Sweet Weekend

My weekend was pretty awesome...and it's still not over. I still have the laundry to do.

I ran 5k yesterday. The weather was prefect for running. Sunny and 50-degrees. I had originally planned to only run 2 miles, but gave in at the end. I might as well since I am thinking of doing the 10k run at Hagg Lake in May. I had NO pains at all during or after the run (I am sore today, though). The only body ache I had was from a couple of days ago from moving furniture around. My thigh muscles were achy...lift with the legs, not the back. Right?

Also yesterday was a George Fox University alumni pizza party. Kyle and I went there and met up with some of our friends. There were maybe 3 other people there that I knew.

I also started making my yummy dark chocolate cupcakes and let them cool overnight.









I went to church today and led youth group and there were all of these cool things to take home for free that my Latino amigos brought in to share at church. I got onions, jelly, and a couple of calendars that show the whole year. I was also given a t-shirt from Cat at the Diocese. The calendar is the coolest thing, though! I titled it: "Jesus in Outer
Space". Here's a picture of it:















When I got home, I finished up the cupcakes.










Scoop out a hole with a melon-baller. Save what you took out to plug the cupcake back up at the end.






Scoopy-scoop-scoop









Where are the cupcake guts?









Here they are!











Prep the filling.










Fill in the holes and plug them back up with what you scooped out.








Eat!




One definitely needs milk with this cupcake. It is super rich and sweet. Too sweet, I think, but still really YUMMY. I stored the cupcakes in a long tuperware type of thing, but placed them upside down so the filling doesn't ooze out the bottom. It doesn't say to do this in the recipe, but it just made sense to me to do this.

It's Cold!

It was very chilly this weekend and this is the weekend I started running now that my ankle has healed. I had to rest it for a month to let the tendonitis heal. I haven't had any really bad pain in about a week or so, so I I gave running a shot again.

My first run was on Saturday. It was an easy 2-mile run in my neighborhood. I had my ankle brace on and made sure I warmed up and stretched properly to avoid injury. I actually did a lot better than I thought I would.

The same for today, too. My time was slightly worse today because of the really cold wind--it is hard on my lungs. My pace both times was a little over 10 minutes. My goal is to eventually run a mile in less than 10 minutes, which I was doing pre-injury. If my ankle cooperates, I could participate in a 5-k this spring.

Kyle said I should wear a ski mask today so I wouldn't have to breath in so much cold air, but I told him I'd look like a robber and people would think I am running away from a place I just robbed. I have a new convertible head band/wrap that I wore that did the trick and I know the PGE people I saw working were jealous I had one. I'll post a picture of it when I have one.

Here are some pictures of my family and me during the holidays:




Kyle and my dad looking at fly fishing stuff.








Me wearing my new silk scarf--practicing for when I go to a Middle Eastern country. I could wear this. Would I fit in? I think it looks good.







Food that goes in the tamales








Christmas tamales cooking.








My parents, sister, and I on New Years Eve.









My sister and me.

Running in the Rain

I think I am a real Oregon runner. I went out running today in the POURING rain and loved it. After completing the 5K in a little more than 30 minutes, I looked like I took a shower with all my clothes on.

Of course, though, an hour after my run, it is nice and sunny outside.

Here I am sopping wet with my bandanna keeping my pink ear buds in place & my running shirt.





This is my super bright running jacket to keep me warm and visible. I was not into cars hitting me today.

I also had my weatherproof mp3/electronics holder.











I love my Wrist Runner because it a reflective band along with a zippered pouch where I can store my key, ID, and other info.

What Do I Do?

I am up and running again...or I thought I was.

I woke up and ran three miles and then walked a mile to work. My ankle is bothering me a lot again. The anterior tibia has tendinitis and it feels like I got hit with a baseball bat. I didn't roll my ankle or anything; it just started hurting.

This is so frustrating. How am I supposed to progress if I keep having ankle problems? A physical therapist said I need to stretch my whole leg more, get a running coach, and/or do PT. Where do I find a running coach.

I am going to check out my old university. I've earned free classes there--maybe I can find myself a running coach there.