I always find a way to get hurt at a Disney race

I always find a way to get hurt at a Disney race
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

Weight Watchers Week 2 Recap

No change is a good change.

Billy and I are great entertainers - when people come in town, we always take them out to eat. However, when we do, I tend to throw caution to the wind and eat and drink like I'm getting ready to hibernate for the winter. However, I am very pleased to report that I acted pretty responsibly this weekend: I watched what I ate. I didn't get anything covered in cream sauce. And I kept the beer to a minimum. Pretty good for me, huh? Now I just need to get working on making this a habit!

So here I am at 170 for the second week in a row. And I have no problem with this.

This Is, After All, A Running Blog

So, let's talk about running, shall we?

My long run on Saturday ROCKED! I was a little afraid of 10 miles, since I had been feeling overtrained, but a week off of boot camp and cross training definitely helped me. I even did one of my favorite courses, but I had no idea how crowded it would be! I started out at 1st Place Sports, ran down along San Jose, to Beauclerc - I had forgotten how long it was from there to Forest Circle! But at least I saw a water fountain along the way that someone had put in their front yard. Nice! But at that point, the CamelBak was still full. I had an Espresso Love Gu (too runny) on the way, so I was electro-lit up and feeling pretty good - just wondering when the heck I would get to Forest Circle! When I got there, I did the 1-mile loop (total real estate run) and ran into the local FBI (First Babe In, for every single local race) out doing laps. I did a slingshot out of the loop, then down Scott Mill following the Jax Bank Marathon course. Down quiet Scott Mill Lane, looped around Plummers Cove, and when I got back onto Scott Mill, it all of the sudden got incredibly crowded! There were a hundred or so cyclists riding by for the MS 150 Summer Saturday Training Series. After seeing lots of Florida Gator cycling jerseys, I found a bright spot - a guy in full-on Auburn Flyers gear! Well after a break in the bikes, there came a few runners with the local Team in Training - I had no idea this route was so popular! I did another lap around Forest Circle, and that's where the "lead legs" started to hit - I had reached my lactate threshold and started pushing it. After munching a few cola Clif Shot Blocks (not too bad), I realized I just had to keep on keepin' on. Down Beauclerc, back to the aforementioned water fountain - I needed to wet down my Chilly Pad to keep cool (it was about 830ish by now), and it was an easy shot back to 1st Place. Stretched, went on home, and went about my Saturday.

All in all, I was incredibly pleased, and not nearly as stressed about being tired and sore - comes with the territory. Pain is temporary, pride is forever, and that marathon finish line is definitely attainable.

Overtrained?

I can tell a major difference between the way I ran last year and the way I am running this year at the same mileage marks - and it really isn't a good difference. My long runs are feeling okay, instead of great, and my short runs are feeling long. Also? I am constantly feeling like I am dragging, and between Friday night and Monday morning, I sleep about 30 hours. That's all I do all weekend. I come home from my long run, nap all day, piddle around the house, eat, and go to bed. Get up Sunday, work out, nap, church, eat, piddle, sleep. This can't be that good for me.

So I started examining the reasons behind why I am so tired and my runs are dragging. The difference between this year and last year is that now, I am actually cross-training. I do boot camp twice a week, yoga once, and I try to swim and bike at least once each per week - on top of two training runs and a long run. Boot camp lasts only one more week, fortunately, but at the same time, I almost feel like if I am not working out so much then I am not going to burn as many calories and get to eat what I want, and I'm not going to improve my cardiovascular endurance and my muscular endurance. Am I give out because I'm not in good enough shape, or am I give out because I'm trying too hard to get into good shape?

Then there is also this interesting "exercise-induced inertia" - if I keep moving working out, I'll keep moving in other areas. For example, last Saturday night, I could not sit still. If I sit on the couch, I'll fall asleep. I had to get up every five minutes to clean something. The upside is my house is spotless, but the downside is here I am scrubbing the cooktop at 11 pm when I should probably give it up and get in bed.

Somehow I need to find a balance. I'm hoping that boot camp ending will help a little, but I need to get it into my head that I am a runner, and I run. I can do a little bit of other things to cross-train, but not to the point of derailing my running. I know in the back of my mind there's a triathlon spirit, pushing me through breathless swims and grueling bike workouts so that when my triathlon comes - and I hope it will - I'll be ready. But right now isn't the time to stress the biking and swimming, because it's not important to my running, which is the main focus here. It's 144 days until the Vegas Marathon, and if I'm tired at 8 miles, then I'm going to fall over before I see the finish line. We can't have that.

So how much is too much and how much is not enough? Where do I draw the line between cross-training and overtraining?

Weight Watchers Week 1 Recap

Week one went pretty well, actually - I was totally committed to it, even making sure I counted on the weekend and knew when I had earned activity points. I knew a couple of days I would be going over my allotted 22 daily points, so I made sure I either exercised or knew how many points I was going over so I could subtract that from my weekly 35 bonus points. When I looked last night, the end of my week, I still had 13 weekly points I could use!

As for actual weight loss, I was trying to lose the last 20, but my official first weigh in had me down 1.5 already. So, the true total for the week was 3 lbs down, which has me 4.5 down towards my goal already. I'm not going to get used to losing that much in a week - some weeks are up and some are down - but it's always good to get a great start!

A quick check of activity points for last week: 42. And to think, the first time I did WW, I only got like 12 a week total!

This week might be a little tougher - the in-laws are coming in town! We tend to go out to dinner when they are here and throw caution to the wind (and towards the dessert tray). So, to combat that this time, I am going to make sure that I work out on the days I know we'll be going out to eat, and try to keep track of what I put in my mouth. It'll be a little bit of work, but definitely worth it.

A Few of my Favorite - New! - Things!

I already blogged about the new shoes, but that's not the only thing I have gotten lately...

Injinji Toe Socks
I had heard a few mixed reviews on these, but when I finally found them in my size at Phidippides in Atlanta, I had to go ahead and get them (plus, I had figured out the day before why I felt like I had less socks - Darcey stole my second pair of purple ones!) I get a blister where two of my middle right toes rub together, so I thought toe socks might be a good solution. Turns out, they were so comfy, I forgot I had toe socks on until I got home from running and took them off! I wouldn't go so far as to say these things were life-changing, but I really did like them.

Camelbak Rogue

The more I think about how dry Vegas is, the more I know I need to carry my own hydration. Granted, I never run without a water bottle - even for a run around the neighborhood or a 5k. I've tried to just do the water stops but I still get too dehydrated. So, I started looking into Camelbaks. This one is for biking, but it still works very well for me. I don't even mind the "slosh, slosh, slosh" that follows me around when I run. It sure beats getting dehydrated!


PowerBar Gel Blasts

I am always a little wary of anything PowerBar makes. Admit it, PowerBars are so tough you could probably build a house out of them, and those nasty gels they make would probably do well as mortar. But, they do make great recovery shakes so I figure I would give their newest product a shot. I am also wary of anything cola flavored, but what the heck, the guy at 1st Place Sports said he loved them and that I could come beat him up if I didn't love them, too. I could take him, so I figured it was a worthwhile bet. Turns out, they are AWESOME! Not nearly as gummy as Cliff Shot Blocks so they don't get stuck in your teeth, you really don't need water to get them down, and the "blast" of cola in the center isn't nearly as liquidy as I was expecting (which is good, because if you've ever had Freshen Up gum, you know how the liquid is a little weird when it first comes out). And it's not an overpowering cola taste. The bottom of the little gummy is almost kind of marshmellowy, like the back side of a peach ring. All in all, I love them - I just have to eat through the massive amount of Shot Blocks we have around here in order to get more!

