17May / 2013

Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why

This is the first photo that comes to mind. This is from October 2012 Cap 2 Coast relay. My teammate Jose snapped this from the car. It’s honestly one of the only good photos of me running. Ever.

I do know this was the first leg on the first day, it was my only leg of the race that was in daylight and it was at noon and SUPER hot. I am not sure what point this was on that leg, because I don’t really remember many chain link fences. For the most part it was barbed wire fences on a very windy and hilly Niederwald Farm to Market Road.

I like this photo because while I was having medical issues, I look strong. Oh and this was 6 days after I got hit by the car on my right side. I ran strong and maybe a little too hard here, but I felt fine doing it. This is the last photo I have before I lost much of my visible muscle tone.

I hope that soon I can look and run like this again. But this time, i’d like the rest of my body to play along

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10May / 2013

Embarassment

Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing momentI have many, but this one is tops.

The one and only year I have been able to run Texas Independence Relay, I was set to do 4 legs. My 3rd leg was in a really nice area on the edge of Houston. It was the shortest leg of the race, it was cold, and I was feeling GOOD. I took off and I started making “road kills” left and right. I was booking it. I was in perfect conditions and I was rocking.

When I got to the intersection where the only turn was, I went left. I couldn’t really see the markings on the ground, so I kept running and I kept seeing runners. I thought I was doing well but I began to wonder where the heck the exchange was.

WRONG!

I turned left instead of right and ran over a mile in the wrong direction. I was so pissed. Turns out those runners I saw, were just random Sunday morning runners. I ran like hell back the other way and passed a few people, but in my wrong way turn, i’d been passed by 5 teams. By time I got to the exchange, I was so mad I was crying.

So I was mad, crying, and looking around for my van. That particular exchange was manned by an Austin running store (ok it’s a chain, but the people there were from Austin). One of the guys working it, had sold me shoes a few days before, so he remembered me. So he got to see me pissed off crying and ranting, as did the rest of my team, which I will mention, were newly introduced to me 2 days before. I HATE when people cry in public. I was that girl. I couldn’t handle a simple turn or dealing with my dumb mistake.

One day I will run TIR again and I want to run that leg and get my redemption.

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30Jan / 2013

Powers of healing

Minus Tuesday, which was a super high stress day at work, I have been feeling GREAT! Like I stayed out until 3 am on Saturday morning and I didn’t take a nap Saturday OR Sunday (although for my adrenals, that a nap probably would have been wise). And I have actually slept at night! Granted, I am still waking up at least twice, but once of those is by alarm to take my early morning dose of thyroid.

What have I been doing other than the new supplements, along with my regular medication?

Yoga. I did Yoga, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. My favorite of course is the class at Lululemon. I wish they were having them there in February. I did a small amount of Galloway before yoga on Sunday and it felt fine. But my issue wasn’t always how I felt, it was what my body reacted to on the inside. I haven’t done it again since. Maybe today.

Giving. I took half a day off on Friday, so I could volunteer for the Rogue 10k/30K packet pick-up. I may have played hookie I got to hang out with my gal Jenn and meet some new people.

Fun. Dinner at Garrido’s with Dan and our friend Heather on Friday night.

Is it just me, or does Dan’s steak, over potato cakes with giant roasted jalapeno on top look kind of naughty? Yeah, 90% of their menu is GF, I think he ordered that to keep me paws off of it (the potato cakes aren’t GF).

I got steak too, sorta. We didn’t eat dinner until late, so this was actually a 2nd light dinner for me. There was no way I could wait until 8:30 to eat!

Drive By Truckers show at the new Emo’s east after dinner. If it weren’t for drunk college kids, it would have been the perfect evening. Music heals. This girl doesn’t do front row for ANYONE anymore. But no matter what I say or how crazy the crowd is, I ALWAYS end up in the front row for DBT!

That’s my trying to be artistic pic of my Alabama guy, watching our favorite band from Alabama!

We didn’t get home until 3 am. WHEW! Long Friday was SO worth it. Exactly what we needed.

Saturday and Sunday, I worked on a few projects that were long overdue and did my taxes. Now I am waiting for Dan to do his, to decide who claims the house (depends who benefits more $ from it).

