What I'm Reading

Right now I'm on travel for two weeks in the lovely state of Alabama.  Seriously, I do love it.  I love the way people talk here and I love that you can find sweet tea everywhere you go.  Actually, it would be faster to tell you what I don't love.  People don't seem to believe in turn signals here.  That's it.  Other than that, I'm happy as a clam here.

Anyway, two weeks travelling means two weeks of privacy, quiet evenings, working out whenever I want for however long I feel like...in other words, no kiddos running around.  Naturally I miss them dearly, but I do love being able to kick back and read for hours if that's what I want to do.  As a mom, I miss quiet reading time every once in a while!

So...in honor of my coveted reading time (and thanks to a very expensive trip to Books-A-Million), here's what I'm reading:

1.  Gossip Girl

Am I a teenager?  No.  Do I still love the guilty pleasure of Gossip Girl?  Absolutely.  I've just purchased books 3 and 4.  Quick, easy reads that will take you back to high school...without the horror of actually being there.

2.  Smokin' Seventeen

I am Stephanie Plum's biggest fan.  Seriously, all of the Stephanie Plum books are HILARIOUS and if you haven't read them, you MUST.  Now.  I wait anxiously on each new book and then I buy it in expensive hard back because no way am I going to wait until the paperback comes out.  And if she ever chooses between Ranger and Morelli I don't know what I'll do because I. love. them. both.

3.  If You Were Here

Jen Lancaster's first venture into the Fiction world.  I have read every one of her non-fiction books and follow her blog and she cracks me up.  I love when the written word is so good that you actually laugh aloud and people look at you like you're nuts.  Jen Lancaster always does that for me, and I have no doubt that her fiction book will be excellent as well.

4.  Working It Out

This was an impulse buy that I didn't know I was looking for.  It's written by Abby Rike who was a contestant on The Biggest Loser.  I LOVE that show, and Abby's story never ceased to amaze me.  Her husband, daughter, and very young (only weeks old) son were killed in a car accident.  She was supposed to be with them, but had stayed home sick at the last minute.  After the accident, she put on huge amounts of weight, which she subsequently lost on The Biggest Loser.  Now she's written a book all about her amazing story of living on after tragedy, and I can't wait to read all about it.

Now...where to start?

Thin Mints Are My Crack

It's that time of the year again...Girl Scout Cookie time!  I may or may not have polished off an entire sleeve of Thin Mints.  An hour before I went out to run.  I may or may not have learned a lesson.

Today it was 21 degrees and sunny so I got to run outside.  It was fabulous, and freezing cold.  In my quest to run 4 days this week instead of my normal 3, I went just 2 miles.  They still felt a little like death since I

1. Tried to push the pace
2. Was freezing, and
3. Ate an entire sleeve of Thin Mints an hour earlier

Turns out Thin Mints are not the best pre-run fuel.  They make pretty spectacular post-run fuel so by all means carry on with the post-run Thin Mint binges J

In other news...my Tiger Tail arrived today!

It was hard to get a clear picture but it says 'I <3 Happy Muscles' on the handle.  I don't know about you, but I just like that!

Here's a picture of me trying it out.  Never mind the goofy face, post-workout hair, and velour pants suit... 

I realize it's too soon to say anything definitively, since I've only used the thing once and I haven't had a chance to see how the day after muscles feel, but first impression: I LOVE IT!  It feels super good on your muscles after you're done running and stretching.  So far my tight calves are not feeling tight!  I can't wait for my next run to see if they're still not tight!  I haven't had any soreness in my legs even though I had to get immediately in the car after the stretching/tiger tailing to drive to daycare and get the kiddos.  Normally that drive would have me all stiffened up but not today!  More review to come as I get to use it more this week, but so far so very, very good.  I'm going to use it some more while watching BL just because it feels good!

Summary: 2 miles in 19:45, 9:53 pace, freezing cold.  Tiger Tail=Good J

Three Tangent Tuesday

Here is the Accidental Runner version of Three Tangent Tuesday because The Hungry Runner Girl asked us to :)

1.  I love love love The Biggest Loser.  It is hands down my favorite show.  I have considered two things very carefully:

• Gaining extra pounds so that I can go on the show and meet Bob and Jillian (this wouldn't be that hard, given my propensity for McDonald's and ice cream), or
• Contacting the producers and pitching my idea for The Biggest Loser: Mini Edition featuring contestants needing to lose 25 pounds or fewer.  Are we less deserving of the healthy eating/healthy lifestyle tips that Bob and Jillian impart?  I think not.

2.  I like watching football.  The thing is, I can't pick a favorite team.  I enjoy too many of them.  The Packers (thanks to my stint living in Wisconsin), The Cowboys (I heart the cheerleaders, since I use to be a cheerleader and there's no classier organization to aspire to in the cheerleading arena), The Steelers (who doesn't love being in the stands when all those terrible towels start flying?), Da Bears (passed down from generations), you get the idea.

3.  I think being a stay at home mom would be stellar.  Today I hung out with my sick kid and had a super fun day watching silly cartoons, reading cool books, and making grilled cheese while my helper looked on:

Notice the Colts Jersey?  Our football fandom seriously has a multiple personality disorder.

Of course there were some chores going on too, but I think it would be a fair tradeoff for all the fun stuff.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Stress...Grrrr!

Last night was one of my favorite TV nights…The Biggest Loser.  I love me some BL.  What I don’t love is when they send people home.  I wish they could all live there together for 16 weeks and learn lots of things about getting healthier before they have to go back home to the real world.  Unfortunately, the producers didn’t ask for my opinion.  On last night’s episode, though, nobody got sent home.  I thought it was great!  You could tell that Bob is getting a little honked off about the Unknown Trainer situation.  I can’t wait to see how that one plays out. 

While watching the drama unfold I worked out on the spin bike.  6.3 miles in 30 minutes…I’m getting faster!  Today was a super stressful day at work so I’m really looking forward to my 15 minutes fast (ideally at or below goal race pace) on the treadmill tonight.  My goal race pace is tentatively scheduled for 8:59 per mile, but that is still completely negotiable.  I'm hoping it will negotiate faster, not slower though.  It’s not a bike night, but I may do the bike too because I have some major stress issues to work out and what better way than with exercise?

Life Gets in the Way

I woke up this morning to a sick five year old.  Fever, sore throat, tired, cranky.  My plans for today consisted of work, marathon training, carting a kid to dance class, and a bike ride while watching Biggest Loser.  All that got kicked to the curb, or if I'm lucky just rearranged.  Work was obviously cancelled, and dance class looks to be a no-go too.  I really need to run still...and I really don't want to do it on the treaddy!  Torture!  There's a chance that while my lasagna is baking, I can convince my hubby to let me out the door for a run the very second he walks in.  My 3 year old will be harder to convince.  She's a major momma's girl and will not want to let me out of her sight as soon as she gets home.  The run is still up in the air.  At least I should still manage to get my bike ride in while watching BL as long as the kids' bedtime goes off as it's supposed to.