give a little or at least spread the word....

it has been a while....

go check this out if you can

inspiring

http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/rnrh12/justinlegg44#Mans-Search-for-Meaning

goals

my goal was btw 2 hours and 2 hours and 5 minutes, i did 2 hours and 3 minutes.

feet were bad by about mile 7. like walking on broken glass. it sucked. i need to figure this out. b/c i have to do another half to break that 2 hour mark.

narrow feet

I have had the foot problems. Last night while at a roadrunner's night out for a local tri group, i was of course venting about my feet problems. I am obsessed i told you. Anyways, one of the shoefitting guys said maybe you need a narrow shoe ? I said hum, never thought of that....does the brooks ravenna come in narrow. NO, but the adrenaline does. He ran off he couldn't find brooks but he found an asics in narrow and i tried them on, i did not have my orthodics, but i could feel the difference - no shifty in my feet/toes ? Could this be the problem ? As I discussed this, many of my running/tri friends were commenting on how tiny my feet where, not small b/c i am an 8 1/2, they meant narrow !!!! I ordered the adrenaline in narrow and can't wait to try them out. Unfortunatly I will not be running the half in them. Instead I will be running the half in my new brooks ravennas with I am thinking socks from the sock guy, lots of glide, and possibly a gel toe cap. I have a black toe nail and it hurts and rubs on my sneaker. but the problem is i really can't test the gel cap out, cept for my 30 min tempo run tomorrow. and i know the rule nothing new on half marathon day.

any one have narrow feet and use narrow sneaks ? anyone get the black toe nails ? use a gel cap ?

stronger.....training works

so i have mentioned (i think) that i believe this is my first half marathon training where i really followed a plan. a plan that did not just have miles and long runs. i did tempos, speed, pace runs, and long runs.

I did a 3 mile pace run today where i beat my pace from a 5k last year. I recall last year, feeling like i was dying and could not go anymore....yet on this pace run I felt controlled. I was shocked.

I hope all goes well at the half, but I am happy now at how i have learned so much.

i really want to add strength into my workouts - after the half, i need to get it in. i also will get on the bike and joined masters swim. this is why the laundry is not done, the house is a mess and we eat out a lot. yikes....

hooky

This half marathon training has been good. I have been on. I may have missed a run or 2 when sick. However, I don't believe I have missed many, I was supposed to do 5 miles on tuesday, convinced myself to move it to thursday - wed i did speed work. today I just didn't get around to it, and it was me being lazy, i had plenty of opportunities to do it. instead of sitting here beating myself up i am going to take it as what it is. a day missed. not the end of the world. Tomorrow i have a 3 mile pace run. I will go out there and do my best.

the great callus debate

went to doc today,  she gave me pads to help relieve some of the pounding on the balls of my feet. she said i am swollen, she is hopeful that i can get through the half, and if i want a shot of cortizone before to help i can have it ??

basically i have blisters UNDER calluses ??? so i researched calluses and it seems that some folks say shave them off, and others say they are needed ?? what to do what to do ??

help a lady out - what do you do for your calluses on your feet ?

cracked orthotics

so i checked my orthotics and they are cracked ?? hummmm this may be the burning feet problem ???

10 miler

did a 10 mile run today, everything felt good cept for the pads of my feet ...by mile 6/7 they were burning, i knew a blood blister was forming somehow. i did have one on one foot. i am not sure what the problem is, i had thick cushion socks on, i guess i need to try a thin pair. i also might rub glide on my feet next run. has anyone experienced this ?

avg 10.00 min mile even....which of course i think is neat. my last 3 miles were torture on my feet. i really need to find a way to get rid of this b/c it is just too painful.....

training....

first off i think it is happening, i think i am blogged out. i have a feeling i might be winding this down.

training has gone well for the half marathon. i did a 5 mile pace run and nailed it. so that was great. i am enjoying following a plan and not having swim and bike get in the way.

really enjoying speed work,tempo,pace, long runs, the mix up of it. before it was just about going out and running some miles.

i do plan on some sprint tris this summer, and i have been swimming once a week but that bike has cobwebs on it.

tired and suar issues

i did my 9 miles yesterday, first half was good, second half not so good. let's just say i had some shut up and run issues. Not fun. I am heading out to do 4.5 miles today, and i am not feeling it. but gotta get it done.

