I LOVE MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE.

Its days like this that I am so glad I have the 4 wheel drive. Yes, its somewhat of a gas guzzler. And yes, its not cheap otherwise to drive. But after driving in worse weather than we have had this week for more than 20 years with cars having varying degrees of bad tires, no heat, running on its last legs, I have no guilt driving a car that makes me feel safe in this kind of weather finally.

Lots of schools closed today. We really didn't get that much snow, but in trying to get around, and the time it would take cleaning up parking lots and roads, it really was better for everyone not to have the added traffic.

I left early, but even that didn't make much difference. And what did I see on the snowy, slush covered roads, but a bicyclist, right down the busiest street around! Crazy or dedicated, I don't know which. You wouldn't catch me doing that!

And I have learned my lesson from Saturday's frozen run. I will stay in for this week at least. Temperatures today were actually quite "balmy" at 20 degrees, but the snow depth would make getting around quickly not a possibility. I actually didn't see any runners out this morning. They probably were all shoveling!

5 MISERABLE MILES.

I tried to find some good in this run, and while I'm sure there was some, it was hard to find it while it was happening. I know not every run is good, but I'm sure most of them aren't for these reasons.

The temperature was around 1 degree, and I don't even want to know the windchill, but I was determined to get outside, bite the bullet, and run, despite the weather. And the weather was about as bad as it can get, for a run that is. Or at least for someone not conditioned to run in this kind of cold anymore.

My plan was to run 6 miles, or at least 1 hour. We had gotten another blast of winter overnight and everything was again covered with snow. By the time the sun came up, it was actually a very lovely day, what with all that bright new snow, some blue to the sky, and for a while at least the snow had stopped.

It was hard to know how bad the roads/sidewalks would really be, but, judging from what I was seeing from my windows, it wasn't going to be easy. But I started out with good intentions.

First block: OMG, it is SO cold. The face mask helped, but the cold quickly penetrated even the two layers of tights and gloves.

Second block: I'm not sure how long I can stand this. Tears were forming in my eyes from the stinging cold.

Third block: The Yak Trax were already clogging up with snow, forcing me to stamp my feet often. It was too early to hope for many people to be up on a Saturday morning just for the thrill of clearing their sidewalks.

Fourth block: Okay, finally getting in the street. I think the plows came through last night, I know I heard them. Did they have their blades down?? I barely noticed the speed bumps in the road because of the snow.

And on and on it went. I trudged ahead, into the wind at times with my head mostly down, like I was a charging bull. Then the snow started back up and it was blowing and swirling around me. The only people out were those braving the cold to go who knew where. I was pretty much the only one out running.

Until about 3 miles, when I finally saw another hardy soul out there. This guy was way too happy to be out running in this frigid stuff!

Believe me, I questioned my sanity many times in the course of this run. Why did I buy that treadmill if I was going to risk frostbite for this stuff??

By the time I finally hit the 5.2 mile loop around my entire neighborhood, any thought of doing 6 went out the window. Anything that was exposed was numb; even parts that weren't exposed were numb, and I was worried about frostbite. I had taken 1 hour to get only that far, and for that day, it was enough!

It was a major relief then today to "only" swim my mile!

EGG SHELLS.

That's what you get when you peel boiled eggs at 4:30 in the morning. Without your contacts in. Egg shells in your boiled eggs. Crunchy!

Today was spin class, and in keeping with triathlon training, that meant getting to the gym early enough for a short swim before class and then a 15 min. treadmill run after.

It was still so dark out, I had a hard time seeing if we had gotten any snow overnight. A quick check out the front door, where there are streetlights, told me we hadn't gotten anything. Anything much that is. Nothing on the sidewalks. Nothing on the roads. The only snow that seemed to accumulate was on the windshield of my car. I don't know how that happens!

This week I have concentrated on getting totally serious about the diet, weights, and brick workouts. Last week's two hard workouts pretty much left me wiped out for a couple of days, so I knew some drastic measures had to be in place for this week. Next week will mainly be tapering for the indoor tri, so I wanted to see how hard I could push myself and still recover. That involved the nutritional side and the physical side.

And this week did seem easier. Somewhat. During spinning, I did heart rate checks after each workout set and found my heart rate staying steady, even while putting forth a good effort. I remember last year, same workouts, and my heart rate would be 20 points higher. So my conditioning has improved finally. After the spin class, which was a good hard one, my legs felt just like they would feel coming off the bike in a sprint tri. So the first couple of minutes on the treadmill were just trying to get the legs moving and see how I felt. I decided it probably made more sense to do a steady effort than try an all-out sprint, except for the last 3 minutes. Holding a steady pace worked great, and by the last 3 minutes I was able to bump up the speed and finish with a 9:40 pace.

I know the real thing will leave me wanting to puke at the end, and I could easily duplicate that in training, but I figure its best to stay steady, keep my heart rate steady, and push at the end--and hopefully still not feeling like I wanted to puke. No sense in torturing myself every day!

I was talking to one of the young women doing the tri with us, and she said she has only been in the pool once and hasn't really been training. "After all, its just 45 minutes. How hard can that be?" I probably am obsessing or maybe overly dedicated to training, but I am amazed at these people who enter events with NO training. Yet, somehow, they always manage to pull it off. Me? I have to train specific for an event to feel confident. And then I still can't guarantee my outcome.

So right now, its all about getting ready for this event and increasing the load of the workouts. We'll see where and how this goes.

NEWLY FALLEN SNOW.

It was still more than two hours before daylight, but when I got up and looked out the window and saw that a layer of snow had fallen, I noticed how illuminating the new snow was! Sometime overnight, we got a new layer of snow had fallen, coating everything. There was no moon, but still it looked bright out with the new snow.

