First World Problems

So we are in a pickle.  Let us explain.

 

Mexico

Every year at this time we are in search of a deal down south to Mexico.  We have been bombarded with emails from Sunwing, Signature Vacations, Air Canada, Transat Holidays, etc., etc.  There are some really good deals for 5 star resorts in Mexico for the week we are interested in going (May 3 to 10).  As much as this winter is dragging on and it continues to snow we are also trying to stay with one of our Resolutions of paying off some debts and this trip will just add to that.  The alternative is buying some minutes at a tanning salon to get us out of this winter funk.

Fredericton

We are thinking about signing up for a 10k at the Fredericton Marathon which will take place on May 10^th.   For the last two weeks we have been following (more so than not) Hal Higdon’s 10k training plan.  The majority of runs have been on the treadmill but hoping that will end soon.  If we do go to Fred’ton we still have to pay for race registration, hotel, food, gas, etc. 

Dilemma:  Do we spend money and go to Mexico and relax in the sun for 7 whole days or do we sign up for a race in Fredericton?  OR do we skip both altogether?  Our minds keep flip flopping.  Registration for the marathon ends on April 20 (if you want a race shirt) so we gave ourselves until April 19 to make the decision.  In the meantime we'll keep looking at resorts.  

What would you choose?    

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, March 25 - This was a new run on our schedule as it called for 8 x 400 at 5k pace.  Now there was A LOT of calculations as this is in km and our treadmills are in miles.  So for your info there are 1609.34 meters in a mile so divide that by 400 meters in a mile and there are 4.  So 1 mile divided by 4 is 0.25 so we run a 0.25 mile to get 400 meters.  0.25 mile x 8 will equal 2 miles plus add in the walks between the runs and that bring us to roughly 3 miles.  We both did this workout.

Thursday, March 26 - This called for a 6.5 km run along with weights.  Twin 1 did this when she got home from work again on the treadmill as the sidewalks are still not clear.  Twin had an appointment after work so she hopped on her bike instead.

Friday, March 27 - REST DAY!

Saturday, March 28 - Cross training day - Twin 1 walked the dogs at Ashburn for an hour

Sunday, March 29 - From 8 am to 5 pm we had a Firearms Course so we did nothing except sit inside (as sketchy as it sounds the building the course was in had their windows boarded up so we couldn't even see outside).  We woke up to more snow and luckily the plow came in time for us to hit the road and head to the course.  When the course was over and we were allowed outside we saw that was a beautiful spring day.  Too bad it was a waste of a nice day but we PASSED!

Monday, March 30 - WE RAN OUTSIDE!! The schedule called for 5k and strength training.  We ran at Twin 2's house because the sidewalks are still a mess around Twin 1's.  The day was beautiful but by 6pm it was overcast, damp and the wind was cold.  In hindsight we probably should have wore our little gloves and ear bands.   We survived though.  It was nice to get outside instead of staring at the wall on the treadmill.  Right after our 5k we did the strength training and did 3 rounds which hurt.

Tuesday, March 31 - 4MI run scheduled today.  Twin 1 did hers on the treadmill.  Twin 2 did laundry and cleaned getting ready for company on the weekend. 

Tip Tuesday

Pick an item you're likely to see frequently enroute: the color red, a traffic light or stop sign, a dog.  When you see it, pick up your pace for 10 to 60 seconds, then start spying again.

Motivational Monday

Friday Funny

These are from a book called Disorder in the Court, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters - who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

Q: What is your date of birth?

A: July 15th.

Q: What year?

A: Every year.

Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?

A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.

Q: How long has he lived with you?

A: Forty-five years.

_________________________________

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he

woke up that morning?

A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

Q: And why did that upset you?

A: My name is Susan.

_________________________________

Q: How was your first marriage terminated?

A: By death.

__________________________________

Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a

deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?

A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

__________________________________

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for

a pulse?

A: No.

Q: Did you check for blood pressure?

A: No.

Q: Did you check for breathing?

A: No.

Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you

began the autopsy?

A: No.

Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?

A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, March 18 - SNOW DAY!!!  Shoveled, shoveled & more shoveling.  Twin 1 did her 35min Tempo run and likes running better with a set time so she knows exactly how much time is left.

Thursday, March 19 - No buses were running and the city was still cleaning up so Twin 2 took a vacation day.  Day 2 of shoveling.  She also did her 35 minute tempo run that was scheduled for Wednesday.  Twin 1 worked from home and did her scheduled 3mi run on the treadmill.  We are hoping for some sidewalks on the weekend but there is another system coming Saturday so we will see.

Friday, March 20 -  REST DAY!!

Saturday, March 21 - The schedule called for 60 min cross training so Twin 1 took the dogs to Point Pleasant for a 60 min walk.

