She Likes Purple

Texas is Burning

Texas pretty much had the hottest summer on record, with very little rain and a lot of wind. That combination led to fires popping up all over our state, recently and maybe most well-known in and around Austin.

Thousands of homes were burned down, destroyed, or damaged and while I've read a few different figures, the total amount of damages caused by fires in Texas this summer seems to be well over $250 million. Fires keep popping up, too, because we're still seeing temps in the 90s (and 100s!) in Texas, even though this weekend is the first of October.

Texas is hot. Texas is burning. Texas needs a little relief.

I complain a lot about this state (especially this state's painfully horrible weather) but this is home, and you know what they say about home. Well, they say you shouldn't let it burn, that's for sure.

If you have a little extra money but no extra time, consider donating to The Central Texas Wildfire Fund.

Also, if you're in or near Austin, a few events I think sound pretty cool:

• Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas (Kyle Chandler is emceeing!)
• Austin Bakes for Bastrop (all proceeds will go to the above linked Wildfire Fund)

Or, you can buy a charity t-shirt, offered by Help Central Texans (@CentralTXFires). Pre-orders are being taken now, and it looks like all t-shirts will ship after 10/18. They even offer a women's tee (below).

These shirts are great if you're going to The Blathering, since you're bound to fall in love with Texas, at least a little bit, in a few weeks.

I get really overwhelmed with how much need there is out there and how little I can really contribute in comparison to that need. We're all just individual people. How can we make an actual difference?

I don't know if I've figured out those answers yet -- it still feels overwhelming to want to help without knowing exactly how to make the ability match the desire -- but I figure it's just like everything else.

Take a step, then take another, until the world is better.

***

If you know of a charity, event, or cause that's benefitting the Texas fires, please leave information in the comments and I'll update this post.

Half-Marathon Training: Week 8

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7

***

I fear this is becoming a running blog, and that's not what I want, but I also know that life ebbs and flows. There will be a time of inactivity ahead of me, when my greatest daily accomplishment will be clearing out my DVR queue, and when my ass is deeply imprinted in my couch during that time, these posts might inspire me off of it. So, I write them. Because it feels like something I'll enjoy looking back on one day.

Monday: 3.5 miles

I remember this one kind of sucked. That's all I remember, so let's leave it at that.

Tuesday: 1 mile (speed training)

We were set to do 1.5 miles, but I cut mine short and did a mile at about a 9:30 pace.

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday: 2 mile morning run + evening Zumba

We had 3.5 miles on the plan, but we knew a Saturday 5K was ahead of us, and we wanted to ease up a little on the running beforehand, to give our legs a break so we could leave it all on the course on race day. These two miles felt great, though.

Then, that night A'Dell and I took a Zumba class together, and it was ... different. Odd. Weird. Not bad, though, and definitely more a work-out than I anticipated. I looked like a complete and utter idiot throughout, hands down, but I am actually quite familiar with that feeling. I also now vow to take a salsa dance class at some point in the future. My hips really should move better than they do.

Friday: yoga

Kristie and I continued our 6am work-outs and dropped in on a yoga class at a local studio (they offer an introductory 10 days of limitless classes for $10!). I stretched out my tight right leg, and it felt great. Even though we got in trouble from the noise police pre-class. Yoga ain't messing around.

Saturday: 5K

Recap here!

***

My question for the day: When do you work-out best?

See, Kristie and I get up before paper boys (it feels like) to get in a work-out before 1) our boys are up, so we don't miss any more time with them and 2) work. We knock out our work-outs (most often) in the very very very early morning, and I am not a morning person, you should know. But, man, nothing feels better than getting it out of the way that early in the day.

So, yeah, I never thought I'd say this, but I might prefer morning work outs, even beyond training. You?

Good friends

The talented and oh-so lovely Natalie stayed with us, too quickly, over the weekend. I got to take her for burgers and then we talked until 1am about friends, our kids, the internet, good husbands, marathons, Matt Damon, and so much more. She's a breath of fresh, talented, intelligent air, and there's no better way I can think to describe her.

