Resolve to set more goals!

I've never been a big New Year's Resolution person.  If you want to change something, change it now!  However, I am definitely goal-oriented.  But is there really a big difference between setting resolutions for the new year, and setting goals?  I had to look up resolution to feel confident in answering this. And found that it has many meanings, of course, but to sum up: a resolve or determination; the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc; the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose. So more of a course of action, a process, whereas a goal is the end-point, what you're working towards.


Why set goals?  A goal is defined as: the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end. Setting goals allows you to state what you want, where you want to be -- to focus. It gives you confidence when you accomplish one, it provides you with direction, it allows you to prioritize, and it helps you accomplish more. 


Resolutions can be great, but oftentimes they lose their luster and fall flat 3-5 weeks into the year.  Suddenly the hype is gone, the sales are over, the gyms have ceased their "new year, new you!" offers, and life returns to normal.  The resolution to "work out more" turns into "well maybe I'll work out more when I have the time."  And they generally only happen once a year: January 1st.  I don't hear of many "Independence Day Resolutions." But goals don't go away, the gimmick isn't over until the goal is accomplished.  Goals are concrete. 


So instead of resolutions, I set goals.  As I created my list of goals for 2011, it was a little daunting.  Now I may be what some people call a little bit of an "overachiever," so there's also something to be said about setting a reasonable amount of realistic goals.  And I'm sharing some of mine because if I share them, I'm more likely to accomplish them.  Because now you know about them, and you can hold me accountable.  And they're in writing, and I can't take them back.  So here goes nothing... 


1. Run marathon.  And the best part of my #1 goal?!  It's DONE.  I sludged through 26.2 miles on 1/16/11. Finished. Checked off.  Celebrated. 
And boy am I paying for it... but I'll save that for another day...


2. Master's degree.  Eek.  I am supposed to graduate on May 21st, so long as I complete my thesis this semester.  I say "supposed to" because I'm struggling to focus on my thesis, to put words down onto paper, and to crank this thing out.  And no, I don't know how many pages it's supposed to be.  Because that would make it 10 times easier. 


3. Learn how to brew beer.  Oh yeah, and some goals should be fun!  I can't wait to tackle this one.  And by tackle I mean pour my finished product and DRINK it!  I just have to get through goal #2 first... (aka prioritizing...). 


4. Moderation.  This is not a coincidence that this one lands right after learning how to brew beer.  I sure love a mean IPA, a crisp Pale Ale, a chocolatey velvet stout, an eye-watering ESB... ok you get the point, I love beer.  But I sure don't love the mean, crisp, velvety, eye-stabbing headache that comes the morning after one too many.  I usually don't drink during the week, and sometimes feel the need to make up for this come Friday night.  Clearly this is not the best idea. I can say this right now and know it to be true.  But Friday at 11pm after 3 beers, my alter ego (let's call her moron) convinces myself that it is a silly, absurd, irrational idea and that I will feel just fine after 3 more.  Cue the next morning, rather the next evening, when I'm peeling myself out of bed at 4pm.  Of course this has only happened to me once in my life...   ;-)


5. Journal or blog once a week.  Well, sometimes you don't quite meet your goal right away. This is my second blog this month... meaning I haven't quite met my quota.  I'm still trying to get back in the hang of blogging.  Actually, who am I kidding, I'm trying to get into the hang of blogging!  Luckily, this goal is part pleasure and part therapeutic. Meaning if I skip a blog one week, I won't be utterly disappointed in myself.  If I skip my Master's degree, I might be a little disappointed.  But with blogging there's another aspect -- topics.  I love to write, but sometimes don't know what to write about -- ideas anyone??


6. Create variety in fitness routine.  I think I have a slightly addictive personality.  Me like soccer.  Me play soccer 6 times a week for 4 years.  Me like yogurt.  Me eat yogurt every day for 10 years.  I find something I like, and I stick to it like gum on the bottom of my shoe (aka, very closely).  Not all addictions are bad, but variety can be good.  I should shake up my fitness routine because I tend to get into fitness ruts.  Running is great for the body and mind, but it's also good to mix it up.  Erica, step away from the treadmill.  See those free weights back there?  Go.  Use them.  NOW. 


