Laundry or Food

Guess which one I chose to take care of last night?

Hint let’s just look at letter U shall we?

Anyway…I do want to bitch (again) about the weather.  As Sarah so astutely pointed out

the recent “cold” weather has felt weirdly warm for me. Like, it will say 19 degrees outside, but I’ll be sweating within minutes. I’m not sure what this means, other than it’s 19 degrees in late March and that’s not particularly appealing. Humidity?

I’ve been stepping outside of my apartment WAY overdressed.  But I’m dressing based on the temperature, and even taking sun / cloud cover into account, I’m overdressing.   She’s 100% right that 19* at the very end of March is sooooooooo not what anyone wants.  But it feels warm.  And, dare I say it?, nice! I hate to think that after 24 years of suffering through the cold I’m about to adapt.

We’ll see though, as it’s supposed to snow April 1.

Happy April's Fools Day y'all

Gotta love the north east.  In any case, the weather has been nice out lately. Or so it feels. Weird.

Which was the case for Wednesday’s 0530 run.  I figured that, with it being in the 20s and with the sun still sleeping (which is EXACTLY what I wanted to be doing when my alarm went off.) I’d be a little chilly.  Nope, I was sweating within minutes and, after running the first of 2 loops, shed the sweatshirt and mittens.

And then I ran the second loop faster than the first one.  Which is my standard M.O. but lately, aka with the IT band acting wonky, it’s been the opposite and I’ve been more tortoise than hare during the final stretch.  Not sure what this means but I’ll take it! The total pace was still on the slow side though as my leg was achy for longer.  Still no pain.  I’ll take that too.

Especially as I go into…taper? I feel like I’ve been tapering already! It’s been almost 3 weeks since I did anything hard.  This weekend marks 3 weeks since my last long run, which was the 24 miler that I think was the trigger for the IT pain.  I mean, I definitely haven’t been slacking with the overall mileage (and thanks to those of you who have assured me that the 20 split that I did this weekend is okay) butttttt I’m hoping that I surprise myself in a few weeks.

That said, I’m not quite sure how I should attack the next 2.5 weeks.  Obviously it’s taper time (although I was going to do a 2 week taper originally) and I can’t cram any true goodness into my body in terms of workouts but I can’t help but feel that my body is going to be stale when I get to that starting line.  Any thoughts / suggestions as to how I go about the next 17 days? (zoooooomg is that it?!)

I still haven’t ordered my jacket yet.  I probs should get on that. But right now I’m still giddy over some exciting news about my future after my year with AmeriCorps and the clinic is done. I feel really terrible about not being able to share more on here but, with nothing set in stone and my year with AmeriCorps still having 4.5 months left (yes that has become a mantra for me!) I’m going to continue to be cagey.  But good vibes are appreciated for everything to work out and not fall through at this stage.

I’ll also be nice and let you listen to the amazingness that is Enrique.  I’m soooooooooooo feeling him and his latest music. Although I do prefer the non-radio edit version.

I’m off for what I’m hoping to be a 13 – 15 miler.  My (or rather my IT Band’s) version of a long run.  Then again, maybe I’m supposed to be doing something shorter as this is the taper.  But it’s the beginning of it. Gaaaaaaaah.  This is what I get for flying by the seat of my pants with training! Fingers crossed I make it.  Or rather make it intact! I didn’t sleep well last night (couldn’t fall asleep so I stayed up watching NCIS and The Office then kept waking up during the night) so it should be interesting to say the least.

Here We Go Again

Bleh. I’ve been meaning to blog, because I’ve had some pretty good stuff happen lately. But my computer is very likely on it’s last legs and acting a bit wonky.  And I’ve been busy.  In a good way. Despite my intentions of “a bad life decision weekend” happening (which I’m not saying didn’t) I was actually really REALLY productive.  I’ll keep being cagey about my plans for next year but let’s say that I’ve been making lots of headway there. Exciting.  Scary but exciting.

I also got my bangs trimmed this weekend and I finally have them again. The excitement is palpable people. Palpable.

Also exciting? Well let’s also just say that, being from the suburbs, I’ve never had to actually WAIT for a table at iHop at 0130.  The pancakes, however, made up for it.

Judge me all you want but the banana/strawberry ones AND the blueberry ones are mine.

But it was a good source of carbs for my long run on Saturday.  Because…wait for it…I ran TWENTY MILES.

