How did you spend the last day of 2010?

This is where I spent my last morning of 2010.  Baker Beach in San Francisco was part of my six mile trail run with Rene' and Boomer.  Last year we met for a run along this same trail, just a few days earlier.  I think we're going to make it an annual thing.  My foot was a bit sore for a lot of the run.  Luckily, it's mostly downhill (except a few steep stair climbs) on the way to the Sutro Baths and we did a lot of hiking on the way back.

In the picture below, way over to the left side is where we are heading back to.

While we were out today, Rene' was able to hit her 1,000th mile of running for the year.  Just in the nick of time, eh?  We were counting down and as soon as she hit the 1,000th mile I congratulated her and snapped a photo to commemorate it.  Good job girl. 

I have been rolling my IT band since Tuesday and today it didn't bother me at all.  However, I'm sure the varied terrain is what really made a difference.  I am looking forward to trying a run again on flat ground to see if it acts up.  I will continue to roll it though, no doubt. 

I am excited for 2011.  I have already signed up for a PCTR event, a Brazen Racing event and on January 15th I'll start a 10-week training program for a 100-mile bike ride taking place April 2nd.  AND, Sara's getting married in Jamaica.

Thanks to each and every one of you that have stuck with me this year.  It was one hell of a year for me and I just can't say enough, how difficult it would have been without all of you and your support.  I'm serious! 

Happy New Year everyone.  May 2011 be a year filled with nothing but greatness for you.


Until next year.............

Everything takes time, right?

One thing I have not mastered is patience.  I used to wake up and pray for it each day and somewhere along the way, I have stopped.  I need to start doing that again. 

I'm coming up on three months post-op.  I know, I can hardly believe it either.  I have never, ever taken this much time off from running. NEVER!  Yes, I have run a handful of times in the past few weeks but I want to be running more.  I want to be able to run as long as I want to!  I guess that's a lot to ask for.

This morning I took Boomer and Bella over to the Alameda Creek Trail with a plan to run 4-5 miles.  Right about a mile in, my left IT band started yelling at me.  I tried to run it off but ended up having to stop and massage it a little bit.  That did help but I ended up only being able to complete three miles.

Oh, and I wore my Garmin - just because.  I thought I was slow before?  Ha!  My comfortable pace this morning was 12:07/mile.  Smokin', eh?

Yes.  Everything takes time.


Until later.............

Such a busy time of year

Today is Christmas Eve and I'm up having my first cup of coffee before work.  I get to work 9-5:30.  I'm okay with it because I'm all done with my shopping and now I can help out some manic last minute shoppers get their lists completed.  At least the day should go by quickly.

My friend Andrea had her baby last week, after 14 hours of labor.  Little Kathryn Diana entered the world on Thursday at 9:01 a.m., weighing in at 6.2 pounds.  Yesterday Sara and I were lucky enough to meet and hold her.  I had truly forgotten how tiny a newborn is.
 

Saturday my husband woke me up with a cup of coffee and asked me if I wanted to take Boomer to Garin for a hike early before we went to the Dickens Fair in South San Francisco.  I gladly hopped out of bed when I saw the rain had let up and we took the boy out for a (muddy) 3.5 mile hike.

While we were there, my dear friend Jana that used to live across the street with the two big black dogs showed up. She was in town for one night, emptying out her storage shed. She took the doggies out for some exercise before driving home to Seattle. She walked with us back to the parking lot to say goodbye. Naturally, Spike jumped right into my car as soon as it was opened. Remember when he used to run across the street and dive into my car before we'd go hiking? I miss those dogs a lot!

I'm back to moving every day and it makes me happy.  I am able to walk two miles without any problem.  I attend "Body Pump" classes twice a week at the gym.  I do the Elliptical instead of "Camp24" or "24SET" classes though because I just can't jump around that much.  I have not run since last Thursday but that is only a timing (working tons of hours) and weather issue.  Believe me, I am dying to run again.  Work should slow down after next week and life will be more back to normal.  I already have one running date planned with Rene' on New Year's Day.  I will start off the year right! 

I'm off to get ready for work but not before I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas tomorrow.


Until later.............

I am a *freak* for Fall colors

I go absolutely ga-ga over the colors that Fall produces.  Ask anyone.  As soon as I see the first yellow leaf on a tree, I'm pointing to every new one I see. 

I went to Garin last week to try a run again.  I am happy to say it was a success!!  I was able to run ~3 miles with Boomer.  It was absolutely gorgeous there.  With the overcast skies, the golden colored trees really stuck out.

