Boom Boom Pow

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I had one of these moments on Friday. I got to the gym fully expecting to run 5 miles. After a solid four I was feeling good, had some great songs going on the iPod and decided to run a full 6.25 miles (a full 10k race). Boom Boom Pow isn't my favorite Black Eyed Peas song to run to but they do have two beats that get me pretty pumped up. Not sure what it is about Fergie and the boys but they definitely know how to mix a killer beat.

These are my Boom Boom Pow!

What's yours?

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Flawed and Focused

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This little saying here is exactly the way I feel about my workouts at the moment. Well, always I guess. I'm not perfect, I'm definitely not the best, but I do work as hard as I possibly can to get to my goals.

There was a point in my life where I was in really, really good shape. I worked out six days a week. Always. I usually got one week off over Christmas, that was it. I actually had a purpose for those work outs though so I was in the kind of shape that is useable. It wasn't the "I work out at the gym for 2 hours a day and have crazy big biceps but can't play a sport to save my life" kind of shape either. I may not have that same reasoning for getting in shape now, but I'm making it a point to have a purpose for the strength training and conditioning that I do.

Right now my running is so that I can crush a half marathon with a friend in early May. After that I'm hopefully going to do a few other races this Summer but right now my focus is on this half marathon. It will be my first ever. I've actually only ever run one other race in my life so I'm pretty psyched that my second will be one of this length. Anyone who already does these things is pretty cool in my book so it's awesome to think that in two months I'll have joined the ranks of these people. These are my good intentions.

My flaws? Whew. Right now, if you're one of my awesome Twitter followers you'll have noticed that I'm in pain...a lot lately. After running the race I did this past year I lost a toenail. I wasn't in a ton of pain from it but this time is different. I'm about to lose that same nail as well as one on the other foot. And this time it HURTS! Friday I ran 10k (6.25 miles) for a long run and felt like I needed to tip toe around. More like tip heel around? Today I tried an easy 8k (5 miles) and was literally having trouble walking after. Thank the Lord for stretching after runs. I needed to get off my feet. And quick.

But the whole point is that I'm getting there. Right now my furthest is about half the distance I will eventually run. Not bad for two months out. An injury here and there will happen. I'm not going to let it get my way, or let it stop me completely. I'm training to be fit, healthy, and do kick ass in May!

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It's Hard. We Know.

The last time I wrote about motivation was back in July when I was a mere 10 days away from our wedding. That's usually one of the biggest motivating factors for women to get into shape. Shape magazine doesn't have a Bride section for the heck of it. Bridal magazines don't come up with the catchy "Bridal Bootcamp" for nothing. Not only did I have my wedding to get into shape for but I was also post-10k and still working my way towards being in shape for a 14k that I was running mid-September. With all of that I was finding it easy to stay in shape and get to the gym, but obviously running into a few hiccups along the way. Hence the "motivation" post.

Now it's January. It's cold, windy, I have two jobs to think about, books I want to read, layers I want to wear underneath a cozy lamb blanket, and a fuzzy, little kitten to snuggle up with. Matt has gotten into the habit of (what he calls) meditating every afternoon. Napping. And I find myself wanting to nap too. All the while knowing that I just need to get my butt into gear and get outside for the measly 30 minutes it takes to accomplish today's task on this week's bit of training.

I set a goal this year to run a half marathon. Right now I'm planning to run one in early May. I know that's still a full three months (and then some) away but I knew that I would find reasons not to run while it was cold; so I started early. Start the work sooner so then it will become a habit rather than a hurdle. That's the thing, isn't it? You have to make working out something you do, not something you try to do. Eating right becomes easy because that's what you have available for you instead of something you're always searching for.

While running is not my most favorite thing in the world, I know that it's good for me, and I've given myself goals along the way to make it easier. What has become something that I love doing is yoga. So much so that I'm religiously checking a website of a studio at home for their summer teacher training schedule. No matter if I do 10 minutes a day or an hour, I'm happy with yoga. Running doesn't make me happy in the moment. It makes me proud when I'm finished. It makes me feel accomplished and strong at the end. I have to push myself. They say "The hardest step for a runner is the first one out the door" and oh, heavens, is that true! You know what they don't say? After you're finished with something that you know to be hard, that you dread but should do anyway, you're better for it. You're stronger and more capable than you know. Make it happen.

