Hotel Repeats

Kinda like Mile Repeats...

But it involves

CHEESE

& WINE!

(You might notice the cheese platter ain't got nuthin' on me. I conquered that baby!)

Pre-Race Freak Out

It's started.
The pre-race freakout.
I know you must thinking - "It's just a half marathon."
I KNOW - I am thinking the same thing.

But I am at a hotel all week and don't have much control over when and what I'll be eating. Or much control as to when I can get a couple runs in.

I planned to run this morning and Wed. And that is it before the race on Saturday.
But I had a dream last night that I was hospitalized for exhaustion. And when I woke up I was exhausted. So I slept an extra hour instead of running.

When I did wake up, I was having knee pains. What the heck?
I know this is "normal" but I'm still worried.
What if the hills just kick my ass?
What if my time is like 30 minutes slower than my last half?

Ok, calm down. Breath. Really, who cares if I'm slower because of the hills? It won't be the end of the world. It's good to challenge myself.

Now I'm off to find something semi healthy to eat for brekkie (And stay AWAY from the mini bar crap)!

Dear Anita

Dear Anita,
I wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you how much I appreciate the way our relationship has turned out. When you first came into my life, I was concerned that you would cause me additional stress and possibly make me full-blown crazy. And I admit that I have cursed you behind your back many-o-times. But I didn't really mean it. I know it was ME who had the problem, not you. You were just trying to be honest with me and I blamed you for it.

But today, I love you. And I will continue to express gratitude to you if you keep moving in the same direction. We are so close to our all-time dream. So close I can smell it. Or is that me? Anyway, keep it up and we are likely to have a long, happy relationship.

Yours truly,
POM

Sans Nod

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

8 is Great. 8 is my favorite distance lately. I just love it. It makes me sweaty, but no bits hurt afterwards. I just love love love it. I didn't bring Big G, but I think I made good time.

So, anyway, I was almost done with my run, about 4 blocks from my house when Mark McGrath ran by. Yep, he's a runner. (It's times like this that I think of Marcy and her camera-toting runs.) I think I even read somewhere (NOT that I read about him on purpose) that he was on the track team. He grew up around here (and still lives around here), that's the only reason I know. But, get this... I gave him "the nod" and he didn't nod back. Apparently, he doesn't read my blog and know that I have like 50 readers who will hear about this!

RUNNERS NOD, MARK. RUNNERS NOD!

I'm off to a Pool Par-Tay~ Peace.

OH... and the Secret TOTALLY worked yesterday, my boss closed the office early enough for me to make the 2:30 Yoga, so I had time to get a pedicure after. See... it works and/or I'm just one lucky sun-of-a-gun.

Decisions Decisions

I've always been one to say that life is really about what decisions you make.

Do you take a puff of the joint with the cool kids at the skating rink?
Do you date a total loser and end up living in a trailer on his parents property?
Do you take the $.50 raise at the Dairy Queen and work more hours instead of going to school?
Do you sit at the bar and drink all day on your day off?
Do you get in the car with a stranger because it's a cheesy hot rod?
Do you eat fast food for dinner every night?

(Thank God I didn't do ANY of those things. Except for maybe sit at a bar all day.)

Anyway, here are the big decisions in my life today:
1. Do I get a pedicure after work or do Bikram Yoga? I don't have time to do both. I really need a pedicure for the pool party tomorrow. But Bikram would make me feel so much better and maybe even slimmer for the pool party.

2. What bikini do I wear to the pool party? Which bikini I chose can really show off different facets of my sparkling personality. Yellow polka dots = fun & girlie. Blue Bandeau = Sophisticated. Black Volcom= Sporty. Maybe I can pull off some glamorous wardrobe changes and then I don't have to choose.

HA HA. I'm totally kidding peeps. I am (of course) doing Bikram, then I will give myself a home pedicure. And I'll probably stick with the black bikini.

