Happy Leap Day 2012!

Hope you all are having a wonderful extra day!

Have you heard this song by Gotye on the radio?


Right now this song speaks to me. Not because of G! but because of a few other relationships that I have that are falling apart. I know I am partially at fault with the demise of these relationships, but it still makes me sad.

"But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know"

I try my hardest to live by this wonderful quote by Maya Angelou, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
I just wish others would too.

-ELH

Kitty play time

While I was doing my Nike Training Club, Arti decided she need to do her own workout. She pushed my running shoes and an empty shoe box around the living room. It was hilarious watching her push the box back and forth with her head. I wasn't able to get the flip camera out fast enough, but I was able to get these lovely before and after shots!

Before -

After -

As my thesis says, "Arti who makes me laugh!"
I just love that cat!

Enjoy!
ELH

Weekly workout review

Mon, Feb 20^th – My back was feeling awful, so instead of running Molly and I went for a 4.15mile walk. Tired dog! I was able to do my back stretching and some exercises. Next Monday is my PCP doctors appointment. I am excited to start figuring out a long-term care plan for my back!

Tues, Feb 21^st – Nike Training Club – Get Toned – True Condition (advanced level, 45min)

Workout –

2min walking lunges

2min straight leg kicks

1min slide and glide

2min recover

2x{ 2min push ups with feet on medicine ball – just did them on my knees

1min push up to frogger

30sec tuck jumps

2min side lunge

2min single deadlift reverse fly with 5lb weights

1min mountain climbers

30sec tuck jumps

2min sumo squat with lateral raise with 5lb weights

1 min bicycles

30sec recover}

2min push ups with feet on medicine ball – just did them on my knees

1min push up to frogger

30sec tuck jumps

2min side lunge

2min single deadlift reverse fly with 5lb weights

1min mountain climbers

30sec tuck jumps

2min sumo squat with lateral raise with 5lb weights

1min lying quad stretch

1min standing hamstring stretch

1min lower back stretch

And then I did more back exercises and stretching.

Wed, Feb 22^nd – Oh my pecks! That was a ton of push-ups yesterday!

Running workout….

15min warm-up – 1mile @8:45, 0.69miles @9:02

4x {5min @8:30, 2min easy} – 1^st @ 8:29, 2^nd @8:12, 3^rd @8:15, 4^th @8:19

10min warm-down – 1mile @8:45, 0.14miles @8:50

Total – 5.65miles in 53min. Great workout!

Thurs, Feb 23^rd – More Nike Training Club – Get Toned – Total Impact (advanced, 45min)

Workout –

1min slide and glide

1min opposite skips

1min light jog

1min full extensions with 10lb weight

1min V-ups

1min plank on knees

1min Russian twists

30sec knee tucks

30sec alternating froggers

2min pulse lunges

2min plank row to rotation

2min jump wood chop

1min plank row to rotation

2min single leg deadlift arm curl with 5lb weights

2min wide leg deadlifts with 5lb weights

1min kick backs with 5lb weights

30sec 2feet plank side hops

30sec froggers

2min single leg clock squats with 5lb weights

1min single arm plank rows

1min froggers to shoulder press with 5lb weights

1min plank

2min step back lunge with overhead press with 5lb weights

30sec mountain climbers

30sec alternating froggers

2min pulse lunges

2min single leg deadlift dumbbell row with 5lb weights

2min wood chops with 5lb weights

1min plank row to rotation

2min wide leg deadlifts with 5lb weights

1min kick backs

30sec 2feet plank side hops

30sec froggers

1min frogger to shoulder press

2min plank on knees

2min lying quad stretch

Tired!

Fri, Feb 24^th – off/rest day

Sat, Feb 25^th – Long running day – scheduled was 10miles, the plan was to do 3 x 5k to train for the 5x5k race on April 1^st. Since I missed the 15mile run scheduled for last weekend, I thought a good plan for today would be a 9mile run and then 2 x 5k. It turned out to be a 9mile run and a 5k. I was going to do the second 5k, but felt very tired and weak. I ate a fruit-leather after the 9miles and drank some juice. I didn’t have anything after the first 5k – not a good idea. This was great practice for the race – I need to remember to bring my own food. I did take a hot Epsom salt bath and napped for a few hours!

