Weather Stalking Part 2 and a Blue Moon!

With my race just a few days away, the weather forecast keeps getting warmer and warmer. I was hoping for weather in the 60's but it has now starting moving towards the 70's! It is what it is. Maybe my game plan should be to run as fast as I can to avoid the heat!

The shin is still tender and the toenail is feeling a lot better but does not like shoes! I have a pair of flip flops hiding under my desk and wear them as often as I can.  I have to stay hidden from the shoe police at work. I swear they notice all of the right things!! 

I know that it is just a half marathon and not a marathon but it is still a race.  We all look for those ideal conditions on race day but it doesn't always work out that way.  One of my favorite things about running is the meal I get to eat the night before.  I haven't had pasta in a while and I think I just might indulge. I heard that Olive Garden is having the never ending pasta bowl right now!

 

Source 

Did you hear there is going to be a blue moon tomorrow? This will be the first time we will experience a blue moon time since March, 2010. After Friday, we will have to wait another three years, July 2015, for the next one. So, if you have never had a chance to experience a blue moon before now is your chance! My son loves this kind of stuff so I am sure we will be spending lots of time moon watching with his telescope!

Anybody racing this weekend?  

Have you ever seen a blue moon before? I have not!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Peek-A-Boo!  Meet Roxy, my Pomeranian!

I'm Losing Body Parts!!

It's always something!  My right shin is super sore and I am starting to panic.  I put some KT Tape on it and I am icing it a few times a day. My hamstring injury was on my left leg and now I have a shin splint on the right one!

It doesn't stop there! My toe nail on my right foot has been super sore and I have been trying to ignore it. Well last night I was kind of looking at it to see if it was going to fall off or what the heck was going on with it and I realized that I had a blister under my nail. Weird, I know. I squeezed my toe and you can just imagine what happened next. After the blister popped, I tried to clean it and off came my toenail. It didn't hurt then but it does now. I have about 2% of my toe nail left.  It is really scary looking so I censored the picture for you! My son says I have a whole in my toe! Sorry if I grossed anyone out but hey it happens!

I was hoping to get a couple of runs in before my half marathon on Sunday but if this shin and toe continue to hurt, I am going to just take it easy so I have a chance of pulling off a somewhat decent run. So my right leg is a mess... I might be hopping on Sunday if I don't figure out how to deal with this right leg/toenail disaster I have on my hands!

Any suggestions on how I can deal with this toe nail fiasco and still be able to run on Sunday without too much pain?

 I don't think a band-aid is going to do the trick this time!

Weekly Recap, Weather Stalking and Plans for the Disneyland Half Marathon

After a less than stellar week, I was determined to make this week a better one.  My goal was 30 miles and I got it done.  My right shin starting acting up on my 15 mile run on Sunday so I am a little concerned. I slowed down the pace and came home and iced it right away.  One week before race day...just my luck!

I took a interval cycling class last week and I was kind of impressed with myself.  I was able to push myself pretty hard and I made it through the 55 minute class without dying. I was reflecting back on when I was injured and taking cycling classes as an alternate to running and I was feeling really burned out back then so I guess I am getting a little stronger.

I am also keeping up with the Friendly Challenge and making sure that I do my daily push ups, planks and wall sits.  I try to do just a little more of each everyday and I really like the challenge. I might try to stick with this even after the challenge ends on 8/31. My record plank is 2:30!

I can't believe that the Disneyland Half Marathon is this coming Sunday. Let the weather stalking begin! I have been waiting for the 10 Day weather forecast to come out and hoping for the best in spite of the horrible heat we have been seeing all summer long. It looks like the weather will be much better than expected. For the past two years that I have ran this race, it has been in the low to mid 60's and I can definitely deal with that.  

The race starts at 5:45 am and I will be crossing the start line with seconds of the gun so I can be done before it warms up. I have decided to run this race without any goals other than trying to beat my last time of 1:57:57 which is about a 9:00 pace. The course is pretty flat and I wish I was ready to set my eyes on a PR but I am not. I haven't been doing any kind of speed work or cross training and I have just kind of been running without any goal pace. I guess I am just so happy to be running again that I have yet to focus on cross training and all of the other components of a strong training plan.

