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!

5Ks and Stupid Walker/Sprinters

So....my first 5K. Last fall, I registered for a 5K in the hilly Mines of Spain on October 10. Then Amanda decided I should run another 5K in PREPARATION for the 5K! What?!?! Explain the logic there, please.
Well, it worked. My only goal in the Chili Trot (my first 5K) was to run the whole thing. No walking. I did it! I can't remember my time, because the Internet posting was wrong, but it was around 35ish.

2nd 5K...October 10...This is what I had been struggling toward.
Goal: Run the whole thing. Even the terrible hills. I mean, who puts a finish line at the top of a very steep hill?
Race morning comes...Amanda is too sick to run! Do I stay at home in my warm, snuggly bed, or do I call my friend Eric, who has been showing some interest in running? I certainly don't have the motivation to run it alone. I recall the reason for all of the prep work was to run this particular race. I call Eric.
I ran the whole thing. Slowly, but I ran it! As I'm running, and feeling good, it starts snowing, in October. It was a cool moment for me! I wanted to die on that last steep hill, especially with Eric jumping around, trying to encourage me, but I did it. This finish was a little unreal for me. This was a great accomplishment for me, moving on from the first, completely flat 5K to an unforgiving spread of hills.

3rd 5K...Halloween run...again ran the whole thing, but with atrocious side cramps the last half. Time: 33:41

In case you are wondering why I put such an emphasis on a seemingly small goal, like running the whole race each time, there are a couple reasons.
1) I never thought I would be able to run 3 miles without stopping to walk.
2) I can't stand those girls who walk/sprint the whole thing, and STILL beat me! I understand if you are doing that because it is too difficult. That would have been me. But if you are sprinting the rest of the time, you can run the whole thing. I usually find one of those girls about halfway through the run, that I decide I am going to beat! It doesn't usually happen, but they just make me angry! It takes more endurance to (slowly) run the whole 3 miles, than to half-a** it.
That's my soapbox moment on a topic I know very little about. I hope you enjoyed it.