Just focusing on one day at a time

While on my treadmill the other day, I was watching... what's it called?.... Extreme Weight Loss?...  something like that... Anyway, I was watching this show for I think the first time (Maybe 2nd) and these people have a TON of weight to lose.  The show takes place over an entire year so some advice these guys were given was to not think about the end goal.  You just think about Monday, then Tuesday, etc.  And sooner or later, you're at the top of Mount Everest and you only ever thought about one step at a time.  Otherwise your goals are really overwhelming and you don't start.  

I was thinking about this for my marathon training.  26.2 miles sounds completely unfathomable and really, really scary... but completing the miles on my training schedule day-by-day is a little more do-able.  I'm starting Week 5 this week and I haven't missed a mile yet.  It feels good to be back on track, checking off the boxes on my work-out calendar just like I did while I was training for the Disney Half.

That's not to say I haven't been struggling though.  I have this new pain on the side of my left foot so I do what I normally do: Google.  I was a massage therapist for over 10 years so I know a thing or two about muscles.  I'm usually pretty good about self-diagnosing my weird running injuries and figuring out how to KT Tape them.  Well, this time my google search lead to a lot of sources saying I have a stress fracture of the 5th metatarsal.  I thought, "Pshaw.  My foot isn't fractured.  That's stupid."  And kept searching... and searching.  Every site I found says it's a common runners injury and the pain is described exactly like mine.  So, when I had my doctors appointment for my low back after I had my MRI (A story for another day) I asked her what could be causing this foot pain and she said, "Probably a stress fracture of the 5th metatarsal."  Seriously?!  Only me.  She said wear sturdy shoes for a few weeks.

So I decided that I am just sooooooo tired of being injured that I'm just going to do my best to ignore this.  Hawaii is booked.  I am not missing a single run on my schedule.  I wear the sturdiest shoes I have during the day (no more flip-flops for me) and that seems to help so far.  I tried to wear my regular running shoes on the treadmill the other day instead of my Vibram Five Fingers.  I hate them.  My feet go numb when I wear normal shoes to run.  (Stupid bulged discs in my low back mentioned above don't help either.)  After 2.5 miles on the treadmill the other day, I kicked them off and ran barefoot in my socks....

I figure even if I have to walk every mile on my schedule, I'm going to complete them.  This is why I chose a marathon with no time limit!  I also started going back to spin class with my husband.  I figure that would help me with my cardio.  Holy cow I forgot how hard spin is!  I was dripping sweat on the floor!  It was awesome... and horrible.  :)

A week ago I had a 5 mile run to complete.  The last time I had a 5 mile run on my half marathon schedule, I ran down at Alki Beach so I wanted to do that again and see if I've improved.  It went great!  I had to stop a couple times and stretch my calves because I'm running a little funky to compensate for my foot, but other than that, I jogged happily along and enjoyed the view.  I could have done more than 5 miles.  The only other problem I had was that I didn't bring any water.  My husband was going to be riding his bike by with the kids and bring me my water bottle but he had a flat tire on my daughter's bike trailer so he got a really late start.  I knew there was a really cool house covered with neat plants and flowers that had a drinking fountain out front for public use.  I knew I needed to make it to that house.  Over 3.5 miles in until I found it.  I was so excited for a drinking fountain that I took a thirsty selfie!

Favorite place to run!

Stopped for a quick photo of this guy painting the skyline.

Tuesday I did my 3 miles on the treadmill at the gym with VK Sista' and then Thursday was the August Adventure Run.  I totally forgot to get a picture of my kiddo and me because he was having fun with some other kids who came along.  But here's a couple from evening...

Bottom from left to right:  Cheetah,  Cheetah's wife and her dad, Cousin, and Me
Top from left to right: Another Vanderkitten VIP we just met, VK Sista', and an old friend of mine from high school.

Winner Winner!  

And then the morning after that, I met my cousin for a long run on the Green River Trail.  We ran/walked almost 7 miles taking turns pushing my daughter in the stroller (That had 3 flat tires!!!) or carrying her....she's a lot of work.  And I didn't feel well either.  Actually I was puking Thursday morning, sucked it up and went to the Adventure Run anyway, and still didn't feel so great for this run either.  But you know what?  I am freaking determined!  Also, I got a new selfie stick.  (Yeah, I'm one of THOSE people) because the NEXT morning I was going to be taking the kids to the Bubble Run all by myself and wanted to get good pictures of us.  So I used this run as an opportunity to try it out...

My cousin playing with my daughter as we tried to run along.

First Selfie Stick Selfie!

I feel like such a nerd with this thing!

Then Saturday was the Bubble Run.  My kids had an absolute blast besides waiting around for an hour and a half at the start line for our turn to go.  Complete disorganization there.  And this guy's apartment window...

