Mind over Matter

Because no matter what my leg still hurts. It hurts so bad that my 3.5 mile run yesterday was littered with walking breaks and tears. I went to Fleet Feet to buy a knee brace and Susan pointed me in the direction of the ITBand straps so I'll try that tomorrow and see how it goes.

I'm frustrated and scared... I really want to run next Sunday but I fear that my running has suffered so much these last two weeks that I won't hit my goal. I didn't even make it to the end of the street on Tuesday, there was so much pain every time my foot hit the pavement. Shooting stinging surging pain down my thigh to my knee.

Thursday was the Thanksgiving "Run for Food". I took the kiddos and walked ran through it with them. Of course there was a lot of running in the beginning and lots of walking at the end but that's OK. We had fun. I didn't hurt but then again I didn't run any farther than a few hundred yards at a time.

I've been super good about icing and I'll continue that this week. I usually run around the block a few times get warmed up, roll out both legs very well then ice my sore side.

I think one of two things occurred causing this malady to surface"

1. The long run post creek dip hasn't happened in like a month due to different routes and sick kiddos. I lived for those freezing dips in the local creek/pool to do my icing for me because if I don't get in I won't ice immediately after I run. Life just gets in the way you know.

2. My new Nike Pegasus shoes are cursed. My foot "rolls" in them ... A LOT. Let me tell you that this is my biggest culprit when it comes to instigating the ITBand pain. I may only wear my Brooks this week, wear the Nike's to short speed workouts and buy Mizunos again for my long dedicated runs. The hubby is going to be happy happy happy to be buying new shoes again just two months after buying me these.

Mental Marathon

These last 14 or so weeks have been a whirl wind. There have been more wonderful and exciting achievements in a short amount of time then any other time in my life. I had a few falters even a few weeks a short time back where I wondered "why the Hell are you doing this to yourself". It had all to do with the head and nothing to do with what my body could actually do.

I got over that lately. I have been so pumped and ready for this marathon that I could scream at the top of my lungs how good I feel. I am so excited that my body now decided to fight against me. I've got this cold. I've got this nagging aching leg from the hip down, I've got such a sore lower back that it hurts to touch. I'm worried about my 12 mile run this Sunday. I want to feel good. I want to keep that high I've been on. I want to love this entire experience, all the people I've met at the store, on line and at the club. I want to savor it and have only happy memories of my FIRST MARATHON. I want it to be perfect. I know that's not how life works. I know. But You can't help but wish for it. I wish for a great first marathon.

Is it Friday yet?

At this moment my 6 year old is crying like a baby because he can't find his Leapster that he can't even play because its after lights out time. What is up with that? My 8 year old won't turn off the light because he's reading. Not that I want him to stop reading but without a full nights sleep tomorrow is going to be hell for me. I need some mommy time. I need some recoup from this week time. I need a new body and a new brain because mine is falling apart... and fast.

Tuesday I was supposed to go do speedwork with the Fleet Feet Marathon group. I spend all night sitting up while trying to sleep because my head was so stuffy and my ears hurt and body ached. Full blown cold came to visit. I was so exhausted that I slept on and off on Tuesday and decided not to run that night since I was pretty blah from the Advil Cold and Sinus (which is my go to drug for any head cold let me tell you). I watched Biggest Loser and ate Peppermint Ice Cream while everyone else was running their tahookies off on TV and at the track. I tried to hit the hay but to no avail. Sometime after midnight the sandman finally came to visit. I woke up several times through out the night but not for very long at a time.

Wednesday we took both the 3rd and 1st graders to the farmers market. They each got $2 worth of Market cash to spend on fruits and veggies. They brought home a feast. Its amazing what $40 a classroom can bring back. They tried Bock Choy and Persimmons, peppers, lemongrass and squash. They bought things to make a soup in class with fresh herbs and local veggies. Both Classes came home with locally grown sugar pumpkins for our families to cook. I'm very excited and they all seemed to have a great day.

