This Week in Photos

Sunday: It may be time for a new hat. //Monday: Best. Jam. Ever. //Tuesday: Who wants to have a bbq? //Wednesday: Love this little monster. //Thursday: The lone sunflower in my backyard. //Friday: One of my paintings. //Saturday: Working on Sunday's blog post.

Running with the Devil

Ya'll know how I keep whining that I feel like I'm going backwards with my running and that I'm not making any progress with improving my pace and/or how far/long I'm able to run?

Don't listen to a word of it. I'm full of shit.

The Nike+ app has this wonderful feature where it logs all your runs and combines your numbers by month. Here are how my numbers stacked up for the last three months:

• May: 39.45 miles, 14'26"/mile 
• June: 18.2 miles, 14'15"/mile
• July: 26.1 miles, 13'07"/mile

And just think how much better June and July would have been if I wasn't nursing a potential stress fracture in my foot!

Sheesh. 

Needless to say, seeing that my pace has progressively improved has put an end to my bitching and moaning about how terrible I am at running.

You know what else has put an end to my bitching? I have three routes that I run:

• Route 1: Boring and straight, totally paved.
• Route 2: Through the woods on a gravel road.
• Route 3: A steady incline for the first half (the best part obviously is the second half is down hill) with some smaller hills. 

On Wednesday I finished a TWO MILE RUN without walking on route 3. That's right. Now only did I run the entire time without walking, there were hills involved. Boo-ya!


For August, my goal is to get myself back on track. I'd like to log more than just three runs a week. Now that my foot is healed and feeling good, I'd like to get my mileage back up to 40 miles for the month. And I'd like to keep my average pace at or below 12'30"/mile. As long as I keep the momentum going and my spirits high, I'm sure neither of those things with be an issue. 

Things I Pondered When I Should Have Been Doing Other Stuff

• I finally went to see The Dark Knight Rises this week. BEST. MOVIE. OF. THE. YEAR. So  unbelievably good. 
• And I know he is supposed to be the bad guy and the face of pure evil, but I spent a large majority of the movie wanting to give Bane a hug. Weird, right?
• I missed my calling. I totally could have been a hip-hop star. 
• In March, I'll be traveling to the Dominican Republic for a friends wedding and a little vacation. I'm absolutely terrified of heights, but I really......really want to go cliff diving. I need to figure out how to make that happen. 
• I kind of feel like I'm the only person who is not watching the Olympics. I'm just not into them although the track and field (a.k.a. RUNNING!!) events start today, so my interest may change.
• I opted to not plant a garden of any time this year, yet I still have a lone sunflower hanging out in my back yard. It looks like there are a couple more waiting to bloom, but for now it's just this little guy hanging out catching some rays.

Just Believe

Seven Questions

First things first, a funny photo. This was taken way back in 2009. Who doesn't love a good homemade camera?!

1. It's the first day of August- Are you savoring the Summer or ready to jump into Fall?

I am so ready for fall I can almost taste it! Summer is just not a season I love. It's hot. It's sticky. It's gross. But fall. Oh, dear sweet wonderful fall with your crisp air in the morning. Crunchy leaves from the trees. Bring it on fall. Bring. It. On.

2. You need a quick and healthy meal, what do you make? 

Either crisp bread with sliced cucumbers, tomato and onion or a salad. 

3. You're at the mall, how do you shop? 

If I go to the mall, I usually only shop at Target and Old Navy. Otherwise, I tend to just wander around to whatever stores my friends drag me to.

4. Would you rather buy a new house or renovate an old one? 

The house I bought, I renovated. It was a challenge and there are still things I don't like, but they are over shadowed by the things I love about my little house. I don't think I would do it any differently either. 

5. Long hair or short hair? 

I always grow my hair out long but then quickly chop it off. I really just need to be able to pull it back and out of my face so I guess that would be longish.

6. Who is your oldest (not by age) friend? 

My friend Ida. Even though we don't see each other often and are separated by an ocean and much of Europe, she'll always been one of my dearest friends.

7. What is your favorite blog- currently? 

I can't pick just one but if I must, I really love Smile and Wave.