Not in a row but I ran a good 14 miler when I first woke up and then, because my leg was feeling good, I ran a pre-dinner 6 miler.  I am totally aware that 14+6 =/= 20 miles in terms of actual training but I’m happy that I was able to cover 20 miles in a day.  Makes me more optimistic about Boston. Of course, the pace that I’m running at, well this run was much faster than my typical runs have been, is slow (like I really felt like I was hoofing it here where it normally is a pace that I can feel easy about) I know that I can at least cover the 26.2 miles from Hopkington to Boston. Quickly? Well that’s a different story.

It didn’t hurt that weather was FABULOUS. Okay, so it was 25* but it was sunny and I ended up being WAY overdressed for the first run.  Oh well.  It also didn’t hurt that I loaded up my iphone with some really good (read: catchy pop / hip-hop) songs and that lightened my mood.  I’m not one to use music, like, ever but it was a good change of pace. Although, side note, I have my tragus pierced and I cannot for the life of me get ear buds to stay in that ear. Help?

So no leg pain! YAY. It was a bit achy later that day but nothing serious or hurting.  I think that since I’ve stopped rolling my IT band the improvement in the pain has been really nice.  Miss Zippy (I think?) told me that sometimes rolling the IT band when it’s still hurt and not on the way out of recovery can irritate it more, which is likely the case. I’ve also stopped the PT exercises for the same reason…right now it’s about babying it.  And rolling + exercise, while in the end will be a huge asset to me, is not helping at the moment and not what I need at the moment.

Of course, one could argue that running 20 miles in a day would be irritating to it as well.  Battles people. Battles.

Like the follow up 10 on Sunday with some tightness in my quad but still no pain. Even afterward when the aches typically really start up.  Same thing with Monday’s run: I got a good 12 miler in.  I wanted to go a bit further because I had a late night clinic and I really enjoyed it.  Like my LR this weekend I listened to music and it got me through the miles.  The last 1-2 miles were a little more than achy so I’m glad that I was running late for work (hello comfy bed in the morning!) so I couldn’t stay out any longer.

I then tempted fate this morning and heck YES to the pace I was running at.  Definitely not my usual clip but it was fast.  I felt like I was huffing and puffing.  But it didn’t feel like I was flying so I figured I was going the slow pace that’s been the usual and I was pissed off about my cardio fitness as of late and made me question whether I’d hold up at Boston.  In reality I was going decently.  Maybe that’s why my leg started hurting a bit earlier in the runs than I’ve been used to lately.  I did truck on, I mean how could I not with “Fuck You” blasting in my ears, and there’s no lasting pain during the day, but I’m still conflicted as to what Boston holds in store for me.

Totally apropos. Thanks google. In case you can't read the caption because it's small, it says "It's amazing you've made it this far"

Basically, regardless of my runs, I’ve been trying to enjoy this lovely weather lately.  Yes I am sick of waking up and running in 25-30* weather (spring…whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?) but the sun has been shining and so I’ve been sweating wicked badly because I’m overdressing (if overdressing =  shorts, longsleeve, sweatshirt). I guess that the sun can make up for cooler temps.

How’s that for an all over the place post? Long and short of it? I’m busy but excited. Nervous too.  I can just feel that I’m on the precipice of something…it has the potential to be either amazing and earth shattering or an utter disaster. Either way it sure won’t be boring.

Happy Birthday Harry Houdini

According to google (anyone else LOVE it when you go to the google homepage and don’t see the regular logo? It sort of lightens my life hahah)

I’m glad google added some excitement because the post was alternatively titled “A List of Things” because

A) I like lists.

B) I’m having trouble coming up with interesting posts now that I’m not doing any interesting workouts

C) The stress sin wave curve is heading to one. Again. I love having a complicated life.

Luckily my love of lists helps and I can check things off easily.  And I can run them off.  Good? I think so.

• First: I’m glad that you guys found the nutcracker funny.  Or scary. I guess if you guys ever sleep over my mom’s house then I’ll place the thing right outside your door for the morning (yes me and my brother really did that to one of our sister’s overnight birthday party) I really wish my two sister had waited a day and let me in on it! I’m pretty sure my dad bought it at Wal-Mart. On an after Christmas sale.

• This morning I just did NOT want to get out of bed.  I think I’ve finally dug myself out of the worst part of my sleep debt as I woke up 8.5 hours after I fell asleep. I think part of this is because I’m running less so I don’t need as much sleep.  A plus of being injured I guess. That said, I kept resetting my alarm every 15 minutes this morning. For two hours.  The covers just felt cozy?