7. Manage stress better.  Back to that overachieving thing... I like to be busy, to be involved, to be active.  But when I'm working full-time, attending grad school part-time at night, writing a thesis, playing soccer 6 days a week, being captain of one of those teams, running 3 days a week, president of the local adult soccer league, and trying to maintain a social life with friends and family... you could say I might get a little stressed out.  Perhaps impatient.  Maybe a tad grouchy.  A bit tired.  I know none of you have gone through this, so I'll just say that it's not always pleasant!  So my mini-goals are to balance school and work , not over-commit myself, and find ways each week to take care of myself.  Although for mini-goals, they are proving to be quite the challenge...


8.  Save money.  As my parents say, I go broke saving money on sales.  I am a firm believer that there is a mouse in my closet that chews holes in my pockets, and my money just pours right through them.  That same mouse must also steal my credit cards and hit up J. Crew, Gap, Banana Republic, the Nugget, etc... on a regular basis, and while I'm sound asleep.  It's weird, I tried calling my credit card companies to report the fraudulent charges by said mouse, but they refuse to believe me.  I would set traps for my identity thieving mouse, but I don't believe in cruelty to animals.  


9.  Attitude: more patience, understanding, love, kindness.  This probably ties into many of my previous goals, because they're all interrelated.  So I plan to show kindness when I meet this mouse, to be understanding of her spending problem, be patient with her impulse buys and incessant hole-chewing, and love her endlessly when she stops chewing holes and stealing credit cards.  Man, she must have quite the wardrobe.  It must be squeeky clean, quite the mouse blouse...
But seriously... more of the above, towards all.  And this is more of a life goal, rather than just for 2011.  Because that might be weird if at midnight on Dec 31 I suddenly turned into an impatient, judging, rude, you-know-what!

10. Work: better attitude.  I'm abbreviating this goal because I'm posting this on a website, online, for all to see.  So right now I'm smiling, and vowing to have a more positive attitude at work.  Or at least vowing to try. 

11. Become certified in personal training.  A prerequisite to this goal is becoming CPR/AED certified.  Lucky for me, I completed this pre-req on 1/25/11.  If you're my friend and reading this right now, you're probably thinking, "I didn't know you wanted to become a PT?"  Unless you're my one friend I've talked to about this (hi, T!).  So there it is - I've realized that I'm passionate about health and fitness, and about helping others, and I would love to be able to use this in a more structured way.  Now this doesn't mean I'm going to quit my day job and go work at 24-Hour as a personal trainer, but it's a stepping stone in the direction I think I'd like to head.  First I have to get through goal #2 (Master's) and make progress on goal #8 (save money) so that I can afford to become certified... oh the joy of pursuing your passions - nobody tells you it will cost you an arm and a leg when you're a kid! 


So that's my list of goals for 2011.  Some are rather large, some are on smaller scale; some are practical, some are fun.  Some are expensive, some are free.  


And to throw another shocker out there, this is my long-term career goal:
I would like to become a professional brewer, and work in a brewery, while also becoming certified in many aspects of personal training, health and fitness, and life coaching - particularly for special populations (older adults, obese people, people with disabilities).  So that I will spend my days brewing beer, sharing my passion for health and fitness, and teaching/helping others.  That will be the day...

Everything I need to know about life I learned from running a marathon.

Ok, maybe not everything.  But I certainly learned quite a few lessons over the past 4 months that apply to many aspects of life.  There was humor, pain, and joy throughout this process.  I am stronger, healthier, and happier.  But it didn't always come easy...

