Kudos to the “Losers”

I consider myself to be in fairly good shape. I run, walk, weight train, eat healthy (usually), and I would consider myself a pretty active middle-aged adult. That being said, I’ve been amazed at how sore I’ve been from my 60+ minutes of P90X every day. Now I know I’m using different muscles in new and different ways, but I never expected to be so sore that I couldn’t move with out groaning like a really, really old person. Again… this is after a measly hour and a half work out.

So, I was watching The Biggest Loser, the other night, and I started wondering why none of these contestants complain about the muscle pain. I mean, we see them working out to the point of exhaustion and quite frequently nausea, but I’ve never heard any of them complain that it hurts to laugh, or move, or even just to take a breath.  Am I just wimpy, wimpy wimpy? Or is this just really good editing?

Happy 2012!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It’s 2012!!! WOOHOOO!!! So, like every new year, I’ve come up with a resolution. Actually, I have MANY resolutions. Resolutions that will undoubtedly be unresolved by year end But if I only complete one of them then I’ll have been successful!!! You see, that’s why I make MANY resolutions, so the odds of succeeding are much better. Some years I even repeat failed resolutions from previous years. Now, some may call that cheating, but I like to think of it as persistence. And persistence is a good trait, right?

Well, one of this year’s resolutions is… wait for it… dum da duuumm…26.2 miles… yup, to complete a MARATHON!! Now, I’ve tried this one once before, but didn’t get to complete it due to injuries. YAY, it’s going back on the list!! I think if I train properly this time, I WILL succeed!! You see, last time my training consisted of just running, with an occasional yoga or pilates class. (Like one of each the entire 20 weeks of training) I didn’t do any weight or flexibility training. I am convinced that these two additions are essential to a successful marathon. We will see!!!

So I’ve decided to commit to this crazy goal, but which marathon shall I do? Hmmmm…

1. Disney Marathon – well I live in Orlando and could easily do the Disney Marathon, but it’s in early January, which is about a week away. Yeah, not gonna happen! And, if I sign up for next January, I’ve already failed. And that’s just not acceptable!
2. There’s the Space Coast Marathon which is nearby, but it’s held the Sunday after Thanksgiving. That would mean that we would have to skip our annual Thanksgiving trip to Charlotte… NOPE, not gonna do it!!
3. ING New York Marathon in November would be fun and the application process (lottery) starts TODAY. This is not only a tough race to get into, but also a rather expensive one! But I signed up for the lottery and I’ll just have to wait and see!
4. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is in October and is reasonably priced at a mere $150. Registration opens in February, so that’s another option. And I know my hubs would come be my cheerleader, since he LOVES Chi-town!
5. The St Augustine Marathon is very close to home, which saves $$ on airline tickets, and close enough that I could actually have some peeps at the race!! Hmm, yeah this may be the one!!! Unless, of course I get lucky and get into the ING NYC.

Stay tuned and I will keep you up-to-date on how the training is going!

Happy Belated Halloween!!!

BELATED BOO!!! Did I scare you? No? Well, POO! Yeah I got you there, huh? As any parent knows, POO trumps BOO on the scare meter, anywhere, anytime!! But, is it scarey enough to get you moving? Are you running from your computer, screaming in fear? Good then I have succeeded in my task to get everyone out and exercising off all the sugar we ate yesterday!!

OK, so I have to confess something…I’ve been a little lax in the running lately. There…I’ve said it. Isn’t the first step in solving any problem, admitting that there is a problem? And now I’m gonna want to lace up my runners and hit the pavement. ..right? NO? CRAP!!! Well, I tried!!! In my defense, I have been walking 3 miles 3 times a week with my hubs. So I’m not sedentary, just a tad lazy. Well, maybe lazy isn’t the right word… running in slow-motion might describe it better.

So since I started writing this a couple days ago… yeah maybe lazy is the right word… I added a 2 mile run to my hubby walks. That’s a total of 5 miles!!! Eventually I will have hubs running the 3 mile walk and then I’ll be running 5 miles three days a week. Not bad… I think what I really need is to find a race to sign up for and get myself inspired!!! Stay tuned!!!