I am excited to start picking out what I am going to wear for the race on Sunday. I have lots of new outfits in the closet that are waiting to be worn but can't decide. Disney races are supposed to be fun and lots of runners dress up for the race. I have never dressed up in costume because I thought it would be uncomfortable and distract me from doing my best. I am also busy getting my race bag packed to make sure that I don't forget anything important.

Do you stalk the weather during race week? Do you like to dress up in costume for races?

Some Preliminary Thoughts for 2013..

A full race calendar makes me nervous! I am not nervous about running the races but I fear the big "I" word.  Should I even say it?  INJURY!

At the beginning of this year I sat out quite a few races and I was not happy about it.  I was mostly disappointed because I had earned one too many DNS's and I also lost a lot of money!!! I think the only race that had any sympathy for me was Surf City! They allowed me to roll the marathon over to February, 2013 and this is the race I will dedicating to my Dad.

I am only signed up for a few races for the remainder of the year and I am mainly running them to see where I currently stand so I know how much work I need. I have no plans to PR this year. It's just not in the cards for me. My plan is to head into 2013 strong and hope for a PR or two! Here is what I have on the agenda for 2013 (s0 far):

January 13th: 13.1 Los Angeles  

February 3rd: Surf City Marathon

February 17th:Pasadena Half Marathon

April 19th-Ragnar Relay

**May 12th: Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon (This is not a for sure thing yet but I really want to give this marathon a shot.)

My main focus in 2013 will be improving my marathon time. I will be shooting for a sub four marathon and then working my way towards a BQ.  I am not sure when the BQ will come but I am certainly not giving up yet!

In 2013, I really want to try some races that I have not ran before but I have a few favorites like Disneyland, which I will probably end up running again. I also want to start focusing on setting some race goals again. I cannot get myself to set any goals right now. My main focus since coming back from my injury has been to regain my endurance and build a strong mileage base. My pace is not all that great either so I need to get back into doing speed work and all of that fun stuff. Oh how I hate love speed work!

"Me and running don't always see eye to eye. Some days it hurts more than others. But it doesn't mean I don't do it. I deal with it and I keep running because not everything that is good for you, always feels good for you." -Lance Armstrong

With 2012 almost coming to an end, have you started thinking about your goals for 2013? Is your race schedule pretty full?

A Friendly Challenge and a Short Break

Sometimes a little break from running can be a good thing!  After feeling so sore for the last few days and taking a short break I feel much better. Sometimes a break can be a good thing because it makes you feel refreshed and renewed. My soreness is almost gone with the exception of this weird pain on the side of my right shin. I hope it goes away since it is making me a little nervous with race day coming up in 10 days. I am going to to try to fit a short run in this evening because I feel so lazy and guilty when I don't run.

I have been keeping up with a friendly competition that Jen from Running with the Girls has challenged everyone with. The Challenge consists of how long you can plank, wall sit and how many wall sits/push-ups you can do from August 15th until August 31st. I have not made much progress but I am trying to stick with it.

Speaking of breaks, the house has been so quiet with the two puppies gone. The two that were adopted were both males and the two females who are left are very calm. There is also less mess to clean up and less puppies to chase around the living room. My son decided to spend the night at Grandma's last night because he said our house reminds him of the puppies. He is so dramatic but seems to be coming around.  

Did anyone else accept the challenge from Jenn at Running with the Girls? Do you ever take small breaks from running to get you back on track?

"Damien and Dexter"

My son has been such a mess since our Brownie and Spot left us on Monday that I had to text their new owners and ask how they did on their first night without us.

I was told that they did great and have new names. They are now known as "Damien and Dexter." The Siberian Husky in the picture is named "Diablo" so I guess they wanted all three of their dogs to have names that start with the letter D. My son is not happy about the name changes but I think the picture they sent us gave him some comfort.

I got a little teary eyed looking at the picture because I miss them a lot.  I think I made the right choice and I still have a link to them through my vet so I can check to see how they are doing. 

Are you a super animal lover like me? 

I am probably a little over the top and tend to treat my pets like they are people. My co-workers think that I am crazy for taking in all of the strays and raising these puppies.

Ouch and a Crappy Week!

Last week started out really well and then it came to a screeching halt thanks to that darn Peak 10 class that I took last Saturday!  I woke up so sore on Sunday morning and just knew that I was not going to be able to get my long run in! I was so bummed!  I ended up with the lowest weekly mileage that I have had in a while...22 miles! I have taken the last two days off and I am hoping to get back into things today or tomorrow at the very latest.