• I ended up having to cut the run short because I was so late getting up but I felt so much better after moving and getting out there! My brain was so foggy when I woke up but I knew that the key to getting better was to “just run”. Gotta keep going. Literally and figuratively. And I did feel my brain wake up after the run.  It was a good one too.  11 miles with the last 2-3 being achy and the very last one twinging with pain.  Okay so maybe the last mile wasn’t too good BUT the first 7 of those 11 were much faster than I’ve been running lately.

• Might’ve been the weather. It was cool (~35*) but sunny and no wind. My sweatshirt and shorts felt just as nice as my covers. I love it with my clothing just feels oh-so-comfy.  Made the switch into a spring-y dress and heels not so nice though!

• Speaking of clothes: I still haven’t bought the Boston jacket yet. Oops? I really like this year’s colors more than last year.  But I’m hemming and hawing on it because of the price tag.

• In other Boston news: I’ve given out my number to people, started planning get-together / meet ups but the actual race? I’m still “eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh” to it.  Worrisome? Maybe. I’m trying to get pumped but, like many of you have noticed, this training cycle hasn’t been RAH-RAH.  I think I’m more excited to meet people! Oh well, the time off of work for Monday and Tuesday of that week has already been approved.  So I’m there.

thanks google images

Anyway. A random post. Kind of fitting to do it this way as I wrote it piece-meal over the course of work tonight (Thursday). I’m just leaving the clinic now. To return in <12 hours. After drinking. Love my life. Hope everyone has a great Thursday night as I hope to have, although I realize that I’m posting this at 2100 so y’all will see in in the morning.

Motivational Issues and One Heck of a Nutcracker

(First: thanks for all the get / feel better wishes on my last few posts.  After taking that day off of work and staying in bed all day I think I’ve gotten rid of the sinus stuff.  I feel more energetic and upbeat! Despite the first half of the title of today’s post)

Clearly these are my friends at the moment. Once I get going I’m good.  But it’s taking that first step that proves to be challenging.

Case in point? I have yet to see 0500 this training cycle.  This past fall for WR (and, if I remember correctly, last year for Boston too) I was always up with my alarm. Almost bounding out of my bed at 0500.  Nowadays I set my alarm for 0500 but then re-set it for later…never too much later, like 0515 or 0530.  Maybe it’s because I’m running less recovery/junk miles this cycle (I usually do these runs on the early morning days so my later morning days I can do the quality stuff) but for whatever reason I’m just struggling to get out of bed.

Maybe it’s the weather. It was 70* on Friday. HELLO SPRING.  This weekend, however, was mid-40s.  Which, while not cold, after a 70* day felt freezing.  And Monday? Snow. Apocalypse? I think so because it’s sunny and about 40* right now.

In less struggling / terrible news I went to my mom’s this weekend to celebrate her birthday.  Annoyingly I forgot the massive bottle of wine I was going to give her.  Booo.  Mostly because I was so focused on the massage that I had scheduled Friday afternoon and the townie drinking with my friends who still live in my hometown.  Tunnel vision and all.

I mean, what else is there to do? Besides play practical jokes with my family on my family.  Like when I come back from a night out, wanting to shower and head into the bathroom to find

A 6′ tall nutcracker in the bathtub….looking like it’s in a coffin.

Backstory: my mom LOVES nutcrackers and has a collection.  Well my dad bought this for Christmas one year.  My mom HATED it. Mostly because it’s 6′ tall and a pain in the ass to move around.  And the fact that my dad decided to leave it after they split up.  My siblings and I…well we find it kind of funny that my mom hates it so much.  One year my sister and I moved it up from the basement and placed it just in front of her bed and exactly where the door to her room opens.  It scared the shit out of her.  This year apparently two of my sisters decided to place it in the tub.  And looking like a corpse.  I damn near peed myself when I saw it because it was so funny.  My mom wasn’t amused.

No real point to that story other than to procrastinate on the running that’s been going on lately. Like I mentioned above I had a massage on Friday afternoon.  Regardless of how my leg was / is feeling (read: like crap) I wanted a tune up.  My body has gone through a lot with training and some wear and tear is going on.  Since my leg has been bothering me the past week I really wanted her to focus on my quad, hammy, and IT band on my left leg.  It felt amazing…well maybe amazing isn’t the right word but it felt like just what my body needed.

