Well, at least that's what I kept telling myself. Mouse and I were pretty excited and were ready to run. JP came over at a totally ungodly time and drove us downtown. (After he sent a text message saying he was coming over... an hour early. Hon, I told you to set your clock back an hour.)
On our way down, we heard the best song on the radio, "I'm too sexy." Since mouse had on her hot pink, leopard print skirt on we, of course, changed it to, "I'm too sexy for my skirt." Ah yes, nothing like getting ready for a race by singing bad 80's music. Traffic was getting a little congested downtown, so we jumped out of the car and JP went to park. After finding Mo, we sadly had to strip down and check our gear bag. "Brisk morning run, brisk morning run." It was very cold and windy, but honestly, it wasn't as fridged as I had mentally prepared myself for. I opted for shorts and a long sleeve, gloves and a head band to keep my ears warm. It was pretty much perfect most of the race.
The first half was so much fun. Mouse, Mo and I all ran together and were having a great time. The bridge to Canada wasn't that bad. Again, I had mentally prepared myself for The Great Wall of China, so this wasn't too horrible. And, I'm happy to report that small people were not blown off of the bridge. The underwater mile (the tunnel back to the US) was fun, but not quite what it was hyped up to be. I guess we get a certificate with our underwater mile split - mine was 8:17.
Throughout the first half, we were hitting our pace right on (well, at least the miles where the mile markers made sense. There was no way one split was 6:31). Mouse yelled out, "we're right on. Aren't you glad I'm so excited about you hitting your goal time." I told her that it didn't even matter because I was having fun. That was the important part. I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this race, if I would race again, or if I would even finish. So, the fact that it was fun was a victory in itself. (sorry, I'm a little cheesy and have been pretty emotional the last couple of days.)
After the half, we seperated and I went on ahead. The wind sucked ass. Getting onto Belle Isle was absolutely crazy. Most of Belle Isle was abolutely crazy. Getting off of Belle Isle, at mile 20, I started to think I would conserve more energy and go just as fast if I walked. Right as I had made up my mind to walk, the wind was blocked and I could continue on my way. The last six miles were so windy, and we weren't going in the same direction the whole time so it baffled me. At one point, somewhere between mile 24 and 25, it actually stopped me mid-stride. At this point I was on pace for sub 4:00, but I was really starting not to care. Ah yes, the mental battle. Right before mile 25, I looked at my watch and knew it would be close. I knew I wanted it, so I dug down and found some energy in my big toe. My last mile I was totally zoned and feeling good. Right before we got to Ford Field, the spectators made a gauntlet and were cheering like crazy. It was SO cool. Right before I ran into the Ford Field tunnel, JP and my parents were cheering me on to the end. Crossing the finish line - what a feeling. I looked down at my watched and I was 4:00 and some odd seconds. So, I had either just made or just missed sub 4:00 hrs, but it didn't mater. I got really emotional when I finished and the woman who wrapped my mylar blanket around me asked if I was okay. She had no idea. I finished a marathon and had a PR by around 3 minutes. Oh, and I was fucking tired. :)
My splits aren't exactly right and the mile markers weren't exactly right, but here's about where I came in:
9:09
18.17
36:56
6:31
10:59
18:53
9:23
9:31
10:16
7:45
8:30
8:39
8:44
8:59
8:39
9:35
9:29
9:29
9:57
9:33
9:34
It won't add up correctly, but chip time was... 4:00.48 (pace 9:12). No, I didn't go sub 4:00 but I'm blaming it on the wind... :) Seriously, I thought I'd be really hard on myself if I didn't finish under 4:00, but I still PR'd and honestly the wind was a big factor. And, I've decided that I don't hate running. I was seriously thinking I didn't like it anymore. I finised 71/266 in my age group and 1468 overall. Guess I'll have to run another one to go sub 4:00. :)
Thanks to everyone for you support through my training and the well wishes for yesterday's race. I'll continue to run and workout, but I need to focus on getting better. I have a nerve block procedure scheduled for Nov. 9 and I'm ready to do it. It's been pretty bad lately, so I'm anxious for some temporary relief.There hasn't been a day in over a year where I wasn't in pain. I think I'm read for a break. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.
P.S. Walking out of Ford Field is pretty rough. Those stadium stairs up to get out weren't the best thing ever, but again, not what I had mentally prepared myself for so it didn't seem like complete torture.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Ready to run the mean streets of Detroit!
Stupid Blogger. It must know I haven't been active in a while. I just wrote this nice blog about my race tomorrow and now it's gone. Stupid Blogger.
My clothes are laid out, my bag is almost packed, I feel like a lard ass from all the pasta I've been eating and I am practically living in the bathroom from all the water I drink (well, that last part isn't anything new). Yep, I'm tapering and tomorrow is the Detroit Marathon.
Yesterday, I was scared nervous. This evening, I'm excited nervous. What scares me is that I can't remember how it feels to run a marathon. I've done two before, and both times were great (unless I've blocked out the bad memories). But, not knowing is what scares me. Well, that and the fear that I'm going to blow off the bridge to Canada. It's suppose to be quite windy, so the bridge, along the river in Windsor and Belle Isle should be interesting.
Since we're crosing the border, there are extra measures that had to be taken prior to the race. One is if anyone has radiation in their body, they needed to be scanned by Border Patrol at the packet pick-up. Since I've had an MRI in the past year, I had to be checked. So, I walk up to an officer and say, "I've had an MRI in the past year. I hear you have to scan me or something." He looked at me and said, "You must be okay because I'm not going off." Umm.... okaaay... It all made sense when he pulled out a little beeper looking thing and said that I wasn't triggering his alarm. Oh. That's what he meant. ;) So, I don't have to wear a little bracelet to signal to the armed guards at the border that I'm not smuggling harmful substances into their country.
So, my goal time is sub 4:00. My bib is 546. I need to finish packing my bag before heading to bed. Thankfully we gain an extra hour tonight - something I think my friends and family that are coming are more excited about than I am. Thanks to everyone for their support through my training. It's been so encouraging and more helpful than you know.
To anyone running this weekend -- GOOD LUCK! Kick Ass!!!
To anyone who had a race recently -- GREAT JOB!
My clothes are laid out, my bag is almost packed, I feel like a lard ass from all the pasta I've been eating and I am practically living in the bathroom from all the water I drink (well, that last part isn't anything new). Yep, I'm tapering and tomorrow is the Detroit Marathon.
Yesterday, I was scared nervous. This evening, I'm excited nervous. What scares me is that I can't remember how it feels to run a marathon. I've done two before, and both times were great (unless I've blocked out the bad memories). But, not knowing is what scares me. Well, that and the fear that I'm going to blow off the bridge to Canada. It's suppose to be quite windy, so the bridge, along the river in Windsor and Belle Isle should be interesting.
Since we're crosing the border, there are extra measures that had to be taken prior to the race. One is if anyone has radiation in their body, they needed to be scanned by Border Patrol at the packet pick-up. Since I've had an MRI in the past year, I had to be checked. So, I walk up to an officer and say, "I've had an MRI in the past year. I hear you have to scan me or something." He looked at me and said, "You must be okay because I'm not going off." Umm.... okaaay... It all made sense when he pulled out a little beeper looking thing and said that I wasn't triggering his alarm. Oh. That's what he meant. ;) So, I don't have to wear a little bracelet to signal to the armed guards at the border that I'm not smuggling harmful substances into their country.
So, my goal time is sub 4:00. My bib is 546. I need to finish packing my bag before heading to bed. Thankfully we gain an extra hour tonight - something I think my friends and family that are coming are more excited about than I am. Thanks to everyone for their support through my training. It's been so encouraging and more helpful than you know.
To anyone running this weekend -- GOOD LUCK! Kick Ass!!!
To anyone who had a race recently -- GREAT JOB!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Life is Good
First of all, GO TIGERS! It was a great sports weekend - Tiger's game, Michigan/Michigan State game, Wings.
