Good Bye, for now...

Well, not really :)

But I've made a new blog that focuses more on my overall health and weight loss goals and since it is uncertain when I will be focusing on the marathon again, I decided it would be best to just start over in a new place rather than change the topic of this blog.

I hope that some of you take a look at my new spot and will continue to keep up with all the running blogs I love! Thanks!

15 by 2009

Bunny Update

Well, the bunny is not doing well...which is why I've been MIA. We keep taking her to the vet and getting our hopes up, only to have her come home and be the same, or in this most recent case, worse. I'm at my wit's end on what to do. I've spent about $1500 at this point with no improvement. I'm dealing with the prospect of having to put her down and that makes me feel absolutely awfull. So, yeah. That is where things are at right now.

Anxiety Attack

Wow. I actually had one. It was the craziest feeling to have a physical reaction to something and not be able to control it. A little frightening even!

See, I've been sick since Saturday and was feeling awful. Around the same time, I started to notice that the bunny wasn't eating her usual amount of food. By Monday, I was calling in sick and heading off to the vet. If you don't know much about bunnies, then you should know that a lack of appetite can literally be a death sentence for them. And quickly! They have toxins that build up inside them and the only way to get them out is to poop. And we all know that in order to poop, you have to eat...and eat high fiber things! Just one day of not eating can be fatal for a bunny. Yes, the toxins build up that fast! So, you can imagine why I was taking her in to the vet!

The vet said he definitely felt a clog in her little belly and sent me home with medicine to get her GI moving and "critical care" food that is basically mega fiber that you mix with water and force feed them. Well, Little Miss Thang was having nothing to do with the medicine or the force feeding. And I admit, I'm not very good at being forceful with her. She just seems so fragile! So, every day this week, I've been carting her to the vet in the morning so they can force feed her while I'm at work and then picking her up at night and watching her like a hawk. Those first few days, she actually got worse and I was literally in a full on panic! I was waking up constantly throughout the night to check on her and then feeling even more upset when I'd see that she hadn't eaten or pooped.

Then came the anxiety attack. I woke up at 2:30am on Wednesday night to check on her. I decided I had to try to give her a dose of the medicine and a force feed because she wasn't eating anything. I trapped her and wrapped her up in a towel and she took the medicine down with little resistance. The force feed was a whole other story! She was not having it and I couldn't hold her still and feed her by myself. I had to give in and let her go. I sat and watched her until 4am before laying back down to sleep on the couch. Once I laid down, I started having what I can only describe as adrenaline rushes. Ever other minute or so, I would get a rush and my heart would start pounding. I tried not to think about the bunny, taking deep breaths and telling myself to calm down, but they wouldn't stop. They probably went on for about 2 hours. I have never had anything like that happen to me before and it was quite disturbing!

Now, she is at the vet again (hopefully, her last day) and she is making progress. She is eating somewhat on her own and I'm hoping that today's doses of the force feed will clear out the last of whatever is ailing her and she will be good to go. Fingers crossed because I'm not sure I can take anymore of this! Nor can my wallet! I'm pretty sure this ordeal has cost me between $600 - $700 in vet bills. Maybe I need to look into pet insurance! All the while, I was sick through this too, but the cold finally seemed to break yesterday. All that is left is a cough that I'm sure will stick around for a bit, as they always seem to do that!

So, that is my crazy, stressful, absolutely miserable week. Let's hope my bunny is out of the woods and I can resume my regularly scheduled life!

HYC & Big Decision

I completed Week 2 of the Push Ups Challenge, but I know I'm not ready to move on. I can still only do 9 push ups in a row! How embarrassing is that?! Now, the question is do I redo Week 2 from the level I was at, or the level I am now? Hmmm...

I think I've made a big decision. I don't think I'm going to run the marathon this year. for many reason (some my own fault, some not) I'm gotten way off schedule with the running. With only 2 months left, I feel like I'd be in panic mode trying to catch up. That's not how I want the marathon to feel. I want it to be fun. Exciting. Happy. Right now, I feel like it would only be a burden.

I still want to run. And keep running. Then, when I'm ready to try again, I'll have a really good base to start from. I've also got a lot of other things I'm focusing on right now and without the pressure of all these runs I HAVE to do, I can work on those too. I just feel that this is the right decision for now. Come October, I hope I'll still feel okay with it!

