Barr and keeping busy

Today was Barrevo. A class that combines barre exercise classes with some good beats and kicking butt moves. I was really burning by the end, but it felt great.

I took a picture of our Pilates Reformers room. We didn't use them for barre but when I try to explain Pilates on the machine, it gets quite lost in translation.

Then there was the Christmas horse. (???)

After I went to the new Trader Joes in Salt Lake. I had to get some Puffins. If you listen to Tosh.o's stand up then you will get the reference. It's pretty wild stuff but I'm just sick enough that it makes me laugh.

I also bought some Kale and I finally gave it a try in a smoothie. There are berries in it and that is why it looks blackish purple. I also added a banana and almond milk. It was delicious! Getting ready to read the new Runners World. Am I the only one that gets super excited every time it comes in the mail?

I iced my foot while I drank my smoothie. Before I knew it I was freezing and had to grab my electric blanket. It doesn't help that it's below zero outside and snowing either.

I also picked up a delicious latte from this local gem. Naughty but so right. (Ps. There is no baby in that stroller. It's pretty crowded in there so they left the stroller outside and took the baby in, whew!)

Last but not least I wanted to try an eggnog martini. I didn't have all the ingredients but with some vodka, egg nog (from Trader Joes) and coffee liqueur I made it work! Boom! Loved it

Tonight we also opened presents and had cake for Jakes Birthday. I love my kids and really enjoyed having them all together at the house. It doesn't happen often, that's for sure!

Daniel, Austin, Jake and Sami.

It was a good day! I only dreamed of running briefly.

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

Plankapalooza

Tonight is Plankapalooza at my Pilates/Yoga studio.  9th & 9th Pilates in SLC. I love the word plankapalooza.  I'm not sure I'm spelling it right but I love the word.  I'm scared of the class because I know the instructor and he gives you your money's worth in workout.  Yet I'm also excited for my class even though I know about half way in I will be thinking, "I'm going to die".

Tomorrow my thoughts will be more along the line of, "that was an awesome workout - my core is as tight as a rock!".  I will keep thinking of that as I power through tonight.

If you are from SLC and want to try out some classes, they have an introductory package for 89.00/10 classes.  If you buy one and drop my name then I'll get a discount on a multi-use pass.  It's an investment, but I've looked around and they are the best priced with lots of classes to choose from.  Plus the studio and equipment is well maintained.  

Enough about my plank party!

I'm sure you've wondered to yourself, "How is Kathee's foot" (I've done an awful lot of quotes in this post!)  Well my foot is sucking right now.  I have multiple terminology for the suck factor, but I'll keep them in my head so I don't offend everyone.  

Wednesday was the second opinion trip to the orthopedic foot guy.  I knew he'd give it to me straight because he's from back east (New York/Chicago) and he's Jewish.  They don't mess around.  

He took a very detailed amount of x-rays and found nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  I was sure, judging from the pain post Vegas Ragnar, that something finally just broke.  Broken bones are SOOOO much easier to deal with!

Of course this is medicine and it's all just a really educated guess, but first of all, they (meaning the 4 doctors that looked at my beautiful toenail missing runner foot) don't know why I'm having nerve pain.  I will have a nerve study at the end of next month.  Dr S does believe that the worsening heel pain is caused by the hard inserts that are helping heal my plantar fasciitis which are causing the fat pad and the fascia to separate and I'm hitting my heel bone.  Which means I have two injuries - each ones treatment is counter healing to the other.  Oh joy joy!!  Happy dance joy!  

Dr. S isn't an idiot and he knows he can tell me what it is, how to fix it and that I can choose to follow his advice or not.  He is somewhat like college is to education.  You can sign up, pay your money and never show up.  I like to think of it as being an adult.  Something I have avoided for a long time.  Looks like I'm going to have to get serious about my foot.  I'm not running anymore this month.  It hurts.  Not the foot as much as that deep pain inside that you get when you can't run.  

She's a beauty!

I have told myself I won't get depressed and this would be a good time to beef up those core muscles and get some muscle definition!  Boom.  So far I've had so much pain from just walking that it hasn't been a problem.  I also have some pain in my left calf, probably from running lopsided to try and alleviate the pain.  Even my medic looked sorry for me.  That's it!!  I can't be a hobbling around flight nurse!

It's a vicious circle of pain and idiocy hard hardheadedness   I still have the 10K in the first week of December and if I can run it I will, if the foot is not giving me the thumbs up then I'll have to pass.  It's two months to the Florida Ragnar and unless my foot falls off then I doubt I'll miss that.  (See how I am????)  

