Lagging Behind Already

Yeah, I never made that evening run last night -- big surprise there, right?

We didn't get home from happy hour until almost 8 and I still had a stack of papers to finish reading, so I read those (and finished them) until "Lost" came on at 10.

One thing I certainly have struggled with is time management. I need to make room for running, yet am often busy with work, home, friends, and, well, other stuff. Certainly it could be argued that "other stuff" could take a back seat, but I need my time each day to read, watch tv or a movie, or play on the Internet -- I need that brain time off (skipping out on friend time is just not an option for me -- I like my social hours). I know that trying to juggle all these things is not unique to me, and I just have to figure out a comfortable way to make running a priority.

Last fall when I was training for Disney, I really feel like I short-changed my marathon training (the result? this ITBS), and I had resolved not to do that the second time around, yet I'm three days back into a running schedule and what do I do? Skip running in order to enjoy mixed drinks and sushi (which was pretty damn delicious and fun, BTW).

Balance Ball

Yesterday, I inflated the balance ball my husband got me for my b-day, popped in the accompanying DVD, and set to work on abs with it. Phew, it was tough. And combined with the ab workout I did the day before, I woke up this morning with sore stomach muscles.

I sneezed in the car on the way to class this morning, and I about cried, so I think I will take the day off of abs today.

In other news, as I ease my way back into a running schedule I find myself meeting up with my arch enemy: the morning run.

I don't why I keep trying to make myself a morning runner because I just really hate mornings, and the last thing I want to do first thing is strap on my shoes and head out for a run at 6 am. It's just not me.

I had grand ideas last night as I laid out my running shorts, shoes, socks, bra, but come 6 am, I just went back to sleep. This sucks because I'm supposed to go out this evening for sushi and drinks -- will I have the willpower to run after that? We'll see.

May Day

Last night was my first run in a month. Went 2 miles. Nice and easy -- didn't bring an MP3 or Garmin. Some tightening and discomfort in IT band in 2nd mile. I'm going to continue stretches and other preventative measures, but I'm also gonna keep running.

May's goal: rebuild base in order to prepare for "official" marathon training the first week in June.

B-Day Beach Bash

For a combined celebration of both my husband's b-day (yesterday) and my b-day (a week ago), we planned a beach party with our friends on Sunday. So, we spent the day yesterday on the beach playing bocce ball, throwing the frisbee in the ocean, laying in the sun, enjoying drinks, and eating snacks.

And I monkeyed around on the exercise bars some (those bars were hot! and the sunscreen made my hands slippery, so it wasn't easy to do any hanging).

The weather was perfect (hot, but we had a breeze and a spot in the shade), the ocean felt great (it was so clear and refreshing), and the company was excellent (they brought us some wonderful gifts, so we love them). By the end of the day, I was pooped: The combination of sun, sand, and surf sent me to bed by 9 pm.

It was good b-day fun though!

Pictured here are the two b-day-ers. My husband, the Jer-Bear, and me! Do we look older and wiser?

Happy Birthday to:

My hubby! Happy b-day, Jer-Bear!

Much Better

Alright, we decided to paint over the brown (that looked orange) with the red we had (and love). I think it turned out well, and even though I still think the yellow in the kitchen is bright, I think I'm warming to it.

Above: View of kitchen from living room. To give those of you who have never been to my humble dwelling some perspective: This wall used to be a full wall (my husband created the pass-through) and it was floor-to-ceiling mirrors!

Here below, we have the dining room/entryway from the living room (which, to give an accurate description, I should note that the living room and dining room are really just one big room -- but we plan to utilize it as two separate rooms). Again, the walls to the left and that small wall that extends over the entryway were all mirrors (it was like a disco in here!) and the wall to the right was floor-to-ceiling wallpaper. Clearly, you can see that we still have a lot of work left to do, like installing floors, para exemplo. We may be finished with the whole shebang in another few months (we've lived here two years -- good lord, I do NOT recommend buying a "fixer upper.")
And lastly, below is a view of the kitchen from the doorway. See what I mean about that yellow being reminisicent of a pad of butter? Oh well. It's not so bad, and once some more stuff is done in here (like replacing the appliances -- in stainless steel -- and fitting a microwave over the stove in that now empty spot), I will probably like it. As a side note, don't you love my blue teapot? A gift from my hubby.


So, yeah, that's what we've been working on for the past week. Excuse the small tirade from Thursday; sometimes this remodeling project overwhelms me, and I tend to flip out every few months (but it's funny what gets to me; I washed dishes in the bathroom for two months, and I was cool, but some paint doesn't turn out how I want it, and I'm a mess: go figure).

I Hate Paint: A Diatribe

I actually don't hate paint, I love paint, but I hate it when paint does not turn out how I envision it. Currently, we are painting several rooms in our condo that flow together: the kitchen, the entry way, the living room and dining room, and it's a pain in the ass to get the colors to be cohesive within the rooms.

The yellow I chose for the kitchen turned out to be much brighter than I wanted, and I feel like it's a giant pad of butter. I love the red I chose for one wall in the living room/dining room, but the coordinating brown looks more like orange, so the combo of the three colors makes me want to pull my hair out (I swear, when I looked at them on the paint cards, I was envisioning something sophisticated, not something from PlayLand).

The brown (that looks like orange) clearly has to be re-done (since husband refuses to change the kitchen). That means one more thing to do....ahhhhh! I need one of three things: an army of trained monkeys, a troup of helpful elves, or a gaggle of gnomes; if any of you have these handy-dandy creatures in your employ, please send them to my house.

Worn Out

This week has already felt long, and it's only Wednesday!

See, it's the end of the semester for me, which means grading-galore (while fielding many emails and calls for students -- they get very worried about their semester grades at the end of the term, that kind of worry would serve some of them better throughout the term), and I've been busy working on the house with my husband (sorry, honey, but I think I did a crap job on the paint I did this morning!) -- a never-ending project; plus, we had Lou's death and funeral, which has been upsetting. And...a pile of other little things, which always seem to converge at once, right?

Added up, I am feeling exhausted this afternoon, and head-achy (usually stress-induced: my shoulders get all tense and I can feel my poor knoggin throbbing). But, I am done with class for the day (but certainly have a daunting pile of papers that I'd like to return to students tomorrow, but I'm not sure if that will happen) and I'm headed home. I'm going to swallow a few Advil and grab a Diet Pepsi from the vending machine for the drive home (the caffeine sometimes helps a headache).

Thank God that by the end of next week, much of this stuff will be done. And...hopefully, I can resume running then too (my main source of stress-relief).

A Final Farewell

I have typed three different versions of this post, highlighted and erased each one. Nothing quite seems to say what I want to say, so I will keep it simple:

Today was Lou's funeral. The service was lovely. The church was packed. Now, I suppose, we move on.

B-Day Report

My birthday was very nice -- thanks for all the well wishes -- and I enjoyed the weekend.

On Saturday, my husband and I went to dinner at The Melting Pot and we had a fondue-tastic time (I wanted to drink that bowl of chocolate at the end even though I was so full), and then we relaxed and watched a movie at home ("Casino Royale" which I thought was so-so).

Then yesterday, my actual b-day (and soon-to-be national holiday -- I'm checking into the details), we spent most of the day painting. I know, I know, I shouldn't do work on my b-day, but our condo remodeling is getting really close to being finished, and every day spent on it, brings us one day closer, so we painted one wall in the living room (red!) and we primed the kitchen (what a bitch! I hate kitchens and bathrooms). But in the afternoon, we got burritos from Chipolte and we met up with some friends to see "Hot Fuzz" in the theater.

This. Was. Awesome. I laughed harder than I have laughed in a long time. I am a big fan of "Shaun of the Dead" but I think this was almost better than that. It was hil-ar-i-ous! (I think those Brits are just plain funny anyway.) So, that was excellent.

As for b-day loot, my husband got me some great stuff including a gift card for the local running store (sweet!) -- I think I might get new shoes with it, and he got me a balance ball (so my abs of steel workout can continue). I got many other treats as well, but none else are running related (and it was mostly money and gift cards from my family). Scooter got me a gift card for Starbucks, which was very thoughtful of him, considering he has no allowance.

All in all, it was an excellent b-day, and I'm looking forward to the year of 29! I think it will be awesome.

Happy Birthday!

To me!

Carpe Diem

The suddenness of our friend Lou's death has me reflecting about how short life is. I know it's cliche, but when someone dies suddenly at the age of 50 -- leaving so much behind (or when they are gunned down at age 19 or 20, as we've also seen happen this week) -- it reminds those of who are still living of the value of life, and the responsibility we have to that life.

