I am home (felt like they'd never let me leave yesterday). What's even better is I had been home just long enough to shower and slowly make my way to the nest my husband built for me on the couch (isn't he sweet), and 2 of my coworkers stopped by with a card and flowers.
They were 2 of the group that helped me have fun the night before surgery, too. I have a whole bunch of amazing people surrounding me. For the first time since I found out how so many "friends" in high school were just back-stabbing garden tools, I actually feel surrounded by friends.
And YOU guys complete the circle!
So thanks for the well-wishes.
Really. :)
5 weeks and 5 days until I can run again- I'll be good resting until then, but you can be damn sure I'll run on July 4th!!! Can't break our anniversary tradition, after all!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
:/
A part of me feels terrified- afraid of all that will go along with surgery, with recovery, afraid of losing fitness/gaining weight.... Etc.
And then there is a very small part of me that is (almost) relieved to have 6 weeks of forced rest. I'm not looking forward to it At All. But... When I think back, and realize that I haven't taken more than 6 days off in the last 16 months (even with gallbladder surgery and the flu).... Well, this forced rest could be a good thing. I know my feet sure look like they need it (sorry if you're eating).
So, while I sit here dreading most of tomorrow, I know the reasons outweigh any discomfort, and this sabbatical wont be all bad. After all, maybe these "beauties" will finally heal!!!
And then there is a very small part of me that is (almost) relieved to have 6 weeks of forced rest. I'm not looking forward to it At All. But... When I think back, and realize that I haven't taken more than 6 days off in the last 16 months (even with gallbladder surgery and the flu).... Well, this forced rest could be a good thing. I know my feet sure look like they need it (sorry if you're eating).
So, while I sit here dreading most of tomorrow, I know the reasons outweigh any discomfort, and this sabbatical wont be all bad. After all, maybe these "beauties" will finally heal!!!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Last hurrah... For a bit, anyway.
This morning, I ran the Police Week 5k (on short notice). It was fun to have one more shot at an official 5k before my hiatus.
I finished in 24:36, my fastest 5k to date (excluding the Eastwood run that I ran the curves so well it measured short by a tenth). And since I ran to and from the race, I ended up with 5.3 miles for the day. The Husbeast took a quick picture before I left this morning so I could show off my awesome Team Tough Chik jersey. I even came home with a 1st place medal- easy to do when you're the only female!!!
I finished in 24:36, my fastest 5k to date (excluding the Eastwood run that I ran the curves so well it measured short by a tenth). And since I ran to and from the race, I ended up with 5.3 miles for the day. The Husbeast took a quick picture before I left this morning so I could show off my awesome Team Tough Chik jersey. I even came home with a 1st place medal- easy to do when you're the only female!!!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The garden grows
All the plants are in. I just have to finish mulching my pathway, and then gets one extra mulch (in a different color?) to go around the plants. I love the way it came out, especially since I just winged it as far as the "design" goes.
It should be done in time. Should. If not, Tim will have to finish up.
It should be done in time. Should. If not, Tim will have to finish up.
Monday, May 13, 2013
2013 Goals, revised
I can't believe we are nearing the halfway point for the year! It seems like a good time to check in with my goals for the year... and to be honest with myself.
I didn't set many goals, but I did make some big ones.
#1: run 1000 miles this year. Yeah, NOT going to happen. Even if I weren't 9 days away from surgery (that will take me out for 6 stupid weeks), this goal just wasn't going to happen this year. Despite training for Circular Logic, my mileage stayed low (again). I haven't even broken 300 yet. Call me a slacker. I ran 227 miles from Decmebr to March for that marathon training, which is oddly enough 1 mile LESS than I ran during training for the AF full last year. At least I'm consistent in my low mileage.
#2: Complete 3 more marathons. 1 down, 2 to go. I know, barring injury, I will finish. So I feel ok about this. But I know semi-secret goal of one of those marathons being under 4:30 is in jeopardy.
I think I'll approach the AF marathon as a long training run for the Veteran's marathon. And between now and then, I'll keep reminding myself the a DNF will NOT affect my self-worth.
And, who knows. The optimist in me is reminding me of last fall's Freedom Half- I felt like I had taken the whole month off beforehand, and yet I still had that massive PR. Maybe, just Maybe, 6 weeks off will leave me feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to tackle this training cycle with renewed vigor.
I think I'll approach the AF marathon as a long training run for the Veteran's marathon. And between now and then, I'll keep reminding myself the a DNF will NOT affect my self-worth.
And, who knows. The optimist in me is reminding me of last fall's Freedom Half- I felt like I had taken the whole month off beforehand, and yet I still had that massive PR. Maybe, just Maybe, 6 weeks off will leave me feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to tackle this training cycle with renewed vigor.
#3: Run the HUFF 50K, my first ultra. I'm still confident it will happen. But, like the semi-secret time goal for the marathons, I'm not sure how fast it will be... I could very well be racing the clock to meet the cut-off time.
{I'll be honest: I just got home from my pre-op appointment, and while I took the "you're sure you are ok not having kids" discussion in stride (calm acceptance, I really am ok with that part), I straight up BAWLED when I was told no running for 6 weeks.