Eat This Workout

Weight Watchers works wonders, when you do it right. And unlike just about every other nutrition plan I have ever heard of, they actually make it easy for you.

1. Eat whatever you want, within reason. (And you can't make your own definition of "reason" here).
2. 35 Weekly bonus points, optional, to use however you'd like.
   
3. Activity points - You can work out to actually gain points and basically eat more.

Number 3 is something I try not to do - I like to think I am working out to supplement my nutrition plan, not so I can eat more. Twenty-two points is plenty if I eat the kinds of things I should be eating (healthy food, not junk). But over dinner Tuesday night, Billy and I got to talking about how many points we had gained from our 45 minutes on the bike, and how many points I had spent by getting a 20 oz regular Coke with my lunch. Answer? I earned 4, but I had spent 5. It's almost shocking to look at an item of food and think about how much you have to workout to consume it. And that's just a soda - imagine like a Krispy Kreme donut or a slice of deep dish pizza. Ouch! I think this is why trainers always tell you that cutting back on your food intake is easier than working out when you're trying to lose weight.

Fireworks & Resolutions

At lunch today, my friend Gretchen and I were talking about fireworks and resolutions, how they happen twice a year, six months apart. And she said that while watching the Independence Day fireworks she decided she didn't have to wait for a new year to make some resolutions. She isn't the only one. I think we could all use a six month stopping point to reflect on how we're doing this year, and whether we're halfway to meeting our goals or just now getting started.

Not long into the beginning of the year, I decided to lose 30 pounds. And I did really well with the first 15, losing it before my cruise in April. However, I got off the boat and off the wagon, and since then have gained about 5 pounds. I don't know how much of it is boot camp muscle or Zaxbys and beer, but either way, I still have 20 lbs to go. It's pretty jolting to get a body assessment and realize you are carrying around 46 lbs of fat! And imagine the stress that puts on my joints when I run - and it'll only get worse as I age and my bone density isn't what it is now.

So, that being said, I'm back to the Weight Watchers and keeping the crappy food off my plate. And if you don't mind, I'd like all of you to keep me accountable. I can always use a double shot of willpower. :o)

Peachy Keen

Okay, so I am a bad blogger. But I promise I have a lot to say in this post!

Last weekend was somewhat eventful. After my 6ish mile bridge run downtown, I had a little calf pain on the left side, so I decided this was a good opportunity to get some new shoes: Nike Air Pegasus. I had always been under the impression that they only came in the trail model, but these are actually pretty sweet road shoes...

Also, I did a brick workout last Sunday - 750m of swimming followed by 40 minutes of biking (while watching Wimbledon - so happy Nadal won yesterday!). It was a pretty good workout that I would have liked to have followed with a run, but the rain and possibly my legs weren't going to allow that. But it was good to feel the transition from using my swimming muscles to my biking muscles. Overall, a very good workout for a Sunday afternoon!

Monday was boot camp, a nice strenuous workout followed by yoga, both of which were good for the craziness that was my work week. But I know nobody wants to hear about that. So I'll skip to the good stuff:

The Peachtree Road Race.

It was definitely the experience I was told it would be. And experience is definitely the word. The spectators were amazing - not just the folks working the water stops, but people with signs, posters, tshirts (including my mother and sister!), costumes, handing out watermelon, Flavor Ice, donuts, beer... and the really inspiring part was running up Cardiac Hill (which no matter how they bill it is nothing compared to the Hart Bridge from the Gate River Run) past the Shepherd Spinal Center and seeing everyone in their wheelchairs lining the road and cheering us on. They are the real heroes and incredibly inspiring. They had tons of sprinklers set up, and by the end of the race I was soaking wet! They even had an Episcopal priest sprinkling holy water! I made sure to cross myself just in case - I hadn't gotten to Cardiac Hill yet, I wasn't sure I'd make it! My time wasn't my best, but the experience was amazing! (Check out some aerial views here from the AJC. My official pictures are here.)

The weekend in Atlanta was great, too - I got to eat at some of my favorite places (Varsity and Henry's) and hang out with some of my favorite people - My mom, my sister, my stepdad, my brother, and my in-laws. Not to mention my very first trip to IKEA! (Words truly cannot describe its awesomeness...) And even though they lost, I still got to see my Braves play. (I promise that as soon as someone - anyone! - sends me some pictures, I will post them!)

So, that's my first post today. Now let me get some work done and I'll put up something that isn't in past tense!

Back By Popular Demand

I would love to say I haven't posted because I have been super busy, but I really haven't said anything because I haven't had anything to say. I know this is odd for me. However, when I stop to think about what I've been up to, maybe I have been busy. Oh well.

Monday night was boot camp and yoga. Led by someone who had been in the military and actually gone to boot camp, I was honestly expecting more of a workout. I mean, yeah, we ran a mile (with no walking, thank you!) in flight formation, but that really wasn't so bad. Especially since, hi, I'm a runner. Anyway, went to yoga afterwards then came home.

Tuesday I had planned on swimming, but the weather looked iffy, so I got on the bike instead. This was the first time I had really tried to get in an honest to God bike workout, not just trying to put in some form of cardio. I did 35 minutes on the "Alpine Pass" setting with the resistance somewhere between 6 and 8 (depending on how it felt and the bigger hills), and came out to about 15 miles. My quads were burning but it was so worth it! Afterwards, I had my lovely Polar body assessment... apparently, I am walking around in a 26 going on 31 year old body, with the possibility of going down to a 26 going on 20 year old body. I have great flexibility and nice calm blood pressure, but a horrible VO2 max and not a whole lot of strength. Between lifting weights, swimming, running, biking, and yoga, you'd think I was the most in shape person ever, but not so much.

Thursday, however, I think I might have met the most in shape person on the planet. Our boot camp instructor for the evening, Kaleigh, has to be the fittest person I have ever met. This girl could do mountain climbs, weights, and all the ab work in the world with her sunglasses still on her head and without breaking a sweat. This girl is unreal, the total picture of what healthy and in shape is supposed to look like. She's got to be like 22. I'll tell you right now that I wasn't in that good a shape at 22, and there's a pretty good likelihood that I never will be, even if the Polar assessment says it's possible. But it won't be for lack of trying.

I think the scale is finally catching up to my food intake. It is always kind of an eye-opener to see that you are carrying around 46 lbs of fat - makes you think about all the chicken wings, Zaxby's, brownies, and beer you're inhaling. And while I would love to chalk my 4 lb weight gain up to getting more muscle, I am pretty sure that's not the case. As much as I want to eat well, and have already mentioned that I run better when I do, I know that I go through phases where I am on a steady diet of junk. I try to blame it on PMS, but that only lasts a week and my junk food binges can go on for like two months. I am lucky I have low cholesterol and blood pressure and I need to enjoy it while it lasts, but more importantly I need to make it last longer and make it work for me while I am trying to work out, be healthier, and go the distance. And folks, nutritionists aren't kidding when they say that Diet Coke isn't good for you - one gulp will kill my craving for water all day. I just won't want it when I'm drinking soda - I just want more Diet Coke!

