New(s) to Me

In getting into the holiday spirit I bought myself (an my mama) a new toy with lots of fun features to help us track our movement. Because sitting on our toosh does nothing good for our bodies or minds! Merry Christmas to me! What else gets me into the Christmas spirit? Christmas MUSIC. I'm a nut... I love it. Even the BAD not so good ;-) stuff.

 Go ahead and watch. It's a hoot and a half. I love Ray Stevens. I have a picture of me with him from when I was about 15. I won't post it. I'm a geek. Here's more about me being a geek.

I did it. Jumped in feet first. Got me a FitBit. Love it. It might be a little like Santa... "it knows when you are sleeping, it knows when you're awake". I wouldn't go as far as saying its creepy but... It also knows when you haven't been out on a run. OOPS! I'm hoping to rectify that today. I do have to say if you are interested I may be able to help you out with that. Stay tuned and I'll dish more when I know more.
24 hours into FitBit life that I should wash my hair more vigorously in the shower to register more "steps". Gotta love accelerometers!  I like the ability of recording how much water and food I consume... although I don't see this as a constant. I just don't like logging that sort of thing but it is a good reminder and a valuable tool when I feel like I'm off track. More to come but I am excited and  nervous and you'll be seeing FITBIT on here more as I am documenting my progress and testing its features.
Do you have a fitness devise/application that measures your movements, sets goals, helps you keep track of your food or hydration? I want to know how you do it, what you think, if you would recommend that product to friends or family.
Now go get your Holiday spirit on that's an order! If you need a present idea I do suggest Fitbit!

Speed + Fun = Fartleks

Fartleks are a sweedish term for running which means speed play during running. So tonight being our first speed workout for the "marathon or 21 mile race" program Coach Paul and Ramon had us doing speed play for our workout. We started out with a 15 minute warm up then did some active stretching and plyo's in the parking lot. We got started doing a countdown.. 2minutes hard, 1 minute easy, 1 minute hard, 30 seconds easy, 30 seconds hard then repeat it all until you get two miles of speed play in. Most of Liz and my faster running was at sub 8minute pace. most of the easy stuff was in the 10minute/mile range. Then we did an easy 10 minutes of cool down and stretching. I'm looking forward to the miles in this program.

Tomorrow I'm off to do Kettlebells  a photo shoot and hopefully run hills tomorrow night with some gals from running group then an easy 5 in the park Thursday with the girls and Kettlebells on Friday. I really need to work on eating well in the morning. I keep falling off the Gluten Free (GF) bandwagon and that is something I need to work on better because my tummy is not a happy camper when I fudge brownies literally and figuratively on my diet (I did pick up some GF blueberry waffles to try and of course some other yummy treats like Nutella to give my blander foods some pep! I need to drink more water. I know that. So I'm off to do great things and I'm starting by finishing up watching Biggest Loser then heading to the shower and to bed. Night all.

Jack Frost 10K race (and a week in) review

Tomorrow will be two weeks after the marathon and I got in three short runs before today. All of them hard. Apparently i didn't go far enough because by the 5 mile mark today I felt great. I also got two strength training sessions (and a couple blisters on my hands to match the blisters on my feet!) at KOR that rocked my world. Not sure if it was in a good way or not. I still have trouble sitting down to go pee and then getting up again. LOL

This week in review~
I managed to get all those workouts in despite working in the classrooms this week, endless loads of laundry to wash and fold, doing dishes that refuse to do themselves, going out to eat because I'm too lazy too cook and Christmas shopping but I still don't know where I found the time. I did manage to address and mail out Christmas cards and I'll post a pic of that on here too. Yes the picture was taken in March of this year, yes the children look like it was 5 years ago instead of 8 months ago. They grew a ton while I was out training for a marathon and didn't take any good pictures during that time. I did manage to help out during the Blondy's pizza party on Thursday and Nurse Tammy brought her daughter (who is gluten free [GF] ) a pizza from the local pizza joint and it was super yummy... most important, I could eat it and not pay the ultimate price. Win win for me! I also made a not GF baked french toast casserole for Hollywood's class. I didn't eat it because Nurse Tammy's other daughter is in this class and she is GF too so she made a yummy egg casserole with potatoes and cheese. I feel spoiled. Can I request that these girls are always in my boys classes???? I did hear that the casserole was pretty darn tasty though.

Jack Frost 10k today~
I had an easy run today right around 10 minute miles I think. I ran with my friend Patty who right after CIM with me last year was diagnosed with RA. Its affecting her hip joints a lot and running far doesn't feel the best but she trained for this race and by golly she was going to do it. We both forgot our music so we chit chatted and caught up. I also ran with Teri who was supposed to run with us at CIM but she was hurt. I felt so blessed to get to catch up with them both! The miles and the mud from the trail portion flew by, we had to modify the course a little because the creek was up and the trails were slick and before we knew it we were at the 5 mile mark. I finally felt like I had gotten warmed up and I sped up a little to run Patty in strong for her target race. Although we came in at just over 1 hour I know I could have pushed it harder but wouldn't have had nearly as much fun. I love our little running community and I was so glad I got a little time with my old training buddies.

