B.S.C.

Fitness Friday

I thought I'd start the year off with a new friday blog with a re cap of my fitness for the week.  It's mainly about keeping me accountable for what I want to accomplish fitness-wise this year and to keep track of my road to running recovery.  

With Gracie being sick this week, I only worked out 3 days.  

Tuesday-swim 1550 yards

Thursday- ran a slow mile, walked a slow mile

Friday- 1 hour spin class and an hour hot hatha yoga (which I haven't done since last feb I think--It felt sooooo good) I had kind of a hippy dippy instructor and I have to say I loved her.  She really helped me let go of a work thing that has been weighing on my mind since wednesday.  I feel much lighter. I almost cried.

My feet feel pretty good.  I iced in between spin and yoga. Loving my new shoes so far. So I didn't really start the new year back with a workout bang, but I feel really good about starting back with running...even if it is short and slow!

Eric finally made it home sometime in the wee hours of the morning.  I vaguely remember grunting a "glad you're home" when he arrived and I may have grunted a "have a nice day" when he left at the crack of dawn this morning. That man could use a break!  

Gracie made it to school today.  I am sure she's coughing away and will be wiped out tonight.  

Annie is all about taking care of her hair on her own this week.  Her part wasn't cooperating this morning..."I look so DUMB!!!!!!"  she cried.  Oh my.  We are so screwed with that kid. 

father's day and this and that

**this morning annie looked in the mirror and said "i think i'm having a bad hair day"

to which gracie replied "it looks like THAT EVERY DAY."

and annie said "well, THANKS sissy."

all said with great sarcasm.  i laughed hysterically. the apples don't fall far from the trees sometimes.

**we're watching true grit right now.  i feel like we're doing something illegal.  we hardly ever watch a movie let alone on a "school night." fortunately i have busy work to do while watching like, folding laundry, blogging, cutting out box tops (joy) and cutting out letters for VBS decorations.  

let me just tell you that if you think helping on the vbs decoration committee gets you out of actually teaching at VBS...well...you thought wrong.  

i'm in charge of a 2nd grade class.  not a helper, not doing crafts.  in charge.  now who thought that was a good idea?

**i did something crazy and unlike me.  i got in the bod pod at the club this evening.  it's this pod thing that measures weight and percentage of lean muscle mass.  it told me i needed to lose 6 pounds.

i promptly came home and ate a gallon of ice cream to drown my sorrows (not really, we didn't have any in the house). 

**i've been thinking a lot about my run last friday and why it was so, so bad.  i felt like there had to be other reasons, aside from my shoes, that were part of my demise.  

do you think that, maybe just maybe, eating a theo dark chocolate bar with almond and cranberries in place of lunch or half of your child's chocolate easter bunny in place of dinner is not proper nutrition?

**we spent father's day weekend at the townhome. had a nice lazy saturday and invited some  new friends over for dinner since eric said i was cooking enough for 10. 

on the menu:  grilled new york and filet mignon, grilled garlic shrimp, grilled asparagus, homemade mac and cheese (you can find it here. it made a ton but we ate most of it.  it was so good and the kids liked it too. it will become a townhome side dish staple) cilantro butter for the corn on the cob the neighbors brought, a corn, tomato and cilantro salad

and cheesecake bars with chocolate ganache.  uh yeah, will be making these again. and again and again and again.  and surprisingly, 3 out of the 4 kids ate them.  once guess as to who wouldn't eat the rest of hers.  apparently it was "too chocolatey."  turd.

we ate our dessert at the neighbors and the kids made s'mores around their cool little fire pit.

and while making their s'mores, they got an education in what happens when crazy aunt sally drinks too much at the wedding that was being held at the club house-dances off on to the golf course by herself and then trots around the corner to secretly suck on a lug rocket.  so you know, we also got in a lesson about the deadliness of cancer sticks.  

always valuable. 

and us adults had a great evening entertainment with the fine selection of music being played by the dj. i guess there were some famous pro football players there. 

we didn't get the kids to bed until 10:30 that night.  

the next morning annie gave eric a special father's day treat by waking up at 5:30. fortunately she sandwiched her way in between us and managed to successfully hog the king sized bed for the next two hours. 

sunday brought beautiful blue sky and some pool time.  and all of us counting the days until we head back. 

