Serious Play

Confessions

So, I am behind on absolutely every one of my scrapping projects.

 

I have only completed up to Week 6 of Project Life.

I have only collected up to Day 42 of my Daily Quotes.

I have only created 4 pages in my Art Journal.

I started an online class at the beginning of March and have not even completed the album yet, let alone filled it with pictures.

I am 2 weeks behind in my Half-Marathon journal.

I haven't made a scrapbook page since March 22.

My printer has been out of ink for more than two weeks.

I opted out of Ali Edwards' Week In The Life project this time around.

And my blogging has been sporatic to say the least.

 

But, I am running 7 miles in an hour now.

I can sprint most of the way on a 3 mile run.

My 4 mile runs feel too short.

I am doing sprints up and down the street in front of my house just for fun. Pictured above.

I feel the pull to get out and run when the weather is temperate in case it is too cold to run on a scheduled day.

My jeans are fitting a little better than they have in a long time.

I am planning my meals around my runs.

I completed 11 miles in 1 hour and 55 minutes.

 

So, just so you know, I haven't gone away. I haven't lost interest in creating with paper. I am not going to stop blogging. I will have projects to share again soon.

But right now, I am training for a half-marathon.

 

 

 

 

 

11 Mile Run

So, this weekend in my training schedule, I was to run 11 miles.

 

I figured I needed support from my family for this one, so we made a plan to head out to beautiful Canmore.

On Friday night, we loaded up the Jeep with bikes (for the rest of my family) and my running shoes and set out for the mountains.

 

Within 40 minutes of leaving the city, we are greeted by the Rocky Mountains.

 

We chose an adorable French bistro on Main Street Canmore to have supper. Pictured here, is our appetizer, Caprese Salad, shared four ways.

I so treasure these moments with our girls, sitting around the table chatting and reminiscing and planning for the future, as I know these moments are limited as they get older.

 

We awoke Saturday morning to the mountains warming in the sunshine.

 

I chose a complete breakfast in order to fuel up for my long run.

Of course, this was my second breakfast, since I awoke quite early and ate my pasta leftovers from the night before!!

 

We had planned to run / ride a trail that traverses from Canmore to Banff a total of 18k (which is my 11 miles) but we arrived to find that the trail was still completely covered in snow! Instead, we took in some awesome views of the Canmore valley below before heading back down to scope out another trail.

 

We settled on a trail closer to town that ran along the river. Sean and the girls hopped on their bikes and I set out to run with the sunshine on my face and the scent of pine in the air.

 

As it turned out, this path was not a looping trail, so I ended up going back and forth a few times in order to complete my 11 miles.

 

I have never run 11 miles before, so I had no idea of how much time it would take to complete it. Thankfully, I finished in just under 2 hours!

I completed the first 7 miles in just 1 hour, but then took another hour to run the last 4 miles. Herein lies my challenge...how to maintain my stamina and speed for the last miles of my race. Around mile 9 I am just completely spent and it takes everything in me to even put one foot in front of the other.

I am proud to say that I actually walked very few times and even then, it was usually just long enough to take a few sips of water, or readjust my headphones. I did, however, stop completely about three times to take a picture or two with my iPhone!

I have just under one month of training left before I run my half-marathon, so hopefully I will have figured out how to sustain my energy for 13 miles by then. If there are any runners out there reading this, I welcome any advice in this regard!

 

Regardless, I was tickled to have run 11 miles in under 2 hours, as this alone is quite an accomplishment for me!

After burning over 1200 calories on this long run, I needed to refuel my body. I couldn't wait for a sit-down restaurant, so we head to Starbucks for instant sugar...a green tea frappicino, to replenish my muscles with much needed glucose, and then a burger at Wendy's.

I know that this wasn't the optimal choice for refueling, but not being at home, my options were limited and all I could think was...I need food, now!

 

Later in the afternoon we browsed in the used bookstore...a favourite activity.

 

Finally, after a warm bath and a little reading, I fell asleep, feeling quite content and pleased with my day.

 

I am so grateful that my family came along to support me on this long run. They have been more than stellar at encouraging me and building me up and helping me to believe that I can actually do this half-marathon.

Thank you, family.

I love you.

 

 

 

Birthday Plans

So, we are celebrating my husband's birthday today and throughout the weekend.

