See ya later kid

There is a group retired gentlemen that sit outside my favorite Starbucks, about 10 of them. They smoke, drink coffee, and shoot the breeze. They always seem like a jolly group. Yesterday morning as I was approaching one guy yelled at me, "What happened to your hands?" I looked down, I had pulled the sleeves of my pullover down so far that you couldn't see my hands. With a grin I yelled back, "Frostbite while out running!"

My morning started early...very early...4:30am early...4:30 has an am? The night before I had been looking forward to sleeping in a bit, I didn't have to be at nannying till 11:30 and then my manager texted me that I had a new client at 6am. Since I transferred gyms people have been asking me, "Are you moving back into the city?" Basically I had been telling them that I had 9 months to decide when my lease goes up...I think yesterday morning it was decided for me.

After my session I decided to head to the park and get my run over with...I mean in. ;) It was beautiful out. Mid 40s with the sun just beginning to rise. On tap was 5 min walk, 8 min run, 5 min walk, with the loop its more like an extra 20 minutes. I felt great! My legs felt strong and cardio wise it was a push but nothing I couldn't zone out of. I was a little cold towards the end...mainly my rear end! I wonder if there is a butt warmer for runners...well I guess walkers since I was walking by that point. 

I had sometime before nannying so I stopped by Starbucks to warm up with oatmeal and a SF caramel soy latte. Which is when I had my previously mentioned conversation. Starbucks oatmeal maybe my new on-the-go snack. I love it because they put the oats and water in the container...

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Then you can add what you want. I love it so much because I can decide how many points I spend. Yesterday I just added some Splenda and with my latte it was a nice post run snack, saving the nuts and fruit  for another on-the-go snack. 

As I left Starbucks I yelled, "Look I warmed up!" as I waved goodbye. Which I got a, "See ya later kid!"

See ya later kids!

Belle

I'm not that dedicated!

How was yall's weekend?

Mine was peachy! Friday night was my birthday extravaganza! We had dinner at Freebirds and then some of us went down to Washington to get our groove on. ;) There are pictures on my camera but I can't find the cord...fail I know.

Saturday I had a client and the rest of the day lounging around watching movies and cooking. I watched Midnight in Paris

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Which was a HUUUUUGE disapointment. I love Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson but it quickly became background noise while surfed the web. 

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It was better than Midnight in Paris...but for a while I was totally lost. I had trouble following the science meets technology thing going on. But overall I liked it.

This all of this was going on I decided to cook some WW meals. It's been hard to find time to cook. I usually am getting home around 8:30 or 9:00 and who wants to cook that late. So I whined up eating a sandwich...and I get bored real quick of the same food over and over again.

On top is Sage Chicken and Potatoes, which turned out to be a stew. Bottom is Lemon Rice Salad. I went ahead and put them into serving size containers ready to grab for lunch or for plopping on the coach. I also made cornmeal pancakes, half of which I froze. 

Sunday night I mentally prepared myself to run early-ish Monday morning. I awoke the next morning to the world ending outside my window...

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It was nutzo how loud the storm was. I'll run in the rain but I won't be swept off to Oz...I'm not that dedicated to running! Needless to say running outside was out and I was in no mood to fight the storm to the gym. I rolled back over and sleep a bit longer before heading to work. The rain had calmed a bit but by that point the streets of Houston had flooded. Also not before a few houses got flooded and a tornado touched down. My little coupe and I charged our way to work despite the SUVs who were pansies and blocking the streets. 

I did finally get a run in last night on the dreadmill. Easy 1 min run, 1 min walk x 3 repeat. Tonight is some stairbeast/ellitical crosstraining. 

Big news in the works stay tune!

Till then,

Belle

Mesley Half Mile

Ahhh yes the New Year is here! Both the gym and my favorite park is packed with people. Let me set the scene for you at my favorite 3 mile loop yesterday. It's a cool sunny day in Houston, ideal for running. The park is alive with runners of every form.

The true runners who lap you 10 times it takes you to get around once. Who wear compression...everything from socks to shorts to headband, who wear water belts that are packed with GU...

ok that's an over exaggeration. 

