturally, my first thought was, "I need to work for google."  But then I started thinking about how many times I use google during the day. It is a TON. I google everything. If I want to know anything about anything, I google it. If I want to get a fresh perspective, I google it. If I am looking for ideas..google.  You get the picture; I'm a googler.  And apparently I am not alone, since the company is raking it in.

Any company that can turn its name into a verb has my vote.
Are you a googler? 

oh, technology

Since running the Nike marathon I have been plagued with an incredibly disturbing problem....my nikeplus sensor.  If you remember, I am a dedicated nikeplus user (actually a dedicated nike anything user...I love their stuff), and one enormous perk of being a nikeplus user for this race was that we would be entered into a drawing for free admittance to next year's nike marathon if we uploaded our race within a certain period of time. I wore my nike sportband for the race instead of my ipod.  It was, by far, the longest I have ever run without music, and I was feeling awesome about the sportsband and how it allowed me to go "wire free" for such a long time.

Until I tried to upload my (26.2 mile) run.

Apparently the geniuses at nike decided to run a firmware update right around the time the marathon finished, and so my run (and a bunch of other people's runs) disappeared into cyberspace, never to be heard from again. It is beyond frustrating. First of all, I really like to see those miles graphed out on paper once I have run them. That is where I reflect on where I was struggling the most and when I was the fastest. I use that information on future runs in the hopes of getting better (and qualifying for my mistress-bitch race, Boston). Secondly, I need tangible evidence that I completed those miles. I just do. It's how I'm wired. I know I ran them. I want proof, though. It motivates me.

So now I am stuck with a ton fewer miles on my profile than I actually ran, and I don't get to be entered into the drawing for next year's race. 

I'm gonna need to see something pretty phenomenal from you in the future, nike...this was a big slip-up.

it's my anniversary

Today my hubby and I have been married for five years. It's truly flown by, and when I think about how long we have actually been together, it literally blows my mind.  I can honestly say that we are in a better place now than when we first got married. Although it was fun being newlyweds, we were still learning how to exist in the same space together. I remember being horribly offended or hurt by things that Justin said or did or didn't say or didn't do, and he didn't know he was even doing stuff wrong!  Then we started having kids and life took a turn for the busy. Suddenly we were so immersed in bottles and diapers and late nights and naptime that we forgot about each other. I don't know if I looked my husband in the eye for two years. Seriously. We were not working on our marriage. We were just "existing" with each other, living life taking shifts with the kids.
Now that we are out of baby mode forever (promise), we have started taking time to get to know each other again. We have been going out on dates. We have been staying up and watching movies together after the kids are in bed. We have been looking each other in the eyes again. This time, though, we know each other much more than we used to. And that kind of comfort is fantastic.
We are going out of town for the weekend to celebrate. No kids. I am sure the first few hours will be weird (what do you talk about if it isn't about your kids?), but we will quickly remember why we liked hanging out in the first place and have a great time.
No exercise this weekend...just fun. I'll catch up next week!

yay for wine

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to do a little moonlighting at a higher-end restaurant that just opened up in Vermillion. The same man who owns MASABA also owns RED, and we actually met while he was getting the restaurant up and running (you know how I love startups!).  RED is a chef-inspired steakhouse restaurant with an extensive wine list. I have the good fortune to be able to host the Weekly Wine Hour every week at RED, as well as hosting exclusive tasting events for the Wine Lover's Club members. It is a time consuming job, but a fantastic time, and who wouldn't love tasting your way through a wine list?
Tonight we are going to be looking at a few of my favorite wines that are available at RED, namely St. Francis Chardonnay, Angeline Merlot, KokomoCuvee (we JUST got it in and it is fabulous), and the Chateau St. Michelle Gewurtztraminer (a yummy dessert wine). 

The St. Francis is, hands down, my favorite Chardonnay right now.  It is not too oakey, but very buttery and with a great vanilla finish. I love it so much that I have a case of it in my basement.  It's that good!





The Angeline Merlot is unlike any other Merlot I have tasted. While many merlots can be quite tannic, this one doesn't taste that way at all. It is very drinkable just on its own, but it can also handle itself next to a heavy pasta pairing any day of the week.





The Kokomo Cuvee is a blend of four red varietals, and it is absolutely divine. Talk about an easy-drinking wine. It's dark, but don't let that be off-putting. It's smooth as silk and almost too easy to drink too much of (trust me).

