Well, the plan was to leave work a bit early to do a little exercise as we were meeting Bill's mom for dinner in Burlington. It started snowing midafternoon adn 3-6 inches were predicted so I knew running outside was probably going to be out of the question.

Unfortunately I didn't get out of work when I wanted and had no time to exercise. It took us forever to get to dinner in the weather, had a long dinner and sociallizing, and another long drive home getting home at almost 10pm in a snowstorm.

No exercise today!

So I got up this morning not sure if I wanted to go to Core on the Floor or just do some cardio. Well, about midday my choice was made for me--they called me at work to tell me that the Core class was cancelled as the instructor was ill (again). That settled it.

Went to the All Saints gym after and did my mile on the treadmill, then 1o minutes on the bike, then finished wiht some tricep dips, lunges with weights, and abs.

Since I did the 20/20/20 last night and will be doing Core on the Floor tomorrow, I just wanted to do all aerobic today and no weights. They are having wind and wind chill advisories tonight with 30 mph winds.

Met Bill at the Y. Decided I haven't done intervals in a long time so I better do that. Got on the treadmill and set the jog for 6.6 (9:05 pace) and the run at 8.5. Did 2 miles with 45 second intervals every 2-2.5 minutes for the entire time. Did the 2 miles in about 16:40 or so.

Then while Bill was doing some weights, I went and did 15 minute hill workout on the bike.

Good cardio tonite.

It's still pretty nice out, but I wanted to go to the 20/20/20 class. Went to that and got an easy aerobic workout and a good shoulder/deltoid weight & toning workout.

Bill got up and met a few of the runners for an early run, but I really wanted to sleep in a bit and go to the gym.

Bill got home from running and I went to the YMCA. Did a good 30 minute hill workout on the elliptical (with 3 minutes in the middle going backward). Then I was going to do 30 more minutes on the bike, but I finished my magazine within the first 10 minutes and started to get bored. Therefore I only did about 20 minutes as I wanted to get home to make the breakfast I promised and relax a bit for a Sunday.

For the first time since the 1/5, I'm with the group for a Saturday run. We were in Florida on 1/12 and I only ran 1.75, then last week was too cold and I just went to the gym. Today was cold, but not as bad as it has been. It snowed last night, so it was a sloppy run. Also, there was a good wind (about 10-12mph) from the south.

Ran the Panera run with Ken. The run is about 5.8, so we ran a little extra just to get the 6.0 in.

Ran 6 miles in 54:52 (9:06/mile pace). The first 3.1 was faster, running a 8:46 average pace. The final 3 or so were mostly into the wind so they were slower.

It has warmed up a bit and the wind died down a bit. Got out of work and just really wasn't in the mood for another run on a treadmill. Since it wasn't too bad outside, I called Bill and had him wait to run with me.

This was the first outside run I'd done since Florida. Therefore it's the first time I've run outside in Wisconsin in about 2 weeks. A little sloshy out as it had been flurrying a bit, but it was just brisk and it felt good to be outside and have some scenery.

Ran 1.03 in 9:15 (8:59/mile pace)

They say today is the last of the frigidly cold days and it will start to warm up tomorrow. I sure hope so.

We have dinner plans tonight with some of the runners and are going to the Spirit of the Marathon one-time move showing tonight. Therefore I scooted out of work a bit early and quickly went to the All Saints gym just to get a mile in. The ankle's still tender during the day, but again it didn't bother me while running.

Had a great dinner and a reporter and photographer from the Journal Times met with the group to get info on the Goofy Challenge. Bill had sent them info on it and are interested in doing a story. It'll be interesting to see how it comes out.

Had an appointment with Anna tonight. Thought I'd try to get there a bit early to do some elliptical or bike work, but it was snowing so the drive took alot longer than I planned. Just got there in time to meet with her.

Since my ankle/shin is still a bit tender, I told her that I wanted to stay away from anything jumping or anything that would be wobbly or I could lose my balance. Therefore she focused more on core and upper body. Some biceps and shoulder work, and lots (and lots) of core.

Since it's still quite cold, and snowy too, just moved the car and did the mile on the All Saints treadmill. Walked a bit too, but didn't want to do much more as I have Anna tomorrow. Also wanted to take it easy as it seems that I strained something in my left ankle/outside shin area at 20/20/20 last night. It hurt on and off all day, but didn't hurt at all running. I guess that's good, so I just have to take it easy this week.

