2015 Race Schedule

THE RACE SEASON IS UPON US...... ANNNNNNDDDDDD
 I AM NOT PREGNANT! 

{Don't get me wrong it was worth it being pregnant but is killed last race season}

April 25, 2015 - Run for the Lakes - Nisswa, Minnesota

July 11, 2015 - Graniteman Triathlon - Clearwater, Minnesota

August 29, 2015 - Women Rock - St. Paul, Minnesota

November 7, 2015 - Wine & Dine - Walt Disney World

{I am registered for these 4 events}

I am debating squeezing in a couple 10ks or 5ks somewhere. I would like to run one more with Marc {we are both running the Wine & Dine}. I also am semi tempted to sign up for the Fargo Mini Marathon, October 17, 2015. I am RIDICULOUSLY excited for this race season and can't hardly fathom that it is almost upon me. I am hoping to get better about writing race reports. At this rate I am currently on pace to earn 40 medals before I turn 40 {which I would love to do}.

Are you racing anything this year?

What races are you running?

What are your favorite races?

Puerto Vallarta

We are home and I feel like I am going to freeze to death, yes literally, yesterday while driving to work my car thermostat said -32 degrees, not including windchill. RIDICULOUS! Seriously. Either way, my days are now spent remembering Marc & I's marvelous trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last week. The weather was gorgeous, 80s to 90s during the day, sunny as all get out, and BEAUTIFUL. We had a wonderful time sitting by the pool and on the beach, playing in the water, and going on adventures. It was so good for my soul to get out of the frozen north and head south, new rule in our house, we will be leaving the north every winter for a week. It was great to go outside and not have to put on my hats, mittens, boots, winter coat, etc. rather we just went out in shorts and a tank top. Also to add to the wonderful was that I was able to run outside every day in my shorts and tank tops, no treadmills (seriously HATE the treadmill, I get bored sooo fast and now with all these people and their new year resolutions they are hogging up the treadmills, bring on February when people start to fade off their goals, that sounds horrible but true). Here's a few pictures from our stay, there are tons of photos coming over the next week or so. 

Wine and Dine Training

I feel like this season of training I am getting better at cross training - on my off days of running I feel like I am actually still being active and getting in a decent workout while being able to keep up with the running. Some times when training I feel like my cross training or non running days can be fairly lame and limited to dog walks, while yes, I am still doing those I am loving that I am getting in some biking and swimming miles.


August 23: 45 minute bike ride
August 24: 75 Minute run
August 25: Swim
August 26-29: This weeks workouts come in a bit of a non traditional sense. No I am not racking up the miles in terms of running, but I am getting plenty of a work out - I am spending this week up in the BWCA -Boundary Waters Canoe Area - paddling and swimming and portaging canoes (actually a lot of work - but totally worth it). I will definitely post a full report when I get home.


Have you ever been to the BWCA? (I believe EVERYONE should go sometime - it is that awesome)
Do you like canoeing?
Where is your favorite place to canoe?
What races are you training for currently?

One month as a Mrs.

The wonderful things:

• every night we both come home to the same house and every morning we wake up in the same house - I love this
• I see my husband every day (minus of course when I am traveling with youth for work) - although it does make coming home a little bit more exciting in terms of having both Marc and Dakota at home
• I also love that while I am gone someone is in the house taking care of it and watching it for flooding
• grace abounds
• we have decided to live by this - yeah there are things that we both need to get used to or talk to the other person about but we are fully admitting that this transition takes grace on both of our parts - so we live by grace 
• We actually have managed to figure out a good routine in the morning that doesn't add stress 
• it was strange at first to realize we only have one bathroom and two of us need to use it to get ready in the morning - it took us a few days to remember that we both no longer have our own bathrooms
• we no longer have two houses to clean, maintain, and pay to live in
• we only have one fridge with food no more running back and forth to get food to make a particular thing for dinner
• we only have stuff at one house, so no matter what we have everything in one place and we don't have to run down the street to pick stuff up before we go anywhere or do anything
• by combining both of our stuff I have been able to get rid of a ton of stuff
• I LOVE this - I love only having one set of everything and being able to donate the rest of my and his stuff to people who need/want it

The things no one tells you about:

• We have had to figure out how to live together and it isn't always easy - I haven't had a roommate for years, almost 5 of them to be exact
• example 1: I had become accustom to sleeping like a starfish smack dab in the middle of the bed, this doesn't work as well with two people in the bed - Marc has had to give me a good shove from time to time to get back on the other side of the bed - he also says he has gotten a hand to the face a couple times
• example 2: Marc doesn't go back to his apartment every night leaving me with some downtime all to myself and Dakota - although we have learned that the loft is my "sacred space" to do as I want - read, crochet, craft and the garage is Marc's "sacred space" to do as he wants - hammer stuff, pound stuff, drill stuff, paint stuff, build stuff, rip stuff apart
• 2 stall garages BARELY hold two cars
• Confession: I was spoiled before and know it - I had a two stall garage with one car in it 
• I didn't have to care where I put stuff I had more than enough room and plenty to spare - now our cars both fit in the garage with all of our stuff (not really all that much extra stuff but some) and it is a tight squeeze - we both must park in our designated spots and realize that if you don't pay attention and park a little too far over the other can't get in
• really this is mostly my problem - I forget that I have to pull what feels obnoxiously far over to the right or Marc's car won't fit in the garage - he has been very grace filled
• it also doesn't help that we have been storing some stuff in the garage while we debate what to do with it all
• Last summer I was able to go almost all summer without putting in the window air conditioner in my bedroom - I just had a fan that ran all night. Now with two 98 degree bodies in one bed I have already put in the air conditioner and the heat of summer hasn't even arrived.
• Some men eat a lot - leftovers don't last all week
• so there is perks to having two people work their way through a particular meal - I don't end up eating it for nearly every meal for a week or even five or six meals - it is gone within a couple meals - if I get two meals from something I make it is victory for sure

