Shoes for PF

Oh what a week. TGIF!!

So, I saw my chiropractor twice this week (I had a lot of tension in my shoulders that I wasn’t even noticing) and she also adjusted my foot/ankle and I had some massage and ultrasound done on my left foot/heel. It’s still sore, seems more sore this week, but then last week I put it through a very rigorous workout in anticipation of my relay (my team officially starts 2 weeks from today although I won’t be starting for a few hours yet, being runner 12). I’m prepared, or as prepared as I’m going to be for it. I’m just looking forward to the fun of meeting a bunch of new people and getting this experience!! Anyway, my chiro did get on my case about the shoes I was wearing, and I said I like barefoot and she said my foot won’t heal without proper care. She told me I should get some Chaco sandals…although on looking, I didn’t find many that were work appropriate. They had the sport/casual sandals, but nothing for work, or the ones that they used to have for work related have been discontinued and/or are only available in not so great colors. I did find a pair on Amazon I could live with though and ordered them (the blue pair). Set to arrive next week. On my second visit to the chiro this week I mentioned ordering the one pair but that they didn’t have good work shoes, she then told me about Dansko brand which I looked at and found a number that I like…and ordered the brown pair with the buckle to start and have these two I’m considering (I really like the brown but since I have the other style ordered in brown, I SHOULD just order the black and call 3 new shoes in a supportive style good for now…do I really need to spending this money?? No…especially when there are other things I want too!! But then this is for my foot, which I need to have healthy right?).

This weeks running. Ran with my running group on Tuesday and did 7 miles at an 8:34 pace. Not stellar but OK. Legs have been feeling kind of tired this week, and not sure why. I’ve been good about building up mileage slowly, but Tuesday’s wasn’t great, heel hurt but I ran an easy 4 on Wednesday and then Thursday got up for a tempo run that didn’t go nearly as well as last week’s. Last week I hit 7:55 pace for the 7 miles when that was supposed to be pace for the tempo miles. This week I did 8, managed 8:20 pace and only a 7:58 (due to a very close 8:30 pace for the 1st tempo mile). It also felt really difficult. I’m not sure if it’s because it was a morning run (haven’t been doing this and it could be I was sluggish and not ready for it), my legs were tired from the later night run the night before, or if there was some other factor…I think my eating was OK from the night before and I’ve done 10-12 before a meal before with no problem. Anyway, it’s something to think about (mainly I did the morning run because we were due to have storms and it was going to be warm and sticky last night, which it was, we had storms come through that had alarms going off in the building and we were supposed to go to sheltered areas, I was on a phone call that I couldn’t end because I needed some answers, a tree ended up going over on a couple of cars in the parking lot even, thankfully mine was not in that lot, it’s the executive/visitor’s lot). This morning I got up and did an easy paced 6 and will do the gym (strength and maybe bike) this afternoon due to more potential storms tonight. Tomorrow is a 14 or so miler with my running group. I have to be up early for it, but oh well. No real plans for the weekend which is good. I had almost forgotten a friend is on layover here for about an hour and a half tomorrow afternoon so I’m heading out to the airport to see him (have a few errands I can run around the area anyway so works nice) and have a coffee or something before he continues on. Then not sure about the rest of the day. I might keep the miles lower, even though I wanted to maintain same as last week (43) or more for this week…guess heel will dictate that. OK, the new shoes have to come soon!!

Uggh...

Oh so glad I just ate and am watching "Running on the Sun", documentary about Badwater and they had a segment on the feet...and video pictures of it...don't eat and watch this!! It's an interesting movie so far...but yuck!! I don't have as ugly of feet as I thought!!

Tonight was another group run. Base building for some so it's somewhat slower but for more of a challenge I biked 4 miles there, then did the 7 mile run at 8:34 pace and then 3.25 miles home (took a shorter, less hilly route). So it was a decent workout day. Will try to do a bigger update tomorrow about the video taping last night etc...

4th of July

Well, here is another week come and gone and very little blogging. I don’t know what’s wrong with me other than just not having the energy after a long day of work, workouts and what not to sit down and actually type something up. I’m also very, very far behind on people’s blogs…I think so as not to overwhelm myself, I might need to just start doing a read two people’s a night kind of thing and keep it at that…and get back to the doing the blog in the morning and pasting it at night when I can get online…I really hate that I can’t read them anymore during the work day!! I’m sorry, but is there anything wrong with taking a break and/or using my lunch (considering by law I’m technically allowed 2 15 minutes and a half!!) to read about my friends from around the country? It’s not like I’m surfing porn or something!!

Anyway, I think my last post was after my running group last Tuesday…the rest of the week went something like this:

Wednesday
Nothing much. Trip to Trader Joe’s, which I love, and then relaxing that evening. I had worked out in the morning and it was a rest day from running.

Thursday
Confusion could describe this one. It was warm but not too bad…I was doing the run in the evening and planned 7 miles with 5 at tempo. That meant, for tonight, 7:55 pace. Well the overall run was 7:55 pace. I started with a warmup of around 9 minutes and then the first tempo mile was 7:30 or so. A bit fast and during it I decided I wanted to do cruise intervals instead…then realized during the second mile, which would’ve been recovery for cruise intervals, that that was a copout and I should stick to the plan, so I picked it up and salvaged it a bit at 8:34 or so, not great if it was tempo mind you, but alright, next 3 miles were something like 7:33, 7:30 and I know last was 7:20…well, a bit better than the 7:55 so I guess I’m short changing on the tempos right now. Might need to rethink that!! After the run I cooked up my lasagna and had dinner and then was vegging and ready to go to sleep but roused myself and headed to my fav bar since I hadn’t been there and seen some friends in forever…caught up with them and had a nice evening.

Friday
Ended up having one more beer than planned on Thursday so crashed at a friends instead of going home and ended up with a later start than planned due to a stop for coffee and a few errands on the way home, but that was OK. I got home, ran 5 miles (in anticipation of trying for a 3 in 24 to practice for my upcoming relay) and then got myself ready and headed to a friends parents for 4th of July fun. Got there and an hour later we were on the pontoon on a small lake, cruising and swimming. There was another girl that is a marathon runner so we had good conversation and before we knew it, it was time to go back and have food…good grill out and chips and fun stuff and then we sat on the dock while others were on the pontoon…they came back, some left and the few of us remaining ended up going back on the lake to watch fireworks around the city. Nice evening and I was home at a reasonable hour, but was so tired I opted to sleep in and run later the next day.

We had the most perfect day too. 80 degrees, sun, very low humidity and no wind…we don’t get many of those in MN at all, and even less of them during the 4th (usually too hot or too cold) so it was awesome to have for once.