Did my last 20-miler of the training plan on Saturday. It was a beautiful fall day, and the colors were beautiful around the lake. I had a great run, although faster than it should have been (9:09 pace). Oh well, guess I'll just have to make my desired race pace faster... :)
Mile 1 - 9:40
Mile 2 - 9:22
Mile 3 - 9:14
Mile 4 - 8:53
Mile 5-7 - 27:15
Mile 8 - 9:01
Mile 9 - 8:49
Mile 10 - 8:44
Mile 11 - 8:47
Mile 12-14 - 27:11
Mile 15 - 9:40
Mile 16 - 9:05
Mile 17 - 9:23
Mile 18 - 9:28
Mile 19 - 9:31
Mile 20 - 9:20
It felt good, but I wish I had one more month to train. My times are fine, bu I just don't feel strong enough yet. I've just missed so many runs because of my stupid abdomen. And, it's been really bad the last two weeks - I'm actually looking forward to those procedures. Any relief, even temporary, is going to be a welcome change.
Sunday, it was still a beautiful fall day. JP and I went down to my parent's house to pick apples from the orchard and get some veggies out of the garden. It was the perfect day to do it. After being loaded up with bags and bags of food, we thought we had better start using it right away.
We got a head of cabbage, because he thought cabbage rolls sounded good. Now, I like to cook but not necessarily very good at it. So far, I've made pasta for him. If you can't boil water and put in noodles, I don't know what to tell you. But, cabbage rolls!?!?! We made them last night (his with meat, mine with veggie crumbles), and they actually turned out quite well! I was so proud of us! We were eating out too much for my liking, and he eats out way too much, so I told him we need to start cooking more. He told me I was spoiling him too early in our relationship, and now I was going to be stuck cooking all the time. :)
Now, you're probably wondering why I'm blogging at 8am on a Tuesday. Well, today is the 4th annual mother/daughter shopping trip. Every fall, in the middle of the week, my mom and I take a day trip to Frankenmuth to go shopping and just spend time together. I am SO excited. She's going to be here pretty soon, so I better get going. Yay! A whole day of shopping!!!!!
Did my last 20-miler of the training plan on Saturday. It was a beautiful fall day, and the colors were beautiful around the lake. I had a great run, although faster than it should have been (9:09 pace). Oh well, guess I'll just have to make my desired race pace faster... :)
Mile 1 - 9:40
Mile 2 - 9:22
Mile 3 - 9:14
Mile 4 - 8:53
Mile 5-7 - 27:15
Mile 8 - 9:01
Mile 9 - 8:49
Mile 10 - 8:44
Mile 11 - 8:47
Mile 12-14 - 27:11
Mile 15 - 9:40
Mile 16 - 9:05
Mile 17 - 9:23
Mile 18 - 9:28
Mile 19 - 9:31
Mile 20 - 9:20
It felt good, but I wish I had one more month to train. My times are fine, bu I just don't feel strong enough yet. I've just missed so many runs because of my stupid abdomen. And, it's been really bad the last two weeks - I'm actually looking forward to those procedures. Any relief, even temporary, is going to be a welcome change.
Sunday, it was still a beautiful fall day. JP and I went down to my parent's house to pick apples from the orchard and get some veggies out of the garden. It was the perfect day to do it. After being loaded up with bags and bags of food, we thought we had better start using it right away.
We got a head of cabbage, because he thought cabbage rolls sounded good. Now, I like to cook but not necessarily very good at it. So far, I've made pasta for him. If you can't boil water and put in noodles, I don't know what to tell you. But, cabbage rolls!?!?! We made them last night (his with meat, mine with veggie crumbles), and they actually turned out quite well! I was so proud of us! We were eating out too much for my liking, and he eats out way too much, so I told him we need to start cooking more. He told me I was spoiling him too early in our relationship, and now I was going to be stuck cooking all the time. :)
Now, you're probably wondering why I'm blogging at 8am on a Tuesday. Well, today is the 4th annual mother/daughter shopping trip. Every fall, in the middle of the week, my mom and I take a day trip to Frankenmuth to go shopping and just spend time together. I am SO excited. She's going to be here pretty soon, so I better get going. Yay! A whole day of shopping!!!!!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Rookie Mistakes II
Ironically, someone sent this to me today and I had to laugh out loud. Now, I will not claim (or deny) I did any of these things Saturday night:
WHEN GIRLS DRINK TOO MUCH............
1. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE OUR PURSE IS.
2. WE BELIEVE THAT DANCING WITH OUR ARMS OVERHEAD AND WIGGLING OUR BUTT WHILE YELLING "WOO-HOO!" IS TRULY THE SEXIEST DANCE MOVE AROUND.
3. WE'VE SUDDENLY DECIDED THAT WE WANT TO KICK SOMEONE'S ASS AND HONESTLY BELIEVE WE COULD DO IT TOO.
4. IN OUR LAST TRIP TO PEE, WE REALIZE THAT WE NOW LOOK MORE LIKE A HOMELESS HOOKER THAN THE GODDESS WE WERE JUST FOUR HOURS AGO
5. WE START CRYING AND TELLING EVERYONE WE SEE THAT WE LOVE THEM SOOOOO MUCH.
6. WE GET EXTREMELY EXCITED AND JUMP UP AND DOWN EVERY TIME A NEW SONG PLAY'S BECAUSE "OH MY GOD! I LOVE THIS SONG!"
7. WE'VE FOUND A DEEPER/SPIRITUAL SIDE TO THE GEEK SITTING NEXT TO US.
8. WE'VE SUDDENLY TAKEN UP SMOKING AND BECOME REALLY GOOD AT IT.
9. WE YELL AT THE BARTENDER, WHO WE BELIEVE CHEATED US BY GIVING US JUST LEMONADE, BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE WE CAN NO LONGER TASTE THE GIN.
10. WE THINK WE ARE IN BED, BUT OUR PILLOW FEELS STRANGELY LIKE THE KITCHEN FLOOR (or the mop?)
11. WE FAIL TO NOTICE THAT THE TOILET LID'S DOWN WHEN WE SIT ON IT.
12. WE TAKE OUR SHOES OFF BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S THEIR FAULT THAT WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WALKING STRAIGHT.
Ah, yes. Good times. Seriously though, I'm with Cryst@l. This training thing sure is getting in the way of my drinking... :) Really, generally when I'm training alcohol just doesn't have the same appeal. I'd much rather be in bed sleeping.
Had a kick butt workout with Ricky last night (my back, core and calf muscles are sore today!) and an enjoyable 8 mile run tonight. Temps were in the high 60's. I was scheduled to do 10, but it was so dark I couldn't see my hand in front of me and thought it would be best to go in. Thought about finishing on the treadmill, but after such a nice night there was no way in hell I was going to finish inside. I'll probably regret not doing those 2 miles during the race - you know, between 24 and 26... :)
Lots to do tonight - study, work and laundry - so I better get going.
WHEN GIRLS DRINK TOO MUCH............
1. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE OUR PURSE IS.
2. WE BELIEVE THAT DANCING WITH OUR ARMS OVERHEAD AND WIGGLING OUR BUTT WHILE YELLING "WOO-HOO!" IS TRULY THE SEXIEST DANCE MOVE AROUND.
3. WE'VE SUDDENLY DECIDED THAT WE WANT TO KICK SOMEONE'S ASS AND HONESTLY BELIEVE WE COULD DO IT TOO.
4. IN OUR LAST TRIP TO PEE, WE REALIZE THAT WE NOW LOOK MORE LIKE A HOMELESS HOOKER THAN THE GODDESS WE WERE JUST FOUR HOURS AGO
5. WE START CRYING AND TELLING EVERYONE WE SEE THAT WE LOVE THEM SOOOOO MUCH.
6. WE GET EXTREMELY EXCITED AND JUMP UP AND DOWN EVERY TIME A NEW SONG PLAY'S BECAUSE "OH MY GOD! I LOVE THIS SONG!"
7. WE'VE FOUND A DEEPER/SPIRITUAL SIDE TO THE GEEK SITTING NEXT TO US.
8. WE'VE SUDDENLY TAKEN UP SMOKING AND BECOME REALLY GOOD AT IT.
9. WE YELL AT THE BARTENDER, WHO WE BELIEVE CHEATED US BY GIVING US JUST LEMONADE, BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE WE CAN NO LONGER TASTE THE GIN.
