Irony?

Running has never failed to give me great end results, and that’s why I keep coming back for more! – Sasha Azevedo

I thought that was an appropriate way to end April. Even though my run today was less than stellar, and this has been a bad month for running, it’s going to be the beginning of a great base building phase in the next month up to a fantastic training season this summer. I can just tell. Being in Boston, seeing that oh so incredible finish line…well, let’s just say I’m even more motivated.

Watching TV, procrastinating on taking care of something I should (more on that maybe tomorrow) within my house, but just ignoring and vegging, and maybe an early night so I can be up. Maybe hottie will be there tomorrow (haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks now!!). But I was just watching a commercial that made me want to call…Lipozene…get rid of unwanted body fat, wow, wouldn’t that be great? Especially after the eating of last weekend…and while I’m eating some ice cream and girl scout cookies….what was funny, just after the commercial for Lipozene, here is the irony, there was a commercial for Pizza Hut, and their $5 Pizza Mia pizza…you have to order 3 of them to get the deal…

What a Fun Trip

Minnesota still hasn’t accepted spring into the air. I noticed a few things are turning green, but on Monday the high was only 45…this is 20 degrees below normal according to the weather person I was listening to. Today is supposed to hit in the 50s and a bit warmer later in the week but no real springlike temps again till maybe next week. We got a teaser…I got even more of a teaser last week and now back to bad. Why do I live here??

I had a work “summit” on Wednesday and Thursday…the hotel was nice and right next to the office so I could walk over there. Dinner both nights was at the hotel bar, gotta love company buying as I had filet mignon one night and a great pasta dinner (including lasagna, a salad and tiramisu for dessert) the next. After the summit was over, it was back to Providence where I went to my friend’s place to hang out. He’s a swim coach for Brown (yes, that Brown) and had a banquet that night to attend for a couple of hours, so I took the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather and get a 4 mile run in. I could smell the trees and stretched in green grass…then took a nap before showering and getting ready to go out. My friend got back and we got some beer to drink at his place then went out and hit the town. Unfortunately the bars closed at 1 am on a Thursday in Providence…ah well. Went back, ordered pizza and watched TV before sleeping for the night. Next day we got lunch at a great diner and then my friend went to work and I headed to the beach. I wanted to run on the sand. It was sunny, not the warmest, but it was still nice enough to get out in shorts and short sleeved top. After about a mile in loose sand, I called it quits (a bit hung over and tired too) and went for ice cream. Where I ran into someone that asked if I was from the Twin Cities (based on my I Love the Lakes top) and she is from there and her mom lives here so we chatted a bit. Back to Providence then and a nice nap, got up, showered and went in search of dinner…my friend got back from work and we jumped in the car and headed up to his buddies place in Boston (my friend had to coach at Hah vahd on Saturday morning). Got to his friends, had a glass of wine and then a shot (I got out of the tequila and did chocolate vodka instead) and we headed out on Boylston for drinks…plan was to head as far east as we could get before bar close. We had beer at one place, then on to the next where we had another beer and got out of there quickly because it was just not our scene…a trip past and picture of the finish line (yes, THAT finish line) and then on to the next bar. Next place we weren’t able to get in because my friend looked a little too drunk, so we went to the next place where our trip stopped due to miscommunication. Since my friend was tired and had to be up early, he took off and his buddy and I remained to close the bar, then make it back just in time to grab a quick slice at the nearby pizza place (yummy!).

Next day we might have gone to Maine or something but instead the darn draft got us caught up. Except for the 4.5 mile run my friends buddy and I did along the Charles, my friend wasn’t feeling it. After that my friends buddy had a date, and my friend and I headed to the north end for some fantastic pasta, OK gelato and the best canoles I’ve ever had. He had sent a message to his buddy, whose date was done and he jumped the train and met up with us at a nice little dive bar called Sullivans. I liked it. We closed the bar, got a cab and got back in time to have another slice (we’d had pizza for lunch too, it is really good pizza!!) and then canoles…before some interesting youtube (including the Muppets) and some porn for good measure…yes…we watched that. What can I say, after drinking, it can be mildly amusing!!

Next day we went to the grocery store and bought some shrimp to cook up and eat, along with a multitude of other snacks and more draft watching. Eventually though, it was time to head back to Providence, told my friends buddy goodbye and that I’d hopefully see him in a year when I’m back for the marathon…he offered me a place to stay even and he’s literally walking distance to everything, I just have to train hard and get that time. Got to Providence just in time for me to get to the airport and catch my flight (just before having an excellent tortilla salad at the bar right next to my gate). Flights out and back were actually great. On time both ways, and except for the fact that we were at the last gate on the longest concourse in the Minneapolis airport, and then sent to the furthest away baggage claim carousel, which then they changed to the complete opposite baggage claim carousel (which we had come in by coming from our gate)…but you know, that’s OK, I really did need the exercise. I am now back to about 5 pounds I have to lose (guess I should not have had the pasta, gelato, beer, slice and canole!) now and won’t make my goal time frame…oh well. As long as it’s gone by Twin Cities all is good.

I'm Back

I'm trying to get a report together about the rest of my trip, but unfortunately work was busy so no time to type it and I got home to a mess and emergency stuff to deal with (more on that later too) so I'll post this for now and more later.

Greetings from the East

OK, a quick update...I arrived in Providence, RI on Tuesday, on time (even a little early! Northworst might not be so bad!!), went and got my stuff taken care of at the rental car place and then went over to grab my bag and it was just coming off the plane...talk about timing!! Went out, got the car and was out on my way to Conneticut. I'm here on business, a contracts summit with my company at our headquarters just outside of Hartford. No trouble driving right to the hotel (mapquest rocks!!) and arrived just over an hour and a half later...only complaint was the radio sucked!! Beautiful drive though. Lots of stuff started blooming (I'm going to have my camera up front with me and take some pics on the way back) and green in the trees. I had wanted to get a run when I got here, but I was tired from the travel and decidede to just go have a beer and maybe get a bite. Made some new friends at the bar and hung out longer than I planned but that's OK. Had a decent steak (you eat well when you eat on the company!!).