Sunday morning, she generously snapped some photos of Kyle and me (she owns and runs Hazeled Photography), including this photo. She captured my boy, just perfectly.

Kyle took to Natalie right away and while I showered Sunday morning, he told her everything she needed to know about Cars and puzzles and his favorite books. As she was leaving, she told him about her family: her girls, her dog, her cats. "Oh, your cats will love me," he said, nodding confidently.

You don't need a high Klout score or sponsored posts or an invite to some mega-exclusive retreat to win at blogging. You just need to meet someone like Natalie.

Trust me.

Race Recap: Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest 5K

Last year, the Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest 5K was only my second 5K to finish, so it felt good to return to the course this past weekend and see if I could smoke my time. Last year, it rained the entire race (which I actually didn't mind) but this year it was the exact opposite: really sunny and really warm.

I've been training for my half-marathon with Kristie, but we're lucky to have other friends who run, too, and this group of ladies has dubbed itself the Running to Drink Team (fitting, right?). We run, we brunch, we laugh, we high-five. They're fantastic.

We even have our own signs bedazzled for us.

We all run at slightly different speeds, but Kristie and I took off at the start together. Pretty soon after that, though, she pulled ahead. It was hot, and I didn't want to force myself to go any faster than I could, especially not at first. I knew the run was going to end on a tough hill, so I tried to focus on that as I slowed down a little.

My initial goal was to finish under 33 minutes but not even a half-mile in, I didn't think that was going to happen. The sun! Oof, it was a bitch.

I somehow caught back up with Kristie around mile two, and that re-energized me to push on. On that last, horrible hill, I saw my friend's husband, holding the sign above, and it was then that Mumford & Son's "The Cave" came on, which pushed me over that hill, feeling pretty good.

Then, right at the finish, I saw Mike. All it took, and we finished strong!

Last year's time: 45:38 (a 14:41 mile)
This year's time: 31:17 (a 10:04 mile)

I shaved over 14 minutes off my time and over 4 minutes off my mile pace. I'm running another 5K this weekend (in addition to a five-miler) and I'm hoping to finish under 30 minutes, if the weather cooperates and everything else falls into place. Cross your fingers!

It was a hard but good run with an incredibly supportive group of friends around me. We headed to The Pour House afterward for oh-my-goodness-so-good food and cheap brunch-y drinks.

It was such a nice day.

(Well, until kick-off of the second half of the A&M game. Ouch.)

Real Marriages: When To Have a Baby

Over a year ago (oh my) I asked for questions for my Real Marriages series. In that comments section, Maggie asked "I'm always reeeeeeally interested in how couples handle the When To Have A Baby question. As in, one wants a baby maybe in a year or two, the other wants one yesterday."

I thought this was a great question then and now, so I'm finally getting around to writing about it.

So, When Did We Know We Wanted Kyle

Mike told me on our first date he wanted to be a dad. We went on to live together nearly two years before we got married, so I felt commited to him long before I took on his impossible-to-pronounce last name. Once we tied the knot, we just sort of ... went for it. I honestly don't remember having very many conversations about when to start trying for a baby, which seems kind of ridiculous. In hindsight, it also seems a little rushed, but it did end up taking us a year to get pregnant and by the time we had Kyle, we had been together five years. He wanted a baby, I wanted a baby, we wanted a baby, we started trying for that baby. It didn't feel like a big decision. Which is nuts! It's a huge decision! But, it felt certain and right, and we've never once regretted it except, well, colic. Enough said. 

Now.

For more kids?

There were conversations.

