Did Somebody Say FOURTEEN?!?

Umm... yeah.

So at the sake of sounding completely conceded, can I just say I am a Bad Ass?

Lol. Ok, so I totally sound conceded, but I have to say I am pretty proud of myself for traveling 14 miles on foot in one day... make that 3 hours! :D

Am I sore? Um... yeah. I have sore muscles where I didn't even know it was possible to be sore. That's what the ice bath is for!

Stay tuned for more awesomeness in the weeks to come!

A Post-Flu Run

This past Sunday I was scheduled for a 7 mile run. I decided that I would try for a solo run this time since there is a very good chance I will be running on my own most (or all) of the time during my marathon in June. I figure I need to start getting used to running with music and my inner dialog rather than chatting with Danielle since she won't be there.

So I headed out on a solo run early Sunday after being over the flu (which I got on Thursday and Friday) with high expectations for a great run.
Well...
I did good, but not great. I didn't realize how worn out I would be from that darn flu! I wanted to push myself so badly, and kept making myself little goals, like running to a certain landmark. But... I would get about halfway to that landmark and just want to walk. I was tired! I finished the mileage, but walked more than I wanted to. Again.

Maybe my 14 miler this Sunday will be better?

*fingers crossed*


I did have the pleasure of rounding a corner in Julia Davis park and sneaking a peak at the zoo's 2 beautiful giraffes! That was pretty neat :)

Perfection...

is this little one.
Watching my niece explore and discover the world around her, is most fascinating.

Remember That One Time I Ran 12 Miles?

So, let me tell you about my awesome (and not so awesome) Sunday...

Waking up at 6:30 to a dark sky, and frosty morning normally wouldn't be my choice, but I was so jazzed for my 12 mile run, I didn't even mind it. I sat in my car waiting for my windshield to defrost listening to Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson to get me moving and my blood pumping. (I'm glad it was dark and my windows were frosted, because no one should have to be subjected to that level of silliness and uncoordination)



The run was mostly awesome. The first 6 miles were uneventful, and Danielle and I cruised along at a pretty good speed. (I'm still running about a 15 min. mile, which isn't as fast as I would like to be, so I'm going to be working on endurance and speed the next few weeks.) Around mile 6.5 I started to feel tired. Nothing too bad, so I started sipping my Gatorade to help me refuel. Around 7.5 I noticed I was getting more tired instead of better, so I took a few bites of the Cliff Bar I had carried with me, and felt much better! I really need to start experimenting with goo packs and other running supplements to see what works best once I start to fatigue.

Around mile 9 my right calf starting cramping... here's where the not-so-awesome part of the run begins...
We stopped to stretch a little to see if my calf would loosen up, and I pushed through with my intervals for the next 1/2 mile, but my calf was really painful. I walked (at a really good pace) the last 2.5 miles. I'm a little bummed that I didn't complete my intervals for the entire 12 miles, but I know that my body needed me to walk those last 2.5 miles, and by not pushing myself I was saved from an injury that could keep from running for weeks.

Sometimes you have to listen to what your body is telling you, and not worry so much about completing your training plan. This just means that I need to work hard this week and go out and rock my 7 miles this Sunday!

Here I am back at Danielle's house safe and sound. Since I don't have more than 10 fingers, I've been trying to think of how I want to my post-run pictures to announce how many miles I've completed. I finally settled on keeping a permanent marker in my car and writing it on my hand when I finish...

The very exhausted, but happy me.
Post-run reward was time with my niece! 12 miles and calf pain is totally worth being able to play with this little bundle of cuteness!

My brother, who is a trainer and used to sports injuries and pains, warned me about my diet and hydration. He told me that I need to focus on eating the proper nutrients all week long, and drinking enough water that I have to use the bathroom every 10 minutes until staying hydrated becomes a habit. I have a history of kidney stones due to dehydration, so I'm really taking this seriously! I'm not wanting to have any reason why I have to post-pone, or slow down, my training.
Jed told me that I was going to have a really tough week of training if I didn't focus on getting my muscles relaxed, and then re-energized following my long run. Here enters the least awesome part of my day...

An ice bath.

