Jubilation

I had an awesome run today!  Last night, C and I went out and spent about an hour finding me new running shoes, and when I went to test them out today, it was amazing.  I had no pain - other than the standard muscles hating me kind of stuff.  I thought I might be getting a twinge in my back so I slowed down my pace and focused on my form and it never manifested.  I even fit in 2 sprinting segments!  Nothing big, just sprinting a block, walking across the street, then sprinting the next block.  I am so excited by this morning's run though!  Hooray for my awesome new kicks :)

Body Pump on steroids

K, so last night I went to this class called Step and Strength.  Oh My Goodness!  This was ridiculous!  I was dripping sweat and I am already getting sore today.  It was a combo of body pump, pilates, and a step class.  I'm just so bummed it's only one day a week at 4:30pm - super hard to make it due to work schedule :(

After that, I got home and C wasn't feeling well, so we went on a walk to try to get him moving.  3 miles later, he's still feeling poopy, so that's no bueno.  That 3.5 miles took us for-ev-er!  It was like we were walking backwards.  It was the pace he needed to go at, but it was definitely unusual for us to just stroooooollllll like that.

During our walk, I realized how truly and completely screwed I am for Tough Mudder.  I am so scared guys!  I know I'm going to do it, and I know it's going to hurt like whoa, I just wish I knew I could do it in less than like, 6 hours!  I am no where near where I need to be.  I still can't run a mile without back pain, my breathing abilities are still amazingly limited, and my upper arm strength is nil.  I know I still have a month and a half - but this is going to be the hardest month and a half ever!

Let's try this again...

Yesterday I went for my first run outside since I started PT.  Sadly, it did not go well.  I really shouldn't have expected anything different since I fell down a flight of stairs on Thursday (I'm ok - Bert and I are no longer allowed to be on the stairs at the same time though!) and that definitely messed with my back...  I made it almost all the way through Week 3, Day 3 of the 0 to 10k program before it started hurting, so that's good I guess.

Today I did a Tabatta run on the treadmill after work and I made it through without back pain.  Shin splints started though and I'm realizing my shoes are pretty much doneski.  Darn!  But I wound up working out/stretching for about an hour and a half.  I'm pretty happy with myself!  Sadly, I know I can push myself harder -  I just have to figure out to tap in to those reserves!

Down to business

I had my last day of physical therapy today - hooray!  After PT, I cam home, got changed, and rode my bike to the gym.  I did week 3 day 2 and it was fantastic.  It felt awesome.  There was never a time when I was wishing it were over and I didn't hurt and I felt great when I was done.  Truly energized for the first time in days.  After running, I went and rowed 1,000 meters (a little more than half a mile for those of us who aren't conversion savvy).

I was buying some protein bars and such - they sell us the recently expired stuff at 60% off - and was talking to my service manager, Julie.  Julie is kind of my hero.  Just to look at the girl, you wouldn't think athlete, but not only is she an athlete, she's a triathelete and she's done an ironman!  But I was mentioning how I was kind of nervous about Tough Mudder and she's going to help train me and work with me on setting up a work out program that will have me ready in time.  Hooray!

Guys - I'm so stoked :)


PS - I've lost 5lbs!

Holy wind resistance Batman!

So, Liz, I'm not sure what the wind is like out there in AK, but it's been pretty crazy out here for the past week or so.  Apparently it's blowing in some more snow for us this weekend :)  Anywho, I was exhausted and just did not feel like fighting for a treadmill or for space in Body Pump, so I just went home.  I was sitting in front of my TV and started getting mad at myself for being such a bum (I haven't worked out once this week) so I changed in to my running clothes and decided to head out and run in the last afternoon of sun until Tuesday.  I opened the front door and got blasted by the wind and quickly changed my mind - I'm not a fan of wind running.  It steals my breath away too quickly and breathing is hard enough as it is.  Plus, I know I'm dehydrated as heck so if I tried to make a run happen today, it was not going to be pretty.  Instead, I pulled out my trusty bike and hit the road.

I've been riding my bike to my second job weather permitting - I've been able to do it about 3 times now.  I've discovered I have very little actual muscle on my butt to protect my derriere from the hard seat - because can we say bruuuuiiiiised the next day!  Not actual bruises, but it certainly felt like there should be one or two!  I've had to contend with the wind on the way home every time, but it's like a quarter of a mile, so no big deal.  The wind also wasn't blowing as hard as it was today.  I went 4.5 miles on my little bicycle and there were time I wasn't sure if I was actually moving forward or not!  Seriously - I know 4.5 miles on a bike is not that much, but holy cow!  You factor in the wind resistance and my legs feel rather jelly like!  It's like getting off the elliptical after an hour workout - your legs kind of forget what the walking is supposed to be like!

I came home and did some half hearted abs and then Carey got home so I decided to call it a night.  Ladies, I have got to figure out how to go balls to the wall because Tough Mudder is in less than 3 months!  Heaven help me....  Let me know if you have any tips!

PS - Liz, how's insanity going for you?

Oh jeebus....

So, I just got back from the doctor, and she thinks I may have pneumonia.  I'm not willing to pay for the chest xray right now, so I'm on antibiotics for the pneumonia, plus a prescription strength cough suppressant because it feels like my throat is bleeding.  If I'm not better by the end of the Z Pack, or if things get worse, I have to go back in and probably do the chest xray :(  Let's hope these little pink pills do the trick!

Sick.... Again

So, you may recall that almost exactly a month ago, I got the flu or a cold or something yucky where even my hair hurt.  Well ladies and gentlebugs, it's deja vu because I've got it again.  This time I'm quarantined to the couch so Carey can do the computer work he needs to do upstairs.  This is the only time I'm happy this crappy thing is a sleeper sofa!  This time I have a few extra symptoms:

•  some serious coughing - my throat tastes bloody and raw 
• serious sniffles - this symptom just started this morning and my nose is already raw and burny 
• a huge headache - of course it gets worse every time I cough 
• severe shivers - I just can't seem to get warm most of the time!  I do swing to sweaty hot sometimes though 
• fatigue
• sore muscles

Yup, the whole shebang.  Sounds fun, no?  I'm going to bed as early as I can today and working from home tomorrow in hopes I can kick it faster this time because second job start date is fast approaching!  Not sure when exactly, but as soon as background check is done!  I'm going to the doctor tomorrow, even though I've tried really hard to avoid them since Kathryn's adventure this past summer.  But I'm risking it because there is no reason I should have the same thing within the month.  Did I mention I start/ed my period the same weekend I get sick?  So awesome...