Saturday
Skipped morning run and started around 11…not a great idea since I was running during more heat and humidity than I’ve been exposed to so far this year. I ran 12, figuring I could quit a bit earlier if I needed to but toughed it out. There was walking…I didn’t bring water (I know, dumb) or my electrolyte tablets but I managed to struggle through at a 9 minute pace…all things considered I guess I should be happy with that. Had a lazy day and relaxed after that, got nothing done I had wanted to, but oh well…ran another 3 later that evening and called it a day (this was the real plan to get the 3 in 24, the 1 pm finish, 7:45 pm start and then a Sunday morning run). Watched some TV and went to bed.

Sunday
Got up and did a quick 4 miler, wore my Garmin and ended up with an 8:40 pace which isn’t bad considering I did 12 and 3 the day before…I guess I’m OK for the relay.
Later in the day met with a friend to go to a Shakespeare show at a local British Pub that was fun. I had the time off though, it was at 6 pm the last 2 Sundays and then yesterday and next week it’s at 3:30 for another thing going on that day too. So we were there early and ended up going to do mini golf that is at the city modern art museum and sculpture garden. The famous Cherry on the Spoon is housed here so I had to finally snap a pic of it on our way back for the Shakespeare thing.

Over burgers and chips (fries, we were at a British pub remember) and a srongbow cider for me and stella for my friend, we watched Shakespeare’s work, all 37 plays, done in 97 minutes (abridged of course) by 3 men in tights…needless to say it was quite humerous. Started with Romeo and Juliet, then a very quick run through the comedies, basically calling them all the same, then the histories which were done as a football game and finally ending with Hamlet…the pub we were at has a lawn bowling area on the roof, and the play was done in a corner and people were set up on blankets to watch. This same pub does movies on Mondays in August (British themed of course) and all for free…it was definitely a fun time and I might end up going again next week with different friends. But since they improv some of it it’s bound to have different parts to it and be just as fun again.

Monday
So that’s the recap/week in review. I had other things I was contemplating writing on, but they will have to hold till another time. This is long enough as it is. Had 2 30 minute strength sessions last week, 2 bike rides (at the gym) and managed 43 miles…seeing my chiro today!!

Running Group

My first run with my running group. We are split into 4 groups, the 4:45 and slower marathoners, the 4:00 - 4:45, the 3:20 - 4:00, then the sub 3:20 group. My group is called the Kenyans...I always wanted to be a Kenyan!! What a good day for a run too. I actually was able to be up and moving for the 7 am start time without even wanting to lay around much more. Made it to my running store, then off for a nice little loop around the lakes. I even wore my I love the lakes running shirt. My group, at least this week, consisted of men. Yep, me and about 6 other boys...some cut the run short, 7.5-10.5 were the options. I did the full 10.5 and we averaged an 8:49 pace, which is right about where I want to be anyway. I had 19 miles on my original schedule for this week, but opted to just run with the group and finish with them. I met probably 10 people that I talked quite a bit with and I know I'll get to know more as training goes on. Maybe I'll make more of the morning runs than I thought. Anyway, after, we had shopping day. 30% off everything at the running store, for the most part. Yay!! I got my marathon shoes (well, I might use the ones I've had a little longer but only wore a couple of times because I like the color better but we'll see), some electrolyte caplets because I don't know if I even know where mine are right now and they do work (at least I believe they do) a new pair of socks that I like but don't like spending full price of $9 for and some body glide cause you can never have too much of that.

I think I've recovered from my illness yesterday, so hopefully am at it for tonight as it's a friends birthday and we are celebrating out watching live music with the girls. It should be fun. Not sure I'll drink, but might force myself since I don't want the birthday girl to have to drink alone...we'll see what happens though. As of right now I don't even feel like it.

Running and Other Stuff

OK, I've been pokey in getting updates in. I used to do some typing up of blog posts still at work and then post them when I had access, but it's just been hectic and I haven't been able to. This week has been another busy one. Monday I laid low, Tuesday met a friend for a walk and then had to be for my first meeting with my training group on Tuesday at 7. That was cool and should be fun. They have Tuesday night runs at 6 pm and Saturday long runs at 7 am...I'm mostly not going to be doing them, 7 am is early for me, but this week I do plan to hit the long run, even though it's shorter a run than I was planning. We are meeting at my favorite running store, they are talking about gear before the run and AFTER we get a shopping day!! 20-30% off everything!! I'm planning to buy my marathon shoes and maybe some new shorts...I love the Nike Tempo Track shorts and even though I have 8 pair, I still want more!!

So my running this week. I did 5 on Monday, 7 of hills on Tuesday, up a big one, back down the other side, back up again and over the top...decent pacing so not bad. Wednesday I took off and met a friend for a bite and drink after work. I managed a run at lunch yesterday, tempo in the gym for lack of better options and no Garmin with me...8 minute miles average for 6 so not bad. Today I meant to run, but haven't been feeling well, stayed home from work even.

Less than a month to the relay now!! I'm looking forward to the trip. Looks like I'll have a day to spend in Portland, hanging out with part of the team and then the drive up and whole relay will be a fun adventure. I think I'm going to get a new memory card for my camera!!

Saturday Long Run

So I've adapted my long runs the last two weeks. I'd been planning to run them on Sunday, but Saturday has proven better due to plans on Saturday nights. Tonight is live Reggae celebrating the first full day of summer at a small bar on their patio outside the city. Should be fun. As for the run...well...I kept last night low key. Was planning to be in bed early but a friend called and wanted to go for a walk, so we did that and then had a beer and chatted. It wasn't an early night but it was low key enough. I was up and ready to run by 8:45 (thankfully I don't have a stomach that needs 2 hours to digest, I was eating by 8 and out the door not much later). I added a mile to last weeks route before I continued on route to Lake Harriet and back. It was warm, but not terribly windy. I went through just a little bit more Accelerade than last time, I know, I don't drink enough. I even had 3 sport beans (no, not three packets, literally 3 beans) during the run. I ran it in 2:34 and some odd change. A 9:06 pace. Not great, not my goal and 10 seconds per mile slower than last week, and the slowest came in the later part of the run, which means I need to work on my strength and stamina a lot. I did get 2 OK hill workouts this week though and finished the week (no planned run tomorrow and have to stick to that so as not to increase mileage too much) with 35 miles. I also managed 2 days of yoga for flexibility, 2 days of 30 minutes strength training and 2 bike rides, one even a "real" ride outside and everything. So it's slowly but surely coming. Will I be ready for my goal? That I don't know. I'm making a pact with my body though. Said if I can get me, at bare minimum, a 3 minute PR on my marathon time, I'll give it a month off (at least running) and maybe even see a doctor for my heel if it's still bothering me. So we'll see.

Lots of other things for the week but maybe I'll try to get a decent post and maybe include some pics or something tomorrow.

Oh yeah, and for the effort, and the ice bath I actually took, I think I deserve a nice glass of prosecco...I finally tried one I had bought a few weeks ago and it was yummy (for those not in the know, it's a light, sparkling white wine from the Veneto region, think Venice, of Italy and it's what is used to make Bellini's, along with a splash of peach juice, it's great chilled and perfect for summer, light, but not overly sweet). Or maybe I should make a daiquari...I do have that pineapple on my counter...