Wednesdays conference was quite good if not long and a LOT of information. Met a bunch of people from other divisions, including two that run marathons, one that might consider Twin Cities and one trying to BQ at New Jersey next weekend!! So we talked running all last night at the happy hour!! Today we are done around 2 and then I'll head back toward Providence...debating on stopping someplace along the way and doing a run along the shore. We'll see. Weather is going to be good. Either I'll run around here before I leave, stop along the way, or run when I get to my friends place. He has something tonight that he has to be at for a couple of hours so could run then, we'll see. Sounds like tomorrow night we'll be up in Boston as he has a work committment on Saturday morning. I love Boston so am OK with that...I'd like to take a drive over Heartbreak and the pre-hills...too.

I actually have someone from another division joking about bringing me to their company (they are in Chicago) I told him make me a good offer and you never know!! But I don't think I'd go that direction. If I'm going someplace else cold I think east coast is where I'd go. I do like it out here...and maybe at some point in time.

Anyway, best go get some breakfast and ready to get to my conference...not sure I have time for the eggs that I had planned but we'll see.

Thunderstorms are Cool!

What a great day! So I went to see my chiropractor today (have I mentioned that she is also a runner, ran in college, for U of MN, and runs marathon, including Boston) and she looked at my foot, touched all areas that would indicate PF and in her opinion it is NOT PF. There are tons of muscles and things there and most likely it was, like I have been saying it feels like, a bruise. She said to keep icing it and take it easy….after I told her that I was taking myself off rest, she was fine with that. She did berate me a tiny bit for the heels I was wearing (but agreed they were cute) and I promised to stay off heels for a while, even this weekend when out, so it’s given more rest. Anyway, I did have them do massage and ultrasound on it too, so hopefully that all help make it better.

Also, big congrats to my friends Andy and Hugh who ran the Boston Marathon today. They both had huge PRs…hills agree with them apparently and both had times that qualify them for Boston again next year (maybe they can be convinced to come with me next year) and Andy finished only 8 minutes or so behind Lance Armstrong, without speed work and went under 3 hours for the first time.

And to make things even cooler…we are in the middle of our first thunderstorm of the year!! I love thunderstorms…and nothing like rain (and 70 degree temps) to clean up and make things green.

I’ll try to update more tomorrow night. I’m traveling for work this week out east, work things on Wednesday and Thursday and then visiting a friend over the weekend…had I been smart I would’ve gone out the weekend BEFORE and watched the marathon yesterday…so dumb somedays!!

Sunburn!!

I missed yesterday so a quick second post since I had something else to write!! It's a happy day, I have a light sunburn!! Yes, yes, I know, sunburn bad, cancer etc, but you forget, I'm in Minnesota, and it's been really, really cold here for months and months and spring wasn't coming and today, FINALLY, we had beautiful weather, I had inklings of a good run (just gotta get that cardio up) and I am pink in the face and a little around the scoop neck of my tank, maybe even a little on my arms...ah...it's good. And let me just say, Trader Joe's raspberry sorbet...it rocks. Grandma mentioned wanting some sorbet, so I was there and saw it and bought some, I won't see grandma till mother's day but I bought so I have at least one (bought two of them knowing I might want one) to take to her...now that I know it's good, I'm getting a couple more for her...and the price is not bad either. Love Trader Joe's!!

Frustration…Resolved in 7

"It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse." - Ann Trason

So after the heel feeling OK after the 10 days rest and all that, I ran last Sunday easy, 2 miles, then biked two days, then ran Wednesday (thought I was short but maybe I wasn’t on the 3 I had mapped) and it felt good. Was going to run yesterday but weather forecast had today as better so I waited, and only biked yesterday and the heel was sore yesterday, and today…but I said enough. I’m tired of this and I don’t want to deal with it anymore. So I iced it, then I threw on running clothes and headed out. I think I had planned an easy 4…well, into the run, heel wasn’t really bothering (I have to reiterate here that I’ve never felt major pain, just a bruised feeling, kind of like I stepped really hard with it on a stone and it bruised) and as the run went on, it wasn’t hurt. Only thing that was is my cardio. My cardio has always been what keeps me going, or what tells me that I could keep going, my body, muscles, mainly legs, have always been the failure…fatigued…but the biking is building up the leg strength I think, and some of the light strength I’ve been doing, so now my cardio is down, but I’m going to build it back up because I decided today enough with the injury and I’m just going to run. Now I’m going to be smart about. I have been on light duty for 3 weeks so I’ll not run again till Tuesday, then every other day if I can manage it away (work trip this week) and slow build back on the mileage (hope to be back to 40 miles a week by end of May). Today I ran 7…and I averaged an 8:23 pace. Somehow. Maybe cardio isn’t THAT bad (this was just an easy run). I had one mile, fairly hilly one even, at 8:12 pace…and I hit the zone…that magical runner’s high place…and I went with it. That was in between miles 5 and 6…I just took off, and my legs were flying, and I felt detached from my body, and while I was only able to feel that for a few seconds before cardio gave out and I had to slow down, but still it felt simply…wonderful…

Grandma is meeting with her surgeon on the day after Mother’s day. She’s home. With an oxygen tank…hopefully all is good and things are fine for promoting surgery for her and that goes easy. I wish she would find out sooner but the surgeon is a busy man. I heart the internet…I searched him out on the hospital he works for. He’s the head of the cardiology department there. And he did his cardio thoracic residency at Johns Hopkins. If grandma has to have surgery, I want her to have the best surgeon…and he seems to be good.