10. WE THINK WE ARE IN BED, BUT OUR PILLOW FEELS STRANGELY LIKE THE KITCHEN FLOOR (or the mop?)
11. WE FAIL TO NOTICE THAT THE TOILET LID'S DOWN WHEN WE SIT ON IT.
12. WE TAKE OUR SHOES OFF BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S THEIR FAULT THAT WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WALKING STRAIGHT.
Ah, yes. Good times. Seriously though, I'm with Cryst@l. This training thing sure is getting in the way of my drinking... :) Really, generally when I'm training alcohol just doesn't have the same appeal. I'd much rather be in bed sleeping.
Had a kick butt workout with Ricky last night (my back, core and calf muscles are sore today!) and an enjoyable 8 mile run tonight. Temps were in the high 60's. I was scheduled to do 10, but it was so dark I couldn't see my hand in front of me and thought it would be best to go in. Thought about finishing on the treadmill, but after such a nice night there was no way in hell I was going to finish inside. I'll probably regret not doing those 2 miles during the race - you know, between 24 and 26... :)
Lots to do tonight - study, work and laundry - so I better get going.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Rookie Mistakes
So, Saturday. I got drunk. Really drunk. And, it was stupid (as most "I got drunk" stories typically are).
Mistake #1 - I ran 20 freaking miles. No matter how much you hydrate afterwards, you are going to be dehydrated and probably should not drink excessively.
After waking from a great nap, JP called to say that some people were coming over to his place to watch the game. Sounded good to me. I asked if I should bring some beer (duh, who watches a game without beer?) and he replies, "Hmm. That's a good idea." Okay... I asked if he had dinner of if I needed to eat before I came over. He replies, "Hmm. No, I didn't eat yet. We'll figure it out later." I'm thinking we're going to order pizza or something and don't worry about it. So, which at the store I call to see if I should bring any snacks. "Chips and salsa sound good." Seriously, you invited people over to watch the game and you don't have food or beer!?!?
It ended up just being a few of us, so more beer for me. And, only chips and salsa. Then, we decide we're going out for the night. At midnight.
Mistake #2 - Not eating a hearty meal before a night of drinking. I had 3 beers during the game. They tasted SO good! (And, by the way, shouldn't I be in bed sleeping at midnight after a 20 mile run?)
We went to a weird, basement, lounge-type place to meet up with some of his friends, and ended up only being there for maybe 30 minutes. In that timeframe I slammed 2 drinks. We then moved to a club, where we girls were having a great time dancing. And, drinking several more drinks. I did stick to one liquor that night (I generally get tired of the same drink and (even more stupidly) mix my liquors).
Mistake #3 - Drinking too much.
It didn't seem like a lot, but I was dancing and having a good time. It didn't hit me until it was time to go. Stef and I pretty much passed out in the back seat on the way home. Good think our boys are so good to us - they were a big help in the whole walking thing.
Mistake #4 - I pretty much didn't want to change into my PJs that night, so drinking some water before bed was the furthest thing from my mind. Still dehydrated and becoming more so as the night goes on.
Woke up around 9am with a killer headache. Took some Advil and slept for a few more hours. By 12:30pm I was perfectly fine, except for the fact that I hadn't had a real meal since 3pm the day before. I was SO hungry!!!! We went for breakfast, but after not having food for so long, as soon as it hit my stomach I thought I was going to be ill. Finally, after munching on some dry toast, I was okay and could finish most of my food. (Runny eggs never look good, let alone when you're not feeling well).
Sunday was pretty much a wash, but I did have fun. I felt so dumb for being so stupid, though. You'd think I would have learned by now. Sadly, it wasn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time. :)
Mistake #1 - I ran 20 freaking miles. No matter how much you hydrate afterwards, you are going to be dehydrated and probably should not drink excessively.
After waking from a great nap, JP called to say that some people were coming over to his place to watch the game. Sounded good to me. I asked if I should bring some beer (duh, who watches a game without beer?) and he replies, "Hmm. That's a good idea." Okay... I asked if he had dinner of if I needed to eat before I came over. He replies, "Hmm. No, I didn't eat yet. We'll figure it out later." I'm thinking we're going to order pizza or something and don't worry about it. So, which at the store I call to see if I should bring any snacks. "Chips and salsa sound good." Seriously, you invited people over to watch the game and you don't have food or beer!?!?
It ended up just being a few of us, so more beer for me. And, only chips and salsa. Then, we decide we're going out for the night. At midnight.
Mistake #2 - Not eating a hearty meal before a night of drinking. I had 3 beers during the game. They tasted SO good! (And, by the way, shouldn't I be in bed sleeping at midnight after a 20 mile run?)
We went to a weird, basement, lounge-type place to meet up with some of his friends, and ended up only being there for maybe 30 minutes. In that timeframe I slammed 2 drinks. We then moved to a club, where we girls were having a great time dancing. And, drinking several more drinks. I did stick to one liquor that night (I generally get tired of the same drink and (even more stupidly) mix my liquors).
Mistake #3 - Drinking too much.
It didn't seem like a lot, but I was dancing and having a good time. It didn't hit me until it was time to go. Stef and I pretty much passed out in the back seat on the way home. Good think our boys are so good to us - they were a big help in the whole walking thing.
Mistake #4 - I pretty much didn't want to change into my PJs that night, so drinking some water before bed was the furthest thing from my mind. Still dehydrated and becoming more so as the night goes on.
Woke up around 9am with a killer headache. Took some Advil and slept for a few more hours. By 12:30pm I was perfectly fine, except for the fact that I hadn't had a real meal since 3pm the day before. I was SO hungry!!!! We went for breakfast, but after not having food for so long, as soon as it hit my stomach I thought I was going to be ill. Finally, after munching on some dry toast, I was okay and could finish most of my food. (Runny eggs never look good, let alone when you're not feeling well).
Sunday was pretty much a wash, but I did have fun. I felt so dumb for being so stupid, though. You'd think I would have learned by now. Sadly, it wasn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time. :)
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Running in the (COLD) Rain
Yesterday was exactly one month from race day. It was cold (low 50's) and raining this morning during my 20-miler, but I'm expecting this is what race day will actually be like, so I was strangely glad the weather was a little les than ideal.
I felt pretty good and could have kept going. However, due to the fact that I was getting very bored, my splits towards the end did get a little slower. Splits were as follows:
Mile 1 - 9:27
Mile 2-3 -- 18:32
Mile 4 - 9:13
Mile 5-7 - 27:10
Mile 8 - 9:16
Mile 9 - 9:07
Mile 10-12 --27:01
Mile 13 - 9:17
Mile 14: 9:16
Mile 15: 9:33
Mile 16 - 9:34
Mile 17 - 9:33
Mile 18 - 9:52 (I got run into by a bike during this mile...)
Mile 19 - 9:30
Mile 20 - 9:31
Yes, someone with a bike ran into me towards the end of mile 18. Let me paint the picture for you. I was running one way, there were two people on bikes in the center of the path coming towards me, and another running on his far right also coming towards me. As I get closer to the bikes, I realize that they aren't paying attention and are headed straight for me. I jump to the side of the path but didn't have much room because on the bikers also did the same thing - right before the other woman ran RIGHT INTO me. The other runner reached out to steady the woman on the bike, and she didn't really say anything to me. I was extremely annoyed, to say the least, and continued on my way, cursing softly to myself. About a mile later, there were a bunch of bikes and tents in one of the parking lots along the path. It must have been a Special Olympics type event, because there were several adults learning how to ride a bike, and doing a small obstacle cone course. I realized one of the bikers I encountered on the path was a coach/instructor and one was an athlete. Yes, I felt like complete shit. Other than that, the park was pretty empty and the run was pretty uneventful.
