How did my 2010 Resolutions turn out?

Well here were my resolutions for 2010 and a little recap about how I did.  


Main goal for 2010 was to start this blog - I am very happy to say I stuck with it!  YAHOO!  

Lose weight - 10 pounds - as a result of Breast cancer surgery and radiation I have lymphedema and losing 10 pounds would help my arm, I think. It would also make my running easier. I currently weigh 136 - I am 5'5" and am 54 years old.  

I did pretty good - I am consistently 129, so not quite 10 pounds, but a solid 7 pounds.  I will be working my current weight down to 125 during 2011.  

Run 1,000 miles - sounds good - but I would really have to commit to increasing my running

I hit this goal earlier this week.  This was actually harder than I thought it would be.  I remember reading about many people passing this goal much earlier in the year and felt a little defeated - but I persevered.  Having the stress fracture in April meant NO running for 6 weeks.  Next year my goal will be higher.  

Relax and smell the roses more. I tend to work 10 hours a day - I know that my husband would like me to cut back - but that is really hard, because I have a lot of responsibilities and this is a really busy time.

Depends on who you talk to.  My husband still thinks I work too much - but I am trying to cut back - I know I could be better at it and will continue to work on this in 2011.

Work on individual qualities: Patience and compassion to name a couple.

These are pretty wishy washy goals and very hard to measure . . . honestly it depends on the day.  

Increase my speed: I tend to run between a 9 and 10 minute mile - not very fast, I should probably work on increasing my speed.

I have hit some PR's this year and think I have increased my speed - again I will continue to work on this during 2011. 

So 2010 was a WONDERFUL year.  

Ran more than I have ever run before

Ran in more races than ever

Placed 2nd in my age group in the local Turkey Trot

Biked in the MS 150 - back to back 75 miles each day

Road my bike for 874 miles outside and have added another 52 miles on the trainer

Met a group of wonderful women from the Madison area that run and blog

Developed relationships with bloggie friends from far and wide

Here is hoping tha 2011 will be just as wonderful!

The count down begins

Tomorrow morning I will run the last 3 miles to hit 1000 miles in 2010.  Little does my running partner Sophie know - but I held back these three miles so that we could run together!  How sweet is that?

Sophie on a recent snowshoeing adventure!

Back tomorrow evening Wednesday with an update!   Just remembered I will be at the UW Men's basketball Big10 season opener tomorrow evening against Minnesota!  Go Bucky!

P.S.  I also cleaned out 1 drawer and my storage containers that I store my socks, bras and undies in tonight!  Threw out a lot of old bras, socks with holes and old uncomfortable undies!  yahoo!

Minimalist Adventure -

Running and Biking:  First things first - I ran 6 miles this morning - it was a great run.  2 miles with Sophie and 4 by myself.   The temperature was in the mid 20's.  With this 6 mile run I have run 993 miles this year.  Only 7 more before I hit 1000.  As far as my biking - I biked 874 miles outside this summer and with the bike trainer I am now at 926 miles.  I would like to hit 1000 miles on my bike - but I don't know if that will happen. If it happens great - if not - I have still biked more miles this year than I have ever biked before.  Plus I didn't always track my miles on the bike - so in actuality I might already be past 1000.  I put my new road bike on the trainer yesterday and road for 1 hour.  It felt great, but it will take my wrists and neck a while to get use to the new bike.

Minimalist Adventure:  For the last month or so, I have been following a couple of blogs that describe a Minimalist lifestyle.  One of the blogs is Be More with Less - HERE and the other is zen habits - HERE.  I happened upon these blogs from someone who had participated in Project 333- HERE .  The idea behind Project 333 is to select 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoe and commit to wearing only from those 33 items for 3 months.  The 333 project really peaked my interest - but I don't think I am ready to commit - but I would like to investigate this type of a lifestyle on my own terms.  One of my reoccurring resolutions for the past 5 years has been to simplify my life.  Easy to say -- "I want to simplify my life"  but very difficult to do without some direction.  I think this is the guidance and support that I need to be successful.

I had wanted to work on my closet - but didn't have the time - I ran this morning and then hubby and I went to Costco, so by the time we got home the PACKER game was starting - so instead I started with my jewelry, specifically my earrings.  Now that might not seem like a huge deal - but I can't tell you the amount of time I spend some mornings looking for a specific pair of earrings.  It drives me crazy and it is a really bad way to start the morning.  This is one of the basic idea's behind Project 333.   Once you pay less attention to what you are wearing -  more attention can be spent on something more important. I am not going to give up everything - but I would like to declutter.

