Because I was in need of a laugh today...

...  which means more than likely you are, too.

Possible name change in my future?

***For those that are still checking on my family blog, I blogged every single day during the month of November.  I didn't link to my blog from here out of sheer laziness.  In case you missed it, here are a few of my favorite posts from last month:  {The Things They Say}, {"I know you not."}, {What are you going to be when you grow up?}, {The Seasons}.  I also posted again today- {Meet Ledger}.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program...

I ordered myself something for Christmas from Tommie Copper that I had been wanting for a long time now- compression sleeves for my calves. 

What I didn't realize was that I was actually ordering a sleeve for my calf. Singular.

No wonder they were so cheap.

In the interest of being a cheapskate saving a penny or two, I'm returning it (you know, the one sleeve) and ordering the CEP Compression Sleeves that were recommended by SkinnyRunner.  After all- she runs something like a bazillion miles a month, so she should know what works.  Plus the move will save me about 20 bucks.

Operation Get-Amy-to-Gain-5-Pounds-or-More is officially under way!  (You can read more about this issue here).

I went to the store and picked out some snacks that I like that are high calorie and not totally terrible for you (read- don't contain a cup or more of butter and sugar).  I chose cashews (they are my favorite nut), Good2Go Bars, cheese and wheat thins, and apples and peanut butter.

On top of that I will now be drinking a shake that consists of a cup and a half of Vanilla Almond Milk, a Carnation Instant Breakfast, a scoop of my protein powder, and a banana each night before bed.  It contains something like 480 calories.

If that doesn't help me pack on a pound or two then I will be changing my blog name to "See Skeletor Run".  Or maybe "Skinnier Runner"?  Is that plagiarism?

On a totally different note, I'm sure you are looking for a new song to get your heart pumping (whether you're running, or cleaning the bathroom).  Thanks to Florence + The Machine, you can move to this:



I've been listening to it repeatedly on You Tube because I'm too cheap to pay for it on iTunes it's so catchy.  Good times.

Have you splurged on something for yourself for Christmas this year?  Any new running gear?

Weekly RUNdown

What a week!  It seems like this is the first time in ages that I felt back to normal as far as a running routine goes.  That's pretty amazing considering we had 2 Christmas parties this weekend and it has been freezing.  (Or should I say below freezing?  5 degrees this morning. Can you say "frostache?")

Monday:  Easy run with Mindy and Jami. 6.2 miles at 8:52 pace.  I did choose to do one fast mile in the middle of the run at 6:30 pace.  It felt good to have a fast mile.

Tuesday:  Yasso's, 4 sets- 3:26, 3:27, 3:18, 3:20.  Remember how when I did these I thought I was going to die?  Well, I learned my lesson.  This week when I do Yasso's, I'm going to the indoor track.  I would rather dodge other people than freeze to death.  This run was hard.  I didn't even want to get out of bed, and then speed work?  Yuck.  I got to the track and then my iPod battery died.  Doesn't it seem that way sometimes?  I didn't quit though!

Wednesday:  Rolling hills- solo.  5.28 miles at 7:48 pace.  315 feet in elevation gain.  It was so nice to do a run on my own.  I feel like I've been losing a lot of my speed and strength lately, so to do my hills workout on my own and end up with a good time made my entire week.  My PR for the course I ran was 7:42, so I wasn't too far off.

Saturday:  Long run with Jami.  I completed my goal!  My goal was 6 miles at 8:12 pace and I ended up doing 8 miles at an 8:10 pace.  It was great.  I have been fighting off a cold and I felt like I couldn't breathe, so that made it a little more difficult.  Plus, it was cold (so cold that our water turned slushy in an hour).  But I did it and I was proud of myself for the rest of the day.  The coolest part of the run was seeing this:

Photo credit:  Ken Hermanson

Jami and I kept hearing a billion sirens going off.  Being the ambulance chasers that we are, we headed in the direction of the sirens and found every single police officer in our small town with lights and sirens blaring.  At the beginning of the line was a hummer and inside was none other than Jolly Old St. Nicholas!  That's right, folks!  It was an escort for Santa Claus.  I love living in a small town.

Last Week's Goal:  Long run with 6 tempo miles in the middle.  Check!  I really can't say how nice it was to get a long run under my belt after missing out for a couple of weeks in a row.

This Week's Goal:  Strength train twice a week.  Seriously.  I'm going to do it this time!  I know it is important- especially considering my history of IT Band problems.  I don't know why it's so hard for me to get it done, but I'm going to make it happen.  Also, I have a plan for some weight gain!  I'm going to do a separate post about this tomorrow, so stay tuned...

How was your running week?  Any spectacular or terrible moments you'd like to share?  Christmas parties?  New Traditions?

Who needs Vegas...

when you can have lights like this?

Confession: Serious Style

The people that are really close to me know this about me, but it's something I don't talk much about to people outside my little sphere because I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything like that.

Here's the deal:  I really, really want to win Rachelle's Good2Go Bar giveaway.  Over compression sleeves and running jewelry, Running Diva shirts and marathon entries, I want to win these bars.

Why?

I want to gain weight.

I know I'm an anomaly. Most blogs (and people) are focused on fitness and maintaining or losing weight, but this doesn't apply to me.  My entire life I have been a stick figure.  I can eat mountains of food and it doesn't go to my thighs, my love handles, or (Heaven forbid!) my breasts.  In Junior High there was a rumor going around that I was anorexic.  In High School I was called "Skeletor" by the skater guys that hung out at the end of the hall by the cafeteria.  When I was pregnant I was often told I looked so much better with meat on my bones.

I know some of you are thinking- 'Why are you complaining?  I would give up Christmas for the rest of my life for thighs that don't touch.'

We all have things we would like to change about ourselves.  It's not very fun to be sitting in a theater watching a sick and anorexic looking Bella from Breaking Dawn on screen, feeling horrified at how she looks, and then have someone say that she reminds them of you.

Please don't take this post the wrong way.

I'm not trying to be whiny or ungrateful here.  I am very blessed to have this body.  It is healthy.  It is strong.  And I do feel blessed to be thin rather than overweight- the health risks are far fewer.  Overall I am really happy with how I look and this isn't a focus of my life at all.

I have had a goal to gain some weight for several years.  I weigh more right now than I have for a long time, but it's because I am more muscle than anything else.  This year I've managed to gain a couple of pounds and I'm proud of this because I'm eating healthier now than I ever have in the past.

Back to the whole point of this post- Good2Go Bars.  Calorie packed, protein packed, nutritious.  These seem like an answer to my problem! It's hard to find snacks that are easy and filled with everything you need- and TASTE GOOD.  I just wish I could try one before I commit 30 bucks (which in a family of 4 living on nothing a student income is A LOT) to buying an entire package.

I'm not looking for sympathy or validation, but I am looking for help.  PLEASE give me suggestions on healthy, calorie packed, tasty snacks!