This past week my friend and I went to do some super shopping.
I finally had the motivation to go through my coupons. It took a whopping 9 hours to get them cleaned up and sorted. What a pain!
The next morning I woke up at 3:30 and was too excited to really just go to sleep. Then, a little after 4 I hear T get up use the restroom. Shortly after I noticed the light from the computer illuminating the front room. The kid was trying to get some video game time in. What a turkey! I sent him back to bed. By then I was too worried I wouldn't wake up if I went to sleep so I just stayed up.
We left the house at 5:40 on shopping day. Once we got there we saw that there were many people waiting for the same thing. They all had coupon binders. I knew we had some competition.
So we head in and I'll just say I am not pushy enough. I pretty much let everyone have a cart before me. We headed straight for the paper towels. You couldn't get a cart in there. So my friend went over and all of a sudden one comes flying overhead. She was tossing them to get them into my basket. She cracked me up. All of a sudden we hear a voice quizzically calling her name. Oops, caught in the insanity by another friend (who must be equally insane to be there that early.)
I ended up with a 215 dollar savings and spent I think 105. That's not too bad considering I now have more than a half year supply of Cascade gel packs for my dishwasher and even with a coupon they are spendy.
It was just so fun to get out of the house and get my little 'rush' from shopping. I was wiped out from not sleeping though and was a little cranky later on.
The next day was the day I believed to bed Target toy mark down day. I went bright and early and got there about 5 minutes before they opened. There were other toy shoppers there and we all kept looking at each other to see who would get out of the car first. Finally, I had had enough and just got out. Car doors started opening. But right as I got to the entrance they opened the door and I was the first one in. I grabbed a cart and started skipping down the aisle. You can skip down an aisle when no one else is there and only feel like somewhat of an idiot. I was certain I was going to get what I wanted.
Then I got to the toy section. Where were the toys? They had one side of one aisle. What the heck? Everyone else stood there in disbelief. It turns out that they marked their toys down early so everything disappeared the night before.
Oh well, I did get T his birthday gift still. It was the only decent thing there. Then I headed over to shoes knowing that they are usually marked to 75% off on that day. I found 5 good pairs for the future there.
So it wasn't what I wanted but it didn't turn out too horribly. I'm glad I still have some toys in my stash for many of the birthday presents though. I love being able to go to my stash instead of the store.
Friday, July 30, 2010
DH's Alaska Trip
DH left the night of the half for a trip to Alaska with is dad, brother, and two friends. I lucked out that a friend came to stay and visit for a few days while he was gone.
So we drove home for hours and then DH left for the airport.
It was supposed to be a great week for fishing up there but it wasn't. He caught two halibut (smaller), two Irish Lord fish (ugly and nothing he brought home), sharks (no meat there either... I guess this type of shark urinates through its skin YUCK), and crab. That was pretty much it. He seemed to still like it though and loved my parents' place.
In the meantime my friend and I chatted it up. We had great plans to go running together but didn't happen because I could barely walk. Not only were my muscles toast but my peroneal tendon (the one I always had tendinitis problems with when I danced) was super swollen on one foot. You can't really go running when you can barely get yourself seated on a potty. So we chatted and chatted while the kids played. I thought I would even clean while she was here. After all, it's more fun to clean when you have company to chat with. But I just hurt too dang much to do anything like that. So my house stayed a wreck and I just enjoyed my time.
We were all happy when DH got home. You forget how nice it is to have someone around even if it's just so you can say hi and bye.
And maybe next year, we'll catch more fish.
So we drove home for hours and then DH left for the airport.
It was supposed to be a great week for fishing up there but it wasn't. He caught two halibut (smaller), two Irish Lord fish (ugly and nothing he brought home), sharks (no meat there either... I guess this type of shark urinates through its skin YUCK), and crab. That was pretty much it. He seemed to still like it though and loved my parents' place.
In the meantime my friend and I chatted it up. We had great plans to go running together but didn't happen because I could barely walk. Not only were my muscles toast but my peroneal tendon (the one I always had tendinitis problems with when I danced) was super swollen on one foot. You can't really go running when you can barely get yourself seated on a potty. So we chatted and chatted while the kids played. I thought I would even clean while she was here. After all, it's more fun to clean when you have company to chat with. But I just hurt too dang much to do anything like that. So my house stayed a wreck and I just enjoyed my time.
We were all happy when DH got home. You forget how nice it is to have someone around even if it's just so you can say hi and bye.