Sunday, March 22 - Once again we woke up to winter conditions so the treadmill it was.  Twin 1 & 2 did 4 miles on the treadmill and Twin 2 also did her 60 min cross train from Saturday on the bike.

Monday, March 23 -  The dogs woke Twin 1 up at 4am so she let them out and instead of going back to bed she decided to get her run over with before the day even started so 3 miles she did. Twin 2 ran right after work on the treadmill as she had some company coming.  We also both did a round of strength training.

Tuesday, March 24 -  Hair cut night!! and no workout.

Tip Tuesday

Create an incentive list.  Keep this list handy and pick from it every once in a while.  Some people always have incentives they're aiming for.  When you reach a certain mileage, weight, or performance goal, reward yourself.  Treat yourself to a night out, a manicure, or a weekend getaway.

Motivational Monday

Friday Funny

Today is the first day of spring.

LOL!

Another Random Post of Pics

Pearl enjoying a Sunday night watching the Junos

Cadbury Creme Egg time.  Packaging is different and egg seems smaller.

But the ooey gooey goodness inside is still the same

 Comfort food of KD and lettuce (the salad toppings are underneath)

Pretty and colourful

Canada Post can't forward my bills/T4 to my house but People can find me.

Veggies anyone?

Thought I was out of tuna looking at the middle shelf….guess I wasn’t (top shelf). Gotta move the eyes upward before going grocery shopping.

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, March 11 - Twin 1 caught up on a few videos, JM video 7 & 8.  Twin 2 did 65 minutes on the bike.

Thursday, March 12 - Twin 1 skipped another video and took the dogs out to Ashburn. 

Friday, March 13 - REST DAY

Saturday, March 14 - REST DAY

Sunday, March 15 - Another rest day, gearing up for our 10k training program which starts tomorrow. This is what the schedule looks like for March.

No idea why but can't rotate pic.

Monday, March 16 - Twin 1 did Shred L1 in the a.m and 3 miles on the treadmill after work.  Mr. Treadmill is working better as now it only takes 5 min to get it moving like it should.  Not sure how accurate the readings are but she is trusting it.  Twin 2 had a day off work.  Late afternoon she contemplated on whether she should do Shred or treadmill first.  She decided on the treadmill.  Her shins were really bothering her after 1.5 miles (possibly from starting off too fast and drinking no water over the weekend) so she jumped off the treadmill and proceeded to do Shred L1 video.  After that was over she ate supper and drank more water and then hopped on the treadmill for another 1.5 miles.  That half went much better. 

Tuesday, March 17 - Twin 2 hopped on the treadmill as soon as she got home from work for another 3 miles.  She was a hurting ticket from the running/video yesterday.  Can barely move now. Twin 1 took the dogs out to Ashburn again and was too tired when she got home so skipped the run and went to bed. 

Tip Tuesday & We Lied

To track your progress, keep a log, even if it's just jotting your mileage or time on a kitchen calendar.

So remember just a few short posts ago when we talked about spring nearing?  Fooled you didn't we? Another storm hit us on Saturday night and into Sunday AND there is more to come in the forecast.

 Twin 1 woke up on Sunday morning and noticed her neighbour's trunk was open. 

  Poor guy.  Nothing she could do as the snow drifts were too high to get out her door to let him know.

Motivational Monday

Friday Funny

A husband and his wife were out shopping. The wife suddenly remembered that her mother’s birthday was coming up. She said,

“Honey, can we look around for a birthday present for mom? She wants something electric.”

The husband replied, “Sure, honey. How about a chair?”

Signs of Spring

The sun shining and the driveway melting are signs of spring (FYI - the brown stuff closest to you may appear to look like smeared poop but rest assured it is not, it is sand.).  I'll admit, that is a gross thought. 

 

Patio furniture/lawn mowers, etc are on sale.

 

AND our favourite sign of spring - SOUTH DEALS!!!  Not sure if we're going away this year but we are constantly looking for the perfect deal.  Only time will tell.

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday March 4 - Twin 1 did JM video 6 and took the dogs to Ashburn for an hour walk

Thursday, March 5 - Twin 1 ran 3.6k at lunch.  Half run half walk as it was mostly ice.  Twin 2 did 5k on the treadmill.  It was struggle but around 8:30 p.m. she went downstairs to her gym and turned on Netflix as loud as she could and hopped on the treadmill.  While running the treadmill was so loud she still couldn't hear the show she was watching but it took her attention away from running and her run flew by.  Took 4 minutes off her last 5k treadmill run. 

Friday, March 6 - REST.  Twin 2 was going to go on bike after she got home on Friday night because she took her rest day on Wednesday night BUT after work her and a couple of co-workers went out to eat and she stuffed her face and went to bed when she got home.  Twin 1 took the dogs to Ashburn for an hour and a half and were all beat by the time they all got home.