Besides some stress hiccups from work, I am feeling GOOD! Praying this lasts!

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10Jan / 2013

Things I like Thursday: success

Monday marked the 6 year anniversary of when I joined Weight Watchers.

My keychain with 5 lifetime keys, 25 lb disc, 5K charm, and goal star. Not sure why I don’t have a 16 week award. This isn’t my original 10% keychain, that one was destroyed YEARS ago. Now this just sits on my spice rack.

The last year hasn’t been easy with my health issues, but i’m hoping for many more years to celebrate my success!

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29Dec / 2012

Memorable Moments

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11Oct / 2012

Things I like Thursday: Relay randomness

I’ve been MIA, but that is going to change! I am going to get back to my bloggin time I may have been gone, but accomplishing much in the time I was away! Really the only thing I can remember is some of my Cap2Coast random stories.

I stepped in dog-shit watching Megan come in on her first leg. I didn’t know this. 15 minutes later, she’s toweling off and I think SHE is the one that smells like crap! When I realized it wasn’t her, we all died laughing!
One of my team-mates, who I had never met before, literally beat the shit off of my shoe. I cannot believe a stranger touched my dirty shoe and cleaned it for me. Nice guy. Think we’ll keep him!
I was able to meet and beat my expected leg times for all three legs.
I got 5 “road-kills” on my first leg. Even had my first one curse at me! The girl was not pleased to say the least.
I ran the 2nd leg in a sports bra. Shocking, I know. But I was wearing a night vest over it. You will only see me running without a shirt in the dark and halfway covered in neon reflective mesh.
First leg was too fast and I tried to slow myself down, but the adrenaline got me. With the sun, wind, and hills, I should have backed off. I am pretty sure this set up the later hammy issues.
I overcame some super tight hammy issues on my 2nd and 3rd legs. Once I got going, it got WAY better. I am really pleased I beat my expected times, because when I started the 3rd leg, a replacement was getting ready just in case. (that’s how awful I looked when I took off)
I got chased by 3 dogs in the last half mile of my last leg. One of them wouldn’t back down and was snarling and snapping at me like crazy. There was lots of screaming, threatening, and then running like hell! I’ve been chased before, but never like this. On our 3rd leg, three of the six of us got chased, mine probably the worst.
I took a whore-bath in the Rickster’s bathroom. I ate breakfast on Saturday with wet hair and fit right in with the locals. A little scary.
You know that saying, don’t try anything new before or during a race? Drinking a soda, even a diet one, after leg 2, BAD idea. I thought diet 7-UP would make me feel better. Not so much. It worked for my pregnant BFF, thought it would work for me too.
I was the most aromatic one in the van. First the dog poo, then the sunscreen, then the bug spray, then sweat x3.
I may have not smelled pretty, but at least I didn’t have any mosquito bites!
I’m recovering now. To be honest, I think relay recovery is more serious that marathon recovery. Essentially it’s running several races in a short amount of time. I’ve run once this week, going to do another one tonight.
First recovery run was insanity. LUNA run on Tuesday…the three girls who led the run were the same three that had just done the relay! We were a sight, but the runners got to hear some awesome stories from the road!
1st place open-mixed champs for Cap2Coast relay! 2 times baby!
2nd place overall champs at Cap2Coast relay, also 2 times!

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10Oct / 2012

Cap2Coast Results

Friday we started the trek to Corpus Christi….

For the 2nd year: 2nd place overall, 1st place open-mixed champs! 2 vans, 6 girls, 6 guys, 223 miles! Running Gangnam style the whole way!

We are super stoked to maintain our mixed-open title and have that 2nd overall. The first place team for the last 3 years is an open team (9 guys, 3 girls).

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01Oct / 2012

When it rains, it pours

It literally rained this weekend, but nothing close to what they said it would We REALLY need the rain and more rain makes my life at work way easier. Especially with some of my new duties.

Friday night we spent a low-key evening at home. (well most of it). Took my first ride in the Jeep to help Dan buy parts for a huge garage project he wanted to do, ate a nice dinner at home, and chilled.

