Little Miss Runner Pants

so MONICA of i just want the tattoo tagged me last night and, being the bored-at-work-with-nothing-to-do type that i am, i figured i might as well play along.

SO... the rules apparently are...

-- Link to the person who tagged you (done and done. see above.)
-- Post the rules on your blog. (check.)
-- Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog. (because there's not already enough weirdness about me that you all know?)
-- Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. (seven seems like a lot.)
-- Leave a comment on their blogs so that they know they have been tagged. (again... seven seems like a lot.)

so without further ado i give you...

seven random things you didn't already know.

about me.

1.) i absolutely will not under any circumstances drink Pepsi. not ever. won't do it. it's gross.

2.) i'm picky. i'm a picky picky eater. i don't like trying new-there's a good chance i won't like it-food. however, much to the shagrin of my mom... i will try new food for boys.
boys that are cute, that i like, that i'm on a date with or dating. for example...

with architecture guy it was swordfish.
with carpool guy it was asparagus.
with texas boy it was crawfish.
with painter dude it was sweet potatoes.

so yeah. i have a thing with food.

what else is new?!

3.) i have a weird phobia of drive thru banking. i've never done it. it scares me. everytime i consider it i start thinking i'll hit the wrong button, put the wrong thing in the little capsule and the ladies in the bank will yell at me. at that point my nerves get the better of me, i change my mind, park the car, and walk inside.

4.) i used to be scared of driving up to fast food places too. something about ordering through a screen, handing money through a window... it was too much.
until my freshman year of college, when i had a car-full of friends with me, who refused to go inside to order, i'd never done the drive thru thing.

it wasn't until about a month later, when on a midnight wendy's food-run for architecture guy and his fellow studio-mates that i had to do drive thru again... alone, that i finally conquered my fear.

(not surprisingly however, i did have issues with that first solo run. something about coupons, burgers, and kids meals....
who knows.)

5.) i sleep diagonally across my bed.

6.) i can't cross my eyes. neither can my mom. it's cuz the muscle in one of our eyes isn't strong enough. so when i try.. only the left one goes in.

see?!

7.) when i tap my fingers, i go from pointer to pinkie, instead of the other way around. to my knowledge, that's not how everyone else does it.

aaaaaaand that's all i got. seven random things about me.

so now ya know!

tagged
whomever really really wants to be!

Posted by a.maria at 8:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

after the gym today K-State guy and i went to the grocery store to pick a few items up for the week.

i got a salad-bar salad, some turkey and a veggie tray for my lunch items, then added a few yogurts and a couple nectarines for my mid-morning/mid-afternoon snacks.

when we got back, this was the following exchange:

me: ... walking in with groceries...
co-worker, Referee Man: "JEEZ!! what'd you do, go shopping for a month!!?!
me:... "uhh... no? just a few days."

Referee Man: "GOD. you're a HORSE. i couldn't afford you!"

K-State Guy: "no. she's a COW. there's a difference"

me:... "um.... "

*sigh*

needless to say i'm having less than a stellar day.

*groan*

Posted by a.maria at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

cutest damn puppies you ever did see.

and!!?!

ONE OF THEM IS MINE!!!

Posted by a.maria at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

sooo....

i have a small weetle confession to make.

i..
think i'm scared of running outside.

*sigh*

ever since i started training for my HIM this year... its been cold. and cold, for me, means... treadmill.

and while most people would hem haw and complain, actually... i feel like it's kind of been a good thing.

when i'm on the treadmill... i go faster.

i crank it up to eleven (which in my case is actually seven) and i make myself go. GO. and then after a while when i'm dying, i dial it down. and then back up, and down and up and down...

but i dial it down to a pace that's still pushing me to go. to get faster. to RUN.

in the real world?! when i dial it down?!

i dial it d-o-w-n.

and with no bright numbers looking up at me, its easy to talk myself into that slower pace. to take a break. to focus on what hurts, the fact that i'm kinda tried and... peter out.

i NEVER peter out on the treadmill. i just. keep. going.

