Last Run of the Year

Well, I got up this morning and walked the pups. Got home and was wide awake, so I put on the pants, the shoes, the brace, the HRM, the Garmin, the bra, the shirt and a coat. Put Guinness back on her leash and off we went. We went on our tried and true 3.1 mile course. I hate it/love it very much. It is ALL hills. You start out downhill then go up hill and seem to climb for awhile. The first mile was ok. I had to stop twice to adjust my knee brace. My knee cap seemed to want to move around. Finally I got the brace set right.

We did the first mile in 17 minutes. The other 2 miles I guess were better, I didn't hear the beep at mile 2. It was rather peaceful being up and running at 8. No one was out. So it was just me and Guinness. I showed her what a Dumpster was, we woofed at the German Shepard, stayed away from the Pit Bull, and waved to the Dalmation in the window. I have stopped using my iPod on neighborhood runs, because I already don't hear very well, so I need to be aware of the cars. Lots speed. I think we yelled twice at cars to slow down. Got the finger and returned it once.

Finally we were done.

Then getting through some issues, D and I went to the liquor store and got some coffee stout from Milwaukee (I have to look up the name), LH Milk Stout, Guinness, and Pipeline Porter.
Oh and besides contacting the credit bureaus, if you know what to do if a medical drug test with your SSN, name, birthday, and address, flew out of your car and went high in the sky, across the street and disappeared, let me know.

Happy New Year.

Time: 52:08 (run)
Mileage: 3.13 (16:40 min/mile)
Calories: 383
Max HR 181
Avg HR: 158

I have been running really, I have

Just haven't been posting.

I hope Santa was good to those of you who celebrate Christmas, and otherwise, I hope whoever was good to you.
D and I had a very nice Christmas. We both got what we wanted although I was shocked because I didn't even think about what he got me. He got a Capitals Hockey Jersey. He has been looking at it since they changed the design last year. But really who has the money for that...apparently his mom and I do. He was totally shocked, I think, and he was very happy.

I got 3 books and 2 CDs and a leaf blower from his parents (I asked for it). D decided I was getting a Garmin, but then realized he knew me and wasn't sure if I had researched which one I wanted and all that. So on the 26th we went to the running store so I could talk to the guy about it. He answered all my questions but was selling it (the 305) for $80 more than Amazon. I got him to sell it to me for $20 more. Since neither of us was sure that it would work with Vista, I felt the $20 was worth it as it would be easier to return to him.

So today Guinness and I got all set up and off we went. We changed our route but not by much. The first mile was very slow. I didn't use all the fancy stuff so I know the first mile was 17 something (we had some pee and poop breaks). The second 2 miles were hell. It was raining and that's where all the hills are. Finally we got through it and beep beep. Mile 4 was done. And I wasn't even home yet. So we got home at 72 minutes. Our pace was slow, but we had fun on the run. We (I) talked and she ran in the puddles.

Good run in terms of relaxing, bad in terms of time. Eh!

Time: 72:38 (run)

Mileage: 4.34 (16:44 min/mile)

Calories: 532

Max HR 185

Avg HR: 168

From last Saturday:

Time: 73:38 (run)
Mileage: 5 (14:44 min/mile)

I'm Robinson Crusoe...wait who is that?

OK, so yesterday was the Jingle Jog 5K. I woke up at 5:40 with the alarm set to go off at 6:00.

My bladder was very full, but I didn't want to get out of bed. I decided to rough it like Robinson Crusoe. At 5:50 I realized I had no idea what that meant. I never read Robinson Crusoe, so who knows. At 6 I got up, relaxed the bladder and got ready. I wasn't sure if D was going or not since he was feeling horrible the night before. He got up and got ready too.

It was a lovely 27 degrees. We got in the car and went to the race. I told D about the Robinson Crusoe thing. He asked if I was on drugs. We got to the race, parked, and went and looked for registration. We found that, and then realized we had 40 minutes to kill. We walked around a lot. Mostly to keep warm. We looked for my co-worker Seth who was the one who convinced us to run. We couldn't find him. We also couldn't find the start line. So we kept walking around. Finally we found it. We asked a guy to take our pic and then Seth found us. We all got in the start. Seth went up front, I stayed in the back. D decided he was going to run with me. That lasted about 10 seconds into the race.

Me and D

Me and Seth

So the race started. Lots of kids. I really wish there were age limits to these things. Lots of moms, making sure everyone was holding hands! Yay (insert eye roll). Anyway, after tripping over 1, I decided to run my own race. D was infront of me, but I could see him. We ran down to Einstein Bros and they yelled at 14 min for mile 1. I decided that albeit slow, I was just going to run. I have been sick, and there were a lot of people, and WTF is that...dogs running. I don't mean German Shepherds, Goldens, Labs, or other normal size dogs. I mean Pomeranians and other rat dogs. Never mind I don't like toy dogs, but it seems cruel to make those legs run 3 miles.

I thought about this at the start of mile 2 which was a HILL. Everyone around me was walking. I kept talking (so people thought I was crazy), telling Guinness to pull me up, we can do it. Now this was crazy, because Guinness was back at home sleeping. But it got me up the first part of the hill. The hill would flatten and then go up. All of Mile 2 was like this. I seemed to have surrounded myself with this annoying woman and 4kids, the mom/son/shitzu combo and 2 women with a poodle. The 2 women with the poodle had no patience for anything, and had I been walking I think I would have made 2 new friends. Everything I thought was annoying they voiced. The road was crappy. If I'm going to pay $1M for a home around here, I want a better road (there were lots of potholes.) Those kids are brats. How is it 10 year olds have better running gear than me? I thought it, they said it. Finally we finished mile 2...30 minutes.

Mile 3 started. It was mostly flat. I just started to try to pick it up. My lungs hurt but I felt I was going fast (my time would show me I wasn't). So the 2 ladies were still talking. We got to some photographer and the rat dog people stopped and posed. But they STOPPED. That was it. The 2 ladies fell into them, and finally said, "Pick up your damn dog will ya!" This made me laugh and forget about the fact that their posing made the photographer not get a pic of me. Oh well. The last turn was all downhill. I went on my way and left everyone behind. I crossed Mile 3 at 44. So I crossed at 46:05.



D and Seth were waiting for me. Seth ran at 31 something and D ran at 37 something. We went and got our shirts and get water. Did I mention it was 27 degrees. Well I guess water wasn't important. Of course I could get coffee or hot chocolate. We realized too that Seth lost his key. So we looked everywhere, and went into Home Depot where D bought me some water. We finally found the key at Lost and Found of the race. So we all parted. I was still perturbed about no water. This seems to becoming a theme.



So later in the day D and I decided to check out the Porter Bar. Pretty good. A little confused with the name since the beer list seemed focused on wheats. I did have a Left Hand Milk Stout and a Great Divide Porter. D had a Beamish and a Great Divide. We also split a Reuben and a Ham and Cheese. The French Fries were awesome. Although the bartender thought I didn't like them because I only had 5.

Then is when we decided we should leave...the man and woman who sat down next to us were interstesting. First the woman had enough collagen that we were sure she wouldn't be able to feel if she was giving her man a BJ. And he had this little case. It was black leather and it was a little roll. It looked like a dildo. So with his little dick on the bar and her lips we were making fun. Then they wanted to know if the fish and chips were greasy (huh!). The bartender goes, "No, they are just cooked in oil." The 2 didn't get what he meant so they ordered it. I think they were high too because they ate popcorn, fries and the fish and chips. And they were grubbing. I stretched back and then saw it. The chick had hair extensions that were coming through. It was so bad. I don't think the picture did justice. It is hard to take a pic in a dark bar incognito.

Bad hair

So we left.
Fun day!

Time: 46:05 (run)
Mileage: 3.1 (14:52 min/mile)
Calories: 1277
Max HR 190
Avg HR: 143
In Zone 13:10

I'm STILL here

It is like I almost fell off the face of the earth.
Well, I have sort of.

First, SIL's biopsy was benign. Yay!

Second, my knee finally feels better, I went and got yet another brace and was ready to run!
And then I got a cold. All in my head. And then I got better for a day. And then I got the flu.

So I'm recovering from that. I decided to sign up for a 5K this Saturday since I haven't run since 11/15. Aye yi yi! I'm a bit nervous.
But as my friend Kara pointed out...eh just have a good time for 45 minutes and then you'll be done!

I'm here

Random pic of the new favorite, although Guinness is still the best in terms of hangover forgiving.

No, I didn't quit running, and I'm not back in Colorado, and I'm not depressed.

Just busy. If you recall, I had said my knee was bugging me in my last 5K. Well I iced it that night, and on Sunday night, limped around the grocery store. So another day without a 4 miler. Tuesday, I said. Tuesday came and I was still limping.
Ah, I'll wait 'til Saturday.

