Category: chill out

Risky business

Monday’s run was short. And Slow and short. I had originally hoped to run an easy 3 around the lake. I knew that I would be tired after Sunday’s race craziness so I was aiming low. You know that feeling your legs get when you first start running after a long run? That stiff, heavy feeling? Not painful but enough to make your stride feel off. Yep, it went like that. I made it for 2 laps before calling it. 2.3 is better than none, even if I was crawling. This run was just supposed to get me moving again. I ran the 2 loops, stretched out and headed home. I was tired and my comfy chair was calling.

I missed volleyball practice last week and I thought it was determined that we were taking a season off. I was ok with that because things are busy right now and an extra night sounded like a good idea. Friday rolled around and suddenly we were in league again. Uh, what, why? I didn’t want to be the kill joy so I sucked it up and last night we had our first games.

Funny Sports Ecard: Isn't Volleyball just an adult version of 'DON'T LET THE BALLOON TOUCH THE FLOOR' ???

There are only 4 teams this season and I figured the games would be fun and relaxed. Yeah, not so much. Last night felt more like a grudge match. I am the type of player who goes after the ball no matter what. Not the best mentality two weeks before a half marathon. I bounced off the floor a few times, collided with a few other players, and even slid under the net once. M and I always go for the same ball and usually collide, we’re both ball hogs. 🙂 At one point, I landed hard on my knee, so much for knee pads. 😦 It was rough but it was fun!

To top it off, my former volleyball shoes were trashed and not wearable. I hadn’t had the chance to buy new ones so I wore an old pair of tennis shoes from years ago. Not a good idea. I was sliding across the floor so much I felt like Tom Cruise in Risky Business. I may as well been wearing socks. On the upside, I may have figured out a super lazy Halloween costume.

We didn’t win, but played hard. Way harder than I had planned. I was so tired this morning and my whole body felt bruised. Ugh. Then, work came around and 2 people are out sick. I sanitized everything as best as I could, but who knows. I cannot get sick right now!!! Work was so crazy, I was glad I had planned on today being a Slacker day.

After finally getting home, and calling in the big guns (aka my dad), I finally got the damn headboard I bought 3 weeks ago on the bed. I may be in my 30’s but my dad will always be a rockstar. It took 3 weeks, numerous trips to Lowes and multiple bed stores followed by some very colorful cursing tonight but here it is!!

Now, on a confusing note. Everyone’s been posting about domain names, I purchased my domain name back before I started the blog but never linked the two together. Now that I want to, I can’t quite figure it out. So, help, please! Is it better to stay on WordPress and just link it (map) it back to the domain or is better to do everything through the hosting service that controls your domain name? Any thoughts?

seehere.blogspot.com_20cats_20_26_.jpg

Hope everyone is having a good week so far!! Now, I need sleep.

My Happy Place

It rained!!!!! Only for a bit and it was more of a mist but it rained! It happened while I was working Saturday, I tried to take a picture but it just looks gray. We’re in the middle of a drought so any rain is exciting. Granted I wasn’t in my home town and it turns out it didn’t get any rain. Driving home in the rain and fog was less exciting. I was behind a car going 40 in a 60, but that was actually ok as I could hardly see the car itself due to the fog.

I arrived home to find new toys in the mail! My new belt had arrived. I had searched numerous web sites and asked fellow bloggers opinions as I was super frustrated by my current hydration belt. After checking things out, RunningFromitAll (awesome blog) recommended iFitness. Duh! They made my basic running belt that I really liked aside from it being too small for longer races. I had forgotten about them. So I checked out their website, turns out they changed their name to Fitletic. After mulling things over, I ordered myself a new belt.

Now this is not a hydration belt. I can order the add on’s for that but I think I am going to try it without. There are 5 water stations in my next half marathon, so I figure between those and a little handheld with Gatorade, I will be ok. At least that is the plan. We’ll see how it works out after the race. It has 2 pockets and some straps for gels, as well as race bib holders. I probably won’t use the bib holders, I tend to wear my belt really low on my hips. My phone does fit much better in this belt as well.

I was torn between the track and the gym for my run, but I really wanted to test out my new belt. The track won. Which is more than fine by me, the track is my “happy place”. I was aiming for between 4-5 miles and was thinking about trying some 800’s. I felt pretty good after my first mile, so I decided to just try and maintain pace as long as I could. I had a larger bottle of water to carry but it was driving me bonkers so I left it on a table by the track.