Also making their way around the loop are the "Rezers", New Years Resolution people, those who pull out old shoes that haven't been worn in about 10 years. That's run is closer to a walk than a run, but hey they are out there moving! They find those old pair of running shorts that are more suited for the pool than a jog...

Eek!

Among both extremes was me. Someone who would love to just finish a race, would like to lose a few lbs, but is more prepared than some runners. However, whether you are at either extremes or middle of the road I think all runners have days like I had yesterday. 

The plan for the day was a "long" run. Which in the beginning stages means 5 min walk, 5 min run (about half mile), 5 min walk. Not too scary. Going into the run I knew it might not be as good a run as it could be. By the time I had pulled up to the park at 10am I was so exhausted that I already in want of a nap. 

Despite this off I went...and oh my! I've run some loooooong runs before. The longest I think was 6 miles. That mesley little half mile felt like FOR-EV-ER!

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My chest had that "I'm not ready for this," feeling; I can't think of any other way to describe it. The killer was my quads. They just wanted to give out on my the whole time, they lacked any sort of energy. I thought to myself "You want to run a half someday and are struggling with 5 minutes!?!" However, I reminded myself, "If you don't finish today you will give up altogether. Just keep going." I zoned in one the music that was playing and just putting one foot in front of the other. Finally I heard the magic words "Blue zone 5 minutes." I could have cried...ok that really is an exaggeration. 

In the end I was proud of my mesley half mile run. It's half a mile more than I could have run a few months ago. It's a half mile closer to my goal. It's a half mile closer to me being a real runner. It was a physical and mental wall that had to be broken through. 

It's been a long week, 40 hours in 4 days but after today I'm done for the week which means sleeeeep! So here is to hoping that I'll be nice and rested up for tomorrow's run. 

What is your mesley half mile run?

Till then,

Belle

Life as of late

Happy New Year!

I thought I would recap the last week or so via pictures!

So I went short...super short for me at least!

I haven't had my hair this short since high school when the guy kept creeping up shorter and shorter. After that traumatic experience, I've had my hair long ever since. I had had my hair in a pony tail for two months, it takes FOREVER to dry my hair and straighten it, so I decided that enough was enough. Now it takes HALF the time to do my hair!

Happy Merry Birthday to me!

One of my favorite clients...I mean um I don't have favorites!...brought this back from SA for me...just into for this...

Rockets home opener vs. SA SPURS!

A friend from college has season tickets and awesomely (is that a word?) let me tag along! The doors opened an hour prior so we got to sneak down close and watch the boys practice...

GIIIIIIIINOBLI!

La sigh! Manu is my fav! She is even more awesomely letting me come to the game on the 21st...which is a Saturday game and they let us in and hour and half early. So maybe next time I'll be able to get his autograph!

GO SPURS GO!

We got creamed! By the end of the 2nd quarter we were down by at least 15...and our big three were on the bench. I think it's going to be a rough year us. Our main defender has been in the league for 15 years and playing three games back to back is rough so I think Pop is going to be even more cautious. 

Mama Bea belting it out on her birthday aka New Years Eve!

So I party hopped from dinner with church friends to Mama Bea's bash, who is seven and half month pregnant, isn't she hot!?!, and back to ring in the New Year with my church friends.

HAPPY 2012!

Time for big boy boxer briefs!

Yesterday one of the Blurs and I ran some errands, one of which was his first pair of boxer briefs. His favorite were the Rock N Roll pair, which he declared "Are cooler than God!" After a deep theological discussion with a  4 year old we came to the conclusion that nothing is cooler than God! 

On that note,

Belle

Operation Finisher: Phase 2

Happy Thursday!

So here it is the 29th and Phase 2 finally got underway yesterday...a couple of weeks late but still just as excited! I did a little non-gym prep for this phase. 

I went to a local shoe store, Luke's Locker,  to get new running shoes. I wanted them to look at my strides and all that. First he looked at the way I walked. My diagnosis: underpornation with a late ball foot strike. After that was established he picked a couple shoes to correct my underpornation and give me the flexibility for a ball foot striker. Then he watched me run and asked how I they felt. Then he's have me try on another pair of shoes and watch me run again. After nixing a couple of pairs, I landed these!