HYC Check In

I'm going to start this off with a great quote I read this morning:

"The only person with us our entire life is ourself"

That struck a chord in me. I have to remember to make myself happy and stop trying to please everyone else. Stop trying to avoid the drama if it just means that its suffocating me cuz I can't let it out. And most of all, stop spending my time doing what everyone else wants me to do!

So, for the check in...did Day 1 of Week 2 of the Push Ups Challenge. It was tough. Not sure why...I'm gonna blame it on the short rest period between sets. I could only max to 5 on my final set. That was a little bit of a downer! But I did it!

Tonight, I must run! It is not up for debate...although my mind will try. I must not give in. The weather is beautiful and I know I will feel better when its over. I just wish I had remembered to shave my legs this morning... :)

Half Success

Looking at my goals last week, I did good in every area except the one that is the most important right now...running! What is going on with me?

I completed Week 1 of the Hundred Push Ups Challenge and am ready to actually attempt Week 2! I'm pretty excited about that. The biggest change I've noticed (besides being able to do more!) is that I can usually manged to push a few extra out at the end of the set. Unlike the first time I tried them where I seemed to be doing fine on one and then straight couldn't even make it up on the next.

I'm about to do my Pilates here in a moment and that will make twice this week. Yay!

This week is forecasted to be much cooler than the previous few so hopefully, that will be just what I need. Plus, I've been helping my friend move, get situated, prepare for his daughter's birthday party and a bunch of stuff. That has taken time and energy and I let it get in the way of running. The party was yesterday and it was exhausting! He lives on the top floor of his three-flat and I don't know how many times I ran up and down those stairs! At first in tennis shoes (prep), then in heels (during the party), then back in tennis shoes (clean up)! My quads were a little sore this morning, believe it or not! At least it was some exercise!

So, I think I keep the same goals I had last week and try to repeat since it didn't go so back this week! :)

Magic Number 6!

Oh yeah, baby! I just maxed out my final set of push ups at 6! Read it and weep!!!

Really though, that is a record for me! Not only have I never done 6 in a row, but I never expected to get there on my last set! And let me tell you...I had to work for the last one! That is good progress though and makes me excited for the next round.

Somehow, I seem to be subconsciously sabbotaging my running this week. First there was yesterday where I forgot to bring my running clothes to work. Then there is today where I brought my clothes, then decided to bring them home to run, but managed to forget my shoes at work! What is going on here?! This is really not good. At all. Shoot me now.

HYC Check In

I'm feeling really good right now...except for the fact that about 20 minutes ago it hit me that I forgot to pack my running clothes and bring them to work. Seeing as it is supposed to be in the 90's today, an outdoor run is gonna be tough. But, now I guess I have no choice!

I did my push ups last night and I swear, they are not getting any easier! If anything, I think I'm getting worse at them...is that possible?!

Got up this morning and did my Pilates DVD. I had a very curious bunny spying on me most of the time. Anything on the floor is fair game for her and she seemed very interested in why I was down there. By the time I got to the leg part, she was all over me and I almost kicked her more than a few times! I forgot how the ab part of that DVD is no joke! Near the end, I had to give up and skip one of the exercises! And this was only the 20 minute version! There was a point in time where I could make it through the full length one with no problems...I guess in time!

I feel chubbier than ever, and I still can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Oh well! At least I'm being healthy! :)

Off to a Bad Start!

Um, that 15 miles I was talking about knocking out yesterday...um, that didn't happen. I barely even attempted to make it happen. I crashed at my friend's house and pretty much slept in until 11am! Then we went to "breakfast" and by then the afternoon was half over. The thought of running it in the evening didn't even cross my mind...and if it had, I'm not sure I would have been motivated to do it anyway! Bad girl!!

So...let's change that goal to 15 miles THIS Saturday! Yeah!

Completely off-topic, but have you ever encountered those people that insist on talking on their cell phone in a public restroom? While on the toilet?! I admit, I do it at home...but that is AT HOME! And I usually give the person advance warning about what is about to happen, then give them the option :) Now, I work at a college with lots little young things and they have no shame! Like its not annoying enough to listen to someone's cell phone conversation in a small enclosed area...now I can't even have any reprive in the bathroom?! Come on, ladies!

