Storm Ella, and Denis, and Clare, and Benedict, and Adrianne

Today, Wednesday, February 2, 2011,  was the second day of Storm Ella. Ice. Yesterday was the snow. I think we're up to 75" this month. I've been out of the office 3 days this month along with a few shortened days, because of snow. Crazy. Glen had to pick at the driveway today to chip away the sheet of ice. And word has it another storm is on it's way for Saturday.  Somehow we've managed to plan things that landed on good days. UConn vs Duke on Monday, dinner plans with friends and last Friday we went to The Kate in Old Saybrook to hear Jonathan Edwards. Awesome concert. Zabrockys, MacDonalds, Eng/Bowens met there and enjoyed a drink at Penny Lane afterwards. Nice night.

Joined the gym just in time.  Already logged four days there and with the forecast as it is I think I'll spend lots of time there. Started 10k training and am staying on track. Week 2 in progress and hope to get to the treadmill tomorrow morning to log W2D3, 3 mile easy run.

And I completed part II of my first ever batch of Limoncello.  Have to get out to look for pretty bottles to use for storing the brew.  I saved a store bought Limoncello bottle - frosted. Hope to find some like it.

Dinner with Gaye and Roger Whitham tomorrow night.

10k training starts today

Day 23 of the 100 Days Challenge down. It's been frigid, snowy, just too cold to run outside. My yoga class got me through 3 days last week, but I had to start my training today and Jill gave me a nudge so outside it was.  She warned me it was 7 degrees out but it wasn't really.  So I was overdressed but that was a pleasant surprise. We got in our 3 mile easy run and the sticker is in place on my chart.
100 days challenge chart
So if I'm to make it through the next week of lousy forecasts I think it's time I started that 3 month membership at New England Athletic or whatever it's called now (still Champions in my book.) Will go tomorrow to sign up and be initiated. Figure if I go twice a week it'll be worth my while.

Snow Day!

A very rare occurrence I'm told. Wesleyan closed due to weather conditions today. Woke up to about 10" of snow with another 6-12 predicted.  It'll take a while to dig out from under this beautiful white blanket.

Sticking to my goal of finishing the 100 Days Challenge. Day 11 yesterday - a bunch of us met after work on campus and ran 3.25 miles. Cold out but not windy and once we got going we were ok. Met for dinner at New England Emporium on Main Street, Middletown. Really cute new restaurant. Crepes and such.  After 5 PM you can bring in your own wine. Cozy, good food, and fun.

Sunny Sunday

Temperatures hit 50 today, I'm sure. Sunshine, no wind,  no ice to contend with, or snow, no gloves, no hat, only a long sleeved shirt and capris and sunglasses!!!!!  Just had to go for a run this afternoon, even though my knees were suggesting otherwise. So a short one it would be.

I avoid hills. I hate hills. Don't know why. Walking hills isn't so bad, but I was never fond of them. Now I know that walking them is easy. But, as suggested by Beth Weller, hills are my friends. So we better get along. I feel the need to bond with them thar hills.

Feeling a little motivation now to get my act together. Kind of have a feeling that I'll be running with Beth at some point, and I just can't have her whoop me. I know she's doing the Fleet Feet program so I better get it in gear.

Since I'd already run yesterday I decided I'd go for a shorter run, but incorporate a hill workout. Started by running down Sequoia, then around to BlackHaw and down the hill to the condos. O well, as long as I'm doing hills, I may as well run up that first hill. Good idea - it wasn't that bad and running down was good. My initial intent was to just run down BlackHaw to Evergreen and that hill would "be my friend" but threw the extra hill in. Gosh, I hadn't realized just how long that stupid Evergreen hill actually was! Walked halfway up, then ran to Blackhaw, down Loquat, UP SEQUOIA and called it a day after rounding the bend. O my. Good one. Maybe next time I should just think about running around the Oxford Park Club house and down. Anyway, there certainly is no shortage of hills in this neighborhood.

Glen and I went to the Hartford Marthathon Foundation Open House this afternoon. Interested in talking to someone about the training programs they offer. Looks like the best one for me is the 10k session starting mid July. Might also sign up for the 5k session that ends with the Run for Women race late July. I need motivation and hand holding!

Running in the Rain

I've often pictured myself running in the rain, but thought it would be a warm Spring rain. The weather has been all over the place, mostly cold, snowy, yukky. Not good for keeping to my running schedule. I knew that going into the winter though so haven't been down about it. Just don't want to stop.

So before I went to bed last night I pledged on one of my forums that I would get out and run this AM regardless of the weather. I rolled out of bed to the pitter patter of rain, peeked out the window to make sure it wasn't sleet (that's where I draw the line!) - pulled my rain geer from the closet and hit the road (warmed up inside - did some of the butt kicks and knee lifts recommended in that Masters video). Yes, it sure was raining. Pretty hard, actually. But I'd promised myself I could do a short workout so did my loop of hills, 2x around. Wow, pitch black, rain pouring down the shoulder of the road, storm gutters roaring. Pretty neat! So chalk that one up. Next time I run in the rain, though, it'd better be 60 degrees and daffodils peeping through. Time for coffee.

Consolidating blogs

Thought I might keep a running blog separate from this one, but the thought of updating two blogs meant I didn't update either. So I'm pulling over a few posts from the other and will keep this one active.