Someone wasn't happy to be woken at 7:30am by crazy runners!  Ha!

My little cuties all ready to run!

She was kind of freaking out at first but loved it after this first station.

Pink bubbles!

The stroller was now a bubble mobile!

Trying to stay out of the bubbles

Bubble blob

Whoa!

See?  She loves it now.

My kid cracks me up.

She was buried in bubbles

She was happy here, I promise.

Our feet

I think the whole thing could have been organized better but we had fun anyway.  On to week 5!

Another day, another 5K

Finished off marathon training week one (Well, week 2 technically according to the schedule) with the Rave Green Sounders FC Run.  I took it really slow and easy trying to practice the run/walk method.  The one thing I noticed though is that I HAVE to get new shoes.  It's been so hot in Seattle lately that my feet feel like they swell an entire size when I run and my toes feel squished.  Hawaii isn't going to be any cooler so I'm going to get the same pair of my Vibram Five Fingers in the next size up from REI and try them out the next hot day. 

Kitten, kitten in disguise, and kitten in training ready for the run!

Group photo at the start line!

There's my kiddo in the crowd ready for the kid's dash!  (Tall blondie)

GO!

So proud!  That's the face of determination right there.

And there he is high-fiving at the finish!

We peddled for smoothies

My kiddo and me with our finisher medals!

Well, that's it really.  Short blog post.  I'm on week 3 of my training schedule right now.  I'll update again soon.



Marathon training officially starts

A year ago yesterday I posted on Facebook that my goal was to do a marathon.  

So I took a picture of myself from my treadmill to mark the start of my marathon training, just like I did with my half marathon training back in December.  

Since I posted that status I've completed 4 half marathons, a sprint triathlon, a long-distance duathlon, tons of 5Ks, 10Ks, and a 15K.  Also many cycling events including finishing the century again at the Flying Wheels, and completing the STP again too.  I did all of this despite crashing on my bike twice, bruises, 7 stitches, a broken sinus bone, and foot/knee/hip pain from repetitive running that I've had to figure out along the way.  (Thank you Chi Running)  Not to mention I've had a few oral surgeries that I've had the worst luck with. 

According to my marathon training schedule I am supposed to run 11 miles this weekend.  I'm not ready for that and I was thinking about giving up on the idea of a marathon this year.  I'm proud of what I have been able to accomplish this year.  Maybe Hawaii becomes a nice, relaxing vacation instead of a way to torture myself for 26.2 miles.  I was having doubts.  

Then I counted how many weeks I have until the Honolulu Marathon.  19.  There are plenty of 20 week marathon plans and it's not like I'm starting from absolute zero so I think starting on week 2 would be just fine.  So I picked a schedule that would work well for me and added all the distances into my workout calendar app. I have a progressively longer run each weekend.  My old schedule had a longer run every other weekend while I got a short run on the other.  No more easy weekends with this schedule.  But with all my injuries and set backs, I'll have to be super determined the next 19 weeks if I still want to make this goal.  So I did my 3 mile run yesterday and went to the gym for some ass kickin' with VK Sista.  Week 1 (well, week 2 technically) Day 1 complete!

I'm practicing the run/walk method for the marathon.  I cannot run the whole thing and after losing TWO toenails (yeah, I lost the other one I bruised at the Tinkerbell over the weekend.  A nice new toenail underneath.)  I definitely need to practice walking long distances too.  I found a plan that said to try 45 second run/ 20 second walk.  That sucked.  Neither of them were long enough.  The training plan I picked says to do 3:1 intervals.  3 minute run, 1 minute walk.  I'm going to try that next.  I'm sure it'll be trial and error but I'll find an interval that works for me.  Apparently intervals are good for fat burning too and the 15 lbs or so I've gained really bugs me.  

So... Wish me luck.  Onward with marathon training!

The blog I titled, erased, and re-titled over and over... and still has no name.

I have a little bit of blog catch-up to do.  The Thursday after the STP I did the July Adventure Run with my cousin.  My legs were still jello from the ride so I chose the 12-13 minute pacer.  Lies!  She paced at about 11, which meant I did too.  It was still fun... My legs said no but my brain said GET ALL THE TICKETS!!!!  I won a $30 gift card to Road Runner Sports and cousin won free shoes!  Woo!  

My son came again.  He loves it.  :)

And then the next Saturday morning I get a call from my cousin at 8am telling me to get dressed and get to Safeco Field for the Refuse to Abuse 5K.  Their website said it was sold out so I wasn't able to get an entry and she was planning to go alone.  When she got down there, they had day-of registration so she signed me up.  I threw on my running clothes and jumped in the car.  I found the Mariners Moose on my way to the start line so I had a volunteer take our photo!

A kitten and a moose!

I found my cousin, she handed me a bib #, we took a couple pics at the start line and we were off running!  (I look so tired!  I seriously got out of bed 30 minutes prior!)

