This post is about 2 months late in coming because it has taken me almost that long to be able to breathe when I think about it. But I know Aimee said she wanted to hear it, so here is the story of the drama surrounding my Berlin marathon registration.
By way of background, I have a pretty solid history with race registration in the US.
Boston 2011 filled up in less than 10 hours. I posted the full story here -- I persistently clicked from the time it opened until I got in (I still remember my horror and panic in clicking "authorize charges" about 40 times to the tune of $130 per charge!).
I've gotten into Chicago and Marine Corps by registering promptly.
I was lucky in getting into New York through the lottery on my first attempt.
But my luck with foreign races has not been the same.
I posted about it as the drama unfolded, but for the last few years (pretty much since the 2008 Olympics), I have wanted to run the Beijing Marathon. And I'd wanted to travel to mainland China for much of my life, probably since I was old enough to learn about the world and how many different and interesting places there are, and then realize that as the world becomes more global, differences disappear. So the Beijing Marathon seemed to be the perfect way to combine an amazing marathon with a trip to an amazing country. I paid close attention to the Beijing Marathon in 2011, knowing it would be my turn in 2012 (and having had experience with some marathons filling up before I had a chance to register, knowing I needed to get a visa, plane tickets, arrange for vacation from work, etc.). In 2011, this is how it went: in the winter, there was a marathon webpage with information about the 2011 race; in June, the registration date was announced; in August, the registration moved to "late registration" status; in October, there was a marathon. So since 2012 was to be the 31st year, I assumed it would be roughly the same.
Not.
Instead the website stayed blank for months. Then finally a countdown calendar appeared, counting down until Oct. 14, but nothing more. Then the countdown calendar disappeared. Then it reappeared, again, counting down until Oct. 14. Then the logo and colors of the website updated. But then it was late August and there was still nothing more than a countdown calendar and a blurb saying registration info would be "coming soon."
Then in early September, Runner's World picked up a story about the National Congress of the Communist Party of China planning to meet in Beijing that very same weekend, so the marathon was not going to be held.
Of course we already had plane tickets, so we were going to China.
Realistically, I hadn't thought I'd PR in the Beijing Marathon. First, I knew the air was not good there. Second, I didn't know enough about the logistics -- would there be cold water and Gatorade at all the stops? Third, I'd want to soak in the experience, likely running at a training pace, but possibly a bit slower, and possibly with a few stops to take some photos.
Instead, my PR sights were set on the Berlin Marathon in 2013. I've also been planning that trip for years. Since I ran Boston, I realized that I'd run 3 of the 5 (now 6) marathons that are considered the World Marathon Majors -- the two remaining were Berlin and London. I can't run London anytime soon, as it is a lottery and we like to plan our trips very far in advance. But Berlin was just right.
I started telling people about it over the summer. Inviting friends to plan to run Berlin 2013 as well. On Sept. 10, I sent a mass email to many family and friends who I know like to travel and run marathons, inviting them to think about whether they'd like to run Berlin with me in 2013, advising I'd send more details later.
There was one hitch in my plans -- registration for Berlin was set to open on October 25. I would be in Shanghai that day, and I had no idea in advance how strong the Great Chinese Firewall was, whether it would be safe to use a credit card from an internet cafe in China, whether I'd be able to find an internet cafe (possibly in the middle of the night, due to time differences).
So I came up with an alternate plan.
I gave every conceivable personal detail about me, my running history, and my credit cards, to a very good trusted friend who also planned to run Berlin 2012.
I sent another mass email on October 2, as soon as the registration date was announced by the Berlin Marathon, telling all my friends that it would open Oct. 25, that the marathon sold out last year in early December, and that there's no reason to delay in registering since 2013 could sell out more quickly than 2012.
And then I kind of forgot about it.
Until I checked my email in Shanghai on October 26. I saw several emails from friends replying to my mass email. I opened them in order, starting with the first that I received.
One friend said she got in.