And maybe next year, we'll catch more fish.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Race Report
The anticipated half marathon is over. After all that training, it's a done deal. It was so far away and then all of a sudden we were at the starting line with over a thousand other 'runners' (or posers like me). Very weird!
I learned a few things about distance running on this race as it's the first race I have ever done over a 5k.
First, when your DH tells you that running downhill is harder than you think, it's smart to believe him.
Second, you will have consequences if you have only worn your shoes a couple of times.
Third, you will get tired and contemplate walking a little.
Fourth, practice anything you are going to try BEFORE the race.
Fifth, people in front of you might walk and beat you.
Sixth, driving home right after might not be the best idea.
DH and I dropped the kiddos at his parents' cabin and left to go get dinner. I hadn't eaten that much and managed more than my share of a Subway ham with a bunch of junk including jalapenos and banana peppers sandwich. It might not have been the smarted prerace meal but it sure was delicious.
DH and I went back to our hotel. I put my stuff out and tried on my clothes. I had to figure out where the best place for my number was. I put my fuel (popcorn Jelly Belly jelly beans and some raisins) in my pouch. I felt like I was pretty ready. Then we went to bed around 9:15.
I couldn't sleep for almost an hour. I was just too dang nervous. I worried over and over that I would be last. I told DH that it would kind of serve me right if I were because I most likely needed a slice of humble pie.
4 am came and so did the alarm. We jumped up and started getting ready. We caught our shuttle and headed to the race start. It took us a while to find my SIL and BIL who were running it. My SIL was over the top excited. I think BIL was still half asleep.
When it got close to race time DH moved up a bunch. SIL moved up some. BIL and I moved back. I saw a lady with these really muscly calves. I pointed it out to BIL. I also noticed the lady in front of us that looked to be about 5-6 months pregnant. I noticed the ladies with the green grandma tee shirts. Then the gun went off and people started moving along. Eventually went made our way across the chip timed pads and started to move.
(Two weeks later after forgetting much of what I wanted to write.)
So we started the race. Pregnant cute lady with the belly supporter was ahead of me. I just started moving along feeling all fabulous because I was actually doing this race. We went up and rounded a corner and there was a slow incline. Bummer! But slow and steady was my goal so that's what I kept doing. I was shocked that I wasn't in last place. It's amazing how quickly the crowd thins out. (Now maybe this only happens in the back. Who knows?) So my BIL and I were cruising (okay... or not cruising... moving) along and he needs the first bathroom stop. I ran ahead and told him I was slow enough that I was sure he would catch up to me. Then within maybe 2 minutes I was thinking I should have stopped. But there was no way I was going backwards. I may be slow but I didn't want to look like I didn't even know which way to run. BIL caught back up to me. The line was too long for his liking.
We we kept going and the downhill started. The pace picked up from super slow to slightly less than super slow (upper 9 and lower 10 minute mile range) and I got horrible side stitches. But they were in my side but right in the center where my ribs meet. It was so bad that I was pushing on them trying to make it go away. We kept running until the bathroom because what else can you do. Then we had a long wait for a port o potty. As much as I hated to waste the time I was grateful to have the short break because it made the pain go away. We started right back up and the pain was back. BIL decided to run ahead and go faster so I decided to slow down and the pain went away. I guess my body isn't used to going that fast for long.
Somewhere in this time there was the first photographer. I didn't know what to do as I passed. Do you suck in your gut? Do you just keep running? Do you make a grand spectacle of yourself? The latter is surely not my style so I just looked forward and ran. As a result I look a little or a lot too serious in the pic. I ended up hitting one more bathroom along the route.
The nice thing about being a slower runner is that the fast people don't pass you much. There aren't so many fast people left. So from my second bathroom break until the last mile or so I had no one pass me. I would just pick someone in the distance and then work on taking him/her out. This usually worked. There were, however, a few people that worked me a little harder.
The first person was Drumstick. Remember the lady I said had awesome calves. I ended up running behind her for quite some time. I just couldn't catch her. In my mind I called her Drumstick due to the shape of her strong calves and tiny ankles. It was my goal to catch her for at least 20 minutes. Then when I finally caught her I felt kind of sad because the chase was over. Drumstick wasn't one of the slackers. She was a strong but slow penguin runner.
I also worked hard at passing Mr. and Mrs. Walker. They were speed walking like crazy. They had that hip action that sort of makes it look like their hips are out of joint or something. When I got closer to them early on in the race I heard her tell him, "11:54 right on pace." They were SERIOUS speed walkers. They got ahead of me when I had those dang bathroom breaks. So when I saw them I knew I had to get past them. They took a little work because I was getting tired by then.
