Finally, my stars lined up and I had a good run. Who would of thought that after yesterday and the bike ride.
I promised myself I was going to run and not complain. I was not going to tell myself I couldn't or that I was dying during the run. I didn't do either of those, Tamara and I did not talk as much, but yes we did talk and we had a great run. I love our new meeting place knowing there is a reward at the end might help. Rohbust-oh (I am sure I have screwed their name up), but great muffins and coffee. Thanks to Keith I have a snack later!
Party on the couch today. Oh how I wish..... I have back to school shopping and open house at the high school. Only question I have is why do I have to take a Senior to Open House. Does she not know by now what to expect? Cause I sure do. Hard to believe that my child will graduate this year. OK I will not get sad and mushy cause I am feeling way to pumped for all that. I will save it Tuesday when I actually drop them off for school.
Awesome job today gang. See you tomorrow night for the bike ride.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tour to Tanglewood
John and I decided to participate in the Tour to Tanglewood just a few weeks ago. We thought ok we can do the 20 mile ride each day with no problem and not much time to train. We have ridden our bikes for short distances at a time. By that I mean the first ride was 7 miles and the longest being 15 miles long. Again, not much training.
Tour to Tanglewood is a very organized event. Training rides that lead up to the actual date (Sept 6th and 7th) are offered for several weeks. Of course we missed most of those for several reasons. So today was the last one before the ride. We are nervous that we are going to get there and being the newbies we will be days getting in from this. We have never ridden in a group so that in itself makes me super nervous. So to say the least, NO SLEEP last night. We take showers to try an wake up this morning. We get there, 30 minutes early (you can tell we are new at this). They hand out cue sheets. I am mentally expecting 20 to 25 miles today. Where did I get that number, who the heck knows. The cue sheet says TOTAL 38.4 miles. Can you say I about fell over. We contemplated leaving. There was no way we could ride that far. The only saving grace might be the 3 rest stops. Ok, we meet up the group we are riding with, Wells Fargo Team. John, Vicki and Kelly have participated in several training rides I think. They knew what they were doing anyways. Oh you know me, I had 3 cups of coffee before we leave home and I have to use the bathroom. By this time, the line is out the door. I wait in line, they give the safety speech (I couldn't hear it), everyone leaves. Even our team. So we are the last ones out. In running, you all know I hate hills... I mean I hate hills. Can you say this entire course is hilly and I don't mean a gentle rolling hill, I MEAN A HILL! OK we make it to the first rest stop. Kudos to the Horny Town Fire Dept. You really know how to provide for bikers. It was great. We met up with two guys that are in Johns lodge. He is a Mason and some of the guys are riding in it. So Patrick and Rob say come ride with us. Sure we will......MISTAKE... No not really, we did a great job of keeping up with the men who run marathons and are doing an adventure race in Oct. I was totally shocked at myself. I finished the 38.4 miles, before my husband (not far in front, but in front) and before my team.... YEAH ME! I only say that because I really was going to go home and say bag it, I am riding the 20 miles.
Does my butt hurt? Like a you know what (you can fill in whatever you want). It hurts. But I am pumped and no I am not looking forward to going out in the morning for an 11.5 mile training run. But I will complete it!
Two great things I learned today, don't say I can't do it, and don't be afraid of something new. I might actually be able to succeed at something if I stop telling myself I can't or I am going to die if I do this... I met some really nice people and we gained some folks to ride with. John Y., Kelly and Vicki, thanks for letting us join your team. Thanks Rob and Patrick for helping me push myself beyond my normal limits and for the advice on how to use my new bike. John, thanks for supporting my new madness, it means alot to me to have you by my side.