Another said he got in.
Another said he got in, but he was already group 3.
Another said he'd tried to get in but it was already sold out.
No email from my trusted friend with all my registration info.
$HIT!!!!!!!!!
Sure enough, a few hours later, I got a text message from her (I was able to receive texts in Shanghai) and an email.
She was apologizing profusely, saying she'd gotten busy at work, she hadn't thought it would fill up in less than 3.5 hours, and that it was already closed out before she'd had a chance to register either of us.
$HIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As soon as I got home, before I even started digging through the 200 work emails that awaited me, I scoured the Berlin marathon website and sent emails to the charity partners and the tour operators asking about how I could get in.
The tour operator for the US put me on a wait list. That was going to add about $500-$1000 to the cost of our trip, but I figured it was worth it -- it would mean many of the race logistics would be handled for me, and it would mean we'd be staying in a nicer hotel than we'd usually pick on our own dime. Plus I'd have months to work that into the budget.
But then Berlin announced that a limited number of spots had not been filled during the initial October 25 registration, so they would make them available again.
The new registration date was November 17.
And there would be 2500 spots available.
Bear in mind, there were originally over 30,000 spots available on October 25 and they all were taken in less than 3.5 hours.
So everyone who was busy or forgot that day would now be trying for even fewer spots.
I don't trust my home internet, my home computer, or my work computer in a pinch. For life and death matters like registering for this race, I decided to call on another trusted friend -- the very first person who'd sent me an email saying she was registered for Berlin.
And I decided to call on other resources as well. I had four separate people besides her trying for me. I decided I would sit with her on her laptop at her work. On their own computers at home would be two other running friends, my husband, and one of my brothers. Everyone had my basic info and was to call me if they got in.
The big minute came and we began clicking. At first it seemed like it was working, then we'd get a "try again" message. Then a friend and my brother got through and put in my info -- but they were kicked out when they hit submit. For nearly 20 frantic minutes, we kept trying. Finally... success!
I couldn't breathe until I saw in my inbox an email from the marathon confirming that my code would be processed and sent to me, then I would be eligible to complete a medical questionnaire and pay for the race.
Oh my.
The drama!
The bottom line is that with much stress and likely permanent damage to my heart, I got registered for the race of my dreams with the help of a friend. I won't have to spend the extra money for a tour if the wait list cleared, and I wouldn't have to raise money for charity (certainly valuable and important, but I so hate doing fundraising).
My trusted friend was so bothered by getting shut out (and the fact that she has a new job and just moved into an amazing house), that she decided not to attempt to register when it reopened.
But I think we will have a little group of at least 5 runners, which will be lovely. My local bestie and her sister are coming, a few significantly faster friends, and hopefully my friend that I could rely on when it was all or nothing in the last ditch effort (she has to work it out with her family, her finances and her job, but my fingers are crossed!).
And hopefully that means a little group of 10 or so to grab some meals together in Berlin, maybe go see some sites together, maybe car pool to Munich, and perhaps most importantly (and most fun!), meet up with at Oktoberfest the night after the race!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Resolutions for 2013
So I decided a while ago that my list of resolutions would going into effect after the Twelve Days of Christmas were over, mostly because I wanted to eat the rest of the Christmas cookies and my mom's special stollen (a Christmas bread) at my leisure, but also because it usually takes me a lot of thought to make my list. Epiphany was this past weekend, so it's really time to get down to business. Last year I tried to put my resolutions in order of importance. I'm not really doing that this year, but the first few are definitely more important to me.
1. Hardest effort ever at a couple months of speed training, then hardest effort ever training for an early fall marathon. The idea is that this work will lead me to a marathon PR by 11 minutes and 30 seconds in Berlin in late September.
2. Cook at least 52 real dinners from recipes. Crockpot is fine. Hopefully with enough leftovers to cover at least another dinner as well. There are too many nights we rely on the microwave for things like heat-and-eat Indian food, store-made heat-and-eat things, veggie burgers, just throwing things together, etc. I want 52 meals from recipes.