Then I came up on the pregnant lady. She was a little tricky to pass too. How can you run that pregnant and still move that quickly. Heck, I would have a hard time getting up from my chair after eating bon bons.
Lastly, there was the yellow shirt lady. This lady proved to be much trickier. She would walk and then run much faster. I kept thinking, "Hello lady. I am a , um, runner... see I am NOT walking and you just keep beating me." It took me quite some time to beat her. By the time I beat her my calves were tired and I kept feeling like I had a rock in my shoe.
So I stopped one last time and stretched my calves for 30 seconds leaning on a speed limit pole. My calves were so tight. We were getting closer to the end.
So I kept on going. No one was still passing me. It was hot and there was no shade from the mountains. In the distance there was a hill. Oh how I didn't want to do that hill. I started up it and then realized that when you got to what seemed kind of like the top it curved and kept going up.
That hill killed me. I contemplated walking. I didn't really want to run anymore. But the race was just about over and I so didn't want to say I walked it.
I just shuffled along. I couldn't find the rock in my shoe. I just kept moving. And then it happened.
FOUR people passed me. Mr. Walker ditched Mrs. Walker and walked on past me. Yellow Shirt zoomed ahead as well as two other people. I spent so much of the race passing people and in the final mile four people got me!
I could see the finish in sight. Some family was parking its car along that road and I was trying to get around them as they hogged much of the road. You can't all walk shoulder to shoulder pushing strollers when people are supposed to be finishing a race.
I saw the finish and just shlepped forward. When I went across the finish I did a big no no. I looked at my watch. So my picture (which I most likely won't be buying) has me looking at the time. Then, I forgot to stop it. I didn't realize for maybe 15 minutes that I forgot to stop the watch.
I found the family and we took a couple of pictures and then I told them I needed to go back and watch Drumstick finish. She actually ended up quite a bit behind me. I was really happy for her when she crossed the finish line.
I took my shoes off. There were no rocks but two little bloody worn off parts. I guess that is what was irritating me.
I started getting sore quickly. Dh was so very right about that.
We went back to our hotel and got ready to leave. We picked up the kids from DH's parents' cabin and drove home.
I felt great having accomplished my goal. It's not often that I manage to follow through with something that takes a long period of tenacity.
Within hours I could barely walk. I hurt so much. Going downstairs was painful. I'm not talking a little tender. I'm talking groan with every step pain.
90% of the people beat me. I was so worried about being last and over 110 people finished behind me (or something like that). It made me feel like I could do it again.
I have my race picked out. It's another half in the fall. Hopefully it'll keep me motivated to run some more.
I learned a few things about distance running on this race as it's the first race I have ever done over a 5k.
First, when your DH tells you that running downhill is harder than you think, it's smart to believe him.
Second, you will have consequences if you have only worn your shoes a couple of times.
Third, you will get tired and contemplate walking a little.
Fourth, practice anything you are going to try BEFORE the race.
Fifth, people in front of you might walk and beat you.
Sixth, driving home right after might not be the best idea.
DH and I dropped the kiddos at his parents' cabin and left to go get dinner. I hadn't eaten that much and managed more than my share of a Subway ham with a bunch of junk including jalapenos and banana peppers sandwich. It might not have been the smarted prerace meal but it sure was delicious.
DH and I went back to our hotel. I put my stuff out and tried on my clothes. I had to figure out where the best place for my number was. I put my fuel (popcorn Jelly Belly jelly beans and some raisins) in my pouch. I felt like I was pretty ready. Then we went to bed around 9:15.
I couldn't sleep for almost an hour. I was just too dang nervous. I worried over and over that I would be last. I told DH that it would kind of serve me right if I were because I most likely needed a slice of humble pie.
4 am came and so did the alarm. We jumped up and started getting ready. We caught our shuttle and headed to the race start. It took us a while to find my SIL and BIL who were running it. My SIL was over the top excited. I think BIL was still half asleep.
When it got close to race time DH moved up a bunch. SIL moved up some. BIL and I moved back. I saw a lady with these really muscly calves. I pointed it out to BIL. I also noticed the lady in front of us that looked to be about 5-6 months pregnant. I noticed the ladies with the green grandma tee shirts. Then the gun went off and people started moving along. Eventually went made our way across the chip timed pads and started to move.
(Two weeks later after forgetting much of what I wanted to write.)
