I Quit Sweets Cold Turkey

Miles today: 3.5
Miles this week: 3.5
Miles in 2010: the rest of the year + 3.5

Met Austin this morning at the Greek Church to run a few. Forgot that the path would be snowy, but we ran there anyway. We had some solid snow and solid ice patches, and then some completely clear patches. We were getting tired, though, dodging the crunchy parts, so we didn't run very far. Plus it was cold and windy.

The best part about the past two months...I know you're not going to believe this...but I gave up sweets. On Halloween, after eating as much candy from my niece's stash as possible, I decided that the next day, Monday, November 1st, would be a good day to give up sweets.


Gregg said it wasn't possible and that I shouldn't give up all sweets. It would be too much to quit cold turkey.


I disagreed. I knew I had to do it. I had to give up the sweets...all of them.

So on November 1st, I quit eating candy, cakes, cookies...anything that was sweet. And I made it my goal to get to Thanksgiving without a sweet. Then, if I made it to Thanksgiving, I'd be allowed to have sweets on just Thanksgiving Thursday, and then go back to no sweets.

Guess what?


I did it. I made it all the way to T-giving without a sweet. Then, after the Turkey Trot, I marched right into a little chocolate shop in Greensburg, bought some chocolate covered Oreos, strawberries, raspberries, and chocolate Oreo bark, and started my sweets day off right.

When I got home, I had only eaten some of the Oreo bark, so I shared my confections with the fam, and ate a chocolate covered Oreo (or two) throughout the day. After our big Thanksgiving extravaganza, I ate a piece of apple pie, and then said good-night and good-bye again to the sweets of the world.

Since then, I continued on my no-sweets trend into December, with Christmas Day being the only day I would be allowed sweets. I did have a minor mess-up one night at Mi Patron a few weeks ago (I forgot and bought a York peppermint patty by accident and ate it)...but other than that, haven't eaten any sweets. Pretty good, huh?

I'm proud of myself. It's the first time ever in my life I've been able to do it. And it's really really hard.

Kind of like training for a marathon...maybe I'll do one in 2011?!

the Steelers Vs. the Jets

Miles today: 5.4
Miles this week: 28.8
Miles in 2010: a lot

This morning I met Austin and Alexis at Isabella's for the Sunday run. J.C., Jonathan, Gary, and Gregg met and started the run with us.

We headed up Old Boonsboro Road like usual. The girls and I turned around at 2.75 because Alexis' knee was bothering her. The snow on the sidewalks was also still a bit of a pain, so we didn't really want to run too far. We talked a lot about running and our 2011 goals. Mine will be referenced in an upcoming blog.

After we got back to the parking lot, Gregg and I headed home and got ready to meet Austin and her brother at church. We stopped at Starlight afterwards for breakfast, like usual, and then Gregg dropped me off at work (we were open today from 12-5 for special Sunday shopping hours...turned out to be worth it, too!) After work, Gregg and I went to John and Sarah's to watch the Steelers/Jets match-up. That, of course, is a big game in the Cavaliere house. Gregg, being a Jets fan, and me, being a Steelers fan, makes for a pretty good gameday.

Well, we all know the outcome...that the Jets beat the Steelers and that I was pretty bummed. My Facebook status said something like this before the game: Today determines the power in the Cavaliere household. Steelers win, Heather is queen for the rest of 2010. Jets win, Gregg thinks he's king.  
 
Well the Steelers lost. Thanks a lot Steelers. Gregg's been in charge ever since.

Jingle Bell Jog

Miles today: 4.0
Miles this week: 23.4
Miles in 2010: a lot

I've been doing the Jingle Bell Jog for the past 4 or 5 years. It's come to be one of my favorite Christmas time events.

Every year, on the Saturday before Christmas, Riverside Runners hosts this 3-5 mile run at our store.

What started as just about 25 people (Jeff says, I wasn't there) has grown to a 150+ person event. Guests bring baked goods, we provide hot chocolate, Gatorade, and water as well as door prizes, music, and a fully dressed running Santa! It's so fun. The best part is the parade of costumed runners running down the Avenue at 8:30 that morning.

I think my friend Sarah D. said it best: To Heather and all of the runners; It sure made my day to see all of the festive, costumed runners out this morning as I made my way back and forth down the Avenue to the City Market. I wished I had been out there running. Thanks for an unexpected and humorous Christmas Parade!

I met up with my buds Stacey and Austin to run, but since both Austin and I had to work, we only ran 4 of the 5 miles so we could get back to the store.