3. Quit Facebook. Not actual facebook suicide, I'm leaving the profile up, and I may log in on weekends to check for messages and/or invitations, and I'll probably check if I'm tagged in a photo by someone else just to make sure it's not horrifying, but no more daily reading what's going on with friends. Especially after the elections of 2012, I felt like facebook was making me almost hate some people I thought I liked. But it's also a waste of time and I don't enjoy it as much anymore.
4. New to me country (a repeat resolution, since I'm not sure I really achieved this in 2012). If all goes as I hope, the new country will be Lichtenstein, and that will be on about October 4. I've heard there's not much to do or see unless you want to do some banking, but it will be fun to check it out. If I don't go to Lichtenstein, it seems unlikely I'd go anyplace really new to me in 2013, so I really should push to make that happen. And without having read anything about Lichtenstein, I'm curious about it -- what's the landscape like, what do they use for currency, does it seem more German or more Swiss, etc.
5. Study Italian at least once a week and attend an Italian conversation class regularly. Then hopefully: don't sound like an idiot when hanging with my husband's family in October. This may mean putting vocabulary flashcards in ziplock bags in the shower again -- something I did many, many years ago, and those words stuck!
6. Weight management. I usually weigh myself most mornings. I faithfully write down that number every year on Jan. 1 and on my late summer bday, I've done this for more years than I can count. Since Jan. 2010, I've been also noting the number on the first day of each month. For the last three years, every single noted number (about 10-11 numbers per year) has been within a 10 pound range. When I look at my strongest 10-12 months of running, the number each month was always in the bottom half of that range, usually right at the bottom. Right now I'm sitting just over the halfway point of the 10 pound range. I want to get to the bottom half, ideally the bottom, and stay there.
7. Entertain at home at least 6 times, at least 3 times included people who haven't ever come over for dinner before. A repeat resolution from the last couple years, but one of my favorites. It's easy not to do this, but when I focus on making it a priority, I have the best time and I feel like we make wonderful memories and deepen friendships. It will also count toward my 52 meals!
8. Finish our wedding scrapbook. Repeat resolution from 2012, the year that saw the book's progress go from about 33% to about 66%. 2013, which will mark 4 years of marriage, will be the year it goes to 100%.
9. Less procrastination at work. The three big areas where I drag my feet are voicemails, reports, and reviewing records. I need to check voicemail at least once a week (we have a log, so I can see who is calling, so I answer the calls I want, and let the "ugh" ones go to voicemail, then I suck at checking messages). I need to do initial case reports within 3 weeks of it hitting my desk (for most my cases, it's actually easier to do it sooner, rather than later, because the later I wait, the more information I have that I need to include). I need to review records within 60 days of receipt (I sometimes let "not urgent" stacks sit for way too many months).
10. Update our stairwell photos through the end of 2012. The stairs between our first and second floors have dozens of framed pictures. One wall is how this started -- matching frames of photos of me and my law school roommate. Then in 2005, the opposite wall started -- matching frames of photos of me and my husband. The frames are still available, but the last pictures I hung were from about 2010. My husband really wants me to finish the wall of us together, then start replacing the ones with Toni to be photos of him and me together, instead of me and her. This means choosing the photo, getting it printed, putting it in a frame, and getting it hung. I could probably do 2 years worth in about 2 weekends, I need to just do it.
11. Sunday organizing time. My husband almost always works on Sundays, and I'm used to it, and I enjoy having the day to do my long run, go out for breakfast with running buddies if I want, come home, and have the day to myself. I can run errands, I can organize, I can cook, I can stretch or do yoga, I can work, I can make plans with friends, I can spend the day on the couch with lifetime or a law & order marathon. That won't change, but I need to set aside at least one hour every Sunday before 6:00 p.m. to prepare for the coming week -- that means making my lunches in advance (with the current running commute plan, I have to bring Mon-Thurs lunches on Monday), planning my outfits (including shoes and jewelry), packing my outfits (including laundry bags), and pulling together any "other" stuff to bring to the office on Monday (usually bills that need to be paid, greeting cards that need to be mailed, etc.). Lately I've been deferring way too much of that until Monday morning, and it makes for a very late arrival at the office. No more.