younger one has the cough, nebulizer is out and some middle night wake ups. tired tired tired.

massage and some meat

today i went to get my legs massaged. my left calf has been acting up on my runs and i don't want to get injured. obviously my left side is taking on more since my right is the one that had the broken foot. i was told the normal stuff, to stretch before i run....to use foam roller....i know it so why don't i do it ??

i was craving a good burger. we have a bobby's burger place and i knew that is what i wanted, they have lovely sweet potato fries as well - it is a casual joint so dragging the kids is easy. man, it hit the spot. my body was obviously in need of some meat.

this weekend i have 5 miles with my group i am coaching and 9 on my own. hoping to get my 9 in even with hubby having to be away and having to get a sitter to do it, possibly in the rain.

getting my base back

i know i was out of running for a good 10 weeks, so why do i feel that i should be back to where i was in a shorter time ?

did 8 miles today, averaged just under 10 minute miles. I was happy b/c I felt I was stuck in the 10 to 11 minutes. It was a great day to run. Getting a bit bored with the same routes around my house. Do you run from your house in the hood or do you drive some where to run ??

bug

inlaws
stomach bug
7 miles
anxiety

speed work and weather memories

i did speed work today and i was lucky to have my friend join me, she is an elite runner and i adore her. she can to make me honest and she did. i was able to do 6 x 400's. when i did the first one i told her i was looking at 2.10, i forgot to time it....so i did the second one at 1.50, and each one was under 1.55, with 2 at 1.47. i have always said that my breathing is what gets tired, not my legs, and she noticed that. i feel like the vo2max that lance has - i have the opposite. either way it was a great day at the track.

next up, and i did promise only running talk but oh well. not many folks read this blog anyway i believe. the weather today is sooooo nice. warm but has a touch of that cool breeze. sometimes the weather will remind me of a childhood memory. it is amazing to me how just the feel of it outside is bringing me back to a ride home from my grandparents. i can not get it out of my mind. just from the feel of the weather.

edamame hummus and other things

i have not been to trader joe's in a while. just has been working out that the local acme has to make due. However, today i went to TJ's and i picked up the edamame hummus which is so darn good, and addictive, i pair it with the soy and flaxseed tortilla chips.

running - back on the horse and so thankful and happy. did 6 miles on sunday and felt great, monday i did 3.5, felt good but the mental game started creeping in my head....like how the hell am i going to hold x pace for 13.1 miles. today i swam. felt good to get back in the water. got some good tips from the instructor. tomorrow is speed work and i really can't wait to get on a track to do it. i have not been on a track in a long ass time.

supportive husbands. do you have one ? i do. i know he would probably prefer the house to be cleaner, better meals for him (actually any meal) and the kids, etc. BUT he doesn't complain. He is very supportive of my working out and training. I try hard to not get a sitter for it and do it while girls are in school. I also quit an expensive gym and use the Y which was a sacrifice, but I really do want him to realize that i appreciate all he does.  Sometimes i hear the complaints about NON supportive spouses and i get sad about it. i know we all have stuff going on in our personal lives, i just feel like i have been hearing too much lately and it makes me sad. maybe it is the state that most folks are in - we have young kids, economy is bad. i don't know sometimes i just want to scream how much i love hubby even with all the crap that does go on and i want to hear that from others.

ok, next time running talk only.

eating crap food = grumpy

today was one of those days were my schedule was different. when my schedule is different i tend to not eat correctly. I went thru drive thru today and got bfast from a fast food joint. let's just say eggs, sausage, hash brown and a biscuit were involved. by the time i was going to get my run in i was zonked, had no energy and overall felt like crap. so i missed my run, and napped. Now I am all for those days where you catch a nap and rest, but this day I feel like it was not a nap needed but a nap brought on by bad choices. After the nap I realized I had to eat something - and again I made the easy quick BAD choice, frozen pizza. I was snapping at my kids. I could tell that my body was not happy with what went in it today.

so for dinner, i am trying to redeem a bit, 2 boiled eggs, some leftover roasted sweet potatoes, an apple, maybe some peppers.

crap in = crappy feel = crap it out !