I hit mile 4 and still felt good, so I kept going. My mother had come with me for this workout and I noticed then that she was doing her sprints. She does those when she nears the end of her workout. I rounded the south curve and hit mile 5, and she was sitting on the table waiting. It was too good of run to quit so I pushed through to a full 10K. Mile 6 was my best mile out of the 6, 9:38 🙂 My overall pace was better than my previous run on the treadmill. But I also love the track now, like I said, it’s a happy place. I hated it in high school, but then I hated running too. I have always been a slacker. I was actually asked a couple times if I wanted to run track back then and I was like “why the heck would I do that?”. I ran the required amount for tennis and softball and that was it. Not a foot more. Now I wish I had maybe given it a shot then, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard now.

Today was a designated Slacker day. I spent the day shopping. Prior to getting healthier and losing weight, I use to say that window shopping was exercise, all that walking up and down the street right? My Nike Fuelband quickly put that theory to rest. Shopping days are actually some of my laziest days. I earn more fuel points at work, and I sit at a desk a lot. Today, I discovered that trying on clothes is a work out, haha! I went to Dick’s to look for a new pair of running capris. I tried on 9 pairs, that was just ridiculous. I ended up going with the Nike Filament Capri, which was funny because they were the pair I liked the least on the rack and based on fabric. Once on, though, they felt awesome. Now to see if they run awesome.

I also picked up some new work clothes for a steal 🙂 and ate some yummy food. I picked up a few things to finish the mini room makeover, but still haven’t been able to get the headboard to work. All in all, a very good Slacker Sunday.

So yummy, I snacked a bit first :) — So yummy, I snacked a bit first 🙂

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend and kicked ass in any races 🙂

Easy Sunday

After Friday’s treadmill 10, I stopped by the desk on the way out and upgraded my gym membership. Now, this might seem a little odd as I hadn’t been to the gym since February. However I could upgrade for free right now and the upgrade meant I could bring a guest for free anytime I wanted. So today I headed back to the gym with my mom in tow.

We checked in and headed for the treadmills. I took her through the basics and she was off! She was planning on walking 4 miles on the treadmill before checking out the other equipment. She had a couple of minor mishaps on the treadmill before settling in. She pulled the emergency stop out twice, oops! That’s why I don’t use that thing. She also almost ran into the front of it, I do that all the time! I told her that just meant she could go faster. 🙂

From the second I started running, I could feel how tired my legs were. I think I maybe could have used another rest day. Since I had already run my 3x this week, I had no real plan for today. I ran an very easy 3 and then walked just shy of another mile. Then my mom was like “let’s check out the ellipticals!”. Yeah, ellipticals and I don’t always get along. I can hardly ever get them to stop! But I gave it a shot. Meanwhile, she was just powering it away on her machine. Took me almost 11 minutes to complete a mile, yeah that was it for me. My legs were so tired, not really sore, just tired. Plus, by now I am far enough into training that my toenails are talking back to me.

ilovetorun.org | RUNNING CAN BE GIVEN — Ahhh, the joys of running 🙂

I think I created a monster; she already wants to go back to the gym!

Slacker Saturday yesterday was pretty nice, I can’t complain. I was able to pick up a new quilt as well, so bring on the mini renovation 😉 I was super excited until I hit a little snag today. That lovely headboard that I bought on Friday? Yeah, it’s too big, by 5 inches. Crap!!!! So even though I still have to figure that out, I could make some of the changes.

I guess she approves :) — I guess she approves 🙂

As of today, I am exactly 2 weeks from my 10k and 4 weeks out from my half marathon. Eeeek! And now it’s back to work tomorrow which bites but its ok too. There’s a 3 day weekend (race weekendJ ) in October and then I have a full week vacation in November to look forward to 🙂

Anyone else sharing in the toenail troubles?

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend!

The long run…

After Wednesday’s hot run, I went out Thursday with the goal of doing an easy 3 miles. We had another triple digit week last week, so I told myself that if it was hot, I would stop after 2 laps, so almost 2.5 miles. First lap out wasn’t bad, kind of hot but there was more shade than I recalled 🙂 Yeah!! Of course, I forgot my water bottle again. The good thing about running laps around the park? You pass your car again! I was able to get my water bottle after the first lap.

With the shade and a little breeze that picked up, I was able to finish 3 laps, so just shy of 3.5 miles. I had planned to do speed work but the temperature turned it into just a steady run. I was ok with that. When I run at the lake, I don’t have access to my lovely stretching wall, but there are workout stations around the path. I love this one for stretching at the end of the run-

I took Friday and Saturday off. I feel like I have been running nonstop for the last few months and unfortunately I don’t mean the good kind 😦 I know that I have a crazy week coming up as well, so I was so close to saying screw it, I am doing absolutely nothing this weekend, like the Slacker I am. Not even real running. I could get a long run in next weekend right? I would still ok with my training. Then I remembered that I have race next Saturday and a company picnic all day Sunday. The race is only a 5K, so unless I pull a 2-a-day, I wouldn’t be able to get the mileage in. So much for a lazy weekend.

