Then met Miss Amber for a spin & it was so cold & windy, then both her tires failed before we even set out. So we dropped her bike at the shop, sipped coffee & gossiped heart to heart AND then STILL took a ride! Commitment not Interest, thank you A!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Under darkening skies
Then met Miss Amber for a spin & it was so cold & windy, then both her tires failed before we even set out. So we dropped her bike at the shop, sipped coffee & gossiped heart to heart AND then STILL took a ride! Commitment not Interest, thank you A!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Peace Out
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Bounty & Boon
Really crushing on our CSA. Every week I go to pick up our bags of fresh, live, and 'sometimes picked that very morning' food I feel happy. Everything looks & smells wonderful, I love their little store and always pick up another bin full of apples, potatoes, onions, milk, usually for around $18. It saves us money (If I hit the store for a few odds & ends I would easily spend $80 on whatever caught my eye) and the Dude loves the trip for pick-up as well. He plays in the field & runs around helping me put the food in the bags. For a few days after we pick up our CSA we have huge amazing meals, then we slack off a bit until the next week but overall we eat SO much better, fresher and more creatively than we did before joining.
Took a small run today for the first time in 5 days and sad to say that damn left achilles was still being a bitter bitch. Ached within the first few minutes and continued to actually hurt the entire run. I forced myself through the run/walk overall and that just felt pissy. I love running when i am not thinking of anything but my music, my time to run and being outside. Today my inner monologue was honestly "ouch pain ouch frick ouch wtf wtf wtf wtf that feels swollen pain pain pain this is not so fun." It was good to focus on what felt GOOD. My right achilles and leg felt awesome. My core is so strong that I was barely breaking a sweat or breathing hard, which I love about having come so far in my running. I loved the sun & my music and how running really clears out the cobwebs & soot from my brain.
I did NOT like the pain in my ankle that eventually began shooting up my calf :-( I did feel a bit of achilles on my long climb bike ride on Thursday and need to ponder that. I also may not have run for 5 days but I did a Bar class, one big climbing ride and two swims...so technically I wasn't 'resting' my achilles from anything except running. Have an appointment with my PT in a week & seeing my acupuncturist~I am going to ask to give some love to my ankle and I'm going to take another few days off running. I have no choice, I am not a fan of running while fighting back tears of pain & aggravation. Not a fan at all.
I did NOT like the pain in my ankle that eventually began shooting up my calf :-( I did feel a bit of achilles on my long climb bike ride on Thursday and need to ponder that. I also may not have run for 5 days but I did a Bar class, one big climbing ride and two swims...so technically I wasn't 'resting' my achilles from anything except running. Have an appointment with my PT in a week & seeing my acupuncturist~I am going to ask to give some love to my ankle and I'm going to take another few days off running. I have no choice, I am not a fan of running while fighting back tears of pain & aggravation. Not a fan at all.
I am a HUGE fan of BarSculpt and am still feeling it in my core and legs 4 days later. I will be heading into the studio for that at least 2 if not 3 times this week.
I also had a great time on my run when I wasn't focused on my ankle, pondering "My Happy.' Saucony says 'Find Your Strong' and I feel like I have done that and I have also found My Happy. I know exactly what makes me feel happy, content, confident & peaceful at this point in my life and that feels amazing.
I love running, swimming, biking....absolutely brings me peace and contentment and an overall sense of AWESOME. Loving on my kiddo as much as I can, soaking in everything about him for the time that I can before he turns into a big gangly boy who wants not much to do with mom. I appreciate and adore every day with him, I really do. Same with the husband. Every day there's adoration and feeling very blessed for what I have & what I have created & what I work hard to maintain.
In the past year I have made even more close & amazing friends that I feel so lucky to have in my life. I have always been blessed with close girlfriends beginning with my BFF in kindergarten & continuing through college & beyond and for that I am truly thankful. Widening my circle this past year to include even more ladies & some dudes, all amazing & dear in their own way (fitness friends, preschool friends, online friends, far-away friends, etc...such diverse, rich & amazing human beings). I am amazed at what they give me & what I give them in this life. All these new adventures & people & experiences has just been an INSANE and unexpected boon to my life the past few years. BOON I tell ya. Now if only that perfect family dog(s) would find us soon, the circle might be complete, we'll see.
I love running, swimming, biking....absolutely brings me peace and contentment and an overall sense of AWESOME. Loving on my kiddo as much as I can, soaking in everything about him for the time that I can before he turns into a big gangly boy who wants not much to do with mom. I appreciate and adore every day with him, I really do. Same with the husband. Every day there's adoration and feeling very blessed for what I have & what I have created & what I work hard to maintain.