So I am wearing good shoes and have a gel insert in the right foot to help my heel.  No hard inserts for a while.  I'm considering running in my Hurricane's and tossing the hard inserts to the side - or not.  I'm on the fence with that.  I'll discuss it more when I go back to Dr. S and his mighty group of doctors from around the world.  

A look at my gel pads.  

I'm icing as I type and I'll roll it on a frozen water bottle tonight with some massage and exercises.  Whatever these other conditions I have going on that are not plantar fasciitis, I need to address seriously.  

So K-Fab is not running, but hang tight because I'll be back and keep you updated on my road back to running shoes.  

Jump!  In my cute Lululemon outfit and pink running shoes!  I OWNED this leg.  Under 9 min/miles.

I'll be back.

Oh yes, I'll be back

Have you ever heard of a runner NEVER getting injured?

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

Ditchin the bling!

Finally my braces are off.  

What I think it takes to remove braces and what happens when they take them off is TWO very different ideas. I would like to think I was misled, but I never asked.   I'm thinking 30 minutes in the chair, pull them off, shine them up and I'm out.

TWO HOURS later I finally get to rinse out my mouth and leave just to come back in 5 hours to get my retainer.  Which I was wrong about also.  

In the car before I went into the Orthodontist.  Look - I curled my hair AND lip gloss.  Special day!

Ready, set...lets do this!!

First - They put your permanent retainers on before removing any brackets.  I have them on the top and bottom of the front 4-6 teeth.  It looks more like a steel thread that is bonded on the back of my teeth.  THEN, they pop off all the brackets, take impressions for your retainers and grind all the glue and stuff off your teeth.  This was both bothersome and painful. I have sensitive teeth and had to take a break once in a while.  After that the orthodontist RE-grinds or polishes all the teeth (FOR THE LOVE!!).  Then X-rays and pictures and boom, done for a while.

This is the tragedy that befell me in between appointments.....HERE.  Or just read the next post which I did from my phone earlier in the day.  

When I came back I put in my retainers and couldn't get the bottom one off.  My frustration must have shown because the assistant asked me if I felt like I was suffocating.  Good times.  She had to get it out.  Tomorrow morning should be interested.  
Then I was waiting to get my picture with the orthodontist - because that is how it's done - and he decided to touch up my front teeth a little with shaping and a buffer.  I can't really complain, he is a perfectionist and I LOVE my teeth.  

This is after all the shaping, etc.

I know this day was replete with FWP (first world problems) but their my problems dang it!!  In the end it was a wonderful day - my tongue is a little sore from digging at my permanent retainers, but that should pass soon.  I have to learn to chew again, I keep catching my tongue and the sides of my cheeks.  

Not to dismiss my daily exercise - I did have a Pilate's mixed class tonight.  It was a lot of legs and we used the Reformer and bosu ball.  Tomorrow an early morning run!  

Smiles all around!!

CHEESE.  

Anyone remember that scene in Datenight with Steve Carrel and Tina Fey where he mentions about having sex as they are going to bed?  Well, Tina Fey  then starts taking out her retainer and spit is getting everywhere.  So sexy.

I picture that as my life.  Hahaha.

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

Just this side of lazy

Sunday night we went up to my friends property in the mountains and spent the night. Even my daughter went, which was a miracle!

We had an awesome time time with great weather.  We sat around a fire until it was dark and then Gary put a sheet up and we watched a great movie while sitting on comfy camping chairs and sipping a cocktail and eating his dutch oven peach cobbler.  Not bad eh??

In the morning, my husband broke out all his favorite camping gear and stove and made us a yummy egg breakfast.  What a wonderful time to get some fresh air!

In other exciting news:

TODAY I saw the UPS guy pull up to the house and I knew it was going to be AWESOME!!

My new stable Saucony Hurricane 14's.   I immediately took a picture and posted it on Instagram and Facebook and then slipped them on to check them out as I worked on some housework stuff.  Comfy as can be and although they didn't really match my jammie bottoms, I was willing to make that fashion mistake to have these bad boys on.

Speaking of running, I haven't ran since the race on Saturday.  Taking my time to really working on my foot by taking regular ibuprofen, stretching and elevating it.  I ice it about once a day and do some stretching.  I finally found a file that had enough grit to smooth out my insert (I had to use a rasp!) and right away it felt a little better.  I can't really go without running until the Ragnar, so I'm going to get up and while it's cool put in a 5 miler'ish and then on Saturday I'll get a long run in.  My first Ragnar I did with a bum knee and not a lot of training.  I didn't break any records but I feel pretty confident I can give the team 10 min/miles average this time even with a big let up on training the last two weeks.  It's slow down time anyway!