 

Tonight was chillin' at Starbucks after work then out for a nice supper at our favourite restaurant called Cravings.

Tomorrow night, dinner at his parents' house.

Friday night out to the condo in Canmore.

Saturday a nice long bike ride through the mountains on new bikes!!

 

And right now? Off to snuggle with the birthday boy on the couch with a cup of tea to watch the hockey game...

 

 

 

 

Birthday Package

So, my dear friend had a birthday this weekend, so I made her a card to remind her to 'Celebrate'.

 

It has been a while since I have been in my craft room due to all my half marathon training, but it felt good to have paper between my fingers again.

For the full tutorial on this card you can visit my Squidoo site here:  Banner Birthday Card

I met my friend at Starbucks for a warm drink on a snowy spring Saturday and handed her this little package...

 

I was going to sew the edges of the kraft paper with my sewing machine, but my needle broke...and it was my last! So, instead, I decided to sew it by hand with silver embroidery floss. Funny how some things turn out better than I would have planned.

 

I had seen a similar version of this flower on Pinterest but it did not come with instructions, so I came up with my own version and I like it!

 

And inside the package...?

 

A copy of this book by Suzanne Somers.

I am reading it myself right now, and wow! some shocking information about toxins and metabolism.

After turning 40 myself, I found I was struggling to remain 'sexy'. I started reading other books by Suzanne and it changed a lot of my thinking and doing.

So, I am sharing this one with my good friend...cuz that's what friends do!

Happy Birthday my friend!

 

 

Where I Run

So, I am lucky to have close access to a beautiful spot to do my training for the half marathon.

 

During the week I run 3, 4, and 5 miles on Tues, Wed, Thurs. Being shorter, I do those runs in my neighbourhood, part of it being in a green space at the end of my block.

But on Saturdays, I am now running up to 10 and 11 miles at a time. Rather than circle my neighbourhood four times, I drive about 5 minutes up the street and there is a beautiful park to run in.

 

Some of the path is still covered in snow and ice, so I have to take it slow here...

Some of the path is long and flat and contemplative...

 

Some of the path looks down onto the river valley (which I just ran through)...

 

Some of the path overlooks the (still frozen) reservoir and begs me to sit down (but I resist)...

 

And some of the path (unfortunately) parallels the highway, but only for a short stint near the end of my run...

 

I actually look forward to this long run on the weekends now.

No more treadmill for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Half Marathon Mini Album

So, I made a little album / journal to document the training for my first half marathon.

 

I gathered several paper shopping bags (Aerie, Banana Republic, American Eagle), opened them up and trimmed them to use as my inside pages. All together I had 8 pieces of recycled paper that measured approx. 7x11in. To get the tattered edges, I tore the papers along my metal ruler rather than trim them with my paper cutter.

 

Folded in half, I layered two pages at a time and sewed them onto some thin, flexible cardboard that I had saved from some packaging. I simply sewed up the center fold line to attach the pages to the cardboard spine. This gave me a total of 16 pages in the album.

I didn't worry too much about where the shopping bag logos would end up on my pages. I figured that I will work with whatever I get on that day.

 

 

With 8 pieces of paper, folded in half and layered two at a time, I ended up with four 'signatures'. So, instead of sewing eight lines on the spine, I only had four. I tried to sew them as close together as possible. 

 

Once the journal was together, I decorated the cover with stuff I had on hand.

 

 

Inside, I just started telling my story. Using my good ole library date stamp, I am keeping track of the entries. Essentially, I am recording one week at a time on a two-page spread.

 

Week 1 found me starting out slowly on my treadmill in the garage at night after work...

 

 

Week 2 had me asking a lot of questions about gear and stretching and doubting myself just a tad...

 

 

Week 3 I had a lot of encouragement from my cousin...

 

 

Week 4 I bought new shoes and ran a few times outside. What a difference...

 

Week 5 ended with a 9 mile run around the reservoir and renewed faith that I can do this...

 

 

I am so glad I thought to document this journey. At this point I am not sure if this race is a one-time thing or not. I can see how running gets in one's blood though.

 

I will keep you updated on my progress and definitely share more pages of this journal in the next few weeks...

 

 

 

Sneak Peek :: Half Marathon Mini

So, I am working on a new mini album.

 

Not quite ready to share it as I have a few more things to add, but it will be ready soon.