Then, this afternoon I had a girls lunch with some friends from college. One just got engaged, so we were excited to see her rock. Beautiful! It was a perfect day to meet up and have lunch, since the weather was so bad out we didn't mind sitting around for a few hours.
Tonight, we're going to watch the U of M game (somewhere) and maybe hang out with some of his friends. We had dinner with one of my friends and her boyfriend last night and couldn't go out with some of his. I don't want his friends to think I'm keeping him away from them, so I suggested we go out with his friends tonight. Typical boy, we don't know what we're doing yet. :)
Okay, nap time before the evening gets underway!
I felt pretty good and could have kept going. However, due to the fact that I was getting very bored, my splits towards the end did get a little slower. Splits were as follows:
Mile 1 - 9:27
Mile 2-3 -- 18:32
Mile 4 - 9:13
Mile 5-7 - 27:10
Mile 8 - 9:16
Mile 9 - 9:07
Mile 10-12 --27:01
Mile 13 - 9:17
Mile 14: 9:16
Mile 15: 9:33
Mile 16 - 9:34
Mile 17 - 9:33
Mile 18 - 9:52 (I got run into by a bike during this mile...)
Mile 19 - 9:30
Mile 20 - 9:31
Yes, someone with a bike ran into me towards the end of mile 18. Let me paint the picture for you. I was running one way, there were two people on bikes in the center of the path coming towards me, and another running on his far right also coming towards me. As I get closer to the bikes, I realize that they aren't paying attention and are headed straight for me. I jump to the side of the path but didn't have much room because on the bikers also did the same thing - right before the other woman ran RIGHT INTO me. The other runner reached out to steady the woman on the bike, and she didn't really say anything to me. I was extremely annoyed, to say the least, and continued on my way, cursing softly to myself. About a mile later, there were a bunch of bikes and tents in one of the parking lots along the path. It must have been a Special Olympics type event, because there were several adults learning how to ride a bike, and doing a small obstacle cone course. I realized one of the bikers I encountered on the path was a coach/instructor and one was an athlete. Yes, I felt like complete shit. Other than that, the park was pretty empty and the run was pretty uneventful.
Then, this afternoon I had a girls lunch with some friends from college. One just got engaged, so we were excited to see her rock. Beautiful! It was a perfect day to meet up and have lunch, since the weather was so bad out we didn't mind sitting around for a few hours.
Tonight, we're going to watch the U of M game (somewhere) and maybe hang out with some of his friends. We had dinner with one of my friends and her boyfriend last night and couldn't go out with some of his. I don't want his friends to think I'm keeping him away from them, so I suggested we go out with his friends tonight. Typical boy, we don't know what we're doing yet. :)
Okay, nap time before the evening gets underway!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Take a deep breath...
Wednesday was my midterm... I'm not feeling too great about it. Afterwards, I had dinner at JP's with his brother and his brother's girlfriend. My contribution to this meal - a bottle of wine. Trust me, I was ready for a glass (or two)!
Ricky kicked my butt last night! We did a series of weights, with one minute on each machine. After that, we went upstairs on the track (11 laps = 1 mile) to do sprints.
2x 5 laps
2x 4 laps
2x 3 laps
3x 2 laps
This was the workout, but I was hurting and we only did 1x 4 laps. I was so upset that I didn't complete my whole workout. Lots of work to do in (EXACTLY) one month!
Last night I made dinner (a first in a long time), took my time to eat it (instead of scarfing it down while doing a bunch of other things), and went to bed early. It felt so great to get 8 hours of sleep. Yes, that's what I said - 8 whole hours! Over the next month I really need to get my sleep. Yesterday I got overwhelmed with everything going on in my life, and just took a deep breath and realized it's one day at a time. Plus, my abdomen has really been bothering me the past couple of weeks, which hasn't helped with the stress in my life.
Looking forward to a low key weekend. Saturday is my 2nd 20-miler of my training plan. Hopefully it won't be raining out! Hope everyone has a wonderful long run this weekend!
Ricky kicked my butt last night! We did a series of weights, with one minute on each machine. After that, we went upstairs on the track (11 laps = 1 mile) to do sprints.
2x 5 laps
2x 4 laps
2x 3 laps
3x 2 laps
This was the workout, but I was hurting and we only did 1x 4 laps. I was so upset that I didn't complete my whole workout. Lots of work to do in (EXACTLY) one month!
Last night I made dinner (a first in a long time), took my time to eat it (instead of scarfing it down while doing a bunch of other things), and went to bed early. It felt so great to get 8 hours of sleep. Yes, that's what I said - 8 whole hours! Over the next month I really need to get my sleep. Yesterday I got overwhelmed with everything going on in my life, and just took a deep breath and realized it's one day at a time. Plus, my abdomen has really been bothering me the past couple of weeks, which hasn't helped with the stress in my life.
Looking forward to a low key weekend. Saturday is my 2nd 20-miler of my training plan. Hopefully it won't be raining out! Hope everyone has a wonderful long run this weekend!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Where's my cup of coffee?
What's this? A morning post?
Yesterday was a LONG day. After a 10 hour+ day at the office, I just made it in time to meet with Ricky. He kicked my ass! Some light weigths for my legs, ("let's make them tired. Just like mile 18."), 8x uphill runs (approx. 180 m) and lower back. Ah yes, my back. I forget about that sometimes. Whew. It was burning! And, those runs. Man, I was sucking air. My times were pretty fast and he kept telling me to not be afraid of getting tired. I started thinking about that, and he was right. In my head, I kept thinking that I needed to conserve some energy. No way! If I push harder in practice, it'll make me race so much better.
Then grocery shopping, dinner, studying and BED!!!! Yay!!!! Nearly 8 hours of blissful sleep!
My mid-term is tomorrow, so lots of studying tonight. I think I'm pretty much going to collapse in exhaustion that night. This whole going back to school thing is really hard for me. It will be worth it. It will be worth it. It will be worth it. :)
Off for another great day (insert eye roll here!) :)
Yesterday was a LONG day. After a 10 hour+ day at the office, I just made it in time to meet with Ricky. He kicked my ass! Some light weigths for my legs, ("let's make them tired. Just like mile 18."), 8x uphill runs (approx. 180 m) and lower back. Ah yes, my back. I forget about that sometimes. Whew. It was burning! And, those runs. Man, I was sucking air. My times were pretty fast and he kept telling me to not be afraid of getting tired. I started thinking about that, and he was right. In my head, I kept thinking that I needed to conserve some energy. No way! If I push harder in practice, it'll make me race so much better.
Then grocery shopping, dinner, studying and BED!!!! Yay!!!! Nearly 8 hours of blissful sleep!
My mid-term is tomorrow, so lots of studying tonight. I think I'm pretty much going to collapse in exhaustion that night. This whole going back to school thing is really hard for me. It will be worth it. It will be worth it. It will be worth it. :)
Off for another great day (insert eye roll here!) :)
Sunday, September 24, 2006
A small and simple token
Lately, I've been thinking quite a bit about loved ones that have either battled cancer, or were affected by it one way or another. So, it's a little ironic that radioactive girl recently posted about showing your support for cancer research.
This is such a small token, but I'm proud to post three badges that represent lung cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. All three have affected my life. This is by no means a, "jumping on the bandwagon" thing for me - I generally shy away from those things - but it has been on my mind and something that shows my love for family and friends.
This is such a small token, but I'm proud to post three badges that represent lung cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. All three have affected my life. This is by no means a, "jumping on the bandwagon" thing for me - I generally shy away from those things - but it has been on my mind and something that shows my love for family and friends.
Ugh. I am so not ready for Monday!
Why do the weekends go by so quickly? Here, I'm just getting started and it's nearly over. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do for a living. But, I'm just getting a little burnt out and am ready for a vacation. My work load is so heavy right now though, I can't afford to take one. Life in general should slow down after Detroit. I'll be done with class, I'll be done with my race and work should be slowing down a tiny bit. I've always been careful to not wish time away, but I am sure looking forward to Oct. 30!
