Lincoln Half Marathon training W1, D5. Easy 4. Target 12:05-12:55, actual 12:00.

4 miles in 48:00 on treadmill. The treadmill and I had some issues today. Whereas the belt ripped and wrapped around the roller and caused the machine to stop! I performed some minor surgery and kept running.

I’m rocking my new running shirt that my bestie gave me for Christmas. I dig it.

I’m experiencing a lot more mouth pain today. The dentist told me Sunday thru Wednesday would be the worst. So far, he’s right.

I’m going back to work tomorrow for the first time since December 19th…It feels kinda weird!

Happy Sunday friends!

Lincoln Half Marathon training
W1, D1. Easy 3 miles, 12:05 goal pace, actual 11:48.

My first run of the Hanson’s regime! As you can see, I didn’t quite hit my goal pace. It was really hard to run that slow! I’ve been running sub 10:00/miles in the first mile of most of my last few runs so I had a really hard time slowing down. My watch kept beeping at me because my pace was all over the place. Whoops! I’ll get there, I’m sure. A bonus? I ran the whole way! Most of the time I end up walking a bit of the run, but not this one! That’s huge for me!

I had a low-key New Year’s eve: friends, boardgames, and food. Good times. The wisdom teeth come out tomorrow. And then I head back to work on Monday after 16 glorious days off. Booo.

Happy 2015 friends!

Insert Snappy Title Here

In the midst of my 2 week holiday break things are going pretty great here in the heartland.

I had a date yesterday!! Yup. My self-imposed hiatus is over! It was with a guy I met at a friend’s wedding in Colorado in early December. He lives in Lincoln and works at a bank in my hometown. We met for lunch yesterday. He even asked what I’m doing for New Year’s Eve! He’s been pretty motivated; texting me a lot and even from his friend’s phone when his died at a basketball game! (I was impressed by that!) I don’t know that I want to go to his friend’s house party with him and his other friends on NYE…but we shall see. I’m cautiously optimistic here.
My FitBit is being a jerk and appears to be dying. I’ve had it 4 months. It acts like its dead or just quits working. I called them this morning and they got into my account and said it is draining within a minute of coming off the charger. I actually don’t think that’s the problem…as it will work for hours and then stop, but either way, they’re sending me a new one FOR FREE! I hope this one works.
I woke up with a horrible pain in my right shoulder. It feels like the muscles are all messed up and it hurts all the way down my back when I move my head. And of course no one can see me for a massage today. The Struggle. IT’S REAL.
5 treadmill miles today. I wanted to run outside, but it was 3 degrees out there and that’s just too cold for me. So treadmill it was. And it was a good run. 5 miles//53:37. I kept upping the speed so it made it go faster!
I’m making soup (from a can) and beer bread for dinner. The perfect dinner for these frigid temps!
Today has been both busy and relaxing. Those are the best days!

Have a terrific Tuesday friends!!

Sunday-Funday-Runday

When the weather is this great, you go for a run. Even if your schedule doesn’t really call for a run today. But perfect winter running days are few and far between here in Nebraska, so you take advantage.

You know how sometimes, during a run you can’t wait until that run is over? And then when the run is finally done, instead of being grateful that it’s over, you think to yourself, “maybe I should just go for another couple of miles?”

Yeah, me neither. 🙂

Well, Bullocks.
Alternatively, “This is why Melissa can’t have nice things.”

My phone fell out of my hoodie pocket while I was getting laundry out of the dryer. It fell face-first onto the concrete floor of my basement and the above photo is the only damage done. I “fixed” the case with some packing tape because I’m cool like that (read: ghetto) and hope that Santa (mom) takes pity on me and will order a new one! Or that superglue will work.

Also, does that second picture annoy anyone else? My clothes are disorganized and creepin’ out of my dresser drawers at the moment. I need more storage space! For now, I shove things inside and then wonder why my t-shirts are wrinkled. But apparently I can’t be bothered to worry about making them fit into the drawers at the moment. First world problems with Melissa.

I had a great run tonight…4 miles, negative splits, set to Christmas music. My night was complete with a viewing of “The Holiday” by candlelight.

My heart is full today. Christmas really IS about the giving. It’s good to remember that. 🙂

Sweet dreams friends!

What is this sorcery? 53° in the middle of December? I’ll take it!

I ran a 5k this morning. It would have been more except I have a head cold that caused me to cut this run short.

I caught up on the latest episode of Serial during my run and managed to get a double honk from some rando in an SUV. A former high school classmate texted me that she saw me running.

Afterward I hit Target to mostly finish Christmas shopping. There’s a gift card left to be gotten, and things that still need to be delivered, but otherwise, I’m done! I think it’s the earliest that’s ever happened before!

I’m relaxing now before I have to shower and get ready for the last wedding of the year for me. (Thank goodness!) I did buy a fabulous new dress…pictures to come! It’s hunter green, curve-hugging, lacy and sparkly. Basically, the perfect holiday wedding dress!

Happy Saturday friends!

