everything hurts.

24 Jan

tuesday night was my first night back in the saddle and everything hurts.  still.  i am sore.  really, really sore.  very heavy legs but a happy heart.

i lost a lot of speed (duh, like all of it) and stamina not moving for a month and more.

my tuesday night workout literally consisted of running to the track.  doing drills. and then turning around and running BACK to rogue (where a strange man on the street told me that i didn’t need a headlamp because i shine on my own).

lamp

(headlamps are important, you guys.  it’s so you can be seen and not fall in a hole.)

i refused a track workout because just getting there was taxing.

old me would have been frustrated – but i wasn’t.  and i am not.  i was expecting to not be ok and that i would be slow and that i would be tired.  i am going to be doing a lot of running on my own.  my partner has progressed beyond my current state and you know what —  that’s ok, too.

up wallreally.  it’s ok.  legs up the wall to stretch.

after the “workout” we trekked down to gourmand’s to celebrate coach mister awesome’s win at arizona.

jim jones

 

i dubbed this “purple drank” but it’s named jim jones kool aid.  a running mate had it.  it was very purple and very grape.  she said it was essentially grape kool aid and vodka but contains NO KOOL AID (or flavor aid).  if this is true to taste, why didn’t i have one and maybe i need to stop by target and get some grape kool aid packets.

the food looked great. (didn’t partake of food, only drink as i was 100% sure nothing was gluten free except the chips)

i am fearful of tonight’s workout but i also have the common sense (and mouth) to tell my coach “nope. not going to do that” – baby steps.  lonely little baby steps back.

 

 

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One. Goal. Race.

20 Jan

2013 is going to be the year of the comeback.

(is it just me or did anyone (all two of you) start to hear l.l. cool j’s ‘momma said knock you out‘? no? just me? ok….)

january is almost over and i am still working on my race calendar for 2013.

one thing is 100% certain - is that i plan to avenge my DNF and run San Antonio again and all of my training for 2013 will culminate with this race.  my one goal race.

(still thinking about l.l.cool j)

this morning, i registered for the austin 1020 - a race i hated last year and promised myself that day that i would never run another race at the domain.  i promised myself again a second time that i would never race at the domain after completing the ovarian 5k last year.  but then i remembered 2013 is the year of the comeback.  so i decided to run 1020 again and i registered for the race… at the domain.  the medal was heavy and swank and i am fueled by medal bling.

that and vodka.

vodka

well, if i’m honest —  medals, vodka and cheese.  now that i think about it, it’s really a miracle i am mobile at all.

san antonio was a horrible race and the lowest i have felt in my chosen sport. my first DNF.

i spent literally hours sobbing in my husbands arms  (in the parking lot at the finish line, in the hotel, in the hotel lobby, during the car ride home, after getting home.)  it was hot and humid (texas. sometimes i hate you) i was dehydrated, unprepared and that’s really all there it to it.  when you get cold in 70+ degree heat you’re in a bad condition. i was in a bad condition. passing out condition, to be exact – because that’s what i did.  did i mention i also got lost on the shuttle r&r provided (but gave no instruction for)?  no? well that happened, too. luckily i had my phone so i spent a good while sobbing and texting mister husband (until he found me (again) sobbing, sitting in the parking lot at the finish line) and my dear “sister-from-another-mister” friend, kim.

san antonio was all my fault. and that san antonio will never happen again.

one goal race.

i want revenge.  and vengeance will be mine.

texas-alamo

(source)

never even got to see the basement…..

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2012 and 2013

29 Dec

yeah, im still around.

2012 wasn’t the greatest year.  some bad things happened in 2012 and i am looking forward to 2013 with great anticipation.

i had a hip injury in January. a good Austin Half Marathon in February.  in march me and my pals began dealing with a friend with terminal ovarian cancer.

i got an awesome coach.

i had my friend die from ovarian cancer in june.

i stopped caring about my training.

i stopped running.

i stopped caring about my health.

i stopped caring about my appearance for the most part.  i’ve gained about 15 pounds.

i had ENORMOUS work stress that lasted for 2 months – i relocated our office to a new building in less than one month.

I had my first DNF.  (in runner lingo = “did not finish”)  at the san antonio rock and roll half marathon.

thanks to the work stress, i have been ill for most of november and december with something.  and, in my opinion, some depression.  i stopped speaking to people.

so, here we are. the end of 2012.  frankly, 2012 can suck it.

i know what you’re thinking.  damn, this is a negative post.  but it’s not.  it’s about to turn around — right now…

 i have big plans for 2013.