The event was a huge success...tons of people, lots of cookies, and great door prizes. Jeff even got a bunch of shirts screened to hand out for FREE! to the participants who dressed with holiday cheer.  

Po Fo Run

Miles today: 5.6
Miles this week: 14.7
Miles in 2010: a lot

Austin and I met in Wyndhurst to run the Poplar Forest Loop (or as some folks I know call it: the Heather Loop). We start at the Jamerson YMCA, head up Enterprise Drive, take a left on Homestead to Bateman Bridge Road, then continue down BB to the back entrance (gravel road) of Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest.

We run across the Poplar Forest campus, make a left onto Poplar Forest Road, then a right on Wellington, a right on Crossway, straight onto Rainbow Forest Drive to Laxton, and then a left back to Enterprise Drive.

The run is super hilly, with one big hill going up Enterprise at the beginning, one on Homestead, a big hill at Poplar Forest, and a big climb up Laxton Road in Rainbow Forest.

It's tough, but it's a great run and I love showing it to people. Austin and I had a great time (and there weren't any dogs which made it nice.

Destination Running

Miles today: 4.35
Miles this week: 9.1
Miles in 2010: a lot

Tonight was the last meeting of the Lynchburg Road Runners for 2010. As tradition dictates, once again we voted for new officers and discussed ideas for the upcoming year.

It has become my semi-tradition to run to the LRR club meeting at Monte Carlo's each month. So, my good bud Austin (I told you I'd talk about her a lot) dropped off her car at the restaurant and met me at the store so that we could run together to the meeting.

For some reason, one of my favorite ways to run this year has become running to a destination. Running to LRRC meetings and running to Lowe's in Madison Heights were two of my destination runs. I like the feeling of running somewhere and having gotten there by foot. It's kind of fulfilling...like walking to the store when you live in the city, or getting around without a car for awhile.

Anyway, Austin and I got in a little over 4 miles and then I headed into the meeting and she headed home.

Austin's Home

Miles today: 4.75
Miles this week: 4.75
Miles in 2010: the rest of the year before today + 4.75

Austin came home from school for Christmas this weekend and I didn't get to see her until tonight. Isn't it appropriate that our first get-together would be meeting in front of Riverside Runners for a run?

We met around 6:30 after I finished at work. I had changed in the basement, so when I came upstairs, Rachel, Claire, and Austin were all near the front desk chatting.

They turned around to say hey to me and as they did, I think they all said in unison, are you crazy!?

See, the thing was, I forgot tights or pants when I left the house this morning and all I had grabbed was a pair of shorts. Now, the weather outside has been pretty frightful, and today/tonight was no different. In fact, earlier, when I had opened the front door to grab the mail, the icy wind blew in and rattled all the clothes on the racks and almost knocked me over.

I knew it was going to be cold. I just didn't feel like going all the way home to get tights. Austin asked, are you sure? I don't mind. But I said I'd brave the cold with my legs hanging out of my shorts and that I would be fine.

We got our stuff together, opened the front door, and I felt that cold, icy wind again. It was like I had nothing on my bottom at all. Oh well, I knew I'd warm up.

Austin and I ran our usual: out Rivermont to Peakland, down Peakland to the end and then back to the store. By the time we got to the First Christian Church, my legs were numb and I couldn't feel the icy wind anymore. On top of that, just being with Austin and having someone to run with made the time go by quickly and the weather was almost out of mind. It was convenient, too, because in the past year of running I've acquired a great pain in my right heel/achilles/calf...some kind of bursitis or achilles tendonitis or both...so the icy wind also numbed my heel and I could run hard and what felt like fast (Austin is faster than me). I'm looking forward to running with her through the end of Project 3-6-5 (she'll be home until almost the end of the year!) Yipee!

Gifts for Gulu

Miles today: 5.34

Miles this week: 26.5

Miles in 2010: 273.3

This morning was the Gifts for Gulu "Water for Life" 5k race at Lynchburg College. Gregg and I both ran beforehand and then volunteered at the race.

I met up with Austin at the school and we ran the Sandusky Loop before the race. I was feeling pretty exhausted in my legs for some reason, so we stopped and stretched at the Perrymont/Fort Ave. intersection. Kept running out Fort Avenue to Grand Furniture, made a right on Sandusky and ran back to the College. My legs were still feeling tired, so I'm not sure what's up. Guess I just need some rest.

