Hill Repeats? Kill me now!

After the White Rock Marathon I decided to give my body a "break" from the long distance miles and decided to gear up for a half marathon.
I just started the 1/2 training program and am following a structured schedule again. It's a challenge - but it feels good to be working towards a specific goal again. I plan to run the Rock n Roll Dallas Half Marathon on March 27th. Wish me luck!
Well, I'm in week two of training - plenty of tempo runs, speedwork and long(er) 9milers I have completed.
BUT, Tuesday I almost died. I consider myself I fairly fit person until I attempted these "hill repeats" - I was suppose to do 7 of them. These 400meter hill climbs with a 400meter recovery lap. The hill climb was suppose to be at a 10% incline... Doesn't sound so bad on paper, right?
Well, try running the on the treadmill for a quarter of a mile at 10% incline (with only a 1/4 mile recovery) and repeat this 7times...
I thought I was going to have a heart attack right there in the fitness center! My face turned flush, my hands were numb, my heart pounding, my head spinning... I thought "this is how my clients must feel when they complain about possibly passing out!" Lol!
Well, I finished the workout... But it wasn't pretty and all the heavy breathing coming from my treadmill was awfully alarming, I'm sure!
Next Tuesday I have to do 8 - O.M.G.


talk about running uphill....

Masquerade!

This past Saturday we celebrated our friend Kara's 30th Birthday with a black and white Masquerade party at Antonio's restaurant in Addison. The party was a great theme idea and everyone has a blast putting together their masks and sporting their b&w duds.

The day before I made a trip to hobby lobby to gather supplies -- I grabbed everything in the craft aisle I think?! Glitter, glue, feathers, beads, confetti, anything that sparkled! Then, Saturday afternoon Paul and I turned our dining room table into a craft station. I must say, Paul got a little more into it than me...and his mask was a lot better than mine too! I forgot that he actually has an artsy side that he doesn't get to explore behind the doors of a law office! So, I was impressed with his skills -- however, he did go a little overboard with the pink ;-) (I wish I had more pictures of his masterpiece!)


Kara's party was a complete success -- and we sang karaoke, danced, ate and drank till we shut the place down!

thank goodness for girls nights....

Last week was crazy busy... Paul had an event or worked late every night - I had junior league meetings, dinners out, etc. Plus, I get up so early for class or clients it just ended up being one of those weeks that we were "two ships passing in the night"
I was dying for some time together BUT Friday night was carved out for girls night weeks ago, so I couldn't bail. I pulled myself together for the PJ/Snuggie girls night IN party at Haley's house, (yes I wrote snuggie, lol!). "I'll just stay for an hour or so" I told myself... Well, I got home at 12:30am.... had a blast and I'm so glad I went!
Time with girlfriends is so important for our sanity! Its like wine for your soul! ;-) Turns out its just what I needed after such a long crazy week - wine, pj's, massage (yes, Haley had a massage therapist come for us!) Girl movies, yummy snacks, and celebrity gossip.
I returned to Paul the next day completely refreshed, de-stressed and like a new person. Plus, I was even more excited to spend the day with my hubby!

Thank goodness for girls nights!

back to the pavement...

Paul and I were out with a group of friends Saturday night watching "The Dilemma" - it was not the best Vince Vaughn/Kevin James comedy but that's not why my attention wasn't on screen...
I was secretly excited for my 9mile run the next morning! It has been 6 weeks since I'd been out for a "long run" - the weather has been cold, crummy and wet therefore I've been a wimp about getting out in it.
So, I've been logging some serious treadmill time - I've done about 6-8miles or so... As much as I can stand running on a moving belt. Although, I do enjoy the TV on the treadmill (enjoyed watching MEAN GIRLS last weekend on TBS during a 6miler, ha ha!) But I was still dying to get out on the road again. Just me, my ipod, with my feet pounding the pavement. How therapeutic.

A Sunday long run is "me time"-- I think about what's coming up for the week, I talk to God, I pray for friends, I make new goals, I think about client workouts, I plan meals, I make mental to-do's, and I rest my mind.