I for one was feeling great. Like the cold just blew on by. I went out with the Fleet Feet Flyers on their Wednesday night speed workout. I felt pretty good in general but felt held back by this nagging tightness and ache in my left leg from my hip to to ankle. I had to keep slowing down. It was really like I never got warmed up in the whole 5.6 mile workout. It makes me so mad that you are not even breathing hard, your heart rate is still low but you can't give it your all. Apparently I did get a work out though because I hurt like hell this morning. Worse than I have ALL of the marathon program. Enough that I think I may need to make an appointment with Dr. John. I need to nip this in the bud before it becomes an "injury" instead of some tensed up muscles.

I felt better overall today. I was really tired and still feeling the recovery mode from last night and this cold. I took it easy. I had a hard time straightening out my leg then a hard time bending it once it felt good straight. I've been eating OK the last few days. Elk for dinner in Spaghetti last night. YUMMY Hunny Thank you. It was ready for me to warm up when I got home and the kiddos were all ready for bed at 7:30pm. RIGHT ON!

Monday Funday

Today the hubby got up early and left to go Turkey hunting which means his lab went crazy... camo + gun = a day out for Sprig... but not today. No doggies turkey hunting so she kept me up whiny and sad because she was left behind. I finally got up took a shower, got the boys ready for school and out the door in time to ride our bikes. My tire was flat so into the car we went. I did get to go to coffee with a friend I used to work with. It was nice to see her now that she's a SAHM and loving it. Its a different world and she went through some depression after leaving but she's doing a good job of coming out of it and feeling her way through this new appreciation for a NEW kind of job. Coffee and Kayla to love on made the day.

Hubby and I went to the landscape place and debated over rock. I made my decision we brought it home then he griped about it the whole time. Of course. Oh well.

Hollywood had Guitar lessons then we went to Food Maxx to go shopping. Hubby is TOO GOOD to shop there so I have to go alone. Of course I got only what was on my list and filled the whole back of my car for little over $100! The Lord knows we don't need meat so the rest of the food is pretty reasonable in comparison. We buzzed home where hubby had started dinner. Round Steak (elk) in cream of mushroom and cream of celery soup at 300 degrees for 2 hours. Then the gravy poured over white rice and corn bread on the side. Scratch the yams that I put in the oven. Oh well, I'll save them for tomorrow when he's gone and I eat healthy again. LOL

I totally could have ran today. I felt so good after my 16 mile progressive run yesterday. We finished so strong in the low 9 min mile range. It was a great day! Three weeks from yesterday is the CIM! I need to blog about my mental shifting gears and I hope to get to it tomorrow. I work in the boys classrooms and still need to find a sitter. Night night! I'm out.

Fortune Cookie

Hubby still wasn't home from Fill The Boot yet to I took the kiddos to chineese food at Panda Express. We had never been there, got way too much food and it was only OK. Bummer. If I'm going to spend a butt load of money on chineese food (although it was cheep if I figure it will feed us for like two weeks) it had better be delish... thats all I'm saying.

Anyhow I ate WAY TOO MUCH! enough sodium to tomorrows 16 mile progressive run? check!

This does nothing for my Fat Ass....

I know this because I got a stupid fortune cookie who tells me:

YOU ARE VERY EXPRESSIVE AND POSITIVE IN WORD, ACT AND FEELING

I am positive that my butt is growing... I told ya'll about it, I act fat... eating a ginormous amount of food tonight. Oh and feeling... I now feel increadibly fat. I expressed all of that in my blog. LOL

hmphhhhh

Well... when I started running last winter Liz told me I may gain a few pounds... you know some of it is muscle. But what the heck. I jumped on the scale this morning and it read 110.6. HUH? When I started the marathon program I was shuffling well... not 110 but pretty standard number on my scale was 107. I mean I didn't budge too far either way. Its been two months since I've seen anything UNDER 110.

