Pages

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A New PT - New Hope!

Its been 4 weeks since my knee decided to crap out on me. Four weeks in which I have done a total of 3 runs. None of which were over a mile and a half. None of which did not consist of my knee flaring up and having to stop. And looking ahead to my half marathon I have to say that I was worried. What if everything I'd worked for was now impossible. I was pretty sure I could walk the whole thing, but that is NOT how I had planned this journey.

Even if I had not planned it this way, I had come to grips that the most important thing was recovering and working toward the next half marathon. But after one month of some but not much improvement I was looking for answers. So I got the name of a sports rehab specialist from a coworker and made an appointment. I felt bad. Like I was cheating on my other PT. But at the same time this is about my health and body. And I love my other PT, she is so nice and understanding and helpful, but she's not specialized in sports rehab.

And so yesterday I went to see my new PT. We went over all of my symptoms, how the pain started, she evaluated me the same as my other PT and agreed with her assessment that I had some weakness in my inner quads and butt (again I say ALWAYS a good thing to hear that your butt needs work. Thank you Dr. Quinn). What she also did is assess more of HOW my foot strikes the ground, and what she found is that my left foot collapses on the arch A LOT, which is most likely what causes the pain in my outer knee. She fixed a wedge under my insole, taped my knee up and told me to go run that night. To see if I could run 3 miles without pain, and continue if I could go further. She also showed me a few additional exercises to strengthen my butt, as well as how to reengage my fibular head (which is where my pain is), if it begins hurting during a run. Real life examples of what to do to help myself when NOT at the doctors office.

I went to the gym that night and got on a treadmill. Still going at a slower pace (5.5 on the treadmill - about 10.5min/mile). I reached 3 miles and no pain. So I kept going. Four miles passed......little to no pain. I stopped about half way through mile 5 to work on my knee for the slight pain and then kept going. And by 5 miles reached I was still good. I was in awe. WHAT?! Five miles was what was on my ORIGINAL training schedule for that night. A schedule I had revised like 5 times since I hurt my knee. So that's where I stopped.

After one hour in her office she had seemed to figure out what the root cause of my problem was. And suddenly I had hope. I didn't think I could run the whole half, but this gave me hope that I could at least do portions of it and not suffer pain. The great thing though is that it wasn't as if she said that what I'd been doing for the last month was wrong. She reaffirmed that I'd been working to fix the problem, and that obviously my gait had changed and things were getting better. BUT she gave me a solution. Not just fixes.

So here I sit. Hopeful. And for now that is all that matters.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Friendsgiving

After college I started a little tradition of Friendsgiving...or what I have entitled my Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving Feast. The holidays are all about spending time with family; but my friends are also my family and before we all head off every year I love being able to pull all of us together to enjoy the same thing we will with our family. A Thanksgiving feast! With all the trimmings.

I've been doing it now for 5 years, and every year is different. Each year has a new obstacle to overcome (typically its with one of the side dishes going awry). One year it will be not having enough space to cook all the food and transporting the turkey from one location to another (cooked - with the juices going all over the car...awesome smell afterward let me tell ya). The next year it will be the turkey not being cooked on time. THIS YEAR was the mashed potatoes. My beloved potatoes. MY FAVORITE PART of thanksgiving.

I tried a new recipe this year, and must have mismeasured or something....added to much milk to quickly and they became mushed potatoes. A somewhat runny potatoes that were not clear mush but not real potatoes.....damn it. They did settle somewhat after standing a bit....but not to MY liking. They still tasted good and everyone seemed to like them (as there were ZERO leftovers), but it was my own personal disaster.

BUT besides that it was a wonderful day. Full of friends, food, drinking, football. I find myself constantly reminded of how blessed I am. To be surrounded by such amazing people. My friends and family are the most wonderful source of love and support for me. The only thing missing from the day was my sister who was unfortunately stuck home sick. But I did send her leftovers that she was able to enjoy days later when she regained her taste for food.

Hoping everyone else is able to spend their holidays truly grateful for what they have in their lives. Because no matter how hard things may get, and how hard our lives can sometimes seem the one thing we should realize is that typically we're better off than majority of the population. We're unbelievably spoiled in our lives and if I can provide only a portion of the happiness in my life to those around me then I can feel like I've done at least something right.

Peek a boo!

My organizational skills at their best...damn I'm a nerd


Turkey - all wrapped in love and yumminess!

Mom helping with the prep work



more organization



veggies extreme!



the aftermath...yum yum delicious
Ms. Rich and I pregaming 
its as big as my FACE!


All decked out for the party!





Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The 30 day challenge....Update

Approximately 17 days ago I set off on a 30 day Bikram challenge....I made it successfully through 12 of those days (Yay me!). And now I sit 2 days later having not gone to yoga for the last 2 days. :(

When I set out on this journey it was to give myself something of a challenge while I was on a 'no run' ruling. And believe me it was challenging. The first week was amazing. Each day I went and I felt wonderful. I was motivated and excited each day to go. It was how I felt cleansed at the end of the day. Then in the second week I had a few days of being 5 minutes in and thinking "dear lord get me the hell out of this room."

But I pushed through those times and when I got out I DID feel better. It was my own inner struggle. But I think I then pushed it too hard. I thought I could do everything at once. I could do yoga AND my personal training sessions (which kick my ass to the wall by the way), and I'd be all happy and fit and things would be great. Well apparently I'm not superwoman. Go figure (and damn I'd been banking on that fact!). On day 13 my body failed me. I just didn't have the energy to do it. I fought internally with myself for several hours before class saying 'Yes you can do it. You've had tough days before and its just one of those.' It wasn't a fight to prove how bad ass I am. Or how fit I was. It was a fight to prove that mentally I could concur anything, and I felt by NOT going that I was somehow failing myself.

So hours later, I had to come to grips that maybe I should listen to my body and that it wasn't a failure on my part. And that maybe the failure would've been if I had pushed myself to go and ended up fainting or getting it injured. I made the decision not to go and to preserve my energy and start again the next day if I felt I could handle it. And I'm even more grateful now that I could understand my body's limits because the next day I got sick and was in bed for 2 days.

I'm only now feeling back to 100% and reevaluating where to go from here. I know that to just hop right back in would most likely put me right back into bed, so for now I'm going to just plan to go to try and do yoga when I can along with my personal training sessions. I think for me the lesson in all this is realizing that while I love and need to be ambitious I also need to not view every set back as a failure. There are twists and turns in the road, and its how you respond to where your path takes you that really defines you. Without setbacks there is no room for growth. And what I want most in this life is to constantly grow and improve myself. Hopefully I can be that person.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Physical Therapy and Keeping Perspective

Yesterday was my fourth physical therapy session since my knee brought me to a point where I couldn't just work through it on my own. The first two sessions were pretty much just an analysis of my legs. Bending/stretching/rotating them all of the place to see what hurt, where my strenghts laid and trying to define the root of the problem. After those first two sessions last week the thought is primarily that it is an IT Band issue. I'm working through it by taping my knee, icing, elevating, stretching my IT band and using my foam roller.

This week my two sessions consisted of 1) video taping me running on a treadmill; and 2) using an ultrasound machine on my knee and some soft tissue work. I got on the treadmill on Monday and ran for about a mile at a 10 min pace. It actually felt pretty good too. There wasn't really any pain during the run. We sat down after and reviewed the tape to see if something in my run was actually affecting my knee. Overall my PT told me I had a pretty great form. Wasn't bouncing too much, striking the ground in a good way, legs looked strong. Only problem was when we got a look from the back. Seems like I'm doing some kind of slight swing kick out with my left foot which could be causing my pain. Only thing is trying to figure out WHY my foot does that.

We also tested my leg strength to see if maybe I'm over compensating some where. After doing some strength tests she said my outer quads and hamstrings are really nice and strong. But I could use a little work on strengthening the inner quads as well as the butt...GREAT. Isn't that what EVERY girl wants to hear? But at least its getting closer to pinpointing what the heck I really need to do to FIX this versus just NOT running. So she gave me a couple more exercises to specifically target my problem areas, and she'll be working with another one of the physical therapists while looking at my video to try and identify what is happening with that left foot.

Other things to note from my PT sessions....looks like overall my hips are aligned evenly, my right leg is actually slightly longer than my left, but only by about a centimeter so nothing crazy to worry about. The shoes I bought at RoadRunner Sports seem to be good for my running form, but I may need to look at better shoes for normal day to day wear (e.g. less high heels and more shoes with good arch support - damn it).

