Category: Run!

Week 15- Ouch

Upcoming Races:

Destination Races Santa Barbara 13.1- May 13
Rock N Roll San Diego 13.1-June 4

Ouch, ouch, ouch. It hurts. Cue panic. I have a half in 2 weeks and Wine Country in 26 days. Why?!?!

This week was tiring. There wasn’t any real reason I can pinpoint it was just tiring. I actually bought a few beers to help me relax a bit the last time I was at the store but to show how rarely I drink- when I went to have one I realized I didn’t have a bottle opener. Well crap. Who knew those multi purpose race medals would actually come in handy? 😛

After a good week of running last week I was looking forward to more of the same this week. Ha!

Monday- Rest I had planned on running after work but things ran a little later than I thought. This is when the tiredness started. I was also supposed to help my parents with their taxes so I decided there just wasn’t enough time. I hate taxes.

Tuesday- Rest Hmmm, apparently this is the black hole day of the week.

Wednesday- 3.5 miles Where it all went to hell. Ok, maybe that was a tad dramatic. I headed to home town for what I thought was going to be a nice, easy 4-5 miler. 20 feet in I had a feeling it was going south. My left knee hurt- like a sharp stabbing pain right under the knee cap. Do I stop or is it going to work itself out if I run on? I ran on, slowly. By mile 2ish, my knee was under control but now my left shin was throbbing. My shin is always a hot point but never usually this bad. What the hell! I had turned around before that point and was gimping my way back to my car. Walking made my knee hurt but running aggravated my shin. Both sucked. Later that night I had shooting pains in my right leg… compensation maybe?

Thursday- Rest My knee hurt at odd points throughout the day, I did the smart thing for once and just went home. This was beginning to get irksome.

Friday- Rest My knee felt 85% better but my shin was still twinge-y. For only having hobbled my way through 3.5 miles during the week, I was stupid tired. I took a nap on my lunch.

Saturday- 4 miles I helped my mother move a bunch of rocks in the morning which may or may not have been the best idea. I joked that I was just working on my squats and hip openers. I headed out for a test run in the afternoon to see how things went. One thing I changed was my shoes- Wednesday’s run was in the Sayonara’s and this was in the PureFlow’s. I tried to keep things easy and walked anytime I felt any sort of twinge from my left leg. All in all, it wasn’t a bad run at all. If anything, my legs really wanted to run but I wouldn’t let them.

Sunday- 10 miles 2 less then my original planned long run but maybe more than I should have done. A cool front and an incoming storm meant I could run in the afternoon again. I helped my mother with more buckets of rocks and then got the run in before Easter dinner. Can I count all the rock lifting as cross training this week? I wasn’t sure how many miles I was going to get in but I figured I would give it a shot. I ran the same route as last week and coming up on mile 4 I knew I had a choice- turn left and turn it into and 8 mile run with more hills or go straight across the bridge for a slighter flatter 10 miles. I was feeling ok so I headed across the bridge. Per usual, I picked up the pace running across the bridge and slowed it down after that. The river path is super over grown right now so lately I slow down, pause my music and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. 😕 Coming back across the bridge my leg was starting to talk, not pain but not happy. Ok, 8 miles would have been a better idea. I slowed down and just kept moving forward. I think I can, I think I can. 10 miles done. Where’s my foam roller?

17.5 miles for the week. Less then I wanted but more than I thought I would get considering how I felt on Wednesday. I will be spending lots of time with my foam roller and stretching throughout the week to come. Maybe this will be the kick in the pants to use the roller more consistently? As for the pains, I think the knee may be a problem with my shoes. If so, this is the quickest I’ve ever killed a pair of shoes- the Sayonara’s only have 174 miles on them. I think I might know what triggered the shin so I am testing a theory this week.

Oh did I mention I tried to knock myself out on a tree branch? 😂😂

Last week had some shiny moments- I made it to the movies to see Fate of the Furious. Yeah it had it’s over the top moments but it was still awesome.

