Running

At the start of the year, I started up my running schedule again to get my hiney in shape for another half marathon.  Two years ago, my New Year's resolution was just run a half marathon.  I trained, ran one, and completely fell in love with it.  This April, I will be running my 5th half marathon and have done lots of smaller races such as 5k, 15k, and warrior dashes.  As I get older, I have  missed my competitive athletic days and this is a way to fill that void.  The hardest part of these races is finding the time to train for them.  The morning runs aren't the hard part, it's the longer weekend runs that need longer than an hour that make it harder.  Training in the winter isn't always easy either.  I hate running when I'm cold so I run on a treadmill.  I have a treadmill in my basement and I owe a huge thank you to the HGTV channel for keeping me company while I run.  I leave my basement feeling exhausted from the run and inspired to change my entire house (thanks to Cousins on Call and Property Brothers).  With my recent move, I'm struggling to find running buddies.  I had a nice circle of friends on the west side that enjoyed running and needed to stick to a schedule and knock out the long runs, here on the east side, I've had a harder time finding people willing to go for the longer runs.

I recently had a conversation about shoes and the incredible benefits to finding the right pair.  When I started training for my first half marathon, I was running in Asics.  I used to think they felt great, but as soon as I got over 3 miles, I found my knees hurting, my hips hurting, and my overall posture not feeling like it should.  I was trying everything to help myself feel better (joint juice, other exercises, icing, stretching, etc.), but didn't realize that it wasn't me, it was the shoes!  Thanks to my wonderful mother's connections, I was able to get guidance from a Brooks representative and I was introduced to the Ghost shoe.  This shoe has completely changed my life.  I am now on my fourth pair of Brooks Ghost and fall more and more in love with them with every mile.  These shoes have transformed my running.  My body no longer hurts and my longer runs aren't hindered by a bad shoe.  If anyone is looking for an amazing shoe, I would definitely try them out.  Even if the Ghosts aren't the ones for you, try another style of Brooks.  I'm a firm believer that Brooks make a great shoe made to benefit the wearer and make your movement more smooth and enjoyable!  Hopefully I'll be able to keep up this relationship with running for many years to come!  If you're ever up to join me on the long runs, let me know!  Happy running!

(My current shoe - Brooks Ghost 5)

Bachelor Tuesday

For such a bummer show on Monday full of frustration and confusion, Tuesday started off with a bang.  Can I just say, Sean and Catherine rolling around in the snow during a blizzard was killing me!  Nothing says romance like a one-piece snowsuit right?



Of course, it's cute how giddy they are when they're together.  They act like kids are excited to spend time together.  But between the grandpa way Catherine was wearing her hat and Sean's "Mr. Heat Miser" snow hair, I just couldn't help but watch and cringe a bit.

                      

Okay ABC execs... I've told you once and I'll tell you again.... STOP MAKING SARAH DO TWO ARM TASKS!  The poor girl is now stuck rowing a canoe.  

"I just wanted a shark to come out of the lake and eat their boat," hee...........hee.........hee....... says Selma.  I'm not sure if she was choking or having a seizure during that laughing session.  For such a cute girl, she definitely just made herself look like a nursing home patient.

These dates are getting weirder and weirder.  "Hey ladies, grab your swimsuits and let's jump into freezing cold water and give Tierra more of a chance to act hurt and get all my attention."  I'm confused on if I'm watching The Bachelor or Survivor.  

And now comes the moment when Tierra throws herself down the stairs again!  Okay... maybe not stairs, but something new... hypothermia!  Definitely never thought I'd see that one on the Bachelor.  The girl is a complete professional when it comes to ways to get attention.  Meanwhile, Leslie hasn't unglued herself from Sean.  Like a toddler hanging off their parents.  

Now comes operation save Tierra!  Hurry!  Call the hospital!  Tierra's makeup is running!  Oh I mean, she's shivering because she just jumped into freezing cold water.  Quickly after making it back inside, Tierra quickly pulls herself out of her shaking patterns and says, "I'm missing spending time with him."  Dang it girl!  Your plan didn't work!  Quick, find some stairs and throw yourself down them!  That trick worked last time!

But don't worry, Sean gets sucked into her cloud of confusion and spends time with her.  Nothing's sexier than a girl in bed with an oxygen nasal cannula.  Yes Sean, at this point, I seriously think you're losing it.  

"If this is a class, she should teach it.  Watch your back everyone, this is a Tierra-ist."  Thank you Leslie for that clear and accurate description.  By pure miracle, Tierra suddenly feels good enough to head down to the party.  She walks in the door and there's a good minute of pure silence.  And to make it worse, Sean talks marriage with Tierra.  Sean used to be an insurance agent.... don't you think he should know a false claim when he sees one?  