Anyway, I went to put my FAVORITE jeans on and pulled them up to my hips... and what? ...they just stopped. No easy slide on over the hips I'm used to. I actually had to muscle them over my hips. GRRRRrrrr...... So first the damn scale now the damn jeans. I can't deny it any more. Its not just muscle. I have an ass. I mean I always thought I wanted an ass. I dreamed about having shape, having a difference between my hips and my waist. I did lunges and squats to aquire AN ASS. Now that apparently my jeans and scale think I have one? I'm not sure what to do with it.

I've always joked that I had ASPRIN ASS. Flat on either side and a line down the middle. There was no difference between my back and my butt but then stupid saggy skin linking my but to my upper thighs. Not cute I swear. It only got worse after each child. Then it was plagued by celulite and stretch marks. I know you're all puking a little right now and I'm sorry. So anyway the asprin ass isn't really GONE just a little more shapely but still realivily flat. The scale doesn't move unless its going up (I've seen a 112 lately too).

I sent the hubby this text message while he's down doing "FILL THE BOOT" for Muscular Distrophy Association (if you're in Vacaville swing on by Nut Tree Rd and give them some dough will ya).

Did u wash my jeans on hot or is all this training giving me a fat ass?

Needless to say that is a loaded question and he laughed ... a lot. But did not actually answer. Smart man I got there hu? I could use a new pair of jeans though.

Don't just run... walk

Not only do I run but I walk in efforts to raise $$$ to find a cure cancer... especially Breast Cancer. My hope is that finding a cure for Breast Cancer will be the key to unlock other cancers too. I got this from Good Neighbor and thought I would pass it on. Running has been a great preperation for my 39.3 mile walk in SF in July. I can't wait to walk in my 6th Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!

Repitition

Things were feeling a bit repeditive so I thought I would change things up a bit for the day.

I took a rest day on Monday after Clarksburg and boy did I need it. It just took everything out of me, emotionally and physically I think. I needed a recharge. We had an easier run on Tuesday. We ran from the shop to one of the local High Schools tracks since the one at the University was dark and locked up. We did 15 minutes of easy pace 10 minutes of Marathon to Threshold pace then 15 minutes of easy pace again. I just never felt good though. We ran back to the store for a total of about 6 miles for the night. Stretched really good then headed home for some Ice Cream and Biggest Loser Action.

Wednesday I ran the 3mile loop with Good Neighbor. She is doing so good. I don't time myself or even take a watch on Wednesdays because Tuesday night workouts are usually so crazy and our run only starts 12 or so hours after our speed work is done that I just take a very easy pace with GN to get my miles in. I've been running in the park so much that I dread it though. I almost just want to run up to the airport and that has ALWAYS been my least favorite place to run to because of the even steady upward path it takes for 2 miles to the baseball field and the wind that never lets up. ... oh and its ugly. But there is a dedicated path so you aren't in danger (hopefully) of being hit by a car or truck, but maybe a bicyclist who thinks the paths belong to them.

Thursday: Today. I did to a different run. I started at 5mile which is part of Bidwell park but links lower and upper parks together. I did the 2 mile Centenial loop with offers up another steady long .75 mile long hill. I wanted to break up the run by taking the second half of my run to upper park and hitting a bit of trail. First I stopped to see Margo who is a friend of the hubby's family and lives across from the entrance to the park, lucky girl hu? She has a new Minnie Aussie who is BEAUTIFUL she's a blue merle and has crystal blue eyes and I want her. Sorry Margo... I do! When its time for us to get a new dog I'm so looking into mini aussies. Margo says there is a breeder in Vina... I'm off to scour the internet for it... just to see if her puppies are as cute as Shelby. After taking a 10 minute break I drank some water, took off the long sleeved shirt and headed to upper park. I took the trail up to Horseshoe lake then looped back down. I was crossing the bridge back to 5mile when my 2 mile alarm went of. It was perfect timing. I had a great run(s) today. I felt good for the first time in a long time. I don't think I had a negative thought about running the whole time. I love days like this. OK I'm off to shower, eat and pick up the little guys!