1. Set goals.  This one seems obvious.  But deeper than just setting goals, set meaningful goals that challenge you.  Two years ago when asked if I would ever run a marathon, I hesitated to answer affirmatively because I truly did not think it would be possible.  I was setting comfortable goals, ones that did not challenge me.  I knew that a marathon would be challenging, that I may struggle.  So I hesitated.  And then I went for it.  And I accomplished it. And it meant a lot more to me because it was huge, and I didn't know if I could do it... but I did. Set goals that will break you down, build you up, and make you grow.  If it's too easy, the payoffs won't be nearly as beneficial.

2. Step outside of your comfort zone.  Take chances.  Along with setting meaningful goals, do things that will make you uncomfortable.  Take risks.  It's easy to be comfortable, to keep doing the same thing.  But trying new things and stepping outside of your comfort zone will help you grow.

3. Have a plan. I researched marathon plans extensively.  I found beginner plans, intermediate plans, advanced plans, and every other kind of plan.  Find one that works for you.  I created a calendar of my runs, with the miles marked on each day accordingly -- for 4 months.  I cross trained one day per week.  I did long runs on the weekends.  I had a plan, and it helped keep me on track.  Have a plan for your life.

4. ... But know when to deviate from your plan.  It's good to have a plan, but it's better to know when to stray from it.  At first I was meticulous about following my plan.  But then I got sick.  And went on vacation.  And my shins hurt.  It's good to have a framework for the goal you're working towards, but it's also good to know when it's better for you to step away from the plan. 

5. Listen to your body.  If it hurts, give it a break.  If you're tired, rest.  If you're thirsty, drink.  Hungry, eat.  Sick, all of the above.  Listen to what your body is telling you.  Your body knows when you're pushing too far, when you need a day (or two) off, when it needs a break from pounding the pavement (or working too much, sleeping too little, overloading your schedule, etc...).  Listen to it. 

6. Learn balance.  When I signed up for my marathon, I quit soccer.  This may not sound like a monumental decision, but I was playing on about 6 teams per week.  It was what I did, who I was.  But frankly, I was tired of it.  I didn't want to play until 10pm three nights per week, to eat dinner at 11pm and shower closer to midnight.  I wanted to have more time to myself, to go for runs and make dinner and be in bed by 10pm.  To watch some of my favorite shows.  To not be tied down.  So I quit soccer and focused on my marathon.  A little too much.  I substituted one commitment for another.  About halfway through training I realized this, and backed off of training a little.  Find balance.  With whatever you're doing, learn to balance your commitments. 

7. Accountability. Tell others about your goals.  Tell them when it is, how your progress is going, and how you're feeling.  Friends and family will hold you accountable and encourage you, and tell you when you're pushing too hard.  They'll take you out for happy hours when your body hurts and you need a break.  They'll support you and remind you what you're capable of.  They'll cheer you on, and be there for you.  They'll celebrate your progress through the process, and celebrate your accomplishments afterward.

8. Remember the reasons why you're doing something.  I'm not going to lie, 2-3 months into my training I got burnt out.  I was pounding away on the pavement 5 days a week, piling on the mileage, and losing steam.  My mind was cluttered with what pace I was doing, how many miles I had to do, whether or not I was behind schedule, whether or not I could actually do this.  I forgot about all of the reasons that I love to run... escaping from the world, freeing my thoughts, working out the day's stresses, feeling the fresh air, stretching my legs, enjoying the beauty around me, getting lost in my music, etc...  I had to do a mental check, and remind myself why I was doing this.  I had to remind myself that it wasn't about my pace, it was about me accomplishing a goal and growing along the way. About running for the love of running.  Enjoy the activities in life - remember why you enjoy them, what aspects you love.  Don't get bogged down by outside influences.

9. Moderation. Drink too much = feel bad.  Run too much = feel bad.  Drink too much before night of long run = bad, bad run.  Do things in moderation.

10. Reward yourself.  Whether it's a pizza after a long run, or a new shirt after the final 20-miler (or a trip after a promotion, night out with the girls after graduating, etc..)... reward yourself along the way.  It will keep you going, keep you motivated.  Mini-goals along the road to a larger goal make the path easier to travel on.


