A Runner’s Balancing Act

Ohmygosh! This has never happened to me before. Despite my terrible spelling and often confusing grammar, I was somehow awarded the Kreative Blogger award by Jill. Well I am honored that she can look past my terrible writing skills and somehow get something out of my humble blog. I want to thank my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Stevens who encouraged me to be a writer.

Okay, I’m just kidding. Even though I know that the Kreative Blogger is probably just another one of those chain mail type things that circulate the blogosphere, I am still quite honored.

So as part of the deal, I need to list six things that make me happy and six bloggers that I would like to bestow the award on. So here goes…

Things that make me happy (besides running, because that’s obvious)

1. Sunday mornings: it’s my favorite time of the entire week. The only day of the week I get to sleep past 6 am. I sleep until at least 8, then get up have a cup of coffee and a bowl of sugary cereal (usually the only day of the week I a non-nutritious breakfast) and gradually wake up as I thumb through sunday newspaper. Church is at 10 and I honestly love that too.

2. New clothes. I am true girly girl and I love to shop, though I really don’t go very much. Fall is usually one of my favorite seasons to buy new clothes, but I’ve been restraining myself this year.

3. Back rubs from my hubby… he is the best!

4. Playing board or card games with the family. We played Scrabble and Apples to Apples on Thanksgiving and had a ball!

5. Hot starbucks coffee on a cold day. Usually I’m a black coffee girl, but once in awhile I’ll get a gingerbread latte. Yes they are a corporate giant but they are still the best in my book.

6. Saturday night date nights. Usually we eat dinner out and then rent a movie. Then I’ll fall asleep in the middle of the movie because I got up early to do a long run. But I fall asleep snuggled up to my hubby and that is so nice.

Now I get the joy of passing this award on to some of my favorite bloggers:

Irish Cream: Irish knows how to tell a story. I enjoy her blog because she’s real with her readers, and she usually makes me laugh too.

Hefferblog: Another blogger who tells great stories and always makes me laugh.

Melanie: I recently discovered her blog and the more I read it the more it seems we are a lot alike. I loved the video blog she recently posted.

Chris: I enjoy reading ahis own balancing act being a frequent traveler and new runner and great dad.

Lisa: Lisa gives me hope that I will be able to continue my running when I am a mom someday. She’s been getting so fast lately!

Jill: Jill and I share some past struggles and I think we are probably a lot alike. Her blog is very informative, I’ve really been enjoying all of her product reviews lately.

Terry: Terry has a great blog. She’s got such a great attitude and she’s really blossomed into an experienced runner since I first started reading last spring. She’s a true encourager to me.

Now if I’ve listed you, and you haven’t already been named a Kreative Blogger, please pass along the award to 6 others and tell us 6 things that make you happy.

I have once again been “tagged” by Chris.  Here are the rules: you have to answer the questions and then tag 5 more people, letting them know by commenting on their blog. Its fun!

10 Years Ago (1998):
1. I was a junior in high school
2. I had just gotten my drivers license, 1 month before my 17th birthday
3. I was in the middle of my first season as a starting player on the varsity volleyball team
4. I was heavily involved in my church youth group activities
5. Trying to figure out where I wanted to go to college

5 Things on Today’s “To Do” List:
1. Work and try to leave before 6 pm
2. Stop by Michael’s on the way home to get “puff paint”
3. Use the puff paint to write honoree’s names on my new TNT jersey
4. Stretch hamstrings, quads, calfs, IT band
5. Fold laundry

5 Things that I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Quit my job, but then start my own business (running related possibly!)  A million dollars doesn’t get very far these days!
2. Pay off the house.
3. Remodel the house.
4. Travel all over the world.
5. Have much more time to run during the best hours of the day (because I’m my own boss now, I can work when I want to)

5 Places I have lived:
1. Fountain Hills, AZ
2. Azusa, CA
3. Covina, CA
4. Washoe Valley, NV (4 months)
5. Phoenix, AZ

5 Jobs I have had:
1. Drive through person at Wendy’s Old Fashion Hamburgers
2. Design Editor at my university’s student newspaper (yes I was actually paid!)
3. Intern Graphic Designer at my university’s marketing department
4. Web  designer for a private golf club
5. Graphic Designer – two different design firms

Now, I’m tagging….
1. Michelle
2. Krysten
3. theAlien
4. Rachel
5. Aka Alice

Its taper time! What exactly does that mean? I have a legitimate reason to blow off my runs! What you say I should still be running but at a lower intensity? Oh right. Well I’m not good at lower intensity. I have a hard time with running distances under 5 miles. Its just not worth all that work of putting on the running clothes, and getting all sweaty and having to take a shower.

So I have not run since Saturday when I did a 10 miler with TNT. I did however get to do a new hike in the McDowell mountains on Sunday afternoon with some friends. I was scared to death of seeing a snake, but we made it through 4 miles of desert trails without seeing a single one. It was a miracle! Once we got back to the trailhead and started driving home, we happened upon a HUGE rattlesnake in the road. I covered my eyes, but the others said it had been run over but was still squirming! Ewww! Glad I didn’t look. Can we say night mares! Well at least we saw it on the way home. I don’t think I would have been able to hike had we seen it on the way in!

Here are some pics from the hike….

Me and Joe

Looking down on North Scottsdale.

Don’t know what I was saying here, but apparently I was pointing at something!

Of course I had good intentions of running Monday and Tuesday, but alas, it has gotten crazy at work and I had to work late both days.  I did get to play a good game of competitive volleyball last night, so mark that down for cross-training. This morning I will be meeting my running buddy for a hard 8 miler. We’ve picked out a new route that is very hilly but should offer some fantastic views. I’m bringing my camera phone!

Tomorrow I’m doing a 5 miler with a friend I haven’t seen in awhile. She’s faster than me, so between today’s hills and tomorrow’s speed, my legs should be thoroughly tired by Friday even though I will have only run twice this week (not counting Saturday). Next week, no hills and no speed. I want my legs to feel fresh come Oct. 19th.

In other news, today is my anniversary. I have been married to the love of my life, Joe now for three years. I couldn’t have designed a better mate. Thank you honey for three wonderful years! Here are some pictures from that day…

Happy running!