What's Been Happening

Time to update every(any)one on how the running's been going and anything else exciting that may be note worthy in my life.  So here we go...

My Chicago training is on schedule for October.  I'm sticking with the training plan running 4 days a week.  We are currently up to about 20 miles per week with our weekend long run being 7-8 miles.  The pain in my legs is non-existent now.  At this time I only suffer from the regular soreness that comes from working muscles you've let atrophy for 20 some-odd years.  So this is good.  Hopefully Josh and I can at least get a few runs in while we're in Italy.  I'm not fooling myself in thinking we'll actually keep up the entire schedule but a couple good runs should make it easier to transition when we get back.  Josh of course will be skipping like an 8 year old whilst I'm struggling to get back .  Luckily for me, we have a "rest" week for one of the weeks so the distances are much shorter. 

Last Sunday Josh ran his first 1/2 Marathon.  After much goading from JG he caved and committed to run it only 8 days before the race.  This race just happened to be in that place in which I kinda swore I would never attend a race.  That's right, DEGA BABY!!  The Talladega 21000.  So Hood & JG decided that a caravan wasn't going to be enough for this race.  We needed to be together the whole time so a mini-van was rented to shuttle the 5 participants and 2 photograph taking cheerleaders to and from the race.  Katie and I (the cheerleaders) made the decision that if we were going to be in Talladega then we needed to have some drinks.  In an effort to class up the place we decided on mimosas.  What's classier than champagne?  And let's face it...it was 7:30 in the morning!  Josh led Kyle and Julie in some Downward Facing Squirrel pre-race yoga.

So as the race kicks off Katie and I settle in for the long haul on the track.  Who knew that thing was at such a sharp angle?  I dropped my lens cap and it rolled about 50 feet away, downhill!!   Katie and I popped the first bottle of champagne.

A very brief 1:24:10 later we have killed one bottle of champagne and are working are way through #2 when we see this coming down the track.

I knew these people I was "training" with were fast but c'mon!!  JG finished 11th!!  In the whole dang thing!!  AND he was smiling and high-steppin' his way in to the finish!  I have the utmost respect for this guy.

So as JG tries to get back to our home-base he does the unthinkable and cuts across the grass separating pit-row from the track where Katie and I are stationed, (mind you we walked across that grass all morning with 500 of the other racers)  totally disregarding the signs and the man yelling at him to keep off the grass.  5 minutes later "Cletus" rolls up in his golf cart to give JG a talkin' to about his behavior.

Immediately after "Cletus" drives off to find back-up, Hood comes strolling in with another killer time.  1:32:38.  HOLY CRAP!!  Another Speedy Gonzalez!!

Well now they've just opened the flood gates.  Here come two more of my Chicago crew.  Kyle had been stalking Julie the whole race only to blast past her in the end.  I believe if she were really trying she could have held him off.  But seriously 1:38:06 and 1:38:22!!

Now there's just a Squirrel to go.  I figured I had a good 20-25 minutes to sit down and have another drink before he came staggering across the finish.  Let me explain...

Until this race Josh's personal long-run had been about 10 miles.  Which he completed the Monday before this race in a torrential downpour with JG & Julie dragging him along.  I knew he would finish the race...and I knew he'd be fast but I was being realistic.

HE KILLED IT!!  He finished 1:47:25!!  That placed him 14th in his age group and 136 overall with almost 900 participants.   AND he looked great at the end!!  He said he was a little scared and held back but he could have gone faster.  He would be an insane runner if he actually trained.  It really is too bad he's not that competitive.

So we headed back to the Gregg's house where we proceeded to drink the rest of the day away on their porch and relive the days festivities and make plans for the next ones.  It was an absolutely wonderful day!

I guess that's it for now.  I'll write from Italy if I can but at least you can expect some updates when we return.

Ciao! 

Sidelined by Sickness

Well it's that time of year for me again.  The pollen count is on the rise and with it comes the massive amount of congestion in my head.  The allergies have caused a sinus infection so I missed a run this week.  The "end of days" must be close.  


