The jaw saga

I realize I haven't posted anything about my month of living on smoothies.  I had oral surgery on November 7th.  I had two implants and a lot of bone grafting on the right side of my mouth.  Well, what was supposed to be 3-5 days of drinking smoothies, turned into over a month of smoothies.  My whole jaw hurt so my oral surgeon was afraid I had a fracture and put me on a liquid diet.  I didn't even get to enjoy Thanksgiving.  I'm just now able to eat soft foods again.  Do you know how bad I want a freaking steak!?

Well, I didn't tell my oral surgeon this but a little over a week after my surgery, I did a practice 5K for Girls on the Run.  (I'm addicted I tell you!)  I think that's sorta where things went downhill for me in the healing process.  I didn't realize running would be so jarring on my jaw.  I had to go home that night and take the good painkillers.  But, what's done is done.  I haven't been on a run since.  If I jog even a little bit, my jaw throbs.  I'm taking things super easy because I have to start training for our half marathon in just a couple weeks.

In other news… My husband's broken thumb is 95% better (I can't believe how fast he has healed after his surgery!  If only I had that luck!) So he's been getting on the trainer to ride his bike down in the basement almost every night.  I went down to ride with him over the weekend and as soon as I get on my bike, my middle right toes go numb.  Ugh I thought I fixed this.  I'm sure I've said before but I have a ruptured disc in my low back (L4-L5).  It's been that way since 1999.  I regularly go to the chiropractor, do yoga, get massages, acupuncture, etc.  I've been told in the past that I needed surgery. My chiropractor told me not to do the STP last year because I could give myself permanent nerve damage.  I did it anyway.  Some days I have no problems at all, and some days I'm numb my whole ride.  At the 50 mile mark on the STP, a friend said to try unclipping from my right pedal once in a while and that seemed to help and got me through the next 150 miles that day.  But now I'm worried about continuing to ride.  I really need to get this problem fixed but after the jaw saga, I can't even imagine how long it would take me to recover from back surgery.  I'm too busy for that, and I can't afford the time off work.  It's been really on my mind lately though.

And just so I can end on a good note… I won the weight loss competition with my dad and sister!  I lost 20 lbs on my smoothie diet.  This means I'm 5 lbs less than I was when I rode the STP this summer.  I hope to get down another 10 lbs for running season.  The less weight I have to carry with me, the better!  OH!  And you know what I realized the other day?  I am 100 lbs less than I was when I was 9 months pregnant with my son.  I was 268 back then.  I know that's cheating a little but come on… how much of that weight was baby?  He was only 7 lbs 15 oz when he was born.  I was HUGE!  :)

VK VIP

I was accepted as a 2015 Vanderkitten VIP Brand Ambassador!  That's kind of nuts and I'm really pretty shocked I was chosen.  I'm humbled and honored that they think I kick ass in sports enough to represent their brand.  I was added to the VKVIP closed Facebook group today and was reading all the new member's posts of excitement.  Everyone saying hello, where they're from, and grateful for their acceptance into this group of amazing women.  Honestly, I'm a bit overwhelmed and nervous about the whole endeavor, as there's a lot of hardcore women doing awesome things.  I hope I fit in!

More info on their website if you've never heard of Vanderkitten:  https://vanderkitten.com/2015-vkvip/

Why the West Coast is the best coast… mostly.

I'm sure I've mentioned in the past that I miss living in Salem, Massachusetts terribly.  I miss our amazing friends there that are more like family.  I miss my really cool ghost hunting tour company that gave me the opportunity to be on TV a couple times.  I earned my masters degree while living there, and my daughter was born there.  It's just a wonderful, historical, magical place.  I loved the seasons...  The hot, humid summers, and the blizzards all winter.  I loved the fall colors and spring flowers.  I loved that Halloween lasts an entire month.  It just had the best energy ever.  It was like being on vacation for 4 years.