So my mother wanted to meet at the track to get some miles in, but I so did not want to do 7 miles on the track. I have done up to 10 on the track before, but it gets rather monotonous. So I decided to run to the track (4 miles) and then do another 3 there. I left my house with plenty of time to run the 4 miles and meet up with my mother. Apparently my memory is faulty. I had run the route there before but somehow forgot that it is 5 miles not 4. Ummm, oops 🙂 It took me a little longer to get there than planned. But on the upside, that just meant less miles on the track! 🙂

Too bad it doesn't show the track loops. — Too bad it doesn’t show the track loops.

Along the way, I tested out some new fuel. Not too bad, but not cola tasting either, hehe. I miss my candy corns though.

So all in all, 7.5 miles done. Kind of slow, but I didn’t care about the pace today just the distance. It is also the first time I have run that far in a pair of shorts. Usually for long runs and races, I wear capris. I think I may be able to get used to it, not sure yet. On a side note, I went and bought actual running underwear? Um, did I miss the memo that said you needed a girdle to run? Could they go any higher? Awkward, but hey, if I ever have to wear a tight dress, I have something to put under it now 🙂

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Anyone have a good race or run?

Cinnamon rolls, new clothes and paddle boarding!

So, amazing customers struck again on Friday and a local diner brought us a little treat, fresh made cinnamon rolls. Of course, I ate one or more, just don’t ask how many! So even though it was Friday and a long day, I felt like I had to do a couple miles when I got home. Just to try and compensate for the yummy cinnamon rolls. So I met up with my mother and we did 4.5 miles. It was an easy run but it felt pretty good. Probably needed another 10 miles to make up for the cinnamon rolls but oh well.

Saturday involved a little shopping with a yummy lunch. I should not be allowed near a sporting goods store with a credit card. However, considering I was at Sports Authority, The Running Warehouse, and Dick’s, I think I restrained myself pretty well 🙂 Can’t wait to test out the new shirt.

I ended the day with a good 3.5 miles at the track with a decent pace. But it was the track and that is my happy place. I did not complete any ladders, I was tired. I came home with the intention of posting this update but fell asleep in the comfy chair instead. What a slacker!

Awhile back at work, there was a competition between all the branches. The winning branch received a $500.00 gift card to have a branch party. We won!!!! So then we had to decide what to do. My new branch has an adventurous nature and instead of old stand byes of bowling or the melodrama, we went with Stand Up Paddle boarding!!! Well, some chose kayaking.

I had never even been kayaking so I very nervous about Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP). I am not the biggest fan of the ocean, sharks and all, you know. Driving there this morning, I passed so many people out for a morning run; driving up the road to the paddle board shop, I had to have passed at least 10. It was making me feel lazy!

So the morning’s adventure started with a lovely lecture by the paddleboard people. Don’t go around the pier, don’t wander too far and if the wind starts to take you, sit your butt on the board and try to grab on to something, like a boat or a buoy or a kelp bed. Apparently they have had to rescue a few people this last week. Yikes!

After that confidence inspiring moment, we were off! You start on your knees before standing up. Standing up in open water is not so easy, but I did it! The weather was perfect, lots of sun and little wind. Of course I got myself stuck in a kelp bed right off the bat but I managed to pull myself out. Our group had 4 paddle boarders and 6 people in double kayaks. We went around the harbor, under the pier and over to a little cove below the lighthouse. Along the way, there were pelicans and seagulls, otters and seals! I had my phone in my running belt, inside plastic bags. I really wanted pictures so I chanced it. Unfortunately, the pictures didn’t turn out so well 😦 We were so close to the otters and seals. One seal followed us for a while. So cute!!!!

At the light house, we pulled up on shore and walked up to look at the view. There was a sea lion floundering at the shore line, he didn’t look well. We called the marine mammal rescue for him, so I am hoping that they were able to help him.

After we paddled back, we had a nice picnic lunch on the beach before doing some more paddling. After all that paddling, I no longer feel guilty about not running. That was a total core workout! I am wondering if I will be sore tomorrow.

I do know that I got way too much sun!!! Came home and crashed. And I burned the tops of my feet; that should make running fun!

Ahhh, the runner's tan :) — Ahhh, the runner’s tan 🙂

Anyone else have any adventures this weekend?