Thursday, April 7, 2011

growing seeds

Just as I did last Spring I am growing an organic vegetable garden on my patio and just as last year I am getting a later start on it that I would have liked. Early March I started growing seeds in a contraption I made using egg cartons and empty toilet paper rolls cut into thirds.



I am attempting to grow a slightly larger garden than last year (to be able to share with Steph, my friend and neighbor, and possibly have some to freeze or dry to last throught winter and share with others). So far my planted seeds include: basil, oregano, cilantro, thyme, chives, 2 types of lettuce, carrots, and green onions. I filled each reservoir with potting soil, planted the seeds according to each ones individual instructions and then watered as needed (about every other day).


They sat absorbing light through my sliding glass doors for a few weeks.



They all sprouted at their own pace but once grown enough, I transplanted the seedlings into pots outside. I also started a second set of seeds for the lettuce, carrots and green onions so I will have product ready in cycles so it's not all ready for consumption at the exact same time. I plan to continue doing this with more seeds until I run out of room.


Also planted outside (because these seeds are not meant to be transplanted) are Blue Lake Green Beans and sugar snap peas (both an addition from last year). Also planted are a bell pepper plant, tomato plant, and strawberries which all started from small plants rather than seeds. I am hoping for lots of sun and a garden full of large yield this Spring and Summer!

Coming soon: Pictures of my patio garden all planted and growing fast!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Half Marathon Countdown {2 months}


The half marathon that once seemed so far away back in November when I initially decided to run it, is now just less that 2 months away...AHH! Yesterday marked the official 2 month mark from when I will traverse 13.1 miles in a single event. Ever since I ran in the 10 K in mid-March I have been more successful with my training. The 10 K rejuvinated me and I have been running 2-3 times and doing 2 cross training days (usually Pure Barre classes) each week. Each run gets easier and I am able to run longer distances before needing to stop to walk. To date my longest run is 7.5 miles (I ran all the way around Coronado Island) and on Friday I am planning to run 9.5 miles! My "short" runs now are typically not shorter than 4 miles which is crazy considering when I started my training 4 miles was my long run. Part of me is sad that this training will eventaully be over (I cannot believe I actually feel that and said it). My hope is that I can continue running without having a half-marathon goal set as I don't know if I will do another. Here is to the last 2 months of training! Go BIG or go home!

Friday, April 1, 2011

'sissy's song'

On my 5 minute drive to work Wednesday night, this song played on the local country radio station. I started tearing up with the chorus as all I could see were visions of my late sister Lauren. During the Spring I can always feel her around and this was one of those moments. I had to keep my composure since I was headed into work but I couldn't wait to hear this song again. Tonight I looked up the lyrics and watched the music video (posted below in this post). I couldn't believe the title of the song is 'Sissy's Song'. Anyways, hope you enjoy this song and lyrics as much as i did. Here is to 16 years (on April 5th) of celebrating your life Lauren!

Sissy's Song

Alan Jackson

Why did she have to go
So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time
Without reason without rhyme
Lovely, sweet young woman
Daughter, wife and mother
Makes no sense to me
I just have to believe

Chorus:
She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

Loved ones she left behind
Just trying to survive
And understand the why
Feeling so lost inside
Anger shot straight at God
Then asking for His love
Empty with disbelief
Just hoping that maybe

Repeat Chorus
It's hard to say goodbye
Her picture in my mind
Will always be of times I'll cherish
And I won't cry 'cause

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me
Don't worry 'bout me
Don`t worry 'bout me

april showers brings may flowers


This month I am hoping for more Spring like days than rainy days, I will finish planting my Spring patio vegetable garden, continue half-marathon training, travel home to the Bay Area for Easter, and hopefully complete some crafting projects! Do you have anything fun and exciting planned for this month/Spring season? What kind of projects do you like to do for Spring?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

a thought on running to run

Yesterday my friend and training partner Pati and I went on a 'long' run...7.5 miles. We planned this long run around Coronado Island and about half way into the run I turned to Pati and said something along the lines of, "I don't get running. Here we are running in a big circle and for what." We didn't stop anywhere, we didn't get anywhere we couldn't have gotten to by car, and yes although we DID get some exercise, actually let me preface that we got ALOT of exercise, we were also left sore and in the same place we started. Pati and I decided that we don't get the people that say they like to run to run (at least not long distances >5 miles by my definition). And although my current definition of long distance run is > 5 miles, when I started running anything over one or two miles was long distance, so if you think that I'm crazy to think 5 miles is alot or not alot, I can see how that personal definition is easily changeable.