How We Decided to Only Have One

You may not know, if you're brand-spanking new here, that Mike and I have decided not to have any more babies. You can read a little more about our decision here but, basically, we felt good about having just one child long before Kyle. Then I had Kyle and for a little while, I thought we'd definitely have another. Babies have this intoxicating effect on people. THEY ARE CLEVER LIKE THAT. But as Kyle grew, he actually got way more awesome -- seriously, is anyone out there unclear about my opinion of age two? -- and you'd think that would just strengthen my early desire to do it all again. That's a pretty fair guess, even, but something weird happened. The more awesome Kyle became, the happier I became with the idea of it just being him forever and ever. The older he got, the less of a pull we felt to try again. We got what we wanted.

Now, before you start typing out an angry comment, please know I'm not saying that anyone with more than one child is trying to "get something" they didn't get the first or second or thirteenth time around. God no. No no no. I'm just saying that for us Kyle feels like enough.

(Also, newsflash: kids aren't cheap.)

You know, I probably could have been convinced or talked into more and there are even times I feel I want more, but I don't think "more" is what's right for our family even if it's right for my likes-to-buy-baby-clothes side or right for my idea of holidays in 20 years. (Do you know all that can change in 20 years? THANKSGIVING MAY NOT EVEN EXIST THEN.) 

Also, Mike is very, very, very content with just one and his contentment really has been a little contagious.

I also think that there's a lot of unfair pressure to conduct your life the way the majority does. Have more than one child but not too many children. Spend lots of time with those kids but keep your identity. Cook dinner for your husband every night but don't be a doormat. There are so many rules to being happy but this world is somehow full of miserable people. When did going with our guts go out of style?

With all that said, I feel very, very lucky that my desire to have another child wasn't so deep that it didn't become an issue in my marriage. Mike and I are on the same page and even when I thought we might not be, it wasn't too far off or for very long. I feel endlessly grateful that we both feel good about our choices because I know it's not always that easy.

Now, I'd love to hear your stories: how did you decide to have the number of children you have? Did you agree on that number with your partner? If not, how did you handle the conflict?

No longer chained to our house by babies or batshit weather

Kyle has become so damn awesome to hang out with. I know this feels like one more annoying endorsement for age two, but it's just that all these possibilities have opened up for us as he gets older. We can now take him places we used to pass on because of his then-age or (non-existant) attention span. I shudder thinking about dining out with him just a year ago. Oh, how times have changed.

Also, the weather is beginning to cool off, which means we can plan activities outside again. Do you know how much more fantastic life with a kid can be when you can actually leave the house? For extended periods of time!

(Lots more.)

A few weekends ago, we took him to a small local butterfly festival, put on by an organization some parents at his school are part of. I thought he'd freak out by all those flapping wings, but he loved every second of it, and he also let someone encourage a butterfly onto his nose.

{Bad cell phone photo! Oof!}

This past weekend we took him to get burgers and had such a lovely little lunch, the three of us. Then we took him to see The Lion King: 3D, his first in-theater movie, and it was entirely enjoyable, which stunned me. We asked him toward the end if he wanted to leave -- he was getting a little restless -- and he said, "No, we leave when it over." He also kept exclaiming, "Wow, what a big TV!" (We'll need to work on his whispering for the next movie outing.)

I know it seems so obvious to any parents who've been doing this for years and years but when your kid becomes less a screaming baby and more a fun little person, parenthood just indescribably changes and expands. It's still work, don't get me wrong for one second, but it's such different work and the rewards are a million-fold.

So, to inspire me off our couch this pretty fall, what are your favorite fall activities with your kids? I want to fill this fall with an insane amount of fun. Although, come on, it's us we're speaking of. Insane is part of the game.

Half-Marathon Training: Week 7

Thanks for the comments on last week's post. For being such a solitary activity, running has given me a surprising community within my already-awesome blogging community, and I consider that a real gift. It's really wonderful to know you're reading and following along.

So, here we go.

Monday: 3.5 mile run

It inched back up into the low 100s and high 90s early last week and that made running tough again. Kristie and I met after work and tackled 3.5 miles but it was awfully warm, making the run kind of awful. (I will not mention that Kristie made us run uphill the last half mile except, oops, I think I may have just mentioned it.)