And I was rewarded with an amazing (and actually FAST) “long run” on Saturday.  I went for 12 miles and the first 10 were pain free completely and the last two felt a bit achy.  Still no pain.  Hizzah. Especially since the weather was in the mid 40s and sunny. Double hizzah. Then I went out drinking and dancing (let’s also just say that “Fuck You” is the best karaoke song to do.  Ever.)

Which is what I’m blaming for my painful run on Sunday.  I made it about 6 miles before calling it quits and doing the treatment stuff: icing, stretching, rolling.  But my leg was throbbing and radiating pain.  Which called for a rest day Monday and taking some ibuprofen.

I woke up today feeling pretty good, I even did some squats (bending the leg-o was pretty painful Sunday) and felt good to do some kind of test run.  It was a decent run.  And by decent I mean kick-ass for what I’ve been doing lately. I kept it really slow (like slow enough that I wondered if it was even doing anything cardiovascular for me hahah!) and, for where I feel I should be distance wise, incredibly short run.  No more 16+ runs before work as it was only 10. But it felt really REALLY good.  I had only planned for doing a few miles given how much pain Sunday brought so I decided to do a really short loop a few times.  By the last loop my pace had slowed a bit so I called it a day.  But no pain. YAY.

Still doing the now-regular post-run routine of icing and stretching and rolling.  I’ve been not only doing specific stretches for my left leg but also trying to just stretch everything.  I’m shooting for not just running Boston but being the most popular girl there…

I’ve also been thinking about starting to heat the IT band area…or the tight muscles around it.  The massage therapist that I saw said that my adductor muscles are really tight and/or weak so that my IT band is being compensating and being overworked.  So maybe heat to the area will loosen things up? Who knows.

I’m just very glad that I’m taking Boston for fun.  Because I’m probably in a state of taper now.  Not too sure how I feel about it and we’ll have to wait and see how the rest of this week goes. Some days I run without a problem and other days I need to go extra slow or short. But I still have that nutcracker picture as my lock screen on my phone for whenever I need a good laugh. Or go onto someecards because I just spent a good hour doing that.

Sick Dayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

In all honesty, I probably wasn’t sick enough to stay home yesterday from work.  I mean, after being sick for 10 days I’m pretty sure that if I had ever been contagious that I’ve already infected all my co-workers.  That said, I’ve been worn down from being sick and I needed a day where I could literally sleep all day because I knew I wouldn’t be productive at all at work.  So that’s what I did.  I guess I hadn’t been joking to my friend when I had said I wanted to be put into an almost-coma-like state!

Thanks google images

My alarm did go off at 0515 on Wednesday (when I was going to get up) but after some curse words, mostly too my nose and head, I reset my alarm to call my supervisor when the clinic opened, then left a message and slept until 12:30 where I made myself some breakfast and then slept more. Or at least laid in bed relaxing, catching up on blogs and reading good books.  With lots of sleep thrown in there.

Yes too much sleep has made me really sleepy but I just needed it. The all day rain yesterday surely didn’t help.  But at least it wasn’t snow. And I’m sure that I’ll recoup nicely from all that sloth and, in fact, woke up feeling more refreshed than I have in about forever.

The only bummer about yesterday was that I couldn’t go running with my new running buddy! One of the doctors at the clinic commented how she sees me running *allthetime* (well lots of people tell me that because I live, and thus run, in an area where lots of doctors live) and how she was trying to get into more-than-just-recreational running. She wanted to go this morning (because 0500 works for her) but since I’m dealing with my leg I asked if we could do it next week.  Which she said definitely.  YAY for new running buddies

Speaking of the leg I’m convinced, after lots of google searching on my sick day, that it’s my IT band that’s aggravated so I’ve upped the ice, stretching and rolling.  Plus I’ve reincorporated my PT hip exercises (think leg lifts, leg circles, leg bicycle motions etc) into my routine so that my hips get stronger.  I did this last December, but for my other hip, and it was successful.  Hopefully it’ll do the same thing now.  T-32 days now!

The exercises, however, do not work immediately and when I tried to run this morning I barely made it 4 miles before calling it quits.  I had thought that my day of rest yesterday would do something.  But no, the ache and tightness and, yes, pain was there.  Not immediately but it was clear after I reached the halfway point of my loop (well the first loop I was going to do) that my IT band was not my friend today. So I did the *smart* thing (as I keep telling myself) by stopping at 4 (when I reached my apartment) and not trying to get in “just one more” and then one more…because we all know I would have tried to do that.

