I emailed Coach yesterday and told her I was feeling better. She told me I could do a 3 mile easy run, doing 5/1's but if I started coughing or felt light headed to stop. So, this morning, after the kiddies and Mr. Darcy were out the door, I set out on my run.
It felt SOOO good to be out there running again. I have missed it. I even dreamt about running twice in the last 3 days. My loop is 3.2 miles, and it seemed to go by so quickly... 37:10 (11:36 average pace). Not bad for doing 5/1's, one of which was actually a 5/2 because I was coughing a bit during the 1st minute I had a hard time keeping my HR in zone 2, but didn't cough while running. I coughed some while walking, but chalked it up to post nasal drip. I didn't think I was getting light headed, but when I finished up the run, I definitely was. OOPS. I couldn't help but run like I did. I tried to hold myself back some more, but it didn't feel comfortable so I just ran in a way that I felt good. After coughing up my lungs the 5 minutes after I finished and having to stand still and gulp down Gatorade so I could stop feeling light headed, I realized that maybe I went out a little too fast for my first day back.
I won't go as far as to say I shouldn't have run though. It felt much too good to be out there. Listening to my shoes squeak as they hit the pavement. Feeling the sweat beading up (I opted for a long sleeve performance shirt... not sure what I was thinking it was 60 when I left the house... not nearly cold enough for it). Thinking about my arm posture and driving my hands toward the "finish line." Looking ahead and thinkng about the next turn in my route and little else (except for when I had to do the math for the next 5 minutes in the 5/1).
I've never been a big fan of Galloway. I like the idea of being able to run the entire distance and somehow getting faster from there. But, I fully admit that it works. You can cover a distance faster and feel pretty good both during and after. Plus my back doesn't feel as bad afterwards, which is a definite plus.
On the non-running side of things, we've decided that the girls are going to have to finish out their soccer season. They claim that they are "afraid" of playing soccer, of the other kids running at them. Saturday we let them skip their game because I was sick, Bill wasn't feeling the greatest, and we had just gotten back from vacation. But they'll be at the rest of the games. Not sure that they'll play but we'll be there. The Y is now saying that no parents can be on the field with the kids during the game anymore. That's the only way we could get our little ladies out on the field.
On the potty training front, Ladybug is making me crazy. We've been at this for over a year and she'll do great for several weeks (like on our vacation) and then be terrible about it (like this past weekend and yesterday). I have to say I HATE pee and just completely feel like she's never going to be potty trained. I think she uses it as a control thing. So now I'm reverting to making it into a HUGE deal everytime she pees in the potty at the house, cheering and clapping and the whole 9 yards to try to keep from having to do a million loads of disgusting laundry. (Which reminds me, I have to put a load of pee clothes and sheets in today.) Angelfish on the other hand (KNOCK ON WOOD) is potty trained. She has an accident once in a blue, blue moon... like once every 2 months or so. At least I can be thankful that one of them keeps her underpants clean. I hated this stage of having a dog too. Ugh.
The girls are being sweet but WHINY. And Ladybug is trying to order us around, which we (of course) are nipping in the bud. It gets under my skin. Yesterday she ordered me to give her a piece of gum and when I told her no she threw herself on the floor at daycare. On the floor. Over a piece of gum. It didn't work of course, but it was a bit embarrassing. I just told her she could lay on the floor if she wanted but she wasn't going to get a piece of gum and that I was going to get Angelfish from her classroom. Next thing I knew she was pretending to cry and holding my hand. Still no gum.
But then there are those great moments when all they want you to do is hold them and read a story or chat with you. That makes it all worthwhile.
That and getting to go for a run. : )
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Run, Aliens, the Weekend and Vacation Plans.
A Run.
It's still a recovery week, but today was a 30 minute run doing 4/1's. It was great! I did about 2.5 miles in the 30 minutes and loved every minute of it. I think my body has been missing being in movement. When I started running, I felt TALL. Not sure what that was about, but I really did feel taller than usual. As I ran along, my left leg was not really happy. It's the nerve pain from my back that decided to return after the 70.3 was over. I'm glad it held off until now, and I have a chiropractor's appointment tomorrow afternoon so I'm sure things will be back to normal in no time. What a happy 30 minutes though. My right leg and the rest of me felt great, I was happy to be running and loved to be out there. I sweat like a pig, but I do live in Florida.
Aliens.
The aliens have invaded, though... and that is because I was really enjoying my run. They have absconded with the old me and replaced me with someone who likes to run! I guess that is a pretty good thing since I'm training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and Coach wants me to run the 15K at Gasparilla in Tampa this year. Fun is to be had!
Tomorrow is a 45 minute swim, which I am looking forward to... I love to be in the pool! Coach has another run, another swim, and a 1 hour easy bike on my schedule for the week too. I am not sure I will get them done because we leave on Wednesday for our trip out to the Seattle area. We're staying only a few days in hotels and a few days with family. So, we'll have to see what we can do. I'm not thinking that the bike is going to happen since I won't have a bike with me, but I'll pack the clothes for it anyway. Plus, I'm putting the family first on this vacation so while I don't want to lose my endurance, etc. We're still going to be doing a lot of walking and perhaps a little bit of hiking... while carrying the little ladies. So, it's not like we'll just be sitting all the time either.
The Weekend and Vacation Plans.
Besides after the weekend of clinging children, I think they need some dedicated Mommy time. Saturday the girls had a soccer game. Angelfish was on the field for an entire 3 minutes. Long enough for a play or two and to run around in order to score the post game treats (Capri Sun, gummy fruit, pretzels, and grapes). Ladybug on the other hand decided she wanted to play, but only if Mommy would hold her hand. So I ran up and down the field holding her hand and encouraging her for .... an entire quarter! (Keep in mind these games are a whopping 40 minutes long at this age.) But, during that time, she scored a goal, assisted with 2 other goals, and was really good about kicking the ball, trying to get the ball from other kids and running around following the ball. And even better was the fact that when I asked her if she was having fun, she said "Yes!" and wanted to keep playing! It was great! She did every so often ask if she could have the post-game treats now, but was perfectly okay with me telling her that we had to wait until the game was over. So now we know, the way to get them to play is to tell them NO POST GAME TREATS unless you play!
The best part of the weekend though was when the little ladies told us they wanted to play "Swoopsie, Whoopsie, and Bob." We're a little on the creative side in our house and so when we tell the girls the story of the 3 Little Pigs we spice it up a little. Some of that "spice" is that Mr. Darcy decided to name the pigs... Swoopsie (youngest pig), Whoopsie (middle brother pig), and Bob (eldest pig) ... and it stuck. The girls now refer to the story of the 3 Little Pigs as "Swoopsie, Whoopsie, and Bob." The other thing the girls like to do is play with Q-tips to use them to "draw" pictures on the floor by using the Q-tips as lines. They decided (on their own) to combine the 2 things. We helped them draw the 3 houses for the 3 little pigs, and then they had us all act it out. They took turns appointing each of us to different roles among Swoopsie, Whoopsie, Bob, and the Big Bad Wolf (who they deemed we're not allowed to name because "he's not very nice.") We did this over and over for more than an hour. It was so much fun and we all laughed and laughed! At one point Ladybug tried to be a creative Big Bad Wolf and ask for water or snacks to get let into the little pigs' houses. Another time, Angelfish changed the story and let the Big Bad Wolf have the ability to knock down the brick house and pretended to eat us all up. Nothing short of hysterical.
Mr. Darcy got some of it on film, so I'll try to figure out how to insert the movies for your amusement (if I have time in between packing and getting us out the door for school and our trip...).
Other than that we had lots of errands where the little ladies wanted to be right on top of me, especially Ladybug. So lots of snuggle time while we were home and a lot of reassuring that yes, we were "staying all together" today.
Of course that made this morning tough on Ladybug. She wanted to stay home with Mommy and tried pulling the "I have a headache." "My tummy hurts." routine. At least I hope it was a routine... she's at daycare and they haven't called yet, so here's hoping. I don't think it helped things that Mr. Darcy is on a business trip to Ft. Bragg and won't be home until late tonight after they're in bed (and I'm asleep too). But we made it with not too many tears. Angelfish announced that school was her work and she was ready to go. On the ride to school, we talked about what we would do on Wednesday to get to the airport, to fly to Dallas and then to Seattle, etc. Ladybug in particular can be funny about new things so I tried to go into as much detail as I could - even explaining that the "gate" wasn't like a normal gate but had chairs all around, etc.
They're pretty excited about the trip and once I finish packing, I think I'll be just as excited as they are. I'm looking forward to seeing someplace new and experiencing things with the girls and Mr. Darcy. I'm also looking forward to seeing my Aunts and Uncles and introducing them to our little ladies. The last time I saw these 2 sets of Aunts and Uncles, I was pregnant with Angelfish and Ladybug. So that should be pretty cool. Not to mention we're going to Canada! Even if it is for 1 day, it will be cool (and not just temperature wise either). We're going to Victoria, which is supposed to be very pretty, and we're going to see the Buschart Gardens as well as the town... unfortunately, it's also the weekend of the Royal Victoria Marathon so it will be a busy place that weekend. We're going to take a ferry, so that should be fun experience with the girls too. And it will be nice to be "all together."
It's still a recovery week, but today was a 30 minute run doing 4/1's. It was great! I did about 2.5 miles in the 30 minutes and loved every minute of it. I think my body has been missing being in movement. When I started running, I felt TALL. Not sure what that was about, but I really did feel taller than usual. As I ran along, my left leg was not really happy. It's the nerve pain from my back that decided to return after the 70.3 was over. I'm glad it held off until now, and I have a chiropractor's appointment tomorrow afternoon so I'm sure things will be back to normal in no time. What a happy 30 minutes though. My right leg and the rest of me felt great, I was happy to be running and loved to be out there. I sweat like a pig, but I do live in Florida.
Aliens.
The aliens have invaded, though... and that is because I was really enjoying my run. They have absconded with the old me and replaced me with someone who likes to run! I guess that is a pretty good thing since I'm training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and Coach wants me to run the 15K at Gasparilla in Tampa this year. Fun is to be had!
Tomorrow is a 45 minute swim, which I am looking forward to... I love to be in the pool! Coach has another run, another swim, and a 1 hour easy bike on my schedule for the week too. I am not sure I will get them done because we leave on Wednesday for our trip out to the Seattle area. We're staying only a few days in hotels and a few days with family. So, we'll have to see what we can do. I'm not thinking that the bike is going to happen since I won't have a bike with me, but I'll pack the clothes for it anyway. Plus, I'm putting the family first on this vacation so while I don't want to lose my endurance, etc. We're still going to be doing a lot of walking and perhaps a little bit of hiking... while carrying the little ladies. So, it's not like we'll just be sitting all the time either.
The Weekend and Vacation Plans.
Besides after the weekend of clinging children, I think they need some dedicated Mommy time. Saturday the girls had a soccer game. Angelfish was on the field for an entire 3 minutes. Long enough for a play or two and to run around in order to score the post game treats (Capri Sun, gummy fruit, pretzels, and grapes). Ladybug on the other hand decided she wanted to play, but only if Mommy would hold her hand. So I ran up and down the field holding her hand and encouraging her for .... an entire quarter! (Keep in mind these games are a whopping 40 minutes long at this age.) But, during that time, she scored a goal, assisted with 2 other goals, and was really good about kicking the ball, trying to get the ball from other kids and running around following the ball. And even better was the fact that when I asked her if she was having fun, she said "Yes!" and wanted to keep playing! It was great! She did every so often ask if she could have the post-game treats now, but was perfectly okay with me telling her that we had to wait until the game was over. So now we know, the way to get them to play is to tell them NO POST GAME TREATS unless you play!
The best part of the weekend though was when the little ladies told us they wanted to play "Swoopsie, Whoopsie, and Bob." We're a little on the creative side in our house and so when we tell the girls the story of the 3 Little Pigs we spice it up a little. Some of that "spice" is that Mr. Darcy decided to name the pigs... Swoopsie (youngest pig), Whoopsie (middle brother pig), and Bob (eldest pig) ... and it stuck. The girls now refer to the story of the 3 Little Pigs as "Swoopsie, Whoopsie, and Bob." The other thing the girls like to do is play with Q-tips to use them to "draw" pictures on the floor by using the Q-tips as lines. They decided (on their own) to combine the 2 things. We helped them draw the 3 houses for the 3 little pigs, and then they had us all act it out. They took turns appointing each of us to different roles among Swoopsie, Whoopsie, Bob, and the Big Bad Wolf (who they deemed we're not allowed to name because "he's not very nice.") We did this over and over for more than an hour. It was so much fun and we all laughed and laughed! At one point Ladybug tried to be a creative Big Bad Wolf and ask for water or snacks to get let into the little pigs' houses. Another time, Angelfish changed the story and let the Big Bad Wolf have the ability to knock down the brick house and pretended to eat us all up. Nothing short of hysterical.
Mr. Darcy got some of it on film, so I'll try to figure out how to insert the movies for your amusement (if I have time in between packing and getting us out the door for school and our trip...).
Other than that we had lots of errands where the little ladies wanted to be right on top of me, especially Ladybug. So lots of snuggle time while we were home and a lot of reassuring that yes, we were "staying all together" today.
Of course that made this morning tough on Ladybug. She wanted to stay home with Mommy and tried pulling the "I have a headache." "My tummy hurts." routine. At least I hope it was a routine... she's at daycare and they haven't called yet, so here's hoping. I don't think it helped things that Mr. Darcy is on a business trip to Ft. Bragg and won't be home until late tonight after they're in bed (and I'm asleep too). But we made it with not too many tears. Angelfish announced that school was her work and she was ready to go. On the ride to school, we talked about what we would do on Wednesday to get to the airport, to fly to Dallas and then to Seattle, etc. Ladybug in particular can be funny about new things so I tried to go into as much detail as I could - even explaining that the "gate" wasn't like a normal gate but had chairs all around, etc.
They're pretty excited about the trip and once I finish packing, I think I'll be just as excited as they are. I'm looking forward to seeing someplace new and experiencing things with the girls and Mr. Darcy. I'm also looking forward to seeing my Aunts and Uncles and introducing them to our little ladies. The last time I saw these 2 sets of Aunts and Uncles, I was pregnant with Angelfish and Ladybug. So that should be pretty cool. Not to mention we're going to Canada! Even if it is for 1 day, it will be cool (and not just temperature wise either). We're going to Victoria, which is supposed to be very pretty, and we're going to see the Buschart Gardens as well as the town... unfortunately, it's also the weekend of the Royal Victoria Marathon so it will be a busy place that weekend. We're going to take a ferry, so that should be fun experience with the girls too. And it will be nice to be "all together."
Friday, September 4, 2009
Friday Fifteen
1. Due to a chain of events this morning (oversleeping, children wanting to snuggle, eating breakfast way later than I should have, not getting out to run until after 7:15 am), my scheduled 8 mile run became a 4 mile run. The good news is that I didn't skip it all together despite the foggy, muggy, humid, and hot conditions (and everything else).
2. More good news is that I ran at an 11:24 mile average pace (which included walking for a little more than 0.1 miles while I took my gel).
3. Right as I thought that maybe I should try to run 2 more miles since I was running so "fast," my cereal (the breakfast I ate about 15 minutes before I started to run) decided to start to come up. I luckily stopped myself from throwing up in front of my neighbor's house, decided the 4 miles would be the end after all and vowed to never eat 15 minutes before I started a run again.
4. I probably won't get the 2nd half of the run done today because I told Mr. Darcy I would have lunch with him. I haven't seen much of him this week due to our schedules and his business trip, so lunch is more important today.
5. I feel guilty about not getting the 2nd half of the run done. Especially after reading my friend Missey's blog and her coach's advice that what we do today will show us where we will be in 4 weeks and then on race day. The positive side of this is that I used gels correctly on my run, drank on the run, pushed myself to run faster than usual on the run, and had good mental chatting (i.e. "you're doing great keep up the pace and see if you can go a little faster when you hit that hill over there."). The negative... I only did 4 of the 8 miles.
6. My hamstrings were tight as rocks this morning when I woke up. Thank goodness my lower back stretches have to do with my hamstrings. Mr. Darcy said they'd probably loosen up while I ran. I'm not sure that they did... at least not all that much.
7. I'm looking forward to my rest day tomorrow. If only that meant I'd get to sleep past 7:00 am. The little ladies are always up by 7 am on the weekends.
8. I love that the past few days Ladybug has greeted me at day care with "Mommy! I kept my underpants dry and clean all day!" Now if only she'd do it while keeping her skirt down. (The child insists on wearing dresses lately.)
9. I love that Angelfish made me pictures at school the past two days and that she evidently has discovered the hole punch... either that or she's amazingly good at using scissors for a 3 year old. I love that this prompted Ladybug to promise to make me "a beeeutiful artwork just for you tomorrow, Mommy."
10. I love that our girls snuck out of their rooms this morning and laid on the floor in their playroom waiting for us and when we rounded the corner they yelled, "HI!" and then ducked under their covers to hide.
11. Even better was when our dog (miniature schnauzer extraordinaire) dug both of them out and gave them "kisses."
12. Even better than that was when the girls took turns pointing at me and then Mr. Darcy while shouting "I love you!! I love you too!!"
