My commitment to making Saturdays run the worst!

Before I get started on my whine fest.  Check out how awesome my phone is. 

Tells me how long it would take for me to get home.  How cool is that?  Yeah, I've had my iPhone for almost 3 years now.  I may be technologically challenged but I get there sooner or later.

I ran Saturday.  It was more then awful.  It's almost like the week leading to the run was planned out to sabotage it.  Of course when your a runner and there is a run on the calendar then you run.  I started out with good enough intentions but in the end my commitment to make it horrid was too much for even my running spirit to overcome.

WIND - I understand I don't control the weather.  I do know that my 8 miler earlier in the week on the same running path was pretty darn windy.  Somehow it forgot to click in my head how windy the Jordan Parkway can be this time of year.  Saturday the wind managed to be head on BOTH ways.  Magic wind I tell you!

LATE - I set my alarm for 8 and planned to be running by 9:30.  Not too bad for a Saturday.  It's getting cooler and I don't have to get up at O dark 30.  Night shift on Thursday night messed me up a little and I woke up at 3am ready to party.  Finally fell back to sleep at 5am and did not wake up until 1045.  YES.  I slept through a double alarm.  That, my friends, is talent.  Take note.  I started my run at 1:30pm.

PRE-WORKOUT - huh.  who knew?  I just perused the book 80/20 and decided to try the longer slower miles.  In order to make sure I'm going slow enough then it's good to monitor heart rate.  I bought a new pre-workout for when I start running really long miles and for some reason thought SATURDAY was the day to try it.  It works!  I couldn't even understand my thoughts my body was racing so fast.  My heart rate?  Don't ask.  For a little while I would have had to lie down in the grass to get it within my training range.  

PREPARATION - Usually I have all my clothes and gear out the night before a relatively early run.  I didn't do that.  It didn't slow me down too much but usually if it's out I don't procrastinate as much.  I also didn't tape my knee the night before which I usually do.

BREAKFAST - I wanted a good breakfast and had planned to make banana pancakes.  I did make them.  I made them for me and my son and added some bacon.  Really took my time.  But not very fast because I was on my feet within an hour of such a delicious meal that wasn't quite ready to run on.  

CORE WORK - I did some core work at PT on Friday but I didn't do all of it.  That is the secret to pain free running right now.  Really strengthen those glutes and hammies.  SO I did about 20 minutes of it just before I left for my run.  

Speaking of physical therapy.  These are the torture tools that are keeping me running.  "Hurts so good", Tera Schatz.

AND THE GRAND FINALE!!!
   I was on day 14 of the 21 day Primal challenge with my daily carbohydrate intake under 100 g.  (My big push to try and loose that 10 lbs before Ragnar Vegas)  I had ZERO energy.  I know the carb flu well and it was almost peaked on this day. I don't know if I could have changed this by eating a few more carbs or carbs the night before and that morning.  I just didn't feel well.  

Felt just like that only I was thinking....have I hit 14 min miles yet?

I had planned to run 8 miles.  The first 2 miles were not bad.  Pretty slow but I still felt like I could move forward.  The next 2 were awful and no good.  I tried having a GU (salted caramel) and I could barely choke down half of it.  Then I tried running 3 minutes and walking 2.  Finally at 4 miles I decided to turn back to my car that was 2 miles away.  I ran a little here and there but at 4.5 miles I walked and didn't run any more.  I don't remember having this bad of a run in a very long time.  My average pace was over 12 min/miles so I was barely scooting long.  I'm going to scratch that up to lesson learned and somedays runs are just bad.  I did take some pics to take up some time.

Lots of bikers

No selfie.  I was cranky.  Just a taped knee and the most awesome shoes EVER!!

Go Hokas!

Utah.  It's really beautiful.  Those mountains will soon be covered in snow!

Bug. 

Great running path!

No matter what I do know this!

TeeHee

Tell me about your worst run.  I mean, how bad can it be??

Blog on........

Hot Mess

Looked up "hot mess" so there would be no confusion as to what I am referring to.  

Thanks Urban Dictionary.

hot mess  Share on twitter Share on facebook Share on mo
	A state of disarray so chaotic that it's dizzying to look at. A mess that is beyond the normal range of disarray. Visual clutter that draws attention to itself. When the Project Runway contestant showed a garment made out of multicolored plush animals tied together with yarn, Heide Klum declared, "It's a hot mess!"

