END OF NOVEMBER

Can't believe that it is the last day of November and it's only 25 days until Christmas. We had such beautiful weather over the weekend, we were able to get the out door lights up and most of the decorating inside done. Sunday while the weather was still in the 60's I went out for a short run of 2.75 miles. This morning I thought I should take advantage of another nice day and get a run in. Managed to do 4.95.

FORT WORTH TURKEY TROT

For the last two years we have done the Dallas Turkey Trot but this year I didn't feel like running 8 miles so we switched to the race in Fort Worth which was a 10K. For five dollars more we got to upgrade from a long sleeve cotton shirt to a tech shirt. We left the house at 7:15 and when we arrived at the race site the temp was a chilly 48.

We were looking for portapotties but found the flag for the start of the race. Never did find them until we crossed the finish line. I even heard someone comment that they had never been to race that didn't have portapotties! So I guess I wan't the only one searching.

I was liking this race before it ever started. They were giving out free hot chocolate so I ditched the cup of Starbucks I had gotten free and opted for the chocolate. Can't believe I dumped a Starbucks out.

This was a great course through some beautiful neighborhoods. There were lots of people out cheering and we asked a nice lady if she would take our picture.

There were more hills on this course than I thought there would be and so I was glad to see the big turkey at the finish line. I crossed the finish line with a time of 1:24:10, good enough to take third place in my age group. We had a great time running together and will definitely do this next year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

TURKEY DAY

Tomorrow is the big day and a lot of people I know are doing a Turkey Trot race. Good luck to all. Christy and I are going to try the race in Ft. Worth this year. We'll be doing a 10K.
I figured I better get out and do an easy run/walk this afternoon. Of course I was dressed to warm( had my Disney 1/2 shirt on) and I waited to late to go out. I did manage to get 3.65 miles in, that's better than nothing.
We have been having gorgeous weather but that is suppose to change by Sunday.

BOX JUMPS OR FALLING

Today was as nice as when I was in Dessert Palms. Just the perfect weather, a slight breeze and the warmth of the sun. I went out on the trails and there were quite a few people out, I guess because school is out for the week. I was a little sore this morning and I didn't know if it was from doing box jumps yesterday or falling over Allie last night, but I figured the run would help get the kinks out. I did 5.21 miles today.

5 DAYS

Thanksgiving is coming fast, 5 days until the big food event. So now it is really important to get to the gym and get the runs in. Christy and I had our Jillian workout today. We were able to do all of it in the class room away from the other people working out. I'm
sure when I do some of her exercises it's not a pretty site, especially the mountain climbers. After we went through all the circuits we did our box jumps. I can definitely see that we have improved on those! Box jumps done now it was upstairs for some cardio before we headed home.

FALL WEATHER

Today's weather really seemed like Fall weather, there was no sun shinning and the temp was a cool 58. I waited til noon before I went out, hoping that the sun would pop out and warm things up but no such luck. I ran the trails in the neighborhood but reversed the course and added a new loop. When I came past Kids Kastle there was music playing and a lady was setting up a table with fresh fruit another person was setting up orange cones. I thought, what's going on and then I remembered the grade school was having a turkey trot today.

Miles run 5.50

AWARD

Sheila from one persons journey through a world of books gave me this award this week. Thanks Sheila. I am suppose to write ten honest things about me.

1. I love to read, mostly fiction and cookbooks.
2. I love to bake especially at the holidays.
3. Honestly I like to run but sometimes I don't love it.
4. I only knew my husband for 3 months before we got married yet we've been together for 44 years.
5. I have a nursing degree but I've never been a nurse but it sure came in handy with 4 kids.
6. I been to all but 4 states in the U.S. Can you guess which 4 I haven't been to.
7. I've been to over 10 countries.
8. I'm a shoeaholic and just picked up 12 pair this week.
9. I love chocolate and have been known to stash it in my underwear drawer. But it has to be good chocolate I'm a chocolate snob.
10. I make the best sticky buns ever according to my family.

SUNDAYS WORKOUT

Time to get serious again and back in the groove of working out. Christy and I grabbed the Jillian cards and headed for the gym. We were back to the first card and I remember how hard it was the first time we tried to do it. Today seemed easier and we definitely had a better idea of what to do and how to do it. After the weights we headed upstairs for twenty minutes on the treadmill.

Yesterday the temperature was only 48 and the wind was really blowing so I went to the gym and did my run on the treadmill. I have a little over a 100 miles to go to reach my goal of 500 miles for the year.

SPEEDWAY 10K

This race took place at the Texas Motor Speedway where all the big car races are. We drove in and were directed to the parking areas down by the garages.

How cool is this with the track and stands above me!

The race started with a Porsche leading us. We had to go down this hill under the track and then out to the road that runs around the stadium for 5 miles and then back down the hill, through the tunnel and up the hill and back toward the garages to the finish. As I was coming back in I could hear the cars racing on the track and I stopped to get a look as they went roaring past above me.
The weather was perfect for running and I was glad because there was no shade on the course.

These are some of the cars that were racing .

I finished with a 1:22:19 time which was a PR for me for a 10K. I received one of the first place tiles. This was a great race and we'll look forward to running it next year.

WHERE WAS I ?

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.This was the first stop on our 12 day road trip to California and back.

What you can't see in the picture is the great cafe across the street that had the best blueberry pie, still warm from the oven.

Can't stop in Phoenix without a trip to the Heard museum.

This sign says it all !

Woo Hoo ! We arrived in California on day 4.

Balboa Park in San Diego.

Oceanside Beach, we ate at the diner at the end of the pier.

Seal Beach. La Jolla. I felt like this after my lunch yesterday at Oceanside.

We had a great trip and even managed to get some runs in. The weather was perfect, the sky was blue and you just can't not like California. However today I am back in Texas and had to get a run done as I have a 10K race on Saturday. Did 5.75 miles outside.

ARRIVED

We finally arrived at Carlsbad on Thursday afternoon. Had a chance to catch up with a lot of family I hadn't seen in some time.

This morning Amy, Kelsea ( my nephews daughter) and I headed to the beach to get a walk in. We thought it would be a nice flat beach, wrong. We had to carefully climb down a steep cliff and then because the tide was coming in we were only able to walk on the stoney beach.

Total miles for the week are 13.92!

WESTWARD BOUND

Yesterday we ended up doing our run on my trails because the soccer game was canceled due to wet fields. We managed to get in over 5 miles.

Today we head for Albuquerque on our road trip to San Diego. We have planned out our days to work out and I have incentive to keep active, Christy and I signed up for a 10K on the 14th at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Is anyone else up early because of the time change?

A big congratulations to Jenny on her PR at the Halloween Halfathon!