I spent that additional time I had factored into my run into icing, stretching and rolling the living heck out of my leg. A whole 45 minutes worth! Between all the TLC I’m giving it here (okay so the run wasn’t exactly anything T, L or C) and the massage I have scheduled for tomorrow I’m really hoping I can get another week or two of decent training under my belt.  Like I said, Boston isn’t too far away! I don’t want to go in feeling like it’s been forever and a day between the race and my last hard workout (which it’s already been 2 weeks since my last speed workout).

Oh well. Interestingly enough, while my pace was on the sloooooooooow side, the actual pace itself doesn’t impact how my leg feels, for whatever that’s worth (thoughts?). It was such a beautiful morning out too: sunny, mid-40s, I was in shorts and a t-shirt! I guess I can’t truely complain (trying to see the silver lining) because I did get out there and felt the sun on my face.  And I’m sitting in the volunteer center right now, drinking some of my amazing coffee (which I’m glad some of you told me it’s a-okay to be a coffee snob hahah!) typing up some notes for the doctors who are here today with the window WIDE open. I sincerely hope that this nice weather lasts (it’s currently 57*. Hizzah!). Fingers crossed.

Doesn't this just make you feel all warm and fuzzy?! Thanks google.

Snobbery

of the coffee variety.  You see, I’ve NEVER been a coffee person before I started and entered the real world in August.  Slowly but surely I’ve started, well, becoming addicted to the stuff.  I’ll admit that I didn’t really drink it to enjoy it.  In fact, what I typically drank was this stuff

and I drank it, and liked it, because I could make it as strong / weak as I wanted.  I could make it (and did) pipping hot.  And it was quick.  For Christmas (and I am ashamed to say that I JUST broke it out of the box.  No real good excuse either except that I was too lazy to buy coffee filters…) I got

TA-DA

Well I guess it wasn’t *totally* that I didn’t have any filters (yes I know that’s a weak excuse) but also because I A) had lots of the instant stuff in the cabinet and B) didn’t really know what kind of coffee to buy (I guess my only real requirement was CAFFEINE).  I did get a thing of DD coffee and some store brand with the coffee maker buttttt well I just didn’t have any oompf to make my own coffee.  Until….

omgsogood

a friend (who doesn’t drink coffee) gave me this bag because she was given it and didn’t want it to go to waste.  Rather than leave it in the clinic I immediately told her that I’d take it.  And OMG so good. I definitely am NOT a coffee connoisseur but I am sooooo enjoying this coffee.  I haven’t yet checked out how much it sells for in the grocery store / godiva store but I’m betting that it isn’t exactly cheap.  So I’m trying to really savor it while I can!  I still have the packets of instant in the cabinet but hopefully this lets me become a full-fledged coffee snob.  All in good time.

But at least I’m able to enjoy *something*.  Because I was all set to get up and actually enjoy my traditional Tuesday Tempo.  Maybe I should have heeded “Beware the ides of March” because alas my left leg did not want to cooperate with me.  And neither did my brain because I totally slept through my alarm this morning after being up all night with what I suspect was a fever and a really runny/stuffy nose. I am amazed at how much snot can come out of my nose.  It’s not even that big!

I’m also amazed that I managed to get through the warm up once I got out there,  barely though.  It felt (and still does) feel like my other leg did in December after trying to do too much after WR.  The funny thing is that I was hurt this time last year in my Boston training but with my shins.  Oh well.  This time around I plan on not being slightly silly and training through it.  I mean, I might try but at least I listened to myself and didn’t try to force the tempo. And tothose of you who are wondering: I don’t have access to a gym / pool / bike so XT-ing it up isn’t an option for me at the moment.

I did spend the time that I was going to be running the tempo icing, stretching and rolling.  So I wasn’t just bumming around feeling sorry for myself.  And to note: I’m not feeling totally frustrated or even sorry for myself.  Yes, it sucks to not be able to complete workouts but I’m feeling worn at this point and need some R&R. I thought one week was good enough but I guess not. We’ll see how I feel in a few days. It’ll be a most excellent time to try and satiate my insane appetite that I’m getting being so far in training hahah

Good thing I’m taking Boston for fun, no? I’m doubley looking forward to the massage I scheduled for Friday. Holler.

Finally, after seeing everyone else post on FB their Boston number I figured I’d check out what mine was and what wave I ended up being in (for those of you who don’ t know, Boston is now a 3 wave race). I’m not going to share the actual number here (because I don’t know who is reading behind the scenes) sorry but it’s good enough to get me FIRST WAVE. Holler. And I’m sure many of you know my full name and can search for me.  And then stalk me on April 18th.