Running is my therapy, my hobby, my way of calming my mind... running is the friend that is always there when needed, and never gives me (too) much crap if I skip it once in a while, since it knows I'll be back. Running has taught me to appreciate my strength, to read the scale as how Strong I am rather than how heavy. So, 6 weeks without it will be rough. The NP offered to ask for some Xanax for after surgery, but I've been down that road- I told her no thanks. I'd rather force myself to find a way to cope (like cross-stitch binges or knitting) than medicate. I don't like the way that crap makes me feel. I'd rather be present than checked out, even if present means being fully aware of how much I'll want to run.}
2 new goals
#4: 13.1 miles on May 21! I'm adding this one to the list. I know I'll be a ball of nerves the day before surgery, so right now, my plan is to run a half marathon on the base 5k trail- 4 laps plus a few of the running track should get me there. If I time it right, I'll finish around the time the running group is meeting. It would be awesome if some of them would joins me for the last lap.
#5: have fun at Track Day. Track Day is this Thursday- I want to put on a good showing for my 1.5 mile race. If I can round out the last of my races with another strong one, I'll feel a tiny bit better about time off. So far, I've set 3 new PRs this spring (full and 5K twice), which helps.
How are your goals for the year coming along?
Running is my therapy, my hobby, my way of calming my mind... running is the friend that is always there when needed, and never gives me (too) much crap if I skip it once in a while, since it knows I'll be back. Running has taught me to appreciate my strength, to read the scale as how Strong I am rather than how heavy. So, 6 weeks without it will be rough. The NP offered to ask for some Xanax for after surgery, but I've been down that road- I told her no thanks. I'd rather force myself to find a way to cope (like cross-stitch binges or knitting) than medicate. I don't like the way that crap makes me feel. I'd rather be present than checked out, even if present means being fully aware of how much I'll want to run.}
2 new goals
#4: 13.1 miles on May 21! I'm adding this one to the list. I know I'll be a ball of nerves the day before surgery, so right now, my plan is to run a half marathon on the base 5k trail- 4 laps plus a few of the running track should get me there. If I time it right, I'll finish around the time the running group is meeting. It would be awesome if some of them would joins me for the last lap.
#5: have fun at Track Day. Track Day is this Thursday- I want to put on a good showing for my 1.5 mile race. If I can round out the last of my races with another strong one, I'll feel a tiny bit better about time off. So far, I've set 3 new PRs this spring (full and 5K twice), which helps.
How are your goals for the year coming along?
Date Night sight
Last week, my husband had to go see his recruiter for the delayed enlistment check-in (which he'll tell you is silly since he's already enlisted). His new work schedule is so wonky he knew he wouldn't make it to the Saturday meeting, so he went down on Tuesday. And, being awesome, invited me along to turn it into date night. Might as well make it a date and eat a good meal while in civilization, right?
It was fun. I got to put a face to the name for his recruiter, who also happens to be a runner, and I had a great meal at Wasabi, and a great night spent (mostly) one-on-one with my husband. We don't get many of those lately.
On the way home, he even insisted we stop to photograph this sign:
What's the funniest sign you've seen lately?
Friday, May 10, 2013
Fitness Month 5K (Another W)
I successfully defended my title as the reigning 5K overall female winner today.....
Which translates into
Fast is a relative term.
Seriously. I have a serious case of speed-envy for anyone who breaks 20:00 for a 5k (hell, I used to be sooooo jealous of people who could break 25 minutes- and then I worked my ass off and got there).
But being the overall female winner at 4 of the last 5 races on base has earned me a little reputation (which makes me blush like boiled lobster). It makes me a little uncomfortable because I know there are much faster people, heck, some are on base but rarely show up for these fun runs.
My whole point here is that fast is relative. I am fast by Miami County standards, and wicked fast by Grissom ARB fun run standards. But all I need to do to feel slow is to go south 20 minutes to Kokomo, and I am reminded just how relative speed can be. My NYE run, a PR at the time (25:15) didn't even get me a place for age group, and when you add all the females, I think I was somewhere like 19th place.
So, yeah. My husband's coworkers think I'm fast. I know I'm faster than I used to be, thanks to a year of hard work. But I also know to enjoy what is speedy for me, to take pride in my PRs, even if at the same time I am painfully aware that I'll never make a living as a runner.... though, I'm pretty sure that would take all the fun out of it anyway.
Tonight, I will bask in the glow of a course PR of 24:53, 3 seconds faster than the 5k I ran there just 4 weeks ago. And given I ran 4 quick-for-me miles yesterday, I'm pretty pleased with that.
Which translates into
Fast is a relative term.
Seriously. I have a serious case of speed-envy for anyone who breaks 20:00 for a 5k (hell, I used to be sooooo jealous of people who could break 25 minutes- and then I worked my ass off and got there).
But being the overall female winner at 4 of the last 5 races on base has earned me a little reputation (which makes me blush like boiled lobster). It makes me a little uncomfortable because I know there are much faster people, heck, some are on base but rarely show up for these fun runs.
My whole point here is that fast is relative. I am fast by Miami County standards, and wicked fast by Grissom ARB fun run standards. But all I need to do to feel slow is to go south 20 minutes to Kokomo, and I am reminded just how relative speed can be. My NYE run, a PR at the time (25:15) didn't even get me a place for age group, and when you add all the females, I think I was somewhere like 19th place.
So, yeah. My husband's coworkers think I'm fast. I know I'm faster than I used to be, thanks to a year of hard work. But I also know to enjoy what is speedy for me, to take pride in my PRs, even if at the same time I am painfully aware that I'll never make a living as a runner.... though, I'm pretty sure that would take all the fun out of it anyway.
Tonight, I will bask in the glow of a course PR of 24:53, 3 seconds faster than the 5k I ran there just 4 weeks ago. And given I ran 4 quick-for-me miles yesterday, I'm pretty pleased with that.
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