1 Mile In and An Admission of Defeat

I am not really happy with my run this morning. I made a couple of mistakes, no food, slightly dehydrated, really tired. I was having a hard time. Not a good running day. On top of that I stopped at my 1 mile mark that I marked in my car last night. My sensor is off by 10%, what does that mean to me? I don't have the pace I thought I did, I'm a ways off, 1 minute and that is significant. Technology and no fuel, perfect combo this morning to destroy a great morning to run. I admit defeat today.

Oh well, tomorrow, the road and I will have a re-match and I will conquer! Even if I don't have the pace I'd like, I will get there! I have only been running 5 months,I'm under 5 foot so my legs can't get the beautiful stride of a tall person, and I can't expect to be fast right out of the gate. I am still running, and on a reconstructed knee that they told me I might not ever be able to run on again. I have that to be thankful for. I am running.

My support cheerleader in Belgium is pushing me on, having his own low pace issues right now. Funny, I don't even know his name, but I know he has 2 boys, he's my age and he runs A LOT! I look forward to his comments and when I'm down, he's always there with something uplifting. I don't get support like that at home, so for him to be there and let me know I'm doing well and this is a wall we all hit, it helps. Maybe, it's a runner to runner thing and I'd never have that support from anyone else but another distance runner who knows exactly, or at least close to how I'm feeling. I see now why runners are a different breed, friendly with other runners. No judgements, only support.

On another note, I'm starting to seriously consider joining a running club. I need something to push me harder. I have a low pace buddy, but Likra, my buddy in Belgium, suggested I also find a fast pace buddy, someone that will get me to push a little harder and get my engines revving.

Considering another blog for work musings

OK, so I finished my entry for the day, and the guys start in again, I just really have to sit and laugh. The conversations here are amazingly crazy. I do not easily offend, good thing! They were talking about "Magic Dust" and it's ability to regenerate fingers, then they got into their hypothetical debate and if someone offered you X amount of money would you cut your manhood off and see if the Magic Dust worked. Now, it's "Throw out your viagra, electric stimulation is the way to go." Mike sits quietly watching whatever movie of the day, I'm typing away here and both of us shake our heads at the bizarre conversations between Sheppy and Scott. Oh, I also found out, from Scott's haphazard web surfing that Michael Jackson needs a new lung. Think that is karma?

Wasted weekend and a warm winter

I didn't get out to run this weekend and I feel like a worthless pile for it, but the holidays are almost over and the chaos will be dying down. Saturday I had every intention of getting a good run in, but after a midnight shopping trip the night before I found out the last gym set for the boys was in Sanford, so I made the early morning trek to Sanford to get the gym set. After I got back I had enough time to have breakfast before heading off to get my bi-monthly massage. I, of course, couldn't run after that! However, we did get another trip into Orlando! Cody and Brendan spent some Christmas money at Downtown Disney. Cody has a huge love of Legos these days, and of course, Lego Trains and Fire Stations! $350 later we left Lego and went down to Once Upon a Toy to build a Potato Head and find some fun stuff for Brendan.

Sunday wasn't much better for me. I slept in (OOPS) and the boys got up very shortly after I did, so no morning run for me! We did get around and went to see Santa though. Neither of the boys flipped out this year! Cody is all excited about Christmas and Santa and all that stuff, and horrible mom that I am, I haven't wrapped a single gift to put under the tree. I need to make sure their Nana can watch them so I can get everything wrapped that needs to be wrapped. I also need to figure out what to do Christmas Eve, I work so I won't get home until after 6, and we need to bake cookies for Santa (Cody loves using cookie cutters and decorating his choo choo cookies.) I'm sure Brendan will help out in eating the cookies we don't put out for Santa!

I'm still having a hard time adapting to Christmas in Florida. I don't know if it is from growing up in the Midwest, but I feel like it should be cold over Christmas. I got all excited today when I let Copper out and it was cold, I also immediately scolded myself for not being out running in such perfect weather. I checked the weather and this little cold snap will be history tomorrow. Christmas day the forecast is for sun and highs around 80.

