A picture from this spring of me and n.

Obstacles


I've had a lingering sore throat and achyness for days now. I thought I had kicked a cold before it really came on, but I guess this is how it's going to get me. I can't tell if I should try to resume running tomorrow or not.

Either way, if I run tomorrow or not I'm not going to let this obstacle get in my way. That big trail run is happening on December 1st, no matter what.

The other obstacles are plans that are dashed. I really hoped to get a new job with a certain dotcom company. It looked like such a good fit. They decided to stick with contractors for the time being because they are "getting by" with them. I know that the creative director and the recruiter weren't to happy with that company decision. At least I had some fans there.

I can't let this trip in the trail get me down though. There has to be something else out there.

Darkness




It was pitch dark when I left for my run this morning. Dark like the middle of the night with not a hint of dawn. And the thought of going out in the darkness is always awful to me when I hit the snooze on my alarm clock, but the actual running out there in the dark is kind of wonderful.

I have a little headlamp that attaches to my running hat, and a blinking blue light that I snap onto the back of my running hat. There! Now you will always recognize me out there on my runs. No one else has the blinking little blue light. It's great because drivers are used to seeing red lights and white/yellow lights, not blue, unless it's the police! So the little blue light always gets their attention.

As I headed off down the road I came to some very dark places in the road. It was quiet, and kind of creepy/unsettling. At just the moments that I'd get creeped out I'd remember my headlamp and swing it about to locate any gremlins hiding underneath parked cars or up in trees. Nothing is there, of course so I shake off that uneasy feeling. It's only me and the little night creatures out on the road at this time.

Plus it's not long until the inky blackness fades to a grey blue. And the sky lightens to cobalt. By this time I'm usually running through the tony section of town in-between multi-million dollar homes. I don't even hope to ever live here - they will always be out of reach, and anyway, if I had millions to spend on a house I'd buy one next to a trail that I could run on everyday.

Now there are more cars on the road. This is the drawback to the later parts of my run. I so like the quiet of the early part of my run - where I can cross normally super busy roads against the light with not a single car in sight. It makes me long for the solitude of the darkness.

By the time that I'm approaching home again dawn has broken and I've flicked off my headlamp. I feel accomplished. I've been out and about before most of the people that I see on the road were even awake. No matter what else happens today - at least I have this.

New Leaf

I'm set to run a 20 mile trail run on December 1st. This is my starting point for my training plan to run a 50 miler this next coming year and to eventually build to the Western States in a year or two.

I've decided to can swimming for a while at least. It's just too much to put swimming in with running. Being at the pool at 5am is just too stressful. At the pool I swim at we're expected to prepare the pool too (pull off the covers and set up the lane lines). This adds a lot of extra time and hassle to the work-out schedule. Plus a lot of angry emails from people who think that other people aren't doing their part. I don't need that stress either. And I feel that I get fitter with running anyway.

I've decided to get back into some yoga at home for stretching and to help equalize my leg muscles again. I'll have to do a little strength training too, especially for my right leg as it is noticeably weaker than my left due to the break I suffered back in 2000. I still must be compensating a bit.

Run Report - Today none - very sore and tight so I did morning Yoga.

Happy Trails to Me

Things are starting to get uncomfortable at the old work place. Not that there's anything actually wrong, I probably could just sit here for the next ten years. But that is just the problem - I'll be just sitting here.

I've discovered that I'm not good at dealing with change. and this is part of the problem. I'm willing to just sit here to avoid change, when I really should probably be scoping out a new gig. I've been finding excuses to stay and not try something new. Granted I have a lot on my plate with a young family and all - but maybe being complacent isn't the best for me or them.

My best friends all tell me that I could do better somewhere else. I guess it's time to find out if they are right.


run report - I'm going this evening after work to run the cobwebs out. I'm going to have to move my runs to back in the early morning again. I always get them in that way.

Dreams Take Flight

As I was driving past the airport this morning a Hawaiian Airlines was making the final turn on the tarmac to ready for take-off. I so wanted to be on that plane.

I need a vacation.

Thank you for not being an asshole!

Yay! For the first time in years I didn't hear through 'the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air' in the 'ole hood on July 4th. Thank you everyone for not being a dork and lighting off fireworks in our neighborhood thereby endangering all of us and our properties so that you can stare at noisy bright objects. I guess some folk grew a brain finally.

