Alone.

After running 3.2 miles by myself today, I realized a few things:

1) This is really boring.
2) It's not so bad running without music.
3) My new "real" running shoes are amazing.
4) I really like running in the heat.

1) This summer, I have been doing all of of my running with Amanda. If it weren't for her, I would not be running at all this year! Last summer, I focused on biking for RAGBRAI, and this year, I'm just lazy. This duathlon was just the thing we needed to get going. However, I still struggle with getting out the door to run, even with Amanda hounding me! But once we get out there, I'm glad I'm there. We talk. Or, she talks. I pant. Occasionally I talk. We talk about the upcoming school year, as she just landed her first teaching job. We talk about food. We talk about the job we used to share. I even asked her to be a bridesmaid in my wedding on one of our runs. She cheers me on, when I just want to flip her off. So running by myself?? Boring.

2) When I did run alone in the past, I always had to do so with my iPod. Today and Friday night proved that I don't need to. I have always had difficulty breathing (which I know I need to see a doctor about) and running alone and without music helps me concentrate on controlling my breathing. I can hear my foot fall too, and can tell when I'm getting sloppy and lazy and need to pick it up. Not as easy with Micheal Jackson blaring in my ears. No offense, MJ.

3) I just bought my first pair of "real" running shoes this weekend from The Shoe Shack. I got the fitting and all that good stuff. A little different from the shoe department at Kohls. It was worth every penny. My nasty old shoes were not doing my apparently very high arches any favors. They only had 3 pairs that would work for my feet. The Brooks pair that I got are like running on air! I love them. I vow to never go back to Kohls for my running shoes. Sandals, yes. Important shoes, no.

4) It was HOT today. But, man, it felt good to sweat like that for 40 minutes! I love it. Sweating in my un-air-conditioned car on the way to the grocery store, hate. Sweating while working out, love. There is a difference, and today's run felt great.

This week's training will be a few small runs and tackling that monster hill on the bike a few more times. Getting good night's sleep Thursday and Friday. I just read that your sleep 2 nights before a big race is more important than the night before. Also eating carbs the 2 nights prior is apparently important for energy the day of the race. I'm learning so much. And sleep and pasta? I can handle that training.

Lazy Girl Returns

While I have not been running (except a 5K on Labor Day) and not biking (since RAGBRAI!!) I haven't been completely lazy!
I will start with that 5K. My best friend, who NEVER thought she could run, ran her FIRST 5K!!! She did the Couch to 5K program, which I (and I'm guessing she) would recommend to everyone. I ran the whole thing with her, and I'm glad I did because we provided each other with some comedic relief as we quietly cursed the girl run/walking in a backpack, a little like Dora. I only ran twice in the months before. I saved all my training miles for the race. Why waste the miles training, right? Just use them all during the race, right? Wrong. I had joint issues in my leg for weeks afterward. But Beth KILLED the race and I was so happy for her!

And I haven't run since.
And we have another 5K next weekend.
And I need to run. Or exercise. Post-RAGBRAI Andrea sucks!
I need motivation. Someone send me some motivation, please.

Non-Lazy Adventures.....

Back to school.....
Isn't my dump truck cute? Since my 3 "roommates" are mostly all teaching reading, I made this construction display, with Joel's toolboxes, hardhats, and my "reading tools!" Our room has been deemed the "party room," since we are having so much fun working together. Off to a great start for this school year!

Geocaching.....
So much fun, if it's not super-hot, you're not being eaten alive by mosquitoes, you're not super-crabby, and your Iphone has a decent geocaching app that doesn't send you all over the place! I do want to do this again, because it was very exciting when we finally did find a cache. I just need more preferable geocaching conditions. Nerds. I know.

I had given up and walked away, when Joel finally found it after a half-hour of searching.
Look how happy!

Pie League.....
My friend Beth and I have started Thursday night Pie League, while the men are in their bowling league. It has been a fun, frustrating (for me, the worst baker ever), exciting adventure. We are in the process of starting a blog to document our trials and errors (ohhh the errors!).

Cooking....
I have been getting very adventurous in my cooking endeavors lately. I am not usually a great cook either. The kitchen is not my friend. Once, I made such horrible pancakes (yes, instant pancakes) that our dog wouldn't even eat them. And she eats everything! However, I have discovered a fantastic website with recipes using lots of fresh produce. We have never eaten so many local vegetables! And it turns out.....I CAN COOK!!! Who knew? I will be posting the pictures of all the amazing meals we have made this month, just because they're so darn pretty!

Here We Go......

I'm leaving for RAGBRAI tomorrow! I am excited/concerned.

Concerns:
I have not ridden my bike enough to do this without dying.
Hills.
How far am I going to have to walk to find a bathroom at night?
Hills.
Ice-cold showers.
My butt.
My legs.
Humidity.
Rainstorms similar to what happened here last night. (Scary!)
Hills.
We didn't pack the right stuff.
Toes/hands going numb again.
I only have one pair of bike shorts...they better dry out!
My breathing.
Hills.

Excite-ments: (Is that a word?)
Pie.
Slip & Slides.
Meeting new people.
Biking with Megan.
Pie.
Pancake Man. (Or so I hear.)
Meeting up with Joel in towns.
Church lady food.
Festivities in pass-through towns.
The Peanut Butter Jam
Pie.
Sharing stories.
Manchester: Friends coming out to party with us on our last overnight.
The Nadas.
Camping.
Hanging out with our team at night.
Great Iowan hospitality.
Pie.

These are just a few of the things I am thinking about going into this 7-day, 442 mile bike ride across Iowa! I look forward to looking back on this list to see if I was silly to worry about those things, and how many fun things I can add to the list to be excited about next year.
I will be taking tons of pictures, and enjoying all that these Iowa towns and their people have to offer. I can't wait to share my stories. Wish me luck!

Keep Your Workouts Interesting...Very Interesting

This weekend was one of celebration and fun with family and friends. I had my brother and sister and nieces and nephews over for dinner out on the patio Friday night. There is nothing better than sitting outside with the people you love, eating. (I had to add the eating.)

We went out of town for a Memorial Day party at our friend's house. Our gracious hosts showed us a great time, and handled the stress of throwing a big party very well!!!

Even though this was a weekend filled with eating, I feel pretty good about the amount of exercise I got in. Did I go running? NO. Biking? NO. Any other traditional form of exercise? NO.
Now, how about interpretive dance inspired by the Predator? YUP! "Volleyball" with a giant blue children's ball? YOU BETCHA! Intense game of badminton, with all my teammates mad at me? MmmHmm! How about 2 games of laser tag so intense, I was sweating more than I do after a run? ABSOLUTELY! Oh, and navigating a maze of lasers much like they do in every great movie, with stealth moves and somersaults? HECK YES!!

To top it off, we ate at an amazing Thai restaurant. I learned from our friend Jon that eating spicy food gives you the same good feelings that running does. This was my first time eating Thai, and after hearing that, and realizing I LOVE Thai food, I think this is the way to go:
No more running. Only Thai food.