Keep on running....

I assure you... all two of you who actually read this irregular-disaster of a "blog"... I am still very much alive and well...


I have thrown myself in the 1/2 Training - well, the short version here (and not so faithfully cross-training BAD ME!)I got up at the ass crack of dark o'clock (4:45am) to run my 3 miles today. I was up at 6:00am to run 5 miles last Saturday before heading up to my in-laws. I am doing 6 miles this Sunday (rounding it to an even 10k) Speaking of... I am thinking of running the Spreckles 10k on the 4th of July. The only thing keeping me from registering is that I'm not sure if Jeff's off that day yet. I bought a pair of Vibram Bikilas but I have still yet to wear them for more than a mile.

I am absolutely terrified of the hills. I need to go run up AND down some very soon. I am under no illusions that training on the 'mill is far from optimal when you're looking at a course fraught with hills. Way to pick the HARDEST 1/2 for your first one, Christine. Overachiever. :P

Also, have been faithfully doing the "Green monster" smoothies for the last week. I really think they are helping a lot along with the exercise... my mood is stabilizing once again. I'm also spending a lot more time outside with Ashley during the week out and about. Travis has been going to day camp every weekday but Tuesdays. Next week it's 5 days. It's pleasant - except for all the driving - but I am pretty much used to it by now. Being out all the time, I'm largely neglecting my house, and all that entails but that's kind of how it has to be for now.

I wonder when(?) if(?) I will ever consider myself a true "runner" rather than someone who is just running. Is there a magic moment where the drudgery just falls completely away? I am feeling it bit by bit. I put my headphones in, and crank up my playlist, and I know that no one is going to bug me for the next however many miles. I enjoy that part, immensely.

My timing is amazing, as always.

So, I ran 6 miles last Sunday with only a couple of blisters, walked away from a fender bender last Monday unscathed... and then.... Tuesday I twisted my stupid ankle/hurt my foot. I was coming into the house after the sprinklers had watered outside... and slid on our tile entry. With bags of groceries in my hands... Ugh. No gym last week, and it still is a bit tender right at the top of my foot near my outer ankle bone (right foot)so GREAT!! Next weekend we are off to Disney and WALKING A LOT... and when we get back I will embark on the HOLY CRAP 1/2 MARATHON on JULY 31st freakout Training Plan. (patent pending)

Pray for my soul... if you're into that type of thing.

Certifiably insane

Ok... I really suck at blogging...


Sunday I ran (ok... ran and walked) my first 10K with my sister-in-law. I had a bunch of issues... pants falling down, side cramp, bunching socks, toe locked up, toe cramped, had to pee at mile 4 with no bathroom in sight. iPhone died with 1.4 mile left. But despite it all, we prevailed. I wasn't as fast as I wanted to be, and I walked more than I would have liked... but I finished, and I wasn't last. So that counts for something, right?




Chip Time: 1:25:14
Clock Time: 1:25:59
Total Pace: 13:44/Mile


So my goals between now and the 1/2 marathon in July... improve my stamina, find socks, lose 10 pounds (AT LEAST!!) Weight is slowly creeping back on me... around 10 pounds worth in the last few months... a combination of slacking off with the tracking food, and the Pill, and I want to get rid of it. So, I need to buckle down and Just Do It. ;)

Which leads me too.... I applied for the Nike Women's Marathon lottery... and my name got picked. Yes, I am taking on 26.2 in October. I think I am certifiably insane at this point. I also still need to register for the Big Sur 1/2 Marathon in November(which I will be doing with non-runners - so much walking will happen!)

A year ago I was a non-runner... and also 30 pounds heavier. In 2011 I have run a 5K, a 3K with Travis, a 10K, and have two 1/2 marathons and a full marathon to go in the next 6 months. I honestly don't even enjoy running that much (YET!) .... meaning I'm not to the point of considering myself a "runner" - rather simply someone who "runs". I wonder when of if that will change?

Obviously different from her brother.

I just heard the sound of water running in the bathroom.

Me: "Ashley, what are you doing, honey? Come out of the bathroom."

Ashley: "I'm just washing my hands because I touched my 'bagina.'"

Awesome.

Tick-tock

Well, I missed a certified letter the other day... so we're going to have to go to our ghetto-ass Post Office to get it. I'm certain it's the formal letter from our lender demanding payment. So, we're looking at moving (probably) in the next 3 months. I suppose, it could be longer... but assuming shorter is probably a good thing.

I'm relieved, anxious, and excited. "There's no place like home." Can't wait to be back.

In other news, I started a diuretic last week... and besides peeing 11,000 times a day, no ill-effects. This is good for a couple of reasons

1. I have lost a couple of pounds just from the water weight.

2. It's a sulfa-based drug, and we were trying it out - I have had a previous reaction to sulpha in the past. So, this opens the door to try the other medications my doctor wanted me to take, but couldn't due to the sulpha-allergy concerns.


In other news, I'm running a 5K tomorrow morning... I did it on the treadmill the other day, and am feeling good, so, yay.

Ready to go out with the family and enjoy the sunshine.

Well that sucked.

The new medication caused a list of side effects within a very short time. Stomach cramps, joint pain, numbness in my hands and feet, itching like crazy. So, nope. Tomorrow I go in for another appointment and hopefully start something else that won't make me feel like utter crap.

A healthy mama is a happy mama

I broke down and joined a gym. I figure... I am NOT going to be able to train for a half-marathon if I can't even get 1/2 mile in before Ashley freaks out in the jogger. So, I got on a month-to-month agreement with a gym 3 minutes from home... and went Tuesday night. I was planning on going yesterday, but I had to fast for some bloodwork until 11:30am... meaning no caffeine either. Oh, the day-long headache that ensued. :( On that note, I am going to cut down on caffeine as well.

My triglycerides are "BEAUTIFUL!" (52) according to my doctor. YAY olive oil! And my HDL (59) and LDL (76) are ok, a little tiny bit higher than optimal... so he wants me to eat more fish/take fish oils (I was taking fish oils for a long time, and then they started to make me feel icky)

I am starting a new medication for BP (a calcium-channel blocker) and gradually getting off of the Labetalol I have been on since I was only 6 weeks pregnant with Ashley. My cardiologist thinks once I start exercising regularly again, I will drop more weight, and my BP will stay down longer, and hopefully I can get off of meds completely.