for my ladies out there...

cd 39 wtf? I'm right there with you. This time is supposed to be exciting and fun. It is not the same journey as you ladies, but the frustrations are similar. Please let me have cd1. Please.

The Filter - Censorship

Maybe I care too much about how other people feel. I wish I could truly use this blog as a way to express how I feel about certain things. Maybe it is because not all of the readers of this blog choose to be anonymous and I feel like I have an obligation to temper my feelings about certain subjects so as not to cause any problems with relationships or create unnecessary conflict.

I so badly want to blog about my 'mysterious post' from last week. I just don't feel like I can do so without damaging relationships further.

In most ways the situation has been resolved, even amicably I must add. However, there is still a lingering issue with me that I'm having a hard time letting go. I admitted last night that is affecting my race preparation. What I haven't admitted is how much the issue has had an effect on my excitement about the weekend. I don't really feel like being around anyone this weekend. I feel disconnected from the group and I know it is only because I am sensitive to how things make me feel. I'm trying to avoid feeling how I felt last week and all it is doing is making me that much more distracted from the primary focus of the weekend. All I want to think about right now is running a good race, sleeping in a king bed, drinking some great wine, seeing my relatives, and just enjoying the time away from home. Everything else is and has been a distraction. I have got to resolve the issue in my own mind, but I'm afraid that it will still be lurking in the back of my head until this weekend is over.

I tend to withdraw when there is conflict in my life. Only my closest friends will see my outwardly frustrated self, obviously vocal and unafraid to speak my mind. Everyone else gets the 'lay low', 'please everyone' personality that doesn't want to stir the waters. I wish I wasn't sensitive and could just blog away, not caring who reads this or how they might perceive my words. Instead, my personality sometimes demands the filter, the censorship, to protect me from additional conflict that will cause me to withdraw further

Sorry to be Debbie Downer and so vague again. Just as you know me to be smiley and upbeat, this is also what you get when you get to know me.

Music Change - Mike's New Songs

Well, four out of the six.

Voodoo, Schmoodoo - Beer, Schmeer

A bunch of folks on the team are excited about Voodoo Doughnuts being right next to the hotel. Blah, I shouldn't be eating them...they are not gluten-free. Same thing with all of the brew pub excitement...I don't drink beer anymore. Eh, I'm not going to be eating doughnuts, pasta, or drinking beer this weekend, so I'm having a hard time getting excited about some of the group stuff. Yeah, it will be fun to celebrate, but beyond the celebration, I'll be looking for other things to drink at those brew pubs.

I plan to seek out some great Oregon wine, some delicious fresh fish, and to indulge in the otherwise veg-friendly, gluten-free offerings at many of the local Portland restaurants. With all of the vegetarians and vegans that live there, it seems that restaurants in Portland are used to people with special dietary needs. I've never had more fun reading the online blogs and restaurant guides for any other city.

So back to the Voodoo Doughnut thing...I'm not excited about that. I'm excited about New Cascadia Traditional Bakery and so glad we have a car on Saturday so that I can get some goodies to eat the rest of the weekend. Yay!

Things to Avoid During Your Taper

Everyone has heard these things, the common items that coaches and other athletes recommend avoiding during the weeks prior to your big race. You've put all of the hard work in, your body is trying to get the rest it needs, so don't go and mess up your whole plan by doing something stupid.

• Don't start any new house projects - gardening, heavy lifting, painting, etc.
• Don't start going to the gym every day and lifting weights all the time now that you aren't running as many miles.
• Don't use your free time to drink like a fish or eat like a pig, even though your appetite might still be really high.
• Don't stand on your feet all day...Get off of your feet as much as possible the week of your race, especially the 2-3 days before.

I propose another item to add to the list. Chad and I tempted fate yesterday and did something that might jeopardize our race. I suggest we add the following item to the 'Things to Avoid During Your Taper' list.

• Don't risk your health by holding babies that don't belong to you.

Babies have germs. Powerful ones. Am I worried? A little. On a scale of 1 to 10, maybe about a 3. I love the baby we held yesterday, Aaron. He is my little nephew and I would never suggest that he is a sickly, germy baby. He does, however, harbor germs that I am not exposed to very often and I'm a little worried about how my body will handle it.

