June Recap/Stats

Miles Planned/Ran: For the third month in a row, I ended up with zero miles ran. I am hoping this will not be the case ever again. But for what it's worth between biking and swimming the last two+ weeks I did manage to rack up almost 40 miles of activity! (If it counts on DM it must surely count here right? LOL!)

Rest Days Planned/Taken: How ever many needed / 15

Xtraining Workouts Planned/Ran: As many as possible / 15

Most Enjoyable Workout: My first ride outside w/ Spike a couple Saturday's ago. Pure bliss!

Current Reads: (Reading/Still Reading) Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman (Finished) None. I suck.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Pinterest - I can't stop pinning!!!

Current Obsessions: Juicing and blending. Fresh fruits and veggies in liquid form that actually tastes good? Yes please.

Current Drink: I am ashamed to admit I have been pounding Sugar Free Red Bulls lately. Bad Redhead.

This is what happens when you pretend you're 18 again and can stay out all night.

Current Song: "Be Ok" by Ingrid Michealson because I just want to "Be Ok" on Tuesday! Fingers crossed!

Current Wish-List: New digital camera, a romantic getaway with Spike, a road bike, the perfect summer dress.

Current Need: For those x-rays on Tuesday to "Be Ok", so I can once and for all be done with this whole injury b.s.

Current Triumph: Returning to xtraining pain free!

Current Bane of my Existence: DAS BOOT!!!

Current Goal: (Repeated from March, April, and May) To stay positive and focused on active recovery/xtraining so I can hit the ground running sooner rather than later. *Fingers crossed*

Current Indulgence: Voskos Honey Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt, nom-nom!!!

Current Blessings: The continued love, encouragement, and support from my family, friends, and Spike throughout this ridiculous extended-injury nonsense.

Current Excitement: There is SO much going on in July that I can hardly contain my excitement! Holiday weekends, weddings, babies, trips, 30 Day Picture Challenge, AND my R2R!!! (Return 2 Running)

How'd your June shape up?!?!

Running is what you make of it, make it an Adventure!™

3 Things Thursday

1. It'snot snot... So I'm the last person to talk about gross stuff on my blog, I usually leave that to Adam, SUAR, Spike, etc... But in case this ever happens to you and you don't have a B.o.B to consult here's the deal; See being a newbie "swimmer" I inhale more than my fair share of pee pool water and yesterday I found myself in excruciating pain because all that agua decided to settle in to my sinus cavities. After sneezing all morning and blowing my nose every 5 minutes I finally emailed B.o.B for a solution and she introduced me to Neti Pot otherwise known as the most disturbing thing ever for which to flush your nasal passages. After further inspection I opted for the SinuFlo instead because it seemed less intrusive but as you can see below, "Step 3" is about as gross as it is painful. I honestly can't decide if the relief it gave me was worth how disturbingly disgusting the whole experience was, BUT should you ever find yourself in this situation I can assure you it will fix the problem.
   

   
   What goes up (one nostril),
   must come down out (the other).
   Eww.
   
   
   
   
2. SYTYCD... I have a confession, I actually went on to the website and voted for my favorite dance/couple for "So you think you can dance" last night. *Hangs head in shame* I can't help it, I just really think Melanie and Marko are kicking butt! Do you have a favorite?
   
   
   
3. Holiday... No, not Madonna's awesome-sauce 80's song, I mean the 4th of July holiday weekend! It's upon us! I love a long weekend! We've got, surprise-surprise, a jam packed holiday weekend planned including a return visit to Alpena. Remember the last time we went there? Yeah, let me tell you, I can hardly contain myself.
   
   This 4th of July marks my 3rd anniversary of running my first ever race, otherwise known as my Runniversary! I wish I were able to celebrate it accordingly but it looks like I'll have to make due with the hotel elliptical instead. At least my doctor appointment is the following day and I'm praying he'll clear me for take off as a belated anniversary present!
   
