Didgeridoo

Yes, you heard me right. If you watched last nights Biggest Loser episode, you know that Ed said that they would be in "didgeridoo" if they lost. What was he talking about? Oh Ed and Heba. This is a didgeridoo... So how would you all be in there?

Anyways, I was a little shocked at the outcome, and though Amy C. was my hero last week, I don't know if she made the right decision this week. I do admire her ability to 'forgive and forget' so to speak with how she kept Vicki after how many times did she call her a backstabbing B? And taking a bite from the Apple? Seriously Vicki is on some type of drug, I tell you.

I will really miss Coleen on the show, and oh by the way, what happened to individual play. Amy C, the moment you fall below your own 'blue team' is going to throw you under the bus no questions asked. Bob even was shocked that she sent Brady home, but seriously Bob, she wants to win Biggest Loser, not allow the Blue Team to win. It's one person who wins, not teams. Anyways, enough venting about Biggest Loser.

Amp'd Abs was really good on Monday, and I did my 20-20-20 and I really feel that it gets a lot of my muscles working and my heart rate going, which is really the key to any work out your going to be doing. I wasn't sore after the Abs class Tuesday like I was the week before, and I feel like it's really helping tone. I forget how many different things you can do that really work your abs, including planks, and many different ways of doing sit ups. Tonight I have Amp'd Abs again and I'll probably do a 30 minute run and a 20 minute bike. Watching them do spin yesterday on the show made me want to get out there and get working out hardcore again.

I am going to run outside tomorrow morning for the first time since the fires happened. The smoke and ash have subsided so that means back out to pound the pavement. It's only until something gets taken away from you that you realize how much you miss it. What a feeling it is to have that brisk morning air nip at my cheeks and cut through my clothes into my bones. To be able to be outside when no one else is around, it's irreplaceable.

Today my hat will be delivered! It seemed like it took long enough, so I finally tracked the package this morning. I am so excited to try it out and I'll let you know how it goes and if it really works as well as the Nike site said it would.

I also found on the Nike site that in their sale section you can purchase shirts from many of the races they've put on. So even if you weren't able to get into many of their sold out races you can still get the t-shirt. Kind of cheating, but oh well, if you really want a shirt they have some cute ones. Good luck on maneuvering that site though, it's quite the confusing and unorganized site.

I am kind of in a funky weird mood lately. I guess growing up means some things must be let go, and thought it's hard, I know that it's a fact of life. I think I'm realizing some peoples true colors, and though painful, I know that it's for the best. I never thought I would be thankful to the blogging community, but I am glad that everyone is so supportive and has such good advice for so many different things. Who would have guessed it!

Stay out of the didgeridoo!

xoxo

Wind = Fire.

A year ago when I moved out of Irvine, I thought I wouldn't have to deal with the fires again, and I was wrong. This weekend the wind kicked up and it was a blazing 95 degrees on Saturday at the Oakley sale. (In which Mr. R bought a pretty cool jacket) I knew a fire would be coming, I just didn't know where. This time the fire is about 5 miles away from my work.

This is a picture from Mr. R's school, the lunch area. Those are not clouds, that is smoke and this picture was taken at 11:00 am. His school is about 2 miles from the fire, and some of the students and teachers had to be evacuated. Please keep everyone in your prayers. The only fire related thing that has affected my house is that there is ash everywhere.

Last year it was 5 miles away from my school. Two totally different locations and yet the fire follows me! Ah! Anyways, the fire has basically led to no outside participation in anything this weekend. Thus no running. Alas, I'm back to the gym for Amp'd Abs tonight, and I think I'm going to do 20-20-20, which is run, bike, and elliptical for 20 minutes each. I like that routine because it's a nice mix up of all different muscles.

Anyways, Nordstrom Rack had some sick deals this weekend and I went a little holiday dress crazy. I will take pictures soon, but as for now, I got two Trina Turk dresses, a Tory Burch Dress and a Max Studio dress. Talk about bargain shopping, these were the normal prices,

Tory Burch - $450 - Nordstrom Rack Price $170 + 60 % off = $70
Trina Turk - $ 395 - Nordstrom Rack Price $ 125 + 60 % off = $50
Trina Turk - $395 - Nordstrom Rack Price $ 88 + 60 % off = $35
Max Studio - $250 - Nordstrom Rack Price $ 60 + 40% off = $36

If I bought those dresses all regular price it would have been over 1,600 dollars. How ridiculous is that? Anyways, now I have all my holiday dresses bought and hung in my closet and I am absolutely in love with them all, I'm obsessed with sales racks, to say the least. The best part is I already have shoes and tights to go with all of them, and I can wear them all to work. Killing many birds with one stones. Okay enough justification.