The soreness continued to kick in on Sunday and I mean everything hurts...arms, quads, calves, back, shoulders, rear end...you get the idea!  I guess I am out of shape and should probably not engage in this kind of stuff the day before a planned long run.  I knew it was going to happen but I took my chances.  Lesson learned and I won't be doing it again because my days have been consumed with these guys....

The Disneyland Half Marathon is two weeks away and I don't feel like I am ready for it but I am going to get out there and do what I can! I have yet to set a goal but I do know that I am going to be pretty upset if I can't beat my last time of 1:57:58.  I ran my last half marathon coming off of an injury and ran it pretty safe without taking any chances so I think I should be able to do a little bit better. I am hoping for cooler weather on race day and according to the weather forecast it's finally starting to cool down.  

I can't remember the last time I went for a run in the 60 degree temperatures. I am looking forward to getting some runs in this weekend while the cool weather lasts!

How is the weather where you live?  

What is your ideal running temperature? I prefer the temperature to be 50-55 degrees.

Two Tough Days!

The last two days have been emotionally challenging for me. Yesterday marked one year that I had to say goodbye to Baby, my little Pomeranian.  I knew it was going to be a tough day because all of the thoughts of that horrible day would become fresh in my mind. The only negative thing about having pets is having to say goodbye.

Today was also a sad day for me because it was my Dad's birthday and he spent the majority of his day getting his chemo treatment. This is probably not the ideal way to spend a birthday but he had no choice and it just sucks that he has to go through this. I feel so bad for him and wish there was something that I could do to take it all away.

It was also a very sad, yet happy, night because two of our puppies found a home..a good home. One of the technicians at our vet's office called and said that she was interested in adopting Brownie and came to see him after I got home from work. She brought her brother along and they fell in love with the two males and decided to take both Brownie and Spot. I was not prepared to let two of them go but I know that they are going to a good home so I was comfortable with these people. Sugar was not excited either and tried to bite the man when he attempted to pet her.  They were considering taking one of the pups and Sugar but I think she blew her chances when she decided that she needed to bite him for taking her babies away.

As much as I know that I cannot keep the puppies, I was heartbroken. My whole routine has been centered around these puppies for the last three months and I am going to miss Brownie and Spot.  The males were the wild ones of the litter but oh so lovable and sweet. I hope their new owners love them and care for them like we did. We reminded the new owners that Brownie and Spot can be returned at any time because we would never want to see these little guys at the shelter if things did not work out.

My son was devastated and it was a rough night for him to say the very least. He ran upstairs and cried for 30 minutes straight and it was not pretty. Sugar also cried and waited by the front door shaking and continuing to cry for a long time. The two female puppies were also very sad and they just went to their bed and looked at us as if to say "Are you getting rid of us next?"

We are going to miss Brownie and Spot dearly. I don't think we will be able do this again. It is so hard to let them go and my son is a mess! A huge, horrible mess! The puppies left four hours ago and he has been crying off and on asking me why I got rid of them. He is not happy with me at all! I guess he does not fully understand why we cannot keep 7 dogs... 

Do you ever have days like this when everything seems to be happening at once and you feel kind of overwhelmed?  

Peak 10 and a Visit with My Dad

This morning I tried out a new class called Peak 10 at my friends private fitness club. The class involved circuit training which really challenges your cardio and core strength. I hesitated but figured it was worth a try since the class normally costs $45 for members and I am not even a member.  I would really love to join her gym but the monthly fee is $110, plus there is a one time  initiation fee of $410.00, which is not in my budget at the moment. I pay $9.00 a month for my gym membership and it serves my purpose.

Peak 10 was fun since you were able to do it with a partner. The class included sit ups push ups, planks, exercises with sandbags, squats and resistance training. We rotated to the different stations around the room based on time. I was beat by the time the class was over but really enjoyed it. We also ran 2 miles before the class and two miles after so I was pretty tired when I got home.  

The real highlight of my day was seeing my Dad. He called me up mid-week and told me that he wanted to come and see me. He knows how much I love the little hole in the wall Thai restaurant near my house so he wanted to meet up and have dinner there.