12. Regular non-drive commute to work. I'm nervous about this one, but technically, I'm leaving it open to biking or walking, though both of those strike me as VERY unlikely. Right now, running to and from work three days a week is awesome. Then one day of driving, one day of working from home. But as my mileage with my friends climbs, this might be tough. And if I got hurt, same thing. But it's worth a shot. As Bella quoted, "the odds of hitting your target go up dramatically when you aim at it."
1. Hardest effort ever at a couple months of speed training, then hardest effort ever training for an early fall marathon. The idea is that this work will lead me to a marathon PR by 11 minutes and 30 seconds in Berlin in late September.
2. Cook at least 52 real dinners from recipes. Crockpot is fine. Hopefully with enough leftovers to cover at least another dinner as well. There are too many nights we rely on the microwave for things like heat-and-eat Indian food, store-made heat-and-eat things, veggie burgers, just throwing things together, etc. I want 52 meals from recipes.
3. Quit Facebook. Not actual facebook suicide, I'm leaving the profile up, and I may log in on weekends to check for messages and/or invitations, and I'll probably check if I'm tagged in a photo by someone else just to make sure it's not horrifying, but no more daily reading what's going on with friends. Especially after the elections of 2012, I felt like facebook was making me almost hate some people I thought I liked. But it's also a waste of time and I don't enjoy it as much anymore.
4. New to me country (a repeat resolution, since I'm not sure I really achieved this in 2012). If all goes as I hope, the new country will be Lichtenstein, and that will be on about October 4. I've heard there's not much to do or see unless you want to do some banking, but it will be fun to check it out. If I don't go to Lichtenstein, it seems unlikely I'd go anyplace really new to me in 2013, so I really should push to make that happen. And without having read anything about Lichtenstein, I'm curious about it -- what's the landscape like, what do they use for currency, does it seem more German or more Swiss, etc.
5. Study Italian at least once a week and attend an Italian conversation class regularly. Then hopefully: don't sound like an idiot when hanging with my husband's family in October. This may mean putting vocabulary flashcards in ziplock bags in the shower again -- something I did many, many years ago, and those words stuck!
6. Weight management. I usually weigh myself most mornings. I faithfully write down that number every year on Jan. 1 and on my late summer bday, I've done this for more years than I can count. Since Jan. 2010, I've been also noting the number on the first day of each month. For the last three years, every single noted number (about 10-11 numbers per year) has been within a 10 pound range. When I look at my strongest 10-12 months of running, the number each month was always in the bottom half of that range, usually right at the bottom. Right now I'm sitting just over the halfway point of the 10 pound range. I want to get to the bottom half, ideally the bottom, and stay there.
7. Entertain at home at least 6 times, at least 3 times included people who haven't ever come over for dinner before. A repeat resolution from the last couple years, but one of my favorites. It's easy not to do this, but when I focus on making it a priority, I have the best time and I feel like we make wonderful memories and deepen friendships. It will also count toward my 52 meals!
8. Finish our wedding scrapbook. Repeat resolution from 2012, the year that saw the book's progress go from about 33% to about 66%. 2013, which will mark 4 years of marriage, will be the year it goes to 100%.
9. Less procrastination at work. The three big areas where I drag my feet are voicemails, reports, and reviewing records. I need to check voicemail at least once a week (we have a log, so I can see who is calling, so I answer the calls I want, and let the "ugh" ones go to voicemail, then I suck at checking messages). I need to do initial case reports within 3 weeks of it hitting my desk (for most my cases, it's actually easier to do it sooner, rather than later, because the later I wait, the more information I have that I need to include). I need to review records within 60 days of receipt (I sometimes let "not urgent" stacks sit for way too many months).