Our recent warm trend had melted all the ice and snow buildup off the sidewalks and streets, and what was there now was just like a blanket covering everything.

I am in the process of purchasing a new treadmill, but until I actually get it delivered, its either go to the gym or run outside. Today would be an outside run. It looked so inviting in fact. If I have to live in a snow state, this is the kind of day that makes it all tolerable.

The temperature was moderate, in the 20s, but with no wind. So I layered up--two pair of tights, two shirts, two pair of gloves, and headed out with my Yak Trax and my purple and green "Barney" coat.

Its always fun to make the first steps in fresh snow, but alas, a nocturnal creature beat me to that in the driveway. And there were also footsteps already on the sidewalk. When I lived out in the country, I only had to compete with four-footed, nocturnal creatures for an early morning run. In the city, you still have to get out there pretty early to be first.

Just as I was thinking this, I sensed someone behind me, and sure enough another runner--at least that's what he looked like--was coming up behind me. He went way around me on the grass and looked like he was carrying a bag of dog poo! I don't know why he was carrying a small bag all tied up like that--he had no dog with him. Strange things you see in the morning.

I ran down the street where people were out now shoveling in front of their church, right next to a school which was a voting location for the dog and pony show of a primary taking place today and that we in Michigan are so happy to be paying for, in addition to our new taxes since the first of the year. The polls weren't open yet, but the workers were there setting up. I crossed over the street then and went down a small private drive to get back to the main street. No footsteps here!

Further down, though, more tracks in the snow. One thing I like about just an inch or two of newly fallen snow is that it makes a nicely cushioned running surface, before it gets beaten down and icy.

I felt like I did not want to stop. It was very quiet and relaxing, like being in a snow globe, with just a few flakes drifting down. At one point, I saw where rabbit, cat, and human tracks criss-crossed each other, busy little creatures that they are!

But it was time to circle back and head up the hill and back home. The snow was caking up on my Yak Trax now, making it feel like I had stiletto heels on when I stamped it off. Once home, all the magic would be gone with the newly fallen snow, since I would then have to clear the walk and some of the driveway.

I still don't like winter.

BUSY WEEK AND TRIATHLON TRAINING.


The last 3 weeks at work have been extremely busy. One of my bosses actually was retiring at the first of the year, explaining some of the extra work, plus year-end wrap-up of work, etc. But for some reason, he has also been around more in the last 3 weeks than he has been around in the last 3 months, so go figure.


Anyway, I've gotten a little behind blogging and reading blogs. I do as much as I can get away with every day though! :)


Friday, it worked out perfectly to do a spinning class, rather than outside run, since overnight we had again been hit with another wintry mix of rain, sleet, and snow. But with my indoor tri coming up in two weeks, I also had planned to start this week doing at least a 15 minute run after both spinning classes. Monday, I was too tired. So Friday I had to be determined to hop off the bike and get on the treadmill immediately after.


The spin class was one of the hardest I have done in a year. I am finally able to put some real effort into the classes, putting more resistance on than I was able to last year, and still keep up a fairly decent cadence. Last year, no matter how hard I tried, I found it nearly impossible to get better than a 75 cadence. I think I am closer to 85 now, so there is a noticeable improvement. Anyway, it was a good workout, with long seated and standing climbs. Immediately after, I hit the treadmill. The plan was to do 15 minutes as fast as possible.


I still hold back some on speed, so I only started at a pace slightly faster than my usual, but after realizing my legs felt okay and my breathing was pretty much under control, I bumped the speed up every 3 minutes. After 15 minutes, I felt I had put in a decent effort, where I was out of breath but not totally done in. It was just the right amount, considering I still had to go to work for the day.


I've also been collaborating with one of the attorneys in the office who is somewhat involved in marketing and events. She asked if I had done a local triathlon event that her husband did. I said I did and she was impressed with that. ! Anyway, I also mentioned a bunch of us were doing the indoor tri and how nice it would be to get some firm team shirts. She jumped on that idea immediately and surprisingly for the bunch of fact finders I work with who are excruciatingly slow in making decisions, came up with an okay to get shirts.


I asked that I then be in charge of the fabric, style, and logo on the shirts. Good thing too, because what someone who doesn't know came up with would not have cut it. Anyway, this is leading down a whole new path. I'm not sure exactly where it will go, but I am hoping it gives me a chance to use my experience as a runner and triathlete to mentor some others in their training.

I always said I made a better coach than athlete.

THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW...

...and we shall have snow. From the rhyme when I was a kid. Anyone remember it? I don't even know why we had to memorize it. Or maybe we didn't. I read so much and memorized so much, I might have just learned it on my own.

And windy it was today, from the west and the north, meaning we will inevitably be getting more snow.

Today was still a dry day, however, and really not that cold, other than the blast of wind when I first started out. Again, it was decidedly not a treadmill day. And after I had found some new good workouts too! Not disappointed there though.

And as long as the streets and sidewalks stay ice free, I don't mind running outside, even in the dark morning.

I forgot to add yesterday other reasons I hadn't been running in the mornings as frequently, either inside or outside, were because my home treadmill died most inconveniently just after Don did the Achilles thing, and the because of ice on the streets. Being forced inside on the treadmill then meant running more frequently in the evenings. Despite having access to a gym and treadmills whenever I want, I still want one at home. I have had one for at least 15 years now, and I fixed the one I have last year. But the manufacturer no longer makes parts for this model, so now I am stuck with a dinosaur. Maybe a little idealistically, within the next year I would like to have my own home gym, so looking at treadmills isn't out of the picture right now.

