Thoughts.

Post Relay day one thoughts.

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Of course mine was an Ultra Relay...not the relay where you run the 33.3 miles all at once.  I took breaks..in a van...sitting, without sleep  ;)

Did I train?

I seriously got my ass kicked on the last leg.  My legs did not want to go.  I was exhausted.  Not sure how to train for the heat but the hills were killer too.  I needed another month of intense speed and hill training. 

Things I've considered:

Becoming a non-runner

Applying for disability

Checking into an assisted living facility

Laying in bed for a couple of days.


My body rebelled.  

I'm swollen from head to toe.  Uncomfortably so.
Still exhausted.
Headache. 
The last leg was so hot and there was so much walking and uphills that I ended up trashing a couple of toe nails.  BIG blisters.  Reminded me of my feet after Ragnar Napa.  Not as bad but close.  Painful trip home.  My running around shoes were a little tight on my swollen feet.  

NOT MY FEET

But a couple of toes had blisters under the nail.  I made that one mistake where you don't trim your nails for a long time.   Yep.  This picture makes me feel better.  So does a 22 G sterile needle.  

All pretty normal for me after such a stressful run.  I will give my body rest.  

Fat wings.  Those things on your arms.  I had to glide the shit out of them and I still have a rash.  I wore shorts the last leg...yeah...see above.  I used Glide and Ruby's lube so no rash there.  

I felt pretty.

I can't complain.  Jeffrey ran farther and bigger legs then I and he has MS.  He is an animal!

Heather is here helping Jeffrey cool down.  When he stops running he can have seizure like movements.  Scares the shit out of the people around us but someone is always there to catch him and get him cooled down.  

He's amazing

There was nausea, paleness, exhaustion.  My poor team all had some challenges.  We used a lot of Zofran.  Tons of water, ibuprofen and attempted to get in as many good calories as possible.  The exception was Heather.  She is marathon trained and was our beacon of health and badassery.

So I'm not going to stop running (well, maybe for a week) and the things I learned are immense.  We are all pretty sick of Ragnar's and this race was exponentially worse then it was the last time we ran it. (4 bathrooms at the exchanges?)  The saddest thing about that is I can't figure out how to get my favorite people in a van for a couple days and have a blast.  Need to come up with some sort of adventure.  

I didn't take too many pictures with my phone but I'll download the pics I took with my new camera and collect some pics from my friends and do a proper race recap.  

In the meantime I'm watching "My 600 lb life" with a patient that is non compliant and blames everyone else.  In the meantime she lays in bed and bosses everyone around and cries.  I'm not 600 lbs but I'm doing a great impression.  "Daniel, can you buy me ice cream?".  

Gifts are accepted.  

Don't stare at my medal.  

Blog on..................

My favorite things: Tattoo

I can't even begin to express how great this trip was!  Of course, now that I am home all the fun realities of work, home, laundry etc is still waiting for me.  Absolutely worth it.  

My favorite souvenir from my trip is this:

Tattoo by: Lindsey Carmichael

Shop:  Wooster Street Social Club

Yep,  I went to the filming site of NY Ink.  I took Kaylyn with me the first time on an "adventure".  She pushed me to go in and talk to them.  I talked to Lee Rodriguez who was AWESOME and told him I would be in the next day.  I wanted to make sure I had enough money and all my ideas together.  

Kaylyn (black jacket) giving really good instructions to some "non-natives".  They asked me but....yeah.

More on my adventure with Kaylyn in another post.

(Can you tell I'm not going to do them in order??)

The next day was a big rainy day so I skipped my run and found a great breakfast place.  It's called Vive la Crepe!

BRILLIANT!

 This is an omelet cooked in a crepe that I can eat from my hand.  Good thing they don't have a restaurant here like that.  I would be a crepe-a-holic. 

***** 

I jumped on the subway after that and made my way to SOHO, where the tattoo shop is.  I considered getting a pedicure.  Decided I didn't want to.  So I have a few toenails missing.  I'm a runner.  Deal.  Like Lindsey said, "don't apologize for that".  Can he be my best friend?

When I got to Wooster Street I talked to Lee again and found out that an artist named Lindsey was going to do my tattoo.  I had researched Lee because I thought he was going to do it, but I figured it's a pretty reputable shop and Lindsey was probably pretty good.  Oh dear lord I know so very little about the tattoo world.  Lindsey is AMAZING!  He was actually a guest tattoo artist from California.  I had about an hour to wait.  Lee told me I could wait or come back in an hour.  I had to wait.  I wanted to take in the sights and sounds plus I was tired.  

Hanging out.  