How was your week?

Happy Marathon Monday!!!!

Vegas Baby

Disclaimer: I received an entry into Rock n Roll Las Vegas as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I’m going to Las Vegas!!!

Seriously, I still can’t believe it’s happening. I also still don’t know how but that’s beside the point. 😛 I have wanted to run this race ever since I flipped a page in Runner’s World a few years ago and realized there was a race on the Vegas Strip. And it was at night. I want to do that!!! As amazing as it looked, I could never make it work. So when the chance to run it came up this year, I leapt without looking.

I’m going to Vegas!

Sorry had to say it again. 😛 I haven’t been to Las Vegas since I was a child- seriously the only thing I remember is colorful carpeting and even that might be confused with another memory. Ha! Due to scheduling conflicts, my mother is busy so I’m also flying solo this race trip. Who wants to join me?!? Slacker’s first real trip to Vegas? 😁

This is also an afternoon- evening race so I don’t even have to worry about an early wake up call! I can sleep in and look forward to an afternoon run with thousands of other crazy runners like me under the Vegas lights! Is it November yet?

Now I just have to figure out how I am getting there. This could be my first plane ride since my senior trip in high school! Ok, now this post is making me feel nostalgic and old. 😛

I will have a discount code soon that I will share with everyone.

Have you ever run Las Vegas?

Want to come run with me?

Week 14- Somewhat Normal

Upcoming Races:

Destination Races Santa Barbara 13.1- May 13
Rock N Roll San Diego 13.1-June 4

This week was a little over the place. First week post merger, crazy busy and I had to spend time fighting with the IRS to prove that I was me. That was real fun. Identify theft is a never ending story. I was actually a little worried going into the appointment- the picture on my drivers license is over 15 years old, I swear it’s me! I also hit a possum and felt traumatized. 😢

All stress aside, this was a slightly more normal week running wise. Woo hoo! And I ending up buying myself the entire Fast and Furious collection so I had a couple of relaxing weekend evenings.😛

Monday- Rest I took all my gear to work but didn’t really account for the chaos of the first day post merger. Which was silly because this was not my first rodeo. Anyhow, the day was insanely busy and my boots did not cooperate with my feet at all. By the end of the day, I was done. I limped to my car and just went home.

Tuesday- 4 miles I ran from work, I just felt like it was a day for the eucalyptus grove. While I keep my pace easy for my work route I push the threshold in other ways. I often run without water and try to not use my inhaler. In a town that often has a heavy marine layer. It sounds crazy but I do it every couple of weeks as a workout of sorts for my lungs. I always have my inhaler with me if I need it but I like to try run the whole run without using it.

Wednesday- Rest– Once again, Wednesday is a black hole. I am sure I did something but I have no idea what.

Thursday- 2 runs, 2.6 miles each Grrr, I had to leave work early for my IRS appointment and had hoped I would have enough time to get in a 5 mile run before I had a tire rotation appointment. Yeah no. I squeezed in 2.6 which started sluggish and ended speedy- 8:50 pace for the .6. Then it was off the get my tires done. Once home, I managed to head out for another 2.6 in the evening. This were more evenly pace miles and I learned that the elementary school is a madhouse after 6. I was dodging cars right and left and lost track of how many times I stopped to avoid getting hit. Aaagh!!! Just get me home! 5.2 miles for the day.

Friday- Rest Oh I ate so much food! It was my 10 year anniversary at work (even with the new company) and my boss and coworkers brought me donuts and pizza!

Saturday- 10 miles I woke up with a headache and I knew there was a cycling event on my running route so I decided to go back to sleep. The rain that came through on Friday kept the temps down so I headed out for my long run around 4. Oh man, the wind was nuts at some points. I felt like I was being blown backwards. My legs felt fine for this run and I didn’t really feel tired but I couldn’t ever really get my head in the game. My stomach started to cramp around mile 7 but considering what I had eaten over the past few days, I really couldn’t blame it. It wasn’t a bad run by any means, it was just meh. It did reinforce my opinion that I hate running west across the bridge. East- no problem, west? Yuck.