This afternoon while watching the Packers wallop the Giants I sorted through my earrings.

 In this blue box alone there were over 50 pairs of earrings - no wonder I had a hard time finding a specific pair. 

 This is a box with my few rings and an assortment of jewelry I hardly ever wear.  Most of this ended up being stored in baggies in preparation of my church rummage sale in spring. 

 Here are all of the earnings sorted from my blue storage box. 

 Here are 17 pairs of earnings that are now easy to find.  These are the earrings I am going to wear.  

I held onto my few rings for sentimental reasons.  Toe rings, summer ankle bracelets, earrings that I don't wear with my winter clothes - and pearls - one strand real one strand fake.  (I should probably get rid of the fake strand - since I really never wear them)  

So all told - I will wear the earrings in the blue box - 17 (which would be over 1/2 of my allotted pieces of clothes and accessories if I were participating in Project 333 . . .  

I still have a LONG ways to go).  

The wooden box has assorted jewelry that I will store until spring / summer, including 20 pairs of earrings and the other small box contains Christmas Jewelry.  

I bagged up 22 pairs of earrings, 9 bracelets, 6 necklaces and 4 pins.  

Going into this - I was convinced that this would be easy and I would be able to eliminate stuff easily. Well it wasn't as easy as I thought and I didn't get rid of as much as I would have liked - but it is a start and I feel good about it.  Next up my closet . . . here is a sneak peek.  The first picture is only one rack of clothes - in total there are 185 hangers containing my clothes.  The picture on the right is some sweaters and sweat shirts and these are ones that I don't wear.  I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas!

Hugs to all my bloggie friends!  

Merry Christmas  -  enjoy every moment!  

Breath in the JOY and HOPE!

I feel lucky beyond anything I could have dreamt!  

Peace and Joy to all! 

Linda - Mom Running from Cancer

Update on My list of 55 things!

As a celebration of turning 55 I am working on 55 things to do in my 55th year all involving the number 5.  I have my list (still not complete) posted on the sidebar of my blog - I figure I really can continue to add to my list as I go through the year.

So far I have been actively working on a few of my items:

55 things to accomplish during my 55th year!

1. Lose 5.5 pounds in 5 1/2 months - Goal weight of 124!   THIS WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2011

8. Take 5.5 days of personal vacation days - just for me I TOOK LAST WED OFF AND GOT TO RUN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY -  AND I AM TAKING TODAY OFF!

11. Take 5 minutes a day to throw away 5 things I HAVE DONE THIS ONE QUITE A FEW TIMES - AND HAVE ACTUALLY  THOUGHT ABOUT IT DAILY

12. Ride my bike (trainer) for 55 minutes 5 days a week for 5 weeks I JUST REALIZED THAT IF I WOULD COMMIT TO DOING THIS FROM  NOW TO THE END OF THE YEAR I WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE RUN 1000  MILES BUT ALSO BIKED 1000 MILES THIS YEAR (KNOWING THAT 130  MILES OF BIKING ARE INDOORS ON A TRAINER)

13. Compliment my staff 5 times in 5 weeks - they deserve it and I don't do enough of it CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR MY STAFF WERE DELIVERED TO THEM  YESTERDAY WITH INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES - 1 COMPLIMENT  DONE - 4 MORE TO GO!

15. Drink 5 glasses of water a day - 5 days a week WHEN I AM AT WORK THIS IS SIMPLE - BUT WHEN I AM HOME -  I DON'T DO AS WELL.  SO RIGHT NOW I AM GETTING A GLASS OF  WATER.  2 GLASSES OF WATER SO FAR TODAY!

17. Climb 5 flights of stairs 5 days a week I WORK ON THE 5TH FLOOR OF MY BUILDING - DUH - REALIZED  THAT CLIMBING FROM 1ST FLOOR TO 5TH FLOOR IS REALLY ONLY  4 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS.  LOL  I WILL STILL CLIMB THE STAIRS 5  DAYS A WEEK.

18. Increase my blog followers to over 55 I AM NOW AT 55 - YEA!  THANKS BLOGGIE FRIENDS!

19. Eliminate 55 items from my closet ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY In this most wonderful Holiday season PEACE AND JOY to All!

Winter Solstice

I am on the bike trainer this morning.  Using Droid to check on blogs and am attempting to type while warming up.  So far so good. 

