WOW!!

Today I ran with Christy. We started off at Granny White Park and did 4 miles in 45 minutes...which is excellent for her considering it takes her that long to run 3 miles when she's on her own. Then after that we came back to my house and she got on my Trek and followed me while I ran my 5 k course. We left at 3:35 and returned at 3:58. So that's a 23 something. (I didn't have my Garmin on.... just going by the clock in my car so I don't know how many seconds) I am VERY excited about this because I haven't been able to run well in WEEKS and I haven't had a 5 k time like that since Feburary. I don't know if it's the new clean eating plan I am on, or the super-extra long rest break I took, or a combination of both. I know Christy made a difference because she never stops when I keep pushing her, and I couldn't stop if she doesn't stop...so I really pushed it today. THANK-YOU Christy!!!!!!

FOOD UpDATE: I did Really well today, and I ate my weight in Food..yet I was always hungry and ready for it. I won't bore you with the detail of every meal, but dinner was good enough to talk about. We had broiled Mahi Mahi which I marinated in a bunch of spices and lemon juice, asparagus (this was marinated in Balsamic dressing..which did have a touch of sugar in it, but it was far down on the list of ingredients so I went for it) and Mango salsa. OMG the Salsa was SO good. I got these recipes from the fish department at Harris Teeter because the Tuna recipe in the book was going to be too expensive. Still stuck to the diet though. The whole menu was delicious and I feel better after eating this way. I have been worried about carbs but I think there are PLENTY. Just not from anything sugery or processed. Healthy Carbs. If I find I am not getting enough..I'll do a Gu or something during my runs, but so far so good. I know I am going to have some whole wheat pasta before the marathon, and I am making my spaghetti sauce instead of the jarred stuff..(Full of sugar). That and a Gu should get me through the half no problem. I'll honestly let you know how my runs go on this eating plan so we can all decide if it works for endurance runners. I'll be the Guinea Pig. Still trying to get the nerve up for Before and After shots.

Latest work-outs and new Food

Yesterday Christy came over and ran three miles while I was finishing up a dog. Then we loaded up the bikes and went to Crockett Park for a bike ride. This was the first time in 12 years that she has been on a bike. I let her ride my Trek,....which is s mountain/Comfort type of bike, and I rode my road bike. We went slow and did about 7 miles. No biggie, but fun and different for her. Then we walked to the gym and lifted weights.

Today I managed a 6 mile run/walk and it was HELL! I am STILL not feeling 100% but I covered the distance. I walked a lot then some chick ran past me..so I ran right behind her letting her pace me. It was good because her pace was slower than my usual pace, so I managed to run farther than I have been able to for the past couple of weeks. I'd say I did 2 miles without having to stop on that interval. Then she turned off and I immediately started running too fast again and walked. I'll be glad when I can run again. There HAS to be an end to this madness. But, at least I'm back at the gym and running.

The eating plan Is going really good, except it's SOOOO much food. I mean, seriously..there's no way I can eat that much. I have managed to eat 3 times already today, and dinner will be soon..then a bedtime snack, so I only skipped one of the meals today. (I ate 6 yesterday) The pork chops I made tonight are so spicy it set me on fire when I tasted it...live and learn. I know Bailey and Doug will eat them but there is no way Connor will and I am having doubts about me. I also made Pico de Gallo and sweet potatoes. For breakfast I had scrambled egg whites with cherry tomatoes, and multigrain toast with honey. Then for a snack I had cottage cheese on top of 1/2 apple and red grapes, with a glass of Vanilla soy milk. YUM. Then I also had some almonds and spinich salad with lemon juice. That's Alot of food for me. Doug has lost 2.5 pounds since yesterday from eating like this. I am SO glad because he seriously needs to lose some weight. He works out 5 times a week, but he looks like someone who sits on the couch all day eating ice cream. It's his diet. I don't want to lose, just flush out the gunk. I hate the jiggly stuff when I run so I think that will be gone in a few weeks.

Making a Come-Back

Just when I thought the end was near...I'm feeling better. ABOUT TIME! Yesterday I worked out with Christy...sort of. I did half a Tae Bo tape..she did the whole thing, but half-way through it we ran a mile. That was all I had to give but she came back in and finished the Tae Bo work-out. Then today I got up and ran to the gym (Still gasping, but not as bad) lifted weights, then ran home. I walked some but I still did better than I have done lately, so I know I am finally on the mend. This gives me hope that I might be ready for the Half Marathon coming up in 2 weeks. (My previous post said 9 days...I don't know where I got that number.)

I have started a new eating plan called "Eat Clean" by Tosca Reno. It's basically eating foods in their purest form and eat 6 times a day, etc. I'll be healthier if I eat this way, and be naturally lean as a by-product. I also got her other book...."The Butt Book". I have no ass to speak of and I really want one, so maybe this will help. I'd like to look like this......

Yes... I know...keep dreamin'. But this is my goal by summer time. Maybe I should post some Before's so I can prove any progress made. (I don't think I have the guts)..HA!

