Not Your Average Mom

Not a whole heck of a lot to write lately - I participated in the Portland Marathon (another story in itself) and two days later I had to admit that my right ankle was not looking anything like ‘normal’. It seems I developed a nasty case of tendonitis. Walking, let alone running, was difficult. So I rested….. and rested….. and rested - for three weeks before I actually sought professional help. Ah, I was so right in my diagnosis and was told to give it 4 to 6 weeks!!!! I was, however, given permission to start riding on my trainer. Sweeeet! Here it is 6 weeks later (can you say self-fulfilling prophecy?) and I am seeing an acupunturist because I don’t feel 100%, but having run a total of 15 minutes PAIN-FREE! I hope to hit 30 minutes this week.
I have been lifting weights twice a week and that is going really well, but the Seattle half marathon that I was hoping to run next Sunday is pretty much out. I just don’t think it is worth pushing that hard and risking re-injury for a race I wanted to do because I was already trained for it. Its a bummer to be out the entry fee, but oh well. My eye is on next year’s prize - Ironman!

After getting interrupted yesterday, S and I agreed to meet early today to do our 15 (S’s son didn’t need stitches, though the cut was worse than S had thought)!  This is our last long run before the marathon!  We were heading to the bathroom and as we came out, we ran into 3 ladies on our team that had headed out at 6:15 or so for a 2 hour interval run.  We had to chat about triathlons for about 40 minutes!!!  We finally got started.  I always seem to start these runs thinking “There is no way I can finish this run.  I feel like crap/my legs are lead/…)  After about 3 miles, though, we tend to hit our stride and I feel great.  We did run into another person that S knew and chatted for a bit (another team mate came along on the bike, too), but other than potty stops, we ran pretty much the whole time.  I do really well until we turn around - S is like the horse that sees the barn!  She picks up the pace and we haul booty until the end.  Sometimes I can keep up, but today, after 6 yesterday, I fell behind and was TIRED the last mile.  I didn’t even have enough for a sprint at the end.  I have to keep my pace pretty steady and keep my HR down for me to go the distance!  We had beautiful weather today, too.  I still think there isn’t anything more beautiful than a nice day in the Pacific Northwest! 

 We are off to Portland next weekend!  It’s going to be interesting!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/27/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 2:34:44.00
• Average Heart rate: 146
• Calories: 1860
• Distance: 15 miles
• Average Pace: 10:18.56/mile

S and I were suppose to run today, but as we were heading out, she got a call from the school.  Her son had cut his finger and might need stitches.  She was really disappointed because we were suppose to run 15 miles today and she was pumped mentally.  I told her I would get in a short one and then head home. 

I did 6!  I headed out too fast; that never bodes well for a run.  I was good for about 4 and then I started flagging a bit.  I also had to ask myself why I was hurrying - it was a beautiful fall morning!  No need to hurry back to the house to all the chores that waited for me!My training has all been LSD runs (long, slow distance).  I need to remember to keep it steady heading out on the marathon course - holding back a bit will help me make my goal of running at least 20 miles!  Tomorrow, 15!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/26/2008
• Time: 10:30:00
• Total Time: 00:57:46.00
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Pace: 9:37.85/mile

Had a great run on very fresh legs today!  We are 11 days away from the marathon and are looking to get one more very long run in!  I feel better about it than I have in a long time - both while running and about the marathon.  I just need to get ‘er done!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/24/2008
• Time: 12:20:00
• Total Time: 1:37:32.00
• Average Pace: 10:16.44/mile

Workout:

• Type: Other
• Date: 09/21/2008
• Time: 07:25:00
• Total Time: 1:36:53.00

It has been a while since I posted, but it isn’t like I am slacking!  I have 4 children who all started school at the beginning of the month and it seems like I have been running ever since.  I thought it was very cute the sending my first off to kindergarten, but NO ONE told me about the Pandora’s Box that was opened that day.  There are school supplies to be purchased, money to be paid (and paid and paid), pictures, ASB cards, new clothes, doctor’s appts, dentist appts, ortho appts, curriculum nights to attend, PTA to volunteer for - all this on top of working out, keeping the house clean, doing laundry and making sure there is enough food in the house to feed the horde!

I still got out to workout, but not at the intensity I had been doing over the summer.  What was I thinking - I have a marathon in two weeks.  It didn’t help that one of my boys brought home a cold the second week of school and proceeded to pollute the entire house with his germs, so natually we ALL got sick. 

Did back to back 10 milers this week and will be biking/swimming the next couple of days - Racing on Sunday!  I am ready for the season to be over so that I can change up my workouts!  One last note:  My shoe problem seems to be fixed, though I discovered that I must have had some HUGE deep blisters because they just peeled off one day.  It was where I had been having a lot of pain, so maybe that was the problem?  All I know is that I had very comfortable runs the last couple of days!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/17/2008
• Time: 10:00:00
• Total Time: 1:46:00.00
• Average Pace: 10:36.04/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/16/2008
• Time: 11:00:00
• Total Time: 1:56:00.00
• Average Pace: 11:36.32/mile

Every year, I go back to my very first triathlon!  Today was the day!  Looking back at last year’s results, it took me 1:34:30 - this year, I blew it out in 1:18:40!!!!  The swim was hairy - LOTS of chop.  I got kicked in the arm - gonna have a nice bruise in the morning!  Bike was ok - it is on the I90 bridge and there was a lot of wind (hence the chop).  It was a slow start this morning and things got much better!  The one thing that was cool was my run - all that training has payed off.  This tri has an uphill run that is not steep, but it is long (I like it the other way around)!  I felt good coming into the finish; in past years, I was whipped at this point!  It was nice, too, that my DH and one of my older boys rode their tandem to meet me and got there right as I was leaving on the run!  It was a good day!

Workout:

• Type: Other
• Date: 09/07/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 1:18:45.00

Started out strong, but about a quarter of the way around the lake, I “hit” something and flatted!  No Problem - just get out my spare tube and change it (takes me forever because I am really particular about checking rim and tire).  Uh oh, cell phone going dead, too.  Start riding again and am caught and passed by 2 guys; on downhill, I get on the back guy’s wheel, but when we hit the flat, he moves to the front and drops me!  DH and I talk about bike etiquette all the time, but I will never understand guys who get their knickers in a knot over someone on their wheel!  WHATEVER! 

I start my back leg home and, lo and behold, I flat a second time.  Now, I have a problem - no tubes and my cell is dead!  I, fortunately, purchased a quarter-sized patch kit at my LCS!  I find the hole in the tube and patch it - I also say a prayer that it will hold air, because I am now out of CO2 cartridges!  I manage to get to my favorite coffee shop and then to the cycle shop without other incident.  The coolest thing about this ride, tho, was when 4 cyclists all checked in with me when I was changing various flats!  A lesson in kindness!

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 09/05/2008
• Time: 10:30:00
• Total Time: 2:30:00.00
• Average Speed: 15.8 mph