It's still way too cold to run outside, so I took advantage of no evening plans and went to the 20/20/20 class. Haven't been to that in a while. Denise was sick, so Nancy subbed as the instructor. I didn't really like her as a yoga instructor, but I really liked her 20/20/20 class. Good cardio, good weights. Felt good to do this tonight.

Bill and I got up and went to brunch this morning, so we decided to go to the gym this afternoon. Didn't have a whole lot of time as we were going to dinner with my mom.

Ran a mile on the treadmill and did about 15 minutes on the bike.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! So, today is my 34th birthday and I'm actually in the best shape of my life. I still have a ways to go to get healthier and thinner, but still working on it.

Like many of my previous birthdays, it's either snowy or frigidly cold. This year, it's the cold. At 6am it was -4 degrees, with a windchill of -15. That's way too cold for me to run, especially on my birthday.

Went back to sleep for a bit then got up and met the group for coffee. Went to the YMCA after coffee to do my exercise. Did a mile on the treadmill, plus 20 minutes of hill workout on the bike.

OK, this was a bad day! For the first time since June 29, 2007, I did not officially do any type of exercise today.

Was at work before 8am, then had a hair appt at 4pm, got out of the appt and spent the next 45 minutes on my cell phone with a candidate, then quickly changed clothes and met the work group for Jackie's goodbye party after work. I thought I may get a quick run in after the hair appt and before the party, but that phone call prevented that. Then I thought I may not be out too late, but the party went into the weee hours of the night/morning.

Nearly everyone from the HR department went out and we went dancing and drinking at the new Den Again. Therefore I did do some exercise, sort of, with all the dancing I did. After 11pm, I realized (while out on the dance floor) that there was no way I was going to get in formal exercise. I was a little sad and disappointed, but I was having alot of fun---a good type of social fun I don't get very often, so that was more worth it to me. Life is short and this was a choice I made. Didn't get home until 1:35am--technically Saturday (and my birthday), so no exercise on Friday, January 18th. :(

Back to work after vacation and know it will be a long day. Went to work early and stayed till just after 7pm. Still wanted to get a little exercising in, so I did my mile (about 9 minute mile) on the treadmill plus a few minutes of walking. Then I did two different ab exercises and that was good for the night.

Flew back home from Florida today and back to the reality of very, very cold Wisconsin temperatures. Since we have the whole day to be lazy, I figured I'd go to the Core on the Floor class tonight at Synchronicity.

Did that 1 hour class of core, stretching, and stengthening exercises.

Last day in Florida and had to get out for another mile. It's still quite chilly....not the weather I would have liked for a vacation in Florida.

Ran 1.0 in 9:08.

Day after the marathon and Bill's pretty sore. He did great in both his races and I'm so proud of him. He still wants to do his mile, but wants to take it easy.

As we get outside the hotel, we notice it's gotten quite chilly since it rained yesterday. Bill was pretty stiff, so we started out very slow. Sped up a bit, but still took it nice and easy.

Ran 1.01 in 10:14 (10:08/mile pace)

Today's the Marathon Day. Tim and I had made plans to meet up and go to mile 19ish which was just down the road. Figuring they'd get there around 9am or so, and not knowing what the rest of the day would entail, I figured I'd better get the mile in early.

Went out about 7:15am in the nice warm Orlando weather. Did 1.05 in 9:34 (9:06/mile pace)

Today’s the ½ marathon so I was awakened at 3am when Bill got up to go. I never really fell sound asleep so I struggled to get up. Then from 7am on, I was getting text messages with all their progress. I got ready to go running around 8:30am, but Kristin called and Bill finished (got the text). Chatted with Kristin a bit (all three girls—Jodie, Kristen, and Melissa had finished), then Bill walked up to them and I chatted with him a minute. This delayed the run a bit.

Got out there and couldn’t decide if I wanted to do just one mile or two. Ended up settling on somewhere in the middle. Ran 1.75 in 15:26 (8:49/mile pace). Had my music on this morning and I guess that kept me going at a pretty good pace.

Bill ran the ½ marathon and did great—about 2:17! As he puts it, 1/3 done. He’s got the full marathon tomorrow.

Just three of us—Bill, Melissa, and I – met up for the early run. Since tomorrow is the ½ marathon, Bill just wanted to do one mile. When Melissa agreed, we set off.

Ran 1.06 miles in 9:37 (9:07/mile pace). A little better than yesterday, but boy is it humid down here.

