Children and Other Bad Habits

The kids are on Spring Break and my 14-year-old wanted to go to the gym with me today. She ran for a total of ten minutes, slowly cycled for fewer than that--and then she asked me what time we were leaving. Needless to say, I didn't get a very good workout in. I do have my S3 class tomorrow, so maybe today's lighter work-out is a blessing in disguise.

OH! I did get my body fat measured and I was pleasantly surprised. Lower than the average, and lower than what I thought. So I will get remeasured after the triathlon season and we shall see how things sit from there. The only possible way to lower my body fat at this point is to modify my diet significantly. I thought the point of running was that you could eat whatever you want!!

Schoolwork calls me...check back later....

Misty Light Rain and the Fast Unintended Five Miler

So my husband got up this morning and I heard him rummaging around for some running shorts. I asked him how long he was going for, and he answered "We shall see!". I dozed off again knowing full well I needed to get up and get some breakfast because I was going to run after he returned. I snoozed a little and finally dragged myself out of bed and into the kitchen for some new Special K protein enhanced cereal. WHAT A BLESSING!!! That cereal is easy on the stomach and very filling, if I eat half a cup with a little banana...I am good to go. I do a couple of swigs of Gatorade, and the man returns. HA! He did an "easy" 10-miler in what seemed to me to be mere minutes. HATE HIM;). So I am outside putting my shoes on, and it is threatening to rain. He asks me what I am going to do, and I tell him I am doing my usual 5 and half mile loop...that way if it full-out rains cats and dogs he can come and pick me up because he knows where to find me.

I started off WAY fast. I felt a grudge against my crappy run the other day. My legs were strong, I was focused and there was a light misty rain in the air. And suddenly, as if by magic, I actually noticed the temperature was dropping. I am FLYING at this point. I catch and pass this 20-something young guy, and I am feeling really good. I get to the cross street remembering the wind had been at my back up until this point--so I prepare, because I know the turnaround in the loop is going to be brutal. AND it was. I always feel like I have the quick Parkinsonian shuffle steps when I run against strong wind. I lean into it, which I shouldn't. I struggle against it and I gave myself permission to slow to a 10 minute mile. Who cares, anyway? Right? Aren't I out here just for the running love? I get to this great decline on the route before the next turnaround and I put my mojo in gear. I sprinted the last mile and a quarter home, lungs aching and breathing blood. I am getting PISSED at my silly gait. I think it holds me back from being a speedier runner. I remember my parents were so on the fence about putting me in leg braces when I was a kid, and the orthopedist said it was their call. They decided against because they didn't want any unnecessary attention brought upon me at school. I don't know if those braces would have made any difference. I know I beat my 5 mile PR today, just felt it.

If you are wondering about what happens when I run--just picture Elaine Bennis from that classic episode of "Seinfeld" when she is at the office Xmas party and starts off the dancing! Remember how her left leg kicks out perpendicular to her body? That is me with my right leg when I run (see above pic), and even when I walk, no less. It is in tune with my overpronation. It is whimsical, yes...putting me directly on the shortbus bound for therapy. So I am forever doomed to the "fatboy" "overpronator" Gel Kayanos. Even though I am not fat. I am just weird.

Sweet dreams and pray for me.....my kids are on Spring Break.

I am now a BRUNETTE

YES! I took the plunge and dyed my hair a deep chocolate brown. It is a love it or hate it kinda thing. Don't think the hubby is too crazy about it, but I got compliments at the gym today. Now I am going to grow it out long again and see what happens.

Little boys are the funniest creatures; and as my son ages, I can only wonder at the fiascos this little man is going to find himself in. I took my soon-to-be 8 year old daughter to her soccer game this morning. She played offense for awhile, and then the coach placed her as goalie. Well, unfortunately Samantha was too busy trying to get my attention and she allowed the other team to score their only goal of the game. One of her teammates, a fiesty little fellow named Alex, asked Samantha how many seasons she has been playing. She told him "five", and the then she asked him how many he had played. He retorted without hesitation, "Your buttcrack season." Ah, how boys will be boys. I am sure his mother is very proud.

