Pumpkins and Cages

Ahh recovery... that pretty much summed up last week for me.  I kinda took a week off from everything (well almost, I did make it to the gym for my much missed Aqua class)  I did no running but a lot of walking.  Just giving my legs and mostly my knee a break, it's been feeling off for a couple of weeks.

So I really just cleared out my DVR  recouped and spent a lot of time trying to reclaim my house (ie cleaning up this sty that god forbid anyone else should try to do ugg), and get some family time.  I didn't do a weigh in post last week and it's not that I forgot well sorta but my weight goes crazy after races and boy this time I about had a heart attack.  The day after the half I was at 178 holy crap and then it dropped to 176 and just hovered there for a few days but by this weekend it was all good and back to my range of 169-167.  I also spent this last week detoxing from the bad eats that plagued me the week leading up to the half.  I totally got it in my brain "hell I can eat this I'm running freaking 13.1 miles on Sunday"  yeah not a good place to go.

This week ok I know it's only Tuesday but so what   has started off good ok maybe not that bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch after dinner tonight but Tom came for a visit and is hungry  I'm actually taking the month off from my Group training just to give me some breathing room,  time and wallet wise so Monday was a rest day, today I was up and at em' running at the gym at 3:30am.  I started doing the early morning runs for training but I really have come to enjoy it *gasp WTF* so I'm going to go ahead and keep it up for now, and that also means  I get to go to my Wed. Aqua class which I had to give up due to conflicting schedules with Group Training.  Oh how I've missed my water friends. 


Well that's all for now (and sorry this was all over the place)  but no post is complete with out some awesome pics of my crazy and wild mom weekends.

Can you tell we are related??  Getting ready for a Disney day. p.s don't mind the crappy bathroom it was the one room we decided could wait until we moved in to redo Ya that was 4 years age whomp whomp..

Really horses and castle... a girls total dream as long as she doesn't have to clean either of them

My two monkeys... why didn't I think of putting them in a cage years ago.. I kid I kid not really

I'm Not Alone!! Race Recap

So on to my half... A few posts ago I had mentioned that I was going to run the Long Beach Half Marathon alone and was bummed.  It really wasn't that I was running alone, I ran my first half all by my lonesome it was just the fact that B and I had trained together and found a good rhythm and it would be cool to have the extra support, and the fact that she had to pull out like 5 days before sucked big time.  So like I said I was resigned to the fact that I would be running solo.  The plan was to still stay at CareBears's and do dinner and B decided that she still wanted to come and cheer me on (I know I have great friends)...

So half jokingly we told CB that she should do it and just run as B.  Mind you she does run but only 3-4 miles a few times a week and has never run more than 5 (and that was one time).  She laughed it off then on Friday morning she came back with "WHY NOT!"   What???  "Ya why not what's the worse that  could happen, I don't finish so what at least I tried."  Well ok then!  

So Saturday we all met up at Care's then went out to BJ's for some major carb loading
  Then it was off to bed early it was a 415 am wake up call.   We woke up got ready and had a decent but light breakfast of peanut butter toast.  We did grab a banana to eat along the way.  The race didn't start until 7:30 but the traffic and parking are a bitch on a regular day so we did not want to take any chances on race day.  The good thing, I was able to pre purchase parking so we had a guaranteed space and it was valet too!! Only $12 bucks heck yea.  After we parked we walked over to the starting line and watched the wheelchair racers take off, then we walked around a bit and took pictures.  It was really chilly, perfect for running but when your just standing around waiting not great.  I took the advice of a friend and stopped at the local goodwill and picked up a sweatshirt I could wear until race time then toss it. Paying only $3 I had no guilt tossing it and in the welcome packet it said that any items or clothing left behind or along the race course would be collected and given to charity win win.  

  

Here we are taking silly pictures waiting to start

We were in corral 3 I was really shooting for a finish somewhere in the 2:30's. Our plan was to stay together at least  until about mile 6 then just go with it after that, and I'm so glad we did. It also gave us some great pictures.

       On the bridge with the Queen Mary in the background 

The course was said to be flat, obviously they don't run where I do lol, the first 6 were pretty hilly and part of it was on a freeway on ramp so it curved and tilted funky which made my knee hurt a bit also I felt really tired early on but I think that was because my first 3 miles were at a 10:55 pace and that is faster than I normally run (so much adrenaline out the gate). Right  after we hit mile 6 I pulled ahead I tried looking around for Care but finally at mile 7 gave up and just did my own thing. 