So much for a cutback week, right? At least there was Pi(e)

Well at least it was a cutback week in terms of intensity, as I was going to originally call this post “the week of the 10 minute miles” because that’s what all my runs hovered around with the exception of a really long LR.  If any of y’all are my facebook friends then you already know that I banged out 24 miles (well 24.2 to be exact) on Saturday. It was a great run to end “the week of the 10 minute miles”.

Guess I’m feeling better, no?

I spent Friday night in a low key fashion but still managed to get to bed really late. Funny how that works.  So late that when I got up Saturday morning….well I didn’t.  I mean, I woke up but didn’t drag my butt out of bed until about noon.  And then decided to go for a run and let my legs decide how far I was going to go because I wasn’t really into the idea of running at all.  But I knew in the back of my mind it’d make me feel better.  And it did.

Since I had been sick earlier in the week (and still have the sniffles now!) I wasn’t sure how far I could make it but I figured I’d start with a nice, pretty 13.5 mile loop then see what would happen beyond that point.  The weather was FIFTY (five-zero) during it and it was the first run of the year without gloves on.  Gotta love that!

I don’t have many thoughts about the run as I was running it (or rather I’m sure I did and I’m jealous of those of you who can remember what you’re thinking about during your runs!), except that I was *incredibly* thirsty.  Like really REALLY thirsty.  Maybe it’s a sign that I should start carrying water with me, or at least find routes that have water fountains. Or simply hydrate well the night/day before as I’ve never had the problem of being thirsty on a run before.

But despite being thirsty (after the run I drank lots and lots of sports drink and water….which made my tummy hurt because I drank it so fast! hah!) physically the run was great.  No aches and pains, I kept the pace manageable for a long run and consistent with how my long runs have been lately (hovering around 9:00 pace).  Distance wise, this run was not the longest I’ve gone (duh a marathon is) but time was it was about 90 seconds slower than my first marathon (which was my slowest).  It may be neither here nor there but I think that it’s cool / interesting that I am capable of running 2 miles MORE in LESS time.

As I said, physically my body could handle it but mentally it was a tough run.  I thought about quitting after each loop that passed me by my apartment (I did 4 loops total: 13.5, 4.4, 4.1, 2.2).  The fact that I didn’t quit after any of them (and I actually thought about going for another 2 to say I’d done a marathon ) makes me think I earned some type of mental toughness award.

Or lots of this, as my friends and I celebrated Pi day a few days early on Saturday:

PI(E) DAY (which is 3.14 by the way)

this image will probably be edited once better ones (of the other table (!!)) go on facebook hah!

Anyway, before the party but after the run I did something I’ve sworn up and down that I’d never do…take an ICE BATH.  Yeah, I’d definitely never had one before 1612 on Saturday afternoon.  Mostly because I hate being cold but also because I recover really quickly from things in general (I’ve never been really sore after races…or sore at all I guess) but since I had been running for quite awhile (and there was a bag of ice in the freezer) I figured why not.

Ummmm brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

Okay okay maybe it wasn't this bad. I wasn't fully submerged. Thank god. And thanks google images (although I vaguely recall this image being from a House, MD episode)

I think I whimpered as I hopped in and my roomie definitely shouted “it’s an ICE BATH.  What did you think it would feel like?!” hahah.  But I survived by listening to music and trying to read a book.  After *exactly* 20 minutes I hopped out and turned the shower on and HOT about a half hour later.  Does that negate the usefulness of the ice bath? I sure hope not!

I’m not quite sure if it did anything because, as I already mentioned, I recover quick from workouts in general.  My left knee was a bit cranky when I got up on Sunday and I’m pretty tired overall.  But that can also be blamed on: pi party and time change.  So who knows.  But at least I know now that I definitely will be able to finish Boston in 5 (!!) weeks.

At least according to that long run.  This mornings run was tough.  Maybe not so much mentally but my left leg is feeling a bit tight so it was hard to feel like I was moving…well I don’t really ever move gracefully but you know what I mean.  So it was a slooooooooooow run for sure.  No sore muscles yesterday or today (so maybe the ice bath did something? Maybe I recover really well?) but just a tightness.  Same tightness as last December after WR but in the other leg.  Therefore we all know what I should do tonight: ice, stretch, roll.  I’ve actually been stretching  (and using a tennis ball!) here at work.  Fingers crossed it works!