The 5K was pretty tough.  I mean, it was pretty flat and easy (besides the ramps at Safeco)... and I finished in about 36 minutes, but I was dying.  I feel like I've lost my running ability because of all my crazy injuries and lack of training.  It was good though, it was a wake-up call that if I'm going to run a marathon in December that I need to get my ass in gear.  I planned on this run being the start of my hard-core serious training again to get caught up with my marathon schedule....

And then the jaw saga continues once more.  I went back in last week for my follow-up to my previous oral surgery where he put in the healing caps on my implants and I told him that it's been hurting ever since.  He said that isn't right and took some x-rays because he thought my tissue back there didn't look good.  Turns out there were bone fragments or something under my gums near my neighboring tooth and he had to open it all back up and dig it out and clean all over again.  What I thought would be an easy appointment turned into an extra surgery and more stitches.  And did I mention that novocain barely works on me?  Lucky, lucky me.  A unique club that I'd rather not belong to.  So I spent a few days on pain killers AGAIN... and I'm still healing AGAIN.  It's always something with me, isn't it?

So I'm behind on my marathon training schedule.  I'm not quite to half marathon distance yet though (I think I'm supposed to do 11 miles next weekend) and since I've done 4 half marathons in the past few months, I'm sure my body will remember what to do and I can catch up.  I need a lot of luck and some positive thoughts, and no more injuries.  Cousin and I are going to start running together on Fridays starting next week.  That'll help.  :)  I also need to get rid of these extra summer pounds.  My jeans barely fit and jean season starts in about a month and a half!  Ack!  Gotta get going!

STP 2015

Well I made it!  Seattle to Portland 2015!  Yeah we cheated a little and left from our house instead of the start line to spare ourselves from all that chaos... but 197ish miles isn't too shabby.

Here we are ready to roll out at 4:30am...

Me, VK Sista' and Husband in our driveway

I started out in the dark following VK Sista' and Husband.  And I won't lie... I was freaking out since I still have something like cycling PTSD from my crash.  It was hard to see and they were zooming down the hill and I just held on to my brakes for dear life and hoped nothing was in the road that would cause my bike to flip over or something.  I was crying.... seriously.... 3 miles in.  I almost said screw it and stopped at my work to pick up a company van and go home.  And then all of a sudden, the sun started coming out a bit and we turned right and we were on the STP route with tons of other cyclists.  I instantly felt like I could do this.  People passed me and said good morning, and I dried my tears and thought, "Yes, it IS a good morning!"  Not too hot, not too cold, and we were on a route with 10,000 other people.  It felt safe.

VK Sista' and I skipped the first stop at REI but Husband went in to fill his water bottles.  We had some miscommunication and he thought I was at the stop so he was waiting for me.  He found the other guys (they started at the real start line) and they caught up to us on the "big hill" (that isn't very big) in Puyallup.  We took a selfie at the top of the hill and exchanged Fres Bars for ride spuds.  Love my husband's baguette and Elvis glasses...

I figured that would be the one and only time we'd see the guys.  They planned to do the ride in one day, VK Sista' and I planned to do it in two.  But we were keeping an awesome pace and ran into them at the next mini stop.  And then again at the base...

Still gotta love that baguette!

Kittens flyin'!

Being able to ride through McChord air force base was sooooo cool!  It was so much better than riding along the scary, narrow shoulder on the highway, single file for miles through Spanaway and Yelm that we did last year.  And how cool is it that we got to check out airplanes and tanks on the rest stop?!  I hope no one did anything stupid and we're able to go that way again next year.

The guys zoomed off ahead of us again and we carried on through.  VK Sista' was always faster than me and way up ahead too.  I didn't get much seat time at all this year and I just couldn't keep up no matter how many times she joked that she was my carrot.  I told her that I wanted this year's ride to be enjoyable.  I wanted to stop a little longer at stops, and even stop at a Starbucks along the way if I felt so inclined.  I saw there was a Starbucks up ahead and there she was, waiting there stopped on the side of the road pointing at it.  YAY!  Starbucks!!  Did you know that a venti iced coffee fits perfectly in my 32oz water bottle?  :)

Starbucks!!!

After swinging in for a coffee, we spent the next several miles on a trail.  I don't remember what the trail is called but it's nice and big and I remember it being one of my favorite areas last year because you can actually ride two abreast and chat.  There's also lots of photographers along the route so we goofed off and made stupid faces, and pretended to have cat claws, etc.  It was fun.  We stopped at the Clif Bar stop in Vader and my iced coffee was still amazing and totally hit the spot.  Coffee makes me so happy.  I mean, I love AdvoCare Spark on rides too but... coffee..... ah!

