Sunday, April 24, 2016

ANOTHER fantastic week...Cherish Every Moment



Wow. Simply WoW.

An important thing I have learned in my (almost) 11 years of lacing up is to enjoy the journey (and not just in your running shoes). This week's theme: Cherish Every Moment.

This week had so many incredible moments, starting with the Boston Marathon. Although I was not a runner in Boston, I know several runners who were there. This race is just such an amazing event....I (like many runners) get just as excited watching it as the actual runners who are running it.  I worked in the morning, but watched some of the highlights after I got home.

I did my "nevermissaMonday" run bright and early, in Boston colors.

Although the shirt appears to be lime green, it actually is yellow #Bostonstrong
Tuesday, was a day with beautiful, spring weather. I worked all day, but headed out after work and ran four effortless miles at a progressive pace.

Ahhhh...that stretch hurts so good!
Wednesday...prom work (see below).  This was my seventh year being in charge of the Presentation festivities. I have a committee (that has changed as the members have had students graduate), and I design and build (with the assistance of the husband and fellow committee peeps) the stage set as well as overseeing all the "behind the scenes" details.

As usual, we're not able to get into the auditorium to build/construct the set until Friday evening, so my garage becomes a makeshift workshop/studio and I spend most evenings (in that final week) stooped over my garage floor...painting, cutting, lifting, and moving large (flimsy) cardboard pieces. It makes for a crazy week!


Thursday was another long day at the office. I met up with Barb (my main partner-in-crime) and we ran a solid six miles at a near-tempo pace.
I am getting much better about post-run stretching
Friday...more prom work, this time actually at the high school in the auditorium. After loading and hauling all the cardboard pieces to the school, we begin the set-building. Most of these individual pieces are 8-ft. tall (not including the golden toppers), and need support-brackets to keep them in position. Thankfully, my husband is pretty handy with power tools. He's been doing this construction gig with me from the beginning, so he knows what I expect of him and he does a great job of bringing my "visualization" to life.

Everything is up and stabilized! 
A few colorful luminaries, and we're ready for the prom-going couples to enter through the archway

This year's theme was "Moroccan Moonlight," so this is my rendition of a Moroccan castle
Saturday morning the temps were somewhat cool (high 50's) but very sunny and the wind was minimal. We have a half marathon coming up next weekend that will give us plenty of hills so we decided to tackle some hills in town. My husband even joined us for the first 4.5 miles.

I have been drinking Beet Boost prior to my longer runs, and BAM! My energy is off the charts, and the running feels (dare I say?) effortless. Even with the numerous hills, I never felt like I needed to slow down. I didn't have my GPS watch with me, but Barb said we ran the second half of the eight miles with a negative split. I would even venture a guess that we ran those final miles with progressively faster splits as well.

#gothills #anotherreasontosmile
Saturday was prom night!  Although we had no one from our household attending, the husband and I were there. Thankfully, the Presentation of Couples went well, and we had the complete set taken down and dismantled within 45 minutes. Our night didn't end there, though. The husband and I also volunteered at the after-prom party. Our shifts ended around 2:30AM, and we were home (and sound asleep) a very short while later.

Sunday was a day of active recovery. I did have some residual stiffness, probably from the hilly run the day prior (and also from the late night working at Prom). I allowed myself a "no-alarm" slumber, and woke up around 8:00AM. I went for a long (and somewhat hilly) power walk with my sister, for six miles of cardio.

Also, I spent several hours working in the raised "garden" by our garage. This little garden has become such an eyesore. It is completely overgrown with all of this wayward grass that I have no idea where to begin on getting it back under control. I also have several clumps of daylilies awaiting to be transplanted (from a recent dig-up/transplant job from another of my garden plots). When all was finished (for the day), I had almost half of the plot cleaned up. And, my glutes, hamstrings, and back got a good work-over as well.

