Xavierism

My Friday Night Date

My Friday night date...My Little Man, Kylie!

Kylie & Ella: A True Love Story

Our Babies Kylie (a Male Umbrella Cockatoo) & Baby Ella Sharing a Tender Moment. Kylie Moves in for Some Love...

Grand Canyon University's Run to Fight Children's Cancer 5K- Spring Edition

***Random Play

*Harry Connick, Jr.: Only You

*Joni Mitchell: Both Sides Now

*Natalie Merchant: Retrospective 1995-2005

*Julia Fordham: That's Life

*Jamie Drake: When I Was Yours

*Gavin Rossdale: Wanderlust

It's 77 degrees at 5pm on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. I'm currently writing this post beside our pool in the backyard. I see God's Love shining all around me. It's a beautiful thing to see & feel!

This will be a quick update. I really wanted to share the news of yesterday's 5K race. I've never ran very well in 5 and 10K races. My person PR for a 5K is 29:24. My 5K Race PR was 33:31 but that changed as of yesterday. I completed the Grand Canyon University's Run to Fight Children's Cancer 5K - Spring Edition Race with a time of 32:59. This meant a great deal to me since the last 5K race I ran in December was a miserable 36:07. I was telling friends that I often feel like the Sasha Cohen/Johnny Weir of running. I do well while training but always screw up during races. So this latest race gives me Hope. I feel as though I'm heading in the direction with this running thing. I look forward to my next Half Marathon race on Saturday. My body, legs and feet are feeling great. My right ankle injury is no longer a problem. I'm ready to train my best so that I can avenge my last half marathon time of 2:44:42.

Sunday evening will include a homemade pizza and movie night...another quiet night at home with my Umbrella Cockatoos. Life is a blessing!

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Gavin Rossdale's Forever May You Run

Current Mood: Fresh & Easy

A Moment with Kylie

 

Kylie watching a TCM Classic, The Constant Nymph, featuring Charles Boyer and Joan Fontaine.

Over 1000 Miles!

Early Monday morning and I'm ready to tackle the day. Weekend was very kind: an evening with good friends and much needed quiet time at home with our Umbrella Cockatoos. The older I get, the more I appreciate the fact that I am my own best friend. It's been a challenge now that my Life Partner/Soulmate is living in different state. We celebrated 12 years together on January 26th. It's only been a few weeks since he moved to accept a great job in Oklahoma City. This long distance relationship is hard but I know we'll be together again once Ro is able to find comparable job here in Phoenix.

Download A Tender Moment with Kylie : A little clip featuring Kyle whispering and chatting with me. ***I could only seem to play this clip using Apple's Quicktime Player.

More than ever running has become an active sanctuary for my peace of mind and self therapy. This past weekend I have officially ran over 1000 miles. As long as I've had an online blog, I never thought I would ever write about my running life, moments & races. If I were given a sneak peek 7 years ago into the future and learn that I took up running, I wouldn't have believed it. Running has always been a passion but always had excuse for not following through.  I'd run a few miles one day, a few miles days later and the I wouldn't run again for months at a time. Now I look forward to my morning runs...how did I get to this point? Regardless of the answer, I've got to admit that I love my life. I'm ready to head out for a run soon. I look forward to my adventures through the next 1000 miles.

 

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Empire of One's If I Let Myself Dream

Current Mood: Coffee Happy

Welcome 2012!

Enjoyed the first day of 2012.

 

*Enjoyed a lazy late morning in bed.

*Spent the day with Rodan

*We met up with a friend at Lux Central

*Attended Mass

*Enjoyed a late afternoon run

*Chilled on the couch with our cockatoos

A Perfect way to start off the New Year!

****CHEERS!****

My Personal Review of 2011

Alana Davis - 32 Flavors

I learned so much about myself throughout this year. I've always wanted to be a Runner.  If running around the block or two every now and then qualifies me as a runner then that was me. Although I wanted to be a runner that actually entered running events and actually stuck to goals and program. I'm not a great runner but I get out there and run. Early in the year, I felt a great ease while running. It wasn't till I ran a trail 10K run in April that slowed me down. For most of the Summer I felt a bit sluggish. I also realized that with anything in life, one must have a plan. I allowed myself to veer off that path and take the easy road. That was definitely a wrong turn. I'm now doing my best to get back on track and get ready for a New Year of great running. I want to see results and improve my Personal Records.