11. Sleep is good.  I run much better when I sleep.  I'm also a much more pleasant person to be around.  I also tend not to overeat, or crave a drink to ease the headache.  I'm less irritable and cranky.  The bags aren't as noticeable under my eyes.  Sleep is good.  For everyone.

12. Share.  Share your story and listen to others.  Get tips, give tips.  I got a lot of great advice from others, via the internet and in person.  Sharing stories helps.  The aches and pains and mental tribulations aren't new, and it helps to hear about others going through similar experiences.  Whatever you're going through, you're not alone. 

13. Be yourself.  Loosen up.  I decided to make a shirt for my run.  They say if you put your name on the front, people will cheer you on personally.  I'm sure if I would have put "Erica" on my shirt I would have gotten quite a few more cheers.  Instead, I went with a lifelong nickname, from my dear brothers: Ferd.  Yes, Ferd... like Ferdinand the Bull.  I got a few people to yell "Go Ferd!" while looking at me quizzically.  But it fit.  I also put "Will Run for Beer" on the back... people commented on it and I met others while hacking out those 26 miles.  Don't be afraid to be silly, to brand yourself, to be yourself.

14.  Cheer for others who are working towards a goal.  As a runner struggling through my first marathon, I appreciated every person on the road cheering us on.  Especially children with handmade signs for their parents who wanted to high-five everyone along the way.  Each time I got a high five from a beaming child I could feel my pace pick up, my spirit was rejuvenated.  Cheer others on, literally and figuratively. 

15. Listen, look, and enjoy the scenery.  There were thousands of people along the route, cheering runners on.  There were bands every mile or so. Signs everywhere.  Lots of clapping, yelling, cheering, and words of encouragement.  Tons of smiles.  Hugs.  Listen and look around, wherever you are.  Enjoy what's around you.  We live in a beautiful world.  Don't miss it.

16. Don't give up.  You will hit the wall, and it will challenge you.  You will encounter hard times in life, trying times, painful times.  My first marathon was rough.  My legs starting hurting around mile 6 - not a good sign when there's 20 more miles to run.  But you just have to push through.  Don't give up.

17. Nourish yourself!  Our bodies need food to fuel us through life.  Along my run there was water and cytomax and bananas and Gu and all kinds of energy enhancers.  Our bodies need water and food, don't deprive them of these nutrients.  Know where your food comes from, know what's in it, and nourish yourself.

18. Take it one step at a time.  When I was at mile 20 and struggling to understand how I could make another 6 miles, I literally took it one step at a time.  Step by step, mile by mile, I got there.  Take life one step at a time. 

19. No pain no gain!  Man my legs hurt, at mile 6 and 18 and 22 and 26.2!  But I gained so much from pushing through the pain.  Pain can be physical, emotional, mental... pain is pain.  We learn and grow from our experiences.  The most painful experiences in my past have taught me the most, I have learned invaluable lessons from my most tearful moments.  Gain from the pain.

20.  The longest distance in the race is between your ears.  I saw this somewhere else, and it couldn't be more true.  Running is both physically and mentally challenging.  My legs hurt, but my mind was the real challenge.  My legs could keep moving, but would my mind convince them not to?  Mental battles can be tough - often we are capable of so much more than our minds will allow us to believe.  Believe in yourself, challenge your mind to go after what seems impossible. 

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
-John Bingham

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."
-Jesse Owens

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian 

Me, the music, and the road ahead of me...

I recently signed up for a marathon. Because I love to run.  I love lacing up the sneakers, hitting the pavement, and running myself into blissful oblivion.  I love choosing a play list depending on my mood that day - from hip hop, to reggae, to whatever Pandora throws at me.  I love when I get into my rhythm and the world fades away... when it's just me, the music, and the road ahead of me.  When my thoughts of the day's stresses disappear behind me, when my worries for tomorrow can wait until then... when it's just me, the music, and the road ahead of me.  When I feel the tension release from my shoulders, when my clenched hands loosen and begin to sweat.  When I hit that runner's high, and feel a sense of utter happiness.  When the sun sets, or the sun rises, or the fog envelopes me... and it's just me, the music, and the road ahead of me.  When I finish that last step, when I'm thankful for my legs that carried me through, when I feel ready to tackle on the worries of tomorrow.  I love to run.