 

heather and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, worst run EVAH...

with the rock and roll half looming over my head...only a mere 8 days away, my training plan (that i have not been following) said i needed to go 12 miles this weekend. being that it's father's day, i really didn't want to cut into e's "weekend" so i set out to run it today. i went into work, ran a gazillion errands, came home and sighed a big sigh.  i knew i had to run but i REALLY didn't want to.

i set out any way, thinking i'd go 13. around 4 miles i thought it was possible then around 5-6 my feet started to fall asleep in my new shoes and my toes started to hurt.  then my arch began to hurt and i was so uncomfortable that i stopped at 8 miles and walked the last mile home.  

the walk of shame.  i actually went the back way to my house. i was so embarrassed. i usually stay on main roads.  i don't like to run the back way. you never know who might chop you up into tiny pieces.  hey, it happens.

when i got home i took my shoes off an found a blister on one of my toes and my feet were super sore.  REALLY glad i took a run outside in those new shoes to break them in.  

so then i ran to the store cause i had to get some grocery shopping done for father's day weekend at happy place.  

i probably should have looked at myself a little closer in the mirror cause i might have noticed my smudged mascara (no i don't work out with make up, but remember i had to go to work this morning and i needed to make myself look somewhat presentable) and the crusty flakes of sweaty sunscreen that covered my face.  it was not good. 

when i finally got home and prepared to shower, i realized there had been some chafing that went on.

in some unmentionable parts.  

it's not good people. 

and sitting in the car for  3+ hours this evening didn't help.  

 

this and that

haven't been too crafty as of late.  just a little bit here and there

made this little bunting banner for some bundt cakes that i made for a staff appreciation last week

that my friends, is wine cake- not necessarily a visual wonder but seriously so good i could polish off almost a whole cake.  ok, i've never really tried to do that but i am sure if i set my mind to it...

a little running themed birthday gift for a very dear friend.  heaven knows i love a good theme.

it has my favorite running things--socks, hat, kind bars for pre race fuel, shot blocks, i tunes for music, pre race java, and a little chocolate for after. plus some birthday candles.  it was fun to package it all cute like. 

personally i am hoping that my favorite post race treat on june 25th will be the dick's burger and fries that i scarf down...i might even make it two, provided i'm not puking and pooping my guts out like the last two times i ran a half.  

is that too much information?

apparently it's more commonly called runner's colitis.  who knew?

i really wanted a burger after the cinco de may half.  i was so bummed that it wasn't going to happen for me that day. 

and finally because i really like to make my morning crazy, i loaded the girls in the car early, ran them to FROST doughnuts, starbucks to get another lunch and then to gram and papa's house to take papa some get well cards for his foot surgery, father's day cards, a father's day gift

THAT my friends is a gift card holder.  i couldn't have made it that stinking cute if i had tried

AND some father's day/get well treats

i *heart* free printables. 

i *heart* my dad too.  

and then i ran the girls back to school in the nick of time and dashed to work. while on the way i still had to stop for my coffee (priorities you know) and i had to stop to get popsicles for some very sweet students that i saw this year making me approximately 30 minutes late for work.  

so if they fire me...DAD,  it was all for you and it was worth it.

i'd be remiss if i didn't (and i finally got to throw in a nasty swear word for good measure)

mention this part of the day which also happens to be eric's favorite.

when we reached the bothell exit i was hanging on for dear life.  having already puked in the plastic bag my stuff was stored in at the gear check.

we get into the neighborhood and the f-ing garage salers (i know i've mentioned how much i hate garage sales) this compounded that hatred.

we get near our driveway and eric starts hitting the opener and the damn garage door wouldn't open. 

now, it closes the door just fine but i have to hit it several times before it opens.  eric has told me for literally months and months to get a new battery. yeah, that's ALWAYS the first thing on my mind.

at this point i am freaking out and he had the you know what's to start in on me about the battery.  i was like "NOT THE TIME TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS" and at that point i open the door before he pulled in stumbled out of the car, water bottle rolling down the hill, stepping out of my rain coat and flinging the puke bag in the drive way as i am running into the toilet. 

i'm not really sure if eric's favorite part was how i got out of the car or when he had to pick up my puke bag.  

i'm just glad we (read: HE) can laugh about it.

train wreck- this post is not for the weak hearted: contains stories of bodily functions and maybe some swearing

yesterday i was a gong show, today i am a train wreck.

i ran my second half marathon today.  the cinco de mayo half in snoqualmie.  our friends from cresent bar mentioned this winter that they were doing it and that i should think about it.

so i thought about it and signed up.  

when i ran my first half, the rock and roll last june, i finished almost 3 minutes past two hours so naturally my goal was to finish sub 2 hours. if it was 1:59:59, i would have been perfectly happy with that, or so i thought. ( i also had a horrible afternoon recovering from the run).