  • run again.  not race, but work on building back my base and strength.  (i ran today for the first time in ages. it went poorly but the weather was nice)
  • hit the gym for strength training.  i even bought a pair of cross trainers.  lift some weights and do some spin classes.  i love the gym. im just lazy about it.
  • starting january 7 — i am doing a 3 day juice cleanse through juiceland and tweeting and blogging the whole ordeal.  me and a good pal are doing this (together!!) and we’re both totally jazzed.  we even went and sampled juice yesterday.  it tasted mostly of celery.
  • lose this horseshit weight i put on.  (*horseshit* is one of my favorite swear words.) and eat like an athlete.
  • participate (note, not race) in the capital 10k.  (my coach has won this race several times)
  • maybe run the san antonio r&r half to avenge my dnf.  the race was hot and humidity was high.  they’ve actually moved the race date to december for 2013.

those are my goals.  hey ho, let’s go —  2013. i am ready to rock and roll.

juicemy juice was the red one (thanks to beets).  Em’s juice is the green one.  it frightened me.

 

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i am a bad website owner….

29 Sep

hi, again.

sorry for the lack of updates – work has been a nightmare. in a perfect world, i would be debt free, stress free and just running and working in a yarn shop.

until that day comes, if it ever comes… i need to manage my stress a tad better.

***run chat***

today was my first 10 miler since the austin 1020 race back in April.  (that race was misery. located at the domain and the course doubled back on itself to get to the finish line. i digress…)

the weather called for 100% chance of rain. yay! i love rain running. i do not avoid puddles – i plow right through them. the bigger and muddier the puddle the harder i will stomp down into them… much like a little kid playing in the rain.

threw on compression socks (since it is 10 miles and i do love my compression socks) and went out the door.

drive down to east austin in the rain (double yay!) park, grab my garmin and my running bag and… my garmin wouldn’t turn on. i charged it last night. all night.  it told me “charge complete.”

it was dead.

(please don’t die. i need you. please don’t die… PLEASE!)

i think my baby is on it’s last leg – or toe.  i love that forerunner.  you don’t understand my love affair with my forerunner.  my husband bought it for me and it’s held my time and pace for years.  we’re one.  i think i am going to have to purchase a new one – and garmin no longer makes my model of forerunner. i have some research to do. either for a fix for my baby or which new model i want to acquire.

*side note about the garmin. buying a new one is not a cost issue.  it’s sentimental. it’s been with me through runs that have hurt so badly i’ve cried and runs that should have made me cry that were stress and pain free. it’s been through time trials, through rain and ice, through cold & heat.  i’ve read it’s screen in pitch black darkness in the morning and night. it beeps to let me know every 10 minutes that 10 minutes have passed. it was my first piece of gear that said “look at me. why, yes. i am a runner. a serious runner.” am i blowing this out of proportion? you may think so. i do not.*

my partner had her watch. fine. good. off we went.  it was the first sunrise we’d seen in a long while.

i wanted steady rain (it wasn’t) but there were several downpours that soaked to the bone.  at one point during the first downpour, we both stopped mid run, stood there with faces to the sky and just experienced RAIN.

my 10 miler was the hilly, hilly HILLY rogue route up to mt. bonnell.

things HURT. my legs were jelly.  i had 3 gu, which was 1 gu too many for 10 miles and me (and my stomach). i take 3 gu for half’s and i thought that 3 would be fine today but i was a little nauseous by the end.

*note to self: 2 gu=13 miles and under*

hills.  i don’t mind hills.  do they hurt going up? hell yes. and austin has some big and insanely steep ones. but what goes up must come down. and i can power down a hill like no body’s business.  in fact, it’s my favorite part. do i worry about a quad blowout? nope. higher and steeper that climb up means the faster my stride can fly back down.

so, today was uncomfortable. but frankly, it is supposed to be. it was our first 10 miler in a sea of 6 to 8 milers – and i have a race in november.

which gives me time to figure out my garmin issue…

 

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it’s official

6 Sep

it’s official — just a short message to note that i finally registered for the san antonio rock & roll half marathon.

it’s not my “A” race. it’s not the race i am training for — that’s austin.  this race, my partner and i decided on participating — purely because we want a medal.

we’re planning to use it as our long run for that week and just take it easy, walk when we need to and enjoy the art of movement.

tuesday night’s workout was an easy one but a killer thanks to the heat.  it’s 103-ish degrees and thick and heavy in austin and we did a progression run.  good news is my breathing was better, especially at the end of the run when i kicked my pace up significantly.

we did strides after and my partner and i made a new pal!  he runs with our group – and on our way back from the town lake trail he kept our pace but stayed behind us.  then did some strides along with us.  it was nice.

he has a very large handlebar mustache and beard — and not in the ironic, hipster way but a this is my facial hair kind of way.  i mention this because austin is the hipster capital of the south – maybe even america.

