Been almost a week since I blogged or ran the Cary 1/2 marathon. I was feeling good last Sunday with a PR in my pocket and a body that wasn't too sore. That didn't last long. I ached that night and my legs were shredded for the next 3 days. Quads were shot. The kind of pain that prohibits you from sitting down with out supporting yourself with your hands. Marathon type pain. I guess I'm not surprised as I was not ready for hills or pavement for that matter. However pain is temporary, the glory will last forever.
The difference this time... I was able on Monday to get on the bike and ride for an hour. Tuesday I biked again and got in a 2500m swim. Wed was a rest day and Thurs I hit the treadmill once again. It wasn't pretty as my legs were so tired and my shin on fire. But I got through 6 miles then got in another swim workout. Friday I hit the bike for 45 min recovery ride and right onto the treadmill for another 45 min run. This time the legs felt better and the shin wasn't quite as touchy. I taped just a little differently and the bike warm up helped. Any long distance race I have done like a 1/2 marathon or longer I have taken at least 4-7 days of complete rest. This time I didn't have that option. The day of the race I was supposed to run 2 1/2 hours. I actually ran under 2. So really I shorted the training. I figured the pace and hills made up the difference. Last Sunday was not my "A" race. It was just a race thrown on the calendar just like next month when I do the Miami tri. Just another race. My "A" race is waiting for me in June.
Speaking of my "A" race, I wonder still how I will be able to do it. 1.2 mile swim, 56.7 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run. Today I rode my bike for 4 1/2 hrs. 4 1/2 freakin hours. 70 miles. God it took forever. I was so happy to get off the bike. The idea of running 13 miles after that just seems impossible. You would think by now I would see the light. I would start to feel that yes it will be damn hard but I know I'll make it. Whether I run, jog, walk or crawl I will make it. Well, not feelin it so much. Not feelin it at all really. I got off that bike today and thought there's no way I could run 3 miles let alone 13. When will I see the light? My husband reminded me that it's a long process from the beginning of training until the end. My body will continuously be put to the test. It will be pushed farther and farther at the right times. It will be given rest to recover and build stronger muscles. This is a 20 week process. I just finished week 8. I'm not even 1/2 way done.
I'm going to have to trust the training. Trust in myself. Keep plugging along. Race the smaller races and judge my fitness. I will do this. I will cross that line in June. 8 weeks down......12 to go.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Cary March Madness 1/2 Marathon Report
While it is still fresh in my head and while everyone is doing their own thing in the house right now I thought it would be good to write a race report.
Woke up at 6 and was surprised that I slept at all. Typically I do not sleep before a race. But this one was different. I have run it before so I knew what to expect. Plus I really did not put any expectations on myself. Sure I had some goals in my head but I just wanted to finish pretty. Not walking and limping my way across the line. So after getting ready and going back and forth on what to wear we were off to my Dad's house. Got there around 7:30am. My father was ready to go. My husband I think had more reservation about this race than any other he has run. His training while ample enough wasn't at a level that he normally does for a race of this length. But I knew he would be fine. He amazes me sometimes. He is able to run that distance whether he runs 5 miles a week or 30 miles a week. He can just get up and run. Not me I have to train really hard to run a long distance event like this. I spent a very few important minutes taping my leg just right in hopes it would hold me up for the 13 miles.
We headed to Cary HS just about 3 miles from my Dad's house. Very convenient. Had about 30 mins to wait before the race. My least favorite time of the day. The minutes you wait before the gun goes off. My mind wanders to the what if. What if I can't handle the pavement? What if the hills are just too much? What if I will be too cold or too warm? What if I can't finish. Never do I feel ready those few minutes. Never do I think, I've got this. I can do this. Keeping in mind that I have not run on the roads in about 8 months only the treadmill can mess with your head. But I kept telling myself I ran a whole marathon with only training on a treadmill back in 2007. So what's 13 miles?
8:35 am we are off. Now the first 3 miles are rolling hills nothing much to speak off. Actually most of it is slightly downhill. So you can bank some time for yourself. By the first 1/2 mile I was running alone without Dad and Dave. I pulled ahead quickly but thought that they were right behind me. Saw the kids, Lori and new pals Chloe and Oreo at mile 2.5. They almost missed me running by. I had my garmin on avg pace and I was at 8:45. Geez a little fast I thought. But the leg felt ok so far and my breathing was in check. Was a bit chilly but I was warming up slowly. So I kept the pace and thought well as long as I don't feel like I'm pushing hard I'll keep going. Miles ticked off and I was able to stay in the 8 min range until mile 6. Some of the hills are brutal. They just go on and on and on. The shin was twinging slightly and what surprised me was that the downhill was just as bothersome as the uphills. I was in the low 9's for the next 3 miles. Then got it back down to 8:39 for mile 9. However, this is when it gets really tough. The worst of the hills are through mile 10 and 11. They ease up slightly in mile 12. Mile 10 was 9:18 mile 11 was 9:07. Trying to recover from that slowed me down a bit mile 12 with a 9:21 my slowest mile. As I was running each mile I watched the garmin's avg pace creeping up. I was thinking if I can just keep it below 9 min miles for 1/2 the race that would be great. Then it was well if I can hit 8 miles under 9 pace even better. As mile 9 passed by I thought, wow I may have a chance at a PR. But I knew that the toughest part was yet to come. By mile 12 the garmin hit 9 min avg pace. Now it was a race......a mental race. Could I get the garmin to go back down to 8:59? Have to pick up pace by about 13 seconds for that to happen. My last mile was at 9:01 but the last quarter mile I hit a pace of 7:48. That's what did it. I got my 8:59 pace and a time of 1:58:43, which is a 5 min PR for me. That is huge! The other race was flat.