Let's see... running. Thursday, I had a very good (read: he kicked my ass) workout with Ricky. We did lots of core, weights and a sprint workout (about 2 miles worth). Work that day was exhausting, so it was tough before we even started. But, I got through it and felt better afterwards. I love how a really hard workout always makes me feel so good. It's such a feeling of accomplishment.
Friday, I fully enjoyed my half day vacation and got lots of things done. I opted to do my long run that afternoon since Saturday was booked solid (and, I just wanted to sleep in one Saturday, damn it.) The 12-miles wasn't bad, but I was still tired from my sprinting workout the day before. My watc started freaking out, so I'm not sure of my splits. I was well under 2 hours though, so I'm content.
Yesterday, a friend of mine got married. It was a beautiful ceremony and a really fun reception. My friends loved JP and kept telling me how glad they were that I had found him. They could tell how happy he makes me. I had a sweet little black dress and it's a good thing I got so many compliments -- it made up for the 2 FREAKING hours I struggled taping up my boobs. Seriously, why I thought it was a good idea to get such a plunging neckline is beyond me. And, I don't even have any pictures. After the missing camera at the last wedding, I was afraid to take mine. Oh well, guess we'll just have to go somewhere else where we can dress up.
This morning I did a nice, easy 5-miler. I was getting some really sharp pains in my abdomen earlier today, but the run was okay. I'm really looking forward to getting those injections! Today's agenda: study, study, study. And then early to bed. I didn't get near enough sleep this week and it really caught up to me.
Let's see... running. Thursday, I had a very good (read: he kicked my ass) workout with Ricky. We did lots of core, weights and a sprint workout (about 2 miles worth). Work that day was exhausting, so it was tough before we even started. But, I got through it and felt better afterwards. I love how a really hard workout always makes me feel so good. It's such a feeling of accomplishment.
Friday, I fully enjoyed my half day vacation and got lots of things done. I opted to do my long run that afternoon since Saturday was booked solid (and, I just wanted to sleep in one Saturday, damn it.) The 12-miles wasn't bad, but I was still tired from my sprinting workout the day before. My watc started freaking out, so I'm not sure of my splits. I was well under 2 hours though, so I'm content.
Yesterday, a friend of mine got married. It was a beautiful ceremony and a really fun reception. My friends loved JP and kept telling me how glad they were that I had found him. They could tell how happy he makes me. I had a sweet little black dress and it's a good thing I got so many compliments -- it made up for the 2 FREAKING hours I struggled taping up my boobs. Seriously, why I thought it was a good idea to get such a plunging neckline is beyond me. And, I don't even have any pictures. After the missing camera at the last wedding, I was afraid to take mine. Oh well, guess we'll just have to go somewhere else where we can dress up.
This morning I did a nice, easy 5-miler. I was getting some really sharp pains in my abdomen earlier today, but the run was okay. I'm really looking forward to getting those injections! Today's agenda: study, study, study. And then early to bed. I didn't get near enough sleep this week and it really caught up to me.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Disappointing run
After class, I headed over to the gym to do my scheduled 9-miler. Unfortunaly, that didn't happen. My abdomen has been pretty bad all day, and while running was no exception. I was lucky to get in 4 miles (9:13 pace). Urggghhhh... it's so frustrating. I know, I know. No complaining if I'm going to wait six more weeks to do something about it.
I'm taking a half day vacation on Friday, and really looking forward to it. I could just use a little time for me. I pretty much have my day lined up with errands, a hair cut, etc., but it will be nice to get those things done.
Well, it's getting late and I still have a laundry list of things I wanted to accomplish yet today.
I'm taking a half day vacation on Friday, and really looking forward to it. I could just use a little time for me. I pretty much have my day lined up with errands, a hair cut, etc., but it will be nice to get those things done.
Well, it's getting late and I still have a laundry list of things I wanted to accomplish yet today.
A couple of random thoughts
Here's a few random tidbits on what has been going on in my life lately:
* First, and foremost, thanks for the advice. I have decided that I am going to wait until after the marathon to have the nerve blocks done. Not, entirely, because I'm being stubborn. I could totally have the blocks done now, and continue training. But, I really just want to get through the marathon and then deal with it. And, my class will be done (it's only an 8-week class) for the semester, so life will have slowed down a bit. Ironically, the day I decided this would be my plan, my abdomen hurt like hell. Hmmm... maybe I should reconsider... :) I think if I wait until training and class are over, I won't stress out about what I need to be doing instead of focusing on what's best for my body.
* Ran my first 20-miler of the training plan on Saturday. It wasn't bad, but by the last four miles, I was just ready to be done running. Splits are posted on my sporadically updated log, but it was about a 9:30 pace.
* Studying - it sure is hard to get back into the groove of things. The other night I was up until 2am. I was finally into it and decided that I was going to study until I couldnt' study anymore. My mid-term is next week and I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it.
* Work - I love what I do, but... I. Don't. Want. To. Talk. About. It.
* Michigan football - Go Blue!
* Earlier this week, I experienced the joys of going to get a suite altered. Still not quite sure why I had to be there, but I went because he asked me to go.
Well, class is about to start so I should get going.
* First, and foremost, thanks for the advice. I have decided that I am going to wait until after the marathon to have the nerve blocks done. Not, entirely, because I'm being stubborn. I could totally have the blocks done now, and continue training. But, I really just want to get through the marathon and then deal with it. And, my class will be done (it's only an 8-week class) for the semester, so life will have slowed down a bit. Ironically, the day I decided this would be my plan, my abdomen hurt like hell. Hmmm... maybe I should reconsider... :) I think if I wait until training and class are over, I won't stress out about what I need to be doing instead of focusing on what's best for my body.
* Ran my first 20-miler of the training plan on Saturday. It wasn't bad, but by the last four miles, I was just ready to be done running. Splits are posted on my sporadically updated log, but it was about a 9:30 pace.
* Studying - it sure is hard to get back into the groove of things. The other night I was up until 2am. I was finally into it and decided that I was going to study until I couldnt' study anymore. My mid-term is next week and I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it.
* Work - I love what I do, but... I. Don't. Want. To. Talk. About. It.
* Michigan football - Go Blue!
* Earlier this week, I experienced the joys of going to get a suite altered. Still not quite sure why I had to be there, but I went because he asked me to go.
Well, class is about to start so I should get going.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
A little overwhelmed
whew! It's been a tad crazy in my life lately. My account load at work keeps increasing, training for a marathon, in a new relationship (there. I said it), the never ending health saga, and starting school again. That's a lot. Note to self: take one day at a time.
Last night, I was sitting in class and started thinking, "I don't know about this going back to school thing. I could be doing so many other things right now." I know it'll pay off in the end, but do I really need my MBA...
Oh, a brief digression. Dances With Dirt was SWEET ASS!!!!! I'll have to write more later, but team Pretty 'n Gritty kicked butt! We placed 3rd overall of all-female teams. Yay!
Ran 8-miles tonight and felt good, which was a surprise since I haven't run all week. I came down with a nasty cold after the race, and I wanted to totally heal before running again.
Well, I have dinner plans with the boy so I better get going.
Last night, I was sitting in class and started thinking, "I don't know about this going back to school thing. I could be doing so many other things right now." I know it'll pay off in the end, but do I really need my MBA...
Oh, a brief digression. Dances With Dirt was SWEET ASS!!!!! I'll have to write more later, but team Pretty 'n Gritty kicked butt! We placed 3rd overall of all-female teams. Yay!
Ran 8-miles tonight and felt good, which was a surprise since I haven't run all week. I came down with a nasty cold after the race, and I wanted to totally heal before running again.
Well, I have dinner plans with the boy so I better get going.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Seeking advice
I have a lot on my mind. Since I have become so inconsistent with blogging, I have a lot to share. Work, class, running, JP, Saturday's KICK ASS race, etc. Also, a reflection on this day five years ago is also in order. That will all have to be discussed at a later time. Not that it isn't important, but I have limited time and something more pressing on my mind. Today I went to the Center for Interventional Pain Medicine to discuss a possible nerve block for my pelvic pain. While this may seem unrelated to running, I want to reach out to my fellow running friends for some input.