So Saturday came and D and I had a date. That didn't involve running. It involved eating chili, putting up the Christmas tree and drinking 32 beers (combined, not just me). In all that, I hit my knee on the coffee table. So, more ice.

The table where I hit my knee. And the table that has our beer cans on it from the day's activities.

Sunday, I said I would run after we went to the mall. 20 minutes into the mall festivities, I was limping again. It feels a lot better and I'm hoping to do something on it on Thursday...

And I still have to find my brace.


Oh, think good thoughts...my SIL found another lump.

Pancreatic Cancer 5K

So, Friday I was exhausted. I did the headbob thing at my desk from 1 to 130 when I said Fuck It and went home. I slept from 2 until 6. I still felt really tired. Nothing exciting happened on Friday night.

Saturday D went to work, and I got up around 830. A and I were doing another 5K. This one was in Grant Park for Pancreatic Cancer (link tells you what PC is since neither A nor I knew). I got to A's around 9:15. It was 55 degrees. We walked down to the Pavillion and signed in. Our reception was a bit frosty since neither of us raised any money for it (again, we didn't even know what it was). So we got our T-shirts that we had to ask for, as opposed to those around us who received them. We also asked about the course, and got, "I don't know." So back to A's we went to put our T's in the car. And back to the pavillion. Opening ceremonies were going on from 10-1045. In that time, I found out that A doesn't mind a black man being over her (politics, sortof), which still has me chuckling. She found out that I haven't shaved my legs in about 3 weeks. Terribly exciting...we still didn't find out what PC was, but that usually you are black, old, a smoker, a diabetic, a man, and have very little chance of surviving...or so said the white, young non-smoker, no-diabetic female survivor. Finally the ceremony was over and we had to walk to the start line.

There weren't a lot of runners (we found out this was the first run, the 3rd walk). The walkers were on a different route. So the race started. I just kind of ran it. My knee was bugging me and it had been so I wasn't out to set a record. We ran near the Interstate and back to the park and up my least favorite hill in GP. Got up to BLVD and ran on the sidewalk. I was very careful because I was sure I was going to slip on the wet leaves (it rained overnight). Mile 1 was 13:45...I knew I was going slowly, but ok. I passed 2 12 year olds and they would pass me then walk, and then I would pass them. Finally on Atlanta, I passed them and 3 more people. Up onto Cherokee. This is an up/down street. The hills aren't hard, just long. I really didn't want to run on the sidewalk but looking at the slope on the street, I knew I would hurt my leg more. Mile 2 came, and it was 28:58. Getting slower.
There were some really good volunteers on the course and they cheered me on. Sometimes being at the back of a pack, you wonder if the volunteers are wondering why you aren't just doing the walk. This is what I thought they thought. There were a lot of cops for the race too. So finally I got to the turn and ran down hill. And all the walkers were on the street and I had to run against them up that same dreaded hill. The cop told me it was the last hill, and I could do it. By now my knee REALLY was talking. I walked half of the hill. I got to the top and resumed running. I passed the start cone. This run seemed really long, like at the cone it should be over.

I continued to BLVD, and then turned into the park. Only .1 more miles. Yay! I crossed the line at 45:27. I was horrified at this time. To make matters worse, they wouldn't record mine or Anne's time (she waited for me at the finish), because "they already know who the awards are going to." WTF! That isn't the point. So that ticked me off.
We went and got some water and they still had some... Yay! And then we walked home. A said her time was off from the cemetery run (part of the course was the same) by 2 minutes. Hmmm so was mine.

So I got home and looked at another GP run we had done, and my time was faster for that and that run was over a year ago, when I started running. Something was wrong. The difference in the courses was the beginning. So out to US Track to map the damn thing. Turns out it was 3.3 miles. Now in the grand scheme of things this isn't a lot, but it is almost a lap at the track, which equates to about 3 minutes, so things started to make more sense.

I'm still irked by that and the lady who wouldn't record my time. But eh...I got a T-shirt, and now I know what Pancreatic Cancer is.

Oh and then on Saturday Night, D and I did a case race of Pipeline Porter. Needless to say I didn't run 4 miles on Sunday.

Time: 45:27 (run)

Mileage: 3.3 (13:46 min/mile)

Calories: 912

Max HR 187

Avg HR 166

In Zone 12:43

Crotch sweat...

You know when you have been running and you know you are the shit? I mean, you know you can run up hill in the snow for 20 hours straight... Why is it then that a piddly 3 miles on the dreadmill will kick your ass.

That was me last night. D and I went to the track. There was no parking at the school...something was going on. And Bootcamp was already on the track. So around the corner to the gym we went.

Let me first say, I didn't want to run on the track or on the treadmill, but I got home to late to run through the hood. It was too dark. I was in tears over something and just wanted to be by myself. When leaving for the track, I snapped at D and cried some more...All the more reason to go run.

Back to story...
So we got to the gym and changed to short sleeves (we had a backup plan for once). By this point I wasn't talking because I knew if I did the dam would break. So I started my walk. Then I started my 5K. The music playing at the gym was shit. I think I listened to REO Speedwagon, Journey and Air Supply. Not great running music. I focused on that the first mile. I finally finished that mile at 13:38, and started the 2nd mile. It wasn't great. At one point, I leaned my arms on the treadmills, so my legs wouldn't have to carry any weight. Why the hell am I so tired, I was wondering. It wasn't the speed. Why is my HRM reading 77bpm? The guy next to me left and my HR went up to 177. Answered that question. Ah the hills. You can do it, AL. 4 minutes into the hills, I'm going, "No fucking way can I make the hills." So I put the incline back at 0. Finished mile 2 at 27:28.
Mile 3: Just kill me now. How did I run 4 miles last week? Hell how did I run 3 miles Saturday? If I'm still shuffling my feet at speed 3.7 is that considered running? I basically played with (read slowed down) my speed for the last mile in dying torture. I finished at 43:42, I think. I walked .1 mile afterward and thought my legs would give, so I went and got on the bike.

On the bike, I rode 2 miles. While on the bike, I smelled crotch sweat. I don't think it was me. I smelled it when these 2 guys stood behind me (1 was on the stairmaster and the other wanted the bike I guess). When the bike waiting guy would walk around the gym, the smell would lessen. So I am guessing it was him. 10 minutes on the bike I was done. I now couldn't get crotch sweat out of my mind.

D and I went home and he cooked dinner. Just to be on the safe side that it wasn't me, I washed all my shorts with Dawn and Tide, and took a shower.

I didn't have time to think about what had upset me before the run. I guess that's what running, biking and crotch sweat is for.

Time: 43:42 (run)

Mileage: 3.1 (14:06 min/mile)

Time: 6:00 (walk)

Mileage: .3 (20.00 min/mile)

Calories: 727

Max HR 185

Avg HR 140

In Zone 3:42

So...

I'm fat. There I said it. Again. I don't know how many times I've said it in this blog. But here it is again. D is not happy with himself either. He also isn't happy with the amounts of beer being consumed in the house, especially since he is at work so much when those beers are consumed.

So Alb and D, now that you know you're fat what are you going to do about it? This is the question that plagues us every Thursday (when we weigh-in). The answer is something that we don't want to think about but made us happy once we started doing it before...
Hal Higdon's Novice 10K Plan

You see, his plan isn't all about running. You have to lift weights, with both of us like because we can be in and out of the gym in 45 minutes. There is cross-training which D perceives as walking the dogs while I'm on my stationary bike for 30 minutes. And there is running which makes Thursday our favorite day because it is only 2 miles.

So we began on Week 4 of the plan yesterday. We lifted weights. We have a plan that I devised from somewhere, and I had our weights (what we lift) written down, and dates. We hadn't lifted weights since 3/22. I was surprised how strong I still was. This morning I am reminded how much the abductor and the adductor make my legs hurt.

Today is a 3 mile run. I don't know if D knows this or not.

As for food, we are fine. We have to make an extra effort not to eat out when the mood strikes us (every day of the week). We figure this will help the weight and the wallet. As for the beer...hmmm.

I ran fast... for me...sortof...

So today was the 3rd Annual Romp and Stomp 5K at the Chomp and Stomp Festival. I really wished D didn't have to work but he did, so it was just A and me.

It was 44 degrees when we left, so Anne actually wore short sleeves instead of her usual tank top. I wore long sleeves and shorts. We got to Cabbagetown at 730 and there was no place to park. Finally found a place and went and got our numbers. We chatted to some of A's friends that she ran into, and before you know it the race was off.

As I crossed the Start line, I turned on my watch (you know Atlanta doesn't do chip timing!). The start of the race was kind of hilly. Not massive hills but up down up down. No big woop since I've been running in my 'hood. Oh there is the lady I passed last year...I will pass her again. And I did. Around and up to Milltown. I really wanted to go in...we haven't been in awhile...my medical bills put a dent into my social funds. Down another street, Mile 1. I looked at my watch...12:45. OK no wonder I'm breathing hard. If I can keep this pace I can finish under 40 minutes. Can I? I can't compute .1 so maybe not.

