MIA

Well, not really.

It's only been 20 days but for me that is a long time to be away from my beloved blog.  To say that those days were overwhelming would not be describing it to it's full potential.  Still adjusting to the single life, I've been happy but so busy.  I was trying to get ready for Ragnar and working my 2 jobs.  Plus, my AirMed job requires I have to do lots of off shift training, meetings, etc.  I spent a couple of weeks flying so much that I had no time to catch up around the house or my bills or anything.  When I went to Rock Springs I ended up charting and flying.  It really is a blast, but the timing was not very convenient.  But then again, is it ever. 

SO I survived.  I managed to get all my work done and catch up on some stuff on the house and last Tuesday I went to work in Ogden and felt awesome!  I can do this.  I can have my house, work and keep up on life.  Just not my blog, so much.  I feel very lucky to be able to work enough to support having a house and the health to work hard!

Enough about that.  It wasn't that anything worth blogging was going on!  It was a wonderful busy month!  Here is my 3 week catch up in pics/comments.

Three day detox.  I would have to give it one thumb up and one thumb down.  Too many carbs for my low carb body.  I didn't feel good enough at the end to do it again. 

Started trail running.

But first I watched some horses talk about my decision.  They were planning on saving me if I got lost.

My first trail run was on the Corner Canyon Trails.  My brother showed me a map and I printed it out and made a plan.



 I call it the run that almost DIDN'T happen.  I drove all the way there (about 20 minutes) and realized I forgot my NEW trail running shoes.  GAH!  Thankfully I've been running around town in some Saucony Guide 5's and I just laced them up tight and took off.  They did a great job and washed up just fine after.

It was a huge success and I loved every minute of it.  So much so that I went trail running the next Saturday also.

My favorite bottle holder and my map.  I actually used it a couple of times.  There was also lots of people on the trails that were helpful.  It was hottie heaven.  I need to hang out there more often!

WORK

Practicing with our NVG's.  It could be construed as Shenanigans.  But it was work people, WORK!

BIRTHDAYS!

June is a big birthday month.  Daniel was born on the 12th and my birthday is the 16th.  He is 18 now, and he's my youngest.  Guess I'm done?

Family BBQ and cake.  We like to keep it casual.

Jake and his beautiful girlfriend Emily

Taking pictures.  Because my kids are awesome.

And my daughter is so funny and beautiful.  I don't know if it was parenting skills, genetic or luck but all my kids are fantastic, kind, smart and funny.  They are super cute too!

My oldest, Austin.  I was playing hockey ball with Ted the dog.  That way he keeps moving and Ted has fun too.  He is getting ready to start his new job at Halliburton and has been mostly staying with us.  He's done a great job helping around the house, feeding the dogs, exercising Ted...eating. 

Hahaha

GRANDSONS!

Lyndsi and Brent came into town to visit family and I had a chance to hang with the boys for a few hours.  They are healthy, cute and smart!  I smooched lots of cheeks. 

MY Birthday

Terri, on the far left and I share a birthday month.  At work I use to bring a cake that we would share.  We asked some friends to come celebrate with us at Cafe Madrid and had a great time with lots of Sangria and friendship!

I went out to dinner with Tera and Jason the next night, but alas, no pictures.

BROTHER; aka animal!

I heard through my great blogging friend Susette, that there was going to be a Corner Canyon ultra.  I had planned to run there so I decided to run up Millcreek that day instead.  Then I thought, I wonder if my brother Joe is running it?  I texted him and yes, he was!  I planned my run so that I could drive down to the finish after and see him come in.

He came in FOURTH on his very first 50K ultra!

I knew the first three runners, they were all residents at the U. They were all 10 years younger then my brother, who is 41. 

BOOM.

IN YOUR FACE.

Maybe deep inside that talent genetically lies in me.  :::Shrug::::

WORK

Late call on one of my rotor shifts.  Up in the mountains.  We had to hike.  I was wearing my winter boots since my regular boots were in Rock Springs.  They worked out wonderfully.  I have been told that hiking is involved with my job and there it was!  It was a beautiful night and the ground crew were amazing!  It's definitely a call I won't forget!

That's it! All caught up.

Good times.

Now I will put together some posts so that you can see how the antics continue.

NOW.....here comes the Ragnar!

What do you do when you feel very overwhelmed??

I take any opportunity to nap.  I don't know why, but the lack of sleep makes me unable to cope with daily life when I get too overwhelmed.

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

Meet & Greet

Another blogger, Susette at You'll always have my heart mentioned that Scott Jurek was in town to go on a run and sign books.  I had no idea and since I have a lot less to do lately I decided to check it out.  I hadn't read his book yet, but I've had the audio version on my iPod for months.  I set about listening to his book for the rest of the day! 