ABC execs, hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.  No more "what can stubby do" events are going to happen on the Bachelor.  (At least for this season).  Sean sent sweet Sarah home even before the rose ceremony.  I do think it's nice of him to not drag her along, but this poor girl has been through enough shock moments and then you yank her out of the room with all the other girls and dump her and then make her go back in and face her competition?  Not so good.

Desiree gets to repel down the mountain with Sean and continually reminds him that it's steep.  Good thing Sean is there with extra oxygen to help her her along.  And don't worry, the romance didn't end there.  They played pretend papa bear and baby cub and climbed a tree.  Ahh... such a dream!  "I opened up about living my life in a tent, and here I am falling in love in a tee-pee."  All time best quote of their date!



Selma breaks away from her family and kisses Sean.  She's a disgrace to her culture and bringing out the "big guns" as she says, but I'm pretty sure she brought her sisters out as well for the win.

"Ladies, Sean, this is the final rose tonight, when you're ready."  The room was filled with the awkward stares once again.  You could hear women from all over yelling in their living rooms as Sean called out, "Tierra" and gave her the final rose.  Adios Daniella and Selma.  Sadly enough, Selma disrespects her family and still gets sent home.  Yes, oddly enough, a push-up bra and long desired kiss don't always find you a husband.

As the previews for next week show, it looks like Tierra-ist plays "stair fall" again and
sucks Sean in even more into her weird world.  Until then...

Bachelor Chat

I wake up Monday mornings excited for what "Tierra-fying" thing will happen next on the Bachelor.  Those of you Bachelor fans will understand this.  I'm usually not a complete Bachelor fanatic, but this season has attracted something inside me that has completely sucked me in.  Is it the drama?  Uh, not sure.  Is it the single girl inside me living through these girls?  Maybe a little.  Is it the hunky Texan who loves the Lord?  Yup, I think that's it!  This week is a two day special!  Yes, every woman in America suddenly found 4 extra hours in their schedule. 

Okay, let's chat details:  

First off, Tierra makes me yell at my television.  I feel like a grown man watching a sporting event.  I found myself yelling at Sean, "Back away!  Don't do it!"  Tierra is the master manipulator.  She has a true talent.  True talent to completely blind a man and have every woman in American hate her guts.  She would be the perfect evil stepmother in a Disney movie.  I can see it, can you?

   

This has definitely been the most physical Bachelor there has ever been.  And no, I'm not talking physical like the hot tub make out sessions.  Physical like the Olympics.  The girls have done roller-derby, jumped off buildings, beach volleyball, and now a Montana relay-race.  And poor Sarah.  She already has a disadvantage in all these games only having one arm.  But seriously ABC execs.... can we give the girl a little help?  "Hey girl with one arm, why don't you row a boat, tackle girls in roller-derby, and haul bails of hay?"

Even though the red team won the relay races, Sean invites the blue team back for dinner.  Hmm... someone on that team he wants to spend more time with.  Speaking of which, can we just talk about how stinkin' cute Catherine and Sean are together?  Pure smiles, giggles, and all together adorable!  She's got my vote right about now!

Poor Jackie.  First, she gets a two-on-one date with Sean and Tierra.  Such a bummer situation that anyone would cry.  Then, in her only one-on-one time with Sean she does what any girl would want to do and rats out how terrible Tierra is.  BAD IDEA.  She just bought herself a one-way ticket home.  Guys hate drama, even if you're 100% correct.

"I seriously want to punch everyone in that room," says Tierra.  Don't worry sweetheart, I'm sure everyone else would gladly do the same to you!  "She needs to be given a Xanax and sent home," says Desiree.  I couldn't agree more!

Okay Sean... let me tell you loud and clear.  TIERRA IS CRAZY!!!!  The girls keep dropping hints and you ward it off as drama, but the minute you see a glimpse of her psycho-self, you start drilling the girls for information.  You keep saying you need to follow your heart.  Let me let you in on a little secret, no one's heart craves medicine crazy!

The rose ceremony felt more like a parent scolding their child than a man trying to find his future wife.  Sean, when it comes to crazy, it's okay to be an Indian giver!  Take back that rose from Tierra!!  Although Tierra kept the entertainment level high, I'm sick of her and want to see her go!  Sorry Robyn.  I so badly wish she would have told Sean all the in-house drama.  At that point, she had nothing to lose.

Looking at the previews for tomorrow, it looks like it's going to be another Tierra-ble episode.  Until then...

New and Improved

I've been neglecting my blog.  Oops!  I'm trying to clear off the cobwebs and jump back into it.  This blog is going to be filled with yummy recipes, reality TV chit-chat, classroom chatter, and whatever in my life sparks a motivation for me to blog about it.  Now let's hope I can keep this up!