This morning I was exhausted, only 5 hours of sleep (sorry all of you mom’s out there….5 hours is probably a lot of sleep to you).

I got to the gym and couldn’t bare the thought of running for 13 miles.

I decided to take it in baby steps.

I took it 30 seconds at a time……it worked.

Every time I started thinking i have X amount of miles to go it made my stomach sick.

Instead, I thought just go 30 more seconds and then re-evaluate if you want to continue and each time I did, like 4,358 times:)

I tried upping the time and doing it every minute but even that was too much.  My attention span was 30 seconds today. Awesome.

13.1 Miles 1% incline 7:47 average pace.  Followed with foam rolling for ten minutes.

I know you think I live off of candy but in my defense I just eat a lot of everything, especially fruits and veggies.  My co-workers call me a rabbit for the amount of produce I eat.

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But, a student brought these in today and I lost control. I ate a whole zoo’s worth of animals.

Another student made this card for me.  I think I may have some New Year’s resolutions to work on.

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Do you ever get weird words come up on the spam protectors (word verifications) when you are leaving a comment on blogs?

-Yesterday I was sitting next to Billy and a very funny word came up…..let’s just say we were both laughing VERY hard and blushing as I was typing it in.

How many hours of sleep do you get each night?

-7-8 is my lucky number.  Saturday nights we get about 10 sometimes 11 hours of sleep.

Do you love circus animal cookies?

-Those dang sprinkles and the frosting coating gets me every time.

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54 comments

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Who doesnt like circus animals soaked in icing and sprinkles?

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I always get about 7 or 8 hours of sleep. Anything less and I'm a crab monster.

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Monday, Wednesday Thursday nights I get 4 hours, Sunday, Tuesday I get 6 hours. Friday, Saturday I aim for 7+ hours.

I don't know if I've ever had the frosting/sprinkle covered animal crackers but I know I like the plain version so I can imagine the tastiness of the deluxe kind!

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Sleep? What's that?

You put me to shame with your gym dedication. I bailed on my run this morning 10.66 miles into a 12-miler due to freezing conditions. And being a wimp.

I admire everything about you to be honest – your speed, your determination, your ability to be so balanced with your food and still look gorgeous.

Being from the UK…I have no knowledge of these animal cookies of which you speak!

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7-8 usually sometimes more, prb is my mind races at night when I should be sleeping. Yes I love those cookies!! BTW GREAT job today.. your a superstar!

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OH WHY OH WHY must you put these animal cookies in my brain??????? I'm probably going to end up in a sugar coma soon if I can't get the thought of these out of my head!

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wow, 13.1 on a treadmill…that's amazing. i don't think i could ever do that. my attention span stinks.

as for sleep…love sleep. i get about 7.5 hours of sleep…well, i sometimes wake up a lot during the night.

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Sleep?

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I love those cookies! They are some of my favorite and now I am going to have to get some next time I am at the store!

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I think it's awesome that you committed to 30 seconds of running, over and over again! That's way more dedication that someone who only commits to running once during their workout :)

I sleep about 7 hours a night. I'd like to sleep 10 sometimes but if I do my biological rhythms get all messed up.
I've never had circus animal cookies…but I love the plain ones.

PS I recently discovered your blog and it is my fave!

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A treadmill half marathon? You are such a dedicated runner!
Those circus animal cookies are classic and so cute. I almost cried when they were going to be discontinued.

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Those animal crackers look wonderful!!! I mean, what isn't better with frosting on it????
I usually feel my best with 8 hours of sleep as well! =D

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Oh my gosh, that student Christmas card had me hysterical. Is that legs and your..um…behind?? Or is it a heart? Am I visualizing that properly? Hysterical!

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way to go! I do the same things with my runs. I say, just do 3 miles, then it ends up feeling great and i keep going from there. You speed demon you, your gonna rock it at Boston!
And I LUV cicrus animals, but haven't had then since being gluten intolerant. My goal is to make a GF version. Hmmmm, maybe this weekend?!