Splits –

Mile 1 – 8:28

Mile 2 – 8:38

Mile 3 – 8:58 (hills!)

0.23miles @8:58

1:57min walk break

1mile @8:49

1mile @8:44

0.24miles @9:02

2:08min walk break

1mile @8:52

1mile @8:49

1mile @8:53

0.31miles @8:55

Total – 9.0miles in 1:21.13

12min pee, eat, drink, and update my ipod break!

5k –

Mile 1 – 8:30

Mile 2 – 8:36

Mile 3 – 8:33

0.1mile @8:49

Total – 3.1miles in 26:30

Total for the day – 12.1miles in 1:47.43 – not to shabby!

Sun, Feb 26^th – The plan was to do a Nike Training club workout and a long walk with Molly….

Instead I did 2hrs of yard work and took Molly for a 2.1mile walk.

We are getting a new privacy fence on the right-side of our house and some of the brush needed to be cleared out. Our lawn guys have left it alone to “hide” the ugly fence.

Yes, we have a lawn service! They come every two weeks and it is totally worth it. I have zero interest in mowing the yard or doing any of the regular clearing. G is super busy during the week and the weekends are rest time. He doesn’t want to do it. And have I mentioned that we have ~1/4 acres of yard! Between the two of us, it would take a full day to do what the lawn service does in an hour.

I called out lawn guys to see if they could clear it the next time they come to deal with the yard, but they didn’t return the call. The new fence might be installed as early as this week, so I decided to tackle it myself! I am great at yard clearing!

What have you been up to this past week?

Enjoy!

ELH

Artwork

We added some homemade artwork to our "kitchen" wall. Actually, our kitchen walls all have cabinets on them, so the "kitchen" wall is the wall next to the island that divides the kitchen from the dining/living room.

A few weekends ago, my MIL and I got all the grans over to her house for my art project idea. They are 10, 8, 5, 3, and 1year old, so their hands are all different sizes. Using the water based paint samples we had collected from painting the house last year (15 samples to settle on 5 colors!) I painted each child's hand and then stamped brown construction paper. It went from oldest to youngest! I think it came out great and it was a wonderful bonding time! Especially with the 5 and 3 year old, who would dance for me when I waved the hair dryer in their direction. Love.

We now have Arti's paw prints from when I was painting the house, a picture the 10year old made for G for Christmas based on the YouTube video "My spoon is too big!", and the nephews/niece hand prints!

What art projects have you been up to?
Enjoy!
ELH

Hockey commercial

Another favorite of mine, especially since Detroit Red Wing Nick Lidstrom is in it!
Enjoy!
ELH

One of my favorite commercials right now

This is 100% true! Love it!
ELH

Weekly workout review

Mon, Feb 13^th – Walked Molly 2.17 miles in the AM, went to PT in the evening, and did a Nike Training Club bonus 15min workout – Sofia Boutella Fearless. She is a professional dancer and this workout kicked my butt. Not only are my abs weak, so are my legs, and coordination. I need to repeat this workout a few more times!

Workout –

3x { 1min Crunch circuit

1min V-ups

1min side V-ups with leg kicks (I skipped the kicks since the side V-ups were hard enough!)

1min V-hold with leg kicks (my legs don’t get straight!)

1min side high kicks}

Tues, Feb 14^th – This was supposed to be a run day, but the weather was cold and rainy and it is supposed to be nice on Wednesday and sucky again on Thursday, so moved my runs to Wednesday and Friday. I did another Nike Training Club workout – Get Lean – Advanced – 45min.

Workout –

2min light jog

1min back pedal

1min slide and glide

1min straight leg kicks

1min recover

3 x {1min ski jumps with 10lb weight

1min squat jumps – working on using my glutes while squatting

1min plank walks

1min jump rope

1min recover

2min alternating step back lunges with 5lb weights

1min kick downs

1min modified tricep push ups

1min recover}

2min alternating step back lunges with 5lb weights

1min mountain climbers

1min hip lifts

2min standing hamstring stretch

2min pretzel stretch

1min lying quad stretch

Wed, Feb 15^th – Run day with my new kicks!