The evaluation lasted several hours this morning and I stopped by home for a brief moment before headiin to work. Anway... I was evaluated by social worker (I was cleared of depression), talked extensively with a fellow and then spoke with the head anesthesologist. They came with two options for me - medication (which I have already tried) or intervention (i.e. nerve root block). Weighing the pros and cons, I told them that I would be willing to try medication again, only after they reviewed my records to see what the dosage was that messed me up the first time and how the new method would differ. On the other hand, I've been in pain for a long ass time and I want to be agressive with my treatment. They agreed and recommended I do an intervention.
In a nutshell, the procedure would involve a series of three injections - 2 diagnostic and 1 treatment. For the first injection I would be hooked up to an IV and I could be sedated if desired. They would inject an anesthetic into the lumbar of my back (not the spinal cord) and it would be a 30 min. recovery onsite. I'd go home and keep a pain diary for the following 24-hours. They explained the details, which would only put me out for one day. He encourages his patients to go back to work the next day, to see how the treatment is in real world situations, not from laying in bed. We talked about my running, and he was okay with me running the next day. So, I would miss a run the day of the procedure. About a week or so later, I would have the second diagnostic injection. Based on how I responded to the first two injections, it would determine why type of injection I get for my third injection. It could be either a heated-tip needle or steroids. I cringed at steroids and he said they rarely use it. For all injections, they use real-time x-rays to ensure they are hitting the proper nerve.
So, here is my decision. Do I go ahead and get it done now or wait until after Detroit. On one hand, I'm thinking, "hello, what is there to consider? You're in a ton of pain and should jump at a chance of relief. Maybe you can start living pain free again." On the other hand, I'm thinking, "I've busted my ass to get back into shape and there is no way I'm going to risk screwing up my training because of this. I've gone this long, what's another 6-weeks?"
At the same time, both arguments seem completely logical and completely crazy at the same time. I know the decision is mine, but I'd appreciate some input from some runners. After all, only a runner could understand this dilemma.
Well, I need to get to work so I'll post more about the other things going on in my life later. Thanks in advance for your advice!
The evaluation lasted several hours this morning and I stopped by home for a brief moment before headiin to work. Anway... I was evaluated by social worker (I was cleared of depression), talked extensively with a fellow and then spoke with the head anesthesologist. They came with two options for me - medication (which I have already tried) or intervention (i.e. nerve root block). Weighing the pros and cons, I told them that I would be willing to try medication again, only after they reviewed my records to see what the dosage was that messed me up the first time and how the new method would differ. On the other hand, I've been in pain for a long ass time and I want to be agressive with my treatment. They agreed and recommended I do an intervention.
In a nutshell, the procedure would involve a series of three injections - 2 diagnostic and 1 treatment. For the first injection I would be hooked up to an IV and I could be sedated if desired. They would inject an anesthetic into the lumbar of my back (not the spinal cord) and it would be a 30 min. recovery onsite. I'd go home and keep a pain diary for the following 24-hours. They explained the details, which would only put me out for one day. He encourages his patients to go back to work the next day, to see how the treatment is in real world situations, not from laying in bed. We talked about my running, and he was okay with me running the next day. So, I would miss a run the day of the procedure. About a week or so later, I would have the second diagnostic injection. Based on how I responded to the first two injections, it would determine why type of injection I get for my third injection. It could be either a heated-tip needle or steroids. I cringed at steroids and he said they rarely use it. For all injections, they use real-time x-rays to ensure they are hitting the proper nerve.
So, here is my decision. Do I go ahead and get it done now or wait until after Detroit. On one hand, I'm thinking, "hello, what is there to consider? You're in a ton of pain and should jump at a chance of relief. Maybe you can start living pain free again." On the other hand, I'm thinking, "I've busted my ass to get back into shape and there is no way I'm going to risk screwing up my training because of this. I've gone this long, what's another 6-weeks?"
At the same time, both arguments seem completely logical and completely crazy at the same time. I know the decision is mine, but I'd appreciate some input from some runners. After all, only a runner could understand this dilemma.
Well, I need to get to work so I'll post more about the other things going on in my life later. Thanks in advance for your advice!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Yeah, so I think my car is the black hole.
I'm not kidding.
On Saturday, we took my car down to the wedding. JP brought his brand new digital camera, but it ended up staying in the car since I had mine with me. We put his car keys and his camera in the middle storage unit. He drove my car home, and we clearly remember me giving his keys back once we got home. We remember because I had to ask him to turn off my car. He was thinking that his keys were in his hand and didn't realize my car was still running. Yeah, we were pretty tired. Although we don't remember specifically, since he got his keys we are assumming I handed him his camera as well. Even if we didn't, it was in my car when we left Ann Arbor. So, somewhere between my car and his, he lost his camera.
We've both been looking for it since he realized this yesterday. Tonight, after my workout, I looked through my car one more time. I don't have a lot in my car since I'm totally anal rententive, so it's not like it could have gotten lost among a bunch of crap. On the way home from the gym, I listened to my voicemails. However, now I cannot find it. I had mouse call my phone, but I didn't even hear it ringing. Somwhere between my car and my apartment (and I have an attached garage), I lost my phone.
A little freaky. How did two things that were sitting in my car completely vanish? All I have to say is I have to find my phone. I don't have a landline and ALL of my phone numbers are in my phone. If I lose that, I pretty much lose all contact with the outside world. Sad how reliant we've become on cell phones, isn't it?
Nothing else to do but go to bed, as I'm not going to find it tonight. It HAS to be somewhere between my garage and my bedroom. Either that are there's a ghost floating arund somewhere with a digital camera and a cell phone. :)
On Saturday, we took my car down to the wedding. JP brought his brand new digital camera, but it ended up staying in the car since I had mine with me. We put his car keys and his camera in the middle storage unit. He drove my car home, and we clearly remember me giving his keys back once we got home. We remember because I had to ask him to turn off my car. He was thinking that his keys were in his hand and didn't realize my car was still running. Yeah, we were pretty tired. Although we don't remember specifically, since he got his keys we are assumming I handed him his camera as well. Even if we didn't, it was in my car when we left Ann Arbor. So, somewhere between my car and his, he lost his camera.
We've both been looking for it since he realized this yesterday. Tonight, after my workout, I looked through my car one more time. I don't have a lot in my car since I'm totally anal rententive, so it's not like it could have gotten lost among a bunch of crap. On the way home from the gym, I listened to my voicemails. However, now I cannot find it. I had mouse call my phone, but I didn't even hear it ringing. Somwhere between my car and my apartment (and I have an attached garage), I lost my phone.
A little freaky. How did two things that were sitting in my car completely vanish? All I have to say is I have to find my phone. I don't have a landline and ALL of my phone numbers are in my phone. If I lose that, I pretty much lose all contact with the outside world. Sad how reliant we've become on cell phones, isn't it?
Nothing else to do but go to bed, as I'm not going to find it tonight. It HAS to be somewhere between my garage and my bedroom. Either that are there's a ghost floating arund somewhere with a digital camera and a cell phone. :)
Text books are flipping expensive!!!!!!
Today I registered for my first class as I begin the (long) trek to get my MBA. It starts tomorrow. I'm obviously still a bit scatterbrained (hey, I forgot to register okay. people forget things...), so I'm not too sure if I'm ready to do this. I went to the bookstore tonight after work to buy my books. Of course, there weren't any used books left and there isn't enough time to buy it online. I haven't been out of school that long, but I had forgotten how much text books cost. Seriously. One, soft covered book cost me $118!!! Oh, but after I signed my receipt and handed the pen back to the cashier, she goes, "Oh, no. You can keep it. Everyone gets a free pen." Right. This black ink pen (I hate black ink. Can only write with fine tip blue. I know, I'm weird.) more than makes up for the outrageous price of this hunk of paper that you're only going to give me $20 back. Thanks. This "Principles of Microeconomics" better be a good one! :)
Since I didn't leave the office until 7:30pm and I had to go to the bookstore, my run was on the treadmill tonight. A 6-mile pace run, which went by quickly. It's a shame all runs (including the outdoor runs) can't have Sex and the City playing. It went as follows:
2 mile warm up - 9:13 pace (why do treadmills have such odd settings?)