13. Even better than that was when I asked Ladybug for a kiss before I went on my run and she gave me a look like it was soooo much to ask. I asked her "Is it that much torture to kiss your Mommy?" And she said "No. Here's a kiss from me." and planted one one me with a smile.
14. Even better than that was when I asked Angelfish for a kiss before my run and she said. "OF COURSE!" And gave me not only a kiss but also a hug.
15. Now you know why I couldn't get out of the house and had to turn my 8 mile run into a 4 mile run. Hopefully quality makes up at least a little bit for the lack of quantity. Now to conquer the 60 mile bike and 10 mile run on Sunday! (I foresee an ice bath in my future....)
Have a happy weekend!
2. More good news is that I ran at an 11:24 mile average pace (which included walking for a little more than 0.1 miles while I took my gel).
3. Right as I thought that maybe I should try to run 2 more miles since I was running so "fast," my cereal (the breakfast I ate about 15 minutes before I started to run) decided to start to come up. I luckily stopped myself from throwing up in front of my neighbor's house, decided the 4 miles would be the end after all and vowed to never eat 15 minutes before I started a run again.
4. I probably won't get the 2nd half of the run done today because I told Mr. Darcy I would have lunch with him. I haven't seen much of him this week due to our schedules and his business trip, so lunch is more important today.
5. I feel guilty about not getting the 2nd half of the run done. Especially after reading my friend Missey's blog and her coach's advice that what we do today will show us where we will be in 4 weeks and then on race day. The positive side of this is that I used gels correctly on my run, drank on the run, pushed myself to run faster than usual on the run, and had good mental chatting (i.e. "you're doing great keep up the pace and see if you can go a little faster when you hit that hill over there."). The negative... I only did 4 of the 8 miles.
6. My hamstrings were tight as rocks this morning when I woke up. Thank goodness my lower back stretches have to do with my hamstrings. Mr. Darcy said they'd probably loosen up while I ran. I'm not sure that they did... at least not all that much.
7. I'm looking forward to my rest day tomorrow. If only that meant I'd get to sleep past 7:00 am. The little ladies are always up by 7 am on the weekends.
8. I love that the past few days Ladybug has greeted me at day care with "Mommy! I kept my underpants dry and clean all day!" Now if only she'd do it while keeping her skirt down. (The child insists on wearing dresses lately.)
9. I love that Angelfish made me pictures at school the past two days and that she evidently has discovered the hole punch... either that or she's amazingly good at using scissors for a 3 year old. I love that this prompted Ladybug to promise to make me "a beeeutiful artwork just for you tomorrow, Mommy."
10. I love that our girls snuck out of their rooms this morning and laid on the floor in their playroom waiting for us and when we rounded the corner they yelled, "HI!" and then ducked under their covers to hide.
11. Even better was when our dog (miniature schnauzer extraordinaire) dug both of them out and gave them "kisses."
12. Even better than that was when the girls took turns pointing at me and then Mr. Darcy while shouting "I love you!! I love you too!!"
13. Even better than that was when I asked Ladybug for a kiss before I went on my run and she gave me a look like it was soooo much to ask. I asked her "Is it that much torture to kiss your Mommy?" And she said "No. Here's a kiss from me." and planted one one me with a smile.
14. Even better than that was when I asked Angelfish for a kiss before my run and she said. "OF COURSE!" And gave me not only a kiss but also a hug.
15. Now you know why I couldn't get out of the house and had to turn my 8 mile run into a 4 mile run. Hopefully quality makes up at least a little bit for the lack of quantity. Now to conquer the 60 mile bike and 10 mile run on Sunday! (I foresee an ice bath in my future....)
Have a happy weekend!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
A Run, Southern by Affiliation, Life Goes On
A Run.
After helping the little ladies get up and somewhat ready for school, I went for my 6 mile run. (Quick aside: while getting ready, Ladybug wrote her little boyfriend a note since he's no longer in her daycare classroom. She said it read: "I love Zachary very much." Absolutely adorable.) There's something afoot (hahaha) because the past few runs I've done, I hit the end of the 1st mile and my left leg muscles go nuts. Mainly starting in the arch of my foot going up around my ankle and then up the back of my calf, it's like the muscles are tightening - not in a cramp - but to the point of major pain. Coach says she noticed that my stride has changed so I probably need to get my stride looked at again to make sure I've got the right running shoes, especially since I have all my back issues to begin with. Who needs unnecessary pain, right?
As I've decided that I will most likely be in pain of some sort while running during the 70.3, so I've been trying to force myself to run through it until it goes away. Well, it must be obvious to others that I'm in pain while this is going on because today a few minutes after the pain started to subside letting me run faster (the pain seriously impedes my running pace), Little Miss Speedy Pants sprints by me and says "Good job! Way to run through the pain!" While I know this perfect stranger was trying to be encouraging, the fact that she was leaving me in the dust as she said it gave me the incredible urge to hit her. I don't generally get the urge to hit people, but I was not in my happy place (no, I didn't act on it).
Luckily, the pain eased up. The rest of mile 3, and miles 4 and 5 were pretty good. I was speeding up, and then mile 6, I was booking it. I'm not sure how fast I was going but I was clicking along to the point that it seemed like it was the shortest mile I'd ever run. I must have been doing alright because including the 0.2 that I walked because of drinking and eating nutrition (still working on the camelbak mold issue), and the snail's pace when my leg was evil (at one point I think my shadow might have been running faster than I was), my overall pace for the 6 miles was 12:25. I'd love to get my average pace to a consistent 11 minute mile, but with pain involved I will take what my body will let me do!
Run completed, completely drenched but feeling good. Feeling like I could run farther. I have to say I love that feeling at the end of a run, feeling like I could keep on going if I wanted to.
Southern by Affiliation.
I've come to the realization that I am Southern by Affiliation. I was born in DC, raised in Maryland and Florida (where Southerners like to say that Florida is so far South it's North again because of all of the Northern transplants). I am decidedly not Southern by birth. But, when you lived 10 years in Atlanta, one of my best friends from Atlanta is a bit of a Southern Belle (who I am going to call Belle in this blog), and my dear friend Angela was Southern incarnate from her roots (and the return to her roots) in Arkansas, I guess these things rub off on you. It's not necessarily a bad thing, either. There are certain things you do or do not do, unless you wish to be labelled for life as "the one who... back in 1984" or even worse, they start looking for "Yankees" in your family tree.
One of these things for Belle that has completely rubbed off on me is the fact that when you go somewhere that you will meet people, you should look good. This doesn't mean that I've fully embraced the concept of wearing makeup to the grocery and I certainly do not wear it while training for my triathlons, but there are times and places where I have learned it unforgiveable not to look good. Functions at your husband's work - even if they are outdoor volleball games - are ones that come to mind. Costco is another. Sounds funny, but the number of people we run into that Mr. Darcy knows either through work or one of his associations is amazing. Then there's the obvious ones - parties (even for toddlers), church, eating out, and especially meetings with other women.
It's a little known fact that while women do dress for their men, really women dress for other women. Remember, you never want to make that list of "she's the one that.... back in 1999." So when I went to the Junior League Provisional Retreat on Saturday, I made sure I looked good. Nice outfit, make up done nicely, toenails painted, hair done. The shock of it all when there were people in knock around shorts and no makeup! I had a nice little laugh to myself about it later. Belle transformed me by refusing to leave the house with me until I at least put on lipstick and some powder, helping me shop for clothes for various occasions, and leading by example. I never realized my Southerness by Affiliation until I lived outside of the South again. I may not wear full make up to the grocery, but I atleast wear nice shorts and a nice shirt. No holes, stains or cut offs, thank yee. If I'm going to be in a room full of women, I will dress nicely, be sure to wear cute shoes, accessorize the best I can, and do my hair and makeup. And realize that when I think to myself "Good Lord, where is that woman's makeup? Doesn't she know where she is?" that Belle and I are now closer in Southerness than I ever thought before.
The other way this came up was last night, I opened my Southern Living magazine excited to find all the Fall receipes and places to go to see the changing of the leaves, etc. Not that I cook many of the receipes, plant as directed, or even make my table tops look like a picture out of Southern Living... but I sure like to read about the possibilities. Well, I forgot that they change some of the content based on where you live. Florida doesn't have a lot of leave changing, cooling of the weather, and other fun that other Southern States enjoy. We have football, sweltering hot games played in the sun, but that is about Fall like as Florida gets. So some of my Fall reading was diminshed and I thought, "Well, bless their hearts. Florida fall is just like summer." Now there's something that non-Southerners need to know. "Bless Your Heart" does not mean something nearly as sweet as it sounds... it means more along the lines of "you're so stupid" Southerners just say it nicer.
So, it would seem I am Southern by Affiliation and only realizing it now that I no longer truly live in the South. Southerners don't buy liquor on Sundays at the store, you get it at the bar!
Life Goes On.
After my meltdown yesterday about well, everything, I realized that my life is good and that come what may, I have it good and life goes on. I realized that we all have things that can make our life miserable if we let it. The trick is not to let it. Yes, things stink at times. We have heartaches, like losing loved ones, that never really go away. We might not like the size of our waist or that scar we've had since we were 10. But in the end, life is good. The trick to happiness is not to keep looking for it, but to realize you're living it right now. How many times do we look back at something that seemed "horrible" at the time and realize that life was good and we were happy despite it all? Life is not easy. We go through things that are horrible, but always mixed in with the horrible are the good.
So, Life goes on and I am choosing to be happy. Here are a few pictures of what makes me happy...
How cute are the little ladies' soccer stuff?
I love that the girls like to put their lovies in time out...
And that Mr. Darcy likes to take pictures of all of his ladies...
That Angelfish loves this backpack and thinks everyone, including Sleeping Beauty, want to know what's inside....
I just love getting to have these 3 people in my life!
After helping the little ladies get up and somewhat ready for school, I went for my 6 mile run. (Quick aside: while getting ready, Ladybug wrote her little boyfriend a note since he's no longer in her daycare classroom. She said it read: "I love Zachary very much." Absolutely adorable.) There's something afoot (hahaha) because the past few runs I've done, I hit the end of the 1st mile and my left leg muscles go nuts. Mainly starting in the arch of my foot going up around my ankle and then up the back of my calf, it's like the muscles are tightening - not in a cramp - but to the point of major pain. Coach says she noticed that my stride has changed so I probably need to get my stride looked at again to make sure I've got the right running shoes, especially since I have all my back issues to begin with. Who needs unnecessary pain, right?
As I've decided that I will most likely be in pain of some sort while running during the 70.3, so I've been trying to force myself to run through it until it goes away. Well, it must be obvious to others that I'm in pain while this is going on because today a few minutes after the pain started to subside letting me run faster (the pain seriously impedes my running pace), Little Miss Speedy Pants sprints by me and says "Good job! Way to run through the pain!" While I know this perfect stranger was trying to be encouraging, the fact that she was leaving me in the dust as she said it gave me the incredible urge to hit her. I don't generally get the urge to hit people, but I was not in my happy place (no, I didn't act on it).
Luckily, the pain eased up. The rest of mile 3, and miles 4 and 5 were pretty good. I was speeding up, and then mile 6, I was booking it. I'm not sure how fast I was going but I was clicking along to the point that it seemed like it was the shortest mile I'd ever run. I must have been doing alright because including the 0.2 that I walked because of drinking and eating nutrition (still working on the camelbak mold issue), and the snail's pace when my leg was evil (at one point I think my shadow might have been running faster than I was), my overall pace for the 6 miles was 12:25. I'd love to get my average pace to a consistent 11 minute mile, but with pain involved I will take what my body will let me do!
Run completed, completely drenched but feeling good. Feeling like I could run farther. I have to say I love that feeling at the end of a run, feeling like I could keep on going if I wanted to.
Southern by Affiliation.
I've come to the realization that I am Southern by Affiliation. I was born in DC, raised in Maryland and Florida (where Southerners like to say that Florida is so far South it's North again because of all of the Northern transplants). I am decidedly not Southern by birth. But, when you lived 10 years in Atlanta, one of my best friends from Atlanta is a bit of a Southern Belle (who I am going to call Belle in this blog), and my dear friend Angela was Southern incarnate from her roots (and the return to her roots) in Arkansas, I guess these things rub off on you. It's not necessarily a bad thing, either. There are certain things you do or do not do, unless you wish to be labelled for life as "the one who... back in 1984" or even worse, they start looking for "Yankees" in your family tree.
One of these things for Belle that has completely rubbed off on me is the fact that when you go somewhere that you will meet people, you should look good. This doesn't mean that I've fully embraced the concept of wearing makeup to the grocery and I certainly do not wear it while training for my triathlons, but there are times and places where I have learned it unforgiveable not to look good. Functions at your husband's work - even if they are outdoor volleball games - are ones that come to mind. Costco is another. Sounds funny, but the number of people we run into that Mr. Darcy knows either through work or one of his associations is amazing. Then there's the obvious ones - parties (even for toddlers), church, eating out, and especially meetings with other women.
It's a little known fact that while women do dress for their men, really women dress for other women. Remember, you never want to make that list of "she's the one that.... back in 1999." So when I went to the Junior League Provisional Retreat on Saturday, I made sure I looked good. Nice outfit, make up done nicely, toenails painted, hair done. The shock of it all when there were people in knock around shorts and no makeup! I had a nice little laugh to myself about it later. Belle transformed me by refusing to leave the house with me until I at least put on lipstick and some powder, helping me shop for clothes for various occasions, and leading by example. I never realized my Southerness by Affiliation until I lived outside of the South again. I may not wear full make up to the grocery, but I atleast wear nice shorts and a nice shirt. No holes, stains or cut offs, thank yee. If I'm going to be in a room full of women, I will dress nicely, be sure to wear cute shoes, accessorize the best I can, and do my hair and makeup. And realize that when I think to myself "Good Lord, where is that woman's makeup? Doesn't she know where she is?" that Belle and I are now closer in Southerness than I ever thought before.
The other way this came up was last night, I opened my Southern Living magazine excited to find all the Fall receipes and places to go to see the changing of the leaves, etc. Not that I cook many of the receipes, plant as directed, or even make my table tops look like a picture out of Southern Living... but I sure like to read about the possibilities. Well, I forgot that they change some of the content based on where you live. Florida doesn't have a lot of leave changing, cooling of the weather, and other fun that other Southern States enjoy. We have football, sweltering hot games played in the sun, but that is about Fall like as Florida gets. So some of my Fall reading was diminshed and I thought, "Well, bless their hearts. Florida fall is just like summer." Now there's something that non-Southerners need to know. "Bless Your Heart" does not mean something nearly as sweet as it sounds... it means more along the lines of "you're so stupid" Southerners just say it nicer.
So, it would seem I am Southern by Affiliation and only realizing it now that I no longer truly live in the South. Southerners don't buy liquor on Sundays at the store, you get it at the bar!
Life Goes On.
After my meltdown yesterday about well, everything, I realized that my life is good and that come what may, I have it good and life goes on. I realized that we all have things that can make our life miserable if we let it. The trick is not to let it. Yes, things stink at times. We have heartaches, like losing loved ones, that never really go away. We might not like the size of our waist or that scar we've had since we were 10. But in the end, life is good. The trick to happiness is not to keep looking for it, but to realize you're living it right now. How many times do we look back at something that seemed "horrible" at the time and realize that life was good and we were happy despite it all? Life is not easy. We go through things that are horrible, but always mixed in with the horrible are the good.
So, Life goes on and I am choosing to be happy. Here are a few pictures of what makes me happy...
How cute are the little ladies' soccer stuff?
I love that the girls like to put their lovies in time out...
And that Mr. Darcy likes to take pictures of all of his ladies...
That Angelfish loves this backpack and thinks everyone, including Sleeping Beauty, want to know what's inside....
I just love getting to have these 3 people in my life!Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I didn't wanna, but I did and I'm glad.
Yup. The title pretty much sums it up. I woke this morning and thought to myself that I REALLY did not want to get up and run 6 miles today. I just didn't feel like it. But I put on my running clothes and my HR monitor and went to get my camelbak.
For some reason I decided to pull the entire bladder out of the camelbak and thank goodness I did because well, I evidently haven't been cleaning it well enough with soap and water because I found a disgusting mess of mold. I wiped as much as I could out and then went online and purchased the lovely kit that I should have bought when I got the camelbak to begin with, but was trying to economize. I got extra cleaning tablets too.
Obviously, I did not use the camelbak today. No. It worries me enough to think of how long that mold has been in there and that I've been drinking out of it. But, I'm not sick so I'm just glad my immune system has been a good one. And we'll leave it at that. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any water bottles either. So, I'll be stocking up on cheapie ones in the near future.
But, I decided to attempt to hydrate well and just head out. The girls were awesome little angels this morning, loving on their Mommy, getting dressed so nicely for school, and wandering out to the car with Daddy. We chatted while Mr. Darcy went back and forth to get things he forgot our of the house, I gave them kisses and hugs and off they went.
I had no excuse at this point. So I headed out on my run. My left leg muscles were tight as a drum and hurting but I decided to ignore them. I figured I was out there, I needed to get my run in not a walk. I told myself as I ran that I would probably have hurting muscles on race day and that I needed to just get over it. By mile 2, my leg was still hurting pretty badly so I told myself that if I had to when I got to mile 4, I could stretch and walk a little. I also told myself that if I could bike 51 miles and run 3.2 afterwards, that I could do a measly 6 mile run without walking.
