Christmas Elves and Tiny Foam Rollers

Hey, good morning.

You guys have heard of "Elf on the Shelf", right?

Basically, it's a tiny elf that prepares your child for a life of constant criticism and ubiquitous surveillance.

Oh, what I meant to say is it's a fun holiday tradition that involves putting a tiny overpriced elf in different places in your house to remind your children not to be naughty, or the elf will report back to Santa when it makes its nightly flight back to the North Pole.

So anyway, the idea has evolved into putting the elf in naughty situations around the house, and people get pretty creative with this thing:

Elf knows how to partayyyy

Oh yeah.  Get some you smily little bastard.

It was the wine.

It's a rough life.

So, anyway, we don't do this tradition, mainly because I can scare my children adequately on my own thankyouverymuch, but also because hell if I'm going to waste an entire bag of mini-marshmallows on a sink bath for a creepy little doll.

But, I nearly reconsidered as I was spending some quality time with my foam roller the other day and saw a piece from the kids' foam block set:

If I had an Elf on the Shelf, you can bet my kids would be waking up to him working on his IT bands.


Had you heard of Elf on the Shelf?  

Do you have any ridiculous holiday traditions?

Oh, Hello Winter Blahs

You're a bit early this year, yes?  Where are we, the second week of fall and you've already made your grand arrival?

It snowed yesterday, just a little.  My kids freaked out - they don't remember the snow last year and they were pretty pumped.  Also, I've been sick.  I had the pukes yesterday on top of an annoying cold I've had since Monday.

So, I've been feeling a bit under the weather... and sadly my 31 day workout streak took a big shit.  Because I don't work out when I'm sick, usually.  That whole "If it's above the neck, it's ok to run" bullshit is so stupid.  Pretty sure you should not be running through migraines and sinus infections, but whatever.

I like to run when I'm just on the tail end of a sickness...  like several  an IPAs after a bad day, it seems like it helps me get over it faster.

So, I have a plan to fight the winter blahs, and I'm pretty excited about it.  Last winter, I was awesome at getting up super early and getting to the gym nearly every day, and I'm ready to do it again.  Plus, a new session starts at the Y on Monday... ahhh serendipity.

Want to see it?  I know you do....

Monday - 6am - 7am - Power Vinyasa Yoga (because it is the best thing ever and it's easy to get out of bed for a 90 degree studio).  Later on, an interval run on the treadmill while my babies nap.

Tuesday - Easy run in the a.m.

Wednesday - 5:30am-6:30am - Bootcamp class at the Y with a crazy badass instructor that reminds me of Rose

Thursday - Tempo run baby.  Best day of the week.

Friday - 6:00am-7:00am HIIT class at the Y, then swim swim swimeroo for a half hour or so.

Saturday - Long run.

Sounds fun, right?  

September Recap

September 2012 will go down in the books as a incredibly mediocre fitness month with one huge deviation from that mediocrity.  Namely, I sat on my ass a bunch, but ran a marathon.

September Recap

Miles Ran: 90 (exactly the same as August!)

Cross Training Workouts Completed: Uhh, zero?  Would you believe zero?  First time for everything...

Meters Swam:  0.  Awesome.  

Highest Run Mileage Week: 34 <------- highest mileage week ever, unless you count running all of that at one time...

Races Completed:  2 - Fox Cities Marathon (first 26.2!) | Just Run Half Marathon

Upcoming Races: One yet-to-be chosen 5k.

Current Triumph:  I ran my first marathon.  And I lived to write about it.

Current Goals:  

• 31 DAY STREAK!!! Clearly, I need some extra motivation... so I am going to shame myself into getting in at least one workout every day during the month of October.  

• Get into half marathon shape for the Tyranena Beer Run!

• Use marathon recovery time wisely, not lazily.

Last Month's Goals:  

1. Well, I've got this full marathon thing going on in a few weeks... my first.  So I guess not to die.  Or cry too much. - Woo!  Did it!
2. Start a new class at the Y. - I suck.
3. GET BACK IN THE POOL!  :) I suck again.

2012 Goals

Running/Fitness:

• Run 1,000 miles in 2012  - This one just wasn't smart this year with rehabbing from my stress fracture... so new goal:
• Run 400 miles from September - December: - 90 so far!
• Run a sub 1:55 half marathon  - 1:55 and change.  I'm counting it.
• Get a new 5k PR - current PR 23:17 - Done!  22:43!
• Run Ragnar Madison to Chicago relay -  Done!  6/8/12
• NO MORE STRESS FRACTURES! - through October- none so far!  

Life

• Join Toastmasters to face my fear of public speaking. - I went to one meeting, but haven't taken the plunge.
• Pass the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer exam - Got my CPT!
• Knock out at least eight items on my "Fear Can Suck It" list. - Completed so far: 6!!! Including the all important #15.  :)

How was your September?