January Recap/Stats

Miles Ran: 15 M - Hell. Yeah. :)

Meters Swam: 0 m - I really need to get motivated to get back in the pool!

Miles Biked: 19 M - Better than last month, but still need to get that number up!

Miles Elliptical'd: 3.4 M

Miles Walked: 7.7 M - Mostly accumulated via pre- and post-run walking.

Flights of Stairs Climbed: 156 Flights

Rest Days: 11

Current Reads: (Reading) Atonement by Ian McEwan; Still working on this one from the end of last month. I had a hard time getting in to it but now that I gutted through the first few chapters it's starting to pick up.

(Finished) None, total slacker.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I'm still perusing the drama on the wedding boards. *Hangs head in shame.*

Current Obsession: My recent shellac manicure. I know that probably sounds ridiculous but seriously, my nails produce some kind of natural oil that makes it impossible for me to paint them without it chipping off inside of an hour (and you can forget fake nails because they just pop off). I got the shellac treatment on recommendation from a friend and it lasted over a week! This is BIG!!!

Current Song: T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) - will.i.am

Current Wish-List: For this unseasonably warm winter to stick around long enough for Spring to arrive!

Current Need: To get over this nasty sinus infection. Ugh. :-/

Current Triumph: That my recent leg pain was nothing serious and only set me back a little.

Current Bane of my Existence: Spammers. On the one hand I wouldn't have a job without them but on the other, they drive me insane!!!

Current Goal: To continue my R2R safely and responsibly.

Current Indulgence: Painting! I can't seem to get enough of it lately and have been cranking them out weekly. I've been sticking mostly to simple, colorful children paintings until I get a little better, giving them to my various nieces, nephews, and little cousins. Here's a few of my most recent:

(Pretty sure my Dad was bummed I didn't paint this one for him...)

Current Blessings: Being able to spend time and support those we care about during a difficult time and the continued love, encouragement, and support from my family, friends, all of you, and especially, my beloved Spike.

Current Excitement: B.o.B (Who ran the Miami Marathon this past weekend, go give her a high five!) is coming for a visit in two and a half weeks!!! Woo-hoo!!! We've also got a very important "Winter Hacienda" weekend after that where the fate of two of our friends' unborn children's names will be decided via an eating contest by the men. They're proposing the food of choice be from TB, any bets on what absurd names Spike will come up with when he dominates the field?!?!

How'd your January shape up?!?!

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

Better To Be Safe, Then Sorry

Sometimes it's ok to be crazy and paranoid, or as my doctor called it, in tune with your body and actually listening to what it's saying.

That said, I have a confession to make; last Wednesday, following my bone stimulating session after my second 2 miler of the week, my leg started hurting.

Cue PTSD.

At first I wrote it off as just a phantom pain, as my doctor and many other stress fracture victims had warned me could/would occur as I started getting back into the swing of things.

But hours later, it still throbbed. And then it ached while I tried to sleep that night. Bells, whistles, and red flags starting going off in my head. By Thursday morning I knew this was no phantom pain, this was very real, and a pain I was all too familiar with, having lived with it for almost 9 months last year. Needless to say I shut down any thoughts of running again for the week, called my sports medicine office and they worked me in for an appointment with my specialist first thing this morning.

The pain got worse Friday but then started to lessen over the weekend and by this morning I was feeling none the worse for the wear. After an extensive round of xrays I met with my specialist, we reviewed the films, and I am happy to report I am perfectly fine.

(You can breath now.)

Doc thinks that biking 10 miles that Sunday and then making the jump from 1.5 miles to 2 miles was a bit too much for my leg to handle all in a few days time and the area around the injury site became aggravated. I'm going to sit out running this week, bone stimulate daily (it had been cut down to only after runs), and then start back up next week at a mile. A small setback, but nothing that I can't handle.

I hadn't even planned on discussing this if everything ended up ok, but there is a lesson here that everyone could use a simple reminding of:

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.

Everyone preaches it, but not that many people actually heed it. Like so many of you, I have trained through my fair share of pain in the past, pain that other people, smarter people, would have taken them straight to the doctor for review. I have obviously learned my lesson with this and do not ignore that which hurts. Being injured for an extended amount of time will do that to you, and the thought of ever finding myself in that state again haunts me daily. While I understand that going to the doctor can be a total headache and in some cases, a waste of money, wouldn't you rather be safe, then sorry?