10. Update our stairwell photos through the end of 2012. The stairs between our first and second floors have dozens of framed pictures. One wall is how this started -- matching frames of photos of me and my law school roommate. Then in 2005, the opposite wall started -- matching frames of photos of me and my husband. The frames are still available, but the last pictures I hung were from about 2010. My husband really wants me to finish the wall of us together, then start replacing the ones with Toni to be photos of him and me together, instead of me and her. This means choosing the photo, getting it printed, putting it in a frame, and getting it hung. I could probably do 2 years worth in about 2 weekends, I need to just do it.
11. Sunday organizing time. My husband almost always works on Sundays, and I'm used to it, and I enjoy having the day to do my long run, go out for breakfast with running buddies if I want, come home, and have the day to myself. I can run errands, I can organize, I can cook, I can stretch or do yoga, I can work, I can make plans with friends, I can spend the day on the couch with lifetime or a law & order marathon. That won't change, but I need to set aside at least one hour every Sunday before 6:00 p.m. to prepare for the coming week -- that means making my lunches in advance (with the current running commute plan, I have to bring Mon-Thurs lunches on Monday), planning my outfits (including shoes and jewelry), packing my outfits (including laundry bags), and pulling together any "other" stuff to bring to the office on Monday (usually bills that need to be paid, greeting cards that need to be mailed, etc.). Lately I've been deferring way too much of that until Monday morning, and it makes for a very late arrival at the office. No more.
12. Regular non-drive commute to work. I'm nervous about this one, but technically, I'm leaving it open to biking or walking, though both of those strike me as VERY unlikely. Right now, running to and from work three days a week is awesome. Then one day of driving, one day of working from home. But as my mileage with my friends climbs, this might be tough. And if I got hurt, same thing. But it's worth a shot. As Bella quoted, "the odds of hitting your target go up dramatically when you aim at it."
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Racing Plans in 2013
I've said it before, but as I'm working on my 2013 resolutions, I'm clarifying it even more in my mind.
My running plan for 2013 is to work on short distances at a faster pace until the beginning of May.
Then in May, I'll try to start increasing the distance.
Then in June (actually right around Memorial Day), I'll officially start marathon training.
The main race will be Berlin on Sept. 29.
I hope, hope, hope to get my PR there (specifically, by 11 minutes and change, though I'm already nervous about whether I can make that happen, let's just say my "long" run yesterday was a crash and burn culminating in a miserably slow pace). And then I'd like to spend a couple weeks celebrating, going first to Oktoberfest in Munich, then to Nicastro, Italia to see my husband's family, and then to Venezia for a couple days just the two of us. But wait, I was thinking about racing plans.
After Berlin, I'm considering some fun -- a trail marathon in California called Stinson Beach on Nov. 2. One of my best running buddies moved to San Fran, and I bet he'd do it with me. And one of my brothers lives there now too, and I bet he'd do it as well.
I traditionally like to run San Antonio in mid-November simply because another running buddy moved to San Antonio, and it's kind of a traditional girls' weekend for a couple of us to go stay at her house and run the race there. But this year San Antonio was moved to Dec. 8, which is probably the same day as the local Dallas marathon.
While I don't love the Dallas race, it will likely be the most convenient back-up race if I don't make my goal in Berlin. And I know myself well enough to know it's good to have a back-up race for any big PR effort.
I will probably wait until we get back from Germany and Italy in mid-October to decide on San Antonio and Dallas -- if I hit my time in Berlin, maybe I'll go to San Antonio for fun even if I miss Dallas; or if the Dallas race is a week earlier or later than San Antonio, I might go to San Antonio as well, because I'd really like to run or cheer in Dallas; or if I don't hit my time in Berlin, I'll register for Dallas probably, regardless of when it's held (presumably Dec. 1, 8 or 15).
