Well, this is frustrating.  This blog entry, which I spent quite a bit of time on, disappeared when I hit the “Publish” button.  I waited a day to see if it would reappear, but apparently it is completely lost.  I’m not happy!

Anyway, back to Janathon talk with my next entry.  It’s been great running weather here.  The next three days I’ll have a hard time getting a workout in, and writing about it.  Fingers crossed that I accomplish at least one workout and blog update before the weekend.

I’m also trying to start a sewing project, which hopefully will take off this weekend.

Much to my horror, it appears I did in fact put on a pound or two during the Christmas festivities.  I’m now working on a return to my eating routine.  Today I did well at snacking on only things that have food value:  grapes, apple, orange.  I’ve restocked my supply of made-ahead smoothies.  I’ve made big batches of Frogmore Stew and Vegetable Soup, and stashed them away in the freezer in individual portions.  Likewise with yogurt biscuits and cornbread muffins.  I think I’m set for a return to nutritional normalcy.  But at the moment, I still feel puffy.  Grrr.

More Janathon blogs with lots to beware of:

http://www.clairejustineoxox.com/  Beware of photos of delicious looking food.  And a very cute Asda dress find.  Kudos!

http://www.warriorwomen.co.uk/  Beware of photos of tempting bottles of stout.  And a very serious fitness goal.  Go for it.

http://henniemavis.wordpress.com/  Beware of photos of a super model cover girl and then scrolling on down…*scream* a foot in a plantar fasciitis boot!  My sincere condolences.  I’ve endured PF about 3 times over the years, so I feel your pain.  Hope your recovery doesn’t take much longer.

http://joggingjules5.wordpress.com/  Beware of inspirational banner, and an admirable half marathon goal for 2012.

http://www.roper.org.uk/marathon2005/  Beware of accomplished marathon runner.  Very impressive!

http://lengthorn.wordpress.com/  Another night runner!  That is my favorite time to run.  Fun images and tallies of things seen along the way, that made me chuckle.

Yesterday’s workout consisted of Meb’s exercises:  bicycles, scissors, planks, crunches, and more.

Yesterday, it was an easy two-mile indoor run/walk at the lovely new Y.  I slipped out of the office an hour early to get my run in, but still ended up sharing the 1/6th mile track with quite a few new year newbies, and some college athletes doing sprint work on the straights, which was inspiring.  The good thing about the track being so busy is that no one dares walk onto or across the track without looking first, and being sure to stay clear of the runners.  When the track is not so crowded, people wander onto the track as if they don’t even realize they might be stepping into the path of a runner.  I finished up about the time the after-work crowd was arriving.  Factor in that it is a new Y, the new year, and the end of the business day, and the line to check in at the front desk, extended all the way across the lobby back to the doors.  Ugh.  Thank goodness I went a little early.

I looked up some more cool Janathon bloggers today:

http://www.lipsticklettucelycra.co.uk/ Fun photos and realistic run descriptions I can identify with.  I love the term “running ninja”.  Fun read!

http://runthomasrun.wordpress.com/   Just plain hilarious and fun to read!  Laughed all the way through.

http://runningstill.wordpress.com/ Great New Year’s Top Ten List for running.

http://7stoneitch.wordpress.com/  You will root for this determined runner.

http://www.runningdan.co.uk/ Is on the hunt for an interesting site in London to photograph on his run, but in the meantime is posting nice maps of his running routes.

http://www.fatboyfit.co.uk/ A guy with a great sense of humor who is training for a marathon in May.

Today due to my packed schedule, this will be another cross-training day, where I’ll pull out Meb’s list of core exercises again.  I wasn’t sore from doing them the other day like I thought I’d be.

Janathon update:  Yesterday was a non-running day, because my calves were a bit sore.  So, I decided to try a series of Meb’s core exercises, as published in a recent Running Times article.  I went for 12 of each listed exercise, none of which was hard.  But since I don’t do some of those exercises with regularity (e.g., kicking toe touches), I will have some sore spots from this day.  The nice feature of these exercises is that I can do them in my home or office.

I’m going to try looking at the other Janathon participants’ blogs; a few a day.  It is going to be too much to make comments on 200+ blogs and then follow up to see if anyone responded.  So, I think I will mention here, the blogs I’ve read each day.  Yesterday I read these:

http://www.jog-blog.co.uk/ (Inspiring post about turning a Tesco run into a workout.)

http://iliketocount.wordpress.com/ (I like the rainfall updates.  We are in an extreme drought, so my rain gauge sits dry for weeks at a time.)

http://abradypus.wordpress.com/ (I love the mention of Bushy/Kingston, since I have had the privilege of running near there.  My current cover photo is from the Thames Barge Walk near Hampton Court.)

http://runforthequiet.com/ (I simply love the name of this blog!)

http://fairweatherrunner.co.uk/ (Nice sentiments about Day 2)

http://ninjamum.wordpress.com/ (Kudos to you for your health and fitness accomplishments these last few months!)

