Spring? Not here...

last week's training was rough.  Each run felt like I was full of lead.  I tried hydrating, drank Nuun, fueling properly, stretching, warming up... everything I knew to do was not working.  Yesterday was a 6 miler (i thought it was 9 all week but apparently looked at the wrong week).  I only did 5.25.  I had to do all my itemizations for taxes and spent the a.m. on the computer and working on them.  After about 4 hours I hopped in the shower and then went to meet our tax guy.  Then I went for my run.  no fuel.  I bonked out HARD!!  So I came home and ate and then later did 4 miles on the elliptical to make up for the .75 mile i shorted myself.

Today I woke up and there were several inches of snow on the ground and it was 19 degrees outside and with the windchill a lovely -3. Today was a 5 miler on the books and after yesterday I was nervous.  And then my mind goes to the crazy place:  why am I stressing over 5 miles?  if I can't run 5 (or 6) how am I going to run a marathon?!  since we are in the middle of a typical spring in Montana, I opted for the treadmill.  I put the incline at 2 and ran between 7 and 7.6 mph and FINALLY it felt FANTASTIC!!!!  It has been about 3-4 weeks since a run has felt good.  Sad as that is that is where i have been.  It certainly feels great to be back!!  

Last week I was trying to update my phone and had to delete everything and in the process lost all of my minutes on NTC.  I was at 6660... so now I am working on a comeback in that department too.  I must say I am loving the new Serena Williams workout and Lakey Peterson's beach leg workout.  Both are new with the update and are fantastic.

I think I was mentally stressed out the past few weeks with all that has been going on and I was anxious about the start of marathon training.  I am nervous about the possible sale of our house, etc.  I needed this run today.  What do you do to get your head back in the game? to stay focused? 

Marathon Training begins and Literally a Cocktail Dress

Tomorrow begins marathon training. I will be hopefully running two this year:  Missoula and Smuttynose, july and october.  I have not been feeling so hot the past few days so I laid off the running and did some NTC and Pilates.  I also wanted to get some sewing in since I know I will be pressed for time in the upcoming months.  

At the end of this month we are heading to Arizona for my sister in laws wedding and i am sooooooo looking forward to the warmth.  This month's burdastyle magazine (4/2013) is FULL of items I want to make, and one seemed especially simple and within my skill set (#126).  So I was looking through my stash to see what would work and I came across this fun print:

I had originally purchased it to make coasters for Matt and Jaclyn but the print was too large.  This shift pattern I had chosen would be a perfect way to showcase this fun print!!  I did not have enough fabric to create the ruffles that are featured in the original pattern so I bought some crocheted trim in a butter yellow color and I am so pleased with the result:

This was my first time sewing anything with "set in" sleeves.  This went fine except at first i stitched the sleeve wrong side out, but I have made friends with my seam ripper and quickly corrected it and VOILA!  It took almost longer to trace the pattern off the burda sheets than it did to make this dress.  It came together so fast i began it today and wore it to the in-laws for Easter bbq.  i was a bit over dressed but I wanted to make sure it stayed hemmed, etc.  I can't wait to wear it at the Valley Ho!! :)

I really want to attempt a halter dress in this issue with white eyelet and line it with either gray or teal... time and skills will determine whether it happens.

Anyone else at the beginning of training plan?