i don't know what it is... (outside of the fact that i'm always comparing myself to the folks running next to me) its just that i know as long as that ground keeps going, my legs will too.

and i don't really have that luxury outside. if i stop mid-trail i know i'm not going to smash my face on the ground and go shooting backwards into the woods, ya know?

it just ain't gunna happen that way.

so... that's my problem. that's my confession that makes absolutely no sense. who in their right mind chooses to run indoors?!

nobody!

but i'm scared of being slow again. i'm scared this speed i have is a fluke. that without people playing racquetball to watch and distract me, without a moving ground to run on, without the knowledge that there are people behind me, that can see me...

i'm scared i'll lose all this and be slow.

and i've worked so hard for the last few months to not be slow. i really don't want to have to start all over again come spring.

UGH!
what am i gunna do...!?!!

Posted by a.maria at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

m'kay so first of all, i'm totally watching the oscars tonight. how glad am i that the writer's strike is over!?! yeah!? yeah!?

i'm thinkin' yeah.

in other news... this week's training S.U.C.K.E.D.

as i may or may not have mentioned... i'm kinda over the weather around here lately. i need it to be done. full stop.

however, as it seems i have no control over the temperature outside these four walls... i've been having to make due.

and by make due, i more or less mean.... skip workouts.

honestly though?
so.not.my.fault.

i didn't really mean to skip workouts, it just sort of happened that way. but believe me... i apologize, and promise to hope to not let it happen again.

*blink. blink*

anyway, so the mileage stack up goes something like this...

run... 12.73 miles (*ahem*... should probably have been more like... 18... 20...)
swim... 2000 yds (yeahhh... maybe skipped a wee little swim, too.)
spin... 5hrs (ha. see? i'm not completely worthless...)
yoga... 1.5 hrs.

all in all.. kinda weak.
(and seriously only anyone training for something with the word iron in it would look at this week and call it weak, but.. there's obviously something wrong with me, so... what can ya do?!)

but whatever, the week's over, i have cravings and the oscars are on.

obviously i'm not letting myself dwell.

and honestly that's it. that's all i have.

that, and let me just say Javier Bardem looks a lot like Denny from Grey's.

i'm just sayin.

Posted by a.maria at 6:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

a.) because the pool heater was broken last night, i skipped my swim.
b.) since it was nearby, i decided to take a look around target instead.
c.) looking around = trying things on.
d.) while trying things on i realized i've dropped 2 sizes, so i tried more things on.
e.) i look good in a 6.
f.) so i bought the entire store.
g.) some of what i got, i'm not entirely sure how to wear
h.) i might need some girlfriend intervention
h.) after crossfit tonight i have to make up yesterday's swim.
i.) and then i'll want to drink.
j.) but i wont because i'll be thinking of tomorrow's 2.5 hr spin and will go to bed instead.
k.) gawd my friday nights are lame.

Posted by a.maria at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

um.. so..

i think i might be a weetle bit excited. cuz i think its finally official...

I'M GETTING A DOG!!!

finally i'm getting a puppy! (and for those that are wondering... a rhodesian ridgeback puppy. the kind in all the pics there on the left!!!)

i've been researching, reading, investigating puppies for seriously almost two years now. every time i think i'm set, something happens.

the mommy sonogram comes back negative.
the breeder turns out to be not so trustworthy.
the puppy promised to me goes to someone else.

its always something.

and everytime i just think... we'll wait. it'll be fine. we'll just wait and the right one will come along.

and by we, obviously, i just mean me---its been a somewhat emotional ride.

getting excited, preparing myself, and then getting let down. it's sucked. because apparently i don't have the best of luck.

but this time...
i'm almost certain it's going to work.

i found a breeder in north central texas who's going to have a new litter in the next couple of days and...
he promised me a puppy.

the cutest most darling puppy that is ever to be born. he's gunna be MINE!

and that's where i start to lose my mind.
i'm already maybe going a little overboard. i'm trying to think of everything. i'm asking questions, i'm gushing to my friends, i'm buying crates and blankets and collars and toys...