But other than that they seem to keep telling me that I did all the things I should've done right. (because that makes this so much LESS frustrating....riiiiight). But we seem to be honing in on what I need to do to get going, but in all honesty I feel like once again the answer is not going to be an easy fix. Its going to mean me going to the gym and actively working on weak areas, etc. Which, hey it'll be a process...but you gotta put in the time for the things you love right? Because I COULD just say screw it. I'll just stop running, the pain will go away and then we wouldn't be having these conversations right? But I DO love it, and I'm NOT willing to give it up, or take the easy road.

I've got two more weeks of physical therapy and then it will be a meeting between my normal physician and the PT to decide a course of action from there. But one way or another we're going to figure out a course of action. And one way or another I'm crossing that finish line in Vegas. For the half marathon course you have 4 hours to complete it, which is roughly an 18 minute and 19 second pace. More than doable, especially if I am able to run at least portions of the course. It may not be the way I originally envisioned completing my first half, but I also have the Cleveland Half in May to think about too. And by then I should be kicking ass and taking names!!!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

My 30 Day Bikram Challenge

I was only about a week into my true "No Run" ruling by my doc, and about 2-3 weeks into my seriously cut back running schedule when I hit a breaking point. Although I'd started to hit up the gym and do more weights and other types of training, my mind and body were both feeling a little less than happy. I wasn't getting nearly the workout I wanted, or was used to at this point. These days I'm used to getting home and running at least 4 miles, or going out and doing the bike, hitting up yoga class, or SOMETHING. And while I've been hitting up the bike and elliptical at the gym, it just wasn't the same because I didn't have those 3-4 times a week where I was able to get out and run.

Running has become a huge cathartic activity for me. It allows me to get out and workout my frustrations with the road, to feel challenged, to have a goal to strive for. And lets face it....if you know me you know that I'm goal driven. That I do best when I have something to aim for. Because I'm a very determined person. I don't like failing. And we saw what happened after college when I all of a sudden did not have a clear set goal path in front of me. I became lazy, I put on weight and became a generally unhappy person. 

Well I'm determined not to let that happen again. Now, let me just say first off that I KNOW I may be a little overworried at this point. REALISTICALLY I know that having to stay off my running schedule for a few more weeks won't kill me and won't dredge me back to the horrible place I was a few years ago. I really DO know this. Especially since I have been keeping up my good eating habits, and my other workouts. BUT, I also know the difference between how I feel when I'm really happy and when I'm not, and how thats affected by the amount of activity I'm getting on a daily basis. 

SO I was in search of something that might give me a new goal for the time being while I heal my knee, and rehab myself into better running shape. Low and behold I already had my answer. I'd received it at the beginning of my training by a good friend of mine (Miss Bulgatz). Bulgatz and I had started talking about training activities for my half way back at the beginning of my training in July. She'd done a couple half marathons before and told me how much easier her second training had gone when she'd added Bikram yoga to the mix, and that was after she'd just finished a 30 day Bikram challenge (doing 30 classes in 30 days - no days off).

Now I'd already been doing bikram/hot yoga on and off throughout my training. I mean you all should know considering HOW MANY times I'm pretty sure I've told you that I LOVE hot yoga. That WAS me right? I said that? I'm not just pretending I'd written that somewhere? Or am I?

Well, 4 months later we come full circle and I started talking to her about it again. And I thought more and more about it. It really made sense. 30 days of going to a class that is fully focused on stretching and strengthening your entire body (and mind might I add). It seemed like JUST what I needed. A brand NEW focus to keep me going and challenged, as well as something that will help strengthen me toward my end goal of doing my half marathon. BINGO! Ding ding ding ding ding! We have a winner. 

So today I sit here on day 6 of my Bikram challenge. Yes I've almost completed the entire first week successfully (woohoo)! And I won't lie to you its been challenging. And I know it will only continue to be challenging as I go on. BUT in the 5 classes I've taken so far I feel happier on a daily basis, I feel more focused, I feel stronger, and my flexibility has already improved dramatically from day 1. The 30 days ends on Tuesday, November 29th. This little plan takes me directly through Thanksgiving (which I think is a complete blessing!). Not only will it keep me focused/balanced, it will help me survive the first of the holidays this season without going overboard. 

I can't wait to see what the rest of the challenge brings my way, and how I feel at the end given how I feel after just this first week.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Knee That Just Wouldn't Cooperate

By now, most of you know that for the last few weeks I've been having problems with my left knee. What started out as just a slight pain turned into something that side-lined me for two weeks of training, and stopped me completely mid-race.

Well on Monday, October 24th I got to go to my doctor to start figuring out WHAT was wrong. The recap....they're not REALLY sure. My doctor came in and tested my range of motion, putting pressure on my knee, my heel, twisting me, poking me, prodding me...trying to provoke my symptoms. Well of course, now that I was FINALLY in my doctor's office, my knee didn't seem to want to show any signs of pain. Perfect. Freaking figures my body won't cooperate. Of COURSE my body wanted to be difficult and be the oddball...would anyone expect ANY less from me? Seriously? :)

Well it turns out maybe that's a good thing when it comes to my knee. Because it was a sign that there is no tear in the tendons/ligaments/meniscus. There was no swelling or tenderness to the touch, and the twisting and pressure giving no pain was also a good sign that there was stress fracture either. Nothing appeared in my exam that would give the doc cause for significant worry, or additional testing (e.g. MRI, x-ray, etc). Well that's all great news (seriously it is) but COME ON! Give me a diagnosis! Tell me what I can do! And in a way she did..but it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear.....No running for a month.....that was the original order.

I guess I say goodbye to the half.....not so fast she says. My doc seems to think if I keep up my endurance training (low/non-impact), that I could still run my half...IF my knee gets better. In the meantime I was ordered to physical therapy twice a week for the next month. Well I wasted no time called up the PT office and made my appointment for a couple hours later.

I went in and basically got a more in depth evaluation than my first doctor did. Lots more twisting, pressing on my ankles, testing strength in my legs....trying to provoke my knee pains. Nothing really happened, except for when they'd ask me to flip from my back to my stomach, or when I'd lower my leg down from some random position. I have to grimace at the fact that I'd have the pain on the most RANDOM times....but it also makes me laugh because it 100% matches my personality. Go figure. I'm a quirky chick.

After the first session, there really wasn't any specific diagnosis other than what they could rule that it WASN'T. Again, no thoughts of any real tears to tendons/ligaments etc. Probably that my knee was just irritated with the increases in distance and pace. Maybe an IT band issue, or patella tracking. They gave me a couple of leg strengthening exercises to do while I'm not running and then we scheduled the remaining appointments.

I will say that it was hard NOT to be downhearted at the end of that day at the doctors office. I mean....I continuously thank my lucky stars that I didn't do something TERRIBLE to my knee, BUT it is almost MORE frustrating to sit in this limboland. To have no idea what caused it, and to not know a straight path as to how to fix it and get back on my feet (literally). I sat in bed that night wondering how in the world I could make my training schedule work with being off my runs for a month. That would mean I'd be cleared to run MAYBE on the 17th of November, which would give me only a week and a half before the taper week for race day. Could I really just hop back on and do an 8 or 9 mile run in that time, and then be prepared to bust out 13.1 on race day? And would that be smart?! Because after no running on the knee I feel like just hopping back into that distance would probably work ON race day, but afterward I'm sure that my knee would be putting up a major fight. But maybe it wouldn't....TOO MANY MAYBES!

I guess its just a wait and see game. Which SUCKS for me because I don't tend to have much patience to just wait and see what happens....I think for me its going to be a new type of training. Training my mind to deal with things one day at a time, and not allow myself to get downhearted before the game has ended. Because nothing is ever lost. Maybe delayed but never lost. Because you can always change, adapt and grow. You just have to have a little faith... a little hope...a little strength.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Training Week #15

So as you know, during week 14 I had started feeling quite a bit of pain in m knee and so for week 15 in the training schedule I got a free guest pass to LA Fitness by my work and each day I'd go in and do the bike for 40 minutes. NO PAIN! YAY! I didn't even try to walk Green Lake (grumble grumble). Nothing with an impact that could set back my knee. If it hurt my knee I stopped immediately. Icing it every night, I even went and got an IT band roller to work out my leg (at the advice of multiple running friends). 