Hope someone out there got to see the Lunar Eclipse last night.  Cloudy here in Wsconsin.  Later this afternoon we move into Winter.  You could have fooled me.  With the below zero temp's we had last week I could have sworn that we were in the middle of January   We got about 3 inches of fresh snow last  night - but now we are getting freezing rain - so my normal 15 minute commute to work will probably be doubled - I know that isn't bad - but something I have to take into account.  Windshields will be frozen. 

Junk food day at work today - I took my mint s'more brownies to work yesterday so will be bringing fruit today.  I figure you need something half way healthy when enjoying chips, dip, cookies, sausage, cheese etc.  I peeled and cleaned 3 pomagranates, cut a fresh pineapple, washed grapes and will be also taking some clemintines.  All of it sounds great right now. 

Signing off for today - need to get back to biking - I am warmed up and ready to ride. 

Have a great first day of winter.  As the shortest day of the year, we have 9 hours of sun light today.  The good news is the days will be getting longer instead of shorter. 

Peace and Joy

Early Christmas Present

I am soooo excited!  
We were out picking up a few things today and my husband Todd mentioned that he was thinking about getting me a road bike for Christmas.  Well I certainly thought that was a great idea!  We went to three shops and we purchased this beauty.  She is silver and white and BEAUTIFUL.  I just know I am going to ride like the WIND. This bike is going to be FAST.  I get to pick it up next week, although I am not in a real hurry - current conditions are not exactly road bike friendly in Wisconsin.  I also got two water bottle holders, pedals, new tube and a computer.   I have a bag that I think will work and can pick up a new bag if mine doesn't fit.  


2011 Trek Lexa SLX Womens Road Bike

Here I am at the Boy's and Girl's Club 50 mile ride this summer.  This is my comfort bike that I road 875 miles on from May - October this year.  I love it, it is extremely comfy and is currently hooked up to the Kinetic bike trainer that I got for my birthday.  I will still use this when biking to work, especially since I carry a saddle bag on the rack for my work clothes.  


So far it is great to be 55!  A bike trainer for my birthday and now a new bike for Christmas!  


Hard not to notice how straight I sit on this bike, which adds to a lot of wind resistance.  And the tires are mid size, not sleek and fast like my new tires.  This is EXTRA motivation to hit the bike trainer and get ready for spring, summer and fall biking in 2011.  


This morning I did 1 hour on the bike trainer.  I had planned to run this afternoon, but since we were bike shopping, by the time we got back from shopping the  2010 Ironman World Championships was on and I sat down and watched it.  I just find that so motivational - listening to those stories and wondering just how they do that.  

Tonight I made Triple Layer Mint S'more brownies from Eat, Live, Run - HERE.  Just took them out of the oven and they smell wonderful.  I can't wait to try one.   They took quite a while to cut - I had to clean the knife off after each cut - but they look nice and taste ohhhhh so good!  I am planning on taking them to work on Monday - so we can only have a few of them tomorrow.  I also made a batch of sugar cut out cookies that are in the frig overnight.  Tomorrow I will bake them and decorate them.  I love Christmas time. 

Love my Yaktrax

I took today off of work.  Didn't really have any plans - I just needed a day off - by myself.  I slept until 7:30 - which felt great.  I then sat around in my pj's - drank coffee - read the newspaper - checked blogs - paid bills - ate oatmeal with lots and lots of blueberries - cleaned the wood floors - vacuumed the carpet and wasted time doing nothing.  ;-)  It was a good morning.

Knowing that the negative temperatures  (it was -9 when I woke up)  were suppose to disappear by lunch - I decided I was going to run somewhere around 1 PM.  The sun was shinning and there was only a slight breeze.  I tried out my Yaktrax for the first time.  Last year I won the Yaktrax from Jen at Setting You Free, HERE.  When I got them last

winter - although we still had snow on the ground, our roads were clear - so I never had an opportunity to use them.  Well - we received around 6 inches of snow on Sunday and then the temperatures plummeted - with nightly temps well into the negative temperatures and day time temp's only in the single digits.  Frigid conditions.  When it is that cold - all the snow and ice that is on the roads - will not melt.  Even with salt applied - salt needs temp's in the 20's to work - colder than 20 and the ice simply sits on top of the snow and ice.  These are two pictures from Sunday.

This is from today - as you can see - my street is still very snow covered.  But the Yaktrax worked GREAT.  I would recommend these to anyone who runs in winter snow and ice conditions.  Although I realized I had them on - they didn't bother me.  I felt very confident on the snow and ice.  I didn't slip at all.  

Look at that BLUE sky - I took this run slow - I wanted to ENJOY and soak up the sun.  Although the sun has been out the last couple of days - the daytime temp's were really cold and I didn't go out at lunch.  