OK old man, why are you only running up the hills? Together Old Man and I passed 3 women. We got to the Krog Street Tunnel and went through. There were a lot of people still around me...was I really going fast or was everyone else going slowly. I don't know. Damn! There is a person in that car. I thought it was parked. I guess they didn't appreciate me almost running into it. OK Mile 2...26:45. 14 minute mile. One extreme to the other.

This next mile was quite boring...these 2 women would pass me and then walk. On a hill I would pass them and then they would run past me. They must have gotten tired of me, because the last half mile they ran all the way. I wasn't even in the mood to chase them. We passed the Coffee Shop that I won't go to. They are "dog-friendly" but don't allow Pits. Then you aren't dog friendly and you don't know squat about dogs. (don't get me started on that). Old Man and I still were together. The last turn, I saw the 3 mile sign. I got to it at 40:0?. The 2 women had disappeared by now, but Old Man was going to eat my dust. I saw the finish line and Anne. I was very glad I had my watch...they had already turned off the clock. (Annoyance). Woman with stroller stopped right on the finish line, I almost ran her down. My time 41:40.

I was really disappointed with that time. I was sure last year was lower. So we were herded into a line for shirts which they apparently had run out of, except they had XXL and M, so A and I scored. We also go spoons for the Chomp and Stomp later on (the Chili is free, a spoon is $5).

Our bitch of the run, you ask? No water again! WTF? They opened the beer truck, but it did us no good as I didn't have cash and A doesn't drink beer. So we came home.

I came home and looked at last year's time. 41:48. I improved. Go me!

Time: 41:40 (run)

Mileage: 3.1 (13:26 min/mile)

Calories: 789

Max HR 190

Avg HR 164

In Zone 2:50

And A New Reign of Idiocy Begins!!!

No, I'm not talking about election day results. I'm talking about female drivers from Coweta County.
I'm on the Connector this morning and see not 1, not 2, but 3 women all from Coweta doing this!!!

November = 4 miles

So somewhere in my crazy head I had decided each month would mean add a mile to my weekend run. This means November brings 4 miles. So yesterday, D and I planned on running. Instead we went to Taco Mac. We intended on going to the Georgia Tech game vs. FSU. We drank lots at Taco Mac. We intended on having a good dinner. We left Taco Mac and went to the liquor store and bought more beer. We were within 4 blocks of Tech campus and never got to the game.

So fast forward to today. We hung out, went to lunch and to the grocery store. Terribly exciting. I got on the computer and mapped out 4 miles, because I didn't feel like going to the track. Although, it would have been an easier run. So I did the hood run, except I added a dreaded hill, and ran 2 other hills twice. This got me to 4 miles. So studying the map, and then I got dressed and got Guinness ready for her "walk." We did the .25 mile warmp and she did her business. Then we returned home to discard her business and start the run. The first mile starts on a downhill and then loops up a hill back down to the front of the subdivision. I then went back up that hill I just had gone up and back to the front of the sd. Then up the hill that I had gone down. Turn and a long hill. There is a loop, so I did that twice. By this point I had gone 1.5 miles. I ran past the German Shepherd house, and the usual routine. The "Friday" house was empty. Actually most people were indoors. Of course I started my run at 4 when the Falcons were on, so this might be why.

I ran past the PitBull House. They scare me; not because they are pits, but because they are viscious. The Rottweiler there is scary too. They all like to show their teeth, and one of the pits that I have seen up close has too many scars for a normal house animal. I think some Michael Vick goes on in that house. Anyway, we got to the school, and ran around the front, and then had to go to the side. On the side of the school there is a park at the bottom of the hill. As Guinness and I ran down the hill, I nearly fell over from the gravity...that's how steep it was.

There were some people in the park with their 4 dogs not leashed...pissed me off. Of course the dogs came over to us, and one of them wasn't nice. I usually just ignore, but one wouldn't leave us alone. It licked my leg, Guinness showed teeth, and I kicked it. This was a total reflex. The people said shit but I said the dog needed a leash. All the while I continued my run. So back out of the park was the dreaded hill, but Guinness and I focused on leaves on the ground to pass. And finally we got to the top. I was so proud of us. The rest of the run was uneventful. When we got home, I leashed up Porter and took her on my post-run cool down walk.

Time: 65:15 (run)

Mileage: 4.06 (16:04 min/mile)

Time: 32:32 (walk)

Mileage: 1 (32:32 min/mile)

Calories: 1125

Max HR 184

Avg HR 153

In Zone 28:58

I'm alive, but my butt hurts.

So I haven't posted because I haven't run since 10.18. Just haven't felt like waking up early and at night it is too late. D and I have had some things going on in our lives, so neither of us is really with it at the moment (we are fine...just dealing with life's stresses). So yesterday, he called and said he had his running clothes on so I wouldn't be able to find an excuse when I got home. So after a 75 minute commute (this is longer than my normal 55 minute commute), I got home and put on my running clothes. We decided to go to the gym as it has been getting a bit cold. Mile 1 wasn't terribly exciting. I finished it in 13:11 minutes. Mile 2 wasn't very exciting. I finished it in 12:57 minutes. Whoa! Wait!
My watch must be wrong. I finished it under 13 minutes. That can't be right. Turns out, when I thought I had set the treadmill to 4.6 mph, I had set it to 4.8. So yes, it was right.
Go me! My butt muscles were killing this morning.

In other news, I signed up for the Chomp and Stomp 5K on 11.08. Anne is going to go too.

Time: 26:08 (run)
Mileage: 2 (13:04 min/mile)
Time: 21 (walk)
Mileage: 1.1 (19:05 min/mile)
Calories: 666
Max HR 191
Avg HR 166
In Zone 9:10

Run Like Hell 5K, Drink Like Hell, and then Feel Like Hell!

OK, so Friday night at 11PM our phone rang. D and I were both asleep. The phone was Vic, waiting for us to pick her up from the airport. So off we went and got her. My arm was killing me.

I kept making sure that the left arm is the heart attack arm, because it was my right. But I know why. Friday morning they couldn't find a vein in the top of my hand so they had to put the IV in my arm (elbow bend). So before I was out the electric blood pressure thing was on my other arm going on every minute or so. But it changed somewhere along the way. At 915 I was bitchy and cold and finally got a blanket after waiting a whole 8 minutes. I also noticed my arm hurt every minute or so, sort of like a needle was being driven into my arm. But I had already caused a scene about the blanket that I didn't want to say anything in case they made it worse. So after rolling from side to side a few times for my air passes, the nurse said something was wrong with my blood pressure. She took the blanket off, and the cuff was now below the arm and on my wrist. But anyway...my arm hurt really bad Friday night and there is a nice bruise on it now.

So Vic and I got up and got dressed. It was 55 degrees. I know Anne would be wearing a tank top. I was in a long sleeve shirt as was Vic. We both ended up changing. We left the house at 8 and picked up Anne. She pointed out that the race went by her house, so look for J and C. We got to the cemetery, parked and found registration. After that, V needed coffee, so the people gave her a taste. Literally, she got a Dixie Cup and Anne and I had to look in the cup to see what she had. We put our T-shirts in the car. Then we hung out. D came up to cheer us on. I was very happy to see him and happy he was there. He could have slept another hour before going to work, but he chose to come see us. Yay D!

Vic, Al, and Anne

So the race started. Not a lot of fan fare. We started down MLK. Vic was beside me, talking (she is the most talkative person I know). She passed me, and I tried to keep up before I remembered to run my own pace. We turned on Grant, crossed over Memorial right by the Standard. I thought about a beer. They weren't open. Grant was downhill. We turned on Woodward and then went to Cherokee. It was a bit low hill but nothing much. There was a lady in a green shirt that would pass me. Then she would start walking. Then I would pass her. We crossed over I20 and passed the pizza place. Running down Cherokee...more downhill. I passed the 2 mile marker...I looked at my watch and it said 10 minutes. Obviously I had not gone 2 miles. People started passing me going the other way. Still running my own race, but knowing the course started bugging me...there were some hills I had to deal with...Drawn out hills...do I like steep or drawn out...not sure. Turned onto Bass. That was a steep hill. I got through 2 blocks and then had to walk. I couldn't get air into my lungs. I noticed while I was debating running or walking, no one besides me was running. I walked. We got to the top of the hill and turned. I resumed running. J and C were on their front porch. They waved and said "Go Allison." Everyone was looking around. It felt great to have a cheering section.

