I Am A Super Hero

Ok, maybe not and I'm sort I've been gone so long (more about that later) but dude, I just flipped a monster truck tire weighing 280 pounds 24 times.

Flip four or five times, beat it with a sledgehammer for a few minutes, flip it again.

I. Feel. Awesome.

Victory!

I ran a mile which was easy peasy and I even started at 4.5 MPR which is something I usually have to work up to,lol.

Envision race morning...

Me: Wow, my shoes hurt. This isn't good. Come to think of it they hurt whenever I just stand in them and have so for a couple weeks.

Race starts, oh well.

It was the orthotics. They were great 35 pounds ago. Now not only do I not need them, they were putting my arches a a position they really didn't want to be in and as a result I was whacking the hell out of my metatarsal head.

Now that I'm lighter and run more, my feet have changed. Why it took me so long to clue in on this I'll never know. So I replaced them with the insoles they came with and all has been well. Plus I use that spiky ball thing.

Outside running is still off for now though. Which bites because I have that 8K December. Of course I have no business running an 8K after being out for two weeks and only running three miles, ever. Andrew also reminded me that while it's great I ran a mile, it doesn't mean I should try and run two tomorrow.

Annoying common sense.

Now I need to start a new sports bra fund. I put it on the other day and was like, WTH are those gaps on each side? Who knew underarm fat was such a bra filler?

Wish Me Luck

I'm going to try and run/walk a mile on the treadmill today.  Just walking would be good too. Not you know, great, but ok.

*dies laughing*

Apologies in Advance

Tis the Season for Insipid...

I could SO use some Muppets.

In fact, I am going to go watch Muppet Treasure Island right now.

About that running outside thing.

I know have a rip roaring case of  metatarsalgia in my left foot. It hurts like a bastard. All the time. I recall a couple days after the race going "Ow, what the hell?' but then felt fine AND let's remember I've been sick and haven't run since then. But I have been dog walking and where does that happen? Outside, on pavement.

I have the podiatry equivalent of The Princess and the Pea in my left foot. That's where my dorsal flexion got all wonky and sidelined me. The left hamstring, the left soles. I need a new left side, preferably bionic.

I am going back to the gym Monday and I am determined to run again *shakes fist in air* but I won't be running outside until next year, at least. This is just getting stupid. I'm off to see if I can get some kind of pad so at least when I'm not walking my food with STFU.

I owe you guys pics. Sorry the quality is crap, I'm doing this all from my phone.

Notice the actual 'shirt hang' in the second one, lol. I wanted to point that out because that's the same shirt albeit in a different color. And down there on the bottom we have May. I'm at 217 and have been for a couple of weeks since I've been sick and haven't exercised at ALL since my race Nov. 6.

So I'm hopeful once I get back to it (tomorrow) I'll start to drop again. 33 pounds doesn't seem like a lot and I still have a ways to go, but I sure feel better and moving is much easier.

Happy Dog

This is a side of Kinley you rarely get to see. I love that Rottie grin.

Race results

266   Holly McConnell        00:45:09 

yeah, it's a minute less but I am SO taking it.

How did I miss these?

Ice cold, blue cheese stuffed olives. Wow.



Goat

In which I Fall Off The Wagon and Land On My Fat Ass

*sigh*

I was doing so well, you know?

Then I got sick and then I got busy and then I was sick and busy and now I'm busy and feel like shit but I'm not sick. Lots of processed foods. Cheeseburger on the way to a client's house. The it's like WTF? why not eat this bowl of Cheerios?

Ok, so it's not ice cream and it's not cake. It's not Lucky Charms or Frosted Flakes. But it isn't very good food because it's the wrong food for me. I've started throwing up again, I'm tired and I gained two pounds.

We don't have the money to support the veggie heavy lifestyle of a few months ago, but I can do a low end juice fast for three days to get back on track. So starting tomorrow that's what I am going to do. Plus whatever cheap fruit I can find.