Amazingly, I did. By mile 4 I was feeling good. My leg finally had worked its issues out and didn't hurt anymore (or at least my brain was ignoring it if it did). My lungs were feeling great. I didn't feel over tired at all. I just was jogging along. My HR was even really good. This is a recovery week and my 6 mile run was supposed to be at an easy pace, so my goal was to jog keeping my HR in zone 2 and to just keep moving while running. It was awesome. At one point in mile 5 I looked down at my HR monitor and saw that I was running with a HR of 149. Unheard of for me. Only a few months ago it was all I could do to run 4 miles with a HR of 158. And mind you, I hadn't had anything to drink during the run either although I enjoyed a refreshing, but short lived, rain shower toward the end of mile 4.
Of course, I figured I was probably going at a snails pace. Especially since I slowed myself down the few times I did hear my watch beeping because I had hit 159. Imagine my surprise when I got home and discovered that I did my 6.1 miles in 1:15:36. A 12:24 pace! For me, this is quite good. I know that some people would be done with a half marathon in that time, and would probably cry at a 12:24 pace. But for me, this is quite something. Not only was it 12:24, but I felt good at the end. Not super tired. Like I could have gone farther.
That's something I talked about with Training Buddy the other day as we crossed over into mile 46 of the bike and were officially on the longest bike ride of our lives. Last September, I couldn't run 2 minutes straight without wishing it were over. By the time I met Training Buddy at Team in Training, I could run 1 mile without stopping but it was hard and it was not fun and I pretty much wanted to stop afterwards. Biking 25 miles seemed like a pipe dream and we worried that we'd even be able to get it done for our event... let alone the 6 mile run at the end. Swimming wasn't so terrible for me, but I still wasn't nearly as good or as fast as I am now. All these miles of training later, here we are today, able to do so much more sometimes because we convinced ourselves that we had gone x miles already somehow we could go 1 more mile to the end. Not to mention Coach sticking to us and giving us our weekly plans so we wouldn't freak out when we saw what she had in store for us a few weeks into the future. Planning to finish a 70.3 Half IronMan.
For me, it will be almost exactly 1 year and 1 week from the day I decided to do a triathlon. I'm pretty sure no one thought I would stick with it. My father-in-law has told me that he didn't think I'd stick with it. I remember discussing signing up with Team in Training and telling Mr. Darcy how long the olympic distance race would be and him saying "Do you know how long that is? Just for the bike, that's a little farther than riding to my work and back from here." My parents never have said much about it, although my Dad once said he thought that maybe I was overworking my system. I like beating the odds. I love triathlon, even if I continuously have to explain to people that it's more than just running.
Ever see the movie Kung Fu Panda? It's like the scene where the Panda (strapped to a chair covered in fireworks that he's lit, trying to get over the wall to see the martial arts masters) confesses to his father that he didn't have a noodle dream that he "loves kung foooooo." Maybe I'm crazy but I love triathlon enough to make myself go on a day that I really don't want to go. I know I'll thank myself later... sometimes not only on race day, but while I'm out there getting it done.
Basically, there are days when I didn't wanna, but I do, and I end up glad. Sometimes, I even surprise myself on those days with how well it turns out too. Perhaps triathlon is a bit like life that way.
For some reason I decided to pull the entire bladder out of the camelbak and thank goodness I did because well, I evidently haven't been cleaning it well enough with soap and water because I found a disgusting mess of mold. I wiped as much as I could out and then went online and purchased the lovely kit that I should have bought when I got the camelbak to begin with, but was trying to economize. I got extra cleaning tablets too.
Obviously, I did not use the camelbak today. No. It worries me enough to think of how long that mold has been in there and that I've been drinking out of it. But, I'm not sick so I'm just glad my immune system has been a good one. And we'll leave it at that. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any water bottles either. So, I'll be stocking up on cheapie ones in the near future.
But, I decided to attempt to hydrate well and just head out. The girls were awesome little angels this morning, loving on their Mommy, getting dressed so nicely for school, and wandering out to the car with Daddy. We chatted while Mr. Darcy went back and forth to get things he forgot our of the house, I gave them kisses and hugs and off they went.
I had no excuse at this point. So I headed out on my run. My left leg muscles were tight as a drum and hurting but I decided to ignore them. I figured I was out there, I needed to get my run in not a walk. I told myself as I ran that I would probably have hurting muscles on race day and that I needed to just get over it. By mile 2, my leg was still hurting pretty badly so I told myself that if I had to when I got to mile 4, I could stretch and walk a little. I also told myself that if I could bike 51 miles and run 3.2 afterwards, that I could do a measly 6 mile run without walking.
Amazingly, I did. By mile 4 I was feeling good. My leg finally had worked its issues out and didn't hurt anymore (or at least my brain was ignoring it if it did). My lungs were feeling great. I didn't feel over tired at all. I just was jogging along. My HR was even really good. This is a recovery week and my 6 mile run was supposed to be at an easy pace, so my goal was to jog keeping my HR in zone 2 and to just keep moving while running. It was awesome. At one point in mile 5 I looked down at my HR monitor and saw that I was running with a HR of 149. Unheard of for me. Only a few months ago it was all I could do to run 4 miles with a HR of 158. And mind you, I hadn't had anything to drink during the run either although I enjoyed a refreshing, but short lived, rain shower toward the end of mile 4.
Of course, I figured I was probably going at a snails pace. Especially since I slowed myself down the few times I did hear my watch beeping because I had hit 159. Imagine my surprise when I got home and discovered that I did my 6.1 miles in 1:15:36. A 12:24 pace! For me, this is quite good. I know that some people would be done with a half marathon in that time, and would probably cry at a 12:24 pace. But for me, this is quite something. Not only was it 12:24, but I felt good at the end. Not super tired. Like I could have gone farther.
That's something I talked about with Training Buddy the other day as we crossed over into mile 46 of the bike and were officially on the longest bike ride of our lives. Last September, I couldn't run 2 minutes straight without wishing it were over. By the time I met Training Buddy at Team in Training, I could run 1 mile without stopping but it was hard and it was not fun and I pretty much wanted to stop afterwards. Biking 25 miles seemed like a pipe dream and we worried that we'd even be able to get it done for our event... let alone the 6 mile run at the end. Swimming wasn't so terrible for me, but I still wasn't nearly as good or as fast as I am now. All these miles of training later, here we are today, able to do so much more sometimes because we convinced ourselves that we had gone x miles already somehow we could go 1 more mile to the end. Not to mention Coach sticking to us and giving us our weekly plans so we wouldn't freak out when we saw what she had in store for us a few weeks into the future. Planning to finish a 70.3 Half IronMan.
For me, it will be almost exactly 1 year and 1 week from the day I decided to do a triathlon. I'm pretty sure no one thought I would stick with it. My father-in-law has told me that he didn't think I'd stick with it. I remember discussing signing up with Team in Training and telling Mr. Darcy how long the olympic distance race would be and him saying "Do you know how long that is? Just for the bike, that's a little farther than riding to my work and back from here." My parents never have said much about it, although my Dad once said he thought that maybe I was overworking my system. I like beating the odds. I love triathlon, even if I continuously have to explain to people that it's more than just running.
Ever see the movie Kung Fu Panda? It's like the scene where the Panda (strapped to a chair covered in fireworks that he's lit, trying to get over the wall to see the martial arts masters) confesses to his father that he didn't have a noodle dream that he "loves kung foooooo." Maybe I'm crazy but I love triathlon enough to make myself go on a day that I really don't want to go. I know I'll thank myself later... sometimes not only on race day, but while I'm out there getting it done.
Basically, there are days when I didn't wanna, but I do, and I end up glad. Sometimes, I even surprise myself on those days with how well it turns out too. Perhaps triathlon is a bit like life that way.
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Weekend Report and a Monday
For whatever reason I now have the Lion King tune that goes "It's the morning report, it's the morning report" stuck in my head. It is official. I've watched too many animated features since my 3 year-olds have been born... primarily in the last 6 months as that's when I finally broke down to let them watch more than one 1/2 hour show. Hopefully I haven't ruined their brains.
Anywho. The weekend report. Here it goes:
Friday night I was exhausted. It was a rest day so you'd think I would have more energy but I had none. Fell asleep pretty close to after the kiddies were in bed.
Which really was a good thing because Saturday started with a 4:50 am pickup time with Training Buddy, that was a little more closer to 5 am because I accidentally set the alarm for pm, not am. Wishful thinking, I guess.
Somehow Training Buddy and I made it out to Lake Sumter Community College before anyone else and in record time. (Perhaps it was the extra adrenalin from running behind and jumping out of bed in a flash. Good thing I have a strong body clock...) A few moments later, everyone from the Team in Training Nike Women's Marathon team appeared and we began our morning torture, uhm, run. It was hill repeats. The TNT group is running their marathon in San Francisco, and coming from Florida that will definitely take some hill training. This is Florida so the only place to go for hills is Clermont. In our case, a neighborhood with a hill that is essentially a 60 degree incline, if not more. We warmed up in the parking lot, stretched, and ran 1.25 miles to the bottom of the hill. During the 1.25 mile run, I couldn't help but think that this really wasn't the morning for this.
But, once everyone arrived at the bottom, we started. 1/4 mile up and 1/4 mile down the evil incline. I made it 3/4 of the way up while running the 1st and 2nd time and then somehow tuned out my brain telling me this wasn't the thing to be doing 3rd time and made it to the top while running. I was thrilled but my HR was 182. Let's just say that while I ran all of the downhills this time around and that I did all 6 hills AND ran the 1.25 miles back to the car, I never quite made it back all the way up the hill.
Afterwards, it was party time. Training Buddy & I got back in the car, I drove like a mad woman, dropped him off, got home, showered and changed, and out the door by 9:15 am. Off to a 4 year old's birthday party at Monkey Joe's - a cute bounce house sort of place. The girls had a blast and I had to climb in with them a couple of times so they weren't scared at first. Mr. Darcy had nothing to do with climbing in, and I have to admit it was difficult for me to do because these things are built for kids not 5' 7" women (or 6'1" men in Mr. Darcy's case). After pizza, cake and a little more fun, we were off to Costco. After that Mr. Darcy decided to drive around a little so the girls would fall asleep in the car... and all 3 of us did. Ladybug, Angelfish and TriMommy. All sound asleep in our seats.
Sunday was another early morning, but luckily not as early. 5:30 am is better than 4:30 am. But I didn't get an icebath in on Saturday so I was stiff legged (and stiff butted) as Training Buddy and I started out on our 50 mile bike ride and what should have been a 6 mile run afterwards. The bike ended up at 51 miles and just a little over 3 hours. Yet again another Longest ride! Whoo Hoo!
The ride was good too because we had amazing animal sightings - a family of 3 deer crossing the street in front of us, 6 deer on the farmer's hill, other deer scattered about, 2 cranes, an animal that we thought might be a possum but really were not quite sure (other than it was bigger than my dog, brown and had a big tail and wasn't a racoon, ardvark or other known creature... kind of scary) - and some terrible headwinds. You know the head wind is strong when your computer says you're going 16.3 mph, the wind starts, and you notice that you're going 14.1 mph within moments. Add stiff legs to the mix and you have quite the workout.
When we got back to the house and started the run, my legs were not happy. I told Training Buddy that they were giving me attitude because it was literally as though they were saying to me, "Are you serious? You ran 6 miles of hills yesterday and had no ice bath, made us do 51 miles of cycling and now you expect us to run?"
I ran the 1st mile and then did a 4 minute/1 minute Galloway for the 2nd mile and then a 4 minute/2 minute Galloway the 3rd mile. My HR was staying down this time around which was good, but my legs were screaming everytime I did the running. Walking they could handle, and I could even walk at a decent pace, but running was torture. Training Buddy wanted to stop at the house for a refill on beverage, and when we stopped I realized that because we stopped I literally could not make myself restart and felt a little tingly (the lack of electrolytes...I'm pretty certain). So the 6 mile run turned into a 3.2 mile run. But it was better than nothing.
I did a lot better about drinking on the bike this time, but think I probably should have drunk a little more. I definitely need to take endurolytes because I have a feeling that's what I was missing - especially when my hands were swollen so badly that bending my knuckles was an optional activity for a bit. That and I probably need to eat more on the bike. I may try Training Buddy's suggestion of a PB&Honey sandwich during the ride because I really can't bring myself to eat more shot blocs or gels than I already do.
After a shower and an ice bath, things were closer to normal. Fingers were still swollen for another hour or two, but they were atleast functional again. Had lunch with the little ladies and played a bit, then we signed up for the YMCA and enrolled Angelfish and Ladybug for Fall soccer. This is gonna be good. Our cutie pies playing soccer. We asked that they be on the same team for our sanity in having only 1 practice a week and only 1 game to attend each weekend. They are both super excited and were "practicing" with Mr. Darcy in the backyard yesterday evening (while wearing dresses). I will be sure to post pictures once soccer begins. Our 3 year old phenoms (Angelfish already blocks out Ladybug for the ball). Tee hee.
Then a haircut for Ladybug, who when I told her that I thought her haircut looked beautiful told me in a rather self-assured way "I know Mommy. I look like a princess!" Angelfish wanted a haircut but hers is still growing out from the massive cutting that occured a few months ago and looks really good. She was trying to get it all over the place while telling us she needed it cut because she had "crazy hair." All she did was make her hair look even cuter! But the lollipop she got for waiting like a well-behaved girl at the Hair Cuttery smoothed things over. Then we played a bit and watched "Word World" (and somewhere I fell asleep only waking to discover the show was on but no one was in the room with me), practiced soccer and ate dinner. The girls played in the tub for awhile and then helped us bathe the dog before bed. How they laughed when Annie ran like the wind around the house and scratched at the floor and rubbed her head on the floor! They chased her and finally made her a bed with a blanket so she wouldn't be too cold since her hair was still wet (such sweetie pies).
They hadn't had a nap, so they were tired little things last night. Angelfish sat watching me read her story with her mouth hanging a little open like both she and I do when we're super tired. Ladybug yawned and laid on the bed listening after petting Annie a good while during the story. They were asleep within minutes of us turning off the light. And so were we! Mr. Darcy was tuckered out from the weekend and I was from all the training.
Monday morning was here all too soon. The girls are happy to be with their teachers one last week before they start with new teachers next week, and to be going to Disney with us on Friday. It is a half day at daycare as it is that day, so we decided to make it into a family fun day since our seasonal passes are back to being useable. I went for my next bit of blood work, which took a bit of waiting for but it got done within the right window of time. The doctor's office says it will take a week to get the results, which stinks. The waiting is the bit I don't like. My theory is that I will not have Cushings disease because while I have some of the symptoms, I also do not have some of the symptoms. But, let me tell you... I will feel much better once the doctor tells me that the blood work came back and all is well.
Training wise, today is a rest day. And I'm tired. For lunch, I may just take a nap!
Anywho. The weekend report. Here it goes:
Friday night I was exhausted. It was a rest day so you'd think I would have more energy but I had none. Fell asleep pretty close to after the kiddies were in bed.
Which really was a good thing because Saturday started with a 4:50 am pickup time with Training Buddy, that was a little more closer to 5 am because I accidentally set the alarm for pm, not am. Wishful thinking, I guess.
Somehow Training Buddy and I made it out to Lake Sumter Community College before anyone else and in record time. (Perhaps it was the extra adrenalin from running behind and jumping out of bed in a flash. Good thing I have a strong body clock...) A few moments later, everyone from the Team in Training Nike Women's Marathon team appeared and we began our morning torture, uhm, run. It was hill repeats. The TNT group is running their marathon in San Francisco, and coming from Florida that will definitely take some hill training. This is Florida so the only place to go for hills is Clermont. In our case, a neighborhood with a hill that is essentially a 60 degree incline, if not more. We warmed up in the parking lot, stretched, and ran 1.25 miles to the bottom of the hill. During the 1.25 mile run, I couldn't help but think that this really wasn't the morning for this.
But, once everyone arrived at the bottom, we started. 1/4 mile up and 1/4 mile down the evil incline. I made it 3/4 of the way up while running the 1st and 2nd time and then somehow tuned out my brain telling me this wasn't the thing to be doing 3rd time and made it to the top while running. I was thrilled but my HR was 182. Let's just say that while I ran all of the downhills this time around and that I did all 6 hills AND ran the 1.25 miles back to the car, I never quite made it back all the way up the hill.
Afterwards, it was party time. Training Buddy & I got back in the car, I drove like a mad woman, dropped him off, got home, showered and changed, and out the door by 9:15 am. Off to a 4 year old's birthday party at Monkey Joe's - a cute bounce house sort of place. The girls had a blast and I had to climb in with them a couple of times so they weren't scared at first. Mr. Darcy had nothing to do with climbing in, and I have to admit it was difficult for me to do because these things are built for kids not 5' 7" women (or 6'1" men in Mr. Darcy's case). After pizza, cake and a little more fun, we were off to Costco. After that Mr. Darcy decided to drive around a little so the girls would fall asleep in the car... and all 3 of us did. Ladybug, Angelfish and TriMommy. All sound asleep in our seats.
