Day #250: Yeah Giants!!!! Yeah Me!!!

I've been slacking, I know.  I overworked myself last week.  It was my own doing.  I have been working some urgent care shifts in addition to regular work and I signed up for a few too many last week.  Oops.  So needless to say I was exhausted and did not get a chance to post.

Obviously - Yeah Giants.  Sweep!

The second - Yeah Me is because I ran my first 10 miler today!  Yup that's right - 10 whole miles.  That is the distance from my parents house in Chico to Hamilton City!  I ran alone too, because Sarah was working today.  My legs felt good for most of the run.   Around mile 5 or so my right knee started to bother me some, but then went away, then around mile 7 my left knee started to act up.  I felt good though and I finished strong.  My calves felt tight for a good portion of the run, but I just tell my body that it's me getting stronger, which is probably true.

I love the feeling that each week, I've run father than I've ever ran before.  So today after mile 8 - every step is the farthest I've ever ran!

My knees are a little more achey now and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow.  I'm icing my knees as I type.
Below is my arsenal that I took w/ me on the run.

It contains 2 - 10 ounce water bottles full of electrolyte replacement drink, my cell phone, the pink sticking out is pink lemonade snackie, I had a gel snack pack in my shirt pocket, and .... there amongst the stuff is the pager.  I'm on call this weekend.  Thankfully no pages while running.
I survived and I felt good at the end - I felt like I could have kept running.  I know this feeling won't last forever and there are going to be some really crappy runs to come, but I just try to enjoy each run on it's own and I can't worry about what the future will hold.  One day and one run at a time!  :)

Day #249: Goooooooo Giants!!!

Woo Woo

Day #248: nutrition

This weekend I ran 8 miles. That's the farthest I've ever ran! I've reached the point where I'm running far enough that I get a snackie snack during my runs. At 3 and 6 miles Sarah and I walked for a small snackie snack.
Below is a picture of my snack this week. The shot blocks were actually pretty good, there are other options such as jelly beans and gel in all sorts of flavors. Some apparently are appalling. I'll let you know what my favorites are as I experiment more.

Day #247: Factory Farming

Below are really bad pictures of a cattle factory farm from the road. So just imagine that all the brown you see is cattle. That's basically what it was like. Cattle as far as the eye could see. Lying on the ground, standing, appearing half dead. No grass or any vegetation for that matter in site. Literally as far back from the road as I could see was cattle.


And for educational value - copy and paste the link below to learn why going veggie is good for you, me, the animals, and the environment. You'll have to copy and paste because I do not know how to hyperlink from my phone. :)

http://www.downtoearth.org/environment/top-10-reasons

Day #246: Runner milestone #2

So today there was 20-30mph gusts of wind with some rain, do Sarah and I did not run outside. We instead ran on the treadmill. The LONGEST 5 miles ever. Man did it suck. No fan or air movement to evaporate my sweatiness. Soooooo boring. I tried watching morning TV, but got bored with that. Then I moved on to listening to an ICU podcast on my iPhone which was more just background noise. For a while I focused on watching my legs running in the mirror - semi-hypnotized, trying not to think about how slow the miles were going. Then I focused on my breathing and that after this was all over I would get a pumpkin spice latte. It was awesome, or NOT.

Here's a picture of me flipping off the treadmill. I was trying to make an angry face, but that didn't go so well.
:)

Day#245: On the road again

We started the road trip back to Tuscon today.
We have planned part of our route based off the climbing gyms we can stop at along the way. Short drive today since we worked until 3:30am last night.
In Des Moines, Iowa tonight.
Below is a picture of the weather we drove through to get here. You can see the dark clouds in the background. And then a picture of Sarah climbing at the gym new stopped at tonight.

Day #242: Working Nights

Sarah and I have been on nights.

Here's my non-exciting picture.
Fizzy coffee = survival

Day #243: Gooooo Giants!

Working nights last night, so I couldn't watch the game. :(
Representing - wearing orange & black!

Day #242: 17 miles

17 miles total this week.
Today we ran 7 total. My legs were tired around 5+ miles, but I made it. I did not plan well because I did not eat before our run this morning. Sarah says next long run it will be time to take snacks on the road with us.
Today it was also more humid than normal here because it was overcast and getting ready to storm. My hair was completely soaked as if I had showered or swam, but I had not.

Below are pictures from where we ran today. It's so pretty - it makes running easier.

