A WEEKEND WITHOUT RUNNING

This Trailmomma is sad. Super sad. My week started off well enough. I found a group of guys (and one other girl) who play basketball 2 to 3 times a week over their lunch hour. On Monday I joined them (as the only girl that day). It was great. I was a huge basketball player/fan in high school. I've missed playing and I haven't lost that much of my shot over the years. I realized the aerobic part of me terribly slipping as I was sucking wind play 3 on 3 half court with these guys. I know I have not been running much since I started working (one day a week actually) but man my endurance severely has declined.

Thursday Vans and I made a lunch date. He works directly across the street from my building so we met over our lunch hour for a 3 mile run. He mainly wanted to show me around the work neighborhood should I want to start running on my own. Instead, we realized we both really enjoyed running and connecting over the lunch hour together. I can foresee this 3 mile loop turning into a nice speed work type of run occasionally.

The "bad" part of all this lunch time activity however is that I have to do the activity and then shower and return to work clothes which often include high heels. I don't wear super high heels mind you ... but higher than my summer attire of flip-flops and running shoes. Fast forward to Friday when I could barely walk. The ball of my foot hurts so bad and my second and third two are practically numb.

Of course I've googled my diagnosis ... and there doesn't seem to be much that I can do. I am on the hunt for some work shoes that might be better for my feet but generally those kinds of shoes are ugly.

Saturday I had good intentions of waking up and going for a nice 7 mile run through the Ridge Loop of Death but the minute I put my foot on the floor tears came to my eyes the pain was that bad. I hobbled around all morning hoping that whatever it was would work itself out but when I put on my running shoes and took a few steps I turn around defeated.

I resorted to taking some Advil later in the day because the pain is so bad I can't even drive my car (it is my right foot).

I figured a day of rest would be fine and that maybe we'll see how I do on Sunday ... the Advil did ease the pain but not eliminate it.

Well this morning the pain is worse upon waking and I just got done driving the Peanut to her swim lesson and I was crying the whole way home.

I am not sure what else to do other than ice, rest and Advil (and I hate taking Advil). I am especially sad because next Saturday is the inaugural That Damn Run half marathon. Vans is doing the 10K and I am doing the half and we've arranged for childcare during the race (actually the very awesome race director's family has offered generously to watch the girls while we run).

I've never had a stress fracture but this is what I imagine the pain to feel like. I was so excited because I though I found a way to run twice a week (over my lunch hour) instead of just on Saturdays ...

I guess I just have to wait until this settles and figure things out. Perhaps take a better look at my running as well as my work shoes. Next Saturday's race is not going to be an easy one. I've run most of the course once or twice ... it is going to be long half marathon especially if I have this foot pain (and my usual ankle pain).

The girls keep my spirits up though ... they are so much fun right now and they super excited for Halloween ... as am I!

Also exciting is the Peanut's new (to her) big girl bike. Vans hooked her up the bike trainer last night and she had a blast getting her workout on!

Pedaling fast!

URBAN COW HALF MARATHON RACE REPORT

Yeah, that title is right ... I had a race this past Sunday. It's been in my running cue for a while but to be honest, I haven't run more than 5 miles in a long time.

Since work has started, I've only been able to run one day a week IF that ... but I received a free entry for the Urban Cow Half Marathon and I had to attend in order to promote the UpBeat Workouts Urban Cow Training iPhone App.

You couldn't beat the weather on Sunday. It was in  the 70s and glorious. Leading up to Sunday however was a tough few days. My work had a team building event in Lake Tahoe. I spent Thursday and Friday in Tahoe doing team building stuff (and consuming a lot of wine) and then came home and tried to motivate to run the race on Sunday. Saturday was spent watching both girls and doing various odds and ends including weighing in for my final weigh in session at Breakout Fitness. I'll do a post on that later.

Sunday morning I had to wake up at 4:30 and leave the house for Land Park so that I could set up the UpBeat Workouts booth. It was going to be only me representing at the booth. I set up the booth the best I could in the dark and freezing cold.