I've been walking with a very pregnant friend of mine for the past week.  We went twice last week and once on Tuesday.  Each walk was close to TWO hours.  We walked around Lake Elizabeth and noticed this guy:

Check him out!  Is he the strangest thing you have ever seen?  He's not really a duck, but he's not a goose either.  He waddles horribly when he walks and the strangest thing is, when he is in the water, his tail feathers NEVER stop moving.  All the ducks moving along side him, they're tail feathers don't move.  When we saw him again on Tuesday, we were able to spot him in the water because he was the only one with his rear end going non-stop.

Lake Elizabeth is a very popular area for locals to walk.  Every year this tree gets more and more decorations. 

After we walked, Boomer and I went to a pet store and he picked this pig ear right off the shelf.  He carried it all the way to the car.  He was NOT going to let it go.  LOL

So, anyway.  The walking with my very pregnant friend worked!!  Her due date is tomorrow.  She phoned me at work Tuesday to tell me her water broke.  Yippee.  Unfortunately, she is still in the hospital with her labor progressing very, very slowly.  Looks like little Katie wants to be right on time and wait until the 16th to take her first breath.  I'm anxiously waiting to hear. 

I ran again yesterday.  Boomer and I went over to the Alameda Creek Trail and ran ~3 miles.  My toe felt very good.  My left IT band was making itself known though.  Probably because I'm doing more of a heal strike instead of a soft, ball of my foot landing.  I adjusted my stride on the way back and the pain subsided.  It will take my legs a while to get back to where they were prior to my surgery.  That's okay, I've got nothing but time.


Until later.............

Life Is Good winner.......

I took the names from my last post and the few that commented on Facebook, threw them in the big ol' tote bag and drew one out.

The winner is:

Congratulations Miki!  Send me an email or contact me on Facebook and give me your mailing address.  I will send out your new Life Is Good tote bag by Thursday.

I am working on a new post right now, with lots of good updates from the past week.  Look for it soon.  ;)


Until later.............

"Life Is Good" Giveaway!

Would you like this HUGE Life Is Good tote bag?

 

I have had one heck of a year!  I have shared with you, very openly, about the good and bad happenings in my life.  You all have helped me through some pretty tough stuff and for this I will be forever grateful.

As the year comes to a close, I am in a pretty good place in my life.  I wake up every day feeling blessed to have my family, my friends, and my health.  As corny as that sounds, it's true.  Today I feel my Life Is Good! 

Now, back to the giveaway.  How much use could you get out of a tote this big?  Think of how much stuff it could hold for you.  Probably an entire weekend of clothes for a little getaway or camping trip.  It would be a great bag for the beach or to serve as a "drop bag" at your next ultra!  It's the perfect "carry on" size for your next plane trip too. 

It's very simple.  I have learned A LOT about myself this year.  All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me one thing you learned about me this year by reading my blog.

That's it.  Pretty easy, eh?  I will accept entries through midnight on December 13th and will pull a number out of the bag on the 14th.  Thank you and good luck!

Until later.............

The wait is over!

Things are happening and they're happening FAST!  I'm so excited!!

Yesterday before dinner, Keith asked me to try on my ski boot.  He's been asking about skiing this year.  Inside I felt like I would probably have to sit out this season but I never expressed this to him.  Seeing as I was just able to put on a closed toe shoe about a week ago, I figured there was no way I could get my foot in a ski boot.  To my surprise, I got my foot in the boot and it felt pretty comfortable.  Yes, I felt just like Cinderella!  Now it looks like I will be able to ski very soon.

Last night I went to a "Body Pump" class at the gym.  In this class you lift a barbell the entire time, there's no cardio.  I did this class  a couple weeks ago and tried to use the same weight I used prior to my surgery.  Not a great idea.  I couldn't walk very good for about five days and going down stairs was impossible!  Last night I used a lighter weight and felt good this morning.

So well in fact, I went for a run at Garin!  A 4.25 mile run.  Yeehaw!  I'm not sure who was having more fun, me or Boomer.  I was SO happy to be running on my favorite trails again.  I wonder if you can imagine the joy I felt while running through those hills with Boomer bouncing happily nearby.  Aaaah, this is what I've been waiting for.  What a feeling!!!

 

I promise, Boomer wasn't as bored as he looks here

 

My friend HSE Lori came by for a visit yesterday and as we were chatting she told me I have handled my recovery since my surgery a lot better than the month before my surgery.  I was pretty manic during that time.  I was so worried about never being able to run again, putting on 100 pounds, losing motivation and never wanting to run again, etc.  Sometimes I was so consumed with the unknown that I couldn't do anything else.  I struggled with headaches, lack of sleep, mood swings.  Gah!

All I can say is I'm glad it's over and I'm super happy to be slipping back into my active lifestyle!!

Until later.............