This Week's Goals

Since making secret little goals in my head seems to do nothing for me, here is what I'd like to accomplish this week:

• Successfully repeat Week 1 of the Hundred Push Ups Challenge. Someone told me that real push ups are done with your fingers together versus spread out (which is how I was doing it) and let me tell you, something as small as finger position makes a HUGE difference! They feel a ton harder, so I'm giving in and repeating Week 1 before moving on!
• Get in ALL my training runs. I will not avoid the treadmill if the temps make outdoor running a bad idea. I will try my best to wake up early and get it done in the morning. And most of all, I will do the runs on the days they are scheduled so I'm not cramming them all together in an attempt to make up for lost time!
• I will cover the total mileage on my 15 miler tomorrow. Due to my lack of running recently, I highly doubt that I can do this distance running the whole way. BUT, I WILL get the mileage covered even if it means walking parts. No more just stopping and heading back when I run out of steam!
• Here comes the broken record goal: I will do my pilates DVD!!! Dammit, I VOW to get this done twice this week! Eating all this protein doesn't do much good if I'm not workin' the muscles!

There! I think that is a pretty good list! Nothing too crazy. Everything should be very much accomplishable ( is that even a word??)...but, you know me! We'll see...

Tired Morning!

Yesterday I got up at 5:30, ate some breakfast and was out the door for an easy 3+ miler by 6:15. I felt pretty good, the weather was fantastic and I rewarded myself at the end by cooling down with a walk to Starbucks :) Having a gift card that fits in your pocket and doesn't absorb sweat like paper bills do is great! The big shock came when I didn't have my usual afternoon "pooped out" moment that always happens when I do a morning run. I felt pretty energized all day!

I forgot to do my pushups yesterday and then meant to do them this morning...but, you know, I forgot that too! I also woke up again at 5:30 in hopes of a repeat performance. Instead, I somehow managed to fall back to sleep on the couch (yes, empty bowl of cereal next to me, Weather Channel on the TV) and didn't wake up until 8am! I'm not sure I've ever put myself together so quickly in my life! And even look pretty cute today, if I do say so myself! :)

I brought my running stuff to use the treadmill after work, but I'm already dreading it. Wasn't it just a few short months ago that I was dreading running outside because I was so used to the treadmill? What is going on? But that is the age old question, isn't it? To treadmill or not to treadmill?

Push ups will also have to be done tonight, but I'll admit that Jess's experience with the Challenge is freaking me out a little!

I went to GNC yesterday in hopes of finding my good ol' faithful protein shake, but they were out of stock. Boo! :( I'll try to make it to a different one after work. I'm hopign this protein boost will do the trick and help me shed a few pounds. My knees will be very happy!

HYC Check In

I would really like to think that I'm going to make some serious changes this week. I am aiming to add a little more protein to my diet and get back into the workout groove. That week off made me lazy and unmotivated! I started the Push Ups Challenge over again last night and managed to max my last set at 5...that is one up from the first time I tried to max out that set! I think that is a good thing!

Tonight will be a simple 30 minute run...we'll see how motivated I am when I step out into these hot and humid temperatures! But, the show must go on...and that, folks, means that I must get my butt a movin'!

Oh! After my Garmin konking out on me not once, but TWICE, I took it down to the Garmin Store this weekend and found there was a software update for it that is supposed to fix that very glitch! I downloaded it, but since it didn't do it every run, I'll just have to cross my fingers that is it fixed. I have 15 miles as my long run this weekend and I'm scared sh*tless! I haven't run anything even remotely close to that in at least 6 weeks. The warm weather comes and all my success goes right down the drain! That stinks!

Hello Again!

Wow...I can't believe I haven't written in so long...even if it is for a good reason! I won't go into the details of my trip home since no one (including me!) wants to relive the funeral and whatnot. I will say that it was a beautiful service and if we must say good-bye to someone so young, it was a wonderful way to have done it. Although, I may have been the most teary-eyed person there!

Got a chance to see my friends and meet my girl's 3 1/2 month old daughter. Too cute! Other than that, it was low key. Time to be with family and available to help out where ever I could. I managed to get in a 7 mile run, but that was it. Pretty disappointing, if I do say so myself! But, I have high hopes for a comeback!

I'd like to run 9 miles tomorrow, but 11 would be ideal. We'll have to see what my body is up for after all this laziness. I've been sleeping way too late every day that I've been back and that can only lead to big trouble come Monday morning! Tomorrow's run will at least force me to get up and beat the heat!

I think I'm going to try a few new things with my diet and also try to really incorporate some weight training. My push ups never got done while I was home, so I'll be starting back at Day 1 tomorrow :( Yipee! Fingers crossed that I'll find a little dedication and implement some of the things swimming around in this noggin!