Day #241: Avenue Q #2

I was too tired to post last night after getting back from going to see Avenue Q for a second time. Sarah had never seen it. We went to a local venue with a local group. As you can see from the picture below we were super close to the stage.
The other picture is of one of the many unique chandeliers that was in the theater lobby.

Day #240: Today I Became a Runner

I've never been a runner - nothing even close. I remember how much I used to dread running the field in middle school and even more so the mile we had to run for the Presidential Fitness test. Ugh...
Even now I don't really think of myself that way. I think of it more as jogging. But as Sarah has pointed out before - I would consider anyone else who is training for a marathon or even runs 2 days a week a runner - then I guess I would fit the bill.
Well today - Sarah declared me a runner. Why today you ask? Well because today I got up at 6am (not the impressive part yet) out of my nice toasty bed and went for a 3 mile run in 42 degree weather. Can you say COLD!! But I did it.
My initiation to becoming a runner. That along with illiotibial band syndrome, shin splints, and all the money I've spent on gear. At least, I'm happy to say that now I enjoy running. There are days when I can feel my legs are antsy and ready to get out on the road/trail and just go. Now - don't get me wrong that's not everyday - trust me I just wanted to stay in bed this morning.

The picture below has nothing to do w/ running, but I owe you a picture and this is the only one I took today. Lucky you. This would be my neighbors garage. It was garbage day today. The best part is that their toilet and sink got picked up, yet somehow our recycling is still here, when last week it got picked up on the same day as the garbage. Oh well!

Have a happy Friday!

Day #239: Doggie Camp

Somepuppy is having a good ol' time at doggie camp. I was texted this picture from the camp director with the caption - milk bone time!
Milk none time is a step up from plain donut time, steak time, and vanilla Ben & Jerry's ice cream time - all of which have occurred during my absence.
Not so sure penny princess will be coming home!

Day #238: My first tent

Here's a pic of my very first tent. I got a good deal online. Sarah and I were supposed to go camping last Saturday, but we chickened out due to cold weather. It was supposed to be below freezing! The coldest it's been since we've been here!

Day #237: Halloween Socks

Yeah Target $1 bin!

Day #236: Fall, oh how I've missed you

I've missed fall the last 2 years :(  That's what happens when you live in Arizona.  But not this year!!
Here the leaves are changing and the air is crisp and cool.  I love it!
Sarah and I have been running at a nearby state park enjoying the fall weather.  I'm not looking forward to the more boring Tucson scenery compared to the fall leaves.

Here are some pictures I took today while out on a walk.  There were tons of families out enjoying the nice fall day, as well as many cameras out to catch natures beauty.

It's relaxing until my allergies kick in and then I get a sinus headache at home, but lets just ignore that part.  :)

Day #235: Marathon Training Update

Sorry for being MIA. I'll try and catch up tomorrow.
For today - I have marathon training statistics update for you. Below is a picture of me, holding up the number of miles I ran today! We are now into the official training schedule. I run 4 days per week with one of those being a long run. Today was our long run. It was beautiful fall out and COLD! But I made it. Pictures of fall to come soon as well.
First to answer Aunt Ed's question from a while ago - my new pair of shoes will last for all of training and the marathon. So that's a good thing. :)
So in addition to pre-marathon training to where I am now - I have run/walked a total of 113.5 miles!
Along the way I did have some more aches and pains. One day my IT band syndrome was so bad, I couldn't run. It hurt too much. I've been working on stretching more and did have one of the physical therapists at the hospital do some taping which helped some. Today my legs got tired during the last 1/2 mile, but It felt good and I knew thats when change happens. My muscles are learning to put up with more endurance and pressure. Right after the run my knees ached, but they are feeling fine now.

Day #234: Tea Time

A cold front is coming.  That means more warm tea and wrapping up in sweatshirts and jackets this weekend.  Brr.....

Nothing like curling up with a good book, blankets, and a cup of tea.

Day #233: Vegan Mania and Climbing

This weekend - Sarah and I headed into Chicago for Vegan Mania.  Lucky us on our timing to be in the area :)
It was interested.  We got to sample some good vegan nacho cheese and vegan marshmallows.  What makes a marshmallow not vegan, you ask?  Because I did.  Well the answer is - it contains gelatin which apparently is made up of bone marrow and cartilage.  For the record vegan mallows are pretty good.

Here's a picture of our lunch.  Chili dumplings and seitan chorizo nachos.

The next day we went to an awesome climbing gym and had a great time!  It was really cool!  Parts of the wall here were 42 feet tall, which is about 12 feet taller than the gym we go to in Tucson.