Slow and steady....

Won't really win the race, but it'll get me across the finish line in one piece. That's the plan anyway. This week has been a little rough. I was taken off the new medication because it was causing some really adverse effects. So I'm back to just ibuprofen. I'm ok with that, but it's going to take a minute to get me back to where I was. Despite that, I had a steady run on Monday. Tuesday's run was a disaster from the beginning. It was short a few miles because I step off the treadmill to go to the bathroom and tweaked my ankle.

So I took a few days off and came back today with a 5 mile run. It started off pretty enough. It was really nice to be outside.

It quickly turned into a nasty, brutal run. I was a little overly ambitious and chose a hilly route. It slowed me down significantly. I knew going into the run that I just didn't have any oomph today, but I needed to get a longer run in that did not involve the treadmill. So I did it. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to feel that tomorrow. Hell, I'm feeling it right now. Afterwards, I did a little post-run yoga. The kids wanted to participate, so we broke out the extra yoga mats. 

I love these two! Overall, it's not been a great week, but it's not been a horrible week either. It's just another building block to a really great run in the future...I hope. 

Peace, Love, and Future Runs! 

Don't blink or you'll miss me!

So... Not really. Unless you blink really, really, REALLY slowly.  However, I am steadily shaving time off my miles. Last night, I ran two sub 16 miles. This week I have consistently running sub 16. I have even run a sub 15. I know that isn't Flash fast, but it shows steady improvement. I began my training running 17:00+\mile. At this rate, it is quite possible to reach my goal of 11:00/mile. I know it seems ambitious since I'm still in my lower miles, but those tend to be my hardest miles. I am having a little trouble regulating my breathing, but I am working on it. I am in a fair amount of pain lately for different reasons. But despite all these little things, I have a feeling that everything will start to click very soon. I just have to keep plugging along until it does. It actually felt good to hit two miles tonight. I had some kick ass power songs to push me through. It was all about the ladies last night.  Brandi Carlile,Joan Jett, Florence + the Machine, and P!nk brought me home. Carly Simon and Carole King helped me cool down during my post-run yoga. Well, until my dog, Omar, decided to jump on my stomach and lie down while I was doing a bend. 

There are worse ways to end a night then puppy snuggles. 

Peace, Love, and snuggle buddies! 

Rocky Start

It's just the beginning of training season for me.  The plan is to run the Route 66 half marathon in November, but if all goes well, I might get the itch to run a big race before then. My goal for the next race is a sub 2:00:00. My personal best was a 3:11:17 at Route 66 in 2013, so even if I just break that I'll be happy. I've been training for a couple of weeks now. My miles are still low, which sucks because the first 2 miles are always the hardest for me. It takes that long for my body to adjust to what I'm doing to it. I loathe the first 2 miles! I am looking forward to my first 5 mile. 5 is my happy number. Lately, I have been working through some pain issues. I'm in pain every day. Most days, it is manageable, but this past week has been a rough one. It is weeks like this that reminds me why running is so important to me. Running can give me pain, but it also gives me a sense of accomplishment. A reason to have pain, instead of just having pain.  It's like my therapy. There are runs when I cry during or after my run. This week I've had a couple of those. Tonight's run was one of those. I cried the minute that I stepped off the treadmill and continued through my cool down and post run yoga. I don't mind a good cry after a good run. I felt clean afterwards. Well, not clean like I didn't need to take a shower clean.  Just clean. So this is my rough week, my jumping off point. My buckle up and hold in week. Yet I'm still here and I'm still going. That's all I can really do for now. 

Peace, love, and better days! 

Slippery When Wet

I had a slow miles week.  And I didn't get my long miles in, but.... I did get a day date with my hubby! With his traveling, we very seldom get to spend time together, just us. So we jumped at the chance to take the kids to my sister's and going slip slidin' together. 

We arrived early and got a good spot in line. The line was slow the first couple of turns. Once the crowd thinned out, we started doing a slide every 5 minutes, even with the trekking required to get back to the top.  I didn't get my miles, but I got plenty of steps. We managed to slide 7 times before our time was up. It was worth it to spend time with him. 

 

After all the fun in the sun, we got a celebratory snow cone on our way out. 

This week it is back to crazy miles and cross training.  So here we go... 

Peace, love, and slip'n slides! 

It's Been A Good Long While

I'm notorious for taking breaks in training, but I've never taken a break this long before. Did you miss me?! You should have, but don't fret, I'm back. A few things have changed. I am no longer diagnosed with Lupus. My kids are older and involved in all kinds of activities. My husband travels even more than he did before, which often times makes it difficulty for me to train. However, I am back with a firm resolution. I have began training for the Route 66 Half Marathon. I bought a treadmill to run after the kids go to sleep. I'm doing this all crazy like, but at least I'm doing it. So here are my goals: 

Short term: figure out a way to train without neglecting family obligations, train for the Route 66, and beat my R66 PR of 3:11. 

Long term: become more consistent with training, train for the R66 Full (gasp!) Marathon next year, get a decent Full underbelt before 2019 When we do the Dublin Marathon. 