Turned again and noticed a line. Water station? Yes, and there was no water. I was fine with that. Back up Cherokee, and up the drawn out hill. I past the 2 mile marker at 27 minutes... I got up to the intersection before the pizza place and felt really tired. And my arm was aching, killing. To the point, I had it tucked in my side. I finally decided to walk again. I didn't lollygag though, and passed 3 people while walking. I got back to the I20 bridge and started running. Back across Memorial and turned onto MLK to head back into the cemetery. That green shirt lady passed me again (this was about the 5th time). I was tired. We were still on a hill. The volunteer told me to turn and run to the belltower. I started running a little harder, and I saw D. He was waiting at the belltower and took a picture.

My neighbors all screamed, "Go Allison!" I know they run sub-20 minute 5Ks so it made me happy they waited for me. I was pointed to go down a hill and it would be done. I ran and looked to my right, and I seemed to be below another path. I finally turned again, and had another hill. But I got there. And then I saw her...the green shirt lady. She had about 10 yards to go. I had about 15. I BEAT HER!!!!

Me beating the Green Lady

And people with kids, when you cross with a 2 yo, please pick them up so I don't trip over them.

D, Vic and Anne all came and helped me finish my card. I guess the time said 43:25 but I went by my watch which was 43:06. I'm happy with that time. D kissed me bye and left for work. The gals and I went to get water which there was none. D was nice enough to have given me his gatorade so I had that, which was fabulous. We left so we could get water at home.

We dropped Anne off and then we went to the Decatur Beer Fest, and got way too drunk. Becky came with us. Michelle met us afterward. Becky left, and Michelle drove us home. This is where things fall out of my head. I know we watched Sex and the City. I don't remember it ending, and I don't know how I got to bed. I do remember going next door because I had hiccups and I needed peanut butter, and we had none thanks to Guinness's incident.

So 630 came this morning. I tried to get up. I think I was still drunk. D graciously got up and drove Vic to the airport. I love him. I got up 2 hours ago. Becky wanted to do lunch because her purse is at my house. I think Michelle has my sunglasses. I am doing dinner with Becky because food isn't my friend right now.

Congratulations, Al! There's nothing wrong with you...

*warning* a lot of this post is about shit, literally.

I weighed yesterday. I had gained .4 pounds
So yesterday I worked from home. I had to fast for 24 hours and my office is full of popcorn eaters. So I wanted no temptations. Hours 1-4 were miserable, but after that it wasn't bad. I avoided the grocery store by going to CVS to get the lovely Mirolax, Ducolax and Gatorade that I needed for my "cocktail."

So 3PM: Take 2 Ducolax. I drank some water and some Gatorade (I think I had 9-20oz bottles yesterday of Gatorade and 6-20 oz bottles of water).
At this point I weighed myself again. Since the morning (on empty stomach) I had lost .2 pounds.

At 5PM, I mixed the Mirolax and 64 oz of Gatorade. I was supposed to drink 8 oz every 15 minutes. I drank 32 oz at 5. At 6, I drank the other 32 oz. And waited.

At 7, still waiting. At 9 still waiting. Finally everything hit me, and I was pretty much up all night using the facilities.

If you ever have this cocktail, you will also need 409, paper towels, a plunger, and at least 1 new roll of TP.

So at 6AM, I got up and weighed myself. I lost .2 pounds. 0.2 FUCKING POUNDS!!! D took me to the hospital for a colonoscopy. At 8:30, I was ready to go. I have no clue how the procedure went. All I remember is being asked about anethestelogy a million times. At 9:15 I was awake, and told I needed to "pass air." Finally D was there and I told him the next "air pass" was not going to be air. I found the restroom, and I'm glad I know my body. D said the restroom was NOT soundproof.

So the doctor came, and told us that everything looked fine despite my colon wasn't completely cleaned out. WTF?!?!?! An entire bottle of Mirolax and I'm not empty. Anyway, I have no cysts, tumors, polyps or anything else. I get to go see the doctor next week to swallow a camera pill. I am still saying they won't find anything.

So D took me to get a milkshake while he had a bagel (I wasn't allowed one). Then we went to buy Kraft Mac and Cheese. Came home, and found Guinness has thumbs! She took the peanut butter off the coffee table (isn't that where you keep it?) , took off the cap, stuck her snout in the jar and licked it clean. I would blame Po, but guess who has peanut breath. D shook his head, made sure I was comfy, and he left for work.

He gets home tonight, and gets to pick up Vic from the airport at 11PM. He is trying to put on a good face about it. (I'm not allowed to drive until tomorrow). Tomorrow, Anne, Vic and I are running the Run Like Hell 5K. D is going to watch until he has to go to work at 10, so he'll get to see Anne and Vic cross the finish. (D has inventory at his store, so he has crazy hours right now...I'm still shocked they "allowed" him off work to take me to the hospital).

Afterward, Vic and I are going to the Decatur Beer Festival. (Anne didn't want to go).

New Day of Running in the Hood

Porter

So I got home yesterday, and told Guinness that we were going on a 'hood run. She was either really excited by this or really had to go outside to do her business. Anyway, I leashed her and Porter, changed clothes, and off we went for our warm-up walk, and the "do your business" walk.
12 minutes later, we dropped Po off and were off.

Down the hill and up another one. We waved (well I did) to our neighbor. We went down the hill and to the end of the development before going up another hill. And another. Did our loop (this is point F from previous post). Dying. But I told G-dog we were still on. Passed 2 other neighbors who said, "Go! Go! Go!" That got me to the dog lady's house (Point G). The next block, I heard "You can be anything you want, it doesn't matter what race you are!" from a little girl to an older boy. Another little boy raced me on his bike (he won). Guinness saw a squirrel and we chased that. At Point N, there were 3 guys sitting outside their house. It looked like a scene from Friday (the movie). It made me giggle, which caused me to breathe, which REALLY made me think of Friday. Their house was midway on a hill. So when I came back down the hill, it didn't help that I breathed incorrectly right in front of them, had to stop and hack up a lung. Timing is everything.

The rest of the run was pretty uneventful. I finished 2+ minutes faster than I did on Saturday, which made me happy. I also was dead when I got home, and Porter and I didn't go on a cool-down walk. I did stretched for 10 minutes.

In other news, our Furminator came. Guinness doesn't like it. Porter likes it on her butt. The hair it took off of her in 40 minutes was astounding (I won't share the picture).

Time: 48:43 (run)
Mileage: 3.14 (15:311 min/mile)
Time: 12:00 (walk)
Mileage: .25 (48:40 min/mile)
Calories: 800
Max HR 186
Avg HR 156
In Zone 11:00

Yay me!

So Guinness and I went on a run. I didn't want to go. I've been getting worried about my 5K next week, and besides the hills, I'm fatter, and slower, I don't know why I'm having trouble grasping the 5K.

Anyway, we decided to go running in the neighborhood. We took Porter with us for a warm up .25 mile walk and they both did their business. Then we dropped Po at home. I wanted to stay home too, but Guinness was acting nuts so off for a run.

The first part of the run (A-D and right where the Finish sign is --that's a turn) was rather pleasant and that consists of 2 hard hills. After the turn we went up another hill and it seemed to kill me. What was worse is at F I had to make a loop and then go back up the same hill. We kept going though. G-J was pretty easy. I took a picture at J to show you all the prison.


Obviously this isn't the main building, which is beautiful especially at night (no I'm not being sarcastic; it really is). The stretch from M to S back to G was pretty hard. The hills weren't long, or steep but I didn't want to do them. I don't think it helped that at M I heard a gunshot and at N I heard another one. I tried to play it off in my mind that it was a car backfiring, but police sirens were soon heard. I never saw the police though. Back at F, Guinness and I saw Mecca (the blue house in the background). (This is also the hill that going up twice killed me).


And finally we were home. I took Porter for my post run cooldown of another .75 miles.

My time wasn't fantastic, but I feel good about the run. I have decided the time doesn't matter on the Run Like Hell. Anne and Vic will be there waiting for me at the end. And I'll have finished. I know I can run 3 hilly miles without stopping. So yay me.

Oh the scale moved down, like 1 pound this week. Good things I did...ate less rice, more fruit, less ice cream. Bad things...little journaling, less exercise.

Time: 50:50 (run)
Mileage: 3.14 (16:11 min/mile)
Time: 35:23walk
Mileage: 1 (35:23 min/mile)
Calories: 1052
Max HR 188
Avg HR 160
In Zone 22:18

Mostly about Gus Frerotte

So the doctor called me yesterday. Yes, the doctor, not the office, not the assistant. Scared the bejeesus out of me. Anyway she called to tell me that I don't have appendicitis and now I get to come in for more fun tests. I get to go to the Hospital for the procedure. I forgot to ask if I'll be put out. Doug wanted to know. Last time, I was put out, I woke up and told him that Gus Frerotte was hot. At the time GF was a backup QB on the Dolphins. I've never watched the Dolphins. The last time I watched GF was when he made Pro-Bowl for the 'Skins. So where this came from, who knows. But D made sure to point out to me that he is now the QB for the Vikings. And he makes sure to tell me everytime we turn on the Vikings (we have NFL Ticket).