My step-mom's cousin was visiting them from North Carolina so they brought him along.  I actually visited North Carolina when I was probably 7 or 8 years old and I think I actually met him back then but didn't really remember him. My youngest sister and her family also came to visit.

We had a great dinner and I ate more than I should have but I can never resist this place.  It is one of those places that you don't go for the service but for the great tasting food at a reasonable price. I am sure that my Dad's sense of taste is horrible from the chemo but he still ate pretty good. It is important for him to keep his weight up because the chemo really takes a toll on his body and he can lose weight very quickly.

We had a great visit and they met all of my puppies for the first time.  I wish my step mom could have taken one of the puppies because she spoils her dogs rotten. Her dogs do not eat regular dog food from the pet store because she makes their dog food for them and they love it. She really wanted to take "Chiquita", the smallest white pup, but my Dad said no. I think I will send her this picture to pull at her heartstrings!

My Dad will be celebrating his 61st birthday on Monday so it was great to see him since his birthday is so close.  I am glad that he made it another year and that he has not let cancer win this battle. He was not very healthy on his 60th last year so this year was a better one for all of us.  

Happy Birthday Daddy. I love you!

Three Things Thursday

1. I finally bought a helmet and the puppies checked it out for me and made sure that everything was okay. Now I just have to put in on, get on my bike and go for a ride!

2. We are registered for the Color Me Rad 5K and will be doing it as a family. It will be the first 5K for all of them. I am excited and I am sure we will having fun more than anything so I am really looking forward to it.

 3. I will be running a 10K on September 22nd since I signed up for one yesterday. I got a Schwaggle from Active.com and the deal was for 50% off so I jumped on it. I am glad that I waited to register since it would cost me $50.00 + fees instead of $25.00 and then I would have been kicking myself for not getting the deal. I am due for a 10K since I have only ran one to date.

Is your race schedule getting pretty full? 

I know mine is and I am not done yet.  I still want to sign up for a Turkey Trot and possibly another run in December for the holiday.

Wordless Wednesday

I Think I'll Keep My Full-Time Job!

I have a new found respect for woman who stay home to take care of their children and their households!  It is no easy job and many people think that women who do not work outside of the home have it easy. I know for a fact that this is not the case. I have always worked full time so I  have no first hand experience on how tough the job really is but I have seen other women in action.

 

Source 

While I was in South Carolina visiting my sister, I was able to witness what a tough job "stay at home moms" really have. My sister does everything for her household because her husband works to provide a majority of the financial support for the family and she believes that taking care of the house is her job. She also works part-time on the weekends so she never really gets a day off.

My sister gets up when the baby gets up, takes care of him, feeds both of her kids breakfast, takes care of the dog, plans out the meals for the day, washes the clothes, does the shopping, cleans the house, irons and starches all of her husband's Navy uniforms, pays the bills, takes care of the yard, bathes the kids, cleans up the messes that the baby makes, bathes the dog, and on and on and on. I was exhausted just watching her do all of these things. She rarely sits down to take a break and goes to bed kind of late. She never got stressed out or complained about doing any of these things. I helped her out with what I could while I was there because I felt bad watching her perform her juggling act. I told her that I really respected her and that I think I have it much easier working a full time job!  

Hats off to all of the moms who stay home and work their butts off!! I really respect all of the woman who have this "full time" job. I don't think I will ever let anyone get away with saying that stay at home moms are lucky or have it easy because they work just as hard as moms who work outside of their homes.

Are you or have you ever been a stay at home mom?  
I have always worked full time but have still remained active in my children's school events as much as possible.
Was your mom a stay at home mom?  
My mom either worked part time or did not work. She raised four girls and in my experience so far, girls are a bit harder to raise than boys.
What do you think is the toughest part of being a stay at home mom?  
I think the toughest part of this job is establishing a schedule that works for you and finding the time to fit it all in and still have time for yourself.  Raising small kids can be time consuming and if you do not have a good support system you could end up getting burned out if you don't take a break for some "me time."  I think we all need that time!

Getting Lost and a Weekly Recap

I have to be careful running in new places.  While I was visiting my sister in South Carolina I managed to get lost on my supposed to be 6 mile run! I had mapped out a route to try but some of the street were not marked so I am not sure where I was going so I just kept moving.

