{fifteen}

i am coming up to some of the more challenging distances in my marathon training.  and coupling that with this cold, snowy winter we are having, marathon training for a spring race is proving to be much more difficult than i had anticipated. 

thursday, the high was anticipated to be 45*. with that kind of forecast, i certainly wasn't spending that kind of miles on a treadmill. i drove out to a local park {not really that local, as it was almost a 40 min drive} assuming the path would be plowed.  i was wrong. 

but i trudged out anyway. it was warm {ish} and even snow covered, it was better than a treadmill.

the long loop around the park is 5.5 miles. i made two full loops, and then added the small loop to finish my total distance.

that is the lake behind me, after loop # 2. 

by the end of the run, the path had turned into a slushy, melty mess. my socks and shoes were soaked, and i couldn't wait to get them off and get into some dry clothes. 

the after photo really doesn't do justice to how soggy it really was.  but... i did it. 15 miles. 

this weeks weather is supposed to be significantly more tolerable. let's hope so! 

runs this week are scheduled as 4, 7, 4 and 13.  

Linking up with Ashley, at the domestic wannabe for Move it Monday!

{swim.bike.run} recap

i did it. i completed the indoor triathlon!

about 12 weeks ago, my hubby expressed interest in participating in this indoor triathlon.  i am not a very good swimmer {at all}, and was in the midst of marathon training.  but i saw it as a great opportunity to add in some cross training, and i was happy to see my hubby motivated to get moving!

immediately after finishing!

we choose to participate in the long course:

 a 750 meter swim, an 18 mile bike {on a spin bike} and a 5 mile {treadmill} run.  

i spent the last 10 weeks {with the exception of the last 2.5 weeks while i was so sick} completing both  my marathon training, along with 2 swims a week.  i started out struggling with the swimming. i have never been a swimmer, and don't really feel like i know what i am doing.  also?... i don't know why it is so much harder to swim a few laps than it is to go out on a 10 mile run.  it is exhausting.  and doesn't make sense.  but, one day… it just all came together, and i was able to swim the full 750 meters without stopping.  i always knew the run wouldn't be a problem, but i didn't ever do much in the way of biking.  one, maybe two spin classes and a leisure stationary bike ride.  my philosophy was to just survive the bike and move on to the run.  i had some minimal goals here. they timed transitions, but without a tri-suit, i planned on changing into running clothes post swim. so, my total time wasn't too concerning.

the swim:

 i knew i had been able to swim the 750m at the gym in 18 minutes, so my goal for the swim was <18 min.  my official swim time was 16:37. i was the last one out of the pool in my heat {only by 15 seconds}, but i still came in significantly under my goal. 

the bike:

the small amount of training i had been doing, i had been having a little bit of discomfort in my right IT band.  my only goal during the bike was to not hurt myself, and to still be comfortable enough to push myself during my run.  let me just say…riding a stationary bike is BORING. 18 miles is even more boring.  i completed it in 48:37.  i saved the last few episodes of parenthood on netflix for race day, and pedaled away watching.  i could have pushed a little harder than i did, but… i didn't.   can't change it now.

the run:

this is the part i was looking forward too.  again, while the treadmill isn't my favorite thing to run on, i knew that i could complete this in at least 50 minutes.  i hopped on, set my speed for 6 mph, and zoned out watching my show.  i ended up increasing my speed during the last few miles, to between 7.0-7.5mph, finishing with a run time of 44:24.  

while i didn't set a time goal for myself, i sorta had some things in mind.  i wanted to complete it in less than 2 hours, and i didn't want to be last.  mission accomplished.  final time, including transitions 1:54:44, and finished 8th out of 12 women in my age category.  not too shabby, huh?!

hubby did amazing as well.  he was secretly hoping for a 1:45 finish, and ended up a finish time of 1:34:11.  i'm so proud of him!

linking up with ashley, for move it monday!