   Happy 4th of July weekend to all my stars and stripes peeps! I hope you all have found some awesome way to celebrate whether it's a race, fireworks show, or just grilling in the backyard with family and/or friends!
   
   
   
   
   

When Spike's away the Redhead plays...

What do mullet's, balloons, and U2 all have in common? They were all a part of my epic weekend this weekend that's what!

When Spike told me that he was heading out of town this weekend to help a friend move cross country my first thought was, "Oooo what can I do to keep myself busy while he's gone?" Unlike Spike who admitted that when I go out of town he's perfectly content just hanging around the house watching TV, I am famous for jam-packing my itinerary to the point of extreme. Anyone else like this? It's normal right? Well this weekend was no exception, I ran myself in to the ground and drove an estimated 485 miles total between after work Friday night and midnight last night. I am exhausted but will not complain for one moment because I had such an awesome weekend hitting up all the awesomeness of small towns in the summer time and happening upon a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Check it out:

My friend Julie and I hit up the Williamston Jubilee parade

Saturday, and seriously, what is this thing?

Epic mullet spotted while watching the parade.
Pure awesome-sauce.

Grabbing a drink with my girl Jen B. Saturday night.

The early wake-up was totally worth the sight of balloons
coloring the sky for Balloonfest!

The best part of my weekend hands down however was a very unexpected once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that fell in to our laps Saturday night. Jen got a text from a friend saying he had extra tickets to the U2 concert the following evening and was practically giving them away! Her hubby wasn't interested in going so she invited me to go as her date and there was no way I was going to pass up that opportunity! So Sunday, after spending most of the day down in Southern Michigan visiting my little brother I headed back to Lansing to meet up with Jen for the concert at Spartan Stadium. I've never been to a U2 concert before and I have to say that I am STILL in awe over it. Florence + The Machine opened, Spike's favorite band at the moment (and I felt so guilty seeing them without him), and she was just so powerful and intense. If you're not familiar with the band I suggest you get familiar ASAP. Then U2 came on and I was just speechless. I totally get it now why people spend hundred's of dollars to see them and why they are such a global sensation. Simply put, the concert was amazing.

Florence + The Machine

I took this video of "Cosmic Love" for Spike, we were behind the stage but the 360* TV let us feel like we were right there in front of the stage:

Bono's presence filled the stadium! He is larger than life!

And of course I had to get a quick video of "Beautiful Day" because if you've ever read my Chicago Marathon Race Recap, you know that this song has special meaning to me. It always brings me back to that beautiful day when I ran my first marathon! *Le Sigh*

I didn't get in til a little after midnight last night and considering I had slept maybe six hours collectively over the course of the whole weekend I am beyond exhausted. But, it was so worth it and it still hasn't quite sunk in yet that I attended that concert last night. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to Jen for inviting me to be your date. I love your face!!! What a weekend! Now I have to find the time to get caught up on all the excitement that happened while I was traversing the state; namely reading those race recaps from Seattle, Marlene's City Chase, Iron Man Coeur d'Alene recaps, etc...

Did you have an epic weekend? Have you ever seen U2 in concert?

Friday Fun w/ Red & B.o.B

As y'all know B.o.B and I are BFF's, Bestie's, Running Partner's For Life, etc... What you might not know is that we actually share a brain.

Creepy huh? Sometimes I shouldn't be allowed to photoshop.

It's true, we finish each others sentences, steal each others thoughts, and can predict what the other will say, think, or feel about any particular subject at any given time. Though miles (and miles and miles, d@mn why is Michigan so effing far away from Florida?!?!) separate us this phenomenon hasn't stopped and so it goes that this week we were emailing back and forth about running and blogging, naturally, and she admits that an Ironman is now on her bucket list. I laughed and said, "I saw that coming" and then we both laughed at how out of date our "100 Things About Me" list is... Then an idea struck each of us at the exact same time that we should post a revision in light of the fact that they're, oh about two years old now and things have significantly changed since our newbie days of running.