3 mile pace+ - 8:54 pace
1 mile cool down - 9:13 pace
About halfway into it, everyone had left the workout room. Since it was getting late and I didn't think anyone else was going to come in, I took off my shirt and was running in my sports bra and shorts. This guy came in shortly afterwards, but there was no way I was putting on my disgustingly sopping wet shirt back on. Sorry dude. The run felt good, which I need. Lately I've been feeling like I'm just not ready for this marathon. I need to get my head back into the game and quit worrying about how I am going to do. I never should have put a time goal down for my first marathon back. Oh well, it's set now and I still have some time. If I feel like this in another month, I will have to reconsider my goals. For now, I have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Since I didn't leave the office until 7:30pm and I had to go to the bookstore, my run was on the treadmill tonight. A 6-mile pace run, which went by quickly. It's a shame all runs (including the outdoor runs) can't have Sex and the City playing. It went as follows:
2 mile warm up - 9:13 pace (why do treadmills have such odd settings?)
3 mile pace+ - 8:54 pace
1 mile cool down - 9:13 pace
About halfway into it, everyone had left the workout room. Since it was getting late and I didn't think anyone else was going to come in, I took off my shirt and was running in my sports bra and shorts. This guy came in shortly afterwards, but there was no way I was putting on my disgustingly sopping wet shirt back on. Sorry dude. The run felt good, which I need. Lately I've been feeling like I'm just not ready for this marathon. I need to get my head back into the game and quit worrying about how I am going to do. I never should have put a time goal down for my first marathon back. Oh well, it's set now and I still have some time. If I feel like this in another month, I will have to reconsider my goals. For now, I have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Monday, September 04, 2006
What a weekend
This long weekend was pretty fun. Running, weddings, catching up on sleep and just enjoying some down time.
Friday, I worked from home which was a nice start to the weekend. Got a ton done, and was able to have a late lunch with JP. It's so nice that we live so close. Other guys that I have dated have lived far enough away that you couldn't decide to have a spur-of-the-moment lunch.
Saturday morning, I did an 18-miler and it felt okay. My splits weren't awesome, but I'm not going to freak out about it. The weather was cool and overcast - a big change from the scorching heat we had earlier this summer.
Mile 1: 9:56
Mile 2: 9:32
Mile 3: 9:26
Mile 4: 9:29
Mile 5: 9:12
Mile 6: 9:35
Mile 7-9: 28:26
Mile 10: 9:31
Mile 11: 9:23
Mile 12-14: 27:25
Mile 15: 9:33
Mile 16: 9:45
Mile 17: 9:43
Mile 18: 9:31
Later that afternoon, a friend of mine from high school got married. It was in my hometown, and since there was a lot of time between the ceremony and the reception, we went to my parent's so they could meet JP. It went well, and they liked each other. In fact, they invited us to go somewhere with them next weekend. Not sure how I feel about that... :) Surprisingly, I wasn't really nervous about it, but I'm definitely glad it went well! The reception wasn't all that great, so we left around 10:30pm. We had planned on going out with my friends Linds and Jason afterwards, and we ended up at this sweet wine bar. The atmosphere was very cool and the wine was excellent. Plus, it gave us a chance to talk and catch up instead of not being able to hear ourselves think at a club. It also gave my friends and JP a chance to get to know each other. That went well too, and Linds told me I had a keeper. That's always a nice thing to hear. :)
Yesterday, we had lunch with some of his siblings and then took advantage of the nice day by spending it at the metropark. It was a little strange being there and not running, but I have to admit it was kinda nice. For dinner, he took mouse and I out for Indian food. It was SO good and we all ate way too much. We were going to meet up with some of his friends later, but we were both in a food coma and decided to pass. Mmmmmm.... food...
Today we spent a little time together, but didn't do much. This afternoon I went trail running with three of my four teammates for Dances with Dirt. We did about 5 miles and it felt pretty good. The downhills were brutal - the pounding didn't feel all that great on my abdomen. I'm excited for next week's race, but getting a bit nervous. Hopefully I won't get stranded out in the middle of no where!
All in all, a great weekend. Wish it were longer, because I am so not looking forward to going into the office tomorrow.
Friday, I worked from home which was a nice start to the weekend. Got a ton done, and was able to have a late lunch with JP. It's so nice that we live so close. Other guys that I have dated have lived far enough away that you couldn't decide to have a spur-of-the-moment lunch.
Saturday morning, I did an 18-miler and it felt okay. My splits weren't awesome, but I'm not going to freak out about it. The weather was cool and overcast - a big change from the scorching heat we had earlier this summer.
Mile 1: 9:56
Mile 2: 9:32
Mile 3: 9:26
Mile 4: 9:29
Mile 5: 9:12
Mile 6: 9:35
Mile 7-9: 28:26
Mile 10: 9:31
Mile 11: 9:23
Mile 12-14: 27:25
Mile 15: 9:33
Mile 16: 9:45
Mile 17: 9:43
Mile 18: 9:31
Later that afternoon, a friend of mine from high school got married. It was in my hometown, and since there was a lot of time between the ceremony and the reception, we went to my parent's so they could meet JP. It went well, and they liked each other. In fact, they invited us to go somewhere with them next weekend. Not sure how I feel about that... :) Surprisingly, I wasn't really nervous about it, but I'm definitely glad it went well! The reception wasn't all that great, so we left around 10:30pm. We had planned on going out with my friends Linds and Jason afterwards, and we ended up at this sweet wine bar. The atmosphere was very cool and the wine was excellent. Plus, it gave us a chance to talk and catch up instead of not being able to hear ourselves think at a club. It also gave my friends and JP a chance to get to know each other. That went well too, and Linds told me I had a keeper. That's always a nice thing to hear. :)
Yesterday, we had lunch with some of his siblings and then took advantage of the nice day by spending it at the metropark. It was a little strange being there and not running, but I have to admit it was kinda nice. For dinner, he took mouse and I out for Indian food. It was SO good and we all ate way too much. We were going to meet up with some of his friends later, but we were both in a food coma and decided to pass. Mmmmmm.... food...
Today we spent a little time together, but didn't do much. This afternoon I went trail running with three of my four teammates for Dances with Dirt. We did about 5 miles and it felt pretty good. The downhills were brutal - the pounding didn't feel all that great on my abdomen. I'm excited for next week's race, but getting a bit nervous. Hopefully I won't get stranded out in the middle of no where!
All in all, a great weekend. Wish it were longer, because I am so not looking forward to going into the office tomorrow.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Happiness in a bottle
Ah, yes. The little pink pill.
Generally speaking, I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to take anything except for my daily multi-vitamin. However, over the past year, I have come to appreciate a little thing called the pain killer. Now, I am by no means addicted. In fact, I only take it if I am absolutely curled up in the fetal position in pain. But let me tell you - I love my little pink pills. Took one last night and it drifted me over to la la land for a good 8-hours.
Still hurting pretty badly this morning, but it doesn't have the bite it did yesterday. How sad is it when you consider it a good day when the stabbing knives in your abdomen is a little less intense? Well, that's my life and I can't let it stop my world from turning. Today is a new day, and one that, I hope, will be filled with sunshine.
Generally speaking, I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to take anything except for my daily multi-vitamin. However, over the past year, I have come to appreciate a little thing called the pain killer. Now, I am by no means addicted. In fact, I only take it if I am absolutely curled up in the fetal position in pain. But let me tell you - I love my little pink pills. Took one last night and it drifted me over to la la land for a good 8-hours.
Still hurting pretty badly this morning, but it doesn't have the bite it did yesterday. How sad is it when you consider it a good day when the stabbing knives in your abdomen is a little less intense? Well, that's my life and I can't let it stop my world from turning. Today is a new day, and one that, I hope, will be filled with sunshine.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Catching up
I'm a little behind on my posts. I'll sum up, briefly, what I've been up to lately.