So all us runners like to celebrate right? A glass of champagne every now and again? Well my friend over at Leaving and loving on a Jet plane, who blogs about her life while her husband is away with the Air Force, is giving away these PINK adorable Marie Antoinette Coup Stemware from Pottery Barn. I'm obsessed with them and you can enter the drawing here. Hey, you could even give them to someone you love this Christmas. :)

As for the upcoming Runner's Christmas list... if you have any ideas email me at danicakoo@gmail.com, but it's coming together! :) It will be posted on December 1st, which is coming up soon!

Photo Friday.......

In honor of photo Friday, I've decided to put up some sick pictures from the football game last night, and some of one of my favorite blogger who is in the running for winning a blog award.

My cousin and I after the great win that the Lancers pulled off. It was a nail biter down to the last 2 second 47 yard field goal!

The BF and I... Go athletic trainers! :) (Oh and from now on I'm not going to call him BF, but I think I'm going to go with Mr. R. Little FYI)

And now for this guy.. His name is Steve, and he is HILARIOUS! His blog highlights my day, and right now he is in the running for EverymanTri.com's Best Sport Endurance Blog of 2008, and I think you should vote for him, because he is SO FUNNY. You can vote here, for Steve in a Speedo, or visit his blog here. Here's how I know he's funny.

Oh possibly because he ran a whole race, and more than one for the record, DRESSED LIKE THIS! Yes, he's the grim reaper behind those little boys!!

Oh wait, then he also dressed like A TOMATO for an entire race!

If those aren't funny enough, he's really fast too! So yes, that's my plug for him to win the endurance blog of 2008. I just think running in a costume is hilarious. So again, You can vote here for Steve in a Speedo. I can't imagine EVER running in a costume.. and he's done it numerous times. More races in costumes Steve!!!

Today I'm a little more sore than I was yesterday, Amp'd abs got to me for sure. Those push ups made my arms into non-working noodles. Tomorrow I'll get in a run, and hopefully Mr. R will ride beside me on the bike. Then it's more entertaining. :) Sunday will be my day off and I'm going to enjoy it and feast on Taco Bell. With all these posts about Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm so hungry for good homemade food! Well everyone, have a great weekend, I'm going to the Oakley outlet sale because Mr. R is obsessed with all their gear... Me, not so much. Hopefully my hat will come soon and I'll put up a review of how AMAZING it is! :)

xoxo

Thursday Funnies

I saw this commercial the other days, and just couldn't believe how smart those people over at Garmin are. I was laughing so hard. Nun on a run? Hiking Viking? Too funny.

I know many of you are hardcore Garminites, so here's the video for your viewing pleasure.




Pretty hilarious, unlike the Amp'd Abs class last night! Holy Cow! I wish I could record it and play it out for you guys and how redic the trainer in there is. I mean I love it but it does seriously take your abs to a whole new level. I'm definitely going to try to do it at least once a week. Then a 45 minute run on the treadmill, which oh by the way, I'm pretty sure was the LONGEST I've ever run on a treadmill at the gym. Sad, but true. Told you guys I just can't hack it at the 'mill, but can go for days on the streets. Oh and I decided instead of doing a manual no hill run, I would do a random hill infested run on the 'mill. DEATH! I have never been so disgustingly sweaty in my life! It was good though, and I was glad I got through it.

Speaking of the dreadmill wars, last night I felt like I was involved in another one. The gym I went to was in a different part of town that I am used to and had quite a few interesting characters. This guy was next to me wearing a bright striped tank top, and reminded me completely of the character Glen, in the movie "The Ringer". He had a crazy bowl cut, shorter bright shorts, pale skin. They could have been identical, and if it wouldn't have been the most creepy thing EVER, I would have taken a picture.

I almost swear it was him. He was going next to me at a blazing 8.5, and I was chugging along at the slower pace of 6.3, (the hills people! they were brutal, cut me some slack) and he kept looking over at me to see what my pace was. I wanted to look at him and say, "You are on manual! That's why I'm not going as fast as you Glen!" Let me tell you, I wanted to bump up my speed SO badly, but I knew he wouldn't be on for that long, and I didn't want to not finish my 45 minute run. He hopped off at 15 minutes, and I continued my hill domination for the 45 minutes.

This morning I went for a 3.5er, and wore shorts. Wrong idea, my legs were FREEZING. I thought after the first 5 minutes they would warm up, alas they definitely didn't. Oh well.

And to all who think that hat is by far the coolest thing ever. It so is. I'm so excited to get my hat with BUILT IN SPEAKERS in the mail. Are you kidding me. I'm so high tech. Not! And the whole Vicki saga. I am just waiting for someone to email me sometime along the lines of, Vicki's my friend, and she's nice! Seems like a crazy B on television!

Now onto a new great song that I've recently stumbled upon.

First off we have "B-Rock" aka Brandy's new single called Departed.