So I had a crappy 3.5 mile run yesterday. The pollen is so thick in the air, I had spiderwebs in my lungs. I actually had to stop several times. The good news is, we are expecting rain tonight and in the morning. That ought to help clear the air a bit, and make for nicer running...especially since we are now in the 80's temperature-wise.

My husband and I are looking to save pennies since the economy is so tanked out, and our investments aren't returning like they used to. So I actually had to bite the bullet and pick out recipes for the next month to plan a menu. This way, I go to the store with a detailed list of ingredients I need, and I don't buy anything that deviates from the list. We saved about 40% of what we usually do at the grocery store. Hopefully all the kids enjoy this more regimented system, as they will be eating less frozen "convenience" meals, and more homemade meals.

I am researching triathlon suits. I need to start swimming. It looks as if I am going to have to order one online, and I just hate that idea. I am more worried about the "girls" and the chafing after the skin. I bet I get seconds added to my transitions by abusing the Body Glide!

Ciao for now:).

Life IS Good

It really is. I had a fantastic 8-mile run yesterday and I didn't hack up a lung. The weather was absolutely perfect, and I thought as much as I am homesick for South Florida, North Florida is really gorgeous this time of year. It will be 78 degrees today, flowers are in full bloom and we shall be able to use the pool in less than a month.

I had that S3 training outside today and BOY is that a phenomenal workout. I HIGHLY recommend explosive training to sprinters and sprint triathletes. I think it is REALLY going to help me in the long run. I am really isolating muscles I never knew I had.

OH! Let me pose this. There is a personal trainer at my gym. He is a cyclist mainly, but has had triathlon and trail/road race experience. Sweetest guy you ever want to meet, not even a bit full of himself and VERY modest usually. Well, weeks ago he told me he signed up for a 30-miler trail race...BUT HE HAS NEVER RUN A MARATHON...EVER. His longest distance is the half. I asked him if he was sure he knew what he was doing, and he said, "Yeah I am in excellent shape and my running has really improved." I said absolutely nothing after that. The only thing I could do was wish him luck last week.

I saw him today. He DNF'd. He said he dropped out at mile 23. I told him that sucked and I suggested maybe training for a roadrace marathon in the autumn. I like the Jacksonville Bank full marathon because it is a fast, flat and shady course. It also is a very small race, and the runners get really spread out--so no pressure to do anything to alter your pace plan. Well, he said, "No Way" "Too boring" "Too flat". He said his issue with the DNF was because all the runners started off fast, and he just got caught up. WELL DUH!!! Don't you think the reasons for not doing the Jax full (or any other road full for that matter), are the very reason why you should? I mean, WTF? I train for months before my marathons, with a specific plan that I abide by. The result? I FINISH MY MARATHONS! I couldn't ever imagine trying to conquer any marathon--road or trail--without logging that mileage, EVER.

Is it just me or....."DUH"?

WTF?

So I did the explosive training class today, and several of the participants were raving about how they lost body fat percentages and pounds. Me? I got nuttin'. Well, to be fair, I did lose 5 pounds while I was sick--but I can't count those because they were pounds I lost when I was ill. So tomorrow I am having my body fat measured. I am sure it will be an eye-opener. The instructor totally kicked our asses today with relay after relay of sprints and sledding. My lungs were burning, but I am starting to feel something new in my stride. I think the pelvis is working more when I run, so it propels me a little more efficiently.

I HAVE to get my distance back. These little 3 and 5 milers aren't cutting it. When marathon season rolls around again, I want to shave some significant time off. Swimming begins here shortly, and then the triathlons. LORD HELP ME. I can't afford to get sick again. The Goofy Challenge and the Miami ING are already paid for.