ORN: (obligatory run note) None today and probably none tomorrow. Not until this loverly summer cold is gone. I won't do what I did last time - try to run/swim through it. Only made it last twice as long. And I plunged into maddeningly disgusting depths of mucus production. Not worth it. BTW - NyQuil kicks ass.

A New Start

I've decided to give running another go...slowly and carefully. I just can't seem to get away from it. I have the memory of how good I felt when I was in really good shape and could run fast, well and strong. I have to run to get back to that. One step at a time...

I may sign up for a shorter Ultra for this fall - just to make sure I stay on track!

I am the absolute worst blogger. Probably because the main purpose of my blog, my running, has ceased to exist. It was just too much to keep up with the kids and work and such. I've been swimming instead, but plan to go for a little run today. But no big lofty plans of returning to my former race fit self. That will have to wait a few years until the kids get older.

I've been dealing with stupid work issues. It's making me depressed. I can see that I'm roadblocked where I'm at. I'm not going to get anywhere in this organization because I'm not my uber-boss's best buddy, or the type of person who she'd want as her best buddy. Time to search for greener pastures. Oddly, I had an astrology chart done for me a few months ago by a friend that said I'd be experiencing big changes in April.

I am the absolute worst blogger. Probably becasue the maid purpose of my blogs, my running, has ceased to exist. It was just too much to keep up with the kids and work and such. I've been swimming instead, but plan to go for a little run today. But no big lofty plans of returning to my former race fit self. That will have to wait a few years until the kids get older.

I've been dealing with stupid work issues. It's making me depressed. I can see that I'm roadblocked where I'm at. I'm not going to get anywhere in this organization because I'm not my uber-boss's best buddy, or the type of person who she'd want as her best buddy. Time to search for greener pastures. Oddly, I had an astrology chart done for me a few months ago by a friend that said I'd be experiencing big changes in April.

A very slow run this morning. But it was planned that way. I just did 2.1 miles, and it was more to get the cobwebs out. Tomorrow I will do a little track workout in the middle of my run, something like 4 x 400 meters. I’m almost afraid to do it because I know I'll be freaked out by how slow I've gotten in the years that have passed by since I've run on the track. But If I never do it I'll never get better.

Red sky at morning…

Sailors warning. Well we've got a storm brewing today and I'll probably kick myself for not going for a run, since the rest of this weekend will probably be storming. I'm hoping that it won't be that bad, since I do like running in the rain. I just don't like running in the rain and wind since there are a lot of large trees around here that like to loose big limbs during storms. Especially the first big storms of the season!

I had a nasty calf cramp this morning. That's another reason why I should've run. My run might have kicked the persistent soreness that I feel from it out of my leg. I haven't had a leg cramp in the longest time. I probably got it from wearing heels the day before, since I almost never wear heels anymore.

I did get to cuddle the 3 year old this morning though. I would've missed out on her 6 am visit to our room if I'd gone for my run. She was so cute when she hooked an arm around my neck and my hubby's neck for a big group hug. Makes getting up a little easier.

I just bought some new jeans from The Gap. I'm more than pleased to report that I now fit easily in size eights. YAY! Maybe someday I'll be a six again! I hope that someday is soon and that my minute miles will get back down to 7:30 or so for easy runs and 6 or less for racing. I'd looove to do sub 20 minute 5ks again.

Sheesh, I suck

It's been forever since I posted here. Since I've last posted the family went on Thanksgiving vacation to AZ, Little M had her 3rd birthday and I've probably had several daycare induced colds.

The running is going well. Better, at least. My new goal is a fast 5k in the early summer. I think that is more achievable that an ultra in the near future. And getting faster before running farther might help my performances better anyway.

I'm actually liking running in the cold, in the early mornings. I run faster and I get to try out my new light gadgets. DH got a cool light for me that attaches to the visor of my running hats and I have a fun bright blue blinky light I clip to the back of my collar. They both work really well and make my morning runs easier.

Now I just have to get rid of those 20 extra pounds....

So little M comes running up to me last night from the living room yelling "Mommy, Mommy!" Very excited, like fire engine across the street exited. She grabs my hand and drags me into the living room intent on showing me this great surprise.

