First Time for Everything

This weekend so far, I've had two firsts...

First Snow Fall - As I look at my window this morning it looks like Christmas time.  Everything is white, everywhere.  The snow is covering all the tree branches and it looks like a winter wonderland  - on October 30th.  Yikes....what is the rest of the winter going to look like?  I am a little scared!

First Overall Female - I met up with my sisters for another race this weekend.  It was another small, really small  race - only about 35 walkers and runners.  They were well organized and did give out technical t-shirt instead of cotton t-shirts.  Which is unusual in these neck of the woods.  But the smalls weren't really smalls so I got mine in a size Cowboy could wear.  The girls and I did a quick warmup before the race started and then we were off. 

Many of the regulars weren't there and within just the first half mile of the race I realized that I was first female.  At the turnaround I was able to see my sisters and just 2 other ladies behind me.  I definitely wasn't super speedy, but I did manage to keep a decent 8 minute pace to keep the lead.  I finished in the same time as last week 24:05.  Robyn finished as second female and Manda finished as fourth female.  SB is having some issues with her leg/ankle, so she just walked it.  Needless to say - that girl walks at a jogging pace.  We went back to get her and bring  her in and none of us could walk at her pace.  We all had to break into a jog to keep up. 

Overall it was a good race and if the weather hadn't been so yucky (rainy, cold, dreary and snow looming) I think they might have gotten a few more runners.  This is a busy time for races though - I think there was a least two other races in the area.!

The rest of my day was really nice. I ran some errands and then came home to snuggle with my doggies, drink hot chocolate and watch the snow fall.  Today I have some cleaning to do and then my FAVORITEST little trick-or-treater is coming to visit.  I will be sure to take some pictures of that little cutie!

QOTD:  What is the earliest snowfall you've experienced?

TGIF...and winter weather already..

Another week has flown by and I've been absent from posting on my blog.  Oh well.  I'm sure I haven't been missed by too many.  I've been reading all of your blogs and living vicariously through your adventures and workouts. 

I've still been slacking on the whole working out/running stuff....  I don't know why, I've just been going through quite the slump and really hope I can fight my way out of it soon.  I did get out for a run today with my Sissy.  We met after school and did some zigging and zagging on the roads behind her house.  It is an easy run with lots of houses and trees to block the wind.  It was just enough to get my legs stretched out and ready for another 5k race jog tomorrow.  My baby sis and SIL are running the race too...we've contemplated running in snuggies and snow boots since we are getting some winter weather in OCTOBER! 

The crazy weatherman is forecasting 4-8 inches of the white stuff starting tonight and throughout tomorrow.  I even heard him say "heavy at times."  Ugh!  I didn't even get to enjoy fall.  Here we are skipping right on into winter.  

Oh well. I will survive the weather, but I'm not sure I'll survive the race based on the fuel I fed myself tonight.  I'm a hunter's widow again so just ME to feed and I settled on pizza, cheese filled pretzel bites, glass of green tea and now a glass of blackberry wine.  I should probably have skipped that last part.  Wait....I should have skipped all of it and had a healthy non-processed meal.  Oh well.  Live and Learn right?

I think today's motto is "Oh Well!" 

QOTD:  What have you "oh well-ed" lately?

Cranky

I am so cranky today, it isn't even funny.  But I don't know if cranky is the word to describe my mood it is more depressed funk that I can't seem to get myself out of.  School has been driving me crazy - I can't seem to have a "good teacher" day.  I keep feeling like I'm doing a crappy job and it just gets frustrating.  I let the actions of a few students really pull me into a downward spiral and I can see that but can't figure out how to prevent or stop it for that matter.  Ugh...hoping tomorrow is a better day. 

I have lots of catching up to do on here - maybe I will get to it soon.  I took some pictures last week of the snow and got a few the weekend before of the puppies.  They are getting big and back into the "i can't hear you" phase.  Here's a few pictures of both:



Charisma Jane



Macy Dae



Big and Small



Cabella Mia



Goofy



Soaring Away!

Heavy wet snow that was very pretty on the trees and fence.

It looked like a winter wonderland

I am hoping that is the last of the snow for this winter.

Winter Wonderland Wednesday

Finally we have some snow here in PA.  It seems that all the "storms" are always south of us, but we did get some snow this time.  I like a good storm once or twice during winter and love those occasional snow days.  Today was just a delay day.  Still good, but not as good as a snow day.

This week has been extremely exhausting.  I am still recooperating from my weekend in Florida and my lack of sleep.  Getting back into my weekly routine has been tough.  I need the weekend to get straightened out again.  My family and I had a wonderful time in Florida for the Disney 2011 Half Marathon and Marathon.  We got in late on Thursday night/ early Friday morning but finally got settled and got a few hours of sleep. 

Friday we spent time in Magic Kingdom before heading to the Expo and picking up our packets for the race.  Baby Sis and I ran the Half Marathon on Saturday.  Up at 2:30 am to grab a quick bite before we headed to Epcot to join the other 21,985 runners.  We spent a few hours shivering as we waited for the start.  We were in the second wave and got started running at 5:42 am.  We ran the first 6.5 miles together and then I headed out ahead of her for the last half.   I felt really good throughout the race.  The first half was definitely easier with Baby Sis by my side but there were so many distractions and people watching to be had for the second half that it zoomed by.  I was surprised at how quickly it went.  Not a PR for me but I did finish in 1:54:59 seconds.  I was really happy with that since I didn't train very hard.  My overall stats were excellent and I was pleased to be in the top 9% of finishers!

After the race we got cleaned up and then headed out to Animal Kingdom for the rest of the day before heading back to the resort to relax and get rested to repeat the fun on Sunday.  My Dad, Lil Sis and SIL all ran the full marathon on Sunday.  Baby Sis, BIL, Niece and I all had to head out to the airport early so we weren't able to go and watch but we did get the constant text updates with their progress.  They too ran together for the first half and then my SIL headed out and finished in 4 hrs15 mins.  My Dad and Lil Sis finished in 4 hrs 54 mins.  This was Lil Sis and SIL's first marathon and my Dad's second.  The girls were quite nervous but did an amazing job!!!! 

There were talks of doing it again someday....maybe even attempting the Goofy Challenge....hmmmm.....  we will have to see about that.