 Snow and slush and ice on the roads

Almost done - I sat my camera on a mail box - LOOK at that BLUE sky - LOVE it!

I had taken Sophie out for 1.5 miles and then dropped her back at the house - switched gloves, I didn't need the warm gloves - after 1.5 miles I was warm enough to get by with my light gloves.  Ran most of the time with out them.  Finished 5 miles at a 10:32 pace.  Loved being in the Sun.  It felt soooooo good.

The temperature was 14 when I went out for the run.  I wore my North Face Windbreaker pants, Lucy tech top and Lucy jacket, hat and gloves and was quite comfy.  The only thing cold was my tummy - wonder if anyone makes tummy warmers?  

How do you ENJOY a day off of work?  

Jingle Bell 10k results

It was a great morning to run.  We were suppose to be getting rain, sleet and snow by Saturday morning . . . but it appears like the weather got delayed in Minnesota - yea for us - sorry Minnesota!  The temp was in the mid 30's.  I had to pick up my race packet on Saturday morning - the only packet pick up was on Thursday and since I was out of the office I couldn't pick up my bells and t-shirt.  The 10k started at 10:30 at the zoo - I arrived around 9:45 - headed over to the shelter, picked up my packet, headed back to the car, pinned my bib on my jacket and put my antlers on and headed back to the shelter.  Stood in the porta pottie line with 5 minutes to go, do I stay or do I get in line - I decided to stay and yea - I made it with at least 1 minute to spare!


No garmin today - it was drained this morning, when I realized it was dead - I started to charge it, but there wasn't enough time.  Oh well!


The race started with a jingle, jingle, as all the 10kers started.  Up and out of the zoo, weaving in and around the Edgewood neighborhood, along city streets . . . which were slushy and slippery until we headed into the UW Arboretum.  So, even though I thought I was running pretty fast, I am sure that the slush slowed me down - plus we were on the sidewalk for a while and there was no way to pass the people around you.  By this time, I had shed my hat and gloves and was working on taking my jacket off.  I had on the same thing as I wore for the Berbee Derby (below), except pants instead of capri's.


Looking back I should have worn the capri's - I would have been more comfy.  Oh well!   I know look up as you cross the finish line - not at your watch.  It would have been a good picture - ;-(

Anyway - as we headed into the Arb we hit mile marker 3.  Don't know my time - cause there were no clocks - I felt good and was trying to run a steady pace.  I did have to walk a little to get my bib pinned on my shirt and take my jacket off - but that was it.  I then sped back up to "catch" up with the people that were around me when I stopped to walk.  So I think I did OK.  The conditions in the Arb were great - I had been a little worried that the road would be slippery - but it was pretty clear and very easy to avoid the slush.  Finally at mile marker 4 they were offering water.  I usually carry water, but decided not to today, wish I would have.  I like the idea of being able to drink when I want to, instead of waiting for the water stop. 

As we headed out of the Arb we had passed mile 5 - so the end was near.  Yea!  

Rounded the corner and re-entered the zoo - almost done.  Finished at 58:31 - slower than the Berbee Derby - but 9:25 pace - I am fine with it.  

Lessons learned:  

1. Charge battery on Garmin - it would have been nice to know my pace.  

2. Bring my own water - even in winter - you need water and only getting one little cup of water at mile 4 just wasn't enough.  

3. No matter what - Enjoy yourself

Jingle Bell 10K Run

The local Jingle Bell run starts at 10:30 this morning.  Although I have signed up to run - I was going to wait and check conditions this morning before I decided to participate or not.  We were suppose to be in the middle of snow, sleet and rain conditions this morning . . . but that didn't happen.  I don't mind running in rain and I don't mind running in cold or snow . . . but 30 degrees with dropping temperatures and a combination of sleet, rain and snow . . . just doesn't sound like fun.  It looks like there might be a little snow this morning - but the rain, sleet and 8 inches of snow will be starting in the afternoon.  So the race is on for me.

WOW!  this is my first post in December.  I have been super busy at work and not getting home until after 7.  I have also been out of the office a couple of days and and an overnight trip to Chicago - this always means that I seem to have a lot more late evenings at work.  After spending all day on the computer at work - I just haven't had the energy to write a post.  I have been doing pretty good about reading all of your posts . . . I just haven't made any comments  :-(    . . . but I have been thinking about all of you   ;-)

I only have 50 miles left to hit my goal of running 1000 miles this year.  I know I will get it done!

I got a bike trainer for my birthday present - I have only been on it twice - but do love it.

Will report later about the run and life in general.

Peace