Yeah, we washed our hands. We should be fine, but I do have to tell you...Just moments after this pic was taken, I was holding Aaron and he ever so quickly blew spit directly into my mouth. Ack! Gotta love a kid who can read minds and foil your germ-free plan. He is clearly a genius.

This Time Next Week...

It is September 27, the start of what is supposed to be a really great month. We leave Friday to go to Portland. This time next week I'll be finished with the marathon, hopefully with a time and experience that I'll be happy with. I may not be racing again for a while.

What does this week have in store? I won't run tomorrow (forced day off), and I will likely opt for sleeping in on Tuesday morning instead of going to the workout. I do have some lingering issues with my left big toe, which is still causing tightness in the left hamstring. The toe thing is aggravated by any kind of non-easy running, so I'm not going to do any pace work at all until the marathon. I'm still very confident in my abilities to run a great race...I just don't want to aggravate my toe any further in the hopes that I can toe the start line pain-free next Sunday. Wednesday and Thursday will be short, easy runs, then we travel on Friday. I'm hoping the week flies by.

The weather is looking to be good for running. It will likely be in the mid 40's at the start (perfect in my opinion) and possibly a chance of rain. Here is the NOAA site. Here is the Accuweather site (which I don't really trust until 2-3 days beforehand). I'm excited to pack jeans, sweaters and a coat for tooling around in Portland. That is also perfect tea, coffee, wine drinking weather, so bring it on!

This past week of running was pretty good...a rain run on Tuesday with Jon and Keith (loved watching us all splash in the huge puddles and staring at the fast-moving swollen creeks), some good easy running in the 'hood, a workout with my hubby that was right on pace, and a fun 15 miler with the 3:15-3:20 men where I got to let go a bit on the downhill (why am I not running St. George again? I swear I would run 3:15 there this year). This season has been a good one getting used to my faster self, trying to figure out where I fit in the pack of the team. It will be a relief to let my body heal, to try some other things (yoga, aquajogging, weights, maybe a casual bike ride) in the weeks after Portland.

I'm also right on track weight-wise. I'm hovering between 139-140 (which I haven't been in a really long time), and if I were to stay here all week that would be okay. I feel strong. I'm still really careful about nutrition with the reduced mileage of our taper.

This year I'm going to start packing early. As soon as I hit 'Publish Post', I'm going to take out our suitcases and put them in the bedroom. The race outfit, shoes, and GUs will be gathered today. Hurray!

If it Kills Me

Ladies, do you have any smart, fun, single girlfriends? After a conversation yesterday I had with another woman, I think you should know we have an overwhelming number of smart, fun, fit single men in our running group...all great catches. I can count at least six or seven, and that is just in my group. For you single gals...Rogue is a great place to not only train hard and run a successful race, but to meet some of these great guys.

For Fall...the weather changed, moods will change. Time for some softer, more serious music. Enough of the bubble pop, fun-in-the-sun stuff that is always on the radio. So for all the men out there who have had 'friends' that you felt something more for...

If it Kills Me - Jason Mraz

Hello, tell me you know
Yeah, you figured me out
Something gave it away
It would be such a beautiful moment
To see the look on your face
To know that I know that you know now

And baby that's a case of my wishful thinking
You know nothing
Cause you and I
Why, we go carrying on for hours on end
We get along much better
Than you and your boyfriend

Well all I really wanna do is love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can't say it after all we've been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me

How long, can I go on like this,
Wishing to kiss you,
Before I rightly explode?
This double life I lead isn't healthy for me
In fact it makes me nervous
If I get caught I could be risking it all

Cause maybe there's a lot that I miss
In case I'm wrong

Well all I really wanna do is love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can't say it after all we've been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me

If I should be so bold
I'd ask you to hold my heart in your hand
I'd tell you from the start how I've longed to be your man
But I never said I would
I guess I'm gonna miss my chance again

All I really wanna do is love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can't say it after all we've been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me
If it kills me
I think it might kill me

And all I really want from you is to feel me
Yeah, the feeling inside keeps building
I'll find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me
It might kill me

I won the lottery last night!

Well, not the top prize. My ticket had two numbers plus the megaball, so I am a winner! Don't y'all start calling or emailing asking for money! My big $10 prize isn't going to be shared.

Only 2,998 tickets in all of the states that played won a prize higher than mine. Only 28,152 people plus me won $10 or more. That really makes me feel like a winner :).