I started feeling bad Saturday...and really I thought it was just from drinking too much at John's Birthday Party and let's face it, a lot of it was. 

It is possible I might have a slight beer allergy as well.  If I drink too much, on occasion, I wake up very stuffy-headed the next morning.  Drinking again on Saturday night at Carrie's Birthday party was probably not the brightest idea either but I did consume much less on Saturday because I knew I had to run in the morning.  I woke up early and made it through the run on Sunday morning and I thought I had dodged a bullet. Then Monday morning struck and I knew I was doomed.  Head and nose completely closed off and a sore throat from sleeping with my mouth opened all night.   Tuesday was no better.


So I headed to American Family Care to get this problem solved.  After being treated by 6, count 'em SIX, nurses, doctors, radiologists and nurse practitioners for my ONLY symptom, a congested head, I was told I had a Sinus Infection...exactly what I told them when I walked in the door and they asked "What seems to be the problem today?"  Seriously, blood work, throat swab and sinus x-rays?!?!  All of this really must be just to jack up the bill to my insurance company.  I'm glad we have "the best health-care in the world".  


Anyway, I got my steroid shot in one cheek and my antibiotic shot in the other.  Drove to Rite Aid to pick up my Amoxicillin (where the pharmacist was trying to pull off a sting operation with someone on the phone who was trying to call-in a fake prescription for 90 Lortabs).  

Back to work and off to Book Club where I intelligently drank again.

Needless to say I am still no where near 100% yet but I'm gonna get up and run tomorrow.  It's JG's OFFICIAL Birthday and we can't let a little snot get in the way of that.  And St. Paddy's Day so I'll probably end up drinking again.  I may never breathe right again.

Did I mention that my Mother is coming in town tonight too?  Lawd help!!


I did read a blog that said if your symptoms are isolated above the neck then running won't hurt and may actually help.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Keep On Truckin'

Another week down and 18 more miles under my belt.  The belt is still locked in the same notch but I have faith that it really must change some day.  This was the longest distance I've covered in a 7 day stretch and Sunday's 6 miles was my personal long-distance for a single run.  The pain in my left leg is pretty much gone (I'm knocking on wood as I type this).  I'm now just suffering from the same soreness I have from a hard workout.  I wouldn't even call it suffering it's so minimal.  That simple fact brings a huge smile to my face and has renewed my faith that this silly marathon is an obtainable goal.  


My new obstacle to focus on is how to keep up the training whilst sight-seeing in Italy for 2 weeks.  I'm trying to look up some jogging routes but without having any frame of reference for the land and not speaking the language, I'm pretty sure Josh and I may spend half of our time lost in Italy.  Do I have to run with my passport?  It could be a really great way to see the country though.  I'm thinking the vineyards of Tuscany will be an awesome place to run!  Only 32 days until we leave!!!  


215 Days Until Race Day!!

Chicago Marathon Crew Doppelgangers

In an effort to keep this training train on track, even whilst on vacation, I got up this morning and with a little help from The Squirrel went for a run.  Today's schedule called for a 5 mile run and I knew that Katie and Betsy were not going to slack off just because we were out of town so we strapped on the ole kicks and headed out.  I had been thinking earlier that I could skip this weekend's run since what I enjoy most is the quality time I get to spend with my new friends and without them here in Mississippi this run would be really boring.  The Squirrel was having none of it. 

Right out the front door we were greeted by two of what Josh is calling our Chicago Marathon Crew (hereafter referred to as CMC) doppelgangers.  First there was the one with all the energy.  Happily circling us and just giddy with anticipation of our new adventure together.  Her name is Annie but for my peace of mind this morning she was Kyle.

Annie: AKA Kyle

Kyle did his job today leading the way.  Whenever he'd get bored with our conversation he'd take off down the road a bit and see what was coming or if there was anything going on we needed to know about.  When he'd get to feeling left out he'd circle back and join us for a bit.