I did one of my old running routes, but can't really remember the distance. I figure around 3 miles, maybe a little more. Regardless, it felt great cruising along again in the dark, windy morning.

BACK TO ROUTINE.

With the new year and Don now being in a cast where he can manage more by himself, it was time to get back to my usual morning workout routine.

I had been a little slack over the month of December in working out in the morning. I had been working out, but more after work. My preference has always been morning routines, but with my morning routine at home changed for a while, it made more sense to just lay back, not worry about it, and wait for time to pass.

It was a somewhat different routine, but not one that was unpleasant, and during the busy holiday season, Don's' hospitalization, and everything else surrounding that, it really made life easier to get up and get dressed at home, fixing him breakfast and helping him get started in the morning. And it was certainly easier going to work without having to haul work clothes and a gym bag in every morning, while trying to balance a purse and coffee cup.

But I still knew all that would be over soon enough. This week was the beginning of the back to morning workout routine.

Today was easy enough too because it has been warm and no snow. Storms last night swirled around us, but nothing but some rain and a little thunder and lightning came our way for a change.

And I have been working on my swimming again. With the indoor triathlon coming up at the end of the month, I know I will have to work hard to show up some of those young gals! And I found out, my friend Jan is starting masters swimming classes this week. Sneaky, sneaky on her part! I have always swam on a fairly regular basis, but started last week adding longer workouts and speed interval drills to bet back to a better form and time.

Today's workout was 2200 yards, 52:41. The main thing with swimming longer distances is to keep focused throughout the workout to not lose track and not get bored. Every 5 laps, I would change my breathing pattern. This helped me keep track and added in harder lap intervals. By the last 10 laps, I did a few speed drills to again keep me focused and from quitting early. Up to the last 10 laps, I did not push myself at all, but did concentrate on keeping my form and staying relaxed. I know I have done faster in the past, but this is just for base building and seeing where I'm at.

So its back to routine.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again...

Fifty degrees. January 6. Remarkable. Today was NOT going to be a treadmill day.

I waited until daylight, got dressed, put on the Yak Trax, and out the door I went. Too good to be true.

It was misting the whole time, but I stayed out for over an hour. It felt great. The temperature was perfect. I even got warm after awhile.

For the most part, the sidewalks were clear. The streets were not. So the only time I slowed for a walk was while crossing the streets.

I live in the City of Grand Rapids. Apparently, they do not feel it necessary to plow or salt any side street, which has been a pet peeve of mine since moving back here.

When I lived out in the country, we either had snow packed roads or they scraped down to the pavement. I don't remember ever falling.

Living in the city, I have fallen more times than I can count and have sprained my ankle twice on icy streets--always the same one, of course. I do realize that I am at my own risk, but still...

But I can't tell you how great it felt to get out in the fresh air. No sunshine. Only gray and drizzle but still an improvement from the gym and the stale air.

And I am always amazed at how much energy I have after these runs. I was able to come home and finish taking down all the Christmas decorations (yeah, I know, I am slow), vacuum, clean out the storage closet, go to my daughter's and do wash (washer will be here soon I hope), drive Don to his mom's, take the grandkids bowling, and still clean up around the house, taking out trash, recyclables, etc. I felt like it was a productive day.

I am hoping tomorrow I will be able to get out for a short run in the dark morning since the roads will be totally clear and then a spin class tomorrow night,

I wish every weekend were this good!

FROM IRONMAN TO MALL WALKER.

Yesterday, Don got his first cast removed and the second put on. The first cast had kept his foot at an angle with the toes pointed downward, not allowing him to use it for anything, not even balance; the second has his foot in more of a walking angle. So at least some progress is being made. Its been 6 weeks--hard to imagine how fast that time has gone!

With the new cast, he also got a walking boot, and was told to "put as much weight on it as you can manage." I'm sure you know how this will go.

This morning, while getting ready to go out to breakfast, I commented that it was raining, and we both knew a warmup was coming for the next few days.

"If the sidewalks clear, I can walk up and down the street for exercise," he said. "I highly doubt the sidewalks will clear, but maybe we could find somewhere else clear so you could walk," I offered.

We went to breakfast at a very delightful little place, The Omelette Shoppe, which also was attached to a local mall. This mall is small, and very upscale, so there wasn't much foot traffic. After breakfast, Don wanted to show me the fish ponds within the mall, and this got me thinking for him: "Why don't you do a few 'laps' around the mall to walk??"

So the Ironman became a mall walker today. After a few laps, however, he said he was sweating. "That's good! You're getting a workout." I, however, was walking at a snail's pace it seemed.

He still needs the crutches, but is finally limping around the house, meaning he can get things for himself now. Three more weeks with this cast and then its off!

Looking forward to the end of the month.

A GIFT OF FITNESS.

That's one of the gifts I got for Christmas. Ironically, all the years I have been running or doing tris, do I get anything related to either from my family? Noooo. But I usually do get something along those lines from people I work with. This year was no exception.

One of the gifts was a "Gift of Fitness" which included three 5k race entries for 2008, a nice long sleeved T shirt, a discount coupon for one of two other 2008 races, and a 15% off coupon for shoes at the particular running store, Gazelle Sports.

I used my $5 off coupon for yesterday's race. But it got me thinking about goals for 2008.

Originally, I had all these grandiose ideas of things I wanted to do for 2008, but its looking like my first 2 months of the year will be altered due to Don's injury. Much as I wanted to do either the Missippi Blues half marathon or the Phoenix Rock N'Roll half, traveling right now is out of the question. Possibly in February, so Austin still is a possibility.