P.S. I have been absolutely terrible at replying to your comments. It’s something on my to-do list for this week!

Well I Did It….

and resisted the Tuesday Tempo.  In all honesty, I don’t think anyone would be shocked when I say I’m okay with no tempo. Because I hate them.  I do hate giving up a workout but I really was out of it all day Tuesday.  Wednesday too.  That, however, was due to a double shot of this guy:

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeello good night of sleep

Which I did again last night.   Nope to the wine, I decided that I’d save it to celebrate being well afterward   I was a bit surprised at how shocked y’all were that wine was being handed out at a baby shower…the funny thing is that I wasn’t.  I don’t really know what that says about me!

A couple of you suggested going to my doc about me feeling not so well.  I did see a doc at the clinic earlier this week who basically said to wait and see and, if me not feeling well didn’t clear up by next week, to make an appt with my PCP.  My lungs are still clear, despite my sexy voice at the moment, which is a good thing. I still just have ear pressure and sinus stuff going on.  And a sore throat.  To the non-squeamish: it feels like one giant booger going from my ear through my nose and down my throat.  Only on the left side.  Man, I wish I had a graphic for that!

So yeahhhhh that’s all I got for you.  I really REALLY want to try for a run this morning but (and I’m writing this post Wednesday night, pre-nyquil/sleepytime) I’ll have to wait and see how I feel.  If this morning is a repeat of Wednesday morning then when this post goes up I’ll still be in a coma (I was actually late for work on Wednesday!). Or not because I totally forgot to self-schedule this one hahah.  But I woke up this morning feeling, well nyquil hungover, but much better on the illness front.  No aches so well enough to attempt a “quick” run this morning. I ended up with an hour-ish of really sloooooooooow running.  It just felt good to be out there and moving.   Nothing even close to a  usual Thursday long run but this week was supposed to be a cutback week anyway. Guess it was a good week to get sick right?

My sister sent me this pic the other day and I feel that, given the lack of “real training” going on this week (yes I know that me resting is going to be good for my training but bear with me here because it’s not exciting as intense running/workouts) I’ll share it here.  Because….well it’s just been one of those weeks where I could use a laugh or two.

But on the good news side, lots of the stress that was bugging me the past, oh I don’t know, month(!!) is slowly getting under control.  And turning into excitement / goodness / not worrying.  Yay

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin

Cutback Week = Cookies and Wine.

Sadly the illness that I was referring to in my last post was not the hang-over induced.  It was sinus pain, ear pressure and enlarged lymph nodes.  The former would have been more fun.  Or at least have good memories associated with it after. Luckily I’m feeling slightly better and less “ohmigod I want to just curl up into bed and sleep for a year”.  Mostly due to a couple of things:

• Being an old lady and going to bed WAY early.  No necessarily by choice.  Each day for the past few days I’ve come home from whatever I’d been doing and showered (prepping to go out) then sitting down on my bed and conked out (in my uber small twin bed.  Which apparently a lot of you are shocked I can fit my while frame in it ahhah!).  On Saturday night this was at 1830.  I woke 3 hours later, confused, called my friend to say that I was not going out then put on a movie and feel asleep around 2230. Jeez…is it time for the home yet?

• Winning. I woke up Sunday feeling icky still but went to a baby shower for my friend.  Not only did I have tons of fun I also won, not one, but TWO bottles of wine.  Hizzolllller. Talk about feeling better.

• Cooooooooooookies. My mom came to visit me this weekend and I baked cookies for her…and of course I had to save some for me as well.  Which was a GODSEND when I woke up each night with really REALLY bad ear pain (I kept cursing that I just wanted my damn eardrum to pop so I’d feel better!).  I’m not one to really snack during the night, nor am I an emotional eater, but these hit the spot when my tummy was rumbling at 0230!

Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

(from the back of the oats container I used)

Ingredients:

• 1/2  cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter margarine (I’m SORRY to all you real bakers out there!), softened
• 3/4  cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2  cup granulated sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon salt (optional and I used it)
• 3  cups oats (I used old fashioned, uncooked)
• 1  cup raisins — or more. I think I used closer to 1.5 cups.  But I love raisins.

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
4. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well.
5. Add oats and raisins; mix well.
6. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack.
8. Cool completely and ENJOY.