And a sudden DUH moment...I have not been using my Endurolytes tabs...yes, summer has come to MN, it has been warm and what have I NOT been using...umm...why??? Cause I forgot about them till now.

Unexpected Hill Workout

The plan was for 7 miles. I did 8. Plan was to run hills...well...there was a huge .40 climb to start, pretty good incline, hopefully that helps with the hills I'm going to see in Washington in July! Then had some downs and ups on the out and back. 3.5 miles in and I turned around and headed back, a couple of good climbs coming back, but I don't think I found a hilly enough course as I just ran it faster than I really thought I would.

Mile 1 - 9:02 (really tough climb)
Mile 2 - 8:10
Mile 3 - 8:14
Mile 4 - 8:15
Mile 5 - 8:12
Mile 6 - 8:15
Mile 7 - 8:13 (pretty decent climb for .3 of the last)
Mile 8 - 8:23

Last mile was thrown in just because, I was already .20 into the next mile by the time I would've gotten to my car.

Guess I'm on a "Pre" kick. I really want to go to Eugene now and run Pre's trail...I wish I had the time when I'm out there next month, but it's not going to happen. Guess I should've stayed one more day and done it. Could've had a ticket for a bit cheaper too!! Ah well. I just watched Prefontaine. After seeing Without Limits I had to see the other right? I cried during it too. I can't say I liked one better than the other either. They both hit on some of the same things and some different things. One thing I wonder about though is his funeral...they were handled different in each movie and you'd think someone would know right?

Last night I met with my academic advisor, got my student handbook (on jump drive even!! Moving with the times!), my student ID (now I can get into movies cheaper!!) and saw a bit more of the school. I went to the bookstore then and found stuff on sale so bought a hoodie (needed a new one anyway) with the school letters on it and coolest of all an under armor compression top (winter wear of course) with the name on it. And each was only $20 plus another 10% off. The UA top alone is worth at least $45 buying at normal price WITHOUT the school name...

Anyway, better get to doing a few things and then crawling into bed. It's going to be an early morning for a run and strength training and hopefully a bike ride too, then staining my deck tomorrow. Fun times!

Long Run Weekend

After having a fall back week two weeks ago, and then an even shorter week last week after having my foot worked on, this week I was just determined to get more running in. I wanted my mileage up, but, in particular, I was shooting for a better long run than I have had. Actually, a long run in general was necessary.

Friday I had intentions of just staying in. A few things had the potential to come up, but with no calls by 8:30 figured I was safe. Yet at 20 after 9 a friend called me. My best friend in fact…you know, the one that knows where all the skeletons are buried…anyway, seems her boyfriend finally got it all together and proposed (after 4 years) so I had to go meet them to have a glass or prosecco and celebrate, and the place they were at had really good prosecco. Anyway, still got home and to bed at a reasonable time (obviously they had to have a private celebration). I was tired this week though apparently as I wasn’t up as early as I would’ve liked to have been on Saturday, and by the time I ate and headed out for my run it was almost 10…and finally summer like weather is here…which meant it was warm. I had brought some Accelerade along though, but I know I didn’t drink enough nor did I stop for water on my route. My goal is to have long runs hit at about 8:45, with goal marathon pace of 8:00 that’s reasonable, although ideally I’d like to start doing the first half at about 9:15 and speed up to 8:30 or so by the end…Well, anyway, I started out the run a few too fast miles in there, but hitting about right…toward the end I was really slowing down, some bad hills (a bit of walking up some of them) but I managed 15 miles at 8:56 average pace. I figure based on the bad weeks recently, 2 short weeks in a row, no long run in 3 weeks, and the heel issue, I wasn’t sure what to expect anyway. Training might get back to normal eventually and I did survive it.

Also last week I managed to get my academic advisor assigned, a meeting set up with her for tomorrow, and registered for my first class for this fall. Other highlights of the weekend, I managed to get my deck washed and prepped for staining this week. I cleaned out and up my car, got some work done around the house (although not as much as I should’ve) and spent some time with a friend who is going through a hard time…Anyway, hopefully I can get some stuff together and get my act back on track toward my fall goal…no more distractions!

Without Limits

I’m out of it I guess. Or very far behind (which yes, I know I am as when some friends mention movies I’ve never seen they about fall over) but I had never seen the movie “Without Limits”. If you haven’t seen it, rent it, or better yet, just go buy it because it is such an excellent movie. I just recently signed up to try out Netflix (I never rent movies and never watch the movies I have so figured what’s the point in spending that money each month?) for a month free and added Prefontaine and Without Limits to my list. Prefontaine should be delivered today and Without Limits I could watch online, so that’s what I did last night. And knowing of Steve Prefontaine, I knew what to expect, to a degree, but there was a lot of it that I didn’t now. The acting was fantastic and the historical stuff, along with actual footage of some races was just really cool to see. I got teary eyed at a few things, but of course at the end, when I realized that the end was coming, I was bawling like a baby. There were a lot of funny bits, and some of the quotes from it, which you know are his, were just something that got to you…at least as a runner it got to me…I’ve decided this is a movie I need to own and watch before big races. So motivational and inspirational so if you are behind, like me, I definitely recommend it!

These two quotes stood out for me:

“I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it." – Pre

"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding." – Pre

As for my running…well, I had 5 days totally off last week and then started up on Monday. Ran a 4 miler easy on Monday and got up early and ran a cruise interval planned workout on Tuesday morning. I was feeling sluggish though. Not sure what was wrong but it just wasn’t there. First mile was 9 minute (easy miles have been hitting 8:40-8:50 lately) and first interval was 7:37, next interval was 8:16 and final was 7:40. I had hoped to hit 8 minutes. We can see the problem with my pacing right? Anyway, overall average for 7 miles was 8:30, so not a total loss, but still shows me I have a LONG way to go to be ready for Twin Cities. This heel issue has really set me back…and I think a lack of some motivation or something.

Ah the Weekends

I feel like I’ve been slacking…barely anything to post in the last week or so, but then again how do you top acceptance into grad school AND Sex & the City in the same post??

Last week I took myself off to see my ex…we still talk via text, we still email, but we hadn’t seen each other in the six or seven months since we had broken up. Now had I managed to get in to see him in April like I should’ve might have had the heel issue all cleared up…but no, I just never made the time. Last week he did work on it for me though. Then I got a chance to see the updates he’s made in his studio, the software he got that he’d been talking about forever and is now using for bike fits and might start using for running too. Stride analysis etc…Anyway, he worked my foot and the tight calf above it (talk about pain!) and then I took him out to dinner in exchange…thought it was fair. It’s nice to get caught up with people sometimes. No matter where you are in life, having people you can’t talk to, can’t see, don’t want to be around, particularly when they played a rather important role in your life at one point in time just seems silly. Life is too short to hate. It’s too short to hold grudges. It’s just plain too short for a lot of things. I’m not saying everyone is going to be your friend or that you are going to get along with everyone. Some people just rub you raw and you can only take in small doses…but even those can find a place in your life can’t they?

