Bloggy Gift exchange and random life and training updates....

So, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I may have been deleted from a lot of blogrolls but I an STILL alive-ha! Finally, a little down time with a work break and a slight hockey break and my computer chair is getting a chance to feel up my a$$ once again.

First things first, I received my gift from Jill's Christmas bloggy exchange! Not only did I get a great gift, I once again got a chance to check out another blog I wasn't familiar with! Thank you so much to Big Daddy Diesel! I LOVE it. Simple, to the point-just like ME:) In all actuality, I'm complex, rambling and not to the point but I love to exude simpleness, especially in the form of jewelry. Thankyou!

Life:

Had a most wonderful Christmas. SO blessed. All of my sisters home over the break (I'm the oldest of 6 girls) and just such a fun time with my family and kids! I'm loving spending so much time with my nieces and nephews but knowing I can give them back:)

Two little Divas making a pool hall out of Grandma's kitchen with a backdrop of booze. What a lovely picture. This is about 2 minutes before all hell broke loose and the bar room brawl broke out. One had the other's jammies over her head and we had to take the pool cues away as they had become weapons. We gave them some wine and then tucked them in.

My kids after the fight of coordinating clothing for our family pictures in which case I gave up on forcing the tie on Max and let him wear the non-matching red sweater which matched well with Joe and his non-matching blue striped shirt. I will post a professional non-matching picture of all of us later....

I also celebrated my 14th anniversary. 14 very happy years. An extremely supportive husband, an amazing dad, and really my closest friend.

Training:

Lots going on here since my last post.

Hmmmm...I got a bout of the flu that was quite debilitating. I felt awful, could hardly even function much less run efficiently. This lasted 7 days and I can honestly say I may never eat Trader Joe's Tomato Roasted Red Pepper soup again.....

I came back from a day off on Monday December 12th to feel significantly better on the 13th. Concluded the week with a 5K PR on the 17th. That race was not my sub 20 but I felt good knowing I could run at that level at that point.

I'm now officially in my training plan which many of you know means very little at times:) Hudson based for those who have asked and I haven't responded to.

I'm really having fun with running right now. For the first time in what seems like forever I feel healthy and strong. There is no grimace on my face every time I try to run up a hill, I'm not doing a shuffle with a dead leg, I'm not worrying whether I will wake up and find myself in the hurt tank after a run. I attribute MUCH of this to a dedicated strength program during the month of October. I've kept up with this and I'm definitely seeing it's benefits.

I am in the middle of running my 3rd consecutive high mileage week. I haven't taken a rest day since December 12th nor have I felt I needed one. My body is responding very well to the mileage, my mind is following and I'm feeling good about things to come in the year ahead!

I so appreciate having some amazing women to train with. We don't necessarily get to meet on the road or track and physically train, but they inspire and encourage me on a daily basis. Even when I've been down and out, a physical or mental mess, I've felt great support here. Thankyou friends:)

So, this is a bit of a typical random update post. I will post a little more training specific post and my thoughts surrounding that shortly! Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Holiday break with family and friends!