Also…spring, that elusive season is finally rearing it’s head big time. Sun is out (after it looked to be a bleary day) and it’s at or close to 70. I cleaned up my balcony after my run. Cleared out the planters of the dead stuff that froze before I got it outlast year. I swept and washed the windows and now I’m sitting on my comfy chair, typing this and reading a book…soaking up the sun in a tank top and shorts. Have I mentioned that I love spring?

TGIF?

April Showers Bring May Flowers.

It’s raining out. So I had to say it again…it is a good thing. I honestly like rain…nothing better than a nice run in the rain (when it’s not freezing out of course), or to curl up and take a nice nap while listening to the sounds of the rain falling…but for whatever reason, today my mood is not up. I don’t know what’s wrong. I don’t know why…but it seems the last few Fridays I’ve been just dealing with a real down feeling. Yes, I know, it’s weird for it to happen on Friday, but it has. And today is no exception. I don’t know how to get around it, and I’m trying to keep with the positives for the month, but even with good stuff (like a work related trip and vacation next week) I still seem to have something going on. Perhaps it’s an approaching date that sometimes does cause me anxiety these days. I don’t know. I’m also probably partly down from the lack of running. Not meaning that I’m down because I can’t run (but yes, I am upset that I can’t run more because I’ve wanted to) but because without running, I don’t get that endorphin boost that can make me stay and hold happy. Yes, I’ve been biking and doing other workouts, but while I sweat on the bike, I don’t get that cardio burn, that freedom feeling that I do from running…

Anyway, no updates on grandma recently. She was hoping to meet with the surgeon today, but I don’t know if that has happened or not. I’m thinking maybe it did because I have not heard from my mom today and usually I’d have an email (at least a response to the one I sent).

Oh, and I’m officially entered into the Twin Cities Marathon. Hoping for perfect temps, no wind and no injury on October 5th so I can run my best ever!! I’m also in the Coral I start, so only 2100 runners and the elites with potential to be in front of me (and they are all fast as well!!) at the start, so should get running pace right away.

Attitude is Everything

Change your attitude. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

I don’t know who said it, but it was part of a fable that was presented at a meeting I was in today, and it’s actually quite true. I could be moaning and crying everyday that I can’t run, that my foot hurts (speaking of that I better go get some ice and ice it, only done that once so far today) etc…but instead I’ve let it present an opportunity to improve on my biking (and prove that once and for all, biking is not as fun as running, but the bikes at the gym present an opportunity to read books on running and be ready to focus on the nutrition aspect and if it goes on much longer getting into another book I’ve heard good things about) and work on strength a bit more. I used to hate biking totally cause my legs got tired and now they feel strong even after an hour on the bike…so well, we’ll see how that equates to running. Today my heel is feeling less than it did on Monday (after running on Sunday) so everyday is improvement and it’s never real bad pain or anything so I think I can keep it easy one more week then put my running back into the focus. Maybe even get some speed work for my upcoming mile race.

Anyway, the book I’ve been reading, Performance Nutrition for Runners by Matt Fitgerald I believe to be quite excellent. Newer ideas and mix in of current nutrition information out there, presented somewhat technical, but still meaningful and definitely on level for all running types (recreational to hard core) to gain from it. I am hoping to incorporate a lot of the ideas and hopefully see an improvement on what I do. What’s great is this isn’t about diet, it’s about body composition and re-configuring your body to be better for running…namely changing fat to muscle etc…the other book, The Cutting Edge Runner is the one I’m about to start as well and it got good reviews.

And the final sure sign on spring. Last night I slept with my window open (just cracked in case it did get really cold, but open is open)!! And my thermostat in my house last night was at 73, and this morning, even with window open, still at 70 (normally during the day it’s 64 and 68 when I’m home).

Spring?

Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again. - Sarah Ban Breathnach

Maybe...dare I say? Spring may have just
FINALLY come to Minnesota...but I'm scared that now that I iterated that, that it may all go away!! Plenty of positive thinking though brought temps in the 60s and sun too!! So after work (I was exhausted this morning and slept past my date at the gym, sure hope I didn't miss hottie!) I drove to the gym, put on shorts and a short sleeved top (yes first run in both!!). I went for about 3 miles. I had mapped it ahead of time and still think it might have been a little short since my time frame for it would point to 8 minute or so miles and it didn't feel fast. Heel has a little soreness but not even to the degree I felt it Sunday after the run, so I think I'm on the mend. I'm planning to take two days off running again and do it again on Saturday, maybe for 4 miles. Then Monday or Tuesday of next week and we'll see about the rest of it since I'm out of town for part of next week.

Grandma is home today, on a restricted diet that she doesn't like (lower salt and cholesterol of course) and hopefully she'll be seeing the surgeon this week and we'll have more answers on what is going on and what they might need to do.

I met with a friend last night and had a nice chat and in a couple of weeks I'm excited to be going to the theater again. I haven't been in something like 10 years...yeah...must be, my ex (before L last summer that is) and I had tickets with others and he and I broke up and my cousin came instead. What's kind of interesting is I hadn't seen him in 8 years and talked to him in longer than that (he was at a couple of things I was at and we didn't say a word to each other at those events), anyway, I found him someplace and sent a hi...he responded back...he has a 5 and 3 year old now...that's just weird to think of, because technically, that might have been me. I had thought he and I might get married and probably would have had kids (it wouldn't have been right, but everyone else I knew was getting married at the time, figured he and I would do it too). It just gets weird how things turn out sometimes.