Those that train with my coach have been assigned a very unique group nickname (that i am not going to share here).  we’re getting racing shirts AND jackets.

i am really jazzed about a team jacket.  i’m such a nerd about it all but i feel a part of something good.  something great.  something that is going to make me a better, more efficient runner.

One of the elites is also a nutritionist/guy who knows a lot about food and he is set to talk to us tonight about efficiently fueling ourselves – which is good because i’m one skittle over the line here lately.

skittles are delicious. (i will end on also gluten free. i’ll throw that out there. this is the second day in a row i have discussed skittles. i may have a problem)

i knew i could breathe… indoors.

30 Aug

you know how you’re not supposed to take pictures in the gymnasium locker room?  well, i did last night. (shhh!) (apologies to the lady in green behind me)

 

i belong to a 24 hour fitness “lance armstrong” sport.  in the gyms many of his photos, his bikes, and attire are displayed.  I’ve mentioned it in a past blog post.

last night i shoved my crap in a locker under this display of his  nike and trek paraphernalia.

i made my way to the treadmill to test out my breathing situation.  i do not like the treadmill.  in any way, shape or form.  it’s boring. i’m happy on the other machines — treadmill, no thank you.  i would rather be outside on the road or on a trail.  i’d rather see cars, be chased by animals (which has happened) and feel the outdoors…

i wanted to see if i was able to breathe under controlled conditions.  primary being air conditioning.  there’s no heat or humidity inside so let’s see if that’s what is hampering me.

as i suspected, i can breathe indoors on the treadmill.

i hammered out 2 quick miles.  2 miles was literally all i could take being on the machine and that was with every bit of my willpower.  everything was fine. no problems, minimal sweat.  breathe in 3 steps, out 2 or 3 steps — breathing deeply and fine. this pleased me so much.

so yeah — i think it’s heat, humidity and allergies.

 

(source)

my new partner…. for the time being

tonight will be another test. allergens are high in central texas today and so i have decided to give this Aller-Response a good go.  i’ve used it before with some luck.  today i’m feeling pretty crappy and am sneezing like mad.  just popped two of these babies  so more to the experiment to test, i suppose.  if it doesn’t help within the month i will try a new supplement.

i also think that some of the extra weight i have put on lately is causing discomfort but that’s about to go away.  just because i live gluten free doesn’t necessarily mean i eat well.  i do eat healthily — but i also eat a lot of crap.  there’s delicious bread and pastry that is gluten free now than, oh — even two years ago.  and i can put away an entire gluten free pizza like a linebacker.  the city of austin is very gluten free food friendly. (TEX-MEX! CUPCAKES! PIZZA!)

skittles? don’t get me started.  really.  i will eat the entire bag (a large bag) and be ill. then eat more.

when i eat clean – i feel better.  i  sleep better.

so —  currently my agenda consists of working on eating less skittles and successfully breathing more oxygen outdoors.

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it’s time

29 Aug

i plan to finally commit and register for the San Antonio Rock & Roll Half Marathon this week before the pricing goes up.

i say commit because my training as of this month (and most of last) has been spotty at best.  i keep using stress as a crutch and that needs to stop here and now. i feel guilty and bad for letting myself fall behind. i feel as if i have let myself down and my coach down.

so all of that negativity stops here and now.  well, it stopped yesterday evening, actually.

 

(source)

you know, i am really lucky – i have an opportunity that not many runners have.  i have the opportunity to have an elite runner as a coach. and i need to listen to him.

he and i sat and talked last week about me. my body. my stamina. the human body in general. he told me that the human body is a wonderful thing and will adapt to whatever one puts it through.

(wheee!)

i am facing two problems right now.  well, two problems and one issue.  the one issue is that my hip is still funky. i’m not too worried about the hip – i just need to do my strength training therapy. the two problems – are one, i am having a hard time breathing (and i have never had this problem until about a month ago) and secondly – my head. my brain – my thinking.

my breathing — i suspect it’s allergies and it’s hot.  i am having a hard time breathing while running – and really, i should just simply slow down. (but i’m stubborn).  my solution to this whole non-breathing situation is go buy an allergy medication that has a decongestant that doesn’t upset my stomach. easy fix. if my breathing doesn’t begin to improve — go to the doctor.

my head is another thing.  one of rogue’s coaches wrote a great blog post on mental toughness and i’ve read it now twice. i am, to a fault, very stubborn. i can also be very negative in my thought.  i can coach someone and give them a good peptalk, but i dont listen to myself. i dont practice what i preach.

