I'm back to real life.

My vacation in Washington DC is over. Its back to my real life, job, kids, running, sports and every day schedule. No more eating crap, walking around doing what we want and touring a new city. Its always a bit hard getting back to normal life but it also feels kind of good going back to a routine of real life. 

I've got a billion photos and will be updating with all soon. I'm going to post all vacation pix on my family blog. Here's just a few...

My favorite Cupcakes in DC found in Georgetown, Baked &Wired. A must go to for a very good treat. 

We did a ton of walking, at least 8 miles a day. Taking the public transportation was a huge learning experience for all. I'm not sure I really got it but it was fun figuring it out. 

I did zero running, unless you count running to cross the street before the light turned green. We did enough walking each day to make up for the lack of my morning run. I don't think I could have kept going all day doing sight seeing and running. We did see plenty of people running all over town. 

We pretty much ate crap at every meal. Crap, meaning high fat foods but at least I split my food with the kids to eat less of it. We had fish and chips, burgers from Shake Shack, pizza, pancakes, bacon, fries, bread, butter, chicken, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and ribs etc.. the list of junk goes on and on... Plus, I treated myself to lots of Root beer. I was on vacation. 

Everyone's favorite place, the White House. We got a garden tour which took us right up next to the white house front door, or is it the back door? Up close and personal. 

My 2nd favorite was going all the way to the top of the Washington Monument. We got lucky and got tickets as we walked by. We got to go right up and not wait. 

We were 500 feet up looking down at the monuments from all sides. 

Walking around to all the monuments, Lincoln, Martin Luther and World War II Memorial was a favorite. 

The Capital and part of the mall area was under repairs. That was a huge bummer. Changed the feel of the mall area 100% since they closed off a huge section and were digging it up. Plus, all the scaffolding around the dome on the capital made it ugly not the same. What can you do? 

Air and Space Museum was all I remember about going to DC when I was 9. I remember standing in front of this display. Still the same after all these years. It looks like they sent a hunk of junk wrapped in tin foil to the moon. 

I was happy to see some cherry blossoms still blooming at Arlington Elementary. It was beautiful all around DC with the flowering trees, tulips and green. 

A Winning Finish

We had our first ever win 4 to 2. The soccer winter season has come to an end. I'm so glad that I tried soccer because even thought I wasn't very good at it, I learn a lot. I got out of my comfort zone and tried something new. I learned a new appreciation for the game. I got to be part of a team, even though our team members changed a lot, there were a few of us who played the entire winter together. 

It's not always easy being part of a team. I didn't participate in team sports growing up, so this was a new experience for me. I'm not sure how I really feel about team sports. I'm kind of an individual sport person. I only want to count on my own abilities. I was definitely under-skilled when it came to foot skills in soccer and even knowing the game. I didn't fully understand it even thought I watched my kids play for years. Playing soccer, I got to understand more then I did from watching. You have to be out there participating to really understand. I still have a lot to learn. 

I of course wanted to learn the game quickly and not be the weak link on our team.  I tried my best to make up for my lack of skills and my team was good about it. Some games I felt like I fit in and was included and other games not so much. It might have been more to do with me if I felt that way. I'm just grateful that I was able to keep playing all three sessions this winter. They could have easily replaced me and probably would have if they found a more skilled girl player to take my place. They did find more skilled players for the summer. The rules are different as they only need 2 girls, not 3 on the field. I was a bit sad that they didn't want me back, but I can 100% understand. I would do the same in their situation. It just made me feel excluded from the team on our last game and I just get quiet and it feels awkward. Again, my own issue. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy playing soccer. It just had its ups and downs and that all had to do with me and my mood. Probably why playing with a team is a challenge because everyone brings a different attitude/mood to the game each week. 