Run Hubby Run….

I enjoy my runs… I mean absolutely LOVE my runs!!! Well, most of them. But, I’m beginning to realize that other people DO NOT enjoy theirs as much. And one of those people is my darling husband! Now, to be fair I must say that he is just beginning his running regime, and I’m not sure that anyone really LIKES it at the very beginning, what with all those side stitches and, of course, the breathlessness. But, for those of us that pushed through that painful beginning, is the, ummm, how to describe it… hmm… bliss, ecstasy, euphoria, elation… must I go on? I think you get my drift! So my goal is to get the hubs to stick with it long enough to reach that euphoric threshhold, with hopes that from then on it will be a MUST DO!

How to accomplish this? Yeah, I don’t know for sure, but I’m going to try to take it slow and work him up to a 5K race. We went out this past week and ran/walked 30 minutes, in a 2 minute run/3 minute walk. It went GREAT!! He said I run a little faster than he does, but he kept up and we did it! We started out another day, but the rain started and we had to stop after a walk around the block

Never fear… we are going to keep this up… even if it kills me! Today is suppose to be another rainy day, so maybe we can squeeze in 30 minutes between FLORIDA’s liquid sunshine! I would like to set a 3 day a week schedule, increasing our run time each week until eventually we are running a 5K in 30 minute!!!!

Watch for follow-ups to follow!!!

Hot and Humid Running…UGHH!

So as you know, I’ve been a little lazy about running lately! OK REALLY lazy! But… I’m trying!  I did run a 5K charity race on Saturday after NO training! And frankly, IT SUCKED!!! Not the race itself, but my performance! It was SO hot and humid! I know, I know… I live in FLA, I should be used to it. But to run in the sun is just not fun! Now I sound like Dr. Suess… great! Anyway, I had my iPhone with me and had the Nike + app running, but for some reason it didn’t register my pace or distance only my time. FRUSTRATING!!! So at 1 mile there was a sign, and at 1.5 miles there was a water station. But the entire rest of the race was unmarked. I was convinced at about mile 2.5 that we had run at least 5 miles. That’s what I get for not training! I did finish, even though my time wasn’t good! YAY ME!

Now I’m back on my schedule of 1 charity race a month. I figure it’s the only way I can keep myself motivated. I’m actually hoping to do a couple of half marathons in the fall! Notice I didn’t say FULL! Yes… I still have it in my head to someday run a full marathon, but for now I’ll stick with my halfs. I just want to keep my knees healthy and after my training injury, I decided to take it really slow! Really, really slow! So, I’m starting with an easy 3 days a week 4 miles a day schedule. This should get me through to summer. Then I’ll kick it up a little and add some extra miles! Because I love to run in 120ºF temps! The sun beating down, and the sweat stinging your eyes… you’ve got to LOVE it!!!

To Run… Or Not To Run… This Is The Question!

Run 5K or drinks with my girls?

The last time I ran was probably in the Trailblazer 5K on March 20th. And before that… hmmmm… I can’t remember! I’ve been trying to be good! I took my running gear on my spring break trip to Washington DC…but didn’t run! I took my stuff to my 10th annual girls’ weekend…but didn’t run! I’ll pack my stuff for my upcoming trip to Charlotte… but I probably won’t run there either! What is my problem??? Hmmm, maybe that I’ve been in vaca mode for a few months?!?!

But I woke up determined yesterday… well maybe not so determined as much as guilt-laden. You see I was going about my morning routine, when a friend called and asked if his son could come over and wait with us until the bus came. After I said yes, I realized that I should probably get out of my jammies. And since my hubby was so good about getting up with my son at 5:30AM and driving him to school and waking my daughter while letting me sleep, I didn’t want to disturb his nap. The quickest and quietest outfit I could grab was my running clothes that were still neatly packed in my suitcase!