i've struggled the last two weeks. wrestled with my mind, thinking about how all i wanted to do was finish under two but in the very dark recesses of my brain i wanted to finish 1 or 3 minutes under.  

i was so nervous all week and extra nervous this morning.  i knew i could do the distance, i just didn't know if i could get a good time-i don't push myself much when i am running. 

well, i did it. the course was beautiful and there was barely any incline.  i highly recommend it if you'd like to feel very successful at an 8 k or half marathon.  

i ran a fast (for me) first mile and continued to do so for the next 4 miles.  i was kind of shocked when i looked down at my watch.  my biggest struggle was determining if i could maintain that pace the rest of the run.  

by the time i hit 7 and 8 miles, i was getting kind of excited that i was going to beat my goal.

between mile 10 and 12, i had the great opportunity to run with a co-worker of eric's, peter.  i told peter not to feel like he had to stay with me but we kept pace together for at least two miles.  once i hit mile 12, i was tired but feeling like i was going to make it so i tried to pick up the pace.  

i ran through town and was absolutely ELATED when i could see the high school not far off and then the ultimate thrill was looking up and seeing my sweet family right there on the curb cheering me on and waving.  ULTIMATE THRILL.  i wanted to cry but there were no tears. the only fluid left in me was in my bladder.

i peed my pants a little.  yes, yes i did. 

that was approximately the moment.  fortunately it didn't really matter. see how soggy wet it is? 

and you have no right to judge until you've been there. i really should have gone just one more time before but the lines were super long. 

you run the last 300 meters or so on the track. it was a lonely run. i wish i could have really speed up for that 300 meters like i had practiced in my speed work, but it wasn't happening for me. 

and i finished. 



that was clock time not my chip time.  turns out my official time was 1:52:05. i ran 8 minutes 33 1/2 second miles. and of course i am a little pissed at myself that i didn't kick it into high gear and shave that 5 seconds! but, i will never see that time again. you'll see why shortly...

photo with peter, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.  yes, we've established the fact that i have BIG ears and visors do nothing for them.

and one with kim.  we road to the race together and had a great morning. she is an awesome runner.  and fast too!

we headed to the gym to change into dry clothes and 15 minutes later the stomach cramps hit.  eric's going to be so grossed out with me for talking about this.  but i really don't care.  it's alternately funny and disgusting and maybe a little bit sad.

before the race i, you know, pooped twice.  i was feeling as high as a kite.  monumental feet for the distance runner, right?  apparently, all my water drinking, miralax consuming, fiber eating missions over the course of the last few months haven't been working as well as i had assumed. 

i puked on the way home. and dry heaved. the girls were in the back seat.  i think they were terrified.

and once i got home, it was a 5 hour puke and bowel movement fest.  it was really NOT good. 

the moral of the story is that i think i'm going to go see a naturopath about my little issue.  maybe gracie and i can get a 2 for 1 discount?

fortunately eric has been mr mom today and my caretaker.  i told him we could make mother's day today.  i'm sure he's thinking "is this going to be what it's like every time she runs a half? cause it's not what i signed up for!"

i sincerely hope not or my half marathon running career is going to be really, really, really short.

on that note:

Happy Mother's Day!!

 

this and that

ahh...the first month of the year over already. 

where exactly did that the time go?

our little family had a good month. some new experiences and some really good family time.  i can't usually say that about january as eric is always so busy with work this time of year.  but he found a little balance (i said a LITTLE) and often made it home as the girls were going to bed so he was able to kiss them good night. 

and we had two really good get aways this month.  one in spokane and one on the river.  i love being east of the mountains.

personally, i felt like i really tuned into my one little word, focus. 

i focused on one thing at a time and was able to get some good time in with my girls, eric, maintaining the house, work, cooking, baking, crafting and exercising. without the hustle and bustle of the holidays, i was much more efficient this month. 

i worked on a couple of tiny, easy crafts this weekend

a felt garland and a pom pom garland for valentine's day

and i printed and framed a few 5 X 7 subway art signs to give away

i also started my project life last night.  this year, i'm not taking a picture a day.  just doing a month at a glance photo book.  much less demanding and WAY less time consuming.  

tonight annie created an exercise corner in her room

yes, it bothers me that it's not left to right but it still cracks me up.

she put two pillows below the sign. you have to understand how she explains it to me.  super fast like all in one breath while she's demonstrating. it went something like this 

"FIRSTYOURUNANDTHENYOUJUMPANDTHENYOUFALLASLEEPLIKETHIS (drop in a heap on the pillows n the floor)

and then gracie and i just look at each other, roll our eyes and giggle. A LOT.

and gracie likes to read to herself even after we've read together for roughly 30-40 minutes. fortunately she's pretty good about putting her book away when i tell her only 15 more minutes.  if she didn't, she'd never get up in the morning. 

i ran 75 miles this month.  it should have been more but we were gone a couple of weekends and i had some scheduling conflicts with my running days.  still i am glad to see that number on my nike +.

nighty-night.

yes doc, it's a burning sensation...