Tour to Tanglewood is a very organized event. Training rides that lead up to the actual date (Sept 6th and 7th) are offered for several weeks. Of course we missed most of those for several reasons. So today was the last one before the ride. We are nervous that we are going to get there and being the newbies we will be days getting in from this. We have never ridden in a group so that in itself makes me super nervous. So to say the least, NO SLEEP last night. We take showers to try an wake up this morning. We get there, 30 minutes early (you can tell we are new at this). They hand out cue sheets. I am mentally expecting 20 to 25 miles today. Where did I get that number, who the heck knows. The cue sheet says TOTAL 38.4 miles. Can you say I about fell over. We contemplated leaving. There was no way we could ride that far. The only saving grace might be the 3 rest stops. Ok, we meet up the group we are riding with, Wells Fargo Team. John, Vicki and Kelly have participated in several training rides I think. They knew what they were doing anyways. Oh you know me, I had 3 cups of coffee before we leave home and I have to use the bathroom. By this time, the line is out the door. I wait in line, they give the safety speech (I couldn't hear it), everyone leaves. Even our team. So we are the last ones out. In running, you all know I hate hills... I mean I hate hills. Can you say this entire course is hilly and I don't mean a gentle rolling hill, I MEAN A HILL! OK we make it to the first rest stop. Kudos to the Horny Town Fire Dept. You really know how to provide for bikers. It was great. We met up with two guys that are in Johns lodge. He is a Mason and some of the guys are riding in it. So Patrick and Rob say come ride with us. Sure we will......MISTAKE... No not really, we did a great job of keeping up with the men who run marathons and are doing an adventure race in Oct. I was totally shocked at myself. I finished the 38.4 miles, before my husband (not far in front, but in front) and before my team.... YEAH ME! I only say that because I really was going to go home and say bag it, I am riding the 20 miles.
Does my butt hurt? Like a you know what (you can fill in whatever you want). It hurts. But I am pumped and no I am not looking forward to going out in the morning for an 11.5 mile training run. But I will complete it!
Two great things I learned today, don't say I can't do it, and don't be afraid of something new. I might actually be able to succeed at something if I stop telling myself I can't or I am going to die if I do this... I met some really nice people and we gained some folks to ride with. John Y., Kelly and Vicki, thanks for letting us join your team. Thanks Rob and Patrick for helping me push myself beyond my normal limits and for the advice on how to use my new bike. John, thanks for supporting my new madness, it means alot to me to have you by my side.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Am I that out of shape?
Am I slow because I am out of shape? I have no idea why I struggle so some days (ok most days) or why my lungs do not want to seem to carry me through a short stupid 4 miles. Do I not push myself enough? Do I not cross train enough, have I not lost enough weight or body fat, do I eat so poorly that it doesn't fuel the runs? What the heck is the answer here and what am I doing wrong?
This is a recovery week so our mileage has been manageable. Not hard (until Sunday that is 11 miles) and we are supposed to recovering. I am not sure what I am recovering from since my last few attempts at running have sucked eggs royally and I am beginning to feel bad for my running partner as well as myself. I am holding her back and that is obvious by the heavy breathing I am doing, not able to carry a full conversation on, never the less talk much at all. Yet, Tamara is laughing, barely broken a sweat, laughing and of course being the best at mentally pushing me along. I told her leave me, I don't and would not want anyone to stay back with me because they picked me as their running partner. Kudos to her for being that good of a friend! Thanks, I appreciate you! But if you need to leave me, I will be sad and cry, but go on!
Right now I really am wondering what the heck I was thinking when I thought I could run 26.2 miles. I will not give up, but darn I feel so out of shape and it is really getting old and I don't know what else to do about it.
I am feeling a self pity party coming on. Did I really stop drinking for this? I might have to change that. Pity hates a party of one.
This is a recovery week so our mileage has been manageable. Not hard (until Sunday that is 11 miles) and we are supposed to recovering. I am not sure what I am recovering from since my last few attempts at running have sucked eggs royally and I am beginning to feel bad for my running partner as well as myself. I am holding her back and that is obvious by the heavy breathing I am doing, not able to carry a full conversation on, never the less talk much at all. Yet, Tamara is laughing, barely broken a sweat, laughing and of course being the best at mentally pushing me along. I told her leave me, I don't and would not want anyone to stay back with me because they picked me as their running partner. Kudos to her for being that good of a friend! Thanks, I appreciate you! But if you need to leave me, I will be sad and cry, but go on!
Right now I really am wondering what the heck I was thinking when I thought I could run 26.2 miles. I will not give up, but darn I feel so out of shape and it is really getting old and I don't know what else to do about it.
I am feeling a self pity party coming on. Did I really stop drinking for this? I might have to change that. Pity hates a party of one.
Stretch it out
For the last 8 months I have been really bothered by a very tight hamstring. I would say there are days that it "kills" me. But other days it is just tight. Too stubborn to go see a doctor because I was afraid of what they might say. So I just ignore it and keep taking my 4 advil everyday for good measure. Advil has turned into my "apple a day".
After some very tight days, I decided to schedule a stretching session with one of the new trainers at Michael Broadway's Personal Training gym. (Free plug) here... Chris is new and after missing several days of boot camp, Michael suggested I do this. I am impressed that if you miss a class or two, you get an email or phone call to say we missed you, is something wrong. Tamara and I met with Chris and after about 30 minutes of learning stretches to help, my hamstring is not so tight.