F'n Bleep!!!!

From a runner's perspective...I just went on the most pathetic excuse for a run in the history of runs. What the HELL??? Is it STILL too much to ask my body to do? It's been 10 days since I got sick..and my mind is ready..but when it asked my body to perform...it just...couldn't. I am so frustrated right now it could kick through a wall. I have a half marathon in 9 days, and I literally couldn't run from one mailbox to the next today. I have never felt so weighed down during a run..like I was trying to carry a 250 lb man on my back. Am I going to have to walk this HALF?? My lungs WILL NOT fill up with enough air, my feet won't lift from the ground....I am coughing like a pack a day smoker...and my head is pounding so loud I can hear it. Should I even be trying to run through that? Is that my body's way of telling me I will drop dead if I keep on pushing it? Is this a mental barrier I can run through..or a physical one that's going to need a few more days..if not weeks to get past. How can a few days of sickness destroy my fitness level the way it apparently has?

I took a WALK

Yesterday I forced myself off the couch and took a walk. It was nice. I ran a tiny bit because I forgot something in my car while I was at a golf lesson...so I ran to my car to get it and I still can't breathe and I have zero energy. It's getting ridiculous. So yesterday afternoon after the lesson I was getting stir-crazy and walked. I went 3 miles...did the last mile with the kids and the goat, and went to bed at 9:00 pm. That's also unheard of for me. My usual bedtime is around midnight, but I was exhausted by 8:30. I am thinking I will do a 2:30 half-marathon on the 28th IF I am lucky. I was shooting for under 2 this year. Maybe I needed the rest. It's been a LONG rest break though, and I am definitely worried about my performance for the CMM.

About the Golf...I promised Doug last year I would learn to play because we never do anything together, so I took a few lessons and then it started getting cold. So this year we have joined the country club and there is a ladies group that plays every Wednesday. I went to a clinic yesterday and worked on some putting and driving, and then next Wednesday I go for another lesson while the rest of the group plays. I think I will take quite a few lessons before I actually have the guts to go play a round with them. They do nine holes then have lunch. There is an 18 hole group but you have to know your stuff to play with them. I am years away from that. I will be taking Wednesdays off for the summer though , so I can work on my game. Wish me luck!

Poodle Before and after

Before

AfterSince I have been too sick to do ANYTHING this week, I'll show another Yard Monster I did on Monday. ( Before the Flu struck and took EVERYBODY in my family down.) That' s all I have to say for the week. The marathon is in a couple of weeks and I am not ready. Still sick, still can't breathe, and we have all had it. Doug has it right now and he's sicker than I have ever seen him in 11 years..yet he's still in denial. Ha! He considers it a sign of weakness to act sick, so he puts up a front. He's been laying on the couch half-dead for 3 days, but as long as he says he's fine, he's not "sick". Hopefully I'll have some work-out related posts starting next week, because this week has been a total loss in training. It was cold anyway. It actually snowed Friday. Crazy.

The Flu

I haven't done crap this week. I came down with the flu Tuesday, and I haven't left the room. I finally got up this morning at 5:30 because my back hurt too much to stay in bed any longer. This is the 2nd time in 3 weeks I have been bed bound. (I had vertigo in Florida REALLY bad 3 weeks ago). Bailey had a 103 F temp on Friday and was sick all weekend, then I came down with it...although my fever hasn't exceeded 101 f. Then Connor came home from school early yesterday with it. His fever was 102 f. It feels like I have been hit by a truck. All my joints hurt, sore throat, fever, coughing, chills. A few days ago I weighed 128 lbs and I weighed this morning and I am 122 lbs. I think this is because of the buckets of sweat I have produced over the past few days. In the 7 years I have been grooming dogs, I have never had to call clients and cancel on them. I had to yesterday morning. On Tuesday Christy was working at my place so she did a lot of the dogs for me.

Also, my running partner, Jessika, has a stress fracture in her ankle. She did the 20 mile training run Saturday and it started bothering her at mile 10, but she ran through it because she's tough like that...but as the day went on, it got worse. She went to an orthopedic doctor (who is also into running) yesterday, and the x-rays confirmed it's broken. This sucks because her parents were flying in from Boston to see her run the Country Music Marathon, but she won't be running again for at least 6 weeks. She's so strong on her training runs, too. You'd never know she just ran 18 or 20 miles. I guess her ankle knew, though. I had a stress fracture up in my foot back in 2004. I started training for Chicago right after the country music and my foot just couldn't take it anymore. CRACK! Couldn't run for 8 weeks after that. MAybe we just aren't supposed to run that kinda of distance. I think after this half marathon in 3 weeks, I might not run like this anymore. Maybe stick with speedier races like 5 or 10k's. Do more Tri's so at least I am forced to cross train. Or take up biking and race. My poor body is worn out from all this distance running. I am supposed to do the 10 mile moon pie run in June, but I am having doubts about it. I just don't enjoy the distance running anymore.