It's going to be hard to break these habits getting ready for Peachtree, but it's necessary. I am afraid to be dehydrated in the concrete jungle on the most crowded, scorching day of the year in Atlanta, and I am afraid that when combined with a low glycogen store from not enough good carbs, I am going to have a mental and possibly physical meltdown that will turn this lifelong dream into a grueling torture fest. I don't want that. I have looked forward to this so much and for so long that I don't want anything to ruin it. The same thing goes for the marathon - as we get closer and closer hydration and nutrition are going to become more and more of a performance factor for me. While I'm not trying to win any medals for finishing first, I am trying to go the distance with the least amount of misery involved. Why not prevent it by eating well, drinking water, and getting back on the wagon? So, after eating at three of my favorite North Georgia culinary empires - the Varsity, Henry's, and Buckner's - it really is going to be time to get serious. Again. For real. Finally. I just need a way to be held accountable. Any suggestions?

Getting ready for Peachtree is also going to involve some hill training. I want to charge up Cardiac Hill the same way I charged up the hills for the ING Atlanta 1/2, and since there aren't any hills in Northeast Florida to train on, we get to do the man-made variety - bridges. So, without further ado, here is my planned run for tomorrow, starting and ending at Panera so I can treat myself to a well-earned souffle: (*note, this isn't 100% exact, but it's darn close)

A Girl's Gotta Have Priorities...

B, when you read this, please don't immediately respond with "pay off debt".

You can usually tell a girl's priorities from looking at her. I remember my mom telling me as a very little girl that she got her hair done, our neighbor got her nails done, and women who could got both done. She would have laughed at me in college - I had my hair done, nails done, eyebrows waxed and car washed. (Yes, I was spoiled. And I have had a few at-home disasters on all of those that I *do not* want to recount here.)

But now I make my own money (and some of B's) and sometimes I really have to ask myself if I need all that. Or any of that. If you were to see me now, my toenails look like hell, my fingernails are overgrown (for me, at least), and my eyebrows are seriously out of control. I don't even have plans to hit the summer sales. And, according to my friend Michelle, my hair is looking like I don't need the highlight and haircut I had scheduled for next week, leaving me with some money I can spend on whatever (*sigh* Or paying down debt).

So, I have a dilemma - do I put it towards a bike, or towards some new running shoes that are better suited for my foot issues than my stability shoes? Decisions, decisions. I guess this tells you where my priorities are at!

Hot Run In the Summer

So, at the request of one of my readers (go to her site and DONATE!) I am going to add in a handy Map My Run link for today's long run - which, depending on who you ask (iPod, mapmyrun.com, or exact science) was between 4 and 4.41 miles:


I'm definitely a hot weather, summer all year long Florida girl, but I hate it when I am running - that's about the only time I want it to be 55 degrees! We got up at 6 but didn't make it out until 7 - that's not going to work for me as the runs get longer. I need to get an earlier start... Man, I miss when Saturdays were about sleeping in.

Speaking of Saturdays, since I have now complained about Friday, allow me to get in my 2 cents on Saturday. I LOVE my Saturday routine in the fall - get up super early, long run, breakfast, shower, errands, NAP, football, beer (which is really just pre-drinking for the early Sunday Jaguars games). I am so looking forward to getting back into that swing of things here in a few months. But, in the meantime, I'm going to spend today in St Simons Island with the fam. Hopefully I can squeeze in a nap by the pool!

Viva Las Vegas - A Sigh of Relief

It looks like Devine Racing is taking care of business in Vegas (finally!). I have read a few things, but this article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal made me feel better.

Woohoo!

If you want to keep up with the latest on Devine Racing - which will hopefully be taking a turn for the better - click here.

My Love/Hate Relationship with Friday

I have always been a fan of Thursday. I was born on a Thursday, good TV comes on Thursday, in college it was the start of some people's weekend (everyday was a weekend for me, though - but I managed to graduate somehow), and it's the last day of whining because everyone loooooves Friday. And really, how could you not? It's the last day of the work week. The first night of the (actual) weekend. It's date night, high school football, movie premiere, pay day (for some), "Let's all go have a few beers 'cause it's Friday" day.

However, even with all that, I am still not a fan of Friday.

I am an obsessive person. I get on a roll and I won't stop. And if you look at my workout calendar, I am on a roll. Swimming, running, boot camp, yoga - going, going, going. But Friday is a rest day, as B likes to keep reminding me, and to further drive that point home, it's the eve of the Sabbath - and I go to a Jewish gym. They close at 5 pm and open Saturday at 1 pm. Almost forcing me to take a break. If I went to any other gym, I'd be dragging it to a spin class, yoga, lifting weights, something! But I am limited to: running (no thanks - tomorrow's my long run), tennis (that's at least a maybe!), or the neighborhood pool (I am not wearing a Speedo racing suit and a swim cap there, sorry). And even if I try to plan something outside, it's June in Florida - almost guaranteed to rain me out this afternoon.

*sigh* Maybe I should get a bike after all. Or a Wii Fit...

My Golf Shoes Are A Croc

I have been meaning to at least mention this to my golf buddies (Dad, Mike) but instead I will blog about it. I'd totally forgotten about it until I sent around this pic of B and Darcey commented on the Crocs:

Are you ready? This is a momentous occasion for me, even if I can't afford them (or need them) right now:

CROCS MAKES GOLF SHOES!!!

OMG, how psyched am I? And they are super cute, maybe even cuter than my orange Adidas with the embroidered flowers.

- vs -

Hmm... I like them. Golf Girl doesn't. Crocs are good for golf - and lots of other things! - but there is a pretty huge personal divide between Croc lovers and loathers. But wherever you stand on style, you can't argue that they are pretty darn comfy!

Training Schedule - Updated (For Real This Time)

Okay, made some modifications to the 16-18 mile stretch to throw in a short run in between. Should have me caught up to B by September 13. I think I can handle that.

Not 100% positive that the JDR Bridge Run and the Tour de Pain are going to happen - I figure one of them will, at least, but I think I'll just sort of see how it goes. It's mega hot that time of the year and both of those races are exhausting, much less back-to-back in the middle of marathon training and still having to run more to keep up with my long-run mileage. Anyway, for your viewing pleasure:

Guppy Goes Graceful

Swimming today went a lot better than swimming last week. B came up with my training today using swimplan.com, and I think it was perfect:

Warm up
•	4 x 25yd Freestyle Swim (even pace), rest 0:10 / 25yd
	Freestyle swim at a steady pace.
Build up (repeat 4 times)
•	1 x 25yd Streamline Kicking, rest 0:10 / 25yd
	Freestyle kick with arms held out front in a streamlined position. Fingers overlap with one thumb lightly gripping the opposite hand. Lift your chin above the water to breath without turning your head.
•	1 x 25yd Single Arm (arm by side) 6 x left, 6 x right, 6 x full stroke, rest 0:10 / 25yd
	Freestyle using one arm at a time, focusing on shoulder and hip rotation. Complete 6 arm strokes with the left arm followed by 6 strokes with the right arm. The non-stroking arm is held loosely by your side.
Core
•	4 x 50yd Freestyle DPS, rest 0:20 / 50yd
	Freestyle swim with maximum Distance Per Stroke (DPS). Concentrate on long, efficient strokes and a high streamlined body position to reduce drag in the water. Count your strokes per lap and try to reduce.
•	4 x 50yd Freestyle Swim, rest 0:15 / 50yd
Warm down
•	1 x 50yd Freestyle Easy, rest 0:15 / 50yd
	Freestyle swim at a slow, relaxed pace.