{meal prep}

after reading The Lean Green Bean's blog for a few weeks, i finally did it. i meal prepped. thank you lindsay for your motivation!  i am convinced that having healthy food ready is going to be a big help in continuing to eat clean.  

i had completed 14 days of the advocare 24 day challenge before our family came down with what could have only been the bubonic plaque… now that we are {gradually} feeling a little better, i want to make sure we get back to putting good food in our bodies. 

that said… i wanted something sweet…. 

i made lindsay's quinoa breakfast bars.  and they were good. really good.  recipe here.

i am eager to get back into my marathon training, as soon as i can stop coughing long enough.  but lets not get ahead of ourselves, right?!  my longest run was two weeks ago, 14 miles.  it coincided with my highest milage week for awhile as well (25 miles).  we had a warm day a week ago where i completed 11 miles.  i somehow had myself off on my training, and was a few weeks ahead of where i needed to be.  i am hoping that will help me make up my lost time this last week.  

this is the best i can do for a move it monday, since there hasn't been much moving this week!

{that's what he said}

This kid, cracks me up.  He is staying with grandma for the weekend so hubby and I can try to kick whatever bug we have all passed around. Here's hoping, right. I'm not quite sure what's happening in that pic, but it was accompanied by a text from grandma that said "b found his bed for the night". 

As b is getting older, his "funnies" are less frequent. Here's a few of the latest. 

Me: do you want a chocolate chip or peanut butter granola bar?

B: no thanks, I'm afraid of chocolate. 

Seriously, is this my child? Afraid of chocolate?!

Me: what do horses wear on their feet to protect them?

B: cowboy boots. 

We'll played, sir. We'll played. 

{bowling}

brody went bowling for the first time last saturday, for a birthday party for a little friend from school.

there were bumpers and ramps for the littles

he had such a great time, 

once he figured out how it all worked. 

waiting for his turn was especially difficult with so much excitement

there was pizza & cupcakes & black lights.  little boy heaven.    he had such a fun time, and were so happy carson included us in his birthday adventure.  

 anyone interested in joining us for a bowling adventure? might be a fun way to pass the time during these upcoming cold winter weekends!

our christmas in {lots of} photos

brody's christmas concert

they did such a great job singing each of the christmas songs.  

he was so proud of his fancy christmas clothes. 

my little reindeer.

not the greatest shot, but 4 generations!

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christmas eve

 we started our christmas eve off with a trip to our favorite donut shop.  

then some cookie decorating and gingerbread building with grandma. 

we visited with uncle jeff and carolyn for a while but somehow i didn't take any pictures.   

 we sprinkled food for the reindeers

and left some special treats for santa and rudolph

our christmas eve!

santa came!

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christmas morning 

apparently, opening presents is exhausting!

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later that day…

the bar has been raised in the tradition of hard to open gifts 

probably the present i have been waiting the longest for!  

my surprise from my hubby.  now i don't have to share!

grandma

b and aunt barb

grammy & papa

 daddy and robert

carolyn, uncle jeff & grandpa barry

hope your day was the merriest!

two thousand fourteen

as we brought our year to a close, i began thinking about just what I would like out of 2014.   

don’t get me wrong, 2013 was a great year.  we made lots of memories and had lots of great adventures, but i feel like there has been a huge disconnect in my work-life balance.  working full time (12 hours shifts, rotating days & nights) and being a good mommy/wife is hard work.  being a pediatric icu nurse is emotionally draining in itself, then adding in family time, house work, exercise, etc.  

i have failed at remembering to take care of me.  

{image via}

this blog was started to be a way to journal our lives with brody.  however, through our little blog and reading so many other healthy living blogs (and my awesome experience at the healthy living summit) i have been introduced to so many healthy and inspiring women. i am going to take this next year and not set any specific resolutions, but to try and become a healthier, more well rounded woman, wife,  mother (and maybe eimage via}

here’s to you all in 2014

what are you doing differently this year?!