So much going on!

I meant to write last week after my race but just got so busy, I completely forgot to sit down to blog.  Now that a week has flown by, I don't feel like typing a race report.  I do have a few things to share about the race though.  (1) Next time I want chocolate after a run, I'll buy it instead of sign up for some poorly organized nightmare.  (2)  I continue to make solid progress with my running and had a really good 1st 15k.  Yay!  (3)  I love my Athleta running skirt so much, I ordered another one in purple b/c the ORR inspired one was so fun!  

Post race, still happy!

While we're on the topic of racing, my next race is in just a couple of weeks and I'm super excited!  For months I was really hoping this would be the race where I break my half-marathon PR but that's likely not going to be the case.  Before any of you start thinking I'm being negative, that's not it all.  There just comes a time where you have to be realistic about where you are.  Don't get me wrong, I'm super focused on having the best race I possibly can and I'm looking forward to it like crazy.  I have come such a long way since the Houston Half in 2011 and have just bee making steady progress.  I'm definitely on track to do better than Houston Half 2012 and that's a big deal.  I have such high expectations of myself, as do most folks I train with, that it can be hard not to have the same success every time you race.  You just have to put it in perspective and race with your heart, not your head.  That's what I did at the Hot Chocolate Run.  I didn't let the chaos from the morning get to me.  As soon as the starting gun went off, I just ran.  More than once I thought about how lucky I was to be able to wake up and go outside and just run with 10,000 of my closest friends.  How cool is that?  I was so pleased when I crossed the finish line.  So many times lately I've crossed the finish line and within a few minutes, started dissecting my race and focusing on what I should've done better and what I didn't do right.  Last week I crossed and smiled and kept smiling.  Instead of dwelling on the fact that I didn't hit some made up number in my head, I kept thinking about where I was 6 months ago and where I am today.  What a great feeling!!!!  


In other news, my sweet little niece turned 1!!!!  Oh my gosh, I can't believe it.  It's hard to believe a year has already gone by.  She has changed so much yet still has the same huge smile she had from when she was a newborn.  The girl came out smiley and really hasn't stopped.  I couldn't believe that the little girl who just learned to crawl a few months ago was walking around the house yesterday.  Yep, she prefers walking to crawling without a doubt and I now know without a doubt that she is a future triathlete.  :)  Happy Birthday Avery cakes!  Auntie Jenny loves you!

Check this little cutie out.  LOVE her!

With Avery turning 1, that means Addie is next!  Keith's first grandchild will celebrate her 1st bday here in Texas with us and we couldn't be more excited!!!  We know we won't get to spend every Birthday with her so it's awesome that the 1st one will be in our own backyard...literally!  The party will be at Keith's and we get to help cook, decorate and everything.  Keith is sooooo excited she'll be here for her bday and I can't wait to celebrate with him (and everyone else). 


Well, I think that's about it.  Happy Sunday and have an awesome week ahead!

Sometimes, you've just got to blog it.

I wasn't planning for a blog post tonight but had a couple things on my mind so thought I should sit down and type away.  


My mom posted on FaceBook this morning that she was remembering the sweetest man she knew, her Dad and my Papa as today is his birthday....was his birthday.  I'm never sure what to say when someone has passed.  Grandpa Cerami died 27 years ago come this June.  27 years?  That's basically a whole lifetime.  It made me so sad to think about it though b/c I remember the day like it was yesterday.  We were living in Union City, California on Joyce Way (I think that's the street name).  Doug was a toddler and Luke was a baby.  I remember my mom telling us Grandpa Cerami had died and I just cried and cried.  It had been several years since I'd seen him as we hadn't been back to Buffalo since we moved in the early 80's.  I'm thinking it had been 3 or 4 years since we had seen him and at that age, it seemed like an eternity.  There have been so many times I have sworn he was here.  It's amazing to me how a smell can trigger a flood of memories.  For me, whenever I smell a pipe, I think of him.  And of course, whenever I see a Hershey bar as he always gave those to us...even when Grandma told him not to.  Rest in peace Grandpa....we miss you & love you!

He's the one with the drink in his hand.  :)

In other news, it's race week!  I am so looking forward to this race but admit, I've got some nerves.  As most of you know, I've been working like a dog the past 3 weeks and in all honesty, probably longer than that since I've been trying to do two jobs at work since November.  I am thankful I'm not training for anything big right now or I would be in big, big trouble!  Saturday will be interesting without a doubt.  I'm super determined to have a good race and just focus on what I can control.  Yeah, I'm going into the race tired and probably not as prepared as I would like as a result of work but that's ok...that doesn't mean I won't do well.  And come on, this is THE Hot Chocolate run that I've been looking forward to for months.  So wish me luck this weekend and pray I catch up on all the sleep I've missed over the next couple of nights.  :)


With that, it's time for me to go and start winding down for the night.  Hope y'all are having a great week!

Back in the saddle again!

After two completely hellish weeks at work (60hrs each week thank you), I had very low expectations for my workouts this weekend.  I pretty much knew I would have a 10 mile run that left much to be desired and I was just praying I could make it up the hills on our ride today without getting off my bike and walking it.  :)  I'm happy to report that neither workout went as I had thought. 


