tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79058296586876715462024-02-18T19:19:35.440-08:00Triathlete in Training“The only good race pace is suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.”- PrefontaineMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-80299563134153910512012-04-20T18:38:00.001-07:002012-04-20T18:38:11.426-07:00New blogHello old friends. If anyone still reads this, I just wanted to let you know that I have started a new blog. It can be found over at <a href="http://runliftfight.blogspot.com/">Run. Lift. Fight. </a> Thanks for sticking with me! :)Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-3502024202268301092011-08-22T19:41:00.000-07:002011-08-22T19:54:28.372-07:00Anger. Strength. Stupidity.Today I heard two words I hoped to never hear (yet always knew I probably would at some point): <span style="font-weight:bold;">Stress fracture.
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<br />Yep, I have a stress fracture in my foot. How did I figure this out?
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<br />Yesterday I ran a 7 mile race (in Gloucester, MA for anyone who's wondering) and was in pain the whole time. Not normal pain, but "Jake, you go ahead while I shuffle through the rest of the race" pain. I considering stopping many MANY times. I kept telling myself one thing:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBguu3af_06XGiCtE3dySgeuMuwv282dlXJChlJzDfwuR0eZfWKQyjJrokH2LUD84lPCBSnCTBdeFriNd8xMxbq8yNc3u3HlL-CUqSsNlOwqK3l9ZYnwRduOD62kYhWiYIvmN3H6XiMW0/s1600/283970_10150254802421954_260589156953_8105410_7021042_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBguu3af_06XGiCtE3dySgeuMuwv282dlXJChlJzDfwuR0eZfWKQyjJrokH2LUD84lPCBSnCTBdeFriNd8xMxbq8yNc3u3HlL-CUqSsNlOwqK3l9ZYnwRduOD62kYhWiYIvmN3H6XiMW0/s400/283970_10150254802421954_260589156953_8105410_7021042_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643877126740579506" /></a>
<br />And I never stopped. I never even walked. I ran, then I jogged, then I was reduced to a SLOW jog. I did 7 miles in something like 1:40, and was the second to last person to finish the race. But did I care? No. Because I finished.
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<br />It was when Jake and I were eating breakfast afterwards that I knew something was REALLY wrong. I've had foot pain for over a week (after runs), but not like this. Not "foot so swollen my flip flop might need to be cut off" pain. Not "every time I point my toes I feel a nauseating crunching/grinding feeling in my foot" pain. I iced it and took lots of Advil, and decided to see how it felt today. Today, I went to the hospital for x-rays.
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<br />Yep, stress fracture. I could say all sorts of things about what I'm learning, etc. but right now? I'm just angry. I'm proud of myself for finishing the race despite the blinding pain, but I feel idiotic for ignoring it and allowing it to get so much worse. I'm also angry that I was SO stubborn about my minimalist shoes that I allowed injury.
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<br />I don't know what this means for the near future. I need to meet with a foot doctor, and hopefully he can tell me what to expect timeline wise for running. I'm signed up for a 7k in a couple weeks, and then a 10k a couple weeks after that. Then half marathons in October and November (not to mention the full in March). I don't want to miss any of these races. But will I? I don't know. Maybe I'll walk some of them (if I can) and just try to pretend my crappy times don't bother me. But I don't know.
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<br />For now? I'm allowing myself to be angry. I'm allowing myself to be kind of miserable. I haven't cried yet, but I know that's coming.
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<br />In the hopes of closing this with SOMETHING positive, I'll share this: Before yesterday, Jake had never run more than 4 miles. He signed up for the 7 miler for the shirt (it has a picture of the famous Gloucester Fisherman Memorial on it, which he loves), and strongly doubted he could do it. While he admits that he did have to walk off and on after mile 3, and his knee hurt after mile 6, he did it. And he did it in <span style="font-weight:bold;">1:24</span>! Is that amazing or what?Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-66385773686862968162011-08-18T17:32:00.000-07:002011-08-18T17:45:41.891-07:00You know it was a good workout when...I've been formulating these things in my head for a week. I decided it was time to write them all down.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">You know it was a good workout when:
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<br />You're so disoriented leaving the gym that you can't find your car. And your car is a beast.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_guga8f46oKSSTejRRtfHkeJs2aOav5ffSJkY2-7QzFhtjBebd5I4_EzPhbRUh2u12vbrTVO1x4TxFsqRidTlQUHuFQz6T5_RppouDwi7UcfdKEiPikrsIkuiuoZL5b0FTIuSWtb0ows/s1600/263070_872129837761_11000130_42795307_6483416_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_guga8f46oKSSTejRRtfHkeJs2aOav5ffSJkY2-7QzFhtjBebd5I4_EzPhbRUh2u12vbrTVO1x4TxFsqRidTlQUHuFQz6T5_RppouDwi7UcfdKEiPikrsIkuiuoZL5b0FTIuSWtb0ows/s400/263070_872129837761_11000130_42795307_6483416_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642359285455862114" /></a>
<br />(Roxy is the big Xterra.)
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<br />Yeah, I really couldn't figure out where I'd parked. I wandered for a couple minutes before I realized it was right in front of my face.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">You know it was a good workout when:
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<br />The sweat reaches the end of the hat's brim.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSX9Wa_7CIhzFYm4oBJeINGXxejSBCC7eAlcj-2dcFu5SxpLCvijYnD0G8Q5lDx8yd1cb3OLKbqEgP9zEaSiXX5gjTAaizfb_7alYXBqAVKvX1VD3tFEmurrcCe7vaoT9Sbco8M80g4A/s1600/IMG-20110818-02410.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSX9Wa_7CIhzFYm4oBJeINGXxejSBCC7eAlcj-2dcFu5SxpLCvijYnD0G8Q5lDx8yd1cb3OLKbqEgP9zEaSiXX5gjTAaizfb_7alYXBqAVKvX1VD3tFEmurrcCe7vaoT9Sbco8M80g4A/s400/IMG-20110818-02410.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642359802595464754" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">You know it was a good workout when:
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<br />You get in the shower and your cat (Kalila) goes to town rubbing herself all over your nasty sweaty clothes.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JikIsI_PAFTGwOoFplGzdP1Xl_LN1o-9HdioVMJsdKJpiD4HHE6xfUFVq7Tm3ZtRA7kUYkQW5IdYXWbupNeDLNARU1f75638Wgh_GSLHnBE4y8LVNEiovRAmYbAqHrOathEYTHHQzJM/s1600/IMG-20110817-02409.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JikIsI_PAFTGwOoFplGzdP1Xl_LN1o-9HdioVMJsdKJpiD4HHE6xfUFVq7Tm3ZtRA7kUYkQW5IdYXWbupNeDLNARU1f75638Wgh_GSLHnBE4y8LVNEiovRAmYbAqHrOathEYTHHQzJM/s400/IMG-20110817-02409.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642360228946502434" /></a>
<br />I don't have any pictures of her attacking my clothes, but I posted this one to prove that despite being gross, she's beautiful. :)
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">You know it was a good workout when:
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<br />You're terrified of your foam roller. I don't have a picture for this one, but when I was walking past it to go to the shower, I literally cringed away from it. Just the thought of it petrified me. I'll do it... later. I swear. *cough*
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<br />And most importantly,
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">You know it was a good workout when:
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<br />You do a mile in 8:10 for the first time!! AND you do it after completing a brick. Yeah. That's when you know it was really good.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How do YOU know when it was a good workout?</span>
<br />Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-13614814642354187622011-08-16T20:54:00.000-07:002011-08-16T21:45:57.719-07:00Minimalist shoes.Let's talk about a very popular running topic these days: minimalist shoes.
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<br />I have a little bit of history with these. Back when I first started running, I got a pair of the Vibram Five Finger running shoes, and ran my first 5k in them.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7toiuf0qBdokJG7djUBkgWE9i-WcnoAwD5_dKxO7ku8qvuKoowIs2J70YJmbg25Po-6kjHV7hpDuHUhrQ-yzAhGksi58BT4j6Nj66_x8GA72amj6uK5fqkS6z9at-3Dh2Ry4nEUQ8rXU/s1600/five+finger.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7toiuf0qBdokJG7djUBkgWE9i-WcnoAwD5_dKxO7ku8qvuKoowIs2J70YJmbg25Po-6kjHV7hpDuHUhrQ-yzAhGksi58BT4j6Nj66_x8GA72amj6uK5fqkS6z9at-3Dh2Ry4nEUQ8rXU/s400/five+finger.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641674700250339650" /></a>
<br />While I think they're fantastic shoes, they're meant for short distances. Otherwise the rubbing between the toes gets way too bad. Feel free to dispute this, but I firmly believe they're meant for 4 miles absolutely max.
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<br />When starting to run again (after my month off), I was looking into the Nike Free 2 for a while. I had done a lot of research, and was pretty much sold. THEN Nike decided to endorse Michael Vick (aka dog-murderer extraordinaire) and while the rest of the country seems to be TOTALLY fine with him at this point and buy into the fact that he's "changed," I refuse to support that. I'm the ultimate animal person (hence my vegetarianism). And I'm a huge football fan (go Giants!!), and I think he's bad for the sport. They never should've taken him back. Also, my dog is a football fan, too. And he thinks Vick deserves to get slowly and painfully eaten by pitbulls.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaLlt1LegjBLOIsIC3105xAbxpJ4CuDLcwK9N-b5NlcVKNxL8PiSKmrNclw7sv7p16kc94nkzf95HuLe8vef6goz-EkRFI5yEPDmDrgidc9cfwZZAAWsVBIhRxYkbTiLYFol3jHsSBFs/s1600/59373_715071069791_11000130_40740916_795476_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaLlt1LegjBLOIsIC3105xAbxpJ4CuDLcwK9N-b5NlcVKNxL8PiSKmrNclw7sv7p16kc94nkzf95HuLe8vef6goz-EkRFI5yEPDmDrgidc9cfwZZAAWsVBIhRxYkbTiLYFol3jHsSBFs/s400/59373_715071069791_11000130_40740916_795476_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641676827747849362" /></a>
<br />So, because of Nike's decisions, I decided against the Nike Free 2. This meant that I needed a different minimalist shoe to research!
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<br /><a href="http://kellietris.wordpress.com/">Kellie</a> told me about the Merrell Barefoot Pace Glove, and the research began. They had great reviews, they weigh an incredible 6 ounces, and when I tried them on in the store, they were incredibly comfortable.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vrMEisG_fWtuv05LAvNCLmxXcth66Pf_Txq1agWqnVtMkjRBulCQfQsE-GQ1idFR9gAPuCj2E4gm8s9JTms3HXEz1loskeV2axlPYHD0ZJUNrMOHpEh8mQtmOBhINvEpSjKVsclRdOw/s1600/merrell.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vrMEisG_fWtuv05LAvNCLmxXcth66Pf_Txq1agWqnVtMkjRBulCQfQsE-GQ1idFR9gAPuCj2E4gm8s9JTms3HXEz1loskeV2axlPYHD0ZJUNrMOHpEh8mQtmOBhINvEpSjKVsclRdOw/s400/merrell.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641676832230955650" /></a>
<br />I decided to go for it, knowing that I'd need to start out slow. Well this wasn't a problem, because I was starting out slow either way since it'd been over a month since I'd gone running.
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<br />I quickly figured out to NOT wear socks with them (even super thin ones that I started out with as a precaution), and stopped mid-run to take off my socks. I hid them behind a bush near a stop sign and grabbed them on my way back. After the first run I decided that I really liked them as shoes, but still wasn't sure about them for running purposes. The 6 ounce technology is impressive, but it means that your foot isn't really protected. Not from rocks, not from weak ankles, and not from muscles getting sore from the extra effort. However, there was one major perk I have to mention - the soles are made by the Vibram people and they ARE very resilient against gravel / silt all over the sides of the roads. It tends to be everywhere in New Hampshire, and it's unavoidable. (Which is why I highly respect barefoot runners, but I've never seen one in New Hampshire.)
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<br />After a couple weeks running in the Merrell's, I have to say that I still haven't figured out how much I like them. Sometimes they feel great, other times they make everything hurt. For example, on Thursday I had to stop running after a mile because my shin bones felt like they might come through my legs. However, running today, I had no shin pain. Granted, I spent the weekend treating them and taking it easy, but still - no pain in the shins today?
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<br />But I had a different problem today. Pain on the side of my foot. I didn't really feel it during my run, but afterwards I was limping all around the gym. It hasn't improved since I got home. I've had other foot pain from these shoes, but it was short lived. It was obviously muscular, and I assumed it was connected to my feet adjusting to the shoes. This time it feels like a bone, not a muscle. I'm not claiming anything's broken, but maybe too much pressure is on that bone.
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<br />Here's the problem with minimalist shoes. Any ache or pain that I might normally connect with my running form or just a sloppy/crappy day, I now have to wonder if it's my shoes. You always kind of have to wonder, but with minimalist shoes, you really have to wonder. So is it my shoes causing bone pain? Or my form? Or does the shoe mess up my foot strike and I'm hitting a bad part of my foot?
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<br />I don't know. I just have to wait and see, essentially. <span style="font-weight:bold;">The only absolute truth that I can come to with minimalist shoes is that they're a great idea. But I still don't know if they're for me</span>. I'd just like to figure it out before serious marathon training (i.e. long runs) start.
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<br />And now I'll leave you with today's favorite running song.
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<br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yxP6A0iL_ms" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br />And favorite biking song. (Stationary bike at the gym. Don't wear earbuds while biking on the road! EVER!)
