Fat Tuesday!

Heya peeps!  It's Fat Tuesday!  Ya know, the day before Ash Wednesday where everyone eats and drinks themselves silly in anticipation of giving up all their vices for Lent.  It sounds like fun to me, well at least until the day after part.  Just kidding.

I am not all that religious and I was not raised Catholic so I have never given anything up for Lent.  Every year I consider it but in the end I always end up thinking I would feel like a fraud if I tried to act like a Catholic just to give something bad up.  I should just be doing that normally.

Here is my list of things I should give up for Lent...

1. Coffee
2. Booze
3. Candy
4. Baked Goods
5. Bread
6. Chocolate
7. My cell phone

With the exception of my cell phone, I really don't over do that much on this list all that often.  Yes, I do have 2-3 coffees/lattes a day (which is more than I should) but I no longer drink soda so nanna nanna boo boo!

Sunday is Valentine's Day!  I've bought the kiddos their gifts (I always get them something small and a small box of chocolates).  The thing I love about Valentine's Day is that it means we are half way through February!  Oh how I long for March.  March in Wisconsin is a crap shot weather wise.  We are likely to get a few 60-70 degree days, a few 0-10 degree days, a couple of good snow storms and maybe a thunderstorm or two.  It really is interesting but it does get warmer!  I am looking forward to getting back outside on my bike.

(the view on my run)

(Lake Loop Path lunch run)

My runs have been cold lately.  Nothing like coming back in to find your butt is frozen, LOL.  Winter makes me tired and want to stay in bed under my electric blanket.  Please spring, I beg you, please come soon!

Winter Wonderland

It's snowing in Wisconsin... it's winter so I guess it's supposed to do that.  I hate snow.  I mean I really hate the snow and cold.  My hubbie loves it or we would not live here (I long for Arizona or California).  But I digress, this is the view from a window at work today.

I can take cold (for the most part), I will run in cold.  The other day I ran when it was 18 degrees out.  It wasn't even that bad, but I refuse to run when it is snowing.  I do not trust myself not to go down in flames.  It gets slick and people aren't the most trustworthy when it comes to removing ice and snow from sidewalks so I prefer to know what I am stepping on.  As beautiful as snow is it hides the dangers that lie beneath (sounds like a horror flick trailer).

(me after my cold run I look like I'm in shock)

One of my favorite bloggers (Shut Up + Run) lives in Colorado and she writes a lot about getting out and running in the snow and cold.  I have found her advice priceless from the tips and tricks to the recommendations in gear.  In fact, I have used many of her recommendations with stellar results.  My one piece of advice...

GO OUT AND RUN!  TRY IT FOR 10 MINUTES, IF IT SUCKS STOP!  IF NOT SOLDIER ON, YOU WILL FEEL BADASS BY THE END!

I am hoping to run tonight, I am praying the snow lets up and the forecasted freezing rain never appears.  But if it does I will stay indoors and bike.  Ugh, I hate riding indoors.  Nothing like going nowhere forever, but it does make for great mental preparation.

Today I realized my first triathlon of the season is less than 16 weeks away, my half is less than 20 and Ironman Wisconsin is just under 32 weeks.  OMG!!  I need to get more consistent in my training and definitely more serious about my eating.  This is not going to cut it!!