I actually have to laugh out loud at some of these considering how far I've come since then...

(1) “I really don't care if I ever make it to Boston (if it happens, SCORE, if not, no worries)” Um yeah, about that, next attempt will be my third. Can’t wait for Boston 2013!

(2) “With speedwork a continual source of pain I question whether I'd ever be able to run fast enough to qualify anyway” Again, jokes on me. I’m certainly fast enough to make it happen, I just need my body to cooperate.

(3) “There are only three things left on my "Being a Classy Runner" list and I pray it stays that way...” There is now only 1. (And I honestly can’t remember what the third thing was now).

(4) “As much as I want a Garmin, I am scared of becoming obsessed with my pace and there by losing sight of the joy of a good run” Me and Hermes couldn’t be happier together, if only I could dust him off and use him again.

(5) “For whatever reason I always wear the same pair of underwear for my long runs (yes I wash them in between)” I finally got over this, in fact, I generally refrain from wearing any at all in the summer! TMI?

(6) “Toenails are overrated, so don't get too attached.” I said this about the time I had 8 missing, needless to say I’ve learned a thing or two since then and won’t ever have that problem again!

(7) “Running should be an adventure, enjoy it!” While the concept is the same, the mantra has been updated; Running is what you make of it, make it an Adventure!

(8) One of the reasons I put why I run was, “To eat carrot cake guilt free after a long run” No longer living in the land of Publix cured me of that. Nowadays there's not even a particular treat I reward myself with after a long run, actually that is sad... I need a new after run treat stat!

(9) I also said “I’ll pass” on everyone’s favorite recovery drink chocolate milk, well I wouldn’t pass nowadays. It’s still not my fav but I don’t mind it anymore.

(10) As for “not being able to live without Clif Shot Blocks,” I haven’t used them since. Funny how that happens huh?

Do you have any retractions you need to make? Did you swear you'd never run a marathon? Race a triathlon? Wear spandex? Wear a running skirt? Shoot a snot rocket? Go anywhere in public after a sweaty run?

Check out B.o.B's revisions HERE.

And before I can officially wrap this post up I have two things to say:

1. I hope y'all have a fantabulous weekend!

2. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAKER LUV!!! 2 more weeks til we get to meet Ella!!! YAY!!!

3 Things Thursday

1. Return of the Xtraining… My return to xtraining has been going strong hitting the gym, pool, and bike. In fact I’m even on the prowl for a *real* road bike but the peeps posting on Craigslist ‘round these parts don’t seem to have a clue how to reply to emails. Stupid.
   
   
2. Spring er Summer Cleaning… I finally went through all my old running gear from when I first started running and let me tell you… I used to run in some random sh*t. I haven’t worn any of it in well over a year or more so it was time to purge and donate! Do you still have running stuff from your beginner days that you never wear? Why are you holding on to it?!?!
   
   
   Apparently back in the day cotton was my friend.
   (UCF 5 Miler 10/2008)
   
   
3. Daydreaming... I have to confess I've been doing a lot of daydreaming about my return to running. For so long it has seemed so out of reach that I was content with just getting to the point where I could walk around like a normal person but now that the end is in sight I've caught myself lusty in thought; running that trail I rode this weekend, lining up for my very first race back, etc... Do you ever daydream about running races/places? I'm not talking only when you're injured I'm talking in general? I remember I used to think about running 24/7 and daydream about my next run or my last really awesome one all the time.
   
   

LOVE/Don't Love

"Love/Don't Love" via Christy over and 25 before 25

* Awhile back my girl Jen B. was planning a trip to Grand Rapids and I invited myself and Spike to tag along. Friday was the big night out and we met up with Kevin (Ironman by Thirty) and his wife Jennie (both of Frostbite Marathon Relay fun) at Founders for dinner and a brew (or two) before hitting the town for some general debauchery. With every visit to G.R. I find myself falling more and more in LOVE with the city.