I recently signed up for a marathon.  I ran my first half marathon in October 2009 - after internally thinking that there was no possible way I could run 13 miles without stopping, I did it.  I was hooked.  I accomplished something that I did not think I could, and there is something addicting about doing that.  I ran my second one in December and blew my last time out of the water.  I ran my third the next February, running 8:19 min/miles.  The runner's high I experienced while exploring my local bike paths was amplified when I crossed that finish line and beat my last time. Not only could I run 13 miles, but I could set goals and beat them, I could run faster that I previously imagined.  I ran my last half marathon in October, averaging 7:51 min/miles.  If you had asked me if I could run a mile in under 8 minutes I would have laughed, if you had asked if I could run 13 miles at sub 8 minute miles I would have thought you lost your marbles. I then decided I would go the distance -- 26.2.  And so the training began.  I found a 4 month training plan where I cross trained on Mondays, ran Tues-Thurs ("easy" runs), and ran long runs on the weekends.  I love to run, so this plan seemed ideal.  I even quit soccer to focus on running.

After about 8 weeks, something changed.  My days had become focused on mileage, on whether or not I could pull off another long run the following weekend.  Suddenly, running was different.  I wasn't heading out for a leisurely run at the end of the long day to relieve the stress from work, to blow off steam from balancing a full-time job and grad school and 6 soccer teams.  I wasn't rolling out of bed on a Saturday morning without being awoken by an alarm, restfully sipping my coffee, and then embarking on a carefree jog to get the weekend started.  No, something had changed.  I had scheduled my runs for the next 4 months onto my calendar, I had the mileage markers of my long runs posted on my wall.  Suddenly, I wasn't running for fun anymore.  I was running because I had to.  Running had been scheduled into my life, like every other meeting and class and commitment.  And I had to stick to it because if I didn't, I would not be able to accomplish my goal.  Suddenly, running was a chore.  I was rushing after work to hit the pavement before darkness fell, setting my alarm for weekend mornings so that I could "get the 3 hour run over with" and still have half of my day left.  I was logging miles, gaining strength, and losing pleasure.  All of a sudden the activity I loved to do, the thing that kept me sane from all other obligations in life, had become just that - an obligation.

I had a conversation with a close friend shortly after realizing this.  She too had experienced this recently.  She went through an intense yoga certification course, fell in love with it, and improved her physical, mental, and emotional states.  But sometime afterwards, yoga became a "have to."  We talked about how we know we should be active, it's healthy.  We should work out, it's good for you.  We should run, we should do yoga.  But I liked running more when I didn't have to.  When skipping a run didn't leave me feeling guilty because it was "on the schedule," like I would let my calendar down if I failed to complete it.  When it used to be just me, the music, and the road ahead of me.  Now it was me, the calendar, the miles I had to run, the pace, the time, the worry of not doing it, the pain in my leg, the rain that wouldn't let up for my mandatory run, the every reason that wasn't in my "why I love to run" book.  But wait, I love running!  Why am I dreading it after work?  Why am I mad at my alarm clock on a Saturday morning when it beckons me to hit the pavement?  Because I have to run.  I have to do it, or else I will not be able to run my marathon.  Or so my mind tells me. 

