Recap and Resolutions

Wow. It hardly seems like time for New Year's resolutions as this year has FLOWN by. But I will give it a shot as well as recap my highlights of 2008.

January I went back to work after 6 years off to be a stay at home mom. I was MORE than ready. I loved being a lawyer, and I am so happy to be back. Being a mom (not to mention stay-at-home) is the hardest job out there, in my opinion. Trust me. I can take lawyers, clients, judges, whoever, trying me, questioning me, yelling at me, whatever. When it is your kids crying, having a fit, being sad, having a bad day, it is personal. And the 24/7/52 doesn't leave much room for down time. As the magnet on my fridge says, "you can't scare me, I have kids."

It was hard on the boys - especially my 4 year old. However, I watched him blossom this year from a momma's boy to a little social butterfly. Part age, part our situation. I was so proud of him.

During the same month. my dear friend Jody lost her baby at 9 months (1 week before due date) due to a "cord accident." She is still healing after breaking into a hundred pieces. She and her husband are in my thoughts constantly.

I ran the Madison Marathon in May and loved it. Not my best time by any stretch, but I think of it every day as I drive over the overpass we ran under by East Wash. It was a great experience that fostered my attitude that I could do whatever I really set my mind too.

My beloved Grandma died, ironically, on my birthday. I miss her. But her death, funeral, etc. really brought my family together and I appreciated my extended family more this year than I have in a lifetime.

My mother and father in law split after 40 years together. My mother-in-law has battled colon cancer, breast cancer and rheumatoid arthitis for the last 5 years. He moved on with another woman. Very sad. Very human, so I hear. It has been a heart breaker and has deeply affected my family. I love them both, but it is all very sad.

I celebrated 9 years of marriage with my best friend.

I reconnected with lots of old friends and family members via Facebook. Who would've thunk it?

I have watched the economy tank, feared for my job and my husband's and those of my friends and families.

I celebrated my 10th year of running, 3rd year of "racing."

I conquered the treadmill. D@mmit.

I also have a million "little moments" that have made up my year that are inexplicable. Nice comments, fun laughs, irreplaceble children's comments, etc. And I cherish them.

For 2009, my resolutions are:

1. Continue to enjoy the good stuff.
2. Continue to kiss my kids and husband everyday and tell them I love them.
3. Work (and think about work) less - at least as is possible for keeping job security!
4. PR in preferably the marathon, maybe also the mile.
5. Lose 5-10 lbs.
6. Enjoy my sister's first marathon with her.
7. Beat Mainers in scrabble.

One more request:

I have a colleague (ok, senior partner) that has continuously told me marathoning is bad for me. yeah yeah. But Today, he was shocked when I told him I was running a 5 mile race on Thursday because it could be 20 degrees and that HAS to be dangerous. I told him he is crazy, but he didn't buy it, Facts: he is a recreational runner and runs 3-4 times/week on the treadmill, is in good shape, so it is not as easy to blow out of the ballpark as the 200 lb sedentary lady that says this; and he is burgeoning racer - moving up in distance too. BUT Someone give me some comebacks for 2009 please.

Now THAT was fun!!!

Now I have experienced the frozen tundra first hand. My toes are still numb. The roads were AWFUL this morning and it took us almost 3.5 hours to get there. But, we had parking less than a block from Lambeau. And boy, did we have fun!!!!!

Week #3 is in the books

I was actually able to run outside twice too. Christmas Eve was an eight miler on icy roads, but yesterday it was 45-50 degrees and raining so the roads were nice and clear. I was scheduled for 14 miles, but since it was the best running weather in almost 2 months, I logged 15 and change. It was a nice feeling. And finally I am up over 40 mpw.

So far I have hit all of my miles and all of my workouts. I am hoping to keep at it and more if possible. I have decided I really want to refocus my training and go for sub 3:30 at the Illinois marathon. Maybe even a PR (sub 3:26). We will see. I really am far from that shape, but I have 15 weeks to go.

