Mail Time!

Please tell me I'm not the only one who still has flashbacks to Blue's Clues upon the arrival of the mail. Anyone? Bueller?

Wow, two 90s references in three sentences. I must be in a mood.

Anyway, I'm really excited. Two amazing things came in the mail this week. The first was a post-marathon gift from my mom, as if she hadn't already done enough by driving across the state to cheer me on at a sport that, for non-runners, can be pretty boring to spectate.

After seeing so many runners in skirts at the race, she told me she thought they were adorable and wondered why I didn't run in one. I told her I had one, but it didn't have enough pockets for a marathon, and I'd bookmarked one I really wanted to get when the time was right.

She went ahead and bought the skirt I've been coveting from SkirtSports. I instantly fell in love. The skirt boasts three roomy pockets (two on the undershorts and one zippered pocket on the waistband) that are all large enough and secure enough to fit my iPhone.

I'm in love with the pleats!

 The shorts have a wide rubber grippy along the hem that keeps them from riding up even an inch, and they're long enough to prevent any kind of chafing.

Showing off one of the pockets.

Of all my shorts/skirts with rubber grips along the legs, these work the best.

The skirt fits so nicely and goes well with every top I own. Somehow wearing cute clothes makes me feel awesome during my run; I couldn't stop smiling Sunday when I took it for a test run!

 I want like...a million more of this skirt. It will definitely be my go-to for long runs from now on.

The other piece of mail that made my week was, of course, also running related! My new race decals finally arrived!

 Matt applied the stickers and I did the honors of carefully pulling the backing off. They turned out just how I waned them to!

I've been having a little trouble motivating myself to get back into a set schedule for running. I'm sure my lethargy will pass once winter break starts. Two days, people! I know I can make it!

Oh, and it's the first night of Hanukkah! So happy Hanukkah to any of my fellow MoT out there. I can't wait to have some latkes this week; I just have to decide which kind I want to make!

Click here for recipes!

Do you ever wear running skirts?

What was the last piece of mail you got that made you smile?

ABK

Getting Crafty

What does a 20-something teacher a week away from winter break do on her Friday night? Crafts, of course!

Admittedly I'm not a very organized person, but I really wanted a way to put all the photos and memorabilia from the marathon into one place. I had so many photos, etc, to keep that it seemed like overkill to frame and display them all; a scrapbook seemed like the way to go.

After work I stopped by Target to pick up supplies (and let me just say, the snowbirds were out in full force and I spent a good ten minutes in the parking lot laughing myself into tears at some of the "driving" I witnessed), then spent the rest of the night diligently piecing together my memories.

Photos and supplies are ready to go!

I took a break for dinner and observed the mess I had made of the living room. Being crafty isn't tidy, that's for sure.

A work in progress.

Matt and I watched Edge of Tomorrow while I finished my project. I was pleasantly surprised. I may think Tom Cruise is a few sandwiches short of a picnic, but he's still one of my favorite actors.

I'm really happy with how the scrapbook turned out. I fit in the photos I liked most, my D-tag, notes of encouragement, and pages from the welcome packet. Plus, the blog came in handy; I printed out my recap and added it to the end.

Bart Yasso and the Sub 30 Club got their own pages.

A few pages from the finished book.

Now I can annoy guests by insisting they look through the scrapbook. Isn't that the main purpose of photo albums and the like? The bad news is that I may have found another hobby I want to take up...putting the book together was really fun and relaxing!

How do you save and store your race day memories?

How do you typically spend a Friday night?

Are you a Tom Cruise fan?

ABK

I Love Running!

Today, I went for my first run since the marathon.

It. Was. Glorious!

I felt so free and happy. I didn't have any pain in my foot, the cold air gave me a little extra energy, and I hadn't realized how much I missed running on the golf course! The whole run was like being reunited with my best friend!

After my run, Sanya Richards-Ross's voice came over Nike+ and congratulated me on a good workout. I kind of laughed; I did not consider this run a workout. Physically it had all the makings of a workout, but mentally and emotionally it was such a treat. 

I put my shoes on and realized my D-chip was still there! That gave me a little extra pep in my step!

It made me pause and kind of think about how I look at running. I've always said that I don't like working out, and I still mean that. I just don't enjoy "working out" in general. It's why I've never been a consistent gym-goer; it's why I often skip cross-training days even though I know they're good for me.

But oooh, how I love running!

I guess it still counts as a workout (physically, at least), but I just don't put it in that category!

In other news, I got a coupon code for my professional race pictures and ordered them. Here I am crossing the finish line!

This picture absolutely fills me with joy.

I'm going to order prints and make a scrapbook. I can't wait to get started on it!

Do you put workouts you love in the same "working out" category as other workouts?

Does that question even make sense?

  

ABK