Lou was someone who thoroughly enjoyed his family, his friends, his work, and his hobbies (NASCAR and bowling were what he shared with us); life simply emanated from him -- I always saw him with a smile on his face and arms open and ready for a hug (he also frequently offered advice on my bowling stance or swing :). I'm saddened that the world has been robbed of him and that spirit; yet for the rest of us, it's a lesson on how to live our lives.

There's no time like the present to make sure we embrace our loved ones, let them know how important they are to us, and pursue the dreams and goals we have for our futures -- deferring that which we want to accomplish is foolish. All of this seems an apt lesson for me on the eve of my birthday; it's a reminder of all that I've experienced and lived and what I have before me as well. The year before me, and each year to follow, and each year that has preceded, is precious, and I'm thankful I have so many people to share it with.

Thanks Lou for teaching us and reminding us about how full our lives truly are. Even in death, you sought to show us something.

"No more to build on there. And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs."
--Robert Frost "Out, Out--"

A Tribute

To our good friend, Lou, who passed away this morning.

The news is both shocking (he was only 50) and heartbreaking (he leaves behind a wife and two daughters). He was a warm, viviacious person, and he will be missed dearly.

*Goodbye Lou.*

Rest, Schmest

Officially, I have not run in 17 days.

And it's killin' me.

At first I thought the time off would be glorious because ever since I started my running endeavor, I'd been wishing for some kind of extended break, but now that I'm experiencing it, I'm hating it.

And I still have 10 days to go!

I really hope this rest is what my knee needs b/c I'm gonna cry if I start out on a run on May 1st and it hurts again.

"Good Mornin', Good Mornin'!"

Oh, I am in an excellent mood today, my friends! Perhaps I woke up on the RIGHT side of the bed (and got just the right amount of sleep), or perhaps it's the gentle thrumming of my heart (love my coffee!), or maybe it's because this semester is nearly over and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel of essays, or perhaps it's because I got to choose my schedule for the fall term and I got to choose a class I've never taught before, and I'm ecstatic to do so!

I'm nothing but rainbows and moonbeams today folks!

Ab-solutely April

Because I failed at "National Ab Month" back in February, I decided to make April another go of it: it makes sense with the alliteration that's possible, and the fact that I have some down time while I rest from running.

Getting bored with the exercises I know or have available on DVD, I went to the web to broaden my ab exercise base. At www.fitnessmagazine.com under the link "abs" there are tons of exercises for all aspects of the abdominals (like the one to the left). Some, you don't even need to sit up for (but some exercises do seem to be fond of scarf twirling -- I don't own a scarf and am not much for twirling).

Six pack here I come.

Well, that might be more realistic if I hadn't had a brownie for breakfast. Eh, I'm not perfect.

A Moment of Silence

For those at Virginia Tech. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of those connected to that campus: students, professors, administrators, parents; yesterday's events were tragic.

Drunken Debauchery

Those are the only words to describe the last four days.

Our beloved friends, Jen and Stacy, arrived in town on Thursday and we kicked off the weekend then, and I don't think any of us stopped celebrating their presence until this morning when we all felt the repercussions of it. I haven't been drunk four nights in a row since probably....hmmmm, well, maybe a few years ago. I would say back in college, but that would be a lie (there have been many drinking sprees in my 20s).

So, even though I think we're all glad to be returning to our normal routines (with far fewer drinks), I think I speak for the whole group when I say, "we'll miss you two!" It was great having them here.

But good lord, me thinks my liver needs a break.

Only 7 Days Left

of being 28.

In one week, I will turn 29. Awesome. While I'm looking forward to my birthday, I also think a retrospective of 28 is in order:

I went on several vacations (to DC, Denver, MN, Bahamas), I ran my first marathon (Disney), I had a temporary full-time teaching position (fall term), which led, I think, to my being hired for a full time permanent position (upcoming fall), I consumed many beers and had lots of fun, my bowling team did not place number one in league, but we had a good time, my husband and I continued to remodel our condo and we get closer to finishing all the time, and I had a 5K PR (28:28): overall, it's been stupendous.

I have a good husband, a lot of good friends, a cute dog, a nice (eventually) house, a good job, and a family that lives far away (kidding); well, they do live far away, but they're a good family as well. All in all, 28 and its previous years have been awesome to me; I imagine when I turn 29 NEXT Sunday that it will be a year full of much of the same nuggety goodness.

O' Bloggers, Where Art Thou?

I guess it's a testament to the ever-changing nature of the Internet, and specifically, to Blogland, that some of us emerge and some of us fade away. Lately, it seems as though some established bloggers have fallen into the latter category.

Running Rabbit has pulled the plug on her blog, Liv hasn't posted in months and I assume she too has abandoned her blog, Runnergirl is still posting, but in her last post, she seemed to wobble on the decision as to whether she should continue to do so, and Bob's blog address link, which has always been previously reliable, now takes me to this. (Bob, if you're out there, what happened?)

But in the cycle of Blogs, as old blogs die, new ones are born. So, you'll note that my sidebar's list of blogs I visit has changed and I've updated the list to reflect the running blogs I am currently reading. So, "goodbye" to those bloggers who have chosen new paths (don't be afraid to visit), and "hello" to the blogs that are either new or I have just discovered.

I'm feeling H-O-T!

I know that much of the country has been experiencing a rather frigid April, but here in South Florida, summer is now underway!

Blech, it's hot.

It's been in the high 80s and low 90s with increasing humidity this week, and I have been reminded of what it's like here in the summer (and it has me questioning the need to train for Chicago during these months -- but I'm already committed, so I guess I'll get used to it as I have in the previous summers). The other night, Erin and I went for a 3 mile walk and by the end, our t-shirts were drenched with sweat and we had bugs stuck to our sweaty faces (damn those little gnats that emerge in the spring).

Both walking and (in a few weeks) running will need to take place under cover of darkness. At least then I don't have to worry about applying sunscreen.

Push ups are a great strength training exercise. They strengthen the muscles in your arms, shoulders, chest, back, and stomach, and are one of the single best exercises for your upper body.

Too bad I suck at them.

Since I'm taking a break from running to help improve the ITBS in my right knee, I've been walking regularly and incorporating yoga and at-home strength training (I'm starting to second-guess canceling my gym membership two months ago). So, I've been trying to do some form of ab work on a daily basis as well as push ups. Yesterday, I pushed (pun intended) myself a little on the push ups and tried to do some regular push ups instead of the girl ones I usually do (knees on the floor).

I could do two.

And I think any trainer would question the quality of those two. My arms wobbled, my elbows did not come to 90 degree angles, and I struggled through both of them. It was either those two regular push ups or the 3 sets of girl push ups that left me sore today. I can feel it in my chest and back especially.

Geez, I'm never gonna be cut out to be a Navy Seal.

Pills, pills, pills

Lately, I've been feeling like an old woman with her stacks of pills to take each morning. I've been taking a multi-vitamin, a fish oil (omega-3 fatty acid), and ibuprofren (and actually, I've been taking the recommended dosage of IB twice daily). Together, they make a neat little stack of medication. Plus, a friend recommended, and gave me to try, "Mona Vie" which is a supplemental drink that contains a cocktail of natural juices and, perhaps, ground-up elves for good measure. That, I take in a one ounce shot, and actually, it's kinda tasty.

All of this crap better be worth swallowing.

I Could've Slept All Day

I'm so tired today.

Maybe it's a case of the Mondays, maybe it's because I overate yesterday for Easter, maybe it's because we were dog-sitting over the weekend and they wore me out, maybe it's my class schedule which only allows one day off a week, or maybe it's because my allergies bugged me this weekend -- whatever the case may be, I fell asleep last night before 10 and slept until 9 this morning, and I still felt like I could have kept on leasing my space in dreamland all day long.

All Signed Up

for Chicago!

I registered yesterday, as promised, and it's funny, but just registering gave me the same rush I remember feeling almost a year ago when I signed up for Disney: It's exciting to have that goal in front of me, and even though I know the challenge will be daunting, I'm looking forward to the experience.

Thanks to all the readers who have given advice about the ITBS -- I will consider it all (however, I have to admit that accupuncture scares the bejesus out of me; I am not a fan of needles -- but perhaps I will be brave).

As a last note for this post -- it represents my 500th post! Incredible, huh? I have found a reason 500 times to jibber-jabber (mostly about running). Although, considering that I have hosted this blog for nearly two years (June will be my two year blogoversary), it also demonstrates that I have taken significant breaks from the jibber-jabber (even a motor-mouth needs a few days of rest). Thanks for reading! Running wouldn't be the same without the community of "bleaders" (yeah, that's "blog" + "readers"; clever, aren't I?).

The Bloggers Have Spoken

The responses to yesterday's post have certainly helped me to decide about Chicago: I'm going to sign up today!

And then take 3 weeks off running.