So if you all see Tamara and I doing these after we run, don't laugh... I think it might help out!
After some very tight days, I decided to schedule a stretching session with one of the new trainers at Michael Broadway's Personal Training gym. (Free plug) here... Chris is new and after missing several days of boot camp, Michael suggested I do this. I am impressed that if you miss a class or two, you get an email or phone call to say we missed you, is something wrong. Tamara and I met with Chris and after about 30 minutes of learning stretches to help, my hamstring is not so tight.
So if you all see Tamara and I doing these after we run, don't laugh... I think it might help out!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Life Insurance Plot
Today our group met for our normal Tuesday training. We get an email from Marisa that we are doing a fartlek run. OK I have to admit I have read about these but never have I experienced one.
We meet, we greet, we get our instructions and off we go! Tamara and I stop for a potty break on our warm up and then we are off. My faithful friend has the duty of timing our fartleks. We run the first one, yeah it is tough but ok after a 90 second recovery I am doing ok. Or at least I think I am. How many more do we have? She informs we there are 5 of them and the recovery period gets shorter each time. Who the heck thought of that?. Second one down, third down, I am sinking, my breathing becomes more difficult each time. Fourth one, my heart rate is 190 bpm and I am wheezing. OK I can't catch my breath, my arms are tingling..... I need an oxygen mask... I need my inhaler. Oh did I mention, I have asthma? Yes ASTHMA! Vinegar water is not going to help this acute attack! Please someone force air into my lungs. "Tamara you go on without me, I don't want to slow you down". What does my buddy do? She says "no I am not leaving you while you can't breathe". That is a true friend. But then she informs me that we have 2 more to do.... but maybe not in all out sprints. Then I start thinking.... hmmmm... life insurance.... she is trying to kill me and she and John are splitting my life insurance. I get over the fact my new best friend and my husband are trying to knock me off, and we begin the next one....ok I can't stand for anyone to pass me or leave me behind. So I try to run just as fast Tamara. I keep up, and then the last one! Yes we run all out on it. It is the last one so we kick it into high gear. Then Tamara makes the comment that goes something like I have to keep up whether I can't breathe or not. I hate that... I hate being passed and I hate being left. Yes I realize it happens quite often but if I can help it, it won't happen. That is how I got my running buddy and great friend Jessica from last years group. We were running the track and I could see her catching me on the track so I would speed up. Each time she got close I would speed up again, she finally yells to me that she is trying to run with me not pass me. Sure, I will let you run with me, but I won't let you pass me. Now look, Jess and I are great friends and I can't wait for her to run with me again. This only applies to people who run in my time frame... So Keith, Dena, Chris, John and Pam, have no fear......
Great training tonight group! Thanks for teaching me something new Marisa. Your ears won't be burning tonight. Tamara, thanks for staying with me. I will be checking with my insurance guy tomorrow....
We meet, we greet, we get our instructions and off we go! Tamara and I stop for a potty break on our warm up and then we are off. My faithful friend has the duty of timing our fartleks. We run the first one, yeah it is tough but ok after a 90 second recovery I am doing ok. Or at least I think I am. How many more do we have? She informs we there are 5 of them and the recovery period gets shorter each time. Who the heck thought of that?. Second one down, third down, I am sinking, my breathing becomes more difficult each time. Fourth one, my heart rate is 190 bpm and I am wheezing. OK I can't catch my breath, my arms are tingling..... I need an oxygen mask... I need my inhaler. Oh did I mention, I have asthma? Yes ASTHMA! Vinegar water is not going to help this acute attack! Please someone force air into my lungs. "Tamara you go on without me, I don't want to slow you down". What does my buddy do? She says "no I am not leaving you while you can't breathe". That is a true friend. But then she informs me that we have 2 more to do.... but maybe not in all out sprints. Then I start thinking.... hmmmm... life insurance.... she is trying to kill me and she and John are splitting my life insurance. I get over the fact my new best friend and my husband are trying to knock me off, and we begin the next one....ok I can't stand for anyone to pass me or leave me behind. So I try to run just as fast Tamara. I keep up, and then the last one! Yes we run all out on it. It is the last one so we kick it into high gear. Then Tamara makes the comment that goes something like I have to keep up whether I can't breathe or not. I hate that... I hate being passed and I hate being left. Yes I realize it happens quite often but if I can help it, it won't happen. That is how I got my running buddy and great friend Jessica from last years group. We were running the track and I could see her catching me on the track so I would speed up. Each time she got close I would speed up again, she finally yells to me that she is trying to run with me not pass me. Sure, I will let you run with me, but I won't let you pass me. Now look, Jess and I are great friends and I can't wait for her to run with me again. This only applies to people who run in my time frame... So Keith, Dena, Chris, John and Pam, have no fear......