Brandy - Right Here (Departed) (Watch at your own risk)

Really good, upbeat song with good lyrics. I have listened to this song at least 50 times since I got it online. :) It's really great as a pump up song. Hope you enjoy the latest from B-rock.

Tomorrow I will return with the result of the biggest football game tonight that I'm going to that will be televised. High school football people, it's crazy! If you have Foxsportswest, look for me, I'll be freezing my entire body off in my gray peacoat :) Go Lancers!

xoxo

Biggest Loser and a class at the gym...

After my last post I have some clarification. First off, I do not have the body to run in a sports bra. I ran in it based solely on the fact I thought no one would be around, therefore my plans were spoiled with a parade of all things. Secondly, the sports bra I was wearing was over six years old, and I said it was purple, well I would also have to add that it's very, VERY faded and dirty looking, but it's my absolute favorite. Thirdly, many of you commented how you would just turn around. Well I have this weird thing where once I plan out my run, I cannot venture off the path. If I'm doing a long run down by the beach and I say I'm going to turn around at the pier, I have to make myself run all the way to pier and back. I had mentally mapped out my run in my head that Friday night for that Saturday morning and sure enough, I couldn't turn around because that would ruin my plan. I know I'm a little OCD when it comes to planning, you're not the first to realize this. It bodes well when I work with my special events planner friend, and I do see myself possibly getting into the field again. (gasp, I've been planning special events for the past three years!) I get harped on for planning out my schedule weeks in advance and I even plan when I'm running, what routes, everything. So therefore, I couldn't turn around and had to travel the parade route.

So many of you know my love for the show Biggest Loser. Well last nights episode gave me more than enough to blog about for the next four months. First, I completely understand that it's TV and they can spin people to look how they want to, but seriously, VICKI and BRADY! Are you kidding me. This family is super mean and totally game playing. I was SO HAPPY that Amy .C. thought for herself and knew that Brady was a bigger threat and voted him off.

First off, I love Phil and Amy, they are so cute, and "seem" super nice, considerate, and caring. No one is spiteful on the show besides Vicki and Brady and Ed and Heba. Vicki and Brady are RIDICULOUS to laugh at Phil when the challenge was going on, and he fell off his stair stepper. Man, I was cheering for Stacy to win, but unfortunately Ed, whom the bf and I are not a fan of either came back to win and get back on the show. The schemers made the whole house uncomfortable and I couldn't believe that Vicki and Heba were taunting the black team when Phil went home. It might be scripted, but I feel like you can't get Vicki to say such mean spiteful things for no reason.

It's funny because I think Heba thinks they would all 'stick together' but I know they would all stab each other in the back given the chance to win the money. Oh and by the way, can I please work out one session with Jillian!? Gosh! I am going to get her video and give it a try one of these days, it looks super fun and I know she would kick my butt and I would totally love her 30 day shred. Felice over at the Happy Runner said that they work super good and that she can 'feel them working'. That is the best feeling ever.

So tonight I'm going to take a class at the local 24 hour fitness, Amp'd Abs. I used to take it often back in college when I didn't have much to do with my life and I would go to the gym more often. I looked for the class at my new gym and they only had it at 10:30 am. I found a gym by my work and it is at 6:15 pm, so I'll get off work at 5:45, and head over, ready to get my abs back in shape. The class seriously kills you, but it feels so good. I think then I'll run for 45 minutes and maybe do a little bit of weights.

Today on Marcy's blog she showed me the light about the Sports Authority Outlet! So many great deals there! A lot of t-shirts, shorts, anything you name it, they've got it, and super great prices. Also her blog is hilarious and today's was no different with her story of taking her kids to Chuck-e-cheese.

Also I found these funny little bowls for many of you that run with a dog, or have one at home. They are called Slurpabowls and are portable bowls that ensure you'll always have a container for your pets water or food. Can fit on a leash, in a purse, or in a pocket. It holds up to two cups of food or water and it folds flat and can be reused a few times. It's also recyclable. It's 8.95 for six.

You can find these bowls here!

And this could be the sickest thing I've ever bought!

The Nike ThermaFIT hatphones. You can move, groove, and stay warm in the Nike® + women's Soft Shell Therma-FIT® Cap. I'm already obsessed because my little ears FREEZE in the mornings. It's a comfortable skullcap that features fully functional iPod® Nano click wheel controls through the power mesh window in back, so you can keep moving while mixing up your music. I don't really think I'll be doing too much "mixing" but skipping a boring song sounds good to me. Get your own here!
Thanks for all the concern about me actually running into the wall. My arm is healing well! So I'm compiling a post of all things that anyone who runs or exercises should ask for for Christmas. If you have anything that you would like to see on the list or something that has changed your life.. (I.E. the stick :) ) then shoot me over an email at danicakoo@gmail.com