Dedicated to the Tax Day Procrastinators

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow. Famous Saying by Mark Twain

Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week. Famous Quote about procrastination by Spanish Proverb

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. Famous Saying by Don Marquis

One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow. By : Vincent T. Foss
In honor of tax day, and all the people out rushing to get their taxes done (or extensions filed) today. The day post offices stay open until midnight to help out all the procrastinators. Now I’ve never been one to file that late. See, I’ve never had to pay in. You can bet though, the day I owe money, I’ll be mailing it today!! (hey, they don’t rush to get my money back to me, why should I rush to send it!!) As it is though, for me, I had my taxes in the mail the 4th of February (they were all calculated, but I had to wait till all my W-2s and dividend information and such was to me end of January, I did them over the weekend, copied and mailed them on the 4th and had the money back by around the 20th…might have had it sooner but I REFUSE to pay to efile…so I mail them and get direct deposit and it’s all good). The one thing I don’t get though, is why people, who are getting money back, wait till the 15th to file. Seriously…

Last night there was a work outing. We have sales people in town for training and we went out to a sports bar for dinner. About 18 of us. I got there and only ordered water to drink. (everyone else was having beer, wine, mixed drinks) And while I couldn’t resist having a couple of buffalo wings (OK, 4, da*m wings!) and a few onion rings/strings (they have those lightly beer battered stringy onions), I ordered a nice broiled walleye (for those not familiar it’s the MN state fish, seriously, although this was Canadian walleye since MN walleye are not farmed commercially, it’s a light fresh water fish), baked potato with butter on the side (and only used a little over one packet of it) and a side dinner salad with no dressing (yes, I’m weird, I like no dressing on my salad, take flack for it from servers ALL the time!!). It was good and fairly healthy (except I’m sure they put butter or something over the walleye before broiling). Tonight I’m meeting a friend for dinner at a Tex Mex place and plan to have something as healthy as I can keep it (maybe just tacos and use lots of salsa to get my veggies, or a taco salad and somehow resist eating the bowl!!). I’m really trying to keep my diet more healthy, next week will be tough with travel, but we’ll see what I can do!! (same with the workouts, I’m sure the hotel will have something though)

Anyway, seems spring might FINALLY be coming to MN. It’s coming on the wind, but that’s OK. Chance for 70 today (we haven’t seen 70 degrees since October 30, 2007) and upper 50s rest of the with 60s in the weekend. It’s too bad we have a wind advisory today! I’m shooting for an outdoor run tomorrow. Then probably Thursday and Friday off running again and maybe a run on Saturday at my parents.

Don't Forget Tax Day!!

All the wonders you seek are within yourself.-Sir Thomas Brown

Just wanted to type up a quick update that hopefully I’ll be able to get up tonight. I wanted to still keep with the 30 days of positive and I know next week I’ll most likely miss a couple since I’m on a work travel thing (more on that at another time).

Update on grandma is that the cardiologist is recommending surgery. Grandma is willing to consider it and they will meet with a surgeon this week and find out more. If she opts for it, they will do more tests to find out what more besides a valve replacement might be necessary (hopefully that’s it). She’s much stronger now, fluid is almost gone from her lungs which is good news. I wish the surgery wasn’t a necessity, but I did find out more about the surgeon and he did his cardio thoracic residency at Johns Hopkins, which to me says something. I’ll most likely be making a trip down to see her and my aunt who is home from Alaska right now, this weekend. My mom thinks I should get together with my sister to do the drive, which would be nice to have someone to ride with, we’ll see.

In other news…heel…kind of the same. It’s a little sore, but not terrible. I did 20 minutes on the bike warm up, 15 minutes strength and 10 minutes ab work and other things and then back on the bike for a 30 minute workout (no hottie today, was a sad day!) and then to work. I couldn’t get to sleep last night (maybe because I went to bed around 10:30 on Saturday night and slept till 8:15/8:30 and laid in bed till 9 on Sunday morning!) and didn’t get a great night and tonight supposed to go out to dinner for a work thing. I’m contemplating bagging that partly because I just want to go home and veg and partly because I don’t want the temptation of eating a bad for me dinner!! We’ll see what happens.

Running

In the hopes that one of these days spring will come (the forecast does show upper 50s into the 60s this week, I'll believe it when I see it!!) I'm posting a picture of tuplips...if I wasn't feeling so lazy right now I'd get up and take a picture of the ones I bought at Trader Joe's today (they are this color) and brought into the house to make it more spring like.

Anyway, today was D day...I had set today to get out and try a run. I decided I would do it at the gym, softer surface and guaranteed weather. Anyway, I had gotten up today with no discomfort again, so figured it was a good trial day. I started off first mile very slowly, and it felt great to be running again. I sped up on the second mile and while I felt like maybe I was noticing something, it was more of an "well, is it hurting or not" kind of thing than a yes, it's definitely complaining to me. I stopped at 2 miles, not wanting to push things too much and I jumped on the bike for an addition 45 minutes of cardio. I had already done a core workout and some yoga at home while watching Eragon (I've recently signed up on a trial deal with HBO so catching up on some things I haven't seen as of yet). After the workout I was feeling heel was bothering slightly, but not terribly. I swung by Trader Joe's on my way home too and picked up some pasta with flax and a pineapple and a few other items (including dark chocolate covered soybeans that sound healthy and yet an indulgence!!) and came home and made myself a very healthy dinner of this pasta with flax, spaghetti sauce (homemade with only a little meat, very low in fat and full of yummy for me stuff), a salad of spinach and romaine and a side of really good fruit (had forgotten about the strawberries and raspberries I bought yesterday and cut up and included some pineapple too). I'm really trying to get better. Right now I'm reading Performance Nutrition for Runners by Matt Fitzgerald and finding some very interesting yet sound advice as opposed to so much other stuff that's out there.

Anyway, little update on grandma. She's feeling better and getting over the pneumonia, but there is a meeting with the cardiologist tomorrow, basically to discuss what damage there is (she's had a leaky heart valve) and what they can do...I'm worried, but trying to keep optimistic about it.