Tuesday: 1.25 speed run

These speed runs are tough. Our usual pace is 10:30-12 minute miles, depending on incline and weather, but we kick it up to 9-9:30 these mornings. Good for our endurance, bad for our everything else's. We treat ourselves to coffee after our early morning runs, and on this day, coffee was the only thing getting me to the end.

Wednesday: rest

Same as always. Rests are easy as pie.

Thursday: 3 mile run + cross 

Kristie and I did hills on this run and I actually felt pretty great throughout. The weather was breezy and cool, and something just clicked. I had plans to Zumba after work but they fell through so I did nothing instead. Nothing is actually not a very effective cross work-out, just so you know.

Friday: rest

I took my mom out to eat for her birthday (happy belated birthday, mom!) and enjoyed pizza, a glass of bubbly, and an early bedtime. This was one of the best rest days ever.

Saturday: long run (4 miles)

I have not run this distance in training .... nearly all year. I was nervous the entire drive to the trail, and I just couldn't shake the fear that I'd probably fall over before finishing four miles. My calf and ankle felt tight for a while, too, but the trail was the perfect choice. We passed so many friendly runners and we did a nice two-mile out and two-mile back run. It passed quickly, which is the first time I've ever said that in the history of ever. I also ran this one with a borrowed Camel Bak (thanks Kristie!) and while it felt a little odd, it was great to have water right there when I needed it. This was my week's best run.

{Start of our run; pretty trail at a local park}

After our run we got coffee and walked around the small, local farmers market. It was a nice morning, followed by lunch and a nap with my boys.

***

Speaking of support, what are you training for (if anything)? When and where is your next race or event? Tell me all about your plans, so I can send you virtual high-fives when it's time.

He Promised, You Are My Witness

If you're new here (hi!), you should know I'm the biggest fan of age two there ever was and because of my fondness for two, I'm terrrrrrrrified of three. Just terrified.

I was a preschool and day care teacher for a bunch of years, so I have firsthand experience with the batshitness that is three, but I think I really knew the age was going to be scary when a good friend told me she wasn't fond of three and her child (at two) was the sweetest and most well-mannered little boy I think I'd ever met. If THAT boy could fall spell to the evils of three, no child was safe.

Then, yesterday on Twitter, there was more anti-three buzz between my friends and I (not to mention both Emily and A'Dell's posts), so when I got home tonight, I made Kyle promise he'd stay two forever. He said yes so, you know, VERBAL AGREEMENT.

What do you think I can sue him for if he goes back on his word?

Half-marathon Training: Week 6

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5

***

Let's just dive right in since there are only two or three of you reading these weekly updates anyway. Hi all three of you!

Monday & Tuesday: rest

Monday was an epic roadtrip of suck and Tuesday was recovering from that epic roadtrip PLUS a feverish toddler PLUS being back at work and tackling a full inbox. Rest  might not be the right term but it wasn't training.

Wednesday: 3 miles

I was home Wednesday for a funeral, but I managed to meet up with Kristie after Kyle went to sleep for a nighttime run around a nearby neighborhood. I was emotionally zapped so I thought it would suck, but it really didn't. It was pretty great, actually. The cooler weather helped, but it's supposed to be balls hot again early this week, so, you know, THOSE THREE DAYS WERE NICE TEXAS.

Thursday: Cross

I did nothing. I have got to start doing my cross. Thankfully, I have Zumba classes lined up this week and maybe some boot camp in coming weeks.

Friday: Shoulda been 2 miles

We decided to spice things up (sounds exciting, right? but this is still RUNNING we're talking about) and do just one mile instead of two but at a much faster pace. Ooooooof. That's the sound of my lungs shredding in my chest. We did it! One mile at about a 9:30 pace instead of a 10:30-11 pace. It wasn't all that easy, but it was quick, and we treated ourselves with coffee afterward. If we ran our entire half-marathon at that pace, I could be drinking champagne at just over two hours after I start. I'll be dead, though, so that could be a problem. (But, dramatics aside, we're hoping our speed training helps any issues the slight altitude of Vegas might cause.)