Great training tonight group! Thanks for teaching me something new Marisa. Your ears won't be burning tonight. Tamara, thanks for staying with me. I will be checking with my insurance guy tomorrow....
Monday, August 18, 2008
Running Rx
I have discovered why it is I torture my body! I run for my sanity. Oh for those of you who think I am crazy, you should of met me before I started running. Then I found running shoes, pavement and fresh air no matter how hot or cold would seem to calm everything down. If only that second voice in my head would go get some shoes. I think I saved Blue Cross a payout. I deserve a discount on the insurance premium. Note to self, call and talk to them about that.
I missed my long run yesterday due to several things. Poor communication being the first (or so I read in someone else's blog), lack of sleep and again self pity of "why me". So for the rest of the day I felt on edge with everyone. The least little bit of extra noise seemed to just make the hair on my neck want to stand up. I needed my run! I needed pavement beneath my feet and the time spent calming the anxiousness inside me. I needed that time to think and clear my head. At the end of that run I would know that everything in my life that seems so turned upside down at times would be A OK if only I could finish. We rode our bikes almost 15 miles, but it just wasn't the same. Something about cars whizzing by that doesn't give you time to clear your thoughts.
So for those that work too much, stressed, family trouble or just in general need an outlet, try on a pair of running shoes. Sit on the side of your bed, lace them up and walk out the door, take a deep breath, put one foot in front of the other, and I would bet by the end of that run, you feel a release! Therefore, this is why running has become my Rx for whatever it is that bothers me.
I missed my long run yesterday due to several things. Poor communication being the first (or so I read in someone else's blog), lack of sleep and again self pity of "why me". So for the rest of the day I felt on edge with everyone. The least little bit of extra noise seemed to just make the hair on my neck want to stand up. I needed my run! I needed pavement beneath my feet and the time spent calming the anxiousness inside me. I needed that time to think and clear my head. At the end of that run I would know that everything in my life that seems so turned upside down at times would be A OK if only I could finish. We rode our bikes almost 15 miles, but it just wasn't the same. Something about cars whizzing by that doesn't give you time to clear your thoughts.
So for those that work too much, stressed, family trouble or just in general need an outlet, try on a pair of running shoes. Sit on the side of your bed, lace them up and walk out the door, take a deep breath, put one foot in front of the other, and I would bet by the end of that run, you feel a release! Therefore, this is why running has become my Rx for whatever it is that bothers me.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Running and Food
OK after tons of "self pity", I had a good run today. I have to admit this and I hate to, we talked less the second half and the run seemed "easier" if there is such a thing. We might have to try this more often. Well maybe not but it is a good thought.
I was up at 5:30 making homemade banana bread this morning because I had promised my faithful friend banana bread french toast. OH IT WAS GOOD! We are going to start rewarding ourselves with food. I really might need to stay in boot camp if I do that. Of course the Pampered Chef Brunch was just a little while later, and we feasted on Spinach, Bacon and Alfredo pizza and for dessert, a Mocha Brownie Truffle.... YUMMY! Thanks to everyone who came, and if you didn't and your interested in placing an order, I will have books with me tomorrow or you can go to www.pamperedchef.com and let me know your order and I will place it for you.
Overall, a good day. Only thing I have to do now is deal with that 16 year old of mine and pray my buddy is not sick and can run with me tomorrow. I might need to get her some chicken soup!
See you on the course........
I was up at 5:30 making homemade banana bread this morning because I had promised my faithful friend banana bread french toast. OH IT WAS GOOD! We are going to start rewarding ourselves with food. I really might need to stay in boot camp if I do that. Of course the Pampered Chef Brunch was just a little while later, and we feasted on Spinach, Bacon and Alfredo pizza and for dessert, a Mocha Brownie Truffle.... YUMMY! Thanks to everyone who came, and if you didn't and your interested in placing an order, I will have books with me tomorrow or you can go to www.pamperedchef.com and let me know your order and I will place it for you.
Overall, a good day. Only thing I have to do now is deal with that 16 year old of mine and pray my buddy is not sick and can run with me tomorrow. I might need to get her some chicken soup!
See you on the course........
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