I felt better, I felt happier. Sure things suck so hard right now it's unbelievable, but I could FEEL better, right? It's not a matter of calories as I'm confident I've been eating too little if anything, it's the crap. Like today I ate an Egg McMuffin, no meat, isn't that bad really and it's under 300 calories.

But then I got busy and forgot to eat until 3:00 and was starving so ended up eating a bunch of bready Mexican Bakery stuff and some pizza. Made myself drink a bunch of water and that's my intake for the day. Oh, and a bowl of cheerios.

Not really a nice way to treat a body is it? The I start craving crap like Mac and Cheese in a box?! WHat happened to Clean Eating? Oh, the stuff I have to MAKE, right...

SO, yeah, it won't be a pretty next couple of days, but at least I won't feel like such a loser.

*sigh*

The Cure is Now 5K

So once again i found myself woefully unprepared for a race. Having been sick the week before and managing 2 miles the week of. But what the hell, right?

The Good

It was 37 degrees out. Thats better then hot.
The course was really supported by volunteers.
Gabriel and I ran a bit together and he is all into our Turkey Trot now.
I finally got a damn racing bib.

The Not Great

It was 37 degrees out.
There was no mat to run over so your time wasn't as exact.
It was HILLY. As in there's a hill, there's a slight upward grade, there's a hill, oh downhill yay! Oh, another hill. This was unexpected and nothing I'd ever done before.
Apparently I still have asthma. But I was lucky to find an inhaler that had only expired six months ago.
Now I know why runners wear sunglasses.
You know that sinuses full of chlorine feeling? You can get that running, who knew?

It was a hard race for me. I had really no energy from the onset. It was weird, I wasn't in pain or what I'd consider tired, rather I was fatigued. Like my body just didn't want to move. Given my illness and craptastic diet (under remedy as we speak) this was not shocking, but it still sucked.

I had to walk the hills. My knees did better then I expected and hours later they are sore but not anywhere near how they felt the last race. ABout 1.5 miles in I realized I was never going to make a PR. Or maybe I could have but I would have been dying the last mile and more then likely hurt myself.

So I ran as fast as I felt was knee friendly when it wasn't uphill. About .25 miles from the finish Gabriel joined me. So then it wasn't about a PR at all but about it being a good experience for him. To be honest it was totally unexpected and sort of threw me off. But I'm glad he did it.

So I made it in 45:10 which is about three minutes over my last time (CORRECTION it was less then my first race, so I did set a PR   First 5K  My time was 46:26 even if it was a little tiny one.)  I was hoping to be under 42. But when I sat down and thought it out it wasn't that bad. Sort of.

I walked about a third of this, ran the rest and went in with the kid .25 miles before the finish. Besides, while I still cringe at the photos (HOW can I still be THAT big?!) I look better then I did the last race. Less rolls of stuff.

I know  should run outside before racing but well, it hurts my knees. So I'll do the 8K in December and train at the gym over the Winter and then reassess. I don't LIKE to run outside. I can't zone out. Although the trail portion,which was smaller then I'd liked, was fantastic and soft. So that is something to explore.

More then likely I'll attempt to run partially outside and see if doing that over time makes a difference. But I'm not in a hurry to do it again anytime soon, not on the road. Of course, a lot of this may have just been the day and the fact that it was not a good run.

Pre race: Eclipse made that hat

I look thoughtful but what I'm thinking is damn it's cold and when are they starting?!

Norwegian Art Film Shot

Does he know something I don't?

Part of the line, the start time was late.

This is when after I gave up trying to figure out with was wrong with me and just keep going.

When Gabriel runs onto the course. You can see I'm not sure I'm thrilled.  Having to stop so close in was a little hard, but I made sure he didn't know that. 

Realising that there will be other races, but Gabriel will only be eleven once and happy he wants to be with me.

Running across the finish. 