Clarksburg 20 mile race

This weekend many of us from the Marathon Training program ran in the Paul Reese Memorial Country Run. Some of us ran 20 miles, some ran 30k, some ran the half marathon. We all had a pretty good time. Clarksburg is a beautiful little town on the delta near Sacramento. There are lots of winerys and agricultural along the route.

The first 10 miles when off pretty good. My feet kind of hurt from the new shoes and figuring out the lacing situation. I had a GU 15 minutes before start, Cliff Shots at mile 6, GU at mile 10 and Luna Miles at 15 miles. I made too many potty breaks, perhaps because I took two waters at each stop or one water one Power aide. I had stomach cramping from about mile 12 on. Not a good feeling to have, let me tell you. All in all I was sore but about to keep moving. The last mile we were moving at close to 8:30/mile and the last 100 yards Vicki, myself and Liz kicked it into gear and pushed that finish line hard. I held back for just a moment so the photographer could actually get my picture instead of completely missing it like at Cowtown where I have NO pics to choose from.

I had a pretty good day all in all, 6am pick up at Vickis, picking Liz up along the way, 3 1/2 to run and talk, lunch with the girls, shopping at Fleet Feet in Sacrmento and a drive home to my boys who I missed ALL DAY! It was a pretty good day. My youngest really loved my finishers medal and when I get the chance I'll get a pic of it to post.

I do have questions for you though. Do you think I should forgo the drink of choice at the CIM, just drink water and perhaps use sodium caplets or will GU, Shot Blocks or Luna Moons be enough? Your input would be greatly appreciated!

Just Dropping by

Today its about the whole... about the body and mind. Today I'm staying hydrated, eating well, stretching. We're taking Gma Margie out to dinner. We are nurishing our bodies, spirits, souls, relationships, minds.

Hubby is home so posting will be sparse. Hello out there to blogs world, have a great day!



I'm off to mentally prepare for Clarksburg this weekend. 20 mile race. I'm a little nervous.

Its not just me

No its not. Everyone tonight was like... when the heck is this OVER! I'm so freakin' done. I'm not really. I'm actually scared. Scared that this thing I found that I'm good at will be over, that these friends that I've made will disappear and this routine I've found to make me a healthier, happier person will come undone. I'm not ready to lose those things.

The eating. ugh. I'm tired of eating all the same things over and over. I'm tired of the time lines and the pressure. I lied, I love the pressure. I hate the pressure I put on my kids and the sitters. I'm not so worried about the hubby, he gets hunting... I get running. So there.

So I'm conflicted but so is everyone else. That makes me feel better, I'm not alone. Lets celebrate! Who's making mimosas tomorrow? anyone? ... hu?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight was speed work. We ran to the track but the lights were off so we ran in the dark like we did in January and February in the Half Marathon Program. It was cold, dark and wet. Totally brought back memories. So we had a two mile warm up, the loop was almost exactly 2/3 of a mile so we did threshold pace around then a one minute rest then again then a one minute rest then again. We did 2 miles back. We totaled 6 miles even tonight. Everything has felt so good for so long I'm getting worried but my hamstrings are so tight. I'm off to shower and to roll out the hams.

Later gaters.

Quickly approaching

I must stay inspired. I bought new shoes. I bought Mint Chocolate GU. I'm getting excited or I'm trying too. Its hard though. I'm so sick of eating. I know I'm crazy. I'm especially tired of eating the SAME things over and over again for fear of trying something new and sabotaging my runs or my GI tract in general. I'm trying to get my runs in. I'm hitting that time when my life is taking over my running the way my running took over my life 10 months ago. I need to stay on track just a little longer. This weekend? 20 mile race on Sunday in Clarksburg. CIM is just 4 weeks and 4 days left.

I'm also posting over at my bookclub (that hasn't gotten off the ground yet) blog and my "the rest of my life" blog. Since I'm posting EVERY DAY for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month). I hope to get my computer up and rolling for downloading the boys pics from Halloween and the pumpkin patch I may even post on their blogs since its been so long. You can check out my profile for those sites.