Miscellaneous things:

• I love summer weather and being able to run outside
• or bike or hang out at the lake or just sit outside
• Managing a camp is a ton of work when you already have a full time job and a couple of part time jobs - however I am learning a TON
• I love not running on a treadmill
• Owning a house is a catch 22
• there is always 12 million projects to do (this is not an exaggeration or anything)
• I have almost begun to forget about how much I hated snow by April and how much I hated the treadmill - I am beginning to think half way decent thoughts about mother nature again
• We still have more stuff than I would like us to and so we continue to work on downsizing our stuff - seriously I am next to embarrassed at how much stuff we have - it is excessive and gross - we are both working on this - our closets, drawers, every hiding place doesn't need to be packed with stuff
• I love good long runs with Dakota outside
• I am having trouble keeping myself to only three or four runs a week - my knees can't handle any more than that or else they start to freak out and hate me - so we have come to an agreement - I run three to four days a week and they don't hate me
• I LOVE writing & sending snail mail - this time around it is wedding thank yous.
• I am finding it harder to write them to Marc's family as I just don't know them very well and have a hard time differentiating them from one another as I met so many people
• Marc has written some as well - which was more than welcomed
• My goal is to have these all done by the end of July - wishful thinking? Maybe but it is at least worth the attempt
• I find it annoying when I get a wedding thank you seven or eight months after a wedding I attended - at that point I had nearly forgotten that one was never sent

This post got RIDICULOUSLY long. Snaps to you if you actually read it all.

2013 Yearly Goals - Check In

Here are my goals for 2013 in no particular order - below in blue is the updates with how I am doing on my goals:

• Earn my Walt Disney Coast to Coast Medal
• This will require me to complete two races, one in Disneyland and one in Disney World in the same calendar year. I will be running the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland and the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Disney World
• I have finished the Tinkerbell Half Marathon at Disneyland in California and I have registered for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon at Walt Disney World in Florida this coming November - I dare to say this is going to happen! Super excited
• Learn how to fold fitted sheets
• Seriously, I have tried, but haven't been committed to it- my fitted sheets always just look like crap when they are folded - more like balled up sheets even if I have tried to fold them nicely - youtube here I come
• working on it!  I have been practicing weekly, I can't quite figure out how to get them so they actually lay flat - I have tried four different techniques on youtube - I have one that I like better than the others but it isn't perfect yet - still working on this one but definitely making progress
• seriously think this is the most ridiculous yearly goal but it is seriously on my list
• Get Married 
• DONE. WHHOOOOOP WHOOOOOP.
• June 8, 2013 - at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brainerd Minnesota
• Make a fruit pie from scratch
• No real reason for this one other than I just want to do it
• I have a date set with a few of the older ladies of the church I serve - and we are totally making a pie from scratch - seriously jazzed about this
• Paint one of the bedrooms upstairs
• I have begun the taping process to paint the room
• Run 5 half marathons [I am tempted to say six because I think it would be sweet to say I averaged one every other month but that maybe too lofty of a goal]
• I have Tinkerbell Half Marathon, Fargo Half Marathon, Fargo Mini Marathon, and Wine and Dine Half Marathon on the docket already - I'd like to add one in Minnesota to my list
• Two down and three to go 
• I must find one more and actually register for it so I get on it
• Finish going through all of my boxes 
• I haven't gone through all the boxes since I moved to Brainerd in June 2011, it's time to do some serious giving away
• This project is nearly done - I only have a couple boxes left to go through
• Organize my craft space in the loft
• DONE. IT Looks AWESOME up there
• Read 12 books for fun [I love reading but sometimes I get in a rut and do all my reading for work, which I don't totally mind, but I want to read for fun too] so far I am on track with reading one book per month for fun
• Emma - Jane Austen
• LOVED IT! 
• Red - Ted Dekker
• Found this to be a marvelous book and it kept me a bit on the edge of my seat
• Plain Truth - Jodi Piccoult
• I love all of her books and this one did not let me down
• 7 - Jen Hatmaker 
• EVERYONE should read this one. It is AMAZING!
• The Hunger Games Book One by Suzanne Collins
• I have read this before but wanted to reread it much slower
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• I have read this one before but wanted to reread it much slower
• Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins
• I have read this one before but wanted to reread it much slower - I realized at the end of this I read them through so ridiculously fast the first time just to see what happened I missed many details - I love this trilogy
• Make my bed 90% of the time
• I am not horrible at this one - I am probably currently at a solid 50% but would like to increase this goal - I don't want to go to 100% because seriously some days I really don't care - however I LOVE to crawl into a made bed
• I am TOTALLY rocking this project right now! I can't even remember the last time I didn't make my bed - I LOVE LOVE LOVE crawling into a bed that has been made at night. Plus then my sheets aren't all over the place when I try to crawl in - Love crawling into a bed that has been made
• Learn to to tunisian crochet
• My friend Lindy has inspired me to do this - thanks Lindy
• We are actually working a blanket with this style of crocheting in 2013 which will demand I learn 9 new stitches, I am jazzed and praying I can figure it out
• I am a couple squares behind right now but not too far - I plan on catching up - I want to finish this project - I need to block my squares so they look less like little burritos
• Run 500 miles this year
• bike to work 30 times
• I am biking to work quite frequently - I am certain I have passed this one by quite a ways - I quit keeping track somewhere around 22 and that was over a month ago and in the last week alone I have rode my bike to work at least 9 times.
• swim 100 miles
• yes I know these are loft goals - but why set low goals
• according to my records I am at 56 miles so far - I feel good about being over half way done
• I need to go back and add up my running miles - I know I was a ways behind for a while but now that it is BEAUTIFUL outside I have been picking up miles like crazy
• Finish the stacks of projects that I have begun and have never gotten to for whatever reason - and if I decide I am not going to ever finish them then I need to disassemble what can be disassembled and move on - no reason to have all these half finished projects
• slowly but surely this is happening believe it or not - although I suppose I could use a kick in the butt to get this goal done a little quicker
• Settle into married life
• or begin to... really this goal is all about making the transition to married life intentional
• this is beginning - it is interesting for sure
• Make a quilt
• it has been way too long since I have made one
• I have fabric and design picked now to just sit down and do it
• Finish the three clergy stoles I have started
• one done two to go
• Shoot over 250 pictures a month on my Nikon D60
• I LOVE this camera but I get lazy and don't take it out to take the photos I should, I really do want to improve as a photographer, so I must practice
• I am probably about where I need to be - I am thinking I have averaged about that so far in pictures - this has been a fun challenge - I am learning quite a bit about my camera and how to use it (about time eh?!) I am debating trying to find some class online to help teach me more about my camera and the settings
• Catch up on photobooks
• yeah, I am way behind, finish 2011, 2012, Summer 2012 Mission Trips book
• 2011 - DONE
• Summer 2012 Mission Trip book - DONE
• 2012 - DONE
• update 2013 photobook monthly
• I am currently behind, my book is up to date through mid-May, so I am considering this a success and have the intention of catching that up shortly
• Create and Finish Summer 2013 Ministry book (finish before the end of the year)
• I have my book all set up with several categories: Summer Stretch, VBS, Middle School Mission Trip, High School Mission Trip, and Operation Sandwich
• I have updated the first few weeks of summer stretch and that is all up to date - I figure if I do it piece by piece it will be helpful and not nearly as overwhelming as doing it all at the same time
• Create and finish a wedding photobook (finish before the end of the year)
• I have the design picked out and have begun uploading photos - I have all my pictures uploaded (yes, I carried my own camera on my wedding day) and have bee uploading pictures as people have given them to me 
• We had Marc's uncle and a dear friend of ours take pictures and our dear friend already has given us five disks of pictures (THEY ARE AMAZING) and those are uploaded we are waiting on the pictures from Marc's uncle 
• Serveral cousins have emailed me saying they have pictures and will be emailing them to me as soon as they get them uploaded to their computers
• I LOVE looking through the pictures as they come in - I must make an album on facebook soon 
• Order 366 in 2012 photo book
• DONE and it is soooooooooooo much fun! I LOVE IT! Seriously. I hope to do another photo a day book sometime
• When books are finished order: 2011, 2012, Summer 2012 Mission Trip book
• 2011 - Ordered and on my shelves
• Summer 2012 Mission Trip Book - Ordered and on my shelves
• 2012 - Ordered and on my shelves

How are your goals for 2013 coming along? 
                 It is ridiculously crazy to think we are already mid-way through March!
Have you altered your goals for the year at all?

An Open Letter in regards to road races

Dear Race Volunteers,
   Thank you, thank you, thank you, YOU are an integral aspect of any road race. You make the race, and I seriously couldn't run the races I run without you. I am thankful for your cheers, your water/poweraid that you hand out, I am thankful that you stand at street intersections controlling traffic so I don't have to watch for cars or worry about being hit. Thank your for your willingness to get out of bed ridiculously early so that I can run. Thank you for the ways in which you encourage and inspire me. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for the ways in which you faithfully show up race after race. Thank you for sitting at medial tents for those who need it. Thank you for your enthusiasm. You make a race amazing.
   Love, an appreciative runner

Dear Race Spectators,
    Thank you for your willingness to come out and stand along the roadsides as we run along your streets. Thank you for sitting outside in the heat, the cold, and even the rain. Thank you for cheering me on, when most of the time you have no clue who I am. Thank you for your encouragement, it really matters and makes a difference. Thank you for your creative signs that make me giggle and chuckle as I run along the roads. Some of my favorites from this past race include:

• I always appreciate the Grim Reaper standing at mile 11.5 with a sign that reads "the end is near"
• "less than 5% of all Americans will ever run a half marathon and less than 1% of Americans will ever run a full - congrats on being among this small group"
• I was surprised by these statistics
• "Left. Right. Repeat."
• "Go random stranger Go"
• "There is a Zombie behind you"
• "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever"
• "every step you take is one closer to the finish"

I am thankful for race spectators.