There's Simba the cat, leg in the air, licking himself.

"Simba's eating his butt!"

The beauty of two year olds is that they see the world in a whole new way. Simba was not impressed.

One of my coworkers suggested that we all go down to The Ramp (a restaurant/bar on a dock next to the bay) and drink. This was at about 9:15 this morning. And really it does sound better than what I had planned for the rest of the day, because really as things are going, I might as well go to The Ramp and just get sloshed.

So I got passed up again for a promotion here at The Big One. Not because I don’t have the experience or the talent but probably, mostly, because I'm not the boss's best buddy. Not that I don’t like her, I do, but we just don't mesh. What burns me is that she promoted a gal with far less experience. She looooves this girl and thinks she's brilliant. She's not - she just knows how to parrot back stuff she's heard from her superiors. Whatever. She'll have to manage a group of guys (all guys) who don't like her already. Good luck girlie!

Oh, and she has no management experience.

Oh gosh, I haven't posted in a month...bad me!

Well, I've been totally well and now we're sick again! Seems I only post when I'm sick. Work is stupid. The kids are great! Little N is growing up so quickly and is just a happy little 15 month bundle of joy. Big M is almost 3 and full of energy, ideas and mischief.

As for training...well, my hip has been bothering me. So I've been swimming almost exclusively. I did some pretty intense yoga yesterday and that seemed to help my hip a lot! I think that the hip tightness is actually related to lower back tightness too. You know, leg bone connected to the backbone...etc. etc.

We had great long weekend away! We went up to our family's cabin in the Sierras and had a blast! I'll post pictures. Little miss M got soooo wound up though that she's been a cranky mess - but I'm hoping that being back in her usual routine will make things better. Little miss N was just fine. Being 14 months old - she's still in her happy place, not her terrible two's!

We're very sad about the untimely death of Steve Irwin. We've so enjoyed watching the Crocodile Hunter for years now, and we've greatly admired all of his conservation work. We wonder why so many greedy and nasty people live on while good folks like Steve die tragically. He'll be greatly missed.

After a whole week off, I finally got back to working out on Sunday. I went for a nice morning master's swim. It was long course. Lot's of people dread long course but I love it – I totally prefer it. There's less flip turning and bouncing off the walls. I feel like I get more of a chance to really work on my technique and get into a rhythm. Besides, I'll probably never participate in a short course swim meet; I most likely will only do open water racing and tris.

During my swim I had a stroke epiphany. My right side was not working as well or as hard as my left. I could totally feel the water and catch and pull a big stroke with my left, but then my right was sweeping through the water. So I put all of my attention on to my right side, slowing down my stroke and feeling the water – making sure I was grabbing on to it with every stroke. My speed improved noticeably, immediately! I wonder for how long I've been swimming "crooked."

The rest of the day was unremarkable, but wonderful. The girls had their usual midday nap. Little N woke up early and got to play alone with mommy and daddy in the living room. She rolled around with us, got tickled and giggled and laughed. It was great because she doesn't get to be all alone with us that much. Then when the M Monster woke up we did a little shopping trip to Target and Petco – where the girls got to see a variety of critters. M Monster really dug the birds, snakes, fish, rabbits and kitties that she saw. Little N just took it all in. We had a busy weekend (Saturday there was a big trip to the Big Park) so the girls hit the sack early. DH and I got to eat dinner in peace with some margaritas. A good end to a nice weekend.

There shall be no running until this virus passes....

I still have a sore throat. And I'm achy. So I'm on imposed rest. Lest you think I'm lounging comforatbly at home - no way. I'm at work again. Being at work is almost a vacation from the fussy rantings of The Little Terror, henceforth to be known as N. N kept me up almost all night last night. N had a Yobaby at 2:30am. Said Yobaby was spooned by me into her mouth since N is two days shy of her 14 month b-day and thus incapable of procuring her own Yobaby at - and I'll repeat it again for dramatic effect - 2:30am. I haven't seen 2:30am since my partying days years ago. It hurts a lot at my age and condition. All I really wanted was a good night's sleep.

The virus is making it's rounds through my family unit and at my work. Half my team has this miserable disease. That's good because then everyone will know that I'm not lying.

I'm counting the minutes until I can go home....