After a full 5 days of no running, and no pain it was Dawg Dash 10k time. The morning of the race I felt good. I'd been able to go up and down stairs with no pain, walking around with nothing hurting and so I thought it was a sign of my knee healing up. 

I started the race and felt pretty good for the first mile. I had a slight twinge one mile in, but it quickly subsided and I thought it was just part of my body getting warmed up since it went away. Throughout mile 2 it started to kick in a lot more though. Especially on the hills. I ended up having to stop and walk for little pieces, resting the knee and when I'd start back up the pain would subside. And then it'd increase and I'd have to walk. This continued through mile 2 and 3. During Mile 4 it started to be pretty damn excruciating. I was basically running in constant pain and bending my knee was starting to get pretty difficult. 

I'd made it a little over the 4 mile mark and at this point was pretty much just walking. And by walking I mean limping. And by limping I mean hobbling along being able to walk with my right and pretty much being locked leg on my left because bending my knee made me want to scream. And at this point in the race I was on a very narrow path. Runners for the 10k going both directions (there was a turn around at one point on the path). And I was pretty much directly in everyone's way. AWESOME. Given the amount of pain just hobbling around, I stopped and told a volunteer I was injured and needed to be brought back to the finish. Well apparently these volunteers SUCKED. No way to communicate with the main camp and no way to transport injured people off the course....SERIOUSLY PEOPLE?! At the 26th Annual Dawg Dash you have NOT YET figured out that people get injured and MAY need help getting off the course?!?! I wanted to bitch slap the idiot volunteers who told me I would just have to WALK the last 2 miles back. If I COULD walk I WOULD you freaking MORON!!!

Luckily, the point in the course was just directly across from the parking lot we'd parked in. So I texted my mom and told her to meet me at the car, and then proceeded to hobble my ass down the hill and across the street to the lot. By this point I'm infuriated. Infuriated at the incompetent volunteers, at the horrible pain in my knee and the fact that I see the last almost 4 MONTHS of training slipping out from under me.....I'm basically a MONTH till race day and I can't run 4 miles without my knee going out of commission....W. T. F.

The rest of the day was spent with my knee iced and elevated. Most of which I could not bend it without pain. But by the evening my range of motion had improved drastically, and I had my cousin Annie running me through some positions via phone (btw Annie you're thebomb.com! Thank you for dealing with my depressed as via phone to help figure out what the heck was going on!) to try and figure out if I'd done something severe to my knee. I was able to do a lot of the movements without pain which was a good sign. And luckily a week ago during the 7 miler I couldn't finish I'd been smart enough to request an appointment with my doc. 

Through it all I was trying to keep my motivation and positive frame of mind. That this was NOT going to sideline me for this race. That I'd push through. Figure out a solution......because nothing is EVER lost. 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Training Week #14

This week is not as happy as the last.... Started off the week by taking a break on Monday. After the awesome 7 miler I did on Sunday my legs were pretty freaking tired. So I took it as a sign to rest and stretch.

Tuesday rolls around and Jenny and I headed out around Green Lake for a nice 4.5 mile run (since when do I think this is NICE?! I remember when I looked at the 1 mile on my schedule like a death trap!). Felt great the whole time until about the last mile. Started feeling a slight bit of tightness in my outer left knee. Nothing too crazy but it was definitely uncomfortable. The following day when I woke up it continued to give me some slight irritation, and so for my own well being I decided not to push it the rest of the week. Didn't run Wednesday, Thursday, and then Friday/Saturday when my leg felt better I only went out for a walk. 

I will tell you that this SUCKED. After the training program I've been on for over 3 months having 3-4 days of pretty much NOTHING was just plain annoying. I felt trapped in the house, needed to have SOMETHING going on. It was just playing tricks on my mind!! But I know that pushing through an injury is not always a great idea. 

So Sunday morning rolls around and my knee is feeling good. No pain and so I headed out for my long run. Another 7 miler. I headed out and everything felt great. Around 1.5 miles in I felt a slight twinge in my left knee again, but it quickly passed and I continued on the run. Come to mile 3 and I have a pretty consistent twinge. Nothing major, nothing that makes me think whoa this hurts BAD I NEED to STOP! I get right at the start of mile 4, and my knee buckles slightly....and the pain starts. With this I stop....I walk it out a little and its got a pretty steady pain going through. I try stretching it, and then a slight jog....still painful. So I stop. 

Heading home to ice and elevate.....severely PISSED off. I mean come on! WHAT is going ON!? I'd rested it, I'd iced it, I'd elevated, stretched....everything I could do to give it time to recoop. And now its worse?! And what ticks me off even more is that overall I felt GREAT on the run. My stomach was great, my heart rate was great, breathing great, felt energized and ready to go! But my damn knee had different thoughts in mind. 

And I kinda wallowed in this for about an hour. Getting upset that after ALL of my hard work this was going to set me back. But I reminded myself that I had 6 weeks till race day. Better to rest it now than make it worse and really count myself out. So I bucked up and figured out an alternative. What could I do to keep myself from going stir crazy, get in a workout to keep up my cardio endurance so when I start running again I don't keel over. The Gym! Week 15 here I come!


Monday, October 10, 2011

Training Week #13 - Let FALL begin

So week 13 has turned out to be quite the week let me tell ya! After a beautiful sunny weekend with 85 degree weather in San Diego I returned to 60 degree weather (sometimes chillier) and rain.....oh. yay.

Needless to say our beautiful summer (or lack thereof) is gone, and we're now in full swing of Fall weather. Gotta get used to it though. Vegas in December...at NIGHT...going to be CHILLY..frigid even. So as much as I am tempted to go run on a treadmill inside (although I HATE treadmills), I will refrain and suck it up. Get tough!! It's all for the greater good right?!

Other than the chillier weather though the week went pretty damn smoothly. Monday evenings training was somewhat difficult as I'd been up since oh 4am getting ready to get on a plane return to Seattle, and put in a full days work. BUT I sucked it up and did a 6 mile bike ride. Not the original plan (I was GOING to run but that thought was somewhat painful as I sludged through my work day). The quads got a GREAT workout, and I felt good that I'd at least gotten a cross train in. Tuesday and Thursday were my run days. Getting in two great 4 mile runs. My pace on both days were sub 9 minute miles. Pretty damn good if I do say so myself! My timing seems to be getting better, but its not by anything that I'm specifically trying to do. I'm not forcing a faster pace it just seems to be coming in on its own. Wednesday and Saturday were hot yoga days....again I have to give my love for hot yoga a major shout out. I mean it really just cleanses me mind, body and spirit (Am I becoming a hippie? Has Seattle gone to my head????)

Sunday was the long run. First 7 miler of the training series. Jenny and I went out to Alki Beach (my most beloved spot for a run I must say), and somehow I pulled off one of the best runs I've EVER done. It was a pretty decent evening out. Not really too cold or windy (Thank GOD!). I had some pretty stupid stomach issues to deal with along the way but it didn't hinder my pace. I ended up at an 8:51 pace....ummm HOW?! No idea. It was my first 7 miler and yet somehow I managed to pull out a better average time than I had with any of my previous long runs.....will I take it?! YES!

Vegas looks so close yet so far still, but as I have no surpassed the halfway point in mileage I'm feeling more and more comfortable and confident at how the race will go.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Training Week #12 - 2 months till VEGAS!

This week's training did not necessarily go as well as I would've hoped. It didn't necessarily go BADLY, but I think my expectations were a little higher. I had planned to have 4 run days (totaling 18 miles) and a cross train day, with the long mileage being 6 miles. And those 6 miles were being run in San Diego.

Well I only had 3 run days and one walk day. After doing our 8 mile hike on Saturday, a 6 mile run on Sunday, I woke up Monday and decided that it was going to be a rest day. The body (and knee) needed some recovery time and I didn't want to push it too hard. Tuesday I set off as planned and ran my 4 miles. Feeling good but definitely could tell I was still tired from all the weekend activity. Wednesday was my walk night and just did a nice walk around the lake with mom. Thursday was supposed to be another 4 mile run, but around 2pm my body tanked on me. I was dizzy, lightheaded, and feeling sick to my stomach. I thought maybe I just hadn't eaten enough. Took down a granola bar. No help. Got home, took a little nap, and woke up still feeling the same. By about 6pm when nothing had changed I thought I should TRY to get something down. So I had some ground turkey meat and veggies I'd cooked the night before. Not kidding, two minutes after I took in the turkey I started feeling better. Apparently my body needed protein FAST! 