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Now, if you still feel like you can't do it here's the thing: I'll lend you my husband for a week and let you put up with watching him go to gym, go to practice, play a game, lose weight, build muscle, and ask you what you did today? Believe-you-me, you'll want to hit the gym even just for 30 minutes!

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So Run, Baby, Run

{via Pinterest}

This comes as a shocker to most, but doesn't bother me in the least. When I run ... I do not listen to music. I know, right?

I no longer own an iPod (unless you count my husband's), I have approximately 6 songs on my iTunes (all Christmas), and half the time I don't even know what's new anymore. Being in Italy keeps you out of the music loop. Sorry kids. It's true. I have come to no longer need the tunes to keep me going and have even started enjoying my runs without it.

My reasons for this are completely circumstantial. They did not come about because of a specific preference, something I read, heard, or made up in my own head. Although I must admit that Italian drivers terrify me, they do not move over when they see someone running, and I firmly believe that if I wear headphones hear while running I will be hit by a car, never to be seen again. Too dramatic? You come over here and give it a try. See how dramatic I am then!

I do love me some beats while on the dreadmill though. {That's dread + treadmill. See what I did there?} About this time last year I began to frequent the Vojens, Denmark gym almost daily. Running a race in Summer 2011 became a dream I began pushing myself toward. It was actually cold there, unlike Asiago right now, and there was snow covering the ground, again, unlike Asiago right now. Weather like this makes running indoors a must, so I climbed onto the dreadmill, plugged my Skullcandy Earbuds into the screen and started my slow and steady pace.

Lucky for me Denmark's MTV station actually played music. It wasn't a plethora of ill-advised early adults running around the Jersey shore that were frequenting the screen, it was actual music. All. Almost. All. Day. Long. This was awesome! I could go to the gym anytime and pretty much have a guarantee that music videos would be playing. This was perfect. Have you ever seen an out of shape, super lazy girl in a music video? No. They're all ridiculously hot and their bodies are part of the 5% of women who never have to do anything extra to make the rest of the world jealous. And so I ran.

Taio Cruz and his lovely ladies became my favorite song to run to and since it was huge and basically on repeat, I was never at the gym without it.

It's a great beat to keep up with, it's motivation to want to look better, plus it's just a pretty decent song and that's exactly what you need.

Even if I'm not following this myself, I highly recommend finding some great music to keep you going if you're spending a lot of time at the gym on any of the cardio machines, or if you're in a "safe" place where running while listening to music would not endanger your life. A lot of people put fitness and health at the top of their New Year's Resolutions so why not make it fun and enjoyable while you're sweating off that little extra. So here you go, my list of "Top 10 Running Songs" (as of January 2012 -- because hey, you need to switch it up a bit come February, and that includes your workout!):

1. Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit)
2. David Guetta - Where Them Girls At
3. LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
4. LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It
5. Mac Miller - Knock Knock
6. The All American Rejects - Move Along
7. Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
8. Britney Spears - Toxic
9. Sak Noel - Loca People (What the F***)
10. Die Atzen Frauenarzt and Manny Marc - Disco Pogo

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Five Days Left

I'm stealing this from Ashley at Run With Me who stole it from Life & Times of Alison & Justin. I think it's a nice way to start this week's blogging adventure. It's only five days until the new year, so why not take a look at what's currently awesome to me. This time next year I'm sure these answers will be very different!

Currently...

Current Book:

I just finished the 3rd installment in the Hunger Games Trilogy last night. Mockingjay! It didn't take me long to get through these three books. Between two jobs (even if neither are full time it's still two jobs!), working out, and spending time with Matt and Lucy, I can honestly say it only took about three days for each book. It's worth it. Put it on your Kindle.

Current Playlist:

I have approximately 10 songs on my iTunes. They're all Christmas. No wonder, it's Christmas time, right? So how about my YouTube playlist.

• David Nail - Let it Rain
• David Nail - Memphis
• Keith Urban - Long Hot Summer
• Billy Currington - That's How Country Boys Roll
• Brantley Gilbert - Country Must Be Country Wide
• Keith Urban - Without You (our wedding song!)
• Easton Corbin - A Little More Country Than That
• and so on and so forth .... Can you tell I like country?

