Just some of a season by hand

Yesterday, we did a time trial 5k for our group run. While it was fun to push myself like that again, and I was thrilled to clock a 26:05, I was also very happy to come home and unwind with some knitting.

Last night, I finished this:

 And while that particular project was an unpleasant experience on the whole, I like the way I altered the shawl and the end result. Let's just say some knitting designers and specialty yarn manufacturers are a little snooty and leave it at that.

The next piece was finished lat week:

 This was a mystery knit along. I wish I would have made size XS instead of small, but oh well. It works for throwing on over a swimsuit, or over sweaty workout clothes for a quick trip in the grocery after I've been at the gym. And I probably will make a second one in a smaller size, since it was wicked easy- it only took a skein, and 3 days of off and on knitting.

And here's my favorite finished project from this summer:

I love, love, love it. So much, I might not complain the first week it's cold.

All of these projects were found on Ravelry. If you knit or crochet, Ravelry is awesome.

I'm linking up with Clover and Violet's A Season By Hand. Seriously, I don't know what I would have done recovering from surgery without projects like these. The final count of handmade items is 2 shawls, a headband, 2 pairs of mitts, 11 dishcloths, and a small cross stitch project. If I photographed it all, I'd probably put people over their data plan limits on cell phones.

THAT is what happens when an active person (who already loves crafty things) is told she can't do much of anything beyond sit on the couch.

And while I love crafting, I'm looking forward to getting a long run in this weekend. Not sure of how far; I'll probably base it off how I feel. When I get done with that, you know where to find me... in the craft room!!!!

Organizing

You know those 3 by 3 cubbies? I have one in my craft room, and all three cubbies on the bottom were full of quilting magazines. Over 100 magazines. And then my Runner's World magazines had their own pile.

Knowing that moving will be happening next year, I'm trying to organize/purge a little bit every week. The summer has been devoted to my sewing room, since it will be the biggest bore. And this week, I attacked the magazines.

Turns out that everything I was saving in those 100+ magazines could fit in 2 binders. And the recipes and workouts from RW got added to existing binders. So instead of having 3 boxes full of magazines, I have 2 binders and much more space.

Before: (and this is actually only about 2/3 of them)

After:

Ok, so I technically need one more binder to contain the second stack. But still! That's a lot less space!

Any organizing tips to share?

The next project will be attempting to contain the fabric stash. But first, I'm looking forward to a long group run this afternoon.

Man Magic

I've been up since 6 again.... this time because I picked up this girl

from the airport since she helped that guy ^ move to California. The baby is not theirs, he belongs to friends who thankfully haven't moved yet.

But on the way home, we had a mind-blowing conversation.... (please understand this is half sarcasm, a third exhaustion, and one-sixth honesty speaking... and bravo for still being able to do fractional math!)....

Men's sweatpants, in order to truly be to-die-for-comfortable, MUST have been worn by an actual MAN at least 3 times. You CANNOT go buy men's sweats and have then feel as perfect as they do when they come out of your boyfriend/husband/neighbor/other man you're stealing from's drawer. They just don't.

The same goes for sweatshirts. And tees. And baseball caps.

We've decided that clothes need "man magic," whatever that may be.

Changes? No changes? Does ANYONE around here know what's going on?

Last week, my friend and coworker left for his new job out in California. We're all happy for him, but sad to see him go, and sad we can't go, too. With encouragement from him and half the staff at the fitness center (including the one doing the hiring), I applied for the now-vacant position. And I hate to admit how much I want it, for fear of not getting it.

While all this is in limbo, (the position closes out next Friday, and then the waiting begins), I've been approached with a possible schedule change- basically eliminating my current classes and taking over the ab class instead, since they don't have the budget to pay me for more than 2 classes/week. That's all well and good, but now that they've proposed to change things up, OF COURSE I have first-timers showing up for my yoga and zumba classes! Class attendance has been so poor across the board that I brought running clothes yesterday, and was rather shocked to have 2 girls show up. Shocked, but thrilled. And a little bummed about not running, if I'm honest.

So it's limbo week for me. Or weeks. I'm not sure. No one seems to know much about anything for certain (ugh, flashbacks to getting the yoga class started- it took 4 months for them to get it on the schedule!). I honestly don't know what I'll be teaching on Monday.