Saturday, March 7 - We got out for another 5k run around Twin 2's subdivision (still the only roads worth running on).  We ran with one of our friends (CS) who just started running in the summer/fall.  It looked beautiful outside but the wind was crazy cold and very hard to breath.  It was a struggle but once it was over it felt good.  Twin 1 also took the dogs to Ashburn once again for an hour walk.

Sunday, March 8 -Twin 2 did 64 minutes on bike.  Why 64 and not 65 min?  Because that's when my two Netflix shows were over and I didn't want to spend another minute on the bike. Twin 1 had some videos to make up from Thursday and Saturday along with today's but she only did the JM video 7 (starting a new round of videos for phase 2) and also took the dogs to Crystal Cresent beach for a walk with some other pooches. So she is still behind in videos and not sure if to tack them on at the end or if she has time to make them up this week.

Monday, March 9 - Twin 1 did 5k on the treadmill, first time ever on her $60 machine.  She also did JM video 8.   Twin 2 took a rest day as she had some appointments to attend.

Tuesday, March 10 - Twin 1 skipped another video and took the dogs to Ashburn with some friends for an hour and a half.  She has to start doing videos in the morning again to get everything in.

Tip Tuesday

Think you don't have time to run?  You can probably make a list of things you're wasting time on today.  Cut one of them out and get the run in.

Motivational Monday

I Did It

I am 35 years old and I still care what people say and think.  I usually don’t but I work in the place where people are always taking about other people and we have a few ladies that look your outfits up and down when they see you and makes you feel like you are in high school again.

I don’t mind what people think of my outfits,  etc. but when it comes to running it’s all a competition to them.  I remember when about 8 of us ran the Bluenose the very first run I ever ran and all they talked about was distance and speed.  It was constantly a competition to them.  Maybe it made them feel better about themselves if they were the fastest…..

I run to compete against myself and no one else.  That’s what running is, unless you are an elite runner and run for the victory to win.  But most of us run because it makes us feel good and when you reach your PB (personal best time) that’s against yourself not someone else that’s why its call a Personal Best.   Running is a great way to challenge yourself and you can always set goals to reach.

I had to run at lunch on Thursday to get my run in for the day as I had a dentist appointment that evening so I wouldn’t have time later on.  I brought my running clothes to go at lunch.  All morning I sat at my desk and debated whether I should go or not.  After the Bluenose there are only a handful of people that know I still run.  I do not feel like being quizzed about my times etc and being judged on MY running for MYSELF so I keep quiet about it.

At 11:55am I finally got up the courage and thought WHO CARES what people say or if they quiz me.  It’s really none of their business.  I’m doing this for ME.  I got changed and was debating on taking my trackers as well because last I heard the sidewalks/trail were all ice but I “assumed” they would have started to melt or have some form of salt or dirt on them at least for traction so I left them behind. 

BIG MISTAKE.

The trail and sidewalks were SOLID ICE.  I almost turned around but thought I’d probably look dumb if I came back in 2 min after I was geared up to go.  I walked down a side street that I knew would be too busy to see if that was clear.   Some parts were and some parts were a slushy ice/snow mix so I ran up and down that street about 5 times and then walked to the next street over where all the buses stop and that sidewalk was clear the whole way down it so I ran up and down there and then did loops between both streets.  I was out for a total of 3.64km from door to door and 34 min. 

Once I was out there I felt good and didn’t care who seen me or what anyone said to me.  It was nice to get away from work for half an hour and once I made that big step for myself I am now looking forward to more lunch time runs once the trail/sidewalks clear up.  The street with the clear sidewalk was also a street that people from Bayers Rd shopping center take their smoke breaks on so I was running and second hand smoking at the same time so I guess they kind of cancel each other out HA!

Needless to say I’m proud of myself for getting out there and I now do not care of anyone says anything.  No one has yet but I did get a few looks when I came back in.   Maybe folks are just jealous that they weren’t the ones out there getting fit.

So the moral of this rambling is to get up and do something that is holding you back for whatever reason.  Do it for yourself and who cares about what anyone else thinks or says.  Maybe you will inspire someone in the process.

On a side note has anyone tried the Sea Salt & Carmel donut from Tim’s?  I tired one and the first one was sweet and good and the 2^nd one a month later I found salty.  But I think this is a good mix to put on the roads/sidewalks because its looks like it would have good traction.  What do you think?

Friday Funny

Q.  Where do werewolves live?

A.  In warehouses.

One Sentence Per Picture

Sunrise on the way to work (taken on the bus)

Sunset in the evening

We're glad there is more than one flavour

Trying to hold the ceiling up due to rain

Happy Pearl

The boys like the sun just as much as Mom

Twin 1's post run fuel

Twin 2's post run fuel

Can you tell we're twins?  We both took the same pic of our post Sunday run fuel for the blog.  Twins amaze us.