But don't worry, I've been sweating.  I have taken a couple of core Pilate's classes this week and I have to say, ouch.  It's amazing how my core muscles are so sore sometimes.  But I love doing it because I can definitely see the improvement.  

Next week I leave for San Francisco for the Napa Ragnar!!  I am very excited!  I am the captain of this team that we call, "12 deadly Zins".  I don't know if this happens to everyone, but I'll get 10 people to talk me into being captain and then only about 6 can commit.  I don't know if it's the cost or the time.  I try to be upfront about the cost, especially with being from out of town and having to drive, hotels, etc.  I was lucky to have found enough people to fill the spots and I look forward to meeting them and making new friends from around the country.  They all seem to be kind, compassionate and hilarious.  We are in it for the experience and the medals!

I'll definitely keep posted on that one!

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

Blog or Life change

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately.  A lot of running blogs.  I am always craving more information and finding people that have the same struggles that I do.  Although there doesn't seem to be many blogs about the challenges of a middle aged woman with kids of legal age, a blossoming career and the struggles of keeping the peri-menopausal body and mind under control.  Plus, I love running.  I love reading all things running.  I also love blogging about my daily life. I can look back and see how things were and what I've learned.  It's the best journal out there.  Once in a while my husband will peruse my posts. Imagine it's like reading my mind at times.  Magic. 

I'd like to re-name the blog.  Let's face it.  It's more about me then my crew.  Although I love my family dearly and they warrant mention on here occasionally, they are a busy crowd.  I can be home for three days straight and see the two kids that live here for a total of an hour each.  I just don't know what to re-name it.  I guess I could call it "middle aged woman in peri-menopausal crisis that runs....and flies".  

I understand that I have mentioned menopause twice, well now three, times in two paragraphs. If you have to ask, you don't understand.  Mother nature is very angry.  No one warns you either.  You just wake up morning after morning thinking, "you've GOT to be kidding me"!!   Don't ever say I didn't warn you.

RUNNING!

I love running.  Around March I got all sassy and thought I could run without my inserts.  I had new shoes and was sure I could do some short treadmill workouts.  I thought it would strengthen my foot.  I was wrong.  I was so wrong.  Welcome back plantar fasciitis!  I missed you (NOT).  I took one year off running and limped for over 2 years fixing my last round with it.  I immediately went to my favorite podiatrist, who was the only one that fixed it.  Not physical therapy or anything else, only the custom inserts and strict instructions to wear only good solid shoes.  (Yeah!  new running shoes!)  My podiatrist, who has very little personality and even less sense of humor, laughed at me!  Yes, laughed!  He readjusted my inserts, giggled again and then told me I know what to do and to do it.  I have written about the shot of cortisone I endured about 3 weeks ago but besides that I have committed to a super serious regime of plantar healing.  Massage, ice, elevation and bio freeze.  Everyday my friends.  Everyday.  So far it's working pretty good.  Nothing wrong with sitting around with your feet elevated.  

On that subject (not really) I bought a new paddle brush from Aveda and I love it, love it, love it.  Sometimes I just brush my hair to brush it.  Plus I get to count and admire my grey hair that needs a touch up.  

Speaking of getting old.   I am blessed to have the red neck (teehee) of a high school student straight out of the back seat covered in hickeys.  Poikiloderma is the name.  My only treatment, because I am cheap, is bleaching cream and lots of sunscreen.  Because of this my face washing steps have quadrupled.  Soap, toner, lotion, sunscreen, bleach cream and occasionally some retinol cream to ninja block some wrinkles.

It's not a rumor, I love Saucony brand running shoes.  I have 5 pairs right now.  That may not seem like a lot BUT I have only been running in them for about 8 months. I was an Asics girl before and even briefly cheated with New Balance and Brooks, but now I've settled down and made a commitment. Yes, yes, it's love.  

I did buy Daniel some shoes.  He has some awful feet!  They are as flat as Fred Flintstones, horrible pronation along with collapsing ankles.  It hurts to watch him walk barefoot.  I've taken him to an orthopedic surgeon twice!  Only thing to do is get sensible shoes.  Daniel is 17.  He hasn't seen a sensible shoe since he was a toddler.  Big skate shoes whose laces are never tied is what he prefers.  Finally, after complaining for the 100th time that his feet hurt and for the 100th time me telling him he has to wear good shoes and inserts he is coming around.  He promised to wear these lovely size 13 Nike's.  Recommended by the running shoe guy and on sale for only 88 bucks.  Daniel better wear them!