They are Asics, which I have grown up being a New Balance girl but I wanted to try out something new. These were also lighter and more flexible than the NB option I had. I was hoping whichever shoe I needed would be sassy and fun...which I think the BRIGHT pink is. I've had them for a month or so and have been dying to try them while running! I highly suggest getting fitted for shoes. It's free at most running stores and is one aspect of keeping you injury free!

Ok phase 2 is pretty simple. On the strength side I'll be going back to a three day split, legs; shoulder, bis, and tris; and back, continuing to increase loads in such a way that I will be nice and lean...no bulking here! 

As far as the running I'm on a new plan to run a 5K by late February via Mi Coach. Taking it nice and slow for the knee. I haven't landed on a 5K to run yet...maybe something in March? 

I was looking forward to trying the new shoes out on my favorite route. However, I had to squeeze in my run between a client and nannying so the dreadmill it was for me!As you can tell from above, my runs won't be too long for awhile. My run yesterday was 5 min walk, 1 min run, 1 min walk repeat 3 times, and end with a 5 min walk. The knee felt fine during the run. Post run a bit ache and today fine!

My next run is tomorrow. The yellow indicates a faster speed...and looking at the length I'd say they are 30 second...so sprints...just two of them. It seems on the Pansy side but this is suppose to be a gradual and not overwhelming training process. Slow and steady wins the race but I can be impatient...

Till next time,

Belle

Christmas in the Pines

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

Ho was yalls Christmas? Mine was...odd...in a good way, just because it's what we usually do.

Friday after running around like a mad women; training a client, meeting up with my SL family, and running by my nanny families (what do I call them?) I made my way home. We loaded up the car, picked up my stepbrother, and headed for the hills...or rather Pine Forests of East Texas.

Harley Dog! Isn't he cute!?! The dog trimmer ignored our request for just a trim and gave him a summer cut, poor thing is freezing!

We spent our drizzle Christmas Eve baking, several trips were made to the local Brookshire Brothers. Between my step mom and me we made a pecan pie, sausage balls, puppy chow, and gauc. After going to the Christmas Eve service, which was the highest church service I had been to in a loooooong while, we had a church family over for a chili cheese hot dog dinner; cooked by an open fire. 

I don't think we had enough goodies

We finally headed to bed after watching a bit of some sappy Christmas movies...I made the parentals watch a bit of A Christmas Story. Which my father says he doesn't like but always seems to enjoy. 

Christmas morning I woke up to Joy to the World being blared through out the house, unlike my stepbro I don't have the ability to sleep through such a racket. We had to wake earlier than usual because church was at 9:30. So we had cinnamon rolls and unwrapped our gifts. Then headed to a very laid back service that included Christmas hymns, reading of the Christmas story, and a blessing of the toys. 

We got home around 11am grazed on some goodies, watched a bit of the Celtics Knicks game, and all crashed for our Christmas naps before we packed up and head for the hills...or freeways of Houston. For Christmas the last two years we have nixed the turkey and opted for steaks and potatoes! YUMMY!

I hope yall had a wonderful Christmas! Check back tomorrow for Operation Finisher: Phase 2!

Till then,

Belle

Job Jumping

Hi guys!

I'm still here! Things are a bit crazy when you have three jobs! My craziest day was last Wednesday!

5:00 am Alarm goes off
5:30 am Finally roll out of bed...I snooze alot ;)
6:30 am Out the door before the sun is even up!
7:30 am Train Client: this was actually the complementary fitness assessment you get with your membership at the gym I work at.  Basically it's an other chance for us to sell training. Which FYI I believe everyone needs! 
8:30 am Secretarial Job: remember that big case that came through our CPA office...it's never ending! I had to go in that day to help with somethings.
11:00 am Watch the Blurs

Remember this cutie? The littlest Blur!

Well it all sort of worked out that I could go back and work for them. Which I love! Not only are the boys are so cute but the family in general (even Gigi, the grandmother) and I just click. This Blur is no longer the littlest Blur..as you can tell he is wearing a Big Brother shirt! Mama Blur was due at the end of the month but the newest Blur came a couple of weeks ago! Three boys! 

6:30 pm Back to the gym to train a couple of clients

9:00 pm Back home...sleeeeep!

I know I must seem insane but I don't think this will be too long term. I am blessed to have the means to pay my bills, at jobs I all like! 

Till next time,

Belle