Cold

So, it's been a while since I last wrote anything. A lot has changed! We up and moved from Switzerland to Wisconsin and settling in hasn't exactly been easy. Let's just say that Northerners are not any where near as friendly as Texans.

Summer was great for running! I ran everywhere we visited. Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and a bit of Nebraska. It was great. Haven't been doing so much in the last couple of weeks because it has been COLD!! Windy, cold, rainy, ugh. Gotta figure out how to get out there and run in this stuff because it is here to stay. (At least until May.)

A great bit of news is that after 18 years of staying home with my babies, I am gainfully employed! I got a job at the YMCA's childcare facility. They pay sucks, but the job will be great. I love working with kids, and my measly little paycheck will help pay for me to go back to school.

Speaking of back to school, the kids love their new school. #1 is finally so involved in activities, I can't keep track of her. This is wonderful! Band, orchestra, choir, advanced placement classes. Yay!

Until later....

The 1/2 I really want to do

Hello, everyone! I hope this new year brings good health, happiness, lots of laughter and love for you. 2010 is over and 2011 has barely begun. Has anyone made any resolutions or commitments for 2011? I have made one. Only 1. That is enough for me. Are you curious?

My goal (the one and only) is to complete a marathon this year. The plan is to run/walk it. There you go. That's it. I'm sure I can do it.

Okay, on to other topics. I have had my eye on this half marathon for years. About 7 years now, ever since I started running longer distances than 5 and 10k. It is a tough, tough run. It's in Wyoming, on this stretch of land between Laramie and Cheyenne. Absolutely gorgeous scenery, desolate area, few people. My favorite type of run. Here is the link:

http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/marathon/

Check it out. I know I can do it, there is no time limit, just be done before dark. I can take my time and plod along up the mountain. It's a thought...

Running in the cold, ugh!

I would like to say that I’ve been too busy to write because I’ve been out running. Unfortunately, that is not the truth. Sadly, I’ve been battling a sinus infection, a chest cold, snow, ice and below freezing temperatures.

Many, many years ago, I left behind the cold, snowy, freezing winters of central New York to move to the warmer, friendlier climate of Southern California. Southern California is a great place to run. The only excuse I ever had was avoiding the rain, but I love running in the rain. After California, I moved to Texas. The heat was great; it was okay to run as long as I was out before the sun was too far up.

Currently, I’m living in Switzerland. Guess what? It snows here, it freezes, it gets icy and it stays cold. It’s not fun to run in. Even if I get all bundled up, I still worry about slipping on the ice. (Did I mention that we live in the Swiss Alps? I live in the hills.) My oh so awesome sister gave me a pair of yaktrax to help my shoes with traction, but they are not that comfortable.

Okay, enough whining. What to do about it? A friend challenged me to run 60 miles in the next 8 weeks. So, I’ve accepted the challenge. I actually ran a couple of miles yesterday. Yay! At least there was no ice, and it was above 32 Fahrenheit. Great day for a run!

Knee injury

Wow, what a couple of weeks. I felt so good right after the Lausanne 10k, getting my personal best and running such a great race! Monday came crashing down, though. I’d been fighting a cold the previous week and it caught up with me. Coughing, sore throat, serious sinus congestion, ugh. Took me all week to recuperate and I was unable to run. It was nice staying home, though! I crocheted, worked on the kitchen, and washed gazillion loads of laundry. It ended up being a productive week.

I was ready to go Monday; I ran some with my friend JM. The cold was still hanging on and we ran VERY, very slowly. Which is fine, I ran! However, the rest of the week my running has been put on hold. I have an injury. There is no great story behind it, but I’ll share it anyway.

This past weekend, I broke two of my favorite champagne glasses. They were so beautiful. Heart shaped, heavy at the base, thinning out to the top. We’ve had them since before we got married, 17 years ago; used them at our wedding for a toast; they’ve moved from California to Texas to Switzerland and survived all those moves. Until the day I decide to wash them! Oh well, c’est la vie. I cleaned up the bits and pieces and threw them in the trash, and didn’t give them a second thought.