Yup. I do really want to be there for Chicago, but in order to do that, I think I need to give my knee some serious rest. So, I will take a real hiatus from running and will resume training the first week in May with short runs to re-build my base.

It's scary to think about taking so much time off running, but I think it's necessary in order to rehabilitate my knee. I also plan to follow the PT's stretching regimen, which was prescribed weeks ago and which I have kinda followed. I will ice, take IB, rest, stretch, and hopefully all of that will alleviate the problem. Also, my husband is going to MacGyver a foam roller for me -- or, if anyone knows of a good place online to buy one (that is not where I will pay $20 for a stick of foam -- I mean a good roller recommendation), let me know.

Thanks for all the support -- looks like I'll be seeing many of you in Chicago! Woo-hoo!!

On the Fence

about signing up for Chicago.

I keep talking about running Chicago this fall, and I really, really want to (30th anniversary, etc, it will be awesome); however, I'm unsure about the status of my ITBS in my right knee. I have been waiting for it to subside, and then I was gonna sign up for the race, but the weeks have ticked by and I feel like the registration window will close very, very, very soon. I need to decide.

My husband said I should just sign up to secure my place, and if I can't run it, then I'm only out $100. Is he right? Should I just sign up, hope that continued treatment with the knee will improve the inflammation, and plan on running Chicago? Or, do I cancel my dream of Chicago this year, give the knee significant rest, and plan on a winter marathon?

What to do, what to do?

Monday Night Run

Even though I was really tired last night, I still managed to drag myself outside and fit in a two mile run. It felt pretty good, but my knee ached again, which is poopy. Does anyone have a magic wand on hand that will magically make that issue disappear?

A Return to Routine

Our houseguest departed at the crack of dawn this morning, so now it's back to our regular routine. While I was sad to see her go, it is nice to be able to resume normal activities. So, now I've got to return to my running (I've been a total slacker), my healthier eating habits (lots of high calorie grub in the past week), and I need a short hiatus from drinking (March was a celebratory month and between St. Paddy's, camping, and company I drank many, many beers).

Today I'm trying to catch up on some work, but I hope to get a short run in this evening so I can begin to re-establish my schedule.

Oh Captain, My Captain!

This week has been busy -- not with running, but with fun times.

With my friend in town, we've been shopping, eating, drinking, bowling, movie going, beaching, and touring around Ft Lauderdale -- as we did yesterday by boat.

I feel like a tub of blubber with all the extra treats and beers, so when she leaves on Monday, I'm gonna have to eat nothing but salads. Still, it's darn fun having her here!

Camping: The Longer, More Detailed Version

Our stay in the swampland began on Saturday with a team effort between my husband and I: We locked our only set of keys in the truck. It was a combo effort -- I left the keys in there; he locked the truck. I could see panic in his eyes as he assessed how much it would cost to either A.) Have AAA come out to the middle of nowhere to unlock us, or B.) Break a window.

Thankfully, neither had to happen. Our handy friends were able to fashion a lock-picking device out of a marshmallow skewer and they managed to unlock the truck's back window where I had to shimmy through to unlock the rest of the doors -- below I am pictured emerging from the inside.

After the freeing of the truck keys, we mostly sat back and relaxed -- satisfied that collectively we had enough brains to figure out how to break into a Ford Ranger.

After going for a drive in the four wheel trucks, and after watching some others get stuck, then ticketed by the wildlife officer, we made ourselves a classic campfire and sat back with some beers to enjoy the evening. Scooter had spent the day running free like a wild dog -- sometimes a little too wild, so he was exhausted. You'll note in the picture below of me, my husband and Scooter, that Scooter is outfitted with his blaze-orange camping collar. That's right. He has the appropriate camping accessories.

Like I said in the "brief version," we had a lot of fun, and were pretty tuckered out when we returned home -- gritty with dirt. My friend arrived from out of town on Sunday night, and since then, we've been busy socializing and shopping. But I did manage to get a run in last night -- the first since last week's 5K. I don't know how much running I'll have time for this week, but next week, I've resolved to get back to it -- for sure.

Camp Report: The Brief Version

As much as I'd like to give a long, detailed account of our adventures in the swamps and woodlands of South Florida, as well as post the accompanying pictures, I'm afraid I just don't have time today.

So the long and short of it: We had a lot of fun.

We returned home late yesterday afternoon, and then had to prepare for a friend who arrived from out of town last night. She's staying the week with us, and I'll probably be busy playing with her all week -- so, I can't guarantee that posts this week will be frequent or satisfying.

Camp-tastic

After class this morning, I am setting out on a camping adventure. My husband, Socoter, me, and some friends are embarking on a weekend trip into the swampland of Florida where we plan to relax, build a campfire, and drink some beer -- should be good times.

I'll return tomorrow, so it won't be a lengthy embarkation.

Oopsie

Dear A1A Marathon Participant,

We are writing to inform you that upon completion of the A1A Marathon, we did not receive your Champion Timing Chip. Please send the timing chip back to the following address ASAP to avoid the $30 replacement fee.

Uh-oh.

When I did not finish the 1/2 because of the ol' knee, I just walked off the course and went home -- timing chip attached. Later, I noticed it, but didn't know what to do with it. I know I cut it off my shoe strings, but where is it now? Probably in the posession of the good gnomes who scurry away with all my other things.

Dang. Looks like I'm gonna have to fork over $30.

5K Finish

The evening was nice: breezy and cool, which was perfect for a run. My husband and I arrived early so I could register and so we could both meet up with friends. It was a big race. Much bigger than I anticipated, and before the start gun went off, the announcer said that over 5300 participants had shown up: that's quite the turn out for a 5K (maybe everyone was hoping to win the raffle for the Mercedes -- I know I was crossing my fingers).
Below are my comrades for the run: Jon and Ryan -- both work with my husband (the non-runner/picture taker for me). I lined up with them before the race, and the 3 of us had to push, claw, and trip over the walkers that crowded the front of the start line (ridiculous -- they need two starts for this race because the first tenth of a mile was chaotic). After the start, I lost track of my two friends and was on my own.
Despite being somewhat montonous (the race doubled back on itself twice), it was a fun run. My knee gave me minimal issues and I finished in reasonable time (not my best, but considering the infrequent training and knee trouble, it was alright). There were no timing chips and many doubts about the accuracy of the "official" clock (one guy said it was 2 minutes off, my friends reported about a 30 second delay), but my time on the finish clock was 31 minutes (there I am below in the orange shorts just about to cross the finish line; I did not win the Mercedes, dang). Definitely not a PR, but like I said, not too shabby (I beat those two boys).
Afterward, we all went out for beers and bar food (mmmm, delicious), and we just returned home -- just in time for "Lost." It was a fun night and a fun run.

5K Tonight

Tonight is the Corporate Run 5K. I don't really know how I'll do on it -- Monday's run really made my knee ache -- plus, I'm a little nervous about getting to it on time. I'll have to dash from class (change in the bathroom) to the race, and there's no predicting how the highway will be.

So, cross your fingers for light traffic and no lingering students!

Monday

I'm feeling much improved today and yesterday turned out to be, essentially, a wasted day. I spent most of it lying in bed watching tv and reading. The headache was never entirely tamed, and even when I went to bed, I still didn't feel 100%.

You'd think I'd learn, especially since I'm not new at being hungover, but once the beer hits the lips; it's just so good. I can't stop -- but I could be helped by sneaking in some water between drinks so that I don't dehydrate (I think that was why I had that stupendous headache yesterday).

Anyhoo, I hope to get a run in this evening since I've slacked off the past couple of days; I have to be somewhat prepared for Wednesday's 5K.

Paddy-Whacked

Uff-da, I'm feeling a little rough today.

We started at 4 in the afternoon, hit 3 separate bars, and drank many beers -- not one was green in color. Antics ensued.

By the end of the night, I was a drunk leprechaun, and I fell down in my friend's driveway (although I still maintain that my heel got caught in a sidewalk crack). And this morning I had the headache from hell.

My noggin has never been in that much pain before, and admittedly, it still aches this afternoon. Water for me today, nothing but water.

Calorie Fest

Last night instead of running, my husband and I went out to dinner (we never feel like cooking on a Friday night). We were both feeling like Mexican, but because we seem to end up at Chipolte nearly once a week (their meat may not have any hormones or chemicals, but there's something addictive about those burritoes), we decided instead to hit up a local Mexican restaurant.

Where I ate my weight in cheese.

Seriously, blood is going to have to fight it's way through my arteries to my heart after the conglomeration of cheese I had last night. That, and the Dos Equis, made for a pretty high calorie, high fat meal (I don't even want to think of how many miles I would have to run to burn off that dinner).