But with these three 5k race entries, it got me thinking more and more to trying to not just get by in my races this year but to actually attempt to be competitive again. Yesterday's race was a beginning, but looking back only 2 years, I see how far I have slipped in my competitiveness. I have SO much work to do if I really want to get my 5k times down. I don't expect to come close to anything I did even 5 years ago, but I thinkI can manage going back 2 or 3 years--with a LOT of work.

And I have to admit, I really prefer the shorter, faster distances, mainly because of the good feelings I have after. The longer, slower distances seem more suited for me because I really can go for a long time without running out of steam. But they do not satisfy my desire of accomplishment. Does this make sense??

So right now, I am re-evaluating my plans for 2008. I don't know where this will be going, but I do know I will be doing something!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


On a running note, I ended 2007 the same way I started: Running the local, 4 mile "Resolution Run." Traditionally, this race is run at 8 am on January 1, unless the first falls on a Sunday, then it is held on Dec. 31.



This was a non-traditional year and not a Sunday, but the race organizers decided, after a popular vote, to hold the race in the afternoon on New Year's Eve.



In January, I anticipated this race as my first comeback race after my accident. I managed to train 3 of the 4 miles and pretty much gutted out the final mile, and thought I would puke at the end. And I was pretty much done in for the day. I remember the weather as being just cold but no big snow or ice buildup on the roads, making it easy footing.



Yesterday, it was pretty much the same, but just maybe a little warmer. A winter storm advisory was looming for the evening hours, so I was glad to not have to deal with slip sliding in the morning.



I checked my time from January and was suprised it was faster than I thought. Fast of course being relevant. My time was 46:36, an 11:43 pace. I thought how ironic since at my last "official" race, the Grand Rapids Half Marathon, my pace had been 11:43. Haven't I progressed any in a year I wondered?



So my goal yesterday was to beat January's time. That's all. No heroics. Try not to walk. I have progressed in that department, not walking for at least 8 miles, like I did for the Virtual Race. I should be able to make it the whole 4. But I haven't been running outside much, and in fact hadn't run in 3 days, my longest streak in months. For the first time in a long time, I actually found myself too busy these last few days, and too tired out from working 10 hour days this past week. I decided to save my effort for the race.



And surprisingly, even not having run in 3 days, I didn't suddenly balloon up 15 pounds, or turn into a total slug, something I always fear about taking days off.


I arrived at the race wearing my running vest, but then decided it wasn't warm enough for that. I found I was wrong by the half mile point. I felt overheated so had to unzip my jacket. I felt claustrophobic wearing 2 pair of gloves, but didn't want to hassle with taking them off and carrying them. And for some reason, my shoulder ached--a lot. Could it be that incessant shoveling I've had to do??

And my ankle that I sprained in the summer has been acting up lately, and today was no exception. Its more like a cramp in the ankle, but it makes me land differently, which is probably why my knee has been bothering me some. Everything is connected, you find that out during races.

My speed has been coming along, but I'm still a LONG way off anything remotely close to what I've done in the past. Still, I was surprised by 1 mile that I was under 11 minutes! This wasn't a chip start either, so I had felt compelled at the gun start to get into a pace right away. Other than feeling too warm, my breathing was hard but still manageable.

And this year we were running the course the opposite direction, which they alternate every other year, again going against the traditional hard core route, with the last mile mainly uphill. Despite the change in directions, I am still always surprised to see how hilly the course is the opposite way as well. The only advantage is at 1.5 miles, there is a nice long downhill before another steady climb. I relaxed into this downhill and saved a little for that longer uphill I knew was coming.

And here again was progress, as this was almost the same route as my triathlon on this course, where I could not run up any hills, and that was the beginning of September. Today, no walking. While others stopped to catch their breath on the long upgrade, I was able to actually pass people. Again, my pace is all relevant. I am not talking about being blazing fast. But my legs did start feeling better by about 2.5 miles. I felt like I could put a little more effort into it, if nothing more than just keeping going. It was here too where I passed the two young women I work with. I had been worried about them beating me since the start, since I never saw them, and being a gun start, I figured they had pushed to the front, something I failed to do. But there they were, struggling it seemed, and then they walked. I was passing here for sure!

And then there are the usuals who run hard for a block or two, walk, then run hard again, and yet sometimes I still cannot catch these people. Today, after a few back and forths with two other women, I finally managed to push past them and they never caught me again. In fact, after 2 miles, only one guy passed me, so I was happy about that too.

At 3 miles, there was a runner down, and then an ambulance came. I'm not sure what happened and have not seen any stories in the news or otherwise. Hopefully he survived.

Right after the 3 mile mark, there is another steep but short uphill, and here again I was able to pass a few people. A check of my watch showed I was keeping pretty steady at 11 min. miles. If I can keep it up, I thought, I should be able to finish under 45 minutes.

The last mile then, I found myself picking people off. One after the other, I just moved forward relentlessly. I wanted to keep my breathing manageable, but I also wanted to get done! On the last turn before the home stretch, there was a woman who had passed me before 1 mile. Could I catch her? Before I even had the chance, I found myself coming up behind a younger woman. And then I passed her. But then she came up beside me and tried to pass me, but I pulled ahead, and in doing so also passed the woman in the Michigan State sweatshirt. I could hear the chips chirping as people crossed the finish line, so I pushed as hard as I could here and dropped both women and passed a few others as well. Thank God I was done! And I didn't feel like I would puke either! More progress.

I removed my chip and then walked back to the finish to see the two work colleagues finish. I was happy I beat them!