All that being said… The Pacific Northwest is beautiful.  Mount Rainier, the Seattle skyline, the sound, the islands, the evergreen trees.  I think it's beautiful even when it's dreary and raining.  It's comfortable, and it's home.  And since it's relatively warm all year, you can be outside and stay active almost every single day.  It's so great for outdoor sports (cycling, running, hiking, kayaking… etc.)  In general, people in New England just don't have that outdoorsy adventurous spirit that people have here.  With each new sporting endeavor I've taken up in the past year, I spend more time with friends and family, meet new friends, and feel like part of such a great community. (Side note:  Not specifically in Burien though… I keep thinking that as great of a location we have here, and a great view of the water… it's not a good fit for us… who knows though.)

I wanted to take the opportunity to share some photos from the past year.  These are photos that would not exist, beauty that I would not have seen, if I wasn't so active.  I have truly loved getting outdoors to run, walk, cycle, swim, hike, kayak, and race.   I hope this inspires you to do the same.  Get outside, breathe the fresh air, smell the flowers, the trees, the freshly mowed grass, and the ocean.  Get active.

View from my treadmill

Sunset from my treadmill

The husband and me on our very first day on our new road bikes

Most rainy day… still outside!

A few from our ride on Vashon Island… one of my favorite rides…

The husband and me at the Vashon Ferry Terminal

A few from our ride to Alki Beach…

 

Ride to Gasworks Park (Somewhere I'd never been in the 30 years I've lived here)…

(Yeah, I know, we should have laid the
bikes down on the other side.  I was new!)

Riding across the I-90 bridge was so fun!

On our way to Eastern Washington

A beautiful country ride near Walla Walla

A hike down the steps at Eagle Landing Park…..

Mount Rainer during the Daffodil Classic

Blurry early morning fog

Trip to Long Beach for the Beach to Chowder 5K…

Hiking Crystal Mountain…

Kayaking on Alki with the husband

Posing with some cycling statues with my cycling wife

Waiting for a draw bridge with the husband

And a few of my favorite photos from my races this year…

Crawling through a net at the Warror Dash

Us being badass

Pic stitch of the Bonney Lake Triathlon

Me crossing the finish line of the STP

I just look so freaking happy in these
pics from the Slime Run!

Getting clobbered by my BFF at the Color Run.

My Vanderkitten VIP application

What about Vanderkitten inspires you to be a VIP?

I can't even describe in words what it meant to me to cycle hundreds of miles with Vanderkitten VIP, Megan Stith leading the way.  I want to pay it forward and do the same for other women who are just starting out, terrified like I was learning a new sport and new active way of life.  I couldn't have accomplished what I did this year without her.


Vanderkitten VIPs have inspiring stories that other women can relate to and find inspiration through.  What is it about your achievements or story that other women will find compelling. 

My best friend's husband does the Seattle to Portland cycling event each year with a friend. One night last January he was trying to talk my husband and me into doing it with him.  My initial response was "Oh yeah right.  Only crazy people do that."  He was telling us that a lot of people make it to the 100 mile mark and quit.  He told me there is no way I'd do that.  That when I start something, I finish it.  Again, I thought, "Oh yeah right." and kind of brushed it off.  But later that night I was thinking about how nice it was that he thought that way about me.  And actually, he's right!  When I commit to doing something, I don't quit.  I lost 80 lbs in the past couple years and I was feeling really fit and healthy.  So, why not train to be a hardcore cyclist?  I called my friend Megan since she has also done the STP a few years in a row and asked her to please kick my butt on a weekly basis.  She jumped at the opportunity.  I bought a bike in February.  I didn't even know how to shift!  Megan singlehandedly taught me to be a safe, confident, kickass female cyclist, often leading the men we rode with.  We rode week after week, usually in the pouring rain.  I was terrified of going too fast, and also terrified to stop.  I kept my eye on that kitten on the back of her jersey and I just followed her lead.  We ended up completing the STP in ONE DAY!  If I can do that, I can truly do anything.  I did a triathlon, more cycling events, many 5K's, a 10K, and even a half marathon planned next year!  Who's in?


How have you been involved in your community?