It seems that I have over scheduled myself like a boss.  My home, car and myself have officially become a "Hot Mess".  I'm spending most ....ok ALL of the day in bed getting some much needed rest after 2 night shifts and little sleep.  Why after surgery I was so hateful of laying around I don't know.  But I really do know because if I wasn't this exhausted I would be OUT.  It's beautiful outside.  

hehehe

I don't regret being this busy and my job(s) have provided me the opportunity to have fun, laugh, learn, get pissed, frustrated and still provide for my family!  I run in and out of the house, packing and re-packing my bags according to what job I'm running too, changing clothes and throwing them on the bed.  I did get laundry done!  

My shift this week in Rock Springs had me flying for the most part of 24 hours and I was up for 28 hours.  Then a night shift at St. Marks, where the girl that I trained at the U, trained me.  Last night was a night shift here in SLC.  It was so much fun.  We did a medical standby at the Raceway with the Helicopter then flew in the fixed wing to Idaho.  Throughout the night I helped to off load a few patients that flew into our facility by other flight programs and hung out in the ER with a fellow flight nurse that was working there, Deb.  

Last night I saw way too many people transported to the hospital because of booze.  I can't throw any stones but it does make for some hilarious situations.  So nice to hang out with some friends (who don't think I'm an idiot - thanks surgeon at new job) laugh and also be able to help some people.  

So life is great! There has been so many changes in the last 6 months that it's been a little hard to feel comfortable in one certain roll.  I have my breakdowns which are more like "pissyfests" that I get over and actually learn from them.  I learn to treat people with more respect, be grateful for the people that are my friends and colleages and to be especially THRILLED with the fact that I can work this hard. My flight nurse job has it's challenges and frustrations but when I'm doing the actual work it is amazing!  Every patient comes with it's challenges and every experience still has me thrilled.  Some of the things I do just make me giggle.....because I'm getting paid!  Working at another ICU is so far so good.  There is always growing pains at a new job.  Nurses tend to want others to prove themselves by actions and not resumes.  I'm pretty sure I can do that! 

Although I really need to commit to a few days of rearranging and painting, my house is really a warm place for me to recharge and relax.  Some days it's not for very long, but I love it!  

My kids have been supportive and are busy learning about what being an adult is like.  I miss them being young and dependent sometimes, but I love seeing them EVERY time and get a smooch on their faces.  

My foot is doing great, except my flight boots are really bothering my Peroneal nerve/tendon.  I am going to shop for some new ones this week.  I have rested my foot since my 5K.  I do get a little discouraged, but the PF is basically pain free and it's just going to take time.  I miss running with my friends, but hey, it gives me time to work.  A lot! 

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

Day 24....day 2...

Today was pretty crappy.  I don't want to be negative but craptastic was pretty much the theme.  

I feel much better now that I had a bath.  

I

It gave me the chance to actually appreciate my tiny little old house tub and having long legs.  Is this the way I'm going to have to bathe for the next 2-3 weeks?  Well, at least I can stay fresh.  Fresh is good and fresh makes me less grumpy.

Plus my breakfast was insane it was so good.  Leftover beef stew with two eggs, over easy on top. 

I think it's impossible to keep the grumpy's away when your on your 4th hour of CTS.  CTS's are learning module's that I have to do for flight nursing.  While they are informative, we do the same ones every year.  It's how you feel when you go to skills day every day (if your in nursing) for forever.  Plus it teaches me about things like hypoxia.  Hypoxia?  I better know about that.  

So I did a little facebooking while I watched.

But I did learn how keeping fit is helping me with my job.

Boom.

Whole30.

It's going OK.  I'm sticking to the foods I'm suppose to but I've eaten way too much of the nuts and dried fruits.  But that was just for about a day and a half and I'm cutting it back down now.  I made lots of stew and warming it up and serving it over lots of fresh spinach is amazing.  

Foot.

It's fine.  It's better then I thought it would be.  It's difficult to lay with my foot up for so long, but that part is almost over.  I've started halving the one pain pill I was taking every 5 hours and I will probably be off all narcotics by tomorrow.  I'm not a big fan of them.  They give me night sweats, I can't sleep while I'm on them and well, that make everything STOP.  Constipation.  Yep, I said it.  So irritating.  

Kitchen Sink

It clogged up as it does about every 5 years.  I had an awesome company come out and he gave me a 50 dollar discount so I only had to pay about 285.00 to get it all cleaned out.  I mean really, I am growing money in the back yard!  But at least I was in town.

Great things did happen today (besides a bath).  I started watching Arrested Development last night and today I finally understood something that I just didn't get before!  

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6858255

Team Never Nudes did a video that I watched and I just didn't get why they were called Never Nudes and wore jean shorts.  AHHHHHHHHH

Do you watch Arrested Development?

Start right now if you don't.  

Then you will understand and you will laugh.  If you don't laugh....you are having a horrible day.