Down in Sunny Florida!! Bill and I met up with Melissa and Tim for an early morning run. There’s a nice sidewalk outside the resort that runs the length of all three All-Stars Resorts.

The four of us ran 2.03 miles in 18:56 (9:21/mile pace). It felt as if we ran a little faster than that, but I guess not.

We’re leaving for Florida tonight and I had to be up in Oak Creek for work at 6:30am this morning, so I wasn’t quite sure when I’d run. Bill got up and ran in the morning, but I certainly wasn’t at 5am. Got home from work mid-afternoon and quickly packed up some stuff. When Bill got home, I ran out for my mile to get it done.

Ran 1.0 in 9:11. A little slow, but I had a big lunch and I’m not great at running in the afternoon or evening.

Had a GOP meeting tonight so we ended up running very, very late. But had to get it in.

Ran 1.02 in 9:13 (9:00/mile pace)

Had an appointment with Anna tonight, the first one in about 4 weeks. Got there a little early to do about 12 minutes on the elliptical to warm up, therefore getting nearly the full hour of strength training with Anna. Did a good variety of exercises today, and some new ones. One was on the sled-type machine where my legs are up and I’m sitting on the floor. I put a soft ball between my knees, then when I pulled my knees to my chest I did it slowly over a count of 10, and pushed up over a count of 5. This slow movement for 8 reps, 3 sets, was killer and my thighs literally were burning. We also did some chest flies that I know I’ll feel tomorrow.

No run today.

After working on cleaning up the house and situating the office and spare room as best as possible, we realized we still needed to get in our run.

Ran 1.03 mile in 9:09 (8:54/mile pace). Lately when I run the 1 mile around the neighborhood, I’m very consistent in running about 8:54-8:55/mile.

Saturday run and still the roads/sidewalks aren’t great. Running from Lakeshore Towers north and will stay on the streets rather than the trails as they probably aren’t plowed. Ken had his daughter Meg there so the three of us ran out together. We stupidly went east toward Chancery, not realizing the area around all the condos wasn’t plowed. This made for some rough, uneven footing and a lot harder start to the run than I had planned. At one point during the run I asked Meg how far we were running, and she gave a good answer of 5 miles.

Therefore we ran 5.17 miles in 46:30 (8:59/mile pace)

Friday night and just had to get the mile in. Since we’ll be running long tomorrow, just want to do only the mile.

Ran 1.04 miles in 8:56 (8:37/mile pace). So much for taking it easy.

It's still bitterly cold, so I decided to bring a bag and run at work after work. As I was running on the treadmill, I felt pretty good, so I thought I'd do a full two. This way, since I didn't run yesterday, I kind of felt like I was averaging out.

Ran the two miles in about 18:30 or so.

So, today is the day I decided not to run. I thought I still may, but I decided to try the new Core on the Floor class at Synchronicity. It was a good class, I'll definitely feel some of it tomorrow.

Earlier today I thought I may run before or after the class. Got out of work late, and I barely made it to the class. Then after, I really didn't feel like stopping back at work to run. It's bitterly cold, so I know I don't want to run outside. The whole drive home, I was conflicted. I really didn't want to run, and I know I have decided to just stop sometime here as I want to start giving my body a break and break out of the monotony. Yet, mentally, I'm conflicted with stopping the streak. It's a really, really hard decision and it's actually kind of upsetting. I know once I get through this today, I'll be fine, but making this decision is very hard and I kind of feel like I'm giving up. But I've decided that I'll just change it a bit. I am going to do at least 30-60 minutes of some other type of exercise (whether its other cardio or a class of some type) every day, and if I don't, then I will run my mile. This way, I will still stay motivated to do some exercise every single day....just it may be something different then running.

Happy New Year! It's a new year and has been started as a tradition, the running group is getting together for a morning run. Carol offered to host this year, so we're starting from her house and will have breakfast at it after.

It's quite cold today, with a pretty strong westerly wind. Bill and I wanted to run the first mile of the year together, then we figured we may break off from each other. After the first mile, we decided to stay together and walk/run together for the shorter route of about 4 miles.

Ran 4.3 miles in 44:29 pace (10:20/mile pace). We walked about 1/2 mile or so in the first 3 miles when the wind was pretty strong, so that really hurt our overall pace. The last 1.2 miles was at a 9:44 pace, still slow, but better than the 10:34 pace in the first 3.1 miles.