Monday, July 26, 2010

5 months and 8 days

That's how much time I have before we leave for Walt Disney World to run the Half Marathon. I'm starting to freak out a little bit. Back in May, Derek and I went on vacation to Europe. Since then I can probably count a dozen times we've run. It is like we (I) fell off of the motivation horse. So here I am. I am back and I'm going to get serious...again! I know I have 5 months...but still, I am not sure I will be ready. Time to get cracking!

Oh, I found this place and thought of joining their Boot Camp starting on Monday: http://www.fundamentalfitness.biz/default.asp I'm not sure how I feel about getting up at 5:00 am three days a week but I need something to jumpstart me.

And in the interest of keeping myself honest here is what I've eaten today:

Breakfast: Lean Cuisine Breakfast Quesidilla

Lunch: Ham and pepperjack cheese sandwich, baked Sour Cream and Cheddar Lays and a Dole fruit/gel cup.

Snack: Another dole fruit/gel cup and a Plum

Dinner: EEEKKKKK going out for Derek's birthday dinner followed by a cookie cake.

Maybe I'll get up enough courage and put in my height and weight someday, or maybe not! lol

Monday, April 19, 2010

Yay for arch supports!

So I think I FINALLY have my foot troubles resolved. Saturday morning we ran W3D3 and I had extremely minimal tingly and only towards the middle of the cool down. I was honestly so happy that I could have cried. Not only were my feet mostly normal; my calves weren't as tight as they usually are. I really believe that Saturday, April 17, 2010 was my turning point. That doesn't mean that I'm not extremely nervous about tonight. The jump from week 1 to 2 to 3 seemed minimal. Week 4 seems like a rather large jump. But being the good C25K'er I'm going to "trust the system".

After I get past the Week 4 mental hurdle I think I'm really going to look forward to this thing called running. (I hope its only a mental hurdle. *crossing fingers*)

And another good thing to report - the Orioles are now 2 -11! Yay for that second win. I think we'll go see them play the Yankees on Tuesday. Can't beat Ollie's bargain night. Only $8 for upper level tickets. And since the O's suck so far this season we will probably be able to move down close to the 3rd baseline. They have a rough few series ahead. Starting on April 27 its the Yankees at home, Red Sox at home and then Yankees in NY. Who scheduled that mess?

Friday, April 16, 2010

Frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The numbness in my feet finally drove me to the doctor's office where after an examination he says that there is nothing wrong with them. He did order some blood work to check for anemia (which I already have) a B12 defiency, thyroid, cholesterol, CBC, etc. I doubt any of these will shed some answes but we shall see.

So after an unproductive visit to the doctor I went home and got my shoes and headed straight for the shoe store. My only intention was to get new insoles. I told the saleswoman why I was there and she suggested putting on my shoes for her to have a look. Well, she said that I'm in the wrong shoe! What!?!?!? The wrong shoe? I came to professionals for a reason and I still ended up with the wrong shoe? Anywho, I went back on the treadmill and she (and the other guy working) agreed that I didn't really need a stability shoe for pronation however, I have the highest arches they've seen in a while. My Brooks were also too narrow for my foot. So, more shoe trying on...yay! After several pairs of shoes I ended up with Saucony Ride 2 and a nifty set of insoles.

Here are my shoes:



I was really excited to get out running to see if I found my cure. So last night the boyfriend and I went for our Week 3 Day 2 run. I decided to run only in the shoes without the additional arch support. Guess what!?!?! Numb freakin feet again! I am so frustrated. Granted they weren't as numb as they used to be but they were still numb. I still have hope though. Tomorrow I will put in the insoles and run again. I hope this works because I want to love running! I want to wake up each day and go "What a beautiful day for a run." I WILL GET THERE!

Have a great weekend!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Take me out to the ball game!

The O's finally won a game last night. I gotta tell ya, I was getting a wee bit nervous in the bottom of the 9th. I don't have much faith in our closer but he pulled it out last night. Good for him or else I see some heckling in his future. Since today is the home opener I am wearing orange and black. I have a really cute short-sleeved orange sweater and I'm wearing a black tank-top underneath. If I may say so myself, I look pretty darned cute. The best news of the season so far...Wieters is batting .500! How awesome is that!?!?!?!

I'm going to be a genius here and combine running with baseball! In looking for places to go for the long weekend over July 4th DBF was looking at the Boston Red Sox page. (Bear with my this is how my mind works.) The Oriole's play in Boston on July 4th! Can you believe that? What's more American than watching baseball on July 4th? Anywho, at the bottom of the Red Sox page is a link for Run to Home Base. http://www.runtohomebase.org/ Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how I look at it, this race is on May 23rd and I will be in Bergen, Norway. I am posting the link here in case any of my fellow runners want to run in it. The race benefits Veterans returning from Iraq and Afganastan. The website says: "Funds raised for the Home Base Program will provide care and community outreach to the many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and their families." The entry fee is pricey but you can get sponsors and it definately benefits a good cause.