Watched a few people come in and talk to Lee.  The fire marshall came in and checked the fire extinguishers.  A couple of people had a small tattoo done. I heard some awesome conversations with people about cover ups and getting tattoos on hands, neck and ears.  Apparently they are very popular now but they have a really poor healing outcome.  Then people want them touched up.  Interesting.  I'm like a tattoo savant now.  (KIDDING!)

Bathroom spray.

Luckily I didn't need it, but I think it's hilarious.

I met Lindsey and I showed him the 3 pictures that I wanted as ideas for the one tattoo.  He took about 45 minutes to draw it up. 

It was perfect.

I wish I had a picture taken with him.  I didn't even think about it.  The experience was seriously like hanging with old friends.

Here are a couple that I grabbed from the internet.  You can always follow him on Instagram.  And yes, he posted my tattoo on there.  BAM!

The good news is that I got a few crotch shots of him when I took pics of my tattoo.  Totally unintended....I mean, come on!

I'm not going to lie.  Hurt like hell.  

I was scolded more then once or 10 times.  He would hit a nerve and my foot was flinch.  I felt sorta bad about it but I did try my best.

I stared at this wall A LOT.  Tried to concentrate on anything that would help.  I ended up sitting up and watching him tattoo.  That was his suggestion.  He was awesome.  Funny too.  He was also OCD like me.  Perfect.

Break while he gets the colors together.

My toes and foot have ink on them.  I do NOT have hairy toes.  ;)

See my shoes in the right hand corner?  I threw them over there and he had to straighten them out because he couldn't stand having them piled up.  Bingo!  If he wasn't married already...

But then again, this sweet single eye candy was working next to us.

(more internet pics)

 credit

credit

YOUR WELCOME!

And that is my tattoo story.

blog on..............

It's my blog and I'll swear if I want to...

Not really, I don't have anything to swear about.  I'm not talking about the big ones, just the easy slips....

I have so many great ideas for blogging and I'm a little sad that I'll never post them.  OK, I may post some, but this is my journal of sorts and this summer has proved I'm not in the mood to write in my journal.  For a little bit I thought that maybe I was a little depressed (Low in spirits, dejected).  Then I thought I was just apathetic (Feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent).  I think it's a combination of being lazy and just not caring too much.  

Exactly.

Not sure where it comes from but probably a mix of picking up another job, the divorce, more responsibilities and i love being able to spend time just doing nothing.  

But I have been running.  I ran 10 miles on the trail last week and 8 miles today.  

Why I run in the mountains.  This was my turnaround point.

Great trails and nice and cool.

I love taking pictures of awesome trails.  Especially going downhill.

My camelbak is smaller so I threw on my RooSport so I would have more storage for the longer run.

I've also FINALLY set aside time to work on my office.  I gave up trying to cut in the entire room so I taped.  But then I forgot to prime over the ceiling paint that got on the walls.  Let's just say I had some touching up to do around the top.

Getting stuff together.

Taping, taping, taping.  Prepping takes FOREVER!

Three walls done.

 The accent wall.

It was left over from my son's room.  I really love the colors.

It doesn't have primer in it like the tan color.  I wish I would have noticed that before I did two coats. 

This mornings run.

It has been very humid for Utah.  I'm getting use to the insane sweating I do when I run. I need to put together a better training schedule but I'm sure enjoying the runs I get done.

Other things that have happened.

My parents came over for dinner.  It was Austins birthday and he was going to go out of town.  So nice to have the parents over.  I don't think I have ever seen my dad without his calendar and pen in his pocket.  Ever.

Ran the Epic Relay.

Met some great people.

Had a really good time!

Took my first ice bath with an entire bag of ice.

It was after my 10 mile trail run.

Check out the ankle tan lines and the dirty feet.  Bad ass huh?

Work, work, work.

This was on my way for team pictures.  

Just so you know, my flight suit is really black.  Even with minimal clothing underneath I think I lose a little bit of my soul every time I have to be outside in it during this oppressive humid heat.

OR..I could be exaggerating.

It's just hot!

So that's whats happening.  

Hoping to get back in the groove but not certain I will.  

I do Instagram every day and sometimes it's even entertaining!

Buddahkat on Instagram

Buddahkat is a nickname/username from about 15 years ago.  It is derived from Saturday Night Live and "Coffee Talk".....Mike Myers.  When he says, "Like buddah" meaning smooth, like butter.  It has nothing to do with Buddha.  

When you feel like doing nothing, do you feel depressed, lazy or just unmotivated?

Trail running, love it? hate it?

Blog on................ 