In the past year I have made even more close & amazing friends that I feel so lucky to have in my life. I have always been blessed with close girlfriends beginning with my BFF in kindergarten & continuing through college & beyond and for that I am truly thankful. Widening my circle this past year to include even more ladies & some dudes, all amazing & dear in their own way (fitness friends, preschool friends, online friends, far-away friends, etc...such diverse, rich & amazing human beings). I am amazed at what they give me & what I give them in this life. All these new adventures & people & experiences has just been an INSANE and unexpected boon to my life the past few years. BOON I tell ya. Now if only that perfect family dog(s) would find us soon, the circle might be complete, we'll see.
Next week looking forward to: clean eating, swim, bike, barsculpt and maybe hopefully a run or two. Also need to start one of the numerous fantastic books stacked on my table.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Slowing down to smell the beeswax
Swimming, awesome. Biking tomorrow.
Today hit BarSculpt class...so glad I went, thought I would ditch. Great vibe, teacher, room, music rocked. Hated seeing my arms in the mirror, they don't look like my arms, all white, fleshy, flabby. Need to work on them big time. Feels like I'm starting at the bottom. Ugh.
Class was so hard but sooooo good. Major core muscle fatigue. Hoping to go 2 times a week min, I need it. So much of my Fonda workout is incorporated in their moves, along with energy & great tunes. Win win.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Rest...sort of...
Yup, an arrow to the heel is basically what it feels like when I run. It also feels insanely painful and like I am really being an ass for running on it when it hurts that bad. Taking a few days off, substituting swimming and biking. So not truly a rest but certainly a rest from pounding running for at least a day or two. Hopefully not more, running keeps me sane & my blood rushing. Going to use ice, stretch, ibuprofen and massage. Achilles hasn't hurt like this in a long time, I'm sure it was Maui that amped it up...gotta get it to settle down again. I also need to fit it into my schedule for a zumba and bar workout class 1-2 times a week, my friend recently did it & loved it, I need to diversify if I plan to be a long term runner.
"The Achilles tendon is the connection between the heel and the most powerful muscle group in the body. This has long been known as a site which is prone to disabling injury. This tendon is named after Achilles, who according to myth, was protected from wounds by being dipped in a magical pond by his mother. She held him by the heel, which was not immersed, and later died by an arrow wound in his heel."
"The Achilles tendon is the connection between the heel and the most powerful muscle group in the body. This has long been known as a site which is prone to disabling injury. This tendon is named after Achilles, who according to myth, was protected from wounds by being dipped in a magical pond by his mother. She held him by the heel, which was not immersed, and later died by an arrow wound in his heel."
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Bittersweet
Cardio...awesome
Core...strong
Legs...rad
Energy...thru the roof
Achilles...in the basement :-(
Pain.....major bummer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Swim & Yum
Spent an hour+ at Ives doing laps. Bliss. Sunny, blue skies, empty pool (that was kinda Twilight Zone~gorgeous day, empty pool... Hmmmm). Swam until my knee hurt, which never happens since I usually only swim 20-40, cutting it close to pool close or preschool pick-up. Today was the BEST.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Climbing & chatting
Hit the road today for a ride. Gorgeous freezing sunshine, seriously cold out there. I love to ride when I get on my bike but getting there is always a mental battle. Especially with Blondie, I always think we are one small step away from ditching the bikes and getting an espresso & just chatting the morning away. Yet, we ALWAYS get it done, we both swallow our private lazy thoughts & as long as neither of us mutter "Do we really want to..." then we get geared up & on the bike & chat the morning away while spinning our legs. Win Win.
Today was supposed to be a good loop of rollers by Bodega but we (Blondie) said "Let's climb Coleman instead and then our cars are at Howards for lunch afterwards." Simple, right? Except Coleman is UP, straight up from the parking lot...but we did it. Like we always do. I was anxious, I knew I hadn't done hills in a while and overall I am in good shape but hill climbing is always daunting because it's hard! The thought of being sweaty, shaky, difficult to catch my breath, burning calf muscles, all from the word GO made me a bit freaky BUT I geared up, saddled up and zoom. Worth it, every single time. That's the best thing about fitness, you never regret it. I dare you to find someone who says they wasted their time on a bike, run, swim, class, weights...after it's over, you never feel like you wasted anything.
We chatted the whole way too, never too out of breath to not gossip. So awesome. Scenery was gorgeous, I always feel like I am doing something sinful when I ride on a gorgeous day, like playing hooky from school. I know how blessed I am and what a blissed out life I lead, I know this & take it to heart every single day.
