55 for 55

So today is my birthday - 55 years old and loving every single day.  It is somewhat a cliche to say this - but it is my blog and I will say what I want . . .  I wasn't sure when I was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago, that I would be here to celebrate my 55th birthday.  But somewhere deep in my gut - I knew that I would beat it - but that isn't something that you say out LOUD - you keep that hidden in the back of your mind or deep in your gut  . . . just in case.  That is the thing with cancer - you can never be sure of anything in the future - there is always that doubt in the back of your mind.

I have decided to celebrate my 55th year by coming up with 55 things to do during my 55th year.  These things will all contain the number 5 and I will either do them for a specific period of time or the whole year - depending on the "thing".   (I stole this idea from the local newspaper this morning  - a women turned 60 and was working on a list of 60 things all involving the number 60 - hers were a little more exotic - like travel to 6 countries)

I think it will take me a little time to come up with the entire list of 55 things - but figure I have the entire year to do it.  So here is a partial list of things (in no special order) I would like to accomplish or start doing before I turn 56...  I will be posting additional items on a weekly basis as I come up with them - and will update all my bloggie friends on how I am doing.      ;-)

1. Lose 5.5 pounds in 5 1/2 months - Goal weight of 124!
2. Do 55 push ups in a row
3. Run 5.5 miles in under 50 minutes
4. Read more than 5 books
5. Bike 55 or more miles on 5 occasions
6. Pray/meditate for 5 1/2 minutes a day
7. Do 55 crunches in a row
8. Take 5.5 days of personal vacation days - just for me
9. Ski at 5 different ski resorts during my winter ski trip
10. Practice my clarinet for 55 minutes 5 days in a row for 5 weeks
11. Take 5 minutes a day to throw away 5 things
12. Dependant on getting a bike trainer - ride my bike for 55 minutes 5 days a week for 5 weeks
13. Compliment my staff 5 times in 5 weeks - they deserve it and I don't do enough of it
14. Ski 55,000 vertical feet during our January ski vacation
15. Drink 5 glasses of water a day - 5 days a week
16. (My husband's suggestion) - spend 55 less minutes on the computer for 5.5 weeks (ME - might not happen) 

more to come . . . .

Let me know if you have any idea's.  

Berbee Derby Race Results

34 with 8 mph winds from the north -

Those were the conditions at 9:00 yesterday morning when the Berbee Derby started.  Sounds pretty nice - but I assure you - it was chilly.  I went with my clothes selection of capri's, long sleeve tech top with front zipper, light jacket, hat and gloves/mitten combo.  I arrived at the race around 8:00 - found parking and visited the porta pottie and questioned my clothes.  I had other clothes in the car and should have put them on before heading out.  It was breezy and sprinkling every so slightly / almost sleeting.  The good news is that there were absolutely no lines - got in and out quick.  Ran back to the car - warm up . . .

This was the 7th running of this Thanksgiving day race.  It was started my a local Computer tech company - funds raised benefit the Tech Education Foundation - a fund designed to help meet the technology needs of area non-profit organizations.  There were 6,100 people signed up.

Sat in the car until 8:40 and then decided to head towards the start line.  Headed over to the start - listened to the National Anthem - and yes, as Chelsea from Early Runner, HERE pointed out, the young women, who had a beautiful voice, did sing a couple of words wrong, I was singing along - albeit silently.  I assume she new the right words (I hope)  -  and am attributing it to the cold - maybe her teeth were chattering.   ;-)

Anyway - after a few more minutes we started.  My plan - (I really never have a plan) was to go fast (OK that is relative) for miles 1, 2 & 3.  Take it a little easy on 4 & 5 and then run fast again on 6.  My plan almost worked . . . I just didn't run fast on 6.  ;-)   Started out really strong and felt great.  Thankfully we headed east with the wind to our backs - this allowed me to get warmed up and around mile 1 off came one glove. Mile 1 - 8:41 - YIKES!
We were now on a rural road, one that I would bike by during my summer biking trips to the Capital City Trail - I always wondered where that road went - now I know.  Mile 2 marker passed - 8:42 - YIKES!
The first three miles were slightly downhill - which added to my comfort.  Somewhere around mile 2.5 runners were heading back on the other side of the road from the turn around.  I made my was over to the left of the group and watched for Chelsea - I didn't see her until she was just about even with me - so when I gave her a Holler - I know she didn't see me.  Just around the turnaround was mile 3 - 8:46 - YIKES!
After mile 3 we made our way onto the Capital city trail - a trail I had biked on dozens of times this past summer.  It was nice running on the path and know exactly was was ahead and it is a very pleasant woods area.  BUT - remember we are in Wisconsin and it is deer season - I know we were very near hunting grounds - but hey we live dangerously up here.  At this point I needed to slow down a bit.  Who knows - if I had planned to run fast for 4 miles - maybe I wouldn't have slowed down for mile 4?????  Anyway - I fell back to a comfy pace and hit mile 4 with a 9:35 pace and mile 5 with a 9:25 pace.  That is more like me!
Now I tried to run fast - but I was breathing pretty hard - so even though I was trying - it wasn't working.  I headed up the hill on mile 6 and could hear the announcer and music coming from the finish line - so I knew I was close.  Mile 6, which was almost all uphill -  was at a 9:35 pace.  Little extra at 7:53 pace and I was through the finish line with a personal best of 56:43 and a 9:08 pace.