After the breath of relief and the plan of action was made I thanked him for his time and informed him that as great as he is, I never wanted to see him again. Also, that I've never been happier to be considered crazy and paranoid. He laughed and told me that actually, I was just being smart.

3 Things Thursday

1. Humbled... I really enjoyed the stories y'all shared with me earlier this week about being humbled. As always, I just can't say enough how much I appreciate your continued support through all of this. You guys are the best!
   
   
2. Illinois Bound... Tomorrow I'm headed southwest to visit my cousins and have a much needed girls night out. I see lots of dancing in my immediate future, dance floor be warned.
   
   
3. MIAMI... But what I'm even more excited about for this weekend is the Miami Marathon!!! My Boo, members of my beloved BRA, Jess, Greg, and the other Greg are all headed south to get their run on and I am so freaking excited for them I can hardly stand it. I made B.o.B promise me she'd get someone, anyone to text me her finish time as I will be en route home from my cousins and therefore unable to track her on the website. I hope everyone Miami-bound has a great race this weekend! Don't forget, when the going gets tough, take a moment to remember how awesome you are and keep on, keeping on!!!
   

Humbled.

Today I ran two miles. Two entire miles, without stopping. These mileage milestones bring a smile to my face each and every time they happen, and that smile stays with me for each run after until it's time to up the mileage; then it gets bigger and brighter all over again.

.25 M walk / 2 M RUN! / .25 M walk

Lately I've been thinking about how when I first started this blog I was just getting in to running, or rather, running long distances. The first ten months I spent writing this blog were full of mileage milestones; starting with me having just run my first 10 miler to topping out with my first 26.2. So much excitement, anticipation, frustration, etc. were poured into those moments and here we are almost three years later, full circle and building up in the miles again, only this time from scratch.

For months and months I dreamed of being able to run again and I can honestly say that it feels just as good to be back at it as I thought it would. Yes, some days it is hard. Yes, I am slower. Yes, I have a long way to go before I am back to the kind of runner I was before. But you know what? I'm not discouraged and I don't feel like I'm missing anything. There is something to be said about experience and this time as I build up the miles, I know what I need to do so that I don't find myself sidelined again. That desire to not be injured again, more than any temptation to go faster or farther, rules my return to running right now. I'm sure at some point down the road I will find myself wanting more but right now I'm ok with being slow(er) and mileage challenged. Furthermore, not having any pressure from training for a distance event allows me to enjoy every step, every moment I'm out there doing what I love, even two short miles, and that more than anything else makes it all worthwhile.

Injury, and returning from an injury, are humbling experiences and this redhead has been sufficiently humbled.

When was the last time you felt humbled and what was it that caused you to be?

11 Randoms

Marlene tagged me for "11 Randoms" - The rules (copied verbatim):

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Random Things about Me:

• I have very vivid dreams that I can usually recall in full detail.
• I love wearing really ugly, fluffy socks in the winter.
• I took prenatal vitamins for years because they made my hair and nails look so awesome, but it was kinda weird explaining that to people...
• I lust over a Dyson. I think Spike is more threatened by that than my lust of 'Raylan Givens'
  
• I hate that I can never make scarf's look awesome on me.
• My swearing has gotten worse since working with mostly men. It's really effing ridiculous.
• I realized recently that I don't actually miss Florida as much as I used to. GASP!
• In general, I think my ankles and knees look weird.
• I have Siri envy and can't wait to upgrade my phone.
• Sometimes I like to just stop everything I'm doing, look over the pics of family and friends I have on my wall at work, and smile over how lucky I am to have all of these people in my life.
• If there were a legitimate medication to take to hinder ones ability to cry I would take it on my wedding day because I know I'm going to be a blubbering mess.
  
  
  

Questions from Marlene:

1. What is your favorite pair of non-running shoes? - Either pair of my boots.
   
2. What are you wearing right now? - Lots of layers! It's freezing out!
   
3. What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery? - Pay off my student loans!
   
4. Are you named after anyone/anything? - Not that I'm aware of.
   
5. What is worse – being too cold, or being too hot? - This is tough I've been both and neither are very fun. Being too hot makes me sick and being too cold is painful!
   
