Weekly Rewind: 03/19-25

Since my second kidney stone in February and several issues that came with it, I had to miss two races I wanted to run. Now that I'm in rebuilding mode to get up to my training mileage again, I felt I should post a weekly recap to help me keep my training in perspective. Lately my runs have been all about mileage and not times.

Monday, 03/19: 1.5 mile walk

During my Sunday morning buddy run, I made a goal for the week to work out every day as long as my body felt good. I rushed home from work hoping to beat some evening storms that were rolling in. In the rush, I forgot my knee brace and paid for it instantly since the first half mile of my run was a steep downhill and then immediate uphill. My knee couldn't take it, so I walked almost the entire 1.5 miles.

Tuesday, 03/20: 3.25 miles

In an effort to settle T, my oldest son, down after a long doctor's appointment and a day without his ADD medication, I told him to hop on his bike to ride with me while I ran. I took him my usual course and then to the  back part of the old Radisson gold course, which is now part of the UNT Sports Complex. We ran and rode through puddles. I attempted jumping over a muddy bank only to end up landing right in it.

T and I had a great time together. We rarely get one-on-one time, so I think this adventure may be the beginning of something new for us.

Wednesday, 03/21: X2 Yoga

My week at work thus far had not been the best, and everything blew my fuse today. Even though I wanted to run, I definitely needed to chill out, and my lack of foam rolling also kept my muscles tense. I locked myself away and threw on my X2 Yoga. The next 55 minutes of stretching and meditation lowered my blood pressure and brought me to a place where I could be sociable with my family again.

Thursday, 03/22: 3.3 miles

A cool front moved in during the day, and of course I knew it would be a great day to run with lower temps.  The temp was great, but the wind was not. Despite my efforts to modify my route for windbreaks, the wind was strong and cold. The uphill half of this run was hard. The wind blew right threw me, and I struggled up the slightest incline. Once I got to the flat part of my run, the wind was at my side and I fell into my groove, lengthening my stride and focusing on my foot strike. My foot strike makes the world of a difference with how my knee feels. Yet, it takes all my mental energy to focus while I retrain my body how to run. Once I turned back to head home, I thought I'd have a tailwind. I did for about two minutes, and it went away leaving a cold chill all about my shoulders and back. Once I got home, it was immediately into the shower to warm up.

Friday, 03/23: Unplanned Rest Day

P had to work late, therefore no afternoon run. The menu plan also called for his night to make dinner. We ended up eating later than usual, but I still thought I could go out for a run. I knew I had to wait an hour for everything to settle, and by the time 9 p.m. rolled around, I told myself to relax and head to bed.

Saturday, 03/24: Planned Rest Day

I rarely do anything on Saturdays since I like to be fully rested for my long or hard (sometimes both) runs on Sunday mornings with my running buddy. Yet, I still thought I could manage a make up run or X2 workout. After a meeting with a fellow Beachbody coach in the morning, I took T and the Cy-Guy to take bluebonnet pictures and then to the park. I decided time with my boys is way more important than squeezing in any sort of workout. 

Sunday, 03/25: Buddy Run Day, 4.18 miles

Almost every Sunday, I meet up with a former soccer teammate of mine, and we train. I've helped her train for her half, and she's helped me through injuries during my training for the full and half I had to pass up. We keep each other accountable and in check. We were both tired, but headed out for as close to 5 miles as possible. A sunny morning, with a little breeze, but plenty of humidity. We had a great pace, even though I really didn't care. We chatted the whole time as we do and only really taking a couple of walk breaks. We felt awesome afterwards, and even did our own mock "race finish sprint". I actually felt I could run another couple of miles when I got home, but I decided to not push myself and take it easy the rest of the day.

Pretty good comeback week in my opinion.

Here's to coming back stronger this week!!

Ever want to race in Chicago?

I know I've always wanted to race in Chicago. I think it's part of my long, wanton desire to visit or live there. What better way to visit other than to race there? My fellow Team Tough Chik member, Amanda at Too Tall Fritz is now giving away a FREE entry to the 13.1 Chicago race on June 9!

Here's a little bit about the 13.1 Chicago:

This is a very unique race for the CHI as it does not go through the loop or the same tired section of the Lake Front running path that you may have run a million times in recent races.  THIS race according to the website:  starts and finishes at the Historic South Shore Cultural Center (SSCC) on Chicago’s south side. The SSCC offers beautiful views of both Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline and has hosted many notable events, including the wedding reception of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The 13.1 mile course takes you along the Lake front Path past La Rabida Hospital. After passing the hospital, you will run through Jackson Park, home of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, the Osaka Japanese Garden, a strolling garden on Wooden Island. You will then pass the Museum of Science & Industry, the only original building remaining from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, and one of the largest science museums in the world. You will then head back to the Lakefront Path to almost 35th Street before heading back south, past the 63rd Street Beach House and finishing at the SSCC. This course is 13.1 miles of perfect Windy City experience. 

Get on over to Amanda's site http://tootallfritz.com  and enter!!!!

11 Fun...Finally

Since I'm not running or training or anything right now, I've decided to definitely catch up on some posts. This is a random 'get-to-know-you' questionnaire type post. I got tagged by one of my Team Tough Chik members weeks ago, so here goes nothing.