I also text'd my brother Joe who is the speedy runner of the family and who had mentioned to me that he is interested in Ultras.  He had no idea Scott was in town and had read his book.  He was willing to drive me (I really hate driving in this boot) and I was excited to spend time with a brother I hardly see.  (Busy lifes!)

I was standing on my tip toes and taking this picture.  He's 6'7".  I sent the pic to my parents to confuse them slightly.  They would wonder what we were up to.  

Before the chit chat he took those that could run on a little 45 minute run about.  My brother went and I sat around waiting.  While I was waiting I started talking to another lady, Rebecca.  I didn't get a picture of us but we had SO much in common and have decided to run some trails together this summer.  She works at the U, is divorced and adorable.  Adorable is important isn't it? 

The room was super crowded.  Scott Jurek is such an amazing athlete and is quite inspirational.  He was so friendly and personal.  I definitely recommend his book.  I'm about done with the audio version but I bought a book that he could sign because I knew after starting to listen that I would need a hard copy to highlight and refer back to. I can learn a lot from his quest for full body health.  I'll never be a vegan, but there is always something to learn.   He even has vegan recipe's in the book which look awesome.  

Before he started signing books I met Susette!  I love meeting fellow bloggers.

She is younger then me, but close to my age.  She is running like crazy and it gives me some hope that even at my age I can come back strong. 

We were at Wasatch Running Center in Sandy.  It was an impressive store! I will definitely be taking a trek out there again. I appreciate them hosting such a great event.

The next day the picture from Wasatch Running Center on Facebook was of me talking to him with my boot!  Hahaha

Love it!

If you get a chance to see him, do it!  It's worth it!

Hopefully you won't have a photo bomber in the back!  Haha

If you could meet any runner, who would it be?

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

Cookies are delicious!

I miss running.  

This made me laugh:

20 Things No One Tells You About Running

A blog post by Shut up and Run Blogger. 

WARNING!!!  Whine alert!!!

I'll make this quick.

Resting my foot is HAAARRRDDDD!

Whew!  Done.  But I don't have much to say about running except that right now as I type I'm massaging my foot with a massage ball which is helpful & painful.

I couldn't decide to take the picture with my dingy sock or lack of toenails.  Sock wins!!  Foot Rubz

I am also icing and elevating. 

My foot care kit.  Biofreeze, ice, ace wrap to hold the ice pack on, Foot Rubz and the tingly lotion.

The Podiatrist arranged for a  prescription lotion that is helpful for nerve pain.  It tingles.  I've only had it for about 24 hours so I'll see how it works.  The list of ingredients is pretty interesting with Ketamine, Baclofen, Gabapentin, Nifedipine......etc.  Drugs usually ingested or used IV.  But I won't bore you with that stuff! 

Came to work last night at the Rock and woke up to this.

***********

Yesterday was a great day!  I went to Costco and scored the FIRST parking spot.

SCORE!!

Downside:  When you get to your car and start putting the groceries in the trunk a car always stops to wait.  ALERT:  I'm not going rush because you are too lazy to drive around and walk.  

I also took Manny (my Subaru) in for my post Colorado Springs drive oil change and they gave me a cookie!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip

thanks Nate Wade Subaru

No, it's not Paleo/Primal, but I NEEDED this!

Trying to rest a foot is difficult.  I would guess I'm going through a little bit of injury depression because I'm not doing much other exercise either.  Oh, except for that half marathon on Sunday. (THREE days I'm whining) I have my Yoga video that I'm considering doing and if not that then I will at least do my planks, crunches and push ups.  

I plan on finishing up this pity party TONIGHT!  I have a Relay in Vegas in TWO weeks.  BOOM.  Runner 3!  16.1 miles total.  Get over here you medals you!

Why is injury so depressing for those that are active?

Is there another dealership out there that gives out homemade cookies??

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................

Day of NOTHING

Have you ever had one of those days that had big plans that turned to jack? Yeah, one of those days. My first plan was to work a 12 hour in the SICU with my friend Tera. They didn't need me. It's slow. Come on people! Heart surgery! Trauma! Just do it.
Next up: long run. ::::big loud buzzer::: I ran a long run yesterday up in the mountains of Idaho to avoid the heat.


I pouted about it for two hours, called Tera and bitched about it for another 15 minutes. I even got dressed for the day to "run errands"....wash my car, get gas, drive a race hill I think I'm going to run.... I then became totally into my blog for the Wasatch Back Ragnar. By the time I finished, I had to change into my yoga clothes for a core class I signed up for during my pout session. I never even left the house in my moderately cute outfit of the day. Thank goodness I have enough to keep me busy the rest of the day! And double thank goodness I am working tomorrow!!!
I leave you (ala iPhone Blogger app) with a picture of my favorite workout towel. Yes, it says pledge. It's the BEST most absorbent manageable workout towel I've ever had. It never stops sucking.
I have no idea how it dusts.

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