We made it to the halfway point in Centralia and I got a text from my husband saying they were at Subway.  Turns out the Subway they were at was less than a mile down the road.  I even stopped for coffee (and the line wasn't short either)...  How were we keeping up with the guys so well?  Kicking ass I tell ya!  We grabbed our halfway point creamsicle and a chocolate milk and walked through the festivities to the other side and hopped back on our bikes to meet the guys.  They were just getting ready to leave when we arrived.  Gave my Husband a kiss, wished them luck, and they were off.  VK Sista' and I went inside to eat a sandwich.  Food always tastes so much better than usual when you're really working for it.

The route was a little different than last year after this point too.  We were on another trail instead of the road again.  At around the 120 mile mark, it started to sprinkle off and on.  Then around the 130 mile mark, it started to pour.  I did not think to bring fenders and since it hasn't rained in forever, I was worried about the roads being slick.  I slowed way down.  When we got to the high school at the 140 mile mark VK Sista' and I were both muddy and disgusting....

Eww

I was freezing which was quite a bit different from being at that rest stop last year.  It was so hot last year we stayed in the air conditioning in the cafeteria as long as possible.  This year I wanted to stay longer to dry out and warm up.  I thought that Kelso was around the 140 mile mark but a lady there who was also staying in Kelso said we had about 11 more miles to go.  Ugh.  We chugged right along, cold and wet, wanting to be done for the evening.  At one point VK Sista' kicked the bucket.... yep.  (You'll just have to ask me what I mean by that.)

By the time we got to the turn-off for our hotel in Kelso, we were getting our second wind (well, maybe third or forth at this point).  But we planned on stopping so we stopped.  We showered, which felt amazing, and changed into comfy clothes.  BFF met us there to say hi and chat, before going the rest of the way to Portland to pick up the guys.  And then we went to a salad/pizza buffet.  And.... we went to Walmart to find a charger for VK Sista's Garmin... and some sort of cream that would help our aching vaginas.  Haha!  Seriously!  We were exhausted and delirious wandering through Walmart trying to think of the best most soothing thing we could think of to slather on our lady parts to prepare for getting on our bikes the next day.  I was serious when I said I didn't get enough seat time in this year.  My vagina hated me for it.  We settled on some diaper cream which worked amazing in case you were wondering.

I tried to sleep but I was worried about my husband finishing.  He was having a pretty rough time the whole day really.  He kept getting cramps in his legs and he felt terrible.  Here is he finishing though!

Good job Husband

So he got back to the hotel and about midnight and I was finally able to fall asleep and had to be up at 6am to finish the last 57 miles.  I was very jealous that he was already done.  I was kind of regretting my decision to do it in two days at that point.  We drove to Starbucks to fuel up before our day and changed into fresh cycling clothes and took off around 8am.  My legs did not want to move.  They said, "What the heck!?  We had a break all night!  There's no way I'm going to keep peddling for you!"  And there was a horrible head wind too so I was peddling like mad and it felt like I was standing still.  I also felt sick to my stomach and started eating rolaids like candy.  There was only 12-14 miles in between stops but they felt like an eternity apart.  I chose random strangers to draft behind.  Yeah.. Me.  Drafting.  That's how tired I was.  And wow those guys were lifesavers and I told them so.  VK Sista', again, would zoom so fast I couldn't keep up with her, and she'd wait for me for a couple minutes at each stop.  

At the last stop before Portland, I turned up my music and we had a little rest stop dance party.  We tried to get others to join in but only one guy danced a little.  It was hilarious.  Let's see if I did this correctly and added the video to blogger...  

Then Husband text me saying he was at the beer garden drinking all of our beer and he'd see us soon.  That was motivation to get going again.  18 miles from that stop to Portland.  The hill going up to the bridge wasn't nearly as bad as I remember it being from last year.  And it was really easy getting through Portland to the finish line besides having to stop at all the stoplights.  

Woo!

It was definitely more fun going through the finish line when it was packed with a cheering crowd.  They even had bubble machines going!  And the finish line festival was really energetic too.  We got a free meal, and got to pick out a finisher prize too.  (We chose stainless steel cups)

I'm glad I tried it in two days because I really do feel like we missed a lot of the fun.  Some of the stops were closed when we reached them last year, and there was almost no one at the finish line.  This year I got to stop for coffee, lunch, and take my time at the rest stops.  I feel like I talked to a lot more people too.  But I don't think it was any easier.  If anything it was harder since my body did not want to start over on day 2.  I already went 150 miles, what's 50 more at that point?  It wasn't as emotionally difficult as it was last year either.  I freaked out leaving my house, but after I made it to the route, it was like my brain felt like I made it all the way to Portland.  I'd done it before, I'd do it again.  I think our plan next year is to do a combo...  Do the whole thing in one day, stay the night in Portland, sleep in, and then go out to the finish line festival for beers and celebration.  Who is joining us next year??  :)