Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

I love you Amazon…

I have no love for black Friday shopping, for me it’s just not worth the  crazy crowds and crazier people. But I do love online shopping so I am all for Cyber Monday. This year it was more Cyber Sunday for me where I was able to pick up most of the major gifts for my family and bought myself a nice little early Christmas gift. I was excited to see a great deal on Amazon for the Garmin  410, with the discount, cash bonus and a gift card I still had from my birthday it was less than $100.
 I love a deal so it makes me extra excited about this purchase. It’s also my first GPS watch so I can’t wait to try it out at interval training tonight.
Do you have a GPS watch? Do you like it? Does getting a deal on something make you like it even more?

This week in workouts 2

I really enjoyed my time off work to focus on school and training, but now it’s back to reality. Last week I saw a lot of this:IMAG0972.jpg

This:IMAG1046.jpg

And This:
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This week I will be putting in my time at work but also putting in the time training. When coach sent me this week’s plan I was surprised to see doubles that weren’t just strength. I thought I had a couple more months before those kicked in but I guess he thought I should get after at and secretly I kind of love it. It’s a big week for me as I try to wrap up school for the semester so an extra challenge I have given myself is no tv. I need to be extra productive with my time and it’s easy to get sucked into watching my favorite shows.
Here is the plan for the week:

Monday: 60 minute yoga and strength

Tuesday: am- 75 min spin class

pm- 90 min interval run

Wednesday: am- 90 min spin class

pm- 60 min yoga

Thursday: 6 mile easy run

pm- 2750 m swim

Friday: am- 90 min spin

pm- 30 min strength

Saturday: 18 mile trail run

Sunday: 3200 m swim and 60 minute strength

What does your week look like?

Turkey Day 10k

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I enjoyed a full day with my family but I think my favorite part of the day was the start, a family race. My brother and dad raced the 5k togetherDSCN7574.JPG

While Mom, Cory and I ran the 10k DSCN7578.JPG

Cory and I have done this race the last tree years and mom joined us last year. This year the temperature was perfect for running in the upper 50s. Mom and I both decided to wear last years’ race shirt so we ended up as twins.DSCN7577.JPG

While the temps were great there was a wicked headwind on the second half of the race which was also the uphill section. This made it practically impossible to negative split. Mom said that’s not her style anyway.DSCN7586.JPGThis year was a new course which we didn’t like as well but the first part through the park was nice. Cory, mom and I all ran together. My mom is coming back from a few injuries and is doing awesome. Her big goal is a half marathon in June and she is going to KILL IT! Even with the difficult conditions she as able to get a PR of 1:00:28 to win her age group. Cory and I had a great time running with mom and were happy to see her do sowell. We hung around to watch Dad and Erik (big brother) finish up the 5k DSCN7600.JPGThe race wasn’t doing awards that day so we grabbed some water and our race t’s before heading outDSCN7601.JPG

Normally I really like readline runnings shirts but there was a mix up with the shirts and there is no graphic on the t-shirts. Also our arm-warmers did not come in. I feel a bit bad for the race director as it seems a lot of things went wrong but I wasn’t stoked about all the changes from last year. Next we we all decided we want to race the family 5k together.

Thanksgiving Eve

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! If you are one of the millions who are traveling today I wish you safe and easy travels. I am not traveling today since my parents conveniently moved to Colorado last year.

Even though I am not traveling I am still busy and trying to fit a bunch in today so I can relax and enjoy tomorrow. I got up early this morning to fit in a 90 minute easy spin, this helped to flush out my legs after yesterdays long run. I am hoping to get some yoga in tonight when Cory gets home. This afternoon I am trying to get some school work in before starting to cook tonight. This year we are in charge of Thanksgiving desert and post race treats. Cory decided to make homemade cinnamon rolls (I am SO looking forward to that) and I am in charge of pies!

I am going to make classic pumpkinDSCN1906.jpeg

and dutch apple all from scratchDSCN1909.jpeg

I love baking but I don’t do it very often due to dietary and time limitations. Cory is a great helper and by cooking the pumpkin and peeling apples for me!

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Are you cooking the full meal for Thanksgiving, just a part or just showing up?

