Weather

Weather is a funny thing.  Funny that people like to talk about it a lot.  I've noticed that people in Arizona like to talk about the weather even more than the Average Joe.   Usually we talk about how hot it is.  I had a change in weather this last week as I was in Utah for Thanksgiving Day Week.  It was cold.....brrrrrr.
Snow you ask? Some.
Cold?--- plenty cold!

Mount Timpanogos.  I grew up at the base of this mountain range.  Right outside my parents front door.

 I thought I would share some of my cold weather clothing attire with you in case you wonder how to stay warm while running.

 Smart Wool Running socks that keep your toes cozy warm

Basic running gloves with reflective designs in case you run into that winter darkness

 Pearl Izumi Beanie

 Marmot skiing shirt that covers your hands and has a thumb hole, great for skiing and running.

 Lightweight Pearl Izumi reflective running jacket

 Reflective Running Tights

 It was so cold I even put this coat on top of the other jacket and shirt.

Here is everything I wore to stay warm while running in Utah

So I put on all my winter running stuff.


Went outside.


Got in my car and drove my A** to the gym where I ran my morning run on the treadmill.

 I barely survived.

The 24 Hour Fitness I went to did NOT have a escalator?!  Hello people--Are we missing the point here?

Props to all you cold weather dwellers who deal with this all winter.
You must be way tougher than me to run in this cold weather everyday.

I did see one braindead die hard chick outside running in shorts, a shirt and gloves.  She is definitely dumber tougher than me.  It was 10 F degrees out.  Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Happy Running,
NRR

London's Race

Last week was a tough week for me.  It is every year.  Every year I try to pump myself up and say "Be strong, Be strong, she is fine, your fine" and every year it comes and knocks me straight on my REAR END (insert big sigh here).  Life can be that way.  I feel better now  :)  Thanks for listening and your kind words

Cool Quote #1  

"Stand up and Finish what you started" 
-Bob, The Biggest Loser

For my lady readers--you are welcome.

Whenever life knocks us on our rear we must get up and keep going, the race isn't over.  


Speaking of races, some of you have asked what race The Non Race Runner is training for in January.  It wasn't by accident I haven't mentioned the name of the race so my apologies if you think I wasn't answering your questions.  I was just ignoring you (with love).  A race really has to speak to me in order for me to sign up for it.  This one spoke, especially at this time of year it spoke, right to me.  

Cool Quote #2

"You'll never win any races looking in the rear view mirror"

Somehow I came across this race and it was perfect.  London's story touched me.  She was six years old when she was diagnosed with Cancer.  I hate cancer.  Cancer sucks.  Cancer can kiss my grits.  So many I love have been taken by cancer.  Others I love have kicked cancers butt.  So although I think there is a marathon race in the city right next to mine the same day as this race I'm going to drive an hour and a half to some small town, on some small farm, where I think this year they are actually getting all "official" and will have actual timing chips--I guess I better figure out what I'm suppose to do with those--on the shoe right? (j/k)  This sounds like my kind of race.  London lost her fight with cancer and this race is in her honor.  All proceeds go to help families that have children with cancer in this small community.  Yay for small communities, you are what make the world go round.  So there you have it!  The NRR 1st official race of 2011!  

I leave you with,
Cool quote #3:

"Life's journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn-out shouting Woohoo! What a ride!"

So get to the living people!


Happy Running,
NRR

Words

I have been wanting to say something.  Express how I feel.  Talk about it but I don't have any words.  I can't seem to find any words that seem to be able to show how I feel.  All the words that I have don't do it any justice.  They are so inadequate. I have looked and looked and looked.  Why doesn't anyone give me the words I need?  Love.  LOVE is definitely the right word but there are more.  What are they? Do YOU know? Why hasn't anyone else figured out how to fix this problem. It's not like I'm not happy, I am very Happy.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, on and on and on.  1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 6th.......All week I've been trying.  I don't say any words to anybody because what if they don't get it?  How can they get it?  They don't even Know. What if I say the wrong words And then they saY more wrong words back to me and then...then...then... It has gotten better, definitely better.  Last year it didn't sEEm this hard.  Am I getting weaker?  I'm suppose to be getting stronger not weaker.  I've been in bed.  In and out. In and out. Get out of bed, just get up!   LJ, DJ, KJ, RJ, SJ.....Definitely love you.  Beyond a shadow of a doubt! No doubt there. Love, yes LOVE is a good word.  I'M all out of wOrds, I can't think of any More, it is all I have, I hope it is enough.