Miles 8-10 were the longest miles EVER!! I just hit a wall then all this negative talk was in my head.  It went something like this..."what the hell am I doing? Why am I doing this again? I've already done it once I should have just crossed it off my list and be done with it.  That's it I'm never doing another one again eff this shit."   Ya longest miles ever (and about a 12:10-13:18 pace)!! and the shitty thing it was probably the easiest part super flat beach path along the water, but I just couldn't find my rhythm.  Finally about mile ten we headed back up to the street and I knew we where looping back to the finish. At that point I knew I only had 3 miles to go and was in a better frame of mind.  So I tried to make up some time and just go with it and just look for the finish line.

I just kept looking and finally turned a corner and saw it Thank Gawd it was downhill I saw Barbie near the finish line and just opened it up and ran like hell!!  My official time was 2:39:01 Holy Crap I shaved more that 12 minutes off my previous race.  And I stayed in the 2:30's.  After making my way through the chute I called B and was hoping to watch Care cross the finish line, but when I finally got a hold of here she told me C had already crossed!!   WHAT??  Yup about 7 minutes behind me... Holy hell.  I caouldnt believe it.  C always likes to say she is a "pretend" runner and that she can look the part but isn't a "real" runner... My answer to that is LIAR lol no pretend runner would take one for the team (as she put it) and run 13.1 miles in 2:46 with no training and on a whim.  You are a runner girl whether you like it or not! 

 

Whew sorry for such a long post but it was a cray cray day.  The rest was spent with a beer or two and some TV!   

Living on a Prayer!!

OMG I survived the weekend and I'm actually feeling pretty amazing (except for some super tight quad muscles, but I guess that's what you get when you dance all night to Bon Jovi then run a Half Marathon a day later haha.  So I don't overwhelm I'll tell you how the first part of the weekend went.

Friday was an early day I only worked 6:30 to 9:30 (and I made the hubs come with so i didn't have to double back and pick him up before heading to packet pick up.  So he got to see all my kiddos in action and of course they were on their best behavior, go figure.  So after that we stopped for breakfast then off to Long Beach for packet pick up. It was well organized and pretty painless.  I made the poor hubs walk around with me so I could get some shot blocks and body glide for race day.  I totally got some knarly scabs on my back from my bra on my last long run, so I wanted to make sure to lube up this time.  It was nice and bigger than the last expo I went to I even won a loaf of bread!! Haha can we say carb load.

Then it was off to L.A to see Jon and the guys.  We actually stayed at the Marriott which was so awesome it was literally across the quad form the Staples Center where they were playing.  

The view from our hotel.  It was a very nice hotel the only problem I had was we were already paying a pretty penny for the room, but then we had to pay $40 to valet park!!  Seriously and there was NO other option except the garage next door which was $50.  Talk about ripoff! 

Anyway we checked in then got ready and headed over to Yard House for dinner!

Yumm does Martinis count as carb loading??  

Then off to the show,  Bon Jovi was so awesome!!  They came out guns a blazing not even an opening act.  It was so fun and talk about an eclectic group of people.  The people watching was about as good as the show.  

We pretty much rocked out all night and I so sang and dance my heart out.  I just LOVE concerts, I used to go all the time but then kinda just stopped.  I think it was because I so unhappy about the way I looked and just left lazy in general, but now watch out I'm ready to party!! 

Part 2 of the never ending weekend....running edition next 😳!! 

 

Weigh-In Tday or Dday

I'm up Waayyy up like 175 up!  I'm sure it has some thing to do with the blue cheese burger and onion rings I had at Disneyland on Tuesday followed by the white chocolate chip Mickey cookie or the fantabulous potato cheddar soup I had yesterday (2 bowls) no lie.

 Ugh my fault, all my fault I think I'm drowning my sorrows about the half Mary in food.  Shit phifftt.  That is all. 

NOOOoooo!!!!

No, No, No this can't be happening!!   Life is so unfair!!

Looks like I'm running my half ALONE :(  

I know can you freaking believe it this totally sucks balls!  Barbie and I were so excited Monday, making plans on what we were going to eat to "carb" load on Saturday night and discussing our water stop plan.  Then Tuesday came and in comes B limping??  WTF ...  Look like our last long run did her in she can barley walk on her foot and when she does the arch of her foot hurts like hell. So that means running is out.  I keep trying to stay positive giving her some tips on icing and reminding her to rest it but it looks like she is not going to run.  She is worried that even if it feels better by Sunday that she's gonna get half way thru and it's going to start up, or she'll make it but then do more damage to it in the long run.  I totally get it and understand I don't want her to hurt herself or anything but it sucks BIG TIME.  

