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By kilax, December 20, 2010 5:31 am

I didn’t mention how Erin gave me my new RoadID on Saturday night – she had it pinned to the center of a Shadow Box (which was wrapped in beautiful paper and tied with a bow)! It was so clever and creative. I should have taken a picture to show you! But I was too anxious to get a closer look at my new RoadID. Ha ha.

Anyway, here is the empty shadow box!

The first thing I did when I woke up Sunday morning was start to put together memorabilia from the Chicago Marathon to put in the shadow box.

Did you know that the Chicago Tribune printed the names and finish times of everyone that finished in under 6:30? I made sure to get my hands on a copy the next day! I don’t see my name in print that often. I copied my name and finish time, and put a red box around it, to put in the shadow box.

At first I had a really boring layout, that looked a bit cluttered and didn’t allow any “shadows,”* so I reworked it with Steven’s help. Ta da:

Much better.

We decided to put it in our office, next to our bookcases. Before:

After** (excuse the change in lighting – it was dark outside):

Yay! I love it! I have never had my achievements on display like that, and am really excited about it. Right now, all of my bibs and medals are hanging in my closet:

(Below is a view that shows the left side of the above photo – there is a huge overlap. And yes, I put the real bib in the shadow box but photocopied a version for my closet!)

It’s fun for me to see them each day, but I can’t really bring people in to my closet to say, “Hey, look at these!” Ha ha.

What achievements do you have on display in your home? Have you ever put together a Shadow Box?

I have my diploma*** up in our office. If you look at the first picture of the shelves, you can see it all the way in the very back corner, on the top of the shelves. We also have our sky diving certificates on the filing cabinet, but I don’t really think of that as an “achievement.”

Hmm, this reminds me – has anyone had one of those “race shirt” quilt things made for them? I want to do something with my race shirts. I have too many and can’t bear to throw them away.

*This may only make sense in my mind.
**I should make note that Steven did all of the work hanging it and was very sweet in helping me with this on Sunday!
***If you click on this link, scroll down to the second post.

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By kilax, December 19, 2010 9:50 pm

Yeah, about those…

So, I mentioned earlier today that I really like the Target Champion C9 running tights because they are warm, but to buy them in a smaller size because they run large.

I. WAS. WRONG.

I was at Target today, and decided to pick up another size medium. I held them up and thought “No way in hell those are fitting,” so I bought a size large.

Wow. They fit so well. Ha.

Here I am wearing my size “Medium”:

I checked the tags and my first ones really are marked “medium.” They are the wider ones in the photo below. The pair above (or underneath) are the larges.

So I think I really needed an XL? Me so confused.

What matters is, my “mediums” fit and I like them.

Have you ever bought mislabeled clothing?

Lately, I have noticed in the stores (specifically Kohl’s) that everything seems to be on the wrong hanger. We kept looking for smalls and every hanger marked small was actually an extra-large or large top. Frustrating.

But these “mediums” are marked that way in the pants and were on a medium hanger. I remember being in awe in Target when I tried them on and they fit. Ha. Clothes are funny sometimes.

Comments (10)

By kilax, December 19, 2010 12:12 pm

Day 421 | December 13, 2010: 3 m run + strength

How is it that I feel like I can run forever outside, but I struggle to go a few miles on the treadmill?! I ran three miles at 6.0 mph (1.0 incline). I originally wanted to run 5 miles outside, but our sidewalks are covered in ice. I even thought about running in the street, I was so desperate to run outside…  but that’s not safe in the dark (in my neighborhood). Steven reminded me that I should be grateful we have a treadmill – he’s right! I just don’t know why I can’t stand to run on the treadmill now. What changed? Two years ago, I ran on it all winter long! Now I struggle, and feel too hot and constricted.

Do you reluctantly use the treadmill? Or do you prefer it?

Strength + Stretch (done during my lunch break):

Day 422 | December 14, 2010: yoga

I did 20 minutes of easy yoga before bed.

Day 423 | December 15, 2010: 3 m run

First Yak Trax run of the season:

They sure are good for traction in the snow (not on the ice), but the extra friction caused by wearing them? Ugh.

I ran to our neighborhood park and ran a few loops. I thought the park trail would be all covered in ice and snow, but only patches were, so I ran a lot on the snow covered grass next to the loop (as to not ruing the Yak Trax by running on the black top). I only lasted 3 miles in that.

