Work, Run, Work, Bike, Work, Yoga, Work

The title pretty much sums up my week.

I haven't found much time to comment

I haven't had time to post

I have run

I biked to work

I attended yoga

Hoping to relax and get back into the swing of things this weekend.  YEAH!!! for the weekend.  I am looking forward to catching up on all of the blog posts . . . . seems like everyone has been very busy . . . and can you believe that tomorrow is October!

Keep on running and ENJOY your life!

Beautiful morning

Ran 6 miles this morning - average pace 9:42.  

It was beautiful!  Temp's were close to 70.  The leaves are changing colors.  It felt like Summer was trying to hold on for just one more day - but the weather reports are for much cooler temp's coming in this evening.  


This just might be the last morning that I get to run in 70 degree temp's for quite awhile and I enjoyed every single step.  ;-)


Hope you all have a great day.


Peace

Sugar Plum Collar WINNER!!!

I recently celebrated my 100th blog post by offering my first giveaway!  My favorite running partner is my golden retriever - Sophie.


Sugar Plum Collars HERE, offers beautiful, colorful and very well made collars that stand up to a dogs rough and tumble life.  They are adorable.  Please visit the shop and pick up something for your best friend.

Here is a pic of Sophie - in her Purple Leaf pattern collar.  

There were 16 entries for the giveaway.  Random.org chose the number 11

Congratulations -  Heather Vance!


Please check out the Sugar Plum Collar site  HERE, select a collar, measure pup's neck and determine the buckle size, 1/2", 3/4" or 1", and email me (lindaschaack at gmail dot com) the selection and your name, email and address. 


I will then coordinate with Christine at Sugar Plum Collars and get you your prize!

Friday is the last day to enter my giveaway

Don't miss out on this opportunity to pick up a beautiful collar for your best friend.  

Check out my 100th post. HERE.   

Here is a picture of Sophie in one of her new collars - purple leaves - 

check out Sugar Plum Collars - HERE. 

    

It looks like she is sleeping - but I must have just caught her with her eyes closed . . . Too funny.  

I Love to Run . . . Do You?

First off - don't forget my giveaway - an awesome dog collar for your best friend.  
Check it out here.  

Running is Fun . . . . sometimes in our goal oriented society and competitive mindset we forget . . . . Running is Fun.  

I had a great couple of runs this past weekend.  Not the longest . . .  not the fastest . . .  but almost 17 miles later and both runs reminded me that I LOVE to Run.  

On Saturday I first did the two mile loop with Sophie and Nutmeg and then dropped them back at home and continued for another 5.5 miles.  Pace was in the 9:30 - 9:40 range.  It felt great.  Then on Sunday I started again with the two mile loop with the dogs and then ran 7.25 by myself.  I felt great and actually thought I was running at the same intensity level - but my pace was pretty consistent in the 10:00 range.  That is OK.  I know I will never be fast . . . I might have been fast in my 30's or maybe even in my 40's - but now in my 50's I run a respectable speed - and I am OK with that because I LOVE TO RUN.  

Next time you run - 

enjoy the day

check out the beautiful sky

look at the clouds in awe

listen to the ducks flying south ;-(

check the leaves - they are changing colors

feel the sheer simplicity of putting one foot in front of the other

listen to your breathing

pay attention to the sweat forming on your neck

be proud of the ease at which we run

Run to Run
and enjoy every minute 

Fast or slow

Long or short

Alone or with a running group

Training or racing

Run to Run and ENJOY!  

I LOVE to Run . . . Do You?

A Day in the Life

First off - don't forget my giveaway - an awesome dog collar for your best friend.  Check it out here.  


Beth at Shut up and Run - here - challenged people to describe a Day in their Life.  
OK - here goes . . . . a synopsis of Thursday! 

