Celebrations and Looking Forward.

A couple of the girls from my classes had their last class tonight. They start their externships next week and then they are done with the program. We all went out to celebrate tonight. We went to a bar and had a few drinks and toasted their success. It really got me thinking about the fact that I tend to make friends very unexpectedly. I am going to miss them, and in two months it will be my turn and I am going to be saying goodbye to my classmates and moving on. Weird that until tonight I didn't really think that it would bother me as much as it is. As humans we tend to get into a pattern and get comfortable with things being as they are, and often we don't notice how comfortable we have made our surroundings until something changes. It will be strange in two months when I no longer have to be in class every evening. I am going to miss my instructors and my classmates. I am going to miss the homework even. (Yes I know that is really pathetic but that is what you get when you know me) In some ways I am so excited for my chance to be toasted. I can't wait until we go to a bar and have a few drinks and say goodbye to friends. However there is a part of me that is not ready to say goodbye. So I will probably keep in touch with most of them. I know I will keep in touch with some of them. Somehow I am becoming a reluctant part of this place, even though I really tried not to. It will be hard when it comes time for us to move again. I really hope that this next move is one of the last. It seems tha tall of my life has been spent loading and unloading a moving van and all I really want is to settle.

Ok enough rambling. Due to the fact that I went out drinking tonight and will be doing the same tomorrow, I have decided not to start my training program for the "OH S**T, I'm turning thirty" list until sunday. I am however starting to feel the anxiousness of getting prepaired for something big. I am going to be looking for a 5K, 10K and half to sign up for and also get the deets for the Grand Island Marathon. I figure if I can schedule them roughly every three months then I will have plenty of time for training in between. Hopefully. Last night I got the question of, " What happens if you can't do it by then?" And the answer is then I won't. I am not looking to have the best time in the world right now I am just looking to finish. I want to be able to look back and say " I planned it, I worked for it and I did it!" I don't think this is too much to ask of myself. Even if I am the last person to cross that finish line I will be proud of myself for finishing it. I will be happy that I was able to do something that I never thought I would be able to do. Am I really being unreasonable guys? Am I setting my goals to high? Feedback needed! You were all beginners once yourselves, how long did you run before your first marathon, and when do you think you could have safely finished it even if you couldn't run the whole thing? If it is really unsafe then I can change my goals, but if there is a possibility of my being able to do this then I want to try.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

Exciting News....

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince is on it's way in November. I am about jumping out of my seat with joy and anticipation. Is it sad that I love these movies so much? You can watch the trailer here.

I am just hoping that my mother in law will agree to be my date again. Well Mary? What do you think?



If Mary can't come with me then I may try to find a Potter Marathon and be a total Potter Loser. In the mean time I wanted to do something in honor of the Harry Potter Movies so I will tell you my favorite part from each movie.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone



Wizards Chess.
I love to play chess with Whit but I think that if the pieces could actually kill me it might make me think twice about playing.



Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets



The Flying Ford.
Because who wouldn't love a flying car when they are stuck in traffic (or just for the Heck of it).


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


When Hermione takes on Draco
All I can say is Girl Power!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire


Ron's dress robes.
Nothing more really needs to be said.


Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix



Loony Luna Lovegood.
I didn't like the movie but I love loony people.

Only two more movies to go. I am so excited about the Half Blood Prince. The buzz is that it will be way better than the last one (which I thought was not well done--but that is a whole other post). I am looking forward to adding another favorite to this list in November.

Until then you will just have to listen to all my other rambling on about fitness and food and stuff.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

Goals? Goals. Goals!

I have been reading a lot lately about setting goals to help you stay motivated. One of them suggested that you pick a milestone in your life and work all your short term goals so they lead up to that. Well I didn't do that totally because that would not be me but I did take something from the article (and some things from other articles as well as my fellow bloggers). So here are my goals, starting with the milestone.

Big Milestone Goal
My 30th birthday, January 23, 2010.





I really wanted to make my goal the Nike Womens Marathon for the following reasons that I found via Runners World.