Overall I'm doing just fine.  I'm a little lonely.  I had a great friend call me last night and it made my day.  I've had multiple texts that have been helpful.  

I've watched 5 movies and have 3 to watch tonight.  I still have some homemade almond milk left and plenty of Kombuchi to keep me "regular". Plus a few more seasons of Arrested Development!  

Tomorrow I'll blow up my new stability ball and start some upper body work to keep things TIGHT!  I only have 6 more days of WHOLE30!!  This will be easy and I'm thinking of having one day off and to keep going.  Why not?  I love the food and it's great for me!  

This post is really all over the place, but so is my head.  Maybe it's the cute new jammies. 

Yeah, I'm bored and getting a decent picture with new jammies is a challenge.  

What is your favorite Netflix show?

I watched Mad Men and now Arrested Development.

I get worried about getting addicted to a show and spending too much time watching it.   It is nice to have something to watch when there is nothing else to do!

BLOG ON...........................

Things that can ruin your day.

Tonight was a lesson in not loosing it.  A cascade of events today lead up to me being in the wound up state of - I'm going to punch someone in the neck!

To make things even better.  It was a family dinner downtown tonight.  We get together once a year as just siblings and spouses with my parents and talk about what my mom and dad have and how we should enjoy it because the inheritance taxes are going suck up anything they have worked so hard to give us and we'll probably end up with an invoice.  I try to understand and help, because I see how it stresses out my dad, but I never planned on cash from my parents when they died.  That's just morbid.  

But, I digress.  Lets start early - around 3pm.

1.  Being Tired.  I just can't catch up. I feel like I could nap for 3 days straight.

2. Having lots of things to do.  Trying to get all the things done that I need to before I leave in the morning.  Packing.  Packing for Moab too.  

3. Taking a nap but having to get up earlier then you are ready because you have to get ready to go somewhere that involves:

4. Washing my hair.  Which means I have to dry and curl it.  MAN!!

5. Getting dressed up.  Hello Mormon family.  I don't go to church, I don't have church clothes.  I have a pair of black slacks, some garanimal shirts (Tshirt sewn to the sweater) and a couple of skirts that will make you blush.  Every dress up day is a stressful day.  Come to find out my slacks are too big now.  I was grateful they didn't fall down.  Oh LORDY!

6. a Fly in the bathroom while your trying to get ready.  I was more late then I should have been because I was intent on killing that damn fly.  Probably the most irritating thing ever.

7. No one there to feed the dogs and I am running late and my big dog won't take his medicine and can manage to eat a slice of lunch meat and carefully spit out the pills.  This begs the questions - where are my kids and why aren't they doing their chores?  Yeah - that can be Ruin day 7.5.  

8. Having to park downtown in an area that has changed dramatically since visiting there last.  So I went around the block and of course I have no idea where the parking is so I drive right past it, twice.

9.  Getting into a parking garage that is as crowded as Times Square on a Saturday night (when they allowed traffic).  I finally found a parking spot and hit the wall.  No damage to the car.  I was seconds away from driving home.

10.  Walking, Walking, walking into a building that is completely dedicated to the founder of the Mormon church and having dinner at their special restaurant buffet that serves water and juice.  Maybe they served soda, but soda is not my thing.  There was tons of desserts.  Luckily they had prime rib, and lots of it.  

It was .25 mg of Ativan worthy.  

It's not that I don't love my family - I do, I really do. But I really don't like being dipped into the culture.  If I did, I would still be Mormon.  

I'm sure that if I was there and it was a totally Lutheran/Baptist/Jewish building and restaurant then it would be fascinating.  I love learning about new stuff.  But I did the Mormon thing, I know the plan, there isn't 
any big secret that is going to fascinate me.

But what does a family do in this case?  My parents are just the nicest people ever and when they picked it I'm sure they thought how nice it would be to be in a private room, with delicious food and a great view of Salt Lake City.  This is why I really try to smile and be nice.  

It just is what it is.  I'm sure all families have those that have a difference in opinion.  I feel a little lonely about it sometimes, but it is my choice and I feel great about that.  

My Sis-n-law didn't even give me too many dagger looks.  I didn't hold her baby though, so I think that helped.  Keep the sinner away from the child!!   (I wish I was a sinner, my live has been way too mellow lately!)

Great news of the day!!
I was able to have brunch with my old friend Mic.  Known him for about 14 years now and still love the ole man!

Here is a montage of my family.  I was trying to be sneaky and I didn't get everyone in and I apologize for that.  Pretty close though!

Top corner is my brother Joe and my sister Caroline then the next picture was my dad then mom and my oldest brother Brad.  On the bottom row is my brother Dave and Mark (he's chuggin the sparkly water - lush!) and his wife Christie.  Oh and me. 