 Finally, the Chateau St. Michelle Gewurtztraminer is the perfect wine for after dinner treats. Sometimes I don't want coffee with my dessert. Sometimes I want wine (usually, actually). This is a perfect accompaniment to any dessert item. It's also good with a spicy Thai dish.








If you happen to be in the area between 6 and 7pm tonight, come to RED and spend some time with my favorite wines! If not...I highly recommend them for consumption in your own home, as well.

thwarted again...

Well, once again I missed the Boston time.  I swear to you, that race is slowly becoming my mistress-bitch; mean, unattainable, but just plain awesome.  My NIKE time was 3:59:59.  It's a little slower than the Brookings Marathon, but still under four (barely). 

This race was amazing. It was challenging, hilly, cold, rainy, and beautiful all at the same time. 

My flight home was delayed and so I didn't get home until 2am, and started work at 7am, so I am not even close to being in a good spot to discuss the race, but here are some pictures to whet your appetite.  Look for a longer post later on in the week that will recap how things went.

 Here is the picture of the start line. Because I am a nike plus user, I got to be right at the front. What an awesome perk!

Here is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was beautiful. There was a lot of fog around it, and so it just kind of emerged from the clouds. Very magical.

Mile 25. What an amazing view. I just kept staring at the waves as I ran into the finish line. They were the reason I made it in under four hours.

This is the adorable fireman who gave me my Tiffany finisher's necklace. Isn't he handsome? They all were. I guess San Francisco firefighters have to be cute to get on the force or something.

Until next time....

road trip

This morning I head out to San Francisco for the NIKE Marathon. I am so unbelievably excited.  I haven't been to San Fran in years, so it will be a lot of fun to go back and see how it's changed (or not).  I am also meeting up with one of my very good friends from my ARMY days that I haven't seen in about 15 years (am I really that old?).
I am a little nervous about running the race. My legs have felt very heavy for the last two weeks, and my knees seem to be a bit boggy and fluidy. I am not really sure why. It's not really painful; just unsteady. I'm not sure what that means or what is causing it. I have not run since yesterday, and don't plan to until race day. I am wearing only flats, as I'm starting to wonder if all of my heel wearing lately has something to do with it. Apparently heels are the devil.  I just can't seem to resist temtpation, though....I love a good heel.
Definitely on the to do list for us is a visit to the NIKE Expo. where we pick up our packets and take in all the fabulous things NIKE has to offer. I am excited to see the lunar eclipse shoes, as my shoes were discontinued (boo NIKE) and I need to find some suitable replacements.  We also want to go to the top of the Mark, and plan on going Sunday evening as a last, awesome treat to ourselves for running the marathon.  I definitely want to hit Fisherman' Wharf, as that is the most memorable part of SF for me.  Finally, I just want to see the beach. I miss the ocean terribly. One of the most difficult things about living smack in the middle of the country is that I am so far from the ocean. I love the ocean. I miss it. One day I will live by the ocean again. 
I'm off to shower and pick up the girls.  Think good thoughts for me and NIKE!

a san-fran-panic-attack

So today I was running at lunch, and it totally hit me that next weekend I will be running a marathon next Sunday. Not just any marathon...the Nike Women's Marathon.  Wow!  I am both thrilled and sickened at the same time (I'm pretty sure I said the exact same thing when I ran Brookings.  That must be my marathon feeling).
I feel horribly unprepared for a marathon, but know that I will get through it, nonetheless.  My buddy, Rachel is in ridiculous shape and she will most likely finish with the Boston qualifying time I so desperately want.  She is 21, feisty, and fabulous.  Plus, she is a really strong runner. She's a good running buddy, that's for sure.  My other marathon buddy, Karen, just ran a marathon a month ago. Double wow.  I don't think I could run two marathons in one month (nor do I think I want to).  As for me, I am lucky to log 25 miles in a week, let alone a single day.  The farthest run I completed was 17.5 miles. I'm going to give it my best, though, and hopefully I will emerge victorious.
This week I have been running between 3 and 4 miles a day. This weekend I want to get one day of 8 or so miles. Next week I will run Monday and Tuesday, and maybe take a walk on Wednesday. I will rest Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (as much as one can rest in fabulouse San Francisco!!), and Sunday is the big day.  Monday I will crawl onto the plane and fly home.
It's gonna be great. I know it. 

a little fine print...