I was huffing and puffing, so I know I got a workout, but at the same time it seemed like it kept getting easier and easier the more and more I swam. I almost didn't want to get out of the pool, but I did get kind of tired. I'm a little sore, but I think more of it was from boot camp than it was from swimming. But the best part was that B said I looked pretty good, and I was getting better, and that made me happy!

Oh, and as for my Vegas training schedule, I am working on updating it. Need to do a little more tweaking.

Training Schedule - Updated

Just wanted to upload the newest training schedule. Click on it to enlarge.

Pain Is Weakness Leaving The Body

...or so I'm told.

Boot camp kicked my butt. I am almost always dehydrated, and only having a small bottle of water was a bad idea (wasn't I just talking about hydration??) I got overheated to the point that I almost tossed my cookies. Probably the only reason I didn't was my fear of kneeling in front of a public toilet (NASTY!!!). I guess I wasn't the only one -

Drill Sargent Patrice: "Where'd you run off to?"

Private Josh: "Oh, no biggie, just had to puke."

According to B, that was the line of the night.

We did an obstacle course consisting of running across a line of Bosu balls (very hard to keep balance at first), around the outside of scattered rings in the floor (slalom running), over a line of steppers (jumping from one to the other with two feet), and then a kind of tire run, where you have to hit every hole as you run across (Sorry, I know this is requiring a lot of imagination). We did some marching, jumping jacks, tae-bo moves, and free-weight lifting. And then more obstacle course. It was pretty tiring. Maybe I am not in as much shape as I thought (maybe? Definitely!) but I can now say I know just where my anaerobic threshold is - and it's pretty low!

I begged B to stay for Monday night hippy yoga since we needed the stretch and I really missed it from last week (random Jewish holidays that fall on Mondays interfere with my hippy yoga. Makes me miss it.) I think it was good for us to stretch and relax and try to get some of the kinks out.

Of course, we decided not to come home and defrost our pork tenderloin, had to stop by the mall so B could get a big honkin' water bottle, and, well, "we earned it", so dinner was Chick-Fil-A. Can't say that we should have done that, what with the possibly undoing some pretty hard work, but between a run, boot camp, *and* yoga, there was no way I was cooking. And at least B talked me out of a quarter pounder with cheese (mmmmm!).

Tonight, we swim! Which reminds me, I need to find some more drills than swimming 250 m on my side. Time to move up in the world (or at least, the pool)!

A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action (Please)

This has all gotten me nervous. There was an artice in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on June 3 that Darcey sent me today - looks like Zappos.com pulled out as title sponsor. Uh oh. I am really starting to wonder if this thing is going to happen. And this isn't the first article I have seen, either. I have even read that the LA Marathon (also owned by Devine) is in trouble.

Rock'n'Roll San Diego is starting to look good all the sudden...

Hydration Nation

I was out of water bottles this morning, so in order to get a bottle I could run with (and I *always* run with at least one bottle), I downed half a small bottle of Gatorade G2 (huge fan). I was afraid this would upset my stomach but I didn't have any problems. I was actually a little more hydrated than usual, given that I didn't feel the need to hit the half water/half G2 nearly as much in the beginning as I usually do. I weighed myself before and after the run and was about the same, so I know I put back as much as I lost.

I go through phases where I drink a lot of water (like maybe four 24 oz bottles a day) and then I get back on the diet coke kick. As much as I have been talking about it lately, you can tell that I have been more on the DC than anything helpful. However, I know that when I have been drinking more water all week, I race better. And, apparently, I do better when I have been drinking before the race. So as I get closer to Peachtree, I am thinking about how hot it's going to be and how much I am going to have to drink in order to not be a heatstroke casualty in the concrete jungle.

Man Crush

I've been watching the US Open this weekend, and I watched part of it yesterday with my scratch-golfing pal Eric. He commented on the fact that it seems like Johnny Miller has a huge Man Crush on Tiger Woods. Tiger this, Tiger that, Tiger, Tiger, Tiger. All he talks about. Even Stina Steinberg, editor of Golf for Women, commented on it:

"There are moments when Johnny Miller is brilliant. Lately, though, I've had to turn down the volume on NBC's golf broadcasts to tune out his nonstop Tiger gushing. I'm in awe of Woods' talent, too, but there has to be something else to discuss during a four-hour telecast - for starters, how about the rest of the field?"

Music to a Phil Mickelson fan's ears.

At one point yesterday, Johnny was talking about how much Tiger can bench press. This is not something I need to know about any golfer, although I am pretty sure that John Daly can only do 12-ounce curls. So, making fun of Tiger's gym routine, we were saying that Tiger could bench press a Buick, alluding to his major sponsor.


Then, at dinner, a different Man Crush came up - Florida's Tim Tebow. And we decided that Tebow could bench press Tiger bench pressing a Buick.

Personally, I think Chuck Norris could take both of them. :o)

For All The Right Reasons

I am not a big 5k kind of girl. I started out that way, but I think everyone does. I am a distance runner. I am all about survival. However, what kind of race does a distance runner coming back from an injury do to test herself and see if she can still hack it in competition?

She runs a 5k.

And believe it or not, with all the variables in place for defeat (heat, having been at the beach hanging out all day, not eating or drinking well before the race, stupid evil night races, having to stand around for-ev-er beforehand, and the injury) I came up with 40:51, which I think I have gotten more than once in a 5k and really is only like 3:40 slower than my PR. All things considered, it wasn't that bad and I was pretty pleased. I can take care of most of those variables and truly consider myself back in the saddle.

The hold-up before the race was the Mizuno 5k Championship. Basically, an excuse for the fastest and fittest to make the slowest wait around on them to do a few laps before they let the rest of us loose on the course. And they get free Mizuno shoes. And a pie. Most of these guys don't even look like they eat pie. If I had run fast enough to win a pie, believe me, I would have been gobbling that thing up after the race. Forget bananas (don't eat 'em), free pizza (Hungry Howie's isn't very good), or even my all-time favorite post-race turkey wrap - I'd have been face first in dessert. Life is uncertain - eat dessert first.

However, boot camp starts tomorrow. Might want to stop thinking about pie. :o)

Too Cool for Pool

When I was a kid, I was quite a little swimmer. My parents had a hard time getting me out of the pool. All summer long my girlfriends and I swam in the pool every chance we could. However, as we got older, they became competitive swimmers and lifeguards, and I - well, I just had a really fabulous tan (FYI, still do.) So my swimming knowledge kind of ends at dog-paddling and treading water.

