Double timing...

So despite my best intentions to register for a race early and save on fees, as of last week I still had not signed up for anything this year. Talk about being lazy, but really, it has more been a money issue than anything else. Since that raise isn't coming yet, I am trying to stretch our money as far as possible. I want to do a 10k in May, but really, I haven't been running as much as I should. The pool in my gym (saltwater, with a sauna) is drawing me in these days, so the treadmill is seeming very unappealing.

So I suddenly found a world of motivation last week, when my friend and I discovered two races in our region that are going to be AWESOME. I have paid for the first, and the second we are trying to gather a group for to reduce fees. I am proud to say I will be running the following races:

1. Perth Kilt Run - 8k.

This race was organized last year a a Guinness book of world records attempt to set a new record for the most number of people running in, you guessed it, a kilt. They had 1200 people run, and it was an amazing success, selling out long before the run. But it was supposed to be a one off, so I was happy to find out they are organizing it again this year. The spots are still limited (just over 2000) so I jumped and signed up asap. For $60, you get your entry and a bona fide kilt to run in. It won't be a PR run, but it will be fun. Keep your eyes out for pictures like this in the future:

2. The Spartan Race - 5k

Some of you in the US may have heard of this race, or the Warrior dash. Basically, it is a course of approximately 5k, where you run and also have to manoeuvre around a number of muddy dirty obstacles. I expect to climb through mud under barbed wire, run through fire, and generally get my ass kicked. Most people end the race looking like this:

Best part about these races? They take place on the SAME WEEKEND. Am I crazy? Yes, more than a little. Will I be physically exhausted at the end of it? Absolutely. Am I going to love every minute? Yes, because it is competition, but with a lot of fun to take the edge off of my overly competitive nature.

So from now until June, I have to get my motivation back and hop on that treadmill. I am in a biggest loser type competition right now to try and lose the extra 10-15 pounds I am currently carrying. Here's hoping by the Spartan race, I will look like one... :P

Anyone else signed up for some crazy races this year? Tell me about them!

The ABC's of me!

So I have failed on keeping you all updated. Here's a boring quick update: Work has been crazy hectic, with lots of files and court dates on the go. My boss threw me off yesterday when he suggested we should "review your pay level in the next couple of months.... and it won't go down" Pay raise after 6 months? New concept to this constant student, but AWESOME!!!!

Workouts: I have been getting them in, but haven't been finding much running motivation. My pool at my gym is finally open, so I am swimming quite a bit, which is so nice. I'm not a tri girl, but a swim strengthens my chicken wing arms, so it's a good feeling. I signed up for my first run of the year... well, not the one that is supposed to happen first, but the only one that is currently paid for. As mentioned in previous posts, I am doing a 5 mile (8k) run in my region. Oh yeah, it'll be run in this:


Yup, it's the annual kilt run. Should be super fun (might be a new world record too depending on the number of participants) and I'm running not for a PR, but for fun.

Personal: hahaha, what personal life? ;P The plan for tonight is kid in bed = hubby+me+wine. Yeah! TGIF!

So to leave you entertained today, here are the ABC's of me!