So that's what we all look like in regular clothes!

* Painting the town red left me feeling less than stellar the following morning. Adult beverages = Dehydration = Don't Love.

* Kevin gave us the heads up that there was an art festival going on so after brunch Saturday morning Spike and I headed over to check it out and happened upon a book sale! We picked up these awesome antique hardcovers to give our TV-stand some booknerdery. LOVE.

Who else loves an old hardback?

* Is it bad when you are so ghostly white you no longer have any "tan" lines whatsoever? This redhead needs to get a darker shade of pale STAT! Don't Love.

* Sunday morning we loaded up my bike and headed out to the Lakelands Trail where it picks up in Pinckney and I got to bike six glorious miles outside in the fresh air and sunshine while Spike ran. LOVE!

Lakelands is a rails-to-trails that is mostly trail/gravel,
a perfect place to begin my return to running soon!

* Anybody else got a love/hate relationship with their juicer? While I LOVE the juice it makes me, I Don't Love the clean-up.

Spinach, ginger, beet, apple, pear, and carrot goodness! Mmmm!!!

* Randomly saw this alleyway driving around the other day and let me just say, LOVE!!!

Pink + Flamingo's = LOVE!!!

* Two more weeks of Das Boot. LOVE that it's only two more weeks, Don't Love that it's still two more weeks.

What do you LOVE/Don't Love from this weekend?!?!?

3 Things Thursday

1. You know you're a runner when... you spend most of last night's episode of "So you think you can Dance" thinking to yourself those dancer's would make great runners with legs like that. Who else loves that show?
   
   
2. Two gimps walk in to a sushi bar... sounds like the perfect set-up for a joke right? The truth is Sun Runner was just sooo jealous of all the injured bliss I've been having she just had to go and get her own Das Boot. Just kidding, in reality she ruptured her plantaris tendon (read her post, I never even heard of such a thing before) at Cleveland and now shares my misery of rocking the knee high torture device for a few weeks. Boo!!!
   
   
   
3. Mixed Emotions... So last night I made my triumphant return to xtraining by cycling three whole miles. But for all that I was excited, I was also a little scared and put it off by doing my whole arm/core routine first. When I finally got started I had every intention of going five miles but downgraded to three by the end of it just to be safe. I have my bag packed for the pool tonight and I've had to keep assuring myself it's ok to go since the doc said I could. After everything I've gone through with this I can't help but feel a bit apprehensive returning to activity again. Have you ever felt this way coming back from an injury?
   

Light at the End of the Tunnel

DISCLAIMER: I’m going to preface this post by stating a few things; First things first, I am not a doctor, nor would I ever give out medical advice. What I’m about to discuss is highly personal medical information as it pertains to me and I am sharing it with you with the sole purpose of bringing to light information I thought might help inform and/or possibly encourage anyone who might be dealing with something similar to ask questions should they ever find themselves in my shoes. More so, I want to prevent anyone from ever finding themselves in my shoes to begin with. Second, if you’re a dude you might not want to read this entire post and I’ll warn you when to look away.

As most of you know today I had my follow up appointment with my sports medicine doctor, it has been four weeks since my last visit wherein he fitted me for Das Boot. In that time two seemingly unrelated things have occurred that have shed new light on the what, why, and how of this whole stress fracture debacle. These things while separately are cause enough for concern, when combined are a recipe for disaster, or rather, a guaranteed stress fracture.

Your typical stress fracture takes about 6-8 weeks to heal and is usually a result of over-training. I don’t doubt that there were those of you who thought this was precisely the case when this all first happened, just as my sport medicine doctor did upon first seeing me. It has been fourteen weeks since that fateful day in March but I have never felt like this was the case. To me, this whole thing never added up, but unfortunately I didn’t have insurance at the time to dig any deeper. Instead I followed the sports doctors’ instructions and continued not to see any progress.