1. Way cool to run with all women in such a beautiful atmosphere.
2. Would really be a good challenge.
3. Hello... Tiffany and Co. Necklace!



However, I don't think I could make it to a marathon that is all the way on the other side of the country, much as I would like to. So my goal is to run the:



Grand Island Trail Marathon
Where: Grand Island, Michigan
When: July 26
Age of Race: Running since 2005
Highlights: Hills, Trail, Rural, Great Foods, Cool Schwag

Reasons being:
1. Beautiful.
2. I am a Michiganian and have never been to Grand Island. ( I know... I am so ashamed)
3. The mix of hills and trails will make it technically challenging.
4. It's pretty close to home.
5. I have almost exactly one year to build up to this.

Small Goals Checklist.

1. Run for one whole mile without stopping.
2. Run a 5K in under 45 minutes. (this will be major for me)
3. Run a 10K.
4. Run a half Marathon.
5. Run the Mackinac Bridge.
6. Kayak at the Pictured Rocks.
7. Run the entire rail trail loop here in Bay City.
8. Weigh less than 200 lbs.
9. Sky Dive.
10. Take Tai Kwon Do Lessons.
11. Learn to drive a stick shift vehicle. (never have learned because I am afraid of breaking someone's car)
12. Log 1000 miles of running before the big 3-0.
13. Learn to Ski.

These are not necessarily in order of how I want to complete them except maybe the running ones. Also I reserve the right to add to or change this list if the need arises, but for the moment these are my goals that I want to accomplish on my way to 30. Feel free to leave goal suggestions in my comments (I may or may not take them but I appreciate the thought). I will keep you all update on my progress of course.

Here's to turning 30!


Happy Training,
Love Jenn

My Build a Workout Videos and My Virtual Model

This is my plan for the week to incorporate strength training and yoga into my walking and jogging routine.

Monday and Thursday

30 minute lower body workout

Tuesday and Friday

Abs and lower back workout, time unknown

Wednesday and Saturday

30 minute upper body workout

Sunday +

Morning Coffee workout (once through) and sunday yogathon (4x's through)

All Day, Every Day

Yoga at my Desk (pick me up all day)

My walking and jogging routine is going to be:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-- 30 minute walk and 30 minute walk after work.
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday--30 minute walk and 30 minute walk/jog intervals after work.
Sunday-- Long walk

This plan should allow me to incorporate fitness into my future office job by doing the sun salutation and 30 minutes of strength training in the morning and doing the 30 minute walks during my lunch hour then finishing up the day with either a 30 minute walk or walk/jog interval. I will do the 5 minute yoga at my desk throughout the day to stay limber, energized and focused. Sunday will be the long workout day with almost an hour of sun salutations followed by a long walk.

I know this sounds like a lot but if I can incorporate this into my day it will keep it manageable and I will still have plenty of time in the evening to prepare meals and relax with Whit. At least I will have time in the evenings after I am done with school. Just two months to go on that. Then I can really start to go from this:

To This:




















If that isn't motivating then I don't know what will be. It is kinda cool to use this program to track weight loss actually because then you can see a somewhat accurate image of yourself. Everyone should go check it out.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

Check this out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Food and Exercise... Yea!

Last night I spent some time looking up yummy recipes for my new Black & Decker rice cooker with steamer basket. Unfortunately I really didn't find much so I can see that I will have to come up with my own recipes. What I did end up making last night was brown rice and steamed green beans, purple beans, and baby carrots with olive oil, garlic and oregano. I also made us each a salad of fresh green leaf and red leaf lettuce and sliced tomatoes with Italian dressing for me and good old ranch for Whit. I also baked fish for the first time in my life (and it came out perfectly according to Whit) with garlic butter sauce. I didn't eat any of that obviously but I hardly noticed as I was stuffed with veggies and rice. Besides the wine was putting me in too good of a mood to be upset about not having meat. Riesling, how I love the. ( I will have to post the story of how I came to love wine another time.)




After dinner we went for a long walk with Butter and I have to say that evening after dinner walks are amazingly revitalizing. I didn't break any speed or distance records or anything but we had a good time (Thanks for the suggestion Crabby).