One thing I’ve been holding on…and a part of last weekend I think I’ll still hold on…but I’ve been wondering if I should fess up to my antics or not?? See last Friday was a happy hour. It had been planned at the wedding the week before. It meant starting at a brew pub and going…well, who knows?? Anyway, I met one friend and we drove together to the place we were meeting. Then met another friend at a bar and played some pool (I suck by the way, and I was playing against boys!). Another friend met us (another boy) and then a friend of one of others met us (yes that brings it to me and five boys). Well, other people that some knew were down the street so we went there…and yeah, not so much fun. Atmosphere was OK, it had a neat patio, but it’s a “happening” place…and in Minneapolis, those places still have the same people. It was $7 for a tap of Amstel light…yeah. This is Minneapolis folks. What was even more fun, after 9, when it started to get “happening” the price for that Amstel went up to over $8 (for the bottle, tap was the same we discovered when venturing downstairs to see if we could get it cheaper). Mixed drinks were $12 or more…yeah…and like I said, the crowd…just not the crowd I normally like. So we left. We went to the Irish pub up the road…it was a little cheaper and nice atmosphere, but it also happened to be next to another bar. By this point it was me and three boys…one of them suggests we should go next door. Next door is, well, they called it “cabaret”, a better name would be gentlemen’s club…yeah, we entered (I’ve been to them before) and ended up spending the money for a bottle and sitting VIP because it was pretty busy and was fastest way to get in (I wasn’t asked to chip in) it included dances or something so everyone was happy. Well, there weren’t any men dancing, but oh well. I still don’t understand those places, but it made for an interesting night. And it makes me cool in the eyes of the guys!! Oh yeah, I had also received my official letter of acceptance and filled in my intent to enroll. So they now know that I’m coming this fall, and that was cause for celebration. Little did I know that seeing naked women was part of that celebration. Too bad there weren’t some men dancing too!!

Busy Week

Wow, can't believe a whole week has gone by and I've had no time to post. Not really a lot to say right now...and I'm kind of sleepy and ready to crash, but wanted to say yes, I'm still alive and will catch back up soon. I've been at least skimming things. I also got my official acceptance letter and filled in my intent to enroll. Orientation is August 26th. Also heel is still a problem. Had it looked at on Wednesday and I'm afraid it actually is PF...at lesat according to someone whose judgement I trust. Painful massage and icing has been my way to try to fix the issue...and 3 days of no running...

Sex and the Grad Student

I'm typing this ahead of time, so bear with me as there will be a pre- and probably -post to the message!! But yes, that headline means what it says...actually true on both senses of the word. I am seeing (will probably have seen by the time this gets posted) Sex & the City tonight. So excited for this movie and to celebrate I'm having a pre party for some friends, we are going to have cosmos, some snacks (including better than sex cupcakes!) and a bottle of champagne, because we are celebrating!! That's right, the other part of the message. Starting fall of 2008 I will officially be a grad student! Yes, that's right, Thursday at 2:30 I had a phone call congratulating me on my acceptance into a very good MBA program in the area....there are really only two here (that really count) and I got into one of them!! I'm so excited (so much so we even drove by and parked by my school last night!). I have been wanting this for so long and now I finally get to start on it.

The movie...was excellent. For those that love the show, definitely see it. For those that saw some episodes and kind of liked it, go see it and for those that never saw the show? Still go see it. It's a grea movie about friendships, how they can get you through everything...love, live, laughs...and for guys, hey, it's insight into the female psyche!

The celebration was perfect too. One other friend had to bail due to a recent accident she had, but there were six of us that went. We had cocktails (including champagne, Cristalino, if you drop the end it's Cristal!! to celebrate my news!) and snacks and then the movie. And then downtown to a more upscale bar where we hung out on the patio after having a dirty martini a la a favorite bartender. (only my second ever) And then flirtinis, just because!!

Today is a wedding so I have to run now, literally, my parents and a cousin are going to be here in an hour for breakfast so have to run and be showered and ready to get it started before they get here!!

The flowers were from mom and dad congratulating me. They were done by, well the nephew of my uncle that died last fall. He's not a blood cousin but that's how I think of him. He does excellent and unique bouquets. Floral Logic.

Stay Tuned...

A big announcement coming very soon...just a couple of things that need to be firmed up and people to be told!

New Endeavors

Today was something different...other than being lazy too, and not getting to the bike ride I had planned for after work...namely I think it's that I can't just go out and ride. I need a destination and tonight I had nothing in mind...and didn't want to just walk either. Plus I'm having people over for a pre-Sex & the City movie party so I had to buy a few things and get them ready for Friday. I only got one thing baked though since I'm out of oil for the cake I need to make (and didn't know how olive oil would work nor did I want to waste that expensive stuff!) and I don't have any milk for the banana bread...so that's tomorrow. But tonight I made biscotti. You know, I'vc never even had biscotti before...so yeah, deciding to make it was interesting. But someone had suggested it to me, because, you know, there's that episode of S&TC where Charlotte brings over biscotti when they are watching the gay porn...ah...funny things!! So yes, I made almond biscotti, and yes, I have never made it or had it before and why follow a recipe either?? I did a little of this, a little of that, added something changed something and we have S&TC Almond Cinnamin Chocolate Chunk Biscotti (in my mind you can add cinnamin to almost anything cookie related when baking) and it turned out quite...how it goes with Cosmos, who knows but Friday should be fun.

I did get a workout in this morning...not a great one (I am on a fall back week this week), strenth and a short bike ride...and no...hottie wasn't there...sad days...

Memorial Weekend in Recap

Friday:

Went to a small bar in a nearby small town. Was trying to see a band (found out I was off by a week on when they were playing) and met up with a friend that lives there when she got done with work at midnight. We had a little catch up time and a conversation with a guy that came over to keep me company just before she got there.

Saturday:

Cleaned some in my garage, straightened out my closet some, did a little picking up and then kind of vegged and watched TV. Oh yeah, had my 12 miler too…then met up with a friend to go to the local hang out. Had nice conversation and a nice evening.

Sunday:

Woke up and had a friend call me about going to lunch. That sounded nice and what was meant to be lunch turned into brunch at a cute little French café in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Bellinis, mimosas and good conversation then a walk around the lake followed by ice cream at a little coffee shop and then took her dog for a walk before having a couple of glasses of presecco on her deck…had a phone call from a friend and caught up with her and then a nice evening and early night.

Monday:

Did a LOT of cleaning. Got my house organized and looking good, watched some TV and got a run in. Got home to find a text from a friend asking what I had going on. Since I had no plans we decided to meet up at a place with a nice patio. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t great for sitting outside, feet were freezing!! But we sat outside, chatted with the bartenders and a few others and had a nice evening. I even tried a bailey’s and coffee at one point since it was so cold.

