Here Goes Nothing...

Ahh guys, I'm nervous.  I haven't run in fourteen days.. and  I've been icing and ibuprofening and sweet-talking.. and then shin is feeling a little better.  Definitely still some pain, but not unbearable. 

So.... I am going to give it a go tomorrow.  I'm driving down to see Rachel (check out her awesome brand-new blog!!), and I'm going to do a little run with her.  If it goes OK, then I'm going to go ahead and do the half in two weeks, and if it doesn't go well... well, I'll cry.

Then after that, we're going out in Madison for a girlfriend's bachelorette party... she is also running her very first half marathon in Green Bay so leave her some loving comments and I'll make sure she sees them!  She's only been running about five months and is totally prepared for the half.  She's awesome.

So!  It has the potential to be an AWESOME weekend.  And even the worse case scenario isn't so bad... I mope around all day and still get to go out and have a fun night.  So wish me luck.. I hope I have good news to share on Sunday! 

I hope you all have a super awesome weekend!

Leg Update and Things I Hate Thursday!

Happy Thursday to everyone, hope your day is splendid so far!

I have a ton of stuff to tell you!

First, my little Alex is sick.  :(  A sick baby is so sad... I cannot even tell you... He slept in til almost eight this morning (which is totally unheard of), and then wouldn't even eat his breakfast.  This is a child who LOVES food and shoves everything he can into his face.

Spaghetti Monster.

So he's getting extra Momma snuggles and back scratches and smooches today.  They're sleeping now, but when they wake up, they'll get a bath and baby massage..  Ahh to be a baby again... :)

OK, about my doctor's appointment.  I saw a lady nurse practitioner, who is also named Kim, and she's a super awesome runner.  In fact, she's doing the full marathon in Green Bay in a few weeks... she's a rockstar.  Anyway, she did an X-ray and didn't see anything on the scan, and then sat me down to have the hard talk.  She said that it could be a number of things:  stress fracture, shin splints, inflammation of the fascia in my leg, but the treatment is the same for all of these things.  Rest.  Ice.  blah blah blah... honestly, when I heard rest, I zoned out and just heard the Charlie Brown Wah-wah-wah...

So, here's my plan.  I am going to ice the hell out of this stupid leg, and then I'm going to sit on my butt, and then next Friday, if I'm pain free (serious finger-crossing here guys) I am going to run the half the following weekend.  If I'm not pain free, then you'll be able to find me curled up in my bed surrounded by chocolate wrappers, take-out food containers, and a giant vodka tonic.  Not a pretty picture, OK?

So pretty much my whole doctor's appointment/leg thing could be my first Things I Hate Thursdays topic, because I pretty much hate everything about my dumb leg right now, but I'm going to try to be more positive, and talk sweetly to it, like a plant.  Then it'll grow healthy and strong, right?

What else.  Oh yes, W2 D2 of pushup challenge done... it was like seventy pushups, and it was glorious.  I think Nick is a little scared of my pythons.  Nick was in the Army, so he can bust out a million push-ups like it's nothing, but he still pretends we do a lot to make me feel better.  Sweet husband.  :)

And now.. it's time for...

I hate when you're at a restaurant trying to decide between two entrees, like say a grilled chicken sandwich and a yummy salad, and after much deliberation you choose the sandwich.  Then, when the food is about to arrive, you realize you'd forgotten which you'd picked and spent the last fifteen minutes preparing your tastebuds for some fresh, crunchy, salad.  And then you quick try to fantasize about a juicy steaming chicken breast, but there's no use... you really wanted the salad. 

  

 VS

Sneak Peek

Afternoon bloggy friends,

So, I figured it's time I start having a regular weekly feature on my blog... and last night after some heavy soul-searching, two glasses of blueberry beer, and a little time on Google looking for the perfect shooting rainbow, I landed on a winner.

                                  

It seems like everything in the corner of the blogosphere that I haunt is really uplifting and positive, and I LOVE that.  But, maybe it's my crankiness due to lack of running, or maybe it was the beer, but I think I need an outlet for the things in my life that piss me off.  So, check back on Thursday, and let me know what you think!  :)

Buff Mama!