and last night as i argued with myself over a 2 hour plane ride vs. an 8 hour drive i realized..

omg. i'm like one of those new moms. that goes a little ape-shit when she has her first kid.

when did this become ME!!?!?!

and i decided.. i just best never have a kid.

because between doggie classes, books on how to crate train, figuring out ways to bring my puppy to work while his bladder is small, plotting out routes where we can go on walks, and practically arranging play dates will all my dog-owning friends...

while the thing is still in his mom's womb...

if i ever have a kid?

i might just drive myself insane.

Posted by a.maria at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (24) | TrackBacks (0)

so i know i'm not the only one that feels this way...

and i know there are people out there suffering far worse than i may be...

BUT I AM DAMN SICK OF THIS WEATHER!

it is too cold outside. too cold to run. too cold to swim. too cold to bike.

really its sort of too cold to even drive because i have some sort of junk-mobile that makes a high pitched squealing noise every morning when i start it up, but that's neither here nor there.

the point is... ITS TOO COLD.

and?
i'm sick of it.

i'm sick of running for an hour on the treadmill every other day.
i'm sick of freezing my tits off on the way to the gym and then having to talk myself into hopping into a pool of freeze your tits off cold water to swim.
and i'm really sick of spinning.

spinning is just getting a wee bit old. and i dont want to do it anymore, because two and a half hours?

TWO. and a HALF. HOURS????
is too much.

it too much to do sitting in a room staring at a wall.
even when the music is good!

and spinning every tuesday/thurday night?!

kill. me.
my legs feel like they're going to fall off.

and what's with that anyway, huh? what's with schizo spin instructors who think climbing intervals of 4 and 5 minutes long are a GOOD IDEA!!?!?!

i wanted to puke last night. and i almost did!

power interval.
time trial.
climb for 4 minutes.

power interval.
time trial.
climb for 3 minutes.

power interval.
time trial.
climb for 2 miutes... i'm sorry but what are we, climbing the f*cking alps!!?!

why are there no such things as down hills?!

or better yet... COASTING!!!.

I WANT TO COAST!
i want to power my way up a hill and then get to enjoy the fact that i just did that by speeding down the other side while wind blows through my hair.

and not fan wind.

ACTUAL WIND!

i just. want. spring.

i want spring and outdoors and sunshine and a tan.
i want cute skirts, and open toed shoes, and a reason to get dressed up again instead of yet another hoodie.

i want grass.
and lemonade.
and tank tops.

i want to run outside and feel that feeling that you get when its hot, and you're sweaty, but you feel good and energized and want one more mile.

i want warm afternoons spent in the sun, layed out with a good book, maybe a soft breeze and an ice cold bevvy in my hand.

and hats.
hats because i'm shading myself from the sun.

not warming my ears from the air.

I. WANT. SPRING.
and its almost march, ya know?

is that REALLY so much to ask?

i mean jeeeeez.

Posted by a.maria at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)

so this morning i watched a bunch of triathletes suck donkey balls at crossfit.

they can beat me in a race, but i can so beat them at the gym.

this? = a good day.

also...

i have a crush on a boy.

from my gym.

which is all i can say because there are far too many people that know me. that know him. that know this blog.

which creates my weetle problem.

hmpf.

Posted by a.maria at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

neener neener.

its president's day and i work for the government so I HAVE THE DAY OFF!

you will be happy to know, though, that i'll be spending the day doing yoga. running yesterday's long run. getting in a wee swim. and doing roughly nine loads of laundry.

but still...

I HAVE THE DAY OFF!!!

ha.

lurve it.

Posted by a.maria at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

for those of you that don't know...

its a movie.

a kind of, obviously, girly movie. about a jane austen book club.

i know, right?! shocking. who'd have pulled that from the title...

but the thing is...
i kind of liked it.

ughhh.
ok i really liked it.

GAH!!!.
i hate that.

i hate being the kind of girl that likes a movie like that. like this. its all women and relationships and conversation and drama and romance and...