Shortly after I realized this, I thought a lot about this marathon.  Why was I doing it?  Had it been a life-long dream?  Did I want to be in better shape?  Was it an irrational spontaneous decision?  I signed up because I love to run, and I love to challenge myself.  Of course getting in better shape was an added benefit.  I had already been running 4-6 days a week, so I figured I might as well do it for a reason.  But part of the joy of running 4-6 days a week was the fact that if I didn't feel like running one day, or I was sick, or if happy hour sounded more reasonable... I wasn't obligated to complete my run, it wasn't on my calendar. I just wouldn't run.   It's interesting that once we have to do something, it loses part of its appeal.  I enjoy shopping, particularly when I go because I don't have any other plans and there isn't anything I absolutely need.  But if for some reason I need to get something, say a pair of jeans, and I set out to shop because I have to get jeans - it's a different story. Guaranteed I will struggle to find the perfect pair of jeans, and will curse the curves of my body for not fitting into them.  I love reading.  Until I opted to go back to grad school and had to read copious amounts of books after working 8 hours/day. I'm counting down the days until grad school is over and I can read at my own pleasure again.   Some of life's joys, even the simple ones, lose luster when we are no longer doing them for "fun," when someone or something (often ourselves) is telling us that we have to.

So what now?  For me, I eased up on the running a bit and did a mental makeover.  I decided to cross train another day or two, or walk, or not run as far as my calendar says to.  I reminded myself of why I was doing this, and what I loved about running. I remind myself that it's ok if I miss a run, if I only make it 10 miles instead of 17.  And when I'm running, I try and turn off the marathon trainer in my head that's wondering what my pace is, how far I've gone, how far I have to go... rather than focusing on what I enjoy about running.  I'm listening to my body, my body knows what's best for me - much more than my calendar does.

I went into a 20 mile run last weekend with anxiety and dread over being out for over 3 hours, of wondering how I could possibly run that far.  And then I cranked up my music, ran through the fog, got lost in my thoughts, jammed to the music, and took that last step with a sigh of relief and joy.  I did it, and in 4 weeks I will complete 26.2 miles.  And I will be ecstatic. 

We're heading into the holidays and frankly, I may skip a run or two, and I may (ok, will) drink a few more beers than I normally do.  But as my friend told me, my body is a machine.  I have to run a marathon in 4 weeks, and I am excited to run a marathon in 4 weeks.  When thousands of people of all ages and abilities show up to accomplish something, whether it be their first or fourteenth marathon.  When I get the pre-race jitters and drink too much coffee.  When the adrenaline of thousands of runners and their fans surround me, and wakes me up way more than coffee ever could.  When I look around at the people who are running for a loved one lost to cancer, or running because they are a survivor of cancer.  When I think of my family, supporting me and cheering me on at the finish line.  When the gun blasts and the herd begins to ooze towards the start line.  When my foot stomps across the start line and my 26.2 mile journey begins.  When it's just me, the music, and the road ahead of me...

I took a little break from my blog, but I'm back! 

I did a trail run yesterday at Angel Island and had planned to share stories and pics about the run -- but I ended up at the run with my camera, minus the memory card - awesome!  Oh well, you can just visualize.  To start off, I highly recommend trail runs - I run with Pacific Coast Trail Runs, and they are a blast.  They have various distances (10k - 50k), have races almost every weekend, and run them all along the California coast.  It's a smaller company so you see the same people, everyone's friendly, and they NEVER start on time :) Culien is my trail running buddy who introduced me to it, and we have had some adventurous experiences!  Our runs always (always, always) start at the Nugget with bagels and coffee... at obscene hours of the day (about 6am).  Angel Island was gorgeous yesterday -- clear skies, great views, perfect temp.  We did the 16k, and in typical Culien and Erica fashion, missed the start time... so as usual, we were in no rush. People-watching tends to be the highlight of our runs -- yesterday, we were graced with the presence of a gentleman who had just rolled out of his tent, with his partner, in a cherry red onesie pajama outfit.  It was awesome. How often do you see grown men in onesie pajamas these days?  We were also lucky enough to have some young hikers cheer us on on our way down, while cheering each other with their beers.  Not jealous at all. The best quote of the day came from a lovely female runner, who was not aware that she had to do two separate loops to complete the 16k.  So as we were at the aid station, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to refuel us through the second loop, her friend asked if she was ready to get going again.  Lovely girl gave her friend the blankest stare I've ever seen, jaw dropped, and said "You mean there's MORE?!?"  She didn't realize she had another loop to go -- classic.  She didn't look so happy after that. 