20min warm-up – 1mile @ 8:56, 1mile @ 8:51, 0.24miles @ 9:28 (uphill!)

25min at 8:30 average – 2miles @ 8:30, 8:29, 0.94miles @ 8:28

7min warm-down – 0.82miles @ 8:39

Total – 6miles in 52:07

Besides the big hill during the warm-up, I felt pretty good! It is still a metal challenge to get started, but that is another issue!

Thurs, Feb 16^th – Nike Training Club (“You are going to do a 45min workout,” says the NTC women.) Get Lean – Advanced – Fast + Fierce

Workout –

1min light jog

1min back pedal

1min plank

2min single leg deadlift arm curl

30sec alternating froggers

30sec tuck jumps

2min step back lunge with overhead press

1min plank walks

1min ski jumps to cross back lunge

2min wide leg deadlifts

30sec 2fett plank side hops

30sec knee tucks

1min toe touches

1min side plank crunches

2min single leg deadlift dumbbell row

30sec high knee runs in place

30sec frogger with swivel

1min cleans

1min squat rotation

2min side lunge with arm curl

2min opposite arm/leg extension

30sec mountain climbers

30sec squat jumps

2min modified side plank leg lift

2min single leg clock squats

1min full extensions

1min V-ups

30sec plank on hands

30sec ski jumps

30sec scissor jumps

1min suitcases

1min jump wood chops

1min push-ups with feet on medicine ball – just did them on my knees

1min reverse crunches

30sec 2feet lateral hops in place

1min opposite arm/leg suppermans

2min basketball lunge with medicine ball press

1min kick downs

1min plank

30sec scissor jumps

30sec froggers

1min standing hamstring stretch

1min lower back stretch

That was hard!

Fri, Feb 17^th – Run day!

5mile warm-up – 8:50, 8:52, 0.21miles @ 9:02, 8:43, 8:38, 0.88miles @ 8:40

8 x 30sec PU –

1^st – 0.07miles @7:04

2^nd – 0.07miles @7:13

3^rd - 0.07miles @6:47

4^th – 0.08miles @6:27

5^th – 0.08miles @6:20

6^th – 0.08miles @6:23

7^th – 0.07miles @7:00

8^th – 0.08miles @6:37

Total – 6miles in 54:37.

I did finish the workout with a cool-down walk with Molly – 0.5miles.

Sat, Feb 18^th – off/rest day! I did do my lower back stretching/exercises.

Sun, Feb 19^th - Long run day! 15miles on the schedule….

Running didn’t happen. It was cold and rainy out. I decided to do a Nike Training Club workout – Get Toned – Advanced – Super Fusion – 45min

Workout –

2min slide and glide

2min light jog

1min high knees

1min recover

2min side lunge with rotation with 10lb weight

2min deadlift with 5lb weights

2min sumo squat with press with 5lb weights

2min walk out push up to swivel

1min bicycles

2min ski jumps to cross back lunge with 10lb weight

1min mountain climbers

2min sumo squat with lateral raise with 5lb weights

2min inch worm to push up

1min cross back lunge with 10lb weight

2min alternating step back lunges with 5lb weights

1min bicycles

2min single leg deadlift arm curl with 5lb weights

1min walk out push up to swivel

2min alternating step back lunges with 5lb weights

1min 2feet lateral hops in place

2min wood chops with 5lb weights

1min reverse crunches

2min side plank on knees

1min bicycles

2min lying quad stretch

2min pretzel stretch

1min lower back stretch

Next – Bonus workout – Perri Shakes Drayton Fast and Flexible – 15min

3 x { 1min alternating frogger

1min single leg hops

1min slow mountain climbers

1min Turkish get ups

1min hip circles}

Great hour of working out! If the rain stops, I’ll take Molly for a walk….

What where your workouts like this week?
Enjoy!
ELH

Running shoes

What do the bottom of your running shoes look like?