Today is a rest day and I am leaving soon to head to Lambeau Field to watch the Packers play the Lions. It may be a pathetic game and there are supposed to be 25-25 mph winds (with 20 degree temps), but BOY AM I FIRED UP. Should be lots and lots of fun!!

I have enjoyed reading people's recaps of 2008 and goals for 2009. It surprised me when I first read Keith's - I was thinking, "already?" - boy this year has just flown by!

Happy Sunday. If you watch the Packers game - send me some warm thoughts - I will need them!

It's benign!

Yay! My friends just found out their son's brain tumor is benign. And completely gone. And unlikely to come back. Thank God. He will have a long recovery ahead, but that was the best news they could have gotten.

On lesser important news, the weather here still sucks. Tuesday I could only eek out 3 miles on the treadmill. I just couldn't take it. Wednesday I ran outside, which was nice, but there was no way I was going to get my tempo run in on the icy, snowy roads. So yesterday I did 10 on the treadmill with 3.75 at 15K pace (7:33ish). It honestly just about killed me. I am going to unequivocally state that 7:33ish is NOT my current 15K pace. Today I did 5 recovery on the treadmill, which also just about killed me. I can do progressive runs, tempo runs, speed work, striders, etc. on the treadmill. Mixing up the paces really makes the time go by. But to slowly slog out a steady run is just awful. I kept wanting to pick up the pace thinking, even 8 seconds faster is 8 less seconds on this thing. So I honestly had to tell myself to quit being an effing wimp and just do it. So I did. I am REALLY hoping I can get my 14 in tomorrow outside. We will see.

Christmas was awesome. My kids are at the PERFECT age. I enjoyed down time with family playing games, playing online, etc. I have to admit my quads are SORE today though from the snowboarding video game I was playing with my son yesterday. Crazy. Heh. He may have better balance than me, but I did kick his butt. ;)

Tomorrow the Florida State Seminoles (my alma mater) play the Wisconsin Badgers (the alma mater to 99% of the people around me). Should be fun.

Then Sunday I am getting up early to head to Lambeau Field to watch the Pack play the Lions. I am so excited. It is my first game there - the only other time I've been there is to run through it for my first marathon! The tickets were a gift from me to my husband, my sister and my brother in law. We are getting up super early to tailgate in the snow and frigid temps. Rockin. :)

First test drive

Today I had planned to work, but after a couple of hours I decided I was ready for the holidays. We have been getting inundated with snow this week, so for my run I gave my new Kahtoola Microspikes a spin. They were great! Very stable. The run was crazy cold because it was so windy, but all in all a nice Christmas Eve run.

I hope you have a blessed and wonderful Christmas!

Reality Check

So I complain about the weather and my running and the depressing economy incessantly. And I complain (at least internally) about lots of other small stuff.

Today, my friend's son at the prime age of a newly minted eight years had surgery to remove a brain tumor they very recently discovered.

Yeah.

Really.

Apparently, he is doing okay now after several hours of surgery. His parents went though a lot of tears, anxiety and "what ifs" today. And yesterday and the day before. No doubt tomorrow too. And the next day. And the next. I cannot imagine and frankly will not allow my brain to go there. And I cannot fathom what the little boy is thinking or fearing.

The positive news is that the doctors think from the looks of the tumor it was benign, but will not know for sure until Friday. Hopefully he will have a full recovery.

As most eight year olds, he is feisty and strong. And so are his parents.

Kick the small stuff in the @rse today and hug and kiss those whom are important to you. Shoot, make that your goal for 2009. It is now mine.

That really is all that matters.

Week #2 in the Books

So I have discovered two new facts this week:

1. I do indeed possess great mental toughness.

2. I am a complete heavy sloth and I need to drop the excess pounds I have gained the last year.

Here is the weekly breakdown:

M: rest

T: 8 miles progressive on the TM (8:50)

W: rest

R: 10 miles progressive on the TM (8:52)

F: rest

Sa: 5.51 outside in the slush (9:34)

Su: .78 on the TM, had to stop b/c the kids were freaking out; then did 13 progressive (8:57). First hour was at a 9:13 pace, then I played with the pace a little. Did 1.5 at 8:00 pace (MP?). Overall a good run.