Sunday- Rest Well, crap, my calves were sore. The PureFlow’s seem to be working out but I forgot how long it took me to transition to a 4mm drop. Oops.

19.2 miles for the week. That missing .8 kind of bothers me but hey it’s 7 more miles than last week. I was super tired this week but finally figured when I am not going to be? Might as well just run. 😛

How was your week?

Anyone race this weekend?

Watch any movies lately?

Rambling On 7

Happy Friday!!

First week post merger is almost done! Woo hoo! I didn’t mess up answering the phones as bad as I thought. 😛 Only a few times.

Rain is coming back, boo. While I am over the rain and dealing with it, it’s kind of shocking how quickly all the lush green started to go brown in the last 2 weeks. Anyways, it’s only supposed to be for a few days.

Oh, speaking of the new company- they treated us to lunch on Monday. Since I always have a late lunch I am weird about what food I will order since it has to wait a couple hours. I ordered the grilled cheese. Holy crap, this was the most amazing thing ever. I ate part of it when it arrived and reheated the rest at lunch. Seriously, it was awesome. Oh yeah, the fries were damn good too.

I had to go to an IRS office to prove who I was. That was fun. This was after a phone call where I spoke with an unbelievably rude representative from the IRS. Can the person who tried to fraudulently use my social security number and get a massive refund just pay my taxes this year? That would be nice, ok, thanks.

I won’t lie, I really just want to spend a day sleeping. Is that bad? If it could be on a beach in a hammock, all the better but at this point just sleep. I’m still feeling a little ragged around the edges after last week.

I totally had something else to say but just completely blanked…oops! Your turn!

What are you doing this weekend?

Shine Bright

Disclaimer: I received Brilliant Reflective to try as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

The time may have changed but more often than not my runs end at dusk which makes it hard to be seen. Heck even in daylight I wonder how often cars truly see me. I know I’ve had more than one close call due to distracted drivers and more than one car hood that’s been close enough for me to hit out of anger- I never have though.

Throw in my tendency to run in the bike lane, lack of sidewalks or shoulders in my area and running can be sketchy sometimes. That’s not taking into account the distraction of cell phones or my personal favorite- eating while driving. 😛

Enter Brilliant Reflective strips.

These things are small but mighty! With these strips you can turn your regular running gear reflective. And it’s a way less expensive then some of the running gear they sell in the stores. They have both iron on and stick on strips and they offer 4 colors- red, blue, purple, and black. I chose black because I’m wearing a lot of black and gray these days, I figured why not make it a little brighter?

The application process of it all took less then 10 minutes. The hardest part was admitting that not only do I not own an iron, I would likely burn the house down—Mom! I’ve had the strips on my clothes for weeks and not only have they handled my sweaty self well, they’ve handled the washing machine really well. I do wash everything inside out and on the gentle cycle, but I was already doing that so no change there.

I used the stick on strips for regular non washable gear that use 99% of my runs. This would be my belt, my Orange Mud handheld and my Miles and Pace hat. The belt and handheld already were a little reflective but more never hurts right? It was seriously as easy as putting a sticker on your laptop.

These strips are awesome. They are super easy to use and they shine at the littlest light. I even love in the daytime. I actually had a driver acknowledge me when they drove past me the other day- I’ve never had a passing driver actually show that saw me before. I was so excited!

I only wish I had better pictures but I don’t run with anyone to get a full body shot and when I tried self timer pics they were so bad that they will never see the light of day. 😛 I have a bunch of strips on tanks but I can’t contort my arms to get the picture.

The Brilliant Reflective strips sell for $9.95 and ship for free. Seriously awesome. I want more. I think it’s time for some colors. 😛

Bonus!!! I have a discount that is valid until 11:59 PM CT on April 11 for 25% of your order- use code BIBRAVEPRO25.

How do you shine bright?