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<br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vw_rjoQ7s6c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br />Goodnight! Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-85840344918083828492011-08-02T19:23:00.000-07:002011-08-02T19:51:45.313-07:00The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now.Day two of my return to running. Day one consisted of running in my town, in VERY hot weather, and the result was a billion mosquito bites and feeling like I might die. However, despite it being brutal every step of the way, I managed a little over 4 miles. I was so focused on the heat that I wasn't focused on the fact that I was RUNNING again (probably because I was going VERY slowly due to the weather). <br /><br />So day two comes (today), and I go to the gym to avoid heat and incoming massive storms. I go back to my FAVORITE treadmill - right under the fan - and I bring my ipod because I figured it would help. I started out fast - too fast - and I hit a wall before I hit two miles. I had to walk more than I wanted to, and my heart rate was sky rocketing. I needed a way to get through it. <br /><br />Many of you probably know that I'm mildly obsessed with Kanye West. Not necessarily him as a person - he should probably keep his mouth shut most of the time - but I love his music. One of my classic running songs is "Stronger." <br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PsO6ZnUZI0g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />But after trying that and still not feeling it, I knew I needed something better. I put on "Jesus Walks," and it got me through. I'm not a particularly religious person, but it's a great song and a GREAT beat for running. <br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b8AyHupByuU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I got through 4.5 miles, and allowed myself a minute of self-pity when I went back to the locker room and slammed the locker closed. It's just frustrating. I knew I wouldn't be exactly back where I was, but 4 miles used to be nothing. And now it feels nearly impossible. My knees and legs were hurting and I was breathing so heavily that I just wanted to scream and hit something. What happened to my endurance? What happened to the person who, after running 10 miles for the first time, felt perfectly fine?<br /><br />She had to take a month off from running, that's what happened. And I'll get it back. I KNOW I'll get it back. It's just going to take some time. In the meantime, I'll be frustrated, but I'll keep it in perspective. I thought about <a href="http://paper.li/nuuutymel">Mel</a> who's recovering from a serious bike crash and head injury, and forced myself to hang in there for her, because she just went running for the first time since the accident, and she did it. I thought about <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/">Janae</a> who's been dealing with injury after injury lately, and she's still doing what she can, and happily. <br /><br />The point is, we all deal with setbacks. There's no point in letting it get you down to an extreme, because it will only make it worse. I thought about what Janae said recently - something along the lines of "one mile is a LOT" - because it is. ESPECIALLY when we're coming back from setbacks. There are so many people out there who don't even do ONE mile, and the fact that we're doing what we can (even if it's slower or harder than it used to be) is just. plain. awesome.<br /><br />I'm in pain now. And I'm SO annoyed that I'm in pain after a measly 4.5 miles. But it's really not that measly. I took a month off, and ran a total of 8.68 miles in my first two days back. I'm going to be ok. We all are.<br /><br />Stay positive, peeps. It changes everything.<br /><br />And now, just to end this with a funny note, I saw this parked outside the gym tonight. What happens if he loses weight?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFtiYyunq40Z77MPJjlq7QuzY6-0mBf9-zeqVh4-6Io7l7eu3Z8s2KQMEx-TAv8vR11AgbJD0APhKmOG47wGZGxDwXVxRssMmU6aHqC9pxrRB45JMRHFCGN8xXKRtyOV8T3Ez0oWQAMk/s1600/283800_907715483841_11000130_43238666_6799647_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFtiYyunq40Z77MPJjlq7QuzY6-0mBf9-zeqVh4-6Io7l7eu3Z8s2KQMEx-TAv8vR11AgbJD0APhKmOG47wGZGxDwXVxRssMmU6aHqC9pxrRB45JMRHFCGN8xXKRtyOV8T3Ez0oWQAMk/s400/283800_907715483841_11000130_43238666_6799647_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636456145003496594" /></a><br /><br />Have a good night and USE SUNSCREEN! (Small PSA for the evening.)Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-29198318180182514962011-07-31T20:55:00.001-07:002011-07-31T21:24:56.130-07:00Falling in and out of love.I should start this entry by saying that I am ashamed at how long it has been since I last posted. It's been a couple months. I could tell you all of my reasons, but there are no excuses. But here's a rundown of what has been going on with me. <br /><br />I participated in my second triathlon, and I still don't even want to talk about it - a month and a half later. It was a poorly run race, and the female novice group was put in a bad position. We had a limited amount of time to get through the bike portion, and the female novice wave started last - giving us even LESS time to get through both the swim and the bike. If I had had an extra ten minutes, I would have been fine. But as it was, they stopped about five of us, ripped off our timing chips, and told us that our race was over. I still bubble over with anger when I think about it. Especially since, before that point, I was having a really good race. I ran T1 and wasn't feeling fatigued. I could have had a really solid race, but no. I dealt with a swim and bike in the pouring rain only to get a forced DNF. And I don't do DNF. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhers0iSiuX7Tmy__7jBuiUANZbMTo4MEu4upaXB83_Jd1hJeZxMQ5ggVaw6xg-gyptJ3Ix-bmtYxRY4xZYvUatY8QMoIbuS7mgEWdERIgs-GBncZfmoOYJ42r9-3opMu9J6Zb7-qIo-QA/s1600/tri.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhers0iSiuX7Tmy__7jBuiUANZbMTo4MEu4upaXB83_Jd1hJeZxMQ5ggVaw6xg-gyptJ3Ix-bmtYxRY4xZYvUatY8QMoIbuS7mgEWdERIgs-GBncZfmoOYJ42r9-3opMu9J6Zb7-qIo-QA/s400/tri.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635735926954980594" /></a><br />Two weeks later, Jake, Ethan, B, and I participated in the Warrior Dash. The entire race consisted of 6 inches to 2 feet of mud at any given point, so I had to walk most of the race as to avoid injury. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1RzFLH_NnXAFpx3PYqczxOcLvrY7duH4-hY7McosPiAk2Mz-03iNPT1H3hgdARaVB4eJBLGOzJSd0Xs0Qb_FPOpeqTY9eA6b_U_YjlTVF3AKKU4Q5UMgEf35FgZiDj-mg0Q1Ye5Lrwg/s1600/warrior+dash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1RzFLH_NnXAFpx3PYqczxOcLvrY7duH4-hY7McosPiAk2Mz-03iNPT1H3hgdARaVB4eJBLGOzJSd0Xs0Qb_FPOpeqTY9eA6b_U_YjlTVF3AKKU4Q5UMgEf35FgZiDj-mg0Q1Ye5Lrwg/s400/warrior+dash.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635735925106578786" /></a><br />Despite my best attempts at avoiding injury, when the race finished, I removed my shoes and the blood started pouring. A couple of my toes and a section of the arch of my other foot were rubbed so raw that even now, a month later, it's not entirely healed. This was my first reason for taking a break from running/biking - I literally couldn't put on close-toed shoes for weeks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SuZGDl-qOa63Y_geYgaEVaImWHPP5M_1LE0VZH65K3w6Q1mwuO5fKjOwnq2RStBckocd73FItqxp70L5gRoe50j9Obx1Y4WawHh7x3iBqSIsNylR1CGUlSwe93H-tz-G6AxKfNz_UKI/s1600/legs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SuZGDl-qOa63Y_geYgaEVaImWHPP5M_1LE0VZH65K3w6Q1mwuO5fKjOwnq2RStBckocd73FItqxp70L5gRoe50j9Obx1Y4WawHh7x3iBqSIsNylR1CGUlSwe93H-tz-G6AxKfNz_UKI/s400/legs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635735922632043698" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(My legs and feet after the Warrior Dash. Yes, my bruises are sexy.)<br /></span><br />The other reason is that I had a tattoo surgically removed, and I had to heal to a certain extent before I was allowed to do ANYTHING. <br /><br />So that brings me to here. It's been a month since I've been running, I've gained some weight along with a lot of frustration. That negative triathlon experienced affected me more than it should have. It brought me down mentally and I fell out of love with being an athlete for a little while. Then the Warrior Dash happened, and what was supposed to redeem my love of running just knocked me out of the game entirely for a while. <br /><br />Technically I'm signed up for a triathlon in Boston in a week, but I doubt I'll do it. I'm entirely physically unprepared, and I shouldn't do anything that extreme on my arm at this point. But running?<br /><br />It's time for me to fall back in love with running.<br /><br />I signed up the Atlanta Marathon in March 2012, knowing that the best way for me to get back on the wagon is to have a goal. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSqK3q1aVshrep1RlvGAR5tFVvSyPIaneEKhMAdDHVRUFntt2vvU74kW4jfxrN6tRJTntwC6A1jJWUi_z7ctneS8M6md8Ec0Bcin6vcDJVUTZ1wvolCFZ59G09R_7VpdB3jnbiRoGUyU/s1600/090ff94b-d4eb-4466-a7d3-403f719e6e38.Medium.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSqK3q1aVshrep1RlvGAR5tFVvSyPIaneEKhMAdDHVRUFntt2vvU74kW4jfxrN6tRJTntwC6A1jJWUi_z7ctneS8M6md8Ec0Bcin6vcDJVUTZ1wvolCFZ59G09R_7VpdB3jnbiRoGUyU/s400/090ff94b-d4eb-4466-a7d3-403f719e6e38.Medium.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635736737030925362" /></a><br />I signed up for the Seacoast Half Marathon in November here in NH, because as my (almost) half way point month-wise till March, it'll be a good time to check on my half marathon time. I'm sure I'll sign up for more as they come along. <br /><br />Tonight, I'm watching the Spirit of the Marathon to get myself pumped up. Marathon training officially starts tomorrow.<br /><br />Lastly, I get married two months from today. I totally have time to train. Right? Right. (Oof.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">If anyone can recommend any running books I should read, please do. Not really form or strategy - just the love of the sport. Pleeeasse. :)</span>Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-66833418433674751922011-05-22T18:18:00.000-07:002011-05-22T18:28:32.974-07:00Complete a triathlon - check.Today I completed the King Pine (sprint distance) Triathlon. I don't have time (slash the desire) to write a full race report right now, so until then, enjoy these pictures. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKZw3fD4rFeo7nOsaHg9l2knN0QVfPkftacN03en0Vm24L_s1DnnOBhFzFXCPbBYqktomSzHGm4WeVBtsOwWOECnjGpuMPZAsl6JyvRtoLBUogDaImQFLtOpn_1z3cn4MGJfNsRYOmvo/s1600/229157_860785661581_11000130_42572731_3913279_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKZw3fD4rFeo7nOsaHg9l2knN0QVfPkftacN03en0Vm24L_s1DnnOBhFzFXCPbBYqktomSzHGm4WeVBtsOwWOECnjGpuMPZAsl6JyvRtoLBUogDaImQFLtOpn_1z3cn4MGJfNsRYOmvo/s400/229157_860785661581_11000130_42572731_3913279_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609716613225909666" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnW7ByZ5JQASXrTXkn8_n8k0HH0sJnBNVnukVV5-Ne_YubkSlr3ekPQmShZVjy9D8z0gYU1IzQGdLMemi7SI181f1eXBBqf8PWMOdUHz1tZXabQlxzfhjbuDX_Q2ZMfB-PQS77ch9FaCM/s1600/IMG_2137.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnW7ByZ5JQASXrTXkn8_n8k0HH0sJnBNVnukVV5-Ne_YubkSlr3ekPQmShZVjy9D8z0gYU1IzQGdLMemi7SI181f1eXBBqf8PWMOdUHz1tZXabQlxzfhjbuDX_Q2ZMfB-PQS77ch9FaCM/s400/IMG_2137.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609716769701328290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IeKgqMjBATboAgWREg22I4uz9OaXkL_dMt1gAAxeqUX93ps8WtM65c7Bcqu0YDALmRh6SD6APazNc-lGNkB-OcyTL7BJHvBK1H2CBuaYLcNk7faSxI5zdC-Oki0Zc0zUAaWQ7lkyJNU/s1600/IMG_2141.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IeKgqMjBATboAgWREg22I4uz9OaXkL_dMt1gAAxeqUX93ps8WtM65c7Bcqu0YDALmRh6SD6APazNc-lGNkB-OcyTL7BJHvBK1H2CBuaYLcNk7faSxI5zdC-Oki0Zc0zUAaWQ7lkyJNU/s400/IMG_2141.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609716943483226290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XnzvDDmA2zUQKd9a57ZFFkqOuX6ypb7lzrA6I9YkT2z8FZ5zFXza8SlmpsMjZoXYdoJ_rMebIUcqVa2mY3YcmO1NKlOqqoVTbnwCmn0zT6-G4HHqER8sO87QCNhsT-25PGhWauPXBNQ/s1600/IMG_2180.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XnzvDDmA2zUQKd9a57ZFFkqOuX6ypb7lzrA6I9YkT2z8FZ5zFXza8SlmpsMjZoXYdoJ_rMebIUcqVa2mY3YcmO1NKlOqqoVTbnwCmn0zT6-G4HHqER8sO87QCNhsT-25PGhWauPXBNQ/s400/IMG_2180.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609716940159973618" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn83THfVIa6_-su12jKZrCqc3NJgvvuwBGotVmb40nBtoHhKUrO2IKL4KO7u9jMCtxdOYX4qAj5_gPbeHpeLsAK11elXBk5dNm04PwHy3vU20Ej97UvaDaMxfkbWb51UZDN_7DIo2KHE/s1600/IMG_2201.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn83THfVIa6_-su12jKZrCqc3NJgvvuwBGotVmb40nBtoHhKUrO2IKL4KO7u9jMCtxdOYX4qAj5_gPbeHpeLsAK11elXBk5dNm04PwHy3vU20Ej97UvaDaMxfkbWb51UZDN_7DIo2KHE/s400/IMG_2201.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609717202443757090" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmfTQI6uWgzaREz1mAT_cwityVZGzDUER0LXKE5IdqEttdFwvy5QkAOderqFI4lFXzxbGDBHmGKOOhaXyqrHi5YSwBGB3Rlqpmyz0rCDeHRlOqjhyphenhyphenHeFDeWRJxEND-5SQGR4mFDp4_Sg/s1600/IMG_2204.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmfTQI6uWgzaREz1mAT_cwityVZGzDUER0LXKE5IdqEttdFwvy5QkAOderqFI4lFXzxbGDBHmGKOOhaXyqrHi5YSwBGB3Rlqpmyz0rCDeHRlOqjhyphenhyphenHeFDeWRJxEND-5SQGR4mFDp4_Sg/s400/IMG_2204.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609717194957444850" /></a>Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-7562171455986495312011-04-30T20:19:00.000-07:002011-04-30T20:26:33.020-07:00LOVEThis is a short post, but I just needed to share this.