So we started the race. Pregnant cute lady with the belly supporter was ahead of me. I just started moving along feeling all fabulous because I was actually doing this race. We went up and rounded a corner and there was a slow incline. Bummer! But slow and steady was my goal so that's what I kept doing. I was shocked that I wasn't in last place. It's amazing how quickly the crowd thins out. (Now maybe this only happens in the back. Who knows?) So my BIL and I were cruising (okay... or not cruising... moving) along and he needs the first bathroom stop. I ran ahead and told him I was slow enough that I was sure he would catch up to me. Then within maybe 2 minutes I was thinking I should have stopped. But there was no way I was going backwards. I may be slow but I didn't want to look like I didn't even know which way to run. BIL caught back up to me. The line was too long for his liking.
We we kept going and the downhill started. The pace picked up from super slow to slightly less than super slow (upper 9 and lower 10 minute mile range) and I got horrible side stitches. But they were in my side but right in the center where my ribs meet. It was so bad that I was pushing on them trying to make it go away. We kept running until the bathroom because what else can you do. Then we had a long wait for a port o potty. As much as I hated to waste the time I was grateful to have the short break because it made the pain go away. We started right back up and the pain was back. BIL decided to run ahead and go faster so I decided to slow down and the pain went away. I guess my body isn't used to going that fast for long.
Somewhere in this time there was the first photographer. I didn't know what to do as I passed. Do you suck in your gut? Do you just keep running? Do you make a grand spectacle of yourself? The latter is surely not my style so I just looked forward and ran. As a result I look a little or a lot too serious in the pic. I ended up hitting one more bathroom along the route.
The nice thing about being a slower runner is that the fast people don't pass you much. There aren't so many fast people left. So from my second bathroom break until the last mile or so I had no one pass me. I would just pick someone in the distance and then work on taking him/her out. This usually worked. There were, however, a few people that worked me a little harder.
The first person was Drumstick. Remember the lady I said had awesome calves. I ended up running behind her for quite some time. I just couldn't catch her. In my mind I called her Drumstick due to the shape of her strong calves and tiny ankles. It was my goal to catch her for at least 20 minutes. Then when I finally caught her I felt kind of sad because the chase was over. Drumstick wasn't one of the slackers. She was a strong but slow penguin runner.
I also worked hard at passing Mr. and Mrs. Walker. They were speed walking like crazy. They had that hip action that sort of makes it look like their hips are out of joint or something. When I got closer to them early on in the race I heard her tell him, "11:54 right on pace." They were SERIOUS speed walkers. They got ahead of me when I had those dang bathroom breaks. So when I saw them I knew I had to get past them. They took a little work because I was getting tired by then.
Then I came up on the pregnant lady. She was a little tricky to pass too. How can you run that pregnant and still move that quickly. Heck, I would have a hard time getting up from my chair after eating bon bons.
Lastly, there was the yellow shirt lady. This lady proved to be much trickier. She would walk and then run much faster. I kept thinking, "Hello lady. I am a , um, runner... see I am NOT walking and you just keep beating me." It took me quite some time to beat her. By the time I beat her my calves were tired and I kept feeling like I had a rock in my shoe.
So I stopped one last time and stretched my calves for 30 seconds leaning on a speed limit pole. My calves were so tight. We were getting closer to the end.
So I kept on going. No one was still passing me. It was hot and there was no shade from the mountains. In the distance there was a hill. Oh how I didn't want to do that hill. I started up it and then realized that when you got to what seemed kind of like the top it curved and kept going up.
That hill killed me. I contemplated walking. I didn't really want to run anymore. But the race was just about over and I so didn't want to say I walked it.
I just shuffled along. I couldn't find the rock in my shoe. I just kept moving. And then it happened.
FOUR people passed me. Mr. Walker ditched Mrs. Walker and walked on past me. Yellow Shirt zoomed ahead as well as two other people. I spent so much of the race passing people and in the final mile four people got me!
I could see the finish in sight. Some family was parking its car along that road and I was trying to get around them as they hogged much of the road. You can't all walk shoulder to shoulder pushing strollers when people are supposed to be finishing a race.
I saw the finish and just shlepped forward. When I went across the finish I did a big no no. I looked at my watch. So my picture (which I most likely won't be buying) has me looking at the time. Then, I forgot to stop it. I didn't realize for maybe 15 minutes that I forgot to stop the watch.
I found the family and we took a couple of pictures and then I told them I needed to go back and watch Drumstick finish. She actually ended up quite a bit behind me. I was really happy for her when she crossed the finish line.