So, it turns out the new, fab job is not so good for my training.  I go to work at 7am each morning, so in order for me to get a 30 minute run in, I have to get up and out by 5:15am.  Longer runs are completely out of the question.  Ugh...it's early!  And dark.  And sometimes a bit scary.

Yesterday while I was running, I suddenly heard a rustling in the woods that sounded like something was coming right towards me.  I leaped three feet in the air and yelped....at my own cat, Millie (lion kitty, as the neighborhood has so affectionately named her). She is named that, not because she is scary, but rather that she is a long-haired orange and white cat that we have groomed into a lion cut. She was a foster cat that we eventually adopted and really likes to be outside, but her adventures often leave her with horrible burrs and tangles in her fur.  She always feels a little silly after we shave her, but I know deep down she really feels better.  Plus, the neighbors all love her. She has become a neighborhood icon, of sorts. Go, lion kitty!

This morning I nearly jumped out of my skin at a dog that started barking as I ran by.  He was in a fenced yard, and had it been daytime I wouldn't have been bothered at all. But this "dark" thing...I don't know.  I'm unsteady.

Do you run when it is daylight or when it is dark?

All things considered, though...I still love my fab job. This is a small price to pay. And, did I mention they have a workout room?  Problem solved.

one last run with the boys

This weekend was the Susan Komen 5k race. It is a race that I have always run with my boys in the jogging stroller. The course is fast and flat, and they love the energy, music, and all of the people. Sadly, this was probably the last year that we could do it.  The stroller (I may have mentioned once or twice) is now 100 pounds....goodness knows how heavy it will be next year! 

I am also still training for Nike, so wanted to get in a good run in addition to the 5k race, so my fellow Nike goer, Rachel and I logged 11 miles before the run (please note that I did not bring my boys on this run).

Here we are coming into the finish line!  Do we look great or what?  I am proud to tell you that we ran that 5k, 100 pound stroller and all, in 24 minutes and change.  Can you believe that?  Of course, my buddy Rachel took a couple of turns pushing the stroller while we ran, which pretty much solidified our friendship right there.  I think she wildly underestimated how difficult it is to run with the stroller...what a lesson for a 24 year old! 

This weekend I meet some running club buddies that I haven't seen for a long time for a nice 7.5 mile run. I'm thinking about starting earlier and getting another 5 or so in...one last week of mileage before marathon mania.

a running update

I have been so busy lately with work that I have neglected to blog about all of my running!  I am having a difficult time typing this...but Nike is only three weeks away.  Yikes!  And, although my goal and focus has shifted quite a bit since taking on such a heavy workload, I am still me and I still want to finish strong.  Last weekend I went out and ran 17.5 miles all by myself. It is the farthest I have ever run without buddies, and it wasn't horrible.  Since I wasn't running with anyone, I decided to stick to town (another first for me), and ran a 7.5 mile loop a couple of times, with the 7.5 mark right at my house. That allowed me to put a water bottle on my step and hydrate with each loop, so that was good.  After the second loop (15 miles), my boys wanted to run with me, so I decided I would push them in the stroller for the last couple of miles.

Big mistake. 

A 100 pound jogging stroller is a lot to handle on the best of days...after knocking out 15...it's nearly impossible to navigate. I had to turn left at one point and we nearly crashed into a car that was parked in front of us.  Needless to say, the boys were not impressed by my sloth-like pace while we were running together. 

Tomorrow I run 20. It will be my last long run before the race, and I am ready to be done!  Sunday is the Komen Race for the Cure 5k, and I will be running with the boys in that one.  It will most likely be our last race all together in the jogging stroller. I can't imagine how heavy they will be next year.

Have great weekends!!

opportunity knocked

Well, I'm going to work for "the man".  It's official. I'm the new Project Manager/Marketing Specialist for Masaba Manufacturing.  I couldn't be more thrilled.

The great thing about this is that I actually like "the man" at Masaba.  I like the company philosophy. These guys are amazing, hungry, and eager for ideas and ingenuity.  True entrepreneurs, I feel, and you know how I love entrepreneurs!

I have quite a few projects on my plate to start with, and I'm loving every one of them.  I'm just digging right in.

This week is a busy one for me...but I am feeling fantastic about things!  I hope your week is as fabulous as mine.