Do you know how much convincing it took Mike to get me to see a movie today?

A lot. 

Poor guy, but sitting in a dark theater doesn’t sound fun to me.  I love to be outside, even in the rain.  Plus I just don’t have the attention span for it.

Taking me out to lunch at my current favorite cafe’s, Urban Bistro in Burlingame helped though.  Smart man.

He had cilantro lime shrimp, chili & a side salad. 

I didn’t snap a picture of mine, but here’s one from last time.

The biggest bucket of popcorn & Cherry Coke helped too.

I hardly ever drink soda, so this tasted too artificial for me.  Interesting how your taste buds change. 

Oh but the popcorn was awesomesauce!

We saw 21 Jump Street and it was actually really funny.  I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5.

I joked that I was prolly the only chick who didn’t see Hunger Games. Not that I’d want to anyway. lol

After we checked out a house for rent.  I can’t believe our lease is up in mid-May already.

We like our apartment, but would love a backyard for the pups and maybe a extra room. 

I haven’t mentioned it on here, but I took 2 full weeks off from working out and I’m more than ready to start running & cycling tomorrow!! 

The tendonitis in my arch is feeling a lot better, not 100% but I believe easy, low mileage running is helpful in recovery.

Cheers to a great week ahead!!

It’s a gloomy, rainy day over here.  With not too much to do, we hopped in the car and took a drive to the city. 

After debating on where to have lunch with a wife that can’t read a map to save her life, we ended up in Daly City.  Which  saved us about $33 in parking fees. 

We had Japanese (can’t remember the name) but it was in the Westlake mall, then did a little shopping.

After lunch Mike wanted to show me a really cool place.

The Olympic club!!

Where several Presidents have played a round of golf and the US Open will be held this June.

We actually saw a sign in Daly City that said “rent out your home for the US Open, up to $5,000 a day.”  I can’t make this stuff up.

Then we headed along the SF coast.

After being cold & wet all day a nice warm bubble bath was in order.  And then a hot dinner. 

Now we’re chilling out on the couch with the dogs.

Life is good today.

Today was such a nice & easy day.  I went grocery shopping for my little elderly lady, Catherine.  I really adore her, and Julie, her dog.  She thinks I make her day, but it’s really the other way around.

I’ve always enjoyed the elderly and I’m so happy to be able do something small that make’s her so happy. 

I love it so much, I couldn’t wait to take on another client, Christian. 

Funny story… I called her yesterday to introduce myself and let her know I will be shopping on Wednesdays and will call her between 10:00 & 11:00am.  She very nicely replied, “that’s too late.”  When I asked her what time would be better, she replied “5:30.”  Bahahaha!!  We met in the middle on that one.

In other news, here’s my buddy Bam. 

He thinks he’s a lap dog, but when your this cute, how can I argue?

This weekend was sunny & in the mid 70’s.  Perfect weather to be outside.

Saturday I strolled through the farmers market and then to Trader Joe’s.  And walked the dogs at the park twice.  But I really wanted to be outside enjoying the uber nice weather.

I decided to ride the Bay Trail.  It’s really flat and goes along the bay.  Hence the name.  And the flight path to SFO is right over the water, which is really cool.

It was beautiful!!

I’d be happy keeping it easy and doing 10 miles, but figured I’d just do whatever I was feeling.

Got to mile 5 & stopped to snap a few pictures and drink some Gatorade.  I figured I’d head home, then it hit me.  My stomach suddenly started to hurt.  I took it easy but that wasn’t helping.  I stopped and it started to subside, but when I started up again, I thought I was going to yack.  Blah. 

I made it about .50 and decided to get off my bike and rest under a tree for a bit.  I was thinking to myself, I’m not overheated or dehydrated, but then again I had an energy bar as I was walking out the door.  That had to be it.

After resting for about 15 minutes, I was feeling a lot better so I used my navigation app on my phone to take the shortest way home just in case.  I felt great the rest of the ride and the day. 

This is why they advise you to try new things out on your training ride/runs and not race day.  Lesson learned.  