Some Words

More Words

But it doesn't matter technique.....

Today I had to reach clear back into my bag of tricks and pull out a technique that I haven't had to use in quite a while.  It's called the "But it doesn't matter technique".  If you are having a tough run you just add this phrase onto the end of each thought.  I had seven miles of this phrase today.  It went a little something like this.

Starting off at mile 1 and continuing to mile 7 my thoughts sounded like this in my head:

"Oh my gosh, I wonder if picking up each leg with your hands and setting it down then picking up your other leg is a running form I'm not familiar with, --but it doesn't matter"

"Wow, I am really tired, I need more sleep--but it doesn't matter"

"I can't believe the scale said I gained 3 lbs today!!??  Why do I even try?--but it doesn't matter"

"Scout pack meeting tonight and football practices at same time, how is that going to work?--but it doesn't matter"

"7 more days, 7 more days, can't breathe, can't breathe--but it doesn't matter"

"Travis (husband) been out of town and I NEED Travis --but it doesn't matter"

"Sharing time for November, primary callings, leadership meetings, division championship football game for son#1 at same time as Bowl football game for son #2 and soccer game for son #3,  etc. etc.---but it doesn't matter"

So you see the whole purpose of the technique is whatever is on you mind or rather keeping you from running you say this little phrase and suddenly you don't have any excuses.  It's raining, it's cold, it's hot, I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm busy, ---but it doesn't matter.

What is more important "Attitude" or "Behavior"?  Some will say attitude.  If you have a bad attitude then how can you accomplish things?  I say behavior is more important.  You can't really see somebody's "attitude" but you can see their behavior.  "Research shows that as a rule attitudes are justifiers of behavior rather than causes of it.  That is most of the time we develop attitudes in order to explain our behavior to ourselves and/or others."*

Did I have a great attitude today for my 7 mile run? Umm, not really. What was my behavior? I ran 7 miles.  My behavior taught me "I will get it done no matter what" thus shaping my attitude that I can perform even under not so great circumstances.

I leave you with this little gem,

It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Albus DumbledoreHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.


Today I chose to run.
Happy Running,
NRR

*Taken from David A. Whitsett, Forrest A. Dolgener and Tanjala Mabon Kole.

Who needs Europe?

Yesterday Landon was working on a history assignment and had to make a world map.  He was suppose to burn the edges of the map to make it look old.  Well.....

I TRIED not to laugh but....ended up laughing so hard I almost peed my pants.

BEST part was his response:

"Well, only half of Europe is gone and some of the Atlantic Ocean, my teacher will never notice"  

He turned it in just like this.  What teacher recommends a 10 year old burn something?

Good times.

I'm on my way out the door for a 7 miler.  Legs are STILL killing from the lunges on Monday, CURSE YOU LUNGES CURSE YOU!

Happy Running!

Food, Glorious Food!

Okay okay, I know it is Monday almost Tuesday and you are all expecting the Halloween post but seriously I CANNOT KEEP UP WITH YOU PEOPLE!!  How do you all blog so fast! So while everyone is moving on to November Fall pre Thanksgiving posts you should expect my Halloween post sometime later in the week, "Day late, dollar short" that's how I roll.  Plus as THE Q commented on one of my previous posts that I have these

Yes I am a cheeseball in 95% of photos taken of me :)

which slows the typing down a tad but it's just one of the prices you have to pay to be a REAL HOUSEWIFE OF MARICOPA COUNTY

And if you like those check out these:

I know it's hard to see in this picture but for Halloween, I asked for a white scary spider with red eyes in a web and ended up with a white snowman with red eyes.  It's hard to find good help these days, she was a cute girl and I'm not one to make a fuss so...whatevs.  


