Thoughts on my mind... Things in my life...

A few of the thoughts on my mind - a few of the things that are going on in my life...

1. I was doing really well with my training program until last week.  I didn't fall totally off the wagon but I wasn't very consistent either.  Still, as of January 31st I have officially completed 58 miles toward my 800 mile goal.  A bit shy of the 66 miles needed per month but not too shabby for January in Minnesota.
   
   
2. Speaking of running in January in Minnesota - I am LOVING my treadmill.  This is quite possibly the best outcome of my parents move to the country last year (they gifted their treadmill to me when they moved).  Thank you mom & dad!
   
   
3. I am slightly addicted to Words With Friends.  My user name is Little Black Angel if you want to start a game with me : )
   
   
4. We paid off a credit card this month!  We are working our way toward debt free.  We're committed but not obsessed so this will be a fairly long journey but we took a giant step toward our goal this month.  Woot!  Woot!
   
   
5. I started a Bible study at our new church this month.  It's a little bit scary because I really don't know anyone but the study material is really interesting and the small group I was assigned to is great.
   
   
6. I have the cutest dog in the world - I really do.  Cutest.Dog.Ever.
   
   
7. I also have the most precious nieces and nephews in the world.  I did not see nearly enough of them in January.
   
   
8. I LOVE tinyprints.  I got my Christmas cards through them in December and this month I and took advantage of a FREE Valentine offer and got 50% off a cute set of personalized note cards - can't wait for them to arrive!
   
   
9. I demonstrated extreme restrain during a recent shopping trip and managed to leave the store without purchasing any of the fabulous pieces I found - including the ones I tried on and carried around the store for half an hour. 
   
   I am content with what I have.  I have more than enough.   (wash, rinse, repeat)
   
   
10. In the spirit of full disclosure - I did not exercise restraint upon discovering the ATHLETA store on 50th & France.  I {heart} active wear!  

My own personal crazy

You didn't really think I would let the begining of the year come and go without making some plans to "tear it up" on the local running scene - did you?  After all, this blog started as a record of my journey to complete my first Half Marathon (nope - Stillwater wasn't my first).  And really - while at certain moments during certain workouts I will deny it - I really enjoy running.

10 miles is my sweet spot.  I feel good after I run 10 miles.  I feel like I could run another 10 miles (to be clear - I don't run another 10 miles I just feel like I could).  For some reason, 13.1 miles makes me cringe a little.  I feel good when I finish 13.1 miles but miles 7-10 are torture.  Like - I stop running and consider not starting again - torture.  When I finish 13.1 miles I feel like I may never run again.  Those of you reading this who don't run may think "it's only 3.1 miles more" (may I suggest you go run 3.1 miles right now - then come back and re-read this post) but those of you who do run know exactly where I'm coming from.  So what's a girl to do?

Well, she starts by signing up for a 10 mile race in March - because she likes herself and wants to do something that will make her feel good.  She follows up the 10 mile race in March with the dreaded 13.1 mile race in June - because a good challenge is hard to resist and after finishing a 10 mile race she'll feel like she can do it.  She wont plan too far in advance - because you just don't know what will happen after those first two races - but she'll think about running a few more 10 mile races throughout the summer and into the fall.  Along the way she'll run a few shorter races - for training and for fun - and when all is said and done - she'll hope to run about 800 miles this year.  Eight.Hundered.Miles! 

That's a lot of miles (66.66 per month / 16.66 per week - in case you were wondering).  I might be a little crazy - I think we're all a little crazy in our own way.  Running is my own personal crazy - what's yours?