When we got home an hour and 2.2 miles later we had some strawberry shortcake. Yummy! The only way it would have been better is if I made the shortcakes myself but alas I totally flaked and got the desert shells at the store. Otherwise the evening could not have been better.

I am not cooking much tonight. Maybe just a salad and some of that sweet corn I got at the farmers market. Whit has left over goulash to finish up so I am not making anything for him and I am not all that hungry so a lite salad sounds good to me. Maybe some of that cantaloupe as well. We shall see.

On a training note I have not been posting my training sessions because I would not really consider them as such (mostly just short walks with Butter), however I have been asked repeatedly how my training is going so I figured I had better post something. I am going to change the format of my training post because most of you really only want to know if I exercised or not, what I did, and how far I went. All the other info I have been giving is mostly just important to me. So here is the new training report.

Training:
Last night I walked for 2.2 miles. Slower paced and took about 55 minutes.
Today I did a 45 minute strength training workout (more on that in a minute) and walked 1.3 miles. Moderate paced and took about 24 minutes.

I wanted to tell everyone about something that I found this morning in my email. I discovered this. Fitness magazine has an online build your own workout video thing. That is what I did this morning and it was so fun. There are moves on this program that I have never heard of before and you can do a slightly different workout every day if you want, or do the same one over and over by saving it and capturing the link. I actually did a pre programed workout because I liked the moves on it. So everyone please check it out if for no other reason than to add some new moves to your old routine.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

THIEF!!!!!

I just made out like a bandit at the farmers market! I spent 35 bucks and got a weeks worth or more of groceries! Plus I talked to a farmer there who is starting a CSA here and his shares come out to about 14 dollars a week for a huge box of veggies. I am so excited! Today I got a dozen ears of corn, two big acorn squash's, a bushel of tomatoes, a head each of green and red leaf lettuce, a bushel of purple potatoes, a quart of purple beans, a cantaloupe, blueberries, a jar of real fresh honey, a fresh loaf of chocolate bread, and some ginger snap cookies. The last two items where not really veggies but they looked so good and I wanted to buy a little something from all of the farmers there. I really believe in supporting local growers and organic growing practices. However I could only take home so many veggies without fear of rot so I got goodies too. Probably not vegan of me but hey it's a start and if I don't think about the ingredients I will be able to have a nibble I think. Yummy! Mostly the goodies are for Whit. He loves goodies! I got the purple beans and potatoes purely out of fascination! I had a purple pepper on tuesday and it was really good so I figured what the heck!

There are a lot of exclamation points in the post. Can you tell that I am excited?

Well I am off to wash some lettuce for a salad. Have a great one.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

For Alice!

Change to: covered pie US Metric

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This is a recipe we found for our chicken pot pie crust that turned out delicious. Should only take about 30 minutes to cook or until golden brown. I like to cut slits in the top crust for venting which gives it a nice old country farm look!

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic whole wheat flour
• 1 cup organic all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons organic butter, chilled
• 3 tablespoons shortening
• 6 tablespoons ice water
• 2 teaspoons organic lemon juice

Directions

1. 
   

   Combine flours and salt in a bowl.

2. 
   

   Cut butter into small pieces and add to bowl with shortening. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut butter and shortening into flour mixture until you achieve a grainy coarse appearance.

3. 
   

   Combine water and lemon juice, then slowly add to flour mixture as you toss gently with a fork until moist. Do not over mix.

4. 
   

   Press mixture into a ball, cover completely with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.

5. 
   

   Preheat oven to 350º. Cooking time will vary depending on what you're using it for.

6. 
   

   Roll dough on lightly floured surface.

7. 
   

   Makes top and bottom crust for a 9" pie or bottom only for a 13x9 sized dish for chicken pot pie or something of that sort.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

I never thought I would say this but...

I think I am going Vegan! Yeah I said it.





I have been reading Skinny Bitch a little at a time and last night I got to the chapters on meat and dairy. I almost threw up. It's not that any of the information was new to me. I knew about all that stuff already but the way it was presented is what did it.