But today doesn't promise to be any healthier. It's St. Patrick's Day, so in honor of the Irish, we're starting our drinking early. We're meeting some friends at an Irish bar/restaurant where we can, hopefully, stake out an early claim (much like Irish immigrants did in the wild, wild west -- as portrayed in the Cruise/Kidman movie "Far and Away": I do like this movie, even though Tom Cruise's accent is completely unbelievable, but in my humble opinion, Cruise is hardly believable as a person) before the crowds threaten our territory. So, tonight, it's nothing but beer and potatoes (only Irish food there is, right?)!

Have a good holiday everyone! Shamrocks for you all!

Wa-hoo!!

I got the full-time faculty position I interviewed for 3 weeks ago!! Yeah, I rock!

I got the call last night, and I can't tell you how happy I am about it. I was on the phone half the night making calls to family and friends. It had been such a long wait between interview and notification, so I was starting to feel pretty dejected about it, so when the dean called me at home yesterday evening, I was surprised, relieved, and excited all at once.

The full-time status doesn't go into effect until the fall semester, so I won't be enjoying the monetary benefits for a few more months, but this is a huge validation of the work I've been doing for years. You can be sure that I will be having some green beer in celebration this weekend!

Corporate Run: March 21st

A week from today is the "Corporate Run" which is sponsored in part by both my husband's work, Motorola, and my work, Broward Community College. Each year that I've lived here in South Florida I've wanted to run the "Corporate "Run" -- mostly because lots of our friends run it and I hate to be left out. So, this year it actually works out because I don't have to teach a class on the evening that they hold it.


I've decided to run it even though my knee is not yet back to its old glory (again, because I don't want to be left out), so I don't know how well I'll do, but I figure I've already missed out or didn't finish 3 planned races for the year so far, and most of my running goals are going out the window; I must salvage something.


The only thing that sucks is that because of my eleventh hour decision, I have missed the deadline to be a part of my college's "team," but I assume I can still sign up at the race; I'll just be teamless.


So, for the next 7 days, I am "Corporate Run" focused: 5K, here I come! (Knee, do you hear that? No wimping out this time! I wanna see a strong effort from you soldier!)

My Name is Jess and...

...I'm a sugar addict.

By now, most of you who read my blog may already know this since I often chronicle for you my love of sweets. But as of late, it seems increasingly clear to me that I not only have a sweet tooth, but that, perhaps, all 29 (yes, I counted them -- does this seem like the right number of teeth? seems like a lot) teeth crave sugar.

See, for Valentine's Day, my husband bought me a box of Fun Dip -- partially because he knows I love sugar, and partially for sentinmental reasons: on one of our first dates he invited me over to his apartment to watch movies, and I brought along some Fun Dip (some people bring a bottle of wine, I bring refined sugar) and ended up spilling the colored sugar all over the place. Anyway, I didn't consume all the packets of Valentine's Fun Dip right away; instead, I've been spacing them out, but in general I have about one packet a night (okay, sometimes two). A packet is 50 calories of sugary goodness, which in a sense isn't that bad (but, it would mean running a half mile to burn off); however, an extra 50 to 100 calories a day of refined sugar can't be helping me to shed those extra pounds that -- I'm convinced -- keep me from being the speed machine I'm meant to be.

So, yesterday I tried to refrain from the sugar(I at first tried to trick myself by having a Diet Sprite, but my palate knew better: aspartame is no substitute for the 'cane), but as I sat watching TV last night, I could hear the Fun Dip calling to me from my closet (I put it in there so that it would be less tempting, but that ploy has failed to deliver results). I yielded and got a packet, and settled in front of the TV to enjoy my sugar. But then it happened: one wasn't enough. I needed more -- needed it, I tell you! I especially had to have another stick (for those unfamiliar with Fun Dip, or if you haven't had it since you were five, the "dip" is just flavored sugar, but you "dip" into the dip with a compressed sugar stick that is delicious) because the stick is my favorite. So, I broke into another pack, this time leaving the dip alone but going straight for the stick. Of course, consuming that didn't squelch the craving either, and I broke into another packet to get at the stick and leave the dip untouched. One packet and three sticks later, I was feeling a little sick to my stomach and also a little wired.

I'm thinking of throwing the Fun Dip out. I know it will just be replaced with other sweets: ice cream or mini cookies, but I have to start somewhere. That, or I'm gonna need to join SA (sugarholics anonymous); heck, maybe that would be helpful anyway. I could join the circle of others who can relate to my childhood habit of eating a handful of sugar cubes on the way to the bus stop; there has to be others out there, doesn't there?

Daylight Savings

Kinda sucks.

I don't like losing an hour.

New Tunes

I added some new songs to my MP3 for running: A little Fall Out Boy, a pinch of the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, a dash of My Chemical Romance, and a sprinkle of The Arcade Fire. Combined with previously loaded songs and my reliable 3 mile route, it was the perfect recipe for a Saturday evening run.

Rest...Kinda

Today is a rest day from running, but I've been busy otherwise.

Even though I'm on break, I still have school work to catch up on: papers to read, classes to plan, etc, so I've been working on that stuff for the majority of the day -- one project that I thought would take about an hour ended up taking about 3 hours! Also, I'm trying to take care of some errands: grocery store, Target, Walgreens, etc, and those take time as well, so today doesn't feel all that restful. In fact, it's 5:15 pm right now, and this is the first moment where I've felt I could take a break from stuff, uff-da.

Thankfully, I still have two days left of my vacation before classes resume on Monday; I wish spring break was two weeks!

Jessica the Great

While I'm on break, I've been trying to sort through some pictures and organize some albums -- needless to say, I haven't really gotten very far; however, I was reminded of a token from my childhood that I thought you guys might appreciate: my biography. As written by Virginia Ammons when I was in first grade and she was in fifth.

See, for a couple of early elementary years, I lived with my grandparents on their farm in CO, and I attended a one-room schoolhouse; seriously. There were just two of us in the first grade: me and Lucas-Mucus (having to always partner up with that snotty -- literal boogers -- kid bugged me more than I can express; I hated having to stare at that slime-covered upper-lip of his); my mom credits my experience in that school with much of my later accelerated learning; Cherry Valley worked in a unique way since there were so few students (30 total: grades kindergarten through fifth), and essentially, students worked at different grade levels for different subjects, depending on individual skill (kinda like a Montessori). So, I was good at English and worked at the fifth grade level with them, but I sucked at math, so I worked with Lucas-Mucus on that.

So, as a fifth grade project, we wrote biographies of one another and Virginia had me: "Jessica the Great."
Here we are, partnered up, and I, of course, am the small, dark one. This photo was glued on the inside jacket of the spiral bound book that was all about me and my favorite things. Fav movie? "Journey of Natty Gann." Fav TV show? "Cosby Show." Etc. So, as you can see on page 19 below, my "favorite thing in life" was that I ran "fast."

Personally, I love the illustration -- it DOES demonstrate speed, doesn't it?

I think about this little book from time to time, and especially this page, and when I'm running, I try to picture my knees moving back and forth with the sort of speed illustrated by Virginia Ammons -- my pony tail flapping in the wake of my speed. I certainly no longer think of myself as fast, but 23 years after this book was bound together, running is still one of my favorite things in life.

Where Virginia chose the title from, I have no idea, but it has stuck over the years, and I have always thought of myself as "Jessica the Great" (running is partially what makes me "great," but the "greatness" is really a general attitude); I hope everyone else thinks of themselves in similiar terms: We all should be our first name + "the" + a chosen adjective of significance. What's yours?

Scooter's Smacky

My student, Chelsea, did make it into the final 9 for the next Pussycat Doll show (see previous post below) last night, and it was kinda a nail-biter since she was chosen last. But, now I'm gonna have to watch that stupid show every week to see how she does.

For those like BCG, who don't know who the Pussycat Dolls are, well, I suggest you turn on MTV or VH1 every once in awhile -- kidding:) They're a musical group and a Vegas show (I'm not sure if it's one in the same -- can anyone else shed better light on that?) and they sing the song "Dontcha Wish Your Girlfriend was Hot like Me."

But aside from former students who are now on reality shows, I just had to share these pics of Scooter snuggling his little yellow bear (yes, I'm very literal when naming my pet's pets).

If you read the comic strip "Get Fuzzy," it will totally remind you of Bucky Kat's stuffed bear "Smacky." If you don't read "Fuzzy," well, you're missing out on some laughs.

Totally Whack

So, I'm sitting here flipping through the channels, waiting for "Lost," which doesn't come on until 10, and I stopped for a bit on a new reality series on the "CW" called "The Next Pussycat Doll"; well, I think that's the name of it, anyway; they're auditioning for the next addition to the group. So, I notice that one of the girls looks familiar, and I'm intrigued: Is that one of my students?