5:45 - alarm goes off
hit snooze
6:00 - up and out of bed - go pee ;-)
grab shorts and long sleeve shirt, bra and socks 
walk downstairs to let the dog out - she is still laying in bed
meanwhile let Oscar the cat outside
call for Sophie - finally she comes downstairs
let Sophie - outside - watch her circle and circle . . . finally!
grab my running shoes and gloves on my way back upstairs
feed Sophie
head out the front door for our run
2 miles with Sophie
6:50 - back at the front door - Oscar is waiting - let him in
grab nail clipper and a couple of treats 
take Sophie out to the front porch and trim her nails - no bleeding 
pick out clothes for work - shower - blow dry hair - put on makeup
Grab lunch and head to work 
7:55 - get it car - see that my tire pressure light is on - shit! - it was on yesterday and I should have taken care of it - but forgot
8:10 - get to the office - walk up to the 5th floor - get to my office - call the car place that is 4 blocks away 
8:15 - check and answer some email - open some interoffice mail - check status of monthly closing for work and then decide it is time to get my car to the shop.8:45 - take car into to the car repair place for oil change and tire fix
9:00 - back to work - walk up to the 5th floor - check on STUFF - that is what I do - check on stuff!
9:30 - staff in my office - problems - problems 
10:00 - resolve problems
11:00 - attend budget meeting
11:35 - back to desk - make a couple of calls
12:30 - eat my lunch (leftover penne pasta with marinara sauce)
12:35 - get a call from the car shop - tire had a small leak - they will fix it and it should be ready at 5:00
12:45 - post my 100th post to my blog from my smart phone!
12:56 - need to pee - but no time - hold it
1:00 - attend a Business Resumption Planning meeting - walk back to the 5th floor 
2:00 - do some work
2:15 - remember that I have to pee - head to the bathroom
2:20 - back to my office
2:45 - go to to my boss's office - need is signature on a contract - he isn't there - walk back to my office
2:50 - call my boss and leave a message
2:51 - check in with staff - how is it going? 
3:00 - work - start reviewing the financial reports for the month of August.  
3:30 - boss calls and says that I should stop up at 4:00 - continue to work
4:00 - head back up to his office on 6th floor - he is on the phone - I chat with his assistant for a few minutes - her sister is doing the Wisconsin Iron man on Sunday - as we chat I look out at Lake Monona and I can see several people swimming - getting ready for the Iron man on Sunday  - then he pauses his call and says that he will stop down and see me
4:05 - back to work
4:30 - boss stops in - we discuss some issues
4:50 - phone rings - I ignore.  Scott, one of my staff comes to my office - I realize that the phone call was probably from Scott.  I have some files (financial statements) open and he needs me to close out of them so that they can be updated.  My staff sends out emails to warn people to close out of files - but they often have to come to my office and tell me to close out of the file    ;-)5:05 - boss leaves - I continue working
5:45 - suddenly I remember - Oh shit - I have to go pick up my car. Shut down computer - grab purse and walk to the car repair shop.  A couple of years ago - I forgot to pick up my car.  I worked late ( as I often do) and at 7 ish I went to leave and then realized that my car was at the shop.  I had to call my husband - he came and brought me another key and I went over and picked up my car.  I stopped in to pay - first thing the next morning.  
6:05 - head home - stopping to pick up our bi-weekly CSA vegies.  It was a good week of vegies - acorn squash - new potatoes - Yukon potatoes - beets - arugula - tomatoes - green peppers - onions - brussel sprouts.  
6:25 - arrive home
husband asks - what's for dinner - we don't have anything to eat
head to the freezer - pull out tilapia - defrost it - in the mean time I slice some new potatoes, onions, leeks and green peppers and tomatoes (from CSA). Blacken fish and put my potato concoction on the stove with a little olive oil. Bake the fish.  Dinner is fish and vegie mixture.  All the food is gone - must have been good.   ;-)
Clean up dishes (soak pan in sink)
7:30 - open Mac - check out email - respond : check out facebook - post : check out blog world - post : look at ETSY
9:30 - Head to bed

100th POST - Giveaway!!!!

This is my 100th post and as promised I am offering my first ever giveaway!!!