I took my shoes off. There were no rocks but two little bloody worn off parts. I guess that is what was irritating me.
I started getting sore quickly. Dh was so very right about that.
We went back to our hotel and got ready to leave. We picked up the kids from DH's parents' cabin and drove home.
I felt great having accomplished my goal. It's not often that I manage to follow through with something that takes a long period of tenacity.
Within hours I could barely walk. I hurt so much. Going downstairs was painful. I'm not talking a little tender. I'm talking groan with every step pain.
90% of the people beat me. I was so worried about being last and over 110 people finished behind me (or something like that). It made me feel like I could do it again.
I have my race picked out. It's another half in the fall. Hopefully it'll keep me motivated to run some more.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
New Shoes
This past week something HORRIBLE happened. My wonderful VFF Classics developed a hole in both shoes at the second toe. What in the world? I have read that people run forever in these things because they are hard to destroy. And well, it's not like I am running 60 or 70 miles a week in them.
And of course, this was less than TWO weeks before my half and I had already decided I just couldn't face doing a half in 'real' shoes. Heck, I have only run in them once since early April. Regular shoes make you feel like you have logs instead of legs. I'm slow enough without that as an extra problem.
So I started calling around to see if there was a pair of Bikilas in my size anywhere. There was a wait list of around 250 people at the main place that sells them in our county. YIKES! I guess that wasn't going to be the place I could just walk into and buy them. I called REI and they pretty much told me good luck on finding anything as they are just too popular. But then the REI kid told me where he had tried on a pair and I immediately called them. Over 50 miles away there was a pair of Bikilas in my size (or so I thought). They also had a pair in my friend's size, a friend who is on the list with 249 other people.
They usually won't hold things but I told them if I drove an hour up there with 5 kids and they sold them I would be so bummed. I promised to get my kids in the car ASAP and they said they would hold them.
I don't know how many people reading this have been in a running store. (I'm actually guessing the percentage is quite high due to the very low readership of this blog. I'm the main reader so I count for quite a bit.) But there are things to touch there and more things to touch there. There are treadmills quite often which SCREAM to be touched. Please touch me little child. I know your mama tells you to never touch me at home but just give me a little pat on the heart rate monitor. So I wasn't super thrilled to be taking them but I couldn't get a sitter on such little notice. Instead I popped them in the car and headed over to my friend's house to get her dinero for her shoes. As I was leaving she said to me, "Your pants are too big." I knew that but I wasn't in the mood to squeeze into the next size down when I had been eating junk food and feeling its effects.
So off we went. I pleaded with the kids to please be good as we neared our destination. And luckily, they were great. (Well, after a few wandered over to touch the treadmills.) I tried on 'my' pair of Bikilas and then the next size up. The next size up just seemed big. I wasn't quite sure what to do though because I had kind of come to the conclusion that my Classics wore out too quickly because they were too snug and my toes were making them grip where they weren't supposed to. The girl offered me the treadmill and I had to turn her down.
Why?
Two reasons came to mind. Reason one is that I am slow and well, I usually feel like a poser. I feel weird enough buying real runner stuff when I plod along. I've gotten over running in front of strangers that are sitting on their keesters while they drive eating a double burgers. I haven't gotten over waddling in front of real runner people. Reason two is that my pants were just too dang big and I didn't want to try to keep them up (no belt on) while testing shoes, while trying to keep the kids out of trouble, etc. etc. You get the picture. If only I had switched into something more athletic instead of baggy jeans.
So I took the small ones home and then put them on to wander around the house.
They were too small. And as the day wore on and got hotter my dang feet got even bigger and the shoes shrunk (or something like that).
So the next day we headed up again and I got the bigger pair. I'm so much happier with them. I'm hoping I can do the half this next Saturday in them.
And I'll never go to a running store in jeans that are too big again.
And of course, this was less than TWO weeks before my half and I had already decided I just couldn't face doing a half in 'real' shoes. Heck, I have only run in them once since early April. Regular shoes make you feel like you have logs instead of legs. I'm slow enough without that as an extra problem.
So I started calling around to see if there was a pair of Bikilas in my size anywhere. There was a wait list of around 250 people at the main place that sells them in our county. YIKES! I guess that wasn't going to be the place I could just walk into and buy them. I called REI and they pretty much told me good luck on finding anything as they are just too popular. But then the REI kid told me where he had tried on a pair and I immediately called them. Over 50 miles away there was a pair of Bikilas in my size (or so I thought). They also had a pair in my friend's size, a friend who is on the list with 249 other people.