Half Marathon NOT training

I have really stacked up the races this year and I'm loving it!  I did get my half marathon PR in August with the ever flaring plantar fasciitis.  My Napa Ragnar went fabulously and even though I am still having problems with my foot it is markedly better.  I have been icing and taping it every day without fail.  Now I have another race coming up.


I have no idea who these people are, but the point is, there is beer at the end.  Not a big beer drinker, but it sure is refreshing after 13.1 miles. 

October 21st is the date, Moab Utah is the place.  I will actually know a bunch/bushel/LOTS of people running it.   

If I'm doing the math correctly, which I'm not because I hate to do math.  After my Ragnar and then my cortisone shot I have been out of full on training for 2 weeks.  Monday was my last sort of easy run on the foot and today I will do some speed training.  I marched out my training and I have exactly 2.5 weeks to get it done, counting taper.  

Luckily the last 6 months have been full of running. Ragnar relay, then a half marathon, Ragnar, half, Ragnar and now another half.  Two weeks after my next half....?  Yep, the Las Vegas Ragnar!  

Suffice it to say, I won't be pushing for any sweet time limits on this next race.  It is by far NOT downhill.

I am continuing on with my "work smarter not harder" life path with this race as well.  When I train for anything I like to do one speed run, one tempo run and one long run a week.  I have to be very flexible because of my work schedule and my body goes apes#@t if I do a lot of flying at work and then do any training runs.  Rest and fluids required before hitting the pavement.

Today I will do 4X1600m at about 8:17 pace. (good warmup, recovery at easy jog for 400m, cool down at least 800m easy pace)

Friday I will do a 4 mile tempo run at an 8:46 pace. (jog 10 min, tempo run and jog 10 min) (on a treadmill no less - dang you work!!)

Next week:
Sunday I will do my last long run before the race of 14 miles.  
Then I will fit in:
3X800 Speed session
8 mile Tempo

Race week:
4X400
2 mile Tempo

I have a document of information that I have saved all year and adapted a couple of training plans to fit my idea of a good time.  I mean, that I think will work for me.  

I'll be running with these precious faces:


And a few from the group I ran with in March in Moab:



If nothing it will be a great time.  

Ready, set GO!

Have you ever ran a race with little training?

How do you feel about having a beer or booze after a race?
I love it!  As long as I'm not super dehydrated, I'm all for it.


Blog on......................

Black running toenail or NO toenail.

Somewhat of a running update:

I visited my NEW podiatrist last Tuesday and received a wonderful cortisone shot in my heel.  I'm being sarcastic, it's not wonderful.  My regular podiatrist retired and I was nervous about my new doctor but he turned out delightful.  He even x-ray'd my foot again at my request.  I haven't had a foot x-ray in 3 years and I wanted to make sure I wasn't nursing a stress fracture. We discussed options and plans and for now I'm feeling pretty good about it.  I choose to feel good about it.  I will finish the races I've signed up for and I'm going to get this thing to heal.  My foot (on x-ray) looks great and my form was really coming along during Ragnar.

Getting to the blog title of sorts.  Last night was toenail reassessment night.  It had been a few days, the blisters had been popped and they weren't sore any more.  Unfortunately a couple nails had to be sacrificed.  I had read that taking the toenail off helps the nail regrow better and faster.  I guess I'll see now won't I. I wasn't going to include pictures, but now I am.  I realized that when I was doing research I had a hard time finding pictures so that I could compare with what I had.  Truth is, I could make a living out of removing toenails because it's so interesting (maybe the nurse in me) but only from non-stinky feet.  I hate the smell of funky feet.

I removed the big toe nail and the two next to it on the right side.  First time I have lost a big toe nail and it was gnarly. My lucky husband got a play by play and a bunch of, "look at this!" while we sat on the couch.  Total lost from Napa Ragnar is 4.  I am going to wait a few days and then paint the toe nail bed purple and no one will ever know they are gone.  I want to make sure things are healing up before I put toenail polish on them.  I fear that the big toe nail will come back all jacked up but I guess it's another wait and see.  Hopefully I am smart enough next time to avoid this, or maybe not.  I can't get bigger shoes, my toes aren't even near the top of the shoe.  I do have a couple of runner buddies that put Vaseline on their toes prior to a long run. I will definitely be trying that at the Vegas Ragnar. I will not wear those orange socks again, never ever ever.

WARNING!  UGLY TOE REMOVAL PICS:

My toes before and the three steps of getting my big toenail off.

After I took the big toenail off there was a layer of skin or something that peeled off easily.  This picture is of the finished removal and removing the middle one.  That one was bad because of it was just one huge blister.  I haven't removed the purple toenail polish yet, obviously.  I have to pace myself.

Don't say I didn't warn you.  