Well, I hope to be soon!  Which is why I'm doing... drumroll please....

The 100 Pushup Challenge

Basically it's a six week training program to get you to be able to 100 pushups consecutively.  It's super awesome, especially because my brother and husband are doing it with me. 

I'm in week two now, so I just did:


Set 1 - 14
Set 2  - 14
Set 3 - 10
Set 4 - 10
Set 5 - max (at least 15)

I'm going to start logging my workouts on here, so I'll keep you posted.  I go to the doctor the day after tomorrow.. so hopefully I be regaling you with tales of my runs very very soon... my running shoes are calling my name from their place by the front door....

Speaking of which, have I shown you my new running shoes?  They are awesome.  I had no idea Brooks made their GTS 11 in such schmancy colors:

Whoa, it's huge.  Sorry about that.

Ten bucks though the sports medicine lady will have me in different shoes... I'll just have to find some way to use them in home decor....

Hope your Monday was great!

 

Spring has sprung!

Finally!  Warm weather, and no more snow!!  Yay!  My handsome hubby and I took the kids outside and they LOVED crawling around in the grass.  Just wanted to share some pictures!  :)

Momma Jungle Gym

Nolan in gray, Alex in blue



Getting my workout in!




I LOVE this photo!  I can just hear Alex's giggles... :)





Seriously, I'm the luckiest woman.  That's a whole lotta handsomeness. 

That's all.  Hope you all had a fantastic Easter!

Down for the Count.

Hoppy Easter mis amigos!  Hope everyone gets some fun family time in... I can't wait til next year when the kiddos are big enough to hunt for Easter eggs... I'm already scoping out the good hiding spots.  :)

Well, I haven't run since the half-marathon.  That's EIGHT days guys.  I am dying here.  My shin issue has extended to my ankle, and now I'm hobbling around and walking down the stairs backwards. 

I made an appointment with a sports medicine doctor, finally.  I go on Wednesday, and no running until then.  I'm feeling super antsy and a little cranky (hey, want to come hang out with me? ha) but I know this is for the best - I really need to set my sights on the marathon this fall, and fix this problem now.  Even if that means I can't run the Green Bay Half.  I'll be the most enthusiastic spectator ever - I'm already thinking of signs I can make in case I'm sidelined.

My personal favorite - a sign I saw at the Chicago RnR 1/2 last year, held by a long-haired twenty-something year old dude:  "YOU ARE ALL REALLY GOOD AT EXERCISING."

Kind of reminds me of the episode of the Office where Dwight is in charge of decorating for a birthday, and his sign says "It Is Your Birthday."  ha.

Anyway, please PLEASE share all of the details of your runs, lifts, any sort of working out with me... I need to live vicariously through you. 

What's the best sign you've ever seen at a race?

Running Mantras

The beautiful Julia over at Pain, Pride, and Perseverance posts a topic every week for all of us bloggers to talk about...

This week it is Running Mantras.

And I feel a bit embarrassed telling you all about my mantra, because it's kind of silly... but hey, if it helps someone get through a tough run, it's worth it!  And, I think I stole it from an elite runner, so I'm not taking credit for it.

Fast, Strong, Light

I say it in my head in rhythm with my footfalls, and you know what?  It makes me feel fast, strong, and light.  I usually pull it out when I'm feeling really sluggish, usually when it's hot or I'm on a tough hill.. and magically my knees start driving harder, my posture improves, and I feel a sense of balance and strength.  It's marvelous. 

But, yeah, I may have said it out loud a few times, and I might have gotten some super weird looks from fellow racers.. but hey.  Someone that once ran around a track with her shorts tucked up in her butt cheeks doesn't have a lot of dignity left.  Sorry for the visual.  And Rachel, sorry for the actual visual. 

Here's a Runner's World Article about mantras... see, mine isn't so silly!  :)

Hope you all have a super awesome Thursday!