I'm done

It is over.

Where am I?

Several issues with me need a status update -

• Endocrinologist update - I had my 1 year follow up appointment today. Throughout the summer of 2008 I spent time doing lab tests and doing research on hypothyroidism as well as other hormone problems related to fertility and reproductive cycles. I got a second opinion with Dr. Bledsoe and was relieved to hear a professional validate the concerns I was having with real explanations and a diagnosis. I have been taking Synthroid for my hypothyroidism since last year and after increasing the dose to 75 mcg every day, I feel like I have stabilized at a happy place. Dr. Bledsoe confirmed that my TSH level is 'perfect' (1.18) and I know that is much better now that I'm in the 'normal' range. I feel a difference. Today, she kept me on the same level of medication and thinks everything looks good. I also mentioned that we are trying to conceive starting very soon, and she gave me some guidelines for if/when I might need to come back to see her to assist with fertility hormones and such if we end up not being able to conceive on our own within 6-12 months. I also got approval to not be on Parlodel since I had technically stopped taking it 6-8 months ago. Dr.Bledsoe noted that the issues for medication have been resolved for the time being and I don't need to worry about going back on it unless I start having cycle issues again. Yay!
• Training update - My toe pain has been minimized for now. I actually took a day off (shocker!) yesterday and after the icing, the overall pain is now down to a '4' from a '7'. I am excited about our taper...otherwise, the rest of my body is cooperating and I'm looking forward to racing on October 4. Bring it!
• Reading update - I have been a reading machine. My last several books have been The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Angel's Game, Twilight, March, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and New Moon. All read since August 8. Our new book club book was chosen last night and I'm looking forward to it. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible.
• what else am I not thinking of? special requests? anything else need-to-know?

The Bringer of Jollity

In honor of the spectacular performance by the Goin' Band this weekend, I decided to go a bit classical for a few days. Big props to the Tech band, performing Mars and Jupiter on the field, and in my opinion outshining LHB this weekend (gasp, shock!). I know, it is total blasphemy to say so, but I really think the Tech band has moments of being great.

I do know that their The Planets show was in (at least) its second week of performance for the Goin' Band...I watched the YouTube performance from earlier in the month and it looked and sounded a bit rough. After a few weeks more of practice, they definitely had refined the show, both in look and sound. There were moments of the Jupiter section that made my heart sing, so I have chosen to share the experience with you all here this week. If you lose focus easily, skip to 3:06 to hear the most recognizable theme (at least in my opinion). Just to clarify - this is not the Tech band playing on my blog, just a recording of Jupiter from an unidentified ensemble.

Tech always comes to Texas with a solid sound and always raises the level of performance expected from both bands, especially the brass sections of each band.

LHB chose to perform their traditional 'Wall-to-Wall Band' performance that they will take to OU, so it was traditional (boring for me) and definitely in its first week of performance. At least one band member missed the 'freeze' when it was time to yell 'Beat the Hell out of Texas Tech!'. It looked a little sloppy...bummer.

So, for all of my non-musical friends, if you need to read up on Holst and The Planets, you should. It is required listening.

He was my witness...

and still decided to give it a try. This pic was taken after about 20
seconds of being submerged.

Chad has done this before and didn't really explain how bad it would
hurt before I tried it (see below). Maybe he does have a mean streak :)

Worst Decision Ever

Pic is of me writhing in pain, crying and crying out.

I will never put my feet in a bucket of ice water ever again! If you
think 'that is no big deal. I've taken an ice bath before,' think
again! Actually, go get a bucket, fill it with four inches of ice,
add cold water to fill in the space, then plunge your bare feet in.
You will feel what I imagine metal stakes would feel like while being
driven through all of the bones in your feet, up into your ankles,
into your shin bones and possibly radiating up into the rest of your
legs.

Seriously, next time I'm just going to make an ice pack. I'm now
surviving with just my left foot in the bucket with a sock on.

Don't ever do this!

Aquanet 2009

Here is a reminder of 2008.

UT v TxTech - We're not rivals!

My recent Facebook status -

"Even though we care about the score and we know it is a big game this weekend, and even though you like to claim us as one, remember...we're not rivals! A&M and OU already have that covered."