But I'm a tumbleweed. I just roll with it.

After the circus festival run on Tuesday, I've done one other small run (about a mile), and will head out at some point today when the thunderstorms are gone. 63 days until the Air Force Marathon. Makes me want to try for double digits today. Slow and with frequent walk breaks, mimicking how the marathon will end up.

Good thing I have the Veteran's Marathon later in the year so I know I'll have one attempt at a good race, since there's no way I'll be prepared (mentally or physically!) enough to attempt a PR in 63 days!

If you made it all the way down here, THANKS!

Any plans for the weekend?

Nothing planned here. That's fine by me.

Veteran's Marathon training.... and so it goes.

Let's face it. The Air Force marathon is just going to be one incredible long run, surrounded by thousands of other people rather than by my lonesome on the trail. At this point, I must be honest with myself: I will probably walk half. And I'm ok with it, as long as I finish before the time limit and get my darn medal.

The Veteran's marathon, however, will be game on. I WILL break 5 hours. And smile doing it.

I've been officially cleared to run again for 2 weeks (which, if you've been reading, means I've been running again for three- bad patient). After the 5k on the 4th, my shins ached. And then, like an idiot, I ran 3 days in a row the next week (which I rarely ever do!). Which meant the shins hurt. Enough to have me worried.

So I took 4 days off from running.

Friday, I went to Chris's last ab class (so sad to lose a friend/coworker, but he got a great opportunity in Cali, so all the best to him).
Saturday I went rock climbing at Climb Time (awesome!!! Once I got over being afraid, and was able to trust my partner).
Sunday was a day of complete rest.
Monday, I ran through about 45 minutes of strength training before teaching yoga.

And then today, the lure of the Circus Festival was too strong. I could almost taste the elephant ears. I wanted one. I needed one. So I called a friend, and we ran there, alternating who pushed her 1 year old in the stroller.

2.6 miles there, then THIS:

With a lemon shake-up, of course. Aren't those mandatory when you eat deep-fried carnie food?

And then 2.7 miles home. Did I mention the heat index was 105? Searching for shade and taking a slightly different route made it a tad longer, but worth it.

And I never puked. Now that's what I call marathon training. If my stomach can handle an elephant ear mid-run on a hot-as-Hades day, I could probably nibble from a buffet come marathon day and be fine.

I could have taken the most disgusting selfie ever. Think beet red, looked like I'd been hosed down but it was all sweat disgusting.

But then, you'd be grossed out, instead of dreaming of your own elephant ear....


Fellow runners: how's training going for your fall races?

Everyone: elephant ears or funnel cakes? I'm an equal opportunity glutton, but if pressed, I'd go elephant ears.

Favorite fried food? Veggies. Preferably the mixed basket with green tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, and zuchinni. YUM.

Climb Time!

I had the opportunity to go indoor rock climbing with my coworkers yesterday. I love these perks of working where I do. 

Do you think  this counts as cross-training?

Stupid storm.

 Yeah. That's our house. The garage end, thankfully. I was home, about to take the dogs to the basement when I saw it fall.... and then I stood there like an idiot, wondering WTF do I do now?

Which turned into calling insurance and going outside to check it out and describe it to them while it was still storming. Let's just admit I'm not always the brightest.

 The national weather service is in town investigating if we had tornados.

 I'd say, judging by the path of destruction on the other side of the river (only .5 to .75 miles away), that yes. Yes, we did.

so glad this isn't ours!

It could have been worse. That's my current mantra.

Gettin' crazy on a Friday night!

Oh yeah. It was a party last night.....

Ok, so not at our house. I spent the evening as usual- home, in pjs by 8, and happy about that.

So I taught myself how to tat (as if I needed another old lady hobby :D).

Maybe by Christmas I can make a single ornament... Maybe! Tatting takes forever! But it's still fun.

Happy 4th!!

Happy 4th of July!!! And happy anniversary to this guy- 4 wonderful years so far, and many more to come. We celebrated with a 5k again this year, and he ran with me this year. We finished in 26:15. After 6 weeks off, I'll take that with a grin!!!

Hope you have a fabulous day!!! 

Ps- I got the official all-clear/permission to resume life as normal yesterday. Yay!!!