They usually won't hold things but I told them if I drove an hour up there with 5 kids and they sold them I would be so bummed. I promised to get my kids in the car ASAP and they said they would hold them.
I don't know how many people reading this have been in a running store. (I'm actually guessing the percentage is quite high due to the very low readership of this blog. I'm the main reader so I count for quite a bit.) But there are things to touch there and more things to touch there. There are treadmills quite often which SCREAM to be touched. Please touch me little child. I know your mama tells you to never touch me at home but just give me a little pat on the heart rate monitor. So I wasn't super thrilled to be taking them but I couldn't get a sitter on such little notice. Instead I popped them in the car and headed over to my friend's house to get her dinero for her shoes. As I was leaving she said to me, "Your pants are too big." I knew that but I wasn't in the mood to squeeze into the next size down when I had been eating junk food and feeling its effects.
So off we went. I pleaded with the kids to please be good as we neared our destination. And luckily, they were great. (Well, after a few wandered over to touch the treadmills.) I tried on 'my' pair of Bikilas and then the next size up. The next size up just seemed big. I wasn't quite sure what to do though because I had kind of come to the conclusion that my Classics wore out too quickly because they were too snug and my toes were making them grip where they weren't supposed to. The girl offered me the treadmill and I had to turn her down.
Why?
Two reasons came to mind. Reason one is that I am slow and well, I usually feel like a poser. I feel weird enough buying real runner stuff when I plod along. I've gotten over running in front of strangers that are sitting on their keesters while they drive eating a double burgers. I haven't gotten over waddling in front of real runner people. Reason two is that my pants were just too dang big and I didn't want to try to keep them up (no belt on) while testing shoes, while trying to keep the kids out of trouble, etc. etc. You get the picture. If only I had switched into something more athletic instead of baggy jeans.
So I took the small ones home and then put them on to wander around the house.
They were too small. And as the day wore on and got hotter my dang feet got even bigger and the shoes shrunk (or something like that).
So the next day we headed up again and I got the bigger pair. I'm so much happier with them. I'm hoping I can do the half this next Saturday in them.
And I'll never go to a running store in jeans that are too big again.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Summer Days
So summer has just really begun. We have a month with nothing but violin lessons.
And let me tell you, the good times are just beginning.
We've had meltdown after meltdown. We've had tantrum after tantrum. The only kid who hasn't participated in those activities today is M. The most recent is S. She came up wanting some lovings because C scratched her. Well, it turns out that she tried to pin C under two pillows and climbed on top of them. Sorry, if someone is trying to smother you with pillows then you most likely will get scratched, kicked, or hit. Now S can't be in the basement with the kids today. (It's the rule if you get on top of someone you lose your privileges.) So she gets to hang with me for the rest of the glorious afternoon. I don't know if she'll be thinking she is so lucky.
But I was super calm. I don't know if I will be able to handle myself so dang calmly later in the summer but as for this one I was great.
Cool as a cucumber is the key. It's easier said than done.
And let me tell you, the good times are just beginning.
We've had meltdown after meltdown. We've had tantrum after tantrum. The only kid who hasn't participated in those activities today is M. The most recent is S. She came up wanting some lovings because C scratched her. Well, it turns out that she tried to pin C under two pillows and climbed on top of them. Sorry, if someone is trying to smother you with pillows then you most likely will get scratched, kicked, or hit. Now S can't be in the basement with the kids today. (It's the rule if you get on top of someone you lose your privileges.) So she gets to hang with me for the rest of the glorious afternoon. I don't know if she'll be thinking she is so lucky.
But I was super calm. I don't know if I will be able to handle myself so dang calmly later in the summer but as for this one I was great.
Cool as a cucumber is the key. It's easier said than done.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Life sans the Garmin
DH and I both had long runs today. He prepped by getting a couple of movies at the Redbox last night and I figured out what the kiddos could eat for the first few meals.
I checked before bedtime last night to see if the Garmin was plugged in to charge. It was. I figured it should make it through both our runs.
This morning DH left at 4 am to start his 15 miler. I slept. At 5:45 I woke up and wanted to go back to sleep but knew that DH planned on being home by 6:30 and I needed to make him and the kids breakfast. So I sauteed the mushrooms (YUCK!) and cooked them with eggs for him. Then I went and saw the Garmin still on the charger.
Strange....
