Happy Anniversary!

One year ago I started out on this 30 day trend and with a few minor bumps in the road I feel that I have been rather successful.  I of course will continue with my monthly trips into the unknown as I have found them quite fun and the changes in challenges keeps things interesting.  I will be gladly looking for any ideas from friends and my Facebook fans for the up coming year; as things will start to get interesting since I am going back to school.

I have yet to think of an idea for June's challenge so I will have to get back to that another day.

Keep motivated!  Keep Challenged!

Electric Run!

Run #, T-shirt, EL Wire, and glow bracelet

Umbrella Road

Finally!
What all the work and  training has been for, has come and gone.  The wonderful and brilliantly produced Electric Run! Awesome costumes, interesting effects, and jamming music.  What more could I have asked for on a night run?  With 9000 in attendance, it was hard for me to judge my final time; this being a fun run there wasn't the typical shoe attachment for tracking time and actual millage.

1/2 mark Hydration Station

Cannot wait till next years run.  I'll be inviting some friends and my son along for the excitement.

Rainbow Arches

To find out more or find the Electric Run near you: http://electricrun.com/

1/2 way there

Only 19 more days till my run!  Training has been a bit slow as the weather here is not playing fair.  Lots of rain and temperatures fluctuating worse then a roller coaster ride.  Managed to get in 2 hill runs at the local state park which has a hill of about 100 or so feet long at a 45 degree angle; thought I would keel over after the first run.
This past weekend after a long week of lots of rain, running with my dog and my son, my lovely puppy decides I would make a wonderful human sled and pulled me through some mud.  A twisted ankle and a skinned knee later I feel like I'm a little kid again.  Thankfully the ankle healed quickly, but the knee is still a bother so running is out, but at least there's strength training and yoga!  Grr!
I will succeed! I am determined!

May's Challenge

All I can say is REALLY?!

So this week (really the end of April) started off with beautiful 80 degree weather.  Now May 1st and we're once again back down into the 30's with a forecast of 6-8 inches of snow.  This really puts a cramp in my challenges and my training.  The end of this month will see me running my 2nd (ever) 5K and I really need to amp up and get back on schedule.

My plan for this month was to run 3-4 days a week with cross training and hill training on the non-running days: a mix of yoga, aerobics, and weightlifting to get me into prime shape.  My treadmill doesn't do inclines so I really need the weather to cooperate so I can get outside and do some actual hills.  The last thing I need to do is slip on snow and ice and break something and really mess up any chance of participating.  I have to say I am really looking forward to this run, maybe because it's at night, or just because I have been working so hard over the past few months since I signed up.

No matter what happens with the weather this is my last chance to really pull it all together.  Here's hoping I can knock it out of the ball park!

April's Pitiful Wrap UP

While the month started out a bit cool though sunny... my plans for the international Bike Challenge were derailed by a garage door frozen shut, temperatures that fluctuated erratically and a bit psychotically (if you ask me), and way too much snow.
As for my accomplishment of this challenge a definite thumbs down.  Between the weekly snow falls I think I managed a whooping 10 days of actually biking -one of which was done in full winter gear.  Needless to say I really do NOT like biking in snow and honestly don't understand how a good chunk of the population of avid bikers here in this cold Northern Midwest state manage to do it year round.

Week 1:cold and wet

This first week of April was mighty cold and wet forcing me to keep my rides short -and well between the fluctuating temperatures of 40/50 degrees one day back to 30 the next, my garage door froze shut so there was one missed day of riding mainly because I couldn't get the bike out.

Check out the upcoming CRAZY April weather for this week's riding

Best get out the rain coat and boots, looks like some even wetter rides.

On the bright side I think I found June's Challenge (May is already dedicated to my final training for my run on the 31st.): http://skinnyms.com/fabulous-abs-in-30-days-challenge/

April's Challenge: Bike Somewhere Everday

This year I shall be joining the global community of bikers who pledge to bike somewhere every day for 30 days.  What a great thing to add into my arsenal of 30 days of something new.  I can already hear my buttocks screaming in bike seat bruising pain (bike seats and I have not really been close friends, at least not since I was a little girl).

Where do you bike to?  Anywhere.  To the store, to the park, to work, or just around the block.  The idea of course is to get yourself out side and moving.  Yes your butt is still technically sitting, but while it is sitting you are increasing your heart rate, building muscle, breathing deep, and catching some vitamin D -and here in the Northern Midwest Vitamin D is what has been lacking so very much over the long winter months so what a great way to start off the warming spring months then with a daily bike ride.

If you too would like to join me this month hit the website below and sign the pledge to ride every day for 30 days.
http://30daysofbiking.com/