Tread lightly...

So, I'm doing a bit better with my blog frequency. Lots happening, and I feel I should document it.

First let me state that I only got one run in last week due to the ever comedic Mother Nature. Winter 2011 is/was/will forever be known as the Winter that just wouldn't die. You know the whole "March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb" business - uh, yeah, not so much. This was apparently opposite year for the month of March, and those among us craving Spring like a frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity were S.O.L.! To further prove that she's the funniest of all forces in the universe, she gave us one heck of an April Fool's Day prank...snow, yep, snow.

By the time the rain and the prank snow rolled out last week, the weekend was upon us. Saturday I spent the day getting myself pampered at the spa with my mother-in-law. I feel like monthly pedicures should be offered at no charge for those of us in training for a 1/2 marathon.

Sunday, rather than run, I hit Gold's Gym with my very best girlfriend. At times it's hard to find time for us to chit chat and catch up, we decided that it was time to make a date and do what we ladies do best...no, not gossip, multi-task :). We spent a half hour on the elliptical, then we did some ab, core and arm work-outs that her trainer had taught her. I did not fall off the balance ball for once, and must have been doing something right because if I so much as coughed the next two days, I still felt it. After the work-out we re-fueled at Ruby Tuesday before heading out to do our grocery shopping. She made my most hated of chores enjoyable, and it was nice to reconnect, even if over our mundane weekend tasks.

Monday brought seasonally warm temps and a double dog walk after work. We did a little over a mile though the dogs make it feel much longer with their pulling, barking, stepping on each other, relieving themselves in the middle of the street, etc. Tuesday brought, wait for it, more rain! Yes, it is impossible for those of us in South Central PA to enjoy two consecutive days of sunshine and warmth.

Something else has begun this week, which should have those close to me or within arms or ears distance particularly concerned - the return to Weight Watchers. And though I'm flying solo this time around, it's a new program that seems like an o.k. fit for me. In the past I lost nearly 100 lbs. on the program, I'm hopeful that with this plan, in addition to the miles I've been logging, I will start seeing some results. Aside from the constant eating and peeing, I feel good. Oh, and thank you God for "activity points"!

My husband mentioned to me on Sunday that he thinks he wants to quit smoking. When I asked what brought that on, he stated that he just doesn't enjoy it as much anymore. Now, anyone that knows Shawn and I understands that smoking is our worst vice...period. And while I'm a pro at the cold turkey I can do without it business, Shawn hasn't ever really gotten to that point. Lately I've been a cigarette in the a.m., a few in the p.m. kind of girl. It is a very social thing with us. We have a cigarette outside while the dogs do their business or play in the yard, we talk about the day, etc. To finally, once and for all quit, will be so much easier once both of us are on board. I'm crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath. So, dieting and quitting smoking, consider yourselves warned - those in my presence may want to tread lightly...

This morning I was up and at the track by 6:30 a.m. The alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m., I must do a better job of actually getting up at that time, rather than pushing the snooze button, once, twice, sometimes three times.
It was nice this morning, around 35 degrees at the track. I wore my gloves for the first mile and a half. I got the stink-eye from an older lady because I became one of those runners who had to actually say something about the walkers clogging up the first lane at the track. Oh, well, she wouldn't have wanted this girl to plow her over. I was barely awake, and definitely cranky. She's lucky an "excuse me" is all she got. C'mon - there's like 5 other lanes Miss Daisy! My time this morning was 38:02 for 3 miles. It was a personal best for a 3 mile and I was love love loving my Pandora for selecting Usher's More and Flo rida's Club Can't Handle Me at the precise moments I needed an extra push. Word.