And then I married a record-holding former competitive swimmer. (I kid you not, check out the third line under freestyle.)

And I discovered how much I love sports where endurance is a victory all in itself.

And I decided that the idea of three of those type of sports in one competition was genius. And that required me to get back in the pool with the above-mentioned competitive swimming husband.

I am not a very good *swimming* swimmer. I've never swam laps as my idea of a good time. But I need a change of pace from just running, running, running and if I ever want to do a triathlon, I might want to try to work on the sport that comes hardest to non-swimmers (aka, stubborn runners used to making gravity work for them, not against them). I have read part of the Total Immersion swimming book, but none of it really sunk in (pun intended), so I am packing B off on his next business trip with the book and making him read it. I'll give him credit; he's a good coach.

I am just maybe not a good student. Maybe. I really didn't want to go to the pool because I feel like a total 'tard trying to swim as you're supposed to, but Rome wasn't built in a day and neither were Amanda Beard's abs. So I did about 5 lengths (25 m) of just swimming on my side, building up a decent flutter kick, and then on the last 5 lengths threw in trying to turn from one side to the other. First every 10 seconds, then every 5 seconds. And I got a little bit better... right about the time my flutter kick turned into the "Okay, I'm tired now" scissor kick.

But all in all, 250 meters, getting over my fear of looking ridiculous, and actually enjoying myself. It ended up being fun!

Come As You Are

So Darcey responded to a "Come As You Are" post to just take a picture of herself wherever she was at when she read the blog. So, I, too, decided to do that. I thought it was funny that we both have the same poster behind us in our offices. (See the bottom on hers and the top on mine.) And check out the super awesome minifridge. And the awesome hair day, brought to you by Herbal Essence® Degunkify. Love this stuff; it was the exact thing I was looking for when I told B I needed a shampoo that would "Degunkify my hair."

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

Woo Hoo!

Today was great! I set out to do 2 miles but, you know, time just gets away from you when you're having a good run. It ended up being 2.7 miles. I was trying to do a run-walk-run ratio of 1-2-1, but it ended up being more like my usual 1-1-1 with a few 1-2-1 thrown in. My foot, my ankle, my legs, my spirit - everything felt great!

So I have no reservations of jumping back in, starting with the OES Run for the Pies on Saturday and, 23 short days (and 9 training runs!) from now, Peachtree.

My (diet) Coke Habit - SOLVED

Ok folks, time for some new math (not New Coke. Nasty.)

I spent about $35 on this lovely 6 pack fridge (okay, B did, but still, work with me). A 12 pack of Coke Zero at Target is going for about $3.67, making each individual Coke cost roughly $0.31. Okay, sticking with the two drink a day idea (not the "40 oz. a day" idea), my daily intake drops from $2.50 to $0.61. Times 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year and you get:

$79.44.

Have a (diet) Coke and a smile, people.

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

Slow Going

So I do have a report for today - I ran.

Slowly.

My legs were just fine but apparently not working out for a month isn't good for your cardiac ability (surprise, surprise). But after walking a mile, I ran off and on for a few minutes, and it felt great. No pain at all. I was smiling the whole time.

Without further ado, Peachtree Road Race in four easy weeks. Wish me luck!

My (diet) Coke Habit

*Or, drinking away my liquid assets, 20 oz. at a time.

Yesterday I asked B if I could borrow a dollar for a diet Coke at work. He said, "That's all?" and gave me $2. I had $0.50 around here somewhere, so together they bought me two cokes.

Today, I asked for $2.50 since that's the going rate for two Cokes. I have noticed that's about my average per day (as bought with cash, credit, and Mike-money, which is when I give my coworker a puppy dog face and he gets me a Coke. We go back and forth on who pays).

This morning I decided to do some math: $2.50 a day comes out to $12.50 per work week. Four weeks a month makes that $50. And if you want to go the 52 weeks a year route, that's $650.00. Wow.

I think I am a little better off than when I was in high school, drinking 5 regular 12 oz. Dr. Peppers a day (at today's 20 oz rate, that would come out to $975.00 per year). But still....!

Ladies and Gentlemen: My 51st Post

Which, really, is like four in one.

Someone Lit A Menorah Under My Tuckus.

So, since I have been a bit jealous of Leana's boot camp experiences, I decided to join up with the one they are putting on at my local gym (aka, the Jewish Community Alliance. I know, I'm Catholic, but we don't have a sweet gym like the Jewish folks do). It's not Bikini Boot Camp like Leana does, but I think it'll help a little with that, too. Plus, it might just help out the last two weeks of the Weight Loss Challenge (which I am doing kind of meh on).

I Wanna Get Physical (Therapy).

So I finally went to PT, and so far so good! Apparently there is quite a bit of difference between my left and right ankle as far as range of motion, stability and strength. So, the therapist gave me three different types of exercises to try: these, complete with my shiny red theraband, stretching the calf and soleus muscles, and balancing on one foot. I look kind of ridiculous doing that, but it seems to make me more stable. And while I don't think it's yoga counterpart, tree pose, is glamorous, it's one of my favorites. And yoga is really helping me, I have to admit.

The Return of the Fab Four.

However, I skipped yoga last night to see the Sex & the City movie (and chow down on chicken wings). Totally worth it. Yes, it was a bit of a departure from the show (what would you expect?!?) but I did truly enjoy it. I liked seeing how they had all moved on in 4 years, how they were their same neurotic selves, and how that related to being older and wiser (slightly).

The John Smoltz Approach.

Okay, I am a little hesitant to use this, but whatever. John Smoltz is my favorite baseball player currently playing*. (Well... actually... he's doing his second major season-ending shoulder surgery. But you gotta give him credit - dude's a fighter.) A few weeks ago he decided to stop giving updates on his shoulder because he thought the media was mis-quoting him. Actually, I think it was more that the guy is injured, he didn't know at the time when he was coming back, and it had kind of turned into a circus (SMOLTZ WATCH '08!!!!) I kind of think he had a good idea on his hands, so, without further ado, here is the "Lana Version".

• Dad: "When are you going to start back running again?"
• Lana: "When I feel like it."

• Billy: "When are you going to start back running again?"
  Lana: "When I feel like it."
• Billy: "That's a good Smoltz answer for your dad. When are you going to start back running again?"
• Lana: "When I feel like it."
• Billy: "Well at least you're sticking to your answer."

But to answer anyone's lingering questions, I am feeling better. I am doing my PT. I am positive.

*Everytime I say I like a baseball player, he goes to the Yankees. (Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens...) I'm going to be so mad if Smoltz ever goes to the Yankees. But I doubt he will. I hate the Yankees. Grr.

At A Loss

So since it's summer, since the doc cleared me as soon as I feel like working out (it's been a month, folks, I feel like it), and since I need some motivation to get on the bike/put the beer down/stay away from the gelatti/only have one dog at the Suns game, I jumped on the bandwagon for Viv's Excuse #1 I'm Not Fit To Run Independence Weight Loss Challenge (or WL Challenge, as Leana and I are both tagging it.) And sorry to break your blogging hearts, but Viv said I was her last contestant, topping the field off at 70 peeps. I may have only gained 3.5 pounds from the cruise, but it doesn't look like it's going anywhere. So, a little encouragement might be what I need to drop it. :o)

"That Little Guy? I Wouldn't Worry About That Little Guy."