Some Serious Willpower!

Okay, okay...and a little guilt or something! I skipped out on my 45 minute run on Wednesday and blamed the heat. My plan was to get up and do it Thursday morning before it got hot. That didn't happen. Then I brought all my gear to work, figuring I'd just knock it out on the treadmill after work. Yeah, I got in my car and drove straight home. As I sat on the couch watching the clock near 8pm, I started to feel just the tinsiest bit guilty that I didn't run. I mean, I do have an 11-miler to knock out on Sunday that Portland/Vancouver Fit has so graciously allowed me to run with them.

So, with a heat index of 84 degrees, I hit the road, jack! In an effort not to kill myself, I took it nice and slow and told myself that I would stop if I started to really feel like it was too hot. Luckily, the pace helped a ton and I got the whole 45 minutes done at an average of 10:07/mile! There were only a handful of crazies out there, like me...usually you can't go 2 blocks without coming across another runner...I think I only saw 4 other runners the whole trip! Oh, but I did have the company of the lightning bugs and I love them! With those also came the little swarmy bugs that you can't see until its too late...I few of which I managed to spit out...and a few of which I'm pretty sure I ate. Yum.



I also did Day 2, Week 1 of the Pushups Challenge...it was tough, but I got it done! I'm thinking my pride will push me through to Week 2, but I'm pretty sure I'll have to repeat it before I can move on to Week 3!

The crazy part is that I feel so much more fit than a few months ago, but there really isn't any proof. The scale still won't budge, I don't see any changes to my appearance (although I swear the thighs of all my pants feel a little looser), I just seem to be building muscle that is all hidden away until my fattie layers :( If I can even manage to get 5 pounds off this summer, I swear, I'm throwing myself a party!

A Good (Hard) Run & Some Pushups

Last night was a 40 minute run. It was about 79 degrees and luckily it didn't feel too humid. It was cloudy so that helped a ton! I felt like I was running really hard and thought for sure I was going to see amazing numbers on the Garmin as far as how fast I was clocking my miles. Alas, this was not so! Kept all my miles under 10 minutes, but nothing mind blowing. Nothing like what I FELT I was running. Poo. It must have been the heat.

In an attempt to get my run in before dark, I got home, changed and was right back out the door. It wasn't until I was on my cool down walk that I realized I was supposed to do my push ups BEFORE I had gone out to run! What is it with me trying to get out of doing these push ups??? It is not on purpose! I swear!! So, once again, I was looking at delaying the start of the challenge. About 10pm, as I was getting ready to shut the house down and head to bed, I thought...I should try the push ups. I figured, if I felt like I might never get back up off the ground, I'd wait until the next day. But, if I could get it done, then all the better! And that I did! Did my 4 sets of 2 (yeah, yeah) and then my final set to max out...which I did at 4 :) So, 12 total pushups! Hey, I gotta start somewhere!!

Tonight, I have a 45 minute run on the agenda. Day 2 of pushups will be tomorrow and then another 40 minute run on Friday. Bright and early on Saturday morning I head for Portland where I'll be through Thursday. Have I mentioned yet that I'm tired? :)

A Lazy Evening

Yesterday was a rest day with the running, but I was SUPPOSED to start the Hundred Pushups Challenge last night. Too bad I did not remember until after the lights were out and I was all snuggled up in my bed...once I'm in bed, there is no getting me out! :) And since we all know that mornings aren't my thing, I'll have to start tonight. Now, do I do them before or after my run? Hmmmm...

I've been really, REALLY tired lately working all these hours at the office and having trouble sleeping since the death of our friend. I made my flight home for his service last night so at least now I know how long I'll be gone. I'm hoping to still be able to keep up with my running and push ups while I'm there. It will be fun to run all my old routes and actually attempt a few hills! Maybe I'll even go check out the Portland Marathon course so I can really see what I'll be up against! Its just too bad that I'm going home for such a sad reason :(

Finally, today is my first check in for the Healthy You Challenge. My goals for this are to just feel better, stronger, more energized and in an overal better place than right now! Losing a few pounds along the way would be fantastic, but that isn't how I'll be measuring my success! Here goes Week 1!

13 is a bad number, anyway!

Yes, this weekend was supposed to be my official half marathon. This did not end up the way I had planned. I could blame it on a lot of different things, but ultimately, my mental strength gave out. Dammit.

