2800 miles later…

So, it probably wasn't made clear to all yet, but after 5 days of this:

Ohio:

Iowa:

Side note: If  you’ve ever questioned the phrase “killing frost,” try forgetting to bring your healthy houseplants into the hotel room from your car when it’s –5 degrees Fahrenheit overnight.

Nebraska:

Colorado:

Utah:

California:

[Yeah, I know I skipped some states along the way, like Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois,  Arizona, and Nevada but I was driving for most of those and didn’t take pictures.]

We arrived here:

Soon after arriving, I got to watch the moving truck give birth to my car.

Here’s sunrise from our back yard:

View from the same spot 11 hours later:

Molly has been finding all the comfy places to lay down OTHER than on the grass:

Hopefully our neighbors aren’t creeped out by me trying to take pictures of the sun set across their backyard.

I found some sidewalks to run on:

Slightly different scenery than NJ:

Ok, there were still horses in New Jersey.

And a running/bike path:

Time to figure out how to navigate the California DMV so I can transfer my license and registration…

Have you met my pet kangaroo?

Kari pointed out in my last post that Molly Waffles the greyhound sits like a kangaroo:

Apparently it is more difficult to train greyhounds to sit than other dog breeds (Google greyhound + sitting and you'll see plenty of results).  Something about their body structure, it's not natural, blah blah blah.  When we got Molly at nearly-4 years old and were told greyhounds could be trained to sit but that it was difficult, I think my husband took that as a challenge. 

With some physical assistance at first and plenty of treats, she was sitting in no time.  And ever since she learned to sit, she sits all the time. It just looks a little goofy because her butt hovers an inch off the floor.

Anyway, I have not heard of this comparison before, but after looking up kangaroo pictures, I can see the resemblance.  You decide:

source

source

source

Peace Out, New Jersey

Well, it's official: we moved out of our apartment in New Jersey.

98% of our stuff was picked up by the movers and we brought the rest in our car on our cross-country drive:

Aside from friends and coworkers, here are some things I will miss about NJ:

Wegmans.

Wegmans and I go way back.  We were born in the same city.  I grew up with Wegmans.  And when I moved to New Jersey almost 7 years ago, there was a Wegmans waiting for me and my grocery needs.  Unfortunately, they have not expanded west of Erie, PA, so I will need to adapt.

Halo Farm ice cream.

The park I have loved running in and around for the past 2 years and 9 months.

The canal towpath I have biked and run on for the past 6.5 years.

Our favorite brunch, lunch, and dessert spot.

Peanut butter stuffed pretzel, covered in chocolate.

Sugar + Sunshine Mocha Cupcakes.

(The one on the right. But the one on the left was good too).

Small World Coffee.

Hello, California.

January Recap

I didn't totally slack off during the month of January.

I decided to give yoga a try and have been going once weekly since the New Year.

January 2-8: 75 min yoga, 18.2 miles of running, a surprising 7.38 mile outdoor bike ride, 50 min arms + core
January 9-15: 75 min yoga, 17.66 miles of running
January 16-22: 75 min yoga, 7.48 miles of running, 6 mile hike
January 23-29: 75 min yoga, 16.04 miles of running
January 30-31: 1 hour boot camp

January Total: 59.38 miles run, 7.38 miles biked, 6 miles hiked, 4 yoga classes.

January 31 also marked my last day of work.  I have all kinds of mixed feelings about that, but it is giving me a week to chill out and wrap up stuff here in NJ before the movers come next week to cart our stuff off to CA.

Many runs have been from the Run Less Run Faster plan, even if they have been spread out over a longer period of time.  I'm still able to hit my target paces based on my November half marathon time though, so I don't think I have lost any fitness. 

Somewhere around February 15th I should be able to get back to following a training plan more closely.  Which is good, since I've got a half marathon on March 24th.  I'm not expecting to PR given the course's elevation map.  Luckily (or not) our future home is located at the top of a hill with a several hundred foot elevation change over the course of less than a mile.  So I'll have some forced practice on hills close to home.


What races are you signed up for in 2012?