- I filled the bathtub with the coldest water available from the tap
- Got in
- Screamed a profanity or two
- Dumped in 2 bags of ice purchased at WinCo
- Screamed more profanities
- And sat there for 20 minutes.

Jed had warned me that the first 3-5 minutes were the worst, and then it wouldn't seem so bad. I hadn't expected it to hurt as much as it did, but he was right. The first few minutes were brutal. I was tempted to get out, but I knew it was for the best, and I needed to do this. So I forced myself to sit there. I passed the time by reading blogs on my iPhone, and before I knew it, the 20 minutes were over! I don't even know where the time went. I just remember being in horrible, freezing pain, starting to read blogs, and then wa-lah... it was all over!

I feel MUCH better today, and I'm drinking so much water I feel water-logged, but I'm looking forward to a great training week, and a great 7 mile run on Sunday!

Why So Hungry??

Man, the past couple of days have been up and down for me. I've been hungry (actually experiencing hunger pains most of the day... even right after I eat!), exhausted, and cranky.

I usually wake up in the morning excited and invigorated for my workouts, but the past few days all I've wanted to do was keep sleeping. Yesterday and today I actually gave in and added the extra hour and half on my alarm clock and snuggled back in to the covers. I've made up the workouts in the evenings, but I don't like doing that as well as the mornings. I like the jump-start to my day, and find it difficult to not want to chow down when I get home. It's also difficult to unwind and get to sleep when I work out at night also (continuing the vicious cycle). It's frustrating because I'm not sleeping well at night either. For how exhausted I am, you'd think I conk out and sleep sound until morning. But nope. I'm tossing and turning and having bad dreams.

Second on my list of issues is my insane hunger. I know that the increase in my exercise and daily activity is cause for my calorie intake to be higher (1500-1800 daily), but I'm eating this and still hungry.

All. The. Time.
Grrr...

And thirdly... I think I may rip someone's head off. And I believe it will unfortunately be a child's. I have worked with, and around children since I was one myself, and never been as frustrated with their ill behavior like I have been recently. I actually told a child this morning who was running in the library that he needed to learn how to listen. This in itself is not a big deal, but the tone of voice in which I chose to speak to him with... well, let's just say I got some surprised looks from parents. *oops*

So, what am I going to do about it? Well, I am concerned enough with these changes that I spoke to my older brother (who is a trainer) about it. I explained my routine, and the challenges I was having. His first thought is that I'm getting enough calories, but severely lacking in two important areas.

1- water
2- vitamins

He suggested I try his trick...
Emergen-C powder! A great way to start your day off with essential vitamins and minerals and... WATER! I'm going to drink 1 packet of Emergen-C each day with a full glass of water, and keep drinking water throughout the day. My handy TNT water bottle is going to become my new best friend and stay by my side throughout the day.
I'm also going to become super-jazzed about eating my vegetables each day. I'm really good about getting in my fruits (hello super yummy smoothies!) but need to work on the veggie stuff.
I'm going to give it about a week to see if it helps regulate my sleeping, hunger and mood. I feel better today, but it may be all in my head... we'll see!

Fill in the Blank

1. One thing I MUST do before I die is visit Italy and Greece. *sigh*


2. I would rather be hit by a car than hit someone with my car any day.


3. If I could give my younger self one piece of advice it would be stop stressing about the future and just let it happen... and put down the chocolate cake!

4. If I won the lottery tomorrow I'd have one hell of a vacation in Europe! I would also quit my job and put all my energy into my own photography and design business.

5. The best surprise ever was everyone's support of my training for a marathon. I honestly expected laughter and disbelief. I guess I was the only one that doubted me. Silly me!

6. My biggest fault is my lack of self-discipline.

7. My biggest strength is my people skills.

8. I'm most looking forward to crossing the finish line of my first marathon!! (that's right... I said "first")

OMG... 10 miles!

Never, ever, ever, EVER did I think that I would travel on foot 10 miles in one day. But guess what, I did!
On a beautifully sunny, warm Sunday I ran intervals along the Columbia River in Washington with my wonderful cousin Jill by my side.
Was it hard? yes.
Was it worth it? hell yes.