Meanwhile, I received a 98 on my midterm exam yesterday. Back to the books and finish this garbage so I can get my business off the ground. I love the thought of not having to answer to anybody but myself.

I received the best compliment today, I just have to post this because when I am feeling down, I can go to this blog and get a quickie high. This lady was lamenting in class today that she was getting too old to do some of the things we were doing, and how she should get some leeway for her age. She believed she was the oldest lady in the class! Someone asked her how old she was, and she said "33" and she looked at me and asked how old I was. When I told her I was 38, she said, "Are you kidding? I thought you were like 28!!" "I guess I am not the oldest one here."

YAY!!! 28!!!!! I will TAKE IT!!!

OK Kids, the topic is racism

Well, before I begin on today's tirade, I just want to say what a perfect morning for a run!!! With this illness, I haven't been able to do anything the last few days. When I woke up this morning, I felt good. I pulled on my shoes and just gave it all I got for three miles. I felt like singing as I headed out of my development. It just doesn't get any better than that. I was thinking "jog", but I ended up doing a fast 25 minutes (and yes, that is fast for me).

After viewing Obama's "Racism" speech, I have been thinking about how certain assumptions about groups of people continue to proliferate in society and it just sickens me. Whether it be in the form of a joke or a snide comment, blanket statements about groups of people do nothing but cause trouble. Sometimes I even have to keep my thoughts in check. I do find myself assessing certain types of people as "rednecks" and "white trash". I need to quarantine this behavior...even though I am as white as they are, I am manifesting bigotry. It happens. It is something I have to work on. I am appalled that the Florida legislature passed a bill to appease "The Sons Of The South" with a new Florida license plate that will be available soon to the general public. It depicts a picture of the confederate flag. There is NOTHING honorable about the confederate flag. If you are proud you are from the South, I think there are many other ways of expressing your pride than by wielding a symbol of hate. It hurts and offends certain members of society, and it is embarrassing that our government allows this to occur. I am embarrassed to be an American because these racist mainstays continue to he honored and held up for emulation. It is WRONG.

That being said, racism and bigotry continues to grow unchecked. I hear terms like "ragheads" sprinkled liberally in everyday conversation at the gym. The person who uses such terminology makes me form an opinion about them, "ignorant dumbass". Statements using such words do nothing but continue the proliferation of prejudice which, ironically in the Home of the Free, I am sure our founding fathers would be very saddened by. I don't think this is what they intended when they inked the declaration of independence.

Is there hope for any of us? Are we as a nation going to continue to bog ourselves down in stereotypes and insults? I am coming down off my soapbox now. There is so much more I would love to say about the topic, but I could end up sounding prejudiced! I want so much better for my children.

Dusting Off

And attempting S3 class this morning. I refuse to let the crud get me down. This S3 class really gets my heart going, and I don't even work half as hard running a marathon!!! Here's to putting my eggs in an explosive training basket. I have already seen improvement in the sledding aspect, and my sprints have become a little more powerful..well, they were before this respiratory infection. We shall see how today goes. I am still wheezing like an 80-year-old smoker, but oh well.

Another kid is home from school today. She is not feeling well, but I also know she is having some issues at school with a former friend of hers. Remember how cruel Junior High girls could be? Well, it's her turn to experience the thrill of bitchy looks and whispered secrets. Her former best friend has turned on her and I think it all started over a boy. Apparently this other young lady, "J", was toying with a boy she wasn't exceptionally fond of, but kept him around as "boyfriend" for entertainment purposes. "J" was very verbal about her feelings for him, "OMG, like I am SO getting TIRED of him! I probably think I am gonna like dump him tomorrow". Well, this boyfriend eventually got put-off by her threats and left "J", and professing his attraction to my daughter. Now my daughter, "B", is not allowed to date until she is 16. She has been fine with this, but she does flirt at school and have friends who are boys. But I had to do what a Mom had to do and I sat her down and gave her the number one rule of the "GIRL CLUB"--"NEVER DATE A FRIEND'S EX-BOYFRIEND FOR ANY REASON EVER IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE HAVING THAT FRIEND." This rule almost as prolific as, "Never EVER tell your best friend she looks fat in that dress, even though she does." And like the good kid "B" usually is, she heeded my words but continued a flirtatious relationship with the dumpee. This led to an instability in the friendship between "J" and "B", complete with whispers, rolling eyes and rumors. Poor "B". Little does she know how insignificant this will be in the long run. Meanwhile, I want to jack up "J" for making my baby cry. Junior High seems like a million years ago, but it a record that replays every year for 13 and 14-year-olds...that song remains the same. The fashions may change, but there is no deviation from the behavior.