I wore my new Champion C9 running tights (only available in XXL on line – they run really large – I bought a medium, and am normally a large) that I got from Target a month or so ago. They must have a different lining because they kept my legs really warm (under pants). My other tights are really sheer compared to these new ones.

I recommend them for cold weather running… if you can find them. I wish I had two pairs!

Distance: 3.0 | Start Temp: 12° | End Temp: 10° | Time: 30:18 | Avg Pace: 10:05 | 1: 9:45 | 2: 10:21 | 3: 10:09

Day 424 | December 16, 2010: rest

Instead of working out, I went to the Grayslake Running Club fourth quarterly meeting. I am not a member (yet) but wanted to get a feel for the club – I have been thinking about joining for quite some time! Everyone was very nice, and one guy gave a presentation on the exhilaration of running in the winter. When we left, I told Steven, “Those are my people! They speak my [running] language!” I signed up for a yearly membership as soon as I got home. I am excited for my first run with the group.

Day 425 | December 17, 2010: rest

Day 426 | December 18, 2010: 5 m run

The sidewalks in our neighborhood are pretty icy:

so I ran in the street. Which really hurts my ankles. Does it bother anyone else’s ankles to run in the street?

I guess I should just be happy that the street aren’t entirely covered in snow and ice!

Distance: 5.0 | Start Temp: 16° | End Temp: 18° | Time: 51:17 | Avg Pace: 10:14 | 1: 9:51 | 2: 10:26 | 3: 10:21 | 4: 10:19 | 5: 10:15

Day 427 | December 19, 2010: 5 m run

Notice something new in my outfit?

Look closer!

My very own RoadID!

Erin gave it to me for Christmas! I have been asking for a RoadID for a few years now. I have a dog tag I was using, but this is much better! And I love the motto that Erin came up with “Run Strong, Think Big.” Thank you Erin!

I went back to the neighborhood park to run 5 miles. Luckily, almost all the ice and snow patches are gone from the park. Yay!

The run was slow though. Like my progressively slower splits? Ugh.

Distance: 5.0 | Start Temp: 17° | End Temp: 20° | Time: 51:17 | Avg Pace: 10:24 | 1: 10:10 | 2: 10:16 | 3: 10:23 | 4: 10:29 | 5: 10:39

Week Summary: 16.0 miles

There’s no denying it – this was a week of junk miles. My running has not been very good. I blame it on me and my lack of discipline. I haven’t been eating well, and my mind hasn’t been in the game. I think I might have to change my plan for the winter and focus on just getting the miles in, and maintain endurance  rather than distance. That is not the plan I was hoping for, but I need to be flexible and realistic!

And I am still not 100% over this cold. What. The. Eff?! Wah!

I noticed that the battery in our garmin watch dies when we let it sit for long, and it has data on it that hasn’t been downloaded yet. Does that happen to anyone else? When there is no data on it, the battery lasts a long time. Maybe it’s searching for satellites or something?

Comments (19)

By kilax, December 18, 2010 5:38 am

I want to be able to bend like that. ^^^

Steven and I saw Black Swan last night. I have always* had a crush on Natalie Portman, and will see any movie she’s in (either in the theater or on DVD), no matter how good (The Professional, V for Vendetta, Brothers) or bad (Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Garden State). Steven thinks it’s ridiculous that I would want to see a movie just because she is in it, but surely, I am not the only one who does that…

Do you ever see movies just because a certain actor is in it (or rather, does your interest to see a movie ever start because of a certain actor?)? Which actor?

The movie was very interesting and well done. I think it deserves all of the rave reviews it’s getting. It tells the dark story of Nina Sayers, who wants to be the perfect ballerina, but struggles with her inner demons and obsessive personality. Actually, there are many parallels to her ballet career and my running career – we both strive to be perfect, the best!

Ha! I am totally kidding! Big time!

Anyway, everyone has very different taste in movies, but I wanted to say that I enjoyed this one. It made me want to go to the ballet (never been). And I had to appreciate the work that went in to the movie. Portman took ballet until she was in her early teens (I think) then started practicing for this movie a year in advance. Portman and Mila Kunis both lost about 20 pounds each to play these roles.

Speaking of weight, did you see that blurb this week about New York City Ballet dancer Jenifer Ringer? A New York Times critic wrote a review of her work as the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” saying she “looked as if she’d eaten one sugar plum too many.” The remark is very interesting, considering she looks extremely slim to me. The Today Show did an interview with Ringer, and I think she is very well posed:

The original blurb I read is here.

