DetermiNation

Todd ran this after he returned from Iraq and we ran alongside my friend, Lori, last year. Each time, I've always been invigorated by the crowd, the bands, the spectators, the runners and the energy. This year, I'm running it. Well, I'm running it yes... but I do have every intention to do more than "just finish" it as well. I'll narrow down a time goal and hopefully that might coincide with Boston time restrictions. :) 

 

2012 is a big year for me as a runner. 

I signed up for my first marathon a few months ago and I'll be running in the Poconos with girlfriends from all over for my first "official" 26.2 mile race. May 20th is also the day of our 5K for Girls on The Run. The girls are all sad that I won't be there to cheer for them, but they're so supportive and encouraging of the race I will be running the same day that many of them will be running their first 5K! :) 

Two weeks ago I signed up for my Fall challenge: The Marine Corps Marathon! 

But besides running it. I'm running with a purpose too. Before registration for MCM, I had looked in to running with Team DetermiNation for the American Cancer Society.... but come the day of registration the decision more or less was made for me! MCM registration for 30,000+ individuals sold out in 2.5hours!!! I was working that day but thought I'd be "safe" to register as soon as I got home, but apparently NOT! (Lordy!)

So, happily I signed up immediately with Team DetermiNation! Yes, I have to raise money... and some people hate doing that. But, I lost my best friend to cancer and I'd do about anything to save your best friend from cancer!! This is my attempt. A few people have asked why I don't do the Susan G. Koman walks or fund-raising events... and my answer is simple. There are SO many other forms of cancer out there that we know very little about, can't treat, and can't defeat that I want my money and time to help THERE. Not that breast cancer research isn't important, because it is. But Katie didn't have breast cancer. Katie had Angiosarcoma. Yea... you've probably never heard of it. I haven't met another person since her with it either. But still - the google search hasn't changed. Treatment is still aggressive and often symptomatic. Nothing has changed. 

I'm running to help MAKE a change. I'm not unrealistic. $1800 isn't going to change much... but it will help. I'm making the promise to put the miles in and I'm counting on you, friends and family to make a financial promise to help me succeed! I'll be running for Katie October 28th.... and Melanie, Lee J., Betty, Aunt Karen, my Grammy and for all those around me I love who have loved and/or lost someone with cancer. 

Let's be honest. Cancer's a bitch. Let's work together to kick it!!! It may not be within my lifetime... but eventually is always encouraging. 

Any and all help is appreciated. I'll even take cheerleaders the day of!! If you feel the desire to support me, THANK YOU! You're able to do so here on my team page. 

HUGS! 

-a. 

Sleep

So, this morning one of my "friends" whom I follow on facebook posted a nifty little tip:


Running by The Book 

Runners need sleep! Our bodies recover from hard/long runs while we sleep. A good rule of thumb: for every mile you run during the week, you need an extra minute of sleep each night. So if you run 20 miles a week, you need 20 extra minutes of sleep each night. Are you getting enough sleep?

I immediately turned to my running log to see how much I've been averaging recently and NO WONDER I'm so exhausted. I have had close to 30-40 mile weeks this month and I've not been sleeping much more than I usually do. Especially the nights I've been at work or before I work. I TRY to be very routine with my sleep pattern. 10:30PM - 5AM is my work schedule. 6.5 hours never feels like enough anymore.... but now that I know I should actually be getting at least 7 hours ...nights I'm off, I should be getting like 8-9 hours?! Holy cow! I knew I had a legit reason for feeling so tired. I'm not the kind of person who usually sleeps a lot. 6-7 hours is usually all I need - until I started training for a marathon. Goodness! 

I've got to start working on this training-sleep-tip! 

Keep this tip in your pocket as you advance and achieve your fitness goals. I've been running for years now and had no idea of this training tip! 

THANKS Connie! I promise I'll be ordering your book soon! It's my Summer training plan. :) If you've not hear of Running by The Book, check it out on Facebook or Amazon too.

Why be a Girl On The Run

I often tell people I'm a coach for Girls On The Run. 

Some people know how awesome it is. 

Others, have no idea what GOTR is. 

Girls On The Run is many things... 

Yes, we run (skip, hop and jump). 

Yes, we work hard.

Yes, there are cheers :) and lots of smiling faces. 

Yes, there is dedication. 

Yes, we build confidence. 

Yes, we create strong girls. 

But what I love best.... 

GOTR makes the girls of today, strong and ambitious women of tomorrow. 

I encourage you to help out if you can. Volunteer for the local 5K this Spring. Take your girl for a run.

Or just go out and cheer on the smiling faces! :) 

CHEERS! Here's to our Spring Season and making amazing little girls everywhere! 

