The last month has been such a whirlwind of events for me. My work life and personal life has experienced some shake-ups and has left many things out of my control. This is a feeling a control freak like me really isn't used to.

Typically in these situations I would stress and cry and be very hard on myself. But this time I have just felt an odd calmness take over me. Which has almost left me with an inability to feel really emotional about anything. (Very odd for me)

I have been finding comfort in reading, running, and writing more than usual. (And maybe donuts, don't tell anyone) I love those three things all the time but lately they are more therapeutic than ever.

Frozen ocean on my run Sunday. I braved the 12 degrees to get a few miles in. Brr

I returned from Boston very early Wednesday morning and felt extremely grateful I was able to spend some time with my grandmother and family. I ate my weight in donuts and other really bad food and and find myself with a severe case of refined white sugary starchy stuff belly and a tad bit nervous about my half marathon this weekend.  I squeezed in 3 mile before work this morning and my speed was great and legs felt great but cardio level felt not so hot.

Exhibit A - black and white

Exhibit B - regular coffee strawberry frosted

I am going to spend the next two days continuing to avoid dairy and bread until I do a little light carb load on Saturday for my race Sunday.

Another thing I have been trying to focus on is all the little great things around me that bring constant joy in times where I need a little happiness A fresh bouquet of flowers as a treat to myself, buying a flat of strawberries and dipping two dozen on them in dark chocolate, new books on order as I have had this carnivorous reading appetite lately, and lots of little notes to those who fill my life with love and support.


When You See Only The Dark Know The Light Will Soon Return

Frozen Boston skyline

The beginning of a little snow storm

Boston, 8 miles, croissants

Friday! For being a short week it has felt exceptionally long. I actually managed to get my long run in this morning before work but I am super angry because when I mapped it out the map said 9 miles and then when I saw how fast I ran it I knew it couldn't be right so I went back and re-mapped and it was only 8 miles. Very frustrating since I really wanted 9 under my belt today.

I think I need a Garmin but I just can't imagine spending $300 on a watch since I usually don't care about my pace, I just run by how I feel.

View from mile 4 this morning.

 Of course I still treated myself to a croissant and double shot latte when I finished. There are few feelings better in the world than finishing an early morning long run, taking a hot shower and sipping on a cup of hot strong coffee.

I had to move my long run to this morning because I am flying to Boston early tomorrow. My grandmother is not doing well and I want to spend some quality time with her while I still can. Hopefully we will watch Pride and Prejudice, talk about her and my grandfather and their travels and maybe she can try to teach me to knit one more time if she's up to it. (I am a TERRIBLE knitter, she makes gorgeous things and is just so crafty.)

Going back home will feel nice and I can't wait to hug my little cousins. I haven't been to Boston in over a year, which is a long stretch for me.

Tonight I will meet one of my best girlfriends for a drink, go on a little dinner date with J, finish up some things before I leave tomorrow and not so secretly dread my 6 hour flight.

 Happy Friday, friends. Hug someone you care about extra tight today.

Goal Time

With less than two weeks before my race I decided I know my fitness level right now well enough to set a goal time. Drum roll please: 2:09.

That is roughly 16 minutes faster than my first half. I think if I run like I have been on my long runs I shouldn't have any issue meeting that time. I might work on a sub two hour time come March when I run my next race. We'll see about that. For now my schedule looks like this for the final two weeks.

Monday: Yoga
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: Conditioning
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: Long run (9 miles)
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Yoga and easy three miles
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: Yoga
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Race!!!

10

Double digits! Saturday I ran my first 10 miler in 6 months. I finished in one hour and 38 minutes. (roughly 9:48 pace) Three more miles at that pace sounded not so great Saturday. However, I was a complete idiot and didn't drink any water the whole time which would have helped immensely on such a warm day. I did take sports beans at mile five. They are my new favorite mid-run fuel since Gu, Shot Bloks and Gu Chomps all make me feel absolutely terrible.

Saturday's sunny 10 miler

It's been exceptionally warm in northern California the past four days. I am talking 65 degrees, which for a snowy mountain town person like me means short sleeves and sandals weather for January. I am loving it, but after dressing in long sleeves, ear warmers, gloves and a jacket for my run Saturday I realized I will need to better think out my race day outfit. Singlet, shorts, compression socks, and a hat is what I am thinking. Hopefully we'll have great weather like this weekend.

Recovery (I needed some salt, right?)