There isn't much to tell about the run other than I was forced to do it on the treadmill.  O M G.  Talk about BORING.  While I have found myself indoors more often than I would like, I had really wanted to do my run outside this weekend.  Mother Nature, the mean old hag that she is, had other plans.  I made it almost the whole 10 miles before I couldn't stand it anymore.  My legs didn't give up, my eyes did.  I couldn't handle looking at the people in front of me on the treadmills any longer.  People were coming and going and I was stuck trying to get this workout in.  My nose also gave up as there were some stinky folks on the 'mills next to me.  I think 24 might have even had the heat on as it was a bit of a sauna in there.  I hopped off the treadmill and went on my merry way. 



This morning Keith & I ventured to Montgomery for the CHS Golden Girls Gold Rush Cycling Classic.  I am a good girl and did the 25 mile route as my coach did not want me going longer than 1.5hrs.  Keith went the 44+ route without me.  I love supported rides...I just find them to be so much fun.  I was excited to get to see so many folks I haven't seen in ages, meet a few new folks and ride with someone I never get to ride with (Kelley!).  What a fun, fun morning.  I wasn't scheduled for a run after my ride but since I was waiting for Keith, I figured I'd take a few loops around the parking lot.  It felt SOOOOOO good.  Rest assured coach, I kept it easy.  I really needed to keep warm while I waited!  :)  I know you understand.  Props to the Golden Girls for putting on this ride.  They were very energetic and were out yelling for everyone even though it was colder than a witches you-know-what.  Keith really enjoyed his first supported ride as well and is looking forward to the next one!

So now that I've had two great workouts this weekend, it's time to watch the Super Bowl!  I could care less who wins but because the Giants are from my home state of New York, I'm going to go ahead and cheer them on.  I would've made my pick based on who had the better uniforms but the colors are the same so no dice.  ;)  Kidding.  Or am I?


Oh, what weekend is complete without a trip to Home Depot.  I admit, before becoming a homeowner, I hated the place but now, L O V E.  I'm curious if they keep a record of what folks buy there.  If so, I'm pretty certain they are going to flag my name and quit selling spray paint to me.  Yeah, getting carded to buy spray paint is an awesome feeling.  WTH is wrong with kids today????  OMG, I sound so old!  I needed more spray paint as my collection lacks green.  I found the perfect shade....Oregano.  It looks more like something that might be found in a diaper but I'm pretty sure "baby dookie" would not be as good of a seller.  Anyway, I'm totally off topic now and I'm sure you're wondering what I was doing at Home Depot.  Well.....I was buying more supplies for projects I found on Pinterest.  I am so, so, so excited to give these next two projects a shot.  As I was driving home, I had grand visions of me starting a website and selling my creations.  Ahhh, wouldn't that be fun.  Reality started to sneak in as I wondered where-oh-where I would find all this spare time.  I can't quit my day job b/c let's face it, I'm not THAT crafty, I just follow directions extremely well.  And what about another Ironman?  If (errrr when) I sign up again, my spare time will be devoted to training (as well as weekly massages & pedicures).  I think it's time to rethink this website & business.  Maybe I should make a few more projects first and see how that goes.  


Well, it's time to sign off and get ready to watch the Super Bowl.  I'm pretty certain I'll be falling asleep as my grand plan for a nap today went to the crapper.  Happy Sunday!!!!!

Where's Jenny?

As I uploaded some pictures tonight, I realized it's been a few weeks since I blogged and even though I don' have much to say, I thought I should hop online and let y'all know I'm alive and well before someone files a missing person report.  :)

A few things have kept me from blogging:  (1) work and (2) Pinterest.  

As you might recall, I found out in November I was getting a new role at EY.  Well, I've basically been *trying* to do two jobs since around Thanksgiving.  It didn't get really bad until January hit as my replacement still hadn't been found and I was getting to a point where I really need to focus on my new job.  I realized pretty quickly I would need to adjust my schedule and so came up with a plan to work 60hr weeks.  While this won't last forever, it still stinks.  I have to say though, I'm very appreciative EY allows me the flexibility to leave work by 4pm so I can miss traffic and get home more quickly.  Doing this gives me the opportunity to work as needed and still get to eat dinner at a decent time and get a workout in.  Thanks EY!!!  

Pinterest is my newest addiction.  I love checking out new ideas for projects, decorating, cooking, etc.  I seriously could waste hours on that site.  Sometimes I think I should just go on a leave of absence and make as much crap as I can and get it all out of my system.  

I am training for an event...The Woodlands Half Marathon.  The only triathlon I'm officially signed up for is the Hy-Vee National Championship in September so it's nice to have a little "down time" right now and focus on running.  It's not like I have much of a choice with my work schedule.  I will be signing up for some other triathlons very soon though so don't worry....I'll get back to the fun stuff soon enough.  

Okey dokey smokey.  That's about all I have time for tonight.  I promise not to be a stranger!!!

Happy training!