I really do have bigger issues than this, but these are more fun to think about.

Can you pinpoint any decision (good or bad) that really helped shape you life and who you are?


Something else I wanted to talk about.
The new Madonna CD. I was sooooooooooooo excited for it to come out. And honestly, I am kind of disappointed. I only downloaded a few of the songs. I like "Give it to Me" the Paul Oakenfold edit.

May Day & New Hair Products

Welcome May. Bring on the flowers....

Usually on the first day of the month, I read my horoscope. And for the first time in a year, I did not read HIS horoscope, too. A good sign? Perhaps.

It said things will be looking up at work.... lots of travel, maybe new romance.

Sounds good to me!

My latest shopping frenzy lead me to these little ditties:

Product #1 - Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother

Rub a small amount into your damp hair, then blow dry as normal.

It smooths frizz like nobodies business and protects from heat elements. At least it does in my head bcuz my hair feels so great today.

Product #2 - Light Elements Smoothing Fluid

Smooth into dry hair to tame any leftover frizzies.

1. It smells like Lavender -my all time favorite scent.

2. It's very lightweight -not greasy at all

3. Makes hair so shiny.

I didn't even realize they have a whole smooth infusion kit thing with shampoo & cond that goes with it but I left spending over $50 so that's enough for now. But they are all organic, if that's an issue for you.

Here is the end result (yes, my coworkers think I am a total freak and I need lipstick):

Straight, Shiny, Smooth hair!

YEAH!!!

Will it happen?

I am using the Secret for this shiz-nit RIGHT NOW.

Stay tuned.

The Secret and Balloons

Enough of this nonsense.

I re-watched The Secret Last night. In all it's cheesy, new-agey, "Amway for the Soul" bullshit, it does have some good advice and I turned off the DVD feeling better. So that's a good thing. I took that good feeling to bed with me (wink wink) and woke up feeling good.

I'm going to keep with this positive feeling and start working through some steps to apply this to my life.

I'm going to hop forward and list some things I'm grateful for. I've done this before and YES, I will probably do it again. So deal.

1. I'm grateful that I have fun plans this weekend (pool party in LA with great friends)
2. I'm grateful that my arms are looking better than they ever have
3. I'm grateful that I live near the beach
4. I'm grateful that my new makeup looks awesome on my face
5. I'm grateful that I am debt free

I woke up early and went for a walk on the beach - about an hour. I didn't want to run because my new rule is no running 2days in a row. It was really windy and not so easy to walk on the sand because it is really slanted when it's high tide. Going to Bikram tonight!

Lesson of the day: BALLOONS ARE BAD.
If you have ever wondered WHERE your balloons end up when you let them go, I will tell you. They end up in the ocean somewhere between Newport Beach and Catalina. Then they wash up on the shore, around some poor birds neck. Now, I hate birds as much as the next guy, but I really don't want your trashy stupid balloon all over my beach. Thank you very much.

Bipolar Blogging

Clicking on my link, you never know what you're going to get.
No, not like a box of chocolates (we're avoiding those these days Forest).
But more like ...
BIPOLAR BLOGGING.

One day I'm happy and doing handstands.
One day I'm feeling light and content.

And the next
I feel like shit and everything sucks.
Like today.

Sometimes Running Sucks.

I had to stop to walk. Twice. WTF? I haven't WALKED since the old days of hip injuries.
AND I was so winded.
AND I got chicked by a not-so-fit chick.
AND there was wind. Lots of wind.
AND a creepy marine layer that felt like rain.
AND the fresh ocean breeze was not so fresh - smelled more like a used up stripper pole.
AND -ok, I'm out of "AND's"

And when running sucks; just about everything sucks.

Runners Lounge

I just started a new Forum on Runners Lounge for the Portland Marathon.

So anyone wanting to chat about it - check it out. Even if you are not running the marathon, but still want to chat about it :) ha ha.

Peace. Out.