The first couple of miles were rough, but once I got warmed up, I was feeling good! The weather was warm, but not hot and there was a cool breeze blowing. I looked down at the Garmin and saw that I was 4.5 miles in and feeling really good. A few minutes later, I looked down again and saw a blank screen! What?! I started frantically pushing all the buttons to no avail. The Garmin was dead. This is where it started to go downhill. I was not on the mile marker path at this point so there was no way for me to now be sure of how far I'd gone. I started having to estimate how far it was until I got to another marker. Plus, this may sound silly, but the Garmin is motivating for me. Without the Garmin working, my morale was shot!

Oh yeah, and I had tummy problems, as usual. I had already spent some quality time on the porclain throne before I left :) But, it was acting up again. I was tired and started in on the "just make it to the next water fountain" routine. At one point, I noticed I had stopped sweating, but I only had a few more miles...I was guessing. Then I started to get goose bumps and feel very cold. This is the point at which I had to call it quits. I know the signs that my body is way dehydrated. The down side is that I think I was somewhere between 11.5 and 12 miles in. Could I have pulled it out? I think so. But, I was so uncomfortable with the belly problems and the fatigue that I used dehydration as an excuse to stop. And it is a valid excuse, so I should not get down on myself...at the same time, I don't want to be a quitter either.

Disappointing. And I blame it all on Garmin! Okay...and the bar food and beer I had the night before...but whatever!

I got home and called my friend to bitch and moan about the Garmin. He says, did you hold the buttons down for 6 seconds to reset it? No, I say. I hold the buttons and lo and behold, it pops back on! Grrrrrr...had I only known.

So screw the half marathon! That was my last attempt. I'm just moving forward with the training. That means 11 miles this weekend and that I can do!

Tonight starts the official training for The Hundred Pushups Challenge. Wish me luck!

Whirlwind couple of days

Wow...a lot seems to have transpired since just a couple of days ago.

I was MIA yesterday because Thursday night my mom called me to tell me that someone close to our family died. He was young (in his 20s) and while its hard to deal with anyone's death, I'm not sure anything can prepare you to lose someone so young. I was even more shocked when my mom phoned again last night and said that the police are now looking into it as a possible homicide. Needless to say, it has been a difficult 36 hours.

Of course, I have to go home for his services and to support his family. As I mentioned in my last post, my co-worker is out on bereavement leave herself so that complicates matters at work. Being the manager of this department, I don't feel I can just up and leave it without a handle on the staffing. So, I'm hoping I can fly out Tuesday night since my co-worker should be back on Wednesday. I'll just have to have her close down the office early each day and we may have to be closed on Saturday. I don't know, I can't even think it through very clearly at this point.

That said, I got a great run in Thursday before I was dealt this bad news. All my miles were under 10 minutes and that was nice to see since it doesn't seem to be happening as often as it was a month ago. I'm waiting until Monday to officially start my Hundred Pushups Challenge, but I've been trying to prepare myself a little by doing wall pushups and actually trying to do a few real pushups here and there. I still can't believe how hard they are!

It looks like the weather is going to work in my favor tomorrow so the 13.1 will happen! It will be very nice to get it out of the way and be able to move forward with the training. I'm excited. I obviously don't know how the running will work out next week since I'll be in Portland, but I'll just have to play it by ear!

Oh, the humiliation!

So...last night I had to do the "push up test" so see what program I need to start on. Um, yeah. I did 4. You read that right...4. Obviously, I do not work my upper body much! I went down for the 5th one and there was no getting back up. It was actually quite funny to me. But this is good, it will give me something other than running to think about. And maybe even inspire me to do my pilates video a few times a week like I keep saying I will.

Yesterday's mini-goal was a success! I had NO CHOCOLATE all day! One of my co-worker's even offered me an ice cream cone treat that had chocolate on it and I turned it down. Well, it is waiting in the freezer for me to have today :) But still! I turned it down yesterday! Cut me some slack here!

Today's mini-goal will be to eat 5 small meals throughout the day.

My co-worker's father-in-law passed away yesterday morning and since we are a department of two, that leaves me, and only me to man the fort. Which means 10 hour days and working on Saturday until she gets back next Wednesday :( I have a feeling this is going to leave me quite unmotivated to run after work, but I'll have to find it within myself somewhere to get my butt out there! The weather looks questionable again this weekend, but there is no skipping out on the 13.1 again. I'll just have to get out there no matter what!

Hee Hee

This made me laugh...hope you enjoy:

I'm Training to Ruin a Marathon