Sunday was another early morning, but luckily not as early. 5:30 am is better than 4:30 am. But I didn't get an icebath in on Saturday so I was stiff legged (and stiff butted) as Training Buddy and I started out on our 50 mile bike ride and what should have been a 6 mile run afterwards. The bike ended up at 51 miles and just a little over 3 hours. Yet again another Longest ride! Whoo Hoo!
The ride was good too because we had amazing animal sightings - a family of 3 deer crossing the street in front of us, 6 deer on the farmer's hill, other deer scattered about, 2 cranes, an animal that we thought might be a possum but really were not quite sure (other than it was bigger than my dog, brown and had a big tail and wasn't a racoon, ardvark or other known creature... kind of scary) - and some terrible headwinds. You know the head wind is strong when your computer says you're going 16.3 mph, the wind starts, and you notice that you're going 14.1 mph within moments. Add stiff legs to the mix and you have quite the workout.
When we got back to the house and started the run, my legs were not happy. I told Training Buddy that they were giving me attitude because it was literally as though they were saying to me, "Are you serious? You ran 6 miles of hills yesterday and had no ice bath, made us do 51 miles of cycling and now you expect us to run?"
I ran the 1st mile and then did a 4 minute/1 minute Galloway for the 2nd mile and then a 4 minute/2 minute Galloway the 3rd mile. My HR was staying down this time around which was good, but my legs were screaming everytime I did the running. Walking they could handle, and I could even walk at a decent pace, but running was torture. Training Buddy wanted to stop at the house for a refill on beverage, and when we stopped I realized that because we stopped I literally could not make myself restart and felt a little tingly (the lack of electrolytes...I'm pretty certain). So the 6 mile run turned into a 3.2 mile run. But it was better than nothing.
I did a lot better about drinking on the bike this time, but think I probably should have drunk a little more. I definitely need to take endurolytes because I have a feeling that's what I was missing - especially when my hands were swollen so badly that bending my knuckles was an optional activity for a bit. That and I probably need to eat more on the bike. I may try Training Buddy's suggestion of a PB&Honey sandwich during the ride because I really can't bring myself to eat more shot blocs or gels than I already do.
After a shower and an ice bath, things were closer to normal. Fingers were still swollen for another hour or two, but they were atleast functional again. Had lunch with the little ladies and played a bit, then we signed up for the YMCA and enrolled Angelfish and Ladybug for Fall soccer. This is gonna be good. Our cutie pies playing soccer. We asked that they be on the same team for our sanity in having only 1 practice a week and only 1 game to attend each weekend. They are both super excited and were "practicing" with Mr. Darcy in the backyard yesterday evening (while wearing dresses). I will be sure to post pictures once soccer begins. Our 3 year old phenoms (Angelfish already blocks out Ladybug for the ball). Tee hee.
Then a haircut for Ladybug, who when I told her that I thought her haircut looked beautiful told me in a rather self-assured way "I know Mommy. I look like a princess!" Angelfish wanted a haircut but hers is still growing out from the massive cutting that occured a few months ago and looks really good. She was trying to get it all over the place while telling us she needed it cut because she had "crazy hair." All she did was make her hair look even cuter! But the lollipop she got for waiting like a well-behaved girl at the Hair Cuttery smoothed things over. Then we played a bit and watched "Word World" (and somewhere I fell asleep only waking to discover the show was on but no one was in the room with me), practiced soccer and ate dinner. The girls played in the tub for awhile and then helped us bathe the dog before bed. How they laughed when Annie ran like the wind around the house and scratched at the floor and rubbed her head on the floor! They chased her and finally made her a bed with a blanket so she wouldn't be too cold since her hair was still wet (such sweetie pies).
They hadn't had a nap, so they were tired little things last night. Angelfish sat watching me read her story with her mouth hanging a little open like both she and I do when we're super tired. Ladybug yawned and laid on the bed listening after petting Annie a good while during the story. They were asleep within minutes of us turning off the light. And so were we! Mr. Darcy was tuckered out from the weekend and I was from all the training.
Monday morning was here all too soon. The girls are happy to be with their teachers one last week before they start with new teachers next week, and to be going to Disney with us on Friday. It is a half day at daycare as it is that day, so we decided to make it into a family fun day since our seasonal passes are back to being useable. I went for my next bit of blood work, which took a bit of waiting for but it got done within the right window of time. The doctor's office says it will take a week to get the results, which stinks. The waiting is the bit I don't like. My theory is that I will not have Cushings disease because while I have some of the symptoms, I also do not have some of the symptoms. But, let me tell you... I will feel much better once the doctor tells me that the blood work came back and all is well.
Training wise, today is a rest day. And I'm tired. For lunch, I may just take a nap!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Morning again?
My first thought when the alarm clock went off was "Morning? again?" Mr. Darcy was awesome last night and let me go to bed early while he straightened our house. It's something that annoys me and makes me laugh at the same time - the need to straighten the house so the maid can clean. We're so good for the 2 weeks after they clean, and then the week before they're scheduled to come the wheels pretty much fall off the bus.
Anyway, Mr. Darcy seeing how tired I was offered to put the girls down to bed while I slept but I told him I wanted to help and then started to fall asleep during storytime. I did wake long enough to help out though. Afterwards, I got my gear together for this morning's ride and then went to bed around 9:15 pm at the latest.
When the alarm clock went off at 4:15 am, I just wanted to sleep more. I guess I was catching up with myself from so little sleep the night before last. Somehow I pulled myself out of bed and into my training gear and ate breakfast. While waiting for my training buddy, I thought to myself that I'm looking forward to a week where I didn't wake up so early. The truth is I don't like super early mornings because I miss seeing the lovely ladies when they wake up and I miss some sleep. Yet, once I get going I love being in the moment.
This morning we arrived ready to ride at 5:30 am. We waited for others to arrive and when we finally realized that Coach definitely wasn't coming because she is under the weather, I pretty much told everyone we needed to head out. I like to socialize, but if I got up at 4:15 am I want to ride as close as we can to the scheduled departure date.
The ride was great! I have to admit that at times I had difficulties staying under 17 mph on the bits that were supposed to be at race speed. I can go faster but I understand Coach's point that I have to have legs to run on afterwards. At times I just got into the ride and looked down to see myself about to hit 18 mph. I was good and pulled myself back though. I felt really good on the bike and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise too!
After the bike was a 3 mile run, which I did in about 36-37 minutes. (I stood there chatting for a few minutes afterwards before I realized I hadn't turned off my watch... oops.) I felt pretty good on the run. My legs felt good, which was amazing since I wasn't having any nerve pain. The problems I had I think were allergy related. At one point, I literally had to stop and cough up my lungs because crud was running down my throat and decided to cover my windpipe. Breathing, it seems, is important. Later in the run, I was doing well with my HR about 168 (which is my normal running HR it seems) and passed a man mowing the lawn. I'm allergic to grass and have problems when I pass mowers sometimes (and luckily for me I'm not able to mow the lawn because of it). It only dawned on me when I was going home that this may have been the reason that my HR elevated to 172. I ran a little with it at 172 and then decided that perhaps I should let it come down (that's 90% for me) and walked a little. I walked probably about 4 minutes at most and since my HR was 151 at that point decided to run the rest of the way. I was only a short way from the end of the run when all of this happened so I wasn't too thrilled that I had to walk.
The other thing it could be is that I may not drink enough on the bike. Coach says I need 24 oz. per hour on the bike, and I'm not sure if I do that or not.
Either way, I had an enjoyable workout and had fun. Now if only I can get a shower in... and maybe a nap would be nice...
Anyway, Mr. Darcy seeing how tired I was offered to put the girls down to bed while I slept but I told him I wanted to help and then started to fall asleep during storytime. I did wake long enough to help out though. Afterwards, I got my gear together for this morning's ride and then went to bed around 9:15 pm at the latest.
When the alarm clock went off at 4:15 am, I just wanted to sleep more. I guess I was catching up with myself from so little sleep the night before last. Somehow I pulled myself out of bed and into my training gear and ate breakfast. While waiting for my training buddy, I thought to myself that I'm looking forward to a week where I didn't wake up so early. The truth is I don't like super early mornings because I miss seeing the lovely ladies when they wake up and I miss some sleep. Yet, once I get going I love being in the moment.
This morning we arrived ready to ride at 5:30 am. We waited for others to arrive and when we finally realized that Coach definitely wasn't coming because she is under the weather, I pretty much told everyone we needed to head out. I like to socialize, but if I got up at 4:15 am I want to ride as close as we can to the scheduled departure date.
The ride was great! I have to admit that at times I had difficulties staying under 17 mph on the bits that were supposed to be at race speed. I can go faster but I understand Coach's point that I have to have legs to run on afterwards. At times I just got into the ride and looked down to see myself about to hit 18 mph. I was good and pulled myself back though. I felt really good on the bike and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise too!
After the bike was a 3 mile run, which I did in about 36-37 minutes. (I stood there chatting for a few minutes afterwards before I realized I hadn't turned off my watch... oops.) I felt pretty good on the run. My legs felt good, which was amazing since I wasn't having any nerve pain. The problems I had I think were allergy related. At one point, I literally had to stop and cough up my lungs because crud was running down my throat and decided to cover my windpipe. Breathing, it seems, is important. Later in the run, I was doing well with my HR about 168 (which is my normal running HR it seems) and passed a man mowing the lawn. I'm allergic to grass and have problems when I pass mowers sometimes (and luckily for me I'm not able to mow the lawn because of it). It only dawned on me when I was going home that this may have been the reason that my HR elevated to 172. I ran a little with it at 172 and then decided that perhaps I should let it come down (that's 90% for me) and walked a little. I walked probably about 4 minutes at most and since my HR was 151 at that point decided to run the rest of the way. I was only a short way from the end of the run when all of this happened so I wasn't too thrilled that I had to walk.
The other thing it could be is that I may not drink enough on the bike. Coach says I need 24 oz. per hour on the bike, and I'm not sure if I do that or not.
Either way, I had an enjoyable workout and had fun. Now if only I can get a shower in... and maybe a nap would be nice...
Monday, August 10, 2009
Love is an Ice Bath
Yes, it is in deed. I knew Mr. Darcy truly loved me when he went to Publix on Sunday to buy me a 20 lb. bag of ice so I could take an ice bath. I had just completed a 5 hour long brick that started late and took longer than I had originally anticipated, and he had the girls to himself the entire time. Yet when I asked and he pointed out he'd have to go to Publix and could I watch the girls, he headed out. Later as I was finishing my shower to get the stink, sweat and dirt off before embarking on the ice bath, he even started filling our garden tub with cool water for me. Love is an Ice Bath.
So you may be wondering what on earth did I do that necessitated this ice bath? Merely the longest brick of my life on a rather hot and very humid day. You know it's going to be rough weather wise when at 7:30 am the crickets are already in full chorus and the cool air that was blowing is now hot.
Sunday at 7 am, my training buddy Ryan and I embarked on what was, for both of us, the longest brick we ever have done. A 45 mile bike followed by a 6 mile run. Coach insisted that we bike at no more of an average of 16 mph. We did our best and as Ryan's bike computer wasn't working, I was in charge of sounding the alert when we hit 17 mph. I remember when I first started riding and the idea of 17 mph was a dream. Now, keeping cadence at 80, I'm already going 16.2. So keeping it slower was an exercise in restraint, but we were able to do it. I felt great the entire 45 miles, like my legs were just happy to be cycling along.
I came across a quote the other day "There is a moment where fear and dreams must collide." - Unknown. In a way, that's how I felt at the end of the bike. I had just ridden the farthest I had ever attempted on a bike and now I was going to turn it into a brick by adding a 6 mile run and the temperature was already in the 90's and humid.
After running 1 mile and Ryan's HR being at 90%, the heat being so intense you could feel it radiating up from the ground with every step, our 6 mile run turned more into a walk. We would run at the start of each mile at the first one until Ryan's HR got up to 90% again. (I probably should figure out how to change the settings on my watch like he does, I just have numbers and the inability while running to do the math in my head, we have the same HR monitor afterall.) Then we would walk the rest of the mile until the next one. Then the last 2 miles we just walked since those were supposed to be in zone 1 (and still weren't while we were walking along). At one point we stopped at the CVS to pee and refill our water supply. I think the a/c helped, not to mention the peeing. Of course, I was happy we were peeing because that meant we were at least somewhat hydrated. 6.4 miles later we finished. While we both wish we would have run more, we were both happy to put the mileage in any form into the bank. The moment I stopped walking to mix my recoverite and then attempted to sit on the floor so I could do my back stretches, I knew. I was going to need an ice bath because I was getting stiff muscles.
That was when I asked the question and discovered that Love is an Ice Bath.
This morning I hit the pool for 1800m. Poor Coach was stuck in Texas and didn't get home until super late this morning, so no workouts were posted for the week yet. I didn't want to take an unwarranted rest day, so I made up a swim workout involving a 200 warmup, 4x50 drills (kick, pull, fingertip, butt touch), 2x400 swim. Turns out, it was supposed to be a rest day. Coach says she'll switch it up and I'll have my rest day tomorrow instead. I was tired today, but surprisingly felt pretty good on the swim, so that's inspiring.
In other news, this weekend with the parents was fun. We took the girls to the pool on Saturday and just played around the house. Nothing eventful, but a nice time. The girls had fun with their Nanna and Poppop, and I think wore themselves and their grandparents out!
So you may be wondering what on earth did I do that necessitated this ice bath? Merely the longest brick of my life on a rather hot and very humid day. You know it's going to be rough weather wise when at 7:30 am the crickets are already in full chorus and the cool air that was blowing is now hot.
Sunday at 7 am, my training buddy Ryan and I embarked on what was, for both of us, the longest brick we ever have done. A 45 mile bike followed by a 6 mile run. Coach insisted that we bike at no more of an average of 16 mph. We did our best and as Ryan's bike computer wasn't working, I was in charge of sounding the alert when we hit 17 mph. I remember when I first started riding and the idea of 17 mph was a dream. Now, keeping cadence at 80, I'm already going 16.2. So keeping it slower was an exercise in restraint, but we were able to do it. I felt great the entire 45 miles, like my legs were just happy to be cycling along.
I came across a quote the other day "There is a moment where fear and dreams must collide." - Unknown. In a way, that's how I felt at the end of the bike. I had just ridden the farthest I had ever attempted on a bike and now I was going to turn it into a brick by adding a 6 mile run and the temperature was already in the 90's and humid.
After running 1 mile and Ryan's HR being at 90%, the heat being so intense you could feel it radiating up from the ground with every step, our 6 mile run turned more into a walk. We would run at the start of each mile at the first one until Ryan's HR got up to 90% again. (I probably should figure out how to change the settings on my watch like he does, I just have numbers and the inability while running to do the math in my head, we have the same HR monitor afterall.) Then we would walk the rest of the mile until the next one. Then the last 2 miles we just walked since those were supposed to be in zone 1 (and still weren't while we were walking along). At one point we stopped at the CVS to pee and refill our water supply. I think the a/c helped, not to mention the peeing. Of course, I was happy we were peeing because that meant we were at least somewhat hydrated. 6.4 miles later we finished. While we both wish we would have run more, we were both happy to put the mileage in any form into the bank. The moment I stopped walking to mix my recoverite and then attempted to sit on the floor so I could do my back stretches, I knew. I was going to need an ice bath because I was getting stiff muscles.
That was when I asked the question and discovered that Love is an Ice Bath.
This morning I hit the pool for 1800m. Poor Coach was stuck in Texas and didn't get home until super late this morning, so no workouts were posted for the week yet. I didn't want to take an unwarranted rest day, so I made up a swim workout involving a 200 warmup, 4x50 drills (kick, pull, fingertip, butt touch), 2x400 swim. Turns out, it was supposed to be a rest day. Coach says she'll switch it up and I'll have my rest day tomorrow instead. I was tired today, but surprisingly felt pretty good on the swim, so that's inspiring.
In other news, this weekend with the parents was fun. We took the girls to the pool on Saturday and just played around the house. Nothing eventful, but a nice time. The girls had fun with their Nanna and Poppop, and I think wore themselves and their grandparents out!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
One of those days...
I woke up this morning mentally ready to jump on my bike and do a nice 25 mile ride. But somewhere, my body wasn't so sure about that. The only thing I can think of is that last night's track workout was a hard one for me, I forgot to mix and drink my recoverite after my workout (despite it being in the car with me), and I might not have eaten enough for dinner when I got home. All of which could give me muscle fatigue. My quads are a little sore today ... probably from either the walking lunges or the squats we did last night.
Last night was hard. I am not a fast runner. Sprints are not my friend. My back doesn't like them, and last night was no different. But I did alright. I was slow at first, and then at the end, but for different reasons. First we warmed up with a half a mile jog. Then core and strength work... think Denise Austin and T-stands (all I could hear in my head was Denise Austin "do what you can do." That woman makes me crazy. I once did one of her videos with T-stands when completely out of shape and started cursing at the television when I had heard "do what you can do" one too many times. Not my brightest moment.)
Then we did 400m runs, 1 at 50% (3:16), 1 at recovery, 1 at 65-70% (2:46), 1 at recovery, 1 at 85% (1:36). Of course, I think I may have been more like 90% or so for that last lap because my HR hit 191. Max out is supposed to be 185 for me. Uh, yeah. I had a little bit of a tightness in my chest after that one, but I'm not sure if it was asthma, tiredness, or (gulp) my heart. But I walked it off, and the tightness went away. Unfortunately, my back decided it didn't like running at 85% and I ended up having to lay down on the track and stretch my back out so it would stop ceasing up on me. I was also trying not to let Coach know about it.