Saturday: Should been 3.5 miles

Oh friends. THIS WAS NOT A GOOD DAY. I've had bad sinuses all week, so I asked Kristie if we could run in the afternoon instead of the morning but I didn't check the weather like a normal trainee, so when we started running, I was all, "Texas has been much cooler lately and it'll be grand and, wait, it's kind of sunny and warm and why am I seeing spots and feeling light-headed?" I made it 2 miles before walking and sitting and then walking some more.

It was discouraging. It was embarrassing (Kristie made it through the entire 3.5 miles) and I just wasn't sure how I'd ever get to a half-marathon finish line after wimping out 2 miles into a 3.5 mile run.

I whined on Twitter, which is not something I'd recommend, but it does give you a nice, short pity party and sometimes that IS what you need. It also gives you a lot of encouragement from strangers and friends who get it. They've been there. One run won't define your training and you can feel down and discouraged as long as you don't stop training. This week is a new week and I've got a nice game plan lined up for it (although, this weekend we're running FOUR MILES and I've maybe ran that distance twice in my entire life outside of actual 10K races. I COULD BE A WEE BIT TERRIFIED.)

Still, bad runs HAPPEN. I hope that if anyone reads these training posts in the future, they'll see I made it to the race even after such shitty training runs, and if they are inspired by that, oh my god so totally worth it.

***

My question of the day is: How do you hydrate on longer training runs? 0-3 miles is no big thing, but I can tell I'll need some water from here on, but I hate stopping to drink at public fountains or restaurants because it messes with my pace and rhythm. Any product suggestions? I'd love to carry water with me, without having to hold it?

Girl's Weekend in Santa Fe

After we stayed (quickly) in Santa Fe this summer, I knew I wanted to go back. But, Mike is strange about visiting a place we've already been, even a place he likes. He thinks there are so many NEW AND AWESOME places in the world, there's no reason to ever visit the same place twice (except for Vegas, we are tried-and-true Vegas loyalists). Finally, a quirk that will make you think he's the crazy one! It's exhausting being the only one in a relationship to get strange looks.

But, we were in Santa Fe for a whopping 12 hours and did approximately ZERO sight-seeing unless the must-see sights in Northern New Mexico are the discounted rooms at the Econo Lodge.

When we got back, I couldn't stop raving about the little we had seen and I was itching to return. It just so happened Kristie's birthday was a couple months away, so we set about planning a girl's weekend.

A wild and crazy people-packed weekend turned into a weekend with just Kristie, my mom, and myself, which seems a bit of an odd group, but it turned out really quite perfect.

Friday Night

We drove and drove and drove into Santa Fe (stopping in Amarillo for a tasty lunch at BL Bistro), and I quickly realized drives go by much slower when you don't nap through them (as I did the first time around). We checked into our hotel (The Lodge at Santa Fe, which had delicious margaritas, a very nice, if frightened-by-us staff, and slow-as-molasses wifi; eh, two out of three ain't bad), and headed down to the Plaza where we ate at The Shed. We were warned the wait would be horrible, but we waited no longer than a half hour and shopped in the nearby stores during that wait.

{The taco plate that I ordered.}

{Tasty but super overpriced 'rita}

{Pre-dinner photo ops}

We turned in early Friday night because we had a big half-marathon training run planned for the morning.

Saturday

We got up, got dressed, and took to the local neighborhood streets to tackle 3 miles and ... my lungs jumped out of my chest about a half mile into it. They were like, "We do not agree with this plan, we'll wait right here." Basically, the (much) higher altitude did a number on us. I finally managed to run a total of 2.5 miles and I didn't regain my breath until about five minutes ago.

We treated ourselves post-run with a belly-busting but OMG AMAZING brunch at Chocolate Maven Bakery. I got the Eggs Madison (smoked salmon Benedict-type dish) but the real star of the table was my mom's Almond Raspberry French Toast. People. This was a life-changing dish and if you ever make it to Santa Fe, you have to immediately go to Chocolate Maven and order it. (With a side of mimosa because why not, you're on vacation.)