Coleman goes up and then down and then when you turn around you know you need to go up again to get down, a bit daunting but we accomplished it, with grit & sweat and a lot of "OMG we are so awesome, I can not believe we do this & we love it!" I absolutely LOVE being out on the road and seeing the gorgeous back areas of Sonoma County that just look & smell different on a bike than in a car.
I love being geared up, being out when others are in, seeing cows on the hillsides as St. Helena is gorgeous in the background. I love having wicked sore hands and arms from riding the brakes down endless hills that we just CLIMBED ALL THE WAY UP.
Rocking. Love it.
Today was supposed to be a good loop of rollers by Bodega but we (Blondie) said "Let's climb Coleman instead and then our cars are at Howards for lunch afterwards." Simple, right? Except Coleman is UP, straight up from the parking lot...but we did it. Like we always do. I was anxious, I knew I hadn't done hills in a while and overall I am in good shape but hill climbing is always daunting because it's hard! The thought of being sweaty, shaky, difficult to catch my breath, burning calf muscles, all from the word GO made me a bit freaky BUT I geared up, saddled up and zoom. Worth it, every single time. That's the best thing about fitness, you never regret it. I dare you to find someone who says they wasted their time on a bike, run, swim, class, weights...after it's over, you never feel like you wasted anything.
We chatted the whole way too, never too out of breath to not gossip. So awesome. Scenery was gorgeous, I always feel like I am doing something sinful when I ride on a gorgeous day, like playing hooky from school. I know how blessed I am and what a blissed out life I lead, I know this & take it to heart every single day.
Coleman goes up and then down and then when you turn around you know you need to go up again to get down, a bit daunting but we accomplished it, with grit & sweat and a lot of "OMG we are so awesome, I can not believe we do this & we love it!" I absolutely LOVE being out on the road and seeing the gorgeous back areas of Sonoma County that just look & smell different on a bike than in a car.
I love being geared up, being out when others are in, seeing cows on the hillsides as St. Helena is gorgeous in the background. I love having wicked sore hands and arms from riding the brakes down endless hills that we just CLIMBED ALL THE WAY UP.
Rocking. Love it.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Bike Run Swim
This week I took an easy & slow 2-3 miler on Wednesday. legs and body felt great & fluid. Too bad the run was late I the day, sunny, my motivation was rock bottom. So glad the body felt great though. This week I got in two lap swims in the sun at Ives, bliss. Goal is 3 times a week for an hour instead of the 20-30 minutes I squeeze in. Took great mellow spin with Blondie today, bike was like BUTTER after $145 strip-down & tune-up. LOVE my bike......
Really want to force myself to do weights & Fonda, really do them. Today was a bike & swim day and my body is tired and sore and I feel great. Gotta do double days more often, swimming is always just a bonus not a workout to em. Love it.
Really want to force myself to do weights & Fonda, really do them. Today was a bike & swim day and my body is tired and sore and I feel great. Gotta do double days more often, swimming is always just a bonus not a workout to em. Love it.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Run Strong Random Stranger
Kaiser Half Marathon in SF. The best organized race I've ever done I think. Awesome course, closed most the way, flat (my fav), so many porta potties it was funny, lots of water, support & just so organized. A well organized race is essential to runners (especially first time racers) having a good experience and wanting to do it again. KUDOS Kaiser! The entire day was a total blast, carpooling with Miss A & plenty of parking at start, shuttle to line and then car was there at finish!
I felt pretty good the whole race until the end. I had only done a handful of short runs since the marathon 2 weeks before so I was quietly nervous about actually having the legs to run this Half. I knew I could just walk it though, didn't want to do that :-) Overall felt the groove for a long while until about mile 9 when I got a wicked right knee pain, hurt so bad. Dull deep ache on the outside of my right knee, below the knee cap. Got scared, don't want to be a jackass and get injured, I'm not that hardcore! So I walked a lot near the end and got ice immediately after. Zero pain after run was over and today perfectly fine. Something to watch though. Finish was the only slight hill of the day, funny I had no idea it was the finish until I looked up from my shuffling feet and aching knee and saw the balloon arch, funny!