Gus Frerotte

I talked to Blue Shield today. Not about all of this, but about my eyes. It seems that visiting an MD for your eyes and getting plugs put it your tear ducts only counts as half a medical procedure. The lady at BS couldn't even figure out why half the claim was denied (the new patient was denied, the tear ducts weren't, and the doctor wrote off 2 things). So we'll see.

I think we are lifting today. If not we'll start next Monday.

I have had 1 ice cream bar since Friday. We have had fruit and Cool Whip for dessert. Oh and D had never had Nutella. This was his new find yesterday because a case of it was sold at his work, but somehow a jar managed to slip away. Anyway, I already know the stuff is evil (190 Cal for 2 TBSP). But it didn't prevent me from dunking my finger in it for a taste. The stuff must get hidden.

Tomorrow I will resume running. It is pouring out.

Quick update

I got to the GI doc at 10:15 for my 10:30 appointment yesterday. At 11:15 they finally took me back. She pressed around my side, I said ouch, and then...

DR- Al, you need a CT scan, because I think it is your appendix.
AL (not comprehending)-ok, when do you want me to come in
DR- um, hold on, the nurse will be in a second with the directions.
AL- Directions? You mean appointment?
DR- No. I hope you have nothing else to do today. I'm going to make sure radiololgy can fit you in.

So luckily all my doctors are at Pill Hill (collection of 3 hospitals and medical buildings galore). So I only had to go across the street (but still had to pay for another place for parking). I got there and immediately had to down a barium milkshake (how many points is that, anyone, anyone).
Then I read Modern Bride, Gourmet, and Better Homes and Gardens. After 2 hours (they told me the milkshake thing would be 2 hours), they called me back to another room, where I got another milkshake and got to watch One Life to Live. How much Botox does Dorian have? She looks younger than the last time I watched 11 years ago! Finally they took me to the CT room, and did the CT. Then I got to get up and go pay. I did ask if I was ok...I mean, are you just going to send someone home if they have appendicitis. So I'm not supposed to know I'm fine, but the tech told me in so many words that I'm fine.

Then I got to pay. The lady asked me how much I wanted to put down. I was figuring she was talking about my copay. So I said $20. She asked if I wanted to put anything else down. So I asked how much my bill was. She said it was over $5000, to which I busted out laughing. I never did get out of her if that was with or without insurance. So I put down a whopping $50. The lady was laughing with me, because she said she would send me the rest of the bill. I told her she would be able to hear me laugh when I got it. (I told her it would be a payment plan thing). Even with insurance it will be over $1K.

So finally at 4PM I got to go home. A little freaked and very tired. Needless to say, I didn't go lift weights (yesterday D and I were going to start that) or run this morning. All the pressing on my side is making it hurt a lot, so I'm going to take a muscle relaxer and go back to bed.

Weekend is done!

Boo to that.

So I did not bike this weekend? Why you ask? I made my goals on Friday without thinking about the fact D was going to be off all weekend. So we took a walk instead. Still 200 calories burned. So I'm fine with my substitution.

OK, so the economy is sucking (I know, where have I been)? We went to Whole Paycheck after our bfast date yesterday. I have for a year told D that the prices in produce rival Kroger's, and we needed mirin, miso and Swiss Chard, so we went (because we KNOW Kroger won't sell any of that).
OMG! Cilantro last year was $0.79 and now it is $1.69. Cauliflower and Broccoli were both $3.99!
We got the Swiss Chard and the Miso, decided to use rice vinegar (or wine) to replace the mirin, and called it a day at Whole Paycheck. We continued our journey to Kroger. Cauliflower and Broccoli were both $1.99 and cilantro was $0.89. They had Swiss Chard, but not mirin or Miso.
D made perverted acts with the carrot, that caused me to call him a pervert and the produce man to shake his head at us.

Kroger has stopped selling garam masala. This was a pissy thing for me because I have not been happy with the place in the past few weeks. I believe they are getting to be more and more like the Kroger. First the meat police chase me around the store and now this. I know they used to sell the gm because that is where I got it. So the rest of the trip was pissy for me.

Doc appointment today. In 2.5 hours. Yay.

Run is done!

Time: 43:53 (run)

Mileage: 3 (14:38 min/mile)

Time: 24:04walk

Mileage: 1 (24:04 min/mile)

Calories: 824

Max HR 188

Avg HR 158

In Zone 15:26

So I have gone running and I have gone to the Georgia Tech/Duke game. Both were decent. Mile 1 of the run really sucked. I was going slowly and my feet were shuffling. But I had no side pain and I could breathe pretty deeply. My side still hurts, but it wasn't hindered by the running. Anyway I finished mile 1 at 15:22. Mile 2 was better. I started running the straits faster. It was fartlek time. Well not really. I was wearing a pair of D's shorts. They had no drawstring, so they either fell from my waist to my hips or rode up and I got chub rub. So the straits took my mind off of it.

I had told D that I was going to run 2.5 miles, but in lap 6, I questioned this. WTF? I have a 5K in 2 weeks, and perhaps I should be able to run 3 miles. So when he passed me again in lap 7, I told him I was doing 12. He said ok. He wasn't happy to be out there as his iPod was dead. I have no clue where mine is so I've been running without mine for a few months. I came in at mile 2 at 29:21 (13:59).
Mile 3 I continued my fartleks. I thought about the game and if A was going to bring carrots. I decided she probably wouldn't since no one told her to. I was right. I heard D coming behind me on lap 10, so I sprinted. I shuffled/sprinted the last 2 laps. I came in at 43:53 (14:32). Then D and I did our post walk.

Got home and showered and got ready for the game. Ran to the ATM and to get beer. Met up with Dave at the rib shack and got ribs and a pitcher. Sat there until 10:45 and then walked over to the fraternity and ate our ribs. Then A and J came and we all went to the stadium and watched a rather boring game. Tech seemed lethargic first half. Second half they took control of the game, but it took long enough. Anyway it was a shutout (27-0). After the game, we didn't hang around. I realize why we usually do...traffic. So that took a few minutes, and D and I got home at 4. We've been watching football since.

Tomorrow...bike!

Goals of the weekend

So yesterday after feeling sorry for myself...the GI doc called and said she could see me on Monday. So of course, I've been feeling better since then. It couldn't be the muscle relaxers or anything.

I got home last night and decided I wanted Kung Pao, so D said ok. So we called DAWA and they delivered. They know my voice...Minnie Mouse on helium. I called and got, "Oh hi 123 Main Street. How are puppies?" D calls and he doesn't get that. So they delivered and we ate. I decided I would run today (Friday) but it isn't happening. I'm redlining prints, and falling asleep.

So somewhere between now and Sunday night I will ride my bike, go to the Georgia Tech/Duke game , and run.

Guinness and I did play with the police horses today. They for some reason were strolling the 'hood. They are zone 3 horses and we are zone 6, so I don't know why they were in the hood, but Guinness loved it. She barked, peed, tripped over herself, and generally acted like a fool. And before I came outside, I could tell from her bark, that teeth were showing.

The cops said she was a good guard dog. Little do they know, you pat her head, and she becomes your best friend.

So GO JACKETS! STING 'EM! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Grrr!!!!

So once again I'm up in weight. Gained back what I lost last week.
I'm ready to sue WeWa for something... just not sure what.
Let's see...I increased the water, the fruit, the milk. I got rid of bagels and went to oatmeal.
2 more weeks and I'll say fuck it.

So D and I went to the Thrashers game last night, pre-season. It was free thanks to bossman. All day, I didn't want to go, because my side was hurting. It hurts to breathe in, pee or have a BM. But I went. Last night when we got home, I was in a lot of pain. So much I almost went to the ER, but decided I didn't want to be surrounded with gunshot victims and criminals who have to have a physical before going to jail.

So I woke up every time I moved. I went to my doc this morning. He said I have a spastic colon. Tell me something I don't know. I already know I have IBS...I mean who has 5 freaking BMs a day, normally, besides me? So there was no change there. I peed in a cup. My kidneys are fine. He recommended an Ultrasound, and a call to my GI doctor. I go see her every 2 years for this exact thing and it always takes 4 weeks to get in, and by then the pain is gone. But I call the office only to find out she works for KP, which means I can't see her. So I left a message to see someone else. 6 weeks from now, if I still have the pain, I will go see the doctor. In the meantime, I get to go to an US that I know will prove fruitless (this will be my 9th one in 16 years), they'll determine I don't have Chrohn's or Colitis, and that I still have IBS.
I may not go (it'll be out of pocket if I do go).