Current Color:

I hardly ever paint my nails. A few weeks ago was the first time I've ever purchased nail polish for myself. Ever. In my life. No joke. If I had to pick something though, for the sake of it:

Current Drink:

Just water, and lots of it.

Current Food:

Salmon and risotto. That's what we had for dinner tonight. It was delish. I'm not a huge meat fan these days. A bite here and there and I'm good to go. However, I could still eat a butt-load of fish. So good.

Current Favorite Show:

This one is easy. I've been all over this since my cousin, Shelley, told me I needed to give it a try. It gets an A+ from me. Even a lot of the other couples here in Asiago are hooked.

Current Needs:

Cushioned socks for running. The too-thin ones I'm rocking these days are killing my tootsies. I'm feeling these Lululemon Ultimate Padded Run Sock.

Current Triumph:

It hasn't happened yet, but it will. My goal for the end of 2011 was to hit 250 miles. For my first year of being a "runner" of sorts I'm pretty happy about this. I'm at 238 and I have four days. I'm doing it.

Current Bane of My Existence:

This dry winter air. It's stuffing my nose, scratching my throat, and making me feel super under the weather lately. It also totally sucks because I have gotten bronchitis every January for the last three years and I'm not looking forward to being sick for another month.

Current Celebrity Crush:

Gerard Butler

Current #1 Blessing:

Matt. He's the best, really. He cooks, does the dishes (I HATE DISHES), plays with our wonderful kitten Lucy, laughs hysterically at Modern Family even though he watches every episode 20 times, is still rocking his Movember mustache, cuddles even after three years, surprises me with an owl statue that says "Our Family" for Christmas because he knows I've been loving owls lately and he "thought it would be perfect for our first Christmas together as a real family."

Current Indulgence:

Oh, Heavens me. Toffifee. A delicious little treat with a hazelnut in the middle of caramel, nougat and a tiny bit of chocolate. I allow myself one a day. They're the size of quarter and about a half inch thick. I brought back a pack of 80 from Slovenia and I'm down to five. Matt has eaten more than I originally said he could have. Now I'm wishing I hid them from him completely!

Current Outfit:

Guelph University hoodie and Yamamay gray sweatpants. Oh, and a ballerina bun. I'm not taking a picture for this. No one wants to see it.

Current Excitement:

Some of our friends will be here on Friday! They are only staying in our neck of the woods for two nights but that includes New Year's Eve and that's something to be excited about!

Current Mood:

I'm yesterday.

Current Favorite Holiday Decoration:

Candles that smell deliciously holiday-like. Cinnamon, vanilla, pumpkin, gingerbread. I love them all.

Current #1 Item On My Wish List:

To be able to go to France with the team. There has been a little hiccup in the plan to go to Paris, then Rouen to watch the Continental Cup. Sad face.

Current New Year's Resolution:

To double my mileage ran from this year. That means my Daily Mile total should equal 500 by December 31 next year.

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I Need Rain Gear

I found this running plan from Women's Health and I was going to do it. Sort of. I was going to at least do it to an extent. I would probably end up running further/longer, not do their "Tone Zone" or "Rock Solid Abs" work out but my own versions of the same ideas, and let's be honest, possibly take one additional day off than they offer here. Oh yeah, and throw in a lot more yoga! But basically use this as a guideline for doing something while I can still run outside.

Except that running outside requires decent weather, or adequate gear to run when the conditions aren't ideal. It has yet to snow (It's crazy, I know! We should have feet of snow by now. We do live in a ski town.). Snow is not the only thing that keeps you from getting outside and enjoying a run or a few other extra curricular activities though. This darn rain is not cool either!

I need something to keep me warm in the 40˚ weather and be water resistant without being overwhelming or constraining. A.K.A. I need a rain/run jacket. My pick: Lulu lemon (of course). The Run:Hustle Jacket in black at $148. It's even got the usual soft cuff with thumb holes to keep your hands warm but not too hot - because that really is an issue while you run in cooler weather.