All in all one of the best Memorial weekends I’ve had. I spent it with 3 different friends (Monday was the same friend as Friday but we had more time than we had had on Friday) and had quality girl time each day. Friends are so fabulous and I’m lucky I have the friends I do.

This week’s big highlight. Sex & the City party on Friday night and movie viewing!!

The Smell is in the Air

Of decent runs and spring? Yes, it’s why I love this time of year…why I continue to tolerate the crappy, cold weather year after year…because spring smells so fantastic. Lilacs in bloom, dogwoods, apple blossoms…it’s pretty, the weather is great (except for the stupid Minnesota wind that is now blowing all the pretty blossoms OFF the trees!!) and runs are feeling and smelling good. Heel, still sore, but oh well. Mostly it’s fine. Not worse, maybe a bit better.

Run on Friday was just meant to be relaxing, it didn’t necessarily feel great, but the times were there.

Total Time, Friday Run: 33:19 – 8:19 pace
Mile 1 – 8:36
Mile 2 – 8:27
Mile 3 – 7:51
Mile 4 – 8:21

Today was a decent one. Things started out feeling good. I wanted to shoot for a slower, easier pace, which first mile was…I am terribly at pacing, as you can see, but oh well. This was a bit of a hilly run, both up and down. I did take two water breaks and am realizing with the warmer weather now, any run over 10 miles I definitely have to carry water, and probably some sport beans or something since I was feeling it a bit and could’ve used something more at the end.

Total Time, Saturday Run: 1:44:14 – 8:41 pace
Mile 1 – 9:09
Mile 2 – 8:31
Mile 3 – 8:37
Mile 4 – 8:14
Mile 5 – 8:39
Mile 6 – 9:00 – took water
Mile 7 – 8:34
Mile 8 – 8:27
Mile 9 – 9:06 – water stop
Mile 10 – 8:34
Mile 11 – 8:49
Mile 12 – 8:27

Managed a nap, cleaned up my garage a bit, organized my closet and am in the process of getting things further cleaned up in my house. I can't get over how messy it can get!!

Maybe it’s Old Age??

I can’t seem to focus. I don’t know what my problem is but it’s frustrating to me. I can’t get anything done and my resolve was to throw more of myself into my job after my birthday. Sigh….

There really hasn’t been anything exciting to write about. I’m working on some fun for the summer. Trying to see more of the shows of my favorite band, of course I’m referencing GB. I get this way it seems. It’s kind of like with a guy I might meet. I’m interested, excited, etc…but if I don’t hear from him in a week, or if it’s a guy I’ve even been out with and am into, don’t see him, then it’s done. I forget…but once I’m reminded, it’s all on, all over again. I think I have it worked out to see them at least 3 times in June though, so that’s a start!! Maybe I need to add a music link. Have it play my top songs of theirs…get everyone who reads this hooked too!!

No hottie reports. I’ve wanted to sleep in the past two days but dragged my butt out of bed and nope, he hasn’t been at the gym. Sigh…I’m guessing I won’t be seeing him much anymore. It’s nice out, people move out of the gym and onto the road, bikes, running, etc…what a bummer! I wouldn’t give up spring…but man, to not see hottie…he made some mornings!!
I really do need to get myself into the pool again one of these days. I haven’t been in since November. I got a new suit then, and I haven’t used it yet. Ooops.

Today is a day off from running. I ran Tuesday hard (well, felt fairly easy but was almost a tempo run). Then I ran yesterday, it felt hard. Only 4 miles but I didn’t eat enough. Tonight I’m thinking a bike ride though. I strength trained and did elliptical this morning, but I’d like to get a yoga session and bike ride in maybe yet today too.

No plans for the weekend as of yet. There is a happy hour I might check out tomorrow night for a bit. I need to clean out my garage finally…it’s such a mess, and I want to get a small freezer into it, so that means tossing out some stuff! I need to also get rid of some stuff out of my closet…get spring stuff moved to the front of it, winter stuff to the back…get some more cleaning done, maybe rent a steam cleaner and clean the carpets…oh yes, I have my work cut out for me this weekend I think. Will I get any of it done? Knowing me…probably not!! My one thing for sure is a 12 mile run, probably Saturday morning. And some time at my happy place of course too.

Hottie Spotting?

OK, still owe an update needed from Saturday, there wasn't much to it. Lunch at my favorite resturant, visited an art fair, stopped by DQ for cake, back to my sister's to grill, a drink with my dad, brother and mom and a friend at a bar for a drink, back to grill, then cake and out to the bar. Plan was to hit a few places but found out that one place we thought we knew the bartender but he was done before we headed there so we just hung out at the one place. Should've gone to see GB again!! Ah well.

Sunday recovered, dog sat for Max, then went for a walk...that was about it.

Yesterday I saw the dentist. No cavities! Yay.

Today...I went for a run. Headed out of my house on one of my normal routes and see a guy coming toward me, walking a bike...and as he gets closer, he so looked like my hottie. As we went past each other, I still couldn't decide if it was him...it might have been. He was wearing sunglasses, so I couldn't see his eyes, but man it so looked like him. I continued on my run and was just on a high from the thought of him that my planned 6-7 turned into 8...and it was around an 8:12 pace...and I was just running easy. (I say around that pace because Garmin lost the signal just before 5 miles and I stopped, trying to get the signal and haven't recalculated everything) So today, not bad...whether it was hottie or not. And he hasn't been in the gym in forever...not since the day he said "morning" to me.

AND He Can Sing...

Yeah, didn't mention that about my man from GB Leighton!! Just check out any of the video clips. If they come to your area, definitely worth checking out!!

More details about yesterday to come, but I wanted to do a quick post and I also found this. It's from the one mile...I hated all of the others, but this one wasn't too bad...

It's Good to be Alive

Apparently another year hasn't slowed me down. Went for my traditional birthday run...yes, today I turn another year older...I wasn't sure if I would mention it or not, but hey, it's out there and so far it's been pretty good. I ran 10 miles and averaged an 8:19 pace! That was after going to bed at 2:30 after being at the show (picture in post from earlier and more a tthe end of this post) having had 6 beers (but in 6 hours, that's light actually, no drunken debauchery last night!) and I did have a birthday shot bought by my friend, but then the guys we were by when she bought it bought me one as well. We were then discussing GB, who they were fans of as well, and one of them used to live by his former violinist. We were up front and I caught Brian's (lead singer) eye when I was singing along to one of their songs (he always notices people singing and loves it) and then during "Come and Get Your Love" (their rendition) he danced with me and when I told him it was my birthday he wished me a happy birthday and after the show came and talked to me and posed for pics. He's such a nice guy and the music is awesome. I might be a little biased though.