Get some extra sleep dear friend! :)
LC

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way to go! I do the same things with my runs. I say, just do 3 miles, then it ends up feeling great and i keep going from there. You speed demon you, your gonna rock it at Boston!
And I LUV cicrus animals, but haven't had then since being gluten intolerant. My goal is to make a GF version. Hmmmm, maybe this weekend?!

Get some extra sleep dear friend! :)
LC

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way to go! I do the same things with my runs. I say, just do 3 miles, then it ends up feeling great and i keep going from there. You speed demon you, your gonna rock it at Boston!
And I LUV cicrus animals, but haven't had then since being gluten intolerant. My goal is to make a GF version. Hmmmm, maybe this weekend?!

Get some extra sleep dear friend! :)
LC

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Hahahaha that card! If I don't get my 8 hours, I literally can't get out of the bed. It's bad.

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I buy Mother's Circus cookies every year for my dad for Christmas! It's like the most favorite thing he gets! HAHAHA.

I really don't get enough sleep – 5 to 6, but usually its never straight thru… Someday…

Anything over an hour on a treadmill has to be broken down… It's all mental! Way to kick it out… :)

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Your circus animal parade is so cute, haha. I really hate to admit it but I'm starting to love speedwork on the ol treadmill. Hopefully I don't have to use your 30 second trick tonight.

Oh and I have been craving a McD's cone for a week now, so thanks for that :P

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8 hours is my lucky number, no more or less needed usually. I use to love the frosted zoo crackers until my aunt made a comment about them being covered in lard and then they were never appitizing to me again. It was a really sad day :(

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I'm very particular about my animal crackers – I like the ones that come in a clear and red and yellow bag, where the animals are more puffball-y. You know the ones, right? :)

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I usually aim for 8 hours of sleep, but lately I have been going to bed later and later and still working up early!

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I looooooooove all types of cookies!!! =) yummmm

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I try to get 7-8, but sometimes my sleep schedule gets so messed up while in school. Those animal crackers are so cute marching in front of your computer!

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I usually get between 7-8. Any less than that and I am completely worthless. LOL.

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oh man i remember those. so good! i haven't had circus animal cookies in like 10 years.

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Wow that is quite a workout before work! Good for you!

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I use to get only 3-4 hourw of sleep a night, but now that hubs has normal work hours, I get more like 6-7.

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Those captchas are always some funny words!

Isn't it the case that some runs just go that way? It's all a brain game. Then sometimes you can go 20 miles without even an ipod.

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13 miles on a dreadmill! I max out at 45 minutes on that thing! Does anyone do Pure Barre? Obsessed.

8-9 hours of sleep:)

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13 miles on the machine…you are my hero
seriously woman….

sleep…we got a divorced 6 yrs ago…so we are not on good terms…5 hours if I am lucky and not without getting up at least once…

cookies..only Graham crackers for me

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Sleep = 7 hours a night, 8 if I don't get up to workout in the morning. Then comes the weekend and I sleep in and it is glorious!

I wish people made me cards! That is nice that you have nice students!

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Found your blog through SkinnyRunner. I love that you run a half-marathon on a treadmill! That is amazing especially since I hate the treadmill and doing 1 mile on it is like torture to me! I also love seeing that you are a teacher as I am currently going back to school to become a teacher after 10 plus years in the finance world. Oh and 8 hours is perfect amount of sleep but sometimes (most days!) I function on less!!

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Circus animal cookies are my weakness. I can turn down a LOT of candy and ice cream and pizza and everything else.. But put a bag of those in front of me and I lose my freaking mind.

I love your 30 second strategy – great way to barrel through! I can function on any amount of sleep (including zero hours), but I do best with 7 to 9 hours.

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Mmm I used to be obsessed with those cookies and I havent had them in forever then the other day I came home and my roomate had bought some! So exciting!

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This morning I learned that my attention span does not go past 30 seconds either…I was trying to count out my laps at the track and couldn't do it!

I love those circus crackers! When I was a kid they were my treats for taking a nap…my favorite, I was a good fake sleeper!