(check out this flag i found)

i need to work on getting out of my head – and stop with the negative thoughts.

hey – ever wonder what the brand asics stands for? it’s an acronym for  ”Anima Sana In Corpore Sano” — a sound mind in a sound body. while i am a brooks beast to the core (no offense to ya, asics) — that’s a good motto.

it’s time to make change and keep it. 

so this training for november’s half will be different. my priorities are changing. my nutrition is changing. (hey – maybe me not eating well during the day is causing me to crash hard on the last 800 meters of my track workout… ya think?? )  my attitude is changing.  my new mantra – “the human body is a wonderful thing”

and my hip? yeah.  well, we’ll see how that goes….

 

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Race Recap – 2012 5th annual balance 5k

27 Aug

i think will break my hiatus with a short and sweet race recap.  i didn’t take any photos and the one that i was tagged in on facebook,  i look bloated and red so THAT’S not going to be posted.

yesterday was the 5th annual balance 5k, or the  ”run/walk to break the silence on ovarian cancer.”

this is the largest fundraiser and awareness event for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.  and if you’re a reader — all two of you — you will know that i lost a friend and running partner this year to ovarian cancer.

i dislike 5k’s.  i don’t see a lot of point in them.  they’re generally poorly organized and there is little turn out for both runners and spectators but this race was different.  it was special.

why was it special?  firstly, we were a part of a team.  we were Team Cristal.  also, rogues turned out in droves to represent.  many of our elite runners, including my coach (who won the 5k, coming in under 15 minutes for the whole race), a friend that i train with (who won first in her age group), my best friend, her husband, my husband, my running partner, and old coach and her husband, i had three friends donate money to the cause — and all of this made this race worth running and worth donating funds to a wonderful cause.

my friend, who died earlier this year had her entire family and boyfriend there to walk the event in her honor.

the support of friends, running mates and family was overwhelming.

it was hot, it was humid, i couldn’t breathe, and chugging a fruit punch flavored vitamin water made me violently ill and, in turn, i had to be violently ill in a porta potty.

but it was all worth it.

i will end this recap and a return to the blog and my training in earnest (and i mean it) with a wifi.

“drunk pigeon”

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i was on vacation. really…

23 Jul

i took a tiny blog and running hiatus.

during this time, i went on my yearly “girls weekend” vacation with some of my oldest friends. we went to a bay house in kemah, texas.

i got some pool time.

 

the pool is the best thing about the house.  we have been to the same house twice, but this last time — things were a bit rundown (showers not draining, smelled a tad stale and someone had a clogged toilet) and things were very weird between us gals and our hostess.  enough for all 5 of us to actually break the friendship off with her.  i wont rehash it here, but there is a lot to be said about vain, egocentric people — and none of it is good.

i digress.  here is photo of the awesome view….

 

we drank a bit… (ok. a lot)  and in total disclosure, i took running gear.  but no running was to occur for me on saturday morning…. but i had the best of intentions.

 

i left my vacation a day early.  actually, it was for the best as things fell apart for the ladies in my absence and i got to be a witness to it all thanks to speaker phone and texts.

i did stop off in houston on my way home to go to the museum of natural science to check out the titanic exhibit.

prior to entering the exhibit, you are given a “boarding pass” and at the end you find out if you live or die.  the flip side of the boarding pass tells you your name, if you were in 1st, 2nd or 3rd class, and a description of why you are on the ship.

(alas, i did not survive)

this week, it’s time to get back in the saddle and start training for San Antonio.  My running partner is on her own two week vacation in the caribbean – and i hope it goes better than my sad attempt at one. (i am pretty sure hers will go tons better – i mean, the caribbean?  come on…)

i felt a tad deprived and cheated out of my time off but there is very little i can do about that now except move on — and maybe take a personal day or two here in a few weeks.

and we’re already planning next year’s excursion — that hopefully will not fall apart.  but the weirdness and uncomfortableness brought us all together closer than before so in the end, something positive came out of a lot of negative.

and that’s a good thing.

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lofty goal.

3 Jul

*the following post contains free form math*

*free form in that i am going to ramble and do math*

i wanted to run one thousand miles this year.  and the year is pretty much at the halfway point, depending on how you count it.

(oh.  looks like someone else counted for me.)

and i have been very lazy.

if i want to run 1,000 miles in 2012 — and assuming my math on the bottom of this page is right (which it’s probably not and i will need to compare my totals to my garmin) — then i have a whopping 802.48 miles left to run in 6 months.

that comes to 133.74(ish) miles a month.

which comes to 33.44(ish) miles a week.

and comes to 5.5 or so miles a day, assuming i take one rest day.

this also doesn’t factor in san antonio rock and roll half marathon training — nor does running the race itself factor in.  nor my upcoming vacation (which to be honest,  i had planned to run through anyway)

i have a long way to go and a short time to get there. (really?? that’s another song lyric)

(yeah — i pulled a smokey and the bandit reference. i am ashamed.

mister husband would be proud)

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