Last month I finally had enough and purchased personal medical insurance. It was a huge fiasco with my preexisting condition but I was finally able to get it squared away and was able to start making appointments. The first was with the sports doc for follow up x-rays since I was not seeing any improvement and the second was to an internist to get a full blood panel run to check for deficiencies.

*DUDES – Unless you have a medical interest, I recommend you skip the next two paragraphs. You’ve been warned.*

In the meantime, about two weeks after Das Boot I got my period. I have not had a period in over four years. Between my birth control and my heightened activity level from marathon training I became amenorrheic, a fairly common occurrence in female athletes. (Those of you who are familiar with Meghann from Meals and Miles, might recall this post she wrote last year about this very subject.) To date it has never been a cause for concern to any of my doctors and I have not given it a second thought. Until it came. Obviously I talked to my OB/GYN and she gave me some insight on the matter:

Its reappearance is a result of two things: 1.) I am under a significant amount of stress having been dealing with all of this over the last few months and 2.) The inactivity of the last few months has resulted in my muscle mass deteriorating and my body finally having enough fat to produce enough estrogen to maintain a normal cycle. FACT: Estrogen helps transport calcium through the blood. When you’re low in Estrogen (i.e. not having periods), you’re not transporting calcium as well and therefore have a heightened chance of developing stress fractures if you are active. Furthermore, bone density decreases when estrogen levels are low, due to the hormone not being there to transport the calcium. Taking calcium/vitamin D supplements alone, without addressing the hormone deficiency means the two minerals won't be absorbed efficiently. (And y'all know I've been taking it like candy since this all went down!)

*DUDES - RESUME READING HERE*

Friday just before I left for Florida, my internist called to discuss my blood panel results and it seems my thyroid levels came in low. This is cause for concern for an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism and I was to come in for T3 & T4 tests (thyroid specific blood tests) upon return. FACT: Your thyroid is linked to calcium regulation.

Do you see the pieces of the puzzle coming together here? Well my sports doc sure did this morning when I clued him in to all of this. As I stated above, while separately they are cause enough for concern, together are a recipe for disaster. He actually apologized for not asking about my cycle or insisting on a blood panel, something he typically reserves for “repeat offenders” i.e. someone who has a history of stress fractures. He applauded my determination and was relieved that we finally have a reason for all of this. Not that it’s great that all of this has happened mind you, but he admitted he was beyond perplexed that I was having such a rough go with it. For all intents and purposes I am the picture of health otherwise so I am glad I went with my gut on this one.

After our discussion of all of this we finally took at look at my new round of x-rays and found that while I am showing healing I am not healed. He prescribed three more weeks in Das Boot to remain conservative, but I can ditch it when I am at home or doing things that do not require significant amounts of walking. I can begin weaning myself out of it an hour at a time each day until my next appointment and I can resume swimming, aqua jogging, and flat road/no resistance cycling so long as there is no pain. He is confident that after my internist figures out my thyroid situation I should get the all clear at my next appointment at which time I’ll be sent to a nutritionist to be enlightened on what I will need to do to stay on top of keeping myself balanced going forward. He closed by saying I was his best patient with the worst luck.

So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, at long last, I just have a little bit further to go before I reach it.

At least I make this look good... right? :)

Now I know this a lot of information to digest, so please feel free to ask questions in the comments below and/or share your stories. I will do my best to respond to all of you or if there are enough questions I will just answer them all in a follow up post.

Special thanks goes out to Heather for letting me bounce a lot of this off on her as she has knowledge on the subject. Thanks also to Adam for giving me a dudes opinion on whether or not I'd loose all my guy readers for talking about my period. (He seems to think I won't so please don't prove him wrong!) Continued thanks to all of you for your continued support and encouragement, it's been a rough few months and I appreciate y'all not giving up on me! It's looking very hopeful that July will {FINALLY} produce some actual running related content! Stay tuned!