Without one's health, you're nothing! Thanks to running I'm in better shape than I've ever been in my life. If only I didn't wait till I turned 46 to understand all of this. Now that I am 47, I want to feel at my best. Two major surgeries and another Cancer scare during the Summer didn't stop me. Moral of this chapter? If you're not feeling well or something doesn't feel quite right, have it checked out by your Doctors. Don't wait! Better to correct the problem than to face the consequences head on.

Like any other year, I learned a great deal about friends and acquaintances. Funny how one can feel so connected to certain people and minor events happen that allow their true colors to show. Miki Howard wrote a very powerful quote: "Everyone who says they're a friend doesn't mean they're your friend." Thanks to running I have gained so many wonderful and supportive friends. Running connects us so again I am thankful that I am able to get out there and put one foor in front of the other. Overall I am thankful for the true friends in my life.

Rodan and I have added another year. We will soon celebrate 12 years together. It hasn't always been easy but it's definitely been worth it. 

Omar, Kylie & Baby Ella continue to be the Feathered Angels of our house. Each bird has a personality of their own...just like children. I will have to post most clips of our babies throughout 2012.

Praise God, my Patron Saints and Angels for allowing my Faith & Sense of Humor to get me through the rough patches. My good friends are like tiny treasure...priceless. So I thank those that have been there for Rodan and myself.

To those that read my blog or stumble upon this blog post, I do Wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I look forward to sharing in 2012!

*****CHEERS & LOVE!*****

Current Music: Alana Davis' 32 Flavors

Current Mood: Simply Blessed

AZ Road Racers Summer Series #1 - 5K - Papago Park

Chillin' with my Little Feathered Man, Kylie

***Random Play

*Raina Rose: When May Come

*Matt Mertz: Weights & Wings

*Toby Lightman: Bird on a Wire

*Nathan Angelo: Follow Your Heart

*Beth Hart: My California

*Francesca Battistelli: My Paper Heart

My Love/Hate affair with Running continues. It seems that my pace and times are consistently now much slower than when I first started training for my first half marathon back in January. Yesterday morning's 5K race was tough. Any race is tough for me...but throw in the Sun and heat & I completely wilt. I know I need to work on my endurance and speed. I hope to add Speed training with a local running group to help motivate and possibly become a member of the 10 minute pace per mile club. I don't care to be a Speedy Gonzalez type, I just want to improve my times and pace. San Diego Half Marathon is next Sunday...I'm ready to claim my Half Marathon Medal!

I ran a 5K early this Sunday morning. I left the musc home and just meditated and did my best to become one with my breathing, body, and legs. Nice run. I'm thankful for this Love/ Hate Affair in my Life.

*****CHEERS!*****

Current Music: Nathan Angelo's Follow Your Heart

Current Mood: Happy, Chilled, & Ready for Sunday!

Happy 2011!

 

Amen Zone

I just woke up from a glorious nap on the couch. Kylie and Ella were perched on my side. I didn't want to move and wake them up but I'm so ready for bed. I wanted to quickly write a few words about Amen Zone. My readers will definitely be learning about my progress through these workouts. Amen Zone is a Primal Fitness Training center run by owner Amen Iseghohi. I love that one of his centers is located in downtown Phoenix. It's easy access for me. I could go on and on but I'm tired. Today's workout was great. I felt all the muscles in my body being used. I know I'll be sleeping well tonight. I've always had a problem with following good nutrition program but luckily Amen's wife will be helping me stick with a program that I can follow and adapt as good habits.

All in all, I'm thrilled. I've lost close to 15 pounds and I feel great. In my next post, I will share a local Biggest Loser competition that I'm a part of...motivation is the key. Life is great!

*****Cheers!*****