I kept an eye out for her to re-appear, and upon further scrutiny, and the mention of her name, Chelsea, and her hometown, Cooper City, FL, I knew it WAS one of my students! Actually, she was in one of my classes last semester, and she withdrew from class about 6 weeks into the course (did she withdraw to film this show? I don't know!), but I remember her.

It's so weird! That girl who sat in the back row in the 12:30 class is now on my TV screen! I hope she makes it to the final 9, so I can see her go farther in the competition, but if she speaks and her grammar isn't correct -- well, like I said, she withdrew 6 weeks into the semester, so I can't take responsibility for that.

3 Miles and a Burrito

I ran 3 miles this evening, and they went well. There was a little knee discomfort at the half way point, but I ran through it, and it dissipated. Was able to run the entire way, so that felt good.

But the 300 calories, or so, I burned were immediately replaced by the 8 billion calorie burito I had for dinner from Chipolte (calorie estimation may be an exaggeration). But damn, those burritoes are delicious!

Yesterday's 3 Miler

was alright.

I couldn't tell if it was arduous because I hadn't run in 15 days, or because my knee was aching. In the end, the 3 were a combo of walking and running, and I didn't feel terrible about that, but also didn't feel splendiferous about it either. I guess that's how it is sometimes.

In other news, spring break is awesome. My husband took two days off work to chill with me, and we've seen two movies: "The Departed" was amazing! (although I do have some criticism) and we went to see "Zodiac" in the theater yesterday, and we also thought that was good (but VERY long -- I had to pee twice during the film). And today, we're headed to the beach! Yeah, spring break rocks!

Down, Dog

With the knee restricting my running the past few weeks, I've been doing a lot of walking, but I've also been trying to practice yoga on a more regular basis. But, it's hard with a little dog who thinks that every time I'm on the floor, I'm there to play with him.

Here I am Sunday morning, preparing for the wheel. It's not easy holding a pose while Scooter is licking my face, and while I am, thus, laughing. The benefit to doing yoga at a studio must be: the down dog, minus a dog.

But, speaking of the knee (kinda), RW had a brief segment on IT bands: an appropriate stretch and: a recommendation of fish oil daily (Omega-3 fatty acid), which, as you know, I have resumed taking (going on 6 days of consistent vitamin and fish oil intake). That article encouraged me in my fish oil endeavor (the blurb speaks of its anti-inflammatory properties) and I've decided to not let gagging keep me from taking the necessary nutrients. I just have to get used to it.

And because it has now offically been two full weeks of no running, I will test out the quality of my IT band's rest by trying a short run today (I'm thinking of something in the range of 2-3 miles). I'll let you know how it goes.

Dog Walk

This morning, I am not the exerciser in my family; instead, it's my husband. He and Scooter are partcipating in a "dog walk" here in downtown Ft Lauderdale to benefit the county human society. They are joining other friends with their dogs to walk and donate support (and dollars) to the shelter.

I wish I could walk with them, but I have class this morning (2 1/2 hours until my spring break officially commences!), so I can't go. I hope they have fun walking (I'm sure my husband's arm has already been stretched beyond its normal capacity -- Scooter will be so excited to see so many dogs, his friends included)!

Looking Forward to the Break

This week, and really the whole month of February, has been very busy: Classes have been full and every time I return a batch of essays, I'm getting a new batch; at home, we're in the middle of construction and we've had limited use of our kitchen for more than two weeks; in the back of my mind, I'm still stressed about that interview I had more than a week ago and which I haven't heard a peep on; and all other matters of work and home have made this week in particular a busy one.

Which is why I'm so glad that after tomorrow morning's class, I have the next 8 days off for spring break: woo-hoo! And I'm not planning anything!

Except for maybe a triumphant return to running (cross your fingers for the knee).

Gag!

Okay, here's a 'do pic:

This is the fixed version, but imagine those short layers remaining the same, but then add about five inches of hair off the back: That's what I got, and my friends, that was a mullet.

But aside from the hair...

So, the trouble with my knee has had me thinking about resuming my vitamin intake. I had been a religious vitamin ingester for years, but about six months ago, I stopped. I was sick of them, sick of swallowing that horse pill, but now I'm trying to take exemplary care of myself so that the IT band recovers easily and heartily -- I don't want to deal with injury again (and yes, I know that the IT band is not connected with my vitamin intake, but in my mind, the two are bonded together). Also, someone told me that fish oil pills help with joint lubrication (plus, they're supposed to cure all other kinds of ills; plus, my dog takes a fish oil pill every day -- pet-sized -- to help give him a healthy coat, so I figure a lovely side effect would be especially shiny hair for me).

The orthopedist said there's no hard medical data to support fish oil pill usage with joint recovery, but he said that it couldn't hurt. But, here's my problem: I hate those damn pills! They're so big and they always seem to get wedged part way down my throat and I gag just thinking about swallowing them.

However, this morning, I was dutifully taking the ibuprofren the doctor has instructed me to take, and I figured since I was already in the business of ingesting pills, I might as well take a multi-vitamin and a fish oil. Ack! They were terrible. Sure enough, that fish oil pill felt like it got lodged halfway down my throat, and I swear I could taste the fishiness, even though the bottle says the special coating won't allow that. After gagging my way through that one, I wasn't too excited to swallow the vitamin, but I choked it down as well (compared to the fish oil, it went down rather easily).

I don't know if I can resume this routine regularly -- they are just too icky! And I just don't understand why vitamins have to be so big, or why they can't at least be gel-coated.

Doctor

Earlier today, I posted a pic of my new 'do, but because my home computer decided to shit itself, that post was deleted. Argh.

But, beyond the hairdo (which was successfully fixed), and onto running stuff: I had my doctor appointment this morning for my knee, and the long and short of it? ITBS. So, the doctor said to take another week off running, take 2 ibuprofren 3 times a day (in order for it to act as an anti-inflammatory instead of just as a pain reliever), ice, and stretching. After the visit with the doc (where my x-rays revealed the bones and ligaments of a "teenager"! he called me a "young" 28, which seems repetitive -- isn't 28 already "young"?), I met with a physical therapist who showed me some stretches and massage techniques to loosen up the band and, hopefully, relieve and eliminate the pain there when I run.

So, all in all, it was a positive visit. If things don't improve, I'll re-visit in a month, but the doctor said there was no reason to believe this was a serious injury. Phew!

Haircut from Hell

Last night I decided to swing by the mall and get my hair trimmed. I am not one to shell out money for a pricey haricut, and especially for a trim, I figured I could stop into a MasterCuts and get the job done. Well...

This stylist was drunk. Either that, or crazy. I'm not sure which. Anyway, I should've bolted when I noted how she kinda stumbled around, and then when I went to sit in her chair, there was a bag of kettle korn, which she offered me. I declined. But I sat down where her snack had been.

I told her that I wanted to maintain the basic shape of my hairstyle, I just wanted it trimmed in order to freshen it up and eliminate the dry ends. She heartily agreed it could be done and set to work with her scissors. As she happily chopped away, she chatted -- and it was the chat of someone who was not in her right mind. At first, she asked if the mole above my lip was natural, I told her it was, and she said how lucky I was to have that (didn't feel so lucky when I was eight and kids teased me -- "is that a chocolate chip on your face?") because she had tattooed hers on! Looking at her reflection in the mirror, it suddenly became apparent that it was a tattoo! (I have nothing against tatts -- I have one myself -- but to tattoo what is essentially a skin abnormality onto your face?! WTF?)

Anyway, she babbled on about how everyone in S. FL is terrible and rude and how she hates everybody here, except for me because I was nice, and how much I was just gonna LOVE my hair because she was doing something really fantastic with it. And this is when I got scared. I just wanted a trim; I didn't want "something fantastic." In the meantime, she dropped her comb and had to lean on my left knee to bend over and pick it up! I was so baffled by her behavior that I was literally captively stunned. And, it's hard to tell exactly what a stylist is doing since she was yanking my head back and forth and hair often fell in my eyes, but it was revealed when she was finished that she'd essentially given me a mullet.

A mullet, people.

Lots of short layers on top, and then she'd left the back long! Eek gad! I guess $12.95 just doesn't buy you the quality you're used to these days.

Once I was home, explaining to my husband the haircut that a trained chimp could've given me (and which I 'd tipped her for as well -- my manners don't escape me even when I know that money probably went to an 8 ball in the back alley), he commented: "It doesn't look terrible, but if I were you, I'd get it fixed." Get it fixed! If my husband notices how bad it is, it must be bad!! So, I've got to find a place today to get this business taken care of, which means I'm going to end up with a style that is far shorter than a "trim," and I will probably end up paying twice as much as I set out to. But I guess every story has a lesson, and my lesson?