Total: 37.3 , with 31.8 on the treadmill!!!!

Next week I start running 5 days a week and should finally get back up to 40 miles. I am already wishing I was logging higher mileage at this point, but I know soon enough the increasing miles will get harder and harder with work obligations, kids, life.

On a side note, it is -30 today with the wind chill (again) and we have a ridiculous amount of snow. I don't think it is supposed to hit the 30s until Friday or Saturday. Why did I leave Florida?!?!

Facts 'O the Day

1. There is no where to spit when running on the treadmill.

2. I ran 10 on it this morning, which is a distance PR for me on the mill.

3. It was a good progression run.

4. A blizzard is coming this way tonight.

5. It is my 9th wedding anniversary today.

6. It is Joe+'s anniversary today too!

Small victories

It is cold here. Ridiculously cold. Yesterday is was -30 with the wind chill. I'm not sure what the wind chill reading is this morning, but the real temp is -2 and we have a ton of ice on the shoulders of the roads as it was in the 40s this weekend so lots of snow melted and then promptly froze. Crazy. So, to log my 8 miler this morning I hit the treadmill. To make the time go by faster, I turned it into a progressive run. The goal was to run 60 minutes and then start my 10 striders.

First 20 minutes: 9:13 pace
Next 20: 9:05 pace
Next 10: 8:57 pace
Next 5: 8:49
Next 5: 8:41

I then finished out with 10 striders - each about 30-35 seconds, with 25-20 second recoveries. As I progressed, the strider paces increased and the recovery times decreased. All in all, a solid workout. The treadmill does seem to break me out of the slow slogs I have been logging outside lately. I definitely need to focus more on the mill and I feel like I am finally accepting it a bit. A small victory no doubt.

Week 1 of training is in the books

Very interesting week for me. I started my training for the Illinois marathon. It was tough because during the work week this week it was FREEZING! The roads were also covered with snow and gunk, so I had to hit the treadmill for the first time since early this year, aka last time I absolutely had to. It was tough, but I was pleased that I was able to bust out 7 on Wednesday. I did 4.5 on Friday, but it was really hard. I just can't stand the thing. I actually had TWO people tell me last night (at a holiday party) that they had run 20 miles or more on the treadmill recently. I just can't wrap my head around that. Really, I can't. The good news is that I seem to run faster on the TM than I have been outside lately.

Fortunately it was warm this weekend (35-40) and not only did the snow melt on the shoulder of the roads, but I also got to do my longish runs outside. I will not, however, claim that they were easy. We had back-to-back corporate Christmas parties this weekend and I enjoyed WAY too much wine both nights. Add the 25 mph sustained winds today and I was slogging along pretty "sloggishly." I did not touch my HRM this week as I knew it would only depress me thanks to my cold, lack of sleep, too much wine, too much wind, whatever. Hopefully next week will be much different. I am definitely feeling better. But the treadmill is in my future - it is POURING rain and the temps are about to drop drastically. Hello ice and gunk and cold.

Week in recap:

M: rest - sick - go to DR to get antibiotics
T - still sick and resting and avoiding the TM
W - 7 miles (8:43) w/7 striders on the TM
T - rest
F - 4.5 (8:54) on the TM
Sa - 8.2 (9:28)
Su - 12.26 (9:54)

Total: 32

Outside of running, It has been a bit unsettling recently as I am beginning to see the impact of the economy's nose dive on the local legal community. Scary.

My seven year old has been a complete force to be reckoned with this weekend. Not fun. I tried to do a family Christmas photo before church and he just scowled and gave us all a hard time. SO I found a pic from this summer that we will use. It will have to do.

Highlight for me coming up: 9 year wedding anniversary on Thursday! :)

Happy running!

Back in Training

Yesterday I did not run - didn't have quite the time in the am and when I got back from Milwaukee to relieve our babysitter (snow day), I wanted to spend some time with my boys. I did shovel the driveway, did arm weights and core work, and boy are my shouders and lower back sore this morning!!