Oh and I’ve used Gatorade for years without a single problem and the fruit/nut bar, I’ve had several of them without any problems.  I think if I let it digest a bit, I would have been fine.

Oh well a ride is a ride.

We have had such a mild winter here.  It blows my mind how beautiful it really is here. 

Mike & I just pulled out of the driveway, headed to Burlingame when he got called into work.  Major bummer.  We were going to enjoy lunch outside at a Mediterranean restaurant, then have cupcakes and do a little window shopping.

Not wanting to miss out on a nice day, I took the dogs to the park for a bit, but poor little old Pook was so hot and begging to go home. 

I dropped the dogs off and went to the grocery store.  I took my favorite scenic road in Redwood Shores, that to my surprise was lined with bright purple wildflowers and orange poppy’s. 

All surrounded by a lake.  I love that practically every place here is by water.

Note to self: ride your bike on this street ASAP.

While living here is not my dream, it’s pretty darn beautiful for the time being.

I have to tell you guys about my new planner!!

The generic ones in the stores don’t fit my lifestyle.  Read Type A, organization nerd.

Well thanks to Pinterest, I have my whole little life in one binder.  Well almost. 

I found this site and purchased this PDF.  In case your curious I went with the 5.5 X 8.5 size. 

Crystal’s site is uber cute, user friendly and easy to understand.  She kinda reminds me of my sister, who got every single creative gene and left me with none.

The only thing I’d add is a blog planning section.

I’m hoping to be finished with mine today.

Now that I’m a nerd and have my planner, I started thinking about setting a few goals for the month of March.

• Run pain free.  I know this is going to take longer than a month, but I’m going to take a different path for healing.  Long story short, my new podiatrist recommended new set of orthotics.  My current set is the exact opposite of what he would have made for me.  I kind of believe him since every time I wear them, my feet hurt and let’s face it, I’ve had tendonitis for oh, 7 months now.  yeahdontevengetmestarted mmmkay. 

He told me to try Super Feet and they feel a lot better than my orthotics, but yesterday I ripped those out and went back to the ones that came with my Mizuno’s.

I ran for 2 years injury free before all of this, so I decided to go old skool and see what happens. 

A sweet friend of mine, Stacy sent me a few links on feet strengthening exercises.  I’m going to take a more natural approach.  Dang, I just sounded like a hippy there.  lol

• I’d like to take on a new elderly client.  Don’t think I’ve mentioned this on here, but I’ve been grocery shopping for an elderly lady who lives on her own, but can’t drive.  She makes me so happy, I can’t wait to take on another client!
• Blog 3–4 times a week.  It makes me so happy, I don’t know why I seem to forget that.
• Take a few yoga classes.  I could really use this.
• Take a cooking class.  Mike & I went to one last night & had such a great time.  And let’s face it, I really need to learn how to cook.  Why can’t that boy just eat cupcakes for dinner!?

Well I’m off to go for a run and finish my planner before GOTR this afternoon.

Hope you have a nice day.

Ooh it’s raining, the best time to run!!

I was looking to volunteer in my new area and after reading Caitlin’s blog about coaching with GOTR, I knew it would be a good fit for me. 

GOTR is a 12 week program that meets twice a week for girls in 3rd to 5th grade that helps build character, healthy habits & self-esteem with running weaved in.  At the end of the season, the girls will participate in the Lollipop 5K run at Golden Gate Park in May. 

I’m now 1 of 3 coaches for a bay area school.  Our team consists of 6 girls, which is pretty small but we are hoping to recruit a few more.  Monday was the first practice of our spring season and it was an amazing experience already!

We have a  great group of girls who are friends already, which I think is going to make this season even better!  They are very intelligent and really wanted to have fun and of course run!

Practice started with an afternoon snack, then we played a few games and ran a few laps.  3 laps equals 1 mile, and they were begging to run a mile.  Girls after my own heart. 

I’m really excited for Thursdays practice!!

Since my injury is being a punk right now I’ve found myself consumed with what I can’t do.

Being the problem solver that I am, I decide to shift my focus on things I can do.