Needless to say even though I felt better I wasn't going to push it and try to run. But the next morning I woke up feeling great and didn't have to get into work until a little later so I did a quick 3 mile run. It was still rough. Given it was at 6:30 in the morning and very very cold. Probably shouldn't have pushed it so soon but that's a lesson to learn! 

Saturday was my attempted 6 miler in San Diego. I pulled out 5, which I have to say I'm pretty proud of. SD was WAY different than running in Seattle. Probably a lot of it was the mental factor. I'd been prebuilding that it was gonna be a rough run. So I think i MADE it rough. But it was also at 6:30 in the morning, after going out the evening before and having a few cocktails. It was also VERY humid that morning. By 6:30 there was no marine layer at the beach and was bright and sunshiny. I loved it don't get me wrong, but made for a more interesting run. 

So the week was not as successful as it could've been, but overall still pretty good. And given that I seemed to have exhausted myself the weekend before I think I was wise not to push it too hard and risk injury. This week also marked the end of basically 3 months of consistent training. WOOT WOOT! 2 months (and a week technically) to go!! Vegas baby!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The runner's bug....have I caught it?!?!

Now I have to start this post off by reminding everyone that when I started this venture into running a half marathon I HATED RUNNING...I mean I pretty much LOATHED it. I used to watch people running by me around Green Lake thinking, "No one running ever REALLY looks happy to be doing it. That's just STUPID. I will NEVER think to myself at the end of a days work...wow I really wish I could go run 5 miles right now. That would feel GREAT!"  Well....3 months into my training I'm sitting here eating my own words. Typical.

I should've KNOWN never to say never. It's like when I used to say "I will NEVER say that all I want is a nice cold beer right now." (Yeah that one was stupid too)...or "I will NEVER like coffee! It tastes like crap!".....Now here I sit an avid coffee drinker, who on a hot Saturday or Sunday afternoon while watching football, or at a baseball game, or just sitting at my house will think DAMN a nice cold beer would be AWESOME! Pass me one please! Yeeeahhhh...obviously I should realize by now that things I say NEVER about ALWAYS go the opposite way.

So here I am now and I'm pretty sure I've caught that runners bug...I've got the runners high. I'm sitting here still 2 months away from my first half marathon and I'm already planning my NEXT races. I'm adding to the list of what can I do next, where will I run?! And it changes on a daily basis at this point.

I've OFFICIALLY signed up for my second half marathon. The Cleveland Rite-Aid Half Marathon on May 20, 2012. I'll be running it with my Uncle Bill, cousin Lizzie, and any of the other cousins/fam that decide to participate :)

But as for the other races..those things are all still being tossed around in my head. Currently the races I'm considering are as follows:

Disney Princesses Half Marathon (Orlando, FL) - February 2012
Nisswa Marathon (Full - in Minnesota) - end of April 2012
Seattle R&R Half Marathon - end of June 2012
Las Vegas R&R Full Marathon - December 2012

Yeah.....lots of races....lots and lots and lots. I'll either stick with the half marathons for the first part of 2012, and then branch out to the Full Marathon NEXT December in Vegas, or I'll eliminate the other half marathons and do the Full in Minnesota...tough choices.

NOT to mention the fact that I'm trying to figure out when I will do my first triathlon now....crazy CRAZY CrAzY!!! The Seattle TriRock (put on by the same crew that does the Rock & Roll marathon series) is Summer of 2012....

Anyway. Needless to say I think the verdict is in and I'm officially addicted. Katie was right...she told me before she left that I would love it. That I just needed to get started and I would be hooked. Well Katie...congratulations on your prediction! It came true! :)

Now the question is...what's next?!

Halfway There!! Rock on!

Can you BELIEVE IT?! I can't!

11 weeks of 21 weeks COMPLETE! Over half way there and ALMOST half way through the mileage. We'll be running the 6 milers for a few more weeks, but then we up to 7 in week 14! And I will OFFICIALLY be over the half point in mileage.

YOU CAN DO IT BABY! ROCK ON!

Training Week #11

HALF WAY POINT GOT REACHED THIS WEEK! Wahoo!

BUT starting the week we've had a little snafoo....Not sure how but I seemed to have tweaked my right knee a little. I never felt anything weird on my runs or as I was doing yoga or whatnot...but Monday morning I woke up and had slight stiffness and soreness on the inside of my right knee. I was able to stretch it out and it didn't hurt at all on my run so I was thinking it was ok, but as the week progressed the weird feeling in my knee continued.

It never really HURT. Just felt...different.

I did a 4 mile run on Monday and a 3.2 mile run on Tuesday. Didn't push it to 4 on Tuesday because of my knee, and then Wednesday I took the day off to rest it, and only walked on Thursday (albeit 6 miles walked, but at a leisurely pace). And it actually felt GOOD to get my legs going. Warmed up the knee and the pain was gone. It only seems to really feel WEIRD when I've been sitting at work all day, in the cold office building and then get up to move around. Its just stiff.


So after a couple days off it seemed to be feeling a little better, and I was jonesing for a run....I know I should probably rest it more but it didn't seem to be hurting much. But to be careful I went to my local Road Runner sports (my fave store now) and asked the rep about something to help support my knee. I bought a Pro-Tec knee band and strapped it on for my 3.2 miler that night. And the knee felt great throughout the run! No pain no weirdness. And I stretched it super long that evening.

The pain seemed to be even less Saturday morning when I woke up so I'm thinking the band is helping majorly! I strapped it on that morning as me, Jenny and Jillian set off for our 8 mile roundtrip hike to Lake Serene (see Lake Serene post for pics and details). Got through the hike with no real pain in the knee and even went on a leisurely walk that evening to keep the blood flowing through.

Another walk the next morning and then our 6 MILE run that evening. FIRST 6 miler of the training block and finished it with a 9:30min/mile pace! Wahoo! Feels good to know that I'm almost half way up there in the mileage, and now I'm halfway through the training block. The 6 mile run was down on Alki. Which I have to say is surely becoming one of my favorite spots to run. Makes me feel like I'm in San Diego, but keeps me firmly grounded in Seattle as I watch the Seattle city skyline across the Puget Sound. Absolutely beautiful. And to make the run even better it was rounded out because I had Jenny and Jillian both along for the ride. I honestly feel like running with friends is one of the things that gets me through all these training sessions. Gotta stick together right?

At the end of the week my knee is feeling better, much more with the support of the knee band. And I'm hoping that if I continue to take it easy on the knee it will be all good to go. BUT to be safe I've scheduled a full physical on Tuesday, October 4th, just to be safe. Want to make sure the knee and everything else with the body is good and set for the last half of my training. :)

And now for the weekly recap of stats!


WEEK 11 STATS (Sept 19 - Sept 25)

Total Miles Run - 16.6
Total Miles Planned- 18


Long Run - 6 miles
Total Miles Walked - 12
Lake Serene Hike - 8 miles

Training Week #10

Training week 10!!! Holy cow we're almost to the half way point! Can't believe that we're already to this point though. I mean it does NOT seem like I've been training that long. And while it doesn't it does at the same time...but then I can't believe that I STILL have another 11 weeks after this...and yet again I DO believe it. Am I making ANY sense to ANYONE?! Hopefully because I'm pretty sure I don't understand what I just wrote.

Moving on. Week 10 was actually a pretty standard week. So this week I had two 3.6 mile runs, a hot yoga night and then a 5 mile run on Sunday. TWO rest nights this week but only because one of the days I was just BEAT after work and couldn't muster it up to go do anything. Ehh oh well. I've typically been doing 4 runs a week, a cross train and then one rest day. And really my rest days are a walking evening. Because I still like to have movement in my legs. Nothing crazy. Not a high paced walk or anything. Just something to keep the blood flowing and keep me feeling active. I've now started feeling like a loadtoad if I am not out at least walking or something. Gotta feel productive at the end of my day! So I don't feel bad that for one week I took an extra rest day.

The one cross training I DID do this week was hot yoga....and oh let me tell you I LOVED IT. I don't think I've said enough how MUCH I LOVE hot yoga. Well just know that I do. It just works you to the core and cleanses you mind body and soul. I sound hippyish but oh well...I live in Seattle right?! Where all the hippies are.....