This past year I've joined a local community running group, a cycling group, and I've been actively working to inspire my friends, family, and my children to be active and participate in 5K fun runs and family cycling events.  I've also started a weight loss/fitness competition with my sister and her friends and they're having a blast getting healthy.


Please tell us about your plans or ideas for future community involvement.

Being a teacher, and a mother, I think I'm really well suited to help young women achieve their goals.  I very recently signed up as a running buddy for a program called Girls on the Run.  I think it will be a life-changing experience to run alongside a young girl and encourage her, and cheer her on as she crosses the finish line of her first 5K.  I'm also really interested in starting a women's beginner triathlon group in my city.


In one sentence, describe what women's equality in sports means to you:

Gender does not play a role in how much ass you can kick.  :)


Tell us about your previous sporting accomplishments.

There's been a lot this past year. Completed 5 major cycling events, a sprint triathlon, 7 5K's including the Warrior Dash, and a 10k so far!


What are your sporting goals or major events for 2015.

I plan to do the Seattle to Portland cycling event again next year and find a lot more women to do it with us.  Many more fun 5K's, and 10K's.  I signed up for the Disney Half Marathon in May with my best friend.  And I plan to do a lot more Sprint Triathlons to beat my time!  And I'd love to do the Honolulu Marathon next December but that's not set in stone yet.  By 2016 for sure!

10K!

Sorry it's been quite a while since I've written.  Life has been busy.  My husband finally had surgery for his thumb that he fractured while cycling months ago.  It's been nuts around here taking care of him (in addition to the kids).. and also taking over some household duties that he isn't able to do with one hand.  It has been an anxiety inducing ride.

BUT… I finished my first 10K!  It was the Snohomish River Run and it was the flattest route imaginable and, for that reason, it was a lot easier than I thought.  I decided to walk/jog with my BFF because we're both nursing injuries.  But after 2 miles with no sign of hip pain, I thought, "I'm just gonna get this over with."  So I told BFF that she could NOT quit and that I was going to ditch her.  It was fun to start passing people, and I think it caused her to speed up because she only finished 5 minutes after me.  Hooray!  We did it!!  Now could I have done that distance all over again (plus another mile) for the half marathon?  Eh, not yet but definitely by May.

In other news… I finally put some batteries in my scale and I gained 15 lbs since the STP in July.  I guess a cruise, not cycling, and the death of my stepmom = lots of sitting around and eating chocolate and drinking too much wine.  So my dad and sister and I started a competition.  We each set a goal and whoever makes it there first wins.  If I win, they pay and plan for an entire weekend away for me and my husband, and they watch my kids.  I WANT TO WIN!!  I lost 3 pounds week one and I was pretty proud of myself until they both weighed in and each lost 7 pounds.  Well, this week I weighed in and lost 4.5!  My dad gained 1.5, and my sister lost .8.  Woo!  I'm winning!!!  They're practically starving themselves and I'm eating clean and cutting out all sugars… and getting a little extra help from AdvoCare.  :)  I'm having oral surgery this Friday (freaking out btw) and I'll be drinking my meals for a couple days I think.  Hopefully I'll rock it this week too!  Wish me luck!  12.5 pounds to go!  (My sister has 14.3, and my dad has 18.9.)

Warrior Dash, Slime Run, and Cycle the Wave

2 weeks and 3 different races.  The Warrior Dash was 2 weeks ago, and then I did the Slime Run, and Cycle the Wave last weekend.

The Warrior Dash was two weeks ago and we lived!  (Update: My hip lived too!  Yoga, foam roller, massage, and chiropractic seemed to do the trick! … although after the Slime Run it's sort of sucking again.)  This is year two doing it down in Oregon and it's so much fun.  (Disgusting, slightly terrifying fun… but still fun.)  It'll be something we do every year for sure!  Last year it was the first Adventure 5K we've ever done.  It kicked off this racing addiction that my BFF and I have.  I remember last year there were people who did the Color Run in the morning, and then the Warrior Dash in the afternoon.  I thought those people were completely out of their mind.  ...Next year I think we're going to be one of those crazy people.  I could do that, no problem!  (Isn't that nuts?!)

