Westward Ho

We recently traveled west for some relaxation time in one of our favorite cities--Santa Fe. We had a great time and enjoyed time on the couch, time on the slopes, good food, fresh air, and a side trip to Vegas! I managed to fit knitting and running both into our trip, but was quickly humbled running at altitude. Thank goodness knitting didn't require my lungs. My runs included speedwork and a long run of 14 miles that both left me breathless and slower than usual. I am always reminded of the joy I get from running when I am listening to only the sound of my feel on the trails and see such beautiful surroundings as the Santa Fe mountains. I only saw a few cars and the scenery was so beautiful and well quite literally breathtaking. (Yes, I really took that photo!)


My knitting included the completion of two cabled baby hats complete with ear flaps. They were quick, plane friendly, and turned out just adorable and soft.

Skiing was a blast and I think the running helped me quickly pick up where I left off two years ago--blasting down the blue hills and enjoying an easy black or two. I even heard myself yip outloud after getting airborne over a snowmound.











On the other hand, I am reminded of what a pain people can be while on a run down the strip in Vegas! We drove from Santa Fe to Vegas, with my mother-in-law and her boyfriend. It took about 10 hours and took me through uncharted territory in Arizona and a trek across the Hoover Dam (view the Dam photo).

In Vegas, we saw the Cirque du Soliel Love show (Beatles), played a little tennis in the warmer weather, and attended a friend's, yup his name is Ron and we know him, 70th birthday party at the Palms. Enjoy the photos!

16 Mile Race in NH

A friend and I recently challenged ourself to what we have seen advertised as New England's most challenging road race. "Many say this race is among the toughest anywhere, with hills. The largest hill, Warner Hill (also known as Antennae Hill), is a long climb, but it too is ideal. It is at the same point in the race (70 to 75% complete) as the famous heartbreak hills in Boston—ideal training."

My friend and I trained for weeks, each Thursday running the steep hills in the famous Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston. Up one hill, jog down, and up the next. . .repeat until we were grabbing our butts and quads.

We were told part of the charm of this race is often the weather. We got lucky--it was 8 degrees but not snowing or icing, as has been the case in previous years. Instead the sun helped keep us warm and toasty. (Notice that you can see my breath in the photo of me finishing.) Actually, our husbands probably beared the brunt of the coldness as they stood at the top of the last hill waiting for us to pass and cheering us on. We think they were just as much troupers as we were:)






Our goals continuously changed prior to the race. We'd go from hoping to run it as a solid training run in our marathon training schedule to my God just let me finish. Yet, we started out together running strong and kept it up, even climbing the hills with smiles and friendly chatter. At mile 13 my friend had an extra burst and we seperated, but she made the first 13 really enjoyable and I was able to power through those last 3 with independent determination took some time to reflect on how far I had come from a year ago. Luckily we both finished well under the 3 hour "strict" time limit where we would have been escorted off the course. I managed to cross in 2:35 feeling really good (a 9:47 pace for the 16 miles)--it was my longest run ever.

Bags Unveiled and Wild Weather

We are back from our Holiday trip to the Midwest. We had a great time and enjoyed time with family and friends as well. The weather varied from the low twenties to the high sixties with high winds no matter the temperature quickly utilizing the limited variety of running gear I had towed along. Who knew you would need warm, cool, and freezing cold gear in a six day window? Regardless, it didn't stop me and all but 1 run were completed.

Plus, now that the gifts have been passed around and the packaging long tossed aside, I can reveal my Holiday project of 2008--large purse/tote bags for my sister and closest friend. The bags were amazing colors and patterns thanks to Amy Butler fabric I found back in Portsmouth (see earlier post from November). I really think the pleats and handle make this bag. I couldn't have been happier with how the pleats turned out and they seemed to hold up against my tossing the thing around through airports and travels. I hope to make some cute matching zippered cosmetic cases to go with the bags with the remnant material. I also hope to find a slightly smaller version or adapt this one. Both gals appear to have loved them, mine traveled well and served as my weight training apparatus throughout the trip, and requests have been put in to make more. See below:





First though, I gotta make myself a pair of dog print pajama pants with some pattern I picked up at the biggest JoAnn Fabrics ever back in IN.