6. What is hanging on your walls at home? - Various paintings.
   
7. What is the last thing that you took a picture of? - This:
   
   
   
8. Who is the last person you spoke to on the phone? - My good friend Rach down in Florida.
   
9. Where did you go on vacation as a child? - When I was 10 I won a trip to Florida and we went a few mores times after that but one year we went "up north" to northern Michigan and I was pissed about it. I was also 14 and hated everyone/everything.
   
10. What is your favorite TV show? - The Walking Dead!!! ZOMBIES!!!
    
11. How many pieces of jewelry do you wear regularly? - Six; earrings (4), necklace, engagement ring. Every now and then I throw on a bracelet if I'm going out.
    

Tag, you're it!
(First 11 people to comment on my last post, skipping those that were already tagged by Marlene)

• Shannon
  
• Rose
• Holly
• Chris
• Running Ricig
• Ali Mc
• Adam
• Lazy Runner (Yes I know, I owe you a LR story!)
  
• Lauren
  
• Brent
• Kandi
  
  

My Questions for the Tagged:

1. What is the last thing you took a picture of? (I'm keeping this one, could be interesting.)
2. What finally made you decide to write your blog?
   
3. If you had to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
4. What's one item on your 'bucket list'?
5. If you could be on any TV show, which would it be?
6. If you could start your own race, what distance would it be?
7. What would you name said race?
8. If you were forced to eat like something other than how you eat now, which would you choose? (Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo, Pescetarian, Kosher, Cannibal, etc...)
9. If you could rid the world of one social application, which would it be?
10. If you could choose just one person to train with for a training cycle who would it be?
11. If you were a guest at our wedding what would you bring as a gift based on what you know about Spike and I? (Ha ha, this could get very interesting...)
    

TGIF PEEPS!

3 Things Thursday

1. Not a Spin Bike... So for the last year+ I've been leaving comments in the suggestion box at my gym about how desperately a spin bike (and row machine) is needed. Well you can imagine my excitement when they announced on their FB page that they just got in "new spin bikes." I arrived at the gym Tuesday to find two of these:
   
   
   
   
   This is not a spin bike.
   
   

   

   For reference, this is.
   
   

   I still managed to break my lady parts all the same but I repeat, the bike in the first picture is NOT a spin bike!
   
   
   
2. Running, Running, and Running, Running... Another week of running is just about in the books and I have to say, the novelty has still not worn off. Slowly but surely I am starting to feel more and more comfortable out there. The other day a friend asked me if I was jealous of Spike training for a Spring marathon and I didn't even blink before responding, "Absolutely NOT! I am so happy for him and quite frankly, a marathon is so far out of my realm and capacity I don't even think twice about it. I'm just happy to be out there running what I can!"
   
   
3. Writer's Block... I feel like a bad blogger lately, I haven't had much to say and you can tell with my lack of posting anything other than a "3 Things Thursday." There's just so much you can say about running a mile or so, mostly on a track. Next month will offer far more excitement around here because B.o.B is coming for a visit and I'll be tackling my first real attempt at a 5k in over a year.
   
   Anyone else short on content these days?
   

3 Things Thursday

1. I'll Take Boring for 200 Please... It's official folks, Spike is trying to change me. How exactly is he trying to change me you ask? He's trying to make me love obnoxiously bright running gear. He thinks I haven't noticed that the stuff he's so lovingly bought for me lately has started trending brighter but today he took it a touch to far and came home with these from the Playmakers annual sidewalk sale:
   
   
   
   He claims he couldn't decide which pair I would like best.
   

   
   

   He said I could return whichever pair I didn't want, but suggested I really think about it first. Then he showed me the pair he bought for himself, the loudest pair of bright orange running shoes I have ever seen.
   
   

   I WILL NOT BE CHANGED! I AM NOT A FLASHY SHOES TYPE OF GIRL THANKYOUVERYMUCH. (Unless they are pink. Then I'd be all over them.)
   
   
   
2. Olympic Trials... How excited are you guys for this?!?!? We will definitely be cheering for our Mitten favorite, Desi! Did I ever tell you guys about the time Spike got to congratulate her on her Boston second place finish last year because she was on the same flight home as us?!?!?
   