Kyle's co-hort this morning, greeting us at the door, was Pete.  Pete's a good sized pit-bull mix.  He has the same enthusiasm as Kyle but he's a bit older and wiser and doesn't have that urge or energy to necessarily waste.  He's not quite the sprinter that Kyle is either so he stays with us most of the run and doesn't venture off.  Well, Pete was going to be my Betsy for the morning.  I knew Betsy would be there, maybe a little slower than Kyle, but right by my side the whole way.

Pete: AKA Betsy

So the 4 of us headed down the driveway and decided which route we were going to take.  I looked down the road and saw our path and thought "this may not be so bad after all."  I have to admit my wannabe in-laws live in a pretty great place.  Miller Hill is beautiful!

Our Route

Not more than 100 yards down the road we ran in to the other half of the CMC doppelgangers,  John and Katie Gregg.  Now these doppelgangers didn't necessarily exude all of the same characteristics of John & Katie but they made me smile which is what John and Katie do on every run and I'm always happy to see them.



Horses: AKA John & Katie



Now although The Squirrel was taking this journey with me...we happened upon his doppelganger as well.  In my mind, every time we run, he's waiting for me to die.  Staying 3 paces behind me hanging on my every (gasping) breath waiting for it to be my last.  I don't think he wishes me dead so much as he just has a habit of envisioning the worst case scenario and he thinks I'm REALLY old and could keel over at any moment.

Buzzard: AKA The Squirrel

We made it the whole 5 miles with my stand-ins for company and had a really nice run.  I'm really glad The Squirrel got me to do it.  I'll be happy when Tuesday rolls around and I get the real thing back though.  These guys were nice for a break but the conversation wasn't nearly up to par with the real thing.

On a side note the leg is hurting less each day. I ice it after every run.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

I hate to complain but...

Seriously, I'm really not that big of a whiner but...

In an effort to give my sore leg (Josh thinks I've got a tight-tendon...whatever that is) a rest, I went to the LJCC at lunch today for a swim. I swam for 30 minutes and didn't count my laps. I was trying something new. I hated it. I'm a counter. I need that sense of accomplishment at the end or at least the mental goal of "only 5 more laps" to keep me motivated. I'll be back to ticking off those laps one by one next time. No worries, it was a nice experiment and now I know "me" a little better.

It's now 5:00 pm. 4 1/2 hours after my swim and I still have TWO ears full of water. It's driving me crazy! I need some pointers from a professional. Maybe I'll hit up one of my heros, like Jason Lezak, on the Facebooks and see if there is an alternative to earplugs. I really don't want to deal with keeping up with earplugs.

Okay...maybe I am a bit of a whiner. I'm just learning all sorts of new things about myself today!

Pushing The Needle Too Far

Here I go again! At least this time there seems to be a purpose to this blog, at least for a while.

I must have recently lost my faculties because, almost on a dare, I signed Josh and I up to run the 2011 Chicago Marathon. I'm an idiot. Let me clarify. I'm a COMPLETE idiot. At this time, the farthest I have EVER run in my life is 5 miles, and I couldn't walk for 3 days after that. There is no logical explanation for my behavior nor is there any reason to believe I will actually be able to complete this task. I've got some great training partners who are full of encouragement and positive feedback but I don't think they understand how bad running actually hurts me. Sharp pains in my shins, sore back, sore hips and as we trot along at what Josh and several of my pals consider a leisurely pace I am winded and can't begin to carry on a conversation.

I refuse to give up though!! If Oprah can do it, then by golly I can too. The pain in the shin is the only thing that really concerns me. I have faith the others will pass with training. This morning marked only my 5th day of training and I couldn't even do 4 miles. Had to stop with 3 because my shin (just the left one) really tightened up. I'm going to give it about 2 more weeks and if I'm still suffering then I'll check on a Dr. visit.

I'll keep you updated. Wish me luck!! I'm gonna need it ALL!! The journey's gonna be a lot of fun anyway!!