Grabbed water and headed to the car - drove home and got ready for Thanksgiving!

I learned a valuable lesson - I can run fast!  Next time I will try to stay at a 9:00 pace - which would probably be more productive than how I ran this race  . . . and who knows . . . maybe I can run at that pace!  Actually I think I can!!!!

Have a great weekend.

Berbee Derby - Thanksgiving Day 10k

Happy Thanksgiving!

Getting ready to head out the door, well I still have to dress, etc.  But as soon as I press publish - I am getting ready.  I am running the Berbee Derby 10k this morning.  Tough call is what to wear.  Conditions at race time : Temp 35, feels like 26, winds wnw15mph.  Hmmmmmmmm!!!

My current plan is capri's - tech long sleeve shirt, light jacket, hat and gloves.  Temp's are perfect . . . it is the dang wind that bugs me.  Plus much of the course is on the Capital city trail - a trail I am very familiar with since I biked on it almost weekly last summer.  Much of it is pretty wide open.  I will pack extra clothes - in case I change my mind.

Once I get home - I have some cooking and baking to do!

Have a great day!

I am thankful!

Under the weather

YUCK - I have come down with a cold and sore throat.  I am sure that traveling last week had everything to do with it.  I swear that I can usually fight a cold off at the first sign - but it was hard to fight this one.  I didn't get home until 11pm Wednesday - spent a little time unpacking essentials - and then had to be to work at 7:30 am and was at a meeting outside the office for most of the day.  With the time change - and flying - I was exhausted!   Arggggggg! 

Last night I had the opportunity to host some of my staff at a UW Badger hockey game against Minn Duluth.  My employer has a suite that includes food and beverages - it is a lot of fun - it would have been better if the Badgers would have pulled out an overtime win - but that didn't happen.  :-( 

As a result of having a cold and sore throat - there was absolutely no way I was going to run this morning.  I read about others running while feeling horrible - but i just can't do it.  Probably has more to do with my age than anything else.  :-( 

I am running a 10k on Thursday morning - so I need to get a couple of good runs in this week.  I might take a couple of afternoons off, which will make it easier to get a long run in during daylight.  Speaking of afternoons off - I still have 18 days of vacation to take before the end of Feb.  Sounds wonderful - but I am really busy and it gets harder and harder to find time to take off.  I WILL BE TAKING THE FIRST WEEK OF JAN OFF FOR A SKI TRIP!  Yahoo

We are watching the Packers blow out the Vikings - and waiting for them to pull Favre!  It is a great day to sip on hot tea and watch football. 

San Diego Blog Post

Blogging from San Diego – where every day is beautiful!           

I have had a great time in San Diego – it was busy – I am tired – I learned a lot – I have some projects to look into when I get back to work (like I don’t have enough to keep me busy!) – I would love to come back to San Diego to visit. 

I got in Saturday evening around 7:00 – unpacked my back and simply walked down to the Sports Grill in the hotel to enjoy a bowl of soup and some sweet potato fries YUM.  Sunday I slept in – woke up around 9 and then went for a run along the bay.  This is a great city for running and walking.  There is a path along the water for running and walking, with shops, multiple marinas and open water views of the bay.  There are a couple of parks, including the Embarcadero, which extends out into the bay with a path around the perimeter. 

On the running front – I did pretty well and ran 3 out of 4 days that I have been at the conference.  On Sunday I run 7 plus miles in a little over 1 hour and 5 minutes – it was a great run.  I also ran 4 miles on Monday and 4.5 Tuesday  - this morning – I am trying to get this blog written and then I have to pack my bags and get to the conference.  I am finishing it up while I sit at the San Diego airport - oh my gosh - it is the smallest international airport, with only 1 runway - and they aren't kidding - it is really small.  

Here are a couple of pictures from San Diego.

These are views from my room on the 25^th floor of the Hilton. 

Beautiful tree along the Embarcadero

The Midway – a World War II museum – with naval sailor and girl statue.

Local art along the running path

This was my favorite piece - titled – Liberation!

 

Here are the steps of the convention center -  I did climb these stairs one day - this morning I saw someone jumping up the steps - all of them - with both feet together - I don't think I could do that!!!  

And last but certainly not least – here is a picture of the Carnival Splendor – the cruise ship that was dead in the water and brought back to port last Thursday with tug boats! 

On Monday evening – we went out on a dinner cruise – nope - it wasn't on the Carnival Splendor - sorry no pictures – we left the hotel at 6:15 so it was already dark – and I didn’t bring my camera.  It was a nice cruise around the bay – but it did get cut a little short because of the fog rolling in. 

Last evening we had a reception on the top floor of the hotel – wonderful food – and drink.

This morning  we have a ½ day of conference left – I fly out at 3:00. 

good bye 70 . . . hello 40 degree temp's  Back to cold weather!  