I love the idea of running in a tight when it's raining too. You don't want to hit a puddle and have the bottoms of your sweatpants soaked, or have water splashing up onto your leg underneath the pant. Plus the fabrics are usually much better for movement in tights even if they are wet. I really like the Danskin Opalescence Running Tight because of the reflective accents. Usually it's a bit darker in the rain so it's good to make sure you're able to be seen. (Maybe I should rethink my coloring on the previously mentioned jacket?)

And of course I'm a big fan of Saucony running shoes since I bought my first pair of Kinvara 2s. They're great for someone like me with a high arch but may not be as awesome for others. If you're looking to run further distances I highly recommend checking out the brand. Make sure you grab a shoe a half size larger so your toes aren't jammed into the front - which runs the risk of losing a toenail - go for something lightweight, and read the style guide. If you like the look of Saucony too, use their Shoe Advisor to determine the best model for you.

As far as running in the rain I haven't found any shoes that are overly water-resistant. Everyone recommends having two pairs that are comfortable for everyday use and switching them out so you're not putting on wet shoes day after day. Since I already love my Kinvara 2s, in blue, so much I figured I might as well grab another pair in another color. How about bright pink?

If only running in the rain was more like this:

and less like this:

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a Good Day

Happy Wednesday! Your work week is almost over - if you work like a normal person. I don't fit this category. Moving on.

After another tough loss last night I'm sure the boys of HC Asiago are not exactly in the best moods. Not getting home until four in the morning doesn't exactly help with their energy levels today either. Even with the loss, Matt got his first goal of the year and I thought that deserved a nice breakfast.

I made him a turkey, onion, and parmesan cheese frittata along with peanut butter toast, coffee with milk and some vitamin juice. It was actually timed perfectly because I was stirring the coffee as he came down the stairs. He seemed to enjoy this nice little treat ... until he tried to clean the egg out of the little cup I baked it in.

The cup was for presentation, not functionality. My bad.

Yesterday I went around town in the pouring rain searching for elements for a birthday present for one of the girls here. I found everything I needed and Matt was nice enough to help me put it together just a few minutes ago. It wasn't tough, and it's nothing super special, but I thought it was a cute idea - on Saturday, her birthday, I'll reveal what I did! She reads this. {STOP SNOOPING MINDI!}

I also got myself a yoga mat yesterday. I feel like the clouds should part and trumpets should sound right now. Only 8 euro! Woop! I've made the executive decision not to get a gym membership until it's absolutely too cold for me to run outside and do fun little mini-workouts elsewhere. This mat extends the time before I need a membership as well. Now I can do sit ups, push ups, stretching, and, well, yoga in the comfort of my own home all year long. Thank you Asiago Euro Store!

This is my goal by the end of the year: a hand stand. Not just getting up there, but a controlled, extended time period, hand stand. Head stand? no problem. Crow? no big deal. Hand stand? Let's do this.

My dailymile goal this week was to get 15 miles by the end of Sunday. I'm at just over four and a half which means I'm heading out again today. It was raining all morning but there's a little calm in the storm so I need to take advantage. 3.17 miles on the agenda today! If it starts raining while I'm out it will just push me faster to get home. It's definitely not a bad thing to take time off your mile!

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Great Weekends Make for a Fabulous Monday

I did it. I did not go on Pinterest one time this weekend - after I wrote that post, that is. I'm not saying I didn't talk about it, a lot, but I refrained from pinning and it felt good. Or at least I felt like a normal person again.

Saturday Matty had another home game and it didn't go as well as we had planned. They lost in overtime taking their record to a horrendous 3-3-2-1. For those of you who don't know that's 3 wins, 3 losses, 2 over-time losses, and 1 shoot-out loss. Don't you worry, I had to ask Matt to explain it to me before I even wrote that. That's not the way we saw this year going. Not. At. All.

Despite the loss we spent some time with great friends, burnt hot dogs, beer and wine, baby kicking, and the girls going to bed "early" until the boys decided it was time to part ways. Early the next morning. It happens.

Yesterday we had a delicious breakfast straight from the "Marriotte" buffet line that consisted of omelettes, sausage and potatoes. Also a little Jersey Shore Reunion watching. If this was Twitter ... #yummm!