Here I was all dressed and ready to run, but I had no plans to actually go for a run. Then, I started thinking of how good it would feel to be out in the fresh air, jamming to my Race Day play list and sweating out the toxic weekend… and I started feeling guilty. So I got my shoes, hat and sunglasses and headed out! And it was AWESOME!!! A little hot & humid towards the 4th mile, but it was really nice early on! I felt great all day long, too! Great enough to make a pact with myself to run at least 3 days a week! But will I keep it up?

I think that since I don’t have any upcoming races on the calendar, I’m being lazy! So I need to book some races! Stay tuned…

Running With My iPhone…Yikes

So I finally talked my hubs into buying me the new 3GS iPhone with the Nike App built in. I’ve been bugging him relentlessly, so I wouldn’t have to keep carrying my iPhone and my Nano on my daily runs. I even tried the whole “I’m getting carpal tunnel syndrome and stress in my shoulders” and he would just laugh it off. Arrgghhhh! But with the help of my kids… mostly my daughter who ended up adopting my old iPhone… he relented on Valentines’ Day!

I absolutely LOVE my new iPhone!!! But I’m a little nervous about taking it on my runs. You see, in my head I have a vision of me running down the street, without a care in the world, when all of the sudden something happens… a snake jumps me… or gigantic Blue Heron pecks me… or a raccoon startles me… (Funny that these things have all happened!) and my precious iPhone goes flying from my hand … in slow mo… and lands in pieces on the pavement. NOOOOOO!!!! This would be a TRAGEDY!!!! A MAJOR TRAGEDY!!!

You see, I’m not a strap lover, because I prefer to see my screen while I’m running. I tried the armband, but found it was itchy and I got a bruise on my arm from tugging it to look at the screen constantly!  I tried the waist belt, but it bounced around so much that I was afraid it would break something inside. So, I bought a rubbery case that I can grip, and I’m hoping it works!!! Stay tuned!!!

By the way…do you think the iPad is too big to run with? I get separation anxiety when I’m without mine!

Injury Alert!

OUCH!!!

So the last time we spoke I was doing great…training for the Disney Marathon, running my miles and feeling GREAT!! OK, yes, I had a blister or two, but I was really feeling GREAT! Then, it started…slowly at first…but the pain was inching its way into my runs. A twinge in my knee, an ache in my hip… the excessive mileage was catching up to me. I couldn’t bend down and get back up anymore. Here I was a 44 year old moving like I was an 80 year old and grunting and groaning like one too! No wonder the elderly are seen as grumpy…pain sucks! It’s getting worse too! I went out for  a short 6 mile run the other day and grimaced and cursed the entire way. Afterwards, I was walking to cool down when I felt a strange pulling sensation in the outside of my left knee. Then, it just went limp. NOT GOOD!! I could barely walk the quarter mile to get home. I stretched as soon as I got home and iced it down, but nothing helped. It was done!!! I limped around for a couple days and decided to give it a couple days off to see if it would start to feel better. Not working! It’s now been 5 days and I’m still in pain, while not as bad as before and I’m not able to run on it. The marathon is in 6 days!!! I am afraid it’s just not going to happen for me! WAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! All that training and no pay off!

Well, I guess the ability to walk for the rest of my life is more important than bragging rights. RIGHT? Can I still claim to be a marathon runner if I only ever completed 18 miles? I did run a half marathon race, and despite a few mishaps, I ran a decent race. Is a half marathoner still considered a marathoner? I’m sure all the half marathoners out there are saying yes and all the marathoners are saying NO!!!

I will try to run again tomorrow and see if it’s any better. But for now, I’m not planning on attempting the Disney Marathon 2010…frowny face (

Attack of the BLISTERS!