*sigh*

i like to be the - completely cynical-who needs relationships?-i'm totally fine on my own and couldn't be happier-girl.

i LIKE that girl.
er...

at least i try. i try to be that girl. i roll my eyes at friends getting married, i laugh at the stupidity of a hearts and roses holiday and i tell myself.. you know.

i'm busy. i have a lot going on. i'm moving soon. i'm not interested. its messy and i'm ya know...

totally fine on my own.

and then i see this. i see a movie like this and it hits me just the right way and i turn into this totally sappy chick, that does want the man. and the romance. and the drama and the relationship and the life that's a bit messy and not on my own.

and i hate being that girl.
i HATE it, but i am.

i just think sometimes...

i just really am.

#$%@!

Posted by a.maria at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by a.maria at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by a.maria at 8:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

(click the pics for title/description. or if that bugs, you can view them here, too!)

m'kay, so... instead of writing about how brilliant i am on a snowboard (cuz i totally am and i totally rule) and how awesome it was to find out that i don't suck on the slopes (cuz really i don't. no matter WHAT you might think!) but that actually i'm just goofy (hey! guess what! who knew!!? actually i did. but nobody believed me at first.) and that everything can be solved by rearranging my bindings (thank the lordy. and HA. i KNEW that would work!)...

i figured i'd just post a wee little slideshow of my week in Cali.

in cali... in the snow.

on the mountain.

that was actually WARMER than the streets of kansas city. isn't that sick!!!? and i don't mean in a good way. i mean dreadfully sick!

... (although i will say not freezing your arse off on the way to/from the hot tub?? that i did enjoy).

anyway... enjoy.

for reference, i was up in Mammoth and then headed over to June. it rocked. i pretty much own the place. i'm practically a snowboarding genius. they're naming the resort after me.

its all true.

Posted by a.maria at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

well, i'm back. and.. in fine form.

this morning after my shower, i applied what i THOUGHT was lotion to my legs.

upon rubbing in what looked/felt like gooey paste, though, i flipped the bottle of lotion over to discover, no..

no, no.

NOT lotion.

liquid soap, instead.

yes thats right.. i rubbed liquid soap all over myself after my shower this morning.

because i am THAT cool.

weeeee.
i'm so glad to be home.

Posted by a.maria at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

you know... i almost forgot why blonde biker boy and i are friends.

but then today... as i'm packing my things for a week-long trip... he up and reminded me.

by sending this:

nice, right?

i mean... what else are friends for then, yeah?

sheesh...

Posted by a.maria at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

i don't really feel like going into what all this past week entailed, mostly because i'm suffering from some sort of stomach dysfunction...

uuuuugh. i don't feel good.....

so take a look above for the week's numbers.

in other news, i'm leaving tomorrow for a week long snowboarding trip out in Cali... and I AM SO EXCITED!

or... i would be excited... if not for the rumblings in my tummy.

*groan*

i hope i didn't just eat some bad yogurt.
that would make for a miserable day.

anyway...

i'll be MIA for about a week so happy training to everyone and i'll catch ya on the flip!

Posted by a.maria at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

oy.

oy oy.

so. last week i made a call to starbucks to see if they had any Pumpkin Spice left... not being a coffee drinker, the months of october - december... pumpkin spice months... are really the only months of the year that i go anywhere near the place.

Grande Chai with Pumpkin.

its all i will drink.

unfortunately its a seasonal spice, so... in January, stores start running out.

anyway.

i called. yes! in fact they DO still have pumpkin.

sweet!

so, friday morning i've called, they have it, i head over.

never having been to starbucks that early in the morning i wasn't really sure what to expect so when i walked in... and there was a super hottie behind the counter...

well. i was pleased.
i stood in line, making googly eyes with Starbucks Guy as often as possible, i ordered my drink, i smiled, i probably batted my eyes and then left. making a mental note to return to starbucks before work again. and soon.

so.... this morning i did.