On to today's blogging:


"Food fun" ---Tagged by the horse whisperer EMZ, woot, woot, have you seen her buckle?


1. If you could eat anything without any health repercussions or guilt, what would your meal be?

So are you saying I shouldn't eat the fried butter?  I actually eat pretty much what I want.  I'm more of a "moderation in all things" type of girl. If you want some cheesecake eat some, just not the whole cake, at the same time, seven days in a row. At least not again.

2. If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why?

Dead: I can't tell you my REAL answer because that would reveal too much so I'll say Jesus for obvious reasons, you know we could walk on water together, raise the dead, heal the sick, water to wine--good times.
Alive: Cain because that would be trippy, (but I would want Jesus there with me).

3. Why did you start blogging and what did you expect when you started?

Yes, meet my sister Tami, she is cuter and skinnier and faster than me (damn her) but would probably kill over if she had to run a mile at this point in her life.  She gets my kids if I die so she prays for my health :) Love U!

My little sister came to visit me one day and next thing I knew I was signed up on Facebook and had a Family blog so I suppose it was to keep in touch with family better.  (I don't live by any family and haven't since high school)  The running blog came when I decided I had to "edit" (so as not to offend--who me?) a lot more than I wanted to on the Family blog and had to represent so many people (all six of us). Running blog is just for me.  Nobody that I actually associate on a day to day basis knows about my running blog (at least I haven't told them about it) or my family blog.  Mainly people far away, other states/countries know about my blogs.  It works I guess.  

4. What is the one book you could read over and over again?


I don't really read books over and over other than children's books to my kids. (Okay I've read the Twilight series three times but that was just a phase).  I like to read non fiction books about other cultures.  I HATE self help books or books about things I'm already doing (raising kids, stay at home mom etc.) because I'm already doing that so why would I want to read about it.  I'd rather learn about something I don't know. 

5. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?


I use to work for Delta airlines while I was in college and could fly anywhere for free but I seem to be a creature of habit/traditions.  I tend to want to do the same trips over and over.  Disney, Hawaii, San Diego, Utah etc.  Not much of a World traveler but I should work on that.  Maybe Switzerland to ski, that sounds fun or maybe even Canada?  Thanks to Neil Z and his amazing photos it has peaked my interest in that country.  Plus some of my favorite bloggers are from there like  Andrew who graduated with "distinction", trophy husband Q, photographer and Barefooter Neil Z and Chris who runs ultras like they are 5k's.  Plus I really like the way Canadians say the word "no"  I could listen to that ALL day.


6. If you could have a TV show on the Food Network, what would it be?
 

What can I make for you tonight Mrs. Jensen?

It would be called "Who is making me Dinner Tonight!"  Then different chefs, Bobby Flay, The Neeley's, Rachael Ray etc. would all take turns making me dinner every night and it would be a surprise to me who it was!  Sounds good to me.


7. What was the best meal you ever had?

At home: Anything that anyone else cooks is a good meal.


Restaurant:  Favorite restaurant is at The Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City Utah, it's called Glitretind.  Seriously, best food, service, views... it's AWESOME!

8. Who has been the greatest influence on your love for food and learning to cook?


I suppose my mom taught me how to cook.  It seems I've always known how.  I'd say I'm sort of a lazy cook though.  If the recipe takes longer than 30 minutes it's not going to be made very often.  I guess there is a time and season for everything in life.  I'm in the season of quick and easy meals.  


Hmmmmmm, who to tag...


Jamoosh--I'm curious what he eats with all that beer.
Chris K--What does a BQ or die person eat??
The MisAdventures of a jogging stroller mom--this mamma makes me look like a wimp, she rocks.

P.S.  Today was "official Day 1" of training for my January Race, 11 weeks 6 days to go!


Happy Running peeps,
NRR