HAPPY NEW YEAR--may this year be the year of fabulous projects and great running adventures!

What is in a Name?

A rose by any other name. . . would probably still smell just as lovely. Regardless, someone probably took some time into figuring out that a rose should be called just that--a rose. Similarly, I took time in determining what to call this blog because I wanted it to reflect myself and what I would be writing about. Now, as I am pleased enough with my holiday creations (suspense building yet?) to put my name on them in the form of a label--the dilemma of a name haunts me. As a result, I am soliciting the help of my followers (assuming anyone out there reads this). The labels I like have room for two lines so I could have a title and then my name under it. For instance: A Running Stitch with my first initial and last name below it. Then again what about MJ Designs? MJ's Private Collection? MJ's Creations? Please, please let me know if you have ideas. Here is a webpage that specializes in these labels with examples: http://www.wevelabels.com/order1.php
Also, here is a friend's label to view as a sample:

Holiday Snow

Since I can't post photos of my December projects until after Christmas (just wait for that post), what better than some fun photos of our recent snow--mind you it is still snowing. It appears we have about 10 inches or so of accumulation, but we can't tell due to the 35 mph winds. It is certainly a high mound of snow with the snow is up to Otis' belly. He LOVES the snow. If he isn't romping in it with his friends, he is chasing snowballs and questioning where they go (throw it Dad throw it), or eating it (note the mustache). HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Break on Through. . .

Ah, I believe I broke on through to the other side of winter today. After days of rain and cold temps in New England. . . I crashed through an iced over puddle early into a morning run resulting in filthy lake filled shoes and freezing toes for another hour and twenty minutes! Luckily, my running club companions also had cold wet feet and kept on going with me so we talked and got our mind off our feet.

I hope to knit under a huge pile of warm blankets the rest of the day taking a break to work on some Christmas presents at the sewing machine. The scarf I am knitting is a redo of a merino wool scarf that just wouldn't stop curling into a tube scarf and is coming along nicely. More details on the Christmas presents (and photos) once they are delivered:)

Here is a photo of the annoying curling scarf that I "frogged," a.k.a. ripped out, and the progress on the new scarf:

Mill City Relay Race

With the first snow/winter mix in the area occurring today, I also enjoyed my first relay race--The Mill Cities Relay (http://www.millcities.com/). My running club was able to receive an invitation (yup, this is only for running clubs and by invitation only) and had 8 teams out of 193 teams!! The race totaled 28.3 miles, covered two states (MA and NH), had five legs of different lengths (2.5-9.5 miles each), and took place in slick and snowy conditions this year. I ran the 9.5 mile leg of the race along the river and crossed multiple towns--so fun running by those town signs. Total time for the team: 3 hours and 50 minutes. My leg: 1 hour 22 minutes (8:38 pace).

The 40 Wicked runners headed out of town at 5:45 am and started the adventure(s) at 8:00 am. We managed to fishtail our runners from one running exchange to the next with tons of laughs. My team of 5 ladies, a.k.a. the Wicked Good Glendas, certainly shared many laughs and Dunkin Donuts stops for coffee (seriously, these New Englanders drink Dunkin like water:)). Each leg was successful and we each ended with a smile after running on highways, though small towns, and even on a quaint stretch along a river with a beautiful dam/waterfall. Did I mention the snow??? What a pretty run until you were wet, cold, and freezing when you stopped running:)


I will definitely run another relay race with this team and especially these four amazing woman. One teammate's daughter even circled back with water for me after she drove by cheering me on and I asked for water--what a great group of people.



Lessons learned:
1.)spread all amenities between all cars involved
2.)have good maps for routes from any 1 leg to another
3.)notify each other when handoffs occur for better timing estimations (and to avoid running out of a port-a-potty to start a leg of a race)
4.) Thank my Dad again for teaching me to drive any car--including manuals and in any weather

Most Memorable Moments:
1.) Watching people slide down the hill in front of the starting area and questioning our sanity (what does it take for a weather delay?)
2.) Watching my teammate turn the bend like lightening in a tiara fully sporting the Wicked Good Glendas!
3.) Having people drive by screaming your name and "Looking Wicked Good"!!
4.) Getting to know new friends through car rides and fishtails



Who says Winter in New England keeps people inside?