Jack Frost Rocked... and we got jingle bells and a cute t shirt too! Fleet Feet Chico did it again.

I've got the fever

Three years ago I started on this journey... first by half marathon then on to run the full. I logged so many miles and bought so many shoes and gels and socks and running clothes that my wardrobe looked more like I lived at my local running store. Since then I've run several half marathons, a 20 mile race, 10k's, quarter marathons, a few 5k's and one more marathon until Sunday when I run my 3rd. My plans include harder races for the Winter and Spring and the RTO for early Summer.

I can't count how much running is like being pregnant. The starvation, the cravings, the eating everything in site, the exhaustion, the vivid dreams, going pee every half hour because I drank so much water and the falling asleep at parties or going home early and not drinking during training. Of course I don't blow up like a balloon and if I do my core work, cross training and go to KOR I get a rock hard body instead of gaining 50lbs like I did with my first pregnancy. But sometimes the running is not even enough to starve off that baby fever.

I run because it makes me feel good.... but I also run because I want a baby and we are SO done having babies. I need an extreme outlet to get me through... training for a marathon does that for me, or at least it helps.

My name is Tina Mickelson,  I have baby fever... so I run .

Baked Apples and a Foot on Ice

Sat on my ass all day with my foot up and an ice pack rotated with an ace bandage for compression. It hurts like the dickens on the top of my foot just below the ankle. The feeling has point tenderness then spreads down my foot. Since we just spend a butt load of money on the same foot for the whole pelvic tilt/hip/leg/foot issue the whole first part of the year I'm a little perturbed that a whole new thing just popped up. :( So if I don't feel better tomorrow another appointment with the podiatrist is in order. Grrrr.... Saturday is supposed to be our first 20 miler.

BUT I made the most yummy baked apples and that makes up for it a little, well at least for today.

• 2 Granny Smith Apples cored about 3/4 of the way
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup TJ pecan cluster cereal
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces
• a small pad of butter on top of each
• cinnamon to taste

I put both apples in a glass loaf pan with 1/8 cup water. mixed up the brown sugar, cereal and walnut pieces and fill the apples to the top. place a little tab of butter and put into a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes covered with foil.Take the foil off and cook 5 more minutes until the apples are soft. When you take your apple out sprinkle with cinnamon if you want. I did have a little stuffing left so I added that on top after I put it in my bowl. Yumm-o. I added a side of TJ's pumpkin ice cream and have to say it was the best pumpkin ice cream I've had so far.  I do love me some pumpkin ice cream so I'm sort of an unofficial expert if I do say so myself.



baked stuffed apples w/ TJ's pumpkin ice cream!



This was the perfect  easy fall dessert! I just tossed it into the oven when I was finished baking the chicken for dinner and set the timer. By the time it came out of the oven and cooled it was perfect timing for a warm treat!

Just Put it Out There

Maybe if I put it out there I'll be more likely to make it happen. After my long run on Saturday I'm a little worried about getting back out there tomorrow. I need to go to KOR and also run 4 miles tomorrow. My foot hasn't bothered me much today and I'm going to ice it again tonight and give it a real try tomorrow. Maybe adjusting the laces some.

I had a great weekend with my sister and the kids. I can't believe its been 8 months since I've seen them. I got so much love from my niece and nephews. Especially the nephews. Princess Nani plays well with my boys but the two little ones really clung to me this weekend and I loved every moment of it. I loved listening to JJ laugh that deep belly laugh of his. I love that TyTy loves for me to blow on his belly and tickle him. He just asked me over and over. I got such an abundance of hugs and kisses and love from my nephews. It made me miss my boys being so little when I was their whole world. I have to hold onto my boys and that feeling just a little longer when they give out the extra love that came so easy when they were little when I didn't have to beg for a kiss or cuddle time.

 Nani is getting so big. I'm always amazed by her sensitivity and creativity. She hasn't been jaded or built walls around herself in spite of the challenges of changing schools, moving from friends, having her parents split up and all the other changes this year has brought. I know she's scared but when I took her out of the room and talked to her she told me out right that she was scared, that she missed her home and she really missed her daddy. The way she clung to me and cried made me remember the way it used to be when I was little before I was too scared to hold back. She reminds me so much of me and I miss her so much.

I'm going to hold onto those hugs and those kisses and the tears I wiped away this weekend in my heart and the forefront of my thoughts this week when I feel like I can't make it to KOR, when those miles seem like too many or the weather isn't perfect for a good run. I'll hold onto the sound of their laughter when I run in the rain next Saturday for my 20 mile run. Because I got a little time with my favorite people this weekend I'm going to put that out there, into everything I do, into my effort on the pavement, on the trail, working in the classroom. Their weekend with us brought me a little extra umph to get me through my single mama time this week and all of next week when my firefighter provider (FFP) is out of town on hunting and fire business.

I'm thinking that maybe if I clean out the freezer the FFP might actually see and kill some elk this week. Day 2 has come and gone and no animals yet.

Do you "meat eaters" eat game or do you buy from local grocers or farms?

What a weekend!