I know that being off for 3 days b/c of the allergy test threw me off, but i am back on schedule and really want to stick to it, so that i am prepared for my half marathon in may.

what do you do when you go off track nutritional or with workouts ???

patch allergy testing

I am back to running but had to take off 3 days b/c i am getting a patch allergy test. i am not allowed to get my back wet since monday.....my hair is very greasy !!

I am so happy to be back to running.

just about to finish up hunger games.

how would you describe the euphoria of running, you know that point when you are running and all is good in the world.

friend power

i just finished kristen armstrong's mile markers and absolutely loved it. so many quotes i wanted to send out to my friends.

had a great lunch the other day with 3 friends - it was so nice, relaxed and rejuvenated my soul.

coached runners this am and loved the female bonding of all levels.

had a wonderful brunch with a dear dear friend.

almost on a high from all this. i tend to push the get together to the bottom of my list. however after i do them i realize how much my soul needs them.

go call a friend and talk, or walk with one or email or something. reach out. 

Vacation detox

we skied - skiing makes you hungry - i was snacking all darn day

we ate out at night - on vacation you have to eat dessert every night

we hit a water park - they do NOT serve healthy food in the water park


i need to start my vacation detox

i ran today, was coaching, so it was a nice relaxing run. Felt great to be back on the feet AND I was able to use my new garmin 610.

write it down - just do it

When i log stuff, write it down, i tend to follow it thru better than if i did not write it down. Training plans - if i write down what exercise and workouts i should be doing, i do them. Food journaling, as I write down everything I eat for the day I tend to make healthier choices or at least better portion control.

I write things down, pen to paper and that helps. Do you write things down ? does it help ?

i am using sparkpeople for food journaling and very happy with it.

running and friendships

i went to Miami this weekend for the half and full, i couldn't run but i was with 5 running friends who did. I went to mile 11 and cheered them on, i was beyond proud and excited for them. This was the first time I have ever gone away with friends who I don't know that well. It was amazing. It was fun, relaxing and just overall a really nice time. I highly recommend this if you find a group of women who can get away - do it, even if you think i don't know them that well, guess what - you will bond and enjoy.

We were not enthralled with the race itself. Not making another trip for it, but we do want another race to travel to ??? any suggestions ???? for 2013.

I got Kristen Armstrong's Mile Markers before we headed down and I was amazed at how well she was able to articulate all that we runners feel, it was such a perfect book to be reading while i was on a runner race destination trip !!! I wanted to highlight every other sentence and read aloud to the ladies.

It felt like this NON judgemental, non caddy wonderful supportive place.

Coffee debate and Me time debate

http://www.gaiafit.com/blogs/news/5339632-the-coffee-debate-and-my-love-hate-relationship

I don't drink coffee but the above post intrigued me....

Me time, is not ME time if you ask me questions like where is this, did they do that, should i do this. figure it out and let me have my time.

volunteer goals for the year

Last year I did my first Olympic size tri. That was my goal - i did it. It was a bunch of training and really took over my life for a while.

This year I don't have many race goals set up, yet. I was going to Miami Half but broke the cuboid. So my main goal for this year is to recover and just get back to running. I did sign up for the NJ half marathon in May and hoping that goes well. That means I hope I don't break a bone.

After that I really have not picked any races, I did want to be less planned this year. I will most likely do the sprint tris in my area, there is a mile swim I would like to do. There are some fall 5ks that I would love to go for PR's. I also did the crazy thing of putting myself in the NYC Marathon lottery, not sure what possessed me but i figure i can defer. I doubt I will get in (hahah right - just made it so i get in).

This year is more about volunteering. I want to be a swim angel for a local female only tri, it is geared towards newbies and a great supportive race. I have done it twice and I really feel I want to be on the end that gives back. The other volunteering is for NYC Full Ironman. I am beyond excited that I have this opportunity. Honestly, this for me is just as exciting as racing. I have watched Ironman for years and have always been amazed with the athletes, the average joe who crosses that finish line. I love it, every suffering minute of it. This year I will be able to be there watching these amazing athletes and helping them. Nothing could be finer. This is my A race, I am just not racing it.