Oh, because my side hurt to breathe deeply, I didn't go run. The doctor couldn't explain why I can walk faster than I run. He also couldn't explain why I can't lose weight, except maybe the Prozac that I have been on for 21 years (I got every imaginable test last year for the weight thing).

And the icing on the cake...mmm cake... the medicine that I take is having production issues, so the only medicine they can prescribe is one that causes drowsiness.

I might say f-it this afternoon, suck it up and run. I would go get a beer, but from experience, that will hurt quite a lot.

I'm thinking I might start Slim Fast. At least then, my bitchiness can be attributed to something, like starving to death.
-----------------------------

OK for real, what am I going to do. But FF Coolwhip and fruit. That will serve as my dessert instead of an ice cream bar. That is what I will give up this week.

Best News!!!!

D and D in June 2008

My SIL was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in March. Today she sent out an email. She is cancer free!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Running- Does it really help your outlook?

Time: 28.32 (run)

Mileage: 2 (14:16 min/mile)

Time: 25:01walk

Mileage: 1.1 (22:45 min/mile)

Calories: 720

Max HR 188

Avg HR 168

In Zone 7:28

Like I thought...I can run/walk 3.1 miles faster than I can run 3 miles. Oh well.

Today's run started out bad. D and I got up at 5:45 and were out the door by 6. We went to the track. The Boot Camp people were there already laid out on the track. I didn't even stop the car...we turned around and went to the gym. We started. Apparently D forgot how to run on a dreadmill, and walked for a long part of it. I tried not to pay attention after he fell off for like the 8th time. If I had actually enjoyed my run, I might have thought his lack of ability was funny.

Anyway, I walked .2 miles and started running. I ran a mile and felt awful. My lungs felt fine, but my butt/legs couldn't go, so I had to walk after a mile. I really wanted to go home. I walked .1 and started running again. I ran .5 and walked another .1. During this time the hills started and I kept taking the dread down to 0 incline. I restarted the run and got through it, and walked the other .6 I had left. When I was done, I thought I was going to pass out. I had my Gatorade and then we went home.

I got to work, and of course was late, like I always am, hence I'm still here now. Anyway, after my 1.5 hour meeting, I emailed running bud A, and friend V who are both doing the Run Like Hell with me, and told them I'm beginning to freak out that I can't do this. They both assured me I could. I just don't want to be DFL, you know. And I'm sure it is a smaller race. I mean I can be 3rd to last, I can be 2nd to last. But DFL... So I have that in my head. Also I have the whole thing in my head that you only compete against yourself. Well I'm about 8-9 minutes off my 5K race time. So how am I supposed to compete with that.

So that's what I thought about while running. And about the stupid Boot Camp. D asked me once if I wanted to do it. I think it runs around $500 for 6 weeks. I said no. He asked why (besides the obvious...cost). I said because I didn't want to have to go pay $500 for the "joy" of going through grade school and being the last one to come in for the mile run, the lunge relay, the situps, etc.

Let's see...what else to I have to be negative nancy about. Well, I put my prom picture on facebook. For the past 10 years, I cannot remember my date's name (obviously the phrase "Off like a Prom Dress" was not used for that date). So I was hoping one of my friends knew, but no. D looked at the picture and said he liked the dress. I looked at it and said I looked fat. He covered up my head and told me to look at it, and I looked normal. My mother had insisted that the dress was all wrong for me, and it accentuated my fatness. Note, she said I was fat, not that I looked fat or the dress did nothing for me. This was from the mouth of a WeWa leader. Perhaps this is why I have food issues. Perhaps this is why I haven't spoken to the bitch in 15 years. Oh and I weighed 90 pounds less than I do now.

So, in conclusion...my run sucked, I hate Boot Camp, I'm still running the RLK 5K (thank God those 2 signed up with me or I would be backing out), and 90#s less ago, I was fat.

So.................... why am I sitting here with a smile on my face. I don't know. The running must be affecting my brain...that or the Prozac.

:)

Most Fucktastic Run EVER!!!

Time: 49.56 (run)

Mileage: 3 (16:39 min/mile)

Time: 27:19walk

Mileage: 1 (27:19 min/mile)

Calories: ???

Max HR ???

Avg HR ???

In Zone ???

This has to be the most fucktastic run ever. I think I can walk faster than this.
However, it is done. I knew that I was going to be slow 1/4 lap into the 1st 1/4 mile. I just wasn't feeling it. I didn't want to be there. I went with my trusty sidekick Guinness. I looked at her every so often. She walked the ENTIRE time. Bitch! It also didn't help that my HRM strap moved (or my sports bra rode up) and so I didn't collect about 1/2 mile worth of data. Now for most people this isn't a big deal. For the anal one who tracks everything (me), I almost thought that I would need to start all over to track correctly. I still don't know how put it in the WeWa thing.

Oh, and there isn't enough Prozac to compound the PMS I have. D got chewed out yesterday as did the eye doctor, some guy who blocked an entrance to the eye doctor and D had to hold me back as to not go beat up my neighbor. She made a comment about Guinness. Oh NO SHE DINT. D had to convince me not to kill her, and so I went to bed instead. But I still want to go beat her up, just because she is an idiotic bitchy twat. Yes, I said it!

I also mowed the lawn. Now I'm going to take a nap. Green Bean is ready for some Mommy time, since she didn't get to go to the track. Guinness is like, "Stay away from me!"

Happy Saturday to all! I already feel better.

YOU PEOPLE!!!

D and I went running today. Due to the gas shortage in Atlanta and the fact I have the longest commute to work of anyone in my office, I am working from home. So it was nice to not have to set the alarm. (We have gas in the hood, but the suburb where I work has nada!)

Time: 28:20 (run)

Mileage: 2 (14:10 min/mile)

Time: 23:03walk)

Mileage: 1 (23:03 min/mile)

Calories: 643

Max HR 195

Avg HR 162

In Zone 19:56

So I actually listened to what you had to say last week about my food diary.
And I relayed the info to D. He looked back over the weeks and found it interesting that we really didn't eat any veggies last week that didn't come in a can.
So we made a conscious effort this week. I also added yogurt to my lunches.
I might not get all 8HG of WeWa's but I'm trying...

So, I lost 1.2 this past week.
Here is what I had... (will post when WeWa works...)

Thursday: Honey-Chipotle Baked Beans; Honey-Chipotle Baked Beans and Chipotle-Barbecued Chicken; Szechuan Pork, Breyer's Double Churned Lite Vanilla Ice Cream Bar.

Friday: Honey-Chipotle Baked Beans; Szechuan Pork; Basmati Rice, Broccoli, Vietnamese Pork and Breyer's Double Churned Lite Vanilla Ice Cream Bar

Saturday: Brownie Clif Bar; 7 beers, 1 Pulled Pork Sandwich, 1/2 Cup Baked Beans; 1 Buffalo wing, 2 1/2 Servings Gatorade, 2 egg rolls, 1/2 serving Nachos (this was a best guess...there was a party, and I didn't feel like writing down all the rabbit platter stuff I ate).

Sunday: 1 Slice pizza with tomatoes and small Greek Salad with no dressing or olives; 2 1/2 servings Gatorade, 1 egg, 1/4C mushrooms, balsamic vinegar, 2 slices bacon, 2 C spinach, Breyer's Double Churned Lite Vanilla Ice Cream Bar, and Linguine with Garlicky Clams and Peas

Monday: Linguine with Garlicky Clams and Peas, Yoplait Light No Fat Pineapple Upsidedown Cake Yogurt; Basmati Rice, Vietnamese Pork ; Caesar Salad, Creamy Seafood-Parmesan Pasta, Breyer's Double Churned Lite Vanilla Ice Cream Bar

Tuesday: Clif Bar; 1/2C Applesauce, Yoplait Light Strawberry Shortcake Yogurt, Creamy Seafood-Parmesan Pasta; Chicken with Corn and Cheese, 1 Serving Simply Potatoes Diced Potatoes, Breyer's Double Churned Lite Vanilla Ice Cream Bar

Wednesday:Kroger Everything Bagel, Whipped Cream Cheese; Chicken with Corn and Cheese, 1 Serving Simply Potatoes Diced Potatoes,1/2C Applesauce, Yoplait Light Strawberry Shortcake Yogurt; Skillet Fillets with Cilantro Butter, Basmati Rice, Southwest Vegetable Saute, Breyer's Double Churned Lite Vanilla Ice Cream Bar

6 APs
0 FPs left

I ran...I ran so far away...

D and I went to a run this afternoon. I said, "Let's go for 3." He said he wasn't ready. Since he runs faster than I do, I was kind of limited. I told him I would do 3 on Saturday while he was at work. No biggie.
So off to the track we went. Crowded. There was the Boot Camp which has either the rudest or the dumbest people in it on the face of the earth. Yes, people are running on the track, so let me set up my yoga mat on the track.