This was also coupled with A LOT of walking around on Saturday and Sunday as my friend Rosie came to visit from SD! We went around and saw the sights. Walked Pike Place and just thoroughly enjoyed a relaxed touristy weekend...complete with rain in TRUE Seattle tradition :)

My average pace for the week ranged from 9min/mile to 9:20/mile so things seem to be going pretty well on the pacing side. Not TRYING to go fast at all, just going with what my body tells me. 

And for all you stat keepers out there here's the facts for the week!

WEEK 10 STATS (Sept 12 - Sept 18)

Total Miles Run - 12.2
Total Miles Planned- 12

Total Miles Walked - 3
Hot Yoga Classes - 1

Long Run - 5 miles

Athleta Iron Girl - 5k Race # 2!

My SECOND official race! This one was conveniently located right outside my house at Green Lake. Not gonna lie...this was phenomenal. I was able to wake up early, enjoy the morning without racing around getting ready and then just walk down to the course. Green Lake was SWAMPED! Almost 1500 people in just the 5k....and another 500 or so in the 10k. PLUS there were mother daughter teams signed up.....it was Ridiculous....seriously....ridiculous.

I knew going into this that the course would be swamped. I mean, Green Lake on an average day can be hard to maneuver with strollers, bikers, casual walkers, kids playing around etc. Cram 2000 people on the course and its gonna get sticky. Especially when you put everyone on the outer path which is WAY smaller than the inner path. So given all this I knew that this wasn't going to be a course that I could set any kind of PR on. I was just trying to improve upon the last race. That meant RUNNING the WHOLE. FREAKING. THING! (my first race still bums me out to this day....) And then learning from the mistakes I made. Not jumping into the middle group where I'd be forced to up my pace to get around the walkers...etc....

Well this race I did just that. I waited for everyone to go before I started thinking I'd have some clear room...WRONG. Because the course was much smaller of a path, waiting till the end actually on made it WORSE to dodge people. I spent 90% of the race weaving in and out of the groups of people there. Even after I got out of the huge groups you'd have smaller groups just walking or running 5 people wide. Now I know that some of these people are doing it more for just fun and having conversation while they run or whatever....but on such a tight course it was SLIGHTLY annoying.

Not to mention it was a VERY warm day again. Lucky me. Race day seems to have been the time for Seattle to be gorgeous.

BUT I finished the race without walking and made it in about the same time I did my first race. Still at about 30 minutes with a 9:40/mile pace. No PR, but close! Ranking wise I did pretty well too! I ranked 40th out of 210 in my division (age range 25-29), and 40th out of the 1432 5k participants. That means I was in the top 20% of racers my age and in the top 3% of all 5k participants. Not too shabby right??? For my second race I think NOT! I'm pretty sure though that most people participating were more in it for fun than the actual idea of racing or setting great times. So I take the results with a grain of salt....but then I think I'm PRETTY DAMN AWESOME :)

Sorry...ego boost that I had to give myself right there. :)

Check out the race results and my Athlinks profile at the links below!


Athleta Iron Girl 5k Race Results
http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php#racetop

My Athlinks Account
http://www.athlinks.com/racer.aspx?rid=101108156

Training Week #9

After last week's amazing 40 minute 5 miler I started off the training week pretty freaking excited :)

I think the most contagious thing about running for me so far has been the ability to take on new mileage, new running spots and come out successful. There are the every once in awhile snags but for the most part I've been able to conquer the goals I've been setting and thats ALWAYS encouraging. Not to mention I've had the support from my amazing running partner Jenny, as well as friends/family along the way. Running with me, sending love, whatever.

This week was quite the ambitious week as I was taking on my typical mileage PLUS the Athleta Iron Girl 5k. Hitting almost 20 miles in the week is somewhat crazy now that I sit back and look at the mileage I pulled in. Not to mention that 2 of the days were in Minnesota, one day was after being up since 3am to catch a flight back from MN, working that whole day and THEN running, and then doing a 5 miler all by myself. It was a continuous reminder that when you set your mind to something you can do it! And listen to me Miss Suzie Sunshine blah blah blah blah blah... Don't mind me I think it may just be the runner's high! :)

My second 5 miler was nowhere near as impressive as the first, but I put that largely due to the fact that I'd already run 10.5 miles during the week, traveled back from Minnesota and was just tuckered out. Plus I was also running solo. Which, don't get me wrong I love getting out on the road and just running, but I feel I truly push myself to do better when I have my friends with me. It's just a feeling of working toward a goal versus a leisurely run. Totally a mental game (and lets face it we all know I'm a little cooky). One of the MANY mental facets of running I'm still trying to figure out how to overcome. Pushing myself when NO ONE is watching. Tricky tricky tricky I tell ya.

Anyway - the week capped off with the Athleta Iron Girl 5k, which is its own post all on its own so enough about that for now!

Week 9 complete! 12 more to go! Technically this would be where the TRUE Hal Higdon training schedule would start....and I'm right on track. His training schedule suggests you be running 3-5 miles roughly 3-4 times a week at this point and looky looky! That is EXACTLY what I'm doing! Wow...its as if someone PLANNED it that way...oh wait that would be me :)

Happy running!

WEEK 9 STATS (Sept 5 - Sept 11)

Total Miles Run - 18.6
Total Miles Planned- 15.1

Hot Yoga Classes - 1

Long Run - 5 miles

Races Completed - Athleta Iron Girl 5k

End of Summer - Minnesota Style!

Labor Day weekend....the culmination of all things summer....damn it...did i GET a summer this year?! Well given that Seattle's summer only started oh 3 weeks prior to Labor Day it seems weird to already be saying goodbye to it....but such is the life of a Seattlite. 

I was lucky enough this year to be able to jet off somewhere new for Labor Day while being brought back together with old friends. Minneapolis was the destination to visit my fabulous roomie (I refuse to call her my ex-roomie btw) Katie. We may live thousands of miles apart but we are still and will always be roomies :)

By the time I arrived it had been two months since she'd moved back to Minnesota and I think we were both ready for the return of some normalcy....even if we were not in our old apartment and in a completely different state. We were reunited....and it feeeeels so good! Sorry....I'll stop singing...promise!

The weekend was exactly what I had asked for and exactly what the doctor ordered. I arrived Thursday evening and Katie and I made dinner at her house and sipped on some wine, catching up on ALL the things that happened over the last couple months. We'd been saving up all the good stories from our phone convos because we knew that dishing in person would be so much better. 

Friday was a chill day as Katie headed out to work and I used the day to detox from work and life in general. Getting a nice 3.5 mile run in and exploring her neighborhood.....I will say that somehow I got lost on my run (Still not ENTIRELY sure how)....considering it was supposed to be a loop around the lake....only THIS girl could get lost when supposed to be running in a circle :)

We headed north that afternoon to Katie's hometown to enjoy some much anticipated homemade cooking, lake time and family time with the Rasinski clan. The weekend consisted of some true Minnesota activities!! Horseback riding, apple picking, driving tractors, bonfires, a turkey feed, tubing, waterskiing, and just enjoying the amazing outdoors. I honestly can say that this was THE BEST weekend I've had in a VERY LONG time. It was just refreshing to be in a place where you could be out and about, with family, friends, and having a great time. Her family took me in as their own and I cannot tell you how much it warms my heart. Her mom and dad, Dyana and baby C! I love them to pieces. And this whole trip made me miss my roomie very much though! Leaving Minnesota was almost as hard as the day that Katie moved. 

Its brought some serious thoughts about looking at potential opportunities out in Minneapolis...but those are thoughts to mull over in my head for now.

Here are some pics from the weekend festivities!
























Training Week #8

Going into this week I had just set TWO new PRs....I was totally jazzed up! Thinking "WOW...I'm running uber fast right now! I have NO idea how this is happening but OK! Lets DO this!"......and then my Monday run happened.

Now I'll just start off and say it wasn't anything bad. I didn't get injured, I didn't do anything badly, my pace was still god (9:23/mile)...but I didn't finish my run. I had set out for my 3.5 mile run after a LONG Monday at work, and knowing I was just a few short days away from heading out to visit Katie in Minnesota. My mind was pretty much just out of whack. I mean WHO could focus when a vacation is coming up?! But I didn't really have a choice and so the day just drained me. Not what I needed when it comes to a run. Also - it was freaking HOT...this is why I don't go running straight after work. I wait till the sun starts going down and things cool off...because I SUCK running in heat.