Then it was 800m runs. 1st at 70%, a 400m recovery, and then another 800m that was supposed to be all out. I wanted it to be all out, I truly did. My back did not. So I fought with my back, letting myself go slower the first lap and then turning it on to about 80% (which was all I could muster due to my evil nerve pain running out the small of my back and down through my quad to my knee... not nice) for the 2nd lap. Ended up with 5:24, I think for the 800. I definitely could have gone faster. As I said to Coach last night, I could be an olympian if it weren't for my back pain, my asthma, my cholesterol and blood pressure issues, my weight, and all of my other issues. The spirit is willing but my body is not. Luckily my mind can usually talk my body into doing things!
But this morning, my back was stiff and my legs were hurting. But it wasn't just muscle fatigue. In truth, I'm not sure what it was. I just felt wierd. Kind of spacey is the only way I could describe it... just as though something wasn't right. And that evil tightness in the left side of my chest was back. It eventually went away after a bit though. So, instead of jumping on my bike alone and hitting a closed road for 25 miles, Mr. Darcy set up my bike on the trainer.
Everyone was running behind schedule - although Ladybug was the perfect angel this morning. She told me, "I'm not going to cry for Miss Wendy today. I'm going to give her a big smile so she can be happy!" And she stuck too it. Mr. Darcy emailed and said she was awesome this morning even after they left. Ladybug even got into the car for school on her own and sat there happily eating trail mix. Let's hope it sticks! Angelfish was a little grumpy, telling everyone but her Daddy not to talk to her and being a bit clingy at school, per Mr. Darcy. Hopefully she'll turn it around for this afternoon/evening.
Finally, I got on the trainer. I'm always so much slower on the trainer than I am on the road... like almost 3 mph slower. I have no idea why, but it is the way things are. So, after an hour I'm sweating, feeling tingly on my back and getting a little nauseas. 13.05 miles in an hour. Pretty sad. But, I got off and decided I would finish the 25 miles off at lunch. So that's how I spent my lunch hour - well, 47 minutes and 48 seconds of it anyway. I was feeling much better by lunch time, and while still slower than I am on the road, this time I got the remaining 12 miles done in 47 minutes and 48 seconds. The total time was still slow for 25 miles, but as I saw posted on another blog awhile back, sometimes we can't have the best workout but the trick is to be present. That was me today... present and getting it done, no matter how slow it might be.
Tomorrow is a swim at Lucky's Lake. I'm looking forward to it because the idea of swimming 2500 m in the pool (a 25m pool at that) was not something I was wanting to do. (Not to mention having my stress test tomorrow too.) Mr. Darcy said he didn't mind my swimming at the lake tomorrow and then doing my cycling workout with the team Thursday morning. Two mornings of getting the girls ready by himself in a row! By the end of all this Half Ironman training, he will more than deserve a medal of his own. That's part of the reason I'm so motivated to finish it too... all the time he's put in to let this happen for me. I don't want to let him down.
I'm seriously considering doing a half marathon in March. I may not run the entire thing because of my back, but I'm seriously thinking about it. It's in the Florida panhandle and sponsored by Vera Bradley and you get a Vera Bradley tote for doing the race. It sounds like good fun (and good swag) to me!
But first things first. The Half Ironman will be mine!
Last night was hard. I am not a fast runner. Sprints are not my friend. My back doesn't like them, and last night was no different. But I did alright. I was slow at first, and then at the end, but for different reasons. First we warmed up with a half a mile jog. Then core and strength work... think Denise Austin and T-stands (all I could hear in my head was Denise Austin "do what you can do." That woman makes me crazy. I once did one of her videos with T-stands when completely out of shape and started cursing at the television when I had heard "do what you can do" one too many times. Not my brightest moment.)
Then we did 400m runs, 1 at 50% (3:16), 1 at recovery, 1 at 65-70% (2:46), 1 at recovery, 1 at 85% (1:36). Of course, I think I may have been more like 90% or so for that last lap because my HR hit 191. Max out is supposed to be 185 for me. Uh, yeah. I had a little bit of a tightness in my chest after that one, but I'm not sure if it was asthma, tiredness, or (gulp) my heart. But I walked it off, and the tightness went away. Unfortunately, my back decided it didn't like running at 85% and I ended up having to lay down on the track and stretch my back out so it would stop ceasing up on me. I was also trying not to let Coach know about it.
Then it was 800m runs. 1st at 70%, a 400m recovery, and then another 800m that was supposed to be all out. I wanted it to be all out, I truly did. My back did not. So I fought with my back, letting myself go slower the first lap and then turning it on to about 80% (which was all I could muster due to my evil nerve pain running out the small of my back and down through my quad to my knee... not nice) for the 2nd lap. Ended up with 5:24, I think for the 800. I definitely could have gone faster. As I said to Coach last night, I could be an olympian if it weren't for my back pain, my asthma, my cholesterol and blood pressure issues, my weight, and all of my other issues. The spirit is willing but my body is not. Luckily my mind can usually talk my body into doing things!
But this morning, my back was stiff and my legs were hurting. But it wasn't just muscle fatigue. In truth, I'm not sure what it was. I just felt wierd. Kind of spacey is the only way I could describe it... just as though something wasn't right. And that evil tightness in the left side of my chest was back. It eventually went away after a bit though. So, instead of jumping on my bike alone and hitting a closed road for 25 miles, Mr. Darcy set up my bike on the trainer.
Everyone was running behind schedule - although Ladybug was the perfect angel this morning. She told me, "I'm not going to cry for Miss Wendy today. I'm going to give her a big smile so she can be happy!" And she stuck too it. Mr. Darcy emailed and said she was awesome this morning even after they left. Ladybug even got into the car for school on her own and sat there happily eating trail mix. Let's hope it sticks! Angelfish was a little grumpy, telling everyone but her Daddy not to talk to her and being a bit clingy at school, per Mr. Darcy. Hopefully she'll turn it around for this afternoon/evening.
Finally, I got on the trainer. I'm always so much slower on the trainer than I am on the road... like almost 3 mph slower. I have no idea why, but it is the way things are. So, after an hour I'm sweating, feeling tingly on my back and getting a little nauseas. 13.05 miles in an hour. Pretty sad. But, I got off and decided I would finish the 25 miles off at lunch. So that's how I spent my lunch hour - well, 47 minutes and 48 seconds of it anyway. I was feeling much better by lunch time, and while still slower than I am on the road, this time I got the remaining 12 miles done in 47 minutes and 48 seconds. The total time was still slow for 25 miles, but as I saw posted on another blog awhile back, sometimes we can't have the best workout but the trick is to be present. That was me today... present and getting it done, no matter how slow it might be.
Tomorrow is a swim at Lucky's Lake. I'm looking forward to it because the idea of swimming 2500 m in the pool (a 25m pool at that) was not something I was wanting to do. (Not to mention having my stress test tomorrow too.) Mr. Darcy said he didn't mind my swimming at the lake tomorrow and then doing my cycling workout with the team Thursday morning. Two mornings of getting the girls ready by himself in a row! By the end of all this Half Ironman training, he will more than deserve a medal of his own. That's part of the reason I'm so motivated to finish it too... all the time he's put in to let this happen for me. I don't want to let him down.
I'm seriously considering doing a half marathon in March. I may not run the entire thing because of my back, but I'm seriously thinking about it. It's in the Florida panhandle and sponsored by Vera Bradley and you get a Vera Bradley tote for doing the race. It sounds like good fun (and good swag) to me!
But first things first. The Half Ironman will be mine!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
I'm BAACK...
We had a lovely time. It was almost too short, although by the end of it we were missing the munchkins. For all our missing the girls, Ladybug paid us back in spades with the number of tantrums that she had on Saturday and Sunday. I think she used up all of her nice behavior for her grandparents, which I have to say that even if I had to endure her this weekend I would much rather that be the case than her poor grandparents having to deal with it.
But the cruise, the cruise was wonderful. There were times where we had no idea what to do with ourselves. Literally. Lots of sleeping and reading and drinks with umbrellas. I even squeezed in some training too... although I probably should have done more... but at the same time, I needed the rest.
Monday before taking the girls to daycare, I got in an hour on the stationary bike followed by a 3 mile run. Then the girls to daycare with some wailing on their part, which actually made it easier for me to leave. I definitely enjoyed the respite from Mommy duties, even though I missed the girls at the same time. It was nice not to have to clean, dress, cook for etc. anyone for several days.
Tuesday I had intended to take off since it was our 1st full day on the cruise, but I kept thinking about running. Wierd, eh? I thought so too. We got up, had some breakfast and got to the island in time for our couples massage. Awesome way to officially start our vacation. My masseuse also suggested that I get a hot stone massage later in the week because my muscles were overworked (his words). I told him I was training for a half-ironman and he said "you need the hot stones." So I said ok. Then we, both completely relaxed, wandered around the island walking until we found the part were not many people were sitting (there were maybe 4 other people around) and we sat near the water under an umbrella, reading. Wandered back to the populated side for lunch and then back to the ship for a nap. On the way back to the ship, I kept thinking a run would be good. Napped and then thought, a run would be good. Went and played trivia (came in 2nd - darn no cruise line key chain...) and thought a run would be good. Asked Mr. Darcy if he wanted to run with me on all 3 occassions, and he finally said "I do not want to run. Go and get it out of your system." And so I did. 12:11 pace, constant for all 4 miles. I felt great afterwards, although rather sweaty.
Wednesday we were in Nassau and had an excursion for sailing and then 1 hour's worth of snorkeling. It was the 1st time I've ever snorkled and it was AWESOME! We snorkled over a reef and saw tons of fish, brain coral, other corals and even a stingray swim by. So, I got in about just under a mile probably as a swim... although who knows. Mr. Darcy said I was a speed demon, but I thought I was just moving about normally... I did have to wait for him a few times, but that was OK by me! It was fun to snorkle together. Afterwards though, poor Mr. Darcy had a terrible headache so we headed back to the ship for lunch and a nap. I read for most of the 3 hours, but Mr. Darcy slept like a log. By the time we were up and off the ship, everything had pretty much shut down so we only got to wander through the straw market and pick up cute little straw purses for the little ladies. Then back to the ship for a little more trivia, reading and some random show before dinner.
Thursday was at sea and a bit boring in some ways. I had gotten up early and cycled for 1 1/2 hours going 51 km (or miles, I couldn't be sure from the reading on the machine, but my guess is km because even though it was a stationary bike I'm doubtful I could go 51 miles in 1 1/2 hours), then had some breakfast, showered and went back to sleep. Mr. Darcy was sleeping the entire time. Then I wandered the ship with Mr. Darcy while he primarily read, we watched a belly flop contest, and I had my hot stone massage. PURE HEAVEN. My muscles felt awesome afterwards. It wasn't the total mind and body relaxation of the 1st day's massage, but it was the type of massage where I was present mentally but my muscles felt relaxed and rejuvenated at the end. Highly recommended! We went to a sad little art auction on board, played some trivia, read. Nothing too eventful.... other than packing our stuff up for departure the next morning, which was when I realized how much I wanted to see Angelfish and Ladybug. I missed them!
Friday we headed home at 8:30 ish in the morning, and by the time we got home I was strangely tired and slept about 3 hours. I guess I didn't sleep as well as I thought I did while on board, but that pretty much wiped out the chance of getting my Friday workout in. We got the girls from daycare around 3:30 pm when I couldn't take being home and not having them with us. It was great to see them again... Ladybug headed straight to me and was thrilled to see me. Angelfish wanted nothing to do with me and only to be with Mr. Darcy... which has continued somewhat this weekend. Not sure if she's punishing me for not being there all week or if she just always is super partial to Mr. Darcy and this is the first I'm realizing it, but what can you do?
Saturday we lazed around and I skipped training because Ladybug was pretty much sleeping ON me when I woke up and then up and running about with me while everyone else in the house slept. Today (Sunday) we ran errands with the girls after a morning fraught with tantrums from Ladybug (including half of the ride to Costco... at one point she told us over and over again that she wasn't going to talk to us anymore and to which I finally said, "for someone who isn't talking to us, you sure are talking alot" and she stopped). Watched "The Tales of Desperaux" which they sort of liked and sort of didn't, and I felt guilty for not doing my big brick that was scheduled for today but that I couldn't quite pull myself out of bed to do.
But I'm back to work tomorrow, which also means I'm fully dedicated to my training as it's only about 8 weeks until race day. Luckily I return to it with an evening track workout to kick my butt back into gear and keep me accountable for getting back into it since people will be looking for me. I've missed the movement of my body in a long distance mode the past few days and found myself waking up this morning wiggling my toes - which either means I'm stressed again already or just that I have extra energy I need to burn. I'm thinking it's the latter at the moment, but I'll be able to tell you more tomorrow after reading all my emails from last week and attempting to catch up. The punishment for a nice week of vacation and relaxation, but I'll take my licks since it was a much needed break and a lot of fun to be with Mr. Darcy - just the two of us.
But now, back to reality...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
To start the vacation...
I got up at an ungodly hour to (gasp) run hills. Yes, it is official. I am definitely crazy. I woke up at 4 am, thinking it was 4:45 and that I'd overslept. I didn't realize that it was only 4 am though until I was fully dressed, body glide applied, and in the kitchen getting my breakfast. What can you do at that point but just stay up.
So I ate said breakfast, got my camelbak and nutrition ready, gathered keys, money, ID and the cellphone, and checked my email and looked at Facebook. Then about 4:55 am, I headed out the front door to wait on the porch for Ryan since we were carpooling. I'm a bit of a talker (if you hadn't guessed that already) so I sometimes feel badly for Ryan when we carpool. I talk and talk the poor guys ears off. He's a good listener and always has good things to say too, but I know he's not a morning person and yet I can't control my talking. I'd like to blame it on not getting out that much during the work week and the fact that I work from home, but realistically I talked alot when in the office environment too.
We had to drive about an hour to get where we were meeting up for our 6 mile run that was going to include hill repeats. This is Florida so I didn't think they would be all that bad. Hard of course because the term "hill repeats" literally makes me think that Coach is thinking up new and fun ways to torture us along the way to the Ironman 70.3, even if I know (deep down somewhere) that they are good for us. Hill repeats at 6 am when I've had a hard week and accidentally woken up 1/2 an hour earlier than necessasry is an even more special form of torture.
Little did I know that the hill we were going to repeat was essentially a 45 degree incline (if not more) in a neighborhood in Clermont. I didn't know Florida grew hills like that. And unluckily, I forgot my recoverite at home. Yeah. Not good.
We ran about 1.5 miles out to the hill and when I looked at it, it reminded me of San Francisco. As irony would have it, we were doing this work out with Coach's San Francisco marathon team for Team in Training. Then it we did the hill repeats. The hill itself was a quarter of a mile straight up and then another quarter of a mile straight down. 4 repeats. I got about 1/3 of the way up the 1st time, and about 1/2 way up the 2nd-4th times before I had to walk, and then I would run again when I could part way up the hill (nearer the top, of course). Basically, my heart was pounding, I was out of breath, and my old friend nerve pain had returned. My HR monitor says that at one point my heart rate reached 221. Uh, yeah. Total freak out when I saw that one. Not sure that's what the cardiologist would have envisioned for me. My "max out" rate is 185. Luckily, even with the 221, my average was about 148. I'm certain that this torture was actually good for me.
There was walking involved, as well as sitting and waiting for people to complete their 4 repeats before we jogged the 1.5 miles back to the parking lot. I did what I could with my nerve pain and thought to myself that I hoped we do this again in a few weeks so that I could try to get better at it. And that's when I knew that I must have not been getting enough oxygen to the brain during it all... I was wanting more. Not that day mind you. I may have been able to do it once or twice more, but I definitely didn't want to... especially if I planned on walking later in the day (like I need to for errands).
I ended up walking most of the 1.5 miles back. The nerve pain was a little not so fun after sitting (even though I stretched), but it was ok when I walked. But the mileage got done. Coach ordered us all to have an ice bath, so I took one. Not nearly as cold as I thought it would have been, but I may have had the water a little to hot to begin with before I added the ice. The girls joined me, which was pretty funny. Luckily it was after all of the ice had melted. 20 lbs of ice, plus what we had in the freezer. They were mermaids with me in the "mermaid pool." Talk about happy times.
I'm a bit stiff and have a feeling I may be sore in the morning, but (gasp) hill repeats while torture are rather satisfying once they're done. Yup, I'm certifiable. I don't know who it is that has taken over my brain but they, ahem, almost like running. Quite frightening, and crazy in deed.
So I ate said breakfast, got my camelbak and nutrition ready, gathered keys, money, ID and the cellphone, and checked my email and looked at Facebook. Then about 4:55 am, I headed out the front door to wait on the porch for Ryan since we were carpooling. I'm a bit of a talker (if you hadn't guessed that already) so I sometimes feel badly for Ryan when we carpool. I talk and talk the poor guys ears off. He's a good listener and always has good things to say too, but I know he's not a morning person and yet I can't control my talking. I'd like to blame it on not getting out that much during the work week and the fact that I work from home, but realistically I talked alot when in the office environment too.