Who is excited on Saturday night for a long run on Sunday - this girl!

new year, focus on fitness

With the new year upon us the health and wellness business is booming. I have added a few new clients, classes are full, weight room is packed and I have to abide to the "45min max time" on the cardio equipment - that's only like 5 miles on the treadmill! But, as a trainer its exciting to see people take a step forward in their fitness goals. I love the positive energy in the gym in January. My husband, for one, is one of the newbies filling up the weight room. I wrote him a routine that he's following and he's trying to get to the gym before work. Most days he's sleeping in (and I can't really blame him given his long hours) but good thing he has me to nag him a little ;-) I figure for my training services Paul can pay me in love, ha ha!

I have been hearing a lot about my clients new years resolutions and have been supporting my husbands new efforts to get to the gym but I haven't even had a second to think about my own goals for this year? Last year my big goal or "resolution" was to run a marathon...with 2 behind me I suppose I should set a new goal...

let me get back to you on that...

The dark side...

So, I'm switching things up... for the first time in YEARS I'm going with dark hair! I'm not sure how long I'll last as a brunette, but its definitely fun for now! I know I'll be craving blonde locks come sum, sum Summer time! For now, a brown babe!

Happy New Year 2011

New Years Eve came fast! I saw a couple clients that morning which helped me start to get out of "vacation mode" which I appreciated! However, looking back I could of used the extra rest...our relaxing New Years was actually quite eventful. I guess anytime you have champagne, high-energy friends and games you're in for a good time!
We kicked off the night at Bob's Steakhouse for drinks with our friends Paul, Susanne, Jason and Kerri. The place was packed! Everyone had the same idea -- the entire Shops of Legacy area was slammin by 6:30...I'm glad we made the choice to leave by 9pm because I couldn't take the pushing into people any longer. However, the people watching was well worth it. The glitter and sequins some women were wearing was insane...it's new years not a strip joint! lol!
We left Bob's and went to our friend Tina's house party -- she had games, food and a bar set up. It was super fun and we were really enjoyed the night in! We played the salad bowl game and pictionary. Which, after a few rounds of cocktails can get pretty funny! I don't do champagne very often, but golly was it good!
We rang in midnight and after yet, more champagne, eventually called it a night!
Happy 2011 everyone!

Back to the big D...Armed Forces Bowl

Paul and I took off EARLY Tuesday morning and made the long trek back to Dallas. We knew we were getting closer to home as the gas prices were getting cheaper and the weather was getting warmer. Milo snuggled next to me the entire ride - he was exhausted from all the holiday excitement. My nephews loved playing with "the puppy!"
It felt so good to be home, to sleep in our own beds and finally unpack from the long week away.
The next day I had a few clients and was back at the gym. It felt good to be getting back in the swing of things...kinda...
But, Thursday we were back in vacation mode and went with our friends Kerri, Jason and Dustin to the Armed Forces Bowl. SMU was playing Army. It was actually a really fun game and nice to be outside again. A lot of my clients went to SMU and were at the game so it was fun to share that experience with them! We spent the entire day at the staduim noshing on junk food and beers...(as if the holiday food wasn't bad enough!) and headed home to crash! What a long day!

Unfortunately, SMU couldn't pull off the bowl game at home...ARMY won this one!

SMU Stadium

Kerri and Jules

Christmas Whirlwind

I'm not going to lie, traveling to Michigan for Christmas this year was exhausting. I'm not sure if its because Christmas snuck up too fast OR, if its just getting harder to go "home"?
Holiday vacation is suppose to be relaxing, yet we jet up to MI and run around town trying to visit with as many friends and family as possible before throwing ourselves in a car back to Dallas. We return to work exhausted, dead, and have spent no quality time together as a twosome! I guess that's what we get for moving away - a whirlwind holiday runaround each year. But I have to wonder... What happens when we have kids? I'm not going to put them through this?! And, I want them to have Christmas morning in their own home ... Ya know, where Santa comes and brings their gifts! I just don't know how long we can keep this up! It can be an emotional rollercoaster traveling 1,000 miles at Christmas!
Despite the craziness of the week, it was absolutely wonderful to see friends and family! We are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives that love and support us over the miles. We are thankful for you all.
A big thanks to the Stefanich's for hosting our "FRIENDS" Christmas party...we LOVED visiting with everyone and taking down a few beverages ;-) Also, we had a lovely time Christmas eve and Christmas day with the Simon's and received some wonderful gifts! Karger Christmas continued with more celebration on the 26th with a big spread and more presents! Paul and I both got to catch up with some old friends for lunch and drinks before heading home to the BIG D. We appreciate everyone who made time to see us before we headed south!
Love and hugs to you all!
xoxo