Sometimes I wonder what Tech fans are thinking...you ask a Tech fan who their big rival is and they'll likely say Texas or Texas A&M. I don't know, maybe there are other teams out there like OU or OKState that they want to claim as their big rival as well.

I don't think A&M claims Tech to be a rival...several of my Aggie friends 'liked' my Facebook status, which leads me to believe they feel the same way Texas does.

Lesson for Tech fans -
UT and A&M are rivals.
UT and OU are rivals.
OU and OK State are rivals.
even OU & A&M might be rivals.

UT and TxTech are not rivals! Understand - We still want to beat you. We still hate it when you beat us. Your team is the third wheel, the red-headed stepchild. Not everyone can be rivals with us. Sorry Tech.

Your players and fans are nasty. I'll never forget the Tech players who turned to Longhorn Band members and cussed them out one of the years we went to Lubbock...really, do you need to threaten a clarinet player when you are twice his size and probably three times his strength. It was so low class. Let your fans and students in the stands cuss at us. Hell, let the Tech Band cuss at us (which I don't ever remember happening). But a player cussing at a band member? Ridiculous and low class.

Watch the game this weekend. Read the coverage in the paper. See who uses the word 'rivalry' to describe our relationship. Anyone who does so just doesn't get it and definitely did not go to UT.

Hook 'Em Horns!

Edit - Music Change - Eyes and Texas Fight are now playing. I can't tell if these recordings are from the LHB album with the Blue Cover (Farewell to the SWC or something like that) that they used to sell at the CoOp, but if it is...you are listening to me on piccolo!

Cup Runneth Over

Woke up next to the man I love.
Good health and good friends - ran with Kate this morning in the neighborhood.
Healthy, affordable food in the house.
Good job with flexible schedule.
Sweet, furry companions during the workday.
Family that calls to check on me, even if I don't need them to.
Nature's gifts - sliver of a moon again this morning, cool temps, deer, cloud cover and a breeze.

Today is Thursday, and though it is just an ordinary day, I feel blessed to be alive. Please take a moment today to acknowledge the good things in your life.

Music Change - Black

In honor of the upcoming ACL fest that those of us going to Portland will miss. ACL headliner, Pearl Jam, in what is one of the most beautiful, tragic songs ever. I never get tired of hearing it. The last statement in this song belongs amongst the all-time best lyrics written...heartwrenching. I am thankful to be old enough so that this song and band (amongst so many songs written by the great bands in the early 90s) were part of my formative music years.

Black
Pearl Jam
Vedder/Gossard

Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay
Were laid spread out before me as her body once did
All five horizons revolved around her soul
As the earth to the sun
Now the air I tasted and breathed has taken a turn
Ooh, and all I taught her was everything
Ooh, I know she gave me all that she wore
And now my bitter hands chafe beneath the clouds
Of what was everything?
Oh, the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed Everything...

I take a walk outside
I'm surrounded by some kids at play
I can feel their laughter, so why do I sear
Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin round my head
I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning
How quick the sun can, drop away
And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything...
All the love gone bad turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I will be...yeah...
Uh huh...uh huh...ooh...
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky, but why, why, why
Can't it be, can't it be mine

Hump Day! Fall?

Hurray for Wednesday! This morning Tara and I met for our routine Wednesday morning run and were met with cool weather and a gorgeous moon. I wish I had taken a picture of it...just a little sliver hung low in the sky, bright enough to see the rest of the gray moon, but just barely a crescent. We ran four miles together and then I finished off three more by myself. During the last three miles, I was running down Sunshine near the Triangle area, and it must have been the smell of the air with the damp ground with the low temperature and humidity level just so, because it sure felt like Fall. I guess we technically have a handful of days until it is official, but if no calendars or clocks existed, today would be the morning that in my mind the season has begun. The air has definitely changed.

Post-run Luck - Bostons!

These two cuties were waiting outside Progress this morning. Double
the Boston Terrier PR luck for me as I let them completely lick all
over my arms. So sweet!

First Taste of Fall

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Made for Chad (not gluten-free) out of leftover buns that we would
have otherwise let go bad. I will freeze individual servings of this
so that he can enjoy throughout the next month or so. It is served
with a caramel sauce and tastes delicious. I did steal a very small
bite to make sure for myself. Tastes like a cross between pumpkin pie
and regular bread pudding, but with deliciousness multiplied by five.