It didn't make sense that he didn't wear it. But I just figured he didn't want it to die on me. So I strapped the heart rate monitor on and went about my business. But as I got closer to my start time of 6:30 I decided I should let if find the satellites. The thing wouldn't turn on.
So I went straight for the computer and tried to do things the 'old school' way with gmaps-pedometer. DH got home and I had an idea of a route.
But then I left and about a mile in to it I was wishing I had planned something that would plunk me down by a bathroom. If you have been somewhat dehydrated for days, it's really not smart to start hydrating like crazy the day before and the morning of a run. Well, maybe it's really smart, but it's even smarter to plan a few potty breaks into the run. But I was determined so I continued. And then I looked into the distance and saw two 'stray' dogs fighting. Oh how I hate stray dogs. There is something about this town and dog owners that don't keep tabs on their pets. So I doubled back and took another route. Let's just say the 6 miles to my destination seemed incredibly long. There was grass about 3 feet high but that just isn't tall enough and well, I don't think I have the skills to pull off that type of activity camping, let alone on the side of the road.
Then, on the way back I decided I didn't want to do a large hill so I headed east. I had no clue how much extra mileage it would tack on but just didn't want to do the hill. And without my trusty Garmin I just had to give it a whirl. I ended up with an extra 1.9. They were super slow as well. It took me about 3 hours to do my 13.9 miles. I am guessing that I would have been a little faster if I hadn't been trying to not pee my pants for the first 6 miles. It also felt pretty warm with the sun up. I wish I could get my 11 minute range pace to last for distances. The most I have kept in the range has been 4 miles. When I know I have to go far I find myself being extra cautious because I don't want to get far from home and be in trouble.
I thought about a few things as I was running. First of all, I kind of like old neighborhoods. They have big shady trees. It's much cooler to run in the shade. They also have a lot of chain link fences and dogs that bark like crazy. That I am not so fond of. It also feels great to run on a road/highway (if it really can be called that) because of the wind generated by the vehicles. Public transportation buses and trucks pulling boats are the best. They do however, fling rocks up at you too. That's not so fun. It's also really great to run past corn fields. The color is a beautiful green and it's super peaceful. Oh and there are also little creatures in the brush. I just kept trying to imagine that birds were making the noise. That freaks me out a bit.
Later that day, DH figured out how to get the Garmin working again. We are both so happy.
I checked before bedtime last night to see if the Garmin was plugged in to charge. It was. I figured it should make it through both our runs.
This morning DH left at 4 am to start his 15 miler. I slept. At 5:45 I woke up and wanted to go back to sleep but knew that DH planned on being home by 6:30 and I needed to make him and the kids breakfast. So I sauteed the mushrooms (YUCK!) and cooked them with eggs for him. Then I went and saw the Garmin still on the charger.
Strange....
It didn't make sense that he didn't wear it. But I just figured he didn't want it to die on me. So I strapped the heart rate monitor on and went about my business. But as I got closer to my start time of 6:30 I decided I should let if find the satellites. The thing wouldn't turn on.
So I went straight for the computer and tried to do things the 'old school' way with gmaps-pedometer. DH got home and I had an idea of a route.
But then I left and about a mile in to it I was wishing I had planned something that would plunk me down by a bathroom. If you have been somewhat dehydrated for days, it's really not smart to start hydrating like crazy the day before and the morning of a run. Well, maybe it's really smart, but it's even smarter to plan a few potty breaks into the run. But I was determined so I continued. And then I looked into the distance and saw two 'stray' dogs fighting. Oh how I hate stray dogs. There is something about this town and dog owners that don't keep tabs on their pets. So I doubled back and took another route. Let's just say the 6 miles to my destination seemed incredibly long. There was grass about 3 feet high but that just isn't tall enough and well, I don't think I have the skills to pull off that type of activity camping, let alone on the side of the road.
Then, on the way back I decided I didn't want to do a large hill so I headed east. I had no clue how much extra mileage it would tack on but just didn't want to do the hill. And without my trusty Garmin I just had to give it a whirl. I ended up with an extra 1.9. They were super slow as well. It took me about 3 hours to do my 13.9 miles. I am guessing that I would have been a little faster if I hadn't been trying to not pee my pants for the first 6 miles. It also felt pretty warm with the sun up. I wish I could get my 11 minute range pace to last for distances. The most I have kept in the range has been 4 miles. When I know I have to go far I find myself being extra cautious because I don't want to get far from home and be in trouble.