This proves to me that I'm on the right track with training. My running is improving tremendously even with shin splints. And who says you can't run all your miles on a treadmill and expect to do well come race day? I'm proof that it is possible. Right now my legs are sore. More sore that 13 miles on a treadmill, but I don't go at 9 min pace nor do I run hills so really I'm not in too bad of shape. Doped up on Advil for now and hope that the shin doesn't keep me up tonight. But I think I'm going to be just fine. Tomorrow maybe I'll even ride the trainer for a bit and hit the pool. The season has just begun...........
Kudos to my Father who surpassed his expectations. His avg pace of 9:45 was about 15 secs faster per mile than expected. And of course my husband who pushed through and as always never gives up. He came in with a time of 2:11. Just about 10 min pace. I remember the days when I would work so hard to get that time and he can just show up and do it with less than 1/2 the mileage I train with. Less can sometimes be more......... I spend many many hours training and a lot of things lately are hard to get done. My husband is patient, helpful, tolerant and understanding during all this. I have another 3 months to go until the "big race" I'll thank him in advance for putting up with all of this. You truly need the support of your loved ones to get you to the finish line. Without them I could not do this. Thanks.
Woke up at 6 and was surprised that I slept at all. Typically I do not sleep before a race. But this one was different. I have run it before so I knew what to expect. Plus I really did not put any expectations on myself. Sure I had some goals in my head but I just wanted to finish pretty. Not walking and limping my way across the line. So after getting ready and going back and forth on what to wear we were off to my Dad's house. Got there around 7:30am. My father was ready to go. My husband I think had more reservation about this race than any other he has run. His training while ample enough wasn't at a level that he normally does for a race of this length. But I knew he would be fine. He amazes me sometimes. He is able to run that distance whether he runs 5 miles a week or 30 miles a week. He can just get up and run. Not me I have to train really hard to run a long distance event like this. I spent a very few important minutes taping my leg just right in hopes it would hold me up for the 13 miles.
We headed to Cary HS just about 3 miles from my Dad's house. Very convenient. Had about 30 mins to wait before the race. My least favorite time of the day. The minutes you wait before the gun goes off. My mind wanders to the what if. What if I can't handle the pavement? What if the hills are just too much? What if I will be too cold or too warm? What if I can't finish. Never do I feel ready those few minutes. Never do I think, I've got this. I can do this. Keeping in mind that I have not run on the roads in about 8 months only the treadmill can mess with your head. But I kept telling myself I ran a whole marathon with only training on a treadmill back in 2007. So what's 13 miles?
8:35 am we are off. Now the first 3 miles are rolling hills nothing much to speak off. Actually most of it is slightly downhill. So you can bank some time for yourself. By the first 1/2 mile I was running alone without Dad and Dave. I pulled ahead quickly but thought that they were right behind me. Saw the kids, Lori and new pals Chloe and Oreo at mile 2.5. They almost missed me running by. I had my garmin on avg pace and I was at 8:45. Geez a little fast I thought. But the leg felt ok so far and my breathing was in check. Was a bit chilly but I was warming up slowly. So I kept the pace and thought well as long as I don't feel like I'm pushing hard I'll keep going. Miles ticked off and I was able to stay in the 8 min range until mile 6. Some of the hills are brutal. They just go on and on and on. The shin was twinging slightly and what surprised me was that the downhill was just as bothersome as the uphills. I was in the low 9's for the next 3 miles. Then got it back down to 8:39 for mile 9. However, this is when it gets really tough. The worst of the hills are through mile 10 and 11. They ease up slightly in mile 12. Mile 10 was 9:18 mile 11 was 9:07. Trying to recover from that slowed me down a bit mile 12 with a 9:21 my slowest mile. As I was running each mile I watched the garmin's avg pace creeping up. I was thinking if I can just keep it below 9 min miles for 1/2 the race that would be great. Then it was well if I can hit 8 miles under 9 pace even better. As mile 9 passed by I thought, wow I may have a chance at a PR. But I knew that the toughest part was yet to come. By mile 12 the garmin hit 9 min avg pace. Now it was a race......a mental race. Could I get the garmin to go back down to 8:59? Have to pick up pace by about 13 seconds for that to happen. My last mile was at 9:01 but the last quarter mile I hit a pace of 7:48. That's what did it. I got my 8:59 pace and a time of 1:58:43, which is a 5 min PR for me. That is huge! The other race was flat.