We had to drive about an hour to get where we were meeting up for our 6 mile run that was going to include hill repeats. This is Florida so I didn't think they would be all that bad. Hard of course because the term "hill repeats" literally makes me think that Coach is thinking up new and fun ways to torture us along the way to the Ironman 70.3, even if I know (deep down somewhere) that they are good for us. Hill repeats at 6 am when I've had a hard week and accidentally woken up 1/2 an hour earlier than necessasry is an even more special form of torture.
Little did I know that the hill we were going to repeat was essentially a 45 degree incline (if not more) in a neighborhood in Clermont. I didn't know Florida grew hills like that. And unluckily, I forgot my recoverite at home. Yeah. Not good.
We ran about 1.5 miles out to the hill and when I looked at it, it reminded me of San Francisco. As irony would have it, we were doing this work out with Coach's San Francisco marathon team for Team in Training. Then it we did the hill repeats. The hill itself was a quarter of a mile straight up and then another quarter of a mile straight down. 4 repeats. I got about 1/3 of the way up the 1st time, and about 1/2 way up the 2nd-4th times before I had to walk, and then I would run again when I could part way up the hill (nearer the top, of course). Basically, my heart was pounding, I was out of breath, and my old friend nerve pain had returned. My HR monitor says that at one point my heart rate reached 221. Uh, yeah. Total freak out when I saw that one. Not sure that's what the cardiologist would have envisioned for me. My "max out" rate is 185. Luckily, even with the 221, my average was about 148. I'm certain that this torture was actually good for me.
There was walking involved, as well as sitting and waiting for people to complete their 4 repeats before we jogged the 1.5 miles back to the parking lot. I did what I could with my nerve pain and thought to myself that I hoped we do this again in a few weeks so that I could try to get better at it. And that's when I knew that I must have not been getting enough oxygen to the brain during it all... I was wanting more. Not that day mind you. I may have been able to do it once or twice more, but I definitely didn't want to... especially if I planned on walking later in the day (like I need to for errands).
I ended up walking most of the 1.5 miles back. The nerve pain was a little not so fun after sitting (even though I stretched), but it was ok when I walked. But the mileage got done. Coach ordered us all to have an ice bath, so I took one. Not nearly as cold as I thought it would have been, but I may have had the water a little to hot to begin with before I added the ice. The girls joined me, which was pretty funny. Luckily it was after all of the ice had melted. 20 lbs of ice, plus what we had in the freezer. They were mermaids with me in the "mermaid pool." Talk about happy times.
I'm a bit stiff and have a feeling I may be sore in the morning, but (gasp) hill repeats while torture are rather satisfying once they're done. Yup, I'm certifiable. I don't know who it is that has taken over my brain but they, ahem, almost like running. Quite frightening, and crazy in deed.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Back on my feet...
This morning I ran 6.2 miles. Well, I ran about 5.5 of the 6.2 miles and walked the other .7 miles. But still, I think that is pretty good since I am in pain from my crash still. Last night I laid in bed with ice all down my leg and I think that helped a little.
I think I may have pulled a muscle in my leg and one near my knee, but nothing is swollen up, so I'll stick with advil and ice for now. If things get worse, I'll see a doctor. I just hate the idea of taking the time out of my day to see the doctor, pay a $20 co-pay and then be told to ice and take advil.
If you took away the leg pain and the wierd clicking noise that either my collarbone or my shoulder were making every now and then, and the rib pain that came and went, I felt pretty good on this morning's run. I kept a pretty steady pace and only walked when I had to because the pain got too bad. But there were stretches of the run where I was able to just ignore the pain, so that was good. I wasn't fast - a 13 minute, 12 second average pace per mile - but I really didn't want to be either. I wanted to just get out there and try to get the mileage done because reality is this it's only a little bit over 2 months until the 70.3 in Augusta and the less training I get in, the less likely I'm going to be able to say that I completed the 70.3.
And with the knowledge of how much time training for the 70.3 has taken away from the family and the fact that Mr. Darcy would like to see a little more of me (which is a good thing in reality) and the girls ages, I know that this is the closest I'll be getting to an IronMan (70.3 or otherwise) in the next few years. After Augusta, I'll be focusing on getting faster at everything but sticking to the Olympic Distance races for awhile. So, I really want to do my best to get my training in... even if I'm limping along.
The irony is that I went to the dentist this morning and after laying in their ergonomic chair while having my teeth cleaned, my legs feel better. Not stiff any more or anything. Of course, it just dawned on me - I also took 3 advil before I went. Hmm. I bet it's the advil.
Tomorrow is a nice long 2500m swim with drills. Let's hope that feels better than today's run did!
I think I may have pulled a muscle in my leg and one near my knee, but nothing is swollen up, so I'll stick with advil and ice for now. If things get worse, I'll see a doctor. I just hate the idea of taking the time out of my day to see the doctor, pay a $20 co-pay and then be told to ice and take advil.
If you took away the leg pain and the wierd clicking noise that either my collarbone or my shoulder were making every now and then, and the rib pain that came and went, I felt pretty good on this morning's run. I kept a pretty steady pace and only walked when I had to because the pain got too bad. But there were stretches of the run where I was able to just ignore the pain, so that was good. I wasn't fast - a 13 minute, 12 second average pace per mile - but I really didn't want to be either. I wanted to just get out there and try to get the mileage done because reality is this it's only a little bit over 2 months until the 70.3 in Augusta and the less training I get in, the less likely I'm going to be able to say that I completed the 70.3.
And with the knowledge of how much time training for the 70.3 has taken away from the family and the fact that Mr. Darcy would like to see a little more of me (which is a good thing in reality) and the girls ages, I know that this is the closest I'll be getting to an IronMan (70.3 or otherwise) in the next few years. After Augusta, I'll be focusing on getting faster at everything but sticking to the Olympic Distance races for awhile. So, I really want to do my best to get my training in... even if I'm limping along.
The irony is that I went to the dentist this morning and after laying in their ergonomic chair while having my teeth cleaned, my legs feel better. Not stiff any more or anything. Of course, it just dawned on me - I also took 3 advil before I went. Hmm. I bet it's the advil.
Tomorrow is a nice long 2500m swim with drills. Let's hope that feels better than today's run did!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
An Odd Morning Run...
My morning run was, well, odd. Actually, the entire morning before I started work was odd.... the run was odd in kind of a bad way, but the morning was odd in kind of a good way.
Last night Ladybug decided she would be a night owl. She was playing in her closet while Angelfish slept, and only was discovered when she came out into the playroom for more toys. But I'm not sure she went to sleep when I turned off the lights and told her it was late at night and she needed her sleep as I tucked her into bed. All I know is she was up late. I caught her at 10 pm as I was headed off to bed myself, and then some hours later (I didn't have my contacts in yesterday) she arrived in our bed and slept the rest of the night with us.
About 5:30 am, Angelfish arrived and wanted to be with her Mommy, who was starting to get ready for her day. Mommy (of course) stopped and snuggled with her for a bit and once Angelfish was sleeping, I returned to getting ready and having my breakfast.
Mr. Darcy, who kept himself up until about 11:30 last night reading his FDR book (he says it's finally gotten good because the war has started), was not motivated to get up and get going this morning. But we had a nice chat and agreed that I would do Team in Training again in the Spring season (which starts in January, I believe) and aim for the St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Pete. Mr. Darcy even agreed that if they'll have me, that I'd like to be a mentor. So fingers crossed! But it took some doing to get Mr. Darcy moving along so I could run.
And then (brace yourselves, or look away for a moment because this may be Too Much Information) as we were talking, I sneezed and pooped at the same time. Clearly not expected and a bit gross and unsettling. I ran off to deal with that situation.
(TMI is over.) Angelfish sprung out of bed and was in a happy, silly mood. Racing herself to the potty, dancing around naked, singing songs, and using her toy stethoscope to pretend her belly was a doctor but that she wasn't. I asked her if she had a nightmare and that was why she slept in Mommy and Daddy's bed. She said, "No. I opened my eyes and I was all alone. Megan not there. Mommy and Daddy not there. I was sleeping on my floor and even Minnie wasn't there. So I decided not to be alone." (She sleeps with a stuffed Minnie Mouse as her lovie, but why she was sleeping on the floor is still a mystery as she didn't seem to know either.) I thought that was pretty good reasoning for a 3 year old!
Ladybug on the other hand was very sleepy and very precious sleeping in our bed. We really do have beautiful children! When I got Ladybug up, the first question she asked was "Are we going to stay all together today?" I had to tell her no, but promised that we'd spend the weekend together. She was OK with that, went potty nicely, and then evidently had a meltdown with Mr. Darcy about wearing shorts and a shirt instead of a dress... and the next thing I see is Mr. Darcy carting a fully dressed Ladybug (in shorts and a shirt) out to the car. Ladybug is wailing and gnashing her teeth. I got Angelfish out to the car by luring her with her bag of muffins and chatting.
Mr. Darcy went back in for the girls socks and shoes and the little ladies and I discussed that sometimes Mommy and Daddy get upset because they don't listen but not just because we're in charge but because we're trying to keep them from getting hurt or to keep them safe. That seemed to calm Ladybug down a bit. Angelfish even gave her example of how she didn't listen the other weekend when she was playing with the rope and she fell down and hit her head (this was back when she got the staples) and that Ladybug gave her a toy flower to make her feel better. The memories these kids have is amazing! I told her that was a very good example.
Then Ladybug told me that she wanted to stay home with me. I told her that it was a school day and that Mommy and Daddy had to go to work. That was when she said, "Angelfish can go to school. I want to stay home with you, Mommy, please." Talk about heart wrenching. I told her that we couldn't do it today but that we would do a Mommy-Daughter day soon. I felt so loved and so torn all at once! But, I'll be looking on the calendar to find a date for us.
Everyone was finally out the door, and I set off on my run. I was supposed to do a 5 mile run alternating easy and hard. And that's what I started out doing. But my back had other plans. I did the 1st mile at a nice pace in Zone 2, and the pain started radiating from my back into my butt and across my quad and down around the base of my knee. I ignored it. Mile 2, I stepped it up trying to run pretty fast but the pain got to be excruciating so I probably wasn't running nearly as fast as I could if I wasn't in pain. Mile 3, I walked at a brisk pace trying to keep my HR up to around 140. I haven't had to walk in a long time and I must say, I didn't like it. I felt like a woosie girl. I knew I could be running but when I tried the pain was so bad I knew I shouldn't run. At this point I decided that 5 miles needed to be turned into 4 miles because I wanted to be able to do a 6 mile run on Sunday during my race and that listening to my body today would let me tear it up on Sunday. But I didn't completely give up. I did my best to run fast (and was at least running in Zone 3) for that last mile. It hurt like hell, but it got done. And I even surprised myself. My time for the entire 4 miles? 47 minutes and 46 seconds. Less than a 12 minute mile pace on average... even though I walked about a mile of it!
So the pain was bad (and still was for a bit afterwards, but seems to have subsided a little bit), but my time was still decent. I wonder what I could do if my back situation was better? The mysteries of it all...
Last night Ladybug decided she would be a night owl. She was playing in her closet while Angelfish slept, and only was discovered when she came out into the playroom for more toys. But I'm not sure she went to sleep when I turned off the lights and told her it was late at night and she needed her sleep as I tucked her into bed. All I know is she was up late. I caught her at 10 pm as I was headed off to bed myself, and then some hours later (I didn't have my contacts in yesterday) she arrived in our bed and slept the rest of the night with us.
About 5:30 am, Angelfish arrived and wanted to be with her Mommy, who was starting to get ready for her day. Mommy (of course) stopped and snuggled with her for a bit and once Angelfish was sleeping, I returned to getting ready and having my breakfast.
Mr. Darcy, who kept himself up until about 11:30 last night reading his FDR book (he says it's finally gotten good because the war has started), was not motivated to get up and get going this morning. But we had a nice chat and agreed that I would do Team in Training again in the Spring season (which starts in January, I believe) and aim for the St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Pete. Mr. Darcy even agreed that if they'll have me, that I'd like to be a mentor. So fingers crossed! But it took some doing to get Mr. Darcy moving along so I could run.
And then (brace yourselves, or look away for a moment because this may be Too Much Information) as we were talking, I sneezed and pooped at the same time. Clearly not expected and a bit gross and unsettling. I ran off to deal with that situation.
(TMI is over.) Angelfish sprung out of bed and was in a happy, silly mood. Racing herself to the potty, dancing around naked, singing songs, and using her toy stethoscope to pretend her belly was a doctor but that she wasn't. I asked her if she had a nightmare and that was why she slept in Mommy and Daddy's bed. She said, "No. I opened my eyes and I was all alone. Megan not there. Mommy and Daddy not there. I was sleeping on my floor and even Minnie wasn't there. So I decided not to be alone." (She sleeps with a stuffed Minnie Mouse as her lovie, but why she was sleeping on the floor is still a mystery as she didn't seem to know either.) I thought that was pretty good reasoning for a 3 year old!
Ladybug on the other hand was very sleepy and very precious sleeping in our bed. We really do have beautiful children! When I got Ladybug up, the first question she asked was "Are we going to stay all together today?" I had to tell her no, but promised that we'd spend the weekend together. She was OK with that, went potty nicely, and then evidently had a meltdown with Mr. Darcy about wearing shorts and a shirt instead of a dress... and the next thing I see is Mr. Darcy carting a fully dressed Ladybug (in shorts and a shirt) out to the car. Ladybug is wailing and gnashing her teeth. I got Angelfish out to the car by luring her with her bag of muffins and chatting.
Mr. Darcy went back in for the girls socks and shoes and the little ladies and I discussed that sometimes Mommy and Daddy get upset because they don't listen but not just because we're in charge but because we're trying to keep them from getting hurt or to keep them safe. That seemed to calm Ladybug down a bit. Angelfish even gave her example of how she didn't listen the other weekend when she was playing with the rope and she fell down and hit her head (this was back when she got the staples) and that Ladybug gave her a toy flower to make her feel better. The memories these kids have is amazing! I told her that was a very good example.
Then Ladybug told me that she wanted to stay home with me. I told her that it was a school day and that Mommy and Daddy had to go to work. That was when she said, "Angelfish can go to school. I want to stay home with you, Mommy, please." Talk about heart wrenching. I told her that we couldn't do it today but that we would do a Mommy-Daughter day soon. I felt so loved and so torn all at once! But, I'll be looking on the calendar to find a date for us.
Everyone was finally out the door, and I set off on my run. I was supposed to do a 5 mile run alternating easy and hard. And that's what I started out doing. But my back had other plans. I did the 1st mile at a nice pace in Zone 2, and the pain started radiating from my back into my butt and across my quad and down around the base of my knee. I ignored it. Mile 2, I stepped it up trying to run pretty fast but the pain got to be excruciating so I probably wasn't running nearly as fast as I could if I wasn't in pain. Mile 3, I walked at a brisk pace trying to keep my HR up to around 140. I haven't had to walk in a long time and I must say, I didn't like it. I felt like a woosie girl. I knew I could be running but when I tried the pain was so bad I knew I shouldn't run. At this point I decided that 5 miles needed to be turned into 4 miles because I wanted to be able to do a 6 mile run on Sunday during my race and that listening to my body today would let me tear it up on Sunday. But I didn't completely give up. I did my best to run fast (and was at least running in Zone 3) for that last mile. It hurt like hell, but it got done. And I even surprised myself. My time for the entire 4 miles? 47 minutes and 46 seconds. Less than a 12 minute mile pace on average... even though I walked about a mile of it!
So the pain was bad (and still was for a bit afterwards, but seems to have subsided a little bit), but my time was still decent. I wonder what I could do if my back situation was better? The mysteries of it all...
Monday, July 6, 2009
Fun, Fireworks, and Mondays
The 4th of July weekend was, all in all, a good one. We had a lot of fun, despite the obstinancy of little Ms. Ladybug on several occasions and a few non-functioning sets of "listening ears" for Ms. Angelfish here and there. And now it is back to work as it's Monday, yet again.
Friday I woke early and got on the bike for what was intended to be a 40 mile bike and a 3 mile run. I rode a little in the neighborhood before hitting the closed road near the neighborhood, which was fun because no one was up yet. I even rode the traffic circle, which I'm always wanting to do but too fearful for my life most days. Very fun! At first my legs were stiff (due to my lovely stiff back), but they eventually loosened up right around mile 10. Then it really started getting fun until around mile 18, when I began having... ummm... seat issues. This is a bit of a delicate matter that many female cyclists have issues with and we tend to go through different seats trying to fix the problem. By mile 23, I was in such pain that I could not get in aero without involuntarily starting to cry from the pain. So, I stopped and left a message for Coach asking if she had any suggestions (other than purchasing a different bike seat as that wouldn't help in the midst of my ride). I took a breather for a bit - probably about 10 minutes - to let the area decompress a little and then started again. The first length of the loop I probably only pedalled about 60% of the way trying to get myself comfortable again. I don't know what happened but either my brain turned off the pain censor or my nerve endings had it and weren't functioning anymore, but all of a sudden I could pedal and get back into aero. I couldn't go super fast, but I could go at an average of 15 mph.