I normally don’t talk about weight/size/etc., but wow, I have to say, Ringer does not look plump to me at all. Of course, I know NOTHING about ballet.

Before she played Queen Amidala in Star Wars.

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By kilax, December 17, 2010 3:30 pm

I was checking the 10-day forecast on weather.com and noticed their “Fitness Comfort” scale, and that is listed a number next to each day of the week. I haven’t seen this before.

Um… apparently it is going to be “Uncomfortable” to work out all week in Round Lake? I was thinking Tuesday looked pretty good!

I decided to search another zip code to see where I need to be for it to be comfortable.

The ratings are high for Phoenix, but that seems too hot for me!

I guess it’s all relative?

Relative to how crazy you are?

Where do you check the weather?

Comments (20)

By kilax, December 17, 2010 6:32 am

What’s on the top of your holiday wishlist?

Since I told you how much I love giving gifts, I can tell you what is on my wish list, right?

It’s the same thing every year (just sometimes a different model) – running shoes:

This year it’s the Gel Cumulus 12, size 12 (a pair, not just one as shown above).

I make a super long wishlist so people have lots of items to choose from*, but running shoes are always the first thing I list! Followed by other running and fitness items, DVDs, books, games, clothes, jewelry and A NEW PILLOW AND STOCKING HAT**.

I would really love to hear what you put at the top of your wishlist, as your #1 item! Especially from my family and other people who don’t normally comment…

*I know that sounds snotty and greedy, but people request a list from me, so I try to put a lot of different things on it, so they don’t feel like I am just saying “go buy me this one specific thing.” Then they can pick and choose or just get ideas from the list.
**Steven, I put that capitalized part in there for you. As a joke.

Comments (26)

By kilax, December 16, 2010 6:28 am

Data slept in his room last night:

I guess Data likes dirty sheets!

(the laundry room – his room because his food and litter box is there).

It’s like the equivalent of your spouse sleeping on the couch. Data always sleeps with us at night, so something must be wrong.

Possible theories:

1. Is he upset he hasn’t received his holiday gift yet?



Just kidding – that’s not it (but after getting some weird email about a discount to buy that cat hammock, I DO want to buy it). We got him his favorite toys – mice:



Complete with nice long tails for him to eat.



2. Is he upset that we don’t know who will take care of him over the holidays? Oh, how I miss our close neighbor friends who used to check in on him each day while we traveled.
3. Is he upset at Steven? This is what Steven thinks. During the day, Data constantly steals Steven’s (preferred) seat on the couch when Steven gets up. It’s funny when I am there to witness it. Steven will get up to fill up his water bottle (or some other quick task) and Data immediately gets up and curls up into a ball on Steven’s seat. Ha. Anyway, Steven thinks Data is upset that Steven makes him leave his seat on the couch. The other day, after Steven made Data get up, Data spent the rest of the day upstairs, away from Steven.



Steven sitting on Data because he won’t share the seat (“he” could refer to either of them).

4. Or maybe it’s just warmer in the laundry room? That is where the furnace is.

Do you feel guilty for leaving your pet behind when you travel? Or do you bring your pet with?

I feel extremely guilty for leaving Data, especially on holidays (like he knows what they are or something!). And I even think he enjoys being alone and sometimes needs the “break” from us. Still, I always miss him and feel bad.

I wanted to tell you guys a story and ask what you think.

On Tuesday morning when I got to the elevator lobby of my building, someone was walking in to the last elevator. I pressed the elevator “call button” and it kept that last elevator door open for me. However, as I got to it, it started to close, so I stuck my bag in it. My bag got STUCK in the elevator door. I thought the person inside the elevator would press the “door open” button, but he didn’t, so I had to pull my bag out and go press the “call elevator” button again, and wait for another elevator.

Was he being rude by not opening the elevator door for me, or was I being rude my sticking my bag in the door?

I HATE riding the elevator with a ton of people and waiting for it to stop on 23098098 floors. I am a brat like that. However, I think I would open the door for someone if their bag was stuck in the door!

Comments (16)

By kilax, December 15, 2010 5:12 am

Thank you for your comments on my “Needy” post yesterday. The comments were exactly what I needed (hee hee). I feel better knowing I am not the only one who sometimes feels that way.

So, if you’re like me*, you’re more excited about giving gifts during the holiday season than receiving them. I would be lying if I said I don’t like receiving gifts, but I really, really, really love picking out gifts for people and anxiously awaiting gifting them!