Well the Monday run only lasted 2.5 miles. And then I just walked it out because my body refused to give me energy to run. First time in the training block that this had happened and it was slightly disheartening. But I chalked it up to the fact that I'd just run two PRs and maybe had pushed it just a little TOO hard.

And I think I was right because the rest of the week was phenomenal. I got two more 3.5 miles completed (one in Minnesota!), and a nice 5 mile walk with one of my favorite KPMGers Kelsey! All in reasonable amounts of time, although my pace dropped to about a 9:50/mile. But I completed the runs and thats all that mattered.

SO then comes my big first 5 MILER! In Minnesota...oh boy. With the running club (Katie, Dyana, Kelsi and Sammy). All of us are signed up for a half marathon (the 4 girls all running in Minnesota, me in Vegas). I already had apprehensions about the 5 miler. It would be my longest distance to date, and I was in Minnesota where I was afraid of the mugginess. Lucky for me it was a pretty cool day when we ran and the muggy really wasn't that muggy. BUT I was also pretty intimidated to run with Katie who has already done a half and is a pretty damn good runner. I had literally told her that she needed to yell at me and keep me going to make sure I completed the 5 miles. I was THAT sure I would have a hard time just getting through it AT ALL.

Well...I knocked myself out of my socks by running that 5 miles in 40 minutes...a freaking 8 MINUTE MILE PACE! I don't believe it still....no idea how it happened...well I'm pretty sure it was due to Sammy our freaking pace setter of the day! But still STUNNED that I actually did it. I mean WHAT?!? It just couldn't be true. BUT it is. So I got to end my week 8 with an amazing PR, not to mention being in Minnesota with my fave roomie ever and her family. All in all it was probably my favorite week of my training to date. :)

WEEK 8 STATS (August 29 - Sept 4)

Total Miles Run - 14.5
Total Miles Planned- 14

Total Miles Walked- 5

New PR: 5 miles in 40 minutes (8 min/mile pace)!!!!!

Training Week #7

So given that I am COMPLETELY behind on my blog posts I'm having to go back through all of my notes on my training calendar to recall WHAT exactly each of the weeks held for me Given that and my stellar memory (and modesty obviously) I'm pretty sure I'll be able to recount each training week as accurately as I possibly can. :)

Week 7 was the week of August 22 - 28...only one week after Alexander was diagnosed with diabetes, and also just happens to be both mom and sister's birthday week. (aka LOTS of good food and celebration).

Going into this week I had the original plan that I needed to kick up my cross training. Add a little more strength training to the schedule so I was building up my non-running muscles outside of my runs....I'll tell you that as I sit now in week 12 I've SOMEWHAT succeeded in this, but only very slightly. I'm still working on integrating the strength training more and more, but its been a slow process to date.

In preparation for this I went and bought some hand weights, kettle bells, jump ropes, etc to aide me in the process. Monday and Wednesday mornings I was GREAT about dragging my butt out of bed at 5:30am and doing my own personal bootcamp out front in the yard across from my place. A great 45 minute workout consisting of 6 stations I'd hit for a minute each, and then doing some stairs and running at the end. But by midweek the waking up at 5:30 was somewhat painful...especially given the fact that it is DARK out at 5:30am now....there isn't the greatest lighting out in front of my place or down by the lake and so getting up to workout in the dark...kinda SUCKS! But I hit my goal of doing it twice this week. GO ME.....and on a side note I haven't done a 5:30am workout since..ha...go me (not so enthusiastically...)

This week marked the last of my 3 mile weeknight runs, and the last of the 4 mile long runs. In week 8 it gets bumped up to 3.5 during the week days and then 5 on the weekends.....to say that the 5 miler is SLIGHTLY intimidating to me is an understatement...AND not to mention my first 5 miler will be in Minnesota...in what I expect will be very muggy hot weather...yay...lets just ADD to my excitement or should I say terrifying FEAR....

But the runs went really well. I was easily able to complete all of my 3 mile runs and the long 4 miler on Sunday and I even set 2 new PRs during the week! I ran 9 minute miles on my last 3 miler, and a 9:20 pace for the last 4 miler...NOT BAD! And not gonna lie the runs were a much needed activity this week with the delicious food we were eating for birthday celebrations (Nick's homemade lasagna...OMG, and Amanda's birthday cake....drop dead DELICIOUS!)

Your weekly recap is as follows:

WEEK 7 STATS (August 22 - Aug 28)

Total Miles Run - 12
Total Miles Planned- 12

Total Miles Walked- 6
Total Miles Biked -3

New PR: 3 miles in 27 minutes (9 min/mile pace)

New PR 4 miles in 37:54 (9:23 min/mile pace)

Monday, September 26, 2011

I am still alive and training!

So I have severely slacked off when it comes to updating my training blog! Sorry guys! With the traveling and training and work I've not wanted to be stuck to my computer for the weekend to update....BUT I'm working on it now!

I've got about 7 new entries I'm working on to catch me up to week 11 of my training! Over halfway there!! Yeah baby! I've reached a new goal in mileage....6 miles now as of last night! Yeehaw! And I'm averaging a 9:30 pace on most of my runs now. Only issue to date is a slight tweak of the knee but its doing great and it really only took me off a day of my running.

Will give you more updates on all the things that have happened and all that's on the horizons this week hopefully!

xoxo
Ames

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

My First Official 5K Run

This past Saturday was my very FIRST official 5k run of my training program. Now I've WALKED a lot of 5k's before, but this is the first that I've ever run...and definitely the first one since I've started the whole process of training for the half. Needless to say I was slightly nervous. I'd been running a 3 mile distance for the last 2 weeks so as far as distance goes I wasn't concerned, but everyone says that race day is different. The adrenaline and such can throw you off.....well let me tell you they are RIGHT

Race time was at 8:15. I was up by 6 and getting out the door by 7. We arrived in Woodinville at Redhook Brewery by 7:30am. I picked up my race packet, including my bib and tracking chip (I felt SO official! Dorky yes I know but it was COOL! ha). And then I had a good half an hour till race time. Lots of stretching and looking around. It was a much larger race than I had anticipated. There was a 10k portion with about 400 people, a 5k run with 55 runners, and then a 5k walk. Not sure how many walkers but there were a LOT of families and strollers!! The run benefited Seattle Children's Hospital (kinda fitting given the week we'd just gone through).

Starting the race I think I made my number one mistake.....starting with the bulk of the pack. It was VERY crowded, and so I ended up trying to dart up past the crowd and make a break for it. BAD IDEA. My pace to start was most likely WAY to quick. Also - it was a lot warmer out than it had been over the last month or so of my training. I'm not one used to running in heat...or humidity. Makes a big difference. I also learned as I started my run that my iPod had not synced up that morning....meaning the two new songs I'd REALLY wanted to add to my playlist were not there...DAMN

BUT I made it the first two miles without stopping. At a really great pace...but then my tank started to run out. Throughout the third mile I had to stop a few times and do 20 second intervals of walking. Regain some strength and energy. But I finished the full last portion of the race from the last turn on the road to the entrance back to Redhook Brewery, and picked up to a nice sprint to finish it off.

Overall, I finished at 30:05, a pace of 9:41/mile, and placed 19th of 55 runners. Given the fact that I had to walk a portion of the third mile, I'm pretty damn impressed with my timing. Shows just how much I'd set the pace at the beginning. And overall, the race itself was a huge learning experience. Made me fully realize the importance of doing some races before the big day in December.

My next 5k run is on September 11th around Greenlake. So close to home! End goal for this 5k is to run the whole thing and pick up the overall pace time. :-)

I've posted links to the race results as well as my Athlinks account! Given that I'll be running more races I learned about Athlinks from a friend (thanks Ryan), in which I can claim my race results all in one spot :-D

Check it out!

Covey Run 5k Race Results
http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php#racetop

My Athlinks Account
http://www.athlinks.com/racer.aspx?rid=101108156

Team Alex - Running for a Cause

As most of you know, I have been training for a half marathon that I will be running in Las Vegas on December 4, 2011. Originally I began this training and decided to also challenge my friends and family to help me raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Well, some of you may or may not know, but last week my nephew Alexander was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

The week started like any other week. I went to work, getting back into the swing of the week and prepping myself mentally for my 3 mile run that night. And then it all changed. With a simple email from my mom telling me that Amanda was bringing Alexander to Seattle Children's Hospital. I immediately freaked out. My mind went to the worst possible scenarios. How could something be wrong with my handsome little man?! He doesn't deserve to feel any kind of pain, and my sister and brother-in-law do not deserve to go through this, to watch their son deal with illness....