The Crim was a very cool race. I saw some very impressive parts of Flint, and experienced the Bradley Hills. They actually weren't as bad as I anticipated, but any hills at mile 5 of a 10 mile race is never great. It was super humid, and during my warm up I was already sweating like crazy. Mouse and Elizabeth met up at the race, so I got to meet her. So fun! The first 6 miles weren't bad. Mile 7-9, not so much. The most disappointing part wasn't my time (8:55 pace), but that I didn't have fun. Running, especially races, are suppose to be FUN. I wasn't relaxed, and definitely didn't have my head in the game. I just now had a chance to look at how I did. In my age group, I placed 117 out of 437. Pleasant surprise.
The worst part of that day was about 2 hours afterwards. Mouse and I did a 3 mile cool down to get our mileage in for the day. (The whole time I was thinking, "when did I become that kind of runner? Run a 10 mile race and then go run more for fun!?!") Then, we met up with Elizabeth at the food/beer tent to cash in our ticket for a free beer and pizza. My abdomen had been bothering me during the race, but not so severe I had to stop. Now was a different story. While the girls were chatting, I went outside to get some fresh air. Soon my abdomen hurt so badly, I was literally laying down on the blacktop. There was no way I was walking anywhere. After a bit it passed, but in the interest of not getting killed, Mouse drove us back home.
That night we went to German Park to drink buckets of beer. We were all dragging due to the race, but had fun regardless. Seriously though. Can you have a bad time with a bucket of beer in front of you, with a straw sticking out of it to make the drinking easier? (thanks to Nat for bringing me a straw!!! I LOVED it!!!)
Sunday, I was bound and determined that I was going to get my butt into gear. I was going to take the Crim as a benchmark as to how I am doing and what I need to accomplish before Detroit. I went out for an 8-mile run (9:45 pace) and felt fine.
Monday I didn't make it out of bed in time to workout. I had an appointment at U of M to see what options I had left. He gave me two: a nerve block or surgery. I went for the nerve block. Not super excited, but it was the less invasive of the two. September 11 is my evaluation appointment, which lasts 2-4 hours. I'm a little apprehensive as to why it will take that long. Everyone is trying to get me to change the date though - they said it wasn't a good date to be doing anything like that. I wasn't in the best of moods when I got to work, but hey, I'm sick and tired of this effecting my life and I guess I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get my life back to normal.
Ricky kicked my ass with a great workout that night though. Movement and laps - it was just one of those tough workouts that make you feel so accomplished afterwards.
Tuesday, I ran a 6-miler (8:41 pace) and, again, felt pretty good. My confidence started to slowly come back.
Tonight, I was set to meet with Ricky, as usual. My abdomen has been bothering me pretty badly the last couple of days. He could tell I was in a lot of pain, but I didn't want to admit defeat. I agreed to bump down the intensity, because there was no way I was going to get in the quality of workout I should. Half an hour into our workout, he stopped and told me to go home. I was so damn upset. Not at him, he's just looking out for me, but at myself. I feel like such a wimp because I couldn't do my workout. Suck it up - right...?
I am sick and tired of it interfering with my life. Not sure what the doctors will say on the 11th, they may decided I'm not a candidate for a nerve block. If that were to happen, the only thing left is a scope of my pelvic area. Why didn't any of the other treatments work? What could I have done differently? What the fuck is wrong with me? Will they be able to fix me? I think I'm just going to take a pain pill and go to bed early tonight.
Well, I need to end this on a happy note. So, here's a little ray of sunshine. Things with the JP are going very well. He's meeting my parents this weekend - but it is not a big deal. We're going to be down there for a wedding on Saturday and we'll have to go by to get up to Ann Arbor for the reception. So, we'll see how that goes. I'm okay about it now, but I'm sure Saturday I'll start freaking out. I've met most of his siblings now, and the word back is they like me. Mouse is convinced we're going to get married. I'm not sure about that, but I'm having fun and things are going well. I figure don't stress about it and just enjoy the ride.
The Crim was a very cool race. I saw some very impressive parts of Flint, and experienced the Bradley Hills. They actually weren't as bad as I anticipated, but any hills at mile 5 of a 10 mile race is never great. It was super humid, and during my warm up I was already sweating like crazy. Mouse and Elizabeth met up at the race, so I got to meet her. So fun! The first 6 miles weren't bad. Mile 7-9, not so much. The most disappointing part wasn't my time (8:55 pace), but that I didn't have fun. Running, especially races, are suppose to be FUN. I wasn't relaxed, and definitely didn't have my head in the game. I just now had a chance to look at how I did. In my age group, I placed 117 out of 437. Pleasant surprise.
The worst part of that day was about 2 hours afterwards. Mouse and I did a 3 mile cool down to get our mileage in for the day. (The whole time I was thinking, "when did I become that kind of runner? Run a 10 mile race and then go run more for fun!?!") Then, we met up with Elizabeth at the food/beer tent to cash in our ticket for a free beer and pizza. My abdomen had been bothering me during the race, but not so severe I had to stop. Now was a different story. While the girls were chatting, I went outside to get some fresh air. Soon my abdomen hurt so badly, I was literally laying down on the blacktop. There was no way I was walking anywhere. After a bit it passed, but in the interest of not getting killed, Mouse drove us back home.
That night we went to German Park to drink buckets of beer. We were all dragging due to the race, but had fun regardless. Seriously though. Can you have a bad time with a bucket of beer in front of you, with a straw sticking out of it to make the drinking easier? (thanks to Nat for bringing me a straw!!! I LOVED it!!!)
Sunday, I was bound and determined that I was going to get my butt into gear. I was going to take the Crim as a benchmark as to how I am doing and what I need to accomplish before Detroit. I went out for an 8-mile run (9:45 pace) and felt fine.
Monday I didn't make it out of bed in time to workout. I had an appointment at U of M to see what options I had left. He gave me two: a nerve block or surgery. I went for the nerve block. Not super excited, but it was the less invasive of the two. September 11 is my evaluation appointment, which lasts 2-4 hours. I'm a little apprehensive as to why it will take that long. Everyone is trying to get me to change the date though - they said it wasn't a good date to be doing anything like that. I wasn't in the best of moods when I got to work, but hey, I'm sick and tired of this effecting my life and I guess I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get my life back to normal.
Ricky kicked my ass with a great workout that night though. Movement and laps - it was just one of those tough workouts that make you feel so accomplished afterwards.
Tuesday, I ran a 6-miler (8:41 pace) and, again, felt pretty good. My confidence started to slowly come back.
Tonight, I was set to meet with Ricky, as usual. My abdomen has been bothering me pretty badly the last couple of days. He could tell I was in a lot of pain, but I didn't want to admit defeat. I agreed to bump down the intensity, because there was no way I was going to get in the quality of workout I should. Half an hour into our workout, he stopped and told me to go home. I was so damn upset. Not at him, he's just looking out for me, but at myself. I feel like such a wimp because I couldn't do my workout. Suck it up - right...?
I am sick and tired of it interfering with my life. Not sure what the doctors will say on the 11th, they may decided I'm not a candidate for a nerve block. If that were to happen, the only thing left is a scope of my pelvic area. Why didn't any of the other treatments work? What could I have done differently? What the fuck is wrong with me? Will they be able to fix me? I think I'm just going to take a pain pill and go to bed early tonight.
Well, I need to end this on a happy note. So, here's a little ray of sunshine. Things with the JP are going very well. He's meeting my parents this weekend - but it is not a big deal. We're going to be down there for a wedding on Saturday and we'll have to go by to get up to Ann Arbor for the reception. So, we'll see how that goes. I'm okay about it now, but I'm sure Saturday I'll start freaking out. I've met most of his siblings now, and the word back is they like me. Mouse is convinced we're going to get married. I'm not sure about that, but I'm having fun and things are going well. I figure don't stress about it and just enjoy the ride.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
