As if...

As if I didn't already know that driving 12 hours induced piss-poor eating.
As if I didn't already know that I had to get sick of being lazy to look forward to working out.
As if I didn't already know that my dogs stink when in small spaces for long times.
As if I didn't know that I do, too.
As if I didn't know the great feeling of walking into my own house after being gone for a week and saying "Aaaaah" and meaning it.
As if I didn't already know that running again is going to hurt.
As if I didn't already know how thankful I am for the group of people that I'm involved with in that local club.
As if I didn't already know that they're totally going to kick my butt over the next season - and enjoy every minute of it.
As if I didn't already know that I miss the kayak, and missed the opportunity to kayak, and that pisses me off.
As if I didn't already know that I'm missing my bike, warm weather and already missing my parents and the lack of obligations that comes with me being at their house......

I definitely know those things today, sitting at my desk at work, wishing I could go play.

Sore Throats & Early Mornings

Both of which are not my friend. Both of which have taken over my life this week. No workouts thus far, not really thinking I'm going to get any in, either. Here's hoping that as I head south for Christmas it get s a warmer and I get rid of the bug in my sinuses and catch one with my feet - to start running.

I think I'm waddling through what many people call the Post-Ironman blues. I'm just kind of feeling listless and restless. I want to workout, but am having a hard time drumming up the energy to do so. In my defense, work has been killing me. But I'm still just having motivation issues. I think about 2009 and am totally stoked about the schedule I've got mapped out thus far, but it's just not really making me get my ass off the couch.

I have, however, gotten up before 4:10am twice this week, gotten less than 6 hours of sleep twice, and been in bed at 7:30p once. So it's clearly not the typical week. The weekend holds the potential of skiing, bowling, dates, sushi, sleeping, cleaning and either getting sick or getting better.....I just have to make it through tomorrow's workday first.....maybe I can find a workout in there, too.

Marathon's in May....I can't schlep for too much longer.

Evaluating 2008

-What one word describes your 2008 season? Does it match what you said last December in anticipation of this year?
Epic. My season far exceeded any thoughts I had at the beginning of the year. I didn't plan on doing an IM-distance. I thought maybe Muncie, just to see "what if" at distance. I don't think I planned on doing much, really, and that's sad to me as I look back.

-What one word comes to mind when you think about your 2009 season?
Refinement. I came and I saw and I participated, but now I'd like to see if I can further explore some of the potential in the arenas I discovered this year. Like running, who knew I could enjoy it? Or the long-distance stuff. It becomes less about pushing your absolute pain threshhold and more about putting the investment in to ensure that your pain threshhold itself is already way up there - so you feel less pain in the long-term. I'd like to get my ass out of T2 on my own without shame pushing me.

-Did you race any new distance this year or try any new type of racing or sport?
Silverman - a category of it's own. Does it count as a new type of racing or an entirely new sport? Hail-dodging? Wind-fighting? Also got the first two HIM's in the books as well - Great Illini and Muncie.

-What was your greatest thrill or joy this year from training or racing?
Learning that I can overcome. I can keep running, and I can learn to enjoy running (kind of). I can do anything I put my mind to. The lightning, the thunder, hell even the hail...I can keep going. My biggest joy is that I can do it and still enjoy it...seeing the forest for the trees or whatnot. My greatest thrill had to be screaming down a Nevada hill at 45mph with water whipping off the rear wheel and the breathtaking scenery whizzing by (at top volume) and catching some decent air on the pavement buckles. Or zipping along the glass-smooth road at Muncie in the summer rain (pouring rain) and re-discovering what a sweet sound the rain on the cornfields make, or that it sizzles when it hits the high-voltage power lines. Getting closer to God on those days and appreciating the beauty of my chosen sport and celebrating my abilities.

Also: learning to race in my 2nd HIM. Learning that the risk/reward is only valuable when you push outside that comfort zone in running. It always feels good to cross the finish line but it feels even better knowing you have nothing more in the tank, you have nothing more to give and that you actually raced to outrun someone - and it actually friggin worked (whether she knew it or not).

-What was your biggest disappointment this year from training or racing?
Continually finding (being followed) by bad weather. Also see: greatest thrill/joy.

-What was your favorite race in 2008?
Silverman. An accomplishment, a day and a story that no one can ever undo or take away. Overcoming, enduring and living in the moment to enjoy the rainbow (literally) at the end of the storm at the top of the hill.

Today's lesson...

Jeebus, it's time for me to get off my ass and start doing something again. Starting to make the 2009 plan. I've efficiently rolled my chubby little self all the way back down my fitness hill. I'm afraid I'm going to have to start from scratch. I can't even really say it's been fun being lazy. I just don't feel that great about it...I'm chubby (again), lazy, overfed and sick of eating junk.

A vegetable, a water bottle, a treadmill and the threat of a marathon in May...hells bells kids, it must be close to January....time to get off my ass....right after these holiday parties.

Just thought I'd officially put that down on record somewhere.

Drumsticks & Dashing...

So that run, on Thanksgiving morning, almost killed me.
Not really, it wasn't too awful with the exception of mile 3, but there were some lessons learned that day.

-Don't run "easy" with LaCrosse. It's not easy. Her "easy" isn't my "easy".
-Don't run in the cold. I don't care what you hardcore runners say, it was freaking cold. Anything below 45 makes my lungs unhappy.
-If there's ever a question, wear the Gaiter, or the balaclava, or something to put over your nose and mouth. If you're thinking about it, it won't hurt you. If you turn into a running sauna, that's ok too. No one ever dies from heat exhaustion when it's 45 degrees outside.
-Taking the gloves off is a bad idea. I don't care if my fingers are getting sweaty, it's not a good thing to expend energy on. I spent 4.5 miles taking them off and putting them right back on. Just push up your sleeves a bit.
-If a walker lines up in the 7 minute corral, they deserve to be elbowed, tripped, kicked in the ankles, and whatever else comes their way. If it's a 7-minute runner with a stroller running a 7 pace, they deserve a pat on the back.
-Proposals at athletic events are cool. I need to see if I can arrange one of those, only without the marriage part.
-Running 4.5 miles in the morning is a great way to start Thanksgiving. Re-emphasizes the good fortune that we all have to be together and be Thankful for our abilities, even if it is frigging cold.

..and it makes the turkey taste better. (Unless you ran faster than you've ever run before - a whopping 8:53 pace - at which point it's roughly 2:30p before eating sounds good. Shut up asses, I know it's slow.)

I'm planning on Dashing again next year....if it's warmer.

Ruh Roh....

So it's official. I confirmed last night by removing nail polish. I'm most likely going to lose a toenail. I've been told it's fairly normal for marathoners and IM finishers and whatnot. Gar says it wouldn't happen with properly fitting shoes. I think he's crazy - I love my shoes and I had way fewer blisters than he did.



But the nail is turning dark - they say that's the first sign. I'm pretty sure it's inevitable. Drat.



at least it's winter...