The Slime Run was fun but there wasn't as many obstacles as I thought there would be…. and we definitely didn't get as slimy as I was expecting either.  My sister came for this run.  It was her first 5K ever.  I was really proud of her for trying it.  She broke her foot months ago and I'm not sure it's completely done healing.  She also has a leaky heart valve so I spent this "run" walking with her.  I really didn't want her to have a heart attack!

So, two pretty similar events, two weeks in a row.  During the Warrior Dash, I would run ahead of BFF with my husband and a couple of friends, and then we'd wait at the next obstacle for her and her husband.  So it was a lot of stop and go.  And then, like I said, I pretty much walked the whole Slime Run for my sister.

Cycle the Wave was a blast.  It's an all women's cycling event full of flowers, massages, gourmet food, photos of hot men in the port-a-potties...  And my cycling wife always pushes me.  We kicked ass.  We flew by other riders over and over going about 25 mph.  "On your left!  On your left!" During the whole ride, only 4 women passed us (all in matching cycling jerseys, which means they're extra badass).  So we were really proud of ourselves!

So here's what I've been thinking about a lot lately….  To wait, or not to wait?  Do I do these races with friends because it's fun and we laugh a lot, or do I really push myself and see what I'm capable of?  Even though I really didn't plan to do the triathlon all by myself, it ended up being pretty amazing.  It was the first race I've done that was me really working at doing the best I could and pushing my limits.  I want to do that all the time, but I also want to have a fun experience with friends.

I want to do the Tinkerbell Half Marathon along side my BFF, but what if she doesn't train like she's supposed to?  She said last year that she was going to work out like crazy, lose a ton of weight, and kill this year's race.  Did she do that?  Not really.  She definitely started running, but not as much as she could have.  Last year's Warrior Dash I only waited a little bit here and there for her, and helped drag her up the hill.  I was super proud of her.  Over the past year, I've been working to get faster and fitter, and she didn't push as much as I did so there was a much larger fitness gap this year.

So, that's what I'm worried about lately.  (I know you're reading this lady.  Get going!)  Do I do all these races for fun, or see what I can do?

Sports injuries galore

I'm like an old lady with a broken hip.... well, two broken hips.  My hips have been bothering me ever since I ran 7.5 miles in Spokane before my cruise.  My right one hurts more, but they both hurt.  I had my husband massage my IT bands and my legs and glutes, and that seemed to do the trick before the triathlon.  (I was a massage therapist for over 10 years so I've taught him well.  Oh and by the way, he told me he can really tell how much more muscle I have than I used to. :) That made me feel good. )  My hips were fine until mile 3 of the run, and then my left hip starting hurting, then my right.  Ugh.  I kept going and I made it, but they still hurt.  I haven't been on a run all week and I've skipped out on going to the gym with my cycling wife.  My husband told me that maybe I should not do some upcoming races until I get this figured out but that's not an option. I paid for them already.  The Warrior Dash is this Saturday, and the Slime Run and Cycle the Wave is next weekend.  No time for injuries! 

I kind of went through this when I started cycling too.  My low back would hurt, I'd figure that out... my right knee would hurt, I'd figure that out... my right foot would go numb, I figured that out (ON the STP... better late than never.)  I've also had plantar fasciitis in my left foot since a 5K I did a couple years ago with bad shoes, and I usually tape my foot before I run.  I haven't even had to do that lately, it's been fine.  So now I need to figure out this hip problem.  I've been googling different stretches and ways to use my foam roller.  I'll figure it out.  It'll be fine... it's just hard to stay positive about it when you're in pain.  So annoying.  I haven't been getting a ton of sleep because of it either.  I thought the dark circles under my eyes were mascara but makeup remover doesn't remove them.  *sigh*

So... stretching, foam rolling, massage, ice, and yoga the next two days!  Cross your fingers!