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions set for you in the post you were tagged in.
4. Create a new set of questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog, Facebook page, wherever you can grab their attention to inform them of their obligation to the blogosphere.

11 Random Things about Me:

1. I used to hate running. Running was always something I had to do that kept me from actually doing what I wanted, which was playing soccer. Yes, the running in soccer is TOTALLY different from the "long distance" crap I used to have to do.

2. I wish I'd wear more skirts, but I always end up wearing pants or shorts.

3. I have had NO interest in the Twilight series, Vampire Diaries, you name it. Seriously, the only thing I like about all of that is the song by Christina Perri, "A Thousand Years". This song touches my soul in a way I cannot explain.

4. I do not like too much T.V., but get me hooked on a show, and I'll watch the shit out of it. For example: Top Chef, Walking Dead, and Sons of Anarchy. Oh, and don't forget Frasier reruns.

5. So, I'm 5'4". That's average, right? Then, why do I feel so damn short all the time?

6. I think I have peak productivity hours. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Seriously. That's when my brain is at an all time functionality high. 

7. When I turned 33, I realized if I was given the chance, I'd totally nap the day away. I used to hate naps.

8. My elbows are double-jointed. It's gross, and I think my boys might hurt themselves to see if they are double-jointed as well.

9. I miss scrapbooking. I love to scrapbook, and I don't even think I've done hardly anything in the last three years. 

10. As bad as I am with math, I can remember phone number and street addresses like nothing else. It's weird.

11. My first "real" job was as a hostess in a Mexican restaurant next to my church. I landed that job the last week I was 15, and waited almost 10 days for my first day of work. There, I learned the art of knowing "enough" Spanish and balancing a large tray of hot fajitas!!

Here are the 11 questions I have to answer from Niki, my fellow Team Tough Chik member.

1. Where do you live? North Texas Have you always lived there? Basically. The city has changed a couple of times, but yes, I've lived in this general area all my life. Texas born, Texas raised, Texas forever. 

2. Do you run/bike/swim for time (PRs) or for enjoyment? I run for both. I don't get the opportunity to race often, so most of it is for enjoyment. I have found, even though I love PRs, the more I focus on my ties, the more pressured I feel, and the less I enjoy my running.

3. How long have you been doing your sport of choice? I've been running for 3 years, since January 2009. What made you start? The death of my stepbrother. I first started to lose some weight I had gained during his funeral and things afterward. Then, I got hooked to the therapeutic aspect of it, and eventually my inner athlete kicked in.

4. If you have kids, how do you find the time to do this? It used to be wake up super early and run before anyone stirred in my house. Now with some schedule changes, changed mindsets, and longer runs, P doesn't mind hanging with the boys while I run if he needs to. I still try not to cut into family time, but Sunday morning long runs often cut into breakfast time. My family knows the beneficial impact running has on me and eventually them, so they do not mind at all.

5. Is there anything you are deathly afraid of? What is it? You know, I thought about this, and I'm really not afraid of things. I dislike several things like spiders and weird seafood, as well as my crazy motion sickness, but I'm not deathly afraid of anything except for losing any part of my family.

6. What's your day job? Are they supportive of your athletic endeavors? Right now, I'm an Office Manager at a small speciality sawmill operation. As long as what I do doesn't interfere with my work schedule, they don't mind. Yet, I wouldn't say they "support" my endeavors. I'm also a Beachbody Coach. I'd say that company is supportive of athletic endeavors!

7. What animal would best represent your personality? A sexy beast, perhaps? Oh, I have no clue how to pin this down to just one animal. Maybe this questions is better directed towards P.

8. What's your favorite song to run to? It all depends on how fresh my play list is, but anything by the Black Eyed Peas gets me going! Usually "Pump It" comes on and it keeps me going strong.

9. What did you participate in in high school/college? Sports wise, I transitioned over from middle school and did volleyball and threw discus. When our district finally approved the girls soccer team my junior year, I was there. I then played intramurals in college as my job and classes allowed. I hadn't grown my brass balls enough to do walk-on try outs. Not sports wise, I was in band all four years of high school, as well as jazz band for three of those years. 

10. What is your favorite book? Why? I have a favorite series. The Little House on the Prairie  series. I wish I could tell you why. I've read the series in completion four times, and I'm a little sad my boys will probably never read the series either.

11. What is your favorite movie? Why? The Notebook. It's a story of following your heart even though everyone else thinks you're wrong. Granted, it's a sappy love story, but if you follow your heart in everything doesn't everything become a love story?

11 Questions for you to answer:

1. Are you spiritual?

2. If you are a runner, how do you cross train? If you don't run, how do you stay fit?

3. What is one song that can transport you anywhere?

4. What is your favorite smell?

5. How do you keep your motivation up?

6. What is your utmost favorite food?

7. An actual book or Kindle/Nook? Why?

8. What is your favorite family/group activity?

9. Solo runs or group runs?

10. Iced tea. Do you take it sweet, with lemon, or none at all?

11. Hats: do you like them? Do you actually wear them?