Yours truly purposely runs on that shit, and kicks over water bottles when these people upset the run. Also at the track was the HS football team. I hope it was JV because they were rather little. And they didn't have the teenage girls hanging out watching them. So I think they were JV.

My first mile was 13:47. I slowed down significantly in the 2nd mile. D says he is still out of shape.

Time: 28:26 (run)

Mileage: 2 (14:13 min/mile)

Time: 22:57(walk)

Mileage: 1 (23:57 min/mile)

Calories: 669

Max HR 189

Avg HR 163

In Zone 17:06

After dinner, D and I took the dogs outside and played for about 30 minutes. Porter ran around more than I ever think she has run. Guinness was on a new run, so she was exploring the side of the house (G-dog is a runner). She hadn't been there before. We played with their soccer ball and had lots of fun!

Can you kill me now?

Saturday morning came. D and I were supposed to get up and run 2 miles, go to the ATM, go to the liquor store and then go tailgate. All this was to be done by 10:30. D and I woke up at 7 decided the bed felt good and re-woke at 9. We were out of the house by 9:50 with no run. But we did get everything else done.

We drank a few beers and then went and watched GA Tech whoop up on Mississippi State. Went back to the frat house and found our beers had been pillaged, and so we went to another frat house to see some friends (our tailgating is at a frat house that we don't have any affiliation with...don't ask).

So we ended up at Manuel's for our friend's 50th birthday. Everyone had beers but me. I went onto my 5th 32oz Diet Coke. And my 6th. And some carrots with Ranch Dressing. My face hurt. I checked it out in the bathroom. Turns out 15 SPF doesn't work in the direct sun of a football game. I am so racoon-eyes since I had sunglasses on. We were at Manuel's and my head started pounding, so we left. On the way home, a full migraine came on. Ranch dressing is officially out of my diet...no food with MSG! So I lay in bed for a few hours in pain until the meds hit.

Around 3 in the morning, I thought my insides were going to come out one way or the other, but couldn't. So I was up until 7 feeling miserable. Finally fell asleep. This feeling came on and off all day. So no running.

This morning, same thing. No run and no doctors appointments available. Lots of Gatorade later, I am feeling better.

Still no running.

I HATE MY BODY!!

For the most part, I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin. I know I'm overweight, and that it affects other parts of my life, so I need to change it. I know exercise and diet help with the whole overweight thing (dare I say fat!), so for the past 18 days I have been doing Points religiously.

I weigh my friggin' chicken before I eat it. I measure out a cup of broccoli, and I don't order anything out that I don't know the points to first. In addition in the last 5 days, I added exercise. 3 times! I upped my intake of water on these exercise journeys by a minimum of 32 oz. (That's I drank at least 4 extra cups to the 10+ I drink a day already).

So I got on the scale this morning, and remembered why I hate Points. Up 2.6 pounds!!! I weigh more now than I did 18 days ago!!!!

This is what I have eaten in the past week:
Thursday: Panera Bagel with 2TBSP of Schmear-yes measured, Shrimp Spring Roll and Wonton Soup, 1 beer, 1 slice of Tomato Pizza, and 1 small Greek Salad with no olives or dressing.

Friday:1 Clif Bar; 1/2 Cup of no sugar applesauce and 1.5 servings of black bean and chicken chilaquiles; 1 Italian Meatball Burger, 2 servings of Simply Potatoe Red Potato Wedges and 7 beers

Saturday: 1 Italian Meatball Burger; 2 oz whole wheat spaghetti, 1/2C Muir Glen Italian herb Pasta Sauce, 1/2 oz of mozzarella cheese; 1 C pork Fried Rice and 6 pork steamed dumplings

Sunday: 1 Einstein sundried tomato bagel with 2 TBSP veggie schmear; 1 C pork Fried Rice; 1 spicy Chicken Sandwich, 1 Elote, 1 Breyers Lite Double churned Ice Cream Bar, 8 oz Gatorade

Monday: 1 Kroger Everything Bagel and 2 TBSP Whipped Cream Cheese; 1 spicy Chicken Sandwich, 1 Elote; 1 slice of Tomato Pizza, and 1 small Greek Salad with no olives or dressing

Tuesday: 1 Kroger Everything Bagel and 2 TBSP Whipped Cream Cheese; 1 Gyro; 1 serving of Shrimp Diablo, 2.5 C Lite Caesar Salad, 1 Breyers Lite Double churned Ice Cream Bar

Wednesday: 1 Kroger Everything Bagel and 2 TBSP Whipped Cream Cheese, 2.5 servings of Gatorade; 1 serving of Shrimp Diablo, 1/2 Cup of no sugar applesauce; 1 Serving of Honey Chipotle Beans, 1 Leg and 1 Thigh Chipotle Barbecued Chicken, 1 Breyers Lite Double churned Ice Cream Bar

I used 21 Free Points.
I earned 15 Activity Points and ate 6.5.

I don't snack. I'm a 3 meals a day person. Always have been.
My workouts were in the morning, afternoon and night.

Update:
What I gave up- 2 pieces of pizza, and opted for 1 and a salad TWICE...skipped ice cream social... skipped 2 happy hours...didn't touch the donuts someone brought to work. Yes, I'm having my own pity party.


Any suggestions?!?!?!?!?!?!

My Green Bean Made Me Run 2 Miles

Ok, Green Bean (Porter’s new nickname) is driving me insane. First, according to the vet, all dogs love green beans. No, not my dogs. So I have 6 cans of green beans and a dog who after eating 1.5 cups of dog food looks at me with her big eyes, saying, “Mommy, where is the rest?” as she leaves a cup of green beans in her bowl.

So she still isn’t exercising (doctor directed not to) and still panting all night. (maybe I didn’t write about this…oh well.) Her arthritis in her leg hurts which means she has trouble getting up, which causes her to pant, which makes her not able to get up which causes her to pant. And I was a bad mommy and didn’t rub her legs last night.

So at 3 this morning, is when today’s episode began (or when I started hearing it). At 5:40 my alarm went off. Since I had already been up for 2.5+ hours, why not go for a run? D had said he wasn’t getting up that early on his day off, but he was awake too. So we got ready, and off to the track we went.

It was 65 degrees and dark. Such good weather for a run. We did 2 miles. I actually fartleked! Not in the true sense, but at mile 1.5 (lap 6) I wanted to be done, so I would run fast on the straits and run normal on the curves. I did decrease my time on mile 2 from mile 1 by 30 seconds.

We got back and took a quick nap. Then I checked blogs, and got to see a picture of Chris Cooley’s junk. Now I’m a Skins fan, and Chris Cooley is an integral part of the team. But perhaps seeing this part of him not what I should be seeing. (Note…the link takes you to Marcy’s page which has the link to his junk).

Off to work!

Time: 29:50 (run)
Mileage 2 (14:55 min/mile)
Time:24.21(walk)
Mileage 1 (24.21 min/mile)
Calories: 617
Max HR 189
Avg HR 154
In Zone 10:02

Yes! I REALLY RUN!

I did it! I completed my weekend goal of riding my bike and running.

Today was my lazy day (as opposed to every other day). D and I went on our weekly date to Einstein's before he went to work. It almost didn't happen (the date) because Po was up all night, and I finally took her into the guest room and we slept (sorta) in there. I was tired at 7 and told D I didn't want to go, but then I thought about it, and decided I'd take a nap later. So we went and got bagels.

Then I went to the Hipster Kroger. Now last week, the Meat Police stopped us at the door and we had to pull our receipt and show them we did pay for the meat (chicken breasts were on sale for $1.99/pound). This time, as I was driving home, I recalled not loading the paper towels in the car. Oh well, I thought. So much for my brains. I got home, and put the groceries away and looked at the receipt. Yay! I never put the towels on the conveyor, so I didn't pay for them...but what is that...pork loin, $8, london broil, $2.50. Hmmm. I didn't put those away. So back to the HK I went. I went to Customer Service and we went to Lane 11 and there was my meat. The bag boy didn't put it in the cart. I was happy.

Incidentally...the London Broil was marked incorrectly, and I know that, but I wasn't telling HK that.

OK, so I got home and took the dogs for a walk. Po has been nickednamed Green Bean, as that is part of her diet now. She isn't supposed to exercise, but since she had been up all night, I think her leg was bugging her, so I let her run around.

Came home and we watched TV and facebooked.
The Redskins came on and we watched the first and 4th quarters. Took a nap for the 2nd and 3rd.

D came home and he made dinner...Spicy Chicken Sandwiches, and Elote. Yummy.

Then we looked at each other. And went Ehhhhhhhhh. We slowly got up and did what we had to do. Put on HRMs and shorts and shoes, etc. We decided since it was 85 degrees we would run at the track. So we drove over there, but no one was at the gym, so we went there instead (the HS is across from the gym). And we ran.