In a bit I'm going to meet my mom and sister for lunch at my favorite Italian place then we are going to enjoy the gorgeous weather with a walk around the lakes, some shopping at a few places and whatever else I want to do, then later grilling with friends and family, out to my favorite watering hole and possibly to a few other places...tomorrow will be a recovery day (both from running AND from today!!) and I'm well on my way to mileage rebuild and I ran in new shoes today. It's definitely the 11s that will be my marathon shoe (I have a new pair of my shoe in model 10 and 11 and 11 is best). Anyway, more reports tomorrow time to go enjoy my gorgeous, gorgeous weather (smelled flowers and fresh cut grass today!).

Isn't he hot??

And don't we make a good match?? Too bad he's married...sigh...

A Good Start to the 17th

Not being sure about this day, I did get to start it with my FAVORITE band. And he even gave me a kiss on the cheek and recognized that I know their most recent album (he winked at me and continued to make eye contact with me as I sang along on one of the songs from it). They are so good. I always forget how much I love them. And I can thank Auntie Chris for turning me onto them...for the last 10 years I've been following them and it's too bad they aren't more known nationally because people are really being deprived. Seriously check out the links on my side bar (I'm even in one of the videos). He is so nice too...too bad he's attached. But thanks Brian, and GB Leighton for making this a great start to the day.

Spring Time

I did enough griping about how cold and crappy it has been. How long winter held on, etc, etc...and after the bad beginning to the day (the girl that was supposed to open the club was there when I went and lunch and she was apologizing, she had overslept...it happens...I wasn't too upset as I still got a workout in, just not all that I had planned, it's too bad hottie hadn't been there though as I might have been able to talk to him standing outside!!) I was driving to meet with my financial advisor after work, and it was 70 (or close to it) and it was not windy, and the sky was clear, the sun was out...it was a PERFECT spring day. It was one of those days that remind me of why I live in MN to begin with. Seriously, I LIVE for these days. Of course I was working most of it, but oh well. Tomorrow I am off and it's supposed to be even warmer, although might be windy...and Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be nice too. I'm looking forward to it. And Saturday looks to actually be a fun day. For once I have people to do something with that day...we'll see how it goes. I owe my sister a big thank you though. Hope I don't get too drunk and forget!!

Frustration!!

Ah, this morning I really didn't want to get up...but you know, I needed my workout, and hey, hottie might be there right? (and tomorrow I might not get up for the gym because I'm taking tomorrow off work and I'm debating if I will go in at the normal time or not) So I get there and there are people standing around outside...gym opens at 5. I was even there earlier this morning that I have been before (5:10) and it wasn't open...someone had called other clubs and someone called back and said he was calling others, then he called again and said he had tried numerous places and no one was getting back to him. At 5:50 I gave up and came home and will be at work really early today. It sucks...I've been partly doing the morning or after work workout to conserve gas, but I think today I'll run to the gym during lunch and get my strength workout in at least. Sigh...

Hmmm...

I'm tired...I'm definitely going to bed early tonight. I don't know what's wrong with me this week...well, I kind of do, but not sure yet if I'm going to talk about it. But I was up early again today, didn't see hottie...although I think he might have somehow been leaving when I was leaving...was he maybe swimming?? (if so damn, I KNEW I should be getting in that pool somedays) Anyway, haven't seen him still since last Tuesday, except that brief siting today. But got home after what felt like a very long day and I went for an OK 7 miler (well, 7.28, I'll explain) at an 8:30 or so pace. Ended up being 7.28 because I had been trying to turn off the alerts (I set them to keep me running fast during my mile) and hit the reset button, and at the end I wanted to know my final pace for my last mile...and then know the paces for the 7 (59:34). But back to being tired. I got home, ate some dinner, had my shower and now there is nothing on TV...I think that means I should go crawl into bed, watch a show or two on my PC that I have missed in the last couple weeks and call it a night. First have to get my bag ready for tomorrow of course.

Final Results TC 1 Mile

This is the person who took first (she also was second overall, she has also been in Runner’s World):

PRs: 1500m 4:06.13(2004); Mile 4:29.2 (2005); 3000m 8:52.67 (2002); 5000m - 15:04.07 (2004)

Career Highlights: 2004 Olympic Trials 1500m champion; 2004 U.S. Indoors 3000m runner-up; 2nd at 2002 USATF Winter Cross Country 4k Champs; 5-time NCAA Champion; 1995 USA Juniors 1500m runner-up

Second place was a Lithuanian runner who I couldn’t find a lot of stats on and third went to a Kenyan whose PRs are: 5K – 15:29, 3K – 8:58 and 1500 – 4:11 (which is about a 4:40 or so mile I believe in conversions).

So take those three (who were part of the championship invite only group) out of the mix and I was 8th in my age group. One place up from last year, and had I been on my game and running what I want to, and what I know that I can run, I’d have placed 4th, or by these standards first in my age group. Ah well.

I’m also confused because my time of 6:15 that I saw when I ran across the mats (ok, a split second before I ran across the mats, I first saw the clock about 15 feet or so from the finish, maybe further, and it read 6:13, by the time I hit it it was switching the 6:15 and the mats were RIGHT after the clock), at least according to chip time for me, I was at 6:18 (still a second faster than last year, but I don’t believe it’s right). How can my chip time be SLOWER than clock time? I know it can be faster, if you are toward the back and don’t start right away, but I was at the front and started right away. It’s kind of annoying as I forgot to hit stop on my Garmin and it had lost signal so I can’t even check the mile stat…but I’m calling it 6:15 since that’s what I saw on the clock (I suppose they could’ve delayed starting the clock but by 3 seconds?)!!

So for last week I had 23 miles. I’m going to push to maybe 25-28 (depending on a few factors) this week and then cut back next week and build up from there into the 30s…hopefully that will keep all things healthy and get me back to real training. No hottie spottings since last Tuesday…hopefully he’ll be there tomorrow!! I’m still debating taking Friday off work too. If it’s nice I’m probably going to, otherwise maybe I’ll take next Monday…I want to take one of the days off coming up though. Yes, I realize Memorial day is coming, but I like the idea of my own day and it’s something I usually end up doing this time of year. Just happens the day I usually take off falls over the weekend…and I keep getting asked what is going on this weekend…so far I have not made any decisions…had thoughts of going to see a band play both nights, had thoughts of a half marathon (that obviously isn’t happening since I had the heel stuff and can’t quite get to doing that distance yet) and who knows what else…I just hate to say I want to do this as I know people will find excuses not to or end up not making it and I’ll just be disappointed by it so I think I might have decided to just hang out at home and drink a good bottle of wine…sounds like a plan to me!!

