Today's Learnings

y I am capable of 4.2 miles after 8 days off.
y Those 4.2 miles after 8 days off will very likely suck.
y Even slower actually IS possible.
y My lunch date with PF Chang was not a good idea pre run.
y PF Chang does not taste nearly as good later.
y PF Chang is hereby banned unless the run is in the books.
y New Enells make me very very happy and keep the girls close to the chest (because the bounce stops here!)
y Enell now comes in bright red. :D
y My foot feels better but maybe not 100%.
y Some runs are just harder.
y All of your thoughts and prayers are really, REALLY appreciated.
y 10k on the 10th of May is coming up fast. Are you ready??? I have a few things to do...


I'm hoping to feel bloggy again soon. Thanks everyone, for your support.

Monday -
Jerk Stair Master ~ 5 min vo2 max test. ABOVE AVERAGE. You may remember that earlier this year the stair master at the gym actually earned the jerk distinction after telling me that my vo2 max was below average. Proof that persistence and name-calling sometimes pay off.
Bike ~ 13.1 miles
Strength/Weights ~ 25 minutes

Tuesday -
Run ~ 3.1 miles
I got to the gym with limited time (story of my life) and realized I had shoes but no insoles. WTH? I ran without them. Dedicated or moronic? You be the judge. My feet definitely didn't feel right and everything felt weird afterwards. I would not suggest this (likely this advice is really not necessary as most of you are probably smarter than this) nor will I do it again. I had to play lots of games to finish. It was ugly but I did it.

Still struggling with GI issues. It's likely a virus cuz the hub and kids have had a touch of it too, but this is getting ridiculous, and old, very old.

Looking forward to running later today with Amy. :D

In personal news, I took my (oldest) baby to kindergarten round-up. This and him learning to read are freaking me out a little bit. I am excited for him but I hate that he is almost too heavy for me to lift. He's growing up. He says he will always be my baby and will still sit on my lap even when he is way too big. We'll see how long that will last. I'm trying to be secure, insightful, nurturing, understanding and guiding, due to this. No pressure.

The little one told us the other day that he had "so sad eyebrows" in a picture. Hilarious.

Plans for Florida and Scotland trips are progressing nicely. I'm looking forward to both and they should be very different trips although each will include some golf. Also, I am going to take a class at Harvard through work in May. That should be pretty cool and hopefully cool places to run...

Lator Gators.

One Armed Wallpaper Hanger

I ran 3 yesterday on a trail that I thought would be easier on my feet than pavement. It was solid ice and snow that had melted and re-froze several times in the shape of everyone's feet (and bikes?) that had been there maybe all winter. Miserable and I got blood blisters on both feet. I'm no trail runner. Just call me Tenderfoot. I tried to enjoy the scenery but couldn't take my eyes off the footing for long. Still, there were gorgeous chunks of ice floating down the Raccoon River and the sun was making them sparkle.

Since I am slower than 99% of the population out there that choose to run, it also stands to reason that the only other foolish person out there was a chick who quickly passed me. I'm not in the best spirits right now, something to do with all the self-evaluation that occurred during a lone 6 hour car ride. Being so slow (and stupid for running on that stuff) just adds to it.

I'm busier than a one-armed wall paper hanger right now. Hope to get some work outs in but need to buckle down on a few things. Be back soon.

Just Try

.25m ~ 10m ~ 3m

Do you remember just a few short days ago when I was answering questions about whether or not a tri was in my future, and I said I thought I needed some more time? Well apparently I need about 10 days. :P

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Just a little lesson. When you make sort of absent claims or statements.... be prepared for the earth to rotate just enough that the stars align and the improbable becomes for really reals in a hurry.

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So Java and I are chattin and she says something like, "no, no, do it now, you are ready, you should try it," and I say, "well, I'm really not equipped with the whole bike thing like I should be if I'm going to do a tri. If I could find a nice short safe indoor one, I think I'd do it in a heart beat." yep, I said that. And, you guessed it. A nice short safe indoor tri appeared, compliments of Amy. omg.omg.omg.what.have.i.done?omg.omg.omg.omg.

I'm scared, nervous and excited, but then I figured, it's not like life or death here, right? This will be fun, especially with Amy. It's about a mile or two from my house, in the pool I was doing some laps at!! You can schedule it to your own convenience during the week. And it's $25 for St. Jude's Hospital, for heaven's sake. How can I not do this, right? (it's like Marcy with free shipping and a coupon code, how can you not?) Let's just see if I can do all the legs and have some fun. (.25m swim, 10m bike, 3m run) I seriously don't even know if I CAN run 3 miles after 10 on the bike...omg.omg.omg.


My hub first said, "COOL!" and then said, "well, maybe this one is more of a 'TRY' " :D You got that right.

I signed up and the gal said there were quite a few "competitors." **GULP*** omg.omg. I told her I was more of a "participant" :P


So, tri-stars, what should I be doing for the next 10 days?? HELP!!!! omg.omg.omg.

So Many Lessons

Lesson for Wednesday ~ I am NOT a skilled athletic trainer, so taping my arches was NOT a very good idea.

I ran about .4 mile to the inlaws, stopped to cut some slack in the tape. Played with the new puppy for a few minutes. Ran about 3 blocks, sat down on a rock outside some apartments and worked on giving more slack. Gutted out about .75 before I found an office complex with a nice picnic area where I sat down and removed all the tape. By this time, I have wasted so much time, that everyone is due home from work/school. Ran the mile home.

Very disappointing run. And I looked so good, too. I guess that tells you how much the outfit really matters!! :^) I think I will call this a failed experiment and try to repeat the run today. I'm really tired and achy, I hope I can get through it.