Avoid "Drunk Denise" at MasterCuts. I guess $12.95 is a fair price for that one.

My Students and Me

I'm feeling much better today -- so far, it's been the same 48 hour cycle that I went through 3 weeks ago -- the fever is gone, the running nose has stopped up, and now I'm just left feeling kinda clogged and a bit fuzzy in the head. Otherwise, I'm fine.

I think there are several factors that have contributed to the cycle of sickness, but I think chief among them is that I'm exposed to so many people on a daily basis: primarily students. And they are petri dishes of viral disease just as elementary students are (maybe worse, since college students don't take very good care of their health; half of them are strung out on caffeine, cigarettes, and stress, and none of those elements help contribute to healthy immune systems). And right now, everyone is complaining of being ill, faculty members included. In fact, the irony of the situation this week is that even though I've been sick, I've been teaching my own classes, as well as filling in for others while they're taking sick leave (hey, if I can trudge through it, it's just a little extra change in my pocket).

Anyway, spring break is the first week of March, so hopefully the week off will give us all some much needed rest. Until then, I'll just have to make sure those students aren't licking their papers before handing them in to me.

Side Effects

Could be the title of a book, eh?

Anyhoo, I'm pretty much in a drug-induced haze today (probably makes me a more interesting instructor). The cold got progressively snottier yesterday and by the time I got home from school at 6:30, my nose was rubbed raw and the boogers were sliding out on their own. Dissatisifed with the cold medicine I got before, I went to Target, and got some super strength Tylenol Cold -- Day and Night (if I was within driving distance of Canada, I would've made the trek for that Tylenol 3 with codeine -- I wanted the powerful stuff, but I guess this version made due). Last night I took the night stuff, and sure enough, I was immediately drowsy and went to bed at 9 (which, is probably good for me anyway, but I missed "Lost" -- so don't spoil it for me).

This morning, I awoke groggy and disoriented, but I pressed forth with the drugs and popped two of the "day" versions. As I swallowed, I read the side of the box, and the medication's side effects: nausea, vomitting, headache (!), excitability (my favorite), anxiety, and fatigue (I guess that comes after the "excitability"). I immediately wondered about the anxiety and excitability, especially since I was swallowing the pills with coffee -- and I have a tendancy to be a bit "excited" all the time. But it's the "headache" I find humorous since it's TYLENOL! Take it to cure a headache, but it may give you a headache!

Excitability or not, I'm trudging through my teaching schedule today like a good little soldier, but man, sometimes the medication makes you feel just as shitty as the illness itself.

Sick Again?!

Yep. I am.

I can't believe this. 3 times in 3 months! Usually, I think of myself as being very healthy, and I hardly ever fall ill. Yet, I keep contracting cold after after cold (and now with the knee, I feel like I'm falling apart).

What gives, immune system?

First impression of how the interview went?

I think it went well.

But did it go better for those other candidates? That's the main question, I think.

Dr. Appointment

I made an appointment with an orthopedic specialist today, and I go see him next Monday. Until then, no running, says the nurse/receptionist on the phone.

P.S. Tomorrow is my personal interview, and I'm pretty nervous. Got my outfit picked out though.

Craptastic

Well, I didn't finish.

In fact, I only made it 2 miles, and it was at that early point that I knew the pain in my right knee wasn't going to relent.

I felt good as I stood at the start line, and was excited for the race ahead of me, but a half mile into it, my knee began to ache and I had to stop and stretch. At mile 1, the ache had turned into a sharp, shooting pain and I had already stopped and stretched several times. I know there are people who are able to work through pain and see to getting the job done, and for a little bit, I thought I could be one of those people, but by mile 2, I had already stopped a handful of times, and the pain was not subsiding. I knew then I couldn't go the next 11 miles.

So, I turned around and walked back.

My knee dully ached as I walked back to the parking garage where my car was waiting for me, and after awhile even that subsided. I knew, however, that if I started jogging again that the pain would resume. It was over for the day, and for the race.

I am deeply disappointed that I didn't finish; I didn't even get past mile 2. And, I guess this means I need to see a doctor, because ignoring this problem has not been enough to make it go away.

Beach Front Avenue!

Tomorrow is the A1A (the road made popular through Vanilla Ice) half marathon, and it looks like it will be a chilly early morning run. Temps dropped here in South Florida, and tomorrow morning at 6 am (start time) it will probably hover between the high 30's and low 40's: that's brrrr! I think I may have to bring toss-away clothes: I don't know, it totally changes my outfit plan (which, I already affixed my bib # -- 6081 -- to my designated shirt, and I may have to change that now; I may go with a long sleeved shirt, but I'm not sure).

Well, those are issues to hammer out today. That, and settling on the tune sequence (v. important matter). Then, tomorrow, I rise at 3:30 am and get ready for 13.1 miles!

Countdown

Today, I'm going to the A1A expo to pick up my packet info for Sunday's race. And I'm hoping that being at the expo and getting my race info will pump me up for this event; because right now, I gotta be honest and let you know that I am not feeling in to it.

There's the doubt that I won't do well, the fear that my knee will fail me, and the general race apprehension that always makes me want to just stay in bed race day morning; however, there's also several other things weighing on me and the race feels like the least of my priorities.

I have that personal interview on Tuesday at 8 am, and that will be not just an interview, but an interview plus teaching demonstration plus grading discussion (so, they'll interview me -- standard style -- then I'll give a 20 minute presentation to showcase my skills, and then they'll give me some sample student work that I have to assess and explain why I would assess it in such a manner; that last one I'm not too concerned about b/c I'm pretty sure you could grade an essay any way you want, but it's the explanation that counts), so that has me a bit stressed and I've been thinking of it all week (most stressful aspect? what to wear!). Also, our kitchen is officially a pile of rubble and the house is in ruins right now.

I've really been a slacker in helping my husband lately and I guess I've been grumpy about the demolition disrupting my life (even though I know that when it's done -- someday -- that our condo will be lovely), so I don't think he's been too pleased with me this week either.

So, as I said, the race is not forefront on my mind, but I'm hoping that it actually serves as a distraction from these other worries and anxieties. And once I'm at the expo and I get my race stuff, it will feel more real -- I'll still have the concerns about my ability to do the race and to do it well, but come Sunday morning, I know I'll just get out there and do it -- same with that interview and same with the house (maybe).

Post Valentine's Day

Last night on my way home, I saw a car with this license plate: LUV HRTS. Ha! How appropriate for Valentine's Day! It was the first time I actually wished my cell had a camera on it.

My husband and I ended up at Ruby Tuesday last night for some delicious mini burgers and beer, so it was actually a very nice holiday. Afterwards, we went to Target and got chocolate ice cream and then went home to watch "Lost." Yep, pretty romantic.

Happy V-Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! What are your plans?

My husband and I are still up in the air about what we're doing. Originally, we'd planned to make a nice dinner at home, but because we are currently remodeling our kitchen, and it's a disaster, we might choose to go out. Of course, last minute dinner-out plans on V-Day pretty much guarantees that we'll be expressing our love over burgers at McDonald's -- but what do I care? If I don't have cook, I'm pleased.

P.S. 4 days until the half marathon that I feel totally under-prepared for.

No Oomf

Just kidding on that long run yesterday: ended up doing just 3 miles. Wasn't necessarily the knee -- I just had no "oomf" in me. What can I say? Some days have "oomf" and some don't.

Weekend Round-Up

Well, I must've done better on the phone interview than I thought because I got a call yesterday morning inviting me back for a personal interview a week from tomorrow! Woo-hoo! I'm pumped to be moving forward but also nervous because I know there's competition -- I'll just have to bring my "A" game to that interview.

But aside from stressing over that, and then enjoying the relief of the call yesterday, I was mostly bed-ridden yesterday. You see, I went to a friend's wine party Friday night and had FAR too much wine and stayed up WAY too late. Needless to say, I spent most of the day yesterday moaning and groaning and it was a wasted day. Sometimes I wonder when I'm gonna grow up and learn when to control myself, ugh.

Anyway, it was good that yesterday was a day of rest, because rest is all I did. Friday I ran a quick 2 miles with Scooter, and this evening I plan to do a long run -- I'm thinking of something in the range of 10 miles if all goes well with the knee. The half marathon is a week from today!

The Post-Interview Post

The best way to describe my interview this morning (see previous post below) is: Meh.

The phone format is certainly not my forte. For one thing, the committee was obviously calling from a conference room with a conference phone, and I found it a little difficult to hear some questions, and had to ask twice to repeat something -- which made me feel like a doofus. Secondly, on the phone, it's hard to read those I was speaking to since I couldn't see them. So, it was difficult to gauge their responses to how I answered the questions. And I had a few moments in which I felt like I was just babbling on to myself.