We walked around town, did a little window shopping, grabbed some pizza and tiramisu, and I finished off the weekend reading 10% of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I say 10% because my Kindle only goes by percentage, not pages. Which means that I never know how much further until I finish a chapter. This makes it very difficult to say Just give me 2 minutes and I'll watch that show with you, honey.

But this is where I come to my next problem. Kindle. I love it. It's probably the best investment (aside from my computer) that I've made on this European vacation we're on. Lugging multiple books over here each year takes up weight in my checked luggage, space in my carry-on, and then I finish them in one month and have nothing else the rest of the year.

Kindle = Life Saver. That doesn't sound like a problem? Here's the problem:

The new, bottom of the line, Kindle for only $79, Kindle Touch for a measly $99, and Kindle Fire (which could {sort of} rival the iPad) for only $199. Are you kidding me? I contemplated my Kindle purchase for a year. Then three months later this? UGH!

Thanks for ruining my life Amazon. Thanks. -- Too much? Okay.

At least today I got to experience my friend Mindi's favorite bakery here in Asiago. I got a donut filled with cream. It was so good that I had to go for a four and a half mile run afterward. Still in the bag? One of those sugar donuts that I believe also has something oozing in the middle. Tomorrow I'll conquer that pastry. Then run again.

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Let's Get It Started

Today marks the first regular season game for Asiago! Let's go ... SUPERMERCATI!! Actually I don't have a clue what our team mascot or name is. I know that we're HC Asiago and we're yellow. Well, sometimes we're yellow. I'm not sure what other color we are yet. But I'll find out soon! I won't be in the dark for much longer. I apologize.

Based on this logo I bet we're the lions. HC Asiago Lions. Rawr.
Oh, and we're red. But I found this logo after I wrote that first paragraph.

I've been here for just under a week now and I'm finally starting to get my bearings. I'm finding my way around town without a guide, our internet is (obviously) working, Lucy has gone right back to her playful self (yes, Cincinnati was way too hot for her this summer), and after kicking most of this cold I woke up decently early and went for my first run in a week.

Last year I got sick and did everything I could to push through the pain and still workout. I found this to be a very bad idea. For me. Or at least for that specific sickness. If you're not quite sick yet, a good sweat could get all of that bad bacteria out of you, if you're already sick you will probably just wear yourself down even more. That's what I did. So from that point I have tried to let my body, and immune system, rest while I'm sick and not push myself too hard. Today was the perfect day to get back into it.

I went for about 25 minutes. I'm not sure how far but I kept it at a decent pace and just wound my way through the streets of town. I figured if I got lost it would just add a bit of distance. I found the closest recycling bins to our place, I now know at least three different ways to get to our street and a quicker way to get to our friends' apartment. I can find all four Euro Stores on my own now (it's their dollar store!) and can get to the arena all by myself. I feel accomplished.

Add some abs and lunges into the end of that little run and I'm definitely doing something good on this Saturday morning. I even got a relaxing bath afterward. Considering that's all you're able to take in this place.

Yep. This is our tub and slanted ceiling!

It's pre-game though right now and Matty is settling in. Most hockey players have their rituals. Some are ridiculous about the order in which things must be done on game day: what exactly they eat, whether they nap at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., and if that nap lasts only 32 minutes or one hour and 30 minutes.

I'm lucky. Matty isn't quite like that. Of course he likes pasta and meat to get his carbs and protein in for the day. You can't work as hard, and sweat as much, as they do without prepping your body with the right food. But it can be whatever he feels like, or what we happen to have in the house. Yes, he does like to nap, but I'm totally allowed to nap with him (which I've come to find is a rare occasion). He even lets Lucy join. He doesn't mind. His day isn't down to the minute with rituals. It's just supposed to be relaxing so he's not tired when game time rolls around.

I feel bad for the women who have to deal with an overzealous pre-game player. I applaud you on your patience. It's something that, I'm sure, you've dealt with forever and think of as just another day. Maybe it's good I came around the hockey world when I did. If Matt made me creep around the house all day so as not to disturb him, or leave the house entirely, I would have told him to beat it! But maybe that's what he gets for being with an American.

Yep. I'll pull that card.

I don't think Carrie got to nap with Mike on this day.

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