I had just finished eating this lovely ghoulash that I had made with turkey burger and whole wheat pasta and a sauce made from fresh veggies and cheese, with a side of baked acorn squash. It was delicious... until I read this book. Just thinking about what is in my fridge right now is making me want to puke. I really do have a weak stomach. When I got up this morning I had no idea what I was going to eat because I usually have cereal and milk. No way was that happening today. I settled for oatmeal.





Today I am going to the farmers market to pick up some more fresh veggies and ask about a co-op or CSA in the area. I had intended to do this anyways but now I am more motivated to get as much plant based food in my house as possible. I also need to find a steamer on the cheap cause I love steamed veggies but usually am forced to boil due to lack of equipment. Ugh!




The hard part of this is not going to be giving up meat so much because I don't eat a lot of meat anyways, but I will have trouble with the dairy part because I love milk and cheese and although you can get a decent soy milk I have yet to find a good vegan cheese that I could not only cook with but is also good enough to just eat! Any one know of any? I am taking suggestions!




Also I just got the news last night that Estelle Getty has died. I just loved that woman. I don't think I ever saw her in a roll that she didn't do well! Of course my favorite was the Golden Girls, but she really was an all around amazing actress. I am wishing I had cable because I am sure there are lots of Golden Girls marathons this week that I am missing.




Rest In Peace! You will be remembered.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

Easily Amused...

Really I am. For instance I was reading this blog and she mentioned this website. So I went to check it out because I link love. I was so fascinated by the cursor on the home page that I didn't actually look at the products for like 20 minutes or so ( try it J-Money, you'll love it) and that is when I discovered that the top of every page has this amazing cursor! Whit started picking on me after I had been playing with it for quite some time and so of course I decided to blog it. I am such a looser. lol.




Also I have been reading a lot of blogs about kettlebells recently and have looked up a gym in my area that actually has classes. I was looking for a gym anyways because I really can't take the heat, and this one sounds great.




I have been trying to get out and continue my walk/jog/run program but I am not able to be out long before the humidity causes breathing problems. No income means no doctors visits though so I am just doing the best that I can. When I start work next month at the audiology office I am going to look into getting a membership here. Then I will be able to work out indoors and the humidity won't be an issue. So stay tuned everybody. Maybe some day I might be as hard core as these people.






Or Not!!!! ;-}

Happy Training,
Love Jenn

P.S. To MizFit... Now can I win the kettlebells? Please?!?

P.P.S. I created a PicasaWeb Album that can be located here or by clicking on the Two Women Running picture on my side bar. If you click on Wayne you can see pictures of Whit's Alaska trip also. Enjoy

Sorry Ya'll... Bad Poetry Cometh!

My Love

---

I never thought I would find it,
It was out of my reach.
I wasn't sure what it was,
How could I be sure with no one to teach.

I searched under rocks, around corners,
in big cities and small towns.
With the whole world at my feet
Nothings what I found.

So I gave up hope,
quit looking high and low.
Thats when I discovered it,
right under my nose.

A few words and a glance,
told me you were something special.
I found myself looking
for the chance to know more.

I asked for advice,
this was new territory for me.
I had to find out
if you felt it too,
but how to go about it,
only God knew.

I thought and I prayed
then I jumped right in.
I fell hard and fast
clear up to my chin.

It was great and simple
amazing and real.
But as the tide came in
I lost my footing and found fear.

I could not breath
I could not think
what to do now
I am lost and about to sink.

I look up and down
but nothing is there.
Did I imagine it
or does he really care.

Then I start to think
I can take it no more.
I think maybe this
is why I stayed on the shore.

I close my eyes tight
and tears join the water.
I open them again
and I see the father.

He calms me down
and soothes my fears.
He tells me that life
is not so bad to cause tears.

Then he smiles and turns
and behind him I see
My love standing, waiting
and watching over me.

He reaches a hand
past the father toward me.
Then my hand and the fathers
reach for him through the sea.

God says this is the one
true and important thing in this life.
Trust in each other
It will be all right.