This proves to me that I'm on the right track with training. My running is improving tremendously even with shin splints. And who says you can't run all your miles on a treadmill and expect to do well come race day? I'm proof that it is possible. Right now my legs are sore. More sore that 13 miles on a treadmill, but I don't go at 9 min pace nor do I run hills so really I'm not in too bad of shape. Doped up on Advil for now and hope that the shin doesn't keep me up tonight. But I think I'm going to be just fine. Tomorrow maybe I'll even ride the trainer for a bit and hit the pool. The season has just begun...........
Kudos to my Father who surpassed his expectations. His avg pace of 9:45 was about 15 secs faster per mile than expected. And of course my husband who pushed through and as always never gives up. He came in with a time of 2:11. Just about 10 min pace. I remember the days when I would work so hard to get that time and he can just show up and do it with less than 1/2 the mileage I train with. Less can sometimes be more......... I spend many many hours training and a lot of things lately are hard to get done. My husband is patient, helpful, tolerant and understanding during all this. I have another 3 months to go until the "big race" I'll thank him in advance for putting up with all of this. You truly need the support of your loved ones to get you to the finish line. Without them I could not do this. Thanks.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Winter or Spring, Which is it?
I sit here and look out the window as my oldest plays with Chloe outside. You would think that they would be playing catch like Chloe and I did yesterday. Sun and warm weather in the 60's lead us outside for her to get her run on. Of course she is still learning. She chases the ball and just stands there when she gets to it. Doesn't think to pick it up and bring it back to me. Maybe she is training me? Today it's a different sort of play. A shovel and about 3 inches of snow is one of Chloe's favorite things. The snow was gone for about 2 weeks and she missed it terribly. I on the other hand could do without the snow and wind.
Tomorrow I have the first race of the season. The Cary 1/2 marathon. On Thurs I dropped my son off at baseball practice and then headed back to the car with about a 100 yard jog. That was the first time my foot hit the pavement with more than a walk since last summer. All my miles have been on a treadmill due to my shin splints. Now I understand why. I had sneakers on but not my running sneakers. Well my leg ached for about 45 mins just from that short distance. My leg was not taped either. So I hope that will make a difference come tomorrow.
What will tomorrow bring? It is supposed to be in the 40's but the morning will probably be low 30's with wind. I can handle the cold, snow, heat, rain but wind I hate. I have numerous hills to climb on this course. I'll have a taped leg and new shoes. But that isn't going to help much with the size of the hills. I will be loaded with Advil and Tylenol, before during and after the race. My goal is simple, run no matter what the weather. Second goal is to finish. I typically don't have such a simple goal but I can't have too many expectations with my leg. If I really want to admit my secret goal it would be to run under 2:10. If I want to PR I would have to run under 2:04. I don't see that happening with the course that it is. But I certainly will have a go at it if all other things fall into place.
Let the season begin........
Tomorrow I have the first race of the season. The Cary 1/2 marathon. On Thurs I dropped my son off at baseball practice and then headed back to the car with about a 100 yard jog. That was the first time my foot hit the pavement with more than a walk since last summer. All my miles have been on a treadmill due to my shin splints. Now I understand why. I had sneakers on but not my running sneakers. Well my leg ached for about 45 mins just from that short distance. My leg was not taped either. So I hope that will make a difference come tomorrow.
What will tomorrow bring? It is supposed to be in the 40's but the morning will probably be low 30's with wind. I can handle the cold, snow, heat, rain but wind I hate. I have numerous hills to climb on this course. I'll have a taped leg and new shoes. But that isn't going to help much with the size of the hills. I will be loaded with Advil and Tylenol, before during and after the race. My goal is simple, run no matter what the weather. Second goal is to finish. I typically don't have such a simple goal but I can't have too many expectations with my leg. If I really want to admit my secret goal it would be to run under 2:10. If I want to PR I would have to run under 2:04. I don't see that happening with the course that it is. But I certainly will have a go at it if all other things fall into place.
Let the season begin........
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Mother or Father?
As my dog is running all through the house at a pace that I could only dream of, I wonder where she gets her unending energy. I suppose if I were back to being a 2 year old, I too would be bounding around the house. When she runs, she's happy. Even happier with a squeaky toy in her mouth. No one needs to chase her or throw a ball, she just runs on her own and in her own world. Oh to be a puppy.
I have spent a lot of time lately wondering about my future. When I say time I mean the past few years. Medically speaking, what is going to happen to me? Who's footsteps will I follow? Either way I'm screwed. Take the path of my father and end up with Peripheral Neuropathy or worse follow my mother with her never ending battles with her body. Arthritis, tumors, heart murmur, vitamin deficiencies, bones of a 75 year old. She's only 57. This is only recent events. She has been through so many surgeries since the day I was born.
I'm not getting any younger and I wonder for how long will I be able to keep training like I am? How much can my body tolerate? If I'm like my father I should be good to go, albeit with numb hands and feet the man can still swim, bike and run quite well at 59. That gives me about another 20 years. If I'm more like my mother than I don't have much time left. Once I hit 40 it's all downhill. I have those days where I think maybe all I do just adds to the damage yet to come. But then I reassure myself that after many many studies the training that I do makes my heart, bones and body stronger. I may not be able to dodge the bullet but it may take longer to hit me.
