take advantage of a long weekend

The Ryan’s Christmas was quite successful! Normally during the week, we have to make sure we are working out at least every other evening together. On the weekends, we have to make sure to get a ride in on Saturday morning and usually a run on Sunday night. It was nice this past weekend because rather than feeling like we had to fit so many miles into a small window of time, we were able to be lazy, sleep in, and workout when we felt like it.

On Friday, we had to go into Austin for some errands, so we also made our way over to Barton Springs Pool, where it was 44 degrees outside. Saying that Caleb was annoyed with me is an understatement. It was cold, but it did feel good to get out for a little swim and kick off our long weekend. Caleb did not hate me by the time we were done.

On Saturday, I cannot even pretend that we made some cool Ryan Christmas Eve Tradition. It was raining all day, and I literally did laundry from 11:30 am until 7:00 pm. (I am not lying. This is actually possible. Caleb says that we have to get rid of clothes because apparently we have too many.) After 30 minutes of ironing, I realized that our only two channels were not going to provide me with good holiday movies, so I ran out to rent Holiday Inn, Miracle on 34^th Street, and Home Alone.

Caleb got our last bike rack hung that afternoon, and our garage is starting to look awesome!

I guess you can say that Christmas Eve did turn out to be a decently festive day! Caleb and I went to a nice dinner on Main Street and somehow stayed awake for the midnight service at church.

Our Christmas morning may make you gag. Caleb and I did stockings in bed (partly because we refuse to turn on the heat, and it has been in the 30s over night). It was 8:00 am, I found beef jerky and a giant bag of gummies from Dylan’s Candy Bar in my stocking, and you better believe I ate them...right there, in bed. Once we made it out to our living room, we opened a few gifts, turned on Home Alone again, and I fell back asleep for two hours. We did enjoy our lox with bagels and grapefruit with cherries as our festive holiday brunch, and we took little Lu for a hike that afternoon. Late that afternoon, we went for our 22-mile bike loop. When we got home, we made dinner and rented Die Hard. I cannot deny that I really like Die Hard (/it might be my new favorite movie), but in my defense, I would not choose the blood, violence and awful language. The plot just had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I loved it! I do not understand why girls are not supposed to like it.

The day after Christmas, our bike ride was so much fun! We rode around Bastrop, traveled southeast, and went along the most Texas-y road I have ever seen. 

We just thought this bridge was pretty.

So Texas-y, don't you think?

In some of the fields, there were cows and horses galore, and it was even more Texas-like.

The grass is finally turning green here!

I guess that happens in the winter in Texas...?

We rode into Smithville, stopped for some Subway, and finished our loop through the State Parks. Buescher and Bastrop State Parks are both open, but the park road that connects the two is still partly closed. Here's why...

the damage spans for 34,000 acres

Caleb took a video, but I cannot seem to get it to work! I will try Facebook...

We finished the 46-mile loop by riding on the highway by cars going 80-mph - ahhh!! We went for a 2.5-mile run with Lu, and from there, I had to rent Die Hard 2 before we brought the long Christmas weekend to a close.

This week, I hope you will feel inspired to take advantage of your long weekend coming up! Get caught up with sleep and get outside and play - whenever you feel like it! Even if you have plans for this coming weekend already, try to make time for yourself - you should have a day off on Monday!

Caleb and I are getting super excited because we have our favorite adventure friends, The Groothuises, coming to visit this weekend!! I am hoping to have some fun little Texas Adventures to inspire you next week.

playing outside

Well, I am job-less in Small Town, Texas, it is finally starting to cool off enough to do some fun workouts outside for the 2012 Half Ironman,  so I figure why not blog about it? I am super excited about the race this year! I have had a few people ask me if we will do a full Ironman soon. The answer is No – not soon, at least. I want to perfect the Half! Last year, my goal was to finish and feel good – Check! Now, although I claim “not to be competitive,” I admit that is not true at all. I would say that I am not competitive with others. I am competitive with myself. I know I can push myself and get a better time in the Half Ironman, so this year my goal is a specific time. Let’s hope I can check that one off my list, too!

Caleb and I have gotten a slow start to our training. Throughout the painfully hot summer and fall, we stayed somewhat active – mostly doing boring workouts at the gym. Caleb did race cross one weekend. I have been taking one dance class a week, and I have set up our Pilates studio in our third bedroom. It has only been in the past month that we have started having more intentional workouts. Hopefully some of these things will inspire you to get out and do something fun and active!

Our Pilates Room

I still need to paint it brown & have some things framed for the wall - maybe one day when I have a job & can afford it!

While my mom was here, just a week ago, we went into Austin. We walked along Barton Creek and saw some people swimming in the Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed pool that is amazing! I felt so inspired because I had not been swimming since the race last April. Caleb and I decided that no matter what, we would travel to Austin last week after my mom left and go for a swim. My mom left on Wednesday, and we were committed to our swim. On Thursday, regardless of 50 degree weather and non-stop rain when Caleb got home at 6:00, we put on our swimsuits and drove into Austin. No one else was at the pool (except a boy in a sweatshirt taking a picture – who we later inspired to get in – in his underwear), and there were giant signs reading “SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK.” Caleb was hesitant, and as usual, thought I was a crazy lunatic. I said I was going to do it, so I was not backing out. I went straight in the water. Caleb followed hesitantly. Initially cold, yes, but it was SO FUN! The pool is “lit,” but I can’t say I did not run into the wall while I was swimming laps – so not lit too well. You really cannot see anything with goggles on, and you swim through grass and have no idea what is below! It is really cool (maybe a little creepy, too). Come visit us, and we will go swimming!

On Saturday of this past weekend, we hosted a little Christmas Open House. We were not active at all that day, so on Sunday we had to get outside! On one of our bike rides around Bastrop, we had ridden past Lake Bastrop Park (owned by LCRA, one of the power companies here), but we had never gone exploring. We decided Sunday was the perfect time to go see this giant park that is literally only 5 minutes from our house. (So yes, two minutes from our house is Bastrop State Park, and 3 minutes from there is Lake Bastrop Park – both significant parks. I would say we ended up in the right place in Texas.) We did a 6.5-mile run around the park. I, of course, took the camera, so here are some photos – maybe to inspire you to visit us or go run-ploring (exploring via run)!

Post-Run

where I want to have my 25^th Birthday Celebration this year

I am off to do some Pilates, apply for some more jobs, and try to get our Christmas cards out!! Yes, I am WAY late.

We have a special week of workouts planned for our long Christmas Weekend, so stay tuned!

Love,

Crazy Molly Blane