After the run, Austin and I got some dry clothes (it had been raining a little during our run) and went up to the track to help out with the race. I had to detour to the bathroom (of course) and then was put in charge of one of the stopwatches for the race. Austin was the clipboard recorder and Gregg was the other stopwatch timer.

Saw some cool peeps at the race: Malcolm Miller (decked out in new gear from Riverside Runners), Chad and Sandy Duff, Erin Elwell and her two beautiful children, Charlie & Emma (who both ran the Amazing mile and were A-dorable), Dwayne Fitts (2nd place), Darrell Wargo (3rd place), one of my former student's moms, Laurie Richardson, the Gellerts, James LaPrade (oops!), and some of my favorite ladies, PJ Jones, Nancy Blackwell, Sarah Bryant, and Dianne Wright.

You can see the results of the race here!

Great race, great cause. Thanks for all the donations of sports equipment and shoes to Sports Outreach.

Headed to work after the race, fit a bazillion people in new shoes, and then spent the evening vegging out with my homey, Gregg. :)

Austin's home!

Miles today: 5.0

Miles this week: 21.1

Miles in 2010: 268

Here --->
are two of my favorite running store buddies: PW and Austin

Austin's home for the rest of the week, so I was happy to wake up at 7:30 this morning and meet her at the Greek Church for an easy 5-miler. We both hate running on the paved trail at Blackwater, but my legs were tired and I didn't feel like running up either direction of Langhorne or straight across to Cranehill, so the only option was to stay flat on the trail.

It had rained all day yesterday, so we stayed away from the trails and just ran the paved path...out 2.5 and back. I am a big wuss and sometimes get nervous when I run with Austin because I know she's so much faster than me. But actually, today, I felt pretty good, all the way out and almost all the way back...and then of course, the cursed bathroom cramp hit me and I had to jog back to the Ed Page entrance with one thing on my mind...how quickly the bathroom would be near. We were also suprisingly lucky to start and finish our run after the rain finished and before it started again.

We saw Helen and her friend on the trail as we finished running, chatted really quick, and then headed out. It's always good to catch up with Austin by running because she can tell me all about school and how life is and I don't have to talk too much (especially since I'm always way more out of breath than her) and I can nod and say: uh-huh...and I don't seem like I'm too much of a wimp. It's great. It's our best catching up time when we're running. Plus she's got a lot more excitement going on in her life since she's a student at Wake Forest and living the college life. I love living vicariously through her.

Anyway, had a good run to start the day, stopped by AREVA to pick something up from Gregg, and then headed home and on to work.

Busy day all week at the store, so I've been on the floor every minute...and I can tell because my legs are a ton sorer than usual.

After work, Gregg and I ordered pizza and kicked up our feet for the evening. I love minutes spent with him. And pizza.

Gotta get up early to run and then help out at the Gifts for Gulu race in the AM.

Valentine's Day!

Miles today: 7.0

Miles this week: 23.2

Miles in 2010: 169.7

Today is Valentine's Day and that makes me feel pretty romantical.

I got up early to meet Austin to run from the Boonsboro Shopping Center parking lot...and I was right, the spicy chicken was haunting me once we started running.

Gregg, Brian, John, Gary, Jonathan, and Len all ran, too. Austin and I ran with them up Old Boonsboro and down Boonsboro to Peakland and then slowed down there. I still love keeping up with Gregg's guys...even if it's only for like half a mile. I always feel like a super star.

Austin and I ran down Peakland and then Rivermont to Riverside Runners and back the way we came. It took 30 minutes to get to the store and 32 minutes to get back to the parking lot where we started...so we didn't negative split, but the wind was in our faces on the way back, so I think that accounts for the two minute difference.

Anyway, we ran a total of 7 miles and it was a really good run. When I run with Austin, I'm always feeling like I have to push harder to keep up with her--it's good for me because she's a way faster runner, but I wonder why I don't push myself harder when I'm running by myself. I'll have to work on that.

After our run, Gregg made me breakfast, and then we got ready for church. While I was in the shower, he put out roses for me, and when I went downstairs to leave for church, I saw them. He's funny because he's really good at surprising me. The roses were yellow minis. So pretty!

After church, we came home and vegged out for awhile. Gregg was sleepy because he ran 17 miles yesterday. We Skyped Gregg's mom and David and then just did nothing all evening. I needed that.

My sister invited us over for funfetti cupcakes, so we grabbed some dinner at Mi Patron and then headed over there. My niece was so cute because she loves to blow out the candles, but she wanted me to do it, but then after I blew them out, she wanted a chance too, so she asked us to sing happy birthday to her too. She's so silly.

