i used to be a good student …

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Handing in papers on time, always reading assigned books, etc.

I used to be that way for book club, too. I joined a few years ago, In the first year or so, there was only one book I didn’t finish. I wasn’t really getting into it, but I couldn’t make it to that meeting, anyway.

Recently, though, things have changed. I’m heading out to a meeting tonight, and have only finished about half the book. Last month’s book is still on the coffee table, with a bookmark about a third of the way through.

I can’t remember what came before that, but I’m sure I finished it late.

Sure I’m busy, but I used to be able to make time.

Then again, we usually hang out, eat, drink wine, and maybe discuss the book for five minutes. There are usually only a few people who actually finish in time each month.

I think years of this atmosphere may have rubbed off!

but honey, i only bought a few things!

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I told my husband I was expecting some online purchases to be delivered today. I’m sure he wasn’t expecting this:

I only bought a few things!

I was a bit shocked myself when I got home from running. He laughed when I told him I only bought a few things!

Really … there were only seven items inside. And all on sale for a fraction of their original cost, of course.

My purchases: a lightweight sweater, two dresses, a skirt, and the reason for the very large box — three jackets. Ann Taylor LOFT shipped the jackets on hangers with cardboard to keep them flat, taking up quite a bit of space.

One of the jackets is kind of like a blazer, and I’m not going to keep it. It was a great deal, originally $129, I got it for under $20, but I just don’t like the way it looks.

The other two were the same jacket in different colors. I’m only keeping one. I often order multiple sizes/colors when there’s a store nearby that I can return to. Sizing can be so inconsistent!

Anyway, back to the jackets. Online I liked one color better, but they didn’t have my size. I tried sizing down in the regular. Usually I wear petite, but figured I’d try just in case it worked.

Turns out, I like the other color better. Great! I won’t have to get the sleeves hemmed!
Is this for you?
Fifteen-pound cat added for scale

new fake personal record!

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I run a lot of races. Lots of 5- and 10Ks, a handful of 5- and 10-milers and a couple half marathons per year would be normal for me.

I’m not a particularly fast runner. I usually place somewhere in the middle of the pack unless the field is really fast. Then I may wind up closer to the back. Occasionally I can place in my age group in smaller races, but I’m usually just out there competing with myself.

Runners like to call their best times their “personal records,” or PRs. It feels great to beat your best time!

On record, though, my 5K PR has been 27:19 since May 2005. But that course was too short. Most of the runners knew it right away, because the times were too fast. My Garmin confirmed it. A 5K is supposed to be 3.1 miles. I clocked this one at 3.01.

My next best race time, from February 2006, is 27:58. The distance checked out for this one.

I believe these are my only “official” sub-28-minute 5K times. I’ve surely had faster training runs (and actually, I ran a 27:40 on the treadmill last night), but I don’t really count those.

I ran a local 5K on Sunday, and started out with a great pace. I hit the first mile under 9 minutes. I kept it up for the second, and was feeling great.

I was tipped off that there could be a problem on the way back. There was also a one-mile fun run using the same course, with a half-mile turnaround. So when I hit that mark, I knew there was a half mile to the finish line. And the numbers weren’t right.

Maybe we were doing a loop somewhere near the end that the one-mile runners were not?

Nope. The course was off. I did see something on the clock at the finish line that I’ve never seen before: 25:55.

I don’t know how fast my third mile was, seeing how we never made it that far. My Garmin clocked 2.92. The iPod was a bit more generous with 2.97. Still really short.

So my new fake 5K PR is a time that I’ll probably never actually be able to run.

If the course was long enough and I kept that pace, I could have done something in the 27:30 range. If I picked it up, maybe I could have achieved my fake 2005 PR time.

I think all of my PRs are from my earlier running years, 2005-early 2006. Due to some foot and knee problems, I got custom orthotic inserts made in the summer of 2006. I feel like I’ve been slower ever since.

While I am a little disappointed that I can’t count Sunday’s 5K as my new PR, I am still thrilled to have had such a good run. It’s great to know I’ve picked my speed back up.

Maybe I can start setting some new PRs!

running skirt review: skirtsports “rollergirl”

running skirts

In the spring of 2007, I bought my first running skirt. It has since become an obsession. In the past year and a half, I have acquired quite a collection.

This past spring and summer, I sported skirts instead of shorts. I started photographing them months ago with plans of this skirt review series. I figure it’s about time to get started, now that I’m just about ready to pack them away for the winter!

skirt sports -- roller girl
First up is the RollerGirl skirt, by SkirtSports. The version I have (in three colors!) is last season’s; it appears the current RollerGirl is more of a “lifestyle” skirt than an athletic one. (Though, the version I have is still available through Sierra Trading Post.)

Anyway, I like this skirt. It’s got a bit of an A-line cut, which is more flattering than some of the tighter-fitting skirts. The skirt is a breathable mesh fabric, and the undershorts have a bit more coverage than the briefs in their traditional skirts. They call them “GirlShorties.”

I like the fit of the waistband on these skirts, though with this brand, I’ve learned I have to size up. Check the size charts on SkirtSports’ web site and go with your largest measurement. I’m a curvy girl and have to order to fit my hip measurement. This means I’m ordering a size which doesn’t really make me happy, but it certainly looks better when I’m not squeezing into a tiny skirt!

skirt sports -- roller girlIt’s comfortable to run in these skirts, and there are pockets in the undershorts. The downside is you kind of have to flash people to get stuff in or out of the pockets.

For example, sometimes we run at the Naval Academy and need to bring ID. My license fits perfectly in the pocket, but I have to flip up my skirt to get it out. I’m sure the guards don’t mind!

This would bother me with the lower-cut brief, but I feel pretty covered with the “GirlShorties.”

For the most part, they stay put when running. Except for some reason, they ride up a bit on the yellow/pink skirt. But only on the right side.

The back of the skirt says “TRIKS” (skirt backwards), which used to be their logo. But it seems they’ve moved away from that in favor of a little skirt icon.

skirt sports -- roller girl

These skirts are a great addition to my collection. I’m also a big fan of this brand. Sign up for their newsletter for deals, and check their outlet store and Sierra Trading Post for bargains!

noblocleanmo

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Anybody who was here last year may remember a little project I did which I named NaBloCleanMo. Basically, I was sick of the state of disaster in my house and vowed to work daily to fix it during the month of November.

This made my NaBloPoMo posts quite time consuming. I had to take a “before” shot, clean up the mess, take the “after” shot, upload the photos, and write about it. On the nights where I didn’t get home until after 10 p.m., it was a bit difficult and stressful to fit it in!

Lately, I just feel like I’ve been so busy. So I decided there would be no organized NaBloCleanMo this year. My house certainly needs it, but I don’t want to stress too much about it.

However, I have started making small attempts to attack the messes.

Last night before settling into the couch with a book (that I most definitely will not finish before my book club meeting on Friday), I did a quick clean-up in our half bathroom. I cleaned the toilet, put away my stuff on the counter (this is my powder room in the morning!), and wiped down the counter and sink.

Tonight, I vacuumed up a gang of dust bunnies that were threatening to take over the living room.

I’m hoping, once again, that I can change my sloppy habits. I’ll be reporting back frequently. Maybe not daily, but hopefully often enough to make a difference!