{Pastries!}

{I weirdly love milk mixing into iced coffee}

(We even stopped back the next day to get some pastries.)

After brunch, we headed back to the Plaza to peruse an arts festival that was happening the same weekend and a few of the local shops and churches.

{Here is a picture of pretty Santa Fe! And ... a trash can.}

For dinner Saturday night, we tried Rooftop Pizzeria, which was good, but not great.

Sunday

We got up early and headed down south about a half hour to Tent Rocks Park. I wasn't feeling the hiking vibe, but it was Kristie's birthday and she was most defnitely feeling the hiking vibe. I tried to perk up, for her, but I imagined I'd get about a hundred feet and opt to wait on a rock instead.

"You hike! I'll ... sit near hiking!"

For whatever reason, though, the hike turned increidble rather quickly. We had great conversation, lots of water and, once we asended high enough, the most amazing views I've seen since being at the Arches this summer. Oh Texas. Where are your pretty views, I ask?

Anyway, it was incredible, and I'm so glad we took the time to do this. (It took about two hours, total, from start to finish.) A special shout out to my mom, who rocked the hike. I hope I'm as active as she proved to be when I'm her age.

After the hike, we stopped at Trader Joe's because THAT IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NEAR A TRADER JOE'S AND DO NOT HAVE ONE AT HOME. Can I just say take a moment to say that TJ's dark chooclate peanut butter cups are made of evil and addiction because they are just about the most delicious things on this planet. Do not buy any if you like your waistline. Trust me on this one, my friends.

We took mid-afternoon naps and while there is no way we needed more sleep after 10 hours the night before, we indulged anyway. Lots of sleep at night + naps during the day = why vacations ARE SO AWESOME, am I right?

Sunday evening, we walked around and shopped a little (there was a pretty fantastic bookstore we popped in and browsed) before searching for a dinner spot. Oh man, this is why I like to thoroughly plan out my vacation meals in advance with spreadsheets and everything because we ended up walking around for an hour, browsing menus and prices, trying to find the perfect place with nothing more than our eyes. Most places were all wrong. Either there were no vegetarian options or the prices made our stomachs turn and we nearly fell over from exhaustion and hunger and sheer annoyance by the end of the hour. We finally settled on the Rooftop Cantina, which ended up being a great pick. I got the tastiest drink ever made and it came out purple, which, come on, forced me to have two. A purple cocktail that was delicious. MUST HAVE MANY.

Then it started to rain (cool storm-coming-in photo immediately above), so we rushed to the adjoining (pretty fancy) restaurant and decided to have dessert there.

Oh guys.

I wish I could tell the story and do it any kind of justice but it was a hilarious hour. We were clearly not fancy enough to be in this place and the staff clearly knew this. I said it was "Pretty Woman: Fancy Restaurant Edition" and it really was other than the part where we weren't dressed like hookers. The staff didn't actually ask us to leave mid-meal, but I know it crossed their minds. For instance, the hostess listened to us talk about having dessert there, even peruse the dessert menu right in front of her, and when we asked for a table, she said, "Well, I'll have to see. If we can find one. For you."

We headed back to the lodge after stuffing ourselves with dessert and champagne and paying. Our credit cards work just like the rich! Just not as often as the rich.

(After we got back to the lodge, we drank a little more, and I prefer not to talk about that. Poor decision the night before a ten-hour roadtrip, I KNOW THIS NOW.)

Monday

We got coffee at Burger King, a fine Santa Fe estalishment, if you didn't know and headed out of town. We got home hours upon hours upon hours upon HOURS OMG WILL THIS ROADTRIP EVER END later. (Shout out to Kristie who did most of the driving while I did most of the not driving.)

***

It was a lovely weekend, and I'm so glad I got the chance to go, both because of the company and the scenery. If you ever get the chance to visit Santa Fe with a couple of your favorite people, do it do it do it.