And while I feel like I fielded questions well (okay, maybe I should say I fielded them "adequately"), when I think back on them, I keep thinking about how I could have answered so much better. Suffice it to say, I feel very doubtful of my chances of moving on to the "in person" interview, but I should know one way or another by Monday (it's gonna be a looooong weekend -- I'll have to distract myself with some Bud Light). *Sigh*

In T-Minus 23 Minutes,

I have an important interview.

I'm interviewing for a full-time permanent faculty position at the community college where I teach, and the interview represents a milestone for me. See, for the past 3 years, I've been teaching as an adjunct professor, which basically means that even though I carry a full load of classes, I don't get paid very well, I have to share an office, and I don't receive benefits. It kinda sucks.

But things have been looking up for my career in the last year: Last spring I won an important teaching award (Adjunct Professor of the Year) and last fall, I was granted a full-time "temporary" position within the department, and this is the first year I've applied for a full-time permanent position and have actually received an invitation to an interview -- so I am making progress, albeit slow progress (however, academia is a slow moving world and I'm very young for my profession).

So, the interview is by phone (which kinda blows b/c I think I'm better in person, but hey, I can still be charming by phone) and I'm expecting the call in less than half an hour. Perviously, I wasn't a bit nervous -- true, the interview has been on my mind this week, but I've been very confident thinking about it. Now, though I am starting to feel the anxiety (could also be the 3 cups of coffee I've had). So, my heart is yammering and I have already double checked the phone twice to make sure it works (not that it's ever NOT worked before, but you know). I've also got Scooter out on the back porch so that he is -- hopefully -- distracted by looking at the ducks and doesn't decide to play with a squeeker toy while I'm on the phone. I don't think I can be more prepared.

Cross your fingers for me and wish me the best of luck!

7 on the 7th

I ran 7 miles this evening with minimal knee issues* and it felt pretty darn good. Of course, it sucked when I got home and realized I had locked myself out.

My husband had gone to run some errands, and I'd locked the door on my way out -- confident that he would return before me -- but I should've known better. After trying both the front door and back door, I resigned myself to wait for my husband to return home (I only briefly considered scaling the bushes and attempting a hijacking through the kitchen window). Meanwhile, knowing that I was just outside the door, Scooter started whining and crying (the Beagle howl was so lonely and sad), so I ended up standing by the guest bedroom window so that Scooter could see me and so he would shush. Of course, people had to wonder what the nutty lady was doing standing outside her condo in just shorts and a sports bra -- I felt a little naked in the moonlight. Just when I was about to knock on a neighbor's door and ask to borrow a phone, my husband arrived.

This is the 3rd time I've been locked out of the house (4, if you count the time I thought I was locked out, but then found my key in my shorts), and it had me seriously considering one of those key-hiders for either under my car or for some location on the exterior of the building. Hmmm...I'll have to think more on that later: "Lost" is on in 25 minutes and I need to save up my mental juice for that.

*Knee ached some off and on, and I had to stop and stretch at mile 5, but on the whole, it felt better.

"National" Ab Month

I read Runner26's post on Monday about "National" Ab Month and decided to take up the challenge: Some ab work every day for the month of February. Now, I am entering the month's ab work a little late (started on the 6th of the month), but I figure it can still be a challenge (it's still 22 days worth of abs, abs, abs). So, yesterday was the first day of ab work in about...oh...maybe five months. Yeah. I don't really have abs, I just have a middle section where cake goes.

I figure the focus on abs will be a good way to find my way back into some other strength training exercises and stretching. Before I know it, I'll have more than a middle section: I'll have abs! Where the cake goes.

Running, Knees, Gym

It's been cool and rainy here the past few days (as was observed during the Super Bowl -- it was not sun-shiny), which is nice because it allows me to run at times of the day when it's normally too warm. So yesterday I was able to fit my 3 miles in the mid-morning instead of waiting until after work in the evening. The weather was nice and cool, perfect for a run, but again my right knee bothered me.

At this point, I'm getting a little nervous about the half coming up in two weeks: I haven't run any true long runs in preparation and my knee is concerning me. Ack.

In other news, I officially quit the gym. I haven't used it since posting about my dilemma over whether or not to keep my membership, so I decided to cancel my membership and keep my $35 a month all to myself. So, it's official; I am now "sans gym."

Did anyone have a favorite Super Bowl Ad?

Because I didn't think any of them were that great.

No 5K

I didn't race today.

Initially, I planned to and set out my stuff last night, but this morning, while I was feeling much improved, I asked myself: Why push it for a 5K? Especially when I have a half marathon in a few weeks and that's what I want to be in top notch health for. So while this 5K is meaningful, I will be there for it next year.

Today I will rest from running and tomorrow I will get back to my regularly scheduled runs. It feels like a very rational decision. But then, why do I feel guilty for missing the race?

To 5K or Not to 5K

After the best night of sleep I've had all week, I am feeling much better today. The fever, achiness, tiredness is gone and while I'm still congested, I am feeling well enough to teach my class this afternoon. But I am now faced with an interesting conundrum:

Do I run my planned 5K on Saturday?

I do want to run this race because it would be my 3rd year in a row running it, and it has special meaning: It was my first 5k in FL and I'd like to run it each year. But after being sick all week, I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Plus, it's before my Saturday class, so I'd have to run the race and then go to class all sweaty. I'd be disappointed to miss it though.

I need a Magic 8 Ball to help me out!

Marinating in Mucus

The virus that I mistakenly dubbed an "incidental bug" has taken offense to such a title and has retaliated by turning into a full-blown-booger-disaster.

After a pretty much sleepless night, I got up this morning and whined that I didn't want to go to work, yet what did I do? I showered and got ready for work. On my way in to class, I was thinking how ridiculous this was: Snot kept creeping out my nose, I was hacking away, my eyes were itching and watery, I felt achy and tired all over, and yet I was on my way into work. I can trace such ridiculousness back to childhood when my mom felt that the only reasons to stay home from school were bleeding and barfing; if you weren't doing one of either, you were going to school. Thus, I grew into an adult who believed the same thing, and I have trudged to work and school through all kinds of sickness, reluctant to throw in the hat and stay at home.

So, I got to school ready to slog through a miserable day, but then as I stood at the copier making copies of some work to do in class, I thought : "Jess, this is silly; go home." So, I met with my first class, collected their papers and sent them on their way (they were all to happy to do so), and then I cancelled the day's remaining classes. I packed up my stuff and headed home. On the way, I stopped off at Walgreens and picked up some cold medicine (first, I stared at the dizzying array of medicinal choices -- did I want something non-drowsy or something to induce sleep? I didn't want either: the non-drowsy stuff had caffeine in it, and I'm not at home for the day so I can lay in bed with my heart racing; and the sleep inducing stuff has a narcotic in it, and I didn't come home for the day in order to slip into a drug-induced coma. In the end, I chose a generic cold medicine that just promised to reduce my fever and decongest me), and now that I'm drugged up and in my favorite sweat pants and t-shirt, I am ready for the healing to begin.

I am not bleeding and I am not barfing, but I am sick, and I deserve to be at home in order to get better.

So, my first order of business is to get into bed with my book, let the cold medicine work its magic, and maybe drift off to sleep for awhile. Perhaps, a fairy godmother (or my kind husband who may read this post shortly) will bring me some Diet Sprite later today -- I think that will cure me.

This Week Sucks

I feel like crap: I haven't slept well the past two nights and tonight I can't seem to sleep at all. I'm not getting anything done -- except for watching a lot of TV -- I'm addicted to Bravo, and last night I watched the "Real Housewives of OC" and felt thoroughly frustrated with the stupid rich people (I had a whole tirade here, but really, it was completely out of context and I blame my anger on my fever), yet I kept on watching, and tonight I watched the finale of "Top Chef" which was alright and then I got suckered into staying on the channel for "Top Design" which I thought lacked all the great ingredients that make Project Runway and Top Chef so awesome, yet I'm sure I'll continue to tune in from week to week.

But aside from channel surfing, I have mostly wallowed in self-pity and boogers (literally, I had a moment when I bent over to pick something up off the floor and snot just slid out of my nose -- totally gross). If I don't get to bed and get some sleep soon, I don't know if I'll be going in to class tomorrow (which, technically, is TODAY).

I'm Sick

On Monday I was feeling run down and achy all over, but as I described, I didn't sleep well Monday night. Yesterday, I too felt icky: tired, achy, and, in general, apathetic. Well, today I think I can confirm why I've been feeling this way: I have a cold.

My nose is runny, I have a cough, and I feel icky in a general way. Clearly, this is just an incidental bug -- nothing like the virus I caught over Christmas -- and it's not enough that I can truly justify staying home, yet it's enough to annoy me and cause discomfort.