I get down about all the medical issues my parents have faced already. I feel sad. I want to help, but really what can I do? I live a long distance from my Mom and I'm the only child for her. It's so hard not being there when she could use a hand. Today she had knee surgery. It was bad enough that she still will have injections to keep it in use for awhile longer. While doing an EKG for the surgery they saw an enlarging aortic ventricle due to her heart murmur. She also has a enlarged lymph node that they are concerned about. A biopsy of the lump will be needed in her near future. What lays ahead for her is a mystery. But I am so impressed with the way she handles it all. I'm sure she has her moments in private or with her husband where she looses it. But for the rest of us she is nothing short of optimistic, happy to be alive, and looking forward to her future. Kudos to her as I could never be like that. I certainly didn't take those good traits from her.
So who's path will I follow? I feel like I am a good mixture of both my father and mother. I look like my father. I laugh like my mother. I have my mothers eye's and hair, but have my father's long legs. I think allot like my father, but have the patience of my mother. I keep feelings in like my father but I have a lot of the same feeling as my mother has had over the years. I compete like my father and I never give up like my mother. I keep quiet when I'm wrong like my father and I'm never wrong like my mother. Who's aging body will I follow is yet to be determined, but I can only hope I deal with it as gracefully as they have.
I have spent a lot of time lately wondering about my future. When I say time I mean the past few years. Medically speaking, what is going to happen to me? Who's footsteps will I follow? Either way I'm screwed. Take the path of my father and end up with Peripheral Neuropathy or worse follow my mother with her never ending battles with her body. Arthritis, tumors, heart murmur, vitamin deficiencies, bones of a 75 year old. She's only 57. This is only recent events. She has been through so many surgeries since the day I was born.
I'm not getting any younger and I wonder for how long will I be able to keep training like I am? How much can my body tolerate? If I'm like my father I should be good to go, albeit with numb hands and feet the man can still swim, bike and run quite well at 59. That gives me about another 20 years. If I'm more like my mother than I don't have much time left. Once I hit 40 it's all downhill. I have those days where I think maybe all I do just adds to the damage yet to come. But then I reassure myself that after many many studies the training that I do makes my heart, bones and body stronger. I may not be able to dodge the bullet but it may take longer to hit me.
I get down about all the medical issues my parents have faced already. I feel sad. I want to help, but really what can I do? I live a long distance from my Mom and I'm the only child for her. It's so hard not being there when she could use a hand. Today she had knee surgery. It was bad enough that she still will have injections to keep it in use for awhile longer. While doing an EKG for the surgery they saw an enlarging aortic ventricle due to her heart murmur. She also has a enlarged lymph node that they are concerned about. A biopsy of the lump will be needed in her near future. What lays ahead for her is a mystery. But I am so impressed with the way she handles it all. I'm sure she has her moments in private or with her husband where she looses it. But for the rest of us she is nothing short of optimistic, happy to be alive, and looking forward to her future. Kudos to her as I could never be like that. I certainly didn't take those good traits from her.
So who's path will I follow? I feel like I am a good mixture of both my father and mother. I look like my father. I laugh like my mother. I have my mothers eye's and hair, but have my father's long legs. I think allot like my father, but have the patience of my mother. I keep feelings in like my father but I have a lot of the same feeling as my mother has had over the years. I compete like my father and I never give up like my mother. I keep quiet when I'm wrong like my father and I'm never wrong like my mother. Who's aging body will I follow is yet to be determined, but I can only hope I deal with it as gracefully as they have.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Gearing up
Here it is Monday again. I'm not sure if the weeks are going by fast or going by slow. Really all I can do it take one day at a time right now. Gets too overwhelming to look further down the road.
Spring fever is here in Chicagoland. Temperatures are slowly rising and the clock has sprung ahead. We have dealt with a ton of rain last week and no sun. This week hopes to get better. Even hitting the 60's mid week. Of course with a week of dry partly sunny days you get cold partly rainy weekends. This is not good as I have my first race of the season on Sunday. Illinois hardest 1/2 marathon.......Cary March Madness. Who says we don't have hills? This race brings out some of the fastest runners in the area. Boston bound runners who are gearing up for the marathon next month. Since this course is loaded with hills it is a perfect predictor for how they will do in the marathon. Then there is me, a back of the packer who knows the area inside and out and wonders why do I do this to myself? It's my father's fault. I'll just blame him. He lives right in the town it's held and it's just too convenient not to run it. I have no goals other to finish and not to be in too much pain. Pavement and hills are a horrible combination for someone with severe shin splints.
So Monday means spin and swim, right? Wrong. Here we go again. Lap pool is closed today. Can't even see to the bottom of the pool. Gross. The club needs to get their act together and figure out what's wrong with it. Maybe it isn't filtering properly. If by chance it's open tomorrow, I'm sure it will be chemical overload once again. Not so good for the skin, hair, eyes and suit.