So this is the story I'll tell at my very first Hypochondriac's Anonymous Meeting.

"Hi. My name is Lana."

'Hi, Lana.'

"While I think I have every foot/ankle ailment under the sun, I really only have a minor amount of tendon pain due to an overly tight calf muscle and a cyst in my left heel which, according to my doctor, is nothing."

'Nothing?'

"Yep. Nothing."

My tendon, sore as it is, is right where it should be and in good working order. I would have known that if the MRI report had come with the MRI disc, but instead, I payed two doctors (radiologist and ortho, and really, BCBS of FL paid them) to tell me that the only thing going on in there is a cyst in my heel from where fluid has drained from my ankle and taken up residence. My ankle and foot hurt because I have no ankle strength (which I am going to remedy with PT and yoga) and because my calves are mega tight (again, PT and yoga). Unless anything else starts to hurt, or things start to get worse, I can start back doing whatever I want as soon as things start to feel better.

And I will.

See? I told you I was jacked up!

((My comment while showing off my b-e-a-utiful MRIs to my coworkers.))

I haven't posted because I have been waiting on getting my MRI back from Wednesday. I can't see a whole lot in terms of the tendon issue (although the MRI tech said she saw some tendonitis in that general vicinity), but I have always had heel pain and now I might know why. Now's also a fantastic time to state that I am SO not a trained professional. Speaking of trained professionals, they didn't give me a report (like they swore up and down was on the disc), so you get the benefit of me and my Microsoft Paint skills. Enjoy.

Also, if you look at the dried, cracked skin on my foot, you will see that as soon as I am willing to let someone without a medical degree touch it, I'm in desperate need of a pedicure. AND, I am getting my x rays tonight; that ought to be interesting as well (but I don't think they come on a disc, so you might just have to take my word for it).

I'm a hot mess in this hospital bracelet.

I'm a hot mess in this hospital bracelet.
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

I asked for one with bling but no such luck.

Undefeated.

So the ankle sucks. Ice is helping A LOT, and I think learning some stability poses in yoga will really help my ankle, as will P.T. (signed up to go on Friday!) I keep trying to think in terms of what's coming next, like the Peachtree, or Vegas... but then I read this.

Jerks.

I realize the message board is a bunch of people who are probably at the worst end of things - seemingly a bunch of surgery folks looking for someone to tell them anything - but when you read that some of them are never the same again, especially as distance running goes, it's really heartbreaking for me. I am taking that pretty hard. And I know that those people are different than I am, and mine may not be as bad, and I may not have to have the surgery, or I might and it'll be good as new, but between my being impatient and my ability to latch onto the worst case scenario, I'm just not excited.

However, let's keep in mind here the things I CAN do.

Bike.
Yoga.
Weights.
Swim.

All things I enjoy, even if they are just distractions from what I really want to be doing. I just can't let the defeatist attitude get a hold of me.

Pretty Pretty Princess

I figured this earned it's own post. I think I have found my costume for the Disney Princess Half Marathon next year. I love BuyCostumes.com!

I am sure this will be fabulously accented with my new ChampionChip:

Dr. Google, M.D.

So I went to the ortho, who poked and prodded my foot and ankle and came up with the determination that I have messed up my peroneal tendon.

Didn't I say that like two weeks ago? Just call me Dr. Google, M.D.

Anyway, I get to wear a super awesome (not!) ankle brace, some heel pads in my running shoes to turn my ankle the other direction, and some physical therapy to teach me exercises to strengthen my ankle. Oh, and my regular doc still wants an MRI of my ankle, so I'm going to get that done. (Hooray for being over the deductible! Free MRIs all around!)

The REALLY important part of all that is that I can still bike to keep my cardio up, I am following my regular doc's suggestion that I take more yoga (see B's first yoga experience here!) and when it stops hurting on a daily basis, the goofy brace can come off, then I can start walking... then "running slowly". (I didn't tell him that's the only way I run.) So while I am not there yet, I am still pretty darn excited!

And then I read this article. Then I was pretty darn not-so-much excited. Darcey forwarded it to the Zappos CEO (a Twitter friend of ours), who said "we are investigating and trying to learn more about devine's situation". Um, I hope so!!!

Where was I on things that excite me? Ah, yes. My friends Joseph and Tiffany had their little bundle of joy last night at 1103 - Madelyn Elizabeth, 6 lbs, 8 oz. Yaaa! Another kid I can spoil then send back to it's parents. I have 18 years to get her to defy her parents and go to Auburn instead of Georgia... better get started on that!

...But Baby, Look at Me Now!

Once a year, when I was in school, we had to do the most horrible, demeaning thing imaginable - the President's Physical Fitness Test. I HATED it!!! I was not an athletic kid, in spite of dance lessons, gymnastics, cheerleading, tennis, and soccer (I pretty much stunk at all of those, except tackling people in soccer.) I hated watching my friends do pull ups on a bar, having no upper body strength to speak of myself. But still, my evil gym coaches made me "try it" - which was more like just hanging there, hoping I looked pathetic enough that they would let me give up. And the shuttle run - all you do is run, pick up a goofy little block on a basketball-court line, and run back. Twice. What does that really say about you or your fitness level? NOTHING! And having someone hold your feet while you do crunches is right up there with medieval torture - when my friends were cranking away at them, I was always huffing and puffing and came up short. Elementary school gym was always such a degrading experience.

I like to think I have gotten more fit as I have gotten older. Sort of. I can at least run, which is something I couldn't do very well as a kid. But more importantly, somewhere along the way I developed the will to try. And, apparently, so have the Baby Boomers. Due to so many requests from them, the government has developed the President's Physical Fitness Test for Adults. If you go to their website, you can enter your information and see how you rank in your age group. The test only has three sections: Aerobic (1 mile walk or 1.5 mile run), Muscular Strength and Endurance (half sit-up and push-ups), and Flexibility (the good ol' V-sit from the original test). There is also the President's National Challenge, which is a daily activity log for being active 5 days a week for 6 out of 8 weeks and even has a competition between the states. (Alaska is leading, by the way) Would anyone be interested in doing a blogger group for this?

I think it's high time I finally earned the certificate for this one! Just as soon as I clear it with my docs... :o)

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

In light of giving relationship advice to a friend and a great article by Kristin Armstrong in Runner's World, I have to think about my short-term (but too long-term in my eyes) break up with running.

The doctor said I probably have tendonitis, recommended an x ray, MRI, an ortho appointment, more yoga, and physical therapy. I have the first one out of the way, the MRI is probably coming (waiting on insurance, naturally), the ortho appointment is Tuesday, yoga's no big deal, but the PT, that's going to take... weeks. Ugh.

My doctor also reminded me that I'm not 20 years old any more (FYI, I'm approaching 27 at a pretty good clip). I have feet issues. Stretching and flexibility issues. And, now, ankle tendon issues.

The article made me think about relationships and how some of them can translate to running...