<br /><br />So, <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com">Janae</a> brought my attention to <a href="http://www.sportygirljewelry.com/">this</a> AWESOMESAUCE website.<br /><br />If you're an athlete and you like jewelry at ALL, there's something there for you. I just ordered a necklace, and I couldn't be more excited about it. This is mine, and it's a Joan of Arc quote. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET IT IN THE MAIL.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt4tssSsTcKnCWyOLU-ELXWO7jka_D0H-EIsKGj90cGbUo_quY2teOmdS6l4RoPcevTNMhKfDd3XXkbeGgui0JB32tQzmIYeDvG2JmU8qDoN5Dt9jth3Bn_ApKRO-KfYqN_7Z-Psx4kw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-04-30+at+11.17.42+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt4tssSsTcKnCWyOLU-ELXWO7jka_D0H-EIsKGj90cGbUo_quY2teOmdS6l4RoPcevTNMhKfDd3XXkbeGgui0JB32tQzmIYeDvG2JmU8qDoN5Dt9jth3Bn_ApKRO-KfYqN_7Z-Psx4kw/s320/Screen+shot+2011-04-30+at+11.17.42+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601582664757785362" /></a><br /><br />Go there. Spend your hard-earned money. ENJOY.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-10144746132708760262011-04-25T04:36:00.000-07:002011-04-25T05:10:44.830-07:00Mental Training<span style="font-weight:bold;">5</span>: days left of classes<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4</span>: days left of babysitting<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3</span>: papers (and Shakespeare posts) left to write<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2</span>: Classics finals<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1</span>: take home exam and portfolio to construct<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">0</span>: motivation<br /><br />I'm down to the last crunch of the semester, and I'm spent. I feel like I have nothing left - and it's really not a good time for that. But this past weekend I reached a new level with my mental training, and I wanted to share this with the class (/y'all). <br /><br />On Saturday I had the most difficult of all of my MTELs (read: crazy Massachusetts teacher tests). I had less than two days to prepare for it because of school work and babysitting, and this is not an exam you can NOT prepare for. Basically, I retaught myself a semester's worth of information in one night. It's not that I didn't KNOW the information, it's that ever since I've learned it, I've applied it. I know how to apply it. Follow me in a classroom (or even while I'm babysitting) and you will see it left and right. But the exact definition of phonemic awareness v. phonological awareness? Ugh. This is where the studying came in. <br /><br />On Saturday morning as I angrily got up and got ready, everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. In my exhaustion, I stubbed my toe and jammed it. (Also, this was my barely healed broken big toe... so that's fun.) I couldn't find my favorite sweatshirt. It was raining and FREEZING (yay for New Hampshire in April). I was starting to get that feeling - that feeling like "if my morning is going this poorly, why do I think I can do this test and pass it?" I was getting down on myself the entire drive to the exam, and beating myself up for not quitting my job sooner, not asking for that paper extension sooner, not studying sooner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNlGWD6UAsMbVpAY3Lxmslw9AeM9bL-TE_ivoQccm2TLSU2uJr38FXLgokOSOFeNFmh3eDEjxqfFWDpTCexd6MjqJIZUPCANIo1zYWu5ZGzffZmRRWBtQ0PLDCMfCn2FXdsOMo9YkSl8/s1600/73554_732456918411_11000130_41253668_3929285_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNlGWD6UAsMbVpAY3Lxmslw9AeM9bL-TE_ivoQccm2TLSU2uJr38FXLgokOSOFeNFmh3eDEjxqfFWDpTCexd6MjqJIZUPCANIo1zYWu5ZGzffZmRRWBtQ0PLDCMfCn2FXdsOMo9YkSl8/s320/73554_732456918411_11000130_41253668_3929285_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599492179474886882" /></a><br />I just wanted to give up.<br /><br />And then it hit me - all of the best races I've ever had came after an AWFUL morning. They always start with no good very bad days, and then I set PRs and have a blast. So why was I allowing myself to get so cynical?<br /><br />Because I wasn't in the racing mindset. Because this is an exam, not a race. But isn't everything related to racing at this point? I tell myself that I can crank out a paper if I'm in the "right mindset," just like I tell myself I can crank out 10 miles on the treadmill if I'm in the "right mindset." Why is it any different? Well, it's not. At least it shouldn't be. So I changed my mindset.<br /><br />I told myself I was going to have an awesome test. Our kitten Barley (or as I call her, Cat #2) was "helping" me take a practice test on Friday night, and I passed that even with the little leech climbing on my shoulder, licking my glasses, and eating my hair. If I can pass a practice test under Extreme Kitten Duress, of course I could handle this. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuCredKi-zPxjuGFboz2CFaiF8uoev5AhYg45pSkLoEIOM23lCxezI12u4pfFe_DJ1raPNVgvx3S7Edk_F5B2S9dft8jq65zMd1l_t2YirTenaxgQXx5zlBRu-pq0XH14asvNey15_S8/s1600/208061_835474515321_11000130_42355398_1553280_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuCredKi-zPxjuGFboz2CFaiF8uoev5AhYg45pSkLoEIOM23lCxezI12u4pfFe_DJ1raPNVgvx3S7Edk_F5B2S9dft8jq65zMd1l_t2YirTenaxgQXx5zlBRu-pq0XH14asvNey15_S8/s320/208061_835474515321_11000130_42355398_1553280_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599491145877583586" /></a><br />And, while I don't know if I passed or not yet, I do feel good about it. And I would be genuinely surprised if I failed.<br /><br />This was originally going to be a post about my new bike pedals (clip-ins, baby!) and how much I ADORE them and how I desperately need a road bike instead of the bike I have now, but I got sidetracked. All of you with these pedals understand how awesome they are, and the rest of you... just go get them. They're worth it. It's crazy how much more power you get. But more importantly, work on your mental training. It's just as important (if not more important) than the physical aspects, and it can have an effect on the rest of your life. I credit my athlete's brain with my success on Saturday, and I'm grateful that I am capable of this kind of mental manipulation at this point in my life. It's a powerful thing.<br /><br />Now to kick this mindset back into gear for the rest of my semester...<br /><br />~~<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">When do you think this mindset helps you the most (outside of sports)?<br /></span><br />Definitely anything academic. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Did you do anything fun for Easter?</span><br /><br />We visited Jake's grandparents and aunts/uncles/cousins down in Massachusetts. I ate ALLLLL this food. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnyq4kYik2efnVbznkn2t-6ambmLbt01CL17JUcg4HbzgogKqhZ4jmXhG0eRBhELdceb-wSmABH1KrbvqItHn3rKlWIpRHJndvyuo6OaOQ5AN0zdTDtnoQUrZZs6Z98EyLKVWYxOsi0M/s1600/224249_836055096831_11000130_42365272_6172493_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnyq4kYik2efnVbznkn2t-6ambmLbt01CL17JUcg4HbzgogKqhZ4jmXhG0eRBhELdceb-wSmABH1KrbvqItHn3rKlWIpRHJndvyuo6OaOQ5AN0zdTDtnoQUrZZs6Z98EyLKVWYxOsi0M/s320/224249_836055096831_11000130_42365272_6172493_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599491142154948850" /></a><br />(Not really. I ate the spinach pie, potatoes, veggies, and rolls. I'm the token vegetarian everywhere I go.)<br /><br />I also got to play with one of my favorite dogs ever - Oreo. He is a standard poodle and the most huggable pony on the planet. If we get a third dog (ha), I want a standard poodle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bvHHnqc2TqUAw_FxQdC6ffQUUHn6T2Wh22Gc0Rt1G-a0NJp1fSyEI_tTRlFtXOMC5vRRdlWFrp7WaEZ5_d5Ro7g0zcdwjLHMWBmWLW4xa9y7XLOOah8Vp7tOtnCJ4em-LHnoaZrPcLs/s1600/224392_836059567871_11000130_42365365_2018683_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bvHHnqc2TqUAw_FxQdC6ffQUUHn6T2Wh22Gc0Rt1G-a0NJp1fSyEI_tTRlFtXOMC5vRRdlWFrp7WaEZ5_d5Ro7g0zcdwjLHMWBmWLW4xa9y7XLOOah8Vp7tOtnCJ4em-LHnoaZrPcLs/s320/224392_836059567871_11000130_42365365_2018683_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599491134932462466" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I need some new music. Recommend something.<br /></span><br />:D<br /><br />~~Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-27578849779833205732011-04-13T17:35:00.001-07:002011-04-13T17:52:33.948-07:00CreeperI've found a new hobby! It's called scoping-out-real-estate-while-running-in-the-rain. The rain part is VITAL because if it's nice out, the people are outside and can see you creeping around their driveways and trying to check out their backyards. The rain leads to some soggy feet so it's important to not make this a LONG run, but it's a fun one. Today I scoped out three different properties until a dog alerted attention to me and I ran off before I was caught. <br /><br />No, I'm not in the market for a house. But aren't they fun to look at? (We've already established that I'm obsessed with HGTV - you shouldn't be that surprised.) And they're right in my area! So if I DID want a house, it'd be a great location! ...Yeah, I'm creepy.<br /><br />I used running entirely for stress management today, and I didn't wear my Garmin because I didn't want to get it wet (and it was POURING). So here's the problem with that:<br /><br />I wasn't monitoring my heart rate, and I was in a bad mood. I've been known for running too hard when I'm in a bad mood, because it gets the bad juju out faster. I've also been known to pull things when doing this. Luckily, I didn't pull anything. BUT my heart rate sky rocketed. <br /><br />I should backtrack here. I've been having heart rate issues for a while now. I noticed while running on the treadmill that if I got past like 5.3 speed, it jumps up to 180+. I ignored it for a while (I know, stupid) and then after the first time I saw it go over 200, I panicked and have been hyper aware of it ever since. I'm still slow for one primary reason - my heart rate. If I run faster than 11 minute miles (sometimes even 12), my heart rate goes up - and keeps going up. I've been good about monitoring it but I still haven't figured out what to do about it. I've been waiting for my health insurance to kick in, and now that it has, I need to figure out who to go to for a check up. <br /><br />Back to today. I was running hard and, for a stretch, in an area without a sidewalk. That led to a spontaneous practice of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour">parkour</a> (shout out to <a href="http://cheaptriathlete.blogspot.com/">Katie</a> for introducing that term to me) while running faster that my heart was comfortable with. My body was fine, and that's the thing that's continuing to confuse me. It's NOT that I'm not capable of faster speeds, it's that my heart FREAKS OUT. So I turned down a side road and leaned against a stop sign for a few minutes and took my heart rate the old fashioned way and it was definitely above 200. Wtf, mate?<br /><br />To say that it wasn't comfortable would be putting it lightly. I didn't exactly feel like I was having a heart attack, but I was kind of dizzy and felt... weird. Just very off. I waited until it calmed down before I jogged (slowly) home. <br /><br />I'm a creeper and a freakazoid. And yes, I know, I will be making an appointment with a doctor. Soon.<br /><br />But for now, this is what happened when I tried to take a picture of how soaked I was after my run:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMqntsGQ7aEbLEJ7lqFqcyn64EGr8nmSo9n_G0kFl2Ynb9IfRHJAplMjYF-pJXUINggiMAmnBzocSoEuNfYG3fk-_geCh4Cl4mwqpWFedwu5h2Om63HRNe6HliCaAf0A8-8O6lfOCEqc/s1600/y02le.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMqntsGQ7aEbLEJ7lqFqcyn64EGr8nmSo9n_G0kFl2Ynb9IfRHJAplMjYF-pJXUINggiMAmnBzocSoEuNfYG3fk-_geCh4Cl4mwqpWFedwu5h2Om63HRNe6HliCaAf0A8-8O6lfOCEqc/s320/y02le.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595235677433098162" /></a><br />(Thanks, Knightley.)Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-76940049526423231422011-04-12T17:44:00.001-07:002011-04-12T17:47:22.259-07:00Hugs for Janae.Janae over at http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/ just found out that she can't run Boston, and we're giving her as many hugs as possible. Therefore, these are pictures of HUGS from my young years to more recent years. And to everyone else who's in these pics, just remember, it's for a good cause. There's even a hug from my Knightley in here. WE ALL LOVE YOU, JANAE!!! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F27b8tnxLz_q7LEWqbOAgYjDPfKG7pJllBKqcCaTcxaifNUpC8GDPPu75R1XkZEh-kLPizAcdDTQ04GVhmjLeyq7c5a8CT7NuyY9aTuC3c7gz1GxZZjpVCGqFx_e8vrMeSYZqCzlJFA/s1600/25185_680188968801_11000130_39310020_7702180_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F27b8tnxLz_q7LEWqbOAgYjDPfKG7pJllBKqcCaTcxaifNUpC8GDPPu75R1XkZEh-kLPizAcdDTQ04GVhmjLeyq7c5a8CT7NuyY9aTuC3c7gz1GxZZjpVCGqFx_e8vrMeSYZqCzlJFA/s320/25185_680188968801_11000130_39310020_7702180_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594863106828423586" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBdN8zj8GQQa8zU65d3OsTzHHVXHR-pDmx9BeZk7rHcg9rQypXg3I1aeOcrUu3Ow9YacrvhRuQAtmeVd6_y8tWIqeXnEmPmvnkZHaUc1OuuIYYO40uN1FValks2q3bc0hbySzulMXp2s/s1600/39718_799587128911_9018126_45936924_3052892_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBdN8zj8GQQa8zU65d3OsTzHHVXHR-pDmx9BeZk7rHcg9rQypXg3I1aeOcrUu3Ow9YacrvhRuQAtmeVd6_y8tWIqeXnEmPmvnkZHaUc1OuuIYYO40uN1FValks2q3bc0hbySzulMXp2s/s320/39718_799587128911_9018126_45936924_3052892_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594863113461471202" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUgEhz4N1mAWXlYKOEcKh4iAZSh18gMXY0RxSFH0TmBebp4kIsEmk6DYutnyxcKU5Fxj-qc77ldA1-Y7d8pmnKeyUWH1zUl2enYIUTavxebJbP-r822P73ATG7jyBz4NOcQU2ObmmmhY/s1600/photo.