Other things of note. I finally tried Craftsman and Wolves in the Mission. Sadly, the only thing I really loved was the chocolate chip cookie. The Rebel Within and the Chocolate Croissant Stack were not that great. I am a huge chocolate croissant fan and super picky and for $3.50 theirs didn't do much for me. I will stick to Tartine if I want to drop that much for a croissant.

The Rebel Within at Craftsman and Wolves

This morning I woke up with a desire to bake muffins and tried this recipe. And WOW. They came out amazing and I wanted to eat all 12 of them, but I settled on eating two.

Thank you cards, coffee and muffins

And in more exciting news, Jesse went to a yoga class with me. It was his first and I think he really liked it. He couldn't believe how hard some of the poses can be or how sweaty a good vinyasa class is. Now we are off to do laundry and get through the next four work days. Happy running, friends.

Sedona

What I love the most about these trails is how the red dirt adheres to my shoelaces. With each step the little particles cling to my feet, offering themselves as souvenirs. Some from the single track, more from the cactus to my left and a generous sprinkling thanks to the Palo Verde who kept creeping closer to me as I climbed my way up a second hill.

Brin's Mesa Trail looking east. March 2012

To me, there is not a more serene spiritual place for a runner who is trying to escape the cold of Flagstaff, her fears and looming deadlines.

When I reach my destination everything begins to feel so small. I look out from atop this mesa and a giant blue sky greets me. It does its best to make note my thoughts and concerns are miniscule compared to this vast landscape that has swallowed up things much bigger than my worries.

Brin's Mesa (trail #119) March 2012

Living in the city now the ocean has offered the same therapy the red rocks always have. However, the solitude I was so used to is very rare to come by. I often find myself day dreaming of how the dry warm air feels as I swoop past a century tree, or the softness of the dirt, like a pillow beneath my feet, making tiny clouds invoking images of myself as a road runner, or something equally as silly but gratifying. Oddly, the thing I miss the most is that red hue on my shoelaces after a long morning spent drifting through the high desert. A small satisfying trophy for my efforts.

8 miles

Lauren and I successfully completed 8 miles today. In under one hour and sixteen minutes, too! We ran Golden Gate Park and the Panhandle which is part of the course for our half marathon. I am very excited for the race after how great I felt today.

Post-run treats. Dynamo donut and cappuccino. Mmm.

My Week in workouts:
Monday: Weight training (all upper body plus box jumps and deadlifts for good measure)
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday 8 miles
Sunday: Yoga

Other things you should know about.

1. This DELICIOUS butternut squash pasta recipe
2. Dinner tonight followed by drinks here (we booked a "snug")
3. What I am reading (aside from The New Yorker, The Times and random links on Twitter) I just read Laurie Colwin's Home Cooking and wanted more food writing ASAP
4. Apartment Therapy's "The Cure" (Need to buy my flowers this week but am REALLY enjoying sprucing up my place)

What was YOUR favorite thing this week?

Give me a village the size of a tea cup

Often on cold winter days I listen to this track for a little warmth. It's been around a while, but never fails to capture my attention and make me daydream. Happy Friday, friends.

Sundays

Trip to Trader Joes. Check.
New succulent to go along with my fresh, newly organized and cleaned apartment. Check.
My lovely new Diptyque candle ready to make this dreary day smell like Spring. Check.
And this amazing baked huevos ranchero recipe cooking in the oven. Check.

Happy Sunday, friends.

2013 Goals, not resolutions

In 2012 I set two goals for myself which I almost accomplished with a success rate of 100%.

1. Run three half marathons - I ran two and injured myself two weeks before the third. I still am extremely proud of my end result.

2. Get a new job in San Francisco - Success! I moved to SF in April and started my new job May 1.

So far, 2013 has brought some interesting news and I am not exactly sure what my future holds, however I decided it would be a good motivator to set some goals and stay optimistic in a rather uncertain time. So here it is:

1. Run three half marathons and PR my current time.
2. Save money
3. Get another stamp in my Passport
4. Be happy with LESS

I am nervous for this new year but also very excited. I think there are lots of good things out there waiting for me to come find them. Happy New Year, friends!

The best year yet

So long 2012, what an AMAZING year you were.

When I reflect back on everything that has happened since January 1, 2012 I can't believe I was able to cram so many huge things into just 365 days.

I started the year right where I will begin 2013. Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast

I actually caught a very awful 24 hour stomach flu and was stuck at home extremely sick...

Started 2012 on the Sonoma Coast

A few weeks later i ran my first half marathon in Phoenix.