What about you, have you volunteered at races ??

stinky smelly boots

Tuesday I can remove the boot for good. However, tomorrow it is supposed to snow, and quite frankly I am not walking in snow in the boot. So I may just decide that the boot comes of 3 days early. This week - monday i swam, felt great, glad to be in the water, tuesday worked out with trainer, always good and she worked my legs which we haven't done in a while. Felt great, she stretched me out at the end and my back was cracking like fireworks. chiropractor ? never gone - anyone ??? Wed I did nothing, thursday did spin, was good but when clipping out with my broken foot, i twisted extra hard and it hurt. It was the exact position that hurts my foot. No repercussions that I can feel.

I had been eating pretty well and the past week went not so well. The scale has an extra 2 or 3 pounds. I leave for Miami next weekend and I feel like I should at least try to rid myself of a few if possible.

I have found that I am a codependent exercisor. I pretty much won't do anything unless in a group setting (spin) lessons (swim) or have a trainer come and tell me what to do. The only thing I do on my own accord is run, and well we all now how that has been going. Instead of running I get to gimp around in this boot that smells like something first peed, than pooped then died in it. Speaking of it, I should take it off for the night tonight b/c i plan on sitting on my ass for the rest of the evening.

So folks....how do you motivate if no race set for working out without group, lesson or trainer ?

chiropractor ? have you gone, toughts?? i know some folks think quacks and not needed and others swear by it ??

spin - please respect your instructor

So I went to spin class. First time since broken foot. It felt great. So happy to be back there. Granted it was at the new gym - the Y, which has NO spin room ? So you must pull the bike out and the poor instructor is not near her music. gym snob i know. but one thing i won't do is disrespect my instructor. These people went and paid to get certified, now they teach class, they get paid but seriously they do their job and we should respect them. So please if you think you are better instructor then go get certified and teach the class yourself.

Monday am I swim !!1 Woot woot, more cardio and haven't swam since summer. It is a beginner masters, but hopefully I will be given more of a challenge if she sees fit.

The boot is on, but the workouts are happening, swim monday, tuesday i booked my trainer so some arms and abs, wed i might ride inside on my own, thur spin, friday more weights.

As I watch the amazing ladies in the olympic marathon trails. I think how exciting my first run will be. about 3 weeks away.....

Bone and the new gym

Today I had my doc appt. I wore my boot but brought my shoe b/c I knew I was walking out with both shoes on. After waiting an HOUR to see the doc, she did the test with that silver pronging thing ? Then she took the xray. She came in saying how well I was healing and that my xrayed looked good, then she mumbled something about another 2 weeks in the boot. I was cheering from the news about the HEALED good looking xray. then I said wait "did you just say another 2 weeks in the boot ?". YES she said. She said I can swim, and spin, and I can take the boot of and do some walking around the house. But she can still see some fracture and wants me to keep the boot on for 2 weeks, then after that no boot needed but no running for another 2 weeks, then i can start. Of course by then I will have forgotten how to run. ok I am kidding, but you get my drift.

I was seriously shocked. I thought for sure I would be out of the boot and have maybe another 2 weeks of no running. She explained that she sees some fracture still and would hate for me to damage it and be injured longer. I see her point.

So now I need to set up a schedule to make sure I am spinning, swimming and doing strength on arms. I have a plan and can move forward. I am going to be so gun shy about running.

I am no longer at the luxury gym, I am at the Y. I have only been twice, stationary bike. All is fine. I will sign up for the masters program for swim. Change is good, change challenges you, change makes you grow.

Das Boot

Tuesday doc appt. hoping boot is off.

a favor

do me a favor ...check out this website http://gaiafit.com/ and a bigger favor give them a like on facebook....many thanks

January 1

Last year I set out to do my first Olympic Tri and I completed that goal. It was hard, the training was time consuming, it was a hot day, but I did it. I was happy and proud. I did a half marathon back in May and PR'd. I started coaching with a local fitness company. I got my RRCA coaching certification. I feel pretty good about my fitness year.

This new year I was going to be started off with a bang and running the Miami Half in January BUT I broke my cuboid bone. I will run a half in May and hope to PR. I will do sprint tris and hope to be faster. I will run a 5k and hope to pr. Maybe I will enter the lottery for NYC marathon, b/c i doubt I will get it. I will eat better, I will work on my strength and work on doing one chin up (just one and i will be happy).

I will make sure I am the best Mom and Wife I can be.

happy new year