Heading to San Diego for a conference

I haven't spent much time in the blogging world this last week.  I was out of the office two days for work - that simply messes up the "normal" routine.

Anyway - I did get a couple of nice runs in this week and a little work on the elliptical machine at the fitness center at work.  I ran 2 miles of Tuesday - 4.5 miles on Wednesday with 1/2 hour on the elliptical after work and another 3 miles on Thursday.  Easy pace 9:30 paces for all of the runs.

Right now it is 1 PM Saturday afternoon and I am sitting in the Denver Airport - waiting for my flight to San Diego.  I am attending a conference in San Diego on Mon - Wed next week and decided to head out today instead of tomorrow.  This will allow me to get a really nice run in tomorrow morning in San Diego ;-)  - using that time to explore the city.

The rest of the day will be spent doing what ever I want!!!!  No coordinating - no talking (unless I want) and no time frames . . . simply do - or not!

I am staying at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel - which looks to be a very nice hotel.  I think it is near the Gaslamp Quarters district, which contains small shops and restaurants.  I am spending my layover time here at the airport to CATCH up on blogs . . . and figure out my running path for tomorrow morning.  I might be running along the Embarcadero.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  Time to start my walking - I have another 2 hours to kill and figure I will walk and walk and walk . . . better than sitting on my behind.  Then I am going to check out what everyone has been doing in bloggy land.  Good luck to local runners doing the Girls on the Run RUN in Waunakee - Jamie at Running Diva Mom - HERE and Chelsea at Early Runner - HERE were both going to run.  Hope you had great runs.

I will be blogging and running in San Diego!!!!

Turkey Trot - 2nd in my age group -

This morning was the 5k Annual Turkey Trot at a park near my house.  It is a cross country style race - I debated about doing the 5Mile course - but settled on the 5k - cross country isn't something that I do very well.  I am always nervous that I will trip or twist my ankle.  The 5k started at 10 and the 5mile started at 11.  There was an option to run both of them - I did see several individuals doing just that.

This morning the temp's were cool - but I knew that it would warm up nicely and be a wonderful day for a race.  Since I only live 2 miles from the start - I didn't get there until 1/2 hours before the start.  I ran into a co-worker walking to the registration area.  I also knew that two other women from the neighborhood were running and Kerri from Running for Life! HERE -  was signed up to run the 5mile race.  

It was around 43 when I pulled up - and it was almost 50 when we finished.  I wore shorts and a light long sleeve tech shirt and my gloves - which I took off almost immediately after the race started.  I talked to my co-worker a little before the race - dumped my jacket and hat on a picnic table and was ready to race.  There is no getting into a groove with this race - you almost immediately head up a pretty steep hill.  But once up the hill - the rest of the course is slightly downhill (what goes up - must come down) and gentler rolling inclines . . . but of course you have to tackle the hill a second time - but you go up the side - which is not quite as steep . . . but then it is your second time around - so it still seems as steep.  ;-)

I saw Kerri along the way - once at the beginning, once as I came around the first loop and again as I crossed the finish line.  I think that one of the tricks to running a course like this is to be at the front of the race as much as possible.  Since much of the course travels through woods on a path - it is very difficult to pass people.  On my first mile I was definitely slower than I had wanted - but was able to pass people when we got to openings.

I finished in 28:22 (by my watch) which was second place for my age group.
My splits were:
Lap 1 - 9:31
Lap 2 - 9:05 - WOW - that is fast for me - usually my fast miles are 9:15's.
Lap 3 - 9:25
leftover - .21

I chatted with Kerri at the end - and then headed to the trailer to check the times.  In my age group there was only the 1st place person listed  and her time was 25 something - so I had no idea that I had won 2nd.  I went back to grab my jacket and hat and then got another glass of water.  I listened to the awards and then they called my name.  Yahoo!  First time I have ever placed in the top three.

I looked for my neighbors - but must have missed them.  I then headed over to the start of the 5 mile race to tell Kerri - I had to share my award with Kerri !!!!  

I stayed and took a couple of pictures at the start of the 5 mile and then around mile 2 of Kerri -

Kerri - Arms in the air!!!

This young women always has a smile on her face.  ;-)    She caught me off guard - because she pulled her yellow shirt off - but I still managed a couple of picks somewhere around mile 2.    I didn't stay to see her finish - hoping that she had a great race.  It was a beautiful day!

Enjoy and have a great weekend.  !!!!

Daylight saving and Turkey Trot

Short post - The good news:  we get an extra hour of sleep tonight . . . the bad news:  it will be dark when I come home from work.

After last weekends 1/2 marathon I have taken it pretty easy this week.  I have run 3 times - but only 2 miles each . . . I am OK with that.  It felt good to rest.  Tomorrow morning is the Turkey Trot.  I am doing the 5K - so no biggie . . . and again that is OK.  It should be fun - I have run this course in the past for other races.  It is a cross country course and has a super steep hill and is located only 2 miles from my house.  Yea -

Anyway - off to watch Karate Kid.  ;-)  Drinking a pomegranate martini.  ;-)

Enjoy that extra hour of sleep.