This just in . . .

We interrupt the race coverage in progress to bring you an update on the state of hair . . .

As I mentioned before, after a couple years of patiently growing out my hair, this month I plan to chop it all off and donate it.  Today was the day. 

I started my day looking like this:

Then I visited my friends at Beyond Appearance salon and let them do their work.

 

Chop, chop!



Too late to turn back now

 

One glass of wine, and many snips later, I was pleased with the finished product.  Voila!

 

 

And so, it is done.  I just hope I will be able to get the hang of styling it quickly!



An Even Dozen

Last Sunday I finished my 12^th half marathon, my second for 2013.  It was also my best half marathon performance in a year, only 4 minute shy of my PR.  Woot!

It was a warm day for the Rock & Roll St Pete Half Marathon.   The warm weather was a nice break to the winter blahs, but I was not quite ready for running in the high 70’s.  The course was very scenic and I felt good for most of the race, but began to fade around mile 9.  I reduced my run interval and kept pushing until mile 11, when I decided to take a walk break for a mile to save some for the end.

A strong, if tired finish

There is something quite satisfying about having a little left in the tank to sprint across the finish line.  It’s especially fun at my pace because it is unexpected so it gets great crowd response.  Mind you, my sprint actually looks more like very slow jog to the rest of the world, but in my mind I am a chubby chick version of Usain Bolt.  This time it was ever so much cooler crossing the finish line rockin’ out to Sean Kingston live!

Happy finishers

That makes two down for 2013.  Next stop . . . Lexington, KY at the end of March.

FABruary Part 2

Another way plan to rock the FAB in Feburary, and this one has been a LONG time in coming (teehee) . . .

Has anyone noticed how long my hair has gotten?  No?  See my rock star photo below.  Well, it is no accident. I have been growing my hair out specifically to get it all chopped off. Say what?!?

Disclaimer for those who know my beverage preferences:  I won the guitar!!!  I ROCK!

My hair can attest to my approaching birthday by the increasing number of silver threads wending their way through it.  Since hair donation requires virgin (unprocessed) hair with less than 5% grey, this is likely my last chance to donate my hair. 

I plan to donate via the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program because they are the only program that I could find that provides wigs to adult women.

So, in a couple of weeks, off with my hair!  If you have any suggestions for short hairstyles, bring them on, no matter how short or crazy. 

 

***Shout out to my rock star posse pictured with me left to right: Bobalicious, Pork Chop, Sparkles (hiding), Niver, Brittser, and Annabanana!  (I am the one in the middle with the guitar, if you weren't sure.)***

Fabulous in February

So, here we are.  One month of being fabulous down and still on track.  Woot!

I am looking forward to half marathon #2 of 2013 this weekend (#3 for those of you following the 14-month count).  However, being fabulous this year is not just about races. 

 

I thought it would be fun to share with you a couple other ways I plan to be fabulous in February.

 

Feeling FABruary Part 1:

 

A few weeks ago, Jeff and I watched a very good documentary Forks Over Knives, which espouses the health benefits of a nutritionally balanced vegan lifestyle.  It was a very interesting and thought-provoking movie.

 

Imagine my surprise when my life-mate, Carnivorosaurus Rex (aka Jeff), turned to me and said, "I would be willing to try going vegan for a month."  What?!?  Did I hear that right?  Not just vegetarian, but vegan?  No meat or animal products at all????  Well, after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I agreed and we chose February for the endeavor, because it's the shortest month, of course! 

 

Some of you may think this is a pretty radical idea, and in Jeff's case, you are dead-on correct.  For me, it should not be a big stretch since my natural inclination leans more toward the herbivorous, which has led people to often mistake me for a vegetarian.  I think the hardest part is going to be planning well enough to include enough protein, although I will certainly miss cheese and ice cream.

 

It turns out that another friend watched another high quality documentary, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, and has decided to go vegan this February, too, so I have an additional source of support.  Shout out to Erin!

 

So, here I am, Day 4 of in the month of being vegan.  So far, so good.  I have been surprised at my level of satiety.  I even survived a cheesed-up super Super Bowl party last night without cracking. I have been using the free website Sparkpeople.com to log and measure my nutritional intake, and I am still struggling to get enough protein.  I just need to plan better.

 

Feel free to pass along any vegan recipes or suggestions for dining out.