Fun Times - pics and the dress

This morning I was looking for something online and randomly Googled my name (not the first time). I would hope that all of you out there have done the same for your own name and if you haven't, stop reading now and try it. This morning I did the search for my married name in Google Images (which for my name gives you pics of the author and of the adult entertainment star with my same name...thoroughly entertaining). Googling in regular web Google is one thing. Googling in Google Images can be much more fun. I tried the same image search with my maiden name and found the blog post that our wedding photographer, Amelia Tarbet did for her photography blog. I love it! We are in that blog post and on her main site under 'portraits'.

Looking at the pics in the blog post made me realize how much I have changed physically in the last two years. I was injured for the 5-6 months prior to our wedding and was not in good shape at all. I weighed close to 15 pounds heavier than I do right now. I also had long hair, which many of you don't even know that I had. In my life, I have mostly been a long haired girl. I don't think I look bad in our wedding pics at all, but I definitely like the shorter hair and fitter body that I am sporting right now.

At breakfast on Saturday, Lex was talking about having her alterations appointment for her wedding dress, and it made me think about the same experience with my own dress. I love love love my wedding dress. It was so perfect for me, and I knew when I tried it on for the first time that it was the one that I wanted. This morning I put it on again for the first time since right after the wedding and it still looks just as beautiful as that day. It is too big, of course, but I love it all the same.

Ahhh...fun times.

If you really know me,

you know why I'm posting this picture. If you don't know why and care to know, please email me. Hopefully there are others out there who appreciate my picture as much as the intention behind taking it.

Music Change - Hide and Seek

If you have never heard this song, you should at least listen to it all the way through one time. I have loved this song for years and now there is a new hip-hop song that has sampled it and it is getting current play on the radio. I heard it last night at dinner and this morning on the way home from the run. The current song is Whatcha Say by Jason DeRulo, and I'll let you go find it and listen to it to hear the sample because it is crappy and I don't want it getting any play on my blog.

Anyhow, the original is beautiful and depressing. Perfect for a rainy day like today.

Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap

where are we? what the hell is going on?
the dust has only just began to fall
crop circles in the carpet, sinking, feeling
spin me around again and rub my eyes
this can't be happening
when busy streets a mess with people would stop to hold their heads heavy
hide and seek
trains and sewing machines?
all those years they were here first
oily marks appear on walls
where pleasure moments hung before
the takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this
still alive
hide and seek
trains and sewing machines? oh, you won't catch me around here
blood and tears
they were here first
mmm, what'd you say? mmm, that you only meant well
well of course you did
mmm, what'd you say? mmm, that it's all for the best
of course it is
mmm, what'd you say? mmm, that it's just what we need
you decided this
mmm, what'd you say? mmm... what did she say?
ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cutouts
speak no feeling, no, I don't believe you
you don't care a bit, you don't care a bit
ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cutouts
speak no feeling, no, I don't believe you
you don't care a bit, you don't care a bit
(you don't care a bit)
oh, no, you don't care a bit
oh, no, you don't care a bit
uh-uh, you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit

Something to Look Forward to...

A real rain run. Last night Tara and I were treated to a little bit of the wet stuff running around the deserted trail. A little bit of spitting, sprinkling, barely enough to classify it as a run in the rain. I did wear a hat to keep the drops out of my eyes, but Tara and I were both hoping for a run in 'real rain'. I came prepared with extra towels and a rain jacket, but we didn't need either.

The forecast for the rest of the afternoon? 100% chance of the wet stuff. It has been raining at my house since noon, the nice steady light to moderate downpour kind of rain. Shall it continue until tomorrow's run start time? I really hope so! With the drought that we have been under, it is such a relief to have so much of this good rain. We finally get to practice the 'what if it rains in Portland?' scenario that has been lacking this entire summer. What if it does rain in Portland? Now at least we might know how heavy our shoes are going to feel, how much our socks really are 'wicking', and if we really do need a hat or sleeves or whatever. If we could only have 50 degrees and mist, then it might be the best morning ever...but I'm not going to complain one bit.

Thank you thank you thank you Mother Nature!

This is the view from the office window, and though you probably can't tell, all of the gray sky and stuff that looks like mist in the trees is our nice steady downpour.

