March Break!

So it's time for a catch-up blog, it has been a while....

Let's see where to start... why not last night? 

Colin and I went to the Calgary Road Runner's end of the year awards banquet, and it was super nice.  Potluck dinner and desserts and $2.50 drinks, and lots of community. We joined the club this year, and I have been doing there XC trail series.  What a great way to get fit through the winter!  I enjoyed them so much, I did 7 out of 10, and I ended up winning the Grand Prix, totaling your best 6 races for lowest aggregate time.  So last night I won!  This really meant a lot to me and I am super proud.  My name goes on the club plaque a huge, hand-made trophy, my take-home award is a glass tray (which they called "belt-buckle") also hand-made, and a $100 gift card, I also won my age group, so I got a hand-painted bowl, how awesome!  Colin and I really like this club, as it is family-oriented, every low-key, show up 10min before start time race, starts with a kids race which they make a big deal about, and pretty soon Reed will be in there, kids as little three are running are giving their all!

Start of one race at Nose Creek, cold and windy!



Uphill finish, yuck!  Colin and I made DYI spikes after this race...

Grand Prix Champion!!

So running has been going well, last weekend I ran in the St. Patrick's day 10k. While Vancouver was enjoying a relatively balmy race day, here in Calgary those who raced, faced -26 degrees with wind chill!  And the wind was blowing that day!  People were anywhere from 3-5 min slower, so I was actually quite happy with my 42min race.   Top three women normally go around 37min and I came 4th overall by 10seconds, and I was closing the gap at the end, so quite happy!  Next race is Mother's Day 10k.

Ok enough about me... Reed has been getting cuter every day!

Walking has turned into running, he "talks" lots, yet still hasn't said a real word, he loves his tee-ball set, and pushing, pulling, filling and dumpings all sorts of carts, wagons and trucks.  His favourite things to do are reading books and dancing, and of course playing with his best friend Pearl, nothing quite like grabbing a wagging dog's tail!  He has settled into daycare, and is getting lots of teeth, especially molars which suck.  He loves opening and closing doors, playing hide and seek, he also loves snuggling into our covers and wrestling.  He has started to discover the wonders of Spring, dirt and melting snow, grass and trees, if only the weather would stay warm!

Another reason I can blog this morning, is because Reed is at grandma and grandpa's, his very first sleepover!  I heard he did great, so excited to see him! It's funny I go on and on baout how I need a break, and when I do get one, all I do is talk about him and how excited I am to see him again!

Spring is coming.... I think ...

I have planted all my seedlings they are soaking up the sun in our front room.  Yesterday Colin and I bought the lumber to build a raised veggie-bed in our backyard!  Our small, yet important contribution to healthy organic sustainable living... This summer, we also have plans to build a small deck in our front, I can't wait to enjoy myself out there!

Here are mostly flowers, vines and tomatoes, the egg trays are Spring gifts for a couple friends, and I will plant the bulk of the veggies right into the bed come Spring.

Now I just have to keep Reed away from these for a couple months...

 

 

The problem with blogging...

Once I've posted there is no turning back...

100 days of running update...

I wish I never blogged that I would do 100 days of running, I had actually forgotten about it until today when a friend emailed me asking how it was going...

Now I have to blog about my failure... that always feels good!
I should cut myself some slack, it's not a complete fail.  I will succeed in 70 out of 100 days running, which is not too bad...  it's not nearly the same as saying "100 days of running! I'm awesome!" 

But 70% got me into Queen's and it also got me into teacher's college (in Australia, where I paid a million dollars tution as an international student ...but that's besides the point...)

So 70 out of 100 can't be that bad!  However I'm not yet at the 100 mark, to be honest I'm not even sure when 100 days will be up... as you can see I really thought this one through...

But running is going well, and along side of running 5-6 days a week, I have been doing quite a few xcountry races, well 5 so far in total.  I need 6 to be able to win the grand prix, which would be cool.  I've been doing pretty well, won 3, and placed the other 2, so I've got a chance.  Next weekend I'll be racing again.  They are just so much fun. 

I am still not sure about a spring or fall marathon, leaning more towards a fall, which will give me a whole summer or focused training... no work to get in the way! 

Ok, that's all the news. 

Christmas Holidays, Reed Walking, 100 Days of Running and a Cake

Christmas Holidays

Yay! So I have a chance to write a blog, life has been pretty busy... working lots, getting sick lots, running not so lots... 

Christmas was pretty awesome this year, it always is, but with a one year it was even more so and I am sure it will just get better as he grows up.  I love all the hype, all the traditions, the decorating, the anticipation, the baking, the preparing (Christmas is great time for people who like to make lists... such as myself!) the lights, the wrapping, the shopping, the giving (and yes the getting!). 

We had a pretty low key budget to spend on ourselves, which I went over, but every little thing adds up quickly ....

'Twas the night beforeChristmas ...and we were at my mom's house ...

Reed Walking

The very day he turned one, he ventured out on his own!  Life is sooooooo much better since, he now just goes where he wants and plays with what he wants instead of whining for mommy or daddy to take him there.

100/100

We did get a treadmill and I have been using it, some mornings, some nights, but it sucks working out at either 430am or 730pm, I'm just way too tired.  Reed still wakes up in the night, 2-4 times depending on teething issues, although he has been getting better lately only once, and then he is up for good by 6am sometimes earlier.  So I've been able to average about 3-4 runs a week, which isn't great, but it's something and I can't beat myself up about it, that's life.

So I decided to give myself a little challenge, or a big challenge, as it is so hard to stay motivated to train through the winter, when the races and nice weather are so very far away.  I am following a challenge through SlowTwitch - run 100 days in a row, so ideally, 100 runs in a 100 days, although you can take rest days.  I decided to blog about it a bit, to keep me honest, and I don't think I will officially enter through the website and log all my runs.

I'm on day 11 (although I didn't know I had started on the first 4 days...) only 89 more days of running left!  It's pretty chilly here too, on Christmas day I ran 90min in -20 (not with windchill) and today it was -25 and I braved 40min of the elements.  I actually don't mind the cold for running, if you dress warmly, you're fine.  Pearl can only handle about 20min before she starts hobbling around on her paws, so I've been dropping her off and heading out for more!  I will allow myself one rest day every 10 days, if I need it ... so it will be more like 90 days out 100

This was a xcounrty race I did earlier in the month, tough running hard on snow!

My First Successful Layer Cake

What kind of mom would be I be if I didn't attempt some impressive cake for my son's first birthday?  Although I am no stranger to the cake in a box mix and the icing in a tub, I decided I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do a cake and icing from scratch.  Here are the stages...

Layered 'em up

Even did a crumb-coat initial frosting (as if I knew what that even was before...!)

Second layer of frosting (doesn't look that much better in my opinion) a little lop-sided...

Decorated.... very primitively, very cheesy, kinda looks like a little kid did it...

Set ablaze

Here are a bunch more from Reed's birthday....

A big cake for a big baby!

He was so cranky, we couldn't serve up the cake and ice cream fast enough so we gave him a cupcake to keep him busy ... but he wouldn't have it!

PS.  Reed didn't even eat his own cake, he was way too fussy/cranky/tired/over-stimulated at his little party.  He is getting more teeth, and has a nasty cold/flu (a couple days after he had a fever for 3days!) so sleeping hasn't been optimal, poor little guy (and poor parents!!), it's always something!!