So apparently my San Antonio history will have to break this year (either because I want to run Dallas that day, or just to cheer for my favorite local marathon), but no big deal.
Other races on my calendar --
A fun 10k next weekend to practice marathon pace for 5 miles, and picking it up for the last mile (I thoroughly expect to fail at this, but I have to try).
A 5k based on donuts at the end of January.
A 10 mile race at the beginning of February (hopefully a new PR, beating my miserable sole 10 mile attempt ever, which was a hot race in 2012).
A 5k in March, my favorite race ever, for St. Pat's Day, and my speed coach will determine if it's a PR attempt or a fun run.
A 5k solid PR attempt in April, not sure yet exactly which race.
A marathon PR attempt in September (Berlin).
A half-marathon attempt possibly in late October.
My first trail marathon possibly in November (Stinson Beach).
A traditional 8 mile race on Thanksgiving (it will mark 11 straight years for me, my longest streak).
And possibly another road marathon in December (locally, my PR attempt back-up).
Should be a lovely (and hopefully PR-smashing) year of racing for me.
My running plan for 2013 is to work on short distances at a faster pace until the beginning of May.
Then in May, I'll try to start increasing the distance.
Then in June (actually right around Memorial Day), I'll officially start marathon training.
The main race will be Berlin on Sept. 29.
I hope, hope, hope to get my PR there (specifically, by 11 minutes and change, though I'm already nervous about whether I can make that happen, let's just say my "long" run yesterday was a crash and burn culminating in a miserably slow pace). And then I'd like to spend a couple weeks celebrating, going first to Oktoberfest in Munich, then to Nicastro, Italia to see my husband's family, and then to Venezia for a couple days just the two of us. But wait, I was thinking about racing plans.
After Berlin, I'm considering some fun -- a trail marathon in California called Stinson Beach on Nov. 2. One of my best running buddies moved to San Fran, and I bet he'd do it with me. And one of my brothers lives there now too, and I bet he'd do it as well.
I traditionally like to run San Antonio in mid-November simply because another running buddy moved to San Antonio, and it's kind of a traditional girls' weekend for a couple of us to go stay at her house and run the race there. But this year San Antonio was moved to Dec. 8, which is probably the same day as the local Dallas marathon.
While I don't love the Dallas race, it will likely be the most convenient back-up race if I don't make my goal in Berlin. And I know myself well enough to know it's good to have a back-up race for any big PR effort.
I will probably wait until we get back from Germany and Italy in mid-October to decide on San Antonio and Dallas -- if I hit my time in Berlin, maybe I'll go to San Antonio for fun even if I miss Dallas; or if the Dallas race is a week earlier or later than San Antonio, I might go to San Antonio as well, because I'd really like to run or cheer in Dallas; or if I don't hit my time in Berlin, I'll register for Dallas probably, regardless of when it's held (presumably Dec. 1, 8 or 15).
So apparently my San Antonio history will have to break this year (either because I want to run Dallas that day, or just to cheer for my favorite local marathon), but no big deal.
Other races on my calendar --
A fun 10k next weekend to practice marathon pace for 5 miles, and picking it up for the last mile (I thoroughly expect to fail at this, but I have to try).
A 5k based on donuts at the end of January.
A 10 mile race at the beginning of February (hopefully a new PR, beating my miserable sole 10 mile attempt ever, which was a hot race in 2012).
A 5k in March, my favorite race ever, for St. Pat's Day, and my speed coach will determine if it's a PR attempt or a fun run.
A 5k solid PR attempt in April, not sure yet exactly which race.
A marathon PR attempt in September (Berlin).
A half-marathon attempt possibly in late October.
My first trail marathon possibly in November (Stinson Beach).
A traditional 8 mile race on Thanksgiving (it will mark 11 straight years for me, my longest streak).
And possibly another road marathon in December (locally, my PR attempt back-up).