Now on to my running journey. I completed the final night in Week 2. I didn't stop at all! I was so proud of myself. My shin pain is gone. The only issue I have now is really tight calves, especially my right calf. I brought a list of exercises to work with me and will stretch them throughout the day. I should be moving on to Week 3 but I did so poorly on day 2 of week 2 I want to do one more day of the 90 second intervals. We have that planned for tomorrow (then I must write a paper).

My daugher is fine. We did come home on Wednesday after the doctor's appointment. Without going into details there are things at home we are going to try and if they fail then we are hospital bound. She was happy she go to keep her hair appointment last night. Her used to be gorgeous and poker straight. Last night she got a perm! It looks good on her but I really miss her old hair. I guess I will get used to it.

40 Days until my whirlwind Scandanivian Vacation! WoooHooo!!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

This is why I call it "This, That and the Other"

This post is going to be all over the place. I'm a rambler at times and I feel a rambling coming on.
First subject: Baseball!

I was never much of a baseball fan. I used to just flip past the TV when it was. Then 2 years ago I went to my first game. It was ok. The next season I was hooked. I am an Oriole's fan. I love my team. I love Camden Yards. I love the excitement of going to a game. I love everything about it. Oh and Camden Yards has some of the best ball park food EVER! The crabcake sandwich, Boog's BBQ, Grille Dogs, yummy! I'm such a baseball fan now that last year we went to NYC. We started off our long weekend with a Yankees game. (I'm not that impressed with their new stadium.) Then we did our NYC stuff and ended the weekend with a Mets game. I never could have predicted that I would be a baseball fan. I must go to the game Tuesday night to get the Weiter's shirt. We were at the night he was called up from the minors and I have been a huge fan since.

Anyway, my Oriole's lost in the bottom of the 9th last night. What a disappointment that was! But I'm not fairweather fan. I will be there cheering them win or lose.

I *heart* Matt Wieters!



My daughter:

Her whole life she has had colon/bowel issues. Finally a new doctor ordered an MRI (instead of the standard x-rays we usually get). I knew something was wrong when they didn't let us leave when the scan was over. Her doctor called us at the Radiology place and told us to go straight to the emergency room. We get to the ER and there is nothing they can do because they don't have a pediatric Gastroenterologist! Unfreaking believable. So today we are headed to DC to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. I honestly believe that she will be admitted to the hospital tonight. (We have our bags packed just in case.)

So if you all could send some thoughts our way it would be greatly appreciated.

Finally: Running!

I did not do it last night. I was suppposed to start Week 3 of the C25K program. Technically last night was supposed to be a rest night but I was going to start Week 3. Unfortunately I was so sore that there was no way I could even think about running. After a nice calf massage from my boyfriend my calves feel much better. I will start Week 3 tonight if I am home.

Have a Happy Hump Day!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I'm back!

I have been keeping up with my running. Last night was supposed to be my final night of W2 but I could barely run at the halfway point. I have no idea what happened to me. I want to enjoy this. I want to look forward to running. I want this "transition" period to be over! Last night my calves hurt so badly that I wanted to cry. And on top of that I think my shoes were tied too tight because they started getting all tingly. Why won't my body cooperate?

I was planning on starting Week 3 tonight; however I feel like I need to re-do week 2. Yea, yea I know I shouldn't be doing two nights in a row but my daughter has a doctor's appointment tomorrow with a specialist in DC and I have a strong feeling that she will be admitted to the hospital for atleast a day or two. I hope not but I'm preparing. We're even going to pack a bag tonight just in case. Wish us luck! I know she is scared. I am too but I'm the Mom and I'm supposed to be the strong one!

On the bright side - It is the O's opening day! I hope we get to the game on Sunday but it will all depend on how my daughter is doing and how much of my Economics paper I have complete. I hate Econ! Know what I hate more than that? College Algebra! I'm so glad I'm not taking both of them in the same semester.

Oh, thought of something else we need to do this weekend! We leave for Europe in less than 2 months so we need to finalize our touring schedule. I'm really looking forward to this vacation, especially now because I will be in better shape.

Hopefully I will have a pain-free run tonight and an admittance-free doctor's appointment tomorrow.

One more thing - My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the victims in the Montcoal mining explosion. As the daughter, grand-daughter and neice of former coal miners my heart goes out to them today.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Well I finished week 1 of the C25K. I have aches! But I'm starting week 2 running tomorrow. I must say that good shoes make a huge difference. I only ran in them once on Sunday but they felt like walking/jogging on air. Here are my new shoes...


They only cost $100. I was expecting them to be a lot more. I know $100 isn't cheap but I was prepared for $150. In addition to my exciting new shoes I got some great workout clothes at JCPenny, Adidas and at the shoe place. I am in it for the long haul now!

The plan for this week is:

Monday - upper body gym

Tuesday - Week 2 Day 1

Wednesday - off

Thursday - Week 2 day 2

Friday - lower body gym

Saturday - Week 2 day 3

Sunday - off (Easter)

Hopefully this week I will work out some of the pain I'm in. I currently have pain in my right shin and also in the outter part of my left foot. I realize my body is adjusting to my new regimine and in time I will be a pain-free runner. Note to self: buy more ice packs for injuries! For now though, I'm pushing through. I am an animal!!!!!!!