So of course my mind was going a million miles a minute. And then another email telling me they were testing for potential diabetes. Still my mind kept going, it wasn't as bad as I had originally made it out to be, but still....this was not something that they should have to deal with.

The next 3 days were spent at Children's Hospital. With the first night being spent in the ICU, Alexander hooked up to an IV and having his blood sugar levels checked every hour. I'm pretty sure the hardest day was the first, at least for me it was. Alexander having IV lines in both arms, being hooked to a machine and all he could do was look to each of us and give the saddest face I'd ever seen. He just wanted us to help him, to take them out of his arms, let him be free. Crying. And we all had to look at him and tell him we couldn't do it. That they were gonna help make him all better. My heart just broke. Over and Over and Over.

After the first day he was able to have the IV's taken out, and we roamed the hospital. Rolling his cars/trucks all over the place. Nurses would laugh and comment that Alexander was quite the roamer! Going ALL over the hospital. He especially loved the Giraffe statues in the hospital. Wanted to be lifted up and touch their noses. During the next few days we all went through a LOT of education. Checking blood sugar levels, counting carbs, insulin injections and the list goes on.

Alexander is home now and everyone is adjusting to the new way of life. And Alex is....Alex. The happy, smiley, laughing, goofy kid we all love. The one that brings more joy than we could ever ask for in our lives. And so he makes it all worth it.

Throughout this whole process I have to say that the thing I'm proudest of is how our family came together. We were all there for each other, as much as we could be. Because I know that there are things that I can't do to make the situation better. No matter how much encouragement we give, support you offer....sometimes there are things that no one else can help you get through. But we can try.

And so with everything that’s happened in the last week with Alexander’s diagnosis, I can’t ignore that there is a new cause that I am determined to devote my time and effort too.

I am still maintaining my fundraising for St. Jude; however, I have decided I can’t wait till the next race to start fundraising for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). So I will be splitting the total campaign effort of $1,500 between St. Jude and JDRF at $750 a piece. I have set up my fundraising page for JDRF and you can now start putting your donations up!

I am so grateful for the amazing family and friends I’ve been blessed with, especially my little man Alexander. And I hope you will take a stand with me and help do all that we can to find a cure. He deserves nothing but the best life that we can give to him, and this is one way that I know I can help support not only him, but Amanda and Nick as well.

I ask that you please support me and more importantly Alexander.
TEAM ALEX ALL THE WAY! SO STRONG!





The link for the website is
http://jdrfevents.donordrive.com/campaign/amybodnar


Love you all
xoxo
Ames

Training Week #6

I'm going to start off this week's update by saying that this was probably one of the hardest but most rewarding weeks of my training so far and for a multitude of reasons. All of which I'll explain below

The training schedule this week ended up going quite differently than originally anticipated. I had planned to get in 2 nights of hot yoga, plus maybe a hike or even a 3rd evening of yoga....but the world works in mysterious ways. Monday afternoon my nephew Alexander was admitted to Seattle Children's Hospital, and was ultimately diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. He spent the next 3 days in the hospital to take his blood sugar levels down, to monitor him, and also to introduce my sister, her husband, my mom and myself to the new lifestyle he was going to live. Training us on testing his blood sugar, counting his carb intake, giving insulin injections, etc. Needless to say a VERY overwhelming week especially for my sister, Nick and Alex. I'll write more detail on the week in another post, as well as the new cause I'm running for.

So given that we were spending majority of our days at the hospital my training schedule went in a slightly different direction. I kept up with all of my run nights, taking in 3 mile runs on Monday and Wednesday, but my crosstraining went to walks around Greenlake. A LOT OF WALKING! I pulled in 15 miles walking this week (6 of which was pulled in on Thursday evening). But it was exactly what I needed...should we say it was what the doctor ordered???? Anyway - my training this week definitely served as catharsis for my overloaded mind. Giving me time to focus on everything my family was going through....and just life in general. More to be discussed on the clarity of what came through in a post to be made at a later date, but all in all much needed think time.

And then I brought in the new addition to my training....CYCLING! Yes thats right. Its one of my new favorite cross train activities. Pulling in 6 miles on the bike in just 2 rides...I'm very proud of my little accomplishments. I know its not a HUGE mileage, but hey! I haven't biked in I don't even know how long, and with all the other activity I'm doing I'm trying not to push too hard. There is no room for error or accidents in this training program!

Also completed during this week was my first official race of the program! The Covey Run 5k run in Woodinville. Another post will be entirely devoted to all race day activities and thoughts. But a very big moment for me in my training program.

At the culmination of the week I felt like I'd made quite the accomplishment. It was a second straight week in which life threw curveballs into the rink and I was able to modify/adjust my training and still come out accomplishing the overall end goals, and in ways surpassing goals I'd had in my own mind. Versatility baby. People always say that trainings and goals can go off course, sometimes never to be returned to because we don't plan for the unexpected. Well hopefully the last two weeks is proof enough in my own mind that I can keep myself focused and reach my end goal....even if life decides it has other ideas for me.


WEEK 6 STATS

Total Miles Run - 9.1
Total Miles Planned - 9.1

Total Miles Walked - 15
Total Miles Biked - 6

Training Week #5

WEEK 5! I'm approximately 24% of the way complete with the 21 week training program. 16 weeks left!
When I say it this way it sounds like there is still so far to go....and there is, but at the same time I look at what I've completed and I think wow its already been 5 weeks?! It honestly doesn't feel that long yet. It does not feel like I have been training for over a month! Is it really possible? I guess so because thats what the calendar says. I think its a positive thing though that I can look forward at the next 16 weeks and still feel totally pumped about the race. That I can still look forward to my nightly training and that I'm actually excited to get into my upper mileage runs. A month or two ago and I would've looked at like you as if you'd been sniffing glue or doing SOME kind of drug. Running was NOT my thing....and it kinda feels like its starting to be.

Anyway - this week was the start of another bump up in the mileage. Weekly run nights are now at 3 miles and weekend long runs are at 4 miles. I also tried out a different hot yoga studio (not bikram). It was a 60 minute class....COMPLETELY different than bikram but was still 'oh so good' in oh so many ways. Challenged me to do yoga positions I never thought I'd be able to do (the crow....holy COW! or should I say crow??? Probably, but you get the gist of it). Its one of my three yoga groupons I've purchased to keep me on the yoga train throughout my program. Gotta say I'm still a yoga lover! Whod've thunk!?

We had our first 4 miler on Sunday August 14th and let me tell you I was WAY nervous. I do not believe that in my entire life I've run over 3 miles at any one point in time.....so adding a mile onto that was kinda freaky. Not to mention that throughout the whole week I still felt like I was recovering from the 3 day trek up the west coast and failing. AND...I had signed up to help my brother-in-law build a deck in his front yard.....yeah me...the NOT very handy girl :)

So Sunday night's run came after two days of labor, followed by a beer and some of Nick's famous hot wings....I was thinking my mind, body (especially tummy) would NOT be ready for the run. But I proceeded to Alki Beach to meet my running partner Jenny at 8pm. Not gonna lie...first 2 miles I was constantly thinking I was an idiot for the beer and the wings and for starting so late in the evening....I kept going "we haven't even made it HALF way! HOW am I going to pull this off?!" Not to mention Jenny was kicking my ass! She was way out in front and looked to be faring much better than I was.

And then we hit the half way mark...FINALLY! My mind started turning toward the positive...you're HALF way there. Keep it UP! My legs for the next half mile protested majorly and I continued to trail behind Jenny. But then the glimpse of Alki Beach shops came back into view and I KNEW we were getting closer. And then my stride kicked in. The legs no longer hurt, my iPod had some GREAT tunes keeping me going, and the lovely shoreline reeled me in. It made it even MORE abundantly clear to me that my real obstacle is my HEAD! Freaking mental blocks are the WORST in a run!

But we finished our first 4 miler with an average mile time of 10 minutes/mile. Pretty stellar! We've been able to keep it at the 10 or under pace since our first start week, and typically only bump up to the at 10 minutes/mile mark when we up our mileage.

That run marked the completion of week 4. Onto week 5 and still going strong!

