Pepper Blue

A week from Saturday is my first 5K run.  I'm excited and nervous. 

It's been over 16 years since I last ran in a race.  That was only 3200M, and I was SIXTEEN years younger.  Even then, I dreaded the races.  Once the gun went off, I felt better and was able to relax, but up until that point I was nerves and doubt.  I hope I am able to relax after the gun now.

Last weeks training was really tough, and I started to doubt that I'd ever be able to finish a 5K.  I realized that part of the struggle was due to the elevation difference between MN and Denver, CO (700ft to 6000ft).  I ran twice while there, and it took all I had in me to get through 75% of the workout.  Tough.

Last night was my first workout back home.  I was relieved to fine that things were easier.  I felt pretty strong.  Unfortunately, the workout is based on time (warmup 5min, run 25min, cool down 5 min), but for me that has yet to translate into the full 5K distance or even within a thousand meters of it.  This makes me nervous.  I'd feel much better if I could say that I've run the full distance before the race.  There are only 3 workouts left before the race, and I don't have much confidence that I'll make the distance during those workouts. 

Thankfully, the family will be there to cheer me on. That should motivate me to finsih even if it takes much longer than I'd like.  Honestly, the idea of seeing the Kids and Atom cheer me on makes me a little teary-eyed.  It's really a cool thing that they'll be there for me.

I keep reminding myself that this first race will be my baseline, and I'll hopefully be able to improve my times at the next races in September and October.  So if it doesn't go well, I just have set a really low bar.  Maybe that's not a bad thing.  My next goal will be to train for 10K's in the Spring, assuming I accomplish the current goal.

Wish me luck.

Jake's had a tough week.  Strep on Wednesday. More sore throat all Thursday. Mono and a hair-line fracture of his finger Friday.  Topped with a restriction from all contact sports, meaning no more soccer this spring season.  Life is a big bummer for the J-bird.

On vacation to Las Vegas, I spent an afternoon with my aunt, Kathryn.  She lives in Vegas currently, and was very happy to catch up with me and gracious to take my travel companions and me out of town to the Red Rock valley.  She loves to show off the "other side" of Las Vegas.  It's a very beautiful state park with amazing rock formations.

While eating lunch at a little tavern, we recounted some of our travels together.  My aunt brought me out to New York City when I was a Junior in High School.  She lived there and loved to bring all the nieces and nephews out to get a different perspective from our small town, mid-western lives.  Kathryn took me to a few Broadway plays and some great restaurants.  She really opened my eyes to a great big world, and for that I'm always grateful.

For a graduation present, she took me to London for a week.  Again, it was a great experience for me and an opportunity I will forever be thankful for.  None the less, while recounting our travels and the diverse and interesting people (most of which were her "boyfriends") she introduced me to, I was reminded of a play she and her actor/mime friend, Justin, had taken me to.  Starlight Express  I was shocked when she recounted how WONDERFUL this show was.  Frankly, I remember it most because it was SO rediculous and just plain schmultzy.  Yowza!

No disrespect, but a woman that well traveled and that connected to the theatre, must be half off her rocker if she thought that roller-skating freak show was anything better than a Junior High production of Cats. 

I just had to giggle, and remind myself how much I appreciated seeing enough Broadway to know that sucked!

I've noticed lately that the QOTD's have been negative.  The same holds true of the Vox Hunt. 

What gives, Vox?!?!?!?  Deep winter is bad enough without the poo-poo.  Come on!  Buck up!

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I have found a new perfect lunch munchy: low fat Vanilla Yogurt, and a crumbled up Oats 'N Honey Nature Valley Granola Bar.  It quite possibly the best quick lunch I've ever had.  The crunch of the granola with the sweet creamy yogurt is WONDERFUL.  Love it.  It's so good, that I cheer up after having a Tuesday morning meeting frenzy!  It's so good, I can walk buy the wheel of death without even considering the Chuckwagon sandwich.  I even drool in anticipation in the morning when I throw my yogurt and granola in my lunch bag.

On a side note, you should be sure to cleanse your pallet between a V8 and the above yogurt munchy. 

What's your favorite thing about Monday?

I like that Monday is the beginning of a new week.  A clean slate.  For at least one day of the week, I'm prepared and organized.  I usually have a clean desk to start the work week (as my Friday afternoon ritual is to clean off my desk so I am prioritized for the next week.) and love starting Monday with the feeling that I know which project I'm going to tackle.

Also, getting home in the evening makes me feel "There now, see, you can handle this week.  Monday's already over and you are doing pretty good."  By, Thursday, I'm never feeling as positive, but Monday always has promise.

Show us the best thing about your Saturday.

The best part was playing with the kids, and sharing strawberries over a game of war, but...this is pretty cool!

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What's your favorite song from a Disney movie?

"That's What Friends Are For" from the Jungle Book.  I love the vultures!

How many of us wouldn't love to have friends sing their love and committment to us.  Granted, the vultures would pick Mowgli's bones if he were dead, but they try to protect him from Shere Khan.  That's true friendship: to put the well-being of your friend ahead of your own wants.  Your friend to the bitter end.

On a side note, I can't tell you how many times this happens at our house.  Ugh!  Many times I've wanted to shout at Atom: "Now don't start the again!"

Today is Daisy Day. Celebrate the beauty of the daisies that symbolize innocence and purity by showing us a daisy.

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I can't think of a better image of innocence and purity.  My Maddy-girl at 2.

What do you always say you will do but never actually get around to doing?
Submitted by Beautifully Broken.

There are tons of things that I would like to do, but aren't a priority, so don't get accomplished.  I always aspire to further organize my house and finances, but no one has ever died wishing their house was cleaner or their 401K had a more blanced portfolio mix.