 

So, while I’ve done relaxing stuff and stuff that’s made me feel better I’ve decided that I’m taking this week to chill out! I’m not saying that I’m nixing the running totally

(I did do intervals this weekend, stupidly I might add because I wasn’t feeling 100%:

• Warm up
• 2 X 1 Mile continuous (7:28, 7:32)
• 2 X [ 2 X 1 mile] easy / hard (9:XX, 7:45, 9:49, 7:35)
• Warm down

but no hard workouts (think nice and easy running!). That workout kicked my ass.  And not because it’s challenging in and of itself.  I’m just worn down.  I don’t think it’s because I’m training for a marathon per se but it’s a culmination of lots of stresses, physical and mental/emotional, at the moment.  And, surprise surprise, you guys are smarty-arties in suggesting that I need some down / less intense time.  Unfortunately I never learn.  And never get to wear the dancing smarty pants. Oh ah.

Thanks google. And I SWEAR the only reason I know this guy is because I have much younger siblings. Do you believe me?

 

The good news is that a lot of it will dissipate this week.  And if not, well I do have two bottles of wine and 3 dozen , more like half dozen at this point, cookies to help me cope.

Hopefully, since I’m posting this before I even wake up this morning, I stay strong getting out there and resisting the traditional Tuesday Tempo.  Because this week I’m saying a big FU to my actual workouts (among other things, like the stuff that’s stressing me out!)….and then hopefully this sickness. Time to recharge!

Alpha Bravo Charlie

Yuck.  I woke up feeling slightly under the weather this morning.  And since my running isn’t going over-the-moon amazing, and I’d rather not have a whole post to “gosh I’m not running as fast as I’d like…I’m stressed…blah blah BLAH” I figured I’d keep the mood light and do the ABC post only a few weeks late rather than the month or so that I tend to be behind on these things.

Don’t worry though, I’m sure I’ll be be back tomorrow or something to complain about my workouts

Age: 24.

Bed size: Twin.  Annoying? Yes but it was free.  I can’t complain.

Chore you hate: Cooking.  For real. I mean, I’ll do it but I hate it with the heat of 1,000 suns

Dogs: Nope.  And I’m unlikely to get one ever.  I don’t have a problem with them but, maybe it’s the age / stage of life I’m in, I don’t want to have to take care of anyone/thing!

Essential start of your day: Lots of things.  But I’ve found that if I don’t start my day with a run (and subsequently a shower) I fill icky for the rest of the day.

Fav colour: Pink

Gold or silver: It depends on what outfit I’m wearing it with.

Height: 5’11″. Or rather just under it.

Instruments I play: Ummmm recorder, piano, clarinet, singing.  Or at least I know how to play these in theory.

Job title: VISTA IT Research Coordinator.

Kids:  I used to say HECK NO.  But slowly they’re growing on me.  I do want to be a pediatrician after all.  And I hear my biological clock ticking loud and clear.  And I’m only 24!

Live:  Providence RI

Mom’s name: Patricia

Nicknames: KK (said kay-kay), Kare-bear.

Overnight hospital stays: Nope.  But last spring I had to go to the hospital every 8 hours for IV antibiotics, so I was there in the middle of the night

Pet peeve: Bad drivers. Aka drivers who drive 25 in a 50 zone, don’t use blinkers.  I know I’m a Masshole but still…bad drivers irk me. Or at least drivers who do not get out of my way…

Quote from a movie:  Suck my unit

 

thanks google images.

Right or left handed: Southpaw all the freaking way

Siblings: 4 sisters, 1 brother.  All younger.  And people wonder why I was so HECK NO to kids when I was younger.

Time you wake up: Depends on the day.  MWF = 5:15, T/R = 7:30 and the weekends I’ve gotten into the habit of not setting an alarm.  Since I don’t get much sleep during the week I tend to make up for it Sat/Sun.

Underwear: Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  It depends on my outfit / when the last time I did laundry was. TMI?

Veg you dislike: Peas.  Or asparagus.  There’s just something about a veggie that makes your pee smell funny that just turns me off.

What makes you run late:  Running actually.  Or I could blame the shower and food I like to have afterward.

X-rays you have had done:  Lots of fingers and ankles (hello basketball and volleyball!) *knockonwood* that it hasn’t been anything more serious.

Yummy food you make: Chocolate Chip and PB Chip oatmeal cookies.  YUM

Zoo, favorite animal: I haven’t gone to the zoo in years BUT my favorite part was the small building that had the sign saying “look inside to see a real bat” and when you peaked into the window you saw this

thanks google.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/12/1201_giftguide_toys/image/louisville-slugger-bat.jpg