Should be a lovely (and hopefully PR-smashing) year of racing for me.
Monday, January 7, 2013
FMM: Simple Questions
I'm probably going to be the last person in the world to post my 2013 resolutions. I'm still pondering. I feel like I've got 11 good ones, but that's such a weird number. I feel like 10, 12, or 13 would make more sense. So I'm waiting to see what comes to me. But a quick Monday non-resolution post is an acceptable substitute I've decided.
If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!
Simple Questions
1. Outside my window I see… a sky that's mostly still dark but gradually getting lighter, headlights, taillights, and the mall.
2. My kitchen counters are… very dark, almost black, granite and fairly clear right now.
3. Yesterday I drank… an alternating mix of Cytomax and water during my morning run, then espresso when I got home, and then water the rest of the day -- nearly a gallon just during Bikram yoga and immediately afterward, plus the rest of the day's water!
4. My cell phone is… an iPhone in a pink otterbox, sitting here on my desk.
5. My computer is… a laptop; I almost never use the Mac we have at home.
6. My favorite reality show is… The Bachelor, and a new season starts tonight featuring a guy from Dallas.
7. My workouts are… same as they've always been, at least for the last 6 or so years. Schedule is boot camp 3 mornings per week, running with friends 3 mornings per week, plus (and this has only been for the last two months) running to and from work about 4 days per week, and occasional Bikram yoga classes mixed in. I shudder to think at the total time over the last decade spent working out, preparing to work out, or cleaning up from a work out. If I devoted all that time to something really worthwhile like learning a foreign language or trying to cure cancer, maybe I could have made real progress by now! Oh well!
8. The last book I read is… Packing the Court. Nonfiction about the Supreme Court's history. I'm in the middle of two others -- one nonfiction about running, one political nonfiction book that I'm not really enjoying (but am reading because my husband wanted me to).
9. My week will be…. uneventful I think. Going out for pizza and Italian conversation Wed. night, watching the Bachelor tonight, more of the usual the other nights. Having people over for dinner on Friday I think, and a work party Saturday night with some of my husband's coworkers.
10. So far 2013 has been… very much like 2012!
Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments! Happy Monday, friends!
If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!
Simple Questions
1. Outside my window I see… a sky that's mostly still dark but gradually getting lighter, headlights, taillights, and the mall.
2. My kitchen counters are… very dark, almost black, granite and fairly clear right now.
3. Yesterday I drank… an alternating mix of Cytomax and water during my morning run, then espresso when I got home, and then water the rest of the day -- nearly a gallon just during Bikram yoga and immediately afterward, plus the rest of the day's water!
4. My cell phone is… an iPhone in a pink otterbox, sitting here on my desk.
5. My computer is… a laptop; I almost never use the Mac we have at home.
6. My favorite reality show is… The Bachelor, and a new season starts tonight featuring a guy from Dallas.
7. My workouts are… same as they've always been, at least for the last 6 or so years. Schedule is boot camp 3 mornings per week, running with friends 3 mornings per week, plus (and this has only been for the last two months) running to and from work about 4 days per week, and occasional Bikram yoga classes mixed in. I shudder to think at the total time over the last decade spent working out, preparing to work out, or cleaning up from a work out. If I devoted all that time to something really worthwhile like learning a foreign language or trying to cure cancer, maybe I could have made real progress by now! Oh well!
8. The last book I read is… Packing the Court. Nonfiction about the Supreme Court's history. I'm in the middle of two others -- one nonfiction about running, one political nonfiction book that I'm not really enjoying (but am reading because my husband wanted me to).
9. My week will be…. uneventful I think. Going out for pizza and Italian conversation Wed. night, watching the Bachelor tonight, more of the usual the other nights. Having people over for dinner on Friday I think, and a work party Saturday night with some of my husband's coworkers.
10. So far 2013 has been… very much like 2012!
Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions. Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments! Happy Monday, friends!
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