     Love, an appreciative runner

Dear Race Organizers,

   Thank you for your attention to detail. Thank you for your dedication and time you put into every event. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for picking out amazing t-shirts and fabulous race bling. Thank you for the up to date communication and clear directions on what to expect and how things will go. Thank you for your ability to raise money for countless wonderful causes. Thank you for the ways in which you inspire health and fitness.

   Love, an appreciative runner

Dear Cities across the nation,

   Thank you for opening your arms and being hospitable to millions of road races across the globe. Thank you for moving your cars off of the street and allowing us to have closed roads to run on. Thank you for changing the way in which you get places while we run through your streets. Thank you for allowing people to put port-a-potties on your lawn so if nature calls we have an option. Thank you for letting us fill up your hotels and take over your towns for a couple of days. Thank you for showing us the beautiful places around your city and allowing us to run all over. Thank you mayors for the ways in which you welcome us to your cities.

    Love, an appreciative runner

Dear family and friends,

    Thank you for the ways in which you click "like" on facebook and instagram to show your support. Thank you for driving and sometimes even flying to come and watch me run. Thank you for the ways in which you ask questions and care about my most recent race. Thank you for checking to see how my legs are doing for days after a race and pretending to care about the toenail I am about to lose. Thank you for listening to the countless stories I tell about actual races and the crazy things I have seen while out training. Thanks for not minding about my sweat and stink when you give me a hug post race. Thank you for looking through the pictures and stopping to admire my medals that adorn my living room wall. Thank you for being willing to walk through every shoe store and letting me drool over shoes. Thanks for planning travel around amazing races! Thanks for your love and support.

   Love, an appreciative runner

Marriage License

IT IS DONE.

We have applied for our marriage license. BAH! This stuff is getting real fast! (not that it wasn't before but stuff like this makes it seem sooooo much more real) They said we could pick it up in a week or so depending on how long it took them to process it through the system. It is nuts to think that we seriously just applied for a wedding license.

In other fun news today I am meeting up with some friends in a town south of me for lunch. Should be marvelous, I feel like I haven't seen them in eons! It should be marvelous.

a photo from hiking at the Arb last night

Then this afternoon I have a great plan to go running, no watch, no headphones, just Dakota and I. We are going to run and run and then run some more until my legs say we are done. I am excited to finally have a little bit of free time that allows me to go on this type of a run - the kind where you don't have to watch the clock or anything.

I am thankful for a day off as it doesn't really seem like I had one last weekend with synod assembly.
Now to go switch the laundry (the never ending piles of laundry).

After I finish the laundry today I am kissing my wool sweaters and other ridiculously warm clothes good riddance until next October/November (must. think. positively.) and putting my shorts in my drawers. Have you gotten to put away your winter clothes yet?


What do you like to do on your days off?
Do you have a least favorite chore? (mine is matching socks)
Do you ever run without any watches or music?

New bike

I FINALLY DID IT! I got my new bike. Here are some pictures from last night's ride. It is a Trek road bike, she is a serious improvement from my bike circa 8th grade, semi cracked from the ridiculous old lady who hit me last year.

Marc & I
He is actually a serious bike rider and knows what he is doing
I am just learning the ropes

My view of my bike

The snow is FINALLY melting away

I love that we rode our bikes out to the middle of no where and were running into gravel roads

It was a wonderful ride, I need to learn how to ride with my feet clipped into my pedals, it should be fine once I get the hang of it, I am still a little slow getting in and out of them but I am catching on. My butt was a little sore after last night's ride - I actually think we only went 15 or so miles but it is a different set of muscles than I am accustom to using. I am excited about it and am up early so I can ride my bike to work today.


Do you enjoy biking?
Do you cross train in any way?
What is your favorite non running workout?

Running Misc.

The treadmill and I are not friends any more. We have spent too many wintery days bonding - who knew April would still be winter. I can't talk myself into more than about three miles or so on the treadmill before I seriously go nuts. I hate it. I am ready for spring and snow free and ice free days. I have been putting in lots of time on the elliptical and lots of miles in the pool. I am not trained very well for Fargo. It frustrates me. BLAH. However I still have a few weeks - so I am going to do what I can and call it good.

I have begun to revamp my running playlist again, it is time again
Current Running Playlist:
Touch the Sky -  Brave Soundtrack
Learn Me Right - Brave Soundtrack
When Will My Life Begin - Tangled Soundtrack
We built this city on rock and roll - Starship

God is great beer is good, people are crazy

Princess and the Frog
Come on Eileen
Stronger
Brown Eyed Girl

What's on your playlist? I need some more songs to add.
What races are you training for at the moment?
What race are you most excited for that you are currently registered for? (mine is the Wine and Dine Half Marathon)

Spring Run

I did it, I got back out, I went for the run I have been waiting for, I am not certain how far I went or how long I was out exactly, however - I went. I didn't take my watch and it was liberating for my first run. Dakota and I went out and there were places in which it felt like we were barely going above a walk pace due to the ice, snow, and lakes puddles that are beginning to form in the middle of the streets.

I do love to run with my garmin forerunner- I love knowing exactly how far I have gone and at what pace - however - this first run was glorious to feel no pressure - to not worry about time - I knew I had nothing holding me back and I had all the time in the world - okay not all the time in the world, but I had more time than I knew my legs would carry me. It was GLORIOUS. It feels good to be able to taste spring and know that soon every day I will be able to spend time outside. LOVE IT!

