Half marathon training and McNellies mug

I made it to taper week! Woohoo! I was supposed to run 7 miles yesterday but instead ran 4 miles and walked 2 for St. Patrick's day festivities.

Isn't that the cutest little hat? McNellies is an Irish pub in Oklahoma. I've been to 2 of the 3 locations. This pub is about a mile from my house, which makes it easy for me to get there and home. The mug was a $50 investment with a 10% discount on beer. This mug was purchased in December 2012 and I'm confident that I've drunk my way into a profit.

I have logged 72 miles on the new purple nikes and I'm ready for race day. It's never a good idea to run a half marathon on brand new shoes but I think these beauties have been broken in enough for race day.

Half marathon training

My first run in the brand new shoes was spectacular. It's amazing how new shoes feel worlds different from worn out tired running shoes. 

I ran 4 miles Tuesday and today I'll be running a combined 6 miles. Saturdays I will add a mile until it's time to taper for the next half marathon. It's 7 miles this Saturday and I think my longest run will be 10 miles. 

Another milestone to celebrate is that I've run over 900 miles since regularly using the nike app. I started getting to it last November. There's no doubt that I'm runner now. 

I absolutely love the color of these shoes! And I must share a photo of Chomps. 

He was cold and we bundled him in this blanket. What a cutie!

Shoes for running

I'm pleased that I was able to dry out my shoes yesterday because the sun came out. As I'm going back to these shoes and doing my runs, the achiness is fading and the running is getting easier. I should have changed a couple of weeks ago but that's not a big deal. Bodies heal. 

After the usual pack pint run last night, I got my burger without a bun. It was a mess all over me but delicious. The crunch was fantastic. I'll order it again for sure!

This mornings taper run was speedy! 12 minute miles! My next run will be the half on Sunday. I learned a couple of things this week. 1- elite athletes do a shakeout the day before the race to ensure their body is in peak performance. 2- apparently chafing doesn't come from being fat. It's just how my skin handles the runs. I will need to explore options to solve this next summer and then I'll run in shorts and tank tops. All this summer I've been in shirts and capris because that is one solution to chafing. There must be a better option. 

#esthernorinedesigns and a shoe saga of sorts

So my creativity has fallen short but it's still early. I'm really just trying to take photos of everyday life and trying to find new perspectives. I created the hash tag for my own purposes but anybody could use it. I don't know why you'd use it though. 

The shoe saga continues. I left the other pair in the truck bed because they still smell from stepping in poop. Unfortunately, it rained last night. Now the shoes are wet. I'm attempting to dry them with the truck heater but I may have to resort to the back up - back up pair. Tonight, I'll run the 3 miles with pack pint run and red coyote. Tomorrow will be two miles. Then...gasp...it's race day. Sunday will be here in no time. 

Half marathon training update

These shoes have run their last miles. I'm aching and cracking all over. I have some old shoes that should still have miles left. I did yoga last night to try and stretch out the pain. I'm aching from head to toe and the half is on Sunday. I got this. I know my training has been good. I'll cross the finish line victoriously! 

In other news, I enjoyed a free shot of espresso because the cashier felt sorry for me ordering only one shot. And I've created my own hashtag for Instagram and twitter: #esthernorinedesigns. Ultimately, I'd like to post at least a photo every day and bring some creativity to this online home. I'm starting today. 

Chomps and Kirby love the new home!

High Five For Friday

Usually, Fridays are the best but not this week. The vacation is winding down. Sad. It's been a really good week for us though. On the upside, we have booked a trip to Dominican Republic for April. That's going to be an awesome trip with all my Parrothead friends.

These shoes are gorgeous and make me very tall. I am not good at walking in these shoes however. I made it through all of Wednesday night, standing and walking. When it was time to turn in, I found a shuttle to take us to our room. It was a short shuttle ride. I am not going to wear these shoes for awhile.
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Breaking out of the ordinary

I got to wear my new shoes and blazer at work. I love new clothes! It's an ego boost for me. I took time to practice the piano. It was tough but good for me.

Confidence boost

Today’s rating is Positive.

I had a good day and that was partially because of my shoes. I had my shiny red comfy heals, which I wore with jeans to dress them up. I felt great walking tall in these shoes. I’ve had these shoes for about a year but haven’t worn them because of the colder winter weather. Maybe you have a spring outfit that you haven’t been able to wear for awhile. If you bring it out, your confidence could reach new highs and help reduce some stress.

On the job hunt, I have added one more company to the list that I am researching. I hope to schedule a phone interview with at least two companies this week. I’ll be moved in 20 days. Perhaps, I’ll have a job lined up by then. I am also praying for our home because we need to find a qualified person to rent. We have a company taking care of that work for us. I know all these issues will work themselves out with God’s help. Not knowing the answer can be so difficult and stressful though. Thanks for reading!