First off — I need to re-calibrate Nike+ SUPER hardcore bad.  It was almost a mile off when I finished (so I run faster than the device tells me that I run).

Here’s my results via nike+

and here are my official results

I finished 23rd in my age group, 73rd in my gender and 321st overall. There were 353 women and 863 participants overall. I’m not sure how many people were in my age division, but if I would have hit 1:45 (the time I was shooting for) I would have been in the top 10.

To compare, here are my results from 2 years ago, the first time I ran the race.

I finished 208th in my gender and 32nd in my age group.

However, if you notice, I SHAVED 20 MINUTES OFF MY TIME. So really, that’s the big news. I kicked ass.

Apparently that means that she likes me. It also means I’m supposed to award it to five other bloggers who I think are awesome.  And it means that I have to tell you five things.  I guess.

Today’s a cross-training day, so I’m going to hook up with my favorite trainer, Jillian Michaels, for some hard core cardio in my living room.

Anyway, my runs have been pretty decently paced so far. I ran outside for my first 6-mile run (in the snow) for week one and managed to keep it at 8′25ish per mile.  Last week’s 7 mi run was on a treadmill and averaged 8′17/mi.  So pretty decent.  If I can keep my pace no more than 8′30/mi on longer runs, I think I’ll have a pretty decent time for the race considering I’ll likely step it up a notch.

Here’s my training plan for this week:

Welll … I ended up running for an hour.  Which was somewhere between 7 and 8 miles (I need to recalibrate my nike+ hardcore).

Anyway, here’s my run:

Notice my playlist is titled \m/ \m/ … that’s for metal.

I spent a good 20 minutes stretching out and LO! I can touch my left toe!!! I haven’t done that in years. Especially since I’ve been injured.

I’m currently enjoying my new favorite post-run treat. A faux-chocolate malt.  I haven’t quite gotten an official recipe down, but this is kinda what I’ve got going …

1-2 frozen bananas (peel/slice before you freeze)
1-2 bananas
5-7 ice cubes
1/4 c milk (you might have to add more towards the end
chocolate milk mix to taste

Toss it in a blender … ice and frozen naners first, add regular bananas and milk. Blend until desired consistency … add chocolate milk mix. Tastes like a chocolate malt!

Today I created my training program on nikeplus.com.  For starters, I decided to do the beginner level, which pained me greatly.  I’m not a frickin’ beginner runner by any means; however, it’s been so long since I ran distances over 5 miles that I figured it would be best to just bite the bullet and do the beginner program. I mean, I am somewhat still injured (and will probably ALWAYS have problems with my left leg), so I shouldn’t push my luck.

Anyway, starting February 1, I will be training for the Drake Relays on the Roads Half Marathon.  But first, I need to purchase some new running shoes!

Let’s see here … highlights and lowlights and headlights? How about a bit of everything. Scatterbrained style. Cuz that’s how I roll.

In January I chopped all my hair off.  I continued to do so and experiment with hairstyles all year. I went from long and blonde to short and dark in less than a year after having the same hair for almost 15 years.

So in March I finally gave in and decided to quit running on the injury I incurred while training for and running the 2008 Des Moines Marathon.  I was planning to run a half marathon in April, but those plans ultimately were put on hold. I spent 6 months in physical therapy but it was worth it. I’m back and running faster than ever. I went from an average of a 10-minute mile to an 8-8:30-minute mile.

Umm … Oh, yeah, so since I had a bunch of time on my hands that I used to spend running I started crafting. a LOT.  I actually ended up doing a bunch of craft shows and making somewhat of a killing off my newfound crafty business.  I discovered quilting.  I also discovered I’m a fabricaholic.

In June I went to Chicago with my girlies and saw the city as an adult (I haven’t been since I was like 18 and young and dumb — but hey, it was fun, right Kim?).  Anyway, we celebrated my friend’s (now defunct) engagement, ate some chicago style pizza, visited cake girls, went to both Wrigley and Soldier field … and had a grand old time.

Oh yeah, in April I had a brief stint of being a Mary Kay consultant. Not a great idea.  But I got a lot of cheap makeup out of it, so hey.  Most of all, I was able to use my short-lived business to raise money for my friend Lindsay’s mom who had just been diagnosed with cancer.  So not all was lost.