6:45am... walk into the store. yesss. there he is. OH! he's still cute. omg he's really cute. ok. c a l m...
6:46am... we. are. totally making eyes. OMG he's super cute and we are totally making eyes.

i smile. i mouth "hey" and nod my head in a -- you're super cute and i'm totally flirting with you -- kind of a way.
eventually im at the front of the line. like a goob with absolutely no game, my smile probably (ok not probably. it did) broadened and i got that kind of school girl with a crush giggle in my throat.

Starbucks Guy: "what can i get for you"
me: "um, yeah.. can i get a grande chai with pumpkin!!... please!!

** googley eyes. hair toss. smile. -- the works **

Starbucks Cashier Lady: "that'll be $4.08 please"

without even looking at her i slide my card over. Starbucks Guy and i have now exchanged googley eyes, laughed, made more googley eyes and i've more or less glazed over, lost in haze of cuteness, staring at him making my drink.

while staring at Starbucks Guy, Cashier Lady is done with my card. she goes to hand it to me, but i don't see her. i'm focused. i have my blinders on. there is an attractive man making my drink three feet away from me and all eyes are on him.

Cashier Lady: "here ya go, hon"
.......
Cashier Lady: "umm... "
......
Cashier Lady: "ma'am.. you're card back"...

Starbucks Guy looks up. looks at Cashier lady.... looks at me. we make eye contact, he kind of laughs, i'm jolted back to the here and now realizing she's talking to me...

me: i... um. what?
Cashier Lady: "you're card?!"
me: "oh.. yeah. right."...

and i hear a few muted laughs.

instantly, i know i'm busted. Starbucks Guy is smirking, Cashier Lady is trying not to laugh in my face and i'm completely mortified.

nice AJ. well done you and your SUPER SMOOTH MOVES!!

*sigh*

slightly amused, definitely embarrassed and honestly not really all that shocked by the situation i grab my drink, mutter a "you too" to his good day wishes, and make my way back out to my car.

*double sigh*

everytime, man. EVERY. TIME!!

i take a sip of my drink, start my car and decide...

well... whatever.
they probably weren't laughing at ME anyway?!... right?!

.... yeah.

right.

Posted by a.maria at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

WOOT WOOT!!!

its almost gone!

(and incase you're wondering about the new additional bruises...
i have one word for you:

handlebars.

yes that's right...

cuz i'm a mountain biking STUD.)

Posted by a.maria at 9:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

... why all my pants keep falling down.

as many of you know, for the past several years (several being about.. lets see how old am i? oh right... 28 years) i've sort of struggled with my weight.

i eat.. i gain weight.
i diet... i gain weight.
i run.. i gain weight.

(do we see a trend here?)

to the point where after talking with several people.. coaches/doctors/etc... we decided there's just something wrong with me.

*gasp*

i know, right?!

no. shit.

but finally, after discovering i'm hypoglycemic, need a ridiculous amount of protein, not all that many calories and have an adrenal system that is, apparently, dysfunctional...

i think we've figured it out.

granted, as always, i'm a work in progress... but after a month of vitamins, supplements, seriously paying attention to what i put in my mouth AND, obviously, a lot of training (hi whats up half ironman in 6 months)...

we've made some headway.

and i couldn't BE more thrilled.

here's how this past month has panned out....

(and the accuracy of these numbers after one month.. i mean who knows. could be a fluke. BUT...)

1.25" off my waist (this i seriously question. i think i'm just having a skinny day.)
.5" off my hips
.5" off my big ole bootie
.25" ADDED to my way huge upper thigh (wtf!!? uncool.)
1" off my lower thigh
.5" off my chest (THIS i'm not as pleased with)
1" off ribs cage.

arms = same same. stupid arms.

weight wise... well. some things never change. i lost .2 lbs and .7% bodyfat, so.. i guess maybe its all just redistributing..

but the point is...
PROGRESS!!!

its not impossible!

so, cheers to one month of loss. and here's hoping February brings more of the same!

Posted by a.maria at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)