It sucks to feel sick, but it does make me feel better that the reason I've had the "blah" feeling the last few days is a real reason. Now, I just need it to pass along on its merry way.

Blah, blah, blah

Last night I ran a quick 3 miles, and my knee felt fine. But for some reason, I feel out of it this week. Both yesterday and today I have felt tired and worn out, yet I didn't sleep well last night even though I was exhausted.

Maybe it's because it's a nondescript Tuesday at the end of January, maybe it's the change in weather, I don't know, but I'll tell you what I wish I were doing today: Curling up in bed at home.

A 1 Pound Bag of Smarties?

Gone.

Self Diagnosis

Most of your comments on yesterday's "knee" post re-confirm that which I read online, in my running books, and in back issues of RW: This is probably an IT band that has been strained. The pain is on the side of my knee, it immediately subsides when I stop running, it doesn't ache when not running, it's not inflamed, and it doesn't lock. Thus, the best remedies include all the things you readers noted I try: ice, aspirin, rest, and stretching.

I think I will do all of those things before consulting a doctor. Hopefully, with proper care, the knee strain will subside and I can continue running without any pain. For today: rest. And tomorrow, well, as my favorite heroine loved to say, "Tomorrow's another day."

I K(need) Some Rest

Today, it is sunny, but it remains cool with highs only reaching into the low 70s. I thought it would make for perfect running weather, so I set out mid-morning for a long run. However, I have to be honest: It was not a great run.

First of all, I'm behind on laundry, so I had to wear the running clothes that I least like, coupled with socks that are truly sub-par. It may sound stupid, but my running outfit really does set the mood, and when I'm in my favorite stuff, I feel like a million bucks, but when I'm in shorts that make me feel chubby and a top that feels too loose, I don't feel on top of my game.

So, part way into the run, the crappy right foot sock slips into my shoe and so my shoe kept rubbing the back of my ankle leaving the skin there raw. But this was truly secondary to the pain in my right knee. Ever since the marathon, my right knee has ached when I run -- but only when I run. There's no pain when I walk, there's no inflammation, and there's no problem bending or stretching it -- it just aches when I run lately. But today it was really hurting while I ran, so at mile 2, I turned around and headed for home, and I ended up walking the last mile to round out 4 total. Harrumph. I had hoped to go much farther.

The knee thing bugs me not because I'm in any excruiating pain, but I'm wondering if it's an irritation that just needs time, ice, stretching, and strength training, or is it something to consult a doctor over? Worrying over the matter as I walked the last mile didn't improve my mood.

Aside from the knee business, I under-estimated how warm I would get. It's cool today, yes, but 70 in the sun while running is still quite warm, and I could feel my little face turn the beet red it does when I'm straining under the warmth of the direct sun. Plus, I knew I should've put on sunblock or worn a hat -- so now there are a few more freckles that could very well one day be skin cancer.

So, I got home feeling hot, disappointed, achy, and possibly cancerous. And to top that off, I looked in the mirror and I seem to have a pimple on my neck! Ugh, tomorrow, I'm resting.

Rainy Day Run

This morning when I left for school, it was balmy and warm, but as the day progressed, it got cooler and cloudier. My students complained that it was COLD out! And they hunkered into their hoodies and jackets. Personally, as the day progressed, I was thinking, "Man, this is good running weather!"

So, this afternoon I laced up my shoes and headed out into the "brisk" 60 degree weather for a run. The cool, overcast afternoon was the perfect running temp, and even though I got drizzled on, it felt like a great run. All in all, I ran 5 miles -- the farthest since the marathon, so it was good to get out there today.

Maybe it remain cool for tomorrow's run as well.

It's Raining Smarties!

Last night, I had every intention of getting a run in, but after sitting in traffic for an hour and a half, I didn't much feel like stepping out into the pouring rain for a jog (some days, I completely understand road rage -- one of these days, I'm not going to shoot someone, but I will strangle them with my bare hands). Instead, I settled in for the evening in front the TV and scarfed down about ten rolls of Smarties (my husband saw them and bought a whole bag for me -- I curse and praise him for that purchase). I swear, those colorful little disks of sugar are like tablets of crack! I finally had to put the bag in a drawer.

Eh, some days just don't work out that well for a run.

In good news, I read an article this morning touting the "smart" effects of coffee: Apparently, caffeine is good for your brain, it makes you REAL smart. I can now add that to the long list of coffee's benefits that include: antioxidants, help with weight loss, help with digestion (makes you poo!), and wakes you the fuck up in the morning. Mmmmm, I L-O-V-E coffee.

Chicago, it is!

Chi-town here I come! Last night, my husband and I discussed the two proposed races and he told me simply: "I know that Chicago is the race you want to run, so you should do that." Cool. Case closed, and Chicago it is. Money-wise, we'll just have to include it as part of our vacation budget, so I think it is do-able! Are you guys already jumping out of your pants to meet me? You should be, I'm pretty awesome.

So, while Chicago is on my mind, I do have more pressing races to think about -- like that 1/2 in less than 4 weeks! I have been running regularly, but haven't been putting in any distance. Yesterday, though, I did double duty: ran 3 miles and then walked later in the evening (I'm not sure how far we walked b/c Erin and I first walked the dogs and then walked by ourselves since she felt as though she needed a better workout -- I'm a slow walker and she complained that I was walking at "mall" speed and we needed to pick up the pace -- so I guess we clocked about 3 miles total, 2 at "mall" pace and 1 at "long-legged-Erin" pace).

Therefore, my goal this week is to put in a distance run, nothing real far, but something in the range of 6-8 miles. I figure if I do that, a 10, and a 12 before the 1/2, I should be set to conquer that 1/2 -- but only Feb 18th will tell how that will turn out.

Chicago v. Marine Corps

The retelling of my dream led to more speculation about Chicago this fall, but I don't know if I'm doing Chicago this fall yet (although, I know I should make a decision soon before it fills); I certainly would like to, but right now I'm still on the fence between Chicago and Marine Corps, so maybe you guys should help me decide!

Argument for Chicago: I've never really been there before. I've driven through it (twice), but that doesn't count as actually "being" there (plus, driving through there wasa nightmare both times, and I'd like a better impression). So, it would be fun to not only run the marathon, but to also do the tourist stuff and see the city. And...There are at least 3 RBFers I know of who are running it and I would love the opportunity to meet you guys! And maybe if I sign up, a few more might join us and it could be an RBF mega-gathering!

Argument against Chicago: Mostly a money issue. Chicago means a plane ticket for myself and husband, plus a hotel, food, other expenses, and they add up. And while the cost is certainly manageable, right now, things feel tight in the Jess household, and so I'm being miserly with my money.

Argument for Marine Corps: My dad lives in DC, so it's a good opportunity to visit him, and I can stay for free in his apartment, which is right by Woodley Park and across the street from a Metro station, so costs in general would be much cheaper. Plus, I do love DC and the marathon would be fun -- lots of good things to see.

Argument against Marine Corps: I go to DC often. I spent every summer there while I was growing up and return to visit my dad about once a year, so I don't feel like I'm seeing or going anywhere new. And, my dad might come and visit me here this spring, so I wouldn't miss out on a visit with him.

Otherwise, both races are at the same time of year -- plenty of time to train, and they're both approximately the same size, and are both on my list of marathons to run (and I would, perhaps, get around to running both in time -- but the decision is for THIS year). So, give me your input: Which should I run for the fall of '07?

Running Dream

Last night, I had an odd running/marathon dream. I dreamt that I was running the Chicago marathon, except I was only running the half (which, I don't think Chicago offers a half alongside its full, but dreams are not a place for logic). Anyway, I got there with some other RBFers and we are running very late, so we throw our stuff onto this patch of grass and head for the start. I get to the start, but somehow don't realize that I'm still wearing flip-flops instead of running shoes.

Instead of running back to my abandoned stuff in the grass, I decide to just go ahead and run in my flip-flops (heck, it's "only" 13 miles, right?), but about a mile into the run, the flip-flops are clearly not working out, so I stop at a shoe store -- it just happens to be along the route and it's open. I stop and try on some shoes and decide on a pair, but then have no money to pay for them since my stuff is all back on that random piece of grass. So, get this: I decide to run BACK to the patch of grass to get my money and then back to the store to buy the new running shoes!

I can't recall much else about the dream, but it felt hectic and stressful -- not to mention, completely irrational (if I were to run back for the money, why wouldn't I have just run back for my shoes?). I don't know what prompted the dream, but I also don't know why I was dreaming about serial killers and vampires last week, but I can say that if I do run Chicago, I will be extra careful to remember to put my running shoes on!