I'm doing as much as I can early in the week to ease up for the run this weekend. Already I'm behind in a swim. But tomorrow will be an hour run and a 2400m swim. Wednesday will be a 4 hour bike. Yes I do mean 4 hours. Thurs will be 45 min bike and a 2500m swim. Friday will be left open for any workouts that don't get done the next few days. Sat will be a rest day. Sunday race day.
Tried a pair of new sneakers yet again yesterday. Ran 5 miles in a pair of Brooks. A stability shoe that is not in wide, which I don't usually by. They weren't too bad. Typically I know within a mile if I can keep them. I ran the whole thing with out much issue and possibly this shoe may help out the shin situation. We'll see. I have the run tomorrow to try them out again. If I have no issue tomorrow I may give them a shot for the 1/2 marathon.
Here's to hopefully a better week than last week. I have a lot on the schedule with other things besides training, so it will be a tough one!
Spring fever is here in Chicagoland. Temperatures are slowly rising and the clock has sprung ahead. We have dealt with a ton of rain last week and no sun. This week hopes to get better. Even hitting the 60's mid week. Of course with a week of dry partly sunny days you get cold partly rainy weekends. This is not good as I have my first race of the season on Sunday. Illinois hardest 1/2 marathon.......Cary March Madness. Who says we don't have hills? This race brings out some of the fastest runners in the area. Boston bound runners who are gearing up for the marathon next month. Since this course is loaded with hills it is a perfect predictor for how they will do in the marathon. Then there is me, a back of the packer who knows the area inside and out and wonders why do I do this to myself? It's my father's fault. I'll just blame him. He lives right in the town it's held and it's just too convenient not to run it. I have no goals other to finish and not to be in too much pain. Pavement and hills are a horrible combination for someone with severe shin splints.
So Monday means spin and swim, right? Wrong. Here we go again. Lap pool is closed today. Can't even see to the bottom of the pool. Gross. The club needs to get their act together and figure out what's wrong with it. Maybe it isn't filtering properly. If by chance it's open tomorrow, I'm sure it will be chemical overload once again. Not so good for the skin, hair, eyes and suit.
I'm doing as much as I can early in the week to ease up for the run this weekend. Already I'm behind in a swim. But tomorrow will be an hour run and a 2400m swim. Wednesday will be a 4 hour bike. Yes I do mean 4 hours. Thurs will be 45 min bike and a 2500m swim. Friday will be left open for any workouts that don't get done the next few days. Sat will be a rest day. Sunday race day.
Tried a pair of new sneakers yet again yesterday. Ran 5 miles in a pair of Brooks. A stability shoe that is not in wide, which I don't usually by. They weren't too bad. Typically I know within a mile if I can keep them. I ran the whole thing with out much issue and possibly this shoe may help out the shin situation. We'll see. I have the run tomorrow to try them out again. If I have no issue tomorrow I may give them a shot for the 1/2 marathon.
Here's to hopefully a better week than last week. I have a lot on the schedule with other things besides training, so it will be a tough one!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Curve Ball Catch
As I sit here with ice on my shin smelling like a high school football player after a hard game, I wonder what the heck happened the last few days. And what do I do now?
I was thrown a curve ball. I don't think I caught it, not yet anyway.
It all started Monday. Typical day head to the gym for "spin and swim". It is a recovery week so light workouts until this weekend. Spin went as planned but the lap pool was closed. The water was think and cloudy, yuck. Well crap that messed up my plans. No problem I'll hope to swim Tues and Thurs instead. Headed home and ran 4 painful miles instead. It seems as if the leg didn't recover as well as I would like after last weekends 12 miler.
Tues the pool was open but I almost decided to skip it. The water still cloudy and thick. After getting in you could feel the chemicals on your skin, instantly drying you out. 1700 meter swim on the books. Leg still bothering me, hurts to walk.
Wed was a scheduled rest day. But really no rest to be had. 6 games of bowling and a day fighting with the dog to go "potty" outside even though, yes the snow is gone. You can pee on grass ya know. It was torture, every 5 mins wanting to go out in the pouring rain standing there like a drowned rat. I was ready to throw her over the fence. After many hours she finally gave in and went on the grass without hesitation. Halleluiah.
Thursday got worse. Nothing went as planned. I was supposed to run 3 miles and get in the swim I missed on Monday. I also had the cable guy coming to change over our phone, Internet and cable. No problem. I ran at 7 am. Woke up the little guy at 7:30. Head hurts, stomach hurts, Mom. Low and behold he has a fever. No school for him. No pool for me. Cable guy in route. Gets to the house at 9 for what should of been a 2 hour ordeal. Turned into a 8 hour ordeal. After lifting heavy objects, moving crap out of the way, climbing into the attic, pulling and pushing cable lines, not him but me, he eventually had to rewire the whole house. Long story short, the job was completed and we are no longer Comcastic we are Universally AT&T. So puppy duty, sick kid duty and cable guy assistant I was yesterday.