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUgEhz4N1mAWXlYKOEcKh4iAZSh18gMXY0RxSFH0TmBebp4kIsEmk6DYutnyxcKU5Fxj-qc77ldA1-Y7d8pmnKeyUWH1zUl2enYIUTavxebJbP-r822P73ATG7jyBz4NOcQU2ObmmmhY/s320/photo.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594863114906999378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajFuCIvkXBdTVB3BxGgNmIQRJhsM3VBup_cP4kYosAph4t6hc4CzAwUuKjtkIoBhvV8unRCA_qNYqlDk3lSz-ktsI-lXUSSQ_j3CwJsNHrkPQMPtFcFKnJWUKD0BDHBru-L_9tMvG4TY/s1600/n11001341_32638181_9563.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajFuCIvkXBdTVB3BxGgNmIQRJhsM3VBup_cP4kYosAph4t6hc4CzAwUuKjtkIoBhvV8unRCA_qNYqlDk3lSz-ktsI-lXUSSQ_j3CwJsNHrkPQMPtFcFKnJWUKD0BDHBru-L_9tMvG4TY/s320/n11001341_32638181_9563.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594863106975921218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBFXcURIr5i2k9Yc6yA5GlAn1zEJII_vCKPW4VUVguOCGiLjfdfZk-vqZOIHtAymc1jGlkDYBOOj3ZQIHXd-5rJA2i3AkHS5DWlcCfOXMQ0fkvyE5YC7CCR21ekDFHrlDLFt9nr3HjqM/s1600/n11000130_31208628_8466.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBFXcURIr5i2k9Yc6yA5GlAn1zEJII_vCKPW4VUVguOCGiLjfdfZk-vqZOIHtAymc1jGlkDYBOOj3ZQIHXd-5rJA2i3AkHS5DWlcCfOXMQ0fkvyE5YC7CCR21ekDFHrlDLFt9nr3HjqM/s320/n11000130_31208628_8466.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594863102654234914" /></a>Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-33184767516385155332011-04-12T16:31:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:53:25.364-07:00Two Tangent TuesdayI'm doing <span style="font-weight:bold;">Two Tangent Tuesday</span> (just like <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/">Janae</a>, <a href="http://mommysgoingforarun.com/">Leslie</a>, and <a href="http://reasons2run.blogspot.com/">Maia</a>) for the first time ever. Here we go.<br /><br />1. I don't function without caffeine. I'm mentioning this on today of all days because I got to Dunkin Donuts this morning to get my daily unsweetened iced tea and discovered that I was missing all of my cards and my ID. I had my wallet, but no methods of payment. This is because I actually used a purse over the weekend, and my stuff was still in there. I freaked out while driving down to school because the caffeine headache was starting, and I wasn't sure how I was going to survive the day. In my frantic state I sent a facebook message to a friend and she did me a HUGE favor by grabbing me an iced tea when she was at DD. I have the best friends ever. (Even when they're really just acquaintances that I did a presentation with.) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdclef9eGEippvhpDbGFrFobihARr4VYOZ-CplEZqe3VVUw4Fg49vrm5Px8PAFEbWz0Eb0haIcHQpbnwLe5MflQLo8g3WgR5jqv7jKR-FvWTgvg7KKC8QV64XVngvmDK0cvyl1B-nYe5U/s1600/icedtea_Image.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdclef9eGEippvhpDbGFrFobihARr4VYOZ-CplEZqe3VVUw4Fg49vrm5Px8PAFEbWz0Eb0haIcHQpbnwLe5MflQLo8g3WgR5jqv7jKR-FvWTgvg7KKC8QV64XVngvmDK0cvyl1B-nYe5U/s320/icedtea_Image.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594847874968485826" /></a><br /><br />2. I have an unhealthy obsession with HGTV. Yesterday was my day off from class and the day where I usually try to get a TON of work done, but there was a marathon of "Income Property" on HGTV, so I got nothing done. (But isn't he fun to look at?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8p7SrsxKV2BvEEm1Q3CUJknLCsqQt7s-TM8xQOZSmIgfMnBdb79jxufQ-vX3SZoUgVPEZasNzIIp8mWwbLuZJoQZlJdRCeOmWRFch7wNZyo-6T0cIcTNoiG2WznmCJ6_r_mScGbvWNc/s1600/scott.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8p7SrsxKV2BvEEm1Q3CUJknLCsqQt7s-TM8xQOZSmIgfMnBdb79jxufQ-vX3SZoUgVPEZasNzIIp8mWwbLuZJoQZlJdRCeOmWRFch7wNZyo-6T0cIcTNoiG2WznmCJ6_r_mScGbvWNc/s320/scott.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594848726409496866" /></a><br /><br />That's it for today, I just felt the need to do SOMETHING and it's really not that hard to write two tangents about myself. I dare you to do the same thing!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Questions:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. What's your drug of choice?</span> Mine is caffeine. I only drink one caffeinated thing per day, and it's always first thing in the morning. I used to drink soda but since that was so dehydrating, I unofficially switched to iced tea. I say unofficially because I'll still get Diet Coke sometimes when I'm out because it tastes SO good when it's a fountain drink, but otherwise, I heart my tea.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. When you're doing work do you like silence or background noise? </span>I use HGTV as background noise. Except when "Income Property" is on - then I have to pay attention.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-57009792892621428682011-04-11T13:46:00.001-07:002011-04-11T19:02:57.351-07:00Great Bay Half Marathon Race ReportThis is like a week late, and I could make excuses, but I've just been too lazy to write it. There were so many parts of this race that I hated that I was not eager to relive it. But, now I'm doing it. So let's get started!<br /><br />Jake drove me to the high school which was supposedly near the start, and I went in to go to the bathroom. Needless to say, the line was long, but I was happy to not be using a porta-potty. However, I started the walk to the start with about ten minutes to spare. I didn't think this would be a problem, since it was SUPPOSEDLY right there, but they lied. It was a long walk to the start - especially because once we got there, they routed us in a big loop to get to the BACK of the pack and this took an extra few minutes. Everyone was starting to panic that it might have started, but I got there during the singing of the national anthem and had a few minutes to hop up and down to stretch out before it started. Then it got started.<br /><br />My problems started early. After the race the weekend before, I was thinking that pace wouldn't be a problem. For the four miler I kept my goal pace with no problem - this race I was alternating between a 9 min./mile pace and a 14 min./mile pace and I couldn't seem to get control of it. The first three miles were all over the place pace-wise, and I knew that that did not bode well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrNtsUQDY4JSNPv31pZBf-ZtXCBCyf5aT0MiwKrFsKEozTL87V82uyC5-BqOKVdV0Fe9kzIAnXqWj97JtrNDBIBj4uIDJb0AEVbL0t29KFW-zPI1Ek8_z5fLAw77Ezq1ojzvD66RdWX0/s1600/205696_828700255991_11000130_42239338_4033780_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrNtsUQDY4JSNPv31pZBf-ZtXCBCyf5aT0MiwKrFsKEozTL87V82uyC5-BqOKVdV0Fe9kzIAnXqWj97JtrNDBIBj4uIDJb0AEVbL0t29KFW-zPI1Ek8_z5fLAw77Ezq1ojzvD66RdWX0/s320/205696_828700255991_11000130_42239338_4033780_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594456726925464258" /></a><br />(Mile 2. Trying to figure out what's up with my pace.)<br /><br />My favorite part around this portion of the race was the guy blasting the Rocky song from his house for the runners. It was HIGHLY appreciated. <br /><br />Around mile four, the pavement ended and the dirt road began. This was, by far, the best part of the race. The dirt was easier on my legs, there was lots of shade from the trees, and I made a friend to talk to for the next several miles. This is also where the hills began, but they were mild at first. <br /><br />Once we got back on the pavement, the real hills began - and they didn't let up until about mile 11. To say that the hills were brutal would be putting it mildly. I was walking much more than I wanted to, but I was keeping up a fast walking pace (at least there's that). Around mile 9 I lost my running buddy because I just couldn't keep up the pace anymore. I fell back a little, and would up talking to an older woman for the rest of my time. She was a walker but a freaking FAST walker, and I had to jog to keep up with her. This was a good thing because jogging was actually easier on my knees than walking quickly was. Whenever I started to fall back with the woman, I'd kick my butt in gear to catch up again and keep up. <br /><br />The race was well run, and the water stops were frequent enough. However, I really should have gotten a hydration belt before the race. I was desperate for refreshment - so desperate that I ate snow for the first time in probably 16 years. I also shoved it in my bra and down my back to help cool down - that direct sun was really getting to me after about ten miles!<br /><br />The worst part of the race, by far, was when I turned the corner at the 11 mile mark, thinking "we're so close! it's easy now!" and encountered a REALLY long stretch of absolutely nothing. I should've been happy that it was flat, but I was just miserable - it was the road that wouldn't end. It was an out and back 1.8(ish) mile stretch, and it was awful. The only good thing about it was that on my way back, I was able to see how many people were still behind me. I was starting to get the "I'm dead last" feeling, and seeing that there were still dozens of people behind me made me feel a little better. <br /><br />After the out and back, we were in the home stretch. We were almost on Main Street, and Main Street was where the finish was. We had less than half a mile to go, and then we turned left - and looked in the face of another hill. ANOTHER FREAKING HILL. We thought the hills were gone! We thought we were done! ONE MORE HILL. This was the first time that the woman I was running with showed that it was getting to her. She started yelling about how ridiculous the course was, and I couldn't stop laughing. We slowed to a near crawl in getting up that hill, because our bodies were just giving out. We ran the rest of it, though, and finished with a time of about 3:10. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcEIXG8XnQYjMuGl-aAPn93hCaOoMMQtwTj8vND6FiIzXq_ZZcq4TTeF-T9O0J-pb1Zs3bavZjJKopnmLcpWeWGwXHwjIse4iduyFx_XGB0RF7G97YVPKrOLrz1zgZ1t72W_ZHa6DLgg/s1600/199537_828700435631_11000130_42239343_1926090_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcEIXG8XnQYjMuGl-aAPn93hCaOoMMQtwTj8vND6FiIzXq_ZZcq4TTeF-T9O0J-pb1Zs3bavZjJKopnmLcpWeWGwXHwjIse4iduyFx_XGB0RF7G97YVPKrOLrz1zgZ1t72W_ZHa6DLgg/s320/199537_828700435631_11000130_42239343_1926090_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594456720356535538" /></a><br />(Home stretch.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUD07k4K0WvfAZRp4qUUlwnce5rJnUNrxFscrc5UL908Wq9hzWIh2Xmau-I1ZeJpRhO7lMAe9jgVmGd7OoNbuG4ZZKQW9G4_oOnjsn5_PnPgRFUAoTSZB54IGJTFGhnu_9tlPVgEselI/s1600/199168_828700530441_11000130_42239346_3668173_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUD07k4K0WvfAZRp4qUUlwnce5rJnUNrxFscrc5UL908Wq9hzWIh2Xmau-I1ZeJpRhO7lMAe9jgVmGd7OoNbuG4ZZKQW9G4_oOnjsn5_PnPgRFUAoTSZB54IGJTFGhnu_9tlPVgEselI/s320/199168_828700530441_11000130_42239346_3668173_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594456716999075714" /></a><br />(Woohoo!)<br /><br />My goal going in was sub-3 hour, and considering the hills, I'm ok with my time. Talking to the elites after the race, it was made clear that the course added at least ten minutes to even the best runners' times. That made me feel a whole lot better about my time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfknvEIH3DXnTkjvSf3cxj5TbwhDSyed0iSWdSIg5rhbxG8Wrfz8HJRYx2aWf52M2EvXFjs4P0QitwZ1N6K-g8HJC5VfYgft1bmw8wO1djaV2y-N7ew8jkD_ZjGBivGH-uPpx9O69Sx-U/s1600/207201_828700769961_11000130_42239356_6513028_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfknvEIH3DXnTkjvSf3cxj5TbwhDSyed0iSWdSIg5rhbxG8Wrfz8HJRYx2aWf52M2EvXFjs4P0QitwZ1N6K-g8HJC5VfYgft1bmw8wO1djaV2y-N7ew8jkD_ZjGBivGH-uPpx9O69Sx-U/s320/207201_828700769961_11000130_42239356_6513028_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594456733969100370" /></a><br /><br />What was made clear to me in this race was that I am capable of a sub-3 hour half marathon, I just need a flatter course! I'm definitely doing this race again next year, though, just to see how much I can improve in a year. <br /><br />Needless to say, what saved me was the woman who ran the last portion of the race with me. She kept me on pace and didn't let me give up. I love her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQELaTi4dMzJTdlAQg2QGf9BAMOAvps7zbC_LN_c1LEg8Nj3bqd7mScBK2BNDTmJUeBCYih23HkXfK6Fsrh-2hMsa8A4Ui0mpuPDW0sVWl7zAJKOpjnqFOn9u1TyKObfTip7qJPJQ2D90/s1600/197135_828700710081_11000130_42239353_334541_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQELaTi4dMzJTdlAQg2QGf9BAMOAvps7zbC_LN_c1LEg8Nj3bqd7mScBK2BNDTmJUeBCYih23HkXfK6Fsrh-2hMsa8A4Ui0mpuPDW0sVWl7zAJKOpjnqFOn9u1TyKObfTip7qJPJQ2D90/s320/197135_828700710081_11000130_42239353_334541_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594456719522633890" /></a><br /><br />Well, if nothing else, I'm officially a half marathoner. I won't talk about how I could barely walk for two days, because I don't want to relive that. I WILL relive how awesome it felt to get that finisher's medal, though. And how amazing it felt to pin up that bib on my bib corkboard. Happy. ...Especially now that the pain is gone.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-60191844395928153902011-04-02T18:00:00.000-07:002011-04-02T18:41:41.671-07:00Twas the Night Before Race Day...My half marathon is tomorrow. You'd think I've been trying not to think about it, but that's a little tough with signs like these ALL over my town. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8bjOpBd62x1_dIiLTZz9cccH9Fnxyam2tnDRYs-LhIjhImqvxPNPBynKz2a6-viH7G5Xea7K7F8YOIYq-7ve_KxcooFsIN3VrwahKIfMRA8hMUnc41-_Mprp6ZE7xgzL7F23rUj6eKY/s1600/IMG-20110402-01010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8bjOpBd62x1_dIiLTZz9cccH9Fnxyam2tnDRYs-LhIjhImqvxPNPBynKz2a6-viH7G5Xea7K7F8YOIYq-7ve_KxcooFsIN3VrwahKIfMRA8hMUnc41-_Mprp6ZE7xgzL7F23rUj6eKY/s320/IMG-20110402-01010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591157844758078834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH3qWZIGcFOeSoc1cfKrke_bJPphN5yyh_c1TSaUKqqMpBrD27vopBgjf1vSLQT-F6qQlSIeuJ6COkOgaHiDsFduVZI8jF2Tinutx4ev7cYENZSRV8YQ22MtpYZfdcFhX6P0SToAGRTk/s1600/IMG-20110402-01009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH3qWZIGcFOeSoc1cfKrke_bJPphN5yyh_c1TSaUKqqMpBrD27vopBgjf1vSLQT-F6qQlSIeuJ6COkOgaHiDsFduVZI8jF2Tinutx4ev7cYENZSRV8YQ22MtpYZfdcFhX6P0SToAGRTk/s320/IMG-20110402-01009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591157839045988754" /></a><br /><br />Today was my first ever expo. Unfortunately, it was a little disappointing. Much more in way of jewelry vendors and chiropractors looking for patients than running stuff. I picked up my bib and shirt, bought a bright hat, entered a couple raffles, and bought some Avon products for dirt cheap. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh5C_1SgBa6IAi1hZ4YYVr0UGtoyylbNjKik2Me1f6RNzrYACrbtHwECJlXn3PzwQgst31AXFjrlPlV4yaUTrXeokPHDWtXcHp1eqFzAgZ3FEu7MIvPyY17ffLqn5pCNURQk7mgg0p64/s1600/IMG-20110402-01012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh5C_1SgBa6IAi1hZ4YYVr0UGtoyylbNjKik2Me1f6RNzrYACrbtHwECJlXn3PzwQgst31AXFjrlPlV4yaUTrXeokPHDWtXcHp1eqFzAgZ3FEu7MIvPyY17ffLqn5pCNURQk7mgg0p64/s320/IMG-20110402-01012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591160638313303154" /></a><br />Then, with my leftover money that I thought I'd be spending at the expo, I went to Target to get new pants for tomorrow. I got some sweet pants, a super thin long sleeve hoodie that will work for sun cover and I won't over heat in, and I got some clothes that actually fit me. My clothes have increasingly been a problem and most of them are way too big on me, so it was time to splurge for a few new things. <br /><br />On my way home I drove the course for tomorrow and I suddenly understood the back of my shirt:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXK9RNG5DNPvYAHFgV1tYCFXruW6Z1C4ZFHNw5KRHefx9iOOdV1390j-tBc_1DprBOlh4-IgSOmEVqkxomMysznk9FrcxF3jizX_HIyDkWg0-SD3FtINMQBXocad5i5TKEeFEW2ebolQ/s1600/IMG-20110402-01008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXK9RNG5DNPvYAHFgV1tYCFXruW6Z1C4ZFHNw5KRHefx9iOOdV1390j-tBc_1DprBOlh4-IgSOmEVqkxomMysznk9FrcxF3jizX_HIyDkWg0-SD3FtINMQBXocad5i5TKEeFEW2ebolQ/s320/IMG-20110402-01008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591161108872670258" /></a><br />The course is very VERY hilly. You'd think I would know the extent of it going in seeing as it's my town, but I couldn't have understood how hilly it really is. It's going to be ridiculous. However, there are several miles of an unpaved road which, despite potential mud, I am REALLY looking forward to. It will be easier on the legs assuming that I can avoid the massive (and smaller) potholes. If nothing else, the course will be GORGEOUS. This is just one glimpse of it:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBETfZObw0Kya_1mLFe17Tt3GOmPjdbsc3vk07nPRVz_33oZSCLzWLHKLwscR-H0ul5RMmc37BHoacQ9k-KUpPdAJhyrpCxWOlZG0E8oqReu5fKfe4ZZ-NNhYXOSbD2nWNZ6HD9zj_H4/s1600/IMG-20110402-01011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBETfZObw0Kya_1mLFe17Tt3GOmPjdbsc3vk07nPRVz_33oZSCLzWLHKLwscR-H0ul5RMmc37BHoacQ9k-KUpPdAJhyrpCxWOlZG0E8oqReu5fKfe4ZZ-NNhYXOSbD2nWNZ6HD9zj_H4/s320/IMG-20110402-01011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591161947585086242" /></a><br />Then I had a weird turn of events in my evening. I was taking the dogs out, and Knightley took off on me. He found a baby muskrat stuck in a chain link fence. If any of you know me, you know I'm an animal lover. I love them so much that I don't eat meat. Therefore, I wasn't leaving a poor little animal stuck in a fence. I put the dogs in the house and asked my neighbor who I should call (thinking maybe animal control or something). He put on some gloves and got some wire cutters and between the two of us, we got the little guy out. He looked perfectly finally afterwards, despite some anger towards his rescuers. I wish I'd taken pictures, but I was too focused on helping to pull out the phone.<br /><br />Lastly, I had cottage cheese pancakes for dinner:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXp8nnCj55HHdVdR8pPCc0Z6-ukuFNk8VsePYhXrwEfULtc2CB1K9JeplpNjqmqM9f4o3cbxdPbR6qvlghGOHQ3sKqZcC_eGwk0s-WjFpXr5uf_kcSg_fHiVri7Jm93uQ9pcwHnIY7YJM/s1600/IMG-20110402-01013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXp8nnCj55HHdVdR8pPCc0Z6-ukuFNk8VsePYhXrwEfULtc2CB1K9JeplpNjqmqM9f4o3cbxdPbR6qvlghGOHQ3sKqZcC_eGwk0s-WjFpXr5uf_kcSg_fHiVri7Jm93uQ9pcwHnIY7YJM/s320/IMG-20110402-01013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591163327445067074" /></a><br />The dogs like to think they're for them, but they're not. They're all MINE! (Ok, Jake got some too. Which is only fair because he made them.)<br /><br />I followed up dinner with watching The Spirit of the Marathon and eating Skittles (yaay carb loading). So that's it. I'm going to bed soon, and my "invisible woman" is lying on my bedroom floor getting covered in cat fur. (Note: Invisible woman is when you lay out all of your race clothes on the floor so it looks like a person so you can look and see if you're missing anything important.) The only thing I haven't figured out yet is how I'll carry my Swedish Fish with me. Yes, I'm using Swedish Fish in place of something like Gu, because I have a weak stomach and pure sugar in form of candy works better for me. I decided on Swedish Fish after <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/">Janae</a> recommended them. <br /><br />I figured I would be overly anxious at this point but I'm at a strange point of zen. I'm excited, but also a little nervous. I think I just know that I'm going to finish the race, no matter what. I don't want to walk at all, but if I have to, I will have still completed a half marathon. The goal is officially<span style="font-weight:bold;"> less than three hours</span>. Can I do it? I think I can I think I can...<br /><br />So now I sleep. And next time you hear from me, I will officially be a half marathoner. See you on the other side...Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-80247946198585825022011-03-31T17:26:00.000-07:002011-03-31T17:28:32.782-07:00Race Post Part 2My official race photos from the 4 miler. Hilarious! I was clearly having a conversation but they CRACK me up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMl0bTiwVAyAUlkMy97PrhkYO818IYs7aIYqNnTuzA3tzhH3tVHJG0rHnvuhy-oceAMEkBX2AEQhF6mzs0c7zedThjBg4Erlk8pnzaYdTz3VVq1dZRZ64orMmIpuN0dQLQNBIoYx0jhc/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-31+at+8.20.48+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMl0bTiwVAyAUlkMy97PrhkYO818IYs7aIYqNnTuzA3tzhH3tVHJG0rHnvuhy-oceAMEkBX2AEQhF6mzs0c7zedThjBg4Erlk8pnzaYdTz3VVq1dZRZ64orMmIpuN0dQLQNBIoYx0jhc/s320/Screen+shot+2011-03-31+at+8.20.48+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590405303015854946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dMV2soBhzdDwN39DVGlR1zX-4agbJDFT_D7LOCgmJ_5eZhvfAB2WL0VXYq0Xa0tXcC7oNIgDTgQ5buEr80PaPV-yB9ZhauDDq3BbGJIuPDYoN-D6SgNPvGw34WWRKY7qcF13UFQ0fhM/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-31+at+8.21.15+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dMV2soBhzdDwN39DVGlR1zX-4agbJDFT_D7LOCgmJ_5eZhvfAB2WL0VXYq0Xa0tXcC7oNIgDTgQ5buEr80PaPV-yB9ZhauDDq3BbGJIuPDYoN-D6SgNPvGw34WWRKY7qcF13UFQ0fhM/s320/Screen+shot+2011-03-31+at+8.21.15+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590405309508161394" /></a>Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-76654597668441546852011-03-30T12:57:00.000-07:002011-03-30T13:31:13.784-07:00Anxiety, Race Report, and Mental PrepThis post is long overdue, but I have my reasons. For one, my spring break came! ...And so did a cold. It's pretty typical for me these days. The second I get a little time off, I get sick. The cold totally slaughtered me. It lasted over two weeks, and made exercise impossible. I couldn't breathe at all, and I was getting frequent headaches. But when I was just a couple weeks out from the half, I told myself I had to run no matter what. I got on the treadmill, ready to do my long run after two weeks off, and got started.<br /><br />I couldn't do it. I BARELY lasted four miles - I was limping and struggling through every step of it. Everything hurt. Every part of my body ached. After the first mile my feet were in the same amount of pain that I felt after I finished my TENTH mile a few weeks prior. Um, not normal.<br /><br />I limped to my car and was just furious. I went to the grocery store and while I supported my weight on the cart, I mindlessly picked out food while going over EVERY second of my day. What had I done differently? What had I eaten? What shoes had I worn? Was it my state of mind? What was it? And then two things occur to me: <br /><br />1. I hadn't run (and had barely done much of anything) in two weeks. Of COURSE my body would feel beat up when I got back on the treadmill.<br />2. I hadn't eaten Skittles that day.<br /><br />Wait, what? Skittles? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1AlGPBU-T8R0CZro8z8bZhit2pfjw3Ng7mKuMajNwXYorJt1bZ0nmbmdd4lWngLg_DBiZI7VAYLJWYkylVq_9DHXbrjP9-Muu_Ve2LcHOeG9P9odi8Vffw5TvgWwaOOYI-LF4BmuGjw/s1600/45593-bigthumbnail.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1AlGPBU-T8R0CZro8z8bZhit2pfjw3Ng7mKuMajNwXYorJt1bZ0nmbmdd4lWngLg_DBiZI7VAYLJWYkylVq_9DHXbrjP9-Muu_Ve2LcHOeG9P9odi8Vffw5TvgWwaOOYI-LF4BmuGjw/s320/45593-bigthumbnail.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589968268405167010" /></a><br />Yes, Skittles. Every other time that I'd done a long run, I'd eaten Skittles first. It started as a joke. I really wanted Skittles that day and I was like "carb loading haha" - and then the run went great. Since then, it's turned into a sort of ritual. Well, on Thursday, I couldn't find Skittles. I looked EVERYWHERE and couldn't find them. So I went for it without eating my Skittles first, and whether or not that's actually to blame, it is the ONLY thing I'd done differently. Needless to say, I'll never do that again. <br /><br />But here's the problem: After that "run," my mental state had gone to crap. I had gone from fairly confident and excited about my half marathon to absolutely TERRIFIED and thinking that I was such a freaking idiot for thinking that I could do this. I spent probably about 40 hours mentally beating the crap out of myself, until my race on Saturday.<br /><br />I didn't want to run on Saturday. I didn't want a replay of my awful run. I didn't want my mental state to get even WORSE. But I made myself do it with two motivations: FINALLY being able to wear my shiny new Newton's:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-ChzMqiliEYLUNPd0Mq0IRYFTP-OsNChgvt9SVSElIsEj-1j-VV6fsI_Y7PhhnEhLIsom9N4MfFUX9eXmVw2GAfBhu_M7ZVlkZlleQBnJRWnaLIDbD4i20eMjA49Yw9vNjLoAf5d3OM/s1600/197647_768856188981_11000130_42060988_3874556_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-ChzMqiliEYLUNPd0Mq0IRYFTP-OsNChgvt9SVSElIsEj-1j-VV6fsI_Y7PhhnEhLIsom9N4MfFUX9eXmVw2GAfBhu_M7ZVlkZlleQBnJRWnaLIDbD4i20eMjA49Yw9vNjLoAf5d3OM/s320/197647_768856188981_11000130_42060988_3874556_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589969539482475042" /></a><br />(Yes, that's right. The kid OBSESSED with orange found orange running shoes. Heck yeah!)<br /><br />And FINALLY being able to use my new Garmin. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEwwvjlqvp5RURiS9UyG1RjR1egXAJA8Uns9sEuj4j_VwzbVxI4x4831yd3g6oHXpE0ifSoeFqf1wxUvMpdzMr7kNG7DEwNbZByzSWpNggtSJ2cXL_r_DMz1yxGXIDCCmCmusCBWIrmo/s1600/garmin-forerunner-305.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEwwvjlqvp5RURiS9UyG1RjR1egXAJA8Uns9sEuj4j_VwzbVxI4x4831yd3g6oHXpE0ifSoeFqf1wxUvMpdzMr7kNG7DEwNbZByzSWpNggtSJ2cXL_r_DMz1yxGXIDCCmCmusCBWIrmo/s320/garmin-forerunner-305.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589969854173526914" /></a><br />Well, the motivation got me to Salisbury. And once I got there, I realized that it was WAY colder than I thought it would be. It was in the low 30s with INSANE wind. For the first time ever, I kept my sweatshirt on for the start.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK-orY3QjfxcNP2If5FJBBclX1Ld7NCHRzOLxZWi2Dno-SuAP02_pLwudVh1dCgEuI-95B3ICb4PuBRHEHYNbe3Y33N2yP_iIDX_YTk7DtIVRaWo_RInO1dpsIIx1hbhDUAhoZUFKRFg/s1600/195974_776274667291_11000130_42186577_789226_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK-orY3QjfxcNP2If5FJBBclX1Ld7NCHRzOLxZWi2Dno-SuAP02_pLwudVh1dCgEuI-95B3ICb4PuBRHEHYNbe3Y33N2yP_iIDX_YTk7DtIVRaWo_RInO1dpsIIx1hbhDUAhoZUFKRFg/s320/195974_776274667291_11000130_42186577_789226_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589970169478502610" /></a><br />(Yeah, I like neon colors. What of it?)<br /><br />The race itself was extremely well run. It was well organized, and as opposed to the New Year's 5k that had NO water (no stations, and impossible to find at the finish), this 4 mile race had two water stations and a guy thrusting a bottle of water at you at the finish. It was run by the same people so I was a little wary, but it was great. My ONLY complaint is that at the second water station, the guys manning it were smoking cigars. Um, what? WHY would you do that to the runners?