I am hoping to run tonight (which is why I slept in this morning) after I get my new shoes! I'm so excited, I checked UPS this morning and they have been delivered!!! I'm waiting on Sueann to see if she is willing to cut her doctor recommended rest by 1.5 days, I know I'm a bad influence! I don't know how my body will handle going back to night running, I normally can't do it because of child care issues, but since this is the holidays and everyone but me is home...

Friday, Friday and 45 minutes on the road!

OK, leg pain...gone! I couldn't wait to hit the road this morning in my original insoles! I still have some achy pain in my knee, but I take it with a grain of salt, because my left knee is fine, it's only in my right which is the reconstructed knee.

I slowed through my run, but I think I jumped out the gate a little excited and on an empty stomach, so I slowed down as I fatigued some. The weather was great. 56 degrees, cool misty fog and Christmas lights! I really could have run longer, but I have to work, so I have to make time for a shower! I'm going to try for an hour in the morning, if I have time before my massage, then see Sunday just how long I can run before I tire out, think I'm going to buy a fuel belt today so I can have water and accelerade with me and some gels or chews. I'm so excited!! I actually have graduated to needing a fuel belt for my long runs!!! Space Coast Half and OKC Memorial Marathon, I'm on my way!!

On another note, my friend down stairs, Joann, the one I have to reset the writer on her printer called this morning to have the writer restarted on her printer. I was teasing her and said while you're printing cards, why don't you print mine up! She laughed and said that's funny, I got your paperwork this morning! I ran down and got my card, however, no gym access until 2/7/09..UGH!

I also bought this very cute Under Armour shirt (see below, but I bought it in short sleeve) and some cute Hind capri running pants. I was going to get a hydration belt for my longer runs, but settled for a bottle with a hand strap and zipper pouch for my gels and chews. I really need to try a few, they only have the fuel belt which feels heavy and doesn't seem like it would breath as well as I'd like, plus I need a pouch for my cell and there wasn't room on it...so I'll shop around. Well, time is running short, I get to move some very large scanners (our medical offices are going paperless) to the Edgewater Facility so they can scan in all their charts!

Oh my feet are in love!

OK...I went to Spikes, I took my old Saucony ProGrid Triumph 5s with me. They looked at my wear patterns. They said there is NOTHING wrong with my gait, the wear patterns show that the shoe is wearing like they'd expect, they also checked the shoe, the cushion was consistent with my mileage and they had not blown out on me as I had thought! It turns out, it's my orthotics causing the issue - say goodbye to those! I also found out I was in an elite shoe, one that is supposed to last to 500 miles! No wonder they were 130!

So, I decided to stay with my current shoes, they are extremely comfortable and they have a nice ride, no black toe, no blisters, the perfect shoe. I am keeping my 5s and I'm the proud owner of the ProGrid Triumph 6s. I tried on the Brooks Defiance, I like them, but they aren't as comfortable as the Sauconys and those long runs getting longer, I really need to not feel the beating of my joints. I did decide I am not that big of a fan of Mizuno Wave Riders, I had tried the 10 before, bypassed it for the Triumphs, now I've tried the newest model and again bypassed for the Triumphs.

Now, to find the insoles to my Sauconys...ugh! I want to run in the morning, but, I have to find the insoles!!! I should also check to see if the days of 5% visibility are gone, it's been major foggy lately!

The conversation at work today is running based...Sheppy smokes, Scott has bet him he can't run a mile without losing a lung, I of course was like, let's go! I said c'mon Sheppy, 10 minutes...that's the most it would take to do a mile, he won't do it! Scott will eventually wear him down, he's good at that, harrassing until you give in to his demands. Sheppy just makes vulgar hand signals when ever Scott gets going, but I know Scott will wear him down!! I'm in on this challenge, we can all line up and go...Scott and I are around the same pace, but if I'm only running a mile I can push harder and beat him, he only runs a mile, I can run 6 at his pace.


The old!

The new!

So maybe, just maybe I do have something to say

I'm sitting at work and the conversation behind me has taken a for more perverse turn than normal. Sometimes, I wonder what men sit around and think about when they start asking hypothetical, if someone offered you a million dollars would you questions. I sat here with my jaw open shocked at the pure nastiness of the hypothetical questions, each one getting progressively more disgusting. You do learn a lot about your co-workers, by just listening to what they talk about though and the things that they say they would do for money. I would have to say everything they listed pretty much had a gag factor of 100!