Right at 37.5 miles, I am doing great and excited about the fact that this is the longest ride of my life (the next longest being 30 miles) and that I'm almost at the 40 mile mark and I'm going 19 mph and sustaining it when I hear SHHHHUUUUUUSSSSHHHH from my front tire and see a rock bouncing away. Yup. Flat tire. At this point, I'm just tired and as I get off the bike my nether regions start complaining again. I decide I'll fix the flat tomorrow and call Mr. Darcy to come and get me. After I call a nice married couple who I've seen riding on the closed road a time or two stop to help and chat. They were wonderful and the husband changed my flat for me. It was great and I got to watch (since I'm still a newbie to the tire changing techiniques) how to change a tire again. He finished right as Mr. Darcy pulled up. I told Mr. Darcy the situation and he said "do you want to ride home to finish the 40 miles?" He said he really didn't mind, so I "raced" him home. I got all 40 miles in and felt great - until I got off the bike and had some uncomfortable pain due to my seat issues and decided that there would be no 3 mile run. Not because my legs and lungs couldn't handle it, but because I was afraid my other areas couldn't handle it.
And right then Coach called with the news that she would email me with the name of the bike seat that two other ladies on the team have used with seeming success and that comes with a 90 day (or 180 day, not sure which) return policy... it doesn't fix your seat issues, you get all your money back. Not cheap from what I understand, but if it can prevent the excruciating pain I was experiencing, then well worth the money.
But I made up for not going on the run with at trip to Sea World. Walking around carrying a 30 pound child should count for something!
Saturday we played around the house, went to the pool, took naps, and headed to see the fireworks. Ladybug woke up ornery from her nap - insisting she was right about everything and that she was in charge. Not so much fun. Luckily she settled down before the fireworks, and we had a nice time seeing the pretty explosions. Even Angelfish enjoyed them a little bit. She admitted they were pretty but declared that they were just too loud for her to like them. Angelfish has very sensitive ears and extremely good hearing, so fireworks are not fun for her delicate ears - even when Mommy or Daddy cover her ears while she covers them too. Next year, I'm thinking industrial strength ear plugs.
Sunday I woke early and contended with small people out of bed at 5:45 am (much to early for them... I was about to go run), got them a little bit settled, leaving Mr. Darcy in charge and went for a 4 mile run. The chiropractor gave me a little lift to use in my left shoe while my back is a little out of wack still - my right leg is longer at the moment than the left. I had a lot less pain than I have been, although I still had some toward the end. But, I was able to run comfortable at a 12.11 mile pace for the 4 miles. Not fast, I know, but getting faster at least.
Afterwards, we went to the Central Florida Zoo with friends of ours and their little ones. We had a nice time even if it was hot as hades. We got there a little after opening time hoping to avoid the heat. Saw some cool animals, which the girls liked - even the poisonous reptiles section. Ladybug kept saying in an incredulous (but not fearful) voice "it's looking right at me!" about a West African Green Mamba (even when it wasn't). Angelfish liked the blue frogs but was nervous that they might get out of the cage and poison her. She liked the elephants much better. I think they liked their popscicles and the splash pad at the zoo the best, though. Then it was home and naps and Mr. Darcy cleaning the garage out (and deciding to put all of our stuff to donate in the back of my car creating a very cluttered and somewhat stressful environment to my car - although admittedly the garage looks great).
This Monday I returned to the pool. It's a recovery week, so it was only a 1200 m swim. 2 x 100 m of it was breathing every 5 strokes. I had to laugh because the first 2 1/2 lengths of the pool breathing every 5 was ok, but then it would start to burn a little for the rest of the way. But, I was able to do it so I was pleased. And even happier to go back to breathing every 3 strokes like I am accustomed to doing for my 500 m swims. It felt odd to get out of the pool after only 1200 meters, but Coach warned against adding distance or extra exercise to this week since it is supposed to be a recovery week. Tomorrow is a 25 mile bike, so let's hope my seat issues have abated enough to let me handle it!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend full of fireworks and fun! Now get back to work! HAHAHA!
Friday I woke early and got on the bike for what was intended to be a 40 mile bike and a 3 mile run. I rode a little in the neighborhood before hitting the closed road near the neighborhood, which was fun because no one was up yet. I even rode the traffic circle, which I'm always wanting to do but too fearful for my life most days. Very fun! At first my legs were stiff (due to my lovely stiff back), but they eventually loosened up right around mile 10. Then it really started getting fun until around mile 18, when I began having... ummm... seat issues. This is a bit of a delicate matter that many female cyclists have issues with and we tend to go through different seats trying to fix the problem. By mile 23, I was in such pain that I could not get in aero without involuntarily starting to cry from the pain. So, I stopped and left a message for Coach asking if she had any suggestions (other than purchasing a different bike seat as that wouldn't help in the midst of my ride). I took a breather for a bit - probably about 10 minutes - to let the area decompress a little and then started again. The first length of the loop I probably only pedalled about 60% of the way trying to get myself comfortable again. I don't know what happened but either my brain turned off the pain censor or my nerve endings had it and weren't functioning anymore, but all of a sudden I could pedal and get back into aero. I couldn't go super fast, but I could go at an average of 15 mph.
Right at 37.5 miles, I am doing great and excited about the fact that this is the longest ride of my life (the next longest being 30 miles) and that I'm almost at the 40 mile mark and I'm going 19 mph and sustaining it when I hear SHHHHUUUUUUSSSSHHHH from my front tire and see a rock bouncing away. Yup. Flat tire. At this point, I'm just tired and as I get off the bike my nether regions start complaining again. I decide I'll fix the flat tomorrow and call Mr. Darcy to come and get me. After I call a nice married couple who I've seen riding on the closed road a time or two stop to help and chat. They were wonderful and the husband changed my flat for me. It was great and I got to watch (since I'm still a newbie to the tire changing techiniques) how to change a tire again. He finished right as Mr. Darcy pulled up. I told Mr. Darcy the situation and he said "do you want to ride home to finish the 40 miles?" He said he really didn't mind, so I "raced" him home. I got all 40 miles in and felt great - until I got off the bike and had some uncomfortable pain due to my seat issues and decided that there would be no 3 mile run. Not because my legs and lungs couldn't handle it, but because I was afraid my other areas couldn't handle it.
And right then Coach called with the news that she would email me with the name of the bike seat that two other ladies on the team have used with seeming success and that comes with a 90 day (or 180 day, not sure which) return policy... it doesn't fix your seat issues, you get all your money back. Not cheap from what I understand, but if it can prevent the excruciating pain I was experiencing, then well worth the money.
But I made up for not going on the run with at trip to Sea World. Walking around carrying a 30 pound child should count for something!
Saturday we played around the house, went to the pool, took naps, and headed to see the fireworks. Ladybug woke up ornery from her nap - insisting she was right about everything and that she was in charge. Not so much fun. Luckily she settled down before the fireworks, and we had a nice time seeing the pretty explosions. Even Angelfish enjoyed them a little bit. She admitted they were pretty but declared that they were just too loud for her to like them. Angelfish has very sensitive ears and extremely good hearing, so fireworks are not fun for her delicate ears - even when Mommy or Daddy cover her ears while she covers them too. Next year, I'm thinking industrial strength ear plugs.
Sunday I woke early and contended with small people out of bed at 5:45 am (much to early for them... I was about to go run), got them a little bit settled, leaving Mr. Darcy in charge and went for a 4 mile run. The chiropractor gave me a little lift to use in my left shoe while my back is a little out of wack still - my right leg is longer at the moment than the left. I had a lot less pain than I have been, although I still had some toward the end. But, I was able to run comfortable at a 12.11 mile pace for the 4 miles. Not fast, I know, but getting faster at least.
Afterwards, we went to the Central Florida Zoo with friends of ours and their little ones. We had a nice time even if it was hot as hades. We got there a little after opening time hoping to avoid the heat. Saw some cool animals, which the girls liked - even the poisonous reptiles section. Ladybug kept saying in an incredulous (but not fearful) voice "it's looking right at me!" about a West African Green Mamba (even when it wasn't). Angelfish liked the blue frogs but was nervous that they might get out of the cage and poison her. She liked the elephants much better. I think they liked their popscicles and the splash pad at the zoo the best, though. Then it was home and naps and Mr. Darcy cleaning the garage out (and deciding to put all of our stuff to donate in the back of my car creating a very cluttered and somewhat stressful environment to my car - although admittedly the garage looks great).
This Monday I returned to the pool. It's a recovery week, so it was only a 1200 m swim. 2 x 100 m of it was breathing every 5 strokes. I had to laugh because the first 2 1/2 lengths of the pool breathing every 5 was ok, but then it would start to burn a little for the rest of the way. But, I was able to do it so I was pleased. And even happier to go back to breathing every 3 strokes like I am accustomed to doing for my 500 m swims. It felt odd to get out of the pool after only 1200 meters, but Coach warned against adding distance or extra exercise to this week since it is supposed to be a recovery week. Tomorrow is a 25 mile bike, so let's hope my seat issues have abated enough to let me handle it!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend full of fireworks and fun! Now get back to work! HAHAHA!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday it is.
Last night I had a lovely time at dinner with a good friend from Atlanta who is in town for work. It was so wonderful catching up, talking about how hot it is here in Orlando, and how we miss each other living in different states now. In the course of conversation, my 70.3 came up. And she and our other good friend have decided that they are going to go to Augusta for the race! I couldn't be more excited! The three of us had been as thick as theives pretty much ever since we met one another at a sorority alumnae association meeting in Atlanta about 8 years ago. You know this is the truth because the rest of the alumnae association referred to us as "the triplets" after a short time and we adopted the name for ourselves. Half the time we showed up wearing the same color top as one another without even talking to one another that day. So to say the least, it was extremely hard to leave them in Atlanta when we moved to Orlando. So happiness abounds.
Unfortunately, the tapas place we ate at, while good going down was not necessarily so good to me the rest of the night. It has stayed down but must have been greasy without my knowing it because my stomach this morning almost rejected my oatmeal square cereal which is my absolute favorite cereal in the entire world (and is actually good for you too). But survive I did.
After soothing the savage beast that was Ladybug this morning (she again is keeping herself up late... I heard something that sounded like a sheet being fluffed in our living room around 10:30 pm. I wander out to see Ladybug making a little "bed" for herself on the floor! I told her she needed to go to bed and go to sleep and she picked up her sheet, said "come on bear" and grabbed her white teddy bear and headed back to her room.), got Angelfish dressed and properly loved on, and everyone out the door, I headed off for my 4 mile run. Today I was supposed to run mile 1 as a warm up and it was to be my slowest of the 4 miles. The rest of the miles were to be in zone 3. I'm running along somewhere in the midst of the 2nd-3rd mile definitely in zone 3 and this guy who I have seen running around the neighborhood PASSES me. For whatever reason, the fact that this guy passed me really got my hackles up (like I own the sidewalk or something). I tried to run a bit faster but the man was too fast for me. It was mildly depressing but then I reminded myself that while I'm not that fast of a runner that I can get it done, which in the end is all that matters. I also reminded myself that I was doing great being out there with pain in my leg and lower back and running in zone 3.
Well, it all paid off. I know I ran my 1st mile pretty slowly, and while I'm not sure what my other miles worked out to be time wise for each, but my average pace for all 4 miles was 10 minutes and 37 seconds. I was thrilled!
Now it is a full day of work and trying to put together my to do list of things that needs to be done around the house, for the girls' birthday party, etc. I'm already on #23 and I think I'm leaving some stuff off. Some of it is stuff that really doesn't have to happen this week, but I'd sure like it to.
Of course, maybe I need to try to lessen my stress levels. Yesterday I went for my 1st blood pressure check of the week at the doctor's office and it was 136/90. Not good. Now the doctor wants me to have the rest of them checked at the fire station so they can see if I'm fearful of the doctor's office. I teased the nurse that if the firefighters are too attractive my blood pressure might go up too. She thought that was pretty funny. Bascially though, they're threatening me with blood pressure medicine. Just what I need, another thing to show I'm getting older. I'm not old though. I'm only approaching my mid-30s but right now I'm feeling like I have the body of an elderly person. But this too shall pass. Tomorrow I have to get my blood work done for my cholesterol levels - also in response to a threat for cholesterol lowering medicine.
Bad genetics are not fun. I hope I didn't pass all this on to the little ladies. But better to have life (even with silly genetics) than not... and I did get a lot of great genetics too. I'm just hoping that they will have more of the great ones than the not so great ones. Either way, we'll have to make the best of it!
Unfortunately, the tapas place we ate at, while good going down was not necessarily so good to me the rest of the night. It has stayed down but must have been greasy without my knowing it because my stomach this morning almost rejected my oatmeal square cereal which is my absolute favorite cereal in the entire world (and is actually good for you too). But survive I did.
After soothing the savage beast that was Ladybug this morning (she again is keeping herself up late... I heard something that sounded like a sheet being fluffed in our living room around 10:30 pm. I wander out to see Ladybug making a little "bed" for herself on the floor! I told her she needed to go to bed and go to sleep and she picked up her sheet, said "come on bear" and grabbed her white teddy bear and headed back to her room.), got Angelfish dressed and properly loved on, and everyone out the door, I headed off for my 4 mile run. Today I was supposed to run mile 1 as a warm up and it was to be my slowest of the 4 miles. The rest of the miles were to be in zone 3. I'm running along somewhere in the midst of the 2nd-3rd mile definitely in zone 3 and this guy who I have seen running around the neighborhood PASSES me. For whatever reason, the fact that this guy passed me really got my hackles up (like I own the sidewalk or something). I tried to run a bit faster but the man was too fast for me. It was mildly depressing but then I reminded myself that while I'm not that fast of a runner that I can get it done, which in the end is all that matters. I also reminded myself that I was doing great being out there with pain in my leg and lower back and running in zone 3.
Well, it all paid off. I know I ran my 1st mile pretty slowly, and while I'm not sure what my other miles worked out to be time wise for each, but my average pace for all 4 miles was 10 minutes and 37 seconds. I was thrilled!
Now it is a full day of work and trying to put together my to do list of things that needs to be done around the house, for the girls' birthday party, etc. I'm already on #23 and I think I'm leaving some stuff off. Some of it is stuff that really doesn't have to happen this week, but I'd sure like it to.
Of course, maybe I need to try to lessen my stress levels. Yesterday I went for my 1st blood pressure check of the week at the doctor's office and it was 136/90. Not good. Now the doctor wants me to have the rest of them checked at the fire station so they can see if I'm fearful of the doctor's office. I teased the nurse that if the firefighters are too attractive my blood pressure might go up too. She thought that was pretty funny. Bascially though, they're threatening me with blood pressure medicine. Just what I need, another thing to show I'm getting older. I'm not old though. I'm only approaching my mid-30s but right now I'm feeling like I have the body of an elderly person. But this too shall pass. Tomorrow I have to get my blood work done for my cholesterol levels - also in response to a threat for cholesterol lowering medicine.
Bad genetics are not fun. I hope I didn't pass all this on to the little ladies. But better to have life (even with silly genetics) than not... and I did get a lot of great genetics too. I'm just hoping that they will have more of the great ones than the not so great ones. Either way, we'll have to make the best of it!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Weekend and its End
The weekend, I have to say, was downright lovely. After a rather serious talk about life, etc. with Mr. Darcy Friday night I eventually had folded the laundry, put it away and got some shut eye. Saturday morning I woke to run the longest I have ever run in my life... 8 entire miles without stopping. It took me 1:49.56 to complete, but in defense of my slowness I purposely ran slowly to ensure that my back could handle it so I could, in fact, complete all 8 miles and not be completely stiff for the rest of the day. I hope to get faster as my back gets better. From Friday's chiro appointment, I learned that the reason I sometimes have felt like my upper body is angled like this slash / is because my sacrum/hip has for some reason rotated that way and all these adjustments are not only to help with my lower back situation at large but to un-rotate me. Perhaps this is why I was having such pains in my legs when running... the aha moment arrives.
I was completely thrilled with my run even if averaging over 13 minutes a mile. I really didn't care (although now I am wanting to be faster... always the little perfectionist despite not being a natural runner... or even liking to run until about 2 months ago when I decided it was acceptable and sometimes even relaxing although I haven't hit the "fun" part yet). The 2nd 4 miles actually seemed easier than the 1st 4 miles and I got to a point where I wanted to run faster but when I would I'd hit zone 3 on the HR monitor and try to reign myself back in to protect my back, etc. I did have a little bit of leg pain while running, but it wasn't terrible and easily enough ignorable. So I was pleased as punch.
And, I had gotten up at 5:30 am (starting while the sun was down and watched it rise on the run is pretty enjoyable actually) so we had plenty of time to shower, get the girls ready, talk to my parents on the phone and then go to the Winter Park Farmer's Market. It was smaller than I thought it would be, but perfectly enjoyable. I got some good pictures, including one of Ladybug with a yellow pepper that makes me smile (and that I forgot to email to myself to share). But let me tell you... it was hot. Hotter than hot. Hotter than Hades. It was in the 90s that MORNING and only got hotter. When Angelfish, Ladybug, Mr. Darcy and I get very hot, we get ornery. We eventually bought the girls some Italian ice to cool them off and headed to get some lunch. Indoors. Poor Amanda's cheeks were almost as red as her hair. I sometimes forget that she is so fair with her redhair and thus gets hotter a bit faster. It was amusing to hear the guy selling us the Italian Ice tell us that Angelfish was feisty. We blame it on her red hair, but I think it's just her personality.