Heel Update

Other people may not have high expectations of me, but I have high expectations for myself.-- Shannon Miller

Today has been kind of a lazy day. Although in getting up and walking around, so far, I have not felt the bruising feel on my heel that has been indicating somethings wrong. I've iced and stretched it and been to the gym for a bike ride. My intents since I put myself on non-running rest, have been to run tomorrow, and I'm going to evaluate it and see how it feels. I might go just an easy 1 or 2, take Monday off and shoot for a little longer one on Tuesday...taking it easy for the next week or two and slowly build back up. It's bothered me, of course, to not run, but knowing this is best for me has allowed me to work through it and maintain a good attitude about it. Because seriously, what is a negative thought going to solve anyway?? Hopefully the positive thinking has kept me in good form, body and spirit. On a side note, based on the bike at the gym, I've gone about 100 miles biking this week.

TGIF

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have.-Doris Mortman
This quote really feels fitting for today. It has taken me a really, really long time, but I am finally at peace with who I am. There are some small things that I can, and will change (this positive thought a day is the start of that as is the telling those around me that I love them, and when Sunday afternoon it dawned on me that I had told my dad that I loved him when I got off the phone with him, but hadn’t said it to my mom, I immediately called back, got her on the phone and told her, and that was the only reason I called, just to tell her I love her) but for the most part, I am the person I am and I need to accept that person and be at peace with who and what she is, her limitations and strengths and focus my energies on that. I constantly have to remind myself that I’m not the lost person I was in my early 20s (still trying to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life) and the more lost person I was even in my late 20s, still trying to figure out a way to fix a couple of the wrong turns I took on my career path. I wish I had found the work I’m doing a few years ago, so I could be even more advanced in my career than I am, but everything has to come together at the times when you are ready for them right? I am content with my core group of friends (although I know I need to expand and find some people that understand my running that are local) and I have a very supportive and loving family. I enjoy my job, like the people I work with and have my health (with the exception of this slight setback with my heel, but I’m coping with it by cross training more and hopefully keeping my strength up so when it’s healed I’ll be right back to it even harder…test run on Sunday, can’t wait!!). I like where I live, even though it’s not quite in the area I’d like to be, but as soon as the market recovers, I’m in a position to sell and move up and by then I should be able to have even more money for a down payment (a benefit to not being able to sell and living in a place that doesn’t cost as much, I can get a lot of money in savings to help with that).

I did decide today that I’m going to pay for the marathon training class for this fall through one of the local running groups. Even though I don’t know how much of it I will use, I can at least do the Tuesday evening run and maybe some Saturday runs (they meet at 7, so that won’t be real often!). It’s steps towards getting to know myself and anything positive in that direction is a good thing right?

Spring Will Come!

You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. ~ Edward O. Wilson

I've tried all day to be inspired to write a post, but nothing is coming to me...so I figured I'd just leave it as this quote (which is oh so true) and this picture. We are under a "winter" (I hate that the meterologists seem to forget it's been spring on the calendar for 3 weeks now) storm warning...anywhere from 4-9 inches of snow between now and Saturday. Ah well...spring will come eventually. It is inevitable. We can't be kept from it!! Foot...still sore. I'm icing and biking about an hour a day...missed this morning because I was tired from being out for a friends birthday last night. I'm going to bed early tonight though and hopefully will be up extra early for a harder workout in the morning and second one in the afternoon. We'll see. I'm holding till Sunday on running. I plan to run no more than 4 that day and see how it feels. It's been a week...I'm going nuts!!

Every dark cloud has a silver lining.

You do have to look for the good in things to find the positives right?? This morning (like yesterday) I didn’t want to get up, but I did, and I opted to bike for a warm up as I decided elliptical still has me on my feet which I should be staying off of and let my foot heal right? So I got on a bike to warm up before strength, and in case he showed up, tried to maneuver into a place hottie might go…but unfortunately it was kind of busy and at some point I looked over and became aware he had shown up, but unfortunately was a couple down from me…ah well. I did 5 more minutes that I would’ve for warm up and then went and did abs, hoping maybe he was strength training and was just warming up too (unfortunately not) and then went and lifted…and at one point I was able to see that he chose today to work. Of all times, when I can’t (but would’ve been) running…sigh…I’m wondering if he might be hurt or something though as he seemed to walk quite slowly (you can see the track from part of the weight floor, yes, I’m keeping tabs on him, but was watching in the mirrors so he couldn’t have known!!). Anyway, he happened to be heading to the locker room when I was going to grab my book and go back up for the rest of my workout on the bike…sigh…I SOOO wanted to follow him into the boys’ locker room…am I terrible??
On another note. I had some worrisome news today, but I’m trying to put something positive on it. My grandma was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Thankfully her normal doctor wasn’t there. My mom has been saying that this doctor seems to not really have a clue and just be offering whatever drug some company has given him. Anyway, the doctor she has now has her on antibiotics and is planning to keep her a week to get her medications sorted out. She has been having some back/hip pain and/or not getting around well and her other doctor pushed a cortisone shot and that’s about all he did for her. This doctor is wanting to try something more, including therapy (which grandma doesn’t like that idea, but I think it will help her). The other thing I found out that has me most worried is apparently her heart valve is leaking, and she’s too weak for surgery. So I’m hoping, that the pneumonia is a blessing and that it got her under the care of a doctor who is going to fix her meds and do something better for her. Please, if you believe in some higher power (and even if you don’t, just send some positive thoughts) keep her in your prayers. Grandma turns 89 in a month and I still have trouble thinking that’s really that age. She may walk a bit slower than she used to, but she’s still with it and very feisty. When I’m visiting my parents, I spend a lot of time with grandma (last time I was out just after breakfast and didn’t leave till well after lunch, which I cooked for us).