Now to my running/style update.

Since I'm not running for a week I did work out on the elliptical for one night, then I spent a night flying for work so by the time I get home it takes me 24 hours to recover, at least!  Flying is not a benign action.  (Well that sounded hoity toity - which I just negated with the word hoity toity)  It would seem that if I'm transporting patients that are relatively stable that I wouldn't get so tired, but the vibration and change in altitude can wear you out fast.  I am very careful to drink an EmergenC or a NUUN after each flight along with an extra 16 ounces of water.  I also try to keep up my protein intake.   I'm still feeling a little out it but this morning I took a BarrEvil, I mean BarrEvo class with the ever "kickin ass and taking names" instructor. Want a good workout, sign up for one of his classes - any class. Tomorrow is a Pilate's class and Tuesday I will do a very very easy short run.  I've iced my foot twice a day, ibuprofen and I started using this foot rubz ball to massage out my heel.

Today at my class I wore my new Lululemon shirt I ordered online.  It was clearanced at 35.00, which is a STEAL.  I wouldn't go looking for it, they sold out in like 24 hours.  Tomorrow I'm going to the store to look at the clearance rack, so who knows where my running budget is going this month.  Oh I know - to Lululemon.  If you haven't tried them, then don't, you'll get addicted and go broke.  Their clothes fit wonderfully are comfortable and very good quality.  Their Turbo shorts are so great I could buy them all but for now I'm waiting for them to kick out some more black ones.  The back of the short is just a little bit longer then the front and I love it!

New tank from today.  Run: Catch me tank.  The straps are substantial and I can wear a running bra under it when I run.

I had this one already:

I have a dark gray sports bra that looks great under it and I love running in it.  The tank also has a strip along the inside bottom that keeps it from riding up.  

So dang cute and happy with them.  This picture looks like the color is different then the official website pics, but you get the idea.

Only 3 more weeks and I have a half marathon!!  With all my running and races I am not going to do a formal training plan, but hoping to enjoy the race more. We all know how that goes for runners.  That is the plan, but I'll probably end up trying to beat my PR.  So predictable!!

Blog on.............

Ragnar the runs.

For this race, I took the hardest leg.  Nicole ran a little farther then me, but apparently mine was harder.  It's difficult to tell how they figure that out, but it felt hard..really hard.  

My first run was good.  There was a hill that took my min/mile average to 12 for that mile and lots of people passed me.  I sped it up though and managed to be under my 10:30 min/mile goal.  I know I can run a lot faster, but I also knew that I had another 2 long runs in the next 12 hours too.  

RUN 1

According to my Garmin (which it always takes me a tenth of a mile to remember to turn it on) here are my stats:

6.61 miles

1:09 time

10:27 Average Pace

742 Calories

Splits in Min/Miles

1-    10:12

2-    10:31

3-    10:12

4-    10:11

5-    12:50  Big Hill

6-    9:06  Loving the downhill obviously

.61-  9:50

I felt really good about this run!

Run 1 ensemble

RUN 2

This run was started at 3:21 am.  The weather was cool and very humid.  There was a mist that was determined to keep me just a little moist.  It was cold but not too bad.  I ended up wearing my capri's, Ragnar tech shirt, wool arm warmers and compression socks.  I had a warm headband around my head to hold my headlamp and keep my ears warm.  It was a very good running combination.  

Garmin:

8.74 miles

1:30:08 time

10:19 Average Pace

1001 Calories

Splits in Min/Miles

1-    10:45

2-    10:36

3-    10:47

4-    10:09

5-    10:02

6-    10:59 

7-    10:12

8-     9:35

.74-  9:27   

I know the run was 8.3 miles, but when all of about 15 runners saw the turn right sign we kept right and didn't end up on Sonoma Hwy.  I was a little worried and then someone passed me.  Soon after that another guy was running back and told us it was the wrong way.  He had run 3 miles off course.  It added about a half a mile on my run, but I was very close to the time projected for the total run. 

I am such a negative split runner.  I feel so much better after mile 2.  I was also very careful to keep my run/walk ratio to 5min run to 1 min walk throughout the entire race. I am really proud of this run.  It was dark and sometimes a little scary.  The girls have talked me into getting some mace for my runs.  At one point it was so dark and misty and I couldn't see anyone that I was a little nervous.  Most of the time there were runners in sight.  I even passed (we called it assaulted) 4 runners.  One guy came up to me in the last 3/4's mile telling me we should bust it in.  Unfortunately I had to smoke him because he couldn't keep up with my end of race push.  I love coming in strong!  It makes me feel like I paced myself right.  I was still exhausted after the run, but feeling good. 