Hump Day things

I’m shutting down the Ok Cupid profile. At this point it is just getting comical. I got another email from a guy my age I had deemed to be fairly normal last night. We have exchanged quite a few emails. Last night he asked me what are somethings about me that he wouldn’t like.
I told him this felt like one of those interview questions that you can’t win at. I said I’m sometimes indecisive, talk a lot, I HAVE to run sometimes. Like will drop other things so that I can run. Things like that. I then asked him the same question.
He replied, saying he likes to hunt and can be gone all day. (I’m not a fan). He’s not skinny or buff, just average. Likes to do chewing tobacco. And then the kicker: when he’s in a relationship he has a “high sex drive.” And that can “bother some people.”
DUDE. I’ve never even met you and you’re telling me this? Nope. No thank you. I quit.
I got an email today from a 22-year-old college student who thinks I’m stunning. I appreciate that. I really do. But I’m just at a totally different place in my life than the college students I see each day on campus. I am ready to settle down. They’re ready to party. Oy. Why do I attract the 21 and 22-year-olds?
Tonight is the holiday meal at the dorm where my office is. My co-workers and I are going. I’m very excited. I used to love these meals when I was in school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Delicious food and desserts. Total Win.
I hit the snooze for over an hour this morning, so no run before work. I woke up with a stuffy nose and sexy pflegm voice.
Do you guys always feel better about how your body looks after you get done with a workout? I do. I currently feel mushy and gross. I know it is related to not running this morning and going to eat at a buffet with a college friend last night. But still. Blech.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

4 miles on this Black Friday in some pretty fantastic weather. Another Serial podcast kept me company today. Made it go fast.

While I was out for my run, I encountered an older woman walking on the sidewalk coming towards me. I made the choice to run out on the street as she was taking up the entire sidewalk and not appearing like she was going to move. As I passed her, I looked over, smiled and said hi. She looked at me and said “you shouldn’t be running in the street.”

The smile froze on my face and I just kept running past her. I think I grunted something noncommittal at her. But really lady? You were in the middle of the sidewalk and saw me running towards you, and didn’t make any effort to move over so I could stay on the sidewalk! I thought I was being respectful and polite by moving into the street! Whatevs.

When I synced my Fitbit, I was in second place! Again, I’m sure it won’t last long. But I’m excited while it lasts!

Yesterday I ended up with a little over 20,000 steps! On Thanksgiving day no less!

I’m currently watching the Husker game. It’s not pretty. I’m having a pretty great holiday weekend. Hope you are too, friends!

Tuesday things:

Brooke has me drinking the Hanson’s kool-aid. (Fun fact: Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings, Nebraska by a man named Edwin Perkins!) But, since I’m too lazy to actually read the book and make a schedule for myself, I asked her to do it. And because she’s the most awesome, she did. My plan starts the week of New Year’s. With a fitting 3 mile run on the first day of the New Year. A good way to begin I think.
She mapped it all out so that I have no excuses. Crap. 🙂
Today is my Friday. I’m having a rough go of focusing. Get your head in the game Melissa.
I gained a bunch of new followers after this post. Welcome new friends! A little bit about me: I’m Melissa, I work for a non-profit that deals with Honors programs. I used to be in TV News for 10.5 years. I’ve run 10 Halfs and 1 Full Marathon. I have a crazy dating life and probably should write a book about the weird men I’ve gone out with. Tell me more about you! I won’t bite! 😉
Today’s OOTD. I really like stripes. I wear them a lot. Mint strips are one of my favorites though!
I got up and was on the treadmill at 5:15am for 2 miles this morning. AND I’m going to the gym after work for my weight lifting class. Two-A-Day FTW!
In other news, my 8-year-old nephew is texting* me now! It’s so fun! I love that kid. And, like a true man, he never replied to my last text message that I sent him, asking him a specific question. Apparently, texting mind games start early with some boys! 🙂

Talk soon friends!

*The 8 year old has a cell phone because he walks home from the bus stop each day and has to call my brother while he’s walking. Safety first!

Monday, Monday.

Short Week, FTW! I only work Monday and Tuesday!! First Thanksgiving off in A DECADE. I’m deliriously happy. I get to help with Thanksgiving dinner, run my first (real) Turkey Trot with my brother, sister-in-law, and 2 of my nephews, and enjoy some down time.
I got up and ran before work this morning! First time since I was at my conference 2 weeks ago. I was on the treadmill by 5:10am. Whoo-Hoo!
I’ve jumped on the Serial bandwagon. I am only 3 podcasts in, but crap you guys! That’s good stuff. I ran while listening to it this morning. I really enjoy doing that as opposed to always listening to music during my runs.
As of 8am, I’m less than 2500 steps away from my goal for the day. That’s a great feeling.
I had to screenshot where I’m at on the leaderboard for steps! I know things will change once everyone syncs their fitbits, but for one brief, shiny moment in time. I’m pretty high up there. Hooray!
Today’s OOTD: Leggings, a dress that I’m waaayy too tall for so it has now become the kind of dress that I will wear with leggings, and my gray boots. A solid choice. I’m digging the whole Jail escapee thing I’ve got going on today. 😉

Happy Monday friends!