I was feeling great about my accomplishment until I ran into a group of women I knew, none of whom were in my age group, but they were all talking about their times: Pat, in the 55-59 age group, ran 31 something; Tamara in the 45-49 age group, ran 36 something; and Carla in the 55-59 age group, ran 35 something. I felt a little deflated, remembering that in better days I too had run those kind of times.

But I came away from the race knowing I put as much as I could into it on that day, and had beat my time from January, both of which were more important to me. And I wasn't done in for the rest of the day either!

Hope you all have a successful 2008!

LOOKING BACK? OR MOVING FORWARD?

I prefer to move forward. I figure at my age, what's the point of looking back? Even if I make mistakes or things don't go as hoped for, I have already self-analyzed everything surrounding that event, so I figure its best to just move on. I have learned what's the breaking point. So far, I have faced the worst that I could imagine and have moved on. I know there is the possibility of something worse, but these things are out of my control. I have learned to put my life and trust in a higher being; for me this is God. I have faith that God will provide for me, and also the comfort of knowing that God is there whenever I call upon that faith.

I am forever grateful for all my blogger friends, and hope at some point I can meet up with each of you. I have been touched by you and your lives this past year and am most thankful for the opportunity of having gotten to know each of you. And for those of you I have met, I hope our friendship will continue, wherever our paths may go.

I am also grateful for having come unto the running/triathlon world. I do believe we all are a special breed, chosen for this way of life unbeknownst to us why. It has become a part of me, as all of you have become a part of me. I look forward as often as possible to reading about and sharing in your daily lives.

I look forward to the new year, not really making a "resolution" but just a resolve to continue on, not give up, not quit, not give in. I consider each day a gift to savor and enjoy, for however long I am given to live on this earth.

And I have been tagged by SW Tri Girl. So I have to think of 5 "interesting" things about myself. Personally, I can't think of any, but here goes again:

1. I have visited 30 states so far. I have done races in 21 states.

2. I have no real desire to visit anywhere outside the U.S. except somewhere in the Carribbean.

3. I want to move somwhere WARM SOON!

4. I'm not sure I want to do an IM. Does this make me bad or a loser? I don't think so, but sometimes I feel guilty.

5. I probably would continue working as long as I was able IF: I could work part-time; if my age wasn't a detriment; if I needed the money (I suspect with the way things are going, I will!).

I will tag Flo, Suzanne, and Waddler26. I think everyone else has been tagged.

WINTER ARRIVES!

This is a picture of one of my favorite running courses. Some of you who ran the Grand Rapids Marathon might recognize this as the Butterworth Road section just before reaching the road that turns to Millenium Park.

But this was also the scene many places around here Sunday. Thousands without power. My driveway, that was finally clear of ice and snow on Sunday morning, when the temperature was 52 degrees, cannot be found today.

Saturday was the first time I ran outside in 4 weeks. It was 49 degrees. It seemed silly to even think of running on the treadmill, so I headed out, figuring all the ice on the streets might be gone as well. Not quite. I live in an area where (1) they only come through with the plows once after any storm, (2) where there are thousands of mature trees that line the streets, keeping the streets shaded a lot from any potential sunshine that tries to peek through, and (3) where gray, cloudy days outnumber sunshine days by 9 to 1. So the snow gets cleared down to a packed layer of snow and then any thawing and traffic cause it to freeze, refreeze, ice over, and basically stay until spring.

So its 49 degrees and I still needed the Yak Trax. But I did get some clear spots and, being pressed for time like many of us this weekend, decided to do some speed intervals. I actually felt very good and continued with this for most of my 47 min. run.

After that, I would have loved to stay in and clean house and finish my Christmas preparations, but I still had to do some shopping and try to come up with a menu for Christmas Day, not knowing for sure if my new oven, that had been out of commission since before Halloween, would arrive this weekend as promised. I had to prepare either way, just in case.

I really didn't want to face the malls and 28th Street, one of the busiest streets this side of the state. I started figuring all the time I would spend waiting in traffic getting around I could spend driving to a Wal-Mart Super Center out of town. The roads were dry. Its about a 35 minute drive, but why not? With the impending threatening weather, I figured I should get everything done today and not wait.

So I spent the afternoon there, getting everything but 2 items I needed, including finishing up with all those stocking stuffer items, headed home, unpacked the car, went and got the car washed, and then I just had to take a quick nap. I still had a holiday party to attend that night at one of the attorneys' homes who fortunately lived nearby, on one of my other favorite running routes.

We had been warned of getting really bad weather for a couple of days, but still, Saturday evening at 11:30 p.m., it was still dry and 52 degrees!

By 5:30 a.m. Sunday, however, all that started changing. I awoke to what sounded like thunder, but instead it was the roaring winds. The street lights were out, so it was hard to see what was going on, but I could see the neighbors' 2 over 80 foot pine trees bending and swaying in the wind in a precarious manner. I started envisioning one of those things coming down, probably on my house as well, and taking out all the power.

I still had all my last shopping to wrap, so at 6 am, watching all the weather reports and hearing the reports on all the damage and power outages in the area, I began wrapping furiously! I wanted to get as much done as possible in case we were without power.

I did get everything wrapped, then set out to vacuum and clean as much of the house as I could get done, still waiting for the oven to be delivered as well.

And to add a new twist to my already crazy week, my washer had broken as well, and I wanted to get out to wash a couple of loads of laundry before Christmas. I decided with the crazy weather to go to my daughter's, visit the kids, and do my laundry there, especially when I found out that power was out all around my area, including the malls! I wondered how they would get by!

