Home For The Holidays

After spending 15 hours in a bus, then a car, on I-95 South yesterday, I'm finally home for Christmas! I took the bus from NYC to DC, where my brother and sister picked me up for the longest unintentional road trip ever. Turns out, everyone who lives on the I-95 corridor decided to go driving yesterday.

My sister took this sometime around 11pm as we finally crossed the border into SC!

We kept ourselves entertained with comedy roulette- I have never listened to so many stand-up specials in my life. Now it's finally time to relax and enjoy Christmas with the family! We're decorating the tree tonight (a long standing tradition) and tomorrow we'll have the entire family over to celebrate!

Speaking of home for the holidays, have you seen this SNL skit? It's like they interviewed my family it's so spot on:

One Note

Over the past two days, I've taken two runs that look nearly identical:

December 18th, 5 miles along the East River:

December 19th, 6 miles along the East River:

Almost identical, even down to a frustrating Garmin. I love the Garmin... when it can hold a GPS signal. Luckily, it can when I'm in Central Park or running by the River, but can't find/hold a signal to save it's life in midtown Manhattan. But during my 1st/last miles when I'm getting to those running spots, it's pretty darn disheartening to look down and see some wild number like an 11 minute current pace when you've just been running 2 minutes faster! At least I can look at moving time after my run to see a more realistic pace.

The two runs also tell me I'm a pretty one note runner. I know ZERO about pacing. And I have ZERO strategy- people write about holding back at first during a race then picking up the pace later, going for hard/easy runs, and I'm learning I'm absolutely clueless. I just go out and run, and even if I tell myself to 'push it' or 'relax,' it seems like I just fall into the same pace. Definitely a goal for 2013: learn how to pace myself, find an uncomfortable, hard pace, and learn how to run with a strategy.

Today is an inadvertent rest day. I was supposed to bake cookies last night for a holiday cookie exchange party tonight, but it didn't happen. So instead of waking up early to run, I'm up early baking bacon chocolate chip cookies! I told you I'd never lose weight from running, and plus... 'tis the season ;)

(via Girl Who Ate Everything)

Now it's time to eat some cookies for breakfast!

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Every year, my church in SC puts on the same Christmas pageant. No theatrics, no 'of the moment' costumes and extra fluff, just the important story of Jesus' birth. And every year, at the end of the pageant, little angels pass out candles. One candle is lit, and as the light is passed around the room, everyone starts to sing 'Let There Be Peace On Earth.' By the time the song is finished, the room is awash in soft candlelight  and you can't help but feel the love in the room.

I didn't get to go to the Christmas pageant this year, but the song couldn't be more on my mind. Let there be peace on Earth, especially for everyone grieving in Newtown.

Playing Santa

Today I got to play Santa :)

I signed up to participate in the NY Cares Winter Wishes program, which matches you with kids who could use a little extra cheer during the holidays. Irving wanted a remote control monster truck, and it was the highlight of my day finding the perfect one for him:

Probably the most exciting Christmas present I'll buy this year!

On the running front, I did a speed workout at Blink today that nearly killed me- 3.3 miles in 30 minutes and I was dripping in sweat. I've been running outside so much lately I've come to loathe the treadmill, but having the speed change ever 1-2 minutes made it go by quickly.

(taken from Carrots N Cake)

Tomorrow, take 2 with the Garmin! 

Gloomy

Manhattan was so grey on my run this morning:

I made it home right as the ominous clouds opened up, and the cold rain hasn't stopped all day. I guess winter is here to stay, fingers crossed Santa brings me some more cold weather running gear! 

I use Pinterest for my Christmas wish list- so much easier than trying to think of gifts at one time! I can just add pins when the moment strikes- I used Pinterest for Christmas last year, and my family said it was so easy just to look at the board, click on the links, and buy a gift without any hassle. The system almost works too well... my mom and dad and my sister both got me the same sweater for my birthday! 

Right now my board is looking a little sparse- running gear, a GARMIN (please!), one sweater (already bought), some makeup, and my beloved Ray Bans (that I already got 3 years ago, but they tragically flew off my head and got crunched under the subway). Time to start pinning... perfect activity for this gloomy day!

Run stats: Tuesday: chilly East River run, 3.6 miles, 33:03/9:14 pace; Monday: yoga

Super Sunday

I think this was my most productive Sunday... ever. I knocked out about 3 hours of work, ran errands, deep-cleaned my room and kitchen, did laundry, and went on a run. I also hung our first Christmas decoration!

It's just a door sign, but it's a start. We didn't get a tree last year, but I'd love to get a small one this year! My dad has the tradition of getting all the children an ornament each year-- we had to stop it at home because the tree couldn't handle anymore new ones, but every year since I've graduated college he's sent me one for my apartment trees. Last year I hung them from our 'balcony' (aka railing on the two steps in my apartment), but this year I'd love to actually hang them on a tree.

Fun fact: Decorating the tree is a huge tradition in my family. Even though my brother, sister, and I don't get home until December 22nd or later, my parents wait every year to decorate with us. And we always have glass bottle cokes and cookies while we're decorating ;) 

Run stats: Chilly Central Park run, 5.1 miles, 48:08, 9:26/mile. Hamstring still a little tender, but getting better!