I felt pretty good the whole race until the end. I had only done a handful of short runs since the marathon 2 weeks before so I was quietly nervous about actually having the legs to run this Half. I knew I could just walk it though, didn't want to do that :-) Overall felt the groove for a long while until about mile 9 when I got a wicked right knee pain, hurt so bad. Dull deep ache on the outside of my right knee, below the knee cap. Got scared, don't want to be a jackass and get injured, I'm not that hardcore! So I walked a lot near the end and got ice immediately after. Zero pain after run was over and today perfectly fine. Something to watch though. Finish was the only slight hill of the day, funny I had no idea it was the finish until I looked up from my shuffling feet and aching knee and saw the balloon arch, funny!
Only downside of the whole course was the 9-12 mile loop, you were running against the flow of runners who had already turned around and so it was a bit of a buzzkill (which I heard a bunch of people murmuring!) Just knowing you had a while to go before you turned around was mentally taxing. It was made better by the GORGEOUS ocean view on your right, it was truly breath taking and an insanely sunny day. Once I made the turn at mile 10 and was headed to the finish I got a burst of energy but along with intense knee pain...I was still a slow mo Joe.
Overall, so much fun and I just love events, feels social even when I run solo. Feels great to do a half so close to a marathon, I feel in shape. I had ZERO migraine post race (that never happens) and am only slightly sore today. Feeling pretty good in so many ways about it all. Now on to swimming, biking, Fonda and the foam roller this week!
Overall, so much fun and I just love events, feels social even when I run solo. Feels great to do a half so close to a marathon, I feel in shape. I had ZERO migraine post race (that never happens) and am only slightly sore today. Feeling pretty good in so many ways about it all. Now on to swimming, biking, Fonda and the foam roller this week!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Food fun
Tuna capers almond apples mayo
Big snack fav:
Raw oats coconut maple syrup almonds soymilk apples peanut butter
Monday, January 30, 2012
Fish Tacos & other goals
"I think I get addicted to the feelings associated with the end of a long run. I love feeling empty, clean, worn out, starving, and sweat purged. I love the good ache of muscles that have done me proud" ~Kristin Armstrong, author of Mile Markers. Might explain why I was sad yesterday to not be running 26.2 in Maui like I was a week before, even though it was really hard, there is a sense of elation that only fitness endorphins bring.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Finish line of Maui Marathon
I have to honestly say that the marathon prep vs. the prep I did to be away from my family for 5 days was far bigger in my mind than running 26.2. I like to run and now I have the confidence that I can run/walk/crawl for as long as I need to, anywhere at any time and so the thought of the marathon was not too daunting. Leaving my family and being a whole ocean away was the crazy part. I am a worst case scenario girl and so I had all these visions (as I always do) about earthquakes, disasters, etc that may keep me from getting back to my family. That is an aspect of my personality I can not seem to change and I am damn proud of myself for forcing (literally forcing) myself to do things like Maui, that pitch me so far out of my comfort zone that I am free-falling. If I didn't force myself, I would be a shut-in and my son would have that Flowers in the Attic pallor but hey "we'd be safe & sound right"? Wrong! There are no guarantees in life so I have chosen to LIVE, as freaking scary as that is on a daily basis.
So I packed and got on the plan and then walked out into the tropical Maui warmth and breeze and AHHHHHH it felt amazing! The entire time I was away I had a dull ache for my family but I also pressured myself to relax and enjoy this time. It would have been silly & insensitive (to my husband) to waste my alone time pining for them. I missed them most when I thought about our daily or nightly routine going on without me, which really drove home my feelings that I am living a life of pure joy & bliss, if I am missing brushing my kids teeth & making him breakfast!
Ok, the race. All was good. I had inklings of wanting to do the early start at 4:30am, giving me an extra hr on the course but more so I was thinking it would be cooler for longer before the sun came up. My partner didn't want to do that and so I would have needed to catch a cab, etc to the start and it was just too many more details to work out. I drank water like a fish on the day before, my biggest fear was dehydration and being 'that guy' who collapsed because they weren't prepared. Having endured Portland I was also terrified of the dreaded dead legs of miles 14-26 or so, where the back of my legs get so tight and feel like they are being suffocated by lactic acid to the point I can't run...not a pretty picture huh? Overall I was pretty chill in prepping for the race, being without my family I had the time to just CHILL and do everything for me and that was awesome. I slept well the night before, which never happens and on race morning felt good but had to choke down bread & egg, was not hungry but I know 5+ hours of running makes you ravenous.. so I tried.