Elsewhere: The Frog & Snail Society

I'm over at the lovely Frog & Snail Society today, chatting about my favorite kid's book (the same book I've already chatted about here, even; it's that good!).

Head over and read my write-up and add the boy-celebrating site to your feed readers. Because boys are pretty ridiculously awesome as every single mom of a boy knows.

"I Like You"

We had a funeral to go to yesterday, which was horrible by nature, of course, but then I got in the car with Kyle and the low tire pressure light came on and I drove, white-knuckled, and we hit every red light between our house and the church and Kyle was coming off a virus and both Mike and I were in just very bad, no-good moods, and Kyle kept on chattering about "is this left or right?" (which is his favorite question of the moment; asking which direction we're going), and I was trying very hard to keep my patience but there was probably an edge to my answers, sure.

"Mommy."

"Yes, buds."

"I like you."

Oh, well, edge? Gone.

"I like you, too, buds. I like you so, so, so much."

He's so damn likable.

Half-marathon Training: Week 5

Wow, I'm not doing a fabulous job at writing anything other than my training recaps. I'll hit publish on a few drafts soon, swear it. For now, more training!

***

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

***

Monday: 3 mile run

Just didn't do it. I wanted to sit on my couch when I got home, so I did.

Tuesday: 2 mile run

I did this! But have no recollection of it. Good/bad? Who knows!

Wenesday: rest

You know I rock the rest days. This was no exception. I'm sure this rest day included Teen Mom, Awkward, wine, sleep. Etc, etc.

Thursday: 3 mile run

Kristie and I ran this early Thursday morning, and it was my best run to date. I looked down at my phone and realized we had run a little over two miles WITHOUT ME WANTING TO DIE. At that point, running another mile was no big thing. Okay, that's not entirely true. A mile of eating chocolate or blog surfing is no big thing; running a mile is always RUNNING A MILE, but it really wasn't awful. It's like training is, uh, working or something. It was just what I needed.

Friday: rest

I drove ten hours to Santa Fe this day, so I didn't totally rest, but there was no cardio, none at all.

Saturday: 2.5 mile run

It was supposed to be 3 miles, but OH MY NEW MEXICO ELEVATION. I turned to Kristie a half mile into our run and said, "Uh, I'm having a hard time breathing." I stopped and started and finally finished 2.5 miles but it was the worst run of my life. Not physically, in that my legs and hips and such felt okay, but I just couldn't catch my breath at all. Santa Fe is at 7,000 feet above sea level and Fort Worth is at like 50. (Vegas is at 2,000, which is where I'm running my half-marathon, so if you have any tips for altitude training at low altitude, I'd love to hear them!)

Sunday: cross

We hiked Tent Rocks for a couple hours, and I officially love activities that also fill my cross training need, so I'll be looking for more of those to do over the weeks. It was such a great time.

***

A couple weeks ago, Becky asked: What kind of stretching do you do before and after your runs, and what kind of strength training are you doing on your non-run days?

Great question! I walk for at least five minutes (or a half mile, usually) before every single run, no matter what. I don't know if this actually helps, but two years into running and I'm injury free (so far! quick! knock on some wood!). I also stretch out my calves and ankles after most of my runs beyond 2 miles.

I try to space out my runs, so I'm not running on back-to-back days, but but I don't find this as much of an issue if one of the runs is a short, speed-focused one.

Finally, I think strength training is great for any kind of training/fitness routine, and I usually just lift some free weights at home, but I'd recommend any of Tina's Carrots & Weights exercises, if you're looking for type and variety.

Any other questions, yo?

***

Phew, there you have it, guys, week five. Refocusing on my question of the day: Any tips for higher altitude training at low altitude? Is it just a speed issue to strengthen your lungs or are there tricks I'm not aware of?

http://www.shelikespurple.com/shelikespurple/2011/08/half-marathon-training-week-4.html