After, I told D that I was spent at .5 miles. He said he thought he was having a heart attack around that time. We decided we are fat and need to do this together...we listed all the reasons the run sucked...fat floundering came up more than once. So back on this crazy journey!

Time: 28:00 (run)

Mileage 2 (14:00 min/mile)

Time:20.00(walk)

Mileage 1 (20.00 min/mile)

Calories: 680

Max HR 191

Avg HR 174

In Zone 2:12

Indeed, I'm out of shape.

Update Saturday

Ugh! I'm hungover.

I did however get 2 APs for riding my bike.

31 minutes
6.25 miles
200 calories

Off to watch Georgia Tech...

New week

So I did indeed lose 1.6 pounds this week, following WeWa. I was not surprised by this, but I was surprised how hard it is for me to follow the plan. It seemed food magically appeared when I wasn't thinking about it.

Worse yet, I haven't had smoked meat for over a week. I'm a bit afraid of this. 2 Times ago, I was doing points, and didn't go to the pizza joint, and they closed. Last time I did points, the Mexican Joint closed. Coincidence? I think not. So hopefully the Fox Bros. has enough patrons besides me that will visit them. And yes, I probably could go there and "do okay." But when you have homemade mac and cheese and white barbecue sauce, and stuffed brisket jalapeno poppers, and Texas fries...points go out the window.

So I'm definitley doing the Run Like Hell 5K. I don't know if Anne is doing it, but my friend Vic (she is the one who did the Century Ride for JDRF) is coming down for the weekend so we can go to the beer festival, and we are going to do this. Anne, get your neighbor to watch C! I guess this means I have to find my running shoes. They are out of the Colorado suitcase, but I'm not sure where they are. I do know where my HRM is, and that is the more important of the two (it would be harder to find, I think).

So this weekend will involve a bike ride and a 2 mile run. Those are my goals. I WILL ACHIEVE THEM!


And to clarify: D does the cooking in our house. He made all the meals for the week.

What have I eaten???

I want to eat house and home. Porter is sick and has been up since 3:30. So I have to work from home today.
But our menu has been decent...
Sunday: Cumin-dusted Chicken Breasts with Guacamole Sauce with fiesta rice
Monday: Porcini-dusted Chicken Scaloppine, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter
Tuesday: Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Italian Sausage and Breadcrumbs, Roasted Cauliflower wih Brown Butter
Wednesday: Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles
Thursday: Italian Meatball Burgers and Spicy Potato Wedges
Friday:Spicy Southwestern Chicken Sandwiches, Elote

Hopefully the scale will move tomorrow.

Run Like Hell

Anne wants to do this race. I was going to go to Clemson to see the GT/Clemson game, but I don't have a ticket, and won't know the time until late in the week of the game, blah, blah, blah. And the Decatur Beer Festival is that day too.

So I guess I will have to sign up for the Run Like Hell 5K.

Fuck, I'll just update now

So, I got back from Colorado on August 8. The AC still wasn't working, the house was a mess, the lawn wasn't mowed, etc. I tried to let it go, and for the weekend I did...
because we went to Asheville to see my friend ride 100 miles for JDRF. She was shocked to see us, since we surprised her (we arranged it with her boyfriend). So we spent the weekend boozing up there. I was having some trouble adjusting to being around people.

I was also out of Prozac. That is going to be the extent of that comment, but fights at work, the doctors and with D just made for an unpleasant August. But we got the Prozac and other things are working themselves out...

But September has started. My running buddy Anne, I think, will be coming over to put my running shoes on my feet, because I bailed on 3 races. But it is hard to run, when you don't get out of bed for days at a time. But I am feeling better, and fatter, so run I must.

I started back on WeWa last week. I'm obsessed with points. I'm also obsessed with some word game on Facebook.

So my cooking blog has been updated a lot.

I'm alive

Depression sucks ass. I'll post more starting next week.

And I'm still living in a hotel...

So the work week hasn't ended for me. I work tomorrow. In fact I work through Wednesday. But that is not all bad. I do get paid.

Monday I did get up and run. I ran/walked 3 miles. It was slow and it was not pretty. But I got it done. Then I switched shifts, and I have been so tired. I get up at 530 which isn't bad but working an 11 hour day, I'm tired, so I go get beer after work which doesn't work with the run. It also doesn't help the brewery is across from the plant.

Thursday, bossman and bartender set up a beer tour for me. So off to Ft. Collins I went. First I went to New Belgium Brewery. The facility is fascinating. First they try to close-loop their entire system, and any waste, they try to use. For instance the used wheat goes to a local farm for cow feed. There is some kind of water sludge, they are testing for fish food. Second the beer and the tour are free. So I had Fat Tire, 1554, Skinny Dip and Mystic Arrow. Mystic Arrow was my favorite.

After that tour I went to Odells Brewery. Now I have been to this size of a brewery before, so I didn't take the tour. I bought a sampler and then had 2 Nitro Cuthroat Porters. They were good. So good I found myself with a 6 pack 2 days later. So after that, I decided I was hungry. I would go to the Coopersmith Brewpub.

First it wasn't on the street, the address is on. It is around the corner. That was the first slam. Second I was making a LH turn, and didn't get the light, so I was backing up so as to not block the box. I didn't make it all the way back, and blocked part of the pedestrian walk. This woman wagged her finger at me. So I wagged THE FINGER back at her. Bitch!

So I finally find the place, and sit there with 2 bartenders. One finally notices me and asks if I need a menu. Before I answer, he gives me one and walks away. 5 minutes later, I flag the other bartender (they both disappeared) and order some fries. Before I can order a beer he walks away. I get my fries, and then order a beer. They give me a 20 oz POOR EXCUSE of a stout. I'm done my fries, and get my check. I drank 3 sips of the beer, paid and left.

So then I drove to Longmont to go to the Left Hand Brewery (note breweries don't serve food, brewpubs do). It is a neighborhood bar, and I sit down and get a Milk Stout. It is good, but I am still hungry. So I finish that up, and drive to get some pizza and then go home.

So now I feel better coming to Colorado and getting to see some of the things I want to see.

Tomorrow back to work...

Back from vacation

I'm back from Cape San Blas, FL from our 5 year anniversary vacation. We didn't do a trip this year, we just went to the beach. Frankly it was what we needed...a week to do nothing.

Friday July 18... I flew home from Colorado. I actually got to the Denver airport before it was open. So I sat there for 2 hours. I got home around noon, and immediately did laundry. Then D came home from work, and we went to see Clay, and then went to Rathbun's for dinner. It is our yearly dinner there, and as usual it was divine. I would talk about it, but it would make me want to go back and I can't at the moment.


Saturday July 19...we packed and packed up the car, and went to the pharmacy/grocery. I was thinking in advance, and thought that I wouldn't have any other time to go, and I needed a new bc script. Anyway, I think it was "missing a limb" day there. I swear 4 people who weren't together all had limbs missing. This freaked me out, along with all the old people, that I had to leave, and D had to finish getting the provisions (Dog treats, beer, suntan lotion, trashy novel (I left the cart and told him where it was)). So the dogs and I waited in the car, and we started our trip to FL. 4 hours later we were in Euphala, AL at a McDonald's, because I had to use their facilities...I couldn't get there fast enough, but who was slowing me up... a woman missing a leg. I almost wet my pants, because I busted out laughing. So 3 hours later we finally got to the beach, and went out to the beach. The dogs had a great time. Then we went and got "dinner..." there isn't a lot of options. We knew we were beer snobs, because there was no beer to be had...luckily we bought that 12 earlier in the day.




Sunday July 20...we went to the only grocery in a 20-30 mile radius (or so it seems). After spending $180 there, we were still beer less except for our last 6. We stopped and got some shrimp and then found a liquor store that sold liquor (yes, this confused us when a liquor store didn't sell liquor). So we bought some white russian mix, starbuck liqueur, Bailey's, 12 Guinness, 6 Milk Stouts, 6 Sawtooth Ales and 6 420. We got home and went to the beach. We had a lot of fun. Played with the girls, and drank a lot.





Monday July 21... we went to the Big Liquor Store in town (it was closed on Sunday). We got a case of Sierra, 12 Full Sails, and some other stuff. They gave us a discount. Oh we got more Guinness of course. And we went to the beach and drank a lot.



Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...we drank and went to the beach.





Friday July 25...we went to Apalachicola with the dogs. We took them sailing. The weather was crappy but we had a lot of fun. Guinness acted like she was the captain. She was all over the place. Porter stayed with us but had a great time.










Saturday July 26...we came home. We got home, and then went and had Pizza and went to see Clay for 2 beers.




Sunday...D drove me to the airport. I got back to Colorado with no luggage (thanks, Delta!), and now I'm at work, setting up tests.

D is going to start back running. If I get my luggage, I'll run tomorrow. Else Tuesday. I'm gaining weight. I don't know why...it definitely couldn't be all the beer.