Lately my life has felt a bit routine and I think it’s time to edit my “template”. While I was running the other day this sentence popped into my head: “Life is a template and YOU just need to customize it.” I love when I have these profound moments. It dawned on me that I don’t want to make a drastic change to my routine…I actually like a lot of my routine. I like the structure. I like where my text boxes and picture boxes are anchored. I just need to add a few unique colors or shapes. (Yep, I’m a graphic designer so these metaphors are working for me. 🙂

I thought about the new things I tried in 2016: I added some new media “customization” in 2016 when I listened to my first audiobook and my first podcast and they immediately worked their way into my routine. If you’re looking for a good podcast to listen to while running (or walking) I recommend DizRuns.

Diz Runs

Diz Runs

Just lots of runner-to-runner kinda conversation. His first question to all his guests is “What is your favorite distance to run and why?” I love hearing the answers. On a recent episode an ultra runner’s response was “the 50 miler because I can sleep in my own bed”. That’s crazy! He even interviewed me on episode 248 earlier this year. I spent lots of summer nights walking for hours around my neighborhood just to finish up listening to the episodes in my cue. I want to do more of that in 2017.

I want to try some new workouts in 2017, cook some new recipes and maybe go as crazy as getting a new shade of tinted lip balm! Any suggestions?

Yesterday was Duncan’s 8th birthday. I can’t believe it.

lol

lol

I force him to wear his party hat for 30 seconds every year

I force him to wear his party hat for 30 seconds every year

I remember picking him up when he was 11 weeks old on March 23, 2009. A 10-hour round-trip road trip just to bring home this bundle of curls.

He stared at me for a good hour of the drive before he finally curled up on my lap.

He stared at me for a good hour of the drive before he finally curled up on my lap.

I’ve been dog sitting for Duncan’s cousin Casey. It’s been fun to see double doodles every minute of the day.

Door "flair"

Door “flair”

content to co-exist

content to co-exist

I got a lot of eyes watching my every move

I got a lot of eyes watching my every move

i guess i'll sit in the middle

i guess i’ll sit in the middle

 

Mr. SOTSS came to visit me the other night and brought me some roses. I love flowers on non-occasions. So special. img_8212Duncan was happy to snuggle between us. img_8215I had back-2-back crappy runs yesterday and the day before. 3 SLOW miles with my annoying hamstring tightness.

I did get to listen to an hour of a podcast between the 2 runs but that's the only thing that was good.

I did get to listen to an hour of a podcast between the 2 runs but that’s the only thing that was good.

I started to realize this hamstring tightness began right around the time of my birthday at the end of October. It basically feels likes there are resistance bands connected from the backs of my knees up through my glutes. I can’t seem to propel forward much which leaves me slogging through every run, especially hilly ones. Today I finally decided i’m taking a break. I’ll start with taking a week off and I’ll see how that goes. Maybe this will be the perfect time to customize that template with a new form of exercise 😉

Hope you all have a lovely fun-filled weekend, happy holiday and merry everything! Here’s my final holiday card that I promised I’d share.

The front

The front

and the back

and the back

P.S. Thank you so much for reading my blog. I don’t make a penny on this blog. It’s purely because I love to talk about my life and running.

I have 2 posts that seem to get a lot of traffic. Ironically one is about cookies…..ok maybe not so ironic 🙂 Anyway, these are my 2 most viewed pages

My review of the Nike Aeroloft Vest and the Starbucks Toffee Doodle Cookies I made.

 

I had a nice change of scenery, AND routine today. The weather forecast called for our first snow of the season so I decided to work from home to avoid dealing with the bus later in the day. Our office was only open until 1pm anyway. But instead of working from MY home I drove to my brother’s house early this morning and spent the day here. It just made sense since they are hosting Thanksgiving tomorrow so I’ll just sleep here.

My view from the "office" today

My view from the “office” today

It was Forest's first snow!

It was Forest’s first snow!

Since it was our first snow of the season I could focus on how beautiful everything looked in a blanket of white. Ask me how I feel about snow at the end of February and I’ll probably tell you I’m sick of it!

The dogs (Duncan and his cousin) loved it too!

10363640_10205229750165003_5140309441189187036_n

doodle butts!

doodle butts!

10257919_10205229750325007_4615507681726434419_n

#twinners

I spent a few hours working. And then I took advantage of my brother’s lovely finished basement with an elliptical just waiting for me to hop on!

#crosstraining

#crosstraining

cat dog nap

cat dog nap

I busted out a solid 30 minutes and my trusty sidekick sat on the beanbag chair to my right. Such a loyal doodle.

Tomorrow I’ll be heading out bright and early to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from my office. I have never taken advantage of this perk before but our office is moving in March so this was the last year I’d have the opportunity and I figured I should check it out.

Well Happy Thanksgiving to all you wonderful readers. Have a great day with family, friends and loved ones.

And don’t forget, take the meal like a marathon. Don’t start out too fast! You’ve got to get to dessert before you hit the “wall”! =)

Who’s hosting? Who’s just going to be a guest? Are you cooking at all?

 

Hi folks!

Happy Tuesday! I’m still recovering from my car purchase weekend. Saturday morning I hit up a local dealer to test-drive the Subaru Forester XT model (the turbo engine). I had already test-drove(driven?) the regular engine a few weeks ago but somehow the idea of more horsepower excited me! I was immediately smitten with the turbo and wanted to move forward with the purchase. Only one issue. Most dealerships within an hour’s drive didn’t have the trim that I wanted. They only had the top of the line trim which was well out of my price range. My dad started to do some leg work for me and found one just over an hours’ drive from me. So after returning home from my test-drive I called that dealership to ensure it was still in inventory and then hit the road. With all the traffic I encountered on the way down, plus the time spent negotiating etc and then the return drive it was just over a 5 hour trip. But, I FINALLY closed the deal. I’ll be picking up my boy (named him Forest because I’m so unique) on Thursday. And to ensure he lasts for years to come I’m going to continue to cheer him on like Forest Gump….Run Forest(er) Run!!!

Subaru Forester XT Premium

Forest

I’m going to miss Lady Liberty, my gal, my Jeep, my friend….she served me well for 11 of the 12 years at least and only became unreliable this last year.

10373789_10203948900824570_4699505812478190933_n

Sunday, I woke up feeling horrible. I had a pounding headache and so I mostly just lounged on the couch letting my brain just decompress. I did manage to get a 30 minute brisk walk in the morning and another 20 minute walk with the dogs in the afternoon (I’m dogsitting Duncan’s half-sister…they share the same mister but he’s her brother from another mother). They are seriously the cutest pair!

siamese doodles

siamese doodles

labradoodles

this is my morning

I really have been doing poorly in the eat healthy and exercise categories. When I’m under stress the idea of eating a vegetable just makes me ill. And so I’ve been over doing it on the comfort foods…pizza, BLT, fries, cookies, etc. And with no real training plan I’m just getting too used to couch surfing.

But I’ll be focusing on cleaning up my act in the weeks to come. I can’t sustain eating this way without some unpleasant consequences. And i’m not just talking about weight gain. Sluggishness and stomach issues are two more critical consequences.

And let’s not forget I’m running Ragnar Napa in 5 weeks! More on this in a future post. I’m excited to reveal our team name and logo with ya’ll too.

What car do you drive? Do you name your cars?
A coworker of mine told me he named his Ford Explorer Indiana Jones. =)