OK, I am jumping in! Talk to you later.

This IS ENOUGH!!

I don't think the antibiotics are working anymore. My sinuses are deadened, I have a full-fledged nasal spray addiction and I can't eat. I set out this morning to run a little over 5 miles, and I dehydrated so badly before mile two. I struggled so hard to finish out this run, but I only got in about 4 miles and I just couldn't do it anymore. I know it's because my caloric intake is maybe down to 1000 a day at best, but I simply can't force myself to eat. Food is sickening to me right now. My 5 year old is home from school, and she is ill as well. The medicine makes me feel drugged out, and this is the second class of antibiotics I have been on for this particular situation.

I know you don't want to hear about my pity party, but I hurt. And I am mad. All I want to do is sleep and cry. I will find something more interesting to blog about later. I think this is a good time to bow out.

Sinusitis and Waterboarding

...are both forms of torture. This pollen needs to go--and fast. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired, the antibiotics helped with the chest, but it isn't going to chase those allergies off.

Marc wasn't such a little mommy's boy today at his party, so I am thankful for that.

I will say I am CRAVING a long distance run, and I don't know how in the hell I am going to put it in my schedule without interfering with Bob's brick training for his onslaught of triathlons. I have to start swimming at the end of the month to train for mine, and I gotta get some new gear to wear. Why do I commit myself to these things again? This crap is getting expensive.

I don't have much to say today other than a.) I feel like ass b.) I am a snot factory c.) Thank goodness no one has soccer, guitar, chorus, rehearsals, etc. tonight d.) My last little one is two years old. I am saddened about that for some reason. The minutes fly too quickly...I have to do something completely overplayed, but it says what I want to say... and my buds from last night will appreciate....

"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day.... You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way..... Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town Waiting for someone or something to show you the way..... Tired of lying in the sunshine..... Staying home to watch the rain .....And you are young and life is long...... And there is time to kill today..... And then one day you find Ten years have got behind you..... No one told you when to run..... You missed the starting gun.... And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking.... Racing around to come up behind you again..... The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older.... Shorter of breath and one day closer to death...... Every year is getting shorter..... Never seem to find the time .....Plans that either come to nought Or half a page of scribbled lines.... Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way..... The time is gone..... The song is over..... Thought I'd something more to say.... Home, home again I like to be here when I can..... When I come home cold and tired...... It's good to warm my bones beside the fire..... Far away across the field ....The tolling of the iron bell ....Calls the faithful to their knees To hear the softly spoken magic spells "

WOOHOO!!! YES!!!

I want to personally thank the lovely and talented Augmentin tablet for making me feel like a whole new woman today. Just two doses since yesterday and I was able to knock out a 5k this morning with no problem. And my cough doesn't sound like some dying old lady with COPD. Except for this generalized ache in my left leg, I sprinted like a pro.