Although I started my blog in November 2009 it was as a result of my 2010 New Year's Resolution. 100 posts later . . . here I am. I now have 40 followers and 6-10 faithful posters. I follow 24 blogs and try to comment on those posts as best as I can. What I have learned through out these 100 posts is that blogging takes time. It is worth it . . . but time has to be allocated to this activity. Having a smart phone helps tremendously. There are times when I get behind reading and behind posting . . . but I have always returned. Reading and finding out about each of you is great. I don't want to miss a thing. I have also gotten to meet 5 fellow bloggers and that has been great fun. So far, everyone is exactly as they portray themselves on their blog. I remember back when I started my blog - we were out to dinner and I was talking about it with my husband and youngest son. My son thought it was totally weird . . . you don't even know these people . . . how do you know they are the people them claim to be . . . what if they are axe murderers (well I don't think he said that . . . but you get the idea). How could I trust these people that I don't know. Well I do know you. Through your daily / weekly updates I feel like I know each and every one of you. I love it. Thanks to everyone who has welcomed me into this bloggerhood.

On to the giveaway!

As anyone who follows my blog knows - I love to run with my dog - Sophie. 

While we runners get all sorts of new equipment . . .

shoes

running skirts

shorts

pants

socks

compression socks

sweat wicking shirts

bondibands

sweaty bands

cold weather gear
sun glasses

hats and visors

fuel belts

jackets

hand held water bottles

arm warmers

iPods

Garmin watches

and the list goes on and on and on.

What does the best running partner in the world get

 . . .  nothing.

Well here is your chance to win a beautiful, unique collar for your dog.

Christine at Sugar Plum Collars - HERE  makes adorable collars. My dog's mom, Nutmeg PICTURED below has had one of these collars for about 5 months and it looks adorable.

All of the other dogs look at her and I just know they are wishing they had a cute collar. Even Sophie talked me into purchasing her two new collars. While she does love her purple bandanna . . . this collar will make her look even more adorable (if that is even possible) and very fashionable.

I am sure it will also make her run faster ;-)

Doesn't your dog deserve a present?

Here's how to enter this giveaway.
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Become a follower of my blog or if you already are? Leave me a Comment.

2. Visit the Sugar Plum Collars website on ETSY, HERE and let me know which collar your best friend and / or running companion would look adorable in. Leave me a Comment.

3. Post about this giveaway on your blog.  Leave me a Comment.

4.  For an extra entry - become a fan of Sugar Plum Collars on Facebook - HERE and leave me a comment. 

Enter now through Friday, September 17th.  The lucky winner will be announced Saturday - Sept 18th.

Giveaway coming in celebration of my 100th post

Psst!!!  

This is my 99th post . . . only 1 more until 100. That is cause to CELEBRATE.

GET READY for my first ever giveaway.

It will be special.

It will be unique.

It will be sweet.

While you will be able to win it . . . you will choose to give it to another.

Do I have your interest peeked?

Check back on Thursday!

Cherry on Top Award!

I was awarded the Cherry On Top Award by Ewa at Fit Bunny  - here are the rules!

1) Answer this question: if you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

2) Pick 6 people and give them this award. You then have to inform the persons that they have got this award.

3) The third and the final thing is, thank the person who gave you the award.


1)  If I had the chance to go back and change one thing in my life - would I and what would it be?  


Well this is actually pretty easy.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago - September 2004.  

On one hand - of course I would rather have not had breast cancer - duh!  

• I would love to have my right breast back.  
• I would love to not have lymphedema. 
• I would love to not have to take drugs to try and keep my breast cancer from coming back. 
• I would love to not think about cancer each and every day.  

But on the other hand - 

• I can guarantee that as a result of my breast cancer diagnosis I do not take anything for granted.  I appreciate each and every day.  I try and surround myself (to the best of my abilities) with people that I like and do things that I like.  
• While I do look to the future -- I know that I need to enjoy the here and now.  
• I enjoy the life I have . . . right now . . . instead of worrying about what I don't have.  

So I take the life I have been given and try to live each day to the best.  Because . . . today, just might be the best day of my life.  

2.  I award this to the following 6 people.  

• Chelsea at Early Runner
• Kerri at Running for Life
• Lindsay at Healthy Stride
• Jen at Setting You Free
• Jennifer at Beginner Tri Baby
• Mel at Tall Mom on the Run

3.  Thanks to Ewa for tagging me - check out her blog - HERE  - she has the best nature photo's!  Beautiful - simply beautiful!