Blogging Challenge #7 Friday the 13th

It's Friday the 13th! Do you have any superstitions?

I'd like to say no. I am mindful of breaking mirrors, spilling salt or walking under ladders and the thought does cross my mind when a black cat walks in front of me but do I do anything about it...sometimes. I guess if I had to, I'd walk under a ladder or not throw salt over my shoulder, etc so if I don't do it I don't worry something is going to happen to me. So in a way I guess I kinda am but not really.

Cloth Diapering

With the new and improved cloth diapers, I figured I'd try it out this time around. This is the coolest program you can do to see what brand you like. Jillian's Drawer's has a diaper trial where you only pay $10 plus shipping to try them out. I kinda had an idea what I would like according to friends suggestions but it was great to try them out first to see if I would even like cloth diapering in the first place. I'm in week 2 of my trial and have found what works for me and will be ordering the brand I do like.

Being Chased

Everyone jokes that they'll run if they're being chased. Well, I was running and I was chased. It was not fun. I've lived in my neighborhood for 4.5 years, I love it, I've ran all times of day here and have NEVER felt scared. Unfortunately that all changed when I went for a run on Oct. 26th. It was my typical 3 mile loop that I run, I didn't get out till 6:30pm because I had to wait for my hubby to get home. It wasn't daylight savings yet so it was still somewhat light out. I grabbed my dog and headed out.
The funny thing is, while I was running I was thinking I didn't put my Road ID on my new shoes or bring my cell phone. As I was nearing home, probably about 0.25 miles from home or less, I notice two men cross the street ahead of me, heading in the same direction. My dog was off leash so I started to run in the street to pass them. I had headphones on but they were low. I thought I heard a whistle. I didn't know if it was for me or for my dog. I ignored it and kept going. Then I noticed my dog pick up her pace. I turned around and noticed the two men had started running behind me. Now these guys were not runners. They looked like they had just gotten off of work (laborer sort of job). I heard them panting hard behind me and picked up my pace. I lost them around the corner (I don't know if they stopped running or what). I sped home and talked with my hubby about the incident. He and I decided to call the cops to let them know what happened.
The police came and took a statement and said things I should do to be safe. (Run in daylight or with another person, carry cell, etc) I'm glad I reported it, I know a lot of people in my neighborhood that walk/run/walk their dogs and I would hate for them to experience what I went through.
From now on I'm more cautious. I hate that I don't feel as safe out there. I am now looking into getting a treadmill as a just in case so if I want to run and it is dark I have backup.

Blogging Challenge #6 If Money Was No Object

If money was no object, what would you do with your time?

I would travel...hands down I would be all over the world. I'd probably have to come back home occasionally, usually 3 weeks is my max from being away from home in another country so I'd come back for a few weeks and then head out to the next country or countries. I'd probably need a nanny while we're traveling so that sometimes my hubby and I can get out on our own.
Included in that travel, I'd compete in races in other countries. Even triathlons. It's so expensive to send your bike by plane as well as the costs of the race. I've drooled over a ton of races in exotic places, I'd love the opportunity.
And of course I'd stay home with my children. I might send my oldest to preschool part time because she enjoys it, but perhaps I'd volunteer there too.
Don't even get me started on if money were no object what would I buy...

Running Talley up to October

I've run a total 240.81 miles this year (as of October 31st). I'm getting really close to making my goal of 300 miles. In fact with the rate I've been running each week I'll surpass my goal.

Blogging Challenge #5 Halloween Candy

Favorite Halloween Candy of all time:
My tastes have changed over time. I'm a dark chocolate lover and have now started to dislike anything milk chocolate. Pretty extreme I know. But as for Halloween candy I have to say I have two favorites because I categorize them as chocolate and non-chocolate. The chocolates would be Reese's Butter Cups, Almond Joy, Mounds or Snickers bars. For non-chocolate my fav's are Nerds and Sweet Tarts. But I think my all out favorite candy from there would be Snickers with Reese's as second.
This year in fact I only bought the chocolate candy bag from Costco. The past few years when I've bought the non-candy bag too I ended up with a ton of candy not eaten. I can't wait to start handing candy out to the kids. I love seeing them dressed in costumes.

Book Reading Goal

I set a goal of reading 50 books this year. Last year I read 54 so I figured 50 would be doable. I'm on book 38 right now. Last month was a bit off for me, with two weddings and an engagement party to attend all weekends were booked and the book I was reading wasn't the greatest. The book I read was "Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner. It was a nonfiction book about a "grumpy" man looking for the happiest place on earth. It was a little dry, I got through it but it took me a full month. And for me that's a super long time. I usually read a book a week so that tells you something...
I'm now reading L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad, I picked it up because I'm a "Hills" fan. Let me tell you it's kinda lame. I'll finish it pretty quickly because it is an easy read but as of now I don't recommend it.
If you want to see a list of my books for this year check me out on goodreads.com. I'm Tri-reader.

Running Talley 2009

Goal 300 miles, 219.09 ran 80.91 to go.

Blog Writing Challenge

Do you enjoy reading? What do you read and when? What's your favorite book ever?
I love to read. I read all of the time. Mostly books and magazines. I carry a book with me everywhere (one of my criterias for purses is that it can fit a book) so I sneak in reading whenever I can. I mostly read at night before bed, or if I'm at work, at lunch. My favorite book ever...Little Women.

13 miles for my 13 week old (and almost 3 year old)

Sunday was the race. I wore a sign on the back of my shirt that said exactly the title of this post. I ran with my husband and running partner/friend. It was a beautiful day, perfect weather, entertaining and good company. I had run a 10 miler the weekend before and my pace was decent, a little slower than my PR but was totally ready.
We kept a pretty steady pace and finished in 2:23:36, under 2.5 hours which was my goal. I'm happy with the finish especially since we went a little faster than my training pace.
Unfortunately the race had two deaths, one I believe we saw at mile 12, a woman down and they were doing CPR. The other death my mom and friend saw, the man collapsed in front of them right near the end. The paramedics asked my friend to move my daughter so she wouldn't see what was happening. It's so sad. I can't imagine how their families feel. Of course this happening gives my mother fuel to her fire of not wanting me to work out.
Anyways, onto happier things...my running partner and I have to come up with a race we want to train for so we can try for an under 2 hour PR.