Other people, on different runs, have also enhanced our running experiences.  One of the most attractive was the elderly man (70+) with jean cutoff shorts with slits up to his hips (hot!). On the flip side, we regularly see a young man, who always runs with his shirt off, with a tattoo covering his back that disappears into his shorts.  We always wonder where it ends, but we never have any intention of asking. And we always see the tattoo because he's always passing us.  There's always girls running in skirts... never got that.  On one run, at Stinson, there was a jovial group at the top of a hill drinking mimosas and cheering runners on.  They also had signs with slogans like "Remember, you signed up for this!" and "You're only 5 people behind first place!" with the 5 crossed out and a 10 in it's place.  It was a nice distraction from wanting to die at the top of that hill.  One frightening experience was when we were running in Pacifica, came around the corner, and saw a couple guys with axes on the trail.  And by "couple of guys" I mean scruffy men with beards and overalls, lots of dirt on them, with bloody toes, missing some teeth... did I mention with axes?  We nervously ran past the first one, then social Culien decided to ask the 2nd one what they were doing.  He gave an answer, we just aren't sure what he said because it appeared to be mountain axe-bearing man talk - heavy on the grunts and noises, but lacking actual words and sentences.  I think our pace went from 10 minute mile to 7.5 minute mile at that point.  But really, the runs are fun!  To sum it up, people from all walks of life... 

And at the end, they serve soup and chili and lots of junk food.  And there's always someplace that serves beer within a relatively close distance, because we always find it.  Below is a pic from Stinson, my first 20k -- good times!

On a completely different note, I would like to update you all on my garden experience.  I have quite a few plants going strong -- my tomato plant is almost as tall as me (ok I know, not a huge challenge), and my squash plants (I think) just keep expanding.  I also have jalapenos and eggplants that are growing, and then a bunch of other plants but I have no idea what they are.  I do know that they are clumped together in groups, because if you remember I opted to take the seeds and toss them into the ground in groups.  Good plan.  It is working out quite well.  

Below are some pics... along with some of our flowers. 

More to come soon! 

Cheers! 

Top 5 Beers

I'm a Brown, therefore I drink.  I consider myself a beer connoisseur... I know various beers fairly well, I enjoy sampling new ones, and I definitely love them for their taste.  There's nothing quite like a cold beer after a long day, a cold beer on a hot summer day at the lake, a beer on the porch in the peacefulness of Quincy, or a beer accompanied by ribs in the company of family and friends.  Beers go great with baseball games, with BBQ's, with pizza, with picnics, with celebrations, with birthdays, and with a thousand other events and occasions.  Different people have different preferences, and different occasions represent different beers -- Coors goes quite well with NASCAR, Guinness is the epitomy of St. Patrick's Day, etc... We all have our favorites.  And many of us have our top 5, which I am quite fascinated by.  I love hearing people's top 5 -- particularly because they often represent very distinct beers.  Unless you're my brother Chad, whose top 5 would be Coors Light, Coors, Bud, Bud Light, and dirty water... I mean Michelob.  Which brings me to this post -- I'm going to share my top 5, at this moment -- these are subject to change at any time.  Please comment with your top 5, I'd love to hear!

 

1. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale -- a classic!  Sadly, I cannot remember the first time I had one, but it is a staple in my beer diet.  It has the perfect combination of smoothness and crisp flavor, a timeless beer. Well done Sierra Nevada, well done. 

* P.S. Their brewery rocks!  They have an awesome outdoor patio and great food... check it out. 

Charlie Brown's Liberty Ale -- a sensation for the taste buds! This is a refreshing, tasteful beer with a hint of citrus flavor. My dad is an outstanding home-brewer and this one tops them all (in my opinion).  Perfection in a bottle. 

3. Stone IPA -- solid. I distinctly remember that Tim's uncle Leo introduced me to this beer. 

It has a strong hoppy flavor, the bitterness of an IPA, and the smoothness of a solid beer.  The best IPA around. 