<br /><br />Also, happily, at the end of the race I had not only gotten two PRs (best 5k time on the road - 36:00 / best 4 miles EVER - 48:02), but I'd also kept up a perfect 12 minute mile pace the entire time. I was so worried about pacing myself while running on the road, but the Garmin was truly a lifesaver. I'm definitely in love with it. Additionally, running in brand new shoes for the first time for a race was risky - but I had absolutely no pain afterwards. Winning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegOpHYKigP5UFYHiR0hlsHUlurXgqIOCjceNj-EV9wNdDBDV5Cj2TmJ4C8Zb3DtjAr0-zVQVqzk59N8N8SxaXscNWTL8VBJsZnLKYSwowsbDyfYRAGKnjxRlZLq9f8LQUu2r2rI48m5A/s1600/188976_776274846931_11000130_42186584_6660711_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegOpHYKigP5UFYHiR0hlsHUlurXgqIOCjceNj-EV9wNdDBDV5Cj2TmJ4C8Zb3DtjAr0-zVQVqzk59N8N8SxaXscNWTL8VBJsZnLKYSwowsbDyfYRAGKnjxRlZLq9f8LQUu2r2rI48m5A/s320/188976_776274846931_11000130_42186584_6660711_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589971562213118978" /></a><br />Also, this is the first race EVER where I didn't walk at all. I usually hit a mental wall around the 3 mile mark where I think "I must have to walk by now" but I ignored it and pushed through, and was perfectly fine. I KNOW I'm capable of doing it without walking, but something misfires in my head or something. Shut up, brain. I even kept it up when I got hot. So instead of stopping and taking off my sweatshirt like a normal person, I unpinned my bib, took off my sweatshirt, tied my sweatshirt around my waist, and repinned my bib - all while keeping up my exact pace. Yeah. Pretty proud of that (despite the funny looks I got). <br /><br />Lastly, the half marathon is on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to being done with it. However, I'm still anxious about the race itself. I've been mentally prepping myself to try to calm myself down, and I've been doing pretty well. Saturday's race helped reassure me that I'm not crazy for doing this. I do love to run, I just needed the reminder. I have a series of mantras I go through any time I get anxious, and it's actually working. It's hard not to be nervous, though. The race is in my town, so I see at least five reminders of the race every time I get in my car - ROAD RACE SUNDAY or EXPECT ROAD CLOSURES SUNDAY 11 AM-3 PM. But that's ok - I don't need to avoid thinking about it. I just need to focus my thoughts. <br /><br />I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-42149589565079336032011-03-04T22:23:00.000-08:002011-03-04T22:51:07.029-08:00Shattering Goals and Eating PeepsA while ago, I was talking to a friend about running goals. I told him that I would really just like to be able to run five miles on a whim - run five miles everyday if I wanted to. I never thought I'd be able to do this, and thought that my brother being able to do it was just him having my dad's running genes and body type. I do NOT have a runner's body type. I probably never will. I could drop another thirty pounds and still not look like a stereotypical runner. But you know what I've learned? THAT DOESN'T MATTER. It doesn't matter what your body type is, because you can still do it. Because you know what I realized the other day? I can run five miles on a whim. I can run MORE than five miles on a whim. And I MISSED my goal. I didn't even REALIZE that I had surpassed that goal, because I thought it was so impossible that I never even hung onto the thought. But now I can do it. <br /><br />Y'know what else I can do? I can run ten miles. Yes, today I realized that I had not only met a goal in life, but I had SHATTERED it by moving through it and doubling it. Surpassing it. KILLING it. <br /><br />I thought the ten miles would be brutal. I got to the gym and as I was putting on my shoes I realized that I a) forgot my towel and b) forgot my iPod. The towel sucked because our water heater at home is broken, so I couldn't take a hot shower at the gym like I had planned. The lack of iPod sucked because... ten miles on a treadmill without music? Really? Is that... possible? I mean, my brother does it, but he's like super zen runner guy. I seriously considered just saying "screw it." But I realized that I was being a wuss, and forced myself out there. I definitely had high and low moments of the run, but none of them were THAT low. Before this, my longest run was <span style="font-weight:bold;">8 miles</span>, so I thought adding two would be DOABLE but I would feel like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFFAdgrUTF6smoFGufxDlPTqTBFtY-Uj61rHLxW2dK0bpkZBwNS6R_qlFoBKZfLowiaUZuuqecp5j1s6x8ut_OEjL8s_uOpw07MYbLbZR_WWAeyFaAyv3bMcVKyNYChQo-ZWRr02LzvQ/s1600/homer_running.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFFAdgrUTF6smoFGufxDlPTqTBFtY-Uj61rHLxW2dK0bpkZBwNS6R_qlFoBKZfLowiaUZuuqecp5j1s6x8ut_OEjL8s_uOpw07MYbLbZR_WWAeyFaAyv3bMcVKyNYChQo-ZWRr02LzvQ/s320/homer_running.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580481505185006370" /></a><br />But instead, I felt like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumg2soH_Wh1HHs4FfgKnbS-_8l_QafPogelhCpz56QzeOChCN0O42RvOEUEPZ4ahHhtvSzDGvFqoOXcVSB8uAiOF20m7k-fHZLXCxORA2W5qr0GpAV5IIPI0Jops7KFJ77VezBfcnqIY/s1600/StevePrefontaine1.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumg2soH_Wh1HHs4FfgKnbS-_8l_QafPogelhCpz56QzeOChCN0O42RvOEUEPZ4ahHhtvSzDGvFqoOXcVSB8uAiOF20m7k-fHZLXCxORA2W5qr0GpAV5IIPI0Jops7KFJ77VezBfcnqIY/s320/StevePrefontaine1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580481646518403266" /></a><br />Ok, maybe I wasn't as fast as Prefontaine, but I felt like I was flying. I intentionally kept my pace slower than usual (about a 12 minute pace) so I could keep my heart rate lower. The past few months I've noticed my heart rate a little too eager to jump off the charts (I'm talking like 195), and I didn't want to get too tired too quickly or have my heart explode, so I kept my pace down and my heart rate down around 165. Even though some of the miles felt a little slow, it definitely paid off in the end. Mostly, I was in the zone. I was loving most of it except for the boredom that is inevitable if you spend too long on a hamster wheel. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ten miles in 2:12. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.<br /></span><br />Also, I can't stop eating Peeps. They're like crack to me. Those and Skittles. I eat at least one bag of Skittles a week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w7RokDXc-BIDaUKa6uKx7-Qeh3xAwsS4BeGk4P0p-U-wa-sWGS9Bn1Uyx1MQl3mhKVyQ8fk4pe4vBu7prfxnxgt3dHMPGdh0iPvAaj9OpmJBcHKP3lhp1pl0f4M3IcezPVpY_osHRxE/s1600/peeps.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w7RokDXc-BIDaUKa6uKx7-Qeh3xAwsS4BeGk4P0p-U-wa-sWGS9Bn1Uyx1MQl3mhKVyQ8fk4pe4vBu7prfxnxgt3dHMPGdh0iPvAaj9OpmJBcHKP3lhp1pl0f4M3IcezPVpY_osHRxE/s320/peeps.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580483917036053474" /></a><br />Look at that. It's like an ocean of sugary gooey goodness and I want to bite ALL of their heads off. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What's the run you're proudest of to date? </span>This one might be mine. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Is there a candy that you just can't get enough of?</span> SKITTLES.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Are you as obsessed with Easter candy as I am?</span> I had a Cadbury Egg the other day, and thought I might die of happiness. Between that and the Peeps, it's just amazing.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-90980857451810923642011-02-21T16:29:00.000-08:002011-02-21T17:15:23.095-08:00Honey Nut Cheerios and Zen RunningIt's been a while since I've written, but my life is a little insane these days. I don't really have free time, and when I have anything resembling it, I get work done. <a href="http://onehealthierchoice.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a> asked me if training was making me lose it or if it was keeping me sane, and it's most definitely what's keeping me sane. I'm commuting four days a week, working as a nanny, and in training. I'm also trying to plan a wedding, spend time with Jake, and be a decent dog-mommy. This past week, I commuted my usual four days, then on Saturday I drove to Boston and back (spending about 12 hours there in between), and on Sunday I drove to and from Concord. While it was a good weekend, it meant six days of serious driving with no reprieve. I had one plan for today: <span style="font-weight:bold;">to not leave the house.</span><br /><br />Well, to not get in a car. And I completed my mission! But I still needed to get a run in, and the weather was kind of perfect. It was really cold (about 23 degrees, but "feels like 12") and sunny. I decided I was going to run with Knightley today. Have you all met Knightley? He's my ridiculous looking hound mutt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgRT9asXmIcuGGUcRDKxtPIqhdrOBQgGpszeBNRZ0c5T1OjIpjtJkfz-qeOOL7SxBsON2hl9dgLqVGmHgflKdLP8JxJwSCPk9xOVGp4mtTWrSHMqTl7cEGrpasJzDQlLY7evRGoeBag/s1600/148162_737223081981_11000130_41361296_4609928_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgRT9asXmIcuGGUcRDKxtPIqhdrOBQgGpszeBNRZ0c5T1OjIpjtJkfz-qeOOL7SxBsON2hl9dgLqVGmHgflKdLP8JxJwSCPk9xOVGp4mtTWrSHMqTl7cEGrpasJzDQlLY7evRGoeBag/s320/148162_737223081981_11000130_41361296_4609928_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576306563410868722" /></a><br />He also loves to run. He's seriously the fastest dog I've ever met. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRdhQD1tfxByxx6qmEFgNc2v4Ji1PUBnNUAWfiaFzc-ihPOxUhaGs8OwuC8w9xPJ52EYAzCSBLugbVvNk022j9292X293P8nuQ5YebmorF8C288789pqlyrZq_9EJ2fe7qMNFVg7f6W4/s1600/163152_749168074121_11000130_41651352_2786902_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRdhQD1tfxByxx6qmEFgNc2v4Ji1PUBnNUAWfiaFzc-ihPOxUhaGs8OwuC8w9xPJ52EYAzCSBLugbVvNk022j9292X293P8nuQ5YebmorF8C288789pqlyrZq_9EJ2fe7qMNFVg7f6W4/s320/163152_749168074121_11000130_41651352_2786902_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576307002995908146" /></a><br />His tongue also gets really big. Pretty sure he has the body of a beagle and the tongue of a coon hound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFC4PcdsU23HrApQgzFsKCfgO2jjX6ln-XSEUVwI-iIO8hitK4QBnP2_qwuhVxauAleu02SbAQhZ4l-O_jWwcjovhmZylU5BXvTjCnti5By2ekq1CvAkvkirrF0XR_GUCs0f6ZUbn4_Pc/s1600/163058_749155594131_11000130_41650741_5343730_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFC4PcdsU23HrApQgzFsKCfgO2jjX6ln-XSEUVwI-iIO8hitK4QBnP2_qwuhVxauAleu02SbAQhZ4l-O_jWwcjovhmZylU5BXvTjCnti5By2ekq1CvAkvkirrF0XR_GUCs0f6ZUbn4_Pc/s320/163058_749155594131_11000130_41650741_5343730_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576307176107494098" /></a><br />Yeah, he's pretty freaking adorable.<br /><br />I've felt really guilty lately because last semester, it was just us. He was the only one waiting for me after a day of classes or student teaching, and I spent all of my free time with him. Overall, he's probably happier now with Jake and Jack living here, because he can hang out with Jack all day long and he has another person to get attention from. However, in the times when he DOES get mommy time, I can tell that he's been missing it. He needs more time with me, and today I decided that I would find that time in the form of running. He was there with me when I first started running in September. He would accompany me on all of my runs, and we would both benefit from the experience. But since I've gotten addicted to the gym (and since winter came to New Hampshire), running with him hasn't been much of an option. I need to start running on the road again, though. It's easy to run on a treadmill, and the hills of New Hampshire are much less gracious, and I need to get my body used to it. <br /><br />So I put Knightley on his leash, apologized profusely to Jack for not bringing him along, and hit the pavement. Not long into the run, I realized that I never started my watch. I had no idea what time I was starting, and therefore, for the first time in a very long time, wouldn't know my pace. I recently watched the (excellent) movie "The Spirit of the Marathon" and in this, a woman explains that there are two types of runners - Zen runners and everyone else with a watch or Garmin or what have you. I've never been a Zen runner - I like numbers too much. But today I decided that my time really didn't matter at all and to just GO. <br /><br />Well, quickly I found that Knightley is the perfect pace keeper. Anytime I would run too fast, I'd notice that he was running, too. Like I said earlier - he's a really fast dog and if we was able to run, it meant I was DEFINITELY running too fast. And if he was tugging on me, it meant I was going too slow. Whenever I kind of wanted to walk for a minute, he'd tug and I'd realize that I didn't need to walk. On the downhills I let him decide the pace so we FLEW. I had all sorts of mental images of blowing out a knee, but it made me feel like a little kid and he was thrilled with it so it was hard to care too much (note: I remained unscathed at the end). I also live in a ridiculously gorgeous area of a ridiculously gorgeous state, so running while overlooking the snowy bay is really pretty ideal. <br /><br />Overall, I couldn't be happier with this run. I think it's easy, with training, to lose sight of why you started all of this in the first place and I definitely rediscovered that today. I do it because I love it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Other things I love: <br /></span>- Epsom salt baths. Seriously. <br />- The opening of "The Spirit of the Marathon" - I've probably watched it twenty times and I always cry.