I did get contacted by another team member wanting to start a Sunday team for soccer. I'm not sure if he remembers my lack of skills, but I put down a maybe to play. I was also asked to be a sub on my old team that will play this summer during the week. Who knows if they will call me back? I'm hoping I will be asked to play again next winter. Even though I had mood ups and downs with being part of a team. I loved the challenge of playing a new sport. I have all summer to practice and improve my foot skills. Even if I don't play, I accomplished a lot in just doing what I set out to do, Trying something new, getting out of my comfort zone, not being afraid of my lack of soccer skills, not being afraid of being the oldest on my team by at least 10 years. A great positive to end the soccer winter season. 

Choice

It looks nice outside, the sun is shining and there is hardly any wind. Do I want to run outside or go to the gym? I'm dressed for gym running, not that its difficult to change. Decisions, decisions.. Plus, I have another choice, whether or not I'll go to my last indoor soccer game tonight. Its a late game (9:30pm) and I'll be up till midnight not being able to fall asleep. The next day, I usually crash as I'm super tired from the late night and getting up early in the mornings. I do want to go to the last game. I just wish it was earlier. 

I have an opportunity to play on a co-ed soccer team this summer too with a different team made up of some others of the teams soccer players. The team I'm currently playing on, has enough girls for their outdoor team, guess they only need 2 girls out of the 11 players on the field. I'm just not sure I want to play because the games will be on Sunday afternoon, all summer long. I'm happy I at least have a choice, which earlier this week I didn't as I wasn't needed for summer. 

It's going to be a full work day. I'm happy to be working so no complaining here about that. I'm thinking about skipping a morning workout or just cutting it down to 3 miles of running. 

In a few days I'll be running/ walking in a different city. I am so ready for a change of scenery. Last year when I was in Washington DC, Nike had a woman's half marathon on the first day I arrived. It would have been fun to run this, but I was busy touring and watching baby Evan as he was only 4 months old at the time. I just enjoyed seeing all the runners that had finished the race walk past me with their finish line metals.  They don't have this race this year. I already checked to see if there was maybe a 5K I could run in the DC area but there wasn't really anything while I am there. I'll get plenty of exercises walking all over the city. I probably won't be running at all while I'm there. Just being on my feet all day long will be enough exercise to tire me out. 

What day is it? Oh Yeah.. Tuesday!

I sometimes get confused on what day of the week it is. I workout 7 days a week and try not to take days off. I do have super easy days but I always do something fitness related even if I am not running at least 6 miles for the day. 

Monday, I took it easy. I was less then thrilled to be back at the gym.  A cold morning forced me inside. I just don't like dealing with crazy winds. I didn't feel like running so I biked instead and attempted to read a magazine for the 15 minutes. I had limited time since I needed to be home to spend my Monday with Evan. I had just enough time to bike quickly and then lift weights. A good easy combo for a Monday. 

Evan is now 16 months old. He quickly learned to play the harmonica after I just showed him how to blow into it. He just loves music and goes from the guitar to the key boards and back to the harmonica all day long. 

I made dinner last night if you can believe that! Logan wanted chicken with ranch dressing dipped with garlic/Parmesan crushed potato chips. I have finally perfected this recipe. Parchment paper works best as the chips stick to foil. I bake them in the oven on the low rack to brown the bottom, then raise them to the top rack and put them under the broiler to crisp up the top. I made my favorite roasted sweet potatoes in the oven. I made some hot buffalo sauce on the side. 

I have so much good in my life.

I have so much good in my life. It's good to reflect on the positives when it feels like I'm getting no where. I won't list them all, but life is good. 

I went to the gym this morning and noticed a poster for a 90 day weight loss challenge. Here's what you get? 1 Free personal training session, an assessment for body fat etc.. a chance to win $1000 towards a trip. I might just do this for $29 and be on my way to some weight loss??? I do need to drop 15 pounds and what better motivation then to win some money and lose weight at the same time! 

I've been looking at buying these new Sketcher walking shoes for a while now. I tried them on and my feet felt great. It felt like I was walking on clouds. I'm all about comfort when selecting shoes. 

The weekend went by far too fast as they all do. I'm happy that the weather was warm enough to run on my favorite trail. We got together with friends Saturday night and had dinner out, Sunday was a full day of shopping for the kids and volunteering to help put up the soccer nets. Never enough time in the weekend and here it is back at Monday. 