At the finish.
Normally there would be some kind of post finish picture but I was feeling pretty unwell at this point.  So we just walked to the car. When I look at how crappy I felt in the first picture, I'm surprised I did as well as I did,lol.

I don't want to sound like a bad mother, but I wanted to be honest about my initial ambivalence. Running is the only thing I do where my brain shuts off. It really is all about me because I am unavailable for anyone else while I am in motion. 

If this was a better run and I was going to PR would I have stopped and then slowed down so we could finish together? I would love to say sure of course, but I don't know. I think that if I do run another race where I think I will do better, I will ask that they wait at the finish. 

And on between times I think I might not suck as hard as I did today,lol, I'll run/walk with Gabriel. That is something I am very happy to do. The ambivalence I felt was unexpected. But then again the experience was as well. 

I need to be as comfortable with the part of me that might not be thrilled as I am with the part of me that is thrilled and happy that he would want to run in with me. I think coming to terms with things like that as a Mother is what keeps you from being the Mom with the vodka and orange juice in the minivan.

UPDATE: Gabriel told me that running with me was the best part of his day (aside from reaching level 50 in WOW). He said he was worried that he wouldn't be able to run fast or far enough to keep up with me. That he was happy he could.

That's better then any PR. I told him he was welcome to join me anytime as long as the race directors were ok with it. I mean I'm not going to be running in the front, lol.

He also said he got worried when we ran through and they asked me for my tag, he'd get in trouble. So I explained what a bandit was and why he wasn't one. He's a good kid.

What the Hell

is IN this body wash? Crack? Viggo Mortenson? What?!

Meet My Internal Locust

Ok, so it's really Internal Locus of Control but in my mind (hmmmm) it's an Internal Locust. NOT Jiminey Cricket, what an annoying twit he was. I think Jiminey was the first cartoon character I ever wanted to Bitch Slap.

I first read about it while reading about training for a marathon. One of the things you do to develop it is when you have a 'bad' experience you say to yourself "But it doesn't matter."

I'm tired, but it doesn't matter.

That asshole is driving like an idiot, but it doesn't matter.

I'd rather not run today, but it doesn't matter.

You get the idea. Well, it turns out it's also a big part of Behavior Modification in dogs in regard to the BAT method. But that's over on Guilt Free Fido.

Anyhow, I'm pretty wiped this morning, but it doesn't matter. It's raining and freezing out but it doesn't matter. Because I have My Internal Locust of Control. I tried to find an combat locust but this is the closest I could get, its a Locust Sniper from Gears of War.

I'm confident he could run 13.2 miles.

In fact, I'm sure he's way past the 'but it doesn't matter' stage.

I have a cold

I haven't run or worked out since Saturday. I have this irrational fear that all my fitness is dissolving. But, if I get sicker I won't be able to race on Nov. 6. Or, you know, work or study.

Tomorrow I am going to go I and try and run the three miles I was supposed to start Monday.

Who would have ever thought not being able to run or work out would be distressing?

No, really. Really?! Yep, it's a real product.

Yes, dear, but have you noticed how far up your ass your pants are? I mean, it's unnatural.

I just peed my pants I'm SO excited.

Increasing mileage

Ok, so now I am up to 2.75 although I ran 2.91 because I don't know, because I could, dammit. Besides I was really tired of going 4.5 MPH so I sprinted at 5.8 MPH until I felt like I was going to throw up. Would you believe that's my favorite part?

I'm really pleased because I am running all the way through, keeping a consistent pace. And then I glance over and see the woman next to me is going 6.8 MPH. But five minutes later she's gone and I'm trudging along. Distance, not speed is my goal. Although a little faster would be nice. Then I realize I AM going faster then last month. It's this ever increasing goal, have to adjust as there is no arriving and done. There is just getting better.

But I still hit that 2.25 point where my brain is like, wimpy, whine, pouty PIA brain. My next thing is to make myself actually run outside. I LIKE the treadmill, it has a water holder, the bathroom is right in the gym.