I love all my gear and my running outfit, I changed nothing up from when I run at home. Same clothes, carried the same items, everything...nothing NEW. Although we ran in the dark for an hour or so I decided not to wear my fancy new headlamp because I had nowhere to put it once the light came out. Good decision on my part since anything extra you're carrying well into 26.2 feels like 5 lbs! The start was dark & fun and it was a small race (that did make me nervous, I dread being dead last, ego aside...last is last!) They did a traditional Hawaiian prayer and conch shell blowing, and it made me cry. I hit the porta potty line one minute before the race started and I did not like that type of stress, won't do that again. My running friend also had a bad cough and I was worried about her most the race, we don't run together (she is faster than me by miles) but I did not see her all of the race & worried about her more than I should have (she was fine).
First few miles in the dark were awesome but already warm, I had a thin layer of sweat on my face the first hundred yards & my heart was beating fast anticipating the heat to come as the sun rose but I got myself to just chill out, 'it is what it is', I told myself. Not sure why but I started getting mongo hot spots early on and that was a bummer. Mile 8 I took off my shoe and put on second skin and a band aides but for a few miles those felt awkward and all I could think of was how hot & lumpy my feet felt. The focus on my feet subsided finally and I relaxed. The course looks deceivingly flat but it is in fact a steady slight uphill and I really felt that as we climbed a portion with a headwind. UGH. A lot of people walked but I jogged since walking just took longer! Overall I was feeling good and having fun and looking at the gorgeous ocean view. It got pretty hot and I was thankful for the 3 layers of sunscreen I had slathered on. I did not enjoy that 3/4 of the course was along the highway, exhaust and gawking drivers. I hit the bathrooms so often (too often) because I was drinking so much water due to the sun/heat. Overall I was feeling groovy until about 17/18...then I had to really push myself forward. More walking than running. Legs felt ok, not the pain & tightness of Portland but they didn't feel rad either. I think the final 3 miles was the worst, time and miles crawled by...I would run for a while and look at my watch and it said 2 minutes...time was going soooooo slow. I knew I would finish but it seemed to take forever!
I was so happy to be finished! My friend had done well despite her cough but she was tuckered the rest of the day. I was perky, I owe that to being a slower runner, I don't tax my body as much and so after almost all half marathon & my two marathons I feel pretty good afterwards! The next day & following I was super duper sore though (holding on to the wall to sit down kinda sore!) SOOOOO worth it though, man what a high!
Family did awesome while I was away, I did well being away, a great combo of relaxed and missing them. Only thing I want to do next time is more time on the Maui beach & swimming! Overall, a HUGE milestone for me to travel so far alone, do a marathon in a place where people usually go to do nothing, improve my performance and time tons over my first marathon (6:18 Portland & 5:26 Maui) and even though I should have trained more, ran more, stuck to a plan more, done loads more Fonda~I still felt pretty awesome and never once felt ike the walking dead...I am just very proud of myself more than anything, I feel so blessed to be a runner & be able to do what I love, for ME. Although running is the one thing in my life that is all MINE, I could not do it without an awesome husband & lifetsyle & mental strength/determination to give myself that self-care & love that is so essential...so I can be a great wife, mom, friend, human being in return!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
For Me...
As I run around getting ready to leave for Maui Marathon, I am anxious & a bit stressed. Not about covering 26.2 miles in humid warm weather, instead I am anxious about buying groceries for the boys while I'm gone, getting new wiper blades for the car since it's raining & I want the car to be good 7 safe while I am away, setting out clothes & packing bags for kiddo to go to grandma's & school while I am away. All of this prep and attention reminds me of how much I do for others, how I love doing it, and overall how running is ALL MINE and all the prep I do for it, is FOR ME & only me. Running relaxes me, energizes me, soothes me, makes me happy. All of these other activities of care-taking the ones I love make me feel wonderful as well but running is the only thing that truly belongs to me & I do for me. Which is why I LOVE it.
This time before my last marathon I was injured with a major hamstring pull, pain and basically had not run for 3 weeks. I was sick with anxiety about what a real marathon would feel like, look like and if it would be difficult (so much more than I anticipated unfortunately). This time around I am healthy, as in shape for running as I can be (I can be a lot more physically fit in so many ways, I plan to address this after the event!), I am injury-free and I am excited for the event instead of anxious. So glad to be where I am right NOW :-) it's all good. See ya on the coastline...
This time before my last marathon I was injured with a major hamstring pull, pain and basically had not run for 3 weeks. I was sick with anxiety about what a real marathon would feel like, look like and if it would be difficult (so much more than I anticipated unfortunately). This time around I am healthy, as in shape for running as I can be (I can be a lot more physically fit in so many ways, I plan to address this after the event!), I am injury-free and I am excited for the event instead of anxious. So glad to be where I am right NOW :-) it's all good. See ya on the coastline...
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