Just another morning at the park.

It was surprising to not see anyone at the park. No dog walkers, no families, just one other running couple going the opposite direction on my last lap running the lake. Not that I mind having the park to myself, but on weekends you just expect it to be busy with people.

I tried moving my toes around when running to see if that might help fix my toe/foot pain on the 5th mile. It seemed to do the trick, as I didn't experience that painful last mile of running. I should wiggle my toes around on every run from now on. If it works, keep doing it!

Do you know I run up and down a total of 24 flights of steps every time I run 6 miles around the lakes. A good hilly workout on trails. My fitbit is nice enough to keep track of all the flights of stairs I walk/run up. 

It's time to move on to other stuff I need to do, other then running, more like kitchen clean up, shopping for Logan and then house cleaning to get ready for the week. Nothing like a fun Sunday planned. There might be some bike riding to explore a new area of Apple Valley. I have time to kill while Logan is at soccer practice and this seems like a good way to spend my waiting time. If I'm too tired, my back up plan is to bring a good book, relax and read. 

I want to and I don't want to... ????

Its not exactly nice like Saturdays sunny weather. We had rain last night and everything is wet. I have a race planned for 10am this morning on trails, a mud run. Do I really want to get my shoes muddy? Not really. Do I want to wait till 10am to run? Not really. Do I want to drive across the twin cities to run for 40 minutes or less? Not really. So why do it? That is a good question and I think the answer is already NO. 

It's a free race and probably low budget too. I doubt there will be any water out there on the course and not much after. I've done one other trail run and the race was not marked. I was afraid of losing the person in front of me for fear I'd take a wrong turn and not know how to get out of the woods on the right path. No one wants to cut a race or run farther then needed. 

(Steve trying out a friends reading glasses) 

We decided to stay out way too late last night. I was the designated driver, as always! I don't mind driving but I want to choose when the ride leaves. It never works that way. You have to wait till the drinkers are done drinking. Steve and I were both just done way before the others. Good thing we don't do this very often. I use to like being out late. Now I would rather come home early, and read a good book and get to bed early so I can be up at the crack of dawn to go run. Times have changed. 

We all shared the flaming cheese at a Greek restaurant. Steve and I split a meal of gyros, and humus, with pita bread, rice and a salad. I forgot to take a photo. Plenty of food and I am so glad we shared as it was way too much food. 

Earlier in the day, we watched Logan's last soccer game in the dome. He starts playing games outside. 

His team won 15 to 5. They switched keepers to give the other team a chance to score a few points. It's just not fun to watch another team lose with that large of a point spread. 

Saturday and how we spent our Friday night

Celina went running trails with me today. She lead the way and I followed for 2 miles. She is still working on gradually increasing her miles. I finished the other 4 miles around the lake trails by myself. 

For some weird reason it almost feels harder to run slower 11 and 10:30 minute miles, then to just go my normal 10 to 9:50 minute mile pace. I still averaged for the 6 miles a 10:13 minute mile over all. 

It's good to have a buddy system. I asked Steve to join us so her dad could keep her company while I finished up my miles. I don't need to worry if she is okay while I run. You just never know and its always better to be safe then sorry! 

It was a really nice morning. I was able to go out in just a tank top and my Capri leggings. 

Friday night was Logan's first track meet. Steve and I went to watch Logan participate in a few events. After watching I was thinking.. wouldn't it be fun for an adult track and field meet too? It would be a great way for adults to have some fun activity. Even non-runners could do some field events and participate. 

Logan's maroon track team. Logan participated in the Long jump, 100 medley relay and hurdles. He hurt his foot on the hurdles so that pretty much was it after he ran the relay. He did pass 2 kids and catch up his team on the relay race. Placed 3rd for over all boys on the long jump. 

I think it would be fun for us to go back to the track and practice the long jump and do some track running. I'd love to try and see how fast I could run and compare my times with the kids at the track meet. 

We ended the night at the neighbors bonfire. A great way to spend a Friday night. 

55+F Degree Running never felt soooo good.