This was a great weekend! The FFP (Firefighter Provider AKA Hubby) came home Friday after being gone to a class in the Bay Area all week. We left the kiddos with the sitter and headed off for his softball game. His team won 16-10 and I got to chat with the girls. Nice hu? We then wen't straight for Tres Hombres which is probably the most popular restaurant in town and for good reason. Last year a fire in the Mr. Pickles next door (same building) spread into Tres and destroyed the whole kitchen area. It's been remodeled and I'd have to say better than ever. They just opened Thursday although the Simmons and I got a "taste" last Sunday during Taste of Chico. We met there Friday night for two of my besties birthdays, had some dinner, had one big ass pineapple and 2 smaller regular on the rocks margaritas and headed out a little early since the kids were with a new sitter. The fish tacos were yumm-o but not so good the night before a long run. Everyone else headed out for some more bar hopping. We might as well take advantage of the bar scene in college town right? I posted pics of 3 of my favorite girls since I wasn't there to watch them (or take part) but it is awfully cute.

Laura, Vicki (bday girl) and Liz (Bday girl)

My intention of getting up Saturday morning and running 10 with Liz was good. But the combination of the irritating headache that started BEFORE the 'ritas  kept me in bed with a hangover my hubby since I hadn't seen him all week so I choose cuddle time over miles. We got stuff done during the day and then took the kids to my parental units for the night so hubby could go to work and I could go to Whiskeytown Relays with Liz and the Simmons on Sunday (this also being Vicki's big 29th Bday!!!).

I didn't run as many miles as were on the schedule but I got my butt kicked at KOR twice and I'm sore in places that I didn't even know I had muscles this week. Proof of an awesome workout from K.C., Robin and Lisa. Thanks guys for tutoring and pulling me through those workouts... those bear crawls were murder.

Ok so next post I swear will be Chocolate #9 review, Nathan speedbelt and Whiskeytown Relays race recap.

Do you guys splurge and drink the night before a long run if its a special occasion or just get an out and say you'll be DD?

Totally Freaking Out

Blogger totally freaked out on me and all the posts I had been working on that it wouldn't let me post just disappeared! bummer. So heres a slight recap.

Two Saturdays ago I missed my 12 mile long run due to the stomach flu. I was supposed to run on Friday and go camping for labor day weekend. Needless to say I just scrapped it and started from scratch on Wednesday when I felt like jolting my system wasn't going to cause any adverse effects. I did 2 so slow on the dreadmill that I felt like a brisk walk would have been faster. BUT I felt so good on Thursday that I rocked the 7 mile run w/ 3 at Marathon (actually faster) pace. I ran 3 on Friday and 14 on Saturday.

Saturdays 14 miles long run needs its very own post since I'm going to review Chocolate #9 that I won from Momma of 3 on the Run and my new hydration belt that I paid for myself but love love love.

After I rocked my run on Saturday I took Sunday off, ran a short run Monday, ran hill repeats on Tuesday (totally rocked those too!) did KOR yesterday and I think my arms should have fallen off and ran around like a mad parson today getting things done but not getting an actual run in. Tomorrow is KOR and an easy run and Saturday is 10m "speed trial" that I'm running easy and Sunday is Whiskeytown Relay.Whew!

FOOD! has been a nightmare. I should be shopping now, there is nothing in this house. its so sad!!! I'm so hungry for food that isn't instant that I don't even care that half my sentences start with lower case letters and that usually dries me crazy! OK, now I have to go back and fix them. Thank goodness there is enough $ on the kiddos hot lunch tickets to get lunch at school tomorrow and the in-laws took the kiddos to dinner and yogurt tonight. Tomorrow I must shop!

Double UP

Today I started back at KOR Fitness, the Kettlebell class I took last year where I made so much improvement in my marathon times. This year I'm a little more worried about other things like my bone density not increasing despite all the things I had been doing to move it in the right direction. SO off I went this morning, dropping the enormous amount of $ to swing a kettlebell around and try and not hit anyone, including me.

In the end I ended up doing the warm up of 20 halos, 3 wall squats (remind me to do more of these), 3 single bell squats (ouch), climbed up the rope more than half way (wahoo!!!), 5 sets of sprints, swings w/ the baby~bell, snatches, pistol squats... yea right that was funny, and 10 TGU's. I think I'm going to hurt tomorrow.

I stretched and headed to Costco to pick up pictures of the 50 yr. class reunion I took the other night. I headed straight to the park where I was supposed to run 4 today but figured the workout had to count for at least one of those miles. I actually had to walk some since I didn't fuel properly... oops. I did do 20 walking lunges at the 1 mile, 2 mile and 3 mile spots so a total of 60 on top of my earlier workout. But I forgot my watch and looked at the time I got out of the car and got back in to figure my time. With the walking breaks and the lunges it took me 37 minutes from turning the key off to back on again. Not as shabby as I thought it was going to be. I stretched really good this time and headed home. Hubby took me to his favorite place EVER for lunch then I headed out to deliver pictures this afternoon.

I do notice that I'm not eating enough breakfast. I did pick up that protein powder that I said I was going to use every day but I'm having problems remembering to use it. Do I just add water? Maybe almond milk? Ugh! I'm so lost!

Do you guys do double workout days?