The week in pictures...

I sent in my athletic resume into Brooks.  It's pretty laughable: I had no idea what to put on it.

I normally don't take baths but a good friend sent this to me and well it couldn't be more accurate.  It is soon to be tested.

First decent ride in a long time and it was 2 hours: double bonus.  Ya, two hours is a big deal these days.  I'm dreaming of the days were 3 is normal and weekends are 5-6+.  Crazy but true.  Cooper and I are that good of pals.  Maybe it took the power going out to get me to focus on cadence.  Thankfully it wasn't out too long and I was back to being distracted by the TV.

My parents are soon to return from almost a month long adventure in Burma/Myanmar.  I just finished making my dad a cupcake brownie for his bday last weekend.  It will be on the counter waiting for him when I pick them up from the airport.

Watching the Super Bowl!

4 Weeks

I can't believe 4 weeks from today I will be recovering from the Carl Touchstone 50 Mile Train Run in Laurel, MS.  I have no clear thoughts.  My mind is jumbled.  What am I doing?  Things are jumping around in my head like never before.  I have reached that point where I think I will finish it but am also realizing that there isn't enough time left to turn think into know.  Then again I've put in the time and miles so it's going to happen it's just a matter of how pretty is it going to be.  I'm not a graceful person, but still I don't like sloppy and clumsy finishes.  That's just not how I roll.  I'm excited but boy am I in way over my head!

Twisted Norms

Since when did going out and running 20 miles become no big deal?  Just a few months ago I would have gotten water bottles, shot blocks, clif bars, shoes, socks, garmin, etc. all ready and laid out the night before.  There also was probably some stressing throughout the week about the 'long and never ending' training run.  Now I'm getting ready only a few moments before stepping out the door to go pre plant all the nutrition in bushes.  20 miles no longer makes me squirm - in fact its almost a sigh of relief that it isn't a 30 mile run.  Although I really need to push harder and focus on speed for now I'm just enjoying running.  It's a fun new game that is only possible because of the little amount of time I'm spending biking and swimming these days.  I'm slowly embracing this as I've really been struggling with the lack of biking I'm doing.  I miss Cooper.  I miss being able to push hard on the bike.  There is something about a recovery spin on trashed legs that just doesn't count as riding.  I keep reassuring myself once March 5th comes around, I'll  be back training for tris at full speed - that is if I can keep on top of my never ended schoolwork and clinicals/work.

Back to the basics: no music, no compression sleeves, and old shoes.  It felt pure and simple.

After a horrible head cold for four days I figured it was time to treat myself and everyone at work benefited.  Spudnut donuts really are the best around.

 

Post 20 miler in muggy and damp conditions.  I'm not sure how it happened but I am very thankful I avoided the rain.

It amazes me how much pain chaffing can cause.  I've worn these shorts a million times yet this time they decided they wanted to rub.  Arg!

It is possible!

I never thought I would have two solid weeks of running in a row.  But it has happened and my legs are trashed.  It's a good feeling.  This week I've finally admitted to myself I would love to be sponsored - even someplace small would count.  I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it is.  Before I would have never said that out loud, but why not, it's a goal.  I want to be faster, have a bigger impact, and not look like I have no clue what I'm doing while I'm doing it.  Plus this lifestyle it expensive and I need all the help I can get it.  I've also realized my running form is horrible.  While looking at some of my favorite running pictures I saw that I'm a horrible heel striker and straight leg runner.  I'm sure anything else I could be doing wrong I'm doing.  Now I'm spending some time trying to figure out what I can do to learn to run the proper way and hopefully prevent injuries.  This week in pictures....

Post run in a downpour.

I hadn't ran in hard rain in a long time.

I love home!

Getting my stash together for my long run of the week.

Wondering how many of my water bottles would be taken - the answer ZERO!  That never happens!  Topped off with salt pills in the sports bra.

The longest run of my life.  Half planned, half thought it was a joke.

The proof.  Might have been slow but I was still really excited.

The post run salt face.

Miles in the bank.

Pool bath relief.

Good thing this feeling only lasted an hour or two.

A neighborhood sign that I just can't help but to smile when I run past it.  The yard is filled with bikes and a huge swing - sometimes I'm tempted to stop and play.

Ended the week poolside in near 70 degree, blue sky weather with a great (non school related) book.

Breakthroughs

This week was one of those you dream about, hope for, and sometimes think will never happen.  Everything training wise was great and I couldn't stop smiling.  My legs were pushed to the limits and kept giving me more.  They were fatigue but still able to support me.  I would have ran much much more but I didn't want to get injured.  I figured increasing my weekly mileage by over 10 miles was probably enough.  Ahh to feel like I was running free.  I went on night run which I haven't done in forever.  Not going to lie - it was a little scary.  My neighborhood is dark.  I love running in the morning while watching the sunrise - not after it's already gone to bed.  On Friday I had my long run.  I had some set goals, pace points, and the attitude that I was going to finish no matter what.  I wasn't going to stop until 18 but deep down 20 was on my mind.  After a half of a mile it was all about the twenty.  I was in a grove and happy with my pace.  There were moments when I didn't even realize I had music on and was instead nsync with my body.  I only had one gatorade bottle and two packs of shot blocks - if it wasn't for this limitation I could have kept going.  I could have done ten more but knew I would get into trouble without nutrition.  I hesitate to say this but I really enjoyed running this week in a way I haven't ever before.  Is it possible that I'm becoming a true runner?

Post evening run.

20 mile success!

Learning...

How to balance work, school, and training (trying to fit in mini workouts during lunch).
How to embrace running in snow and on top of ice while in Nashville.
How to suture.

I'm really not a fan of running in sub 20 - especially when it's snowing.

To many runs in the cold - glad I'm back in FL.

Yummy: the last of my icecream bday cake.



One Quarter

That's right.  The first week of the year I turned a quarter of a century years old.  A little bit sad, a little bit scary, and a lot too soon!  Saturday it became real when I participated in the Frozen Floridian - a small local tri.  I had to catch myself when they asked my age to put on my calf.  I wasn't planning on racing when  I went to bed the night before.  I thought it was a little to much money and not worth it for such a short race.  I slept horrible the night before and was wide awake early enough to get my bike off the trainer and all my stuff together.  I ended up heading to the beach and signing up just before the race started.  I'm glad I did.  I don't think I would race it again, but I would volunteer.  My birthday was made complete with a first place overall female finish, a homemade cookies and cream icecream cake, and an afternoon spent kayaking on the creek.  A nice end to the week considering all week I was fighting mental battles when running.  Granted I won each one of them but I was never pumped.  It almost wasn't worth the agony.  I needed a little pick me up and a reminder to put the fun back in it.  After cancelling a few runs and a good race, I'm back on board.  I really think it boils down to I miss biking and swimming.  I'm just not a full time runner.

Watching the Bama bowl game. 49-7 win over Michigan State!

I decided to start taking vitamins.  My last attempt at this was in high school.  We will see how long it last.



First day of work.  Boy is there a story here.

Frozen Floridian swim at Frank Brown Park.

Approaching the finish line shouting out my number - 11.

Just barley squeezed out first overall female.

Ahhhhhh - 25!

I loved getting to spend my birthday in the woods.