Suddenly I can breath
and sunlight floods my face.
Me and my love
standing together in his grace.

July 19th, 2007
Love Jenn

Nerds and Guitars???

What is it with nerds and rock guitars. Whit loves his axe's (not sure if that is correct grammar... Mary?) He has a Bass guitar and a rhythum or lead guitar and he plays them almost constantly when he is home alone. Last night when I got home from class he had taken a break from playing and found this video on YouTube... It's a guy playing keyboard that sounds like guitar. The kid is awesome actually and I totally intend to get his cd. Please check him out! Pay attention to his fingers as he plays, it's amazing!




Happy Training,
Love Jenn

Training, Day 16 and Accomplishments

Chinese symbol for Accomplishment.

Just finished up my second turn on the Independence/Liberty Bridge Loop. I felt great! I was able to cut 7 minutes off of my previous time and I added a teeny bit of mileage to bring it closer to 4 miles. My legs didn't bother me hardly at all and I was able to get in two 30 second jog's at the end. I am so happy with my accomplishments for today!!!!!

YEA!!!!!!!

Now all I have to do is shave off ten more minutes from my time to reach my first goal of an hour and 15 minutes. Another 15 minutes shaved off would bring me to the next goal of 4 miles in 1 hour.

I'm the cute one in the rockin' head band.

In my heart I am jumping up and down with joy! I really don't know what else to say. I am too excited. So without further ado here are the numbers!!!!

Award for me!

Today's Stat's:

Walk/Jog with Whit and Butter
Jogged twice at 30 seconds each!
Medium/High effort.
3.98miles.
85Minutes.
400 Calories Burned.
116 minimum bpm.
125 average bpm.
154 maximum bpm.
280 run weight.


Happy Training,
Love Jenn

Training, Day 15 and Bridges

Lord of the Loop's: The Two Bridges (Just another Pearl of Whitizm)

A pic of today's loop

I had a good workout today even though it was technically my off day. I was just not satisfied with the lack of mileage from yesterdays non-bike ride. We set out to just take Butter on a short walk and ended up on a 4 mile bridge loop. It was nice to get out and really give my legs a stretch and the shin splints aren't bothering me as much as they where last week so that is a good thing. I still had to stop and stretch a few times though which is probably what killed our time. Well that and trying to train Butter. She almost gets it by the end of each walk but the next one always starts off as a struggle again. I know she is smart and I really hope that she picks up this walking thing soon. I want to be able to take her on my runs but I can't do that efficiently the way she is now. Oh well.

Independence Bridge

I got some hills in today also via the bridges. I am going to keep doing this loop until I can do it in an hour and 15 mins. That is my new mini goal. Plus it brings me 4 miles closer to the elves every time I do this walk. Yea!!!!

Liberty Bridge

Today's Stat's:

Walk with Whit and Butter
Medium/High effort.
3.93miles.
92 Minutes.
393 Calories Burned.
104 minimum bpm.
117 average bpm.
130 maximum bpm.
280 run weight.


Happy Training,
Love Jenn

AniMusic

Ok this is the coolest thing I have seen in a while... It's called AniMusic!!!!











Happy Training,
Love Jenn

Training, Day 14-- Off road!

No I didn't go trail running.





I didn't do any running today at all. Instead I spent 30 mins. on my stationary bike and worked up a mean sweat, but since the little display isn't working I can't tell you how far I "went" and since I forgot the heart rate monitor I can't tell you my min/avg/max, which means no calorie count. Today I will just have to be satisfied with the knowledge that I did it. LOL. Like that will satisfy me. I will have to go for a walk or something tonight so that I can log some sort of mileage. Otherwise I just don't feel right.




On another note, What do ya'll think of the page? And by Ya'll I mean the 2 people who actually read my babble.





Whit and I worked on it last night and he actually taught me some tech stuff with html. The real question is will I remember what I was taught when it comes time for me to use it again? The world may never know!

Today's Stat's:

Stationary Bike
Medium/High effort.
uhm...miles.
30 Minutes.
uhn...Calories Burned.
280 run weight.

Happy Training,
Love Jenn