Elf for Health

So many fun Challenges to participate in this time of year, I thought I would pass along another one incase you love this kind of fun like I do!

Elle for Nutritionella has come up with Elf for Health challengenewsletter-header-1.jpeg

Copied from her site:

Introducing the Elf for Health Holiday Challenge! This is a six week challenge that will run from the Monday after Thanksgiving thru the first week in January. There will be daily tasks, daily winners, prizes, weekly newsletters, and a Facebook group for support.

And are you ready for the best part? You’ll have an elf to support and encourage you! When you sign up, you will also be committing to be an elf for someone in return. Over the course of the challenge, you will have three different elves.

Sounds like a great way to stay motivated and meet new people over the holidays doesn’t it?! Since this challenge is internet based, anyone can participate… no matter where you’re located! All you need is access to the internet and an email address.

So what does an Elf do?

Elf Duties

As an Elf, you are expected to support your assigned buddy with their holiday health goals and the daily challenges. Elves & buddies will be reassigned every 2 weeks. You are only asked to email your buddy 2 times per week:

  • Monday: Send your buddy an email to help them with the challenges for that week. Ideas of things to include/attach: your own personal tips & tricks, inspiring words and/or images, a new, healthy recipe or workout to try.
  • Thursday – Saturday: Any time during these days, check in with your buddy! For example, ask them if they tried a new recipe, workout, or had fun with any certain challenges. Feel free to tell them how you did with your challenges, too!

Anything more than those 2 emails is up to you but feel free to go above and beyond this to show your support! Just a few ideas: send your buddy Tweets, shout outs on our Facebook Page, email a fun workout you liked or send a hand written recipe or note.

Sounds like fun! SHe even provides a nice calendar that you can use as a google cal, so helpful! Will you join?

November Goals Check In

Good morning friends! I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is THIS WEEK! Time is flying and November is already over half over. Seems like a great time to check in on my November goals.November 2012 goals.jpg

1. I have lost 6 pounds so far so I feel good about accomplishing this goal.

2. I think I have missed only one day so far so not bad.

3. Photo a day has suffered, I went through I VERY busy time at work the last two weeks, but I am having more fun on instagram so I still consider it a win.

4. Assignments are on track and I am hoping to get a little ahead this week

5. I have been following the guidelines outlined by the sports nutritionist and it has been easier than I thought it would becacb9d72325c11e282a722000a1f9d5f_7.jpeg

Now it’s time to go work on #4 while cuddling with this guy:

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Happy Monday everyone!

Next Weeks workouts to Kick Off HBBC

Here is the plan so far for this week, things may change as we go but since I am off work this week I will be focusing on school work and getting in my workouts. Tomorrow kicks off the Holiday Booty Buster Challenge

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Are you in?

Monday: 6 mile run with interval work pm- Pilates

Tuesday: 18 mile run pm- easy yoga

Wednesday: am- 90 min spin pm- strength work

Thursday: Family 10k race with a couple extra miles thrown in

Friday: am- 3200 m swim

pm- weights, hip and core work

Saturday: 20 mile run and easy yoga

Sunday: 3 hour bike ride on rolling hills (no big climbs)

Two Week Nutrition Check In

Just a little over two weeks ago I had an appointment with a sports nutritionist . In that appointment Dina encouraged me to give up processed cabs and starchy vegetables. I think I am most bummed about not having spaghetti squash and butternut squash soup. Overall it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it might be but a few things have helped make it easier

  1. It’s only for a couple months until I get to my desired “training weight” all that fro-yo will be waiting for me in January
  2. I do eat refined carbs after any workout that is 3 or more hours. I don’t think Dina meant that to mean eat anything you want but that’s how I take itSeptember 2012.jpg
  3. I have had some success. In the last two and ahalf weeks Ihave lost five pounds. For me that is a big win since at this point pounds don’t come off very easily

I will admit I haven’t been perfect, I have had some wine with dinner, there was a chinese take-out extravaganza on election night, and a couple catered meals at work that I just couldn’t modify. I also don’t plan on trying to be perfect all the time. On thanksgiving there will be no “rules” and it may get more difficult going into the holiday season but if I stick to the plan more than I don’t than it will start me off in a better place January 1st.

Anyone else trying to drop a few pounds during the “soft season”?

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