*i went running on sunday and kind of sorta got a wee bit lost in gold creek.  (thank you jeri for turning me around.  I think it was fate that sent me the wrong way so that i got to see you!)

*the arch in my right foot hurt a wee bit that evening and into the morning.  i thought it would be a great idea to put this natural foot rub stuff (yes, that's the technical term) on it.  it was a sample pack that i got from the AFLAC run.  i highly recommend it for all you ladies next year.  they give away tons of free samples.  

anyway, i read on the package that it would give your foot a warming sensation.  no problem, i've used sports creams before.  after i applied it, i felt nothing.  i got my shoes on and headed to the gym.  still...nothing.  i took a spin class...nothing.  i was, however, soaked with sweat.  oh wait "glowing with perspiration." that sounds better and more feminine huh?  trust me, there's nothing feminine about my after workout glow...ever.

as i was walking from the spin class down the stairs to my weightlifting class, i noticed a pain in my foot.  actually, both of my feet.  (i got a little happy and applied the cream to both arches. ) soon, my feet were burning. like on fire burning.  the more sweat that dripped down my legs into my socks, the more it felt like i was walking over hot coals.  

at first, i thought there was something wrong with my feet.  a little slow on the uptake, i realized it was from the cream.  

my feet burned the entire hour of class.  

i thought i was out of the woods, until i took a hot shower at home.  apparently what causes the cream to work is hot water.  i thought someone was poking my feet with thousands of tiny needles.  i took the fastest shower ever.  

i ran 8 miles today and thankfully, my arches do not hurt because i will NEVER... NOT EVER be rubbing any special creams onto them again. and, i might rethink my eagerness to partake in the vendor samples at future running events.

maybe i am after all

i've been running, not too seriously, for for about 4 and half years now.  it started as my method to lose the baby weight.  it worked like a charm.  then i stopped for a bit.  then, when step/weights/kickboxing weren't working, i picked it up again. it kind of fades in and out of my workout routine. 

all this time, i've never considered myself a runner.  i don't really enjoy it.  i can go for a week without doing it and feel fine about that. i don't really care about putting in high weekly mileage.  i'm not interested in running lots of races.  i don't look like a runner. i don't have those awesome runner legs, mine are more like short, thick, stumps. and, it's really hard. 

i ran the aflac iron girl 10 k today. i put up my best time ever in all my 4 measly races.  

52:19, my pace was 8:26.  

i nearly passed out when i got my little slip of paper stating my time.  it's fast for me. 

i've been on a high all day. mostly because of my time and a little bit because the shirt they gave out was super cute.

 

so maybe i am a runner after all.

i think it was my new kicks from run 26. which, by the way, is moving to millcreek town center.  if you live in the area you should buy your gear there and support a great local business owner.

it's like running on little cloudy puffs of marshmallows and i love them. 

night all.

another reason to run

and also work avoidance.  i can't seem to focus this evening so excited/nervous and emotional about the run tomorrow. i should be packing for vacation as well as cleaning the rooms the painter just finished in but as i said, i can't seem to focus.  

jen is one of my best friends from college and my neighbor.  i feel so fortunate to be so close in proximity to such a good friend.  our kiddos are growing up together.  we can help each other out with childcare.  we can have spontaneous play dates, spontaneous dinner dates or just hang out in the cul de sac.  we can talk about anything and everything.  and every time her parents come for a visit, we get to see them and get our hugs in.  

jen's mom cheryl was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a few years ago.  it is treatable, but at this time there is no cure.  grandma cheryl has been on several courses of treatment with the ultimate goal of getting her in "remission" so that her stem cells could be extracted and used for a stem cell transplant.  after a long challenging road, cheryl was recently able to undergo stem cell retrieval. the retrieval collected enough stem cells for one transplant but not enough for two.  soon she will go through the process again with the hope of retrieving enough to store for a second transplant if needed. shortly after this next retrieval, she will undergo the stem cell transplant.

i think about cheryl and jen and the rest of the family every day and pray for a successful extraction and transplant. i'm running for them too.

if you would like to donate to the american cancer society and support my fundraising efforts, please click here.