Mine look like this - The shoe on the left was the one I wore for the marathon and the shoe on the right was from all my marathon training. As you can see, I wear out the toes pretty good. The rest of the shoes has pretty average wear on it.


I was planning on wearing the left shoe throughout my next half marathon, but since the toe is already showing wear I decided to use one of the 2 new pairs in my closet (maybe this will also help with my motivation :))! I guess that means I need to look for more at the next expo!

Enjoy!
ELH

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lovely cake made by my MIL and decorated by my niece!

Hope you all have a wonderful day with your Valentine!
Enjoy!
ELH

Workout update

Mon, Feb 6^th – We got up early to take Molly for a 1.7mile walk around the block. Later that afternoon, I had PT and when I got home I decided to do Nike Training Club - Get Strong – Be Explosive, advanced level, 30min.

Workout –

1min straight leg kicks

1min light jog

1min back pedal

1min recover

4 x { 30sec push up to plank row

15sec toe touches

30sec deadlift

15sec toe touches

30sec push ups with feet on medicine ball – just did them on my knees

15sec toe touches

30sec plank row to rotation

15sec toe touches

30sec burpee to shoulder press

15sec toe touches

15sec squats

15sec squat jumps

15sec toe touches

1min recover}

30sec push up to plank row

15sec toe touches

30sec deadlift

2min lying quad stretch

1min lower back stretch

Tues, Feb 7^th – Run day! Once I got home, I did my back exercises/stretching.

60min easy run – 1mile @ 8:52, 1mile @ 9:10, 0.96miles @ 9:03, 1:27min walk break, 1mile @ 8:54, 1mile @9:00

8 x {30sec sprint, 30sec recover}

1^st – 0.08miles @ 6:45

2^nd – 0.07miles @ 7:02

3^rd – 0.07miles @ 6:47

4^th – 0.07miles @ 6:43

5^th – 0.08miles @ 6:08

6^th – 0.07miles @ 6:45

7^th – 0.08miles @ 6:24

8^th – 0.07miles @ 6:56

0.44mile cool down @ 9:09

Total – 6.33miles in 59:27.

Wed, Feb 8^th – AM walk with G and Molly – 2.0miles. PT that night for almost 2 hrs! I don’t have another appointment until the end of the night, so my therapist showed me a bunch of exercises to work on until my next appointment. I am definitely going to keep up with all the work we have been doing to build my core. I hate being in pain!

Thurs, Feb 9^th – Planned run day, but then G got up with me and said he was going to take Molly for a walk. He hardly even volunteers to go for a walk, so I decided to skip the run and walk with them. We did do 2.0miles and after I did a ton of back exercises/stretching and abs.

On another note – we had a great date night at Seasons 52. I love spending time with G!

Fri, Feb 10^th – Planned off/rest day, but I decided I didn’t really have anything to rest from, so I did Nike Training Club – Get Strong, Heartbreaker, advanced level 30min and then more back stuff! I am happy that I found this app. It does have one problem, they should build in ~10sec rest time, so you can transition to the next exercise and equipment without feeling guilty that you are missing part of the workout.

Workout –

2min light jog

2min straight leg kicks

1min back pedal

1min recover

3 x { 30sec shoulder press

30sec squats

30sec push ups with feet on medicine ball – just did them on my knees

30sec kick downs

30sec sumo squats with press

30sec mountain climbers

30sec deadlift

30sec toe touches

1min recover}
2min standing hamstring stretch

2min lying quad stretch

Sat, Feb 11^th – I got home late Friday night after meeting Baby Hagen, so I didn’t get to bed until after midnight and the next morning I needed to be done with my run by 10am, which meant I needed to start by 7:30, which equals a 6:30am wake-up! I decided to push the run to Sunday. So instead, I did Nike Training Club – Get Lean – Adrenaline Hit, advanced level, 45min and more back stuff after.

