Easy Friday, February 2, 1018

What's Up Today?
Today, 5 easy was on the schedule, but I decided to take the day off entirely.  That will blow my 50 mile week, but my right knee hurts.  I'm running a hilly, half tomorrow, so I think some rest is more important than a 50 mile week.

Giveaway News:
There are comments that I can see, but aren't showing up on the blog.  It seems like this isn't too uncommon of a problem, but I don't know how to fix it.  If you can't see your comment, chances are that I can see it, and you will still be included in the drawing. If you have a concern, please, reach out and I will take a look and confirm your entry.

Its a Challenge!
In honor of the Skirts Sports Giveaway, its all things Skirts Sports this week.  Ambassadors have been challenged to write an Ode to our first Skirt Sports product. I haven't written a poem since grammar school and this one is questionable, but it was fun thinking about my first Skirt Sports running skirt.

I had to dig deep for this throw back pick of me in my first Skirt Sports running skirt.  Looking at that pic prompted the memories of how difficult a race that was.  It was a 5K, but, seriously, if I could have somehow run to my car without going back to the start, I would have.  It was hilly and hot, but I was so proud of myself when I finished.  I really felt cute in that skirt, too.  I still love that Wonder Girl top.  It is very soft.  That pic was taken in 2010.

Recipe of a Skirt (a haiku)

A cup of delight,

Mixed with a hint of pizzazz,

To make skirts so nice.

Rest Day with Chicken and Chickpea Marsala Thursday, 1/11/3018

It is a rest day for me today.  I told myself that I would do my hip and abs exercises, but I didn’t. What I did do was eat.  I made a great dinner of Chicken and Chickpea Marsala. Everybody is happy and full.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

I haven't posted at in all this year, which I regret, now.  I spent a good bit of the year training for Boston.  I wish that I would have documented that training.  I don't think that I even wrote a race report for Boston.  The experience was so big, that it overwhelmed me.  I did a lot of other fantastic races in 2017 that I wish that I had documented them, as well.

Today is day 4 of a 12 week marathon plan for the Louisiana Marathon.  I purchased the 12 week plan from Hansons.  My body was a mess after Boston and I didn't take enough time off.  I'm still fighting injuries, but I want to try and make a go of Louisiana.

Aug. 1st-15th REST

I was forced into a longer than expected break.  I scheduled to take August 1-7th off.  I figured that my body needed recovery after the hard month, and we went to Cabo San Lucas for 6 dasy.  Although I didn't run in Cabo, I walked a lot everyday around the enormous resort.  I did water aerobics and zumba, although I didn't exactly push it.

My plan was to run about 30 miles from August 9-15th.  My body had different plans.  Last Tuesday, I was incapacitated by serious stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, etc.  I thought that I had food poisoning or possibly a virus from Mexico.  It got better, but when I finally went to urgent care, the doctor thought it was a bladder infection that might have spread to my kidneys  I haven't felt great this week, so I haven't run at all.  Everyday, I hope that my side won't be hurting, but everyday it hurts.  I will probability run tomorrow, no matter what.

Between August 1-15th, I've run once--the morning route.

TH, 7/30/2015 REST

I woke up and my hives were completely gone.  Thank goodness.

The top of my left foot hurts a little.  It hurts near the top of my foot where my leg and foot meet (opposite the ankle).  The pain is the area that is circled on the pic below.  I had planned a neighborhood run, but I will take a rest day and an ibuprofen.

FRI, 7/25/2015 REST

I spent about 7 hours in the car.  My back hurts.  No running, though.

FRI, 7/17/2015 REST

I woke up pretty sore.  I used the ultrasound on my hamstrings.  I, also, used the ultra-sound on them last night and took an ibuprofen 800.  As the day has progressed, I'm feeling less sore.  I will ultra-sound them one more time before I go to bed.

SUN, 7/12/2015 REST

I had planned to do a recovery run, but I took a nap instead.

FRI, 7/10/2015 REST

Besides a short walk to the restaurant from Sycamore on the Avila bike path, I didn't do a thing.

SUN, 7/5/2015 REST

I did absolutely nothing.

FRI, July 3, 2015 REST

I didn't do a thing but put the finishing touches on my plans for my 16 miler, tomorrow.

I had a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with ice cream for desert.

DIONYSUS DASH RACE REPORT + PICS SUNDAY, 6/28/2015

I planned to hike or do a P90X3, but it was DH's last day of vacation, so I didn't do anything.  we went out wine tasting.  I'll have to concentrate on hydration tomorrow.

Here is a race report for a race I ran a couple of weeks ago.

I raced the Dionysus Dash on 6/14/2015.  The weather was perfect.  It was a tiny bit cool and overcast.  I won the entry into this race from active.com.  The only parking was paid.  I saw a discount for valet parking for $15, so the race cost me $15.  I got a discount for Tony, too, at some point.  I can’t remember whether it was $35 or $25.  I think it might have been $25. 

The directions said that we needed to get there an hour early for check, so we were there early.  Check in was a breeze.  There was a DJ playing perfect, fun music.  We got our numbers, checked our bag, used the restroom and chatted with some friends for about 20 minutes.  We tried to warm up, but the course was so hilly that I didn’t have it in me to jog around.  Tony was willing, but after the first hill, I called it quits.  We had about 15 minutes and decided to use the bathroom one more time.  There were only 2 restrooms.  We almost missed the start.  When we got to the start there was only a minute or two to spare.

The course was very hilly, but enjoyable.  The hills were just enough to be challenging, but not awful.  I paced myself.  There were many women in front of me, at the beginning, but I picked them off one by one pretty early.  There were no females in my sights after the first mile.  I won first female.  My time was 23:32.  I was 7^th overall out of 224.

The runners were very friendly.  After, we chatted and wine tasted.  I got a bottle of wine a headpiece.  DH won his age group.

There were many wine stations., but the organizers packed up pretty early.  They gave us our keys and bag and shut down the DJ. 

This was a really fun race.  I liked it a lot more than the one we did in Solvang (Wicked Run).  I wouldn't do the Wicked Run again, but I would do this one again.  My only complaint was the bathroom situation.  Two bathrooms for a couple of hundred racers isn’t OK.  They should have brought in two porta potties.  Parking was ridiculous, too.  Full price of $25 to park is exorbitant, and even $15 is crazy.  

FRI, 6/26/2016 REST & PLANS FOR NEXT LONG RUN

I am doing some research to figure out how I can fuel for my next long run.  I plan on doing the same 16 mile route.  I purchased an electrolyte replacement, and I am going to try and put in place some of the suggestions in this article

My plan:

• 3 hours before the run:  whole wheat bagel, hard boiled egg, 
• 15 minutes before run:  small yogurt
• Run an hour:  (at the house) drink 8 oz of water & 8 oz of coconut water + electrolyte pill
• Run an hour (hotel):  take an electrolyte pill & eat some raisins