I sucked it up and ran 7 on the treadmill this morning with 7 striders. I tried to focus on the positives of the tm rather than the many negatives: I can sip water any time I want, I can keep a very steady pace, I can focus on my form, etc. It seemed to work for me. I have 9 scheduled for tomorrow or Friday - I'm sure that will be a little tougher. And then, the glorious outside for this weekend.

My cold is improving - not gone, but definintely improving. Thank goodness!

I really need some new snow treads - any suggestions? I am thinking of just making some with screws, but I'm not sure. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

I couldn't take it anymore

After 3 weeks of this wicked head cold, I finally bit the bullet and went to the doctor. 10 straight days of a headache, no sleep thanks to coughing all night, and finally sore teeth made me decide I had enough. I got a Z-Pack and will hopefully recover soon. I am not a fan of getting antibiotics, but enough is enough.

My official Illinois training program started yesterday (as a rest day). Today I have 9 scheduled - we'll see - we are in the midst of a big snow/ice storm and I have to go to Milwaukee today. I am likely to log 5ish on the treadmill and try to do the 9 later in the week when I am feeling a bit better... I don't think the roads are going to clear anytime soon so I am going to have to make friends with the mill. :{

Happy December

So once again I have been really slacking on my blogging. But, really nothing too exciting is going on with running/life at the moment anyway. Johnny has gone to Phoenix for a couple of days for a mediation (:() so I have time for an update.....

My running last week was pretty pathetic. My head cold was still awful and I just couldn't get up at 5:00 and run in 10 degrees. So I bagged a long run and just did 4 short runs for the week for a whopping 20.6 miles.

I had a great Thanksgiving despite being under the weather. We played kick-ball, soccer, cooked lots, ate lots, drank lots and just plain had fun visiting with each other.

My lowest moment last week was when my FAVORITE running hat ripped. It is still ok, but the brim is starting to rip off. D@mmit. I love that thing. Funny too because it is a Brooks(r) 2007 Twin Cities Marathon hat (one of my worst races). I would say I am doing pretty darn good if that is my "low spot." :)

This week hasn't improved much as far as illness goes. My head cold is manageable during the day, but I feel like I haven't slept well in 2 weeks. I went to the pharmacy today for recommendations and they loaded me up with almost $50 worth of OTC drugs. Crazy. In a few short moments I will experience my first "sinus rinse." The excitment is truly hard to contain. :) Work seems busy, but dwindling. And a lot of non-billable crap that is "good," but oh so bad.

As far as running goes, I did my first treadmill run of the season yesterday. It was very cold, so I decided to give the Sole a test drive. Boy was that painful. I know it will get easier, but the 3.5 miles I logged felt like 18!

This morning, on the other hand, was awesome. It was 30 degrees and the roads were *mostly* clear. I knew it was going to snow all day, so it made the clear roads even nicer. My only regret was that I did not have another hour to run. I am hoping to log 30-35 this week, but will play it all by ear. I start training for the Illinois Marathon on Monday, so this week is for whatever moves me (or doesn't).

I am really looking forward to getting back into training. It is funny how you can feel like a complete sloth after being out of the groove for 5 weeks.

Oh yeah, and a big nod to Greg who got his big fat BQ! You rock!!

Also, little Peanut is to die for. Congrats again Salty and mrp.

Update: (and calling Northwoods Bryan!): So I did the sinus rinse and it was actually pretty great. I will take it. But as I am putting the box away, I see that the doctor who recently marketed this has it patented! Yet at the same time, "nasal irrigations have been mentioned in medical textbooks and used for hundreds of years." This product is a simple bottle with a salt solution to irrigate the sinuses. WTF? How is this not obvious even if pre-KSR? Is it the salt solution or the "special" bottle? Yes, I am a geek, but that got me fired up a bit. So off I go to read the d@mn patent on this thing....Heh... you know you are a geek when you are reading patent claims after squirting salt water up your nose. Sheesh. It really is bleak for me, eh?

I apologize in advance, but really? See U.S. Reg. Nos. 6,669,059, 6,688,497, 6,520,384. The miracle of the squirt bottle and neti pot.