We finally took the time last night to finish up decorating for Christmas.
Winston was ready to help
fireplace in the “annex” 
Hanging the first ornament
OSU Santa my parents bought me when I graduated 
The medal from our first half-marathon
Fireplace in the living room
Table with new dishes =)
I was craving an intense trail run this weekend, after another six-day work week I wanted a thrashing and that is what I got. The hubbs and I drove up to Boulder to run on the Mesa trail:
It was steep and rocky and BEAUTIFUL!
(This picture would be beautiful except for my rats nest hair, seriously curly hair is such a pain)
I came home to a painful ice bath, but I am glad I did it because I think it really did help. Today I am taking the day off exercising to heal, back at it tomorrow. The good news my knee held up beautifully, I am so grateful to that.
I am also a little freaked out and excited that Christmas is coming so quickly, my parents get here Friday! My brother talked them into coming out to Colorado early so they can race Rudolf’s Revenge with us. We haven’t all raced together since 2004, it will be so much fun. We grew up doing races as a family and this will be a nice revisit. I see a lot more family races in the future after mom and dad move from Oregon to Colorado (hopefully in late 2011).
This week I am focusing on cleaning my house in preparation for house guests and holiday parties and getting Christmas shopping and cards done……good luck to me!
Happy Monday everyone!
I had to cut my tempo run short this morning because my right knee was hurting. After not running for two months this summer I am really hoping this will go away fast. I should have already learned this lesson, my right knee isn’t completely healed (one doctor told me to just learn to live with the pain) and I know it starts hurting when I don’t ice after EVERY workout. For the last week it hasn’t even occurred to me to ice after workouts. What the heck, how can I just forget to ice?!?! So now I am sitting here with ice packs on my knees hoping that the pain this morning won’t turn into anything worse. 
Training plan for the weekend:
Saturday: 1.5 hours on the bike trainer, I need to pick up a good movie tonight!
Sunday: 13 mile run, just need to decided where, I am thinking trail run. One of the upsides of us not getting snow is that the trails are still dry. Although I do sometimes like running in the snow, Proof from last year:
Hope everyone has a happy Friday!
Drinking tea from my Santa mug:
Paper whites starting to bloom: 
My house in the snow (not that we have gotten much this year): 
Riding my bike inside on a trainer (Yes it’s boring but sometimes I like that it’s mindless and I was able to watch Sex and the City 2)
Things that don’t make me happy:
My 12 mile run turning into a 7.5 mile run after getting out of work late and wussing out when it started getting dark.
**Thanks for all the nice comments on my last post everyone! Jill it would be SO fun to meet up at the race =)
I am a superstar, yesterday after putting in an intense two-hour workout. I came home feeling like a badass. I was feeling pretty good about myself until I fell down the stairs, so lame. I am not hurt, thankfully, just a couple bruises (the biggest one on my ego).
Lesson learned: I am NOT a badass
This was the first time that Anthem has ran the 10k portion of this race, they have ran a 5k in past years. The race was well organized and there was a large community center where check-in was located which was greatly appreciated since it was so cold and there were plenty of flush toilets. The course was listed as “challenging” and I would say it was moderately challenging about the first two and a half miles were up hill but it wasn’t too steep. We ran mostly on paths some paved some not. It was not the most scenic run I have ever been on, but I am spoiled the Turkey Trot I ran growing up ran through Forest Park and ended inside the Oregon Zoo. I loved it and I don’t think anything can compare. I love Colorado but Oregon will always have my heart.
As for my personal experience it was as follows:
Mile 1: uphill, felt great 
Mile 2: felt great, still running uphill 
Mile 3: started to have trouble breathing
Mile 4: flat and easy but still having trouble breathing 
Mile 5: starting to feel better, starting to go back down hill 
Mile 6+ felt great again, wanted to keep running 
Total Time: 58:31
Conclusion: I need to get my asthma under control so I can run faster than a shuffle!