WEEK 5 STATS
Total Miles Run - approximately 11
Total Miles Planned - 10

Total Miles Walked - approximately 6.5
Hot Yoga Classes - 1

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Training Week #4

This last week's training is something I feel is a testament in my ability to be versatile and stay true to my training schedule. The week began as all other training weeks have been so far. My Monday night run with Jenny for a solid 2 miler. Tuesday night, no Bikram this week unfortunately as I was working on getting packed for my trip down to San Diego, the 3 day trip up the coast with mom, and had limited time to get prepped. So instead I pulled another running night, and did 2 miles around Green Lake on my own. Had to say I was proud of myself. When running on my own I tend to be a little less focused and sometimes find it harder to stay on track. But I did the whole two miles on my own! Yay for me!

Wednesday was my travel day, and so no work out (felt REALLY weird!). But since I missed my run on the previous night, I was determined to make it up. So I woke up at the crack of dawn and was on the road running by 6:45am. I hit the downtown SD waterfront and did another 2 mile run. Let me tell ya something ladies and gents, SD is WAY different than Seattle. It was much more humid and it definitely felt more strenuous to run there. But I pulled it out and did the two miles. Give it I was at a much slower pace, but it got done! I also pulled in my cross training as I normally would on a Thursday, and did it by doing an hour and a half dance class with my fave Bridgie! :)

And then we hit the road for the 3 day coastal adventure....14 hour day on the road Friday. (thank GOD it was my rest night!!). Then Saturday am before we hit the road again I went and ran a mile on the treadmill at the hotel, and did another 5-10 minutes of walking (including going backwards on an incline - oh my buttox is going to look FAB!) Then another 9 hours of driving up the coast. Sunday after a short 3 hour drive I spent the day recooping (2 hour nap man!) and then hanging with the fam. Then met up with Jenny for our 3 miler run that evening.

Almost every night was against what I'd done the last 3 weeks, but I pulled it out and it felt good. To know that my week could go topsy turvy and that I could maintain my progress, and even go further. The 3 miler on Sunday actually felt the best so far, and thats on top of how tired I was from the whole weekend.

And now - I sit looking over the next 17 weeks (yes SEVENTEEN!) and there are no more easy 1 or 2 mile runs. Its 3+ miles from here on out. Its scary, but at the same time invigorating. To know I've completed a solid MONTH of training. And still feel like I'm going strong. So cheers to me and to my fabulous running partner Jenny! We're trucking on and not looking back!

Month 1 - COMPLETE!
Total Miles Run - approximately 30
Total Miles Walked - approximately 10
Total Mileage Completed - 40

I'll report back on what our average mile time is. Just don't have it with me at the moment! :)

xoxo
Ames

A Coastal Voyage!

It has been nearly two years since I've made my move to the Pacific Northwest. TWO years?! Already!? I feel like I just got here yesterday. There can't possibly have been two years that have lapsed that quickly! But yet its the truth. As evidenced by my nearly 2 year old nephew Alexander who was born just one month after I moved up here.

To say that the last two years have been a rollercoaster would be an understatement, but I feel like I've gotten my footing and am thoroughly enjoying this life I've created for myself. Now to say whether or not my life will stay put in Seattle is hard to say. I've definitely still got the itch to experience life in more cities (New York, Chicago, London, etc.) I could absolutely see myself continuing to skip around states for awhile. There's so much to see and live and experience I almost can't stand it! But all that will come soon enough!

I do know that for at least the next couple of years I will be staying put in Seattle, and that is largely due to the fact that the majority of my immediate family is here. My sister, brother-in-law, nephew.....AND now offiically my MOM! :-)

That is right folks. After this past weekend my mother is now officially moved to Seattle, and needless to say Amanda and I are thrilled to have her here with us. This has been a long time coming (at least 2 years worth of discussion - since I made the move up here). With both daughters and her grandson up here, the logical choice for her was to move close to us. So thats exactly what she did!

I met mom down in San Diego on Thursday, and starting Friday morning we headed off in her little Hyundai and made the coastal voyage up to Seattle. It took 2 1/2 days of driving, lots of quality time, bathroom breaks, hilarious picture taking opportunities, some not so funny traffic jams, but we made it! With all of our hair in place, limbs firmly attached to our bodies, no scrapes or scratches, and the car in one piece! All in all a successful trip!

And now, mom is settling in with me at my Green Lake townhome. Given that my roommate moved to Minneapolis and I was in need of someone to fill the second room until my friend Jillian could move in at the end of her lease, it just happened to work out perfectly that mom was moving up at the time she did. I'm so excited to have her close by and be able to have her around full time! Its amazing how the powers that be can line everything up in a way you don't quite understand at first, but that once you pay attention unfold into the most intertwined series of events!

SO! Now to recap the beautiful journey we took of the coast!!

Day 1 - Coastal California!

Mom and I were on the road by 5am from San Diego! Yes 5am...and for those who know me I am NOT a morning person...AT ALL! But with coffee in hand we headed off on a drive up the California coast. First destination was Concord, CA (About an hour south of Sacramento). It was an estimated 10 1/2 hour drive for the first day!

I took the drivers seat for the first day and we drove up the 1 for majority of the day. Taking our time and enjoying all of the coast. Stopping for breakfast in Pismo Beach, and along the way for little stops and pictures. Mom was in charge of the camera.....needless to say the first days pics were of the inside of the car, her knee, a missed sign :)

I have to give her major crap for it too because its what I do best! I believe the first line in a daughter's job description is to torture her parents mercilessly...and I take my job VERY seriously!

Don't worry though! I've discarded those photos and left those that were discernable here in the blog :)

All in all the day was absolutely amazing. Beautiful scenery, great conversation, limited traffic.....that is until 5pm when we hit the Oakland area....UGH! Let me tell you it took us an hour and a half to go 40 miles...Northern California I HATE YOU!.....California reminded me in just ONE day about how I LOVE it and HATE IT! But we survived....barely. With our stops in Pismo Beach, other spots, and the traffic, we didn't arrive until about 7pm that evening. 14 hours later we enjoyed a beer at dinner and hit the hay early!















Day TWO! Oregon Bound!

We started day two off much happier than we ended day one (Stupid effing traffic!!!). Especially with coffee in hand! Day two was split drivingwise between my mom and I. She started the day finishing up the rest of California, and I took over once we hit Oregon.

I have to say that day two proved to be not as breathtaking on the scenery scale, but no traffic was a HUGE blessing. AND mom and I put our foot down and shaved off a total HOUR or more off the estimated drive time. We left at 8:30am and arrived in Portland by 6:30pm, and this included an hour rest stop for lunch and gasing up (FYI - Oregon is a state in which you CANNOT pump your own gas....remind me NEVER to move there because OH MY WORD...20 minutes to get gas...REALLY PEOPLE?!

Anyway - Concord to Medford took about 5 hours, and then I took the wheel and made it from Medford to Portland in 4 hours. Crazy how the California coast took us approximately 16 hours to drive....Oregon - a mere 4 1/2. WHOA

The mountains along the way though were some of the most gorgeous I've seen, and mom thoroughly enjoyed the downward slopes throughout the drive. Again - at the end of our drive we stopped in Portland for a nice dinner and a beer of course.


ALL the crap in the car! AHHH!!!!



Can you tell that I was in charge of the camera at this point?! :)



SUNFLOWER FIELDS!

starting to get goofy.....






wait....Phoenix?! I thought we were in OREGON!?



FINALLY IN PORTLAND!


Day 3! The final HOURS!

Heading out on our final day, mom took the wheel! Mostly because I wanted to make sure I got good photos of the last pieces of our trip.....sorry mom but its the truth :)

The trip from Portland to Seattle is a very short sweet trip. 3 hours in total (we made in just under 3....speed demons that we are!) And along the way I actually found a LARGE stretch of freeway thats 70 mph! HOLY CRAP?! that happens in WASHINGTON?! the SLOWEST state EVER?! I got pictures to evidence it don't you worry!

Anywho - we made the trip in and immediately found ourselves breakfast at the nearby bar and grill...along with Mimosas to celebrate!

It was a huge accomplishment! Not only to get mom up to Seattle...but I realized during the trip that I have now driven the entire west coast...from the Mexico border to the Canadian Border! Pretty awesome if you ask me! But cheers to new adventures to come! So glad to have you with us mom! I love you and am so glad we made the trip together!

 


I'm ready to get this show on the ROAD!





Goofy times again...go figure




First views of her new city!


Welcome to Seattle!

Mom was camera shy at the end of the trip....but CHEERS!

And me...I'm the ham...SMILE and CHEERS!