Isn't it a mess???? This was at the halfway point of my project...the entire plot was covered in grass when I started
Total mileage for the week was 19 miles of running, most of which was at a fairly fast pace. My energy level has been in tip-top condition, and all of this week's training runs went well. My body has been pretty sore, though. Last weekend, I ran my first-ever 10-miler in several months, and it was in the wind. With all the prom set construction this week, I have been in a constant state of squatting, so my hamstrings and quads have been on fire.

This next week looks to be another busy one.... tennis meets, last-minute rehearsals for the youngest daughter's dance recital (which is Friday night), a party honoring all the graduating seniors at the other daughter's sorority on Saturday evening, and a half marathon on Sunday morning. Yes, the timing of my "taper" could not have happened during a more perfect week.

In other news:

I am really enjoying all the beauty of spring! I wish all of these budding trees could stay like this forever!

#colormespring
I've been continuing to have fun experimenting with different ways to wear my hair. It boggles my mind, however, that my hair actually looks longer when I do the beachy-wave look than when I keep it straight.
#beachywaves
Our little guy, Max, has really been loving the warm weather! He loves going for car rides (with the windows down).
#MaxtonMcCarthur
And, I have to pay a short tribute to Prince. Growing up in the 70's/80's, Prince was of my era. He was one of those icons who had his own uniqueness, flamboyance, and cutting edge sense of style. Although I wasn't one of the goo goo-gaga crazy obsessed Prince fans, I always admired him. He was a true artist, one who always did things HIS way and his way only. I knew he was a musical genius, but I have recently learned about his humanitarian side (which he successfully kept hidden from most of the world). He certainly was a legend, and someone I thought would be around forever. Cherish every minute...

#ripprince

So, enough about me. How was your week? Any races on the agenda? Ever done a bunch of gardening and felt like you'd spent an afternoon power-lifting instead?  Were you a Prince fan?

As usual, I'm linking up with Holly from HoHo Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin  for the Weekly Wrap. Do head over and checkout their awesome blogs, as well as all the other blogs linked.

























36 comments:

  1. Nice prom set! It seems early for prom to me, but what do I know? I have no clue when ours is. The flowering trees are SO pretty right now. I wish they'd stay longer. Nice week of workouts.

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    1. I was walking Max at lunch. Sadly, I'm seeing many of the flowering trees' petals on the ground ;-( It seems like all those flowers just started smiling at us (?)

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  2. You are very talented. Love your sidewalk art.
    It's still a little chilly here but soon.........

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    1. Knock on wood, it's been warm here for the past couple weeks....I think it's here to stay for a few months ;-)

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  3. Gardening (aka pulling weeds) definitely makes my inner thighs sing the blues! I admit though -- I love pulling weeds (shhh!). It so SATISFYING! I have daylilies too. Unattended, they will take over. My husbands grandmother used to sell all the different varieties from her yard. I wish I had your energy. That is something I've been struggling with for a while. I thought maybe it was my age ;) but maybe I should try the beet boost! Great job on the prom decorations! Thanks for linking with us Kim.

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    1. Gardening certainly ain't for sissies! Running a marathon has NOTHING on several hours of squatting in the garden ;-)

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  4. I was a huge Prince fan, and super sad about his passing. I also did lots of gardening over the past couple weekends so I am feeling your pain! LOL

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    1. I always liked Prince's music, but now realize I kind of took him for granted. Like I said...he was such an icon, it just seemed like he would always be around....his legacy will certainly remain strong.

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  5. Prince is definitely a huge loss in the music industry. As an 80s child his songs were the backdrop to my childhood. I was in Boston for Marathon Monday and loved every second of it - so much fun!! I'm always envious of those with a solid green thumb! I kill everything I try to grow.

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    1. Ha....my green thumbs were looking pretty icky after all that work outside! It's tough work!

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  6. Your prom decor looks fabulous! How nice that you have been helping out for so long

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    1. Thanks! It's a lot of work, and a little stressful in the final days, but I do enjoy it. It's my way of giving back ;-)

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  7. You made those prom decorations?! I am very impressed! I think my prom just had a bunch of balloons haha.