   
3. Bumping Up... Today is my last one miler before I bump up to 1.5 miles! The last lap is no longer kicking my butt, which means I'm ready to move it on up. I've decided to continue bumping up every two weeks until I hit three miles, after which I'll bump up every week as my doctor prescribed. I really want to ease in to my return for my own piece of mind, despite the doctor's assurance. I guess you could say I'm feeling a bit gun shy, but let's be honest, wouldn't you?
   

Blinded By the White

Those bright white legs below are brought to you by not having run in shorts since October or November of 2010 thanks to being injured most of 2011! Before you shield your eyes from the radioactive day glo they cast, please note the shit-eating grin on my face! That my friends is a very, VERY happy girl who just got to run, in shorts, in January, in Michigan, moments ago.

A mile full of smiles on this gorgeous day!

*Thanks for being my paparazzi Sun Runner!

3 Things Thursday

1. "Running is Hard"... Between my R2R and Spike starting marathon training again, you hear that phrase being said a lot around our house lately. While I'm still enjoying every step of my runs, starting over from scratch is hard, and by that last lap of my recent mile runs I'm spent! There's also the new-found soreness factor, which was in full effect after the Eve on the Ave 5k race but thankfully, y'all helped me decide on FB that, that was more awesome than lame. :)
   
   
2. Personal Growth Goals... Between a Christmas request to draw a picture for a niece and all the wedding crafting we've been doing lately it got me thinking that I should really get back in to doing artwork again. It's been a very looong time and I decided to make it a new years personal goal. I've made good on it twice already by painting some fun pics for Spike's niece's with more on the way.
   
   
   
   I've dubbed these the "Undie Owl"
   and the "Funky Penguin"
   
   
   
   
3. #RYTO5K... To end this, I just thought I'd direct your attention to Adam's "Race Your Thorns Off 5K Virtual Race." He has put this on for the last few years and it's a great first "race" to get you back in to training mode during these cold months of winter. The race is set for January 28th so there's still time to join and get to training!
   
   Have you made any personal, non-fitness related, goals for yourself for the new year?
   

Eve on the Ave 5k Race Recap

Eve on the Ave 5k Race Recap

Pre-Race: Because it was New Years Eve we first had a delicious sushi dinner with friends in Lansing around 6pm. (Do not, I repeat, DO NOT consume massive amounts of sushi three hours before an evening race. Oy!) After dinner we headed down to Jackson, arriving just over an hour before the start. Sun Runner and The Engineer arrived shortly thereafter and after Spike and I changed out of our fancy dinner duds into our race gear we all milled about chatting up the other runners and goofing around taking pictures of ourselves.

Start Corral: This was a very small race, as in 82 participants. Apparently people in Jackson have better things to do at 10 pm on NYE than to run a 5k... to that I ask, what?!?! LOL! Anyway, because it was such a small race there were no timing chips or any kind of a start area to really speak of so we racers merely grouped together just outside of the church hosting the event and waited to hear the shout to "GO!" It was a joyous moment, toeing my first start line since coming back, our foursome hugged and cheered to celebrate.

The Race: Moments before the shout to "GO!" Spike decided to line up at the front to "lead" the race for the first 100 meters and so for the first few minutes all you could hear over the sound of foot falls was him yelling like a lunatic. (Yes, I still plain to marry him.) After he got that out of his system he slowed to a trot so I could catch up and we did the rest of the race together. We had decided ahead of time our plan of action for the race would be: .5 M run, 1 M walk, .5 M run, 1 M walk, .1 run. I could've ran an entire mile but I really wanted to break up the walking. That first half mile went so fast but felt so good! (Minus all the sushi burps, oy!) Over the course of the next two miles somehow my hair tie managed to break, I dropped a glove, and my shoe came untied. Spike dubbed me a bit of a disaster but we had a blast together, thanking all the cops and volunteers and the few spectators that were actually out, cheering on the runners who lapped us, and yelling at the drunks downtown. Before we knew it we were in the home stretch. I had wanted to sprint the last .1 but Spike reminded me that I hadn't exactly sprinted in recent months so I settled for picking up the run pace just a hair and we were done!

I decided to break out the sparkle pants again for the race, I wanted to be festive and all the volunteers and drunks sure appreciated them! LOL!