I was waiting for the sun to set before I left so I didn't leave her house until 7:30pm. It started to get dark about 30 minutes after I left and then it was really hard to see out there.  Not only are some of the streets not marked but the lighting is also very poor. The area looked familiar but I took another wrong turn and I was lost! I had to call my sister and explain where I was and she loaded up the kids and came to rescue me.  After I went to bed that night she posted this on Facebook. I (red star) was actually really close to her house (the orange triangle) but it was so dark that I didn't realize it. The good thing is that I ended up running 7 miles instead of 6!

My next run took place during the day because it was not fun getting lost in a strange dark place! My sister and my niece came along on my 5 mile run with me and rode their bikes but then my niece ended up with a flat tire and her chain also fell of of her bike.  FAIL!  They had to call for help and headed back home. I kept on going by myself and it was around 90 degrees so that was probably a good idea that they went home. I really struggled on this run because of the heat but I made it through and I was glad that I was able to get some miles in while I was away.

I also went for a 12 mile run with my Ragnar team at 5am on Sunday morning.  I was still on South Carolina time so I was able to get up without a problem. It was definitely an easy paced run but it was nice to get together and get to know these people since I only know a few of them. We realized that we are all connected in different ways and that we know some of the same people.  I guess it is a small world.

I had 40 miles planned for the week but it ended in only 30. I wanted to run further than 12 miles on Sunday but there was a last minute plan go to Starbucks after the group run and that sounded much better at the time since it was 75 degrees when we started and into the mid 80's when we finished. This week should be better since there will be no traveling and my routine is starting to get back to normal.

 Have you ever gotten lost on a run?  

This was the first time for me. I always dream that I get lost while running races though!

The Liebster Award

Thank you Jesica, from Run On Organic for tagging me! The Liebster Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

Rules for receiving this award:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.

2. Then answer the questions the tagger sent for them, plus create 11 questions for the people they’ve tagged to answer.

3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

4. Notify the people you have tagged.

5. No tag backs.

 11 Things About Me:

1. Although I am half Japanese, I do not like sushi and it drives everyone nuts.  They  cannot believe it!

2. I had a fear of driving and did not get my driver's license until I was 20.

3. My older sister and I are only 11 months and 3 weeks apart.

4. I am addicted to watching the ID (Investigation Discovery) Channel.

5. I am the first person in my family to earn a college degree.

6. I love cupcakes and they are my biggest weakness!

7. I have three dogs, of which two are strays.  I love dogs and will take any stray in that I find.  It's pretty bad.

8. I will be running a marathon in February, 2013 to honor my Dad who is battling cancer.

9. I am not really into cooking and prefer simple meals that don't take a whole lot of time.

10. I hate buffets. I can't stand the smell of so many different foods all at the same time.

11. One of the first things I notice about people is their teeth.

Jesica's Questions for Me:

1. What gets you up in the morning? Honestly, my alarm clock gets me up in the morning but if I have a long run planned, I am up and ready to go.

2. Who is your favorite professional athlete? Desiree Davila

3. What is your favorite US state? California

4. Beach or mountains? Beach

5. Day or night? Night

6. Favorite item in your refrigerator/pantry? My favorite item in my fridge would have to be my fruit and also my milk. I love milk!

7. What would your last meal be? My last meal would be cupcakes!

8. When do you feel the most alive (doing what)? I feel most alive when I am running or after a long run.

9. Lover or a fighter? I am a lover but if you cross me the fighter in me just might come out.

10. Favorite musician/band? I love the Eagles.

11. Outfit of choice? I prefer comfy clothes. Loose fitting clothes that are comfortable.

My Questions for You:

1. What is your favorite brand of workout clothes?

2. What is the longest distance you have ever ran?

3. What is your favorite cheat meal?

4. Cupcakes or Cake?

5. Where is your favorite place to run?

6. What event is on the top of your "Fitness Bucket List?"

7. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in your life to date?

8.  Do you have pets? If yes, what do you have?

9. How many toenails are you missing right now?

10.  What are you currently training for?

11. Who has inspired you the most in your life?

The 11 People I am Tagging–You’ve just been tagged and must answer the 11 questions directly above! Some of you may already have more than 200 followers but join in on the fun anyway!