Beans at Work

He has insisted upon sitting on my lap while I'm trying to get some
work done. Big fluffy kitties that must be petted are hard to resist.

Non-Running Related Stuff

I thought you could use an update on what else is going on...

• Movies - We've been watching a lot of movies from Netflix lately. Our new Blu-Ray player streams movies instantly, so between all of the Weeds episodes and the movies on discs we've gotten through the mail, we've seen lots of movies lately - Spirit of the Marathon, I am Legend, Run Fat Boy Run, Match Point, The Reader - and TV shows as well - True Blood (seasons 1 and 2), Weeds (we're about to start season 3), The Office (UK version - just saw the first episode). In the theater, we just saw 500 Days of Summer this past weekend.
• TV - In the summer, I watch Big Brother and So You Think You Can Dance, but please don't think less of me. Chad and I were excited about Top Chef Masters this summer, and now that Top Chef Las Vegas has started, we definitely have been keeping up. Last night I watched the new season 6 of SYTYCD, and Chad was not pleased to see that my summer show will be on in the Fall. Glee officially premiered last night for the start of the new fall series, and I loved it! Chad thought it was okay, I think, though I doubt he'll look forward to it like I will. It is funny and smart, and in a few ways a bit dark. I actually hope the less-than-gleeful story lines continue to develop...makes the funny moments stand out more. I also like how the show has lots of hidden humor that you have to look for. Give it a try if you are even thinking about watching it this fall.
• Food - We haven't really eaten out much lately. I think sticking to a budget and eating more at home has helped us stick to places like Galaxy Cafe and Chipotle. Terra Burger is my new interest when I am craving something like junk food. The lure of organic fast food is like when you justify to yourself that a milkshake or ice cream is good for you because it has calcium in it. We have only really been once for a whole meal and it was well deserved during our hardest week of training.
• Books - I can no longer claim that I don't read. I am a reader (gah!!!). Since joining our book club last fall I have read 16 1/2 books. Wow, who would have thought that this non-reader would be into turning pages like I have this past year. Not all of them have been book club books, either. I was introduced to Goodreads, which has allowed me to track the books I have read, get recommendations from other friends, read reviews of books I am interested in, and just simply keep me motivated to try to keep up my new reading habit. If you like books and join Goodreads, find me and ask me to be your friend. I'd love to see what is on your shelf.

Quotes - My favorites of the week. (Keith blogged a quote today from a book that he is reading, which I was about to do, so I'm going to copycat and then add one from that social networking site that he detests so much.)

"That which you manifest is before you." - Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

In response to my admiring Chad's installation of a new ceiling fan this weekend:

"It's nice when they're handy around the house instead of just pretty, isn't it?" - Kate McLaughlin

Easy Week Update

So far this week has started on the right foot, and whaddya know, it is hump day already. Happy Office was a good time yesterday afternoon...lots of people came and the conversations were funnier than usual (Peck and Vacason's appearance added most to the colorful conversations, but that should come as no surprise to anyone).

Sleep update - Last night Chad and I went to sleep at around 10pm and I made it to 4 am without waking up for the first time in I don't know how long. Thankfully, after an empty bladder, I was able to get back to sleep and snooze until 7 am. Really, I was up at 6am with Chad, but I dozed in the bed and listened to him get ready. I'll take 6 solid hours of sleep plus 3 more of broken sleep any day. Woohoo!

Recovery mileage - This morning I did an easy four miles. It was supposed to be five, but I like my four mile neighborhood route so much I didn't want to change it up this morning. The awesome part of running this week is that we don't have workout in the morning. I plan to completely sleep in again and run with Tara in the afternoon after work. Yay for a change of routine!

Health update - I go for another Airrosti appointment for my left hamstring today and hopefully will be 100% healthy in the week to come.

16 x 400 - for you number crunchers

Workout - 16x400 at 10k pace (7:00/mile) with 200 easy jog between

Goal - 1:45-1:50 per 400. Steve told us not to go too fast, so I decided not to stick too solidly to the 1:45 if it didn't feel right.

Results -
1:48
1:48
1:46
1:47 (7:09 mile 1)
1:45
1:49
1:47
1:47 (7:08 mile 2)
1:47
1:45
1:47
1:46 (7:05 mile 3)
1:45
1:45
1:45
1:45 (7:00 mile 4)

Felt pretty good. Hamstring was a little nagging, but not painful. Ran the last 4 reps with Jonathan and felt very strong and consistent. Good times, though 24 times around the track is starting to get annoying. Guess I better get over boredom if I choose to run the marathon distance.

