disgusting

It’s half past 8 and that’s my description of the weather, already. I never made it to the gym yesterday (I was supposed to go with a friend using her ‘buddy pass’ but she had some things come up and couldn’t go so I couldn’t go), so yesterday’s 3 miles got bumped to this morning. Hence the wretched run at 7:30 this morning. Yesterday was also the informal memorial for my friend that passed away two weeks ago. It was incredibly awkward and didn’t give anyone a chance to mourn together and left everyone in a funk. Not to mention that I had to call the last member of the old work crew and let him know what happened. I was feeling really guilty about having forgotten to call him which put me in a deeper funk.

It’s possible that the remnants of Russian night (it’s more fun than you are imagining) and only 4 hours of sleep (I’m an 8 hr. minimum kind of gal) are clouding my judgment, but I think it’s mostly the weather.

I’m going to eat a little breakfast, drink a quart of coffee (the only known cure for Russian night), and subside on popsicles and water until I feel like it (aka when the heat leaves which could happen any time now, btw).

to the gentleman in the black acura

Thanks for pacing me up that big hill. I know we were moving really slow for you, but I appreciate all the words of support I assume you were saying to me. Sorry I didn’t take me ear buds out so I could hear you, but you seem like such a friendly guy that I’m sure you understand. I don’t know if I could have made it up that hill without you. As a runner, I’ve never encountered such a supportive driver before. I was a little surprised that you took my friendly ‘thank you’ wave so poorly. Did I offend you by waving with my left hand? I’m sure you weren’t put off my wedding rings. Since you really were just trying to be friendly, right? I’m sure that’s why you were offering me a ride home (to my house, right?) in your lovely air-conditioned car. I know I was near a notorious corner in this city (90th & Aurora for you locals), but those ladies very rarely wear tech fabrics and I have never seen one in running shoes (unless you can now get lucite running shoes?), so I’m positive you weren’t mistaking me for an evening shift ‘professional’ woman. So once again, I thank you, sir, for your support while running that hill.

I’ve never considered myself to have much in the ‘A’ category of ‘T &A’, so I am completely flattered/floored by the attention. Admittedly, I’ve never seen my ‘A’ from behind, climbing a ridiculously steep hill before so maybe it looks better than I thought.

Thanks, running!

I’m ignoring you

I have been, all day. I finally decided to tackle that demon paper for Thursday and it’s coming along quite nicely, if I do say so myself. I am an awesome paper-writer, which is the other half of why I stick with the social sciences.

I’m hoping to get my Blue Angels post up tonight, but it might not happen. I’m secretly hoping to crash a wedding reception after class tonight. It’s a late afternoon ceremony and I don’t know how long they have the place rented. Class won’t be out until 10 (WHY?!?!?! The final will be over by 6:30, but she expects us to stay for a complete lecture after the test. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY) As a backup plan, I’ll be texting another friend all night for updates. Weddings are second to new babies on my list of happy life events.

Val and I postponed our running date from this morning until tomorrow. Her hips were bothering her, and I was trying to come up with a valid excuse to not run tired, so I eagerly accepted a rain check. Which it looks like it might be doing…

Don’t forget to donate to be in the running (haha, joke, see?) for me to pick up the tab for your next 5K!

April begins

It’s not raining, knock wood. My classes start Monday, so I’m a ball of nervous energy. I’m planning on a bike ride this afternoon, assuming the weather holds up. I’m half excited and half terrified. I don’t ride. I haven’t since elementary school and we had to do it. I am much more aware of my center of balance now than at 7. I feel about bikes the way some people do about horses. Totally intimidated, even though logically I know I am in charge. Just to clarify, I do not think the bike might eat me, which is something my mother has an irrational fear about horses, knowing full well that equines are devoted vegetarians.

I feel like April is going to bring big changes to my life. I’ve had this overwhelming sense of CHANGE IS COMING for months now, and all of a sudden it feels like CHANGE IS NOW. I have no idea what it is, but intuition says it’s good change. Which would be nice. It’s sort of funny, since I tend to be reluctant to change at all.

I’m debating getting a half sleeve done. I have so many ideas kicking around in my head that a partial sleeve is (maybe) the way to go. I’ve considered a full back, but I really like the idea of a half sleeve. Because when it comes down to it, I don’t really want dozens of small pieces. Or dozens of small pieces connected with smoke/waves. Now I’ve got something serious to think about during “study breaks”.

better, stronger, faster

At least that’s the plan. just keep working, just keep working

I’ve fantasized all day about my upcoming races. I’m planning a 6k, 10k and 5k for April. It might be a little ambitious with regards to my knee, but none of them are big sellers so I’m not worried about giving it some time before I register for each of them. The 10k and 6k are back-to-back (Saturday and Sunday) so I might need to reconsider that plan. I’ll probably just call the 6k my recovery run.

My quarter starts on the 5th, as does my half marathon training plan. To be honest, I’m a little nervous for that race. It’s significantly farther than I’m running now, but I guess that’s why I have 12 weeks to work up to it. Right? There’s no real reason to be nervous about it. It’s not like I’m going to run it tomorrow and have to beat a certain time (THANK GOD!) This will be my base-line half and it will only improve from there. Same goes for the 10k. The 5k will be better than February and the 6k might or might not be better than the St. Paddy’s Day Dash. They are looking for volunteers for that one, so maybe I’ll sit it out to help out.

Here’s the info:

10k Earth Day @ Magnuson Park

6k Seattle Run for Water

5k Top Pot Doughnut Dash

Here’s why I’m excited about each: the run at Magnuson is cheap! The 6k is through a flat, pretty park on the Seattle waterfront. And the Top Pot race… it supports Childhaven (not significantly, I know). They make good doughnuts but I prefer salty junk to sweet junk. I’m just not that into you, Doughnuts. But I’ll choke one down in the spirit of the race.