I love seeing how everyone fits a mention of Janathon into their posts.

Quick post after a long and eventful hiatus to say I’ve spent the day pondering what to make of this year on many fronts.  In the running department, I participated in an exceptionally fun 5k last night.  Then today did a 2-miler on my own, on alternating dry and icy surfaces.  Ugh.  I have two nearby half marathons in my sights; one in April and the other in early June.  To prepare, I’m thinking of doing a modified version of this 16-week program with three runs per week and cross training on the non-running days.  http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/general/the-first-three-day-a-week-marathon-schedule/2493.html  Locating the Y’s current group fitness schedule has been a challenge today, but once I find that schedule, I hope to wedge a weekly yoga class back into my life.   That’s four days down; three more cross training days to fill in.  This thought to be continued; stay tuned.

Oh yes.  And why did I post a quick blog today about running, and why will I be posting regular updates over the next month?  Because I’ve signed up for Janathon.  http://www.janathon.com/

I am due for a ten mile run.  Yesterday morning knowing it would be hot, I put on my runners’/hikers’ hydration backpack.  It is like a Camelbak, but is made by Coleman.  It is designed to strap securely in place so it doesn’t bounce up and down during a run, but it adds some weight and a sloshing sound.  I also wore a running cap, sunscreen, and my good lightweight sports sunglasses.  I used the water not just for drinking, but to wet my legs and torso.  That really helped.  But in truth I got started on my run too late in the morning.  It was getting too hot too quick.  Around mile 4, I decided it would not be good to go the whole ten miles, so I cut the run in half, and finished with five miles.

Then later in the day, at dusk, I did some kayaking, which I’m calling cross training.  Even that was hot.  There was practically no breeze, even on the water as the sun was setting.  I’m so ready for a break from this heat.  And I still need to get that 10-miler in sometime this week.  Sigh.

I did see this person flying a kite as I was running.  It lifted my spirits as I went by.

And then I had to lament about the extreme drought we are experiencing.  A few weeks ago this was a beautiful, tall, green corn field.  Now it is brown and burned up from the heat and drought.

I’m looking forward to that next good rain.

I’m a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.  This week was the 4th anniversary of Sarah and me being Big Sis and Little Sis.  To celebrate we went out to dinner at the restaurant of her choice, and then went ice skating.  Two hours of ice skating is a workout.  At least that is what my quads were telling me.  Those rental ice skates with the hard plastic boot are awful, like the worst pair of ski boots.  I wore my toughest pair of running socks, hoping to prevent blisters, but they could only do so much.  I did get one big blister that bled into my precious Balegas.  But ugly blister aside, I count this activity as an excellent cross training session; a fringe benefit to spending another fun evening of quality time with my very cool Little Sis.

It is sooo hot for running right now.  I’m registered for a half marathon in three weeks, but I will not be in very good shape for it.  I will finish, but with my current conditioning level and the August heat factor, I will not finish at a pace I want to brag about.  Or even tell anybody.  It will be my secret.  What I am doing well right now, is tracking my nutritional intake.  This spring and summer I have drastically increased my intake of milk and fruits.  In other words, lots of smoothies, and lots of salad wraps made with plain yogurt as the dressing base.  My energy level has soared, and I am losing weight and feeling toned.  Not a bad thing.

Strawberry Smoothie.

5 whole frozen strawberries

2 T. honey

1 c. plain nonfat yogurt

Blend until smooth and a little bit frothy.

Smoothie recipes are everywhere, and there is nothing unique about mine, other than it fits my personal taste buds and my keep-it-simple mantra.  I like it best when I’ve made my own yogurt from skim milk.  In this heat, I start thinking in the afternoon about how good my smoothie will taste when I get home.  Then I get home, make and drink my smoothie, and then fix myself a dinner entree, and then about an hour before sunset, when hopefully it has cooled down some outdoors, I drag myself out for a run.

Nutritional information (based on package labels and USDA database):

Calories–267

Calcium–496 mg

Fat–0.36 g

Sugar–44.7 g

Fiber–1.1 g

Protein–5.96 g

Sodium–190 g

Vitamin C–22.7 mg

Phosphorus–392 mg

Welcome to my journal where I will write about what inspires me.  I enjoy running, sewing and reading.

My memorable run along the English Channel at Folkestone.

Tonight I will attend my quilt guild’s quilt show, held every other June.  Stay tuned for pictures of beautiful quilts.