Summer was kind of a blur. It was hot and fast, like most summers.  I spent a lot of time crafting and hanging out by myself while I watched the deterioration of my nearly-4-year relationship.  Finally at the end of the summer I decided it was time to call it quits with Kasey. Rather, I suggested it, he agreed, then I began to freak out.  I spent the next few months wondering aimlessly trying to remember who I was before he came along. I eventually found myself.  With a LOT of help from friends and family.  I couldn’t have done it without you and I love you all for it.

Along with finding myself, I found a couple of new loves.  First, on my birthday (25th in case you were wondering) my mom bought me my fabulous doggie, Barney.  We adopted him from the humane society. He’s a miniature long-haired doxie.  Adorable and sweet. We fell in love with him instantly.  I can’t have dogs where I live now, but I’m moving in June and my parents are fostering him right now, so all is well with the world.

And, of course, I couldn’t complete this blog without mentioning the most exciting and best development of 2009 (of course, that is, besides me realizing that I’m awesome and worthy of this awesome new development): Mark.  Mark is my new squeeze, but he’s been one of my best friends for the past 3 or so years.  He’s been there for me through all the rough times, all the fun times and pretty much whenever we needed each other the other one was always there to lean on.  I had no idea that I had fallen for him, but I kept trying to pawn him off on all my single girl friends. I could never understand why they didn’t want to date him.  Who wouldn’t? Oh wait.  I know.  He’s perfect for ME.  And now, I have him.  And I am NOT letting him go. 

Anyway, that’s really it. I’m not really that exciting, but I felt obligated to post this, so here you go.

Something was up.  I don’t know what, but whatever it was finally caught up to me.

So 10 pounds that I shed during that time have crept back up on me in a very unflattering manner.  The weight I lost was mostly muscle.  Let’s just say it didn’t come back in that form.

Here’s where most of my readers (all 5 of you?) groan.  Well, you  know what? I like to look a certain way, and dammit, I know if I work at it, I can get there. I’ve been there. I worked HARD to get there.  I’ve been lazy.  I need to quit being lazy.  Despite what you may think, you don’t get this body for free.  I was damn lucky to have maintained it the past few months, but my luck is beginning to run out.

It begins today.

I’m getting my ass out of bed and working out in the morning. I’m starting with Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred.  It’s painfully hard.  Even for somebody who’s in as good of shape as me (haha, which isn’t as good as you would think actually).

I’m going to bring the DVD, my weights and mat home with me when I go for Thanksgiving.  I’ve got an elliptical at home and some of my old favorite running routes live on the gravels back there.  Turkey, do your worst.  I’m ready.

Today was day one.  I was GOING to get up and run.  But it decided to thunderstorm.  I remembered that Jillian was waiting for me in my living room.  So, I hung with her for 20 minutes.  To me, that’s not a good enough workout. So, I’m probably going to hit the gym over lunch today. And by probably, I mean I AM going to hit the gym.

Also, I’m burning P90X from my work computer and taking it home with me.  I need an ass-kicking workout. I want to be ripped again.

Here’s my inspiration …

Lolo and Jillian.  Yes, I found a picture where Jillian looks BEAUTIFUL and less like a man (I think she’s gorgeous anyway, but I’ve heard other people say otherwise).

Anyway.  I’m uncomfortable where I’m at right now and that needs to change. I’m afraid I’m going to continue packing it on like I did last year, and I don’t want to get to that point again. I saw the magic number on the scale last month. I want to see it again.  And I want it to stay there.  But I want to do it the right way, not the wrong way.

I also realize that means I’m going to have to cut out a LOT of the crap I’ve been eating lately (sorry, no more beer and Fong’s Pizza for me).  Sushi can stay (thank god).  Fortunately, I’ve fallen in love with some healthy food (arugula, tomatoes, cottage cheese, beets, etc) over the years, so I should be able to get back into the swing of things.  I just have to watch myself.  And THINK before I eat.  THINKING is the biggest part of holiday weight gain for most people, or I should say lack thereof. I’m vowing to think before I eat this year.  For real this time. Food is fuel.  I need to think like an athlete again.  Hopefully I can get strong enough to do my half marathon in April this year.  But I have to start somewhere, and it begins now.

I didn’t break the finish line glory or anything, but I got 1st place in my age group (19-24) and 6th place overall in the Capital Striders Capital Pursuit 5K.

yes. 5K.

Don’t look at me like that.  I don’t normally do short distance, but instead of sitting at home and sleeping I thought I’d rather be out running. Or at least on Friday I decided that on Sunday I’d rather be running than sleeping.  When I got to Sunday I realized I was mistaken.

BUT I did it.  And I did it well.

