Runnin' runnin' runnin'

So, I am still having a tough time getting back into the blog habit...oops.

BUT! I am running. And looking forward to spring like running. Unfortunately, mother nature has decided that winter running must remain for the unforeseeable future. This has made me a crabby runner.

But it hasn't stopped me from getting out there.

Two weekends ago, I logged the absolute MOST successful long run of my life. It was 15.2 miles of the most consistent splits I've ever had in a long run. There was no death march at the end. I felt mostly ok the whole time. The only reason I didn't make it 16 miles was my stomach, and the only reason my stomach wasn't playing fair is that I was on antibiotics for the first round of strep throat.

Yeah, spring hasn't been all that nice to me so far. But that run was amazing either way. Even if it WAS in black ice and freezing rain, the company was amazing and I had a ton of fun. And it only took an hour to thaw out.

Last weekend I followed it up with the absolute WORST long run in recent memory. 16 miles of slow torturous death on super fun snowy trails that I did nothing but bitch about because I was the WHINIEST RUNNING PARTNER EVER. Holy shit, I'm surprised Kim didn't beat me upside the head. She is the ONLY reason I finished, and there may have been a tear or two on the back half.

And then the next day I came down with round 2 of strep throat. More (stronger) antibiotics for me.

My stomach is so pissed off.

But I'm looking forward to my self proclaimed Birthday Month of Running All the Races.

One 8k, two 20ks and a potential 15 miler in there. All the long races on trails. April should be SUPER fun!

Followed immediately by the WI half marathon in Kenosha with my friend Sarah (her first half!) and all the Kims and half my running club plus several bloggers. PARTY!

So I guess you could say this is the year of running for lots of fun, even though running isn't always lots of fun. I'm looking forward to it ALL.

Tap Tap Tap...Is This Thing On?

Um, so, I haven't blogged in a really LONG time. Oops. It was unintentional, I swear.

And then every time I'd come back here and get all overwhelmed with OMG I MUST CATCH UP ON EVERYTHING. So I didn't. And time moved on.

SO.

Here's what we've been up to, in a nutshell:

NOVEMBER:

Jenna's Confirmation day!

Jenna's Godmother, Jenna, the Bishop

Ran the COOL 5k with Kim and Gina, got awesome bling

I also managed to host Thanksgiving dinner in there. And do Black Friday shopping :)

DECEMBER:

Yes, this is December. Ran in short sleeves and a skirt and was HOT.

Santa comes through our neighborhood every year...

Ran the Reindeer Run 5k with Sara. Notice the AG medals!

ran our running club's Jingle Ball half on Christmas Eve morning with Riyanti

wonderful pre-Christmas celebration at my sister's house

celebrated a quiet Christmas at home

December was all kinds of awesome, and crazy busy. In addition to normal life stuff, I joined Michael's 5k-a-Day challenge for the month. I ran or walked 5k every day for the entire month! It was interesting how by the end of the month, it was a habit, and no longer felt like an impossible chore (which I admit, it TOTALLY felt like at the beginning of the month).

JANUARY:

just because it is HILARIOUS

Kim got me partner sessions with our trainer for Christmas. SO FUN!

ran a new trail with Kim and Kelly

went to a running club party. NOT in running clothes!

I had planned on January being a month of sloth. After all, I ran more than 1400 miles in 2012, 140 of which happened in December. But it took me a while to slow down. The week before the party I didn't run at all. I think it was my first non running week in over a year. AND I LOVED IT. Sometimes rest is a good thing...

FEBRUARY:

me and Kim running our running club's Half with Heart

me and Riyanti after finishing

I ran the Chicago Running Blogger beer run, but I had to skip the beer part

dinner and BOWLING to celebrate our friend's birthday

Also in February, the snow STARTED. At first, I was way happy to finally get some. But seriously, now it JUST WON'T STOP.

playing in the snow in the dark :)

MARCH:

James turned 6!!

angry birds cupcakes :)

Jenna's last home game as an 8th grader. My baby starts high school in the fall!

Julia's First Reconciliation

That about catches you up on what's been going on over here. I'll try not to be such a stranger, I promise!