Mother's Day Weekend

So was at my home town over the weekend for Mother's day. Every year my family does a Race for the Cure walk around my town, it's been determined it's too much hassle doing it at the real race since it gets so crowded. There were about 20 of us that did it. One of my aunt's, a survivor, and we carried on the memory of her sister that lost her battle 7 years ago this October, and the other sister who lives in Denver but is also a survivor. It's a random group of friends and family that make it each year, but it's a good walk. And this year an additional stop for screwdrivers and bloody marys at some friends was added, and then there was brunch for all. Susan G. Koman is such a good organization. While it may seem that there isn't always a lot of progress made, and there is always so much money raised you wonder where it goes? But I can tell you, my aunt, the survivor that was walking today, might not be here if not for Susan G. Koman. See after her diagnosis, she went through her chemo, and radiation (after a mastectomy) and then went through a clinical trial of an anti-cancer drug. This drug proved to be so good in the trial, that they stopped the trial early, and pushed it to market. My aunt was told she had been given the drug and came away with a clean bill of health. This August will mark 6 years since she was through all treatments and she's still cancer free. Five years clean is almost considered to be cured...So while there may be questions about the reasearch, I definitely think it's worthwhile. Without that drug, who knows how she'd be doing now. It's just too bad that it wasn't found soon enough for her sister. Hopefully someday they will be able to wipe out breast cancer, but until then, it's definitely an organization worth supporting.

TC 1 Mile 2008

Today is my one mile race. I’m not going to post this till I actually end up doing the run, but thought I’d at least have something started before I get to it. This will be my first official race this season too. I had a few others I wanted to or contemplated doing but for various reasons didn’t. This race I had a pretty high goal for myself…high school PR…yes, you read that right. I wanted to beat what I haven’t run since I was…oh…14 or 15…yes, I set my PR Freshman year I think…can’t remember for sure. But now, training myself, I thought to better that. Pretty ambitious! Of course that was before my heel issues, which had me take about 2 weeks off in April and now has me just slowly building back up so I have done none of the training that I wanted to. Hence an adjustment to my goal. Right now if I run a 6:30 I’ll probably be feeling pretty happy about that. Last years time was 6:19, good for 9th in my age group, but not as good as I would’ve liked to have had (last year I wanted to break 6, again no speed work due to many things). I’m also debating if I’ll run in the open category, or the smaller, for my age group, that I did last year and signed up for again this year (there is an option of running in any group and I might just run in one of the other age groups to have a smaller group and still not have to wait, it’s all chip timed so doesn’t matter, that’s even stated on the web site). It’s a 30 minute or more time difference between them though and I don’t really want to wait that long. I have things I do need to do tonight to be ready to head to my parents after work tomorrow…and I need to get to sleep early so I can get up and get to the gym to see hottie, I mean to get a workout in and hope that hottie is there!!

So I opted to run my age group wave again...and I have to say I'd like to order up the weather today for Twin Cities...race was around 55 or so degrees and no wind, a little cloudy...perfect. There were over 2600 runners there today. I did some warm up and wandered around and killed time till the race started. I even used 3 different bathrooms! Yeah...Anyway, lined up finally for my race wave and 3 minutes to start I realized I DID NOT want to run this race. Bad timing, I know...anyway, blow horn went off and we were off. This year they changed the course and we had a nice hill early on, but it was short enough and you run this fast enough you don't even notice. There wasn't split times at the quarter like they said, instead as I was dying trying to figure out how I was going to make, oh at least another half, I heard the splits at the half...I was just under 6 minutes there...WTF?? Uh huh...didn't feel like I was going that fast, but no wonder I was hurting. From there on it's a straight shot and you just pray to keep it up...I was counting down the blocks and praying for the finish. I saw the finish finally, no real kick left (not that I had built one up anyway) and crossed the mat...it was 6:14 or 6:15...so faster than last year. That shocked me. I'm not nearly as ready or in as good a shape as then...maybe it was the 6 miles I had done during the day before the mile last year that got me (and the 25 miles for the week by that point!!). Anyway, I know I have better in me...next time...My heel...hurt pretty bad all day. Not good. And it took 2 miles of warm up, some stretching and still was a little sore, but didn't really notice it during the race. I was burning at the end. Lungs still hurt and I fininshed an hour ago...that distance hurts!!

Dreams

If only dreams could be reality…no, I didn’t have a dream about hottie…I dreamt I was running a marathon (go figure, so how many of you have had these dreams, or any race distance?), it was weird cause it wasn’t Twin Cities this fall, but I was running Boston, to qualify for Boston, but since I was trying to qualify, I was running the reverse route…yes, weird…anyway…I had a time that was 3:29 and some odd seconds…one can only hope! If all things come together perfectly that’s right in the range I’m shooting for…

Another weird thing today. Remember my mentioning this wedding and trip out to New York that I’m making in August? Well, got an email today that the big wedding is off, instead it’s now a private ceremony…apologies to those that have already bought plane tickets but they hadn’t realized the hardships some were going through trying to make it to the big wedding…so they cancelled it and are doing it on their own. This leaves me with a ticket to NY and decisions to make. 1) I could attempt to change the ticket (for a fee) and hopefully get it to get me to Portland, which I need to get a ticket for in July and am having a rough time finding a decent fare…doubting I can get that though since it’s a non-refundable ticket. 2) I can just make the trip, I have one friend out there I was going to visit part of the trip anyway, another friend was hopefully coming to the city as well, but no guarantees there 3) I can make the trip, spend a couple of days in NY with the one friend then train it up to Providence and maybe to Boston again, which I’ve mentioned I love…of course I have to be sure people are going to be around and this is going to be an option…decisions, decisions…

I had a fairly pleasant evening run after a long work day (Minitab training, one more day...it's all stats all day!). I ran an errand, literally, to the bank...needed to deposit some money and it's 3 miles to the bank. Then I ran back home and added on 2 miles along the way for a total of 8 miles. First mile was a warm up but from there on it was 8:30s or better, averaged 8:22...not bad. Guess I haven't lost my speed being off for that time and in this slow build up phase. Only wish I could've done some speed work for my mile race tomorrow.

Ah Hot Day!

Tuesday is such a good day of the week. I’m not sure why I didn’t notice that before. I got up. I went to the gym. I decided instead of cardio I was going right to the gym floor. I got situated with weights and started a workout…and who did I spot in the mirror?? That’s right…hottie was there!!! I haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks so I was so excited and happy!! Anyway, was working through stuff I was doing and realized I needed to grab a bosu, which were on the other side of the weight floor, and hottie happened to be over at one of the lat pull down machines…he finished as I was walking that way and was heading the opposite direction, he smiled and said “morning” to me…ah…heaven…his eyes are definitely more toward the color of honey than dark brown that I had assumed…I lit up, said morning back and we went on our way. But hey, look, I talked to him!!! At least now next time I see him, we’ve had an initial contact, I can say morning to him next time!! He’s so cute…have I mentioned that??? I suppose he was just being nice, since we had made eye contact, but it still was a thing that made my morning.

Oh yes, and everyday I’m seeing more and more green in the trees…maybe we’ll have flowers blooming soon!! It is forecast to be in the 60s rest of the week too.

Unfortunately, I've had a downturn to the day...kind of hitting a funk. No idea why. Partly maybe the all day of training I sat through...apparently hottie can only get me through a small portion of the day. Lots of things just causing issues I guess.