Who doesn't love a good surprise?

Disclaimer: This is an entirely non-running related ramble.

I love a surprise. Whether I'm the surpriser or the surprisee, I don't think there's anything more fun than a good surprise. That being said a few months ago the FL girls started putting together a baby shower for my Beaker Luv and I decided to make a surprise appearance!

There's been many emails/calls leading up to this weekend in which we discussed her shower and never once did I, or anyone else, let the cat out of the bag. So Friday afternoon, completely unknown to her and anyone not in the loop, I flew down to West Palm and spent the night with my friend Rach. We went out to dinner and played with the girls and when she put them to bed I went out on the patio and call Beaker Luv like I normally would on a Friday night. We chatted for some 40 minutes and I let her go, "forgetting" to call her back. Saturday morning Rach and I took the girls to the beach before we loaded up the car and road tripped it up to Orlando. Again I called Beaker Luv and played a bit of phone tag which is par for the course during the weekend for us. I had so much fun playing with Maya, Lily, and catching up with Rach! It's been over a year since I've been able to make it down that way and I still can't get over how big the girls are getting!!!

Love my Rach!

Dirt don't hurt right Lily? LOL!

I just loved Maya's big smiles!

Once we arrived in O-town Rach dropped me off into Rixy's possession so she could head to Beaker Luv's to spend the night and we headed to dinner with Linds and the rest of the gang. It was Linds' birthday so I loved being able to celebrate it with her and after dinner we headed to our old stomping grounds at Cowboys where I got to rock the boot at the bar. Our friend Lauren just so happened to be injured too so we concocted a story that we sustained our respective injuries being a part of a girls roller derby team named "The Crotch Rockets" We are so mature. To keep up the sham I took a group shot of everyone with Yvonney's camera and she posted it to Facebook so when Beaker Luv FB stalked "their" night there would be no evidence of me. Tee hee.

Injured "Crotch Rockets" LOL!

The gang at Cowboys, just like old times...

Sunday came and it was finally the baby shower!!! We all got gussied up and headed to the Cheesecake Factory in Winter Park, while we waited for Beaker Luv to arrive I went and hid in a different room. After the server got everyone's drinks delivered I came out to deliver Beaker Luv's and the look of confusement along with the "You're here!!!" Was priceless!!! She never had the slightest clue and after it registered that I had been there all weekend she was like, "You brat! You've been here all weekend haven't you?!?!" She couldn't believe I had been with Rach Friday to Saturday or that I had gone out with everyone Saturday night and not one person let it slip!

Operation "Surprise Beaker Luv" was a total success.

She's the cutest preggo ever!

The shower was fun and I loved being able to spend the afternoon with some of my best friends! Afterwards Beaker Luv and I headed back to her place and spent the rest of the evening chatting away, playing with RJ, oohing and ahhing over the new baby's room and tiny clothes, and just looking at each other and giggling because we were so happy to be together!

RJ is so big now!!!

It was such an awesome weekend and a much needed getaway to see (almost) all my FL peeps! If I had only seen B.o.B and Harold it would have been perfect. I def have a pep in my step today after being able to soak up so much glorious sunshine and girl time... it's trips like these that really make me miss them and Florida all the more!

Have you ever pulled off a huge surprise like this or had one pulled on you?

3 Things Thursday

1. Hair Did... Yesterday I decided to give my lil cousin, who's a hairdresser, free reign of my hair. This was what she came up with and I'm totally loving it! The red is funky/fun and adds a whole new dimension to my otherwise same old, same old. You like?
   
   


2. Heatwave... While everyone else seems to be hating on the weather lately, I for one am loving it! It totally reminds me of Orlando and I have been sun/warmth deprived for far too long! If there's one thing I've learned during all of this is injury b.s., is that we take a lot of things for granted. If I ever get to run this summer I will be rejoicing every sweat soaked, humidity suffocating minute of it. Why? Because I (finally) can!