Example: A friend of mine has a lot going on. Probably bit off more than he can chew.
Running: Someone like me who has too many racing endeavors.

Example: A single friend who thinks everyone has a significant other, except for him.
Running: Everyone out running when I can't.

Example: Breaking up to see other people.
Running: Stopping running to try other sports.

Example: Two people who just can't seem to meet each other on the same level, having difficulty understanding each other.
Running: Having inconsistent or bad runs (aka, heavy in their running shoes)

Example: Charlie Brown and the Redheaded Girl
Running: No matter what you try or how hard, you can't catch that runner who is leaving you behind.

Example: Trying to impress a guy/girl and always coming up short.
Running: Training for certain races and not making it. (For us, last year's marathon).

Example: The bad boy/girl you should probably stay away from but can't.
Running: The race/distance that kicks your butt every time, and you keep coming back for more.

Example: Swingers.
Running: Triathletes.

Blog Love!

Since I have to live vicariously through my running blog buddies, allow me to show off a new blog I am reading: Run, Girl, Run.

Now, everyone run to my hubby's blog and leave him comments about needing a week-and-a-half-overdue race report: The Starting Gun

UPDATE: I thought it was time to branch out in the running blog world (read: home alone and bored), so I added about 6 more blogs. Enjoy!

Back in the Saddle and Bucked Off the Horse

Well, my foot/ankle had been feeling better. I even wore heels to work Monday and Tuesday with no problem. So, as antsy as I was to get back to running, I decided to go out this morning and try to see how many times I could do the one-mile loop around my neighborhood.

Answer: One. Barely.

As I limped on back towards the house, I realized that I came back too early. I also realized anyone who knows me knew I would - I eat, sleep, breathe, obsess about running all day long, and to not run hurts about as bad as the injury. It felt soooooo good to be back out there, even if my foot was hurting. I was just happy to run, and I hated to see it end, but it had to.

I called three different orthopedists today - one didn't take my insurance (which is odd, as they were on their website), one booked me for May 27 (far too antsy for that), and the other for May 20. I started thinking about how most specialists hold their appointments for referrals, so I decided to start with my regular doc, hoping I can get sent to an ortho before the 20th. Maybe they have a great cure, maybe they have nothing, but I really think it's going to take someone telling me "Stay off of it for three weeks" to keep me out of my running shoes. I am that antsy.

And can you blame me? We registered for Vegas last night.

View from the 3rd row me the Baseball Grounds

View from the 3rd row me the Baseball Grounds
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

Florida is beautiful!

Florida is beautiful!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

...But the Owner's Manual Says 93 Octane!

Most runners say they run so that they can eat whatever they want. Man, I wish that was really the case. While it's nice to think that running and working out will burn calories so that you can eat all the junk food in the world, I've noticed when I run that I can't eat that crap. My performance is horrible. I like the term "heavy in my running shoes": bloated, dehydrated, sluggish. I run better and feel better when I eat salads, lean protein, minimal dairy, and drink lots of water. Soda and alcohol are two of the things that make me feel the worst (well, except for a few sips of Diet Coke right after a race).

So, with my little injury, combined with Cinco de Mayo, Billy being out of town, and going to dinner with my parents on Friday, I have or will have been to the following places... and I'll tell you right now, I did not order the healthiest things on the menu:

La Nopalera
McDonalds
Dunkin' Donuts
Zaxby's
Five Guys
Wendy's
Chelsea
a Suns game (all you can eat burgers and dogs, plus $1 beer night)
...and I'd like to make a London Broil this weekend.

I kind of have this "enjoy it while it lasts" feeling about eating all this junk - hoping that when I can start running and working out again (cross your fingers for Monday!) that I will want to eat healthy to most adequitely fuel my body. Or, at the very least, just so I don't feel heavy in my running shoes.

Jen and the Amazing Sprained Ankle (mostly in pictures)

God bless Jen, my massage therapist. Even when I want to kill her, or even tell her I would if I wasn't face-first in a massage table and at her mercy, I still love her.

She said that the ankle is most likely sprained and gave it some extra attention, which I think helped a lot. I am going to stay off of it until Monday at the earliest, take her advice to R.I.C.E., then try to squeeze in a few miles with the 1st Place Running Club crew and my new ankle sleeve.

She also hit my plantar fasciitis pretty hard, which on my sore foot was majorly flaired up around the heel area. That was when I was really screaming at her:

So, that leaves me right about here with my marathon training:

Expensive Habits

My husband was pretty happy when I put down the golf clubs and picked up my running shoes. He thought I had traded in my expensive habit for a cheaper one. I can for sure rack up on running clothes and accessories, but that's still cheaper than my super cool putter (which does me no good; I can't putt for crap). However, I have a little proof here that running - well, racing - surely isn't cheap:

• Disney Princess Half Marathon $120
• Tickets to Pirate and Princess Party $89
• Commemorative Pin (pre-ordered it for a change) $11.72
• Disney Princess ChampionChip $39.00
• Lovely Active.com "processing fee" $14.85

• Grand total for this one race (not including gas to Orlando, timeshare point values for hotel, food, crap I know I'll buy either at Disney or at the Expo, the 5k I'm sure B will want to do, and the usual Epcot drink around the world): $274.57

Running the inaugural Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon, and getting that medal - Absolutely Priceless.

However, there might be a little shiny silver (or orange) lining on my race expenses: My company was recently purchased by a major running sponsor, so maybe I'll get a little discount on a few races... Maybe. :o)

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

That's about the fifth title I have come up with for this post. I initially started out with "Forgiving The Distance", an apology for badmouthing the 15k distance for so long, but I think it has once again betrayed me. So, to the Gods of Running Karma, I have to sacrifice my ankle.

It started out a pretty great race - I felt awesome as the Disney Women Run The World 15k started out. I hated running the off- and on-ramps due to hip issues, but they were short and I plowed through them. I was never horribly tired, and per my trusty Timex I finished in 2:00:51, about a good 7:01 faster than the Gate River Run! (My official time of 2:03:10 includes a bathroom stop). Afterwards, I felt pretty good, well enough to fight my way through the Epcot crowds to ride Soarin' (which, due to said crowds, we only end up riding about once a year.) Then, we headed to the hotel to check out, and off to Magic Kingdom.

That's where the distance decided it wanted revenge.

I will admit I am the world's worst about stretching. I know my calves get tight and I do very little to prevent or treat that. (Save for my amazing massage therapist and my Marathon Stick!) Well, this time, I am mega-tight in the lower calf area. I walked towards T'n'T (Ticketing and Transportation, for you non-Disney addicts out there) and I felt some soreness in the ankle and kind of going down into my foot around the side.


I have plantar fasciitis to beat the band, but it more manifests itself in my mid-foot, right down the middle (most people have heel pain - I can't decide if they're luckier or not). This was kind of on the side, so I didn't really think it was related. After trekking it around the MK, I ended up at First Aid getting Tylenol, ice, and an Ace bandage. I put the ice on my ankle, but it didn't seem that it was helping there. So, I put it further down on my foot. That hit the spot. Throughout the rest of the day I noticed that the more weight I put on it, the worse it got. This morning I decide to hit Google and I think this is it: Peroneal Tendon...sprain? Maybe? (Another site with this info here.)