What a Great Day

Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally.Eckhart Tolle

I have to say my boss is awesome. I really like the last boss I had as well…I guess I’ve been really lucky, having been in a few bad place a few times with jobs and boss’ that have really undermined how I’ve felt about myself and how I have performed my job…but finally I’ve aligned myself in positions that have managed to start pumping me back up. It’s the time of year at my company for raises. It started with a review process in January, which went well. My boss thinks I’m doing an excellent job and have progressed very well. Of course there is rigmarole when it comes to raises…corporate controls and dictates it and being part of an extremely large company, of course raises don’t always tend to be a lot…3.5% was dictated…that’s what is recommend for the high performers…well, my boss asked for 3.75% for me. He was told he could have 3%, justification being that I was only there 7 months (they consider pay raise period from Jan on, even though we don’t see it till April 1), they said the amortization of that actually puts me at 5.14%, my boss pointed out that isn’t something I see though…so he then had compared it to where I was on the rating scale and figured out that technically my title has me at “associate” and not straight contract specialist as he had written my job description for…so he was told by VP of Sales and HR director that if he felt that strongly about it, and that I was that good of a performer, that he could promote me and get me another raise at my 1 year…And both the HR and VP were on board with it so it will be approved. And the HR director is not known to be easy to get along with...So OK, I got a lower raise for now, but in two months I can get a raise on top of a raise which is even better. And it’s great knowing my boss is thinking about me and fighting for me as much as he can. Appreciation is a great thing. We then discussed my career progression and things we can do to keep building things up and who knows where things might go. See…look, power of positive thinking!!

I just had to include the puppy cause what is happier than a puppy?

Positive Thinking!!

I run because it's my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I'm going where I'm going and I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise... it's a consistent reward for victory! Sasha Azevedo

Happy Monday to all. We are having light snow showers (mixed with rain, it rained pretty much all day yesterday) but thankfully it’s not enough to accumulate and I don’t think it will.

The weekend was decent…even though I can’t run. I’m taking the advice of L (who I never did get around to seeing this weekend, with having been given Wolves tickets for last night and having a birthday party on Saturday night, it just wasn’t feasible to work out to see him) and taking the week off still. I haven’t run since Thursday morning and it bothers me, but I’m making the best of it. Saturday was gorgeous and instead of running, I got my bike out (it hadn’t been ridden in probably 2 years) and pumped up the extremely flat tires, put on my Garmin and took off for a ride to Target…yes, I turned my foot issue into a ride to run errands and save on gas for the trip too!! I even found a new little route I didn’t know about that made it a quick little jaunt up and across some quieter streets and then onto a bike path. And now that I know this route, it will make trips up to the lakes a little nicer this summer since I can bike it on the trails. I was also able to prove the theory that the scales are way off on distance and speed on the bikes at the gym. I’ve always trusted the t-mill since the time frame is equal to the distance usually, but how can the bikes be so off? Normally on a 30 minute gym ride I hit about 10.8 miles…so my ride to and from Target (and a little tacked on to make more distance and stay out longer) was about 1:03 and about 12.25 miles (I had to make a few guesses since I had forgotten to start my Garmin). Obviously something is off!! Neither place do I have cages or the pedals to clip in so I am only getting the push and not the pull…but still not sure why the difference. My bike is a mountain bike, so I realize more drag and will be slower, but still…

Anyway, foot…it’s still a bit sore, I’m stretching, icing, using a tennis ball and not running…hopefully all this shows some progress soon!! Saturday after the biking and all that I went out with friends for a friends birthday to a Jazz club. It was a fun evening and good music (not a big fan of Jazz but I can appreciate it and listen on occasion). Sunday I was just pretty much vegging, rested the food, cleaned some and then went to the Wolves game with a friend. A friend from the past…remember C? Well, yeah, he and I are talking again…I’m past all the stuff and you know, the past is the past and what’s the point in holding a grudge, we’re past it (of course I have to keep it secret from my sister)? Heck, I saw my sister on Friday and mentioned that I might see L over the weekend and all she could say was no, don’t do it (didn’t end up doing it anyway, but again with her thinking she knows best when it comes to me and boys) and I couldn’t get why. Seriously, I know it’s done, we both know it wasn’t going to work out between us, but why can’t we be friends? I mean L treated me a lot better than my sister’s current boyfriend treats her (let’s just say his attitude needs work and she makes constant excuse for him, which you know is NOT a good sign!!) and she has been with him more than two years and still puts up with it, even though concern has been expressed…if she’s happy, that’s what matters I guess. I’m at the point of realizing that you have to accept what others will do and we can’t decide what makes others happy and if it makes them unhappy, we can just be there for them when it comes to an end or end up alienating and losing relationships…I’ve seen it with numerous friends and life is for each person to decide right?

April Showers Bring May Flowers

I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." - Jesse Owens

What a great quote…it actually captures exactly the feeling I have and what I was trying to say a while back. It’s not about anything but getting out there and doing it.

It’s raining out right now. I had something else in mind to write when I started this, but then the rain came and I had different thoughts come to my mind…It’s such a great day to just lay in bed…in fact I hadn’t made my bed yet today, it’s very tempting to crawl back under the covers as it is (and I didn’t get enough sleep last night) and the rain coming down is perfect sleeping weather. OK, granted, it can be enough is enough eventually when it comes to too many rainy days in a row…but this is a first. We haven’t had rain in a long time (snow yes, rain no) and the rain is cleansing…it will clear up the last of the dirty crappy snow we have…it will start the grass turning green, bring out the buds on the trees, and start the flowers blooming. So it’s great. I love the rain.

Back to my nap…OK, I can’t stay in bed all day though anyway. I have tickets for the Wolves tonight and while I’m not a big basketball fan, it should be fun. Can’t beat free tickets right?

Oh, and as for Max and Beaux, well...I have a shuffle thing of pictures of mine going on my sidebar and that one popped up and it ws cute...they look like they are trying to convince you that they aren't naughty don't they??

Saturday 60?