3. Ze Doctor... Tuesday I had an appointment with my Internist, not to be confused with intern, to get some blood work done. I'm still waiting on the results but his suspicions seemed pretty legit about a few things so we'll see what happens... Also, while we're on the subject of doctors, this coming Tuesday is D-Day. (i.e. my next follow-up with the sports doc for a new round of x-rays on that which we no longer speak of.) I highly doubt I'll be posting again before then, since I struggled to come up with content for today as it is, so please keep your fingers crossed for good news!!!
   
   How about y'all just leave me something random in the comments to make this post feel less forced? It's just that I don't have anything to talk about guys... sorry!

Letting Go

Yesterday in a fit of frustration I posted on my FB page and Twitter the following:

After posting it, I was reminded of a coping exercise I learned while in therapy; writing a “Let Go” letter. (No, I am not ashamed to admit that I have worked with a therapist on two separate occasions in my life; once during college to combat stress induced anxiety and another when I was required by a previous employer to meet with a PTSD therapist after I was held up at gun point during a shift.) Now back to the “Let Go” letter, the thought behind it is fairly straight forward; you write a letter, void of restraint and address all your feelings about/towards the person(s) and/or situation that is causing you grief, frustration, disappointment, anger, etc... Simple enough right?

That being said, y’all know I have been struggling with this injury over here. It has been 12 weeks since I injured myself and 75 days since my last run. Every time I thought things couldn't get any worse, I suffered setback after setback after setback. I went from initially being given an overly optimistic recovery plan to having to revert to the most conservative. (i.e. Das Boot) For whatever reason my stress fracture has the persistence of cockroach.

via

So, in an effort to rid myself of the anger, frustration, disappointment, discouragement, etc… that has been festering within me, I am writing it this letter so that I can "Let Go" and move on. After this post I promise you I am done talking about it. When I finally have some good news to report I will definitely share it with you, but until then, you'll hear no more whining from me. Sound good?

Dear Stress Fracture,

You have broken my spirit in a way I did not think was possible.

You have invoked within me an irrational fear that I will never heal or recover and have robbed me of my confidence, mobility, and quality of life. You have left me feeling weak, worthless, and beyond repair when my every attempt to overcome your wrath is met with a another setback to endure. You have left me feeling like a burden to everyone in my life and continually test my resolve by planting seeds of jealousy and resentment into my heart. The pain you have inflicted both physically and mentally has left me exhausted from lack of sleep and emotionally drained.
I have had enough.

Your presence has overstayed its welcome and I will not allow you to plague another moment of my life.

Defiantly,

Red

3 Things Thursday

1. Checking out the classics... In honor of "National Running Day" yesterday I settled in to watch, for the first time ever, "Chariots of Fire." This movie has long been one of the top most inspirational running movies of all time and although, IMHO it is a little slow, by the end I can definitely see why! Anyone else want to fess up to not having seen this movie yet? How did you celebrate National Running Day?
   
   
2. Better to be safe then sorry... My return to the pool Tuesday night did not go as planned. I did 15 minutes of pull drills and then switched over to aqua jogging. Inside of 15 minutes I felt a twinge so I immediately stopped and called it a day. Yesterday my leg bothered me all day long. After much consideration I have decided to forgo any xtraining until my next doctor appointment on June 14th with the exception of some arm and core workouts. I figure it is better to play it safe (even if it kills me inside to not do a d*mn thing for another two weeks) than to be sorry on D-Day. Something has got to give sooner or later right?
   
   
   Well pool, it was fun while it lasted.
   
   
   
3. The only redeeming quality of injury is... my boobs have reappeared. Yup, I almost have a cleavage. (Sorry I had to end this post on a lighter note.)
   
   Have a fantabulous weekend everyone, I'm heading to Chi-town to spend the weekend with my cousins, enjoy those long runs and races!