Plus it's soft and you just go and can zone out. Then you get off and go do something else. But since races for whatever reason aren't held on treadmills (I would SO be there) I need to run outside rather then only running outside during a race. Or, maybe I don't, we'll see.

Now Trail Running I would do. Maybe I need to drive to a trail...

From Twelve In Twelve

This is from a blog I follow called Twelve In Twelve. I really like the 'ten pounds lost makes you eight minutes faster' idea. Probably makes it a whole hell of a lot easier as well. 

I am training for a Half Marathon. I intend to do a full, in time, but I felt like shooting for that first would be overwhelming.


Besides, it would be great to be 1 out of a 1000 for a positive reason, you know?

Things I’ve Learned From People Who Have Finished Marathons

October 12, 2011 – 5:34 am

• It doesn’t matter the time. Simply finishing a marathon is a feat in of itself. Nobody will scoff at 26.2 miles.
• On the same hand, you can’t “fake” a marathon the same way you can with a 5k or even 10k. If you don’t train for a marathon, you might not finish a marathon.
• Most marathoners use motivational movies and books to get inspired.
• 1/1,000 of 1% of the population has finished a marathon.
• Research marathon training plans, and pick the one that’s right for you. And then modify it. It’s okay to make your own.
• LOG THE MILES.
• Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.
• Don’t always eat crap. You can eat crap, but not very often.
• It is possible to train for a marathon as part of a healthy, active lifestyle. But training for a marathon does not = a healthy, active lifestyle.
• If you carb-load the night before a race, you might shit like crazy.
• Commit to run, and then do it. No excuses.
• Post reminders or motivating quotes by your running clothes. Remember the goal.
• Every run, imagine what it will feel like crossing the finish line.
• Fat = fuel. You will never be totally “empty” on a run as long as you have fat on your body to burn.
• New Equipment – try it, and use what works. Don’t fall into the stigma of “having” to wear a water belt/Garmin/HRM/Gel pouch. Use what works.
• Don’t get in the habit of walking (unless you are walk/run training). Run if you can.
• Training for a marathon is about physical preparedness and mental discipline.
• Don’t wear cotton, especially if you have chafing problems.
• Do wear a shirt with your name on it – it makes it much more fun for spectators to yell your name.
• Get in the habit of running. Do your homework. Run, run, run.
• On the day of the race, don’t be nervous. Just be focused.
• On the day of a race, you won’t be as nervous if you have logged your miles.
• To run a 5 hour marathon, is a 11:27 pace.
• Training for a year may run out between 4 and 5 pairs of shoes.
• It’s possible to run an entire marathon without having to stop and pee once. Yes, I know someone who did it. (She’s amazing.)
• Start practicing with fuel (energy replacement chews, gels, etc.) before you NEED it.
• Having an injury is one of the worst experiences – especially in the middle of marathon training. Do what you can to be injury-free.
• It’s okay if you have a chattery mind on a run. It’s okay to think about/talk about everything on your mind. The silence will come.
• If your schedule includes a run on Thursday, rest on Friday, and “long run” on Saturday – ultimately, your Thursday run will be awful. You will be fatigued and exhausted. Those runs count the most.
• It might be a good idea to run 2 20-mile runs before the marathon. In case one of them is bad.
• Oh yeah – you WILL have bad runs. It happens to everybody.
• Don’t do anything to your feet before a race. 1-2 weeks before, don’t clip your toenails, and especially no pedicures. If they take those calluses off, you’re in BIG trouble!
• Core work is important – your core muscles are what hold you upright for 26.2 miles.
• For every 10 pounds you lose, it takes off 8 minutes of your finishing time.
• Eat what works. Don’t change your race-day food.
• The night before the race will NOT be the best sleep of your life.
• If you are running with a partner and they want to run faster, THEY WILL. No apologies on the race course.
• Do your best. Log the miles.
• Anybody can run. But not anybody can run a marathon. It takes a lot of work, but is really, really, REALLY worth it.