Before heading to my daughter's, I went to the gym to get in a swim and found several people there using the showers and facilities since their power was out. These were people I had never seen before, neither in the locker room nor working out. Lucky they had this option.

I found out also talking to Don after my swim that a new oven had been delivered, but as "luck" would have it, they delivered the wrong model. I don't care. Leave it! So now at least I would not have to resort to the toaster oven for cooking my Christmas dinner!

By the time I got my laundry done and headed for home, the roads were becoming snow covered, and the wind was creating whiteouts here and there. I just put on the 4 wheel drive and forged ahead. Not long after arriving home, safely, the snow really started coming down, and within an hour the driveway was completely covered.

What better time to cook a big pot of chili and make an apple pie? So while the cold and wind raged a storm outside, inside was cozy and warm, with the chili bubbling on the stove and the aroma of a baking apple pie wafting from the oven.

A nice relaxing way to head into the next two holiday days.

Update on Don: He came home from the hospital Monday night, had to spend several hours Wednesday going for a checkup and then blood tests. Several hours because of the incompetence of the doctors' office personnel. His records from the hospital weren't even in their computers. They didn't even know then why he was there. The doctor couldn't understand why they put him on Coumadin, etc. Frustrating. Friday was a repeat of the same, since his "standing" blood work had not been ordered, even though he had been instructed to show up to have a blood draw. After waiting there for over an hour while they attempted to get someone from the doctors' office to fax them the order, we left. They had after hours lab times so we would come back later. Just as we are walking in the door to home, they call to say they have the order. Grrr! I have to leave work for this stuff and it is a huge effort for him to get ready and get around on the crutches, all for nothing, and having to repeat it another time.

He is scheduled also to see a pulmonologist, since his breathing is still not what it should be. He's not gasping, but his voice sounds weak. He says it is hard to project. And he goes into coughing fits when he exerts, which is actually good, but again frustrating. I think it will be a slow recuperation.


HAPPY HOLIDAYS! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

However you celebrate the season, whatever your traditions are, whichever way you believe, I think everyone would agree what's most important is spending the time with your family, loved ones, or friends. Enjoy the season!

LUCKY.

That's how I am feeling lately. Here's proof.

With Don's recent pulmonary blood clot, we were lucky he had a doctor's appointment that day. Since that happened, something I never would have thought possible, two more than coincidences have occurred relating to the same thing. An acquaintance of my boss's died this past weekend from what? A blood clot. Today in the news, there was a story about a 15 year old star athlete who died from what? A blood clot. So yes, he knows he is lucky.

And then there's me with my bike accident. Lucky to not have been killed. Lucky to not be crippled or something worse. And in the last few months, I have read or heard about several bike accidents where the cyclist was killed. All local (local meaning this side of the state). So, do I feel lucky? Yes, lucky is how we both feel right now. No other explanation. Just lucky. Thankful. Grateful. Makes me wonder what's in store for those of us with luck.

What more can I say but THANK YOU BLOGGERS for all your concern and separate e-mails. I appreciate it more than you can know!

An update on Don's condition: He was admitted to the hospital Friday night as I mentioned before. Both of us assumed it would just be an overnight thing and come home the next day. Not so! He's still there today and may have to stay until Tuesday.

The blood clot caused other problems to arise, along with a lot of pain and discomfort. Because he had been shallow breathing for so long, he began developing pneumonia, so they put him on an antibiotic. They also started breathing treatments that involved the use of steroids. The steroids can spike your blood sugar, which it did in his case. He also had a spike in blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, pulse, etc., so they had to monitor him closely for this. He also has to be on blood thinners, one form which is injected into the belly area for the next 10 days, as well as taking Coumadin, another blood thinner maybe forever. The Coumadin presents other problems, since eating foods with Vitamin K can alter the effectiveness of the Coumadin, meaning he has to restrict himself from eating all the things we not only love to eat, but supposedly keep you healthy: leafy green vegetables, that include broccoli, spinach, salad greens, etc. and green tea as well. And now of course no alcohol.

There's also the possibility of uncontrolled bleeding that could happen if an injury were to occur, so that may curtail some of his bike riding, to not put himself at risk for crashing. So this could mean a lifestyle change as well!

But he did finally get up today and used his crutches to generally help with recovery. The pain from the clot is gone, making it possible for him to get around again.

Its been a wild ride the last few days. I am starting to get a little caught up on some things, but with all the added tension and lack of adequate rest, I am having my head spasms I had a few years ago, where it feels like someone is pulling your hair off and on. I don't want to have to go on the muscle relaxers I had to take last time, because they pretty much leave me unable to properly function, and right now I don't have time for me to be sidelined. They do subside when I exercise, so I have been sticking with that. I ended up doing another 8 miles Sunday on the treadmill again, and this time beat my time from last week by more than 2 minutes. I am starting to see that I can go faster than I think I can, but I just hold back. I ended up with a huge blister on my toe though, so I'm going to have to do something besides run for a day or so.

Fortunately, we didn't get the huge snow storm they predicted, just some snow, so I'm sorry if any of the rest of you had to take a hit on this! :D

The hospital itself is very nice, however, and the staff has been very kind throughout this whole ordeal. I don't know how those people can do this day after day! It takes a special kind of person to be a nurse or other hospital staff person, that's for sure!

I will keep you updated as things progress! Thanks again!

BAD THINGS COME IN THREES?

Once again, Don is in the hospital. This time something, while unexpected to him, is not as uncommon as you would think.

Today was supposed to be a day off work to finish up my Christmas shopping, to avoid those horrible weekend crowds. Instead, I spent most of the day at the hospital ER.