Today was a rest day.  Thank god too!!  After speed work on Friday I thought I would survive a Pilates Reformer Jump class.  Holy Hannah did my quads burn.  From about jump 3, they started burning.  Then I told my instructor she was short.  Pain doesn't bring out the best in me.  I made it through but I cancelled a regular Reformer class this morning.  I have a long run (13 miles) tomorrow early AM and I would like to not die.  I am eating cashews and popcorn though...you know, to carb load.  

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

Give me Strength!

I’m having one of those weeks.  You know the ones.  Where it takes you DAYS to do what can be done in one day, you always look tired and you dream of taking long naps.  These periods of time happen once in a while to me and I can’t figure out what precipitates it.  My shifts last week were not necessarily tiring. I had an all night flight, but I had plenty of rest and sleep when I got home.  I have just been dragging.  I have made it to every Pilate’s class and worked out every day but Sunday.  I thought if I gave myself a day off from the gym then I would feel a little better.  Not so much. I even drank lots of water and my favorite hydration drink, NUUN. 

I had a list of things I needed to get done when I got home from work last Friday.  I had calls to make, projects to finish and bills to pay. It’s now Tuesday night and I still have a cabin project to do and a phone call to make.  I could have done it all in a day, but magically dragged it out for 4 and tomorrow will be five.  The good news is, it will be all done before I go back to work on Thursday in Rock Springs for 5 days. 

After much thought in the past 2 days of why I feel this way I’m sure it is a combination of stuff. First, I think I’m a little depressed. This is what happens when I can’t run. Any runner will back me up when I say that injury is a throw down.  Add that to the stress Matt and I have with all our travels coupled with having 2 teenagers at home that are struggling to find their independence and I have a trifecta for sadness.  Another thing, I dropped my carbohydrate intake under 80-100 to lose the last few pounds I want to lose and that can make your energy levels drop briefly.  At least I’ve lost a few pounds!  Woot Woot!  Stress at work, stress at home,the never ending dog hair and the heat.  Tada!  There it is.  Doesn’t make it easier, but it does make it better to know the possibilities in my lack of energy and motivation.   It’s hard to be filled with too much self-pity when I realize how silly it is and how hard things could be.  Plus there are many times when I've had the same stress or even more and managed to keep my energy up and motivation going.   It could be my monthly cycle or (heaven forbid) I finally go into menopause!  (completely sarcastic)

So I took a long nap this afternoon.  I didn’t think I would sleep after 9 hours last night, but I did.  I owned that nap!  It was spectacular in so many ways. 

This is exactly how I feel.

Daniel is feeling it too.

So the pity party is winding down, I plan to give out the party treats and start cleaning up tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

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

Slow Saturday

Still totally exhausted.  I dragged myself out of bed at 9am after 9 hours of sleep and went to Pilate's Reformer class.  I was just going to lay low and do my best.   Well, it was suppose to be a small class of 3 but 2 didn't show up. Although I am super grateful for the one on one class, I was dying.  My muscles in my legs and even my abdomen were so fatigued that I kept having muscle cramps.  I learned a lot though and did get a good work out.  I rewarded myself with a delicious Cafe Breve from Coffee Garden on 9th and 9th.  It wasn't the best one I've had there - but it did the trick.

Stopped at Costco on the way home:

My medic, Brandon talked me into the Whey Protein.  I think it was a good choice and a lot less expensive then the protein powder I usually buy.

The high protein and Paleo lifestyle has me feeling great and today I was finally a lower weight then I've been in probably 5 years.  I think I saw 4 pack abs.  I'm almost embarrassed to say that I even took a picture in the mirror.  In the right light it is pretty impressive.  Don't wait around for me to post it, because that is not going to happen.  

Matt is having a guys day with one of his old friends that is in town.  I decided to have a steak from the meat we bought a few months ago.  We purchased a fourth of a cow from a local farmer.  The meat is delicious and this steak turned out great!

I also made cauliflower mashed potatoes.  EW. YUCK.  I really thought they would be good with butter and cream in them and even some Irish Cheddar.  No.  Not even a little.  I am going to try to fry them up in "tater tot" fashion.  I might as well since they are left over.

Nothing else for the day, nothing.  What a great day!

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

I'd stomp my feet, if I could

I wouldn't want to hurt my foot more and have to get another shot in my heel!  