I even toyed for a minute of blowing it off and not do it.  I mean if it wasn't for B I wouldn't have signed up for this one.  It's been a crazy busy few weeks and this weekend is the kicker Friday the hubs and I are going to LA to see Bon Jovi and staying a night there, then Saturday is my recup and packing up for race day spending the night at CareBears (since she lives closer to Long Beach) then race day it's insane!  

But I can't do it I can't just NOT do it... I've been training, I'm prepared and hell  I paid 100 bucks for this damn race!!  So I'll do it but it certainly has lost some of its luster.  I have always hated running or the thought of running with someone, but in B I found my soul running mate.  It's like running with myself but way better.  We are the sameish pace we both have the same style and we push each other when we need it the most!!   So I will do it but I will miss her.....

 

5...10...13.1

Ok so I totally thought I hit publish on Monday night ya not so much... But here you go anyways :)

Ugh Monday really already!! I totes coulda used one more recovery day...

I guess that's what happens when your brain thinks it's 25 but your body says HELL NO lady!! You wish.

So Friday was the  Maroon 5 concert with TaTa and my girls it was so fun we had a blast oaf course way to many beers but at least the food was healthier (Flame Broiler if you don't know what that is think healthier chicken and rice bowl).

 

Yup waayyy to many beers!!

Needles to say I spent most of Saturday recupping and hydrating so that I didn't die on my 10 miler on Sunday.  My knees were a bit tender from standing on the crazy hill durning the concert (lawn seats) and dancing while trying not to fall down said hill.  Saturday night Barbie got to my place about 6 so we had dinner and just chilled,talked trash, and watched trash. We went to bed pretty early as we both are old farts and wanted to get the run over with as early as possible.  damn 6am comes earlier on a weekend it seems.  So up and at em and out the door we went.  The weather was perfect even maybe a bit chilly I LOVED IT...come on fall I'm so ready.  

We did our 10 miles around the park it's about a 3 mile loop so we ran it 3 times and it went really well. We were faster than we thought and averaged a 11:49 pace for the whole run which included about 4 walk breaks the last one being a bit longer cause B had a stich in her side.  We are so excited for next Sunday it's finally race day. Hello Long Beach Half,, !  I'm feeling so good going into this one I just hope I don't jinx it lol...

 

 

Weigh In

Well my streak is over...whomp whomp I'm up 0.4 this week to 169 but hey at least I stayed out of the 170's right??  Not that surprising really seeing as Friday was filled with too many Martinis and I have to come clean and admit to the 2:30am chili cheese fries and it's that time of month...

Also I didn't get my 9 mile training run in this weekend.  It's been pretty difficult and has required a lot of begging and deal making with Grammies and TaTa to get in my long runs since the hubs has been working EVERY weekend.

But this weekend I got TaTa to watch her so Barbie and I can run our last long 10 mile training run before our Half Marathon next weekend.  It doesn't hurt that I'm taking her to see Maroon 5 tomorrow night (so she totally owes me). 

And on a final note sooo HAPPY that it's finally fall (sort of it's still in the high 80's here in So Cal)  that means pumpkin everything!!  I made sure to stop at Trader Joes on the 1st to get my first batch of Pumpkin Butter... I LOVE this stuff and put it on everything, but my favorite is mixing it with steel cut oats.  It tastes like I'm having pumpkin pie for breakfast yummm!

What's your favorite fall must have?

Still Recovering

Talk about a weekend I know it already almost Wednesday but being gone for just one night and things pile up ...mainly laundry...ugh!

We'll Friday was a blast!  This old girl was actually able to hang with the youngins'.  CareBear and I got to San Deigo about 4ish and checked into the hotel.  Wow was it old (100 years to be exact) But it was very cool the elevators even had the old grate you had to pull open and close and you could see as you passed the other floors.  We called to find out the ETA of Barbie and Shell turns out they hadn't even left yet! So we decided to hit up Yard house and get a a head start at Happy Hour.

 

Yup that happened

And this was just the beginning! We split some apps and had a few (read 2 more Martinis) and got the call that the girls were here.  We walked back to the hotel and got ready to go.  

Gtting ready of consisted of....more drinks and She'll doing all our makeup topped off by taking (what we thought at the time) great selfies LOL!

As you can see the drinks we strong and flowing... We headed out about 10 and had a blast club hopping and literally dancing all night.  I survived with my monster heels and only wore my flip flops when we were walking from place to place... Thank Gand for big purses.  

I had to wake up early and head out to get DQ but I wasn't feeling to bad  just really tired seeing as we didn't get back to our rooms until 3am.  It was fun and I totally kept up with my under 30's.   

Can't wait for the next time!!!