Ahhhh welcome back spring - I can feel you coming on the horizon.
Dakota rejoices with me that we are able to get back outside and are able to do some serious running!



Side note: I bought a pair of yurbuds at the Tinkerbell Half Marathon expo and I wasn't convinced that they would be amazing - earbuds always irritate my ears and annoy me because they always seem to be falling out or hurting by the end of a couple of miles - so the lady talked me into buying them and said if after the race I didn't like them they would take them back no questions asked - I ran with them at the Tinkerbell Half and have run on the treadmill with them a ton and they are AMAZING - seriously worth the cost - they don't fall out (or haven't ever fallen out yet) and they don't hurt my ears!!!! SOOOOO AWESOME



What kind of headphones do you like to run/workout in?

Note to self:

• Just because you have fallen several times while out running you don't need to wait until every ounce of snow is gone before you get back out - you hate the treadmill - get off it and get outside
• Go buy yourself a bike - yours sucks the old lady nearly ruined yours- you got a tax return (REJOICE) - use it wisely - don't risk riding your crappy bike
• I know you are busy and holy week is happening at full pace and you feel like you are losing your mind - relax, think, pray, be - it's holy week - take the time you need
• also your family and Marc's family are here - I know you are introverted and holy week without family coming to stay at your house is an introverted hell - enjoy them - take what time you need but then spend it with family - they drove a long ways to spend time with you - suck it up and Monday you can go for a long run with you and Dakota and not have anyone else around 
• you love snow - yes I know April is on the horizon and you still have several feet of snow in your yard, but I promise it will melt - Spring will come and spring will bring lots and lots of new life
• crochet - enjoy the projects you have going - enjoy the hats you have been making and the squares you are beginning to figure out for your afghan - come summer it won't be as much fun to crochet - enjoy it while the weather is still cold
• Nala will be leaving this weekend - be patient with her - just because she is completely crazy and spazatronic (yes I am sure that is not a word - but it fits so roll with it) - Dakota loves her - you can handle her for a few more days
• Go buy milk and bread - you are out and your meals are getting a little weird
• while you are at it you should probably buy some food to feed all the rest of the people coming to your house this weekend
• Go take some fun pictures asap - the snow beginning to turn brown and the very very very faint signs of spring popping through would make for some sweet photos

What would be included in your notes to self?

Has spring arrived where you are?

Have you gotten in any good runs lately?

2013 Goals - Check In

Here are my goals for 2013 in no particular order - below in blue is the updates with how I am doing on my goals:

• Earn my Walt Disney Coast to Coast Medal
• This will require me to complete two races, one in Disneyland and one in Disney World in the same calendar year. I will be running the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland and the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Disney World
• I have finished the Tinkerbell Half Marathon at Disneyland in California and I have registered for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon at Walt Disney World in Florida this coming November - I dare to say this is going to happen! Super excited
• Learn how to fold fitted sheets
• Seriously, I have tried, but haven't been committed to it- my fitted sheets always just look like crap when they are folded - more like balled up sheets even if I have tried to fold them nicely - youtube here I come
• totally spaced this one out.... Time to get on it.
• Get Married 
• June 8, 2013 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church I will be getting married and couldn't be more excited about the whole thing - minus the dress wearing crap - seriously my least excited piece
• All the details seem to be coming together. Whoop Whoop.
• Make a fruit pie from scratch
• No real reason for this one other than I just want to do it
• I am waiting for yummy fresh fruit season to embark on this challenge, however I have practiced making a pie crust and made a pie crust with pie filling and that was pretty good so I am jazzed to try this with real fruit filling
• Paint one of the bedrooms upstairs
• I have the colors picked out and I know what design I want to do it - I am currently waiting until a little further into spring so I can open my windows and not get high off of paint fumes!
• Run 5 half marathons [I am tempted to say six because I think it would be sweet to say I averaged one every other month but that maybe too lofty of a goal]
• I have Tinkerbell Half Marathon, Fargo Half Marathon, Fargo Mini Marathon, and Wine and Dine Half Marathon on the docket already - I'd like to add one in Minnesota to my list
• One down four to go
• Finish going through all of my boxes 
• I haven't gone through all the boxes since I moved to Brainerd in June 2011, it's time to do some serious giving away
• This is seriously one of the best projects I have come across, I am LOVING IT - I am going through nearly everything I own - it has been super fun to be able to give away a ton of stuff I just don't need any more
• Organize my craft space in the loft
• Yeah haven't started this one! Looks like a tornado went through it right now
• Read 12 books for fun [I love reading but sometimes I get in a rut and do all my reading for work, which I don't totally mind, but I want to read for fun too] so far I am on track with reading one book per month for fun
• Emma - Jane Austen
• LOVED IT! 
• Red - Ted Dekker
• Found this to be a marvelous book and it kept me a bit on the edge of my seat
• Plain Truth - Jodi Piccoult
• I love all of her books and this one did not let me down
• 7 - Jen Hatmaker (in progress)
• Make my bed 90% of the time
• I am not horrible at this one - I am probably currently at a solid 50% but would like to increase this goal - I don't want to go to 100% because seriously some days I really don't care - however I LOVE to crawl into a made bed
• I would bet I am getting close to 90% maybe only at about 85% but getting MUCH better than I was before, I am reminded how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE to crawl into a bed that has been made - I don't really care what it looks like I just love crawling into it at night
• Learn to to tunisian crochet
• My friend Lindy has inspired me to do this - thanks Lindy
• We are actually working a blanket with this style of crocheting in 2013 which will demand I learn 9 new stitches, I am jazzed and praying I can figure it out
• so far I am totally on track with this project - although my squares are looking a ton like burritos!
• Run 500 miles this year
• bike to work 30 times
• swim 100 miles
• yes I know these are loft goals - but why set low goals
• My miles have come to a hault as the treadmill and I are so annoyed with each other that we are not even on speaking terms - I have gotten in a ton of miles swimming in turn due to the serious lack of running these past couple weeks
• I haven't yet biked to work - the roads are still an icy mess
• Finish the stacks of projects that I have begun and have never gotten to for whatever reason - and if I decide I am not going to ever finish them then I need to disassemble what can be disassembled and move on - no reason to have all these half finished projects
• slowly but surely this is happening believe it or not - although I suppose I could use a kick in the butt to get this goal done a little quicker
• Settle into married life
• or begin to... really this goal is all about making the transition to married life intentional
• obviously not started since we haven't gotten married yet
• Make a quilt
• it has been way too long since I have made one
• I have picked out a design and am beginning to pick fabrics
• Finish the three clergy stoles I have started
• one done two to go
• Shoot over 250 pictures a month on my Nikon D60
• I LOVE this camera but I get lazy and don't take it out to take the photos I should, I really do want to improve as a photographer, so I must practice
• TOTALLY have done this so far! Some months have been better than others - while I was in California I took thousands for January - February I shot probably just over 300 pictures with my D60 - March is lacking a ton so far but I did get some at the lock in last weekend
• Catch up on photobooks
• yeah, I am way behind, finish 2011, 2012, Summer 2012 Mission Trips book
• 2011 - DONE
• Summer 2012 Mission Trip book - DONE
• 2012 - DONE
• update 2013 photobook monthly
• I actually have found that I am best off to update this book every couple of weeks - so far so good
• Create and Finish Summer 2013 Ministry book (finish before the end of the year)
• overachiever moment here: I actually have picked out the style and size and have set it up with different sections so with each activity I only have to fill in the pages - Summer Stretch, Middle School Mission Trip, High School Mission Trip, and VBS
• Create and finish a wedding photobook (finish before the end of the year)
• I haven't done anything on this one yet
• Order 366 in 2012 photo book
• DONE and it is soooooooooooo much fun! I LOVE IT! Seriously. I hope to do another photo a day book sometime
• When books are finished order: 2011, 2012, Summer 2012 Mission Trip book
• 2011 - Ordered and on my shelves
• Summer 2012 Mission Trip Book - Ordered and on my shelves
• 2012 - Waiting for a good sale to order

How are your goals for 2013 coming along? 
                 It is ridiculously crazy to think we are already mid-way through March!
Have you altered your goals for the year at all?

runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon

I AM REGISTERED for runDisney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon! WHOOP WHOOP! This will complete the second half of my coast to coast medal! YEAH BUDDY! I am JAZZED!!! Earning my coast to coast medal has been on my bucket list for several years now and I wasn't actually certain if I would ever be able to attain it due to crazy work schedules and life is a little chaotic but it is TOTALLY HAPPENING. I am running with what will be by sister-in-law (or really Marc's sister-in-law) and my friend Suzi.

Strange fact: I had to register as Sarah Marshall, because that is what my driver's license will say at that point. STRANGE and EXCITING, I think this is the first thing I had to put my last name as Marshall. Crazy. Ahhh transition and change is on the horizon.

I AM SUPER SUPER SUPER EXCITED.

Now, the goal is for all of this darn ice to melt away so I can get outside and log some serious miles. I am 110% over the treadmill and can't talk myself into another quarter mile on it, so I have been forced to spend time on the elliptical, swimming laps in the pool, making attempts to run outside (so far I have run three times outside and have slipped on the ice all three times), and whatever other random exercise I can find. Please show up spring!

Spring PLEASE come

Dearest Spring,
   While I have loved your predecessor Winter, I am more than ready for you to make your appearance. I know you have lots of work to do by melting the tracks of Winter, she conveniently just dropped about six inches on us last night and continues to drop snow on us today. I am sick of running on a treadmill and spending hours on the elliptical machine. I want to leave my car parked in the garage as much as I can and ride my bike to work, go for good long runs OUTSIDE without fear of falling flat on my face (twice last week when I attempted to run outside - note to self: still WAY icy outside don't be deceive). I want to go walk my dog and not have to put on my snow pants, boots, hats, mittens, long underwear, and my winter coat. I want to be able to go sit outside and throw the ball with her and enjoy it without my fingers falling off or losing Dakota's beloved orange ball in a snow bank somewhere.
    Let me not forget that my dog is nearly going nuts, she sits in the bathtub almost nightly and BEGS for me to fill it with water so she can play in the water. Seriously, my dog is begging for baths just so she can play in the water. Please come, melt the snow and ice so we can be outside again for long periods of time. Push, shove, be mean if you have to, it would be great to see you around here.
    Also please note that Winter's continual presence is having an effect on people around here, everyone is just a bit crabbier, a bit more cranky due to serious vitamin d inefficiencies, we need you to come and make your appearance. In fact, I am crabbier, I am more short tempered, I am frustrated by you, I am over you. 100% done with you and I would more than welcome spring.  I do love winter, I do love snow, I don't love ice that causes me to fall flat on my face, I do love you too spring, PLEASE COME HERE.
    My fitness level is not improving by you sticking around, I am trying to get in shape and I am trying to go for long runs but I can't lie to you and say that Winter is helping at all, in all reality the idea of another quarter mile on the treadmill makes me want to nearly cut my legs off. Please come and remedy my problems. I am over Winter, Spring please arrive now.