I didn't get my brothers wives in the pics, Melissa, Cathryn and Marie.  Sorry, my sneaky pics didn't turn out that great.  

The view of the Joseph Smith statue from the street.  This was on my first time around.  

Overall I had a great morning and OK afternoon and thank goodness for my family it wasn't a bad night!  

Who ran today?  I skipped the Tempo run.  Icing the foot right now.  Guess I'll play it by ear for now.   My friend Missy thinks I need to go get an MRI and I know she is right.  I'll have the next 10 days to think about it!!

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

Whatever.

Whatever.  what?  
Today was a whatever day.  I worked yesterday a long 12 hours in the hospital ICU and it kicked my butt!  I didn't even feel like I got everything done.  Busy Busy Busy!  I was signed up for today, but I am used only as the last person to cover, unless they need my skills.  I have some skills.  After the ICU has found all the help they can from the hospital, if they still need help then I get to be utilized.  Yesterday was awesome, but I was so tired.  I was pretty glad they didn't use me.  I finally rolled out of bed around 9-10ish. I then spent many hours doing a lot of not much.  I could not get motivated and I was tired and cranky.  I try to keep my feet in shoes which help my plantar fasciitis heal.  I have inside shoes.  I wear them with my grammy jammies.

I actually don't even wear jammy bottoms to bed, just a t- shirt or tank.  I wish I could wear awesome, cute matching pajamas but I always gravitate to the most comfortable.  These pants barely stay up and they are super soft.  They are also IZOD.  Boom. Designer.

I knew I wanted to go run.  I still had one more relaxed run to do before I can dive into half marathon training.  Tomorrow is 2 weeks after my steroid shot.  Once I started moving I was feeling much better.  Really ready to clear my head and do what runners love, run.

Drove to a great parkway in town that goes from one side to the other.  I even remembered to stretch my feet/legs.  Of course I was taking all kinds of pictures while I stretched.  I took off and ended up running 6 miles at a perfectly relaxing pace.  

Same tree.  One on the left was before my run and the one on the right after.  Sun was starting to go down and it was absolutely beautiful.  The blue sky and around 80 degrees with a slight breeze!

Last run with braces.  Taking a cool down picture in front of my awesome car, Manny.  

After my run I went to WinCo.  Wow.  I do love that place for the most part.  I bought a package of chicken breasts and each full breast was over 2 lbs!  I was making soup and it called for 6 chicken breasts, I used one and it was plenty. Now I have over 2 lbs of chicken breast in the fridge to use tomorrow!  

I decided to try the Chicken and Lime Tortilla soup that one of my race mates had posted on her blog and on Facebook.

Recipe here

See that breast?  I am impressed.  (poet - teehee)  

I misread the recipe and added just a little too much chipotle in adobo sauce for me, so it was a little too hot.  Other then that, the recipe was amazing and I'll make it again and just cut down on the heat!  Fresh cilantro and lime then cutting up an avocado to put in after.  YUMMY!

Have you ever gone for a run, not for training but mostly because you are just unhappy and need to pull it together??

What is your favorite soup?

Do you have a pair of jammies you LOVE?

TOMORROW:   It's BRACES off day!!!  woot woot!!

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

House of Pain??

My plantar fasciitis flared up.  After talking to my podiatrist for a month I have decided to get a cortisone shot, take 2 weeks off running and then have plenty of time to train for a half marathon.  So, to add to things to do I decided to run a long slow run of 12 miles in the am.  Trying to get up and out and back before my 8am dentist appointment.  I got up early and I was ready to go at 5, but ended up waiting about 30 minutes for it to be a little lighter so I didn't have to put on my reflective gear.

Beautiful sunrise!!

Love the redness mixed with the clouds.  The red is from all the fires all over the state.  It's horrible there are fires but awesome sunrise!

Needless to say - I finished my 12 miles and then ended up running the last 1/2 miles that I usually  walk so I could get to my dentist on time.  I also ended up going in my running clothes.  I'm pretty sure my dentist mocked my compression sleeves. 

Sweaty me, rushing to the dentist!

Then I went to the podiatrist for a shot of cortisone in my heel.  It was awful. The doctor is awesome and knows what he is doing, but the idea of a needle in my heel is gross AND it hurts.  I always feel like I should be pampered with warm blankets and juice after.  No, just a pat on my shoulder and "thanks for coming in"!

View of a new fire in Alpine from Sandy.  Matt and I came out of an appointment and there it was!  The fires this year are insane.

So my teeth are killing me, my foot hurts, and I'm exhausted.   I am NO fun!!

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