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    1. My prom was a joke...I don't even remember balloons LOL

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  8. That's awesome that you designed the stage for the prom, I hope everyone appreciated your hard work!

    Great job on your runs as always. I need to get on the "Never miss a Monday", it's so important to be consistent!

    I was never crazy about Prince but the more I learn about him, the more I respect and admire his work!

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    1. Well, as far as prom...this is the stage for the Presentation of Couples....I didn't do any work on the actual gym where the dance took place. My runs have felt pretty good recently....makes me a little paranoid....LOL (usually there's a BAD run just lurking around the corner)

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  9. Wow! Great work on those prom sets! The kids must have been thrilled!

    You had a fabulous week! You should be proud of all your hard work!

    No races for a little while, yet. It's coming!

    Prince's passing was sad. I was never a huge fan of his actual music, but he was definitely a groundbreaking force in music and culture. I hugely respect his talent, and it is truly a great loss. :(

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    1. Spring is a fun time, especially with all the racing on the horizon. I haven my first 13.1 of 2016 in a few days...excitement is through the roof!

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  10. So cool that you are involved with the prom design! And your gardening is inspiring me to do the work that I need do on my own garden.

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    1. My gardening, sadly, is about three weeks behind...and lots of rain for the next few days means it will be even more of a jungle when I can get back to it LOL

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  11. Max is the cutest! I love it when my shih tzu sticks his face out the window and his fur looks like that haha

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    1. What is it about car rides? If we say anything that remotely sounds like "car ride" he goes NUTZO and sprints to the door...

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  12. Sounds like an awesome week! And what is this Beet Boost you speak of? I am intrigued!

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    1. I won a sample box of the Beet Boost recently, and I am LOVING it! (well, it does have a bit of a cardboard-like taste, but I can handle it LOL). Here's a link to their site...
      https://beetboost.com/

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  13. I'm very impressed with your crafting skills. Hopefully the students were appreciative of all of your hard work.

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    1. Thanks! It's a fun challenge to create "something from nothing" for the stage every year. ;-)

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  14. Aww Kim I learn something new about you all the time. You wear many hats and are a wealth of talent! It's so neat you do so much to make their Prom memorable. See I am not a visualizer I can see something and put my own touch to it but I can't create it from the ground up so kudos to you for being able to do that!
    I just love the colorful arm sleeves your rocking.
    I've been you-tubing different ways to do my hair too. I get bored with the same pony tail I need variety but can't quite seem to find just what I'm looking for. I want neat but that's hard when it looks messy all time with my curls.
    I totally agree growing up in the 80's too, we have lost a legend for sure. I really did not know he did so much either. He had his hand in so much more than we knew.
    Thanks friend for linking up with us. One day I'm gonna get to hug your neck in person, that's my mission!

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    1. Ha! Thanks, Tricia! Yes, I'm looking forward to that "neck hug" some day as well ;-)

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  15. Sounds like you had a busy week! I LOVE the prom setup, so creative!

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  16. Busy week ! So glad to read you are running strong and you sound SO BUSY with all your other activities that I was tired just reading what you wrote ! Enjoy the spring like weather and sun. It has been cold and chilly here for the past 10 days or so.

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    1. We have the cold and chilly stuff here now...also with some rain (YUCK). Hoping it warms up (and dries up) before my race on Sunday #fingerscrossed

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  17. That is cool that you and the hubby still help with the local prom set up and stuff- that does look fun! The hubby and I have been doing tons of work outside- it all adds up to a killer workout! Sounds like a great week of run too - enjoy the nice weather!

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  18. I'm late to the party, so to speak. Now I think I really need some BeetBoost! I wish someplace local carried it. I should look on Amazon -- I need me some energy!

    I have had no time and/or energy to go out & get plants for my little raised beds. :(

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