Last night in the last 12 of my 24 hour shift, we got a call.  We (me, my medic and pilot) left about midnight and I crawled back into bed around 5am.  It was a great flight, but I didn't get any sleep before the call and very little after.  It makes for a cranky me for the day.  I finished my shift at 10am and the drive home was not bad at all.  I just stopped once when I was a little sleepy and bought delicious cashews. 

When I left the apartment in Rock Springs I saw these cows.  They look like they are made of wood and I have no idea why they are there.  Why would they be there?  So odd.

I have lots of stuff to do for work, the cabin,our calendar and finances that I attempted to sit on the couch with my blanket and get started.  First I had to pick out my pen/pencil from the stash I have in my computer bag.

What is wrong with this picture??

No blue pen.

I have to have a blue pen if I'm going to update the calendar.  CRANKY!

This doesn't make me cranky.  

It's a random plant that started growing in our flower beds and we've just let it go.  We've decided it's pumpkin.  Why is there a pumpkin plant (or 3 of them) randomly growing in my flower bed?   I haven't carved a pumpkin in years!  The mystery remains.  We almost want to keep it there just to see what happens.  I hope a HUGE pumpkin grows and when we carve it...it's full of money.    It could happen.

I managed not to take a nap AND drag my ass to the gym.  To top off my day of cranky I am reminded that it will be another 11 days before I can run.  I promised myself I would do the elliptical or Pilate's every day.   So I "faux" stomped to the gym and spent the first 15 minutes on the machine so cranky I wanted to throw myself on the floor and throw a fit.  Thank goodness I didn't or I would have missed the end of "Undercover Boss".   I was impressed (in a bad way) of how CHEAP the Mr. 1-800-flowers boss is.  Usually they give cash and stuff.  This guys BIGGEST gift was naming a flower arrangement after one of his outstanding employees.  GAG!  Show me the money!  

I finished my 30 minutes and then did some machine work for a total of ONE hour of exercise.  I was sweating like a whore in church (teehee - I love that expression)  but it wasn't all from the workout.  The humidity in Salt Lake right now is 47%! 

It makes all my refreshing beverages look like this, with a big wet spot. 

This is an icy delight with NUUN in it.  NUUN is a tablet that has electrolytes and awesomeness in it and helps you stay hydrated and all around ninja like. I drink them when I am running and I like to have them after a flight for hydration.  I am trying a flavor I haven't tried before.  It's grape.  White grape apparently.

I swear by them when I run Ragnar's.  Check out their website:  NUUN  

It is the ultimate hydration.

Not a bad day all around.  My family had the entire house clean before I got home, I lost .7 lbs with only 6.7 to go, I finished my project for my work meeting on Monday and I have the entire weekend off!  

Maybe I can get some blog posts done on things I've been wanting to post about, but haven't had the time to get all the pictures together.  I think I will call them FLASHBACKS.  This way I can get some important fun pics up from the past year or so when I was lazy and not posting.  Maybe I'll start including my family in my blog posts too!  Ideas.  I got em!

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

Running? Running.

My plans for running yesterday were foiled by a beautiful flight to southern Utah and back up to SLC and then back to Rocks Springs.  I was planning a hill training session at 815pm - since that is the time the pilots time out and I'm less likely to get a call - but alas, I was called to serve.  It was a great flight, the patient needed to be transported and it was beautiful although a little bumpy.  

Pulling out the plane...sssk..ssskk.

(Reminds me of the Dane Cook comedy where he talks about his dream about being a crab and makes that sound - "sssk sssk".  

Landing in SLC.  The sun was just setting and the temperature was perfect.  A little windy - but fantastic!

Luckily I was back to base and in bed, all charted, by 1am.  No flight through the night and I slept like a rock.  YEAH - that means a productive day today!! I got home by 2pm and I actually ran 3 miles, but just from the front door. It was slow too!  I stopped to tie my shoes and usually my Garmin stops when I stop but the clock kept going!  I know I did it in less then 10 min/miles - but then again - 10 min/miles have been my goal for years!  Now it is 9 min/miles.  Giggity Giggity!

Then I went to a Pilate's class.  My hammies cramped over and over - but I did get a good workout!  I may do the first leg of the Salt Lake half marathon relay with Tera and Nicole and it is UPHILL.  I drove past it today, but I think I can do it.  I have two months to train for 4 miles uphill.  

The next two days will prove tough to get a workout in.  Teaching ACLS, Def Leppard concert, work staff meeting.....I'm busy and I know it!

PS.  Tera gave me a gift certificate for Lululemon for my Birthday!  WATCH OUT!  I'm going broke!!

Blog on.........