On another note, the purchase of our small little insurance company/medical offices looks like it is a done deal. We got a letter from our CEO that the acquisition would be complete on the 31st of this month and we will officially be part of BCBS of Florida. I hope we don't lose our wellness plan, I want to have that free access to any gym in my area perk, even if I'm still waiting on my insurance card. You know, I know the lady (Joann) who prints out the cards (I have to restart the writer on the print server every time she prints cards) maybe I can get mine a little faster. I just completed my compliance and HIPAA training so now my insurance should kick in, it all hinged on me completing that course.

Whew, well, it's close to quitting time, I have to decide on dinner, Kevin has asked for LJS or Arbys (I must look up nutritional info.) I think he likes me working in Daytona since that is fast food we don't have by us. I'm being nice and getting it today because as I type he is on his way to the doctor to get himself neutered. No more kids for us!!!!

Slow week and injuries

I haven't been blogging this week, I am dealing with a calf issue and not running. I figure I will let it rest, at least until Friday! I'm going to get new shoes tomorrow!! I am a little torn on the shoes, but I think I know which ones I'm going to get, but I'm going to try some Mizunos also. I will be back this weekend.

Bad day for a run

OK, so I went to go run this morning, not a lot of motivation, my calf pain is bothering me and I knew I should take the day off, but I hadn't run but 2.35 miles all week. I get to the park, Sueann and I warm up and stretch (this is something new) and we set off on our run. Her shin is bothering her and my calves are tight. We get 1.5 miles into our run and my iPod locked up and I lost our run data. I was upset, and I mean upset! To make matters worse, my calf now feels like a knife is stuck through it, the discomfort is becoming unbearable and I feel like I am crawling along. Sueann's slowing way down from her shin, so I give in and told her to walk. We walked, ran some more, walked, ran the rest of the way back. I saw the pace of our run before giving up, and I was agitated with myself. Hopefully, my next long run is much better.

Fittings and a drunk santa or 50!

Today was a running day, although there wasn't a lot of running involved! We went to Track Shack in Orlando to get fitted, I was recommended the Saucony Ride and some Asics GEL-Landreth 4s. I liked the Sauconys there, I bought some fuel stuff to test and got some free samples of Accelerade. I was also told I had rigid calves. I asked if that was good or bad, she said they are really strong, which is good, but I will have to stretch them a lot which is the bad part.

We decided then to go to Front Running, this is the top store in central Florida for running and tri-athlete's. This is a store that video tapes you. They really slowed my running down on playback and noticed where they thought I was neutral at normal speed, they noticed I was ever other step rolling a little. So they recommended a light stability shoe. They put me in a Saucony Hurricane, nice for a cushy shoe, Saucony ProGrid Guide, and Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8, a little more stiff, and I really think this might be my next shoe. They also had me try on some cute pink Pearl Izumi's, but they didn't feel perfect. I just got some new Balega socks and paid my entry for the Catch Me if You Can 5K, and noted the shoes. I might just be there next week to purchase them!

We are going to a Mizuno precision fit Friday, so after that I will make my decision on shoes.

Onto the subject matter I'm sure got everyone interested in. Sueann and I ran in the Running of the Santas. We went and bought some toys (the entry fee was a new unwrapped toy) and laced up our now old about to be replaced running shoes and took the kids out and ran. Well, there were a lot of people pouring out of the bars to come participate. Our kids were the only ones in it! Poor Brendan and his back eye got some attention and I begrudgingly took a pic, I wish we could have done Christmas pics and actually sent out Christmas cards this year, but...

Cold weather and a run for Cody!

Well, it was perfect running weather when it was time for me to go to work, I was far too tired to get up for my run and could honestly have slept a couple more hours had I not had to go to work. I'm hoping it will hold out for the weekend so I can run, run, run! The severe weather brought back the more seasonal weather and got the heat out of town for a few days. I will run tomorrow! I have a lot to get done before Christmas, stocking stuffers to buy, a couple more presents, and of course the big present, a big playset for the backyard for the boys.