Mental Health Day

Today would definitely count as Amanda's first mental health day for the year 2012. I feel like I've been going non-stop since the start of the new year. I took on another job, I'm training for my first Marathon, Todd's been busy with his job and Navy career, we almost bought a house, I want to go back to school, my step-dad has moved in with us until the rest of the family can make the "BIG MOVE" to the city...  AND Girls on the Run started this week for the Spring season! :)

All is going very well here in the Delp household, but quite frankly... I'm exhausted. I'm working hard to fight off the grumpy's and NOT be that over worked and exhausted nurse everyone hates. I'm running a lot. Actually, my running is amazing right now. I've never felt so strong or ran as well as I am now. I've actually almost talked Todd in to running in Poconos with me in May too!! YAY! (fingers crossed I can beat him over the finish line! haha)

So, today, I took a day. I took the entire day. I kissed Todd goodbye this morning from my big comfy bed and went back to sleep and I think the clock said 9:43AM when I finally cracked my eyes open again. I did have a moment of panic because I had slept so late and I hadn't been up and doing something. After a few belly rubs of Ginger I didn't care anymore. I had oatmeal and coffee while I sat on the couch watching TV. I didn't make a to-do-list and I didn't clean anything besides making the bed and the mandatory wipe-up of the kitchen counter-tops and the bathroom. No vacuuming. No dusting. No laundry. Nothing. It can, and it will, wait for tomorrow.

Taking a day is hard for everyone. Especially when we're busy. I know that by taking today will help keep me nice, healthy, loveable (Todd shouldn't have to have a grumpy wife) and able to keep doing all the many things I love to do!

Plus, tomorrow gets the added bonus of being called "Coach Amanda" again. :)

Have a great week friends!!

Motivational Monday: Tough

Pardon the language... but I saw this one evening and KNEW I had to share it. I was running hills in the pouring rain this morning with Britney Spears' song, Outrageous on repeat.

In my head this is exactly how I was feeling. I hope you're feeling it too. This week, get out there and PROVE it to yourself. You are WAY tougher than you think you are. Prove to yourself, your husband, your kids, your co-workers and your mama that YOU are one tough chick! :)

Beer Margaritas

In college one of my famous and oh-so-popular creations was a Sandra Lee recipe for Beer Margaritas. 

Don't snarl or turn that nose up!! These things are BANGIN'! I haven't had them in years, but a friend recently reminded me of this delicious drink and I thought I should share the goodness before the heat gets here. I think I always tripled (err... quadrupled) this recipe when I made it. I always prefer using Coronas and a very liberal measuring of the tequila... but that's just me. :) 

It will be a go-to-crowd pleaser at all your get together's this year. 

Sip, Sip, Enjoy! :) 

Ingredients

• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
• 1/4 cup coarse salt
• 2 (12-ounce) bottles your favorite beer, chilled
• 1/2 cup frozen concentrate limeade, thawed
• 1/2 cup chilled tequila
• Ice cubes

Directions

Rub lime wedges around rims of 4 margarita glasses. Dip rims into salt to coat lightly. In a medium pitcher, combine beer, limeade, and tequila. Fill prepared glasses with ice, then with margarita mixture. Garnish with remaining lime wedges. Serve immediately.

Winter Favorites

Today, I realized that Winter is almost over! Despite the icky, nasty rain we had on and off all day, I couldn't help but notice the pink little flower buds perking up on the tree branches outside our living room windows. :) They're beautiful.

Spring is on it's way! YAY!

It got me thinking about how good we had this Winter! I had expected our first Winter in DC to bring tons of snow and nastiness... thankfully, we've been lucky. Rain? Yes. Gobs of snow? No. Thank goodness! We got some snow showers here and there to make things pretty for an hour or two, but nothing to stop traffic in its tracks for days on end!

This Fall and Winter I lucked out on a few amazing finds that I must share with my friends and readers. I'm convinced I'll never survive another Winter (mild or extreme) without these finds ever again! :)

For all the running I've been up to, I couldn't have stayed as warm AND comfortable through the wind, rain and few snowflakes without my New Balance Windblocker Jacket and tights set. The coat is so warm without the bulk, has internal pockets (I can even fit a water bottle in them!), LOTS of reflective technology and thumb-holes. Together, these are a must have from New Balance.






Winter skin is always hard to escape. This year, I had a few tools to help. You've to got try the Clairsonic skin cleanser! It comes in a bunch of great colors and talk about a clean face. Try it once and you'll feel what I'm talking about. Plus it's a fun little girl-gadget. :)

I've also discovered Philosophy's When Hope is Not Enough Replenishing Serum. I am a lover of most of Philosophy's products, but this one is truly brag worthy. A few drops right after a hot shower (or a scrub with my Mia!) keep my face moisturized all day. Plus, it just feels good. Yes, it's an oil based serum... but never once has my face been oily looking. A high recommendation for all of us with flaky faces! I also should say I like the vitamin C booster, Hope in a Jar, all Amazing Grace scented products and their cleansers.



Last but not least, my comfy blanket from Pottery Barn. For Christmas we bought new furniture. In our hunt for the right stuff, we fell in love with this throw. I don't even bother folding it up anymore because it's ALWAYS on someones lap or with Ginger napping on it. It comes in several colors but I got the blue/green color for us and the mushroom for my sister and her husband. This is worth EVERY penny spent. It's not too heavy and it's not too light. It's always just right.



Oh, did I mention Netflix?! If you don't have it or if you've not tried it. Get it. The Redbox is sooo 2010. ;) Instant watching from the click of a mouse or a button is amazing!

Do you have any favorites to share?! I'd like to see what you guys are loving now too!
-a.