So I am going to start my Marathon training two weeks late, while I take a nice (gag) two weeks off to R.I.C.E. the heck out of this thing, get an ankle brace, hit the anti-inflammatories, STAY OFF MY ANKLE, and, if it comes to that, pay a visit to the sports medicine doc. (Yippee! Not.)

This, however, is so not stopping me from registering for the inaugural Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. But it might keep me out of 15ks for a pretty long while... How come I can do 13.1 miles without any problem but 9.3 miles just gives me fits every time?

You have new Picture Mail!

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

This guy is probably the only one...

Born To Run

Through the magic of TiVo, I recorded E:60 on ESPN - I love that they have a news magazine that kind of rivals Real Sports on HBO with a round table discussion format (a la TMZ - not like I watch that trash... often).

This was a particularly haunting piece on Ryan Shay... B and I watched it and it just gave us chills.

Winning Over a Crowd In One Easy Step

My husband will be the first to admit I'm crazy. And he'll admit he's crazy. But tonight, I actually got called crazy in public.

Scene: Urban Flats, cute little restaurant, with a Jacksonville Zoo "Wild Things" fundraiser attended by the UVa Club of Jacksonville.

Random Girl: "I'm bummed my friends can't make it but Tuesday's not good for any of them."
Me: "Tuesday's like the only day that's good for me."
Random Girl: "Oh yeah? What do you do?"
Me: "I'm training for a marathon. Monday and Wednesday are my running days."
Random Girl: "A marathon? That's just crazy!"
Random Girl's Husband: "How far is a marathon?"
Me: "Twenty-six point two miles."
Random Girl: "Wow."

So after I explain length of training, Vegas terrain and weather, weekly mileage, how far I actually run before I run 26.2 miles, etc, I adjourn back to the bar to get another glass of wine and tell Billy about what happened. We talk to a few more random folks (I tell the "War Eagle" story to a girl who wasn't sure what Auburn's official mascot is - Tigers, people, tigers) and we say our goodnights. I stop by the table where Random Girl, Random Girl's Husband, and three other girls were sitting. As we were saying bye and we'll see them at the next event, the whole "crazy runner" thing starts up again. We talked about the Gate River Run (one of the girls was a volunteer), and the lone (novice) runner at the table talked about how good it felt to run. This made me think:

Sanity is so overrated. And with that, I give you my new header quote (see above. Way above.)

There She Goes Again...

I am always coming and going, as my friend Mike likes to point out.

The cruise was AWESOME! I'll take any excuse to be in Key West, even for a little while, and it was so worth it (see the pineapple pancake and the stretchy cat below - I wanna be that cat!) Of course, all it did was make me want to go back for a few more days. And I did get Michael McCloud to play "She Gotta Butt" for the low low price of 2 cds and a $10 tip.

Cozumel was super fun, too - I actually did an adventure park! Climbing, rappelling, bridges, ziplining... and, okay, my butt hanging out in a Bridget Jones kind of way (If you've seen it, you get that) so I'll spare you the pics and link you to Flickr when they're ready - you can check them at your own risk! We also finally found the coolest, non-touristy bar in Cozumel - appropriately named, No Name Bar. It sure beat watching the 50-something year old ladies embarass themselves at Carlos'N'Charlies.

On the boat, I didn't eat too badly (not TOO TOO badly) or drink too much, but still somehow managed to gain about 6 pounds. So, since I feel "heavy in my running shoes" (read: sluggish and huge), I tried a detox cleanse I found at the natural foods store. It's not the nightmare people always tell you it is, and when you're coming off a massive food binge it might not be a bad idea. Just do your homework and know what your body can handle.

Enough with the overshare. (Sorry, I come from a genetic line of oversharers. My mother and brother are the worst!) ((Blogger's note: Sorry, Mom, but you know it's true.))

Oh... did I mention I got a PR? Oh yes I did! In fact, Billy, Mike, and I *all* got PR's at the Corporate Run! I was beginning to wonder how well they measured the course, but my mom seems to think we all PR'd because we're so good! (See? Momma said Nikes were my magic shoes...) I realize 37:11 isn't most people's idea of a great 5K, and that the guys came in a full 10 minutes ahead of me, but you know what? PR's make me happy, and y'all I am happy about this one! A full two minutes and change ahead of my time from the Race for the Cure in October. (Billy has a great write up on his blog about the run - and even though this is a running blog, he's a better blogging runner).

So, on to two more running-related topics: The Minnie Marathon and the Vegas Marathon.

I don't know why they call it a Minnie Marathon - it's a 15K, folks. But this is the last year they are doing it, and the last chance for a Minnie medal. Someday I want to have all of the Big 4 Disney World Running medals - I already have Donald, and I need Mickey and Goofy. Maybe in, say, 2010. Leana has all 4 now and is getting her second Minnie this year - and I hope I run into her at Disney! If not - GOOD LUCK, GIRL!!! (And good luck to Billy, who is running the Go Red For Women 5K - supporting the fight against heart disease in women!)

And when I come back from the Happiest Place on Earth, it's time to start training for Vegas. Oh boy! (say that in a Mickey Mouse voice). I have slacked off a little lately, I confess - the week of the cruise, I lifted weights once in the gym, once on the cruise, and ran and took a spin class on the boat (see? I did good on my vacation! Else I would have gained like 10 lbs...) But even with that, a PR, a 7 mile run this weekend, and a 1.5 rain-out run last night, I still feel like I need to REALLY get myself in gear for training. It's going to be a little more difficult than training was last year with the Galloway group - it was great to be surrounded by motivated people, even a few experienced marathon runners, at an organized place and time, with a map, water stops, and all the encouragement. Instead, I have B, Mike (who has been kidnapped into training for the Jax Bank Marathon and just doesn't know it yet), and Darcey and Rhonda by remote. However, I like challenges, you get to show just how tough you really are. Am I tough enough for 26.2 miles of potentially boring, dry-heat running through the desert? Can I turn down In-N-Out burger the first two days I am in Vegas? Can I run 20 miles in Auburn on my birthday when I'd rather start the tailgating at the crack of dawn?

Abso-freaking-lutely.

Here's my Galloway-inspired training plan, complete with my "extra curricular runs" I'm doing this summer:


This shouldn't be so hard after all...

You have new Picture Mail!

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

I should have counted his toes.

You have new Picture Mail!

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

Blue Heaven Pineapple pancake. What God eats for breakfast.

Point A to Point B

So I am kind of jealous that Leana can ride her bike to work, so I mapped out what my route to work would be on a bike.



I am not so sure I would really want to ride this route, but between the price of gas, saving wear and tear on my car, getting more exercise and riding experience, and validating my wanting a new bike, it's worth thinking about.

Of course, I could always chicken out and take JTA if I got too tired/hot/intimidated by traffic.

Snake #2

Snake #2
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

I tried sending this last week but it never went

Yahoo News - Blood and water fuel Maasai warriors' marathon

In honor of this weekend's London Marathon, here is an interesting article about some not-so-typical marathoners. This makes me appreciate my Nike's.

Their website is maasaimarathon.org.