(A) Age: 27
(B) Bed Size: Queen. Hope to upgrade to King one day so I actually have some room on the bed with my sprawling husband and dog (see (D) below)
(C) Chore You Hate: Garbage. Beyond belief.
(D) Dogs? Yup, she's our little devil! Boston/pug cross.
(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Breakfast. Preferably something a bit sweet.
(F) Favourite Color: Blue.
(G) Gold or Silver? I don't wear much in the way of rings and things, but most of it is white gold, which I like.
(H) Height: 5ft 4in. Yup, I'm a midget.
(I) Instruments You Play: Actively, none. Used to play clarinet.
(J) Job Title: Lawyer. Stepmother. Wife. Daughter.
(K) Kids: One 10 year old stepdaughter.
(L) Live: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
(M) Mom's Name: Bette. Not pronounced "betty" just pronounced "bet"
(N) Nicknames: These days, mostly Babe (hubby). Mom used to call me all sorts of things like smurfette, Boober (from fraggle rock, get your head out of the gutter... :P), munchkin. Clearly, I am a child of the 80's.
(O) Overnight Hospital Stays? None. I like it that way.
(P) Pet Peeve: Lateness. Driving under the limit. People who can't own up to their own mistakes or responsibility for the problems in their lives.
(Q) Quote from a Movie: I got red, I got green, I got yellow... I'm out of purple, but I do have one Gold Circle coin left... the condom of champions... the one and only... nothin' is gettin' through this sucker. Whaddya say, hmm? (anyone who gets where this is from without looking it up gets a gold star!)
(R) Right or Left Handed? Right.
(S) Siblings: One older sister.
(T) Time You Wake Up? As late as possible. 6:30 on weekdays, 9 on weekends.
(U) Underwear: Thongs for me. Sorry if it's TMI, but the ABC's made me share!
(V) Vegetable You Dislike: brussel sprouts. Not a huge onion fan.
(W) What Makes You Run Late: Other people!!!
(X) X-Rays You've Had Done: Dental. My arm, my knee, my hand.
(Y) Yummy Food You Make: Mini pizzas, lasagna, healthy chocolate chip cookie muffins.
(Z) Zoo, Favourite Animal: Haven't been to the zoo in ages. Fainting goats. Love them, want to have one as a pet.

Have a good weekend everyone!

He Lied....

But I love him anyways.

*Note - If you are trying to lose weight, or generally not drool over your computer screen, do NOT continue reading. I am not responsible for any of you wanting to rush out for a great lunch/dinner*

So my husband lied about having a nice dinner in. I got home and was immediately told to stay in my winter wear, as we were about to leave. I have a suit on, and didn't really want to look like a lawyer lady over dinner, so I asked if I could just go take off my jacket and change into a nice shirt. Hubby said yes, so I went on up, proceeded to take off my jacket and find a nice shirt in my closet, all while never turning on our bedroom light. I came downstairs, and found my husband staring at me like my dog does when she hears a strange noise. Head cocked to the side, quizzical look on the face. Kind of like this:

(stolen from Hyperbole and a Half, which you SHOULD check out if you haven't. Especially this post.)

He proceeds to ask me: "Did you look at the bed?" No, I had no reason to, I was just getting changed in the dark like any normal person. So he sends me upstairs to go look at the bed with the light on, and I find these:

I come down, hug and kiss him, and we are on our way. En route, he tells me he doesn't have reservations. I think this is the kiss of death to our evening, but am pleasantly surprised that I am wrong. We went to our favourite Vietnamese place (aka a hole in the wall) where we were one of no more than 3 tables being served. It was nice.

We had these: (Vietnamese Spring Rolls)

And this: (Hot and Sour Soup, the BEST on the planet)

And this: (Lemongrass Beef Pho)

And finished it off with some nice Vietnamese Hot Coffee (strong coffee that is poured with cool condensed milk on the bottom that you have to stir in, it is strong and sweet and lovely).

Great dinner. But just when I thought we were done, I came home and he whipped out these:

Needless to say, I was stuffed, but very, very happy. I did some crunches and the plank to try and feel less guilty, and am headed to the gym tonight to get a run in. All and all, well worth it.

Hope everyone had a good Monday!

Happy Valentine's Day

My days have been filled with a lot of evenings where all I want to do is go home and curl up in this thing:

Yes, my papasan chair has been seeing a decent amount of action these days, but I am also getting some decent workouts in at my gym. Have had a few 5kers, just to stretch out my legs and get back into the hang of things. I am dying to get a swim in, but sadly, after two months of my gym being open, the pool is still not ready. Can you say discount? I can't wait to get in there, as it is a lovely salt water pool, and my sea legs are calling... lol.

No big plans for the hubs and me tonight, despite the fact that we are kid-free. Maybe he'll surprise me, but even if we just have a quiet supper together, I will be happy. He has finally got on a healthy streak doing a bootcamp, and I love it. Finally I can convince him to get the sugar out of the house and not cook french fries. I think he is enjoying it too, and it will do him some good health wise. Now I only have to convince him to sign up for a 5k.....