The socks were a huge mistake.  Why don't I listen to what I tell others and what I've been told??  I could tell they were rubbing in a few places as I ran.  I wore them because I wanted compression and the color matched my outfit. I have never ran in them before.  (I know!  I know!)  My feet weren't in too bad of shape after the night run, but by the time I finished my next run, all those sore spots had turned into huge blisters. 

Post run smile as I rest with my foot up.

The naughty sock and it's first and last go round.

 

RUN 3

Doesn't look too bad now does it?  I started at 1:55pm.  It was hot.  I heard it was only about 92, but with the humidity I'm going to go ahead and say it was about 120 degrees.  Before I ran I was very careful to stay hydrated and take some Salt Sticks with me.  I also took one Salt Stick before I left.  I took my big water bottle with ice and water in it.  I had a package of energy chews and a package of energy jelly beans.  They had one water station around mile 4, but they were adamant that the vans did not support their runner.  This was ridiculous and basically proved what my friend Ken said when he told me he would never run Napa again.   It was unsafe.  The first 4 miles I did alright.  I stopped the 5/1 ratio and turned it more into running .25 mile and then walking until I felt better.  After about 2 miles I realized I needed to pee.  I was hydrated alright, but I was also going to pee my pants.  I ran another mile and saw a couple of tractors on the side of the road.  No one was around, I couldn't see any other runners, so I went around the tractor and popped a squat.  This was my first squat as a runner.  I was proud of myself.  Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!!  I hit the water station, drank a bunch of water, refilled my water bottle AND soaked myself with cold water.  About a mile later I wondered if I should go back and refill.  That is how hot it was.  My skin felt like it was baking.  My black visor was too much and I had to take it off.  The black top of the road was burning my feet.  I tried running on the side on the dirt and that helped.  It was amazing how much it helped.  Staying off the blacktop and in the shade was my goal.  I did pretty good, but the road in general wasn't made for a race or runners.  There were bicyclists that passed me and most of them were very kind.  I was never close enough to any vans that chose to support their runner anyway to get any ice.  I never ran out of water, but I could tell I was getting too hot.  At mile 5 I had another salt stick pill.  I spent the next almost 3 miles mostly walking.  I passed 3 runners. They said they were OK, but I was surprised I passed them. They looked like runners that would pass me.  All the other Ragnar runners made sure I was OK as they passed.  There were very few that were actually running.  Luckily in the last mile and a half there was more shade and more downhill then sun and uphill and I was able to jog in.  My team had sent out our support staff to find me.  My friend Jen was scared shitless, she knew it had been too long, it was hot and I should be there by now.  When I came around the corner I could hear my team yelling and yelling and yelling.  I have never been so happy to hear them calling my name and telling me I can do it. I slapped the bracelet on Nicole and she took off.  Jen J told me I looked like shit and that I was pale.  The car sent to find me came back and everyone checked on me, hugs all around and we piled into the van to follow Nicole.  I layed in the back and drank cold water with Nuun and elevated and iced my foot.  My feet were on FIRE!  I had 4 horrible blisters on my toes and my plantar fasciitis was angry.  I spent about 30 minutes recovering and then I was able to put my shoes back on so I could keep walking.  We were only 2 runners away from the finish and I had to keep going. I drank some Chocolate almond milk and some ham and 2 more bottles of water.  I had 2 Nuun tablets total and another salt stick.  Overkill?  Maybe.  

Garmin:

7.97 miles

1:41:14 time

12:42 Average Pace

838 Calories

Splits in Min/Miles

1-    10:33

2-    10:31

3-    12:07

4-    12:40

5-    14:43

6-    13:43 

7-    13:42

.98 - 13.37

If I would have been in a race alone, I would have bagged it.  As it was, I just plugged along slowly and was glad that I did it! I have been thinking about doing a post on running in the heat and now I know it's going to happen.  The best thing about this run was realizing that although I was hot and slow, I never became sick.  I didn't have heat stroke or exhaustion.  I never threw up and as a matter of fact, my stomach didn't bother me at all.  I've had too much sun before and know how it feels to have a touch of dehydration and heat related problems.  I wasn't sunburned, I had soaked myself in a great sunscreen.  I really feel that my pre-planning for the heat and taking the right electrolytes and energy is key to being able to finish without killing myself.  This was the first time I have tried Salt Stick and I was absolutely pleased.  It's an easy way to get some electrolytes.My feet are another story and I feel like I could do a blog post just on them.  Ouchie!!  

Elevation to stop the pain.  Ice to stop the burning. 

This was the serious blog on Napa, get ready for all the shenanigans!!

Blog on...........