Have you missed me? Have you…huh, huh, huh? Well, I’ve been really busy! Doing what… you ask? Um, running, sleeping, and eating. Yeah that’s pretty much it…I wake up and do the mommy thing…shuffle the kids out the door with their incredibly nutritious pop tarts …then I go for a short run…hahahahahaha…short my arse!!! Never would I have thought that I would call an 8 mile run short!!! But I guess in comparison to my Sunday long runs, which are anywhere from 10-20 miles, these weekday runs are considerably shorter. WOW…have I come a long way! Wasn’t it just the other day I was running a long run of 5 miles? Yes it was! How quickly we adapt! I actually look forward to the long runs now!

My last run was yesterday…it was suppose to be between 6-7 miles. So I headed out and was feeling pretty good. But somewhere around mile 1  I started feeling a slight rubbing on my right foot. So I stretched  my toes out and continued on. But then I felt my left big toe start burning…I tried to rearrange my foot, but that didn’t work. By the time I got to mile 4, I was in soooo much pain I had to turn around and head back home after only 5.8 miles…arghghh! I gently pulled off both shoes and peeled off my socks and there it was….a HUGE blister on the side of my big toe! I mean this thing was about an inch long and about to blow!!! And there was a baby one on my other foot. What? Why? I have been running forever and never had a blister. I didn’t change shoes or socks…it wasn’t wet outside and I didn’t run through any puddles, so what happened? I wish I knew!

Here’s my assumption…I had a can of potato soup…Campbell’s…for dinner the night before.  Sounds like a decent meal for a runner right? NO!!! It’s LOADED with sodium! And I ate this salt soup with saltines, cause you just have to! So when I tallied up all the sodium I probably consumed in that 1 meal,  it was close to what a person should eat in 2 days!!!! UGGHHHH!!! So the sodium caused my feet to swell thus causing the blisters.  Did I say UGGHHHH?!?!?!

So here I sit staring at my poor feet, riddled with blisters  and wondering if I am going to be able to run this weekend! I’m suppose to run 11 miles tomorrow, and then run two races on Sunday of 5 miles and then 2. Waaaahhhh!!! I don’t know if I can! I’ve come so far and now stupid little blisters are stopping my progress!

I’ll keep you updated! I promise!!!

Yawn!!!

Hello! I’ve been a little lazy with the posts lately, and for that I am sorry! But, I’m just so tired all the time, now that school started! Why you ask? Well, my son, the 15 year old, has to catch his ride to school at 6:15AM…which means he needs to wake up at 5:45AM in order to get a shower, throw on his clothes and run out the door with his breakfast hanging out of his mouth. Much to my chagrin, he is incapable of waking himself up. So this means that good old mom has to get him up…at 5:45AM…UGHGHGHGHGH!

Now, I know a lot of you are probably saying “get him an alarm clock”. OK…I’ve tried this and he sleeps right through that annoying bzzzzzzzzzzz…..bzzzzzzzzzzzz….bzzzzzzzzz sound. So, I figured he needed something a little more powerful and I got him the alarm that vibrates and rolls around while a voice screams insults at him. Oh and the insults get progressively louder. NOPE…slept right through it too!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?

I gave up and resigned myself to the task. Now I wake up at 5:30AM, quickly make my coffee and head upstairs to wake the my sleeping 15 year old baby. I know, I know… “Never wake a sleeping baby”…but I think we need to add to this saying…especially if they’re 15 years old! All you mother’s of teenagers know what I’m talking about! Waking a sleeping teenager is not pretty!!! And yet this is how I choose to spend my pre-dawn hours!

So, after my son get’s off to school, I have a few minutes to check my emails and tend to my crops on Farmville (Facebook app), a game or two of Farkle and then I’m off to get my daughter up. Are you wondering when I’m getting my runs in? Well, I have to wait until my daughter leaves for the bus at 8:30AM.  It’s not too hot when I leave, but if I have to run anything more than 6 miles it gets a little stifling towards the end. Nothing I can’t deal with, but not pleasurable! Thankfully, my long runs are on Sundays.

I will try to post more frequently…I promise!!! I am hoping that I will eventually get use to the new schedule….but for now all I can say is …YAWN!!!!:O