* Cafe Bernardo's serves this on tap... amazing. 

4. Sierra Nevada ESB -- Sierra Nevada does it again.  Their Early Spring Beer has the hops and the spice to make a lovely beer to enjoy on a nice spring day.  It's seasonal, so enjoy it while you can. 

5. Firestone Union Jack -- wowza, this one's got a bite!!  This is a serious IPA, lots of hop and citrusy flavors.  Watch out, could be dangerous. 

 Ok, these are my top 5 for right now.  There are honorable mentions, however.  Firestone Pale Ale, Stone Pale Ale, Anderson Valley IPA, and Sudwerks Dragonfly are all some of my next best picks.  Duvel is not bad either, but not for the weak at heart. 

So many beers, so little time.  Enjoy. 

Welcome!

I've decided to join the blogging world!  Now I'm not certain that I have the most exciting life to blog about but... I would like a place to write about my experiences, adventures, thoughts, and other such items to share with my friends and family.  My parents aren't on facebook (yet!), so here is an easy way for you to stay connected with my daily life! And much easier to figure out -- you just read it!  Now I would like to preface this with the fact that some may say I'm not the greatest story teller (thanks Mom!)... so be warned that this could roll over into my writing abilities.  I'm not entirely sure where to start, either, so I'm going to go ahead and begin with my newfound task -- I hope that this task will turn into an enjoyable, leisurely, anticipated hobby but at this point, it's a task -- gardening.  I received a few (10+) plants from a regular at work... how thoughtful, right?  Right... unless you don't know how to garden and can't manage to keep a cactus alive, let alone something that needs soil, sun, and water.  But when I got them I thought to myself, "ok, I'm not going to let these ones die! I'm going to plant them, keep them fed, and enjoy the wondrous foods that they produce!"  One minor problem: I had no idea what they were.  Some had labels, one of which looked like it said "yellow pimp." I polled my coworkers and they came to the conclusion that they were all cucumbers.  I decided to email the regular just in case... turns out, there were over 6 varieties (peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, I forget the rest)... none of them were, in fact, yellow pimp.  Yellow pepper, in case you were wondering.  So I brought them home and thought that first on the agenda would be to go to Target (isn't that always the answer?) and buy the necessary "gardening tools," like shovels and those prong forked things to break up the soil.  Good plan.  I went to Target and guess what, they sold them in a pair -- mini shovel and pick thing!  I also thought that while I was planting plants, I would buy some flower seeds and make a pretty flower garden.  Another good plan.  One shovel, one pick, and 8 flower packets later... I was ready to garden.  I stepped outside at home... and had no idea where to plant the darn things.  There's lots of dirt (errr soil) around my house... how was I to know which was best?  I remembered something about worms growing, I mean living, in good soil... so I tried planting them where I found (and split in half) many worms (they grow back, right?).  So, I now have various vegetables growing in front of my house, on the side of my house, and behind my house.  Next were the flowers.  I always thought that when you bought a packet of flowers you opened it, scattered it around in some dirt and voila... flower garden 2 weeks later!!  Apparently, the directions were a little more difficult.  "Plant seeds 8-10" apart, 1/4" under the soil, press soil on top of seed, best in full sunlight, make sure soil is moist, better if planted indoors first and transplanted at 3" tall..." what?  Do they realize seeds are the size of... a poppy seed? So I opened the packets, scattered the seeds, and am hoping at least 3 flowers grow.  So there I was... 10 vegetable plants and 8 packets of scattered seeds later, and I was done.  I felt so accomplished -- I, killer of all plants, had gardened!  This was Saturday.  I woke up this morning and could hear the wind whipping outside my window, definitely a jacket day.  I stepped outside on my way to work and decided to check on the fruits of my labor.  My plants, my precious plants, were wilted and flattened to the ground... the wind had gotten the best of them.  Maybe I should stick to cactus, they take a lot longer to kill. 

R.I.P. yellow pimp