Don had an early morning appointment to get the stitches out of the incision from the Achilles surgery. He wasn't feeling good last night, and even worse this morning. He complained about not being able to breathe very well, felt lightheaded, and had pain in his right side.

I wondered if he had pulled a muscle using the crutches, causing him the acute discomfort. Arriving at his appointment, I noticed he was moving much slower than any time since being on crutches and also just didn't seem to have the energy to get up and around.

Fortunately, he mentioned it to the doctor, who wondered if it might be a pulmonary blood clot! I never thought of that as being a problem. Apparently, people with leg casts have this problem more than you would think. He recommended that he go straight to the ER and get it checked out.

That was at 8:30 am. We arrived at the ER before 9 am. At 3:30 pm, he was still in the ER and nothing had been diagnosed yet as to his problem. This after 2 CT scans and a chest x-ray. I finally left then because they decided to admit him for the night, and went and did a few errands, got something to eat (finally!), and then came back later.

By then, it was determined he had a blood clot in his lungs, so they put him immediately on blood thinners and of course will now have to continue with blood thinners for the rest of his life.

Fortunately he saw his doctor today or who knows what might have happened! It is diagnosed as a pulmonary emoblism, but it might have caused a stroke or killed him. What a weird turn of events! First the cancer, then the Achilles, and now the blood clot. I'm hoping bad things stop at three.

SHOPPING FOR THOSE HARD TO BUY FOR PEOPLE...


We all have those types: either they already have everything, or you can't think of one thing to get them, or if like me this year, you just don't' feel like going out to shop. Well maybe this will make your shopping easier! It sure gave me some great ideas!


Browsing the Brookstone catalog that recently arrived in the mail, some things of "interest" caught my eye. Here are just a few:


First, to get you started, this handy device can help not only with your grocery shopping, but will definitely be a bonus for keeping track of all those Christmas lists you are thinking up in your head. Its the Grocery List Asssistant. All you have to do is talk into the speaker and it will start compiling a list for you. All for a reasonable $149.95. Makes the pen and paper obsolete.










Next, we have the heated jacket. Actually this just might be a great idea for running in the cold weather or sitting at a football game. And for a mere $179.95, you won't have to worry if your car gets stuck in a snowdrift and you're left to freeze to death. Oh, wait, it only has a 5 hour charge! Better bring a spare!











Moving on to the next useful gift, you will see the aerobic twisting stepper, the perfect addition to your home gym, and particularly nice for those who live in the snow belt. And, with this nifty gift, you can tone the upper body with the resistance bands as well as tighten the inner thighs. Perfect for the ladies on your list! Only $100.













And then, to soothe those tired feet after pounding out all those miles, you have the iSqueez calf and foot massager. For a mere $399, you can have a massage after every run and in the privacy of your own home!










And what better way to relax after a long week, but with your own personal wine chiller to chase those winter blues away! Perfect gift for that person on your list without an ice cube tray in their home. $100.











But if you prefer a more South of the Border type drink, something to take you to that tropical oasis in your mind to warm you after a run, try the marguerita party kit. Another "bargain" under $100.








Or maybe you are going to a sunny locale during the holidays or after, to get out of the snow and cold, sitting around the pool at your favorite resort, its a great idea to have your own personal Fattowel, "the ultimate choice for pool, beach, or boat." The name isn't going to win any points though! And for $99.95, you get up to 12 letters to personalize your towel.











But the one I find most "interesting" is the iGallop, core and abs exerciser. The ad says "looking good and feeling great just got a whole lot easier." I'll leave this one to your imagination! And reduced too at $299!






I hope this helps some with those gift giving ideas where you just don't have a clue! Happy holidays!

WHERE'S MY SKATES??

Since all we seem to get so far this winter is ice, ice, and more ice, I'm beginning to think I need to get a pair of ice skates if I want to get outside for any exercise. Even when nothing is coming down, its been cold enough that none of the earlier snow/ice will melt, or if it does, it refreezes over night. I don't think the sun has been out since last month either!

But then I remembered I have Yak Trax, those handy little things you can attach to your shoes to give you some traction on the ice. (Can't upload a picture so you can see them though!) They are so lightweight you won't even know they are on your shoes. And they do keep you from slipping. Now if I could just remember where they are! Be careful out there!

VIRTUAL RACE--RACE REPORT.

It was a great day for a race! I was getting bored with training and having nothing to work for, so I was excited when this race came up.

I was feeling pretty good when I got up so headed to the "race site" after getting something to eat and having some coffee. The race was to start at a leisurely get- there-when-you-feel-like-it-time, and the "weather" was perfect: a mild temperature, dry, and heavy cloud cover. I wore shorts and a wick away shirt since it was very comfortable, but knowing I would be getting warm later. I also brought my own water bottle filled because you never know what you will find on a race course.

The course was flat, and it was to be an out an back course, with water stops every two miles. And then I started seeing other blogger friends ready to start their runs as well! Marathondudebill , Suzanne, Marcy, Jeff, Flo, Lisa, Sunshine, Jeanne, RunningRagged, my co-"race director" Nancy, as well as many other "friends" I haven't "met" yet. [Anyone else who wants their name here, let me know with your time so I can incorporate it into my run.]

When the "gun" went off, I fell into an easy pace. I decided to abandon my plan to run/walk and just run the whole way. It was a race after all! I decided to just slow it down a notch or two and see what would happen.

Naturally, the fast ones took off: Bill was in the lead with Suzanne following pretty closely, then Jeff, and was that Marcy up front too? You go girl!