This year I am super excited about the gifts I am giving. I really want to tell you guys what the gifts are and who they are for, but I can’t! Everyone I am giving gifts to reads my blog, except for my two nephews. And I just got them kid stuff (which they will hopefully like!).

Maybe you can tell me about some of the gifts you are excited to give instead?

The interesting thing about my gift buying this year is that I did a lot more of it online than I normally do. I wanted to stay out of stores as much as possible (too much stress). The problem with buying things online though, is shipping. One thing I ordered and paid extra for it to arrive by last Saturday. Last Friday it was “out for delivery” in Des Plaines. I don’t live in Des Plaines! I live almost 30 miles from there! After a talk yesterday with a very nice man the local post office in my town, the package was located and delivered to our house that day. Phew! A few days late, but it still came.

Did you shop in stores or online this year?

*Not in the crazy, needy way, keep reading…

This is totally unrelated, but one of my bridesmaids asked me to send them some pictures from our wedding last night so I was looking through pictures. What a crazy party. We had so much fun. Here I am playing the air guitar (even got on the floor). And no, I hadn’t been drinking. I only had a sip of champagne!

My sister and sister-in-law:

All the bridesmaids:

Dad getting groovy:

I should mention that Steven was chatting up the guests while I was dancing. Thanks Steven!*

*Before the wedding we discussed that we would stick together during the entire reception… I think that just lasted through dinner.

Comments (43)

By kilax, December 14, 2010 5:17 pm

Confession – lately I have been feeling a really deep need to feel, well, needed. Included. Wanted.

Not accepted – it’s different than that. I want to feel like people want me in their company. Like people want to spend time with me.

And it’s not that anybody is making me feel the opposite of this! I have just felt so needy!

I’m not one to have a low self esteem. And I am not one to be very social. But something about right now is just making me feel that way.

I see blogs posts of people attending wonderful holiday parties with their close friends, and I sometimes I think “I wish I had a wonderful holiday party to attend with close friends.”

Maybe it’s the multitude – maybe it’s that I wish I had a group of “close friends”? Maybe it’s that I wish I belonged to a “group,” period? Why do I feel this way? I’ve never been one to fit in with a group. And I am not sure if I do well with group dynamics. Or with people dynamics.

I say all this, yet I have friends I make plans with… and know that if I had a full social calendar right now, I would be stressed out about THAT.

I just hate the feeling of being unsure. Unsure if I am a good friend, or an annoying friend. Unsure if I am fun to be around, or a downer. And I have to admit, I have been a downer. I haven’t been the happiest camper these last few months. And that may be what is making me feel this way.

Maybe this spam comment I got was good advice:

Thanks Kenguru! I think the first part of your comment is good advice (the rest doesn’t make sense).

Have you ever felt needy in the way I am describing?

I wonder if this is just a holiday-related feeling. Maybe I am just feeling a need to be around lots of people because it’s the holiday season. That is kind of what I am used to – spending Christmas day with family going from one celebration to the next, seeing so many people you have to talk over one another, laughing so hard you cry (or pee your pants), eating too much, making new inside jokes, goofing around, feeling exhausted at the end of the day, yet making plans for the next because you had so much fun…

I miss the grass. And daylight.

That came out of no where, I know. Just saying.

Who else thinks going back to therapy might be a good idea for me? Thanks for reading my crazy babble!

Comments (23)

By kilax, December 14, 2010 6:13 am

Steven is such a sweetie. I kind of last minute hinted that it would be nice to give my five teammates one loaf each of homemade bread for the holidays… and Steven fit it in to his busy schedule!

Such a nice wrapping job I did (one loaf is not pictured, we started slicing it up to eat).

He made four yesterday, and has four more to make.

4+4=5? Ha ha.* I will give five away, and we will eat one… and maybe freeze the other two!

Do you like receiving baked goods as gifts for the holidays? Do you like gifting baked goods?

Last year my coworker made me vegan gingersnaps and they were scrumdiddlyumptious! And I like to give baked goods, especially if I know it’s someone’s favorite treat!

*Just teasing. I think it’s easier to make an even number of loaves, based on the recipe.

In other news, we finally cooked some of our sweet potatoes from the garden and… they taste like just like sweet potatoes** (according to Steven). SUCCESS!!!

We just steamed them in water with some margarine on top.

I am still not that gung ho about sweet potatoes (hence the cooking of white potatoes too). I think I need to try them with baked beans – everyone says that is fabulous!

**I was the one worried about how they would taste, not Steven.