Dean Karnazes with Regis & Kelly

I have runner's conflict! I want to start with this guy at Disneyland but alas.... money does not grow on trees .... but *SIGH* I WAAAAANNA RUN WITH HIM!!!!

For those who don't know, I'm a Regis & Kelly JUNKIE - and this morning they made a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! They are partnering with  Dean Karnazes - the UltraMarathon Inspiration- to benefit Action For Healthy Kids. He will run across America - from Disneyland to their studio in NY and I want to start the run with him at Disneyland... but I can't... because of above :(

Anyway, I wanted to share this announcement because it interests me and I thought maybe it would interest you :)  ENJOY and Follow his journey here - Regis & Kelly with Dean Karnazes!!

Gross

Today I ate a spoonful of whipped cream, a handful of chocolate chips and two hotdogs..... WHAT is wrong with me???  Gross.
Just trying to keep this thing honest.

 I ran 4.2 miles last night?? Does that make it better? :)

Running Memory?

I love the way my body has running memory. One day I will become better educated all around on running and I'll know just how true this idea really is, but for now my body makes me believe it. I think that means I've taught it well :) This past Sunday I conquered the 8 miler again. I was a little nervous, especially since I so brightly decided to jump from 5 to 8.... I take some crazy chances and most of the time they pan out... I'm thinking it's due to my body being an awesome rememberer of "I Can Do This!" It felt really great. My partner for the day and I actually pushed it to 8 and a half, we were so pumped up! My left hip is still bugging me a little bit, but with constant TLC it's getting better.Something my body has no memory of.... training for a sub 2:00 half. I'll be looking at training plans pretty soon. Kind of nervous/excited about that adventure! I think it's about time I did something besides just cross the finish line.
Side note: It's freeeeeeeeeeezing out when I run these days! I mean -FREEEEEEEEEEEEZING!! Like I think my legs have warmed up and then when I peel my running pants off and feel my skin it's icy to the touch.... wow.
I'm supposed to run 10 miles this weekend. I don't think it's going to be happening due to the upcoming visit from my awesome friend... a gal needs a little break sometimes :)

Happy Running Everyone!

Refresh, Refresh, Refresh

That's the name of the game today. I bet I'll probably refresh my class search page 20 times while I'm writing this! So I decided, rather late, that I was ready to go back to school. Nothing too crazy, just two classes, night school..... two classes that will be pretty hard, but whatever. So today is the day-ish that people who haven't paid get dropped and I get there classes! Yay! Only problem is that, unlike Hawaii, this school says that a computer does it on some type of schedule for the next three days!!! Are you kidding me?? So I've been semi-permanetely glued to this computer for the past 4 hours already... only 68 more to go! *fake smile* {{REFRESH, REFRESH}}

Training is going well, I was able to find a group of girls in my running group that also need to do night runs so that's been a fun addition. It sucks running at night by yourself and I have to admit it's a little scary sometimes. Last night I was winding up my 5 miles and found myself incredibly motivated by my charity adventure. I kept thinking that even though I've only raised $125 so far, in one week two people in a third world country far away will get a wheelchair because of my decision. How cool. I'm running, something they'll never be able to do, but it's providing them the means to simply get anywhere. I'm happy with my decision, I feel peaceful inside. This weekend I'm going to try to pound out 8.... it's a quicker jump than I'd normally make, but I'm pretty sure I can do it. I'll just have to stay paced, pay attention to my body and focus. *Cotton & Steel* (From Chi Running!)

Speaking of focusing, during this lazy day of refeshing I've managed to scarf down a nice plate of nachos and a creamsicle. Nice.... one more reason I hate this "refreshing day".... Oh and my class has come open at least 4 times but at the absolute wrong time :(

Back to it..... {{REFRESH, REFRESH}}

Charity

This year I've decided to make a difference. I've decided that with all the money I spend on racing, why not make that money work for something.... like charities :) I'm a giver, I always have been. Show me a puppy, child, elderly person, or sick person and I'll show you my wallet. We've even "adopted" a homeless man on the corner we see all the time. He's our guy, we like him and he gets our spare change or sometimes our 5 dollar bills. As I was looking at the/my race schedule for California for 2011, I noticed something I normally don't - the charities. I've always seen the running groups and think it's really cool to be a part of that, but it's never dawned on me that I could do it too. So I am. My first run will be the Surf City Half Marathon on Super Bowl Sunday! I'm very excited because not only will I get to run this with a couple of really great family members, but also my goal is to raise $500 for The Run for Mobility!

You can click here to see my official fundraising page and donate and to also learn more about this particular cause!

One of the things I hope to accomplish this year by doing this is to become more aware of  the different causes all over the world. I know the major ones, but I'd like to become more educated on not only WHAT they are, but specifically WHAT DO THEY DO TO HELP? I believe awareness is very important, especially in the world we live in today. Can't wait to see where this journey will take me in 2011!

Goals

I've learned that sometimes it's okay to make not yours goals. Sometimes it's actually a good thing. It's an important learning experience. You get to evaluate things you did right and wrong and things you can do diffferently and how to improve... or maybe if you did things just fine and it just didn't work out. I did not make my 25 point goal.... but I made it to 23 :) And I was really proud of myself.

I'm currently looking at the 2011 race schedule for California.... I like to do my traveling around races, so this is the point in the year where I do get to do some fun planning for the upcoming year. It's a very exciting time in my personal year because races excite me and give me a new push to be better at everything I do. When I'm running I'm just a better person over all :)

I only have one specific goal in 2011. No matter how many races I get in, or don't get in, I want to run a sub 2:00 half marathon. This goal will take work, but will be fun work and is a completely attainable goal. I have complete faith in myself that I can do it.

HBBC Week 4

I know it's Saturday and not the beginning of the calendar week, but it's the beginning of WEEK 4 of the HBBC and I'm in full challenge mode.

Yes, I know this is crazy seeing that I have 14 people to throw a party for next Saturday night and it's an extreme understatement to say that I have a lot to do. Hi, My name is Sarah and I'm a serial over-achiever. Aaaaand I LOVE it!

So the number is 25. That's not a lot at all compared to some of the numbers on the challenge, but I don't care about them. This challenge is for me. To see what I can do, what I can achieve. I've got 4.5 already and intend on getting 6 more today with a run later.

I've been mainly sticking to Cardio X and running for my points, but this week I think I'm going to vary it up, we'll see how it goes. I wish you got points for glasses of water you drank a day cause I'd have boatloads of points! This HBBC challenge is some of the most fun I've had working out in awhile. A little spice to my workout life :)