1. Chick Named Chuck

2. Believe in Running

3. Run Megan Run

4. Running.Fitness.Health

5. Running with Heather

6. 26.2 Before I Turn 40

7. Run for Life

8. Miles Miles and More Miles

9. The Running Paintbrush

10. Happy Healthy Runner

11. Curious Runner Girl

Have Fun Ladies!

Earthquakes or Humidity?

So my sister posted this on Facebook the night before I left to South Carolina...

The funny thing is that it hasn't rained at all since I have been here. The weather here is actually better than what it is in California. There have also been a couple of small earthquakes in California so I think I will settle for the humidity. It is 90 degrees here in South Carolina and 102 degrees back home. 

An even funnier thing is that I have not ran at all in South Carolina! I am so messed up from the time change that by the time I wake up it is already in the mid 80's. I also forgot my hydration belt for some strange reason. I could have sworn it was in my carry on bag. So much for over packing! I have decided that it might be easier for me to run at night right before the sun does down. I am going to try to get a run in tonight.

The visit has been great so far. My niece and nephew are so well behaved and this baby never cries! I don't think he knows how to cry. My sister's Yorkie, Jazzy, is my friend again so I am relieved. She likes very few people and will not hesitate to bite!

The scenery here is beautiful and I just love it. The only negative thing I can say is that I have been eating way too much! My poor son misses me to death and is sending me text messages every five minutes. 

I will be heading home early Saturday morning so I am going to get back to my visit since I don't have much time left!

Have you ever experienced an earthquake? How hot is the weather where you live?

Vacation Time and A Record Month

I spent a good part of Sunday evening packing my bags for my trip to South Carolina.  I am taking a pretty big suitcase because I am taking back a bunch of gifts for my sister and her family that everyone here wanted to send them. I carry my most beloved belongings in my carrying bag since these are the things that I cannot live without or would be expensive to replace like my running shoes, hydration belt, my Garmin, my contact lenses (I have the worst vision ever) and my magazines that I have been putting aside to read while I am on the plane. I am sure that my niece will keep me entertained but if she falls asleep or watches a movie on her DVD player, I will try to catch up on my reading!

The weather is going to be hot with a very big chance of rain but I am planning to get a couple of runs in if I can. I mapped out a small loop around my sister's house so I can easy get back if it starts pouring. 

I am excited but traveling can sometimes be hectic because I will come back to a desk full of work and a list of things to do at home. I do not enjoy unpacking either. I have been good about unpacking the day that I get home from a trip but there have been times when the suitcase sits in my bedroom for days! Before I go, I have to leave my other half a "Honey Do List" since there are certain things that I handle at home that he will have to assume while I am away. Most of the tasks are pretty simple but they must be done...like give the dogs clean water and don't forget to check the mail!

With the exception of being lazy and not getting my long run done on Friday instead of Sunday, I had a good week, a record week! I woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the women's marathon and that was not a good idea when you have 18 miles to run. I only slept 5 hours and I could feel it every single mile but I fought through it. I am glad I did!

• Miles Planned: 40
• Miles Completed: 40.12 (This is actually my biggest week to date so I am pretty excited about it!)

My calves have been feeling sore after runs of 15 miles or longer so I am spending more time stretching, using my stick and icing right after my runs. They are feeling pretty normal today so that is a big relief.


Thankfully I live about five minutes from the airport and my flight leaves at 2:20pm tomorrow so I am hoping to get a decent run in before I get out of town! I am already starting to feel sad to leave my family behind but sometimes a small break can be a good thing. It makes you appreciate people more :)

What do you bring in your carry on bag when you travel? Do you tend to over pack like I do?

A Visit to the Doctor!

My puppies went for their first outing/car ride today. We took them to the vet to have exams and vaccinations. None of the puppies liked the car ride and they all wanted to get out. My son opened the side of the crate a little and gave them all some love so that they would relax. Sugar came along to have an exam as well as get her vaccinations since she was not allowed to have them while she was pregnant and nursing. Speaking of nursing, we have completely weaned the puppies off of their mommy.  That was tough since they would attack her the minute they saw her.  

We loaded all four of them up in this little red crate and went to visit our amazing vet. Dr. K's mother has been really sick so our journey to find homes for these puppies has not been very successful to date.  I have to admit, that I love them so much that I haven't been making much of an effort to find them homes. I had a few prospects but I was not 100% comfortable with the people so I didn't really pursue them. These puppies get lots of love and attention and I am not looking for owners that plan to throw them out in the backyard and forget that they exist. I am a super pet lover so if you don't give me that warm and fuzzy feeling, then it's probably not going to happen! 