Monday afternoon, 3:25 pm, right before pick up, I was taking the trash to the car so that I could drop it off at the huge bins that we take our trash to. Since the bag was a bit heavy, I decided to help it move along with my foot. Not a good idea when there is broken glass in a plastic trash bag. Zing! The glass had broken through the bag, ripped my pants and gave me a great slice below the knee. Dang! I looked at it, and never having a cut like this before decided that I’d better have it checked out. Three stitches later, I’m home.

That’s the story. No running for a few days. That’s how it goes.

Have a great weekend!

Lausanne Marathon

Hello, everyone! Happy Monday.

Sunday was a great day. Halloween, Girl Scouts and the Lausanne Marathon. It was a cloudy day, not chilly, no rain; perfect day for a run along the beautiful Lake Geneva. The race had several categories and I chose the 10k portion. It starts in Lausanne, turns around in Lutry and finishes in Ouchy (in front of the Olympic museum.) There were several spectators and loads of runners. It is great to see so many people out running, walking, nordic walking. There are also a couple of long, steady hills, ugh. I finished with a personal best,though, 1:06 for a 10k! Pretty good, I think.

A couple of friends ran the whole marathon (good job!) What an accomplishment that is. Two friends ran the 1/2 marathon and several friends ran the 10k. No matter what the distance, just getting out there to compete in any distance of race is what is important. You are exercising and doing something good for the body, and you've accomplished something so many people only dream about. Be proud. I know I am!

Running and Physics

I haven’t written in so long, and there really is no excuse. I haven’t been too busy, or sick, just plain lazy. These last two weeks have been interesting, to say the least.

My foot has acted up with some serious pain when I hit mile seven on my long runs. Thus, I gave up the goal of running the ½ portion of the Lausanne Marathon. (www.lausanne-marathon.ch). I am going to be running the ¼ portion of said marathon; this is 10k or 6.2 miles. (Actually, it may be a bit longer than 6.2 miles, but not much.) My last 10k was this past Sunday, in the horrible, freezing rain. I ran a little slower than usual, and I am going to blame my soaking sweat pants. Sweats are not good for running in the rain; they stay wet, cold and heavy. This Sunday promises to be the same, so a good friend of mine offered to loan me a pair of her running tights. I just hope they’re warm enough; I’m a wimp when it comes to cold weather running!

On a lighter note, I enjoyed spending some time with my oldest, #1. We were waiting for #4 to finish with Netball and had a few moments to talk. Well, actually she had started ranting and raving when I picked her up from school. By the time we got to the lower school, she was done ranting and raving and moved on to discuss her favorite subjects in school. (She takes many classes at her school.) Turns out, she loves English, History and Physics. (Physics?!) She has to write an essay about how World War II began; she has a lot of information in her brain. I couldn’t begin to tell you all the things she knows about the events leading up to WWII, I was duly impressed. She is one smart cookie. And physics wow. For her, it is fun because she figures out things about the world around her. According to #1, Star Wars uses a lot of physics.

What a conversation!

getting out there & sewing

Last week, I ran twice. Actually, I ran once and walked once. This week I am aiming for some type of exercise every day.

Here's my excuse: the hubby is out of town. When he's out of town I don't sleep very well, so I am too tired! Sounds good to me.

On to a different topic. Sewing. I've been watching reruns of Project Runway and that has inspired me to get my sewing machine out and get to work. I've got a skirt now that just needs a hook and eye and I'm finishing up a quilting project that I started a LONG time ago. These will be done today. I will then start on a dress with a Butterick pattern (5319). I bought the pattern at a little fabric store in Vevey, very expensive. Hopefully, the dress will be gorgeous. The material is a very pretty grey, and if it doesn't fit me, my 15 year old has volunteered to wear it!

Enjoy your week!