Tomorrow is my son's second birthday. I can't believe it. This time, two years ago, I was languishing in a hospital bed sick with gall bladder disease and doped up on Dilaudid. Poor Marc had a rough entrance into the world, but he is a bigtime handful now. A friend of mine is having a birthday party for him and for her daughter who turned two yesterday. This party is also a "meeting" of sorts of fellow like-minded liberals such as myself....ought to be interesting. A little toddler get together and political soiree all at once! I look forward to it immensely; it is so rare in this neck of the woods to even meet a fellow Democrat, let alone a freethinking liberal. I always say I live in the Bible Belt, and it is slowly suffocating me with every cinch. What gets me is the mixing of the church with public school activites here. My daughters' chorus concerts are held in Baptist churches, and for the Xmas production, not one Hanukkah or Kwanzaa song. I always feel very uncomfortable during these productions, like they can just smell the paganism eminating from my very pores. HAHAHAHAHA! And I am not even the slightest bit pagan. I don't know why I let this bother me so much. My husband, very much an agnostic, could care less about the "Christian Agenda". Maybe it is the whole "I am saved, and you are going to hell because you aren't" crap that just gnaws at me.

Well, the baby is being good and locked into the Backyardigans...so this is my opportunity to shower quickly. Check ya later!

SICK!

OK, so I have been sick for weeks now and the crud just won't go away. My husband is sick of my sickness, and has insisted I get some antibiotics today. I sound like a wounded seal when I cough, and I am a snot factory. Scrumptious.

The theme of today's blog is (other than "sick") is--PEOPLE WHO THINK THE INTERNET IS REAL. Just so you know, the internet is a place where you can be whomever you want...say whatever you want...be someone you aren't usually. I see this on a site I go to daily. It really makes me giggle when I see people take themselves so seriously and make judgement calls about people they have never met or interacted with. There are virtual grudges, virtual bullying, virtual crushes, etc. It amuses me to no end. Anyone can be "strong" behind a username, but I betcha when it comes to real life, they aren't so bold. You can take those online alliances, cliques and the like and shove it up your virtual ass. There. I addressed it.

I gotta grab a cup of coffee. I haven't run in three days. I was supposed to bike 17 today, but my hurting lungs are preventing me from doing much of anything. My soon-to-be 8-year-old is kicking my butt in Guitar Hero Three, all the kids are up and televisions and iPods and radios are on all over the house. Gotta start the day and kick this illness silly...if that is self-absorbed, well then BOOYA.

I Am Blowing Off The Gym Today

I have a generalized fatigue and frankly, I just don't feel like it! So there! I am going to run tomorrow before the soccer games (we have three, oy!) and on Sunday we are going for a 17 mile bike ride. I suppose I have to start brick training soon for the triathlon and I have a duathlon in 6 weeks or so. I have GOT to work on my swimming. Swim to survive, swim to survive...my mantra. I am dreading it and embracing it all at the same time. Who knew a slovenly, chubby housewife could morph into a competitive hardbody? Well, not that much of a hardbody.

So yesterday I went to email the Gate River Run photos to some acquaintances and I accessed the wrong Kodak gallery and instead emailed a photo of me in some "Come Fuck Me Pumps". I am TRAGIC. How could I make such an error? I am losing it, and I am not even 40 yet. Why can't they come up with some form of secret email retrieval? I am embarrassed.

Marc is busting through the baby gate. I am going to have to come back to this later.

Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

I have to say I am one lucky lady most of the time. My husband didn't have to go into work early, so I was able to get in a 7 mile run during the most perfect weather conditions. Even though my legs felt like lead from yesterday's workout, I just really got into the beauty of the route and the music I had on my iPod--my playlist from the Miami half marathon. I am starting to get an iPod band tan on my arm! I am getting those runs in because I know these cooler temps will be non-existent in a matter of weeks. ***FUNNY ASIDE*** Since my kids play Guitar Hero Three all the time, I actually listen for dropped notes in my regular music! HA! I am addicted by association, I guess.
My gait was somewhat off today. It didn't interfere much with the run, although I felt slower (and I was bigtime, a ten minute mile average). Someone had posted a thread on Runner's World Online about A.C. Slater--forget his real name at this moment, but he was on "Saved By The Bell." ANYWAY, a "forumite" posted a video of Slater running and some people critqued his gait, talked about his pronation, etc. Well, let me tell you, I am a BIGTIME overpronator. My heel shelf is very unstable (you should see how I shake on it while balancing on one leg). I can't help it! It's the way I was made, and I am not the most stealthy of runners. I wonder if one could get help for overpronation, although I don't think I could be forced to change my footstrike or anything like that. I went to an analysis clinic for it, and all they did was tell me I was in the right shoes (Gel Kayanos)...no advice for remediating my gait. Oh well. My husband says he can always pick me out of a crowd of runners because I run so goofy.
I have to take the "midterm" exam for my medical transcription certification course in a couple of days. On the one hand, the thought of doing this for a living is giving me a dull ache...it is so freaking boring. But I just keep telling myself that I will never have to work for anyone again, I get to work from home, and Marc doesn't have to go into day care (well, maybe for a day or two a week because he is driving me nuts). Somehow this isn't what I had anticipated when I was younger. I just can't go back into Nursing. I was so unhappy, overworked and burned out. Part of that is my whole fear of screwing up...they would load us down with patients, admissions, discharges, etc...I didn't know if I was coming or going. I was afraid I was going to hurt someone at some point. It is a shame, really, because I loved it the first few years into it. Now I feel like the BSN was a complete waste. It's like, what the hell do I want to be when I grow up? Do others my age think the same? Crap.
Speaking of crap...what is with 2 year old boys and poop fascination? I digress....I took him for a walk after my run, and he is such a pain in the ass. He takes off running like a bat out of hell and I am lumbering after him like the village idiot. He successfully removed all the audio wires from my husband's big screen TV thinking he was changing the channel when he did it (meanwhile mumbling "DipsyLaLaPo" to himself in an effort to conjure up the Teletubbie fairy).
Marc is such a challenge. So naptime rolls around and he throws a fit. It is the same routine everyday. One would think he would "get it" by now. None of my girls were as oppositional as this little guy. But he is so freaking cute, what can I do?
I saw a disturbing video of Nancy Pelosi implicating Hillary Clinton as considering endorsing McCain over Obama should that scenario arise. What is WRONG with that lady (Nancy, that is)? The Democrats are just looking worse and worse, thus making it difficult for me to support my own party. I am embarrassed for them. This race goes all the way to the convention, we are screwed. All McCain has to do is side with a nice, conservative running mate and we are history. Blah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ngqjb7J2d4&eurl=http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
I really do want to use this carthartic medium in a way of "outting" my political, moral, and religious views--but I don't even know what to say at this juncture. I guess I need to "lie low" even from myself. There's always tomorrow....

So Let's See If I Can Find Time To Blog

St. John's river on the day of the Gate River Run, national 15K championship.










One more thing on the computer that is going to piss my husband off...but I have so many thoughts I would like to save for later, so this has got to be an option for me. I had my S3 class today (explosive training). This is supposed to make me a better sprinter, triathlete, etc. I did find a connection with the purpose of this training today, when I found myself pushing to the end of each exercise, rather than just slowly depleting like I usually do. I visualized the finish line, even though depending on the exercise (like sledding, for example) you can't always see it until you are there. But I kept the image of the finish line before my eyes in spirit...and it really worked. I brushed aside the fatigue and rallied to the end. I have to do this in a race. One of the participants talked about how she was losing weight with this training. I haven't, which is ok; because with all the other activity I have incorporated into my training schedule, I am no longer counting calories.Little epiphanies are probably why I want to blog. So I can grab hold of them later, and with my pseudo-Alzheimers', I need all the help I can get. I am a little bummed I can't do the St. Patty's 10K this weekend, I am feeling strong after just "jogging" the Gate River Run over the weekend. Kids have soccer games, and I musn't be selfish. Although I am so very selfish about my running; it is such an integral part of who I am and who I am still becoming.