Workout –

1min back pedal

1min high knee runs

1min walking lunges

2min light jog

2min recover

2 x { 1min squat hold

1min plank row to burpee

30sec tuck jumps

1min mountain climbers

2min single leg deadlift shoulder press

1min Russian twists

1min broad jumps

1min recover

2min 2feet lateral hops distance

1min walk out push up to swivel

20sec split jumps

1min plank walks

1min squat flips with 180 degree turns

2min side plank – my PT said to skip side planks, so I did regular planks.

30sec recover}

1min lower back stretch

2min standing hamstring stretch

2min pretzel stretch

Sun, Feb 12^th – Run day! I am doing a 25k race in April. It is actually 5 x 5k! My training plan had a 10miler scheduled for today, so I decided to do 3 x 5k with an ~10min break in between each 5k. Looking at the race information, I should get about 20min between each 5k, so my runs today seem like a great idea.

Splits –

1^st – 8:52, 8:38, 8:35, 0.1miles @ 8:22 – 26:57

2^nd – 8:38, 8:32, 8:29, 0.1miles @ 8:07 – 26:29

3^rd – 8:38, 8:28: 8:20, 0.1miles @ 8:39 – 26:20

I am happy with this and felt good. I did take Molly on a 0.5mile cool down walk.

On another note it was 20deg when I started and 25 when I was finished! Tonight, back exercises/stretching!

Enjoy!

ELH

Over due workout summary

Mon, Jan 23^rd – Nike Training Club – Body Remix, 30min workout., advanced level using 10lb weights.

1min plank

1min wood chops

30sec high knee runs in place

30sec squat jumps

1min alternating froggers

1min side plank crunches

1min burpee to shoulder press

30sec ski jumps

30sec split jumps

1min plank

1min wood chops

30sec Russian twists

30sec 2feet plank side hops

1min sumo squat with press

1min deadlift

30sec mountain climbers

30sec tuck jumps

1min plank

2min single leg deadlift dumbbell row

1min frogger to sumo squat

1min V-ups

2min push away balance

1min 2feet lateral hops in place

1min crazy Ivans

1min froggers

30sec opposite arm/leg supermans

1min full extensions

30sec alternating froggers

1min suitcases

2min side plank

1min lying quad stretch

1min standing hamstring stretch

After, I did my back exercies/stretches.

Tues, Jan 24^th –

15min easy warm-up – 1mile @8:52, 0.68miles @9:04

5 x {3min @8min pace – 0.37miles @8:09, 0.35miles @8:36 (uphill!), 0.37miles @8:09, 0.38miles @7:53, 0.38miles @7:51

3min easy}

10 min easy warm-down – 1mile @8:45, 0.15miles @9:00

5.46miles in 55:08.

Later that night, I did the back exercise/stretching.

Wed, Jan 25^th – I took Molly for a 2.01mile walk in 38:45. Slow dog! Followed by my back exercise/stretching.

Thurs, Jan 26^th – Travel day to Calgary (pics and details coming soon!), so I did a long morning run. 8.01miles in 1:14.07. It felt okay. I am still lacking in motivation, so I do take a few walking breaks. Need to cut this out and increase the mileage!

Splits –

1.0mile @9:20

0.76miles @8:56

1:52min walking break

1.0mile @8:56

0.2miles @8:43

2:18min walking break

1.0mile @8:55

1.0mile @9:03

1.0mile @8:49

1.0mile @8:47

0.84miles @8:56

Fri, Jan 27^th – Did some exploring around Calgary and walked ~5miles! I was able to enjoy a nice afternoon nap!

Sat and Sun, Jan 28^th and 29^th – We went to Banff National Park and walked around the town, Lake Louise, and did some hiking. I did do my back stretching/exercises.

Mon, Jan 30^th – I went exploring in Calgary and a neighborhood called Kensington after I did a Nike Training Club workout – Body Remix – 30min workout, advanced level without weights.