Love,
   Dakota and Me

TOMORROW RACE DAY

Tomorrow I shall earn the first half of my Coast to Coast medal. I AM SUPER EXCITED! I LOVE to runDisney! Seriously, if I could afford it (I have to fly to every race and stay in a hotel) I would run every runDisney race every year. I LOVE them sooooo much, they really are magical. Despite the fact that there are sooooooooo many people who run them. I love it.

Today is the fine balance of not eating anything that I will regret, not over working my legs, and not under working my legs, and getting to bed at a decent time [which seriously is the worst part for me because I am like a little child waiting for Santa to come and have the worst time falling asleep - however I do always wake up wired and ready to go]. Today I will get in a short run, I will enjoy California, and I will think through tomorrow's clothing choices and probably change my mind on what I will wear at least a hundred times. (Really I am debating between two tops and two bottoms - which feels like 10,000 options.)

I have said for years that I will earn my coast to coast medal and I am not certain that I ever actually thought would manage a way to earn the medal. But it is happening. 2013 is going to be the year.

One thing I need to decide before tomorrow - to stop and take pictures with characters along the way or not. Seriously this is a tough debate, we'll see how I am running before I totally decide. I am running with my camera (yes, this may seem ridiculous but I can't imagine not running with it) - not to mention is does fit in my belt so I can always throw it in there if I want/need to. Plus who doesn't want to take pictures as they are running. It distracts me (which around mile 8-9 is welcomed). I am certain you can bank on a slew of photos coming at some point. They will probably be very delayed since I am in southern California till the 28th, but when I return home it will be picture overload on here.

Race day around the corner

I am over the top excited to run Tinkerbell, seriously, I can't wait. I can hardly believe it is this month and I get to run my first leg of the coast to coast challenge. (I honestly don't think I ever thought I would complete this.) I am SUPER EXCITED. OVER THE TOP. I am already beginning to test out different outfits to decide which one I want to run in (I am a firm believer in the never run a race in an outfit you haven't run in before.) I got a sweet new blue long sleeve that I think is going to win for the top, we'll see. I'll keep you posted, I know you all are on edge wondering what will win (weather is clearly the complicating factor). 

I am having  a hard time getting my runs in due to weather outside and people's renewed commitment to fitness and their desire to also be in the cardio room at the ymca. They have a semi-strict policy on how one person should not be on any given machine for more than 30 minutes to make things fair, and blah blah blah. I am finding that I am having to go run at odd hours when normal people aren't at the gym. Which is okay too I suppose, however I am realizing that evening runs are not my favorite, I am then too wired to go to sleep, I am getting lots done however since I am not sleeping.

Anyone else training for a winter race while not living in amazing weather to run outside?

What shoes to do you like to run outside in during the winter months?

2012 In Review

It was a marvelous year, seriously, I cannot complain. It was filled with family, friends, amazing golden retrievers, many new recipes, lots of miles run, I earned several new medals, work was wonderful, and I got engaged. Below is a picture (or two) from each month last year to give a few highlights from the year. While these are a lot of "big" things that happened this last year, I would also say that my year was marked by the every day things, my year was filled with fabulous ministry, a puppy who loves me, and not moving. I couldn't be more thankful for all that I have been given.

January:

Sarah, Vicki, & Stacy - Twins Tour comes to town

Marc, Dakota, & Sarah snow shoeing out on the lake

February:

Extravaganza 2012 - New Orleans LA
Gloria, Suzi, & Sarah

Beginning to repaint the kitchen cabinets

March:

Middle School Spring Break Lock -In
Amber, Vicki, Erika, & Sarah

Linnea is born

Best Friends sharing a stick
Dakota & Luther at Frtiz Loven State Park

April:

Mom & I travel to Florida to visit Grandma & Grandpa
and drive their car back to South Dakota

May:

Vicki, Sarah,  Stacy, & Linnea
Father Hennipen State Park

After the Fargo Half Marathon with my St-End

June:

Twins/Brewers Game
Hannemens, Bennetts, &Thomsons

Duluth Middle School Mission Trip
During the major flood in Duluth, Mn

July:

Maid of Honor in my best friend's wedding
Sarah & Hartj

National Youth Gathering - New Orleans, LA

August:

Boundary Waters - Rose Lake
Vicki, Stacy, Linnea, &Sarah

We're getting MARRIED!
Marc proposed at Fritz Loven Park

September:

Lovely weekend with family
Allison, Cubby, KT, JT, Marc, & Sarah

October:

Fargo meet up with WTS women and spouses and kid
Shera, Sarah, & Molita

Fargo Mini Marathoners
Runner Reformers
Bryant, Lindy, Sarah, & Suzi

November:

Carnival Fantasy - November 2012

More fun aboard the ship

December:

New Stained Glass at church
I feel like my December was consumed by work

What were some of the highlights from your last year?
Anything totally unexpected happen in 2012?
What are you most looking forward to in 2013?
Any major goals for 2013?