Cycling does not come naturally to me like running kinda sorta does.  Not saying running is easy by any means, I just find it more enjoyable and that makes it a bit easier for me. 

Hills are so hard.  Actually cycling hills is 10 times harder than running a half marathon.  No joke.  After my long ride Tuesday, walking was a complete struggle.

It’s funny because I used to think cycling is a lot easier than running.  I was wrong.  So wrong.

You may laugh at me now.

After riding 26 hilly miles Tuesday, let’s just say walking up 2 flights of stairs took a lot longer than normal.  And all I wanted was lunch A.S.A.P and a hot bubble bath.  Oh and my bed.

Then I realized the dogs needed to be walked.  Crap.

After my long ride last week, all I could do was lay out by the pool the rest of the afternoon.  I was shredded.

The aftermath.

Time 2:17

AMPH 11.2

That night I was telling Mike how sore I was, while simultaneously planning my next ride.  Thursday. 

I love pain & suffering way too much.

Sometimes I wonder about myself.

But I get my cardio workout in and it allows me to spend several hours outside.  It’s a good fit for me right now.

I finally made an appointment with my podiatrist for next Friday.  Let’s see if there’s anything else we can try or I may be ending my running career.  <-Typing that killed me.

Anyway I’m looking for rides to sign up for and the Cinderella ride next month sounds like fun.  And of course the CA Classic is on my wish list too.

In the meantime, I’m ready for more pain & suffering tomorrow.

My injury is a punk right now.  I think I pushed it too hard on that 5k on Friday. 

The thing that really sucks about this type of injury at least for me, is it doesn’t hurt when I exercise.  In fact it takes hours for pain & tightness to kick in.  Usually at night and early first thing in the morning before I get out of bed.

I jumped on the treadmill this morning for the first time since Friday and immediately was in mild pain.  I thought it might work itself out and kept going.  A run just wasn’t in the cards today.

.50 mile 4:31minutes

Feeling frustrated and defeated, I came home and took the dogs for a long walk at the park.  I ran into my cycling buddy and he talked me into a long (for me right now) ride tomorrow with his riding group.

Oh well I kept myself busy shopping for Mike the rest of the day.

And went to the doc for a TB test. 

They made me wait for 20 minutes and I was board so took pictures.  Then played Sudoku on my phone.

It wasn’t bad at all.  But then again needles don’t bother me.  Just yackers.  But that’s another story.

I have all of my cycling gear out, Gatorade ready and Garmin charging. 

A few years ago I decided to really get into running so I went to my local running store to get the right shoe for me.  They put me on a treadmill and watched me run for a bit then recommended the Mizuno Wave Rider 13.

They were a perfect fit.  I loved them so much I bought a second pair.

Then Mizuno redesigned them.  Enter the crappy 14’s.  Womp, womp wa…

Hawt shoes, but the ankle came up way too high, rubbing against my ankle, causing blisters and irritation. 

I returned them & bought the Brooks Ghost 4.  (Just realized I never did a review for those?)  They were too wide but the ankle was perfectly low so I rolled with them.

Over the summer rumors started to swirl around about Mizuno redesigning my favorite shoe to be more like my beloved 13’s for their new 15 model.

As soon as they came out I ran to my local running store to try them on. 

The verdict:  they fit like the 13’s with the lower ankle!!  I want to live in them.  If they were cupcakes, I’d eat them.

Sometimes I worry about myself.

My feet are on the narrow side and my custom inserts make them just a little tight but very stable, unlike my feet moving around in the Brooks.

Let’s compare the 13 vs 14:

I wore my custom inserts in both shoes to give you most accurate view.

I ordered them from runningwarehouse.com.  If you go through skinnyrunner.com you’ll receive an additional 10% off.

I LOVE them and if I were independently wealthy I’d stock pile these babies. 

The bright yellow is loud & obnoxious, kinda like me.  They also have a blue color that reminds me of toothpaste and ruby red.

My other running shoe reviews:

• Nike Free Run’s
• Mizuno Wave Rider 14
• Nike Lunarglide + 3