I thought about a few things as I was running. First of all, I kind of like old neighborhoods. They have big shady trees. It's much cooler to run in the shade. They also have a lot of chain link fences and dogs that bark like crazy. That I am not so fond of. It also feels great to run on a road/highway (if it really can be called that) because of the wind generated by the vehicles. Public transportation buses and trucks pulling boats are the best. They do however, fling rocks up at you too. That's not so fun. It's also really great to run past corn fields. The color is a beautiful green and it's super peaceful. Oh and there are also little creatures in the brush. I just kept trying to imagine that birds were making the noise. That freaks me out a bit.
Later that day, DH figured out how to get the Garmin working again. We are both so happy.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
What the heck??????
Today is a sad day.
I slept in (so far so good... couldn't get myself up to run. I'll just have to be behind this week.) and then took T to swim team. I found out it was his last day.
WHAT?
My city decided to make some adjustments to law that's what. I went and search their website and it said that in a 'home occupation' type of business you could have up to 7-12 clients including ones own kids in lessons.
I guess the city council changed their mind and now you can have up to TWO including ones own. Of course I believe this only applies to things like swim lessons, karate, dance, etc.
I can understand why they might want this to be the law but you don't let people start a business because it's all legal begal and spend a small FORTUNE (not that swim team has been complaining... but I'm just speculating) and then say, "Oh, by the way, we changed our mind and well, you are out of luck. Just keep on paying those payments on all that stuff you bought."
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR..................
I can see not allowing more businesses like that if you want to curtail that type of activity but heck, I think it's pretty dang rotten of them.
So I got to thinking... (oh and not about the little thing I read on the city's website about how our town is such a fabulous place to have a home business.... BLECH!) If you want to follow the rules you pretty much have to take every truly practicing Suzuki teacher out of business too. All Suzuki teachers are supposed to have group lessons as an integral part of their students training. Two is not a group. If you go to any of the orchestras in the county you will find that the majority of the best string players are Suzuki trained. It's just how it is these days. Do they want to get rid of all of those too?
And of course, if I have to move T to a swim team in another town (next closest thing) I will end up doing my shopping there. I will end up doing all my lessons in other towns and that leaves me with little time to shop nearby.
For now I am going to check in on a nearby pool. They have adult lap swim in the morning. At 7, T is far from being an adult. But how else is he supposed to get the right swimming in. Auditions for the next closest team aren't for over 2 months. Yesterday he had such a good meet. He was speedy quick. And now he has no team.
Anyway.... I am getting over my grouchies to an extent. I wrote a rather wordy letter to the mayor. He probably won't even read it but it felt good to write it.
I slept in (so far so good... couldn't get myself up to run. I'll just have to be behind this week.) and then took T to swim team. I found out it was his last day.
WHAT?
My city decided to make some adjustments to law that's what. I went and search their website and it said that in a 'home occupation' type of business you could have up to 7-12 clients including ones own kids in lessons.
I guess the city council changed their mind and now you can have up to TWO including ones own. Of course I believe this only applies to things like swim lessons, karate, dance, etc.
I can understand why they might want this to be the law but you don't let people start a business because it's all legal begal and spend a small FORTUNE (not that swim team has been complaining... but I'm just speculating) and then say, "Oh, by the way, we changed our mind and well, you are out of luck. Just keep on paying those payments on all that stuff you bought."
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR..................
I can see not allowing more businesses like that if you want to curtail that type of activity but heck, I think it's pretty dang rotten of them.
So I got to thinking... (oh and not about the little thing I read on the city's website about how our town is such a fabulous place to have a home business.... BLECH!) If you want to follow the rules you pretty much have to take every truly practicing Suzuki teacher out of business too. All Suzuki teachers are supposed to have group lessons as an integral part of their students training. Two is not a group. If you go to any of the orchestras in the county you will find that the majority of the best string players are Suzuki trained. It's just how it is these days. Do they want to get rid of all of those too?
And of course, if I have to move T to a swim team in another town (next closest thing) I will end up doing my shopping there. I will end up doing all my lessons in other towns and that leaves me with little time to shop nearby.
For now I am going to check in on a nearby pool. They have adult lap swim in the morning. At 7, T is far from being an adult. But how else is he supposed to get the right swimming in. Auditions for the next closest team aren't for over 2 months. Yesterday he had such a good meet. He was speedy quick. And now he has no team.
Anyway.... I am getting over my grouchies to an extent. I wrote a rather wordy letter to the mayor. He probably won't even read it but it felt good to write it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)