After lunch we decided to head home. But the girls fell asleep in the car, so we ended up going to Publix. Mr. Darcy napped in the car with the girls (and the air condition blasting) while I went in to order the birthday cakes and the nugget platter for the girls' birthday party coming up this Saturday. I about fell over when I looked at the cake prices... If I had gone with my original plan of 2 separate 1/4 sheet cakes with the princess toys on it that the girls have been asking for for an entire month it would have been $60 for cake. Let's just say that I am not willing to spend $60 on cake for a birthday for two 3 year olds. Sheryl, the woman working at the bakery, was awesome. I still spent $40 on cake, but it was at least a lot more acceptable to me than $60. I want Angelfish and Ladybug to have some individuality with their birthday so I wanted a separate cake that was for each of them (but to be shared with partygoers of course). They have these cute little 5" cakes that feed 4 adults and probably about 8 toddlers.
The little ladies have been clamoring for a Sleeping Beauty cake for Angelfish and a Cinderella cake for Ladybug ever since attending their cousin's birthday party who had a doll baked into the cake so the cake was essentially the doll's skirt. I have a feeling that they think this is what they asked for, but unfortunately it is decidedly not what they are getting. Instead they're getting the cute little 5" cakes - one with pink roses and draping (like princess Aurora's dress) and one with light blue roses and draping (like Cinderella's dress) that will have a $4 plastic doll of each princess that I will either place on top or next to the cake. Then a 1/4 sheet cake that says "Happy Birthday Angelfish and Ladybug" with pink roses and light blue draping. Enough cake for all the attendees, $20 less and the best that Mommy can do in the situation. Call me cheap, call me whatever, but I am not a Mommy who believes that birthdays for children should be more than a celebration of your life and realizes that the purpose of cake was originally to remind us of the sweetness of life NOT to impress our friends. Plus my savings pretty much paid for the nugget platter which I ordered, despite Mr. Darcy's suggestion that we merely purchase bags of nuggets and cook them all ourselves the morning of the party. I think getting everyone organized, dressed, picking up the cakes, setting up the party at the park, and getting the party going (with the Birthday Girls in attendance) on time is going to be hard enough! The Mommy Veto Power was exercised on that one!
It's hard to believe that my little ones are going to be 3. For Father's Day we got Mr. Darcy a gallery picture frames set because he had mentioned he'd like to have more pictures of the girls and family up in the house instead of just artwork. It's a beautiful set really, and he loved it (yay). So last night, we looked through all of the myriad of digital photos that we've taken over the past year and it is amazing how much our girls have grown up in such a short time. They went from baby faces to almost little girl faces. They've grown so much taller and bigger.
I can remember when they were first born and were only 5 pounds 10 ounces and 6 pounds 8 ounces and were these tiny pink things that were so sweet and helpless. Now they can climb furniture and cabinetry to get bandaids, cups, and anything else that you've told them they cannot have but want; they help me make pancakes and eggs for their Daddy for Father's Day and draw pictures, identify letters and know the first letter of their names. (Angelfish calls the first letter of her name "MY letter.") They want to know what words say and sit with books making up stories to the pictures. They have moods and thoughts and tell you that people aren't very nice when their behaviour isn't correct. (In fact last weekend we were in the grocery and the girls were sitting in the cart chatting and these high school age girls walked by. One of them said to the other "Shut up!" And Angelfish said, "We don't say that!" To which Ladybug answered, "We say please be quiet." Mr. Darcy and I were rolling in the aisle - almost literally - with laughter, and of course told them they were absolutely right.) They have wonderful sense of humor and are curious about all things, and walk around smelling flowers with abandon or stop to look at an earthworm or bug (unless it's ants where they say "ants. Don't bite us!" and back up - Ladybug stepped in an ant hill several months ago and had 20 bites around her ankle. We discovered she is NOT allergic to ants, thank goodness.)
They are not little babies anymore. They are my sweet, intelligent girls though, even with their rants and tantrums that come with being 3 and frustrated about not being in charge. I hope I am a good enough Mommy to them, for I want them to be happy and healthy all their days.
They are super excited about their birthday party. I don't know what they expect, but they've been to a few birthday parties for their school friends and their cousin so they know that birthday parties are fun and involve presents. I think they'll have a good time. We're having it at a park with a playground and a water fountain that is meant for playing in, which they love. So hopefully all will go well and it will not be too hot. They're also very excited about Nanna and Poppop and Grammie and Papa coming to the party and staying with us too. Mommy's pretty excited about it as well. Nanna's job messed up and gave her Thursday through Monday off so this will be a nice long visit instead of a 1 1/2 day jaunt. YAY!
Anyway, back to Saturday. We also got the girls' passport applications filed and the girls requested yellow passports instead of the standard issue blue, which made us all laugh. I loved it when the passport person asked Ladybug if she had blue eyes. Ladybug said "yes" and kept playing with the pen and paper she had. The woman asked her to look at her and Ladybug looked up and gave her the most beautiful smile, and the woman told us she had the most beautiful blue eyes and smile she had seen in a long time. Then it was Angelfish's turn and she asked Angelfish if she had blue eyes too. Angelfish looked at her, gave her a big smile and said "yes, like Mommy and sister but not Daddy!" (As you might have guessed, Mr. Darcy does not have blue eyes.) We all had a good chuckle and the woman said how beautiful Angelfish was too.
Then Chuckie Cheese with Auntie L, Mr. S. and their little one. It was fun but chaos. We'll do something like play at the pool next time. We had a great time but we were chasing small people all over the place and didn't get to socialize as much as we would have liked. But a good time was had by all.
After that Mommy and Mr. Darcy had a date night. The babysitter arrived just as we were serving the girls one of their favorite dinners - fish sticks, green beans and applesauce. As usual, the green beans were left on their plates, but the rest was eaten. One of these days they'll eat their veggies! We went to Outback Steakhouse, where we haven't been in forever and a day. It was nice and relaxing and happy hour. But, we've realized that we're old because when the waiter brought the 2nd drink we said "we didn't order that" and he said "it's 2 for 1 happy hour" like we were mad, crazy people. Our first thought was well, if it's free then OK. Our 2nd thought was we had no clue it was happy hour. Old. Oh well, I guess it was going to happen sometime.
Then we went to see "The Proposal." Primarily because there was nothing else to do and no other movies really grabbed either of us. So I just said, let's see that. We both really enjoyed it. Very funny movie - in fact in one part, I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard at a movie. I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard. Quite the nice surprise.
Father's Day was fun too. I woke up with the girls (who miraculously slept until about 8 am) and we made Daddy pancakes and eggs while he slept in. Angelfish and Ladybug got Daddy "Kung Fu Panda" so we watched that and then the girls took a nap and so did we! Then we lazed around and Daddy watched a little bit of golf on TV and then let the girls watch "The Backyardigans" and "Little Einstein." Then we went for pizza and to the pool for a bit. A nice time was had by all!
This morning, it was hard to get up though. Monday reared it's head again with Mr. Darcy on a day trip for a project and Ladybug grumpy as ever (probably has something to do with her staying up until 11 pm claiming she couldn't sleep). But all were calmed, loved on, fed and dressed. Eventually. I got a late start for my 2000 m swim, but it all worked out. It was a ladder today, which was kind of fun. A 100 warm up and then a 50 sprint, a 100 moderate, then 200 and 300 both moderate, an easy 400 (which I think I swam more moderate than easy out of habit - I started easy but ended up fast), another 300 then a 200 moderate, a 100 sprint and a 50 sprint. Then a 200 cool down. I had a lot of fun with it! Even if I was worried about the guy in the next lane whose swimming was more like a concerted effort at not drowning (and kept his head above the water the entire time) and then an elderly lady decided that she would get in my lane and walk the pool while holding on to the edge but got in right in front of me as I was swimming somewhat quickly. Luckily, I found my googles and could see properly today and I was able to avoid a collision.
Nack to the grindstone today... but I'm having dinner with a wonderful friend who is in town for work. So I can't wait!
I was completely thrilled with my run even if averaging over 13 minutes a mile. I really didn't care (although now I am wanting to be faster... always the little perfectionist despite not being a natural runner... or even liking to run until about 2 months ago when I decided it was acceptable and sometimes even relaxing although I haven't hit the "fun" part yet). The 2nd 4 miles actually seemed easier than the 1st 4 miles and I got to a point where I wanted to run faster but when I would I'd hit zone 3 on the HR monitor and try to reign myself back in to protect my back, etc. I did have a little bit of leg pain while running, but it wasn't terrible and easily enough ignorable. So I was pleased as punch.
And, I had gotten up at 5:30 am (starting while the sun was down and watched it rise on the run is pretty enjoyable actually) so we had plenty of time to shower, get the girls ready, talk to my parents on the phone and then go to the Winter Park Farmer's Market. It was smaller than I thought it would be, but perfectly enjoyable. I got some good pictures, including one of Ladybug with a yellow pepper that makes me smile (and that I forgot to email to myself to share). But let me tell you... it was hot. Hotter than hot. Hotter than Hades. It was in the 90s that MORNING and only got hotter. When Angelfish, Ladybug, Mr. Darcy and I get very hot, we get ornery. We eventually bought the girls some Italian ice to cool them off and headed to get some lunch. Indoors. Poor Amanda's cheeks were almost as red as her hair. I sometimes forget that she is so fair with her redhair and thus gets hotter a bit faster. It was amusing to hear the guy selling us the Italian Ice tell us that Angelfish was feisty. We blame it on her red hair, but I think it's just her personality.
After lunch we decided to head home. But the girls fell asleep in the car, so we ended up going to Publix. Mr. Darcy napped in the car with the girls (and the air condition blasting) while I went in to order the birthday cakes and the nugget platter for the girls' birthday party coming up this Saturday. I about fell over when I looked at the cake prices... If I had gone with my original plan of 2 separate 1/4 sheet cakes with the princess toys on it that the girls have been asking for for an entire month it would have been $60 for cake. Let's just say that I am not willing to spend $60 on cake for a birthday for two 3 year olds. Sheryl, the woman working at the bakery, was awesome. I still spent $40 on cake, but it was at least a lot more acceptable to me than $60. I want Angelfish and Ladybug to have some individuality with their birthday so I wanted a separate cake that was for each of them (but to be shared with partygoers of course). They have these cute little 5" cakes that feed 4 adults and probably about 8 toddlers.
The little ladies have been clamoring for a Sleeping Beauty cake for Angelfish and a Cinderella cake for Ladybug ever since attending their cousin's birthday party who had a doll baked into the cake so the cake was essentially the doll's skirt. I have a feeling that they think this is what they asked for, but unfortunately it is decidedly not what they are getting. Instead they're getting the cute little 5" cakes - one with pink roses and draping (like princess Aurora's dress) and one with light blue roses and draping (like Cinderella's dress) that will have a $4 plastic doll of each princess that I will either place on top or next to the cake. Then a 1/4 sheet cake that says "Happy Birthday Angelfish and Ladybug" with pink roses and light blue draping. Enough cake for all the attendees, $20 less and the best that Mommy can do in the situation. Call me cheap, call me whatever, but I am not a Mommy who believes that birthdays for children should be more than a celebration of your life and realizes that the purpose of cake was originally to remind us of the sweetness of life NOT to impress our friends. Plus my savings pretty much paid for the nugget platter which I ordered, despite Mr. Darcy's suggestion that we merely purchase bags of nuggets and cook them all ourselves the morning of the party. I think getting everyone organized, dressed, picking up the cakes, setting up the party at the park, and getting the party going (with the Birthday Girls in attendance) on time is going to be hard enough! The Mommy Veto Power was exercised on that one!
It's hard to believe that my little ones are going to be 3. For Father's Day we got Mr. Darcy a gallery picture frames set because he had mentioned he'd like to have more pictures of the girls and family up in the house instead of just artwork. It's a beautiful set really, and he loved it (yay). So last night, we looked through all of the myriad of digital photos that we've taken over the past year and it is amazing how much our girls have grown up in such a short time. They went from baby faces to almost little girl faces. They've grown so much taller and bigger.
I can remember when they were first born and were only 5 pounds 10 ounces and 6 pounds 8 ounces and were these tiny pink things that were so sweet and helpless. Now they can climb furniture and cabinetry to get bandaids, cups, and anything else that you've told them they cannot have but want; they help me make pancakes and eggs for their Daddy for Father's Day and draw pictures, identify letters and know the first letter of their names. (Angelfish calls the first letter of her name "MY letter.") They want to know what words say and sit with books making up stories to the pictures. They have moods and thoughts and tell you that people aren't very nice when their behaviour isn't correct. (In fact last weekend we were in the grocery and the girls were sitting in the cart chatting and these high school age girls walked by. One of them said to the other "Shut up!" And Angelfish said, "We don't say that!" To which Ladybug answered, "We say please be quiet." Mr. Darcy and I were rolling in the aisle - almost literally - with laughter, and of course told them they were absolutely right.) They have wonderful sense of humor and are curious about all things, and walk around smelling flowers with abandon or stop to look at an earthworm or bug (unless it's ants where they say "ants. Don't bite us!" and back up - Ladybug stepped in an ant hill several months ago and had 20 bites around her ankle. We discovered she is NOT allergic to ants, thank goodness.)
They are not little babies anymore. They are my sweet, intelligent girls though, even with their rants and tantrums that come with being 3 and frustrated about not being in charge. I hope I am a good enough Mommy to them, for I want them to be happy and healthy all their days.
They are super excited about their birthday party. I don't know what they expect, but they've been to a few birthday parties for their school friends and their cousin so they know that birthday parties are fun and involve presents. I think they'll have a good time. We're having it at a park with a playground and a water fountain that is meant for playing in, which they love. So hopefully all will go well and it will not be too hot. They're also very excited about Nanna and Poppop and Grammie and Papa coming to the party and staying with us too. Mommy's pretty excited about it as well. Nanna's job messed up and gave her Thursday through Monday off so this will be a nice long visit instead of a 1 1/2 day jaunt. YAY!
Anyway, back to Saturday. We also got the girls' passport applications filed and the girls requested yellow passports instead of the standard issue blue, which made us all laugh. I loved it when the passport person asked Ladybug if she had blue eyes. Ladybug said "yes" and kept playing with the pen and paper she had. The woman asked her to look at her and Ladybug looked up and gave her the most beautiful smile, and the woman told us she had the most beautiful blue eyes and smile she had seen in a long time. Then it was Angelfish's turn and she asked Angelfish if she had blue eyes too. Angelfish looked at her, gave her a big smile and said "yes, like Mommy and sister but not Daddy!" (As you might have guessed, Mr. Darcy does not have blue eyes.) We all had a good chuckle and the woman said how beautiful Angelfish was too.
Then Chuckie Cheese with Auntie L, Mr. S. and their little one. It was fun but chaos. We'll do something like play at the pool next time. We had a great time but we were chasing small people all over the place and didn't get to socialize as much as we would have liked. But a good time was had by all.
After that Mommy and Mr. Darcy had a date night. The babysitter arrived just as we were serving the girls one of their favorite dinners - fish sticks, green beans and applesauce. As usual, the green beans were left on their plates, but the rest was eaten. One of these days they'll eat their veggies! We went to Outback Steakhouse, where we haven't been in forever and a day. It was nice and relaxing and happy hour. But, we've realized that we're old because when the waiter brought the 2nd drink we said "we didn't order that" and he said "it's 2 for 1 happy hour" like we were mad, crazy people. Our first thought was well, if it's free then OK. Our 2nd thought was we had no clue it was happy hour. Old. Oh well, I guess it was going to happen sometime.
Then we went to see "The Proposal." Primarily because there was nothing else to do and no other movies really grabbed either of us. So I just said, let's see that. We both really enjoyed it. Very funny movie - in fact in one part, I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard at a movie. I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard. Quite the nice surprise.
Father's Day was fun too. I woke up with the girls (who miraculously slept until about 8 am) and we made Daddy pancakes and eggs while he slept in. Angelfish and Ladybug got Daddy "Kung Fu Panda" so we watched that and then the girls took a nap and so did we! Then we lazed around and Daddy watched a little bit of golf on TV and then let the girls watch "The Backyardigans" and "Little Einstein." Then we went for pizza and to the pool for a bit. A nice time was had by all!
This morning, it was hard to get up though. Monday reared it's head again with Mr. Darcy on a day trip for a project and Ladybug grumpy as ever (probably has something to do with her staying up until 11 pm claiming she couldn't sleep). But all were calmed, loved on, fed and dressed. Eventually. I got a late start for my 2000 m swim, but it all worked out. It was a ladder today, which was kind of fun. A 100 warm up and then a 50 sprint, a 100 moderate, then 200 and 300 both moderate, an easy 400 (which I think I swam more moderate than easy out of habit - I started easy but ended up fast), another 300 then a 200 moderate, a 100 sprint and a 50 sprint. Then a 200 cool down. I had a lot of fun with it! Even if I was worried about the guy in the next lane whose swimming was more like a concerted effort at not drowning (and kept his head above the water the entire time) and then an elderly lady decided that she would get in my lane and walk the pool while holding on to the edge but got in right in front of me as I was swimming somewhat quickly. Luckily, I found my googles and could see properly today and I was able to avoid a collision.
Nack to the grindstone today... but I'm having dinner with a wonderful friend who is in town for work. So I can't wait!
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