First attendance in criminal court today - I am not generally a criminal lawyer, but I am willing to step in every once and a while for my boss, which I did this morning. Doing any type of law in court is like riding a bicycle.... you are wobbly and make mistakes at first, but once you get the hang of things, you just fly through it! I am really happy to finally be settling into a place where work is not a continual uphill battle of comprehension. Took long enough!

So, what are your Valentine's Day plans? If they include chocolate or other indulgent things, do you have plans to work it off later, or are you just going to eat and enjoy?

Road Kill

That is what I nearly became this morning when a plow took me off the road while driving to work. Driving around a corner at speed (ok, a little over it, so 90-100km, 55-60ish miles per hour) and came around a curve to find a snowplow with it's blade about a foot and a half into my lane. The truck wasn't moving over, so I braked pretty hard and tried to move over in my lane, but ended up catching some of the loose snow in the middle of the lane and spun out into oncoming traffic. Somehow they all missed hitting me, and I kept skidding until I ran into a protective fence edging the road. Scared the living daylights out of me, as my first true accident ever, and I was very lucky to get out of the situation with no personal injuries and just a few scratches to the back end of my car. Made me sad that not a single person stopped or came back to see if I was alright.

Ok, that's my sob story of the day. Going to the gym tonight to have a run and then do my yoga/pilates/tai chi class, which incorporates some serious ab work. Hopefully all that effort will burn off the decadent peanut butter cookie I am eating right now.... MMmmmm....

So, what is your scariest "I'm-gonna-be-road-kill" moment?

CSN Stores Winner!

Well, I have to thank you all for being great followers and participating in my giveaway! I always love doing these things, and hope to have more in the future. You all had some great ideas on future posts, which I will try and incorporate, like info on how to make runs more fun, product reviews, nutrition, running with kids (not that I am a pro at that) and many more pictures! I love the feedback.

Now, for what you really want to know - the winner! Well Random.org pulled post #48 as my winner, so DaphneB congratulations!!! Send me an email at runningfromlaw at gmail.com and I'll get your $30 CSN code your way!!!

As for me, I had an interesting weekend filled with two sugar-high 10 year olds (sleepover for the Munckin, not that bad) and a bit of indulgence. My hubby and I had some wine and had the best cuddles time ever. I did sacrifice my workouts slightly to get this time, but the sacrifice was definitely worth it.

Last night, we were having dinner, and somehow or another my dining room chair (which I have not replaced yet, despite my previous lust for some of CSN's sets ) finally gave out. The bottom, which should have been screwed to the frame of the chair, must have came loose, and I ended up falling through the chair. Lovely sight, and something that always makes you feel like an elephant if and when it happens. So I have hurt my back, but still plan on having a productive week with workouts this week. Tonight I am having a friend over and we are going to play some Wiifit, and then Tuesday I have my Tai Chi/Pilates/Yoga class, and hope to get in at least two more visits to the gym, which some running later on in the week when my back isn't so tense.

Happy Monday!

It's so cold that.....

Ok, so I know that a ton of bloggers have been commenting on how cold it has been lately. I was forced to take the day off yesterday after my husband's car would not start. It was - 30.7 degrees Celsius in Ottawa at 7am, which for you Americans equals a chilly -23.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

When I found out it was cold enough to do this, I had to try it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQEVcCv_xkQ

Sorry, I am not tech savvy enough to figure out how to add it to my post directly.

Sure enough, about half of the boiling hot water I threw up in the air instantly turned into a snowy fog. Coolest thing ever, and it made up for the fact that it was FREEZING!

So I went to a class at the local gym on Sunday, taught by my good friend E. E is super fit, doing everything and anything sport and fitness related, and is crazy amazingly hot. I knew the class was going to be a challenge; I wasn't expecting to still have aching calves today. Here's hoping that a yoga/pilates/tai chi class today helps me stretch the legs out, and that I can get on the treadmill for a good run Wednesday or Thursday.

Don't forget to enter my CSN Stores giveaway, ending on January 31st! You all have some great ideal purchases! Most unique so far has to be Tim, who wants a fire extinguisher!