Also, being on Spring Break right now, I can't predict how much blogging I will get in this week.

 

Please be patient.

I'll be back...

 

 

 

OLW Blog Hop 2012 :: Mar

So, my One Little Word for 2012 really spurred me on this month.

 

My word this year is OPEN. I just wanted to be open to the many changes that are taking place in our family this year, and open to new ideas, challenges, thinking, etc. But I had no idea back in December when I chose this word what would be coming my way!

 

 

At the beginning of March my cousin posted on Facebook that she was going to run a half marathon. I was so proud of her. I have always said I would like to run something like this, but just have never had the nudge I needed. She was my nudge! Before I knew it, I was agreeing to train with her and see how it goes before actually committing and signing up for the race, which is in May.

And then I was reminded that this is exactly what my OLW is for...to push me, make me reach for something that is just out of reach, to stretch me, to make me stronger.

 

Well, I started training on my aged dusty treadmill out in my dingy garage. Every time I finished a run I texted my cousin to tell her my time and really just to stay accountable. And every single time she flooded me with praise and encouragement. 

I would text her when it hurt and didn't feel like I could go through with it. I would text her when I felt amazing. I would text her with questions about shoes and clothing and water sources and paces and bathrooms on the course. She was always there with an answer and a little more motivation.

 

Then last week, the text came from her...the earlybird deadline for the half marathon was at the end of the week. Decision time.

I am proud to say that I filled out that registration form, sent off my money to secure my spot in the lineup and committed whole-heartedly to running this race with her.

 

My cousin lives an hour away from me. We train during the week at our respective homes, sometimes on the treadmill, sometimes outside in our neighbourhood. But it always feels like she is there with me. Then we compare times, and paces and mileage through texting.

This past weekend, however, she drove down to my house. We had a girly weekend of shopping and giggling, but we also got serious and she helped me buy new running shoes (up until this point I was running in my crosstrainers!), explained about needing fuel on the course (as we will be running for over 2 hours), explored options for carrying water on us and shared her energy powder with me (which was disgusting, but I was grateful).

Yesterday morning we awoke to sunshine and birds chirping. We ate a solid breakfast and head out to run together. She started her training a few weeks ahead of me so her run was to be 9 miles and I was only needing to do 6 miles. We discussed options for me to walk after my 6 miles and she would continue then double back to catch up with me.

However, I was so inspired and happy to have a running partner that I ended up doing all 9 miles with her and we completed it in 1 hour and 45 minutes!

 

When I asked her why she decided to do this half marathon in the first place, she responded by saying that she wanted to do something beyond herself, something so challenging that it would be difficult, but that she would look back and be proud to know that she had accomplished it.

I liked that thinking, as it fit so well with my OLW and wanting to be OPEN...and I am forever grateful that I have her by my side.

 

Thank you so much for visiting today!

I am so encouraged when you visit.

 

 

If you are following along with our OLW Blog Hop through the BPC class with Ali Edwards,

your next stop is Beth at www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com.

 

These blogs go live at 8am PST.

 

 

Margie           http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog/one-little-word

Monica           http://scrapinspired.com/

Jill                http://jillconyers.com/

Jenn             www.studiojenn.blogspot.com

Kara             http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com

Cheri            http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com

Catherine      http://myview-catherine.blogspot.com

Nikki            www.inkyart.com.au

Cindy            http://www.cynthiacrysdale.com/

Lisa              http://backtoallen.com/category/one-little-word/

Donna          http://holimess.blogspot.com/

Coley           www.coleybelle.blogspot.com

Naomi          http://poeticaperture.com

Stephanie     http://playinghouseinmaryland.blogspot.com

Ruth             http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com

Eydie            www.whatwecreate.net

Janet            http://lifeinsideascrapbookroom.blogspot.com

Orange Gearle    http://orangegearle.blogspot.com

Amanda       http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com

Jen              www.jenritchie.com

Melissa S     http://blog.mshanhun.com

Kaylea          www.myscrappylife.com

Missus Wookie    http://www.mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.co.uk/

Cindy            http://seriousplay.typepad.com             <<< You are here

Beth             www.thesingularlyordinary.blogspot.com       <<< Now go here

Tere             http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

Kelly            http://mindingmynest.com

Heidi            http://mommy.heidimdavis.com

 

 

Have a super day!