Quote via Tara

For those friends out there who like quotes. I'm stealing this from Tara, who reported it was a Runner's World quote over the weekend. I find it ever so true these days.

"Your training partners are key to your success, and friendships based on your runs together are strong."

-Bill Rodgers

Happy running, friends.

$2,500

33 pairs of running shoes currently in our house. This doesn't
include the 10+ pairs we got rid of when we moved in December. The
top row is my current active shoes in rotation plus the bright white
and yellow Precisions I intend to race Portland in. Out of my 21
pairs, I have run in or are currently running in approximately 14
pairs in the last year. Dang. I need Mizuno to be my shoe sponsor.

Training Perspective - Some Confidence

One of the things I learned during the soul buster (Sat before last) was to focus on my own pace and effort despite what my teammates were doing. I've taken that same reflection towards my overall mileage and am feeling very confident in where I am at this point in the season.

Some background: I joined Team Rogue specifically for the 'high mileage' program. I know my body can handle a large load of mileage, without significant quality workouts. This summer my goal has been to ignore what other people post for their own weekly totals and just focus on my own body and my own performance.

Since joining the team in December of last year, I've had a hard time figuring out where my sweet spot is in terms of overall effort. I have run a 90 mile week, several 80+ mile weeks, and lots of 60-75 mile weeks. I have felt some burnout, some injury, definitely a lot of fatigue, but this season I think I have gotten it right.

In May and June of this year, I built up to 70-75 miles per week as my big base. I over-exerted in early July, sufferering a slight hamstring strain that took a little while to come back completely from. My overall mileage stayed pretty consistently high the whole summer, even running with bad hamstrings. The result of focusing on listening to my body and not feeling pressure to run the 80-90+ mile weeks is that I'm feeling great now 3-4 weeks out from Portland. Since mid-July I have been running 55-65 mile weeks, 1-2 quality workouts per week, and about 45 miles for our recovery weeks. My legs (even despite a twinge last week in my left hamstring) have been feeling really strong, and this morning I feel on top of the world after only a four-miler.

Some perspective from years past -

2006 - highest monthly mileage - March (234 miles), followed by my PR at Boston 3:37:23

2007 - highest monthly mileage - June (181 miles), too much quality that summer - SI joint injury took me out 6-8 weeks

2008 - highest monthly mileage - August (202 miles), last 22-24 miler strained calf muscles going up Enfield - hurt for marathon, but still ran.

2009 - I have run 5 months this year with monthly totals above my highest pre-Boston 2006 PR total.

• Jan 2009 - 300 miles
• Feb 2009 - 250 miles - plus requalified for Boston at Austin Marathon running a 'workout'
• March 2009 - 287 miles - started to feel injured - in April, Nashville was hot - no PR
• Jun 2009 - 273 miles - feeling good
• August 2009 - 247 miles - strong mileage despite hamstring problem in July.
• September 2009 - still have 200 miles planned on schedule, including 'peak weeks' with reduced mileage.

The confidence is starting to come out. Looking back at the past three years, the analytical part of my brain knows I have put in all of the work in 2009. I have run so many miles. I have run the right paces. I need to take the confidence in the numbers and focus on running the best race I can in Portland.

Proof

I'm up. Bedtime was 9:20pm and I have slept solidly until now. Let's
see if I can fall back asleep. Grrr.

Mmm...Pizza!

Brick Oven on 35th street serves gluten free pizza. Pizza and
Primitivo...both well deserved after 24 miles. Oh, and the run went
well, too.

Afternoon Snack

Chad and Miko enjoying a post-workout snack of pretzels. She is so
cute trying to take a bite.

One Month to Go!

Today is September 4th. The Portland Marathon is on October 4th. Here we go, people.

sleep, glorious sleep

There is this article on the Runners World website about American distance runner Tera Moody and her issues with sleep. Many of you know that I cherish my sleep and can nap like a pro, but I have also blogged in the past regarding bouts of insomnia. This article could not be better timed. Over the past week or so, I have been struggling with waking up in the middle of the night between 1:45 and 3:30. Sometimes it is to go to the restroom, but often times I simply wake up from a dream, startled, and choose to get up and go to the restroom for fear of having to wake back up again in an hour. I wish I could figure out how to stop waking up at 2:45am. I stay up for at least 30 minutes, if not an hour. During that time, I try to lay really still in the bed and relax my body and mind.