Tonight my papa is coming down to watch the kiddos while I run. I'm feeding him at 5:30 after Hollywoods guitar practice. I need to drink plenty of water this week to say hydrated and fueled for this weekend. I did update some pix on my photography blog too if any of you are interested. My hope is that on days the hubby is gone (he took overtime today) I can get my longer posts in and just little updates when he's home so we can spend more one on one time together and with the kids.

Vote

Today will change history. Get out there and vote... your voice counts.

I just had lunch (cashew chicken, pork fried rice, chow mien that I didn't eat, an egg roll and yummy soup) with Good Neighbor who is pretty Liberal... I'm pretty heavy Conservative. Glad to say that most things we talked about were pretty spot on the same. OK, not who we voted for president but all the California ballot measures anyway. Funny thing is the things we agree on are for different reasons. LOL~ It was nice to get a different perspective though. No going back now... my ballot went out in the mail over two weeks ago.

I'm off for a run although I would much rather be shopping. Mervyn's is going out of business and they are having a huge sale. I don't want to take the kiddos so I guess I'll have to go through whatever is still there tomorrow.

Post 100

I can't believe that its been 100 posts already! It seems like yesterday that my first post was making me laugh because my other blog was taken OVER by running and eating. I guess this is fitting that my 100th post since it is National Blog Posting Month meaning and I will be trying to post on one of my blogs every day. I will be trying to post here on heavy running days or on days that have a particularly interesting topic about running. I'll try to leave links here to those posts if I can remember or have time to do that.

Today I feel better. I am sore. I should have stood in the creek (so very very cold) before I left the park but I was in a hurry to get the boys. I am tired, physically and emotionally right now but I'm hoping that changes soon. Its been so hard to be positive, during a run, while thinking about my goals, about my schedule, about eating healthy. I've actually had more bad days then good lately and we are so close to the Marathon... just less than 5 weeks away.

My goal this week is to get back on the horse, run when and how far I'm supposed to, drink lots of water, eat healthy and enough that I don't crash like I did yesterday. I'm going to re-read Performance Nutrition for Runners again and the Paleo Diet for Athletes since I've been fudging on my Non-bread diet a lot lately because I've been so tired of potatoes and rice. Me and wheat? We just don't get along. Its showing.

*** Congratulations to everyone who ran races this weekend! The New York Marathon was Sunday and wahhoooo Paula Radcliff and Marilson Gomes dos Santos for passing the finish lines first in New York. More applause for my running buddy Vicki who took 4th in her age group at our local 10K this weekend AFTER running 10 miles with me. She is a machine! More applause and confetti for those of you who raced! Congratulations everyone***

I guess this is the week for Re-form. Don't forget to get out there and EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE tomorrow. Don't complain about laws or who's representing us if you don't play your part and vote. I hate that, your voice DOES matter.

Run outta steam

I don't know what happened today. The first 10 mile warm up before the race was so good. I really felt REALLY GOOD! Then I ran the Almond Bowl 10K and I struggled all the way through it. I just didn't feel good then my thighs and calves started cramping. I must have not eaten enough and I ... I just don't know. My last 18 miles was great. My 20 mile run was good too. We finished off with almost 2 mile cool down and I struggled through that even though Vicki and Liz put up with me the whole way. I literally thought I was going to throw up after the 10k.

10.1 miles 1:40:38 or so... then a nice jog to the REAL restrooms put us at 1:44:35 overall and 10.43 miles. We ate a half of a PB&J so I guess I won't be doing that again. Stretched then headed to the start line of the 10K. The race started and I stayed with Liz through the first 4 miles then I shuffled through the last 2 miles. It was SO HARD, to stay focused, not to walk, to slow enough to keep my heart rate down. It was a miserable race. I finished in about 58m and change. Not to hot for me but oh well.

Good Neighbor ran her first 5K today and Rocked it at 34:25! GREAT JOB GN! thats an 11:05 pace. I wish I could have been there to take pictures of you. Next 5K, maybe Fost or Fog?

I'm hoping next weekends Clarksburg run is better. 20 miles again. I'm going with Vicki and Liz and I'll try to keep up.