Denise??

And no, this isn't a dedication to MNFirefly (although she did just graduate last weekend with honors, great job!!)...remember the b**** that lives downstairs from me, there have been some new issues and of course she's been complaining to everyone and has a telephone game going on with no one knowing and/or checking on what might really be happening...but tonight was nice and I went for a run, then I got home and decided to grill a burger...and hag came home. And she saw me. And I hear her call Denise. Denise. Denise. (I'm reading, and I KNOW she's talking to me, but it's not my name, so yes, I'm a child and ignor her) Finally she asks if I'm Denise _______. OK, not going to put my full real name out here...Anyway, I say no, she asks if I live there, and I say yes, I'm DANIELLE (I know her name is Jeanette, and have known that almost the entire time living here). So she goes on how I need to call my insurance and get it into other insurance so the insurance companies can figure out who needs to pay her damage etc. And I said that we need to figure out what is wrong before anything is fixed. She goes on about how the insurance and property manager know it's my new fridge (un huh, cause they have all been out here to look at it) and on and on about the deal...like I said, she doesn't know what happened, she hasn't had a plumber come look (but thinks I SHOULD have one come and rip up my floor apparently)...yeah honey, I'm going to jump all over that when you can't even be sure of my name. My mom is Denise...not me.

Anyway, if only I could've eaten better today. I snacked too much tonight...I got up, biked this morning, did ab work, then ran tonight...and then I ate and undid it all...I'm never going to lose this 8-10 pounds I need gone before October...I keep gaining and losing the same pound or two...ughh...and I have a mile race on Thursday I'm SOOO not ready for. Hmm...looks like a thunderstorm rolling in.

Spring, Act 2 Scene 1

Let’s hope, and pray, and do dances to God/the gods that FINALLY, finally…we might be blessed with spring in the cold northern Midwest. We didn’t get the snow predicted. We had rain storms, thunderstorms in fact, and then yesterday was sunny (but cool) all day. And today…today…well, it’s been sunny and hit at least 67!! That had been the forecast and amazingly it held!! I had some errands to run and decided I would go strength train at the gym while out and maybe go to the nursery and get some flowers to plant…Well, as I’m loading up my car, I notice my bike and think, hmmm…why drive just to get there fast, on such a gorgeous day? So I drop stuff back inside and get my bike out and bike the 5 miles in about 25 minutes to my gym (remember, I’m on a mountain bike and no cages or clipless pedals, it’s a down motion, that’s it). I did 40 minutes of strength training and ab work and then got on the bike to hit Target and the grocery store. Yes…on bike. It was about 3 miles to the grocery store, where I just bought the reduced sodium chicken bouillon for grandma (she’s on a restricted sodium diet now due to the heart stuff, hopefully gets good news next Monday when she meets with the surgeon as far as the surgery she may need goes). Since I was on bike, I didn’t have room for the frozen pizzas and/or ice cream that I might also have bought!! At Target I realized I didn’t need much of anything there, but some frozen dinners and potatoes…so I bought a small bag of potatoes and only 3 of the frozen dinners (just like to have them on hand to bring to work on occasion) and hopped on my bike to head home…leaving the cheese popcorn and a few other things I thought about bringing with me behind…I was only on bike!! (not only did I burn calories, but didn’t come with snacky things to eat at home…double bonus!!) I did end up with some chocolate…but oh well. 3.5 miles and 20 minutes later I was home. Yes, I like THAT close to Target (at least with the bike highway I can take part of the way). Not just Target, but Super Target!! When I got home I hung up the bike, took a bit to relax, had a bite to eat (an apple, yummy wheat crackers from Trader Joe’s, and low fat cheese…good mix of carbs and protein!) and then went off for a quick, what turned into, a 4 mile run. It was a good workout day. I did some yoga when I got done. My legs were burning during the run, guess they worked today! And now I’m vegging and going to chill for the rest of the night. My heel…haven’t mentioned it for awhile…but it’s still sore…but seems to almost feel better during my runs. In fact it starts a bit sore, but loosens up and feels better shortly into the run. I said I was going to take it slow starting back and I ran 4 days this week, ok, 5 but one day was just 1 mile to warm up so I could do some plyometrics, so I don’t count that…and just did 19 miles. I’ll build from there over the next two weeks up to 30, take a cut back week and should be back to 40 miles by early June, just in time to start my real marathon program mid-June.

Oh, and I think I detected the scent of flowers in the air, there are buds and some real green leaves on some of the smaller bushes and trees. So spring, MIGHT be here…oh and to Molly and Nicole, you’re right on the move to the south…in MN snow does happen in May…I do remember one year where we had an inch on the ground on Memorial day (OK, yes, it melted right away, but it came down enough to make everything briefly white). I just live with the hope that we’ll have summer…

Cabaret and a Run

Last night I went and saw the show Cabaret at one of the local theater companies. We had a deal through work for opening weekend discount tickets and myself and two friends took them up on it and went to see the show. Dinner before, a couple of beers at a local brew house and then off to the show. I wasn't very familiar with show, and it was very good, but not such a happy ending...but they can't all can they? I definitely didn't know the Germans had some of that in them though!!

Today started with me waking up too early (even though it wasn't an overly late night) at 7:30, got up, had a bite and picked a friend up to drive her to the airport...on the way back I stopped at the gym and did 6 miles on the track, 30 minutes on the bike and then went to Trader Joe's where I spent a small fortune on healthy for me stuff. I got a lot for the money though. Pretty much same amount when I buy crap other places so it's all good. I'm definitely trying to go for more healthy, so even bought milk there to try it. Actually not bad (I've found some milk, namely Oak Grove, I don't like) and doesn't have the hormones and crap in it. Anyway, stopped also at GNC so I could finally get some Accelerade to try and some Endurox R4 to try for recovery after workouts. I'm not good about eating after a workout and that is about the best way to take in some calories and the mix you need. Will try it tomorrow probably...or whenever I next strength train at least.

No snow today. So that's a good thing. We had the fun of going to the theater in a rain storm last night...ah well...at least it wasn't snow!!

Tornado Watch?

Last week when I was out of town, I heard there were weather warnings flashing across warning of the snow (that came). Today, I just saw a warning for tornados...my hometown county was included in that. Yet, in other forecasts for the week, there is chance for rain mixed with snow on Saturday. Should I be surprised? This is Minnesota?

I'm just praying and praying and praying that spring will eventually make it here. I can't not have my spring and summer!!

So no hottie again today. And tomorrow I HAVE to get up even if he's not there as I have plans for tomorrow evening...dinner and going to see Cabaret...can't wait. It's been way too long since I've been to a show!! This morning I did a 1 mile warm up on the indoor track and then 4 laps worth of plyometrics, followed by 40 minutes of strength and stretching and THEN 30 minutes on the bike...the plyo I've been really wanting to get back into my routine...now hope I can keep it up!!

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.