I did my cross-training today and my knee feels fine. I think I need to go back and do my original ab routine in addition to what I’m doing now. I’m not going to push it on tomorrow’s run with tempo or distance. I’ll keep it wrapped up and ice it afterward as a preëmptive strike. I’m not taking any painkillers, although I don’t unless it’s a prescription. I’ve always felt like if it’s really painful I’ll treat it will real medicine. I think mostly it just feels weak and not painful. Tomorrow’s an early run and I’m looking forward to it! It’s going to be in the low 40s when I’m running, which is perfect. They claim no rain, which would certainly be drier than Monday was. Ah! I’m all amped up now!

G’night lovlies!

playing it by ear

I sat out my cross-training yesterday to really rest my knee. I kept it wrapped up and iced it when I could. It’s definitely a new sort issue for me. It was so strange. It would feel fine for an hour or so and then suddenly it would twinge up again. My best description of the pain is that feeling you get when you put just a little too much pressure on a bruise. Not like when you bash it into the coffee table for the 53rd time in 2 days, but when you stop just short of the tears-in-the-eyes pressure to a bruise. Today? TOTALLY NORMAL. I could feel it a bit this morning when I was curled into the big green chair to read some stories with Sweet Little Monster. Based on the way I was trying to sit when it hurt, I can tell it’s from doing a side lunge (or 12) incorrectly. I’m still planning on doing my cross-training tomorrow, but I’ll be paying extra attention to my form.

I had a speed workout on the schedule for today and I am so glad I decided against taking it to the track! It’s been one of those days where it’s raining, then it’s so sunny you’re temporarily blinded and back and forth with no predictability. At least here. Apparently it’s a matter of blocks. I was debating if I should wear a hat and retrospectively the answer was yes. About a mile in it started raining, and not the usual PNW drizzle.

Like all my neighbors who have lived in Western Washington for at least a decade I’m a non-certified hydrology expert, specializing in precipitation (actually, I might be certified since I come from a long line of PNWerners). This started off with fat little drops that got bigger and faster until it was literally blowing in sideways care of the stiff little wind that picked up out of nowhere. It was coming down so hard that I couldn’t see anything, thanks in part to that lovely breeze being a headwind. I had to wring water out of my shirt twice and it really made no difference.The lake/pond I was passing looked like it had whitecaps and I could barely see the cars across the street when I made it to the end of the pond trail.

It was glorious!

I plan to continue to baby my knee, but I’m not in enough pain to actually sit out a run. I did have it wrapped and maybe that helped. I think being conscious of every step the last 36 hours has helped as well. I’ll do some more RICE tonight and try to behave tomorrow.

MUAH!

grand plans

I did my run this afternoon and I: 1) ran the whole thing 2) paced myself (fairly) well 3) enjoyed it all. It was a beautiful day and I love timing my run to end at a park where Hubs and Sweet Little Monster are playing. It’s so Norman Rockwell meets 21st century.

I had a really thoughtful post planned for tonight, but I’m just not feeling well. I attribute it to either the brie I ate at lunch or the possibly moldy beets I had at the same time. Note to self: when something has been in the fridge a few days, look at it before you eat it. And just don’t eat things you know you have a hard time digesting. Seriously. I mean, really.  I should be ashamed of myself.

5 in the rain

It’s March in the beautiful PNW, which means Mother Nature is at her bipolar finest. I had actually forgotten how refreshing a run in the rain could be. There was a nice strong headwind at the start of my run, but it disappeared soon after. I took a new route (for the most part) and it was nice. Not too hilly, but no chance of being flat. It was supposed to be an easy run, but I have a hard time keeping a ‘conversational’ pace while running solo. I tried. Really, I did. Time to find a running partner or three. I’m getting so excited for the race on Sunday! Tomorrow is packet pick up and costume gathering time.

I joined some new challenges at Nike+ but like usual it’s not registering my most recent run yet. Maybe this is Steve Jobs’ way of trying to get me to buy a new iPod? In terrifying news about my running capris, it appears UPS has misplaced them. Somewhere between here and Illinois. Note to self- just pay for shipping next time, Cheap-o. I really wasn’t expecting them to be here by Sunday, so I’m not too bummed out. Hopefully they will show up tomorrow while I’m out running errands.

The lovely (I’m quite sure!) Seattle Runner Girl had a recent post that has me thinking. The gist of it is, do something that scares you. Personally, I’m taking this in a baby steps sort of way. I will not be jumping out of or off of anything, sorry to disappoint. The thing is, I’ve experienced so many scary things life changing events in the last 9 or so months that I don’t know what I have left. Actually, I’m left with a litany of irrational fears. (Exaggerate? Moi? Never!) So today or maybe tomorrow I’m going to face one of those fears head on.

I’m going to eat a banana.

Go ahead and laugh. It’s okay. I would laugh, too. I’m not exactly afraid of bananas. It’s more like the smell/texture makes me dry heave if I think about it too long. I don’t even drink smoothies because they always have bananas in them and then they smell and I can’t get past the banana smell! Banana flavored Runts however… but I digress. I even have a plan of action. Cut it in rounds and cut them in half. That way they can’t turn into banana paste in my mouth. *deep breath* I don’t plan on eating more than half since the bananas Hubs got are basically the size of my forearm. It’s like they all have a case of elephantiasis or one of those brain tumors on the pituitary gland that make people grow to enormous size. Ugh. But, much like my classes this coming quarter, I will reserve judgment (and even thinking about it) until it’s already started. Wish me luck!