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I have definitely gotten some weird words pop up every now and then and I wonder who gets to come up with them. I think it would be a job I'd enjoy.

I typically get 8 hours per night. Sometimes 9. I guess I'm an old lady. :)

Oh and I love those cookies. Or any cookies really, as long as they don't have raisins in them because that's just dumb.

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If there were no such things as alarm clocks, I could EASILY sleep 8-9 hours, but since I haven't won the lottery yet and still have to work I usually get 6-7 hours.

How am I just now finding your blog?! I'm loving this!

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omg the problem with those animal crackers is you can't freaking stop (well – I can't stop!) My body is weird…sometimes I get 6 hours & feel great & others I need 9 to feel good!

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I don't function well without at least 8 hours of sleep. But, if I had the time and no dogs to wake me up, I could sleep for 10-12 easily.

Frosted animal cookies + me = BFF. LOVE them.

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I'm pathetic, I usually get around 9-10 hours of sleep each night.

I am very curious as to what the word was. I've gotten some odd ones, but nothing spectacularly memorable.

Last time I ate them I wasn't a big fan of Circus Animals, but I do love me some animal crackers!

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Wow. I admire your pace on the treadmill and that you can run for that distance! I did my first treadmill run this week and BARELY made it to 30 minutes when I probably could have run for over an hour outside!
On the sleep issue, during the summer 7-8 is plenty for me, but in the winter my body seems to think it needs 9-10, which I do NOT have the ability to give it. I mean, a girls GOTTA have her late night 'puter and brownies and ice cream time, right??

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I can't seem to sleep past 8 no matter what time I go to bed, but getting eight hours of sleep would be ideal.

I love circus animal cookies. I'm jealous.

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I wish I could do 13 miles on the treadmill… for some reason I run slower pace wise on the treadmill. I run a 9:30 normally outside but on the treadmil run a 10:30 or higher, its what feels comfortable. SO it takes SOOO much longer to get my miles in! After 6 or 7 Im DONE.

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yes! I've had to type in many funny words to the verification thing. I get 7-8 hours per night. 8 is my golden #. Anything below 6 and it's hard to function. I love the animal cookies with the pink frosting…do you know those?

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Those cookies are so addicting, but I only like the Mother's brand ones… guess I'm a snob that way. I don't think I've had more than 6 hours of sleep since my oldest was born 7 years ago but I've gotten used to it… someday maybe I'l seep longer. I guess I could go to bed when my kids do, but what's the fun in that?

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I LOVE those animal cookies! Put frosting on anything, and I'd probably eat it. Yum.

I try to get 8-9 hours of sleep a night, but on the days I don't work, I may go 12. Lol. If I get under 7, I am a witch with a capital B, so I try not to subject others to that.

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Whoooaaaaa time out, you did a half mary on the dreadmill, I CAN NOT even wrap my head around that!!! How!!! Wow, seriously wow, nice job.

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those frostinged animal crackers are killer! sooooo good!

I usually get about 8 hours of sleep

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I love sleep and those dang frosted animal crackers. I try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. I thrive on sleep!!! With two kids, they go to bed by 8:15 and I follow quickly behind them! Lame, I know.

No big Christmas plans, families are here in same town so we all see each other and do the same old thing! Hoping for no blizzard this year, snow would be fun, but blizzard is out.

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I try to get at least 7 hours… but aim for 8-9… I love my sleep!

And frosting AND sprinkles? SIgn me up. lol

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Yep, Mother's Frosted Circus Animals are IT.

I was so sad and deprived when I lived in Philadelphia where they cannot be found (or at least couldn't when I was there… back in the Stone Age).

I never get enough sleep… I need at least 8 but rarely get more than 6.

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i don't understand how people exist without a sugar/sweets addiction. i have had to play games on the 'mill before – increasing/decreasing the incline or speed every minute or something. some days you just don't want to be on that thing.

i meant to foam roll yesterday but i was too lazy. sad, i know. my legs really need it.

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Those animal cookies are the best tasting! And your picture of them is pretty cute!

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