Friday.......here's hoping for a better day. NOPE.....Little guy still sick, now sore throat and fever. He's home for the day. That's ok, I can work with that. Chloe had an appointment for her first grooming at 9 am. I planned on running 12 miles while she was there. Is supposed to take 2-3 hours for her. Place is less than 5 mins away. So off I went to take her. Came right back check on Jeffrey who is thrilled to have a dvr in his room. Jumped on the treadmill within 45 mins after dropping her off. Got to 3.5 miles she's done come and get her. Are you kidding???? You said 2-3 hours, not 1 hour and 15 mins. CRAP! I get off the treadmill after 4 miles and check on Jeff again. Off I go to get Chloe. She was a wiggle worm on the table and wanted to play the whole time. They did the best they could, the lady says. When I saw her I was pleasantly surprised. She looked really good. I know the wiggling she does when I try to brush her. Almost impossible. So I think they did a great job. Get back home, check on Jeff again. He decides to play on computer and Chloe is tired. I decide to finish the run. Foot hurt from being taped so tight. Legs stiffened up from stopping, but I managed to finish 8 more miles. Made Jeff some lunch and I plopped myself down here to vent.
I was supposed to shop this afternoon for food and what nots. But the closed lap pool screwed that up. Then I was going to run 12 in the morning and hit the pool in the afternoon. Nope sick kid home. Then I was going to clean the dusty, dirty, cable guy muddy floor and the rest of the house( it was pouring yesterday) mess. But my run got messed up and the last thing I feel like doing is cleaning. However it's only 1:30 it could get done. But I have a 3.5 hour bike ride to do tomorrow. And I do plan to get this last swim in whether it be tonight or at 5 am tomorrow, it will get done.
Right now the iced leg is numb the pooch is asleep and Jeff is enjoying some xbox while the meds keep his fever down. I need a shower. Last one was Wed morning, eeeeewwwwww.
I lost control over my life this week. Really I never have control. No one does. You think you do when life goes as you expect it too. But when life doesn't go as planned it's how you handle it all and juggle things around and take it as it comes. I have trouble with that. If something changes the plan I want to be the one who changes it. Not the cable guy or my sick son or the dog who longs for it to snow once more. But life doesn't work that way. My afternoon as changed yet again. My husband is on his way home to help me. He left work early, to do some work from home so that I can get a little breathing room. So I can get the swim workout in after all. So I can get food in the house and the dry cleaning dropped off and gas in the car and money in my purse and maybe get the upstairs cleaned up and and and ..............is that what I will choose to do? Or will I stay at home enjoy the fact that he is here to support and help me. Who needs food?
I was thrown a curve ball. I don't think I caught it, not yet anyway.
It all started Monday. Typical day head to the gym for "spin and swim". It is a recovery week so light workouts until this weekend. Spin went as planned but the lap pool was closed. The water was think and cloudy, yuck. Well crap that messed up my plans. No problem I'll hope to swim Tues and Thurs instead. Headed home and ran 4 painful miles instead. It seems as if the leg didn't recover as well as I would like after last weekends 12 miler.
Tues the pool was open but I almost decided to skip it. The water still cloudy and thick. After getting in you could feel the chemicals on your skin, instantly drying you out. 1700 meter swim on the books. Leg still bothering me, hurts to walk.
Wed was a scheduled rest day. But really no rest to be had. 6 games of bowling and a day fighting with the dog to go "potty" outside even though, yes the snow is gone. You can pee on grass ya know. It was torture, every 5 mins wanting to go out in the pouring rain standing there like a drowned rat. I was ready to throw her over the fence. After many hours she finally gave in and went on the grass without hesitation. Halleluiah.
Thursday got worse. Nothing went as planned. I was supposed to run 3 miles and get in the swim I missed on Monday. I also had the cable guy coming to change over our phone, Internet and cable. No problem. I ran at 7 am. Woke up the little guy at 7:30. Head hurts, stomach hurts, Mom. Low and behold he has a fever. No school for him. No pool for me. Cable guy in route. Gets to the house at 9 for what should of been a 2 hour ordeal. Turned into a 8 hour ordeal. After lifting heavy objects, moving crap out of the way, climbing into the attic, pulling and pushing cable lines, not him but me, he eventually had to rewire the whole house. Long story short, the job was completed and we are no longer Comcastic we are Universally AT&T. So puppy duty, sick kid duty and cable guy assistant I was yesterday.
Friday.......here's hoping for a better day. NOPE.....Little guy still sick, now sore throat and fever. He's home for the day. That's ok, I can work with that. Chloe had an appointment for her first grooming at 9 am. I planned on running 12 miles while she was there. Is supposed to take 2-3 hours for her. Place is less than 5 mins away. So off I went to take her. Came right back check on Jeffrey who is thrilled to have a dvr in his room. Jumped on the treadmill within 45 mins after dropping her off. Got to 3.5 miles she's done come and get her. Are you kidding???? You said 2-3 hours, not 1 hour and 15 mins. CRAP! I get off the treadmill after 4 miles and check on Jeff again. Off I go to get Chloe. She was a wiggle worm on the table and wanted to play the whole time. They did the best they could, the lady says. When I saw her I was pleasantly surprised. She looked really good. I know the wiggling she does when I try to brush her. Almost impossible. So I think they did a great job. Get back home, check on Jeff again. He decides to play on computer and Chloe is tired. I decide to finish the run. Foot hurt from being taped so tight. Legs stiffened up from stopping, but I managed to finish 8 more miles. Made Jeff some lunch and I plopped myself down here to vent.