I forced myself out of bed and decided I was going to run it to accomplish something and not try to go too hardcore into it. So I made myself a killer playlist of 25 minutes’ worth of power songs, suited up and went out.

I had no idea how to start this thing and I was afraid of starting too fast (which I did) but I allowed myself to slow down in the middle a bit so I could go balls-to-the-wall in the end.

Did I mention there was what looked like a 9-year-old kid in front of me?  As in, I’m getting beat by a 9-year-old and I have a side cramp and OHMYGOD I want to go back to bed.

But, I powered through.  I ran a flipping marathon.  There’s no way I was going to let this kid beat me.

He did.

Not by much.

Anyway, I did set out to at least run this thing in under 26 minutes.  I was near the end and hadn’t checked the time on my iPod (it psyches me out, so I don’t if I’m racing). I saw the clock and it looked like it said “24-somethingorother”.

Crap. I’m not going to make it. Screw you 9-year-old. I’ll catch you later. I’m slowing down.

BUT WAIT. That’s not a 4. That’s a 1! How the —

*sprint*

Somehow I didn’t quite beat the kid, but I made it to the finish in 22:08 (official time was 22:21 I believe, iPod thinks it took me 24 minutes).

22 minutes.  TWENTY TWO??!  Wow.

Not lightening speed or anything, but that is pretty fast. For me especially.

So I grab a banana (since I like those now), a bagel bite and some Gatorade, and get in line to be stretched out by the local med students.

WHY did I never take advantage of the stretchage before? Wow. Does wonders.

Anyway, I noticed they were posting the results so I took a peek. I usually fall somewhere in the middle so I started looking on page 4 or so. Nope. That was the 30-minute range. Okay … page 2? Page ONE? Wow.  Sixth?!

Granted, I did not run the “real” race. But still. This is a HUGE accomplishment.

AND I got first in my age division. Not going to happen again considering in less than 2 weeks I’m going to be 25, which puts me in the 25-35 age range (ie. where a lot of the elites fall).

In case you’re curious, I’ve included the graph of the race (note that it drops off after I finish b/c I had to jog around the block to get my iPod to think I was done).

I finally took the plunge and tried to eat a banana a couple weeks ago for the first time in at least 10 years. When I was younger I couldn’t eat bananas because they made my stomach hurt — which is ironic because it’s one of the things doctors always tell you to eat when you can’t digest much else.

Anyway, after a dormant period without bananas, I’m totally crazy about all things banana! (well, not as much as my friend Niki I suppose).

My absolute favorite thing and new obsession is making frozen banana custard.  I found this “recipe” on Iowa Girl Eats’s blog.  This was actually what prompted me to try bananas again.  I have a huge ice cream obsession and a few weeks back had an issue with stress eating (ie. pints of ice cream) lead to an unhealthily quick weight gain. So, I thought, if I could replace the ice cream with something healthy (ie. frozen banana) then I would be set.

AND yay. It worked. Those 7 pounds gone in a flash (gained ‘em one week, lost ‘em the next). They say that bananas are bloat-fighters, and I must agree. Because I’m going to throw it out there and say that 5 of those 7 pounds I gained in a week HAD to be water weight. (right? right.)

Anyway, here is my cleverly disguised banana for the day:

I will say that the trick is to cut the naners into smaller pieces before freezing. Also, I’ve been doing mine in the blender and using the “ice crush” function to get it going. I add a little bit of soy milk and some vanilla to the mix to get things going. I’ve also thrown in some chocolate ovaltine for a chocolate version of my faux ice cream.

Another thing that’s awesome about the banana obsession (aside from the health benefits) is the fact that they’re way cheap. I can make 3 pints of frozen banana custard using 4-5 medium bananas.  That is roughly $1.50 for 3 pints. Compare that to the price of one pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Just try.

Hopefully I don’t get sick of bananas because so far they’ve been doing wonders for me and my pocket book!

I recently participated in FatQuarterShop.com’s Jolly Jabber Block Lottery (see my entry here)… and I won!  I get 1/3 of the blocks sent in.

Here’s my bounty of blocks (you can only see the top one):

Not sure what I’m going to do with them but I’m sure I’ll come up with something crafty (probably not something approved by the makers of the blocks, but still).

ALSO — on the same day I won Iowa Girl Eats’s Pure Bar Giveaway.  That means I get to try 4 flavors of Pure bars for free. How cool is that?  I think it’s pretty cool.

Wow. Lucky day, eh?