Let me just make the point that I am running to train so I don't die when I run the half marathon, ok die may be a little drastic but more so I can semi "enjoy" the process of participating in the half marathon if that is possible. I do not see myself being coming a life long long distance runner or going further to participate in a full marathon or even another half marathon for that. After this process I can possibly see myself running occasionally for exercise but that's it. Pati really put things into perspective for me when she stated at the end of our 7.5 mile run, "If we ran that again, we would be closer to our half marathon distance," to which my response was, "Shut up!" One long run at a time I will get there.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

nor pac

This post comes a little late, but better than never, right!? Mid-February I headed up to Washington state to visit my dear friends the McQuiddy's. My friend Kristin, from nursing school, whom I've mentioned before, was going to be flying solo with her 14 month old, Haley, while her husband Frank needed to travel to San Diego with the Navy, so I flew north to keep her company and help her out with the now walking little one! Frank ended up having his travel plans changed and was in Seattle for the first 2 days I was there. My first full day in the Seattle area we took a beautiful hike through a "forest" which opened up to rock lined beach...it was gorgeous!

This is where our hike started...don't let the shinning sun fool you, it was in the 30's!




Getting a little deeper into the forest.


Haley sacked out about 5 minutes in.



Mrs. and  Mr.


The trees just about to open up to the beach.


The Olympic Mountains standing tall over the Puget Sound.



Kristin and I


Mobile Haley...not too sure what to think about walking on rocks.


I enjoyed this day and all our other days together emensly! Thanks for having me up to visit, it was great to spend time with you all! I will greatly miss not having you on the West Coast for much longer : ( but I look forward to visiting Newport, Rhode Island!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

10 K

On Sunday, March 13th (my sister's 25th birthday), my dad and I completed a 10 K (6.15 miles). This is the longest distance I have ever run at one time...I believe EVER! I finished the race in one hour and 21 minutes which was really exciting, especially since my dad and I roughly stated right before we started running that our goal was to finish in 90 minutes. It was slightly unfortunate that the race was really unorganized and  started late.

As for the mile by mile details, Dad, Mom (our cheerleader), and myself walked from my parents house to Vasona Park where most of the race was held. Once the race started Dad and I ran together for the first 2 1/2 miles before I encouraged him to go ahead as I had been battling a side cramp since about half a mile into the start of the race and needed to take some walking breaks. In the end he finished just 10 minutes before me. Mile 3-4 was hard for me mentally, at that point I felt like we had run so far and we were only at mile 3 ...and all I could think was we are only half way there ...instead of... we are half way there! At about mile 4 I finally started feeling in the groove and my side ache was gone and things were feeling good. Unfortunately that feeling didn't last long and soon the muscle and joint pain was the only thing on my mind. By mile 5 I was just trying to keep my legs moving as I knew I was almost there. The last couple hundred yards my dad came back to finish with me, he was such great inspiration and gave me the encouraging words that I need to push through to the finish line. After passing the finish line I felt such a sense of accomplishment, we hydrated, nourished our bodies and walked back home.

Reflecting on my training, I believe that I could have done a lot more running in preparation for the 10 K and will definitely need to do more training for the half-marathon! Despite lack of training in the past few weeks I was expecting to be a lot more sore the day after the race. I woke up with sore calves but overall felt pretty good (that was until I tried to run on Tuesday) but life in general wasn't too bad! As far as diet and pre-hydration goes pre-10 K I believe I did well with that. I drank probably 4 times the amount of water I usually drink (I historically don't drink enough)  the 2 days before and day of the race and increased my carbs. My energy and hydration levels throughout the run felt good. As my training runs and especially for the half-marathon I will be trying some Gu and gels for mid run energy boosts.

I am looking forward to a final 10 weeks of strong training before I will run the SD Rock and Roll Half-Marathon. The 10 K re-energized me (and slightly scared me) for the next few weeks of increased mileage and hard work! Here are some pictures from race day!


Pre-Race Hub-Bub

Dad and I pre-race
Get ready...Get Set...GO!
Dad and I cross the start line!
"HI Mom"
Dad finishes!
I finish...I look like my legs are about to buckle!
Dad and I post-race! (We both got finisher's medals!)