Garmin Time: 37:26

66/82 Overall - 2nd in AG 30-34

Post Race: After finishing we checked the results as they had recorded us old school style coming through the finish, Sun Runner and I were happy to find out we both took 2nd in our respective AG's! (It should be noted there were only two people in my AG so while I did take second, I was also last. Whomp, whomp.)

Post Race Thoughts: I have to say, although the race itself was small, the course was still really well marked and organized. It was a fun run/walk but the majority of the field ran with only a few of us bringing up the rear walking. (Or mostly walking in our case) There were no aid stations but considering it was a fun run and a chilly night, I think everyone was just fine. That said, after the year I had with my injury, getting to end it on a high note like this was a great way to remind myself just how far I've come. While it was only a collective mile, it was also the start of so many more to come. Spike and I agreed that this race might just become our NYE tradition.

2011 Recap / 2012 Goals

2011 Year in Review

January - 125 M - January was full of awesome winter running, many a 10 miler with friends, the beginning of marathon training, and the Frostbite Marathon Relay; which would end up being my only running race of the year.

Team Frosted Flakes was tu-tu-rrific!

When in Holland, kiss like the Dutch!

February - 138.77 M - Cleveland Marathon training ruled my world and it was awesome.

March - 58.2 M - After starting off the month with a kick@ss 18 miler, a week later March would forever be known as the scene of the injury.

April - Between spectating my first race that wasn't, the Martian Half on crutches, then hobbling to Boston to cheer on Spike, I had to admit that injuries suck.

Saddest pic ever.

But this pic still makes me swoon!

May - After suffering some setbacks, I kinda hated May, but at least I got to rock some spectating for/with friends (at another race that wasn't) at the Cleveland Marathon.


June - Thanks to the setbacks in May, I spent the whole of June rocking some serious Das Boot, but at least I got to surprise my Beaker Luv for her baby shower and there was that whole Florence + The Machine and U2 concert with Jen B. Woot!

Making Das Boot classy since 2011!

July - In July I picked up my beloved new toy, Leela the bike, took a sh*t ton of pictures in the 30 Day Photo Challenge, and got to cheer on my Boo at the Top Gun Tri.


August - Another forgettable month of non-running mixed with some PT, biking, and lots (relative) of swimming.

Leela & Brownie are long over do for a bike date!

September - I finally got a second opinion on my leg, which was promptly followed by me having to go all Morgana the Red on a bone stimulator rep to get a bone stimulator in the first place. Besides all that mess, my fav memory of September will be walking the Cooley Law 5k with Spike for a 5k PW. Leg be damned!


October - I said goodbye to my 20's and hello to the big 3-0! The very next weekend Spike sent me on an unforgettable quest that started in Florida and ended back where our love story began, in Chicago, with him on one knee!

You guys tired of kissing pic yet? :)

And if that weren't enough, I wrapped up the month in D.C. spectating MCM with these lovely ladies in some awesome sparkle pants.


November - That just happened last month right? Yeah, I don't remember it either.

December - 3.1 M - Finally CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF! Being able to run again was so awesome but then after a few short runs I coughed myself injured and had to shut it down for the year... or NYE anyway!

Christmas 2011 - The Future Mr. & Mrs. Spike

Wrapping up the year on a high note, by running!
(Ok, and a whole lot of walking too but still!)
Eve on the Ave Race Recap HERE!

Running Total for 2011 = 327± M

Usually at this point I would reflect back to my goals for the year and see how they stacked up but that is all sorts of depressing so we'll just skip that m'kay?

Looking Ahead, 2012

My one and only goal for 2012 is: Run happy and healthy. Normally I would project all kinds of mileage goals I had in mind for training, maintaining, and year end, not to mention all the usual PR dreams, but after the very lengthy and unexpected injury that hijacked my 2011 season my outlook on these things have changed. I have planned my comeback very conservatively to ensure there are no injuries this coming season and will be grateful for every mile covered, however many that may be. The end.

Before I end this post I just want to extend a big, bold, THANK YOU for following along this year, even when my running adventures took an extended hiatus and meaningless drivel filled the void. Your encouragement and support was appreciated more than you'll ever know and got me through a lot of the rough patches. It is my sincere hope that this kind of thing never happens again around here and that 2012 will bring endless amounts of running ramblings only!!!

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