Funfetti cupcakes are delish! Gregg is my Valentine, and tomorrow is my birthday!

bridesmaid bonanza

Miles today: 1.1

Miles this week: 16.2

Miles in 2010: 162.7

I know I'm really behind on my blogs and today is actually Tuesday and I'm blogging about Saturday, but I promise I'll be all caught up by tomorrow (Wednesday) night.

Today was the Queen of Hearts Poker Fun Run, so I woke up early to ice all the cupcakes I made last night. When I was done, I probably made almost 100 cupcakes. Pretty good for last minute.

We set up for the run at the Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church, who graciously offered us one of the nicest rooms in the church to begin and end our event. They were so giving!

The event went off without a hitch and everyone seemed to really enjoy running and playing poker at the same time. The grand prizes were gift cards to the store and two pairs of free Mizuno shoes.

After the run, I headed to the store to work. We got pretty busy and Patterson stopped by to chat. I just love when out-of-towners come home. I love to see them! Pat had to run 21 miles this afternoon, so he was about to go out for that run. I kind of can't imagine doing 21 miles just for training. Maybe someday.

I left work around 4:15 and picked up Austin to head to Roanoke to pick out her bridesmaid's dress. Stacey met us at David's Bridal and I think Austin had fun trying on the dresses and picking one out. Seeing bridesmaids and wedding stuff makes me so pumped for the wedding! I can't wait.

I didn't get home until almost 8:30pm, and I was starving, but I still hadn't run...so Gregg, my constant encouragement, pushed me off the couch and I went out for my mile run. I know I've been a little lazy this week, but I just have been sore in a couple places and really tired. I think week 6 of training must be a "hump week."

Mile was cold and blustery and I didn't want to do it, but once I was out there, it felt good. Of all things, when I got back to my driveway and went to push stop on my watch, I saw that I had never pressed start, which kind of ticked me off because I think that was my fastest mile around the neighborhood ever. Ugh. Oh well. Got the run in.

Gregg and I went to Wendy's after that...not a wise choice since it was almost ten...but I was so hungry and everything was closing, so I had a spicy chicken sandwich. I'll probably pay for it in the morning.

A Mile Short

Miles today: 3.2

Miles this week: 15.1
Miles in 2010: 161.6


It was a super busy day today because so much was going on at work and in my life...so I was kind of bummed when I didn't get to do everything as planned.

We had a pretty busy day at the store, and we had some planning and buying left to do for the Queen of Hearts Poker Fun Run tomorrow, so that made it a little crazier, plus Austin was coming home from Wake and Patterson was running the mile at Liberty and it is Valentine's weekend and almost my birthday! I'll be 28 on Monday!

I went out to Wal-mart around 3:30 in the afternoon to get food for the poker run in the morning. I kind of had fun getting all the treats, but getting to Wal-Mart was a different story. Every traffic ramp off the expressway near the mall/Wards Road was backed up a mile. It took me so long just to get to Wal-Mart, and then everyone in the store seemed to be in the aisles I needed to go down. It just took forever. I think people were out shopping to make themselves feel good since they were stuck inside for the past few weeks...severe case of cabin fever.

On top of all that, when I was checking out, I had picked up a 30+ pound box of bananas, and the kid at the register tried to weigh the whole case on his register scale, which obviously didn't work out because the box was way bigger than the scale, so he had to take each bunch of bananas out of the case and weigh them individually...it took forever. I felt bad for the kid and for the guy behind me who picked the wrong line because of my slowness. It was funny though, because the guy behind me struck up a conversation, asking about all the bananas...and we ended up talking about running (he used to be a runner) and my running everyday for a year thing. It was kind of cool.

I finally got back to the store after 5 and did some last minute race prep stuff...race numbers with team names, gift cards from the store for prizes, etc.

I really wanted to be able to go see my buddy Patterson run the mile at the Liberty Quad indoor meet tonight, but I ended up having to close the store, and couldn't make it. I was still really proud to hear about the results and wish I could've been there.

Closed up the store and then + (plus) one came to go for a run. You can imagine that running with Austin made me very happy. We just ran from the store down to Oakwood and back...nothing fast or far, but it was good to catch up with her and get a run in.

By the end of the night, I was exhausted from a busy week and tired muscles, but when I got home I still had to eat dinner and bake 50+ cupcakes for the Queen of Hearts run...so I spent the evening with Gregg watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and baking cupcakes. I'm really excited about the Olympics...what fun to watch these amazing athletes! I also love keeping track of the medals (see below).