Saturday, it was pouring when I woke up. I took the car to get an oil change and went to the gym while that was happening. Got DRENCHED on the way to the gym, which is maybe 1/4 mile, if that. Then helped Dan work on his project a little bit and off to a party at some new friend’s apartment. Good times, should have taken some photos. He’s a great cook and he definitely showed those talents off! We didn’t eat until 9:30, and we left not too long after that, because I was super tired. Plus the host’s gf and I had to run Sunday morning. I really like this couple, I hope Dan and I hang out with them more.

Sunday morning. Woke up, ran, had a literal “run-in”, errands in Austin, finally got my glasses ordered, helped Dan with his project, helped Dan deconstruct his project, helped calm Dan down about his project, laundry, roasted an AWESOME turkey breast (Savory Spice shop is WAY better than Penzey’s!), ran into ex-coworker at library (hoping I wasn’t seen), got quadruple charged not once but twice at the store!, tripped over the curb at the store and busted my toe open.

It was a very busy and challenging Sunday. Going to get a massage today and make sure my “run-in” didn’t cause any damage. I probably should be going to the Dr., but I am not in any pain. Just scratches, soreness, and bruises on my right side. I came out better than the idiot who hit me, he’s driving around somewhere with dents and a broken mirror.

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29Sep / 2012

Race Review: Austin Marathon Relay

It’s been a week since I’ve blogged, but it’s been a SUPER hectic week. More birthday stuff for Stacey, race, Girl Scouts, run, Dan came home from Germany, huge changes at work, etc. Heck of a week.

I ran Austin Marathon Relay for the 4th time on Sunday. For the first time ever, I ran a 10 K leg. I’ve always run a 5K because I am usually deep into San Antonio marathon training around this time of year. Since I’m not training for anything and we had a few minor injuries, I took a 10K leg. (the legs are 12K, two 10K, two 5K).

One of our teams had a no-show. So we shuffled running order, so I would run one of the 10K legs for TWO teams. I was nervous about this. I don’t run 10Ks. I don’t like the distance and can’t get the pace down. Before Sunday, i’d only run two in my life and they were part of a race series in 2008. I knew our other team was just happy to have a complete team, but I knew my regular team is competitive.

A major accident had happened on the course overnight, so the race started about an hour late. The race had already pushed the start time back to 8 instead of the usual 7:30. So by time we started, it was getting warm. The later legs you ran, the hotter it got. Granted, it wasn’t in the 100s like it was last year, but it was pretty warm.

Not my smartest run race, no strategy at all. I ran a little faster than i’d planned, especially for the heat. I ran a huge PR, but then again, that probably wasn’t hard, since it was only my 3rd 10K ever. (my mom is so fired from taking race photos!)Our teams took 4th, 6th, and 12th in open women out of over 60 teams in the division. I was on the 4th and 6th place teams. We had a lot of relay first timers, including my sister, who was on the 12th place team and ran her first 10k ever.

Most everyone from our 3 teams. So proud of everyone!

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18Sep / 2012

Feels so good

feeling good again!

I used to start every blog post out as a song title. Not sure when I stopped doing that, but I’d likely run out of song ideas by now, although I still do it occasionally. (if you didn’t know, that’s a Robert Earl Keen song).

It’s been a week on the new dosage of meds and so far I feel great! I am a little cautious/worried about heart rate but so far it’s been ok (they told me if they jumped me too much too fast on thyroid, I could have issues with that).

So far parts of me are working better. Some of the parts still aren’t working at all. It’s still early on this dose and combo of medications. More bloodwork in 10 weeks. Just hoping this progress isn’t covering up other issues.

Finally starting to feel more like my old self, 3 years later.

My balance at the gym is improving, as is my strength. My speed running is getting back to what it used to be (at least on short distances). My biggest issues are recovering from workouts, sleep, and the moodiness. That and the fact that insurance isn’t covering any of my medications.

I haven’t been this happy or optimistic in a long time. I can finally see progress and it’s made a world of difference!

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melissa dishes

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Embarassment

Powers of healing

Things I like Thursday: success

Memorable Moments

Things I like Thursday: Relay randomness

Cap2Coast Results

When it rains, it pours

Race Review: Austin Marathon Relay

Feels so good

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