Looks like if the weather is OK tomorrow, I will be taking the boys to do the Running of the Santas. I know Cody will love it! Brendan, not so much since he will have to be in a stroller and he prefers walking! It's only 1.5 blocks, so it's perfect for Cody!

I don't have a lot going on today, so this will be short and sweet, I'm sure tomorrow will have more, and hopefully pictures!

Severe weather and thoughts of Key West

Thursday, wondrous Thursday! We are under a tornado watch here in Volusia county until noon. With this severe weather, we get our nice cooler weather back! The 68 degrees and humidity from yesterday's run kept me from running this morning. It was 72 and way humid as we have severe thunderstorms rolling in. I'm sitting here in my office, staring out the window at the clouds, which appear to be moving ENE, strange since the storms are coming from the WNW, I would expect ESE. However, I'm not a meteorologist, so I will leave the weather up to them!!!

On my way to work today, I remembered Jason and Stacy are wanting to do Key West this year. I immediately panicked. OMG, what if it is over the end of February! I don't know of anymore 10Ks. I have an issue it appears! OK, back from my distraction (yes I was mapping runs in Key West!) I guess I will wait and see...I e-mailed to find out.

On another note I got subpoenaed this morning, doorbell rings at 6:45 and there is a Sheriff's deputy at my door. It appears the idiot who hit me is pleading not guilty! Um...do you need to go back and look at the accident site and my car? There is still red paint down the barrier and red paint on the back of my car!

Musings on my impending birthday

OK, so I'm turning 34. I have no plans, no wants, nothing for my upcoming birthday. It feels like just another day to me this year. It's on a Sunday (I had to peek at a calendar) and I think my big birthday treat will be to run 7 - 8 miles that morning and a couple of packets of my favorite energy gel, one for the start, one for the middle and a BIG bottle of water! I don't know, maybe it is the fact that I only have a couple of friends locally or maybe that we just don't have the money to do anything. Tanya is in Tampa, Shawn is in Orlando (plus I haven't talked to her in forever - shame on ME!) Emily is in Norway, Stacy, Lara, Nicolee are in OKC. I wish everyone was here! I'd probably be excited then. I also think since I've been running, partying hasn't had the same appeal. Whoa! Did I just say that?? Maybe I've become too focused and I'm not having enough fun. I think I'll sit this year out and hope for something big for my 35th! I will hopefully be at goal weight so I could go out and not be worried about if I look fat or are they staring at me because I look frumpy.

Soggy morning run

I ran this morning, a short run (2.35 miles,) a little disappointed by it. I maintained a good pace, a little faster than normal, but it started raining on me. I was hoping to get 4.5 - 5 miles in this morning. It is supposed to rain tomorrow, so I'm taking tomorrow off. I am hoping to run Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sunday I'm wanting to up the mileage to 7. I got in 6.3 this past Sunday, so I probably should only go for 6.75 miles, we'll see how I feel. I really need to find a track to do my tempo runs and fartleks to get ready for my 10K. I still have 3 - 4 5K races before my 10K, but I'd like to improve speed for them, I already have my distance down for the 10K, but would like to be running 8 - 10 miles solidly before the race. (This is also putting me on goal for my half marathon in November and hopefully on goal for my full marathon in 04/2010)

Thoughts from this mornings runs:
Black eyes and Christmas pictures. Brendan fell and hit the subwoofer, he has a black eye, putting off any hope of Christmas pictures to send out. Maybe next year we won't be so crazed and be able to get pictures done and sent out.

My dad. I know he's getting older, but I never had a grandfather and I really want my kids to remember him from more than pictures, besides he is my dad I don't want to lose him. This aortic aneurysm is a scary thing.

Sidewalks and Ahole drivers. I am not running on anymore sidewalks! Our sidewalks that run down the main road in our neighborhood are cracked and broken and uneven, very dangerous! Jerks that sit in your path and peel out when you go to run around the back of them. Another reason I'm done with sidewalks!

Insurance. I really need to turn the forms in at work and get on the wellness program so I have a treadmill at my disposal for when things start heating up and for tempo, hills and fartleks. A little cross training wouldn't hurt either

Cross training. I really need to start working out again, not just running. I lose better when I'm doing a little kickboxing and weights in addition to running. I really should put that very nice, but very torturous device in the garage we call an elliptical back into use.