Author Archives: Alison

Another Marathon Day

September 15th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Parenting - (29 Comments)

Today is Ms. Maxine’s birthday – my “baby” is THREE!

I woke up just before 5:00 today and swapped out today’s a work out for gift wrapping and decorating. I love the kids birthday’s so much – I find so much joy celebrating the day of their births. They are without a doubt my two favorite days of the year.

Dining room decorated and her new pink tutu and dancing shoes wrapped, I figured it was appropriate to make the same green smoothie I made the morning of the half marathon to help power me through this marathon day!  Read more...

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Now Let Play Alison Says

September 14th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Late Night Craziness - (20 Comments)

OK boys and girls stand up! It’s time to play Alison Says!

Alison Says… eat a giant salad for lunch EVERY DAY.

Alison Says Eat a Salad for Lunch

Woo HOO still standing!

Alison Says… figure out what to do with this giant winter squash you bought from the farm stand on the side of the road on Saturday.

Big Squash

Ohhhh I can do that! I can do that! Let's make soup.

Alison Says… peel that sucker and cube it up.

Squash

Done and done.

Dance a jig!!

Oh man didn’t get me! Totally NOT dancing a jig.  Read more...

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Let’s Play Brendan Says

September 14th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Motivation - (27 Comments)

I’m still smiling after yesterday’s half marathon – even waking up with sore back muscles and quads, I think this smile is permanently affixed to my face for the next few days. Thanks for all the heart warming comments and congrats yesterday!

I got up early this morning to tend to things around the house. I’m loving this new routine, it’s working so well. I’m raring to go first thing in the morning and have been very productive in the early mornings recently.

Ready for my “Brendan Says” for today?  Read more...

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Half Marathon Race Recap

September 13th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Fitness - (49 Comments)

I’m going to spoil the ending by jumping ahead and saying right at the start that today was probably one of the best runs of my entire life.

The day started at 4:55 AM when I woke up a half hour before my alarm was supposed to go off. I slept like a rock and felt great when I woke up. I called Shawn at 5:30 to make sure he was awake and moving around.

Shawn and I went over our strategy last night, but I was still feeling unsure about our approach this morning. Fast at the beginning? If so, how fast? Save it all for the end? How much do I hold back? Maintain a steady pace throughout?  Read more...

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Re-Runs

September 12th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Motivation - (25 Comments)

With the girls with Aunt Ellen for the day, I spent yesterday chained to my desk. A forgotten pleasure.

Friday Salad

I unlocked the chains long enough to make a big salad mess. A far-from-forgotten pleasure. A re-run I’ll happily enjoy day after day.

Before the girls came home last night I ran to the marathon expo with my running partner Shawn. Well, we didn’t really run, we drove. You never can tell so I figure I better clarify.

This year I took advantage of the sneaker recycling program they offer and brought my old sneakers to donate to this “Re-Runs” Program.  Read more...

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Fruit Cereal. Yummy Yummy.

September 11th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Breakfast - (29 Comments)

Unless you’ve watched The Wiggles before, today’s title will be a little less meaningful for you. Go ahead click that link. You can come back and curse me later when you can’t get that song out of your head.

Today is a rest day. Tomorrow will be too. I’m resting my legs in preparation for 13 big ones on Sunday and I would be lying if I said I’m not grateful for the extra time two rest days will afford me.

I would also be lying if I said today’s fruit cereal didn’t make me drop to my knees and weep tears of unabashed joy.  Read more...

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Tofu Cakes I Did Make

September 10th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Dinner Time - (22 Comments)

After lunch today we were off to run some errands and explored a brave new frontier. OK really it was just a playground we’d never been to before. Brave new frontier sounds much more interesting though if you ask me.

A dino? Or a rhino? You decide.

Dino? Or Rhino?

This was my second attempt to take this picture…

Swinging Things

My first attempt was thwarted by this… this… THING!

Jerk!  Read more...

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Half Brained Half Marathon

September 10th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Motivation - (25 Comments)

I’ve felt so swamped this week I keep *forgetting* that the half marathon is on Sunday. Last year at this time I was gearing up to run my first full marathon and it was of course all I could think about. I began checking the weather forecast day 10 days out. I laid out my clothes and mixed and matched outfit possibilities in my mind figuring out what would work best. I checked the race website for updates multiple times a day. Re-read emails from the race director again and again, making sure I knew every last detail and didn’t miss a thing.  Read more...

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Identity Crisis

September 9th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Breakfast - (24 Comments)

I’ve got a meeting tonight and will be home late, so today’s post is going to be wrapped up into a nice little bite of afternoon delight.

I woke up too early this morning. So early that I went back to bed at 5:30 hoping to fall back to sleep but it didn’t happen, so my day officially started somewhere in the 4 o’clock hour. I waited for the sun to come up and then hopped on my bike for a 34 minute therapy session. My mind turns as fast as my wheels when I’m on the bike. No iPod – it’s just me and the road. Well, just me minus the hundreds other people in their cars. Details.  Read more...

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Water Snacks and Pink Shoes

September 8th, 2009 | Posted by Alison in Dinner Time - (23 Comments)

We had an errand to run this morning, and fortunately it landed us very near the library, so we stopped in for a visit. First stop: the bird cages.

Checking Out the Birds

Be sure to check out Maxine’s self selected ensemble. I just got those shoes for her at a thrift shop ($2!!) and no other shoes have been worn since. I kid you not that she threw a complete fit last night when I told her she could not wear them to bed.

Maxine's Ensemble

Home from the library, I was thrilled to get the mail and find the new Runner’s World waiting for me!  Read more...

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