Nancy, Lisa, and I pretty much were keeping the same pace, so it was nice to have someone to "run" with for a change that I could actually keep up with. Nancy was chatting away, so I just kept to the task and nodded and grunted an occasional word here and there.

And there was music all along the "course" as well! Some of my favs were playing, as well as some seasonal favorites thrown in the mix. At the 2 mile mark, I was feeling great. We stopped to grab some water and then took off again, never really slowing down, just stepping to the side to let others pass if necessary. I was glad to see we weren't getting passed too often, and it was such a fun atmosphere, with everyone calling out encouragement along the way.

Just before 3 miles, a young woman I work with came flying by. Where did she come from?? Didn't she know there was a race going on?? Soon, her husband came by as well, practically sprinting to catch her! And here too, you could see the race unfolding, with Bill in the lead, Suzanne still hanging in there, a few others I didn't know hanging pretty close as well, then Jeff, a few other women, and our own Marcy working hard to keep pace with the lead packs!

And before you knew it, the half way point was approaching and another water stop. Again, no walking, just a quick stop and a drink and we were on our way! I felt better than I thought would be possible, but I guess at this pace, which is pretty much a heart rate pace, you feel like you can go forever. Lisa decided to pick up the pace here and she got ahead, but Nancy, Jeanne, and I were still keeping a pretty even pace. After the turnaround, it was fun to see the people behind us, some running, some walking, but everyone keeping at it to complete the full distance.

The 5 mile mark was quickly approaching, and the young woman from work had turned back and met up with her husband and it seemed like they decided to call it quits. And I was pretty sure that by now the race had been "won" by Bill and soon the woman's winner would finish as well.

As one hour approached, I had to congratulate myself on keeping at a continuous run pace, something I hadn't done (or been able to do) in ages. I wasn't at quite 6 miles yet, but I am still hopeful that within time I can get my pace back to being able to run a 10k a little faster. And again we had a quick water stop and we were on our way again. I was getting encouraged to also try to pick up the pace, and decided to up it slightly.

Just before 7 miles, I suddenly found myself alone, and here it started getting a little difficult, no so much the physical aspect but the mental, to keep going, not want to stop, not give in to the need to use the bathroom. Sweat was dripping off my face now, but the temperature was still quite good, so I figured I was working a little harder here too.

Now with each footstep, I started ticking off the distance as well, trying to stay focused. It was getting to be a mental game, knowing many others were finished, but knowing there were still others out there as well and not wanting to fall behind. Physically, my legs felt great, my breathing was good, I wasn't particularly tired, but it was just the idea of wanting to be done as well as the hope to meet my goal.

Shortly after the 7 mile mark, I finally had to give in to the bathroom break urge, and went "off course" briefly. I was glad there were porta-johns so close to the course! Once I started running again, I knew it would be a quick finish and was definitely deciding to pick up the pace the last half mile. And then here, what to my wondering eyes should appear? Why its Flo on her shiny pink "reindeer." She had cleverly stashed her bike at the 4.5 mile mark and was now catching me on the way to the finish line. That's all I needed to pick up the pace and go for my famous finish line sprint!

And finally, there it was, the end! 1:33:03. My goal was to make it under 1:35; my dream goal would have been 1:30, so I was happy enough with the effort. I'll keep you in suspense as to how we all finishrf and let others tell you their stories and finish times!

Waiting at the finish were all the bloggers and their families, wishing each other congratulations, sharing stores, and relaxing and having a good time. Once I grabbed some water and toweled off a bit, I went back to the finish to wait for some of those still out on the course. Then it was time to stretch, relax, and hit the hot tub!

TREADMILL WORKOUTS.
More and more it seems, I will be forced inside to the treadmill this winter. Being injured for so long last year has made me a lot more cautious, and I can't bring myself to run in the dark when it is icy. Its not even so much the possibility of injury as being unable to run again. So I have to play it smart, even if it will be boring.

I knew I would have to get creative then when it came to treadmill workouts or I would go crazy. I have two or three short workouts (2-3 miles) that I like doing and I usually do after a weight routine, so its a good combination.

But to go a little longer, maybe 4-6 miles for a midweek distance, I had to come up with something. Pounding out each increment of a mile was going to take some major mental toughness. Its like watching a clock tick away time.

Yesterday, while trying to figure something out to do today, I remembered a workout I used to do on the road, when I lived out in the country, and I mean, out in the country, with dirt roads, corn fields, cows, cattle, acre after acre of farmland, and many times herds of deer or flocks of wild turkeys running through my backyard, as well as the occasional fox scurrying across the road. It was totally rural when I first started running. And yet, there was this older guy who had started running in his 60s, and was an age group winner for years, who had marked out quarter miles on the roads around the area for probably a good 10 mile radius. Everywhere I ran, there were markings indicating a quarter mile or full mile or whatever.

It was very convenient then to incorporate these into an interval workout. It was almost perfectly laid out for me to run the first mile as a warmup and then for the next 1 1/2 miles I had quarter miles marked off, turn and go back another 1 1/2 miles, and then the final 1 mile home for a total of 5 miles. I could go farther if I passed my street by 1/2 mile, because the markings continued on the other way as well. So convenient! I didn't worry about timing the intervals, just kept track of the total time, so it took all the pressure off of looking at your watch.

So why couldn't I do the same thing on the treadmill? Well today, that's what I did. I did 4 miles and then another 1/2 mile cooldown. I ran out of time to get in the last half mile, but I felt okay to stop and wanted to stretch. I ran 1 mile and then did .25 as a faster interval and then backed down to my base pace, and continued to 4 miles. I feel pretty good. I hope to increase to 6 miles eventually, but I think this will be my treadmill workout when forced to stay inside.