They say we might get close to 60 again today...and I can't get out in run in it. I've been told to take at least the week off, if I can, and right now I can, (I don't want to, but I can). It weighs heavily on me since I want to race a really hard mile in a month, but my big training goals revolve around Twin Cities of course, so it's better to take time off now, heal and be ready for training come June than push now and not be able to train and run this fall. I was reading an article in a local sports magazine about the women from MN competing at the Olympic Trials in Boston in two weeks yesterday as well. And one of them is training through and dealing with PF. I figure if she can do it, and get things together and be ready, so can I. I'll do what it requires to get there...even if it means to enjoy today I have to be content with pumping up the tires on my bike and riding it (part of me is contemplating a ride to a coffee shop and taking my computer with to work on something, or even taking the laptop and working outside on something...such a dream and the whole reason for a laptop right?).

Today's quote I pulled from my "Runner's Book of Daily Inspirations"...I bought this book a while ago and have never actually remembered to read it every day in a year but it's a good one, I like it and today really kind of fits:

"The only thing that's important in your training program is motivation. I've developed a set of motivational tricks that I'm constantly reviewing and refining. They haveonly one purpose: to keep me running" - Amby Burfoot, marathoner

And Something Quick...

I have to give myself props...I am a good cook!!

I made this up Thursday night to cook last tonight...oh, after having made the sauce on Sunday (I only make homemade sauce for spaghetti and lasagna).

It didn't look as nice on the plate...I'm just not patient enough to have it sit for 15 minutes to "set up" before dishing it up...it tasted soooo good though...I should've taken a picture with the garlic bread on the plate with it too...so yummy!! And even better, leftovers!! Only thing that makes lasagna better is the leftovers (why is that? I'm not a big fan of leftovers but lasagna leftover is so good).

TGIF – NKOTB

When people ask me why I run, I tell them, there's not really a reason, it's just the adrenalin when you start, and the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got. Courtney Parsons

I found a great link with great running quotes, so those will probably continue most of this month!! I might post the link at the very end!!

Anyway, lots of positives for today. Of course it’s Friday (unfortunately no Hottie at gym) which is awesome in and of itself…but for those in the know…the other letters on my title…well…yes, I’m dating myself…I was a big New Kids on the Block fan (OK, not was, still am!!) and today they made an appearance on the Today show to announce that they are working on a new album, plan to tour this fall AND as a birthday present to me (OK, so it’s not quite just for that, hey, it’s Jordan’s birthday too!) they are going to be on the Today show performing on May 16!! (technically, not my birthday but if not for leap year this year it would’ve been). So this makes for a happy day of things for me.

This morning I only biked, and did strength. It’s supposed to hit 60 today and I’m forcing myself to not run today. In fact I contacted L, since he’s involved in sports massage, sports and all that and might have some ideas, and he thinks PF for my foot too…his suggestion was a week off. I can live with that so am doing a self imposed week off and re-evaluating in a week (OK, that’s just a week off of running, I will still bike or something unless I find out that is something I should stay away from too). He also offered to look at it for me this weekend if I wanted…I’m thinking it’s a generous offer and I should take him up on it…he’s cheaper than the doctor and probably knows just as much about this kind of thing as it is…we haven’t seen each other since we broke up though…so it makes me a little nervous though.

Now I ended the day at work with tickets for the Timberwolves...not a huge basketball fan, but free tickets...have to figure out who I'm taking...

Hottie Day

A marathon is like life with its ups and downs, but once you've done it you feel that you can do anything. unknown

I think this quote so fits. If only everyone could really experience it!!

Well, it had to come one day…unfortunately my days of dashing off a quick blog post during work hours is gone…they have finally figured it out and banned it. So while I’m trying to keep a positive…this did dampen my day. I used to take a few minutes here and there to read peoples blogs when I had some downtime…I mean seriously…what do they expect, me to work all day??? Ah well…

This morning I wanted to sleep in…it was so tempting to reset my alarm, but knowing I’m meeting with my financial advisor this afternoon, and might meet a friend for a quick bite or something after a quick stop at the mall, I knew it might not happen if I slept in…so I got up, got to the gym, started my laps (was planning 7 cruise intervals, 3 of the intervals, 4 slow miles, but added one more mile of faster pace for a total of 8) when I noticed guess who on a bike…and all he did was bike today…so I had blissful joy of seeing him every lap for the first 5 miles…And then he was stretching, right by the track…ah…happy day (so worth not sleeping that extra hour)!! I don’t know my times for each interval, unfortunately…I didn’t have a working watch…I was going to use the one for my HRM which was in my bag, but apparently the battery is going dead cause I couldn’t get it to do anything but show me the time…ah well. I had an idea of the time overall and it was about 20 seconds per mile slower than Tuesday, which is fine. I’ve got 24 miles in for the week so far, 34 miles of biking too and 2 days of strength. I’ll have to get two more in yet this week, which shouldn’t be a problem since I’m doing shorter sessions…tomorrow and Saturday maybe…

Positive Hump Day

People ask why I run. I say, "If you have to ask, you will never understand". It is something only those select few know. Those who put themselves through pain, but know, deep down, how good it really feels. - Erin Leonard

I like that quote. I even have it printed on my cube wall at work. For those of us that run, I think we have all been there. People who don’t run, just don’t get it. It’s beyond a need…it can be an obsession. Even for those of us that don’t race much (I rarely do) it’s about the run…even if you aren’t racing, you can always race yourself. Whether it’s getting further out in the time frame on an out and back…or beating your time over a set course…or going further in the same time. Like me last night. I did a tempo run (heel does still hurt, I’m noticing it’s a bit more noticeable on downhills than anywhere, if that means anything, but I’m icing, I’m stretching it, I’m using a tennis ball to massage it…hopefully it will fix itself). My plan was 7 miles, 4 at tempo of 8 minutes or so. Well, got out, was feeling decent and I thought, well, maybe I’ll do 8…and while I’m at it, why not keep the faster pace for one more mile. So a warmup of 8:47, then, I don’t have my Garmin with me but vaguely remembering splits of 7:35, 7:47, 7:31, 7:40 and 7:33 or something like that. I know it probably averaged about 7:40 for the 5. My first recovery mile was 7:54 and then an 8:19…I need to work on slowing that down a bit more I think!! Although the big overall of it, my typical, "easy run" if I were to go 7 miles is a 1:03 or so...so 1 more mile in that time frame (granted a speed work session, but still!!). Anyway, temps were close to 40 and I was out in just tights, long sleeved top and windbreaker. It’s nice to be able to dress lighter. Hopefully maybe shorts this weekend.