1min back pedal

2min slide and glide

2min light log

1min recover

1min burpee to shoulder press

1min push ups with feet on medicine ball – just did them on my knees

1min plank row to rotation

1min ski jumps

2min basketball lunge with medicine ball press

2min squat arm curls

2min bunny hops with medicine ball above head

1min bicycles

1min toe touches

1min kick downs

1min push up to frogger

2min single leg deadlift dumbbell row

1min medicine ball triceps push up – did these on my knees

1min alternating forward lunge to shoulder press

30sec mountain climbers

30sec knee tucks

2min standing hamstring stretch

1min pretzel stretch

2min lying quad stretch

I ended the workout with lots of back stretching and exercises.

Tues, Jan 31^st – I did a lot of walking around Calgary, exploring. I probably walked ~8miles. I was able to do my back exercises/stretching.

Wed, Feb 1^st – More exploring of Calgary and walking ~8miles! I did another Nike Training Club – Jump Around, 30min, advanced level, without weights.

2min walking lunges

2min straight leg kicks

2min recover

2min side lunge with rotation

1min squat flips with 180degree turns

1min broad jumps

2min burpee to shoulder press

1min plank

2min squat arm curls

1min 2feet lateral hops distance

1min recover

2min side lunge with rotation

1min broad jumps

2min sumo squat with press

1min kick downs

2min single leg deadlift dumbbell row

1min high knee runs in place

1min lying quad stretch

1min standing hamstring stretch

1min pretzel stretch

1min lower back stretch

And more back exercises/stretching!

Thurs, Feb 2^nd – Flying home!! I did do a Nike Training Club – The Edge, 30min, advanced level, without weights, and finished with my back exercises.

1min light jog

1min slide and slide

2min side plank

1min burpee to shoulder press

2min single arm plank rows

30sec squat jumps

30sec froggers

1min squat arm curls

2min single leg deadlift dumbbell row

1min V-ups

1min walk outs

2min side lunge with arm curls

2min deadlift with alternating row

30sec 2feet forward/backward hops in place

30sec mountain climbers

2min single leg clock squats

1min suitcases

1min burpees

1min plank row to shoulder press

2min alternating step back lunge row

1min plank with leg lift

1min pretzel stretch

1min pigeon stretch

1min lying quad stretch

Fri, Feb 3^rd – I had PT in the morning. It felt so good!

Sat, Feb 4^th – I didn’t do any running in Calgary, but I did a ton of walking! I decided to do the 8.0mile loop to test out my endurance and mindset. I was motivated the whole time and it felt pretty good. Hope this keeps up!

8.25miles in 1:16.20

Splits –

Mile 1 – 8:56

Mile 2 – 9:06 – had to take a break due to traffic, so I did stop my watch.

Mile 3 – 8:55

Mile 4 – 8:53

2:36min walking break

1mile @8:54

1mile @9:02

0.03miles @8:42

1:20min walking break

1mile @8:53

1mile @8:55

0.04miles @9:29

I did a cool down walk with Molly – 0.7miles in 14:28.

Sun, Feb 5^th – Lazy day! We did get up early to head to Target to check out the Jason Wu collection. Honestly, I had no idea who he was. I just saw the commercial with the cute black cat with a large red bow. Love! I was able to get the shirt!!

I did do my back stretching/exercises.

Enjoy!

ELH

January Mileage

Running - 55.71miles
Walking - 18.08miles

Not all that great, but I have been struggling with motivation (it is still dark at 7am!) and continued lower back pain.

Enjoy!
ELH

Homemade non-refried beans!

Do you pinterest?
It is addicting and I love it:)

I like trying new things - like the ribbon on my kitchen cabinets to display our Christmas cards.
I saw that someone posted a recipe from a blog for slow cooker refried beans (without the refry).

I like beans. I like to cook with our crock-pot and digital slow cooker. I want to move away from canned goods and instead make things from scratch. The recipe looked easy and her picture looked tasty!

(Side note - Before I started making the beans, G started talking about canned tomatoes - he has noticed that they have a weird taste and makes our chile taste funny. He wants to move away from canned tomatoes! Perfect!)

I made them Saturday during the day and had them Sunday morning with huevos rancheros. Very tasty!

This is definitely a keeper recipe!
What do you think of pinterest?
Found and tried any great recipes?

I would love to hear all about them!
Enjoy!
ELH