Race Medal Ornaments

For most of the year the race medals that Cory and I get sit in a pile and collect dust. We could get a fancy medal hanger and display them but instead we save them until Christmas time so we can turn them into ornaments.

It's fun to think back on the races we have done over the year while decorating the tree. This time of year is a great time to think back on all the fun we've had this year.

It's pretty simple but I thought I would share how I make medals into ornaments.

Step 1: Cut the ribbon in half

Step 2: tie ribbon in a bow if you like it, if you don't want a big bow on your tree you can remove the ribbon and use a metal ornament hanger.

Step 3: Hang on your tree and enjoy for years to come.

Simple and easy, just the way I like it!

Now I am off for a 11 mile trail run in Boulder, so excited! Then a swim with my mom in her awesome pool. What are your plans for today?

Celebraing the Season

Our Relator Sarah King, who we LOVE invited Cory and I to Denver Zoo's, Zoo Lights. Happily my parents used Sarah to find their hours this fall too so they were invited as well. We all bundled up and headed out (and for me back to work, but I don't mind, I still love the zoo even though I am there everyday)

It was so fun to have mom and dad there with us!

The lights are so pretty this year, I think it's even better than last year.


It was a great way to spend a Tuesday night.
What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

November Recap and December Goals

November was pretty good, but it FLEW by! This time of year always goes by in a flash and it makes me a little sad. Good thing Christmas is around the corner to lift my spirits!

The main thing that happened in November was that Cory and I started our Ironman training. So far so good, but we were just in the preparation phase. We start Base Building next month and I am sure things will get more intense (at least I hope they will, I am ready to kick it up a notch).

In November Cory and I drove from Oregon to Colorado

I died my hair brown (I asked for brown and ended up just darker blond and it's washing out even lighter, I think it's a sign that I am just meant to be a blond) oh and got bangs...this is earth shattering news, I know.

I enjoyed MANY red starbucks cups

I discovered Cafe Rio salads, so delicious!

I got reacquainted with my trainer, we are going to be really good friends in the coming months.

I bought a new bike!!! can't wait to actually get it.

We ran a turkey day 10k

And we swim, bike, run, trained a lot, and loved it.

Here's how I did on my goals for November:

1. Keep track of workouts better. I am participating in the Holiday Booty Buster Challenge and the Pile on the Miles so I need to keep track! Check, I have a super nerdy spreadsheet set up.
2. Run at least 70 miles check! over 85
   
3. Swim for at least 12 hours Nope, closer to 8 hours, DOH! need to get in the pool
   
4. Bike for at least 20 hours Check! lots of time in the saddle this year, it was a mistake not to do more last year.
   
5. Do my PT exercises every night No, But my PT said I didn't have to so I am ok with it.
   
6. Do abs and arms exercises three times a week YUP!
   
7. Eat healthy (except on Thanksgiving, on that day anything goes!) Mostly yes. I actually dropped weight this month, I am happy about this. I am getting closer to me "fighting weight" but this is it's own post.
   

I am happy with what I accomplished in November and here are my goals for December:

1. Have fun with friends and family before training gets too crazy
   
2. Continue to eat well 90% of the time (Christmas, and Christmas eve don't count)
   
3. Follow my training plan
   
4. Take more pictures, November pictures=fail!
   

What are your goals for December?

Lactate Threshold Test, FitFluential Ambassador and Other Things

This post will be a random assortment of things but it's been a busy weekend and I am not complaining one bit.

Friday morning Cory and I got up early to head over to coach Charley's fitness center to get our power tested on our bikes as well as our bike heart rate zones.

Charley hooked us up to computrainers and made us do 5k tim trials. Working on the computrainer was so fun! I wish I had one at home, too bad they are $1600 plus.

I was happy with my results, my output was around 200 watts.

We also got our heart rate zones to work with, Charley has us working off this scale

Later that night we headed to our second Thanksgiving celebration with Cory's family. I loved seeing his Aunt, Uncle and cousins. I made sure not to stuff my face too much, I think it's fine to indulge for one day on the holiday you get in trouble when you celebrate with food for two months straight.

Yesterday we headed out for a cold but beautiful nine mile run on the Highline Canal Trail.

Nice form.....no?

After getting home I was notified that I had been selected to a FitFluential Ambassador. I am very excited about this opportunity and can't wait to see what it all entails.

After finishing our weight training for the day we packed away the fall decorations and started decorating for Christmas, I can't believe it's that time already.

Winston is ready for Santa!

Now I need to get ready for a fifty mile bike ride and a swim with my mom. How has your Thanksgiving weekend been?

Thanksgiving 2011 and Turkey Day 10K Race Report

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving! I had the best time, I love, love, love having my family in town.

Our turkey day started off just the way I like it with a fun family race. My mom ran the 5k (she is recovering amazingly from plantar fasciitis)

You can tell where I get my smile from

Cory and I ran the 10k, we didn't treat it as a race since our legs were pretty beat up from everything else this week so we treated it like a fun run and had a great time. It was a beautiful day, last year it was seven degrees this year it was in the mid fifties.

It was such a beautiful day, I wish we could have gone for a bike ride too but there was no time, there was lots of cooking to do.

Cory and I made the pies and mash potatoes for thanksgiving, it is so nice to cook in my parents huge kitchen.

Pie!

It was such a fun holiday, full if my favorite things: family, food, fun and fitness!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, I am glad you are in my life too.