Oh, and that was preceded by a morning workout. 15 minutes on the elliptical to warmup, 15-20 minutes of weight training and then a 30 minute bike ride. Lighter bike ride since I wanted the legs fresh for the run. But I managed a double on Monday too and that felt good. This morning I decided I wasn't ready to get up though, so laid in bed for another hour and plan to either hit the gym for a light recovery run tonight or just do one outside. We'll see what happens.

30 Positive Thoughts

To counter the not so happy post from below (but please read it if you are so inclined) I ran across something that talked about 30 Positive thoughts and thought, hmm...today is April 1, April has 30 days...of course I have a trip (more on that another time) coming up that I'll miss a few of those days maybe, but might try to work something out. Anyway, positive for today:

"Do not lose courage in considering your own perfections. -Saint Francis de Sales"

Hmm...almost fitting based on what I just posted...weird.

It is April…

And fools we all are!

Yes, that’s what it looks like here, today. We got snow, yet again, last night. I spring ever going to come?? Or are we all fools?? I know it’s foolish to live in this cold, God forsaken state (we had an extremely cold winter, and I’m bitter about that and I want my favorite season to get here already!!), but I am feeling like a fool for other reasons as well. I sometimes wonder why I try, to be honest. I attempt to be a decent person. Mostly I attempt to be there for my friends and family…they do mean the world to me. No matter the situation, or what has happened in the past, I try to always be there to help them get through whatever it might be, even though I rarely get reciprocation from it, especially from the ones I try to help the most.

Something has been brought to my attention, and I’m wondering how many times the fool I can be and when it all will stop? Sometimes you have to cut your losses right? Sometimes no matter how much you try, some relationships just aren’t healthy for you. And to maintain your happiness, your sanity or whatever it might be, sometimes you just have to let go. When you’ve been there, done that and know, at least to a degree, what you are and are not willing to put up with, and you have someone that is on the sidelines of your life that sees, and knows and understands only small aspects of the person you are, and from those very rare occasions, has decided to use them to make judgments of you, to assume the person that you are from these tiny incidents in time, well, that gets to be a bit much, and you sometimes have to say enough is enough.

Being told you have a drinking problem (because the few instances you go out with said person, said person usually wants to drink, because said person never gets to, and then you are judged on your behavior when you are drunk). Being told that you are “high on yourself” (when nothing could be further from the truth) based on one time, one instance and a lack of knowledge of multiple other times I may have been in similar situations and have learned how you HAVE to act sometimes. Being called a snob because, after years and years of dating experience, and dating unhappiness, I’ve finally figured out what it is that I will and will not put up with from someone, and refusing to date substandard guys, and only I can determine (based on above mentioned experiences) what constitutes a substandard guy to me. Of course, not being careful on how I stated my intentions of why most recent guy is not one for me (even though it was never an option anyway), I stated he was a server, what I didn’t add to that was he has no other ambitions (or if he does have ambitions, they aren’t ambitions that he’ll ever move on) and he spends every dime he gets (I grew up saving, having money around for emergencies and/or when you have something fun you want to do), and therefore should be a red flag anyway. Even that said, it’s now why he wasn’t an option…I was open to seeing, and he wanted an FWB, and you know what, I deserve better than that. The situation went way beyond anything, and my not wanting to date “a server” has caused a person in my life to decide this is a reflection of how I see her and how I judge her. I’m not sure still, how that is, but it is, according to her. I don’t judge my friends. No matter what they do, or how they are, mistakes they keep making…I’m there for them. I try to offer advice, but I don’t say hey, you do this or that or whatever and that makes you a bad person (OK, those words weren’t uttered but the intent was there and it seems to be constant criticism from this person)

The statement was made to me, that by not dating “outside the field of what I look at” (no one but me knows the types of guys I’ve been out with over, oh, say the past 10 years right? So again, how can someone know what I have and have not dated and reasons for making decisions I have)? I’ve also been told that I’m passing by people that might make me happy. Well, you know, I’m not looking for happiness from someone. I’m happy with myself and I don’t want or expect someone else to make me happy because to be happy, you have to be happy with yourself. Someone else can’t do that for you. Personally, while I have my times when sure, someone to go out with on occasion would be nice, I’m still not even really looking. Granted, if someone could introduce me to a really great guy, and/or somehow I ended up meeting some really great guy somewhere along the way, I’m not going to rule him out, but at the same time, I’m fine if I never meet that “great guy” either…My life is full. I have my running. I have my work. Hopefully soon I’ll have school, which will take a huge chunk of my time. And I have friends and family. I’m fine with however it ends up. With someone, not with someone, no regrets either way. But each year I get a little pickier, a little smarter and a little more knowledgeable about whom I will and will not date and no one else should have any say or judge me for my decisions.

I always seem to be defending my decisions, at least to this person. And why should I have to? It’s my life right? When it comes down to it, nothing I say or do is going to matter anyway. Some people will still only see the bad, only point out your faults and only do what they can to try to bring you down….it’s life right? And really, if I'm such a bad person, people can choose to not be around me in the first place right?

At least hottie happiness got me through part of yesterday!!