Okay, I'm not going to lie.. the first mile always sucks no matter what kind of a day it is. It's just a hard, slow mile to get through.. After mile one I warm up and start to enjoy running. It feels really good when I'm done with mile 6 and come to a complete stop. Sweaty, tired and thirsty. The best feeling.. and I never feel as good all day long, as I do when I'm done with my run. 

Six happy miles around the lake... each mile a little faster then the one before. I guess Logan was right. He said I keep picking up the pace each mile. 

Trails are more difficult to run then just straight ahead pavement. I have all these hills and turns, rocks, uneven ground, sticks, dog crap and people blocking the path.. all kinds of stuff to come across on my trail run. I happen to come across a controlled burn area too. 

Wish all mornings could be this nice. 

 I've stalled long enough this morning.. Off to work I go... happy Run Friday!

Do you see it?, Green....

This is back.. Green, Green leaves, Green Grass.. how I've missed you, the color Green. 

I walked out our front door and right away notice the crab apple tree's leaves popped out last night. I just love these trees when they are in full bloom. Beautiful white petals. 

There is also green grass to run my toes through. I love going barefoot. It was actually warm enough at 7:30am to walk outside in the grass without shoes. I know this really nice spring weather isn't going to last so I'm taking full advantage of it today. Thankfully it's Friday! 

Logan has his first track meet tonight. Here he is practicing hurdles. 2nd from the end. He did really good. I think this just might be his event. They do try all events. I think I heard 3 field events and 4 running races. It should be in the 70's tonight, a good night to be outside watching him at track. 

Are my hands turning orange yet? I do love my sweet potatoes. I've been eating one a day and I know eventually, my hands will start turning a bit orange. 

I was extremely tired after working a long day on Thursday. Staying up late from a 9:30pm soccer game on Wednesday and then getting up at 5am was not a good idea. I was exhausted by 3:30pm. All I wanted was a nap. That's exactly what I did. Took an hour long nap and felt so much better. I even slept in this morning to run a little later on. I'm getting use to running later and not feeling like I won't get out there if I don't do it asap. I use to freak out about waiting.. now I'm okay with it. It just took some time to adjust. 

Speaking of adjusting??? I'm still working on the Garmin issue. I know.. it's going on far too long. I am just going to keep wearing two watches until I have it figured out. I don't want a watch to stop me from running. I'm all about the data, even if I don't look at it while running, I want the info from my run as a record. 

Time to get off the computer and head out to run trails. I've got 6 miles to run at a leisure pace. I also want to do some mountain biking today. I'm hoping I can get Steve to go with on his new red bike! 

Decisions that need to happen.

I had some decisions to make about my diet, fitness and running. I could either stay right where I'm at or challenge myself and feel so much better. I'm choosing to feel better right away. Here are a few decisions I needed to make. 

#1 diet. It's no surprise that I struggle with losing weight and eating healthy. While I always start off my day healthy I lose it in the afternoon and evening. My decision is to make it simple. Eat the same food that I eat in the morning and at lunch only. No choices and I'll eat less because it will get boring very fast. I'm no expert on this as I too am trying to figure out how to lose a few pounds I've gained and what will work for me. I need an easy plan where I eliminate choice. Too many choices and I make some poor decisions about food later in the day when I'm less focused on goals and tired from the day.
Foods:
Whole grain bread
Chunky PB
Sweet potatoes
Rice/ Salsa
Greek yogurt /raspberries
Brussle sprouts

That's the list. Simple!

Fitness.. more home weights to tone up for summer. Writing a list of what to do. It works best when I write down and fill out what I've done each day for toning. Keeps me honest and its a great way to track progress. 

Running goals.. doing a fun 4 mile race this Sunday. Zumba today for fun... trying something new to keep things interesting. Plus, decided to run to a destination instead of making safe loops by home. It's time to change it up and make running fun. 

Three miles done this morning. More to make up later after Zumba. I'm having right foot issues. It hurts on the top but almost feels like a shoe issue then anything really wrong with my foot. Time to get new running shoes again!!!