Kraig from Clark's Corner found me and we agreed to run the race together. I think we both could use the motivation and support from each other. My goal was simply to finish and to hopefully finish in under two hours.

The gun went off and we started running. My Garmin beeped at the first mile marker but I did not see the actual marker. I just assumed that I had missed it when Kraig leaned over and told me that he thinks we were not supposed to run that loop around the park ... he thought someone made a mistake. Yup, he was right. As it turns out, the first wave of runners (my wave) followed a lead biker who apparently made a wrong turn and we ended up with about 13.69 miles on our legs when all was said and done.

Most of the runners around us were not angry but they were generally annoyed. I think everyone that I know pressed "stop" on their watches at their own 13.1 mile marker. Eventually the race directors evened out the times and apologized to the first wave runners. Our finish time was 1:55 which is about an 8:50 minute mile. I'll take it. Considering I haven't been running nor have I been racing ... that suited me just fine. My ankle was a bit tender during the race and my left knee is still a bit achy. I am just assuming it was too much too fast too soon.

After the race however was the brutal part. I had to stand for over two hours at my booth. That is where things got painful. My legs and joints were sore, I was freezing and hungry and really, all I wanted was a nice hot cup of coffee. Still, it was nice to socialize and I saw a few friends.

Monday was Columbus Day and Vans was home with the girls while I was at work ... the price he had to pay since I started a new job. He sent me the following photos:

Typical "dad outfit" flowers and animal print

 

Playing in a club house at a local park

Following big sister

You can't follow me up here!

Ta-da!

 

HELLO WORLD

Hello blog world. I am alive. We were away in Lake Tahoe for 8 wonderful days. While we were there, Vans and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. Eight wonderful years with my best friend. I couldn't be happier.

Well, I could have been a tad bit happier if the Peanut didn't wake up on our anniversary morning at 3 am vomiting. It happens. She recovered. We all did and we enjoyed our week regardless. The weather was fabulous.

I didn't do too much running. Mostly just a few 5 mile runs here and there and then one day I did 8 miles. I lifted some weights and did one day of circuit training. I think I needed the lower key week instead of a week filled with long runs.

I also think now that the girls are older, Vans and I have less "adult time" to do stuff like working out and instead had to figure out a way to keep the Peanut and Squeaker entertained.

I think we did okay though ... as a family we did the following ...

We danced at the festival in the village

 

We climbed on big chairs

 

We played on the swings

 

Rode the gondola

 

Bounced

 

and were SUPER cute.

 

I really could go on and on with the photos. We also went on a nice long bike ride with the girls which everyone enjoyed. We visited the KidsZone Kids Museum in Truckee which was new to us and a hit for the girls.

 

Even if they broke the rules a bit.

 

Life has been hectic to say the least. Work is going well but sadly it takes me minimum 3 days to do a proper blog post ... not that I have much to blog about lately since I am only running one day a week right now. I continue to go to my strength training class which has kicked my butt this week. Taking a week off was not smart as I am hobbling today with the kind of muscle soreness that is so bad it aches just to use the restroom!

 

Later this week my new work group is going on a team building retreat to...you guessed it, Lake Tahoe! I will be back up there for two more days later this week leaving Vans with the Peanut and Squeaker. I will (hopefully) enjoy a full night of uninterrupted sleep in a nice big hotel bed ... all to myself .... complete with an uninterrupted shower! Heaven! Although I will miss the family.

 

I leave you with a few more photos from our week in Tahoe as well as a crockpot recipe as requested by Rain!

 

Goofy girls

 

Brave girl

Determined Girl

 

*********************

Crockpot Recipe

 

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Source: My Own

Cook7 Hr

Servings: 4

 

Ingredients

• 2 medium sweet potatoes diced
• 1 small sweet onion diced
• 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
• 1 (14 ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 (14 ounce) can roasted diced tomatoes drained
• 1.5 cups vegetable broth
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 pinch cayenne
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 lime (for a splash at the end)

 

Directions

Combine everything (except lime) in a crockpot sprayed with cooking spray (or lined with a crockpot liner). Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.