I was supposed to shop this afternoon for food and what nots. But the closed lap pool screwed that up. Then I was going to run 12 in the morning and hit the pool in the afternoon. Nope sick kid home. Then I was going to clean the dusty, dirty, cable guy muddy floor and the rest of the house( it was pouring yesterday) mess. But my run got messed up and the last thing I feel like doing is cleaning. However it's only 1:30 it could get done. But I have a 3.5 hour bike ride to do tomorrow. And I do plan to get this last swim in whether it be tonight or at 5 am tomorrow, it will get done.
Right now the iced leg is numb the pooch is asleep and Jeff is enjoying some xbox while the meds keep his fever down. I need a shower. Last one was Wed morning, eeeeewwwwww.
I lost control over my life this week. Really I never have control. No one does. You think you do when life goes as you expect it too. But when life doesn't go as planned it's how you handle it all and juggle things around and take it as it comes. I have trouble with that. If something changes the plan I want to be the one who changes it. Not the cable guy or my sick son or the dog who longs for it to snow once more. But life doesn't work that way. My afternoon as changed yet again. My husband is on his way home to help me. He left work early, to do some work from home so that I can get a little breathing room. So I can get the swim workout in after all. So I can get food in the house and the dry cleaning dropped off and gas in the car and money in my purse and maybe get the upstairs cleaned up and and and ..............is that what I will choose to do? Or will I stay at home enjoy the fact that he is here to support and help me. Who needs food?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Only 10 Miles
I've been waiting for today all week long. As I dragged my butt to the gym over and over, spent hours on the dreaded trainer and got up every morning around 5:45 to a very sore and tired body, I kept telling myself just make it to Sat. I rearranged my training once again so that instead of working out Sat and Sun morning I could have Sun free.
I had a 1.5 hr run scheduled. As I hit 3 miles, my body finally calmed down. The soreness seemed to subside. The tired legs from the 55 miles biked yesterday seemed to wake up and do their job. I felt good. Mentally I felt really good. That is a rarity for me. I am predispositioned towards depression and SAD. I don't take medication for them. I have tried a few times to take different prescribe pills, but the side affects are just too much for me. I get severe insomnia amongst other things. So I choose to battle it myself. One of the best things they say you can do is exercise. Of course they don't mean over 2 hrs a day. So sometimes the depression can rear it's ugly head more than I like, especially when the sun doesn't shine for a few days. But yesterday and today the sun is shining and I can almost feel spring in the air.
My ride yesterday was so much better than the week prior and it was 1/2 hour longer. I wasn't stressed out about the run this morning. Actually, I said, all I have is a 10 mile run. When your thinking goes from OMG I have to run 10 miles, to that's it only 10 miles, you know you're improving. My run was perfect. Well almost perfect. If only I could get the shin to cooperate I would be in great shape. I am now using kinesio tape and duck tape before each run. Looks goofy, but it allows me to run with little pain verses a lot of pain. 90 min run, 10 miles completed. Started out slow and increased the speed by 45 secs for most of the run. Heart rate never got to zone 3. A perfectly run, run. I realized today that I am getting better. My fitness level has gone up a notch. After 10 days straight of hard workouts, I am able to run 10 miles without an issue. That's improvement.
My favorite saying........The mindset - not the miles separates those who finish long distance events from those who only dream of finishing.
I hope spring stays in the air as it has a wonderful affect on me.
Today is Sat and I have earned a well deserved day off tomorrow. I mean a day off, no cleaning, no laundry, no workouts. My legs will be up as much as possible. I will ice and Advil in hopes that my shin enjoys the rest and recovers a bit to get me through next week. I peeked at the training for next week and it's not too bad. Maybe I'm just starting to get used to the load. Another good thing.
I had a 1.5 hr run scheduled. As I hit 3 miles, my body finally calmed down. The soreness seemed to subside. The tired legs from the 55 miles biked yesterday seemed to wake up and do their job. I felt good. Mentally I felt really good. That is a rarity for me. I am predispositioned towards depression and SAD. I don't take medication for them. I have tried a few times to take different prescribe pills, but the side affects are just too much for me. I get severe insomnia amongst other things. So I choose to battle it myself. One of the best things they say you can do is exercise. Of course they don't mean over 2 hrs a day. So sometimes the depression can rear it's ugly head more than I like, especially when the sun doesn't shine for a few days. But yesterday and today the sun is shining and I can almost feel spring in the air.
My ride yesterday was so much better than the week prior and it was 1/2 hour longer. I wasn't stressed out about the run this morning. Actually, I said, all I have is a 10 mile run. When your thinking goes from OMG I have to run 10 miles, to that's it only 10 miles, you know you're improving. My run was perfect. Well almost perfect. If only I could get the shin to cooperate I would be in great shape. I am now using kinesio tape and duck tape before each run. Looks goofy, but it allows me to run with little pain verses a lot of pain. 90 min run, 10 miles completed. Started out slow and increased the speed by 45 secs for most of the run. Heart rate never got to zone 3. A perfectly run, run. I realized today that I am getting better. My fitness level has gone up a notch. After 10 days straight of hard workouts, I am able to run 10 miles without an issue. That's improvement.