Marriage sure can mess with a sleep schedule. I really wish Chad and I were on the same schedule. He gets up routinely at 5:45am, but usually doesn't go to sleep until after 10:30. I get up at 4:25 three mornings a week, 4:40 one morning, and try to sleep as late as possible on the other mornings. Really, I'm completely exhausted most of the time. Sometimes in middle of the night, when I am up at 2:45, desperately trying to lay still and fall back asleep, his breathing seems so loud (and he doesn't even snore!). I don't know what I would do if he was a snorer, so I definitely consider myself lucky. In a dream world, I would like to get up at 6:30am each day, get my run in at 7am, and go to bed by 10pm to ensure sleep by 10:30pm. I would more closely match Chad's schedule and still get the long stretch of sleep that my body needs.

Anyhow, I related to parts of the article. I appreciated the emphasis that was put on sleep's role in athletic performance. Seems like most of us could use more sleep.

Music Change - Popular

"Popular" - from Wicked
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
(The version you hear is performed by Kristin Chenoweth, who (imo) is absolutely perfect for the part of Galinda/Glinda. Love her.)

I'm not going to copy the lyrics from the entire song, but my favorite part is below.

Don't be offended by my frank analysis.
Think of it as personality dialysis.
Now that I've chosen to become a pal,
a sister, an adviser,
there's nobody wiser,
not when it comes to Popular.
I know about Popular.
And, with an assist from me
to be who you'll be,
instead of dreary who you were...are...
There's nothing that can stop you
from becoming popu-ler...lar...
La, la, la, la...
We're gonna make you popular!

Half-Carafe

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? The answer was given to me at happy office last night, both literally and figuratively. When you order a half-carafe of house wine and they bring you a completely full to the brim carafe that spills over onto the table even as the waiter plops it on the table, the answer to the half-empty half-full question is fully evident. In so many ways, my glass is completely full.

I got a vote of confidence from Steve that I will come in within a reasonable range of my goal and that he trusts me enough to run smartly. I have permission to make a race plan for my 3:20 goal. He also is not worried about me on the downhill sections. Finally some positive goal speak from the man.

Back to the half-carafe - My 'shoulda been 1.5+ glasses' easily became 2.5+ glasses, even after letting Kevin take a few ounces from the full to the top glass carafe. I was so buzzed. My speech might have been a little slurred, but I like to think that it wasn't. Ack! I had almost three glasses of house red on an empty stomach (damn wheat intolerance does not allow for pizza eating) and this lightweight girl was all smiles at the end of two hours of sipping wine.

Don't worry, though. Chad and I have a pact to call each other if we are in the buzzed driving predicament while we are out on our own. He came and picked me up, we went for dinner and by the time 8:45 rolled around, the buzz was gone and I was able to drive safely.

Maybe a glass half-full would be easier to deal with than a full half-carafe spilling over.

Physical Stress = ?

What does your body do when you are physically stressed out? When you are run down? When you are tired? When you have run far? When you are out in the sun a little too long? When you are exposed to the elements for longer than you want to be?

Most people get tired. They get sore. They get a little bit sunburned (or fried). They need sleep, lots of water, and generally rebound in a day or so.

That is me, too, except my body likes to also break out in cold sores. Lovely. Luckily I haven't gotten them on my lips in a long time. I typically get them on the inside of my nose, where at least I can suffer the pain without anyone else seeing them. Not this time. Not in my nose. I have them on my chin. It looks like I have bad bad acne. I thought I was breaking out, but alas it is not a pimple or two. I have cold sores in my skin. It sucks. I've gotten them in my skin before. Sigh.

I know how to get rid of them, but I wish I had realized they were cold sores two days ago. Now they are hot, itchy and all of that icky pain that, if you get cold sores, you know how miserable can be to go through. If I had realized a couple of days ago what they were, I would have attacked them with the Lysine that normally works wonders. Now I'm two days behind and suffering.

I guess I know I gave it my all last week running. My body shows that I did.

Please don't stare. I hate them.