Dr.K had never seen the puppies in person before and she quickly fell in love! All of the staff in the office loved them and Brownie seemed to be the favorite. One of the technicians is seriously considering adopting him. The other male pup, white one with the brown spot over his eye, was the second favorite so maybe he will also get adopted by someone in the office.  Even the people in the waiting room fell in love with the puppies. Sugar was busy growling at all of the other dogs that were 10 times bigger than her!

Only one of the puppies, the smallest one, cried when she got her shots. I felt really bad for her because she was the last one to get her shots and none of the others cried. When we returned home, they ate and fell asleep.  I think the vaccinations made them sleepy which is normal. We have to do this all over again in three weeks and Sugar will be having surgery on September 4th to be spayed, get her teeth cleaned and remove a fatty tumor she has on her tummy. I need to take care of Sugar before she goes into heat again! I am hoping to have all of the puppies placed in good homes by early September so I can take a small vacation for my birthday. If not, it's okay I want to feel 110% comfortable with the homes they are placed in and they all come with a lifetime return policy :)

Can I Ask You A Question?

Due to the hot weather in California, I have been spending more time than I would like to running on the treadmill at the gym.  I spend of a lot of my time people watching when I am on the mill and have been seeing some interesting things lately. Before I ask you the question, let me just tell you that when I go for a run or run a race, you won't see me looking very "pretty." For the most part, I do not wear make-up and I don't blow dry or curl my hair very often unless I am going out for a special occasion or I have the time. I have really long hair and it takes forever a day to do it and there is just no way in the world I can run with it down!  My time is very limited since I work full time so most of the time my hair is up and I don't have time to put on make-up! 

Source

So here is my question. .....Do you wear make-up and do your hair when you are working out or racing? I am just curious. I know that a lot of people like to dress up for races and have fun and I am not referring to that.

I don't have a problem with it but I couldn't even imagine having mascara running down my face during a hard run because I sweat like crazy. I know that some women, like my younger sister, have a thing with always wanting to look good. My younger sister fixes herself to go to bed and swears that she will never let her boyfriend see her looking "ugly."  I tell her that she is crazy!

The women that I see at the gym are constantly wiping the sweat off of their faces and they seem to be more worried about how they look versus getting down to business. Some of these women look pretty damn good so I am not sure how they do it! There are two women, whom I think are sisters, who are always at the gym when I am there. Their hair and make-up is always perfect and they love to look at themselves in the mirror, dance in front of the mirror and flirt with every man that will give them the time of day! I guess I should thank them for the entertainment because sometimes they make my runs go by must faster!

Do you people watch while you are working out at the gym? Do you ever notice anything interesting about people at the gym like I do? What's your opinion on looking "pretty" while you work out?

Three Things Thursday

1. I have to stop eating all of these yummy cupcakes! My local cupcakery is always trying out new flavors and they get me every single time. This Mint and Chip cupcake was heavenly! How can I pass up a cupcake that is the same flavor as my favorite ice cream? I can't....

2. I have another long run planned for the week.  I want to do 20 miles but I just might settle for 18 because my calves have been feeling pretty sore lately. I think I will map out a run that is not too hilly and maybe that will work out better for me. If my calves are still sore, I will be doing much less than 18 or 20 for sure!

3. I will be leaving for South Carolina in less than a week. I am getting really excited to see my sister and her family but at the same time I am going to miss my family and my pets! My niece is really excited to be going back home because she misses her mother. I sure I will have a great time and I hope to be able to get some runs in but this weather may change things.

Do you enjoy running in the rain? 

I don't mind light rain since it can be refreshing but thunder and lightning kind of scare me!

A Record Month!

July was a good month for me. In fact, it was a great month! I can't believe that I actually ran 140 miles! The most miles that I have ever ran in a month was 128 back in December, 2011 right around the time of my injury. I know that most of you put in way more miles than this but it is a huge accomplishment for me since I am trying to get back into things since my hamstring issue! I am way behind on meeting my Running Goal of 1200 miles for 2012 but that's okay...I will make a comeback in 2013!

What is the most miles you have logged in a single month? What about for the year?