My training schedule is much more balanced this time and I am doing better about cross training. I am running on Monday, Tuesday,Thursday, and long on Saturday. I am cross training with yoga on Wednesdays and softball on Fridays. Once softball season is over, I plan to add weights and rowing. 

Ambitious for me, I know, but I'm getting this done. 

As for my medical condition, it has changed too! Right now my diagnosis is "undetermined auto-immune disorder". I have begun seeing a new specialist (she's amazing) and she has already helped my pain management tremendously. We put me on a Vitamin D supplement since I was deficient, switched me from ibuprofen to Meloxicam, and have done a multitude of testing. This is the specialist that switched my sister's Dx from Lupus to Scleroderma (which we have ruled out for me so I am hoping that she can figure out what is going on with me. I feel better than I have in a while. I'm still fatigued and stiff, but my daily pain has went from an 8 to a 5. Progress! 

So here goes my next adventure. Until next time...

Peace, love, and future days! 

New Year....New Adventures!

This winter was a rough one. The cold weather always puts a damper on my routine, but this winter I have had more injuries than I've ever had before. One right after another: foot, hip, quad, hip, back, hip, ankle, hip. See the pattern yet?! Everything I tried seemed to have no effect or make the pain worse. So I started seeing a chiropractor to see if he could fix this blasted hip.  X-rays showed that my hip was way out of place. So after many session and lots of exercises to strengthen, and yoga to well.... just keep my sanity. I am feeling super duper ultra mega better. I have also found a new favorite, acupuncture. I know it sounds awful, but I LOVE it!!! 

This season has already been a bad one for wind and allergies in Oklahoma. My answer to this problem has been acupuncture for my sinuses. We have also tried it in the hip, calf, and shoulder for various other issues. But my favorite is the back and neck.  I just lie there like a human pincushion and it's glorious.

I'm doing everything I can to feel like a normal, functioning human being without caving in and taking a bunch of expensive medications. I'm not saying everyone should do this, and I'm not knocking people who have to take the meds. (So save your hate mail!) I am just trying to hold off as long as possible. I know that one day my Lupus may get the best of me and I may have no choice but to take all the medications. Until then I will explore other avenues that work for me. Is that enough of a disclaimer?!

Besides I like trying new things: new hairstyles, new makeup, new books, new exercise classes, new adventures. This year seems to already be chalk full of new things. I am starting a couple of new adventures here very soon. I signed the paperwork the other day accepting a new job. I'm very excited/nervous about it.    Hubs is taking on a new roll at work, which completely changes our routine at home. We have decided to try to do something new as family each month, whether it's a new restaurant, new festival, new craft project, etc.   But perhaps the biggest new thing that I'm going to try is the Idle Ironman this month. My crazy friend, Jess, has talked me into signing up for this thing, where you complete the distances required in an Ironman, but you have 28 days to do it. I'm good with the running and the swimming (even if I have to put on a bathing suit, EEK!), but the cycling... ugh the cycling! I've never been much of a bike person. It hurts my bum and sometimes my hoohoo and I just don't enjoy it. But I'm gonna give it the ol' college try!

Just felt like putting up a pic where I don't look like Pinhead. : ) 

I gotta run for now because...well I gotta go run! : ) Slow and steady may not win the race, but it keeps me sane. Until next time....

Peace, Love, and new adventures.

OMG!!!!!

I have had a pretty intense 5 months, but I still don't know where all the time went since my last posts. So much has happened that I don't even know where to begin. The beginning it is.....
the holidays and winter weather also put a crimp in my running style. Normally I can power through, but this year time just got away from me. Between my son's birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, my sister's birthday, my husband's birthday, my daughter's, Christmas, New Year's, final steps in the adoption, and my birthday. Time seemed like it has moved in warp speed. I am pretty sure that I even had a few races in there somewhere, but I can't remember what they are. : ) OOOHH... I remember!

I did the Hot Mamma's Race with some of my great friends. Three of us dressed up as super heroes. My hubs, who hardly ever gets to come to races, brought the kids out to watch.

 

Then I did the Run or Dye with my great friend, L, who just moved back after being away for a long time. It was nice to spend time with her, even if the weather was awful.

 

 

That's where it all just sort of blurs together. I broke my foot and the holidays swarmed me and the next thing I remember, it's January.

 

So here almost a month into the new year, I am already behind schedule. But I am taking better care of myself this time around. I have been to the doctor more times in the past 6 months than I think I have ever been. And for me that's saying a lot! But I'm trying to be proactive with my health instead of reactive. So far I'm about 50/50. I have been very faithful to yoga during this winter and hope to continue that while adding running and weights back into my routine. I want to be ready to run the OK Memorial half marathon this year. This year contains a new PR. I can feel it.

 

I have a great support system that has expanded this year with some great new friends with #run3rd.

 

My family is always my loudest cheerleaders. My kids hold me accountable (even though they are too young to realize that is what they are doing). My hubs is the all-time greatest.So I feel like this year is the year for great things.

 

 

 

Peace, Love, and a New Year!