Sunday, April 27, 2014

Digging Deep

I have struggled with finding my motivation the last few months and I am starting to notice how it's affecting my life outside of athletics. My stress is bubbling over into all aspects and I am annoyed with it enough to finally kick it in the rear! I am getting over being sick the last two weeks battling stomach issues so I have not been able to eat as much as I should. I am feeling progress today and was actually able to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

Saturday I had the privilege to drive Kim and Rachel during the Run Away to the Bay 55 mile relay, they were warriors. It renewed in me what I was missing before. I was exhausted at the end of the day and I slept like a rock, I almost forgot what that felt like since I haven't been sleeping well either.

I woke up early again Sunday to do my 20 mile long run and was disappointed to not feel good again. I forced down some breakfast and met up with Sarah who was also feeling under the weather. I wanted to at least get out there and try to see what would happen. A mile in I felt really light headed so we decided to head back, we wanted to at least do 3 miles so we headed around the park and back towards her house and ending up with 4 miles. I am disappointed I have missed two long runs but I just have to listen to my body. I would attempt some more cardio later in hopes of keeping up my endurance as I feel that slipping away.

The second TRI 101 swim clinic was from 3-5pm so I would have a chance to get a little pool time in. I again helped with the intermediate group swimmers and was excited to see some of the same people from the 1st clinic. They had improved so much by the end of this clinic I was beaming with happiness for them. I feel like swimming is the area where I can really help people as I feel confident in my abilities and knowledge of the sport. Swimming always makes me happy even when I feel like poo and it helped turn me around today. Thanks Teresa for the pic!

Going to go hit up the bike to get in a mini triathlon for the day!

Monday, April 14, 2014

April Showers

Mother nature, you always give us one good April "snow" shower, so let's just hope that was it. No more snow, please! It was slightly shocking waking up to a world of white this morning, we only had one tiny snow pile left. I have to admit, it is really pretty. The wet, heavy snow leads makes for a picturesque view. Don't you love the pond in our backyard too?


This weekend had 20 miles on tap for the Cellcom Training Plan, and the weather report was showing rain Saturday and Sunday. I decided it would be much more pleasant to run Friday night in 50's with a slight wind. I really felt great to start this run, until a mile in a train was stopped dead in my tracks. I tried to see if I could walk around and ended up hopping it. I was not about to change up my route I had mapped out. I haven't run by my house in a long time, it was nice to run old routes and it didn't feel so far. I snapped a pick at my turnaround spot about 6 miles out on the trail. I wanted to finish in the city as mentally to be able to go "1 more block" always pushes me.

In my excitement for heading out I forgot to eat shortly before I left, and it ended up dooming me. I pulled the plug at 15.5 miles when my calves cramped up so bad I could barely walk. I called my hubby to pick me up right as it was getting dark as I just did not want to push it since there is another 20 miler on schedule in two weeks. I walked at least until he picked me up and got in 16.35 miles overall and I am happy with that. I have noticed the last two weeks I have soreness in my inner hip. It's not a muscle soreness but a type of joint pain. I was in pain the whole night if I moved or slept with any weight on my left side. It slowly went away by Saturday afternoon but I am not really sure how to fix it. I am going to start taking Glucosamine and see if that helps at all. Anybody have any suggestions?

Saturday afternoon I volunteered as a Swim Instructor for our TRI 101 clinic, I was with the group of intermediate swimmers and we help guide them to be better swimmers with help from one of the YMCA masters swim coaches. It was so fun to be able to give back, since I took the clinic the prior year. So many people struggle with swimming and it is one of my favorite things to do. I would love to be a fish!


Sunday morning I woke up to volunteer for the Oshkosh Half Marathon, the Tri City Foxes were at the Mile 1 waterstop, so I figured it would be perfect to be there and then we would be done early and I could cheer on some friends. It was amazing that the rain disappeared, only some puddles for the runners to dodge. It was so fun to cheer everyone on and I saw more people than I expected. I managed to hit up 3 spots prior to the finish which I consider pretty awesome. I didn't know the area well but I remembered the course so I just tried to drive around the edges of it to make for quick travel times so I could make it back to the finish. It is also small enough that I still parked a block away from the finish after all of that. I love my runner and triathlon friends!!




Oh yeah, and I also had plenty of time to do a 1,000 piece puzzle this weekend. I am pretty sure that is a record even for me! I am a puzzle nerd.


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Restless Legs

I am going stir crazy this last week! I had a really awesome leg workout last week Monday and I have been paying for it ever since. I woke up Tuesday barely being able to walk due to my hamstrings being tight. I figured it was just the typical DOMS and would go away after a few days. Thursday night I celebrated being 31 by having some drinks with the family and a few friends so it was a good excuse at least that night!

Lovely & bright Brooks tech tee!
Friday night was the April Fool's 5K, cue Wisco crazy weather. This race was to start at 6:04pm and the forecast was for wind (30 mph and gusty) and rain/sleet/snow depending on the air temp. It is a point to point race with shuttles so Sarah and I decided to park at the start so we could wait in the car until it was race time. It didn't look very packed and we got to park right next to the start line....NO JOKE. Sarah has the proof as I was too lazy to take a picture. We debated whether to run it, but since we were already there why not? I wanted to just take it easy as my legs still felt like junk and we had 18 miles on tap the following morning. Finished in 30:05, no walk breaks and a respectable pace of 9:42.

Saturday morning I was nervous but wanted to get the 18 miles in, I kinda slacked on two long runs in March and this was gut check time to see if I could even pull off the mileage and be able to complete the marathon without feeling like death. My left hamstring was so tight it hurt the entire time, halfway through it was starting to loosen up and then it got to the point that if I stopped and just stood there, my legs went numb. The last 5 miles were some of the hardest miles I have logged in a long time and I am glad Sarah hung around with my slowly self at the end!

21 miles in 15 hours was probably not the best way to get back into it, but if you are going to do it. Why not jump head first?!

I finally decided to get a deep tissue massage as my calves were really knotted up and my hammy's still were not better on Sunday. I was able to get in last night, although not much improvement yet. I searched for hamstring stretches and I died laughing because I cannot get into the start position without my legs seizing up on me, guess we will shelf that idea!

I really need to be able to do something soon as I can't take this anymore. So why not work on arms you say? I did that and core last Monday and they are sore now too, so they needed a break to. I might just have to gym it and get some more arms in and go for a little swimmy swim tonight.

Here's to hoping it is gone and my 20 miles goes great solo this weekend!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

I have been cooking more since I have a normal working stove, thanks to my dad for finally getting me that wedding present!! So I am going to attempt to post some recipes on here now that I can call some of my cooking a success. Seriously though, my husband is a way better cook than me so I most often defer to him when it comes time to making dinner.

Since it has been so cold lately I decided to share a new soup recipe that I just love as it gets me to eats veggies I don't eat often!


Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts - cubed
2 garlic cloves - minced
1 c. chopped onion (medium onion)
1 tbsp. pepper
1 c. chopped celery (2 stalks)
1 1/2 c. chopped carrot (2 stalks)
1 c. peas
32 oz. chicken broth
2 c. milk
1/2 c. flour

*Biscuits optional

Directions:
1. Saute chicken with garlic, onions and pepper, once mostly cooked add the celery, carrots and peas and saute for a bit longer. Add in the chicken broth and bring to a boil, turn to medium heat and cover with lid for about 20 minutes (until the vegetables are cooked through).

2. Whisk milk while slowly adding the flour to avoid getting lumps, add into the soup and cook for another 10 - 15 minutes to let the flavors mingle.

3. Serve plain or you can ladle your soup over a freshly biscuit.


Enjoy!