My favorite saying........The mindset - not the miles separates those who finish long distance events from those who only dream of finishing.
I hope spring stays in the air as it has a wonderful affect on me.
Today is Sat and I have earned a well deserved day off tomorrow. I mean a day off, no cleaning, no laundry, no workouts. My legs will be up as much as possible. I will ice and Advil in hopes that my shin enjoys the rest and recovers a bit to get me through next week. I peeked at the training for next week and it's not too bad. Maybe I'm just starting to get used to the load. Another good thing.
Monday, March 1, 2010
March wake up call
Imagine that, I made it to March 1st.
I think everyone woke up today and said, "Crap it's already March 1st. I haven't lost those 10 pounds I promised I would. Spring is right around the corner. I better hit the gym today ASAP."
Spin class today was packed. Every last bike with the exception of a couple of broken ones were in use. People still coming in at 9:15-9:20 expecting to hop on a bike and join us. Uh, hello, class started at 9! It's one thing to be fashionably late to an event. But if you are going to be 1/2 hour late to class why even bother? On Friday a couple showed up at 9:45. Class is done at 10. Weird.
After blasting about 850 calories on the bike I was off for a swim. Like usual getting to the pool at 10:15 in the morning is not the best idea. Usually I have to wait for a lane or lately I have been sharing a lane with another guy who is always pool running. I swear he is always there! Today I jumped in with him as the other lanes were full. I got my own lane about 10 mins later. Then it seemed to be a mad rush to get into the pool. We had 3 ladies in the end lane and double in another lane. For some reason no one asked to share with me. Maybe I look like I don't want to share. I was an only child for 18 years. I don't really like to share my lane unless it's family or someone offers to share their lane so that I can get my workout done. Selfish I know. I was hoping I looked like I knew what I was doing and was so engrossed in my laps that no one wanted to bother me. Maybe I should be like the guy who pool runs. He has offered to share with me and others many times. He told me today don't wait for him to invite me just jump in he doesn't mind. Funny cause I'd rather share a lane with someone like myself. He is a large man who takes up a good portion of the lane to begin with.
So everyone decided to hit the gym today. Parking lot was packed, spin class packed, pool packed, locker room.........don't get me started on the people who make it packed because they have spread out their clothes, towels and crap all over the place as I squeeze my big butt into a tiny section trying to change, pack up my stuff and not hit my head on the locker because I have no space!
Onto what really matters........I made it through month one of training........drum roll please..........I did NOT miss any workouts!! I did every last one of them. That is a first for me.
Totals for the month:
Swim: 14.5 miles
Bike: 377 miles
Run: 82 miles
48 hours of training under my belt. 1 month down, 4 to go.
I think everyone woke up today and said, "Crap it's already March 1st. I haven't lost those 10 pounds I promised I would. Spring is right around the corner. I better hit the gym today ASAP."
Spin class today was packed. Every last bike with the exception of a couple of broken ones were in use. People still coming in at 9:15-9:20 expecting to hop on a bike and join us. Uh, hello, class started at 9! It's one thing to be fashionably late to an event. But if you are going to be 1/2 hour late to class why even bother? On Friday a couple showed up at 9:45. Class is done at 10. Weird.
After blasting about 850 calories on the bike I was off for a swim. Like usual getting to the pool at 10:15 in the morning is not the best idea. Usually I have to wait for a lane or lately I have been sharing a lane with another guy who is always pool running. I swear he is always there! Today I jumped in with him as the other lanes were full. I got my own lane about 10 mins later. Then it seemed to be a mad rush to get into the pool. We had 3 ladies in the end lane and double in another lane. For some reason no one asked to share with me. Maybe I look like I don't want to share. I was an only child for 18 years. I don't really like to share my lane unless it's family or someone offers to share their lane so that I can get my workout done. Selfish I know. I was hoping I looked like I knew what I was doing and was so engrossed in my laps that no one wanted to bother me. Maybe I should be like the guy who pool runs. He has offered to share with me and others many times. He told me today don't wait for him to invite me just jump in he doesn't mind. Funny cause I'd rather share a lane with someone like myself. He is a large man who takes up a good portion of the lane to begin with.
So everyone decided to hit the gym today. Parking lot was packed, spin class packed, pool packed, locker room.........don't get me started on the people who make it packed because they have spread out their clothes, towels and crap all over the place as I squeeze my big butt into a tiny section trying to change, pack up my stuff and not hit my head on the locker because I have no space!
Onto what really matters........I made it through month one of training........drum roll please..........I did NOT miss any workouts!! I did every last one of them. That is a first for me.
Totals for the month:
Swim: 14.5 miles
Bike: 377 miles
Run: 82 miles
48 hours of training under my belt. 1 month down, 4 to go.
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