<br />- Skittles.<br />- Honey nut cheerios.<br />- Signing up for a half marathon when I'm TOTALLY not ready for it. But don't worry, I will be.<br />- Starting to REALLY seriously consider doing a marathon. I never thought I'd even be interested but I'm thinking Atlanta 2012. I'm trying to talk Jeremy (my big bro) into doing it with me. He's a serious Zen runner, and while he'd kick my ass, it would be cool to complete it together (even if not at the same time haha). <br />- Foam rolling. I'm pretty sure it's a form of Medieval torture, but it really works. My legs have been feeling much better on my longer runs since I started. <br /><br />Between foam rolling and epsom salts, I was able to run 7.2 miles last Thursday with NO soreness the next day. This isn't b.s. guys, this stuff works. If you're having any issues, DO IT. <br /><br />Lastly, Knightley tried to act all cool and unaffected by our four mile run, but pictures don't lie. He can't even stay awake to chew his bone. Cuddling with his brother HAS been proven to cure sore muscles. Just sayin'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY2k6P6WE_Z5SowJuZQfACod-n7r5QVYfBLsVvEYMX5zi1IAlhOtWo4hsPGX0vCZ-5E7qoizHLYXsQzCjPnJ1MTO_9C7G4r4n2iDBmR_LO5zTNP_77w-cKmSsIX982ZG80St8a2SruOw/s1600/IMG-20110221-00730.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguY2k6P6WE_Z5SowJuZQfACod-n7r5QVYfBLsVvEYMX5zi1IAlhOtWo4hsPGX0vCZ-5E7qoizHLYXsQzCjPnJ1MTO_9C7G4r4n2iDBmR_LO5zTNP_77w-cKmSsIX982ZG80St8a2SruOw/s320/IMG-20110221-00730.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576311200238946642" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What do y'all think of Zen running? <br /><br />Do you foam roll? (Isn't it AWESOME?)<br /><br />What's/when's your next race?<br /><br /></span>Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-26384960309929487452011-02-07T16:07:00.001-08:002011-02-07T16:29:24.487-08:00Janae's GiveawaySo Janae, aka "Hungry Runner Girl," is having a giveaway. You can check it out <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/2011/02/giveaway.html">here</a>. She's pretty spectacular, so if you're not already following her blog or reading it on a regular basis, I'd highly recommend it. She updates it twice a day and it's nice to have a blog to read everyday. There are too many people (like me, for instance) who update like once a week. So go enter her giveaway! Or don't, because then maybe I'll have a better chance of winning. Hahahahah jk. Sort of.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-2896486863981425772011-02-01T18:57:00.000-08:002011-02-01T22:43:42.595-08:00Out of Whack<span style="font-weight:bold;">What do you do when you're just not feeling it?</span> It's not necessarily about motivation, it's your body just NOT functioning properly. <br /><br />Today I got on the treadmill and admittedly, I wasn't feeling motivated. I sat in the gym parking lot for a few minutes after babysitting, contemplating the amount of snow on the ground and trying to decide if I should stay out or go straight home. I really was just looking for an out (...even though the amount of snow was insane. And 10-16 more inches tomorrow! Woohoo!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHNfGwYfIoZBsQQyFe1HtdkgbT8qcq8wEWXBtMvuR9rH6nX6gUBTkq_qTD41OeBFSUsuGZ1-Ugzl3HEinWP84amwMsuAYLzATiZiDgABCnkzktGFgGeF-cnLCm-eZSnCw4BH6GrQzAfw/s1600/IMG-20110201-00616.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHNfGwYfIoZBsQQyFe1HtdkgbT8qcq8wEWXBtMvuR9rH6nX6gUBTkq_qTD41OeBFSUsuGZ1-Ugzl3HEinWP84amwMsuAYLzATiZiDgABCnkzktGFgGeF-cnLCm-eZSnCw4BH6GrQzAfw/s320/IMG-20110201-00616.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568929367915906690" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(My car before I went out to babysit.) </span><br /><br /> I forced myself into the gym because I know I won't be able to workout this upcoming weekend, so I had to at least do something. I started out on the treadmill, and literally just couldn't do it. I walked a little to warm up, and then tried to run at my typical pace. I told myself I just had to do a couple miles, then I'd get on the bike. <br /><br />...I couldn't even run half a mile. Now back in September, this would have been par for the course. But it's not September anymore. I can run at least four miles without having to stop, and today I couldn't do more than half a mile. At first, around the .30 point, I was telling myself it was all about the mental fortitude. I told myself that I've forced myself through this wall before, and I can do it again. Not even "Like a G6" could get me in the zone! And while I'm thinking about how I can't get in the zone (which is a bad idea, anyway), I stumbled and almost ate treadmill. I righted myself and dealt with it - I'm pretty freaking uncoordinated so almost doing a faceplant really isn't that rare for me. However, about thirty seconds later, it happened again. This time I had to catch myself on the front of the treadmill, and barely managed to do that. That's when I decided I was done. I got on the bike and did 13 miles, but still never really got into the zone. <br /><br />Does this ever happen to you? Does your body ever just totally let you down? Mine let me down today. I'm trying to shake it off, but I know it'll cause a mental block the next time I get on the treadmill. <br /><br />Blah.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxnz0E_Vj68rNeLJlCD_-JScgU6AGjEDi_X_qCbjcLeciShua1QUJXpUxsph5ZQv4wo0FYid29DB3pGObAVjONkF_71C4vAFPDrMjxaoh_rvHLDgyOpV4c2Qau4K95GY6PINu-SGPfoY/s1600/photo.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxnz0E_Vj68rNeLJlCD_-JScgU6AGjEDi_X_qCbjcLeciShua1QUJXpUxsph5ZQv4wo0FYid29DB3pGObAVjONkF_71C4vAFPDrMjxaoh_rvHLDgyOpV4c2Qau4K95GY6PINu-SGPfoY/s320/photo.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568929822951811618" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Really old picture, but the only picture I have of me doing a sadface. Oh, and that's one of my bffs, Meredith. Say hi, Meredith.)</span><br /><br />The good news is... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZP5QIAaPYQjQu0Yu3cosi595PFqvqkPhrXJpFInRXHYaAuyJPzUr4w8y5RY2pQuaMkT3hYC92anRajzuU6rqkbY3CNqWJr0d1cvhWlT7p0m4PVYt42qAuuJ8p7n0qwzffFsgSgpzTM4/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-01+at+9.55.19+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZP5QIAaPYQjQu0Yu3cosi595PFqvqkPhrXJpFInRXHYaAuyJPzUr4w8y5RY2pQuaMkT3hYC92anRajzuU6rqkbY3CNqWJr0d1cvhWlT7p0m4PVYt42qAuuJ8p7n0qwzffFsgSgpzTM4/s320/Screen+shot+2011-02-01+at+9.55.19+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568930153185089938" /></a><br />There's always a silver lining. I may be in a crappy mood right now, but I can sleep in tomorrow. At least there's that.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-19031873328236298082011-01-30T15:16:00.001-08:002011-02-01T22:48:58.812-08:00We're all crazy.The running community is a truly truly funny place. This is a community where people openly talk about things like runner's trots, chaffing, and sweat soaked undies. This is a community that thrives on supporting others, and receiving motivation in return. This is a community that accepts others openly - no matter where you are in your fitness or training. Run, and they will welcome you with open arms. Lastly, this is a community that is bound together by a common bond so significant that we all feel like we really know each other. We can follow each other's workouts on Daily Mile or read the blogs and we actually feel like we're friends. When you really think about it, it's bizarre. But for us? It's not so bizarre. <br /><br />For example, I have been friends with <a href="http://beyourownwarrior.blogspot.com/">Jan</a> on DM for a while, and I've been reading/commenting on her blog (which you should all do, too). And we've been talking about races in other states and how we should travel to one. We've never met in person, and yet we're talking about traveling... to a race... together. Think about that. It SOUNDS so weird.<br /><br />Also, I've been starting to think that my goal for the future (maybe 2012, maybe 2013) is one of those epic relay races. The three people I've talked to about it are <a href="http://www.triliterate.blogspot.com/">Jess</a>, <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/">Janae</a>, <a href="http://cheaptriathlete.blogspot.com/">Katie</a>, and <a href="http://beyourownwarrior.blogspot.com/">Jan</a>. Out of these four awesome women, I have only met one in person. That one is Katie, who I went to high school with, but we were never even close friends. But here's the thing about this weird common bond - it wouldn't be *that* weird for us to do a crazy relay race together. It doesn't matter that most of us haven't met, we all have similar goals and mindsets and we're all INSANE enough to watch a trailer like the one for the Hood to Coast movie and go "I WANT TO DO THAT." <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RHWvnGjpYoY" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Just in case you don't know what I'm talking about.)<br /></span><br />It's such a cool community. It's so crazy and so different but these people become so important to you after a while. It's really impossible to describe in a way that others will understand, but if you are a runner, you WILL understand. And it's so contradictory because as we're doing our miles alone on the road, you would think that we would feel so isolated. But I have the words of other runners in my head. I'm thinking about what <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/">Janae</a> will eat for dessert. I'm wondering how everyone else's runs are going. It's an odd bond, but it's one I am incredibly grateful for.<br /><br />~~<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Recent workouts:<br /></span><br />Friday - 5 mile run in 1:05<br />Saturday - rest<br />Sunday - 4.1 mile run in 0:51<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Favorite running songs of the day:<br /></span><br />"I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys<br />"The Distance" by Cake<br />"Like a G6" by Far East Movement, Cataracs, and Dev<br />"When You Were Young" by the Killers<br /><br />~~Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-19658130420058685192011-01-22T11:04:00.000-08:002011-01-22T11:24:18.633-08:00I might be an idiot.Ohhh where to start? <br /><br />First of all, I broke the big toe on my right foot. It's not pretty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRBfSnm-D-gixMR6POyMp00fXEJ5T2RvL4AwGj75j-6DDN75KkL3YkSRh0US-31OrRD8lEoLCF_sQYHI9OwSw4h_G4e9SysURcsV3oZIrVo1PStbyjrW7H0loq1mOFQh1xeLo4zdiirY/s1600/zixig.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRBfSnm-D-gixMR6POyMp00fXEJ5T2RvL4AwGj75j-6DDN75KkL3YkSRh0US-31OrRD8lEoLCF_sQYHI9OwSw4h_G4e9SysURcsV3oZIrVo1PStbyjrW7H0loq1mOFQh1xeLo4zdiirY/s320/zixig.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565088470401518658" /></a><br />But has this slowed me down? Nope. On Wednesday (read: the day after breaking the toe) I did a brick and then some. I biked 13, ran 3.2, and then went into the locker room to shower. I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that I was still vibrating with energy and I didn't look NEARLY dead enough. So I went back out and got back on the bike and did another 12. So.. I might be crazy. But it was the best (and most intense) workout of my life. <br /><br />Thursday I didn't get to workout, and I wasn't happy about it. So Friday, home from class due to snow, I took the dogs for a 3.5 mile walk. In the snow. They were so brave! They didn't wuss out or anything - not even Jack who is NOT good in the snow. I taped the crap out of my toe beforehand, but it was still a little sore afterwards. That's ok though, because we all needed the workout. Then, not feeling done, I hooked up my bike trainer for the first time. It's definitely weird and it's going to take some getting used to (and possibly clip pedals/shoes), but I think I'll learn to like it. Knightley, however, isn't so sure. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0UU23vej8wI24sMag_JieCxq1VcHzMusG6AmeNm_3dDRGTDgoLr3G43ug12xBEcNW90Q5PASrddMtN3J-FxdR4AtfjW3BmfH0Oj-0T_KETIcJAh2XiPCXX7bgKCVVxpfcqjstkk9xHM/s1600/Shared+Photo.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0UU23vej8wI24sMag_JieCxq1VcHzMusG6AmeNm_3dDRGTDgoLr3G43ug12xBEcNW90Q5PASrddMtN3J-FxdR4AtfjW3BmfH0Oj-0T_KETIcJAh2XiPCXX7bgKCVVxpfcqjstkk9xHM/s320/Shared+Photo.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565089900891822626" /></a><br />Lastly, I'd like to share two things with you. One, what "taping the crap out a toe" looks like.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmcAm-9eW8NlCOJN4IYKiY3UmP6ypHrMfVY28QtapiZ0b1AEg7I3kUOMWf5plTfC3RxBrek0MUU09ZBPcF8Ux7odi2cYhsLKyYB8bA5QVoLpRc5-uqFEQ9n_gS4lxHCYeizvJyNxqkxs/s1600/549y.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmcAm-9eW8NlCOJN4IYKiY3UmP6ypHrMfVY28QtapiZ0b1AEg7I3kUOMWf5plTfC3RxBrek0MUU09ZBPcF8Ux7odi2cYhsLKyYB8bA5QVoLpRc5-uqFEQ9n_gS4lxHCYeizvJyNxqkxs/s320/549y.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565090291546179954" /></a><br />Yep, I was ready to run. I was DYING to run. I've been itching to run five miles all week... but unfortunately, it didn't happen today. But I DID get to run. I got on the treadmill with some new songs loaded on my tiny ipod and got to work. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">New running songs:</span> "How You Like Me Now" by The Heavy, "When I Grow Up" by the Pussycat Dolls, "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha, "La La" by Ashlee Simpson<br /><br />With the help of these songs (namely "How You Like Me Now" which wound up on repeat for the last mile), I banged out the fastest 5k of my life. It was 36 minutes - which includes walking five minutes as a warm up. I realize that this isn't "fast" but it's fast for me. <br /><br />But this is the second thing I wanted to share with you - <span style="font-weight:bold;">why I'm an idiot</span>. Because I do, in fact, have a broken toe. So maybe that wasn't the best idea? As soon as I finished my miles I stumbled around while wiping down the treadmill and then limped my way into the locker room. I then proceeded to throw up from the pain in my foot. I thought I was ok after that, tried to do one weight machine, and then jogged back into the locker room to throw up again. So yeah, I might be an idiot.<br /><br />...But a PR is worth the pain every time.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-30147344329434603672011-01-16T15:00:00.000-08:002011-01-16T17:23:58.116-08:00Day of FirstsToday I did my first official brick. For those of you who aren't hip with the triathlon lingo, a brick is doing back to back workouts to get the feel of the bam bam bam nature of a triathlon. I've done swimming then biking several times, but seeing as I have to drive to the gym or home after swimming, that's a solid 15 to 30 minute break in between workouts. I've also done running then biking, but I hadn't done biking then running. It's easy to bike through discomfort - not so true with running. So today I biked 14 miles (in my fastest pace to date - 30 minutes - 28 mph) and then I went straight to the treadmill and ran 3.1 miles. I probably walked a total of a half mile, and ran the rest. I thought I was going to throw up after my workout (and spent five minutes lying on the bench in the locker room waiting to see if it would happen) but I pulled through and managed not to vomit. Win. Afterwards, Jake told me that I looked "like death" - that's love.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPfEm2AK66yanPFGcEap3COGclVkdhN7tCpBIGgkzM3eaw67K3EDpbsufeCktdDJIPLhts11H-Vn8Igrf6nDrfr_PjOTXteoHRta6OnTIptUpWAYCfZeJjShn-RuhX0dxmjkVm9ImQKI/s1600/d1rqe.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPfEm2AK66yanPFGcEap3COGclVkdhN7tCpBIGgkzM3eaw67K3EDpbsufeCktdDJIPLhts11H-Vn8Igrf6nDrfr_PjOTXteoHRta6OnTIptUpWAYCfZeJjShn-RuhX0dxmjkVm9ImQKI/s320/d1rqe.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562940206276902546" /></a><br />(Hair is soaked roots to tips. Not gross at all.)<br /><br />Another first today: I got the lactic acid build up in my legs. Around mile 2, it hit me like the engine sludge in those oil commercials. It was sudden and my legs felt like stone. I had to slow to a fast paced walk to try and loosen them up a little, sipped some water, and then went into a FAST run. It hurt like a you know what, but I broke through it. I came out the other side, and I didn't eat treadmill. Win-win.<br /><br />A first since September - I got a side stitch. That hasn't happened since I first started running seriously. However, another first, I didn't let it defeat me. Back in September, it would make me stop - but this time I just took deeper breaths and finished my miles. <br /><br />Also, it was the first time I ever cheered for the Bears. My other teams are out (GIANTS, Colts, Broncos), so I decided I would cheer for the Bears haha. I was jumping around on the treadmill when they won, much to the chagrin of the Seahawks fan two treadmills down from me. <br /><br />My last first of the day (that I can think of, at least): I tried coconut water. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate coconut, but I bought a few different flavors of it (plain, with pineapple, and with pomegranate) for Jake to try because he was interested. Jake brought the pineapple one with him to the gym so he could drink it afterwards, and we split it on the drive to the grocery store. I can't say it was my favorite thing ever, but it hit the spot after that workout. <br /><br />Lastly, this is something I've been thinking about since earlier. When today's workout was killing me and I was considering giving up, I thought about where I was in September. Back when running a mile would make me throw up because my body was so unprepared. If I had tried to do a brick in September, I legitimately think it might have killed me. And while I didn't get my best 5k time today, I didn't get my worst either. I survived it - I needed an ice bath after it, but I survived it. <br /><br />It's amazing to think about how far you can go in so little time. To anyone who thinks that they can't get into shape, believe me, you can. It IS possible. And you'll feel so amazing when you look back at what you used to be.<br /><br />Oh and - dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G6cu7JtMR1PgYTavB0w_q5UWWzWLAOh9ALtfhfd1wNPddWipn4JAU52xFmhFEiT_J6eLBKhOXqoIRPpE8_tj1ne5hHh4iKlFpylJfFKYV6yusk15dB2XDRVJZq-tO8qA1gsTu50s8zE/s1600/wu6gf.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G6cu7JtMR1PgYTavB0w_q5UWWzWLAOh9ALtfhfd1wNPddWipn4JAU52xFmhFEiT_J6eLBKhOXqoIRPpE8_tj1ne5hHh4iKlFpylJfFKYV6yusk15dB2XDRVJZq-tO8qA1gsTu50s8zE/s320/wu6gf.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562959429559372898" /></a>Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-37292932040163646302011-01-08T21:39:00.000-08:002011-01-08T21:48:36.401-08:00Blah.I haven't posted because I haven't been working out enough. Let's make this brief, because the Benadryl is kicking in. <br /><br />On wednesday I biked 40 miles out of sheer boredom. It was on the recumbent bike, but I suppose it still counts. I'm not going to say it felt good, but it was fun to see the numbers go up that high. I then took TWO days off, and that really really wasn't fun, but I've been feeling super crappy. I had a really bad headache for like three days straight, and my stomach was being weird. I couldn't do much more than leave my couch. <br /><br />However, I got back on the bike today (even though I'm definitely not 100%). Also, and most importantly, I've OFFICIALLY registered for my first triathlon. It's May 22nd. And I would save money if I registered for two at once, so I'm also registered for one the weekend before I get married. We'll see if that one actually happens, haha. I wasn't paying attention to the date when I registered. Maybe it will be a great last minute self-esteem boost pre-wedding? Or maybe I'll do the one in May and decide that I'm stupid for ever thinking I can do it. ...But I have a feeling that this is something I will get seriously addicted to.<br /><br />Look. Proof. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYLAOQQongEzCiENKwFkFjEQgMPp-HLurJGRrjaI9AwhWLv-uca0aJ7JyEzRZWSzCV-KdN27BvQacmiaTq73bd3X9k6Ea0ts4g0H-ie_S21rYayvmBxcnORzEN7bb3jHtMd9V8csbhoA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-03+at+12.37.10+AM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYLAOQQongEzCiENKwFkFjEQgMPp-HLurJGRrjaI9AwhWLv-uca0aJ7JyEzRZWSzCV-KdN27BvQacmiaTq73bd3X9k6Ea0ts4g0H-ie_S21rYayvmBxcnORzEN7bb3jHtMd9V8csbhoA/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-03+at+12.37.10+AM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560058674700951330" /></a><br />Expect a new running shoe review in the near future. I'm not up to it right now, and I've only gotten to use them once. I feel it's only fair to my old shoes to run at least two more times in the new ones before announcing how incredible they are.<br /><br />Oh and wish me luck - I'm shopping for my WEDDING DRESS on tuesday. Please oh please let me fall in love (in person) with the one I've been obsessed with for over a year. SIGH.<br /><br />That's all for now. Back to being a blob on the couch. I hope you're all feeling healthy!Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905829658687671546.post-24817422345665453402011-01-02T18:35:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:30:39.519-08:00Racing, ecstasy, and cleaning out the fridge.Yesterday, while the rest of the country (as well as others) was sleeping in and still throwing up liquor from the night before, I got up and ran a 5k. I was having one of those mornings where my only thought was "why did I think this was a good idea?" I wasn't hungover (I didn't even drink on New Year's Eve), but I just wasn't feeling it. It was strangely warm for Massachusetts in January (about 58 degrees fahrenheit), and I'd wanted a seriously cold run. But Jake and a couple of our friends came to Salisbury with us to support me, so it wasn't the time to bow out. So I raced. <br /><br />I accidentally got two personal records. My first mile was 10 minutes - this may seem long to some, but for the kid who started running in September, this was a PR. In my second mile, my back started killing me. I'm still not sure why, but it just seriously hurt. I struggled through and finished with a time of 40 minutes. This is NOT my fastest 3.1 ever, but it IS my fastest race to date. And it ended with an ocean plunge - a very cold ocean plunge. But I got a free glass for doing it, and a little bit of Budweiser (which I had no desire to drink). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd5Lk4uUUY0WwZ5k0z5m9QInWINDDllZpSYGsPpfFTIfHtM4LjaQBE5Nqoa0pBcvtVxaYa0TQsj0sXgjeTBm3dyX3N0k1Wyv7V3ngrHw7wDN4M0Ldq-Nn9J7VhEk37XnVYjl7N8isRPc/s1600/Shared+Photo.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd5Lk4uUUY0WwZ5k0z5m9QInWINDDllZpSYGsPpfFTIfHtM4LjaQBE5Nqoa0pBcvtVxaYa0TQsj0sXgjeTBm3dyX3N0k1Wyv7V3ngrHw7wDN4M0Ldq-Nn9J7VhEk37XnVYjl7N8isRPc/s320/Shared+Photo.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557784605629952434" /></a><br />(Not the best picture ever, but just goofy enough to be awesome.)<br /><br />Today I gave myself the best Christmas present anyone could ever give herself. NEW RUNNING SHOES. I've been thinking about getting new ones, and after the race yesterday, I knew it was time. My feet were achey afterwards - and not just because I walked back to the car with barefeet and walked on snow with the barefeet as well (ow). It was time. Now allow me to formally present my new babies:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHi90t8nfZ5VZ3c5CSTCsKH-NRIg9my-0VI3Y2H1-AALH6EbH2nYyRCUGVIc08OWQZnFcNZb1VxAaHYc7uu1cictqnUTgAq8VQHX3BHvRMY7y2Pyo4tmiIZ5NG0XYXoz2rac-OQ3T7a2A/s1600/tslq.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHi90t8nfZ5VZ3c5CSTCsKH-NRIg9my-0VI3Y2H1-AALH6EbH2nYyRCUGVIc08OWQZnFcNZb1VxAaHYc7uu1cictqnUTgAq8VQHX3BHvRMY7y2Pyo4tmiIZ5NG0XYXoz2rac-OQ3T7a2A/s320/tslq.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557785643436418690" /></a><br />Aren't they beautiful? I can't wait to run tomorrow. I've been twitching ever since I bought them, but it'll have to wait till tomorrow. Sigh.<br /><br />Lastly, after a linner of a-mazing sushi, we didn't get hungry till like 8 pm. I decided to make "cleaning out the fridge pasta" - i.e. some of my high protein multigrain pasta plus ALL of the vegetables in the fridge. These are all of the veggies that went in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhki7aJWEhfhkMePIcgYcoQ91C25De6ZW6HCh-NRH76DtK3aFHdlNXEufRE5AJLOXoqM92SuP1TUuErST552lu9j5FYe5z55_QAuxOKOgsh_Y1-amBHqR1q-kap61yA-JaVWWTx9TjRoI/s1600/853vx.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhki7aJWEhfhkMePIcgYcoQ91C25De6ZW6HCh-NRH76DtK3aFHdlNXEufRE5AJLOXoqM92SuP1TUuErST552lu9j5FYe5z55_QAuxOKOgsh_Y1-amBHqR1q-kap61yA-JaVWWTx9TjRoI/s320/853vx.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557786356747355106" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1.5</span> zucchini(s?)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1.5</span> green peppers<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5</span> off the vine tomatoes <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1/2</span> of a red onion<br /><br />I cooked the veggies with a little olive oil, black pepper, a pinch of kosher salt, red pepper flakes, and a little garlic powder (for lack of real garlic) then poured it over the pasta. Then I added a little feta cheese. Yum freaking yum. SO good. Jake's response? "Wow, you weren't kidding about it being heavy on veggies." I never joke about vegetables - it's not in my herbivore nature. Anyway, this is what it looked like all together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotqdqEMLwz-FXULBLGoxW_IXPXFukKTYVFRYTNUhLekbUI0PI8A8rN8LNUxWFMq_M3jmqVwDvoJ9Hd1OXDFX8tqOExHLjvYUemXU6KcygkrBJzpYDIKzfAb_PzO6j9_JdPWw21cRViWs/s1600/IMG-20110102-00274.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotqdqEMLwz-FXULBLGoxW_IXPXFukKTYVFRYTNUhLekbUI0PI8A8rN8LNUxWFMq_M3jmqVwDvoJ9Hd1OXDFX8tqOExHLjvYUemXU6KcygkrBJzpYDIKzfAb_PzO6j9_JdPWw21cRViWs/s320/IMG-20110102-00274.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557787446272732322" /></a><br /><br />I'm becoming increasingly obsessed with zucchini. I have the newfound desire to add it to everything I eat - a little strange. But I suppose there are worse things to be obsessed with. Such as pizza. The past couple weeks I literally can't eat too much pizza. I'm wondering what my body is trying to tell me other than "pizza is delicious," but I'm not too concerned. I don't eat it nearly as often as I crave it. <br /><br />Tomorrow I will let y'all know how the first run with the new shoes goes. I'm thinking it will be magical, but I'm trying not to get too excited about it... like that's possible. Also, back in the pool tomorrow. Hopefully all of the extra people who were there last week are back at work or something - I don't care where they go I just want them OUT OF MY WAY. My broken toe thanks you for staying out of my lane.Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842681306412943144noreply@blogger.com3