Minimalist Shoe

Confession: I am not one who looks forward to my yearly physical - no real reason. I just never look forward to it. This year I was particularly unexcited, my doctor (who was amazing) had retired last May (which I am thankful she is retiring so she can enjoy this phase in her life) but it left me without a primary care doctor.

This past week I got a call from the doctors office noticing it had been over a year since my last physical and wondering if I'd like to schedule one, begrudgingly I agreed and they listed off the doctors who were accepting new patients. I know nothing about any of them so I told them I would prefer a female if that was an option and then felt like I was playing Russian roulette. I wanted a doctor who I felt comfortable around (I know if the first one wasn't what I was looking for, I could switch, but then I felt like I had an endless cycle coming of doctor switching.). They scheduled me for a new doctor at the clinic I go to. Blah I was getting the new kid, who I was afraid was going to be 12.

Much to my surprise, I hit a home run, the new doctor is wonderful. What makes her even more wonderful is that she has a vast knowledge of sports medicine (she has done a ton of work in it). When we were talking she was examining my knees (which have had 4 surgeries on them) and gave me some advice about maintaining them. I also told her a bit about how my one knee has been bothering me, it clicks, it swells, it's annoy (it won't keep me from running in January, I am too stubborn, plus she said I'd be fine). Anyways, she suggested that I start to work down to a minimallist shoe, she thinks it may help my knees. She also talked me through how to make the transition.

I do have a pair of Vibram 5 fingers shoes that I wear when I am just out and about and love them. However she warned me about what happens if I transition too quickly to a more natural shoe. I am excited to shoe shop again (since Asics no longer finds it necessary to make the same shoe that I fell in love with four years ago). I am excited to go try on some shoes and see if I can make the transition to a less supportive shoe. She suggested the Nike Frees after looking at my arch and all that good jazz. Whoop Whoop.

Anyways, so now that I am over my Asics (or at least trying pretending to be) I am ready to go to a bigger town than mine (seriously not many good options in terms of looking for running shoes in my town) and try on some shoes.

I am also jazzed that my new doctor isn't totally lame and won't be retiring next year (I would guess she is about my age).

Full House

Or almost full house. I am certain we still have room for dad to arrive tomorrow. I love having my house full of people. My house is wonderfully sized, not too big and not too small. I have three bedrooms and only one bathroom (which is the downfall) and a story and a half (strange concept to me to have a half story). I found the house almost too big with just Dakota and I living there. I am certain when Marc moves in this June we will still find that we have plenty of space. I am thankful that I have a house that is large enough to be able to accommodate a few extra guests. We can figure out how to share the bathroom and not run out of hot water. I love having family around and totally can deal with the mess and other things that come with having extra people in the house.

I love having the noise in the house, I love the way Dakota knows that people are sleeping upstairs and begs to be let upstairs (I have her baby gated out) in order to wish them a good morning and get in a few morning snuggles. I love having a full kitchen table and sharing a meal with those I love. It will be great to have dad here on Monday. YAY for family.

Off to the YMCA for a run. Tinkerbell is around the corner, I am getting more and more excited each and every day, darn ice keeping me from running outside. I suppose since Christmas is now only two days away it is more than time to finish that last Christmas present looming over my head.



Do you have much left to prep for Christmas?
Do you enjoy hosting?
Did you finish all your Christmas projects?
Did you make many Christmas presents? Did you make any Christmas presents?

Running up north

I am over the top jazzed to be running the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland this January. I am feeling fairly well trained and am super super super super excited to run it. In my heart of hearts I would like a medal from all of the runDisney Half Marathons (not the full and never the goofy). While I can't wait there is a piece of me that is jealous of everyone further down south. I have been reading blogs of folks who are training down south and a piece of me is jealous. Last Friday I put in ten miles on the treadmill due to the massive amounts of ice. (It is a fine science to actually get to run 10 consecutive miles on the treadmill at the ymca here in town because they have rules about only signing up for a half hour slot on the treadmill, I do feel a little guilty but I have some what figured out how to cheat the system so I get more than a half hour at a time. I know they have a purpose for these rules, but I need to be training for January, and I only cheat the system when I need to do my long runs.)

I think it is time I invest in a pair of yaktracks or some other type of outdoor grippy dealy for my shoes. Saturday I went for a run with Dakota with the intent of going only five or six mile run. Somewhere about mile two, I feel, hard, and fast. The ice had won. I thought I was on solid ground but in reality it was a sheet of ice. It sucked. My knees were bleeding and my hand was cut up. Dakota sat very nicely next to me and looked at me wondering what in the world happened. She was sweet and licked my face (she means well). I got up and she walked like a perfect little puppy, we walked back to my house so I could clean up. I hate running on ice but I hate running on a treadmill even more.

I guess I need to check the roads a little better before heading out to run, I  need to be careful. I can't won't get hurt now, I AM RUNNING IN JANUARY. I WILL earn my coast to coast medal in 2013.


Anyone else running on snow and ice?
Any tips for running on snow and ice?
How do you keep yourself from getting bored on the treadmill?